Hammond Family of Marathon, New York

The Cortland News, Friday, August 27, 1886.

Hammond Family Picnic

   The eleventh annual picnic of the Hammond family (descendants of Dea. John Hammond, who was one of the first settlers of the town of Marathon, in this county, having settled there in the year 1813) was held Aug. 20, 1886, on the grounds of T. L. Corwin, in the village of Marathon. The day was perfect and the early trains from the north brought many from quite a distance to meet their friends and kindred. Mr. and Mrs. Corwin were busy welcoming those who arrived and made everyone feel at home.

   About 1 p. m. one hundred sat down to the well loaded tables and after all had been served the tables were again prepared and about eighty more were fed, and the baskets showed an abundance left.

   The Marathon Band were present and gave some very fine music.

   Mr. Corwin then called to order and said that perhaps it would seem amiss to come down to dry toast after so bountiful a repast, but proposed the Hammond family as the first bit. C. A. Hammond, of Syracuse spoke of the name as he had found it in ancient and modern history and also of the family as being upright and temperate it got famous [sic]. J. B. Hammond, of Michigan, spoke of the numbers of the family descended from our common ancestor in Michigan as being nearly equal to those in this State, there being in all over 400.

   The toast, "Our Country," was responded to by Rev. A. H. Todd in pleasing and patriotic remarks.

   Captain J. W. Strowbridge responded to the toast, "Patriotism of the Hammond Family."

   "Banking and Finance" by J. H. Tripp, of Marathon.

   T. L. Corwin spoke eloquently and gallantly of "Woman."

   Agriculture found a strong advocate in G. P. Squires.

   "Hammond Family Homes." Rev. E. W. Brown spoke of the institution of home as being the basis of true government and the place to strengthen and build up virtue and constancy.

   "G. A. R. Band." J. H. Tripp spoke well merited words for the band.

   "Our Host and Hostess." Rev. A. H. Todd said: Our host and hostess are a host in themselves, physically, and have shown to-day that they are each a host in entertaining their friends. Long may they live.

   The band interspersed the exercises with fine music and after the literary feast was concluded a vote was taken and the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Corwin accepted to meet with them on the 21st day of August, 1887. A vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. C. was given with a will and all went their way hoping to meet again.

Steamer Glen Haven at Skaneateles Lake

Camping on Skaneateles Lake.

   Having a day of pleasure at my disposal I concluded to take a drive and visit friends who I knew were camping near the head of Skaneateles lake. Starting from Cortland the drive was a beautiful one. passing through Homer and Scott After reaching the head of the lake I came to Fair Haven, where is being built a large hotel for summer boarders. From there the road was rather rough but the scenery was very romantic and the view of the lake beautiful. I soon traveled the next mile, passing numerous cottages, and arrived at Willow Tree Point safe and sound, where I found the party camping, which consisted of Mr. and Mrs. P. D. Miller, son and daughter; Mr. and Mrs. McDermid, Mr. Albert Stevens and wife and Wm. Jones and wife, who were with the party when they camped but had returned home now. Mr. O. D. Patrick and the ladies had just returned from a five mile row on the lake, visiting Glen Haven on the route.

   When we sat down to a sumptuous dinner, served by the ladies of the camp, who happen to be just the ones that can serve a dinner in fine shape and at the right time I noticed the healthy countenances of the whole party as well as the keen appetites. I came to the conclusion that the bringing of my medicine chest was an unnecessary precaution. Dinner over, each one of the party sought their own amusement, some upon the land and others upon the water, a portion of the time listening to the beautiful strains of music made by a brass band as it was being taken down the lake upon the steamer "Glen Haven." I never saw a more contented, happy party, as well they might be, having one of the most pleasant points on the lake, being able to see nearly the entire length of it.

   At 4:30 o'clock I bade adieu to the party in camp and wended my way back to Cortland, regretting that I too was not numbered with the "campers upon the banks of Skaneateles Lake.

RHODE ISLAND

Family Poisoned in McDonough.

   The family of Ephriam Mead, of McDonough, purchased a quantity of Epsom salts and sugar of lead at the drug store in that place. The salts was to be taken internally by the children and sugar of lead used as a wash for a rash that had appeared on their face. Instead of the salts the lead was put in some cider and given to the children for a day or two, it is said, but with no serious effect owing to the small quantity used. Not so, however, with Mr. Mead, who concluded to take a dose of salts on Thursday and instead took two tablespoonfuls of the sugar of lead. Of course that quantity of poison had serious effect, and Mr. Mead's life was despaired of, and at last accounts he was not out of danger. The packages of medicine were not properly labeled.-Oxford Times.

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The Normal [School] opens for the fall term at 8:45 a. m., next Wednesday morning.

   Rosencrans, of Homer, defeated Rood, at this place, in a three mile skating race at the Pioneer Rink on Saturday evening.

   The premium list for the county fair has been issued and copies may be had by calling on or addressing E. M. Keator.

   Rev. James C. Beecher, of Cos Cob, Conn., brother of Henry Ward and Thos. K. Beecher, committed suicide at the water cure in Elmira, Wednesday evening, by shooting.

   Eight car loads of people came to Cortland from Elmira on Wednesday and picnicked at the trout ponds. The excursion was under the auspices of the United Friends.

   It is reported that millions of grasshoppers have made their appearance near Oneida and are devouring everything in the shape of grain and vegetables, leaving the land as bare as in the spring. The loss will be heavy.

   The maple trees in front of Wm. R. Randall's residence on Main street have been trimmed up to about thirty feet from the ground during this week, giving Main street a much more pleasant and tidy appearance.

   The building of the Box Loop Company on Port Watson street is being enlarged and raised a story in order to make room for increasing business. Who says Cortland's industries are not growing?

   U. S. Bank Examiner, Clark, was in town this week examining the condition of the three national banks of this village. Mr. Clark expresses himself as satisfied with the way Cortland banks are run and says that few in the State can compare with them.

   The annual temperance picnic is being held at the Floral Trout Park to-day. Rev. J. B. French delivers an address during the afternoon and in the evening Mechanic's Band [will] give an open air concert. The grounds will be illuminated. Admission 10 cents.

   Mr. L. S. Crandall, inventor of the Crandall type writer, has commenced an action against James Densmore, of Brooklyn, for slander, for $100,000. The defendant has made answer to the complaint and intends to justify. J. & T. E. Courtney are attorneys for Crandall and A. P. Smith for defendant.

   Patrick McSweeney was severely injured at the Cortland Wagon Company's shops on Wednesday, while running a buzz saw. A splinter of hard wood flew from the piece he was cutting, striking him in the left groin, cutting a large gash. Drs. H. T. Dana and J. W. Hughes dressed the wound, which bled freely for a time, and it was feared that the femoral artery had been opened.

   Highway Commissioners, Morehouse and Conable, have been engaged this week in making a survey of North Main street from Benham's corner to Adams street [Homer Avenue] with a view to widening that thoroughfare. The labors were completed on Wednesday and the right of way secured and stakes driven for the line of the road, which will be about twenty-five feet wider than heretofore. Since the horse railroad track was put down that part of Main street has been an uncomfortable bit of road to drive on, but with a carriage way on the north side of the track, will again become popular. The work of grading the new part will be commenced at once.

   Actions are being commenced by Mantanye & Van Auken, of this village, in behalf of Mrs. A. F. Mantanye and others of Cortland, against the Cortland & Homer Horse Railroad Company for injuries and damages sustained by the overturning of a street car near the S. B. & N. Y. railroad crossing between Cortland and Homer, July 29th, last. The accident was caused by careless, rapid driving over a defective or unfinished  piece of road. The road has since been repaired and the driver team discharged, as he had been made of twice before [sic]…. Mrs. Mantanye was severely injured and has since remained… at the residence of her father.

   We don't know which is worse for an alleged Republican editor to knife Chas. J. Folger, or an alleged Democratic editor to go back on David Bennett Hill. If reports are correct we have both in this town, and each is chiding the other with it. Another case of the pot calling the kettle black.

   Fire destroyed the entire business portion of Earlville, Madison county on Saturday last. Fifteen houses, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, two hotels, six stores, three saloons, a barber shop, the post-office, Methodist church, two meat markets and two shoe stores were burned. Twenty-eight families comprising 110 persons were made homeless. Loss $123,000, insurance $80,000.

   The house belonging to John Barnes, situated about two miles north of Solon was burned to the ground on Sunday. Mr. Barnes was in Cuyler and about noon Mrs. Barnes and young Barney Barnes were alone in the house. She had just been out in the yard and gathered a few dry hemlock chips and started a good fire in the stove. In a few minutes the roof of the house was on fire. A bed and a few chairs was about all that were saved. Mr. Barnes lost an arm in the war and received a discharge. He has now lost a house and with it his discharge papers. He, however, receives an insurance that will partly cover the loss of the house, and a pension of $24 a month.