USA > New York > Onondaga County > Spafford > Spafford, Onondaga County, New York > Part 5
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When this building was first erected, the frame being a large and heavy one, nearly every person in town turned out and assisted in the "raising." After the plates and rafters were in place, as was common in those times, one of the men assisting climbed up, and standing on the upper plate in his stocking feet, broke a bottle of whiskey upon it, dubbing the building "God's Barn." This at the time raised a great laugh, but many in after years recalled the prophetic character of the incident.
49
SPAFFORD, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
Maria Brown, named above among the Mormon prose- lytes, was a daughter of Judge Brown, of Scott, N. Y., and a sister of Porter Brown, a present resident of that place. After leaving Spafford she married Elder Ward, a Mormon leader, and finally settled in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she remained for several years, but ultimately renounced Mormonism and returned to the States, where she wrote and published, in 1857, the work entitled “ Female Life Among the Mormons."
The following are condensed extracts from that work relating to Spafford people, and incidents which occurred in this town. "My early life was passed in that beautiful and picturesque region which borders Skaneateles Lake, in the State of New York. Circumstances over which I had no control determined me to abandon my home and pivately visit relatives of my mother, who were living near Albany. For that purpose I left the house of A- J- (Alex- ander R. Jackson, a member of the Free Will Baptist Church ?) residing in Spafford ,Onondaga County, New York, and took the stage for Utica in the same State. Hold- ing a conversation with a middle age gentleman in the stage, (Elder Ward her future husband), I said: Many people of my acquaintance in Scott and Spafford have embraced Mormonism. There was a family in Cold Brook by the name of Cheeney, suggested the man. "Yes," I answered, " Mr. Cheeney's family were considered very fine people, were members of the Free Will Baptist Church, and the Pulsifers too; Pulsifer, the " Swamp Angel," (Uriah Roundy says the "Swamp Angel" was a Mr. Ensign instead of Pul- sifer), and I burst into a laugh. There were two families by the name of Pulsifer, both believers in Mromon. A child died in one of these families, and the Mormons gave out that on a certain night an Angel would come and carry the body to Heaven. The time appointed arrived, the rela- tives of the child were assembled, when a figure in white and with small bells attached to its garments, appeared. A party of unbelievers lying in ambush immediately gave chase. The figure ran for the neighboring swamp, but was pursued, taken and stripped of its angelic robes, and proved to be Pulsifer, the uncle of the deceased child."
" False," said my companion.
"I assure you it was the truth, I continued, and poor
50
ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
old Mr. Humphrey was deceived by them too. The old man was determined to be right if possible. He was first a member of the Free Will Baptist; then he joined the Seventh Day Baptist, left them, and was baptized to the faith and order of Mormon; subsequently, he deserted the Mormons and united with the Baptist again, and then finally returned to the Mormons, by whom he was dipped seven times in succession, on account of his apostacy. He re- mained faithful to them after that, but always observed the Seventh Day.
" Were you ever acquainted with Elder Gould?" he inquired.
" I have seen him, he used to preach in Spafford."
" He did and with great acceptability, yet he joined the Mormons.
" And poor Mrs. Maxson was induced to leave her husband and children and go with them; and Maria Ripley, a young woman, left her aged and infirm parents and went off, too.
" My companion informed me that his name was Ward, and that he was a man of property and a widower with two children, that he was well acquainted with many people in Scott, my native place, and had frequently heard the name of my father mentioned as a citizen of exalted reputation."
About the time of the Mormon exodus a Mrs. Gale, the wife of a respected citizen of Spafford, was a subject of " second sight," frequently saw visions, and claimed to hold daily intercourse with the spirits of her departed friends; on one of these occasions she saw and conversed with the departed spirit of a Mrs. Mapes, who exacted a promise on her part to intercede in behalf of her two young lady daugh- ters, whom she exclaimed, were in danger of ruin by the improper influence over them of Elder John Gould, Pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church. This delicate duty Mrs. Gale discharged by entering the church, during divine service, and in the persence of the worshippers denounced the conduct of their pastor in reference to the Mapes girls.
Mrs. Gale, afterwards describing her experience on this occasion, said: "For several days after being charged by the spirit mother with this delicate task, I was greatly oppressed and wished to escape the duty, but when I entered the church door my burden rolled away, and as I opened my mouth, language came freely, and a calmness came over my
51
SPAFFORD, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
feeling, such as I had been a stranger to since I first saw and was charged by the spirit of Mrs. Mapes.
Uriah Roundy, Esq., in speaking of Elder John Gould when pastor of this church, said he was once tried by a church tribunal in this old church building, for alleged improper conduct on his part in kissing Mrs. Alexander R. Jackson, one of the parishioners of the church, and humor- ously explains that after a long and protracted trial, he was finally acquitted, because the church tribunal was unable to determine from the evidence whether the alleged kiss was a " carnal or spiritual one."
SHADRACK ROUNDY.
The following abbreviated sketch of Shadrack Roundy, and his two sons Lorenzo and Jared, was taken from a more extended account written by Elizabeth D. Roundy, wife of Jared.
" Shadrack Roundy resided in the town of Spafford, New York, where he heard of the Revelations of God to Joseph Smith, and embraced the Gospel as taught by Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Soon after he moved to Pennsyl- vania, and from thence to Kirtland, Ohio, where he assisted in building a temple to the Most High.
" After receiving blessings and ordinations, he went from there to Caldwell County, Missouri, where he received a Commission as Captain of a Company of fifty. He was afterwards made Captain of Police, and also chosen aide de camp to Lieutenant General Joseph Smith, in the Nauvoo Legion. About this time he became a member of General Smith's life and body guard. After the Nauvoo persecu- tions he was chosen one of the pioneers to search for a new home, and subsequently was appointed Major and Presi- dent of the Second Division of Mormon Colonists that crossed the Plains. Arriving at Salt Lake City he was made Bishop of a Ward, elected a member of the first Legislature, and subsequently of the High Council. He was a man of influence among the people and stood high in the Council of Leaders of Latter Day Saints. He died in Salt Lake City."
LORENZO WESLEY ROUNDY.
" Lorenzo Wesley Roundy, second son of Shadrack, was
52
ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
born in Spafford, June 18, 1819, and shared all the hardships and vicissitudes of his parents, before arriving at Salt Lake City. At the latter place he was a member of the Nauvoo Legion, and took part in all the Indian Wars of the Mormon Colony. He was made Superintendent of the Co-operative Mercantile Institution at Kanarra, Iron County, Utah, was two or three times elected to the Legislature, was ordained Bishop in 1860, and finally made President of the Southern Colony of Mormons. He was drowned, crossing the Colo- rado River with a party of Mormon emigrants, May 24, 1876."
JARED CURTIS ROUNDY.
" Jared Curtis Roundy, third son of Shadrack, was born in Spafford and moved with his parents to Salt Lake City. Like his brother Lorenzo, he also took part in all the Indian Wars, was at one time Sheriff of Summit County, was ordained Bishop of Wanship, and at one time was Justice of the Peace. He was a man of influence among the Mormons, and was generally respected by every one. He died in Arizona, May 21, 1895."
HON. WASHINGTON ROUNDY.
Hon. Washington Roundy, son of Uriah Roundy, was born in the town of Spafford, September 26th, 1824, and left that place with his father during the Mormon exodus. After the Nauvoo incident his father separated from the main branch of the Mormon Church, renounced the doctrine of polygamy, and settled with his family at or near Man- teno, Iowa, where his son Washington grew to Manhood and became a man of wealth and prominence. By occupa- tion Washington Roundy became a farmer, and owned and managed a farm of over a thousand acres of land. He was a man of, marked character and wielded a strong political influence in his adopted State; among other political offices held by him was Member of the Legislature of the State of Iowa.
SPAFFORD UNION MEETING HOUSE.
On the 14th day of April, 1838, a number of religious people of different denominational beliefs, met at the school house on the hill east of Spafford " Corners," for the pur-
-
UNION MEETING HOUSE, SPAFFORD CORNERS
53
SPAFFORD, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
pose of organizing a society, preliminary to building a church building at that place. At that meeting a consti- tution was adopted, which will explain the wants of the people and the purposes of the meeting better than any statement we can give on the subject.
" CONSTITUTION OF THE SPAFFORD UNION MEETING HOUSE SOCIETY."
" Whereas, we the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Spafford, feeling desirous of having some suitable place for public worship, have resolved, at a public meeting held for that purpose on the 14th day of April, A. D., 1838, to form ourselves into a society called the 'Spafford Union Society,' of which society every person subscribing a sum shall be a member thereof, and own rights and privileges therein according to the amount so subscribed by such persons. The object of the society is to build and keep in repair a meeting house. 'Said meeting house shall be called the " Spafford Union Meeting House " and shall be situated at Spafford Corners, on a site where the blacksmith and wagon shop of G. Lewis now stands. Said shops are to be removed and the site purchased by said Union Society. Said meeting house shall be finished off in a good work- manlike manner, on a plan to be adopted by a Committee to be appointed by the subscribers for that purpose.
" There shall be Trustees appointed by the subscribers according to. law, whose duty it shall be to see that said meeting house is kept in repair, and to transact all business appertaining to said Society. Said Trustees shall appor- tion the time of preaching among the several denominations in manner as follows, viz .:
" Every Gospel Denomination, a majority of whose male members who meet at Spafford Corners for public worship, and who may join in this Society, shall have the privilege of having stated preaching in said house. All other denom- inations shall be considered as transient preachers. Every Gospel Denomination shall have the privilege of preaching in said house ; but no transient preacher shall interfere with the stated preaching of any denomination, without the consent of such denomination.
" It is understood that whenever any Quarterly Meeting Association or funeral is proposed to be held in said house,
54
ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
every denomination whose time the above mentioned meet- ings shall encroach upon, shall give up that part of the time for use of such meeting. All rights owned by members of this Society shall be transferable. It is hereby understood that no denomination shall occupy more than an equal part of the time, provided the other societies, who are members of this Union, wish to occupy an equal part of the time.
" This Constitution shall not be altered or amended with- out the consent of at least three-fourth of the subscribers."
At a meeting held the 30th of April, 1838, for the pur- pose said Society was duly incorporated under the name of the " Spafford Union Society " and Joseph Bulfinch, John R. Lewis, Martin E. Knapp, Samuel Gale, Joseph Cole, Jacob W. Darling and John Collins were chosen its first Board of Trustees. At a subsequent meeting of the Board of Trustees, by ballot it determined that John R. Lewis and Samuel Gale should hold office for one year, Joseph Bulfinch and Jacob W. Darling for two years, and Joseph Cole, Martin E. Knapp and John Collins for three years.
In the book of minutes of this Society, under date of April 30, 1838, when said Society was incorporated, is the following :
"Now for the purpose of carrying the foregoing plan, (meaning the constitution above quoted) into operation, We, the subscribers do hereby agree and bind ourselves to pay the sum set opposite our respective names, to the Trustees of said Union Society; one-half of the sum sub- scribed to be paid by the first day of January next, and the remainder to be paid one year from the first day of January next.
Spafford, April 30, 1838.
John Collins $ 100.00
Levi Hurlbnt $ 25.00
Thos. B. Anderson.
50.00
Russel Tinkham 10.00
Joseph Cole 50.00
John Baxter 10.00
Sylvanus N. Grout. 50.00
Titus Haight
5.00
Gershom Lewis
50.00
John Grout 50.00
Joseph Bulfinch
75.00
Willard Doty
15.00
Alexander Hill 6.00
Edwin S. Edwards ... 10.00
John R. Lewis
100.00
Timothy Owen
5.00
Easten Cole
100.00
Moses Pressy
5.00
Silas Randall
25.00
Samuel Gale
20.00
Russel M. Burdick
20.00
James Mellen 5.00
55
SPAFFORD, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
Odin Brown
10.00
Bezaleel W. Taft. 2.00
Alonzo Sanford
10.00
Peres Miner
5.00
Levi Applebee
20.00
Nelson Isdell 1.50
Horace Pease
10.00
Martin E. Knapp
10.00
Isaac Day
10.00
Nelson Berry
18.00
John Fisher
5.00
John Harrington
5.00
Whipple C. Har- rington 5.00
James H. Norton
10.00
Erastus Hays
10.00
Hiram Mason
5.00
A. M. Roundy
3.00
Orrin Town
5.00
Benjamin Stanton 25.00
Jonathan Ripley
5.00
Homan Barber
5.00
Randall Palmer
2.00
Emily Barber
2.00
John L. Ripley
5.00
Annis Barber
3.00
Jonas TerBush
3.00
Titus French
3.00
William Billings
5.00
Stephen Crane
15.00
Stephen Randall
10.00
David T. Lyon
20.00
Edward Scribens
5.00
Rufus Breed
5.00
John Ford
5.00
Phillip Fisher
15.00
Lydius D. Whaley.
15.00
Elias Davis
10.00
Oliver S. Smith
1.00
Leonard Melvin
2.00
Zebulon Davis
2.00
Franklin Smith
2.00
Nathan Palmer
10.00
Richard Gale
5.00
Jonathan Johnson
20.00
Kortright Knapp
5.00
Hiram W. Hays
15.00
Zara Berry
10.00
John R. Connine
10.00
Total
$1,170.00
In accordance with the suggestion made in the fore- going Constitution, Joseph Bulfinch, John R. Lewis, Mar- tin E. Knapp, Joseph Cole, Jacob W. Darling and John Collins, Trustees of Spafford Union Meeting House, re- ceived a deed from Gersham Lewis and Mehitable, his wife, ur one-quarter of an acre of land, known as the wagon and blacksmith shop of G. Lewis, bounded on the east and south, by the north and south highways, and on the north and west by lands of Joseph Cole. Said deed of conveyance was dated July 7, 1838, consideration $75.00, and acknowledged the same day before Daniel R. Robinson, Commissioner of Deeds, but not recorded. In the years 1838 and 1839 said Board of Trustees erected the present meeting house, on said lot, and had the same ready for occupation in the Spring of 1840.
56
ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
April 30, 1839, Russel M. Burdick and Lewis C. Davis were elected trustees of said Society, in the place of John R. Lewis and Samuel Gale, whose term of office had then expired.
Under the date of April 30, 1840, the following entry, in the handwriting of Dr. John Collins, appears in the book of minutes of said Society :
" At an annual meeting of the members of the Union Meeting House Society, held at the school house in District No. 2, pursuant to a legal notice, and adjourned to the Union Meeting House this 30th day of April, A. D., 1840, Joseph Cole was appointed Chairman and John Collins Secretary of said meeting. Then elected by ballot, Silas Randall and Benjamin Stanton to fill the vacancies of Joseph Bulfinch and Jacob W. Darling. The resignation of Lewis C. Davis was accepted and Solomon S. Rowe was elected to fill the vacancy. Thomas B. Anderson was unanimously elected salesman to sell slips in the Union Meeting House, pro tem. The following is a list of the purchasers, and number and price of slips purchased :
Hiram Hayes
No.
1, price $ 32.00
Solomon S. Rowe
2,
"
60.00
Joseph Bulfinch
"
32,
110.00
Easten Cole
12,
74.50
Joseph Bulfinich
16,
60.00
Moses Pressey
44,
31.75
John R. Lewis
11,
66 70.00
66
70.00
John R. Lewis
30,
95.00
John Collins
7,
72.50
John Collins
33,
95.00
Russel M. Burdick
18,
51.00
Zenos Tinkham
3,
50.00
Silas Randall
22,
66
40.00
Erastus Hays
4
50.00
Silas Randall
20
45.00
John Grout
29,
95.00
Levi Hurlbut
34,
95.00
Samuel Gale
17,
50.00
S. N. Grout
35,
90.00
S. N. Grout
66
15,
"
60.00
32.00
Gershom Lewis
"
6,
John R. Lewis
8,
66
SPAFFORD, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
57
Edwin S. Edwards
13,
70.00
David T. Lyon
5,
60.00
Lemuel Bessey
36,
90.00
J. Johnson and A. Burdick
19,
46.75
H. Anthony and J. H. Norton
21
40.00
Homen Barber
23,
66
30.00
A. Hill and Wm. I. Skelley
10,
70.00
Lewis C. Davis
"
37
85.00
Aaron Brown (half slips)
"
39,
66
70.00
Jeremith Cotterell (one-half slip)
38,
85.00
Hiram Mason (one-third slip)
41,
60.00
W. Doty and M. E. Knapp
14,
70.00
Henry S. Grinnell (one-third slip)
28,
85.00
Stephen Crane (one-third slip)
28,
85.00
John R. Lewis
9,
70.00
Coomer Anthony (one-half slip)
38,
ASSIGNMENTS.
" John R. Lewis to Gersham Lewis, slip No. 9. John R. Lewis to Anson Churchell, one-half slip No. 12. Gershom Lewis to Abigail Stringham, slip No. 9.
" Joseph Cole, Chairman. John Collins, Secretary."
From a pencil memoranda made on the margin of the book of minutes of said Union Meeting House Society in the handwriting of John Collins, it appears there were twenty slips in the body of the meeting house and tewnty- four slips under the galleries on the sides of the house, making forty-four slips in all.
In the book of minutes of this church society, in addition to the foregoing report, appears from year to year a brief statement of the results of the election of trustees. This brief record continues down to the year 1889, and there- after there is no record whatever.
This church building has now stood for upwards of sixty years, and by reason of its substantial character bids fair to stand for sixty years more. It is now the only church building at the "Corners," or in that portion of the town in use for religious purposes. All denominations which formerly held religious services here have died out except the Methodist, and they are in the last period of dissolu- tion ; and still the people cherish with respect the old church
43,
31.00
Stephen Randall and R. Palmer
58
ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
building, and protect it from desecration and the insidious attack of the elements. All funeral services are held in this building, and occasionally divine services are con- ducted here by a minister from the Borodino charge of the M. E. Church at that place. On these occasions the people attend irrespective of denominational belief. The word " Union " appears on the weather vane perched on top of the belfry of the church building, and well typifies the religious character of the people who have always wor- shipped in this old Meeting House.
OTHER CORPORATIONS.
A Society commonly known as the Farmers' Alliance, was organized in the Village of Borodino on the first day of January, 1871, and incorporated under the name of " Spafford Agricultural Society," with Dr. Van Dyke Tripp as President, Edwin A. Clark as Vice President, Simon B. Wallace as Recording Secretary, Aretus M. Legg as Corres- ponding Secretary, Otis Cross as Treasurer, and Jeremiah Olmsted, Orson B. Morton, Francis Ide, Albert E. Fulton, Moses P. Moule, and Samuel H. Stanton as Trustees. The following additional names are also mentioned in said articles of incorporation : Horace Prindle, H. L. Darling, Benjamin Monk, Ansel Grinnell, C. B. Morton, William N. Stone and Moses Crane. Mr. Uriah Roundy says there was some sort of insurance connected with this organization, but beyond this fact, and the general purpose indicated by its name, we have been unable to obtain any further infor- mation of this Society.
" The Skaneateles Lake Park Company" was duly incor- porated December 4, 1888, with a capital stock of $30,000, and time limit of fifty years, to build a hotel building on Skaneateles Lake. In the Articles of Incorporation John E. Waller, John McNamara, Martin Fennell, William F. Gregory and Lewis B. Fitch, were named as first trustees. This corporation purchased "Ten Mile Point,' planted it with shade trees, built a steamboat dock, and put up a dancing pavilion ; but up to the present time have not erected a hotel building. Since this incorporation, the Skaneateles Railroad and Steamboat Company, of which this company is supposed to be an adjunct, has changed hands and is now owned or controlled by William K. Niver of Syracuse, New
59
SPAFFORD, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
York; the property of this corporation is supposed to have gone into the same control. Whether the hotel building proposed will ever be built or not is an uncertainty, depend- ing largely on the future of Skaneateles Lake as a place of summer resort.
The " Borodino Creamery Company," with a capital of $3,000.00, was formed and incorporated February 16, 1898, with Orrin I. Hayford, Marcus Patterson, Hiram A. Colton, Francis Ide, Frank Harvey and Edgar L. Bockes, as its first Board of Trustees. This creamery is located at Borodino Village, and is still in active operation and doing a prosperous business.
Since the foregoing was written the capital stock for a new Creamery has been fully subscribed, the building of which is to be erected at Spafford Corners.
MILLS, DISTILLERIES AND FURNACES.
The first necessity of the early settler was a grist mill to grind his wheat and corn, a saw-mill to saw his lumber, and a carding and fulling mill to card his wool and prepare his cloth for domestic use. When he first penetrated the wilderness which enshrrouded these Spafford Hills, the brooks and streams, which to-day seem too insignificant to be of any practical use, were full and powerful and cap- able of turning the machinery necessary for the use of the wheelwright, the sawyer and the clothier. Nearly as soon as the woodman's axe had made a clearing in the dense forests, then covering the land, and the early settler had erected his rude log cabin for the reception of his family, these useful conservators to his comfort and happiness sprang up along the principal brooks and streams; but as time progressed and the requirements of the people changed, these mills, once so useful, became no longer a necessity and went rapidly into decay. To-day the existence of most of them is unknown to the present occupants of the land.
About the year 1805, Amos Miner built a factory on the west side of the Skaneateles and Homer Road, in what has since been known as " Factory Gulf,' for the manufacture of wheel-heads, used by farmers' wives in spinning woolen yarn. The water for this mill was conducted from a pond, well up stream, in a raceway along the northern bank of the gulf, to an overshot wheel at the factory building,
60
ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
standing just west of the highway. Here Miner, in addi- tion to wheel-heads, made wooden pails, wooden bowls, half bushel and peck measures, and various other wooden articles useful for farmers and their wives. Four or five years after the factory was in successful operation, Miner sold out his interest in the wheelhead business, which was moved else- where, and the factory building was ultimately converted into a carding mill and clothing works.
Among the persons who subsequently carried on business here as clothiers were Edmund C. Weston and William Patten, two of the son-in-laws of James Rathbun, who cleared and improved the land where the factory stood. There are many persons still living, who in their boyhood days carried wool to this mill to be carded into rolls, for their mothers to spin into woolen yarn; and probably still more who have worn garments made from fulled cloth, pre- pared or manufactured in these works. After a period of usefulness this mill, like all others of its kind, went into decline, finally suspended operation, and the building years ago was converted into a cider mill.
In this connection it seems proper to observe, that the women folks in olden times spun yarn from the wool shorn from their own sheep, wove it into cloth, and in many instances cut and made it into garments for the use of the major portion of the hosueohld. In these matters they were very proficient and often displayed much delicacy and skill. The bedding in use in those times was a matter which received the especial consideration of the female portion of the household. The linen sheets, woolen blankets and coverlids made by these old dames of a hundred years ago, have challenged the admiration of all women folks that have succeeded them, and will continue to do so for years yet to come. Such rich blues, and such vivid and lasting colors. Probably very few of those who look upon and admire these remaining specimens of feminine art of olden times, have any personal knowledge of the manner of obtaining these beautiful colors, or of the old time dye tub, once so familiar an object, standing in a corner of the living room. In those times a spinning wheel, a reel, a pair of swifts, a loom, and a dye tub were deemed a very necessary part of the outfit of any household; and as the women manufactured cloth and made the garments of the
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