"....The first white settler in Clay was Patrick McGee, and the circumstances of his coming are interestingly romantic. In 1780 he was a prisoner of war in the hands of the British on his way to Fort Oswego and Canada. Pausing for a night at Three River Point he observed with pleasure an extensive clearing, handsomely laid in grass, for a mile or more along the banks of each river. While tied to a tree McGee vowed that if ever he obtained his liberty he would settle on that beautiful spot, which is noted in Indian history as having been appropriated on various occasions to the great councils of the Iroquois Confederacy. In 1791 he came to Brewerton, and in 1793 he fulfilled his vow made thirteen years before by permanently locating at Three River Point (so named from the junction of the three rivers), where he erected a log cabin, the first building of any kind in town. He lived there during the remainder of his life and was buried on the premises. About 1808 he built the first frame house in Clay.
It is impossible to ascertain the names of any other settlers before 1798, and indeed but few can be obtained as having arrived prior to 1810. Evidently the increase of settlement was very slow during the first two decades of the town's history, notwithstanding the fact that it was favored by Oneida Lake and River, then and for many years the principal route of westward travel. In 1798 Adam Coon settled on the northeast corner of Clay, and the next year Simeon Baker located on Seneca River. Thenceforward to 1807 no reliable evidence of settlements can be gleaned. The interior of the town was largely a primeval wilderness, untouched by the woodman's axe, as those already recorded made their locations along the two boundary rivers.
In 1807 Joshua Kinne, Elijah Pinckney, and others came in, and in 1808 or earlier John Lyon located at what has long been known as 'Lynn Settlement,' where he was subsequently joined by the Young, Dutcher, and other families. At Clay Corners, now Euclid, a log school house, the first in town, was built about 1808 and the first teacher in it was a Mr. Hall. The next year a second log school house was erected at Belgium, near Seneca River, and in it Moses Kinne, who had previously taught a school in his house, became the first teacher. This was superseded by a frame school building in 1812.
About 1810 the population began to increase quite rapidly. The steady tide of incoming settlers inaugurated the first era of prosperity and laid the foundations for several hamlets and villages. On and around the sites of Euclid, Belgium, Oak Orchard, and perhaps one or two other points active settlements sprang into existence, and a few years later these became the scenes of considerable activity. At Oak Orchard reefs, near the bank of Oneida River, the pioneers as well as later residents found evidence of an extensive burying ground, which, tradition says, was populated with the bodies of massacred Indians sometime in the eighteenth century, and from which scores of skulls, bones, and relics have been removed.
The first settlers procured their breadstuffs from Jackson's mill near Jamesville until mills were erected near Syracuse, and it was customary for men to carry a bushel or more of grain on their backs the entire distance, guiding themselves by blazed trees and consuming two or three days in making the journey. After roads were cut through neighbors would alternate in performing the service for the whole community. Mail was brought in the same way from Onondaga Hollow and later from nearer post-offices. Soon after the first settlements were made a lively trade in salt barrels sprang up and continued for many years. The heavy growth of timber which covered the entire surface of the town furnished employment to scores of coopers. Almost every male inhabitant at one time followed some branch of this business, and while the forests remained it constituted one of the chief occupations of the people. Large quantities of timber were manufactured into barrels for the Syracuse salt trade or for the Oswego flour market on the premises, and in many instances this industry provided a source of individual wealth. The land, when cleared, was found to be very fertile, and agricultural pursuits rapidly superseded all other interests.
Abraham Young erected the first saw mill in Clay on a small brook in the northeast part of the town, but it was a rude affair and lacked sufficient water except in spring and fall. The interior of the town never afforded good mill privileges. The principal water powers were at Oak Orchard and Caughdenoy (Oswego county), on the Oneida River; the last named place was long noted for its eel fishing, which at one time formed an important industry.
The war of 1812-15 seriously retarded the settlement of the town and caused no little excitement among those who had already located within its limits. Many of the able-bodied inhabitants were called to the defense of the military posts at Oswego and Sackett's Harbor, leaving their pioneer homes and families largely unprotected. This struggle ceased only to be followed by the celebrated 'cold season' of 1816, when ice formed every month in the year and practically ruined all growing crops. The sufferings which ensued, especially during the following winter, were widespread and intense; family supplies were often unobtainable and stock was 'browsed' in the neighboring forests. But the succeeding years produced an abundance of all necessaries and frontier life assumed a cheerful aspect. Long before and after this, however, the miasmic influences of the timbered lands, especially the swampy sections, affected the health of the settlers, spreading ague, fever, and other complaints among them at times with relentless fury; but these conditions permanently disappeared with the forests.
Among the arrivals during the second decade of this century were Jacob I. Young; Ira Sheffield and his brother, who came in 1814; and Dr. Olcott, the first resident physician, who arrived a little later. During this period roads were opened and made passable. Brewerton, Belgium, and Salina were all connected by thoroughfares, which afforded convenient ingress and egress to the settlers.
In 1822 Hosea Crandall became a resident of the town. His grandfather, George, who died aged 103, had two sons who lived to be over 100 and a daughter who reached the age of 116. Hosea was the father of five daughters and three sons; he owned at one time 300 acres of land, and gave to each of his children a home. His mother died at the age of 101 years and six months.
In 1824 the Sodus Bay and Westmoreland Turnpike Company commenced the construction of a bridge across Seneca River at Belgium. The bridge was completed by Col. J. L. Voorhees, who obtained a charter in his own name, and was tolled until 1843, when it was rebuilt as a free bridge, the State appropriating $850 and the towns of Lysander and Clay each $1,000 for the purpose. In 1827 there were only four dwelling houses at this point.
About 1825 a post-office called 'West Cicero' was established at what is locally known as Belgium. On the organization of the town in 1827 it was given the name of Clay, which it has ever since borne. The first postmaster was Nathan Teall, who was followed by William Hale, James Little (many years) Hial Crandall, Orris Barnes, William Lee, Mrs. John Walter, and perhaps others.
By the year 1826 the inhabitants of the territory under consideration had become sufficiently numerous to justify a separate government, and on the 16th of April, 1827, the State Legislature passed a bill setting off the present town of Clay from the then civil and old military township of Cicero. The new town was named in honor of Henry Clay, the distinguished statesman of Kentucky, and at the first town meeting held in the same month Andrew Johnson was elected supervisor and Jacob Terrill town clerk. In this year (1827) a post-office was established at Euclid, the postmaster being the same Andrew Johnson, who was also a grocer and tavernkeeper there.
The period between 1825 and 1830 marked an important epoch in the history of Clay. It not only witnessed the formation of the town, the establishment of post-offices and churches, and the arrival of large numbers of settlers, but it saw the completion of two great water routes which inaugurated a new era of prosperity. These were the Erie and Oswego Canals, opened respectively in 1825 and 1828. The former was scarcely finished when the construction of the latter was commenced. The Oswego Canal, utilizing a little more than that portion of Seneca River bordering this town, had a direct and wholesome influence upon all local industries, and especially upon the growth of the hamlet of Belgium. In connection with this water way the Oneida River Improvement afforded another improved route of travel along the northern boundary of Clay and also aided in developing the resources of adjacent territory.
The hamlet of Belgium grew rapidly upon both sides of Seneca River and for several years was the busiest place in town. In 1828 James Little's was the only family on the Lysander side, but he was joined about that time by the families of Henry S. McMechan, Oliver Bigsbee, Garnett C. Sweet, Sylvanus Bigsbee, and the Rev. William M. Willett, son of Col. Marinus Willett, of Revolutionary fame. The same year Martin Luther opened the first store and Sylvanus Bigsbee & Co. started another very soon afterward. Jonas C. Brewster and James Little* became merchants here in 1829 and 1830 respectively. Philip Farrington established still another store in 1831 and Dr. A. P. Adams started one in 1838. In 1832 the Wesleyan Methodist Society erected a meeting house on the west side of the river--the building now used as the M. E. church. Among the early physicians were Drs. A. P. Adams, Hays McKinley, J. V. Kendall, Daniel W. Bailey (botanic), and Ira Richardson. (*Footnote: James Little was a prominent citizen of this section. He served as member of assembly in 1848 and 1850, was for many years a justice of the peace, supervisor, and justice of sessions, and died January 22, 1877. He settled in Clay in 1830.).
The early settlers of Clay banded themselves together for religious worship even before the territory merged from its wilderness condition. About 1826 an English Evangelical Lutheran society was formed in the neighborhood of Clay Station by such thrifty pioneers as Jacob I. Young, Jacob Ottman, Richard Hiller, John Ainslie, Henry Becker, John Summers, John Becker, and others. In 1832 the church was reorganized by Rev. William Ottman, who became the first pastor, and between that year and 1834 an edifice was erected and dedicated in the eastern center of the town. This society was followed by the Christians or Unitarians, who about 1837 built a church in Euclid, the builders being Dr. E. L. Soule, Hosea Crandall, Moses Kinne, Judge Nathan Soule, and others. It was used by different denominations until about 1850, when the Methodist Episcopal Society purchased the property. The building, after serving its purpose for many years, is now utilized as a town hall and warehouse. Among the prominent members of this M. E. church, of which Rev. William Morse was the first resident pastor, were Daniel Schoolcraft, John Flagler, Jacob Siterley, Cornelius Cronkhite, Cornelius and John Mogg, Abram and Irving Moyer, E. P. Abbott, Willis Gregg, Loami Rumsey, Dr. J. L. Brown, Mrs. A.V.R. Snyder, William and Mary Meredith, Chauncey Bailey, Tunis Siterley, and James Hamlin. About 1835 an M. E. church society was also started at Morgan Settlement, on the road leading from Euclid to Liverpool, the principal founder being Rev. Abram Morgan. The society is still flourishing and owns a neat frame edifice.
Meanwhile the hamlet of Euclid, locally known for many years as Clay Corners, was springing into prominence as a place of some activity. Among its earliest settlers was Latin Soule, father of Judge Nathan and grandfather of the late Harvey L. Soule. Judge Nathan Soule came here from Minden, Montgomery county, in 1831, and from then until his death in 1858 was a very prominent and influential citizen. He had served as congressman from the Montgomery district, and after coming here was elected to the State Legislature, serving in the session of 1837. He was also associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and in 1832 succeeded Andrew Johnson as postmaster. Other early settlers of Euclid were Hosea Crandall, John Patrie, Gideon Palmer, John Ainslie, and Jefferson Freeman. Mr. Freeman became the first general merchant in the village in 1831 and carried on the principal business until 1860, when he moved to Syracuse, where he died about 1868. He was succeeded by his brother Levi, who for several years was a leading resident, and who also removed to and died in Syracuse.
In 1830 Clay contained 2,095 inhabitants. A State Gazetteer published six years later informs us that about 'two-thirds of the town is settled and settlers are fast coming into this and the town of Cicero.'
In 1836 Clay Corners or Euclid had a post-office, store, tavern, and several dwellings while the town contained about 2,538 inhabitants, 285 militia, 513 voters, 8,678 acres of improved land, real estate assessed at $377,604 and personal property at $2,945, four saw mills, one tannery, an ashery, 2,111 cattle, 2,717 sheep, 705 horses, 1,864 swine, 12 school districts, and 711 scholars. The public money expended for school purposes amounted to $229, teachers' wages (besides) $246; town tax, $452, and county tax $829. About ten years later (1845) it contained 267 militia, 619 voters, 531 children attending school, 12,776 acres of improved land, four saw mills, a Baptist church, one Dutch Reformed church, eighteen common schools, one select school, four taverns, three general stores, five groceries, 435 farmers, nine manufacturers, fifty-five mechanics, and three physicians. In 1860 there were 19,535 acres of improved land, 638 dwellings, 576 families, 511 freeholders, 21 school districts, 1,536 swine, and real estate valued at $964,205 and personal property at $37,850, while the productions amounted to 4,909 bushels winter wheat, 150,909 bushels spring wheat, 4,672 tons hay, 34,011 bushels potatoes, 27,578 bushels apples, 120,907 pounds butter, 11,535 pounds cheese, and 3,318 yards domestic cloth.
A number of the early settlers have already been mentioned, but it is proper to record here the names of others and of later comers. John Walter moved into Clay from Herkimer county in 1829 and died here leaving five children: Martin A., John, Gertrude Ann (Mrs. Orrin Barnes), Angeline (wife of Dr. A.V.R. Snyder), and Charles. Stewart Scott came to this town from Albany county in 1830 and died here in 1850, aged fifty years. Among other residents were Dr. James F. Johnson, Samuel N. Burleigh, John Lintz, A. J. Soule, Harlow Eno, Dr. Church, Jacob Tyrrell, Dr. E.L. Soule (botanic physician), Wilburn Hale, Henry R. Warren, Ephraim Morehouse, James V. Randall, James Millard (about 1810), Adolph Botsford, James Lynn (who died in October, 1895, aged about eighty-five), Dow West (died in October, 1895), Japhet Kinne, Nathaniel Palmer, Gideon M. Palmer (son of Nathaniel, died in October, 1895), Giles Barnes, Andrew Patrie, Noadiah Marshall, the Abbott family, French Fairchild, Adam Coon, David Wise, William Duffaney, Jacob Moyer, Peter Wise, Jacob Bettinger, the Weller family, Moseley Dunham, Nathaniel Woodward (who came in 1818 and died here April 18, 1863), Samuel Ferguson, William H. Collins, George Loop, James Chesebro, John F. Hicks (through whose kitchen the Clay and Cicero town line was run), James Beebe, Cornelius Auringer, Mr. Pierce, Peter Connell, John Dickinson, Edward R. Barrus, Peter Wisner, and Stephen Knowles. William Weller, an old settler, died here in January, 1896, leaving two sons, William F. and Jesse A. Nearly or quite all of these came in before 1850...
Between the years 1840 and 1850 the hamlet of Belgium attained its greatest importance, for it was during that period that it enjoyed the distinction of being the busiest place in town. In 1848 it contained one hundred and sixty inhabitants, twenty-eight dwellings, three dry goods stores, four grocery and provision stores, two hotels, one tailor, three blacksmith shops, a shoemaker, etc., and also the celebrated 'Oriental Balm Pill' manufactory, which generally employed from thirty to fifty persons. This establishment subsequently moved to Euclid, where Dr. E. L. Soule made the 'Oriental Sovereign Balm Pill' for several years, doing quite an extensive business. Belgium finally declined as a business center, but still retains the activity of a small country hamlet.
About the middle of this century Euclid became a popular trading point for the town, or at least the northern and western portions, and around the pioneer store of Jefferson Freeman there clustered a respectable collection of dwelling houses and mercantile interests.
Among the merchants may be mentioned H. K. Warren, William Warner, Cyrus Warner, John Walter, Albert Kinne, Richard Platt, Horace Pritchard, Elias Sloat, James Hamlin, O. A. Rice, Ruel Wetzel, Chauncey M. Soule, Nathaniel W. Pool, Edward Ladd, and Mrs. Smith Lewis. There have also been harnessmakers, James and Charles Brown and William Carpenter; shoemakers, Philo Brewer, James Truesdell, Henry Fox, Ira Schoolcraft, Joseph A. Hughes, and Cyrus and O. A. Rice; wagonmakers, John Lints, Isaac Lints, Joseph A. Hughes, Nicholas Bunzy, Robert McChesney, and A. J. McArthur; blacksmiths, Adam Wise, John Lintz, Hiram Fox, Hiram Leonard, Henry Hughes, and Fred Dents; tailor, William Warner. The postmasters who succeeded Judge Nathan Soule have been Levi Freeman, Dr. A.V.R. Snyder, David Moyer, Cyrus Warner, Richard Platt, John J. Barrus, O.A. Rice, James Hamlin, Chauncey M. Soule, and Andrew J. McArthur, incumbent. Among the physicians may be noted the names of Drs. James Frisbie, James F. Johnson, Henry B. Allen, Horace Pritchard, A.V.R. Snyder,* and G. I. Brown. (*Footnote: Dr. Allen Van Rensselaer Snyder was born in Conquest, Cayuga Co., Sept. 7, 1825, studied medicine in Memphis (then Canton) with Dr. Amos Fowler, was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of New York city in March, 1851, and began practice in Euclid, where he has since resided. In 1861 he retired on account of failing eyesight and since 1862 has been totally blind.)
The first tavern in Euclid was erected on the site of the present hotel barns, and the old sheds stood where the hotel now stands. This inn was kept for a time by Col. William Coon and later became a dwelling. Finally the positions of the tavern and sheds were reversed. The present hotel was rebuilt from the old structure about 1853 by James M. Rouse, and among the later landlords were John Wallace, Peter I. Quackenbush, Horace Lawrence, Charles Hayden, James R. Lynn, Manley Hughes, and Smith Soule. A second hotel stood about where O. A. Rice now lives, and was kept by Andrew Johnson, Peter I. Quackenbush, and perhaps others. It was subsequently moved and converted into a wagon shop, became a cheese factory, and burned.
About 1846 the Syracuse and Central Square plank road, the first of the kind in the United States, was opened and ran through the southeastern corner of this town. It inaugurated a new impetus to the prosperity of the eastern part of the territory under consideration, particularly in giving existence to the hamlet of Centerville, or North Syracuse, locally known for many years as 'Podunk,' which is situated partly in Clay and partly in Cicero. In this neighborhood several settlers had arrived, notably Rowland Stafford, John Slosson, Eli Myers about 1826, Alfred Tilly in 1827, and Peter Weaver, who built the 'old red tavern,' and who gave the ground for the cemetery, in which one Blewe was the first to be buried. But about 1850 Centerville began to assume the activity incident to a country business center. James Wallen, the first postmaster, kept the post-office in the old Dean tavern, and his successors have been Joseph Palmer, Jacob Kincaid, Dr. Skinner, Ralph Hirsch, Granville Baum, John Flagler, William H. Collins, G. R. Crampton, and Eva McChesney, incumbent. The first to carry on mercantile business here was Asa H. Stearns, who had a small stock of goods in the basement of the tavern which he built, and which stood on the site of Jacob Kincaid's house. But the first store of any note was kept by Jacob Kincaid, who erected the building now occupied by Edwin Carey. He was followed by Look & Son (Judson W.), Ralph Hirsch, and John Hirsch. John Flagler built the store occupied by his successors, Crampton & Newcomb. Other merchants are Silas S. Ball, E. B. Vollmer, Vollmer & Dunham, and Robert R. Flynn. Asa H. Stearns also kept the 'old red tavern' about twelve years, and Charles Cotton was another early landlord. Among the blacksmiths were a Mr. Lull, Joshua Slocum, John A. Stebbins, and Adam Rupp. Thomas Smith was a wagonmaker here and also built for a dwelling a part of the present Wilber House, through which the town line passes. A little west of the Centerville House a steam saw mill was operated for several years, both before and after 1846, one of the early owners being Anthony Curry. The first resident physician was Dr. L. B. Skinner. About 1844 Rev. William H. Delano commenced holding religious meetings in this vicinity, and in 1847 he organized the Plank Road Baptist church with seven members: Earl P. Saulsbury, James Pierce, Mary C. Smith, Nancy Slocum, Clarissa Delano, and Kilburn and Laura Ives. Rev. Mr. Delano became the first pastor. In 1853 a frame church was erected at a cost of $1,500.
In 1854 the Methodist Episcopal society built an edifice just west of the Clay-Cicero town line; in 1892 it was moved over on the east side and rebuilt at a cost of about $2,200.
In July, 1867, Centerville Lodge, No. 648, F. & A. M., was chartered with Isaac Baum, W.M.; C. H. Carpenter, S.W.; and Joseph Palmer, J.W.
Educational interests were likewise fostered in various parts of the town, as previously noticed, and in this respect the early inhabitants kept well abreast of the times, losing no opportunity of establishing convenient school districts and building comfortable school houses. In Euclid as well as in other localities the place in which the English branches were first taught was also a place of worship, and the old structure used for these purposes there now forms a part of the M.E. parsonage. Here Jared Baker, Henry Soule, James H. Barrus, Moses Abbott, Marion Averill, and others were early teachers. About 1879 the present school house was erected in that village. At Centerville a union school district was formed in 1869, when the school house was built at a cost of about $3,000. The town now has seventeen school districts with a school house in each.
During the war of the Rebellion from 1861 to 1865 Clay contributed its full quota of men to the Union army, many of whom laid their lives upon their country's altar. The record of the town and of its brave soldiers in that sanguinary struggle graces with peculiar brilliancy the pages of local history. Great credit is also due to those patriotic citizens, both men and women, who at home bore a worthy part in supporting and encouraging the national cause, and especially to those who by their heroic efforts and self-denial aided in alleviating distress and want at the front.
The decade following the civil war was one of general prosperity. Agriculture flourished as never before, and with it many other enterprises common to a farming community were successfully inaugurated, but this applies to the entire town rather than to any special locality. Pioneer industries, such as lumbering, manufacturing salt barrels, etc., had largely disappeared, and henceforward the territory here considered was to be noted mainly for the products of its soil, which, as cultivation advanced, were destined to become as varied as they are excellent. In more recent years considerable attention has been devoted to growing tobacco, in many instances on quite a large scale. The grains, hay, corn, etc., are also produced with profit, and occasionally dairying forms an important branch of the farmer's business.
Three years after the war closed a Baptist church was built in Euclid, at a cost of $3,000, by the society that was organized by Rev. Horatio Warner about 1845. Among the early members of this church were Deacon Elijah and Francis Carter, William Spencer, Hiram Leonard, Sherman Waterbury, W. H. Eckert, Dr. James f. Johnson, and Laurus Patchin. The Methodists, in 1886, erected a new church in Euclid on the site of the old structure, which was moved; it cost about $3,000 and was dedicated in December of that year.
On the 9th of November, 1871, the Syracuse Northern (now the R.W.& O.) was formally opened from Syracuse to Sandy Creek, and sometime later the 'Phoenix branch' running to Oswego was also placed in operation. The opening of these lines was hailed as an important improvement and marked the last notable event in the town's history. Converging in the form of a letter Y in the south part of Clay they gave existence to the settlement and post-office of Woodard and made the entire town tributary to the markets of Syracuse and other large cities. The Northern road also gave rise to the hamlet of Cigarville (Clay Station), about midway between Cicero and Euclid. This place was so named from its cigar manufacturing and tobacco interests, which were carried on for some time by John W. Coughtry, and contains a post-office, several stores and shops, and a small collection of dwellings. The 'Phoenix branch' crosses Oneida River at Three River Point, which has recently sprung into considerable popularity as a favorite summer resort, having accommodations for picnic parties and a few cottages.
The population of the town has been as follows: In 1830, 1095; 1835, 2,538;1840, 2852; 1845, 2,876; 1850, 3,402; 1855, 3,326; 1860, 3,583; 1865, 3,069; 1870, 3,156; 1875, 3,018; 1880, 2,910; 1890, 2,630; 1892, 2,498.
The supervisors of Clay from 1828 to the present time, as far as it is possible to obtain them, have been: Andrew Johnson, 1827; Jacob Tyrrell, 1828-29; Moses Kinne, 1830-34; William Hale, 1835-37; Stephen Rice, 1839; Charles N. Sweet, 1840-42; Henry K. Warren, 1845-46; Ephraim Morehouse, 1847; James Little, 1848; Jefferson Freeman, 1849; J. V. Randall, 1850; Henry Cronkhite, 1851; Philander Childs, 1852; Henry Cronkhite, 1853; James Little, 1854-55; Jefferson Freeman, 1856; James V. Randall, 1857; William Strever, 1858; Cyrus C. Warner, 1859; John F. Moschell, 1860-61; Levi Freeman, 1862-64; Cyrus C. Warner, 1865; James Little, 1866; John F. Moschell, 1867-69; Thomas H. Scott, 1870-75; Laomi Rumsey, 1876; John W. Coughtry, 1877-79; De Forest Verplanck, 1880-81; John W. Coughtry, 1882-83; Charles Stearns, 1884; Artemas L. Sommers, 1885; E.P. Abbott, 1886; Edward R. Barrus, 1887-88; Smith Soule, 1888-90; John Mogg, 1891; Clarence E. Hart, 1892-93; J. Wesley Shepard, 1894-95.
Sherman S. Waterbury has served as town clerk since 1885, excepting
one year, 1892. The town has sixty-five road districts."
Submitted 1 July 1998