Camillus (1) was No. 5 of the original township of the Military Tract (2), and as such comprised the north and west parts of the present town of that name and the whole of what are now the towns of Elbridge and Van Buren. It contained 100 lots of about 600 acres each, of which ninety-four were drawn by soldiers for services in the Revolutionary war. The other six lots were reserved for gospel and school purposes, but only one of them, No. 98, the site of Marcellus Station, came within the limits of the territory under consideration. The twenty-seven lots included in the present town are Nos. 44, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 87, 88, 89,90, 97, 98, 99, 100.
These were drawn by the following persons: 44, William Thornton; 51, John Cogden; 52, John Storms; 53, Col. Peter Gansevoort; 54, Capt. Anthony T. Pell; 55, Gen. Alexander McDougall; 56, James Ready; 63, Capt. Charles Graham; 64, Lodowick Bunt; 65, Cornelius Blank; 66, Robert Shannon; 67, Surgeon John F. Vacher; 68, Lieut.-Col. Jacobus S. Bruyn; 69, Henry Stringham; 76, Abram DeClarke; 77, Benjamin Holley; 78, Col. William Malcom; 79, Prince Danford; 80, Francis Ackling; 87, George Re Rotter; 88, Lieut--Col. Frederick Weissenfels; 89, Deliverance Martling; 90, Mordecai Hale, surgeon's mate; 97, Robert Gibson. 98, reserved for gospel, schools, etc.; 99, Richard Dodge; 100, Peter Saltsman.
Upon the organization of the county in 1794 this military township was included in the civil town of Marcellus. On the 9th of March, 1799, it was formed into a separate town, given its original name, and on March 26, 1829, the towns of Elbridge and Van Buren as now constituted, were set off. On May 1, 1834, all that part of Onondaga lying north of the southern limits of lots 48, 49, 50, 51, and 52, comprising lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 48, 49, 50, 51, and 52, of the original Salt Spring Reservation, was annexed.
The first white settler in Camillus was Capt. Isaac Lindsay, who arrived about 1791, and who was soon followed by his brothers James, William and Elijah. They located on lot 80, where the north part of the village of Camillus now stands, and purchased their land for two shillings (twenty-five cents) per acre. At that time the only route of travel was the Indian trail, previously mentioned. Here, on a sidehill on lot 90, William Lindsay accidentally discovered in 1792 the first plaster bed in the United States. Taking a large block of the stone to his house, it was examined by several people who failed to determine its character, but finally learned that it was plaster, and equal in quality to anything of the kind in the world. In 1806 De Witt Clinton, Samuel Young and other noted men visited the spot, and immediately afterward Josiah Buck (the first settler in Elbridge, which see,) purchased the land. Specimens of the rock were sent to Europe and tested, and the fame of the new beds spread far and wide. In May, 1808, a company was organized with 2,000 shares and 250 share holders, of whom Judge Forman was the heaviest. The latter was president of the company, and Mr. Buck was the principal manager. In 1810 one hundred tons were sold, and by 1812 the famous beds had been extensively opened and large quantities of the stone were being sent east and south. The business flourished many years. "Some of the finest specimens of the foliated transparent selenite variety have been obtained from these beds, which, from its transparency, is often termed alabaster." (3).
Soon after this important discovery several plaster mills were placed in operation in different parts of the town. There was one in Camillus near the head of the canal feeder, another at Amboy, another near Sweet's crossing, and a fourth in Austin Hollow near the town line. In this connection mention may be made of some of the important geological deposits found in various localities in this town. There are excellent quarries of gray limestone, intermixed with a stratum of sandstone, while the hills abound in calcareous tufa, suitable for making lime, and which, on that account, is called 'basswood limestone." During the excavation of the canal through the old David Hinsdale farm numerous sea-culm and other marine shells and fishbones were found imbedded in the clay. Between 1845 and 1850 efforts were made to discover what was long supposed to be a bed of coal on a hill two miles south of the village. A shaft was sunk to a depth of about twelve feet, and it was claimed that pieces of anthracite coal were found. This property was formerly owned by Colonel Bull. The highest elevations in this town are Sherwood and Fairmount hills, which are respectively 799 and 736 feet above sea level.
Isaac Lindsay opened the first tavern in what is now Camillus village in 1793. It is impossible to determine the advent of any other settlers prior to this year, when Nicholas Lambertson arrived. Before 1806 David Hinsdale, Selden Leonard, William Reed, Mordecai Ellis and perhaps a few others came in. The territory slowly filled up with hardy, resolute families from the east, who brought with them into the new country the thrifty habits of worthy ancestors. Endowed with those sterling traits that elevate civilization they gave to the new community the commendable characteristics that have clung to each succeeding generation. By degrees the forests disappeared before their steady march to prosperity, and first the rude log cabin and then the commodious frame dwellings sprung up as the fruits of their industry. In common with other pioneers they first sought the hill, believing the high ground more healthful and easier to prepare for cultivation, and productive of better crops. The lowlands, however, were not long unoccupied, and proved fully as productive.
In 1795 Isaac Lindsay erected the first frame house in town on lot 80. Between this year and 1800, or a little later, a number of settlers arrived, but the exact date of their coming cannot be determined. Among them were Jacob Chandler, Isaac Brown, John Hess, Nathaniel Richmond, two McCrakens, John Paddock and Thomas Corey. The latter was killed by falling from a wagon after he had opened a tavern in Camillus in 1801. In 1798 Hon. James Geddes, whose name is so closely linked with the history of the Erie canal, removed from the "Geddes Salt Works" to Fairmount, where he lived the remainder of his life. His old farm is now occupied by the widow of his grandson. Judge Geddes was one of the most distinguished citizens of the State. He was born in Carlisle, Pa., July 22, 1763, and died at his homestead in this town, August 19, 1838. An extended notice of him appears in an earlier page of this volume.
In 1802 there was a great scarcity of the necessaries of life. Wheat rose in price to $2.50 per bushel, and corn was worth from ten to twelve shillings. The first surplus grain in this town was raised in 1805 and taken to Albany on sleighs. Prior to the opening of the canal immense quantities of wheat were sent to market from this section in that manner.
The first important step in the foundation of religion among the scattered inhabitants was the organization of the 'First Presbyterian Congregational Society of the town of Camillus," on September 17, 1802. This was doubtless composed of residents in what are now Camillus, Elbridge and Van Buren, but how long it maintained an existence is not known. It never erected a church, although it has the honor of being the first religious society in all that military township.
Notwithstanding the many natural advantages held out to prospective settlers, Camillus was not populated as rapidly as were adjacent towns. Pioneers came in small numbers. Marcellus, Skaneateles and sections farther west were evidently preferred by immigrants, or what is more likely, were favored with better facilities for transportation. The first or South Seneca turnpike, passing through those two villages, afforded them earlier means of communication, and also largely influenced early comers in determining their locations. In 1806 the north branch of the Seneca turnpike was incorporated, and in 1807-08 Squire Munro and his sons constructed that part of the road which passes through Camillus and Elbridge, about eleven miles, taking stock in the road as compensation for their work. This thoroughfare was tolled for several years, but finally gave place to the Syracuse and Elbridge plank road. It gave the first decided impulse to settlement, and marked the beginning of an era of growth and prosperity.
Two prominent settlers who had become residents of the town were Joseph White and Samuel Hopkins. Mr. White was a surveyor and a Revolutionary soldier, and came to Camillus from Massachusetts in 1804, settling at Amboy, just north of the bridge over Nine Mile Creek. Soon afterward he built a saw mill and fulling and dyeing works, and for several years did a prosperous business. While surveying a highway he received injuries from a falling tree, from which he finally died in 1830, aged eighty-one. He was the first settler on the site of that hamlet. His son, Elijah, was also a surveyor, and died, unmarried, in 1836, at the age of fifty-four. Another son, Harold, was a magistrate, and in 1823 a member of assembly, and also served as first lieutenant in the war of 1812. He died in 1832. Harold's son, Harold M., was graduated from Union College in 1856, and was admitted to the bar in 1859, removed to Iowa in 1860, and died in the army in December, 1862. Aaron White, a brother of Joseph, came from Massachusetts in 1812 and purchased a part of lot 3 of the Onondaga Reservation, where he died in 1833, aged eighty-six. His son, Jonathan, walked from Massachusetts to Camillus, and assisted in clearing the farm on which he died in 1874, at the age of eighty. He marched with the militia to Smith's Mills in 1813, was one of the organizers of the Amboy Presbyterian church, an elder in that and the Camillus Society for nearly fifty years, and active in sustaining Sunday schools. He married the widow of Harold White and had one son, Jonathan B.
William T. McCraken settled at a very early day with his father on the farm now owned by Holton McCraken.
Samuel Hopkins came here with his family in March, 1807. His son, Robert, was born in Salem, N.Y., February 10, 1789, married Prudence Wells in 1816, and died August 7, 1859; his wife died in 1864. He served as justice of the peace twenty-four years. His children were Harlow W., born March 29, 1818; Emeline, born May 1, 1824, and Edwin, born December 4, 1833, all of whom succeeded as residents of the homestead.
It will be remembered that Camillus in 1808 comprised as a civil town the original military township of the same name, which included also the most of the present territory of the town and the whole of what are now the towns of Elbridge and Van Buren. The electoral franchise then was limited to landholders and tenants, and from a census of electors taken in 1807 the following are known to have been residents at that time of the three towns named: (4) (This list is found in Sue Outman Well's "Early Settlers of Camillus, Van Buren, and Elbridge," Town of Camillus. Kathy Crowell).
The completion of the north Seneca Turnpike and the contemporary development
of the neighboring plaster beds gave the first decided impetus to the village
of Camillus. At the beginning of 1808 the place contained only two
frame dwellings. In that year John Tomlinson opened here the first
store in town, and the first school house, a log structure, was built on
the present school lot, which was donated for the purpose by William Wheeler.
This was superseded by a frame school building in 1813. Dr. Isaac
Magoon was a physician in Camillus in 1808, being one of the earliest in
town.
In 1810 Munro & Benedict opened a second store in the village, and about the same time Captain Kimberly erected the first tavern in Amboy. Scarcely any other settlements had been made between Judge Geddes's at Fairmount and what is now Elbridge. At this period, as well as before and afterward, the pioneers, while engaged in the hard work of clearing land, found their popular amusement in a form of cooperation called "bees," which all the settlers for miles around attended. They had chopping bees, logging bees, husking bees, raising bees, and other bees, and usually ended at night in dancing and frolic. Memorable indeed were these jolly times, for work and play were happily combined.
On February 14, 1811, the First Methodist Society in Camillus was organized, making the third in the old town, and probably the second to erect a church edifice, as will presently appear. Excitement over the war with Great Britain extended into this town, as described in early chapters of this work, and a number of its citizens shared to a limited extent in the military operations of that period.
In 1815 James R. Lawrence opened the first law office in Camillus. He received the appointment of postmaster at that village in 1824, and was succeeded by Grove Lawrence, who had established himself in the practice of law in 1821. On June 8, 1833, the latter was elected brigadier-general of the 27th Brigade of Infantry. Among later lawyers in Camillus were Samuel Hammond, Daniel Pratt, and D. D. Hillis (see Chapter XXVI, The Bench and Bar of Onondaga County).
David Bennett, a native of Ridgefield, Conn., born October 21, 1786, arrived in this town in the winter of 1813 from Saratoga county, where he had married Hannah Crawford in 1809. His father, Nathan Bennett, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was taken prisoner at the battle of Monmouth, and two brothers of his mother (Huldah Barlow) served in the same struggle; one, Joel, was a classmate of Noah Webster, a graduate of Yale College, a chaplain in the army, an author, minister to France, and the builder of a marble palace in Washington named "Kalorama." Daniel Bennett finally owned nearly 280 acres, and for about thirty years was a deacon of the Elbridge Congregational church. His children were Huldah B., Mrs. Rhoda B. Hinsdale, Mrs. Harriet Brown, Mrs. Mary J. Hoff, Joel B., Lewis B., Mrs. Ann Eliza Sweet, and Mrs. Emma O. Rice. Lewis Bradley Bennett was born here September 29, 1813, and Joel Barlow Bennett on July 22, 1815. They engaged in farming as partners in 1836 and continued an uninterrupted business relationship until the death of the former on December 22, 1874; he left an endowment to the church of $1,000. They owned at one time nearly 600 acres of land, and were among the representative farmers of the county.
Enos Peck came into the town about 1815. He was born in New Haven, Vt., August 15, 1790, a son of Enos Peck, sr., and removed with his parents to Pompey in 1795, whence the family emigrated to Cato, Cayuga county, in 1806. He served one month in the war of 1812, was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in Camillus, and married Annis, daughter of Nathan Hopkins, an early settler of this town. Their children were A. H., Isaac M., Jane (Mrs. William Mack), and Edwin.
The Second (afterward known as the First) Presbyterian church of Camillus was organized in a tavern which stood on the subsequent site of the house of John Larkins, in the village, on August 11, 1817, with fifty-two members. Prior to this meetings had been held in the Nine Mile Creek school house and in an old distillery on the site later occupied by the carriage shop of John Fergus. In 1822 an edifice was erected at a cost of $1,200, and in 1866-68 a new brick structure was built at an expense of $8,000. The first pastor was Rev. Jabez Spicer in 1817-19; among his successors were Revs. Jabez Chadwick, Moody Harrington, Josiah Ward, William W. Williams, E. R. Davis, and J. S. Root.
Meanwhile, manufacturing industries had become somewhat numerous in the town. The many mill privileges afforded by Nine Mile Creek (5) were rapidly developing into scenes of activity and bringing to the town both capital and mechanics. In later years these interests assumed considerable proportions, contributing largely to the public welfare, and advancing the growth and prosperity of the various settlements. A few have already been noticed; it is pertinent now to mention others that either then or afterward influenced their respective localities.
Austin Hollow, near the Marcellus town line, was once a lively hamlet, having one of the first grist mills in Camillus, a saw mill, school house, distillery, several dwellings, and a wagon shop, where lead pipe was also drawn, and in which was a lathe for turning hubs, wooden bowls, etc. Tradition says that the place was originally called "Bill Town," possibly because of the fact that Dr. Bildad Beach and William Chatfield erected the saw and grist mill before 1820. In 1826 Perigo Austin, from whom the hamlet received its present name, moved in and purchased the mills, together with quite a tract of land in the vicinity. Abner Maynard worked in the grist mill as early as 1821; he was the father of Mrs. John Eggleston (died June 20, 1895) and the grandfather of George A. Eggleston, of Marcellus Falls, and where he lived Shadrack Austin afterward resided. Perigo Austin finally converted the grist mill into a plaster mill, which was operated by the Austins, Samuel Brown, Lyman Smith, Joseph S. Platt (later county sheriff), Paul Owen, Humphrey Case, and Skinner & Drake. When the State coffer-dam at Marietta, in the town of Marcellus, gave way in 1865 the mill-dam here and nearly all the others along the stream were washed out. It was never rebuilt. Near the depot at Marcellus Station Lyman Cook built an early distillery, and near it were two quick and water lime kilns constructed by Joseph S. Platt. The school house was used for a dwelling several years, and is now occupied by C. J. Morgan as a shop.
Down the creek, about a quarter of a mile southeast from the main street bridge in Camillus village, is the site of the first grist mill in the town. The mill was built in 1806 by Squire Munro, William Wheeler, and Samuel Powers, who erected a saw mill at the same time. A little below this Abraham Drake put up a carding and cloth-dressing establishment in 1812. He died December 10, 1832. About 1832 the present mill race, or feeder, two and a half miles in length, was constructed by the Nine Mile Creek Canal Association, composed of James R. and Grove Lawrence, David Munro, Miles H. Bennett, George and Eliakim Richards, Charles Land, and David B. Winton, all deceased. This permanent improvement had a wholesome influence upon subsequent manufacturing interests, and more than anything else was directly responsible for the inception of later establishments operated by water power. In 1835 it was sold to the canal commissioners; since then it has served as a feeder for the Erie Canal. In 1834-35 Philip Drake, a son of Abraham, and after a resident and mill owner at Jack's Rifts, in Elbridge, built a grist mill on the site now occupied by Patterson & Sisson's flouring mill. In January, 1836, he sold it to Phares and Edward O. Gould, who enlarged and ran it until 1851, when they sold out to Wilson R. Cooper, Edwin R. Harmon, and Cornelius B. Way. In 1853 it passed to James M. Munro, and in 1867 to Robert Patterson, Edwin P. Hopkins, and Loren L. and John H. Patterson; in 1870 Hopkins withdrew; in 1875 David A. Munro, and Loren L. Patterson became the proprietors, and on January 25, 1882, the mills burned. The same year L. L. Patterson and William G. Sisson rebuilt it and began operations in March, 1883. This was one of the first complete roller mills in Central New York. It was burned November 17, 1887, and the present mill, with a daily capacity of 200 barrels of flour, was erected in 1888.
A woolen factory was built on the site of Walter F. Keefer's knitting mill in 1834, by Wells & Guilford, who were succeeded by Wells & Sheldon, and they by the National Knitting Company. The chief product was underwear. The factory passed to James Munro, and about 1858 to G. F. Julian, who conducted it until his death in 1866. John J. Rhodes and E. R. Harmon, as administrators, closed the business out, and about 1869 the property was sold to Walter F. Keefer, who manufactured cloth and stocking yarn. He was burned out in 1882 and again in 1887, but rebuilt each time. A few years ago his brother, J. N. Keefer, established another knitting mill, which he still successfully operates. These three mills constitute a considerable portion of the business life of Camillus village.
South of the first knitting establishment was quite early a saw mill, which was operated by Dr. Richards and Grove Lawrence, and which passed to James M. Munro, who rebuilt it in 1865. In 1870 it was purchased by James G. Fergus, who did a large business till 1887, when the mill was burned. A cider mill was connected with it. Farther down the stream was another saw mill, run by Land & Elderkin; it was destroyed by fire in the fifties. North of the bridge the Novelty Mills were built by Weston & Dill in 1848; sawing and grinding were done until 1855, when the building was converted into a distillery by Briggs & Sheldon. It was finally sold to S. B. Rowe, who continued until 1864, when he expended several thousand dollars in improvements, but never started operations. Later it was made into a chair factory by Pratt & Rowe, and on December 2, 1886, it burned. On the site E. D. Sherwood & Son built a chair factory, which suffered the same fate November 30, 1869. In 1894 the present building was erected for a knife factory by Charles E. Sherwood.
Chapman & Green at one time had quite an extensive establishment in the village for the manufacture of clay smoking pipes. It was burned, and the business was discontinued.
Below Camillus village, along the canal, there have been at different times three or four brick yards, which have made as many as 4,000,000 brick annually. This business has sprung into existence largely within recent years.
North of Belle Isle there was formerly a saw, grist, and cider mill, owned by Robert Morton, and known as the Corwin Mills.
The hamlet of Amboy was formerly quite a busy manufacturing place. The flouring mill, now one of the interesting landmarks of the town, was built by Nathan Paddock in 1826-27; in 1861 it passed to the possession of Lafayette Burdick, who conducted it many years; it is now owned by the Paddock heirs. D. B. Paddock had a tannery there for some time, and besides these the place formerly had three or more saw mills, a stave mill, cooperage, cider mill, shops, etc. In 1836 it contained a saw mill, tavern, store and fifteen or twenty dwellings. An early innkeeper was Captain Kimberly. Amboy is one of the most picturesque spots in the town. Its reed-grown mill pond, the deep, winding valley of the creek, the ruins of old-time mills and the many pretty landscapes have frequently been subjects for the artist's pencil. On the west bank of the creek, south of the road, numerous arrowheads and other Indian relics have been found. In the west part of the town at Oswego Bitter there is a grist mill which has been long in existence, and where a saw mill was formerly operated.
These numerous manufacturing establishments and the constant tide of immigration caused various highways to be opened and improved. The earliest date in which road records occur is 1813, when Camillus included also Elbridge and Van Buren, and nearly all the thoroughfares were surveyed and laid out before 1830. Among the surveyors during this period were Elijah White, Jonathan Wood, Joseph White, Squire Munro, Augustus Harris, Daniel Reed, James McClure, John M. Chatfield, James Ransom and George W. Robinson. The following served as highway commissioners during this time:
Josiah Parish, jr., Winslow Churchill, John Healy, David Paddock, jr., James Wisner, James Paddock, Phineas Barnes, Isaac Otis, John Redman, 2d, James Mears, Timothy Brown, Henry Cook, James Tuttle, William M. Canfield, Augustus Harris, Robert Stevens, Enos Talmadge, Benjamin Weaver, William Hopkins, William Brown and Samuel Hopkins.
The subject of education was likewise given practical attention. As has already been seen, the first school in town was taught by John Tomlinson in Camillus village in 1808. Under a legislative act passed June 19, 1812, Squire Munro, Linus Squire and Dr. Isaac Magoon were appointed commissioners to divide the town, as then constituted, into school districts, with the following results, as taken from the records:
District No. 1 by Judge Munro's; 2, by Captain Wesner's; 3, by Mr. Campbell's; 4, by Mr. Fulton's; 5, by David Redman's; 6, at the Nine Mile creek; 7, near Squire White's (Amboy); 8, by Mr. Parish's; 9, by Lieutenant Warner's; 10, by Captain Robinson's; 11, by Mr. Barnes's; 12, by Oswego Bitter; 13, by Mr. Kelley's; 14, by Captain Tappan's; 15, on lot 8; 16, Jordan; 17, by Mr. Springstead's.
The school commissioners prior to 1829 were David Munro, Henry Field, Truman Adams, B. Benedict, Eliakim Edwards, Martin M. Ford, Gabriel Tappan, James R. Lawrence, William Reed, John Healy, Hiram F. Mather, Elijah White, Azor Phelps, Benjamin Weaver, David C. Lytle, Adonijah White and Isaac Magoon.
In 1823 the town had thirty-four school districts with 1,998 scholars, while in 1836, quoting the first statistics obtainable after the present territory had been legally defined, it contained sixteen districts and 1,002 children. After 1833 a brick school house was erected on the site of the old structure built in 1813 in Camillus village, and a wooden building was built where George Gorsline now lives. In 1845 the districts were consolidated and a frame structure erected, which was superseded by the present brick school building in 1869. The latter cost, complete, about $7,300. Prof. C. E. White was principal of this school several years. In 1845 the town contained eleven common schools, which were attended by 806 children; in 1860 these numbered respectively ten and 1,023; there are now ten districts with a school house in each.
This brings us down to 1825, when the booming of cannon from Buffalo to Albany announced the completion of the Erie Canal, which marked a new epoch in local prosperity and imparted additional life to every community along its course. It did not, however, supersede the great stage lines which, both before and afterward, made the Genesee turnpike a busy thoroughfare, but it did give a new impulse to almost every business industry. In 1820 the town contained six grain mills, seventeen saw mills, four fulling mills, five carding machines, a trip hammer, two asheries and six distilleries. These were scattered over Elbridge and Van Buren, as well as over the territory under consideration. In 1835, after Camillus had reached its present limits, there were four grist mills, ten saw mills, two fulling mills, two carding machines, a woolen factory, two distilleries, four asheries, and three tanneries in operation. As a further comparison we quote again from statistics:
In 1820, taxable property, $413,840; acres of improved land, 21,412; population, 5,791; cattle, 5,141; sheep, 9,236; horses, 1,191; yards of cloth made in families in one year, 41,004; farmers, 1,060; no slaves; free colored persons, 10; mechanics, 150; traders, etc., 20. In 1836, acres of improved land, 14,719; assessed value of real estate, $472,644; town tax, $1,831; county tax, $1,130; sheep, 5,365; cattle, 2,148; horses, 896; swine, 2,539; militia men, 353. In 1845, 329 militia, 15,847 acres of improved land, three grist mills, eight saw mills, one fulling mill, a carding machine, one woolen factory, an ashery, two tanneries, three churches, seven taverns, five stores, six groceries, 505 farmers, 135 mechanics, six physicians, and three lawyers. In 1860, 16,411 acres of improved land, assessed value of real estate, $1,087,490, and personal property, $125,850, 489 dwellings, 535 families, 328 freeholders, 879 horses, 1,165 cattle, 1,047 cows, 5,649 sheep, 1,933 swine; productions--10,006 bushels winter wheat, 152,062 bushels spring wheat, 2,566 tons of hay, 19,857 bushels of potatoes, 30,343 bushels of apples, 110,209 pounds of butter, 12,470 pounds of cheese, 103 yards domestic cloth.
In the possession of A. M. Knickerbocker of Syracuse is an assessment
roll of the town of Camillus, made in 1825, John Larkin, collector, and
from it is taken the following list; nearly all the property here represented
lies within the limits of the territory under consideration:
Residents
| Lot No. |
Acres |Quality | Real |Personal | Tax
|
| |
| |
|
Adams, Truman
| 86, 52 |
127| 1,3 | $1,750 |
| $7.32
Abrams, James
| 87, 97 |
130| 2|
950| |
3.96
Abrams, John
|
97| 57|
2| 300|
| 1.24
Armstrong, Eri
|
56| 80|
3| 480|
| 2.01
Armstrong, Jabin
|
56| 82|
2| 556|
| 2.75
Allen, James
|
68| 3|
3| 75|
| 0.3
Armstrong, Marvin
|
68| 20|
2| 160|
| 0.66
Anderson, Sarah
|
80| 1/4 |
1| 150|
| 0.61
Armstrong, John
|
88| 50|
2| 750|
| 3.13
Abrams, Andrew
|
88| 50|
2| 1,000|
| 4.17
Bond, Samuel
| 75, 76 |
100| 2| 1,050|
| 4.38
Bennet, James
| 76, 77, 85, | 411|1,
2, 3 | 5,830|
| 24.41
| 87, 88 |
| |
| |
Bell & Richmond
|
63| 100|
1| 1,300|
| 4.43
Baker, James M.
| 76, 77 |
128| 1,3 | 1,000|
| 4.17
Benet, Daniel
|
87| 106|
1| 1,450|
| 6.16
Buck, Philander
|
64| 25|
2| 200|
| 0.81
Bryant, Josiah
| 64, 67 |
147| 1,3 | 1,025|
| 4.29
Burrill, Joshua
|
64| 75|
1| 700|
| 2.92
Burrill, William
|
64| 30|
2| 280|
| 1.14
Barnard, Moses
|
56| 28|
3| 200|
| 0.81
Brown, Samuel
|
65| 30|
3| 180|
| 0.74
Baty, Walter
|
68| 93|
2| 558|
| 2.48
Buck, Gilbert
|
77| 10|
3| 70|
| 0.28
Buck, Nelson
|
78| 30|
3| 180|
| 0.74
Brown, William
|
80| 145|
2| 1,450|
| 6.06
Bennet, Miles M.
|
80| 1/3 |
2| 300|
| 1.24
Burgess, Anthony
|
80| 1/2 |
2| 20|
| 0.08
Brockway, Robert
|
80| 9|
3| 500|
| 2.23
Beach & Chatfield
|
98| 230|
2| 2,200|
| 9.18
Bessey, Joseph
|
98| 1 1/4|
3| 30|
| 0.11
Baker, Benjamin
|
99| 100|
3| 400|
| 1.66
Berry, Simeon
|
99| 100|
3| 600|
| 2.51
Baker, Calvin
|
99| 25|
3| 150|
| 0.61
Bingham, Asa
|
100| 180|
3| 1,700|
| 7.11
Bingham, Calvin, jr.
|
100| 109|
2| 1,000|
| 4.17
Bingham, Luther
|
100| 20|
3| 100|
| 0.41
Bingham, Calvin
|
100| 50|
3| 300|
| 1.24
Baker, Benj. of Manlius
|
99| 66|
3| 300|
| 1.24
Campbell, Ethan
| 62, 63, 18 |
129| 1,2 | 1,286|
| 5.36
Campbell, Cephas
|
76| 76|
1| 700|
| 2.92
Chapman, Sewell
|
87| 1/2 |
1| 150|
| 1.01
Clute, Isaac
|
64| 61|
3| 350|
| 1.45
Cuyler, Henry
|
64| 100|
2| 860|
| 3.6
Corwin, Horten
| 44, 56 |
129| 2| 1,150|
| 4.8
Chapman, Ezekiel D.
|
44| 31|
3| 186|
| 0.81
Chapman, Joel
|
44| 26|
2| 120|
| 0.49
Clap, Christopher
|
56| 1 1/2|
2| 100|
| 0.42
Coon, Joseph
|
56| 1|
3| 20|
| 0.08
Carr, Chauncey
|
65| 57|
3| 346|
| 1.44
Churchill, Winslow
|
79| 100|
3| 800|
| 3.34
Cross, Samuel
|
79| 29|
3| 144|
| 0.59
Clark, William P.
|
80| 2|
2| 125|
| 0.49
Campbell, James
|
80| 1/2 |
2| 150|
| 0.63
Clark, Samuel
| 80, 89 |
64 1/4| 2|
548| |
2.45
Chapin, Levi
|
89| 50|
2| 900|
| 3.75
Crane, Silas
|
98| 100|
3| 500|
| 2.23
Cole, Alvah
|
99| 50|
3| 300|
| 1.24
Caton, William
|
100| 22|
3| 130|
| 0.53
Crown, ___
|
100| 8|
3| 40|
| 0.15
Carkins, Levi
|
98| 10|
| 100|
| 0.42
Dodge, Isaac
|
63| 13|
3| 130|
| 0.53
Dixon, William
|
78| 52|
3| 400|
| 1.66
Dixon, George
|
78| 83|
3| 330|
| 1.38
Drake, Abraham
| 80, 89, 90 | 61 1/2|
3| 1,305|
| 5.47
Dunham, Jeremiah
|
98| 42|
3| 336|
| 1.4
Dunham, John
|
98| 50|
3| 250|
| 1.03
Dunbar, Seth
|
99| 52|
3| 300|
| 1.26
Elston, Abraham
|
78| 40|
3| 200|
| 0.81
Elderkin, Artimus
|
78| 70|
3| 420|
| 1.76
Edwards, Eliakim
| 79, 80 |
10| 2,3 | 830|
| 3.47
Edwards & Munro
|
90| 30|
3| 180|
| 0.74
Evans, David
|
80| 6|
2| 100|
| 0.42
Elston, Jacob
|
89| 126|
2| 1,134|
| 4.74
Eggleston, Jonathan
|
98| 2|
3| 200|
| 0.81
French, Jonathan
|
51| 1|
1| 40|
| 0.15
Foster, Martin
|
53| 100|
3| 900|
| 3.75
Fox, Daniel
|
76| 25|
2| 225|
| 0.92
Ford, Martin M.
|
90| 1|
3| 150|
| 0.63
Frothingham, Gideon
|
80| 1/4 |
1| 300|
| 1.25
Gillies, James
| 96, 97 |
187| 1,3 | 1,835|
| 7.96
Gardner, Isaac
|
87| 1|
1| 100|
| 0.42
Goodal, John
|
87| 37|
2| 375|
| 1.57
Geer, William S.
|
69| 156| 2,3 |
1,112| |
4.63
Gleason, Darius
|
98| 1|
3| 175|
| 0.74
Graves, William
|
98| 1 1/2|
3| 75|
| 0.32
Hill, Isaac
| 37, 38, 74, 83| 311 7/8| 1, 2 |
5,890| $500 | 26.75
| 85, 86, 87 |
| |
| |
Hulet, Obadiah
|
97| 12|
3| 70|
| 0.3
Higgins, William N.
| 40, 53 |
54| 2,3 | 477|
| 2
Hudson, William
|
44| 2|
-- | 20|
| 0.09
Hunt, Darius
|
53| 75|
3| 525|
| 2.35
Hawley, George
|
54| 100|
2| 700|
| 2.92
Hunt, Walter
|
54| 123|
3| 1,107|
| 4.62
Hopkins, Nathan, jr.
|
54| 150|
2| 1,400|
| 5.86
Hunt, Lorenzo
|
65| 85|
3| 500|
| 2.23
Hopkins, Nathan
|
66| 34|
2| 272|
| 1.13
Hopkins, Robert
|
67| 200|
2| 2,200|
| 9.18
Hopkins, William
|
67| 80|
3| 560|
| 2.49
Hopkins, Luther
|
67| 100|
2| 900|
| 3.75
Hay, William
|
67| 237|
2| 2,180|
| 9.13
Hand, Jerry K.
|
67| 1|
2| 100|
| 0.42
Hand, John
|
77| 64|
3| 384|
| 1.62
Hand, Reuben
|
77| 25|
3| 150|
| 0.63
Hawley & Munro
|
77| 55|
3| 330|
| 1.38
Harvey, Joel
|
80| 41|
1| 1,000| 1,000|
8.36
Hill, Thomas
|
80| 1/4 |
1| 250|
| 1.01
Henry, Andrew
|
90| 125|
3| 625|
| 2.63
Hand, Mander
|
99| 86|
3| 364|
| 1.54
How, Stephen
|
99| 100|
3| 800|
| 3.34
Isham, Zebaher
|
68| 4|
2| 100|
| 0.42
Johnson, Samuel
| 56, 68 |
21 3/4| 3|
220| |
0.9
Johnson, Charles M.
|
56| 30|
2| 210|
| 0.86
Keeler, Isaac &
John |
63| 100|
2| 1,000|
| 4.17
Ketcham, Timothy
|
51| 23|
2| 190|
| 0.79
Kimberly, George &
Co. |
68| 1/2 |
2| 400|
| 1.66
Kynon, Asa
| 77, 88 |
200| 2| 2,200|
| 9.18
Ketcham, Jeremiah
|
78| 60|
3| 500|
| 2.23
Kimberly, Elisha,
|
80| 2|
2| 125|
| 0.53
by
G. Lawrence |
| |
| |
|
King, Thomas
|
80| 3/4 |
2| 150|
| 0.63
Kimberly, Israel, jr.
|
80| 1/4 |
1| 800|
| 3.34
Kilby, John B.
|
56| 1|
3| 20|
| 0.09
Karson, Archibald
|
98| 49|
3| 350|
| 1.47
Kimberly & Brockway
|
80| -- |
--| --| 1,000|
4.17
Like, David
|
87| 1|
1| 100|
| 0.42
Lusk, Samuel
|
51| 25|
2| 200|
| 0.81
Lusk, Richard
| 52, 90 |
110| 1,| 1,870|
300| 4.91
Eadd, Russell
|
44| 35|
2| 210|
| 0.87
Lyon, Abel
|
65| 75|
3| 462|
| 1.93
Lamberson, Lawrence
|
66| 150|
2| 1,350|
| 5.64
Lawrence, James R.
| 66, 80, 90 |
134| 2, 3 | 1,515|
| 6.53
Labolt & Miller,
Peter |
66| 52|
3| 275|
| 1.15
Lamberson, Conradt
|
66| 9|
3| 54|
| 0.23
Labolt, Absalom
|
80| 1/2 |
3| 30|
| 0.13
Lawrence, Grove
|
80| 2|
2| 400|
| 1.66
Land, Charles
|
80| 1/4 |
1| 200|
| 0.81
Liddle, Thomas
|
89| 96|
2| 900|
| 3.75
Munro, David
|68, 69, 23, 80, | 1,379| 2, 3 |
10,920| | 45.74
| 34, 65, 90, 60 |
| |
| |
Munro, Squire
| 52, 60, 70, | 819|1,
2, 3 | 11,300| 4,000| 64.06
| 81, 82 |
| |
| |
McDowell, Henry, jr.
|
51| 29|
2| 270|
| 1.1
Morey, John
|
51| 3|
2| 50|
| 0.21
Marshall, Simon &
Harlow |
63| 200|
1| 2,000|
| 8.36
Marvin, Adonijah
|
63| 1/2 |
2| 50|
| 0.21
McDowell, Henry
|
52| 66|
1| 550|
| 2.44
McDowell, Alexander
|
52| 30|
2| 250|
| 1.03
Milliard, Edward &
Ed., jr.|
87| 55|
2| 700|
| 2.92
McCall, Alexander
|
64| 100|
2| 1,000|
| 4.17
Mason, Daniel
|
44| 10|
2| 80|
| 0.34
Mann, David
|
53| 130|
2| 1,170|
| 4.89
Mathew, Ashel
|
68| 1/2 |
2| 200|
| 0.81
Millard, Edmond
|
77| 107|
3| 530|
| 2.36
Millin, Ephraim
|
80| 1/2 |
1| 200|
| 0.81
McGoon, Isaac
| 80, 100 |
53| 2| 1,100|
| 4.59
Maynard, Joseph W.
|
80| 3/4 |
1| 800|
| 3.34
Maynard, John
|
80| 2|
2| 400|
| 1.66
Maynard, Abner
|
98| 11|
3| 60|
| 0.26
Owen, Thomas
|
68| 1|
1| 300|
| 1.25
Paddock, Thomas
|
51| 109|
1| 1,200|
| 5.01
Paddock, Jonathan
|
51| 125|
2| 1,000| 400|
5.85
Paddock, William W.
|
51| 33|
2| 250|
| 1.03
Paddock, Solomon
|
52| 100|
2| 700|
| 2.92
Paddock, Jonathan, 2d
|
87| 86|
1| 900|
| 3.75
Putnam, Levi
|
97| 1|
2| 50|
| 0.21
Pulver, William M.
|
97| 18|
3| 100|
| 0.42
Phillip, Jacob
|
44| 40 1/2| 3|
350| |
1.47
Palmer, John
|
44| 32|
2| 256|
| 1.04
Palmer, Benjamin
|
44| 28|
3| 168|
| 0.7
Perry, Eli
|
44| 5|
2| 40|
| 0.17
Palmer, Jonathan
|
44| 325|
2| 200|
| 0.81
Peak, John
|
44| 235|
2| 125|
| 0.52
Palmer, Daniel
|
44| 321|
23| 157|
| 0.65
Peck, Enos, jr.
|
54| 1430|
2| 1,120|
| 4.68
Pulver, Henry M.
|
98| 536|
3| 336|
| 1.4
Potter, Henry
|
98| 433|
3| 255|
| 1.04
Paine, Seth
|
56| 781|
3| 624|
| 2.02
Redman, Wm., heirs of
| 75, 86, 87 |
218| 1|
380| |
1.59
Rose, Gilbert
|
97| 327|
2| 300|
| 1.25
Rose, Nathan
|
97| 132|
2| 300|
| 1.25
Reynolds, Urbane
|
97| 10|
3| 40|
| 0.17
Ross, Robert
|
52| 50|
2| 300|
| 1.25
Redman, Elizabeth
|
76| 125|
2| 1,350|
| 5.64
Richmond, Loren
|
76| 105|
1| 1,070|
| 4.47
Rockwell, Joseph B.
|
76| 17|
2| 200|
| 0.81
Richmond, Sylvester
| 50, 51 |
40| 2|
325| |
1.37
Rhoads, Solomon
| 18, 51, 52 |
72| 2|
440| |
1.83
Remington, Ransom
|
44| 11|
3| 77|
| 0.33
Robinson, Simeon
|
44| 25|
2| 125|
| 0.53
Robinson, Chauncey
|
55| 50|
2| 350|
| 1.47
Robinson, Erastus
|
55| 50|
2| 350|
| 1.47
Reed, William
| 56, 68 |
220| 2| 3,000|
| 12.54
Rust, Dennis
|
68| 1/3 |
2| 75|
| 0.31
Robbins, Samuel
|
89| 172|
2| 1,204|
| 5.01
Rood, Joseph
|
99| 52|
3| 300|
| 1.25
Roach, Richard
|
109| 22|
-- | 132|
| 0.54
Stevens, John
| 88, 92, 93 |
150|1, 2, 3 | 2,800|
| 11.72
Sprague, Daniel
|
87| 1|
1| 190|
| 0.79
Sprague, Stephen
|
64| 50|
3| 300|
| 1.25
Stephens, George
| 88, 89 |
100| 2|
700| |
2.92
Squires, Linus
| 39, 40, 44 |
146|1, 2, 3 | 1,530|
| 6.41
Skinner, Otis
|
63| 99|
1| 1,800|
| 7.55
Spalding, Abel
|
51| 50|
1| 400|
| 1.66
Skinner, Jonathan
| 40, 53 |
101| 3|
830| |
3.47
Sears, John
| 41, 54 |
109| 2| 1,059|
| 4.43
Sherwood, Lyman
|
53| 77|
2| 703|
| 2.94
Sears, Charles
|
54| |
3| 50|
| 0.21
Seymour, Miles
|
54| 67|
2| 536|
| 2.41
Shearer, Alexander
|
65| 95|
2| 760| 0.25|
3.32
Shannon, Hannah
|
66| 6|
3| 30|
| 0.13
Sherman, Martha
|
66| 3|
3| 20|
| 0.09
Stephens, Alfred
| 66, 79 |
83 1/2| 2, 3 | 766|
| 3.23
Sears, Eleazer
|
78| 56 1/2| 3|
339| |
1.41
Stone, Pomeroy
|
80| 3|
1| 800| 200|
4.17
Shead, H. & Ephraim
|
80| 1/3 |
1| 300| 800|
4.59
Shead, Horatio
|
80| 4|
1| 400|
| 1.66
Seymour, Abraham
|
89| 50|
2| 500|
| 2.23
Saunders, John E.
|
98| 1 1/2|
3| 100|
| 0.42
Turner, John
|
51| 66|
2| 670|
| 2.81
Totten, Daniel
|
87| 12|
2| 300|
| 1.25
Taylor, William
|
87| 65|
1| 710|
50| 3.2
Tomlinson, Anny
| 64, 80 |
76 1/2| 3|
700| |
2.92
Tompkins, Nathaniel
| 15, 68 |
26 1/2| 2, 3 | 575|
| 2.58
Tillotson, David
| 40, 53 |
38| 2, 3 | 477|
| 2.01
Ten Brook, Jacob
|
44| 53|
3| 318|
| 1.34
Tompkins, John
| 56, 68 |
157| 2| 2,416|
| 10.14
Tuttle, James
|
68| 49|
2| 539|
| 2.42
Tuttle, Abner
|
68| 1/2 |
2| 100|
| 0.42
Tompson, Adonijah
|
80| 8 1/2|
2| 64|
| 0.26
Truesdale, John
|
100| 175|
2| 2,250|
| 9.41
Van Alstine, Jacob
| 52, 65 |
105| 1, 3 | 456|
| 4.03
Van Alstine, Abraham
|
65| 42|
3| 356|
| 1.5
Van Derwerker, Martin
|
44| 18|
2| 144|
| 0.62
Vossler, Jacob
|
44| 57|
2| 400|
| 1.66
Van Alstine, John J.
|
65| 42|
3| 250|
| 1.03
Veeder, Simon &
John |
66| 68|
3| 408|
| 1.71
Van Alstine, Jane
|
66| 61|
3| 360|
| 1.52
Veeder, Simon 2d
|
66| 40|
3| 380|
| 1.6
Van Dorn, Jesse
|
69| 75|
2| 525|
| 2.37
Veeder, Ryer
|
79| 50|
3| 250|
| 1.03
Van Alstine, Bartholomew
|
79| 150|
3| 1,050|
| 4.4
Vandenburgh, Andrew
|
79| 70|
3| 490|
| 2.23
Vosburgh, James
|
66| 60|
3| 360|
| 1.52
White, Elijah
| 18, 56, 68 |
195| 2| 1,369|
100| 6.15
Wever, Benjamin
| 18, 50, 51 |
126| 1, 2 | 1,210|
| 5.06
Wells & Bates
|
63| 1|
1| 300|
| 1.23
Wood, Samuel
|
76| 67|
1| 650|
| 2.74
Wood, Abraham
| 87, 97 |
122| 2| 1,300|
| 5.45
Warner, Heman
| 40, 53 |
139| 2, 3 | 1,647|
| 6.91
Wilkinson, Lysander
B. |
56| 10|
2| 70|
| 0.3
Wood, Enoch
| 77, 88 |
126| 2| 1,580|
| 6.78
Wiriam, Wheadon
|
78| 56|
2| 392|
| 1.65
Wheadon, Augustus
| 79, 80 |
320| 2, 3 | 2,160|
| 9.06
Winten, Squire
|
80| 19|
2| 600|
| 2.49
Wheeler, William
| 80, 90 |
170| 3| 1,600|
| 6.72
Wood, Nathan
|
88| 99|
2| 1,100|
| 4.61
Wood, Alvin
|
88| 1|
2| 150|
| 0.63
Warren, Peter
|
89| 5 1/2|
3| 150|
| 0.63
Wells, Henry
|
89| 56|
2| 350|
| 1.47
Wells, Henry & John
|
90| 1 1/2|
2| 1,000|
| 4.17
Whittman, Samuel
|
44| 8|
2| 56|
| 0.26
Walter, John
|
44| 18|
3| 90|
| 0.38
Webber & Hoar
|
80| -- |
| 1,000|
| 4.17
Whiting, Melzor
|
79| 2|
2| 50|
| 0.21
Yerington, ___
|
80| 1/4 |
1| 200|
| 0.81
The Methodist Episcopal church of Camillus, mentioned on a foregoing page, was reorganized in 1827, and three years later the society erected a house of worship, the second in town. In 1830 the circuit preachers were Revs. Isaac Puffer and G. W. Dinsmore. In 1836 Camillus was made a station with Rev. Ross Clark pastor. This edifice has since been remodeled, and is still standing.
By 1830 immigration had reached its full tide, and the town everywhere gave evidences of general prosperity. The western part of Camillus had developed into a thrifty section, giving existence to the hamlets locally known as Wellington and Oswego Bitter. The former, on the Genesee turnpike, very soon became quite a busy place, and for a time enjoyed the privileges of a post-office, besides a store, two taverns, shops, etc. All these, however, were long ago discontinued, Oswego Bitter, about one and a half miles north, also near the Elbridge line, was originally called "Swago Bitter."
The first town records in existence begin March 26, 1829, at which date the towns of Elbridge and Van Buren were set off by acts of the Legislature. Clark's "Onondaga" states that all the early records were burned, but this should be construed as relating to the proceedings of the board of town officers; records of roads are preserved back to 1813 and of schools to 1812. From these we learn that Linus Squire was town clerk in 1814-17; Charles H. Toll, 1818-20; Gideon Frothingham, 1821; C. H. Toll, 1822-24; Linus Squire, 1825; David C. Lytle, 1826-27; Abel Lyon, 1828. Clark also says that the first town meeting (in 1799) was held at the house of Medad Curtis, who was elected supervisor; Daniel Vail was chosen town clerk. The first meeting after Camillus was reduced to a little less than its present size (a part of Onondaga being annexed in 1834) was convened at the house of William Stevenson on April 28, 1829, when the following officers were elected:
Miles W. Bennett, supervisor; Chauncey White, town clerk; Robert Hopkins, Henry Wells, and Ethan Campbell, assessors; David Seymour and Elijah White, overseers of the poor; Nelson Buck, collector; Darius Gleason, sealer; Daniel Bennett, Perigo Austin, and Alanson Ellis, commissioners of highways; Daniel T. Jones, Grove Lawrence, and Ethan Campbell, trustees of public lot; Grove Lawrence, D. T. Jones, and Isaac Magoon, commissioners of common schools; George W. Richards, Harold White, and James O. Bennett, inspectors of common schools; David B. Winton, Darius Gleason, Joseph S. Furgason, and Nelson Buck, constables; and twenty-five overseers of highways.
The supervisors have been as follows:
Miles W. Bennett, 1829-31; David Munro, 1832; Grove Lawrence, 1833-34; Charles Land, 1835-36; Daniel T. Jones, 1837-39; Isaac Hall, 1840; Luther Hopkins, 1841; Albion J. Larkin, 1842; Sidney H. Cook, sr., 1843-45; Harry Weed, 1846; Harry Tuttle, 1847; Henry C. Kimberly, 1848; Gaylord N. Sherwood, 1849; John C. Munro, 1850; Erastus Sheldon, 1851; David A. Munro, 1852; Sidney H. Cook, sr., 1853-54; William R. George, 1855; Luther Hay, 1856; David A. Munro, 1857-58; Samuel L. Hopkins, 1859-60; Edwin R. Harmon, 1861; John C. Munro, 1862-63; Edwin R. Harmon, 1864-68; Jonathan B. White, 1869-72; George D. Reynolds, 1873; John C. Munro, 1874-76; E. Duane Sherwood, 1877; Sidney H. Cook, jr., 1878; E. Duane Sherwood, 1879; John C. Munro, jr., 1880-85; Samuel L. Hopkins, 1886-90; William B. Gorham, 1891-92; Samuel L. Hopkins (resigned, and W. B. Gorham appointed) 1893; William B. Gorham, 1894-95.
The first justices of the peace, elected April 27, 1830, were Grove Lawrence, Ethan Campbell, and Alfred Stephens. George Geddes was elected to the office n 1835. Sidney H. Cook, sr., served as magistrate about thirty-five years. Many of the early town meetings were held in Camillus at the tavern of Samuel B. Rowe, which stood on the vacant lot opposite the store of S. H. Cook. The village is sometimes designated in the records as "Nine Mile Creek." Mr. Rowe continued as an innkeeper until about 1858. He built the present hotel and was succeeded by Chauncey B. Delano, Samuel B. Rowe, jr., Philo Bromley, and others.
In 1830 a post-office was established at Belle Isle with George Kimberly as postmaster. Thomas Machan held the office many years after 1860, and was also a long time justice, being first elected in 1868. In 1836, or earlier, the place had a store, tavern, and twelve or fifteen dwellings. One of the former merchants was M. L. Hay. In 1830 several members were dismissed from the old Baptist church at Howlett Hill to organize a society here, but it subsequently went out of existence. In later years quite an extensive boat business was carried on, canal boats were built, and large numbers repaired prior to 1870.
At this point the names of other prominent settlers and later residents of the town may be appropriately mentioned, viz:
William R. George, Edwin C. Parsons, Cyrus Sweet (at one time surrogate), Edwin R. Harmon (farmer and grain dealer), Frederick Loomis, E. D. Larkin (justice of the peace), E. E. Veeder (barrel and brick manufacturer), Thomas H. Munro, Gaylord Noble Sherwood, Henry Jerome (at one time postmaster at Fairmount), Martin M. Ford (side justice), Calvin D. Bingham, A. E. Daniels, John Dow, I. Jesse Ecker, Col. John Dill (a Revolutionary soldier, came here in 1828, and died in 1846), Judge Samuel Dill (brother of Col. John), William Ecker, James M. Gere, Luther Hay, Alfred L. Hinsdale, J. H. Hitchcock, Samuel Parsons (publisher), I. M. Peck, G. D. Reynolds, Dr. John O. Slocum (surgeon in the army, and brother of the late Maj.-Gen. Henry W. Slocum), Reuben Steves, Dr. Lewis C. Skinner (who settled in Amboy in 1840), Dr. E. C. Skinner (son of Dr. L. C.), William C. Thorpe, F. A. and Jacob Van Alstine, Henry Winchell, and the Munro family.
Gaylord Noble Sherwood was born in Fairfield, N.Y., April 18, 1805, came to Camillus village in 1827, married a sister of David Bennett in 1828, and the same year opened a store, which recently passed into the possession of Sidney H. Cook, jr. Mr. Sherwood was in business here forty years. He also had stores at Amboy, Baldwinsville, Syracuse, Fulton and elsewhere, and was chairman of the Board of Supervisors for some time. He finally removed to Buffalo, where he died January 10, 1895. His sons, E. Duane and Charles E. Sherwood, conducted the Camillus store for some time.
Sidney H. Cook, sr., was a son of Lyman Cook (who died in Van Buren, June 30, 1837), and was born in Marcellus on August 31, 1806. He became a lieutenant-colonel in the old State militia, was constable and collector in Marcellus, and in 1841 removed to Camillus village, where he spent the remainder of his life in mercantile trade, and was successfully engaged in storage and forwarding and in purchasing grain. He held many positions of trust, and several times was justice of sessions. His children were Dr. George W., Mary E., Morris A., Emily H., Mansfield J., Orange L., C. Janette, Sidney H., jr., Samuel and Frances A. His son, Sidney H., is a general merchant in Camillus village.
Among other merchants in the village of Camillus were Gould & Hess, Hoar & Wheeler, William A. Cook, John C. Ellis, Sherwood & Chase, Knapp & Smith, John L. Sherwood, George Kimberly and son Oliver, Abram Ottman, George Gee; Robert Dickey, James Patten, Dr. John O. Slocum, Albert Harmon, C. S. Safford, E. B. Bush, drugs; Seth Dunbar, Benjamin Bucklin & Son (William B.), and E. S. Darling, hardware; Charles Land, long a harnessmaker and prominent citizen; and Ira Safford, cabinetmaker and undertaker. In 1836 the village contained one saw and one grist mill, a carding and cloth dressing establishment, three taverns, four stores, two churches, and about fifty dwellings. Among the postmasters were Grove Lawrence, Robert Dickey, J. N. Sherwood, Henry Kimberly, Albert Harmon, Benjamin Brown, and Sidney H. Cook, jr., incumbent.
The year 1838 witnessed the opening of another channel of communication which was destined to work radical changes in local business affairs, and particularly in manufacturing enterprises. This was the Syracuse and Auburn Railroad, which was first operated by horse power and later equipped with iron rails and steam.. It gave existence to the little hamlet at Marcellus Station, inaugurated a new impetus in the village of Camillus, and in a measure influenced the settlement at Fairmount, where a post-office was established and more recently a tract laid out into building lots; but it withdrew in time the business industries from Amboy and Wellington, eventually leaving those hamlets with only the ruins of their former importance. Soon after the completion of the railroad a large grain business sprang up and continued until about 1870, but this was mainly carried on by the aid of the canal. Camillus was for several years the banner town in Central New York for home produce and grain market, and among the prominent dealers were James M. Baker, E. W. Clark, Ephraim Shed, and James M. Munro. The latter, in 1860, bought and shipped to Albany 248,000 bushels of barley in sixty days. The raising of grain has largely given place to mixed farming; among the leading products now are hay, tobacco, winter wheat, barley, oats, fruit, potatoes, etc., and dairying, considerable milk being sent to Syracuse for consumption.
The early settlers in the town of the Baptist faith worshipped in the "First Baptist church of Onondaga," which was organized at Howlett Hill in January, 1804, with six male and seven female members. An edifice was built there and dedicated in 1821; in 1844 the society was removed to Camillus village, where a church was erected in 1849 and dedicated January 8, 1851. The name was changed to the First Baptist church of Camillus, and about 1878 the edifice was replaced by the present brick structure. The first pastor after the removal and reorganization was Rev. Henry Brown. Among other pastors have been Revs. A. L. Freeman, D. McFarland, and G. F. Genung. The year 1845 saw the formation of the society and erection of the Presbyterian church at Amboy, which was dedicated December 23 of that year. The society consisted of forty-nine members dismissed from the Congregational church at Van Buren Center and the Presbyterian church at Camillus. The first pastor was Rev. Alfred C. Lathrop, and among his successors were Revs. Richard Dunning, John S. Bacon, Frederick Hebard, A. J. Quick, and Benjamin B. Dayton. Among the prominent members may be mentioned the names of Heman Warner, J. Skinner, Jonathan White, William Reed, Truman Skinner, Pardee Ladd, Henry L. Warner, Samuel Parsons, the Hopkins families, and J. E. Meyers. Six years later, in 1851, an M. E. church was built at Belle Isle; the first trustees were Jabin Armstrong, Henry Safford, and John C. Hatton. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Coop.
The village of Camillus was for many years a center of great activity, and promised a brilliant future. It was an important grain market and shipping point, especially by he canal, and the volume of business transacted reached extensive proportions. In 1852 the village received corporate privileges; the first officers were Gaylord N. Sherwood, president; Samuel B. Rowe, Ira Safford, David A. Munro, and Charles Land, trustees; and Crayton B. Wheeler, clerk. The growing transportation facilities afforded by the railroad and the increasing advantages offered in Syracuse eventually militated against the interests of the place, and diverted much of its trade into other channels, while the abandonment of the Genesee turnpike as a popular route of travel extinguished its great importance and prestige, leaving it to depend upon the resources of the adjacent country.
In the same year (1852) the first Roman Catholic priest took up his residence in Camillus. This was Rev. William McCallion, and among his successors were Revs. Joseph Butler, Francis J. Purcell, William Carroll, T. F. Smith, J. E. O'Sullivan, and William A. Ryan. This parish and the one at Jordan were organized by Father Haias, of Salina. Services were first held in a barn, which was fitted up for the purpose, and later in the present brick parsonage. About 1870, under the pastorate of Father Carroll, a brick church was erected.
It is said that the first political meeting in the United States that represented the principles upon which the Republican party was subsequently founded, was held at Rowe's Hotel in Camillus on January 27, 1852. The call for this gathering preceded the national organization by three years. An old placard sets forth "that those of you who are opposed to the Fugitive Slave law, to the extension of slavery over Free Soil, to the admission of any more Slave States, and are disposed to waive former political preferences and party predilections, and unite your strength that your influence may be felt in the cause of Freedom and Humanity, are cordially invited to meet with us at Rowe's Hotel on the 17th day of January inst.--Camillus, Jan. 3, 1852." The call was signed by D. A. Munro, J. M. Munro, Wheeler Truesdell, M. W. Lyon, D. L. Pickard, E. Marks, D. C. Le Roy, C. B. Wheeler, John Truesdell, Daniel Bennett, J. B. and L. B. Bennett, and 324 other well-known citizens of the town. From this time until the close of the Rebellion political excitement ran high, and during the four years of war and carnage no town in the State manifested deeper patriotism or supported the Union with greater loyalty. Full quotes were promptly contributed to the cause, and large sums of money were raised for bounties, etc.
On December 31, 1875, Sapphire Lodge No. 768, F. &. A.M., was chartered with twenty-one members, as follows:
C. S. Safford, secretary; J. H. Lyboult, S. W.; W. B. Bucklin, S. H. Cook, jr., T. A. Fish, J.W.; J. H. Paddock, E. R. Glynn, J. O. Slocum, T. V. Owens, LaFayette Burdick, S. L. Hopkins, Merril Skinner, A. L. Hinsdale, A. R. Hopkins, T. M. Shoens, W. M.; E. C. Skinner, Cyrus Sweet, E. D. Sherwood, treasurer, E. D. Larkin, H. D. Burdick, J. Paddock.
On January 1, 1895, the Camillus Enterprise, a weekly newspaper, was started by C. A. Roe, of Marcellus, where it is printed at the Observer office.
The population has been as follows: In 1830, 2,518;
1835, 3,006; 1840, 3,957; 1845, 2,976; 1850, 3,106; 1855, 2,740; 1860,
2,940; 1865, 2,552; 1870, 2,423; 1875, 2,604; 1880, 2,416; 1890, 2,678;
1892, 2,522.
FOOTNOTES
1. Camillus, as well as other townships of the
Military Tract, was named by Simeon De Witt, surveyor-general of the State,
who chose the surname of Marcus Furius Camillus, a Roman general and dictator
400-365 B. C.
2. See Chapter 1 for the history of this great
tract.
3. Clark, p. 216, vol. II.
4. The spelling of these names is copied from
the records, though in many instances it is known to be erroneous, or different
from the present style.
5. This is the only stream of note in the town.
It was so named from the fact that it was nine miles from Onondaga Hollow
on the east and the same distance from Josiah Buck's on the west.
Submitted 16 August 1998