USA > New York > Onondaga County > Pompey > Re-union of the sons and daughters of the old town of Pompey > Part 15
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trip for the physician and medicine, in the absence of neigh- bors or the possession of the many comforts which make the sick room cheerful and'the patient comfortable ; the anxiety felt for the recovery of a dear friend, it may be wife or child ; think of being now and then visited by the prowling wolf or bear, robbing you of stock whose flesh or wooly coat was to make your meat and clothing; of the trip on foot for miles through the forest, which on every side surrounds you, to the store, the shop or mill. In fine, if you can, think of being alone in the wilderness, with naught but trees, wild beasts and Indians for companions, and you may in some small degree realize the position and painful self-sacrifice of those who, eighty years ago, settled in Onondaga county, which to-day boasts so proudly of its thriving city and towns, its broad, well-tilled farms, its teeming graineries, its large and beautiful dwellings, and its one hundred thousand popu- lation.
It is to be hoped that this retrospect made by us, shall enable us fully to realize the debt of gratitude we owe to. those who cleared our forests and left to us the benefits of their labors. And in so much as they labored for us, and at no great cost, have left so great an inheritance, let us guard well the homes they made, as well as the principles of government they established and secured to us. In spite of every difficulty, let us perpetuate, as far as in our power it lies to perpetuate, for those who shall come after us, the. same homes and free institutions, unimpaired, to the end of time.
Clark says, " the earliest settlers were obliged to go to. Whitestown, Oneida Co., a distance of 40 miles to mill. They, however, often used a stump as a mortar, and for a pessle a hard wood stick of proper dimentions attached to a spring pole, for the purpose of breaking corn, and other grain. Marketing and trade was mostly done at Whites- town, old Fort Schuyler and Herkimer, and the transporta- tion was mostly done by ox teams, in the winter season."
The first grist mill built near the settlers, was that at
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Jamesville, in 1794, called Jackson's mill. "The first mills erected in this town, were at Pratt's Falls, by Messrs. Pratt and Smith. A grist mill in 1798 and a saw mill a year or two earlier." Mr. Pratt brought the material used in erect- ing his mills, excepting the hewn timber, from Connecticut, hauling the same on an ox sled or cart. About the year 1810 or 12, Mr. Henry Seymour erected a windmill. on Pompey Hill, near what is now the site of the Roman Catholic, for- merly the Baptist church. It proved a failure. In a year or two after, he built near the site of the first, another wind- mill, which was used only in the preparation of grain for dis- tilling. These mills stood for many years, and till about 1838.
The teams used by the carlier settlers were universally ox teams. There were no wagons in town. Only a single horse or two ; these were used to work with the oxen, and to go to mill or to store. The first chaise was brought here by Judge Butler, from Philadelphia, where he had purchased it in exchange for cattle that he had driven thither from Central New York, to sell.
The plows used were what they called " The Bull Plow," made of wrought iron. The grain was covered by means of a crotch harrow with nine teeth ; one such implement answered for a neighborhood. Scythes were bronght from the East. The snath was a straight stick, found in the woods. Messrs. Abram and Timothy Northrop made the first bent snaths manufactured in town. Wooden forks were used for turning hay, Pitching forks were iron, with heavy tines. There being no barns, it was usual to stack the hay. This was done by means of a long handled fork, one answering for a community.
Other farming utensils were of the rudest fashion. House- hold furniture was very limited in quantity, and often rude in style. One table; the old chest with drawers ; the cup- board in which were a few dishes; a few chairs; and one- half of a hollow log for a cradle would frequently complete the list.
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At about the year 1800, the trading at stores was mostly done at Manlius Square. The first store, where a general assortment of goods was kept, was opened by John Meeker, about the year 1803 or 4, and in what was then Col. Hop- kins' Tavern stand, at Pompey Hill. Before this, for a short time, Truman Lewis, who kept tavern, kept also a few goods. And, as before stated. at Log City, was a place where tea, sugar, coffee, &c., could be procured.
Mr. Meeker was soon followed by Clarke & Emmons, who built and used for a store, what was at the time it was taken down called "Dea. Baker's Old Red House." At about the time Clark & Emmons came, Henry Seymour and Orrin Stone opened a store. Clark & Emmons in a year or two left the place, and the firm of Seymour & Stone was the principal one doing a mercantile business in this village for a long period afterwards.
At this date, the cloth (flannel) which had been woven by our grandmothers, from wool they had carded and spun, was taken to Manlius to be colored and dressed-this mak- ing the full cloth worn by the settlers. Some of the fami- lies, it is related, wore deer skin breeches, the skins having been tanned by themselves; these when wet, would shrink, and instances are cited where "boys were obliged to wear them without taking off till they became dry." In time, other fulling mills were built; one in the hollow, near Mr. Conrad Bush's place; this mill, in the fall of the year, be- ing well stored with cloth from the vicinity, took fire and burned, together with its contents, causing serions loss, and in many instances suffering, among the settlers.
Mr. Ezra Dodge, who lived on the farm so long occupied by his son, David F. Dodge, was a wheel-wright. He used to mend cart wheels, to make plows, &c.
The first blacksmiths after the Lillies, were Stewart & Smith : about 1804 or 5 they came from Vermont; they were brothers-in-law ; one had a shop near the dwelling which Jesse Butler first built; the other one nearly oppo- site the present site of the M. E. Church.
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Stewart moved to Ohio, and Chester Howard came and worked at the business. Merrit Butler and Harry Hopkins, who learned the trade of him, (Howard,) entered into part- nership with him, and together they conducted the business for three years. Butler bought the shop, and afterwards worked at the trade in Pompey for forty years.
At about the time this partnership was dissolved, Harry Hopkins and George Merrill entered into co-partnership, for the purpose of manufacturing " thirty toothed harrows," a patent for which had been obtained by Jacob Pratt and Hopkins. They built the long shop which was located nearly opposite the site of the present Disciples' Church.
Joseph Beach worked at this trade on the Hill for many years. He also carried on wagon making extensively. Horace Butts and Merrit Butler at one time were somewhat extensively engaged in the manufacturing of wagons.
Mr. Hurlbut was the first cabinet maker: afterwards, Henry and Hezekiah Stevens settled in the village, and for many years conducted that business.
By reference to the laws of 1789, chapter 11, we find that authority was conferred on the General Sessions to organize townships; and accordingly, this township was organized by the General Court in session at Whitestown, in the same year. We believe, from the best information at hand, that for a period, Pompey embraced under this action of the Court, all the Military Tract bounded on the west by Pre- emption line, north by State line to McComb purchase, east by line south to mouth of Chittenango Creek, thence on line of military tract to Chenango River, on south by Penn- sylvania State line. Settlements at or about this date, 1789, were made at Horsehead's, Morehouse Flatts, Cayuga Bridge, Chenango Point, at Manlius and at Pompey Hill. It is re- lated that at the first town meeting held in 1794, after the formation of the town by direct legislative enactment, there were present settlers from many or all of the settlements above named.
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"This first town meeting was held at Pompey Hill, at the house of Ebenezer Butler, Jr., April 1st, 1794. Moses De- Witt was chosen Supervisor, and Hezekiah Olcott, Town Clerk, Allen Beach, Wm. Haskins, George Catlin and El ;- enezer Butler, Jr., Assessors, Thomas Olcott, Jeremiah Gould and John Lamb, Commissioners of Highways. A special town meeting was held 20th September, 1794, at the house of Ebenezer Butler, at which Wm. Haskins was chosen Supervisor, in place of Moses De Witt, deceased." -(Clark.)
The first lawyer, or rather pettifogger, who came to Pom- pey Hill, was a Mr. Dunham, a man whose stay was of short duration. The first settled lawyer was John Keedar, who came here before or about the year 1800, and located near the site of Pompey Academy; he and his brother kept bachelors' hall ; he was a first-class lawyer for his time; he was a German by birth, and because of a failure to receive . some appointment at the hands of the State Government, he left the district and country. He was succeeded in 1806, by Daniel Wood, who bought the residence occupied by Keedar; Mr, Wood continued a resident of Pompey many years, and in the successful practice of his profession, till his death, which occurred in the year 1838. He was ap- pointed the first Post Master at Pompey Hill, in 1811, (pre- vious to this date the settlement went by the name of But- ler's Hill,) and he was intimately connected with all the early history of the village. Almost simultaneously with Esq. Wood, came Samuel Baldwin ; he was a man of great promise, and obtained an enviable notoriety as a lawyer : his office was near where is now located the watering tub, and in the north-east corner of what is now Mr. O. Jarvis Wheaton's door yard ; afterwards it was removed to the site of what is familiarly known as "Esq. Gott's Office." Vic- tory Birdseye, in 1809, settled in the place as a lawyer, and a partner of Mr. Wood. Daniel Gott afterwards came, taught school for a time, and then commenced the study of law with Wood & Birdseye. Then followed Chas. Bald-
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wind, Chas. B. and H. J. Sedgwick, Lucien Birdseye, Le- Roy Morgan, Geo. H. Williams, R. HI. Duell and others, whose name is legion-either as students at law or practi- tioners. Wm. W. VanBrocklin is the only lawyer at pres- ent located in Pompey ; he is also Justice of the Peace.
The first physician in the town of Pompey, was Dr. Hol- brook, who settled at Pompey Centre in 1793. The Hr-t resident physician at Pompey Hill, was Dr. Walter Coton. He was followed by Daniel Tibbals, who settled here in about the year 1800; he, Dr. Tibbals, spent in Pompey many years in the practice of his profession : he left the town about thirty or thirty-five years since, and moved to Erie, Pa., spending the residue of his life with his sons in that city.
Cotempory with Dr. Tibbals from the year 1814, Dr. Je- hiel Stears has been a physician at Pompey Hill : he is still living at a good old age, and has not entirely given up the practice of medicine. Dr. Hezekiah Clark, in the year 1805 or 6, settled east of the village of Pompey, and practiced medicme in this locality for a great number of years. He was a surgeon, serving as such in the Revolutionary war. Dr. Rial Wright was a partner with Dr. Stevens for a num- ber of years. Dr. L. B. Wells, during the first years of his practice, was a resident physician in this place. He was the first Homopathic physician in Pompey.
Dr. J. Deblois Sherman settled at l'ompey Hill about 1825. Resided opposite the old home of Marovia Marsh, where Frank Porter now (1875) lives. Office was on site of "Beard's stone store." He ranked high as a physician. went to the West or South Western States. Dr. Tibbals had a Drug store just south of Sherman's office.
The carly settlers, with few exceptions, were young married people. or those with families of small children : and they early perceived the necessity of establishing schools. As early as 1794, do we find that a school was opened; and shortly after, a house was built for the purpose, and every
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, POMPEY HILL,
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advantage possible was secured, that the children might be taught. Not that the facilities for obtaining a liberal edu- cation were then as available as now, but such advantages as were demanded by the times were procured, and the school was a leading feature or institution of the community.
The first school kept, was in a log house located near where Mr. Daniel Kellogg now lives. And among the first, if not the first teacher, was Miss Lucy Jerome, afterwards Mrs. James Geddes, mother of the Hon. Geo. Geddes, of Camillus.
The first house built for school purposes, was a frame one built in 1798, and located in the forks of the road on the village green; in the rear of which, was the first grave vard; afterwards, the house was moved north to near the present site of " Gott's office." There school was kept for a number of years, till the Academy building was erected. Then the " Common School" was kept for a number of years after, in a room of that building.
Among the early teachers, was Miss Hepsabah Beebee and Mr. Lyman Pitcher; as well as Mr. Jas. Robinson, who. first taught English Grammar, a science that only the oldest and most advanced scholars aspired to study.
As the interest in education increased, the settlers con- ceived the idea of establishing an Academy. And as early as about 1800, the frame for such an institution was raised, and in the year 1811, was incorporated by the Regents of the University. And the trustees under the charter held their first meeting in the month of April, of the same year.
The educational interests of the people seemed to be among the more important, and whatever was done by them. it is evident, they meant should be well done, and that the. benefits resulting from this institution be not for them and their children only, but for those who should come after them for generations to follow.
To this end, they saw the necessity of making it a funded institution. Citizens in the vicinity, and for miles around.
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owning real estate made contributions to it of from 50 to 100 dollars, and upwards, in mortgages on their farms. The interest accruing on the same to be paid annually. By this means there was accumulated, together with that received from the sale of Public lands and other sources, a fund of several thousand dollars, and the institution has been able, (though sometimes lacking a sufficient income from tuitions charged, to render it self-sustaining,) to support itself till the present time ; and has ever, till Academies and Union as well as good district schools have become so numerous about it, ranked among the first Academies of the State.
Perhaps to this school, more than to any other one cause, do we owe the general intelligence of the people of this vi- cinity, which has won for the citizens. of Pompey so fair a name abroad. And that has enabled her to send out so many sons to fill positions in councils of the State snd Na- tion, as well as to distinguish themselves in the law and other of the learned professions.
The men of those days seemed to believe that the interests of Education and Religion should go hand in hand, in a community ! And that virtue and good morals, to be the result of the one, should be taught by the other. Conse- quently, we see springing up simultaneously with this in- stitution, one being a part of the other, the church, where the gospel was to be preached,-the people taught their duties to their Maker.
The first organization of this kind was what is known as the Presbyterian Church, properly, "The First Congrega -: tional Church of Pompey.
This organization was effected, October 19, 1796, by Ameni R. Robbins, pastor of the church in Norfolk, Conn. The membership at first, consisted of the following twenty- two named persons :
MALES. Ebenezer Butler, James Olcott,
FEMALES. Desire Butler, Dorothy Butler.
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Benjamin Butler,
Molly Jerome,
Joseph Shattuck,
Lucy Cook,
Ichabod Lathrop,
Freelove Cook,
John Jerome,
Amarilla Jerome,
Trueworthy Cook,
Lucy Jerome,
Selah Cook,
Susanna Carol,
Levi Jerome,
Hannah Griffis,
Moses Lilly,
Zerniah Catlin,
Daniel MeKeys,
Louisa Butler.
The last survivor of them, Mrs. Louisa Butler, died April 30, 1857. Having been for more than 60 years a communi- cant of the church.
The number of members increased from time to time, till. in the year 1834, over 300 (305) persons were reported in good and regular standing in the connection.
The meetings were first held in the school house that stood in the fork of the road, near the centre of the green. When the old Academy was erected, meetings were held in that building in a room suited to the purpose.
At length, the congregation becoming too large to be ac- commodated there, the present church edifice was erected in the years 1817 and 18, and dedicated in the year 1819.
The number of ministers that have, since the date of its organization been settled over the church, has not been small. Among these, have been some of the best and most talented inen of the country. The following is a list of names em- bracing all, or nearly all who have survived as pastors of this church.
Rev. Mr. Williston, 1798
.. Joseph Gilbert,
1799
Hugh Wallis, 1801 1
.. Jabez Chadwick, 1812 1
.. E. S. Barrows, 1822 1 1 J 1 1
ยทยท B. B. Stockton 1829 1 1
. J. B. Shaw, 1833
.. Ethan Smith, 1835
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John Gridley,
1836
Asa Rand,.
1837
Mr. Wheelock,
Clinton Clark.
1845
66 S. P. M. Hastings
1848
A. A. Graley
1856
66 J. H. Morron,
1862
N. Bosworth,
1863
Mr. Eggleston,
1866
A. Cooper,
1869
J. Petrie, 1872
The Baptist church was organized in the year 1817, and at one time was equally as thriving as the Congregational church. But owing to certain causes, the organization has ceased to exist, and most of the original members living ten years ago, were members of the Disciples', or Christ's church. an organization of comparatively recent date.
The Baptist congregation first held their meetings in barns and at the private dwellings of the members.
Among the early ministers, and the first who preached to them after their regular organization, was the Rev. Freder- ick Freeman, a resident of Fabius. They built the church which they subsequently occupied in the year 1819 or 20, immediately after the Presbyterian house was completed.
The Methodist church was organized at a later period. Rev. Mr. Torry or Father Torry as he was called, was among the first, if not the first, minister that had charge of this church. Since his day, the church being under the super- vision of the Oneida Conference, has received its ministers by appointment, from the Bishops of the church, and has , made changes regularly as per rule of the Itinerancy. No denomination can boast of more zealous or devoted pastors, than the M. E. church.
This society was first formed in the neighborhood west of the village; and they built a church which has stood till a recent day, opposite the dwelling of Mr. Nelson Hall.
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About the year 1839, the house of worship in the village was erected ; its membership may never have been very large, but it has embraced some of the pure and good men and women of the earth. Its early founders have gone to their reward and their works do follow them.
The Disciples of Christ's church was organized under cir- cumstances which are fully given in the subjoined paper from the pen of the present pastor, Rev. A. S. Hale.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
Early in the year 1833, the Baptist church at Pompey Hill was left without a pastor. During the Spring or early Sum- mer of this year, the church formed an acquaintance with Elder J. I. Lowell, who preached before the church several times " on trial." Though a Baptist minister in regular standing, he was not fully in sympathy with all the doc- trines of the Baptist creed, and he so distinctly informed the church. He was, however, nevertheless employed as the pastor of the Baptist church. At the time of his coming here, Mr. L. had recently had his attention called to certain ideas that he had once held as true, but which he was now firmly convinced were errors. Not being a man to hide any truth, or cover up any light he might possess, he began at once to declare " the whole counsel of God" as he had now come to understand it. Whatever his faults may have been, his great thought-the ruling idea indeed in his mind and life was-God has spoken, let His word stand, and His will be done, though all humanisms come to naught. It was then, perhaps, more dangerous than now, for any minister to ad- vocate ideas not contained in "the creed."
But, regardless of creeds, Mr. L. was determined to fol- low truth wherever it might lead, or whatever might be the consequences. His ministry was popular for awhile, until it began to be whispered that he was a "Campbellite," whatever that might be. But the cry of "heresy" now raised with reference to his teaching, could not deter a good- ly number from accepting the truths of God which he so for-
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cibly set forth. Nicknames applied to truth, will not frighten the real truth-lover, who, like the noble Bereans of old, will for himself search the Scriptures to know what they really teach and require. Many persons accepted the views of Gospel truths presented by Mr. L., and many warmly op- posed them.
Before the expiration of the first year of his labor in Pompey, the portion of the church which rejected these views, closed the meeting-house against the pastor. The church also, as its records shows, (on May 9th, 1834, and again May 17th,) excluded quite a number of its members, for no crime, immorality, or unchristian conduct, for no overt act committed in joining any other society, but simply for entertaining new, and as they thought, enlarged views of Gospel truth; or, as the record states it, "for embracing the Campbell or heretical principle."
Early in 1834, several persons were converted under Mr. Lowell's ministry. These, together with those who no longer found sympathy nor countenance in the Baptist church, desiring a home religiously, were necessarily led to the formation of a new religious society in the place. Qn May 3rd, 1834, as the records show, " The First Congrega- tion of Disciples of Christ in Pompey" was organized, with twenty-eight members, whose names were as follows :
Calvin Peck,
J. I. Lowell, Mary P. Lowell,
Asa Wells,
Thos. M. King,
Eliza Nearing,
Alson Nearing,
Polly Wilson,
Charles Little,
Mary A. Bush,
Malcom Bennett,
Temperance Wilson,
A. H. Squires,
Paulina Talbot,
Uriel Wilson, Jr ..
Mindwell Thomas,
Harriett Pratt,
Samuel Talbot, Harry Knapp,
Catherine Bennett,
Willard Heydon,
Betsey Wright,
Darius Wilson,
Rhoda Parsons,
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Jacob Bush, Alvin Talbot,
Polly Thomas, Mary Knapp.
Seven of these persons still, (Ang., 1873,) remain mem- bers of the church. At the end of the year in which the church was organized, there were 50 members, and by the end of the next year (1835,) the number had reached 93.
In the year 1837 the society built the house in which they worshipped until 1868, when a new church was built, the old one having been sold for the use of the District school, in place of the school house which was burned down on the night of Feb. 11, 1868.
The first pastor of the church was J. I. Lowell. The first Elders were Calvin Peck, Asa Wells and Thomas M. King. Deacons, Alson Nearing and Charles Little. Treas- urer, Malcom Bennett. Clerk, A. H. Squires.
The following ministers have served the church as pas- tors :- J. M. Bartlett, M. H. Clapp, M. H. Slosson, II. M. Selmser, J. M. Shepard, Andrew J. Smith, W. T. Horner. L. Southmayd, J. B. Marshall, J. C. Goodrich and A. S. Hale.
The present Elders are Harry Knapp, George Nearing and Lucius Crandall.
Deacons-U. Wilson, J. W. Garrett, Morris Bush and D. B. Knapp.
The church numbers now about 160 members.
The dead were first buried in a yard located on the pub- lie green, and back of the first school house. The first buried, were two children of Geo. Catlin, who died of scar- latina. The first adult buried there, was Mrs. Cravatt, wife of him who settled on farm recently owned and occupied by Robert Ellis. Col. Hezekiah Olcott, a resident of this town, an officer in the Revolution and a surveyor, while engaged in surveying the State Road, was taken ill of fever and died at Pompey West Hill; he was brought to this village and buried with military honors. He, it is said by those who
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'remember him, was a very intelligent man, one of great in- fluence, first among the first men of the country ; a man much loved and whose loss was severely felt, not only at home but all through the county and central portion of the State.
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