121 
 
 li 
 
; 
 
 Ibistorical Hbbress 
 
 Deliv>ere^ b^ Die^ricb Millers, ot IDaiick, 
 3unc 13, 1894, at tbe 
 
 Centennial Celebration 
 
 ®f tbc iS)fficial ©roauisation of tbe JLomx ot 
 IRonuUus, m. jJ). 
 
F 
 
 \ 
 
 GENEVA, N. Y., 
 COURIER JOB DEPARTMENT, 
 
 ,894. 
 
Historical Address delivered by Diedrich Willers, of Varick, at the Centennial 
 Celebration of the Official Organization of the Town of Romulus, N. Y. 
 
 Mr. President, Ladies and Ge^itlemen : 
 
 It is characteristic of the American people to pause at inter- 
 vals in the progress of time, and review the events of the past. 
 
 A little more than a year ago, (May ist, 1893), there opened 
 in the city of Chicago, Illinois, a grand Exposition or World's fair, 
 in commemoration of the four hundredth anniversary of the dis- 
 covery of America by Christopher Columbus. 
 
 The Columbian fair was visited and patronized during a pe- 
 iod of six months, not alone by the American people, but by rep- 
 esentatives as well, of nearly all the civilized and enlightened 
 .ations of the world, and even some from half civilized and bar- 
 •arous countries — all vied with each other, in bestowing honors 
 ..pon the great discoverer — who, while living, had not always 
 eceived his meiited reward and due recognition from the sover- 
 igns under whose auspices he served. 
 
 An eminent English historian, speaking of the commemora- 
 
 lon of a prominent event, occuring centuries ago, remarked : 
 
 ' That a people which take no pride in the noble achievements of 
 
 heir ancestors, will never achieve anything worthy to be remem- 
 
 oered with pride by their descendants. ' ' 
 
 It has been well said — that "it is the province of history, to 
 rescue virtuous deeds from the oblivion, to which a want of 
 records would consign them. " 
 
 The people of the present town of Romulus, and of the town 
 of Varick, the youngest child of old Romulus, have to-day assem- 
 bled, to commemorate an important historical epoch in the history 
 of the town— which one hundred years ago was organized by act 
 of the legislature of this State, at the same time, when the county 
 of Onondaga was formed — the centennial of which was last week 
 fittingly observed in the city of Syracuse. 
 
 In my remarks, I will in the main, include what I have to 
 say of Varick, with the town of Romulus. 
 
 It is not my purpose in reviewing the past, to attempt to 
 produce the unwritten history of the period prior to occupation by 
 the white man. 
 
CKNTENNIAL OF ROMULUB. 
 
 At the time of General John SuUivan's campaign against the 
 Indians in New York, during the Revolutionary conflict, the terri- 
 tory between Cayuga and Seneca lakes was inhabited chiefly by 
 the Cayuga Tribe of Indians — the line of division between the 
 Cayugas and Senecas, being as believed, the east shore of Seneca 
 lake and northward from the lake to Ontario lake, following sub- 
 stantially the locality of the new Pre-emption line. 
 
 These two tribes, with the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onon- 
 dagas and Tuscaroras, formed the confederacy known as the Six 
 Nations or Iroquois Indians — of which it has been said — that their 
 organization and form of government, have been the wonder and 
 admiration of scholars and statesmen of all nations. 
 
 It is an interesting and creditable fact, and worthy of notice, 
 that the earliest white visitors in this locality, were prompted in 
 making their visitations, not by hope of gain, but to christianize 
 and ameliorate the condition of the Red man of the forest. I re- 
 fer to the Jesuit missionaries who visited the Cayuga Indians as 
 early as 1656, and established a mission near Savannah (now in 
 Wayne county) in the territory of old Romulus, about 1670. 
 
 The Moravian missionaries, Cammerhoff and Zeisberger, in 
 June, 1750, also visited the Cayugas and passed through our terri- 
 tory in going westward to meet the Senecas, on a mission of peace 
 and bearing the gospel message to them. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Kirkland, the self-denying missionary to the In- 
 dians, who visited Geneva in 1765, and resided there -with the 
 Senecas more than a year, also officiated during that period within 
 our bounds. 
 
 During the dark days of Indian warfare in the Wyoming Val- 
 ley, Pa., preceding the Sullivan expedition, L,uke Swetland was 
 captured by the Indians, August 24th, 1778, and taken in captiv- 
 ity to the Indian village of Kendaia, in the bounds of the town of 
 Romulus, where he remained until released by General John 
 SuUivan's army, September 5th, 1779. His interesting Narrative 
 of his captivity and residence of one year and two days at Kendaia, 
 published a number of years ago, forms an entertaing chapter in 
 the history of Romulus. 
 
 In this Narrative, Mr. Swetland alludes to the fact that late 
 in the fall of 1778, he s6wed one quart of wheat— the first wheat 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 doubtless sowed by a white man in this county. - The spirit of 
 resio-nationtohisfate, andthe trust in Divine protection which 
 pervades his narration, as also the mention made of days specially 
 sH apart by him for private meditation and prayer, are indeed very 
 pathetic Mr. Swetland returned with the army to Pennsylvama, 
 where he died at Wyoming Village, January 30, 1S23, aged 93 
 
 years. 
 
 The army of General Sulh van upon its march northwest to 
 
 th- Gen-see river, reached our town, on Sunday, September 5th, 
 1799 A halt of one day was made at Kendaia village, situated 
 one-half mile east from Seneca lake, about two miles south of the 
 present railway station and modern village called Kendaia, upon 
 lands now owned by Edward Van Vleet, upon Mihtary Lot, 
 number seventy-nine, called also by the army, Appletown. The 
 villao-e at that time, consisted of twenty or more houses of hewn 
 loo-s"with roofs thatched with the bark of trees, and some of the 
 hocuses were painted. Kendaia was evidently an old and import- 
 ant town, as the superior style and condition ofits houses indicated, 
 and here,' too, were found tombs of Indian warriors. At this 
 village, the army found an apple orchard of about sixty trees, with 
 peach trees and other fruit. 
 
 When the army marched from Kendaia on the following day, 
 (September 6th), the village was left in ashes. A march of only 
 three miles northward was made that day, to a ravine sometimes 
 called Indian Hollow, at or near the present Varick line. 
 Leaving this camp early on the morning of September 7th, a 
 march of eight miles northward, along or near the lake shore, to 
 the outlet of Seneca lake, was made, and Kanadesaga (Geneva) 
 being reached, the army again halted. 
 
 On the return of the army from the Genesee river, the main 
 army returned through the territory of Romulus, September 20th, 
 2ist and 22d, over the same route as taken in the outward march, 
 encamping on the night of September 21st, two miles south of 
 Appletown. 
 
 While the main army was at Geneva, several detachments 
 were sent out to destroy Indian viUages-Skoiyase having already 
 been destroved September Sth. One of these detachments under 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 command of Colonel Henry Dearborn, marched southward upon 
 the west side of Cayuga lake, starting on September 21st, and on 
 September 22d, 1779, destroyed the Indian village Swah-ya- 
 wa-nah, on Military Lot number 71, (on the farm now owned by 
 Edward R. Dean), in Romulus. This detachment encamped on the 
 nights of September 21st and 22d, in the territory of Romulus and 
 rejoined the main army near Newtown, (now Elmira), September 
 26th. All the journals of the Sullivan expedition, speak in the 
 strongest possible terms, of the rich fields of corn, the abundance 
 of fruit trees, melons, and vegetables, which were found and either 
 used or destroyed, as a punishment for the barbarities inflicted 
 upon the white settlements by the Indians. 
 
 A number of the early settlers of Romulus, suffered Indian 
 captivity, during or after the Revolutionary war, among whom 
 may be mentioned Joseph Wyckoff and Kezia Force, the lady 
 who afterward became his wife ; also Andrew McKnight and Mrs. 
 Mary Swarthout, wife of John Swarthout. 
 
 It is not, however, necessary to follow further, the army of 
 General Sullivan, which so severely punished the Indians,— 
 the management of which campaign was accorded the approval of 
 General George Washington and the Continental Congress. 
 
 The war of the Revolution terminated in 1783, and the sol- 
 diers of the army returning to their homes— some of them, who 
 had accompanied General Sullivan, with pleasant recollections of 
 the picturesque lakes and fertile soil of western New York. 
 
 Soon after the close of the war, the State of New York, by 
 treaties with the Onondaga and Cayuga Indian tribes, acquired 
 title in 1788 and 1789, (February 25th) to a large area of land 
 lying east of Seneca lake and extending north to Lake Ontario, 
 which was laid out into 28 townships of 100 lots of 600 acres 
 each— known as the "Military townships," which were set apart 
 as bounty lands to New York soldiers of the Revolutionary war, 
 to fulfill promises made to them for their patriotic services. After 
 many delays, the military townships were surveyed in 1790, under 
 direction of Surveyor General Simeon De Witt, who became a 
 resident of Ithaca afterwards— the township of Romulus, (No. 1 1 ) 
 having been surveyed, by Benjamin Dey and others— and patents 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 were issued by the State, to soldiers, for the same, in July, 1790. 
 
 Man)' of the bra\'e soldiers had, however, become wearied 
 with long waiting for action by the State, and had sold or trans- 
 ferred their titles, for a mere song, so to speak, and much con- 
 fusion in titles afterwards occurring, the same were passed upon 
 and settled by a State commission, appointed under Chapter 51, 
 Laws of 1797, known as the " Onondaga Commissioners. " Com- 
 paratively few of the old soldiers became actual .settlers upon the 
 Military tract, which was on March 5th, 1794, organized as the 
 county of Onondaga, (by Chap. 18, laws of that year) with Rom- 
 ulus, Ovid and Uly.s.ses, (all afterwards towns of Seneca county) 
 among the towais thereof. 
 
 The names of the Military to wn.ships given them by the State 
 Commissioners of the L,and Office, July 3, 1790, are chiefly drawn 
 from Grecian and Roman history, and our town of Romulus, bears 
 the name of the founder of ancient Rome, of whom we are in- 
 formed ])y legend, that with his brother, he was in early childhood, 
 for a time, nourished by a mother wolf.* 
 
 The Military town.ship of Romulus, as mapped, contained 100 
 lots of 600 acres each, beginning at the northeast corner of Seneca 
 lake and bounded north by Seneca river, west by the county line 
 on the west shore of Seneca lake, south by Ovid, and east by the 
 county line in Cayuga lake and the West Cayuga Reservation; o[ 
 which Military lots, a part— Nos. 0, 7, 8 and q, are now in the 
 town of Seneca Kails — lots i to 5 and 10 to 42, in the town of 
 Fayette — lots 43 to 63 and the north part of lot 69, in the town o^ 
 \'arick, and the rest of the lots, from 64 to 100, including the 
 south part of Lot 6g, in the town of Romulus. 
 
 The chain of settlement of this locality by civil jurisdiction 
 westward from Albany county, being by erection of new counties, 
 first Montgomery (1772), then Herkimer (F'eb. 16, 1791), then 
 Onondaga, then Cayuga, and at last Seneca count}^, March 24th, 
 1804. The town of Romulus comes by succession from the old 
 town of Whitestown, once embracing the greater part of central 
 
 * A photograph of statuary in the capitol of ancient Rome, rcjjrcscnt- 
 iiig the wolf suckhng Romulus and Rcnuis, hung upon tlic platform on 
 the day of the centennial celebration. 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULU.S. 
 
 and western New York and the town of Peru, incorporated in 
 1792, and abolished in 1794, when Onondaga county was erected. 
 
 When the town of Romulus was incorporated b}- the Legis- 
 lature in 1794, its boundaries were described b}' the Onondaga 
 county act; as follows; " All that part of said count}', comprehend- 
 ing the Toivnships of Romulus, Junius and Galen, together with 
 the lands lying west of the townships of Hannibal and Cato, north 
 of the said township of Galen and south of Lake Ontario, as also 
 all that part of the lands reserved to the Cayuga nation of Indians, 
 l}ing on the west side of Cayuga lake — shall be and is erected into 
 a loioi by the name of Romulus." 
 
 The area of the toiuji of Romulus it will be seen, compristvl 
 the three Military townships of Romulus, Junius and Galen of 
 60,000 acres of land each, a considerable portion of the Military 
 township of Sterling, the Williamson Compensation Patent, etc., 
 comprehended within the territory lying north of Galen township 
 and between the same and lake Ontario, about 80,000 acres— and 
 also the West Cayuga Indian Reservation now in Varick, Fayette 
 and Seneca Falls, laid out into 84 lots aggregating 19,566 acres, 
 which by treaty with the Cayugas at Cayuga Ferry, July 27th, 
 1795, became the property of the State, .and the Canoga and 
 Skoiyase Reservations of 600 acres each. The total area of Rom- 
 ulus from March 5th, 1794, to March 14th, 1800 — when the town 
 of Fayette (Washington) was erected — covered fully 280,000 acres, 
 of which 140,000 acres are now in vSeneca county, and the other 
 one half in Wayne county — a stretch of magnificent countr}' with 
 rich and fertile soil, extending at least forty-five miles from Ovid 
 at the south to Lake Ontario at the north, with a width of from 
 ten to fifteen miles. The west boundary, from Seneca lake north- 
 ward to Ontario lake, followed the new Pre-emption line. The 
 area of the original Romulus, as here given, does not include an>- 
 part of the waters of Lake Ontario. The north bounds of old 
 Romulus were the north bounds of this State, formed by the line 
 between Canada and the United States. 
 
 The original territory includes seven townsof Seneca count}' — 
 Romulus, Varick, Fayette, Junius, Waterloo, Seneca Falls and 
 Tyre — and the towns of Galen, Savannah, Wolcott, Butler, Rose 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 and Huron in Wayne county. This large area, comprising a tract 
 of land nearly, one-half as large as one of the small States of the 
 Union, now has a population of 36,400 of whom 20,700 reside in 
 Seneca county, including fully three-fourths of the population of 
 this count}-. (See abstract of patents in Appendix A). 
 
 It is sad to think, that the once powerful Cayuga tribe of In- 
 dians, does not to-day own a foot of the soil of this State— while 
 only the Onondaga, Oneida and Tuscarora tribes of the Six Na- 
 tions still hold small reservations of land in this State, under their 
 own names. The Senecas, once the most populous and warlike of 
 the tribes of the Six Nations, now live, indeed, upon State reser- 
 vations, which however.no longer bear their name. 
 
 In the legislative records of this State,, may be found a peti- 
 tion for relief, from some of the early pioneer settlers l)etween 
 Cayuga and Seneca lakes, in which they set forth, that they made 
 settlements upon the Mihtary Tract, then unallotted, in the year 
 1788, six years before the organization of the town of Romulus. 
 (See copy of Petition, in Appendix). 
 
 The names of David Wisner, Anthony, John and Nathaniel 
 Swarthout and David Depue, are included in the petition, and 
 they may undoubtedly be regarded as the earliest settlers, within 
 the territory of the present town of Romulus. The Swarthouts 
 located on Military I^ot 94, David Wisner on I^ot 95, and David 
 Depue near the center of the town. 
 
 The names of James Cooley and James King, also appear in 
 the Petition, but their places of location cannot be ascertained, and 
 it may possi1)ly have been in the Varick part of the town. 
 
 The earliest permanent settlements were made along the 
 west shore of the town, along or near Seneca Lake, with a few 
 settlements along Cayuga lake, on Military Lots 71 and 7S. 
 
 In 1789 (the year in which the machinery of the government 
 of the United States under its Constitution, was set in motion, and 
 George Washington was inaugurated as the finst President) and 
 from year to year, up to the official organization of the town in 
 1794, there were gradual additions made to the pioneer settlers, 
 from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Orange and other eastern 
 counties of this State, Long Island, .S:c. Among the settlers dur- 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 ing this period, may be mentioned Abraham Brown, John Flem- 
 ing, James Finch, James Alexander, Alia McMath, Stephen Mil- 
 ler. Benjamin Sntton, James McKnight, WiUiam Seely, Benajah 
 Boardman, William Winter, Timothy Cone and Captain Andrew 
 Smith, some of whom have no descendants now left in the town. 
 
 Early in the year of organization, 1794, came John Sayre and 
 Haynes Bartlett. The first named, settled on I^ot 72 and the 
 latter located a farm on Lot 65 near Seneca lake, which has been 
 in possession of his descendants to this date, and his grandson, our 
 presiding officer to-day, now lives upon the spot where his grand- 
 father first located. In the interval from 1794 to 1800, large ac- 
 cessions were made to the population of the town, of whom a few 
 pioneers will be named: 
 
 Isaac Johnson, Joseph Wyckoff, Klijali and Ephraim Kinne, 
 Joseph Hunt, Thomas Blain, Jonas Seely, Joshua Hallock, Capt. 
 Aliel Frisbie, Bastian Williams, E/.ekiel Hays, John Stone, Sam- 
 uel Waldron, Asa Smith, with the Huff, Bainbridge, Bailey, 
 F'inton, Denton, Yerkes, Shattuck and Brewster families. 
 
 In that part of Romulus now^ in Varick, the permanent set- 
 tlement began it is believed a year or two later. Benjamin Dey 
 who surveyed the militar}' tract in 1790, became an owner of 
 several lots therein and it is supposed, located upon Militar}- Eot 
 49, in 1791 or 1792, having erected the first frame house in town, 
 already in 1794. Other early settlers in the territory of Varick, 
 prior to 1800, were James Cooley, Peter Basuni, Jacob Eowden, 
 Frederick Kistler, John King, Jr., James King, James Barr, 
 Joseph Haynes, Robert White, Andrew McKnight, James Ben- 
 nett, John Williams, Samuel Falkinburg, with the Hood, Hatha- 
 way, Beach, Karr and Woodruff families. 
 
 Soon after the opening of the present century, population 
 rapidly increased and more than doubled in the first decade. 
 Among the early settlers after 1800 may be mentioned: Dr. Ethan 
 Watson, Wm. W. Folwell, Mather Marvin, Ezra Miller, Ira Gid- 
 dings, Jared Van Vleet, and the Baldridge, Bryant, Hayt, Sharp, 
 Coe, Gurnee, Doremus, McEafferty, Warne, Van Duyn, Marsh, 
 Terhuneand Burton families in Romulus and David Harris, William 
 Blain, James Moinoe, vSkillman Dought},-, Joseph Darrow, Jeptha 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 Wade, David Edwards, and the I^emmon, Jacobus, Steele, Bur- 
 roughs, Christopher, Roberts, Crane, King, Wilcox, Kinkley, 
 Kmens, Allen, Abbott, vSauiple, Hunt, Ayres, I^udlum, Mann, Ani- 
 ))rose, and McDuffee families, in the Varick portion of the town. 
 
 Beginning with the early j'ears of the century and indeed dur- 
 ing the first quarter thereof, there were large additions made to the 
 population of Romulus (chiefly in the part thereof in Varick) of 
 families of Pennsylvania-Germans of the name Gambee, Frantz, 
 Gamber, Kuney, lyeisenring, Fatzinger, Pontius, Goodman, Erns- 
 berger. vStahl, Lautenschlager, Crobaugh, Blasser, Deal, Ritter, 
 Acker, L,erch, Yost, Braun, Miller and Bergstre.sser, forming with 
 their descendants, a valuable accession to the population. 
 
 With such an admixture of sturdy settlers, as the vScotch, Irish 
 and Germans of Pennsylvania, the Dutch of New Jerse}' and Eong 
 Island, with a sprinkling of Yankees — the early population was 
 made up — and the characteristics of their descendants have been 
 maintained, as those of a frugal, industrious, hospitable, conserva- 
 tive and reliable people — not subject to frequent fluctuations and 
 changes, but cautious, stable and trustworthy in all the relations 
 of life, public and private. 
 
 I will not forget to give credit here, and honor due, to the 
 many patriots of the Revolutionary war, who settled in Romulus 
 — an important element in its make up, being constituted b}" this 
 sturdy, patriotic people, many of whose descendants now inhabit 
 the town. I regret, that I cannot present a full roster, containing 
 their names 
 
 Well may it be said of many of these Revolutionar}- fathers : 
 
 " They left the ploughshare in the mould, 
 
 Their flocks and herds without a fold, 
 
 The sickle in the unshorn grain. 
 
 The corn, half garnered on the plain. 
 
 And mustered in their .simple dress. 
 
 For wrongs to .seek a stern redress, 
 
 To right those wrongs, come weal, come woe. 
 
 To perish, or o'ercome the foe." 
 
 It is difficult in the absence of any sytem of registration, to 
 give with accuracy, a .satisfactory account of the early births, mar- 
 riages and deaths iu Romulus, prior to say 1800. 
 
CENTENNIAL OP ROMULUS. 
 
 It is belie\'ecl that the first female child of the pioneer settlers, 
 born in town, was Elcy Fleming, daughter of John Fleming, born 
 Jul}' 21, 1 791, and the first male child, George Alexander, a son 
 of James, born March 10, in the same year. Other early births 
 were those of Stephen R. Miller in 1792, Kliza Sutton and Samuel 
 Fleming in 1793, Arazina Cone, in 1794, Kezia Bartlett, in 1795 
 and Kliza Sayre in 1796. John Williams, born in 1796, it is be- 
 lieved, was the first child born upon the West Cayuga Reserv^ation 
 along Ca}'uga lake, in the town of Varick. A daughter and a son of 
 Benajah Boardman, born in 1791 and 1793 respectively, in this 
 county, should, it is believed, be added to this list. 
 
 Information as to earl}' marriages, is very meagre. The lack 
 of local clergy, perhaps led to postponments, and certainly did not 
 tend to promote marriages. The first marriage of which we have 
 knowledge, was that of Timothy Cone and Mary Gorham, daugh- 
 ter of Jabez Gorham, in 1793. The marriage of Elizabeth Mc- 
 Math to Mahlon Bainl^ridge, took place Dec. 22, 1796. Other 
 early marriages were those of Elijah Kinne and Hester Wisner, in 
 1797, Fvliphalet Shattuck and Jane Wiley and John Stone and 
 Philinda Shattuck in 1798, and of Isaac Johnson and Mary Thurs- 
 ton in 1799. 
 
 Many early burials were made in private famil}- burial 
 grounds, at an early day, and headstones in the old cemetery at 
 Willard, formerly Eancaster, date back to 1795. There were also 
 earl}^ interments at the Romulus Baptist church cemetery and in 
 the cemetery at Romulus village, commencing early in this cen- 
 tury. 
 
 Tlie first death in town of which any trace has been obtained, 
 is that of Jesse Fleming, April 29, 1795. Margaret McMath 
 died in July of the same year, aged 2 1 years, and Archibald Mc- 
 Math on September, 1796, aged 18 years. Joshua Reeves, a pio- 
 neer settler died in 1797, and his will was proven by the surrogate 
 of Onondaga County, before the erection of Cayuga count}-. 
 
 Other deaths of prominent pioneer settlers in the earl}- history 
 of the town, were tho.se of John Fleming in 1800, Wm. Seeley in 
 1803, Alia McMath in 1804, James Alexander in 1805 and James 
 McKnight in 1808. 
 
CENTENNIAL OF i«L)MULUS. 
 
 The histor}^ of Romulus gives many instances of longevity, 
 to which its salubrious air, from its location between the lakes, 
 and the occupation and simple habits of its people, have doubtless 
 contributed. 
 
 A notaljle instance may Ije mentioned in the person of Mrs. 
 Arazina Cone Fleming — a daughter of Timothy Cone and his wife 
 Mary Gorham. vShe was born in Romulus, October 9, 1794, and 
 her husband, Robert Fleming, an estimable citizen, to whom she 
 was married Dec. 7, 1826,' died in the town, Feby. 3, 185S. 
 
 It was my pleasure, a few days ago, to see and con\'erse with 
 Mrs. Fleming, who resides at South Waterloo, in this county, 
 upon the territory of the military township of Romulus. I found 
 her bright and cheerful, with faculties very little impaired, and 
 l)Ut for an accident which befell her some months ago, she would 
 be present with us to-day, (as she is in spirit), to celebrate her 
 own centennial, as well as that of the town of her Ijirth. Were 
 she here, what a remarkable reminder of the e\'ents of a centur}- 
 past, would she present to us ! In her absence, she sends cor- 
 dial greetings, and salutations to the old town of Romulus.* All 
 honor to the w-orthy centennarian ! 
 
 The earliest families removing here from Pennsylvania, by 
 primitive conveyance by water and on land, in the covered Penn- 
 sylvania wagons, described by someone, as the "ark" or "ship of 
 our inland commerce, " usually came to Newtown (Elmira) and 
 thence to the head of Seneca or Cayuga lake, or came the entire 
 way by wagon. 
 
 Others coming from Long Island and the Eastern States, 
 came by flat boats or bateaux, up the Hudson and Mohawk rivers, 
 crossing by portage to Wood Creek and Oneida lake to Seneca 
 river, and ascending the same to the foot of Cayuga or Seneca 
 lake. 
 
 It would, indeed be curious to know, what kind of craft was 
 employed upon our lakes in those days, by our pioneers ; perhaps 
 a primitive flat-boat or dug out canoe. 
 
 * At this stage of the address the entire audience arose, in honor of 
 Mrs. Fleming, and in recognition and acknowledgment of her sakitation. 
 
14 CENTHNNfe-L OF ROMULUS. 
 
 The Documentary History of the State of New York, makes 
 mention, however, that in 1792, a small boat and canoe were ply- 
 ing at the foot of Seneca lake, and at Geneva, in 1796, a sailing 
 sloop of forty tons burthen was launched upon the same lake, for 
 freighting purposes. 
 
 Elkanah Watson of Albany, N. Y., who was an early pur- 
 chaser of soldier's titles to lands in the military township of Rom- 
 ulus, visited here in September 1791, crossing Cayuga lake at the 
 Cayuga ferry, in a boat, in which he came up the Mohawk river 
 and by portage to Seneca river and up the same to Cayuga lake. 
 He mentions that he sailed northward to Seneca river, and passed 
 up the same to Geneva, having been assisted in passing Seneca 
 Falls by Job Smith, then located there, at the carrying plac? 
 around the Falls! 
 
 Mr. Watson in the published journal of his tour, of 1791, in 
 speaking of Cayuga lake, says "I was delighted on entering this 
 charming lake. The shores on each side swell into gentle emi- 
 nences ; but our view south was obstructed b}' a point of land pro- 
 jecting from each shore." 
 
 In his journal under date of Sep. 29, 1791, he speaks of his 
 approach by Seneca river to Seneca lake, on the exening of that 
 day, in this eloquent and prophetic language — "The sun was just 
 setting as we entered the lake, which opened upon us like a new 
 creation rising to our view in picturesque and romantic beauty. 
 Our prospect extended south, over a bold sheet of water. The 
 tops of the hills and trees were just tinged with the rays of the de- 
 parting sun ; the evening was serene ; and ni}' mind involuntarily 
 expanded, in anticipating the time when the borders of the lake 
 will be stripped of nature's livery, and in its place will be rich en- 
 closures, pleasant villas, numerous flocks, herds, etc., and it will 
 be inhabited by a happy race of people, enjoying the rich fruits of 
 their own labors and the luxury of sweet liberty and indepen- 
 dence, approaching to a millennial state." 
 
 Mr. Watson, adds in his journal, that on the day following 
 — September 21, 1891, he re-embarked and traversed the lake 
 obliquely to Appletown, (where his relatives the late Dr. Ethan 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 1 5 
 
 Watson, settled about fifteen years afterward) eleven miles by his 
 water route from Geneva. Arriving at Appletown, he says, — 
 "We pitched our tent on a fine tract of land. It contains exten- 
 sive orchards of scattered old trees, the onl>' fruit trees of the 
 country. Here Sullivan's conquering army wreaked its ven- 
 geance, by destroying orchards, corn, wigwams, &c. Many of the 
 trees are girdled; and marks of the -destroj'ing axe of the soldiers- 
 are yet to be seen in every direction." Ur. Watson returned 
 Sept. 23d, overland from Appletown, by an Indian path, to 
 Cayuga ferry, a distance of seventeen miles. 
 
 My audience will pardon me, if I give further extracts from 
 Mr. Watson's journal of 1791, descriptive of the charming lakes 
 which wash re.spectively, the east and west shores of our town. 
 
 On Sept. 24th, he .started up Cayuga lake, by boat. He says : 
 ' ' We landed occasionally ; noticed distant smoke and here and 
 there a log hut embosomed in the venerable forest. In the south- 
 we.st quarter, the township of Ovid made its appearance. It rises 
 beautifully from the shore toward the centre. The tops of the 
 trees resemble waving fields of wheat, at a distance . The map of the 
 world does not exhibit, in an}- other country, two lakes equal in 
 magnitude to the Seneca and Cayuga, so .singularly and happily 
 situated. What a fertile theme for poets, painters, philosophers and 
 travelers, for the last two thousand years, had they been found 
 in Italy! " 
 
 Speaking of the country between the lakes, Mr. Watson 
 adds : "In general, except toward the .south, the country lying 
 between these beautiful lakes, rises gradually in .symmetry from 
 the opposite shores toward the centre, producing a pleasing effect. 
 Whenever it reaches a cultivated state, by the vigorous arm of 
 freemen, it will become the 'Paradise of America.' Nothing can 
 exceed the beauty of the country on the west shore of Cayuga 
 lake, viewed at about five miles from its entrance, including both 
 the Cayuga Reservation and the town of Ovid, which bear a strong 
 resemblance to the west shore of Seneca lake. The tops of the 
 trees were in beautiful uniformity, the symmetry being in no 
 manner broken bv hills of great magnitude, except in one place, 
 
l6 CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUvS. 
 
 where there is a sniall ckister of white pines, overlooking all the 
 adjacent regions." 
 
 Mr. Watson concludes his glowing description with this elo- 
 quent peroration : "In a word, I almost deplored the short span 
 of human life, that I cannot witness the happiness of those blessed 
 generations of Americans, yet unl)orn, who are destined to inherit 
 these delightful regions. " 
 
 It will not detract from Mr. Watson's really poetic prose 
 description, if we quote the lines of a poem addressed to Seneca 
 lake, and applicable as well to Caj'uga : 
 
 "On thy fair bosom, silver lake. 
 The wild swan spreads his snowy sail. 
 
 And round his l^reast the ripples break, 
 As down he bears before the gale." 
 
 "On thy fair bosom, waveless stream. 
 
 The dipping paddle echoes far. 
 And flashes in the moonlight gleam, 
 
 And bright reflects the polar star. 
 
 "The waves along the pebly shore, 
 
 As blows the north wind, heave their foam. 
 
 And curl around the dashing oar. 
 As late the boatman hies him home. 
 
 "How sweet, at set of sun to view. 
 
 Thy golden mirror spreading wide. 
 And .see the mist of mantling blue 
 
 Float round the distant mountain's side ! 
 
 "At midnight hour, as shines the moon, 
 
 A .sheet of silver}^ spreads below. 
 And swift .she cuts, at highest noon, 
 
 lyight clouds, like wreaths of purest snow. 
 
 "On thy fair bosom, silver lake, 
 
 O ! I could ever sweep the oar. 
 When early birds at morning wake, 
 
 And evening tells us toil is o'er." 
 
 — Pejxival. 
 
 Mr. Watson again visited Seneca county in iSiS, as the guest 
 of Colonel Wilhelmus Mynderse of Seneca Falls, and then already 
 witnes.sed many marvelous changes — notably the opening of canal 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMUi.U.S. 
 
 locks at that village, at the time of his visit. He died at Port 
 Kent, N. Y., December 5th, 1842, aged 85 years. 
 
 The Civil History of Romulus may be properly divided into 
 three periods : 
 
 1. From its organization in 1794 to its first division, March 
 
 14, 1800. 
 
 2. From March 1800 to February 6, 1830. 
 
 3. From February 1830, to the present time. 
 
 The act of 1794, erecting the town of Romulus, provided for 
 holding the first town meeting at the house of Benajah Boardman, 
 and we must suppose that it was accordingly held there. 
 
 It has been well said, in substance, that the town meeting is 
 deserving of especial consideration, since here are, or should be, 
 practiced, pure Democratic— Republican methods. Here all meet 
 on the same level. Here is free speech, without fear or favor. 
 The people of the town meet once a year, to confer together for 
 the general good, to discuss questions affecting taxation, the pub- 
 lic schools, roads and bridges, the support of the poor and the 
 election of town officers. 
 
 The first town meeting held in town, April i, 1794, elected 
 as its chief officer— Supervisor, Benajah Boardman, and WiUiam 
 Winter as Town Clerk and the town records have, it is gratifying 
 to say, been preserved complete to this date. At the election of 
 1794, there were also elected three Assessors, three Highway 
 Commissioners, two Overseers of poor, two constables, two pound 
 keepers, two fence viewers, a Collector and five Overseers of 
 Highways. 
 
 Mr. Boardman was re-elected Supervisor in 1795, at a town 
 meeting held at James McKnight's, (on the shore of Seneca I^ake, 
 where C. C. Pontius now resides), and again in 1796. 
 
 The following facts have been gathered as to his life : 
 
 Benajah Boardman was born at Newington, to wni of Wethers- 
 field, Connecticut, May 14, 1749- He was twice married and was 
 the father of nine children. 
 
CEXTEXXIAI. OF ROMULUS. 
 
 He removed to Xewtowu (Elmira; at an earh" da}', where 
 one of his daughters was born, April 17, 17S9. Soon afterward he 
 removed to Ovid or its vicinit}-, where he was interested in a 
 primitive grist mill, one of the first in the count}', erected in 1793, 
 on Lot Xurhber Two, Ovid, a little west of Ovid Village. One 
 of his daughters, Luc}-, was there born, November 23, 1791, and 
 a son, Benajah, his }'Oungest child, was also born there, October 
 14, 1793- 
 
 The exact localit}- of Mr. Boardman's first residence in Rom- 
 ulus, can not now be positively ascertained, and it is possible, that 
 his re.sidence, attributed to the town of Ovid, was all the time 
 across the line in Romulus, or upon Lot Number 72, which he 
 purchased as earl\- as September, 1790. He is known later on, to 
 have resided at Boardmansburgh, near the center of the present 
 town of Fayette and several 3-ears after the erection of that town, 
 was elected its Supervisor, in 1803. He also served manj- jears 
 as a magistrate and was alwajs an active and enterprising citizen. 
 Late in life, he removed from the Burgh to a farm north of 
 Canoga \'illage, and near Ca3-uga lake, in the town of Fajette, 
 where he died after a brief illness from a prevailing disease known 
 at the time as "The Epidemic" (and which at first baffled the skill 
 of ph3-sicians) February- 27, 1813, aged sixty-four 3ears. He was 
 buried in the cemeter3- at the Burgh, near where he had long re- 
 sided, and it is to be regretted, that no head stone marks the place 
 of his interment. 
 
 At the town meeting held April 4, 1797, George Bailey was 
 elected Supervisor, and he was re-elected as such in 1 79S and 
 1799. In the latter year, the count3' of Ca3'uga was erected, 
 (Chapter 26, Laws of 1799) and Romulus became a town of that 
 count3'. The number of overseers of highwa3's had increased from 
 five in 1794, to seventeen, in 1799, showing marked attention to 
 the laying out and improvement of the public roads. 
 
 The inimen.se territorial area of Romulus was divided b}- the 
 Legislature, by Chapter 24, pa-ised March 14, 1800, and the 
 town of Washington, (Fayette), was formed therefrom, which 
 included all of the territor}- of Romulus north of the present town 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. I9 
 
 of Varick. In 1803, Feb}-. 12, by Chapter Seven, Laws of that 
 year, the town of Junius was erected, comprising all the original 
 territory of Romulus, north of the present boundaries of Fa.vette. 
 
 During the period from 1794 to 1799, but few important ques- 
 tions were considered at the town meetings of Romulus. 
 
 In April, 1798, it was Resolved that William Brewster, Dan- 
 iel Sa3re and Benjamin Dey be a Committee to examine into the 
 state of the taxes which have been collected in this town previous 
 to town meeting," 
 
 The town meeting of 1797, voted a bounty of three pounds 
 (/ 3) for the scalp of each wolf killed in town, and in 1798 a 
 bounty of twenty shillings was voted for tlie scalp of each bear so 
 killed. The earh' settlers occasionally encountered wolves, 
 panthers and bears, and thrilling adventures and narrow escapes 
 are related, but the town records show no disbursements for wolf 
 or bear scalps. 
 
 The town meeting of 1799, voted in favor of dividing the 
 town, and George Baile\-, Benjamin Dey and Benajah Boardman. 
 were appointed a committee to determine where the line shall 
 run. 
 
 A special town meeting held Nov. 26, 1799, for the purpose 
 of choosing three delegates to meet a convention of Delegates in 
 the newly erected county of Cayuga, elected John Sayre, William 
 Brewster, and George Bailey. The same town meeting took the 
 unusual precaution, to elect James McKnight, Asa Smith, Walter 
 Watrous and Phineas Tuthill, a committee to give instructions to 
 such delegates to Cayuga. 
 
 The town meeting from year to 3-ear, also adopted resolutions 
 declaring swine to be free commoners. Pound Masters were 
 elected, and marks to distinguish sheep and cattle when estray, 
 were recorded in the Town Clerk's Office, as earh- as April, 1794. 
 
 At the town meeting of 1799, tlie first trustees of the gospel 
 and .school lot of the town were elected, to wit : Benjamin 
 De\-, Daniel Sayre and Col. Wilhelmus Mynderse. The 
 last named, resided at the falls of the Seneca River, where he died 
 January 30, 1838, aged seventy years. 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 George Baile}' was again chosen supervisor of Romulus under 
 its reduced territorial area, at the town meeting held in April iSoo, 
 but died before the expiration of his term, and John vSaj-re was 
 chosen to fill his vacancy Sept 2, 1800. 
 
 It is a matter of regret, that upon dihgent inquiry, no facts 
 can be ascertained, in the history of George Bailey, one of the 
 earliest settlers at Lancaster, on Seneca Lake, for a time also called 
 in his honor, Baileytown — and who it is i^elieved was a patriot 
 soldier of the revolutionary war. 
 
 During the period from 1800 to 1830, the town was served 
 by six persons as supervisors, three of which number were chosen 
 to serve during an aggregate term of 25 years, one for two years, 
 and two for one year each. 
 
 The long tenure and continuance of the public men of this 
 town, in official position, and in the confidence of their constitu- 
 ency, seems to have been thus early established. 
 
 Judge John vSayre, born at Blooming Grove, Orange Co., 
 N. Y., July 24, 1767, was at the town meeting in April, 1801, 
 again chosen supervisor, and continued such, b)^ repeated elections 
 to and including 180S. He again filled the same office in 1830, 
 
 1 83 1 and 1832. 
 
 He was elected the first Member of Assembly from vSeneca 
 County (he being then also supervisor) in 1804, again in 1808, 
 and later in life, was a third time chosen, in 1831. He served 
 also as surrogate of the county from Feb. 181 1 to April 1813, and 
 as county treasurer from Oct. 181 7 to Oct. 182 i. He was a mag- 
 istrate and served as a.ssociate judge of Seneca County Courts, for 
 many years, also as loan commissioner for this count}', and was 
 the first post-master of Romulus postoffice, estabhshed Oct. 16, 
 1802. He died — March 4, 1848, in the 8ist 3'ear of his age. 
 
 In these days of lightning express railroad trains and fast 
 mails, it is interesting to learn of a mail service during Judge 
 Sayre's early post-master.ship, by carrier once a week from Geneva , 
 on horseback, with the letters and. mail carried in a verj' small 
 bag, or at times in the vest or coat pocket of the mail carrier, and 
 until the primitive mail carrier gave wa}- to the stage line along 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 Seneca Lake, from Geneva to Judge Sayre's and Lancaster or 
 Ovid, and thence southward. This post-office was not removed to 
 Romulus village until a number of j-ears after its establishment, 
 when the stage line from Geneva to Ithaca was also changed to 
 an inland stage mail passing through Romulus village. 
 
 During the incumbency of Judge Sayre as supervisor, the 
 count}- of Seneca was erected March 29, 1804 from Cayuga 
 county, by Chapter 31, Laws of 1804. 
 
 The act erecting the county of Seneca, shrewdlv drawn, 
 directed the county seat to be located in the town Ovid, not more 
 than four miles south from the north line of Ovid, and not less 
 than three miles from the Seneca or Cayuga Lake, thus effectually 
 shutting off the village of Lancaster, in the southwest corner of 
 the town of Romulus, then a larger and much more promising 
 village than Ovid. 
 
 This action of the Legislature gave much dissatisfaction in 
 the town of Romulus, and at a special town meeting held June 9, 
 1804, a ringing set of resolutions were adopted, breathing the 
 spirit and fire of the many Revolutionary sires, who were present 
 at the meeting, to wit : 
 
 "'Resolved, That the people conceiving it will be oppressive 
 to them to raise and collect a tax this year for the purpose of 
 building a Court House and Goal, in our country — do therefore, 
 direct and require our Supervisor, John Sayre, not to consent to 
 or countenance the laying or levj'ing a tax for the above mentioned 
 purpose. We, the said people, intend petitioning the Legislature 
 at their next session for a repeal of the law appropriating money 
 for the above said purpose, until we feel ourselves better able to 
 support such a tax, at which time we will also petition the Legis- 
 lature to pass a law for the above said purpose. Any other mode 
 in procuring a law for raising of money in a county for local 
 purposes, 7ce conceive to he repugnant to the rights of a free people. 
 
 Resolved, That we, said people conceiving the place, appointed 
 b\- law for the building of a Court House and Goal, as no ways 
 convenient to the people of said county, do also intend petitioning 
 the Legislature for redress in the premises, pnd do hereby request 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 of John Sayre, whom it appears is appointed by law one of the 
 commissioners for fixing the spot whereon to erect said buildings, 
 not to act in that capacit}-, until we luu'e applied for redress in the 
 mode above prescribed." 
 
 The Legislature, however, failed to grant the request of the 
 people of Romulus, and in 1805, having amended the law, so as 
 to require the location of the county buildings on Military L,ot 
 Number Three, at Ovid Village, the question was then settled, by 
 so locating there. The Board of Supervisors in October, 1804, 
 however, voted to raise only one thousand dollars for a Court 
 House and Jail, to which amount, additions were made by subse- 
 quent Boards until the buildings were completed, in 1808. 
 
 Jonas Seely, born July 23, 1776, — succeeded to the office of 
 supervisor, by election in April, 1808, and held the same by re- 
 peated re-elections to and including the year 18 1 4. He was again 
 elected to the same office in 1822, 1826 and 1S33. In 1821, (with 
 Hon. Robert S. Rose, of Fayette), he was chosen to represent 
 Seneca Count}' as delegate in the Constitutional Convention held 
 in this State, in that year, — and in 1823 and 1824 he was elected 
 Member of Asseml)ly from this county. In 1832, he was also elect- 
 ed a Presidential Elector of this State, and voted, in the Electoral 
 College, for Andrew Jackson for President of the United States. 
 
 Judge Seel}' ser\'ed as a magi.strate of Seneca County, and as 
 an associate Judge for a number of years. He died Aug. 15, 
 1 851, aged 75 years. 
 
 William W. Folwell was lx)rn at vSouthampton, Bucks Co., 
 Pa., January 28, ij6:<. Mr. Folwell graduated at Brown Uni- 
 versit}'. Providence, Rhode Island, in 1792, and possessed a 
 thorough classical education. He removed to Romulus in 1807, 
 settled near the centre of the town, and was elected supervisor in 
 April, 18 1 5, serving as such one year. He served as the president 
 of the Ithaca and Geneva Turnpike company, incorporated in 
 18 10, and was always an active and influential citizen. He died 
 Oct. 13, 1858, aged 90 years. 
 
 Samuel Blain, born at Warwick, Orange Co., N. Y., January 
 17. i777> who was elected supervisor in April 18 16, was another 
 
CENTENNIAL OF KOMULUS. 23 
 
 of the public men of Romulus who long enjoyed the favor of his 
 fellow citizens. He was re-elected supervisor from year to 3'ear to 
 and including 1821, also in 1827, 1828 and 1829. After the town 
 of \"arick was taken from Romulus, he was chosen its supervisor 
 in 1 83 1, 1832, and 1833. Mr. Blain served in the war of 181 2, 
 and afterward arose to the rank of Colonel in the local militia. 
 He served many years as a magistrate, and was elected Member of 
 Assembly for this county, for the year 1830, and served in the 
 I^egislature, which erected the town of Varick. He died January 
 2, 1840, aged 63 years. 
 
 Mather Marvin, was elected supervisor, at the town meeting 
 of April, 1823, and again in 1S25. Dr. Marvin was born at Lyme, 
 Connecticut, in 1786. He removed to Romulus a illage about 
 1 8 10, where he established himself as a medical practitioner, and 
 subsequentl}- also engaged there in mercantile business, afterward 
 moving upon the Wade farm, on Military L,ot Number 59. He 
 served for a time in the war of 181 2, and acted for a number of 
 years as a magistrate and school inspector in Varick. In 1828, he 
 was elected coUnty clerk, of Seneca County, and served a full term 
 in that capacity. He removed to L,odi, Michigan, in 1833, and 
 died there April 8, 1862, aged 76 years. 
 
 Anthony Dey, elected supervisor in April, 1824, the oldest 
 son of Dr. Philip Dey, was born near Paterson, New Jersey, 
 February 6, 1781. He removed in 1806, to the town of Romulus, 
 and there established a tannery on Militar}' Lot Number 49, (one 
 mile west of Lemmon's Corners in Varick). Varick postoffice, 
 established Nov. 19, 1S32, is now located near where the tannery 
 stood, and locally known as Dey's Corners. Mr. Dey was elected 
 the first supervisor of Varick in April, 1830, the town having 
 received its name from Col. Richard Varick, a relative of the Dey 
 family. In the fall of 1830, Mr. Dey removed to Seneca Falls, 
 where he engaged in milling business. He died there Nov. 14, 
 1 851, in the 70th year of his age. 
 
 It is not my purpose to continue the biographical sketches of 
 supervisors chosen during the third period, after the division and 
 the erection of Varick, in 1830. The records of the two towns will 
 
24 CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 show, that the position of supervisor has ver}' generally been 
 held by capable business men, although for shorter terms than in 
 the olden times. (See full list of Super^'isors in Appendix C). 
 
 Xor has the town of Romulus been wanting in prominent 
 men, in other positions of trust and responsibilit\-. 
 
 John D. Coe, born at Ramapo, Orange (now Rockland) 
 county, June 12, 1790, settled on Mihtary Lot, No. 70, in Romu- 
 lus, in 1816. He acted as magistrate and associate judge of the 
 Seneca County courts for many j^ears. In the years 1834 and 
 1835 he served Seneca count}- in the Assembly of this State. For 
 a period of forty years, Judge Coe was the treasurer of the Seneca 
 count}' agricultural society, and in the earlier 3ears of his residence, 
 his ability and experience as a surve3or, was frequently called into 
 practice, in the sub-divi.sion of lands. He died in November, 
 1878, aged 88 ^-ears. 
 
 Helim vSutton, son of one of the earh* settlers, was born in 
 Romulus, January 19, 1803. He was elected to serve in tlie 
 Assembly at Albany, for the year 1844. He also held the office of 
 supervisor of his town in 1854, and died near the spot where he 
 was born, November 18, 1S84, in the 82d year of his age. 
 
 Mr. Sutton was weH known as a man of decided con\-ictions 
 and firmness, and an instance of his decision of character is related . 
 By the statutes of this State, it is declared that "Seneca county is 
 lx)unded on the west, by the west shore of Seneca Lake." While 
 acting as one of the board of count)- excise commissioners, about 
 
 25 years before his death, with the late Jesse Abbott, of Varick, 
 and another, a structure had been erected on the west side of Sen- 
 eca Lake, near Dresden, outside of low- water mark and connected 
 with the main land adjoining, in which building it was proposed 
 to engage in business, by evading the excise laws. Mr. 
 Sutton insisted that the jurisdiction of Seneca county and 
 Romulus, extending to the west shore of Seneca lake at the point 
 in question, brought this building and the business transacted 
 therein, under the control of his board, and the owner and 
 manager of the same, was compelled to conform to the laws of the 
 State. 
 
CENTENNIAL OF. ROMULUS. 25 
 
 William T. Johnson, a son of one of the pioneers of Romulus, 
 was born in the town, Dec. 22, 1803. He served as magistrate 
 for a number of 3-ears, and supervisor in the years 1843 ^"^ 1844. 
 He was elected to serve as Member of Assembh* for this county, 
 for the year 1864, and died in the town in which he was l)orn, 
 Feb. 3, 1890, in the 87th 3-ear of his age. 
 
 Peter J. VanVleet, born in this count)', March 2, 1815, and 
 still living in the adjoining town of Ovid, served as supervisor of 
 Romulus, in the )-ears 1846, 1S47, 1^5^, 1859 and i860. While 
 residing in this town, he was also elected to ser\-e as Meml>er of 
 A.ssembly for this county, for the year 1862. 
 
 In later years, James M. Martin, son of the late Wm. Martin, 
 of this town, born Oct. 20, 1^39, (now of Rochester), represented 
 this count}' in the Assembly for the year 1S88. He also served as 
 county treasurer of Seneca county by election, for a term of three 
 years, 1S73 — 1876. 
 
 William Halsey Kinne, l)orn in Romulus, April 22, 1846, a 
 grandson of one of the early settlers of this town, repre.sented 
 Seneca count}' in the Assembl}' for the year 1892. He has ser\'ed 
 as chairman of the Committee on orator, poet and historian of the 
 Romulus centennial, and his committee selected for all of those 
 positions, at the celebration to-da\-, persons born in tlie territorx 
 of the original town of Romulus. 
 
 From that portion of Romulus now in \'arick, Orange W. 
 Wilkinson, a native of Cayuga county, X. Y., born in 1806. was 
 elected to serve in the Assembly of this State for the year 1840. 
 Mr. Wilkinson served also as inspector of common schools and 
 magi.strate of the town, for many 3'ear.s. He died July 24, 1890, 
 aged 84 yeai-s. 
 
 Robert R. Steele, was born in Xew Jersey, Dec. 12, 1805. He 
 removed to this county, early in life, and engaged in mercantile 
 pursuits, at Romulus village. He was elected supervisor of \'arick 
 in 1842, 1^43 and 1850, and was appointed and ser\-ed as county 
 treasurer of this county, from 1844 to 1847. He was elected 
 Member of A.s.sembly for Seneca county for the years 1^52 and 
 1870, and died in April 1881, aged 75 years. (See also Appen- 
 dix F). 
 
26 CENTENNIA-L OF ROMULUS. 
 
 The U)\vn of Romulus has also furnished incumbenls for oihcr 
 proniincnl ])ul)Hc j^ositions. and in the active business walks ol 
 life, holli within this countx' and in other counties and States. 
 
 The office of vSherifl" of vSeneca county, has been held !)>■ resi- 
 dents of the town, in the persons of Nathaniel X, Ha\l, Huii^h 
 Chapman and C. H. Swarthout. 
 
 Our presiding officer to-da,\-, Mr. !•). vSeel\ Barlletl, has 
 recently closed a term of three years, in the important and resj^on- 
 sible ])osition of County School Commissioner. 
 
 The office of Count\- Clerk, has l)een held b\ Alvah Ciregory. 
 of Lancaster, by appointment, from April iSi :;'to Feby. 1815, and 
 has l)een filled by election for full terms !>> Dr. Mather Marvin of 
 Romulus and \'arick, and b\- Daniel II. Hr\ant and Cabin 
 Willers, l)olh of \'arick. 
 
 Among a number of the sons of Romulus, who have else 
 where ari.sen to prominence, either in ]niblic or business life, a few 
 ma\- lie mentioned. 
 
 Silas M. Burroughs, ])orn July, iMo, in this town, (a son ol 
 David Burroughs, an earl}- resident here, and afterwards a resident 
 of Orleans county, in this State), served that count>- as Member of 
 Assembly in 11^37, l^S^SO, 1S51, and 1853, and Reprcsentatixe in the 
 ."^.Sth Congress of the United vStates, 1S5- to iSsij, and was re 
 elected to the ^ith Congress, but died June 3, iSoo, during the 
 first \ear ol' tliat term. 
 
 Daxid Burroughs remoxed to the town of Shell>\, then 
 (ienesee, now Orleans counl\ , in iMS, wjicre he died in iSjj, 
 aged -15 \ears. In 1H21 he was elected to and served as a delegali- 
 in tlie .State Constitutional Con\ention, for (ienesee couiU\ . 
 
 Je])tha II. Wade, was born on Mililar\ Lot Xo 5.), in 
 Romulus, I now in \'arick ), August 11. isii, a son of Jri)lha 
 Wade, an earl_\' resident and a sur\e>()r. After an acli\e and 
 diversified experience in l)usiness life, he became jiresident of thr 
 Western I'nion Telegraph conipan>', a director of se\eral banks 
 and railroad companies, and one of the Ibuniosl and most wiahh> 
 citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, where he rdso was i)rominentl\ iden- 
 tified with measures tending to elevate the schools and i)romole 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 2"] 
 
 the best interests of that city. He was not ambitions for pnblic 
 Hfe, althongh at one time, his name was mentioned in connecliou 
 with the nomination for Governor of Ohio. He died a few >ears 
 ago. 
 
 Peter A. Dey, son of Anthony Dey, a former supervisor of 
 Romukis, and first supervisor of Varick, was born at Dey's 
 Corner's near Seneca lake, January 27, 1825. He graduated at 
 Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., in i<S4^, just fifty years ago. and 
 fitted himself for the profession of ci\'il engineering, in which he 
 became eminent, and having located in the State of Iowa, he was 
 appointed chief engineer of the Union Pacific railroad during, its 
 construction. He was selected by the Legi.slature of Iowa, as one 
 of the new Capitol commissioners and afterwards elected as a Rail- 
 road commissioner of that vState, which position he now holds — 
 having served his adopted State with zeal and fidelit}-. 
 
 Reuben C. lyemmon, (son of Charles lyemmon, an early 
 settler, who served as supervisor of \'arick in the years 1834, 
 1835 and 1836, and as magistrate for many years) was l)orn on 
 Military Lot Number 52, in that portion of Romulus, now in 
 Varick, in May, 182^. Mr. Lemmon was educated to the legal 
 profession, and removing to Toledo, Ohio, was elected Judge of 
 the Court of Common Pleas for the fourth district of Ohio, a posi- 
 tion (of extensive jurisdiction and powers), which he has held for 
 three full terms, of five years each, and is now approaching the close 
 of his fourth term. A few years ago. Judge Lemmon was elected 
 and served as Grand Master of the Order of Free and Accepted 
 'Masons of Ohio, and enjo)s in an eminent degree the confidence 
 and esteem of his fellow citizens, by whom he has been thus 
 repeatedly honored. 
 
 James Van Vleet, son of Jared Van Meet, was born in Rom- 
 ulus, in 1 819. Removing" to Michigan in early manhood, he was 
 chosen county treasurer of Genesee county, and elected a Member 
 of the Legislature of that State. He is still living, a respected res- 
 ident of the city of Flint, Michigan. 
 
 John W. McMath, a grandson of Alia, and son of Col. vSamu- 
 el, and Mary Fleming McMath, was born in Romulus, June 3, 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 1824. He removed with his parents to Michigan in 1827, gradu- 
 ated at the University of Michigan, in 1850, studied law and was 
 admitted to the bar in 1852.. He has served in the position of 
 prosecuting attorney and United States collector of customs at 
 Mackinaw, and judge of probate, and city attorney of Bay City, 
 Michigan. Judge McMath is still living in that cit}', and sends 
 cordial greetings to the Romulus centennial. 
 
 A record of the family of Col. Samuel McMath, shows that of 
 his nine children, one became a lawyer. Judge John W.; and one 
 a clerg}'man. Rev. Robert McMath ; the others, becoming re- 
 spected citizens in their western homes. Four of the grand-sons 
 of Col. McMath, still living, have been admitted to the bar, and 
 are now engaged in successful law practice iti Western states. 
 
 Robert E. McMath, son of Alia McMath, (the latter a grand- 
 son of the early .settler. Alia McMath of Romulus), was born in 
 Varick, April 28, 1833. He graduated at Wilhams College, 
 Massachusetts, in 1857, ^^'^ locating at St. I^ouis, Missouri, chose 
 civil engineering as a profession, in which he attained a prominent 
 rank — serving upon the United States Coast Sur\'ey and the 
 Government work of improving the Mississippi River. In April, 
 1893, he was elected President of the Board of Public Improve- 
 ments of the city of St. Louis, which position he now holds. 
 
 Walter S. Gurnee, l)orn in Rockland county, N. Y., removed 
 in his youth, with his widowed mother, (a sister of Judge John 
 D. Coe), to the town of Romulus. In early manhood, he removed 
 to Chicago, Illinois, and engaged there in active business pursuits. 
 He was elected Mayor of Chicago, in March, 1851, and held that 
 responsible position for a term of two years. He is still living at 
 an advanced age, in the city of New York 
 
 Many of the sons of Romulus and Varick have been educated 
 to the learned professions. Had it been possible to present a list 
 of all the lawyers, clergymen, physicians and teachers in the 
 higher educational institutions, who were born in these towns 
 since the first settlement, or have resided therein, including those 
 deceased, it would have been indeed interesting, but data at hand 
 is insufficient to make up the same. 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 29 
 
 The first permanently located physician in the town, was un- 
 doubtedly Dr. Ethan Watson, at Plymouth in 1807, who after- 
 wards, about 1820, removed to Romulus Village. Other early 
 physicians were Dr. INIather Marvin, Dr. Philip Dey, and Dr. 
 Tompkins C. Delevan. The first clergymen who located in this 
 town, were the early pastors at the Baptist and Presbyterian 
 churches. 
 
 At the present time, fifteen attorneys at law, are known to be 
 living, who were born in Romulus or Varick, headed by Judge R. 
 C. Lemmon, of Ohio, and the venerable Edward B. Miller, now 
 living among us. 
 
 In a Hterary and educational career, the sons of those towns 
 are well represented. Headed Ijy the names of President Wm. 
 W. Folwell, of the State University, Minneapolis, Prof. Isaac. P. 
 Roberts, of Cornell University, Ithaca, and Prof. Carlton M. 
 Ritter, of State Normal School, Chico, Cahfornia, we have now 
 the names of ten professors in colleges and high .schools, who 
 were reared in our mid.st. 
 
 Among the clergy, headed with the name of the vener- 
 able Rev. Charles C. Carr, of Honseheads, (who has served 
 54 years in the ministry), we lia\e now the names of sixteen for- 
 mer residents of our locality. 
 
 The medical profession, too, is well represented, by fourteen 
 former residents, now living, the most aged of whom, is the emi- 
 nent physician. Dr. Cornelius C. Wyckoff, of Buftalo, N. Y. 
 
 1 will not forget, here to mention among the sons of Romulus 
 who have risen to conspicuous positions— Col. James P. Sanford, 
 now of Wheaton, lUinois. born Nov. 11, 1837, on the north part 
 of the Barna Swarthout farm, on Lot 94, (now a part of the State 
 Hospital propertv) in Romulus, whose eminence as a traveler and 
 as an eloquent and entertaining lecturer, is known and recognized 
 in all parts of the Union, and who is here, as Orator of the day, 
 upon this occasion. His volume of ' ' Letters of Travel from dif- 
 ferent Lands," was pubHshed in 1887. 
 
 Nothing speaks better for the people of a community than to 
 ha%e the reputation of being good patrons of churches and public 
 
Sp CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 schools. The pioneers of Romulus gave early attention to re- 
 ligious observances and the building up of churches. It was not 
 an unusual thing, for our early settlers to bring their families to 
 church, in wagons or sleds drawn b\- oxen, while young people 
 often came long distances on foot, carrying their only pair of Sun- 
 day shoes, and putting on the .same, before entering the place of 
 worship. 
 
 The official organization of the Romulus Bai)tist church dates 
 back to 1795, and will next year have reached a full century of 
 organized exi.stence. This religious Society, the oldest in vSeneca 
 county, had its first church edifice commenced in 1808, 
 during the mini.stry of Rev. John Caton, a revolutionary 
 ]iatriot, who was met and recognized by General La Fay- 
 ette, upon the occasion of his visit to this county, in June, 
 i>^2;^. It has sent out a number of clergymen and men hon- 
 ored in all the walks of life. Rev. Dr. Lewis Halsey in his 
 History of the Seneca Baptist Association, has devoted an 
 interesting chapter to the history of this church. 
 
 The present official organization of the Romulus Presbyterian 
 church, dates back to 1S02, and its first church was completed in 
 1809, when Rev. Chas. Mosher was its pastor. As early as 1795, 
 a number of Presbyterians of this locality, were visited by mis- 
 sionaries and a partial organization was effected, which, however, 
 was not C(jmpleted. The present capacious church was dedicated 
 in 183S. The records of the church, contains the names of many 
 of the pioneers and leading citizens of Romulus. It has sent out 
 into the ministry, a number of its young men, and its member- 
 ship is represented in many vStates of the union. It has been re- 
 markable for long pastorates, that of Rev. Morris Barton, of twenty 
 \'ears, and of the present incumbent, Rev. J. W. Jacks, already 
 twenty-two years. 
 
 At the village of Bear\town, on the line of Varick and P'ay- 
 ette, an early religious society of Pennsylvania German people, 
 many of whom were re.sidents of Romulus, was organized in 1809, 
 although served by pastors occasionall}-, as earl}- as 1803. The 
 first log church was completed soon after its organization, and the 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 services therein were then and for many years thereafter, held in 
 the German language and a German day school was taught by 
 Wm. Merkel and others, in connection therewith. There are still 
 living, a number of persons who received German instruction at 
 this School, and the early records of this Church, in the German 
 language, ha\'e been carefully preserved. The present substan- 
 tial stone structure of the Reformed church succeeded the log 
 church, in 1824. One of the pastors of this church. Rev. Dr. 
 Diedrich Willers, a resident of Varick, served this church from 
 April, 1 82 1, to January 1882, a period of over sixty years. 
 (See also appendix F). 
 
 The official organization of the Methodist Episcopal church 
 at McDuffeetown, bears date December 5, 1816, although services 
 had been held in the neighborhood, in the schoolhouse and dwell- 
 ings of members, as far back as 18 10. The first church edifice was 
 completed in 1832 and the present church edifice in 1883. This 
 church, has also sent into the ministry, several of its members. 
 
 There are at the present time in the territory of Romulus and 
 X'arick, in addition to the early churches named, one additional 
 Methodist Episcopal church (at Bearytown), four Protestant Epis- 
 copal churches, one Wesleyan Methodist, (Varick,) and one Roman 
 Catholic church, all erected in the past fifty years. Sunday schools 
 have been established in connection with the several churches, 
 and at a number of school hou.ses. There are persons yet living, 
 who remember hearing the zealous and somewhat eccentric Lor- 
 enzo Dow preach, in a grove in this town, nearly seventy-five 
 years ago. 
 
 In the early histor\- of this State but little was accomplished 
 in the way of organizing a uniform common school system until 
 the year 181 2. Prior to that time, schools were principally select 
 or private schools, supported by specific amount per scholar, per 
 quarter, or by rate bill, in proportion to the number of days attend- 
 ance of each scholar. As early as 1789, provision had been made by 
 the Legislature, for setting apart one lot of boo acres of land, in 
 each of the townships of the Military Tract, for the support of gos- 
 pel and schools and one further lot of equal acreage in aid of liter- 
 ature. The supervisors of the county of Onondaga, Sept. 28, 1 796, 
 
32 CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 set apart L,ot 50, Romulus, for gospel and schools and lot 55 for 
 literature. Both of these lots are situated on vSeneca lake, ad- 
 joining each other, in the present town of Varick, and some of the 
 early settlements, were made on the same. The literature lot fell to 
 Union College, Schenectady, and was subdivided by Hon. Joseph 
 Annin and contracted to Frederick Kistler, Jacob lyowdon, and five 
 others May 14, 1804, and deeded in i8og and 181 1. The gospel 
 and school lot was surveyed and subdivided into four farms in 
 1817, by John D. Coe, and deeded June 16, 1817, by Trustees of 
 Gospel and School I^ot — -the annual income therefrom, having 
 in previous years, been applied very generally, in aid of schools. 
 The avails from the sale of this lot, were originally apportioned 
 between Romulus and Fayette, but upon the organization of Var- 
 ick the portion of the first named town was divided and $2,842,81 
 of principal was allotted to Varick, the principal of the Romulus 
 school fund, after such division, being $3 521.13. 
 
 Information at hand as to early schools and teachers is meagre 
 and unsatisfactory. In the early history of the town and prior to 
 1800, very few school houses had been erected in the territorj- 
 which now has twenty school houses — and private and select 
 schools were frequently kept at the house of the teacher or of one 
 of the patrons of the school. 
 
 A History of Seneca count}-, published by Everts, Ensign and 
 Everts, Philadelphia, Pa., 1876, is authority for the statement, 
 that there was on the tenth da}^ of June, 1799, a school house 
 standing, one mile northeast of Lancaster, probably in the Sut- 
 ton neighborhood. In the same year, 1799, there was a school 
 house standing, east of Mahlon Bainbridge's near the residence of 
 Dr. N. W. Folwell. Other school houses erected at an early date, 
 were a log school building at Romulus Village in 1806; and one 
 on Lot seventy-eight near John Marsh's. In 18 10 there was 
 a school house near Henry Miller's, North East of Hayt's Corners 
 one at Beachtown, settlement near Dey's Landing; and one at 
 McDuffeetowii. Others of early date, were the school houses in the 
 McLaferty District, near the center of the present town of Romulus; 
 also one at Lancaster; one near Anthony Dey's Tanner}'; and one a 
 half mile east of Judge Benj. Lemmon's; with one near John 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 33 
 
 Gambee'sMill Pond, one and a half miles South East of Bearytown; 
 and one near Clarktown. 
 
 Spafford's Gazetteer, mentions ten school houses in Romulus 
 in 181 2. In February, 1820, John D. Coe, Anthony Dey, and 
 John Fleming, commissioners, filed with the Town Clerk, descrip- 
 tions of seventeen school districts, and there were parts of several 
 other joint school districts, the school houses of which were located 
 in other towns. A part of Romulus was annexed to the Ovid 
 Union School District in 1874, and there are now twenty school 
 houses in the towns of Romulus and Varick. 
 
 Prior to the year 1800, a select school was kept in the weaving 
 shop of Haynes Bartlett, taught by John Bainbridge. Early 
 schools were also taught at James McKnight's and John Sayre's 
 residences. Dr. Ethan Watson and his wife, who settled at Apple- 
 town in 1807, both taught school soon after their settlement. 
 There were doubtless other early schools and school houses at 
 which teachers were employed, of which no rehable information 
 can now be secured. Early teachers, other than those already 
 named, were Robert Selfredge, Ebenezer Brewster, Elijah Miller, 
 Sylvester Tillotson, Ira Parker, Clinton Shattuck and R. Webster. 
 Eater on, Wareham Barnes, Levi Hart, Samuel Jones, John A. 
 Christopher, Joseph Burroughs, Aaron P. Roberts. Norman Eddy, 
 Jonathan Ogden, Lewis Woodruff, Jacob P. Chamberlain, Aaron 
 B. Bartlett and William Mann were well known teachers, and 
 forty to sixty years ago, members of the Baldridge and Fleming 
 families, James Facer, Leander Covert, John B. Robinson, Palmer 
 McDuffee, WilHam Bainbridge, Augustus C.Miller, Amos P. Mil- 
 ler, John R. Stone, W^m. H. Sutton, Henry C. Eisk, Darwin C. 
 Smalley, Dr. Richard Dey, Loring G. King, Ralph P. Roberts 
 and John Monroe, were engaged in teaching, some of whom are 
 still living. At an early date, female teachers were but little 
 employed, except to teach summer terms of schools. Among 
 those who taught may be mentioned, Mrs. Ethan Watson, Mi.ss 
 Czarina Young, Mary Sutton, Hannah Pratt, Catharine Folwell, 
 Emehne Betts, Clarissa A. Ganibee, Catharine Gambee, Mary 
 J. McKnight, and Mary J. Barnes. 
 
 In passing, a tribute must also be bestowed, upon a faithful and 
 
34 CENTENNIAI. pF ROMUlvUS. 
 
 thoroughly competent teacher, in the person of the late William 
 Ross, who died April 6, 1893, in Fayette, aged ninety years, 
 who had devoted about sixty -five jxars of his life to teaching, 
 chiefly in the public schools of this county, including a number 
 of terms in Romulus, a record which can probabl>' not be excelled 
 in any other part of the State. 
 
 Many of our public men, have in youth and early manhood 
 taught in public schools, as an assistance in obtaining a profes- 
 sional and business education, a few of whom maj^ be mentioned. 
 
 Elijah Miller, (son of Captain Josiah Miller, a patriot officer 
 of the revolutionary war), was born at Bedford, Westchester 
 county, N. Y., April 11, 1772. In the spring of 1796, he came to 
 the town of Romulus and located upon Mihtary Lot number nine- 
 ty-one, (near Hayt's Corners). While residing there, he engaged 
 in teaching school for a time and began reading law under Daniel 
 Shepard of Aurora, on the opposite shore of Cayuga lyake. In 
 March, 1799, he was commissioned a Justice of the Peace for the 
 Town of Romulus, then in Cayuga county. In January 1800, 
 having been admitted to the Bar, he married and located on the 
 East side of Cayuga Lake, at Cayuga Village, then one of the 
 county seats of Cayuga County, where he engaged in the practice 
 of his profession, removing to Auburn in 1808. In 1813 he was 
 appointed Clerk of Cayuga County, for a term of tv>'o years, and 
 in 18 1 7, received the appointment of County Judge of that County, 
 which position he held for six years In 1823, William H. Sew- 
 ard, (afterwards Governor and United States Senator) then 
 just commencing his legal career, united with Judge Miller in a 
 law partnership, and a year later married his daughter. This law 
 firm at once took a leading position and was employed in many of 
 the most important cases tried in Central New York. Judge 
 Miller died at Auburn in November, 1851, in the eightieth year 
 of his age. Captain Josiah Miller, father of Judge Elijah Miller, 
 removed early in this century, with his family, to the Lot located 
 by his son in the town of Romulus, where he died in 181 7, aged 
 68 years. One of his sons, Ezra Miller, served as a magistrate of 
 Romulus for many years. 
 
 Jacob P. Chamberlain, born in Worcester County, Massachu- 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 35 
 
 setts, August I St, 1802, became an early resident of this town, and 
 engaged for a time in teaching in our pubhc schools. He was 
 elected the first Town Clerk of Varick, upon the organization of 
 that town in 1830, and was re-elected in the two succeeding 3-ears. 
 He also served as School Inspector of that town. He afterwards 
 removed to Seneca Falls, and engaged in farming, milling and 
 manufacturing business. He was elected to serve this County in 
 the State Legislature for the year 1859, and was chosen to the 
 thirty-seventh Congress of the United States 1861-63, for the 
 26th District. He died at Seneca Falls, Oct. 5, 1878. Frank 
 Chamberlain, a son of Hon. Jacob P., born in Romulus, Dec. 4, 
 1826, and now residing at Albany, N. Y., was in i860 elected 
 Grand Commander of the State Commander}- of Knights Templar 
 of the Masonic order, and was appointed April 27, 1865, by the 
 Governor wdth the consent of the Senate, Commissary General 
 of this State. Eugene T. Chamberlain, of Albany, son of General 
 Frank, now holds the ofiQce of Commissioner of Navigation in the 
 Treasury Department at Washington, D. C. 
 
 Mention maybe made also in this connection, of Norman Kddy, 
 a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., who taught for a time in the 
 public schools of Romulus and Varick, about 65 years ago, and 
 who afterwards graduated as a physician, practised medicine for a 
 time, then read law, w^as admitted to the Bar, and became eminent 
 as a lawyer. Removing to Indiana, he was elected to the State 
 Senate, then to the 33d Congress of the United States, and in later 
 years. Secretary of State of that State, which position he held at 
 the time of his death, January 28, 1872. 
 
 It is not ni}' purpose to comment at length upon the primitive 
 log school houses, with their slab seats without backs, nor to 
 speak of teachers of the olden time, wdien the system of "boarding 
 around" of teachers prevailed and every patron was expected to 
 contribute a supply of wood proportional to the number of scholars 
 .sent. (See Appendix D.) 
 
 The records of one of the old school districts, recentl}' ex- 
 amined, shows that at the annual school meetings seventy years 
 ago, the inhabitants were accustonied at each meeting, to adopt 
 
36 CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 a resolution, exempting poor persons having children to send to 
 school, from the payment of a rate bill for teachers wages, and 
 the same commendable spirit was doubtless ver}' generally shown 
 throughout the town. 
 
 While much has been accomplished in the improvement and 
 elevation of public schools, .we should not forget the day of small 
 things, nor fail to do justice to the time, when the three Rs (Read- 
 ing, 'Riting and 'Rithmetic) were the leading branches of study, 
 in our schools. Many of our best business men, enjoyed no other 
 opportunities of education than those which these early schools 
 provided. The old-time text books used in this locality, were 
 Webster's and Cobb's SpeUing books; the Old and New English 
 Readers, the American Preceptor and Hale's History of the United 
 States, used as a reading book; Emerson's, Ostrander's or Daboll's 
 Arithmetics, while writing was taught by the teacher, in' copy 
 books made of foolscap paper. The use of Murray's orKirkham's 
 Grammars, and Morse's, Goodrich's and Olney's Geographies, 
 were higher accessories of a school course, not always reached by 
 the pupils in our schools. Scholars when old enough to work, 
 seldom had time to attend school in summer, leaving only a few 
 months of winter schooling, which the older boys were not always 
 privileged to enjoy. It is a matter of deep regret, that residents 
 in the several school districts, have allowed district libraries 
 to fall behind, and a revival of interest, is now in progress, in 
 reference to the same. 
 
 There is no large village in our territory, the town being a 
 distinctively agricultural town, and no Institution for academic 
 education exists therein. Many sons and daughters of Romulus, 
 have, however, received a liberal education at the Ovid Academy, 
 now a High School, with which a portion of this town has official 
 relations. 
 
 One of the most pleasing features of our centennial obser- 
 vance this day, is the large representation of scholars from the 
 public schools, forming a leading part in the procession. The 
 occasion and the exercises of the day, may, and doubtless will, be 
 long remembered by them. 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 37 
 
 It is a pleasure to allude here to the organization of one of the 
 earliest public library societies in this count}-, as the records of the 
 county clerk show, to wit : 
 
 "At a meeting held on the 12th instant, March, 1805, at the 
 house of Asa Smith, innkeeper in Romulus, for the purpose of 
 forming themselves into a corporation for establishing a public 
 library, proceeded to order, when Mahlon Bainbridge was chosen 
 chairman. By ballot then proceeded to elect five trustees to gov- 
 ern library, when the following persons were elected, viz : An- 
 drew Dunnett, Charles Gordon, Asa Smith, Mahlon Bainbridge, 
 and Saniuel Howe. 
 
 Resolved, further, that the name or title of this corporation 
 shall be known as Seneca lyibrary Number One. It was further 
 unanimously agreed and voted, that the same librar}- be kept in 
 the village of Lancaster, in the town of Romulus." 
 
 The martial .spirit of the revolutionary .sires who settled in our 
 midst and their descendants, was kept alive through local militia 
 organizations, (the io2d and i2Sth militia regiments,) and the 
 town of Romulus was largely represented in the military ranks in 
 the war of 1812. Col. Daniel vSayre, Col. vSamuel McMath, Col. 
 vSamuel Blain and Col. Matthew D. Coe in earlier years, with Col. 
 and Gen. Thomas J. Folwell and Col. and Gen. Augustus 
 Decatur Ayres, in later years, commanded the militia of this and 
 other towns. Company and regimental ' ' trainings ' ' of the militia 
 were annually held, at IMcKnight's, Asa Smith's, David Depue's, 
 Romulus village, lycrch's, Lemmon's or Bearytown, with oc- 
 casiotially a ' ' general training ' ' which were events anxiousl}' 
 looked forward to. At the present time, there are no military or- 
 ganizations in town, although strongly represented in the ranks of 
 the armj^ in the late civil war, 1861-65. 
 
 The records of the town show activity in the earl}^ years of its 
 existence, in the laying out of pubhc roads. Alreadj^ in June 
 1795, a public road four rods wide, was laid out from the north 
 bounds of Ovid, from Lancaster, along and near the Seneca lake 
 shore to the Seneca outlet and to the east bounds of Ontario county. 
 The description of this road as recorded, makes reference to an old 
 
38 CENTKNNIAI, OF ROMULUS 
 
 road previously laid out by the Highway commissioners of the 
 town of Peru, from James McKnight's north to the Ontario county 
 line. The town of Peru was formed April lo, 1792, from the 
 town of Whitestown, which latter town, at that time, covered all 
 of Central New York, from its East line near Utica, extending 
 westward to Seneca lake. It is to be regretted, that the records of 
 the town of Peru, can not upon diligent inquiry be found, the 
 town having been abolished, when Onondaga county was erected 
 in March, 1794. 
 
 Other public roads early laid out v\'ere from Appletown to 
 David Depue's, also from Lancaster to Boardmansburg, and a road 
 from David Depew's to the Hood Settlement on Lot Number 48, 
 at Fayette line. The foad on the South line of the Cayuga Reser- 
 vation, was laid out in the year 1805. The well known highway 
 called the "Reservation road," the West line of the Cayuga Indian 
 Reservation, leading across Varick to Seneca Falls, was recorded 
 Dec. 17, 1K06, and was surveyed by Jeptha Wade. 
 
 The Legislature of 1793, chapter 37, appointed John L. Har- 
 denbergh, Moses DeWitt and John Patterson, commissioners for 
 laying out certain public roads in the Military tract, one of which 
 was to commence on the West side of Cayuga Lake, opposite a 
 point mentioned (between Lots Numbers 56 an-d 67, Scipio), 
 nearly three miles South of Aurora, and to run by as direct a 
 route as the nature of the ground will admit of, to Seneca Lake, 
 at or near the division line between Romulus and Ovid, (at Lan- 
 caster). The Legislature made a small appropriation to pay the 
 expense of making such public road, but whether it was ever laid 
 out, cannot be ascertained, and certainly no such road was ever 
 maintained, as a State road. 
 
 In the laying out of town roads, and the surveying and divis- 
 ion of farms, there was much occasion to employ the service of a 
 competent surveyor, as is usually the case in a newly settled 
 country. Among the well known early surveyors of Romulus, 
 may be mentioned, Benjamin Dey, William Seely, Jeptlia Wade, 
 David Harris, John D. Coe, and Orange Wilkinson, and in later 
 years, Gen. A. D. Ayres, 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMUEX-.S 39 
 
 Already before the commencement of the present ceiitury, in 
 1798, Captain A1:)el Frisbie, estabHshed regnlar communication 
 with Aurora, and the east side of Cayui^a Lake, for transporting 
 by row boat or other primitive craft, passengers and mails, which 
 ferry was continued for some time by others, from points called 
 Hayes' Harbor and Smith's or Sinclair's landings. lyevanna, and 
 for a time Aurora, were county seats of Onondaga or Cayuga 
 County, and residents of Romulus were sometimes called upon to 
 \isit these localities, upon public business. 
 
 Later on, in 1828, a ferry for passengers, teams, and freight 
 was established for a time, between Levanna and Clarktown on 
 the west shore. 
 
 Tlie steamer ICnterprise l)egan to make trips upon Cayuga 
 Lake from Ithaca to Bridgeport, at the foot of the lake, as early as 
 1820, but seldom landed on the west side of the lake, in this town. 
 
 A ferry was chartered to run from Lancaster across Seneca 
 Lake to Dresden, in 1825. The steamer vSeneca Chief, Capt. E. 
 Miner, began its regular trips upon vSeneca Lake, July 4, 1828, 
 landing at Lancaster, and lateron at Dey's Landing also. vSteamers 
 upoti both the lakes, carried passengers, freights and mails. 
 
 Landings or warehou.ses establi.shed on Seneca Lake, were 
 those at Lancaster, Freleighs, (Plymouth), Cooley's, (now C. C. 
 Pontius") and Dey's Landing, and a Landing known as Glen 
 Gowati, was established on tlie farm of Andrew S. Long, about 
 ten years ago. 
 
 Upon Ca_\uga Lake, landings or warehouses, were at differ- 
 ent times established, one in the vSouth Ivast Corner of town, 
 known as Porter's Lantling, also at \\']iitne}'s, later Jacacks' 
 Landing, one at Andrew Smith's, later Sinclair's, and those at 
 I'^ast \"arick and Clarktown. 
 
 At the warehou.ses mentioned, grain was i)urcliased in large 
 ((uantities. loaded upon boats and .shipped to Kastern cities, after 
 the opening of the State Canals 
 
 The Ithaca and Geneva Turnpike company was incorporated 
 in 181 o, and there was a mail .service, commencing about that 
 time, by stage from Geneva to Judge Sayre's, and Lancaster or 
 
40 CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 Ovid, and thence southward. The existence of this Turnpike 
 Company was brief, and before the full completion of the Turn- 
 pike, its charter was repealed by the I^egislature in 1823. 
 
 After the abolition of the post office at Lancaster and the re- 
 moval of Romulus post office to the village of the same name, a 
 daily inland mail service by stage, was established from Geneva 
 to Ithaca, passing through Romulus Village, which route was 
 abolished upon the opening of the Geneva, Ithaca and vSa^re rail- 
 road, in the fall of 1S73. 
 
 With the opening of public roads and lines of travel, taverns 
 or public inns to accommodate travel by land, were established in 
 abundance. 
 
 Among the early hostelries of Romulus, may be mentioned 
 those of James McKnight,John Sayre and David Depue,at each of 
 which, town meetings were held, and those of Asa vSmith, at Ap- 
 pletown, Capt. Abel Frisbie, at Cayuga lake opposite Aurora, 
 .Samuel Smith at Lancaster, H. M. Schooley at Hayts Corners, 
 and George Alexander at Romulus Village. Other well known 
 hotels were those of Samuel McMath, Haynes Bartlett, David 
 Brooks, and Stephen Reeder, along Seneca Lake, and in tlie north 
 half or Varick part of the town, tliose of Benjamin Lemmon, and 
 John Y. Manning, of HezekiaU Knowles, ( Dey's Landing), John 
 Boice, Skillman Doughty, and I)a^'id Kdwards, at and near Rom- 
 ulus Village, Joseph Haynes, and Geo. Crobaugh, at Bearytown, 
 Samuel Lerch, on Mihtary Lot, Number 5-1., of James Reifsnider, 
 at Clark town, and Thomas Caton, the last named known as the 
 "Log Tavern" on Military Lot Number 47. 
 
 It was not until Sept. 1S73, that the first railway acro.ss the 
 town, the line of the Geneva, Ifhaca and vSayre railroad, was 
 opened to the public, and a branch railroad from Hayt's Corners 
 to Willard, was opened in May, 1883. Anew through hue of 
 the Lehigh Valley Railway Co. from Buffalo to New York City, was 
 opened across the town in September 1892, and all of the above 
 named railroads, are now operated by said last named company. 
 
 Telegraph lines were also opened and operated in connection 
 
CENTENNIAI^ OF ROMULU.S. 4I 
 
 with all of said lines of railroad, and express offices were established 
 at the several railway stations. 
 
 It has already been shown that the people of Ronutlus were 
 jealously watchful of questions affecting taxation. 
 
 The Board of vSupervi.sors of Onondaga county, in 1795 
 already, of which board, Benajah Boardnian was then a member, 
 recommended and adopted a new system of taxation for the towns 
 of said county, as follows : 
 
 "IVhereas, the Supervisors of Onoiukigii County, have found many in- 
 conveniences by the various modes taken in the different towns in assessinj< 
 the ratable property in the county, have thought it a duty to recommend to 
 the assessors of each respective town, next to be chosen, in said towns, a 
 mode of taking the vahiation of property which appears to us the most eli- 
 gible in our local situation, desiring this' to be publicly read at the next 
 annual town meeting, which uniform mode will render the next Board^of 
 Supervisors, our successors in office, more capable of doing justice, in levy- 
 mg taxes in our infant State, viz : Estimate as follows : 
 
 Improved lands of a medium quality, 20 shillings per acre. 
 Working oxen of a medium quality, 16 ])ounds per yoke. 
 Cows of a medium ciuality, 5 pounds per piece. 
 Young cattle of three years old and under, 20 shillings per year. 
 Horses of a medium cpiahty, 10 pound per piece. 
 Colts, three vears old and under, 40 shillings per year. 
 Hogs that will weigh 100 weight. 20 shillings i)er piece. 
 Negro men, 50 pounds per head. 
 Negro wenches, 30 pounds i)er head. 
 Grist mills, 50 pciunds per piece. 
 Saw mills, 30 pounds i)er piece. 
 
 And those articles of an inferior ()r superior (lualily, ui proportion, and 
 other ratable property in like proportion. 
 
 The l)oard further recommends to the consideration of the different 
 towns, the following mode in taking the assessment, viz : That each person 
 holding ratable property shall give in to the aesessor a list of his or her 
 ratable property or estate, in writing, agreeable to the request of the 
 assessor, which will be an a voucher for the assessor, and prevent any asper- 
 sions of injustice of being taxed uiie(iually, by those having that part of 
 duty to do, in society. 
 
 The board also recommends to assessors, that they completely make 
 out their list of assessment by the first of Mav as the law directs, so that 
 the Supervisors may be enabled to proceed on their l)usiness at their first 
 meeting and save the county costs." 
 
 Reference to the assessment and taxation of slaves, recalls the 
 fact, that \Vm. vSeely of the town of Romulus on Nov. 17, 1794, 
 manumitted a slave of the name of Charles Patterson. The General 
 act of the Legislature abolishing Negro Slaver}^ in this vState, passed 
 in 1817, took effect July 4, 1827. 
 
 As late as May 1 8 1 1 , a pubhc notice was filed with the Town 
 
42 CKNTKNNIAL OF ROMULUS 
 
 Clerk, In- Peter Huff, of the birth of two negro slaves belonging 
 to hhii. 
 
 It is interesting to trace the history of the early x'illages of the 
 Town, some of which are now extinct. 
 
 "Time rolls his ceaseless course. The race of yore 
 Who danced our infancy upon their knee, 
 
 And told our marvelling boyhood legends .store 
 Of their .strange ventures happ'd on land and sea. 
 How are the}' blotted from tlie things that be !" 
 
 Reference has been already made to the village of I^ancaster, 
 (at or near which the earliest settlements in town were made) af- 
 terwards for a time called Baileytown, then Ovid Landing, and 
 now Willard. Records in the County Clerk's Office, refer to a plot 
 and map of Lanca-ster, divided into lots, alread\- in 1798, b}' 
 (ieorge and vSamuel Bailey. 
 
 As early as Januar}' i, 1804, Lancaster Post Office was estab- 
 lished, with Charles Gordon as Postmaster. 
 
 In 1S04-5, Lancaster was an unsuccessful applicant for the lo 
 cation of the County buildings, and was then the most promi.sing 
 village of the Count}-. It is known that the first stores and .some 
 of the finst places of business in the town of Romulus, were openetl 
 at Lancaster, several years prior to any established at Roniulu 
 village or at Hayts Corners. vSpafford's Gazetteer of New York, 
 published in 1813, describes Lanca.ster as having about twenty 
 houses, while Ovid, is described as a village in anticipation. For 
 a time, a ferr}- was in operation from Lancaster to Dresden, on the 
 west side of the lake. 
 
 The Po.st Office at Lancaster was abolished in November 1814, 
 and the village fell into decline 
 
 With the opening, in 1869, of Willard vState Hospital for the 
 In.sane, at the locality formerl}' known as Lancaster, the village 
 at that point, (now known as Willard), revived, and a Po.st Office 
 of that name, was established there, March 29, 1871, with (xcorge 
 Swarthout, a descendant of one of the earliest settlers, as Post- 
 master. 
 
 The Administration Building and a considerable part of the 
 
CENTENNIAL QF ROMULUS. 43 
 
 Other buildings, lands and property of the State Hospital are situ- 
 ated at Willard, in the town of Romulus, and a brief reference 
 should be made to this worthy charity, the largest institution for 
 the care of the insane, in this State, and one of the largest in the 
 United States. It has ample capacity for the treatment of 2,100 
 patients, although the average number of patients under treatment 
 during the past year reached 2,140. The management of this 
 model institution, is in charge of an efficient Board of Trustees, 
 Hon. Sterling O. Hadle}', President, with a Medical vSuperintend 
 ent. Dr. T. H Kellogg, and a corps of assistants and officers. 
 
 Another village, the oldest one known in the history of the 
 town, the Indian village of Kendaia, (called also Appletown) of 
 which mention has been made, ceased to have an existence, since 
 its destruction by General Sullivan's army. Klkanah Watson a 
 native of Plymouth, Ma.ss., of whom mention has been made as a 
 visitor in Sept. 1 791, was the owner of lands at Appletown, ex- 
 lending to vSeneca Lake, and in the latter years of the last century, 
 a village was plotted and located upon the shore of Seneca Lake, 
 one-half mile we.st of Appletown, and named Plymouth. Upon 
 the map of this village, 155 village lots were delineated, with 
 streets running Kast from the lake, crossed by others running 
 North and South, lo which names were given on the map. Of 
 the village of Plymouth, too, not a vestige remains. 
 
 The Indian village of Swah-ya-\va-nah, on Cayuga Lake, 
 nearly opposite Aurora, was totall\- destroyed b\- Col. Henry 
 Dearborn's detachment from General Sullivan's army, as already 
 mentioned. 
 
 A hamlet on Military Lots 71 and 78, on Ca\uga Lake, with 
 store, mills, distillery, tavern, ("Capt. Frisbie's), and boat landing, 
 has entirely disappeared. 
 
 Another village mapped and laid out, in the first 
 quarter of this century, on Cayuga Lake, locally known as Clark - 
 town, (opposite to Levanna, with which it had ferry communica- 
 tion) with its warehouse, store, tavern, pottery, etc.^ is now en- 
 tirely extinct. 
 
 As early as 1819, thtie was a slcie kept, nrd seveial yeais 
 
CEXTEXNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 previously a public inn, at the place locally known as Lemmon's 
 Comers on Militan.- Lot 52. Xortli Romulus Post Office estab- 
 lished at this point, with Judge Benjamin Lemmon as Postmaster, 
 was afterwards removed to West Faj-ette. The first town meet- 
 ing held in the town of \'arick, April 6, 1S30, was held at the 
 public house of Benjamin Lemmon at that place, which inn was 
 subsequently for a time also kept by Col. John Y. Manning, (and 
 sometimes called Manning's Hill). This little hamlet has also 
 ceased to exist. 
 
 As indicating changes in population, it ma>" be mentioned, 
 that the little hamlet of McDufteetown, on Reser\-ation Lot 77, 
 dating back about eight^-tlve years, the inhabitants in and 
 near which, were once nearly all persons of the name McDuffee, 
 now contains only one Tamil)- of that name, and no person of the 
 name De}-, now lives at Dey's Landing, a hamlet on Seneca Lake 
 at the southwest corner of \'arick. 
 
 Other villages of the town of Romulus, which now ha\e exis- 
 tence, although none of them incorporated, are Romulus village, 
 (partly in \'arick), Hayfs Corners, and Kendaia in Romulus, and 
 East Varick and a part of Bear^town, in the town of \'arick. It 
 is with difficult}-, that precise information can now be collected 
 relating to the same. 
 
 Romulus village, dates back to the earh" \ears of this centur}-, 
 and in 1806 a log school house had been erected near the present 
 village. The Presbyterian church, organized in 1802, and its 
 church edifice, a little west of the village, completed in 1809, was 
 followed by a store, ashen*- and other places of business, atid soon 
 after by a pubHc inn. A bank, known as the Farmers Bank of 
 Seneca County, was organized Ma}- 15, 1839, and opened for 
 business with .the State, July 6, of the same 5ear, — the existence 
 of which terminated, b\- action of the courts, in less than two 
 years. The village early became and continued to be, the center 
 of business for the town, up to the division in 1S30. The open- 
 ing of the Geneva, Ithaca & Sa^re Railroad, with a railway sta- 
 tion, gave a new impetus to the village, which has gradually in- 
 creased in jx)pulation and importance. Romulus post office, 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 45 
 
 established in 1802, on the Seneca Lake road, was removed to 
 this village and \Vm. McCarty appointed as postmaster, Nov. 23, 
 1825. 
 
 Hayfs Corners, takes its name from the Hayt family, who 
 were early settlers there in 1806. The first store was opened in 
 1 816 and the first tavern in 1820, and tradesmen of the various 
 crafts and pursuits in business, followed. The growth of the 
 village has been slow but since the opening of the Geneva, Ithaca 
 and Sayre railroad, and the branch line to Ovid and Willard cen- 
 tering there, it has increased in business and population. Its 
 postoffice was not established until after the establishment of the 
 railway station and bears date Dec. 8, 1873. with George Markel, 
 as its fir.st postmaster. 
 
 It was a thoughtful and commendable act on the part of the 
 people of the locaUt}-, who named the little viUage of Kendaia, in 
 honor of the extinct Indian village, once situated two miles south- 
 ward. Kendaia is of comparatively modern growth, the establish- 
 ment of its postoffice dating back to April fj, 1862, under the 
 person f Amos Crane) now again holding the office of postmaster. 
 There were, however, places of business there at an earlier date, 
 in fact the first grist mill in the town had been erected by Francis 
 Albright near there, in 1796, and was completed soon afterwards. 
 Since the opening of the new direct hne of the Lehigh Valley rail- 
 road, about two 3"ears ago, with a railway' station there, it has 
 enjoyed some increase in business and population. It is n-^^v the 
 onh' railroad station on this hne of railway, in the town. 
 
 Of Bear\town, where the first building in\'arick, was erecLeii 
 as a public inn by Joseph Haynes, earh" in this centurj', it can also 
 Ije said, that the first church edifice (German) was erected there up- 
 on the organization of the church in 1 809, and its cemeter>- was then 
 also opened. In connection with the church, a German school 
 was early established. A tavern was erected by Henr>' Bear\-, from 
 whom the village is named, in 18 19, and the first store kept there- 
 in by Charles L. Hoskins (still living at Seneca Falls at the ad- 
 vanced age of 95 years) in 182 1. It is a quiet, pleasant httle vil- 
 lage, the greater part of which is located in Fajette and lacks 
 railroad communication to give an impetus to its business interests. 
 
46 CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 Fayette post office, located there, was esta1>lished Aug. 23, 1.S26. 
 
 ICast \'arick on Cayuga lake, a mile east of McDuffeetowu, 
 dates back its starting point, about forty-five years. At one time 
 it was a bustling little village, ha\ ing a store, warehouse, hotel 
 and other places of business, and had considerable lake traffic, 
 but the opening of railways, and the loss of steamboat connections, 
 has injured its business prosperity of late years. Us post-office 
 was established July 5, 1S50, with Hcnjaniin li-irrick as its first 
 Post Ma.ster. 
 
 The earliest settlers, found it ncces.sar\- in the absence of any 
 grist mills, for grinding flour, to resort to the stump mortar and 
 hominy block for pounding the same. The grist mill earl>- erected 
 on the west side of vSeneca lake, near Dresden, Benajah Hoardmans 
 mill, west of Ovid village, with Major liear's mill at vSkoiyase, 
 and Judge Halsey's mill at Lodi, were but little in achance in 
 time of erection, of the mill constructed by Francis Albright near 
 Kendaia.in 1796, and afterwards run b}- Michael Baldridge. Other 
 early grist mills were those of Benjamin De>s; Capt. Andrew 
 Smith's, (afterwards John Sinclair's); Benjamin SuttfMi's; W'm. 
 Chamberlain's, and one, two miles east of Romulus \ilhige, run 
 by vSilas Allen and others, ami there were several others whirh 
 had a brief existence. 
 
 Ivarly stores as alread}- mentioned^ were kei)t at the \ illages 
 of Lancaster, Romulus, Hayt's Corners, and other \ illages and 
 hamlets named herein. There were also stores kej^t in thv earl\ 
 flays of the town, b\ John .Sayre and John Bainbridgi-, 1>\ Zcbedee 
 Willi:nus, l.\ Stephen K. Miller, by Daxid llarri.^. at Schuyler's 
 point, (north of Chirktow u ), one atCooIe\'.s I.;in(Hng. and another 
 at the .\s1ri\ Corners, one mile east of Romulus \illage, 
 
 ICarlx auctioneers oi real and personal i»roperly were John 
 Williams, Thomas Mann and llaxnes Bartlett, and later on 
 .S.minel Pc-nhand Punn Prokiiw . 
 
 Were llie iulormation at Iiaud, ami time permitted, it might 
 be of interest, to gi\c- a romplele list of all the sawmills, lainieries. 
 and asheries, throughout the town as well as to gi\e the names 
 of early shoemakers tailors, carpenters, blacksmiths, i(iui)ers. 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 47 
 
 saddlers, &c, but an}' attempt to do so, from vague and indefinite 
 data, at hand, is impracticable. Many of the earlier settlers had 
 l^een instructed in mechanical trades in 3'outh, and although here 
 devoted to farming, they found abundant opportunity also to 
 practice their handicrafts, as numerous blacksmith shops &c, in all 
 parts of the town attested. 
 
 It is well in passing, to note the changes, as well as the ad- 
 \-ance and progress made in town, not only in population but also 
 in material wealth and prosperity. Under the first Constitution 
 of this State, adopted in 1777, and in force until 1822, the right of 
 suffrage was restricted under property qualifications, to three classes 
 of voters 
 
 The first class, which had the right to vote for Governor, 
 Lieutenant Governor, State Senator, and all other elective officers, 
 was required to possess a freehold of the value of one hundred 
 pounds ($250) over and above all debts charged therein. 
 
 The second class, embraced those who were possessed of a 
 freehold within the county of the value of twenty pounds ($50) 
 and the third class, those not possessed of a freehold, but who 
 rented tenements of the yearly value of forty shillings ($5). 
 
 \'oters of the second and third classes w^ere authorized to \'ote 
 for Members of Assembly and town officers. 
 
 Count}' officers were first appointed b}' the Governor and 
 Council of Appointment of the State, and in a few cases by Boards 
 of Supervisors, -and did not become elective by vote of the people 
 until 1.S22. Justices of the Peace were not elected by the people 
 until 1S27, in which year, Mather Marvin, Samuel Blain, Stephen 
 R. Miller and James Purdy, were chosen as the first elected Board 
 of Justices of Romulus. 
 
 Karly Justices of the Peace, appointed for the town of Romu- 
 lus, March 14, 1799, while still a part of Cayuga County, were 
 William Brewster, Benjamin Dey, Wilhelmus Mynderse, and 
 l{lijah Miller, and on Jan'y. 22, 1802, Isaac Johnson, John vSayre, 
 John Hood and David Wisner were appointed. 
 
 Upon the erection of Seneca County in 1S04, the names of 
 John vSayre, Asa Smith and John Hood were included in the first 
 list of Judges, and Justices connni.ssioned for the new county. 
 
CENTENNIAI, OF ROMUIvUS 
 
 Among other Magistrates (Justices of the Peace), of Romu- 
 his, appointed prior to 1810, were David Burroughs, vSilas Allen 
 and Alvah Gregor}'. 
 
 Commissioners to take the proof and acknowledgment of 
 Deeds were appointed for the several towns under an act of 181 8, 
 by the Board of Supervisors and Court of Common Pleas. John 
 D. Coe, vStephen R. Miller and Nathaniel N. Ha}'t, are known to 
 have served among other Commissioners of Deeds for Romulus. 
 In 1840, Justices of the Peace were empowered to take the ac- 
 knowledgment of deeds, and the office of Commissioner of Deeds 
 in towns was abolished. 
 
 vState elections prior to 1822, were held on the last Tuesday of 
 April. After that date, as now, in November, but up to 1842, 
 were held for three successive days, at as many different places in 
 each town, under the same Board of Election officers. Town 
 meetings were for a long time held in this county, on the first 
 Tuesday of April in each year, afterwards changed in 1849 for 
 a time, to the second Tuesday of March, and of late years, since 
 1878, are held on the second Tuesday of February. 
 
 Enumerations of voters in this State, were ordered under acts 
 of 1790 and 1795 (the latter, one year after the organization of this 
 town) but no returns of these enumerations for this locality, have 
 been found at the State I^ibrary at x\lbany, upon inquiry. 
 
 The enumeration of voters of this State, taken under an act 
 of 1 80 1, and made for this town, by John Sayre, bears date Octo- 
 ber 20, I So I. It includes one hundred and eighty names of 
 voters of the first class, in the territory of Romulus and Varick, 
 ninety-four of the second class and seventy-two of the third 
 class. (vSee Census of Voters in Appendix E.) 
 
 Another enumeration of voters was made in 1807, by John 
 Hood, David Burroughs and Robert Fleming, when three hundred 
 and twenty voters were found, one hundred eighty-seven of the 
 first class, seventeen of the second and one hundred and sixteen of 
 the third class, showing that the number of voters had nearly 
 doubled in the previous six 3'ears. 
 
 By the census of 18 10, the number of families in the town as 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMUtUS. 49 
 
 then constituted, is given as four hundred and thirty-one, and of 
 voters of the first class, one hundred and seventy-nine. 
 
 The United vStates census of 1800, the first taken after the 
 organization of this town, gave its population as 1,025. 
 
 In 1810, the population which had nearly tripled during the 
 decade, was 2,766. In 1820, it was 3,129. 
 
 By the State census of 1825, it was 4, 127. 
 In 1830, after the erection of the town of \'arick from Romu- 
 lus, the population of each, was as follows : 
 Romulus, 2,089, and Varick, 1,890. 
 
 While there has since been some fluctuation in the population, 
 there has been no material increase since 1830, except at Willard 
 village, in Romulus, and by the last census of 1892, the population 
 of this town, is given as 2,181. 
 
 The population of Varick has fallen off of late years, and by 
 the last census, was only 1,379, showing the movement of popu- 
 lation from rural towns to cities and villages. 
 
 By the cemsus of 1810, some very interesting industrial sta- 
 tistics were collected, which are set out in vSpafford's Gazetteer of 
 the State of New York. 
 
 This authority assigns to the town of Romulus that year, one 
 hundred and two mechanics, employed at eleven different trades. 
 There were one hundred and thirteen weaving looms in families, 
 producing in 1810—30,342 yards of cloth, and as truthfully re- 
 marked by the author— the household spinning wheel and loom, 
 and the farm, (by flax culture and sheep raising) supply a large 
 part of the clothing of the inhabitants. 
 
 In those days of household frugality, there was Httle occupa- 
 tion for milhners, and dressmakers. Tailors and shoemakers 
 (when indeed such were employed) went about from house to 
 house, and were occasionally employed in the family, the farmer 
 furnishing the cloth of his own manufacture for the clothing, and 
 leather made in tanneries within the town, for boots or .shoes. At 
 that time, jewelers, confectioners and like tradesmen, were but 
 Httle patronized. In 18 10, there were located in Romulus, three 
 tanneries, five potash works, three grist mills, and seven saw- 
 
50 CENTKNNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 mills — at the present time not a single asliery or tannery — and no 
 gristmill, (since the unfortunate destruction of one recentls' ]>> 
 fire) with but one saw mill. 
 
 By the same census, tliere were six distilleries of grain and 
 fruit spirits, which in that year, made 12,730 gallons, valued at 
 $7,956 or an average value of seventy-two cents per gallon. Now 
 there is not a distillery of any kind in the town. The manufac- 
 ture of maple sugar as an article of household use, an important 
 industry in the early days, has been almost entirely di.scon tinned, 
 by. the de^^truction of the- forest, and the consequent scarcit>- of 
 sugar maple trees. 
 
 The first thirty-five years of the official existence of Romulns 
 were years of intense activity. The forests were largely cleared, 
 orchards planted, churches and school houses reared, log houses 
 gave place to comfortal)le frame or brick structures, and the people 
 of the town advanced steadily, in material wealth and comfortable 
 surroundings. The aggregate valuation of the town, in real and 
 personal estate, liad increased from $137,173 in 1804, when the 
 first Board of Supervisors of Seneca Count}' met, to $655,209 in 
 1829. 
 
 In 1830 the Legislature of the State again divided the town, 
 and created a new town, embracing nearly one-half of the area of 
 Romulus — and named the same in honor of the Revolutionary 
 patriot and statesman. Col. Richard Varick, of whom, the people 
 of the town receiving his name, ma}' well .say : 
 
 "We love the heroes of our land. 
 
 Whose name shall live in .stor}'. 
 The wise of heart, the strong of hand, 
 
 Whose life and death is glory." 
 
 Tlie act dividing the town, Chapter 23, Laws of 1830, directs, 
 that "from and after the first day of April of that year, Romulus 
 shall be divided into tw^o towns, by a line commencing-at Cayuga 
 Lake, on the south line of the late west Cayuga Reservation • 
 thence west along the same to the south-west corner of said Reser- 
 vation ; thence north eight degrees, east five chains and twenty- 
 five links, to the center of the highway running west through the 
 farm of Jacob Vreeland, thirty-one chains; thence west on the 
 
CKNTKNNIAl. UK RUMUI,U.S. 5I 
 
 line between George Alexander and Albert Earll, thirty-three 
 chains and ninety links to the east line of Military Lot 63; thence 
 south two chains and thirty-three links to the south-east corner of 
 Lot 63 ; thence west on the line of Military Lots 63, 68, 62, 67, 
 61 and 66, to the east line of Military Lot 64 ; thence north to the 
 north-east corner thereof, and from thence west to Seneca Lake." 
 
 The same act directed, that the first town meeting thereafter 
 be held in Varick at the house of Benjamin Lemmon, and in 
 Romulus at the house of Ira Giddings. 
 
 The present area of Romulus, (since 1830), includes 22,500 
 acres of land, and that of \'arick, 19,500 acres. 
 
 vSince the division, the most cordial relations have continued 
 between parent and child, and much business is still transacted in 
 both towns, at this village, on the division line of the two towns, 
 as in olden times. Neither of these towns embarked in railroad 
 ])onding and neither has a public debt. Although the labors of 
 the husbandman are not now as remunerative as in earlier years, 
 when greater economy \vas also practiced, and the new in- 
 dustries of the two towns, grape culture to the extent of full}' 
 1,200 acres, and fruit raising, have not as yet brought profitable 
 returns, all are still hopeful of brighter days to come. During the 
 present year, two creameries ha\'e been established, which it is 
 hoped, will bring favorable revenue to our farmers, for when the 
 owner and tiller of the soil is well rewarded and prosperous, all 
 classes and conditions profit by such success. 
 
 The farmers of the town, were from the first, vigilant in pro- 
 tecting their interests, as already shown. 
 
 At the town meeting held in April, 18 10, it was " Resolved, 
 that any man letting a Canada thistle go to seed on his farm, to 
 be fined five dollars. ' ' This commendable action of the people, 
 doubtless had a restrictive effect for a time, but unfortunately the 
 Canada thistle came to stay, and is largeh' spread over the fair 
 fields of the town. 
 
 Let it be hoped, that we maj' never ha\ e to contend with a 
 European foe in the Russian thistle, for which like the Hessian 
 fly, the Canada thistle and the Russian LaC^rippe, we can have no 
 love whatever. 
 
52 CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 The changes and improvements in farming in the past one 
 hundred years, covering the transition from the sickle to the self- 
 liinding reaper, also from the threshing flail to the steam thresher, 
 have indeed been marvellous. 
 
 It is creditable to the farmers of Romulus to mention, that as 
 early as the year 1842, a farmer's club had been established by 
 voluntary membership and association, having among its members 
 Hon. Peter J. Van Vleet, Hon. Helini vSutton, Gen. Thomas J. 
 Folwell, Edward Sayre, Ebenezer S. and Benjamin Bartlett, and 
 Jo.seph Wyckoff, with their wives, of whom only the flr.st named 
 and wife, now survive. This club held frequent meetings by 
 alternation, at the homes of the respective members, to discuss the 
 best methods of farming etc, and on the part of the lady members, 
 to exchange practical views upon methods of house keeping. As 
 can readily be understood, these meetings were as well instructive 
 and profitable, as socially pleasant gatherings. 
 
 Kendaia Grange, Number 64, Patrons of Husbandry, an or- 
 ganization formed January 28, 1874, with Andrew^ J. Bartlett as 
 Worthy Master, which has for its large membership, farmers with 
 their wives, mothers, sons and daughters, has for twenty years 
 past exerted its influence to instruct, improve and elevate the con- 
 dition of the farmer, and to benefit the community as well. 
 
 Seneca County Pomona Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, with 
 its membership of about one thousand, is to-day well represented 
 here, forming one of the special features of the procession, and 
 unites with us in honor of the occasion for which we have as.seni- 
 bled, under the leadership of its chief officer, W. M. Andrew J. 
 Bartlett of Romulus. 
 
 It w'ould perhaps have been more satisfactory if we could have 
 united with us to-day in commemorating this event, representa- 
 tives from all the towns formed from the old original town of Rom- 
 ulus, especiall}^ of the neighboring town of Fayette, which with 
 Seneca Falls, occupies a part of the territory of the military town- 
 ship of Romulus but it was not deemed feasible to attempt so ex- 
 tensive a re-union at this time. It is however gratifying, to see 
 many present here to-day from all parts of old Romulus. 
 
 We must leave it to the people of Fayette (the centennial of 
 
CKNTKNNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 53 
 
 the organization of which town will occur in the year 1900) to 
 do honor to the pioneer settlers of the Military Township of Rom- 
 ulus (and upon the Cayuga Indian Reservation) within the boun- 
 daries of that town, and to worthily remember the labors of Dr. 
 Alexander Coventry, John Runisey, William Gamber, James 
 McClung, Maj. Samuel Bear, Martin Kendig. Israel Catlin, Vin- 
 cent Runyan, Martin Hogan, Capt. \Vm. Irland, and the Yost, 
 Rorison, Bachman, Hendricks', Schott, Sweet, Peterson, Tooker 
 and \'an Riper, families with other pioneers of that locality, 
 including many Pennsylvania German families, forming, with 
 some already mentioned, a leading element in the population of 
 that town, of whom, those of the name Pontius, Disinger, Reed, 
 Hoster, Riegel, Singer, vShankwiler, Kuney, Deppen, Garnet, 
 Alleman, Flickinger, vShaffer, Stofifet, Pratz, and Markel were 
 among the earliest settlers. 
 
 The town of Fayette has much historic material to be pre- 
 ser\-ed. Mention may here be made briefly of the early histor>' of 
 Mormonism in this locality and the translation or transcribing for 
 publication of the Mormon Bible by Joseph Smith, the founder of 
 Mormonism, in 1S30, (in which year it was printed at Palmyra, 
 N. Y.) while residing with the family of a Fayette farmer, Peter 
 W'hitmer, on Military Lot 13, who with Christian, Jacob, John 
 David and Peter Whitmer, Jr., and others, became converts to 
 Mormonism and followed Smith to Kirtland, Ohio, and onward 
 in his remox-als westward. David Whitmer, one of the last sur- 
 vivors of these con\erts, died at Richmond, Missouri, a few years 
 ago, (1IS85), at the age of eighty years. 
 
 A monument to the celebrated Indian Chief, Red Jacket, 
 Sa-go-ya-wat-ha, was Unveiled at his birth place at Canoga, in 
 Fayette, under the auspices of the Waterloo Library and Histori- 
 cal Society, with appropriate ceremonies, October 14, 1891, and 
 the exercises and proceedings upon that occasion, have been pub- 
 lished in pamphlet form, by that society. Canoga and two other 
 Indian villages near b}-, on Cayuga Lake, were destroyed by a de- 
 tachment from General Sullivan's army, in vSeptember 1779. 
 
 The town of Seneca Falls, a part of the territory of the old 
 town of Rcfmulus, fittingly okserved the centennial of its first 
 
54 CENTENNIAL OP ROMULUS 
 
 settlement, and made a suitable record of the pioneer services of 
 Job Smith, Lawrence Van Cleef, Col. W'ilhelmus Mynderse, 
 David I,um and others — on the fourth da}' of July, 1887. 
 The Historical address on that occasion, was delivered by 
 Henry vStowell, editor of the vSeneca Falls Reveille. 
 
 The Library and Historical Society, at Waterloo as elsewhere 
 stated, has laid aside in its archives, much material relating to the 
 early history of that town, and the Indian village ofSkoiya.se, lo- 
 cated theiein, — a monument to commemorate the destruction of 
 which, by a detachment of General vSullivan's army, having been 
 dedicated in September, 1879, an account of which was pubHshed 
 in a volume issued in 1880, entitled Seneca County Sulhvan Cen- 
 tennial. * 
 
 Let us hope, that the good people of the towns of Junius and 
 Tyre, will collect and preserve such data as may still be accessible, 
 to complete and perpetuate their early history, so far as possible. 
 
 The history of the old towns of Galen and Wolcott, former 
 towns of Seneca county, until the erection of Wayne county, 
 April 1 1, T-23 — with the four towns afterwards erected therefrom, 
 vSavannah, Butler, Rose and Huron, (all a part of the territory of 
 the original town of Romulus) has been inteUigently and thor- 
 oughly written up, by Prof. Lewis H. Clark, of Sodus, in his 
 Military History of Wayne County, issued in 1884. 
 
 A local History of the town of Rose, edited by Alfred »S. Roe, 
 under the title, "Ro.se Neighborhood vSketches, " is now also in 
 process of publication. 
 
 The towns of Romulus and Varick entered with a patriotic 
 .spirit upon the celebration of the centennial of American Indepen- 
 dence, in 1876, and in 1879, when the centennial of the vSuUivan 
 expedition was observed at Waterloo, these towns also bore an 
 important part in making the same a success. All honor is due to 
 the Waterloo Library and Historical Society, for the successful 
 management of that celebration, and for its zeal and activity, ever 
 shown in efforts to collect and preserve facts and incidents relating 
 to the settlement and history of Waterloo and its pioneer .settlers, 
 as indeed, in the absence of a county Historical .society, it has ex- 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 55 
 
 tended its influence and efforts also to collect and preserve the early 
 histor)' of the several towns of this county. It is gratitying to 
 know, that this society is worthily represented here to-day. 
 
 In 1889, the centennial of the first j-r///tw.?w/ of Romulus, was 
 observed in this beautiful grove, where we this day meet, and our 
 ))residing officer of to-day, gave a very instructive and interesting 
 address on that occasion, whicli doubtless gave some incentive 
 also, to our celebration to-day. 
 
 The first century of our official exi.stence now clo.sed, has been 
 one of progress and advancement veril\- from barbarism to civil- 
 ization, in its highest forms. 
 
 It has witnessed the triumphs of steam and electricit\- as 
 applied by the ingenuity of man, not onl\- for motive and propel- 
 ling power, but also in man>- other and diversified forms, to im- 
 ))rove the condition, alleviate the labors and promote the highest 
 and best interests of man — and no where has all this become more 
 manifest, than to the dweller in a rural communit}', like ours. 
 
 We stand here, to-day, upon the threshold of the .second cen- 
 'air\- of official existence, and having taken a retro.spective view of 
 the century which has pas.sed, let us now look forward to the fu- 
 ture, with trust and confidence in the Divine Being, that He will 
 mercifully direct the events of the future, as He has the past. 
 
 In closing, while thanking 30U for }-onr kind attention, and 
 with acknowledgments to all who assisted me, in collecting histor- 
 ical material, I can find no words more fitting, as adapted to this 
 occasion, than those of a patriotic Statesman of New York, now 
 decea.sed, who.se name will ever stand high upon the .scroll of our 
 public men : 
 
 ' ' The past is full of noble examples, animating us with patri- 
 otic love of our State and Nation, but we mu.st not confine our 
 attention to the past. The pre.sent and the future have their obli- 
 gations. It is our duty to emulate the patriotism of our fathers. 
 In all that concerns our Town, Count}', State, and common 
 country, let us not onl_\- be mindful of the pa.st, but in everything 
 that affects education, morality, progress and patriotism, be ani- 
 mated b}' the .spirit of the motto, emblazoned upon the shield (^f 
 our ^t^ie~/L\CE/.SiOR. ' ' 
 
be 
 
 CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 APPENDIX TO HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 
 
 Al'l'F.XDlX A. 
 
 Abstract of Land Patents in Ronniliis Military townshiji, taken from 
 the State records at Albany : 
 
 A'(i///rs of /'(i/t/i/ri's 
 
 Edmund Kelly 
 Benjamin Dey 
 Wm. Jackson. 
 Teunis I. Henic 
 John Gamliee. 
 
 L.lijah .Miller 
 
 Michael Shetterlv 
 
 [)vck. 
 
 Anthony Dey . . . 
 
 (Survey 50 acres) . 
 
 Col. Cornelius V'ai 
 
 John Beardsley. . 
 
 Abner Prior 
 
 Jacob Hallett 
 
 John Armstrong . 
 Mordecai Hale . . 
 *Gospel and Scho< 
 Charles Thomjisor 
 
 David Dev i 
 
 Alia McMath 
 
 John Mead 
 
 Gerrit W. Van Schaick, survey 50 acres 
 
 Capt. James Gregg 
 
 John Jacob 
 
 Thomas Owens 
 
 Robert McClellau 
 
 Col. James Livingston 
 
 +Literature Lot 
 
 John P>. Schuyler 
 
 Jacob Lowdon 
 
 J ames Barr , 
 
 James Karr 
 
 Purchaser I'nknown 
 
 Peter W. Yates, Survey 50 acres 
 
 fohn P. Boyea 
 
 John Stake 
 
 John Beardslev 
 
 Capt. H. A'an 'Debureh 
 
 -'=Deede(l by Trustees of Lot. 
 
 tSold and deeded by I'nion College, 
 
 43 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 • 1 100 
 
 S. E 
 
 
 44' 600 
 
 
 
 4 S 600 
 
 I 
 
 iQl.y 
 
 
 2 
 
 68.8 
 
 
 3 
 
 79% 
 
 
 4 
 
 73-3 
 
 
 5 
 
 46. s 
 
 
 6 
 
 48 
 
 
 / 
 
 64 
 50 
 
 46 S"0 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 S. E. 
 
 
 47 1 500 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 S. E. 
 
 
 48 600 
 
 
 
 49 600 
 
 
 
 50 600 
 
 I 
 
 180.20 
 100 
 17346 
 100 
 
 
 N. K. 
 
 50 
 
 Uj 600 
 
 
 
 =;2, 600 
 
 
 
 53 500 
 
 
 
 1 100 
 
 S. E. 
 
 
 54 600 
 
 
 
 55 600 
 
 
 '44 
 96 
 
 192 
 48 
 48 
 
 
 
 N.W. 
 
 50 
 
 56 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 57 
 
 550 
 50 
 
 
 
 5« 
 
 600 
 
 S. E. 
 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMUl.UvS. 
 
 5^ 
 
 John Gamber 
 Elijah Miller. 
 
 John Buys 
 
 J. A. Wade and others 
 
 Nathaniel Ayres 
 
 Abel Bacon 
 
 (Survey 50 acres) 
 
 James Parker 
 
 Christopher Queen 
 
 Ephriani Blanchard 
 
 Gen. Alex. McDougall 
 
 Robert Troup 
 
 Benj. Goodale 
 
 Richard Moore 
 
 Peter Bainbridge 
 
 Eleazer Yeamans 
 
 loshua Davis 
 
 Arthur Hurley 
 
 Joseph Jones 
 
 John Green 
 
 Peter Green 
 
 James Goodall 
 
 Timothy Green 
 
 Jeremiah Smith 
 
 Lieut. Jonathan Lawrence, jr.. . , 
 
 Lieut. Peter Tappan 
 
 Abiel Petty....- 
 
 Jeremiah Van Rensselaer , 
 
 George Stock 
 
 Wm. Gilleland, jr. . 
 
 Lieut. Col. Cornelius \'an Dyck 
 
 Elkanah Watson 
 
 Thomas l^ryan 
 
 Philip Van Cortlandl 
 
 Daniel Dawson 
 
 Alex. Munro 
 
 Richard Piatt 
 
 Samuel Dodge 
 
 Chas. McKenny 
 
 .■\braham Hodge 
 
 Lieut. John Stagg, jr 
 
 Thomas Brooks 
 
 John Beardsley 
 
 John Williams 
 
 Lieut. Chas. E. Weissenfeis. ... 
 
 John Cosgrove 
 
 Robert McClellan 
 
 Lieut. Col. Benj. Walker 
 
 Wm. Gilleland 
 
 Isaiah Burch 
 
 Robert Provoost 
 
 Jacob Hallett 
 
 Michael Decker 
 
 Cornelius C. Elmendorf 
 
 James Grace 
 
 59 
 
 600 
 
 I 
 
 137 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 164 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 160 
 60 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 '55 
 46.4 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 1 19.8 
 
 
 
 s. w. 
 
 50 
 
 60 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 61 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 62 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 63 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 S. E. 
 
 
 64 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 65 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 S. E. 
 
 
 66 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 67 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 68 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 6q 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 70 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 71 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 72 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 73 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 74 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 7S 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 76 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 Soo 
 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 S. E. 
 
 
 7« 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 S. E. 
 
 
 79 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 S. E. 
 
 
 80 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 
 100 .S. K. 
 
 
 Si 
 
 600 1 
 
 
 82 
 
 600' 
 
 
 83 
 
 600 
 
 
 84 
 
 600 
 
 
 8S 
 
 600 
 
 
 86 
 
 600 
 
 
 87 
 
 600 
 
 
 88 
 
 500, 
 100 S. E. 
 
 
 8c, 
 
 600 
 
 
 90 
 
 91 
 
 600 
 
 500, 
 
 
 100 S. K. 
 
 
 <;2 SOO 
 
 
 100 
 
 
 93 
 
 600 
 
 
 94 
 
 500 
 
 100 S. K. 
 
 
 95 
 
 500, 
 100 S. K. 
 
 
 96 
 
 600 
 
 
 
.^8 
 
 CKNTENNIAI, OF ROMUtU?. 
 
 John Goodcourage. 
 
 Levi Burling 
 
 John Robinson . . . 
 Florence Alarony. . 
 Thompson Bacon. 
 
 Q7 
 
 600 
 
 1 
 
 q« 
 
 SCO 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 S. E. 
 
 QQ 
 
 600 
 
 
 lOO 
 
 600 
 
 
 Patents for 500 acres and 600 acres each were issued during the niontli 
 of July, 1790 — while patents for 100 acres or 50 acres or other sLihdividcd 
 lots were issued at later dates. 
 
 Awards made by (Jnondat 
 in Romulus Military townshii), 
 
 a Com 
 
 cases ol dis[iuted title^ 
 
 Lots. 
 
 Names. 
 
 ick.. 
 
 Benj. Dey 
 
 Peter W. Yates . . 
 
 G.VV.VanSchaick, & H.Bleecker 
 
 John Beardslee 
 
 Benj. Dey 
 
 Gerrit W. \'an.Sc 
 
 Benj. Dey 
 
 Isaac Hathaway 
 
 John Rogers' heirs 
 
 Elkanah Watson 
 
 C. Glen & B. Bleeckev 
 
 Geo. x\l. Woolsev 
 
 Nicholas Fish...' 
 
 Caleb Benton 
 
 Elkanah Watson 
 
 Margaretta Varirk .. 
 
 Robert Troup 
 
 James McKnight 
 
 Margaretta Varick . . , 
 
 Caleb Benton 
 
 John D. Coe 
 
 lames Reed 
 
 Robert Dill 
 
 Peter W. Yates 
 
 Calvin Sanger 
 
 Elkanah Wat.son .... 
 
 Peter W. Yates 
 
 Gerrit W. VanSchaick 
 
 Elk land Watson 
 
 Nathaniel Piatt 
 
 John Beardslee 
 
 VVm. Thompson 
 
 Gerrit W. V'anSchaick. 
 John Robison .... 
 
 John D. Dickinson 
 
 Elijah Kinne, Jr 
 
 David Wisner 
 
 John Dey 
 
 Acres. 
 
 500 
 
 1 
 
 qo s. 
 
 K. 
 
 500 
 
 
 100 s. 
 
 v.. 
 
 600 
 
 
 qo N 
 
 K. 
 
 ftoo 
 
 
 50 N. 
 
 W. 
 
 100 s. 
 
 J'.. 
 
 50 N. 
 
 1:. 
 
 600 
 
 
 S'^o 
 
 
 600 
 
 
 ^0 s. 
 
 \\'. 
 
 600 
 
 
 50 s. 
 
 u. 
 
 100 s. 
 
 !•:. 
 
 600 
 
 
 so N 
 
 w. 
 
 50 N. 
 
 \v. 
 
 600 
 
 
 600 
 
 
 550 
 
 
 SO s. 
 
 w. 
 
 SCO 
 
 
 100 s. 
 
 ]■".. 
 
 SCO 
 
 
 100 s. 
 
 E. 
 
 SO s. 
 
 W. 
 
 50 s. 
 
 !■:. 
 
 600 
 
 
 SCO 
 
 
 100 s. 
 
 i:. 
 
 550 
 
 
 so N 
 
 \\ . 
 
 Soo 
 
 
 100 s. 
 
 v.. 
 
 soo 
 
 
 100 s. 
 
 \v. 
 
 600 
 
 
 Dale of Award. 
 
 Nov. 14, 1798 
 March 19, 1801 
 
 Copi 
 These 
 
 1082. 
 
 Nov. 17, 
 Dec. 28, 
 Oct. 17, 
 
 Feby. 24, 1802. 
 
 Feby. 24, 1802, 
 
 _ Feby. 23, 1802 
 
 ed from the "Book of Awards," filed in Cayuga County Clerk's Office 
 Awards bear date during a period from March 30, 1798, to Feby. 24. 
 The awards made as to Lots 60, 70, 71 and 79 were dissented to. 
 
 Nov. 9, 
 
 Dec. 13, 
 
 Nov. 14. 
 
 Aug. 16, 
 
 Dec. 4, 
 
 Nov. s, 
 
 Nov. II, 
 
 Mav 6, 
 
 Dec. 27, 
 
 Nov. 15, 
 
 Sept. 10, 
 
 janv. 30, 
 
 "Dec. 3, 
 
 Aug. 15, 
 
 Aug. 16, 
 
 Nov. 24, 
 
 June 3, 
 
 J any. ^30, 
 
 Nov. IS, 
 
 Oct. 31', 
 
 Nov. 16, 
 
 March 19, 
 
 Nov. 15, 
 
 Nov. 28, 
 
 Sept. 12, 
 
 Nov. 22. 
 
 March 19, 
 
 Aug. 16, 
 
 Dec, 8, 
 
 Aug. 5, 
 
 Dec. 13, 
 
 March 30, 1798 
 1798 
 1798, 
 1799 
 
 1799 
 1800, 
 1798 
 1800. 
 179H. 
 1799' 
 1800 
 1800 
 1800. 
 
 1799 
 1800. 
 1802 
 1798, 
 1800, 
 1800. 
 1800. 
 1799 
 1802 
 1799. 
 1799. 
 1798. 
 1 801 
 1798 
 ^798 
 1799 
 1798 
 i8oi 
 1800. 
 1 800, 
 
 1799 
 1800 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 5^ 
 
 WESl' CAYUGA RESERVATION. 
 
 IN TOWN OF VARICK. 
 
 From records at Albany it appears lots were patenteti as follows 
 
 Lots. 
 
 To Whom Patented. 
 
 Date of Patent. 
 
 No. of 
 A ores. 
 
 Christian Kuney 
 
 William Hill 
 
 William X. Bannister. . i i' 
 
 Lewis Xothnagle [- -j 
 
 Jacob Lauteuschhii^er.. > ( 
 
 David Harris . . . . 
 
 Andrew Hood 
 
 John Ansberger .... 
 
 John Leisennng pt 
 
 Amelia J. Schuyler pt 
 
 Charles Thompson [)l 
 
 Seneca P. King pt 
 
 Elijah Miller.. 
 
 John Camber 
 
 Henry Singer 
 
 Elijah Miller 
 
 John Williams 
 
 John Ciamber 
 
 Thomas Lowdon and George Clouser.. . 
 
 Samuel Falkingburgh 
 
 Henry Pace t 
 
 Henrv Gardner 
 
 William Hill 
 
 Samuel Phillips 
 
 Elias Christopher 
 
 Abraham Arnokl 
 
 William Emmons 
 
 Isaac Parker and Abraham Hoagland. . 
 
 David Quigley ' 
 
 David Edwards 
 
 Henry Gardner 
 
 Daniel Christopher 
 
 September 17, 181 1. 
 Not ascertained 
 
 January 4, 1814 
 
 February 1 [, 1814.. .i 
 September 17, i8ii..i 
 
 April 27, 1832 
 
 November 6, 1816.. . 
 December 30, 1863 . 
 
 [816.. 
 
 November 9, 
 
 July 25, 1818 
 
 May 30. i8og 
 
 November g, 1816. . 
 
 March 5. 1816 
 
 July 5, iSio 
 
 July 8, 1813 
 
 January 7, 181 1 
 
 May 30, 1809 
 
 Not ascertained 
 
 April 20, 1815 
 
 May 30, 1809 
 
 July 8, 1813 
 
 August 8, 1811 
 
 July 6, 1815 . . 
 
 January 16, 1817 
 
 June 14, 1816 
 
 June I, 1815 
 
 February 29, 1808... , 
 iVIay 30, 1809 
 
 250 
 
 250 
 
 250 
 
 155 
 250 
 250 
 
 238 
 250 
 250 
 213 
 208 
 250 
 250 
 200 
 200 
 250 
 200 
 208 
 214 
 250 
 250 
 216 
 223 
 
 195 
 140 
 .84 
 
 Appendix B. 
 "Memorial of inhabitants between the Seneca and Cayuga lakes in the 
 Military Tract" - presented to the Legislature June 27, 1795. 
 
 "Your petitioners, did in the year 1788, settle themselves between the 
 lakes with the expectation of enjoying the lands, on which they were each 
 settled and as at that early day they were not informed that the said lands 
 were assigned for Military purposes. 
 
 \'our petitioners therefore pray, that they may not be looked upon as 
 intruders and violators of the laws, and as they have made large improve- 
 ments between the Lakes, which a few years ago was wild, savage and un- 
 
6o 
 
 CENTE>;NIAL of ROMULt-g. 
 
 cultivated, but now has become an inhabited, fruitful and fertile countn-. 
 which in a few months we expect to leave to the legal owners of the soil - 
 your Petitioners think it reasonable, that a compensation should be made to 
 them for their improvements. 
 
 Signed bv twentv-three persons including 
 
 Nathaniel SwARTHOUT, 
 Anthony Swarthout, 
 loHN Swarthout, 
 David Depue, 
 David Wisner, 
 Iames Cooley. 
 James King. 
 
CENTEXNIAL OF ROHTXr?. &I 
 
 AppEXDrs C 
 Superr'isers of Romulus to rSjc. 
 
 1704, q;,q6 Ben-atah Boaedman 
 
 i797,qS.qq, iSoc George Baijlet 
 
 1800, SepL 2 John ^ATU El vacancy • 
 
 i8oi!to 1808. inclusive .-John Sayre 
 
 180Q, to 18 14, inclusive --- Joxas:?eeley 
 
 ,8jI \Vm. Watts Folvtell 
 
 i8i6'to 182 1, "inclusive " Samtel Blain 
 
 ,g2^ JoXAS bEELEY 
 
 ,g-,t' >LiTHER Marvin 
 
 1824 
 1825, 
 
 AXTHON-T DeY 
 
 Mather Marvin 
 
 1826: J0XASSEEI.ET 
 
 SAJtrEL Blain 
 
 1827 
 
 ^uperi'is^frs frvmt fSjc 
 
 iS^^,i.-.2 -IohnSatre 
 
 ,g;, ~ ~ lOXAS bEELEY 
 
 ist£ ^; ;6 iUTTHEW D. COE 
 
 igC'^-'^ Edward Sayre 
 
 iS^" ."-...!-.'■...." Cyrus J. Sctto-v 
 
 igC Xathasiel N'. Hayt 
 
 1840. .'! !!!!]. "!]!-". '. Cyrus J. St-TToN 
 
 ,g,j . Elitah Denton 
 
 jg,,' "! I* I! I! "I.... !"...... \Vm. A- Stout 
 
 184T 4.4 **"!**". '. Wm.T Johnson 
 
 fgt;' !." .*" !!!...". Henry McLafferty 
 
 ig.A ,- ' """.'" Jeter T. VanVleet 
 
 -Cyrus Kisne 
 
 Joseph F. H.^rrfs 
 
 1S46. X- 
 
 1848. 
 
 1840, 
 
 ,g;o ;i FEKN.A.NDO C WII.LLA.XS 
 
 ,§-;,'-;, " _"" A.-\tA5AL. FuRM-V^- 
 '■^"* ""^ .Helim Sutton 
 
 ,^1.' -^ ._ " Joseph F. H-\RRis 
 
 i8"Si! ;q.' io ..'. '. .■.".".".■"."."*-"'■----." Peter L VanVleet 
 
 K^I 6? PETER P.POST 
 
 ig^, ,RiCH.\RD M. STEELE 
 
 ig^ji'p- .WM- D. GiDDINGS 
 
 ,g(^'p^ ."' Geo- W- Uc-\CK> 
 
 1868:00. -o.-i".';^ ...v.. -" ----, James Bl-un 
 
 jg-, -, ■ . E. ^EELEY B-\RTLETT 
 
 igi-* 1^ Aaron V. Brokaw 
 
 jgL^' Is; _'""" Iohs M. Yerkes 
 
 jgi' ■ ^ V.V. -".". - - - ToHN Monroe 
 
 ,i^<^-," William Stewart 
 
 ,^' ;.*;_; ja-mesbl-^n 
 
 iSS- 8; Rynear C -Allex 
 
 j^7 V- S6 Edward VanVleet 
 
 iSji-s5'so .'" Cyrus E- KiN-NE 
 
 S^" DonP. Blaln 
 
 ^- Chas. W. Rising 
 
 180' Q^ . ...: Darwin C- KiNNE 
 
 i8q4 ^ .!!!!.!!.:"" JOSLAH VeKKES 
 
^:i 6? CENTKN.NVAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 7o7rn Clerks to /Sjo. 
 
 1 7Q4. •• WiM. Winter 
 
 1795,96 George Bailey 
 
 1797. 98, 99, 1800. John Sayre 
 
 1801, 3, 3, Daniel Sayre 
 
 1804, 5, 6, 7 ... Joseph Wyckoff 
 
 1808, Q, 10, 1 1 "... Silas Allen 
 
 1812, KbENEZER CONKLIN 
 
 1813,14. David Edwards 
 
 1815, 16, 17, 18, 19. 20, 21, 23 FLbenezer Conklin 
 
 1823, 34 Wm. H. King 
 
 1825,26,37 Matthew D. Coe 
 
 1828, 29 John Geddes 
 
 Tow/! Meefini^s. llVun- Held. 
 
 1794 at Benajah Boardman's. 
 
 '795. 9^^ •'It James McKnight's. 
 
 1797, to 1800, inclusive, at John Sayre's. 
 
 1801, to 1819, inclusive, at David Depue's. 
 
 1820, 21, 22, at John Buys.' 
 
 1823, at Skillman Doty's. 
 
 1824, at David Edwards." 
 
 1825, at George Alexander's. 
 
 1826, at David Depue's. 
 
 1827, 28, 29, at George Alexander's. 
 1830, 31, 32, 33, at Ira Giddings". 
 
 1834, at Henry M. Schooley's. 
 
 1835, at William Martin's. 
 
 Since 1835, town elections have been held at the centre of the town 
 at Martin's, or in School House near there. In 1890, the town was divided 
 into three election districts, for the holding of General State elections, with 
 election polls at Willard, Hayt's Corners, and Romulus \'illage. 
 
 Sjipervisors of I'arick. 
 
 1830. Anthony Dey 
 
 1831,32,33 Samuel Blain 
 
 1834,35,36 Charles Lemmon 
 
 1837, " JOHN A. Christopher 
 
 1838, Daniel H. Bryant 
 
 1839, John A. Christopher 
 
 1840, David Harris 
 
 1841, Jesse Abbott 
 
 1842, 43 Robert R. Steele 
 
 1844, Daniel H.Bryant 
 
 1845,46,47 Jesse Abbott 
 
 1848, Joseph Gambee 
 
 1849, • • Jesse Abbott 
 
 1850, Robert R. Steele 
 
 1851, Jesse Abbott 
 
 1852, Sc)LOMON C. Gambee 
 
 1853,54 Abraham Lerch 
 
 1855, ........ /William Burroughs 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. "S^ 4 J 
 
 1X56, (".i:()KGE S, CONOVI'.K 
 
 1857, 58, 5(; W'll.I.lAM BrKROlKiHS 
 
 i860,' " JOHN MONROK 
 
 1861,62 ]\.P.\-. Dll'.DKICH WlLLKKS 
 
 1863! 64 Alfred Hunt 
 
 1861;, 66 DlKDRKH WiLLERS, Jr. 
 
 1867,68 ■ Calvin WiLLEKs 
 
 1869170 Alfred Hunt 
 
 1871, lU'RROUGHS Roberts 
 
 1872,7^,74 Henry F. Troutalnn 
 
 i^S7q| "' Ralrh p. R()1',erts 
 
 ,876! ". David H. Manei-, 
 
 1877I 78 Dk. Frank H. Flood 
 
 i87<;!8o joHN\". Crane 
 
 1881,82, S^, Henry C.LisK 
 
 1884,85,86 Damei. C. Burrou(;hs 
 
 1887! 88, 8<, Oi.iN E. Fmens 
 
 iXgo. John McKni(;ht 
 
 i8qi] Arthur H. Brooks 
 
 ,8(p|9S, ()4 Ogden Wheeler 
 
 Town iiK'ftiiiK^ ill N'arick i'loni 1836 to 1855, were usually held alterna- 
 tely at lohn V. Manning's at the west end. ami Samuel Lerch's on Military 
 Lot !;4 at the Northeast end. Since 1856, town meetings alternate between 
 liearytown and Romulus village. 1-rom 1842 to 1855, general elections were 
 held in two election districts, at Manning's and Ferch's and since 1856 at 
 Bearytown and Romulus village. 
 
 Al'I'ENDIX I). 
 '/'(■(u/irrs /nhir(/i/i^iJiid Wood Lists. 
 The following will exhibit a true co[iy of the wood and board hiuiid 
 during the quarter last past, ending January 21st, 1825, vi/, : 
 Mr. J. Flathaway, i cord of wood, ten davs Ixjard. 
 Mr! '1". Mann, i cord of wood, 12 days hoard. 
 Mr. D. Garrigus, V2 cord wood, 6 days board. 
 Mr. A. Baldrtdge, 3 days board, % cord of woo<l. 
 Mr. R. Barr, 5 days board, i cord of wood. 
 Mr. I). Dev, 12 days board, i cord of woo(L 
 Mr. A. Mc'Knight, 3 days board, Vi cord oi wood. 
 Mr. S. McMath, 4 days board. 
 Mr. E. Beach, 3 days board, '4 cord of wood. 
 Mr. Jac. Lowden, i days board, -^4 cord ol wood. 
 Mr. James Lowden, 6 days board. 
 Mr. A, Fyon, i days board, Yz cord of wood. 
 Mr. Markle, i cord of wood, 8 days board. 
 Mr. Bargar, i days board, '< cord of wood. 
 Mr. Wilcox, 2 days board. 
 Mr. Karr, 2 days board, Yz cord of wood. 
 Mr. Smith, l days board, Y^ cord of wood. 
 Capt. T. Ludlum, K cord of wood, 1 days board. 
 Mr. J. Beach. '4 cord of wood. 
 
 Dispute this if vou can. „rT- ■..-t^t-o -v 1 
 
 ' R. WEBSTER, leaclier. 
 
 C.pied in 1870, from the original, in possession of Jacob A. Mann, nf 
 A'arick, since deceased. 
 
CENrilKNIAL OP ROMULUS. 
 
 Retui 
 
 ,/ Api'ENDIx K. 
 >f Klecti^rs. in the town of Romulus, County of Cayui,^a, 1801 
 
 Heads of Fa/iiili( 
 
 John Seeley 
 
 Mahlon ]^ainl)ri(l,ijc. .. 
 
 William Seeley 
 
 Jacob Hathaway 
 
 Thomas Combs 
 
 Haynes Bartlett 
 
 James McKiiiijht 
 
 Alia McMathT 
 
 William Mount 
 
 Peter Ouigley 
 
 William Brewster 
 
 Jesse Brewster 
 
 John Bainbridge ...... 
 
 James Goble 
 
 Michael Baklridtre. . . 
 
 Frederic Kisler 
 
 Eliel Goble 
 
 John FlemiiiLT 
 
 Stephen Miller 
 
 Abner Bainbridge. . . . 
 
 Jonathan Lewis 
 
 William Stottle 
 
 Joseph Ker 
 
 William Bu/.enbark . . 
 
 William Barney 
 
 John Tindall 
 
 Joseph Hunt 
 
 Silas Beers 
 
 James Seeley 
 
 Timothy Janes , 
 
 Phineas Tuthill 
 
 Jonas Seeley 
 
 Charles Stewart , 
 
 David Price 
 
 Benjamin Sutton 
 
 Asa Smith 
 
 Walter Watrus 
 
 James Watrus 
 
 Wilham Shattuck 
 
 Eliphalet Shattuck . . . 
 
 John Stone 
 
 James Wiley 
 
 William Blain 
 
 Alexander Brown .... 
 Jonathan Baitman ... . 
 
 Electors 
 /' sessedofFrce 
 holds of the val- 
 ue of £100. 
 
 Electors 
 possessed of Eree 
 holds of the 7<al- 
 ue of £20, and 
 under £/oo. 
 
 Electors 
 not possessed of 
 Freeholds, but 
 who refit tene- 
 mfsyj-ly value 
 of 40 shillings. 
 
CENTENNIAL OF RDMULUS. 
 
 x*^^ 
 
 James Bailey 
 
 Abner Bailey 
 
 Jonathan Bailey 
 
 Thomas Burgess 
 
 Benjamin Burgess 
 
 James Woodruff , 
 
 William Osborn 
 
 William W. Dekay. . . . 
 Joshua Hallock.. . .. 
 
 Samuel Bailey 
 
 Andrew Dunnet 
 
 George Wilkin 
 
 John Halbert... 
 
 James King 
 
 Francis Antony 
 
 Thomas Parkins . . . 
 
 Israel Harris 
 
 Peter Huff 
 
 David Depue 
 
 Bastian Williams 
 
 Michael \'an Cort 
 
 Jesse Kiljiatrick 
 
 Walter Ker 
 
 loseph Kinton 
 
 Josei)h Wicoff 
 
 |()hn Terhune 
 
 "Albert Earl i 
 
 William Huff j 
 
 William Hood ! 
 
 John Hood 
 
 (ieorge Hood 
 
 Andrew Hood 
 
 Joseph Haynes 
 
 John Alexander 
 
 lames Alexander j 
 
 "Robert White | 
 
 John Williams 
 
 Ikirna Swarthout 
 
 John Swarthout . - 
 
 David Wisner 
 
 Elijah Kinne 
 
 Ephraim Kinne 
 
 Nat Swarthout 
 
 Anthony Swarthout 
 
 Joseph Lewis 
 
 Jeremiah Decker 
 
 Reuben Denton 
 
 Michael Mead 
 
 Samuel Reed 
 
 /ebedee Stout 
 
 John Sage 
 
 Samuel Waldron . . . 
 
 Francis Hageruum 
 
 John Hagerman 
 
 Daniel Mathews 
 
 Abel Baker 
 
6ii>1< 
 
 CETvTK 
 
 AL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 Peter Huff, Jr.... 
 
 lames Brown. .. • ^ 
 
 Andrew McKiugbt.. ■ ^ 
 
 James Barr ^ 
 
 Henry Beers i ^ 
 
 Gabriel Beach . ^ 
 
 Samuel Easton 
 
 losiah Easton 
 
 Ezekiel Beadi 
 
 Jabez Beach 
 
 Jonas Beach ^ 
 
 "Isaac Hathaway -■' 
 
 Joseph Hathaway 
 
 "Roljert Wilson • 
 
 George Waldortf . • • • 
 Abraham WaUlovft . . 
 
 James Lamb 
 
 Benjamin Lemmon.... 
 
 John Lacy 
 
 "John Hathaway 
 
 "Edward Spaldmg . • • 
 James Cooly • • • 
 
 Asa Whitehead 
 
 Henry Gray 
 
 Thomas Lowden 
 
 Isaias Lewis 
 
 George Lamb 
 
 John Sinclear 
 
 "David Lamb • 
 
 Charles Woodruff 
 
 Sears Beach 
 
 Beniamin Dey 
 
 Jacob Lowden 
 
 Peter Basum • • • 
 
 Anthony VanAkm... 
 
 John Arnold 
 
 Peter Stottle 
 
 George Stottle . . • • 
 
 Lewis Laf ever 
 
 lose])h Yerkes 
 
 William Purdy 
 
 Tliomas Purdy 
 
 Charles Dickerson . 
 
 lames Merit 
 
 "John Waldron 
 
 John Birt 
 
 Thomas Blam 
 
 George Dewy 
 
 Phdip Bunn. 
 
 John Whitney 
 
 Samuel W^iitney ■ ■ • 
 
 Amos Denton ■ 
 
 Stephen Sherwood 
 
 Elijah Chard 
 
 Wilham Rowley. . 
 Joseph Barber.. .. 
 
CENTENNIAL OF KOMULUS. 
 
 \(^r 
 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 I 
 1 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 John Boice, Jr 
 
 Jacob Boice 
 
 1 
 
 Joshua Tuthill 
 
 I 
 
 Duiilap 
 
 Adonijah Osborn 
 
 Andrew Smith 
 
 I 
 
 David Burroughs 
 
 Abel Frisbie 
 
 Isaac Johnson 
 
 Samuel Thurstin 
 
 1 
 
 Samuel Faltcenburu; 
 
 I 
 
 
 James Ker. . : 
 
 Sam 1 Ker . . 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 I 
 
 Benjamin IJadgley 
 
 John Sayre. 
 
 I 
 
 
 1 
 
 I, John Savre, do certify this Census to be true, according to the best of 
 my knowledge and belief. 
 
 October 20th, i8o I. JOHN SAVRF.. 
 
 Xo'i'i: — The si)clling of names lierein, conforms to the original list. 
 
 AiM'Kxnix F. 
 
 "The Rev. Diedrich Willers, 1). I)., (bed at his residence, in tlie town 
 of \'arick, Seneca County, N. \'., on Sunday, May i^tli, 1883, in tlie 86th 
 year of his age. 
 
 He was born at Walle, near liremen, Germany, February 6, i/qS. He 
 entered the army of Hanover, September, 1814, and served in the (Jerman 
 division of the allied army for nearly five years; was an active [larticipaut 
 in the memorable battle of Waterloo, Belgium, June 16, 17, and 18, 1815, 
 with the allied army, under the Duke of Wellington. 
 
 In this battle, the company of which he was a member, consisting ot 
 120 men, was reduced to 12 privates and two non-commissioned officers, 
 and the battalion of 400 men, to less than 80 survivors. 
 
 He continued with the allied forces, as army of occui)ation in France, 
 for three years, after the downfall of Bonaparte, when he was honoralily 
 discharged and awarded a silver medal in recognition of his military 
 services. 
 
 He arrived m the United States in November 1819, and engaged in 
 school teaching, while preparing for the ministry, and so thorough was his 
 apiilication, that he was ordained to the ministry in 1821. 
 
^^"^^ CENTfiNNIAI OF ROMULUS. 
 
 He was settled in that year, a? pastor of the German Reformed Church, 
 at the hamlet of Bearytown, in central Seneca County, and ministered to 
 that people, for a consecutive period of sixty years and eight months, and 
 until January ist, 1882, when his resignation took effect, rendered necessary 
 hy growing infirmities. 
 
 While ministering to his own people, he served also, at different pe- 
 riods at six other preaching points in the county, and at seven or eight other 
 points, in Tompkins, Cayuga, Wayne, Livingston and Niagara Counties, 
 performing a large proportion of the travel, incident to so extended a field 
 of labor, on horseback, especially during the first half of his ministry. 
 
 During this ministry, he preached about 5,800 regular Sunday dis- 
 courses, almost equally divided between the German and English language, 
 })esides many funeral and special discourses, and performed a large amount 
 of ministerial labor, in the solemnization of marriages, and m the adminis- 
 tration of the rites of baptism and confirmation. 
 
 He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from FrankHii Marshall 
 College, at Lancaster, Pa." George S. Conovek, 
 
 In General John Sullivan's Indian Expedition, State puljlication, of 1887. 
 Al'l'ENDlX G. 
 
 Diedrich Willers, Jr., son of Rev. Dr. Diedrich and Frances Wiilers, 
 was born in Varick, N. Y., Nov. 3, 1833. He was educated prin(i|ially in 
 the District school and under the direction of his father. 
 
 In his youth he taught school for several years, and afterwards gradu- 
 ated as a student-at-law, at the Albany Law Lhiiversity. 
 
 He was elected Supervisor of V'arick, in 1865, and 1866. He had also 
 served as Private Secretary to Governor Horatio Seymour in 1864. His 
 service in the office of the Secretary of State at Albany, at different periods, 
 covered six years as a clerk, eight years as Deputy, and two years as Sec- 
 retary of State, to which office he was elected at the State election in Nov. 
 1873.' 
 
 In November 1877, he was elected Member of Assembly for Seneca 
 County, and served as such in the Legislature of 1878. 
 
 J. WiLFORiJ Jacks, Chairman of Executive Connnittee. 
 
CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS. 
 
 •^^^f^Gf 
 
 Calvin Willers, son of Rev. Dr. Diedrich and Frances Willers, was 
 horn in Varick, Dec. q, i.S^o. He received his education in the public and 
 academic schools, and in his youth taught for a iwniber of years in District 
 schools of the county. In the spring of 1867, he was elected Supervisor of 
 Varick, and was re-elected without opposition in 1868. In November 1868, 
 he was elected County Clerk of Seneca County, and served a full term of 
 three years as such, at Ovid. 
 
 In January, 1874, he entered niton tlie duties of Chief Clerk, in the 
 office of the Secretary of State ;it Albany, winch |)osition he held up to the 
 time of his death, Ai)ril 9, 1875. 
 
 During the latter years of his life he pursued the study of law, and had 
 he lived, would have been admitted to the Bar, at the session of court in 
 the month following his death. 
 
 Henjamin Dey, referred to, (page 28), as one of the earliest settlers in 
 X'arick, was born at Preakness, New Jersey, Dec. 11, 1761. He died at his 
 home on Military Lot 49, March 34, 1822, and was buried in a grave on his 
 farm. 
 
 The parents of .\razina Cone Fleming, were married Nov. 26, 1793, 
 (see i)ages 30 and 31 I. Mrs. Fleming on the 9th of October, 1894, reached 
 her one hundredth birthday, and is still living at the time of publication 
 liereof, Nov. 1894. 
 
Distorical Hbbress 
 
 Delipereb b^ Diebricb Millers, of IDarlcFi, 
 3unc 13, 1894, at tbe 
 
 Centennial Celebration 
 
 Qt tbe ©fecial ©rganisation of tbe ^own of 
 1RomulU0, 1R. E 
 
^ ^r^-^^ a9<'- 
 
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