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 13
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198
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
In 1810 the population of Cincinnatus was 1,525
1814
1,614
1820
885
1825
1,057
1830
66
1,308
1835
66
66
1,018
1840
1,301
1845
1,195
1850
66
1,206
1855
66
1,119
Much of the matter rightfully belonging to Cincinna- tus, will be found in our sketches of Freetown, Willet, and Marathon.
PREBLE was organized April 8, 1808, from the original south half of the old military township of Tully. In 1815 it was reduced to its present limits by the erection of the town of Scott.
The standard of civilization was first erected in the town of Preble, in 1796, by James Cravat and John Gill. The former was a native of Connecticut, but mi- grated from Pompey Hill, and located on lot 68. The latter located on lot 76. Samuel and Robert Cravath came from Norfolk, Conn, in 1797, and settled on lot 68. Harry Hill and Elijah Mason came in during the year 1798. The former was from Montgomery co., N. Y., and located on lot 87, which he drew for Revolutionary services. The latter settled on lot 78. Seth Trow- bridge, from Montgomery county, located in the early part of 1799 on lot 59 ; and during the next year, Sam- uel Trowbridge, Minnah Hyatt, and Samuel Orvis settled on the same lot. Trowbridge served in the Revolution
199
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
and drew the lot. Widow Trowbridge, of Homer, mother of Mrs. Oliver Glover, was a daughter of Mr. Hyatt. Mr. Orvis was from Norfolk, Conn. He subsequently removed to Prattsburg, Steuben county, where he died in 1851, at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. His surviving children are Reuben S., now living in Hast- ings, Oswego county. Phebe, (Lee,) Clarissa and Eliza reside at Prattsburg.
In 1801, Augustus Thorp located on lot 78. In 1802 Jabez B. Phelps, John Osgood, Silas Topping, and Sam- uel C. Buckelow came in and selected various locations. Judge Phelps was originally from Hebron, Conn., but came to Preble from Cazenovia. He located on lot 88. For the first few years he practised medicine, and was honored with the title of Doctor, but he subse- quently turned his attention to politics, and was at dif- ferent periods elevated to important positions, and creditably filled the office of Associate Judge, Surrogate, and member of Assembly. He died December 20th, 1850, aged seventy-four years. His widow is seventy- eight years of age, and is in the enjoyment of excellent health. Mr. Phelps reared ten children, seven of whom are now living-three in Ohio. Sophronia is the wife of Charles Clark of Groton ; Laura Jane is Mrs. Dr. Burdick ; Augusta is Mrs. Harry Hobart, of Truxton ; Lydia married Dr. Alfred Hall, of Navarino, Onondaga county ; Amanda is the wife of Hon. Ezekiel Chew, of Richland, Ohio ; Abram J., of Newark, in the same State ; Lydia, wife of Dr. Hall, of Onondaga ; and Calvin B., of Chrysoline, Ohio.
Osgood settled on lot 77, Buckelow on 67, and Top- ping on 96. In 1802, Lytle Ferguson, from Montgomery
200
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
county, located on lot 65. He purchased one hundred and nineteen acres; reared seven children-six of whom survive him. His sons are Michael, William, Thomas, Elias, and Lytle.
In 1803, Amos Skeel and Jason Comstock came in from Schenectady county, and selected locations. The former settled on lot 59. He was an industrious and valuable citizen. He died in 1842, at the age of seventy- five years. His widow survived him eleven years, and died at the advanced age of eighty-eight. He was the father of Hon. Ira Skeel, as also of William W. The former lives in Preble; the latter has but recently re- moved to Homer. His son William is at present a prom- inent citizen and public officer of Jefferson county, Mis- souri. Mr. Comstock located on lot 58. His daughter Saloma is the wife of D. G. Duncan. In 1804, John Callyer, Dr. Robert D. Taggart, and Edward Cummings, selected locations. Callyer, father of Casper Callyer, came from Greene county, and settled on lot 58. Tag- gart came from Colerain, and located on lot 59. He was an exceedingly active and prominent man. Cummings, came in from Peterboro, N. H., and settled on lot 59. He purchased one hundred acres, and reared a respect. able family of thirteen children-eleven of which are now living-seven of whom are sons residing in Preble.
In 1806 several additional settlements were made. Garret Van Hoesen and his sons -- Garret, Francis and Albert-came in from Greene county and located on lot 68. He purchased of James Cravat, the original settler of the lot, three hundred and fifty acres at twelve dollars and fifty cents per acre. Garret and Francis are still living on the lot ; the former at the advanced age
201
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
of ninety, and the latter at eighty-two years. William Vandenburgh, from the same county, located on lot 77. He was the father of Lambert and Richard : the latter lives on lot 85 in Scott. John C. Hollenbeck and Rich- ard Egbertson, also from Greene county, located about the same time on lot 58. Mr. Hollenbeck left two sons, -Abram and John,-and one daughter. John occupies the homestead. The daughter, Mary, is now widow Bee- man, of Tully. A daughter of Mr. Egbertson is the wife of David Beeman. Tunis Van Camp, from Schoharie county, located on lot 69. The farm is now owned by Frederick Poor. His son John lives in Tully.
In 1807, Rier Van Patten, from Schenectady, located on lot 56. His children are Mrs. Martin Vanderwarker, Mrs. Mary Ann Hobart, Asenath, now widow Egbert- son, John K. and James S. The latter lives in St. Charles, Illinois.
The town of Preble presents a broken and diversified aspect. The western portion exhibits several abrupt and high elevations, the highest point of which is Mount Topping. There are numerous legendary reminiscences treasured up in the minds of some of the old sachems of the Iroquois tribe, which give a somewhat prominent feature to this rugged miniature mountain. Here the bear, the wolf, and the panther were driven from their strongholds, or made to pay a forfeiture of their lives for their unbecoming temerity. An old scarred warrior, of the seventeenth century, having pitched his hunting camp at the eastern base of this high point of land, was" suddenly aroused from a sound sleep, about the middle of a cold December night, by the scream of an enormous panther, which had been attacked by a drove of hungry
10
202
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
wolves. Springing from his pallet of dried skins, and seizing his French rifle, which had been given him by a young Adirondack chieftain, and which had often before done him good service, and creeping stealthily to the door, which he opened with the utmost care, to his sur- prise he beheld the fiery orbs of three ferocious animals. Levelling Long Tom, a leaden missile made a death lodgment in the brain of the panther. The wolves re- treated a few rods, and as hastily returned, for they had already got a scent of the fresh blood that freely flowed from the dead animal, now secured within the unadorned walls of the hunter's tent. The purple current was soon lapped up, and then the midnight air resounded with the discordant howls of the more than half enraged wolves.
But hark ! the terrific howl is answered from Mount Topping, and reëchoed in mournful expression as it dies away on the other side of the Tioughnioga. And now, while the hungry pack are hurrying down the mountain glade, the unterrified red man sits smoking his pipe, with all the coolness of a Roman knight. A few mo- ments elapse, and they have snuffed the scent of blood, and are yelling around the pent-up confines of the stern old man. The muzzle of Long Tom presently appears emerging from the port hole, belching fire and lead; and though he spoke in an authoritative tone, and silenced forever the voice of one, he did not frighten away the voracious clan. But Long Tom continued to emerge at various intervals from the unnoticed embrasures, until seven wolves were weltering in their blood. A few escaped with broken limbs to the mountain gorge.
The first school which had any important bearing on
203
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
the moral habits and intellectual training of the chil- dren, was taught by Miss Ruth Thorp, in 1801. Under the old organization, when Preble was a part of Tully, Moses Nash furnished the settlers with goods from his little store, established at Tully Village in 1803. Two years after, he was succeeded by John Meeker, who greatly extended the limits of commercial intercourse with the hardy pioneers of the country. A public house was opened in 1802. In 1803, when Tully was orga - ized, several of the early settlers of that portion of the town of Tully, afterwards comprised in the town of Preble, were elected to responsible town offices. Among these were the Cravaths. Mr. Nash, after disposing of his mercantile interest, located in Indiana, and at a later period came within one vote of an election to the gubernatorial chair of that State.
Previous to the establishment of a post-office at Preble Corners, about 1812, the then central point of Tully, the settlers received their letters, papers, &c., from Pompey Hill. The first dwelling-house was erected by James Cravath, in 1798.
In 1804, public religious worship was commenced by the organization of the Congregational church in Tully, and consisted of eleven members. It was organized through the active and zealous efforts of the Reverends Theodore Hinsdale and Joel Hale, who were missiona- ries from Connecticut. This association, at a subsequent period, assumed the name of the First Presbyterian Church of Preble. In its infancy it was connected with the Middle Association ; but, on the dissolution of that organization, it was assigned to the Presbytery of On- ondaga, and at a still later period, to that of Cortland.
204
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
Rev. Matthew Harrison, its first pastor, entered upon his labors in 1812. Reverends Enoch Bouton, L. Weld, A. P. Clark, G. K. Clark, W. Jones, B. F. Foltse, E. H. Pay- son, and W. W. Collins, severally ministered to the spirit- ual wants of the people up to 1825, when there were seventy-seven members. Three years after, the number had increased to one hundred and nineteen. Twelve years later, there were two hundred and ten members. The next year (1841) eighty of its members withdr ew and finally organized themselves under the appellation of the "First Free Church" in Preble, and might prop- erly be termed Unionists.
The Baptist Association, organized at an early period with but fourteen members, owes its origin to Elder Abbott, the first spiritual teacher of that order, who labored ardently in his efforts to impart public religious instruction. The church is now under the charge of Elder Capron.
The Methodist organization dates back to 1827, and was formed by Calvin Winslow. Elder Sayers was the first stated preacher. He was followed by the ever to be remembered Elder Puffer, who was appropriately termed " Old Chapter and Verse." It was a custom of his to omit naming any chapter or verse upon which his public discourses were based. We recollect of his telling us, in our earlier days, that, if the Bible, through some unexpected revolution, should be destroyed, he could re-write every chapter, verse, and even word, in their appropriate order and place.
The dairy business is being regarded with much more attention than in former years ; and consequently, the high lands are greatly improved, not only in value,
205
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
but in their general appearance. The rich Preble Flats are hardly surpassed, for fertility and beauty, by any in the county.
From the highest elevation of Mount Topping, portions of Onondaga, Cayuga, and Tompkins may be seen, with their varying scenery, blending the beauties of rich productive fields with the more rugged features of nature. Standing on that lofty point, the observer may have a fine view of Homer, Preble, and Tully Flats- lands that will compare favorably with any in the State. And there, too, he may view with admiration and won- der the work of Deity, as exhibited in the numerous ridges and long sloping valleys, the rounded knolls and picturesque dales, all richly diversified, and producing in abundance the various crops common to the country. Indeed, there are many magnificent views to be taken from this rugged point, as it looms up in all its ancient grandeur. We were most agreeably surprised with our visit to this olden spot of Indian warfare, where the red man contested the right of inheritance with the wild beasts of the mountain glen, or forest glade. Had we, in our childhood, given a willing ear to the marvellous, when one of our far-famed orators endeavored to instil into our mind the fanciful stories of fairy lore, we should, we opine, not hesitate to imagine that the re- treat of sylphs and nymphs was somewhere about this romantic mount.
Amos Skeel was the first supervisor and justice of the peace ; Garret Van Hoesen, the first town clerk ; Sam- uel Taggart, the first constable.
The first marriage was that of Amos Bull to Sally Mason, in 1799. The first birth, Nancy Gill, October
206
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
25, 1796. The first death was that of John Patterson, 1798. The first permanent merchant was Noah Parsons, at Preble Centre, 1817. The first grist-mill was erected in 1806, by Samuel C. Woolston, a native of Montgom- ery county. In 1827 the building was taken down, and the main part of the present mill erected on the original site. In 1853, the mill property and farm, comprising two hundred acres of valuable land, were purchased by W. E. Tallman, formerly an enterprising citizen of Tully. The mill was thoroughly renovated and improved by the replacing of new bolts and an additional run of stone. He has extended a line of shafting to his barn, a distance of three hundred and sixty feet, where the power is used for threshing, separating grain, elevating straw, shelling corn, and sawing wood, requiring less than half the usual number of hands to do the same amount of work. What a vast amount of hard labor is thus saved ! What an improvement is thus suggested to other mill proprietors ! Mr. Tallman has also re- cently purchased a water-power about thirty-eight rods below the mill ; and he is new engaged in running a shaft back to his mill (six hundred and twenty-seven feet), where it will be connected with an extra run of stone, thus enabling him to use a portion of the water a second time,-another important suggestion to mill- owners ; and it is with this view that we have thus freely spoken with reference to this valuable mill prop- erty, as well as to the enterprising efforts of Mr. Tallman.
207
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
In 1810 the population of Preble was
1,179
1814
1,311
1820
1,257
1825
66
1,327
1830
1,435
1835
66
1,408
1840
1,247
1845
1,325
1850
66
1,312
1855
1,219
In 1810 there were in Preble ninety-four Senatorial electors ; the taxable property $54,710.
TRUXTON .- The town of Truxton was organized from the south half of the military town of Fabius, April 8, 1808. It also embraces four tiers of lots taken from the north part of Solon.
As we look back over the dim vestiges of the past, and behold the hardy pioneer of civilization penetrating the boundary line which now marks the northern limits of Cortland county, we feel that his was a hazardous effort, and that a great amount of energy must have been embraced in his enterprising and wild, romantic character. Doubts and fears had little or no influence upon his mind, for he was one of those energetic char- acters of quick and discerning mind,-and bold, resolute actors who, when having resolved upon a purpose, allow no mere probable contingency to deter them from the accomplishment of the enterprise. The foot- prints of civilization had not then penetrated into this then dense wilderness. True, the French traders had visited the Indians in their rude cabins, and even estab-
208
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
lished trading-posts ; but these had disappeared with time and change, and the confines of the now county of Cortland were invaded only by the red man in his hunt- ing garb, or as he went forth upon some stealthy march. The panther, the wolf, the bear, and the deer, roamed free as the mountain bird, without dreaming of the hor- rid crusade that was about to be waged against them. Yet through the deep, thick forest of hemlock, maple, elm, and basswood, wandered the bold, resolute pioneer, Samuel C. Benedict, who, in the fall of 1793, located on lot 12. He erected a log-citadel, and christened it- " Home."
In 1794 Nathaniel Potter, Jonah Stiles, Christopher Whitney, David Morse and Benjamin Brown came in and selected various locations. Potter was from Sara- toga county, New York. He purchased lots 77, 86, and 96. He erected a small house on lot 96, near the State bridge. In July, 1798, he was suddenly killed by the fall of a tree. Stiles came from Ruport, Vermont, and located on lot 4. He purchased one hundred acres, now owned and occupied by Samuel Freeman. He died in 1840. His daughter Julia married John Wicks ; Sophia, Alexander Forbes, of Litchfield, Ohio ; Jonah lives at Seville, in the same State ; Samuel, at Franklin, in Dela- ware county, New York ; and Otis, near Almiron W. Crain's Wool Exchange, at Stilesville. Whitney mi- grated from the east, and located on lot 3. One of his daughters is widow Moses Hopkins. Morse came from New Jersey, and settled on lot 87. He served his country in the revolution, and drew the lot where he settled, now in part covered by the village of Cuyler, where his two surviving sons, David and Joseph, now
209
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
reside. Brown was from Connecticut. He located on lot 57. His surviving children are Abner, Alvin, and Wesley.
John Shedd located early in 1797 on lot 63. During the same year Nathaniel E. James and Charles Stewart, came in. The former located on lot 63; and the latter, from Colerain, Massachusetts, drew and settled on State's Hundred, lot 93.
In 1798 a number of additional settlers came in and located. Robert McNight and John Jeffrey were from Monmouth, New Jersey, and settled on lot 2; Charles McNight, a son, lives on the homestead. Billy Trow- bridge, from Westchester county, New York, settled on lot 5. He filled several respectable county offices ; was twice elected to the State Assembly, and for one term held the office of sheriff. His sons John, Levi, and Hub- bard, reside at Detroit, and Smith, in Syracuse. Ste- phen Hedges, from Troy, located on lot 93. Increase M. Hooker was a native of Bennington, Vermont. He was with Ethan Allen during a portion of the Revolution, and witnessed the terrible conflict at Bennington, Au- gust 16, 1777. He married in Litchfield, Conn., and some years after moved to Greene county, N. Y. In 1797, removed to Solon, on lot 88 ; and the next year came to Truxton, and settled on lot 94. Soon after, he purchased a grist-mill of Joseph Sweetland. It was covered with elm bark, and contained one run of stone. It was rebuilt in 1816 by his sons. In 1842 he removed to New Jersey. In 1848 he visited his son in Illinois, and on his return died at Onondaga Hollow. He reared five children : two now living, John H., and Harley ; the former lives in Newbrunswick, N. J., and the latter
10*
210
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
in Rockton, Ill. John H. Hooker recently told us that he visited Onondaga county when there was but one house at Manlius, one at Pompey, and one at Onondaga Hollow.
John Miller, from Amenia, Dutchess county, located in 1801 on lot 93.
Hugh and William Stewart, from Colerain, Mass., settled in 1803 on lot 4.
Lewis Wicks came from Saratoga county, in 1804, and located on lot 13.
The Pierces were from Colerain. Zebulon migrated in 1805, and located on lot 34. He reared a family of eleven children-four now living.
Judah settled in 1806 on lot 12. He left eight chil- dren-three reside at the West. Ethan lives on the homestead. Mr. Pierce accumulated a large property ; was an influential citizen. He died at the age of seventy.
Dea. James Bell was from Ruport, Vt. He migrated to Truxton in the winter of 1812, and located on lot 95. In 1821 he removed to Medina county, Ohio. He was a most excellent citizen, and reared an interesting family. His sons, James and Jacob, are active and prominent politicians ; the former has occupied a seat in the Ohio Legislature.
In 1814 Asa Babcock, originally from Rhode Island, came in from Madison county, N. Y., and went into the mercantile trade, which he continued for a period of forty-three years. With the sands of life running low, he calmly awaits his summons to depart.
Asa Campbell was a native of Hampden county, Mass. He came in and settled (1816) on the farm now.
211
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
owned by Jennings Bennett. The widow and daughter reside in the village.
Stephen Ambler came in from New Berlin in 1818,. and located on lot 83. He purchased one hundred and twelve acres; reared nine children-four now living ; two sons in Cuba.
The settlement was visited quite early by itinerant missionaries, and public religious worship was insti- tuted in 1801, through the laudable exertions of Rev. Hugh Wallis.
The first post-office was established in 1799, and Ste- phen Hedges appointed post-master ; he was also the first merchant. John Miller, the first physician. The first miller was Joseph Sweetland. The first child born was Stephen Potter, in 1794. The first death was that of the father, Nathaniel Potter, already referred to.
In the earlier town organization, this town belonged to Pompey, which was organized in 1794, and included the townships of Pompey, Fabius, and Tully ; and also, "part of the Onondaga Reservation, lying south of the great Genesee Road, and east of Onondaga Creek." Fabius was erected from Pompey in 1798, and at that time included two military townships,-Fabius and Tully,-and comprised the present towns of Fabius, Tully, Truxton, Preble and Scott, with portions of Spaf- ford and Otisco.
The pioneers of the town of Truxton labored early and late to procure a support for themselves and fami- lies. The luxuries they enjoyed were the real necessa- ries of subsistence. They dealt only with the stern re- alities of life. The follies and fooleries of our times were unknown to the primitive settlers. They studied nature as she really was, rather than in what they
212
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
would have her to be. When success had so far crowned their laborious efforts as to enable them to spare a portion of their products, they did not deem it a hard task to place the scanty surplus on an ox sled, and, taking an Indian trail, or such road as had been cut through the wilderness by wandering emigrants, thus trudge on from day to day, until they reached Utica, Whitestown or Herkimer, where they exchanged them for the substantials of the farm and the kitchen. The exchange did not then, as in these days of refine- ment, consist of satins, silks and lawns for their daughters, but in a few yards of linsey-woolsey ; an axe, bush-hook, grub-hoe, and last, though perhaps not least thought of, a half-pound of old Bohea, which was always received by the happy matron with a smile as sweet as the lively lay she sang.
The surface of the town of Truxton presents a broken and diversified aspect. The Truxton Flats are, however, very beautiful, rich, and abundant in agricultural ele- ments ; yet they are unquestionably better adapted to the growing of the coarser grains, though wheat is pro- duced to a limited extent.
In 1810 the population of Truxton was 1,031
1814
66
1,768
1820
2,956
1825
3,325
1830
6
3,885
1835
3,712
1840
66
66
3,658
1845
3,587
1850
66
3,623
1855
"
66
3,444
213
SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
In 1810 there were one hundred and twenty-nine Sen- atorial electors ; and the taxable property was assessed at $47,673. The village contained twenty houses. The town is well watered, and especially by branches of the Tioughnioga, which have their origin in the town.
The streams of Truxton afford many excellent mill- seats, which in most instances are used to good advan- tage, placing her in the front rank of manufacturing towns in the county. There are five grist-mills, several saw-mills, a large sash and blind factory, a firkin and tub factory, and a Wool Exchange. The latter we pro- pose to briefly notice. In 1809 Jonah Stiles and Alvin Pease erected a grist-mill, the second one in the town. In 1810 they erected a carding machine. These sub. sequently passed into the hands of Otis and Jonas Stiles ; the latter, however, soon sold out to Samuel Stiles ; and finally, the latter interest was purchased by Otis, who, in 1814, added to his business another branch, -that of cloth dressing. A few years previous, Jacob Otis commenced cloth dressing, but he discontinued it in 1820. In 1826, Mr. Stiles rebuilt, and engaged more largely in the manufacture of cloth. In 1837, he added the improved machinery. In 1838, Almiron W. Crain be- came an active partner, and in 1848 sole proprietor. In 1854 Perry P. Crain became a partner. In 1826 the business of exchanging cloth for wool was com- menced, and has been gradually increasing until the present time. The sum total of exchange during the year 1858, amounted to 25,000 pounds of wool. We re-
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