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3
A SYNOPSIS
OF THE
EARLY HISTORY
OF
ONONDAGA COUNTY
T. M, GAFNEY
PRESS
SYRACUSE, N, Y.You Are Cordially Invited to Attend the
THIRD ANNUAL HISTORIC CELEBRATION
Held under the auspices of the Church of the Most Holy Rosary
JULY 31 TO AUGUST 5, 1916,
On the church grounds, corner of Bellevue and Roberts Avenues,
Syracuse, N. Y.COLONEL COMFORT TYLER
1788
One of Onondaga County’s First White Settlers.
Colonel Comfort Tyler and General Asa Danforth came to
Onondaga Valley May 22, 1788, by way of the Mohawk River,
streams, Oneida Lake and creek. Through the inducement of
Ephraim Webster—the first white pioneer, who came in 1785—they
made settlement on the creek’s bank, one-half mile south of what is
now Seneca street.FOREWORD.
This little pamphlet, issued in connection with the Third Annual His-
toric Celebration of the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, has for its main
purpose the arousing of interest among our people to the necessity of a
better and more comprehensive history of the County of Onondaga—of
its early settlers, early industries, and the struggles of those pioneers who
braved the dangers and privations and hewed for themselves such a niche
in the history of our county as to place their names high upon the roll of
those whose sacrifices made many of the beautiful and useful developments
which we now enjoy possible. The several towns of the county each have
historic data which is interesting and useful in the compilation of a general
history of the county, and if these Historic Celebrations will quicken the
desire of our citizens for a better history of Onondaga County, then we
will feel that we have not altogether failed.
Will you, kind reader, do your share?ONONDAGA COUNTY
ITS ORIGIN.
Onondaga Indians were the native tribe, one of the “Five Nations.”
The Jesuit Fathers interpreted their name, as “Men of the Hills.” This
name included their valley, hills and seat of their council-fire.
In 1654 Father Le Moyne was sent to the Onondagas to ratify with
them a treaty in the name of the Governor General of Canada, and every-
thing passed agreeably between them. The Onondagas showed him
marked attention and guided him through their reservation. His diary of
August 5, 1654, has this entry: “We traveled four leagues before arriving
at the principal Onondaga village. I told them that peace and joy were
my companions and that I scattered war among the distant nations.”
For years the Jesuit Fathers worked among the “Five Nations.” Mis-
sions were built and much good was accomplished, especially among the
Onondagas. But England, wishing to gain possession of the Five Nations*
lands, did everything in its power to prejudice the Indians against the
French influence, although strict alliance existed between England and
France.
After many council meetings, on September 3, 1700,, at Albany, N. Y.,
Earl Belmont and Assembly passed laws governing and giving protection
to the Five Nations — Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Senecas and
Cayugas—from French invasion.
By the treaty of Utrecht, March, 1713, the British crown became en-
titled, as far as the French were concerned, to the entire sovereignty of the
lands of the Five Nations, thus the affair was settled.
A treaty was held at Fort Schuyler September 12, 1788, by Governor
George Clinton and William Floyd, Ezra L. Hommedieu, Richard Varick,
Samuel Jones, Egbert Benson and Peter Gansevoort, Jr., commissioner^,
with the Onondagas.
Indian chiefs, representing their interests, were witnesses. The On-
ondagas relinquished all title to their lands except ten miles square around
their castle and contiguous to it. They also yielded one-half of their rights
to all the salt springs on their reservation. For these benefits $1,700 was
paid and an annuity of $500 was granted them, which was regularly paid
by the State of New York.
There were other treaties made later in 1817 and 1822.
5THE MILITARY TRACT.
The Military Tract originally contained about 1,800,000 acres, bounded
north by Oneida Lake, Oswego River and Lake Ontario; west by a line
drawn from Sodus Bay to Seneca Lake; south by a line drawn from Seneca
Lake to the present Chemung county; east by Chenango and Madison
county and Oswego River. It comprised all the present counties of Onon-
daga, Cayuga, Seneca and Cortland, and a part of Oswego, Tompkins and
Wayne counties.
In 1790 the Surveyor General, Simon DeWitt, and his assistants,
Moses DeWitt and Abraham Hardenburgh, divided the Military Tract in
townships ten miles square, to contain 100 lots—one mile square. The
division of townships into lots was made under the direction and super-
intendency of Moses DeWitt and Abraham Hardenburgh. But the labor
was performed by Benjamin Wright, J. L. Hardenburgh, John Cantine,
Josiah Buck, Comfort Tyler, Joseph Annin, Benjamin Barton, Jacob Hart,
William Ewing, Orris Curtis, Peter G. Cuddeback, Thomas Nicholson
and John Konkle. At first these townships were numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.,
but afterwards they were named after classical, Indian and distinguished
men.
Township No. 1—Lysander.
Township No. 2—Hannibal.
Township No. 3—Cato.
Township No. 4—Brutus.
Township No. 5—Camillus.
Township No. 6—Cicero.
Township No. 7—Manlius.
Township No. 8—Aurelius.
Township No. 9—Marcellus.
Township No. 10—Pompey.
Township No. 11—Momulus.
Township No. 12—Scipio.
Township No. 13—Sempronius.
Township No. 14—Tully.
Township No. 15—Fabius.
Township No. 16—Ovid.
Township No. 17—Milton.
Township No. 18—Locke.
Township No. 19—Homer.
Township No. 20—Solon.
Township No. 21—Hector.
Township No. 22—Ulysses.
Township No. 23—Dryden.
Township No. 24—Virgil.
Township No. 25—Cincinnatus.
Township No. 26—Junius.
On January 1, 1791, the commissioners proceeded to determine to
grant military bounty land claims. 100 acres of land was granted to Revo-
lutionary soldiers, captains 300 acres.
ORGANIZED 1794.
By Act of New York Legislature.
Albany, N. Y., March 5, 1794, Governor George Clinton Presiding.
In 1794 the county of Onondaga was erected from the western part of
Herkimer county and included all the Military Tract, which now embraces
all the counties of Seneca, Cayuga, Cortland and Onondaga, and all that
part of Tompkins county lying, north of a line drawn east from the head
6of Seneca Lake to the southwest corner of Cortland county, and all that
part of Oswego county lying west of the Oswego River.
There were eleven townships:	Homer, Pompey, Manlius, Lysander,
Marcellus, Ulysses, Milton, Scipio, Ovio, Aurelius and Romulus. The
first meeting was held at Asa Danforth’s home in Onondaga Valley on
May 27, 1794, and supervisors elected.
The members were:
Ovid—Silas Halsey.	Pompey—Moses Dewitt,
Romulus—Benjamin Boardman.	Milton—Wyllys (Willis) Bishop
Aurelius—Ezekiel Crane.	Ulysses—Robert McDowell.
Manlius—Comfort Tyler.	Marcellus—William Stevenson.
Scipio—John Stoyles.
Homer and Lysander were not yet organized. None of the early
records are now in existence, only some meagre notes of the proceedings
have been found. No enumeration of the inhabitants had been taken and
the population was not ascertained.
Values were reckoned in Sterling money.
The real estate valuations were:
Manlius—£2,500.
Marcellus— £ 1,303.
Ovid—£1,1881.
Romulus— £2,094.
Scipio—£2.576.
Milton—£2,796.
Aurelius—£1,729.
Pompey—£2,700.
Ulysses—£100.
Homer—£500.
Lysander— £400.
In 1798, the accounts were recorded in dollars and cents.
In 1797 the Board of Supervisors gives the following census:
Pompey ................................262 inhabitants; $20,327.50 valuation
Milton ................................. .252 inhabitants; $18,392.50 valuation
Marcellus —............................133 inhabitants; $10,607.50 valuation
Aurelius ..............................248 inhabitants; $21,687.50 valuation
Scipio .................................. 298 inhabitants; $24,750.00 valuation
Ulysses   ............................. 52 inhabitants; $4,777.00 valuation
Homer ................................. 92 inhabitants; $6,670.00 valuation
Ovid ..................................163 inhabitants; $10,691.62 valuation
Romulus ...............................143 inhabitants; $15,572.50 valuation
Manlius ................................116 inhabitants; $13,203.25 valuation
Lysander not organized or included.
Total, 1,759 inhabitants; $146,679.37 valuation.
A FEW STATISTICS.
First white trader—1786—-Ephraim Webster.
First white settler—1788—Asa Danforth and Comfort Tyler. They
came together to Onondaga Valley.
7Comfort Tyler has the distinction of having felled the first tree and
constructed the first road in Onondaga county.
First white child bom—Patty Danforth—October 14, 1789.
Danforth and Tyler found the Jesuits Salt Licks near Onondaga Lake
and started “boiling salt” in 1789.
First tavern—1790—Benjamin Morehouse, Manlius.
First merchant—1800—John Meeker, Manlius.
First lawyer—1794—Thaddeus M. Wood, Onondaga Valley.
First academy—1810—Pompey.
First newspaper—1806—Abraham Romyen, Manlius Village.
First library—1811—Eagle Village, Manlius.
First marriage—June, 1795—Eagle Village, Manlius. Cyrus Kinne,
Esq., united in the bonds of holy wedlock Mr. Billy McKee and Miss Jenny
Mulholland.
First death—1792—Manlius—father of David Tripp.
First saw mill—1792—Jamesville—Asa Danforth.
First grist mill—1793—Onondaga Creek—Asa Danforth.
First surveyor—Moses DeWitt.
First postoffice—1792—Dr. Holbrook—Jamesville.
First court of Onondaga county was held in Asa Danforth’s com
house, first Monday in May, 1794.
First judge—Seth Phelps.
Judges—John Richardson, Silas Halsey, William Stevens.
First judge of common pleas—Moses DeWitt.
Lawyers—present—Thomas R. Gould, Arthur Breeze.
First court of Oyer and Terminer—July 21, 1794—at the house of Asa
Danforth, Onondaga Valley.
Hon. Egbert Benson assisted Seth Phelps and Andrew Englis.
Grand Jury—Walter Wood, foreman; Comfort Tyler, Isaac Van
Vleck, Elias Fitch, Moses Carpenter, William Ward, Jonathan Wilkinson,
Cyrus Kinne, Seere Curtis, Victor S. Tonsley, Amos Stanton, Henry Moore,
James Geddes, Ryal Bingham, Reuben Patterson.
Judge Benson made an eloquent charge to the Grand Jury. The only
bill of indictment found was against James Fitzgerald for an assault and
battery with the intent to rob Andrew McCarthy.
The petit jurors on this first criminal trial were: John Brown, Wil-
liam Linsley, Thomas Morgan, Henry Watkins, Benjamin De Puy, Nehe-
miah Smith, Isaac Strong, John A. Thompson, Noah Olmsted, Isaac Boiley,
William Stevens, Thomas Ozman.
They found the prisoner guilty. Sentenced by the court to two
months imprisonment in the county jail at Herkimer. (There being no
jail in Onondaga county.)
COUNTY OFFICERS.
First surrogate—1794—Moses DeWitt.
First clerk of county—1794—Benjamin Ledyard.
First sheriff of county—1794—John Harris.
8First treasurer—1794—Moses * Carpenter.
First members of Assembly—1798—Comfort Tyler and Silas Halsey.
First senator—1799—Moss Kent; 1823, Jonas Earll.
First justice of peace—1794—Asa Danforth.
First coroners—1794—Comfort Tyler and Gilbert Tracy.
TOWNS.
Manlius...........______....__ *............ Organized 1794; Settled 1789
Pompey ____________....--------------— ... Organized 1794; Settled 1789
Camillus ................................. .Organized 1794; Settled 1790
Lysander ...... —........................Organized 1794; Settled 1793
Marcellus ................................. Organized 1794; Settled 1794
Fabius ------------------------------ Organized 1798; Settled 1794
Tully ..................................... Organized 1803; Settled 1795
Cicero ................................... . Organized 1807; Settled 1790
Onondaga ................................. . Organized 1798; Settled 1786
Otisco —.................................. .Organized 1806; Settled 1801
Skaneateles ...................... Organized 1830; Settled 1793
Salina ..................................Organized 1809; Settled 1790
Spafford ________________________________Organized 1811; Settled 1794
Lafayette ................ .............. .Organized 1825; Settled 1791
Clay ...................................... Organized 1827; Settled 1791
Elbridge ................................Organized 1829; Settled 1793
Van Buren ...............................Organized 1829; Settled 1793
Dewitt ..................................Organized 1835; Settled 1789
Geddes .................................... Organized 1848; Settled 1793
During the year 1817, Onondaga county was reduced to its present
area of 812 square miles. Bounded on the north by Oswego county and
Oneidk Lake; on the south by Cortland county; on the east by Madison
county; on the west by Cayuga county.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The pioneers were obliged to follow the Indian trails and marked
trees, on foot. They felled trees and cleared the land to build their cabins.
Roads were first made from house to house, then from one settlement to
another. Often the nearest neighbor lived miles away.
One may imagine the woman, for days alone and unprotected, except-
ing by God above; when the men were called away. In sickness, no phy-
sician or minister of the Gospel to give aid or comfort.
They suffered much from fever and ague, and other diseases common
to newly cleared lands and swampy regions.
Ferocious bears, wolves, panthers, wild cats and snakes overrun the
country and had to be exterminated. Deer were numerous and helped to
supply the table with food, also a source of revenue; with fish easily caught
and abundant in streams and lakes. They consisted of salmon, pickerel,
pike, perch, bass, catfish and eels.
9COLONEL COMFORT TYLER HOME, ONONDAGA VALLEY,
(From Oil Painting by Miss Lillie Belle Dimond.)SCENE IN REAR OF COLONEL COMFORT TYLER HOME, ONONDAGA VALLEYThe capturing of beavers, foxes and muskrats formed the chief occu-
pation for the trappers, who made of it a lucrative business.
Often families suffered from lack of food, awaiting the products of
their harvests. People shared their supplies and would journey miles to
help a neighbor in need or sickness.
In 1793 there were but thirty persons at Salt Point (Salina) and every
one was sick excepting Patrick Riley. He kept the fires burning under the
salt kettles at Van Vleck’s Salt Works, where the men of the settlement
worked, and helped care for the sick for a period of two months. Dr. Hol-
brook of Jamesville, the first physician of the county, came nearly every
day to visit the sick. The Indians were exceedingly kind and attentive.
They furnished liberally to every family a supply of venison and fish and
did much to add to their comfort. This is but one incident of distress.
The log schoolhouse was the first meeting place for religious and poli-
tical purposes. At the tavern and general store the news and affairs were
discussed. Class distinction was unknown. Honest worth was recognized
and the coward was scorned.
Indian runners were employed as carriers, making trips from as far
as Albany to suoply the settlers with necessities. Ox teams were used
for transportation in the winter season and traveling on horseback with
saddle bags was common. Wagons were rare until 1820.
It was crude and rough, with hardships and privations but the home
had been made, and in and about it soon gathered the elements which
brought civilization, comfort and comparative ease.
MANLIUS.
Organized in 1794.
It comprised all the present townships of Manlius and Dewitt; parts
of Onondaga and Salina.
It was reduced to its present limits in 1835.
First white settler—1789—Benjamin Morehouse.
First town meeting—April, 1794—Benjamin Morehouse’s tavern—42
voters present.
Chairman—Cyrus Kinne.
Secretary—Levi Jerome.
Supervisor—Comfort Tyler.
Town clerk—Levi Jerome.
Overseers of the poor—David Williams and Benjamin Morehouse.
Commissioners of roads—Charles Merriam, Elijah Phillips and Ryal
Bingham.
Assessors—Reuben Patterson, Ichabod Lathdop, Isaac Vleek, William
Ward and Timothy Teall.
Constables and collectors—Caleb Pratt and David Baker.
At this meeting £4 bounty was ordered for the scalp of a wolf. No
12hog shall go at large without a ring in its nose and a yoke about its neck.
Schools—commissioners—1797—Charles Moseley, Daniel Campbell
and Isaac Van Vleck.
Committee—Gershom Breed, Elijah Phillips, Jeremiah Jackson and
Caleb Pratt.
John Shaeffer—1792—first settler of Manlius Village. 1794—first white
child born—Baron Steuben Schaeffer, son of John Schaeffer—named in
honor of famous Gen. Steuben, who was a visitor at Schaeffer’s Tavern
and greatly annoyed because he didn’t sleep on account of noise during the
night. When he complained the next morning the nurse came in with the
infant, saying: “Here, Sir Baron, is the cause of the noise.” The Baron
Steuben drew a deed of gift for 250 acres from his domain in Oneida.
Early settlers—Charles Mulholland and Charles Moseley—1796.
Trader—Ebenezer Calkins—traded with Indians.
School—logs—1798.
Lawyer—1798—Alvan Marsh—R. R. Phelps.
Physicians-—1796—Dr. Steurtevant; 1802—James Jackson; 1806—
Walter Colton.
Blacksmiths—1800—Sylcenus Tousley & Cyrus Kinne.
Merchants—1806—Merrit Clark and Moses Johnson; 1807—John
Meeker.
Four John Smiths—To distinguish them—Long John, Blind John,
Cross John, Stout John.
Mills—A Mr. Johnson—1804. Wm. Gardner.
Postoffice—1800—Luther Bingham; 1803—Robert Wilson.
First newspaper—1806—Abraham Romyen.
First library in Onondaga county was incorporated, 1811, at Eagle
Village. James Foster settled Eagle Village—1790—and opened a tavern.
First marriage—January 14, 1793—Nicholas Phillips and Caty Garlock.
They were married by Moses Dewitt.
Fayetteville—1791—Joshua Knowlton and Origen Eaton.
First frame house—1804—Cyrus Kinne.
Store—John Delameter—1802.
Census of 1845—5,602 persons; 1,150 acres of improved land.
POMPEY.
Organized in 1794.
It comprised townships of Pompey, Fabius, Tully, part of Onondaga
Reservation.
This township obtained great celebrity abroad, at a very early period,
and was principally settled by people from New England. John Wilcox,
first white settler, came in 1789, with an Indian chief from Oneida, to ex-
plore. He selected land and settled on what is now known as the Haskins
farm, two miles north of Lafayette village.
First settler of the present town of Pompey—Ebenezer Butler—1792.
13OLD POMPEY ACADEMY, ERECTED IN 1810
(First Academy in Onondaga County.)
First white child born—Sally Hoar, daughter of Jacob Hoar; and
Orange, son of Jesse Butler, the first male child.
First town meeting—April 1, 1794—at the house of Ebenezer Butler.
First supervisor—Moses DeWitt.
First town clerk—Hezekiah Olcott.
First assessors—Allen Beach, Wm. Haskins, George Catlin, Ebenezer
Butler, jr.
First commissioners of highways—Thomas Olcott, Jeremiah Gould,
John Lamb.
First lawyers—Samuel M. Haskins, Daniel Wood, Victory Birdseye
and Daniel Gott.
First physician—Dr. Samuel Beach—1798.
First school teachers—J. Gould and James Robinson.
First academy—March 11, 1811—First academy in Onondaga county.
First grist and saw mills at Pratt’s Falls—1798—by Messrs. Pratt &
Smith.
First wind mill—1810—Henry Seymour. It was a failure; another was
erected and was used for years.
First postmaster—1811—Daniel Wood.
Pompey Settlement was known as Butler’s Hill.
Pompey is rich in Indian legend, relics and antiquities.
Census of 1845—4,112 persons; 1,029 acres of cultivated land.
14CAMILLUS.
Camillus was included in Marcellus.
Organized into a township by itself in 1799.
First white settler—1790—Captain Isaac Lindsay.
Early settlers—James, William and Elijah Lindsay bought the land
for two shillings an acre. 1793—Nicholas Lamberson, William Reed, Sel-
don Leonard and Mordecai Ellis.
First town meeting at house of Medad Curtis.
First supervisor—M. Curtis.
First town clerk—Daniel Vail.
Fire destroyed records.
First frame house—Isaac Lindsay—1795.
First taverns—Isaac Lindsay—1793—log. Thomas Corey—1801.
First stores—John Tomlinson—1808. Munro & Benedict—1810.
First postoffice—Camillus—1811—David Munro, postmaster.
First law office—1815—James Lawrence.
Other lawyers—Samuel Hammond and Daniel Pratt.
Postoffice—1830—Bellisle—Geo. Kimberly, postmaster.
First physician—Dr. Isaac Magoon—1808, succeeded by Dr. Richards.
First grist mill—1806—Munro, Wheeler & Powers.
First saw mill—1805—Amboy—by Joseph White.
Census of 1845—2,967 persons; 15,847 acres of improved land.
LYSANDER.
Organized in 1794.
It then embraced Lysander, Hannibal and Cicero.
First settler—Ryal Bingham—1793—Three River Point.
In 1798 there were 15 inhabitants. Asa Rise of Oswego, supervisor.
First town meeting at Ryal Bingham’s house at Three River Point.
(There are no records of this meeting).
Some of the settlers—until 1800—Reuben Smith, Adam Emerick,
Elijah and Solomon Toll, James Cowan, Job Loomis, William Lindsey.
In 1798 Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin purchased land on the north side of
Seneca River—afterwards became part of Village of Baldwinsville.
Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin was the first physician and postmaster.
Postoffice was established in 1815—called Baldwinsville.
Seneca River was the public highway—and through the efforts of Dr.
Baldwin dams, locks and finally the Oswego canal was perfected. Many
mills were built.
First record is in 1808: Elijah Snow, supervisor; James Adams, town
clerk.
Assessors—Henry Emerick, William Wilson, James Clark.
First stores—Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin, 1807; Judge Otis Bigelow, 1813;
John Hammill, 1816.
Lawyers—Reuben S. Orvis, 1816; Samuel H. Hammond, 1826; Cor-
nelius Pugsley.
15Physicians—Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin, 1798; Dr. Cyrus Baldwin, 1814;
Dr. Silas Wallace, 1816.
Newspapers—Baldwinsville Republican, 1844, Samuel B. West; Onon-
daga Gagette, 1846, C. Marks Hosmer.
Harvey Baldwin (son of Jonas C. Baldwin) was the first mayor of
Syracuse.
Census of 1845—4,506 persons; 23,508 acres of improved land.
MARCELLUS.
Organized in 1794.
Comprised Marcellus and Camillus townships, Onondaga Salt Springs
Reservations west of Onondaga Lake and creek.
First settlers—William Cobb, Cyrus Colcomb, Messrs. Bowen and
Cody.
First settlement—Fall of 1795—By Dan Bradley and Sam Rice.
First physician—Dr. Elnathan Beach built first frame house 1796.
In 1806 there were 9 dwellings.
Early settlers were from Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut.
First school established by Dan Bradley in 1796-97.
Dan Bradley was the first teacher; taught 2 winters in log cabin.
First mills—Dan Bradley and Sam Rice—1795.
In 1796 Dr. Beach opened a “General Store.”
First tavern—Deacon Samuel Rice.
First postoffice—Dr. Beach—1799.
First justice of peace—Samuel Tyler.
Early records of Marcellus were destroyed by fire, so that there are no
means of knowing who the earliest town officers were. There are no rec-
ords further back than 1830.
Census of 1845—2,649 persons; 648 acres of cultivated land.
FABIUS.
Taken from Pompey in 1798,
Then included Fabius and Tully and parts of Spafford and Otisco.
First settlers—1794—Josiah Moore and Timothy Jerome.
First town meeting—April 3, 1798—At house of Joseph Tubbs.
Supervisor—Timothy Jerome.
Town clerk—Josiah Moore.
Assessors—Benjamin Brown, Timothy Walker, Elijah St. John.
Commissioners of highways—Joseph Tubbs, James Cracath, William
Blanchard.
Constable—Ezekiel Dunham.
Timothy Jerome was justice of peace for years.
First frame house—1800—Josiah Moore.
First school—log—Miss Jerome teacher (married Judge Geddes).
16First newspaper—1836—“American Patriot” by Joseph Tenny.
First state senator—Elijah Miles.
First assemblyman—1812—Jonathan Stanley.
First tavern—1797—Josiah Tubbs.
First grist and saw mills—Thomas Miles—Butternut Creek.
First postoffice—1803.
Census of 1845—2,529 persons; 18,238 acres of improved land.
TULLY.
Part of Pompey.
Truxton and Preble taken from it in 1808.
Finally established in 1811.
First settler—1795—David Owen.
First log house—1795—David Owen.
First frame house—1797—Timothy Walker.
First white child—1796—Peter Henderson.
First stores—1803—Moses Nash; 1805—John Meeker.
First tavern—1802—Nicholas Lewis.
Succeeded by Jacob Johnson—1807.
First postoffice—1815—Nicholl Howell, Postmaster, succeeded by
William Trowbridge.
First grist mill—1810—Peter Van Camp—3 miles west of Tully Vil-
lage.
&FirSt town meeting—May 1, 1803—House of Samuel Trowbridge.
Supervisor—Phineas Howell.
Town clerk—Amos Skeel.
Assessors—Jacob Johnson, Samuel Cravath, Solomon Babcock.
Commissioners of highway—James Cravath, Floyd Howell, Solomon
Babcock.
First judge—1803—Amos Skeel.
Judges of peace—1808-1812—Job Lewis, Moses Nash.
Census of 1845—1,621 persons; 10,909 acres of improved land.
CICERO.
Part of Lysander—Organied in 1807. Contains 326,000 acres of land.
First white settlers—A Mr. Dexter, blacksmith, 1790. He settled op-
posite Fort Brewerton.
Oliver Stevens settled on the north side of Oneida River in 1789. He
kept “Boatman’s Tavern” and traded with the Indians.
Patrick McGee—1791—erected the first frame house at Brewerton and
kept a tavern for boatmen, near present site of the Brewerton House.
In 1802 J. L. Stevens (he was judge of Onondaga county courts) was
bom. Dr. Needham of Onondaga Valley was the nearest physician.
First school—1792—Brewerton—taught by Deacon George Ramsey.
First merchants—1818—Isaac Cody, Cicero Comers. 1825—Samuel
Warren.
17First physician—1817—Daniel H. Orcott.
First attorney—1841—Alexander Cook.
First postmaster—1820—Isaac Cody.
First judge of peace—1804—Rev. John Shepard.
First town meeting—1807—at Patrick McGee’s house.
Supervisor—Thomas Pool.
Town clerk—Elijah Loomis.
Moderator—Moses Kinne.
Census of 1845—2,651 persons; 8,182 acres of improved land.
ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP,
Incorporated 1798.
Consisted of two great tracts of land—Onondaga and Salt Springs
Reservations.
First settlers—Ephraim Webster, 1786; Asa Danforth and Comfort
Tyler, 1788.
First settlement—Onondaga Valley—May 22, 1788.
First white birth—Patty Danforth, daughter of Asa Danforth.
First town meeting—April, 1798—at the home of Asa Danforth.
First supervisor—Ephraim Webster.
First town clerk—Jabez Webb.
First assessors—Samuel Searing, Daniel Earll, Sier Curtis.
First commissioners of roads—Elisha Alvord, Nehemial Earll, Elijah
Lawrence.
First judge—Seth Phelps.
First doctor—Dr. William Needham.
First lawyers—George Hall, Joshua Forman and Wm. H. Sabin.
First postoffice—Onondaga Valley—1794—Comfort Tyler, Postmaster,
First newspaper—“The Lynx”—Onondaga Valley—December, 1811.
Its motto—“Liberty and My Native Land. Its editor—Thomas Fay.
First merchant—George Kibbe—1800.
First school—1809—Near present site of Academy—replaced a log
cabin.
First principal of Onondaga Academy—erected 1814—Rev. Caleb
Alexander.
First fair—Nov. 2, 1819. Premiums amounting to $200 were awarded.
In 1803 there were but 8 frame houses in Onondaga Valley.
Census of 1845—5,142 persons; 30,898 acres of cultivated land.
OTISCO.
Organized in 1806.
Established from parts of Pompey, Marcellus, Tully.
First settler—1801—Chauncey Rust.
First white child born—1801—Timothy Rust.
18Early settlers—Charles Merriman, Otisco Baker, Josiah Clark, Ben-
jamin and Amos Cowles.
First tavern—1804—Benoni Merriman.
First merchant—1808—Jesse Swan.
First grist mill—1806—Esquire Merriman.
First frame house—1805—Elias Thayer.
First postoffice—1814—Dr. Luther French, Postmaster.
First school—1804—In log house.
First physician—1806—Dr. Jonathan S. Judd.
First town meeting—April 1, 1806—House of Daniel Bennett.
Chairman—Dan Bradley of Marcellus.
Presiding judges—Dan Bradley, Timothy Copp.
Supervisor—Judah Hopkins.
Town clerk—Josephus Baker.
Assessors—Noah Parsons, Lemon Gaylord, Josephus Baker.
Not a pauper or lawyer in town.
Census of 1845—1,701 persons; 12,899 acres of improved land.
SKANEATELES.
Organized in 1830.
Taken from western part of Marcellus.
It lies on both sides of northern part of Skaneateles Lake. It was an
Indian village or settlement of Onondaga Tribe.
First white settler was John Thompson—a Scotchman—1793.
1794 a Mr. Robinson settled upon the lake shore.
First taverns—1796—Lovell Gibbs and James Porter.
First physicians—Dr. Samuel Porter and Dr. Benedict.
First frame houses—1796—Lovell Gibbs and Dr. Hall.
First store—1797—Winston Day.
First postoffice—April, 1804—William J. Vredenburgh, postmaster.
First frame schoolhouse—1798.
First teacher—Nicholas Otis.
First academy—1840—“The Hive” by Lydia Mott, a Quakeress; a
Mr. Mekeel was a teacher.
First newspapers—“Skaneateles Telegraph”—Wm. H. Childs, 1830,
by John Graves; Skaneateles Democrat, 1838, by Wm. M. Beauchamp.
First town meeting—1830.
First mills—Judge Sanger—1796—at the outlet of Skaneateles Lake.
First bridge—1800—Seneca Road Co. It stood on 14 posts; 24 rods
long and 24 feet wide. It was a high bridge.
First steamboat on lake—1831.
The water of Skaneateles Lake was so highly spoken of for its softness
for washing woolen goods that many woolen mills were erected on its
shores. It is the highest lake in this state.
Skaneateles village is one of the most lovely and picturesque in West-
ern New York.
Census of 1845—3,827 persons ; 703 acres of cultivated land.
19SALINA.
Salina—Latin word, saline, place where salt is made.
Organized 1809.
It was taken from the northwest corner of the town of Manlius.
First settlers—August, 1790, Col. Jeremiah Gould, wife, three sons and
daughter moved to Salt Point and found Deacon Loomis, Nathaniel Loo-
mis. Hezekial Olcott, John and Asa Danforth, Jr.. Thomas Gaston had
commenced the manufacture of salt.
In 1791 Samuel Jerome visited Salt Point, took a handful of salt, and
on his return to Saratoga showed it to the people he met. He reported
that he had found “the land of promise” and pursuaded many to go out and
settle at the salt licks.
First frame houses—1792, Jeremiah Gould; 1793, John Danforth, Van
Vleck and Asa Danforth, Jr.
Provisions were exchanged for salt from Tioga and Herkimer. Captain
Canute had a trading boat to Albany—traded furs.
Deer herded like cattle at the salt licks.
Wolves and bears were common.
In 1793 there were 30 persons at Salt Point. All were sick except
Patrick Riley. He cared for the sick and attended the salt kettles, alter-
nately, for two months.
Dr. Holbrook came daily from Jamesville.
The Indians were exceedingly kind and furnished to every family a
supply of venison, fish and other food.
First physician—1797—Dr. Burnet.
First tavern—A Mr. Gilchrist.
First merchant—A Mr. Carpenter, who was connected with Federal
Company.
First justice of peace—1796-1797—Royal Bingham.
First white child—1792—Abraham Van Vleck.
Indians were especially friendly and gave Indian names to many white
settlers.
First town meeting—March 11, 1809, at the house of Cornelius Schou-
tens.
First supervisor—Elisa Alvord.
First town clerk—Fisher Curtis.
First assessors—Rufus Danforth, Martin Wandle, Richard Johnson,
Henry Bogardus.
First commissioners of highways—Michael Mead, William Buckley,
Jonathan Fay.
About a mile north of Green Point are ruins, probably remains of a
fortification erected by the French. Lengthy accounts are given by the
Jesuit Fathers.
Census of 1845—15,804 persons; 14,012 acres of improved land.
SPAFFORD.
Organized in 1811.
From parts of Sempronius, Marcellus, Tully.
20This town received its name from Horatio Gates Spafford, author of
The Gazetteer of New York.
First settler—Gilbert Palmer—1794.
Early settlers—1803—Borodino by Jonathan Berry, Archibald Farr;
1804—Isaac Hall—Spafford Corners, Peter Knapp, Samuel Smith, Moses
Legg, Elias Davis.
First frame house—1807—Samuel Conkling.
First town meeting—1812—House of Elisha Sasins.
Supervisor—John Babcock.
Town clerk—Sylvester Wheaton.
Assessors—Benjamin Stanton, Asael Roundy, Elijah Knapp.
Commissioners of highways—Asael Roundy, Adolphus French, Jona-
than Berry.
First merchant—1809—Jared Babcock; 1810—Lansom Hotchkiss.
First physician—1808—Dr. Archbald Farr.
First tavern—1808—Dr. Archbald Farr.
Other physicians—Jeremiah Whiting, John Collins.
No lawyer.
First school—log—1803—Sally Packard—Marcellus; log—1808—
Spafford Corners—Hannah Weston (Mrs. Roundy).
First grist mill—1808—Dr. Archibald Farr.
First saw mill—1810—Josiah Walker.
Census of 1845—1,977 persons; 14,560 acres of improved land.
LAFAYETTE.
Organized April, 1825.
Named for Marquis de La Fayette, the Frenchman who helped our
Colonies in Revolutionary times.
It was formed from parts of Pompey and Onondaga.
It contained 28,200 acres.
First settlers—1792—Comfort Rounds, Wm. Haskins, Solomon Owen;
1795, Calvin Cole, Ebenezer Hill, Isaac Conklin.
Isaac and Elias Conklin built the first mills—1798.
First town meeting—March, 1826—LaFayette Square.
First supervisor—Charles Jackson.
First town clerk—Johnson Hall.
First frame house—1800—Jeremiah Gould.
First tavern—A Mr. Cheeny. (Orange King later had a tavern with
the sign O. King.)
First surveyor—Col. Olcott.
First merchants—Messrs. Rice & Hill—1802-1803.
First Physicians—Dr. Silas Park. His patients were from Liverpool,
Onondaga, Skaneateles.
First tavern—“Temperance House”—Stoughton Morse.
The rocks abound with lime, shells of Diluviari Age.
Census of 1845—2,527 persons; 737 acres of cultivated land.
21CLAY.
Part of Cicero.
Organized in 1827.
Named in honor of Henry Clay, distinguished statesman.
First settlers of Clay—then Lysander—Patrick McGee, 1793; Adam
Coon, 1798; Simeon Baker, 1799; James Little, Belgium, 1828; Jahheth
Kinne, first frame house, 1825.
First town meeting—April, 1827.
Supervisor—Andrew Johnson.
Town clerk—Jacob Terrel.
First postoffice—1825—Postmasters, Nathan Teall, William Hale,
James Little.
First school—log—Clay Corners—1808—Teacher, A. Mr. Hall.
First school—frame—Clay—1812—Teacher, Moses Kinne.
At Belgium Village—4 houses in 1827.
Early settlers—James Little, Henry McMechan, Oliver Bigsbee, Gar-
nett Sweet.
Stores—Dr. Adams, Jefferson Freeman.
Physicians—Dr. Olcott, Church, A. P. Adams, McKinley.
No lawyers.
First saw mill—Abraham Young.
The bridge across Seneca River erected in 1824. J. L. Voorhees fin-
ished it in 1843. It was a toll bridge.
Census of 1845—2,789 persons; 12,776 acres of improved land.
ELBRIDGE.
Organized in 1829. Part of Camillus. Named for Elbridge Gerry,
signer of Declaration of Independence.
First settler—1793—Josiah Buck; 1794—Robert Fulton and James
Strong.
Colonel Chandler with an Indian doctor (Pichard) 1795.
First Blacksmith—1795—A Mr. Potter.
First saw mill—1795—Isaac Strong.
First grist mill—1798—Isaac Strong.
First store—1794—William Stevens.
First physician—Dr. John Frisbie—1797.
First frame house—1801—Levi Clark.
First tavern—1793—Josiah Buck (later Moses Carpenter).
First justice of peace—1794—William Stevens.
First town meeting—April, 1829—House of Horace Dodge.
Moderator—Squire Munro.
Secretary—Seneca Hale.
Supervisor—Timothy Brown.
Town clerk—James McClure.
Postoffice—1825—Seneca Hale, postmaster.
Newspaper—1831—Jordon—Entitled “Courier” by Fred Prince.
22First physician—1791—Dr. Holbrook.
First justice of peace—1791—John Youngs.
First supervisor—Zebulon Ostrom.
First town clerk—William Eager.
First justices of peace—David Wilkins, Adam Harrowen and William
Eager.
First lawyer—William Eager.
Census of 1845—2,876 persons; 13,076 acres of improved land.
GEDDES.
Organized in 1848.
Included all that part of Salina west of Onondaga Lake not embraced
by Syracuse.
First settler—1793—James Geddes; 1799—Freeman Hughs (Hughes).
Freeman Hughs bored for salt, pumped brine, made barrels, packed
salt, inspected it for six years, was receiver of duties for 2 years, justice of
peace and man of affairs.
James Geddes abandoned salt springs and cultivated land to the west
of salt springs, Fairmount.
First frame house—1803—James Lamb.
First tavern—1803—James Lamb.
First school—1804.
First physician—Dr. Thayer.
First lawyers—E. W. Curtis and R. S. Orvis.
The opening of the Erie canal gave Geddes an impulse from a salt
village. It broadened into manufacturing interests.Elbridge Village—1794-5—Moses Carpenter, James Weisner, Squire
Munro, Ezra and John Brackett.
Squire Munro kept the first tavern.
Postoffice—1813—Gideon Wilcoxon, Postmaster.
Census of 1845—3,829 persons; 15,420 acres of improved land.
VAN BUREN.
Organized in 1829.
Northern part of Camillus.
Named for Martin Van Buren—then governor of New York state.
First settlement was at Ionia in 1808.
First frame house—Phineas Bates.
Settlers-^-Isaac Earl and Charles Tull.
First postoffice—1816—Charles Tull, Postmaster.
After the Erie canal was completed, business was attracted there and
the prospects of Ionia were destroyed. Canton became the village.
First town meeting—March 26, 1829—House of Ebenezer Dunham.
Supervisor—Gabriel Tappan.
First town clerk—Abel Try on.
First lawyer—1818—Theodore Popell.
First physician—1815—Jonathan S. Buell.
Census 1845—3,057 persons.
DEWITT.
Organized in 1835.
Originally part of Manlius.
Named after Moses Dewitt.
First settler—Benjamin Morehouse—April, 1789. Opened tavern—
1790—3% miles west of present Manlius Village.
First white child born in Dewitt and second in Onondaga county—
Sarah Morehouse—February, 1790.
Early settlers—Moses Dewitt, Daniel Keeler, Dr. Holbrook, Jeremiah
Jackson, William Bends, Stephen Angel, Stephen Hungerford, Caleb
Northrup.
Sinai afterwards named Jamesville—1790,
First frame house—1797—Jeremiah Jackson.
First blacksmith’s shop—1797—Joseph Purdy.
First distiller and brewery—1798—Matthew Dumfrie.
First saw mill—1795—Oliver Owen.
First tavern—Jamesville—1804—A Mr. Trowbridge.
Afterwards—1806—by David Olmsted—Just west of Utica.
First grist mill—1803—Benjamin Sanford.
First iron and woolen mill—1809—Stephen Hungerford.
First postoffice—1809—Thomas Rose.
First school—1795—Teachers—Polly Hibbard and Susan Ward.
23