Comstock's History of Scipio

In 1940, Austin Comstock's "Some of the Early History of the Town of Scipio" was published. I have a mimeographed typescript that I've read many times.
The publication is filled with names and relationships of our early settlers. I didn't find an electronic copy but it looks like the Finger Lakes Library System has it with OCLC #503217088.
This winter, I decided to build an index of the names in this 30-page document. The names include Hoxie, Chase, Sherwood, Gould, Heffron,Bennett, Wyant, Buckhout, Mosher, Bancroft and many more.I am almost done, and will be posting a copy to the blog so stay tuned!

2014 Suffrage Calendar

I am happy to pass along the news that the 2014 Woman's Suffrage Calendar is now available for sale. The format is similar to last year's calendar, but the content is new. The inside front and back covers focus this year on Miss Isabel Howland, niece of Miss Emily, and some of her activities in local, county, state and national woman's rights movements as well as her commitment to the hamlet of Sherwood. There is a poster image for each month, all different from last year. The birth dates of famous suffragist are listed, along with events occurring each month.

As you know if you saw last year's calendar, these are much more than just a calendar. They are a collector's item, a work of art, an important historic story, and a wonderful gift item.I will be adding my 2013 calendar to the Scipio History Room collection for future viewing. This calendar sold out last year, making it a real collector's item!

The calendar can be obtained online at the Howland Stone Store Museum website www.howlandstonestore.org or locally by contacting Patricia White at 315-364-5587 (or pwhite2299@aol.com). The calendars cost $16.00 (plus postage added for all online orders (@ $3.50).

Local Daughters of the American Revolution attend 2013 Continental Congress

Our local newspaper, the Citizen, published an article I wrote about a recent trip to historic Washington DC.

Local Daughters of the American Revolution attend 2013 Continental Congress

Honored at last : Schuyler Cemetery Honors Civil War Veterans

I happened across this article, and was pleasantly surprised to find a Cayuga County man among those honored - James R. Clark. Hope you enjoy the article too.

Honored at last : Schuyler

Thanksgiving

This time of year many of us think about what we are thankful for in our lives. I am thankful for good friends and family, and banana cream pie! I am also thankful for the opportunity to continue to research the history of Scipio Center and Cayuga County, and share what I learn in this blog. Most of all I am thankful to have a working internet connection - and high speed, at that!
Though many competing claims exist, the most familiar story of Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Colony, in present-day Massachusetts, in 1621. More than 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November as a national day of thanksgiving, and Congress finally made Thanksgiving Day an official national holiday in 1941. In 2001, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative Thanksgiving stamp. Designed by the artist Margaret Cusack in a style resembling traditional folk-art needlework, it depicted a cornucopia overflowing with fruits and vegetables, under the phrase "We Give Thanks."
In a survey conducted by the National Turkey Federation, nearly 88 percent of Americans said they eat turkey at Thanksgiving. Fossil evidence shows that turkeys roamed the Americas 10 million years ago! According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Minnesota is the top turkey-producing state in America, with a planned production total of 46.5 million in 2011. Six states account for nearly two-thirds of the 248 million turkeys that will be raised in the U.S. this year: Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Virginia, and Indiana.
In 1621, the only two items that historians know for sure were on the menu are venison and wild fowl, which are mentioned in primary sources. The Plymouth Pilgrims dined with the Wampanoag Indians. And the pilgrims didn’t use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers.

This photo was taken by my trusty camera on a visit to our State Archives in Albany this summer. It is one page from the 1897 report of GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Post 632, Selah Cornwell based in Merrifield, Town of Scipio NY. Post 632 was one of many local Posts active in the years following the Civil War.

Selah Cornwell GAR Post 632

Between a recent donation from the owner of Scipio business St. John’s Memorials and another trip to the NYS Archives in Albany, I have gathered some more information about Scipio and Cayuga County in the early years.
The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) records stored at the Archives are not complete, but there were several for Scipio, Union Springs, King Ferry and Auburn. I plan to share some of them in the weeks ahead, and of course will make them available at the Scipio Town Hall for anyone who is interested. Here are a few details about Scipio Civil War veterans who belonged to #632.

Yearly reports submitted by Post 632 of Scipio tell us who was an officer, how many members the Post had and what the dues were.

In 1895, there were 22 members reported with their Headquarters in Merrifield, Town of Scipio. Officers were Wm. C. Tripp, J. B. Hitchcock, Libeus Merry, Francis Flynn, W. M. Clark, P.T. Shorkley, M. M. Palmer, C. Sincerbox, T. C. Tallman and S. Williams.

June of 1897 shows the Post Headquarters listed as Association Hall, and there were 23 members; two members were lost by suspension leaving 21. Dues were $1.68 per capita.
Officers listed were: Wm. C. Tripp, W. M. Clark, J. B. Hitchcock, P.T. Shorkley, M. M. Parker, C. Sincerbox, S. Williams, T. C. Tallman, Libeus Merry and Francis Flynn.
They met the 1st and 3rd Saturdays in Morgan Hall.

For December of 1897, a report was filed showing 21 current members, and another two mustered in: John Muldoon, aged 72 and a resident of the neighboring town of Fleming and J. P. Northway, aged 52, born in Cortland and residing in Venice (which was formed off from Scipio in 1823).
John Muldoon was mustered in on December 30, 1862. He served as a Private in Company E of the 9th NY Heavy Artillery until his discharge on October 18, 1865 due to a surgeon’s certificate.
J. P. enlisted on January 7, 1864. He mustered in as a Private in Company H of the 16th NY Heavy Artillery. At discharge on November 29, 1865, he was a member of Company A of the 4th NY Cavalry. His discharge was due to General orders #144. Dues had been lowered to eight cents a member. Meetings were held the 1st Saturday of the month at Association Hall.
Officers listed were Morton M. Palmer, John P. Northway, William C. Tripp, Thomas C. Tallman, Pardon T. Shorkley, Chester Sincerbox, Leonard Williams, Wilbur C. Clark, Alonso A. Austin, James B. Hitchcock and Francis Flynn.

On June 28, 1902, 37 years after the end of the Civil War, Post 632 had just 13 members and they each paid eight cents for dues, so a total of $1.04 was collected. The roster of members was as follows:
Francis Flynn, J. P. Northway, W. M. Clark, P.T. Shorkley, M.M. Parker, Chester Sincerbox, Wm. C. Tripp, J. W. Jaquette, A. A. Austin and J. B. Hitchcock.