USA > New York > Onondaga County > Marcellus > The centennial history of the town of Marcellus : delivered in the Presbyterian Church of Marcellus, Onondaga County, N.Y., July 4, 1876 > Part 2
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1802, measures were taken for building the old Presbyterian church.
And I cannot at the present time better represent to you the character of that people, and their ability for laying strong the foundations for good society in the great future; than to include in this paper a copy of an article of an agreement entered into by ninety eight persons, for the purpose of sustaining the religion of the Bible in their midst.
COPY.
WE, the subscribers, believing that the preaching of the gos- pei is divinely instituted for the good of mankind, and is of great use, not only in a religious view, but as a means of improving the state of civil society, do hereby, with a view to the encouragement and support of the same, severally promise and agree to and with the Eastern society in Marcellus, that we will annually pay to the said society, the several sums affixed to each and several of our names: the meaning and intent of this is, that cach subscriber shall be holden to pay the sum, and that only which is affixed to his own respective name.
The sums, which we hereby promise and undertake to pay. are to be paid in quarterly, semi-maal or anna il installments, as shall hereafter be agreed to and directed by a majority of the per- sons whose names shall be here-unto subscribed; but no subscriber shall be obligated to pay in any one year. more than the sum af- fixed to his own respective name. The payments, hereby stipulat- ed to be made, are at the option of the subscribers to be either all in money, or only half. and the remainder in good merchant- able wheat and pork, or either, and such other articles of produce as the said society shall find it convenient to accept: the above mentioned articles of produce are to be delivered at the market price, and at such time and places within the society, as said society shall from time to time appoint and direct. And to pre- vent any disputes which might riise about the price of the above mentioned articles of produce, it is hereby agreed that the three
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Trustees of this society who for the time then being shall stand first on the list, and three other discreet persons not being sub- seribers hereunto, who for that express purpose shall be annually chosen by the society at their annual meetings, shall from time to time, and at all times be a competent board to determine what is the market price, or prices at which the above mentioned articles of produce ought under this contract to be tendered in payment.
And in case any subscriber shall neglect to pay in produce at the price or prices so to be agreed upon and determined, and at the time and place, or times and places to be appointed and directed as above mentioned, he shall forfeit the privilege of pay- ing any part of the sum then due in produce, and shall be obli- gated to pay the whole in money; and in case any subscriber shall neglect to pay his subscription, or any part of it at the time or times to be appointed as above mentioned, then the whole or so much as shall remain due shall be on interest until paid.
. It is however to be remembered that we have executed this instrument with a particular view to settling of Mr. Levi Parsons as a minister of the Gospel in said society; it is our express inten- tion that the sums which we have stipulated to pay, shall by the said society be exclusively applied to paying his salary: we prom- ise to pay the said sams annually. either in one annual payment. or in quarterly or half-yearly installments as a majority of the subscribers shall agree, so long at the Rev. Mr. Levi Parsons shall be the minister of said society, provided we shall continue to live at no greater distance from the meeting house in said society than we now do, or at a greater distance if the same shall not be more than three miles and a half.
Asahel North. $ 5 00.
Thomas North. 4.00
Herman Dodge. 3.00.
William Graves, 4.00. Job Barber, 6.00. .
Abraham Dodge. $ 00.
January 21th., 180 ;. Caleb Todd, $11.00.
Joseph North. 3.00.
Alvin Barber. 2.00.
Peter Lawrence, 10.00.
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Thomas North Jr. $ 4.50.
Amos Millen, $ 3.00.
Samuel Rice, 25.00.
Solomon Curtis, 3.00.
Elisha Chapman, 15.00.
Dorastus Lawrence, 5.00.
Ansell Kellogg, 3.00.
Dan Bradley, 25.00.
Philo Godard, 2.00.
Jonathan Barber, 1.00.
Enoch Cowles, 2 50.
Festus Butts,
1.00.
Ezekial Baker, 2.00.
Moses Norton, 1 10.
Benjamin Baker, 2.00.
Joseph Ohinstead, 12.00.
Reuben Humphrey, 10.00.
William Machen, 12.00.
B. Barber, 2.00.
Joseph Baker, 1.50.
Ebenezer Bird, 2.00.
Terrency Edson, 4.00.
R. C. Adams, 1.00.
Bradford Norton, 2.00.
Henry S. Platt, 17.00.
Russell Taylor, 8.00.
Solomen G. Steele, 5.00.
Daniel Hutchinson, 3.00.
Daniel Briggs, 2.00.
Nathan Leonard, 3.00.
Samuel Millen, 3.60.
Martin Cossit,
16.00.
Nathan Healey, . 2.00.
Josiah Frost, 10.00.
Robert McCulloch, .5.00.
Eli Cora, 7 00.
Seth Dunbar, .. 3.00.
Frances Platt,
1.50.
Wm. F. Bangs, 6.00.
Samuel Wheadon 3.00.
Seymour Dodge, 3.00.
Heman Holcomb, 2 00
John North, 3.00.
Caleb Bunda, 4.00.
Reuben West, 5.00.
Roswell Briggs, 1.00.
Chauncey Hickok, 3.00.
Lewis- Kenedy, 2.00.
Cyrus Holcomb. 8.00.
Samuel Bacheler, 1.00.
Nathan Kelsey, 2.00.
Dennis Whitney, 1.00.
Abel Prouty, 2.00.
Samuel Johnson, 2.00.
Simeon Taylor, 2 00.
Henry Williams, 1.00.
Lois Lawrence, 5.00.
George McCulloch, 2.00.
Charles Mullon, 1.00.
Win. Goodwin,
5 00.
Israel Curtis, 4.00.
Joab Lawrence, 4.00
Bildad Barber, 4.00.
Erastus Barber, 3.00.
Reuben Dorchester, 4.00.
Bigelow Lawrence, 15.00.
Samuel Wood, 2.00.
Samuel Whitney, 2.00.
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Rufus Rose, $1.00.
Marten Pees, $1.00
Jeptha Cossit, 3.00.
Roxana Holcomb, 3.00.
Giles Sanford, 4.00.
Elijah Loomis, 2.00.
Marquis Cossit, 2.00.
Bigelow Lawrence Jr, 4.00.
Joseph Taylor, 1.00.
Reuben Humphrey Jr, 4.00.
Henry Horton, 1:40.
Asahel Dodge, 3.00.
Win. Chrystler, .25.
Ephraim Talmage, 3.00.
Philip Wilmon, - 2.00.
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Elisha Alvord, 2.00.
Lyman Cook,
1.50.
Erastus Humphrey, 5.00.
Samuel Parker,
4 00.
Eben Rice, 5.00.
Here we have an instrument, carefully and judiciously drawn up. Great cantion was used lest it be encumbered with anything that should tend to excite sectarian prejudices. They were an infant colony, and instead of indulging in bickerings and strife, which would engender separations, they needed to go hand in hand, and shoulder to shoulder, in every enterprise which had for its ob- ject the public good. They could not afford in this forest home to be a divided people.
Their distance from the home of their nativity inclined them to band together for every good purpose. Therefore this writing with its appended names, is an instance which speaks volumes for that people, illustrating their harmony in life, and concert in act- ion in any great movement.
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It bears the impress of mind and character. Probably Judge Bradley dictated it; for he was truly the Father of this society at that day. No man ever looked more earnestly after the good of his family, than he did for the good of that people.
Such a long list of names is particularly interesting to the old people - natives of this place - on account of their being relies of a former generation, with which in their carly years, they were familiar. Reading the names will quickly bring to mind persons . long ago forgotten; and around cach name will cluster many early associations which for a long series of years have been in ob- livion. Thus will the old be enabled to live over again the period
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of "youths' bright morning."
I have largely derived the early history of the inhabitants of this town, so far South as the State Road, which runs through Clintonville, from a valuable manuscript in my possession, which was carefully prepared by my father, the Rev. Levi Parsons de- ceased. His opportunities for such a purpose were probably better than those of any other person in town, because he was apt to commit to writing events of interest as they transpired. From 1816 until almost the day of his death, which occured in 1864, · he kept an uninterrupted diary.
But, for the early history of the inhabitants South of that
1 line, which I a'n now to introduce, I am very much indebted to a manuscript which Dr. Jonathan Kneeland of South Onondaga, kindly and promptly prepared for me at my request. Dr. Knee -. land was born in the South part of this town, and remained a res- ident therein quite into the prime of his life. Being really an antiquarian, he seemed to be just the man to meet my emergency, and I feel under great obligations to him for the help he has thus rendered me.
Among the early settlers on the three Southern tiers of lots, lying between Skaneateles and Otisco lakes, and East of the latter, the majority were from Washington, Saratoga, Rensselaer, Columbia and Orange counties in this state. Many of those from Washington and Saratoga counties were either born in New- England, or were from New-England parentage. Nova-Scotia contributed a few families of Southards, Copps, Earlls, Bowens, Leggs and Palmers.
, The mixed character of the American nation was fitly repre- sented by the first settlers of Southern Marcellus. Those from New-England were mostly English, and those from the North- River counties were Dutch, Scotch, Protestant Irish, French and Canadians. Of African or Indian descent there was hardly a . trace.
They were generally small farmers and mechanies; but few
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men of large property, and none were wealthy; but principally-
" Holding the golden mean, Living contentedly between
The little and the great;
Felt not the wants that pinch the poor,
Nor plagues that haunt the rich man's door, Embittering all his state."
Burroughs first sold goods from a little store in Borodino, before 1806. Horace Childs soon bought him out and was followed by Messrs. Barker.
Dr. Jeremiah Bumfus Whiting from Vermont, settled in Bo- rodino, then called Child's Corners, about 1802. He continued to practice medicine, and clear up and manage a new farm until 1819, when he removed to Sempronius in Cayuga Co., and after- wards went to Michigan, where he died. He was a good classical and medical scholar and was the best skilled in the use of Ameri- can indigenous remedies, of any of our early physicians.
Dr. Benjamin Trumbull, a nephew of Gov. Jonathan Trum- bull of Connecticut, one of the most noted of our revolutionary war govenors, came to Borodino in 1816. The place owes its name to him, and he did much to build up and foster schools and churches. He was a noble christian gentleman. He died of heart disease, in 1836, at the age of fifty-six.
Only two persons among the natives of Southern Marcellus . are known to have been sentenced to any State Prison during the first fifty years of the nineteenth century. Several young men have become physicians and clergymen from these Southern tier of lots, but very few have graduated from Colleges.
On a farm now owned by A. Newville, the Hemlock stump was pointed out for more than twenty years, the tree from which, in falling, crushed the leg of John Palmer, in 1799. His father - Gideon Palmer - took him to a shanty, placed food and water within his reach, and started for Bowen's, near Clintonville, four miles distant. He got Mr. Bowen to go at once in pursuit of sur-
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gical aid.
Mr. B. first directed his steps to Onondaga Castle, where he engaged an Indian guide, and together they traversed the forest to New-Hartford, near Utica. A deep snow falling rendered it needful to make snow-shoes for the journey; and it was four days before Bowen returned with a medical student named Hull, aged eighteen, armed with knife and saw. He amputated Palmer's leg on the fifth day after the injury; the result was a fair stump and complete recovery. The boy - Hull - is reported to have brandish- ed his catling and boasted " I had as lief cut off a man's leg as to cut off a slice of beef !" They had no Anaesthesia in those days, but infinite pluck. The whole distance traveled in going after Hull and returning was one hundred and twenty-two miles; this was mostly on snow-shoes over two feet of snow.
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Of the early settlers who established mills in Marietta, and that vicinity, were Samuel Tyler and Joseph Enos, who built a Grist mill in Tyler Hollow, and Elijah Manley, a Flax mill. Also Jonathan Russell was engaged in milling.
In about the year 1807, Amos Miner established a mill and wheel-head factory in Southern Marcellus; he afterwards removed to Jordan where for many years he made pails and tubs of ex- cellent quality. Both his wheel-heads and tubs were patented.
A log distillery was built near Miner's mill, in 1808, which ·became as usual, a school for vice, boiled one man to death in its mush tub and ruined its founders in 1811.
Ambrose Parker, apprenticed to Eleazer Hilleburt - a black- smith - went into the chamber of a log house, and hanged him- self from a rafter, with his suspenders, (or gallowses as they were then called. ) The only reason he left for committing the rash act was, " that he did not like the trade to which he was bound."
The intelligence and enterprise of the first settlers on the upper part of the Nine-Mile Creek, were up to the average of our early settlements, although moral excellence is never in- digenous to valleys and water courses, and needs more carefu
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culture there, than among the hills, where, because of the sparse population and the neccessary toil, temptations are fewer.
Among those who were born in Southern Marcellus, and who became eminent as statesmen in our Western states, were Fitz- gerald, Wilkinson, Harmon, Vanderman, Smith, Sessions, Earl), Waite and Terry; and of these, nearly all were of New-England ancestry, though the families from which some of them descend- ed, were transplanted thither from the Eastern or river counties of this state.
I will here introduce material concerning the Baptist church at Thorn-Hill, which I have gathered from a manuscript history of the church, prepared by Elder Hatch in 1867, who was at that time pastor of the church.
Although the first record of the church dates April 19th. 1806, yet there are circumstances to show that the church was or- ganized in the Fall or Winter preceding. At this date. April 19th 1806 Elder Elias Harmon was the pastor, and among the most active male members, were the names of Amasa Sessions, Amasa Kneeland, John Kneeland, Warren Kneeland, Jesse Manley Chauncey Demings, Nathan Thomson and Joshua Chandler.
The following is a list of pastors and the period of their pastorates, from the organization of the church, until Sept. 5th. 1867.
Elias Harmon, 1805 to Feb. 1816.
Solomon Morton, Aug. 1816 to Ang. 1818.
Jesse B. Worden, Nov. 1818 to Mar. 1835.
W. B. Copron, Mar. 1835 to Mar. 1840.
Thomas Brown, Apr. 1840 to Feb. 1848.
A. R. Palmer, Feb. 1848 to Dec. 18-19,
Sylvester Gardner, Spring 1850 to May 1851. Wm. Wilkins, May 1851 to Mar. 1852.
Jno. Baldwin, June 1853 to Sept. 1854.
Alex. Milne, Mar. 1855 to Mar. 1857-
Hiram Powers,
Mar. 1857 to Mar. 1858.
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Thomas Bowen, Apr. 1858 died June 19th. 1858.
J. N. Seely,
Dec. 1858 to Nov. 1860.
Wm. Boney, May 1861 to May 1864.
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E. B. Hatch, Apr. 1865
From the organization of the church up to Sept. 1862, a period of sixty-two years there had united with it by baptism, five hundred and twenty-two, and by letter three hundred and eight. Thus we see that this was truly a living church, and it accounts, no doubt, for the high character that the society of Thorn-Hill has always borne among us. They were not merely elevated on a high hill, but also elevated by literary and religious attainments.
Elder Worden's pastorate was the longest, being about eigh- teen years, and seemed to be in a period of the greatest prosperity. of the church; as Elder Hatch remarked "during the pastorate of Elder Worden the church reached the meridian of its strength and influence." He also quotes the following summary of his la- bors from his diary. " Preached two thousand sermons, attend ed two hundred funerals and solemnized one hundred and twenty marriages. Over four hundred were received into the church by baptism, and one hundred and forty by letter."
In addition to his labors in this church. he made six mission- · ary tours into Western New York and Northen Penn. He was a devoted pastor and greatly beloved by his people.
Dr. Kneeland writes - " the Baptist church at Thorn-Hill was built fifty-nine years ago. Previously meetings were held in school houses. Elder Jesse B. Worden preached to the people from the high pulpit of this church, standing on one leg, ( not Worden but the pulpit,) for about eighteen years, when he went to Montrose, Penn. where he died. He was Captain of volunteers in the war of 1812, and was a man of worth and weight "
In 1809 the society voted that their pastor's salary should be $150.00. and subsequently - how long I do not know - they re- duced it to $100.00. They also at that time voted to raise it by
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assessing the members of the church. One man refused to pay his assessment, and after being kindly dealt with, was excluded for covetousness. In 1818 when Elder Worden was employed, his salary was stipulated at $250.00., one fifth of which was to be in cash, and the remainder in produce, principally corn and wheat, the former at three shillings, and the latter at six shillings a bushel.
Dr. Kneeland says " Elder Morton, a man long to be remem- bered for his strong Calvinistic sermons, removed to Indiana about the year 1817, and nearly at the same time Elder Harmon and his large family settled in Chautauqua Co. Many of his sons became men of mark."
The good results flowing from an institution like this church, situated as it is in the midst of a great rural section, are seen and felt by all who live in that section or around it; but even then the whole is not known and eternity alone can reveal it all.
Thorn Hill is known far and wide for its agricultural attain- ments. The unparalleled success which has attended its agricul- tural fairs, is too patent to need any proof. I have heard that it is said, that improved farming implements have met with the most ready sale in that neighborhood of any other in this county. More of her sons and daughters have entered the literary field, than is usual to that amount of population. Besides others that I have mentioned as having become statesmen in the great West; the following have been members of the New York legislature once, and some of them twice; Daniel Baxter, S. S. Knceland, Sidney Smith and Lewis Smith, the last also once held the office of High Sheriff.
We turn again to the interests of this village and vicinity. The inhabitants here having come from New-England, the land of schools, neccessarily felt the great importance of education. Hence the next winter after the permanent settlement of the vil- lage - the winter of 1796-97 - a school was established. It was taught by Judge Bradley. What compensation he received for
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his services does not appear, probably however, not very much. He did not engage in the business from pecuniary motives, for in other employments his time would have been profitably occupied. He taught, as is supposed, two successive winters in a log school- house, between Chester Hillyer's and Major May's.
The first female teacher was Asenath Lawrence, daughter of Col. Bigelow Lawrence and afterwards mother of Mrs. Jacob M. Cook. She taught in the summer succeeding the season in which Judge Bradley taught, and in the same school-house. She is rep resented as having been an excellent teacher, and well qualified for the occupation. At that time, the principal inhabitants of this part of the town living in the village and on the East Hill, the school-house was located to accommodate all. A frame school- house was soon erected on nearly the same spot, and continued to be occupied until the fall of 1807. A school-house was then built in the village, just in the rear of the Presbyterian church. This of course produced some derangement of the district, and the people on the East Hill erected a school house near the old Todd place, where Robert Dorchester now lives.
At an early period a school-house was built in Shepard Set- tlement, a few rods West of the old Andrew Shepard corner; also one on the South Hill near its prosent building, and one on the West IIill.
About the winter of 1812-13 the first act was passed for the establishment of common schools in this state, and at the same time affording them a small amount of public money. There was besides, a school-fund belonging to the town. The origin of that fund is this :- originally on the military tract, two lots in each township were reserved for the support of the gospel, and liter- ature. One of these lots in Marcellus was in some way, diverted from its original design and applied to other purposes. The re- maining lot - that on which Guy Cook now lives - was, by per- mission of the Legislature, sold and the proceeds vested in Bond and Mortgage, and the interest only was to be expended for schools.
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What a change has taken place from the commencement of common schools, in the log school-house near Mr. Hillyer's eighty years ago! Who can estimate the benefits which have resulted to the community from these common school institutions, establish- ed by the wisdom and exertions of those who have gone before us? How important. that we should sustain and foster them. and endeavor to elevate their character.
I must not fail to speak of our beautiful Creek, called the Nine-Mile Creek. It is said to have recieved its name from the fact. that from the point where the old Genesee road crossed the Onon- daga Creek, to this Creek, at this village was about nine miles; and that gave rise to the expression, "Nine-Mile Creek" as given to travelers when on their way westward through Onondaga Hol- low. The length of this stream is about twenty miles. It is one of the most capable streams for its size in the State, and has been rendered permanently so, by the building of the State dam at its source, a few years since.
Although but eight miles of it is within the the limits of our own town, still the great mass of its available power is within these limits. In this town there are seventeen mill-sites that have been occupied. All but two or three have from eight to twelve feet head. But a small portion of the available power of the creek has been utilized.
The first building on the stream was a saw mill, erected by Dea. Rice and Judge Bradley in the Fall or Winter of 1795-96. It stood a little above the present stone mill, on the same side of the creek. It was built at a great disadvantage and expense. The inhabitants were so few, that they were obliged to send to Camil- lus for men to assist in raising it. It was of almost incalculable benefit to the young community. For several years there was no grist-mill in the place. To procure grinding, it was neccessary either to go to Manlius, twenty miles off, or to the Red Mills, as they were termed, at Seneca Falls a distance of twenty-five miles. It required the time of three days for a man to go to mill About
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the year 1800, Maj. May and his father-in-law Mr. Sayles, erect- ed a grist mill near the saw mill just mentioned. This was not only of great convenience to the inhabitants near, but it com- manded for many years the entire custom of the town and of the Western part of Onondaga.
There are now in regular operation three saw mills, three custom and flouring mills, three paper mills, one woolen factory, one furniture factory,' one Barley mill, one plaster mill and one Flax mill. .
Merchandise has been carried on here from the first settlement of this place. In 1796 Dr. Elnathan Beach brought on goods and opened a store in this village. He kept dry goods, groceries and medicines. His store was in his house on the spot where Mrs. Curtis Moses resides, of which we have before spoken. This he continued until his death in about 1801. Lemuel Johnson succeed- ed Dr. Beach and built the store that fronts the street running South, where A. E. Bieknell now deals in fancy goods. This was afterward occupied by Guy Humphrey and then by Wm. Good- win, father of the present Miles Goodwin.
When Judge Bradley and Dea. Rice first came here, there was a man belonging to one of their families who, one night, made his bed in a large Hemlock bark. It resulted in a splendid "night's sleep," but when he awoke in the morning, how great was his surprise to find that he was firmly enclosed within the bark.
The animal heat had caused the bark to roll up, and as it was from a large tree, it was very strong. His friends after enjoy- ing themselves awhile at his novel situation, relieved him from his imprisonment by cutting the bark open with an axe. Now comers occasionally made shelves of nice bark, and sometimes would find their crockery shut up as the man was, and in some cases broken.
Before the time of railroads, the running of stages formed quite an important business. These villages along the East and West road, were wonderfully enlivened day by day, by the arrival
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