USA > New York > Onondaga County > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 33
USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 33
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The first well was at Salina, and was but a large hole. twenty feet square and thirty deep. in which each man put his own pumps, conducting the water to the several works. This was when Kirkpatrick was first superintendent. A curious paper in the Central library may belong to this period, or more exactly to 1800 from the names. It seems the report of a Mohawk Dutchman to his eastern friends. There is a diagram of the lots and a plan of houses on the re- servation, with many names of persons there. Among these are Elisa (Elisha) and Crase (probably Dioclesian) Allvord. William Stev for William Stevens ; Vonvlak for VanVleck: O'Blaus for O'Blennis; Silas Balliy (Bailey) : John Carpender (John Carpenter) ; William Spornheyer, ete.
The notes are curious, and almost require translation: "The onondage lak is Calt on salt Lak it is a fresh watter lak and an blak stinken mut an sam Blasses and du grow a moos an this innt if horses act that mos they geat sick the salt springs are low I opnet one and made a 4 sqar from roent it 28 fathhey to put the pomp in I trijt all the springs Coault 1 gall of water of my sprug I hat 1 p a 12 onces of salt. 15 houzes an town lots." The salt springs are indicated. "Black mut holes in Drey wather thy stink Salt masch all under watter in spring saem time 2 months." In proper form this is :"The Onon- daga lake is called Salt lake. It is a fresh water lake, and a black, stinking
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inud in some places, and do grow a moss on this mud. If horses eat that moss they get sick. The salt springs are low. I opened one and made a four square frame around it twenty-eight feet ( ?) high to put the pump in. I tried all the springs. Boiled one gallon of water of my spring. I had one pound and twelve ounees of salt. Fifteen houses on town lots. Black mud holes. In dry weather they stink. Salt marsh all under water in spring; sometimes two months." Not an agreeable place.
A patent hand pump soon helped matters, and when John Richardson was superintendent in 1810 he brought the water of Yellow Brook to Salina. and raised the brine by water power. Horse power was afterward used. In 1812 there was a deputy for Geddes, Liverpool and Salina respectively. The superintendent was to lay out two acres for making solar salt, free of rent if he chose, for this was something new. It became a snecess in 1821. In 1816 a duty of twelve and one-half cents per bushel was imposed, to increase the canal fund. In the course of time it came down to one cent. In 1820 a large part of the reservation was laid out in lots for sale, not being needed. In that year Major Byington was authorized to bore for rock salt at any point on the reservation. None was found.
In 1826 the state acquired a title to all the wells, pumps, reservoirs and pipes, and a new well was suuk, thirty feet deep and twelve across, and new res- ervoirs were made for the solar salt fields. A well was sunk at Liverpool, and boring followed at Geddes and Salina. It is needless to go over all these things in detail, but the wells continually became deeper, and the material penetrated became of interest to geologists. Two deep wells were sunk in 1884, the one being the Gale well, between Salina and Liverpool, beginning about fifty feet above the Oswego canal. At five hundred and twenty-two feet weak brine was found, five feet above the Niagara limestone. A second brine was five hundred and thirty-two feet deep. A true limestone appcared at six hundred and five feet. Then came pure Clinton ore at from nine hundred and seventy-six feet to nine hundred and eighty-six feet, succeeded by Medina sandstone at one thousand and five feet. Light gray sandstone eame at one thousand and seven- teen feet. At one thousand three hundred and ninety-five feet the third and strongest brine was reached, and the fourth at one thousand five hundred feet. The total depth was one thousand six hundred feet. There was no rock salt.
In the state well, one thousand feet east of the lake, deeper borings were made, but no veins of brine were found. Niagara limestone (bituminons) was reaclied at five hundred and seventy-eight fect; true limestone at six hundred and fifty; Clinton ore at nine hundred and ninety-five; Medina sandstone at one thousand and seventy-five; red sandstone and gray at one thousand one hundred and seventy five, and mostly sandstone to the depth of one thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine feet. At a later day the Solvay wells at Tully opened up rich beds of fossil salt.
Solar salt differs from boiling in the slower process. One uses the sun. the other fire. For the solar process there are long parallel rows of shallow wooden vats, sixteen or eighteen feet wide, supported by wooden posts. The brine passes baek and forth, after leaving the reservior, for nearly a mile, till rid
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of oxide of iron. In a similar way it runs to and fro till the sulphate of lime is gone. Rid of these impurities and saturation being complete, the last series of vats receives the coarse crystals of pure salt. Every cover (moveable roof) is expected to average fifty bushels in a season. In 1884 the average was seven- ty-four and thirty-six hundredths bushels. These covers slide over the vats in wet weather and are removed when it is clear. There are about sixty to the acre. Space has to be allowed for sliding them off and for roads between the rows.
In general about fifty bushels of salt can be made with a cord of wood. As with coal, this will depend on the quality of the fuel. From seven to eight pounds of American coal will evaporate a cubic foot of water, and Mr. George Geddes said "eight pounds of water are now evaporated with a pound of coal in a common salt block."
CHAPTER XXVHF
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE MEXICAN WAR TO THE WAR FOR THIE UNION.
Two men of note repose in Syraense tombs who were active in the Mexican war. One of these was General Edwin V. Sumner, who died March 21. 1863. Hle made a good record in that war. and his fairness and efficiency in the Kansas troubles arrested publie attention. He was one of the best leaders in the civil war, but saw only a part of it. General John J. Peck, who died here April 21, 1878. was born at Manlins, and also won laurels in the Mexican war. The civil war gave him higher responsibilities which were well discharged. Captain Rufus D. Pettit, of Baldwinsville, also served in Mexico, his experience there training him for his fine artillery work in the civil war. Other Onon- daga men served also.
Though this war had wonderful results there was a strong protest against it from the first. There was a growing feeling against the extension of slavery; even a strong protest against slavery itself, so that the fighting without had its representative struggle within. This inereased in intensity till secession came. A brief sketch of political progress seems desirable here.
In 1796 Onondaga connty had two members of Assembly, Silas Halsey of Cayuga, and Comfort Tyler of Onondaga. Asa Danforth was elected over the latter in 1800. Politieal lines were elosely drawn and the Federalists were in power. The Council of Appointment filled many offices which are elective now. Loeally, however, the Republicans of that day carried elections here, and gained strength so fast that in 1803 they carried every senatorial district. though quite equally divided in this county. Factional strife weakened this party in 1807, the Republican Clintonians proving strongest. When Cortland county was set off in 1808, Onondaga still retained two members of the Assembly. Next year the Federalists won in Onondaga. This election gained them the Assem- hly but not the Senate. In 1810 the Republicans regained power.
Every war has developed strong opposition, and President Madison's war policy had this fate. The Republicans again divided, and the Federalists gained control, but not here. The success of the war had weakened them greatly
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when another issue came up-that of canals. This proved the death of the old Federal party. At the same time there were two factions of the Republi- can party-Clintonian and Buektail. The Bucktail road in Spafford is a memento of the latter, and all the Onondaga assemblymen eleeted in 1819 were Buektails. For awhile the state contests were between these and the Clintonians. The last election under the old constitution was in 1821. By that time the Buektails were known as Democrats, and were in the majority in the state.
In 1825 Clinton was removed from the office of canal commissioner, and was nominated for governor by the Democrats and elected. Parties were evenly balaneed here. Onondaga giving him three thousand two hundred and eighty votes against three thousand one hundred and seventy-six for Young.
The leading question of 1826 was that of a great publie highway from the Hudson to the lakes, through the southern tier of counties. This was defeated. In 1827 the Democrats came ont for Jackson, and their opponents for Adams.
In 1829 the anti-Masons became a party. and the question of Sunday mails was prominent. At the same time the doctrine that "to the victors belong the spoils" was dominant, and great was the army of office-seekers. The anti- Masons lost power in 1831, and disappeared as a party soon after, giving place to the Whigs in 1834. The latter were badly defeated that year, but again became active in 1836. though withont success.
A natural feeling against slavery had resulted in a demand for its aboli- tion by some, especially in the District of Columbia. For a long time, however, such views were frowned upon. and their expression sometimes repressed by violence. Nevertheless the feeling grew and a later incident follows here :
This interesting episode of early abolition days has had no place in books. In September, 1839. there came to Syracuse a wealthy Mississippi planter named Davenport. He stayed for some time at the Syracuse Ilouse and was well re- ceived. With him were two ladies; one his wife, and the other young and beantiful. They always drove out together and were both elegantly dressed. Soon ladies found that they were not introduced to the younger, and awkward scenes occurred. Then they learned that she was a slave.
Tom Leonard. a colored waiter there, learned her desire for freedom and told this to John B. Owen. who laid a plot to secure it with William M. Clarke. father of H. W. Clarke. MIr. Clarke made the outside arrangements. Mr. Owen communicated with the girl through Leonard. Mr. Davenport was to return home October S, and the night before a farewell party was given at Major William A. Cooke's. Clarke engaged Abraham Nottingham, of De Witt, to be on Onondaga street with a buggy and the girl was to be secreted at Mr. Shep- pard's, a mile southeast of Marcellus.
The evening came. The girl laid Mrs. Davenport's young child in her lap for a few minutes, left the house, and was gone. Leonard met her at the door; the others at the carirage. She had neither hat nor shawl. and one of her colored friends wrapped his overcoat around her. Soon she was missed. Driv- ers were sent in every direction. The Oswego packet was searched, and spies sent to the homes of James Cannings Fuller of Skaneateles, and Gerrit Smith of
-
.
.
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Peterboro. All abolitionists houses in Syracuse were searched. Nothing appeared.
Davenport offered a reward of two hundred dollars. She was described as "so fair that she would generally be taken for white;" character irreproach- able, and he had been offered two thousand five hundred dollars for her several times. Leonard was arrested for larceny in hopes of a elue, but this failed. The abolitionists kept away from the examinations, which were reported to them by a friend. Harriet had been at Sheppard's a week when Owen dropped a remark which was carried to the searchers by a traitor, and next morning these were on the spot, finding Mr. Sheppard smiling and unconscious of all harm. The girl was not there.
On the evening before the intended recapture there was a mass meeting of abolitionists at the First Congregational church. Mr. Clarke collected enough to "ship a bale of southern goods, " and laid the proposed route before Gerrit Smith. He was told to send her to his house and he would do the rest. Arrange. ments were made to send her to Dr. John Clarke's in Lebanon, New York, in a short time. Then Owen came, saying all was known. Time was precious, and Mr. Clarke said she must be moved that night.
So Clarke and Owen tramped three miles to Nottingham's in the dark. It would have been unsafe to try a livery. Then Owen and Nottingham drove to Sheppards; and before daylight Harriet was on another farm, miles away. Soon after she was at Dr. Clarke's, then at Gerrit Smith's, where she received an outfit. Thence she was sent to Kingston in Canada, where she married and lived happily.
Davenport issued a parting address on the subject, in which, very natur- ally, the abolitionists were not spared. The writer well remembers a circular printed by his father for James Cannings Fuller about this affair. It was pasted on the wall just where he used to "change and distribute" the ink. and as the press went back and forth his eye often fell upon it. It described Harriet's arrival in Canada, concluding with the statement that she was sup- posed "to hail from Davenport."
At this time there was anti-Slavery societies in the county, one of the most active of which was in Skaneateles, where a library was maintained by it. and where every prominent leader was at some time heard. The hill country of Onondaga furnished convenient routes and stations for the underground railroad, and it seems to have been the strongest center of organized action. Sometimes quickly, often insensibly these things were affecting the public mind. Apparently the party was ridiculously small, but it was the leaven in the meal.
In 1837 the Whigs were triumphant in the state, and there was a local di- vision between the radical and conservative Democrats. both having a paper in Syracuse for some years. Whig snecess in 1838 gave the party canal pat- ronage, and there was a general change, one great object of a canal maintained by the state. Then came the memorable election of 1840. with its great Whig mass meeting at Syracuse of sixty thousand people, its great processions filled with picturesque sights. Can we describe it ? "O," said the Journal, "for
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the pen of the Wizard of the North to describe the indeseribable glories of the ever-to-be-remembered sixteenth day of October, 1840!" We give it up, of course. If "Vivus" could not do it, who could ?
In 1841 the Abolitionists had a full ticket, and in Onondaga polled three times the vote of the preceding year. About this time two names among the Democrats took on stronger significance-the Barnburners and Old Hunkers. New York has always been famous for its party names and divisions. That of Locofoco was commonly applied to Democrats. In a cauens of that party in New York feeling ran high. and one faction put out the lights, declared the meeting adjourned and dispersed. The others quietly remained, got ont their loeofoco or frietion matches -- then new-relit the lamps, and did busi- ness their own way. The name stuck. The Old Hunkers, of course, had all the offices, and meant to have them. The Barnburners wanted them out of the way, even if they smashed things. So the story was applied of the old Poun- sylvania farmer who burned his barns to get rid of rats.
In 1842 the Democrats, Whigs and Liberty party held conventions in Syra- cuse. In that year Onondaga county became a senatorial district. In 1843 the Abolitionists polled over seven hundred votes, and the Whig county con- vention resolved that "slavery is a relic of savage and unenlightened conditions; that Locofocoism in the North is the strongest bulwark of slavery in the South."
In 1846 all the towns in the county, except Pompey, voted in favor of loeal option on the license question, but all reversed this within two years. The Hunker and Barnburner fight went on, resulting in a Democratic defeat in 1846. Onondaga now had four assemblymen, and was also a senatorial dis- trict. The temperanec party was organized for political work in 1845, and in that year the Free Soil party came out of the split of the Democrats. Gen- eral Taylor's nomination offended some Whigs, and the new party grew in strength, and polled four thousand nine hundred and forty-two votes here out of twelve thousand six hundred and forty-six. There were three prominent candidates, Taylor receiving five thousand five hundred and forty-two in the county.
A partial reconciliation of the two factions came in 1849, bringing but moderate success, but stimulating the Liberty party. The passage of the fugi- tive slave law increased its strength. Then came the convention of that party in Syracuse, October 1, 1851, and the famous Jerry resene at the same time. In 1852 the defeat of Scott ended the power of the Whig party, though it had a name awhile longer.
In 1853 the American or Know Nothing party suddenly appeared, with conspicuous success. Temperance men helped the Whigs elect Governor My- ron II. Clark in 1854. There were now both Free Soil Democrats and Whigs; also the Silver Grey Whigs, said to be so called "from the gray and flowing locks of Francis Granger," but probably a reminiscence of the Silver Greys of early war times. Next eame the Republican party, holding its first county convention in Syracuse, October 18, 1855. The party elected James Noxon as senator by one thousand five hundred majority. The next year it sent Amos P. Granger back to Congress and elected all the assemblymen. In 1858
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it eleeted Edwin D. Morgan as governor, and sent Charles B. Sedgwick to Congress from Onondaga. That it polled a large vote here for Lincoln was a matter of course. ] Events of political importance since the civil war have been few and local, without any special significance, though not without re- sults.
The Oswego and Syracuse railroad was opened in October, 1848, and the Syracuse and Binghamton road October 23, 1854. The direct road from Rochester to Syracuse was opened in 1853, when the roads between New York and Buffalo were consolidated. . The first telegraph office in Syracuse was opened May 1, 1846, and there were two wires there in 1850. The State Asylum for the feeble minded was built in 1855, and the County Agricultural society was reorganized in 1856, but did not last long. For a time town societies were popular and successful.
There came also finaneial distress in 1857. when the banks stopped specie payment, to the great relief of most people. There were many failures, but on the whole the county stood the strain quite well.
Politieal excitement had been great all through 1860; all kinds of conven- tions were held, and many strong efforts made to avoid the impending erisis. The Wide Awake elubs, with their torches, were a picturesque feature of the campaign, but there were none of the grand rural processions of earlier days. Onondaga gave Lineolu three thousand nine hundred and eighty-one majority, and Republicans rejoiced. Then came secession, state after state going out, and a feeble hand holding the reins of government. At a meeting in Syracuse in the last week of 1860, a committee of thirty-three was appointed who straightway resolved that "the Union must and shall be preserved." January 13, 1861, a general Union meeting pledged the government hearty support. A minority report advised concessions to the South. The Fifty-first regiment was placed on a war footing, and January 29 an abolition meeting was broken up as being productive of evil. It assembled next day only to be broken up again.
Lincoln passed through Syracuse February 18, but remained but a few minutes, briefly addressing the crowd. Fort Sumter was fired on, and Onon- daga was all ablaze. April 22 a great mass meeting was held in Syracuse, and the next day the Common Council appropriated ten thousand dollars for fam- ilies of volunteers. Some accounts of those who went to the war will follow.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
On account of the nearness of Auburn many Skaneateles and Elbridge men enlisted in the Nineteenth and Seventy-fifth regiments. which represented Cayuga county. Captain John G. Butler had organized a company of Zon- aves in Syracuse in 1860, and this went into service among the first. Following this eame Pettit's Battery from Baldwinsville, though the Twelfth regiment preceded this as a regimental organization. The One Hundred and First reg- iment was partially made up of Onondaga men in 1861. The One Hundred and Twenty-seeond and One Hundred and Forty-ninth were distinctly county or- ganizations in 1862, as was the One Hundred and Eighty-fifth in 1864. Onon- daga men were also in the New York Third. Tenth, Twelfth, Twentieth and Twenty-fourth cavalry. Beside Jenney's and Pettit's light artillery companies. Onondaga was well represented in the Ninth New York heavy artillery. Onon- daga and Cortland furnished eight companies of the Second regiment of the Ira Harris light cavalry in 1864. Part of the Nineteenth, Forty-fourth, Seventy- fifth, Eighty-sixth and One Hundred and Ninety-third was partly raised here in April, 1865, and the One Hundred and Ninety-fourth was also mistered in.
CAPTAIN BUTLER'S COMPANY.
Captain John G. Butler formed a company of Zonaves in 1860, and its services were at onee offered after the fall of Fort Sumter. It was recruited to seventy-seven officers and men, and became Company D of the Third regi- ment, New York volunteers. One of its officers, Lieutenant S. Jenney, raised another company in Oneida county, of which he became eaptain. This was Company I, of the Third regiment. Captain Butler was ordered to Albany at once, thenee to New York, and then to Fortress Monroe. The company there was placed under General Butler, and was engaged at Big Bethel, June 9. 1861. After the battle of Bull Run the regiment was assigned to garrison duty at Fort MeHenry near Baltimore. It was mustered in May 14, 1861. Captain Butler was assigned to the One Hundred and Forty-seventh regiment in 1863, soon becoming its colonel.
PETTIT'S BATTERY. :
Battery B, First New York light artillery. was better known as Pettit's Battery, and had a high reputation. Captain Rufus D. Pettit had served in the Mexican war, and easily raised this company from among his friends in Bald- winsville. It entered the state service at Baldwinsville, August 24, 1861, and the United States service at Elmira, August 31. He was fruitful in exped- ients and had his company well in hand before leaving Elnira. At Washing- ton it was the first volunteer battery fully equipped, and at once attracted at- tention by the precision of its firing. It took the field in the spring of 1862,
CITY HALL, SYRACUSE.
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and was at the battle of Warrenton Junction, March 28, 1862. At Fair Oaks, in June, General Hazard said, "The firing of Pettit's Battery has never in my observation been excelled." Yet this was the second action of the bat- tery. At a later day General Walker called its men "peerless gunners, " and said elsewhere that "Pettit had cannoncers who conld hardly be matched in any battery of the regular army." Ile imparted his coolness and skill to the men who served under him.
With the exception of Antietam and Gettysburg, in both of which it did valuable service, all its engagements were in Virginia. It took part at Peach Orchard, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Centerville. Charlestown, Snicker's Gap, Falmonth, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, United States Ford. Mine Run, Spottsylvania. North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, Hatcher's Run. It was mustered out June 23, 1865.
Lieutenant Albert S. Sheldon became captain after the battle of Gettysburg, and was succeeded by Robert E. Rogers. December 30, 1864. Its field service had then ended. A fine monument marks its position on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg.
JENNEY'S BATTERY.
After some service in the New York Volunteers, Captain Edwin S. Jenney was authorized to raise a battery of light artillery, at first known as the Tenth New York Independent Battery, and composed of one hundred and forty- two men. Under the rules. however, it could not then be independent, and was attached to the Third New York Artillery as Company F. As such it was mnstered in December 18, 1861, and soon went to New York City where it was drilled in infantry tactics. February 22, 1862, it took post at Fort Corcoran, on Arlington lleights opposite Washington. March 25 it had orders to join Burnside's expedition, and landed at Newbern, North Carolina, April 2d .. By July 1 it was fully equipped. In November it was with the army, march- ing upou Tarboro, but no battles oceurred. December 11 the march on Golds- boro began. The battery participated in the conflicts at Kinston and White- hall, but was held in reserve at Goldsboro, having suffered severely. Captain Jenney was made major, but retained command till July, 1863.
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