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 4
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His interest in the cause of education is abundantly proved, by his filling the office of School Inspector for the town, for a long period of his earlier years, associated with his intimate and choice friend Judge Bradley; and also by the number of youth of both sexes who made a school-room of his study.
Mr. Parsons was remarkable for his punctuality in meeting his engagements. As a member of the Prudential Committee of the Board of Trustees of Auburn Theological Seminary, it was neccessary to meet with them once a month, and until he had reached." three score years and ten " he hardly ever varied from being regularly present, and that too when the trip had to be made with his own conveyance.
He lived to a good old age - eighty-five - and his declining years, serene as a summer's eve, at the close of a life long service for the good of man, were a beautiful attestation to the power of christian faith over death and the grave.
The Rev. John Tompkins was a native, I believe, of Oneida Co. where he remained until he was twenty three years of age. His parents were people of moderate means, but of thorough re- ligions principles. Up to that period his education was nothing more than he could procure in the common school, which at that time was very moderate compared with what they now afford. Hle was then master of his trade - Tanner and Currier - when he
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felt pressing upon him the duty of preaching the Gospel. I will here quote his own language, in an extract from his twenty-fifth Anniversary discourse. "Engaged in a pursuit both agrecable and profitable, I expected to pursue it through life. But the question arose; can I make the most of life in this pursuit? Has not God claims upon me that cannot well be met as I am now? The re- sult of this inquiry was, I determined to leave my employment and if possible, prepare myself to preach the Gospel."
He at once entered upon a course of study preparatory for . that great life work, which occupied eight consecutive years: Ile became a graduate of Hamilton College and Auburn Theological Seminary.
In Aug. 1841 he first entered the pulpit of the Presbyterian church of this village, and did not leave it until Aug. 1866 - twenty-five years to a day - when he was called to pass over the river of death.
Mr. Tompkins was a man fully alive to his surroundings; quick to perceive in others their varied movements in life; and being desirous to promote the welfare of those among whom he lived, these natural inclinations aided him largely in the practice of his profession. No one came within the scope of his vision without being acknowledged; and therefore strangers who had come to reside among us received from him a cordial welcome. He was untiring in his watchful care over his parishioners. Possessing a deeply sympathetic nature he had ample calls for its outpourings. He was a man of tears - weeping was spontaneous with him - so that he might with great propriety have been called Jeremiah or the "weeping prophet." He never visited the sick or the afflicted without weeping with them. A man of few words on such occas- ions his tears seemed to compensate. Once in the presence of a Father and Mother agonizing as they were viewing for the last time their only two deceased children, he was asked by a byestander if he could not assuage their grief by some words of consolation ; he replied that he could not and wept.
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He seemed to be more and more weighed down with the re- sponsibilities pertaining to his profession as years rolled along, so that his desire for souls proportionably increased.
The last years of his life he fought intemperance as one who hated it, and his patience with those who sustained it, became almost exhausted.
A lover of the cause of education, the school-rooms were fre- quently lighted up by his presence. He usually had more or less youths under his care pursuing the higher branches of education.
He died in the midst of his usefulness, and a great multitude of mourners followed him to his burial.
The late Rev. Stephen Cobb was born in 1799. His Father was one of the pioneers ;and his son Stephen was the second male child born in this town. Born and reared in the midst of dense for- ests, produced strength both of intellect and body, that any one in these latter days might well covet. The child of yesterday was soon wielding the axe in falling these lofty trees, to let in the light of the sun of heaven. Thus his early years, even to manhood's prime, were spent in contending with rugged nature ; fitly prepar- ing him for the most important of his life's duties, which was to preach the Gospel
It is not neccessary here, for me to state, that in those early days, the life of a Methodist Circuit preacher was not one of ease and luxury or that he slept on beds of down - but like his Divine Lord and Master - many times had not where to lay his head.
With nothing preparatory but a limited common school edu- cation, as he could pick it up during the few short days of winter ; did oar young servant of God, launch forth, Bible and Hymn book in hand, to proclaim the message of salvation to dying men.
But God had already laid in him the foundation for his work, in a stentorian voice accompanied with the gifts of oratory, and music. Mr. Cobb traveled over the hills and through the valleys of this and surrounding towns: preaching, and singing, and pray- ing. During the intervals he labored on his farm, thus fulfilling
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the injunction of the Apostle, "not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord."
It was once my privilege to accompany Mr. Cobb three miles away from the village, whither. he was called to visit a sick woman who was near the end of life. He gave to her in brief, words of consolation and hope, and then addressed the Throne of Grace in prayer. And such a prayer! Although he had a voice that would fill all "out doors," yet he so modulated it for the sick room, that it was sweet music to the ear, and possessed a distinctness of utterance that required no effort on the part of the woman to un- derstand it; he prayed with such an unction that not merely the woman felt God's presence in the room but the speaker too.
The poor always found a true friend in Mr. Cobb. Their little wants he readily supplied. He was very popular among them in the sick room, and at the burial of their dead. In his daily life, he carried a cheerful countenance, and was never ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
Mr. Cobb was an instance of the power of Bible knowledge, in educating not only the soul but the intellect. There he was with a limited preparatory education, and yet at times he would hold an audience almost spell-bound "as he reasoned of righteous- ness, temperance and judgment to come."
It was always interesting to hear him sing in social meetings. This he entered into with his whole soul. Occasionally in these meetings, when, during the singing of a hymn, he would be en- gaged in direct private appeal to one and another on the subject of religion, the singing would begin to lag; then suddenly he would raise himself erect, and pour out such a volume of voice, as would completely lift the whole house, and inspire with music all in the room. He truly sang "with the spirit and the under- standing also."
Hle used to say while in health, that life to him was sweet, and that he desired to live on the earth so long as it should be God's will, then he wished to die. And he proved himself tre: :
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his declarations; for when death was approaching, he expressed - himself ready to live and ready to die. Thus he died in the faith of the Gospel, which he had so long preached, in the ?? th year of his age.
Besides men who exerted strong religious influence at home, our town, at an early day, sent out two of her sons as missionaries in foreign fields; and that too when it was at the risk of one's life thus to go. William Todd and Dan Bradley Jr. were the chosen sons to go to far off Asia and preach the Gospel to the heathen.
Wm. Todd's father located on the East hill in about 1800. Hle first purchased the three hundred and twenty acres afterwards owned and occupied by the late Simeon B. Chapman. He proved to be one of those occasionally unfortunate mon of that period, who through some mistake of land agents, laid hold of land owned by others. The consequence invariably in those cases was, that after more or less years of occupancy in blissful ignorance, and of im- provement of the lands, that the rightful owner would appear, and order the occupant to vacate, or to pay over again for the land, not merely the price for wild land, but now the price for an improved farm, notwithstanding the improvement has been made by himself. Such was Mr. Todd's predicament, and the remainder of his life to old age was about consumed in the effort to leave, for his surviving family, a farm clear from debt. Mr. Todd had built a fine barn, 45x55. When the original owner of the farm appeared to claim bis property. Mr. T. at once purchased of a neighbor across the highway five acres of land, and one night that large barn took a walk across on to that piece of land. But the wonder about the whole matter was, that the next morning ".nobody knew anything." So the barn was saved to Mr. Todd.
Mr William Todd received his education at Hamilton College and Auburn Theological Sem. and after marrying a wife, bade "good - bye" to his friends and took the stage for Boston, where, in those days, most of the missionaries embarked. He then bade farewell to America, the land of Christian liberty for Madura in
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*the southern part of Hindostan, a land of gloom an I oppression, as he supposed, to spend his remaining years. But it was other wise ordered. Mr. Todd's health failed step by step until as a dernier resort he was obliged to return to the land of his nativity ; after a few years passed in half duty and recreation, a portion of which time he spent here in Marcellus, preaching and giving lectures on Hindostan here and elsewhere, he removed to the then " Far West", first to Iowa and finally to Kansas, where his health permitted him to alternate preaching with manual labor. He died, I think, within the past year.
Dan Bradley Jr. was born July 18 th 1804 in the Mrs. Sophia Ball house. His childhood and youthful years were spent here. As was the custom in those days in the bringing up of sons; after they had reached the age of ton or twelve years to require their winters only to be spent in study, and their summers in work on the farm; so it was with young Bradley, and he proved himself to be a workman on the farm that "needeth not to be ashamed." The old Judge Bradley farm of two hundred acres or more that lay just South of this village, and including then what is now the South portion of this village, as far West as to the street leading South from Main St., was the spot on which our young friend spent his early days, and monuments of his skill and labor are still standing in the form of stone walls to this day.
Being very fond of music he was a prominent member of the church choir. Possessed of more than ordinary intellectual gifts he used his leisure hours in literary pursuits, and finally turned hus attention to the study of medicine and surgery; graduating in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City. It was not until then that his attention was turned to the wants of the heathen world, and his heart so went out after them that he concluded to devote his life to their service. After his marriage, he, like Todd. also bade farewell to weeping friends and rode in stage to Boston, where he embarked for his long voyage to India. It was no small undertaking in those days to make that journey, for it had to be
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done in a sailing vessel, and required about a year to complete it. The end of his voyage proved to be Bangkok, the great city of Siam, at which port English or American vessels rarely touched ; so that going to live there was to separate one's self almost entire- ly from civilized society; and dwell in the midst of half naked natives. But Dr. Bradley's faith was equal to the emergency, and with holy zeal he and his wife entered upon their life work - his, a long life work, hers only a decade of years. On the day of Mrs. Bradley's death some plants which she had carefully tended for a long time, suddenly put forth blossoms; these said her husband "were emblems of her immortal bloom."
Dr. Bradley's medical and surgical knowledge, proved a power in gaining the confidence not merely of the people, but of the King. For he had not been long in Bangkok before the Small- Pox broke out as an epidemic, slaying its thousands. Then it was, that by perseverance and determination, he demonstrated to the King and his cabinet the all-controlling power of vaccination over that terrible disease. Through this he was step by step received into the presence of the King, and thereby given greater liberties. Soon the natives flocked around him in multitudes as subjects for the healing art. Serious inflamation of the eyes being a disease peculiar to hot countries, attracted his special attention, so that with ample opportunities for that practice, he soon became a pro- ficient in this department of medicine. His real mission was to save souls, and like the Master, he healed the sick and gave sight to the blind, as an opening wedge to their souls. For in the midst of all this practice of medicine he never omitted to speak a word for Christ, or to give a printed leaf of Bible or tract. Thus the truth was carried to the remotest portion of the kingdom - for Bangkok was its metropolis.
Dr. Bradley was obliged to live the life of faith so far as per- tained to making converts of Siamese to Christianity. For he never witnessed but few of the vast multitude to which he had individual access, accept of the faith of the Gospel. But after the
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first ten years of his labors among them. it became his most sanguine belief that he, in the providence of God, was appointed to sow the seed, from which others would reap an abundant har- vest; and he was happy in so doing. His prediction has already been proving true; for since his death, not only at Bangkok but also in more remote provinces a number of mission chapels and schools have been organized and many of the natives have embraced the true Faith. Early in his life, Dr. Bradley established at Bang- kok a printing press, which he personally ably managed all through his life. He also prepared a.complete Dictionary of the Siamese language, which is now made use of exclusively throughout the kingdom.
Dr. Bradley.first left this country for Siam in 1835, and re turned to it in 1847. He remained about two years, visiting his friends, and laboring to inspire in the young the spirit of missions. He married the second time, and again turned his back on all that was near and dear to him in Marcellus, (for it was very dear to him,) and went again to his great work in the missionary field. During the latter half of his life in Siam, he became self-sustain- ing in his work, depending upon no society for his support. He acquired so great eminence as a physician, that finally he was employed by people of rank, and from them received pay for his services.
Although Dr. Bradley became an adopted son of Siam, mak- ing her interests his interests; yet he never ceased to feel for his own native land, or to be solicitons for her welfare when impend- ing danger threatened her; so that in the time of our late Rebell- ion, he sent $300. 00. to President Lincoln, to aid the govern- ment in rescuing our land from destruction. He had long been a friend to the black man, and rejoiced in this opportunity to express his friendship in dollars.
Dr. Bradley grew grey in the service to which he was called, but he did not lay off his armor until the messenger, Death, visited him in 1873. In order to bury him in a christian manner,
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his own son had to superintend and assist in the making of the coffin. Thus ended Dan Bradley JJr.
What a glorious thought it is, that the soil of Siam contains and protects for the resurrection morn, the remains of one of Marcelins' brightest sons.
Among the early inhabitants was the Hon. Reuben Humph- reys. He was born in 1757, (place of birth not known,) and be- came a resident of the town of Onondaga, four miles East of this village about 1801. Near the year 1817, he commenced making his summer residence in a house in this village, which was then, and for more than forty years after, called the Green house on account of its color. This is now occupied by Justus North, and stands a few rods West of its original site. Mr. Humphrey was evidently a man of more than ordinary ability, on account of the offices of trust and responsibility which he filled; for these offices in those days were only reached through ability and true merit: not as now very many times through intrigue and money. He was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Onondaga Co. (date not known,) and somewhere between the years of 1810 and 1820 he served as a member of the Legislature of this state, and also of the Congress of the United States. I have understood that he was given to eccentricities. One Sabbath, the choir in church sang a hymn to the tune of "Antigua," and it so disturbed the old gentleman in his peace of mind, that immediately after the services he met the choir, and by paying the chorister one dollar, obtained from them the promise that they would not sing it again in that church, so long as he should live. Thus it was always said that Judge Humphrey bought "Antigua." The choir lived up to their contract.
Mr. Humphrey died in 1832. Ilis wife Anna was fully his equal in intellectual powers. She died in 1827 aged 68. Their household numbered thirteen - Father and Mother and eleven children - seven sons and four daughters. .
The following are their names in the order of births: Guy,
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Ann, Reuben, Gad, Sterne, May, Perintha, Helen, Eliza, Hagh and Sterne 2nd.
Gny was a merchant in this village, and died Dec. 2nd 1807 at the age of twenty-seven.
Gad held the office of Col. in the United States Army.
May was first a merchant in Philadelphia, afterwards a mer- chant in Liverpool, England, for eleven years, and then retired to New York for his old age, and died in 1866 aged 76.
Sterne 2nd entered the United States Navy at an early age, and died in 1856 aged 49.
Ann H. Leonard spent most of her life in this place and died Jnue 11th 1850.
Eliza was the wife of Sandford C. Parker ; she died in Chicago and was buried in Baldwinsville.
This numerous family are all dead but Hugh. He pursued the mercantile business in this village for several years, and theu removed to Philadelphia where he has ever since resided; a period of forty-four years.
Calvin Bingham was born in Bennington, Vt., Jan. 22nd 1784. In 1806 he came on horse-back to the town of Camillus, and purchased a tract of uncleared land situated on the line between this town and Camillus, about one mile West of Howlett Hill. Here he remained two years, cleared land, built a log house and then returned to Bennington, married a young lady by the name of Scott, (belonging to the line of old Gen. Scott,) packed their household goods in two sleighs, and returned to Camillus to live in the new log house. Not many years afterwards their log house suddenly burned down, and with it much of its contents except its inmates. For months following, their crockery being destroyed, they used new chips for their plates, which, like all misfortunes was not without its advantages, for it saved them the trouble of washing, wiping and setting away the dishes, after each meal ; also every table was furnished with a supply of new dishes, and at the end of the meal, the fire was replenished with fuel.
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In 1828 Mr. Bingham removed on to our South Hill, where he resided through the remainder of his active life. Although the first twenty years, his residence was in the town of Camillus, yet his church associations were in this village, and with his numerous family, their acquaintance was so extensive among us here, that I have claimed the privilege of including himself and family in this history. Among his worthy and enterprising family of children, his oldest son Kinsley deserves a notice here on account of his prom- inence in public life. He was born Dec. 16th 1808. His boyhood and early manhood years were spent in alternate work and study; winters in school, summers on the farm. From the district school, he passed to the Academy in Onondaga Hollow, and thence to Ben- nington Vt. and afterwards taught a district school in his native town. He was admitted to the bar from the office of Jas. R. Law- rence of Camillas. In the spring of 1833 he settled upon a farm in Green Oak, Livingston Co. in the territory of Mich. there to cast his lot with those carly settlers. IIe soon received the appoint- ment of first Justice of the peace, first Postmaster and first Super- visor in that township. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the first Legislature under the state. constitu- tion, and was re-elected five successive years; and during those years was three times elected speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1846 he was elected a member of Congress, and re-elected in 1848. In 1854 he was triumphantly clected governor of the state of Michigan. In 1856 he was re-elected by the largest majority ever given to any candidate in the state. In 1859 he was elected almost by acclamation to fill a vacancy in the Senate of the United States. He died at his home in Green-Oak, on the fifth of October, 1861, and I here quote the words of the Hon. Charles Sumner be- fore the United States Senate, Dec. 10th 1861, on the occasion of his death.
"Mr. President, there are Senators who knew Mr. Bingham well while he was a member of the other House; I knew him well only when he became a member of this body. Our seats here were side
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by side, and as he was constant in his attendance, I saw him daily. Our acquaintance soon became friendship, quickened by common sympathies, and confirmed by that bond, which, according to the ancient historian, is found in the 'idem sentire de respublica.' In his death I have lost a friend ; but the sorrow of friendship is deep- enend when I think of the loss to our country." Farther on he says "such a Senator can be ill spared at this hour. His simple pres- ence, his cheerful confidence, his genuine courage, his practical instincts, would help the great events which are now preparing; nay, which are at hand. But he still lives in his example, and speaks even from his tomb."
Mr. Bingham was a frequent visitor to this village and vicin- ity. He loved to. survey the enchanted grounds of his carlier years, where were numerous relatives and friends. Those of us who knew him, hold him in pleasant remembrance.
We are proud to mention another name, illustrious among the great men of the nation - the late Hon. Nathan Kelsey Hall, whose birth place was this good old town of Marcellus. I am in- . debted for my information of Mr. Hall to Mr. Hiram Farnham, one of his school-mates. Ira Hall, the father of Nathan, worked the farm of Nathan Kelsay, on West hill, two miles from this village, and lived in the house with Mr. Kelsey. About the year 1808 Mrs. Hall gave birth to a son, the announcement of which to Mr. Kelsey, (who was an elderly man,) so delighted him, that he at once named the boy Nathan Kelsey, after himself.
Mrs. Hall soon died, whether at the birth of young Nathan, or a short time after is not known. In a few years Mr. Hall re- moved to the extreme Western part of this state, but his son Nathan, by the earnest solicitations of Mr. Kelsey was left behind, and adopted by him to enjoy all the benefits of a son. Old Mr. Kelsey was a most excellent man, and this little boy was the pride of his heart, and as he grew up proved to be the crown of his old age. He, like other boys, enjoyed the healthy influence of farm life, as such life was among these old New-England sons; and was
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not enervated in mind or body by idleness and profusion of this world's goods. .
This boy Nathan soon proved himself to be possessed of more than ordinary powers of mind. Notwithstanding this, he entered into all the pleasant innocent sports of boyhood's years, carefully shunning the vicious sports, so that he was beloved by his associates. After receiving the advantages of the district school in winters for a period of years, he was sent to the Academy at Onondaga Hollow to complete his education. From there, when about eighteen or nineteen years of age, he made a tour into the Western part of the state, near to his father's home, and soon procured a situation as teacher in a country district school. He continued teaching several terms, and then entered the law office of Millard Fillmore, in Buffalo, to make law his profession. Mr. Hall soon became a proficient in law, and so gratified Mr. Fill- more that he recieved him as a partner. When Mr. Fillmore be- came President of the United States, he appointed Mr. Hall to the office of Post-Master General; and before he left the office of President, he secured for him the office of Judge of the Supreme Court for the Northern District. This he held until his death.
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