HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CICERO

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CICERO

Town of Cicero

Submitted by Kathy Crowell

Source:  Onondaga; or Reminiscences of Earlier and Later Times by Joshua V. H. Clark.  Syracuse:  Stoddard and Babcock, 1849, Vol. II,  pp. 171-190.


This was one of the original townships, (number 6,) of the Military Tract.  At the organization of the county, it was included in the town of Lysander.  The township was set off into a town by itself, in 1807.  It now contains about fifty-one lots of the original township, or about three hundred and twenty-six thousand acres of land.

A Mr. Dexter, a blacksmith, was the first white person who settled in this town, in 1790, opposite to Fort Brewerton, where he lived several years.  Mr. Oliver Stevens settled on the north side of the river, in 1789, and cultivated a garden in the town of Cicero.  A few years after, he moved to the south side of the river, where he died in1813.  Ryal Bingham settled at Fort Brewerton, 1791, and subsequently moved to Salina.  Mr. Stevens kept what was called a Boatman's tavern, furnishing provisions and other necessaries, to those who passed that way.  He carried on quite a trade with the Indians, in furs, peltry, &c., which at that early day, were abundantly afforded in all the country.  Fort Schuyler was the great mart at that time, for the sale of furs, &c., and there, Mr. Stevens sold and exchanged his merchandise for his stock in trade.  Mr. Stevens sometimes spent his winters at Salina, where in 1802, his son, J. L. Stevens, late Judge of Onondaga County Courts, was born.  At that time there were no wagon roads or physician, nearer than Dr. Needham, of Onondaga Hollow.  All the first settlements in this town were made along the river and Oneida Lake.  John Leach settled at Cicero Corners, and for several years kept a tavern in a small log cabin, about 1802.

The first settlers suffered very much from fever and ague, and other diseases common to new countries, and sometimes they were not a little distressed for want of food.  Elijah Loomis, was the first settler at South Bay, on the lake shore, in 1804.  He and his wife now (1847) reside on the lot he first purchased.  They have lived together sixty-four years. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and received a pension.  Martin Woodruff settled near him the same year.  Their nearest neighbors were at Brewerton, five miles distant.

In 1791, John Thayer, an old acquaintance of Oliver Stevens, came to Salina, and hearing that his friend had located at Fort Brewerton, (twelve miles distant,) he determined to make him a visit.  It being winter, the undertaking was somewhat hazardous, but possessing a resolute mind and hardy constitution, he thought he could overcome all obstacles.  He was directed to follow the Indian trail and blazed trees, but during his journey, he became bewildered, lost his way, and roamed about the woods three days and two nights, without shelter or food.  He at last struck the Oneida River, several miles west of Stevens, and in attempting to cross the ice broke through, got his legs and feet wet, and before he arrived at his place of destination, his feet were badly frozen.  He suffered severely for several weeks, when his feet began to mortify.  He was then conveyed to Dr. White, of Cherry Valley, on a sled by hand, where both limbs were amputated above the ankle.  He is now (1847,) living at Palermo, Oswego County, hobbling about on his stumps, has some property, and enjoys very good health for one so advanced in years, comparatively cheerful and happy.

About the year 1811, sometime after the first settlement at South Bay, two small girls of the name of Shephard, went into the woods to look for the cows near night; after searching sometime in vain, they found themselves unable to trace their way back.  The neighborhood was alarmed, and arrangements were speedily made for their recovery.  The woods were scoured for twenty miles around, the most vigilant search was made day and night, and it was not till the third day at evening, that the little wanderers were found, snugly ensconced, fast asleep, beside an old log, unharmed.  Their only food had been ground-nuts, wintergreens, &c., upon which they had subsisted.  Patrick McGee, settled at Brewerton, in Cicero, in 1791, and that year erected the first frame house in this town, which was occupied as a tavern by him, and afterwards by Jonathan Emmons.  It was located near where the Brewerton House now stands.  It was a great place of resort for boatmen and townsmen.

In 1813, Jonathan Emmons was authorized by Legislative enactment, to establish a ferry across the outlet of Oneida Lake, at Fort Brewerton, town of Cicero, with exclusive privileges.  A man, known familiarly as Tory Foster, first settled in the east part of the town.  He frequently boasted of his cruelties towards his countrymen, during the Revolutionary war.  He was under Sir John Johnson and Brant at the Cherry Valley and Wyoming massacres, and in their numerous incursions into the Mohawk country.  People became so exasperated at him, at a late period, on account of his hostile relations and boastings, that he had frequently to flee and hide in the woods for several days at a time, to escape the vengeance of his neighbors.  He one day went into the blacksmith shop of the late Judge Tousley, at Manlius, and commenced relating his cruelties and exploits against the Americans in the Revolutionary war.  The Judge, then at the anvil, sledge in hand, listened patiently for some time; at length his patience became exhausted, he seized a heavy bar of iron and struck at him with his full strength.  As luck would have it, the force of the blow was arrested by the iron striking a beam overhead.  The miscreant instantly left the shop, not caring to continue his favorite theme in the presence of American patriots, contented to escape with his life.  His ears were both cropped off before he came to this town.  He wore his hair log to prevent the exposition of his disgrace.

Formerly, fish were abundant and easily caught in the river and lake; they consisted of salmon, pickerel, pike, perch, bass, catfish and eels, of a superior quality, all of which are now taken in great abundance, except salmon, which since the erection of dams across the Oswego River, have not made their appearance.  Fish and venison constituted a great proportion of the provisions of the early settlers.

The distance of the first settlers to their nearest neighbors was twelve miles, (at Salina,) where settlements were made at an earlier period.  The only means of getting there was on foot, following the Indian trail, which was much used by the natives, in passing from Onondaga to their fishing grounds, a practice which they continue to some extent up to the present time.  What in 1791 was a low uninhabited wilderness, has since become a thickly settled and populous town, and promises to rival the best towns in the county, in richness of soil, variety of products, and wealth.  There are some splendid locations for country seats along the river and lake shore, and ere long will undoubtedly be eagerly sought for by the elite, of our new-born city, for their country residences.

At the time the town was first settled it was overrun with bears, wolves, panthers and wild-cats.  Deer were numerous, and the taking of beaver, foxes, muskrats and otters, formed a chief occupation for the trappers, who made of it a lucrative business.  Two moose were killed by the Indians, near the north line of the town, in the year 1789, since which the animal has not been seen in this part of the country.

After the farmers began to raise sheep to some extent, wolves were very troublesome, often making serious inroads into the flocks.  In February, 1819, in order to exterminate these vagrants, it was resolved, by some of the principal inhabitants, to get up a wolf hunt, and scour the town of Cicero, and root them out.  Accordingly arrangements were made, advertisements were published in all the county papers, handbills were circulated throughout the county, the "chasseur" spirit of the county was on the qui vive.  Many of the principal men at Salina, Manlius and Onondaga, entered into it with great sprit and glee.  The author, then a mere boy, joined in the great expedition.  On the day appointed, about sunrise, a line of men near ten miles long, about one rod apart, was formed across the town, from east to west.  At the appointed signal, the whole line moved northward, towards the Oneida Lake, with a view of driving the wolves out upon the ice and shooting them down at pleasure.  The line moved on in good order, amidst the blowing of horns, the hallooing of boys, and cracking of rifles.  After marching upwards of six miles to the lake, the hunters found they had only driven a few frightened deer before them, some of which were killed.  Some hunters had preceded the line for the purpose of killing deer as they passed them; not a wolf or bear was seen during the whole route.  But it seems to have had a good effect, for the howl of a wolf has not been heard in town since.

In the Cicero swamp there are said to be a few swamp rattle-snakes, much smaller than those occupying more elevated situations.  They seem to possess the same characteristics, dispositions and poisonous qualities; they are nearly black in color, have a dully sleepy look, but seldom bite unless provoked; they usually give timely notice of their whereabouts by shaking their rattles.

The intercourse of the early settlers of this town with the Indians, was frequent and of the most friendly character.  They were usually honest, but rather slack pay-masters if trusted.  It was once quite a place of resort for the Oneidas and Onondagas, on account of hunting and fishing.

The first meeting house in town was built of logs for the Presbyterian Society, at Cicero Corners, 1819; a frame one in 1830.  The first settled minister was the Rev. Truman Baldwin, a Presbyterian, who occupied the station several years, afterwards went west, has recently returned, and taken charge of his former flock.  The next organized religious society was a Baptist one, in 1832, at the same place, which continued such, a few years; but a majority of the congregation, embracing new views, called themselves Campbellites, retained possession of the house, and in effect broke up the society; they never had a settled minister, but held their meetings regularly.  The society is small, and their increase not very rapid.  Afterwards, the Methodists built a church in the east part of the town.  Except the first named, these churches are respectable frame buildings, painted and finished in modern style.  Previous to the erection of churches, the different religious societies held their meetings in the school houses usually built of logs.

The first school was kept at Brewerton in 1792; the number of scholars was small.  It was taught by Deacon George Ramsey, a Scotch Presbyterian, of good education and qualifications as a teacher of youth.  He was a man very much respected and beloved.  He continued his labor of teaching for a number of years.  He died but a few years ago, much lamented by all who knew him.

Isaac Cody was the first merchant in Cicero.  He erected a store at Cicero Corners in 1818, filled it with goods, and did quite an extensive business.  People frequently came to trade with him from Salina and Onondaga.  Samuel Warren opened the next store in 1825, and did a flourishing business.

Daniel H. Orcott was the first regular physician who located in this town in 1817, had an extensive practice.  Alexander cook settled in this town as the first practicing attorney, in 1841.  Isaac Cody was the first Post Master, appointed in 1820.  The mail was then carried once a week on horseback.  Since then there have been as any as sixteen mails a week.  Now there are but six a week.  Rev. John Shepard was the first Justice of the Peace in 1804.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Patrick McGee, at Three-River-Point, 1807.  Moses Kinne was Moderator, and Thomas Pool was elected Supervisor; Elijah Loomis, Town Clerk. There are four public burying grounds in the present town of Cicero.

There are no antiquities of note in this town, though frequently along the shore of the river and lake, are found relics of war, such as arrow-heads and axes of stone, and occasionally an Indian's grave.  In one of these a small brass kettle was found, in which was a bunch of grapes; at first appearance, they were as fresh and good looking as if just gathered, but upon exposure in the air, soon crumbled to dust.  Mr. Loomis, before named, in 1804, plowed up a musket of the kind usually called Queen's arms; the stock of which was almost entirely rotted away, and the barrel much decayed by rust.

FRENCHMAN'S ISLAND.--Eight miles up the lake, and in full view of the village, is a small and beautiful island of circular form, containing about twenty-five acres of land, and is still covered with a primitive forest, which renders the scene beautiful and picturesque.

There is an incident connected with this island, true indeed, and which adds greatly to its interest.  About the year 1800, it became the abode of a Frenchman and his wife, named Devitzy.  The lady was one of the noblest and wealthiest in France; she became attached to a French gentleman, far below her rank, and for this, had incurred her father's displeasure, who refused his assent to their alliance.  An elopement and marriage were the consequence; and being pursued by her angry parent, they fled to this country, and still fearing his pursuit and vengeance, they left the city of New-York, where they at first landed, and resolved to bury themselves, far away from the haunts of busy men, in some dreary and uninhabited forest.  Following the usual channels of communication, they ascended the Mohawk River, and thence along the Oneida Lake in a canoe, until they arrived at this beautiful island, upon which they encamped for the night.  So pleased were they with the solitude which everywhere surrounded them, and with the grandeur of the scenery that here presented itself, they at once resolved to make it the place of their abode.  He soon erected a comfortable hut; and subsequently, with the assistance of some boatmen, put up a log house, in which they spent seven summers.  His winters, he usually spent in Albany.  His cabin was graced with books and musical instruments, and his beautiful garden was cultivated by his own hands.  The remains of this house and some fruit trees of his planting, are still to be seen.

At length, the day of their deliverance arrived--the angry father had relented.  Unwilling to relinquish his only daughter, he had continued his search; he sought and found, and forgave his child; and taking her, her husband and three little ones, returned with them rejoicing to his home, settled upon them his immense fortune, and shortly afterwards died.  Those children, born upon that island, (which has ever since been known as "Frenchmen's Island,") are said to be at this day, among the most distinguished personages of France.  This incident, and the beauty of the spot, attracts thither many visitors, who not only gratify their curiosity, but enjoy a delightful sail, and usually a picknick, upon the Island.

BREWERTON.--The village of Brewerton, situated at the outlet of Oneida Lake, on the southern bank of the river, was laid out by Orsamus Johnson, Daniel Wardwell, Miles W. Bennet, and Harvey Baldwin, Esqrs., into village lots in 1836; and that portion which remained unsold, is now owned by Messrs. Johnson, Bennet and Baldwin.  Its position at the foot of the lake is remarkably beautiful and healthy; and being surrounded by a fertile and thriving country, promises to become at no distant day, a village of importance.  It is connected with Syracuse by a level plank road, which rends access easy to either place, at all seasons.  Brewerton is a place very much frequented in the summer months, by pleasure parties from the city of Syracuse.

FORT BREWERTON--the ruins of which are in the town of Hastings, in Oswego County, on the opposite side of the river from the village, deserves a passing notice.

There can probably at this late day, be but little that is new gleaned, with which to give a full and authentic history of this ancient fortification; however, as this place was of considerable notoriety at the time it was first occupied by the English, we give a drawing as it now appears, and the following story, which is all we can gather respecting it.

Whether the French ever held the occupancy of this place, is a matter of great uncertainty.  It is possible, however, that the Count de Frontenac, at the time he obtained permission of the Iroquois to built forts in their country, one might have been erected here; and it is also possible, that a fort might have been erected here at an earlier period by traders, who had their establishments far and wide through the country.  But this matter relating to French occupancy, is in entire obscurity, so far as the researches of the author of this have extended.

During the old French War, from 1755 to 1763, there was a great strife between the English and French, as to which nation should secure to themselves the great thoroughfare from Oswego to the Mohawk valley.  The French had ingratiated themselves into favor with the savages, and had been to some extent successful in graining their affections.

In 1758, General Stanwix had erected a strong fortress at what is now called Rome, at the enormous expense of two hundred and sixty-six thousand four hundred dollars, to secure the key at that important carrying place, and also a stockade enclosure, as a defense against the Indians at the outlet of Oneida Lake.  After the reduction of Fort Frontenac by Col. Bradstreet, in 1758, he re-took possession of the forts at Oswego, which were again garrisoned.  It was at this period that the design was formed by General Abercrombie, of erecting a substantial fort, to command the entrance to Lake Oneida from the west, as it was already commanded on the east, by Fort Stanwix.  A detachment was sent from Oswego, the following year, to co-operate with one from Fort Stanwix, and an earthen fort completed on the plan as it now appears, and named Fort Brewerton, in honor of Captain Brewerton, whose name appears in the papers of that day, as an officer of merit, and who was active on the frontier at Oswego, Oneida Lake and Mohawk Valley.  (See N. Y. Mercury, 1755-56.)

It was garrisoned during part of the summer of 1756, by Lieutenant Colonel Bull, and was made a depot for military stores, several years, with a small garrison, till the close of the French war in 1762; and during Pontiac's war, it was again garrisoned by a company under command of Captain Mungo Campbell, of the fifty-fifth Highlanders, was a place of deposit for considerable military stores, and was considered a place of importance.  In the spring of 1764, we find Captain Thomas Morris stationed there for a short time, who, during the following summer, proceeded to Niagara and Detroit.  It was also a favorite resting place for the troops passing and re-passing from Fort Stanwix to Oswego, Niagara and back, and is often mentioned in the diary of Sir William Johnson, and other English officers of that period.  There are no accounts extant of battles having been fought at this place; but from appearances, and the number of human bones found in the vicinity, and which are frequently disinterred even at this day, it is but reasonable to suppose, that severe battles have at some remote period, been fought by Indians on this ground.  The fort when built by the English, was considered of great consequence to the safety and protection of the frontier.

It was a regular octagon, about three hundred and fifty feet in diameter, surrounded by a wall of earth about five feet high, above the interior area of the works.  In front of this wall, was a ditch about ten feet deep, from the top of the inside wall, encompassing the whole.  In front of the ditch, encircling the whole, was another embankment, not quite as high as the interior one, corresponding to it in all its lines and angles, with a covered gateway on the south side, facing the river.  In the interior embankment was set a row of palisades, about twenty feet high, with loop holes and embrasures.  It is situated on a gentle elevation, about forty rods from the river; and when garrisoned and armed for war, could easily command the passage of the river, and must have presented a formidable barrier.
 


A little east of the fort, was built at the same time with the fort, a mole of huge rocks, about ten rods into the river, at the end of which was placed a sentry's box, where a sentinel was continually posted, to watch for enemies passing up the river.  From the extremity of this mole, the river could be commanded by view for many miles, and the lake, as far as the eye could reach.  Time, and the continual dashing of the waves have destroyed this mole, the ruins of which are still to be seen under water.  Its position is preserved in the drawing.  More than a hundred acres of the land around the fort, was cleared of a heavy growth of timber, which gave a clear prospect of the shore for more than a mile in extent.

In the sand bank east of the fort, are found in different places, graves of men of extraordinary stature; some of the bones which have been disinterred, must have belonged to men over seven feet high.  The mound at the eastern extremity of the bank, is full of human bones, and must have been the place of sepulcher for thousands.  Whether these were slain in battle, or whether it has been a depository for the dead in time of peace, it is not easy to determine; but from the fact that they are the bones of adult persons, and apparently all of males, it is highly probably they are the relics of the victims of war.

Mr. Oliver Stevens was induced to settle at Fort Brewerton in 1789, by the representations of two brother who had been in garrison there, in 1756-7-8.  They represented to Oliver the beauties and fertility of the spot, and without previous examination, solely upon their statement, he came on, took possession and opened a trader's store.  During the exciting scenes of 1790-1, 2, 3, 4, when the Indians were so troublesome on our western frontiers, and while the British still held possession of Oswego, Mr. Stevens was commissioned by Gov. Clinton, to erect a block house at this place, a portion of which is still standing in a dilapidated condition.  It was afterwards occupied as a dwelling till 1811.  Here was made a large deposit of ammunition and warlike stores.  A trench was dug about it, and pickets, twelve feet long, erected, of heavy logs, about four rods from the house.  It had a substantial gate and way, on the side towards the river.  After the restoration of peace, and the removal of the British garrison from Oswego, the stores were removed, by order of the Governor, to Albany, since which the fort and block house have gone rapidly to ruin.  Mr. Stevens has found about the fort a variety of warlike implements.  Upon one occasion, inside the fort, the hogs rooted up a keg of wrought nails; the remains of chimneys and blacksmith's forges were visible when he came on, and a curious kind of small red hard burned brick, with which they were constructed, were found.  This has ever been, and still is a place of considerable interest.  Some two years ago a steamboat was started to run on the Oneida Lake.  The Legislature of the State of New-York appropriated a sum of money to improve the navigation of the river, built a coffer dam at Brewerton to deepen the channel and subdue the rift.  A commodious lock was built, four miles below Brewerton, and another at Oak Orchard, nine miles below, to favor the navigation to Oswego.  An appropriation of twenty thousand dollars was made last year, (1847,) for the improvement of the navigation of Oneida River, and is soon to be expended.

The new bridge erected last season cost over two thousand dollars, and is an excellent structure.  The plank road from Salina to Central Square, crosses the river at this point, and has done more for the improvement of this country than all things else put together.

Like many other of the pioneers of this country, Mr. Stevens endured many privations, and was a participant in many startling incidents and adventures.  On one occasion, in the month of March, 1792, he resolved to attend the town meeting of the town of Mexico, held that year at what is now Pulaski.  He started off early in the morning, with his gun in hand, and a knapsack of provisions on his back.  There was no road nor scarcely a path; he relied mainly on his skill as a woodsman, and his knowledge of the wanderings of the sun to guide him safely through his journey.  He traveled on, unconscious of harm, till near the middle of the afternoon, when he found himself in the vicinity of a pack of hungry wolves.  By their howling, he was aroused not only to a sense of his danger, but to the fact that he had lost his way, and that he had no means of recovering it.  He set forward with vigor, in hope of coming out at a "clearing" in the vicinity of the place of his destination, but all to no purpose; the more he exerted himself, the more he became convinced of the peril of his situation.  The wolves drew nearer and nearer, and seemed by their boldness, to be meditating an attack.  At length, one bolder than his companions, a large black one, advanced to within a few paces of him, upon which he fired and killed him dead.  The scent of the blood of the dead wolf, seemed to increase the voracity of the survivors, and for a time he thought he should in turn be slain.  Nothing daunted, he stood at bay looking them firmly in the eye, and after awhile, they retired a respectful distance, sitting around on their haunches, as if holding a council of war.  During this cessation of hostilities, Mr. Stevens struck a fire and kindled it, reloaded his gun, and sallied forth, dragging the dead wolf by the heels to his fiery fortress.  At this stage of the war, it seemed as if the fury of the wolves was ungovernable; they came very near, growling and snapping their teeth, in the greatest anger.  He cast burning brands among them, and finally they dispersed.  Upon this, he added more fuel to the fire, got up a bright light, and began to feel somewhat secure.  His next business was to secure the skin of his fallen foe, which was soon effected.  By this time it became quite dark.  A quantity of fuel was gathered.  Here the solitary wanderer stood all night, not daring to refresh himself with sleep, amid the din and howlings of the hungry wolves.  Towards morning he was relieved from his anxiety by the retreat of the wolves, who left, and disturbed him no more.  He now prepared a hasty meal at the fire, partook of it, and concluded to retrace his steps.  Packing up his wolf skin, he proceeded homeward.  The sun rose to meridian, and still he traveled on; night came, and for ought he could tell, he was no nearer home than when he started in the morning.  Being weary with his day's journey, he again kindled a fire, laid himself down to rest, and slept soundly till morning.  At early dawn he again set forward in quest of home, and about ten o'clock in the morning, to his indescribable joy, discovered the British flag flying from the fort at Oswego.  The officers of the garrison, to whom he related his adventure, treated him with great kindness.  With them he spent the remainder of the day, and next morning set out with a light heart for home.  The day following, being the fifth from his departure, he arrived safely to the bosom of his family, who had already become somewhat alarmed for his safety.  The bounty then paid by the State for a full grown wolf, was forty dollars, which he in due time received.  This in some degree proved a balm for his sufferings; but for which, he would not again encounter the danger he had so greatly risked.

The following year, while at dinner with his family, a man came running to the door, almost breathless and dripping with water, stammering out with a tremulous voice, that he and his companion had been attacked by a bear in the river, and driven from their boat; he feared the bear would kill his friend, and wished Mr. Stevens to go instantly with his gun and kill him.  He started at once, re-primed his gun, and hastened with all possible dispatch to the scene of the disaster.

When arrived, they found the remaining man on shore wet through and through, moaning in the bitterest anguish the hardness of his lot.  The fact was, as the two were proceeding up the river, the bear at the same time attempted to swim across; upon seeing the bear, the boatmen resolved to have some sport and capture him.  They rowed along side and aimed a blow at Bruin's head, who evaded it, and before they could recover themselves, scrambled over the side of the boat and drove the astonished Frenchmen into the river.  They were forced to make a virtue of necessity, and one ran for help, while the other watched the boat and its new occupant.  On the arrival of Mr. Stevens at the scene of action, his bearship was majestically seated at the stern, calmly surveying the scene, quietly floating down the current, as undisturbed as a king upon his throne.  A shot from Mr. Stevens' rifle, bereft the monarch of his titles and his life at once.  The boatmen swam to the boat and rowed up to the landing.  When the prize was dressed, it was found to exceed three hundred pounds in weight.  This seasonable trophy was placed to good account, for it served as pork for the family and the hungry boatmen who passed the route, for many a day.

About five miles north of Salina, in the town of Cicero, near the old state road, was a place where, at some early period, either during the old French war, or during the war of the Revolution, a prisoner fell a victim to savage cruelty.  The tradition of the affair is like this:  a party of Indians, in some of their incursions to the then western settlements of New-York, probably Schenectady, or perhaps Wyoming or Cherry Valley, returned through this region, and brought with them prisoners, and at this point resolved on having an auto da fe.  One poor fellow bound hand and foot, was compelled to run the gauntlet, with the promise, if successful, of being restored to liberty.  Two parallel lines were arranged, and the prisoner started to run, as best he could, between them.  He made several surprising leaps, bound as he was, and finally succeeded in passing amid sundry blows, beyond the lines, to the goal of promised safety.  At this moment a young warrior drew up his rifle and shot him dead; who, for his treachery, was instantly pierced by more than twenty balls from the rifles of his companions.  For several years, the Indians returned to this spot, renewed the tracks made in the sand by the murdered prisoner, held a war dance, and returned to their homes.  This practice was continued long after the white people settled in the neighborhood.  The last time they visited the spot, they got into a quarrel among themselves, and it is said, two of the party were killed and several badly wounded.

The first mills erected in the vicinity, were at Rotterdam, by Mr. Scriba, from Holland, on the north side of the lake, in 1800.  The grist mill was sufficient to grind all the grain in the country for a hundred miles around.  Then, however, there was but little grinding to be done.  Previous to this, those who could muster a grist of two or three bushels, which was then called a very large one, would put it on board a boat bound for the Bay of Quinte, in Canada, and after three or four weeks it would be returned.  Other preferred pounding their corn in stump mortars, thereby saving toll and risk of loss.

At first there were no roads for many years.  The people used to follow the Indian trails, and marked trees, on foot.  Roads were first made from house to house, and place to place, and through this town were till recently proverbially bad, being cut through low and swampy ground, without even causeways or bridges.  In 1812, the legislature passed an act to cut a road from Salina to Brewerton, through the center of the township.  The expense was advanced by the State, but a tax was laid on the lands contiguous, to defray it.  The inhabitants got a poor road for what a good one should have cost.  In 1825, an act was passed authorizing the building of a turnpike road from Salina north, through the town of Cicero, but the inhabitants, rather doubting the profitableness of an investment, the stock was not taken, and the scheme failed.  In 1830, an act was passed providing for the construction of a timber or hard surface road.  This failed also.  In 1845, an act was passed by the Legislature, authorizing a company to make a plank, timber or hard surface road, from Salina to Central Square, through Cicero, from south to north.  In 1846, a plank road was completed, being the first of the kind constructed in the United States.  The expense of building, grading and materials, was about fifteen hundred dollars per mile.  The situation of the country and soil, was such, that it was almost impossible to make a permanent road of any other material.  There is, perhaps, no country road in the State over which passes a greater amount of travel.

There are no streams of water in this town, of any note, except the Chittenango Creek, lying all along its eastern boundary.  Isolated specimens of iron ore have been found in this town, but none of consequence.  There are some tolerable limestone quarries, suitable for building and lime.

Salt springs or deer-licks, have been noticed in different parts of the town, none of which have been worked.  There is here found, almost every variety of soil, the surface of which is unusually level.  All kinds of grain are easily raised.  Maple sugar, in former years, was manufactured in large quantities, but since the clearing up of the forests, it has been discontinued.  This town and Clay furnish a large proportion of the barrels used in packing salt at Liverpool, Geddes and Syracuse.  Wild fowl are abundant in the vicinity of the lake and river, which, with the excellent fishing grounds, make it a favorite resort for sportsmen.

Previous to the construction of the Erie Canal, boats and bateaux were constantly passing from the east, freighted with goods obtained at Albany and Schenectady, for the western and Canada trade; but since the completion of that great work, the business of boating through the Oneida Lake and River, has almost entirely been discontinued.  During the first years of settlement, ague and fever and bilious fever were prevalent, and the country was considered unhealthy; but since clearings have become extensive, there have been but occasional cases; and now, the town of Cicero may be considered quite as healthy as any town in the county.  In the north-west extremity of the town (now Clay) on a beautiful peninsula, formed by the junction of the Oneida and Seneca Rivers, is a lot of five hundred and fifty acres of excellent land, the income of which is appropriated to the support of common schools.  When Clay was set off from Cicero in 1827, two hundred and seventy-five acres of this lot were retained for the town of Cicero, the income of which is about one hundred and forty dollars per year.  Towards the south part of this town, is an extensive swamp, containing about four thousand acres, with but little timber.  The surface is covered with very thick moss, capable of bearing a man, who finds no difficulty in walking over it when it is not covered with water.  Wild cranberries are abundant here.  A sharp pole can be thrust through the surface, to the depth of seven or eight feet, the whole being composed of black decayed vegetable matter, resting upon a bed of marl.  It is not unlikely, that this at some future day, will become the most valuable land in the country.  It lies some twenty-five feet higher than the lake, and presents admirable facilities for draining.  Twenty years ago, wood, cut and corded, was worth but three shillings a cord; it is now worth five shillings a cord, standing.  A scarcity of timber is already beginning seriously to be felt.  The extensive and beautiful forests have been cleared, and in their place tasteful mansions have risen up, and the hum of business prevails, where but a few years since, nothing was heard but the howl of wild beasts, and the strokes of the woodman's ax.

Captain John Shepard, who served in the Revolutionary war, drew lot number eleven, Cicero, lying at the outlet of Oneida Lake.  At an early day he took possession of his lot, sold a part of it, cleared and cultivated the residue, and with his family, lived happily upon it many years, till his death, in 1824.  After the war, he became a Presbyterian preacher, and officiated as such during a great part of his residence here.  He was the only man who occupied a lot in this town for which he served.  It has been related to the author by several capable of judging, that he was a superior Latin and Greek scholar, and excelled in the classical literature of the ancients.  He was a most excellent man, and his death was much lamented by all who knew him.

According to the census of 1845, there are in this town:  number of inhabitants, 2651.  223 subject to military duty, 597 voters, 23 aliens, 624 children attending common schools, 8192 acres of improved land, 1 saw-mill, 2 asheries, 3 tanneries, 1 Baptist Church, 1 Methodist do., 1 Dutch Reformed do., 16 common schools, 4 taverns, 6 stores, 450 farmers, 7 merchants, 50 mechanics, 3 clergymen, 2 physicians, 2 lawyers.


Submitted 26 January 1999