Comstock's History in its Entirety

Over the winter I took on what proved to be quite a task - that of building an every name index for
SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock. It was only 28 pages long, so I thought it would be an easy task. 
Silly me! 
If Excel is to be trusted, I indexed a total of 446 surnames. Kudos to Mr. Comstock for writing such an extensive memory of our area. 

I have transcribed all 28 pages of his text as well,  and each page is a separate entry on this blog. The index is also provided in the "What's New" section on http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ with a link back to the correct page of my blog for each surname. Many thanks to the Cayuga County Site Coordinator for this and for all his hard work in bringing information to us about our past.

The job of a municipal historian is to preserve and interpret the past through research, public education and promotion of local tourism as it relates to the history of the municipality. I believe the ordinary folks who shopped, ate, farmed and worshiped are what made it possible for our area to thrive and Mr. Comstock's History is a wealth of information on those people. I hope you enjoy reading it, and maybe find a relative or two in the pages.

Comstock's History Page Twenty-eight

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I have posted each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

This page was written after Comstock had completed his work, by Elizabeth P. Andrews Taylor in approximately 1958. 

I hope you have enjoyed reading about more of Scipio's early history!

Page Twenty-eight

Written by Elizabeth P. Andrews Taylor, wife of Hermon W. Taylor

In the year 1801 Obed Andrews came in and settled in the town of Scipio (now Venice) taking up a large tract of land about a mile square which was eventually divided up in a number of farms; there were four farms which were occupied by his descendants up to about ten years ago (now 1958) when two of the farms were sold out of the family. Two still occupied by relatives.

Part of this tract of land being Lots # 73, 61, 72 and 60.

Obed Andrews lived on his farm until his death – he was born (probably) about 1780 and died after year 1844.

In 1844 he deeded to his son Ephraim Andrews a certain piece (more or less) of 134 ½ acres Ephraim then deeded it later to his wife Emily Mosher Andrews in 1781. At her death it was left to their two daughters, Phebe Andrews Bennett and Lucy Andrews. Phebe was the wife of Charles Bennett and had four children: Phyllis, Arvid, Ephraim and Mary. Lucy remained single. Phebe gave her farm to Ephraim Bennett and Lucy’s farm went to Arvid Bennett.

Abidah A. Andrews (granddaughter of Obed) and who married Daniel Kratzer lived on one farm until she sold it to Charles Bennett when they moved to Cortland, NY. They had one son Glenn Andrews Katzer who was a minister.

Charles and Phebe Bennett lived on this farm until their deaths; then Mary Bennett Cornell (who married E. Cornell) lived there until death (Cornell having died a few years previous). Phyllis Bennett who married Will Wyant lived on a farm given to the family by an uncle Orvid Mosher – a brother of Emily Mosher Andrews, and great-uncle of Hermon W. Taylor. At the present time this piece of land is owned (and occupied as a tenant house) used as a turkey farm by E. Y. Smith & son whose farm joins this property; these farms are about three miles south of Stewart’s Corners. At the death of Mary B. Cornell, the property went to Phyllis’ sons Walter and Claude Wyant, then passed on to another nephew Will Bennett who now lives there (1958).

Abidah Andrews deeded to William H. Andrews (her father) a farm of 70 acres more or less – where William Harrison lived until his death. He married first Mary Welch (interred in the Stewart’s Corners Cemetery). Three children were born by this marriage, Glenn Andrews who served in the Civil War, 111^th NY Infantry, Camp Sumpter, GA and died in Andersonville Prison in May 1864; Abidah Andrews and Morton M. Andrews, a carpenter and Pattern maker who moved to Buffalo, NY; Mary died when these three children were very small and W. H. then married Emeline Harris one of the daughters of Sophia Hurlbut Harris (and Henry Harris). Sophia and Henry Harris’ children were Lucy, Fannie, Sally, Annie, Emeline, Maria, Mary & Carrie. Fannie Harris was the wife of Hermon Mosher, grandfather of Hermon Taylor.

 The children of Emeline and William Harrison were Amelia, Mary, Vestina, Dr. Lucius, Victor, Adelbert and Willie.

William Harrison’s farm was occupied by his son Victor Andrews until his death in 1924, after which his children took over; Charles Andrews having lived there at one time then a daughter Jennie who married Clarence Baker and they then kept the farm until her death in 1939; since the farm was sold to J. Rejman and house used as a tenant house (1958).

Daniel Kratzer’s father was also a soldier in the Civil War, and held in the Andersonville Prison.

END OF PAGE 28

END OF TRANSCRIPTION of  SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

sg 6/24/14

Comstock's History Page Twenty-seven

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Twenty-seven

When the church was torn down Al Robertson built a house on the land, no one seeming to care to contest the title.

We are sorry to again call attention to the burial ground in back of this old church. I am informed that there were more than 100 burials there and that nearly all had markers; the small amount that is left is not over two or three rods square and the writer was there in the summer of 1938 and was unable to get through on account of weeds and brush and was unable to find over two tombstones, although I could not get to the center of the plot where there perhaps are more.

The law provides for a sum not in excess of $50.00 to be used to fence and improve any abandoned cemeteries. This is a good law as it is right that these old cemeteries be kept in reasonable condition so that the graves are not desecrated and so that if markers are present, relatives may be able to find out where friends are buried.

As the writer gets more facts that he is able to verify from County records he will extend this history of the Town of Scipio.

Much difficulty is being formed in getting authentic facts regarding the villages of Scipioville and Scipio Center as it appears that no one has taken the pains to write down anything that old settlers have told them and the “old timers” are like the history they helped to make, a thing of the past.

There are a few clues to some of this information, which I am now working on.

END OF PAGE 27

A Book Named The Seceders: By Alethea Connolly

The Seceders: By Alethea Connolly: Reviews: Alethea 'Lee' Connolly has written an extraordinary local history. Click on the title to go to her blog site.
Alethea contacted me last year as she was researching this book. She had seen an earlier post in this blog about an image in the Scipio Ledger of Slaves, that mentioned a slave named Esther, owned by J Fleming, who turned up in Alethea's research, as she spent most of her life in Manlius.
Esther's gravestone is behind the old Methodist Church in Ledyard. There is a store on the corner, and a Ledyard historic marker sign at the junction across the road. Behind the church, the stone is inscribed SAMUEL GLOVER.  His second wife was Esther's sister, Betsy.  Esther's name is etched on the side of the thick stone. 
The reference in the book to the Flemings is in the last chapter titled AfterWords when Alethea was looking at several ex-slaves (Wheatley and Armwood)  from the town, who interestingly ended up in Ledyard. She will be appearing on July 26th at 2:00 PM  at the National Abolition Hall of Fame & Museum, Smithfield Community Center, 5255 Pleasant Valley Rd., Peterboro, NY 13134

The Scipio Ledger of Slaves information is available at the Cayuga County Hsitorian's website and at the History Corner in the Scipio Town Offices. 

Comstock's History Page Twenty-six

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Twenty-six

partiality for some of his flock, and the voice of scandal asserted that he was inclined to give his woman parishioners more time than was seemly.

Certainly no gentleman of generous emotions would listen to frivolous charges. But whether true or not it was certainly the seeds of dissolution and one of the things that eventually was the cause of the disbanding of this society. The preacher was discharged in disgrace. After he left, contention ran high and some of the best members withdrew and others became lukewarm and converts ceased to be added.

It was a long time before another pastor was engaged, but after much discussion they agreed on one Axdell who was settled as the shepherd at a moderate salary. Mr. Axdell was a pious, earnest, creditable man and did all he could to build up the church but to little avail; internal dissension and external causes were too strong against him. Heresy was creeping in, infidels were beginning to whisper. Quakers were increasing, Unitarians were growing bold and Universalists were teaching unwelcome doctrines.

Mr. Axdell struggled among these difficulties until 1837 when he gave up in despair and left for parts unknown. In 1838 another attempt made to revive the nearly defunct society was tried. Reverend Johnson was secured and a hope that he would perhaps be able to start again the smouldering firs of religion that were ignited with so much promise 16 years before, but poor man he reckoned without his host.

The building had gone into decay and the seed of skepticism ad taken root and produced 100 fold; the choir had dispersed and its members had forgotten the hymns of Zion. Some had backslidden beyond power of recovery and some had moved away. Many were dead and the Reverend, with lessening faith and failing strength continued the unequal contest nearly two years, working as preachers seldom work, but the Society could not be resuscitated. It was doomed to annihilation. At the expiration of his engagement he bade a melancholy farewell to the faithful few and departed to fields of more promise. This was in 1840. In a few years the church began to show the marks of vandalism but it still stood, its spire 100 feet high, firm and erect, a monument of the past and a measure of the state of religion and public opinion in other days. Probably the five Protestant churches in the town had no more members than did this church about the time of its greatest glory.

After the old church had been entirely abandoned it went rapidly to destruction, and in 1858 it was torn down and the remains divided among a greedy few; a part came to

Sherwood and was used for the enlargement of a barn. Who got the Silver Chalice that once consoled so many hearts we do not know. But we do know of many foot stools and two fiddle cases that were decorated with the beautiful red velvet that lent beauty to the pulpit.

END OF PAGE 26

Comstock's History Page Twenty-five

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Twenty-five

Sherwood and the mail came direct to Bolt’s Corners, Sherwood and Aurora.

In 1816, James Aiken came into the settlement and soon discovered the wealth of the Creek and proceeded to erect a sawmill one mile south east of his corner. This proved a success and he soon built a grist mill, an grew rich and finally died in 1855 full of years and honors and leaving a large number of descendants who have never brought dishonor to his name.

His three daughters married A. Wood, Noyce Merrill, and D. C. Gould, and a granddaughter was the wife of the Honorable William B. Woodin.

Mr. Aikin sold the mill in 1838 to Moses T. Fell, a modest disciple of George Fox and William Penn. He ran the sawmill for 24 years and sold to Frank Howe who only operated for a year or so and sold to Jonas Wood to be followed by his son George  and later by his grandsons, Fred and Frank, but it finally lost its popularity and was abandoned and finally torn down in 1937.

In 1820, Bolt’s Corners had become, next to Aurora, the center of wealth and refinement in the Town of Scipio, and the people decided to build a fashionable church. William Johnson, an earnest young preacher of the Presbyterian faith, was asked to come and work out the problem. Meetings were held in improvised places during the year and a large society was formed.

The following year, 1821, resulted in the erection of a church, the most grand and impressive edifice outside of the city of Auburn. The building was large enough to hold a large congregation and the finishings were very fine and pews very comfortable as were no doubt necessary where the sermons were generally two hours or more in length. The steeple was over 100 feet in height. Reverend Johnson was the hard working and devoted pastor of this church until 1828 when there had been accessions to the membership so that there were over 300 on the roll.

Johnson was succeeded by Reverend Smalley who was a different type of man. Less solemn, but more dressy and genteel, a gentleman of education and talent, but he did not possess the tranquil disposition to make him a successful preacher. Still, during the four years of his administration, he had built up his congregation to over four hundred.

This was the zenith of its glory and began its decline. The popularity of this bachelor pastor was on the wane. His good name was tarnished and his honesty doubted, his virtue questioned, and his chastity challenged. The busy tongue of scandal was accusing him of teaching “tough” doctrines in regard to final destructions and everlasting disposition of infants. This doctrine was revolting to parents, especially those whose children had died in infancy, and shocking to relate, the pastor was accused of

END OF PAGE 25

Comstock's History Page Twenty-four

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Twenty-four

and was succeeded by Henry Bolt, during whose administration the place took the name of Bolt’s Corners. Mr. Bolt gave place to Sam Russell and he to Sam Barker, who sold to Jeremiah Reynolds, who sold to Erastus Hill about 1850 when the place ceased to be a hotel and was torn down about 1870.

The house now owned by William Nolan stands where the garden was. There seems to have been no record of all the merchants who did business there, but we know that the first store was built on the north side of the street west of the hotel sometime before 1800, but who he was, or how long e did business, or where he went, there is no record.

Then came Sherman Beardsley who began to sell goods in the west end of the hotel. He finally erected an elegant store on the southwest corner; he also erected an ashery and the finest house in town.

Mr. Beardsley did a large and successful business during several years, when he sold out to John Glover who conducted the business for several years, and who was succeeded by Jotham Merritt, who was a jolly old cove who sold nutmegs for 10 cents a pound and refused to correct the mistake saying he never made mistakes.

The place finally went to James Aiken who sold to Chapman and Bigelow who conducted it for a while then sold to William Crowley who continued until 1848, when it was abandoned for a time. Then it was occupied for some years by Erastus Hill for a shoe shop, then by H. S. Nye as a blacksmith shop. It was then sold to Augustus Bishop for a stable and moved to the place now owned by Clinton Mosher where it now stands as a tool shed and garage. Thus ends the once famous Sherman Beardsley store as a place of business.

About 1800, a brickyard was established by the side of Salmon Creek.

Previous to 1827, the Town of Scipio included Venice and Ledyard and the town elections were held at Bolt’s Corners. Company training was held at this place and 4^th of July celebrations. Many balls and parties were held at the hotel. Several blacksmith shops, wagon makers, shoemakers, tailors and other merchants were there in plenty, but now there are no businesses or shops or mechanics or potash kettles except those used in hog killing time.

There was another hotel where Mrs. Patrick Kanalley now lives; in fact, the house was the old hotel. The records at hand do not show who were the proprietors.

The Indian Field road was the “Post Road” prior to the establishment of the Post Office at Poplar Ridge. Finally that office was moved to

END OF PAGE 24

Comstock's History Page Twenty-three

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Twenty-three

times. Major Phillip Buckhout was made a Mason on St. John’s Day 1814, and was one of the older ones but he still, until his death took him, knew his duty and its every call attended.

About 1820, Richard Church sold his place to Andrew Merritt, a cooper by trade. The Lodge then moved to another place. The exact spot is unknown but some authorities claim it moved to Number One, some claim it went to the present home of Earl Cook at Warings Corners, and some claim that it held meetings in private homes for a time and finally disbanded.

The old cooper shop was sold and moved to Bolt’s Corners.

After Merritt’s death, the place was sold to David L. Holley and by him sold to Rowland H. Hazard who later sold to Samuel D. Otis.

Greenfield Iden came here from Buck’s County, PA in 1822. He had been unfortunate and lost his wife; finally he remarried, bought a large farm, made a small payment and lost it. The bad season made it impossible for him to meet his obligations. He turned his back on his native place leaving some debts.

This was a new country and business was good and work plenty. In a few years he had enough money to buy a small place and a few years later he got into making plows. He soon accumulated enough to go back to PA and pay his debts, which he did. As he approached one house, the man cursed him in “Dutch” and ordered him to leave the place. Mr. Iden advanced and said, “My friend, I did not intend to wrong thee and now have come to pay thee.”

He paid all his debts and returned. He prospered and lived on the place for 57 years. He died in 1877 at the age of 87 years, his wife preceding him by a few days. His son George succeeded to the estate. The place is now owned by John Marshall.

The little hamlet two miles east of Sherwood was known as Bolt’s Corners, now containing but seven houses and only agriculture as a business, was once a place of some importance and did more business than any other place in the town.

The place was settled in 1788 by Elisha Durkee and Gilbert Tracy. They bought one mile square of land and divided it in the center, each taking half. Salmon Creek was not vexed by dam of flume and was a fine trout stream; beavers were numerous there.

Tracy and Durkee were soon domiciled in log cabins and were clearing their lands. Roads were laid out and immigrants arrived, and the proprietors were soon busy in selling building lots. In 1789, a man named James Wilcox bought a lot and built a hotel, which he kept for a few years

END OF PAGE 23

Comstock's History Page Twenty-two

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Twenty-two

of a worldly nature, still she was a kind-hearted woman and had the love and respect of all of her pupils and they were loyal to her and to the school she founded.

The Conservative Society of Friends of Scipio Yearly meeting was organized in 1851 and proceeded to build a meeting house on lands just south of the farm now owned by Mrs. Charles Cook. The people who started this society were James D. Otis, Samuel D. Otis, Nathan Cook, William Hazard, Sr., Nicolas D. Tripp, Alfred King, Samuel A. Cook, William C. Meader, Joseph Battey, Abial Garner, Edward Simkin, Jarvis Hoag, Thomas Lanborn, James Gorham, Rachel Hussey, Samuel Hussey, Martha McKeel, Sarah Haight, John P. Smith, William R. Taber and many others have been members of this Society. Alfred King, above named, was 100 years of age when he died (1814-1914). The writer was recently in the burial ground back of this “meeting house” and found that even there they have practiced the same quiet, plain ways that have endeared them to many of their friends and neighbors. No lofty and costly monuments, but simple, plain markers.

Now, regarding the Masonic Lodge. About 1814, Captain Richard Church built the house that was used many years later as the Hepsibeth Hussey School.

The upper part of this house was designed for Masonic Lodge purposes where a lodge was held during several succeeding years. There were evidences about the house to prove that a Royal Arch Chapter was also held here as well as the Blue Lodge.

Captain Church was William Allen Sr; Dr. Pearley Kinney, Secretary, and James McLaughlin, Tiler.

But one of the members remained in 1878. Major Phillip H. Buckhout who gave most of the information to S. W. Green, also a Mason. A member of Cayuga Lodge #221 of Scipio Center, Major Buckhout was also the grandfather of William F. Buckhout, late, of Scipioville. All the other members of the Lodge had “spread their last cement of brotherly love and affection” and have “laid their “working tools aside.”

We give the names of some of the members. Captain Seth Thomas of Revolutionary fame; Elisha Durkee; Sherman Beardsley; Judge Slover; James McLaughlin; old Jacob Morgan of 1812-1814 War; William Fish; Allen Thomas; James Aiken; Samuel Watkins; Dr. Pearley Kinney; Seth Sherwood; Captain Church of War of 1812-1814; John Winslow; J. Winter Branch; William Allen; Amos Rathbun and James McLaughlin, a speaker among Friends.

William Allen and Amos Rathbun were members of Assembly at different

END OF PAGE 22

Comstock's History Page Twenty-one

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Twenty-one

a donation of land for meeting house and burial ground. The following year a large and substantial brick building was erected with high backed seats, with a slightly raised platform of about five feet width for the principal speaker or prominent visiting speakers.

This meetinghouse also had the sliding partitions that could be raised by ropes running through three to five fall pulley blocks fastened in the roof. The men occupied the east side and the women the west side of the building and were not allowed to sit together. If an erring brother or sister was to be taken to task for their error, the partition was lowered, and business proceeded.

I am not sure that there may not have been a time that singing was barred, but know that about 1880, hymns were sung. The speakers were whoever felt the spirit awake them to talk, and there might be several to speak or sing as they felt like doing. In the writer’s day, the one who did the most of the preaching was Samuel Simkin, father of Alfred Simkin of Poplar ridge. He was a very forceful speaker, using plain and understandable language, and practicing what he preached.

Everything was fine for many years, but finally a man in whom no one had confidence tried to be the principle speaker and attendance fell off until practically no one attended.

After a few years the Society was disbanded and the building and land not used by the burial ground reverted to the farm of which it was originally a part.

The two original meetinghouses west of Poplar Ridge and Scipioville were, from lack of attendance, sold and moved or torn down.

The Quaker meeting house north of Poplar Ridge was built about 1851 and had a large membership for a long time, but there are seldom many at their meetings and it is apparent that it will in a few years be but a memory.

In a good-sized dwelling located where Ernest Hodge now lives was conducted the first school for higher education in this locality.

In the year 1871, Hepsibeth C. Hussey of Nantucket came here at the request of some of the Quakers of this locality and established what was known at that time and for many years as Sherwood Select School. It was for several years in the building above mentioned. This building had been used as a dwelling and had the distinction of being also the home of the first Masonic Lodge established in the county, but more of that later. Hepsibeth was a Quaker and so had no school on Wednesday as that was mid-week meeting day, and did have school on Saturday. She was a very capable teacher and while severe in her demeanor as against anything

END OF PAGE 21

Comstock's History Page Twenty

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Twenty

the door, the doorman with a silver salver met him and he was supposed to give his card and show his invitation. He gave the card but had no invitation and so stated; the doorman informed him that he must have an invitation or he could not come in. Humphrey did not like to miss the event and so decided to swing a bluff and informed the doorman that he was ”Lord Howland of America.” The doorman, not to be bluffed, told Humphrey that “You may be Lord ‘Owland of Hamerica or Lord ‘Owland of Hell, but you can’t come in here without an invitation.”

Humphrey was a good enough sport that he came home and told it as a good joke on himself.

His home was considered the finest country estate in Western New York. He owned an island in the Seneca River which is known as Howland’s Island. This he left, with much money, to his son, William Penn Howland who was as capable of spending money as his father was of making it. He is said to have been in the habit of showing off by lighting his cigars with $1.00 bills. When his money was gone, he said that he had shown people how to spend fortunes and now he would show them how to make one, but this he never did, and if it had not been for some of his relatives he would have died in the poor house.

Perhaps this would be a good place to say a few words regarding the existence of several “meeting houses” in this locality.

At an early date there were erected two meeting houses, one built one mile west of Scipioville and the other 1 ½ miles west of Poplar Ridge. These buildings were rather pretentious as to size but not as to ornamentation. There was a balcony on three sides and sliding doors that let down, so that the men and women could be in separate rooms if the services required it.

Both buildings were about alike and were for many years attended by congregations in perfect harmony, but finally discord crept in and much dissatisfaction was incurred by a faction known as the “Hicksites” led by Elias Hicks of Long Island. Many of the fundamental principles of the Friends were abrogated and those who believed one way decided to cut loose from the meeting.

This occurred in the fall of 1827. For a time, those who seceded were without a place to meet. Finally the seceders of both the other meetings were invited to hold their meetings for worship at the home of Samuel Willetts north of the “Brick Meeting house.”

These meetings were harmonious to a marked degree. Many accessions were made in their number and a lack of room was soon felt. It is said there were three of the seceders who were worth $700,000, and all were prosperous farmers. In 1834, Augustus Howland, a man of much means, made

END OF PAGE 20

Comstock's History Page Nineteen

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Nineteen

Barthorn Coughin            Died at Andersonville

Robert Gleason

Jerry Collins                     Bullet in forehead in 1879; now in Willard State Hospital

Dixon Perry

S. W. Green

John Myers

John Waite

Henry Masten

Alanson Tracy                Mortally wounded

Tracy lived here but enlisted from Detroit Michigan. In 1857, Mansfield B. Kerr bought 25 acres of Colonel Lyon and graded a ½ mile trotting track. The following year, the Southern Cayuga County Agricultural Society was formed and held large and successful annual fairs at this location. In 1867 this land was sold to Jasper Otis; the Society disbanded.

The first shade trees were set in our streets in 1844 by Josiah Letchworth. More were set by Dr. Pearl in 1846. Those trees about the district school were set in the spring of 1868. The large elm in the street south of the corner, which is native, was saved by Jude Spencer at the request of Slocum Howland, then a young man who stated that it was then about as large as his leg. Now it measures about 15 feet.

The Robin Hood Inn was built in 1860 by M. B. Kerr, who sold the place to George Merchant in 1867.

He conceived and executed the process of building flagstone sidewalks and others followed his example until a large part of the place was furnished with good walks.

Humphrey Howland came into this country in 1898 as a boy of sixteen years. He had had but three months in school, but had a great desire for knowledge, especially mathematics. Money was scarce, but he trapped and sold his furs and purchased books on mathematical subjects. These he diligently studied and became a surveyor. He got a position under the State Surveyor and was entrusted to measure public lands. He became an agent for several who had large land interests in Central New York. He soon became himself a large landowner and built a beautiful home in 18--? half way between Sherwood and Aurora. He married Sarah F. Field.

It will be remembered that Humphrey was a brother of Slocum, who was not given to pomp or display whereas Humphrey, while common enough with his neighbors, was given to being rather important.

I have the following story from a relative. Humphrey and his wife were in London at the time of some grand function at the King’s palace. He decided to go and hired a carriage to take them. When he reached

END OF PAGE 19

Comstock's History Page Eighteen

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Eighteen

In a few years he moved into he building now standing behind the “Block” where he did an extensive business until 1852 when he sold his home to

Dr. D. R. Pearl and moved to Auburn and entered the firm of Hayden and Letchworth. He was succeeded by Waterman York, who after two years gave place to Theodore Austin who was succeeded in 1860 by John Taylor who vacated early in 1863 in favor of Sylvanus Reynolds who continued the business until 1871 when Charles F. Comstock, who continued this building until the spring of 1880, when he bought a small building and moved it to his own land.

J. A. Hudson rented the old building for a time as an auction room. In 1883 the present “Block” was built, and Comstock occupied the north end of it until 1924 when he retired. At the time the “Block” was built, what is now Brown’s store was run as a hardware store with tine shop and this occupied the back part of the south part, and S. W. Green had the Post Office in the southwest corner room.

When the Rebellion broke out, Sherwood and vicinity was prompt to respond. We give the names of soldiers from this vicinity:

William H. Fowler             Died at New Bern

Walter S. Fowler

George Fowler

Walter Wibert                  Killed at Battle of the Wilderness

Thomas Thurston             Killed – place unknown

Seneca Goodman

William Wilbert

Thomas Goodman

William Phillips                Son of Herman, an ex-slave

John Phillips                     Son of Herman, an ex-slave

James Phillips                  Son of Herman, an ex-slave

Benjamin F. Gould           Arm shot off and eye put at Battle of the Wilderness

Lewis H. Emerson

Charles F. Week

Seward Dean                   Killed in battle

William King                   Died at New Bern

S. B. Mastin                    Killed in battle

James C. King

Daniel O’Herron                   

Jerry Coughlin               15 months in Andersonville prison

John Wesley Shaw         Lost his leg at Getysburg

Albert Robinson             Died at Andersonville

Robert Gleason

Cornelieus Sullivan         Killed in action

END OF PAGE 18

Historical Maps of Scipio

USGS Historical Topo Maps

If you want to see where the one-room schools were located in Scipio, click on the link above and visit the USGS topographical map page.
I put in Scipio Center, NY and then clicked on Hunter Road. That brought up a list of timeline maps, and I clicked on the one for Scipio in 1943. That topographical map showed me the schools and cemeteries as known at that time. This was downloadable as a zip file, and I was able to save it as a pdf for future reference.
Check it out!

Comstock's History Page Seventeen

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Seventeen

He stayed one year and then moved away.

The next Irish family came in 1846, whose family name was Daily, and worked for Augustus Howland, who was followed by his brother Timothy.

Of the schools there is no written record previous to 1814, but traditions assert that there was, at an early date, a log schoolhouse on grounds now occupied by George Powers’

house. This was taken down and replaced by the old “Qaudrilateral.” This moved prior to 1814 to the place where Blaine Baker’s house stands.

We have the clerk’s records since 1814. This building was used until 1851 when the schoolhouse, recently abandoned, was built at a cost of$675. The old house seems to have had a rather transitory existence. It having been moved once already and after the new schoolhouse was built it was sold to Leda Watkins and moved to Scipioville. It was then sold to Wheeler Powell for a storehouse. Powell then sold it to a colored man who again moved it, this time to Poplar Ridge where it was used as a dwelling house.

In 1841, a debating society was formed by Leonard Searing, Josiah Letchworth, D.C. Gould, Ethan Clark and others, which continued two years and disbanded.

Another was established in 1846, which has continued for over 30 years, and many of our prominent lawyers of a few years ago probably got much of their early training in oratory at their meetings. In 1848, chiefly through the efforts of Alonzo Comstock, a division of the Sons of Temperance was formed but it was discontinued in 1855 to be succeeded by the Good Templars which and a short run and disbanded. In 1868 another Lodge of Good Templars was organized and lasted until about 1907. This lodge had over 300 members at the height of its prosperity and did a great amount of good.

Colonel Lyon bought the first threshing machine in 1828. It was a four horse stationary machine. Previous to that date the grain was pounded out with flails or trodden out by horses. The first horse rake was introduced at about this time, but the mowing machine did not come until 1846, and was followed in about 10 years by the sewing machine (sowing machine?). The first carriage with steel springs came in 1834, owned by John Seeley. The iron plow came by Jethro Wood’s invention in 1818.

As stated earlier, Enoch Honeywell built a chair factory in 1818 and did business until 1834 when he sold out to Alonzo Comstock and John Lapham who continued the business until 1838 when the building was cut in two and moved away to make the two present houses of Frank DeFreeze and Willie Neville. Josiah Letchworth came from New Jersey in 1833 and bought of Moses T. Fell the place we now know as the Dr. Hoxie place, where he established the business of harness making with William F. Bancroft as assistant.

END OF PAGE 17

Comstock's History Page Sixteen

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

 Page Sixteen

Elder Kelsey took his place. He did not stay long but gave place to Elder Abner Wakely who stayed until 1833. The society then employed Elder Ellmore who worked hard but could not get the society back to a prosperous shape. After Elmore's term expired the church was abandoned and turned over to the heirs of Henry Watkins, who tore down the building in 1844.

An early historian gives credit to the owners of the farm surrounding this churchyard that the graves remain undesecrated, and I am glad for his peace of mind if you cannot see it now.

All of the stones are down with perhaps one exception. I am informed that a few years ago there was one stone standing, that of Captain Tracy's wife.

The Edward Venable farm, part of the Watkins tract, was deeded to his son Peter Watkins who sold to Elder Kelsey, who sold to Reuben Weed, who sold to Wilbur Dennis about 1820. Dennis sold to Ulysses F. Doubleday in 1830 who sold to Stephen Thorne in 1841. Thorne sold to Ira Weeks in 1854, who sold to Benjamin Gould who sold to Slocum Howland and he to Smith Wooden, who died on the farm. It was then sold to Benjamin Gould the Second. Howland paid about $100 per acre and sold for the same.

The Post Office at Poplar Ridge was moved to Sherwood in 1822 with J. Winter Branch as Postmaster. Branch did not come here, but appointed Alan Thomas as deputy. The same year Branch resigned and Thomas was appointed. He held the office until February 1862 when S. W. Green was appointed and has held the office for many years.

Previous to 1822, the mail was brought on horseback three times a week, Moravia via Stewart’s Corners and Poplar Ridge to Aurora, no mail being brought to Sherwood until the office was moved from Poplar Ridge. Sherwood and Bolt’s Corners being both established in 1822 and being in a more direct line with Aurora accounts for the change.

The stage route from Auburn to Ithaca was established in 1824, and a “coach and four” was employed with Oliver Phelps as contractor and John Van Dusen as driver.

The mail was carried in style. Four horses brought the stage to Sherwood, then four fresh horses were used from there to Ludlowville, and four more from there to Ithaca. The same changes on the return trip were followed the next day.

When the old Hotel was partly torn down in 1837 one part was moved and made into the house now owned by Effie Battey, and was first occupied by Samuel Grey, a soldier of the War of 1812. His father, David, living with him was a pensioner of the Revolutionary War.

The first Irish family in this locality was Patrick O’Sullivan, who came in 1843 and lived one year in the house where A. LaMar Lane now lives.

END OF PAGE 16

Comstock's History Page Fifteen

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Fifteen

who sold it to Augustus Howland in 1833; it descended to George Howland, a grandson of the George Howland mentioned elsewhere, and at the death of the last George was sold to present owner who is a great grandson of Augustus, who bought the place in 1833.

Not long after the settlement at Sherwood’s was made, it was reminded of the need of a burial place.

Samuel Phelps volunteered to donate the beautiful spot now occupied by the cemetery which they enlarged by another gift of land in 1837 by his son, Samuel Phelps the Second. He also left orders for the building of a vault wherein his remains repose. The farm of Jesse Otis is part of one mile square originally bought of a soldier by Henry Watkins in 1792.

The Otis farm and the farm across the road owned by James Emerson was given by Watkins to his son-in-law, William Allen who made the first settlement on it. Allen sold the place to David Stout in 1815. After some years Stout sold to Joseph Frost, who deeded it to Leonard Searing in 1836, who transferred it to James D. Otis in 1846; it then descended to the present owner. The William Allen just mentioned was a Justice of the Peace for several years and was a member of Assembly in years 1821-1822. He died in Scipioville about 1840.

 The Walter Lawton farm was part of the Watkins tract, and was sold in 1813 to Aaron Baker, who improved and occupied it until 1855, when he died.

After Baker's death the farm passed into the hands of his son-in-law Charles W. Searing who died in 1875 and William Searing came into possession. Sometime after his death his heirs sold the place to the present owner. Deacon Austin Phelps owned 1 acre of land on the site afterwards occupied by the Wilder shop (i.e. on the Northwest corner where what is familiarly known as Goose Lane joins the Ridge road). In 1821 he erected a log house and lived there.

He was an undertaker and carried on the business until 1827 when he sold his place to Mathew Barker and moved to Scipioville. From his old book it appears that the average price for the burial of the dead was seven dollars. Now, about 115 years later, even the cost of the burial in a “Potter's Field” is 10 or 12 times as much and the average cost would be at least 30 times as much. So much for “Pomp and Show”.

In 1803 there was a Baptist church building erected directly across the street from where the above-mentioned Phelps house stood later. So far as is known this was the first church of any denomination in the south end of this county. The house was very large, 60 feet square and very substantial, though never painted outside or in.

Elder David Irish was installed as pastor and continued to serve until 1807 when he was succeeded by Elder Rathbun who stayed a year or so, when

END OF PAGE 15

Comstock's History Page Fourteen

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Fourteen

The farm now owned by William Marshall was bought of Walter Wood by Richard Shaw in 1802.

Shaw built a log house, cleared land, and set out an orchard and had peaches to sell in 1806. After Shaw’s death, the farm fell into the hands of his son, Robert, who sold it to a George Howland, father of Augustus Howland and great-grandfather of Lewis R. Howland of Poplar Ridge. I am unable to learn if this man was any close relation to our present Howland family. At Howland’s death it went to his son-in-law, W. H. Chase, who in turn sold to Benjamin F. Battey. At Battey’s death it was sold to the present owner.

The farm now owned by Martin Keough was settled by Captain Seth Thomas of the War of 1776, who died in 1833, and the place was then bought by Joseph Davis and by him sold to above-mentioned Howland; then it passed to W. H. Chase and by him sold to James Battey. It was later owned by his son Benjamin F. Battey. At Beattey’s death this farm went to his brother-in-law, Benjamin F. Taber, and at his death sold to Martin Keough, the present owner.

The farm now owned by Stewart Russell was first owned by Peter Pinne of Aurora, NY, who sold it to Joshua Baldwin about 1818. Baldwin sold to Sylvester Weeks who sold to Thomas Collins in 1879 and by Collin’s grandson to the present owner in 1938. The farm now owned by Collin’s brother is part of the Walter Wood tract. It was set off as separate farm and bought and improved by A. Lapham at an early date. Lapham sold to George Howland in 1835. It, having fallen into the hands of W. H. Chase, was sold to Oscar F. Van Marter, who transferred it to Leonard Searing, and he to Thomas Collins in 1870.

At Collins’ death this farm went to his son Theodore and from him at his death, to his sons Raymond and Forest Collins, the present owners.

The house now owned by Minnie Morse and Lulu Magill was built in 1810 by a lady by the name of Judah Willison who afterward married Isaac Mitchell, with whom she lived a few years until his death; she spent the balance of her life there and died in 1844.

The place was then sold to Thomas Collins who sold it to Henry Fisher who died there in 1866. It was then purchased by J. A. Hudson and was sold by his heirs to the present owners.

The upper farm now owned by our member of Assembly, James H. Chase, was settled by Johnathon Bowen, sold by him at an early date to William Thomas, then in 1834 to Augustus Howland and by him to Howard Chase; by inheritance to present owner.

The farm now owned by Frederick Howland was settled by Thomas Lapham

END OF PAGE 14

Comstock's History Page Thirteen

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also being published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

 Page Thirteen

---Illegible---- the place recently owned by the late Dr. B. K. Hoxie, and built the house and a very good blacksmith shop, and carried on the business for several years; then sold the place to Abner Briggs.

Briggs carried on some time and was succeeded by Silas Dodge who sold to Moses T. Fell in 1835 who conducted the business for two years with journeymen mechanics. Then he rented the shop to James Davis who was succeeded by George Owen in 1837. Lonna White then purchased the place and George Owen bought the shop, and, apparently, moved it to a spot on the northwest corner of Isabel Howland’s lawn. This shop Owen later traded for the old plow factory, and was for many years used as a wool house. The writer has spent many happy hours there when wool was being sacked, and some not so happy. Owen used the old plow factory as a blacksmith shop until his death in 1870. This building was then torn down and Polhumus Smith, having purchased the property, built a house. This was later owned and occupied by Alice Searing. Her son Adolphus studied law and for some years was County Judge of this county, and his son Leonard H. is now (1939) Assistant Surrogate.

David L. Holly in 1853 bought the Pierce property on which stood a slaughter house, which he moved to a spot just north of Isabel Howland’s land and used it for some time as a wagon shop; later this was used as a blacksmith shop for many years. The last occupant was F. B. DeFreeze who, having purchased the Owen place, built over the barn for a blacksmith shop. This shop appears to be the last of his kind of business so far as Sherwood is concerned, the auto and tractor seem to have sounded the death knell for both blacksmiths and harness makers.

In 1796 James Wood built a log house on the farm known as the John Sherman place. This house stood where the present Frank Fowler house now stands. In 1805 Wood built the large frame house about ½ mile farther west.

After Wood’s death in 1832, this farm was sold to John Winslow of Hoosick, NY who occupied it until his death in 1842, when it went to his son William who occupied it till 1870 when he retired to Union Springs, NY.

John N. Sherman then came into possession of the place by his daughter Hannah Manchester.

At a very early day, James Wood built a sawmill which was much used during wet periods until 1844, when it was allowed to decay.

Howard Smith bought a farm off the east side of the original Woods farm in 1859, and it is now owned by Frank Fowler.

END OF PAGE 13

Comstock's History Page Twelve

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Twelve

Cornelius P. Ostrander, Adeline Ostrander, Oscar F. Van Marter, Daniel Cannon, Timothy Atwater, James Lyon and William Robinson, who died before the year ran out and it was the first natural death that ever occurred in this house, with the exception of Samuel Phelps who returned from Detroit to die of consumption in 1837. There was one suicide: Cornelius Ostrander. Then Isaac N. Brewster, Walter Battey, Frank C. Smith, Eugene F. Brewster, Morrell Georgia, Byron Hoffman, Edwin Brewster and Herbert Brewster. This hotel has been run as a temperance house since James Lyon ran it. This Lyon is not of the present Lyon family.

It has been owned since Samuel Phelps’ death by Erastus Hill, Leonard Searing, Jason Boughton, William P. Smith, M. B. Kerr, James Allen, C. P. Ostrander, William Rathbun, O. F. Van Marter, M. E. Cuyler, and by William Howland, Isabel Howland and now as a Hospital by Nellie Powers.

In 1828 there was built on the edge of the woods, where the house now in 1939 owned by -?- recently burned, stood, a new log house where the widow Lovett lived with her daughter. The house was then torn down, more land cleared, and a farmhouse built, which was owned at one time by Clement Dixon. He sold to Leonard Searing, then conveyed to William Wilson who in turn took down the frame house and moved a tailor shop from Poplar Ridge and added to it.

This property was owned later by John (James) P. Chase and Abbie (Able) Chase, his father, then by Hannah Griffin, Mrs. Byron Hoffman, C. F. Comstock, Emily Howland, and George Adams. After the house burned, the land was sold to J. D. Houck.

In 1825 a log house stood where Daniel Butler lived, occupied by widow Fulkerson who vacated in favor of Jacob Wilkerson, a renowned wood chopper whose son Alfred later was a renowned man of south eastern Michigan. Leonard Searing and wife commenced living together in a log house a little east of the house now owned by Mrs. William Desmond. Uncle Lock, great uncle to noted “Nasby,” lived in a house across the road from the orchard on the Searing farm. This farm was then owned by Dr. Kinney. After Dr. Kinney’s death the farm was sold to Charles Coffin, a sea faring man from Nantucket, who, with his family, lived on it until 1833 when he sold to Job Otis, a druggist from New Bedford.

Again to Sherwood of an earlier date.

Previous to 1819, Peter Brill carried on the blacksmith business with a shop about where the Frank C. Smith house now stands. This was later used as Slocum Howland’s plow factory.

END OF PAGE 12

Comstock's History Page Eleven

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually have a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Eleven

lived where Professor A. LaMar Lane now lives.

He was one of the most highly respected citizens in the community and a true Christian

gentleman. Much such a man as was “Uncle Tom” in Mrs. Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Herman was unable to read and so he decided to attend school and learn to read his Bible.

 He went to school with his own children in the ‘50’s, he in the primer and they in the 3^rd and 4^th grade reader. His sons all joined the Union Army, and Herman said if they failed

he would go down and do his duty.

Samuel Phelps who bought the west half of Seth Sherwood’s land, built the north part of the house now known as the “Green” house. He sold several building lots and two large pieces of land, one to Enoch Honeywell who built a house and chair factory. This was on the property now owned by William Crowley. There were three lots between the Crowley farm and the Green place – one was the Guiles lot, the Boulster lot, and the house known as the Moses T. Fell house, now moved away (these were between the hospital and the cemetery).

Phelps also sold the north 50 acres of what is now owned by Herbert Robinson; he also sold 40 acres to Judge Spencer who built the house now occupied by John Cannon. The 50 acres was sold to Captain Calvin Tracy and Chester Tracy who built two houses on it in which they lived. Phelp’s widow afterward married Gilbert Honeywell, father of Enoch, and she received as her part of the land the Green house and 10 acres of land adjoining to the west. His son-in-law Joel Sherman and his son Ralph got the south half of the farm now owned by Herbert Robinson, whereon each of the built a house.

His sons Samuel and Erastus got the 4 acres now owned by William Crowley, and also the land on which the Hospital now stands. Orpha Hill was a daughter and the widow of Joshua Hill.

In 1814, Samuel Phelps built the hotel (now hospital) and leased it to John Swan who conducted it until 1819. Phelps then ran it two years. The Aaron Denniss hired the house and ran it until 1823 when he was succeeded by Christian Longnecker who gave the place to Henry Shoemaker in the spring of 1825, who stayed until 1831 when David Thomas came and kept a temperance house a part of a year and vacated in favor of John Seeley who ran the stage and kept the hotel until 1837. He gave place to David Milk who stayed two years and gave place to Amos Morgan, who tarried until 1841. Then John Riley came and stayed until 1844 when Stephen Fessenden took the place and ran it until 1849. Since that time it has been kept by many. I give their names in succession: Jason Boughton, William P. Smith, M. B. Kerr, James Allen,

END OF PAGE 11

Comstock's History Page Ten

SOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SCIPIO

CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK by Austin B. Comstock

I will be posting each page of this history separately. The index, posted on June 24, 2014 in 4 parts, provides the page numbers; you can also search the blog for a particular name appearing anywhere within it. 

The index is also published at  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycayuga/ and will eventually include a link back to this blog.

I hope you find something new!

Page Ten

to buy hogs and produce after he went into business for himself and after he built the “Cobble Stone Store” in 1837. He used the main floor of the old store (the hospital annex) to pack pork in. Hundreds of barrels of pork were here packed each year for many years, as well as many hundreds of hams and shoulders. Alonzo Comstock did the work packing and curing the meat, and most of it was shipped by canal boats from Levanna where Slocum was owner or part owner of a storehouse. The writer remembers going with his parents to Good Templars Lodge in the upper story of this building and it was with much awe and fear that he went through the lower room which was only lighted with a lantern, and saw perhaps 30 or 40 pigs and hogs hanging up ready to be taken down and cut up, and perhaps several on the cutting block. The upper floor was also used about this time by Alden Robinson (a brother of Henry Koon’s wife) as a store and printing office. The upper room was also later leased to John A. Hudson as an auction room, but it proved to be more of a club room and “Poker” room, and Slocum soon got rid of this sore spot. The reason for this club room was that the hotel next door had been purchased by William Howland and he had rented to the Good Templars who rented it only to a person who would not sell liquor. The Good Templars reserved the “ball” room for a Lodge room and ceased to occupy their former rooms, making it possible for Hudson to rent the upper floor for an auction room, and as liquor could no longer be sold in the hotel, made it natural that this room should become a “Blind Tiger” much patronized by the sporting element of Sherwood and vicinity.

Slocum Howland was an old time abolitionist when there were few such in this county, and he strenuously advocated equal rights for all. His house was one of the “Stations” of the “Underground Railway” and many escaped slaves were hidden by him during the day and sent on their way to Canada at night.

His ideas on the slavery question in many ways made him unpopular away from his own

Town. He did on two different occasions rise to the dignity of Supervisor of his Town.

In 1846 he was a candidate for member of the Constitutional Convention. When it was whispered around his ideas on slavery it as sufficient to elect by a small majority, his

Democratic opponent, who was favorable to the question of slavery.

It seems queer to us now that there should have been even a small majority in favor of

slavery in this vicinity.

In the writer’s boyhood, there was a colored family by the name of Herman Phillips, who was an escaped slave, with 5 or 6 children who

END OF PAGE 10