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 3
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and departure of the stage-coaches drawn by four horses.
As the stages were descending these hills to enter the vil lage, the drivers would make the valley reverberate with the mu- sic from their tin horns. They became amateurs in the art, and vied with each other in the use of the horn. Their object in blow- ing the horn was to notify the drivers at the stables to make ready their horses for a change; and the landlord that the meals might be in order for the passengers.
In those days brakes had not been introduced on the stages; consequently they descended these hills with quite a velocity.
The horses used were of the first quality, athletic, sure-foot- ed and strong. Each stage weighed twenty-two hundred pounds, and carried eleven passengers with their baggage, which was moderate compared with the individual baggage of the present day.
'Two coaches were run regularly each way every day, besides extras, which were frequent to meet the demands of travel.
The class of young men who turned their attention to stage driving were natural lovers of horses, and, as a result of this, be- came very skillful in the management of their horses, taught them many tricks, and to perform feats.
Each horse had a name, and, when called by that name, obey- ed the mandates of its master. The driver's whip was composed of a stalk from four to five feet long, to which was attached a lash from ten to twelve feet in length, and on the end of the lash a nicely braided silk cracker. It was a great piece of dexterity to hold the reins of four horses, and so wield the whip as to give a smart crack with it; or, in coming down one of these hills, to lay the whip upon the top of the stage and blow the horn, holding the four reins in one hand, with the horses under full speed.
These drivers were usually daring men, but very energetic and faithful in the performance of their duties. To their good judgment, skill and energy, multitudes have owed the safety of life and limb.
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Hiram Reed of this village, relates an instance which well displays the combination of these qualities in one driver. When a lad, at school in Skaneateles, he and a fellow school-mate wishing to go to Auburn by stage, secured seats outside with the driver. As they were descending the steepest hill between the two places, one of the pole straps broke; (two straps leading from the front end of the pole to the collars of the wheel horses, and with which they held back the stage;) the driver ready for the emer- gency said to Reed and his mate "hold on boys" and at once Jaid the whip on to his horses, so that they went with "full speed " down the remainder of the hill in perfect safety - passengers, coach and horses unharmed ! Mr. Reed says that he never after sought a ride on the outside of a stage. The driver secured the safety of the stage through the leaders making a constant draft on the pole to which they were directly attached. But amidst all the confusion he did not forget the boys
Of the large number of stage drivers who used to ride over these hills, and contend with darkness, storm and tempest ; but one is left living among us, and that is Adolphus Newton. Much of my. information on this subject was derived from him. He commen- ced the arduous duties of stage driving in 1819. when but sixteen years of age, and continued eleven years. Nothing delights him more at his present age, than to sit down before a good listener, and recount the adventures of his youthful years in this depart- ment of his life. He says that at one period he drove what was calied the Telegraph. This was a stage with a limited number of passengers, and that carried the mail. It run eight miles an hour, when the roads were good.
They changed horses every ten miles, but one driver went through from Auburn to Manlius, a distance of thirty-three miles. He says that on some special occasions of carrying important per- sonages, he has made the distance in three hours. Once he had for passengers Gov. Seward and Black-Hawk, and drove ten miles in fifty minutes. It was a rule to give such men, what was called
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"extra ride .. " Another load consisted of Gen. Scott, Gov. Marcy and Martin VanBuren.
There were three periods during Mr. Newton's driving, when opposition lines were placed upon this road; only one of these proved to be a serious annoyance to the Sherwood line. This was what was called the Pioneer. It was well stocked with first-class horses and fine coaches, but with inexperienced drivers. Fast driving became a natural consequence to competition in staging. This proved the value of experience in drivers, as well as in all other situations of trust connected with responsibility. For in making quick time, there is called into requisition good judgment in the management of horses, which is based only on successful experience, as when to drive fast, when slow, and when to drive moderately. Also to the care given to the horses at the end of each route, in feeding, watering and exposure. The result was that the old drivers proved themselves heroes in the strife. For although in the frequent racing of stages to which they were subject, the Pioneer was fully their equal; yet soon the new line showed impaired horses, the consequence of indiscretion in driv- ing and want of care at the stables; and this gave rise to such a monstrous relay of horses, that it finally broke down the opposi- tion line.
As " variety is the spice of life"and competition the life of busi- ness; so in this racing of the stages, the inhabitants of this whole region were no idle spectators, but their every day "hum-drum life" was spiced by the daily news of hair breadth escapes, and the Jehu-feats of the drivers; and, as in these days, so then, quick time increased the amount of travel.
Stages were entirely removed from this route in Dec. 1838, when the cars were first run by horse power, and this was chang- ed to steam power in June 1839.
The great stage proprietor, whose talents were as celebrated in that day for staging, as Commodore Vanderbilt's have since been for rail-roading. was Isaac Sherwood. His residence
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was in Skaneateles, and he is said to have weighed three hundred and eighty pounds His successor was his son John Milton, who was almost as ponderous as his father, and as wonderful a stage proprietor.
The stage fare was five cents a mile, so that in the winter season a trip from this place to New York and back cost §30.00. But the people traveled principally in their own conveyances.
This village in those days was full of life and energy. Instead of two dry-good stores there were six, and sometimes seven; gro- cery stores about the same as now, two drug stores, and one hat store. There were two taverns, as they were then called.
Formerly the merchants replenished their stock of goods but once a year They would leave for New York sometimes in the spring and often go in company. The morning of their depart- ure would be of such interest to the inhabitants of the village. that quite a little group would often assemble around the stage, to express their good wishes for a prosperous journey, and a safe return finally. I say finally, for the possibility of a speedy return was not entertained, particularly before steam was used for navi- gation. They usually went from Albany by water, in sloops, as a matter of economy; and would be subject to the freaks of the wind as to a quick passage. Sometimes two weeks would be requir- ed to go from Albany to New York.
Their return would be hailed as the harbinger of new goods. Even the merchants themselves as they first appeared, with their tall hats of the latest New York style on their heads, and some other fancy arrangements of dress, were in themselves marks of interest, and thereby modes of advertising the future arrival of new goods. In this way the people would be stirred up for action, towards a new supply of family necessities, comforts and luxuries.
The shopping of the inhabitants was confined to this village and the Falls. There was no Syracuse then. Later Auburn attain- ed a growth that offered some more facilities. By this we see that a life and power belonged to this villege at that time to
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which it is now a stranger.
Riding on horse-back was the usual inode of travelling for the first twenty years or more, of the settlement of the country. Consequently people became very expert in that practice. The old and young, irrespective of sex, would readily mount their steeds, and go far and near as occasion required. They used to make extensive journeys in that manner. A lady would go from here to Mass or Conn. and a young lady too, and her whole wardrobe would be back of her saddle in a valise. No great Sara- toga trunk to be carried along in those days.
One of the pleasant pastimes for the young people was for a party of them to ride to adjoining towns, or towns more remote. At one time a party belonging to this vicinity rode to Canandai- gua in one day, a distance of more than fifty miles: the next day visited friends, and returned home on the third day. At that pe- riod the inhabitants of the villages situated on this great thoroug- fare, were more or less acquainted with each other and made fre- qnent interchange of visits.
Pillions were also in nse; so that families whose number of horses was limited, or whose horses, at times were mostly engaged in the neccessary business of life, could accommodate themselves by riding two on a horse. These exhibitions were of daily occur- renee. Horses were early trained under the saddle, and being thus in almost daily use, became delightful riding horses. This was a healthy mode of riding. No process better stirs up the whole sys- tem to vigorous action, than the frequent practice on horse-back. A pity that the ladies of the present day could not enjoy these same privileges !
Most long journeys simply for prospecting or visiting were made in this way. How many of our grand-fathers and great grand-fathers first came from their far Eastern homes on horse- back ? But this is not all - how many of our grand-mothers and great grand-mothers did likewise ? And not in a few instances either, the latter alone.
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Mrs. Cody the grand-mother of Hiram Reed came from Mass. some time before 1800, alone and on horseback. She was a wid- ow, and this was her prospecting tour for a home in this great wilderness. After reaching this place, she rode around viewing different portions of the town, and finally made a purchase of six hundred and forty acres; the North-Eastern corner of which after- wards included what is now Clintonville.
Mrs. Polly Earl of Thorn Hill cited to me a case of an elder- ly lady of Conn. who came alone on horse-back to visit her daugh - ter, Mrs. Amasa Sessions, living on the East side of Skabeato- les lake. After making a good visit of several weeks, on starting for home, Mrs. Sessions concluded to take ber horse and accompany her mother one day's journey and then return. On accomplishing that day's journey, her enjoyment of the ride, and interest in the mother were such, that she determined to go on to Conn. and visit her old home. After making her visit - being a dress-maker by trade - she conceived the idea of applying herself to her bus - ness, to obtain sufficient money to defray the expenses incurred . by her absence from home. Accordingly she was soon plying the needle; and in the period of a few weeks, accomplished her object, mounted her horse and as she reined away, bid good-bye to her friends, and soon she and her proud steed were on their way to their then Western home. On reaching home she found that her earn- ings in her absence had not merely been sufficient to meet the ex- penses of the journey, but also to enable her to experience the de- lightful pleasure of making her husband a present of fifty dollars.
It must be borne in mind that although a lady was thus jour- neying through an almost uninterrupted forest, without any ap- pointed traveling companions, still, as I have previously remark- ed, there was a continuous procession of travelers on the road either emigrating or prospecting, so that she was not alone; and although all were strangers to her, yet distributed all along among that stretched out multitude, were very many mothers and grand- mothers in reality, who, as was the nature of society in those
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days, would be interested at any moment in the situation of such a person.
About the year 1816 the Small Pox appeared suddenly in town; and in consequence of this, those persons who had never had the disease, hastened to be inoculated for it, because few be- lieved in the preventive powers of vaccination. Two Pest- Houses were at once established, one two-thirds of the way up the East hill; the other in a house that at that time occupied the site where James Dunlap now lives; but since has been removed and stands on the first situation East of the cemetery.
All that were inoculated were obliged at once to take up their residence in one or the other of these Pest-Houses; there to be prepared by diet and medicine for the invasion of the disease, and then to be treated and cared for until its termination. As a rule, when thus carefully managed, the disease would run so light a course, as not to produce any alarming sickness, or leave marks ever indelible.
The late Dr. Evelyn Porter of Skaneateles, then a lad of six- teen or seventeen, was at that time attending school here, and on the alarm occasioned by the Small Pox, went immediately home. His father Dr. Samuel Porter, a stirring, energetic man in his profession, at once vaccinated him, and when the vaccination had run its course, sent his son back here to Dr. Bildad Beach, with instructions that he be placed in the Pest-Ilouse, and there inoc ulated for the Small Pox and remain the appointed time. Dr. Beach acted in accordance with these instructions, and young Porter, after living three or four weeks in the filth of the Pest- House, came out as unharmed and unsullied as though he had · been a piece of marble.
What a heroic triumph for the powers of vaccination over that fearful disease - Small Pox !
Several families emigrated directly from England and located on our West hill in about the year 1834 These were families in comfortable circumstances, from what is called in Eng-
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land the middle class of society. They proved to be a very val- uable acquisition to our town, not only by their thrift and neat- ness in agricultural life, but also by their correct deportment, and in most instances by their religious life. I think that they gave new life to the science and art of agriculture among us, par- ticularly in the draining of lands, and the raising of stock.
Among this young colony, there were two leading characters - Fathers Rich and Jay - venerable old men, who deserve a pass- ing notice. They were men of excellent judgment, and illustrious for their piety. Like Jonathan and David of old, their souls were knit together in love. The avocation of Father Rich was that of a farmer; of Father Jay, a clergyman of the Methodist order.
Father Jay was a very interesting preacher, and he always had attentive audiences. His style was simple, but impressive and solemn. Being thoroughly versed in the Holy Scriptures, his words were powerful to the edification of his hearers. He was a remarkable man in many respects; was large of stature, portly and commanding in his personal appearance. He seemed to my boyish eyes, with a little help of my imagination, like a fine represent- ation of the old patriarch Jacob, as the Bible so finely delineates his life and some of his bodily movements and positions; large in size and with great benignity of countenance, and accus- tomed to sit leaning upon the top of his staff; and I have no doubt that he also often "worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff."
As old age and poor health pressed heavily upon him, he adopted the practice of remaining at home during the protracted winter season. His home was then three miles distant In these instances, preparatory to retirement, he would take a final leave of the congregation with whom he worshiped. Then some pleas- ant Sabbath in the spring, the reappearance of Father Jay's ven- erable form, would light up the faces of the people, because they expected to hear from him words of salutation, comfort and thanksgiving.
But there was one spring time above all the rest, when he
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came into their midst, and surprised them by saying that he had met with a great disappointment; and that more grace was re- quired to enable him to be reconciled to it, than for almost any thing else he had met with in his whole christian life. It was this. During the winter his health had failed so much, that he had not supposed it possible to survive until spring; and that his mind had laid hold on the glories of the future state to such a degree, that, instead of being here among these earthly friends, he had really hoped and believed that he should have been mingling in the company of his glorified friends around the throne of God and the Lamb. He was a gloriously shining light through the brief years of his residence in this community.
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At his funeral and around his grave in our cemetery, where his remains had just been deposited, stood a large circle of Eng- lish, as well as American friends; and one of those English friends - an old Mr. Fuller of Skaneateles, - pronounced quite a eulogy upon the character of the deceased, and with great emphasis, ex- pressed the loss that they, as a young colony, had sustained in his death.
Thus closed the useful life, of one of the brightest ornaments to our society.
These two old men were often together until death separated them, and that was only for a season. Although Mr. Jay was much the older man, yet Mr. Rich preceded him in death four years. Just before he died he sent for Mr. Jay to come and see him. On Mr. Jay approaching, he, with a countenance lighted up by a smile, humorously said that he was outrunning him, and should reach heaven first; although in their occasional conversa- tions on that subject, Mr. Jay's poor health and greater age favor- ed his being the victor in the race. Mr. Rich died in 1841, and Mr. Jay in 1845, and their resting places in our cemetery are nearly side by side.
But there were men who lived long lives here, that contribut. ed most to moulding and giving character to this community by
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virtue of their profession, as well as their real worth as men; among whom are the following - the IIon. Dan. Bradley, Rev. Levi Parsons, Rev. John Tompkins and the Rev. Stephen Cobb.
I cannot better introduce to you Judge Bradley, than by producing a copy of a brief of his life which I found in his family Bible, entered in his own handwriting.
"I, the said Dan Bradley was born at Mount Carmel, now Hamden, in the state of Connecticut, on the 10th. day of June it seems, in the year 1767, my parents being Jabez and Esther Bradley.
In September 1785, I became a member of Yale College in the 19th. year of my age and four years thereafter, viz, on the 9th. day of September in the year 1789, I received at the said College a degree of bachelor of arts, this being in the 23rd. year of my age.
In October 1790 I was licensed to preach the gospel by the association of New Haven county.
The same month viz the 21st. day of October in the year 1790, I was married by the Rev. John Foot to Miss. Eunice Beach.
The 11th. day of January 1692 I was ordained at Hamden in Connecticut to the pastoral charge of the church in Whitestown, New Hartford settlement, state of New York, and in February thereafter moved with my small family from Hamden to the said place.
In January 1795 I was dismissed from the pastoral charge of the church in Whitestown, and moved to Marcellus the same year, at which place I arrived with my family, Sept. 6th. 1795 in the 29th. year of my age.
My son Dan Bradley was born at Marcellus July 18th. 1804, and baptized the 31st. of March following, by the Rev. Joshua Johnson.
On the day following the birth of this child viz. the 19th. day of July in the year 1804, at about one o'clock in the morn- ing, my worthy and beloved wife, Mrs. Eunice Bradley died
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in the 38th year of her age.
On the 3rd day of February in the year 1805, I was married the 2nd time, at New-Haven, by President Dwight to Miss. Nancy Rose, being myself at that time in the 38th year of my age, and the said Nancy being in her 24th year."
The following from a manuscript of the Rev. Levi Parsons - "The Hon. Dan Bradley was a man of liberal education, had been a minister of the gospel, but relinquished the profession, and en- gaged in secular life. He took a deep interest in everything, which might advance the interests and elevate the character of the community. He became a magistrate quite early, and then Judge of the County Court, which office he held till nearly the age of limitation, viz, 60, when he resigned it. He had a great taste for Agriculture, and did much by his experiments and by his writings to improve and elevate it. He was highly and de- servedly esteemed by the community, and his name is held in af- fectionate remembrance."
It is said of Judge Bradley's first wife, that during the period he was in college, she pursued the same course of study as the college course, and that their correspondence with each other, ex- tended through this whole time.
Rev. Levi Parsons was born in Northhampton, Mass. Aug. 20th 1779. He entered Williams College in 1798 and graduated in 1801 He taught two years in an academy in Cornwall, Conn;then accepted and filled the appointment of tutor in Williams College for two years. He studied Theology with Rev. Dr. Hyde of Lee, Mass. and was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1806 at Stockbridge. He then engaged in missionary labor in this State, under the direct- ion of the Berkshire Missionary Society, visiting new settlements in Central and Western New-York, and extending his travels as far as Niagara. In Sept. 1806 he first visited this place on his re- turn from the West, having gone there through the southern tier of counties. He was ordained pastor here on the 16th. of Sept. 1807, being the second minister settled in Onondaga County. On
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Oct. 9th 1809 was married to Miss. Almira Rice, daughter of Samuel Rice with whom he lived nearly fifty years. He continued his relations to this people until Jan. 15th 1833 when they were dissolved. Then he preached one year in Tully, and another year in Otisco, when he was recalled to this congregation, and suppli- ed them until 1841 and then resigned. After that he preached to the church on the State Road for several successive years, and afterwards to the church at Borodino a few years; in both of these places eleven years. From this time until his death, he supplied no pulpit regularly, but filled vacancies occasionally as called for.
.And here it is more appropriate for the occasion that I should lay before you the views of the late Rev. John Tompkins, as ex- pressed in some extracts from a discourse delivered at his funeral.
" Mr. Parsons' pastorate here was successful. The church under him, by a steady progress, grew from a small beginning to fair proportions, and has always exhibited steadfastness. In those years when the furor for new measures swept through this part of the country, he did not fall in with them, nor encourage them, and the consequence was, while many churches around were rent and torn, and their old foundations broken up, this church held on its way. He very probably was regarded as slow, and quite be- hind the times; but subsequent events demonstrated the wisdom of his views and position, and it was a great blessing to the church that it had such a pastor during these times of agitation and excitement.
His views of divine truth were clear and consistent, and he presented them in language so plain that they were easily under- stood. His style of preaching possessed but few ornaments, but to the sincere enquirer after truth it was highly instructive. The character, the intelligence of those who grew up under his min- istry, and were associated with him in the church, affords abund- ant evidence of this. They were stable men, not easily moved from their positions, or shaken in their sentiments.
He was a judicious man. His mind was well balanced and
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he was never hurried into excesses, or hindered in the discharge of known duty. He had an undying affection for the church, his eye was ever single to its prosperity, and whether in the pastorate or out of the pastorate, he was a wise counsellor, and ready to co- operate in any measures calculated to promote the interests of the church, not only here but through-out the world.
He was, I believe, one of the founders of Auburn Seminary, and belonged to its board of trustees from its incorporation until his death. In all its embarrassments and difficulties, it had in him a warm steadfast friend, and for its prosperity his heart was filled with gladness."
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