USA > New York > Onondaga County > Spafford > Spafford, Onondaga County, New York > Part 10
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PROF. CHARLES O. ROUNDY
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SPAFFORD, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
Republican Party, with which he afterwards continued, vigorously sustaining its principles and giving to it his full support, in suppressing the rebellion and preserving the Union. When a young man he joined the State Militia, and continued his connection with it until he had risen from rank to rank, to that of Brigadier General in that organ- ization. At the time of the breaking out of the Civil War, he was offered the Colonelcy of a regiment in the volunteer service, but on account of age and sickness in his family, was obliged to decline the flattering offer. Colonel Legg was not an aspirant for political honors, yet occasionally was induced to serve his town, by the acceptance of minor offices within its gift; among these was Supervisor. He also received the appointment of Postmaster from the General Government, both at Spafford Corners and Boro- dino. Col. Legg was a public spirited and useful citizen, and he had many friends; his death was generally regretted."
PROFESSOR CHARLES O. ROUNDY.
Mr. Edward Smith, formerly Superintendent of Syracuse Schools, in speaking of Prof. Roundy, said :
" Prof. Charles O. Roundy, son of Captain Asahel Roundy, was born in Spafford, Onondaga County, New York, May 23, 1823. He received his education in the public schools of his native town and in Homer Academy. The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Hamilton College in 1853. Almost his entire active life has been spent in teaching, beginning in his native town at eighteen years, soon after leaving Homer Academy. He afterwards taught as Prin- cipal in the Skaneateles and Baldwinsville Academies, coming from the latter place to Syracuse in 1852, and taking the Principalship of old No. 5, where he remained in charge until the establishment of the Syracuse High School in 1855. He was then installed as Principal of the latter school, and remained as such until failing health compelled him to resign, in the Spring of 1871. After a year or two of travelling, combined with some light work, he again began teaching as Principal of the Union Free School at Moravia, N. Y., and remained there ten years. Leaving there he spent a year or more in Dakota, and then returned to his farm in the town of Skaneateles, N. Y. Mr. Roundy was
.
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ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
always noted for his zeal and enthusiasm as a teacher, and when engaged as such spared no labor, however exacting, that he might have something new to present to his classes the coming day, illustrative of the principles to be eluci- dated, or to awaken interest in his pupils. Until late at night, with his books about him, he would continue to study and investigate until he had mastered his subject, and then would appear before his classes the next day, to inspire them with something of his own spirit. His pupils in this city, graduates of the High School, for sixteen years, will never forget the love for study, and the ambition awakened in them for learning by his eneregtic spirit."
One of his former pupils, and now a successful teacher herself, in a recent publication, said of him:
" Professor Roundy's personality was wonderful. The pupil must have been obtuse indeed who could successfully resist his forceful logic. Other principals may have been more polished, but none were better loved than he. The snows of many winters have fallen upon his grave, over which has been erected a monument by his former pupils, attesting a love that endures beyond the grave. Pupils who through his teaching have attained eminence in the sciences, on the rostrum, at the bar and in every walk of life.
" Professor Roundy was a student to the day of his death, digging and delving as a day laborer in the rich mines of abstruse sciences, and making himself a master of all he sought. He died at his home in Skaneateles, September 30, 1892, and a few days afterwards was buried in Indian Mound Cemetery at Moravia, followed to the grave by many of his former pupils, sincere mourners of a dear teacher and friend."
HON. SIDNEY SMITH.
The following are extracts taken from obituary notices appearing in the public press, at the time of the decease of Mr. Smith, September 10th, 1900.
" In the death of Sidney Smith, which occurred at his residence on West Lake Street, in the village of Skaneateles, Monday morning, September 10, 1900, this village lost one of its oldest and most respected residents. He was born in the town of Spafford, in the vicinity of Borodino, January 29, 1815, on the farm of which he was the owner at the
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SPAFFORD, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
time of his decease; he moved from this farm in 1870 and come to this village, where he resided ever afterwards. His ancestors were of New England patriotic stock, his grand- father Job Smith, being an officer in the Connecticut Line in the War of the Revolution, and his father Lewis Smith being a Lieutenant in the War of 1812. His father was also a Member of Assembly in the New York Legislature, and at one time Sheriff of the County of Onondaga. Mr. Lewis Smith came to the town of Spafford, (then Marcellus), with his father, Job Simth, about 1795, married Chloe Benson of Owasco, and brought up a remarkable family of children near Borodino, in the old New England way, among whom was the subject of this sketch, Mary Smith of Skaneateles, Dr. J. Lewis Smith of New York City, William Smith, Esq., an attorney at law, late of Sacramento, California, and Dr. Stephen Smith, also of New York City.
" Mr. Sidney Smith first married Adelia E. Blodgett, who died in 1843. He then married Miss Jennie A. Calkins, by whom were born his only children : Adelia, wife of Prof. H. F. Miner, Principal of the Skaneateles Academy, and Anna W. Smith, both residents of Skaneateles. Mr. Smith's last wife died in Skaneateles in 1887.
" Mr. Smith, while on the farm (in 1856), was elected a Member of Assembly in the New York Legislature, and after coming to this village was elected Justice of the Peace, an office which he held for about ten years. He was fre- quently called upon to act as executor and administrator, a function which he performed to the satisfaction of every one. He was made administrator, with the will annexed, of the estate of the late Charles Pardee of this village, and, after seventeen years of litigation, finally settled his accounts to the satisfaction of every one concerned.
" During the later years of his life he lived quietly, managing his Spafford farm, in which he took great interest, and attended to his insurance business in this village. He had a clear recollection of the early events of his native town and vcinity, (and the writer of this work is pleased to acknowledge his indebtedness to him for much valuable information in the preparation of this work.)
" Mr. Smith was a Republican in politics, and attended the Baptist Church in Skaneateles village. The writer of one of his obituary notices says of him: " His life was one
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ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
of faithful service to daily duties, a life of unusual good health and genial disposition, a life of many friendships and no enemies ; all men at all times found him reliable."
SANFORD THAYER.
Sanford Thayer, Artist, son of Sanford and Sally Miner Thayer, was born in Cato, New York, July 19, 1820, and in early boyhood moved with his parents to Cold Brook. His father, who was a wheelwright by occpuation, died at the latter place, August 26, 1836, leaving him surviving a large family of small children in indigent circumstances. Soon after his father's decease young Thayer who was then about seventeen years of age and the oldest of Sally Miner's chil- dren, left home and sought employment in John Legg's wagon shop, in the village of Skaneateles; here he met CharlesElliott, who was then engaged in painting pictures on the back of the old fashioned high back sleighs and cutters, then in use, and which were then being manu- factured by Mr. Legg. The life of Thayer up to this period had been spent in the woods and fields; he was an ardent fisherman, and had become a lover of nature in all its forms and features; it was therefore natural, when these two artistic loving natures met, that an abiding friendship grew up between them. In these early years, when Thayer was in his prime and beauty, Elliott painted his celebrated portrait of him, which was exhibited in this and foreign countries, and first called attention to the latter, and estab- lished his reputation as one of the great artists of the world. Young Thayer, under the tutelage of Elliott, made rapid progress in the use of pencil and brush, and his reputation as an artist was also soon established in Central New York; from the time of the meeting of these two men the course of Thayer in the realm of art was ever onward and upward. At an early date he established himself in Syracuse as a portrait painter, and retained a studio there until the time of his decease. As a painter of portraits he had in early years many flattering commissions, and after the decease of Elliott, it can be truthfully said of him that in this field of art he stood for many years without a rival in Central New York. His inherent love of nature led him frequently to visit the Adirondack Wilderness, and his numerous sketches of that wild and rugged country have always been
SANFORD THAYER, ARTIST
JEFFERSON J. BROWN
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SPAFFORD, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
sought after, and demanded a good price. He was a true lover of Nature, and always interpreted her in his pictures in her happiest mood. The woods, the lakes, the fields, the fruits and the flowers, seemed to inspire him with their beauty and charms, and in his portrayal of them he appeared at his best.
He married Nancy H. Smith in 1850, and by her had two children : Mary Brownell, born in 1852 and died in 1853, and Albert F. Thayer, born in 1858. The latter lived to manhood, married a Miss Carrie Cook, but died without issue. Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Thayer died in Syracuse, the former in the Fall of 1881.
TOWN OFFICERS.
On the first Tuesday of April, 1812, one year after the formation of the town, there was held a town meeting at the house of Elisha Sabins, at which were elected the follow- ing officers, constituting the first public officials of this town :
John Babcock, Supervisor; Sylvester Wheaton, Town Clerk; Benjamin Stanton, Asahel Roundy and Elijah Knapp, Assessors; Asahel Roundy, Jonathan Berry and Adolphus French, Commissioners of the Poor; Levi Foster, Constable and Collector; Sylvanus Learned and James Williamson, Commissioners of Public Land; Elisha Sabins, Pound Master; Nehemiah Billings, Ebenezer Grout, Samuel Holmes, Daniel Scranton, James Whitman, Joel Palmer, Cornelius Williamson, Asahel Roundy, and Amos Reed, Pathmasters.
From the foregoing the reader will discover the names of some of the first residents of the town, and their status among their fellows. It would be a very unprofitable matter to give the names of all who have held office since this first meeting, and besides any list would be more or less imperfect, for the reason that some of the first officers were appointed, and not elected, and no town record made of them; also some of the leaves in the first book of records have been lost and destroyed, leaving the record incomplete. The following is believed to be a perfect list of the Super- visors elected in town, from the beginning to the present time :
John Babcock, 1812; Asahel Roundy, 1813-19; Peleg
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ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Shearman, 1820-22; Erastus Barber, 1823-4; Peleg Shear, man, 1826; Asahel Roundy, 1826; Phineas Hutchens, 1827; Asahel Roundy, 1828-9; Daniel Baxter, 1830-2; John R. Lewis, 1833-36; Charles R. Vary, 1837-8; John R. Lewis, 1839-41; Joseph Bulfinch, 1844; William O'Farrell, 1845; Joseph Bulfinch, 1846; William W. Legg, 1847; Russel M. Burdick, 1848; William W. Legg, 1849; Oscar E. Moseley, 1850; Thomas B. Anderson, 1851; James H. Isdell, 1852; John L. Mason, 1853-55; Reuben T. Breed, 1856; Samuel S. Kneeland, 1857-59; David Becker, 1860; Edwin S. Edwards, 1861-3; Orrin Eddy, 1864-6; Uriah Roundy, 1867-69; Samuel H. Stanton, 1870-1; Justus N. Knapp, 1872; John McDowell, 1873-74; Henry Weston, 1875-7; Benjamin Mc- Daniels, 1878-80; Van Dyke Tripp, 1881-3; Perry F. Wood- worth, 1884-6; Harry J. Haight, 1887; William H. Bass, 1888; Willard Norton, 1889; William H. Bass, 1890; Marcus Patterson, 1891-3; Willard Norton, 1894-5; John Unckless, 1896-7; Caleb E. King, 1898-9-1900; Marcus Patterson, 1900-1903.
COMPANY AND GENERAL TRAINING.
From a very early period the American people have been accustomed to the use of firearms. Nearly every household in the town of Spafford, in early times, had a gun of some sort for the purpose of defense; and in fact a man, entering the primeval forests which at first covered these hills, would have been foolhardy without a trusty rifle at his side.
Our emigrant ancestors had hardly landed on American soil, before they discovered they had not only to deal with the wild beasts of the forests, but the American Indian was disposed to contest every advance made by them in the occupation of the land; so, almost at the beginning of their settlements about Massachusetts Bay, they were called to- gether for military drill and Company organization. This first organization is now known as the " Ancient and Honor- able Artillery Copmany of Boston." When new colonies were established other military organizations were formed, so that, eventually, every community throughout the inhabit- able portion of these United States had its separate military company or organization, which was fully armed, equipped, drilled, and ready for any emergency that might arise,
This universal military organization, known as the
EDWIN S. EDWARDS
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SPAFFORD, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
Militia, was continued in the town of Spafford down to a period subsequent to the War of the United States with our Sister Republic of Mexico. Every man in town capable of bearing arms, not exempt by law, was enrolled in some Company or military organization and obliged, under penalty of Court Martial to keep himself armed and equipped, and to attend Company and battalion drill when ordered.
There was generally at least one battalion drill, known as " General Training," in each year; these were holiday occa- sions, looked forward to by old and young as periods of general festivity and enjoyment.
A man holding a commission as an officer, in one of these early military organizations, was generally looked up to and respected in the community where he resided, for the distinction conferred upon him, and was generally addressed by his military title.
Soon after the Mexican War compulsory service in the State Militia was discontinued, and that organization ever since has been maintained by volunteering.
SOLDIERS.
Among the Soldiers of the American Revolution who settled in the town of Spafford were the following:
Paymaster Job Smith Oliver Hyde
Captain Samuel Holmes
Elias Jackson
Stephen Albro
Peter Knapp
Allen Breed
Joseph Lewis
Thompson Burdick
Jesse Manly
James Churchell
David Owen
John Churchell
Gilbert Palmer
Elias Davis
Samuel Prindle
Robert Fulton
Job Smith
John Green
Isaac Town
James Hiscock
Benjamin Wallace
Samuel Holmes
Henry Wentworth
Among those who served in the War of 1812. were:
Captain Asahel Roundy
Jabez Melvin
Lieut. Phineas Hutchens
Isaac Mills
Lieut. Lewis Smith
Moses Norton
Samuel Parker
Stephen Applebe Samuel Barber
Silas Randall
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ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
John Beelar
Samuel G. Seeley
Thompson Burdick, Jr.
Russell Tinkham
Kelley Case
Cornelius Williamson
William Dedrick
Samuel Gale
The town of Spafford contributed the following soldiers to the Union Army, during the War of the Rebellion of 1861:
Lieut. George J. Foster
William Nesbitt
William B. Allen
Parmenus Norton
George C. Anderson
Perry Norton
William H. Brown
Willard Norton
John M. Churchill
Jacob Pollock
Porter Davis
Francis H. Patterson
William Derbin
Charles Weston Roundy
Ensign D. Filkins
John Unckless
William E. Fisher
John A. Uncless
Horatio Harrington
George A. Patten
George L. Hines
Edwin S. Van Benschoten
William Henry Lyon
Napoleon B. Wallace
Phineas B. Marshall
James B. Wilber
William H. Moon
Perry F. Woodworth
George Anthony
Martin Goff
John Anderson
James Nesbit
Ira W. Burdick
James McCausey
Daniel Bradley
George Phippins
George W. Case
George W. Ripley
Sidney Case
Calvin P. Stanton
Asa Clark
James Stringham
Van Buren Davis
Henry Sage
Lewis Davis
Santa Anna Wallace
Edgar Alonzo Eddy
John Worth
Charles H. Enos
Samuel Williams
Part II
Mortuary Records with Genealogical Notes
OF THE
Town of Spafford Onondaga County, New York
BY
Captain George Knapp Collins
PUBLISHED BY
Onondaga Historical Association
DEHLER PRESS 1917
BORODINO CEMETERY
SPAFFORD CEMETERY
INTRODUCTION
There are nine burial places within the town of Spattord, six public and three private, none of which have been incorporated, although some steps have been taken in that direction in two instances, but as yet there is no public record of any act of that kind. Of the six public cemeteries two, known as the old Borodino and the Nunnery Ceme- teries, have been abandoned and are now in disuse, leaving four, one at Borodino, one at Spafford Corners, one at Cold Brook, and one at Spafford Hollow, still in public use and in fair condition. Of the three private burial plots, known as the Davis, Lewis, and Stanton Yards, only the latter is now in the possession and keeping of the family making use of it, and is in fair condition, but in the case of the other two, which have gone out of the possession of the original families for whose use they were set apart, they are sadly neglected and gone to waste, as such plots sooner or later always will be under similar circumstances.
Outside of the places enumerated above, there is a single grave of a Mrs. Parker, on the Breed Farm on Lot No. 11, Tully, and there is said to be one or two unmarked graves on Lot 77, Marcellus; but as to these, in the absence of stones to designate them, even the names of those interred cannot now be ascertained.
Just north of the town line, in the adjacent town of Marcellus, is a public cemetery connected with the Thorn Hill Baptist Church, which is quite generally used by the people residing in the northern end of this town as a burial place for their dead. The tombstone records of this Ceme- tery also appear in the following pages, as a full statement of the dead of this town would be incomplete without them.
In closing this brief introduction it seems proper to say that, in the preparation of the following pages, it become necessary to visit the several burial places located in this town, and observe their condition. It appears that, in many
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ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
instances, private care and attention has been bestowed upon portions of the several general cemeteries now in use, but there has been no general or systematic care and atten- tion given to these burial places, such as the enlightened and progressive spirit of the present age seems to demand. These four public cemeteries, now in use, should be incor- porated, and proper officials appointed, who will receive the generous gifts which tender and loving hearts are always willing to make, for purposes of this kind, and judiciously expend the same in beautifying, preserving and caring for these sacred places, made hallowed by the ashes of our beloved dead.
Mortuary Records and Genealogical Notes
ACKLES.
Almira (Davis), wife of Ovid Ackles, died February 14, 1861, age 34 years.
Ovid Ackles, son of Horton and Mary Ackles, and grandson of William Ackles, was born in LaFayette, N. Y., and came to this town, with his parents and his brother Samuel, about 1840; his father and mother returned to LaFayette, where the former died in 1880, and the latter in 1883. Ovid Ackles married (1) Almira Davis, daughter of Zebulon and Hannah (Ames) Davis, (2) Cook, and (3) Esther Cornue. After the decease of his first wife, he also returned to LaFayette, where he died. His childrn by his first wife, born in Spafford, were: Robert, married Cecelia Woolsey; Mary, married Martin Strail; Frank H., married Flora Garfield, daughter of Daniel Garfield of La- Fayette; and George H., married Jennie Carr. By his second wife (Cook) Mr. Ackles had one daughter, Dora, married Louis Ruhlman; and by his third wife (Esther Cornue), Mr. Ackles had: Jennie and Lena, each now (1899) residing in Tully unmarried.
William Ackles, the grandfather of Ovid Ackles, at an early date came from Orange County, N. Y., first to Cayuga County, and then to LaFayette, with five brothers and a sister : John, Charles, Brant, Richard, Tartulus and Sarah, and resided there until his decease.
Robert Ackles (son of Ovid) by his wife, Cecilia Woolsey, had several children.
Frank H. Ackles (son of Ovid), who is a commercial traveler, by his wife Flora Garfield, has one son, Horace F. Ackles, who is unmarried, an artist, and resides in Washington, D. C.
George H. Ackles, (the third son of Ovid), resides in Preble, N. Y., and by his wife Jennie Carr had: Mortimer A., married Annie Colton, daughter of David Colton, Editor of Skaneateles Demcorat, resides in Skaneateles, N. Y .;
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ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Harley Jaman Ackles, unmarried, assistant editor Skane- ateles Democrat, resides in Skaneateles, N. Y .; and Ina May Ackles unmarried.
(Thorn Hill)
Matilda (Spaulding), wife of Samuel Ackles, Died January 15, 1864, age 36 years, 9 months, 8 days.
Samuel Ackles, son of Horton and Mary Ackles and grandson of William Ackles, was born in Christian Hollow, in the town of LaFayette, N. Y., May 20, 1819. He came to this town with his parents and brother, Ovid Ackles, about 1840. Like his father before him he is a farmer; resides near Thorn Hill, N. Y .; he married (1) Matilda Spaulding, daughter of Isaac and Didama (Allen) Spauld- ing, February 10, 1853, and (2) Mary Harvey, daughter of Paul and Sally (Hisocck) Harvey. By his second wife Mr. Ackles had two children: Grace, born March 4, 1868, mar- ried Frank B. Mills, (seedman at Rose Hill), son of George C. and Eliza J. (Finch) Mills, P. O., Rose Hill, N. Y., (they have one son, Frank B. Mills, Jr.) ; and W. Harvey Ackles, born October 22, 1870, married Nettie Smith; he is a farmer, residing near Thorn Hill, N. Y. Mr. Samuel Ackles' first wife, Matilda Spaulding, was a descendant of Edward Spaulding, who settled in Braintree, Mass., about 1634, and died at Chelmsford in the same State about 1653, in the eighth generation : Matilda, Isaac, Jeremiah, Jere- miah, Isaac, Edward, John, Edward.
(Borodino).
ADAMS.
In Memory of Roderick C. Adams, Died July 27, 1844, age 70 years, 7 months, 7 days.
(Borodino) .
Philander C., son of Roderick C. and Nancy Adams, Died November 17, 1844, age 16 years, 9 months, 22 days.
(Borodino).
In Memory of Timothy Adams, who died 16 August, 1812, in the 52 year of his age.
(On February 25, 1806, he received a deed of the north half of the States Hundred Acres on lot 74, Marcellus, and conveyed the same in March following, without wife. In his will, dated January 29, 1812, and probated September
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SPAFFORD MORTUARY RECORDS WITH GENEALOGICAL NOTES
5th of the same year, after a small bequest to the 1st Baptist Church of Marcellus, (Thorn Hill), he gave his estate equally to his mother, Reley Adams, and his sisters, Lydia Case and Rebecca Woodford.)
(Old Cemetery, Borodino) .
ADLAM.
Stephen, son of Richard and Charlotte Adlam, Died March 24, 1872, age 20 years.
(Richard and Charlotte Adlam, born in England, were the common ancestors of the Spafford Hollow Adlams.)
(Spafford Hollow.)
Emma Jane, daughter of Richard and Charlotte Adlam, died July 5, 1854, age 1 year 9 months.
(Spafford Hollow.)
Alice P. (Moss), wife of John Adlam, died January 6, 1891, age 30 years, 5 months. (John Adlam, son of Richard and Charlotte Adlam, married Alice P. Moss, daughter of William Moss.)
(Spafford Hollow.)
R. Lewis, son of John and Alice P. (Moss) Adlam, died January 15, 1891, age 11 months.
(Spafford Hollow).
ALBRO.
Freelove, wife of Stephen Albro, died January 23, 1838, age 75 years. (Stephen Albro was a soldier of the Revolution.)
(Borodino.)
ALLEN.
Aaron Allen, died October 25, 1848, in 68 years.
(Aaron Allen, at the time of his decease, resided on lot 52, Marcellus, in the present town of Skaneateles. In his will, dated October 17, 1848, and probated January 10, 1849, he mentioned his wife Tryphena S. Allen, and his children : Julia S. Wiltsie, Harriet R. Benedict, Mary D. Allen, and Arvine K. Allen.)
(Thorn Hill.)
Tryphena S., wife of Aaron Allen, died October 12, 1873, age 90 years.
(Thorn Hill.)
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ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Ellen M., daughter of Aaron and Tryphena S. Allen, died May 22, 1856, age 22 years, 5 months, 5 days. "Reader stand still and drop a tear, Think of the dust that slumbers here, And when you read the fate of me Think of the glass that runs for thee."
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