USA > New York > Onondaga County > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 48
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 48
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
Clintonville had a post office and shops on the Skaneateles and Hamilton turnpike, but has vanished. Thorn Hill has a Baptist church, and a name from the Thorn family. Good agrieultural fairs were onee held there. Rose Hill post office was established November 5, 1890, Frank B. Mills, postmaster. He is a successful seedsman, doing a large business in seeds and catalogues. Marietta is a hamlet near and on the outlet of Otisco lake. A railroad running to the lake now makes these places easily accessible, and the lake is a favorite resort.
Marcellus village was a busy place in the days of great stage lines. lui the writer's boyhood it was well known as "Pucker Street," of which there are two stories told. One is that a young lady was annoyed, as she said. at
392
PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
having to shout for her beau "right in the middle of Pucker Street," and the Lawrence brothers spread the story and the name. Another was that it came from the eonfab of a tailor and his customer about a misfit. The name proved popular. July 4, 1853, the village was incorporated, William J. Machan being chosen president July 23. The interurban electric road has proved a great convenience to the place, and it is becoming one of our prettiest towns. The Otisco Lake railroad also passes through it, connecting with the New York Central at Marcellus Station.
The early settlers formed the "Church of Christ" October 13, 1801, fol- lowed by the society called the "Trustees of the Eastern Religious Society of Marcellus," May, 1802. A church was built in 1803, two statements about which are erroneous. It was not the first house of worship ereeted in the county, " for Clark says, in Pompey (vol. 2: 244) : "The first house of worship in town was built at 'Butler's (Pompey) Ilill,' of logs. about the year 1798." Next. at the dedication-as was the case -: "It was then remarked, that it was the only meeting house between New-Hartford and the Pacific Ocean. which was literally the fact." This was an error. The Rev. Dr. Robbins, who preached there in 1802, said he preached also in a church in East Bloomfield, built in 1801, the first in Western New York. (See also French's Gazetteer.) Rev. Levi Parsons was the first pastor, serving for thirty-three years, except an interval of two years in Otisco. The building has been much enlarged and improved. A Sunday School was organized in 1818.
In January, 1819, the Third Presbyterian church was organized about five miles southeast of the village. This lasted till about 1850.
The First Baptist Religious Society of Marcelhuis was organized at Thorn Hill, September 1, 1815. The first church was built in 1816, a little southwest of the present one, which was completed in 1849. The first pastor was Rev. Elias Ifarman, 1808-16.
The first Methodist society was formed December 8, 1823, at Stephen Cobb's house, but a class of sixteen members preceded this in 1816. - The first church was built of stone, on the hill used as a cemetery by the Roman Catho- lies, and formerly called Methodist hill. The next was of stone, at the foot of this. The third was built of brick in 1858, on the present site. This was burned January 25, 1877, and the present fine edifice took its place the next year. The organization in 1823 was called the "First Zion Society of Mar- cellus." In September, 1877, it became "The First Methodist Episcopal Church." A class was also formed at Marcellus Falls, and services were held there by Presbyterians and Methodists.
In 1820 a Universalist society was organized, but it disappeared without building a ehureh.
February 8, 1824, St. John's (P. E.) church was incorporated, with Rev. Amos Pardee as first rector. A church was consecrated September 2, 1833. This was burned in December, 1866, and rebuilt in 1969. This also was burned in July, 1879, when the site was changed, and the third was conscerated Feb- ruary 25, 1881.
1
393
PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
St. Francis Xavier's (R. C.) church was organized in 1854, with services in 1853 by Rev. Michael Hlaes. The Rov. J. J. Hayden became resident pastor in 1874.
Morning Star Lodge, No. 254. F. & A. M., was instituted in 1862, E. P. Howe, W. M.
Lodge No. 658, I. O. O. F., was instituted February 7. 1823, William Me- Kenzie being N. G.
Dr. Israel Parsons relates how Abraham Tompkins, owner of Lot 24, on part of which Marcellus village stands. eame to see it, "viewed the wild- ness and darkness of the scenery" with disgust, went away and took the first offer for his land. Another of his stories follows, but as the writer recalls it as he heard it nearly seventy years ago, the man lived alone, lay down before his fire and had to await the coming of neighbors.
"When Judge Bradley and Deacon Riee first came here, there was a man belonging to one of their families who, one night made his bed in a large hem- loek bark. It resulted in a splendid night's sleep, but when he awoke in the morning how great was his surprise to find that he was firmly enclosed within the bark. The animal heat had eaused the bark to roll up. and as it was from a large tree. it was very strong. His friends after enjoying themselves for awhile at his novel sitnation, released him from his imprisonment by cutting the bark open with an axe. New comers occasionally made shelves of niee bark, and sometimes would find their eroekery shut up in the same way, and in some cases broken."
Two or more stage coaches ran each way daily ; fare five cents a mile, and no extra charge for blowing horns. Among other ineidents there was often aleohol in distillery refuse, and the hogs would get drunk on this. acting as oddly as some bipeds.
Every two years general training was held at Marcellus, and its broad central street afforded a fine place for display. In the last days of these the village had a fine infantry company, called the Marcellus Grays, from their uniform. The cessation of training days soon ended the organization.
Dr. Parsons records the laying out of the Seneca turnpike in 1802. when the commissioners thought they would look at Camillus. Their welcome was cold and the dinner colder. at a round price too. They returned through Marcellus and had a great reception, the best of dinners, and nothing to pay. Is it necessary to tell what happened ?
In 1836 Mareellns village had a post office, an Episcopal, Methodist and a Presbyterian church. a stone flouring mill, sawmill, woolen factory, two paper mills, two taverns. four stores, and abont eighty dwellings. In 1886 there was one more church, three general stores, one hotel, three blacksmiths, grist mill. two woolen mills, two drug stores, two groceries, saloon, two meat markets, two milliners and dressmakers, one lawyer and insurance agent, furniture factory. undertaker, newspaper, powder company. three phy- sicians. barber, three omnibus lines. shoe store. tailor, harness maker, hardware store and tin shop.
394
PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
In 1836 Mareellus Falls had a grist, saw and a paper mill, a woolen and a elock factory, a store and fifteen dwellings. In 1886 there were two paper mills, two groceries, drug store and a grist mill. At that time Marietta had two blacksmith shops, a general store, wagon shop, shoe shop, hotel, grist mill. sawmill and cooper shop. The business changes are many and rapid all along the creek.
CHAPTER XLVI.
TOWN OF ONONDAGA.
The town of Onondaga had its name from its Indian inhabitants, people of the great hill or mountain. It was not strictly a town of the Military tract, being a reservation laid out in lots for later purehasers from time to time. In March, 1798. two tracts called the Onondaga and Salt Springs reservations. became the town of Onondaga, and the first town meeting was called at Allen Beach's house. This ineluded most of what is now Syracuse, the south part of Geddes, and twenty-two lots iu Camillns. Lots 1 to 12. east of Onondaga reservation. were annexed in 1817. Exelusive of these the original town had two hundred and twenty-one lots of two hundred and fifty aeres each. Of these sixty-five have been set off.
Early events have been related in the general history. Ephraim Web- ster came first as both trader and resident. Other traders were also there. followed by the Danforths. Tylers and others in 1788. Danforth died at Onon- daga Valley. September 2. 1818. at the age of seventy-two, after an energetic and honorable life. He had been a soldier of the Revolution and acquired high military rank in Onondaga. as well as legal standing. Comfort Tyler. his associate, had been a Revoutionary soldier, teacher and surveyor. settling at Onondaga in 1788. He became a favorite with the Indians, and they called him To-Whau-ta-qua, one who ean work and yet be a gentleman. In 1811 he moved to Montezuma, being interested in the salt works there. Before this he had been active as a surveyor and in public duties, opening roads. establishing schools and churches. holding legal offices, and serving in the Legislature. He was first supervisor of the civil town of Manlius. Un- fortunately his connection with Aaron Burr's plans destroyed his publie pros- pects.
As early in 1789 came John Brown. Abijah Earll, Levi Hiscock and Roder- ick Adams. Among other early settlers were Job Tyler, Nicholas Miekles. Joseph Forman, John Adams. Peter Ten Broeck, General Lewis. George Kibbe. the Needhams. William H. Sabine. Joseph Swan and George Hall. Before 1793 the settlers in this town held their lands by sufferanee of the Indians. After 1796 titles were obtained. In that year Gideon Seeley and Comfort
-- -
395
PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
Tyler bid off at auction twenty-one lots of two hundred and fifty acres each, at two dollars per acre. Seeley opened a road to the south line of the town, building a bridge over the west branch of Onondaga ereck. There Turner Fenner built the first sawmill in the present town in 1793, and Major Danforth a saw and grist mill the next year.
Dr. William Needham came to Onondaga Valley in 1793, followed by his brother, Dr. Gordon Needham in 1795. The latter opened the first school in 1796, being sixteen years old, and received his medical diploma August 25, 1797, at the age of seventeen. They built the dyke.
In 1794 Comfort Tyler opened the first post office in Onondaga county. and as late as 1812 this was the distributing point for Manlius, Pompey, Camil- lus, Lysander, Marcellus. Otisco and Spafford. George Kibbe opened the first. store in 1800, below the arsenal site. Wadsworth's pioneer road, 1791, be- came the old state road. It came from the southeast to Danforth's, pass- · ing westward south of St. Agnes cemetery. This gave place to the Sencca turnpike, running westerly through Marcellus village. In 1800 Comfort Tyler's tavern was on this. on the east side of the valley. On the west side a team was kept to assist others up the steep ascent to Onondaga Hill. In 1798 a road was surveyed from the salt springs to the reservation near the east bank of the creek. The cinder road. on the west side, soon followed.
In 1794 Thaddeus M. Wood opened the first law office in the county. The name is "legion" now. Soon after Onondaga Hill was laid out for the county seat. William Laird kept a log tavern there in 1795. Jabez Webb and Nehemiah Earll settled there in 1796, the latter being the first postmaster. and an eminent man.
The first town meeting was held at Major Danforth's in April. 1799. Ephraim Webster beeame the first supervisor, succeeded by James Geddes in 1799. The general course of early legal events has been sketched. but for some time there was a rivalry between the valley and hill settlements about the county buildings, none of which were begun before 1801. The jail eame first, with court room added. James Beebe being first jailer. This was used till 1829. but has disappeared. The county clerk's records were kept at the Val- ley till 1813. when a stone office was built at the Hill. The stones from this were used for a schoolhouse many years afterward. A road covers the site of the old courthouse. but a few early houses remain. The Presbyterian church is a good speciman of some of early days. There are fine views all about, and the evening view from the hill, when the city is lit up below, is grand indeed. Some day it will again be a lively place.
Meanwhile Onondaga Hollow went prosperously on. Thaddeus M. Wood was there. Joshua Forman lived there. 1800 to 1825. William H. Sabine came in 1801, dying there in 1863. George Hall was there for more than twenty years : Jasper Hopper also. Reuben Patterson kept the Owl's Head tavern, and that of John Adams was popular and good. Yet for awhile it was a rude sort of village, having but eight frame houses and a log school
T
396
PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
honse in 1803. Though some changes have come since, the following list of houses in Onondaga Valley as they were in 1894, is worth recording, and fol- lows verbatim, ending with that of John Adams:
The Pratt house, on the Tully turnpike, west side, is probably the oldest house in the valley. Opposite to it is the site of General Thaddeus M. Wood's residence.
The Ephraim Webster house (1796) is on the Bostwick farm, west side of the valley.
John Forman's house (1798) west end of vilage, on Seneca turnpike. known as the "red house." is occupied by Sidney Wood, colored, formerly a slave of Thaddeus M. Wood.
John Hasting's house (1800) is north of the village, west side.
William Sabine's house ( 1808) is back of the academy, and occupied by his widow and T. W. Meacham.
Joshua Forman's house, (1808) on the Seneca turnpike, north side, is occupied by Dr. Whitford.
Jasper Hopper's house (1800) is occupied by Mr. Loomis.
Samuel Forman's house (1812) south side of turnpike, is owned by Mark Potter.
Philo Gridley's stone house (1812) east end of village, on turnpike, is owned by R. R. Slocum.
John Van Pelt's brick house (1812) later known as Patterson's west side of the village, main street, is owned by E. J. Kline.
John Adams' old stage house (1802) foot of west hill, is occupied by W. H. Harrison.
Arthur Patterson's house and store (1820) are oeenpied by W. H. Card.
Rev. Dr. Caleb Alexander's house (1820) south of the village, is owned by estate of Lemuel Clark.
The town hall and Odd Fellows' hall (1808).
The Mercer mill (1813) was built by Joshua Forman and others.
The Fuller house, corner of Midland avenue and Main street, was con- structed from several old stores and dwellings.
Dr. Tolman's barn has a frame made from the timbers in the old Danforth house.
The John Adams house. one of the oldest dwellings, is the Dorwin resi- dence at the springs.
This interesting list might be extended there and in the vicinity. Samuel Forman's fine old house is now the postoffice, and a glimpse of its interior may easily be had. Part of the old Academy remains, and the old Presbyterian church is a fine example of its day.
At Onondaga Hill, at various times, were Judge Daniel Moseley. B. Davis Noxon, Rufus Cossitt. Oliver R. Strong come there in 1802. opening the first school there in November. Hezekiah Strong, grandfather of John M. Strong of Syracuse, kept a store there. Josiah Bronson built and kept a tavern. One of his successors was Philo N. Rust. La Fayette stood on its
397
PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
piazza in June, 1825, to listen to Thaddeus M. Wood's adddress. It was burned in 1884. La Fayette's arrival is the subject of one of Mr. Knapp's pictures. Captain James Beebe, drowned in 1817, kept a tavern near the court house. Another inn was kept by Mr. Cheney. At one time there were seven publie houses there. About 1810 there were forty houses, stores, etc., while the hollow had sixty-five and "an elegant meeting house."
In southern Onondaga settlers came before 1800, the first pioneers being Ebenezer Conkling, Phineas Sparks, Gideon Seeley, Gilbert Pinckney, Turner Fenner and Amasa Chapman. Before 1805 came John Clark, Obadiah Nich- ols, John Carpenter, Zebulon Rust, Henry Frost, Oliver Cummings, Joseph Warner, Isaac Parmater and Daniel Chafee. These were in the vicinity of South Onondaga, which contained a Presbyterian church and thirty-five dwellings, beside a tavern and the usual trades. Ten years later there were two churches, two grist and two saw mills. The old Presbyterian church afterward became a public hall. There is now a brick Methodist church there. In the vicinity is the home of W. W. Newman, superintendent of In- (lian schools.
Cradleville, or East Navarino, is in the southwest part of the town, having its name from the grain cradles made there by the Chafee family, who came there in 1800. There is a Baptist church there. Navarino was at first called Hall's Corners, from Shubael and Sarah Hall, who built their log cabin balf a mile south of the corners in 1799. The intersection of the State . with the Marcellus and Amber road took the name of Hall's corners. and af- terward of Navarino. Freeman North kept tavern there in 1835, Andrew Cummings was a merehant, and Oren Hall postmaster. There is a Methodist church and stores.
Cedarvale is of later date, with a grist mill and Methodist church. E. F. Lounsbury was postmaster in 1873. It is on the headwaters of Onondaga creek, and here the Solvay company had a test well.
Howlett Hill was an early center, named from the Ifowlett family, Par- ley Howlett having settled there in 1797. An early Baptist meeting house became that of the Universalists. In 1835 B. H. Case was postmaster. Change of travel destroyed its importance.
Loomis Hill, farther east, had its name from Eleazer Loomis, an early set- tler. The Methodist church there is conspicuous yet, but the brass angel on its spire once made it a notable building.
With the opening of the electric road, and the development of the quar- ries by the Solvay Process Company, Split Roek has become a small village. with a Roman Catholic church. The Split Rock Cable Road company, or- ganized in June, 1888, has a cable line for transporting limestone to Solvay, and it is a novel sight to see the great buckets going to and fro in the air. From the grade the loaded buckets going down are able to draw the empty ones up. The harts' tongue fern was first found here in America in 1807, and the rocks contain some ice caverns still.
398
PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
Danforth was incorporated December 21, 1874, with Edward Abeel as president. In February, 1887, it became a part of Syracuse. Elmwood was incorporated about 1894, W. W. Norris being postmaster. Enoch M. Chafee built a grist mill, eradle factory, etc., here, and Henry Morris has greenhouses. Elmwood park, with its little lake at the stone mill, once made an attractive resort, and close by is St. Agnes cemetery, "beautiful for situation."
St. John's church (P. E.) was organized at Onondaga Hill, November 26, 1803, by Rev. Davenport Phelps, and was the first Episcopal parish in the county. It became Zion church, January 3, 1816, but the congregation was weakened by removals to Syracuse, and services were discontinued in 1840. The church building has disappeared, but the bell went to Trinity church, Syracuse. A mission is maintained at East Onondaga, called St. Andrew's.
The First Presbyterian church was organized at Onondaga Hill before 1806, in Daniel Earll's log tavern, the first pastors being Rev. Messrs. Higgins and Healy. The present church was built in 1819. The Onondaga Hollow Religious Society (Presbyterian) followed, completing its church in 1810, the Rev. Direk C. Lansing being installed pastor in February. South Onondaga had also a Presbyterian church for many years, built in 1827.
St. Michael's (R. C.) parish was commenced at Onondaga Hill as a mission about 1874, and St. Peter's church, Split Rock, was completed in 1892.
The First Baptist church of Onondaga was formed at Howlett Hill, Jan- uary, 1804, erecting a house of worship in 182]. The society moved to · Camillus village in 1848, and the Universalists now own the church. Part of the members formed a Baptist church at Onondaga Hill in 1833. Another Baptist church was formed at Navarino in 1812, erecting a church in 1823, at East Navarino. The Universalists formed a society at Howlett Hill about 1848, Rev. Nelson Brown being the first pastor. Eleazer Loomis built a Methodist church at Loomis Hill in 1845 and a Methodist society was formed on the hill east of the reservation quarries as early as 1820, which built in 1847. The First Methodist society at the valley was formed about 1816, the church being built in 1825, and replaced with the present edifice in 1885. The Methodist church in South Onondaga was built about 1837, and another at Cedarvale about 1840. Another is in Navarino, and the society at Onondaga Hill erected its church in 1874, Rev. Frederick De Witt being pastor.
One important institution at Onondaga Valley was the Academy, which was projected in 1812, and incorporated April 10, 1813, the building being erected in 1814. Rev. Caleb Alexander was the first principal, and gave it a high standing at onee. He died there in April, 1828. Like other academies it changed its form, and became a union free school April 28, 1866. Many persons of note were educated there, and in a letter to Whittier, referring to one of his poems, Willis G. Clark said : "The pleasure which you say you have in listlessly gazing upon the sky, makes me think of my old school hours at Onondaga Academy, when I used to sit and with my window open look out for hours upon the landscape, while the fresh winds were finttering the neglect- ed Horace or Virgil."
399
PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
One pleasant feature of the old Academy is the annual presentation of prizes by John T. Roberts, for excellence in subjects assigned by him.
. The old arsenal has been elsewhere mentioned. It was kept by Captain James Beebe in the war of 1812. Onondaga Lodge, No. 98, F. & A. M., was chartered January 1, 1803, Jasper Hopper being W. M. It ceased to work in the excitement of 1826, but the records have been preserved. An Odd Fellows' lodge came later.
The first County Agricultural Society was organized at Onondaga Will in 1819, with Dan Bradley as president. The first fair was at Onondaga Valley, November 2, 1819, and fairs were held for about six years. The society was reorganized in 1838, and again in 1856. It then purchased grounds east of Onondaga creek, and near Danforth. These were sold in 1866.
The town, with Marcellus and others, had a spirited celebration of the Onondaga County Centennial, in May, 1894. Among the speakers were Dr. Israel Parsons and Joel Northrup of Marcellus, Cyrus D. Avery of Geddes, John T. Roberts, R. R. Slocum, Jolin M. Strong, and Rev. Dr. Beauchamp. Miles T. Frisbie read a spirited poem, and among the papers by ladies were those of Mrs. Harriet H. Wilkie and Fannie A. Parsons. A loan exhibition was a feature of the day.
Slavery lasted in this town till about 1830, and wolves were killed as late as 1807. It was hard killing them then, and the bounty was doubled. In set- tlement and early industries the town differs little from others. "Old things have passed away; all things have become new" in a large sense; but there are old houses and places worthy of study yet.
The County poor house is well kept and is a little northwest of Onondaga Hill. It was first authorized in 1826, and the site on Lot 87 was selected the next year. A better building was ereeted in 1859, and water provided in 1867. There have been various improvements since, and the farm of one hun- dred and forty-five acres somewhat diminishes expenses.
In 1888 the Syracuse Water Company sank tubes down to and through a substratum of gravel ten feet thick near Onondaga creek and proved, to their satisfaction at least, that south of Onondaga Valley village, through a tract twelve hundred feet wide, twenty million gallons of water passed from south to north every twenty-four hours. Through the entire valley it was thought several times this amount passed.
The third newspaper in the county, at Onondaga Hollow, was called the Lynx, and was founded in December, 1811, by Thomas C. Fay. He closed his prospectus thus: "I shall endeavor to promote the nation's interest with the industry of a BEAVER, while I watch its enemies with the eyes of a LYNX." Thurlow Weed learned printing in this office. Lewis H. Redfield issued the Onondaga Register at the hollow in September. 1814. removing it to Syracuse in 1829. Webb & Castle published the Citizens' Press at the valley in 1832, for six months. The Onondaga Gazette was founded at the hill in 1816, by Evander Morse. It was changed to Onondaga Journal in 1821, and removed to Syracuse in 1829.
400
PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
When the town was erected it was at once enacted that hogs might run at large if properly yoked. In 1803 there was added five dollars to the county bounty for wolves. In 1807 the bounty for foxes was fifty cents, and ten dollars for panthers. That year it was voted that all land owners must ent down "to the center of the road the weeds commonly called 'tory' under a penalty of $5." The name of tory-burr is obsolete now. It was Cynoglos- sum officinale, having this popular name from the troublesome loyalists of the Revolution. Quite a number of slaves were held, and some wore freed before full emancipation came. One belonging to Thaddeus MI. Wood died but a few years since.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.