USA > New York > Onondaga County > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 47
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 47
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Lysander village was generally known as Betts' Corners in 1836, and had then a churel, tavern, three stores, a tannery and about forty dwellings. Cor- nelius C. Hubbard and Chauncey Betts were storekeepers and Dr. Clark was the physician. In 1886 it had two general stores, hardware store and tin shop. harness shop. blacksmith and shoe shop, hotel, meat market. wagon shop. un- dertaker, two insurance agents, two physicians, a cheese factory and dealers in agricultural implements and fertilizers. There were then two churches.
In 1836 Plainville had a church, two taverns, a store and twelve to fifteen dwellings. There is but one tavern now. but more stores.
Little Utica had a church in 1836, a tavern, store, sawmill and a dozen dwellings.
CHAPTER XLIV.
TOWN OF MANLIUS.
The township of Manlius, No. 7, perhaps had its name more from a noted Roman family than any one member of it. Several were of note, and one early member delivered Rome from the Gauls. It once included De Witt and part of Salina, and the civil town was in 1794 the same as the township. The first town meeting was held at Morehouse's. now in De Witt, April 1, 1794. Com- fort Tyler became supervisor and Levi Jerome, town clerk.
David Tripp first settled within the present town limits in 1790, and built a eabin a mile northwest of Manlius village. His father died there in 1792, the first pioneer's death in the town. James Foster eame to Eagle village in 1790, and opened a tavern. Joshua Knowlton and Origen Eaton settled at Fax- etteville in 1791. Cyrus Kinne came there in 1792, and began blacksmithing. Conrad Lour settled near Mr. Tripp in 1792, building then the first frame
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1 house in town. The materials came a long way. John A. Schaeffer made the first settlement at Manlins village that year, and soon kept an inn. ITis child was the first one born in the town of white parents.
Nicholas Phillips settled there also, and was married there to Caty Gar- leck January 14, 1793, the first marriage in town. He died in 1854, aged eighty- three. Colonel Elijah Phillips came as early as 1792, and leased the property at Edwards' Falls. He at once built the first sawmill in town. In 1796 Butler & Phillips built a grist mill. William Warner and Mr. Jones opened stores. Charles Moseley opened a store and Mr. Staniford a tavern at Eagle village.
A rude road ran through Eagle and Manlius villages, crossing Butternut . creek near Jamesville. This was gradually improved. About one hundred and forty surveyed sections of road had been laid out in 1835.
In 1798 the first log schoolhouse was built at Manlins village, and Sam- uel Edwards was teaching another. There could be little system in school affairs then.
Other early settlers at Manlius village were Charles Mulholland, Aaron Wood. Messrs. Cunningham and Leonard, William Ward and Jabez Colb. Mr. Diekont opened the first permanent store in the first frame house erected. Alva Marsh was the first lawyer in 1798, but others soon came.
Charles Mulholland gave the place the name of Liberty Square in 1800. and the new post office received this name that year, Luther Bingham being postmaster. This name was soon changed to Manlius Square. In 1801 there were but six dwellings there, with one store and a few shops. Azariah Smith came in 1807. and for forty years was the forcmost citizen, a merchant. manu- facturer and legislator. He opened one of the many stores which John Meeker controlled in various places.
A disastrous flood in 1809 took every bridge from Limestone creek, with some mills and dams. The stream sometimes does damage yet.
The village grew rapidly till the opening of the canal, and was a place of enlture and intelligence. For a little time it was called Derne, and in 1806 the first newspaper in the county was issued by Abram Romeyn as the Derne Gazette. It was unpopular and did not live long. The village changed its name to Manlius and had another paper. This was Leonard Kellogg's Herald of the Times, first issued May 24, 1808. He wisely gave one side to the Demno- crats. and the other to the Federalists. In 1811 it became the Manlius Times. and in 1818 the Onondaga Herald. Thurlow Weed issued the Onondaga County Republican June 21. 1824. In 1825 it was the Manlius Repository, and was dis- continued in 1835. Later papers were Our Flag, Manlius Star, Weekly Moni- tor and Manlius Eagle.
Hezekiah L. Granger was mentioned as president of the village in 1816, but it was not incorporated till April 30. 1842. when Robert Fleming became president. It was reincorporated May 16, 1882, by a close vote.
Dr. William Taylor was conspicuous among early physicians, of whom there were several. He was six years in the legislature. Joshua V. H. Clark, the historian, lived for many years here. He was born in the town of Caze- novia, but moved to Eagle village in 1828. In 18-47 he bought Rev. Dr. Adams' historie materials, and began his history of Onondaga. The difficulties were
THE NEW Y. M. C. A. BUILDING.
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great, and he lost money in the enterprise, but produced a book of untold value. For nearly thirty years he was a trustee of Manlius Academy (founded in 1835), several times village president, the first president of the Onondaga Historieal Association, and a member of Assembly in 1855.
The Erie canal did not help this village, but it did Fayetteville, which was reached by a feeder. Carey Coats opened a tavern there in 1801, others fol- lowed, and for a time the place was distinguished by these rather than churches, being styled in 1828. a "village having four taverns and no meeting house." John Delamater opened a store and it was known as Manlius Four Corners till the post office gave it its present name, May 6, 1844. John Sprague was the first president. It was reincorporated January 28. 1871. The Breeds, Collins and Wordens were early settlers, David Collin coming in 1797. Dr. Timothy Teall came in 1791. and Reuben Bangs in 1813. Richard F. Cleveland. father of President Cleveland, lived opposite the old academy, and Grover Cleveland was a school boy here. Harvey Edwards was an early merchant, and all the early industries were found, as tanneries, asheries, fulling and saw mills. Later merchants have been Nichols, Gage, Jewett, Blanchard, Austin, Snell, Smith, Tibbitts. Coon, Potter and the Beards.
The cement works of Bangs & Gaynor came in 1818, and they were large contractors later. Milling of various kinds has always been prominent, the water power being excellent. Banks have not thriven, though the National Bank was founded in 1854, and the Farmers' Bank in 1870. The Fayetteville Recorder was established in 1866 by F. A. Darling, and published by the Re- corder Printing Association in 1874, and H. C. Beauchamp in 1894. It was discontinued in 1899. A paper is now published by Mr. Dawley. called the Fayetteville Bulletin.
The Fayetteville Hydraulie Company was incorporated March 14, 1836, to bring water from Limestone creek through the village. This was called the Ledyard canal, with a fall of about one hundred feet. Water works now supply excellent water in houses, and the Suburban electric road has increased the fine residences between here and Syraense.
The canal created Manlius Center and Kirkville. The latter was called after Edward Kirkland, the first postmaster there in 1824. He built a store and made the canal basin at his own expense. An inn was soon opened by Mr. Cunningham. Lorenzo Adams was an early merchant, and Pardon Aus- tin had a hotel. grocery and canal barn. Among early settlers were the Smiths, Wilcoxes, Wordens. and others. The Carr and Kirkville houses are recent additions. Drs. Avery and Palmer were early physicians, and Dr. Milton A. Curtis came in 1878.
Eagle village had early importance. James Foster's inn. of 1790, was followed by the famous in of Libbons Foster in 1794, and in this was a Masonie hall. Charles Bristol had a store there in 1804. Amos P. Granger of Syracuse began business there. Mr. Walker opened a law office there in 1804. and Asa Riee another soon after. Drs. Ward, Moore, Fisk and Wash- burne were early physicians, and a library was incorporated there in 1811. an early day for such an enterprise.
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Manlius station, now Minoa, came from the opening of the Utica and Syracuse railroad in 1836. .T. H. Fisher was a merchant there, and Joseph Helfer grocer and innkeeper. Ephraim E. Woodard and R. W. MeKinley were postmasters.
Among prominent men in the town were David Hibbard, Ambrose Clark, Garrett Cole, R. II. and Eli T. Bangs, the Knapps, Eversons, Snooks, Seovilles, and Townsends, N. P. Randall, Drs. Graves and Nims.
This old town, with Pompey and De Witt, had an initial celebration of the County Centennial, May 30, 1891. The speakers were Revs. Theodore Babeock and C. P. Osborne, H. K. Edwards, W. H. Peck and W. W. Van Brock- lin.
A Baptist society was formed in Fayetteville as early as 1800, Rev. Daniel Campbell being first pastor. This was recognized as a church in 1804, and Gershom Breed was lieensed as a preacher, and ordained in 1812. A church was built, and dedieated in July, 1831. In 1843 the slavery question created a second Baptist church there under Rev. W. Kingsley. The present fine brick church was built in 1870. The Baptist church in Manlius village was built in 1826, the society being organized in 1813.
Christ church (P. E.) is the oldest in the town, having been organized by Rev. Davenport Phelps in Jannary, 1804, the church being erected on the hill at the east end of Manlius village in 1813. It was removed to its present site without injury in 1832. It has several fine memorial windows. Ser- vices, however, were held as early as 1798. The first rector was Rev. Parker Adams in 1810. Trinity church (P. E.). Fayetteville, was organized in 1830, a church being built in 1831. The first resident minister was Rev. J. B. Engle in 1837. The beautiful stone church was built in 1870.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception (R. C.), Fayetteville. began with mission work of many years duration. The brick church was conse- erated November 26, 1872. St. Mary's (R. C.) church between Manlius and Bridgeport was built in 1834, and rebuilt later.
Trinity Presbyterian church, Manlins village, was formed Angust 29. 1815. In 1819 a church was built. The first pastor was Rev. Ira M. Olds, Deeember. 1815. The Presbyterians of Fayetteville built a church in 1829, which was remodeled in 1957. The first regular pastor was Rev. Amnos C. Tuttle, 1837.
A union religious society was formed in Kirkville, January 16, 1849, and a church was built in 1850. Services were to be statedly held by Universa- lists, Presbyterians, Wesleyan and Episcopal Methodists. A Congregational society has occupied it since 1893.
The first Methodist Episcopal society in Manlius village was formed at an early day, and a church built in 1822. This was removed to its present site in 1844. The Methodist Episcopal church at Kirkville was built in 1872, Rev. Joseph Maxwell being the first pastor. At Manlius station a Methi- odist church was erected in 1862. The Rev. Gideon Jones was then pastor. The present Methodist church in Fayetteville was built in 1836, and replaced an earlier one sold for academy purposes. There is also a chapel at High Bridge.
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When De Witt was set off in 1835, Manlius retained seven thousand seven hundred and fifty-two dollars and forty-two cents of the school fund. Fay- etteville has a fine building for its Union school. Manlius Academy was in- corporated April 13. 1835, and out of this grew the famous and flourishing St. John's Military School, south of the village. This was founded in 1869 under Bishop Huntington. and Colonel William Verbeck has given it a wide celebrity. It has ample grounds, and the disastrous fire of April 8, 1902, was followed by larger and finer buildings. near the terminus of the Suburban railroad at Edwards' Falls. These provide for junior and senior depart- ments.
There are A, B and C companies. a troop of cavalry, two batteries of artillery, and signal and hospital corps. Frequent marches are made to Syracuse eleven miles away. and there is an annual three or four day's march to some distant point. A camp on Cazenovia lake is another feature of sum- mer training. Commencement day is a festive occasion indeed.
Over two hundred boys are usually in attendance, with a faculty of twenty-four instructors. One of these is detailed from the United States army. The War Department has designated it as a "distinguished institu- tion," one of six leading military schools and colleges "whose students have exhibited the greatest interest. application and proficiency in military training and knowledge." It is thus entitled to the annual appointment of an honor graduate as a second lieutenant in the army. The inspector in 1907. reporting to the War Department, said more in its praise than we can quote, among other things : "The appearance of the cadets at inspection compared excel- lenty with what I would reasonably expect in a similar organization of regular troops. . The equipment of this school for practical military instruc- tion is very extensive and complete ; moreover, it is all employed for its proper purpose. Its condition is excellent."
Military Lodge, No. 93, F. & A. M., was the second Masonic lodge in the county. and was organized June 30. 1802. Caleb B. Merrill. W. M. Several Revolutionary soldiers were among its members, as in other early lodges. After Azariah Smith erected the building in 1816. now called Smith Hall, the lodge rooms were held under a perpetual lease of one barleycorn annually. if demanded. The walls were covered with emblematie paintings, restored in 1902. and injured by fire later. The lodge was closed from December 25. 1830, to March 25, 1851. the doors being bricked up so that everything remained in safety. It was rechartered as No. 215, June 6. 1851, regaining its old num- ber in 1877. It has the laudable custom of presenting each new initiate with a Bible, as his rule and guide in life. "Fayetteville Lodge, No. 578, F. & A. M., was chartered July 10, 1865, Hiram Wood, W. M. Manlius Chapter, R. A. M., No. 72, was organized February 8, 1854, Illustrious Remington, H. P.
There are many societies in Manlius village, several meeting in Smith Hall.
The Manlius and Pompey Agricultural and Mechanical Association was
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formed in 1849, and flourished for many years, but it has disappeared like many other useful societies of the kind.
Deep Spring is on the county line, a little over three miles northeasterly from Manlius village, but has been elsewhere noticed.
After the canal cane the New York Central and West Shore railroads near - it. The Syracuse & Chenango branch of the latter passes through Manlius and Fayetteville, and the suburban trolley line does the same, terminating at Edwards' Falls, a picturesque spot. The latter line will probably be extended southward. These roads tend to make Fayetteville and Manlius delightful residence suburban villages, and may eventually stimulate manufacturing in both.
High Bridge is a hamlet on Limestone ereek, Manlius Center on the canal, while Mycenae or Hartsville is southeast of Kirkville, and North Manlius northeast of Minoa.
Some of the finest fruit farms of the county are in Manlius, and there are good dairy farms. Hops were raised for a time, but tobacco growing was not a success. Early days. however, were sometimes those of privation. David Tripp came in 1790, and at one time was short of food for three months. All they had, "excepting wild roots and milk, was a bushel of corn which he pro- eured at Herkimer, and brought home on his back." Captain Joseph Williams brought his family in 1796 to a home he had prepared. When he arrived wheat was three dollars and fifty cents per bushel, corn one dollar and a half. and common calico seventy-five cents per yard. Caleb Pratt came in 1793, and hu- morously described the conditions when destitution was so great "that the lank, lean sided, long necked mice. would come peeping into the crevices of the log houses and shed tears of sorrow at the poverty of the inmates, and re- tire without finding a erumb to satisfy their longing appetites."
Speaking of a small trader, Clark said: "The formidable name of John Smith was rather more common then than now. Manlius village and vicinity could boast of no less than four, and they were distinguished by the appella- tion of Long John, Blind John, Cross John and John Stout." This was a custom in early villages, where two of a name had some peculiarity.
Our forefathers had humor. Carey Coats opened a tavern in Fayette ville in 1801, and to get a license swore that he had two spare beds, and stables for two span of horses or two yoke of oxen. Complaint was made of lack of beds. but he said he had told the truth, referring them to his father-in-law, who confirmed it, for he saw him make two garden beds, which must be spare, for he could not borrow seed to sow them.
There was a Satan's kingdom. of course-more's the pity-but the people tired of the name, and met at the schoolhonse in 1814 to mend matters. Mr. Smith Burton was asked to furnish some lines for the Manlius Times on the change. They were these:
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"Since the King no longer sits on his Throne, We, his name no longer will own,
But around the standard we will rally.
Of peace. and call the place Pleasant Valley."
In June, 1795, there was a company training in front of James Foster's tavern, Eagle village. A hollow square was formed, and in the center of this Cyrus Kinne married Miss Jenny Mulholland to Billy MeKee. We may sup- pose a jolly time.
At the county centennial celebration in 1794, Miss Eliza Cole of Fay- etteville gave a representation of her school in 1845, when Grover Cleveland was one of her scholars. The boy who represented the president read a composi- tion by him, on Time, which Miss Cole had preserved with others. It follows :
"Time is divided into seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years and centuries. If we expect to become great and good men, and be respected and esteemed by our friends, we must improve our time when we are young. "George Washington improved his time when he was a boy, and he was not sorry when he was at the head of a great army fighting for his country.
"A great many of our great men were poor, and had bat small means of obtaining an education. but by improving their time when they were young and in school, they obtained their high standing.
"Jackson was a poor boy, but he was placed in school. and by improving his time. he found himself President of the United States, guiding and di- recting a powerful nation. If we wish to become great and useful in the . world, we must improve our time in school."
In 1836 Manlins village had an Episcopal, Methodist, and a Presbyterian church, a newspaper, academy, cotton factory, two grist mills, several saw- mills, six stores, two taverns and one hundred and fifty dwellings. In 1886 it had two drug stores, lime kiln, two harness shops, three dressmakers, a lime mill, four physicians, three blacksmiths, two meat markets, saloon, foundry and machine shop, grocery, two grist mills, dentist, millinery store, two general stores, three hotels, lumber and coal yard, two hardware stores, restaurant, stone yard. livery stable, two wagon shops, feather bed renovator, cradle fae- tory, cigar factory, two paper mills, foundry, undertaker and furniture dealer, machine shop, two shoe shops, a barber and two lawyers.
Fayetteville in 1836 had a Baptist, Methodist and a Presbyterian church, six stores, four taverns, grist and sawmill and seventy-five dwellings. In 1886 it had two more churches, five physicians, four lawyers, a photographer, one line, cement and plaster factory. two jewelry stores, two drug stores, paper mill. foundry, three hotels, marble shop, five saloons, lumber manufactory, sash and blind factory two millinery shops, veterinary surgeon, furniture factory, cooper, two billiard rooms, two blacksmiths. two banks, two meat markets, flour and feed store, four grocers, hardware store, undertaker, two furniture dealers, three wagon shops, insurance agent, four general stores, livery stable, cigar factory, lime mill. knife factory, meat market and a weekly paper.
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At Kirkville in 1836 Clark Vibbard kept a general store and was pust- master. He also had a sawmill. Robert Cunningham and Harvey Eaton kept hotels. Lawrence was the blacksmith; Joseph Hoag, William Gillman and L. Delaney were boat builders, and Jonathan Worden had a grist and sawmill. Fifty years later, in 1886, there were two churches, two blacksmiths, two general stores, two groceries, two hotels, two carriage shops, a grist mill, cheese factory, boot and shoe store and a shoemaker.
Where Manlius (now Minoa) Station is, in 1836 there were but two or three log hints and a blacksmith shop. In 1886 it was credited with two churches, a grist and a sawmill, two general stores, merchant tailor, two coal yards, produce store, three painters, marble shop, cigar store, blacksmith shop, two hotels, two shoe shops, livery stable. gunsmith, two meat markets, insurance agent, mason, carpenter and physician.
CHAPTER XLV.
TOWN OF MARCELLUS.
The township of Marcellus, No. 9 of the military tract, was named after a Roman general, slain 208 B. C. His army was long successfully resisted at the siege of ancient Syracuse by the engines of Archimedes. It once included all Skaneateles, the north part of Spafford, and the northwest two-thirds of Otiseo. The latter part lay south of Onondaga, and was known as the "L of Marcellus." The town retains thirty-two out of its hundred lots. Most of the grantees sold their claims for very little. The timber was heavy, with a dense undergrowth in the lowlands, and but little in the uplands. An Indian trail followed the line of the electric road from the west to Nine Mile creek, crossing the hills due east to Onondaga. The natural features have been described.
William Cobb, Joab and Rufus Lawrence settled on East hill in 1794. The former was grandfather of Rev. Stephen Cobb. That year Cyrus Holcomb settled on West hill, and Samuel Tyler at Tyler hollow, called from him. He was the first justice of the peace in 1798. The Bowens and Codys came to Clintonville in 1794. Joseph Cody kept the first tavern there in 1806, and Manasseh Eaton was a merchant there in 1815. Hon. Dan Bradley and Deacon Samuel Rice came to Marcellus village in 1795, and found squatters there. who scon removed. Mr. Bradley had been pastor of a Congregational church in Whitestown, New York, was afterward a judge of the county court, and first president of the Onondaga Agricultural Society in 1819. Deacon Rice kept tavern in his log house, and in 1802 Rev. Mr. Robbins said he "drew a plan for a public house in this place" for him. This was the third frame
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house in town. This inn became popular and stood where St. Francis Xavier's church does now. Dr. Israel Parsons, town historian, was Deacon Rice's grandson.
Dr. Elnathan Beach, the first physician, came in the winter of 1795-96, and built the first frame house in town. Ile was the first postmaster, and was sheriff of Onondaga county in 1799, dying two years later. The winter he arrived Bradley & Rice built the first sawmill in town, on Nine Mile creek. As far as it had a name, this was the name of the village then. Rev. Mr. Rob- bins uniformly styled it "the east part of the town." Colonel Bigelow and his eight sons came to East and West hill about that time, owning about one thousand acres on these. His daughter, Aseuath, is said to have taught the first school in Marcellus in 1796, but Dr. Parsons gives Judge Bradley prece- dence. The first death was that of a traveler in 1797, buried in the first cemetery on the Isaac Bradley place. About twenty were buried there before a new site was chosen in 1804.
The Rathbones, Earlls, Cossitts, Wiltsies, Wheadons, Godards, Kelseys, Cowles, Shepards, Dorchesters, Dunbars, Taylors, etc., eame later. Stages went through in 1797. It can hardly be said they ran. In 1800 a rude grist mill was built by Messrs. May and Sayles. In the old town William Stevens was supervisor, 1794-96, Samuel Tyler in 1797, and Winston Day in 1798.
In 1801 Lemuel Johnson built a new store, and Samuel Bishop became the first lawyer. B. Davis Noxon was the second in 1808. Woolen mills and dis- tilleries were matters of course. The first of the former was built about 1812, by Robert and Thomas Dyer. Several have followed. The site of the linseed oil mill of 1825, became that of the Marcellus Powder Company in 1881, after many changes. An explosion once took place there. There was an earlier powder mill built by Jeptha Cossitt about 1812. At the present time there are paper mills there, always a great local industry. The first is supposed to have been built by Mr. Cone in 1806. John Herring bought this in 1816, and became a noted paper maker. Tanneries, elock works, plaster mills, wooden ware, stone sawing, bark and barley mills, and machine shops have been some of the other industries on Nine Mile creek, some of these originating the vil- lage of Marcellus Falls in 1806. It was at first called Union village, and nick- named Algiers.
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