Timothy Jerome and Josiah Moore built log cabins here in 1794 or 1795. Simon Keeney also came, cleared land, built a cabin, and planted ground, preparatory to bringing his family the next year. He was the originator of Keeney's settlement, and came to his cabin in 1795, with Benjamin Brown, Samuel Fox and Gurden Woodruff. His house was on Lot 47. He died September 17, 1831, aged sixty-five, and was buried in the old cemetery at Fabius village. The first burial was that of a colored man in April, 1798, who drank too much maple syrup. In the same month Elijah Kenney lost a young child. William Clark settled on Lot 25, being one of twelve Revolutionary soldiers living in the present town. Colonel Elijah T. John came in 1795, the first settler in the west part of town. Several families came between then and 1798, and in 1797 Josiah Tubbs opened the first tavern in town, near the Tully line. Many early town meetings were held there.
The civil town of Fabius, formed March 9, 1798, embraced Fabius, Tully, Preble and Scott, most of Truxton and Cuyler, with the southern parts of Otisco and Spafford The first town meeting was held at Josiah Tubbs' inn, April 3, and Timothy Jerome was chosen supervisor, Josiah Moore town clerk. The town records previous to 1854 were burned in December, 1882. Major Joseph Strong built the first barn in 1799, and Thomas Miles had a saw mill on Butternut creek in 1800. About 1802 Benjamin Brown taught school in the Keeney neighborhood, and Lucy Jerome and Eunice Fowler near Apulia much earlier.
Thomas Miles built a grist mill on Butternut creek, west of Apulia in 1808. Stores were opened about the same time. Joseph Simons opened a second tavern near the center of the town, and Colonel St. John a third near Apulia. Soon after the war of 1812 the Skaneateles and Hamilton turnpike was opened and Fabius village became a business center. Apulia shared in the general prosperity, and many of the buildings of that day survive. A post office was soon established in Fabius, and a tavern built in 1814 still stands. The Erie Canal did not help the town, nor did the railroad increase Fabius and Apulia villages. In 1830 the town population was three thousand and seventy-one; in 1850 two thousand four hundred and ten; in 1870 two thousand and forty-seven; in 1890 one thousand seven hundred and seventeen; in 1905 one thousand five hundred and forty-five; about half what it was in 1830.
Fabius village was called Franklinville as late as 1850, and it is said that a Baptist society was organized at "Fabius Center, or Franklinville, as it was then called," in 1803. This did not last. Another writer, quoting "from official documents," has the "First Society in Fabius, May 28, 1805," apparently an error, the "First Baptist Society in the town of Fabius, November 21, 1805," the "First Congregational Society in Fabius, August 9, 1808," the "United Presbyterian Society (Tully and Fabius), December 9, 1814," and the "First Baptist Church and Society of Fabius, January 25, 1817." The earliest Baptist society however, was formed in 1803, and recognized by a council convened August 24, in Samuel Webster's barn, three miles south of Fabius village. The first pastor was Rev. Rufus Freeman. In 1807 Rev. Peter P. Roots came to Keeney's Settlement, ministering to this society for some years. The First Baptist Church and society of Fabius was incorporated August 24, 1819, but built a church in 1818, with Rev. Mr. Blakesley as pastor. This was rebuilt in 1870. In October, 1826, the Freewill Baptists began meetings near Stephen Tripp's, forming a society the next year, and building a church in 1830. This was removed to its later site in Fabius village in 1855, and rebuilt in 1869. A Baptist society at Apulia occupies the old Congregational church at Apulia. The Rev. S. A. Beeman was its first pastor.
In 1804 a Presbyterian church was organized, and services were maintained in the west part of the town. This was changed to Congregational in 1830, and a large church was built in Apulia, the First Congregational Society of Fabius having been incorporated. It became feeble and practically extinct, the Baptists now using the building.
The Methodists built a church near Fabius village in 1821, removed it in 1835, and rebuilt it in 1860. They also had a church at Apulia which was removed to Summit Station in 1870. The Universalists also built a church in Fabius village in 1845, struggling along for thirty-five years, and then selling this to the Roman Catholics.
The village of Fabius was incorporated in 1880, Elmore Wheaton becoming president. In 1895 a union free school was organized, with an academic department. Evergreen Cemetery, of six acres, was dedicated October 25, 1865. About as much more was added in 1885. Tanneries were a frequent early industry, and at one time the town had fifteen saw mills. Dairy farms are now many in number, and poultry raising is largely followed. Much milk is shipped to cities but some is retained for creameries and cheese factories. The raising of ginseng attracts much attention, George Stanton, of Summit Station being the founder of this new industry. Whetstones of fine quality are also found in this town, and have been an article of commerce.
It would be easy to mention notable men of this town; we may content ourselves with referring to a woman, "Grace Greenwood," who was born in Pompey, but whose father moved to Fabius in 1830. Dr. Clark lived half a mile north of Fabius village, and his daughter Sarah attended school there. She became Mrs. Lippincott.
On Limestone creek, in the northeast part of the town, is a hamlet called Gooseville, where there are kilns producing lime of fine quality from calcareous tufa. This is found west of the creek.
Elisha Sprague came to Fabius in 1798, when but four years old, becoming an excellent surveyor, laying out most of the town roads, and aiding greatly in the development of the town. Hon. George Pettit came in 1800, and was an eminent jurist and notable citizen, the head of an able family. Hon. James J. Belden was born and reared in this town.
Fabius Academy was founded in 1840, and had a building the next year. As in other cases this afterward became the Union Free School and Academy. In 1836 the American Patriot was published in Fabius village by Joseph Tenny, and was continued for three years.
The local industries have been milling, wagon making, shoe factories, tanneries, cheese factories and creameries, foundries, etc.
Summit Station, now called Apulia, and a little west of that place, owes its existence to the railroad. There was not a house there before 1854, but it has become a shipping center, with a church, shops, mills and factories. There are also hotels.
Thought there is good water power in the town it is not large, and this limits manufacturing industries. The natural features have been mentioned elsewhere, and it will suffice to say that the highest land in the county lies south of Fabius village. Some hills are very precipitous, and from Summit Station there is a downward grade on the railroad, both north and south.
Charles Moore was the first white child born in the town, in 1789. The first marriages were those of Abel Webster and Lydia Keeney, and of Luther St. John and Polly Joy in 1804. David Caldwell kept the first store in 1804.
Fabius village had a Baptist, Methodist, and a Presbyterian church in 1836, also several stores, three taverns, a tannery, and from thirty-five to forty dwellings. In 1886 it had three general stores, hardware store, grocery, drug store, clothing store, grist mill, harness shop, two hotels, three physicians and four churches. That year Apulia had a church, store, wagon shop, grocery, two shoe shops and two blacksmith shops.
13 November 1998