USA > New York > Cortland County > Pioneer history; or, Cortland County and the border wars of New York, from the earliest period to the present time > Part 10
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The sable shades of night have curtained the earth. The moon rolls high in the vaulted dome-the stars look out in beauty from the radiant sky ; and joy reigns in the cottager's home, -for peace and gladness dwell in
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the breasts of all as they gather around the social board to partake of the frugal repast prepared by the hand of her who had left the home of cherished friends to become the copartner of him who had reared the seat of his chosen empire amidst the stillness of the prime- val forest.
Mr. Miller made some explorations of the country bordering East and West River, and then returned to his home near the noble Susquehanna. In the spring ('92) Mr. Miller, John House, James Matthews, James Moore, Silas and Daniel Miller, came in from Bingham- ton. Camping at the forks of East and West River, they built a fire against a large oak tree, a portion of which is still remaining. Here the women remained, while their husbands went forward and erected cabins for their temporary residence.
Squire Miller, located on lot 56, erected a house near the willow trees ;- almost every person has been made acquainted with their history-how the original sprout was purloined from its parent tree by Dea. Miller, when returning on horseback from a visit to his friends in New Jersey, giving great offence to its owner, and how it served its new possessor in the capacity of a riding whip-was afterwards stuck in the ground, where it took root, sent out numerous branches, some of which have grown to fine trees,-ornaments to the ground on which they stand. Mr. Matthews built on the upper end of the same lot. Mr. House about eight rods north- west of the residence of Ebenezer Cole. Mr. Moore near the bridge south of the Cotton Factory.
Darius Kinney came from Brimfield, Massachusetts, in 1793, and located on East River. About this time, Mr.
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Beebe abandoned his place of poles, and settled on the premises of his brother-in-law, Mr. Todd, on lot 42, west of the village.
Roderick Owen came from Lebanon, N. Y., and locat- ed about one hundred rods south-east of the residence of Dr. Jones.
The Ballards were from Holland, Mass. John first located on the east side of the Tioughnioga ; three years after, settled on the farm at present owned by Paris Barber. It was owned at this time by Capt. David Rus- sel, who had but recently located, and erected a double log house near the north-west corner of Mr. Barber's orchard.
Another company came in by way of Cazenovia through Truxton, in 1794, pioneered by Jonathan Hub- bard, and Col. Moses Hopkins. The former of these settled on ground now covered by Cortland village, and the latter one mile west, on lot 64.
During the year 1795, several companies came in by way of Manlius and Truxton. Thomas L. and Jacob Bishop came in from Brimfield, and located on lands now owned and occupied by Noah Hitchcock. In an early day it was known by the name of the Vanderlyn farm. Lot 25.
Thomas Wilcox came from Whitestown, N. Y., and located on Lot 64, where Joshua Ballard now lives.
Zebulon Keene located on the farm now owned by Mr. Sheffield. John Stone, originally from Brimfield, settled on the Albert Barker farm, lot 25. Joshua At- water, father of Ezra and Joseph, located on lot 13.
Libeus Andrews came from Hartford, Conn., purchased and settled on land south of Mr. Kingsbury, lot 56.
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John Keep, Solomon and John Hubbard came in from Massachusetts, and selected various locations. Mr. Keep made a permanent settlement on lot 56, and built the original part of the County House. Solomon settled on lot 25, and John on lot 26, where his son Lyman now resides. His house, when originally erected, was regarded as being by far the most expensive dwelling in the county, and was denominated a " mammoth." The influence and enterprising efforts of these gentle- men, in after years, proved of valuable importance.
On rolls the tide of progress. The spirit of enter- prise is awakened, and the brave pioneers come pouring in with warm hearts and strong hands, resolved to make war with the forest oak, or grapple with stern adversity in the dark hour of peril.
Thomas G. Ebenezer and Charles Alvord came in from Farmington, Conn., and settled in the north-west part of the town, on lot 13. The former drew lot 56. When he reached Manlius, he was met by a couple of land- sharks, who, on learning the lot upon which the old hero was intending to settle, very coolly informed him that they had been to Homer, and that they were well ac- quainted with the position of his land, and could assure him that it was an exceedingly poor, wet lot, the greater part of it being covered with water. In short, he was, by means the most deceptive, induced to part with six hundred acres of most valuable land for the trifling sum of a few dollars. Jacob B. Alvord resides on lot 13- his farm is on lot 12.
In 1797 Joshua Ballard came in from Holland, Mas- sachusetts, and selected a location on lot 45. We shall refer to him in a subsequent chapter.
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John Albright, the pioneer of East Homer, located on the lot he drew for Revolutionary services.
Asa White and Caleb Keep migrated from Monson, Mass. The former located on lot 45 ; erected his house on ground now covered by the residence of Jedediah Barber. He purchased and completed the first grist-mill in the county, in 1798. The latter bought and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Noah Hitchcock, a grandson of Mr. Keep.
During the year 1798, a very considerable accession was made by persons settling in various parts of the town, and more especially along the borders of East and West rivers,
Stephen Knapp came in with his brother-in-law from Goshen, Orange co., N. Y., to explore the country. His father having been killed during the Revolutionary struggle by the Indians on the Delaware river, near the mouth of the Lackawaxen, left him to carve out his own fortune ; and he sought this wild region of country for that laudable purpose. His mother, having some little means, which was placed in his care, a purchase was made through Judge Thompson, of lots 55 and 84. Returning to Goshen, he early made preparations for moving to Homer ; but circumstances over which he had no control, delayed his departure until 1798. He came by the way of Poughkeepsie, Shonkunk, Kingston, head waters of Schoharie ; followed down the river to Pratts- ville ; thence to Harpersfield ; crossed Wattles Ferry ; thence to Oxford ; thence to Solon, afterwards called Hatheway's Corners. Here he followed the Salt Road about two miles to Squire Bingham's ; thence over the hills to Judge John Keep's ; thence to Mr. Matthews'
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on lot 56 ; and thence to Hon. John Ballard's. Here Mr. Knapp and his friends remained for some time, dur- ing which period his brother Daniel purchased the farm of Capt. Russell.
Soon after this sale, Mr. Ballard located in the village. Mr. Russell died with the small pox.
Mr. Knapp is still living, a venerable relic of a for- mer age. Neither marble nor fulsome epitaph will be necessary to perpetuate his memory.
The Hobarts were from Monson, Mass. Daniel, father of Alpheus, located on lot 43 ; Samuel on 15 and 16. Gideon settled with his father, and remained on the same farm until his death, April 30th, 1857. The farm is now owned and occupied by Manly Hobart.
Titus Stebbins, from the same town, settled on lot 43.
Samuel Hotchkiss, from New Haven, Conn., located on lot 44.
Dr. Lewis S. Owen came from Albany, and after a general survey of the country, located on lot 66. Here he remained three years, when he moved to Homer vil- lage and erected a house on the ground now occupied by his son, Dr. Robert Owen, lot 45.
Deacon Noah Hitchcock came in from Brimfield, and located on lot 25. He was a kind, generous-hearted man, and in brief, a prominent and useful citizen.
The venerable Zenas Lilly came from Brimfield, and located on lot 33, where he lived about twelve years, when he sold to Messrs. Tubbs and Keep, and settled on Factory Hill. Some years after, he disposed of his property and settled in Lenox, but subsequently returned to Homer and located on lots 34-5. His history is closely identified with the history of Cortland county.
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Timothy Treat, Enos Stimson, William Lucas, and Asahel Miner were from different parts, and selected various locations. Mr. Treat was from Berkshire, Mass .; he settled about eighty rods north of the former resi- dence of John Barker, now owned by Mr. Bowen. Fam- ily consisted of parents and eight children. The third, a daughter, married Stephen Knapp. Mr. Stimson was from Monson ; he settled on the ground now occupied by the elegant residence of Jacob Schermerhorn. He reared a small house and hung out a landlord's sign. The next spring the people were greatly alarmed on account of the small pox, which had made its appearance in the valley. Several took it, and died. His wife and children went to Aaron Knapp's, in Cortlandville, and were vaccinated, which, as we are told, caused clear cases of small pox, but soon recovered, and were able to return home.
An incident occurred during the absence of Mrs. Stim- son, showing most distinctly the influence of ardent spir- its upon the Indian character. Twelve Onondaga In- dians called one evening at Mr. Stimson's, drank freely, got highly exhilarated, called for more liquor in their own familiar way-" Tegoye ezeethgath" and "Ne- gauqh," *- were repeatedly refused, and told that more would do them injury. But no, they had got a taste, were ardently inspired, would not listen to reason. They became uncivil, deranged, and threatened Mr. Stimson with violence. Retreating as they approached him in a menacing attitude, he sought safety up stairs, cautiously pulling the stair-ladder after him. The sav-
* Have you rum and wine, or firewater ?
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ages were noisy and quarelsome, as might be expected, having made themselves perfectly free with the aqua morbi et mortis* of the bar, even draining the bottles to the very dregs. But the midnight revel, the baccha- nalian orgies not yet ended, for their brains had been fired until the poor degraded beings reeled with delir- ium. They were bound to the car of Bacchus, which for centuries back has creaked and groaned beneath its burden of blasted hopes, crushed affections, and de- praved humanity ; aye, with the blood of hundreds and thousands of wasted wrecks and ghastly skeletons. Not content with emptying the rum, gin, and whiskey de- canters, an old sachem seized a bottle containing picra, swallowed a portion of its contents, and hastily passed it to a young brave who drank its very dregs. This had a powerful and most alarming effect, for they came very near dying.
Just at this, and to them inauspicious moment, and while some were guarding the garret port-hole through which the landlord had made a hurried retreat, and others were bending over the victims of supposed poi- son, an aged Indian, at least half " sea over," stepped hurriedly from the door, and mistaking a well-curb for a fence, leaped over and brought suddenly up in the bottom of Mr. Stimson's well. This was rather a severe shock to his spiritual feelings, and though famed as a conjuror, he was too drunk to conjure up a plan by which to escape from his unpleasant quarters. His po- sition was truly an uninteresting one. The element which surrounded him was of an entirely different char-
Poison water of death.
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acter from the one that was influencing within. And now, while whooping, yelling, cursing and swearing was going on in the house, the old Roman was alike interestingly employed in the well. At length, assist- ance came to his relief, and by the aid of a blanket, which was let down to the periled one, he was drawn up from the watery depths below.
The next morning, Maj. Stimson, under certain prom- ises, was permitted to come down and take possession of his house. The Indians were not so spiritually in- fluenced. The medium operating between them and the bottle had become inoperative. Spooks, hobgoblins, witches, wizards, and the whole infernal train of delir- ium devils had disappeared from among them. A few made attempts at cheerfulness, while others exhibited only symptoms of sullenness. The old chieftain felt mortified at his conduct, while the professed juggler had not courage enough left to enable him to attempt any more of his tricks at legerdemain.
William Lucas and Asahel Miner were from Wood- bury, Conn. The former located on lot 35 ; the farm is now owned by Samuel Babcock. He erected a portion of Mr. Babcock's present residence. He was an ex- ceedingly active, useful and prominent citizen-what a living witness has defined as one of the very best of men. His four surviving children reside in Ohio. The latter settled on the Lucas Welch farm. He was the first sheriff of Cortland county, having been appointed April 8, 1808. Martin Miner, his son, resides in the vil- lage.
Col. Benajah Tubbs came in from Washington county, and located on the ground now occupied by the Geo.
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Phillips store. He early engaged in the mercantile trade, and continued the business for many years.
John and Richard Bishop were from Brimfield. The former settled south of the Vanderlyn farm, while the latter located immediately opposite Mr. Hammel Thomp- son. He afterwards built a one-story house, where Mr. Thompson now lives. Asaph H. Carpenter, some time after, added another story. Under the care of Mr. Thompson it has been made a very pleasant resi- dence.
After 1800, the town began to settle more rapidly. Those who had previously located had passed the Rubi- con, and with a determined will, quite superior to that which prompted Cæsar to cross the threshold of his own province for the express purpose of reducing Italy to his power, had labored nobly in the cause of human im- provement, and were already in the partial enjoyment of its blessings. We regret that our limits will not allow of our recording the name and place of settlement of every pioneer. From 1800, we can only locate a few in the various sections of the town.
Ephraim P. Sumner came in from Connecticut in 1800, and located on lot 47, where his son E. P. Sumner now lives. He purchased two hundred acres ; died 1843 ; Mrs. Sumner, 1840 ; reared ten children-eight now living.
Noah Carpenter came in from Pomfret, Windham co., Conn., and located on lot 16. His son, Asaph H. Car- penter, who now resides on the original premises, had the honor of being first arrayed in bib and tucker while his parents were journeying to this land of promise. He was, however, more fortunate than the Saviour, for
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He, being " cradled in a manger," had " not whereon to lay his head."
Peter Vanderlyn, father of Jacob, came from Ulster county, N. Y., and purchased one hundred acres. He drove in fifty head of sheep, the first in the town ; also several head of cattle, and the first lumber wagon. He built the first fanning mill that was used in the county; the wings were made of cloth, and it proved a valuable acquisition in the department of saving labor.
Thomas, Nathan, and Samuel Stone were from Brim- field. They located on lot 46.
Waterman and Levi Phillips were from Connecticut. The former located on lot 69, near where Trout creek empties into the Tioughnioga. He purchased one hun- dred and seven acres. He now resides in the village ; is eighty-one years old. His sons are Jefferson, Abel K., and George. The latter located on lot 16. He came in with an ox team and one horse ; purchased fifty acres, and subsequently ninety-seven more. His surviving sons are Levi, on lot 28 ; Charles, at Nanticoke ; Oren, on the homestead ; and Erastus, in the village. Mr. Phillips died in 1845, aged seventy-eight years ; and his widow in 1850, at the age of seventy-nine years.
Several additional settlements were opened during 1801. Seth Keep, originally from Massachusetts, mi- grated to Homer from Vermont, and located on the north-east corner of lot 33.
Gad Hitchcock came from Monson, Mass., and settled on the farm now owned by Albert Barker. His son, Horace Hitchcock, is an active and worthy citizen, re- siding in the village.
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John Coats located within a few rods of the Congre- gational church, in 1802.
During the same year, Dea. Thomas Chollar came in from Windham, Conn .; remained some three years, dur- ing which time he made various explorations of the country, in order that he might judge correctly with reference to the soil, as well as the general advantages which were likely to be realized by those who thus early plunged into the wilderness, enduring privation, and struggling against forest and flood, disease and death. In the latter part of 1804 he selected a location on lot 17, and settled on it in 1809.
Asa Kendall, father of Abner N. Kendall, was a native of Massachusetts, but removed to Homer from Pompey, and located on the farm now owned by Dea. Conger. He purchased fifty acres.
In 1803, Jacob Sanders, Moses Butterfield, Levi Bowen, and Elijah Pierce, father of Justin M. Pierce, came in and located. Sanders removed from Swansey, Mass., and settled on lot 56. He reared an intelligent family of ten children, all of whom are now living, and in good circumstances. Butterfield was from Canterbury, Conn. ; he located on lot 47, where Charles Kingsbury now resides. The farm at present embraces one hun- dred and twenty-five acres. Mr. Butterfield died in 1820. Bowen settled on lot 7, where E. P. Stickney now re- sides ; he was from Woodstock, Conn. He purchased ninety-six acres ; died in 1832, leaving eight children- five now living. Pierce came from Brimfield.
Elie Sherman came from Brimfield in 1803, and settled on lot 47. He is now enjoying good health, and is in the full possession of his faculties-age, seventy-seven. 8*
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Abel Kinney, from Brimfield, settled in 1804 on lot 6.
Capt. Daniel Crandall, from Massachusetts, located in 1805 on lot 38. He died in 1857.
Capt. Zephaniah Hicks, originally of Rhode Island, migrated from Connecticut in 1805, and located on the south-east corner of State's Hundred, lot 17. His house stood on the ground now occupied by the dwelling of Norman Southworth. Capt. Hicks was an active, ener- getic, high-minded man; generous, humane, obliging, and courteous. His hale, prompt, manly greeting gained for him the good will of his neighbors, and gave him much influence in the occasional pioneer gatherings. The influ- ence of Dea. Chollar was much the same. It is related of these men, that when a question of right was to be de- cided the appeal was usually made to them ; the deacon having given an affirmative decision, the almost uni- versal response would be, " That's right, Deacon Chol- lar ; ain't it so, Capt. Hicks ?"
The Captain removed in 1835 to Ingham, Michigan, where he still resides, a venerable relic of the "olden time." -
Jacob Hicks, his son, who at the time of his migra- tion to Homer was but two years old, is settled on lot 27. His advent on to the Hill dates farther back than that of any remaining settler. His eldest daughter, Nancy, is the wife of Silas Elbridge Mann, a prominent citizen and hardware merchant of Jordan.
In 1806, Col. David Coye, from Royalton, Vermont, and Lemuel Bates, from Cincinnati, came in and located. The former settled on lot 45, where he now resides. He purchased the first acre sold for a village lot. He fol- lowed his trade, that of joiner. In 1815, he purchased one hundred acres on lot 44. The rear of his dwelling was
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erected in 1808; the front in 1826. His shop, one story and a-half, twenty by thirty-five, stood on the ground occupied by Newton's store. He has filled several prominent offices ; among others, that of sheriff. He has reared a family of eleven children-seven now liv- ing. Two reside in Missouri ; one in Buffalo ; one in San Francisco ; one married Caleb Sherman, and another Francis De Long, of Lockport; Mary, the youngest, is still at home. The latter settled on lot 26. His sons are Joseph and Ransford. The former lives in Little York ; the latter on the forks of the road above Homer village.
William Shearer came from Washington county in 1807, and located on lot 36. His son Reuben lives on the original premises. Mrs. Shearer was an early schoolmate of Hon. Samuel Nelson, and remembers him as a youth of warm and generous impulses.
Stephen and Joel R. Briggs, Ariel Tickner and Eras- tus Hayes were originally from Otsego county. They located in 1807 on lot 50. The former died in 1844. His widow survives him at the age of seventy-six: She resides with her son, Jabez Briggs. Mr. Tickner died some years previous. Joel R. Briggs lives on lot 38, in Homer, and Mr. Hayes resides in Spafford.
Deacon Ira Brown came in from Brimfield, in 1808, and located on lot 24. He now resides in Cortlandville. He has reared a respectable family, and accumulated a good property.
Joseph Bean, father of Jeremiah, of Cincinnatus, and Samuel, of Homer, located in 1839. He purchased one hundred acres. During the same year, Noah R. Smith and Matthias Cook came in and located. The former came in from Middletown, and settled on lot 45.
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He has been a prompt, active, and influential citizen ; has filled several important offices by appointment and election ; was appointed sheriff in 1819. The latter came from Albany, and entered into the hatting busi- ness, which he continued successfully for many years. He was at one time a copartner in trade with Col. Benajah Tubbs. He was appointed county clerk in 1821, elected a member of the legislature in 1824, and was chosen Justice of the Peace at the first election of such office by the people.
Deacon Jesse Ives and Andrew Burr came in during the year 1810. Mr. Ives was from Litchfield, Conn. He located on lot 16, and purchased originally ninety acres of land. He was emphatically a man of progress-an industrious and enterprising farmer, and his genial and excellent qualities made him universally respected and beloved. He died Nov. 27, 1857, aged 81 years.
Mr. Burr was from Sharon, Conn. He originally lo- cated on the ground now occupied and owned by Wil- liam Kingsbury. He early engaged in the manufacture of leather, but subsequently sold his tannery to Willam Kingsbury, who located in 1816, and went into the sad- dlery and harness business, which he carried on for thirty years. He has erected several dwellings, and otherwise labored to improve and advance the interests of the village. The rear portion of his dwelling is composed of the original or first church which was erected in Homer. The front part was erected in 1812 for a house of public entertainment, and was called the " Mansion House."
Richard Graham and Henry Corl came in and located in 1811. The former was from Herkimer county, and settled on lot 28. The latter was originally from Sche-
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nectady, but came in from Locke, Cayuga co., and set- tled on lot 8, where he remained one year, and then removed to the Abel Owen farm, now owned by Dr. Jones. Here he remained two years, and then settled on the Hill, which now bears his name. He purchased 120 acres. He is now 78 years old-has raised a fam- ily of nine children, all now living.
During the war of 1812-15, the progress of settlement was greatly interrupted. The settlements were, how- ever, frequently visited by a kind of floating population, having no fixed purposes, but would come and go like the waves of the ocean.
George W. Samson, from Plympton, Mass., located in 1812 on lot 28 ; remained four years, and then settled on lot 19, being the first settler on the lot. He erected the Mt. Etam Stand in 1824, and went into it the next year ; commenced keeping a house of entertainment in 1827- in Homer village in 1839. He possesses considerable native talent, great vivacity, blended with wit and gen- erous sympathy.
James Hull came from Norfolk, Conn., about 1815, and settled on the farm now owned by Willis Alvord. He now resides in the village. His industrious habits, and moral and social sentiments, entitle him to a just and honorable mention in the pioneer annals of Homer.
Erastus Goodell, father of C. B. and Erastus, Jr., came in from Sturbridge, Mass., in 1816, and located on State's Hundred, lot 7. He originally purchased 50 acres ; has now, with an additional purchase, owned by his son Eras- tus, 130 acres. His land was entirely covered with a heavy growth of timber, when he came upon it. He first erected a small house in the hollow east of his barn, but soon after put up a log house on the ground now
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covered by his present residence. The latter was erected in. 1834. His son, C. B. Goodell, owns the Jo- seph Bates farm.
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