USA > New York > Onondaga County > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 37
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 37
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mended by Professor Agassiz. She was born in Canada, January 17, 1800, and vame to Onondaga in 1820. as the bride of Lewis II. Redfield; a noble woman in every way.
Mrs. Grace Richmond wrote the "Juliet Stories" for the Ladies Home Journal.
John T. Roberts is a well known writer on horticulture and local history.
James O. Rockwell was born in Connectient in 1807. coming to Manlius at an early age, where he worked in a factory. One account says: "He made a. small book. on each right hand page of which was a picture of different parts of the factory, and on the opposite page a verse describing it. On the outside was a front view of the factory with an overseer on the foreground, dragging a boy towards the door, and under it this verse-
"The factory life Is full of strife I own I hate it dearly ; And every boy That they employ Will own the same, or nearly."
IIe wrote for the papers when but sixteen, was assitant editor of the States- man, Boston, at twenty. and in 1829, was editor of the Providence Patriot. Ile died in 1831, and Whittier wrote some verses on this. He was then one of the most promising of American poets. Willis G. Clark wrote to Whittier in 1829: "Rockwell promises .- but he must write something newer. I would give double for your prospects than for Willis's or his." And he was right.
William H. Rowley, born in Syracuse, May 1, 1858, went west. where he is known as the soldier's poet. composing spirited songs for the annual encamp- ments. Two of these appear in "Local and National Poets."
Mrs. Margaret L. Sabine wrote "Travels in the Holy Land."
Mrs. Irene Sargent, editor and contributor to the Craftsman, is a well known writer. Her paper on Bishop Huntington was especially good.
Philip F. Schneider is well known by his work and writings on local geol- ogy, most of which have appeared in pamphlet form, all being valuable contri- butions to science.
Rev. Karl Schwartz, born in this state, November 21, 1862, has published a Catechism, Nature's Correction of Inherited Criminal Tendencies, The Chris- tian Year. Before the Cross, etc.
Louis D. Seiseo, born in Baldwinsville, published Early History of Van Buren in 1895. and a valuable Series on Onondaga County Records in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Magazine. 1899-1904.
Miss Bessie E. Sherlock was eredited with many stories by Mrs. Marlette. Charles E. Sherlock published "Your Uncle Lew" in 1901.
Professor Frank Smalley is editor of Roman authors, and a writer on the classics.
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Carroll E. Smith, the veteran editor, was born in Syracuse, December 25, 1832, and died there August 21, 1903. Hle was much interested in local history, and some sketches were collected and published in 1904 as "Pioneer Times in the Onondaga Country." His father, Vivus W. Smith, was one of the most in- fluential editors of his day.
E. Reuel Smith, born February 2, 1829, eame to Skaneateles in 1852 on his return from Chili, where he had been on the United States Astronomieal ex- pedition. While there he visited the Araucanians, and published a book on this in 1854, often quoted. He also published a poem in pamphlet form about the same time, entitled "Our Village," and showed decided talent as a humor- ous writer. His son, De Cost Smith, as an artist. illustrates Indian life, and pub- lished papers on the "Witcheraft and Demonism of the Modern Iroquois," having been adopted by the Onondagas. Professor Burnett Smith of Syracuse University is his brother.
Edward Smith was born in Skaneateles in 1817, coming to Syracuse as a teaeher in 1845. In 1866 he became superintendent of its sehools, till his resig- nation in 1889. He afterward published a valuable history of the public schools of Syraeuse, and has just passed his ninetieth year in good health.
Mrs. Erminie 1. Smith was born in Mareellus, April 26, 1836, and at her death, June 9, 1886, was one of our best Iroquois anthorities. Her "Myths of . the Iroquois" appeared in 1883, and her other writings were on Iroquois phil- ology. She was adopted by the Tuscararas.
H. Perry Smith is an original writer, as well as an excellent compiler of lo- eal histories. "Modern Babes in the Woods" is a tale of Adirondack life. "Syracuse and its Surroundings," and Oakwood Cemetery have local interest "A Summer Picture, " 1879, is a volume of poems.
Rev. J. Byington Smith has published the centennial celebration of the Bap- tist church in Fayetteville, held in 1897.
His wife died there in 1907.
Dr. J. Lewis Smith, a Spafford boy, became an eminent physician in New York city, and wrote several medical works, among them "Diseases of Chil- dren." Ilis brother Stephen of the same place, equally eminent as a physician and writer, makes his summer home in Skaneateles.
Mrs. W. II. H. (Margaret T. R.) Smith has written much and well on local history, and her "Annals of the Onondaga Country," 1894, was a paper of great interest.
Rev. George B. Spaulding. D. D., published his historical address at Ports- mouth, New Hampshire, October 26, 1881. Papers on Ephraim Webster, the Book of Common Prayer, ete., have appeared, and he compiled a Presbyterian liturgy. His son, Rev. George B. Spaulding, Jr., issued "The Golden Gate to New York by way of Cape Horn," in 1899.
De Witt C. Sprague read a fine poem, "Onondaga in the Rebellion," at the Centennial celebration in Fayetteville, 1794.
Mrs. Esther B. Steele, born at Lysander, 1835, aided her husband in his historical and scientific works, taking full charge of the biographical notes and sections on civilization. and publishing enlarged editions of some works after his death.
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W. O. Stoddard, born in Homer, September 24, 1835, and once a school boy in Syracuse, has written many children's books. Two are of local interest, "Among the Lakes," 1891, is a story of Tully, "Saltillo Boys," 1891, is a Syra- cuse tale. "On the Old Frontier," appeared in 1893.
Gurney S. Strong issued his valuable "Early Landmarks of Syracuse" in 1894.
II. J. Sutherland published " Syracuse and its Resources" in 1893.
Homer D. L. Sweet published the "Averys of Groton," and a volume of poems.
Rev. T. De Witt Tallnage was pastor of the Reformed church, Syracuse, 1859-62. Beside published sermons he wrote "Crumbs swept up," " "Around the Tea Table, " etc.
Mrs. W. W. Teall, daughter of General Sumner, is the author of valuable historical papers.
Mrs. Phila C. Thomas wrote "Nobody's Child."
Mrs. Helen F. Troy, a student of Indian lore, now of Auburn, but formerly of Syracuse, wrote seventy-seven poems, 1894-97, published at Syracuse, 1897. Two are Indian legends of some length.
Prof. Lucien M. Underwood (deceased) is best known by his excellent work, "Our Native Ferns."
William W. Van Brocklin edited "The Pompey Re-Union," 1875, held in 1871.
Henry S. Van Shaack wrote a "History of Manlius Village." 1873, and other historical works. He was born April 3, 1802, and died at an advanced age.
Mrs. Avis Stearns Van Wagennen wrote the "Stearns.Genealogy," 1901. Caroline Walch wrote "Dr. Sphinx" in 1878.
Edward R. Wallace wrote the first "Guide to the Adirondacks," which had several editions.
Thurlow Weed was a boy and editor here, and may be placed among Onon- daga writers. They are interesting reminiscences of his Onondaga life in his autobiography.
Edward Westcott is best known as the author of "David Haruni," a phen- omenal success.
Rev. Frauk N. Wescott of Skaneateles, brother of the last, published "Catholic Principles," "Sermons to myself," and other religious works.
Andrew D. White was born at Homer, November 7, 1832. He is author of "History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom," 1896; "Paper Money Inflation in France," 1896; his admirable autobiography and oth- er works.
Dr. J. M. Wieting, one of the most popular lecturers of his day. was born February 8, 1817, and was resident in Syracuse 1837-88. Mrs. Mary E. Wieting. his wife, published in 1889 a sketch of his life and their tour around the world. She has been a contributor to the press, both in poetry and prose.
Alfred Wilkinson edited Reports of Decisions of the Court of Appeals, and wrote legal and scientifie papers.
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Rev. Dr. William D. Wilson was author of "The Church Identified," and other works.
Rev. W. De L. Wilson, S. T. D., his son, has also published "Parochial Or- ganization, " and other small but important works.
Prof. Alexander Winchell, once chancellor of Syracuse University, published the Doctrine of Evolution, 1874; Geologieal Excursions, 1884; Geologieal Stud- ies, 1887, etc.
Newell B. Woodworth of Syracuse, is preparing the geneology of Walter Woodworth, of Seitnate, Massachusetts.
Rev. Jeremiah Zimmerman was born in Maryland, April 2, 1848. In 1902 he published "Spain and her People," and is now engaged on oriental life and religions. He ranks high among mumismatists, and as a lecturer.
As said before, this is by no means a complete list of writers here, many able papers being prepared by specialists for special occasions, and going no further. Occasionally some of these take permanent form, often imbedded in a society's proceedings. Leading journals often publish papers which would onee have made a reputation, and some maintain a staff of writers whose names rarely reach the public. There are men and women in constant request as lecturers, whose opinions and statements are of recognized value, who have printed very little. Others are of importance in various organizations. dealing ably with the facts and principles of these. vet not posing as writers distinctly. These and others who have escaped notice in this list, will consider the indefinite- ness of the classification and the difficulty of obtaining names and facts. and pardon all omissions. If their names do not appear here. it may be they well deserve recognition. In enumerating those given many books have been con- sulted, and a good foundation is laid for fuller work.
Beside other men of national reputation two presidents of the United States have lived in Onondaga county. President Fillmore worked in Skane- ateles when a boy, and President Cleveland was a schoolboy in Fayetteville.
ONONDAGA ARTISTS.
It seems proper to add a few words about another class of thoughtful and imaginative people. who have given some distinction to Onondaga county in the line of art. One of these was Charles Loring Elliott, one of the foremost Amer- ican portrait painters, who did most of his early work here. Skaneateles is rich in his pictures, and Syraeuse retains many good portraits. Hle seldom indulged in landscape painting, but there is one picture of his of the head of Skaneateles lake, which is beautiful in color and effect, though not well drawn. Sanford Thayer, his warm friend, also spent some years in Skaneateles, but had his stu- dio in Syracuse at a later day, where he left many fine portraits, as well as landscapes. His picture by Elliott made a great sensation in the world of art.
Angustus Rockwell, born in Manlius but spending his later days in Buffalo, painted many portraits here, which are good likenesses, though florid in color.
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There was artistic ability in the family, but he seems to have confined himself to portraits, which were the only pictures which paid in those days.
John D. Barrow was emphatically an Onondaga artist, painting some of our prominent people, but most at home in our grand landscapes, especially those about Skaneateles lake, which he loved and in which he reveled. He present- ed the Barrow collection of pictures to the Syracuse Library, mostly land- scapes ; and built and filled a fine art gallery for the library at Skaneateles, for which his brother is preparing a unique catalogue. In that library is a striking portrait of Mr. Barrow, painted by Sammel M. Roosevelt, one of the Skaneateles family of that name.
De Cost Smith, born in Skaneateles, and eminent as a painter and illus- trator of Indian scenes, has a fine picture in the Skaneateles library, entitled "Conflicting Faiths." A recumbent Indian holds a wooden mask in one hand, and a erncifix in the other. Mr. Smith at one time had a studio on the Onon- daga reservation, where he is well known by his Indian name. Mr. E. R. Smith, his father, made a promising beginning as an artist of the Dusseldorf school, but was diverted from this by business cares. Albert Edwards, of the same place, was an excellent copyist, but did little strictly original work. Mrs. Marie Il. Luce, born in Skaneateles but now of Auburn, has a well earned repu- tation in flower painting and still life.
George K. Kuapp, born in Onondaga and long a resident of Syracuse, has done excellent work in portraiture, executing some important commissions with great success, and indulging in historical work, still life and landscapes as side studies. In still life his deceased son did much of high merit.
Henry Ward Ranger, formerly of Syracuse, has taken high rank among recent artists, and all Syracusans are familiar with the work of James Cant- well, Ferdinand Carter, F. C. Welch, Chester Loomis, Thomas T. Smith and others. It would be easy to extend this list in an unprofessional way, for there are many amateur artists who are doing excellent work in oil, crayon and water color, mostly for their own pleasure, but perhaps with occasional sales. Photo- graphy has also brought a new departure, and many are the fine pictures pro- duced by artistic arrangement or judicious selection. The Camera Club has aided much in this, producing many beautiful pietures of Onondaga life.
The real "old masters" here, of course, were of the Rubens school, the red men of the forest, who are said to have produced remarkable and striking effects when they painted faces. Early travelers, too, tell us of picture gal- leries in the wilderness, and the French archives have preserved for us pictures drawn by Hotreouati, the Onondaga. Little of this art remains, but Allen Big Knife, a deaf mute at the reservation, furnishes original paintings of In- dian life for a small consideration.
In sculpture there is a small but creditable list. Clark Mills was born here December 1, 1815, and was first a millwright, then a plasterer, and then a sculptor. His first work was a bust of John C. Calhoun, purchased for the town hall in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1846. This led to other work. In 1848, before he had ever seen an equestrian statue, he sent in a design for that of Andrew Jackson, at Washington, and it was accepted, and unveiled January
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8, 1853. For his colossal statue of Washington at Princeton, unveiled on Washington's birthday, 1860, he received fifty thousand dollars.
Erastus D. Palmer. born at Pompey, April 2, 1817, was for awhile a car- penter in Utica, and began to ent eameos because he liked it in 1846. In this he did a successful business, but it tried his eyes, and he began an equally sue- eessful career as a seulptor in 1852, producing many meritorious works. The curious experience of both these artists is well worth study. At one time Pal- mer had a studio on the shore of Cayuga lake, at Aurora, New York, still called "the locomotive house," from its odd construction.
Jerome Connor works mostly in bronze, often taking Indian subjects and employing Indian models. One of his groups is one of the Kirkpatrick foun- tains in Union Place. The Onondagas gave him the name of Gaahqua, the sun.
Mrs. Gail Sherman Corbett, born in Syracuse, but now having her studio in New York, has made monumental designs both in bronze and granite. Her first publie work here was the well known memorial to Hamilton White in Fay- ette Park, and the fine Kirkpatrick fountain in Washington Park is elsewhere described.
Two large pictures in the Onondaga Historical rooms represent the land- ing of Frontenae at Onondaga lake in 1696, and the burning of the old Onon- . daga a few days later.
Creditable teachers and students, of course, are a permanent feature of Syracuse University, doing work of a more or less local character, and there are less prominent artists of whom it would be a pleasure to speak did space per- mit. When the Central New York artists have an exhibition it is always of great interest. The constantly varying and valuable exhibitions of the Syra- ense Museum of Fine Arts are an inspiration, and both stimulate and correct the popular taste.
CHAPTER XXXI.
CEMETERIES, OLD AND NEW.
The care of the dead seems natural to man, aside from sanitary require- ments, and with it are connected many curious customs and. superstitions. Mound burial had but a small plaee among the aborigines of Onondaga county, two burial mounds only having been reported, both on the west side of the Onondaga outlet at Long Branch, and but a few rods apart. In each were sev- eral skeletons and some early relics. Nor are ossnaries or bone pits the rule. These were commonly used by the Hurons of the historie and earlier periods, and might have been expected among their kindred, the Onondagas, but traces of this do not ocenr. There is a tradition that they once placed the dead on scaffolds, and then took them down for common burial, as the Hurons did, but there is no reference to this in history, and no signs of it in burial places.
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HOSPITAL OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
OLD LADIES' HOME.
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Few aboriginal cemeteries have been found near the old forts and villages of northern Onondaga, none at the most important, and a rich field of research awaits future explorers. In some cases, however, graves have been opened there, out of which a few relics have come. One such cemetery was on the south side of Seneca river at Baldwinsville, where the crouching posture in pits occurred. Two cemeteries, one on each side of the river, had extended burial and no relics. The cemeteries belonging to six early forts in that vicinity have never been found. This is also partially true of the group of forts in El- bridge, where upright burial and relies may be expected.
In the southeastern towns it is different. Aboriginal cemeteries there are of a more modern period and type, and were more easily found from being usually on hills or hillsides. The earlier ones have the crouching posture, the body being made as compact as possible, and placed upright in a pit. In the latter half of the seventeenth century the white man's method made some pro- gress, but the simple palisade around the tomb, or the painted frame above it, commonly showed the grave. A warrior might have his painted post, recording his warlike deeds. but there was a place set apart for the village cemetery. For a long time clan burial prevailed, so that a woman might be buried with her children but not with her husband.
When the Onondagas at last took up their abode in the valley that bears their name, early in the eighteenth century, they had adopted part of the white man's burial customs, but still placed articles in the grave to be used by the soul on its way to the happy hunting grounds. The dead feast, ten days after death. is still kept up. and the annual dead feast as well. The body, how- ever, was placed at length in a coffin, it it could be had. Father Lamberville made one for Garakontie in 1676, and Zeisberger another for an Indian woman at Onondaga Valley in 1753. Several cemeteries have been found there.
Clark gives a good account of Indian burial there, as follows : "The prac- tice pursued when the whites first came among the Indians at Onondaga, was like this: They dressed the corpse (if a man) in a shirt, a coat and leggings, sometimes made of skins, at others of cloth, as was most convenient. A pair of deer-skin moccasions covered the feet, aud a cap of fur the head. The corpse was then ready for the burial. Their graves were usually dug about three feet deep. Barks were cut and peeled, of the length of the grave. pieces were fitted for the bottom, sides and ends, and then placed in the grave; a single broad piece was fitted for a covering. The eorpse was then brought to the grave on poles bound together for a bier. He was then lowered into his bark coffin. when an Indian woman approached with a kettle of provisions, a pair of mocca- sins, with pieces of deerskin, and with sinews of the deer to sew the patches on the moccasins which it was supposed the deceased would wear out on his journey to the land of spirits. These were carefully deposited in the bark coffin. Then came an Indian with bows and arrows. (or sometimes, if a dis- tinguished person. a rifle), a tomahawk and knife. These were also ceremon- iously laid in the coffin. and were considered indispensable to a prosperous and happy journey in procuring provisions. on the way to the blissful re- gions of Ha-wah-ne-u. After these things were deposited, the final covering was carefully placed over the whole, and the grave closed with earth. This
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done, the Indian women kneeled down around the grave and wept. The men for a time were silent, but after a while they set up a doleful ery, chanted the death dirge, and all silently retired to their homes. In former years, after the burial of a friend, the Onondagas used to visit the grave for twelve successive days, before sunrise and after sunset, and there with sighs and moans made great lamentation over it."
Mr. Clark had unusual opportunities for knowing the cemeteries in Pom- pey and vicinity, and a few notes from his excellent work will be given. He placed the cemetery at Indian hill (1654) on a broad plain on the ridge north of the town, "where several acres were once covered with graves of men, women and children. The skeletons were universally found buried in a sitting pos- ture, 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."
Of the stockade one and a half miles south of Delphi he said : "A short dis- taner to the south of the fort is the main burying ground, which is quite exten- sive. One of the peculiarities of this ground, from all others in which we have had knowledge, is that the corpses are buried, one row with their heads to the west, and the next row with their heads to the east, so that the feet of the two rows were towards each other, and very near together, with the arms folded across the breast. . . . The skeletons taken from here, have usually been of a size averaging far above that of common men. Several have exceeded seven feet." The date may have been about 1620.
At Indian Orchard "the graves were arranged with great regularity, side by side, in rows of ten to fifteen rods in extent; in the vicinity were other groups of graves, but not in regular order. Upon examination the body ap- pears to have been enclosed in a wooden or bark box." (1720-1760).
For a long time it was thought that the Pompey Stone was a genuine ree- ord of the earliest European burial in Onondaga county, but the exposure of that eurious hoax in 1894 swept one historie myth away. Spanish wanderers never entered the Onondaga territory. With the coming of the French some- thing more definite appeared. The colonists of 1656 had a sad time with sick- ness, and there were two deaths, aparently in the autumn of that year. Of course they were interred with Christian rites and near the mission house be- tween Syracuse and Liverpool. The Onondagas lameuted this loss in their usual way. "The chiefs among them having come with mournful eries to cou- sole us for the death of two of our Frenchmen, he who brought the presents of condolence, addressing the Father Superior, said to him: 'The Aneients of our country, being accustomed to dry each other's tears, when they are afflicted by any misfortune, we come, Achiendase, to perform for you this duty of friend- ship.
"We weep with thee, because misfortunes cannot touch thee without piere- ing us by the same stroke; and we are unable, without extreme grief, to see thee
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so ill treated in our land, after having left thine own in which thou wast per- feetly at thy ease. Sickness casts thy nephews into the depths of an earth of which thou knowest not yet the surface. Ah! how the ernel demon makes good the opportunity of afflieting those whom he hates. He uses precisely the time to make this evil stroke, when thou hast most need of thy nephews to build thy cabins, to fortify thyself, and to cultivate thy fields. Having ceaselessly harass- ed them through all the summer time, and having found himself too weak to attack thee. he has made a league with the demons of fever and death, in order to join our loss to yours. making his ravages upon us even more than on you. But take courage, our brother, we wipe away the tears from thy eyes, so that thou mayest see that all thy nephews are not dead. We open thine eyes by this present, so that thou mayest think of those who remain to thee, and that by thy favorable looks thou mayest give them at the same time life and joy. As for onr two nephews who are dead, it is not needful that they should go naked into the other world : behold a beautiful pall to cover them. Behold also some- thing with which to put them in the grave, for fear that the sight of them may renew thy sorrow, and to take away from thy view every kind of doleful ob- jects.
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