^ I n MM CAse ^^t t FRAGILE DOES NOT /-(^^-r CIRCULATE »0 "A^C^ (rWWA4V FRAGILE PAPER Please handle with care, as is brittle. this book the paper Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028825938 I^^'lf^.-' -t:„" ^Cywvwv>^ X*\'vaava0^j)j!)WJ MRS. EDMUND NORMAN LESLIE. Died March 15, 1890, aged sixty-three years. The Perfection of a Loving and Devoted Wife fur Fcjrty-rtve Years. SKANEATELES HISTORY OF ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT AND REMINISCENCES OF LATER TIMES DISCONNECTED SKETCHES OF THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT OF THIS TOWN AND VILLAGE, NOT CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED, TOGETHER WITH ITS GRADUAL AND PROGRESSIVE ADVANCEMENT IN BUSINESS PROSPERITY AND HIGHER EDUCATION. WITH NOTES OF THE INDI- VIDUALITY OF PROMINENT CITIZENS BY EDMUND NORMAN LESLIE CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY ILLUSTRATED 1902 Press of Andrew H. Kellogg New York Copyright, 1901, by EDMUND NORMAN LESLIE CONTENTS, PAGE. INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS xvii PREFACE CHAPTER I. The Earliest History The earliest known history of the lands comprising the town of Skaneateles. These lands were allotted by law to the soldiers of the Revolutionary War. Detailed explanation of what were known as the " Military Lots." Portions of the land of the State of New York were surveyed into townships. Each township was ten miles square, and contained one hundred Military Lots. The town of Skaneateles was not an original township. A portion of the original township of Marcellus, consisting of thirty-nine Military Lots, was laid off to establish this town of Skaneateles. How each soldier became the owner of a Military Lot. The names of the Revolutionary soldiers who were the original owners of all the lands com- prising the town of Skaneateles. A comparison of the limited age of this town with past ages, during which these lands have existed unknown to the nations of the civilized world. CHAPTER II. How THE Pioneers Came Their hardships. The difficulties of keeping fire on the hearth. A description of the original tinder-box. How it was used to originate fire. The first friction- matches, which were introduced in the year 1827. Tallow dips were an early luxury. Next were introduced the whale-oil lamps. Account-books of early merchants. Explanation of the common currency first used after the Revolutionary War. Its legal tender character was, by Act of Congress of 1795, enacted to be the divisions of the Spanish milled dollar : Halves, Quarters, Eighths, and Sixteenths. This legal tender character of the Spanish coin continued until the Act of Congress passed in the year i8ss repealed the Act of 1795. Since the year 1855 no Spanish coin has been in circulation as legal tender. An old one-cent piece. The pioneer's life. " Bees." Log houses, log barns, and log schoolhouses. The early missionaries held their religious services in the barns and schoolhouses. The women of those early days deserve especial notice. They hatcheled all the flax, spun all the linen thread, spun all the wool, wove all the tow cloth, knit all the stockings of the household, made all the clothing of the pioneers, did all the cooking, tended to garden to supply the viii CONTENTS. PAGE. table with vegetables, together with some flowers to beautify their home, and did all the other household work, which was continuous from daylight to the hours of needed rest late at night. CHAPTER III. Early Pioneers ii Pioneers who came within the first twenty years. The first actual original settler in this town was Abraham A. Cuddeback. John Thompson was not a resident settler until 1810; proof shown of this fact. Elijah Bowen, another very early settler; account of his family. His son Almeron was the first child born of parents who settled and lived in this town. The peculiar circumstances of his birth. Bowen's home was headquarters for emigrating families. Benajah Bowen. David Kingsley. Amasa Smith. Winston Day, the first merchant in this town. Henry Root ; his recollections. Asa Mason. Nehemiah H. Earll ; his history, recollections, and obituary notice. Nathan Kelsey, the brickmaker who stamped his name on every brick. His bricks are often found in old large chimneys and ovens of this .town. The Cuyken- dalls. The Van Ettens. David Welch. Samuel Welch, and his recollections. Benjamin Nye, who made the first bricks. Mrs. Nye's journey through the wilderness for assistance. Hezekiah Earll. Abijah Earll. Chester Parsons. Silas Bush. Amos Pardee. CHAPTER IV. Continuation of the History of the Pioneers 25 Alanson Benson. Charles J. Burnett, Sr. Daniel Kellogg. Jedediah Sanger. Isaac Sherwood, together with the details of his contract with the Government for the transportation of the mails between Albany and BuiTalo and intermediate places. Mrs. Cody, grandmother of Hiram Reed; her experience in the journey from Massa- chusetts on horseback to this town in the year 1800 through the forest. Copy of a bill of merchandise purchased at Albany by a firm of early merchants of this town in the year 1806. William J. Vredenburg. A legend concerning a jug of gin. Who were here when William J. Vredenburg first came in the year 1803. Nathaniel Miller, who settled in the village in 1807; his recollections. The interesting history of Amos Miner, an early inventor. Remarkable history of a journey through the forest in the year 1799 by John R. Kellogg. CHAPTER V. More Pioneers 52 History of early settlers. Eli Clark. Elias Merrell. Alanson Edwards, Jr. S. Porter Rhoades and family history. Names and location of early settlers, farmers, and others who came here before 1803. Another list of early settlers who came here before 1815. Ministerial items. Old receipt for dressing deer skins. Daniel Briggs. John S. Furman and Alexander Bebee. Aaron Austin. Dorastus Lawrence. William Clift. Elijah Parsons. The town of Skaneateles. Hardships of the pioneers. "Through the Wilderness," a poem. John Legg. History of the Shepard family and the " Shepard Settlement." Recollections of Mrs. Charles J. Burnett, Sr. John Bristol. Abner Bates. Simeon Edwards. Solomon Williams. Samuel Briggs. Colonel Samuel Bellamy. Daniel McKay. Business men here in 1834. The First Cuddeback. CONTENTS. ix CHAPTER VI. PAGE. Interesting Sayings and Doings of' Olden Times 70 Samuel Edwards, an old resident, tells of olden times. Dr. Nels. Flink. Nate Bennett. Josh Wilkinson. Sol Foster. Frank Barker. Ives Parsons. Harrison B. Dodge, editor of the Skaneateles Democrat. The defeat of the dangerous •' Malby Bill " in the Legislature. Comparison of early real estate values in Syracuse and Skaneateles. James Sackett. Has Skaneateles retrograded? The first steam- boat on the Lake, " The Highland Chief." Rossville was in the year 1831 the name . of the head of the lake. An old log tavern. Early business in Skaneateles. Early artists and their rudimental practise in painting the backs of the old style of sleighs. These artists were Elliott and Thayer. Winston Day and wife's sale of land to Freeborn G. Jewett. The Pettis House. The brother of Benedict Arnold, the traitor of Revolutionary notoriety, was once a resident in the village. Condensed fragments of early history. CHAPTER VII. Miscellaneous Fragments of Early History yg The early merchants of the village. Daniel Talcott. Jonathan Weston. Moses Loss. James Turnure, the miller in 1828. Ezra & Benjamin. Ingham & Hecox. Isaac Sherwood. Colonel Warren Hecox. Letter from Lafayette Cuddeback on our first settler, Abraham A. Cuddeback. The Leonard family. Nathan Leonard's Inn. The first actual settler in this county. The first mail carried through Onondaga County in the years 1792-98. Old-time servants. Farmers' daughters. Daniel Kellogg's gardener. Description of the village in 1809. The Skaneateles Religious Society. First excitement among the early settlers; the mill-dam breaks. A forest on the lake-shore in 1796. Village plots. The original village lots, which were laid out by Judge Jedediah Sanger, were termed " Village plots on the north end of Skaneateles Lake." An order for bricks in 1814. John C. Noble, school teacher in 1825. The original forests in this town. First roads laid out in the town. The first graveyard. This settlement (the site of the village) an attractive trading-place in early times. Subscription fot Jonathan Weston, sexton of the old original church on the hill. The old colored man's plaint, in connection with William J. Vredenburg's experience as a judge. Home-made drays. The Hamilton and Skaneateles Turnpike. Wheel-head manufactory. Militia. Elections in 1836. Ezra Lee. William Clift. James Porter came here in 1797, and opened the first tavern in town. The early records. Old-time caterpillars, which destroyed the tree-leaves and garden vegetables in the year 1798. Cold summer in 1816. Open winter in 1823-24. Severe winter in 1836. Water-lime. Division of Marcellus. CHAPTER VIII. The Cardiff Giant 94 Full and complete history of this remarkable fraud. Skaneateles very much interested in viewing it. All the particulars of its discovery. Detailed opinions expressed of its authenticity by prominent professors of colleges, Egyptologists, archeologists, archbishops, clergymen, physicians, and theorists of all degrees. " The Stone Man," a poem. Names of Syracuse speculators who finally purchased the big CONTENTS. PAGE. fraud. The unfortunate error which was made in not allowing Professor Boynton to purchase an interest in the giant. The owners made another mistake in not allowing P. T. Barnum to purchase an interest. The Cardifif Giant and the Indians. Early newspapers in Cayuga County. Charles Goodall, a former resident of this town; some particulars of his eventful life. Presentation to the Skaneateles Library Association. Old accounts. CHAPTER IX. Early Reminiscences 107 Celebration of Fourth of July in 1831. First Skaneateles newspaper; its adver- tisements. General Training Day. An affair of honor. First mail-carriers. Early history. A brother of Benedict Arnold. The dark day in 1806, when there was an eclipse of the sun. Incident of the War of 1812. Repulsing the British in 1812. British prisoners. Samuel Francis, Sr. History of the Edwards family in this town. Origin of the Doctors Porter family. Thaddeus Edwards. Alanson Edwards. Copy of a bill of goods purchased in the village in 1806. Celebration of Fourth of July, 1835. Stages and stage-drivers. Riding-horses. Mrs. Cody's remarkable journey. Full history of the original Skaneateles Library Company, organized March 2, 1806. List of subscribers. Merchants and mechanics here in 1828, who advertised in the first newspaper, The Telegraph. James Sackett, a remarkable character in his time. Winston Day's sale of his village lot to Freeborn G. Jewett, in 1822. Charles J. Burnett's sale of three acres in what is now (1902) the center of the village, in 1820, for $250 to F. G. Jewett. Seth and James Hall, early carriage manufacturers. Skaneateles business men in 1830. CHAPTER X. Early Burial-Places and General History 131 Earliest burial-places in this town. The second burial-place. The Mottville burying-ground. The succeeding burial-ground in the village of Skaneateles. Vari- ous items of early history. Phares Gould. Dr. Samuel Benedict. Names of the vestry of St. James' Church in 1816. Vestry of St. James' Church in 1824. Business men in the village in 1841. A sensational burglary in Skaneateles. Archibald Farr. Chester Parsons. Daniel Kellogg, Jr. Captain Benjamin Lee. Sea letter by George Washington. Captain Nash De Cost. Reuel Smith. The Three Sisters. William Fuller. History of the John Legg village lot. CHAPTER XL The Potashery and Other Manufactures 144 Winston Day's potashery and distillery in the village before 1816. Joseph Tallcot. Nicholas J. Roosevelt. First steamboat trials. Archibald Douglass. William G. EUery. Daniel T. Moseley. Augustus Kellogg. Dr. John Snook. Dyer Brainerd. Charles B. Isbell. Joel Thayer. Dorastus Kellogg. John Kellogg. William M. Beauchamp. Richard Talcott. Captain Rishworth Mason. John Legg. Merchants in 1813. Peter Thompson. Taverns. Philo Dibble. William H. Jewett. Obadiah Thome. Thorne Hill. William H. Pattison. Dr. Charles F. Merrill. Ezekiel B. CONTENTS. xi PAGE. Hoyt. George F. Leitch. Freeborn G. Jewett, Sr. Spencer Hannum. The Die- fendorphs in the town. James Cannings Fuller. Edward B. Coe. Abner Lawton. Edwin Osborne Gould. A traveler's visit to Skaneateles in 1811, while on his way to Niagara, with description of the village. Description qf Skaneateles in 1830. Skaneateles Lake. Early recollections of Thaddeus Edwards, in his boyhood days, 1810. The Packwood carriage manufactory. The " Shepard Settlement." CHAPTER XII. The First Industries in Town and Village^ Commencing with the Village 168 A retrospect of past business of both town and village. Industries in the village. Industries in the town of Skaneateles outside of the village. Mabbitt's mills. Industries at Mottville. Below Mottville— Long Bridge. Hart lot. The rise and fall of mercantile and industrial prosperity in both town and village. The earliest industry in this town. An incident during the War of 1812. Community Place and John A. Collins. Early prices. The sign of the Indian Queen Tavern. CHAPTER XIII. "Protest" against "Protracted Meetings" and Other Reminiscences 178 Report of the proceedings of a public meeting, held February 15, 1832, at the Indian Queen House of Isaac W. Perry, in the village of Skaneateles. An address to the public, with the signatures of prominent citizens, published in an extra of the Skaneateles Columbian. Daniel Webster's visit to Skaneateles in May, 1825. Gen- eral Lafayette's visit to Skaneateles in 1824., while on his return to New York from a visit through the Western States. The great fire which occurred in the village of Skaneateles in 1835. Buildings destroyed, losses, and sufferers. Notice of an appli- cation to the Legislature for the passage of a law to prevent the erection of frame buildings in certain parts of the village. Sir James Nurse, a remarkable Skaneateles fraud. Copperplate engraving of the village seventy-two years ago (1830), together with a description of both town and village, and an enlarged folding illustration. Interesting items. CHAPTER XIV. Early Merchants I94 Briggs & Hall. Hall & Pynchon. Richard Tallcot. R. Tallcot & Co. C. W. Allis & Co. Allis & Morgan. Allis, Moses & Huxtable. Allis, Rhoades & Hall. Morgan & Daniels. J. Gurdon Porter. Wolcott & Porter. Hall, Porter & Co. Butler S. Wolcott. B. S. Wolcott & Co. Phares Gould. Spencer Parsons. Parsons & Rust. Stephen Horton. Jonathan Booth. Booth & Ingham. Booth & Horton. Gibbs & Horton. S. Horton & Co., N. Hawley & Co. Nelson Hawley. George P. Morgan. Edward G. Ludlow. John Meeker. Charles J. Burnett, Jr. Rhoades & Burnett. S., Porter Rhoades. William G. Slade. Charles Pardee. Porter & Pardee. C. Pardee &• Co. Isom & Hall. E. Pardee & Co. Aaron Brinkerhoff. Brinkerhoff & Willetts. Brinkerhoff & Porter. Jonathan Booth. John Meeker. George Francis. Phares Gould. Rev. A. C. Patterson, Jacob W. Van Etten. David Seymour. Early settlers. xii CONTENTS. CHAPTER XV. PAGE. Recollections, Business, and Inventions 213 The cooper-shops of Thaddeus Edwards. Recollections of Thaddeus Edwards. Definition of the pounds, shillings, and pence used in the old account-books of early- merchants and traders. Letter from Superintendent of Philadelphia Mint. Recol- lections of Charles J. Burnett, Jr. Boy life on a farm in Skaneateles. The patent knocker. Expedition to Australia in 1852 in search of gold. The Hecox brick house on the lake-shore, opposite the Packwood House, in 1872. Smallpox in the village in 1851. Offhand sketch of the village and of its people fifty years ago, by George H. EUsbury. Sam Francis and his comical story about four hundred chip- munks in the old brick schoolhouse on the hill. Young fish placed in Skaneateles Lake. Old Burdick, the soap man. The Erie Canal, and its effect on this town. Charles Oxley, the egg man. The Powell brothers and their peculiarities. Peter Pell and his bass drum always the prominent figure in all public processions. Retail prices in the village in the year 1825. Grant Bramble and his reported wonderful inventions. Village property rather low in 1820. Sherwood's house. The Indian Queen Hotel. Before photographs were known. The propeller Ben Porter. CHAPTER XVI. Educational Sources and Early Schools 229 The first school in the town of Skaneateles. Succeeding schools. Thomas AUis. Miss Graham's school and the names of her scholars in 1829. Location of the first schoolhouse in the village. State street in the village first opened. Subscription by enterprising citizens to purchase a lot whereon to build a schoolhouse in 1828. That lot is now whereon the Academy is located. The Skaneateles High School. Select schools. Lydia P. Mott, being the early history of a prominent promoter of female education, comprising a compilation of some of the principal events of her life in this town, and embracing some incidents of her youthful life as a- schoolgirl when she was seventeen years old, in the year 1791. " The Maples of Mott Cottage,'' a poem. The history of the life and missionary work of the Rev. Samuel Kirkland. The Iroquois deputation to Philadelphia, and its reception at Bethlehem. The earliest recorded traveler's visit to Skaneateles, while on his way to Niagara in the year 1804. His description of the settlement and Lake. Historical collections. CHAPTER XVIL The Teasel Industry^ Various Corporations, and Banks 248 The teasel industry. The term teaseling explained. Further description of the teasel and its peculiar use. Mode of cultivation. Gathering of the crop. Drying the teasels. The business of the teasel merchants. The growth of the teasel plant in the United States. The difference between teasels cultivated and uncultivated. The Skaneateles Water Works Company. The Skaneateles Iron Works. Certificate of Incorporation. Meeting of stockholders to increase its 'capital stock. The Skaneateles Wood- Working Company. The Skaneateles Lake Park Company. The Dryden, Groton, and Moravia Telegraph Company. The Central New York Electric Light and Power Company. The Lake Bank. The First National Bank. The Bank of Skaneateles. Skaneateles Savings-Bank. Detailed history of the old burying- ground before the incorporation of the Rural Cemetery Association of Lake View. CONTENTS. xiii CHAPTER XVIII. PAGE. Lake View Cemetery and Skaneateles Lake 258 The origin of Lake View Cemetery. How it was finally established under the most adverse opposition, and through whose personal exertions and loans of large sums of money it became finally established. The original Trustees who were ap- pointed at a public meeting, which the statute required to be held. Unfortunately a majority of the twelve thus appointed were adherents of the owner of the old burial-ground; and, of course, were not interested in the new organization. Skane- ateles Lake as it appeared when this part of the country was visited by the pioneers. Modern description of its shores. Mile Point. Effect of the first dam which raised the surface of the water in the Lake. The original building on the shore of the Lake in the village. Aboriginal name of Skaneateles Lake. Another and more modern .description of the Lake. The peat-bog speculation.- Another peat-bog operation reported. Pork Point. Skaneateles Lake, and how its name originated. The original mail and the improved stage-coach. CHAPTER XIX. Bonding Skaneateles Defeated. — Early Missions and Religious Denominations.... 274 Defeat of the attempt to bond Skaneateles on behalf of a railroad. Another speculation which was intended to force on the town of Skaneateles a bonded debt of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in behalf of the New York Western Midland Railroad. After the town had been actually bonded under the forms of the railroad law, the scheme of its promoters was fortunately defeated by the dis- covery of the defection of the County Judge. Another attempt to bond. Conse- quences of bonding. Early missionaries in this section of the State. The Episcopal missions. Religious denominations in this town. The first religious body, the Schaneateles Society, was not denominational, as all the residents attended its services. In the year 1818 its attendants adopted the Presbyterian form of govern- ment, and has ever since been distinguished as the Presbyterian Society. The Protestant Episcopal Church. The Society of Friends. Origin of the First Baptist Society in the village. The Methodist Episcopal Church. The Skaneateles Falls Methodist Episcopal Church. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Mottville. The Congregational Church. The Roman Catholic Church. CHAPTER XX. YachtinGj Skaneateles, and Official History 289 The first real yacht built. A visit by the Chief and a delegation of the Onondaga tribe of Indians, when Colonel William J. Vredenburg's grand Colonial mansion was begun in 1804. The appropriate name given to this yacht, and why it was named " The Four Sisters.'' Regattas on the Lake fifty years ago. A notable yacht, " The Wild Wave." Years Ago: a highly polished descriptive communication, published in the Skaneateles Columbian, written by Dr. H. R. Lord, and signed " Secretary of the Navy." Charles L. Elliott, the artist. Sketches of the town of Skaneateles in 1865. Official history of the village, its incorporation, and the names of its various officers. Description of the village at the present time. Its attractiveness as a resi- dence for all who appreciate health, beauty, cleanliness, and quiet enjoyment, and particularly its freedom from those insidious insects mosquitoes. There is not a village in the State of New York which offers more attractions to either resident or visitor than Skaneateles. Town meetings held in various taverns. XIV CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXI. PAGE. Changes in Property-Ownership and Establishment of Libraries 309 History of the James Ennis-Ludlow-Talcott-De Zeng-Whittlesey-Lapham-Padel- ford-Roosevelt property, on the west shore of the Lake, from the ownership of the soldier to whom it was allotted in 1791. History of the haunted tavern, which was located on this property at an early period. The legend of the haunted tavern and the yellow dog with red eyes. Remarkable history of Daniel Ludlow, who purchased this property in 181 1, and died here in 1814. His remains rest in the old burial- ground on the hill. Names of the various owners of this property after the death of Ludlow, and the consideration each gave when purchased. . The ownership of Richard L. De Zeng, who built the present Colonial mansion in 1839. The Skaneateles Library Association incorporated. A circulating library in the village in 1832-33. Description of a'remarkable snow-storm in the village in 1891. Subscription to pay* for the first organ to be constructed for St. James' Church. An effort to establish a Free Public Library in 1875, which effort was defeated. CHAPTER XXn. Early Physicians and Local History 326 Original and later physicians in town and village. Sale of Military Lot No. 35. Thayer, the artist. Fragments of history. How Harrison B. Dodge first became editor of the Skaneateles Democrat. Origin of the village Fire Department. Valua- ble files of local newspapers. Memorial Tablet in St. James' Church, in memory of six members of the Church who gave up their lives in the Civil War. Presbyterian Sunday-school celebration of Fourth of July, 1832. " Columbia," an ode. John W. Livingston, United States Marshal, a resident in this town. History of the Jerome family. Addison Jerome and his brother Leonard H. Jerome have been residents of this village. Leonard H. Jerome the father of Lady Randolph Churchill. She, however, never was in Skaneateles. The Lake House, its former names and various landlords. Mrs. Elizabeth T. Porter Beach, her celebrity. " The Last Broadside," a poem. CHAPTER XXHL Enrolment List of Skaneateles 339 Enrolment list of all the men in this town liable to military duty, together with the age of each individual, in the year 1863 : First class, ages from 20 to 35, 362 ; Second class, ages from 35 to 45, 212; number enrolled, 594. List of drafted men in 1863. Skaneateles Roll of Honor. Names, rank, company, and regiment of three hundred and seventy-four volunteers from this town in the War of 1861-65. This Roll of Honor is the most complete that was ever collected. It is, therefore, a por- tion of the history of this town. Names of the soldiers who gave up their lives in defense of the Union who belonged to the town of Skaneateles. Albert De Cost Burnett, the youngest volunteer from Skaneateles. The Skaneateles Educational Society. The Skaneateles Anti-Slavery Society, Elnathan S. Andrews. James Sackett. Bethuel Cole. An early carpenter and contractor. CONTENTS. XV CHAPTER XXIV. PAGE. Introduction of Merino Sheep. — Early Merchants and Steamboat Excursions.... 362 Correl Humphreys' life and experiences, written by himself, by request, pur- posely for this History. The massacre in Florida. One of his ancestors first intro- duced the famous Merino sheep into this country. An interesting account of its accomplishment. Early merchants in the village whose places of business were all on the north side of the Seneca Turnpike Road as late as 1816. Names of the original millwrights who built all the grist-mills about this section of the State. Justice of the Peace Elijah Price. Isaac Mills. Church diversion in old days among the gentle- men of the congregation of St. James' Church. Recollections of Thaddeus Edwards. History of the Daniel C. Robbins place, now the Mingo Lodge. Arthur Mott, from whom Mottville took its name. The first excursion up to the head of the Lake in the first steamboat, with the names of the excursionists, sixty in number. Matches. Peat, or muck. Abraham Cuddeback. Elijah Manley. John Briggs. CHAPTER XXV. The Skaneateles Water Works Company and Local History 371 History of that remarkable organization, " The Skaneateles Water Works Com- pany,'' which acted as an agent of the American Pipe Manufacturing Company of New Jersey. It applied for a franchise, and got it, from the village Trustees, without due consideration. Its value has been demonstrated since by the litigation the Pipe Company has cost the village. " Municipal Ownership of a Water Plant," an article from the Skaneateles Democrat. Scraping the snow from the village sidewalks in winter; how it originated. Dr. Jonathan Kneeland. Samuel C. Wheadon. The Ladies' Aid Society during the Civil War. An illustration of the uncertainty of human life. Names of one himdred well-known citizens of the village of Skaneateles who signed a remonstrance against a bill pending in the Legislature in the year 1862, forty years ago. Only nine are now living. The village officers have passed away. The closing century. Early account-books procured. Over twelve hundred names alphabetized. See Decision of Supreme Court of the United States against the Water Works Company, March 3, 1902, on page 454. CHAPTER XXVI. The Churches and the Library 389 Engraving of St. James' Church and description of memorials placed therein. The Leslie memorial windows. Engraving of the New Brick Presbyterian Church, with description of its memorials. Mud Lake. A Tourist's observations. Erastus M. Beach, a former resident of the village. His experiences while a resident. The Skaneateles Library Building and Sphinx, illustrated with six half-tone engravings. Items of interest. CHAPTER XXVII. A Great Century's Ending 406 The Nineteenth Century and its discoveries. Other subjects of general interest, none of which have any relation to the special history of Skaneateles or to the general subjects of this volume. The wonderful transmission of meridian time by telegraph. Predictions for the year' 2000. xvi CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXVIII. PAGE. Local History as Elaborated by the Newspaper Press of Syracuse 408 Extracts are presented from the various newspapers of Syracuse, giving inter- esting information concerning the village of Skaneateles in 1898. CHAPTER XXIX. An Inside History of Lake View Cemetery, which has never before been made PUBLIC 418 Preliminary action to organize an incorporated public cemetery. Election of twelve Trustees. A certificate of indebtedness. Want of interest. Prosecution of the work by the author. Criticism of public functionaries. Trust funds. Facsimile of document discovered by the author. Cemetery lands conveyed to the Trustees of the village. Portrait of Dyer Brainerd. History of Alfred Champ. CHAPTER XXX. The Author's Adventures with the Legal Fraternity 440 Commencing with the highest authority in the State, the Attorney-General. Criticism of his opinion. Legal right to criticize a public officer. Judge Folger's opinion with reference to the right of newspaper criticism. Lawyers generally. What the Bible says of lawyers. Characterization of lawyers by Shakespeare. Another adventure with a different variety of the legal fraternity — the official stenographer of a court of record. CONCLUSION. Summary op the Work on this Volume 450 The concluding remarks to the gentle reader by Mr. Clark in his " History of Onondaga County." Experiences of the author. A remonstrance by one hundred citizens of the village. Defeat of the attempt to bond the town. Franchise granted to a trolley road. An excellent cemetery secured to the town. Municipal ownership of the water works. Decision of the Supreme Court of the United States against the Skaneateles Water Works Company, March 3, 1902. System of clearing the snow from the sidewalks in winter by the village. Individual history. INDEX OF NAMES 465 INDEX OF SUBJECTS 471 INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS. A. PAGE. AUis, C. W., Merchant and Banker 196 B. Brainerd, Dyer 419 Burnett, Albert De Cost, Youngest Volunteer of the Civil War 359 Burnett, Charles J., Jr 201 C. Coe, Edward B 161 Coe's, Edward B., Daughter and her Children 164 Collins Point, Skaneateles . Lake, East Shore 295 Colonial Residence of Daniel Kellogg 26 Cooper Shops, Thaddeus Edwards' Old, Built Eighty Years Ago 213 D. Document Discovered by the Author 431 F. Five-Mile Point, on East Shore of Lake 269 Francis, George 209 G. Genesee Street and St. James' Church 307 Goodall, Charles 103 H. Hall, David, more familiarly known as Deacon David Hall 194 Hall, Captain James, Early Prominent Citizen and Manufacturer 311 Hawley, Nelson, Early Merchant 199 Head, or South End, of Skaneateles Lake, showing " Glen Haven " Hotel 329 Highlands, The, near South End of Lake, showing both sides of the Lake 271 Humphreys, Correl, a well-known Early Resident 365 K. Kellogg, Daniel 26 L. Lake House, built in 1824, destroyed by fire July 19, 1870 337 Leslie, Edmund Norman Frontispiece Leslie, Mrs. Edmund Norman Frontispiece Leslie, Mrs. Edmund Norman, copy of Daguerreotype taken in 1846 324 Leslie, Mrs. Edmund Norman, copy of Portrait painted by Charles L. Elliott in 1846. .. . 325 Leslie Memorial Windows in St. James' Church 391 xviii INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS. O. PAGE. One-Mile Point, West Shore of Lake 263 Oxley, Charles (Died 1888, aged ninety years) 225 P. Pardee, Charles 203 Picnic on the Wooded Shore of Skaneateles Lake 31S Presbyterian Church, Old Brick, erected in 1830 283 Presbyterian Church, New 394 R. Regatta on Skaneateles Lake Forty Years Ago (On the dock stands Philander William- son; on his right is Captain Eckhardt; on the corner of the dock is George Rawlins) . 220 Regatta, Skaneateles— The Start, 1850 292 Regatta, Skaneateles— The Start, 1851 293 S. St. James' Church, Original, erected 1827-28 283 St. James' Church, New 390 Skaneateles Lake and St. James' Church 233 Skaneateles Lake, East Shore, near Village 266 Skaneateles Lake Yacht, sailing " in-the-eye-of-the-wind " — St. James' Church and sur- rounding Scenery 380 Skaneateles Library Building and Sphinx — Six Illustrations. .. .397, 398, 399, 401, 403, 404 Skaneateles Savings Bank 255 Skaneateles, N. Y., Village of, in 1830 (Copperplate Engraving from the Ariel) 190 Enlargement of the above Engraving (Folding Plate), opposite 192 Skaneateles Village, Mirrored by Water of the Lake 373 Skaneateles, Village of. View from the Lake in 1856 333 Society of Friends, as illustrated by two of its early members, Mrs. Abner Lawton and Mrs. Russell Frost 28s Stage-Coach, Original Mail and Passenger 259 Stage-Coach, An Improved (designed for wealthier travelers), and a Roadside Tavern. . 273 T. Taber, Mrs. William R., illustrating the Simplicity of Attire of the Society of Friends. . . . 287 Teasel, The, One of the Chief Productions of Skaneateles 249 Ten-Mile Point, Skaneateles Lake, from the South 223 Ten-Mile Point, Skaneateles Lake, looking South 385 Three Sisters, The, ages respectively 82, 83, and 84 years 142 V. Village Residence of Edmund Norman Leslie — Summer 299 Village Residence of Edmund Norman Leslie — Winter Approach 303 Vredenburg Colonial Mansion, erected 1804-72 ago W. Wheel-Head, Accelerating, Miner's 38 Winter Scene in the Village of Skaneateles 3ig PREFACE. After assuming a permanent residence in the village of Skaneateles, in the year 1851, the change from an active business life became very apparent, and necessitated not only physical, but mental occupation. While considering some project of. pleasurable employment which would be of general interest and beneficial to the community at large, the subject of investigating the pioneer settlement of both the town and the village of Skaneateles was brought to mind by learning that all the public records of the town had been destroyed by fire in the year 1835. Therefore, under these conditions, the subject of investigating the earliest settlement of this section of the State was assumed, although with considerable doubt of its successful completion. The original purpose was to publish such collections of local history from time to time in the Skaneateles Democrat, whose editor, now deceased, had always exhibited a personal interest in the early history of the town. The author not having been " to the manor born," it seemed, of course, to be a very difficult undertaking, but, being naturally endowed with the faculty of perseverance, the contents of this volume attest his endeavors. The first necessity under the above conditions, in entering upon an unknown subject, was to obtain the names of the original pioneers who with their families settled this section of the State over one hundred years ago, all of whom have " passed over to the majority." In order to procure the names desired, it was essential to obtain account-books, such as ledgers and day-books, which had been kept by the original pioneer traders and merchants, as they would be desirable adjuncts in ascertaining the names of those who had made purchases for family XX PREFACE. and other purposes. It consumed a considerable time to procure those old account-books, but it was finally accomplished. Five ledgers and two day-books, dating from the year 1800 to 1825, were secured. The ledgers were all single entry, and it was difficult to obtain the names of the owners. From all these account-books there were obtained over twelve hundred names of individuals and firms who made regular purchases from dealers and traders located at the " North End of Skaneateles Lake," which was the original name of the present village. The persons who made their purchases here resided within a radius of from fifty to one hundred miles around this early settlement. These names were copied in alphabetical order, and were afterward sub- mitted to the late Nathaniel Miller, who first settled in the village in the year 1807, and who possessed a very retentive memory of individuals and of events. Only the result of his recollections of the names of farmers and others, their locations and individualities, is given in this volume. The great mass of the names not included within his recollection has been omitted as being in obscurity. The names have, however, been kept for reference to determine the date when some particular individual traded or was a temporary resident in either town or village. It is proper here to state that nearly all the sketches of individuals who were early settlers that are detailed in this volume are the result of personal interviews by the author within the past fifty years, all of whom have now " joined the innumerable throng." The material included in this volume, fragmentary in character, has been in course of collection during the past fifty years, a great deal of it by personal correspondence, and, now that so much has been obtained which has never here- tofore seen the light of publication, and which it is now impossible to acquire, the author estimates that its publication in its present form has become a duty which will be indispensable to futurity. The small volume entitled " History of Skaneateles and Vicinity,'' published twenty years ago (1881), included, with the permission of the author, a small portion of this history that had previously been printed in the Skaneateles Democrat. PREFACE. xxi The author also loaned all his manuscript collections of the early history of this town to the editor and publisher of " The Centennial History of Onondaga County," by request, indicated in a circular received by mail. In the preface of the first volume, the following acknowledgment was printed: " While the list of all who have personally aided in our task is too long for publication, it is incumbent upon us to give the names of a few who have been most instrumental in securing and supplying information for the various town histories, among which are Captain George Collins and Uriah Roundy, town of Spafiford; E. Norman Leslie, the town of Skaneateles," etc. In the progress of collecting the subjects detailed herein, the author has been indebted and placed under personal obligations to several gentlemen and one lady, among whom may be primarily named Thomas Isom, himself a former merchant, who furnished all the particulars of the earliest merchants, their various partnerships, changes in business, and many other subjects of general interest which otherwise it would have been impossible to obtain. His information was derived from the late Nathaniel Miller, Dr. E. H. Porter, Deacon David Hall, C. Pardee, and Amos Pardee, Sr., all of whom are deceased; Rev. William M. Beauchamp ; George Maurice Abbot, Treasurer of " The Library Company of Philadelphia " ; and Mrs. D. K. Leitch, of the village of Skaneateles. The author has also consulted J. V. H. Clark's " Onondaga," the records in the olifice of the Clerk of Onondaga County, and the records in the office of the Surrogate of Onondaga County. The sketches of individuals who nearly a century ago were prominent residents here have been obtained through an extensive correspondence with their descend- ants, and it required much perseverance to complete them. One of these was Daniel Ludlow (page 312), and another was Phares Gould (page 209). There are undoubtedly many imperfections and some repetitions that have naturally occurred in a history which has been from time to time written in the interim of the past fifty years. The number of years since this town was first settled is now (1902) named as having been one hundred and eight years from 1794, although in the following pages one hundred and seven years has been stated as having been the limited time. xxii PREFACE. This volume has been written offhand by the author, without previous mem- orandum of any kind, and every page has been by him typewritten and pre- pared for the compositor. His advancing years, causing impairment of eyesight and especially of memory, must be held responsible for many imperfections in this volume. There have been added as " reminiscences of later times " some of the author's personal experiences after having been elected President of the village, in the year 1895, at the age of seventy-eight years, which office he held two years. In ent-ering upon the subject of writing a history of the town and village of Skaneateles, it was at first considered unfruitful of incident and barren of interest. Materials multiplied, however, and incidents accumulated to a great extent. The field of investigation was found to be unexplored, and the author was borne on irresistibly to glean fresh material from all sources. The success which has attended the undertaking in the collection of this mass of historical matter has greatly exceeded anticipation. With these preliminary remarks and explanation, the following pages are submitted to the public. The Author. March, 1902. SKANEATELES CHAPTER I. The Earliest History. It will be appropriate, in writing on the subject of the earliest history of Skaneateles, to commence at the period before this town was set off from the township of Marcellus. Marcellus was one of the original townships in the military tract that con- sisted of lands which were assigned by the State of New York to the Revolu- tionary soldiers of the New York line as premiums, or bounty lands. A lot one mile square was given to each soldier, except a certain portion which was reserved to defray the expenses of surveying and other contingencies. The names assigned to the townships were selected by the Surveyor-General De Witt and officers of the Government before any settlements were made. This accounts for the singularity of the names, which were taken principally from distinguished men of ancient Greece and Rome. Some of them were distinguished as poets, orators, statesmen, and some as military commanders; a few were taken from prominent literary men of England, as Dryden, Milton, and Locke. The town- ships of the military tract were equal to ten miles square, and were divided by surveys into one hundred lots one mile square. At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, in 1776, Congress offered to the officers and soldiers who should enlist and serve during the war a bounty of both money and land. At the close of the war, in 1783, the Legislature of the State of New York took action with regard to these promised bounty lands, not only with a view of discharging the aforesaid engagement of Congress, but, in consideration of the virtue and patriotism of the troops of New York, to add thereto a large gratuity of State lands. As a consequence, the Legislature passed an act defining the ratio of lands to be given to each private and to officers of each grade. There were two kinds of granted lands, one called gratuity, and the other bounty. By an act passed February 28, 1789, the Surveyor-General was directed to lay out the tracts of land which are now known as " The Military Lots." On the ist of January, 1791, the Commissioners 'of the Land Office proceeded to determine claims, and to ballot for each individual's share. From that time, soldiers began to sell their bounty lands, and even before that date they sold their claims to any one who wished to purchase, and it is a singular fact that soldiers would sell their claims over and over again to whoever would make an offer for them. Our county records, made at an early day, show many owners of about half of the military lots in this town. In consequence, the 2 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. courts became overflowed with business relating to these contested claims, a large proportion of the lots in the whole military tract being more or less a subject of litigation. Finally, the Legislature passed a law appointing a Board of Commis- sioners, with full power to hear, examine, award, and determine all disputes respecting the titles to any and all the military bounty lands. The action of this board prevented further litigation, and the real owners were placed in quiet possession of their lands. Therefore, under the conditions of these laws, the original owners of the lands in this town of Skaneateles were the thirty-four Revolutionary soldiers who were awarded by ballot the several military lots in this town, hereinafter designated. There are thirty-nine of these lots in this town, which were originally in the township of Marcellus, which had one hundred lots, and when this town was set off and organized, in 1830, as a distinct town, thirty-nine lots were taken from Marcellus, and these lots now compose the town of Skaneateles. January i, 1791, the balloting commenced for each individual's share. Ninety- four soldiers drew lots in each township. Of the one hundred lots, one lot was drawn for the support of literature in the State of New York; one lot near the center of each township was assigned by the Surveyor-General for the support of the gospel and common schools, and the remaining four lots went to satisfy the surplus shares of the officers, and to compensate those who by chance might draw lots covered with water. NAMES OF SOLDIERS WHO ORIGINALLY OWNED THIS TOWN. Lot Lot Number. Soldier. Numb er. Soldier. I. Baker, Stephen. 38. Dennison, Geo., Lieutenant. 2. Lepperd, John. 39- Gillaspie, William. 3- Bear, Edward. 44. Shultz, John. 4- Moore, John. 45- Blowers, Ephraim. 5- Yarrington, William. 52. Peck, Hiel, Lieutenant. 10. Herring, Benj., Ensign. 57- Beebe, Benjamin. II. Lodder, William. 58. Vosburgh, Peter J. 12. Gilbert, John. 59- Reed, Jacob, Captain. 13- Gross, John. 60. Lake, Henry. 20. Dow, Volkert. 65. Halstead, Joseph. 21. Moore, Thomas. 66. Pembroke, David. 27. Burrance, Henry. 67. Weeks," Jacob. 28. Higby, Samuel. 73- Brown, John. 29. Parson, Samuel. 84. Martin, John. 30- Jones, Thomas. 85- Casey, Robert. .35- Kenneth, Campbell. 86. McPeck, Dennis. 36. Simonds, John. 87. Dieffendorph, Henry, Lieutenant 37- Doughty, John, Captain. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 3 There are thirty-five lots above named, which were distributed to the soldiers. The surplus lots were numbered respectively 19, 22, 50, 51. After the Commissioners of the Land Office had balloted for each soldier's share, of course each soldier then knew he owned a military lot, but had no knowledge of its location. No patents had been issued to each individual soldier, who only knew that he had been awarded a lot containing six hundred acres of land. This ownership was a claim only, which was a salable commodity. Many soldiers sold their claims over and over to different persons, while other soldiers did not sell until they received their patents (which were official titles). Four hundred and eleven years ago, America had no place or name among the nations of the civilized world. Four hundred and eleven years ago the voice of the white man had not been heard in this land. One hundred and seven years ago, our surrounding hills were shaded with immense and lofty trees ; bogs and swamps were more numerous and more extensive than at the present time; the beaver and the flood made the only dams impeding the numerous streams; trout were abundant; salmon came far up the creek; the hawk and the eagle towered and soared far above the loftiest hills, watching for their prey; the trumpet note of the wild swan was in evidence as she sailed on the waves with outspread wings; the partridge drummed; the turkey called among the trees ; the skies were darkened and the ground blue with countless wild pigeons; troops of deer bounded through the dark forests, grazed along the lowlands, and swam the placid waters of the lake; the panther, wolf, and bear prowled about our hills, unheeded and unharmed; sometimes their voices made the dark forest a howling wilderness. Previous to the earliest settlement of this section of the country, one hundred and seven years ago, the ground on which we daily tread, the places now beauti- fied by pleasant homes, our broad and shady avenues, our business marts and manufactories, our modern and beneficial schools, our fertile farms, and all the accessories of civilization — all — all the ground thus now occupied was in a state of primeval nature, untouched by the white man. Back of this limited period of one hundred and eight years lies an incomprehensible space of time. Centuries of years, thousands of years, had passed before Skaneateles had a name as a village or as a town. " In the eighteenth century the trail from Onondaga crossed the foot of Skaneateles Lake, and I have recently had access to what is probably the earliest recorded visit to Skaneateles Lake. In 1750 the Moravian missionaries came from Bethlehem, Pa., by way of the Susquehanna, Ithaca, and Cayuga. June 18, Bishop Cammerhofif said: 'We reached a lake named Achsgo (now Owasco), where we saw it was about three miles wide and ten miles long, but we could not see the end of it. At the lower end, where it is about one mile wide, we were obliged to ride through it; we saw some Indians wading across. The bottom was clear sand, and the water very fresh and cold. . . . We went on again into the wilderness, , where there was nothing but swamps and marshes. 4 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. We came to a lake named Sganiatarees. It flows S. E. and N. W., and empties toward the N. W. ; is about two or three and a half miles long, but we could not see the end of it. We crossed at the lower end of it, where it empties into a rapid creek with a swift current, and then pursued our journey in the wilderness.' " These missionaries were not very good judges of distances there or else- where. It may be added that they were on horseback." The above is from the historical collections of Rev. W. M. Beauchamp. Previously to the visit of these Moravian missionaries, eternal silence and eternal solitude reigned supreme, broken only by the shout of the wandering red man or by the recent hunter and trapper, in pursuit of game. These were rarely heard, sometimes for months only, and at other times, for many long years, the voice of bird and beast alone was heard in the vast forests. " Here were no Indian fields or traces of extended occupancy by an early people. Yet it had visitors. The occasional arrowheads found reveal the ancient hunter, and still rarer articles an earlier people of higher skill. The most remark- able of these is a small ceremonial stone of striped slate, now in Mr. O. M. Bige- low's collection, Baldwinsville, N. Y. These early people came and departed, and left these memorials of their presence." — (From Rev. W. M. Beauchamp's collections.) In itself, a period of one hundred and seven years seems a long time to any one man, but when it is compared with all the past ages — the age of our world, which has been estimated as being from ten to twenty million years — one hundred and seven years dwindles into nothing. There is a truer measure of time than its mere passage. Life is measured by deeds, and time by events and changes. " We live in deeds, not years ; In feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." — Philip James Bailey. When our pioneers came here, they found the uplands covered with forests of hard timber, with but little undergrowth. The lowlands were overspread with a dense hemlock forest, and the swamps with ash and white cedar. Not a tree had been felled; no plowshare had rent the ground. That placid lake which is before our admiring eyes daily, whose surface has the same appearance now that it had thousands of years ago, reflects the heavens as of old; the everlasting hills and its rocky banks were then the same as now, the jutting points produced from the deposited sands of the swift-flowing rivu- lets of past ages. It was the resting-place of the migrating wild fowl, geese, ducks, herons, and others of the like nature, unharmed and unmolested. Its appearance thousands of years ago taxes the imagination to describe. Every detail of the scene has undergone a change. Rocks remain to show the location of the beautiful cascades of early times, but the water which produced HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 5 them has disappeared. By the removal of the forests our southern hills have lost some of their graceful contour and much in apparent height. The fisherman and hunter have not their old success. The naturalist searches in vain for birds, tree, or plant which in former times were to be found with little care. The utilitarian observes the decrease of the water supply with anxiety, and the farmer can not grow some varieties of fruits, which once were abundant. Progress often leaves behind much that is good. Notwithstanding all this, few would wish to go back to that past. Present advantages are so great and real that they outweigh all the losses that can be mentioned. Measured by revolving years, the century since the pioneer first raised his cabin near the lake shore is but the faintest point of time compared with the ages that have gone before. Tested by the advance of civilization here and else- where, it is as the passage of thousands of years. Of that dim, illimitable past, there is very little to record here; of our later days, every household and home offers something to interest heart and mind, and this because the reign of mind has begun. How great the contrast now! It seems a new world, filled with strange inventions and teeming with a new life. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER II. How THE Pioneers Came. From the time of the survey of the military lots in 1794, the tide of emigration from the eastern section of this State and from the New England States began to flow to this part of the State. Usually pioneers came in the summer and fall, on foot and on horseback, prospecting in search of homes. But winter was most propitious for the removal of their families and goods. The snows of winter were distributed evenly over the ground, and lay permanently protected from drifts by the dense forests. The long winters gave ample time for the journeys, which were often interrupted by impassable streams and thaws. This was for- tunate for emigration at that early period, as the highway during the summer season was so much obstructed by roots and stumps as to render traveling very difficult in conveyances on wheels. There were no four-wheeled wagons in those days. Two-wheeled vehicles only were used. For many years there was to be seen on the Genesee road, in the winter season, an almost unbroken procession of loads of people with goods, drawn by either oxen or horses, accompanied by herds of cattle and cows, to settle this great wilderness. In 1803 the Seneca Turnpike was chartered, and soon after it was laid out six rods wide, the trees being cut away to the whole width, and the road- way thrown up in the center to get the benefit of the sun's rays and render the road as dry as possible. This road extended from Utica to Canandaigua, and was a continuation of the Mohawk Turnpike, thus affording a regular turnpike communication from Albany to Canandaigua. There was a great tide of emigra- tion which came over this road, destined to the western part of this State and to the Western Reserve in Ohio. The Genesee country, in the western part of the State, was settled previously, and, there being no roads through the State, the emigration to it was by water up the Mohawk, through Oneida Lake and River, and up the Seneca River and Lake. On the completion of the turnpike, the travel westward passed wholly through this place. About the year 1800 merchandise was transported in large covered wagons drawn by four horses. Settlements once made prepared the way for accessions, and accordingly we find that the population increased rapidly from year to year by the constantly in- coming tide of emigration from the East. At the time the first settlers came here there was not in existence in the town of Marcellus such a vehicle as a horse-wagon. All visiting was done mostly in winter, on sleds, and fortunate was the hardy settler who could yoke a pair of oxen of his own, and make his way through the woods with his wife and a child HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 7 or two on the sled, for an evening's visit with his nearest neighbor, many miles distant. Such a man was considered rich. At first there were no roads for many years. The settlers used to follow marked trees on foot. Roads were first made from house to house, and from place to place, and finally, when roads were made, they were proverbially bad — very bad. At the time this part of the country was settled our fathers were groping in almost utter darkness, so far as a knowledge of the sciences was concerned, and but little progress had been made in invention and the arts. Scarcely one of the modern contrivances for cooking, and for warming and lighting dwellings, was known. Not a pound of coal had been burned in the country. No iron stoves were used, and no contrivances for economizing heat were employed. All the cooking and warming were done with the aid of fire kindled upon the stone hearth or with the oven. Pine-knots or tallow candles furnished the light for the long winter evenings, and the bare floors supplied the place of rugs and car- pets. The water used for household purposes was drawn from deep wells with the creaking "sweep." No form of pump was used in this part of the country, so far as can be learned, until after the commencement of the present century. There were no friction matches in those early days, with the aid of which a fire could be speedily kindled. And if the fire went out upon the hearth overnight, and the tinder was damp, so that the spark would, not "catch," the alternative remained of wading through the snow a mile or so to borrow a brand of a neigh- ' bor. Only one room in any house was warmed, unless some of the family were ill. In all the rest the temperature was at zero during many nights in winter. The men and women of those days undressed and retired to their beds at night in an atmosphere colder than that of out modern barns and woodsheds, and they never complained. No hot-air furnaces tempered the wintry air in their dwellings, and they slept soundly in the cold. The cooking was very simple, and the nature of the food plain and substantial. But few dishes were seen upon the table. Pork and cabbage, corn bread and milk, with bean porridge and pota- toes, were about the usual forms of food consumed. The ancient tinder-box was the only reliance for producing fire for household purposes. The present population know nothing of this necessity, therefore a detailed description is here given. The tinder-box was usually constructed of tin-plate. It was cylindrical in form, with an open top, about four or five inches in diameter, and four inches in height. A disk or plunger was made to exactly fit the cylindrical opening. On this disk was soldered a tin candle-holder, which was used not only to place a candle, but as a Jiandle to the disk. A piece of linen rag was then lighted in a blaze, and as soon as the blaze expired it was placed in the tinder-box, and the disk or plunger placed over the charred rag. A piece of flint, which in those days was easily obtainable as gun-flints were in common use, and a piece of steel, so shaped as to hang by a hook over the index-finger of one hand, while with the other hand the flint was struck on the 8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. steel, produced a spark of fire, which, being directed to the surface of the charred rag, set it on fire, not,_ however, in a blaze, but sufficient to ignite a pine- shaving which had been tipped with brimstone for this purpose, and the shaving soon produced a blaze sufficient to light a candle. The tinder-box was always kept closed and in a dry place to avoid dampness. The space on top of the closed disk was the receptacle for holding the flint and steel. The tinder-box was in common use until the introduction of the original friction-match, about the year 1827. The first friction-matches were flat in shape, and had to be drawn between a folded piece of sand-paper to produce a blaze. The name given to these matches was "Lucifer matches," and from the time they were introduced the tinder-boxes disappeared, so much so that not one of them can now be found in an old-time collection. Skaneateles had not yet received its first shovelful of mineral coal, and it was a long way off from the time when its dwellings would be illuminated with kerosene. Tallow dips were then the only fashionable lights, and pine-knots were used by those who did not possess dips. Whale-oil lamps afterward came into fashion. Account-Books of Early Merchants. — The author obtained many years ago four ledgers and two day-books, which had been kept by as many early merchants and manufacturers. One day-book, kept by Eli Clark, dated from the time he came here, 1800, and continued until his death, August, 1834, at the age of seventy-two. From these account-books have been obtained twelve hundred names of per- sons who purchased their goods here in this early settlement, and who resided within a radius of from fifty to one hundred miles from this center. These repre- sent the earliest settlers in this section of the State. The cash entries in these old ledgers were apparently kept in sterling cur- rency. Pounds, Shillings, and Pence really were not sterling money, but divi- sions of the Spanish milled dollar. The pence were our twelfths of a shilling; the shillings were I2j^ cents ; and the pounds were 20 shillings of I2j4 cents each. In a letter received by the author from the Superintendent of the United States Mint, at Philadelphia, it is stated that a law was passed by Congress in the year 1795 which made the divisions of the Spanish milled dollar legal tender. That law was in full force until Congress in 1853 passed a law repeal- ing the law of 1795. This had the effect of driving out of circulation all the old Spanish coin then in use here. The Superintendent, also in reply to other questions, stated that none of the gold dollars which had been coined by the Mint had ever been returned, but were kept by their possessors. He also stated that the Mint now coins every year about $75,000 in quarter-eagles ($2,50) during the month of November to supply the demand during the holiday season. While writing on the subject of coins, it may be of interest to mention that an old coin was dug up on the old W. J. Vredenburg ground, on which is the HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 9 new Colton dwelling-house. This coin was a one-cent piece which was coined by the State of Massachusetts before any coins were issued by the United States Mint. It bears the date of 1788. On the obverse side is an Indian with bow and arrow, and on the reverse is an eagle with outspread wings. Immediately under the eagle is the date 1788. On one side is the word "Massachusetts" around the eagle, while on the reverse side is the word "Commonwealth," thus making the title "Commonwealth of Massachusetts." The coin shows much use, therefore it was lost by its owner many years after its date. The Pioneers. — ^All the earliest settlers, when they first came here into the woods, were obliged to live for a considerable time with no shelter but the forest, making use of their two-wheeled cart, not only for sleeping purposes, but for culinary purposes, until a comfortable temporary cabin could be constructed. All the heavy labor was performed by the settlers themselves, and when it be- came necessary to build a log cabin, or for other heavy work needing more as- sistance, a general invitation was extended to all the settlers in the vicinity, which was very generally accepted, and the meeting always ended in a frolic. Such calls for assistance were termed "Bees" — "Chopping-Bees," "Logging-Bees," "Husk- ing-Bees," etc. In these primitive times the means of subsistence were scanty and precarious. Needed provisions were obtained from other settlements that had been settled earlier, such as the towns of Aurelius and Scipio, then in Onondaga County. Log Houses. — Very few log houses remain in central New York at this time. They have gone to ruin through neglect or have been used for firewood. Modern houses have taken their places, and modern methods of cooking have been adopted instead of those that held forth in the days of big chirrtneys and monster fireplaces, large enough to take in cord-wood. The old log cabins were built cheaply, and yet they had their good qualities, and were very comfortable in many respects. Some of them were very large. The floor was the bare earth, and re- mained so until saw-mills produced boards for floors. The logs for constructing the house were all about one size, and all were round as they grew. In the process of building, an open space was left on one side for a chimney, which was always built outside of the house, and was constructed of small round wood, laid together similar to the exterior of the log house. The spaces between the logs were plas- tered with clay, as well as the spaces between the smaller round wood for the chimneys, clay being the most desirable to keep out the rain and the snow and the cold, freezing air. The chimney was not only chinked with clay, but plastered inside for safety against fire. The roof of the log house was laid with small round straight trees, and covered with birch-bark, or bark of other trees if birch waf not obtainable. Flat stones were laid down in and around the fireplace. The methods of housekeeping and cooking were very crude, but the pioneers enjoyed this mode of life until better appliances became available. Log barns were also common in early days, and were more crudely made than the log dwelling-houses. , 10 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. In later times, when the pioneers were able to get bricks or stone for their fireplaces and chimneys, they had many more comforts. Then they had cooking- cranes in the fireplace. These cranes had hooks on them for the purpose of hang- ing on kettles. The cranes were so constructed as to swing back and forth over and from the fire. Potatoes were buried in the hot ashes, and were thoroughly cooked. The corn and rye bread was baked over the hot embers in a cast-iron bake-pot, which had a cast-iron cover with a raised edge to hold the hot coals and ashes over the bread. Spareribs were hung on the crane over the fire to cook, and thus a superbly cooked rib was the result. The cost of living with these cheap conveniences was reduced to a minimum. Their wants were simple and not far- reaching. Log school-houses were a necessity in early times, not only for school purposes, but for religious services and for traveling missionaries, and for holding public meetings of the settlers. The log school-houses had been talked about for years. They were a necessity, and served a good purpose. When religious meetings were held in them, the ministers preached, and all the whole neighborhood for many miles around turned out on the Sabbath, on foot and on horseback, or in crude vehicles, to attend the meetings held in the log school-houses. Before the advent of saw-mills logs were placed in rows for seats. The min- ister had no pulpit, and was obliged to stand up and deliver his address without the customary written notes. His address was always practical. It was in this manner that the pioneers worshiped, and listened to the minister and to the old- fashioned singing, one hundred years ago. The pioneers did the best they could according to their means. The women of those days deserve especial notice. They made their own stockings, spun their own wool, and wove their own tow cloth, hatcheled their own flax, spun their own thread, and made the fabric into substantial garments. The log house had its old- fashioned loom, its spinning-wheel, flax-hatchel, and other arrangements, simple in their make-up, which were used in the log cabins of the pioneers, because they were useful and were required to meet the absolute wants of the early settlers. The youth of to-day can tell you nothing about log house life, much less about log cabins, tallow dips, tinder-boxes, and other rude appliances of those old days. This is an entirely different age from the pioneer days, and the present generation looks upon existing conditions with altogether different eyes from the early oc- cupants of our country. They see the wonders of this period, the advancements made by inventors and scientists, the progress that has been made in educational processes, in the modes of living, in traveling, and in innumerable other conve- niences, while our early pioneers were in blissful ignorance of the future modern progressiveness of the wonderful age in which we now live — the daily news- paper, printed by the hundred thousand daily, with huge machines driven by steam; telegraphy; the wonderful telephone, which allows familiar speech to be transmitted through a wire a thousand miles; and, lastly, wireless telegraphy. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. ii CHAPTER III. Early Pioneers. Abraham A. Cuddeback. — The first settler in this town was Abraham A. Cuddeback, who came here from the town of Minisink, Orange County, N. Y. He had previously secured his lands from the Surveyor-General of the State, at a time when the titles to the military lots were very imperfect from causes hereinbefore stated. He started from his old home, May 2, 1794, with a wagon, three yoke of oxen, one two-year-old colt, and twelve cows. He brought with him his wife and eight children, came by way of Albany, was forty-three days on the road, and arrived here June 14, 1794. When he arrived at Fort Schuyler, now Utica, there were but two buildings, and between there and Onondaga Hill there were no dwelling-houses. When he arrived here, there were no houses or log cabins within the locality where the village is situated. The forest on the lake-shore was so impenetrable for teams and cattle that he was obliged to construct a raft of logs, on which, from the entrance of the outlet, he had to convey his effects and family to his destination on the west shore of the lake. This location is now ornamented with the beautiful residence of the late Dr. S. H. Hurd, which is now owned by Mr. William Fitsgerald. The east end of the old barn, which was taken down by the order of Dr. Hurd some years ago, was erected by Mr. Cudde- back, and was the first frame building put up in the town. When Mr. Cudde- back and his family arrived here, there were five Indian wigwams, occupied by Indians, located at the spring where C. W. Allis erected his dwelling many years ago. The first four years the settlers had to carry their grain to be ground at a mill situated where Utica is now. The first mill in this vicinity was built at Onondaga Valley in 1798. The first wheat raised by Mr. Cuddeback, in 1796- 97, he carried to Albany. Among other necessities needed by him were nails, so he traded part of his wheat to procure them — a bushel of wheat for a pound of nails. Abraham A. Cuddeback died October 22, 1831, aged seventy-three years. He was a descendant of the Huguenots, who originally settled in Orange County, N. Y. Skaneateles' First Settler. — ^According to "Clark's Onondaga," John Thompson was the earliest settler. It is stated in that historical book that he came with his family within the present limits of this town in 1793. He was said to have settled on Lot No. 18. The deed of his purchase was recorded in the County Clerk's office, dated 1794. The consideration was his services while 12 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. employed in ascertaining the jurisdiction line between the States of New York and Pennsylvania, arid during three successive summers employed in surveying the military lands, as well as in consideration of five shillings lawful money of the State of New York. In my opinion he was by no means the earliest settler, as I have at various times during the past year made it a study to search the records of deeds in the County Clerk's office, on the theory that, this deed to him being on record in 1794, at some future time thereafter he must have disposed of that land. I com- menced with the year 1794, and, searching along the following years, I found that said John Thompson had purchased military lands not only in this but in adjoining towns, and in all his deeds his name was recorded as being of the town of Stillwater, Saratoga County, N. Y. The next recorded deed after the first one in this town was dated October 12, 1801, when he purchased lands in Lot No. 88 in the township of Camillus. October 2, 1806, John Thompson of the town of Stillwater, sold the foregoing tract of land in the township of Camillus. I found recorded in 1810: John Thompson and Charlora Adams, of Mar- cellus, administrators of the goods and chattels, rights, and credits of David Groom, of Marcellus. June IS, 1819, John Thompson, of the same township of Stillwater, sold a tract of land to Nathan Thompson, of the town of Galway, Saratoga County, N. Y. January 12, 1821, John Thompson then entered his name in a deed for the first time as being of the town of Marcellus, N. Y., and sold to Joseph Fos- ter, of the township of Hannibal, Oswego County, N..Y., 104.85 acres, being parts of Lots Nos. 18 and 35, in the township of Marcellus; consideration, $2,090. This conveyance included his first purchase of fifty acres in Lot No. 18, and another parcel adjoining the fifty acres in Lot No. 35, of which purchase there was no record. In those early days many deeds were not recorded, and by dili- gent search no record could be found. March 2, 1825, this parcel of land of 104.85 acres was sold by Joseph Porter to Samuel Jacacks, of the town of Mar- cellus ; consideration, $2,300. April 7, 1836, Samuel Jacacks sold the John Thompson land to David Hall of Skaneateles ; consideration, $5,000. In all these deeds by John Thompson, his wife, if he had one, did not join in the execution thereof. This indicates to my mind that, when assisting in the survey of the military lands, he was possibly quite a young man, without family or wife, and that he did not actually settle in this town until 1810 or 1821. The records in Syracuse are more or less imperfect in determining who were the first settlers, as many who came in early times had no money, and were obliged to hire or lease lands until they could earn enough to purchase. Sur- veyor-General De Witt, who held large tracts of land, furnished all newcomers with such lands as were wanted at a very low rate. There were other early pioneers who came in 1794, but no other deeds than John Thompson's are on record.- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 13 In my opinion really, under all circumstances hereinbefore stated, the first actual settler was Abraham A. Cuddeback, who arrived here June 14, 1794, with his wife and eight children, from Minisink, Orange County, N. Y. He was forty-three days on the route, and not only brought his family, but considerable stock. Though there is no deed on record of lands purchased by him, I have been informed by his grandchildren that he rented lands from De Witt, the Surveyor-General, and in the course of time he purchased the lands on which he first settled on the west bank of the lake. Among his grandchildren, to whom have been handed down his first experiences and sayings, he is stated to have said that his nearest settler was at Onondaga Hill. It is well at this late day to determine as far as is possible the name of the first settler of one hundred and six years ago. Elijah Bowen. — ^Another early settler was Elijah Bowen, who was born in Massachusetts in 1757, and died in this town May 20, 1807, aged fifty years. He with his family came here and located on Military Lot No. 39, on what has since been known as the C. C. Wycofif farm, in 1794. The first record in the County Clerk's office shows that he purchased part of Military Lot No. 39, May 22, 1800, and paid therefor $125. He had a brother named Benajah, who lo- cated on the farm next east of the present Rickard farm. The log houses owned by these two brothers were the only ones in that vicinity, and the road leading to them was for a long time known as the "Bowen Road." Elijah first came here in the spring of 1793, with one yoke of oxen and a sled, and selected the land he wanted, then cut down some trees, and with the logs and some birch- bark constructed a temporary shelter for the season. During the subsequent summer, 1794, he built a log house, wherein to make a home for his family. In the summer of 1794 he brought his family to this town. On this occasion he came with two sleds, one yoke of oxen, and a pair of horses. His family con- sisted of his wife and six children, all of whom were born in Cheshire, Mass. The names of the children of Elijah Bowen are as follows: Valentine, born 1793, died in Pennsylvania, 1870, aged eighty-seven years. Sophronia, born 1784, died at the age of seventy-nine years. Elijah, bom 1787, died in Wisconsin, 1861, aged eighty-three years. Hannah, born 1785. She was nine years old when she came here. Delina, born 1788, married to Dr. David Kingsbury, of this town. Lucina, born 1788, died 1863, aged seventy-four years. Patsey, wife of. Elijah Bowen, born 1867, died July 15, 1857, aged ninety years. After the Bowen family were settled in their new home, it became the head- quarters for all the emigrating families in that neighborhood. Families would drive into the dooryard, and make it their home until the men selected a loca- tion. There not being much extra space in the Bowen log house, the newcomers would sleep at night on the floor, or ground, if there was no floor, wherever they could find convenient space. 14 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. According to the history of this family, Elijah Bowen had another child, a son, who was born in Pompey during the first year of his residence here. In connection therewith, it is stated that, but a short time before this son's birth, his mother went from their new home here, on horseback, to Pompey, where the family had friends, and the mother returned home when her baby was two weeks old. This son, Almeron Bowen, died September 27, 1825, aged thirty-one years. Although not exactly born in the town of Skaneateles, still, under the circumstances related above, he was really the first born of parents residing in this town. When Elijah Bowen arrived here in 1793, the titles to the military lots were at that time in much doubt. This was before the Board of Commissioners ap- pointed by the Legislature had determined all disputes as to the ownership of the several military lots in 1797. Bowen had located his land, but had not yet secured the title. It may, therefore, be said that Elijah Bowen was one of the first settlers of this town. Elijah Bowen, son of the above early settler, who came with his father from Cheshire, Mass., in 1794, and who was thirty-three years of age at that date, resided here for many years, and was a soldier of the War of 1812. He always was called Colonel Bowen. He afterward went to Wisconsin, where he died in 1861, aged eighty-three years. Benajah Bowen. — Benajah Bowen, brother to the elder Elijah, was born in Cheshire, Mass., in the year 1765. He came here and settled on the land next east of his brother, in the year 1795, bringing his wife and eight children — five boys and three girls. He removed with his family in 1817 from this place to Lysander, where he died. David Kingsley. — Dr. David Kingsley, who married Delina Bowen when he was thirty years old, was born in 1777. He practised medicine hereabout for nearly forty years, residing in Clintonville. He was contemporary with Dr. Samuel Porter and Dr. Hopkins. He died March 7, 1841, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He was the father of the late Mrs. Schuyler Moore, of this village. Amasa Smith. — Amasa Smith was one of the earliest blacksmiths of this town, and made his home on the Bowen place for a number of years. Winston Day^ the First Merchant in this Town. — Winston Day was born July 11, 1767, and came to this town in 1796, when he was twenty-nine years of age. He built a storehouse of logs and split basswood slabs. There being neither boards nor sawed timber at that early period, split basswood was the only material that could be used. This store was situated on Military Lot No. 27 when he first came here, and goods were sold in this building ; but he subse- quently located a second store, in 1797, on the site formerly occupied by the Lake House, where he was set up in business by Judge Jedediah Sanger. His first log storehouse was built on land owned by John Watson, and was situated on a pathway through the forest leading from where the "Red House" HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 15 was afterward erected to the outlet of the lake. When he removed to the Lake House lot, John S. Furman purchased the store and land, and afterward built on it a dwelling. By the record of the Board of Supervisors of the county, the town of Marcel- lus was represented by Winston Day as Supervisor in 1798. Winston Day was an enterprising business man in this town during thirty- five years, and he was the leading member of several firms at various periods, some of which were: Day & Sherwood, in 1806; W. Day & Co.; Day & Hecox, in 1815. He owned and conducted potasheries on both the east and west banks of the lake. He died September 5, 183 1, at the age of sixty-four years, and was buried in the old burying-ground. The headstone over his grave states that he was the first merchant in Skaneateles. Henry Root. — Henry Root was born in Westfield, Hampshire County, Mass., November 21, 1788, left there October 13, 1804, and came to this place with his father. Joseph Root, together with his mother and three sisters (he had at that time seven sisters), came in his own conveyance and was two weeks on his journey. His father purchased 150 acres, and that was the land which composed the farm which Henry Root always lived upon Nathan Leonard was his nearest neighbor, and Bethuel Cole lived in a log house on the Luther Clark place. Cole had 200 acres. Nathan Leonard a few years later built the house now owned by Joab Clift, and Cole built the house now on the Luther Clark place. There was a cooper named Caulkins who lived where the Widow Briggs does. The next neighbor east on the road to the "Red House" was a man named Wilkie, who was a tailor, and lived on the same side of the road as John Thompson. Eli Clark, father of Foster Clark, lived, on the road leading to the lake, in a log house on the opposite side to where Foster Clark now resides. The next settler on that road was Simeon Hosmer, who then lived in a log house on what is now the Oscar Howard farm. Aaron Taylor was next east in a log house on the J. A. Root place. The John Briggs tavern was completed in 1806 and opened as a tavern. Before its completion Briggs lived in a small dwelling next east of where the Sherwood tavern was built. Norman Leonard and Win- ston Day were the only merchants when Henry Root came, as near as he can recollect. Henry Root died at Hudson, Mich., February 25, 1873, aged eighty- five years. Asa Mason. — ^Asa Mason came during the month of February, 1800, from Berkshire County, Mass., with his brother Avery Mason. The latter lived here six years, went to the Holland Purchase, and then returned to Massachusetts, where he died. Asa Mason came during the winter with an ox-team, a barrel of pork, and his farming tools, and purchased 480 acres on Military Lot No 68. This tract of land was 118 rods wide, and ran from the shore of Skaneateles Lake to what is now known as Thorn Hill. In the fall of 1801 the Mason brothers cleared four acres and planted it with corn. Asa Mason then went back to Berkshire County 1 6 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. and married. He had eight children — four boys and four girls — all of whom were born on that farm. Of these children only two are now living — J. L. Mason and Chloe Harvey, wife of Job Harvey. Asa had two wives. He lived to be eighty-three years old. J. L. Mason now owns 190 acres of the same farm. Nehemiah H. Earll. — The following narrative was made to the author personally by Mr. Earll. Nehemiah H. Earll was born in Whitehall, Washington County, N. Y., Octo- ber 5, 1787. Left there during the month of January, 1794, went to OnOndaga Hollow, lived there one year, and came here in June, 1796. His father built a log house on the site of the house now occupied by a Mr. Samuels, now just be- low the "Red House," on the right-hand side. Afterward the present house was built by a Mr. Watson for himself. Josiah Weston was the son of Jonathan Weston, who was the first resident of the village of Skaneateles. He lived about the vicinity of the location of St. James' Church, in a log house, on the C. H. Poor place. The Mr. Watson (Daniel) mentioned above and Mr. Earll were boys of about the same age, and came together from Onondaga Hollow. They both dug up a bark canoe in the mud on the lake-shore, about where the outlet was at that period. This Watson boy with his parents' family came with the Earll family from Whitehall. In the spring of 1806 Nehemiah H. Earll went to study law with Daniel Kellogg. William Price and David Hyde were also in the same office studying law. The Kellogg law office was built soon after D. Kellogg came from Auburn, and while Daniel Kellogg was boarding with Dr. Samuel Porter. Mr. Litherland used to read the church service for Mr. Vredenburg's family. He also read church services in the "Red House," where lived Mr. Earll's father, who had moved into the "Red House" in the fall of 1799. The erection of the "Red House" was begun in 1798. Robert Earll was Nehemiah's father. The first dam across the outlet was raised for a saw-mill and grist-mill, by his father, Robert Earll, at the present location of Willow Glen. This was be- fore Judge Jedediah Sanger made the mill-dam at the outlet near the lake- shore. The first school was kept in a 'log house on the west side of the creek, which was built for the purpose by Robert Earll and the other settlers in the vicinity. Edey Whitman was the first school teacher in the town of Skaneateles, and Nehemiah H. Earll was a scholar. The next school was located about where Daniel Earll now lives. The teacher was Dr. Munger, who not only practised medicine, but kept this school. He built a little log house for the school. Two of his scholars were Thaddeus and Alanson Edwards. Dr. Munger had a son who practised medicine. Plis name was Dr. Jessee. He boarded with Mr. Earll's father, and practised around among the early set- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 17 tiers. He was the first physician in the town, and before Dr. Samuel Porter came into the county. When Dr. Porter came, Dr. Hunger moved to a place named " Wellington," between Elbridge and Camillus, where he afterward died. The first blacksmith's name was Sabins, who afterward sold out to John Legg, who worked there in 1804, near his shop, in a log house. Sabins was intem- perate, and consequently poor. Sabins' shop was thirty rods northeast of Mr. Earll's house. This was before there was any blacksmith in the town of Skane- ateles. The first carpenter was named Lusk, who framed and built the "Red House" in 1798. He afterward returned to Whitestown, where he originally came from. Lusk also raised the first frame barn. Robert and Jonas Earll established the first distillery, near where Watson erected his house (this was not situated on the outlet), about the year 1800. The distillery was located a few rods higher up and a little north of Watson's house. The grain distilled was six bushels of wheat a day, and as fast as it could be made it was sold at seventy-five cents a gallon. It yielded about two gallons to a bushel of wheat, which was considered a good yield in those days. The first religious services were held in the ballroom of the "Red House" by traveling missionaries, mostly of Methodists and some Baptists. A cele- brated Baptist preacher, John Leland, of Berkshire, Mass., used to come here and preach. He had relatives about here. He was the bearer of a monster cheese which was presented to President Jefferson by Berkshire County, Mass When Mr. Earll first came as a boy, where the village is now was then a wilderness in 1796. There was not a single house built there at the time, not even a tavern, which would naturally be first erected. Robert Earll, Nehemiah's father, was the first tanner in the county of Onon- daga. He brought hides from Whitehall, and these he tanned. He had no opposition in this business for many years. He established his tannery on Skaneateles Outlet in 1797 or 1798. The stock he purchased in Whitehall. The tannery was located from four to six rods north of the bridge and south of the present factory, known as the D. Kellogg factory. Robert Earll also carried on shoemaking at that time, and afterward em- ployed many journeymen at the business. He was the first maker of boots and shoes hereabout. The first tailors in this section were an old Englishman named O'Keefe and his son in Skaneateles. His shop was near the big elm-tree, corner of Jordan and Academy streets. The William Price heretofore mentioned as studying law with Mr. Earll in his younger days and with Daniel Kellogg was the son of Judge Price, of Owasco. He was considered the smartest young man in the office, but he afterward became intemperate, and consequently degraded and died a wreck. Nehemiah H. Earll died at Mottville, August 26, 1872, at the age of eighty- 1 8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. five years. The following notice of his death was published in the Skaneateles Democrat, August 30, 1872: "Death of Hon. Nehemiah H. Earll. — Under our obituary head this week will be found the announcement of the death of Hon. Nehemiah H. Earll, at Mottville, on Saturday last, August 26, 1872. The Syracuse Standard of Mon- day has the following just criticism upon Mr. Earll's life and character, which we lay before our readers : 'Judge Earll had lived in comparative retirement for many years, but the mere mention of his name will revive many reminiscences in the minds of those who are acquainted with his career, and will refresh a knowledge of our local history with those who are at all acquainted with its scope or details. Judge Earll was a very prominent citizen of Onondaga. Few of her inhabitants have conferred upon her greater honor or had more influence in molding her destiny. No one has held more places of trust or honor, or brought to the discharge of his duties higher talents, a more scrupulous fidelity, or greater dignity of character. Nehemiah Earll was born October 5, 1787, at Whitehall, Washington County, and removed to this county with his father, General Robert Earll, in 1793, residing at Onondaga Valley about nine months, when his father went to the town of Skaneateles, where he lived until 1804. In that year young Earll entered Fairfield Academy, remaining there two years and leaving the institution with a high reputation for scholarship. After leav- ing the Academy he commenced reading law in the office of Daniel Kellogg, at Skaneateles. He remained with Mr. Kellogg, himself one of the ablest lawyers the county has produced, and pursued his further studies at Onondaga Valley with Thaddeus M. Wood and George B. Hall, whose names are intimately iden- tified with the sharp legal contests of our early period. He was admitted to practise as Attorney in the Court of Common Pleas in 1809, the curriculum of preparation for the law being somewhat longer than it now is. Shortly after his admission he removed to the village of Salina (now First Ward), and en- tered into partnership with Judge Daniel Mosely and John P. Sherwood. He was admitted to practise in the Supreme Court in 1812, having then completed the full course of seven years' study required for admission to the highest courts. In that year, however, he dropped his brief, and entered the service of his country, in the war with Great Britain, as adjutant of Colonel Fleming's regiment. During nearly the entire period of the regiment's service he was stationed at Oswego, and at the close of the war he was honorably discharged. The veterans of 1812 who remain with us are but a remnant now. One by one they have dropped away. Let us honor their memories as of those who did us patriotic service in a day when the country had the fullest need of all her sons of heroic mold. In 1814 Judge Earll resumed the practise of law at Onondaga Hill, where he rapidly gained reputation and position. In 1816 he was appointed postmaster at Onon- daga Hill, and in the same year was elected Justice of the Peace, which latter office he held by successive elections until 1830. He was also during this period a Master in Chancery for six years. In 1823 he was appointed First Judge of HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 19 the Court of Common Pleas, which he held until 1831, when he resigned and was made Superintendent of the Onondaga Salt Springs, which he held until 1836. During his careful and exact management of the salt reservation, the manufacture of our staple was largely increased, and the rights of the producer and of the State were both rigidly protected. In 1836 he resigned as superin- tendent and went into the milling business with his brother Hezekiah at Jordan, when he sold out and came to our city (then village) to live. In 1838 he was elected by the Democracy Representative from the Twenty-third District (Madi- son and Onondaga) in the Twenty-sixth Congress. He served one term with credit to himself and honor to his constituency, and was renominated in 1840; but the mutations in politics then reversed the Democratic majority in the district, and he was defeated by the Whig candidate, the Horn' Victory Birdseye. Since that time he had been a private citizen, residing in Syracuse and the town of Salina until i860, when upon the death of his wife he removed to Mottville, in this county, and lived there respected and beloved by all who knew him, as an honest man, a kind neighbor, and a consistent Christian. Such in brief is the history of one whose record has been of the finest character, and whose services entitle his memory to the most lasting consideration. We should be pleased if some of our older citizens who knew him and the times in which he lived would add their contributions to this necessarily imperfect sketch.' " Nathan Kelsey. — Nathan Kelsey was a resident here in the year 1798. There was an early brickmaker here named Kelsey. It is not known whether Nathan was his given name or not; but the brickmaker identified himself by branding his name on all the bricks he made, and Kelsey bricks are often found when the old large chimneys are torn down in this village and town. Nothing more is known of Nathan Kelsey than his well-made bricks. The Cuykendall Family. — The first Cuykendall that settled in this town was Henry. He was born in the town of Minisink, Orange County, in 1778, came to Owasco in the spring of the year 1800, resided there six years, and in 1806 moved to Skaneateles, about one and half miles north of Mandana, on the farm now occupied by the Huff family. Henry's family consisted of nine children — ^five boys and four girls — of which only two children survive. Moses Cuykendall was born in the town of Minisink, came to the town of Sempronius in 1809, learned the blacksmith's trade with his uncle, and in 1815 came into this town and purchased fifty acres of land, worked at his trade and on his farm Until his death in 1859. His family consisted of ten children — six boys and four girls — of whom all are dead but one. Van Etten Family. — Jacob W. Van Etten was born in Minisink in 1770, came to the town of Skaneateles, and purchased a farm north of Mandana, where he died in 1850. He had five children — one son and four daughters — of whom all are dead but the youngest daughter, who now resides in Minnesota. David Welch. — David Welch came to this town from Fort Ann, Washing- ton County, in 1798, and settled on Military Lot No. 73, on land which is now 2 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. the first farm this side of Mandana. He was a private in the Revolutionary War, and was at the battle of Bennington, where he was wounded in the shoul- der. He raised the first frame barn in 1800. Samuel Welch.— Samuel Welch, brother of David, came here in 1800 from the same place. He was born in 1773, was twenty-seven years old when he came, and arrived here in the month of March, with two yoke of oxen and a wooden shod sled. His son Samuel was then three years old. He came by way of Oneida, and through Marcellus. He served in the War of 1812. A car- penter by the name of Johnson built a frame barn for him in 1804. The first schoolhouse in that vicinity was in a log house, and was on the site of the present tavern. Daniel G. Burroughs was the first school teacher, and young Samuel Welch was one of the pupils. A Miss Hall and Miss Gleason afterward taught school in this schoolhouse. Religious services were held in barns by traveling missionaries. Israel Sabins, a blacksmith and tinker, lived on the Hodges place. Cole was also a blacksmith and lived on the Tunis Van Houghten farm. This was the next farm south of Welch's. Tunis Van Houghten was among the first, if not the very first, supervisors of the town of Skaneateles. The Town Records show that he was supervisor in 1836, in which he was succeeded by Chester Clark. Mr. Van Houghteli evidently was a man of good education, as some very old books here show that he set the pattern by which all the records have since been kept. James Gardner first settled oh the Dor Austin farm, and Sam Hardy was on the same farm previously. Colonel Burroughs was on the farm next north of Samuel Welch. Judge Kellogg had a farm west of the Gravitt place. He after- ward went to Kelloggsville and kept store there. This place took its name from him. Samuel Robertson had a farm west of David Welch, and William Watts was west of Robertson, and Edward Greenman next west of Watts. John G. Garlock built a store on the corners on the east side of the road. He commanded a company in the War of 1812. The store was afterward kept by John Miles, and also by Seth Morgan. This statement was made by Mr. Samuel Welch, now a resident of Auburn, and formerly well known here as the father of Mrs. Massilon W. Fay. He is now eighty-four years old. Benjamin Nye. — Benjamin Nye, father of John M. Nye, came to Skaneateles from the town of Lee, Mass., in the year 1798. He purchased four acres in this village, near the locality of the house now occupied by John Kellogg. Here he constructed a log house for his residence. He was a brickmaker by trade, and located a brick-yard on the shore of the lake, in the vicinity of where the late Julius Earll's boat-house is situated. It is said that he made the first brick ever produced here. After carrying on this business for four years, he sold his land for one hundred dollars per acre, and then purchased one hundred acres on the east shore of the lake. There was no road at that time on the east side of the lake, consequently he had to go from day to day to his land to clear a place on HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 21 which to build a log house. He had also to move his family and furniture in his boat after he had finished his log cabin. Some years later, when it became neces- sary to raise money to make his last payment for the land, haying no financial friends nearer than Utica, it became necessary for some one of his family to go to Utica, where his wife had relatives. So Mrs. Nye undertook the journey, thinking that she could leave her household cares with less loss than her husband, as he was constantly engaged in clearing up his land preparatory to planting a crop of corn on which to subsist his family and stock. The wife started on horse- back under unusual difficulties, as there were no roads through the country, and the route was only by marked trees ; but she persevered, and arrived in due time at Utica, found her relatives, obtained the money, and returned in the same man- ner and by the same route to her home in the woods, and made her husband glad with her success in procuring the necessary money to make the final payment. No one nowadays can imagine the deprivation and inconvenience endured by the hardy settlers in this section of country. Some years later, and after Mr. Nye had accumulated some hard-earned money, he began to build a frame dwelling for his family, and, making use of his trade as a brickmaker, he made his brick, burned his lime, and made his shingles; but, in other respects laboring under the disadvantage of the want of other mechanics, he did not complete his house entirely, and he moved his family into it while in an unfinished state. Soon after he contracted a severe cold, from the effects of which he never recovered, although he lived some years after- ward. He was never able to completely finish the house in consequence of poor health. He died in 1829. Hezekiah Earll. — The Earlls emigrated from Wales to Nova Scotia at quite an early day, and thence to the New England States, and to the eastern section of New York State, near Lake Champlain. In the winter of 1794-95, Robert Earll and his brother Abijah came to the town of Skaneateles, and settled on Military Lot No. 27. They were the sons of Daniel Earll, Sr., who first came from Whitehall, Washington County, N. Y., and settled at Onondaga Hollow, in the year 1792. He had eight sons, all hardy, enterprising men. He died in the year 1817, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Robert Earll had six sons, one of whom, Hezekiah Earll, is the subject of this sketch. He was born about the year 1790, and identified himself with the his- tory of the town of Skaneateles as one of its most successful business men. He en- gaged in many business enterprises, which were accomplished with conciseness and brevity, and he always had a large following of personal friends. He was for a number of years connected with the Auburn Exchange Bank, and at one time was its President. At an early day he was the owner of the farm now occu- pied by Emerson Adams. He built the dwelling-house that is there, and John Billings was the carpenter. Hezekiah Earll died October 30, 1863, at the age of seventy-three years.' 2 2 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Judge Nehemiah H. Earll was the eldest brother of Hezekiah Earll, a sketch of whose life is given in the preceding part of this chapter. Hezekiah Earll had seven children, three of whom died in infancy. One of his sons, George H. Earll, was a successful business man, and connected in many enterprises with his father. In all of his varied public and private transactions, he manifested sound judgment, strict integrity, and ability. He died in the year 1873. Julius Earll, the eldest son of Hezekiah Earll, was born in this town, 1818. In his youth he received a thorough academic education, and subsequently studied law in the office of Sandford & Moseley, and later with Sherwood & Green in Buffalo, and was subsequently admitted to the bar. Instead of pursuing the practise of law, he entered into the manufacturing business, and was prominently identiiied with that and other business enterprises, which were always eminently successful. His life was a remarkably busy one. Strong common sense and unfaltering energy were his predominating characteristics. He was a man of the strictest integrity and of exceptional business ability, which he turned to good account for many others who sought his counsel and advice in matters of busi- ness importance. He won and retained warm friendships, universal respect, and high esteem by all classes of his fellow citizens. He died July 26, 1876, in the midst of an active and prosperous life. Abijah Earll. — ^Abijah Earll was the son of Daniel Earll, Sr. In the win- ter of 1794-95, Abijah Earll came to this town and settled on Military Lot No. 19, on the old Genesee Road, about a half mile east of what is now "Willow Glen," on the farm now owned by his grandson J. Horatio Earll. There Abijah built a log house. His brother Robert came here at the same time, and settled near by on Military Lot No. 27, where he erected a log house on the site of what has since been known as the "Red House." In the year 1818 Abijah Earll was elected a Member of Assembly. Abijah Earll had five sons and four daughters. Col. Daniel Earll, his eldest son, was born August 26, 1803, and was but sixteen years of age when his father died, in 1819. He then assumed charge of his father's business, operating his father's mills — saw-mills, linseed-oil mill, and grist-mill — all located where the Lakeside Paper Mill is now, besides running the farm. Later he became in- terested as either owner or partner in several grist-mills on the outlet of Skan- eateles Lake, including the mill at Skaneateles. In 1857, Colonel Earll and his sons Augustus, Leonard, and Charles Tallman, of Syracuse, established a distillery on the site formerly owned by his father, and now the Lakeside Paper Mill, which they operated under the firm name of Earlls & Tallman until about 1870, when Colonel Earll withdrew from the firm and retired to his farm, the place of his birth. Here he died at the age of eighty-six. Chester Parsons. — Chester Parsons was born in Westhampton, Mass., January, 1791, and moved to Skaneateles in the month of February, 1822. He HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 23 purchased his farm in 1821 from Judah Pierce, who was known in early times as Major Pierce. At that time Colonel Livingston, United States Marshal of North- ern New York, occupied the place now owned by David Waldron, formerly the Dyer Brainerd place. Thaddeus Edwards lived on the Gale or Elleuy farm. Gibbs & Horton, Phares Gould, and Winston Day were the merchants in the village. Colonel Bellamy sold his farm to Captain Lee the same year. Captain Lee built his first sail-boat, or began it, the same year. It was an open boat, arranged with air-tight tanks as precautions for safety in case of disaster. The post-office was where the Episcopal church is now, and C. J. Burnett was Post- master. Rev. Mr. Stockton preached at the Presbyterian church opposite the present Pardee place. He did not stay very long after that time. Rev. Alex- ander Cowen was the next preacher. A school was kept in the brick schoolhouse across the bridge in 1828, and another on the hill near the meeting-house. Mr. Dascomb was the keeper of the tavern on the site now occupied by Hanmer's store. Sherwood kept the old tavern where the Packwood House is now. Sackett lived in the house now occupied by Packwood. Alanson Edwards kept the tavern which was then on the corner of East Genesee Street and the East Lake Road, and his son Thaddeus attended the bar. This tavern was after- ward destroyed by fire, and never rebuilt. Ebenezer Sessions lived south of Mr. Parsons, near the small stream of water, in a house painted red. Deacon Amasa Sessions lived on what is known as the Bradford place. John Legg had his black- smith shop on the Dr. Bartlett place. A Mr. Potter did woodwork on wagons for Mr. Legg. At about that period John Legg had purchased the Norman Leonard place, and Legg's shop was then moved on the lake-shore. This was about 1821. Philo Dibble was the village harness-maker. Chester Parsons was a real, practical temperance man. Always making it a point of principle not to sell any of his farm produce for distilling purposes, he would rather be satisfied with a less price for his grain in order to place it in the line of food for man or beast. He was a man of sterling character, and was always highly respected by not only his immediate neighbors, but the community generally. He left Skaneateles in 1854, and died in Syracuse in 1874, aged eighty-three years. The above statement was the result of a personal interview with the author. Silas Bush. — Silas Bush came from Sheffield, Mass., in 1797, on foot, with William Chatfield Harmon. They were both carpenters by trade. Soon after they arrived, they raised the first frame barn at Hardenburgh's Corners, now Auburn. Silas Bush purchased 300 acres of land on Military Lot No. 12. He died in 1836, aged sixty-three years. His son, Silas Bush, who now resides at Shepard Settlement, was born April 4, 1812. He is now in his eighty-eighth year. Amos Pardee. — ^Amos Pardee's father, Charles Pardee, was born in Norfolk, Litchfield County, Conn., in 1760. He had ten children, of whom six lived to become adults. He emigrated to this town September 27, 1804, with his family, 24 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. but came previously during the month of June and purchased land for a farm. He was accompanied by his six adult children — two sons and four daughters. The sonis were: Amos and Charles L. The daughters were: Lucy, Charlotte, Glbrinda, and Harriette. Amos, the subject of this sketch, was born at Norfolk, Conn., January i6, 1788. He came with his father in 1804, at the age of sixteen years. He drove an ox-team with a two-wheeled cart, in which was stowed all of the household furniture of the family. His father drove a horse-team. Besides their furni- ture, they brought a quince-tree, a sweet-flag root, and a peony, all in flower- pots. The family was sixteen days on the journey from Connecticut, and brought fotir oxen and three horses. Charles Pardee, the father, settled on what has since been known as "The Perry Foote farm." He lived and died on that farm. Charles L., Amos' brother, went West, and was known to be living in 1863. Of the sisters, Lucy married a Rathbun. The other three are dead. Charles Pardee died in the year 1836, at the age of seventy-six years. He had been a soldier of the Revoluntary War, was wounded in his arm, and received a pension of ninety-six dollars a year. Amos Pardee, the subject of this article, purchased the farm on which he resided, about the year 1813, and built the dwelling-house in 1828, so it will be observed that at the date of his death, January 16, 1878, he had owned that farm sixty-five years. While he was a young man he learned the trade of wool-carder at the estab- lishment of the Skaneateles Manufacturing Company, which was located at what is now known as Willow Glen. He worked at this business twelve or fourteen years, and was considered the best workman in that line of business in this part of the country. Wool-carding was at that period all done by hand, as machinery had not been invented for that purpose. Since that time he had devoted his ener- gies to cultivating and improving his farm. He was always a great reader, and his memory of events and of persons was unusually retentive. During the ten years previously to his death he had been confined to his home, having infirmities which made it necessary to nurture him with great care. During this confinement he was always ready to receive the calls of his old friends and acquaintances. His mind was active and bright, and his conversation interesting on all subjects. Within a few .years previously to his death he had often expressed a wish that his days might be lengthened, so that he might reach the full term of ninety years. This wish was fulfilled, for he passed away on his birthday, having reached his ninetieth year, January 16, 1878. The above was the result of a personal interview with the author. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 25 CHAPTER IV. Continuation of the History of the Pioneers. Alanson Benson. — (This statement is from a personal interview.) — Alan- son Benson was born in the town of Mendon, Worcester County, Mass., Febru- ary 12, 1792. He left there in 1797 with his father, Stephen Benson, and family of ten children — four girls, all married but one at the time the family came, and six sons. The family came on an ox-sled during the month of February from Westmoreland, near Utica. It was two years from the time he left Massachusetts tefore he came here to settle. He settled on Military Lot No. 84, southwest corner, and purchased the whole six hundred acres, settling his children on the lot. He bought Lot 84 from Garret H. Van Waggoner, of New York, who bought it from John Martin, the soldier. The oldest son negotiated the sale in New York, and while there took the yellow fever, and soon after his return home died of the fever. Alanson Ben- son paid two dollars an acre for the six hundred acres, being twelve hundred dol- lars for the lot. It took about all the money he had to pay for it. He came from Utica, stayed at Oneida overnight, put up at a log tavern at Marcellus, and passed over a traveled road to Skaneateles. He went through here and crossed the outlet where the bridge is now, passed over the driftwood vi^hich had accumulated in the creek, followed the west shore of the lake to about the brook on Russel Frost's farm, and thence to Lot No. 84, guided by marked trees through the woods. He brought with him two cows. ' There were at that time only two log houses on the west side of the lake, one of which was at about the location of the Octagon schoolhouse, the other near Holcomb Peck's, on the corner of the road that leads to Owasco Baptist meeting- house. When he first went through the village, he saw two or three log houses, one of them a tavern, and also noticed a frame house in process of erection, the frame being up. This was about where the Lake House was afterward built. Some Indians were seen traveling around and hunting. They belonged to Cayuga Lake, were dressed Indian fashion, and were very friendly. There were plenty of deer around. The first religious services, "Reformed Dutch," were in a log house on the shore of Owasco Lake, Reverend Brokaw being the Dominie. The first doctor was Van Horlin, at Owasco Lake, near the meeting-house. Colonel Hardenburgh attended this church. The trading was done with Winston Day, at Skaneateles. The first burying-ground was at Owasco, about a mile south of the meeting- house. 26 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. A " dugout" of whitewood, which was made by the elder brother of Alanson, was used on the lake, and with it their grists were carried to Skaneateles from _ Mandana. About a year or two afterward the Welch family settled north of Mandana. Jones, who came in 1806, and Burroughs settled about Mandana. The first log tavern at Mandana was kept by Sam Welch. The first blacksmith at Owasco was named Dates. Judge Price, the Brinckerhoflfs, and the De Puys were in the town of Owasco before Benson came. De Puy or the Brinckerhoffs were the first settlers be- tween Owasco and Skaneateles Lake. Charles J. Burnett, Sr. — Charles J. Burnett, Sr., was born in London, England, in the year 1774, and was connected with the Burnetts of Leys of Aberdeen, Scotland, a family originally of Saxon origin, and was a lineal descendant of Bishop Gilbert Burnet, the historian of "The Reformation in England," and a brother of the Rev. L B. Burnet, Rector of the parish of Hough- ton, Hints, England. In early life he left London, and entered the mercantile house of a relative at Lisbon, Portugal. After residing there for a while, and also at Malaga and at Gibraltar, in Spain, he returned to England. He soon after came to this country, and settled at Skaneateles in the year 1803, with one of the Dutch merchants of New York, William J. Vredenburg, with whom he had already previously had business relations while in Spain and Portugal, and whose daughter he soon after married. The marriage service was held ninety-seven years ago, in the parlor of the house in which he always lived until his death, and from the same parlor his remains .were borne to the church where the funeral services were held. He held the office of postmaster of Skaneateles from 1817 to 1843, ^ period of twenty-six years, through the administrations of Presidents Monroe, Adams, Jackson, Van Buren, and Harrison. He had been a warden of St. James' Church since 1824, a period of thirty-two years. He died in this village, February 16, 1856, aged eighty-two years. Daniel Kellogg. — Daniel Kellogg, one of the early and most distinguished citizens of the county of Onondaga, was born April 19, 1780, at Williamstown, Mass. After two years at Williams College of his native town, at the age of seventeen, he entered the law office of Abraham Van Vechten, of Albany, N. Y., one of the most distinguished lawyers of his time. Here young Kellogg laid the foundation of those high legal attainments for which he became so distinguished later in life. He was admitted to the Bar in October, 1800, and in the following year determined to win fortune in " the far West," which, early in the nineteenth century, held out as alluring prospects for young men of talent and enterprise as the farther West did to young men similarly equipped a generation or two later. -^=^.*Si DANIEL KELLOGG. o o J J H W J H S cw" <; M Q oT 1-. Ec, fo O >i O "A >. wheFe's. Joab? " On one occasion the Bennett fa'mily had a. quilting, to which some ladies who recently came into the neighbor- hcsbd. were invited, The work was being done in an upper room, Nate being left below with the injunction to say nothing on the arrival of the strangers. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. n and his mental state would not be discovered. After repeated knockings at the door, with no response from within, it was opened. No reply could be drawn from Nate to any of their questions. Finally, one of the ladies re- marked: "What's the matter with the boy? Is he a fool?" "There, gals! They've found out I am a fool, and I didn't say a single word." Sol Foster was another resident who made much amusement for the boys on training-days by his impersonations of the spinning-girl, mimicking soldiers, or breaking a tenpenny nail in two while held in his powerful jaws, which were filled with a fine set of double teeth all around. One of the freaks of Sol Foster occurred in connection with the old bark Hamstead schoolhouse, which stood on the top of the " Gulf Hill," a little east of the main road which led to Marcellus. It was located in the midst of the dense forest, on a clearing" just sufiEcient to build it, and was situated just about two and a half miles southwest of the village of Marcellus. Of course it was a frame building. Even at this period, 1833, the building was a rough one, having been constructed of rough materials. The school trustees could not agree as to its improvement. Some of them wanted to have a new one built, while others wanted to move it to a more desirable and convenient location farther east, and some of the trustees disagreed to both plans. Sol Foster was one of the latter, as a matter of course. Sol didn't believe in such a wrangling set of trustees, which led him to have a spite not only against them, but the schoolhouse itself, and one day, as he was passing that way, at a time when school was not going on, Sol went in. The Lord said, " Rip 'er, Sol." And Sol did rip her spitefully, by demolishing the whole inside of the schoolhouse. After that the trustees were obliged to agree to build a new schoolhouse in a more desirable place nearer the village of Marcellus. The above " incident of early times was furnished for this history by an early scholar of this original school, who was at that time but seven years of age, and it was his earliest schooling in 1833. Of all the Skaneateles " boys " who left the shores of that beautiful lake for a home elsewhere, not one parted more regretfully with it, and the dear friends around, than the writer. In early childhood it was the height of felicity to stray from the watchful care of my mother, pick up shells and beautiful pebbles, float or bathe in its placid waters. Navigation was performed on rafts built of driftwood. When older grown, riding in a canoe or skiff placed me at the acme of bliss. In 1833, when working in the Columbian printing-office, I got a task for three days, and sat up working at night to gain time for a ride on the lake. When the work was done, Wadsworth Francis' toy of a skiff was hired, but the south wind was blowing so furiously that no other boy was found foolhardy enough to share the joys of the excursion. After a brief struggle alone with the waves, it was given up as a bad job. In 1834, Frank Barker, from Borodino, who was attending school at the Academy, and myself schooner-rigged a skiff 72 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. for half a day's sail. Our nautical knowledge vvras very limited. He was not only mate, but crew also. I assumed the duties of captain, whereby I came very near being responsible for then ending the earthly career of that manly boy. It was on a cloudy day. The peculiar dark appearance of the water is well remembered. A " catspaw," or squall, struck us. Our craft, with twice the amount of sail she ought to have carried, shipped several pailfuls of water, 2iuA it seemed almost miraculous we were not drowned. My companion Frank Barker was killed by a brother-in-law in Ohio many years afterward. One Fourth of July, with other boys, we amused ourselves, and vexed the ■officers, passengers, and crew of the steamer Independence, by rowing in our skiff several times around her while she was being crowded to the utmost. On the Fourth of July, 1839, E. G. R. M. and S. B. Burnett, with myself, rowed a skiff to the head of the lake and back, one of the most' enjoyable days of my life. The first switching of my life, as now remembered, was when some half a dozen years old, at the beginning of attending school. Aunt Laura Edwards was the teacher in a red house where afterward Phares Gould built his residence (the C. H. Poor residence). Ives Parsons and myself, occupying one seat, persisted in whispering. Ives was called out and patiently endured the cor- rection administered. It was a new experience which had not been laid down in my programme of school exercises, and, on being called out, at the first blow, I commenced to kick so furiously as to bring tears in the eyes of my kind teacher, who was correcting me for my profit, though at the time it was not as evident to my mind as it has been since. Though for many years I have been a practical believer in the principles of peace — as held by me a long time — I should have saved my retaliation until the time of my last castigation in 1833, when, for taking a stroll, one lovely Sunday afternoon in summer, on the banks and bathing in the waters of the lake, I was brutally flogged in the Columbian office. In my opinion, it is a Christian duty of all who are confined indoors at sedentary pursuits thus to enjoy every Sunday afternoon in suitable weather, as shown by the great Teacher over eighteen hundred years ago. Possibly, I ought to be thankful this episode happened, for it decided me not to be a caged-up printer. Samuel Edwards. Harrison B. Dodge. — Harrison Barns Dodge, one of the oldest and best- known citizens of the town of Skaneateles, died at his home on East Academy Street, in this village, at about 5 P. M., Tuesday, November 22, 1898, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. His death came as a shock to many friends. Though in feeble health, he had been able to get down-town two or three times a week of late, his last trip being made on the Wednesday previous to his decease. The closing hours of his life were painless, and he passed peacefully away into the Great Beyond. Mr. Dodge was born in West Brookfield, Worcester County, Mass., June 22, 181 1, the son of Lewis and Susanna Barns Dodge, and was of New England lineage. Early in life orphaned, and with slight educational advantages, he HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 73 was apprenticed to the carriage-plating trade, in which he became a proficient workman. After a brief residence in Berkshire County, Mass., and a short sojourn in Albany, N. Y., he decided to come West, as central New York was called in those days, making the journey on a canal-packet to Syracuse. He stopped in that city, but the prospect was so uninviting that, hearing Skaneateles was a famous carriage-making center, he came on to this village, arriving here in August, 1831, being then only twenty years of age. He ever after made his home here, being a resident of this place for more than sixty-seven years. . There are very few residents of this village now living who were here at the time of his arrival. From 183 1 to 1849 he followed his trade as silver-plater, doing work for all the carriage manufacturers of the village during that time. In April, 1849, Mr. Dodge bought the Skaneateles Democrat (established in 1840), and in 1853 absorbed the Skaneateles Columbian (established in 1830). He personally continued the publication of the Democrat for over- forty years, leasing the same, January i, 1890, to Will T. Hall, who conducted the paper until his decease. May 31, 1897. Since July i following it has been published by M. A. Ackles. Mr. Dodge owned the Democrat at the time of his death, thus forming a connection with that paper of nearly fifty years as editor, publisher, and proprietor. Mr. Dodge was originally a Democrat, and published the Democrat on the lines of that party until after the breaking out of the rebellion, when he assumed m\ independent position, afterward becoming a Republican, and holding office under the Lincoln and first Grant administrations as Assistant United States Internal Revenue Assessor from 1861 to 1869. He became identified with the Liberal Republican movement in 1872, and in 1874 rejoined his old party, and for the remainder of his life was a staunch Democrat. During Mr. Dodge's management of the Democrat, he graduated fully two score or more printers, many of whom are now editing papers of their own. The writer of these lines was an apprentice in the Democrat office more than a quarter of a century ago. Mr. Dodge had held many town and municipal offices, being street com- missioner in the 40's and trustee in the 70's. In all of his public positions he did his work in a thorough and conscientious manner. In 1834 Mr. Dodge bought a lot on East Academy Street, and built a house ihereon the same year. The locality was then considered on the outskirts of the village. He made his home on this spot for sixty-four years. For the past nine years, since his retirement from active newspaper manage- ment, Mr. Dodge had taken life easy, enjoying a hale, if not hearty, old age, exhibiting a lively interest in all topics of a general or local nature. He had a good memory, far better than most men of his age. He delighted in discussions of the dates of historical events of national character and of local matters as ■well. He was a frequent and almost daily visitor at some of the business places 74 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. in town and at both newspaper offices, retaining a warm interest in the printing business to the last. Mr. Dodge was three times married : first in 1834, to Miss Harriet Hannum : in 1844, to Miss Catherine Douglass, and in 1859 to Miss Ellen A. Wheaton, of Pompey, who survives him. Me was the father of six children, three of whom died in infancy, and three of whom — two sons and a daughter — lived to man- hood and womanhood; but all are now dead: Rev. Harrison, died in 1877; Miss Kittle A., died in 1879 '> ^^d Fred A., died in 1886. The latter left three children, one of whom, Harry A., is a member of Company C, Two Hundred and Third N. Y. v., now at Greenville, S. C. The funeral services were held at his late residence at 10.30 o'clock this forenoon, the ritual of the Episcopal Church being read by Rev. F. N. Westcott, the remains being interred in the family lot in Lake View Cemetery in this village. — Skaneateles Free Press. To Defeat the Skaneateles Water Works Company. — The following circular was mailed to the newspaper having the largest circulation of every county in the State of New York. Its purpose was to defeat the passage of the celebrated Malby bill then pending in the Legislature, which bill was inimical to the interests of every village in the State. Bills of this character had previously been introduced in the Legislature, and great pressure had been brought by the water works companies to have them passed and enacted into law. The following circular had the desired effect, after having been extensively copied throughout the State, and the bill was not passed. This circular is appropriately copied as incident to the history of the Skaneateles Water Works Company, and of its promoter, the American Pipe Manufacturing Company, of New Jersey: ALL VILLAGES INTERESTED. A DANGEROUS BILL INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE. The following is a copy of the bill. The passage of this measure would seriously affect every village in the State. This circular is now sent to every County Seat in the State for the purpose of having the local press publish it in the interest of every municipality within each county to urge all villages to fight this bill to its death. There is a large sum of money behind this bill, which in ordinary Legislatures is inimical to the interests of the people : State of New York. — No. 565. — In Senate, February 13, 1896. Introduced by Mr. Malby — read twice, and ordered printed, and when printed to be com- mitted to the committee on miscellaneous corporations. An Act to amend an act entitled " The general corporation law," constituting chapter thirty-five of the general law. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: Section i. Section eleven of chapter six hundred and eighty-seven of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-two, entitled " An act to amend the general corporation law," HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 75 constituting chapter thirty-five of the general laws, is hereby amended by adding thereto a subdivision to be known as subdivision six, to be read as follows : 6. Whenever rights, privileges or franchises have been or shall hereafter be granted to any corporation, or the exercise thereof by such corporation assented to by any municipal corporation, and the conditions or requirements of such grant have been complied with by the corporation receiving the same, the municipal corporation within whose limits such rights, privileges or franchises are exercised, shall not itself undertake or perform any business or purpose of said corporation without first acquiring, in the manner prescribed by chapter twenty-three of the code of civil procedure, the rights, privileges and franchises granted to said corporation, and also the property of said corporation necessary for the use of said rights, privileges and franchises. § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. The following protest, which is to be presented to the legislature, has been left at the postoffice in this village for the purpose of securing the signatures of all those who favor municipal ownership and municipal rights : — To the Honorable, the Legislature of the State of New York: We the undersigned citizens of the village of Skaneateles respectfully protest against the passage of a bill introduced by Senator Malby, in the Senate, Feb. 13, 1896. For the following reasons, to wit : The scheme of this bill is to compel every municipal corporation in the state, which has heretofore granted a franchise to a water works company, or indeed any other kind of a company, or to any person, firm or corporation, before they can exercise the same right or franchise to acquire the franchise in the given case by proceedings for condemnation. This bill is extraordinarily sweeping in its provisions, and the object intended to be effected is made applicable to all municipal corporations alike. It is extraordinarily vicious in principle, for it delivers every municipal corporation in the state bound hand and foot, to any person, firm or corporation, to which any franchise has heretofore been granted, however incautiously or improperly. This bill has behind it the combined power of the water works companies and all other companies, firms and corporations, who have heretofore procured a municipal franchise of any description, not only this but the money influence of the various banks and institutions that have invested in the bonds of these companies. This village of Skaneateles is now considering the subject of municipal ownership, either by the purchase of the plant of the foreign water works company here, or if satisfac- tory terms can not be effected, to put in an entire new water plant. The Malby bill if passed, would be decidedly against the interest of this village, and not only this but many other villages, in the state similarly situated. Dated Skaneateles, N. Y., February 20, 1896. E. Norman Leslie, President of the Village. One Effect of this Circular. — The Syracuse Standard, which received one of the circulars, published the following leading editorial, February 22, 1896: " A GOOD BILL TO DEFEAT. " Senator Malby has a bill in committee at Albany which ought to receive its quietus the mpment it gets before either branch of- the legislature. It is described in its title as an amendment to the general corporation law, but its real purpose is to prevent municipal corporations, either villages or cities, from establishing water works or lighting systems, without first extinguishing franchises covering the same rights that may be in existence. This is the text of the bill: [Unnecessary to repeat here.] " In most of the villages of New York state foreign companies are in possession of franchises for the furnishing of water. Gas and electric lighting has also been furnished to scores of. the smaller places by companies working with foreign capital. Senator Malby's bill liroposes to invest these coiicerns with perpetual possession of their respective fields, unless by purchase, at presumably their own figures, they are superseded and extinguished. 76 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Municipal ownership of water works and lighting systems would be fatally retarded were the Malby bill to become a law. " Probably the proposition contained in this bill originated with banking institutions and private individuals who have invested in local bonds. Were the companies to be estab- lished in essential perpetuity these securities would be much more valuable than they are at present, but the justice of asking this guarantee of the legislature at the expense of the municipal corporations will have to be explained when the author of the bill supports it on the floor. In the meantime the villages of the state had better keep a sharp lookout for this little joker." Early Skaneateles Real Estate Values Compared with Syracuse Real Property Values. — ^James Sackett during the early part of the nineteenth century was the owner of all the lands in this village south of the Seneca Turn- pike road and east of the outlet of the lake, on which are now the business stores of this village. He also owned many acres in the western portion of this village, including the present Fred. Shear property, on which Sackett had his residence, succeeding the John Briggs tavern. Sackett afterward removed to the village of Syracuse, where he invested largely in real estate. Soon after his assuming his residence there, he had as his family physician Dr. Mather Williams, who was one of the earliest physicians in Syracuse. Dr. Williams' services to Mr. Sackett's family ran over a number of years. His bill for services, which was not very extravagant in those early days, was finally settled by Dr. Williams receiving from his patient a tract of land out over James Street hill. It was then not very valuable, nor did it give promise of becoming one of the home districts of the village. Dr. Williams was a gentleman of the old school, suave and courteous, who always affected the latest mode of dress, and was never seen without the ruffled shirt-front and high-stock collar. That tract of land " over James Street hill,"' as the village grew and when the village became a city, was and now is a very valuable property. Other persons purchased land in what is now James Street at about the same period that James Sackett paid his doctor's bill with a tract of land. Lands in that location were purchased at the rate of eighteen dollars per acre, and three- quarters of a century ago lands in the vicinity of where Fayette Park is now sold for from six dollars to ten dollars and a half an acre. These lands are at the present time worth from one hundred to three hundred dollars per front foot. Syracuse at that period was in embryo, and was not thought of, not even as a village. In the year 1834, the land on which the Durston Memorial building now stands, in James Street, was owned by Daniel Kellogg, Esq., of Skaneateles, and two other gentlemen of Syracuse, and it is now a very valuable piece of property. ■Of course, the salt industry, and especially the construction of the Erie Canal, were the foundations of the prosperity of Syracuse. Why has Skaneateles Retrograded? — Within twenty years of the early settlement of the village, the piece of land on the lake-shore, about half an acre HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 77 in extent, on which the boat-house of the late Julius Earll, Jr., is located, was sold by John Briggs to John Meeker for one thousand dollars. This is only an instance of the early value of lake-shore property. The lots on which the brick stores are now located were originally owned by James Sackett, and, being on the lake-shore, were probably sold by him at proportionately advanced prices. That these lots were considered valuable is indicated by the construction of the heavy stone docks at the rear of the stores at a considerable expense. The First Steamboat on the Lake. — The following is a copy of a handbill concerning the Highland Chief, and now in good preservation, in possession of E. N. Leslie. The Highland Chief was not built here, but was brought from the Hudson River by Captain Fowler by the way of the canal, and he had it trucked up to the lake with a large number of oxen. It was forty feet in length. Captain Fowler did not belong here, but came with his boat, which was a very uncomfortable craft for pleasure parties, as it was liable to careen and upset. STEAM BOAT HIGHLAND CHIEF, Wm. Fowler, Capt. Will leave Skaneateles, at 8 o'clock, a. m. for Rossville, (at the head of the lake,) on Taesday, Thursday and Saturday, of each week, and return same day. On Mondays, "Wednesdays and Fridays, of each week, it will be in readiness for parties of pleasure. IS^Fare to Rossville and back, $0.75. Skaneateles, 3d August, 1831. An Old Log Tavern. — The only tavern in the town, in 1795, was located in what is now the village, and was situated where the present west corner of Main and State streets is. It was constructed of logs. Some years afterward, when better accommodations were needed, a frame addition was added on the west side, which was about sixty feet long, fronting on the turnpike road. It was two stories in height, and in after years additions were built for the ac- commodation of travelers' horses. This tavern was first kept by a Captain Welsh, who was also a militia captain. In 1820, no less than fifteen stage-coaches passed through the village daily. These stages carried the United States mail. Early Business in Skaneateles. — Skaneateles very early became a well- known mart of trade, not only in this section of the State, but in all parts of the State west of Albany. Its early merchants were enterprising, kept heavy stocks of merchandise on hand, and consequently had an extensive trade. Carriage and sleigh manufacturing in Skaneateles very early assumed an extensive business, which gave this manufacture a great reputation, not only throughout central New York west of Albany, but also throughout the Western States. The zenith of business here of all descriptions was in the year 1830. The later known artists, Elliott and Thayer, both learned the early rudiments 78 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. of their artistic work here in the village. The carriage and sleigh manufacturers employed them in painting fancy designs on the high backs of expensive sleighs. Another Conveyance to Freeborn G. Jewett. — Winston Day and Thankful, his wife, to Freeborn G. Jewett: " Part of Lot No. 36, February 20, 1822. Bounded and described as follows : Beginning at the southeast corner of Skaneateles village lot number one, laid out at the north end of the Skaneateles Lake, said lots containing about one acre each, thence easterly along the north line of the old road leading east and west through the village of Skaneateles, and on the south line of lot number two one hundred feet to the southwest corner of village lot number three." Village Lot No. i was where the brick buildings are now west of Judge Marvin's residence. Village Lot No. 2 comprised the Marvin lot. Village Lot No. 3 was the next village lot east of Judge Marvin's, on which the savings- bank is now located. Further description of this land is given, but not necessary to repeat here. The number of acres is not given in the deed, but the con- sideration was $2,500. According to the description given in the deed there must have been a considerable number of acres in this purchase. Condensed Fragments of History. — Ebenezer Edwards traded here from 1801 to 1808. — iHenry Mead and Factory Company traded here from 1826 to 1831. — Isaac Selover, from 1801 to 1813. — Levi Stephens, 1815. — Sylvester Eells, 1812. — Benjamin Leonard, 1812. — Aaron Taylor, 1800 to 1809. — Moses Legg, 1796 to 1801. — Mr. Keth, 1807. — Weeks & Bristol (Esquire Weeks and A. P. Bristol) dealt in ashes in 1802-4. — Eli Clark in his account-book wrote: "April 29, 1816, Mr. Enock and family moved into my log house. November 4, 1815, Mr. Levi Swan came to my old house to live." — Walter Root, 181 1. — Asahel Cook, 1804. — Joseph Davis, 181 1. — ^William Chft, 1807. — Deacon Joseph Root, 1805. — John Brewer, 1812. — Ezra Stephens, 1812. — Eleazer Goodwin, 1810. — William White, 1816. — William B. Douglass, 1815. — Asa Kneeland, 1812. — Hecox & Tinkham were manufacturing boots and shoes here in 1828. — Porter & Wolcott and Burnett & Rhoades were doing business here in 1828. — Mason & Earll were dealers in lumber in 1827. — R. C. & O. Hulbut were dealers in lumber in 1823. — Ingham, Booth & Champlin here in 1812. — .Esquire Northam a Justice of the Peace here in 1814. — Benjamin Gumaer came here from Minisink, Orange County, in 1799. — John Legg's first blacksmith-shop was on the lake- shore, just south of where the Waller boat-house is now, when he first came here in 1804. He afterward sold out his shop to Sabins, a blacksmith. The Pettis House. — A family by the name of Pettis lived in a story-and-a- half house next east of the Charles J. Burnett dwelling, opposite the present St. James' Church, previously to the year 1804. John Legg occupied this house subsequently. After Legg, Henry Arnold, who was an own brother of Benedict Arnold, the traitor, of Revolutionary notoriety, came here from Canada, and lived in it. Henry Arnold afterward married a sister of John Ten Eyck's wife. Freeborn G. Jewett later resided in this house for a short time. HISTORY OF. SKANEATELES. 79 CHAPTER VII. Miscellaneous Fragments of Early History. Caleb N. Potter was born at Pownal, Vt., and came to Skaneateles Village in 1815, where he was engaged for several years in mechanical pursuits. In 1823 he settled in Clintonville, where he continued to reside until his death, July 25, 1865, aged seventy-five years.- Deacon David Hall died June 4, 1865, aged seventy-nine years. Elder Amasa Smith died at Elmira, January 20, 1865. Correl Humphrey died October 17, 1885. Peter Thompson and John Billings, both carpenters,, constructed many of the prominent and best dwelling-houses in the village and surrounding country during their time, one of which was the dwelling of James A. Root's present residence. This house was built for Nicholas Thome, who owned the property. Another was the dwelling now owned by Emerson Adams. It has been very difficult to obtain the names of early building mechanics of this village. Both of these carpenters were employed by Ambrose Hecox in building his house, barns, and other outbuildings. Peter Thompson lived at an early day on a farm a few miles north of the village. Moses Loss, another carpenter, came to Skaneateles in 1795. William Gibbs, an early merchant, in the year 18 12 had a fulling-mill and carding-mill on the location now occupied by the Policy repair-shop, and owned by Miss Beauchamp. Cotton & Lewis, in 1812, were millers in a frame mill which was located on the present site of the stone mill. Jessee Kellogg (Dorastus Kellogg's father) in 1803 built the tavern on the Obadiah Thorne place. He afterward sold it to David How (Amaziah How's brother) four or five years afterward. Jessee Kellogg also built the dwelling- house under the large elm-tree, near the corner of Academy and Jordan streets. The dwelling-house on Main Street now owned by Miss Wheeler was formerly owned and occupied by the late John Snook. Previously this lot belonged to Phares Gould, on which was his brick store and dwelling-house, in the year 1816. Daniel Talcott conducted the village furnace in 1826, at which time he lived in the small one-story house next south of Hoag & Son's lumber yard, on Jordan Street. At about that date he owned the Elias Thorne farm on the West Lake Road, and built the two-story brick dwelling-house now known as the Captain Mollard residence, formerly the Elias Thorne residence. So HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Jonathan Weston was the first settler in the village. He built a log house on the site of the C. H. Poor residence. Josiah Weston, the son of Jonathan, built a log house on the present site of Mrs. John Kellogg's wood house. Sylvester Roberts, an early blacksmith, lived in the Josiah Weston log house in the year 1803. Moses Loss, an early carpenter, who had been married a short time, lived in a log house immediately in front of Sylvester's log house. Both families were very intimate. S. C. Wheaden & Co. were doing business in the village in 1826. Captain Elijah Rust was here in 1826. There was a blacksmith named Stringham here in 1826. The Miss Higby who taught school under the Episcopal church was related to Nehemiah Smith's wife. James Turnure was the miller who had the frame grist-mill in 1828, when it was destroyed by fire. Lewis, Cotton & Co. purchased the site, and erected a new frame mill afterward. Earll, Kellogg & Co. had the grist-mill in 1837. Ezra & Benjamin were in business here in 1812. Also Ingham & Hecox. Samuel Francis purchased his place on the shore of the lake from Cotton Denio. August 29, 1803, Jedediah Sanger sold to John Briggs fifty-seven acres, being part of Lot No. 36 ; consideration, $300. This land included the present cemetery and old burial-ground. March 5, 1805, John Briggs, and Roxy, his wife, sold to Winston Day part of Lot No. 36, beginning at the southwest corner of the store now occupied by Piatt Wikes, thence forty-two feet along said store to the land of Warren Hecox, etc. ; consideration, $400. Winston Day at that date (1805) was in partnership with Isaac Sherwood. Rev. Isaac Rawson, minister, was hired by the year to preach in the old schoolhouse on the hill, before it was destroyed by fire in 1807. He was origi- nally a Freemason, but afterward became an Antimason. Nathaniel Swift, who succeeded Rawson, was the first settled minister. Columbus Weston had a blacksmith-shop on the corner of Hamilton Turnpike and Cross Street in 1836. William J. Vredenburg first came to this town in 1797. He then owned many military lots in various townships. The records of the County Clerk's office show that his first purchases of military lands was in the year 1790, at which time he was a merchant in the city of New York. A Mr. Camp kept tavern here in 1816. Chester Tolles, who originally owned the Bradford farm on the east side of the lake, built and owned a wood boat on the lake here in 1 812 or after that date. In 1806 Winston Day had completed his dwelling-house and was living in it. This was a frame two-story house. A one-story wing was afterward built on HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 8i the west side. The great fire of 1835, on the opposite side of the street, one hundred feet distant, was so hot that the front door was bUstered by the fire. The late Thaddeus Edwards stated that the tavern which John Briggs built, on the site now owned by Fred Shear, was completely finished and occupied in 1806. Isaas Sherwood in 1806 lived in a story-and-a-half house next west of Col. Warren Hecox's house, across the highway. The Isaac Sherwood tavern was built for him by a carpenter named Wicks. This tavern was located where the Packwood House is now. Col. Warren Hecox was a tanner and shoemaker, and manufactured boots and shoes. He learned his trade of David Seymour, on the west side of the lake. Shoemaking at that period was an important business, as much so as keeping a store. This, together with the tanning business, in both of which Colonel Hecox was engaged, was one of the original industries of the town. John Legg first came to this town in 1802. P. Fish, of New York, owned a farm on the east side of the lake in 1835. He placed John Middleton on it, more as a matter of charity than otherwise. John Middleton not knowing anything about farming, and being more of a politician than otherwise, spent nearly all his time in the village, and got into debt, as a matter of course. Finally the owner of the farm sent a power of attorney to Captain De Cost, who was an old friend of P. Fish, to sell the farm, after which John Middleton with his family went back to New York. Esquire Sherwood was here in 1814. He had a lime-kiln and sold lime. William J. Vredenburg first resided in this town in 1803. He was a Judge of Onondaga County in 1804-5 ^^^ 1809, and was Member of Assembly in 1805 and 1806. Col. Warren Hecox was a Judge of Onondaga County in 1818. Nehemiah H. Earll was a Judge of Onondaga County in 1823, and was First Judge in 1828. He was also a member of the Twenty-sixth Congress. Thomas Jones was here in the village from 1805 to i8io. He was an excellent penman, as has been shown by the account-books kept by him. Joseph Root came here with his son, Henry, in 1804. Elijah Parsons arrived here from Massachusetts in 1805, and died October 25, 1862, at the age of eighty-three years. Col. Warren Hecox was long engaged in tanning and shoemaking in the village, and became a leading citizen. His tannery was burned February 20, 1848. Lafayette Cuddeeack. — We here insert a copy of a letter from Lafayette Cuddeback, a grandson of Abraham A. Cuddeback, the first settler here : " My grandmother, wife of Abraham A. Cuddeback, was a De Witt, a daughter of J. R. De Witt, of Minisink, Orange County, N. Y., who had two sons and seven daughters. The eldest daughter married William Raso, who settled near Lodi, Syracuse. Rachel married Robert Burnett, father of Moses Burnett, of Syracuse, Margaret, and Jane. Peter and Abraham Cuddeback 82 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. married two sisters. Hannah married James Annis (one of the former owners of what is now known as the Lapham place). Peter settled where Porter Cudde- back now lives. The three sisters leased that section from their brother, Moses De Witt, who surveyed the military lots in the years 1787 to 1788. He died in 1790. " My grandmother had a sister that married James De Puy, who settled where Jamesville now is, in the spring of 1792. Also one other sister that married James Coleman, who hired a half section near where Onondaga Hill is now located. " This was all on land hired from their brother, Moses De Witt. My grand- father came in the spring of 1794 to his brother-in-law at Onondaga Hill, where he left his wife and five children. He then went to Skaneateles, about June i, with his two eldest children, a girl of fourteen years and a son of twelve years. " I have heard my grandmother say many times that the nearest settler was at Onondaga Hill. When my grandfather got to Skaneateles, he camped near what has since been known as the Furman Brook, where there were a spring of water and three Indian wigwams. On the bank of the lake there he constructed a raft of logs, and after completing it satisfactorily put on his two-wheeled wagon and other things, and poled the raft along the shore to what is now known as the Dr. Hurd place. His two children then drove the cattle and a colt through the woods to the same locality. There was no settler then at Skaneateles until the following autumn. " The seven sisters of J. R. De Witt hired something like 30,000 acres in western New York from their brother. I think they procured their lease from Simeon De Witt, but Moses De Witt did the work, as he was entitled to fifty acres for every section he surveyed. You (E. N. Leslie) wrote of the two grave- stones, now in the village burial-ground, of Abraham Cuddeback and his wife. They came from Minisink, in the spring of 1795, with Peter Cuddeback and James Ennis. Abraham Cuddeback and his wife died within two years of each other, as stated on the gravestone. They were originally buried on the farm, and the remains were afterward removed to their present location. This gravestone was erected about 1830. ^ " I have always understood from my grandmother that her husband (my grandfather) was the first settler in the town of Skaneateles." The Leonard Family. — Nathan Leonard was the original settler on the Joab Clift farm. The Leonards came from Shaftsbury, Vt., in 1795. Nathan Leonard brought with him from Vermont eight children: Joseph, Nathan, Benja- min, Luther, Calvin, Ezra (Cutler), Azenath, and Polly or Mary. Nathan Leonard, the father, died October 10, 1813. He purchased the farm land in 1795, which was sold as a " Government claim." He built a log house, and with his family lived in it for three }ears, after which he built the present Joab Clift house in 1798, which was originally occupied as a public inn. The old signboard of this inn has been preserved by the family, and is now in the attic. It reads as HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 83 follows, " Nathan Leonard's Inn/' which was regularly opened for the weary traveler in 1798. Ezra Leonard, son of Nathan, was the father of Mrs. Joab Clift. Ezra succeeded his father in the ownership of the farm. He lived on it fifty-three years, and died April 13, 1850. Norman Leonard, one of Skaneateles' early merchants, was the son of Joseph M. Leonard, brother of Nathan first, who lived about half a mile south of Clift's Corners, on same place where Samuel Bobbett now lives. Joseph M. built the Bobbitt house. Charles Leonard was a grandson of Joseph M. and second cousin of Mrs. Joab Clift. Mrs. Clift has lived in the old homestead all her life, nearly seventy- nine years. Ezra Leonard made a request that the old homestead should always be kept in the family. It has been so kept, and the Leonards have lived on it since it was purchased in 1795 — one hundred and five years ! Ezra did not come from Shaftsbury at first with his father, but came in 1797. The First Actual Settler in this County. — It is stated that, in the spring of 1788, Comfort Tyler, at the age of twenty-three years, in company with Major Asa Danforth, pushed into the wilderness fifty miles beyond any white settlement, and commenced the permanent settlement of Onondaga County. This was nearly a year before the treaty was held, on the bank of the Seneca Lake, between Oliver Phelps and the Indians. Oliver Phelps opened the first land office in America, at Canandaigua, in 1789. The First Mail through Onondaga County. — The first United States mail was carried through this county by a Mr. Langdon, from Whitestown to Geneva, on horseback, in 1792-98, and distributed newspapers and unsealed letters by the way, before intermediate offices were established. A Mr. Luca.s succeeded Langdon in the transportation of the mail, which in. 1800 had become so heavy as to require a wagon to transport it. Mr. Lucas established a two- horse passenger-wagon for the conveyance of passengers and the mail, and did a profitable business. The first four-horse mail-coach was sent through once a week by Jason Parker in 1803, and in 1804 commenced running regularly from Utica to Canandaigua twice a week, carrying the United States mail and pas- sengers. In 1804 an act was passed granting to Jason Parker and Levi Stephens the exclusive right, for seven years, of running a line of stages for the conveyance of passengers, at least twice a week, along the Genesee Road, or Genesee Turnpike, between the villages of Utica and Canandaigua. They were bound to furnish four good and substantial covered wagons or sleighs, and sufficient horses to run the same. The fare was not to exceed five cents per mile for each passenger, with fourteen pounds of baggage. They were bound by law to run through in forty- eight hours, accidents excepted, and not more than seven passengers were allowed in any one carriage, except by the unanimous consent of the said seven passen- 84 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. gers; and, if four passengers above the seven applied for passage, they were bound to immediately fit out and start an extra for their accommodation ; or any number less than four should be accommodated by paying the fare of four. In 1808 a daily line was established, and afterward several others, which were continued until the completion of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad. Old-Time Servants. — As early as 181 5 there had been no negroes brought into this part of the State. Mr. Vredenburg brought from New York a black wench as cook. The children were all afraid of her, and ran as soon as she made her appearance in the street. There were, however, two native-born negroes, who belonged to either Mr. Booth's or Mr. Furman's family. Their names were Jack and Kate. They were born about 1812, and were slaves. These slaves became free under a law after- ward passed by this State. An Irishman was a curiosity in those days. There were no Irish women. The hired help were all natives, who were glad to hire out at seventy-five cents per week, which was considered big wages. The conditions for prime help were that, in addition to the ordinary house-work, they would agree to spin twenty knots and do the milking night and morning. But hired help were then treated as equals in the family. The Vredenburg family, being more aristocratic, wanted servants who were not treated as equals, and such could not be found about here, consequently they had to import all their help from New York. Farmers'' Daughters. — The farmers' daughters would come into town for the winter and engage to do chores for their board, for the sake of attending school. They would get up before daylight, get breakfast for the family, and do all the necessary work, including washing the dishes, before school-time. On Mondays they would stay at home half a day to assist in the family washing, and during evenings through the week would do up the ironing. Daniel Kellogg's Gardener. — The gardener of Daniel Kellogg was an Englishman, and celebrated for his early vegetables, which were forced under glass. He was the only one who raised early stock, and his garden was the resort of all who were curious in such matters. Description of Skaneateles Village in 1809. — " The following description is appended as a note to the dedication sermon preached by Rev. David Higgins, March i, 1809, entitled ' A Sermon delivered at Marcellus, N. Y., at the Dedica- tion of a House for Public Worship in Skaneateles Village.' A copy of this sermon was printed in pamphlet form by the trustees of the Skaneateles Religious Society. It was printed at Manlius by Leonard Kellogg, and it is now in posses- sion of the Presbyterian Society. -•■■" The flourishing village of Skaneateles, consisting of nearly one hundred buildings of different kinds, is situated at the foot of the lake of the same name. The lake is about fifteen miles in length and from half a mile to nearly two miles in width. The waters in the body of the lake are raised above their natural level about three or four feet by a dam which is built across the outlet. By this means HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 85 a number of mills of different kinds are kept in operation during the whole season, even the driest summers. The settlements in this village commenced in March, 1796. A number of the buildings are elegant, and it has become a place of considerable business. Passing eastward on the great western thoroughfare, you leave the bridge over the outlet and ascend on a gentle rise for half a mile till you come to the eminence, where the eye is presented with one of the most pleasing prospects in the western country. The view is handsomely variegated with cultivated farms, forests, and lake waters. Here is placed an elegant Congre- gational meeting-house, built of wood. The plan of the building displays good taste ; the materials are of the best kind ; the workmanship exhibits neatness and beauty. The country around is handsome and fertile, generally owned and cultivated by wealthy farmers. These with the villagers compose the Skaneateles Religious Society, which was incorporated October 29, 1801. " The church in Skaneateles was organized with the name and style ' The First Congregational Church of Marcellus,' July 20, 1801, by the Rev. Aaron Bascom. " The change from Congregationalism to Presbyterian took place on January 10, 1818. The members of the First Congregational Church in Marcellus met, and resolved to adopt the form of government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in the United States as that according to which we will henceforth be governed. Benjamin B. Stockton, Moderator." The First Excitement. — The first excitement among the early settlers was when the mill-dam broke away, about the early part of the nineteenth century. This occurred during a Saturday night, and on the Sunday morning following the people became much excited, as the breach deprived them of the facilities of the grist-mill. The news spread rapidly throughout the settlement. The mis- sionary (supposed to be Rev. Isaac Rawson), who was employed by the year to preach in the old schoolhouse on the hill, where the meeting-house was afterward erected, learning of the catastrophe, sent a boy to the place of meeting, directing him to inform the assembled congregation to adjourn and assist to repair the mill- dam, as it was more important for them to have bread than to hear him preach. This brought a crowd of assistants, who worked lustily under the direction of the minister, and the work was thoroughly completed before sundown. A Forest. — The lake-shore, in 1796, where the brick stores now stand, was then a grove of forest trees. . Stumps of trees peered from the water for some considerable distance out in the lake. Village Plots. — The original village lots were probably laid out by Judge Sanger. As a general rule they were one hundred feet front and twenty rods in depth. The Thayer lot was Village Lot No. 6. It was first conveyed by Sanger to Seth McKay, January 16, 1801 ; consideration, $5. July 21, 1802, Seth McKay conveyed it to Norman Leonard; consideration, $200. Norman Leonard after- ward sold it to John Legg. Sanger sold Village Lot No. 11 to Joseph Pearce, house carpenter, for $20. Warren Hecox purchased a one-acre lot on the west 86 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. side of the outlet of the lake from Sanger, October 12, 1801 ; consideration, $10. Deed witnessed by Asa Hatch and Samuel Porter. These lots as laid out were termed " village plots on the riorth end of Skaneateles Lake." Order for Bricks in 1814.— We present the following copy of an order for bricks in 1814: " Mr. Samuel Briggs. Sir. Please send us by Luther Simonds ioo Bricks for which you shall have the money in the Month of March. Skaneateles, February 28, 1814. C. A. Leonard." Tuition Paid. — John C. Noble was a school-teacher in Skaneateles. The following memorandum was made by Eli Clark : "April 4, 1825. Reckoned with John C. Noble, and found due him for tuition, in full, one dollar eighty-nine cents." The Original Forests in this Town. — The forests which the farmers have subdued during the past century were originally dense, and the timber was very heavy. Many tracts of white pine grew in this town, the stumps of which, on account of their resinous properties, last for an indefinite time in the soil. The disadvantage, however, in clearing the land is compensated for in another direc- tion. The soil of the pine lands is usually so light and porous on the surface that the stumps may be lifted out of their beds in a perfectly sound condition by means of a stumping-machine. These stumps then became available for line fences, and even to this day such fences are to be seen in some parts of the town. White cedar is found in various parts of this town, especially in the swamps and low grounds. Hemlock has been very plenty in all parts of the town. This valuable timber has been extensively used for building, fencing, and in the con- struction of plank-roads. Basswood, two varieties of maple (the sugar and th'e swamp), beech, whitewood, and elm have been the principal varieties in this town. Originally there were red oak-trees growing at the lower end of the lake, before the waters were raised by the original dam on the outlet. Locust-trees have been used for ornamental use around the farmers' dwellings, but these, like the Lom- bardy poplar, have been brought from a distance and planted, but both these varieties which remain have become imsightly and diseased. The progress of improvement has swept away about all of the original forests, particularly in this town. There was a large demand primarily for steam railroad use before' coal was used for such purpose, and for the use of distilleries and for potash-boiling. Potash-boiling was the only original industry in this town. The use of firewood has almost entirely ceased, as farmers can purchase coal at less than firewood costs to cut and transport for sale. The hemlock and the sugar-maple have been the most useful timber for this town. The hemlock was generally used for building purposes, and its bark for tanning purposes and carriage manufacturing. The bark was extensivelv used for HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 87 the setting of tires of wheels, as its heat is more intense than any other fuel. The sugar-maple was the most desirable for firewood, and for the production of maple sugar and syrup, which have always been a remunerative source of profit to the farmers. There have been some native varieties of spruce exhibited at our town fairs, but they are not original productions, one of them being the Norway variety. The hickory has been found in some sections of the town, but not to any great extent. The chestnut is found in many sections of the town, and has proved an excellent fencing material. The original apple orchards are nearly extinct, but, properly taken care of, they are one of the most profitable crops the farmer can raise. Roads. — The first road attempted to be made through this part of the State was in 1790, by a party of emigrants, under the direction of the late General Wadsworth, from the settlement at Whitestown, Oneida County, to Canandaigua, through a country then very little explored and entirely a wilderness, in which was the town of Marcellus, now Skaneateles. After this the old State Road was cut through, enlarging and following the one cut by the emigrants. The road running through the business portion of this village was a portion of the old State Road. Then, as the country was wholly shaded by dense forests, there was commonly snow enough for good sleighing through the winter months. Most of the settlements along this road from Utica to Canandaigua, began to attain some consequence as early as the year 1800. Previously to the laying out of this road, which was somewhat improved by sundry appropriations from the State, the Western settlers moved on pack-horses along the Indian paths through the forests. In 1793, John L. Hardenburgh, Moses De Witt, and John Patterson were appointed a board of commissioners for laying out and making public roads on the Military iTract. The roads were to be laid out four rods wide, and the sum of two thousand seven hundred dollars was appropriated by the State for that purpose. Another board of commissioners was appointed by act of the Legislature in 1794 for the purpose of laying out and improving a public highway from old Fort Schuyler, now Utica, on the Mohawk River to Cayuga Ferry, as nearly straight as the situation of the country would allow. The road to be six rods wide, and the sum of six hundred pounds was appropriated for the expenses of opening and improving so much of the road as passed through the Military Tract. In 1796, the Surveyor-General was authorized to sell certain lands on the Indian Reservation, and from the proceeds of the sales appropriate five hundred pounds for improving the Great Genesee Road through the county of Onondaga. In 1796, commissioners were appointed to make and repair the highways in the county of Onondaga. Four thousand dollars was appropriated by the State for that purpose, and two thousand dollars was directed to be expended in the improvement of the Great Genesee Road, from the eastern to the western boundary of the county. 88: HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. In 1797, the Legislature of the State authorized three lotteries for the purpose of raising forty-five thousand dollars for the further improvement of roads. Thirteen thousand nine hundred dollars of this was appropriated for opening and improving the Great Genesee Road in all its extent from Fort Schuyler to Geneva. In 1800, the Seneca Road Company was chartered for the purpose of im- proving the old State Road from Utica to Canandaigua. A board of commis- sioners was appointed to survey and lay out this road, of which Jedediah Sanger was a member. The capital stock was one hundred and ten thousand dollars; shares, fifty dollars each. The charter was amended in 1801, and the commission- ers were privileged to deviate from the old road, and did so in some instances. All the roads named above ran through the town of Skaneateles. The " Skaneateles and Hamilton Turnpike " was then called the " Bowen Road," because it ran to the log houses of the two brothers Elijah and Benajah Bowen, one of whom lived on the C. C. Wyckoff farm, and the other lived on the farm next east to the Rickard farm. These two brothers were the first settlers on that " Bowen Road." In 1800 or 1801, A. Wilkinson's father came here. William Dascomb removed to the William Clark place. Dascomb built a log house on the flat. Wilkinson built a log house on the flat east of the present Wilkinson house. The next early settler on the East Lake Road to where Mr. Lee lived was Ebenezer Pardee, whose log house was on the site of the Brainerd farm. Sebe Brainerd then lived next to the Brainerd farm. In Thaddeus Edwards' earliest recollection, there was a house on the Reuel Smith place (David Seymour), and on the Elias Thorne place was another house, occupied by Seymour's son. Jacobus Ennis' wife was the daughter of Simeon De Witt, Surveyor-General of the State of New York. The First Graveyard. — The first graveyard, previously to 1803, was where the Vredenburg mansion was built. It had about twelve to sixteen graves, which were without any headstones. After Mr. Vredenburg had purchased the prop- erty, the remains were taken up and removed to the burial-ground belonging to " The Skaneateles Religious Society." Skaneateles the most Attractive Trading-Place early in the Nine- teenth Century. — By great perseverance the author obtained five early ledgers and two day-books, dating from the year 1800 to 1828, which had been kept by as many early business men here at Skaneateles. An alphabetical list of over twelve hundred names of persons who made their purchases here has been made, but owing to its great length it has not been printed in this volume. Those who made their purchases here were residents within a circle of more than one hundred miles from this center. Many came here for legal advice ; others came for medical advice and treatment, aside from doing their trading; others came for political discussion and for general consulta- tions of a public nature; and on general training-day, the women and children all came. At first there were no roads for many years. The people used to HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 89 follow the Indian trails and marked trees, on foot and on horseback, or on a rude home-made vehicle drawn by oxen. Subscription List. — The following is a copy of a list of moneys subscribed for a sexton in 1824: Subscription List for Jonathan Weston, Sexton of the Meeting House OF THE SkANEATELES ReLIGIOUS SOCIETY, DaTED DeC. 10, 1824. Aaron Austin One dollar so cents Samuel Porter One dollar Thaddeus Edwards 2 dollar 25 cents Phares Gould one dollar Philo Dibble one dollar Daniel Kellogg 2 dollars Samuel Rhoades i dollar William Thomas one dollar Abraham Cuddeback one dollar James Porter one dollar Freborne Jewett one dollar Spencer Parsons one dollar Joseph Rhoades one dollar Joseph Leonard 50 cents Jonathan Hatch 50 cents Abner Edwards 3 dollars 75 cents Mrs. Olive Leonard 75 cents Charles Pardy Fifteen and a half cents Ambrose Heacox $1.25 James Hall one dollar Thomas Greeves one dollar Daniel Burroughs 50 cents Thomas W. Allis 50 cents The Old Colored Man^s Plaint. — An Incident in the Experience of William J. Vredenburg. — In January, 1795, Rev. Dan Bradley was dismissed from the pastoral charge of the church in Whitestown, at New Hartford, and on the_6th of September following removed with his family to the town of Marcellus, at the age of twenty-nine. The country was then comparatively a wilderness. He entered at once into the business of farming with zeal and cheerfulness, and soon became noted for the purity of his taste and success in his undertakings, setting a beautiful example to those around him that education and refinement of mind were essential attributes to happiness and prosperity. He was appointed a Judge of Onondaga County in 1801, and by his display of legal knowledge soon became somewhat distinguished as a jurist. In 1808, he was appointed First Judge of the county, which office he held with some degree of distinction till the time of his resignation in 1813, when he was succeeded by Joshua Forman. He was some- what remarkable for his ready classic humor, and on many occasions displayed it, much to the amusement and gratification of his friends. At one time, during his official capacity as Judge, a certain colored man named Hank Blakeman occu- pied, on the Oswego River, just above Oswego Falls, a commodious place for landing, and it was also a convenient crossing-place. For the privilege of landing on his dock the colored man exacted a small fee. This was thought rather oppressive by some of his neighbors, and they summoned the Road Commis- 90 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. sioners of the town, who laid out a road in such manner as considerably to abridge his privileges. He, feeling himself aggrieved, appealed to the Judges of Common Pleas, who, upon a proper representation of the facts, took the matter into con- sideration. A day was set for an investigation of the matter, and Judges Humphreys, Bradley, and Vredenburg (William J. Vredenburg, of Skaneateles) went down, accompanied by the late Judge Moseley, then a student with Judge Forman at Onondaga, who appeared as an advocate of the aggrieved party's rights. In those days the roads were almost impassable in that region, and the party made arrangements to go down in a boat from Salina. A suitable store of provisions and other necessaries was laid in for the occasion, and the party set off in high spirits, anticipating a delightful trip. The day was propitious. They glided down the river beautifully, and it required but little exertion to make the desired progress. While passing under the shady oaks and elms which crowned the margin of the river, Judge Bradley languishingly remarked how pleasant was their journey, and quoted the first verse of Virgil's Georgics, " Tityre, tu, patulae recubans sub tegmine fagi," etc. On they went, enjoying the scenery beyond measure. They examined the case in hand, and finally reversed the acts of the Cornmissioners, restoring to the injured party his rights in full, very much to his satisfaction, who was so much rejoiced that he voluntarily gave as a fee to his young lawyer five silver dollars, which Judge Moseley has since declared was his first and richest fee, and gave him more pleasure than any other received in his life. Business done, they turned their faces toward home. But with the fatigues of the day, and the opposing current of the river, their progress was in the beginning rather slow. However, by dint of perseverance and hard labor, they made respectable progress. It was work indeed, and to add to their embarrassment night was at hand. The mosquitos, gnats, flies, and bullfrogs gave them no peace, and some of the party began to murmur. In this state of affairs Judge Bradley was called upon to reverse his sentiment received with so much eclat in the morning, whereupon he readily replied : " Facilis descensus Averni ; Sed revocare grandum, superasque evadere ad auras, Hoc opus, hie labor est." These words, in the language of a familiar poet, may be rendered : " Easy the fall to Pluto's dreary den, But hard the scrabble to get back again." The flagging spirits of the party were revived by this sally, and the rest of the voyage was performed, if not with wished-for speed, with greater cheerfulness. Home-made Drays. — The early settlers, when it was necessary to go to Scipio and other distant settlements, had to make their own drays. These drays were HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 91 made of the crotches of trees, hewed out, and boards placed across. Ten bushels of wheat was considered a pretty large load to drag along over the rough roads, twenty or thirty miles, on such a rude vehicle, with one yoke of oxen. The Hamilton and Skaneateles Turnpike. — The Hamilton and Skan- eateles Turnpike was laid out, in 1806, from Richfield, through Brookfield, Hamil- ton, and Fabius, to the outlet of Otisco Lake, and thence to the outlet of Skan- eateles Lake. Thaddeus Edwards and Elnathan Andrews, of this town, were two of the principal movers in procuring the passage of the act of incorporation and obtaining shareholders, and in getting the road laid obi, worked, and finished. East .Genesee Street in the village was the western terminus of this turnpike. A portion of this road within the village was a corduroy road, the logs of which, forty years ago, two feet below the surface of the street, were about eighteen inches in diameter, and in as sound a condition as when first laid. Wheel-Head Manufactory. — At Mottville, Putnam, Porter & Leonard built a wheel-head manufactory soon after 1816, and in 1831 this firm was succeeded by S. C. Wheadon, Erastus Nye, and George P. Adams. Militia. — After the War of 1812, considerable attention was given to the training of the local militia, every male citizen between the ages of eighteen and forty-five being obliged to report for duty annually. " General Training " days became hiemorable occasions, especially to the younger element, who devoured cider and gingerbread as greedily as they participated in the military maneuvers. This military district eventually comprised the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment, of which Samuel C. Wheadon was the Colonel. In 1839, he was made Brigadier-General, and Augustus Fowler was appointed to the colonelcy. Peter Pell was long the prominent drummer. Elections in 1836. — Josias Garlock was a tavern-keeper in Mandana as early as 1835, and in his tavern, and at the taverns of W. H. Marshon, at Mottville, and Isaac W. Perry, in Skaneateles, elections were held in 1836, one day in each successively. Ezra Lee. — Ezra Lee was the son of the Mr. Lee who has heretofore been mentioned as having purchased one hundred acres of Lot- No. 38. The Ezra Lee here named built a scow wood boat, which was placed on the lake about the year 1800. It was afterward transported either to Lake Ontario or Lake Erie. Chester Tolles built a wood boat for lake use about 1818. William Clift. — William Clift arrived from Vermont with his father, in March, 1795, and settled at what has since been known as " Cliffs Corners." He died in 1862. His house was kept as a tavern for nearly sixty years. It was destroyed by fire in May, 1885. ' James Porter. — James Porter came here in 1797, and erected and opened the first tavern in town, the timbers of which probably constituted the first raft of the kind that ever floated upon the lake. The Early Records. — The early settlers came into this town by the Indian trail, or by the old Genesee Road, which was opened soon after the first arrivals. 92 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Suffering from the hardships and privations incident to a new country, and especially from the miasmatic conditions of the low, unbroken lands, they bore the many trials of frontier life with fortitude. Wolves, bears, and other wild animals were troublesome. As the present town of Skaneateles formed a part of the town of Marcellus previously to the year 1830, it is well to state that the public records of the town of Marcellus were destroyed by fire about 1829-30. All the records dating before 1830 were thus lost. It has since been learned that William Stephens was Supervisor of Marcellus in 1794, 1795, and 1796, Samuel Tyler in 1797, and Winston Day in 1798. In the history of the town of Marcellus it is stated that slavery existed here during the first quarter of the nineteenth century. All slaves, however, were soon afterward freed by law. During the first three decades of settlement, quantities of timber were burned and the ashes converted into " black salts," or potash, which formed an important source of revenue. The Old-Time Caterpillars in 1798. — Clark's " History of Onondaga County" states that in 1798 this valley (Pompey) was visited by myriads of caterpillars, which totally stripped the forests of their foliage and attacked the smaller vegetables with great voracity, doing considerable damage to the tender corn. They, however, disappeared in the month of June, vegetation revived, and the crops were plenteous. These insects were so numerous that they congregated in heaps on the eaves and chimneys of the houses at evening, and when the fires were kindled in the morning they were very troublesome, often spinning down the stick chimneys into the cookery, and when their day was over, in such quantities had they accu- mulated, the atmosphere was completely tainted with their decaying remains. The Cold Summer in 1816. — This was a very remarkable year in all respects. The month of January was unusually mild, so much so as to render fires almost needless for warming purposes. December previous was very cold. February was not very cold ; with the exception of a few days it was mild like its prede- cessor. March was cold and boisterous during the first part of it, but the remain- der was mild. April began warm, but grew colder as the month advanced, and ended in snow and ice, with a temperature more like winter than spring. May was more remarkable for frowns than smiles ; buds and flowers were frozen ; ice was half an inch thick. June was the coldest ever known in this latitude ; frost, ice, and snojv prevailed during the whole month ; almost every green thing' was killed; the early fruit blossoms were all blasted. July was accompanied with frost, and ice of the thickness of common window-glass formed on the 5th. Indian corn was nearly all destroyed ; some favorably situated fields escaped utter destruction. August was more cheerless, if possible, than the summer months already passed. Ice was formed early, half an inch thick, and the corn which had previously escaped was so frozen that the greater part was cut down and dried HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 93 for fodder. September furnished about two weeks of the mildest weather of the season. Soon after the middle of the month it became very cold and frosty, and ice a quarter of an inch thick formed. October produced more than its share of cold weather, frost and ice particularly. November was cold and blustering, and enough snow fell to make good sleighing. December was quite mild and com- fortable. The above is a brief summary of the " Cold Summer of 1816," as it has always been known since that time. The sun's rays seemed to be destitute of heat throughout the summer ; all nature seemed to have been clad in a sable hue, and men exhibited much anxiety concerning the future of this life. Eli Clark's Recollections. — Eli Clark made the following memorandums : " The winter of 1823-24 was a very open winter season. March 19, began to plough. March 24, sowed three acres spring wheat. The ground was quite dry and in perfect order for sowing. '■' During the winter of 1835-36, snow fell two feet deep on the 24th of Novem- ber, 1835, and it went off the last of December. The first of January it fell four feet deep, and remained on the ground until the i6th of April, and that winter was the coldest we have had for fifty years. February, 1836, the snow fell eighteen inches." Water-Lime. — Water-lime, which is quarried in this town, consists of two layers, from three to four feet thick. Its color is drab, it is dull in its fracture, and is composed of minute grains, with usually but few lines of division. The upper of these courses burns more freely than the lower. When burnt, it is gi'ound fine and mixed with sand — one part of lime to from two to six parts of sand, according to its quality and the speed with which it is desirable the cement should set. Owing to its property of preserving its form and hardening under water, it is used with stone or brick in the construction of cisterns, and without any other substance than sand for pipes for conducting water from springs. Such is its strength that a cylinder of pure cement and sand, six inches in diameter, of one inch caliber, buried three feet in the ground, after some years became closed at the lower end, and the pipe sustained the pressure of a column of water forty feet in height. The best practical tests for persons unskilled in judging of the quality of this lime for cement are : The stone when burnt must not slake on the applica- tion of water ; when ground, the cement must set quickly on being wet ; keep its form under water, and harden until it becomes as hard as well-burnt brick. It is sometimes injured by being burnt too much, and very often it is not ground fine enough. An engineering authority states that Onondaga water-lime is simply an impure lime, having clay enough in it to make it resist the action of water. Large quantities of hydraulic cement are manufactured from our rocks and sent in barrels wherever wanted. Division of Marcellus. — A public notice, dated November 24, 1829, an- nounced that " application will be made to the next Legislature for the division of the town of Marcellus into three towns." 94 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER VIII. The Cardiff Giant. Although not strictly within the town of Skaneateles, still it was near enough to produce great excitement and interest among the people. It was brought to light, or, rather, said to have been discovered ( ?), in the year 1869. Nearly all the residents of this town, particularly the men and many women, who could procure transportation thence, hastened to see the great curiosity, at Cardiff,, about twelve miles distant. It was exhibited under a canvas tent, as it had been supposed to have lain in the ground for one or more centuries, lying on a sandy bed, which was cunningly devised to represent what had been originally the bed of a river. The earth immediately above the sandy bed was the mold of decayed leaves and vegetable substances, which had been gradually collecting for centuries. Fifty cents was the charge for admission. The first spasm of interest in this town was that two individuals of reputed wealth employed a responsible agent to go to Syracuse, and to endeavor to pur- chase an interest from the party there who owned the controlling interest in the " petrifaction." The agent had full power to make a purchase, if possible, at any reasonable terms. The consideration for the agent's services, if his mission was successful, was to be one-third of the investment. The Syracuse proprietor absolutely refused to dispose of any interest whatever, and would listen to no offer. Immediately after the exhibition was opened, large crowds of people from all the surrounding country thronged the roads and highways, in all descriptions of vehicles, on horseback and on foot. The town of Skaneateles was well repre- sented in its equipages large and small, and all classes of the inhabitants of both town and village rushed to see the " show," and among the females were some in " Bloomer costume." The giant, as his remains lay exposed in the canvas tent, was particularly offensive to purity of mind, and coarse and indelicate even to the common observer. This was a grand opening for the giant owners. Immediately great crowds of people rushed to see the petrifaction, among whom were professors, students of colleges, Egyptologists, archeologists, archbishops, clergymen, and, lastly, physicians. The general opinion was that it was a petrifaction. One of Skan- eateles' prominent physicians, on his return from the show, stated publicly that there was no doubt that it was a real petrifaction, as he was permitted to go into the well, and had made a close examination, and could see the pores in the cuticle ( !!). His opinion, of course, was the common talk of the villagers, and was largely instrumental in inducing many who before had little faith in the show to go. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 95 Another party, Dr. Boynton, residing in Syracuse, endeavored to obtain an interest in the giant, but all his perseverance was in vain. The controlling interest in the giant made a great mistake in denying the application of Dr. Boynton. He, being naturally of an investigating nature, determined to get even with the giant owners, therefore he immediately commenced investigating the (as he suspected) origin of the " fake," as he supposed it was, and he always did have that supposition. Even with that suspicion, he considered a moderate investment in it a good operation, more especially as the scientists, archeologists, and pro- fessors of the New England colleges had, after inspection, pronounced ' it, some a petrifaction, others a statue. With great perseverance, and through the aid of a detective employed by him, he obtained positive information that, about the previous year, a huge box had been transported from Chicago by the way of the Great Western Railroad to Suspension Bridge, thence by the New York Central Railroad to Syracuse, thence by the way of the Syracuse & Binghamton Railroad to Binghamton, thence by the Erie Railroad to a station on that railroad named Union. This large box was addressed thus : " Finished Marble. G. Olds, Union, N. Y." Dr. Boynton was satisfied with his discovery thus far. The Originator of the Cardiff Giant. — The originator of the Cardiff giant was a man named Hull. After Hull had shipped the box from Chicago, he had not determined its exact destination nor where it was to be buried. In the course of his investigations on that subject, he learned of a newly discovered cave in Salis- bury, Conn., and immediately went there to ascertain whether it would be the proper location to place his petrifaction, and after a full inspection decided that it was exactly the right place, but was discouraged by the price demanded. After further thought, it occurred to him that some years previously there had been discoveries of fossil remains in Onondaga County, near Syracuse, N. Y., and that a nephew of his brother's wife, named William C. Newell, was living in that locality. Hull, therefore, started thither at once. After a full conference explanatory of the object in view, a satisfactory arrangement was made with Newell. The two men, after looking over the farm, decided the exact spot where the petrifaction was to be buried, and arranged all the details as to how it was to be transported from the Erie Railroad car to Newell's farm. Dr. Boynton's further investigation indicated that the large box had been taken from the platform-car during the early evening, and placed on a large truck-wagon, which was drawn by two teams of heavy horses, and transported to the Newell farm. Dug the Well to Bury the Giant. — Newell had employed a number of laborers to dig a well alongside of his barn, which had been fully completed, and was therefore ready to receive the giant upon its arrival. All the implements for the purpose of lowering the giant, including a derrick, were in readiness for the arrival of the huge box containing the. giant, when it was immediately lowered in the pit and covered with earth, and the barn-yard refuse scraped over the newly covered grave. Here the giant was allowed to rest for a whole year. 96 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Ordered to Dig up the Giant. — On October lo, 1869, Hull wrote to partner Newell that it was time to dig up the giant. Consequently Newell employed another set of laborers, mostly neighboring farmers, avoiding the former laborers who dug a well for him the previous year, as it would not do to employ them! Well, these new workmen dug a well alongside of Newell's barn, and it was not long before one of them struck a rock, and, upon further investigation, Gideon Emmons discovered a massive stone foot, when he exclaimed : " Jerusalem, Nichols! It's a big Injun!" Following up the big foot the big Injun was soon uncovered. Newell immediately invited the four physicians of the neighborhood to view the big Injun. Their names were Dana, Parker, McDonald, and Randall. They all concurred in the opinion that it was a petrifaction. A gentleman from Syracuse, who had inspected it, and who was known as a man of antiquarian research, offered Newell $10,000 for the big Injun, which, under Hull's instruc- tions, was refused. Hull finally directed Newell to state that only three-quarters of it could be purchased at the rate of $30,000, the owners reserving one-quarter. A Sale was Made. — ^On these terms a sale was effected within a few days, the purchasers being: Alfred Higgins, Agent of the American Express Company of Syracuse; Dr. Amos Westcott, a wealthy dentist, and ex-Mayor of the city of Syracuse; a Mr. Spencer, Simeon Rouse, Amos Gillette, and Messrs. J. M. Ellis and B. F. Fitch, bankers, all of Syracuse, N. Y. A showman was at once placed in charge, and for an advertisement invitations were sent out asking Professor Agassiz, Professor Hall, New York State Geolo- gist, and Stephen A. Woolworth, Secretary of the Board of Regents of the University, to come and scientifically examine the fossil man. Professor Hall, in his opinion, believed it to be of great antiquity. Professor Henry A. Ward, who fills the chair of the Natural Sciences in the Rochester Uni- versity, was also present at the examination, and wrote on the subject : " Although not dating back to the stone age, it is nevertheless deserving of the attention of archeologists." Some of the expressions of opinion at this early date (that is, before the "humbug" was made public) were quite enthusiastic. One clergyman wrote: " This is not a thing contrived by man, but is the face of one who once lived like all on earth, the very image and child of God." The following appreciative poem appeared in the Skaneateles Democrat: The Stone Man. Egypt, renowned for her antiquities, Columns and pyramids of Time defiant; Turn back thy gaze from by-gone centuries, And view our strange Colossus the Stone Giant. The Sphinx, with patient face and earnest eyes. Looking for ages o'er its burning sands. Might start with wonder at our mysteries. To see this great stone face in distant lands. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 97 Gloomy the figures the Egyptian wrought, And rude the sculpture of the centuries Of Scandinavia's myths and gods, and fraught With mystery is this man of stone. " No Indian ! " says the red man, for he sees No weapons in the tomb of war or chase; Its striking form, profound repose and ease, Denote the semblance of another race. Of holy men the heralds of the Cross, Fearless of want, of perils, and of strife; Who for the love of souls count all things loss, If they may break to them the Bread of Life. Wert thou not formed for some Cathedral grand? Where in some lofty niche that " calm, grand smile " Would seem a blessing to some little band Of worshippers, who knelt in its broad aisle? Since brought to light within this quiet vale, Thousands of wonder-stricken people come, For years will sires and grand-sires tell the tale Of the Stone Man and Newell's humble home. Skaneateles, November 29, 1869. A Deliberate Examination. — On November 3 a large delegation of gentlemen from various parts of the State came to the tent to make a deliberate examina- tion. On inspection, they pronounced the " find " to be a statue, and, as the stone was of a quality different from any to be found in the neighborhood, that it must have been brought from a distance. The story of the unearthing of the giant and the surmises of the learned scientists were printed in the Syracuse newspapers, and the news was thereafter copied in all the newspapers throughout the United States and in Europe. Up to this time the giant was still under the tent at Cardiff, and, at iifty cents admission, Hull, Higgins & Co. were doing a large business, and a profitable one too. The large crowds of sightseers were daily in attendance. The great mis- take of the owners of the giant was, in the first place, in refusing Boynton an Interest, and, secondly, in removing the giant from the profitable tent to Syracuse for exhibition there. The prevailing idea among many who came to the tent was that it was a petrifaction, its removal from where it was discovered (?), on the bottom of what had been apparently the bed of a river, therefore indicating its petrifactive quality. After its arrival in Syracuse, " the great and only Barnum " appeared, and desired to purchase the giant, but in vain, as it was too big a thing even for him to procure. So he cunningly employed a plaster of paris vender, whose trade it was to sell images to the public. Barnum directed him to visit the show daily, he 98 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. furnishing the admission fee, and instructed the man to make a complete model in form and color of the giant. Many visits were made for that purpose. Finally, after its completion, Barnum visited the show on purpose to make an examination and then to compare his observations with the model, and was satisfied with the work. Then Barnum ordered the man to make a full-sized giant, and in all respects a faithful imitation, which was duly finished to his entire satisfaction, carefully boxed, and shipped by canal to New York. On its arrival there it was placed in Wood's Museum, and largely advertised as the only " Onondaga " giant, and warranted by Barnum to be the only real " original " petrified giant from Onondaga County. He knew too much to advertise it as the Cardiff giant, as, if he did so, he would render himself liable to a suit for damages for unlawfully using a trade-mark. His advertisements were of the peculiar Barnum order, and were pictured on all the billboards and board fences throughout the city. When the real original " Newell " giant arrived in New York, Barnum immediately advertised it as an imitation of the real and only Onondaga giant, and such was the confidence in the great showman that he succeeded in making the people believe that his was the real original one. In consequence, the " Cardiif Show " was not patronized. The following is an extract from a newspaper article of that time : "the first decline in fortune was brought about by Barnum, the showman, who now came to Syracuse desirous of buying a share and assuming the management of the show, and being rejected, purchased in retaliation, from a German sculptor of the vicinity, named Otto, an unfinished imitation of the Cardiff giant; engaged the sculptor to complete it, and then placing it on exhibition at Wood's museum in New York, circulated the pamphlet description of the original as an advertisement, and denounced the exhibition at Syracuse as that of a counterfeit giant! An application was made to Judge Barnard for an injunction against Barnum's exhibition; but that solemn judicial functionary replied ' that he had been doing some business in injunctions, but was going to shut down now.' The original of the humbug came on to New York after a short reception in the state geological rooms in Albany, to find its prestige stolen by Barnum, and after an unsuccessful exhibition of a few days at the metropolis, was HURRIED AWAY TO BOSTON. Here it was of course visited by the learned men of Athens, and among the earliest by Dr. Holmes, who reported it to be an immense statue cut from stone by unknown hands, and of wonderful anatomical developments. Ralph Waldo Emerson pronounced it beyond his depth, very wonderful, and undoubtedly ancient. Cyrus Cobb, the artist and sculptor, declared that the man who called that a humbug simply declared himself a fool. On Feb. 4th a number of learned Bostonians visited the image in a sort of official body. They examined it long and patiently in every way known to science. The exterior was tested with acids ; the head was bored into ; the compass was carried around the body in search of iron. The learned conclusion was that the giant was a piece of stratified gypsum and was probably old. The subject invaded the Boston clubs. A whole evening was occupied with it at the Thursday Evening club, the president delivering a -learned address to prove that the giant must be modern because its features were Napoleonic. The Boston exhibition proved a brief resuscitation of the financial success of the humbug, but after a few weeks HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 99 the suspicion of fraud had become so general that the revenue began to decline, and after a few months the Cardiff giant passed out of public notice. THE REVIVAL OF THE SUBJECT during the past year by discussion in some quarters in this country and Europe, and the reconsideration of its merits in some scientific circles, has perhaps made it worth while to present this simple connected statement of facts occurring in the history of the Cardiff image from its origin to the close of its career. These facts being all capable of verification may thus aid in refuting the errors that will be likely to arise where the attempt is made to dignify this Cardiff giant by considering it as anything more than a clever hoax." Reverses. — Successful and profitable up to this time, the tide of success had been uncliecked. But now came a series of reverses, which resulted in slowly but surely establishing the true character of the humbug, and consequently in dimin- ishing the revenue. Professor O. C. Marsh, of Yale College, gave the first telling blow to the empiricism that had vouched for the giant's antiquity in the name of science, by stating that although gj^psum is soluble in four hundred parts of water, yet the surface of the giant was smooth and little dissolved, though surrounded by wet earth, thus proving that the burial must have been recent. Professor Marsh also found other indications of newness which had escaped the learned scrutiny of others, such as recent tool-marks in places where they could not be easily effaced, and in places close by water-worn surfaces. Soon, also, there were letters, one after another, written by various persons who had seen the four-horse wagon carrying the large box to Cardiff. Then came other letters from Fort Dodge, Iowa, detailing the history of the stone quarried out and shipped to Chicago by Hull, July 27, 1868. Finally, the statement of the Chicago stone-cutter Markman came forward. The following extended history of the exposure of the fraud by Professor Marsh, copied from the Syracuse Post Standard, April 10, 1899, is of particular interest in connection with this subject: EXPOSED A LOCAL FRAUD. Prof. Marsh of Yale Denounced the Cardiff Giant. PROMISED to write A BOOK. The Famous Paleontologist Has Recently Died— Circumstances Under Which He Came to Syracuse to Visit the Alleged " Petrifaction "—Had a Quarrel With Scientists and Theologians, but the Laugh Came His Way at Last— The Contro- versy With Dr. McWhorter and What Came of It. The recent death of Prof. O. C. Marsh of Yale, the famous paleontologist, who first exposed the Cardiff giant fraud, revives a reminiscent interest in a subject over which not only every citizen of Syracuse and Onondaga County, but for that matter, scientists, theo- logians and laymen the world over, were once wildly excited. Prof. Marsh often said he intended to write a book of reminiscences in which the Cardiff giant would be a prominent figure, but whether he left the manuscript of such a work is not generally known. An old Yale man, who knew Prof. Marsh intimately, relates in the New York Sun the circumstances under which Prof. Marsh declared as the greatest loo HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. fraud of the age an object which many leading scientists of the time had asserted to be a wonderful and genuine petrifaction, as follows : " There were very few people some thirty years ago who didn't know what the Cardiff giant was. It had been on exhibition for several months, special trains had been run to Syracuse to accommodate those who wished to see it, so that it was very well known. In the first place the Cardiff giant was the eighth wonder in the world; in the second, it was a fossil man of marvelous antiquity. It had been unearthed in the fall of 1869 upon the farm of one George Hull, at Cardiff, N. Y.— an immense statue, some nine feet long, bearing unmistakable evidence of being a fossilized man. " No wonder that the whole community was aghast that Hull had an offer of $10,000 for a part interest in his find; that Prof. John Hall, the geologist of New York State, had given scientific sanction to its antiquity; that Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes had testified to its wonderful anatomical interest; that Emerson began to patronize it in his philosophical way and pronounce it beyond his depth, and that the whole scientific world was debating whether it were a real fossil, a stone cut 300 years before by the Jesuit fathers or a Phoenician god. PROF. MARSH VISITS SYRACUSE. " There was one man in New Haven, however, who was not so greatly impressed by all this as his scientific brethren. It so happened that Prof. Marsh was a native of Western New York, familiar with its geological features and had explored the very region in which the giant was supposed to have lain undisturbed for so many centuries. " He determined to examine into the foundation for all the wonderful stories he had heard, and so one day a small, keen-eyed man presented himself and his 50 cents at the tent in Syracuse, where the wonder lay in state. " The attendants had no idea who their visitor was and . their suspicions were not aroused even when he requested permission to go inside the ropes and make a more minute examination. This permission was secured after some difficulty. He was accompanied by the keeper who, during the examination, kept pointing out all the fine points of his charge in apparent fear that Prof. Marsh might miss something. The professor, however, saw a great many more things than any one had any idea of. " The first thing he noticed was that the stone of which the image was made was gypsum. It so happens that gypsum is soluble in 400 parts of water and that the region in which the image was found was very damp — so how under the sun, the professor asked himself, could it have retained that fine polish and all the fine pinhole marks that the scientists had explained as pores of the skin? The professor further observed that these pores themselves occurred at regular intervals and in the same abundance, which at once led him to the conclusion that this had been made with some instrument moving regularly over the surface. DECLARED THE GIANT \ FRAUD. " In fact. Prof. Marsh had hardly examined the thing five minutes before he saw that it was a gigantic fraud. The first step he took after reaching the hotel was to write a letter to a newspaper friend exposing the fraud, which that gentleman at once published. This letter went the rounds of the press and was generally regarded as convincing proof against the antiquity of the giant. " Prof. Marsh's trouble did not end there, however. He met antagonism near at home. One of the most picturesque figures upon the Yale campus in those days was the Rev. Alexander McWhorter. McWhorter was a Yale graduate, a former professor in the Troy Theological Seminary, a man of much antiquarian knowledge and general scholarship. There was one thing in the world of which McWhorter was very fond, and that was this same Cardiff giant. It was a very tender spot with him. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. loi " He had a pet theory that long before the time of Columbus or Leif Ericsson, the New World, and especially that region in Western New York, had been inhabited by the Phoenicians. Of course, the discovery of the Cardiff giant was conclusive evidence that this theory was correct. It was not a fossilized man, after all, but a Phoenician god, many centuries old. " McWhorter worshiped this god as devoutly as the old Phoenicians themselves, and when he read Prof. Marsh's letter he was a very angry man. As soon as Prof. Marsh returned to New Haven his theological friend began to upbraid him. " In time I believe that even McWhorter saw his mistake, but it was only after many years. It was the great disappointment of his life and he did not survive it long. He always nourished a grudge against Prof. Marsh and other Yale men who made sport of the Cardiff giant. By the way where is this Cardiff giant to-day? Prof. Marsh once told me that his latest report was that it was stranded on the Mexican frontier at El Paso, where it was held for unpaid duties upon imported statuary." Shortly afterward, the Syracuse Post Standard, on April 25, 1899, published the following announcement : WILL BE EXHIBITED. CARDIFF GIANT IN THE CENTRAL FREIGHT OFFICE. The Cardiff giant has again come to life after almost twenty years of slumber and will again be put on exhibition before the public. It has been found in the freight office of the New York Central railroad. This time, however, it will be exhibited as the greatest fake in America. It is eleven feet in length and weighs 3,800 pounds. There have been several Tamuses on exhibition since P. T. Barnum offered $60,000 for the services of this one for three months and all the time the supposed original one was on exhibition at the world's fair the real original one was slumbering in the freight office here. The only birth the Cardiff giant ever had was in the brain of George Hull, a Connecticut Yankee. He secured the stone near Fort Dodge and shipped it to Chicago, where the image was made and discolored with acid. It was then shipped to Union, near Binghamton, and reshipped to Cortland. From there it was carted in the night to the farm of " Stubb " Newell in Cardiff. It was duly buried in 1868, but without ceremony and by moonlight, where it rested for one year, when it was four>d by Newell while digging a well. Cardiff Giant and the Indians. — One of the mythological legends of the Six Nations was thd invasion of the " Stone Giants," which waged cruel, unre- lenting war. This and other stories embody exaggerated traditions of the Onon- dagas. When the Cardiff giant was unearthed, the Onondagas came in numbers and greeted the stone man as one of the enemies who centuries ago invaded and played havoc with the Indian country. A List of Early Newspapers in Cayuga County. — The Levanna Gazette was established in the town of Scipio, July 20, 1798. The Western Luminary, in Scipio, in 1799. The Aurora Gazette in 1799, continued until 1805, when it was removed to Auburn and changed to the Western Federalist, and in 181 5 changed to the Auburn Gazette. The Cayuga Tocsin was commenced at Union Springs in 1812, and soon after removed to Auburn and continued until 1847, when it was united with the Cayuga Patriot. 102 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. The Cayuga Patriot was started in Auburn in 1814. The Cayuga New Era was afterward published for a short time. The Advocate of the People was published in 1816. The Cayuga Republican commenced in 1819; in 1833 it was united with the Auburn Journal and Advertiser, and in 1846 it was issued as the Auburn Journal. The Auburn Free Press commenced in 1824. Note. — Of all these early newspapers none of the files are known to be in existence, except a file of the Cayuga Tocsin, which is now in the private library of the late William H. Seward. There are two numbers of the Cayuga Patriot, dated 1818, now in our Skaneateles Library, bound in with other old local news- papers. These two Cayuga Patriots were collected and presented to the Skan- eateles Library by E. N. Leslie. Charles Goodall. — Charles Goodall was born at Draycott, Somersetshire, England, December 20, 1824. His father, George Goodall, was a farmer. Charles as a boy worked for his father at ordinary farm work, and so continued until the news of the bright prospects of the land beyond the sea reached the seclusion of the village farni and had stirred up longings which could not be quelled. And so, at the age of sixteen, with one companion somewhat his senior, the young man left the quiet scenes of rural England, and, sailing in the good ship Adirondack, Captain Hackstaff, safely reached New York, on May 11, 1841. With characteristic energy he lost no time in the uncertain efforts of city life, but, sailing up the Hudson to Albany, and going thence to Syracuse, he traveled on foot in search of such employment as his early home life had fitted him for, and, undeterred by several unsuccessful efiforts, he finally secured employment, spend- ing the winter in the employ of an English farmer. In the spring of 1842 he commenced his travels on foot for more desirable employment, until he happened to reach Skaneateles, at which place he secured farmwork by the month with an old shif) captain named De Cost. The year spent in the employ of Captain De Cost, and hearing him relate sea-yarns, interested Goodall, so much so as to awaken the idea that he must go to sea and to. follow that for a living. When, therefore, after he had spent one year on the captain's farm, it was sold, and it had passed into the possession of new owners, Goodall then found that his opportunity had come. The stepson of. Captain De Cost, Edward B. Coe, had also an inclination to go to sea, and both had often talked the matter over. Goodall made his way to New Bedford, and, ascertaining that Edward B. Coe had previously shipped on the same vessel, engaged for a three years' whaling voyage in the ship Milo. The voyage extended to three years and nineteen days, and was quite successful, as the ship returned with a full cargo of oil. When he again stood on terra firma, the young sailor found himself pos- sessed of the enormous sum of one hundred and eighty-three dollars as his portion of the proceeds. But this sum was the most insignificant of the rewards of that first voyage. It had opened his mind to the possibilities of his future life. It had given him the benefit of travel, and of visits to the Western and the Cape HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 103 Verd Islands, Chili, Peru, Bolivia, Alaska, the Sandwich Islands, Societ)' Islands, Mas-a-fuera, Juan Fernandez, and other places which had been visited by the ship J\Iilo during her long voyage. It convinced him that his sphere was not in plowing the soil, but rather plowing the ocean over the keel of a well-freighted vessel, and, consequently, reaping the harvest of marine commerce. Intelligent and anxious to learn and to profit by the experiences of others, the associations formed during this whaling voyage enabled him to remedy the defects of his limited early education. Soon after the arrival of the Milo at New Bedford and his return to Skan- eateles, the exciting and extraordinary news from California which produced the 104 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. " California gold fever " of '49 determined Goodall at once to go there. As all his capital then consisted of the money received from his whaling voyage, he could not afford to go by way of Panama across the Isthmus, and therefore took passage on a schooner via Cape Horn to San Francisco, where after a long passage he arrived January 25, 1850. From San Francisco he went up to the " gold diggings," and for eight months used pick and shovel with but little success. He went back to San Francisco, and obtained employment on a water-boat, which brought pure spring water from Saucelito, on the bay, and supplied the shipping lying at San Francisco. He care- fully saved his wages, purchased a water-boat, and continued the same business of supplying ships with pure spring water. Not long after he had purchased the water-boat, a small steam-tug, which had been shipped to San Francisco to be sold, was purchased by Goodall. Instead of supplying the shipping with water, he soon acquired the business of towing the ships about the harbor, and towing them out to sea when necessary owing to adverse winds. He became very popular with the merchants and captains. He had the reputation of never using profane language to his assistants, never pas- sionate, always gentle and kind. These traits, especially with the merchants, made him many friends and made his business profitable. An opportunity offering to ship on a trading voyage to the South Pacific Islands, he made it convenient to accept it, and shipped on the vessel, thus utilizing his knowledge of seafaring life. The vessel first stopped at Panama, then the Fiji, Friendly, New. Hebrides, and other islands, as well as Australia and the commercial ports of China. While stopping at the Fiji Islands, Goodall made the acquaintance of Chris- topher Nelson, who had been wrecked and thrown among the Fiji savages. He with the rest of the crew was rescued and brought away by the vessel on which Goodall was. Mr. Nelson was a native of Denmark, and had become an American by adoption. They both returned to San Francisco. In the mean time, Goodall ascertained through his intimacy with Nelson that a partnership with him would be desirable, consequently the firm of ,Goodall & Nelson became established in San Francisco. Their business was a limited one, owing to the want of capital. Note. — In writing the life of Charles Goodall, and reading of his success in life, starting from his residence in Skaneateles, in 1842, being at that time em- ployed as a farm-laborer by Captain De Cost, it is impossible to ascertain, from newspaper statements or any other published sources of information, the details of his business life from the time that he landed in San Francisco in 1850. Of course, no person can make a success in life except by strict integrity in all his intercourse with his fellow citizens, strict economy, strict morality, strict attention to business, and good health. Such were the characteristics of Charles Goodall. In the year 1870, the firm of Goodall & Nelson associated with them Mr. George C. Perkins, a native of Kennebunk, Maine, who in his early years fol- lowed the sea, preeminently fitting him for the duties which devolved upon him HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 105 as a member of the new firm of Goodall, Nelson & Perkins. Mr. Perkins had long been known as a successful merchant at Oroville, Cal, and as State Senator of Butte County, possessed thorough business qualifications, and a disposition and integrity of character which commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact. While discharging his duties as State Senator, he met Charles Goodall, who, in the year 1870, had been elected to the State Assembly from San Francisco. The acquaintance thus formed soon served to develop a warm mutual attachment, which eventually resulted in the formation of the copartnership of Goodall, Nelson & Perkins. In the year 1876, Mr. Nelson disposed of his interest in the firm, and gave place to Edwin Goodall, a younger brother of Charles, since which event the style of the firm has been Goodall, Perkins & Co. In a letter written to the author, dated about five months previously to his death, Charles Goodall stated that the business of the firm " has of course enlarged, so that now it embraces Mexico and ' The Land of the Midnight Sun,' which is served by about twenty-five steamers, and a half-dozen whalers that pursue their avocation in the Arctic Ocean. The fleet is engaged in the capture of whales for the whalebone mostly, caring very little for the oil, which is the reverse of my experience when I was on board the Milo, in the years 1846-49. Another branch of the firm's business is engaged in catching salmon and canning the product. The purport and labor called for is about equally divided between catching whales and salmon. I have the honor to be president of the company, with a capital of $2,500,000, but I am happy to say I do not own it all." The success of Charles Goodall has been acquired by slow degrees, step by step, during the interim of the fifty-eight years since he was a farm-laborer in Skaneateles, and, if he had shown no greater energy than a mere hope of some day doing something better, it is most likely that the Pacific Coast would never have known this one of the most reliable business men and prominent citizens of California. During his business life in San Francisco he entered actively into public affairs. In 1861-62 he was Harbor-Master at San Francisco, and in 1870 he was elected to the Legislature. He was at one time President of the Chamber of Commerce. He was also Trustee of the Leland Stanford Jr. University. He was a religious man, and his many gifts testify to his spirit of generosity. He was a member of Simpson Memorial Church, Honorary President of the City Church Extension Society, Trustee of the University of the Pacific, and was always identified with the Young Men's Christian Association. He was par- ticularly generous to religious societies. The Howard Street Methodist Church received thousands of dollars from him, and many smaller churches shared in the generous disposition of his wealth. The University of the Pa;cific received more than $20,000, Simpson Memorial Church $4,500, and the episcopal residence $7,500. On June 10, 1899, he left San Francisco, accompanied by his wife. It was to be a trip for both health and pleasure, and it was intended to visit several cities on io6 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. the Continent before their return. He and his wife had previousl)' made a tour of Europe during the year 1884, and a series of letters from him descriptive of his travels was published in the California Christian Advocate. These letters were afterward published in pamphlet form for the use of Charles Goodall's friends. They were written by a plain business man, who wrote as he saw, thought, and felt, without any attempt to follow guide-books or other men's tracks. When he and his wife left San Francisco, June 10, 1899, he first went to Draycott, Somersetshire, England, his old home where he was born. It was during his soiourn there, and only about a month after he left San Francisco, that he died, on July 13, from heart disease, superinduced by rheumatism. The following from the San Francisco Argonaut gives the particulars of Charles Goodall's last M'ill and testament : '' His executors were George C. Perkins, Edwin Goodall, and C. M. .Goodall. The total value of his estate is $1,010,362.74. The residuary devisees and legatees to whom the properties now in the hands of the executors will be dis- tributed are : Mrs. Caroline J. Goodall, decedent's widow, and his children, Charles Minor Goodall, Flora A. Bland, Serena T. Kell, and Harry Walter Goodall." Note. — Charles Goodall, in the year 1892, presented to the Skaneateles Library Association three hundred dollars. Old Accounts. — The following is a running account between a farmer and Winston Day, who was an earh' merchant in the village. The money repre- sented as pounds, shillings, and pence was really the divisions of the Spanish milled dollars. The pence were the ordinary pennies ; the shillings were in value twelve and a half cents ; and the pounds were twenty shillings of twelve and a half cents each. Dr. to Winston Day, September, 1805, Williaji J. Vkedenbueg : £ s, d. To sawing one night i o o To three white ash logs 12 April, 1805. To three hemlock logs, 767 feet 7 o To taking a deer down to you 6 o Dec., 1812. To 1554 pounds of beef at 6d 6 g The following is another account : Winston Day, Dr. to Eli Clark. £ s. d. To 32 bushels house ashes i j 4 53 bushels field ashes i g g 70 bushels ashes i jc g March, 1803. To S bushel & 43 pounds wheat 170 Among the accounts is the following item : "Warren Hecox, Sept., 1811, Dr. To sheepskin, hogskins, cowhides, oats, potatoes, etc." -^*^ HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 107 CHAPTER IX. Early Reminiscences. Celebration of the Fourth of July Seventy Years Ago. — We copy from the Skaneateles Telegraph of June 29, 1831, the following abstract of a grand celebration held in this village at that early period, without giving all the details, which fill a column of the paper. It was about that time that the Pres- byterian church had been built and finished : " At 10 o'clock A.M., a gun will be fired as a signal for forming the procession, at which hour the procession will form, under the direction of the Marshal of the Day and his assistants, in front of Isaac W. Perry's stage-house." The details of the procession are here omitted. " The procession will march up Market to North Street, up North Street to Academy Street, down Academy Street to Main Street, and up Main Street to the Brick Church. On arriving at the church the procession will open to the right and left, and face inward, and march into the church in inverted order. At the church the exercises will take place in the following order: Prayer. Music. Reading of the Declaration. Music. Oration. Benediction. " At the close of the exercises in the church the procession will form in the order specified in the bills of the day, and move up Main Street to Hamilton Street, and thence to the boat-yard to witness the launch of the steamboat. After the launch the procession will forim according to the same directions, and march to Main Street, to the inn of Isaac W. Perry, where dinner will be prepared. A President and Vice-President appointed by the committee will preside at the table. At sunset an evening salute of thirteen guns will be fired. In the evening an exhibition of fireworks and the ascension of balloons are announced. " The committee give notice that the doors of the church will be open from 6 to 10 A.M. for the admission of ladies, who are requested to take seats on the east side of the church." Then the veterans of the War for Independence residing in our vicinity were invited, and the officers of the Militia of this State were invited to appear in their uniforms on this occasion. io8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. " The committee further solicit the citizens of this and adjoining towns, who feel an interest in the dissemination of liberal principles or the prosperity of this village, to lay aside their usual vocations, to banish sectional and political jealousies, and unite with us in the commemoration of this birthday of our Independence. " It is with peculiar pride and pleasure that the committee announce to those residing at a distance that the launch of the steamboat erecting in this village, forming such an interesting epoch in the history of this place, will also add to the interest of the celebration. Warren Hecox, Edward Sandford, Samuel Porter, H. W. Allen, Phares Gould, Joseph Battin, Stephen Horton, Nelson Hawley, F. G. Jewett, B. S. Wolcott, Daniel Kellogg, E. H. Porter." John Legg, The oration at the celebration was delivered by a prominent young attorney, a notable citizen. On this occasion the wife of Captain Kirby Smith, who was a Miss Jerome, was present and an interested listener. She recognized the oration as in part a plagiarism, which she afterward made known to her particular friends. Mrs. Kirby Smith had in her early girlhood been a pupil at the " Hive " boarding-school, kept by Lydia P. Mott, of Skaneateles. The First Newspaper. — The Skaneateles Telegraph was first issued July 28, 1829. W. H. Child was the publisher, and D. B. Drake editor. The following extracts from the leading editorial are of interest : " Though we have labored under many embarrassments of a discouraging nature in the undertaking, we have at length issued the first number of our paper. . . . It will be observed that this paper is dated several days forward, so that the second number will not be issued till the 4th of August. In the mean time we trust we shall have a large accession to our subscription list. This number will be sent to every dwelling in the village. If any should be neglected, it will be unintentional. Those who may feel themselves unable or unwilling to subscribe will return the first number as soon as convenient." The editor then goes on to define his position in regard to politics. General Jackson was then President. One of the advertisements gave the following announcement of the Skaneateles Hotel, kept by N. D. Caldwell and K. Wallis : " The subscribers having refitted and newly furnished this extensive establish- ment, formerly occupied by S. & J. Hall, offer their services for the accommoda- tion of the public. Its delightful situation on the margin of the lake, the beauty of the scenery, and the healthfulness of the climate give it every natural advantage. They also flatter themselves that the convenience of the accommodations, the HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 109 excellencies of their table and bar, and the most assiduous attention of all belong- ing to the establishment will render it a pleasant retreat for travelers or parties of pleasure. " N.B. — Seats may be taken every day in the different stages running to Homer, Ithaca, Jordan, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Albany." Dr. Parsell opened an office for the practise of medicine at the hotel. John H. Johnson was Sheriff, and Joseph Dascomb was his deputy. The following marriage notices appeared: "July 6, 1829, Mr. Holland W. Chadwick was married to Miss Matilda Earll. " July 3. Joseph S. Mott to Miss Mary Thorne, daughter of Nicholas Thorne. " In Elbridge, July 4, E. D. Wheadon to Miss Sarah Marvin." Advertisement. — Here is a characteristic advertisement of this time: One Cent Reward. Ran away from the subscriber on or about the 24th ult. an indented boy in the farming business, named Norman Hodges, aged 14 years. Whoever will return said boy to the sub- scriber shall receive the above reward. All persons are forbid harboring him or trusting him under penalty of the law. John Carpenter. Marcellus, Jan. 11, 1830. General Training Day.- — Dr. Israel Parson's " Centennial History " gives the following history of " General Training Day " : " Previous to the year 1846 a day was set apart for a general turnovit of the Militia. This was a product of the Revolution. On this day a regiment would assemble, alternately in this village and the village of Marcellus, ' armed and equipped as the law directs,' for the purpose of military drill and parade. These regimental drills occurred day by day, succeeding each other until all the regi- ments in the Brigade had been successively inspected by the Brigadier-General. With the movements of the Brigadier-General and his aids from one general train- ing place to another, there followed a perfect caravan of pedlers, trucksters, and all sorts of people, who would arrange themselves early in the morning in convenient places in the village. These were followed by endless streams of people who were to make up the various actors and spectators of the day. " General Training Day was about the middle of September. With the excep- tion of an independent company of sixty, called 'the Rifle Company, the others were denominated Bear Foot and Floodwood companies. Probably these names were given them on account of the striking contrast they presented to the Rifle Company, which was a trim, beautiful company of selected men, whose uniform was a dark-gray suit ; pants with a black stripe running down the outside of the leg; dress coat, single-breasted, with one row of gilt military buttons set closely together extending from the wa\st to the neck ; a stiff straight collar, with three or four parallel stripes of yellow tinsel lace extending around its whole length; there were also two stripes of same extending over each shoulder and around the no HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. cuffs of the sleeves; a tall beaver hat, with a thin brass plate ornamented with figures fastened on the front of it, and from behind this plate apparently growing out of the top of it was a tall, bushy red feather. Each man carried a first-class rifle, in complete order, and a powder-flask suspended from a belt fastened around his waist. " Occasionally this company assembled on the Fourth of July for the purpose of escorting and doing honor to the old veterans. The ' Floodwood Companies,' although made up of men like the Rifle Company, had the appearance of having emanated from some dark region of the earth, on account of the utter carelessness manifested by a portion of them in dress and personal appearance. Having no uniform, every man was dressed to meet his own views of taste and comfort, so that, when formed into one body as a regiment, there was very much the appear- ance of dazzling light leading hideous darkness. The Floodwood Companies were equipped with musket and bayonet, a cartridge-box hanging one side and a bayonet-sheath the other, each suspended by a strap passing over the opposite shoulder. "Although on Company Training Day (which was always the first Monday in September) there were many departures in the Floodwood Companies from the regulations of the day, but on ' General Muster ' order prevailed ; for the scrutiny of the higher officers peculiar to this day was such that whoever ventured to violate rules was sure to be returned to court martial, and there to meet with a retribution which destroyed all desire ever afterward to repeat the mis- demeanor." An Affair of Honor. — In the year 1812, during the war of that period, there was, about half a mile north of the village of Marcellus, a central point where there were a grist-mill, a saw-mill, and a whisky-still, which in those days was of considerable importance in furnishing a market for surplus grain which otherwise could not find sale nearer than Albany. A wool-carding and cloth-dressing machine here was patronized by the farmers for the purpose of having the product of their families' looms finished for domestic use. A store supplied whisky and other merchandise for the needy who had the wherewith to buy or exchange. The store and the still were owned by Joseph Piatt, and the still was run by Alvin North. There were besides a paper-mill owned by John Herring, and a powder- mill owned by some one else. This collection of mills and the store, together with the still, comprised an attractive business center, where the inhabitants of the surrounding country met for business purposes and to discuss the news of the day. Politics at the time were uppermost in the public mind, and the war of opinions at times was very bitter by members of opposite parties, which on some occasions led to literal knock-down arguments, at other times to fun and frolic or to the ridiculous, especially when both parties were not under the influence of liquor. Reuben Farnham, a resident of Skaneateles, and a man named Tompkins, who resided in the vicinity of the whisky-still, had a discussion. The theme was politics; the subject was the Hartford Convention and its purpose and HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. m effect. Farnham had a special weakness for fire-water and was inclined to imbibe whenever an opportunity presented itself, and the day these two men met he was very noisy and intoxicated. Tompkins was a Democrat, and Farnham a Federal. The discussion was very heated, and Tompkins made such insulting charges against his adversary that Farnham seemingly took offense, demanded an apology, and, being insultingly denied, challenged Tompkins. He would only meet him again on the field of honor, and pistols were to be the arbiter of the insult. Tompkins accepted the challenge, seconds were selected by each party, Joseph Piatt being one and Alvin North the other, and with them all matters were left to arrange the preliminaries of the meeting, they to furnish and prepare the weapons, place the parties in position, and to give the signal to fire. According to this prearrangement, the duelists met in a large room selected for the purpose, were placed at each end by their respective seconds, the pistols placed in their hands, and at the signal both fired simultaneously. Tompkins fell heavily on the floor, bleeding profusely from the left breast, deluging the room with blood, and after a few struggles and gasps was to all appearances dead. When Farnham realized the scene, he seemed dumfounded, a reaction in his feelings overpowered him with remorse, and he wept like a child, and swore that he would give himself up to the authorities and meet the legal consequences. Tompkins' body was carried off by his friends. The affair caused the most intense excitement in the neighborhood, and preparations were made for the arrest of Farnham; but before that took place the secret leaked out that Tompkins had not been killed, the duel was all a sham, and there were no bullets placed in the pistols. Tompkins had previously placed a small bladder of some red liquid under his vest, which was punctured at the proper time, and accounted for the profuse flow of blood, especially as he purposely fell on the left side where the bag of fluid was placed. > | j i The duel was to all parties, together with the spectators, except Farnham, a practical joke. To him it seemed a terrible reality, seeing blood as it appeared running from the dying man's breast after he fell on the floor. After the company was fully satisfied with the sport Tompkins reappeared as sound as ever. When Farnham discovered that he had been fooled by a practical joke, his anger was unbounded, and he threatened Tompkins' life in revenge for the deception; but he soon cooled off, sense and reason came to his relief, and the whole matter was finally settled by the company present making up a subscription and sending over to the store for a jug of whisky, of which all joyously partook. The First Mail-Carriers and the First Stage-Coaches. — The fitst United States mails in this section of the State were carried through here in 1797-98, on horseback, by a Mr. Langdon. He was succeeded by a Mr. Lucas, who drove a wagon for the purpose. He also established a two-horse passenger- wagon, with which he did a profitable business. The first four-horse mail-coach was sent through once a week by Jason Parker. During the next year he ran his coaches twice a week from Utica to Canandaigua, carrying the mail and pas- 112 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. sengers. In that year, by act of the Legislature, Jason Parker and Levi Stephens were granted the exclusive right for seven years for running stages for passengers at least twice a week along the Genesee Road or the Seneca Turnpike, between Utica and Canandaigua. They were required to furnish substantial covered wagons or sleighs, and the fare was limited to five cents per mile. They were also required to make the run through in forty-eight hours, accidents excepted, and not more than seven passengers were allowed in any one stage, except by consent of the seven. If four others applied for passage, the proprietors were bound immediately to start an " extra " for their accommodation. This line of stages began running daily in 1808, after which many other lines of stage-coaches were placed on this route, which were continued for many years and up to the time when the iron horse appeared and displaced the stage-coach. Early History. — Gibbs & Horton's store, which formerly stood on the Horton lot, was removed to Syracuse Street and fitted for a dwelling by Nelson Hawley. It is now occupied by Mrs. Peacock, or Nat Miller's widow. Dr. William Pratt was a physician here in 1807-8. Piatt Wikes kept a store next to Day & Sherwood's in 1806. Peter E. Gumaer and James Ennes were here in 1800. This Gumaer was the first of that name who settled here. In the year 1815, David H. Griswold, who was a brother-in-law of Ambrose Hecox, kept the old tavern which was on the same ground now occupied by the Savings Bank, next east of Judge Marvin's house. A ballroom formed one of the attractions of this old hostelry. This old tavern originated about the year 1796. It was then kept by Captain Welsh, who was a militia captain. Then it was a log house situated about or near where the corner of Main and State streets now is. Afterward a frame addition was placed on the west side. This was two stories and about sixty feet front, and extended to the line of Winston Day's lot. As stated above, the ballroom was the only accommodation of that kind in the village in 181 5. There was a dancing-school kept there, and the dancing-master's name was Bond. After the Lake House was built, in 1824, a ballroom was made in the second story. The music was furnished by a Mr. Beach and his son, the father playing the violin and the son the bass viol. They furnished music for all the neighbor- ing settlements. Mr. Beach resided in either Marcellus or Onondaga, and was a devoted lover of music, a very fine player, and in a worldly way was in comfort- able circumstances. He played as much for his own comfort as for his employers. In 1816 William H. Sandford kept a store in this village. A Brother of Benedict Arnold. — Henry Arnold, a brother of the traitor Arnold, once resided in this village. His residence was a small, unpainted one, and was the dwelling which occupied the place now owned by Thomas Y. Avery, opposite St. James' Church. He came here from Canada and was a resident about three years. He was related by marriage with John Ten Eyck's wife. He afterward returned to Canada. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 113 The Dark Day. — This was one of the epochs of the early settlers, and was caused by an annular eclipse of the sun, which took place June 16, 1806. The day was cloudy, and the obscuration produced almost total darkness. The many forest-trees which surrounded the dwellings of the people had the effect of deep- ening the darkness. The feathered tribe all retired to roost, and the day was one long remembered. Samuel Litherland and Isaac Selover were engaged in laying the floors of the Vredenburg house on that day, and it became so dark that it was impossible to go on with the work, so Mr. Vredenburg supplied them with candles. Mr. Litherland was in the habit of recounting his experience on that occasion to his friends throughout his life. Incident of the War of 1812. — During the war a detachment of cavalry stopped here on their way to the frontier, and employed John Legg to make horseshoes and a supply of horseshoe-nails. Legg had all the blacksmiths- in the surrounding country to work for him in completing this order, as it was necessary to have the utmost despatch. Repulsing the British during the War of 1812. — In the month of Octo- ber, 1814, all the able-bodied men in this military district were ordered out to repulse the British, who were threatening both Oswego and Sacket's Harbor. No British were encountered, and but little is known of their adventures except the portion who went to Oswego. On their route to and from that place they con- ducted themselves in such a manner that the people residing in the vicinity have always said they would have rather had the British than the Americans. British Prisoners. — In the month of August, 1814, one hundred and sixty- eight British prisoners captured in the attack on Fort Erie passed through this place. They bivouacked overnight on the lake-shore, on the land now owned by Mr. Fred Roosevelt. They were on their way to the cantonment at Greenbush, on the Hudson River. Samuel pRANCis.^-Samuel Francis was born in Fair Haven, Vt., March 25, 1773. He came to Skaneateles in 1814, accompanied by his wife and four sons, Samuel, George, Eliel, and Wadsworth. Two of his sons learned to manufacture hats with their father, and finally succeeded him in the business under the firm name of S. & G. Francis. The hat-factory was on the shore of the lake, imme- diately east of the present site of St. James' Church, and, located on the south side of the Seneca Turnpike road, in front of the factory, was the store, where the finished stock of hats was kept for sale, and in the rear of this building was another small one adjoining, where George Francis dressed the hats. On the front of the hat-store was a large, artistically painted sign, illustrating the method of obtaining the raw material used in the manufacture of hats. On the sign, in oil-colors, was a full-length Indian, nearly life-size, selling furs to a white man, intended to represent Samuel Francis, standing behind a counter in his store. This illustrated sign was in existence until about the year 1842. It was painted by Charles L. Elliott, the artist. The Francis hat-factory supplied all this section 114 HISTORY QF SKANEATELES. of country with fur and wool hats, and was the only establishment of the kind in this town. Samuel Francis continued the business until his eyesight began to fail, which finally terminated in total blindness. He purchased the land on which his shop was located from Cotton Denio, an early settler here. Next east of his land was Winston Day's potashery, consisting of about an acre of land. Samuel Francis was a devoted member of St. James' Church, serving both as a vestryman and warden for more than fifty years. His death occurred January 26, 1865, at the ripe age of ninety- two years. Two of his sons, Samuel and Wadsworth, gave up their lives in the defense of the Union, during the war of 1861-65. His daughter, Cornelia, married Nelson Hawley, now deceased, one of Skan- eateles' early merchants. Mrs. Hawley now resides with her family at Kenosha, Wis., and is a suffering invalid, being totally blind, and suffering from a fall, which confines her to her bed, to which she submits with Christian patience, and such cheerfulness as is possible under these conditions. " Nearly all the change she has from day to day is to be lifted from the bed to her chair. If she could only read, it would be such a comfort, and help pass away the time ; but it is as it is, and so we must accept it." Mrs. Hawley has many warm friends in Skaneateles, many of whom are not aware of her sufferings in her advanced years, and will receive this intelligence with the deepest sympathy for her. Mrs. Hawley has two sons, one of whom, Butler W., was a resident of Texas for many years, but is now with his mother. He wrote and had published in the Skaneateles Democrat, many years ago, a very interesting description of the attractions of the State of Texas for business men. Another son, George F. Hawley, is now engaged in the wholesale drug trade in Boston, and has been successful. He has a wife and family, and resides in a suburb of Boston. Edwards Family. — The following is a transcript from " The Edwards Genealogy " : Skaneateles' first settler came here in the year 1793. Before the close of that century some of the Edwards family came. The first church was the Presbyterian, situated on Onondaga Street, on the hill, just east of the village corporation. It was dedicated March i, 1809. There were fifteen original members, and of them three were Edwards : Solo- mon Edwards ; Electa, wife of Thaddeus Edwards ; and Elizabeth, wife of Alanson Edwards. Solomon Edwards and family came to Skaneateles the last of February, 1809, and thought they were exceedingly fortunate to be here at the dedication, as that was a notable event. The Presbyterians occupied that building twenty years, then sold it to the Baptist Society, and built the brick church now standing on Genesee Street. The first funeral held in it was that of Simeon Edwards, in 1830. The first child baptized in it was his grandson, Alexander Miller, who was born the day the first paper was published in Skaneateles, July 28, 1829. The first wedding in this house was a double one, and of two of the grand- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 115 children of Simeon Edwards : Melzer Edwards to Frances Bascom, and Elizabeth Edwards to Stephen A. Gifford. It is thought the oldest native of Skaneateles now living (1886) is Mrs. Evelina Clark, of Marshall, Mich., born September 17, 1805. She was the oldest child of Thomas and Minerva (Porter) Greves. Her husband was Rev. Calvin Clark, son of Nathan and Lovisa (Edwards) Clark, of Westhampton. They were married in 1835, and went immediately to Marshall. He was prominent in the ministry. He died in 1877. His brother, Rev. Anson Clark, of West Salem, Wis., resided in that State thirty-five years. He quotes to his sons: " Tell me not from what stock you grew, But prove me your stock by what you do.'' One of the Edwards family, Ebenezer, while living at Northampton, Mass., was killed by a falling tree. Some lines were written on his death; only two are remembered : "Edwards the brave, the generous, and the just, By instant fate is leveled to the dust." Lydia (Edwards) McKay, born in Skaneateles, November i, 1805, was drowned in 1830 by the upsetting of a stage-coach in crossing a stream a short distance from her home in Aurora, while on her way to visit friends in Skan- eateles. Laura Edwards married Alfred Wilkinson, of Skaneateles, August 9, 1832. He was born in 1780, and died July 19, 1859. Wilkinson first married Susan Smith, daughter of Ephraim Smith, of Skaneateles. Another of the Edwards family, Timothy by name, was a grandson of Ebe- nezer, killed by the falling of a tree as above mentioned. He like his grandfather was killed by a falling tree, not instantly, but he lingered four months and died from his injuries. David Hall was born September 16, 1744. He married Mary Petty, who died aged ninety-four years. David Hall died in Skaneateles, in 1816. Ralph Hall was born in Salem, Mass., November i, 1773. He married Abiah, daughter of Farnham Hall. They removed to Skaneateles in 1828. Their eldest child, Sarah, married Rev. George Dana Boardman, and both went as mission- aries to Burmah. She married, second. Rev. Adoniram Judson. She was mother of Rev. George D. Boardman, D.D., of Philadelphia, and of Dr. Adoniram and Rev. Dr. Edward Judson, New York. Their daughter, Harriette Hall, married Abner Edwards. Ralph Hall's father was Ralph Hall, who was born February 27, 1717, and died in 1802. He was never in Skaneateles, but lived in Salem, Mass. Solomon Edwards bought the farm on East Lake Road, Skaneateles, lately owned by J. Augustus Edwards, his grandson. On this farm five generations ii6 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. of the Edwards family have lived. He came to this town in the latter part of the last century, and was one of the original members of the Presbyterian Society in this town. His daughter, Catharine, born in 1789 and died in 1872, married William Hall, of Skaneateles. Origin of the Doctors Porter family in Skaneateles. — Lucy Edwards married Dr. Samuel Porter, of WilHamstown, Mass., who was the son of Dr. Hezekiah Porter, of Northampton, Mass., formerly of Farmington, Conn. He married Naomi, daughter of Eliphaz Clapp. He married, second, in 1790, Prudence, daughter of Josiah Parsons, Jr. ; married, third, Sally Phelps, granddaughter of Josiah Parsons, Sr. ; and, fourth, Hetty . Their children, all born in WilHamstown, Mass., were: Dr. Samuel, who died in Skaneateles in 1843, ^^^^ sixty-five years. James, who married Eliza Vredenburg, of Skaneateles. Minerva, married Thomas Greves. Lucy, who married Samuel Rhoades. Also two other children, named Alanson and Nancy. Thaddeus Edwards married Electa Symons in WilHamstown, Mass., January 19, 1767; died in Skaneateles, April 25, 1841. Their adopted children were: Fanny Hitchcock, born 1794, died May 24, 1839, ^^^ Sereno Clark, born 1790, died March 11, 181 o. Alanson Edwards married Elizabeth McKay April 26, 1791. She was born February 28,. 1769, died 1832. Their children were: Alanson, born 1793 ; married Lydia Hopkins. Thaddeus, born December 10, 1795; married Mary Putnam; married, second, 1838, Maria Clark, daughter of Nathan and Lovisa (Edwards) Clark. Thaddeus came with his father's family in 1798. Alonzo, born August 17, 1803; married Abigail Trowbridge, of Skaneateles; died in 1849. There were eight other children, names given, but not of interest to this history. (All the preceding history of families is taken from " The Genealogy of the Edwards Family.") Thaddeus Edwards. — Thaddeus Edwards was born in the town of Green- field, about six miles from BaHston Springs, December 10, 1795. He came to Skaneateles with his father, Alanson, in February, 1798, who purchased the north half of Lot No. 38 before he came here. One hundred acres of Lot No. 38 had been previously purchased by a Mr. Lee from Nicholas Fish, or, rather, Alanson Edwards and Mr. Lee procured their deeds from him. The original owner of Lot No. 38 was a young man who purchased from the soldier who drew the lot. Alanson Edwards. — Alanson Edwards, the father of Thaddeus, quartered for three weeks in the old tavern while he was building a log house on his lot. This house was on the site of where the present Jacob Hoagland's garden is now. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 117 Bill of Goods. — The following is a copy of a bill of goods purchased by the late Dr. Samuel Porter: Skaneateles, Sept. 25, 1806. Samuel Porter, Bought of Samuel Ingham. £ s. d. SJ4 yds. of calico 2s. 8d. — J4 yd. brown Holland 2s. 8d 16 Pair Shears 2s. 2d. — 4 skeins silk 6d 4 2 Paper pins is. 3d. — 54 yd. cambric 5s. stick tape is 4 9 I piece linen 18 yds. is. 8d i 10 o 414 yds. calico 2s. 8d 12 o I lb. bohea 4s. — i lb. raisins is. 4d 5 4 2]4 yds. linen 3s. — ^2j4 yds. tow cloth 3s. 8d 16 3 Sundries for hired man i 14 6 I skein of silk 6d. — i qt. molasses 6s 2 o 54 lb. pepper 3s. — }i lb. allspice 3s. i 6 Total 6 6 6 Celebration of Independence Day in 1835. — National salute was fired at sunrise. The procession was formed at 11 A.M. in front of I. W. Perry's Indian Queen Hotel, under the direction of a marshal and his assistants. It passed through the several streets in the village until it reached the Presbyterian Meeting-House, where an oration was delivered to a great crowd of citizens by Benoni Lee, Esq. The procession thereafter reformed and returned to the Indian Queen Hotel, where a sumptuous dinner was set out, at one dollar a head. The meeting was then called to order, and a President, Vice-President, and Secretary were by vote appointed, and after that a general good time was enjoyed by all. Without going into further detail, the names are here given of the committee of arrangements : John Legg George F. Leitch J. R. Wallace Samuel Porter Harrison B. Dodge E. D. Murray Samuel Jacacks Noadiah Kellogg J. B. Stillson Freeborn G. Jewett Edward O. Gould Charles L. Elliott Nelson Hawley James G. Porter John C. Beach Lewis H. Sandford James McCray George Francis James M. Allen Robert Van Tine Dorastus Kellogg. Charles J. Burnett, Jr. William Legg Stages and Stage-Drivers. — The following items in relation to stage-coach- ing are taken from the " Centennial History of Marcellus," written by Israel Parsons, M.D., which are as applicable to Skaneateles as Marcellus: " Before the time of railroads, the running of stages formed quite an im- portant business. These villages along the East and West Road were wonder- fully enlivened day by day by the arrival and departure of the stage-coaches drawn by four horses. " As the stages were descending these hills to enter the village, the drivers would make the vallev reverberate with the music from their tin horns. They ii8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. became amateurs in the art, and vied with each other in the use of the horn. Their object in blowing the horn was to notify the drivers at the stables to make ready their horses for a change; the landlord, that the meals might be in order for the passengers. " In those days brakes had not been introduced on the stages, consequently they descended the hills with quite a velocity. The horses used were of the first quality — athletic, sure-footed, and strong. Each stage weighed twenty-two hun- dred pounds, and carried eleven passengers with their baggage, which was moderate compared with the individual baggage of the present day. Two coaches were run regularly each way every day, besides extras, which were frequent to meet the demands of travel. " The class of young men who turned their attention to stage-driving were natural lovers of horses, and as a result of this became very skilful in the man- agement of their horses, taught them many tricks, and to perform feats. Each horse had a name, and when called by that name obeyed the mandates of its master. The driver's whip was composed of a stalk from four to five feet long, to which was attached a lash ten to twelve feet in length, and on the end of the lash a nicely braided silk cracker. It was a piece of dexterity to hold the reins of four horses, and so wield the whip as to give a smart crack with it; or, in coming down one of these hills, to lay the whip tipon the top of the stage and blow the horn, holding the four reins in one hand, with the horses under full speed. " These drivers were usually daring men, but very energetic and faithful in the performance of their duties. To their good judgment, skill, and energy, multitudes have owed the safety of life and limb. "Hiram Reed of this village (Marcellus) relates an instance which well dis- plays the combination of these qualities in one driver. When a lad at school, in Skaneateles, he and a fellow schoolmate, wishing to go to Auburn by stage, secured seats outside with the driver. As they were descending the steepest hill between the two places, one of the pole-straps broke (two straps leading from the front end of the pole to the collars of the wheel-horses, and with which they held back the stage). The driver, ready for the emergency, said to Reed and his mate, ' Hold on, boys ! ' and at once laid the whip on to his horses, so that they went with full speed down the remainder of the hill in perfect safety — passengers, coach, and horses unharmed! Mr. Reed says he never after sought a ride on the outside of a stage. The driver secured the safety of the stage through the leaders making a constant draft on the pole to which they were directly attached; but amidst all confusion he did not forget the boys. " Of the large number of stage-drivers who used to drive over these hills, and contend with darkness, storm, and tempest, but one is left living among us, and that is Adolphus Newton. Much of my information on this subject was derived from him. He commenced the arduous duties of stage-driving in 1819, when but sixteen years of age, and continued eleven years. Nothing delights him HISTORY OP SKANEATELES. 119 more at his present age than to sit down before a good listener, and recount the adventures of his youthful years in this department of his life. He says that at one period he drove what was called the ' Telegraph.' This was a stage with a limited number of passengers, and that carried the mail. It ran eight miles an •hour when the roads were good. They changed horses every ten miles, but one driver went through from Auburn to Manlius, a distance of thirty-three miles. He says that, on some special occasions of carrying important personages, he made the distance in three hours. Once he had for passengers Governor Seward and Black Hawk, and drove ten miles in fifty minutes. It was a rule to give such men what was called ' extra rides.' Another load consisted of General Scott, Governor Marcy, and Martin Van Buren. There were three periods during Mr. Newton's driving, when opposition lines were placed upon the road; only one of these proved to be a serious annoyance to the Sherwood line. This was what was called the ' Pioneer ' line. It was well stocked with first-class horses and fine coaches, but with inexperienced drivers. Fast driving became a natural consequence to competition in staging. This proved the value of experience in drivers as well as in all other situations of trust connected with responsibility. For in making quick time, there is called into requisition good judgment in the management of horses, which is based only on successful ex- perience, as when to drive fast, when slow, and when to drive moderately. Also to the care given to the horses at the end of each route, in feeding, watering, and exposure. The result was that the old drivers proved themselves heroes in the strife. For although in the frequent racing of stages to which they were subject, the Pioneer was fully their equal ; yet soon the new line showed impaired horses, the consequence of indiscretion in driving and want of care at the stables; and this gave rise to such a monstrous relay of horses, that it finally broke down the opposition line. " As ' variety is the spice of life ' and ' competition the life of business,' so in this racing of the stages the inhabitants of this whole region were no idle specta- tors, but their every day ' humdrum ' life was spiced by the daily news of hair- breadth escapes and the Jehu feats of the drivers ; and as in these days, so then quick time increased the amount of travel. Stages were entirely removed from this route in December, 1838, when the cars were first run by horse-power, and this was changed to steam-power in June, 1839. The great stage proprietor, whose talents were as celebrated in that day for staging as Commodore Vander- bilt's have since been for railroading, was Isaac Sherwood. His residence was in Skaneateles, and he is said to have weighed three hundred and eighty pounds. His successor was his son, John Milton, who was almost as ponderous as his father, and as wonderful a stage proprietor. The stage-fare was five cents a mile, so that in the winter season a trip from this place to New York and back cost $30. But the people traveled principally in their own conveyances. Riding on horse- back was the usual mode of traveling 'for the first twenty years or more of the settlement of the country. Consequently people became very expert in that prac- 120 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. tise. The old and the young, irrespective of sex, would readily mount their steeds and go far and near as occasion required. They used to make extensive journeys in that manner. A lady would go from here to Massachusetts or Connecticut, and her whole wardrobe would be back of her saddle in a valise. "Pillions were also in use, so 'that families whose number of horses were limited, or whose horses at times were mostly engaged in the necessary business of life, could accommodate themselves by riding two on a horse. These exhibi- tions were of daily occurrence. Horses were early trained under the saddle, and, being thus in almost daily use, became delightful riding-horses. This was a healthy mode of riding. Most long journeys simply for prospecting or visiting were made in this way. Mrs. Cody, the grandmother of Hiram Reed, came from Massachusetts, some time before the year 1800, alone and on horseback. She was a widow, and this was her prospecting tour for a home in this great wilder- ness. After reaching this place, she rode around viewing different portions of the town, and finally made a purchase of six hundred and forty acres, the north- eastern corner of which afterward included what is now Clintonville. " It must be borne in mind that although a lady was thus journeying through an almost uninterrupted forest, without any appointed traveling companions, still there was a continuous procession of travelers on the road either emigrating or prospecting, so that she was not alone, and although all were strangers to her, yet distributed all along among that stretched-out multitude were very many mothers and grandmothers in reality, who, as was the nature of society in those days, would be interested at any moment in the situation of such a person." The First Library. — "■ Skaneateles Library Company.'' We here present a brief history of the old Skaneateles Library, with its by- laws, names of members, and officers. In the book of " Miscellaneous Records " in the Office of the Clerk of Onon- daga County, Book B, page 15, is to be found the following certificate: " Skaneateles Library. " A meeting was held at Elnathan Andrews' Tavern March 2nd, 1806, to organize a library under the General Act. Ebenezer Pardee was elected Chair- man. Elnathan Andrews, Thaddeus Edwards, Warren Hecox, Samuel Porter, Daniel Kellogg, were duly selected to serve as trustees for said library." " Copy of Certificate. " I, Ebenezer, Pardee, elected Chairman of a meeting of the proprietors of the Skaneateles Library, holden at the house of Elnathan Andrews, Inn-Keeper in the town of Marcellus, in the County of Onondaga, and State of New York, on the second Tuesday of March in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hun- dred and Six, being the time and place previously agreed on, and appointed by the said proprietors and at which time and place two thirds of the said proprie- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 121 tors had assembled ; do certify that the stile, name and Title of the said Corpora- tion is the ' Skaneateles Library ' and that at the aforesaid meeting, Elnathan Andrews, Thaddeus Edwards, Warren Hecox, Samuel Porter and Daniel Kellogg, were duly elected to serve as Trustees for said Library. " In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eleventh (11) day of March, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Six. Ebenezer Pardee. [L. S.] Sealed and Executed in presence of Daniel Kellogg, ) ^ , ^ „ David Hyde, } Onondaga County. This is all the record there is in the County Clerk's Office. The follf^^'ng are the minutes of the first meeting of these trustees: " ' " March 20, 1806 : At a meeting of the trustees of the Skaneateles LFhad- held at the house of Elnathan Andrews in the town of Marcellus, in the C of Onondaga on the twentieth day of March, 1806, the following by-laws were made for governing the Skaneateles Library Company: — "Resolved: — ist. That Thaddeus Edwards be the chairman of the said trus- tees. " 2nd. That Daniel Kellogg be the Treasurer and Librarian of the said Com- pany. " 3rd. That the said Library shall be kept at the office of said Librarian. " 4th. That a glass watch seal purchased by, and now in the possession of the said librarian shall be the common seal of the said company. " 5th. That all persons who shall become proprietors to the said library after the first day of May next, shall at the time of his becoming a proprietor, pay unto the treasurer of said library the sum of one dollar, and one dollar semi annually thereafter, till he shall pay the farther sum of four dollars. " 6th. That after the expiration of two years from the first Tuesday of March instant, every proprietor of said library shall pay unto the treasurer of the same, the sum of 25 cents annually, the first payment to commence and be made on the first Tuesday of March, 1809. " 7th. That a quarter annual meeting of the trustees of the said library shall be held at the office of the librarian on the first Tuesdays of June, September, December and March in every year hereafter. " 8th. That a library meeting shall be held at the office of the librarian on the first Tuesdays of every month in the year, at four o'clock in the afternoon of the same day for the purpose of drawing books. " 9th. That every book belonging to said library shall be returned to the said librarian by the hour of every day in the months of June, September, December and March, in default whereof the person having previously last drawn the same shall pay a fine of twelve and a half cents, and the further sum of six and a quarter cents for every day's detention thereafter. 122 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. " loth. That it shall not be lawful for any proprietor to lend any book belong- ing to said library out of the family in which he or she resides, on pain of forfeit- ing the sum of twenty-five cents. " nth. That when two or more persons shall wish to draw the same book, at the same time, the said book shall be put up at vendue and the proprietor who bids the greatest sum shall have the preference of drawing it at that time. " I2th. That every proprietor having drawn a book from said library, which shall be damaged while it is so drawn, shall pay such fine as shall be assessed by the librarian for such damage in case it shall not exceed 25 cents, but if such damage shall exceed twenty-five cents then it shall be ascertained by the librarian and trustees. " 13th. That the sale of every share in the said corporation shall be made at fis a 3ice of the librarian and entered on the book of the said Company by the ness. ibrarian for which service he shall receive twelve, and a half cents. "■ to^i^th. That the place of meeting of the said corporation shall be at the office of the said librarian. " 15th. That all fines shall be paid instant er and that the monies collected by fines or otherwise shall be put into the funds of the said company. "March 3, 1807: At a meeting of the members of the Skaneateles Library Company held at the office of the Librarian on the first Tuesday of March, 1807, the following persons were duly elected; (in conformity of law) to serve as Trustees for said Company the ensuing year, to wit, Thaddeus Edwards, Warren Hecox, Elnathan Andrews, William Thomas and Daniel Kellogg. " At a meeting of the Skaneateles Library held at the time and place above mentioned, Thaddeus Edwards was appointed chairman of the said trustees. Attest, Daniel Kellogg, Librarian. "March i, 1808: At a meeting of the members of the Skaneateles Library Company held at the place above mentioned on the first Tuesday of March, 1808. The following persons were duly elected to serve as trustees for the said Company the ensuing year, viz. : Elnathan Andrews, Warren Hecox, Thaddeus Edwards, Sylvester Roberts, Daniel Kellogg. At the same time and place Elna- than Andrews was appointed Chairman by the said Trustees. Attest, Daniel Kellogg, Librarian. " Ordered, that the ' Fool of Quality ' being No. 16, 17, 18 be sold, and also ' The Life of Baron Trenck,' being No. 12, which was done for two dollars and fifty-six cents. " March 7, 1809 : At a meeting of the members of the Skaneateles Library Company held at the office of the librarian on the first Tuesday of March, 1809, the following persons were duly elected to serve as Trustees for the said Company the ensuing year, viz. : Amasa Sessions, Joshua Chandler, Joseph Leonard, Thomas Greves, Simon Hosmer. At the same time and place Amasa Sessions was appointed Chairman by the said trustees. Attest, Daniel Kellogg, Librarian." HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 123 Note. — ^AU the foregoing is copied verbatim from the original manuscript, and it is in the handwriting of the late Daniel Kellogg. Without transcribing the preambles of the annual meetings, all of which are about the same tenor, it will be sufficient to copy the names of the trustees elected each recurring year: " March 6, 1810 : Amasa Sessions, Jos. Chandler, Joseph Leonard, Thomas Greves and Simon Hosmer, Jr. At the same time and place Amasa Sessions was appointed Chairman by the said trustees. Attest, Daniel Kellogg, Librarian. "March 5, 181 1: Simeon Hosmer, Amasa Sessions, Thomas Greves, Thad- deus Edwards and Jeduthan Lamb. Simeon Hosmer, chairman. Attest, Daniel Kellogg, Librarian. "March 3, 1812: Simeon Hosmer, Amasa Sessions, Thomas Greves, Thad- deus Edwards and Jeduthan Lamb. Simeon Hosmer, chairman. Attest, Daniel Kellogg, Librarian. " March 2, 1813 : Simeon Hosmer, Amasa Sessions, Thomas Greves, Thad- deus Edwards, and Warren Hecox. Amasa Sessions, chairman. Attest, Daniel Kellogg, Librarian. "March i, 18 14: Simeon Hosmer, Phares Gould, Thomas Greves, Joshua Chandler and Amasa Sessions. Simeon Hosmer, chairman. Attest, Daniel Kellogg, Librarian. " March 7, 181 5 : Amasa Sessions, Simeon Hosmer, Thaddeus Edwards, Phares Gould, Joshua Chandler. Simeon Hosmer, chairman. Attest, Daniel Kellogg, Librarian. "March 5, 1816: Amasa Sessions, Simeon Hosmer, Warren Hecox, Phares Gould and Thomas Greves. Simeon Hosmer, chairman. Attest, Daniel Kellogg, Librarian. " March 5, 1816 : At a meeting of the trustees of the Skaneateles Library, held at the office of the librarian in the village of Skaneateles, and county of Onondaga on the first Tuesday of March, 1816, Alexander M. Beebe, Esq., was appointed treasurer and librarian of the said library in place of Daniel Kellogg, resigned. " It was resolved by the said trustees that a watch seal owned by the said Alexander should be the common seal of the company ; and that the said library should be kept at the office of the said Alexander. in the village of Skaneateles, and that all future library meetings shall be held at the office of the said Alexan- der, and that all former bye laws heretofore made, which are inconsistent with the preceding resolutions, be repealed. " Resolved, that in case an election of the officers of this society should not be made at the annual meeting provided by the bye laws, the said election may 124 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. be held and made at any time within a month after the day of holding the annual library meeting." Note. — It will be observed from the above proceedings, that Daniel Kellogg held the office of Librarian and Treasurer ten years, and the minutest details of receipts and expenditures are embodied in his accounts. The first item is the receipt of $36.14 " from former treasurer," dated March 20, 1806. It would seem from this entry that the library had been commenced before it was formally incorporated. During Daniel Kellogg's administration as treasurer he received $231.20 from subscribers, and $19.12 from fines mostly, some small items from vendues from sales of books. These receipts were mostly expended in the purchase of books, postage, and transportation. There were no other expenses. The librarian, who had charge of the library, was the only active agent, and gave his services gratuitously. "March 5, 1817: Trustees elected: Simeon Hosmer, Phares Gould, Amasa Sessions, Warren Hecox, and Thomas Greves. Simeon Hosmer, chairman. Attest, Alex. M. Beebe^ Librarian. "March 3, 1818: Trustees elected: Simeon Hosmer, Phares Gould, Amasa Sessions, Warren Hecox, Thomas Greves. Phares Gould, chairman. Attest, Alex. M. Beebe, Librarian. "March 2, 1819: Trustees elected: Thaddeus Edwards, Phares Gould, Amasa Sessions, Warren Hecox, Thomas Greves. Thaddeus Edwards, chair- man. Attest, Alex. M. Beebe, Librarian." March 7, 1820, same trustees reelected. March 6, 1821, same trustees reelected. March 5, 1822, same trustees reelected. Alexander M. Beebe held the office five 3rears, during which time he received $86.36 balance from former librarian, and $94 in subscriptions and $12.94 in fines from members of the library, having received in all $193.30, which was chiefly expended in the purchase of books. " March 2, 1824 : Trustees elected : William Gibbs, Spencer Parsons, Warren Hecox, Stephen Horton, Freeborn G. Jewett. Warren Hecox, chairman. At this meeting Phares Gould was duly elected treasurer and librarian. " March i, 1825 : Meeting held at the store of Phares Gould. Trustees elected : William Gibbs, John S. Furman, Stephen Horton, Warren Hecox, Freeborn G. Jewett. John S. Furman, chairman. Attest, Phares Gould, Librarian. " March 7, 1826: Trustees elected: William Gibbs, John S. Furman, Warren Hecox, Thomas Greves, Stephen Horton. Col. Warren Hecox, chairman. Attest, Phakes Gould, Librarian. " March 22, 1827 : Trustees elected : William Gibbs, David Hall, John Legg, Thos. Greves, Stephen Horton. Thomas Greves, chairman. Attest, Phares Gould, Librarian. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 125 " March 4, 1828 : Trustees elected : Warren Hecox, Thomas Greves, Spencer Parsons, Stephen Horton, John S. Furman. Warren Hecox, chairman. Attest, Phares Gould, Librarian. " March 3, 1829 : Trustees elected : Warren Hecox, Thomas Greves, Spencer Parsons, Philo Dibble, William Gibbs. Thos. Greves, chairman. Attest, Phares Gould, Librarian. "March 2, 1830: Trustees elected: Warren Hecox, Thomas Greves, Samuel Porter, Philo Dibble, John S. Furman. Thomas Greves, chairman. Attest, Phares Gould, Librarian. " March 10, 1830 : At a meeting of the Trustees of the Skaneateles Library Company, held at the store of Phares Gould on the loth day of March, 1830. " Resolved, That any person not a proprietor in said library shall be allowed the reading of the books of said library under the following rules and regula- tions, viz. : " Rule 1st. Such persons shall give security, if required by the librarian, for the safe return of all books drawn by him, for the payment of all damages done to books of said library while in his possession, for fines for not returning the same on the quarterly return days and for the payment of the whole set if one or more volumes of any work shall be lost or destroyed while drawn out by same person. " Rule 2nd. Such persons shall pay in advance to the librarian one dollar per year and in the same proportion for any time not less than three months. Or six cents for the use of each volume. " Rule 3rd. Such persons shall be subject to all other rules and bye laws of said library to which the proprietors are, except the payment of the annual tax. " Rule 4th. Such person after a compliance with rules ist and 2nd shall be entitled to draw one volume at a time semi-monthly. " Rule sth. No person whether proprietor or not shall be allowed to draw books from said library as any fines, damages or annual takes remain unpaid. Any one drawing by the single volume only shall return the same semi-monthly. Phares Gould, Librarian." March 29, 1831, same trustees reelected, same chairman. March 23, 1832, same officers elected, except that Stephen Horton was elected in place of Samuel Porter. Warren Hecox was chairman. "At the above meeting a majority of the above trustees appointed a com- mittee of three, consisting of Warren Hecox, John S. Furman and Phares Gould to select not less than seventy-five books belonging to the above library and sell them at public auction to the highest bidder and the proceeds to be expended 126 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. by the librarian in the purchase of new books. And that said books be sold within two weeks from this date. Warren Hecox, Chairman. Attest, Phares Gould, Librarian. " March 5, 1833 : Trustees elected at the store of Phares Gould, librarian, March 5th, 1833 : John S. Furman, Warren Hecox, Philo Dibble, William Gibbs and John Legg. John Legg, chairman. Attest, Phares Gould, Librarian. " December 4, 1834 : James G. Porter was duly elected librarian and the fol- lowing were elected trustees to serve to the first Tuesday of March, 1835 : Wil- liam Gibbs, Spencer Parsons, Phares Gould, Philo Dibble and John S. Furman. William Gibbs, chairman. " Resolved, That the said library shall be kept at the store of the said James G. Porter in the village of Skaneateles and that all future library meetings shall be held at the store of the said James, and that all former bye laws inconsistent with this resolution be and are hereby repealed. Attest, Phares Gould, Librarian." March 3, 1835, same trustees reelected. " November 12, 1835 : At a meeting of the trustees of the Skaneateles library on Friday, November 12, 1835. Present, Messrs. Phares Gould, John Legg and Spencer Parsons. " J. G. Porter resigned the office of librarian and treasurer. " March 2, 1836 : Trustees elected by ballot : Phares Gould, Spencer Par- sons, Philo Dibble, David Hall and Warren Hecox. David Hall, chairman. " Resolved, That all members in arrears for annual dues shall have the privi- lege of drawing books by paying one dollar into the treasury. Attest, E. H. Porter, Librarian. " Resolved, That the librarian purchase a book case for the Skaneateles Library at the cost of twelve dollars. " March 7, 1837 : Meeting held at the office of E. H. Porter on the first Tues- day in March, 1837. The following trustees were elected by ballot: Phares Gould, Spencer Parsons, Silas Gaylord, David Hall. Warren Hecox, chairman. Attest, E. H. Porter, Librarian." The above is the last recorded election of trustees. The Librarian E. H. Porter's accounts continued until August 23, 1841, at which time the library company owed him $13.04 balance. Therefore, it may be inferred that the old library dissolved at that date, after having been in existence thirty-five years. The manuscript catalogue contains the names of 398 volumes. These were the first books purchased. The accounts of the various librarians contain the names of books purchased during their respective terms of office which are not included in the original. The only periodical was the North American Review, published monthly. This was first introduced into the library while Phares Gould was librarian. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 127 The entry is as follows: "Jan. 14, 1826, cash sent by N. Thorne to subscribe for 'North American Review,' $5.00." This subscription was continued until the library collapsed in 1841. The following are the names of the subscribers who joined during the exist- ence of the library: Allis, Thomas W. Andrews, Elnathan Austin, Aaron Bacon, Milton Baker, Joshua Ballamy, Samuel Bascomb, Silas Bates, C. Beebee, Alexander M. Belding, Silas Booth, Zalmon Briggs, Daniel Burnett, C. J. Burnett, John J. Burnett, Stephen Burroughs, Daniel Burroughs, William Campbell, Olden Carpenter, Isaac Chandler, Joshua Clarke, Joseph T. Colvin, David S. Cook, (widow) Cook, William Cotton, Owen Cotton, Willard Cuddeback, James Demming, Davis Dennison, Elias Dibble, Philo Earll, Abijah Earll, Watson Edwards, Alanson Edwards, Alanson, Jr. Eells, Horace Eells, Nathaniel Eldridge, N. B. Furman, John S. Gaylord, Silas Gibbs, William Gould, Phares Green, W. H. Greves, Thomas Hall, David Hall, David, Jr. Hall, Jabez Hecox, Ambrose Hecox, Cyrus Hecox, Samuel Hecox, Warren Horton, Laura Horton, Stephen Hosmer, Samuel, Jr. Hosmer, Simeon Jewett, F. G. July, Solomon Keeler, Allen Kellogg, Daniel Kellogg, Samuel Kneeland, Asa Lamb, Jeduthan Legg, John Legg, Otis Leitch, Geo. F. Leonard, Joseph Leonard, Norman Loss; Moses Ludlow, Edward G. Manley, Willis Edwards, Ebenezer Edwards, Electa (widow)Martin, Joseph Edwards, Solomon McDonald, Lesley Edwards, Thaddeus McMillan, (widow) Merrell, (widow) Miller, Nathaniel Newell, Stephen Pardee, (widow) Pardee, Ebenezer Pardee, John Parsons, Spencer Perry, George Peterson, John Phelps, A. D. Phelps, Thomas B. Pierce, Samuel Porter, Samuel Putnam, Perley Rathbone, H. H. Rathbone, James Rathbone, Saxton Rice, Rev. Benjamin Roberts, Sylvester Seeley, Solomon Seeley, William Sessions, Amasa Sessions, Ebenezer Sherwood, John M. Stephens, A. S. Swift, Nathaniel Thomas, William Valleau, John Van Buren, Philip Watson, Isaac. Weller, A. Weston, Jonathan Wightman, Allen Wightman, James Wilkinson, Alfred Willetts, C. J. Willetts, Charles Willetts, Jacob 128 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Merchants and Mechanics here in the Year 1828. J. M. Allen, tavern-keeper. George Arnold, painter. Robert J. Baker, tailor. R'ufus Billings, painter. William Blood, carpenter. J. H. Colvin. Howard Delano, machinist; made the clock of St. James' Church. M. De Mott, young lawyer. Elias Dennison, farmer and laborer. Philo Dibble, harness and saddlery. J. B. Ford, painter. Samuel Francis, hat manufacturer. Phares Gould, general store. John Greeves, tailor. David Hall, general store. Ralph Hall, carpenter. Ambrose Hecox, blind-maker and chair manufacturer. Warren Hecox, shoemaker and tanner. J. B. Hopkins, physician. Stephen Horton, came from Marcellus; a hatter when he first came. Aaron B. Keeler, tavern-keeper, before Compton. Noadiah Kellogg, saddler and harness. Jedutha Newton, worked in Winston Day's still. Spencer Parsons, cabinet-maker. Isaac W. Perry, tavern-keeper. Ellsworth Phelps, built the first organ in St. James' Church. L. A. Pratt, editor Columbian. J. Sharp, mason. Nehemiah Smith, tinner. Nicholas Thorne, farmer and dealer in horses (Root place). Miss S. Watson, school-teacher. Richard Windsor, carpenter. Blood & Root, contractors to build St. James' Church. Burnett & Rhoades (Charles J. Burnett and S. Porter Rhoades), general store. Gibbs & Burnett (William Gibbs and Charles J. Burnett), general store. Oakley & Trowbridge, cabinet-makers. Picket & Stearns, masons. Porter & Pardee (James Porter and Charles Pardee), general store. Porter & Wolcott (J. Gurdon Porter and B. S. Wolcott), general store. Seth & James Hall, carriage manufacturers. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 129 James Sackett. — James Sackett was a remarkable character in his time. It is said that he came to Skaneateles with about forty thousand dollars, and, being a bachelor, lived a life of leisure. His residence, which he purchased of John Briggs, still stands, in a remodeled form, near the lake-shore, west of the bridge in the village (now the Frederick Shear place). Irritable and profane, he was Isaac Sherwood's equal, and for several years occasionally moved his barn to and from in front of Sherwood's tavern. On one occasion, it is said, he tore a chim- ney down to get a cricket out. James Sackett afterward removed to Syracuse and became a large landowner there. In a foot-note of the " Onondaga Cen- tennial " is the following description of James Sackett : " Mr. Sackett was a very peculiar and eccentric bachelor. His tastes in dress were very singular, and he often wore a frock coat reaching mostly to his heels, a wide-brimmed hat with a veil over his face. He usually traveled about in a dilapidated sulky, with a top patched up in varied colors. When he was on foot, he carried a large umbrella, with a white patch on top. When he was ready to build on his property, he contracted for a house twenty-two by forty feet in size. As the contractor did not come and build as agreed, Sackett bargained with another man to do the same work, and the structure was immediately erected. Before it was finished, the first contractor came with timbers, etc., for the per- formance of his contract. Although Mr. Sackett was not bound to fulfil his agreement with this man, he said to him, ' Here, put it up at the end of this one.' Of course he then had a house twenty-two by eighty feet. With all his peculiarities he was a well-disposed person, correct and prompt in business mat- ters. At his death his estate was worth $150,000. A part of his estate was land embracing and surrounding the site of the Cathedral. This land, or a part of it, was covered with a pleasant grove, the possession of which greatly de- lighted Mr. Sackett. One morning he arose to find nothing left of it but the stumps of the trees, which had been mostly sawed off and marked with white chalk. The afflicted owner made desperate efforts to learn who among his enemies did the deed, but he never succeeded." Freeborn G. Jewett. — A deed was given by Winston Day and Thankful, his wife, to Freeborn G. Jewett, February 20, 1822, consideration $2,500, for part of Lot No. 36, bounded and described, in part, as follows : " Beginning at the southeast corner of Skaneateles Village lots, number one, laid out at the north end of the Skaneateles Lake, said lots containing about one acre each, thence easterly along the north line of the old road leading east and west through the village of Skaneateles." (Not necessary to give chains and links further.) This piece of land consisted of two acres and sixty-six hundredths of an acre. Also an additional piece of land adjoining, contents not given. Another deed was given by Charles J. Burnett and wife to Freeborn G. Jewett, April 12, 1820, consideration $250, for part of Lot No. 36, " Beginning in the center of the highway, leading north from the village of Skaneateles by General Robert Earll's, at the northwest corner of land owned by Winston Day, I30 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. thence by courses, chains, and links [not necessary to repeat here], containing three acres of land." Freeborn G. Jewett first came to Skaneateles about 1817. Seth & James Hall's Carriage-Shop. — The carriage-shop of Seth & James Hall originally included the present dwelling-houses owned by William F. Gregory and Mr. Herbert Sweet. The shop was a long frame building on the west side of Onondaga Street. James Hydon afterward purchased this shop, and from it con- structed the present dwelling-houses occupied by Mrs. William Gregory and Mr. Sweet. They then removed their carriage-shop to a frame building at the corner of Jordan and Genesee streets, on the site of the post-ofHce. Some years after- ward this firm built and owned the stone building now owned and occupied by T. Kelley for an extensive carriage and sleigh factory. At the same time they built the long house for the accommodation of their workmen. After the death of Seth Hall, Captain James Hall continued in the same line of manufacturing, on the shore of the lake, in the rear of the frame store now owned by Miss De Land. Captain James Hall was a man of unexceptionable business ability, which he turned to good account, not only to his own interest, but for many others who sought his counsel and advice in matters of business importance. He died in the year 1857, aged sixty-five years, highly respected by all the people of this town. Seth Hall came to this town October 23, 1806, and died in 1833. Skaneateles Business Men in 1830. Wolcott & Porter (J. Gurdon Porter) were dealers in lumber. John Wetmore, barber. Daniel Talcott, Skaneateles furnace. James Miller, barber, Skaneateles Hotel. J. H. Benedict, watch repairing, jewelry, and cash paid for old silver. Next door to R. Talcott's dry-goods store. R. Talcott, dry-goods and general store. Dibble & Miller, harness and saddlery. A. Douglass & J. S. Furman, threshing machines. I. W. Perry, general store, opposite Skaneateles Hotel. Burnett & Rhoades, general store. Phares Gould, general store. Ansel Frost & Co. (Arthur Mott), Mottville furnace. R. A. Hicks, merchant tailor. Spencer Parsons, furniture. Talcott & Gridley (R. Talcott and Martin Gridley). Talcott & Allis, potashery. House ashes wanted. Store pay. C. J. Burnett, Jr., books and stationery. Porter & Pardee, general store, and marble for gravestones. Had a shop and a first-rate workman to cut lettering on gravestones. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 131 CHAPTER X. Early Burial-Places and General History. Earliest Burial-Place. — The earliest burial-place in this town was situated in a loamy piece of ground on the land belonging to Samuel Briggs, which ran along a pathway through the forest. This pathway started from the nucleus of log houses in the vicinity of what has since been known as the " Red House," passed through the forest, and extended to Hardenburgh's Corners, now the city of Auburn. This pathway through the forest has continued ever since, and is now what is known as " The North Road to Auburn." The Second Burial- Place. — The second burial-place was located within the bounds of where the village is now located. It was on the high ground where the Vredenburg mansion was afterward erected in 1803-6. Burials were made up to 1803, when Vredenburg purchased the land. There were at that period about sixteen graves (no headstones), which were removed to John Briggs' farm, which was afterward purchased by " The Skaneateles Religious Society," which was the first religious organization in the village. The origin of this burial-place was as follows: The land and surrounding farm belonged to John Briggs in the beginning of the present century, and he, as many farmers do at present, buried his own kindred on his own land. His wife was interred there in 1802. The remains of about sixteen persons were taken up from a burial-ground then situated on what is now known as the Leitch place, that land having been previously purchased by William J. Vredenburg, on which he intended to erect a dwelling. These remains were deposited in the private ground of John Briggs. From that time forward that ground was used very gen- erally by the early settlers for the burial of their dead. " The Skaneateles Religious Society," the only incorporated society in this place, was organized October 29, 1801. This society entered into a contract with John Briggs, on the 5th of March, 1808, for the purchase of his burial-ground. The consideration named in the contract was twenty-five dollars for half an acre of ground, to be paid on the delivery of a good warrantee deed in fee simple. The deed was not executed until May 30, 1812, and the consideration named therein was thirty-two dollars and thirty cents. This deed was recorded in the Clerk's Office of Onondaga County, in Liber SS of deeds, folio 181. An addi- tional half-acre adjoining on the south was purchased at the same time from David Seymour and Martha his wife, the deed of which was dated January 27, 1812 ; consideration, $20. This was recorded at the same time. It will be observed from the above statement that the Skaneateles Religious Society paid $52.50 for one acre of land, which at the time specified, 1812, was 132 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. above its value for farm-land. This was used by the inhabitants in this vicinity as a general burial-place until about the year 1847, when F. G. Jewett and Charles Pardee purchased one and one-eighth acres adjoining on the north and east, and laid out the same for a cemetery. The Skaneateles Religious Society did not sell any lots in its ground, as it did not possess the authority to convey the title, but the burials were merely permissive, the Society retaining the title and control of it. It has been at different times in the care and under the direction of various individuals, the first of whom was Jonathan Weston, the sexton of the Society, who was succeeded by his son, Josiah Weston, who was followed by Columbus Weston and by C. Pardee. All the early inhabitants, the original settlers hereabout, buried their dead there, or on their farms, and afterward removed the remains to " God's Acre." That Acre is now filled to overflowing with human bones. The original sex- ton, when it belonged to the Skaneateles Religious Society, was Jonathan Weston, who was succeeded by Josiah Weston. After his death, Columbus Weston was sexton, and even in his day he used to say that there was not a square foot • of that ground, when opened with a spade, but what contained human bones. The first settlers placed no gravestones over their dead, as such memorials were very expensive in early times; but there is one over the grave of Polly, wife of John Briggs, who died in 1802. The stone over her grave is a peculiar quality of white marble, and only finished on one side. The gravestone over Polly Briggs' grave was not erected until about 1822. No headstones had been erected previ- ously, but the monuments over the graves of William J. Vredenburg and of Daniel Ludlow were the first monuments placed in this old burial-ground. Both were sent here from the City of New York. As an instance of the demand for space in that old " Acre," a gentleman stated to the writer that many years ago, and during the sextonship of Columbus Weston, a person came here to have the remains of a relative who had died two years previously removed to his home. The sexton was puzzled to recollect where the interment was made. Finally he remembered a certain grave where three coffins were buried, and, when opened, he found that the middle coffin contained the coveted remains. If it Vas necessary at that early period to place three coffins in a single grave, it shows conclusively that the " Acre " was about filled up. Ever since the time of Sexton Weston, this old and well-filled " God's Acre " has been graded over and over again, and lots have been sold and burials made over those old bones. And strange to say, although the Acre belonged to the Presbyterian Society, it did not, and had not the power to, sell nor give title to a foot of that ground to any individual. Other persons assumed to take full charge of the ground, and to sell lots and graves, and to retain the money received therefrom for their own use. It was in the year 1830 that the remains of Abraham Cuddeback and his wife were removed from the farm of his son, Abraham A. Cuddeback, to " God's Acre," and the gravestone now over their graves, the earliest dated stone now in HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 133 the cemetery, was erected in 1830. These were the father and mother of our first settler. Both were far advanced in years, and died within two years of each other. As pertinent to the subject under discussion, the following is appropriate: A Hundred Years Ago. Where, where are all the birds that sang A hundred years ago? The flowers that all in beauty sprang A hundred years ago? The lips that smiled, The eyes that, wild In flashes, shone Soft eyes upon — Where, oh, where are lips and eyes. The maiden's smiles, the lover's sighs, That lived so long ago? Who peopled all the streets A hundred years ago? Who filled the church with faces meek A hundred years ago? The sneering tale Of sister frail — The plot that worked A brother's hurt — Where, oh, where are plots and sneers, The poor man's hopes, the rich man's fears, That lived so long ago? Where are the graves where dead men slept A hundred years ago? Who were they that, living, wept A hundred years ago? By other men Who knew not them Their lands are tilled, Their graves are Ulled. Yet Nature then was just as gay. And bright the sun shone as to-day, A hundred years ago! The Mottville Burying-Ground. — The Mottville Burying-Ground was opened for burial purposes about the year 1819, at which time all the human re- mains which had been interred in the Sam Briggs land, on the pathway through the forest, were removed to the Mottville Burying-Ground. The Succeeding Burial-Ground in the Village of Skaneateles. — Charles Pardee and Freeborn G. Jewett, August 21, 1846, purchased from James Cannings Fuller one and twelve-hundredths acres of land, adjoining the Acre be- 134 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. longing to the Presbyterian Society, for cemetery purposes. Consideration paid, $392. This piece of land was laid out as a cemetery into two hundred and twenty-four lots, each measuring ten by sixteen feet. These with the necessary paths and avenues comprised the whole land. Under these conditions each of the two hundred and twenty-four lots cost one dollar and seventy-five cents. They were originally sold at ten dollars each, and no lots were sold at a higher rate during the lifetime of F. G. Jewett. It was only after his decease, in 1858, that the prices of lots were very materially advanced ; in fact, doubled. Various Items of Early History. — Phares Gould, an early merchant, was Treasurer of Onondaga County in 1845, and was Member of Assembly in 1838, 1839, and 1840. William Fuller was Member of Assembly in 1842. Horace Hazen was Member of Assembly in 1848. Piatt Wikes occupied a store next to Day & Sherwood, May 5, 1806. This is the only mention of his name in the records of the town. Doctor Samuel Benedict was here in 1806, and lived on the site of the late Jessee Simmons place. His nephew, Peter Benedict, was killed at Black Rock by the British in the War of 18 12. Asa Bacon was here in 1806. He was a tanner and shoemaker. He built the Louisa Pomeroy house, on West Genesee Street, which was on the site of the present L. D. Hall place. Amos Bacon, brother-in-law of Colonel Warren Hecox, was a shoemaker here in 1817. Alexander M. Beebe practised law here in 1822. Briggs & Hall (Isaac Briggs and David Hall) had a general store in Skane- ateles in 1815. Silas Belding was gatekeeper near the late Jacob Allen's in 1815. Henry Danforth was a merchant here in 1806, on the corner where the Lake House was afterward built. He succeeded Winston Day on that location. Dan- forth afterward went to Pittsburg, Pa. William H. Sandford was a merchant in Skaneateles, March 4, 1816. Booth & Ingham, merchants, here in 181 1. Mortgage sale at the house of David H. Griswold, Skaneateles, November 30, 1816. Porter & Jewett were the attorneys. St. James' Church. — ^January 4, 1816, the following represented St. James' Church : Rev. William A. Clark, Missionary; Jonathan Booth, Charles J. Burnett, Wardens; Edward G. Ludlow, John W. Livingston, Zalmori Booth, Stephen Horton, John Pierson, John How, Samuel Francis, and William Gibbs, Vestrymen. In 1824, the following were officers of St. James' Church : Augustus L. Converse, Missionary; Jonathan Booth, Warden; John Davids, John Parsons, Charles Pardee, John W. Livingston, and Elijah S. Rust, Vestry- men. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 135 Business Men in 1841. — The following persons were engaged in business here in 1841 : B. C. M. Tucker, cabinet-maker, Hecox Block. Mellen & Pendleton (Lucius Mellen and Charles Pendleton). Brickerhoff & Porter, general store. Hall, Porter & Co. (James Hall, J. Gurdon Porter, and David Hall 2d). N. Hawley & Co., general store. Ansel Frost, Mottville flour-mill. E. A. Sessions, saddler and harness-maker. James Cannings Fuller. S. Little, recess, grocery, and meat market. A Sensational Burglary in Skaneateles. — During the month of Decem- ber, 1839, the dwelling-house of the late George F. Leitch was entered at night by burglars, and robbed of jewelry, watches, silk dresses, and other valuables. The robbery soon excited all the dwellers throughout the village. Immediately outriders were ordered by Mr. Leitch over all the roads in every direction, and notifications were sent to the authorities of Syracuse, Auburn, and Homer, and all surrounding places. There being no telegraphs, telephones, or other modern facilities in those early days, therefore horseback riders were the only available mode of publication. Large rewards were offered, and minute descriptions of the property stolen were forwarded to all the cities and villages throughout this section of the State. The Village Trustees held a special meeting, on January 4, 1840, and at once ordered a night-watch. The Trustees appointed a number of brave and heroic men, who were armed with muskets and bayonets, and who thereafter paraded the streets night after night for a long period of time, until the excitement cooled off. The burglars were never captured nor the property recovered. Archibald Farr. — One of the earliest physicians who practised among the early settlers all around this section of the State was Dr. Archibald Farr. He made all his purchases here in this settlement. He finally located himself on Mili- tary Lot No. II, then Marcellus. He came here in March, 1803. He was the first practising physician in that section of Marcellus. He kept the first tavern in 1808, and the same year he erected the first grist-mill. Military Lot No. 11 was in the town of Spafford. It is stated that no lawyer ever located in that town. Chester Parsons. — Chester Parsons was born in West Hampton, Mass., January, 1791, and moved to Skaneateles in the month of February, 1822. He pur- chased his farm in 1821 from Judah Pierce, who was known in early times as Major Pierce. At that time, Colonel Livingston, United States Marshal of North- ern New York, occupied the place now owned by David Waldron, formerly the Dyer Brainerd place. Thaddeus Edwards lived on the Gale or Ellery farm. Gibbs & Horton, Phares Gould, and Winston Day were the merchants in the vil- lage. Colonel Bellamy sold his farm to Captain Lee the same year. Captain Lee built his first sail-boat, or commenced it, the same year. It was an open boat, ar- 136 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. ranged with air-tight tanks as precautions for safety in case of disaster. The post-ofHce was where the Episcopal church is now, and C. J. Burnett was Post- master. Rev. Mr. Stockton preached at the Presbyterian church, opposite the present Pardee place. He did not stay very long after that time. Rev. Alexan- der Cowen was the next preacher. A school was kept in the brick schoolhouse across the bridge in 1822, and another on the hill near the meeting-house. Mr. Dascomb was the keeper of the tavern on the site now occupied by the Savings-Bank. Sherwood kept the old tavern where the Packwood House is now. Sackett lived in the house now occupied by F. Shear. Alanson Edwards kept the tavern which was then on the corner of East Genesee Street and the East Lake Road, and his son Thaddeus attended the bar. This tavern was afterward de- stroyed by fire, but never rebuilt. Ebenezer Sessions lived south of Mr. Parsons', near the small stream of water, in a house painted red. Deacon Amasa Session lived on what is known as the Bradford place. John Legg had his blacksmith-shop on the Dr. Bartlett place. A Mr. Potter did woodwork on wagons for Mr. Legg. At about 1 82 1, John Legg had purchased the Norman Leonard place, and Legg's shop was then moved on the lake-shore. Philo Dibble was the village harness- maker. Chester Parsons was a real, practical temperance man, always making it a point of principle not to sell any of his farm produce for distilling purposes. He would rather be satisfied with a less price for his grain in order to place it in the line of food for man or beast. He was a man of sterling character, and was always highly respected by not only his immediate neighbors, but the community generally. He left Skaneateles in 1854. He died in Syracuse in 1874, aged eighty-three years. (The above history was the result of a personal interview with the author.) Daniel Kellogg, Jr. — Daniel Kellogg, Jr., was the son of Judge Daniel Kel- logg, and was born in the old homestead in Skaneateles in 1817. In his early childhood days he attended the common schools, later he attended Dr. Kirkland's school at Geneva, N. Y., and afterward graduated at the Academy in Albany. His father designed this son for a banker, but, while negotiating with the officers of the United States Bank in Philadelphia with that end in view, died suddenly. Owing to this serious event, he embarked in manufacturing pursuits, and located for that purpose in Columbus, Ohio, and also in Cincinnati, often mak- ing trips there on horseback from Skaneateles, being a lover of fine horses. In later years he married and settled permanently in Skaneateles, and for many years he retired from active business. A good joke is told of him as a small schoolboy. He distributed among his young schoolmates fifteen one-hundred-dollar bills, thinking that they were pretty pictures. These he had found on his father's law-office desk. He thus disposed of fifteen hundred dollars innocently. Daniel Kellogg, Jr., died of pneumonia, in Skaneateles, November 21, 1891, leaving a widow, one daughter, and three sons. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 137 Benjamin Lee. — Captain Benjamin Lee was born in Taunton, Somersetshire, England, February 26, 1765. He emigrated to this country some time during the latter part of the last century, for he had become a citizen of the United States in 1791, as will be seen from the following " Sea Letter: " "To ALL Emperors, Kings, Sovereign Princes, States, and Regents, and to their RESPECTIVE Officers Civil and Military, and to all others vv^hom it may concern: I, George Washington, President of the United States of America, do make known, that Benjamin Lee, Captain of the ship called the Fair American, of the burthen of about 317 tons, is a citizen of the said United States, and that the ship which he commands belongs to Citizens of the said United States; and, as I wish that the said Benjamin Lee may pros- per in his lawful affairs, I do request of all the before mentioned and each of them sepa- rately, where the said Benjamin Lee shall arrive with his vessel and cargo, that they will be pleased to receive him with kindness, and treat him in a becoming manner; permitting him, on the usual tolls and expenses in passing and repassing, to navigate, pass and fre- quent their Ports, Passes, and Territories, to the end that he may transact his business where and in what manner he shall judge proper; and thereby I shall consider myself obliged. In testimony whereof, I have caused the Seal of the United States to be aifixed to these Presents, and have hereunto set my hand, at the City of Philadelphia, the twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety- one. G. Washington. , By the President: Th. Jefferson." A copy of this quaint document is given here to show that at that early date Captain Lee was in command of an American ship, and also to show the peculiar interest which our first President took in American citizens, and also of the well- being of naturalized citizens. Captain Lee retired from a seafaring life in 1797, settled in Boston, and mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Leighton, May 27, 1797. Soon after his marriage he pur- chased a fine farm in Lancaster, Mass., near Boston. Here he turned his atten- tion to raising fine Spanish Merino sheep. He afterward took up the manu- facture of woolen goods, and the cloth produced from his extensive flock was of excellent quality. When, during the Embargo preceding the War of 18 12, Con- gress patriotically resolved to wear only cloth of home manufacture, Vice-Presi- dent Gerry appeared at the Capitol in a suit of home-made cloth, presented to him by Captain Lee. A strong inducement was offered to Captain Lee after entering upon domestic life, by President Adams, when the American Navy was first organized. When the celebrated frigate Constitution was fitted out; he was tendered a commission as her first lieutenant. This would have given him a high position among our old naval commanders. One of his reasons for declining this appointment was that, although a naturalized American citizen, he was unwilling to be placed in a situation which might require him to fight against Old England. Captain Lee removed from Boston to Norwich, Conn., in 1812. About the year 1816 he purchased a large tract of land in Genesee County, N. Y. This tract con- 138 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. tained about fifteen thousand acres. The purchase of these lands drew Captain Lee very often to western New York. In order to be near the scene of his business in disposing of his lands, he pur- chased in 1821 what was then known as the old Colonel Bellamy farm, on the east shore of Skaneateles Lake. He had previously owned a considerable farm with a neat cottage on the Cayuga Lake, near the village of the same name. This he sold upon purchasing the Skaneateles farm. This latter property consisted of two hundred and fifty acres, and bordered on the lake for a quarter of a mile. Here he enjoyed his favorite pursuit of farming and boating, and constructed a sail-boat, in which he spent many happy hours. In the year 1824 he provided himself with apparatus for sounding the various depths of the lake, using the reg- ular deep-sea leads, which he constructed himself for this purpose, there being a hollow in the bottom of each of them to be filled with tallow, in order to bring up some of the different kinds of sand, pebbles, or other matter on the surface be- neath the water. He commenced his line of soundings at the post-office in the village, which was then where St. James' Church is now, taking a course from there about due south, but with the intention of keeping equidistant from either shore until he reached the head of the lake. Commencing his memoranda of soundings at 10 feet, he gradually reached 25 feet opposite Colonel Livingston's, now the David Waldron place. Up to this point he found a clean bottom, but* opposite Solomon Edwards', at a depth of 66 feet, found mud ; off One Mile Point, 78 feet, alternately muddy and clean bottom ; in a line with Chester Parson's place, 100 feet ; off the Major Pierce place, 140 feet, with mud on the bottom ; opposite Amasa Session's, 183 feet; off Five Mile Point, 218 feet, muddy; off Mandana, 265 feet ; off Cold Spring woods, 265 feet, with clear white sand bottom ; off Nine Mile Point, 275 feet, clean bottom. He did not take the soundings above this point until the year 1827, but did not find any deeper water farther on up to the head, and found the bottom very muddy at that end of the lake. During these years he made many cross soundings from various parts of the shores, but did not reach any greater depth than he found in the middle course. He made a map of the lake, the outline of which is in almost the exact form of a female, especially from Ten Mile Point to the village, but was more of fancy than otherwise, as he made no survey of the shores. On that part of the map of which he took the soundings in 1824 the following memorandum is written on the margin : " The Skaneateles Lake contains about twenty square miles of surface, and at a moderate computation its average depth is 120 feet. Its waters must amount to fifteen hundred millions of tons — ^by calculation, 1,546,240,000 tons. A cubic foot of water is 62j^ pounds, 36 to the ton." This old map is placed under glass in the Skaneateles Library for preservation. In person, Captain Lee was a man to attract notice. He was six feet in height, but so erect in carriage and well developed that he was commonly supposed to be HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 139 much taller. Compact and muscular, he possessed in his prime unusual physical strength and vigor, and to the last he was little susceptible to the influence of cold. His hair turned gray very early, and at one time in his early years he wore it pow- dered and tied in a queue. His manners were those of gentlemen of the old school, polite and urbane, but, accustomed as he was for so many years to absolute au- thority on board ship, he required prompt obedience from those in his employ and could not brook contradiction. He had the Englishman's partiality for horses and dogs. He usually had three or four horses in his stable, fine animals, and his daily recreation was a drive, often with an open carriage and pair. The dogs were always eager to accompany him, and, indicating their delight with loud barking, the start of the carriage was often attended with a commotion quite in keeping with his style of life. Sometimes the dogs were shut up to avoid this uproar, but, soon getting to understand this, they would hide themselves before the customary hour, and, when the equipage was fairly on the road, would come bounding over the fences with delight. Captain Lee always made his frequent long journeys to the Genesee country, where his land was, with his own horses. For these jour- neys considerable preparation was made. He usually took with him a bottle of es- sence of coffee, made under his own direction, so that he might not be dependent for that beverage upon country taverns; also some hard gingerbread. He started by .early daylight, and made nearly one-half of the day's journey before breakfast, averaging about forty or fifty miles per day. So different was the es- timate then of our territory, that he commonly spoke of his journey to the Gene- see region as " going to the Western Country." Highwaymen were not unknown, and his loaded pistols were fitted into the carriage seat by his side. He was of robust frame and iron constitution. Captain Lee's health for a number of years before his death was far from good. He felt the effects of the hardships and exposure of his earlier life. He suffered from sharp attacks of gout and rheumatism, and a severe influenza in the winter of 1825 gave a shock to his system from which he never fully recovered. In August, 1828, he was seized with what proved to be his last illness, of a dropsical nature. None of his family were with him at the time. He died August 15, 1828, aged sixty-three years. The funeral took place the next day, the warm weather forbidding longer delay. There was a very large gathering of friends and neighbors, and directions left by himself in a letter addressed to S. Horton, Esq., were carried out. The service of the Episcopal Church was read by the Rev. Mr. HoUister. The coffin was placed in his open carriage and drawn by his own black horses, and his remains were deposited in a place chosen by himself not far from the dwelling-house. This piece of ground was afterward enclosed with a heavy stone wall, and was reserved when the farm was sold. The next spring a white marble obelisk was placed over the grave, inscribed with his name and dates of birth and death. After the incorporation of Lake View Cemetery, it was suggested to the rela- tives of Captain Lee to have the remains removed to this appropriate ground. Accordingly, on the 23d of September, 1874, the remains were disinterred, in pres- I40 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. ence of and under the direction of his son, Rt. Rev. Alfred Lee, Bishop of Dela- ware, and, together with the monument, placed in the new cemetery. The following obituary notice of Captain Lee's death was published in an Au- burn paper, and was probably written by the late Daniel Kellogg, of this village : " Died, on the 15th of August, at his summer residence in Skaneateles, Benja- min Lee, Esq., of Norwich, Conn., in the sixty-fourth year of his age. His friends have lost a companion endeared to them by his kind and generous nature no less than by his rich and highly cultivated understanding, and his immediate relatives, who felt and knew his worth and goodness, will find a void in their social circle which can never be supplied. Eminently distinguished for kindness and warm affection for his family, he deservedly enjoyed their love and veneration, and their deep sorrow in this bereavement is somewhat alleviated by the sympathy of the community. His condescension, and the open-handed munificence with which he administered to the wants and necessities of the poor around him, can never be forgotten by any who have been guided and consoled by his affectionate counsel, or cherished and relieved by his unbounded charity." Captain Lee's widow survived him nearly forty-three years, and died at Nor- wich, Conn., May 3, 1871, having nearly completed ninety-five years. The early life of Captain Lee was full of adventure and of peril. One in- stance may be related here : In the year 1783 he was a midshipman on board one of Lord Hood's fleet, and while at Port Royal, West Indies, was tried by a court martial for challenging his superior officer for countermanding his humane order relative to prisoners on board his ship. Lee was condemned to be shot. The Prince (afterward the Duke of Clarence, who ascended the throne after the death of George IV.) went to the Admiral, and told him he would not leave him until he had given him a pardon for his brother Lee. This was granted, and Brother Lee immediately quitted the service. On leaving h'is ship to go ashore at Port Royal, the whole fleet manned the yards and gave him three cheers — an honor never before or since paid to so young an officer. The Late Captain Nash De Cost. — It is but justly due to the deceased to pay a passing tribute to his memory, for the many sterling and manly traits of character which he so eminently possessed. He was for many years honorably engaged as Captain in Messrs. Fish & Grinnell's line of packets, sailing between New York and Liverpool. His nautical skill as a commander, his untiring perseverance in his ardent profession, and his unbending integrity of purpose won for him many warm and lasting friends in. the first commercial circles in England as well as in his native country. Having gained a handsome competency, he retired from commercial pursuits, and removed from New York to Skaneateles, where he devoted himself to agri- culture for many years with that energy which was so prominent in his character. He won here as elsewhere the esteem and confidence of a wide circle of ac- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 141 quaintances by his uprightness of conduct and native goodness of heart, which will long endear him to the memory of his family and surviving friends. The New York Journal of Commerce, February 2, 1858, says : " Captain Nash De Cost, who died in Skaneateles on the 27th of January, 1858, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, was well known in this city thirty years ago as one of the most popular shipmasters in the ' Swallow Tail ' line of Liverpool packets. Those who had occasion to cross the Atlantic at that period will remem- ber him as commander of the favorite packet ship York. Previous to his connec- tion with that ship, he severally commanded the ships ' Euphrates,' ' Cortez,' and ' Averick,' in all of which he not only gave satisfaction to the owners, but also to . those who had occasion to take passage with him. The numerous gifts of silver plate which he possessed and cherished in his advanced years testified to his popularity with his passengers. " He was always a good friend of the sailor, and has often boasted that he never had occasion to flog a man who sailed with him in the whole course of his life. He possessed a good heart, and it was always in the right place when ap- pealed to by those in distress. " He was born in Fair Haven, near New Bedford, Mass., February 6, 1783, and commenced life a poor orphan boy. By indomitable perseverance and energy, be pushed himself ahead, without influential friends, and while ' before the mast ' in the whaling service made himself prominent by his daring and dangerous exploits. " In 1812 he enrolled himself as a volunteer in Captain Storr's company of militia, in New Bedford, but was never in active service. " As an affectionate husband, fond parent, kind friend, and good neighbor, he will be missed from his family and from the community in which he lived. " Six years ago he had an attack of paralysis which affected the right half of his body, and since that time has been confined to his room, and exhibited great patience and fortitude during his long confinement. He was a sincere Christian, and died in the hope of a glorious immortality." Reuel Smith. — Reuel Smith was born at Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Mass., November 13, 1797, and was the youngest of the twelve children of Joshua Smith, Jr. Joshua Smith, Jr., was the oldest of eight brothers, all of whom, as appears from the records, served in the War of the Revolution, and who were the sons of Joshua Smith, Sr., who made the original survey of the town of Sandisfield, and settled there in 1752. Reuel Smith was brought up on his father's farm, and started out as a boy to work in a country store. From about 1812 to 1820 he was head of the firm of Smith & Stevens, at Sandisfield. In 1822 he married Celestia A. Mills, of the same place, a daughter of Drake Mills (also a " Minute Man " of the Revolution), having previously established with Drake Mills, Jr., his brother-in-law, in New York, a general Southern trade in cotton, sugar, rice, etc., under the firm name of Smith & Mills. About 1845 this firm was dissolved, and Reuel Smith retired 142 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. from business. In 1849 h^ came to Skaneateles, and purchased from Perry Cornell and others a parcel of land, on which were three small houses, two of which were moved to Hannum Street, and the other one is now used as a studio on the Smith property. After the removal of the small houses, Reuel Smith be- gan to improve the grounds, and to build the dwelling now occupied by his family on West Lake Street. In 1853, Reuel Smith purchased from Lydia Fuller the lot of land lying east of the old burying-ground. Reuel Smith died at his residence, in the City of New York, 27 West Twenty-second Street, September 6, 1873. The Three Sisters. — These three sisters «-erc the sister of the late Butler S. THE THREE SISTERS. Wolcott, a former merchant of Skaneateles, who owned and occupied the store next west of the Bank of Skaneateles. Mrs. Hannah H. De Cost, in the center, died, April 27, 1884, aged eighty- three years. Mrs. Sophia Knibloe, on the right, died December 31, 1894, aged eighty-two years. Mrs. Eliza A. Candee, on the left, died November 6, 1898, aged eio-htv-four years. Mrs. Hannah H. De Cost was the widow of Captain Nash De Cost, of the HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. i43 town of Skaneateles. She was the mother of Mrs. E. N. Leslie, and also the mother of Edward B; Coe. The ages of the three sisters were relatively eighty-two, eighty-three, and eighty-four years. William Fuller. — William Fuller was born in the town of Galway, Sara- toga County, August 5, 1799. He came to Kelloggsville, or Sempronius, in the year 1810, and went from there to Owasco Village about the year 1820, where he embarked in business with his brother as a merchant. He came to Skaneate- les in 1833, and purchased the Sherwood farm. At one time he owned all the land on the west side of the Seneca Turnpike Road, between the old Sackett house (now the residence of Frederick Shear) and the house of Deacon Potter, opposite J. A. Root's. That strip of land was then an old orchard of apple-trees. Mr. Fuller built the house lately owned and occupied by C. W. Allis. Harry Allen built the adjoining similar cottage at the same time. Mr. Fuller was elected to the Legislature as representative in the Assembly from this district in the year 1841 or 1842, serving one term. He was always one of the leading farmers of this town, and took a great interest in everything in that line. He introduced many fine breeds of cattle, and was very much interested in all agricultural societies, making many addresses before them. During the latter years of his life he owned and re- sided in the house which was built by John Briggs for a tavern in the year 1806, now the residence of Frederick Shear, on the corner of West Lake and Genesee Streets. He possessed an upright character, was kind and generous in disposition, and had a large circle of warm friends. Mr. Fuller was the Supervisor of this town for a number of years, and Presi- dent of the State Agricultural Society in 1849. He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., November 29, 1864; aged sixty-five years. In the year 1833, William Fuller pur- chased the tavern, store (then occupied as a printing-office), and all other build- ings, together with about one and a half acres of land, from Isaac Sherwood. He had previously kept bar for Sherwood, and after he had purchased the property he kept the tavern for several years. The Legg Lot. — The John Legg lot, now owned by Mrs. H. T. Webb, was one of the original village lots laid out by Jedediah Sanger, " agreeable to a map and survey thereof by Mr. Geddes." This lot was No. 6, and the following is a description of the sale of it by Sanger : " January 16, 1801, Jedediah Sanger to Seth McKay, consideration $5, in his actual possession. Village Lot No. Six, 100 feet front and 26 rods back, containing one acre of land." (The above is an abstract.) " July 21, 1802, Seth McKay to Norman Leonard, consideration $200, Village Lot No. Six, TOO feet front, 26 rods back, one acre of land." About the year 1822, John Legg purchased the above village lot from Norman Leonard, and it has been in the possession of his family ever since. John Legg also owned the Stephen Horton lot, adjoining on the west. 144 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XL The Potashery and Other Manufactures. Winston Day's Potashery, Distillery, and Brewery in Skaneateles before i8i6. — There is given below the advertisement of an auction sale to be held at the " Indian Queen," kept by Isaac W. Perry, in the village of Skaneateles, which is an interesting part of the history of the village. The plaintiff in this Chancery proceeding was Liva Peck, who was a rich farmer, and owned and lived on the farm now occupied by Manassah Smith, on the West Lake Road, near the Octagon Schoolhouse. Liva Peck built that house between 1825 and 1830. He probably loaned money to Lewis & Cotton, and took a mortgage on the lot. The other parties named as defendants may have had some lien on the property, a judgment likely. Levi Cuddeback was brother to Simeon and David Cuddeback, and perhaps he had a lien in the form of judgment, also Lewis & Cotton, who were woolen manufacturers at one time at Willow Glen, and afterward up at the village. Their factory was west of the mill dam, near and west of the old stone mill of Thayer & Co. Lewis & Cotton failed, and the property was sold under foreclo- sure sale, as will be seen by this advertised sale. At that sale the property was purchased by Deacon David Hall and others, and afterward it became " The Skaneateles Woolen Manufacturing Company." The old factory was enlarged and repaired, and was operated by various persons under the name of " The Skaneateles Manufacturing Company," until it was destroyed by fire in 1842. Then Dorastus Kellogg started up the old factory at Willow Glen, and he con- tinued in that business while he remained in Skaneateles. This advertisement of sale states that the premises were by deed conveyed by Thomas Gibbs (deceased) to Winston Day in 1816. Day had his distillery, then, many years before 1816, so that Day must have leased the lot from Gibbs before 1816, and may have purchased from Gibbs the east part then, and owned and oc- cupied the west part before, and intended to build a brewery on the east part of the lot, but the brewery was never built. Winston Day's distillery was there in 1807, at the time Nathaniel Miller first came to Skaneateles. Gibbs had a sawmill about the same time near where the stone mill now stands, and it will be seen by his deed to Day that it conveys the right to take water from the dam to work his pump, situ- ated across the outlet, and the right to lay pump-logs and pump water through them to his distillery, etc. That pump would be situated about where Polley's wagon-shop stands, probably somewhere near the southeast corner of the building. This lot, beginning, as described, in the east side of Isaac Sherwood's garden (which is now the Packwood house grounds, where the barn now stands, and per- haps a little farther north), lay to the north of the outlet and adjoining Colonel HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 145 Warren Hecox's tannery, etc., but did not come up to the mill dam, as Colonel Hecox owned the east side of the Pond, between the bridge and the dam, and a corner of the dam on both sides of the outlet. Here is the advertisement of the sale : IN CHANCERY. LivA Peck, vs. Almon Virgil and Cornelia Virgil his wife, Isaac Lewis, George H. Cotton, Joel B. Couch, and Levi Cuddeback. L. H. Sandford, Solicitor. In pursuance of a decretal order of the court of chancery of the State of New- York, made in the above entitled cause, I, the subscriber, one of the Masters of the said court, will sell at public auction, on Wednesday, the thirteenth day of March next, at two o'clock in the afternoon of that day, at the "Indian Queen," kept by Isaac W. Perry, in the village of Skaneateles, "All that certain piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the village of Skaneateles, in the county of Onondaga, and being a part of lot No. Thirty-six, in the township of Marcellus, and bounded and described as follows : Beginning in the centre of the outlet of the Skaneateles Lake, at a point northerly of the east line of the garden ground belonging to Isaac Sherwood, thence southerly till it strikes the north east corner of said garden ground, thence along the east line' of said garden to a point where the north line of land belonging to Warren Hecox, intersects said east line of said garden, thence easterly and southerly along said Hecox's north and east line until it strikes the north end of a cow shed belonging to said Hecox, at the north end of said Hecox's barn, thence east thirty degrees, north five rods, thence north thirty-three degrees, thirty minutes, west one rod, thence easterly until it strikes a stone set in the ground, marked X described in a deed from Thomas Gibbs, deceased, to Winston Day, dated the twenty-ninth August, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen; thence north fifty-two degrees west to the centre of said outlet, thence in the centre of said outlet to the place of beginning, being the same premises on said lot which the said Day occupied for several years as a Distillery and Pot-Ashery lot, and also the pump and its appurtenances, situate near the mill dam across said outlet, and also the right or grant to take a sufficient quantity of water from said mill dam to work said pump, to convey water for the use of a distillery and brewery on said premises, or which shall be at any time put on the same; and also the right or grant to take a sufficient quan- tity of water from the said dam for the use of the said distillery and brewery, and a right to lay logs in the ground to convey the water to the said distillery and brewery respectively, and also the right or grant of a cartway to and from the said premises above described, to the Seneca Turnpike Road, excepting and reserving the right of using the Skaneateles out- let for the purpose of clearing the bed thereof, and also for the purpose of floating logs down the same ; and also the right of keeping the said bed of said outlet free from all obstructions whatsoever." Together with all and singular the hereditaments thereunto, in anywise belonging. Dated 30th January, 1833. Richard L. Smith, Master in Chancery. Joseph Tallcot. — ^Joseph Tallcot was born in New Milford, Conn., June 12, 1768. In the spring of 1807, he, with his wife, Sarah Tallcot, and their sons, Richard and Daniel, and daughters, Hannah and Phebe, moved to Scipio, N. Y. Thence, in the spring of 1823, he with his family came to Skaneateles, and settled 146 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. on a farm adjoining that " beautiful lake." (This farm was the one since owned by the late Elias Thorne.) He remained on this farm sixteen years, during which time he continued actively engaged in promoting the various benevolent enterprises of the day. He was long known as a faithful laborer in the cause of religion and virtue. He was remarkable for the purity and inoffensiveness of his character, and for his love to mankind in general, and more particularly for those in the younger walks of life. The promotion of a sound religious education among the rising generation was an object dear to his heart, and to which a considerable portion of his time was devoted. Though far advanced in life, he retained much of the greenness of his earlier years. The following extracts from his published correspondence indicate his characteristics : " I am ready to tremble for the fate of our free government, when I consider that our institutions, both civil and religious, are founded on Christian principles, and can not be sustained without the prevalence of Christian virtues. Wise, cool- headed, pious old men, who have honorably retired from public life, can not wind up their labors more usefully than in promoting the pious instruction of the rising generation." "Deprive us for only one century of the influence of the Bible, where would be our dignified nation, and all its new flourishing institutions, both civil and re- ligious ? " It may not be amiss to mention that he accepted from the Governor the ap- pointment of Inspector of Schools, as a means to aid him in visiting schools through a large portion of western New York, in which service he continued for a number of years, distributing his books and tracts among the teachers and children, addressing the schools in a kind, familiar manner, imparting advice and encouragement, and clearly evincing that it was love alone which prompted him in these labors. Joseph Tallcot was a public benefactor, a man of sterling character, a devout Christian, very thoughtful of others, and was universally loved. In all of his pub- lic and private transactions he manifested sound judgment, strict integrity, and ability. He died at his residence, Ledyard (Tallcot's Corners), Cayuga County, Au- gust 20, 1853, aged eighty-five years. Nicholas J. Roosevelt. — Nicholas J. Roosevelt was a descendant in direct line from Klass Macteusen Van Roosevelt, who left Holland in 1649 ^^^ settled in New Amsterdam. Locally he was a resident of Skaneateles twenty-three years. He came here with his family about the year 1831, and was a continual highly re- spected citizen and always a courteous gentleman, until his death, July 30, 1854, at the age of eighty-seven years. During the period of the following history of his early experiences, associated with distinguished early inventors, he was but thirty- one years of age. Mrs. Martha J. Lamb's "History of the City of New York" gives the following interesting reminiscences of his early life: HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 147 " The Collect Pond, occupying the site of the present great gloomy pile of pri- son buildings known as the Tombs, was the scene in the summer of 1796 of the first trial of a steamboat with a screw propeller. It was the invention of John Fitch. The boat was eighteen feet in length and six feet beam, with square stern, round bows, and furnished with seats. The boiler was a ten or twelve-gallon iron pot. " The little craft passed round the pond several times, and was believed capable of making six miles an hour. The spectacle was watched with critical interest by Chancellor Livingston, Nicholas J. Roosevelt, John Stephens, and others, who had in common with philosophers and inventors in England and Europe been for some time engaged in speculative study of the steam engine and its prospective uses. The statement that Robert Fulton was present at the trial of Fitch's steamboat on the Collect in 1796 is an error, he being in England at that date. " Oliver Evans, who was also present at the trial of Fitch's steamboat, said : ' The time will come when people will travel in stages moved by steam engines from one city to another as fast as birds can fly — fifteen or twenty miles an hour.' And his associates smiled incredulously. " Two years after Fitch experimented with his screw propeller on the Collect in New York, Nicholas J. Roosevelt launched a little steamboat on the Passaic River, and made a trial trip with a party of invited guests, among whom was the Spanish Minister. Roosevelt was of the old New York family of that name, and a gentleman of education and inventive talent. He had become interested with others in the Schuyler copper mines, and, from this model of Hornblower's at- mospheric engine, constructed one of a similar character, and also built similar engines for various purposes. Colonel John Stephens, who exhibited far better knowledge of the science and art of engineering, besides urging more advanced opinions and statesman-like views in relation to the economical importance of the practical development of the new invention, than any man of his time, was fre- quently in conference with Roosevelt. In December, 1797, Chancellor Livingston wrote to Roosevelt, saying : ' Mr. Stephens has mentioned to me your desire to ap- ply the steam machine to a boat. Every attempt of this kind having failed, I have constructed a boat on perfectly new principles, which, both in the model and on a large scale, has exceeded my expectations. I was about writing to England for a steam machine, but, hearing of your wish, I was willing to treat with you, on terms which I believe you will find advantageous, for the use of my invention.' The result was an agreement between Livingston, Stephens, and Roosevelt to build a boat on joint account, for which the engines were to be constructed by Roosevelt at his shop on the Passaic, and the propelling agency was to be planned by the Chancellor. So promising were the signs that in March, 1798, the Legisla- ture of New York passed a bill giving Livingston the exclusive right to steam navigation in the waters of the State for a period of twenty years, provided that he should within a year from date produce a boat that could steam four miles an hour. During the progress of the enterprise the correspondence teemed with speculative suggestions. The trial trip, to which reference has been made, oc- 148 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. curred on the 2ist of October, 1798. It was recognized as a failure. Roosevelt had invented a vertical wheel, which he earnestly recommended to the Chancellor without success. Stephens, a few months later, persuaded the Chancellor to try a set of paddles in the stern, which unfortunately shook the boat to pieces and ren- dered it unfit for further use. The inventive instinct of America appears to have been abreast with that of any other country. But no individual as yet had suc- ceeded in taking the final step in the progression which was to make steam navigation an every-day commercial success. " Roosevelt, when asked why he did not anticipate Fulton in the first successful application of the steam-engine to naval purposes, replied : 'At the time Chancellor Livingston's horizontal-wheel experiment failed, I was under a contract with the corporation for supplying the city of Philadelphia with water by means of two steam-engines; and, besides, I was under a contract with the United States to erect rolling works and supply the Government with copper rolled and drawn for six seventy-four gun ships that were then to be built. But by a change of men in the administration, after I had been led into heavy expense, the seventy-fours were abandoned without appropriations, and embarrassment to me was the natural consequence.' " Archibald Douglass. — Archibald Douglass came from Shaftsbury, Vt., in May, 1816, bringing his family, consisting of his wife and five children — ^two sons and three daughters. He also brought his household furniture and his working- tools. Before he came from Verm.ont, he was engaged in the manufacture of thrashing machines, wagons, and fanning-mills or machines. He had previously patented a fanning-machine. On his arrival here he settled at Cliffs Corners, and conducted the same line of business that he did in Vermont. Later he removed into the village. He died in the month of November, 1862, aged seventy-eight years. William G. Ellery. — ^William G. Ellery was born in Skaneateles, July 25, 1832. He was a merchant, school teacher, lawyer, and President of the village, being the first President elected as an independent officer. He also served as Town Clerk from 1874 to 1885, except one year. He died in November, 1887. Daniel T. Moseley. — Daniel T. Moseley was born at Onondaga Hill, in 18 10. He was the son of the late Judge Daniel T. Moseley, of the Supreme Court. Graduating at Union College with high honors, he came to Skaneateles in 1833, studied law in the office of the late Daniel Kellogg, and was afterward admitted to the bar. He was for several years a partner with Hon. Lewis H. Sandford, which only ceased when the latter removed to the city of New York. During his resi- dence in Skaneateles, Mr. Moseley had filled the offices of County Judge and Su- pervisor for several terms, and Justice of the Peace. In 1850, owing to impaired health, he withdrew from active business, and continued to reside in this village, always taking a deep interest in public affairs. He was universally esteemed, a good citizen, and a kind husband and father. He died February 23, 1883, aged seventy-two years, leaving a wife and two daughters. The funeral services were held at his late residence, being conducted by Rev. C. P. Jennings. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 149 Augustus Kellogg. — Augustus Kellogg was the eldest son of the late Daniel Kellogg, who was one of the most prominent early settlers within the village. His son Augustus was born in the original one-and-a-half-story home- stead, now next east of the old law office, on the south side of Onondaga Street. He was born in the year 1803, and died October 30, 1871, from heart failure. In his earlier years he studied law in his father's office, and after a limited time he was admitted to the bar. About sixty years ago, when he was in the prime of life, he was one of the most prominent members of the Onondaga County bar. Having a classical education, a brilliant intellect, commanding presence, fine oratorical powers, ready at repartee, and possessing a sarcasm which few would wish to encounter, he was formidable in debate. His intimacy with leading men throughout the State, and especially at Albany, became very extensive. He often visited the sessions of the Legislature, and always when there attracted attention by his commanding appearance and knowledge of all public questions. His mode of dress was exceptionally neat, always wearing gold spectacles and a silk hat. He had a ruddy complexion and expressive eyes, while his bright conversational powers always rendered him an attractive com- panion. But he had his infirmities, over which we are disposed to draw a veil, but the history of his checkered life would be inconiplete without reference to them. His career took a downward turn, and he was finally discovered, early one Sunday morning, in his father's old law office, in an insensible and dying condition, from which he never rallied, and died October 30, 1871. In early life he married a Miss Hart, of Utica, a beautiful and accomplished lady, who died shortly afterward, leaving an only son, who, inheriting his father's talents and infirmities, died in early life. The identification of his grave, which is not generally known, is as follows: There is no stone over it. It is directly west of the headstone of Helen M., wife of William H. Huxtable, under a partially sunken spot of ground, separated from the Huxtable headstone by an iron fence. In connection with this subject, it may be of interest to state that the late C. Pardee prepared an epitaph, which he designed to have cut on a gravestone to be placed over Augustus Kellogg's grave, but this design was never accom- plished. The original epitaph, in C. Pardee's handwriting, is still in existence.. and is here given: Augustus Kellogg, Died October 30, 1871, Aged 67- Years. Born in Affluence: Talents and Education of the First Order. Died as the Fool dieth^Buried In midnight darkness by his request. With the talents of an Angel, a man may be a fool. John Snook. — Dr. John Snook, with his son, John Snook, Jr., about the year 1832 came here from England. Before leaving England Dr. Snook had be- 150 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. come famous for his invention of a medical preparation called "Snook's Pills." To him is due the introduction of the teasel, in this town, about the year 1833. The business of growing and cultivating the teasel plant has ever since been exceedingly profitable, not only to the farming interest, but to the teasel mer- chants, who prepare them for sale to the woolen cloth manufacturers. John Snook, Jr., the son of Dr. Snook, very early after his arrival here established himself in the retail drug and medicine business, connecting it with some other lines of goods, and during his life had a very successful career. Dr. John Snook died in this town, December i, 1857. John Snook, Jr., died at Utica, October 30, 1884, at the age of fifty-one. Dyer Brainerd. — Among the inhabitants of Skaneateles the name of Dyer Brainerd appears, and it is related of him in the "Genealogy of the Brainerd Family in the United States," by David Dudley Field, D.D., published in 1857, as follows: Dyer Brainerd, son of Amasa and Jedidah Brainerd, was born May 25, 1774, in East Haddam, Conn. Married Sally Seymour, of New Canaan, Conn., January 26, 181 1. They resided in the city of New York many years, where he was engaged in the wholesale grocery business, but, on retiring from business there, they removed in the year 1832 to Skaneateles, where he died, June 24, 1849, ^iid was interred in the old cemetery on the hill west of the village. Having acquired a competency after being in active business in New York for forty years, he purchased the Livingston farm, on the east side of Skan- eateles Lake, one mile south of the village. This farm contained one hundred acres. He took great delight in improving and fitting it up for the home of his family, and where it would be his pleasure to entertain his friends. It was his home for seventeen years, until his death. It was said of Dyer Brainerd that he married at forty, and brought up a family of seven boys, and each boy had a sister. Dyer Brainerd was naturally stimulated with a spirit of enterprise in the interest of the public welfare, and was identified with all the commendable improvements in progress at that period in the circuit of Skaneateles. He was chosen Road Master (Commissioner) in his district for several years, and was the first to originate and use a road scraper, and by its means, smoothing the rutted and rough roads and filling up the holes, made carriage riding a pleasure. " Brainerd's Lake Road" became celebrated throughout this section of country, and was used by those who en- joyed the best and most pleasurable ride to be found in the whole town. It pleased him to see others enjoy his efforts in making the East Lake Road en- joyable by all his fellow citizens. His attention was turned from good public roads to the need of a good steamer to traverse the lake, and put life into the beautiful exquisite scenery and landscape. His attention was thereafter directed toward having a railroad from the village to the Junction, instead of an out-of-date plank road. Another idea was to induce the general public to organize a rural cemetery in place of HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 151 an old burying-ground. Many other public enterprises were projected and vigor- ously presented by him. Dyer Brainerd was quiet, modest, and unassuming, and remarkably con- scientious. It was said of him by John Green, an old Quaker, and a former busi- ness associate : " If there ever was an honest man, Dyer Brainerd was that man in the fullest sense of the word." Many a young man could bear testimony to his disinterested encouragement and friendship, his advice, and financial as- sistance to start in business and maintain his independence. Charles B. Isbell.— Charles B. Isbell was born in Milford, Conn., October 22, 1803, and came to Skaneateles in 1833, since which time he had, with one or two exceptions, been a constant dweller in this village. His vocation in life was that of a master mechanic, and well did he fill that position. Possessed of a rare mechanical ingenuity, there was nothing in all the complicated and nicely fitting rules of his profession of which he was not a master. About the beginning of the California gold excitement, he went to that State, where his time was wholly occupied in superintending the building of steam mills, which now stand as monuments of his mechanical genius for durability and finish. In Canada, also, he was employed in the same business, and, it is needless to say, met with the same success — ^the approval of his employers, and the satisfaction which an honest mind feels in having done his duty. As a neighbor and a citizen he was valued and respected, and as a husband and a father that deep love which springs from a grateful heart was given him. Industrious to the last degree, his life was one of honest toil which knew no rest, until death folded his hands in a breathless sleep. He died March 24, 1866, aged sixty-three years. Joel Thayer. — ^Joel Thayer was born in Ontario, N. Y., July 18, 1812. He came to Skaneateles in the year 1835, and very soon after became interested with John Legg in the manufacture of carriages, wagons, and sleighs. Although at that time he possessed a very moderate amount of capital, he had within him the elements that later in life brought his business talents forward as a successful man in the most prominent degree. Not very long after he became a resident of Skaneateles he married Juliette, daughter of John Legg. This newly formed relationship caused him at once to become identified with the business interests of Skaneateles. Mr. Thayer was an excellent citizen. He was enterprising and public-spirited, and always willingly aided every public project that was brought to his attention. Upright and honest in every deed, he possessed the entire con- fidence of the community, and often rendered valuable and gratuitous service to those in need of counsel and assistance. There was much sympathy in his nature, as many who have been the recipients of his favor can testify, and to his friends he was as true as steel. His heart and hand were always open to the afflicted and destitute. He was quiet and unobtrusive in manner, and steadfast in purpose, yet his nature was genial and sunshiny, making his life one of pleasure and happiness to his family and friends. The round of the hfe of Mrs. Thayer was of generous and kindly acts, devoted to charity, and strengthening 152 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. and upholding everything, not only pertaining to the best interests of her hus- band, but to the community at large in which she lived. Mr. Thayer organized the Bank of Skaneateles during the month of August, 1869, with a capital stock of $100,000, and was for twelve years its President, carrying that institution through the experimental period to a substantial pros- perous basis. He was one of the first Board of Trustees of the Skaneateles Savings Bank, in the year 1866. He conducted an extensive flouring-mill at Skaneateles, and became the prime mover and promoter of the organization of the Skaneateles Railroad, of which he was for several years President. Mrs. Thayer died December 4, 1880, and Joel Thayer died May 19, 1881, sur- viving his devoted and affectionate wife but six months. DoRASTUS Kellogg. — Dorastus Kellogg was born on the Obadiah Thorne farm, which is on the direct road to Marcellus, January 10, 1808. He was en- gaged in early life in woolen manufacturing in Baldwinsville, and came to Skan- eateles in the year 1834. For many years he was extensively engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, at what was then known as Kellogg's Factory, but since that time as Willow Glen. Previously to his locating at Kellogg's Fac- tory, he had a woolen mill in the village, in which he employed about sixty-five hands. This was located on the site of what is now known as the yellow shop, on Railroad Street, west of the stone mill. His mill was destroyed by fire Feb- ruary 4, 1842. At the same fire Spencer Hannum's machine shop, and Earll, Kellogg & Co.'s flouring-mill and storehouse, were burned, causing a loss of about $43,000. On the site of Kellogg's woolen factory, Spencer Hannum erected a foundry, which was afterward burned, January 6, 1850. Dorastus Kellogg was a man of decided character, strong impulses, and had many warm friends. He died from an attack of typhoid pneumonia, in Oswego Falls, February i, 1883, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His remains were brought to Skaneateles Village, and were met at the railroad depot by many of his old friends and acquaintances to pay their last tribute and respect to his worth and memory. The burial took place in his own family lot in Lake View Ceme- tery. John Kellogg. — John Kellogg, son of Daniel and Laura (Hyde) Kellogg, was bom at Skaneateles, April 12, 1807. In his early life he was a merchant at Trumansburg, N. Y. He subsequently became a joint owner of the stone mill with Colonel Earll, and later had a wheelbarrow manufactory, and also a flour- mill and distillery at Jordan, N. Y. Early in the sixties he engaged in the brokerage business in New York, having formed a partnership with Lawrence Jerome, under the firm name of Jerome, Kellogg & Co., at No. 22 Exchange Place. For about twenty years before his death he was not engaged in active business. He died February 7, 1883. William Millett Beauchamp. — William Millett Beauchamp was born in the village of West Pinnard, Somersetshire, England, April 5, 1799. He emi- grated to this country during the summer of 1829, and first located in Orange HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 153 County, N. Y., where he leased a farm, and on that farm introduced the cuhiva- tion of the teasel, but, as the crop required much outlay for labor, and there being at that period none of the later facilities for marketing the teasel, he abandoned the business. He first came to Skaneateles in the spring of 1831, with his family, and settled on a farm about four miles south of the village, on the East Lake Road. While on that farm he planted probably the first hawthorn hedge that was ever set in this section of the State. This hedge is now in a flourish- ing condition after having been planted sixty-eight years. He moved into the village late in the fall of 1832, residing first on the Hoagland place, and after- ward on the present Taylor place (much enlarged since). He entered into part- nership with Richard Ash in the boot and shoe business, but soon gave it up, and esta.blished a book-store, in which he commenced a circulating library, which con- tinued in a flourishing condition for more than twenty years. The purchase of the Auburn Banner office I'n 1839 prepared the way for the establishment of the Skaneateles Democrat, the first number of which was issued January 3, 1840. Six years later it was purchased by William H. Jewett, E. S. Keeney (a young man of great literary promise) being editor. He died a few months later, and his brother Jonathan continued the publication, until it was purchased by the late Harrison B. Dodge, in whose continuous possession it remained until his death November 22, 1898, a period of fifty years. William M. Beauchamp took a great and active interest in education, temper- ance, local history, and agriculture, and for many years he made monthly reports to the Meteorological Department of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington City, D. C. After giving up journalistic work he devoted himself to the nursery business, and became particularly interested in the importation of hedge-plants from England. Most of the hawthorn hedges, which are a distinguishing fea- ture of Skaneateles scenery, were purchased from his nursery and planted under his direction. He was for many years Secretary of the Farmers' Club, and re- ported its proceedings for the Skaneateles Democrat for publication long after this paper had passed into other hands. He was a communicant of the Episcopal Church, and continually lent his aid to the parish, by which he was elected a mem- ber of the Vestry, which office he retained until his decease. Previous to that he had held the position of precentor of the choir by vote of the Vestry. He was ardently interested in the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, and was one of the earliest members of the Lodge in Skaneateles. Nearly all his life, and particularly since he became a resident of the village of Skaneateles, he had kept a diary of events, and from the brief daily entries many valuable and interesting articles have been compiled and published by his only surviving son, Dr. Beau- champ, rector of Grace Church, Baldwinsville, N. Y. William M. Beauchamp died August 28, 1867, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. Richard Talcott. — Richard Talcott was born at New Milford, Conn., July 7, 1791, came to Skaneateles with his father, Joseph Talcott, and family, in 1823, and settled on a small farm of fifty acres, on the west shore of the lake, 1 54 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. now known as the Elias Thome place. September 3, 1825, he formed a copart- nership with Ebenezer Pardee (brother of Charles Pardee), under the firm name of E. Pardee & Co., and conducted a general store in the village. Pos- sessing those qualities which make successful business men, he was always ener- getic, straightforward, and took a keen interest in the advancement of the com- munity and in all matters of public importance, and he at once became known throughout this section of the State as an influential citizen. He was a member of the Society of Friends, of the branch known as Orthodox. In the Society itself, as well as in the community at large, he possessed great influence. He manifested an interest in educational subjects, and no other leading moral ques- tions was prominent in his day. His influence was always for right and justice. A long-continued sickness, which he bore with patience and humility, marked the close of his life. He died at the residence of his son, Joseph Talcott, July 17, 1876, aged eighty-five years. RiSHWORTH Mason. — Captain Rishworth Mason was born March 26, 1794, at Biddeford, Maine. In his youth he was not a strong lad, therefore his parents had him take a voyage to sea for his health. At eighteen years of age he shipped aboard of a ship to perfect himself in seamanship and navigation, and in a few years took command of a vessel. He afterward went to New York, and was in the employ of several of the leading shipping merchants. In 1846 he with his family moved to Oswego, where Captain Mason built three vessels suitable for the lake trade. After residing there for a few years, he was in- duced, through the influence of Thayer & Legg, and others, to come to Skan- eateles, and soon after the steamboat Homer was built. The first trip of this boat was made July 4, 1849. Captain Mason commanded the Homer for ten years. After he sold his interest in this boat he commenced the grocery business in the village, which was continued for ten years, until his death, which oc- curred March 5, 1871. He had five wives, and was the father of fifteen children, seven of them by his last wife, who is now living; but all the fifteen children have passed away — "Have crossed the river." During his early seafaring life, he went to India twice, to Africa twice, and on his first trip with his uncle he cir- cumnavigated the world. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean ninety-nine times. Captain Mason's last wife (now living), whom we all knew, lived with her hus- band twenty years and three months, which was as long again as the previous four wives lived with him. John Legg. — In 1813, John Legg was the only blacksmith in the village. He made axes principally, and did all other kinds of work, having an extensive business at that period. Merchants in 1813. — Jonathan Booth and Samuel Ingham (Booth & Ingham), Phares Gould, Day & Hecox (Winston Day and Warren Hecox), and Norman Leonard were the only merchants in 181 3. Peter Thompson. — Peter Thompson was born at Halifax, Plymouth Co., Mass., August 1, 1793, and went to Vermont in 1809, where he lived four years, HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 155 and then came to Skaneateles in May, 181 3. He traveled on foot from Vermont in company with John Billings, both being carpenters by trade. Taverns. — The only tavern in tovi^n was on the site of the present Savings Bank. It was then kept by Ezekiel Griswold (brother-in-law of Ambrose Hecox). That was the only public-house until Deacon David Hall built what has since been known as the Lake House. Peter Thompson and John Billings did the carpenter work for David Hall, about 1823-5. Philo Dibble. — Philo Dibble was born in Mount Washington, Berkshire County, Mass., in 1794. His parents removed to Delaware County, N. Y., where he married and removed to Skaneateles, N. Y. Little is known by the au- thor of him, but his name is found as having been elected as a Trustee of the old Skaneateles Library, March 3, 1829, and was successively reelected March 5, 1833, December 4, 1834, November 12, 1835, and March 2, 1836. From this statement it will be observed that he was here in 1829, and was a Trustee of the Library until 1836, seven years. Inhaling the bracing air of the mountains of New England and the hills of Delaware County, he had a strong constitution. He was not brought up in the lap of luxury, but was in early life inured to labor, and consequently acquired habits of industry and economy. His early opportuni- ties for education and mental discipline were limited, but he possessed a well- balanced mind and sound judgment, and exerted considerable influence in the community. He resided in Skaneateles for twenty-two years, and during that time prosecuted business as a mechanic (harness and saddlery), and was suc- cessful in the accumulation of property. He removed from Skaneateles to Marshall, Mich., in 1841. Four out of five children went to the grave before him. He died at Marshall, Mich., December 13, 1871. William H. Jewett. — William H. Jewett was the only son of the late Hon. Freeborn G. Jewett, whose reputation as a jurist, lawyer, and politician was well known and is now a matter of history. He was bom in Skaneateles in the year 1816, and during his minority was both physically and mentally a lad of uncom- mon promise. He was educated at Yale College, and, possessing a splendid intellect, combined with a genial, social temperament, a ready wit, and genuine kindness of heart, he was always a cordial favorite in the extensive circle of his acquaintance. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1852, and was reelected from year to year until 1857, in his native village, in which capacity he always acted as a peace- maker, never encouraging petty litigation or quarrelsome suits. He was elected Supervisor of the town in the year 1848 for a full term, until 1849. As heir to his father's wealth (he having been the only child of his parents) he was placed above the necessity of pursuing the profession of the law, to which he was bred, in which under other circumstances he would no doubt have risen to eminence and dis- tinction. He died at Skaneateles, August 29, 1859, in the forty-fourth year of his age. His untimely death was universally lamented, more especially by those who knew him more intimately. 156 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Obadiah Thorne. — Dbadiah Thorne was bora in Washington, Dutchess County, N. Y., October i, 1805, and came to Marcellus, where he settled on Mili- tary Lot No. 61, which became afterward known as Thorne Hill in 1828. From there he came to Skaneateles in the year 1854, and purchased the farm then owned by James Balding, where he lived thirty-two years. In 1886 he removed to the village, on Onondaga Street, where he died April 18, 1887. Obadiah Thorne was a man of the strictest integrity and uprightness of life, in his business and social relations he enjoyed the full confidence of his fellow citizens, and was re- spected and loved by all who knew him. Thorne Hill. — Thorne Hill was named from Obadiah Thorne, who was instrumental in establishing the post-office and mail route, and who was for many years a highly respected citizen and widely known as an extensive wool buyer. William H. Pattison. — William H. Pattison was born September 12, 1814, at Palatine Bridge, N. Y., and came here in 1866. He commenced the hardware business by buying out the firm of Middlebrook & Payne, and formed a partner- ship with George D. Downey in same year ( 1866) . The firm name was Pattison & Downey, which continued in business four years, and then dissolved, W. H. Pattison continuing the business in his own name about a year. He sold out partially to Perry Foote, when the firm name was Pattison & Foote. W. H. Pattison sold out his interest in 1874 to Mrs. John M. Nye. He died June 5, 1874. Charles F. Merrill. — Dr. Charles F. Merrill was in his day one of the best known fishermen in this vicinity. Strangers, attracted by the inviting appearance of the lake and its characteristics as a sporting body of water for angling, always sought the services of Dr. Merrill, who seemingly knew the location of all the best fishing-grounds. He spent much of his leisure time on the lake, and as he had much leisure he was always available. His medical practise in the village was more or less limited, but there were many throughout the town who had great confidence in his ability for the treatment of disease. His great forte was in administering simple remedies, which from their nature were particularly successful with nervous patients, many of whom were suffering from imaginary complaints. His medicines were of the most simple nature. To explain their simplicity, it may be stated that, by arrangement with one of the drug-stores, he would get quite a large number of vials, from two to four ounce capacity, par- tially fill each one with simple sirup, then would go all over the shelves, and select for each bottle some simple drug which was innocuous and variegated in char- acter. To some he would add coloring matter. In fact, after he completed his stock of curables, and placed all the bottles in the capacious side-pockets of his sack-coat, he was in shape to meet a patient on the street. On such occasions, after learning the distressful symptoms, he would immediately search his pockets for the suitable medicine, taking each bottle and removing the cork, thus as- certaining its peculiar odor, until the correct one came to his attention. Then HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 157 he would give minute directions how it was to be taken, at the same time direct- ing the patient to refrain from drinking any spirituous liquor, beer, or strong coffee or tea, and to eat simple food, but not to overeat any food. His patients were generally benefited by his medicines and treatment. He made many excursions into adjoining towns and villages. On these occasions he would previously send handbills to be placed in public places, in- viting public notice of his future visit. Here is a copy of one of these : EXTKAORDINARY. To my Friends and Patrons : Dr. C. F. Merrill, Will be at the Boutelle House, Amber, Thursday, April 8th, 1875, All those in need of Medical Attendance Or Advice Are requested to call at his rooms. Especially those who have been unsuccessfully Treated by other physicians A Specialty, And treated confidentially. Yours truly, C. F. Merrill, M.D. On these expeditions he was always dressed in his best suit, and left this vil- lage in a stylish carriage and a fine span of horses. He was a kind-hearted man, had many friends, and as a physician was quite as successful in the treatment of physical ills as any other physician in this vicinity. EzEKiEL B. HoYT. — Ezekicl B. Hoyt, born at Ridgefield, Conn., March 24, 1823, was a son of William and Esther Beers Hoyt, both natives of Ridgefield. In September, 1823, William Hoyt moved with his family to the town of Sennett, Cayuga County, N. Y. Here Ezekiel lived until his eighteenth year, doing such farm work as his age permitted during the summer months, and attending the district school during the winter. There were thirteen children in the family — nine boys and four girls. It was the policy of the parents to have each son learn a trade. One was a cabinet-maker, and three others worked at the carpenter and millwright trades. The mother concluded that Ezekiel should learn to be a mason, so in 1841 he was apprenticed to the mason trade with Douglass & Billings of Auburn. In 1847, after his health gave way, he embarked in other enterprises at various places. He with his brother Edward S. Hoyt established a general store at Mottville, N. Y. In 1852 he was married to Miss Mary E. Delano, of Mottville, and in December of the same year he purchased a one-third interest in, and assumed the management of, the foundry and machine shop established by his father-in-law, Howard Delano, in 1832. In 1874 he purchased the remaining 158 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. two-thirds of the property. In after years Mr. Hoyt was engaged in various enterprises within this town, on the outlet of Skaneateles Lake, in all of which his exceptional business ability was most prominent. On January 11, 1867, Mr. Hoyt's first wife died. On July i, 1872, he married Miss Mary J. Wheeler, daughter of the late Dr. Jared W. Wheeler, of Elbridge, N. Y., who survives him. He was a man of the strictest integrity and uprightness of life, respected and loved by all who knew him, and whose family life was beyond reproach. He died at his home, in the village of Skaneateles, November 17, 1895. George F. Leitch. — The following notice of our late fellow townsman, George F. Leitch, is copied from the Albany Evening Journal, and will be read with interest by his numerous friends in this vicinity : " George F. Leitch, Esq., of Skaneateles, who twelve years ago was with- drawn from a field of active enterprise and usefulness by the derangement of some of the delicate machinery of life, which caused a dizziness in the head and a partial paralysis of the limbs, died at his residence on the 20th ultimo, aged forty-three years. Mr. Leitch was a gentleman of handsome professional attain- ments and much personal worth. He was much devoted to business when, by the death of his father-in-law, the late Daniel Kellogg, the management of a large and complicated estate devolved upon him. The illness from which he suffered so many years was probably occasioned by the over-taxation of mind and body. When, in 1843, ^^r. Leitch's health required relaxation from business, he went with us to Europe. In London the paralysis began to develop. In Paris he consulted an eminent physician, who, in a written opinion, pronounced the case not only remediless, but one that would terminate fatally. Mr. Leitch, after reading this opinion, very calmly remarked that, though his case was beyond the reach of medical science, he was not to be killed off in that summary manner by a French doctor. On his return, Mr. Leitch passed several years in water cure es- tablishments, by which he was benefited, and at times hoped for restoration. But it was a question of time only. There was no remedy for a disease that had finally worn him out. Though so long lost to the busy world, there are many in it who remember, as we do, the many good qualities of his head and heart." Freeborn G. Jewett. — Freeborn G. Jewett was born at Sharon, Conn., in 1791, and in youth received only those advantages of education which are com- mon to the children of New England. He commenced the study of law with Henry Swift, of Dutchess County, and completed his course with Colonel Young, at Ballston, being admitted as an attorney in 1814, and as a counselor at law in 1817. He came to Skaneateles and commenced the practise of law, entering into partnership with the Hon. James Porter. In 1815 he was appointed Master in Chancery by Governor Tompkins. In 1817 he was elected a Justice of the Peace for the then town of Marcellus, which office he held for about six years. In 1822 he was appointed an Examiner in Chancery by Governor Clinton, and afterward to the same office by Governor Yates, and again by acting Governor Throop. In 1824 he was appointed Surrogate of Onondaga County by De Witt HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 159 Clinton, and in 1827 again to the same office by Governor Yates. In 1825 he was elected to the Assembly of this State, leading his ticket in the county, and in 1828 he was chosen one of the Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, and cast his vote for the ever-memorable and ever-honorable Andrew Jackson. He was elected a member of the Twenty-second Congress of the United States in 1830, and declined a renomination in 1832, preferring to devote himself to the practise of his profession and to remain in the enjoyment of his own home. In 1832, he was admitted as an attorney and counselor in the Supreme Court of the United States, in 1836 he was appointed by Governor Marcy a Supreme Court Commissioner for the county of Onondaga, and again in 1838 he was appointed to the same office, and also one of the Inspectors of the State Prison at Auburn. In 1839 he was appointed District Attorney in and for the county of Onondaga, which office he held for about six months. In 1845 he was appointed by Governor Wright one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, and upon the organization of the Court of Appeals in 1847 he was elected one of the members of that high and honorable Court. In 1849 he was elected to the same position, which he held till 1853, when, in consequence of an attack of that fatal disease which terminated his life, he resigned his place upon the bench. Such has been his career in life. By his own energies and his own merits he rose, if not to the highest political station, to the most dignified and exalted posi- tion in the Empire State. In every place he was equal to the duties he was re- quired to perform, and their performance was creditable to himself and satisfactory to his friends. As a man, he was honorable ; as a friend, reliable ; as a counselor, judicious; and as a jurist, sound and discriminating. He obtained wisdom by research, and wealth by industry, and was thus an example to the young worthy of their imitation. He died January 27, 1858, aged sixty-seven years. Spencer Hannum. — Spencer Hannum was born in Williamsburg, Mass., in 1799, and came to Skaneateles in 1828. While here he was one of the most enterprising mechanics and manufacturers for thirty-four years. During this period he erected a foundry and machine-shop on the site of Dorastus Kellogg's woolen factory after its destruction by fire. The foundry and machine-shop were afterward burned January 6, 1850. He rebuilt his machine-shop and foundry, and operated it under the name of Hannum & Arnold, in 1850, after which it passed into the possession of Samuel M. Drake. Hannum removed to Auburn, and was engaged in business there for several years. Finally, when in declining health, he returned to Williamsburg, Mass., his birthplace, and died on Christmas Day, December 25, 1878, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. The Diefendorf Families in this Town. — Military Lot No. 87 in this town was drawn by the Revolutionary soldier Lieutenant Henry Diefendorph. A num- ber of farmers of the same name have lived on that lot for many years. A letter of inquiry was recently addressed to the only farmer of that name now re- siding in this town, George E. Diefendorf, who writes that his father, Jacob Die- fendorf, first came into this town in the year 1824, from the town of Sharon, i6o HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Schoharie County, N. Y., and settled on Lot No. 87. His sons were Abraham, Jacob, Peter, and Barney, all of whom were farmers on Lot No. 87. George E. Diefendorf, who furnishes this statement, now owns the same farm, and states that he never heard of Lieutenant Henry Diefendorph, and does not know that any of his father's family was related to him. James Cannings Fuller. — ^James Cannings Fuller first came from England to Skaneateles in 1834. He purchased the Nicholas Thorne property soon after his arrival here. It was sold at foreclosure sale. J. C. Fuller belonged to the So- ciety of Friends. He was actively engaged in the antislavery, temperance, and other moral and benevolent enterprises, devoting his time and money liberally for their promotion. To natural quickness of perception and energy of character he united an extensive knowledge of men and things. Although his views were radical, which were in conflict with the popular sentiment, he advocated them with an earnest boldness which, if it failed to convince, denoted its sincerity and honest conviction of their soundness and importance. He died November 25, 1847, ^g^d fifty-four years, in this village, while his wife and daughter were on a visit to Eng- land. Only one of his children was with him when he died. Edward B. Coe. — Edward B. Coe was born in the village of Auburn, Decem- ber 29, 1822. A few years thereafter his parents removed to Canandaigua, where his father, Chauncey H. Coe, died, in 1835. Mother and family, which included a daughter, removed to Skaneateles in 1837. About 1846 Edward B. Coe and Charles Goodall went on a three-year whaling voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Soon after their return home in 1849 the California gold fever broke out, and they both decided to go to California. Goodall shipped aboard a vessel bound around Cape Horn, and E. B. Coe took the route across the Isthmus. The following extract from a letter written to the author by Captain Charles Goodall, dated February 9, 1899, gives an account of how and where they met after their arrival in Cali- fornia : " I saw nothing of Edward until I met him in Sacramento, in May, 1850. I was working in the mines, and went to Sacramento to buy provisions and a mule to pack them to the diggings. After paying for my mule and his load, I went down to the river to look at the water, and, while standing up against a wood- pile admiring the beauties of the muddy stream, I heard a voice that I thought I knew. I looked around behind the wood-pile, and, behold! young man Edward was there. He was captain of a small schooner, and was ordering the chief mate, the cook, and all hands before the mast, which by the way consisted of a single individual, to haul the vessel up to the wood-pile. We had a few minutes' con- versation, finding out as much as we could at the time where each other had been and with what success we had paddled our canoes. The next I heard of Edward was the letter from your good self asking me how long since I had seen him. My reply was as above, and I heard nothing more of him until reading in the Skan- eateles Democrat (which I have taken ever since I have been in California) of his arrival at home. I did not come across the Isthmus with Edward, and I do not HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. i6i recollect his telling me about it ; but I came around Cape Horn in a small schooner called the St. Mary, leaving New Orleans on the 9th of March, 1849, and arriv- EDWARD B. COE. ing in San Francisco on the 25th of January, 1850, being three hundred and twenty-two days making the voyage, two months of which was spent around Cape Horn, in the dead of winter, in the months of August and September, with- 1 62 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. out making an inch of progress toward California. Of course you know all about Edward's subsequently coming to California, and about the unfortunate loss of the steamer Queen." Edward B. Coe did not succeed very well with his little schooner. In the latter part of the year 1850 he shipped on board a ship bound for China, and from that time he was not heard of for the space of twelve years, when he returned home to Skaneateles suddenly. The following account of his adventures was published in a Rochester news- paper many years ago : "A Strange, Romantic, and Interesting Story. — A correspondent of the Lockport Union narrates that Chauncey H. Coe, of Canandaigua, died in 1835, leaving a widow, son, and daughter, with a competence. The widow devoted her- self to her children. The daughter grew up and married. The son, upon at- taining his majority, engaged in a manufacturing business, but in 1849 left his business and went out to California. Soon after arriving, his factory was de- stroyed by fire, and he found himself penniless in the streets of San Francisco. He suddenly disappeared, and for twelve years his fate was unknown. Mean- time, some few years after his disappearance, a childless uncle (Bela D. Coe, of Buffalo) died, and by will left to him and his sister ample property for life, with reversion to their children, but with a provision that, in case of their death with- out issue, the reversion should go to two educational and charitable institutions. Under the will the sister has enjoyed her share of the rents and profits. The share of the lost one meantime was, under the direction of the court, deposited in a savings-bank, until, after some seven years having elapsed, the two reversion- ary institutions instituted proceedings to secure his share of the property. The court, upon a full hearing, decided that after this lapse of time, without his being discovered, he must be judicially dead, and that one of the claimants should enter upon the enjoyment of its portion of the rents and profits. As to the other, its charter not permitting it to take real estate, it was thrown out altogether, and that share, not being legally conveyed by the will, reverted to the heirs at law un- conditionally, who are these same children. " During all this time the sister's husband, with a zeal and pertinacity worthy of all commendation, has been unremitting in his endeavors to find the lost one. He at first obtained from the Department of State at Washington the names and location of all the United States consuls and commercial agents in all parts of the world. A circular was printed in red and black letters offering a reward of two hundred dollars for any information of Edward B. Coe, at the same time giving a minute description of his person, particularly that he had his name, E. B. Coe, tattooed on his left arm. These circulars were mailed to every United States Consul in all parts of the world, and also to all American merchants everywhere. The circular requested that it be posted in a conspicuous place. A copy of this circular was advertised in the Whaleman's Journal, which was circulated among all the whaleships in all parts of the world. After all else had HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 163 been compelled to believe him long dead, the husband has continued to spend time and money in his discovery. He has received many communications from sea captains and others professing to give information which has proved always erroneous. He has insisted that the lost one was living, while all other persons believed him dead, and by his insistence he has kept up the hope of both mother and sister of eventually seeing the lost son and brother, until at last every en- deavor proved futile, and even a mother's hope discouraged, whose locks have become white in the long, sleepless agony of waiting for the return of an only and beloved son. Within the last month (latter part of 1861), suddenly, and without the least previous notice, the truant drives up to his mother's door. Alive and well, with face burned and bronzed to parchment by exposure to sun and wind, he has come back at last to that mother and that sister who have so long mourned him as dead and lost to them forever. 'And there was joy in that house.' " And where upon earth has the truant been hidden; that a mother's and a sis- ter's love could not find him? Why, in about the only part of the globe which has not been searched for him. In South Africa, far up from the Cape for many years. In China at one time. He was employed in the Caffre war. He has hunted elephants and zebras. He has dealt in and drove cattle, and traded with the natives. He has met losses by wreck and fire. He has suffered fevers and the accidents of a wandering life, until at last, in advancing years, the yearning once more to see his native land and embrace his aged mother and his sister became too strong to be resisted. He sailed for Liverpool, and thence to New York, and on his arrival there he for the first time heard tidings of his mother and sister. He was then forty years of age. He remained in Skaneateles about twenty years, embarking in various lines of business, and, having been popular, he was elected Supervisor of the town. In his business operations he became in- volved in unsurmountable difficulties which caused him the loss of all his property. Before this disaster he married Mrs. Emily R. Hazen, about 1862. The result of that marriage was the birth of a daughter, July 8, 1863. " As his old friend Captain Charles Goodall was largely interested in the con- struction of an ocean steamship at Philadelphia which was destined for San Francisco, he applied to Goodall for a position on board that steamship, which he readily secured. He left Skaneateles for Philadelphia in 1882, at which time the steamer Queeii of the Pacific was about to leave for San Francisco. He bid adieu to his family, his mother and sister, and many friends. After a voyage of about six weeks, he arrived at San Francisco. The Queen then commenced her trips from San Francisco to and from Portland, Oregon, laden with freight and with many passengers. He remained on board of the Queen of the Pacific until his death, which occurred September 5, 1883. His death was of a melan- choly nature. He had become low-spirited at the prospect of life before him, as it were, commencing life again at the advanced age of sixty-one. With no bright future before him, he secretly made preparations for death, and on Sep- tember 5, 1883, plunged into the sea, at a time when the steamship had become 164 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. aground off the mouth of the Columbia River, and while the officers and crew of the ship were engaged in throwing over the cargo into the ocean to lighten the ship. Every effort was made to recover his body, which was. unsuccessful. He had previously been ill on board the steamer, which depressed his spirits. His wife, who had previously come to San Francisco, and was there at the time of his death, died in New York, May 21, 1887. His only descendant is his daugh- ter, now Mrs. Millie L. Nugent, and her family of four daughters." EDWARD B. COE'S DAUGHTER AND HER CHILDREN. We herewith present an engraved copy of a recent photograph of mother and daughters. Abner Lawtgn. — Abner Lawton came to Skaneateles, from the town of Washington, Dutchess County, N. Y., with his wife and ten children, in the year 1829, and settled on the west side of Skaneateles Lake. The journey from Dutchess County was made by sloop on the Hudson River from Poughkeepsie to Albany, whith was about eighty miles ; from Albany by canal to Jordan, and from Jordan by teams to the farm, three miles from Skaneateles Village, which he had purchased from the Barbers, who had previously owned the land. Three HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. i6 more children were born to him after he came here to reside. All of his family were members of the Society of Friends. His wife was Phoebe Brownell, who was an aunt of the Brownell who shot the man who killed Colonel Ellsworth, at Alexandria, Va., during the Civil War in 1861. Brownell was presented with a gold watch for his bravery. Several years ago there was a sketch of General George Washington in Harper's Maga- zine, in which was related the fact of his dancing the minuet with the gay Polly Lawton. Polly was an own cousin of Abner Lawton. Several years ago there was a Miss Howlett, of Auburn, who had a picture of Miss Polly. Edward Osborne Gould. — ^Edward Osborne Gould was the son of Phares Gould, who was one of the earliest merchants of this place, and who about the year 1838-39 purchased, from Richard Tallcot the dwelling-house and lot now owned and occupied by Charles H. Poor. Edward O. Gould was born in Skaneateles, February 13, 1814. At the age of seventeen years he was a member of the party of sixty ladies and gentlemen which made the first excursion, on board the first steamboat, to the head of the lake, in the year 183 1. He was also one of the com- mittee which organized the public celebration of the Fourth of July, 1835. In after years he was engaged in partnership with his father, after the latter left Skaneateles and went to Camillus, N. Y., in the milling business. That proving to be of too limited a character, he with his father removed to Buffalo, where in partnership with Dean Richmond this firm was largely engaged in the elevator business. Edward O. Gould died there July 31, 1858, aged forty-four years, while in the prime of life. Edward O. Gould was in partnership with Colonel Warren Hecox under the firm name of W. Hecox & Co., in the year 1833. He was also associated in business with William Lawton under the firm name of Gould & Lawton, which firm advertised for sale " Boots and shoes, leather, india-rubber paste, blacking, and shoe-pegs." In his business and social relations he enjoyed the full confi- dence of his fellow citizens, retained warm friendships, universal respect, and high esteem, and' his life was in every phase exemplary. Glimpse of Skaneateles and its Surroundings Ninety Years Ago. — The following extract is taken from a book of "Travels in the United States of America, in the years 1806 to 181 1," by John Melish, Philadelphia, 1812: " Auburn, the seat of justice of Cayuga County, was laid out ten years ago, containing about one hundred houses and six hundred inhabitants. The public buildings are a court-house, jail, church, and academy. There are eight stores, three taverns, and a weekly newspaper. "November 9, 181 1. — The morning was cloudy and agreeable. I traveled to Skaneateles, seven miles, to breakfast. The road very muddy, and black loam and clay; face of the country uneven, but not hilly; the grounds pretty well cleared of timber, except the roots, which stood up all along -the road, so many witnesses that this is a new country. I.passed a number of wagons moving west- ward and saw some travelers walking on foot eastward, one of whom told me 1 66 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. he was from Grand River, on Lake Erie, and was going to Connecticut, which journey, six hundred miles, he expected to accomplish in twenty days. " Skaneateles is a beautiful little place, situated at the outlet of the lake of the same name. It was laid out fifteen years ago, contains about sixty houses and three hundred and fifty inhabitants. The village lots are thirty by sixty feet, and are worth about two hundred dollars, and the outlots sell for about five hundred dollars an acre. There are four stores and two taverns ; a Congregational church with a handsome spire, situated upon the top of the l)ill'; two schoolmasters, whq teach at two dollars per quarter. The principal occupations are two carpenters, two masons, two blacksmiths, one watchmaker, two cabinetmakers, one tailor, one shoemaker, two coopers, one painter, one dyer, two doctors, four lawyers, one clergyman. " There are falls in the river which issue from the lake, and the water turns two fulling-mills, a grist-mill, and a sawmill. A brick-yard and two distilleries are in the neighborhood. A great quantity of woolen cloth is manufactured here, and manufactories generally are interesting. The situation is healthy, and the view along the lake is beautiful. " After breakfast I passed the outlet by a wooden bridge, immediately below which are the mills and the mill-dam. I observed a boy fishing, and saw several pretty trout lying upon the bridge. I inquired how long he had been catching them, and he said, ' About five minutes.' Just as he spoke, he pulled up a large salmon trout, and I stopped about five minutes, during which he caught three or four more. It was the finest fishing I ever saw, and the trout were beautiful." Speaking of Utica he writes : " I proceed to enforce an opinion. The foreign trade is gone never to be recalled to the former state. A new era has com- menced in the United States. Britain is destined to be no longer the manufac- turer for America. The seeds of manufacture are sown throughout the coun- try, never to be rooted out. And so far from the interior being dependent upon the cities as heretofore, the cities will, in all probability, be dependent upon it. The cities have had their day, and now for the country." Skaneateles Lake. — Skaneateles Lake is the principal lake in Onondaga County, and is the highest in the county. It is eighty-eight feet above Otisco Lake, eight hundred and sixty feet above tide, and seventy feet above Owasco Lake. It is above the Limestone and among the Hamilton Shales, and is fed largely by springs that are not impregnated with lime, hence the water is pure and soft. Skaneateles in 1830. — The following description is taken from " The Journal of a Tour in the State of New York in the year 1830," by John Fowler (London, 1831) : "After passing the village of Marcellus, six miles further brought us to Skaneateles, a much larger and more interesting village, very pleas- antly situated, just at the foot of the Skaneateles Lake, along which you have a fine view for several miles. The lake is about fifteen miles in length and half to one and a half miles wide. In its vicinity are several genteel residences, as well as HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. i6j in the village. Also, a Friends' Boarding School. The population of the place is estimated at three thousand." Early Recollections of Thaddeus Edwards.— Thaddeus Edwards gives the following summary of those in business here in 1810 : Store-keepers: Winston Day, Norman Leonard, Jonathan Booth, and John Meeker. Hotels : The Sherwood Tavern, where now stands the Packwood House ; and the Dascomb House, where now stands the Wheadon vegetable grocery. Clergyman: Rev. Benjamin Rice. Carpenters: Seth and David Hall. Masons : Josiah Weston and Daniel McKay. Blacksmiths : Sylvester Roberts and John Legg. Watchmaker: William S. Wood. Cabinet-makers: Spencer Parsons and Luther Clark. Tailor: Thomas Greeves. Hatter: Benj. Hutchinson. Tanner: Colonel Warren Hecox. Shoemaker: Ezra Stephens. Dyer: Aaron Austin. Doctors : Samuel Porter and Dr. Pierce. Lawyers: Daniel Kellogg, A. L. Beebe, John S. Furman, and Alford Northam. Grist-Mill: Jessee Kellogg. Distillers: Winston Day and Norman Leonard. Coopers : Nathaniel Eells and his son, Sylvester. Brickmaker: Benjamin Nye, whose yard was immediately opposite to where the residence of his son, J. M. Nye, now stands. The Packwood Carriage Manufactory. — John Packwood began this busi- ness in 1855. The extensive brick building owned and occupied by him was erected in 1865. He was extensively engaged in this business, manufacturing fine wheeled vehicles of all kinds and sleighs, for many years, after which he went to Auburn, where he died. This carriage manufactory was located on the south side of Genesee Street, immediately opposite the Packwood House, on the lake-shore. About some ten years ago the village authorities purchased this property for a public park, with the intention of using this large brick building as an engine-house for the fire department and for a large public hall, but this was abandoned, the building was taken down, and the site cleared off for a park. Shepard Settlement. — The part of the town called " Shepard Settlement " derived its title from the name of a number of families who were first there. John Shepard located there in 1796, and his brothers — Andrew, Joseph, and Hull — came several years later. They were enterprising farmers. But one family of the name of Shepard now remains in that neighborhood. This is Edward Shepard, son of John Shepard. i68 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XII. The First Industries in Town and Village, Commencing with the Village. Judge Jedediah Sanger (who owned Military Lot No. 36, on which the village is located) had erected a grist-mill and a sawmill in the year 1796-97. The builder was Jessee Kellogg. A tannery was established about the same time by yV^arren Hecox on the west side of the outlet. He also had a boot and shoe shop, and employed in that busi- ness about fifteen to twenty workmen. Winston Day owned a distillery, which was located along the banks of the outlet of the lake ; and he also had a potashery, which was on the west shore of the lake, opposite the present residence of Edwin E. Hall and Mrs. Keeler. Richard Tallcot had a potashery on the lake-shore. The Skaneateles Manufacturing Company was composed of various local business men, among whom were Deacon David Hall, Lewis & Cotton, William Gibbs, Augustus Kellogg, and Dorastus Kellogg. This partnership did a large business in the manufacture of woolen cloth, and for many years sold all its product in and about this section of country. Spencer Hannum came here from Williamstown, Mass. He was a practical machinist. In 1830, he was doing business under the firm name of Gibbs & Han- num (William Gibbs). After a few years Mr. Gibbs went out of the firm, and it then became Hannum & Darby in the machine business, which continued a few years. Several other partners were later associated with Hannum, and a copart- nership was afterward formed with John M. Arnold, under the firm name of Hannum & Arnold. The business was largely extended in the manufacture of woolen mill machinery, which was supplied to all the mills about this section of the State. He had continuously from twenty to thirty workmen employed in the manufacture of such machinery. This firm continued many years, and was very successful in their manufacture and sales, after which Arnold's health began to fail, when he sold out to Hannum, and removed to Petersburg, Va. Hannum continued the business for a few years until he removed to Auburn. This re- moval was the end of the extensive machine business conducted here in the village. Samuel M. Drake occupied the same building that Hannum vacated, but he only conducted a foundry, which continued a few years, doing a very limited business, when he sold out the foundry to Sherwood, which was the total decline of the foundry work here in the village. Samuel Francis did a large manufacturing business in making fur and wool hats for men and boys. His factory was on the lake-shore, immediately in the rear of his dwelling, next east of St. James' Church. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 169 George Gray was a manufacturer of thrashing-machines here from and about 1830 to 1845. His factory was located on the west side of Jordan Street. Seth & James Hall went into business as a firm (S. & J. Hall), between 1815 and 1820, in the manufacture of carriages and sleighs. This business was prob- ably first started by James Hall, on Onondaga Street. This section of the village was where the earliest mechanical business of the village was located, and before Daniel Kellogg built and located his law office there (1803). Ambrose Hecox had his chair and furniture factory there. Sylvester Roberts had his first black- smith-shop there. Samuel Francis had his hat-factory east of the present center of the village. After 1820, S. & J. Hall built the stone shops on Jordan Street for a carriage manufactory, which are still standing, and occupied by T. Kelley as a blacksmith- shop. Their business from that period increased largely. In 1832 Seth Hall died, and the business was continued many years under the individual name of James Hall, and later as the firm of Hall, Porter & Co. (J. Gurdon Porter and David Hall 2d). This firm failed afterward and then the business was again car- ried on by James Hall several years, when it was changed to Hall & Miller (William Hall and Alexander Miller). About 1860-62 this firm failed, and the business was closed up. The heaviest business and most successful period of car- riage manufacturing of the firm of S. & J. Hall was between 1830 and 1840. John Legg started a blacksmith and repair shop soon after he came here in 1797. His first shop was on the site of the Dr. Hopkins office, now the present Dr. Bartlet place. As business generally increased in both town and village his trade extended more largely than the general growth. After a few years he located on the south side of the Seneca Turnpike Road, on the lake-shore, on the site of the present Legg block, and continued his growing business for many years. About 1835 Joel Thayer came here, and acted as clerk and superintendent to John Legg's carriage and wagon shop. This accession was a fortunate one for John Legg. Owing to Joel Thayer's superior clerical and financial ability, the success of John Legg was thereafter assured. The business was soon largely in- creased through the business ability of Mr. Thayer, and immediately proved very profitable. This continued for a long term of years, when John Legg sold out to L. S. Worden & Co., in 1845. After that the carriage manufacture was con- ducted by J. R. Gillman & Co., and afterward by Gillman & Stacey (William Stacey). Stacey went out of the firm, and Gillman continued until he removed to Syracuse. There were other carriage manufacturers, more or less prominent, during this period and later, among whom were the following : Vandyck & Davey, afterward by George Vandyck alone ; Bavey & Baldwin ; Stacey & Packwood ; and, lastly, John Packwood, who conducted the business a number of years, when he finally removed to Auburn, where he died. The carriage manufacturing business was at its highest pinnacle from 1830 to I70 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 1850, when it gradually began to decline, and so continued until about 1865, when all the previous manufacturers were out of business, except John Packwood, who continued about twelve years longer. Of course, the business of the mer- chants gradually declined proportionally. There was a more or less extensive local business done by the various builders, blacksmiths, tailors, shoemakers, mil- liners, printing-offices, and other industries. B. & J. Petheram, cabinet-makers, had a furniture-store, at the place now occupied by Feeley & Durkan, from 1836 to 1846. Benjamin Petheram came here in 1832, and died December 9, 1894, aged seventy-eight. Daniel Watson did a large boot and shoe business from 1820 to 1825. Alfred Hitchcock came with Watson as clerk, and afterward went into partnership with him, under the firm name of Watson & Hitchcock. Mr. Watson died a few years later, and Hitchcock continued the business for nearly thirty-five years afterward. Industries in the Town of Skaneateles Outside of the Village. — Archibald Douglass was engaged in the manufacture of thrashing-machines and fanning-mills at Cliffs Corners, and carried on a large business there for many years, and until after 1850. Dorastus Kellogg carried on an extensive woolen manufacturing business at what was then called Kellogg's Factory, but now better known as Willow Glen. He was the original manufacturer of double blanket shawls, and was largely en- gaged for many years in the manufacture of woolen cloth and cassimeres. He had in his employ from one hundred and fifty to two hundred employees, both men and women. About 1861, or at the commencement of the Civil War, he failed. This was a period of great business depression. He afterward resumed the same line of business on a large scale, through the assistance of his New York Com- mercial friends (supposed to be Messrs. Hoyt, Sprague & Co.), at Oswego Falls, about one mile up the river from Fulton, N. Y., and continued the manufacture there for several years on a large scale, but hard times came on thereafter, arising probably from the panic of 1873. Hoyt, Sprague & Co. took possession of the woolen mill and ran it on their own name. Kellogg did not again engage in wool manufacturing. On the lot where he lived, on the west side of the river, oppo- site Fulton, was what he supposed a valuable quarry of flagstones, which ex- tended into the river. He commenced to work the quarry, but for some cause it proved unsuccessful, and it was abandoned. That ended his business career. He died February i, 1883, aged seventy-five years. Mabbitt's Mills. — Below Kellogg's Factory a flouring-mill was conducted by John H. Mabbitt, Arthur Mott, Earlls, Kellogg & Co., and afterward by other persons. It was then changed to a distillery, which was run by various parties, among whom were Wickes, Horton & Co. After several years it was changed to a paper-mill, and conducted by various firms. It is now conducted by the Skan- eateles Paper Company. Another industry on the outlet was Earll's distillery and linseed-oil mill, which were conducted by Daniel Earll and his successive partners, who were, including HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 171 his brothers, John H. Earll, Delos Earll, his son Leonard H. Earll, Augustus P. Earll, his brother-in-law Charles Tallman of Syracuse, and John Kellogg. This business was probably established about 1820-25, and was continued until about 1870, when it was changed to a paper-mill and passed into other hands. Industries at Mottville. — There has been from time to time more or less manufacturing at Mottville, among which was a woolen mill, originally conducted by Arthur Mott (during his prosperous times) and Ansel Frost, and afterward by C. Pendleton and- by Charles Pendleton & Sons. These parties managed it for many years, when the building was converted into a flour-mill. Another woolen mill was established in a frame building which was erected here and the business conducted for many years by Thomas Morton and partners. ~ A. R. Reynolds conducted a fork and hoe factory in a stone building at this place, and the business was continued profitably until the introduction of mowers and reapers, when Mr. Reynolds became largely engaged in the manufacture of knives for both mowers and reapers. His skill in tempering the knives secured him a very extensive and profitable business, his largest .customer for the knives being B. M. Osborne & Co., of Auburn, which led Reynolds to remove his busi- ness to Auburn. A brewery was also established here in a stone building, and was conducted by Hunsicker Brothers, and afterward by Elias Hunsicker. A wheel-head factory was conducted by A. Blodgett & Co. Other implements of wood were also made here. It is supposed that Amos Miner had an interest in this manufactory. At any rate, wheel-heads and other inventions under his pat- ents were made there. Howard Delano, for many years by himself and with various partners, con- ducted a large foundry and machine-shop, manufacturing heavy mill machinery, water-wheels, and similar work. It also turned out agricultural implements, such as plows, drags, plow-points, etc. Below Mottville — Long Bridge. — A flour-mill, originally known as the Weed Mill, was conducted for many years by Lucian Beach. There was a sawmill lower down the outlet. A paper-mill was afterward built on the site of the sawmill, but it was de- stroyed by fire some time after. Immediately below the Weed Mill, on the banks of the outlet, was a tannery in the early days of 1820-30. It is supposed to have been owned by Colonel Hiram Earll. Below the tannery, on the site of the present Sinclair's chair-factory, was a woolen mill, owned by Lucius Mellen and Jeremiah Mellen (brothers), who conducted it for many years. Below on the outlet, Hiram Earll conducted a sawmill and a lime-kiln for many years. Down the outlet, and below Hiram Earll's sawmill, on what was known as the Community Farm, the Community built a sawmill. This was conducted for a 172 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. number of years, after the Community dissolved, by Samuel Sellers, and then by Hezekiah Earll when he had purchased the Community Farm. On the decease of Hezekiah Earll he devised the Community Farm to his son George H. Earll, who erected a distillery on the north side of the outlet. It cost about thirty or forty thousand dollars and had all the modern improvements for distilling, but was built too late to be profitable to run, and proved a disastrous investment to him. It was then purchased by F. G. Weeks, and converted into a paper-mill in 1875- South of this site was the oldest paper-mill in town, among the proprietors of which were Reed & Case, Ray & Bannister, Bannister & Hubbard, and, in 1871, F. G. Weeks. It was destroyed by fire, February 9, 1877, and rebuilt on a larger scale by F. G. Weeks. North of the Earll distillery was, and is, the Morton Woolen Mill. It was erected by Thomas Morton and E. B. Hoyt in 1867. In 1875 Mr. Morton be- came sole owner, and in 1879 the plant passed to his son Gavin. The Skaneateles Lime Works was established in i860 by P. C. Carrigan, and afterward conducted by George H. Earll, Eben Bean, and E. B. Coe. Subsequent proprietors were E. B. Hoyt & Co. and P. C. Carrigan & Co. At one period it was a very profitable business. The Skaneateles Iron Works were in full blast here, a full description of which is given in Chapter XVII. On the outlet a distillery was established and conducted by the firm of Heze- kiah Earll & Co. This was situated on the Hart lot. When Hezekiah Earll came to this town with his father, General Robert Earll, in 1796, the latter built the Red House. Hezekiah, when he was a young man &f about thirty years of age and was first married, is supposed to have received from his father the farm now owned by Emerson H. Adams. After living on that farm a while, he removed to what is now known as the Hart lot, and became largely engaged in distilling, milling, and farming. He also had a sa'wmill there. It was probably not far from the year 1820 that he began business there. The business was conducted for a great number of years under the firm name of Hezekiah Earll & Co., and then under Earlls, Thayer & Co. These partners were his son-in-law Holland W. Chadwick, John Legg, Joel Thayer, and Hezekiah's son JuHus. Between 1835 and 1840 these parties discontinued the milling busi- ness, and confined themselves strictly to distilling, farming, and fattening cattle and hogs. About 1850 Hezekiah Earll purchased the Community Farm, con- sisting of about three hundred acres, moved on it as a residence, and com- menced farming on a large scale, raising large crops of tobacco, the cultivation of which was very materially enhanced by the rich manure obtained from the dis- tillery farm. About 1860-61, or at the commencernent of the Civil War, Congress laid a revenue tax of two dollars a gallon on all whisky manufactured after the first day of July ensuing after the act became a law, in consequence of which every HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 173 distillery throughout the country, and particularly the Earll distillery, ran day and night, without intermission, and with all the force obtainable, until the last hour of June 30, thus accumulating a large stock of whisky, which, as if by magic, immediately became worth two dollars a gallon more than it was previously sala- ble for, thus netting the two brothers Julius and George H. Earll thousands and thousands of dollars. Julius had the largest share of the profits. Shortly after that operation the distillery was converted into the present Hart Lot Paper Mill. George H. Earll invested his share of the profits in erecting the new distillery on the north side of the outlet, next north of the Community sawmill. The invest- ment, however, proved a failure. The Rise and Fall of Mercantile and Industrial Prosperity in Both Town and Village. — The high-water mark of mercantile prosperity culminated about the year 1836, at which time all business throughout the whole country was in a state of the greatest magnitude. The mercantile business here in this village and town barely held its own for a few years after 1837, when it began very gradually to decline, and has continued to decline every year since. The business done here in this village and town in 1836 has never been equaled since, and never will be. The industries within the village were at their greatest height of prosperity between 1830 and 1850, after which date there has been a continual and gradual decline. The industries below the village and on the outlet of the lake have gradually declined since the business panic of 1837, but in not so great a proportion as the village manufactures. The Earliest Industry in this Town. — The earliest industry in Skaneateles was really the traffic in wood-ashes, which was derived from the consumption of firewood for household purposes. There were two classes of ashes, as appears from the sales thereof in the old account-books, the high-priced being the house- hold ashes, and the low-priced being ashes derived from burning tree-brush in the forest. According to a ledger of 1805, the best ashes were purchased by the merchants at sixpence per bushel in trade for household necessities. A few of the early merchants owned potasheries on the lake-shore, and they were principally the merchants who purchased the wood-ashes. Other merchants also bought ashes and traded the same to the potasheries, receiving potash in payment. This early product. Potash, was the principal commercial article that was sent to Albany, which, being at the head of navigation on the Hudson River and in direct communication with the city of New York, was the only market for this output. Our merchants, in return from the saks of this potash, received groceries, dry-goods, hardware, drugs, medicines, etc. It took a horse-team at that period, 1805, fourteen days to make the journey to Albany and back, with a load each way, and often much longer. Ox-teams were also used for not only potash, but for produce, particularly to Utica. The early settler immediately cleared off some of his lands and cultivated the new grounds for the necessities of his household, and from year to year kept en- larging the area of his cleared land and raising more crops until he created a sur- 174 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. plus. The produce for the markets, after the settlers had prospered and were enabled to produce more than for the needs of their families, was shipped to Albany, and traded off for such articles as were needed. The early settlers, on their first arrival here in the forest, after a tedious jour- ney from their old homes, experienced great difficulty in procuring the means of support. The provisions which they had brought with them were not sufficient for the support of their families until they could plant and raise corn and pump- kins, consequently they had to obtain supplies from the towns of Aurelius and Scipio, which had been settled earlier, and at that time were included in Onondaga County. The experience of Warren Hecox, one of our early settlers, is thus related: " In 1795, he stated that there was an uncommon scarcity of grain, and that he had to send to Scipio, twenty miles, and gave two dollars and fifty cents for one bushel of wheat, and he could only raise money enough to purchase a single bushel at a time. He hired a horse at fifty cents a day, and sent a boy eighteen miles to Montville, in Sempronius, to get the bushel of wheat ground, which took two days, because the mills had stopped running at Hardenburgh's Corners (now Auburn) and at Camillus on account of the great drought of that season. This was not a solitary instance, as his neighbors were in the same predicament, and some even were worse off, for they could neither get money nor wheat." Another early industry, after the pioneers had begun to prosper and to raise a greater crop of wheat and corn, was the establishment of distilleries for the manufacture of whisky. These industries were enabled to get the raw material,. corn and wheat, at a mere nominal rate, consequently they could and did furnish their product, whisky, at very reasonable prices. It was the fashion, in those early times, for every family to have set out on some piece of furniture, a sideboard, for instance, a decanter, pitcher of water, and tumblers, as a friendly greeting and invitation for neighbors and other friends. The decanter, of course, was always kept filled with native whisky. The establishment of distilleries furnished a good market for cord-wood, which, according to the old ledgers, was sold at seventy-five cents per cord. The settlers, therefore, in clearing their land had a good market for all their fire-wood, as the distilleries required large quantities of cord-wood, and as the country ad- vanced in prosperity the distilleries increased in numbers, and finally, when the railroads became established, cord-wood became in greater demand than ever, and prices advanced accordingly.- The face of the country of the town of Skaneateles shows that the original forests have entirely disappeared, owing to the early de- mand, not only by the numerous distilleries, but also by the railroads. The raising of cattle for sale was among the early industries here. In a ledger of 1805, an entry was made as follows : " Joseph Loss, for driving oxen to New Haven i. 10. o." Whether these figures referred to pounds sterling or Spanish milled dollars and HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 175 their divisions is not known. Later information since this was written shows that these figures refer to Spanish dollars. Another entry was : " 2 oxen 16. 16. o." And another : " 2 oxen 21. 12. o." Here is an entry for — " 2 bbls. Potash, weighing 7 cwt., i qr., 18 lb., amounting to. . 17. 15. 8." Here is another potash entry : " I bbl. Potash, weighing 3 cwt., 2 qr., 18 lb., amounting to. . 8. 15. 8." We also find the following entry : " Paid Joseph Loss for driving oxen to New Haven, Conn., . . i. 12. o." An Incident During the War of 1812. — In the year 1812, during the war of that period, there was about half a mile north of the village of Marcellus a central point where there was a grist-mill and whisky-still, which in those days was of considerable importance in furnishing a market for surplus grain which otherwise could not find sale nearer than Albany. There was also a wool-carding and cloth-dressing machine, patronized by the farmers for the purpose of having the product of their families' looms finished for domestic use. There was also a store to supply whisky and other merchandise for the needy who had the where- withal to buy or exchange. The store and still were owned by Joseph Piatt, and the still was run by Alvin North. There were also a paper-mill, owned by John Herring, and a powder-mill, owned by some one else. This collection of mills, together with the store and the still, comprised an attractive business center, where the inhabitants of the surrounding country met for business purposes and to dis- cuss the news of the day. Politics at that time were uppermost in the public mind, and the war. of opinions at times was very bitter by members of opposite parties, which on sOme occasions led to literal knock-down arguments, at other times to fun and frolic or to the ridiculous, especially when both parties were not under the influence of whisky. Community Place. — Community Place had its inception in a meeting held in Congregational Hall, March 22, 1843, ^^^ continued in existence until about 1845. About two miles north of the village of Skaneateles, on the line of the railroad, is a locality known as the Long Bridge. Formerly a woolen mill was located there, in which Millard Fillmore, who became President of the United States, worked as a " bobbin boy." A little west of the bridge, somewhat back from the road, stands a substantial stone farmhouse, which is surrounded with luxurious growths, showing the productiveness of the soil. It is rather a romantic spot, located at the foot of hills which are almost mountains. This old house and its farm was chosen for a purpose by John A. Collins, a Massachusetts man, who had been an orthodox clergyman, but had relapsed into socialism and infidelity, and in consequence has a peculiar history. Making a visit to the vicinity in 1843, ^"^ lecturing upon socialistic reform to grove meetings, 176 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Collins picked out this house and farm for the site of a community of free- thinkers, and purchased the property for fifteen thousand dollars. Collins in- vited a large number of free-thinkers to join him in the community, and the mem- bership soon numbered upwards of one hundred and fifty. The foundation of this community movement was in the agitation of Fou- fierism, which was advocated by many prominent men, including William Henry Channing, George William Curtis, Horace Greeley, Charles A. Dana, and George Ripley, but it did not adhere to the religious teachings of the great French social- ists, Collins seeking to stamp the seal of infidelity upon the organization. This was distasteful to many of the members, who, under the lead of Quincy A. Johnson, a lawyer of Syracuse, gave form to the dissent and laid the basis for the ultimate dismemberment of the community. The tendency, also, under Collins' leadership was to free loveism, the attain- ment of a community of property and love relations, through which plenty and intelligence, happiness, and prosperity might be ultimately secured to all the inhabitants of the globe, being the foundation principles. Disbelief in the revelations of God to man, the assertion that all religions have their origin in falsehood, and, while attributing admirable precepts to Jesus of Nazareth, disre- garding them as binding, placing Sunday on a level with other days, and de- nouncing the clergy as impostors, who are teaching doctrines which were relics of heathenism, were avowed tenets. Organized government was regarded as organized banditti, whose authority was not to be recognized, and in this view the communists refused to do military duty, pay personal or property taxes, sit upon juries, or appeal to the law for redress of grievances. While marriage was regarded as a true relation, and licentiousness, adultery, bigamy, and polygamy were repudiated, marriage ties were considered no longer binding when they ceased to promote love and virtue, which was the signal for separation. The doctrine and practise in the society, in large part, was free love. A vegetable diet was adopted, the killing and eating of animals con- demned, together with the use of all narcotics and stimulants. The members of the community were all expected to labor, and each was to receive the benefit of his or her work. It was calculated that four hours of daily manual labor on the part of each member would amply support the community. Mental culture, recreation, and sleep occupied the other twenty hours. Music and dancing were held as being essential to social welfare, and a large ball and lecture room was built. The membership of the community was composed largely of lawyers, physicians, and other professional men, and women of culture and refinement, and the frequent literary exercises were of a high order. The industries pursued were, in manu- factures, a sawmill, chair factory, and blacksmith shop, together with farming and gardening. Elements of disintegration soon began to permeate the community. Trouble and faction disagreement prevailed within, and the public prejudice without was HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 177 very strong. The management sank deeper and deeper into debt. The members, even those who had given all their property to the community, began to desert it. The result was that a formal dissolution took place, and, three years after the community was organized, its property was given over to private parties, who assumed the debts. , Collins, the originator, an able, executive man, a fine talker, and agreeable person, quitted the scene reluctantly, and declared that in going from it he sur- rendered hope, home, and friends. Ten years later he was in California gaining a livelihood as an auctioneer. He declared that the community experiment was in advance of the age, and that, when a generation came that could be educated up to it, it would be a success. It is to be said for the community that, despite all the ugly reports circu- lated about it, the membership was of people of high moral tone, cultured and refined persons, for the most part, who were sincere in their experiment. Doctors of divinity, college professors, lawyers, and physicians adopted its theory readily, and labored assiduously in field, garden, and shop for the success of the enterprise, with the avowal that, in the adoption of its principles, a bright and better era would dawn upon the world. Like Brook Farm, the Oneida Community, and other socialistic experiments, the Skaneateles community failed by reason of the falsity of the underlying system. While the Skaneateles community was in operation, a memorable discussion took place between Horace Greeley in the New York Tribune and Henry J. Ray- mond in the Courier and Enquirer upon Fourierism, Greeley upholding and Ray- mond antagonizing it. A series of twelve articles by each of these able journal- ists was published, and the discussion, which presented powerful arguments for and against this socialistic doctrine, attracted the attention of the whole country. Fourierism gradually died out in the United States, and Greeley never af- terward publicly advocated it. Early Prices. — The early settlers, whose only fuel was fire-wood, took good care of the ashes on the hearth, as the potasheries paid eight cents per bushel, in " store pay." Ashes from burning trees and brush in the woods only brought six cents per bushel. Pumpkins were salable at the rate of fifty for six cents. Butter sold for one shilling per pound. Hay sold at six dollars per ton. Mutton sold at five cents per pound. Cord-wood sold at seventy-five cents per cord. Winston Day purchased corn for his distillery at forty-eight cents a bushel. Honey sold for ten cents per pound. All the prices above named were the regular rates from 1802 to 1806. The Sign of the Indian Queen T.^wern. — The sign of the Indian Queen Tavern was painted by Perley Putnam Cleaveland, who was a carriage paintef for Seth and James Hall, about the year 1835 or later. Isaac W. Perry had it painted. He had changed the name of the tavern from " Skaneateles Hotel " to the " Indian Queen." 178 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XIII. "Protest" Against "Protracted Meetings" and other Reminiscences. The "Protest" given below was printed in an extra Columbian, of which Milton A. Kinney was editor. He was requested to print it in his paper, but finally agreed to publish the protest in an extra, and made a charge of twenty- five or thirty dollars for printing and issuing it from the office. This publication was of a religious character. Kinney himself was a strong Presbyterian, while the parties who signed the protest were, on the contrary, rather liberal-minded on religious subjects. Edward Sandford, whose signature is the leading one, was a remarkably bright lawyer, and was a brother of Lewis H. Sandford, the High Chancellor. It was generally supposed that Edward Sandford was the author of the "Protest." He was one of the unfortunate cabin passengers on the ocean steamer Arctic, which was lost at sea by colliding with an iceberg. Just as the Arctic struck the iceberg, Edward Sandford was sitting with some of his fellow passengers in the cabin, and, when the tremendous shock came, he exclaimed, " Hit her again ! " Within the next few minutes he was carried to the bottom of the ocean. SKANEATELES COLUMBIAN— EXTRA. To THE Public. At a meeting of the inhabitants of the village of Skaneateles and its vicinity, friendly to Peace and Good Order in Society, convened pursuant to notice to that effect, at the house of Isaac W. Perry, in said village, on Wednesday, the isth day of February, 1832, General Robert Earll was chose President, Colonel Warren Hecox Vice President, and George A. Stansbury, Esq., Secretary. The object for which this meeting was called having been ex- plained by Messrs. Hecox and E. Sandford, it was, on motion, Resolved, That a committee of three, consisting of Messrs. Hecox, Sandford and Stans- bury, be appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the views of this meeting upon the sub- jects presented to their consideration. The committee having retired for a short time, came in and reported the following resolutions : Resolved, That the proceedings of some religious denominations in this community re- quire of the friends of Peace and Good Order in Society, an expression of their opinion upon the propriety of holding what are called " protracted meetings," and upon the measures adopted in conducting them. Resolved, That the interests of true religion are not, in the opinion of this meeting, pro- moted by strong appeals to the feelings when the body is in a state of weakness and exhaus- tion produced by protracted confinement; and that, to produce this state of exhaustion, seems to be one of the principal uses of such meetings. Resolved, That religion as well as morality require of us to perform duties to our neigh- bors as well as to our God, and that the devoting successive days and nights to his serv- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 179 ice is nowhere required of us in the Gospel, but is in direct interference with the many other duties which are there required of us. Resolved, That while the great charter of our liberties continues to secure to us religious freedom of opinion, we will act with the spirit of freemen, and disregard and contemn the insidious epithet of Infidel, which is the ready scourge applied to all those who doubt or ques- tion the divinity of these new-fangled measures. Which resolutions were unanimously adopted. Resolved, That John Legg, David Hall, and Warren Hecox, be a committee to provide a place to which this meeting may adjourn, and that they give public notice of the place they may procure: and that when this meeting adjourns, it will adjourn to Wednesday after- noon next, at 4 P.M., at such place as the said committee shall give notice of. Resolved, That Edward Sandford, George A. Stansbury, David Hall, Warren Hecox. and Daniel Earll, be appointed a committee to draft an address in pursuance of the sen- timents contained in the above resolutions, for publication; and that they report to the ad- journed meeting. The meeting thereupon adjourned. At the adjourned meeting on Wednesday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, the committee appointed to prepare an address not being ready to report, the committee appointed John Sandford, Alfred Wilkinson, Samuel H. Greenman, and Ashley Clark, additional members of said com- mittee, and gave them power to publish the address when prepared ; and after remarks by a number of individuals present, upon the objects for which the meeting was called, adjourned without day. Robert Earll, President. Geo. a. Stansbury, Secretary. Address. Fellow Citizens : Feeling it to be a privilege we all enjoy, openly to express our sentiments upon all mat- ters of importance to us as a community, and willing to meet the just responsibility of such a step, we beg leave to address you on a subject of no little interest; — upon the propriety of holding what arc called protracted meetings, and upon the measures resorted to in conduct- ing them. We do not appear before you as the members of any particular denominations of Chris- tians, advocating in this public and unusual manner the peculiar tenets of that denomina- tion; nor do we appear before you as the enemies or revilers of religion. We are well aware, for the history of similar meetings has taught us, that in the absence of argument and of fact by which to place us in the wrong, the imputation of being infidels, enemies of religion, is the ready answer to the opinions we shall advance. The test applied to try the purity of our religious sentiments will be (for it uniformly has been) our approval or disapproval of these protracted meetings, and other similar means of creating religious excitement. To the application of such a test of our motives we wholly object, and throw ourselves with confidence upon you as our judges in this matter. You form a jury of the neighborhood, well acquainted wilh our lives and characters, and will judge us with candor, even if you shall dissent from our opinions. In addressing you on this subject, we are conscientious in the belief that we act as the friends of rational and pure religion, the religion of the Bible ; that we oppose only errors and abuses which are creeping in, merely because no "voice is raised against them, and which, by being confounded with religion itself, are creating a strong and but too general prejudice against all religion. We deem it our duty to stand forth manfully and check this abuse, if possible, instead of looking with calmness or indifference on the insidious approaches of this foe in a friendly garb. The course we adopt is admitted to be an unusual one; immemorial usage has con- fined the public expression of views on subjects connected with . religious proceedings, to the i8o HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. pulpit and to our religious instructors : but no usage can confer the exclusive right to this privilege; it is guaranteed to each of us by our Constitution and our laws, and though min- isters claim to be the ambassadors of the Most High, yet we insist that their only commis- sion is the Bible, which is open for us all to read and judge of the powers it confers : and we are individually responsible for our judgment, not to our ministers, nor to our neighbors, but to God and our own consciences. Having these opinions of our right to address you and to disapprove of any measures adopted in conveying religious instructions, we hold it peculiarly necessary to do so in the present instance, to combine public opinions against these evils, inasmuch as a weekly, nay, in their protracted meetings a daily opportunity is offered and freely used, of giving to these measures all the weight and support that line upon line and precept upon precept can give them. We would submit, then, to your candid consideration, the reasons we have for holding these unprecedented measures to be unauthorized by Scripture or by reason, and highly detri- mental, from the manner in which they are conducted, to the welfare of community, and of individuals, and to the interest of our pure and holy religion. Protracted meetings are, we all must admit, truly characterized as unprecedented. It is within the recollection of the youngest of us, that they are but of two or three years' stand- ing: our fathers did not worship thus, nor our fathers' fathers in the purest days of the primitive church. It will be said that their novelty is no argument against their utility, for that the same reasoning would check all improvement and undermine at once the splendid schemes of extended usefulness which will stand so prominent in the history of the present age. We hold it, however, to be no favorable view of these protracted meetings, to consider them as introduced in connection with the revival system, with endeavors to prevent the trans- portation of the mail upon the Sabbath, and with the design which we fear is more frequently felt than expressed, of bringing millions of voters to the polls, who in addition to the questions, " Is he honest? " " Is he capable? " will ask, " Is he a professor of religion? " But whether these apprehensions be well founded or not, there are certainly new and peculiar prin- ciples advanced in support of these measures, which require examination; and if they are found unreasonable, unauthorized by Scripture, and detrimental to society and to religion, they ought to be suppressed, as they can be by the force of public opinion. In our remarks on this subject, we intend to make no particular reference to the pro- tracted meeting lately held in this village. We would avoid everything which may appear like personal allusions, and shall extend our remarks to the practise as it exists throughout the State. We hear from all directions, of the appointment of ten, fifteen, and twenty days' meetings, and all whom we address must know the way in which they are usually conducted. Where in the Bible do we find a command to appropriate so large a portion of time to public religious services? Nowhere: the command to labor six days in seven is as impera- tive as that which requires us to rest upon the- seventh; and every page of the holy record teems with instructions for the employment of the residue of our time: we are there com- manded to be diligent in business, to labor each in his respective calling, that we may be- come useful members of society; to apply ourselves to fulfil the duties which devolve upon us from the various relations in which we stand, as husbands, fathers, friends, and mem- bers of a vast family, every one of whom has a greater or less demand on our time and our exertions. These common every-day duties of life, we hold to be sacfed duties : there can be no true religion without the regular and quiet performance of them ; they strengthen our best reso- lutions by calling them into constant practise, and to check the visionary and inconsistent views of religious duty, which we are too apt to adopt under the momentary impulse of ex- cited feeling, by convincing us of the absurdity and impropriety of carrying those views into our actions, and giving ourselves up to their guidance. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. i8i We would not undervalue public worship; but we would not, on the other hand, attach an undue importance to it ; we think that sufBcignt provision has been made for it in the Bible ; and that the protracted meetings of the present day are not only unauthorized by Scripture or by usage, but are grossly inconsistent with the requirements of that Gospel which we all profess to reverence and obey. But let us advert to the reasons assigned by the more liberal of the friends of this sys- tem, in its defense. They admit that a proper observance of the Sabbath, and the habitual use of the devotions of the closet, and of the family are sufficient, if properly improved ; but they suggest the lamentable truth that they are not so improved, and do not have the de- sired effect; men do and will neglect established forms and ordinary means, or in using them are left unimpressed and unaffected; we must bring extraordinary influences to bear upon them, or they will sleep in the midst of privileges : but if men fail to keep one da^ in seven holy will they be disposed to keep successive days, nay, weeks? The answer is, Yes, they will, they do ; yet the reasoning of the very friends of the system show us why such crowds as- semble to witness the proceedings of these meetings : it is because they are new and uncommon, and hold out a temptation and apology for idleness, absence from home, and a species of dissipation. These means, we admit, are more likely for a time to make a lively impression on the mind, but until you can revolutionize the whole nature of man, the effect produced by them will cease with their use, or the means themselves, by 'being continued, will become established, and ordinary ones, and as inefficient as those which they supplant. The remedy for this evil must be a resort to more exciting influences (if possible), till the established means and ordinances of the Gospel are looked upon as weak and inef- fectual, and all is enthusiasm and passion. But we are told to look at the result, and see how frequently the impression is made, the change wrought, and the work done. We have charity to believe, and we freely admit, that many are beneficially and savingly impressed at these meetings, and continue to give evi- dence in their life and conversation, of a firm and consistent Christian character. But we do not undervalue the importance of religion to the soul, when we express to you our candid belief that there is a great, a dreadful balance of evil resulting from the use of these extraor- dinary measures. We will not bring into the account time, money, labor — for these should never be weighed against the solid infinite good obtained in the creation of one truly religious character. But we would present to your view the moral injury which is inflicted on a greater number than are really benefited. How many of the apparently converted fall away, having been raised suddenly from great coldness or despair to the giddy height of enthusiasm, deserted by their weak sup- port, the vision gone, are as suddenly let down, and their last state made worse than the first ! How many are held by self-conceit, shame, and dread of scorn, and how many are led to rest in these measures, and think the more they abound the more religion there is, and the better they are themselves! How many mistake their excited feelings for the substance of religion, and are miserably, fatally deceived ! Retiring from the meetings and finding their ardor subsided in the absence of the causes which produced it, they mistake the depression of exhausted nature for lukewarmness and impiety, and sink by degrees into religious melancholy, insanity, and death. A frightful extent of moral evil and desolation is exhibited in the numbers of those who suffer under these effects of religious excitement ; and we put i1 to the conscience of every candid inquirer after truth, who has lived in the neighborhood of a protracted meeting, whether these evils do not far outweigh the benefits which the most indulgent charity can attribute to them. We would also present to your consideration, some of the abuses and extravagances which though not perhaps a necessary result of the system, yet are found so generally prevalent that they may be justly said to characterize the manner in which these meetings are con- ducted. 1 82 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. The great, leading object of these meetings, as they are usually conducted, seems to be that of making proselytes to the profession rather than the practise of religion. When and where has one been called, to enforce upon professing Christians the duties which their profession imposes upon them, of letting their light so shine before men that others, seeing their good works, may glorify their Father who is in heaven ? Is not the lead- ing, almost the only duty enjoined upon Christians, at such seasons, that of "coming up' to the help of the Lord against the mighty," and of wrestling with God in prayer for the souls of others? Do we hear it enjoined upon them to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling? Do we hear the duty of cherishing charitable feelings for others en- forced ? But is it not, on the contrary, declared to be a sacred duty to hate those who mani- fest a hatred toward God, by neglecting or refusing to participate in these proceedings? And what are the natural results of such doctrines? We see them but too plainly ex- hibited in every place where these meetings have been held— destroying the usual intercourse of neighbors and friends, and checking those little civilities and kindnesses which do so much to sweeten and gladden life, beguiling it of its cares, and smoothing our rough passage to the grave. The evil does not stop here: it has grown into coldness and neglect, and has sown and is sowing the seeds of enmity and aversion in families and in neighborhoods, and is under- mining, with a ruthless hand, the peace and welfare of society. In the manner of conducting these meetings, we find arts and stratagems and dramatic representations made use of for the purpose of producing effect, which to us are truly shock- ing. While the audience were singing the Judgment Hymn, at one of these meetings, in a state of great excitement, the effect was aided and rendered truly terrible, by a sudden blast of a trumpet from a distant part of the house. Our Saviour is represented as standing in a particular part of the church, and as pass- ing from one pew to another, and subject to being touched and taken hold of. Individuals are called on by name to come forward and take their seats upon the anxious benches. We hear of appeals to every motive that ingenuity can suggest to induce persons to come out — of appeals to our love and respect for relatives and friends ; we are called upon as fathers, mothers, children, to come forward and join those to whom we stand in these relations; by our respect for the ministers of our religion; for we have heard inducements like these held out : — " Will none of my dear flock come forward ? What, not one ? " " See that dear ambassador of God, how he sheds tears of anguish, to think that none of all this assembly will come forward here and give up their rebellious opposition to God." When tears and entreaties fail, our fears are awakened by representing what at other times would be called the misfortunes of those who oppose these measures, to be direct visitations of God upon their opposition to him — ^by stating that those who leave the house without giving up their hearts to God and being converted, will have sinned away their day of grace, and will never have another opportunity of repentance. These and many other methods are resorted to, of a similar character, which we deem unholy and profane — which would not be tolerated if they were introduced in the ordinary service of the sanctuary upon the Sabbath, and which would shock the good sense and de- votional feelings of this whole community, if they were not introduced at these meetings in an artful and gradual manner. We have thus given you, as briefly as we thought consistent with the subject, some of our objections to these protracted meetings. We hope we have done so in a dispassionate and candid manner. We have endeavored to point our observations rather against meas- ures than men, or classes of men. We do not impute bad motives, but mistaken views; we believe that for one who is reclaimed by those measures, many are disgusted and driveriaway from all religion; that indifference is confirmed, scoffers of religion supplied with new food HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 183 for their remarks, that skepticism is emboldened, and infidelity shows a more open front; and we believe that if public opinion upon this subject were embodied and made known, these measures would be given up as unprofitable and injurious to society and to true religion. E. SandkorDj W. Hecox, D. Earll, G. A. Stansbury, John Sandfoed, A. Wilkinson, S. H. Greenman, Ashley Clark, D. Hall, Committee. The full names of the above committee are as follows : Edward Sandford ; Colonel Warren Hecox ; Colonel Daniel Earll ; George A. Stansbury ; John Sand- ford, of Marcellus; Alfred Wilkinson; Samuel H. Greenman; Ashley Clark, of Elbridge, and brother of Foster Clark ; and Deacon David Hall. Daniel Webster's Visit to Skaneateles. — The Hon. Horatio Ballard is writing up an "Early History of Cortland County," wherein he incidentally re- lates the following reminiscence of olden days in Skaneateles, which we tran- scribe from a copy of the Cortland Standard: " It was at the close of this decade that Lafayette made his tour through the States, and the time for the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the monument on Bunker Hill was approaching. Then rapid traveling from Boston to Lake Erie was by stage. " It was a splendid morning in the month of May, 1825, when the citizens of the beautiful village of Skaneateles heard the 'echoing horn ' of the stage-driver on the elevation just east of the central part of the village. It was not the stated hour for the arrival of the regular line. Soon a coach and four drew up in front of ' Dascomb's Hotel.' On the veranda stood some of the boarders of the inn : Rev. Mr. Converse, the Episcopal clergyman ; Lewis H. Sandford, then a student of law, afterward Vice-Chancellor ; Ansel Bascom, then a lawyer, afterward a legislator; Joseph Dascom, Jasper H. Colvin, and the writer of this article, then a student at law in the office of Judge Jewett. The occupants of the coach were two ladies and one gentleman. The gentleman alighted, and, bowing to the group before him, gave expression to his delight at the splendid panorama of the lake, town, and adjacent landscape, as they burst upon the vision from the eastern elevation. His face beamed with intelligence, and his demeanor was graceful, familiar, and persuasive. He plied" us with questions relative to the place, and especially about the venerable mansion and its beautiful grounds that were passed as they entered the village. During the interview, we discov- ered the noble form of Daniel Kellogg in the distance, walking along the pave- ment, with hat in hand and his silvery hairs exposed to the morning sun, and by his side a stalwart figure, and both moving with a stately, leisurely tread; and, 1 84 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. as they approached, our entertainer says to us, ' Now, young men, I will soon in- troduce you to my fellow traveler, who, I believe, will become one of the greatest men this country ever produced.' The man to whom we were thus introduced was Daniel Webster, and he, in turn, introduced us to his fellow traveler- Joseph Story, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Then followed introductions to Mrs. Webster and Mrs. Story while seated in the coach. Mr. Webstgr alighted from the coach opposite the residence of Mr. Kellogg (the old Vredenburg mansion), and introduced himself to Mr. Kel- logg, and asked permission to look through his elegant grounds. " Mr. Webster and Judge Story, with their wives, were traveling, in relays of extra coaches, on a tour to Niagara. Webbing was interlaced beneath the ceil- ing of the coach, upon which were placed books, pamphlets, and newspapers for reading on the journey. In less than a month afterwards Webster delivered his immortal oration at the laying of the corner-stone of Bunker Hill Monument." General Lafayette's Visit to Skaneateles. — William E. Thome, who is the son of Nicholas Thorne, deceased, who owned the James A. Root place, and who erected the dwelling-house thereon, in a recent letter to a friend here (the author) thus relates a little early history : "As we grow older how much interest we feel toward those we mingled with in childhood and youth, and the value we place upon relics of the past! Lately the upper part of one of mother's china candlesticks was chipped off, causing me to say painfully, ' Gracious ! ' That pair of candlesticks was used, and quantities of tallow candles, to illuminate our home in Skaneateles in 1824 in honor of General Lafayette, on the occasion of his return to New York City from a visit through the West. The West in those days was very limited in ex- tent. Coming from Auburn, and seeing from the brow of the hill our house illuminated with tallow candles in every window, the stage-coach was driven up to our gate. The General opened the coach-door and saluted us, waving his handkerchief as the coach drove to the village, which was wholly illuminated with glittering tallow candles. That was a grand occasion, and it made a last- ing impression upon my childhood days. I was then about seven years old, and it is very clear in my memory now." William E. Thorne died a few years ago in one of the Western States. The Great Fire which Occurred in this Village in 1835. — We copy from an old Columbian the following particulars of this memorable fire: "As many erroneous statements have been published relative to the late destructive fire, we deem it proper to give a brief account of it, particularly in reference to the amount of property destroyed and individual losses sustained. We have therefore called upon each of the sufferers, and obtained their own statements and estimates, which are given below. " The fire occurred on the morning of the 28th of September, commencing in the large cabinet-shop of S. Parsons and extending rapidly in either direction east and west, until no less than thirteen buildings, all occupied as stores, ma- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 185 chine shops, etc., and reaching from the brick store of R. Talcott & Co. to the eastern extremity of the block, were in flames, and soon, with more or less of their contents, were a mass of ruins. With great difficulty and untiring exertion the further progress of the fire was stayed, and five buildings of the entire block preserved. Providentially there was only a light westerly breeze during the time. Had the wind blown from the south, as it is very common in this place, the greater part of the village must inevitably have been destroyed. As it was, the buildings on the opposite side of the street were blackened with the heat, and some of them several times took fire. " The total loss of property falls but little short of fifty thousand dollars. This for the size of the place is a heavy sum, although happily no inconsiderable por- tion of it was covered by insurance. "List of Suiferers, Losses, etc. — Building owned and occupied by Spencer Parsons as a cabinet-shop, loss on building, furniture, stock, tools, etc., $4,000. No insurance. This building was on the site of the present Field Block. Work- men employed by Spencer Parsons, loss in books, tools, etc., $250. " The town records, which were in S. Parsons' office, were entirely destroyed. "Buildings Destroyed East of Parsons' Shop. — Building occupied by Nathan- iel Miller as a saddler-shop, loss on stock, tools, etc., $900. No insurance. " Building occupied by W. M. Beauchamp as a book-store and bindery, loss in books, paper, tools, etc., $1,100. Besides property destroyed in his store belonging to other individuals to the amount of $400. No insurance. [Site of the present post-office.] " Building occupied by Beauchamp & Miller, owned by Philo Dibble, loss $1,200. No insurance. " Three large buildings owned and occupied by John Legg as a carriage and sleigh factory, loss on buildings, carriages, stock, tools, etc., $10,000. Insurance, $1,000. Among the property destroyed belonging to Mr. Legg were several ele- gant carriages, finished, seventy-two carriage bodies, fifteen cutters, etc. [These buildings were on the site of Legg Hall.] " Building owned by Mrs. Minerva P. Greves, loss $200. Occupied by M. A. Kinney as the Columbian printing-office, and Robert I Baker as a tailor- shop. " M. A. Kinney's loss in press, furniture, damage of type, paper, etc., $425. No insurance. "Robert I. Baker's loss, $50. [Site of the place east of Hollon's.] " West from Parsons' Cabinet-shop. — Store occupied by Charles Pardee as drygoods store, loss $12,500. Insured $7,000. " Building occupied by Charles Pardee, owned by Porter & Pardee, loss $1,200. Insurance, $500. [Site of Hall & Shepard's.j " Buildings owned by Dr. Samuel Porter, occupied on the ground floor by James G. Porter as a dry-goods store, and by Noadiah Kellogg as a saddler-shop, on the second floor by Dr. Evelyn Porter as an office, Miss Delano as a milliner- i86 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. shop, and James M. Allen as an office, and on the third floor by William H. Greene as a schoolroom. Loss, $3,000. Insurance, $2,000. " James G. Porter, dry-goods store, loss $1,700. Insurance, $1,500. " Noadiah Kellogg, saddler, loss $200. No insurance. Workmen employed by N. Kellogg, loss in wearing apparel, etc., $50. Miss Delano, milliner, loss $40. Wm. H. Greene and scholars, loss in books, etc., $250. [Site of the present Wil- son & Lawrence store.] " Building owned and occupied by Phares Gould as a dry-goods store. Loss on goods and building, $2,000. Insurance, $1,350. [Site of AUis & Wicks' store.] " Building owned by William Dascomb, occupied by Gibbs & Burnett as a dry- goods store, by C. J. Burnett as post-office, and in the basement story by Dascomb & Dennison as a meat-shop, loss $2,000. Insurance, $1,000. Gibbs & Burnett's loss, $1,600. Dascomb & Dennison, meat-shop, loss $30. " We are happy to state that the whole of the letters, papers, etc., belonging to the post-office were saved. [Site of Hollon's drug store.] " The building owned by Daniel Watson, occupied by Alfred Hitchcock as a shoe-shop, by Charles L. Elliot as a paint-shop, and in the basement by G. Bayne as a private dwelling, loss $1,400. Insurance, $1,000. Alfred Hitchcock, shoe- shop, loss $200. No insurance. Charles L. Elliot, portrait painter, loss $240. G. Bayne, personal property, loss $25. [Site of N. Turner's store.] " R. Talcott & Co., dry-goods store, damage and loss on goods $800. Insur- ance, $450. [The present Foote & Van Orden store.] " N. Hawley & Co., dry-goods store, damage and loss of goods $250. Insur- ance, $95. [The present barber-shop and cigar-store.] " B. S. Wolcott, dry-goods store, damage and loss of goods $100. No insur- ance. [Site of J. Duckett's.]" The stores destroyed were all frame three-story buildings. We find in the same paper the following advertisement: " Notice. — Notice is hereby given that the Trustees of the village of Skan- eateles intend to apply to the Legislature at its next session, for the passage of an act, amending the act incorporating said village, to vest the Trustees with power to prevent the erection of wooden buildings in such parts of said village as they from time to time deem proper, and for other purposes. Dated November 9, 1835. J. M. Allen, Clerk." It would seem that this act was not applied for, as there has been no amend- ment to the village charter to that effect. It would have been wise to have such a power in the village authorities, as then those frame buildings on the old Lake House lot would not have been erected. Frame buildings are dangerous in the business part of the village. We have copied this extended account of the fire of 1835, as there is at present no detailed statement in existence, except the old single copy of the Columbian, now in our possession. — Skaneateles Democrat. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 187 Sir James Nurse Burdette, A Remarkable Skaneateles Character. — During the month of October, 1861, two well-dressed young men appeared as guests at the Lake House, then kept by D. C. Hadcock, on a Saturday. They immediately made diligent inquiry for a young man, a laborer, by the name of James Nurse, who they stated had inherited a baronetcy in England. The two young Englishmen who were in search of Nurse had the reputation, or had the name, of belonging to the nobility. They brought with them a certain legaLdocu- ment, on parchment, which authorized James Nurse to draw drafts on certain named parties in England for three thousand pounds sterling. Charles Pardee immediately took James Nurse under his special charge, ad- vanced Nurse money on his sterling drafts, and stated publicly that, in his opin- ion, there was not the least doubt that Nurse was a veritable baronet. The Cayu- ga County Bank, in Auburn, also cashed Nurse's drafts. James Nurse had an un- limited credit with all the Skaneateles merchants. The following is a copy of a check drawn on the Cayuga County Bank in favor of Messrs. Morgan & Daniels of this village : Auburn, N. Y., Dec. 4th, 1861. Cayuga County Bank. Pay to Messrs. Morgan & Daniels or Bearer, Seventy One 29-100 Dollars. $71.29. James Nurse Burdette. It was very natural, as the old saying is, " Where the carrion is, the vultures will come," consequently all the money- jobbers became very attentive and polite, and even loving, to the newly fledged baronet, and they immediately sought his acquaintance and " drafts." They made just as liberal offers to cash his drafts, and advance him all the funds he wanted, even without his signature. His kindly nature induced him to accept all their offers, and at once he began to ex- pend the proffered money in extravagant purchases. He sent one of his friends, of whom he had many, to New York with carte blanche, or, in other words, un- limited authority, to purchase an elegant carriage of the most fashionable style. which was accomplished satisfactorily to Sir James Nurse, and he immediately purchased the finest span of carriage-horses that was to be found in this section of the State. Sir James Nurse soon became the most prominent figure in Skan- eateles and surrounding country, riding in his superb equipage. James Nurse was first noticed in the Democrat, June 10, 1861, although he had lived hereabout for a number of years, earning a precarious livelihood by brewing domestic beer, in a hogshead kept for that purpose. September 2, 1861, before he had become a baronet, he was married, by Rev. Mr. Searles, at the residence of the bride's father, Thomas Corley, to Miss Mary Ann Corley, all of Skaneateles. It was not very many weeks before Mr. Pardee began to suspect that there was something suspicious about the story of this young sprig of nobility, and he 1 88 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. suggested to Sir James the idea of an introduction to his banker in New York, to which Sir James assented, and without further ceremony they both proceeded to New York. It so happened, luckily for Sir James, that the day after their arri- val a severe northeast rain-storm was prevailing at the time, and the tempera- ture very cold. Sir James trotted Pardee all over the city, and at every place they called Nurse's friends happened to be absent. Nurse kept his bosom friend on the 'move until he tired him completely out, when, having been tinsuccessful in finding the coveted banker, they returned to Skaneateles. C. Pardee then began to consider the propriety of protecting himself against ultimate loss. He did not impart his suspicions to others. On the contrary, he led others to believe that his visit to New York to be introduced to Nurse's banker was a very satisfactory one. He must secure himself, no matter if others who had similar claims were likely to lose. One of the latter class was George Francis, who held a promissory note which Sir James had given to him, in payment for the settlement of a long-stand- ing account due Francis. George Francis boarded at the Lake House at that time, and he had constantly urged Nurse to settle his account, and finally Nurse gave him a note, drawn by Matt Clapp, in liquidation of Nurse's indebtedness. It happened that George Francis was not entirely satisfied with this note, being suspicious of its genuine- ness, so he called to see Nurse at his room, for he also boarded at the Lake House. Nurse happened to be absent, but the door of his room was open. Fran- cis entered, and, noticing some writing materials on the desk, and evidently some of the same kind of paper that Matt Clapp's note had been written on, this rather confirmed his first suspicions that the note was a forgery. He then took the note and compared the edge of it with the edge of the paper on the desk, and found it fitted exactly where it had been evidently torn off. Francis thereupon called upon Sir James' friend, Charles Pardee, and imparted his suspicions as to its being a forgery. Without the least hesitation. Nurse's friend took the note, placed it in the drawer of his desk, took out the amount of the note in money, and paid it to George Francis, to his astonishment. This note to Charles Pardee (although about twenty-eight dollars in amount) was worth hundreds of dollars to him. He, of course, made no explanation to Francis. He had the implement, then, to secure himself against all possible loss. It would not do to let this trans- action become public until he had fully secured himself in all particulars. Charles Pardee was well acquainted with Matt Clapp's signature, and knew what he was about when he got possession of the note. George Francis thought that Pardee ought to have had Sir James arrested, but Charles knew better than that, and the payment by him of the note led Fran- cis to think that the signature of Matt Clapp was all right. That is what Pardee also thought. Pardee immediately confronted Sir James, and, exhibiting the note pretended to be executed by Clapp, declared to Nurse that it was a forgery and a State Prison offense, and, further, that, if he did not want it made public, and would at once deliver over his carriage and horses, and, in fact, all his mov- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 189 able property, he (Pardee) would not prosecute him or make any complaint. Sir Nurse, of course, was astonished and completely broken up; and he at once con- sented to Pardee's demand, and as a matter of course Charles Pardee became the owner of all Nurse's property. The elegant carriage, then stored in John Pack- wood's shop, was at once secretly shipped to New York, to the party from whom it was purchased, and was sold at a large discount to the original owner. The horses were secretly placed in the hands of one of Pardee's reliable friends, who could be depended upon to dispose of them in Syracuse, where the transac- tion would not be known. The other victims of Sir James' duplicity hereabout, who had claims against him, were kept in igorance of this transaction until the property, especially the span of carriage-horses, had been sold, without being made public here, by Pardee's trusty agent. Sir James Nurse Burdette very soon left town, disappeared, and has never been seen or heard of since. Nurse's brother, William Nurse, whose occupation was a house painter, lived here before and during his brother's career, yet received ho aid from him, has always been in needy circumstances, and was an inmate of the County Poor House. James Nurse, as before stated, was engaged here in making home-brewed ale before his remarkable career. He used only malt and hops, and without aloes or other drugs, and his production was in great demand by lovers of the pure arti- cle of real English ale. It was uillike that made by the large breweries throughout the United States, which use not only aloes, but cocculus indicus, and each has a peculiar character. Gum aloes is used in place of hops, is peculiarly bitter, much more so than hops, and its bitterness is very lasting on the tongue and in the mouth of the usual beer-drinker. Cocculus indicus is a poisonous drug, is imported from the East Indies, and is probably used especially for the adulteration of beer and ale, as it is seldom, if ever, required for medicinal purposes. Being poisonous, it is used very sparingly by the brewers in the adulteration of beer and ale. Its peculiar character is to cause a " swimmy " feeling over the brain in the top of the head, producing a very pleasurable sensation and also a drowsy feeling to persons who drink ale and beer adulterated with this drug. The modern science in the manufacture of lager-beer and other Ijeers and ale is at present at its full height. It may be well to mention that there is no doubt that Sir James Nurse Burdette had plenty of money. This was indisputable, and, further, the source whence he obtained it. His mother died while he was an infant. She had property, and she made a will bequeathing her savings to this boy when he had attained a certain age, which occurred at the time he was notified by the two young men who came here in the year 1861. The original bequest was not as large as the amount stated he was authorized to draw against, but, the original sum having in the mean time been invested on interest, it had assumed the proportions of three thou- sand pounds sterling. igo HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. " o « t-' ^ • .'0 "^ w 5 t^ u << bo HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 191 The Engraving of Skaneateles. (See page igo and the foldiug illustration between pages 192 and 193.) This copperplate engraving was originally published in the Ariel, a magazine published in Philadelphia, in the year 1830. The following description of the village and of the manufactories on the outlet of Lake Skaneateles was written for publication in the Ariel by the late John J. Thomas, of Union Springs, Cayuga County, N. Y., who also made the original sketch of the village, which was after- ward engraved : "The view herewith presented represents the upper part of the village of Skaneateles, when seen from the main road passing round the west side of the lake. The most prominent building in view is the old Presbyterian church, built when the country was new, but unoccupied at present by reason of its dis- tance from the center of the village. The next that attracts the eye is the Epis- copal church, recently built and furnished with an organ, bell, and clock, standing on the water's edge, on the Main Street, and presenting an imposing appearance when seen from the south or west. The buildings immediately surrounding the church are a few neat private dwellings. Those two more conspicuous on the rising ground are the beautiful mansions of Dr. Samuel Porter and Daniel Kel- logg, Esq. The public buildings not seen on the engraving are a new Presby- terian church, built of brick, and standing nearly opposite the Episcopal church, and an Incorporated Academy, situated a short distance in the rear of the village, presenting a beautiful prospect of the lake and surrounding country. " The village itself stands on the northern extremity of the lake, partly on ground rising in the form of an amphitheater on the east and north, unsurpassed for beauty of scenery. " The lake is about sixteen miles in length, and from one to two in breadth, for the most part very deep, in some places from three to four hundred feet. It is fed by springs from the bottom, which renders the water cold and pure, and well furnished with trout, perch, etc. It is navigated by two large boats, which supply the village with lumber and wood. '"For a considerable distance to the south of the village the lands on either side slope with a beautiful declivity to the water's edge, and present the view of well-cultivated farms and a number of elegant and delightfully situated mansions. " There are in the village, besides the Academy (which consists of a male and a female department), one select grammar school, two select schools for young girls, and two large district schools. " There are three hotels, a Masonic hall, and a printing establishment. There are also seven stores, doing a fair and profitable business, and two extensive sleigh and carriage factories, that make about six hundred sleighs and carriages in the course of the season. " On the Skaneateles Outlet, in and near the village, are five flouring-mills, which on an average will flour and pack seventy barrels per day. There are six sawmills, three linseed-oil mills, two iron foundries, one brass foundry, one ex- 192 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. tensive woolen factory (not completed), three clothiers' works, one cotton and woolen machinery factory, besides smaller establishments in every branch of mechanical operation usually found in the country. " The number of inhabitants in the village is upward of a thousand. " Skaneateles is sixty-six miles west of Utica, seven east of the flourishing vil- lage of Auburn, and eight miles distant from the Erie Canal, above which it is elevated about five hundred feet. " The Seneca Turnpike passes through it, and many lines of public stages in different directions. Travelers, especially foreigners, are usually charmed with this delightful spot, and speak in raptures of its interesting scenery. None who have a relish for the pleasant scenes of nature can approach it without admiration, or leave it without regret." — (Copied from the Ariel, July 24, 1830, vol. iv.. No. 7, page SS-) Note. — The original copperplate engraving, published in the Ariel, was seven inches long and four and a half inches wide. It is here enlarged to nine by thirteen inches, which will account for its coarseness. Discovery of the Plate and Description. — The history of the diificulties of obtaining the above plate and description is worthy of recital here (in the first per- son) : " In the endeavor to ascertain if there was in existence a sketch of the old Vredenburg dwelling-house, built in 1804-6, I was informed that Mrs. D. K. Leitch had one. I called on her, and found that she had the engraving herein- before described, which had been carefully framed for preservation by the late D. Kellogg Leitch. The engraving at once seemed to be a very valuable addition to my History, and Mrs. Leitch immediately gave me the use of it. " Thus far there was no letter-press description of the engraving. Therefore I determined to ascertain, if possible, whether any public library in Philadelphia had a copy of the Ariel in its possession. Having no correspondent in that city, I addressed a letter to the Ledger (newspaper). After describing my ob- ject in writing to that paper, asking for the name of some public institution that might possibly have a bound copy of the Ariel on its shelves, the Ledger gave the name of the Pennsylvania Historical Society. The result was that it had four volumes, but in no one of them was an engraving or description of Skaneateles. I then addressed a letter to the Librarian of the Girard College. The reply was that it had no Ariels. I then wrote to the Drexel Institute, with no better result. I then wrote to the Franklin Library, with no better result, and lastly wrote to the Library Company of Philadelphia, which was founded 1721. Fortunately this library had the coveted files of the Ariel, and the Treasurer, George Maurice Abbot, obligingly favored me with a manuscript copy of the description of the vil- lage and manufacturing interests on the outlet of the lake, which it would have been impossible to obtain had it not been for the treasurer of this last library, to whom I found it very difficult to express my full obligations for the great favor he had conferred upon me." HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 193 On page 190 is an exact copy of the original copperplate which was pub- lished in the Ariel Magazine, in Philadelphia, in the year 1830. This engraving has been made for the purpose of preserving it as it was originally. The enlarged copy, inserted herewith as a folded illustration, may get destroyed by frequent use. It is impossible to obtain another original. Interesting Items. — Alanson Edwards kept tavern here in 1822. He was the father of the late Thaddeus Edwards, and the son Thaddeus kept the bar. This tavern was located on the southwest corner of East Genesee Street and the East Lake Road. Jessee Kellogg, father of Dorastus, was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1758. In the year 1800 he came here to this village, and purchased the grist and saw mills. In 1807 he removed to the Obadiah Thorne farm. He afterward pur- chased the Loomis farm on East Hill, near Marcellus, where he resided until his death, in 181 1. George A. Stansbury was a Judge of Onondaga County in 1847. Freeborn G. Jewett was Surrogate of Onondaga County in 1824; a Member of Assembly in 1826; and a Member of the Twenty-third, the Twenty-fourth, and the Twenty-fifth Congress. A man by the name of Camp kept tavern here in 1816. The original William J. Vredenburg mansion, latterly the Daniel Kellogg house, was destroyed by fire, August 24, 1872. The Lake House was destroyed by fire, July 19, 1870. The Cardiff giant was first discovered, and published in the Skaneateles Democrat, October 21, 1869. Nehemiah H. Earll was first Judge of Onondaga County in 1823 and 1828. Elisha Johnson was a surveyor in this town in 1806. He made a map of Military Lot No. 20 for Samuel Rhoades, and laid out on it the farms of the several early settlers. Columbus Weston, formerly sexton of the old burial-ground, died April 17, 1867, aged sixty-seven years. Samuel Briggs, who was one of the earliest settlers in this town, died April 19, 1867. Hall & Pynchon (David Hall) were merchants in the village in 1820 to 1825. Briggs & Hall were merchants here in 181 7. Benjamin Gumaer first settled on the Obadiah Thorne farm. He was the father of Harvey Gumaer, formerly of this vicinity. This name has usually been pronounced " Gummore." Peter E. Gumaer came to this town in 1800. The region of Thorn Hill was first settled in 1799. David Earll, Eleazer Burns, Nathan Turner, and John Willets, came in sleighs from Washington County, N. Y. Elijah Parsons, father of Moses and John Parsons, came into this town, from Northampton, Mass., in 1805. He died October 26, 1862, aged eighty-three years. 194 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XIV. Early Merchants. Briggs & Hall. — In the year 1815, Isaac Briggs and Deacon David Hall formed a copartnership to get into the mercantile business. Isaac Briggs was the eldest son of John Briggs, who was one of the first settlers here, and he was DAVID hall. More familiarly known as Deacon David Hall. an older brother of the late Noah Briggs, of Skaneateles. After the partnership of Briggs & Hall was formed, they began business at Ithaca, N. Y., remaining there two years, when they removed their stock to Skaneateles. In 1818, David Hall bought out Briggs, and pursued the same lines alone until about 1825, when he took in his clerk, George A. Pynchon, as a partner, who was originally from Great Barrington, Mass. The firm then was Hall & Pynchon. A few years HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 195 later, 1828, Pynchon's health failed him, and he sold back his interest to David Hall, went to Florence, Ala., and later to Mobile, where he became a cotton factor. In 1840, he went to New Orleans, engaged extensively in business there as a cotton factor and importer of foreign salt, became very wealthy, and sub- sequently identified himself with the Confederate cause, investing his wealth in its bonds, which proved disastrous. He afterward died in comparative poverty at Paris, France. In 1828, Deacon David Hall sold out his store and business to Richard Tallcot. This is the first time that Mr. Tallcot was known to have entered into the mercantile business in Skaneateles. He continued in his own name in the same pursuit until about 1830-31, when he took in as partner H. W. Allen, the father of Mrs. T. Y. Avery, and the firm name became R. Tallcot & Co. C. W. Allis was a clerk for Mr. Tallcot as early as 183 1 or 1832. H. W. Allen remained with Mr. Tallcot but a year or two, and after that C. W. Allis was taken in as partner, the name of the firm still being R. Tallcot & Co., and about 1840 or 1842 the firm name was changed to C. W. Allis & Co. This firm continued nearly ten years, and about 1850 George P. Morgan assumed Mr. Tallcot's interest in the firm under the name of Allis & Morgan. This firm continued about three years, when the stock was divided. Allis took his share of the stock, went into another store, and joined it with the stock of Moses & Huxtable, under the firm name, of Allis, Moses & Huxtable. Huxtable died in a few years thereafter, and Moses went to Detroit, Mich., 'where he went into the wholesale crockery business. Then the firm name became Allis, Rhoades & Hall (C. W. Allis, William' P. Rhoades, and John C. Hall). After a while Rhoades sold out to his partners and went to California, the firm name becoming Allis & Hall. This firm continued a few years, when Hall went to Massachu- setts. Allis took in his clerk, George H. Wicks, under the firm name of Allis & Wicks, which continued a few years, and then the business was closed up. This was about from 1870 to 1876. After two or more years, which enabled Mr. Allis to wind up his old business, and on the organization of the Bank of Skaneateles, he was elected President of that bank, which office he filled in every acceptable manner until his death. C. W. Allis was a prominent member of the Society of Friends, and always stood high in all his business transactions, highly respected by all classes of citizens, and occupied many responsible positions during his long and honorable business life. We present his photograph on the following page. Now going back to the other division of the stock of Allis & Morgan, we find that George P. Morgan received his half of the stock, took in as partner Spencer A. Daniels, making the new firm Morgan & Daniels, which firm existed several years, and was finally wound up. Daniels went to Syracuse, and Morgan left town, perhaps going to Auburn. J. GuRDON Porter. — In 1830 and for a few years before and after that date, J. Gurdon Porter was in business in Skaneateles with Butler S. Wolcott, 196 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. under the firm name of Wolcott & Porter, carrying on a general store. Porter left the hrm about 1835, and went into partnership with James Hall, as carriage manufacturers, which had a supply store. The firm name was Hall, Porter & Co. C. W. ALTJS. Butler S. Wolcott continued in business alone until 1846 or 1847, when he moved to Gibson, Steuben County, N. Y., being interested with Captain Nash De Cost and others in a large sawmill there, which proved disastrous from the fact that there was a scarcity of large trees suitable for saw logs. Butler S. Wolcott died at Gibson, from heart failure, April 19, 1855. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 197 J. Gurdon Porter purchased the dwelhng which stood on the Lapham place when De Zeng purchased the place. H. W. Allen first bought it of De Zeng for a span of high-spirited horses which De Zeng wanted, and H. W. Allen then sold the house to J. Gurdon Porter, who had it carefully taken down, the materials removed, and reerected on what is now Leitch Avenue. It is now owned by R. B. Wheeler for his residence. Butler S. Wolcott. — Butler S. Wolcott was born in Wethersfield, Conn., March 22, 1799. He came to Skaneateles in 1824, and was at first a clerk for Deacon David Hall, in the Skaneateles Hotel (the original Lake House), which was built and first opened as a hotel by Hall. Wolcott afterward became clerk for Phares Gould. Gould's store, a frame building, was on the north side of Main Street, where Miss Wheeler now resides. He remained with Mr. Gould two or three years, and then went into partnership with Dr. Samuel Porter in mercantile business, in 1832, under the firm name of B. S. Wolcott & Co., which afterward dissolved, and a partnership was formed with J. Gurdon Porter under the same firm name. In 1837 he took in as partner Lorenzo Carter. This con- nection not proving genial, the partnership was again dissolved, after which Wolcott continued in business individually. The store he then occupied was next to Charles Pardee's, on the lake-shore, south side of Main Street. It was a frame building, situated near the center of the present row of brick stores. He held the office of Deputy Sheriff after his connection with Dr. Samuel Porter. In 1848 he removed to Gibson, Steuben County, N. Y., and with others built a steam sawmill. He continued to reside there until his death, April 19, 1855. He went out gunning in the morning of that day, and while in the woods was attacked with heart difficulty, and lay down on the ground, until a neighbor came along in a carriage. He was assisted into the vehicle, but before reaching liome was so distressed that he could ride no farther, and thence was carried home on a litter, about five o'clock in the afternoon, and died the same evening, at nine o'clock, aged fifty-six years. Spencer Parsons. — Spencer Parsons was a prominent man in his particular business line. He came to Skaneateles about the year 1812. After two or three years he had established an extensive cabinet-making and furniture business for those early days. Everything was hand-made, therefore he had in his employ quite a number of journeymen and apprentices. Up to that period many ot the earlier settlers had advanced in prosperity sufficiently to afford to build and occupy a frame house, while the original log houses were being replaced by frame, some of which were quite pretentious. Such houses, of course, needed better furniture. This, with settlers constantly arriving, afforded Parsons year by year a constantly increasing business. In the early " thirties," or shortly before, perhaps about 1825, his firm was Parsons & Rust (Charles Rust, a brother-in-law of Parsons and Luther Clark). Mr. Rust continued with him for several years, and about 1829 or 1830 the firm dissolved, and Mr. Rust went to Syracuse, where he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. 198 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. After Rust left him, Parsons continued on alone, gradually increasing his business. About 1836, with the assistance of C. Pardee, his brother-in-law, and perhaps some others. Parsons secured from the State a contract for three or five years for the labor of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred prisoners in the Auburn State Prison, at a very low rate per day for each prisoner, which was said to have been thirty cents per day. Parsons immediately commenced the manufacture of furniture in the Auburn Prison on an extensive scale, under the firm name of Parsons & Hewson, afterward Parsons, Hewson & Co., com- posed of Spencer Parsons, Daniel Hewson, and Jessee Segoine, who were all prominent business men. Then Parsons moved to Auburn, and Mr. Pardee took his stock of finished furniture, adding that as a branch to his other business, and for many years until he quit business he continued to have a large stock on hand of prison-made furniture. Sometimes Parsons, Hewson & Co. had between two hundred and three hundred convicts at work. Of course, other business men had contracts with the State for the other prisoners, as there were about twelve hundred prisoners, and, as Parsons, Hewson & Co.'s contract was for from one hundred and fifty to two hundred, other contractors took the balance. The clothing manufacturers made contracts, so did the hardware men and the agricultural implement men, and, in fact, all the convicts were hired out, and all the various contractors made money very fast, until the competition to get contracts from the State caused the rate per convict to rise to sixty cents. Spencer Parsons left a considerable fortune at his death. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Rust; the second was Harriett Kilbourne, a sister of Charles Pardee. He left but one child, a son by his first wife (Jessee Ives Parsons). He was elected Town Clerk in the year 1836 and held the office one year. Stephen Horton. — Stephen Horton was born in 1793. He came to Skane- ateles in 1813 (he was here May 22). He was a clerk for Phares Gould, and at another time clerk for Jonathan Booth. Afterward Booth took in as partner Samuel Ingham, under the firm name of Booth & Ingham. After a few years the firm name was changed to Booth & Horton. The Booth of this firm was supposed to be Zalmon Booth, the son of Jonathan Booth, and the Horton was Stephen. This firm continued but a year or two, and then the firm became Gibbs & Horton, which firm existed for several years. Then Mr. Gibbs left the firm, and Horton continued, and after a few years Horton took in Nelson Hawley as a partner under the firm name of S. Horton & Co., which lasted until the death of Mr. Horton, in 1832, who died of cholera in the city of New York. The firm then was changed to N. Hawley & Co., the estate of S. Horton being the Co., and so continued until about 1847 °^ 1848, when the business came to an end. Nelson Hawley then left Skaneateles, went to Troy, and engaged there in the wholesale drug business with his brother and others. After a few years he removed to Wisconsin. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 199 Nelson Hawley.— Nelson Hawley was born in Manchester, Vt., in the year 1801. At the age of eight years he accompanied his uncle to Onondaga. In later years he came to Skaneateles and formed a partnership with Stephen Horton in the dry-goods business. In 1832 he accompanied Mr. Horton to New York for the purpose of purchasing goods. While there Mr. Horton was taken ill with cholera and soon died. Mr. Hawley returned to Skaneateles, took charge of the concern, and looked after the needs and interest of the Horton family. In 1833 he married Cornelia Francis, daughter of Samuel Francis, Sr. After the NELSON HAWLEY. death of Mr. Horton he continued in the same business and made money rapidly, but by some unfortunate adventure lost what he had made. He failed in business, but finally paid all his creditors one hundred cents on the dollar, although he had a tempting opportunity to cheat them out of their dues and make money by the operation. His creditors made him a liberal present as a reward for his honesty and uprightness. While a resident in Skaneateles, he built the dwelling now owned by Mrs. Dr. Earll. This house was originally a story-and-a-half house, and very roomy on the lower floor, affording plenty of space for not only all the living-rooms but for the sleeping-apartments also. After a residence of thirty 200 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. years in Skaneateles he went to Troy, and engaged in business with Colonel Ralph Hawley in the wholesale drug business, under the firm name of Hawley & Co. In 1861 he dissolved partnership, left Troy, and purchased a farm in Kenosha, Wis., and at the time of his death, which occurred in the year 1874, he left his wife and six children in comfortable circumstances. He was one of the few men who was bound to treat his neighbors honestly, and every one who had business transactions with him found him upright in all his dealings. George P. Morgan. — George P. Morgan was born in the village of Aurora, Cayuga County, May 29, 1815, and was the fifth son of Major Christopher Morgan, who settled in that village in 1801, coming from Groton; Conn., and commenced a general merchandise business, which continued many years. George P. Morgan was educated in the Aurora Academy, and for years was engaged m business in Union Springs, and later he removed to Skaneateles, where he engaged in the sale of general merchandise, being associated with C. W. Allis, under the firm name of Allis & Morgan, and later with S. A. Daniels, under the name of Morgan & Daniels. He was successful in business, and re- tired therefrom to locate in Auburn, where he remained until 1873. Then he removed to New York, where he spent several years. In 1881 he removed to the place of his birth, Aurora, and spent the last ten years of his life in peace and quiet among the scenes of his boyhood. Early in the year 1891 he went to the city of Auburn for medical" treatment, and while there contracted a severe cold, which resulted in pneumonia, causing his death, March 19, 1891. He was a genial, cultured, warm-hearted man, of remarkable presence, and a nature which made him popular among his fellow citizens. Mr. Morgan was married in 1832 to Miss Maria Tallcot, daughter of Richard Tallcot, of Skaneateles. Mrs. Morgan died in Aurora, Cayuga County, November 17, 1896. Edward G. Ludlow. — Edward G. Ludlow was a former merchant in Skane- ateles, in the years 1812-14. He was born in New York, June 2, 1793, and died in Yonkers, N. Y., July 7, 1877. Pie came to Skaneateles with his father, Daniel Ludlow, in the year 1810, and in his early manhood was engaged in business as a general store as one of the firm of Ludlow & Hecox. When the parish of St. James' Church was organized in 1816, Edward G. Ludlow was elected vestryman. After that he remained here a few years, then returned to New York, as his father had died here in 18 14, and his interest in Skaneateles had ceased. He afterward studied medicine, and was a prominent physician in the. city of New York for forty-four years. He then removed with his family to Yonkers, N. Y., where he died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. John Meeker. — John Meeker conducted a store here in the village through the agency of Samuel Ingham. Meeker had been in the habit of establishing stores within this and adjoining counties for several years before 1805. In Manlius, for instance, he formed a partnership with Azariah Smith, on terms of equal division of profits, Meeker finding the capital, and as his part of the partnership business made the purchases of goods at Albany, and attended HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 201 to the disposal of the produce sent to Albany to exchange for goods. Samuel Ingham was designated as Meeker's clerk ; at any rate, he conducted the business here. Meeker also owned a potashery here. Potash was the only real staple article of produce made here that always had a ready sale at Albany. Samuel Ingham resided in an unpainted story-and-a-half house that was located at that period where C. H. Poor's dwelling is now. Meeker's transportation of goods and produce was in large canvas-covered wagons drawn by four to six horses. CHARLES J. BURNETT, JR. The time consumed in a trip to Albany and return was about two weeks. Potash was the principal production in this section. Charles J. Burnett, Jr. — Charles J. Burnett, Jr., was born in the old Burnett homestead, in the village of Skaneateles, August 17, 1808. About the year 1826 he was a clerk or assistant to his father, who was postmaster. At that period an advertisement in the Skaneateles Columbian stated that as agent he would receive subscriptions for magazines, newspapers, etc., at the post-office. 202 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. In another issue of a later date he was in partnership with S. Porter Rhoades, in 1828, under the firm name of Rhoades & Burnett, conducting the business of a general store. This partnership continued several years, and after its dissolution C. J. Burnett, Jr., continued in the same line of business for many years. In the year 1845 he was occupying the store now owned by George P. Lawrence, and continued until William G. Slade purchased the store building, after which Mr. Burnett removed his stock of goods to the adjoining store east of the Slade store. He was elected Town Clerk in 1851, and held the office continuously for six years until 1857. In 1858 he was again elected to the same office. He was a most methodical man of business, conservative, careful, and of the strictest integrity and uprightness of life. Politically he was a Democrat of the old school. He died March 30, 1892, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. William G. Slade. — William G. Slade was born in Westport, Mass., in 1807. In his early manhood he taught the Friends' School at Nine Partners, Cayuga County. After teaching this school he went to North Carolina, and while there he became the principal of a Quaker school, and remained there several years. After leaving there, he came to Skaneateles, in 1844, with Jacob and Eliza Griffin, whose daughter he had previously married. He went into business with Stephen A. Gifford, keeping a general store. The partnership continued several years, and after its dissolution Mr. Slade continued in the same business, until his retirement from active business, in 1855, considering at that time that he had accumulated sufficient means for his future support. He had invested largely in the stock of the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad, and in the great business panic of that year this investment depreciated at a ruinous rate, so much so that its market value was only six dollars a share. Thus he lost a large part of his accumulated savings, which very materially reduced his yearly income. This induced him to commence the study of law in 1855, and after due course of time he was admitted to the bar, and acquired a considerable practise. He died October 5, 1868. William G. Slade was descended from William Slade, who was known to have settled in this country at Newport, R. I., August 23, 1659. In 1680 he removed to Somerset, Bristol County, Mass. His own father lost his life while on a vessel bound from Wales (he being a native of that country) to America. William Slade was the first white man to own and keep the ferry known as " Slade's Ferry," formerly run by the Indians. Edward Winslow, afterward Governor of Plymouth Colony, writes of his journey to visit Massachusetts, when ill, March, 1623 : " The next day about one of the clock, we came to a ferry, where upon discharge of my piece, divers Indians came to us from a house not far off, supposed to be Slade's Ferry, between Somerset and Fall River." " At a quarterly meeting of first of Fifth month, 1639, to Thomas Slade is granted, one house lott, to be built upon in one yr, or be forfeited." " Slade " means a strip of open land in a forest. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 203 Charles Pardee. — Charles Pardee was born in Skaneateles, March 20, 1798, in a log house that stood near the road a short distance north of the Dyer Brainerd dwelling, afterward owned by W. J. Townsend. Once, while riding with Mr. Pardee past that locality, he pointed out as near as he could where the log house stood, and told me (T. Isom) all about it. Soon after his birth his father, Ebenezer Pardee, bought a farm, of which the Baber farm is now a part. The house stood about where the present Baber house stands. That farm was some- thing over one hundred acres then. Charles Pardee's father died of typhoid fever, December, 1836, and left a large family of young children— eight sons and CHARLES PARDEE. one daughter. Charles was the fifth child born. One of his elder brothers, John, worked the farm and cared for the mother and younger children. Charles and the elder brothers had to shift for themselves, as the saying is. He worked by the month on another farm for a while, and in summer made several trips to and about Geneva and Canandaigua, helping buy and drive cattle. About 1814 or 1815 an older brother, Sheldon Pardee, had a store in Elbridge, and Charles Pardee then started out on his commercial career as clerk for his brother. He remained at Elbridge until 1818, a portion of the time in another store. (This is not a certain statement.) Sheldon Pardee afterward removed his business to Geddes, had a store there, and made salt. In 1832-33 he closed out his business and moved to Michigan. 204 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. In 1818, Charles, then twenty years of age, and a young friend of his by the name of Wightman, left home for New Orleans. They went to western Penn- sylvania until they reached the Alleghany River, where they purchased a row- boat and started down the river. At night they would pull out their boat, turn it over, and sleep under it. Near the mouth of the Ohio River their boat got wrecked in some manner, so much so as to render it unsafe, and they had to leave it. They got on a flat or tow boat and went to New Orleans in that manner. Seeking employment, they could find nothing to do. It was very hard times that followed the War of 1812, and business of every kind was paralyzed all over the country, and especially at New Orleans. Charles Pardee remained there about six weeks, and, his money beginning to run very low, he came to the conclusion to return home. Wightman thought he would go to that part of Mexico that is now known as Texas, and endeavor to find employment there, but before he could get away he was taken sick, the expense attending which used up all his money, and when he had recovered he had to go to work on the public streets. It took all his slim earnings to get enough to enable him to live and to get away with. But Charles Pardee only remained there about six weeks, when he went to New York by a sailing-vessel. On his arrival there he went to see John Stewart, of the firm of John Stewart & Co., an extensive jobbing dry-goods establishment. Pardee had previously seen and become somewhat acquainted with Mr. Stewart at Elbridge on several occasions when Stewart had been going through the country visiting his customers, as was customary in those days with New York merchants. Pardee borrowed from Mr. Stewart ten dollars to get home with, and after Mr. Pardee went into business he purchased a great many thousands of dollars' worth of goods of him, extending for a year or two after his (Pardee's) return. On his arrival from New Orleans he became clerk for E. B. Shearman & Co., at Utica, N. Y. About the latter part of 1819 or early in 1820 he became clerk for Gibbs & Horton in Skaneateles, and remained with that firm until nearly the time he went into business for himself. If it had not been for a rupture between him and Horton, he (Pardee) might not have gone into business at that time. The rupture occurred in this way: In those days merchants had to send teams to Albany, before the canal, to get their goods that came up from New York by water on the Hudson River. It was customary to load the teams down from Skaneateles with wheat, which they took of their customers there at about three shillings per bushel, and would get about six shillings or upward for it at Albany. In the fall of 1822, when Mr. Horton went to New York, he told Mr. Pardee to send at such a time five or six teams to Albany for the goods he purchased. Pardee asked him if he should load the teams with wheat. In reply Horton told him no, as wheat was low at Albany and it would not pay. Pardee had saved some money from his salary, and had bought notes at a discount, so that he had on hand quite a little money, and he decided to load the teams with wheat on his own account, which he did. In the mean time the wheat market at Albany had advanced, so that Pardee's wheat netted a nice HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 205 little profit. This transaction made Mr. Horton very angry when he got home and found it out, and the next winter, when Pardee's time that he had engaged with Gibbs & Horton expired, Horton would not renew the engagement. Soon after Pardee left them, Mr. James Porter, father of James E. Porter, and Charles Pardee entered into copartnership to go into the mercantile business at Skaneateles, Mr. Porter putting into the firm fourteen hundred dollars, and Charles Pardee six hundred dollars, making the capital stock two thousand dollars, Mr. Pardee to manage and run the business, and profits to be equally divided. It proved to be very profitable for both partners. This partnership commenced business April i, 1823, and within two or three years afterward they were doing the largest amount of trade here. Mr. Porter, of course, knew all about Pardee. He had known him all his life, knew that he was competent and saving, and had the most implicit confidence in his ability. About 1825, Mr. Porter moved to Albany, and became a very prominent man there. He was interested in the Old Canal Bank of Albany, and through him Porter & Pa:rdee could get all the money they wanted at that bank. By 1830 they were doing the largest business of any house in central New York, except Azariah Smith, of Manlius, and Jedediah Barber, of Homer, N. Y. These two concerns each did probably about as large a trade. The business for many years ran from $80,000 to $100,000 per year in sales. The partnership was to exist ten years, but Pardee could not get Porter to come up to Skaneateles to settle, so that it ran on until during 1835. They then came to an agreement to leave the settlement of the business to Azariah Smith, of Manlius, and thus to determine the amount each partner ought to have. There was real estate also, Pardee's individual account, and other extras. Smith came up and helped to take the inventory, ere. The business showed up $80,000 or a little more, so that each had $40,000 assured. Mr. Pardee took the stock, collected and paid off the debts, settled with Mr. Porter, and continued the business under his own name for some years. In 1837, Joel D. Stebbins came from New York as his bookkeeper, and after a time became a partner, the firm name being C. Pardee & Co. On February i, 1847, they dissolved. Mr. Stebbins went back to New York and engaged in business for himself. Mr. Pardee continued in business alone after that until January i, 1852, when Thomas Isom and Deacon David Hall for his son, Daniel W. Hall, bought Mr. Pardee out; that is, the stock was purchased, and the business was from that time conducted under the firm of Isom & Hall. Mr. Pardee during his mercantile career stood high, his credit was of the best in New York, and he was an excellent financier and known as a good, prudent merchant. The firm of E. Pardee & Co., which commenced business in the month of July, 1825, was composed of Ebenezer Pardee (brother of Charles Pardee) and Richard Talcott. Mr. Pardee's father's family, including his mother, John Pardee, and the younger members, moved to Ohio in 1828 (date uncertain), and settled in Wads- worth, about three miles south of Cleveland. Charles Pardee had a brother 2o6 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. younger than he named Ebenezer, who was the father of Mary Pardee, now Mrs. Lucien Moses. This Ebenezer Pardee, in 1829 or 1830, perhaps in 1828, was in business in Cleveland, Ohio, under the firm name of E. Pardee & Co., which had large dealing for several years with Porter & Pardee, of Skaneateles, buying goods of them, and shipping to them large quantities of various kinds of produce ; but in 1832 this Ebenezer Pardee was back in Skaneateles as bookkeeper for Porter & Pardee, with whom he remained two or three years, in the mean time got married, went back West to Wadsworth, Ohio, and entered into mercantile business there with his brothers 'Allen and John, under the firm name of A. J. & E. Pardee. Charles Pardee during his life was actively identified with nearly every interest in both the town and the village of Skaneateles. His career after he sold his stock and business to Messrs. Isom & Hall, January i, 1852, shows that he became a banker, and during the Civil War entered into manufacturing opera- tions for about eighteen months, after which he was interested in various mer- cantile pursuits from time to time. In 1865, according to the best estimate of his nearest friends, he was worth over all his liabilities from three hundred to three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and how he became such a financial wreck at the time of his death puzzled his most intimate friends. It has been estimated by those who knew him best that, if he had died at the age of seventy, he would have left a fortune and a good business character. In his early life he was married, in 1828, to Eliza Kilbourn, of New Hartford, Oneida County, N. Y. After his mercantile career and established reputation for so many years, he with others started during the month of March, 1863, the first bank that was ever organized in this town, which was incorporated as the Lake Bank. It had a paid-up capital of $100,000. It commenced bushiess in the month of May, 1863, and was located in what was formerly known as the Hecox Block, a three-story brick building which Mr. Pardee had erected in the year 1850. Its first officers were: Anson Lapham, President; Charles Pardee, Vice-President; and Henry J. Hubbard, Cashier. On the first annual election subsequent to its organization Charles Pardee was elected President, Anson Lapham having declined reelection, and C. W. Allis was elected Vice-President. On the 4th of March, 1864, the First National Bank of Skaneateles was organized with a capital of $50,000. Its directors were Charles Pardee, Henry J. Hubbard, Thomas Isom, Jr., Giles M. Lawrence, and Lucien Moses. The first officers were: Charles Pardee, President; and Henry J. Hubbard, Cashier. No active commercial business was done by this bank until June 15, 1865, when the capital stock was increased to $150,000, when it absorbed all the business of the Lake Bank. In December, 1867, owing to the excessive assessment and taxation, which seemed to its officers to be a discrimination against the bank, the stockholders voted to go into voluntary liquidation, and the business of the bank was afterward carried on with the same capital under the firm name of C. Pardee &Co. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 207 In the Cayuga County Bank, in Auburn, which was started in 1833, Charles Pardee was much interested and became a director. He was reelected to the same position every year for over thirty years. In the business panic of 1837 he was sent to New York to look after the interests of the bank in protecting its circulating notes. He remained there about two months, and was eminently suc- cessful by his financial ability in promoting and establishing the solid character of the bank. Mr. Pardee was elected President of the village in the years 1851, 1852, 1853, 1863, 1869, and 1872, six terms, during which time he was actively interested in promoting the best interests of the village. It was during his administration that Genesee Street, across the outlet of the lake, was widened, filled in, and the stone protecting walls on either side of the street solidly constructed. It was through his influence that the new bridge was built by the State. Charles Pardee was the son of Ebenezer Pardee, who with his brother, Charles Pardee, came into this town from Norfolk, Litchfield County, Conn., in the year 1797, and settled on what has since been known as the Perry Foote farm. Here he lived until his death in 1836, at the age of seventy-six years. The melancholy death of the subject of this sketch, Charles Pardee, occurred April 9, 1878, at the age of eighty years. In relation thereto we herewith present a copy of a letter written by a lady of Skaneateles to an intimate friend, then on a visit to the city of New York : " I want to write you of Mr. Pardee's fearful end. It has shocked us all very much. He is the last man I should ever have dreamed of taking his own life — a man of such an iron will. He was out on Sunday. Yesterday morning (Sun- day) he did not feel very well; thought he would not get up; was dizzy and sick at the stomach. This (Tuesday) morning some better, but seemed lost; a little confused. Took beef-tea and gruel at noon, then soon complained of being drowsy. Wanted Mrs. Moses to go down-stairs so he could get asleep; she thought she would go down-stairs and get some warm water to wash him with; waited to heat it ; perhaps it took her some twenty minutes to attend to what she did ; and when she went back in the room, her father was not in bed ; was sitting .on the floor, with his head on an ottoman, near the washstand, with his throat cut ; she took a towel and clapped it on his throat, and then called the girls ; then his eyes were closed. When she came back she knelt by his side, and tried to raise him ; then he opened his eyes and smiled at her ; and she said, ' O father, father ! why did you do this ? ' He replied, ' There is no use living any longer.' And then he put his mouth to kiss her, raised himself up on his elbows, and put his head on her shoulder — gasped twice — and was gone! How awful to think of a man to live to be eighty years old, and then to take his own life ! Why, no one knew. The family say he has been very despondent lately, so low-spirited and depressed. I shudder to think how Mr. Pardee could have committed the awful deed. They think he attempted the act when they wdre at dinner. When Mrs. Moses went up-stairs, he had been taking off his shirt, and was lying with 2o8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. nothing but his undershirt and drawers on. She asked him how he came to get up. In reply he said he thought he would dress, but was so dizzy he had to go back to bed. They think he took his shirt off so as to have his neck clear. He made three attempts — ^three deep gashes — the last one was very deep. What a shock- ing death ! He took one of his razors out of the washstand drawer. Dr. Benson sewed up the wounds." Aaron Brinkeehoff. — Aaron Brinkerhoff was born in Owasco, Cayuga County, N. Y., March 3, 1817. He came with his father at an early day to Thorne Hill. His education was largely acquired at the old Auburn Academy, after which he served a brief clerkship in Auburn, when he removed to Kelloggs- ville, Cayuga County, where he married Miss Lydia Fuller, daughter of Captain Luther Fuller. About 1840 he removed to Skaneateles and engaged in the mercantile business. He was in partnership as one of the firm of Brinkerhoff & Willetts (the late William Willetts who went to California during the late forties), and afterward as of the firm of Brinkerhoff & Porter (J. Gurdon Porter). On the dissolution of this firm he continued individually keeping a general store. In 1848 he was elected Town Clerk, and reelected a second term. In the year 1850 he was elected Supervisor, and continued to hold that office until 1854. In politics he was a Democrat of the old school. His close friends were Judge Freeborn G. Jewett, William H. Jewett, Charles J. Burnett, Jr., Judge D. T. Moseley, Harrison B. Dodge, Caleb W. Allis, Charles Pardee, Joel Thayer, Elias and Obadiah Thorne, and all the leading men of the day. In the year 1854 he removed to the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., and was engaged for many years in the wholesale dry-goods business in New York. In 1883 he was elected Comptroller of the city of Brooklyn, and was afterward reelected a second term. He was a man of the strictest integrity and uprightness of life, and of exceptional business ability. He won and retained warm friendships, universal respect, and high esteem, and his life was in every phase exemplary. He died in Brooklyn, March 13, 1891. Jonathan Booth. — Jonathan Booth commenced a very early and heavy busi- ness about 1812-14 under the firm name of Booth & Ingham. The latter was Samuel Ingham, who had been a clerk for John Meeker about 1802. The busi- ness was continued for many years, when the management was assumed by Booth & Horton, composed of Zalmon Booth, son of Jonathan, and Stephen Horton. Booth was later succeeded by William Gibbs under the name of Gibbs & Horton, which some years after was changed to S. Horton & Co., and eventu- ally became the firm of N. Hawley & Co. It was closed up in 1847-48, Mr. Hawley going to Troy, N. Y., to engage in the wholesale drug business with his brother. George Francis. — George Francis was born at Fairhaven, Vt., July 30, 1807. He came to Skaneateles with his father, in 1814, when he was seven years of age. In early adult life he worked in his father's hat factory, and thoroughly learned the trade in all its details, which fitted him for the business he afterward em- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 209 barked in, selling at retail hats, caps, furs, buffalo and other robes, gloves, and such other goods as were usually kept in stock in other places. He was pos- sessed of a genial nature, kind and generous to a fault, always had a pleasant smile, and had a large following of personal friends. He had an irreproachable character. He was particularly polite to ladies, especially those who he thought needed assistance in alighting from any kind of carriage in the street or entering a carriage, fastening the horse or such other assistance as might be needed. GEORGE FRANCIS. He exceeded in all these respects all the other merchants of the village. His death occurred very suddenly, April 20, 1874. He had been suffering from sore throat, and while sitting with his family he exclaimed suddenly, " I can not breathe," and died immediately, without further warning. Phares Gould. — Phares Gould was another early merchant and a prominent citizen in Skaneateles. Few persons of this town at the present day are familiar with his name. The following is the most correct history of him that has been obtained : 210 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. His father, Jeremiah Gould, resided at Weston, Worcester County, Mass., where Phares Gould was born December 20, 1789. He came to this town about the year 1810. He was contemporary with the late Daniel Kellogg, who was born in 1780, and who came here in 1803. They both became genial and warm friends. Phares Gould married Miss Melissa Osborn, in Skaneateles, March 14, 1813. The following is a copy, or rather abstract, of a deed from John Legg and wife to Stephen Horton, which indicates the residence of Phares Gould in the year 1816, recorded in Liber S of Deeds, page 44: September 16, 1816. — John Legg and Emma his wife to Stephen Horton, Jr. Considera- tion, $1,125.00. Beginning in the Seneca Turnpike road at the South West corner of a village lot, in possession of Phares Gould, on which the store and dwelling house of said Phares Gould stands, Running thence Easterly along said Turnpike to the East side of the store of the said John Legg standing on said lot, thence Northerly on a line parallel with the West line of the said John Legg's village lot, to the North line of the said John Legg's village lot, thence Westerly on the said North line to the village lot of Jonathan Booth, thence Southerly along the East line of the said Jonathan Booth's village lot to the East line of the said Phares Gould's village lot to the place of beginning, containing three-fourths of an acre of land, be the same more or less. In presence of Thos. p. Baldwin. This deed shows where Phares Gould had his store and his adjoining resi- dence on the north side of our Main Street. It also appears that John Legg had a store which was located on the site of the Horton dwelling-house, which store by the above deed he conveyed to Stephen Horton. The location of Phares Gould's dwelling and store was on the present Miss Wheeler's house and milli- nery-store lot. • Long before Mr. Gould's arrival here a merchant named John Meeker, whose residence was ill Cherry Valley, N. Y., had been an extensive trader previous to the year 1807, and was considered both prudent and sagacious, and the greatest merchant in western New York, having stores in different sections of the State. These stores were established -fof;. the; sale of general merchandise, such as dry- goods, groceries, hardware, drugs- medicines, etc. He had one at Manlius, of which Azariah Smith was the manager and chief clerk ; another store at Homer, N. Y., of which Jedediah Barber was manager and chief clerk ; and another store at Skaneateles, of which Phares Gould became manager and chief clerk. The above named are described as examples of John Meeker's business. He made the purchases for all his stores principally at Albany, which at that period was the headquarters of the wholesale trade for all sections of the State west of Albany. There were some purchases of inferior value made by small dealers at Utica. Meeker also attended to the sale and transportation of the domestic produce sent forward from his various stores. Potash at that time was the prin- cipal commercial product, although other produce, such as wheat, oats, etc., was also forwarded, for all of which groceries, dry-goods, hardware, drugs, dye- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 211 stuffs, medicines, etc., were obtained in exchange. Potash was the leading and most valuable product sent forward to Albany. The same wagons or other vehi- cles which had transported the produce were in turn loaded with the merchandise which had been obtained to be conveyed to his several branch stores. At about this period Phares Gould was elected as a trustee of the original Skaneateles Library Company, which had been organized in 1806, at which time Daniel Kellogg had been elected librarian. Phares Gould was reelected to this office for ten years, when in 1824 he was elected treasurer and librarian, holding that office for ten years, when he resigned. He was succeeded by James G. Porter, who resigned the following year and was succeeded by E. H. Porter. Phares Gould was at the next annual meeting elected a trustee, and continued as such until the company dissolved, after an active existence of thirty-five years. During the time Phares Gould was chief manager for Meeker's store, after the close of the last war with England, 1812-15, there was a great depression of general business throughout the United States, which resulted in the failure of John Meeker. Azariah Smith assumed the Manlius business, Jedediah Barber took charge of the Homer business, and Phares Gould conducted the Skaneateles business. Both Azariah Smith and Jedediah Barber became very prosperous and leading merchants for many years ; but Phares Gould had strong local competi- tors, while the other managers in Manlius and Homer had none. Porter & Par- dee and S. Horton & Co. here in Skaneateles soon obtained control of the local trade. Consequently Phares Gould's business fell away and became unprofitable. Before this, about the year 1828 or 1830, Addison G. Jerome became Mr. Gould's clerk, and remained as such for several years, when Phares Gould re- moved to Camillus, N. Y., in 1836. Jerome then went to New York, and pro- cured a situation with the large wholesale house of John Stewart, Jr., & Co., and after a few years became a partner of the same firm, which was doing a very heavy trade at that period. Several years after he dissolved partnership and embarked in the stock brokerage business. Jerome had been a resident of the village for a number of years. His brother, Leonard H. Jerome, had also been a resident for a few years while studying law with Daniel Kellogg or John C. Beach here in the village. In the earlier life of Phares Gould in Skaneateles, after he sold his store and dwelling west of the Horton lot, he built the two-story and attic dwelling-house which was later occupied by Richard Talcott in 1837, ^^^ now owned by Charles H. Poor. When Phares Gould gave up his business in Skaneateles and removed to Camillus, N. Y., as before stated, in January, 1836, there being excellent water- power there, he sought a milling business, and, finding that a new grist-mill had been built by Philip Drake only two years previously and was for sale, he secured it for himself and his son, Edward O. Gould, who enlarged it and ran it until 1 85 1, when they sold out to Wilson R. Cooper, Edwin R. Harmon, and Cornelius W. Way. Phares Gould conducted the business under the firm name of Phares Gould & Son. After a few years, finding that the business was rather 212 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. limited in extent, both father and son went to Buffalo, and associated themselves with Dean Richmond in a more extensive business connected with grain elevators. While thus engaged in that business, his only son, Edward Osborn Gould, died in Buffalo, July 31, 1858, while in the prime of life, at the age of forty-four years. This great affliction caused him to abandon his business and remove to New York, where he made his home with his only daughter, Julia, the wife of Addison G. Jerome. Phares Gould died there August 24, 1862. As this history of Phares Gould is fragmentary, a portion of his early history is as follows : Seventy-five years ago, March 20, 1825, he purchased from James Sackett the triangular piece of land which Jedediah Sanger (the original owner of Military Lot No. 36, on which this village is located) conveyed to John Briggs August 3, 1804. This triangular piece of land is now the Frederick Shear property. Phares Gould also purchased at the same time from Sackett twelve acres of land on the south side of the Seneca Turnpike Road, now West Genesee Street, located between West Lake Street and John Briggs' land; consideration, $3,000. The cemetery comprises a portion of that John Briggs' land. Gould also purchased a half-acre on the shore of Skaneateles Lake, bounded on the ea,st by a certain board fence, which in 1808 embraced the dooryard of John Briggs, leading from the lake to the road, being the same land which John Briggs con- veyed, August 27, 1808, to John Meeker, now the Waller boat-house lot. The consideration for this last conveyance was $1,000. Phares Gould originally owned the lot on which the present Charles H. Poor residence is. Gould built that dwelling-house, and in the year 1837 he sold that property to the late Richard Talcott. Rev. Albert C. Patterson. — Rev. A. C. Patterson's rectorship of St. James' Church, in the village, began July 7, 1851, and continued until May 14, 1859, when he resigned. He died at Jamaica Plain, Mass., in 1864. Jacob W. Van Etten. — Jacob W. Van Etten was born at Minisink, Orange Co., N. Y., in 1779, went to the town of Owasco in 1800, and in 1806 removed to the town of Skaneateles, one and a half miles north of Mandana. He died on his farm in 1850. David Seymour. — David Seymour and Bertha, his wife, settled on one hundred acres in Military Lot No. 37, on the west shore of the lake. He was in occupation of this land in 1804. During that year he sold fifty acres to Stephen Gardner. David Seymour was a shoemaker by trade, and from him Colonel Hecox learned his trade. He also had a brick-kiln on his land. Timothy Coleman and Elizabeth, his wife, owned a portion of Lot No. 37, in 1795. Early Settlers. — All the following early settlers in this and adjoining towns originally emigrated from Peenpack Neighborhood, in the town of Minisink, Orange Co., N. Y. ; Cuddeback; Van Innewegen; De Witt; Cortright; Van Etten ; Gumaer ; Depuy ; Cuykendall ; Van Vliet ; except Diefendorf, who came from Schoharie County, N. Y. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 213 CHAPTER XV. Recollections, Business, and Inventions. The Cooper-Shops ■ of Thaddeus Edwards. — ^For many years Thaddeus Edwards had two cooper-shops on the north side of East Genesee Street. These shops were originally built about 1825, on the north side of the old Skaneateles and Hamilton Turnpike Road, and were demolished in 1876. The work of the early coopers, besides making tubs, pails, and barrels, was the manufacture of thaddeus EDWARDS' OLD COOPER SHOPS, BUILT EIGHTY YEARS AGO. shingles. These were made from white pine, which was abundant in certain sec- tions of the county. The pine logs were sawed into short lengths, and these were split into slabs of equal thickness. These slabs were made into shingles by planing down one end of the slab with a drawing-knife. The shavings obtained from these cuttings were sold in bunches to the early settlers for kindling fires in the fireplaces. Sawed shingles were not known or thought of. Thus, in making shingles, potash and other barrels, tubs, pails, and various necessary household utensils, the coopers were decidedly useful mechanics. Recollections of the Late Thaddeus Edwards. — " Nathaniel Eells first settled in this village in the year 1800. He purchased the property, latterly owned by the late Charles Pardee, opposite the old brick schoolhouse on Onon- daga Street. He built the Eells Tavern (since known as the Somerset House) just before I [Edwards] was seventeen years of age, about 1811-12. I was 214 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. about nineteen years old at the time the tavern was fully completed. Eells had a son, or brother, whose name was Horace. The Eellses, besides being farmers, were coopers, and at that early day were very useful in making the barrels for packing and shipping potash, which was the only real valuable export produce first manufactured in Skaneateles, to be transported by teams to Albany, and there exchanged for groceries, dry-goods, hardware, drugs and medicines, and other necessaries of the early settlers. " Noble Coe purchased the Eells Tavern soon after it was completed, and kept it for some time. He afterward formed a copartnership with a Mr. Marsh, under the firm name of Coe & Marsh, who at the same time leased the Sherwood Tavern west of the bridge, and kept both these taverns for many years. " Sylvester Roberts was a blacksmith, and had his shop on the south side of the Seneca Turnpike, about midway between the Eells tavern and the law office of Daniel Kellogg. ■' The general mechanical business of the village was located on the hill, about where Roberts had his blacksmith-shop. This was a location where the stage- coaches passed daily with travelers going through the State. The stage-horn was always an ^companiment of the jolly drivers on the stages." Pounds, ShiiXings, and Pence. — We herewith present the following official definition of th^ Pounds, Shillings, and Pence used in the account-books of early merchants herd's. On April 17, 1899, I addressed a letter to the Superintendent of the IJnited States Mint, at Philadelphia, making inquiry as to the currency in use in the early, part of the nineteenth century, to which the following reply was received : -k ' '^.,; • ,,' . The Mint of the United States at Philadelphia. Superintendent's Office. Mr. Edmund Norman Leslie, Skaneateles,' New York: Dear Sir: Replying to your letter of the 14th inst., I have to say that the money transactions in the old ledgers mentioned relate solely to Dollars, Shillings, and Pence. These were in the Spanish milled dollar and its divisions. These milled dollars and divisions were a legal currency of the United States. In the State of New York, the eighth of a dollar was known as a shilling ; the sixteenth, as a sixpence. Seventy-five cents was six shillings. In Pennsylvania and some other States, the eighth of a dollar was called an eleven-penny bit, or a levy, and the sixteenth a fippenny bit, or fip. The Spanish milled dollar and its divisions were a legal tender by Act of Congress of February 9, 1793. Act of February 21, 1857, Section 3: "That all former acts authorizing the currency of foreign gold and silver coins, and declaring the same a legal tender in payments for debts, are hereby repealed." In reply to your letter of 21st inst., I have to say that postage-stamps were never a legal currency. They were simply used for small change by common consent. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 215 Gold dollars were first issued in 1849, and continued to be issued until 1889. After their discontinuance none were ever returned to the Mint, but were retained by the holders. The two-dollar-and-a-half gold pieces are now issued. They are generally used during the hoUdays, at which time we coin from $50,000 to $75,000 worth. Yours respectfully, Henry K. Boyer, Superintendent. Recollections of C. J. Burnett, Jr. — The following reminiscences were written by the late Charles J. Burnett, Jr. : Amos Miner was the inventor of the spindle-head, or wheel-head, and the spinning-wheel. This was between the years 1800 and 1803, when he lived on the farm afterward owned by George Clark. Miner also invented the grooved sash. Miner's patent pails were put together with grooves, and his patent bushel and half-bushel measures were constructed in the same manner. He had a machine at one time for cutting out from the log all sizes of wooden bowls. He afterward changed his manufactory to Five Mile Point, on the lake. The gulf back of this place was called ' Miner's Gulf." He then took his machinery to Mottville, and later removed to Elbridge. While at Mottville he was connected in business with Perly Putnam. One of his first efforts at invention was what was called in old times " The Pudding- Mill," at which time this was the only mill in this town for crushing corn for making "pudding" ("supawn" or "spawn"). This pudding-mill was located at a point about half-way between Skaneateles and Otisco lakes. Another of his inventions was known as Miner's pumps. It was said of him that, when he desired any new contrivance, he would wrap himself up in a blanket, then roll under his bed, and remain there until he had completed the invention in his mind. Miner lost the sight of one of his eyes while he was at his first workshop at Miner's Gulf. He was engaged in hammering a piece of steel, when a small chip of the metal struck his eye, which totally destroyed its sight. Miner's wife was an own aunt of the late Charles Pardee, and sister of Ebe- nezer Pardee, his father. Amos Miner had nine children — six sons and three daughters — all of whom lived here and attended our schools. His descendants afterward removed to the State of Pennsylvania. Boy Life on a Farm in Skaneateles. — In the early life of Charles (Par- sons) Clark, now President of the Syracuse Savings Bank, he was sent, at the age of twelve, to live with his maternal uncle, Chester Parsons, at Skaneateles, where he remained until he attained his majority, working on the farm in sum- mer, and attending the common schools in winter. For these nine years of toil and educational advantages he was to get his board and clothes, and when he became twenty-one was to receive one hundred dollars in money. He labored well and faithfully, studied persistently, and secured one year at the Skaneateles Academy. When of age, he grasped the first opportunity that opened and hired out to a neighboring farmer during eight months for eighty dollars. The next winter he chopped sixty cords of wood, at three shillings a cord. At twenty- ?i6 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. three years of age he went to Syracuse, and entered the employ of Philo N. Rust in the latter's tavern, his chief duty being the care of the garden. Here he remained three years, at ten dollars per month and board. The Patent Knocker. — During the year 1864 or 1865, L. S. Reynolds, the patentee of an appliance to enable millers to procure more flour from a given quantity of wheat than had theretofore been obtainable, arrived in the village, and immediately made known his invention to the late Joel Thayer at the stone mill. He proposed to apply his invention to the bolt in Thayer's mill, and would leave it in full operation for several weeks, a sufficient time to enable him to judge of its efficacy, and if it proved satisfactory Mr. Thayer should pay him his price if' thought best, or, if not, he would take it out at his own expense. The result was that it did prove perfectly satisfactory, and he received from Mr. Thayer one hundred and forty dollars, and also a certificate of the utility of the knocker in adding to the quantity of flour by its use. Reynolds while in Skaneateles stayed at Rev. Mr. Preston's house. His wife and brother were with him here at the same time. His host became much interested in the invention, as well as other persons in the village, among whom were: Mr. Hartley, brother-in-law of Mr. Preston; Eben Bean, James R. Oilman, Hubbard Cleaveland, Thomas Isom, Justin How- ard, James A. Root, Forest G. Weeks, Edward T. Bartlett, and William P. Rhoades. The late Benjamin Petheram constructed the necessary appliances to the bolt in the mill. Reynolds, the patentee, realized from his invention about thirty thousand dollar^, in promissory notes, in this town and immediate vicinity, but did not collect the whole amount. So far as can be learned, this invention consisted in a sliding weight in the bolt. The bolt is a cylindrical sieve that is revolved. In this cylinder are iron rods from the center to the sieve. On these rods were placed weights, which, as the sieve revolved, would slide down the rods and hammer the sieve, having the effect of knocking out the flour to better advantage than by depending on the weight of the ground wheat alone. The use of the patent bolt, however, did not continue in use a great length of time. An Expedition to Australia in 1852 in Search of Gold. — According to the files of the Columbian and the Democrat of the year 1852, the following- named residents of Skaneateles were to embark from the city of New York for Australia: Massilon W. Fay, James M. Smith, David Hall 2d, A. D. Bodine, EHphalet Hall, Harlow Schofield, and J. V. Tilton. It is now stated on good authority that Schofield did not go. He was a young man who worked in one of the carriage factories here, probably L. S. Worden & Co., and he concluded not to gd with the expedition either before the party left the village or after it arrived in New York. Although the ship Eagle on which they were to embark had been advertised to sail about January i, the party were detained in the city several months before the Eagle sailed. Of the individual members of this AustraHan party, Massilon W. Fay was the well-known landlord of the Lake House. J. V Tilton was a miller and speculator HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 217 in patent rights, and resided at the time in the dweUing-house now owned and occupied by R. B. Wheeler. Tilton had only been a resident of Skaneateles but a year or two. It is said that either his people or his wife's were from Marcellus. He never returned from Australia, so far as is known. Neither did David Hall, 2d, ever return. Neither Tilton nor David Hall, 2d, was ever heard from or of, except once or twice after their arrival at Australia, although efforts were made by relatives for several years thereafter to hear of or from them, but in vain. A. L. Bodine was unmarried, and was a very careful and saving man. He was a carriage mechanic (woodwork) for several years for John Legg, and afterward for L. S. Worden & Co., until he joined the Australian party. Eliphalet Hall was a son of the sister of Ralph Hall's wife, whose husband was named Hall. David Hall, 2d, was the eldest son of Captain James Hall, of Skaneateles, and before joining the Australian party had been a bookkeeper in the employ of C. W. AUis & Co. The Australian party left Skaneateles, December 25, 1852, Christmas Day. Massilon W. Fay seemingly had a friend (said to have been Richard Gale of Skaneateles) who forwarded him sufficient money to pay his passage home from Australia, otherwise he probably would never have returned, he not having any money with him, and having used all his spare cash in the preparation for the expedition. "Our Australian Friends. — (Copied from the Skaneateles Democrat, October 14, 1853.) — 'Letters were received in town last week, bearing date Melbourne, June 21, 1853, from several of our Australian boys, the purport of which is that they had just arrived at that place, in just four months and four days from Staten Island, N. Y. They were to start on foot the next day for the mines, with their packs on their backs, which were distant about one hundred and twenty miles. The prospect for gold gathering was excellent, and considered very favorable. Their letters indicated that they were in good spirits. Several of the company had gained handsomely in corporeal dimensions since leaving home." The above news was probably the last that was heard of the party, as no tidings were afterward received. The Hecox Brick House. — ^A brick house stood on the shore of the lake, opposite the Packwood House, in 1872. In that year workmen were engaged in removing this brick dwelling, situated west of the bridge, formerly built and occupied by the late Colonel Warren Hecox in the early settlement of the village, and subsequently occupied by his son, Thomas W. Hecox, until he removed to Dubuque, about 1853. It has been stated that the first school kept in the village was located in the front room of this brick building. Mr. Packwood, the proprie- tor of the Packwood House, demolished it to obtain a better view of the lake and the scenery. In the house were found several copies of the Albany Register, of the dates of May and August, 1814, edited by Solomon Southwick. These papers were dingy and time-worn sheets, and the reading was partly gone. In one of August 2i8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 14, 1814, is an editorial on the burning of the Capitol at Washington and the sacking of the city, and the advance of the British army toward Baltimore. It also contains an official report of the Battle of Bladensburg. Smallpox in the Village. — In the year 185 1 smallpox appeared in Skan- eateles, whereupon the Board of Health issued the following bulletin : " Board of Health, November 12, 1851. The Health Officer having certified to the Board, that smallpox is now at the houses of Massilon W. Fay, Alfred Lamb, and Stephen Potter, in said village, the following orders were unanimously adopted: First. That all intercourse with the houses specified by said Health Officer, or either of them, except for purposes of medical attendance, be prohibited to citizens and the public; and that the proprietors of the public-houses be required, under penalty of the law, to refuse admittance to all strangers or other persons than their own households, during the continuance of said disease; and all nurses attending said cases of smallpox are prohibited from mingling with the people at large, and physicians attending are required to use every necessary precaution to prevent their conveying the contagion. Second. That the Health Officer be required to examine all cases of disease coming within his knowledge suspected to be smallpox, and when any such cases occur to report the same immediately to the Board. Third. That all other practising physicians be required to report forthwith to this Board any and all new cases of smallpox occurring in their practise. David Hall, RiSHWORTH Mason, John Legg, Charles Pardee, Richard Talcott, William G. Slade, Members of the Board of Health." An Offhand Sketch of the Village Fifty Years Ago by a Former Resident, entirely from Memory. — The following sketch of your village is made from memory after an absence of forty years. It is the only way I can see the place. And many who were residing in the village at the time, about 1850, will remember it as I do. The steamboat Homer was at that time making daily trips to Glen Haven, and Captain Mason was as fond of his little steamer as any man could be of any craft. The Lake House and Lamb's Hotel then were the principal ones, as they stood during the brightest days of the town's history. The old Kellogg mansion on the hill and the Roosevelt residence were then unchanged. St. James' Church, on the lake-shore, will remind some of your people of the struggle in early days for a church and school. The Legg carriage-shop at that period was in full blast, turning out the finest description of all kinds of carriages and sleighs for HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 219 the rising and prospering Western cities, like St. Paul, Madison, and Dubuque. The factory at that time was known as " Oilman's shops." At that time horse- cars were carrying passengers to and from the village to the Junction, connecting with the steamboat for the South to the Glen Haven Water Cure, and also to Homer and Cortland. The old schoolhouse was at that time the only institute of learning in the village, except the old brick schoolhouse on the hill. There was at that period quite a discussion as to which was the first child born in the town, whether it was Shepard or Pardee. I think it was Shepard, as the date of his father's location and marriage is given as in 1796, and the birth of the first child in 1798, while Pardee has no record of the location of his parents or birth. In the village, fifty years ago, few, if any, of the business men of that time are with you now. Most of them have been gathered by the sure hand of Death into the village cemetery on the hill, and other business men are now in their place. In a walk up the Main Street now, you will not see among the present inhabitants any Judge Jewett, with his dignified carriage, nor a Captain De Cost, who had crossed the Atlantic Ocean ninety-nine times, limping and slowly trudg- ing along with the aid of his cane. Where will you find another such serene and pleasant old gentleman as old Nicholas J. Roosevelt, who made his home in your quiet village, after inventing the method of steam navigation, and who with Robert Fulton gave to this world the steamboat, September 6, 1798, and made it a com- mercial success? Then, whom would you enjoy meeting more than old Mr. C. J. Burnett, who always was so cordial and pleasant, and the true type of an old English gentleman? There were Richard Talcott, Walter Shotwell, Mr. Drake- ford, Mr. Newton, Ralph Hall, Captain Jim Hall, and Deacon Hall. Old Mr. Francis, who, they used to say, bit a nail in two to better preserve his teeth, and who was the father of George and Samuel Francis, used to opera^te^ hat manu- factory, adjoining St. James' Church. Then, you will miss another old-time gen- tleman that lived on the west side of the Lake;;— Mr. Furman. It would not do to leave out Chester Moses, or Mr.. Barrows, Arnbrose Hecox, or old Colonel Hecox. Then, there were old George Clapp, Dr. John Snook, Charles Pardee, Mr. Fay of the Lake House, with his brother-in-law Dan Welch, Alf Deuell, Little Jimmy Tyler and his big livery, Webb the meat-market man. Tommy Elson the black- smith, and old Mr. Burdick, the soft-soap man, who had the easy teeter in his walk. Then, where is old Archer, who was janitor of the Methodist Episcopal Church for so many years ? As you walk up the Main Street and look into the business places, you do not find Mr. E. D. Wheadon in his grocery opposite the Lake House. Hall & Miller have left their carriage works. John Day no longer measures men for fine suits of clothes. Dr. Hammond has left his drug-store. W. G. Ellery has quitted his book-store. H. L. Bean is not in the watch, clock, and jewelry trade. Then comes the Horton vacant store. Next, Morgan & Daniels are no longer behind the counter of the largest store in the village, who with their clerks were kept busy in the dry-goods, crockery, and grocery trade. Who misses the honest old Robert 2 20 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Peacock that dealt out groceries for years? Then you miss Alfred Hitchcock with his stock of boots and shoes, and Moses & Huxtable with their nice little stock of dry-goods. Allis, on the upper side of the alley, was the village standby for a merchant. Then came the portly merchant, William G. Slade, and Post- master Garlock, C. J. Burnett, Jr., Charles Pardee, Sereno Field. Then there was the Beauchamp store, and to end up at the' east end of the block was John Snook's drug-store. In those days E. N. Leslie was a newcomer, and who can not remember him, with his sprightly step, smoking a cigar, and the little Toby Emma. Tempest. Ashland. ' Blue Bell. REGATTA ON THE LAKE FORTY YEARS AGO (BLUE BELL AND PLYING CLOUD.) On the dock stand Philander Williamson and Captain Eckhardt; on the corner of the dock sits George Rawlins. dog that was always with him? Where are the twinny Hall boys, George and Jimmy, of fifty years ago ? Perry Cornell was the turfman, and he encouraged horse-racing on the ice on the lake in winter time. Horace managed the omnibus line. Hannum operated the machine shop. The Earlls ran the distillery. Doras- tus Kellogg ran the woolen mills at Kellogg's Factory. Mr. Dare was the miller at the grist-mill. John Legg was then on deck. In those days an annual regatta took place on the lake. Boats from Cayuga and Seneca lakes were hauled across the country by teams to compete for the HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 221 valuable prizes offered by our citizens for the best-managed and fastest boat. The Island Queen and the Ashland were lucky boats, while the Blue Bell was the village pride— Captain Jack Furman, Captain William Marshall, and Captain Tom Shallish. Then Captain Dr. Lord, with his Sea Gull, who on one occasion was allowed to win a race by the consideration of the competing boats, which by a previous understanding were not to allow any other boats to win. The latter, in order to carry out the design, towed a pail of water, which in dragging through the water hindered their boats from too great a speed, thus giving Captain Dr. Lord an opportunity to boast of his victory. There were, also, the Jilt, owned by the Potters, and the Julia, owned by the Roosevelts. Where is Old Huxford, the tin-tinker, who never had a clean face, but was a very ingenious mechanic and was never puzzled in his work? Who can forget Nels Flink, the cross-eyed and double- jointed negro, and his trained yellow dogs, the dread of all the children? Benoni Lee, the lawyer, is among the missing. And where is H. B. Dodge, who forty years ago would wrap his blanket shawl about him on winter nights, and meander among the business men for local items for the next Democratf Few if any of the men whose names are mentioned here are with you now. But the names are familiar, and at one time these men were the life of the village. Tt is well kindly to remember them. (The above reminiscences were written by George H. Ellsbury, who died a few years ago.) The Chipmunk Story. — Sam Francis was a natural wit. This adventure, as related by him, probably occurred about 1820. The location of this story was in the brick schoolhouse on the hill in the village. He was the eldest son of the late Samuel Francis. He lost his life in the Civil War. We have our own sport here in this Western country that our Eastern friends are strangers to, and have it in our own wild manner, such as trapping the beaver and otter, killing prairie and timber wolves, black bears, deer, and game of every description. Among the other eccentric celebrities of this new country is our Wisconsin friend Sam Francis, whose cheerful laugh and happy story while away many an idle hour after the business of the day is over. We will venture to relate one of his schoolboy stories, but must confess that we are unable to give it that zest or action which can be seen, but can not be described. The present story is a matter of fact, having occurred in Skaneateles, Onondaga County, N. Y., and is as follows : " Augustus Kellogg (or, as he was called among us boys, Gust Kellogg) was the son of Dan Kellogg, and, being older and very talented by nature, was the leader. Gust suggested that, while school was out at noon, he and his brother John, Add (Jerome) and Gird Porter, John and Charley Burnett, and I could go to their wood-pile, of about fifty cords, piled up near their house, and kill over four hundred chipmunks. I, being brought up in the fur business, was delighted 222 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. at the opportunity ; but as we had a new schoolmaster, a Vermonter and very strict, who gave us fair warning at noon that, if we did not get our grammar lesson, we would all be licked, and as I never enjoyed a licking, I told Gust; but he said that, as he sat at the head of the class, a verb would be all that I would have to learn. So, when school was out at noon, we set off for the chipmunks. We worked hard, and I climbed over the wood-pile, and up the trees, and tore my trousers, and we only caught three chipmunks, and there were four families of us. Gust declared that I should have one that had lost his tail, and as it was near time for school to be in we started, putting all the chipmunks in my hat, and covering them with leaves and handkerchiefs, and putting the hat on my head. On arriving at the school- house, Gust said it wouldn't do for us all to go in at once, and that he and John would go in first, and say that they had stayed at home to ride the horse to plow in the corn ; then Add and Gird Porter were to go in, and say they had to go to the farm to carry dinner to the men ; and Charley and John Burnett to say that they had to stay at home and tend post-office while their father went to Auburn, about seven miles. Gust commenced telling me what to say, but, being out of sorts on account of getting the chipmunk with the tail off, and my trousers being torn, I told him I would make my own excuse. Gust said, ' Very well' So I went in by myself, and endeavored to get to my seat unnoticed, but the master, being enraged that so many were out, called me up. My companions were afraid that I should make some mistake, but I remarked that, if I had got to stay home to pull sheepskins, I had better stay hoxne and pull sheepskins, and not go to school. ' Just so,' says the master ; ' you had better stay at home and pull sheep- skins, and I will write to your father.' " I took my seat with John Kellogg, who yawned considerably when he spoke. He said he would rather I would have one of the chipmunks with the tail on than the Porter family. And in the mean time, it being so warm, we were afraid the squirrels would suffocate, so we put the hat under the writing-desk, took the handkerchiefs out, and then stuck a ruler down among the leaves, and loosened them up, that the squirrels might get some fresh air, when out they jumped and ran over the heads of the scholars, and, as the windows were up, they made their escape ; and the last one that went out was the one with the tail off, which Gust had set apart as my share. I thought if the master only understood the circumstances, he would favor me. I told him_ that that one with the tail off was the only one I was to have, and that Gust said we would get at least four hundred chipmunks. ' Not another word out of your head,' said the master. ' Come up here. Gust Kel- logg.' ' And,' said I, ' Add and Gird Porter said we would get three hundred and fifty sure — ' ' Not another word out of your head,' says the master. ' Come up here, Add and Gird Porter.' ' And,' says I, ' John and Charley Burnett said we could get three hundred chipmunks certain — ' Says the master, ' Not another word out of your head, sir.' And called up John and Charles, and placed us all in a row, and as I was the shortest, he put me at the foot, licked me first, and so on up to Gust, whipping him almost to death, and then we took our seats. The HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 223 master asking if we had got our grammar lesson I said promptly, ' Yes, sir.' And he asked me, ' What is a pronoun ? ' I replied, ' A verb is a word that signifies to be, to do, or to suffer.' ' What is a pronoun, sir ? ' Says I, ' You must begin at Gust Kellogg, and we can all say it through.' " And with that he called us all out, and licked us all over again. I couldn't understand why he licked us, but, on going home, Gust licked me, so that I under- stood all about it." Young Fish Placed in Skaneateles Lake. — On February 18, 1871, 2,500 TEN MILE POINT, FROM THE SOUTH. whitefish about one inch in length were placed in the lake, which were obtained from the State breeding farm at Caledonia. They were placed on the rocky bottom near the old lime-kiln, under the ice, which was eighteen inches in thickness near the shore. This was under the instructions from the fish farm at Caledonia. On October 16, 1858, fifty full-grown black bass, filled with spawn at the time, were personally placed in the lake by E. N. Leslie. Owing to their having been transported a long distance, about ten of them did not live, but the remainder survived, and these are the originators of all the black bass now in the lake. On December 10, 1874, 25,000 California salmon were deposited in the Shot- well Brook by James P. Wheadon and others. A collection was taken up around 224 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. the village to defray the expenses of placing these fish in the lake, and twenty-six dollars was collected. The fish were obtained from the fish farm at Caledonia, and were one inch in length and in excellent condition when placed in the lake. On March 3, 1875, 36,000 salmon trout were placed in the lake, near Mile Point. Thirty dollars was collected around the village to pay the expenses of a person sent to Caledonia to procure the fish and bring them home. This required a great deal of care, as the water had to be changed several times on the route. On March 3, 1877, Dr. Merrell put into the waters of the lake, off the lime-kiln point, 50,000 salmon trout from Caledonia. A collection was taken up at the town meeting, and thirty dollars was raised. On March 14, 1883, Dr. Merrell placed in the lake at Mile Point 130,000 salmon trout, which had been ordered and forwarded from Caledonia. On March 28, 1895, 50,000 lake trout, from Lake Michigan originally, but latterly from Caledonia, were placed in the lake, and, owing to the very thick ice in the lake, they were very carefully placed in the Shotwell Brook. David Burdick. — Forty years ago all the residents of the village knew " Old Burdick." He was for nearly forty years a resident of the village, earning a pre- carious living by making soft soap, in which occupation he prided himself. He also blacked stoves and assisted the housewives in various ways. In another manner he made himself useful. Whenever any villager was kept awake nights by a barking dog which had become a public nuisance, a small fee of twenty-five or fifty cents handed to Old Burdick would rid the neighborhood of the dog., Burdick would give the dog what he termed a " button." In fact, Burdick was a fixed institution of the village. He was a harmless, inoffensive old man, and had barely enough intellect to keep body and soul together. David Burdick had been a soldier of the War of 1812, and was present at the taking of Little York, Canada, and was only a short distance from the spot where General Pike was killed by an explosion. This affair so wrought upon his nerves that he deserted from the army. Old Burdick died at the Onondaga poorhouse, March 7, 1867. The Erie Canal — Its Effect on this Town. — The Erie Canal, which had been opened in 1825, was now (1840-45) adding in a perceptible degree to the prosperity of every industry. But the completion of the Syracuse & Auburn Rail- road inaugurated a new epoch, and marked the beginning of another era of local enterprise. Unfortunately it passed just north of the north line of the town, about five miles north of Skaneateles Village, and in a measure, in later years, this thrifty center of population suffered from the withdrawal of trade. A project was, how- ever, immediately instituted to preserve the fame and business of the place, and on May 16, 1836, the first Skaneateles railroad company was incorporated, with a capital of $25,000, the act naming Freeborn G. Jewett, Daniel Earll, David Hall (Chairman), Richard Talcott, Charles Pardee, and Lewis H. Sandford (Secretary), Commissioners. In 1838 the construction of a wooden railroad was commenced between Skaneateles and the Junction, the nearest point on the Syracuse and Auburn route, and September 30, 1840, this line was opened for passengers, who HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 225 were carried over it in a horse-car. The first depot in tlie village stood opposite the Packwood House. This was subsequently abandoned, and a building erected on the site of the present Station-House. Storrs Barrow was the superintendent for many years. This crude railroad was closed August 24, 1850, and gave place to a plank road, which was succeeded by the present steam railroad, operated by the Skaneateles Railroad Company, which was organized in 1866, with Joel Thayer, President ; Leonard H. Earll, Vice-President ; McKendree J. Dickerson, Secretary ; and Eben Bean, Treasurer. The road was completed and placed in CHARLES OXLEY. operation in 1867. It is about five miles long, and is probably the shortest railway line in the United States. Bonds were issued to the amount of $35,000 to aid in its construction. Charles Oxley. — ^Village people will recognize in this illustration little Charley Oxley, who often appeared in the streets with his cane over his shoulder, on which was fastened a bundle tied with a towel. He boarded with Robert Yoke, whose residence was about four miles east of the village. Oxley always walked to and from the village, generally carrying a basket of eggs for sale to the village merchants. He was a kindly hearted old man and highly respected by all the 226 HISTORY ■ OF SKANEATELES. village people. One of his friends contributes the following epigrammatic notice of his life: Sacred to the Memory OF Charles Oxley, Born in England, and died in Skaneateles, In the year 1888, aged 90 years. Beneath this mound a rare exemplar lies. Though poor, content; with little learning, wise. Meekly, through length of years vouchsafed to few, He did the Master's work as best he knew, And, dying, left — to breed no envious strife — Only the memory of a blameless life. A moment pause, ye opulent, ye great. Think: is there nothing here to emulate? The Two Peculiar Characters in Skaneateles. — More than forty years ago, before i860, were to be seen in the streets of the village two remarkable characters — two men, brothers, one of whom always walked in advance of the other. This leader always carried in his hand a blue cotton umbrella, rain or shine. These two brothers wore swallow-tail coats, otherwise their apparel was not noticeable. On some occasions they appeared with a wheelbarrow, on which was a bag filled with some article of produce. The leader, with his umbrella, walked in front, drawing the wheelbarrow with a short rope, while his brother supported the handles of the barrow. ' The names of these two men were Thomas and William Powell. They lived, generally alone, about three-quarters of a mile south of Poverty Corners. At one time they lived with their mother. They owned a few acres of land, which they thoroughly cultivated in the most primitive manner. They never used a plow, but spaded the land entirely by hand. They usually planted about an acre of wheat, and also planted garden vegetables, such as corn, potatoes, beets, beans, etc. When they had occasion to get their grain ground at the mill, they would fasten the bag in the middle of a pole, and carried it in that manner, one leading the other at each end of the pole, the leader always having his blue umbrella. The brothers were both bachelors. Finally a widow caught Thomas, and he married her. This proved to Thomas a very unhappy condition of life. The few acres they cultivated near Poverty Corners was the admiration of all the neighbors and all who had occasion to pass the premises. Every inch of the surface of the ground had been carefully spaded, raked over, smoothed, and planted very regularly, not a single weed was allowed to peep above the surface, and there was no neater plat of ground in the whole State of New York. Peter Pell. — Peter Pell was in his day one of the interesting characters in the village of Skaneateles. Whenever there was a procession of a public character through the streets, he was always the base drummer. His drum was his great solace and pride; and the drumsticks, which were always ornamented with ribbons HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 227 of various colors, he twirled above his head, indicative of his enjoyment, and during his public performances he thus exhibited his personal pleasure at all times. In that manner he dignified his calling. He lived, solitary and alone, in a small building on the west side of Leitch Avenue. During his residence in the village, he made a precarious living by making and repairing shoes. He had accumulated and saved a few hundred dollars, and before his death he made a will and bequeathed two hundred dollars to St. James' Church for the benefit of iits Sunday-school. Peter Pell died at Elbridge in 1874. Prices in 1825.— The following bill shows the retail prices for goods in Skan- eateles in 1825 : One bed cord 38 J4 lb. snuff 09 10 lb. brown sugar i .46 3 oz. indigo 66 ;-i lb. Y. H. tea 66 i oz. ess. hemlock & vial 13 I pair snuffers 19 i cravat stiffener 25 1 Quart whisky 09 i gallon whisky 38 2 side combs 13 6^ yds. calico at 3/- 2.44 22 cloak clasps 50 i set knives and forks i .99 4 yds. domestic red flannel 2 . 60 i piece paper hangings 50 I box 7x9 window glass 2.50 i blue platter 65 I snuff box 38 I pair morocco shoes i .63 5 gals, sp'ts turpentine 5.44 Pair shovel and tongs i .35 Bought from Samuel Francis. 8 men's wool hats at 9/- 4 boys' wool hats at 5/6 Grant Bramble and his Wonderful Inventions. — A St. Paul paper pub- lishes the following statement of an important invention in engines : " A small rotary engine of novel design has been invented by Grant Bramble, of Sleepy Eye, Minn., for the patent of which H. F. Allen, of London, president of an engineering syndicate, has offered him $1,600,000. " The engine does away entirely with the crank motion, a most desirable thing, but hitherto regarded as impossible to do. The engine uses its own plunger for a cut-off. The engine is steam tight and requires no ring-packing. It can be made marine type, and, of course, can be either simple or compound." Grant Bramble, who appears to possess an inventive head of genius, was at one time a resident of this village, being employed as a telegraph operator when the Western Union ofHce in this village was under the management of Henry W. HoUon. He received six dollars a week, and boarded with Mrs. Beatty on Rail- road Street. He was somewhat eccentric in his dress and manners, and the boys for this reason often tried to joke him, but he always took their bandying good naturedly and was faithful to his duties. While living here he invented a door- lock, which was certainly an ingenious piece of mechanism, to say the least, and he often said he had other ideas which he intended to perfect when he could afford it. Several years after he had left Skaneateles he returned for a short visit, a wealthy man. He had secured a patent on an incandescent light, and it was 228 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. reported that he sold his rights in the invention for $70,000. His sudden rise to afHuence had not changed him a particle. He was the same every-day-sort-of-a- fellow that he was when employed here as a telegraph operator at six dollars a week. The only difference, in fact, noticed in him was that he smoked good cigars. The account from St. Paul may be somewhat exaggerated, but those in town who remember Grant Bramble will put considerable faith in the report. Mr. Bramble must be about thirty-two years of age. Village Property Rather Low in 1820. — Deed from Charles J. Burnett, Sr., and wife, to Freeborn G. Jewett, April 12, 1820: " Beginning in the center of the highway leading north from the village of Skaneateles to Gen. Robert Earll's at the northwest corner of lands owned by Winston Day, thence by chains and courses, not necessary to repeat here, to the place of beginning, containing three acres of land. Consideration, $250." The highway described as leading to Gen. Robert Earll's then commenced on the north side of the Seneca Turnpike road, about where Jordan Street now commences. The east side thereof then took the direction of the present Methodist church directly to the large elm-tree, now near the corner of Academy and Jordan streets. At that time the old highway ran to Gen. Robert Earll's, then known as the " Red House." Sherwood's House. — In the year 1830, Isaac Sherwood offered for sale his house, store, and outhouses, and about one and a half acres of land, situated a few rods west of the bridge. The house was formerly occupied as a tavern, and the store as a printing-office. The Indian Queen Hotel. — The Indian Queen Hotel was kept by Isaac W. Perry previously to 1837. Henry W. Allen was the landlord of the hotel in 1837. Perry succeeded Allen, and was landlord in 1838-39. He was fol- lowed by Smith & Harvey in 1840. The name " Indian Queen " was afterward changed to the " Lake Plouse." Before Photographs ^VERE Known. — In 1852, Jonathan C. Keeney adver- tised his " Skylight Daguerrian Gallery " in the Skaneateles Democrat. His gallery was located over H. L. Bean's jewelry store, on the first floor. " He flattered himself that he can please all who favor him with a call." The Propeller Ben Porter. — The following items were published in the Democrat in the month of July, 1866: " The Propeller. — The boiler and engine of the new propeller are duly placed on board the Ben Porter, and the carpenters are rapidly driving her upper works toward completion. We hope at no distant day to announce her readiness to navigate the waters of our beautiful lake." " Steamboat Dock. — Through the liberality of our citizens, a large and sub- stantial steamboat dock is about to be erected on the lake lot of Mr. Benjamin Petheram, in the rear of James H. Smith's clothing store. It will be one hundred and twenty feet long and twenty feet wide. This will provide a fine landing-place for the propeller Ben Porter, as well as the pleasure-boats on the lake." HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 229 CHAPTER XVI. Educational Sources and Early Schools. The First School. — The first school in this town was established in a log house built for the purpose, by General Robert Earll and some of his immediate neighbors, on the west side of the outlet, near what is now known as Willow Glen factory. Miss Edey Whitman was the first teacher. The late Nehemiah H. Earll and Daniel Watson were scholars, with others in that vicinity. The next school was in a log house situated about where Colonel Dan. Earll now. resides. The teacher, was Dr. Hunger. He had a son named Jesse who practised medicine. He was the first physician, and visited all around this sec- tion of country. This was before Dr. Samuel Porter came into the county. After Dr. Porter came. Dr. Munger moved to a place called Wellington, between where Elbridge and Camillus are now, and afterward died there. Mr. Kneeland, who had been a clock pedler, was employed by W. J. Vredenburg to educate his children in 1805. This school was kept in a small new one-story house which was on the ground where John Kellogg now resides. In 1819, Mr. Whitney taught the district school near the Pardee residence. Among the scholars at the time were John Kellogg, Samuel George, and Lyle Francis. The first stove for burning wood was set up in the middle of the school. There were also two large fireplaces on opposite sides for burning four-foot wood. Miss S. Watson was a school-teacher in this village in 1828. The first school on Military Lot No. 73, at Mandana, was in a log house which was on the site of the present tavern. Daniel G. Burroughs was the first school-teacher, and young Samuel Welch was one of the pupils. Afterward Miss Hall and Miss Gleason taught in this schoolhouse. Religious services were also held in this log schoolhouse by traveling mis- sionaries. Schools. — In 1819 there was a select school kept in the brick store which was on the north side of the main street near where Dr. Campbell's office is now. Laura Edwards was the teacher. She afterward kept a school in the basement of the Ingham house, which stood where Charles H. Poor now resides. There was a school kept in Ralph Hall's house in 1814-15. The teacher was Miss Beecher. About the year 1818 a school was kept in the Weston house, on what is now known as Somerset Street. This was conducted by Mrs. Stephens. Her hus- band taught the district school at the same time. Mr. Thomas Allis came to Skaneateles in 1818. He soon after commenced teaching at the district school, which was on the site of the house now occupied 23° HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. by Stephen Potter. In the year 1820 he opened a select school in the house now owned and occupied by Lemuel Hall. In 1822 he kept a school in a building which was on the site of the house now owned and occupied by Jesse Simmons, about half a mile east of the village, on the old Seneca Turnpike. Benjamin Lee's son, now the Episcopal Bishop of Delaware, was one of the scholars; also Dorastus Kellogg and Augustus Kellogg, both of whom came over from Mar- cellus daily. Some of our prominent ladies received their early instruction from Mr. AUis. Mr. Allis afterward kept school in his own house, which is now known as the Huxtable place, about opposite Mr. Humphryes' residence. William H. Jewett, Edward Gould, and other boys were scholars. This was about 1823-32. In 1826 a school was in the Maltby house, now owned by J. Hoagland. This was kept by Rev. Mr. Brower, who, being incapacitated from preaching by cer- tain weakness, taught school for a living. In 1827 there was a school in the third story of one of the frame stores which were situated about where Hollon's drug-store how is. The building was at that time occupied by B. S. Wolcott. The teacher's name is unknown. In 1832 Rev. Mr. Lyman had a school in Ambrose Hecox's house. Captain De Cost's children attended here, and also scholars from Marcellus and Elbridge. Mr. Lyman was a very talented man and a most excellent teacher. Miss Evilina Greeves taught a school, about 1825, in the house where Mrs. Dr. Campbell now resides. The First School under St. James' Church. — Miss Abigail R. Higley taught the first school under St. James' Church after it was built. This was in July, 1828. It may be interesting to publish a list of scholars who attended Miss Graham's school under St. James' Church seventy-two years ago. This memorandum is in Miss Graham's handwriting: " Susan B. Graham commenced teaching school at Skaneateles, Monday morning, May nth, 1829. A list of the scholars' names : Mary Ann Briggs Emily Francis Elizabeth Smith Sophia Hall Caroline Hopkins Barton Hopkins Julia Eliza Lewis Harriett Gibbs Amanda Gibbs Alexander Horton Frederic Horton Ann Maria Perry George W. Perry Mary Ann Creed Elisha Hopkins Mary S. Hall (or Hale.) Esther Brooks Sarah Ann Allen Nancy Lewis Ann Bingham Eliza Burnett Frances Hecox Joseph Tallcott." Louisa Huff Mary Jane Horton Nancy Hall Julia Rust Richard Tallcott Harriet Hopkins Julia Smith Catharine Coon George Tallcott Augustus Dibble Cordelia Jackson The First Schoolhouse Erected in the Village. — There was a school- house built about the year 1800, on about the site where the Roosevelt barn now stands. Nicholas Otis was the first teacher here in the village. Thaddeus Ed- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 231 wards (who makes this statement; went to that school, which was the first school he ever attended. The Bowen Road then ran along the south line of Military Lot No. 36 to this schoolhouse, and turned at right angles to the top of the hill, at about where Roosevelt's large gate or driveway now is. This schoolhouse was a frame one, and the outside was planked. After the course of the road was changed it was moved to where Thaddeus Edwards' old house now stands. The second schoolhouse was built on the present site of the brick one, near C. Pardee's. It was frame, built about the year 1804. It was destroyed by fire about four or five years afterward. Mr. Cary and Joshua Lane were teachers there. The present old brick schoolhouse was erected in the year 1812. State Street in the Village First Opened. — The lands over which it was opened belonged to the late Charles J. Burnett, Sr. It was laid out and mapped and given to and accepted by the town authorities as a public highway a short time before the month of April, 1828. A Subscription by Leading Citizens. — On April 24, 1828, the following business men agreed to pay Phares Gould, Samuel Porter, and John S. Furman the sums designated, " to enable them to purchase a lot en the new street " ( State Street), laid out by Charles J. Burnett in Skaneateles, and to erect thereon "a building with a view to keep a select school thereon:" Stephen Horton, $50; Samuel Francis, $25; S. B. Hopkins, $25; Nehemiah Smith, $25; Daniel Watson, $25'; A. Douglass, $25; S. Porter Rhoades, $25; B. S. Wolcott, $25; Spencer Parsons, $75; William Gibbs, $50; Samuel Rhoades, $25; J. M. Allen, $15; William Clift, $25; John S. Furman, $50; David Hall, $100; Phares Gould, $100; F. G. Jewett, $100; John Legg, $50; Nicholas Thorne, $50; Samuel Porter, $100; Philo Dibble, $100; Daniel Kel- logg, $200; Hezekiah Earll, $50; C. J. Burnett, $100; S. and J. Hall, $100; Lewis Cotton, $100; Charles Pardee, $25. Several of the above named added from $10 to $50 to their subscriptions, providing the building was constructed of brick, which was done. This led to the incorporation of the Skaneateles Academy, on April 14, 1829. In Sep- tember, 183 1, classical and scientific departments, a good library, chemical and philosophical apparatus, collection of plants and minerals, etc., are advertised. The officers were Daniel Kellogg, President; John S. Furman, Secretary; Phares Gould, Spencer Parsons, Samuel Porter, D.D., Stephen Horton, Charles J. Burnett, Philo Dibble, and Freeborn G. Jewett, Trustees. Among the early principals were Robert Bradshaw, S. Rhoades, and Allen Fisk. Charles O. Roundy was a teacher in the academy for two years from 1849. The building was sold to the Union School District on June 3, 1854. In 1869 it was torn down, and a new schoolhouse was built. The Skaneateles High School. — By vote of the inhabitants of District No. 10 the Skaneateles Free School was established in 1866. The Academic Department was organized and placed under the Regents in 1868, in which year the first Regents' examinations were held on July 13 and 14. 232 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. The main building, occupying the site of the old academy on the corner of Academy and Syracuse streets, was erected in 1855, and has been twice enlarged by additions : that on the north, in 1871 ; on the south, in 1882. The district also maintains a primary department on Onondaga Street for pupils residing in that part of the village. Both buildings are of brick, substantial and in good repair, and well equipped for school purposes. The estimated value of the buildings is $12,000. The library contains about 1,700 volumes. In 1897 the name of the Academic Department was changed by the Regents ,to that of High School, and since that date the school is officially known as "The Skaneateles High School." In 1899 it was appointed by the Department of Public Instruction to instruct a training class for teachers. It now has eight departments with eleven teachers. The high school department, with a four years' course, prepares for college, business, or teaching. The last catalogue shows a registration during the school years 1898-99 of 377 students, of whom 53 were non-residents. The graduates, now numbering 210, have always taken excellent rank in higher in- stitutions of learning, and many of them are occupying positions of trust in busi- ness and professional life. They have for several years maintained a flourish- ing alumni association, which holds an annual meeting, with banquet, literary ex- ercises, etc. The school has always been fortunate in securing and retaining for long periods teachers of recognized ability. The principals since the organization of the Free School have been as fol- lows: M. H. Slee, 1865-69; Rev. W. C. Bowen, 1869-74; F. D. Hodgson, 1874-75; A. M. Wright, 1875-82; F. C. Whitney, 1882-84; H. F. Miner, 1884—. Select Schools. — St. James' Institute was started in 1852, under the aus- pices of Rev. A. C. Patterson, Rector of St. James' Church, with E. N. Leslie, H. L. Roosevelt, Dorastus Kellogg, S. M. Drake, and John Snook, Jr., as man- agers, and William G. Lloyd, M.A., and Miss Mary Jane Drake as principals. This continued successfully for several years. Between 1825 and 1850 several select schools were maintained in Skaneateles, notably by Thomas W. Allis, from 1818 to about 1832; Rev. Mr. Brower and Mr. Lyman ; Miss Pratt, who opened a " Young Ladies' Seminary" in her father's residence in 1839; Miss Ann Eliza Humphrey, about 1843; and Mrs. E. M. Haven, who opened the " Skaneateles Female Seminary," a private enter- prise, about 1850. Lydia p. Mott. — We herewith present the history of a prominent promoter of female education, together with a compilation of some of the principal events of her life in this town. Lydia P. Mott was the daughter of Joseph Stansbury, of Philadelphia. She was born February 23, 1775. She was married to R. Mott, of New York, in 1797, while in her twenty-second year. She was at that time a beautiful and accomplished young lady. From the most authentic sources attainable, she HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 233 came to Skaneateles about 1818, from Bridgewater, near New Hartford, Oneida County, N. Y., and in a short time commenced and established the "Friends' Female Boarding-School," which was known as the " Hive." It was located originally on the Willis F. Cuddeback farm, and on the same spot of ground where his dwelling-house now stands. The building was a low one-and-a-half-story old-fashioned style of a house, which is well recollected by those of her young scholars who have survived the limitations of time. Mrs. Mott purchased what is now known as the Bowling farm, and resided in the 1 i ^ ,^MiSj^^^^t,jjf^ ^&.,. ^ ■M j^^g. HI 1 x' s^ ^^Qi^^^HH^I 1 H RHRniliPliitl H^H^MWfewwK^ "***™^?'*"*'* PPPB PSHIPEIJB ffc. SKANEATELES LAKE AND ST. JAMES' CHURCH. old building now used as a tenant house, with her son Arthur. Arthur was at that period about twenty years of age, and was known as an unusually bright young man by his associates. In after years, as a prominent business man, he was well and favorably esteemed by his acquaintances for his probity and in- tegrity in all his business transactions, and also for his great kindness of heart. Mottville received its name from him, where at one time he was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods. His factory was on the site of the old Cole- man flouring mill. After this, misfortune overtook him, and he became dis- couraged and disheartened. In consequence of his pecuniary losses he soon after became dissipated, and was ever afterward a slave to that habit. He fre- 2 34 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. quently appealed to his friends, exclaiming : "I want you to have pity upon me, for I am obliged to rise from my bed every morning at four o'clock and go to Benny Hudson's to get a drink of whisky. I am a perfect slave, and could not withstand the power that is constantly over me, under the threat of instant death." He died in Toledo, Ohio, of apoplexy, October 30, 1869, at the age of seventy-one years. A few years after the establishment of the Hive, Mrs. Mott sold out the school to Caleb Mekeel, as he had full charge of it in 1823, associated with Abby and Sarah Underbill as teachers. The school never was exclusively patronized by the Society of Friends, as rnany prominent people of other denominations of both town and village sent their young girls to be educated at the Hive at that time. During the year 1826 the school was advertised as being under the charge of Caleb Mekeel, assisted by Mary A. Watson as piano teacher, and was then styled " The Skaneateles Female Seminary," and situated on the bank of the lake, nearly opposite Isaac Sherwood's, in the building formerly occupied by James Sackett (the present residence of Frederick W. Shear). Caleb Mekeel was not very successful with the school, and afterward sold out to George Pryor, but there is no source of informatioji as to how much longer the school was kept up after Pryor took charge of it. The Hive was the earliest institution for the education of young ladies in western New York. Caleb Mekeel died at Ledyard, Cayuga County, December 26, 1859. Mrs. Mott had a nephew who resided in this village in the year 1832, named George A. Stansbury. He was studying law at that time with the late F. G. Jewett. A public meeting was held, and Stansbury was one of a committee appointed at the meeting to draft resolutions expressive of the views of the meeting under the following resolution: "Resolved, That the proceedings of some religious denominations in this community require of the friends of Peace and Good Order in Society an ex- pression of their opinion upon the propriety of holding what are called ' pro- tracted meetings ' and upon the measures adopted in conducting them." Other resolutions were adopted in conformity with this purpose, and published in an extra Columbian. George A. Stansbury afterward went to Baldwinsville, where he died. One of Mrs. Mott's early friends relates that she was a sweet, lovable woman, who took a kindly interest in everybody, but more particularly in young people. She always had some one under her care to help get them started in business. At one time she made a party for the boys in her neighborhood, and invited them to assist in clearing away the old tree stumps in the cove at Mile Point, which was a favorite playground for the children at that time. Another friend of Mrs. Mott writes that " the little cottage where she lived, nearly oppo- site the Friends' meeting-house, was then a lovely place, with its porches cov- ered with fragrant honeysuckles, and two sides of the house surrounded by a flower garden. Mrs. Mott was a prominent speaker in the meeting-house close HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 235 by. In those days the residents in that neighborhood were nearly all Friends, and, as they did not approve of sending their little girls to the district school, they preferred to educate them in the Hive. Mrs. Mott, even after she gave up control of the school, retained her interest in behalf of the children. She would have the scholars learn pieces of poetry to recite, and on one afternoon in each week the little girls were taught to make samplers, needle-books, pincushions, etc., and would endeavor in every manner to make the children interested in their school." Another of Mrs. Mott's scholars who received a portion of her education eighty years ago in the Hive, thus describes her experience there : " In 1820 my mother died, and shortly after it was thought best to send my sister Jane and myself to boarding-school, and we were accordingly transported to the seminary kept by Uncle Caleb Mekeel. This was a celebrated and popular school, conducted by Lydia P. Mott, who was a prominent member of the So- ciety of Friends, and we remained there two years. My trunk, the first one I ever possessed, was made by a mechanic, who combined not only blacksmithing, but carriage and trunk making besides. My trunk had a real lock and key, and it was papered inside and out. It contained two dresses, which were thought at that time an abundant supply for any schoolgirl. We had also a stock of ■ colored cotton pocket-handkerchiefs, and a few linen ones made from our own flax and spun at home. The school was an excellent one, and it was conducted by Mrs. Mott as principal, assisted by Caleb Mekeel and Miss Sarah Underbill, I have my certificate signed by each of them, dated 1823. There were at that time forty scholars, and we slept in one large room, which was immediately over the schoolroom, which was heated in winter time by the stove-pipe of the large wood-stove below. In our sleeping-room there were twenty beds, and there was but one washstand and one looking-glass. We made our own beds, as was the universal custom in country boarding-schools. Our sleeping-apart- ment was generally uncomfortably cold mornings, as the fire in the wood-stove usually went out very soon after we had retired. The table fare was rather in- different. Our standard dish was salt codfish, variegated at times with salt pork, potatoes, with plenty of good bread and butter, and once a week we were regaled with mush and molasses. Still we learned a great deal and enjoyed our school-life very much. Mr. Mekeel was a bachelor, who was very fond of visit- ing, so that we had many pleasant rides with him in winter and summer. He would occasionally take us over to Auburn for a few hours, and once he took us to Scipio, so that we could be present at the marriage of the two daughters of Jethro Wood. They were both married on the same occasion in the Friends' meeting-house there. A great crowd of the Society were in attendance, many of whom, after the usual quiet ceremony, signed their names as witnesses to the marriage certificate. The meetings of the Society of Friends always occurred on Thursday morning of each week, and we girls were all obliged to be present, but on Sundays we were allowed to attend the Episcopal services in the village 236 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. church, conducted by the rector, Rev. Mr. Converse. As the religious meetings of the Friends were usually silent ones, my sister and I embraced the opportunity to learn our Bible lessons for the following Sunday. Miss Juliette Legg used to drive up to the school and take us to pass the Sabbath at her mother's residence in the village, and you can imagine how pleasant the change was from the school discipline to the larger liberty afforded in a village family, who lived so de- lightfully as did the Leggs. Mrs. Mott was widely known as a prominent preacher or speaker in the Society of Friends. She always attended the regular quarterly meetings of the Society, which were held at Scipio, and her preaching to those assemblages was received with great acceptance. All the scholars were very fond of her, and always on her return home we were eager to welcome her, and, like all schoolgirls, each one rushed forward to obtain the first kiss. Her son Arthur had apparently taken a great personal interest in this practise, so he came to the conclusion to try an experiment, so on one occasion, at about the hour of his mother's expected return, he dressed himself in her clothes, and placed her satin bonnet on his head, at the same time closely wrapping his face with a white handkerchief, and, as men in those days had no hirsute appendages, the imposition seemed complete, judging from the result. He unobservedly went out into the road, and walked slowly from the front gate toward the school entrance. We rushed out as usual, and about a dozen of us kissed him before we discovered the deception. One day I undertook to decorate myself by curling my hair, and accordingly began by carefully constructing two large ' finger-curls,' one on each side of my forehead, securing them with pins. I ran down-stairs from the dressing-room to meet Mrs. Mott as she came in, when, taking my face between her hands, she exclaimed, ' Why, Debby, has thee got horns growing? ' I never see a curl to this day that I do not recall her words and my mortification. On Saturdays we all went into the schoolroom, and darned our stockings and mended any rents which we found in our dresses. Our teachers were very par- ticular in having our needlework done in the neatest manner. H a dress of two or more colors was to be mended, we were obliged to have an equal number of threads of the same colors, and to match the figures exactly. We made a great many little needle-books and pinballs, and were taught to stitch them very neatly. Among other accomplishments I learned while at this school was to play whist, but it was not one of the regular studies. I was taught by my schoolmates." When Mrs. Mott and her son left her pleasant little cottage opposite the Friends' meeting-house, she purchased the lot near the village on which she built the story-and-a-half cottage which was afterward owned by Frank and Edward Potter. This property was subsequently purchased by the late D. C. Robbins, on which the present handsome residence is located. After leaving this cottage, Mrs. Mott went to Cincinnati, Ohio. Upon her return here she lived in what has been known as the Mott cottage, on the .hill, in this village, where, after a long and suffering illness, her days were ended. May 15, 1862, at the age of eighty-seven. Her son Arthur was very attentive to her in her declining days, drawing her out HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 237 in the street in a little hand carriage when she was unable to walk. It is stated that she had lived a widow fifty-seven years, and was widely known as one of the earliest pioneers in the cause of female education and other philanthropic la- bors. Her remains were interred in the " Hicksite " Friends' burying-ground, which is nearly opposite her former residence in the little cottage. Her grave is unmarked. ' Lived she her brief day here — Night came, and she was laid away At the last — forgotten.' It was customary for the immediate neighbors of Mrs. Mott, during her last days of infirmity and her long-suffering illness, to visit her ; among others a lady who would sit and read to her on such subjects as she would select, which had the effect not only to interest but to soothe many of the dreary hours of her solitude. Another of her immediate neighbors frequently came in bringing in some little appetizing delicacy, or doing something which would alleviate her sufferings in a greater or less degree as might be suggested by the immediate occasion. This lady had a great love for the old forest trees which formed a grove on the grounds surrounding the little old cottage in which Mrs. Mott lived, and the little purling brook which ran through that grove of maples, which also ran through the grounds of her own immediate home. She had a loving interest in the preserva- tion of those stately old trees and for the purity of the waters of that little stream. A few years after her aged and infirm old neighbor had died, and after her son Arthur had left the old home to reside in a Western State, this lady, whose love for those old trees had not diminished by the lapse of time, composed the follow- ing lines, reviewing her visits to the aged invalid, and indicating her personal in- terest in the preservation of those old maple-trees. These verses were sent for publication in the Democrat, and appeared in the issue 'Of that paper of December 7, 1865, on the outside page, and without signature or any reference to their au- thorship. They were written by the late Mrs. Benoni Lee, and published with the implicit understanding they were to be inserted anonymously. These verses are appropriately reproduced here in connection with the subject of this paper. The Maples of Mott Cottage. They grew in the forest tall and fair, Until man the destroyer came. Felling their brothers for light and air, And to nourish the household flame. Musing a while on the hill, he stood, Watching the day's decline: , " Why do I fell these lords of the wood, Planted by Hand divine? 238 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. " Sickly exotics from sunnier climes, These natives can never replace ; Leaves softly murmuring like evening chimes, It seems like a hallowed place. " A group of trees by this purling brook, A cottage would shade and adorn: Peace for a pilgrim in yon quiet nook. Repose for the weary and worn." Bared to the sun, cheered by the breeze, Half a century of seasons have sped : The maples now are grand old trees, And the Voodman who spared them is dead. They catch the first gleam of morn's early light; See the shadows steal over the lake; The sun's parting rays linger at night. Tinge with gold the wood and the brake. In simple attire, with gentle grace. Came a lady by years oppressed : " In peace, my son, in this tranquil place. The way-worn of earth may rest. " Here may life close in quiet and ease. Weary the path I have trod, I can list to the murmur of the trees. And silently worship God." Hushed the lone heart, its pilgrimage done. The breezes sigh mournfully by: To the bourn that's returnless the mother has gone. The son among strangers to die. It has been stated heretofore that the scholars attending the Hive were those of the different denominations of the town and village, but later information indi- cates that the boarding scholars had a much wider range of locality. The Friends' boarding-school in Skaneateles drew a share of its patronage from Oneida County. One of its pupils was a daughter of Rev. Dr. Henry Davis, the second President of Hamilton College, who afterward became the wife of Rev. Ebenezer D. Maltbie, who died in 1859, in Syracuse, where his daughters still live. Another of Mrs. Mott's pupils from College Hill was Miss Myra H. N. Ander- son, who died in the month of August, 1889, at the age of eighty-nine years. Miss Anderson was very fond of relating her schoolgirl experiences at the Hive, where she and Miss Davis enjoyed in a college community their first freedom from the restraints of home life, and spoke highly of the patience and positive goodness of Mrs. Mott. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 239 Reference has previously been made to George A. Stansbury, a nephew of Mrs. Mott, who was a resident in this village in the year 1832. He was one of three brothers, all of whom graduated from Hamilton College. His full name was George Alexander Stansbury. He died in the year 1863, at the age of fifty- nine years. One of his brothers was Samuel Stansbury, who died in 1835, at the age of twenty-six years. The other brother was Robert Mott Stansbury, who studied and practised medicine, and who died in 1850, at the age of forty-three years. The home of the two brothers last named was in Clinton, Oneida County. Their gifted sister, Caroline Matilda Stansbury, became the wife of Prof. William Kirkland, of Hamilton College, and gained a wide distinction as an author. One of her writings was " A New Home, Who'll Follow ? " and other popular works. Mrs. Kirkland died in April, 1864. Her daughter is a very successful teacher and author in Chicago. It has previously been stated that Mrs. Mott's remains were interred in the " Hicksite " burying-ground. I have since had reliable information that she was buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery at Auburn, and in the same grave where her sister, Mary Stansbury, had been previously interred. This was by the request of both sisters. Friends who have become interested in this narrative have furnished addi- tional items of interest. A correspondent in Scipio writes : " We find the name of Lydia P. Mott in the list of Friends made in the year 1828, and the date of her death, 1862, Fifth Month 15, age eighty-seven. We find in a sketch of early Friends that she came in the limits of Scipio Monthly Meetings in 1819. She was of English parentage, and she was born on the Atlantic Ocean while her parents were on their passage to Philadelphia, where the ship was bound, and she was named for the city of their destination — Lydia Philadelphia Stansbury. She was reared in the Episco- pal Church, and the simple ways of her adopted sect were but a thin disguise, which rather heightened the effect of the culture and grace which careful training gives to the upper classes of England. She was an admirable teacher, a^d a preacher and a member of the Scipio Monthly Meeting, although she lived and taught at Skaneateles, giving the name of her school as the ' Hive.' She had a genius for benevolence. Her sympathy for suffering and to sufferers never slum- bered, nor did any in need of aid find her personal attention wanting. Previously to her removal to Skaneateles she lived at Whitestown, N. Y., where her husband, Robert Mott, died. Her sister, Mary Stansbury, had charge of an asylum for the blind, but which one is not known at present." Mrs. Mott, it is said by those who knew her intimately, wrote beautiful let- ters, which were valuable to keep and pass around among those who appreciated her friendship. The following extract from one of her letters, addressed to her young niece while Mrs. Mott was visiting in Ohio, is here given as an example : " The old-fashioned simplicity of the members of Miami Meeting is congenial to my principles. Luxury' and vain show is no part of Quakerism. Ah ! my 2 40 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. beloved girl, keep to the purity and simplicity of our profession. Let other young people do as they may. It will dignify thy character, raise thee to usefulness, and crown thy mind with that sweet eternal enjoyment which all the delusive blandishments of the world can never bestow." Another correspondent residing in a distant part of this State thus alludes to a pupil of Mrs. Mott's : " Miss Lucy Risley, of New Hartford, a very dear friend of mine, passed some two or three years at her school, leaving it in 1827, and she did honor to the school by her well-acquired knowledge. And I had the pleasure of an in- timate acquaintance with Mrs. Kirkland and family. I know the Stansbury con- nection. .You have made me happy by telling me of her daughter inheriting her parent's ability as an authoress and a teacher in Chicago. Lydia P. Mott was a lovely character, and merited the charming friends who sweetly ministered to her later years." The Schoolgirl Life of Mrs. Mott. — Lydia P. Stansbury, which was the maiden name of Mrs. Mott, was, at the age of fifteen years, sent to the Moravian boarding-school at Bethlehem, Pa. She remained there several years. There were at that time seventy-five boarders in the Seminary, and twenty day scholars. In the month of March, 1792, fifty-one chiefs and warriors of the Iroquois Con- federacy visited Bethlehem while on their way to Philadelphia, then the Federal city of the Union. This deputation was an imposing spectacle, especially so to the young ladies of the Seminary, and also to the people of the town, such as had not been witnessed there for many years. Some detailed account of this delega- tion of Indians will be a deviation of this history of Miss Stansbury, but she will be interestingly connected with them before the end of this narrative, and the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, the missionary who under the direction of the War De- partment accompanied these Indians, will be connected by marriage relation with Lydia P. Mott's collateral relatives. It will be remembered, by such as are acquainted with the transactions of the Government with the Indian tribes at the close of the Revolutionary War, that President Washington pursued a policy most prudent and humane in refer- ence to these people, whose proximity to the young Republic was a matter of no little concern. This deputation was organized and conducted by the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, who acted under the authority of the War Department, under the di- rection of President Washington, in the hope of carrying into effect a project dear to his heart, which was none other than the amelioration of the Indian by per- suading him to adopt the habits and occupations of civilized life. On the morn- ing of March 9, these Indians arrived at Bethlehem by way of Nazareth, from Wyoming. " There were," says an eye-witness, " fifty-one chiefs and warriors, and among them ten baptized Oneidas, accompanied by their missionary. Rev. Samuel Kirkland, a Presbyterian clergyman, who for twenty-five years had taught and preached among them at the head of Oneida Lake." The names of some of this delegation of Indians were as follows : Red Jacket, Good Peter, Big Tree, HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 241 Cornplanter, Farmer's Brother, Little Billy, Captain Shanks, Peter Jaquette or Otsiquette, and Hanangaikhou, who were ail well-known personages. Most of the party were slender, of ordinary stature, with finely developed forms. Hanangaikhou, or Infant, was of uncommon height, measuring full six feet four — the tallest man at the time in the Six Nations. The majority were dressed in white linen shirts, short woolen coats, Indian leggings, consisting of a piece of cloth bound around the calf of the leg with thongs, and snugly fitting moccasins of deerskin, which latter the wearer was wont to dip into cold water in winter before going abroad in order to protect the feet from frost. A number of the' party had the sleeves of their coats adorned with large plates of silver, or wore trinkets of the same material on their bosoms. Some had silver rings and pen- dants inserted through the cartilage of the nose ; most of them wore massive ear- rings of silver or copper, which by their weight drew down the extremity of the ear and lengthened the slit through which they were passed. A few carried rifles; the rest were equipped with tomahawk, knife, tobacco-pouch, and the trusty bow and arrows. The more civilized were dressed somewhat after the manner of the whites, wearing in place of cloaks the favorite blanket around the shoulders, and on their heads uncouth caps of fur. The deportment of this mot- ley group was animated and lively; and yet they strictly observed the laws of decorum, and astonished the schoolgirls by their decent and quiet demeanor. The day after the arrival of these chiefs and warriors, the Moravian brethren gave them a formal reception at the chapel. The pupils of the seminary, at their special request, were among the spectators and participated in the ceremonies of the occa- sion. The Indians were seated across the length of the hall in two semicircular rows, facing the minister's table. After the performance of an anthem with full accompaniment by the choir, the Moravian Bishop made an address to them, which will be given later. It will be interesting to note here the history of the life and missionary work of the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, the Presbyterian mis- sionary, who was delegated by the War Department to gather these Indians to- gether and to bring them to Philadelphia. One singular coincidence worthy of mention in connection with Lydia P. Mott is that, while she was a young school- girl, she should meet by mere accident Rev. Samuel Kirkland, the missionary, whose grand-nephew, forty years afterward, married her own niece, Caroline Matilda Stansbury. And another singular coincidence in reference to this mis- sionary is that he was the originator of that prominent seat of learning in our own State, Hamilton College, and the husband of Miss Mott's niece was a pro- fessor in that college. Having been educated in Princeton College, and while yet a college student, Samuel Kirkland's heart burned within him as he thought of the untutored chil- dren of the woods. He knew that, if he should go to them, many trials and hardships awaited him, therefore with the impulsiveness of his nature, at the age of twenty-four years, he left Johnstown, in January, 1765, and plunged into the wilderness. On that cold winter morning, one hundred and twenty-six years 242 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. ago, he had a dreary journey before him. With his two Indian guides, he was to travel two hundred miles, his feet shod with snow shoes, and on his back a pack of forty pounds; his path, the trail in the snow made by the feet of his dusky leaders. It was at that time that he carried the germ and origination of what he afterward accomplished — the Oneida Indian Academy, founded by him in 1793 — which was later merged into Hamilton College. His first work was among the Senecas. Subsequently he dwelt among the Oneidas, whom he es- teemed the noblest of the Iroquois Confederacy. Near the present village of Oneida Castle was an Indian village, known as Kanonwarohale. There Kirk- land lived for a time. To the log house which he built with his own hands he brought his bride, a niece of 'President Wheelock, of Dartmouth College. They journeyed by boat up the Mohawk River, and on horseback through the woods to Oneida, his wife on a pillion behind her husband. In this Indian village his two sons were born. The Indians gave them high-sounding names. One of them, John Thornton Kirkland, afterward became distinguished as President of Harvard College. During the Revolutionary War Kirkland was for a time a Chaplain in the American army. It also fell to him to endeavor to keep the Six Nations in a state of neutrality. After the war he resumed his missionary labor. A Cayuga chief, who had heard favorable reports of " the white priest and his Bible," came sixty miles to visit him. In 1788, when George Clinton was Gov- ernor, the State of New York united with the Oneida Indians in making a grant of valuable land to the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, in recognition of his valuable services. The tract was two miles square. On this tract of land the following year he cleared a few acres, and in the year 1791 he built a small frame dwelling- house. He began to mature plans for the erection of an academy for the educa- tion of Indians and white settlers. With this view, he visited Philadelphia, then the seat of Government, and laid his plans before the public men there, among whom was President Washington, who became deeply interested in the enter- prise. The cooperation of the Governor of New York and the Regents of the University was secured, and a charter granted January 31, 1793. Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, and Colonel Pickering, then Postmas- ter-General, furnished substantial aid, and Hamilton was one of the trustees named in the petition for incorporation. In honor of him it was called Hamilton Oneida Academy, when really the honored name should have been Kirkland Oneida Academy. Kirkland gave liberally of his own substance toward the erec- tion of the academy. His subscription was as follows : Ten pounds, fifteen days' work, and three hundred acres of land for the use and benefit of the academy, to be leased and the proceeds to be applied toward the support of an able instructor. Other gifts were for the most part in labor and building ma- terials, but little money was given. After the foundation was laid and the frame raised the funds were exhausted. With characteristic push, Kirkland secured additional funds, and the building was enclosed, and a portion fitted up for the use of the school, which was opened in 1797. The building was ninety feet long. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 243 thirty-eight feet wide, and three stories high. There is no evidence that any In- dian youths were educated at the academy. Their roaming, restless disposition chafed under the restraints of school, and the few whom Kirkland adopted into his own family were soon allowed to return to their tribes. One of the converts to Christianity under his ministry was Good Peter, an Oneida chief. The Indians called Hamilton College " Yon-da-te-ei-on-ny-en-ni-ta-go," which means "The Great School." The corner-stone of the academy building was laid July i, 1793, with appropriate and impressive ceremonies, by Major-General Baron de Steuben, assisted by the Indian chief Schenandoa. The latter died at the age of one hun- dred and ten years. May 11, 1816, and was buried at his own request beside his white father — Kirkland, who died in 1808. The Moravian Bishop, who addressed the delegation of Indians under the charge of Kirkland, their missionary, said to them as follows : " Brethren of the Six Nations, you are heartily welcome to Bethlehem. We and our children are pleased to see you. Fifty years ago our chiefs and your chiefs made a covenant of friendship, promising to love one another and to ren- der mutual good services. We, the United Brethren, are lovers and friends of all men, as we have one common Father in heaven, and one Lord, even Jesus Christ, who redeemed us from evil by his precious blood, shed for the sins of all mankind. We have long been waiting for the salvation of your tribes, and of all the Indians in this country. It will prove a source of great joy to us could we in any way contribute to this object, and aid in converting you to the knowledge of the only true God. Be assured of our love and of our sincere wishes for your welfare. You see here present a number of young ladies from different parts of our country, who rejoice with us in seeing you here, and who have asked permis- sion to express their satisfaction personally." Here Miss Lydia P. Stansbury, of Philadelphia, handed a written copy of her address to one of her schoolmates, who had been selected to communicate it to the Indians, most of their number understanding English', and for the others an interpreter was present. Miss Lydia P. Stansbury's address to the warriors and chiefs of the Six Nations was as follows : " Brothers of the Six Nations, we bid you welcome to our town. We are re- joiced to see you. We see you without fear and trembling. We regard you as friends and brothers. You are on a good journey. You are going to smoke the pipe of peace with our great chief, George Washington, and his council, and to polish anew the chain of friendship. We wish you a prosperous time and a favorable issue to your undertaking, and hope that you may return to your wives and children with gladdened hearts. We are here in Bethlehem to be instructed in what is good. Tell your little ones what is good. Tell them we love them ; that one Father feeds and protects us both ; that the same sun shines on us, and that we were born in the same land. May our children and their descendants always dwell in peace and friendship with your children and their descendants! May the song of the heavenly messengers be realized in our land, when they 244 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. sang, ' Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men ! '" These words, adapted to music, were then sung by the choir with full accom- paniment. Red Jacket now rose and addressed the Bishop in a few words : " Father," said he, " for thus I call you, since you are a servant of the Great Spirit above, and strive to promote the ways of justice and peace, I thank you for the kindly wel- come and reception we have experienced in your midst. I am persuaded that the United Brethren are a blessed and happy people, and I desire that your prayer to our common Father that our tribes be brought out of darkness be answered." The venerable Good Peter next rose, and, turning to the pupils, expressed his thanks for their interest in the Indian, saying that he felt constrained to acknowledge their tender address and friendly greeting; that he and his com- panions were astonished that such young females ventured to welcome the wild sachems and warriors of the Six Nations; that they had done so with the dis- creetness of maturer years, from which it was evident how they had profited from the instruction they enjoyed at school. " We will," he concluded, " tell our chil- dren and grandchildren what has transpired to-day, and hope that, at no remote time, they may be favored in their dark wilderness with schools such as are to be foimd in this happy village, where the grace of the Great Spirit reigns in so pecu- liar a way." At the close of this interesting interview, cakes, apples, and other trifles were distributed among the Indians. On the fourth day after their arrival, the chiefs and warriors left by way of the Lehigh and Delaware rivers for Philadelphia. Good Peter, or Dominie Peter, an Indian chief, was at the time he made the above speech in his seventy-seventh year. Sa-go-ye-wat-ha (He keeps them awake), or Red Jacket, the celebrated war- rior of the Seneca Nation, died at Buffalo, in 1830, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. Cornplanter, another of the chiefs, died in 1836, at the age of more than one hundred years. Farmer's Brother, another chief, died in the year 1814, between eighty and ninety years of age. Otsiquette, or Pierre Jaquette, a young and intelligent Oneida chief, was adopted into the family of the Marquis de Lafayette, and taken to France at the close of the Revolutionary War to be educated. Love of native country, how- ever, proved stronger than attachment to a kind foster-father, and prevailed with the Indian prince to resign the splendor of courts and the allurements of a gay metropolis for the free forests and lakes of his childhood's home. He died soon after reaching Philadelphia, in the twenty-sixth year of his age. After this delegation of Indians arrived at Philadelphia, in 1792, President Washington, anticipating the arrival of Red Jacket, had a special medal prepared for presentation to him, of which we at this late day would not have had any HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 245 knowledge of its preparation or presentation except through the coincidence, hap- pening just as this account of the visit of these Indians was being compiled, of the publication of the following description of that medal in a Canandaigua paper, dated February 17, 1891 : " Last Saturday evening, the famous medal presented to the great Indian chief. Red Jacket, in 1792, by General George Washington, was received by. the Red Jacket Club of this village from Mrs. Elizabeth Townsend Meagher, of New York, widow of the late General Thomas Francis Meagher, and granddaughter of Captain Jasper Parish, the Indian interpreter and Government agent, to whom Red Jacket presented it as a token of his regard. This medal was presented to Red Jacket by President Washington while he was visiting the Capital in com- pany with other warriors and chiefs, and Captain Parish, in 1792. It is solid sil- ver, of oblong shape, about five inches in length and two and one-half inches wide. Upon the obverse .side is engraved a scene representing General Wash- ington handing the pipe of peace to Red Jacket, while peaceful employments are suggested by the figure of a man plowing with an ox team in the distance. On the reverse side is the figure of an eagle, around whose head are grouped the fourteen stars representing the fourteen States that formed the Union at the time of the presentation. It is evident that the great chief prized the medal highly, for he wore it continually, and some time before his death committed it to the keeping of his best friend, Captain Parish, from whom it descended to his grand- daughter, who made the presentation to the club." Resume. — ^When it is considered that the subject of this sketch, Mrs. Mott, was born 125 years ago; that the incidents of her schoolgirl life and her address to the Indians took place over 108 years ago; that her first appearance in Skane- ateles took place over 100 years ago; that the school she established — the Hive — was discontinued about 70 years ago; that she died about 40 years ago; that she left no relatives here, and that the compiler of these papers knew but very little about her, and has no recollection of her personally, the attempt to identify her life in Skaneateles seemed ^preposterous, especially after interviewing her old acquaintances in town and village, none of whom could furnish any of the fol- lowing particulars : The date of her death, her age, when she came here, where she resided previously, whether she first established the Hive and when, the date of her son Arthur's death, where he died, his age, and the date of Mrs. Mott's marriage. In commencing this narrative, my object was first to identify her with Skaneateles in as succinct a manner as possible with the limited information I had at hand; after that, to publish her early life as a schoolgirl at Bethlehem, Pa., where she first met Kirkland, the missionary. Having had access to the ar- chives of the Moravian Seminary while visiting Bethlehem several years ago, I copied the account of the visit of the warriors and chiefs of the Six Nations in 1792, and the address of Miss Stansbury to that delegation, also the replies of Red Jacket and Good Peter. I thought that this incident in Mrs. Mott's early life would be of interest to her old friends and acquaintances in this vicinity. 246 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. I have by great perseverance succeeded in obtaining from various sources, mostly from non-residents, the several disconnected incidents herewith published. Ac- companying my private correspondence to various parts of the country, I have usually mailed a copy of the Free Press, marking the Mott article, and in almost every instance the allusion to her was met with a response indicating that Mrs. Mott was not a stranger, and she was always alluded to as a very lovely character and a sweet woman. A former resident of Skaneateles, a lady, thus writes : " I was much inter- ested in your account of Mrs. Lydia Mott's early life. I remember her well, always seeing her at the lectures in the Congregational Hall in the village. I liked to sit next to her. I found her very entertaining and lovely in her ways of speaking, and her intelligence on all educational and other subjects was very pleas- ing. Every schoolgirl who was ever under her tuition recollects how she used to instill into their memories the art of sewing neatly, and particularly of darning their clothing. On some occasions she would rip, tear, and even cut open a hole in a dress, and then teach its owner to repair it in such a manner that it could not readily be discovered." Referring again to George A. Stansbury, a former resident of this village, who was a nephew of Mrs. Mott, it has been stated that he went from here to Bald- winsville, where he died. An editorial in the Baldwinsville Gazette, referring to this Mott history, states that Stansbury was married in that place in 1840, and that two of his children, both deaf-mutes, were simultaneously married in Grace Church, August 10, 1869. A Former Citizen. — In the Skaneateles Free Press, in the sketch of Lydia Mott's life, there occurs a brief mention of the late George A. Stansbury of this place : " Reference has been made in a previous paper to George A. Stansbury, a nephew of Mrs. Mott, who was a resident in this village in 1831. He was one of three brothers, all of whom graduated from Hamilton College. His full name was George Alexander Stansbury. He died in the year 1863, at the age of fifty- nine years. Their gifted sister, Caroline Matilda Stansbury, became the wife of Prof. William Kirkland, of Hamilton College, and gained a wide distinction as an author. One of her writings was "A New Home, Who'll Follow?" and other popular works. Mrs. Kirkland died in April, 1864. Her daughter is a suc- cessful teacher and author in Chicago." Mr. Stansbury strongly resembled the Mott family in personal appearance, and was widely known through his "Interest Tables." On August 24, 1840, he was married by Bishop De Lancey, to Mrs. Evelina M. Goodell, in what is now Grace Church Rectory. His estimable wife long survived him. In the parish register his death is recorded as occurring September 17, 1863, at the age of fifty-eight years. Very many will recall the beautiful double wedding of his two deaf-mute daughters in Grace Church, August 10, 1869. Mrs. Stansbury's death took place nearly twelve HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 247 years after that of her husband, September 16, 1875. Both were buried here. — Gazette and Farmers' Journal, Baldwinsville, N. Y. A Quaker School. — The Free Press has some pleasant reminiscences of a Quaker school in Skaneateles, well known as the " Hive," nearly seventy years ago. A former schoolgirl gives some of her experiences. When Mrs. Mott, the teacher, came back from the quarterly meetings in Scipio, the girls always rushed out for the first kiss. Her son Arthur tried an experiment by arraying himself, in his mother's Quaker dress, and entering the gate. " We rushed out as usual, and about a dozen of us kissed him before we discovered the deception." How many afterward is not recorded. The same lady says : "Among other ac- complishments I learned while at this school was to play whist, but it was not one of the regular studies. I was taught by my schoolmates." — Gazette and Farmers' Journal, Baldwinsville, N. Y. The Earliest Recorded Description of Skaneateles by a Traveler. — Rev. Timothy Dwight, while on a journey to Niagara, passed through the local- ity where the 'village is now, and thus described the settlement and the lake, October i, 1804, ninety-seven years ago: " In the western part of Marcellus, there is a beautiful- lake named Skaneateles, commencing in the township of Tully, crossing the corner of Sempronius, and reaching through a considerable part of Marcellus. Its length is fifteen miles, and its breadth from one to two. At the outlet of this fine piece of water, sprightly and vigorous, running between high and rough banks, and without any of those marshy incumbrances which spread deformity and disease around the outlets of so many lakes in this region, there is a small settlement, which I thought peculiarly pretty. It is built upon the north end of the lake and upon a handsome, clean margin. The lake is in full view, and interested me more than any other on the road. The shores on both sides are elegant arched slopes; the eastern already handsomely cultivated. The soil is excellent, and the fields were covered with a glowing verdure. At the south end of the lake, the prospect is limited by distant mountains, in this region uncommon, and therefore perculiarly gratify- ing objects." The foregoing extract is taken from Dwight's "Travels in New England and New York," in four volumes, 8vo, published in New Haven, in 1822. Timothy Dwight was born in 1752, and died in 1817. At the period of his visit here, in 1804, the location of the present city of Syracuse, according to Clark's " History of Onondaga," was " a dark, gloomy, and almost impenetrable swamp, being a part of the Salt Springs Reservation." The locality of the pres- ent Auburn was " a few scattering log houses, which were afterward named ' Hardenburgh's Corners.' " Historical Collections. — The author published in the Skaneateles Demo- crat twenty years ago a series of collections of early history, entitled " Many Years Ago. Random Sketches of Life in Skaneateles in Early Times," which attracted much interest. 248 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XVII. The Teasel Industry^ Various Corporations, and Banks. The Teasel Industry of Skaneateles. — The teasel is a plant of the genus Dipsacus, of which one species, D. fullonnm, bears a large burr or flower-bud, covered with stiff, prickly, hooked awns or bracts, which when dried is used for raising a nap on woolen cloth. This process is termed " teasehng." The fine fibers or hairs of the wool forming the threads of the woven woolen cloth are, by the action of the hooked awns on the extremity of the spines of the burr, gradually and very slowly drawn out from the woven cloth, and are always drawn in one direction, thus leaving a fine finish on the surface of the cloth. The teasel has been in continual use for this purpone ever since the period of the Roman Empire. The exterior of the teasel burrs is from two to four inches in length, and about one to one and a half inches in diameter. The bud, or seed receptacle, forms the center of the burr. On the extreme point of each individual spine is what may be termed a curved hook, which is nearly at right angles with the spine ; its point is exceedingly sharp. In use, the teasels are placed on a large cylinder, about four feet in. diameter, close together in regular order, with the stems of the burrs all in one direction. The woven woolen cloth is placed on another cylinder, which revolves very slowly in the opposite direction to the teasel cylinder, the cloth being drawn over the teasels and against the sharp points of the hooks, the effect of which causes these sharp points to draw each individual hair or filament from the threads of the woven cloth, and, if the filament of woolly hair does not draw out easily, the flexible spines of the teasel burr bend in such manner as to allow the cloth to pass over the sharp points without damage. It is just this character of the teasel that shows its adaptability for its especial use. Although human ingenuity has produced appliances to take the place of the natural teasel, yet the trivial cost of the teasel, and its adaptability to being easily freed from accu- mulations of wool and grease while in use over the surface of the woven cloth, make it superior to any mechanical arrangement. The accumulation of objection- able matter on the surface of the teasel is cured by turning the teasel over to another face. The teasel plant is a biennial, two years being required for its full growth. Its roots and leaves are formed the first year, and the plant that year resembles a field of turnips. The second year a strong, thorny stalk is thrown up, which becomes filled with many branches. On the extreme end of each branch, and on each twig, a teasel is formed. The size of each differs in accordance with its position on the plant, the lower ones being the smallest, and they increase in size HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 249 toward tlie top. Each size has its peciUiar name among the growers and dealers. The top and largest is termed " The King," while the lowest are called " Buttons." After the seed has been planted and the plants have appeared above ground, it is a prime necessity that the plants should be kept free from the growth of weeds The seed is sown in rows, which are wide enough apart to allow the use of a horse and cultivator between the rows. During the second year after planting the teasels ripen in the month of August, when many men and boys are employed in the work, whose pay depends upon their ability in cutting off the teasels from the thorny plant and conveying them from the field in large baskets, furnished for the purpose by the employers. The employees are paid by the thousand, which by weight is ten pounds. To protect their hands from being injured by the thorns on the plant in gathering the teasels, they are obliged to wear an inexpensive " teasel mitten," or glove. The burrs are cut oft' about two inches from the base of the burr, or teasel, with a simitar-shaped knife or l)lade, as the stalk of the plant is very tough and difficult to cut. After the crop has been gathered, the next THE TEASEL. process is thoroughly to dry the new teasels. This is eft'ected by placing them spread out on temporary shelves, one above another, in a barn or building which has been prepared for the purpose by removing some of the vertical or horizontal boards from the outside of the building, to allow a free access of the air through the teasels. All the foregoing growth and gathering of the crop has been the work of the growers or farmers. The crop is then for sale to the teasel merchants, who ])urchase them at prices in accordance with the market or demand, by making oft'ers at so much a thousand of ten pounds in weight. During" the War of the Rebellion teasels were in demand at five dollars per thousand. Of course that price was excessive, owing to the Government's contracts for the clothing of the troops, and also in a measure to the scarcitv of laborers for farmwork, and therefore a dimin- ished crop of teasels. At the present writing (1899) the market for teasels is very depressed, being forty cents per thousand. Twenty years ago, farmers considered fifty cents per thousand as being equal to a crop of corn at the price then ruling for corn. At the present time corn is depressed in value, and is about the ratio of 250 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. teasels kt forty cents. The farmers consider that teasels and corn are not paying crops. The next process is to prepare the crops of teasels for sale to the woolen cloth manufacturers. The work is done during the winter season by men and boys in what are called " teasel-shops," which are kept comfortable by heat. The teasel as it comes from the farmers after being dried has a projecting appendage from its base, similar in shape to a spur. These are numerous and very tough and prickly, and are cut off close to the base of the teasel with sheep-shears. This work is called " trimming teasels," and gives employment to many persons who otherwise would be unable to procure employment during the winter. The employees are paid by the thousand, in accordance with their ability to do the work very fast. The teasels after being trimmed and assorted as to size are very carefully packed in large-sized boxes, which are calculated to hold a certain num- ber of thousands. Each teasel is packed into these boxes by hand, in regular rows and uniformity of size. The growth of the teasel plant in this country is limited to but few States. The town of Skaneateles and Marcellus, in the State of New York, supply the demand of the whole United States, with the exception of the State of Oregon, in which is grown a comparatively small crop. Teasels are im- ported from France, and are of a very superior quality. The duties imposed upon them are almost prohibitive, and prevent their importation, except in small quantities for some special purpose. Forty years ago the teasel merchants packed teasels in large boxes loosely for shipment (not by hand as is done now), and in order to enhance the weight the seeds were placed in the center, the seeds having no commercial value. This system did not please the buyers, in consequence of which the teasel merchants in this section were held in bad repute, and through the in- fluence of the woolen manufacturers the duties on foreign teasels were very mate- rially reduced or taken off. The very careful cultivation of the teasel produces it to perfection; while uncultivated, the plant grown from seeds dropped in the highways during the transportation of teasels by wagons loosely produces a teasel similar in outward appearance to the cultivated, but it has no hooks or awns on the spines of the burr, and is therefore useless. It has been stated heretofore that the farmers or growers sell their crop by the thousand, and the employees in the teasel-shops in the trimming process are paid according to their dexterity, some earning not much more than fifty cents a day, while others earn a dollar. The number of thousands is determined by weight, which is ten pounds. The teasel merchants, after their purchases from the farmers and other growers at the rate of ten pounds to the thousand, and after having paid the teasel trimmers at the same rate per thousand, must of necessity have their profit, which is obtained by their sales to the woolen manufacturers at the rate of seven pounds to the thousand, which is the established terms of sale. Skaneateles Water Works Company. — The Skaneateles Water Works Company was organized August ii, 1887, by George Barrow, President; J. K. Knox, Secretary ; and B. F. Petheram, Treasurer. The supply of water is taken from the lake by pumping. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 251 The Skaneateles Iron Works.— The Skaneateles Iron Works Company was organized in 1866, under the following certificate : Certificate of Incorporation. We whose names are hereunto signed do hereby certify that we have associated together and formed a manufacturing company for the purpose of carrying on and conducting the business of manufacturing merchant iron, bolts, nuts, washers, rivets, carriage clips, and all other articles manufactured from iron or steel. That the corporate name of said company is " The Skaneateles Iron Works." That the objects for which the said Company is formed are to manufacture merchant iron, bolts, nuts, washers, rivets, carriage clips, and all other articles manufactured from iron or steel. That the amount of the capital stock of said Com- pany is fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), and shall consist of five hundred shares of one hundred dollars each. That the term of existence of said Company is fifty years. That the number of Trustees of the said Company is four; and the following are the names of the Trustees who shall. manage the concerns of said Company for the first year, to wit: Eben Bean, George H. Earll, Edward B. Coe, and Henry Vary. And that the operations of said Company are to be carried on in the town of Skaneateles, Onondaga County, and State of New York. Dated the Sth day of December, 1866. Eben Bean, E. B. Coe, George H. Earll, Henry Vary. Signed and acknowledged before me by Eben Bean, George H. Earll, Edward B. Coe, and Henry Vary, and each and every of them, this Sth day of December, 1866. H. J. HuBBAiuD, Notary Public. The company immediately erected their buildings, and put in their plant, and did roll a considerable quantity of merchant iron from scrap iron, but it was not very long before the company needed additional capital, as appears by the follow- ing notice : Meeting of the Stockholders of the Skaneateles Iron Works. Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the stockholders of the Skaneateles Iron Works is called for and will be held at the office, of the Company, in the town of Skaneateles, County of Onondaga, and State of New York, on the 28th day of June, 1869, at one o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of increasing the capital stock to the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Dated May 20, 1869. George H. Earll, Sedgewick Austin, E. B. Coe, John McNamara, E. Bean. By a vote of the trustees it was determined to issue mortgage bonds. These were duly prepared and offered for sale in the Syracuse bond market, but it seemed that there were no buyers. As it was imperative that money must be had, the stockholders- held a meeting, and by a unanimous vote determined individually to 252 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. indorse the bonds in order to make them more acceptable to investors. This plan proved successful, the bonds were readily sold, and the desired money raised. More merchant iron was manufactured, but it was not long before the company wanted more money. This deficiency of money was probably caused by there being but little money originally paid in by the stockholders. The proposition to issue new indorsed bonds became known to former investors, and they instituted an inquiry as to the individual responsibility of the stockholders, which resulted in making an additional issue unsalable. There was only one exception, and that was an old farmer residing in the town of Sennett. He was prosecuted for the whole issue of the indorsed bonds. The worry of this litigation was the cause of his death, and afterward his estate was prosecuted by the holders of the bonds, and that about finished the Skaneateles Iron Works. The buildings and plant had been previously mortgaged to a Syracuse savings-bank for $ii,ooo. This mort- gage was foreclosed and offered at public sale. There were no bidders, but the bank made the only bid, $5,000, and as a finality the bank sold the whole property, probably to the originators of the Glenside Woolen Company ; but whoever pur- chased it got it probably at what it cost the savings-bank, in the vicinity of $11,000. The closing act was thus commented on in one of the village papers, January 8, 1876: " Yesterday, the Rolling Mill Works were sold under the hammer to the Onondaga County Savings-Bank for the sum of $S,ooo, the only bid offered. We understand the savings-bank had a claim of some $11,000, and, if there had been any bid against it, the bidding would probably have been run up to its claim. What a shrinkage is here ! In about eight years there had been invested in these works over $100,000, and now the property is virtually bid in for the nominal sum of $5,000 ! Now, what has caused this depreciation ? Has it been bad management, or leakage, or incapacity to do business, is what the community hereabout would like to know. As there is good water-power and ample range of buildings the property will not long be idle, it will change hands, and some paying business be inaugurated." The Skaneateles Wood-Working Company. — The Skaneateles Wood- Working Company was organized in accordance with their certificate of incorpora- tion as follows : " The object and business of said association shall be the manufacture of sleigh and cutter woods, and the manufacture in general of other articles of wood, in the town of Skaneateles. Amount of capital stock, $10,000, in two hundred shares of fifty dollars each. Term of duration, fifty years. The following per- sons are to manage the business for the first year as Trustees : Walter H. Cornell, William R. Willetts, Joseph C. Willetts, F. Nye Harwood, and Benjamin F. Petheram. "Dated November 4, 1881." Skaneateles Lake Park Company. — The Skaneateles Lake Park Company was instituted under the following certificate of incorporation : " Whereas, John E. Waller, John McNamara, Martin Fennell, William F. Gregory, and Lewis B. Fitch desiring to form a corporation, the object for which HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 253 said company shall be formed is the business of erecting buildings for hotel pur- poses, and kepping hotels. Capital stock, $30,000. Term of existence, fifty years. Number of shares, 300. Five Trustees to manage the business for the first year : John E. Waller, John McNamara, Martin Fennell, William F. Gregory, and L. B. Fitch. " Dated, December 4, 1888." The Dryden, Groton, and Moravia Telegraph Company. — The Dryden, Groton, and Moravia Telegraph C'ompany was organized for the purpose of con- structing a telegraph line between Auburn and Oswego, on the line of the Southern Central Railroad. Its promoter was Mr. Squire, of Ithaca, who, failing to pro- cure the necessary capital subscribed, came to Skaneateles, and proposed to change his terminal from Auburn to Syracuse, provided he could get financial aid here sufficient to carry out his project. Previous efforts had been made to get the Western Union Telegraph Company to build a loop from the Junction to this village, but its frequent promises were not kept. The nearest telegraph station was at the Junction, five miles distant, and all messages by telegraph had to be brought to the village by the stage-drivers. Mr. Squire was, therefore, warmly re- ceived and money furnished him, conditioned that the main office should be located in Skaneateles, and that a majority of its directors and officers were to be from this place. The organization as completed consisted of : Henry J. Hubbard, President ; Henry T. Webb, Secretary ; and Thomas Isom, Jr., Treasurer. On the day that the line was completed the Western Union Company built the loop from the Junction to and from the village, and competition for business at once com- menced. All the little villages located on the main line that had subscribed for a few shares of stock demanded that offices should be opened in their villages, which was done m many instances, with the result that at the end of the year the expenses were greater than the receipts, which, therefore, created a debt. Offices which were not self-supporting were then abandoned, and the line continued, but the debt was a source of contention. The out-of-town directors resolved what seemed sharp practise, but were checkmated, and the line came into possession of Messrs. Hubbard & Webb, who subsequently sold it to the Atlantic & Pacific Com- pany, who were the rivals of the Western Union Telegraph Company. • The Central New York Electric Light and Power Company. — In November, 1889, franchises were granted to the Central New York Electric Light and Power Company by the town and village. The electricity is transmitted to Skaneateles Village from the company's plant, near Elbridge, which also supplies the villages of Elbridge and Jordan. George Pjarrow is President and Secretary. The Lake Bank. — The Lake Bank was organized during the month of March, 1863, with a paid-up capital of $100,000, and commenced business in May of the same year. The banking office was located on the corner of Genesee and Jordan streets, formerly known as the Hecox Block. Its first officers were : Anson Lapham, President; Charles Pardee, Vice-President; and Henry J. Hubbard, Cashier. On the first annual election subsequent to its organization, Charles 254 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Pardee was elected President (Anson Lapham having declined reelection) and C. W. Allis elected Vice-President. The First National BANK.^On the 4th of March, 1864, the First National Bank of Skaneateles was organized, with a capital of $50,000. Its directors were : Charles Pardee, Henry J. Hubbard, Thomas Isom, Jr., Giles M. Lawrence, and Lucien Moses. Its first officers were: Charles Pardee, President, and Henry J. Hubbard, Cashier. No active commercial business was done by this bank until June 15, 1865, when the capital stock was increased to $150,000, and it absorbed all the business of the Lake Bank. In December, 1867, owing to the excessive assessment and taxation, which seemed to its officers as a discrimination against the bank, the stockholders voted to go into voluntary liquidation, and the business of the bank was afterward carried on with the same capital, under the firm name of C. Pardee & Co. The Bank of Skaneateles. — The Bank of Skaneateles was organized during the month. of August, 1869, with a capital stock of $100,000. Its officers were: Joel Thayer, President ; Anson Lapham, Vice-President ; and B. F. Stiles, Cashier. Skaneateles Savings-Bank. — The Skaneateles Savings-Bank was organized April 25, 1866. The first trustees were : John Barrow, Richard Tallcot, Joel Thayer, Charles Pardee, Anson Lapham, Josias Oarlock, Joab L. Clift, Caleb W. Allis, Ezekial B. Hoyt, George H. Earll, Leonard H. Earll, Henry J. Hubbard, Thomas Isom, Jr., and Henry L. Roosevelt. Its officers were: John Barrow, President; Richard Tallcot, Vice-President; Henry T. Webb, Secretary and Treasurer; and Edward T. Bartlett, Attorney. November 17, 1866, Joab L. Clift was elected President, and Josias Garlock, Vice-President, in place of John Barrow and Richard Tallcot, resigned. May i, 1867, H. T. Webb resigned as Secretary and Treasurer, and F. G. Jewett was elected as his successor. January i, 1868, F. G. Jewett resigned as Secretary and Treasurer, and was succeeded by Josias Garlock. Explanation of Charles Pardee's Opposition to an Incorporated Public Cemetery. — After the old burial-ground, originally purchased by the Skaneateles Religious Society, in 1812, had been used for burial purposes by the whole town for sixty years, the late Freeborn G. Jewett proposed, in the interest of the town, to purchase an additional section of adjoining land for cemetery purposes, andj as Charles Pardee previously had experience in the management of the old burying-ground, Judge F. G. Jewett proposed to him to become a partner, and to take full charge of the cemetery. F. G. Jewett and Charles Pardee pur- chased from James Cannings Fuller, August 21, 1846, one and twelve-hundredths acres of land adjoining the old burial-ground. Consideration paid to J. C. Fuller, $392, at the rate of $350 per acre. This piece of land was laid out into 224 lots, each measuring 10 by 16 feet, therefore costing $1.75 each. Judge F. G. Jewett established the uniform price per lot at ten dollars. At this rate this piece of land would produce $2,240, or at the rate of $2,000 per acre. In consequence of the great demand for burial-lots and the very reasonable price for them, nearly all HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 255 the 224 lots had been sold before Judge Jewett's death, which occurred January 27, 1858. The following is a copy of the deed given to purchasers of lots in the " Jewett & Pardee " cemetery : This IndenturEj made this in the year one thousand eight hundred and , between Freeborn G. Jewett and Charles Pardee, of Skaneateles, in the county of Onondaga, of the first part, Witnesseth, that the parties of the first part, in consideration of the sum of dollars to them paid, have sold and by these presents do grant and convey to the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, ail that part of the ground recently purchased by them of James C. Fuller, and which they have laid out for a cemetery, f. il|i "li ^' "1 SKANEATELES SAVINGS BANK. as lot number with the appurtenances, to be used and occupied by the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, as a part of such cemetery, and for no other purpose. In Witness Whereof, the parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals, the day and year first written. The deeds executed during the lifetime of F. G. Jewett were executed by the parties of the first part. After Freeborn G. Jewett's death the deeds were executed as follows : " C. Pardee, successor, etc." After the death of James Cannings Fuller, which occurred November 25, 1847, the late Sumner Fuller came into possession of all the lands adjoining and lying tp the north of the Jewett & Pardee purchase. Mote. — It is deemed proper here to make an explanatory memorandum respect- ing this history of the village burial-grounds previous to the. incorjjoration of the "Lake View Rural Cemetery Association," in the year 1871. In the following relation of that history there is no intention to censure either Sumner Fuller or 2s6 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Charles Pardee. Both were engaged in a legitimate business transaction. Sumner Fuller was the owner of lands which were made valuable by being contiguous to the village cemetery. Charles Pardee individually owned and controlled the village cemetery, and when it became his interest to enlarge its area, as had been previously done, it was imperatively to his interest to acquire Sumner Fuller's lands, as these were the only available ones to be obtained adjoining the cemetery. Of course, Mr. Fuller being aware of the largely enhanced value of lands within a cemetery, it was to his interest to obtain the best possible terms of sale. After the decease of the late Freeborn G. Jewett, January 27, 1858, Charles Pardee purchased from Sumner Fuller, September 14, 1861, one and eighty-hundredths acres adjoining on the north the Jewett & Pardee purchase. The recorded deed was as follows : " Sumner Fuller to C. Pardee, in consideration of three hundred and sixty dollars, one undivided one-half of one acre and eighty-hundredths of an acre." This piece of land was laid out into 360 lots, 10 by 16 feet, which were rated at from $20 to $30 each according to location, and at an average of $25 would when sold amount to $9,000.. Of course, the inference is, from the condi- tions of the deed of sale, that the profits were to be equally divided between both parties, Sumner Fuller and Charles Pardee. The cost of each lot would oe $2, at the rate of $720 for the whole ownership. Nearly eleven years after the above undivided purchase, namely. May i, 1872, according to a recorded deed in the County Clerk's Office, Sumner Fuller and wife conveyed by deed to C. Pardee all the lands lying north of and adjoining said C. Pardee's lands, containing about three acres, also all his (Fuller's) " right, title, and interest in the undivided piece of land which I sold to said C. Pardee, September 14, 1861 ; consideration, $2,750." As Sumner Fuller had been receiving his proportion of the profits from the sale of lots of the undivided piece of land since 1861, nearly eleven years, the addition of the $50 to his price for the three acre lot indicates his valuation of the unsold lots of the partnership land. If C. Pardee actually paid $2,700 for that three acre lot, it was a good business operation for Mr. Fuller to receive nine hundred dollars an acre for lands not worth over one hundred dollars for any other purpose. Charles Pardee was the owner and manager of all the village burial-grounds for twenty years, from 1858 (date of F. G. Jewett's death) to 1878 (date of C. Par- dee's death). As such he made it a profitable business transaction. Under these conditions it was against his interest to allow any interference with his rights, and to object to selling his lands, held for sale by him, to the Rural Cemetery Associa- tion, and it was indispensable in order to protect his interests to place every obstacle in the way to prevent any connection with the lands of the opposing new association. During his twenty years of ownership and control of the burial- grounds, no register of interments was ever kept. No rules or regulations for the good order of the grounds ever existed. Imperfect conveyances were made for sale of lots and plats. _ Only one memorandum was made, and that was a map of the grounds, made on ordinary yellow wrapping-paper, on which was a diagram of the lots, numbered, and the names of each purchaser placed thereon. Such HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 257 were the village burial-grounds, held for speculative purposes, for twenty years, when I, alone, assumed the responsibility of issuing a call, through the columns of the Skaneateles Democrat, June 29, 1871, inviting the citizens of Skaneateles to take such preliminary action as may be necessary to organize and establish an incorporated public cemetery. The prestige of C. Pardee at that time wielded a commanding influence in this community. He had previously been President of the village for several years, and was so at that time, and was engaged in the bank- ing business. His influence was such that there was not an individual in the whole community that had the courage to initiate a movement to establish an incorporated public cemetery. The result of that public call was the establishment of " The Incorporated Rural Cemetery of Lake View." As I was originator and promoter, and the only real active member of the Corporation, I found it very difficult to establish the cemetery on a rirm basis, owing to the apathy and indifference of more than half of the members of the board of trustees. The influence of Mr. Pardee was very apparent. When it became necessary to solicit loans, secured by a certificate of indebtedness, not a single member of the trustees offered to take this important matter in charge. No committee was appointed, therefore I assumed the duty, and individually solicited subscriptions from citizens who T thought would be interested in the contemplated public cemetery. It was imme- diately a necessity to have the lots laid out and mapped, in order to be in a position to dispose of them. There being no money on hand to meet the expense, I assumed that duty, and personally laid out all the avenues, and employed a man and team of horses to plow out all of them. I laid out all the lots myself, individ- ually, and mapped the whole grounds. Had it not been for my timely call for a public meeting of the citizens of this village to meet at Legg Hall, July i, 1871, to take such action as may be necessary to establish an incorporated public ceme- tery, the present village cemetery would not now be in existence. In the mean time, the old burial-ground would have continued under its former auspices, in full operation. In order to explain this prediction, it may be stated that the prelimi- naries which were required to obtain the title to the lands belonging to Reuel Smith, Sr., did not end until April i, 1873, when the appraised value became due, which was $2,150. There not being money enough on hand to pay this sum, of course I advanced the deficiency, $650, and the $2,150 was paid, which completed the title to " The Lake View Rural Cemetery Association." Reuel Smith, Sr., died September 6, 1873, five months after the title to the lands of the present village cemetery had been acquired. The lands of Reuel Smith, Sr., after his death became vested in such manner that they could not have been sold for any purpose for a long term of years, in consequence of which it would have been impossible to have located a cemetery where the village cemetery is now. I will say here that, although my interests in the establishment of a new cemetery were antagonistic to Mr. Pardee's interest in that respect, in all my intercourse with him I never exchanged an unpleasant or disagreeable word with him, and always saluted him politely, as a gentleman. 258 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XVIII. Lake View Cemetery and Skaneateles Lake. The Origin of Lake View Cemetery. — There are very few persons now in this village who are aware how our beautiful and attractive cemetery originated, and how, without cost to the taxpayers or citizens, it became the property of the village of Skaneateles. It is necessary, in the narration of the following history of this cemetery, to write in the first person. Therefore, I claim to have been the sole and only originator, under the most adverse and opposing conditions, per- severed, and finally completed its permanent establishment, and its final conveyance to the corporation of " The Trustees of the Village of Skaneateles." Noticing for many years the disgraceful old burying-ground that was a re- proach to this community, I determined to attempt the formation of an Incor- porated Rural Cemetery Association, under a general law of this State which authorized the formation of such corporations. In accordance with this deter- mination, I inserted the following notice of a meeting to be held at Legg Hall, which was published in the Skaneateles Democrat, June 29, 1871, and appended the names of such public-spirited citizens as suggested themselves to my mind at the moment, believing that the gentlemen would not object to the use of their names for so commendable a purpose: Public Meeting. The citizens of Skaneateles are requested to meet at Legg Hall, on Saturday next, July i, at 4 P.M., to take such preliminary action as may be necessary to organize and establish an incorporated public cemetery. G. T. Campbell, Richard Tallcott, C. Pardee, Joel Thayer, Anson Lapham, William Marvin, C. W. Allis, S. C. Wheadon, E. N. Leslie, E. Reuel Smith, JosiAH Garlock, G. W. Earll, Newell Turner, J. C. DeWitt, L. T. Bartlett, Evelyn Porter, W. J. Amerman, Benoni Lee, Henry T. Webb, F. V. D. Horton, W. H. Patterson, John Davy, Joseph H. Burnett, George Francis, John Packwood, Horace Cornell. The following announcement of that meeting was made by the Democrat: Public Meeting. In accordance with the call published in the Democrat, a meeting was held in Legg Hall to consider the subject of organizing an incorporated public cemetery, at which the following HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 259 named persons were present: William Marvin, G. W. Earll, W. Piatt, J. C. D< Witt, W. H. H. Crosier, E. N. Leslie, G. T. Campbell, P. O. C. Benson, C. W. Allis, O. Young, J. A. Root, L. Cleaveland, D. Hall, E. B. Palmer, A. A. Brooks. On motion, Hon. William Marvin was elected President, and P. O. C. Benson, Secretary, Mr. E. N. Leslie stated the object of the meeting, and read the State law referring to the subject under consideration. Discussion followed at some length, and, on motion, Messrs. William Marvin, E. N. Leslie, and J. C. De Witt were appointed a committee to investigate the subject of incorporat- ing and enlarging the present cemetery, and the chairman of the committee was empowered to call another meeting of the inhabitants of this vicinity whenever the committee was ready to report. The meeting then adjourned. The chairman of the committee, WilHam Marvin, called another meeting for Saturday, August 27, at 3 P.M., stating that the committee appointed at the ORIGINAL MAIL AND PASSENGER STAGE-COACH. This is the original mail and passenger four-horse stage-coach, representing those used by Isaac Sherwood. (See Chapter IV,, page 29,) previous meeting had investigated the suljject in detail and were prepared to present a report, interesting not only to the present lot owners and inhabitants of the village, but to all others in the adjoining vicinity. In a report of that meeting, the Democrat gave an extended account of the proceedings, in which occurred the following remarks : President William Mar\in, in a few remarks, stated the object of the meeting, after which E. N. Leslie read an interesting and extended report from the committee, in which they recommended that immediate steps be taken to incorporate the present village cemetery, and that an association be formed as directed by the Act of the Legislature authorizing the Incorporation of Rural Cemetery Associations, and for that purpose suggested that a board of twelve trustees be elected as advised by that act. The report was discussed at length, after which it was unanimously accepted and adopted. Twelve Trustees were then elected, and 26o HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. classified to serve one, two, and three years, after which the name of " Lake View Cemetery Association " was adopted, and other details of the organization were enacted according to law. The next important matter to be considered was the acquisition of adjoining lands for the new cemetery. Those lands belonged to Reuel Smith, Sr. Another most important subject was that the new cemetery had no money to purchase lands. But the further and more difficult problem of establishing this cemetery rested entirely upon myself as being its chief promoter. The late Charles Pardee, who owned the old burying-ground, was a determined opponent to the establishment of an incorporated public cemetery. In order to elucidate his strength of oppo- sition, it may be well to give his previous history. Charles Pardee had been an active merchant here for many years, until he sold his stock of merchandise and his business to Messrs.' Isom & Hall, January i, 1852. After that he gave his attention to various lines of business, and during the Civil War he was engaged in manufacturing for about eighteen months, and then in various operations from time to time, until he commenced the banking business by the establishment of the Lake Bank in 1863. At that time, according to the best estimate of his nearest friends, he was worth, over all his liabilities, from $300,000 to $350,000, and therefore exerted a powerful influence in this com- munity. His opposition to the establishment of an incorporated public cemetery, and his determination to prevent its accomplishment, made him a powerful oppo- nent. His influence was such as to control a large proportion of the inhabitants of this village. About one-half of the first Board of Trustees elected at the public meeting held August 27, 1871, were adherents of Mr. Pardee, some acting partly and others wholly in his interest. The original twelve Trustees elected by ballot, August 27, 1871, at the public meeting, were as follows : Edward S. Hoyt, George T. Campbell, Jacob C. DeWitt, Joel Thayer, J.' Augustus Edwards, E. Norman Leslie, C. W. Allis, Willis Piatt, John H. Smith, P. Oscar C. Benson, Charles Pardee, and Harmon B. Benedict. Their first meeting was held November 19, 1871. The following Trustees were not present : Charles Pardee, C. W. Allis, P. O. C. Benson, and John H. Smith. The following officers were then elected by ballot : Joel Thayer, President ; H. B. Benedict, Vice-President ; and E. Norman Leslie, Secretary and Treasurer. It is impossible to write the history of the establishment of the present cemetery without detailing the various phases of obstruction and opposition used by Mr. Pardee to prevent the combination of all the village burial-grounds into one organization. At a meeting of the Trustees of Lake View, held May 18, 1872, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: " Resolved, That all the lands now held for sale by any person or persons, ex- cept the lands now held by the Society of Friends, and the lands now held by the Skaneateles Religious Society, within the present cemetery grounds, be purchased or acquired by Lake View Cemetery Association. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 261 "Resolved, That Joel Thayer and E. Norman Leslie be a committee to initiate proceedings for the acquisition of such lands." As one of the aforesaid committee, I called on Mr. Pardee, who had possession of a portion of the old cemetery and who held land therein for sale. The first interview was had on Monday, June 3, 1872. In answer to the question as to what he asked the Association for the lands unsold, he replied that he would not charge much, and, when pressed for a definite answer, said he would look it over and let me know. I then inquired about the lot lying to the north of the cemetery. He said he had intended to purchase it, and had so far completed the arrangement that the deed had been executed, but that he had not taken it, as he had heard that the Association had determined to appropriate it. He said he had agreed to give $2,700 for it, and was desirous that the Association should purchase the same from Sumner Fuller at that price, and he offered to give the Association $250 if they would agree to purchase at that sum. I stated to him that the Association would not give half that sum for the whole lot. I also refused to take any money on behalf of the Association with any provisos. I then left. On Tuesday, June 11, 1 again called to ascertain on what terms the land in the cemetery held for sale could be purchased for. Mr. Pardee said he had come to the conclusion not to sell those lands to the Association, unless they would agree to purchase the lot to the north from Mr. Fuller on his terms, namely, twenty- seven hundred dollars. He also said that, if the Association wanted to force him to sell his cemetery lands, he would give the Association all the law they wanted, and as long as they wanted law. This was the substance of the conversation. At the next meeting of the Trustees, held July 13, 1872, a general conversation took place in regard to the affairs of the Association. The determination of Mr. Pardee to retain possession of the old cemetery was talked over, and the members present regretted that he should have taken this course. Mr. H. B. Benedict, who had had a conversation with Mr. Pardee on the subject, thought that the Associa- tion had better not attempt a forcible possession. Mr. Allis was requested to see Sumner Fuller, who it was supposed owned the title to the lot on the north side of the cemetery, and ascertain whether he would dispose of his title thereto and on what terms. Mr. Allis accepted the proposition, and the meeting then adjourned. After organization, the question of finances came up before the officers of the new corporation of Lake View. The only method was to issue certificates of indebtedness. These certificates were conditioned to pay one-half of the sales of lots, and to pay seven per cent, interest until they were redeemed. They were in all respects a first mortgage on the lands to be purchased. Several public-spirited gentlemen subscribed two hundred dollars, and some one hundred dollars each, but the total of these subscriptions was not sufficient to purchase the lands which had been laid out for the new cemetery. These lands belonged to Reuel Smith, Sr., of New York. On application to him for their purchase, he declined to dis- pose of them ; but, as I was well acquainted with him, I persuaded him to submit to an appraisement by disinterested freeholders, to be appointed by the Court, 262 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. which was accomplished with harmonious and satisfactory results. These lands were accordingly surveyed and staked out. The lands comprised from seven to eight acres, and were so laid out as to make, including the old cemetery, a parallelo- gram. The lands to be purchased were to cost between two and three thousand dollars. The greatest obstacle in the disposition of the certificates of indebtedness was the determined opposition and influence of C. Pardee, who opposed the pro- jected new cemetery. He had been ruler of the village for many years, and he determined, if possible, to prevent the success of the new organization. In con- sequence of the need of money to pay for the lands, while neither of the Trustees offered to advance the necessary funds, I paid $650, which covered the deficiency to pay Reuel Smith, Sr., for his lands. After having the lands in possession, the next requisite was to fence them. I then purchased on account of Lake View Cemetery, from Messrs. Allen & Hoag, between four hundred and five hundred dollars' worth of hemlock lumber, but the lumber merchants had no confidence in the Rural Cemetery Association's ability to pay for the lumber, so they charged me with it. I made no objection, and paid the bill. After that all purchases on account of the Association, whether of labor or materials, were all charged to me, individually, and were promptly paid. Mr. Pardee, fearing that the Lake View Cemetery Association would take his lands by condemnation proceeding, concluded to and did organize his lands into a Rural Cemetery Association, under the corporate name of " Evergreen." Efforts, which proved ineffectual, were made in every possible manner to purchase his lands ; but he wanted money, and would not accept certificates of indebtedness which were payable with seven per cent, interest from one-half the sales of every lot sold and paid for. These certificates were as safe as a bond and mortgage. As the original subscription list has not been given, this history will not be complete without its publication. It was circulated by myself, and without assist- ance from any of the Trustees. Only six of the original twelve Trustees sub- scribed. It was commenced early in the year 1872. Subscription List. E. Norman Leslie . '. $200 00 C. C. Wyckoff $100 00 Forrest G. Weeks 200 00 Thos. Y. Avery 100 00 Joel Thayer 200 00 Anson Lapham- 100 00 Edward S. Hoyt 200 00 William Marvin 100 CO Thomas Morton 200 00 C. W. Allis 100 00 P. Oscar C. Benson 100 00 Elias Thorne 100 00 William S. Briggs , 100 00 Richard Tallcott 100 00 E. B. Hoyt 100 00 Jacob H. Allen 100 00 James A. Root 100 00 H. B. Benedict So 00 Julius Earll 100 00 Benoni Lee Legal services H. L. Roosevelt 100 DO Wills Clift So 00 The total of the above was $2,500. The total subscription was $3,000. Five subscriptions of $100 each were never paid. There were several of the original HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 263 subscribers who did not pay their subscriptions for from two to six years, con- sequently, when the payment to be made Reuel Smith, Sr., became due (April i, 1873), there was a deficiency of money on hand, not only for the lands, but for other purposes, amounting to $650. This deficiency I advanced, and the amount due for the lands, $2,150, was paid. Mr. Pardee, having organized the old burying-ground into a Rural Cemetery Association, September 25, 1873, and thus being contiguous to the new cemetery, was the cause of continual and determined opposition to the original plan of com- bining the old with the new village burial-grounds. Every possible effort was ONE MILE POINT, ON THE WEST SHORE OP THE LAKE. Five Mile Point in the distance to tlie South. made by the Trustees of the new cemetery to purchase the lands held by Mr. Pardee for sale, but he would not sell them. On the evening of September 26, 1872, the Trustees of the Presbyterian Society met at the store of Newell Turner, by my request, when I suggested to them the propriety of conveying by quitclaim deed the title to the old burying- ground to Lake View Cemetery Association, inviting their attention to a law passed by the Legislature in 1870, which authorized religious societies holding burial-grounds to convey them to rural cemetery associations. This law was read to the Trustees, and by a unanimous vote they by resolution directed their Treasurer, Newell Turner, to execute a quitclaim deed (which had been pre- viously prepared) and to affix the corporate seal thereto. The deed was executed 264 HISTORY OF SKAXEATELES. the same evening, and it was recorded in the County Clerk's Office on the 28th day of September, 1873. This old burying-ground, an acre in extent, Mr. Pardee claimed as his own, and it composed a large portion of his burial-ground. When he became aware of its transfer to Lake View Cemetery Association, he addressed the following letter to one of the Trustees of the Presbyterian Society : Skaneateles, N. Y., June 26, 1875. Me. James A. Root : In 1862, yourself, Isom, Hitchcock, and Augustus Edwards gave me the entire control of the ground, originally appropriated for burial purposes, and which was placed into the hands of the Trustees of the Skaneateles Religious Society, as trustees for the whole com- munity, with no authority to make sale even as privately as you pretended to do, and put it into the hands of the Episcopal Society. .The question is yet to be tested. Very respectfully, C. Pardee. At a meeting held July 28, 1873, on the cemetery lands, the project of opening an avenue into the old burial-ground was discussed, and, as some of the Trustees were desirous that it should be done, C. W. Allis, who is one of the Trustees of the Friends' Burial-Ground, consented that such an avenue should be opened on the western part of such burial-ground. As this required some preliminary work, Mr. Pardee, suspecting the design, immediately placed a section of iron fence across the roadway in such a position as to prevent its use as contemplated, although at that time, 1873, the old burial-ground had been deeded to Lake View Cemetery by the Trustees of the Presbyterian Societ)^, September 26, 1872. At the ne.xt meeting of the Trustees of Lake View, held August 21, 1873, the following resolution was passed : " Resolved, That Jacob C. DeW'itt have, and hereby has, such power to nego- tiate with Mr. Pardee for the sale of all his interest in the old burial-ground, also the lot in front, and that he make the best terms he can for the Association, payment to be made in scrip not to exceed two thousand (2,000) dollars." At the following meeting of the Trustees, held August 28, Jacob C. DeWitt reported Mr. Pardee's reply to the resolution : " Mr. Pardee declines to sell the lots held by him for sale, with this exception : he will sell the front lot, and the control of the old burial-ground, for two thousand (2,000) dollars, to lie made payable at some specified future time. That time he will leave the Trustees to name." This being unsatisfactory to the Trustees, it was, on motion, resolved that Dr.' Campbell be associated with J. C. DeWitt to negotiate further with Mr. Pardee, and they were requested to get the proposition in definite shape to be presented to the Board of Trustees at a special meeting, if possible, on Thursday, at same hour and place. During the month of May, 1874, the fence separating the avenue leading to the old burial-ground from the avenue of Lake View was taken down by my HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 265 direction. In a few days thereafter a section of an iron fence set in stone bases was placed across the roadway, by direction of Mr. Pardee, to prevent the use of the avenue. In addition to this iron fence there were several mounds of apparent graves placed in the middle of the road. On August 26, 1874, Mr. Pardee had a new board fence erected in place of that which was taken down during the previous May. After making every endeavor to purchase Mr. Pardee's lands, the committee were requested to call and ascertain from Mr. Pardee on what terms he would sell his burying-ground. This effort was made September 6, 1877. In reply he refused to sell the lands held by him for sale on any terms. Without detailing the many obstructions placed, by his orders to prevent the ■connection of the new avenues of Lake View with those of his cemetery, it is ■only necessary to mention the principal one, that is, the avenue near the large ■elm-tree which now connects the new cemetery with the old. His sexton, Charles Read, was directed to use the avenue as a potter's field. Eleven burials were made in this roadway, only about one foot of earth covering them, except one, a woman who had died of ship-fever, and this grave was dug the usual ■depth. Grave mounds were made over each of these graves. Only one of those buried there has been removed; the remainder are under that roadway yet. After the melancholy and distressful death of Mr. Pardee, in April, 1878, the late Joel Thayer and his wife Juliette proposed to purchase all of the late Charles Pardee's ownership in the old burial-ground included in the Evergreen Cemetery. An act of the Legislature was necessary to authorize one or both of the two cemeteries to sell their lands to any person or persons, on condition that within one month after receiving a deed therefor the said person or persons should deed one or both cemeteries to the corporation of the village of Skan- ■eateles, and by the same act of the Legislature the Trustees of the village were ■empowered to receive one or both cemeteries in the same manner as if the village had purchased them, and they were to receive them under Chapter 209 of the Laws of 1847. Mr. Thayer purchased the Pardee interest for $800, and the new Lake View Cemetery gave him its seven or eight acres, conditioned that he was to deed them to the village. Thus the present attractive cemetery became the property of the village. Five months after Lake View Cemetery Association became vested in possession of the lands of Reuel Smith, Sr., he died, and those lands could not have been obtained after his death for fifty or more years by the provisions of his will. Therefore, the present Lake View Cemetery would not be in existence, holding the eight acres, had it not have been for my efforts and persistence in calling a public meeting and carrying out my original design. I assumed full charge of all the detail of establishing the cemetery, as the original Trustees of the Rural Cemetery Association were in general very apathetic and took little or no interest in the success of the Association. I kept all the accounts by double entry, opened an account with the Bank of Skaneateles under the name ■of " Lake View," all checks were signed in my handwriting, and all moneys were deposited to the credit of that account. In fact, I took charge of the 266 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. receipt and payment of all moneys, and issued all deeds for sale of all lots. I made it my business from the commencement to succeed in establishing the new Incorporated Cemetery Association. It has been accomplished under many diffi- culties and. determined opposition. Continuing the history of the Rural Cemetery Association of Lake View, its last meeting was held April 3, 1880, when the following resolution was adopted: " Resolved, That the President and Treasurer be, and are hereby, authorized to cause the corporate seal to be affixed, and to execute a deed of conveyance, covering and including all the lands of the Cemetery Association, incorporated SKANEATELES LAKE. East Shore of the Lake, looking South from the Villagre. under the name and style of ' Lake View,' to Joel Thayer, of the village of Skan- eateles, under and by authority of Chapter 52 of the Laws of 1880." The meeting then adjourned. The deed was executed April 9, 1880. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 52 of the Laws of 1880, Joel Thayer and wife conveyed all the lands he had received by deed from the Rural Cemetery Associations, he having previously purchased the Evergreen Cemetery, to the cor- poration of " The Trustees of the Village of Skaneateles." Thus the cemetery became the property of the village of Skaneateles. Cemetery Commissioners were first appointed by the village Trustees, April 26, 1880, as authorized by law. Their first meeting was held May 21, 1880, at HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 267 which they organized. At the second meeting, held June 4, 1880, the following notice was ordered published in the village papers: Notice to Lot Owners in the Cemetery. All persons claiming to own unoccupied lots or plats in the Cemetery, now owned by the Trustees of the village, are required to present or exhibit deeds or title to the same to the Clerk of the village, for the purpose of having the same properly recorded. No inter- ments will be allowed on such lots until after they are recorded. By Order of the Commissioners. The next meeting of the Commission was held September 6, 1881. Joel Thayer having died May 19, 1881, the village Trustees appointed J. C. Willetts to fill the vacancy occasioned by his death. Willetts proved to be a disturbing element, and just the opposite of Joel Thayer. At that meeting Benoni Lee was present as counsel, and he read the statute which authorized the appointment of Commissioners, which eliminated the powers of the Commission. It was found that their powers were more restricted than had been anticipated, and it was suggested that an ordinance be prepared and submitted to the Trustees of the village for their approval and action, giving to the Commission such additional powers as would enable them to conduct the affairs of the Cemetery in a manner creditable to the village. That suggested ordinance was neither prepared nor passed by the Trustees of the village, consequently the Commissioners possessed no power to sell lots, receive or pay out money, or do anything but lay out and beautify the grounds for five years only. The law under which they were appointed was Chapter 696 of the Laws of 1871, which defines their duties and powers. The village Trustees, when they appointed Commissioners, named as such the previous Trustees of the Rural Cemetery Association, and, as they did not know of any change of powers, they continued to sell lots, receive and pay out money, just as they thought proper. As soon as I asceirtained that' they possessed no power to receive or pay out money, I offered a resolution as follows : "Resolved, That Mr. Wills Clift, one of the Commissioners of Lake View Cemetery, acting as Treasurer, who has now a balance of money on hand, which belongs to the Trustees of the village of Skaneateles, be, and is hereby, directed to pay the said balance to the Treasurer of the village, and thereafter such money will be only subject to the order of the Trustees of the village." Commissioner J. C. Willetts objected, saying that, as the Commission had been in the habit of receiving and expending all the money, there was no reason why that course should not be continued. The last regular meeting of the Commissioners that I ever attended was held November 24, 1885. Skaneateles Lake — As it Appeared when This Part of the Country WAS Visited by the Pioneers. — In 1793-94 when the first settlers reached its shores, its dense forests reached almost to the water's edge. There were numer- ous points jutting from the shores on either side covered with trees and under- 2 68 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. brush, the most prominent of which was at the terminus of what is now known as the Shotwell Brook, which at that time was a very considerable stream of water. This point projected far into the lake, and it was from about this locality that a sand-bar ran across to near Mile Point, over which a man could wade across from shore to shore with his head above water. All the points before mentioned were the terminus of inlets into the lake, all of which carried a much greater volume of water than they do now. At that period, while the forests were intact, the springs on the hillsides flowed all the year round. The rays of the sun had but little effect on the surface beneath, and the snows of winter remained on the ground until late in the spring months, the gradual melting of which, together with the rains, which were much more abundant than at the present time, supplied the springs with water throughout the year, with occasional interruptions in the summer months during a dry season. As a result of this the level of the surface of the lake was generally very uniform. On occasions of a very rainy season the rise would not average over one foot, which gradually subsided from the natural flow through the outlet. The line of shore at the lower end of the lake ran from about the northern boundary of the Lapham place in nearly a semicircle, where James E. Porter now resides, or perhaps a little further to the east. The southern terminus of the present coifer-dam was the outline of the original shore. Between that and the present shore, in the rear of the brick stores, was a swampy flat, interspersed with pools of water, and very similar in appearance to the woodland now on the direct road to Auburn, beyond the county line. This flat was covered with old forest trees, principally elm and red oak, and considerable underbrush. The outlet ran through this flat, and was filled with driftwood, the debris which had accumulated there from time immemorial. This driftwood formed a bridge for the first settlers to cross the outlet. It is presumed that the upper end of the lake was similar in appearance, but more rugged. The first dam was constructed of logs, and was about upon a line with the north end of the present bridge. It did not raise the water more than three or four feet, and was constructed by Jesse Kellogg for Judge Sanger about the year 1797. Sanger built the first grist-mill, and Jesse Kellogg built the first sawmill, which were both supplied with power from this dam. The first name given to Mile Point was Barney's Point, named from Bar- nabas Hall, who settled on the military lot adjoining. There was very early a log house erected on this point by a man named Bebee. After his death his widow, called by the boys " Granny Bebee," lived in it for many years. She was called a witch, and all the boys and girls were afraid of her. After her death a man by the name of McMullen lived in it. His wife, Katy McMullen, worked for many people, particularly Zalmon Booth. The effect of raising the water in the lake by the dam was to flood not only the swampy flat at this end, but nearly all the picturesque points which were HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 269 covered with trees, the stumps of which could be seen for many years thereafter, particularly at this end of the lake. Another effect was the continual washing away of the shores undermining the roots of the trees, causing driftwood and snags in the body of the lake and on its shores. This gradual washing away has gteatly enlarged the surface from what it was originally. At the present time the rise and fall of the water from extreme to extreme is about seven feet, so that, when the water is at high-water mark, the whole surface of the lake is full seven feet higher than it was when Abraham A. Cuddeback came here in 1794 and settled on the west shore. The first building on the lake-shore in the village was a large traveler's barn SKANEATELES LAKE FROM THE CENTER OF THE VILLAGE. Five Mile Point in the distance to the South, on the East Shore o£ the Lake. belonging to Elnathan Andrews, who kept the old tavern. Another one was put up by John Legg for a blacksmith's shop on about the present site of Legg Hall. A frame harness-shop followed, by Philo Dibble. A frame one-story lawyer's office was then built by Alfred Northam, which was east of Dibble's shop. Aboriginal Name of Skaneateles Lake. — Skaneateles Lake was called " Skahneahties," meaning " Very long lake." The stream which leads from it to the Seneca River was called " Hanauttee," " Water through thick hemlocks," or " Hemlock Creek." A map in the Historical Society Library has it " Skan- eatedie Lake." Charlevoix's map gives it " Lac Sceaneateres." The Historical . Society Library gives for the outlet, or river, " Hanauto." 270 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Skaneateles Lake — A Later DESCRirxiON. — Skaneateles Lake is the gem of all the inland waters of the State of New York. Its waters are as limpid as those from the springs on its hillsides. Its velvety sloping shores commence at the .village, gradually rise and extend to the southernmost end of the lake, where the shores become abrupt and almost mountainous, wooded and rocky, thus making the landscape wholesome and inviting to the admirer of Nature. From the village the eye measures nearly three-quarters of the length of the lake to the south, the distant wooded highlands interspersed with cultivated fields, these being particularly the feature of the distant view from the village. The Glen Haven Water Cure, situated at the extreme southern end of the lake, under the overhanging highlands, with its numerous cottages, is the cool retreat of numerous guests from the Eastern and Southern States, a resort for health, rest, and recreation during the summer season. Everywhere the shores and bottom of the lake are of gravel and sand, neither bogs nor swamps existing on its shores. The waters of the lake have been stocked from the State fish farm at Caledonia with the most approved food fish, and at the same time game fish, among which are the California salmon trout, the Lake Michigan trout, black bass, and pickerel, not to mention the native perch. Brook trout are to be found in the various mountain streams on the hillsides. Row and sail boats owned by the proprietors of the Water Cure are always available for its guests. Water fowl, such as ducks and wild geese, sometimes alight on the lake while on their migrating tour, but the absence of cover of marine growth deters them from frequent visitation. Skaneateles Lake covers 8,320 acres, and is ID feet higher than Otisco Lake. 122 a li it Keuka Lake. 172 a it li Canandaigua Lake. 275 a a it Lake Erie. 393 a it i. Seneca Lake. 463 tt it It Erie Canal at Syracuse. 453 it tt tt Cayuga Lake. 463 if tt It Oneida Lake. 470 tt it it Cross Lake. 520 it tt it Onondaga Lake. 609 tt it tt Lake Ontario. 747 tt it it Lake Champlain. 860 tt tt tt Ocean level. 60 feet lower than Cazenovia Lake. 353 a tt it Otsego Lake. 451 it a t( Chautauqua Lake. The excellent view of Skaneateles Lake given on the preceding page indi- cates the bold highlands on its shores, and the consequent salubrity of its atmos- phere and the limpid purity of its deep waters. Glen Haven, the haven of HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. H < H e o o 5?: w (- o H a! e o .a 272 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. seekers for health and aquatic pastime, is locfited a few miles beyond the high- land on the right. It attracts numerous visitors from various portions of the United States, who are continuous from year to year, and appreciate its attract- iveness, in every respect. For a full century Skaneateles Lake has exerted a direct, potent, and whole- some influence upon the growth and prosperity of the town, and especially the handsome village that bears its name. Its pure, cold waters, gushing from per- petual springs, originally afforded food to the aborigine, and subsequently fur- nished the tables of white set'tlers and visitors. Large numbers of lake trout and other varieties of desirable fish have been taken from its depths, its glisten- ing surface has borne every variety of craft, and its waters have turned the wheels of numerous industries. The beautiful scenery adorning its shores, the purity of its atmosphere, the aquatic pleasures on its surface, have spread its name far and wide, and attracted hither scores of both permanent and summer residents. The name Skaneateles whether of lake or village has become a synonym of one of the most attractive and inviting places to locate a home or for a summer vacation that is to be found throughout the United States. The Peat Bog Speculation.— In the year 1863-64 a valuable bed of peat was discovered on the lands of Mrs. Baber, in 28 Swamp, which the late Jessee Simmons purchased at a nominal price. Simmons then formed a stock company, issuing twelve shares to various parties, among whom were James R. Oilman, Alfred Hitchcock, L. H. Earll, and Thomas Isom. Immediately after the formation of this company another peat mine was discovered on the Joe Bassett farm, which was purchased by the stock company. It consisted of eight acres. The company paid for this bog $1,400, and bought it for the purpose of con- trolling the peat production. After- the stock company had fully developed the Baber bog. Oilman declared that the company could declare a dividend of fifteen per cent, from the profits of the first season's sales. Peat was in demand during the winter of 1867, at which time coal was selling here at fifteen dollars a ton. Peat was sold at about six dollars a ton. Thomas Isom used it in his store. Another stockholder also used it in his dwelling. Various persons purchased small quantities to experiment with, and the result was that the whole village was perfumed with the delicate aroma of peat during that season. The result was a general condemnation of the .article for domestic purposes. One of the experiences of those who had purchased it was that it took a boy all the day long to carry off the asheg, and to supply the peat to the fire. The peat stock company expended about $1,300 on the Baber bog, nearly all of which turned out to be a dead loss. The survivors of the stock company offered to sell to Joe Bassett the eight-acre bog for $350. Bassett accepted the offer, but the sale was not consummated in 1872, owing to the fact that the survivors of the stock company could not deliver a perfect deed, which needed the signature of an un- known stockholder. It is now said that the title of these eight acres remains in the stock company. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 273 Another Peat Speculation.— The following statement is based on rumor, and its truth is not vouched for: " Dr. Sumner Rhoades secured a lease from Henry Moses for a small portion of his farm at the rate of $300 per annum for five years, with the privilege of removing the soil, earth, stones, etc. This lease was completed without inform- ing Moses of its object. After the papers had all been completed, the lessee then informed Moses that it was peat that he was interested in, and offered Moses an interest, which was declined by him, saying that he had plenty of such land IMPROVED STAGE-COACH AND A ROADSIDE TAVERN. Here we have an improved stage-coach, which came into use after the forest had been cleared. This was patronized by persons who could afford a more comfortable conveyance. Here also we have an illustration of a roadside tavern, or, as formerly named, 'an inn. left. The peat, however, was never developed, but Mr. Rhoades piid for the lease according to its terms, amounting in all to $1,500." Pork Point. — 'Pork Point, on Skaneateles Lake, took its name from the following incident: The first merchant at Borodino was Daniel Burroughs, who had the reputation of being a great swimmer, and on one occasion, on a wager, swam across Skaneateles Lake, from Mandana to Pork Point, a distance of three miles. It may be mentioned here that Pork Point was so named from the fact that the first barrel of pork ever brought to Borodino was unshipped there. 2 74 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XIX. Bonding Skaneateles Defeated.— Early Missions and Religious Denominations. Defeat of the Attempt to Bond Skaneateles in behalf of a Railroad. — In March, 1872, the citizens of Skaneateles were requested to attend a public meeting to discuss their interests in the building of the New York Western Midland Railroad, according to the following notice : The New York Western Midland Railroad. The citizens of the town of Skaneateles are requested to meet at Legg Hall, at 2 o'clock P.M., and at Gamble's Hall, Mottville, at 7 P.M., on Friday, March 8, to discuss our interests in the building of The New York Western Midland Railroad, a line connecting with the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad, at or near Hancock, Delaware County, running thence northwest through the counties of Chenango, Broome, Cortland, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Wayne, connecting with the Lake Ontario Shore Railroad at or near Sodus Bay, forming the third trunk line from New York to the Great West through the State. Hon. D. C. Littlejohn, Hon. Perrin H. McGraw, and other members of the Board of Directors will be present and address the meeting. A full attendance is requested. Meetings to discuss the same project will be held at Spaiford Corners, on Thursday, at 2 P.M., and at Borodino, at 7 P.M. On the i8th of April, 1872, D. C. Littlejohn made a speech at Legg Hall to induce the people of the town of Skaneateles to bond the town for $250,000 in aid of this railroad. The scheme of the Board of Directors and the interested parties here in Skaneateles was as follows : " We propose to build this road from Weedsport, through Brutus, Elbridge, Skaneateles, Spafford, along the east side of Skaneateles Lake, and through Scott and Homer, to Cortland, expecting at the latter place to receive coal from the Cortland and Ithaca Road, which can be shipped to Weedsport on the canal, and at Fair Haven on Lake Ontario. They also expect to have trackage from Weedsport to Fair Haven over the Southern Central, and thus connect with the Lake Shore Road, which was then being constructed. The distance from Homer to Weedsport is thirty-three miles. These gentlemen are assured of $50,000 of voluntary subscriptions, $75,000 from Brutus, $125,000 from Elbridge, $200,000 from Skaneateles, besides five miles of road already con- structed, in all $340,000 ; also $100,000 from Spafford, and would like Homer to bond for $100,000. With such amounts they think there would be no mortgage on the road, and therefore the towns would own it permanently. On account of the difficulty beyond Glen Haven, their Skaneateles friend thinks the Auburn and Homer Road would cost at least one-third more than the one to Skaneateles and Weedsport. Also that. Auburn being so much larger than Homer, a road to HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 275 Auburn would carry business away from Homer, instead of bringing business to it, whereas Skaneateles would not. The Skaneateles friend says : ' We intend to build the road, when or how soon depends somewhat upon you and others. We are looking to you, and hope to realize from you. Your neglect, however, will not necessarily prevent the construction of the road.' Since the letter received from Skaneateles was written, a new organization has been perfected, which has Hancock on the south, and some place near Wolcott on the north, with its objec- tive point on the south connecting with the Midland, and on the north with the Ontario Lake Shore Road, a distance of about one hundred miles." Such was the plan of these gentlemen whose interest in and love for Skan- eateles was to_ persuade the people of the town to bond for $250,000. After the bonding was complete, then these interested gentlemen would allow Skaneateles to look out for itself. Their interest would cease immediately. Hon. D. C. Littlejohri addressed the public meeting in such cunning manner, representing, among other matters, that shippers of produce would be immensely benefited by selling such produce directly to the consumers in New York, without the inter- vention of middlemen ; in fact, his flowery speech bewildered the audience in such manner that they were ready to bond immediately. The managers, anticipating this result, had previously prepared to receive the signatures to the petition. Any town desiring to bond in aid of a railroad was obliged by law to procure the passage of an act of the Legislature permitting such town to bond and appoint commissioners, with other details. A bill, therefore, was drawn for the purpose and presented to the Legislature. While this bill was before the Legislature, there were many prominent citizens in the town opposed to the bill becoming a law, and were more particularly interested in protecting the town from assuming such an enormous indebtedness as $250,000, the annual interest on which would have been $12,000 or $15,000. Prominent among the opposition were William Marvin, H. L. Roosevelt, F. G. Weeks, C. W. Allis, and myself. As the promoters of this scheme to persuade the people of this town to bond for this road were more inter- ested in their own profit than in the town, I endeavored to oppose the passage of this law through the Legislature by correspondence only, but, having no political " pull," it passed both the Senate and Assembly, and was before the Governor for his signature. I immediateh^ addressed a protest to the Governor, and received the following communication from him : State of New York, Executive Chamber, Albany, February 16, 1872. Dear Sir: The bill to enable the towns of Skaneateles and Spafford to bond for railroad purposes has passed the Legislature, and is before me for signature. The Senator and the three members from that county strongly urge its approval. As the towns can not be bonded under it without the approval of a majority of the taxable property, I would like to hear from you further in relation to the subject, if you press your objections. You will please answer as soon as possible. Very respectfully, John T. Hoffman. E. Norman Leslie, Esq., Skaneateles. 276 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. The bill became a law, and the interested parties were very happy. Tip Crosier was thereupon appointed to receive the signatures of the taxpayers of both town and village. The statute not only required a majority of the taxpayers, but also a majority of the taxable property. While Tip Crosier was procuring the signatures, another meeting was held at Legg Hall for the purpose of appoint- ing the three commissioners required by law who were to represent the interests of the town. That meeting appointed Julius Earll, Benoni Lee, and Sidney Smith. These persons did not please certain politicians, who did not like the idea of having two Democrats and only one Republican, so, when the bonding came to be proved before the County Judge, the political objectors influenced the Judge to name C. C. Wyckoff as commissioner in place of Benoni Lee. This political move, of course, was successful. It was not long before great dissatisfaction began to be made known by many prominent citizens throughout the town, some of whom determined to make an examination into the legality of the proceedings. As I, from the commencement of the proceedings to bond this town for the large sum of $250,000, knew that the taxpayers had been deceived by the promoters of this grand railroad combination, my efforts were continued to defeat, if possible, this bonding of the town. There- fore I immediately obtained possession of the petition, which had been signed apparently by a majority of the taxpayers, and made a very critical examination of each name. On comparing them with the town assessment roll, a considerable number of the names were not found on the assessment roll, but not enough to defeat the bonding. An examination of the town corporations which had signed the petition showed that two had not complied with the statute. Corporations can not be legally represented on a petition of this character by the mere signature of a president, who is merely the presiding officer. In order to legalize the official act of a corporation, there must have been a previous meeting of its board of trustees or directors, which by resolution, recorded on its minutes, authorized one of its designated officers to sign its corporate name to such a petition. In the instance under consideration, no authority was given the president of the corpora- tions to sign the corporate name. The fatal defect was that these corporations had been illegally represented on tfie petition, and therefore the taxable property represented by them was not sufficient to represent a majority of the taxable property of the town. Under the provisions of the Railroad Act, Chapter 907 of the Laws of 1869, to determine the legality of a petition to the County Judge, the following pro- ceedings, copied from that law, are to be observed : " It shall be lawful for the County Judge to proceed to take proof concerning the allegations of such petition ; and if it shall be proved to his satisfaction that all the consents, necessary to be obtained before such bonds could be lawfully issued, were so obtained, he shall find the facts and so adjudge and determine, and such judgment, and the record thereof, shall have the same force and effect as other judgments and records in other courts of record in this State." HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 277 Up to this time the County Judge had already taken proof concerning the allegations of the petition, which had been proved to his satisfaction, that all the consents had been obtained, and that the bonds could then be lawfully issued, and his judgment in respect thereto had been recorded. Thus far this grand scheme was a success. Up to the time that the County Judge had adjudged and deter- mined that the consents necessary to be obtained were so obtained, the town of Skaneateles was actually bonded for $250,000, and the bonds were to be imme- diately issued, and, had it not been for my discovery of the illegal consent of the two corporations to the petition, this town of Skaneateles would now have a bonded debt of $250,000. At the time of this fatal defect, and of the defection of the County Judge, it was fortunate for the town that the limited time for an appeal to the General Term of the Supreme Court had not expired. Two of the prominent and active opponents of bonding the town, Forest G. Weeks and C. W. Allis, under the advice of Attorney Hiscock, of' Syracuse, immediately went to Rochester and filed an appeal against the judgment of the County Judge. This appeal was argued before that court in 1872, and resulted in a judgment declaring the illegality of the bonding, and costs were allowed against the town of ninety- iive dollars. Another Attempt to Bond. — Consequences of Bonding. One of the active men in favor of bonding the town endeavored to get another petition signed to bond a second time for 5150,000, during the months of January, February, and March, 1872 ; but it was found that the sober second thought of the taxable townspeople could not be persuaded to sign such a petition, as their previous experience seemed to have awakened them to the enormity of a bonded debt of such large proportions. There is now a town in Cayuga County which bonded in aid of this New York, Ontario, and Western Midland Railroad Company, the same for which this town was nearly bonded. This company laid its tracks from the town that bonded to Auburn, and more than twenty years ago it abandoned and took up its tracks. Proceedings were instituted against the railroad to compel it to reopen its road to Auburn. The decision in these proceedings was not rendered until 1894, when it was given in favor of the railroad company. The referee before whom it was refer;red by the court held that the new organization arising out of the failure of the old is not obliged to operate the road, any more- than any individual would be who had got into debt by borrowing money to invest in an enterprise which had proved disastrous. The decision was in favor of the company, and the tax- payers of the town, and especially those along the old branch road, will continue to pay their bonded indebtedness, with no prospect of the reopening of the road, which was a great convenience to them and the public as well. The wonderful escape of the town of Skaneateles from a bonded debt of $250,000 was most extraordinary! 2 78 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Early Missions in this County, and Religious Denominations in Skaneateles. Record of Early Missionaries. — The records of the General Association of Congregational Ministers of Connecticut show that they began to send mis- sionaries of their body for a few Sabbaths at a time into the newly settled parts of northern New York as early as 1780. Jn 1783 they took up the subject of sending preachers into the new settlements of New York. Two or three years later they solicited contributions from the churches of Connecticut for this pur- pose, and in 1793 sent out several Congregational pastors to spend four months each in itinerant labors in ^^ermont and New York, namely, Revs. David Hunting- ton, Ammi R. Robbins, Samuel J. Mills, Cotton M. Smith, Joseph Vaill, Samuel Eells, Theodore Hinsdale, and Moses C. Welch. Which of these labored in the newly settled parts of New York is not known. In 1794 some of them were sent, and also Revs. Aaron Kinne, Jeremiah Day, Asahel Hooker, Azal Backus, Cyprian Strong, and William Lyman. In 1795 others were sent on itinerant labors. This plan of sending out as missionaries regular pastors for three or four months in a year and supplying their pulpits at home continued until 1798, when the " Missionary Society of Connecticut " was formed, and missionaries were engaged by the year. Rev. Andrew Judson was then sent to go West, on both sides of the Mohawk, through Otsego and Herkimer counties (Herkimer County formerly included what is now Onondaga County), so far as there were settle- ments proper to be visited. Rev. Amzi Lewis was directed to travel through all the settlements between Tioga and Onondaga counties. Rev. Seth Williston was commissioned to labor four months in Onondaga County in 1798, and then four months more in that and adjacent counties. He continued in this work for more than ten years. For a considerable part of the time he was located in the town of Lisle nine months in each year. The other three months he traveled over his former field, preaching and performing other ministerial duty. With him Rev. Jedediah Bushnell and Salmon King labored in the same counties from 1799 to 1805 ; Rev. Amasa Jerome, through 1800 and 1801 ; and Rev. David Higgins in 1801 and 1802. Rev. Calvin Ingalls occupied the same region as a missionary from 1804 to 1810, and Rev. John Spencer from 1803 to 1810. It is said in one of the old printed documents of the society that one of their missionaries held the first regular meeting ever attended at Manlius in 1793, and the next day the first ever held at Pompey, ten miles farther south. The above record of missionary work in this section of country was furnished the author by the Rev. William W. Turner, the present Secretary of the Mission- ary Society of Connecticut, located at Hartford. His letter is dated March 28, 1873, and contains information of great interest as to the early missionary work in this part of the State. Early religious services were held in the old tavern kept by Captain Welch, in the large room in the second story, boards being laid on chairs and boxes for HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 279 seats, and also in the John Briggs tavern, where Frederick Shear now resides. Services were also held in barns, whenever a house could not be obtained out in the country. It was customary for all the settlers to attend these services. Religious services were held in the ballroom of " The Red House," which was built in 1798 and finished in 1799, by traveling missionaries, mostly of the Meth- odists, but there were some Baptists. A celebrated Baptist preacher by the name of John Leland, of Berkshire, Mass., used to come to " The Red House " and preach. He had some relatives about here. He was publicly known as the bearer of a monster cheese which was presented to President Jefferson by Berk- shire County. The Episcopal Missions. — The first Episcopal services held in Onondaga County appear to have taken place at the house of David Hibbard, Pompey, about 1795. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. Daniel Nash. Nash was the original " Mr. Grant," the clergyman in Cooper's novel of " The Pioneers." He did not visit this settlement. Subsequently the Rev. Philander Chase, afterward the eminent Bishop of Ohio, journeyed in the Onondaga region. The real apostle of Onondaga, however, was the Rev. Davenport Phelps. He was born in Con- necticut in 1775, and was the nephew of Dr. Eleazar Wheelock, President of Dart- mouth College. After graduating at Yale he engaged for a considerable period in secular pursuits, but finally became a convert to the Episcopal Church and ultimately took orders. He was the first regularly appointed missionary to western New York. He took up his residence at Onondaga Hill, in July, 1804. From the year 1806 to 1809 he visited this settlement, and held services in C. J. Burnett's house, in Jonathan Booth's store, and in the upper hall of Mr. Vreden- burg's house. There were temporary seats arranged for the people, and it was customary in those days for all denominations to attend missionary services. Rev. Benjamin Onderdonk afterward held services in a yellow building which stood on the ground where St. James' Church now is. One-half of this building was partitioned off for the purpose. The other half was used as a store and for the village post-office. W. J. Vredenburg, C. J. Burnett, John S. Furman, and Samuel Litherland were lay readers on ordinary occasions. Among the members of the church residing here at that time were W. J. Vredenburg, C. J. Burnett, and Jonathan Booth, and their respective families, and also John S. Furman and Alexander R. Beebe. The yellow building above mentioned was afterward moved to another part of the village and fitted for a store, and a man by the name of Love joy occupied it for a short time, and then removed to the western part of the State. Religious Denominations. — It has been very difficult to obtain a full and complete history of the different religious denominations in this town. Much of the following has been copied from D. W. Mason & Co.'s " History of Onondaga County," published some years ago. The Schaneateles Religious Society. — The following is copied from Vol- ume A, page 34, from the Book of Miscellaneous Records in the County Clerk's Office: 28o HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. " Marcellus, October 29, 1801. — At a meeting of the Schaneateles Religious Society holden at the school house, the usual place of meeting for Public Worship, for the purpose of establishing a Religious Society, agreeable to law in such cases made and provided, for which purpose Ebenezer R. Hawley and Aaron Cook was unanimously chosen to superintend the said meeting. " Now we, the said Ebenezer R. Hawley and Aaron Cook, do hereby certify PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ERECTED IN 1830. This Church succeeded the Orig:itial Frame Congregational Church on the Hill. that the said Society being so meet, did elect and chuse Ebenezer R. Hawley, Joseph Clift, Judah Hopkins, Peter Putnam, and Daniel Cook, to be trustees for the said Society, and that the said society should forever after be known and distinguished by the name of ' The Schaneateles Religious Society.' " Churches. — The first church in the village, named " The First Congregational Church of Marcellus," was organized by the Rev. Aaron Bascom. The Articles HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 2»I of Faith and Covenant were subscribed to by Joshua Cook, Solomon Edwards, Simeon Hosmer, Asa Harwood, Daniel Cook, and Aaron Cook. They were incorporated as " The First Church of Christ " in Marcellus, and the same day on which the church was organized the following persons were received: James Porter, Mary Cook, Elizabeth Edwards, Lucretia Hosmer, Electa Edwards, Anna Clark, Hannah Annice, Martha Seymour, and Rebecca Cook. At the same time Aaron Cook was elected Clerk of the church. The first church edifice was erected in 1808, and was dedicated March i, 1809. The following are the names of the clergymen who have served as pastors of this church: Revs. Swift, Benjamin Rice, B. B. Stockton, Alexander Cowan, Samuel W. Brace, Samuel W. Bush, Selden Haines, William B. Dada, A. Mandel, and M. N. Preston. In January, 1818, it was unanimously resolved to adopt the Presbyterian form of government, and the church was received under the care of the Presby- tery of Cayuga. By the new boundaries of presbyteries established by act of General Assembly in 1869, this church was separated from Cayuga Presbytery and became a part of the Presbytery of Syracuse. The Society erected a new brick house of worship in the year 1830. The manse was purchased in the year 1832. Among the deacons of this church were Eli Clark, Joshua Cook, Samuel Bellamy, James Porter, Ebenezer Warner, Chester Moses, Philip Crosby, Foster Clark, Henry T. Hooker, William Clark, and Sereno Field. Three members of this church became missionaries in foreign countries. On July 25, 189 1, the corner-stone of the present brick church was laid on the site of the old structure. Protestant Episcopal Church. — The first church famiHes who settled in the village and the immediate vicinity were General Robert Earll in 1796, Jona- than Booth in 1801, and William J. Vredenburg arid Charles J. Burnett in 1803. During these later years Rev. Davenport Phelps, a noble missionary of thi? Church, visited Hardenburgh's Corners, near Auburn, and officiated there. It is believed that he visited Skaneateles. The first remembered services were held in the house of Charles J. Burnett, in 1803, and in the Red House, the residence of General Robert Earll, during the same and the following years. Services were also held afterward in a small frame building situated on the site of the present church edifice. One-half of this building was used for the first post-office, and the other half was occupied and fitted for church purposes. Charles J. Burnett, William J. Vredenburg, John S. Furman, and Mr. Litherland read the services. St. Peter's Church, in Auburn, was organized in 1807, and the Rev. Daven- port Phelps became the rector. The church building there was consecrated August 22, 1812, by the saintly Bishop Hobart. Mr. Vredenburg was one of the wardens of that church, and Jonathan Booth a vestryman. The church people here verv generally attended church service in Auburn. Rev. Davenport Phelps 282 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. while rector of St. Peter's frequently came here and officiated. His first services were held in the upper hall of the Vredenburg mansion, seats being arranged for the people, who very generally attended the services. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett in this house received their first communion from the hands of the Rev. Davenport Phelps in 1809. He also baptized their first child. Mr. Vredenburg died in 1813. Services were held more cr less regularly by lay readers, or an occasional missionary visitor, among the latter the Rev. William A. Clarke, who followed Mr. Phelps as rector of St. Peter's Church, of Auburn, until the year 1816, when the first written record of the life of this parish appears. This is the act of incorporation of St. James' Parish, Skaneateles, attested by Mr. John Ten Eyck, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, bearing date January 4, 1816. At the same meeting of the incorporators and others the Rev. William A. Clarke presided. Jonathan Booth and Charles J. Burnett were elected wardens, and Edward G. Ludlow, John W. Livingston, Zalmon Booth, Stephen Horton, John Pierson, John How, Samuel Francis, and William Gibbs were chosen vestrymen. Rev. William A. Clarke was ordained in 1812. He resigned St. Peter's Church in 1814. In 1816 an attempt was made to build a church, a conditional subscription being raised for the purpose, but as only fifteen hundred of the two thousand dollars required was subscribed the eiiterprise fell through and the organization was abandoned, although lay-reading and occasional visits from clergymen were continued with more or less regularity. On the 19th day of April, 1824, the parish was reorganized under the same name, and the organization was attested by Levi Mason, of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, and R. L Hess, Clerk of the same court. At the same time the following gentlemen were elected officers of the society : Wardens, Jonathan Booth and Charles J. Burnett ; Vestrymen, William Gibbs, John Daniels, Stephen Horton, John Pierson, Charles Pardee, J. W. Livingston, Samuel Francis, and Elijah P. Rust. The meeting for the election of these persons was presided over by the Rev. Augustus L. Converse, of whose after history we can learn nothing. Another blank follows until the 27th day of March, 1826, when a meeting of the congregation was held, at which the Rev. Amos Pardee presided. The same vestry was elected, with the exception of John Daniels, who was replaced by John Furman. The following year, 1827, the Rev. Amos Pardee was still officiating, and the name of James M. Allen appears among the vestrymen. Although there is no mention made in the proceedings of either of the last- mentioned meetings of the project of building a church, yet we find a paper, bearing date August 3, 1827, which is a contract between the wardens and the vestrymen of St. James' Church and Enos P. Root, in which Mr. Root agrees to build the church and make it ready for occupancy. Of the same date there is also a subscription paper, on which is subscribed the sum of $2,595. Messrs. Burnett and Gibbs were this year the wardens, and Butler S. Wolcott's name appears among the vestrymen. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 283 In the report of the Rev. Amos Pardee to the Convention of the Diocese, held in Trinity Church, New York, October 17, 1827, appears the following: " In Skaneateles the past year our members have increased, and our prospects are very much improved. A church was commenced in the last summer, and is now nearly or quite enclosed." On the 25th day of January of the following year, 1828, the Rev. Algernon S. Holister was called to ofHciate as rector for one year from the following Easter, and Timothy Baker and Augustus Kellogg were elected to the vestry. The following from Bishop Hobart's address to the Convention of 1828, held in Trinity Church, New York, October 16 and 17, shows at what date St. James' Church here was consecrated: " On Tuesday, the 23d of September, I consecrated the church at Skaneateles, ^ /ifflnHH WINTER APPROACH TO THE RESIDENCE OF EDMUND NORMAN LESLIE. Snow on the Evergreens, and Path o£ the Snow-Scraper. mercial room they will be put together, packed, and boxed for market. At present they are running five fires only, on iron purchased, as the rolling-mill is not quite completed. The next establishment is the cement mill of G. H. Earll & Co. It has five perpetual kilns for burning the stone, and a mill. with a capacity for 200 barrels per day. 304 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Marysville Woolen Factory. — The next manufactory is the new stone woolen mill of the Marysville Woolen Factory, lately erected by Hoyt & Morton. The main building is four stories, loo by 54 feet, a wing 34 by 26 feet, three stories high, and a dye-house, 50 by 36 feet, one story high. The whole is calculated for six sets of machinery, with two of them mostly in and ready to run. They will employ in a short time thirty to forty hands, and when in full operation about one hundred. They have also erected across the outlet a handsome brick block, 126 by 34 feet, three stories high, calculated for eight dwellings. It is pleasantly situated, with an ample yard between it and the stream. Paper-Mill and Chair Factory. — The next establishment is the paper-mill of Bannister, Weeks & Leitch, who manufacture printing-paper exclusively. It has a capacity of 2,500 pounds a day, consuming about 4,000 pounds of rags. They employ about thirty-iive hands, male and female, at an expense of $900 a month. The paper is mostly sold in the New York market. The chair factory of Sinclair & Hubbard is next up the stream, by the railroad. This is a fine stone building, 62 by 30 feet, and three stories high. They employ about a dozen hands, male and female, and turn out about three hundred chairs per week. They manufacture mostly flag and splint bottom, their forte being the Union arm-chair for offices, barrooms, etc. On the eastern bow of the outlet, ofif from the railroad, is the sash and blind factory of Daniel Hubbard, who, we were informed, is doing a good business; and the sawmill of A. J. Earll, who is doing quite an extensive business at custom sawing. Together they employ about ten men. Foundry and Machine-Shop. — The old and well-known machine-shop of How- ard Delano was burned down on the 6th of September last, but the present pro- prietor, E. B. Hoyt, has already erected a handsome brick shop, 20 by 50 feet, two stories high, with one of Moseley's corrugated iron roofs, which is worthy of a visit by any one who contemplates building. Wheeler, Benedict & Co. are general builders, have about twenty-five men in all branches of their business, and in connection with it have a large planing-mill and general turning establishment. Their pay-roll amounts to about three hun- dred dollars a month. Mottville Woolen Mill— On the west side of the outlet, in the villa'ge of Mott- ville, is the extensive woolen mill of Thomas Morton. It is a three-story mill, 100 by 40 feet, with two sets of machinery, and twelve Compton looms. These are exclusively run on shawls. He employs from thirty-five to forty hands, and the pay-roll varies from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars a month. Barnes & Coleman's flouring and custom mill is properly next on the stream. It is a three-story wood building, on a basement of -stone ; has three run of stone, capable of grinding from four to five hundred bushels per day. They buy an- nually about 40,000 bushels of wheat, mostly of home product. The chair factory of A. Blodgett is on the opposite side of the outlet. The old- gentleman is conscientious and modest. He says he only makes about three HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 305 thousand dollars' worth per year, and employs half a dozen hands, who work by the piece. He thinks he makes a good article, and also that he can not afford to do otherwise. Distillery. — Earll & Tallman's distillery comes next on the outlet, but we did not visit it. It is a monster still in either sense, uses up a pile of grain, fattens lots of hogs, and is just as good and just as bad as distilleries are. We hope it will follow the example of the others on this stream, and transform itself into a paper- mill or something else just as quick as it can. Paper-Mill. — A few rods above the distillery is the paper-mill of Earll, Thayer & Co. This was an old distillery transformed, and they have now running four engines and a machine, making 3,000 pounds of printing-paper a day, consuming 6,000 pounds of rags. They employ about forty hands, male and female, and pay about twelve hundred dollars a month. , Willow Glen Woolen Mills. — About half-way from Mottville to Skaneateles is the well-known villa of the Willow Glen Woolen Mills. It is a large three- story wooden mill, on a stone basement, with the usual surroundings of smaller buildings, and scattered around it at a convenient distance are about twenty dwellings for the use of the employees. They are well painted, with good fences, and clean and neat in general appearance, reflecting credit upon all concerned. They have four sets of machinery making cassimeres from domestic wool. They consume about 600 pounds of the raw material, making 700 yards of cloth a day, and employ about ninety hands, male and female, at a monthly cost of $3,800. Dickerson & Kennedy are the present proprietors, who will not let the reputation of the old mill deteriorate in any particular. Flouring-Mill. — Just opposite the depot in Skaneateles is the splendid flouring- mill of Joel Thayer & Co. It is a three high story stone building, finished off on the inside better than most I have seen, and it is in every way one of the model mills of the country. It has four run of stone, capable of grinding about five hundred bushels a day, with a storage capacity of 10,000 bushels. The only defect in the entire thing is the variable head, and, as at present, a scarcity of water. Carriage Factory. — In the western part of the village is the carriage factory of John Packwood, a large, three-story brick building. He employs from twenty to twenty-five hands in making carriages, sleighs, wagons, and bob sleighs, of all descriptions, and produces from twenty-five to thirty thousand dollars' worth annually. The pay-roll will average about one thousand dollars a month. Nezv Bridge. — The inhabitants of Skaneateles contemplate building a new iron bridge over the outlet in the village. It will be, as they have laid out the work, a little over thirty feet span, and one hundred feet up and down stream. A stone arch of from fifteen to twenty feet span would take no more stone than they have already in the abutments of the old one, and if the outlet is lowered, as is now contemplated by the State, it will weaken those old foundations materially, and they are none too good now. By lowering the foundations some three feet, an arch can be turned with ease and not raise the street, giving plenty of waterway 3o6 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. for the stream. An iron bridge will have to be planked every three or four years, and more will rot out than is worn out even then. A stone bridge will be a great deal the cheapest in the end, and, if well built with good stone, will stand a thou- sand years. We trust the people will consult with the State Engineers and Mr. Knight before they move too far. Official History of the Village of Skaneateles. The village of Skaneateles was incorporated on the 19th of April, 1833, and the first election was held on May 14 of that year, at the Indian Queen Hotel, kept by Isaac W. Perry. The following were the first officers elected : Freeborn G. Jewett, President ; Daniel Talcott, Phares Gould, William Gibbs, Lewis H. Sand- ford, Trustees; Charles J. Burnett, Treasurer; Henry W. Allen, Collector; George Kennedy, Street Commissioner ; James H. Allen, Clerk. Skaneateles was the fourth village incorporated in Onondaga County. The following have since served as Presidents of the Board of Village Trustees: 1834 Daniel Kellogg. 1835 Freeborn G. Jewett. 1836 Phares Gould. 1837-38 George F. Leitch. 1839 James Hall. 1840 George F. Leitch. 1841 Nelson Hawley. 1842 James Hall. 1843 John C. Beach. 1844 Spencer' Hannum. 1845-46 Nelson Hawley. 1847 Alexander Horton. 1848 William H. Willetts. 1849 William H. Jewett. 1850 John Davey, Jr. 1851-52-53 Charles Pardee. 1854 William Fuller. 1855 John Legg. 1856 John Barrow. 1857 Freeborn G. Jewett. 1858 Thomas Snook. 1859 Spencer Hannum. i860 C. W. Allis. 1861-62 Harrison B. Dodge. 1863 Charles Pardee. 1864-65 Joel Thayer. 1866 William R. Gorton. 1867 Newell Turner. 1868 Jacob C. De Witt. 1869 Charles Pardee. 1870 Harrison B. Dodge. 1871 James A. Root. 1872 Charles Pardee. 1873-74-75 T. Kelley. 1876 William Marvin. 1877-80 Thomas Kelley. 1 88 1 Joel Thayer. 1882-84 Joseph Allen. 1885-87 William G. Ellery. t. First President elected independently. ) 1888-89 Charles R. Milford. 1890 Joseph C. Willetts. i^i N. O. Shepard. 1892 Ezra B. Knapp. Resigned May 20, and N. O. Shepard appointed. 1893 N. O. Shepard. 1894 Edson D. Gillett. 1895-96 E. Norman Leslie. 1897-98 John E. Waller. 1899 John McLaughlin. HISTORY Of skaneateles. 307 GENESEE STREET, EAST OF THE BUSINESS PORTION OF THE VILLAGE. St. James' Church on the Shore o£ the Lake. 3o8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. The village charter was amended in 1849. The corporate limits were enlarged in 1870, to embrace about one square mile. In 1855 the village was reincor- porated under a new State law. In 1870 the village as enlarged was resurveyed by Rhesa Griffin, assisted by James H. Gift'ord, of Mandana, who had formerly surveyed the town and village. , . . The village has since been reincorporated under Chapter 291 of the Laws of 1870, which is a general law for the incorporation of villages. It continued under this law until 1898, when by a vote, as provided by law, it was reincorporated under the general act known as the Village Law, being Chapter XXI. of the General Laws. This reincorporation took effect July i, 1897. Under this law all villages in the State are divided into classes according to their population. Under this classification, this village is of the third class, as containing a popu- lation of one thousand and less than three thousand. The village of Skaneateles is one of the most picturesque in central New York. Its cool and salubrious climate and its nights during the summer season are par- ticularly inviting to sufferers from insomnia, and it is particularly free from those insidious insects mosquitoes. Its freedom from malaria and other ordinary local complaints makes it inviting to those in delicate health and for the healthfulness of children. Its ,wide streets and avenues, bordered with an abundance of shade-trees, con- sisting principally of the hard maple, elm, and other desirable trees, overhanging its sidevvalks, are paved with the best quality of flagstones on nearly all the streets. Board and gravel walks are excluded from the village. There is not a village in the State which has more attractive streets and sidewalks than Skaneateles. The tasty dwellings and cottages, universally neatly painted, and surrounded by cultivated lawns and flowering plants, denote the characteristics of the resi- dents of the village of Skaneateles. Its municipal water system, every street piped, conveys to every dwelling the purest water for household purposes, at a nominal cost to each family. Hydrants are distributed in every street in the village for fire protection. Its location, immediately on the shore of the lake, its aquatic attractions, and its rural scenery in the vicinity of the village are not more beautiful and inviting than the village itself, which the genius of its architects has adorned with every element of good taste, neatness, and beauty, as shown in its churches, mansions, cottages, parks, library building, schoolhouses, and business places. Town Meetings. — Town meeting was held at the tavern kept by Alford Lamb every year from 1843 to 1855. Town meeting was held at the inn of Henry S, Nye from 1856 to 1859. Town meeting was held at the inn of Thomas Hutchinson from i860 to 1862. Town meeting was held at the inn of John Carpenter 1864 and 1865. Town meeting was held at the inn of John Packwood 1866-67-73. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 309 CHAPTER XXI. Changes in Property Ownership and Establishment of Libraries. The De Zeng-Lapham-Padelford-Roosevelt Property. — We herewith, present a brief history of the De Zeng-Lapham-Padelford-Roosevelt property, which originally consisted of 223.84 acres : Captain John Doughty; a soldier of the Revolutionary army, drew Military Lot No. 37. He did not sell his claim aS did many other Revolutionary soldiers. He purchased several other soldiers' claims, however. March 31, 1 791, he sold to Ogden Hoffman and Martin Hoffman, of the city of New York, 1,800 acres of military lands, which included Lot No. 37, con- taining 600 acres. The consideration Doughty received for the 1,800 acres was £150. The pounds, shillings, and pence were at that period, by law, the divisions of the Spanish milled dollars. A pound was twenty shillings of twelve and a half cents each. June 10, 1793, Ogden Hoffman and Martin Hoffman sold to Moses De Witt Military Lot No. 37; consideration, £185. Moses De Witt had been appointed by the Surveyor-General, Simeon De Witt, as his assistant. This Lot No. 37 contains the property under present consideration. June 10, 1794, Moses De Witt conveyed under contract (no consideration named) to James Ennis and wife 223.84 acres in Lot Nos. 37, and 35. James Ennis was in possession of this land until 181 1, seventeen years. During his ownership a tavern was built for the accommodation of travelers. It was fre- quented by traveling pedlers. One of this class of travelers had suddenly dis- appeared, and the last seen of him was in that tavern. The following legend will be of interest in this connection, and was related to the author personally by the late George Francis, of this village: " When I was a boy of about seven years of age, there stood a two-story frame house on the west shore of the lake which had been occupied as a tavern. Thte house was painted a dingy brown, and near by stood a srpall barn for the accom- modation of travelers' horses. This house had the reputation of being haunted. A well-known pedler had. disappeared, and the last that was seen of him was in that house. With all the vivid stories of the ghostly apparitions which, took place in that house every night that were floating around the village, particularly among the boys of my age, I became imbued with awe and hardly dared to go, out after dark. However, I was obliged sometimes to go to the stores from, my .home, which was in the eastern part of the village. One evening I recollect, distinctly passing on the south side of the turnpike along the shore of the lake betweeil 3IO HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. what is now Legg Hall and the Episcopal Church. I looked up the lake shore, and was horrified by the sight of two rows of flittering lights passing in opposite directions through the trees and bushes. One row of Hght^' was going directly from the haunted house in nearly a straight line clear iddwri to the lake" and into the water. Another row, I should judge about ten feet from the other row, was running from the water to the house. I could not see that there \yere any per- sons carrying the lights, and came to the conclusion that, owing to the rapidity of the lights through the bushes, it was not done by human agency. " At the time of the disappearance of the pedler, folks said the family had not a very good name. By-and-by the family moved aw;ay. The next man who lived there, while one day digging the refuse accumulations out of the cellar, found the pedler's bones, at least everybody supposed they must have been the pedler's as nobody else was missing at that time. Nobody claimed them, and the man chucked them in the corner of a pasture-lot near by. The boys used to visit the location in the daytime and amuse themselves by kicking the bones around for fun. Some of the boys cracked butternuts with the pedler's shin-bone, at least that is what they said. The man who found the bones moved his family into the house. They had not got fairly settled before the chairs began to tumble around, the dishes rattled in the cupboard, the doors would not stay shut, and the windows rattled and banged, as if some one was all the time shaking them. The man of the house said that every night some one he could not see kept shaking something about his ears that sounded like bones in a bag. Then a big yellow dog with red eyes got to appearing in the house, and, when any of the family would go near him, he would not be there, sometimes gomg up into the air, and sometimes fading away right where he stood. This is what the family said, and everybody believed them. The circumstance of the man's treating the pedler's bones so urichristianlike as to throw them in the corner of a lot was sufficient cause, in the opinion of everybody, for the house being haunted, and there was no use of having any peace in that family until the bones were buried decently, and everybody told the man he had better do it. So he went to work to see if he could get the pedler together and lay him to rest in the graveyard. He found a few of the bones and buried them decently, to see if the advice he had received from every- body proved true. The doors and windows banged and the chairs kept moving around as usual, bixt the bag of bones did not rattle so much, and the eyes of the mysterious yellow dog that looked all along so fierce-looking changed to a mild blue after the few bones had been planted, and just before he disappeared he gave his tail a little wag. " This encouraged the family, and they went to work hunting for more of the skeleton. They offered the boys ten cents a bone for all they could find, and the family joined in the search until they got all but the skull. Well, these were all buried with the first ones. The effect was that the chairs kept still and the windows and doors did not bang so much, and the bag of bones quit entirely; but the queerest result was the action of the dog, which the children could HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 311 almost get to play with them, and they said he looked so pleased when he dug out and went into the air with a playful skip. " The family now only wanted the skull, but with the most careful search it could not be found. Some time after, a boy was picking berries along the fence CAPTAIN TAMbb HALL Captain James H.all was one of the most prominent manufactutx-rs of carriages and sleighs in Skaneateles, and was one of the firm of Seth & James Hall. He was born at Methuen, Mass., in 1792, and died at Skaneateles. October, 1857. not far from where the bones had been originally thrown, and he stepped on a rolling stone, which threw him on the ground in the brush, when to his surprise he discovered that he had stepped on the pedler's skull, which every boy in the neighborhood had been searching for. He immediately carried it to the man, who gratefully rewarded him for finding it. The skull was buried with the col- 312 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. lection of the other lemains of the unfortunate pedler, and from that day the house was perfectly quiet, and the family lived in peace thereafter. " I do not vouch for the truth of all these stories, as I had no personal expe- rience, being too small a boy to join .the larger ones in kicking around the bones, but I heard the details from the other boys. Perhaps some of the old inhabitants who were then living hereabout may dispute some of the circumstances above related ; but it must be borne in mind that I was a small boy then, and could not take any active part with the larger boys who kicked the bones around for fun, and that my information was principally derived from hearsay. My ears were always open, and any statement made by the boys made an indelible imprint on my youthful memory. In after years, I used to hear the frequenters of the old tavern (which stood next east to the present residence of Mr. Marvin) talk about the haunted house, and relate circumstances identical with those I have detailed." We now come to one of the most interesting personages described in. this history — ^Daniel Ludlow. On October 4, 181 1, James Ennis (who married Hannah, daughter of Abraham A. Cuddeback, the earliest settler in this town) conveyed the 223.84 acres to Daniel Ludlow, and to Richard Harrison as trustee, with power of sale for the benefit of said Daniel Ludlow; consideration, $5,800. The author, having observed many years ago an old marble monument in the old burying-ground formerly owned by the Schaneateles Religious Society, sought out its history and published it in the columns of the Skaneateles Democrat, per- haps forty years ago, as follows : " A Relic of History. — Near the southwest corner of the old burying-ground, now included in the village cemetery, is an old marble monument, surmounted with a dilapidated, weather-worn, moss-covered urn. The inscription on this monument reads thus : Sacred to the memory of DANIEL LUDLOW, ESQ., of the City of N. Y., Born August 2, 1750. Died Sept. 26, 1814. " Daniel Ludlow came to Skaneateles from New York about the year 1810, and purchased a place then owned by Jacobus Annis, and situated on what is now known as the Anson Laphani place. The following interesting history of Mr. Ludlow, copied from a book published many years ago in New York, may be of interest to your readers: " ' Daniel Ludlow was born in 1750. He married about 1773, and had several children — Harriet, Daniel, Jr., Robert C, Frederick, and Edward G. Ludlow. The father of the above children was sent when young by his father to Holland about 1765, where he went into the counting-room of Crommeline & Son, in Am- sterdam. There he thoroughly learned business in the good old Dutch way, and HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 313 was also obliged to learn the French and German languages as well as the Dutch. He returned to New York after an absence of four or five years, and entered into business here with his father just before the Revolutionary War. His father died in 1769. After the war he went into partnership with Edward Goold. The store of Ludlow & Goold was at 47 Wall Street. This firm dissolved in 1790. Mr. Ludlow continued in business at 38 Great Dock Street (now Pearl), in his own name. In 1793 he took in Guilian, his nephew, at 42 Wall Street. His residence was at 56 Broadway, corner of Garden Street. The house was built by the old merchant, and nearly a cargo of marble was used in its construction. It was a large double house. Twenty years ago it was standing and used for the Waver- ley house. Daniel Ludlow was appointed Navy Agent by President Jefferson, and continued to hold that office during his whole administration. In after years, when he was established in business in New York, he went abroad to form com- mercial connections in different parts of Europe. It happened that he was in Paris at the time Louis XVI. and his queen, Marie Antoinette, were executed. He saw both these illustrious personages guillotined, and it made a deep impres- sion on his mind. He used to relate all that took place. He said the king exhibited fear and that his fortitude forsook him ; but not so with the queen. He said she looked with the utmost scorn upon the people during the procession and upon the guillotine. The crowd made Ludlow wear one of the rosettes. He was in London, and lodged in the same house with Paoli, the celebrated Corsican. In the course of his travels for business purposes Mr. Ludlow saw every crowned head in Europe. He established the largest business that was done at that time in the city of New York. He was agent for the Holland Land Company, and all their business in this country was done by him. Daniel Ludlow & Co. were engaged largely in the East India trade. They had a branch house there. They largely imported East India drugs, gums, etc. Mr. Ludlow lost nearly half a million dollars by underwriting in the first quasi French war. At one time there were but two insurance companies in the city, and consequently it became a matter of necessity that private underwriting should be undertaken. The largest underwriters in the city were Daniel Ludlow, John B. Church, and John Delafield. They all lost immensely, and the President, Washington, in one of his messages stated that their rights should be protected ; yet these losses have never been made good. He also lost an immense sum by the Berlin and Milan decrees of Bona- parte. His ships were trading to every port in Europe, and to the East and the West Indies. In 1806 he lost several thousand dollars by the celebrated General Miranda and the transactions of Samuel B. Ogden. Mr. Ludlow was a genuine old school merchant. He had his house in town and his country-seat. The latter was afterward sold for $28,000. He owned the store at No. 19 South Street, where he was for so many years. He did almost all the hospitality of New York to strangers. There were six or eight places kept at his table every day for the use of those who might drop in unexpectedly. General Moreau, Hyde de New- ville, and other distinguished gentlemen were visitors at his house.' " 314 HISTORY OF SKANRATELES. On November i, 1812, Daniel Ludlow, of Skaneateles, and Richard Harrison, of the city of New York, by deed dated May 14, 181 2, mortgaged to Robert C. Ludlow, Jr., and Ferdinand Ludlow all that piece of land, being parts of Lots Nos. 35 and 37, beginning at the northeast corner of Abraham A. Cuddeback's land, containing 223.84 acres; consideration,, $8,000. On July I, 1812, there was a mortgage sale to Robert C. Ludlow, Jr., and Edward G. Ludlow. On September 30, 1815, Robert C. Ludlow, Jr., and Edward G. Ludlow con- veyed to Ben Miller the same lands ; consideration, $7,500. Daniel Ludlow, who died in Skaneateles in the year 1814, had a remarkable genealogy. The Ludlows, who for nearly two centuries have formed an influential element of the wealthy and substantial population of New York, descended from the eldest gentry in the kingdom of Great Britain, and their pedigree is remark- ably clear and distinct. It may be traced on one side without a break to Edward I. of England (in the year 1272) and his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Philip III. of France. The minutest detail of this descent, ,from Margaret, the second wife of Edward I., is fully given in Mrs. Martha J. Lamb's " History of the City of New York," down to George Ludlow, thence to Gabriel Ludlow, who settled in New York in the year 1660. As in this genealogy there are many Gabriels, the successive ones will be numbered. Gabriel 2d, sixth child of Gabriel 1st, married, (i) Frances, daughter of George Duncan, (2) Elizabeth Crommeline. Among his numerous children Gabriel 3d married Ann, daughter of Guillian Verplanck, whose son, Gabriel V. 4th, married Elizabeth Hunter, and their son Daniel was a wealthy banker of New York and President of the Manhattan Bank, who owned a country-seat at Barretto's Point, on the East River, whence he drove four-in-hand to Wall Street every day. Daniel's wife was Arabella, daughter of Thomas Duncan, and their children were: i. Harriet, married George Wright ; 2. Daniel ; 3. Robert, married Mary Peters ; 4. Dr. Edward G., married Mary Lewis, granddaughter of Francis and Elizabeth Ludlow Lewis, and great- granddaughter of Governor Morgan Lewis. This detail of the genealogy of the Ludlow family shows what an important personage Daniel Ludlow was before he came here from New York and became a resident, and here he died, and was buried in the old burying-ground on the hill. That such a prominent personage, such a wealthy merchant, such a well-known citizen of New York, should have settled in this far-distant portion of the State seems unaccountable. It has been learned since writing the preceding remarkable history of Daniel Ludlow that he failed in business, and gave up all his property to his ; creditors. Flis purchase of the 224-acre farm here was held in trust by Richard Harrison (his cousin). It was subsequently purchased from the trustee by, Edward G. Ludlow, his son. Daniel Ludlow finally failed in business owing to the many losses heretofore detailed, and at last to large losses by " The French Spoliations." His former country home was at Barretto's Point, up the East River, on Long Island Sound. It was one of the most beautiful and elegant residences of its time. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 315 w ►J w Eh < Z o w « o o K Q O o Z o 2; 3i6 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Dr. Edward G. Ludlow, above named as the fourth child of Daniel Ludlow, was an early merchant here in the village, whose store in 1812 was on the north side of the Seneca Turnpike, at about the present location of Miss Wheeler's millinery store. Edward C. Ludlow's further history will be found in Chapter XIV. It was stated heretofore that Robert C. Ludlow, Jr., and Edward G. Ludlow conveyed the mortgaged lands to Ben Miller, September 30, 1815; consideration, $7,500. On September 18, 1819, Ben Miller sold to George Thorpe, of Charlotte, Vt., 223.84 acres; consideration, $7,500. On March 22, 1823, George Thorpe sold and conveyed the same lands to Richard Talcott; consideration, $6,000. A large portion of this land was covered with original forest, heavily tim- bered. Richard Talcott soon commenced the erection of a dwelling-house, for the frame of which he used his own forest trees. He built a stately mansion, which was located exactly where the present more stately mansion is now. Tal- cott's dwelling was two stories, with portico, ornamented with four supporting Corinthian columns, which were constructed of solid red-beech wood. The term " red beech " is explained by the fact that only the heart of the tree after trim- ming off the exterior was used in the construction of these columns. The man- sion was also surmounted with a cupola, and had two wings, the southerly one of which was used for a private school. The teacher of this school, whom Richard Talcott had procured from Philadelphia, was Benjamin Valentine, who was a half- brother of Mr. Talcott's wife. The school was exclusively for the education of pupils of the Society of Friends. The first scholars were Daniel Talcott's three children, two children of Slocum Howland, of Scipio, and there may have been others. Of course the school was a limited one. During Mr. Valentine's resi- dence here both he and the late Augustus Kellogg became intimate friends. Kellogg at that period was a young man about twenty years of age, commencing the study of law in his father's office. The nex't succeeding owner of this property was Richard L. De Zeng. He had previously been a resident of Oswego, N. Y., where he had accumulated a large property as a speculator in real estate previous to the year 1837. It would seem that he was extremely fortunate in ending his large operations at that particular time, as the following year, 1837, a panic overspread the whole country, bringing ruin to all classes of people, especially real estate speculators. He thus escaped the general depreciation in values, came to Skaneateles with his money, and purchased the Richard Talcott property, as shown in the following record: On June 2, 1838, Richard Talcott convej^ed 223.84 acres to Richard L. Ds Zeng; consideration, $12,000. De Zeng purchased this property with the intention of replacing the Talcott mansion with a more modern and stately building. He therefore sought a pur- chaser for the Talcott house, and have it removed from its foundation. H. W. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 317 Allen, of Skaneateles, possessed a very stylish span of carriage horses, the very best in this section of the State. These Mr. De Zeng admired and desired to possess, and in order to do so he offered H. W. Allen the Talcott mansion in trade for his span of horses, with only one condition, and that was that the house was to be removed within a stated time. The offer was accepted by Allen, who very soon after sold the Talcott mansion on the same conditions to J. Gurdon Porter, of Skaneateles, and he at once prepared to have the buildings taken down piecemeal with the intention of having the materials transported to a vacant lot which he owned in the village. After having the building carefully taken down and the materials transported to their destination, the mansion was immediately reerected, exactly as it stood overlooking the lake (except the two wings), on one of the most prominent locations in the place, which overlooked the village, on a pinnacle of rising ground exactly suited to its original design. The solid red- beech columns are there, supporting its portico in the same relative position as they were originally. This handsome structure is now' the residence of Russell B. Wheeler, on Leitch Avenue. Mr. J. Gurdon Porter unfortunately met with some losses in his mercantile business, soon after he had completed the erection of this building, and was obliged to dispose of it. One of the original wings, which was used by Richard Talcott for school purposes, is now located on Leitch Avenue as a dwelling, and is owned by Miss M. E. Beauchamp. The other wing now forms the rear addition to the Wheeler dwelling. After Mr. De Zeng had had his architects complete the design, plans, and specifications, he gave out the contract to George Casey, of Auburn, N. Y., who employed Frederick Douglass, of Auburn, to do the mason work. The first foundation stone was laid in the month of May, 1839. The contract with George Casey was for $18,000. The roof having been changed to copper, this with some other changes in details was not included in the contract price. Parsons, Hewson & Co., of Auburn,' had the contract for completely furnishing the house at a cost of $11,000. Richard L. De Zeng occupied the mansion until his death. On the 8th of September, 1841, he sold 108.55 acres to Francis M. Potter; consideration, $9,226.75. It is not known exactly when Mr. De Zeng died, but his will was probated July 20, 1848, and witnessed by William J. Burnett and David H. Kel- logg. De Zeng's executors, Edward De Zeng, Joseph C. Haight, and Sarah De Zeng, after advertising the property extensively, finally requested John Legg to make an offer for both house and furniture. He made the offer of $10,000, and on September 20, 1849, the offer was accepted, and John Legg became the owner. On October 31, 1849, John Legg sold to Peter Whittlesey 113.78 acres; con- sideration, $10,500. Mr. Legg in the mean time removed most of his furniture, and thus received an advance of $500 and the furniture. Peter Whittlesey retained possession of the property eight years, during which he sold the north half of the farm on the west side of the highway, con- taining 101.78 acres, to Eastwood Allen, at about seventy dollars per acre, thus 3i8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. retaining the twelve-acre lot containing the De Zeng mansion. On March 23, 1857, Peter Whittlesey sold the twelve acres to Seth M. Hale; consideration, $9,000. The next year, August 17, 1858, Seth M. Hale sold the same lot to Anson Lapham for $8,000. Anson Lapham, by his last will and testament, devised the twelve acre lot to his wife, Amie Ann Lapham. Amie Ann Lapham, on November 20, 1878, sold the same grounds to William R. Willetts; consideration, $20,000. On September 24, 1892, William R. Willetts conveyed this lot to E. M. Padel- ford; consideration, $20,000. The Skaneateles Library Association. — The Skaneateles Library Asso- ciation was incorporated on October 20, 1877, by Joel Thayer, E. Norman Leslie, Henry T. Webb, John H. Smith, Charles S. Hall, E. B. Coe, John C. Stephenson, George T. Campbell, Shuler D. Conover, Edwin L. Parker, C. W. Allis, Prof. A. M. Wright, Joseph C. Willetts, John Humphreys, and William Marvin. Library rooms were opened in the Legg Block, and in 1880 the present handsome and commodious stone library building was erected. It is one of the chief attrac- tions of the village, and was dedicated February 27, 1890, Hon. William Marvin presiding. Miss Lydia A. Cobane has been Librarian ever since its incorpora- tion. The officers are : William Marvin, President ; J. C. Willetts, Vice-Presi- dent. It has been an almost general query by strangers visiting the village why that small brick building on the prominent corner was allowed to interfere with the ensemble of the library structure and proper design. It has been currently reported that Benoni Lee, the original owner, who devised it to the Library Association, made a provision in his will that it should not be removed. The following, copied from his last will and testament, dated August 17, 1885, does not show that he made such a provision : " Fourth. I give, devise, and bequeath to the Skaneateles Library Association all that tract or parcel of land, situate in the village of Skaneateles, county of Onondaga, and State of New York, being the whole of Lot Number 23, and part of Lot Number 22, in Block 13 of said village as designated on the map thereof made by R. Griffin, Jr., in 1870, and bounded on the south by Genesee Street, on the west by State Street, and on the north and east by lands owned by William Porter at the time of his decease, with my law office thereon, and my law library, including all my law books, both bound and unbound, and the book- cases, iron safe, and writing-desk, and all furniture belonging to or used in said office." Another Library.— The late William M. Beauchamp established a circulating library in the year 1832-33, which continued successfully for more than twenty years. A Snow Storm. — The snow-storm illustrated in the engraving herewith oc- curred on February 7, 1891. The snow fell to the depth of one foot, and was HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 319 VW54 ^ ^iT ^-^^f-" S K\ 'J w < < O H O i/.^ ^ '^r'^ V ^*., '"^•^ -^■•.'^■'% '^; S.^ ■'■'^^- 2; o 320 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. a wet snow. It covered the naked limbs of the trees in perpendicular ridges, and, there not being any wind, even the very smallest branches of the trees were covered about an inch in depth. The evergreens, such as the Norway spruce and balsams, were so heavily laden with the snow that the limbs hung straight down alongside their trunks. The following day, Sunday, there was not a breath of wind, and the trees throughout the village were a magnificent sight to behold. This engraving is made from a photograph taken in front of the residence of Frederick Roosevelt. The day was overcast. A few rays of sunshine would have produced a sight of unusual splendor. The First Organ. — We present below a copy of the subscription list for the first organ in St. James' Church: SuBSCRiPrioN TO Pay for the First Organ to be Constructed for St. James' Church. We the subscribers do hereby agree severally for ourselves to pay to Ellsworth Phelps the sums set opposite our respective names, in pay for an Organ in and for the use of St. James' Church in Skaneateles, vifhich Organ is to be furnished with a good and well- finished case suitable to enclose the same. The front to be made of mahogany, with gilt front show pipes. The price for the Organ and case to be $200.00. Skaneateles, June 30, 1828. William Gibbs $25.00 S. & J. Hall $8.00 S. Horton 25.00 Thomas W. Hecox 2.00 Samuel Francis 10.00 John S. Furman 10.00 Charles J. Burnett 25.00 George Arnold 2.00 Enos T. Throop, by C. J. Burnett. . 10.00 Noadiah Kellogg 2.00 John Legg 8.00 A. B. Keeler 2.00 J. S. Perry 4.00 Nelson Hawley 3.00 A. Kellogg 10.00 Joseph Dascomb 5 .00 Charles Pardee 10.00 Timothy Benton 2. 00 J. M. Allen 5.00 F. G. Jewett 5.00 A. S. Hollister 10.00 Hezekiah Earll 3.00 J. H. Colvin 6.00. • B. S. Wolcott 5 . 00 $202 . 00 S. Porter Rhoades 5 . 00 How A Wealthy Citizen was swerved from his Purpose of establishing A Free Public Library in Skaneateles. — ^During the early part of the month of June, 1875, I (the author) took occasion to carry out a design which had pre- viously suggested itself to my mind to make a personal call on the late Anson Lapham at his residence. This was intended to interest him in the establishment of a Free Public Library in the village of Skaneateles, as a memorial of his only daughter, Elizabeth Anna, whose death occurred at Brooklyn, N. Y., December 28, 1864, at the age of twenty-five years. Her name Anna was her mother's maiden name, Anna D. Thorne. To my suggestion he immediately replied that he had never thought of that before, and he at once expressed his feelings of gratitude for introducing the subject of a memorial to him. Anson Lapham's first wife was the daughter of Jonathan Thorne, who was a successful leather merchant in the city of New York, and had a residence in or HISTORY. OF SKANEATELES. 321 near Poughkeepsie. She was very wealthy when she married Anson Lapham. They had two children — a son and a daughter. The son died of yellow fever at Rio Janeiro, Brazil, about 1855. The daughter accompanied him to Skaneateles in the year 1857. She was a very bright and attractive young lady, and had many intimate friends here, who admired her for her loving qualities. And when Lizzie, as she was familiarly called, died, her father was overwhelmed with anguish and the deepest sorrow- When the suggestion of a memorial to her was introduced, he became deeply interested in the subject, and made many inquiries respecting the details of estab- lishing a library. He asked where would be a suitable location for such a building. In reply I stated where the several small frame buildings were, just east of Judge Marvin's residence. This seemed satisfactory to him. Another of my suggestions was an endowment fund for the support of a Free Public Library. This met his views. After this I had a long and pleasant conversation with him on the subject generally, in which he seemed to take much personal interest, and he took occasion several times to express his obligations for my several suggestions. Finally, he invited me to call again the following afternoon, which I promised to do. After leaving Mr. Lapham, I met Mrs. Lapham in the front hall, and took occasion to explain to her the object of my visit, and of Mr. Lapham's personal interest in the subject. She immediately expressed her interest and pleasure in it, and her desire to do all in her power to carry out all his wishes in every respect, and assured me that she would do all that could be done for its complete success. The next afternoon, whefi I came by invitation, I was met with a surprise. Mr. Lapham had in the mean time been completely reversed — turned backward — from his interest in a memorial to his loving and deceased daughter. He met me in rather a resentful mood, saying : " There is no reason why I should pay for other persons' reading, when they could just as well pay for their own reading as I could have done when I commenced life." I could not imagine, nor could I believe, that Mrs. Lapham had endeavored to change his intentions and wishes. In fact, it was not possible, after the assur- ances she gave me of her pleasure and desire to do all in her power to carry out her husband's wishes and intentions. The only influential member of his household who could have produced this great reversal of his avowed interest in establishing a memorial Free Public Library was one to whom Mr. Lapham had previously loaned on his obligations fifty thousand dollars. It was, in my opinion, Anson Lapham's stepson, who, taking advantage of Mr. Lapham's easily, influenced weak mind, did use his personal influence and did succeed in swerving Anson Lapham from his avowed purpose of establishing an endowed Free Public Library in the village of Skaneateles, as a loving memorial to his only daughter and child (having previously lost an only son), whose death was the most heart-rending loss that he ever sustained, and in whom during her life was centered all his earthly happiness. 322 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. His death occurred October 23, 1876, in the seventy-third year of his age, at which time his personal estate amounted to fully $800,000. He had several years previously executed a last will and testament, appointing C. W. Allis and Benoni Lee his executors. Less than three months before his death he executed a new last will and testament, which was in substance similar to his first will, except in one particular, and that was that he named three executors : C. W. Allis, Benoni Lee, and William Marvin. These executors made three several reports of their receipts during the settlement of the estate, which were as follows : October 23, 1879, they charged themselves with $692,633.56 June 3, 1880, they charged themselves with 51,016.30 August 4, 1880, they charged themselves with 50,071.68 Making a total of $793,721.54 The appraisement of the securities was a very liberal one, very low values, there- fore the value of the personal property was fully $800,000. Each executor received a full commission, which exceeded $8,000 each. To C. W. Allis was bequeathed $3,000, in addition to the commissions he would be entitled to as executor. Anson Lapham had no near blood relatives in whom he had any personal interest, but as they were his legal heirs he bequeathed to them one-half of his personal estate, amounting to $400,000. The following synopsis of his last will and testament, dated August 3, 1876, is here given: By the second clause, he devised and bequeathed to his wife, Amie Ann Lapham, the homestead, known as " Lake Home," containing about twelve acres of land, together with its furniture and all other personal property of every nature contained in such homestead ; also one-half of his remaining personal estates, " if she, said Amie Ann Lapham, be living at my decease, but, in case of her death prior to my decease, I give, devise, and bequeath the same to the children of said Amie Ann Lapham, to be divided between them share and share alike." "Without commenting on the preceding- unusual gift, it may be here con- sidered that Mr. Lapham would undoubtedly have made a very liberal expen- diture on a memorial Free Public Library, and endowed it very liberally, if his avowed intentions and wishes had not been frustrated. The object in detailing the extent of Mr. Lapham's personal property is to show that, if he had been allowed to establish a loving memorial in remembrance of his only child and daughter by appropriating fifty or even sixty thousand dollars for that purpose, no one of his legatees would have been the sufferer. Had Anson Lapham not been interfered with and been allowed to carry out his cherished design, Skaneateles would have had an educational institution worthy proportionately with the liberal Carnegie of recent times, and worthy of HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 3^3 Anson Lapham and of his lovely deceased daughter. ' It would have been hand- somely endowed, and would have illustrated the subject of my visit to his resi- dence in the month of June, 1875, suggesting to him a memorial in remembrance of his deceased daughter. As Anson Lapham's will has never been publicly printed, it may not be out of place ^to insert here a few of his bequests to charitable institutions. He bequeathed to Elizabeth Lapham Howard $1,000 (she having been an intimate friend of Mr. Lapham's deceased daughter, and was named after her) ; to the Onondaga Orphan Asylum, $2,000; St. Joseph's Hospital of Syracuse, $2,000; House of the Good Shepherd, Syracuse, $2,000; Swarthmore College, located at Philadelphia, $5,000; and the Syracuse Home Association, $5,000. Amie Ann Lapham, having survived her husband, under the provisions of his will came into possession of one-half of his personal estate, which was a total of $800,000. In addition she was given the homestead known as Lake Home, including all the personal property on the place. Lake Home alone was worth $20,000, and has been sold at that rate since. Therefore the widow came into possession, after the settlement of the estate, of over $420,000. She then divided this property among her three sons, Charles, Joseph C, and William, which was a very proper thing to do. There was no record of this division, as it was strictly a private transaction, and was not intended to be known to the public. This last statement is merely, the opinion of the author, and not founded on actual knowledge, but from indefinite report. I was not aware of the weak-mindedness of Anson Lapham at the time I introduced the subject of a memorial Free Public Library. Since that time I have ascertained a number of instances in which this weakness was involved, among which the following illustrations may suffice : At the commencement of the Civil War, 1861, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Onondaga secured a loan of a few thousand dollars for the pur- pose of aiding in raising volunteers for the defense of the Union, not anticipating that the war would be of long duration. As it continued, the County by its Supervisors determined in 1863 to secure a larger loan by the issue of bonds, to raise money not only to pay the previous temporary indebtedness, but to raise more money to offer bounties for additional volunteers. At that period during the war money was difficult to be obtained from individual investors, con- sequently circulars were issued and sent to all the city and country banks, with a request to these banks that they from patriotic motives as well as profitable investments should accept these bonds and enable the County to raise the required money. The Lake Bank had only recently been organized here in Skaneateles, and its Cashier, H. J. Hubbard, had received an invitation to accept some of the bonds. He therefore brought the subject to the attention of Anson Lapham, who immediately said that he would take $10,000 in $1,000 bonds. The circular stated that the bonds would be issued as soon as they could be completed. Mr. 324 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Lapham after a short time sent his $10,000 to the County Treasurer, and re- ceived a receipt for the advanced money. After the bonds had been completed, ready for delivery, and advertised, Anson Lapham's bonds remained in charge of the County Treasurer. Months passed, and even years passed, and Mr. Lapham had not called or sent for his bonds. Finally, after four years had passed, when Mr. Hubbard happened to call at the office of the County Treasurer, MRS. E. N. LESLIE. From a daguerreotype taken in 1846. he was surprised to learn that the Skaneateles investor had not called for his bonds. Immediately on his return to Skaneateles he notified Mr. Lapham that the bonds he had paid for had been lying in the County Treasurer's Office for the past four years. Mr. Lapham said that he had no recollection of subscribing for any bonds, nor of advancing $10,000 for them. Mr. Hubbard said to him that the Treasurer stated that these bonds were his, and, if they belonged to him, of course he wanted them. Mr. Lapham said yes, if they were his, he wanted them. Mr. Hubbard suggested that if he, Mr. Lapham, would give an order HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 325 and sign a receipt for them, he would obtain them from the Treasurer, which Mr. Lapham consented to do. Consequently Mr. Lapham came into possession of $10,000 of Onondaga County bonds. After the decease of the late Russell Frost, in 1865, Mr. Lapham made a contract with a village mechanic to build several barns and other buildings on the farm of Russell Frost. The contractor commenced to work soon after, and MRS. E. N. LESLIE. From a portrait painted by Charles L. Elliott in 1846. after the frames had been set up Mr. Lapham, noticing the work, asked what was being done. In reply he was told that the barns which he had ordered were being constructed. He immediately replied that he had not ordered any barns, and would not pay for them. The mechanic kept on working on the plan given by Mr. Lapham, and, about two weeks after, Mr. Lapham came and asked further questions, and it finally came to his mind that he had ordered the work, and was much pleased, and told the mechanic that it was all right, and that he would pay when the work was completed. 326 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XXII. Early Physicians and Local History. Samuel Porter. — Dr. Samuel Porter was born at Williamstown, Mass., April i6, 1778, where his father was a physician and surgeon. He entered the first freshman class of Williams College, but left it on account of ill health, and subsequently received from that institution the honorary degree of Master of Arts. He finished his medical studies at the age of twenty-one, and removed to Skaneateles. This was after Dr. Munger had removed to Wellington. He prac- tised here and in the surrounding country for more than forty years. He was possessed of wonderful courage, and acquired a great reputation as a surgeon. Probably no physician of that early day had a more extensive ride than Dr, Porter. Isaac Benedict. — Dr. Isaac Benedict was a practising physician in the town of Skaneateles in 1806, and was a regular member of the County Society, to which he was elected in 1813. Samuel Benedict.— Dr. Samuel Benedict is on record as having practised hereabout in 1806. He had a nephew named Peter Benedict. William Pratt.— Dr. William Pratt was a practising physician here in 1807-8, as his name appears on the old ledgers as having made his purchases from our merchants. David Kingsbury. — Dr. David Kingsbury practised medicine about this sec- tion of country for many years. He was born in the year 1777, and his residence was located where Clintonville is now. He was contemporary with Dr. Samuel Porter and Dr. Munger. He died March 7, 1841, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He practised in the town of Marcellus about forty years. Jonathan Hall. — Dr. Jonathan Hall is on record as being one of the early physicians in Skaneateles as early as 1796. He was contemporary with Dr. Samuel Porter and Dr. Munger. The latter practised not only as a physician, but taught school also in 1797. Dr. Pierce. — Dr. Pierce is known to have practised in this section of the town in 1816. He purchased his supplies here, as his name appears on many old ledgers and account-books of Skaneateles merchants. JuDAH B. Hopkins. — ^Dr. Judah B. Hopkins was born December 23, 1787, and died October 7, 1837. He was a native of New England, and came to this town some time before 1806. His first residence in this village was in a story- and-a-half house which was on the Mrs. Shuttleworth lot, on the south side of Onondaga Street. In the course of his long residence in Skaneateles he obtained an extensive practise in the village and surrounding country, was very popular, HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 327 and had a great reputation, not only as a physician, but as a surgeon, being frequently called in consultation on occasions when all other practitioners were at a loss for the proper treatment of special cases of disease. Evelyn H. Porter. — ^Dr. Evelyn H. Porter was born in 1801, and died here in October, 1875. He was the eldest son of Dr. Samuel Porter. He commenced the practise of medicine and surgery in 1830, which continued until his death. He exhibited excellent judgment in the discrimination of diseases. At an early age, in 1816, the smallpox suddenly appeared at Marcellus. At that time, when sixteen years of age, he was attending school there, and on the alarm occasioned by the smallpox went immediately home. His father. Dr. Samuel Porter, a stirring, energetic man in his profession, at once vaccinated him, and when the vaccination had run its course sent his son back to Marcellus to Dr. Bildad Beach, with instructions that young Evelyn be placed in the Pest House, there to be in- oculated for the smallpox, and to remain the appointed time. Dr. Beach acted in accordance with these instructions, and young Evelyn Porter, after living three or four weeks in the filth of the Pest House, came out as unharmed and unsullied as though he had been a piece of marble. Michael D. Benedict. — Dr. Michael D. Benedict was born in Danbury, Conn., January 21, 1814, and died at Syracuse January 7, 1885. His education was obtained in the common schools and Danbury Academy. After studying his profession and taking a course of lectures in the Medical Department of Yale, he began practise in New Haven, Conn., where he continued until 1838. He then removed to Skaneateles, and during the succeeding twenty-five years was en- gaged in a large and successful practise in that village, became very popular, and was quite successful in the treatment of disease. He built the two-story frame dwelling house next north of the Skaneateles Academy, which is now owned and occupied by J. E. Waller, and which has since been enlarged and otherwise im- proved. In September, 1861, he entered the army as Surgeon of the Seventy- fifth New York Volunteers, and was mustered out in December, 1864. He was soon after appointed inedical officer of the Sanitary Commission, and stationed at Washington until September, 1865, when he settled in Syracuse, and con- tinued in active practise as long as his health permitted. He joined the County Medical Society in 1869, and was its President in 1870. As a physician he was among the foremost, and as a man and gentleman was respected for his lovable, kind, and amiable qualities by all who knew him. His first office was on the second floor, over Field & Kellogg's harness-shop. P. Oscar C. Benson. — Dr. P. Oscar C. Benson was born in Owasco, Cayuga County, June 19, 1839. He was brought up on a farm, where he remained until 1857, when at the age of eighteen he commenced his seminary course of study at Cazenovia. After completing his studies he entered the New York College of Homeopathy, from which he graduated in 1865. He commenced his medical practise at Springfield, Mass., where he remained one year. The death of his mother in i860 called him from Springfield to be nearer his father, and he settled 328 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. and commenced practise in Skaneateles, which continued successfully for about twenty-four years, during which time he obtained an extensive general practise, which he acquired by patient effort, careful and loving attention, and that skill and knowledge which commanded popular confidence. He was a keen observer, progressive and a deep thinker, beloved by his patients, and conscientious in all his efforts to subdue disease. Besides being a prominent physician, he was a representative citizen. About six years previous to his death he was a member of the Board of Education, and for more than two years its President. His death occuiTed January 25, 1890, and was an unusually sad one. Another phy- sician, who had several obstetrical cases just at that time in view, requested Dr. Benson to attend one of them. He did so, and about midnight, after he attended to the patient, he complained of being ill, and he was requested to lie down on a lounge, which he' did for two hours, after which he complained of pain in his head, and remarked that he could not live unless help came. The physician for whom he was acting was immediately summoned, but when he arrived Dr. Ben- son had passed away. Levi T. Bartlett. — Dr. Levi T. Bartlett was born in Warren, N. H., October 4, 1806, and was a grandson of Joshua Bartlett, one of the signers of the Declara- tion of Independence. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1827, studied medicine, and located in Skaneateles in 1838. There he practised nearly fifty years, acquiring a large practise and gaining a high reputation for skill and integrity. He was compelled to relinquish practise eight years prior to his death on account of failing health. He died June 22, 1892. L. Pareseix. — Dr. L. Paresell advertised in the first newspaper, the Telegraph, printed in the village. The advertisement reads as follows : " Dr. L. Paresell would respectfully inform the citizens of Skaneateles and its vicinity, that he has opened an office in the house of Caldwell & Wallis, The Skan- eateles Hotel, where he will attend to all calls in the line of his Profession. " Dated Skaneateles, July 29, 1829." George T. Campbell.- — Dr. George T. Campbell was born in Camillus, Oc- tober 13, 1826, and came to Skaneateles in 1858, where he commenced the practise of medicine, and at the same time carried on a drug-store in the village. In 1885 he sold out his drug business, and devoted himself entirely to his extended practise, until failing health compelled him to retire. Besides being a physician of great reputation, he was a representative citizen, having been President of the Onondaga Medical Society for several years, Supervisor of the town, and a mem- ber and President of the Skaneateles Board of Education. He died at Skan- eateles of a distressing incurable disease, February 11, 1882. Hammond, Earll, and Gorton. — The latter physicians, all of whom have passed over to the majority, were: Dr. Alexander Hammond, who besides his practise had a drug-store in the village ; Dr. George W. Earll, and Dr. Gorton. F. Harvey Lester. — Dr. F. Harvey Lester was born at New Hope, Cayuga County, N. Y., November 10, 1859, where he passed his early boyhood days. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 329 When about thirteen years of age, his parents removed to Auburn, N. Y., where for a time he attended the High School. After three years' schqoling, he went back to New Hope, and went to work on a farm, economizing and saving all the money he earned, and teaching the district school during the winter. His aim was to obtain a medical education, and with that in view he saved all that he earned by hard labor, and, when he considered that he had sufKcient money on hand; he made a start by reading medicine with Dr. Tripp, of Kelloggsville, after THE HEAD OP SKANEATELES LAKE. This is the extreme south end, and is the only part of the Lake where there is a grassy bottom, portions of which may be seen above the surface of the water. G len Haven may be observed on the opposite shore. which he entered the University of the City of New York. Graduating with honor in 1883, he returned to Kelloggsville, remained there a short time, then came to Skaneateles, an entire stranger, without consulting the resident members of the profession. He hired an office in the second story of the Shear Block, which office was at the end of a long entryway, and very inconvenient in every respect for his business. A friend, an entire stranger to him, who had learned of his locating 'in the village, called to make his acquaintance, and to render all assistance possible to a newcomer. This friend found him in his sparsely fur- 330 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. nished room, in which were a cheap pine bedstead, a common chair, a pine wash- stand, and no carpet on the floor. Dr. Lester stated to this friend that he had come to Skaneateles to stay. The friend then assured him that he would do all in his power to assist him, and also said to him that he must secure a more convenient office. After Dr. Lester had been there a few months, he went to see this friend to ask his advice, saying that he could get a half of Dr. Ingerson's office for fifty dollars a year, and he could get Dr. Campbell's office for one hundred dollars a year, and wished to be informed which one he should take. His friend said : " Take the Campbell office, by all means. You want to be directly on the street, no matter what rent you have to pay." Dr. Lester rented the Dr. Campbell office, and it was not long before he began to have a considerable practise, so much so as to cause alarm among the regular professionals of the village. In consequence, some of them commenced a " boycott," resulting in disgraceful stories being circulated about Dr. Lester, which were intended to disgrace him particularly among ladies. One of the resident physicians personally told Dr. Lester that he ought to commence doctoring among the Irish down the outlet, and gradually work himself up toward the village. This was the spirit with which his locating here was viewed by the profession in the village. Dr. Lester kept obtaining new patients, and he became very successful in the treatment of disease. He was a deep thinker, an untiring worker, endowed with sound common sense, a keen observer, and thus he represented the best type of a general practitioner. Trusted by his patients, he deserved their confidence. He was progressive, yet conservative, earnest, and thoroughly conscientious in his work. He became very popular, despite the disgraceful rumors set afloat by his professional brethren in the village, which seemingly had no effect on the community at large. His practise soon began to become very extensive. His medical and surgical library was of the most recent editions, the best that could be obtained, without reference to cost, and he had the best of general medical literature. His aptitude was for more extensive knowledge, and it was for that reason that he went abroad, to Europe, to Germany, where the highest class of medical authority was to be obtained. In 1 89 1 he relinquished his extensive practise here, went to Germany, and im- mediately after his arrival there he at once entered on a course of special study at Heidelberg, on the Rhine. After its completion he went to Berlin, and entered on a course of advanced study. His energy in his work there and his determina- tion to succeed seemingly affected his brain, which caused an illness of only a few days' duration, from which he lost consciousness, and never recovered. He died April 7, 1892. His remains were brought home, and the interment took place in the Benson Street Cemetery, April 25, 1892. An Interesting Fragment of Early History. — The Revolutionary soldier to whom was allotted Military Lot No. 35 was Kenneth Campbell, in the year 1791. He sold it to Abraham Hardenburgh, February 5, 1792, for thirteen shillings. Hardenburgh afterward sold it to Moses De Witt for three hundred HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 331 pounds. This currency was not sterling, but the pounds at that period were twenty shillings of twelve and a half cents each, established by a law of Congress. Thayer. — Mr. Thayer was the artist who painted the portrait of Charles L. Elliott now in the Skaneateles Library. His mother married John D. Ford, who lived in the tenant-house of William S. Briggs. Artist Thayer was the head painter of Hall & Porter's (Gurdon Porter) carriage-shop. John Legg made a very stylish covered sleigh for Eastern parties, and employed artist Thayer to paint a handsome design on the back of the sleigh. This was previous to Charles L. Elliott's residence here. Miscellaneous Fragments of History. — Two men named Crawford were stone and brick masons here in 1830. They built the first two brick stores in the village, for Richard Talcott and Stephen Horton, in the year 1830. Nelson Hawley was originally a clerk for Stephen Horton before he embarked in business for himself. Melsey Ann Allen, daughter of Attorney Allen, at an early time resided in State Street in this village. The story-and-a-half house now or formerly occupied by Mrs. Tucker, on the north side of Academy Street, was originally built on the site of the R. B. Wheeler residence. It was removed to its present location by J. Gurdon Porter about the year 1838, when he was about to erect the Wheeler house. Rowland Day, a merchant here in 1806, was at one time associated with Nor- man Leonard in business. Moses B. Dunning was at one time a clerk for John Legg. Harrison B. Dodge — How He First became Editor of the Skaneateles Democrat. — The Skaneateles Democrat was first started by William M. Beau- champ, January 3, 1840. About 1844, E. Sherman Keeney became the editor and proprietor, and a few years later was succeeded by William H. Jewett. He soon sold out to Jonathan C. Keeney. William H. Jewett was interested in the Democrat becoming a Democratic organ, and, as Keeney desired to sell out his proprietorship, Jewett proposed to Harrison B. Dodge to assume the editorship, with Jewett's assistance. Dodge did not feel capable, his vocation being a silver- plater for the carriage manufacturers in the village. Finally, through the persua- sion of Mr. Jewett, he made the attempt, and took possession of the Democrat April I, 1849. William H. Jewett was the active editor until H. B. Dodge became more familiar with the work, and has since been the editor and proprietor. In March, 1853, he purchased the good-will and business of the Skaneateles Columbian, and consolidated the two offices. H. B. Dodge continued the pro- prietorship and editorship of the Democrat until January i, 1890, when he leased the paper and business to William T. Hall, who died May 3, 1897, after an illness of only a few hours, aged thirty-five years. The Democrat then not having an editor, it was kept going by a few volunteers for a short time, when it was leased to a man by the name of Ackles, who from a want of knowledge and experience soon spoiled the journal's old reputation, and after that this reputable standard Z32 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. newspaper became extinct. Harrison B. Dodge died November 22, 1898, from the effects of general debility, at the age of eighty-seven years. He was the first editor in the village who introduced local subjects of interest in the columns of his paper, seeking subjects of interest personally, and editorially making a note of them. The Columbian, which preceded the Democrat, seldom or never published local news of any kind. Its columns were filled with items clipped from its exchanges. The only real local matter was the advertisements, and these now, after many years, serve to indicate the names of our ancestral business men, all or nearly all of whom have passed away. Harrison B. Dodge had always been a citizen in the ordinary sense of the word. Every plan that was set on foot for the betterment of either town or village found in him a hearty sympathy with its advancement. He took a keen interest in the advancement of the community, and his advocacy of all matters of public importance was effective through the columns of the Democrat. He possessed a genial kindness of nature and a keen sense of humor which made his intercourse with his fellow men enjoyable. He took and retained warm friendships, and enjoyed the full confidence and respect of citizens of all classes. There is a very general regret expressed by the subscribers of the old Skaneateles Democrat that it should not have been continued by some enterprising party, and thus kept up to its original standard. Origin of the Village Fire Department. — The subject of fire extinguish- ment was considered long before the incorporation of the village, which was in 1833, and in that act provision was made for an organized department, and very soon afterward Fire Engine Company No. i was formed. The first record of its actual existence, however, appears in the Skaneateles Columbian of February 20, 1835, when James Gurdon Porter as Foreman, and G. W. Waring as Secretary, called a meeting for March 4, 1835, at the tavern of I. W. Perry. It is certain, also, that a second company flourished at this time or shortly afterward. In 1858, when there were a fire company and a hose company, new life was infused into the department, and on March 14, 1866, the whole department was reorganized with forty-eight members, and with Jeremiah Shallish as Chief Engineer. Thomas Kelley was Foreman of the Fire Company, and Henry D. Huxford commanded the Hose Company. Probably the earliest fire-engine used in the village was an old " goose-neck " machine, now in possession of the department. About 1856 or 1857, a hand engine was purchased by the village Trustees, and is still ready for emergencies. Since the introduction of the present water works hose alone is and has been employed, the pressure from the reservoir being ample to throw streams of water over the highest of the business buildings. Before 1861 under- ground reservoirs had been constructed for fire purposes on East Genesee Street and on the Academy corner, but neither of them was ever made use of. The fire department now consists of about sixty members, organized into two hose com- panies and a hook and ladder company. The greatest fire of importance with which the village was visited, and which the early fire department was called upon to try to extinguish, was the disastrous HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 333 conflagration of September 28, 1835, which consumed thirteen frame stores, car- riage and cabinet shops, comprising the pri^cipal business portion of the village, the details of which, and the losses incurred, will be found in another chapter. With characteristic energy the lot-owners constructed new brick buildings in nearly every instance, and those structures were built in such manner to prevent a fire from spreading by having heavy division walls which extended above the roofs. The next serious fire occurred February 4, 1842, when Dorastus Kellogg's woolen mills, employing about sixty-five hands, Spencer Hannum's machine- shop, and Earll, Kellogg & Co.'s flouring mill and storehouse were destroyed, causing a total loss of $43,000. Earll, Kellogg & Co. rebuilt the grist-mill and placed it in operation early in 1843. On the site of Kellogg's woolen factory Spencer Hannum erected a foundry, which was destroyed by fire January 6, 1850. Valuable Files of Local Papers. — The following local newspapers have VIEW OF THE village OF SKANEATELES FROM THE LAKE IN 1856. been collected, bound, and presented to the Skaneateles Library Association by E. N. Leslie, of this village, and are now in the Library : Skaneateles Columbian, one volume, from 1834 to 1853, very imperfect. Skaneateles Democrat, eleven volumes, all very imperfect — 1843 to 1848, 1849 to 1851, 1852 to 1856, 1859 to 1861, 1863 to 1869, 1864 to 1866, 1870 to 1875, 1871 to 1873, 1857 to 1869, 1876 to 1878, and 1879 to 1880. One volume of miscellaneous, local, and neighborhood papers. The following volumes have just been received from the bookbinder and have not as yet been placed in the Library, but are at Mr. Leslie's office : One volume of the New York Weekly Journal of Commerce, from October 30, 1889, to December 30, 1891. This volume is complete. Seven volumes of the Skaneateles Columbian, dating from 1830 to March 24, 1853. This series is almost complete and is very valuable. Four volumes of the Skaneateles Democrat, dating from 1844 to 1869, but very incomplete. The period which is most valuable is contained in the volume from 1863 to 1869, containing but thirty-seven papers, whereas to be perfect within those dates there should be 327 papers. 334 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Nine volumes of the Skaneateles Free Press — a complete file from the com- mencement, and all in perfect order without mutilation — March 21, 1874, to Jan- uary I, 1892. All these comprise thirty-four volumes, which have been collerted from various sources for many years past by Mr. Leslie, and were carefully put in order for the binder, the expense of binding costing $2 per volume, which has been paid by him. All the above will find a place in the Skaneateles Library Association, thanks to Mr. Leslie's generosity. A Beautiful Memorial Tablet. — E. N. Leslie has placed on the east wall of the interior of St. James' Church, in this village, a beautiful memorial tablet to the memory of the sons of that church who lost their lives in the defense of the Union. The tablet is forty-two by twenty-eight inches, and is made of heavy brass plate, upon which the lettering of the inscription is placed in black and red enameled letters, with a very neat border of oak and holly leaves. The brass plate is bolted to a black marble back, which shows a chamfered edge of two to two and one-half inches, and all securely fastened in the wall. The inscriptions are as follows : To THE Glory of God, and in Memory of the Sons of St. James' Church WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN DEFENCE OF THE UnION. Lieutenant Benjamin H. Porter, U. S. N. Killed at the storming of Fort Fisher, Va., January 15, 1865. Aged 21 years. 2d Lieutenant Stanley Porter, N. Y. Vol. Mortally wounded at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 30, 1862. Aged 20 years. Private Albert De Cost Burnett, N. Y. Vol. Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., Aug. 4, 1862. Aged 16 years. Private William H. Baber, N. Y. Vol. Died from the effects of exposure April 8, 1865. Aged 26 years. Private Wadsworth B. Francis, N. Y. Vol. Killed at the storming of Port Hudson, Miss., June 14, 1863. Aged 51 years. Private Samuel Francis, Wisconsin Vol. Died at Alexandria, Va., Sept. i, 1862. Aged 57 years. The workmanship on the tablet in all its details is of the finest kind, and it is truly a work of art. Mr. Leslie has spared no expense in erecting this beautiful memorial to the sons of the church, and we wish others would show as much respect for those who helped save our Union and see to it that a Soldiers' Monu- ment worthy of our town be reared to their honored memory. The Baldwinsville Gazette printed the following statement in their issue of the time: " Mr. E. N. Leslie has placed a brass tablet in St. James' Church, Skaneateles, as a memorial of six Union soldiers and sailors, members of the congregation. He has also presented thirty-four bound volumes of local papers to the Skaneateles Library. He likes to do just such things." HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 335 Sunday-School Celebration. — The following program of the celebration of Fourth of July, 1832, by the Sunday-School of St. James' Church, was carried out with great enthusiasm: FIFTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE. Skaneateles, July 4, 1832. Washington — The Father of his Country — Born 1732— Died 1799— Aged 68 years. — " First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." Robert Raikes — ^The Founder of Sunday-Schools — at Gloucester, England, 1782. — "The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." Sunday-School Celebration. order of exercises at the church. Prayer. Address to Parents and Guardians by Rev. Mr. Clark. Ode. Columbia ! A lovely clime ! 'Tis the high place of Freedom's birth ! God of our fathers, make it thine — A holy clime— the joy of earth! Thy glorious name, on golden lyres. Strike all the tuneful choirs above! And boundless nature's realms conspire To celebrate thy matchless love ! I would not change my native land For rich Peru with all her gold! A nobler prize lies in my hand Than East or Western Indies hold! O King of saints ! O Triune God ! Bow the high heavens and lend thine ear : Oh ! make this land thy fixed abode, And let the Heavenly Dove rest here ! John W. Livingston.— John W. Livingston was an early owner of the Dyer Brainerd Farm, on the East Lake Road. He was appointed United States Mar- shal for the Northern District of the State of New York in the year 1822. He came here in 1815, and was a resident for many years. His wife was the daughter of Lieutenant-Governor John Broome, who held that office in 1804. This lady brought with her from Albany an elegant pianoforte that her father had imported from London, England. It was at the time of its importation one of the finest instruments in the city of Albany. Mrs. Livingston after making her home here in Skaneateles enjoyed playing her piano, for she was a skilful performer. Taking an interest in the daughter of her father's family physician, she proposed to Dr Hopkins to instruct her in the use of the piano, to which assent was given. 336 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. In the course of time the daughter became very proficient, and at the time the Livingston family -were about to remove from Skaneateles Mrs. Livingston, having become much interested in the advancement and excellent proficiency of Miss Hopkins in the use of the instrument, made her a present of this elegant pianoforte. She is now the widow of the late Dr. Levi T. Bartlett of this village, and has taken unusual care of the instrument ever since, and it is in the same con- dition it was when she received it from the donor. It is undoubtedly the most ancient pianoforte now in the County of Onondaga ! The Jerome Family.— Although the Jeromes were not of Skaneateles, yet the name has. been more or less connected with the early days of Skaneateles. The Jeromes originated as very early settlers in the town of Pompey. John Jerome was elected a trustee of the first Religious Congregational Society of Pom- pey in the year 1800 and 1801. This Society held their services in barns, dwell- ings, and schoolhouses. The Pompey Jeromes were farmers, who made a spe- cialty of making large quantities of most excellent cheese every year. Their cheese had a great reputation all over this section of the State. Much of it was brought here for sale to Skaneateles dealers. Addison and Leonard H. Jerome were residents in Skaneateles many years ago. Addison was a clerk for Phares Gould about the year 1828, and Leonard H. Jerome studied law in the office of John C. Beach in this place. Both Addison and Leonard H. while here boarded with the late Nehemiah Smith, about the year 1839. It is, therefore, through the Jerome family that Lady Randolph Churchill is in a manner identified with Skaneateles. She has never been here, but her father, Leonard, H. Jerome's brother, Addison, was Lady Churchill's own paternal uncle. Addison Jerome died in the city of New York, December 30, 1864, aged fifty-three years. His wife was the daughter of Phares Gould, and visited Skaneateles many times during her life. The Lake House. — The Lake House, which has been known by this name to the later inhabitants of both town and village, was erected in the year 1824-25 by David Hall. The builders were Peter Thompson and John Billings. Its first name was " The Skaneateles Hotel,'' and its first landlords were the firm of S. & J. Hall, who were succeeded by Caldwell & Wallis. Its name afterward .was changed to " The Indian Queen," in 1835, and its landlord was then Isaac W. Perry. The next landlord was H. W. Allen, who held it in 1837, and was followed by Smith & Harvey in 1840. It was enlarged in 1858, and for many years contained the only public hall in the village. After the year 1840 the name was changed to " The Lake House." It occupied the site of the present Shear Block, built in 1881-82, on the corner of Genesee and Jordan streets. The Lake House was totally destroyed by fire July 19, 1870. A cut is shown opposite. Mrs. Elizabeth T. Porter Beach. — Mrs. Elizabeth T. Porter Beach was the daughter of James Porter, an early settler of this village and a very prominent citizen as an attorney and merchant. Mrs. Beach was also a granddaughter of William J. Vredenburg, known as an early and prominent settler, who built that HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 337 noble Colonial mansion, the only one of its character in this village. A native of Skaneateles, Mrs. Beach attained considerable distinction in literature. She wrote " Pelayo : An Epic of the Olden Moorish Time," in recognition of which the Queen of Spain sent her one of her own bracelets, mounted with an Oriental topaz, on which was the royal monogram set in diamonds. The Empress Eugenie also sent her a gold medal, on the obverse side of which was the Empress' own THE OLD LAKE HOUSE. The original Frame Tavern, built by David Hall in 1824. (See page 336.) head, and on the reverse side the following inscription : " To Mistress Elizabeth T. Porter Beach." The following editorial reference to Mrs. Beach was printed in the Skan- eateles Democrat of July 12, 1866: " The author of ' Pelayo,' Mrs. Elizabeth T. Porter Beach, is constantly receiving evidence of the regard in which her accomplished pen is held by an appreciative public. The epic poem above alluded to has been adopted as a text- book in the Packer Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y., and several other seminaries. The scene of this poem, it will be remembered, is laid in Spain, and so charmingly and skilfully did the author accomplish her task in graceful rhyme that the Queen of Spain and the Empress of France both showed their appreciation of it by send- ing truly royal presents to Mrs. Beach. Our town readers will learn with pleasure of this new tribute to the merits of ' Pelayo.' No longer will it be only read in the drawing-room, but will hereafter be studied in the schoolroom." 338 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Mrs. Beach wrote the following lyric : "The Last Broadside." The following lines were written upon hearing of the heroism of the crew of the frigate Cumberland, in the engagement at Hampton Roads, who bravely fired a last "broadside" while the ship was sinking, in compliance with the order of their commanding officer, the gallant hero, Lieutenant Morris : " Shall we give them a broadside as she goes ? " " Shall we give them a broadside, my boys, as she goes ? Shall we send yet another to tell. In iron-tongued words, to Columbia's foes. How bravely her sons say ' Farewell ' ? "Aye! what though we sink 'neath the turbulent wave, 'Tis with DUTY and eight at the helm I And over the form should the fierce waters rave. No tide can the spirit o'erwhelml " For swift o'er the billows of Charon's dark stream We'll pass to the immortal shore. Where the ' waters of life ' in brilliancy beam. And the pure float in peace evermore I " Shall we give them a broadside once more, my brave men ? " " Aye, aye ! " rose the full, earnest cry. " A broadside 1 A broadside we'll give them again I Then for God and the Right nobly die ! " " Haste ! haste ! " For amid all that battling din Comes a gurgling sound fraught with fear. As swift-flowing waters pour rushingly in. Up I up I till her portholes they near. No blenching! No faltering! Still fearless all seem. Each man firm to duty doth bide. A flash ! and a " Broadside ! " A shout ! A careen ! And the Cumberland sinks 'neath the tide! The " Star-Spangled Banner " still floating above, As a beacon upon the dark wave ! Or Ensign of Glory, proud streaming in love, O'er the tomb of the " Loyal and Brave ! " Bold hearts ! Mighty spirits ! " Tried gold " of our land ! A halo of glory your meed! All honored, the noble-souled Cumberland band ! So true in Columbia's need ! The above were not her only writings, but these are the most prominent that can here be presented. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 339 CHAPTER XXIII. Enrolment List of Skaneateles. Provost Marshal's Office, Twenty-third District, State of New York, Syracuse, December 2, 1863. LIST OF MEN ENROLLED IN SUB-DISTRICT NO. 24, In the Twenty-third District of New York, composed of the Town of Skaneateles. First Class, Twenty to Thirty-five Years. AGE Adams, Frank 20 Austin, Frank E 26 Amos, Stephen 29 Adams, Emerson H 25 Albring, Charles 26 Albring, Jerome 24 Adams, Joseph 21 Bradley, Horace 34 Brenan, John 23 Brooks, George 25 Bamable, John 27 Bell, Robert 22 Babcock, William H 23 Barrow, George 24 Barber, Manford 20 Benson, P. Oscar 22 Branch, Caleb A 31 Burch, Abram 20 Brown, David C. P. 22 Bailey, Price W 27 Bartley, Joseph D 24 Bartlett, Edward T 22 Bunill, Horace , 21 Bush, Harrison 23 AGE Buston, Thomas 21 Bean, Eben 34 Benedict, Thomas A 30 Burston, Henry 23 Bassett, Joseph 34 Badman, James 23 Birch, Warren 27 Badman, William 20 Bradford, Gilbert C. ....... 32 Burrows, Charles 32 Bassett, Thomas 29 Baker, William '26 Brock, William ■.■. '26 Bun, William N 31 Burns, Dennis '20 Burch, Alexander 23 Bradley, Peter 30 Britt, Thomas 26 Benedict, Sidney L 33 Burgess, Edwin ' . . 27 Burgess, Herbert 29 Burgess, Valentine 31 Blodgett, J. L 21 Byrnes, Thomas ....'. 34 Bell, James 24 340 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. AGE Clark, Charles 34 Cuddeback, Alfred 33 Clark, Arthur 25 Curtis, John P 30 Carpenter, Charles L 25 Clapp, Joseph 26 Cooper, James 24 Cole, William 3° Cole, Charles 25 Cuykendall, Elias 31 Cawley, James 29 Clark, Joseph 34 Canan, Michael 21 Corway, James 31 Cottle, William 34 Curtis, George D 25 Cullen, Francis 21 Chrysler, Henry 20 Carroll, Timothy 24 Caxton, William 20 Cuddeback, E. Gurdon 29 Chase, Charles 29 Coon, William H 21 Cleaveland, Hubbard W 21 Canable, Andrew 20 Church, David S 23 Cook, Mahalon 32 Clark, Perry 28 Chatfield, Clark 34 Clary, Michael 28 Cook, Sidney 22 Chase, Martin 34 Custin, Patrick 20 Degan, Dennis 29 Dunham, Dwight 26 Dewitt, Andrus 27 Day, John M 22 Dodge, Harrison 23 Daniels, Spencer H 31 De Witt, Martin 23 De Witt, Charles W., Jr 22 AGE Davenport, Charles 28 Dougherty, John H 27 Dwyer, Patrick 33 Doriohen, Timothy 30 De Witt, Hiram ' 31 De Witt, Hiram V. B 22 Dove, Thomas 22 Dye, William W 23 Dye, Charles H 26 Dalton, William 22 Duckins, Patrick 28 De Groot, Gabriel 32 Daniels, Willard W 28 Doharty, Michael 24 Edwards, Albert L 22 Enos, John 32 Earll, George W 27 Elsore, Charles 21 Eggleston, Theodore 33 Earll, George H 34 Earll, Augustus P 33 Earll, Leonard H 31 Earll, Andrew J 25 Earll, Clarence M 23 England, Charles 24 Freeland, Willis 23 Fowler, Thomas 23 Fowler, George 30 Fowler, Augustus 21 Fox, Morrison 2t Fibbens, Elias 29 Fisher, Edward 27 Fisher, John 24 Fisher, Joseph 29 Fisher, Isaac 26 Fargetty, Martin 25 Foster, Charles 33 Foster, John A 27 Ferley, James D 22 Fix, Rudolph H 35 Fisher, George 40 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 341 AGE Greenway, Peter 26 Greenway, Sebastian 22 Gibbons, Worthy 30 Graham, William 34 Godwin, Edward M 20 Gregory, George A 20 Gregory, John H 30 Gregory, John E 23 Goodyear, Albert .21 Gillett, Edwin H 24 Greenman, Beach 29 Gennings, Christopher 20 Gonsallus, Isaac 31 Ganley, John R 24 Goodgraw, William 22 Gambel, John 25 Gregg, John 28 Giles, Marcus A 25 Giles, William J 22 Granger, Leonard 24 Galligan, Patrick 30 Godfrey, Michael 32 Gager, George H 27 Probably Yager. Hatch, Asa W 34 Hanis, Thomas W 20 Haight, Charles H 21 Haight, Arthur 31 Haws, William 27 Horle, Job 25 Hall, John C 20 Hearse, James 31 Hemenway, George B 23 Harris, Philip 28 Huxford, Henry D 27 Hubbard, Henry J 23 Hall, Lyman 27 Home, Edward 23 Houragan, John 22 Hough, Thomas 2t Hough, Hiram 23 AGE Harvey, Isaac M 33 Hunsicker, Thomas J 23 Hamlin, George A 32 Horsington, Arthur 25 Hewitt, Henry 30 Henderson, Cornelius 34 Harwood, Mortimer 33 Hill, John 26 Harwood, Alanson C 21 Holmes, Cyrus D 33 Hefty, John 32 Horll, George 36 Harwood, Herbert 20 Isom, Thomas, Jr 33 Ingalls, Jasper E 21 Irish, Jedediah 3 c Jay, John D 20 Joyce, Clement 20 Jackson, Andrew 34 Jennings, Isaac 25 Jones, Charles 31 J , John 30 Kedder, Woodsworth 27 Kellogg, William W 24 Kelley, Thomas 34 Kelly, Daniel 28 Krebs, Charles 33 Kenyan, Jonathan 29 Kilbourn, Lucien F 34 Knowles, George 30 Ketchum, Levi B 33 Le Fever, Silas J 28 Leitch, D. Kellogg 28 Loomis, Jessee 31 Lewis, John W 30 Livingston, Nathaniel M 31 Le Fevre, Aaron 23 Lawton, Edwin F 31 342 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. AGE Le Fevre, Matthew 2X Lawton, Frederick A 23 Lukins, Thomas P 20 Lewis, George W 28 Lewis, Addison S 22 Leitch, Valentine 20 Lawrence, John 33 Luddington, Edward R 35 Lee, Orlando 26 Leonard, Patrick 31 Lamb, George B 22 Milford, George F 24 Milford, William 22 Marshall, John B 32 Manley, William H 21 More, William F 21 Murphy, Paul 25 Mabbitt, Richard 28 Main, William 25 Marshall, William 21 Moore, William 33 Morton, Orson B 26 McCoUum, Thomas 31 Morse, Walter 28 Munn, Brainerd F 25 McKnight, Edwin 20 Masters, Stephen 31 Mayhew, Thomas 29 Mason, Edward G 24 Muth, Robert 24 Mason, Charles M 23 Mapstone, Henry 26 McWilliams, Henry 24 McGuire, John — Muth, Philip 22 Mulholland, John 25 Muth, Valentine 34 Moreland, Parley W 26 Morton, Hugh 2t McElroy, John 24 Moreland, Lewis P 30 AGE Mclntire, John 29 Mayher, Michael 34 Morton, Gavin 21 Memecain, Andrew 26 Memicarri, Andrew 20 Morton, Alexander — Northrop, Daniel B 27 Northrop, Elihu C 26 Nellis, Philo 34 Newell, Munson 29 Newell, Harvey 24 Newell, Mortimer 31 North way, William 21 Nicholson, John 21 Northrop, Elmer B 20 Noonan, Peter 33 O'Brien, James 22 O'Niel, Charles 28 O'Hara, Henry 21 O'Harra, John 34 Pennell, Franklin 22 Palmer, John 33 Purcell, Michael 33 Patten, Edwin 27 Preston, Marcus N 27 Poole, Thomas 27 Packwood, William 31 Policy, Henry S 29 Pople, George 28 Porter, Edward E 20 Porter, James — Paul, James 25 Powell, Benjamin 23 Prince, Jacob 20 Parks, William 20 Powell, Henry T 27 Pantically, Gabriel ,.'... 28 Pardee, Amos R 35 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 343 AGE Reed, Westly 28 Rawlins, George 23 Rhoades, William P 27 Rhoades, Benjamin F 33 Rhoades, Washington 21 Ruoff, Edwin 21 Russell, Charles 25 Russell, John r 31 Rhoades, Edmund F 20 Ryan, James 25 Roger, George . . ■. 20 Sutphai, Lewis 33 Steames, George 23 Stearnes, Charles 25 btacey, Richard M 32 Stark, Thomas 31 Shearston, Edward 34 Shallish, Jeremiah 32 Shallish, Thomas 30 Sullivan, Michael 27 Smith, Francis 29 Smith, Edward 25 Smith, Edwin W 25 Smith, Welcome 27 Smith, Charles 30 Smith, Thomas R 26 Smith, Charles M 31 Smith, Edmond R — Slater, Mason 29 Slocum, John B 32 Shanlin, Martin 20 Sheehan, Patrick 30 Sales, John 33 Stock, James 34 Strong, Henry 20 Sweeting, Charles, Jr 22 Stock, Aaron 25 Springstead, Albert 20 Springstead, George 26 Stran, Stephen 20 Shepard, Nelson R 22 AGE Stephenson, Mather 34 Samuels, Thomas 26 Signer, Isaac S 20 Stephens, Mott 23 Sullivan, Jeremiah 33 Simmons, James 37 Simmons, Forrest 35 Sherwood, Asa L 41 Thornton, Philo S 22 Thorne, R. Barckley 28 Thorne, Chauncey B 30 Taylor, Lucien A 33 Tate, John 34 Tucker, Henry 29 Taylor, William E 21 Titterington, Thomas 23 Turner, Darling 29 Turner, Charles 25 Turner, Mortimer 31 Titterington, David 21 Taylor, James 24 Urch, James 20 Uncless, William 34 Van Dyke, George 27 Vanderburg, Thomas 30 Van Saun, Anson 31 Vary, Henry li 23 Vickny, Robert 32 White, Job 27 Watts, Olin 20 Wilson, Stephen H 34 Winter, John A 27 Weston, George H 25 Wheeler, John 33 Wilsey, John 31 Williamson, George H 30 Wyant, Robert 21 Webb, Henry T 34 Williams, Benjamin 21 344 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. AGE Wheadon, James P 20 Wheadon, Edward D 23 Watkins, Williams 21 Welling, Eli 23 Willetts, William R 22 Weeks, Stephen J 23 Weeks, Forrest G 30 Whitfield, William H 20 Washburn, Lorenzo 29 Williams, John 25 Williams, James 22 Wiltsey, Charles H 31 AGS Wright, Parker 29 Weeks, John 29 Weeks, Lewis 24 Weeks, Ovid 21 Watson, Hull 34 Wood, James 26 Weymouth, Philip 25 Weymouth, Jacob 32 Wylie, Thomas 27 Withey, Octave 31 Weymouth, John 22 White, Robert B 25 Second Class. AGE Austin, Kellogg 38 Ashpole, William 37 Austin, Dor 36 Austin, Anthony 42 Allen, Joseph 42 Austin, George 35 Aldrige, Robert 39 Banker, Francis P 35 Bushman, Charles 39 Bennett, John H 35 Bench, James 40 Beauchamp, William M 36 Beatty, John 35 Bradt, Alonzo 40 Buckley, Almon 43 Bradford, Thomas C 43 Baker, John S 36 Baker, Simeon ' 42 Barber, Samuel 44 Berry, Henry 36 Briggs, Cortland 37 Baker, Jonah 37 Bannister, Melzer B 44 Butler, James 44 Billings, Richard 40 Benedict, Harmon B 44 AGE Cornell, David 37 Coe, Edward B 41 Cuddeback, Isaiah 43 Curtis, Alfred 42 Carr, Robert 40 Campbell, George B 36 Credon, Timothy 38 Conover, Mortimer 36 Cornell, Horace 42 Chappell, James 36 Cuddeback, Lafayette 37 Cole, Alvin T 41 Clark, George H 41 Clutsom, Henry 41 Conover, Shuler D 39 Chapman, James 43 Cole, Jefferson 40 Canan, John, ist 37 Canan, John, 2d 43 Chatfield, Albert L — Cogan, Patrick 36 Clark, Joseph .- 35 Coburn, Thomas 35 Carr, George 44 Catton, Thomas 44 Coleman, Anthony 37 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 345 AGE Decker, Anthony 43 Diefendorf, George 37 Doyle, William 37 Dove, George 43 Dando, Henry F 35 Dare, Alfred 44 Depuyster, Abraham 35 Dougherty, Daniel 44 Dwyer, Jphn 44 Dougherty, Niel 36 Durkin, John 36 Durston, William 41 Earll, Deluscus 36 Edick, Michael 39 Edwards, Jonathan 37 Edwards, J. Augustus 34 English, Michael 37 Ford, Alexander 44 Fisher, Thomas 36 Foote, Chauncey 38 Folts, Harvey 39 Fuller, John W 43 Fulton, Heman B 40 Fitzgerald, Patrick 43 Finnerty, Timothy 39 Feeley, John 41 Feeley, Patrick 44 Fuller, Sumner 37 Gardner, Myron 3^ Gorton, William R 42 Greenway, William 36 Gillman, James R 42 Giles, William P 42 Gregory, George 40 Gane, Joseph 3^ Grant, John J 41 Glass, Daniel 39 Grant, Henry D 41 AGE Harse, Henry 38 Hall, George B 39 Horle, Thomas 42 Hoag, Wellington S 35 Hoag, George D 35 Humphreys, John 40 Hall, William 38 Hunt, Henry 41 Holben, Joseph 37 Harvey, John 36 Hill, William D 41 Hare, Joseph 42 Hardwich, James 43 Hoyt, Ezekiel B 40 Hoye, Frank 35 Hemmings, James 38 Hemmings, John M 36 Hubbard, Daniel 40 Hewlett, James S 43 Kinney, Abner G 41 Kine, Thomas 41 Keebler, Frederick 39 Ketcham, John H 36 Kelley, Thomas 44 Lefever, John 38 Lefever, Nathaniel J 41 Lee, Seth 40 Looey, Abraham 40 Lewis, Sandford 43 Lampson, Daniel 36 MofEtt, Lewis 43 Menill, Robert J. 35 McLaughlin, James 35 McLaughlin, 35 Moyses, Edward 36 Mason, Martin 40 Morse, James T 37 McMachan, George 37 346 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. AGE Merrell, Charles F 43 Moses, Henry 42 Mulrooney, John 44 McDonald, John 43 Maconey, Jeremiah 32 McGuire, John 36 Major, Charles 36 Miller, Joseph 35 McPeak, Hugh 40 Martin, Milo 37 McDonald, Peter 35 Masters, William 44 Mclntire, William 44 McNally, Edward 43 Mitchell, James 35 Nurse, William 35 Nye, Henry S 36 Norton, Thomas 41 Odell, Dwight 39 Parsons, Thomas 39 Price, Daniel P 35 Pulman, John 44 Parish, John 37 Potter, George V 35 Packwood, John 38 Pardee, Amos R — Porter, James E 36 Piatt, Willis 40 Palmer, Ashley H 35 Patten, James W 44 Palmer, Samuel B 40 Riggins, Thomas 35 Richardson, Stephen D 41 Roberts, James 38 Reed, Andrew 42 Reed, Thomas 37 Reed, Charles 40 Reed, Ogleby 43 Root, James A 35 AGE Reddish, Byron B 37 Roundley, Nelson 40 Richardson, Erastus 35 Stafford, Gardner 35 Stoner, William W 39 Stoner, Marcus H 36 Scantlebury, Thomas 35 Stacey, William 44 Smith, John H 42 Slocum, George W 35 Snow, William 39 Starr, Lewis 36 Simmonds, Henry P 44 Shotwell, Walter F 44 Skahn, William '. . 36 Sullivan, Jerry 40 Strong, Isaac, Jr 37 Springstead, Henry W 40 Stephenson, John 44 Stephenson, Samuel 37 Stenson, John 37 Stuart, George 35 Singleton, Thomas 41 Tucker, John T 38 Turner, Newell 42 Talcott, Joseph 43 Thompson, Levi M 44 Tuhey, Michael 41 Temple, Robert 43 Turner, William S 40 Vanderburg, John H 41 Vokes, Robert 41 Van Schoick, William 36 Wyant, Thomas 35 Wellington, Lewis 42 Wheeler, Daniel 42 Williams, John 39 Williams, Jessee 36 Williams, Joseph 38 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 347 AGE AGE Waldron, Daniel H 35 Youngs, John D 38 Wyckoff , Christopher C 40 Young, John C 42 Winter, John 38 Young, Orson 41 Provost Marshal's Office, Twenty-third District, State of New York, December i, 1863. Public notice is hereby given that every person enrolled may appear before the Board of Enrolment at any time before the 2cth inst., and claim to have his name stricken from the list, if he can show to the satisfaction of the Board that he is not, and will not be, at the time fixed for the next draft, liable to military duty on account of : 1st. Alienage. 2d. Non-residence. 3d. Unsuitableness of age. 4th. Manifest permanent physical disability. Persons who may be cognizant of any other person liable to military duty whose name does not appear on the enrolment list are requested to inform the Board of Enrolment of the names of such persons. By order of the Board of Enrolment. Anson W. Evans, Assistant to Provost-Marshal General, President of the Board. William Andrews, Commissioner. John H. Knapp, Surgeon. List of Drafted Men, 1863. Albring, James. Canable, Andrew. Amos, Stephen. Cuddeback, Gurdon E. Adams, J. Curtis, George D. Chase, Martin. Britt, Thomas. Caxton, William. Barrow, George. Carpenter, Charles L. Barrow, Edward F. Cuykendall, Elias C. Burstone, Henry. Clark, Joseph. Burrit, Horace. Cawley, James. Burgess, Valentine. Benedict, Thomas A. Dunham, Dwight. Brock, Joseph. Dey, William W. 348 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Doyle, John. Dalton, William. Doherty, Michael. De Witt, Charles W., Jr. Elson, Charles. Earll, George H. Earll, Augustus P. Elphic, John J. Earll, Clarence M. Fowler, George. Fisher, John. Gregory, John E. Gregory, George A. Gibbons, Worthy. Goodyear, Albert. Giles, William J. Gambel, John. Greenway, Peter. Gonsallus, Isaac. Hall, John C. Hall, Lyman. Hewett, Henry. Harwood, Alanson C. Haight, Charles H. Haley, Edward. Hough, Thomas. Hovey, Joseph. Hamlin, George A. Harris, Philip. Home, Edward. House, James. Holmes, C. D. Harvey, Isaac M. Jay, John D. Jennings, Christopher. Kellogg, William W. Lefever, Aaron. Loveland, Henry. Loomis, Jessee. Lee, Orlando. Long, Henry. Lewis, Addison S. Leitch, D. K. Leonard, Patrick. Morton, Orson B. Memecain, Andrew. Muth, Valentine. Mapstone, Henry. Milford, William. Muth, Robert. Munn, Brainerd. McKnight, Edwin (Colored). Milford, George F. McCollum, Thomas. Marshall, William. Newell, Monson. Newell, Mortimer. North, William. Pennell, Franklin. Porter, James. Policy, Henry S. Ryan, Morris. Rhoades, Wm. P. Rawlins, George. Russell, John. Sherwood, Asa L. Stacey, Richard M. Sweeting, Charles. Stephens, Mott. ShalHsh, Jerry*. Simmons, Forrest. Stock, Thomas. Smith, E. R. Tate, John. Thorne, C. B. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 349 Thorne, R. Barclay. Weston, George H. Taylor, Lucien A. Wright, Parker. Willetts, William R. Urch, James. White, Robert B. Uncless, William. Watts, Orlin. Wiltsey, Charles H. Welling, Eli. Withey, Octave. Wheeler, William B. Williams, James. Yager, George H. Skaneateles Roll of Honor. Following is a record of the men who entered the volunteer service during the war of 1861-65 from the town of Skaneateles, together with the names of other natives of this town who enlisted elsewhere, and the names of present residents who enlisted and resided elsewhere during the war. The Free Press was furnished this list by E. N. Leslie of this village, who has been at great pains to make it as correct and accurate as possible. This list of names was used for the inscription in the Soldiers' Monument, and was the only complete list in the town. It was begun at the commencement of the Civil War, by E. N. Leslie. Abbott, Daniel C, private, Co. C, 75th Infantry. Adams, Jerome L., private, Co. C, 7Sth Infantry. Ashpole, William, private, Co. K, 15th Engineers. Andrew, Benjamin F., private, Co. I, 99th Infantry. Albring, James, private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Amidon, Miles B., sergeant, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Agard, Charles H., private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Babcock, Charles, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Blodgett, Charles, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Brown, John, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Barber, John A., private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Bassett, Thomas, private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Bassett, Joseph, private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Boyle, Peter, private, Co. I, 3d Light Artillery. Butler, Thomas., private, Co. G, 3d Light Artillery. Burridge, Edward M., private, Co. E, 3d Light Artillery. Barton, George W., private, 3d Light Artillery. Bristol, Charles H., private, Co. A, 3d Light Artillery. Barnett, Byron, private, 3d Light Artillery. Brokaw, Charles W., private, Co. A, 19th Infantry. Benson, James B., private, Co. G, 19th Infantry. 350 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Barber, Benjamin S., private, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Bell, Henry, private, 50th Engineers. Blodgett, Royal D., corporal, Co. C, 7Sth Infantry. Benedict, M. D., surgeon, 75th Infantry. Barry, Robert, private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Baber, William H., private, Co. A, 7Sth Infantry. Burton, William, private, Co. F, 1226. Infantry. Brown, Emmett J., private, Co. C, 149th Infantry. Brokaw, Daniel, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Brown, O. L. F., captain, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Benedict, Thomas A., ist lieutenant, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Battams, Robert B., private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Brankham, David, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Bright, William J., private, Co. A, 146th Infantry. Benedict, Daniel' J., private, 193d Infantry. Barrow, Arthur M., private, 193d Infantry. Brooks, Joseph, private, (particulars of service unknown), Burnett, Albert D. C, private, Co. I, loist Infantry. Bailey, David J., captain, Co. I, 99th Infantry. Burridge, John, Jr., private, 194th Infantry. Bradley, George C, private, Co. H, 22d Infantry. Bradley, Daniel, private, Co. G, 76th Infantry. Brownell, Irving, private, Co. I, 6ist Infantry. Benson, James, private, Co. G, 3d Light Artillery. Berry, Augustus A., private, Co. K, 3d Heavy Artillery. Burridge, George W., private, Co. E, 13th Michigan. Branch, Caleb, private, (partici^lars of service unknown). Beebe, Frank, private, (particulars of service unknown). Banks, Ezra, private, Co. G, 2d Cavalry. Cleveland, Maltby E., private, Co. I, 3d Cavalry. Chinnock, Thomas H., private, Co. F, 3d Light Artillery. Campbell, Henry E., private, Co. D, 3d Light Artillery. Cook, Benjamin C, private, Co. H, 5th Michigan Infantry. Church, Frank L., private, Co. H, 15th Engineers. Crosier, William H. H., sergeant, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Claxton, William, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Cottle, James, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Cook, Frank C, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Cullen, Joseph, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Cross, William, sergeant, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Carrigan, Patrick, private, Co.G, 149th Infantry. Chapman, Thomas, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 351 Clark, Coy, private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Cook, Frank, private, Co. I, 99th Infantry. Coleman, John P., private, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Clark, Joseph, private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Cannan, Austin, private, Co. K, i22d Infantry. Clapp, William H., private, Co. B, 112th Infantry. Cahill, Patrick, private, 185th Infantry. Claxton, George, private, Co. G, iiith Infantry. Cannan, Thomas, private, Co. B, 69th Infantry. Cook, William, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Cooper, George W., private, Co. L, 9th Heavy Artillery. Coleman, Obadiah P., private, Co. F, 3d Light Artillery. Campbell, Samuel H., private, Co. A, ist Michigan Sharpshooters. Chase, Horace W., private, Co. F, 9th Heavy Artillery. Curry, William E., private, Co. B, 3d Light Artillery. Chapman, James, private, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Creedon, John, (particulars of service unknown). Carr, Robert, private, Co. D, 3d Light Artillery. Cuydendall, Martin, sergeant, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Dunning, Theodore L., private, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Durbin, Edwin, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Dunn, Michael, private, Co. I, 99th Infantry. Dougherty, Owen, private, Co. I, 99th Infantry. Dunn, James, sergeant, Co. I, 99th Infantry. Delano, Duane H., corporal, Co. G, 7Sth Infantry. Durston, Edward, private, Co. F, 75th Infantry. DeWitt, Larned, private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Durston, Edward F., private, 75th Infantry. Duckett, Walter, hospital steward, private K, 9th Heavy Artillery. Davey, Irving, sergeant, Co. F, I22d Infantry. Dillingham, D. S., drum major, I22d Infantry. Duckett, Benjamin E., private, Co. K, 9th Heavy Artillery. Dove, Henry, private, enlisted 75th Regiment. Durbin, Alfred, private, Co. B, 3d Light Artillery. Defendorf, Edwin, private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Defendorf, Jacob, private, Co. D, 193d Infantry. Dove, Thomas G., private, ist N. Y. Battery. Dumond, Loren, private, Co. B, 3 Light Artillery. Daltoli, John, private, Co. K, 3d Light Artillery. Davis, John, private, 22d Cavalry. Davidson, Duncan, private, 22d Cavalry. Defendorf, John J., (enlisted in Auburn). 352 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Earll, Almerson H., sergeant, Co. C, 75th Infantry. Earll, Frank D., private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Elson, George, private, Co. K, 1226. Infantry. Edwards, George, private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Evans, Richard, private, Co. C, 75th Infantry. Evans, Reuben, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Edvi^ards, Sylvester, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Elphic, John J., private, Co. K, 19th Infantry. Edwards, Henry P., private, Co. D, 6th California Infantry. Elson, Henry, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Evans, Edwin, private, Co. C, 3d Light Artillery. Francis, Wadsworth B., private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Forward, George L., private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Flynn, James, private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Furman, Zalmon B., private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Fish, John J., private, Co. G, 3d Light Artillery. French, George, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Freer, Austin, private, 9th Heavy Artillery and i88th Infantry Francis, Samuel, wardmaster, Co. K, ist Wisconsin Infantry. Groom, Holland E., private, Co. B, 3d Light Artillery. Groom, Alexander, private, Co. B, 3d Light Artillery. Groom, Volney, private, Co. D, 9th Heavy Artillery. Groom, Miles, private, Co. H, 75th Infantry. Groom, Charles, private, Co. G, I22d Infantry. Gillett, Edgar E., private, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Gillett, Edson D., private, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Gamble, William, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Grant, Minor, private, 193d Infantry. Graves, Harvey, private, Co. D, 25th Infantry. Gould, George, private, 9th Heavy Artillery. Gale, Edwin, private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Green, Adelbert E., private, Co. C, 3d Light Artillery. Gunning, Patrick, private, 50th Engineers. Gilson, Joseph L., private, 2d Cavalry. Grible, Ferdinand, private, 50th Engineers. Gregory, William B., private, Co. A, 25th Missouri. Green, D. C, Co. K, 9th Heavy Artillery. Horle, Joseph, private, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Heenan, Patrick, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Harwood, George B., private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 353 Humphryes, Robert B., private, Co. F, I22d Infantry. Harris, George L., private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Hatch, Albert, private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Hares, Henry, private, Co. J, 75th Infantry. Hilliard, Charles H., private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. ■ Hunter, Charles R., private, 21st Infantry. Hatch, Lester S., private, 185th Infantry. Hanhnan, Thomas, private, 193d Infantry. Holsehaw, Henry, private, 193d Infantry. Howard, Justin A., ist lieutenant, Co. I, i22d Infantry. Hilliard, Van R. K., from quartermaster-sergeant to captain, 48th Infantry, Hoge, Jesse A., private, Co. I, 2d Cavalry. Hays, E. Davis, private, 2d Cavalry. Hall, David, private, Co. G, 139th Illinois Infantry. Hickey, John, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Huxford, Amit B., private, Co. K, 3d Light Artillery. Hickey, Michael, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Hayhoe, Henry, private, Co. L, 9th Heavy Artillery. Horton, Clarence, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Hummings, Michael, private, sSoth Engineers. Harris, James G., private, Co. G, 3d Light Artillery. Huxford, H. D., private, Co. K, 3d Light Artillery. Hatch, George B., private, ist N. Y. Rifles. Harvey, Isaac M., corporal, Co. G, 3d Light Artillery. Hall, William, private, Co. H, 6th Cavalry. Hall, Charles, private, 9th Heavy Artillery. Haskins, George, private, Co. F, 37th Infantry. Hoxie, Theodore, private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Holmes, George P., (particulars of service unknown). Ingerson, A. P., private, Co. H, 184th Infantry. Isom, James A., private, Co. I, Union Coast Guard ; reenlisted, Co. K, 103d Ohio Infantry; reenlisted as lieutenant, 13th Infantry N. Y. Isom, Henry, orderly sergeant, Co. A, 20th Illinois. Jackson, Andrew, private, Co. K, 9th Heavy Artillery. Jay, Abraham, private, Co. K, 193d Infantry. Jay, Joseph, Jr., lieutenant, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Jones, Andrew H., private, Co. F, I22d Infantry. James, William, private, (particulars of service unknown). Keegan, Charles J., private, Co. H, 20th Infantry. Kennett, William C, private, Co. B, i22d Infantry. 354 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Kelley, Garrett, private, Co. K, 1226. Infantry. Kelley, Patrick, private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Kochenburber, Henry, private, Co. F, I22d Infantry. Kelley, Thomas, sergeant, Co. K, 15th Engineers. King, Henry, Jr., private, Co. D, 3d Light Artillery. King, Henry, Sr., private, Co. B, 3d Light Artillery. Kidder, Monroe C, private, Co. A, 8th Cavalry. Kellogg, Mortimer, chief engineer, U. S. Navy. Loss, Rial, private, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Loveland, Henry, private, Co. A, 19th Infantry. Little, Henry F., private, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Livingston, John, private, 15th Infantry. little, George F., private, Co. C, 75th Infantry. Lansdown, John, private, Co. K, 7Sth Infantry. Leonard, Patrick, private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Lawlor, Martin, private, 185th Infantry. Leonard, George, private, 193d Infantry. Loss, Hurlburt H., private, Co. D, 3d Light Artillery. Lynch, Barney, private, Co. G, 3d Light Artillery. ^ Loveland, Alonzo, private, Co. E, 3d Light Artillery. Leviris, George L., private, Co. K, 3d Light Artillery. Loss, Franklin A., private, Co. G, 3d Light Artillery. Lewis, Albert, private, 3d Light Artillery. Loveland, George, private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Little, Isaac, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Lee, John E., private, 9th Heavy Artillery. Loss, Samuel E., corporal, Co. G, 33d Illinois Infantry. McCord, Daniel, Co. I, 149th Infantry. Mclntire, James, private, Co. E, 51st Infantry. Mclntire, William, private, Co. E, 121st Infantry. McPherson, John, private, 193d Infantry. Mclntire, Edward, private, 193d Infantry. Mclntire, Patrick C, private, Co. K, ist Cavalry. Murray, Patrick, private, Co. C, 75th Infantry. McMillen, James, private, 75th Infantry. More, Reuben, private, Co. K, looth Infantry. Martin, Thomas, private, 2d Cavalry. Morar, Thomas, private, 50th Engineers. Masters, Albert, private, Co. E, Battery Artillery. Mower, Lewis H., captain, Co. L, 3d Light Artillery. McPeak, Thomas, private, Co. D, 3d Light Artillery. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 355 McPeak, John, private, Co. D, 3d Light Artillery. Monroe, Henry C, private, 3d Light Artillery. Millier, John J., private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Marshall, William, private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Mallon, James, private, Co. C, 149th Engineers. Millier, William, private, Co. C, 75th Infantry. McNair, Hugh, corporal, Co. D, 26th Infantry. McPhail.JLachlan, private, Co. G, 3d Light Artillery. North, David, private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. North, Thomas, private, Co. C, 75th Infantry. Newell, John, musician, Co. B, loist Infantry. North way, Thomas, private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Northrop, Homer A., private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Naracong, William B., private, Co. K, 3d Light Artillery. Nugent, Owen, private, Co. D, 3d Light Artillery. Nuttle, Edward, private,* ist Light Artillery. Orr, Robert, (particulars of service unknown). O'Hara, Patrick, private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Ostrander, John H., private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Olin, Jonathan, private, Co. E, 138th Infantry. Olin, Russell W., private, Co. E, 138th Infantry. Pardee, Joseph B., (particulars of service unknown). Parish, Seth A., sergeant, Co. C, 75th Infantry. Parish, Edgar, private, 75th Infantry. Pimm, Jesse, private, Co. C, 7Sth Infantry. Pearce, George, private, Co. I, 3d Light Artillery. Potter, Edward S., private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Pierce, Willard, private, 9th Heavy Artillery. Penner, John W., private, 2d Cavalry. Payson, DeWitt A., private, ist Veteran Cavalry. Porter, Stanley, 2d lieutenant, Buffalo Regiment. Porter, Benjamin H., ist lieutenant, U. S. Navy. Potter, Edward E., brigadier general. Quinnan, Thomas, private, ist Veteran Cavalry. Richard, Stephen C, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery, Reynolds, John, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Rhoades, Charles C, private, 9th Heavy Artillery. Riby, John, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. 3S6 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Richards, William, private, Co. G, 3d Light Artillery. Russell, John, private, Co. C, 3d Light Artillery. Rhoades, J. Beach, private, Co. H, 15th Engineers. Rodgers, Patrick J., private, 50th Engineers. Riley, John, private, 12th Pennsylvania Infantry. Royce, Francis L., private, Co. A, 141st Infantry. Riley, James, private, i6oth Infantry. Rice, George, private, 185th Infantry. Rice, Samuel, private, 193d Infantry. Riley, Patrick, private, 52d Infantry. Reed, B. F., private, Co. A, 7Sth Infantry. Reed, Wesley, private, (particulars of service unknown). Rock, William, (particulars of service unknown). Ryan, Morris, private, Co. I, 19th Infantry. Rice, John, private, 9th Heavy Artillery. Rice, William, (regiment unknown, killed in battle). Rice, Henry, (regiment unknown, killed in battle). Smith, Franklin D., private, Co. B, 19th Infantry. Stacey, Anthony, corporal, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Stacey, John, private, Co. I, 99th Infantry. Spaulding, Earll, private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Smith, James M., private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Shaw, Milton, sergeant, Co. C, 75th Infantry. Simmon, Albert, private, Co. H, 75th Infantry. Sinclair, Albert, private, Co. C, 75th Infantry. Sinclair, D. M., private, Co. C, 75th Infantry.' Stebbins, Phinneas S., private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Stebbins, Menzer, private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Smith, Lyman, private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Stinson, John, pi^ivate, Co. K, i22d Infantry. Springstead, Austin, private, Co. F, I22d Infantry. .Sage, Henry S., private, Co. D, I22d Infantry. Smith, Lyman, private, I22d Infantry. Shillinburg, Peter, private, I22d Infantry. Sherman, Alfred, private, Co. K, i22d Infantry. Seymour, George B., private, Co. K, i22d Infantry. Shaw, Amos, (particulars of service unknown). Stevens, George, drummer boy, Co. K, i22d Infantry Stephens, Jason, private, 185th Infantry. Snyder, Henry, private, 185th Infantry. Sloan, James, private, 91st Infantry. Sherman, John H., private, 8ist Infantry. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 357 Sinclair, Charles, private, 193d Infantry. Shepard, John, private, 193d Infantry. Solomon, Judson M., private, 193d Infantry. Sinclair, William, lieutenant, Co. L, 9th Heavy Artillery. Sinclair, Frank A., private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Sayles, John B., private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Shaw, Stephen, private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Smith, Martin N., private, Co., I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Smith, John F., private, 9th Heavy Artillery. Snow, WilHam, private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Strong, Henry, private, Co. E, 3d Light Artillery. Springstead, Albert, private, Co. E, 3d Light Artillery. Stokes, James W., private, 3d Light Artillery. Stone, William A., private, Co. A, 3d Light Artillery. Stowell, James, private, Co. C, 3d Light Artillery. Stacey, James, private, Co. K, isth Engineers. Shattuck, Charles L., private, 2d Cavalry. Sullivan, John, private, Co. C, 26th Ohio Infantry. Sinclair, James P., private, Co. L, 9th Heavy Artillery. Stoner, Charles M., private, enlisted in a Missouri regiment. Samuels, Thomas, (particulars of enlistment unknown). Thorpe, Stephen B., private, Co. F, I22d Infantry. Thurlow, James, Jr., private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Turner, Charles, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Thomas, William H., private, Co. L, ist Mounted Rifles. Tallan, James, private, Co. I, (further particulars unknown). Taylor, Cornelius T., private, Co. H, 96th Infantry. Unckless, John A., private, Co. I, I22d Infantry. VanGuilder, Harry C, private, Co. K, 21st Artillery; reenlisted 184th Infantry. VanGuilder, George W., private, Co. C, 134th Infantry. VanDyke, Augustus, private, Co. G, 3d Light Artillery. Vandenburg, Thomas, lieutenant, Co. D, 3d Light Artillery. VanCamp, Ransom, private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Veder, Elisha, private, Co. G, 12th Infantry. VanSchoick, William, private, Co. I, 20th Colored Infantry. Wheadon, Edward D., private, Co. A, 3d Light Artillery. White, Richard S., private, Co. A, 3d Light Artillery. Wheaton, Charles W., private, Co. K, 3d Light Artillery. Weeks, Reuben, private, Co. E, 3d Light Artillery. 3s8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Watts, William, private, Co. E, 3d Light Artillery. Welling, Eli E., private, Co. I, 99th Infantry. Whitfield, William H., private, Co. G, 149th Infantry. Whitfield, Charles W., private, Co. I, 99th Infantry. Warner, George R., private, Co. E, 149th Infantry. Wait, Addison G., ist lieutenant, loth Infantry. Wayne, John, private, Co. K, 1226. Infantry. Whitworth, William W., private, Co. K, I22d Infantry. Weeks, Emanuel, private, Co. E, I22d Infantry. Withers, William, private, Co. C, 7Sth Infantry. Wakely, William, private, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Wheadon, George, private, Co. C, 75th Infantry. Walker, E. W., hospital steward, Co. A, 75th Infantry. Wheeler, W. H. B., sergeant, Co. G, 19th Infantry. Waldron, Sylvester, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Waldron, Augustus, corporal, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Waldron, Aaron, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Waldron, David H., private, Co. E, 9th Heavy Artillery. Waldron, Ephraim, private, Co. I, 9th Heavy Artillery. Waldron, Way land, private, Co. A, 15th Cavalry. Warner, Stewart H., private, Co. I, 22d Cavalry. White, W. C, private, 2d Cavalry. Watson, Thomas, private, Co. L, 9th Heavy Artillery. Wood, Hiram, private, Scott's 900. Walters, John, private, i8sth Infantry. Williamson, Simeon H., private, 193d Infantry. Webb, James W., hospital steward, 12th Infantry, 15th Cavalry. Willetts, Charles, lieutenant colonel, 14th Kansas Cavalry. Wayne, Robert, private, 9th Heavy Artillery. Zimmermann, A., private, enlisted Syracuse. The above list contains 374 names. The Soldiers in the Late War. The list of names, alphabetically arranged, with all the particulars of service, printed in this issue of the Free Press, has been in process of collection ever since the war closed, as being an interesting part of the history of this town. It is a noble enumeration, and very creditable to Skaneateles, showing conclusively its part in the war for the preservation of the Union. The difficulties in preparing this list in all its minute particulars have been very great. Many names which seem to be unknown to old residents are to be accounted for from the fact, that many enlistments were made by operatives in our manufacturing estab- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 359 lishments and by hired laborers on the farms in the town, many of whom were only temporary residents. There are undoubtedly many errors in the particu- lars of service, which it has been impossible to verify, although every effort has been made to perfect the list in all particulars. Every native of Skaneateles should secure a copy while it can be had. It would be further interesting to have the names of those who were killed in the service, those who died of disease in the service, those who died in the rebel prisons, and those who have since died at home or elsewhere. But as the list published to-day can not be ALBERT DE COST BURNETT. The youngest volunteer from Skaneateles, who died in the service o£ his country. See page 361. again duplicated, these particulars must be made out separately, if ever, in another list. E. N. Leslie. Soldiers who gave up their Lives in Defense of the Union who belonged TO THE Town of Skaneateles, N. Y. The following call for information was published in both the village papers, by the author during the month of November, 1875, and other similar calls for information were subsequently made at various times. " Information Wanted. — We are requested to obtain from our townspeople the names of all the soldiers who went from this town and took part in the late 360 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. war, the number of the regiment to which they belonged, and to what com- pany. If killed, wounded, or died in the service, the particulars thereof are wanted in each instance. Persons who can give any of the particulars desired are requested to leave the same at the office of the Free Press." The following are the names of those born in or belonging to the town of Skaneateles who lost their lives in defense of the Union in the Civil War of 1861 to 1865: Albring, James. Amidon, Miles B. Aldrick, James. Baber, William H. Boyle, Peter. Bradley, Daniel. Brockrow, Henry. Browning, William. Burnett, Albert D. C. Burridge, Edwin. Burridge, George W. Burridge, John. Brankan, David. Campbell, Samuel H. Cleaveland, Maltby E. Claxton, George. Dunn, Michael J. Dunn, James H. (Both the above died in Anderson ville Prison.) Doherty, Owen. Durbin, Alfred. Dillon, John. Earll, A. H. Francis, Samuel. Francis, Wadsworth B. Fish, John Jay. Fisher, George. French, George. Gillett, Edgar B. Gregory, William E. Hayho, Henry. Hill, William. Hayne, Henry. Hatch, George B. Hilliard, Charles H. Isom, Henry. Isom, James A. Kelley, Garrett. Kelley, Caney. Lynch, Barney. Loss, Franklin A. More, Reuben. Northway, Thomas. O'Hara, Patrick. Ostrander, John H. Olin, Russell. Porter, Benjamin H. -Porter, Stanley. Potter, Edward S. Ribey, John. Royce, Francis L. Seymour, George H. Shaw, Milton. Snow, William. Springstead, Austin. Stacey, John. Smith, Lyman. Sayles, John B. Van Guilder, George W. Whitworth, William W. Williams, Charles. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 361 Albert De Cost Burnett. — Albert De Cost Burnett was the youngest volunteer from the town of Skaneateles in the War of 1861-65. He enlisted as a private in Company I, loist Infantry, at the age of sixteen years. He died of disease at Harrison's Landing, Va., August 4, 1862. His remains were brought home. He was the only son of the late Charles J. Burnett, Jr., and was the brother of the late Mrs. E. D. C. Smith, of Skaneateles, and grandson of the late Captain Nash De Cost. The .Skaneateles Educational Society. — The Skaneateles Educational Society was organized May 3, 1838, by Phares Gould, President ; Alfred Wilkin- son and William Gibbs, Vice-Presidents; Milton A. Kinney, Secretary; Abner Bates, Treasurer; Joseph Talcott, J. T. Clark, Stephen E. Maltby, William H. Greene, Dr. Evelyn H. Porter, Luther Pratt, and Archibald Douglass, Managers. Committees were appointed to visit the twenty schools in town and report their condition, and by systematic work a new impetus was given to local education. The Skaneateles Anti-Slavery Society. — Contemporary with the above organization was the Skaneateles Anti-Slavery Society, whose officers were: Alfred Wilkinson, President; Thaddeus Edwards and Daniel Talcott, Vice- Presidents; James Cannings Fuller, Secretary; Stephen E. Maltby, Treasurer; Smith Litherland, James Rattle, John Snook, Chester Moses, Abner Bates, and George Pryor, Executive Committee. The organization was an able auxiliary to the County Society. Elnathan S. Andrews. — Elnathan S. Andrews was here in 1808. He built the original meeting-house for the Skaneateles Religious Society, on the hill, and afterward was the landlord of the original tavern, which stood on the site of the present Savings Bank, on Genesee Street. James Sackett. — On March 20, 1828, James Sackett owned all the lands in the village east of the outlet of Skaneateles Lake, and south of the Seneca Turnpike Road, except the several pieces or parcels of land heretofore sold and conveyed by said Sackett to John Legg, Edward G. Ludlow, Spencer Parsons, Perley Putnam, David Hall, Seth & James Hall, Moore & Edmonds, William S. Wood, James Porter, and William Easton. James Sackett purchased from Jedediah Sanger all lands south of Seneca Turnpike, from the west line of Winston Day's potashery, which was located west of the present C. H. Poor residence, to the outlet of Skaneateles Lake. Bethuel Cole. — Bethuel Cole was here in 1804, and was a farmer, black- smith, and tinker of all work. He traded in the village in March, 1805, and was charged with four bushels of wheat, wanting four quarts, in payment for boarding Mr. Kneeland, at twenty-four shillings. He was a member of the Grand Jury in 1797. He lived on the Tunis Van Houghton farm, which was the next farm south of Welch's. An Early Carpenter and Contractor. — Elijah Manley was the contractor and builder of the Dr. Samuel Porter dwelling, which was located on the present H. L. Roosevelt place. 362 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XXIV. Introduction of Merino Sheep, Early Merchants,' and Steamboat Excursions. Correl Humphreys. — By request, the following autobiography was written by Correl Humphreys : Fair Haven, May 11, 1882. Friend E. N. Leslie : Sir: Your communication came safe to me last month, but my eyes pre- vented my reply till now. Correl Humphreys was born in the town of Simsbury (now Canton), Hart- ford County, Conn., May 13, 1804, and was educated at the District school when quite young, but in succeeding years attended the Academy for several winters, likewise a select school taught by the Rev. Pierpont Brackett. I went to my trade at the clock factory of Messrs. Birge, Case & Co., Bristol, Conn. I traveled for several years for the Erastus Case Clock Company through the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. I have now in my possession a watch they presented me upon my return home, " For faithful serv- ices " rendered them in their clock company, in the above named States. I like- wise carried the same watch through the Seminole War in Florida. I then went for my elder brother, Tracey Humphreys, now dead, to Virginia for several seasons in the clock business; returned back to Connecticut; from thence I went South over the ground again repairing clocks; passed through the Shenandoah Valley and over my old ground, occupying several years, to Memphis, Tenn. ; went down the Mississippi River to Carleton, a short distance above New Orleans, where I stopped for a short time with a friend. When there the gen- tleman whose house I was at went down to New Orleans. Upon his return he brought a handbill giving the account of the massacre of Major Dade and his command upon the Choctawhatchee River, Florida. General Edmund P. Gaines, commanding the military district, stationed at New Orleans, served a notice upon the Governor of Louisiana, who called upon the citizens of the State and all others to volunteer and protect the women and children from the bloodthirsty savages. The Indians were killing women and children indiscriminately. I went to the city of New Orleans next day, and found business nearly suspended, and flags flying from all public buildings, and notices in print calling upon all to rally. I was one of the first to volunteer. In the course of the day from fifteen hundred to two thousand men were enrolled and officers elected. Percifer F. Smith, a gradu- ate of West Point, was elected General of Volunteers. We landed at Pensacola HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. ' 363 and drew our rifles ; from thence to Tampa, upon Tampa Bay, where we landed near Fort Brooke, around which were encamped a great many women and chil- dren. We soon landed, and marched past the fort to the rear of the town and encamped. Next day we started for Dade's battle-ground. When we arrived upon the ipot, a horrid sight met our view. The blackened forms of more than one hundred men lay exposed to the beasts and vultures, which had mutilated them. Our company of riflemen, commanded by Captain Henry L. Thrisel, was detailed as a guard to protect those who were collecting the mutilated remains of those who had fallen in that contest. A man by the name of Clark, from Steu- ben County, N. Y., was the only survivor. He died in a few years from wounds received at that time, and was buried at Bath, with the honors of war by the mili- tary of that section. When our time had expired, we were taken to Charleston, S. C, and were honorably discharged, after being escorted by several companies of the City Guard to quarters. Next day we were paraded, and an address was read to us from Governor McComb, General in Chief of the United States Army, returning thanks to us for our patriotism in protecting the citizens of Florida in their hour of trouble. Then came the saddest performance — to take by the hand our old companions who had shared with us and braved the battle- fields for the last time, and bid one another farewell. I have been working at my trade about forty years clock repairing, and, with- out vainly boasting, handled as many clocks as any one now in the State. My grandfather, William Humphreys, served through the Revolutionary War; was with General Richard Montgomery when he fell before the walls of Quebec, and was at Saratoga at the surrender of Burgoyne, and with General Anthony Wayne when he stormed Stony Point. My sister has written you con- cerning my father. I was admitted into the Masonic Fraternity in the year 1827, and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows in 1846. I first came to Skaneateles in the year 1827. I have been a practical tem- perance man for forty-five years. Very truly and respectfully, CoRREL Humphreys. CoRREL Humphreys' Ancestors and their connection with Interest- ing Events. — Correl Humphreys was descended in a direct line from Michael Humphreys, who came from England in 1643 and settled at Windsor, Conn. He had two sons, John and Lieutenant Samuel. Correl Humphreys was descended from Lieutenant Samuel. In this line of descent was General David Humphreys, who was born July 10, 1752, at Derby, Conn. General Humphreys was very intimate with President" Washington and his family at Mount Vernon, on the Potomac, and he had been imbued with a taste for agriculture by the im- mortal farmer. His prominence in public affairs, and President Washington's confidence in his ability as a representative of the Government, are illustrated in 364 ' HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. the following letter in reply to a communication of inquiry to the State Depart- ment: Department of State, Washington, May 28, 1900. Edmund Norman Leslie, Esquire, Skaneateles, New York : Sir: In response to your letter of the 24th instant, I have to inform you that David Humphreys, of Connecticut, was commissioned Minister Plenipoten- tiary to Portugal February 21, 1791 ; he left Portugal for Spain on July 25, 1797, having been commissioned Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain May 20, 1796. He was also commissioned Commissioner Plenipotentiary to Morocco March 13, 1795, to negotiate treaty of amity and commerce; Commissioner Plenipotentiary to Algiers March 21, 1793, and Commissioner Plenipotentiary to Tripoli and to Tunis March 30, 1795. He left Spain about December 28, 1801. I am, sir, your obedient servant, William H. Michael, Chief Clerk. While Minister to Spain he was very intimate with all the officers of the Gov- ernment, and became a great favorite with them. Having become interested in agriculture through his intimacy with President Washington, and having the in- terests of the American agriculturists in mind, the Spanish Merino sheep at- tracted his attention, and he made application to the officers of the Government for their assistance in procuring some of these sheep and to have them sent to the United States. Although these officers were his particular friends, they stated to him that the laws of Spain forbade their exportation. This was a great disap- pointment to him. Afterward, through the kindness of some of these officers, it was suggested to him to purchase privately a number of the sheep, and these friendly officers would, to use an American expression, " wink " at the unlawful proceeding. Colonel Humphreys, therefore, made the desired purchase, and shipped the sheep aboard of an American ship then shortly to sail for the United States. All this was done very quietly and secretly so far as possible, and, of course, with the concurrence of his friends, officers of the Government. Thus it was that, through the ancestor of Correl Humphreys, the farmers and sheep husbandmen, and the people of this grand Republic, obtained the finest breed of Merino sheep in the world. Connecting Correl Humphreys' relative. Colonel Humphreys, with this county, it may be stated that Mr. John Ellis, brother of James M. Ellis, Esq., of Syra- cuse, was the first person to introduce Merino sheep into this county. In 1796 he settled in the town of Onondaga. About 1802 or 1803 he purchased from Colonel Humphreys, of Connecticut, two bucks and two ewes of the pure Merino stock which Colonel Humphreys had imported from Spain, paying fifteen hun- dred dollars for the four head. Mr. Ellis bred these sheep extensively on his farm, and laid the foundation of wide improvement in the stock of fine Merino sheep throughout the country. After his death Mr. James M. Ellis continued to HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 365 CORREL HUMPHREYS. (See page 362.1 366 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. breed fine flocks of these sheep on the farm formerly owned by his father until 1854. Colonel Humphreys on his return from Spain was presented with a gold medal by " The Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agricul- ture " for the introduction of these sheep into this country. Correl Humphreys died in Skaneateles, October 17, 1885, aged eighty-two years. Correl Humphreys in person was rather above the medium height, had a pleasant and ruddy countenance, was kind-hearted, and was particularly fond of children. This trait materially added to his comfort during his travels through- out the States he perambulated in his business trips. His practise when he entered a dwelling, if a baby happened to be present, was immediately to take the baby in his arms and seek to amuse it in any manner that seemed agreeable to the child. This act made the mother happy and ever afterward Correl's friend. When Correl came along that way, she knew him at once, and always invited him in and gave him a meal, besides rendering him all the assistance possible among her neighbors in his business. This mere " baby act " was a godsend to him in all his travels, and his kindness and loving attention to the children eventually made it profitable to him. ^ Politically he was a real Democrat, never missing a single election. No mat- ter what part of the United States he was in, he made minute calculations to get home, and always appeared the day before the election. He never missed voting the Democratic ticket. He was a true American and always a gentleman, honest as the day is long. Every time he returned from a business trip he deposited his earnings with Charles Pardee, considering him better than any bank, but eventually he found out his mistake. His outward dress was peculiar. He always wore a blue cloth swallow-tail coat, with brass buttons, and a silk hat. He was highly respected by all the people of Skaneateles, especially those who . were in the habit of seeing him during the many years of his life. Early Merchants and Others. — The early merchants were all on the north side of the Seneca Turnpike Road. Booth, & Ingham (Jonathan Booth and Samuel Ingham) had in 1812 a gen- eral store, where now is Benoni Lee's office. Phares Gould in 1816 had a general store situated where now is Miss Wheel- er's millinery store. This store was a brick two-story building, with gable end on the s);reet. His dwelling was a frame two-story building next east of his store. Samuel Ingham at that time lived in a story-and-a-half frame dwelling situ- ated where is now the C. H. Poor residence. It was painted red. Edward G. Ludlow had in 181 3 a store on the north side of the Turnpike. George and Owen Cotton were millwrights, and built all the early grist-mills in this section of the State. Their brother, Willard Cotton, was a farmer, and lived in this town. These three brothers were all born in the district where Mott- ville is now located. Owen Cotton died at Attica, N. Y., at the age of ninety-one HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 367 years. George Cotton died at South Onondaga about 1882, and was over ninety years of age. The names of these three brothers all appear in the old ledgers before and after 1806. Elijah Price was Justice of the Peace here in 1805. Norman Leonard had a general store on the Joel Thayer lot in 1813. At that date there were no stores on the south side of the Seneca Turnpike. Winston Day's store was on the site of the Lake House. Isaac Mills settled on Lot No. 61, Marcellus, in the month of May, 1803. He came from the town of Stillwater, Saratoga County, N. Y. He was twenty-four years of age when he came, was married, and brought one child with himself and wife. Timothy Mills, a son, succeeded his father on same farm. Peter E. Gumaer and James Ennis were witnesses to a legal form here in the year 1800. Church Diversion. — About the years 1843-44, when the old square pews were in St. James' Church, a few of the gentleman attendants indulged in a little diversion among themselves. At that period, when there were no garden vegetables or garden fruit sold at retail in the village, each householder culti- vated a garden for household purposes, and, when one of the St. James' at- tendants happened to raise unusually early in the season a cucumber, an ear of sweet com, a melon, radishes, or other novelty, he would take his best specimen and carry it to the church before service, and deposit it in the pew, on the cushion, of some one of his friends. When the regular services were about to commence, and the congregation became seated, the recipient of Nature's earliest product immediately became aware that some one of his friends had had the sagacity to overreach him in early vegetation. His curiosity, of course, was excited to as- certain the source of the Sunday present. Then, waiting until the clergyman began to read the morning lesson from the Bible, he would take the opportunity carelessly to scan the audience without attracting attention, to identify, if possible, his friend. The result always was that every one whom he suspected seemed to be paying strict attention to the words of the lesson, and to be very much inter- ested in it. What general conversation ensued, when he afterward met his church friends, has been kept secret. The practise of placing Sunday surprises in the pews continued generally throughout the season. Recollections of Thaddeus Edwards. — " There was a room fitted up to hold religious services in the Briggs tavern, on the lake side of the building, built in 1806. The different denominations held services there. I think there was one Episcopal service held there, but am not certain. Do not recollect what time. " Religious services were held in the brick schoolhouse, over the bridge, on Potter lot. Elias Hicks spoke there at one time." — T. Edwards. History of the Daniel C. Robbins Place, now the Mingo Lodge. — The Daniel C. Robbins place originally belonged to Richard Talcott. It was a por- tion of about 224 acres that he purchased from G. Thorp, March 20, 1823 ; con- 368 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. sideration, $6,000. Talcott erected a very handsome mansion upon it. This was located on the site of the present dwelling. On June 2, 1836, he sold the property, 224 acres, to Richard L. De Zeng for $12,000. This advanced value included the new dwelling. De Zeng afterward sold 108.55 acres to F. M. Potter for $9,226.75. Richard Talcott, April 13, 1835 (before the sale to De Zeng), sold lands to Arthur Mott. Mott afterward deeded to Lydia P. Mott, his mother, for a valu- able consideration, a life estate in 7.85 acres. On December 13, 1837, Arthur Mott sold to James Cannings Fuller 7.85 acres; consideration, $3,200. On November 5, 1841, James C. Fuller sold to F. M. Potter the same lands for $4,000. On September 23, 1841, Lydia P. Mott conveyed her interest to James C. Fuller; consideration, $1,500. On January 31, 1866, E. and E. C. Potter sold to G. W. Sharkey 108.55 acres and 7.85 acres. On July 13, 1868, Internal Revenue Collector S. P. Smith sold at pubHc auc- tion the Sharkey interest in the above-named lands, for penalty and fines grow- ing out of the attempt in his tobacco business in New York to evade the Internal Revenue law. On August 15, 1868, H. J. Hubbard conveyed to Antoniette Brown 108.55 acres, also 7.85 acres; consideration, $5,400. May 3, 1870, Antoniette Brown to Stiles & Robbins, land contract; considera- tion, $1,000. G. W. Sharkey to Stiles & Robbins, consideration $1. Antoniette Brown to B. F. Stiles, 108.55 acres, for $7,411.76. Robbins to B. F. Stiles, consideration $1. March 20, 1876, B. F. Stiles to Forest G. Weeks, consideration $16,000. Antoniette Brown to Daniel Robbins, 7.85 acres and 183.85 acres, considera- tion $10,588.24. Arthur Mott. — Arthur Mott was the son of Lydia P. Mott, the famous Principal of the Friends Young Ladies' Boarding-School in this town. Arthur Mott began business about the year 1820, and had a woolen mill on the site of the old Coleman flouring-mill at Mottville. He was for some years a successful and prominent manufacturer, and a citizen of influence. Mottville was named from Arthur Mott. He finally succumbed to drink, and removed to the West, where he was cared for by relatives until his death, which occurred at Toledo, Ohio, October 30, 1869, aged seventy-one years. During his early mercantile career he was a man of exceptional business ability, and in his social relations he took and retained warm friendships, possessed a genial kindness of nature, and enjoyed the full confidence and respect of citizens of all classes. The First Steamboat Excursion to the Head of the Lake. — We are indebted to Mrs. Calvin Clark, of Marshall, Mich., through Mrs. S. A. Gififord, HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 369 of this village, for the following concerning early steamboating and sailing on Skaneateles Lake. Mrs. Clark was Miss Evalina Greves, is now eighty-five years old, and is probably the oldest native of this village now living: " At the time of Colonel Vredenburg's death he had a sail-boat in process of construction. It was finished and launched about where St. James' Church now stands. One who was present writes that the most remembered of the cere- mony was the calling for a name, when there were lusty shouts for ' The Four Sisters,' and I believe it was called by that name. Colonel Vredenburg had four daughters, and very interesting ladies they all were. That must have occurred nearly eighty years ago, and was it not probably the first sail-boat on our lake? " The following list of persons comprised the first steamboat party to the head of Skaneateles Lake in the Independence, Captain Wells, September 7, 1831. The Auburn band, consisting of twenty persons, accompanied the party and added much to the festivities of the occasion. Miss Electa Edwards Miss Harriet Hall S. P. Rhoades and lady Joseph S. Mott and lady Noadiah Kellogg and lady James G. Porter and lady A. G. Stansbury Samuel "Francis James Jerome James Rasher Richard L. Allen Ebenezer Pardee L. H. Sandford John Greves George Francis Colvin D. Legg William Palmer Edward O. Gould C. J. Burnett, Jr., A. G. Jerome, J. P. Greves, Committee.'' The editor of the Auburn Free Press was one of the invited guests on the oc- casion above described, and in an editorial dated October 8, 1831, he thus dis- courses : " Skaneateles Lake. — On Friday last, we were exceedingly gratified with an excursion to the head of this beautiful sheet of water, on board of the steam- boat Independence. Although the weather was not so pleasant as might have been desired, yet the gentlemanly deportment of Captain Wells, the beauty and grandeur of the scenery to be found upon the banks of the Skaneateles, together with the charm of novelty, attached to the idea of wafting over the surface of Miss Maria Kellogg Miss Catharine Kellogg Miss Catharine Williams Miss Helen Sandford Miss Amelia Sandford Miss Almira Halsey Miss Delia Porter Miss Mary A. Watson Miss Maria Gibbs Miss Aim Eliza Gibbs Miss Mary Burnett Miss Eveline Burnett Miss Cornelia Burnett Miss Cornelia Francis Miss Julia Feck Miss Almira Cossitt Miss Juliette Legg, Miss Sarah Loomis Miss Evalina Greves Miss Jane Louisa Greves Miss Helmena Hopkins Miss Emeline L. Marsh Miss Julia Furman Miss Zade Thome Miss Louisa Thome Miss Maria Tallcot Miss Sarah Tallcot Miss Eliza De Cost Miss Pamelia De Cost Miss C. H. Tallman Miss Janes Miss Sarah Hoyt Miss Clarke Miss Clarke Miss Hannum Miss Minerva Sherwood Miss Ballard Miss Julia Maltby 370 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. our native lakes with the aid of steam, all served to render the scenes of the day among those upon which in other years we shall be disposed to look back with increased pleasure. We had intended to glean a few sketches from our rough notes relating to the various incidents of ' The Day,' but have only time at present to advise all those who wish to enjoy the pleasure of a jaunt upon the water, to gaze upon some of the most romantic scenes to be found in this region of hills and waves, of rocks and trees, or who wish to breathe for once the health-in- spiring breezes of the mountain, and at the same time suitably to encourage the spirit of enterprise so laudably exhibited by Captain Wells, to make up a party of our citizens, and upon the first fair day accomplish all these objects in the man- ner in which we have suggested." Matches. — Following the uses and description of the tinder-box on page 8 of this volume, the following , further appliances were in use at the period named : Next to the tinder-box came small sticks of wood, dipped first in sulphur, and then in a composition of chlorate of potash, flowers of sulphur, gum or sugar, and cinnabar for coloring. Accompanying these was a vial containing sulphuric acid, into which the match was dipped, when it immediately ignited by the chem- ical action induced between the acid and the chlorate of potash. The other in- gredients were added merely on account of their combustible qualities. To this match, which first succeeded the tinder-box, next came the lucifer match in 1827-29, which was invented by John Walker, in England. PeaTj or Muck. — Peat, or muck, is found in the swamps and low grounds of the town. The conditions for its productions are permanent moisture, with a subsoil of either clay or masl, impermeable to water. It is formed of successive growths of vegetation, which have died and become brown or black. It is spongy and retentive of water, and by successive growths, has raised its bed, so that it appears in mounds and hillocks. In some localities this is aided greatly by deposits of this constantly forming beneath it. Usually the surface is soft, yield- ing to pressure, and trembling when walked upon. In the town of Clay, in this county, are extensive beds of peat, which, judging from experiments made, promise to be of great importance as fuel. Abraham Cuddeback.— Abraham Cuddeback was the father of Abraham A. Cuddeback, the first settler in this town. Although he never lived in this town, he died at Minisink, Orange County, N. Y., July 24, 1783. It is stated that our first settler, Abraham A. Cuddeback, brought his father's remains when he first came into this town, and interred them on his land. Elijah Manley. — The original Dr. Samuel Porter dwelling, which stood on the present H. L. Roosevelt property, was built by Elijah Manley, carpenter ancj contractor. He was one of the first carpenters of Skaneateles. John Briggs built the tavern on the corner of Seneca Turnpike and West Lake Road (Shear place). He was Mrs. Hitchcock's father. He died June 25, 1839, a^ged eighty-two years. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 371 CHAPTER XXV. The Skaneateles Water Works Company and Local History. The Skaneateles Water Works Company. — The first appearance of the Skaneateles Water Works Company in Skaneateles was recorded in the Book of Records of the Trustees, November 29, 1884, as follows : "A petition of out-of-town gentlemen for the privilege of erecting public water works came before the Board, upon which no action was taken." These out-of-town gentlemen proposed to the Trustees that, if they would bond the village for an amount to be agreed upon, they would put in a system of water works which would belong to the village, and which was to be perfectly satisfactory to the village authorities before being paid for. The contractors would accept either the bonds or the money arising from the sale of the bonds. If the Trustees had accepted that proposition, all the litigation which has since been before the courts would have been avoided. No further reference in the record is to be found until the month of May, 1887, when a petition was presented to the Trustees, by John E. Waller and others, " in regard to forming a water works company." The next entry on the record was July 5, 1887, when a franchise was granted by the Trustees to John E. Waller, George H. Wicks, Lewis B. Fitch, Edwin E. Hall, J. K. Knox, John McNamara, Benjamin F. Petheram, and George Barrow. These persons thus, by being granted a franchise, became a corporation, under the name of " The Skaneateles Water Works Company." They stated in their petition to the Trustees that the proposed capital stock of the Skaneateles Water Works Com- pany was forty thousand dollars, to be divided into four hundred shares of one hundred dollars each. Now, as a matter of interest, the law under which these water companies are authorized to issue stock is as follows : Chapter 313 of the Laws of 1881 provides that the capital stock shall be paid " in the manner and within the time provided by Chapter 40 of the Laws of 1848." Section 6 of this chapter reads as follows : " It shall be lawful for the officers to call in and demand from the stockholders, respectively, all such sums of money as by them subscribed, at such times and in such payments or instalments as the officers shall deem proper, under the penalty of forfeiting the shares of stock subscribed for." It may here be stated that in the testimony before the courts, in the litigation undertaken by this powerful corpora- tion to compel the village of Skaneateles to pay that Water Company heavy dam- ages, there was no evidence produced before any one of the courts, from the Referee to the Court of Appeals, that a single share of the four hundred shares named in the petition to the Trustees had ever been paid for ! It was not neces- 372 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. sary for the officers to demand any money from the stockholders, as they had re- ceived the stock without any consideration, except for services rendered — paid for in services rendered, not money. The officers did not need any money, as the bonds issued had not only paid for the construction of the plant, but paid the promoters, " The American Pipe Manufacturing Company of New Jersey." The next record of the Skaneateles Water Works Company is copied from its certificate filed in the Onondaga Clerk's Office, as follows : " Authorizing that company to issue bonds, etc., for the purpose of constructing and perfecting its plant, needs to borrow additional capital, and it is deemed desirable to secure the same by means of first mortgage bonds. Now, therefore, we, Edward S. Perot, owning 370 shares, C. H. Jackson, owning 5 shares, James P. McQuade, owning 5 shares, and owning more than two-thirds of the capital stock of said company," etc. This meeting of the Skaneateles Water Works Company was held August 21, 1890. These individuals who claim to own two-thirds of the capital stock of the Skaneateles Water Works Company did issue to the American Loan and Trust Company of New York (under the Laws of 1873, passed June 12) eighty bonds of $500 each ($40,000), with interest coupons attached. These bonds were dated September i, 1890, to become due August 31, 1920. These bonds were executed by Caleb H. Jackson, President, and James P. McQuade, Sec- retary. Now the question arises. Were the names signed to the bonds, amounting to $40,000, the " Skaneateles Water Works Company" ? What right had these men to issue $40,000 worth of mortgage bonds? The only Skaneateles Water Works Company known to the citizens of the village of Skaneateles were John E. Waller, George H. Wicks, Lewis B. Fitch, Edwin E. Hall, J. K. Knox, John McNamara, Benjamin F. Petheram, and George Barrow. How is it that these incorporators, who obtained the franchise, and in whose possession it was, should have allowed Jackson and McQuade to execute in the name of the Skaneateles Water Works Company $40,000 mortgage bonds ? This question has never been answered or explained. The above-named incorporators stated in their application to the Trustees that the capital stock was $40,000, in shares $100 each. As a corporation they had the power to issue that amount of stock, but, really, they did not issue any. They were not incorporated for that purpose ! Another interesting phase of the subject under consideration was a letter writ- ten by J. W. Hawley, President of the Water Company (as the company had several presidents, George Barrow was one). That letter was dated April 6, 1896, in which was the following paragraph : " These water works were built for the Skaneateles Water Works Company partly by a company in New York City, who were unable to complete the same, which was done by the American Pipe Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, who held the stock issued. The bonded debt was $40,000, which was spent entire on the works and was not sufficient to complete the work. I purchased of the HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 373 American Pipe Company $20,000 of the stock of the Company, and afterward $10,000 of Mr. Hall, of Skaneateles." That letter of J. W. Hawley's is a curiosity in many directions. He says that the water works were built by a company in New York city. The evidence be- fore the Referee at Syracuse, at the commencement of the litigation, shows by the testimony of the chief incorporator that there never was such a company which put in the works. Hawley also states that the American Pipe Manu- facturing Company of Philadelphia, who owned the stock issued, completed the VILLAGE OF SKANEATELES FROM WEST SHORE, NEAR BOAT-HOUSE. Surface o£ the Lake forms a Mirror, which reflects the Shore. works. Now, this American Pipe Manufacturing Co. was a New Jersey corpo- ration, and J. W. Hawley was one of the incorporators (nine in number), and only subscribed for two shares of its stock. The capital stock of that corporation was $1,000,000. The incorporators only subscribed for twenty shares in all. These shares were $100 each. There were 10,000 shares, at $100 per share, and the in- corporators, including J. W. Hawley, only subscribed for twenty shares. It is very doubtful whether there ever was a Skaneateles Water Works Company, except the village incorporators who received the franchise from the village Trustees. Ever since these incorporators transferred that franchise to the American Pipe Manu- 374 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. facturing Company of New Jersey, that company and its agents has been the Skaneateles Water Works Company. Jackson, McQuade, and Perot, who mort- gaged the plant for $40,ocm3, are in all probability stockholders or agents of the New Jersey Corporation alluded to. The first annual report of this company, as required by the laws of this State, was filed with the Secretary of State at Albany. In this report we have the names of the president and a majority of the directors of the Skaneateles Water Works Company, who are named as follows : George Barrow, Charles E. Bar- row, Edwin E. Hall, Edward S. Perot, W. H. Perot, Jr., James Skeen, Jr., James W. Hawley, and The American Pipe Manufacturing Co. The Pipe Company is named in the report as a director. The President is probably George Barrow, being first named. Five out of the eight named are the specu- lators who comprise a majority of this board of officers of the Skaneateles Water Works Company. The annual report further states that the capital stock is $40,000; actually paid in ( ?) $40,000. (This a deception.) Invested here in the village thus far : Assets, franchise, plant, cash $80,000 (from record). Here follows another record: Skaneateles Water Works Company. Certificate of Increase of Capital Stock. We, the undersigned, George Barrow, Chairman, and John Burton, Secretary, respec- tively of a special meeting of the stockholders of the Skaneateles Water Works Company, a domestic stock corporation, held for the purpose of increasing its capital stock, as adver- tised in the Skaneateles Democrat, December 4, 1894. James W. Hawley N. H. Thompson George Barrow W. S. Perot C. E. Barrow. Three out of the five were probably the representatives of the American Pipe Manufacturing Company of New Jersey. Hawley and Perot were certainly. The amount of stock issued so far as known, according to evidence before JReferee : Geprge Barrow, for services as counsel $30,000 J. W- Hawley, who is now said to be President of the company, 33,000 Edwin E. Hall, who had no knowledge of how he got it. . 10,000 - The seven incorporators, $1,000 each 7,000 $80,000 Here is $80,000 worth of stock, besides the stock held by the American Pipe Manufacturing Company of New Jersey. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. < 375 In one of J. W. Hawley's letters as published, dated February 7, 1895, the fol- lowing pastoral effusion occurs : " For the feeling of the company toward the village is of the kindest, and we only ask for help during the emergency." The lion had the kindest feeling for the lamb! J. W. Hawley, in his letter to the Water Commissioners, stated among other items that the American Pipe Manufacturing Company held all the stock of the Skaneateles Water Works Company. This is considered as a matter of course. The evidence before the Referee at Syracuse indicated that not a single share, of stock was paid for in money. George Barrow obtained his 30,000 shares for legal services, and probably other stockholders were in other ways useful to the American Pipe Manufacturing Company. The Village Trustees made a contract with the Water Company, April 23, 1889, for five years. This was effected without consultation with the taxpayers. It has always been the practise on previous occasions, when any extraordinary matter was brought to the attention of the village officers, to consult the tax- payers by taking an informal vote for advice; but in this instance the taxpayers were not consulted, and the contract was executed accordingly. Soon after the contract became publicly known, two petitions were presented to the Board of Trustees protesting against the action of the Trustees, one of which was signed by one hundred and sixteen taxpayers, of which the following is a copy : " We, the undersigned taxpayers of the village of Skaneateles, hereby protest against the contract heretofore entered into by the Trustees of this village with the Skaneateles Water Works Company without the knowledge or consent of the taxpayers. And believing such contract was unauthorized, and that the public in- terests do not demand so great an outlay, and that the question should have at least been submitted to a vote of the people, we hereby ask your Honorable Board to disaffirm and rescind such contract, and refuse to act under it, unless legally compelled to do so." The Trustees took no action upon this formidable protest, which comprised a large majority of the taxpayers. They merely ordered the Clerk to place it on file. The other petition' was also a protest from other taxpayers, worded dif- ferently. The want of official courtesy and decent action in the reception of such formidable protests would seem to show that the issue of unlimited shares of stock had not been issued in vain. The promoters, C. H. Jackson, James P. McQuade, and Edward S. Perot, having issued $40,000 in six per cent, mortgage bonds, representing themselves as the Skaneateles Water Works Company, by so doing, and claiming to hold two- thirds of the capital stock of the company, carried off (not to New Jersey, but to Philadelphia) the bonds and the two-thirds of the stock as their profit in this business. The next persons to get paid for their work in promoting this Water Company were the original incorporators, through whose indtjstry the franchise was ob- tained. They obtained the franchise under several conditions, two of which were, 376 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. first, that the plant and works were to be completed and in full working order within two years, and, secondly, that such franchise was not to be sold to any person or persons outside of the village of Skaneateles. Neither of these condi- tions was obeyed. In respect to the first one, the plant was not attempted to be put in within two years. It was very probable that the promoters advised the in- corporators how they could get their share of the profits of establishing the Skaneateles Water Works Company by selling the franchise to outside parties, and to various firms throughout this and other States who make it their business to buy franchises. This plan was, perhaps, adopted, and much correspondence took place with that end in view ; but it seems that these firms had no confidence in the purchase of a franchise given by the Trustees of the village of Skaneateles. If the exclusive use of the streets had been included in the franchise, undoubtedly it would have been salable to the contracting firms. Therefore, the promoters of the Skaneateles Water Works Company were here at the date of that pretended meeting, December 14, 1889, according to the Free Press "Rambler," which stated as follows : " Representatives of the water company which put in the works at Jordan were in town last week, and I hear they secured the right and title of the Skane- ateles Water Company, together with an extension of the franchise of the latter company and its contract with the village. The works are to be put in this sum- mer." These speculators in all probability made arrangements to have a record placed on the Book of Records of the village Trustees which would make it authori- tatively appear that the franchise had been legally extended. They knew that the franchise would become extinct after the expiration of two years. Anticipating that event, they came here and made arrangements to have that record placed in the book (in the opinion of the author). It is very probable that the chief incor- porator protested very decidedly against the statement of the "Rambler," which would be very natural. There is no external evidence that that meeting of the Trustees to extend the franchise of the Skaneateles Water Works Company was ever held. Neither of the village papers published it. John D. Barrow, whom the pretended meeting, by resolution, appointed as Clerk pro tem., had been summoned as a witness at a term of the Supreme Court, at Syracuse, April 17, 1898, and stated to the court and counsel (not being on the witness stand) that he had not the least recollec- tion of attending any such meeting of the Trustees, or having been by resolution elected Clerk pro tem. He could not be persuaded to be sworn as a witness (as understood by the author). T. Kelley, at the same time, while testifying as a wit- ness, insisted that at all meetings of the village Trustees there was always a Presi- denfpro tem. appointed when the President was absent, but he had no recollection of that meeting. When S. E. Benedict was on the witness stancl, he was asked by counsel to take the book of minutes and look them over, and state what was done at that meeting. Benedict replied that " there was no vote taken, except on the HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 377 motion to adjourn." No vote taken on the resolution to extend the franchise of the water company for one year! At that remarkable (pretended) meeting, there was no President present, no President pro tem., no chairman. Although the record stated that T. Kelley made a motion to extend the franchise, it was not seconded. Under the rules of the Board of Trustees, and under the custom, a motion not seconded is never brought before the meeting. No vote was recorded in the minutes. None was taken ! Now, if the above is not sufficient to prove that the franchise was not ex- tended, the following further statement will convince the most skeptical: " The Referee, at the commencement of the water company's litigation, de- cided, from the evidence brought before him, that the franchise was renewed." Evidence shows that the franchise was not renewed. The following is an. exact copy of the record of Trustees : " Now, therefore, the said company having applied for a renewal and extension of said franchise and term. "Resolved, That said franchise as recorded in the village Record be, and the same is hereby, renewed, and the term of the completion of the work is hereby extended until De- cember I, 1890, on condition that said franchise shall be void if said company shall not have completed its work within one year from December i, 1889; it being understood that the contract made by said village with said company shall continue to be binding upon said company, and this franchise is renewed upon that condition. " The resolution was thereupon adopted. " On motion of Mr. Kelley, seconded by Mr. Shepard, the meeting then adjourned sine die. " Accepted. " J. D. Barrow, Clerk pro tem.'' The following is copied from the printed evidence by authority of which the Referee decided that the franchise had been extended by the Trustees: " Now, therefore, the said company having applied for a renewal and extension of said franchise and term, "Resolved, That said franchise as recorded in the village Record be, and the same is hereby, renewed, and the term of the completion of the work is hereby extended until De- cember I, 1890, on condition that said franchise shall be void if said company shall not have completed its work within one year from December I, 1899; it being understood that the contract made by said village with said company shall continue to be binding upon said company, and this franchise is renewed upon that condition. " The resolution was thereupon adopted, on motion of Mr. Kelley, seconded by Mr. Shepard. "The meeting then adjourned sine die. " J. D. Barrow, Clerk pro tem." Notice the difference between the closing paragraph of the above copy of the printed evidence that was brought before the Referee, and the actual copy of the 378 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Record first above printed. These paragraphs can be better understood by here printing them : " On motion of Mr. Kelley, seconded by Mr. Shepard, the meeting then ad- journed sine die." " The resolution was thereupon adopted, on motion of Mr. Kelley, seconded by Mr. Shepard. " The meeting then adjourned sine die." In order to give a full history of this subject, it will be necessary to make the following statement personally. Immediately after I first saw the printed evidence in the matter of the litiga- tion by the Skaneateles Water Works Company against the village of Skaneateles, I had a negative taken from the Book of Record, from which negative I had four copies printed of different sizes of print. These were intended to prove my asser- tion that the sentence in the record, " the resolution was thereupon adopted," had been subsequently added to the Record. After receiving the photographs, I found that the Record was the very best evidence, because the handwriting showed that the added sentence had been written at a different time from the pre- ceding, there having been a gloss on the preceding writing, while the sentence criticized had no gloss. Having these photographs on hand, I desired to inter- view Mr. Morgan, the stenographer. I called on him at his office in the Court House, Syracuse, showed him the printed evidence and the photograph, and asked him if the printed evidence had been copied by him. He replied that it was not copied by him, but by Mr. Comstock, the stenographer of Justice Hiscock. I asked where I could find him. Morgan then showed me Judge Hiscock's office near by. I at once went into that office, and asked to see Mr. Comstock, when he came out of an adjoining room. I showed him the book of printed evidence taken before the Referee, and the photograph copy of the Record, and asked him if he copied the printed evidence from the Record Book. He replied immediately that it had been dictated to him ! This dictation was made to appear, " The resolution was thereupon adopted on motion of Mr. Kelley, seconded by Mr. Shepard." This dictation to Stenographer Comstock, printed in the evidence taken be- fore the Referee, which had not previously become known to me until I read it in the printed evidence, and which was false, and known to be false by the Water Works Company, had passed before all the courts in this State up to the court of final resort. All the courts have decided against the Water Company even with this false and important evidence in its favor, which was unknown until I discovered it. The Attorney of the Skaneateles Water Works Company took the Book of Records from the village Clerk at the hearing before the Referee, and a dicta- tion from that Record was given to Stenographer Comstock by an agent of the Pipe Company as official evidence. It was, in my opinion, dictated by Attorney Barrow. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 379 The representatives of the Jordan Water Company, mentioned in the Free Press' " Rambler's " statement above, were Caleb H. Jackson, James P. McQuade, and Edward S. Perot. It was to these three persons were sold the franchise of the Skaneateles Water Works Company, and the extension of the franchise, and the contract with the village. They were non-residents of the village, decidedly so. Therefore the original conditions of the grant of the franchise by the village Trustees were broken, which rendered the franchise null and void. The following is a copy of the certificate filed in the County Clerk's Office, which authorized the issue of $10,000 bonds by the Skaneateles Water Works Company. This certificate was never recorded; it was only filed. Its date of filing was January 22, 1895 : " Consent of stockholders to mortgage to the Delaware County Trust Com- pany, etc. The following are the names of the stockholders : B. W. Hawley, owning 237 shares. George Barrow, " 145 " N. H. Thompson, " 5 " A. M. Hawley, " 5 " Chas. E. Barrow, " 5 " Edward S. Perot, " i " " Here are 398 shares, represented by six persons, four of whom are not resi- dents of Skaneateles. Now, in respect to the Jordan Water Company, a prominent business gentle- man of Jordan states : " The Jersey Pipe Manufacturing Company came to Jor- dan in 1888 and organized a company, called the Jordan Water Company, the stockholders being all of Philadelphia and New York city men, and put in a system of water works. After their work was completed in Jordan, they went to Skaneateles and put in the pipe for your people. The Jordan company sold their bonds in New York, and the bondholders sold the system to parties in Auburn and Moravia, who still own and operate it in Jordan, under the name of the 'Jor- dan Water Company.' " It would seem from the above statement that 'the bond- holders were the parties who sold the right and title, the extended franchise, and the contract with the village to the representatives of the Jordan Water Company. That must have been the way that the Skaneateles Water Company was sold. The presumption, therefoi-e, of the foregoing history of the Skaneateles Water Company is that its franchise is and' was void, and that the evidence brought be- fore the Referee at Syracuse was false, and knowingly so by the person who dic- tated the pretended copy of the record of the minutes of the village Trustees to Stenographer Comstock. Now, it will be of further interest to the people of Skaneateles to know some- thing about the American Pipe Manufacturing Company of New Jersey. In one of J. W. Hawley's letters he stated that this was a Philadelphia company. In order to get some information about this company, I wrote to the Secretary of 38o HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, and requested a copy of the charter or organization of the American Pipe Manufacturing Company of Phil- adelphia, and to state what the charge would be. In reply it was stated that the Pipe Company was not a Pennsylvania corporation, but a New Jersey corpora- tion ; and that the American Pipe Manufacturing Company had filed a certificate SKANEATELES LAKE. Showing St. James' Church and surrounding Scenery, with modern Yacht sailing almost directly in the " Wind^s-Eye." in his office, under a law of the State entitled " An Act to prohibit Foreign Cor- porations from doing Business in Pennsylvapia without having Known Places of Business and Authorized Agents." I received a copy of this certificate, which is filled out by Jos. J. Keen, Jr., Vice-President of the Pipe Company, stating that the principal office of the company was at Camden, N. J., and that " the object of said corporation is the manufacture and sale of wrought iron pipe lined with HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 381 cement, &c." This " &c." covers a multitude of powers, as will be seen by the following powers of the American Pipe Manufacturing Company of New Jersey, a full copy of whose certificate I obtained from the Department of State at Tren- ton, N. J. : "That the objects for which the company is formed are as follows: namely, for the pur- pose of carrying on within the State of New Jersey, and the adjoining State of Pennsyl- vania, and the other States and Territories of the United States of America, and every portion thereof, the manufacture of Phipps' patent hydraulic pipe, and other pipe, for the use of water, gas, electric light and power, or natural gas companies, or for use for sewers or drains, or any other purpose ; and the business of selling and disposing of the same, and also the business of contracting with any person or persons, or any corporation, municipal or otherwise, having the right, power, or franchise to build and construct water supply works, gas works, electric light and power plants, or natural gas plants, or any other works of improvement within said States and Territories, or either of them, to build, construct, enlarge, or complete such water supply works, gas works, electric light and power plants, or natural gas plants, or any other works of improvement, or any part or portion thereof, and to receive in payment, in whole or in part, therefor shares of the capital stock or bonds of any of the above described corporations, or securities issued by any government. State, county, city, or other corporation, municipal or otherwise, and to sell the same; and to lease, purchase, hold, assign, convey, mortgage, and exchange real or personal property or contracts, and for the purposes of said business to issue bonds secured by mortgage or mort- gages upon the property and franchises of the said company, together with the right to pur- chase and hold any patents, or reissues, renewals, improvements, modifications, and exten- sions thereof, and the right to manufacture, use, and sale of devices or appliances applicable to the business of the said company, and the right of sale or other disposition, whether ter- ritorial or otherwise, of the same, and together with all and everything incidental to the promotion of the objects and purposes aforesaid. " The principal office of the company will be located and maintained in the said city of Camden; and the portion of the business of the company which is to be carried on out of this State in the said City of Philadelphia is such portion thereof of an ordinarily adminis- trative character, as can be conveniently and legally transacted there. " That the total amount of the capital stock of said company is one million dollars ; the number of shares into which the same is divided is ten thousand, and the par value of each share is one hundred dollars; the amount with which the said company will commence busi- ness is two thousand dollars, which is divided into twenty shares, of a par value of one hundred dollars each." The above quotation is copied from the official organization of the American Pipe Manufacturing Company of New Jersey, and it is explanatory of the " &c." appended to its certificate filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania, hereinbefore copied. The copy that I have of the organization of this company in New Jersey is a certified copy by the Secretary of State, with the official seal attached. It is particularly interesting in connection with our local Skaneateles Water Works Company. All the preceding shows conclusively to my mind that the local incorporators were mere deputies (to haul the chestnuts out of the fire) for the American Pipe Manufacturing Company of New Jersey. Their whole duty was, in the first place, to secure a franchise from the village Trustees, and after that was secured 382 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. the next duty was to file a certificate in the office of the Secretary of State at Albany. After that was accomplished, the incorporators became a domestic stock corporation of the State of New York. The incorporators having hauled the chestnuts out of the fire for the American Pipe Manufacturing Company, their duties ended here. They never had any power to put in water works within two years; never had power to issue stock; in fact, the local incorporators at once became extinct as a corporation. From the time of their extinction, the Ameri- can Pipe Manufacturing Company of New Jersey became in all respects the Skaneateles Water Works Company, and in all the litigation through all the courts of this State against the village of Skaneateles, myself, and other officers, this Jersey company, under the guise of the name of the Skaneateles Water Works Company, has been' the actual plaintiff in all the proceedings against the village. The names of the persons who have represented the Skaneateles Water Works Company are as follows : George Barrow, as its President, signed the contract for five years with the village President, April 23, 1889. Edward S. Perot, James P. McQuade, and C. H. Jackson issued $40,000 mortgage bonds, August 24, 1890. The bonds were executed by Caleb H. Jackson as President, and James P. McQuade as Secretary. There is no recorded evidence by whom the $40,000 of stock was issued. In a letter written by James W. Hawley, as Presi- dent of the Skaneateles Water Works Company, dated April 6, 1896, he states that the American Pipe Manufacturing Company held all the stock issued (which is undoubtedly true), and that he purchased from that company $20,000 of its stock, which is very doubtful, as he was one of the incorporators, and he had pur- chased $10,000 of stock from Mr. Hall, of Skaneateles. The annual reporfof the company, dated January 15, 1892, was signed by its President and a majority of its Directors, as follows : George Barrow, Charles E. Barrow, Edwin E. Hall, The American Pipe Manufacturing Company, W. H. Perot, James Skeen, Jr., James W. Hawley, and Edward S. Perot. (Presi- dent's name not designated.) The meeting to increase the capital stock to $10,000 was held December 4, 1894, and was signed by James W. Hawley, N. H. Thom- son, W. S. Perot, George Barrow, and C. E. Barrow. The conclusion from the foregoing statement is that the organization hereto- fore known as the Skaneateles Water Works Company has no franchise. Such was not extended by the village Trustees, as claimed at a meeting pretended to have been held December 14, 1889, consequently this pretended water works com- pany has no standing in court. The American Pipe Manufacturing Company of New Jersey has been the actual plaintiff in all the proceedings against the village of Skaneateles, depending for its authority to prosecute this village upon a false dictation from the record before the Referee at Syracuse, at the commencement of this extended litigation. In order to meet any adverse decision by the Supreme Court of the United States, to whom the Skaneateles, Water Works Company have appealed, which is now before that court at the present writing (February, 1901), against the vil- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 383 lage of Skaneateles, E. Norman Leslie, as President and individually, et al., I have placed in the safe of the Skaneateles Savings Bank for safe keeping two propositions of legal evidence in courts of record of the State of New York, by which a new trial can be had under newly discovered evidence by the village, by which the Skaneateles Water Works Company will eventually be defeated. As a part of the history of the Skaneateles Water Works Company, it will be of general interest in this connection to include a communication, written by my- self and published in the Skaneateles Democrat, March 4, 1896, at which time I had been nominated for the office of President, with John E. Waller opposed : "The Only Question now is, Municipal Ownership of a Water Plant, Either by the purchase of the present plant, at a sum not exceeding $30,000, or an entire new one of our own. This is the real question to be decided at the next municipal election for officers of this village for the ensuing year. It would be a fatal error not to settle this momentous subject now, while we have no contract with the water company and are consequently free from its domination or in- fluence. " The whole question of municipal ownership will now rest with the voters of this village, to whom by their votes they will intrust this present subject to the persons whom they will elect as officers of this village for the ensuing year. " All the nominations made by the people's party have been made solely to meet the subject of municipal ownership, and the persons so nominated are a unit on that as well as on other questions affecting the people's rights. Some of our people, who do not understand the situation, are impatient at the inaction of the present Trustees respecting the water question. Such parties must under- stand that an effort is now being made by the water works companies to get a law passed by the present legislature to forever prevent any village from put- ting in their own plant, and also to compel villages who want to purchase the old works to pay from two to three times what they had originally cost. If this becomes a law, our ownership will become impossible. So we must be pa- tient and fight this bad bill. " If I should be selected for the office of President for another year, my whole energies would be devoted to municipal ownership. It may not be generally known that I alone have been in active charge of the subject for the defeat of the Malby bill now before the Legislature, without assistance from any other person, except persons employed at my expense. I am satisfied that my efforts in this direction have been successful. The Syracuse Standm-d, from the fact of my letter to its editor, has been of great assistance in educating the public on the necessity of defeating the passage of this effort to pass this law. " I am heartily in favor of continuing the present condition of not making a contract with the water company. The houses and dwellings of this village are unusually safe against destruction by fire, just as much so as we were safe from fire before the present water works were placed in our streets. We are safe 384 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. from the fact that nearly all the present dwellings were constructed in earlier times when balloon frames and cheap work were unknown, and, besides, our housewives have always been very careful about fires. " An important item is that the only fuel now used is anthracite coal, and the stoves for its use are perfectly safe from danger, and it is very doubtful whether there are now any wood fires used for household purposes. In my opinion, any large fire insurance company could take all the risks in this village at half what is now charged, and make money, and without loss, if a proper inspection should be made, would be safe beyond question. " But as it is now, we have no remedy but to submit to pay heavy rates to benefit the large cities. E. Norman Leslie, President." The voters of the village indorsed my views as expressed in this communica- tion, and elected myself President at the election immediately following the pre- sentment of my position in reference to municipal ownership. Had I been de- feated, the Water Works Company would have been in full sway, and the village would now be paying fifty dollars annually for every hydrant, and private takers would pay double rates for every faucet, and never afterward would the village be able to purchase the plant, including its miserable cement pipes, at a less sum than $150,000 or $200,000. Scraping the Snow from the Sidewalks in Winter. — How it origi- nated. — During the winter of 1866-67, snow fell to the depth of four feet, oblig- ing pedestrians to wade through it to reach the post-office and other parts of the village. This was the experience of the author, and in order to provide for any future contingency of this character he drew up a bill, and had it introduced into the Legislature of 1867. The bill became a law. It was an amendment of Chap- ter 148 of the Laws of 1867, as follows : " Section 5. The said Trustees shall have power, and it shall be their duty, to cause the removal of snow, ice, or other obstruction from the sidewalks in said village, and to defray and pay the expense of the same, and to keep at least one sidewalk of each street free from obstruction at all times for the use of pedes- trians. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer of said village to reserve and set' apart from the moneys received by him from the annual highway tax the sum of two hundred dollars, which shall constitute an exclusive fund for the payment of requisitions on him by the Trustees for the aforesaid purpose. The said Trus- tees shall not pay or cause the Treasurer to pay out any money from the said exclusive fund for any other purpose than is herein provided, until the first day of April in each year; after which the balance of said fund may be appro- priated by the Trustees to any other purpose consistent with the provisions of this act." This law went into effect immediately, and every year since 1868 two hun- dred dollars has regularly been appropriated by the Trustees for clearing the side- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 385 walks from snow and ice, until within the past five years, when the appropriation by the Trustees has been lessened in amount, without cause. There are eight and a half miles of streets in the village, consequently there are seventeen miles of sidewalks on both sides the streets, and, owing to competi- tion by men owning teams of horses having no other source of employment, the terms per single trip over the eight miles of sidewalks in the whole village have been reduced by competition to two and a half dollars. One trip requires the TEN MILE POINT, WHICH IS IN THE FOREGROUND, LOOKING NORTH. It is on the East Shore of the Lake. The Small Propeller happened to come within range of the Camera t>y accident. It indicates one of the Pleasurable Pastimes of Skaneateles Lake. labor of two men and two horses. Sometimes when the snow becomes covered with ice two horses on one scraper, together with a plow lashed to the side of the scraper, are required to do the work properly. This grand scheme of clearing the sidewalks from snow and ice during the winter season is not known, or practised in any other village in the State. It is a purely Skaneateles invention. The effect of this great convenience is that every sidewalk throughout the village has a path four feet in width, cut like a canal through the snow and down to the surface of the sidewalk, at early daylight 386 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. every morning after a snow-storm. Those who secure the contract for the season have acquired perfection in the work, cutting the paths very straight. Early com- petition for this work brought in poor men and poor horses at very low rates. The Trustees then supposed they were economizing by accepting low bids for the work. The consequence was that the work was not done properly, and pedes- trians were continually making complaint. The Trustees have since learned to employ the best men and the strongest horses. At any other time during the year the same men and their teams could not be had for double the money they receive in winter time. There is no other expenditure of money received from taxation that all the residents of the village get more value from and more comfort from than the cost of scraping the snow from the sidewalks here in the village of Skaneateles. All ordinances and all laws enacted by any Board of Trustees making it the duty of every person to keep the sidewalks in front of his premises clear of snow or other obstruction have been, as a general rule, disregarded and have never been enforced, therefore the snow-scraper has met with universal ap- proval. Jonathan Kneeland. — Dr. Jonathan Kneeland was born February lo, 1813, in a log cabin between Skaneateles and Otisco Lake. He was a precocious youth, devouring everything he could find in the way of literature. When eleven years of age he became a student in medicine under Dr. Jeremiah B. Whiting, of Cayuga County, but soon returned to his father's log house. When sixteen he again left home, this time without leave, and attended district, select, and academic schools. He then weighed ninety pounds. He taught two winter terms of school of four and five months each, and experienced all the questionable delights of " boardin' 'round." In after-life he never resided in this town. In the old ledgers and other account-books which gave the names of early set- tlers and others who traded here are found the following names of Kneelands: Amasa Kneeland, who taught school in the vicinity of Nathan Leonard's inn (Joab Clift's) ; Asa Kneeland, who traded here in 1805, taught school, and, ac- cording to Nathaniel- Miller, was a carpenter and joiner in 1807. Horace and Warren Kneeland were here in 1818. Samuel C. Wheadon. — Samuel C. Wheadon was born in Marcellus, October , 19, 1802, removed to Mottville in 1824, and died in Skaneateles June 8, 1881. He engaged in the foundry and manufacturing business, kept a hotel, served as Deputy Sheriff several years, and in 1848 became a merchant, and continued so until his death. The Civil War.— On June 25, 1862, the Ladies' Aid Society was organized,' with Mrs. Anson Lapham, President; Mrs. William H. Jewett, Vice-President; Mrs. H. Piatt, Secretary, and Miss E. A. Lapham, Treasurer, for the purpose of assisting soldiers at the front. They performed a noble work in forwarding cloth- ing and supplies and ameliorating the hardships of army life. An Illustration of the Uncertainty of Human Life. — The ravages of relentless time are exemplified by the signatures of one hundred well-known citi- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 387 zens of the village of Skaneateles to a public document thirty-eight years ago. The names are as follows : Newell Turner Horace Hazen J. H. Vanderburgh Peter M. Pelle Thomas Dyer John Grime Worthy Gibbons Orson Young A. Hitchcock S. C. Hemingway G. T. Campbell Jason Reed John Packwood S. B. Hitchcock Benjamin Forshee S. C. Wheadon Harry Briggs C. W. De Witt Charles B. Isbell L. D. Wait John Rossiter Schuyler Moore Sereno Field George R. Ashpole Samuel Stewart Daniel Wheeler George B. Hall Richard Huxtable Augustus Kellogg Stephen Vanderburgh Susan Newton D. A. Rupp Eastwood Allen George Paul Henry D. Huxford F. E. Austin Chester Moses John Beatty Joseph Bird James M. Brown- M. Schooley Thomas A. Benedict John Wheeler William Packwood John Day John Kellogg E. E. Austin Daniel Hall WilHam G. Slade Harvey Piatt P. Harris L. Hall F. G. Weeks Richard Talcott S. A. Daniels H. Cornell Thomas Drakeford Lyman Loveland Jerry Shallish Elias Thorne Lois Kellogg Thaddeus Edwards C. K. Leitch Columbus Weston Simon Cook Fayette Allen John Dwyer John Winniel G. C. Bradford N. S. Spencer Peter Thompson D. R. Banks W. M. Beauchamp D. Kellogg Leitch J. W. Sternes M. S. Butler A. T. Deu6l S. Hannum Daniel Kellogg James Fitzgerald Nicholas Potter James A. Welling William R. Gorton Eliza Grififin Salmon Sherwood E. L. Stiles George Davis B. B. Reddish Z. B. Furman Joseph Jay James Tyler Alonzo Gillett Richard E. Loss L. Bartlett Henry Webb John Hudson Rebecca Litherland John Roudley Benoni Lee Charles Smith Of the above lengthy list of names, who were well known, only nine are now living, as follows: Newell Turner John Rossiter _ Jerry Shallish F. E. Austin F. G. Weeks ' L. Hall George B. Hall G. C. Bradford George Davis. 388 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. The village officers were: Harrison B. Dodge, James A. Welling, Benja- min Petheram, and H. Q. Knight. All these have passed away. The recital of the above is cause for reflection as to the uncertainty of human life. "Time is the mighty master of us all: Upon his coming and his going wait Love, and swift death, and day and night — and fate.'' Early History. — The closing century brings to mind that more than one hundred (107) years have passed since the earliest pioneers came into this sec- tion of the State, principally from the New England States and the eastern sec- tion of this State. The author obtained, about forty or more years ago, four early ledgers, w'hich had been kept by as many early merchants, dating respec- tively 1805, 1806, 1812, 1815 and 1825-8, also one daybook kept by an early farmer, dating 1800, and another daybook kept by an early merchant, dating 1825. The ledgers having been kept by single entry, it has been difficult to obtain the names of the merchants to whom they belonged, there being no stock accounts or other fictitious accounts, such as obtain in double-entry ledgers ; but it has been ascertained that the earliest, 1805, was kept by Winston Day. Another of 1806 was kept by the agent of John Meeker (who did not reside in the town), who furnished the capital, not only for this village, but for other villages or places in various parts of the State, appointing a trusty agent or having a partner to con- duct the business, while he (Meeker) made the purchases in Albany or Utica, and attended to the sale of the shipments of produce sent from his various stores. Another ledger of 18 12 was kept by Norman Leonard, and another by Day & Sherwood, 181 5, whose name was written inside of the cover. From these ac- count-books have been obtained over twelve hundred names of persons who made their various purchases here, and who resided probably within a radius of from fifty to one hundred miles from this locality. These names have been al- phabetically arranged, and were submitted to the late Nathaniel Miller, who set- tled in this village in 1807, and whose memory of events and persons was much clearer than any other accessible person in this vicinity, and his identification of many of the names contained in the old ledgers will be found in this publication. Of course, the larger proportion of the names of early purchasers, comprising many hundreds, have not been located by Nathaniel Miller, and consequently are in obscurity. Those particularly in this town and in this village have been identi- fied. Whenever it has been possible to obtain either from old settlers personally or from their immediate descendants the particulars of their journey from their old home through the forest to this section of the State, many such have been ob- tained, and will be found in this volume. But these are comparatively few in number, owing t® the fact that generally the immediate descendants of original settlers have but little recollection of the experiences of their fathers' hardships. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 389 CHAPTER XXVI. The Churches and the Library. St. James' Church.— The corner-stone of the new edifice of St. James' Church was laid on May 30, 1873, and the church dedicated on January 6, 1874. It contains a number of memorial windows, placed as follows : In the East Wall. — The Porter window, in memory of the family of James Gurdon Porter. The Horton window, in memory of Stephen Horton. The De Cost window, in memory of Captain Nash De Cost. The Earll window, in memory of Maria Earll. In the West Wall. — The Roosevelt window, in memory of Nicholas J. Roose- velt. The Schuyler window, in memory of Lydia Schuyler. The Gibbs window, in memory of William and Grizell Gibbs. The Burnett window, in memory of Charles J. Burnett. In the North Wall. — The circular window, immediately above the front en- trance, in memory of Reuel Smith and family. The two Leslie windows, on either side of the main entrance: In loving remembrance of Millicent Anna Leslie. In loving remembrance of Hannah H. De Cost. In the Chancel. — The chancel contains the following memorials: The Organ is in memory of Lydia M. Roosevelt and Henry Latrobe Roose- velt. The Brass Rail is in memory of Mary L., Julia A., and Ellen Roosevelt. The Brass Pulpit is in memory of John and Mary Snook. The Lectern is in memory of Harriet Jane Gibbs. The Baptistery is in memory of Mrs. Julius Earll. The Brass Cross is in memory of Callie Marvin Poor. The Brass Book-Rest is in memory of Hannah H. De Cost. The Sanctuary is in memory of Robert M. Grinnell. The Rood-Screen is in memory of Dr. S. H. Hurd. _ The Alms-Basin is in memory of Mrs. D. T. Moseley. The Leslie Memorial Windows. — In a conversational manner, a visitor thus describes these windows : " My attention was called to two memorials recently placed in the front wall and near the main entrance, in memory of an aged mother arid her daughter, both of whom had been constant members and worshipers here for a long series of years. 39° HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. " As these particular windows impressed me with their exceeding beauty of de- sign and modest color, I will describe them more particularly. They are both uni- form in their general characteristics, and have full allegorical female figures in the center panels. " On the window in memory of the mother are represented Resignation and Hope, at least that is my own idea of the design. Resignation is portrayed by the figure, with hands crossed on the breast, and its general attitude, while the lower panel represents the Anchor of Hope. All the colors used are of the soft NEW ST. JAMES' CHURCH. antique tints, and the drapery is unusually well executed in its drawing and shad- ing. The inscription, in plain Roman at the base of the window, is as follows : In Loving Remembrance of Hannah H. De Cost, DIED April 27, 1884, aged 83 Years. " In the window above described the lower panel also represents the waves of the ocean, in which is appropriately represented the Anchor. " On the other window the representation, I think, is Victory — victory over death. The palm branch over the shoulder, supported by one hand, and the drapery, are unique, in harmonious colors. The design in the lower panel is a HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 391 THE LESLIE MEMORIAL WINDOWS IN ST. JAMES' CHURCH. 392 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. faithful representation of the waves of the ocean, in which is a mythological Dolphin. (This, I am told, is the private crest of the family.) The inscription, also in Roman, is as follows : In Loving Remembrance of Millicent Anna Leslie, DIED March 15, 1890, aged 63 Years. " Those two words, 'Loving Remembrance,' are a sermon of themselves, and convey a deep meaning to those who are bereft — 'The heart bereft of the living originals.' " All the colors in both windows are of the soft antique tints ; the designs and execution of the work are admirable ; and on the upper panels of both win- dows are artistic Gothic canopies, in harmony with the architecture of the church." A photograph of the Leslie memorial windows was sent to Mrs. Juliet C. Patterson, the widow of a former rector of the church, who thus expressed her acknowledgment : " With many thanks, I write you that the beautiful photograph of the memo- rial windows has reached me safely, and I am sure nothing could have given me more pleasure, as a work of art and memorial of two loving and lovely Christian friends, already in Paradise. The very expression of their countenances indicates the joy and peace of their believing. I never saw any likenesses on glass more tender and significant of the characters represented on it. No one could fail to see in Mrs. De Cost that the attitude of repose she stands in is in keeping with every fold of her garments, and the sweet expression of her face, so like herself in life and marking her character — while Mrs. Leslie, her daughter, as turning toward her mother to follow her with her palm branch in her hand, with a little eagerness that always characterized her movements toward her mother in life, is very expressive and touching. The likeness and attitude could not be im- proved in any way — it is, so artistically done, and it represents my ideal of what a memorial window should be. I can only think how very thankful you ought to be that you have been able to secure two such treasures to place in the church in Skaneateles. The moment Herbert looked at them he exclaimed : ' How beauti- ful those two windows are, and how striking the likenesses, and everything about them so very significant in every way ! ' " The Presbyterian Church. — The new Presbyterian Church contains a number of memorials, situated as follows : South Wall, over Front Entrance. — Memorial of Peter and Sarah Thompson. Memorial of Warren and Hannah Austin. Memorial of Henry and Eliza Adams. Memorial of Egbert D. Cuddeback. Memorial of Thomas and Martha Paterson Kelley. East Wall Memorials. — Alfred Hoagland. William Hough. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 393 George Fleming and Catharine Kellogg Leitch and their children: Daniel Kellogg Leitch, Laura, George Fleming, Katherine, and Lawrence. Mrs. Penniniah Thompson. Mrs. Orland J. Austin and Miss Jennie Thompson. Dr. and Mrs. Levi Bartlett. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore F. Andrews. Dr. Judah B. and Mrs. Hopkins. North Wall, All Windows over Pulpit. — Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hitchcock. , . West Wall— Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Ely Cromwell. Mr. and Mrs. Augustus K. Sloan. Mr. and Mrs. Elisha W. Hopkins. Mrs. Ann Eliza Loveless. Charles B. and Harriett Woodruff Isbell. Charles Wiltsie and daughter, Grace. George and Almira Morrison Austin. Mr. and Mrs. William Fuller. In the Church. — The Memorial Communion Table is in memory of Chris- topher Columbus Wyckoff. The Memorial Baptismal Kneeling-Stool is in memory of Nehemiah and Han- nah Higby Smith. The Pulpit and Chairs are in memory of Theodore F. Andrews and Dr. George T. Campbell. Mud Lake. — Another lake in Skaneateles, known as Mud Lake, is situated in the northeastern part of the town, and not far distant from the farm of Silas Butsh. In extent it is estimated to cover about fifteen acres. Its shores are swampy and boggy. Cranberries grow on its surroundings. Its depth is es- timated at forty feet. It is filled with fish, such as bullheads, sunfish, and suckers, but no perch. There are crude rowboats on the lake ; in fact, only ordinary scows. The peculiarity of its shores is that, on removing the boggy surface, the mud which is beneath is so limpid that, if a man should step on it, he would im- mediately disappear out of sight; in fact, drown in the mud. No pole that has ever been thrust into it has been of sufficient length to reach the bottom. There is an outlet from this lake which, after running about twenty rods, disappears in a rocky formation. It has no inlet. Under all the above conditions, it is ap- propriately named. There is a rivulet in the vicinity of Mud Lake, but not in any manner connected with it, that starts from a spring on the Irving Davey farm, and comes to the surface on land belonging to Valentine Leach. It runs in a westerly direction until it reaches the lands of Elmer Van Camp. From the Gulf it continues south to Nine Mile Creek. The water in this rivulet flows throughout the year, even in a drouth. It is used by the farmers through whose lands it runs for household purposes and for watering stock, it being especially pure and limpid. 394 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. A Tourist's Observations. — A Tourist makes the following remarks while strolling through the village : " At a corner we were gratified with a glimpse of the great engineer engaged upon the fortifications of our city, who seemed to be lost in contemplation of something, the exact nature of which, whether shade-trees or telegraph-pole NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. or flagstaff, we could not exactly determine. We were gratified to see in him the picture of health and longevity. May he live a thousand years ! " The above refers to Augustus Kellogg. The tourist further sees more of interest: " At a palatial residence we were met by the warbling of a thousand birds of varied plumage, while the stately pavilions, the cool summer houses, the hang- ing flower-baskets, the tropical luxuriance of the aloe and the cactus, the patter- ing of cool fountains, and the immense pleasure-grounds reminded us of Kublai Khan and the groves of Damascus. " At various places the Star-Spangled Banner was flung to the breeze. Crowds of the beauty and the fashion thronged the sidewalks, and at the Lake HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 395 House we were saluted by the band playing the air, 'See! The conquering hero comes ! ' " Erastus M. Beach. — Erastus M. Beach was a native of Sandesfield, Mass., a nephew of the late Reuel Smith, Sr., and an intimate friend of the late H. L. Roosevelt, of this village. He came here on a visit in 1853, at which time he owned a valuable lake-lot in the village. He as well as Mr. H. L. Roosevelt had previously been engaged in mercantile business in Charleston, S. C. In the year 1855-56 Mr. Beach purchased the property now owned by R. B. Wheeler in this village. He thereafter came regularly with his family from Charleston to spend the summer months in this village, and during his residence here he entertained many of his Southern friends, among whom was his uncle Mr. Otis Mills, who was a prominent business man in Charleston, and owned some very costly granite (stone) docks, also the Mills House, a leading hotel there. This property was afterward, during the Civil War, confiscated by the Confederate Government, in payment for which he received Confederate bonds. Another well-known visitor was Captain Maffit, an officer of the United States Navy, who afterward became famous during the Civil War as commander of a Confederate cruiser. The Beach family were very prominent here while they were residents during the summer season, and became famous for entertaining a great deal of company, composed principally of their friends in the village, of which they had many. This continued during the Civil War, until some mischievous person or persons circulated and sent to the Government at Washington a report (originating here) that Erastus M. Beach was a rebel, whereupon the Government immediately seized and held his property here in the village, and placed it in charge of a Deputy United States Marshal (a resident). During the time that this marshal had it in charge, Mr. Beach's dwelling was allowed by this officer to be shame- fully looted of all its furniture of every description, especially during the night. The general prejudice existing among many of the villagers against a rebel was such that the deputy marshal seemingly enjoyed the looting and destruction of Mr. Beach's property. Every closet throughout the house was looted of its contents. Every bureau, its drawers being locked, was broken open at the back, and thence the contents were taken. A large manhole was cut through the floor in the front hall to reach the wine cellar, through which the looters reached and drank all the wines. In fact, without further detail, every article of the least value was stolen from the house while it was in charge of the deputy repre- sentative of the United States Government. Soon after, the Government confis- cated Mr. Beach's property. Eventually, when the Government became better informed of Mr. Beach's loyalty and of the untruthfulness of the reports which originated here, his property, his real property, looted as it was, was restored to him. After the war, the Government, in recognition of the fact that he had been unjustly accused and abused, gave Mr. Beach a position in the Custom House in New York, which he held during his after-life. 396 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Erastus M. Beach had an irreproachable character in his business relations as well as in his private life, was possessed of a genial kindness of nature, a stead- fast, reliable friend, and in every relation of life an admirable character. Be- fore the extraordinary and shameful false reports circulated in the village by malicious persons affecting his character as a loyal American citizen, and the utter destruction of his property, for which the village of Skaneateles was re- sponsible, his intercourse with his fellow citizens was at all times courteous and affable, and always gentlemanly. No one knew him but to respect him. The Skaneateles Library Sphinx. Say, canst thou tell me what and why thou art, Rare Sphinx, that doth in all thy ruin smile? The Cynosure of all, yet like the part That ends the Little Bear in heaven's pole. This "Sphinx," which is now located on the most prominent corner of the two principal streets in the center of the village, is the old brick law office of the late Benoni Lee, which was occupied by him until his death, in December, 1886, and was, by his last will and testament, given, together with all its contents, to the Skaneateles Library Association. The sudden and unexpected death of his wife, June 16, 1885, caused by heart failure, and the precarious state of his own failing health, were warnings that induced him to execute his will two months after the death of his wife, dated August 17, 1885. He had no interest in the perpetuation of his office, or of its ever being used for a law office, or occu- pied by an attorney, or for any other purpose, being unfitted from the nature of its material and build to remain on the principal corner of the village. Benoni Lee's evident intention was that his old law office should not be retained by the Association, but removed. This, together with, his knowledge that the Library Association had, only eighteen days before the execution of his will, purchased all the adjoining lands, afforded him the opportunity to devise his lands to the Association, in order that the new building to be erected should be extended over the office lot to the extreme limit of the boundaries of both the adjoining streets. It would seem that the directors of the Library Association entertained a different view of the gift from what Benoni Lee himself did. Exemplified thus : The President of the Association in one of his annual reports stated: " It was the voluntary decision of the directors to let the little law office on the corner remain intact, as a monument to his respected memory." It does not seem possible that these directors should have fully considered the future consequences of establishing permanently this questionable antiquated building in the very center and most prominent location in the village. As a monument to his respected memory it was entirely out of place, as the directors did not appreciate the spirit in which it was given. Benoni Lee had had erected in Lake View Cemetery just before his death an expensive monument, which HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 397 was constructed under his immediate supervision day by day, and which by the provisions of his last will and testament, he anticipated might not be completed during his life. It was an offense to his memory to subject it to such a degrada- tion as this modern Sphinx. The directors having permanently established the old law office as a monument, and it being an entirely distinct building from the library proper, they commissioned a well-known gentleman of the village to procure an outside attorney to occupy it as a law office, for which purpose or THE SKANEATELES LIBRARY BUILDING AND SPHINX. Others of a like character its original owner never indicated in any manner that it was to be used. Such a tenant was procured from a neighboring county, who had been recently admitted to the bar, and possessed neither practise nor law library. He was induced to leave a prosperous village to come to Skaneateles by the .offer of the law office of Benoni Lee with its law library of eight hundred volumes, together with all its furniture, including fire-proof safe and desk. Be- sides all these was the accession of Benoni Lee's office business, which had been established for fifty years, and which amounted to about $3,000 annually, at 398 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. a nominal rental of one hundred and fifty dollars a year, thirty dollars of which he was authorized to expend for the purchase of the standard reports of the State courts as they were issued, which were for his exclusive use. The local at- torneys as a class were not members of the Association. They were not con- sidered in the distribution of these valuable " plums." He was also offered the attorneyship of one of the village banks. (He got them both.) The contempti- ble income of one hundred and twenty dollars per annum was apparently the only excuse for the mutilation of the costly ($18,000) Library building. THE SKANEATELES LIBRARY BUILDING AND SPHINX. In order to furnish an authoritative official reason why this offensive Sphinx was not immediately removed, the following extract from an annual report of the President of the Library Association, is here quoted : " This desire was greatly increased by the fact that, soon after the purchase of the lot, the late Benoni Lee gave to the Association, by his last will and testa- ment, the small lot on which his law office stood, situated on the corner of State and Genesee streets. This acquisition, rounded out the grounds, and made them the most desirable spot in the village on which to erect our new building. He gave also his law library. His gift came to us absolutely without restriction or condition of any kind, so that the little brick structure on the lot might have been properly removed." The best interests of the Library would have been promoted, and the memory of the late Benoni Lee preserved, if, as the President stated, "the little brick HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 399 structure on the lot might have been properly removed," and the law library to- gether with the furniture of the office had been sold, which would have produced fully $3,000. This sum would have been a respectable memorial fund, from which all books purchased from its annual income should have had a printed label, placed on the inside cover of each book so purchased, denoting the char- THE SKANEATELES LIBRARY BUILDING AND SPHINX. acter of the gift in memory of the late Benoni Lee. Such a disposition of his gift would have avoided the disgraceful appendage now permanently established. The Library building should have covered the whole property of the Associa- tion, and facing both streets, thus making an ornamental, creditable, and spacious home for the future expansion of the Library, more floor room for its book- selves, and a more commodious hall for its exhibition purposes. ■ The Sphinx is the most prominent feature of the costly Library building, as there is not a point of observation in any part of the village from which the 400 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Library building can be seen but from which the Sphinx attracts not only curi- osity, but inquisitiveness. The architects who designed the Library building had a very diii&cult and per- plexing problem before them — to disfigure the costly Library building in order to allow the Sphinx to remain intact, and next to design a frame shed, which has since been named a " piazza," supported by heavy stone butments, as a cover to the principal entrance to the Library building on Genesee Street. Another entrance on State Street, in the immediate rear of the highly valued Sphinx, is similarly covered with a frame shed, supported on heavy stone butments. Both of these covered entrances, together with this appendant Sphinx, destroy the en- semble of the costly Library building, whereas, if the Sphinx had been demol- ished as it should have been, a building creditable to the Library and to the vil- lage would have been constructed. The architects included in their plan an en- trance from the Library into the law o|iEce, but, such being opposed by the oc- cupant, it was abandoned, leaving to him the exclusive use of his ofHce. The expression " costly Library building " indicates that it was an unusually extravagant structure, in comparison with other buildings of a like character elsewhere. Examples of costly, elaborate structure are the tall rubblework stone chimneys. Information from an authentic source indicates that there are no chimneys of the like character in Syracuse. There are other examples of un- necessary extravagance in the use of money donated by various persons for a substantial and creditable building suitable for the locality of Skaneateles. In one of the President's annual addresses, he stated that the building com- mittee was all the directors. Joseph C. Willetts was appointed chairman, and authorized to make all contracts for labor and materials. Under these condi- tions, there was no necessity of there being but one member of the building com- mittee. There is a silent, not publicly expressed, feeling among some df the directors that the Sphinx should be removed, or that possibly the " little structure " may be hidden by building over it another story. The illustrations herewith accompanying this article, six in number, confirm the statement heretofore given, that the degrading appendage, the Sphinx, is the most prominent feature to be seen in the vicinity of the Skaneateles Library. In connection herewith the author desires to make the following personal statement : My interest toward the establishment of a Public Library has been growing ever since I obtained the manuscript records of the original Library Company, which was organized in the village in the month of March, 1806. The present generation would not have known of that organization if I had not published in the Skaneateles Democrat, twenty years ago, a full account of that Library, and the names of all its officers and all of its subscribers, who were prominent citizens of the town and village of Skaneateles. This Library continued thirty-five years. For a full history of it see Chapter IX. of this volume. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 401 Before any suggestion had been made to establish a Public Library since the collapse of the Skaneateles Library Company in 1841, I called on the late Anson Lapham, early in the month of June, 1875, with the view of suggesting to him the establishment of a Public Free Library as a loving memorial to his deceased daughter, Elizabeth Anna, or, as she was familiarly called, " Lizzie," who died in 1864, at the age of twenty-five. The interesting particulars of this interview with Mr. Lapham are detailed in Chapter XXL of this volume. THE SKANEATELES LrBRARY BUILDING AND SPHINX. Under present conditions, I assume that I am justified in criticizing the man- agement in the degradation of the present Library building by the retention of the old law office on its original site from a maudlin sentiment. It was my intention from the commencement of the present Library to do all in my power to advance its interests. My first gift was over six hundred volumes on all educational subjects, and not a single volume of fiction. A por- tion of these books was one hundred and fifty uniformly bound volumes of "Harper's Family Library," embracing all subjects of interest. As the books in the Library are divided into general subjects, there is not a subject on its shelves but contains some of the volumes of " Harper's Family Library," such is 402 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. the diversity of educational subjects to be found in them. A gentleman visiting the village, desirous of obtaining knowledge respecting the kingdom of Thibet, which he had been unable to obtain in many libraries which he had previously tried, found it in one of the " Harper's Family Library," and, observing my name in the volume, called on me, and thanked me for placing that book in the Library. I have been in the habit of presenting books and other valuable mementos every year. In 1892 I gave twenty-one volumes; at another time I gave forty volumes, and continued giving from year to year many volumes. Besides books, I gave many maps, including a large map of the State of New York, with its accompanying Gazetteer; an original map of the Military Lots; Captain Benja- min Lee's original map of Skaneateles Lake, giving its different soundings and persons' names who owned lands on its shores, and its fanciful outline in the form of a " Beautiful Squaw." At various times I gave carbonette or platinotype copies of ambrotypes or daguerreotype likenesses of old citizens of Skane- ateles, which were exact copies of the originals, without crayon or other human handwork. In 1893 I gave, mounted in a frame, a full set of new fractional currency, which I had retained from its first issue; also, Confederate fractional currency and banknotes. Internal United States Revenue stamps, Columbian postage stamps, and a card of admittance to the United States Senate at the impeachment of a President of the United States, April 8, 1868. This card of . admission was not used by me, but retained as a memento of the only occasion where an attempt was made to impeach a President of the United States. All , other cards of admission, which were used by the holders, were destroyed, this one being the only known one in existence. The fractional currency of the United States in this exhibit gives not only one side, but both sides of every one of them, and all of them are as much legal tender as the day they were issued. While in California, in 1887, I obtained a pair of the largest known sea- shells, called in San Francisco " Bear-claw shells." Their technical name is the ' genus Tridacna of the species Gigantea. The selling price in San Francisco was 1 from five to ten dollars a pair. These shells belong to the clam family, and are only found among the South Sea Islands. Those I presented to the Library came from the Samoa, or Navigator's, Islands. I purchased the largest pair of these shells that was to be had, and, being very bulky and heavy, I had them packed in a box, placed on board of a ship bound for New York around Cape Horn, and thence by express to Skaneateles. I also presented many relics of the Civil War, which proved to be of interest. At one time I procured through a friend, who was a United States Paymaster at Philadelphia when the troops were paid-off at the close of the war, a Spencer carbine, which was a magazine gun carrying nine Minie cartridges without reloading. I was particular to have the Paymaster get a carbine that had been carried by a soldier all through the war from 1861 to 1865. For this carbine I paid ten dollars, and had it sent by express to Skaneateles for the sole purpose of presenting it to the Library. On its arrival I took it to the Library, and, giving it to the " Building Committee " HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 403 (?), it was refused with the reply, "We (?) don't want any guns." Conse- quently I have retained it in my possession ever since. The most valuable donation, and most appropriate for the Skaneateles Li- brary, was a collection of all the early newspapers that have been edited and printed in the village of Skaneateles. These contain the advertisements of the early merchants and manufacturers of the town, and the marriages and deaths, as well as a few local items. The first newspaper printed in the village was the THE SKANEATELES LIBRARY BUILDING AND SPHINX. Telegraph; the next following was the Columbian, and then the Democrat. As a rule, neither the Telegraph nor the Columbian ever published local news or items. H. B. Dodge, editor and publisher of the Skaneateles Democrat, was the originator of publishing local items and local news. Unfortunately the files of this paper which have been collected are very incomplete. The editors and pub- lishers of the newspapers above named have all " passed over to the majority," and so have the advertisers of the Telegraph and the Columbian. This collec- tion of the earliest newspapers has been in the course of collection by me for 404 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. nearly fifty years. They were carefully repaired where injured, 'and bound sub- stantially at my expense. Together with our own local papers I collected a few Cayuga and Onondaga County newspapers of an early date, which were bound with the other journals. In addition to the very early newspapers, I presented a complete bound set of the Free Press from its commencement to 1891. I have presented so many books and other appropriate articles to the Asso- ciation that it seems impossible to recollect them all. For instance, when I was THE SKANEATELES LIBRARY BUILDING AND SPHINX. Illustrating the Rear o£ the costly Library Building, showing its Disgraceful Appendage on the Extreme Right. in California in 1887, and while I was at Oroville (the original gold diggings), I purchased from the only bank in the neighborhood the largest gold nugget that was to be had, costing me about four dollars, and brought it home purposely to present it to the Library, and did present it, and it is the only natural nugget now in the Library collection, and without the name of the donor attached to it. Besides my various gifts to the Skaneateles Library: Association, I con- tributed toward the erection of the building and the purchase of the building lot five hundred dollars, among others who made various contributions of money for the same purpose. Under ordinary conditions, in the construction of public HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 405 buildings witii money contributed for the purpose, it is always customary to con- sult the promoters of the enterprise who furnish the money. I was never con- sulted as to the design or any of the details of erection, and I doubt whether any other of the promoters were. Neither was I consulted in the retention of the " Sphinx." Therefore I claim an inalienable right to criticize all the proceed- ings relative to the initiation of the Library. Besides the many contributions I have made, I now add six half-tone engrav- ings of the Library building, which are expensive illustrations, to exemplify my criticisms, especially in respect to the retention of the old law ofSce. In my estimation, I have heretofore presented more suitable volumes for li- brary purposes than any other one individual. The influence which was intentionally exerted over the late Anson Lapham, in the year 1875, had the effect to cause him to abandon his cherished intention of establishing a Free Public Library in memory of his only child and daughter, thus depriving the town and village of Skaneateles from having a self-support- ing educational institution worthy of the name of " The Lapham Memorial Library." Items of Interest. The firm of Ansel Frost & Co. was dissolved December 19, 1829 (Arthur Mott the company). Ansel Frost continued the business of the furnace at Mott- ville, manufacturing castings, stoves, and potash-kettles. Jacob W. Breed, February 2, 1830, offered six cents reward for the return of an indented apprentice boy, named -John Ward Barteens, of about fifteen years of age. E. Sherman Keeney, editor and proprietor of the Skaneateles Democrat in the year 1844, died August 17, 1847. Israel Sabins, by trade a blacksmith and tinker, resided on the Hodges place, near Mandana. Eli Barnes was here in 1806, and was the miller in William J. Vredenburg's flour-mill. The Douglass patent threshing-machines were made to order by James McCray. Daniel Watson was here in 181 1, and was said to be a wool-carder. Aaron Austin was charged for renewing fence 7/3, July 26, 1806. Weeks & Bristol were here or in this vicinity in 1805. Mr. Phelps was a tanner and currier here in 1828. John Rowal traded here from 1807 to 1815. William Clift traded here in 1807. Dr. Warner was here in 1816. Dr. Samuel Porter had five children — four sons and one daughter. The sons were Evelyn H., J. Gurdon, Sydenham, and Mortimer. The daughter was Mrs. George Geddes. 4o6 HISTORY OF SI^ANEATELES. CHAPTER XXVII. A Great Century's Ending. — The Nineteenth Century and its Discov- eries. — Other Subjects of General Interest^ none of which have ANY relation TO SkANEATELES OR TO THE GENERAL SUBJECTS OF THIS VOL- UME. — The Transmission of Meridian Time by Telegraph. — Predic- tions FOR the year 2000. A Great Century's Ending. As only a few weeks of the nineteenth century remain, it is of interest to note that the twentieth century is to be welQomed in Paris and elsewhere with ap- propriate ceremonies. Paris has decided that the present year (1900) belongs to the nineteenth century, and will not dismiss it without a masked ball, December 31, in which each participant will by his costume personify, so to speak, one of the great inventions or events of a marvelous century. There is to be a series of festivities, but the dance of the symbolic characters will doubtless be the most entertaining — a german, in which the railway, automobile, phonograph, type- writer, sewing-machine, street-car, and telephone waltz through giddy mazes with the steamboat, telegraph, cotton-gin, Boer war, Mergenthaler's linotype, relief of Pekin, antitoxin, aseptic surgery, battle of Bull Run, Waterloo, liquid air, Sedan, thie lithograph, daguerreotype, and Hoe printing-press would be entertaining, if not instructive. The century now ending has been full of sad events, but it has also produced more than all preceding centuries to make human life easier and happier. Dis- covery, invention, education, and culture have at the same time multiplied the food supply and the comforts of life for the masses of the people, and have de- veloped philanthropic sentiment to such an extent that the hard conditions of former times are largely obsolete. Ignorance, poverty, suffering, and imprison- ment are now mitigated greatly by the increased material prosperity of most civilized races, and by the increased disposition of individuals and states to share with the unfortunate the proceeds of the enhanced productiveness of labor helped by machinery. The luxuries of the rich in 1800 are the necessities of life for the poor in 1900. There has been in this regard a large amount of progress in the century now ending. So far as the happiness of life depends upon material conditions, it has been greatly promoted. Looking back over the changes of a hundred years, one cannot but see reason to expect farther desirable modifications in the condi- tion of mankind in the century to come. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 407 The Transmission of Meridian Time by Telegraph. Meridian time is marked by simultaneous cooperation in the principal cities of this country. It is a rule on the Western Union lines that, just before twelve o'clock each day, all business must cease on the wires, and three minutes before noon an unbroken chain of communication from Washington around the utter- most boundaries of the United States is formed, which is called " an unbroken national circuit." Thus a smooth track is made, along which the electric mes- sage may flash, encompassing the Union and announcing the time of day. Ten seconds before the time-bell strikes comes silence, and then an electric current pulsates from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the chief Metropolis to the Golden Gate, announcing the fact that the sun has passed over the seventy-fifth meridian and that it is noon at Washington. The time-balls fall, and the electric clocks connected with the telegraph system record the hour of midday. In the Year 2000. Among the startling prophecies concerning human developments in the twentieth century, now only thirty days distant, are one by President Pritchett, of the Boston Institute of Technology, and another by Sir Robert Giffen, the eminent English statistician. According to the first-named scholar, the population of the United States will be increased to nearly 95,000,000 in 1910; in 1950 to over 190,000,000. He does not estimate it for the year 2000, but at the rate of growth which his esti- mate for 1950 assumes — ^namely, 150 per cent, for the fifty years beginning with 1900 — the American people one hundred years hence will number 475,000,000. Sir Robert Giffen says that the populations of Europe and of European origin — in which he includes the United States and all other countries settled by descendants of European stock — have increased from 170,000,000 in 1800 to 500,000,000 in 1900. And he predicts that at the end of the coming century (2000) the 500,000,000 will have become 1,500,000,000 or more. It is not conceivable that the twentieth century will be more warlike and deT structive of human life than the nineteenth, which has been more crowded with wars than any previous century of the Christian era. Therefore, the threefold increase of the populations of Europe and of countries of European origin and sympathetic civilization which has occurred in the present century is not unrea- sonably anticipated in the next. Meantime, the yellow and black races are not increasing at all. Time and tide fight on the side of " the noble Caucasian." But try to think of the American people of A. D. 2000 — ^475,000,000 of them ! What a Presidential campaign they will have when that year rolls round ! 4o8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XXVIII. Local History as Elaborated by the Newspaper Press of Syracuse. From The Syracuse Herald. Justice McLennan and a jury in the Second Division of the Supreme Court are being enlightened upon Skaneateles politics to-day. The action on trial is one for libel brought by Norman O. Shepard, at present Supervisor from Skane- ateles, against E. Norman Leslie, one of the oldest and wealthiest men of the village. It is claimed that Mr. Leslie wields a vitriolic pen. It also is urged that he uses it with telling effect upon his political enemies. The means through which he enlightens his neighbors and others is a publication, which appears semi- occasionally and irregularly, called the Sun. It is in the Sun that Supervisor Shepard claims he was attacked " falsely and maliciously." At the head of the Sun's editorial page appears the assur- ance that " The Sun will continue to shine, striking deviltry where it exists, and striking when the iron is hot." Mr. Shepard charges that Mr. Leslie has from time to time written slurs and allegations reflecting upon his good name in connection with the two most im- portant political " scraps " that have come up in the village in its recent existence. One was in regard to the cemetery association and the other the water works con- troversy. In the former matter Mr. Leslie made an application to the Attorney- General, which was dismissed upon the opposing affidavits, one of which was made by Mr. Shepard. Then Mr. Leslie, in the Sun, called the other a bad man and his affidavit " a lying one." Then came the trying matter of water. It was decided by the village to own its water works, and a litigation with the water company was the result. This was a hot fight, and the Sun shone pretty regularly in its early stages. One of the spicy things selected by Mr. Shepard as libelous is this : " Barrow got $30,000 for his services as attorney for the company, which were not nearly so valuable as N. O. Shepard's services in procuring the extension of the franchise for two years — ^the interesting particulars of this last disgrace- ful affair will be given further on — for without the franchise, and especially the extension of it for two years, the water works company would have collapsed. Shepard's services must have been worth to the ' out of town gentlemen ' at the very least $50,000." Again, Mr. Leslie wanted to know if any of the Sun's readers doubted that Mr. Shepard got $2,000, which was purported to have been paid to his partner, Edwin E. Hall, 'for $10,000 worth of stock in the water company. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 409 In his answer to the complaint, which asks damages for $10,000, Mr. Leslie asserts that he believed it his duty to publish the facts as he understood them, and did not intend to charge perjury or to bring Mr. Shepard into infamy and disgrace. About the only thing that was admitted outside the pleadings on the trial was that both parties to the action are wealthy, and that each has been, at one time. President of the village. The plaintiff was the first witness sworn this morning. He said he had had the matter of Leslie's effusions in the Sun " thrown up " at him time and time again, and he had been kept very busy making people understand that he was not a criminal. On the cross-examination it developed that Mr. Shepard had not a very vivid recollection of what was contained in his affidavit, which was used in the proceeding before the Attorney-General in the cemetery matter. He believed, however, that everything he said was true, although he did give Mr. Leslie a little rap that the latter took exception to. He declared that he had not at any time owned stock in the Skaneateles water company, but that his partner, Mr. Hall, had been the owner of such stock. He admitted that Mr. Hall, besides being his business partner, was a close personal friend. George Barrow, the well-known Skaneateles attorney, was the next wit- ness. He was president of the Skaneateles water company, and verified Mr. Shepard's statement that he (Shepard) had never had any stock in that con- cern. Mr. Barrow was also questioned regarding Mr. Leslie's standing in the community, and declared that he was a man of influence and affluence in Skane- ateles, living on his income and devoting his time to no business in particu- lar. This evidence, it was explained, was introduced for the purpose of prov- ing that what Mr. Leslie said would have a greater effect than what an or- dinary individual might say. For the same purpose, presumably, it was shown that Mr. Leslie owns a fine house, keeps servants, and also is interested in a Buffalo hotel. Edwin E. Hall, Mr. Shepard's partner, was also sworn as to that water com- pany stock, and he was positive that his partner never had anything to do with it and that he was the sole owner. He said he paid money for it, but could not remember just how much. The case of the plaintiff was closed this afternoon, and M. E. Driscoll began his opening address for the defendant. Mr. Driscoll appears with Charles L. Milford for Mr. Leslie, while F. E. Stone, with A. T. Benedict as counsel, looks after the plaintiff's interests. From The Syracuse Herald. Without the offering of any evidence by the defense, the libel action growing out of the political differences of E. Norman Leslie and Norman O. Shepard, of Skaneateles, the latter being the plaintiff, the case was summed up in Justice 410 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. McLennan's court yesterday afternoon, and in twenty minutes after retiring the jury came in with a munificent verdict of six cents for the plaintiff. Mr. Driscoll made very light of the action in his address to the jury. He thought Mr. Leslie had acted in entire good faith In the whole matter, being justified by a high sense of his duty as a citizen as well as an editor. F. E. Stone summed up for the plaintiff, and wanted big damages. He said Mr. Les- lie did not dare go on the stand for fear of the cross-examination that would re- sult, and in which it would be shown that he had actual malice in his attacks upon Mr. Shepard. In his charge to the jury. Justice McLennan asked the jury to consider the issues the same as if the litigants were hod-carriers instead of wealthy men. If the affair was nothing more than a neighborhood scrap, no more weight should be given it than it deserved. There must be a verdict, however, he charged, for at least nominal damages of six cents. From The Syracuse Standard. The answers in the libel suits against E. Norman Leslie, of Skaneateles, have been served. Mr. Leslie does not make the usual general denial, but says that the charges he made against N. O. Shepard, former President, and S. E. Bene- dict, former Clerk, of the village of Skaneateles, were made in good faith and without malice; that he believed the charges were true when he made them, and that he believes so still. The cases will go on the calendar at the next term of the Supreme Court, and, as both sides are equally anxious for an early trial, the workings of Skaneateles village politics are likely to be well aired this fall. The truth of the charges made by former President Leslie will be practically the sole question at issue, and to determine their truth will mean the ventilation of the whole Skaneateles water deal. The cases are two. N. O. Shepard sues for $S,ooo for an alleged libel published in Mr. Leslie's campaign paper, the Sun, January 30. Mr. Leslie, over his own signature, said that the Skaneateles water company, a corporation which put in the present water plant, had given George Barrow and E. E. Hall stock in the company — Mr. Barrow for law services and Mr. Hall simply " for services rendered." Mr. Hall was the business partner of N. O. Shepard, who was village Trustee and later village President when the water works company were after their franchise, which they secured and under which they put in their plant. When the village decided upon public control of the water works Mr. Shepard opposed the scheme, and Mr. Leslie's suggestion was that the stock really belonged to Mr. Shepard. Mr. Shepard in his complaint alleges that the intimation of the article was that he, while an official of the village or later, received stock in the company, for which he must have given favors in return. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 411 In his answer, Mr. Leslie says that Mr. Shepard's design in bringing an action to prevent the village from establishing Water works of its own in competition with the established company, " as this defendant then believed, was to compel people to receive a supply from the Skaneateles water company, and that the said company was bonded and stocked for more than it was worth and more than it cost, and the object was to compel people to pay more for the plant than it was worth, and that in the said articles the defendant simply set forth the facts as he understood them, and that he understood from common report that the plaintiff was the owner of $10,000 of stock, which was in the name of E. E. Hall, his partner, and it was also reported that no money was paid for such stock, and that those who received it did so for such services as they may have rendered the com- pany and said plaintiff for his services in the interest of the company." The second case is for $10,000, and is brought by Samuel E. Benedict, Clerk of the Board of Trustees at the time of the granting of tlie water franchise. Mr. Leslie, in the Sun, February 13, charged substantially that Mr. Benedict was not present at a meeting of the board when privileges were granted the water company, but that he did at a later date make changes in the minutes of that meeting, kept by a Trustee as Clerk pro tem. There is no charge that the water company profited largely, in fact, or in their case against the village by the change. " Defendant discovered the facts," says Mr. Leslie in his answer, " as set forth in the alleged libel, and published them as he found them. He believed then and now believes that the plaintiff did add to the recorded proceedings the words, ' The resolution was then adopted.' And he believes that the record shows it, and in his discussion of such change in the record he simply said that the addition of this sentence* by this plaintiff was dishonest, as plaintiff was not present at the meeting. And the defendant further says that the other changes in the record were made in the manner set forth," and, further, " that the paper written by him, the defendant, and published for the information of the people upon matters of public importance, was a privileged communication, and that he was justified in writing and publishing it, and that he was free from malice in doing so." From The Syracuse Standard. E. Norman Leslie, publisher of the Sun, a campaign newspaper of Skan- eateles, has answered the suits for libel brought against him by N. O. Shepard, a former President of the village, and S. E. Benedict, a former Clerk. The trouble arose out of the new water works plant. Mr. Leslie makes no de- nial, but claims the alleged libelous statements were made in good faith and without malice ; that he believed the charges to be true at the time, and believes so still. 412 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. From The Syracuse Courier. Skaneateles politics have reached the lawsuit stage. E. N. Leslie, for two years President of the village and candidate for a third term, as he does not receive the support he wishes from the village papers, prints a paper of his own at election time, the Sun. The sheet is devoted entirely to village politics, and Mr. Leslie's name is printed at the end that there may be no question as to whose opinions are expressed. The, Sun has criticized severely the record of some village officials of the past, and these former officials threaten libel suits. N. O. Shepard, former President of the village, has retained Attorney F. E. Stone, of Skaneateles, to sue President Leslie for libel. He charges sub- stantially that Mr. Leslie accused him in the Sun of holding stock in the Skan- eateles water works company, and of opposing village ownership for that reason. Samuel E. Benedict, village Clerk for several years, has consulted with Rider & Benedict of this city, with reference to a suit against President Leslie for charging him with making changes in the minutes of a meeting at which the question of village ownership of water was under discussion. That suit has not yet been begun. From The Syracuse Courier. A hot political scrap of Skaneateles type, a warm " Sun " shine action for slander, occupied the attention of Justice McLennan's court yesterday. Norman O. Shepard, of Skaneateles, Supervisor, said that E. Norman Leslie, in his somewhat irregular periodical, called the Sun, whose motto is, " The Sun will continue to shine, striking deviltry where it exists, and striking when the iron is hot," falsely and maliciously attacked him, and he felt injured to the extent of $10,000, but the jury, in harmony with perpetual sunshine, allowed him six cents. When the water works fight occupied the stronghold of Skaneateles, the Sun said : " Barrow got $30,000 for his services as attorney for the company, which were not nearly so valuable as N. O. Shepard's services in promising the ex- tension of the franchise for two years — the interesting particulars of the last disgraceful affair will be given later on — for without the franchise, and espe- cially the extension of it for two years, the water works company would have collapsed. Shepard's services must have been worth to the ' out of town gentle- men ' at the very least $50,000." Again, Mr. Leslie wanted to know if any of the Sun's readers doubted that Mr. Shepard got $2,000, which was purported to have been paid to his part- ner, Edwin E. Hall, for $10,000 worth of stock in the water company. Mr. Leslie, in answer to the complaint, said he did not intend to charge per- jury, but he believed it his duty to publish the facts as he understood them. HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 413 Mr. Shepard was the first witness. He said that at no time had he owned stock in the Skaneateles water company, but his partner, E. E. Hall, had. Mr. Hall later corroborated this in his testimony. George Barrow, president of the water company, also testified to Shepard's not owning stock. From The Syracuse Courier. One of the most interesting cases to be tried this term will commence this morning in Supreme Court, probably before Justice Williams, unless something unanticipated takes place. The action grows out of the kind things said by E. Norman Leslie, of Skaneateles, about his political friends — with a crochet hook after it. Mr. Leslie belongs to the aristocracy of aristocratic Skaneateles, and takes more than a passing interest in local politics. When questions of im- portance to the government of the village by the lake come up, Mr. Leslie issues a newspaper of his own, the Sun, which scintillates with sharp things, so sharp, in fact, that Mr. Leslie is about the only one who cares to say them on his own responsibility. When the village, something over a year ago, proposed to put in a water plant of its own and thus practically force the old water company out of busi- ness, occasion was furnished for the publication of the Sun. In it Mr. Leslie discussed Norman O. Shepard, now the McKinley League Supervisor of the town, and then an ex-President of the village. Mr. Shepard was formerly a partner of E. E. Hair in the undertaking and furniture business. Mr. Leslie is accused of having said regarding Mr. Shepard that, while he was village Presi- dent, his partner, Mr. Hall, received capital stock- from the old water company, and that this fact had an important bearing on the granting to the company of a franchise which was of considerable value. The inference which it was intended that the public should make is plain. Mr. Shepard accordingly brought an action against Mr. Leslie for libel, asking damages in $10,000. The attorneys are F. E. Stone for the plaintiiiE and Charles R. Milford for the defendant. M. E. Driscoll, of this city, will act as counsel with Mr. Milford. There is another action brought by S. E. Benedict against Mr. Leslie of a similar nature. Mr. Benedict was village Clerk, and the Sun told the public that certain changes had been made in the minutes of the village board which showed that resolutions had been passed which, it was claimed, had never been passed in fact. The statement above is extracted from Monday's Syracuse Standard. The trial during its progress before Justice McLennan was not strikingly different from many another similar action brought in the same court. The only feature in which it may have differed from the trial of other actions for libel was in the fact that, without attempting to offer a single word of evidence in re- buttal, the defense rested their case at once with the jury after the prosecution 414 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. had compkted the examination of their witnesses. This move of the attorneys for the defense was undoubtedly good strategy, since it is doubtful if Mr. Leslie would have stood with perfect equanimity the rigorous cross-examination to which he would probably have been subjected. The history of the case as it was developed during the trial by the testimony of the witnesses is so thoroughly familiar to all Democrat readers that it does not require recapitulation here. Judge McLennan had evidently never been a vfctim of the satirical shafts of journalism which have served to so thoroughly distinguish Mr. Leslie's oracle. The jury, after deliberating some twenty minutes, came to the conclusion that the " Sun which shines for all " couldn't really hurt much, and accordingly returned a verdict of six cents for the plaintiff. From The Syracuse Courier. The announcement of the verdict was about as funny as the entire suit. Jus- tice McLennan had adjourned his court when the jury found itself ready to re- port, and it was received by Justice Williams. The foreman was a rather elderly farmer, who had a peculiar voice and apparently a bad state of fright. He rose and said, " We find for the plaintiff, in the sum of six cents." The Judge laughed when he heard the peculiar noise, and so did the people in court. From The Syracuse Standard. One of the most interesting cases to be tried this term will commence this morning in Supreme Court, probably before Justice Williams, unless something unanticipated takes place. The action grows out of the kind things said by E. Norman Leslie, of Skaneateles, about his political friends — with a crochet hook after it. Mr. Leslie belongs to the aristocracy of aristocratic Skaneateles, and takes more than a passing interest in local politics. When questions of im- portance to the government of the village by the lake come up, Mr. Leslie issues a newspaper of his own, the Sun, which scintillates with sharp things, so sharp, in fact, that Mr. Leslie is about the only one who cares to say them on his own responsibility. When the village, something over a year ago, proposed to put in a water plant of its own and thus practically force the old water company out of busi- ness, occasion was furnished for the publication of the Sun. In it Mr. Leslie discussed Norman O. Shepard, now the McKinley League Supervisor of the town, and then an ex-President of the village. Mr. Shepard was formerly a partner of E. E. Hall in the undertaking and furniture business. Mr. Leslie is accused of having said regarding Mr. Shepard that, while he was village Presi- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 41S dent, his partner, Mr. Hall, received capital stock from the old water company, and that this fact had an important bearing on the granting to the company of a franchise which was of considerable value. The inference which it was intended that the public should make is plain. Mr. Shepard accordingly brought an action against Mr. Leslie for libel, asking damages in $10,000. The attorneys are F. E. Stone for the plaintiff and Charles R. Milford for the defendant. M. E. Driscoll, of this city, will act as counsel with Mr. Milford. There is another action brought by S. E. Benedict against Mr. Leslie of a similar nature. Mr. Benedict was village Clerk, and the Sun told the public that certain changes had been made in the minutes of the village board which showed that resolutions had been passed which, it was claimed, had never been passed in fact. From The Syracuse Standard. Before Justice McLennan yesterday, morning in the trial term of the Supreme Court the case of Samuel E. Benedict against E. Norman Leslie was taken up. This is the second case which has resulted from statements published by Mr. Leslie in his Sun, an organ which periodically appears in the stormy sky of Skaneateles village politics. Mr. Leslie is sole editor and proprietor, and he says just what he has a mind to, and puts the facts just as strong as he has a mind to. In fact, he rejoices in the freedom of the press, and never intends to be throttled from voicing his opinions, no matter if he is the only one who holds them. In law Mr. Leslie has been as successful as he was as a New York merchant or as an editor. In the first suit which was brought for $25,000 dam- ages to character, reputation, and feelings by reason of alleged slanderous and libelous 'publications in Leslie's Sun, N. O. Shepard received a verdict of six cents as the measure of damages sustained. Mr. Benedict was hardly so suc- cessful, for the jury in his case said that there was no cause of action. The plaintiff was village Clerk, and the article in question accused him of being dishonest in that he changed the minutes of the Board of Trustees by first adding to the report made by the Clerk pro tern, when he copied them on the record, and then by changing the record he had made. The change was in re- gard to the passing of a resolution in 1889 extending the franchise of the Skan- eateles water company. The defense put in no evidence and made no denial of the publication. M. E. Driscoll, who appeared with Charles R. Milford, stated that they would rest on the facts as shown. In summing up, he said that Mr. Leslie was President of the village, and it was his duty to present the facts as they were regarding the water company. The publication, he said, was during a political campaign, and the man who took exception to the statements must be very thin-skinned. The jury was out but a few minutes. 41 6 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. From The Syracuse Standard. In E. Norman Leslie's defense to Norman O. Shepard's libel suit, there was no evidence put in. M. E. Driscoll chose to sum it up on the evidence for Super- visor Shepard. He made light of the w^hole business, and that is no joke, be- cause the libel was published in Leslie's paper the Sun. F. E. Stone for Shepard said he wanted Leslie muzzled. Justice McLennan referred to it as a neighbor- hood scrap. And the jury gave six cents damages after twenty minutes' con- sideration. Tempest in a teapot. 'Rah for Skaneateles! From The Syracuse Journal. " Unfathomable " is a word found in the dictionary, but it is seldom cor- rectly used, and, as science progresses, its use is becoming more restricted every year. It can only now be applied to some parts of the southern Pacific Ocean and Skaneateles politics. It may be restricted as to the former, but hardly as to the latter, even if Justice McLennan and a jury did start in to fathom one part of it this morning. It was in the libel action of Norman O. Shepard, now Super- visor from that township, against E. Norman Leslie, one of the oldest, sprightli- est, and wealthiest men in the village. During political stresses of weather Mr. Leslie has published a paper called the Sun, that bears the slogan that " It shines for all." It shone on Mr. Shepard, and he now asks $10,000 damages for the shining. Semi-occasionally and tri- irregularly this sheet has appeared, and in it is the announcement that it " will continue to shine, striking deviltry where it exists, and striking when the iron is hot." Mr. Shepard says it has wickedly and maliciously struck him, but he doesn't say in which section of his anatomy. One " slap " came in the ceme- tery association affair, and another in the water works controversy. Mr. Les- lie went to the Attorney-General with one " scrap," and it was dismissed on the opposing affidavits by Mr. Shepard. Then the Sun called Mr. Shepard a bad man, and his affidavit " a lying one." When the water works fight was on, and the village was trying to own one of its own, the Sun did a lot of shining. A shining remark that Mr. Shepard kicked on was this : " Barrow got $30,000 for his services as attorney for the company, lyhich were not nearly so valuable as N. O. Shepard's services in promising the extension of the franchise for two years — the interesting particu- lars of this last disgraceful affair will be given later on — for without the fran- chise, and especially the extension of it for two years, the water works com- pany would have collapsed. Shepard's services must have been worth to the ' out of town gentlemen ' at the very least $50,000." HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 417 At another point, the writer wanted to know if any of the Sun's readers doubted that Mr. Shepard got $2,000, which was purported to have been paid his partner, Edwin E. Hall, for $10,000 worth of stock in the water company. Mr. Leslie answers that he believed it his duty to publish the facts as he un- derstood them, and he did not intend to charge perjury or bring Mr. Shepard into infamy and disgrace. The only admissions were as to the wealth of the parties, and that both had tried their hands at being President of the village. Mr. Shepard went on the stand first. He had heard again and again of the Leslie charges, and he was kept busy denying them. He didn't remember all that was in his affidavit before the Attorney-General, when it came to the cross- examination. He believed that everything he said was true, and he had said some things that Mr. Leslie took exceptions to. He said he never owned stock in the water company, but his partner, Mr. Hall, had. He admitted that he was a close personal friend. George Barrow, the president of the Skaneateles water company, was a wit- ness, and verified the statement that Shepard owned no stock. He said that Mr. Leslie was a man of influence in the community and wealthy. Edwin E. Hall said that he owned the stock and not Shepard, and he was sure his partner never had anything to do with it. He paid the money for it, but didn't remember how much. Before the noon recess the plaintiff rested, and with the opening of the afternoon session the defense was commenced. From The Syracuse Post, March 29, 1898. A nominal verdict was obtained before Justice McLennan yesterday in the Sec- ond Division of the Supreme Court in the case of Norman O. Shepard, the pres- ent Supervisor from Skaneateles, against E. Norman Leslie, one of the oldest and wealthiest residents of that village. The suit was to recover damages for an al- leged libelous article claimed to have been written by the defendant, and which appeared in what is known as the Sun, a publication of that village. The announcement of the verdict was about as funny as the entire suit. Jus- tice McLennan had adjourned his court when the jury found itself ready to re- port, and it was received by Justice Williams. The foreman was a rather elderly farmer, who had a peculiar voice and apparently a bad state of fright. He arose and said : " We find for the plaintiff in the sum of six cents." The Judge laughed when he heard the peculiar noise, and so did the people in court. The claim of Mr. Shepard was that he had been injured by articles in the paper, and that allegations had been made reflecting upon his good name and character. The complaint asked damages in the sum of $10,000. 4i8 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. CHAPTER XXIX. An Inside History of Lake View Cemetery, Which Has Never Before Been Made Public. Previously to the establishment of the Incorporated Rural Cemetery Associa- tion of Lake View in the year 1871, all the burial-grounds in the village of Skane- ateles were controlled by private persons, who used the income or profits for their own individual benefit, except Freeborn G. Jewett, Sr. I was the originator, pro- moter, and organizer of the present Lake View Cemetery. I first issued a call for a public meeting June 29, 1871, which was published in the Skaneateles Demo- crat, and without consultation appended thereto the names of such public-spirited citizens as suggested themselves to my mind at the moment, well knowing that the gentlemen named would not object to the use of their names for so com- mendable a purpose. Before the advertisement appeared, however, I made known the project to a few of the persons named, all of whom fully indorsed the use of their names to the call for a public meeting. The call was as follows : Public Meeting. The citizens of the village of Skaneateles are requested to meet at Legg Hall, on Satur- day next, July 1st, at 4 P. M., to take such preliminary action as may be necessary to organ- ize and establish an Incorporated Public Cemetery. I was fully aware of the determined opposition to be encountered from the proprietor of the old burial-ground. Such opposition was incurred, as has been fully described in Chapter XVIII. of this volume. The late Charles Pardee, who owned the old burial-ground, was opposed to the incorporation of a new cemetery. His nearest friends at that time estimated him as being worth $350,000. His opposition to a new cemetery was a power not to be despised. His influence in the community at large was supreme. Money was only required to fully establish a new cemetery against all opposition, and such money was by myself advanced, as will be recited hereinafter. The result of the public meet- ing was the Incorporation of the Rural Cemetery Association of Lak6 View, which took place August 27, 1871. Now is recited the inside history. I assumed the position of both Secretary and Treasurer, in order to be in a position to carry out my original intention of establishing on a firm basis an In- corporated Public Cemetery, under "An Act authorizing the Incorporation of Rural Cemetery Associations, passed April 27, 1847, and the Acts amending the same." This act required that a public meeting should be held, and that twelve trustees must be elected by ballot, and after such election they were to be divided into HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 419 three classes : One class to serve one year ; the second class to serve two years ; and the third class to serve three years, and in every succeeding year thereafter there should be elected by the lot-owners, three trustees, to serve three years. Twelve trustees were balloted for and elected. A majority of those elected were unfortunately the friends and adherents of the late C. Pardee, who was opposed to incorporating a cemetery. At every meeting of the newly elected trustees DYER BRAINERD. (See page 150.) thereafter for business purposes, there was a want of interest manifested, and oc- casionally a word of warning from one or more of C. Pardee's friends not to do anything to displease him during the organization of the new cemetery. After the lands had been negotiated and staked out for the new cemetery, money to make the payment for them had to be obtained by soliciting loans from public-spirited citizens of both town and village who were interested in establish- ing an Incorporated Public Cemetery. Not a single trustee of the twelve balloted for at the public meeting volunteered to solicit subscriptions, consequently I 420 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. assumed that duty. Only five of the twelve trustees subscribed, three of whom subscribed two hundred dollars each, including my own, and two subscribed one hundred dollars each. One of C. Pardee's friends subscribed one hundred dollars, but never paid the money. The sum of money required to pay for the lands was $2,150. The want of interest among the majority of the trustees was apparent, so much so that I became fully aware that the new cemetery would be a failure unless I assumed the whole duty of soliciting loans. I therefore made it a busi- ness for nearly two weeks to solicit loans, at the same time explaining that the security to be received for such loans would be a certificate of indebtedness, issued under authority of law, and bearing seven per cent, interest, until redeemed from one-half of the sales of lots. (Such security resulted in being worthless!) Owing to the negligence and indifference of the future officers of the village, in- cluding the village Trustees, these certificates of indebtedness were never re- deemed according to their terms from sales of lots. In order fully to show the security afforded by a certificate of indebtedness, the following is a copy of one which was given to Thomas Y. Avery for a loan of one hundred dollars, for which he paid in cash, February 25, 1873, and which has never been redeemed by the village of Skaneateles, which owns the cemetery, and has had the use of Thomas Y. Avery's one hundred dollars since February 25, 1873. He has since died, and the village of Skaneateles is indebted to his family twenty-eight years' interest and the one hundred dollars, at the rate of seven per cent., which amount would be three hundred dollars. Lake View Cemetery, certificate of indebtedness. The Association of Lake View does hereby certify that Thomas Y. Avery, of Skaneate- les, has subscribed, for the purpose of purchasing the lands conveyed to the said Associa- tion, the sum of one hundred dollars, and will pay the same on the 25th day of February, 1873. Now, it is hereby agreed by the said Association, that one-half of the money received on the sale of lots in said Cemetery lands is hereby pledged to the repayment of the sub- scribers aforesaid, for the amount which they shall respectively pay, until the whole amount thereof, with interest, is paid, and that the said Thomas Y. Avery will be entitled to his pro rata share of such receipts as the same are from time to time realized, until he shall have received full payment of the amount that he may have paid in cash, with interest. Witness the subscription of the names of the President and Secretary of the said Association hereto, this 25th day of February, 1873. JoEi, Thayer, President. E. Norman Leslie, Secretary. By great perseverance I obtained twenty subscriptions, comprising amounts of from fifty to two hundred dollars, the total of which was twenty-five hundred dollars, seventeen of which were of one' hundred dollars each. Eight of these were never paid. Another one hundred dollar subscriber, who was one of Mr. Pardee's friends, paid fifty dollars in cash, and gave his promissory note payable at bank for fifty dollars. He received a certificate of indebtedness for one hun- HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. a^i dred dollars. He afterward purchased two lots, costing sixty dollars, which were charged to his account. He never paid his note for fifty dollars, and has retained the certificate of indebtedness ever since. He was charged with interest from time to time up to March lo, 1880, at which date he owed the association $109.75, and has never paid any money since. I kept the financial accounts of the association by double entry. I kept an account at bank under the name of "Lake View" (distinct from my individual ac- count). All moneys received on account of the association were deposited to that account, and all payments were by check against that account. I kept as Secre- tary all the records of the business meetings of the trustees of the association until November 24, 1885. By resolution I was empowered to issue calls for meetings of the trustees, and also to preside as Chairman. I filled out the deed blanks and delivered them to purchasers of lots, when the money was paid. As a matter of fact, I was the only active member of the association who attended to all the details. This fact is indisputable. The Want of Interest by the Trustees. — The following copy from the records of proceedings, page 40, is here inserted : " A meeting of the Trustees was called Saturday, July 12, 1873, but was un- attended. There seems to be a want of interest in this undertaking. The Secre- tary hereby places on record the fact that, owingi to the want of the necessary funds due the Association from the subscription to the loan, as recorded on the previous page, he has advanced four hundred and sixteen 3-100 dollars, all of which, together with his subscription of two hundred dollars, has been expended for the necessary improvements in the Cemetery. In addition to this, he has devoted his whole time during the present season in laying out the roads, lots, ditches, and superintending the work. This has been necessary to save a much larger expenditure." Another Meeting^ Unattended. — Copied from page 38 of the record: " At a meeting duly called by the issuance of notices through the post-office, to take place on Friday evening, June 13, 1873, at seven o'clock, at the Bank of Skaneateles, there was not a quorum present." It is unnecessary to make further quotations of a want of interest in establish- ing the new cemetery. First Expenditure. — The first expenditure on the new cemetery was from the loan of two hundred dollars subscribed by myself. On page i of the day- book, E. N. Leslie was credited with "Cash, $200," which was stated as follows : " For the following expenses paid out by him, laying out, and other necessary outlays, the money thus used being his advanced payment on account of his sub- scription toward the loan to the Cemetery." This expenditure, commenced March i, 1872, continued through 1872, and ended in the month of April, 1873. I took two certificates of indebtedness for the two hundred dollar loan. I aver- aged each one hundred dollars of the loan. The first one averaged as having been expended July 26, 1872. The other one hundred dollars averaged as having 422 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. been paid by me February 25, 1873. I was very exact in crediting my payments. The usual course adopted by officers of corporations would have been to have credited the full loan at the commencement of the outlay. The subscriptions to the loan which had been paid were not sufficient to pay the cost of the lands for the new cemetery when the payment became due, April I, 1873. Six hundred and fifty dollars was required to make up the amount. That money had to be paid, according to the terms of sale. None of the trustees had sufficient interest in the final establishment of the cemetery to offer to loan the money needed to make the final payment for the lands. I was deeply inter- ested in the success of the cemetery, but at that time I had not the necessary money on hand. Yet I found a way to obtain the money: I gave my own in- dividual promissory note as a private individual to the order of E. Norman Les- lie, Treasurer of Lake View Cemetery Association, and offered the note for dis- count to the Bank of Skaneateles. The bank accepted the security and paid me the money, with which I paid the deficiency of six hundred and fifty dollars. Then the lands for the new cemetery were secured. I ought to have selected lots in the new cemetery for all my advances of money as loans, and have taken deeds for them. That would have been a safe investment; but, as I had the full charge of the finances, I felt sure that my loans would finally be returned to me from the sales of lots. On page 39 of the record of proceedings, another advance of money by me, amounting to $315.12, was recorded. A further advance of money by me was en- tered in day-book, page 2, as follows : E. N. Leslie was credited for the fol- lowing unpaid subscriptions, advanced by him May 21, 1873, to pay necessary ex- penses in laying out cemetery, $500, the said advance of $500 having been ex- pended as per page 3, amounting to $490.08, which was averaged as having been paid June 23, 1873. The balance, $9.92, was "used for other expenses. Owing to the determined opposition of the late C. Pardee, and of the inhabit- ants of both town and village who were afraid of his influence over their busi- ness affairs, it seemed impossible to sell or dispose of any lots in the new ceme- tery; therefore, on March i, 1880, the following entry was recorded in the day- book, page 24: Memorandum. " It was very generally agreed, among the holders of the Certificates of Indebtedness of the Cemetery of Lake View, that the interest on said Certificates should cease March 10, 1880, inasmuch as the finances of the Association were in an embarrassed condition, and there seemed to be no prospect of their being liquidated according to their terms. And, also, the holders to take the Certificate value in lots of the Association, -with interest added to said date of March 10, 1880. " Interest was computed on all outstanding Certificates, and carried to the credit of each Certificate holder." Of course, the above memorandum was not binding on any certificate holder, but many did accept the situation, and selected lots for their certificates, with HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 4^3 interest added to March lo, 1880. I accepted the situation. March 10, 1880, I credited my account with interest on my two certificates of indebtedness, $102.56. April 26, 1880, 1 credited my account with interest on my first advances of money, June 23, 1873, which was $234.66. Summary of Advances of Money Loaned to the Cemetery Association. — ^Until March 10, 1880, when it became known that the conditions of the cer- tificates of indebtedness could not be paid as there were no sales of burial-lots or money on hand, I had not credited my ledger account with the several loans of money I had made to the association, which I considered of a temporary na- ture. These were as follows : April I, 1873. Deficiency of money to pay for lands $650.00 April 4, 1873. Cash paid for fencing, etc 3IS-I2 May 21, 1873. My advance of five unpaid subscriptions SOO-OO June 20, 1873. Money advanced for necessary work 416.03 $1,881. IS Oct. 9, 1872. My subscription to loan, paid in cash 200.00 March 10, 1880. Interest on this loan to date 102.56 $2,183.71 March 10, 1880. Interest on the above four loans from their several dates 892.04 Total loans, vi^ith interest added $3,075-75 Offsets as follows : Offsets to Money Advanced by Me. March 10, 1880. I charged myself with my burial lot $108.60 March 10, 1880. I sold two lots, one of 559 feet and the other 400 feet, in all 959 feet, and charged myself with the money received ;... I43-8S December 15, 1877. I charged myself with i5S-00 July 3, 1878. I charged myself with 83.67 Oct. 12, 1873. I charged myself with 92.16 Sept. 6, 1879. I charged myself with 100.00 March 10, 1880. I charged myself with 30.00 Total of offsets $7i3-28 Balance of total loans, with interest added as above $3,075.75 Offsets deducted as follows 713-28 Balance due E. N. Leslie up to March 10, 1880 $2,362.47 The above statement of account shows conclusively that the Cemetery Asso- ciation was indebted to me, on March 10, 1880, $2,362.47. At various times during the pendency of the floating debt, I charged myself with several burial-lots, which I marked on the map of the cemetery with my initials : 424 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Oct. I, 1878. I charged myself with Lot No. 125 in Section 2 $ 93.75 Jan. ID, 1880. I charged myself with the following four lots : Numbers S, 6, 7, and 8, in Section 4 120.00 Total $21375 Although charged to me, I never received the money for which the lots above were sold, consequently I did not enter their cost as an offset of the floating debt. Repayment Assured.- — The eventual repayment of the loans advanced by me was fully assured by the terms of the act authorizing the incorporating of Rural Cemetery Associations, passed April 27, 1847, Chapter 133. I therefore did not hesitate to make necessary advances from time to time to insure the final completion of Lake View Rural Cemetery against the determined opposition which was encountered. Chapter 133 of the Laws of 1847 reads thus : " Section 7. One-half at least of the proceeds of all sales of lots or plats shall be first appropriated to the payment of the purchase money acquired by the association until the whole purchase money shall be paid, and after the payment of the purchase money and the debts contracted therefor, and for surveying and laying out the land, the proceeds of all future sales shall be applied to the improve- ment, embellishment, and preservation of such cemetery, and for incidental ex- penses, and for no other purpose and object.'' As I was not only Treasurer, but also Secretary, I kept the detail of the ex- penditure of all the money expended, and whenever there was an opportunity to make an offset against my loans, which I termed in my accounts a " floating debt," I did so. Such offsets were known to the Trustees of the Rural Cemetery Association, and they knew also of my advances of money, not only to pay for the lands, but for laying out the grounds. This mode of offsetting toward the liquidation of the floating debt, contin- ued until the Rural Cemetery Association was donated to " The Trustees of the Village of Skaneateles," which as a matter of course was obligated to assume all the pledges and indebtedness of the Rural Cemetery Association, including not only the certificates of indebtedness, but my loans ip the association for the pur- pose of paying for the lands and for laying them, out. The conditions of the Act of 1847, Section^ 7, provided that one-half at least of the proceeds of the sales of lots shall be appropriated, not only to pay for the lands, but to the payment of the debts, and for surveying and laying out the lands. The village Trustees held possession of the cemetery, after having ac- cepted the gift of Lake View Cemetery Association, until they appointed cemetery commissioners, whose only duty it was to lay out, beautify, and improve the lands. As the Rural Cemetery Association had already laid out, improved, and beautified its lands, there was no necessity of appointing cemetery commis- sioners to do the same work, nevertheless cemetery commissioners were appointed, who were the agents of the village Trustees. It therefore became their duty to HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 425 notify the owners of certificates of indebtedness and others who had loaned money to the association that they had money on hand for the payment pro rata pledged to the repayment of such indebtedness. Neither the village Trustees nor their representatives, the Cemetery Commissioners, have ever attempted or even intended to pay such indebtedness. The commissioners have ever since the first record of their proceedings (meaning the present commissioners), dated March i, 1892, had continually large balances of money on hand, and carried them forward from year to year as follows: March i, 1892, balance, $908.24; March i, 1893, $537.70; March I, 1894, $654.44; March i, 1895, $904.62; March i, 1896, $946.18; March I, 1897, $1124.31; March i, 1898, $1364.71; March i, 1899, $1484.30; March i, 1900, $1555.68; March i, 1901, $1881.52! Here is an average of $1,136 per year, a total of $11,361.70 for ten years. Every year since March i, 1892, until July i, 1897, the village Trustees have passed a resolution similar in effect to the following : "Resolved, That the sum of (naming the balance on hand) be appropriated and turned over to the Board of Cemetery Commissioners, and that a draft pay- able to the order of said Cemetery Commissioners be drawn on the Treasurer for the same.'' Thus the large income derived from the cemetery was diverted by the Trus- tees of the village from their obligations to pay the pledges and indebtedness of the Rural Cemetery Association when they accepted the gift of the cemetery from Joel and Mrs. Thayer, April 9, 1880. Since July i, 1897, when the new village Law went into effect, the annual bal- ances of the cemetery commissioners have been paid to the Treasurer of the vil- lage, subject only to the order of the Trustees of the village. The presumption is, therefore, that the Corporation of the village of Skaneateles, which owns the cemetery, and has received all the income and profits arising therefrom, is re- sponsible for all the pledges, debts, and other obligations of the Rural Cemetery Association which have not been liquidated, and are now a just claim against the Corporation of the village of Skaneateles. Although Chapter 133 of the Laws of 1847 provided only that one-half at least of the proceeds of all sales of lots or plats shall be first appropriated for the debts, laying out, etc., still, under present conditions, where there is an out- standing indebtedness, all surplus income can be appropriated for the liquidation of long-standing indebtedness. My advances of money to the Rural Cemetery Association have no docu- mentary evidence, except as Treasurer, where in my accounts I made entries where and how such loans were expended, and as Secretary I kept all the prcv- ceedings of the officers of the association, and in a few instances when there was a meeting I reported the sums of money I had advanced for laying out and other improvements, which were by resolution adopted. The balance due to me up to March 10, 1880, $2362.47. 426 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. There was due, same date, to Thomas Y. Avery, $149.25. Neither of which has been liquidated in any manner. The existence of Lake View Cemetery as it is to-day would have been an im- possibility, without the loans of money which were made by me to complete the purchase of the lands, and to pay the expense of laying out the grounds, and fully completing the cemetery in all details. There was no other money used for this purpose but the money advanced by me. The corporation of the village of Skaneateles is the owner of the cemetery, which came to it as a gift, and which has never cost its taxpayers any money, and it is justly responsible for all the obligations of the Rural Association, from whom it accepted the cemetery as a gift. It, through its appointed agents, the cemetery commissioners, has received large profits from the use of the cemetery, as has heretofore been stated, and is justly responsible to pay me the sum due me March 10, 1880, $2,362.47, and also the full amount due Thomas Y. Avery from the date of his original loan of $100, with interest to date. The submis- sion of a proposition to the qualified voters of the village, under Section 59 of the village Law, directing the Trustees of the village of Skaneateles to pay the said indebtedness from the income of the cemetery (excepting income from trust funds), would be a lawful proceeding, as I have been informed by the Commis- sion of Statutory Revision on the question of granting a franchise which is not specifically mentioned in the village Law. The qualified voters would un- doubtedly vote favorably on such a proposition, after having become assured that such proposition was a just claim against the profits ofvthe cemetery only, and not to cost the taxpayers a single dollar. The late Joel Thayer, had been President of the association until August, 1879, when he declined reelection, as he had at that time purchased the C. Pardee interest in the old burying-ground, for the purpose of conveying it to the Trustees of the village of Skaneateles. At a meeting of the trustees of the Association of Lake View, held April 3, 1880, the following resolution was unanimously passed: "Resolved, That the President and Treasurer be, and are hereby, authorized to cause the corpo- rate seal to be affixed, and to execute a deed of conveyance covering and includ- ing all the lands of the Cemetery Association, incorporated under the name and style of 'Lake View,' to Joel Thayer and Juliet L. Thayer, of the village of Skane- ateles, under and by authority of Chapter 52 of the Laws of 1880." That was a great mistake, as the Rural Cemetery Association ought to have been continued, and have been an independent corporation, which would have re- deemed all its certificates of indebtedness, and also the $3,075 which I loaned the association, from one-half of the sales of lots, according to the terms of the loan. Unfortunately, I assented to the transfer of Lake View lands to the Trus- tees of the village of Skaneateles, under Chapter 52 of the Laws of 1880. The corporation of the village Trustees has never paid a single certificate of indebtedness itself, or by its appointed officers the Cemetery Commissioners, nor HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 427 has the money loaned by me to the Rural Association ever been paid, since March 10, 1880 ! The village of Skaneateles, therefore, became the owner of the whole cemetery, without being taxed for its purchase. The village Trustees thereafter appointed five Cemetery Commissioners for the term of five years from April 26, 1880, and their whole duties were to lay out and beautify the lands. Those appointed were Joel Thayer, E. Norman Leslie, James A. Root, T. Kelley, and Wills Clift. These commissioners had all been trustees of the Rural Cemetery Association, which was an independent corpora- tion over which the village Trustees had no control. As trustees of an inde- pendent corporation, they had full powers to sell lots, plats, and graves, and to retain the moneys received, and to expend such moneys as they deemed for the interest of their association, entirely independent of the Trustees of the village. Having been trustees of an independent corporation, they only knew that their names or titles had been changed to Cemetery Commissioners, and were not aware that their powers as such .commissioners had become very limited, consequently, after their appointment, and, without having been informed by the village Trus- tees, that their whole powers as commissioners consisted in laying oiit any new grounds that may be purchased by the village Trustees. In consequence of their being in complete ignorance of their limited powers, they continued the same powers as they had as officers of a Rural Cemetery Association, sold lots, plats, and graves, kept the moneys, and expended it just as they thought best, and, in fact, assumed control of the cemetery, independent of the village Trustees, who were seemingly quite as ignorant as was their appointed Cemetery Commis- sioners of the latters' powers and duties. Note. — The author deems it of importance at this point of the inside history of Lake View Cemetery to insert an explanatory paragraph. There having been five cemetery commissioners appointed by the Trustees of the village, they were public officers — " public functionaries," under the opinion of the court, in 81 N. Y., pp. 1 16-126, which reads as follows: " We are of the opinion that the official act of a public functionary may be freely criticized, and entire freedom of expression used in argument, sarcasm and ridicule upon the act itself; and that then the occasion will excuse everything but actual malice and evil purpose of the critic." — Folger, J. One of the five cemetery commissioners was particularly active as a public func- tionary in the further details of this inside history. It has, therefore, become necessary to indicate him by the word official in criticizing his acts as such com- missioner. It was only after his appointment that opportunities ceased to offset the moneys loaned the Rural Cemetery Association. The death of Joel Thayer, who had been an active and interested member of the Rural Association from its commencement, occurred May 19, 1881. The official, whom the village Trustees appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Joel Thayer, first attended a meeting of the commissioners held September 6, 1881. It was soon noticed that he assumed the role of "boss." 428 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. At that meeting, September 6, 1881, Benoni Lee was present as counsel, and he was requested to read the statute, Chapter 696 of the Laws of 1871, defining the duties and powers of Cemetery Commissioners. It was ascertained that their powers were much more restricted and limited than had been anticipated, and it was then suggested that an ordinance be prepared and submitted to the Trus- tees of the village for their approval and action, giving to the commissioners such additional powers as was suggested by the ordinances submitted. The sug- gestion was not adopted, and no ordinances were prepared, and consequently none were submitted. Under these conditions, the commissioners never received any additional powers. But since that time the commissioners have assumed un- warrantable, illegal, and unjust powers over the property of the people of the village of Skaneateles, adopting arbitrary rules which are inconsistent with the rights of every inhabitant of the village, who are the owners of the cemetery, particularly the commissioners' arbitrary determination that they will not receive any money less than fifty dollars in trust for the perpetual care of a lot in the cemetery. It is seldom if ever that mechanics, laborers, or women receive fifty dollars in ready money which can be spared for this or for any one purpose. Every individual in the community has an undoubted right to deposit any money in trust with the servants of the village, and such servants are only empowered to adopt reasonable rules. See Section 292, village Laws. Also see Chapter 139, Laws of 1881, Section i : "Every corporation which shall, under authority of law, hold, occupy, and use lands for a cemetery may receive by gift any moneys for the maintenance of any private lot, according to the terms of such gift." The power and privilege to build up a trust fund from year to year be- long to the people, who are the owners of the cemetery, and the commissioners have no power to deprive them of their rights. If the commissioners were elec- tive officers, the people would then have the power to correct unreasonable abuses, but as they are not elective, and far beyond the reach of the people, they are powerless. The following is a full list of trust funds deposited with the Cemetery Com- missioners to date of the year 1901 : Total Trusts Received to 1901. No. Name. Amount. No. Name. Amount. 1. Benoni Lee $300.00 10, 2. Mary F. Fuller 50.00 11 3. Harriet A. Van Fliet 50.00 12. 4. Clarissa H. Brown 50.00 13 5. John Davey 50.00 14. 6. E. S. Hoyt 100.00 15 7. E. Peacock 50.00 16. 8. John Rossiter 50.00 17 9. A. A. Brooks 50.00 18. F. L. Cuddeback $50.00 Schuyler Moore 50.00 L. S. and H. W. Cleaveland, Ex. 100.00 E. B. Hoyt 100.00 William Marvin 100.00 H. Cornell 50.00 Star Greenfield 50.00 Sarah Douglass 100.00 Willis Piatt, Ex 80.00 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 429 No. Name. Amount. No. Name. Amount. 19. Laura R. Roosevelt $175.00 40. Sarah J. Vary $75.00 20. Jane L. Burridge 50.00 41. William Orr 100.00 21. Simon Cook 50.00 42. Jane Hardwich 80.00 22. Henry James 50.00 43. Estate M. A. Harris 50.00 23. Mary T. Porter 100.00 44. Angeline A. Benedict 150.00 24. Captain Benjamin Lee 50.00 45. Helen A. Young 50.00 25. F. G. and J. H. Austin 50.00 46. Helen A. Young 50.00 26. Estate Benjamin Petheram 50.00 47. Catharine C. Groom 50.00 27. E. B. Rhoades 50.00 48. Mary A. Charles 80.00 28. Sarah E. Horton 50.00 49. C.C.Bradford 100.00 29. Minerva Voorhees 50.00 50. Elizabeth A. Burns 50.00 30. Sarah W. Shotwell 80.00 51. F.C.Lawrence 50.00 31. Willis Piatt 50.00 52. B. B. Northrup 80.00 32. Thomas Corley 50.00 53. Matilda Clark 50.00 33. Maria M. Morgan 100.00 54. Jane Harwood 50.00 34. C. W. Allis 80.00 55. Laura A. Rhodes, etc 93.50 35. W. B. Lawton 50.00 56. Eliza Holben 50.00 36. H. J. Gibbs, Estate 150.00 57. James W. Webb 50.00 37. Newell Turner 80.00 58. Eliza P. Sandford 125.00 38. W. P. Baker 80.00 59. Estate E. A. Campbell 100.00 39. Phoebe J. Sampson 200.00 — Miss Hetty Kennedy 30.00 These fifty-nine trusts consist mostly of non-residents of the village of Skaneateles. Most of them were bequests by last will and testament; a few in person during life. The cemetery belongs to the inhabitants of the village. Very few of their names are to be found among the depositors of these trusts. Where are the names of the workingmen — ^the carpenters, the masons, the painters, the iron-workers, the merchants, the clerks, the day-laborers, and other residents of limited means? All those thus enumerated compose mostly the en- tire population. Their interest in the future care of their burial-lots in the vil- lage cemetery is as close to their hearts as those named in this list of trusts. The last name on the list. Miss Hetty Kennedy, as will be noticed, is not num- bered, being next to No. 59, and not received as a trust. It is explained by the fact that the cemetery commissioners would not receive thirty dollars in trust for the care of a little lot. Thirty dollars, at savings-bank interest, will earn $1.05 per year. The cemetery commissioners would charge only one dollar per year for the same lot if paid in cash annually. The iron rule — made, in my opin- ion, by the official — seems to be the guide of his associate commissioners, whose antecedents would naturally favor the working population. A few years ago, I endeavored to make an experiment relative to depositing trust moneys with these boss commissioners. I as an executor had one hundred and fifty dollars to be deposited in trust, and also thirty dollars for the same purpose. Besides these I contributed five dollars for a friend, to be deposited in trust as the foundation of a fund to be added to from time to time in the fu- ture. In response to this, the following communication was received: 430 HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. Skaneateles, N. y., November 9, 1897. Mr. E. N. Leslie: Dear Sir: Your communications regarding trust moneys presented to this Board was acted upon, and I am ordered to report as follows : The Board accepts the offer of $150.00 for perpetual care of the William Gibbs lot, and enclosed find trust deeds in duplicate, etc. Regarding the other two sums, namely, the amount of $5.00 in behalf of .... for the care of Lot No. 64, and the sum of $30.00 for the care of Lot No. 84, etc., I am ordered to return to you, together with a copy of a resolution of this Board bearing upon receiving such sums. You will please find a copy of the resolution attached and enclosed herewith. Respectfully yours, Warren B. De Witt, Clerk. [copy.] Skaneateles, N. Y. Copy of resolution pertaining to trust moneys, adopted by the Board of Cemetery Com- missioners: Resolved, That no Trust Fund for a sum less than fifty dollars be received for the per- petual care of any one lot, and trust funds for care of all lots exceeding 10 by 20 feet shall be at the rate of twenty-five cents per superficial foot; but amounts less than fifty dollars will be accepted for the care of any lot, the interest and principal, as far as may be neces- sary, to be expended for the proper maintenance thereof. This last condition is an express determination against any person building up a fund in trust by annual additions. The inside history of Lake View Cemetery would not be complete without giving the characteristics of the official. As an associate commissioner for four years, I found him particularly dogmatical, self-willed, and self-sufficient. As my term of office had expired I determined to avoid further association with him. The last meeting of the commissioners which I attended was November 24, 1885. Five years after the above date, viz., March i, 1890, as I was passing along the sidewalk opposite the Bank of Skaneateles, the official accosted me and asked me to come into the bank, after which he requested me to sign the annual report of the commission. In reply I refused, as I knew nothing about the report, when he said that he would especially like to have my name attached, and that I only need certify its correctness to the best of my knowledge and belief. I did not comprehend then his evil design, which design will fully appear hereafter. The following year, March 17, 189 1, the official kept watch for me while passing the Bank of Skaneateles, and when I came along he again asked me to come into the bank, to which I complied, and he made the same request, asking me to place my signature to the annual report of the commissioners, to which request I again refused. He said he particularly wanted my name on the report, and said that by doing so I assumed no responsibility, as I would only certify its HISTORY OF SKANEATELES. 431 correctness to the best of my knowledge and belief. I signed my name to it. Again I did not comprehend his treacherous purpose. He was fully aware that I had not met with the commission since Novem- ber 24, 1885. His sneaking design was to make it appear to the public, by pub- yWj*^*iifl&i*6' ^hm^i' '-'^U^gdi 7i-^& 132, 370 Noah 194 Samuel 68, 133 & Hall 194 Brinkerhoff, Aaron 208 & Porter 208 & Willetts 208 Bristol, John 67 Burdict, " Old " David 219, 224 Burnett, Albert De Cost 359, 361 Mrs. C. J 67 Charles J 23, 26, 28, 32, 136, 218, 281, 282, 306, 320 Charles J., Jr 201, 208 466 INDEX OF NAMES. PAGE. Burnett, Joseph H 284 William J 317 Burridge, John 286 Burroughs, Daniel •. 20, 273 Bush, Silas 23 C. Campbell, Dr. Geo. T 35, 318, 325 Candee, Mrs. Eliza A 142 Carpenter, John 308 Carrigan, P. C, & Co 172 Caulkins (a cooper) 15 Chadwick, Holland W 172 Champ, Alfred 438 Child, W. H '. 108 Clark, Ashley 183 Mrs. Calvin 368 Charles (Parsons) 215 Chester zo Eli 8, 15, 52, 95, 281 Foster 15, 52, 281 William 281 Clift, Joab IS Joseph 280 William 62, 78, 91, 405 Cobane, Miss Lydia A 318 Cody, Mrs 30, 120 Coe, Edward B 160, 171, 172, 284, 318 Noble 214 Cole, Bethuel 15, 361 Collins, John A 175 Colvin, Jasper H 183, 320 Conover, Shuler D 318 Cornell, Perry 220 Cory, Adin 284 Cotton, George, & Owen 366 Willard 366 & Lewis 79 Crosby, Phillip 281 Ransom 284 Crosier, Tip 276 Cuddeback, Abraham 370 Abraham A 11, 13, 36, 269 Lafayette 81 Cuykendall, Henry 19 Moses 19 D. Daniels, John 282 Dascomb, Joseph 23, 136, 183, 320 PAGE. Davey, John, Jr 306 Day, Rowland 331 Winston 14, 15, 23, 25, 30, 32, 33, 35, 144, 168, 177, 388 & Hecox 154 & Sherwood 48, 388 De Cost, Mrs. Hannah H 142, 390 Capt. Nash 140, 284, 293, 298 Delano, Howard 171 De Witt, Jacob C 306 De Zeng, Richard L 316, 368 Dibble, Philo 23, 136 Dickerson, McKendree 225 & Kennedy 305 Diefendorf, Geo. E 159 Daniels, Spencer A 286 Dodge, Harrison B 72, 153, 208, 306, 331 Douglass, Archibald 170 William B 78 Drake, Samuel 168 Dullard, Mr ". 34 Dunning, Moses B 331 E. Earll, A. J 304 Abijah 21, 22 Augustus 22, 171 Daniel 16, 21, 22, 170, 183 David , 195 Delos 171 George H 22, 172, 173 George H., & Co 303 Dr. George W 328 Hezekiah 21, 22, 172, 320 Hezekiah, & Co 172 Hiram 171 J. Horatio 22 Jonas 17 Julius 20, 22, 172, 173, 276 Kellogg & Co 333 Leonard H 22, 171, 272 Nehemiah H 16, 17, 18, 22 Robert ... .16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 32, 172, 281 Thayer & Co 172, 305 & Tallman 305 Edwards, Alanson 16, 23, 52, 114, 116 Jonathan 293 Simeon 115 Solomon 115 Thaddeus 16, 23, 116, 213, 367 Eells, Nathaniel 28, 213 INDEX OF NAMES. 467 PAGE. Ellery, William G 306 Elliott, Charles L 296 Ellsbury, George H 221 Ennis, James 312, 367 F. Farr, Archibald 135 Fay, Massilon 219 Field, Sereno 281 Fillmore, Millard 175 Fitch, Lewis B 371 Fitzgerald, William 11 Flink, Dr 70 Foster, Sol 70 Francis, George ' 188, 208, 284 Samuel 113, 168, 221, 282, 320 Wadsworth 71 Frost, Ansel 171, 405 Joseph 284 Russell 284, 28s Fuller, C. M 285 James Cannings 150, 368 Sumner 255 William 143, 306 Furman, John S 281, 282, 284, 320 G. Gardner, James 20 Garlock, John G 20 Gaylord, Silas 284 Gibbs, Miss Harriet J 283 William 282, 306, 320 & Hannum 168 & Horton 198 Gifford, Mrs. S. A 368 Stephen A 202 Giles, Warren 284 Gillett, Edson D 306 Gillman, James R 272 Goodall, Charles 102, 163 Gorton, Dr. Wm. R 306, 328 Gould, Edward Osboi'ne 211, 212, 369 Phares 23, 35, 124, 134, 209, 212, 306, 336, 366 Gray, George 169 Greenman, Edward 20 Greeves, Thomas 35 Griswold, Eziekel I55 Gumaer, Benjamin 78 Peter E I93. 367 H. PAGE. Hale, Seth M 318 Hall, Charles F 293 Charles S 318 David 183, 194, 19s, 218, 219, 286, 336, 337 Edwin E 371 George B '. 18 James 219, 286, 306, 311 Dr. Jonathan 326 Ralph 85, IIS, 219, 286 Seth & James 130, 169, 320 Will T 331 & Pynchon 194 Hammond, Dr. Alex 328 Hannum, Spencer 306, 333 Hawley, Nelson 284, 306, 320, 331 Hecox, Thomas W 320 Warren 174, 183 & Tinkham 78 Hicks, Elias 367 Hitchcock, Alfred 272, 370 Hoagland, Jacob 286 Hopkins, Dr. Judah B 280, 326, 335 Horton, Alexander 306 Stephen 198, 282, 329, 331 Howe, David 79 John 382 Hoyt, Edward S 157 Ezekiel B 172, 304 Ezekiel B., & Co 172 Hubbard, Daniel 3, 4 H. J 206, 324, 368 Humphreys, Correl 79 John 284, 318 Hunsicker, Elias 171 Hutchinson, Thos 308 Huxford, Henry D 332 Huxtable, Richard 286 I. Ingham, Samuel 198, 200, 201, 366 Isbell, Charles B 151 Isom, Thomas, Jr 200, 272 & Hall 205, 206 J. Jacacks, Samuel 12 Jerome, Addison G 211, 221, 336 Leonard H 211, 336 468 INDEX OF NAMES. PAGE. Jewett, Freeborn G 78, 129, 158, 193, 208, 306, 331 William H 208, 284, 306, 33i Johnson, Elisha 19S Quincy A 176 K. Keeney, E. Sherman 40S Kelley, Thos 306, 332, 376 Kellogg, Augustus 149, 221, 283, 316, 320, 394 Daniel 26, 48, 121, 183, 191, 289 Daniel, Jr 136 David H 317 Dorastus 28, 152, 168, 170, 333 Jessee 28, 79, 193, 268 John 20, 35, 152, 171, 222 John R 28, 44, 49 Noadiah 320 Kingsbury, Dr. David 13, 14, 326 Kirkland, Samuel 241 Knapp, Ezra B 306 Kneeland, Asa 78, 386 Horace 386 Dr. Jonathan 386 Knibloe, Mrs. Sophia 142 Knox, J. K 371 L. Lamb, Alford 308 Lafayette, General 184 Lawrence, Dorastus 62 Giles M 206 George P 202 Lawton, Abner 164, 284, 285 Lapham, Anson 206, 318, 320, 321, 322 Amie Ann 318, 323 Lee, Capt. Benjamin 23, 137 Benoni 276, 318, 322, 396, 398 Ezra 91 Legg, John 17, 23. 35, 66, 78, 113, 143, 154, 169, 172, 218, 306, 317, 320 Moses 78 Leitch, Geo. F 158, 287, 289, 306 Mrs. Geo. F 34 Leland, John 17 Leonard, Nathan 7, 15, 82 Norman 15, 23, 35, 37, 82, 367, 388 Leslie, E. Norman 275, 284, 306, 318, 333, 334 Mrs. E. N 323, 325 PAGE. Lester, Dr. F. Harvey 328 Litherland, Samuel 16, 33, 34, 113, 281 Livingston, John W 23, 282, 335 Lord, Dr. H. R 294 Loss, Moses 35, 79 Ludlow, Daniel 200, 312 Edward G 200, 282, 316, 366 & Hecox 200 Lusk (early carpenter) 17 M. McCray, James ,. . . . 405 McKay, Daniel 69 McLaughlin, John 306 McNamara, John 371 Mabbett, John H 170 Manley, Elijah 361, 370 Marvin, William. .259, 275, 306, 318, 321, 322 Mason, Asa 15 Avery 15 Chloe 16 J. L 16 Capt. Rishworth 154, 214 & Earll .■ 78 Meeker, John 35, 37, 76, 77, 200, 388 Mellen, Jeremiah 171 Lucius 171 Merrell, Dr. Charles F 156, 214 Elias 52 Milford, C. R 306 Miller, Nathaniel 35, 37, 388 Mills, Isaac 367 John 20 Timothy 367 Miner, Amos . . . ■ 37, 42, 171 Deming & Sessions " 41 Moore, Mrs. Schuyler 14 Morgan, George P 200 Seth 20 & Daniels 200 Morton, Gavin 172 Thomas '.....- 171, 172 Moseley, Daniel T 18, 148, 208 Moses, Chester •. . . . 281 Henry 273 Lucien 206 & Huxtable 195 Mott, Arthur 170, 171, 368 Mrs. Lydia P 232, 368 Hunger, Dr., Sr 16, 17 INDEX OP NAMES. 469. N. PAGE. Newton, Adolphus 118 Northam, Alfred 269 Nurse, (Sir) James 187 Nye, Benjamin 20 Henry S 308 John M 20 O. O'Keefe (tailor) 17 Oxley, Charles 225 P. Packwood, John 167, 305, 308 Padelford, E. M 318 Pardee, Amos 23, 24 C, & Co 20s, 206 Charles 23, 24, 28, 40, 187, 203, 208, 218, 254, 282, 320, 306 Ebenezer 120, 200, 207 Paresell, Dr. L 328 Parker, Amasa 30 Parsons, Chester 22, 23, 13s Elijah 68, 193 Ives 71 Spencer 197 & Rust 197 Patterson, Rev. A. C 212 Mrs. Juliet C 392 Pattison, Wm. H 156 Peck, Holcomb 25 Liva 14s Noah 2S6 Pelle, Peter 226 Pendleton, Charles 171 Charles, & Sons 171 Perry, Isaac W 306, 320, 332, 336 Petheram, B. & J 170 Benjamin F 170, 371 Phelps, Mr 405 Thomas B 285 Pierce, Dr 326 Judah 23 Pierson, John 282 Poor, Charles H 16, 35, 201, 211 Porter, Dr. Evelyn H 284, 327 J. Gurdon 19s, 197, 221, 284, 317, 332 James 35. 36, 91. 281, 292, 336 Dr. Samuel.. 14, 16, 17, 116, 191, 326, 405 & Jewett 135 & Pardee 205, 206 PAGE. Potter, Mr 23 Caleb W 79 E. C 368 Francis M 317, 368 Powell, Thomas 226 William 226 Pratt, Dr. William 326 Preston, M. N 281 Price, Elijah 367 William 16, 17 Purcell, Rev. F. J 288 Putnam, Perley 36 Porter & Leonard 41, 49 Pynchon, George A 194 R. Ray & Bannister 172 Redfield, Justin 284 Reed, Hiram 30, 1 18 & Case 172 Reynolds, A. R 171 Rhoades, S. Porter 52, 320 Samuel 52 Dr. Sumner 273 & Burnett 202 Robbins, Daniel C 367 Roberts, Sylvester 35, 169,214 Robertson, Samuel 20 Roosevelt, Frederick 113, 320 H. L 275 Nicholas J 146, 2ig, 284 Root, Henry 15 James A 36, 306 Joseph IS, 78 Rowal, John 405 Rust, Elijah P 282 S. Sabins, Israel 17, 405 Sackett, James yd, 129 Sandford, Edward 178 John 183 Lewis H 178, 183, 214, 306 & Moseley 148 Samuels, Mr 16 Sanger, Jedediah 168, 212, 268 Sartwell, Levi 28, 32 Selover, Isaac 33, 35, 78, 113 47° INDEX OF NAMES. Sessions, Amasa 23, 285 Ebenezer 23 Seymour, David 212 Shallish, Jeremiah 332 Shear, Fred 36 Shepard, Edward 167 John 66 N. 306, 378 Sherwood, Isaac 27, 28, 30 John Milton 30 John P 18 Shotwell, Walter 219 Sinclair & Hubbard 304 Skaneateles Manufacturing Co 168 Slade, William G 202, 218 Smith, Amasa 14, 79 John H 318 Nehemiah 336 Reuel 141 Sidney 276 Snook, Dr. John 149, 286 John, Jr 149, 150, 284 Thomas 306 Stacey & Packwood '. 169 Stansbury, George A 183, 193, 234, 239 Stephens, Levi 78 Stephenson, John C 318 Stiles, B. F 368 Taber, Mrs. William R 285 Talcott, Daniel 79, 284, 306, 316 Joseph 14s R., & Co. 19s Richard !' 153, 168, 19s, 200, 218, 284, 316, 367 Sarah 284, 285 & AUis 130 & Gridley 130 Talman, Charles 22, 171 Taylor, Aaron 15, 78 Nathaniel 286 Thayer (artist) ' 331 Joel 151. 169, 172, 208, 216, 306, 318 Joel, & Co 30s Thompson, John 11, 12, 15 Peter 79, iS4 Thorne, Elias 79, 208 Obadiah 136, 193, 208 Nicholas .' 184 William E 184 PAGE. Tolles, Chester 291 Townsend, W. J 203 Turner, Newell 263, 306 Tyler, James 219 V. Valentine, Benjamin 316 Van Dyck, George 169 & Davey 169 Van Etten, Jacob 19, 212 Van Houghton, Tunis 20 Vredenburg, Wm. J.... 8, 16, 26, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 3S, 48, 89, 113, 281, 287, 289 W. Waldron, David 23 Waller, Daniel 41 John E 306, 371 Warner, Dr 405 Watson, Daniel 16, 17, 170, 186, 405 John 14 Watts, William 20 Webb, Henry T 318 Weeks, Forrest G. 172, 275, 277, 286, 367, 453 Webster, Hon. Daniel 183 & Bristol 405 Welch, David 19, 20 Samuel 20, 26 Weston, Josiah 16 Jonathan 16 Wheadon, Samuel C 386 Wheeler, Benedict & Co 304 R- B 317 Whitman, Miss Edey 16 Whittelsey, Peter 317 Wicks, George H 195, 371 Wightman, Allen 285 Wilkinson, Alfred 183 Joab 70 Willetts, Joseph C 306. 318 Valentine 284 William 208, 284 William H 306 William R 318 Wolcott, B. S., & Co 197 Butler S 197, 282, 284, 320 & Porter 130 Worden, L. S., & Co 169, 217 Wright, A. M 318 Wyckoff, C. C 13 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. A. PAGE. Aboriginal Name of Skaneateles Lake. . 269 Account-Books of Early Merchants. . .8, 388 Accounts, Old 106 Address of Red Jacket 244 Address to Indians by Miss Stansbury. . 243 Address to Indians by the Moravian Bishop 243 Adventures Around the World, Re- markabk 103 Advertisement, Old 109 Affair of Honor no Agriculture of Skaneateles 300 " A Hundred Years Ago," poem 133 "Ariel," Its Account of Skaneateles in 1830 191 Arthur's Experiment to obtain Kisses... 236 Artist, Struggles of and Portraits by an. . 296 Artist Thayer yT, 331 Attorney-General, Author's Criticism of Opinion of 44° Author's Adventures with the Legal Fra- ternity 440 B. Ballrooms and Music. 112 Bank of Skaneateles 254 Banks 253 Bear Story (^ " Beautiful Squaw " Si " Bees " 9 Before Photographs were known 228 Bill of Goods in 1806 31, ii7 Bonding of Skaneateles 274 Bonding of Skaneateles defeated.— Early' Missions and Religious Denominations. 274 Bounty Lands to Soldiers i Bowen Road ■ i3> 88 Boy Life on a Farm in Skaneateles 215 PAGE. Brick House, The Hecox 217 Brick first made by Nye 20 Bricks, Kelsey's Stamped 19 Bricks, Order for, in 1814 86 Bridge, New 305 British Prisoners 113 Brother of Traitor Benedict Arnold a resident of Village 78, 112 " Burdette," Sir James Nurse, a Re- markable Character 187 Burglary, A Sensational 135 Burial-ground of 1846 133 Burial-Place, Earliest 131 Burial-Places, Early, and General His- tory ; 131 Business, Early, in Skaneateles yy Business Firms, Early 69 Business in 1834 69 Business Men in 1830 130 Business Men in 1841 135 C. Canoe, Bark, found in mud 16 Cardiff Giant, History of the 94 Cardiff Giant and the Indians loi Carriage Factory 305 Carriage-Shop, Seth & James Hall's. . . . 130 Caterpillers, Old-Time, in 1798 92 Celebrity of Mrs. Elizabeth T. Porter Beach 336 Cemetery, Evergreen 432 Cemetery, Lake View 258 Cemetery, Lake View, and its Inside His- tory 418 Cemetery, Opposition to an Incorporated Public '. 2SS Census of Skaneateles 301 Central New York Electric Light and Power Company 253 472 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. PAGE. Century's Ending, A Great 406 Chair Factories 304 Champ, Alfred, and the Civil War 438 Chancery, Sale in. Copy of — Description of Part of Village 14S Changes in Property Ownership and Es- tablishment of Libraries 309 Child, First, born of Parents residing in Skaneateles 14 Chipmunk Story by Sam Francis 221 Church Diversion 367 Churches 280 Churches and Library 389 " Circle of Industry," Thanks to 283 Civil War, Draft during the 339, 347 Civil War, Roll of Honor of Volunteers during the 349 Civil War, Soldiers and Sailors who gave up their lives in the 3S9 Coaches 29, 259, 273 Coach, First, from Utica to Canandaigua. 47 Coin, old One-Cent 8 Cold Summer in 1816 92 Collect Pond and Fitch's Steamboat 147 Colored Man's Plaint 89 " Columbia," Ode 335 Community Place I7S Conclusion 451 Congregational Society 288 Conveyance to F. G. Jewett 78 Cooper-Shops 213 Criticism of Opinion of Attorney-General. 440 D. Dam, Breaking and Sunday Repairs.... 45 Dam, Breaking and Sunday Repairs, An- other Version 85 Dam, The First 16 Dark Day, The 113 Death, A Melancholy 207 Decision against Water Works Company. 454 Deer Skins, Manner of Dressing 62 Defeat of the Attempt to bond Skane- ateles in behalf of a Railroad 274 Defeat of the Skaneateles Water Works Company ^ 74 Description of Skaneateles, Earliest Re- corded, by Rev. T. D wight 247 Description of Skaneateles Village in 1809 84 PAGE. Description of the Village in 1842 296 Description of Village by John J. Thomas in 1830 191 De Zeng - Lapham - Padelford - Roosevelt Property, History of 309 Diefendorf Families in this Town 159 Discovery of the Plate and Description of Skaneateles in 1830 192 Distillery 305 Division of Marcellus 93 Doctor, A Colored 70 Doctor's Handbill 157 Document discovered by the Author.... 431 Draft during the Civil War 339, 347 Drays, Home-Made 90 Dress, Simplicity and Plainness of. ..285, 287 Dryden, Groton, and Moravia Telegraph Com.pany 253 Duel, A Practical Joke no E. Earliest History, The i Earliest Industry in this Town 173 Earliest Recorded Visit to Skaneateles Lake by Missionaries 3 Early History 112 Early History, Various Items 134 Early Merchants 194, 366 Early Physicians and Local History. . . . 326 Early Pioneers 11, 63 Early Recollections of Thaddeus Ed- wards 167 Early Reminiscences 107 Early Settlers 212 Early Settlers before 1803 and before 181S S3 Early Settlers in Skaneateles 68 Educational Sources and Early Schools. 229 Edwards Family .- 114 Elections in 1836 91 Elevation of Skaneateles Lake 270 Elm-Tree, The Large 32 Engraving of Skaneateles in 1830 191 Enrolment List of Skaneateles 339 Enrolment of Abie-Bodied Men in Town of Skaneateles who were subject to Draft in the Civil War, with their Ages, and List of Drafted Men... 339, 347 Episcopal Missions 279 Epitaph on Charles Oxley 225 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 473 PAGE. Epitaph, Proposed 149 Erie Canal, its Effect on this Town 224 Evergreen Cemetery 432 . Excitement, The First 85 Execution of Louis XVI. and Marie An- toinette, Daniel Ludlow's Account of the 313 Expedition to Australia in 1852 in Search of Gold 216 F. Farmers' Daughters 84 Fences and Buildings 301 Fire Department, Origin of the Village. 332 Fire, Great, in the Village in 1835 184 Fires and Cooking 7 First Baptist Society 285 First Child born of Parents who were Residents of Skaneateles 14 First Cuddeback, The 69 First Events, etc 16 First Industri.es in Town and Village, Commencing with the Village 168 First National Bank 254 First Organ 320 First Resident of the Village 16 First School 229 First Schoolhouse erected 230 First School taught in this Town 16 First School under St. James' Church. . 230 First Settler of Skaneateles 11, 83 First Steamboat Excursion to the Head of the Lake, with Names of the Party. . 367 First Steamboat on Skaneateles Lake. . 77 First Yacht 292, 369 Fisherman, A Patient 71 Fish, Young, placed in Skaneateles Lake. 223 Flouring-Mills 304, 30S Forest, A 85 Forests, The Original, in this Town 86 Foundry and Machine- Shop 304 Fourierism ■ ■ I77 "Four Sisters," The First Yacht. .. .292, 369 Fourth of July, 1831, Grand Celebration of 107 Fourth of July, 1832, Celebration of 335 Fourth of July, 183S, Celebration of.... 117 Fragments of History 78, 79 Friends, Society of 284 G. PAGE. Gardener, A 84 General Training Day 109 Geology of Skaneateles 299 Gin, Legend concerning a Jug of 34 Glimpse of Skaneateles and its Surround- ings in 1812 165 God's Acre 132 Goods, Bill of 117 Goods, Original Bill of 31 Graveyard, The First 88 H. Hamilton and Skaneateles Turnpike. .88, 91 Haunted Tavern, Legend of 309 Headquarters for Emigrating Families. . 13 Historical Collections 247 History, Fragments of 331 History, Local, as elaborated by the Newspaper Press of Syracuse 408 History, Official, of Skaneateles .~ 306 History of the Daniel C. Bobbins Place, now the Mingo Lodge 367 History, The Earliest i " Hive," The, A Quaker School 247 Horses, Use of, in Traveling 30, iig House divided and transported 317 How a Wealthy Citizen was Swerved from his purpose of establishing a Free Public Library in Skaneateles 320 I. Illustration of the Uncertainty of Human Life 386 Indian Massacre in Florida 362 Indian Oratory 49 Indian Queen Hotel 228 Indians, Cardiff Giant and the loi Indians, Missionary Work among 241 Indians, Reception, Addresses, and Re- plies 240 Industries at Mottville, and Below 171 Industries in the Town of Skaneateles Outside of the Village 170 Inside History of Lake View Cemetery, which has never before been made public 418 . Interesting Items 193 474 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. PAGE. Introduction of Merino Sheep, Early Merchants, and Steamboat Excursions. 362 Inventions by Miner 37, 46 Inventions, Wonderful, of Grant Bram- ble 227 Iroquois Indians, Journey to Philadel- phia .'. 240 J. Journey for Assistance, Woman's 21 Journey through the Wilderness, A Woman's Remarkable 30, 120 Judges' Traveling Party 89 K. Kirkland, Dominie, Adventures of 49 Kirkland, Rev. Samuel, Life and Mission- ary Work among the Indians 241 Kisses obtained through Disguise 236 Knocker, The Patent, a Wonderful In- vention 215 L. Ladies' Aid Society during the Civil War. 386 Lafayette, General, Visit of, to Skane- ateles 184 Lake Bank, The 253 Lake House, The 336 Lake, Map of, the Outline of a Female. 138 Lake Surroundings 138 Lake View Cemetery and Skaneateles Lake , 258 Lake View Cemetery, Origin of 258 Lake View Cemetery, Its Inside History. 418 Lawyers, The Bible and Shakespeare concerning 448 Legal Experience of E. N. Leslie 408 Legal Fraternity, Author's Adventures with the 440 Legal Right to Criticize 445 Legend of the Haunted Tavern 309 Leonard Family 82 Leslie Memorial Windows 389 Libraries 318 Library Company of 1806 400 Library, established by W. M. Beau- champ 318 Library, Free Public, proposed as a Me- morial 320 Library of Skaneateles and its Sphinx . . . 396 PAGE. Library of Skaneateles, Presentations to. 401 Library, The First 120 Log Houses 9 Log Storehouse, The First 14 Lord, Dr. H. R., His Report as " Secre- tary of the Navy " 294 Lots laid out by Judge Sanger 85 Ludlow, Daniel, Very Interesting His- tory of 312 Ludlow's Account of the Execution of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette.... 3x3 M. Mabbitt's Mills 170 Mail-Carriers and Stage-Coaches, The First Ill Mail Routes, Post Office 29 Mail, The First 83 Mandana 302 Manufactories, etc 302 Marcellus and Skaneateles Organized. . . 2 Marcellus, Division of 23 Marysville Woolen Factory 304 Matches, Original 7, 370 Medal presented to Red Jacket by George Washington 244 Medicines, Simple 156 Memorial Library, Proposed. .. .320, 401, 405 Memorials in St. James' Church 389 Memorials in the Presbyterian Church. 392 Memorial Tablet of Soldiers and Sailors in St. James' Church 334 Memorial Windows by Leslie 389 Merchants and Mechanics in 1828 128 Merchants in 1813 154 Merchant, The First 15 Meridian Time, Transmission of, by Telegraph 407 Merino Sheep, Introduction of, into the United States 362 Methodist Episcopal Church 286 Methodist Episcopal Church of Mott- ville 288 Military Lot No. 35, owner of 330 Military Lots i Militia 91 Miner, Amos, Remarkable History of . . 37 Mingo Lodge, History of 367 Ministerial Items 62 Miscellaneous Fragments of Early His- tory 79 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 475 PAGE. Missionaries, Earliest recorded Visit to Skaneateles Lake by 3 Missionaries, Record of Early 278 Missions, Early, and Religious Denomi- nations 278 More Pioneers 52 Mott, Lydia P., who conducted a Board- ing School Eighty Years ago 232 Mottville 302, 368 Mottville Burying-Ground 133 Mottville Woolen Mill 304 Mud Lake 393 Municipal Ownership of a Water Plant. . 383 N. Name, Aboriginal, of Skaneateles Lake. . 269 Names of Persons who made Purchases up to 1828 compiled 388 Names of Revolutionary Soldiers who were Original Owners of Lands in Town 2 Newspaper Press of Syracuse on Local History 408 Newspapers in Cayuga County, A List of Early lOl Newspaper, The First 108 O. Observations by a Tourist 394 Offhand Sketch of the Village Fifty Years ago 218 Official History of the Village of Skane- ateles 306 Official Stenographer, Adventures with an 449 One Hundred well-known Citizens 386 Opposition to an Incorporated Public Cemetery 255 Organ, The First 320 Owners, Original, of Lards in Town. ... 2 P. Packwood Carriage Manufactory 167 Paper-Mills 302, 304, 305 Papers, Valuable Files of Local 333 Peat Bog Speculation 272 Peat, or Muck 37° Peat Speculation, Another 273 Pedler, Disappearance of a 309 PAGE. Peenpack Neighborhood, Settlers from. . 212 Pettis House and Henry Arnold 78 Physicians, Early, in Vicinity of Village. 326 Pillions 30, 120 Pioneers, Continuation of the History of the 25 Pioneers, How they came 6, 63 Pioneers, The 9, 63 Pioneer Women 10 Pleasure-Sailboat 294 Pork Point, Origin of Name of 273 Porter Family, Origin of the 116 Potash, Principal Commercial Article. . 173 Potasheries and other Manufactures. .15, 144 Pounds, Shillings, and Pence, Official Definition of 8, 214 Preface iii Presbyterian Church 392 Presentations to the Library by the Au- thor 401 Presidents of the Board of Village Trustees 306 Prices, Early 177 Prices in 1825 227 Propeller Ben Porter 228 " Protest " against " Protracted Meet- ings," and Other Reminiscences 178 Protestant Episcopal Church 281 Q. Quaker School, " The Hive " 247 Quakers, or Society of Friends 284 R. Real Estate Values 76 Recollections, Business, and Inventions. . 213 Recollections, Early, by J. R. Kellogg, 28, 44, 49 Recollections of Mrs. C. J. Burnett, Sr. . 67 Recollections of C. J. Burnett, Jr 215 Recollections of Eli Clark 93 Recollections of Samuel Edwards 70 Recollections of Thaddeus Edwards. 213, 367 Recollections of Nathaniel Miller 35 Records, The Early 91 Red House 14, 16, 17 Red Jacket, Address of 244 Red Jacket's Medal 244 Regatta on the Lake in i860 220 Regattas Fifty Years Ago 293 476 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. PAGE. Relic of History 312 Religious Denominations 278 Revolutionary Soldiers and the Military Lots I Rhoades, S. Porter, Family r. . . . 52 Rise and Fall of Mercantile and Indus- trial Prosperity 173 Roads 87 Roll of Honor of Volunteers, during the Civil War 349 Roman Catholic Church 288 Royal Presents to Mrs. Beach 337 S. Sash and Blind Factory 304 Sawmill 304 Sayings and Doings of Olden Times, Interesting 7° Schaneateles Religious Society. . .85, 131, 279 Schoolhouse demolished my Sol Foster. . 71 Schoolhouse, First, Erected in the Vil- lage 230 Schoolhouses, Log 10 Schools 229 School, The First 229 School, The First, taught in this Town. . 16 Sea Letter by George Washington 137 Sekct Schools 232 Select School, Subscription for 231 Servants, Old-Time 84 Settlement of Skaneateles, Earliest Ac- tual 63 Settlers, First Actual, in this County. .11, 83 Settlers before 1803 and 1815 53 Shepard Family, History of the 66 Shepard Settlement 66, 167 Sherwood's House 228 Sidewalks, Clearing from Snow and Ice, A Skaneateles Invention 384 Sign of the Indian Queen Tavern 177 Sisters, The Three 142 Situation of Skaneateles 298 Skanadoah, Indian Chief, his Life and Oratory 49 Skaneateles and Marcellus 2 Skaneateles Anti-Slavery Society 361 Skaneateles Community and its Pro- moter, John A. Collins 175 Skaneateles Democrat, The Editor of . . 331 Skaneateles, Description of 35, 302 Skaneateles Educational Society 361 PAGE. -Skaneateles Falls Methodist Episcopal Church 288 Skaneateles' First Settler 11 Skaneateles High School 231 Skaneateles in 1830 166 Skaneateles Iron Works 251, 302 Skaneateles Lake 166 Skaneateles Lake, Aboriginal Name of. 269 Skaneateles Lake, a Later Description. . 270 Skaneateles Lake Park Company 252 Skaneateles Lake, when first seen by the Pioneers, 1793 267 Skaneateles Library Association 318 Skaneateles Library Company, The First one here, 1806 120 Skaneateles Library Company, List of Subscribers 127 Skaneateles Library, Presentation to.... 106 Skaneateles Library, Presentations by the Author to 401 Skaneateles Library Sphinx 396 Skaneateles Religious Society. . .85, 131, 279 Skaneateles Savings-Bank 254 Skaneateles Sketches in 1865 298 Skaneateles, The Ariel's Description of, in 1830 191 Skaneateles Water Works Company 250 Skaneateles Water Works Company, its Inside History, and Decision against, 371, 454 Skaneateles Wood- Working Company. . 252 Sketch of the Village in 1850 218 Slade's Ferry 202 Smallpox in the Village 218 Snow, How the System of Removing from Sidewalks Originated 384 Snow Storm, A 318 Society of Friends 284 Society of Friends, Plainness of Apparel, 28s, 287 Soldiers and Sailors, Memorial Tablet of. 334 Soldiers and Sailors of Skaneateles who gave up their Lives in the Civil War. . 359 Soldiers in the Late War 358 Soldiers who Originally Owned this Town 2 Soundings of the Lake 138 Spinning- Wheel, Improvement in 38, 46 Stage and Passenger-Coach, Original, before Railroads in INDEX OF SUBJECTS. 477 PAGE. Stage-Coaches 29, 259, 273 Stages and Stage-Drivers 117 State Street first opened 231 Steamboat Excursion, First, to the Head of the Lake 36^ Steamboat of Fitch on Collect Pond 147 Steamboat of Roosevelt on the Passaic River 147 Steamboat on Skaneateles Lake, The First , 77 St. James' Church 134, 282, 389 Storehouse, The First Log 14 Story, A Strange ■ 162 Strange, Romantic, and Interesting Story. 162 Subscribers to the Skaneateles Library Company 127 Subscription by Leading Citizens for a Select School 231 Subscription List for a Sexton 89 Subscription to pay for the First Organ for St. James' Church 320 Sunday-School Celebration, 1832 335 Sunday Surprises 3^7 Supreme Court, U. S., Decision of 4S4 T. Tavern, An Old Log 77 Tavern, Haunted 309 Tavern on Seneca Turnpike 370 Taverns ISS Taverns, Town Meetings held in 308 Teasel, a Skaneateles Industry 248 Teasel Industry, Various Corporations, and Banks 248 "The Last Broadside," Poem 338 "The Maples of Mott Cottage," Poem.. 237 " The Stone Man," Poem 96 Three Sisters, The 142 " Through the Deep Wilderness," Poem. 63 Tinder-Box, Description and Use of the Original 7, 370 Tourist's Observations while passing through the Village 394 Town Meetings, held in Various Tav- erns - 308 Town of Skaneateles was bonded for $250,000 in behalf of the New York Western Midland Railroad, and the Fraud was Defeated and by whom 274 Trading-Place, Skaneateles the most At- tractive, in the Nineteenth Century. . . 88 PAGE. Traitor Arnold's Brother a Resident. .78, 112 Traveler on his way to Niagara describes the Village in 1804 247 Traveler's Description of Village of Skaneateles in 1830 166 Trees, Variety of 86 " Trowbridge Girls " 45, 5o Tuition Paid 86 Turnpike, Hamilton and Skaneateles. .88, 91 Two Peculiar Characters 226 U. Uncertainty of Human Life, Illustration of 386 V. Village described 35 Village Plots 85 Village Property rather low in 1820 228 Volunteers during the Civil War, Roll of Honor 349 W. War of 1812, Incident during the 17S War of 1812, Incident of 113 War of 1812, Repulsing the British dur- ing the 113 Washington, George, Sea Letter by 137 Water-Lime 93 Water Plant, Municipal Ownership. .383, 454 Water Works Company, Decision against. 454 Webster, Daniel, Visit of, to Skane- ateles 183 Wheel-Head Manufactory 91 Who were here in 1803 35 Why has Skaneateles Retrograded?.... 76 Willow Glen Woolen Mills 305 Woman's Journey for Assistance 21 Woman's Remarkable Journey through the Wilderness 30, 120 Women of Early Days 10 Wood- Ashes, The Earliest Industry 173 Y. Yacht, A Notable 294 Yachting, Sketches, and Official History. 289 Yacht, The First Real 289 Year 2000, In the 407 Years Ago in Yachting 294 \V^<«^\<^|^#^«^