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