*Some of the first settlers and original inhabitants of this town are as follows: John Wilcox, who lived a little east of the Indian orchard, on "Haskins' Hill," was the first white settler in town, came here in 1791, and located on lot number thirteen, Pompey, and boarded the surveyors who "lotted" the townships of Tully, Pompey and Manlius. When the first settlement was made, there was on this lot, an extensive Indian orchard, occupying some twenty acres or more of ground. The trees were somewhat regularly laid out, and at that time were very productive. At an early day, it was a place very much resorted to for its fruit, it then being the only orchard of any note in all the country. people came from many miles around, in Autumn, to the "old Indian orchard," for its valuable produce, and the occupant made the sale of it quite a profitable business. This orchard was located on a commanding eminence, now owned by Mr. Cornelius Vandenburg, on the road leading from la Fayette to Jamesville. It overlooks a vast tract of country to the north, and affords one of the most beautiful prospects imaginable. At this time, the apple trees, once in so high repute, from which the red man gathered his luxurious store in bountiful profusion, are in a state of decay, and like the race who planted them, will soon be numbered among the things that have been.
In 1792, Comfort Rounds settled in La Fayette, about two miles north of the Center. In 1792, William Haskins came on, and gave name to Haskins' Hill. In 1793, came Solomon Owen, who built the brick house in Sherman Hollow, now occupied by Calvin Cole. Ebenezer Hill, now living, came into this town in February, 1795. In 1793, James Sherman settled in, and gave name to the east hollow. He soon after built a saw-mill, the first of the kind in this town, on the Butternut Creek. The next year, Messrs. Isaac and Elias Conklin, moved to this town, and very soon put up a saw-mill, and directly afterwards, a small grist mill, on what is commonly called Conklin's Creek. These mills are now in operation, and owned by Mr. Elias Conklin, and the grist mill is believed to be the first of its kind, in the township of Pompey, erected in 1798. The small but durable stream, on which are these mills, is considered a very valuable one, and finds it ways into the Butternut Creek. Below these mills, are three distinct and successive falls, some sixty or eighty rods distant from each other. They are enshrouded by a dense hemlock forest, which renders the scenery somewhat sombre and gloomy, yet it may be considered highly picturesque, if not grand. The several falls are about seventy or eighty feet in height, each; not perpendicular, but just broken enough to add beauty and variety to the rushing cataracts, as they dash their white foam against the ragged rocks below. The stream is quite rapid and somewhat broken, above the mills. The banks and bed of this stream are of brown shale, of little or nor use as a building material, and only used for fencing.
In 1794, John Houghtaling, Amaziah Branch, Benjamin June and James Pearce, located in this town. Mr. June was a soldier of the Revolution. His ancestors came from France, he is still living, and receives a pension. Samuel Humphrey, another Revolutionary patriot, also resides in this town, and draws a pension.
In 1794, Samuel Hyatt, Amasa Wright and Reuben Bryan, settled in town. Mr. John A. Bryan, once a member of the New-York Legislature, Assistant Post Master General, under President John Tyler's administration, and Charge des Affaires to Peru, and auditor of the State of Ohio, now living at Columbus, was his son.
Among the early settlers in the west portion of the town, were Samuel Coleman, Clark Bailey, Nathan Park, Zenas Northway and Ozias Northway, who kept a tavern near the Post Office, Archibald and John Garfield, Graudius Cuddeback, whose widow is a niece of Major Moses De Witt; Wm. Sniffen, Hendrick Upperhousen, a Hessian who was captured from the British army, and John Hill, also a Hessian.
Among the settlers in the south part of the town, were General Isaac Hall, William Alexander, Amos Palmatier, Jacob Johnson, Sen. and Jr., Obadiah Johnson, Elijah Hall, Peter Abott, Rufus Kinney, Abner Kinney, Capt. Joseph C. Howe, who lived on the farm now occupied by H. Cole. Dan'l Danforth, first located in Christian Hollow, in 1798, afterwards bought the farm now occupied by his nephew, Thomas Danforth.
In the northern section of the town, in addition to the names already mentioned, lived Asa Drake, who removed from near Boston. He distinctly recollects hearing the firing at the battle of Bunker Hill. He still survives and speaks of the struggles of the Revolution, and the privations of the wilderness, with a lively interest. Elkanah Hine and Noah Hoyt, lived on the farm now occupied by George Bishop. Joel Canfield, Ezekiel Hoyt, Job Andrews and Minnah Hyatt, were early settlers here. Ebenezer Carr, Calojius Vinell, and Joshua Slocum, lived on the farm now owed by E. V. W. Dox, Esq.; Col. Jeremiah Gould and Isaac Keeler, towards Jamesville.
In the vicinity of La Fayette Square, were Thomas, Seth, Erastus and Sydenham Baker, Joseph Smith, Mr. Paine, Jeremiah Fuller and Dr. Silas Park. Dr. Park's ride as a physician, was from Liverpool to Port Watson, Cortland County, then Onondaga, and from Skaneateles to Cazenovia. Dan'l Share, an early settler, is still living on a beautiful spot which commands a view of the village and of the valley, stretching towards Fabius. There were also Caleb Green, Joseph Stevens Cole, Paul King, and Orange King, who kept a tavern in a log house, and had for his sign, which was nailed to a tree, "O. King!" Joseph Rhoades, Gershom Richardson, Daniel Cole and John Carlisle, were also among the early settlers of this town.
The Columbian (Congregational) Society was organized in 1804. The greater part of the members who formed this society, came from Berkshire and Hampshire Counties, Massachusetts. At an early day, religious meetings were held in private houses, by Mr. Amaziah Branch, a Congregationalist, from Norwich, Connecticut. He had studied for the ministry, but was not licensed to preach. As a man of piety and exemplary deportment, he was greatly respected. The present Congregational Church, was organized by Rev. Benjamin Bell, in October, 1809. This interesting transaction took place at the public house of Stoughton Morse, where the "Temperance House" is now kept. The Church, at this period, consisted of fifteen persons--five males and ten females.
The following gentlemen have officiated as pastors and preachers, since the time of the Rev. Mr. Bell; Rev. Messrs. E. J. Leavenworth, Hopkins, Martin Powell, Childs, Alexander H. Corning, Seth Smally, Abraham K. Barr, Parshall Terry and George E. Delevan.
The Congregational house of worship, was erected 1819 and 1820. In 1844, it was repaired and renovated in modern style. It is located on the plat of ground (one acre) generously given by Capt. Joseph Rhoades and Erastus Baker, Esq. The Methodist Chapel, on the east hill, was erected about the year 1825. There is also a Methodist house of worship, at Cardiff.
Ten or twelve years ago, a chartered high school was established at La Fayette Square, in the brick house, built by Mr. Asael Smith, merchant, now occupied by H. G. Andrews, as a dwelling. It flourished a few years and was discontinued.
The first town meeting was held at La Fayette Square, March, 1826, Charles Jackson, supervisor, Johnson Hall, Town Clerk.
Col. Jeremiah Gould erected the first frame house in the township of Pompey, (now in La Fayette,) in 1800. Isaac Hall built the next in 1801. A Mr. Cheeny kept the first tavern, a little before Orange King. Messrs. Rice and Hill, are said to have been the first merchants at La Fayette Square, 1802 or 1803. In 1801, the State road from Cazenovia to Skaneateles, was laid out through this town. Col. Olcott, the surveyor, was taken seriously ill, while engaged in the survey, and died at the house of Erastus Baker. About this time, the inhabitants of this retired country, were visited with that dreadful scourge, the small-pox, which in many instances proved fatal.
The soil of this town, is calcareous loam, intermixed with vegetable mold, and unlike many parts of the country the land is arable on the highest hills, and very productive. The air is pure, the scenery delightful, and access to markets and the great thoroughfares convenient. The face of the country is favorable to the enjoyment of health, activity of mind, competence in worldly goods and domestic comfort. There are here no stagnant marshes, no putrid exhalations, no overgrown estates, and none so great temptations to vice as may be found in more thickly settled localities.
No valuable mineral deposit has yet been discovered in this town. Two miles south of Christian Hollow Post office, a variety of iron ore has been brought to light, but is not considered of much consequence. Lime has been somewhat extensively burned, and may yet prove valuable in agriculture, and for other purposes. The rocks abound in shells and other relics of the diluvian age. On the farm of Dr. C. Williams is a deposit of corals. In the door-yard of Mr. J. G. Doughty, are many petrifications; similar appearances have been noticed in different parts of the town. On the farm of Thomas Danforth, are chasms of great depth, supposed to have been produced by an earthquake.
There are several sulphur springs in town emitting sulphureted hydrogen gas, which can be collected in a tumbler and burned by applying a torch. There is one on Chester Baker's land near a pure spring, a few rods west of the centre. One on the land of Elias Rider, in Christian Hollow, which is within a few feet of a pure spring. One on the west side of the Onondaga Creek, which is said to have been considerably agitated a few years ago by an earthquake. Within a few rods of this is a pure spring and a chalybeate spring. There is a sulphur spring on the Indian road towards the councilhouse, one on Dr. Williams' land, another near Alcott's sawmill, in Sherman Hollow, and another in a ravine near Calvin Coles'. These springs are sometimes used medicinally. There is a saline spring a few rods east of Ebenezer Hill's residence. To these several springs at an early day, deer used frequently to resort.
The east branch of the Onondaga River rises in Tully, passes through Christian Hollow and Onondaga Village, emptying into Onondaga Lake.
Through Sherman Hollow runs Butternut Creek, which rises in Fabius and Pompey, passing through Jamesville and Orville, uniting with the Limestone and Chittenango Creeks, thence into Oneida Lake.
This town was remarkable for the abundance of its game. Bears, wolves, foxes and wild cats, were every where numerous; and instances are still related of their having been frequently destroyed. They often did mischief among the flocks of the early settlers.
Deer were very numerous, and were often seen in herds of twenty or thirty.
According to the last census, we have the following statistics for la Fayette:--
Number of inhabitants, 2,527. Number of inhabitants subject to military duty, 204; voters, 606; aliens, 36; paupers, 2; children attending common schools, 737; acres of improved land, 16,857; grist mills, 4; saw mills, 18; fulling mills, 2; carding machines, 2; asheries, 1; clover mills, 1; tanneries, 2. Churches.--Congregational or Presbyterian, 1; Methodist, 2; common schools, 13; taverns, 5; stores, 4; farmers, 392; merchants, 5; manufacturers, 7; mechanics, 66; clergymen, 2; physicians, 4.
*The author is indebted to Rev. Geo. E. Delevan for valuable information relative to La Fayette.