The Cortland Democrat, Friday, April 27, 1900.
AN APPEAL TAKEN.
NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR JOHN TRUCK.
A Notice of Appeal Served on District Attorney Duffey and County Clerk Bushnell—John H. McCrahon of Syracuse the Attorney.
Attorney John H. McCrahon of Syracuse is suddenly brought prominently before the people of Cortland county by his action in appealing the case of John Truck, who was sentenced to be electrocuted next week. This action also gives the condemned man a new lease of life, perhaps extending a year or more, even if a new trial should not be granted.
The notice of appeal is of the usual form, directed to County Clerk H. T. Bushnell and to District Attorney Edwin Duffey, reciting that the defendant, John Truck, appeals to the court of appeals from the judgment of conviction of murder in the first degree, rendered against him in supreme court on the 17th of last March.
This appeal acts as a stay of proceedings until the court of appeals decides whether a new trial will be granted. If the decision should be in favor of a new trial, Truck will be brought back to the Cortland county jail and await his second trial. If the decision should be adverse to the appellant, or in other words against another trial, then Truck must be brought here for re-sentence. It is possible that the court of appeals may not act upon the case for a year, as the entire evidence must be printed and filed with the county clerk, and the attorney for the defendant and the district attorney must have time to prepare their briefs.
In compliance with the law which requires the clerk of the court to send by special messenger a certified copy of the notice of appeal to the agent or warden of the state prison, Deputy Clerk S. K. Jones left Saturday afternoon for Auburn with such certified copy.
A WRONG RIGHTED.
McGrawville Receives Proper Recognition from the E. & C. N. Y. R. R. Co.
There is general rejoicing by the people of McGrawville over the fact that the new management of the Erie & Central New York has decided to give the village its proper recognition. The name of the place is McGrawville, and the village was incorporated under that title, hence any other name given it is a misnomer. A change can be made only by a vote of the people, and were this step ever taken it is certain that the effort to change McGrawville to McGraw would be defeated four to one. The people of that borough do not take kindly to the name of McGraw as applied to the village, believing that if McGrawville is not good enough for them, they would prefer something radically different from McGraw.
It is true the name of the post-office was changed, without the consent of the people, to McGraw, but the office occupies a space of only about twenty feet square, and it is as silly to call the entire village McGraw because this twenty feet square den cuts off the ville, as it would be for the people of Binghamton to use the abbreviated form Bingham to satisfy the whim of one or two ambitious Binghams.
As a matter of policy, probably, the former manager of the Erie & Central road caused the station to be named after the postoffice instead of the village, much against the protest of the citizens generally, and it is a cause for congratulation that the new management has seen fit to order the proper label placed upon the depot, "McGrawville."
In speaking of the place the DEMOCRAT has always used the term McGrawville, not from any disrespect to any individual, but because to use any other term would be just about as sensible as to call black "white."
TAYLOR.
The town of Taylor lies near the center of the eastern border of the county and is bounded on the north by Cuyler; on the east by Chenango county; on the south by Cincinnatus; and on the west by Solon. As a separate organization it is comparatively young, being formed from Solon on the 5th of December, 1849. It was named in honor of General Zachariah Taylor, and comprises 18,738 17-24 acres of land.
The surface of the town is hilly and broken, many of the declivities are steep, some exceedingly precipitous, rising from 600 to 800 feet above the valleys. Mt. Roderick, which lies partly in this town and partly in Solon, is the highest point. The uplands are productive and finely adapted to dairying, while the valleys are rich and highly productive, adapted to all kinds of grains. The town as a whole is remarkably well adapted to grazing, and butter and cheese are the principal products.
A number of small streams flow through the town, most of them emptying into the Otselic river. Taylor pond is a small body of water in the central part of the town.
The first permanent settlement made within the present limits of Taylor was made by Ezra Rockwell and his sons Ezra and Thomas. They came from Lenox, Mass., in the year 1793, and located on lot 78. Mr. Rockwell, Sr., served in the Revolutionary army and for his services received the lot on which the family located. In 1795 Thomas Rockwell removed to Cincinnatus and after a residence there of thirty-two years, returned to Taylor and located on lot 100 where he purchased six acres on which the village of Taylor now stands. He also purchased 100 acres on lot 99. His house on lot 100 originally stood on the ground which was afterwards covered by the public house which was for many years the property of E. W. Fish. In 1828, the hotel building was burned and was never afterwards rebuilt. Ezra Rockwell was a man of considerable prominence in the town and held several offices, among which was that of Justice which he creditably filled for a number of years. He was nearly ninety-six years of age when he died.
EARLY SETTLERS.
In 1794, the Beebe family came from Connecticut. Roderick settled in Mt. Roderick on lot 75 in the spring of 1791. He was a man of exceedingly strong physique capable of great endurance.
Orellana Beebe came from New Haven in 1796 and settled on lot 7 in Solon, now a part of Truxton. After remaining there two years he removed to Taylor and settled on lot 100. He lived to the age of ninety. His youngest daughter became the wife of Ira Rockwell, who afterwards became a prominent citizen of Taylor.
Increase M. Hooker came from Vermont in 1797 and located on lot 88. He, however, removed to Truxton the following year.
Lewis Hawley came from Huntington, Conn., and located on the Howe farm in Pitcher in 1805. He remained there but a short time and then came to Taylor and settled on the farm afterwards owned by Frank Wire. A few years later he removed to Lisle and the following spring came back to Taylor where he located on lot 78. He afterwards purchased 100 acres on lot 77, where he died Jan. 15, 1858. His descendants now own and occupy the same property. He was a very active and prominent citizen and reared a family of six children, only two of whom settled in the town of Taylor.
John L. Boyd and John Phelps came to Taylor from Saratoga county. These gentlemen both located upon large tracts of land and became prominent citizens.
DAVID WIRE.
In 1814 David Wire, who originally came from Connecticut, located on lot 100, where he reared a family of eleven children. His father was a native of England and when only seven years old he was kidnapped in London and sold in Boston, where he remained until the beginning of the war between the French and the English. He was then impressed in the English service for a term of six years. He afterwards settled in Connecticut, and when the war of the Revolution broke out he enlisted in the American army, and served throughout the conflict.
FIRST MILL.
The first mill in the vicinity of Taylor was erected in 1812. Previous to that time the inhabitants had to pound their corn into a semblance of meal or carry it a distance of from twenty to forty miles to have it ground.
THADDEUS S. WHITNEY.
Thaddeus S. Whitney came from Delaware county in 1830. His father, David Whitney, was born in Norwalk, Conn., in 1775. In 1805 he removed to Delaware county, where Thaddeus S. was born.
NEWELL COLE.
Newell Cole, a native of Rhode Island, came into the town before 1820 and located on the farm now owned by Mr. Welch. Besides being a farmer he was a skillful mechanic, following his trade of carpenter for many years.
TAYLOR VILLAGE.
Only two hamlets of any considerable size can be found in the town—Taylor (often known as Bengall,) and Union Valley. Mt. Roderick, Taylor Valley and Taylor Center have for some years been designated as postoffices, although no village surrounds either of the last three named. Taylor proper is situated in the southeastern part of the town and comprises one store, post-office, two churches, two blacksmith shops, one grist and saw mill, one creamery, and about twenty-five houses.
WM. BLACKMAN.
In the early days a blacksmith was considered a necessity, as the work of clearing up the native forests was especially destructive to the chains and other tools which constituted the early settlers' business outfit. William Blackman was the first to establish a shop in Taylor. He was followed by Alexander Hart. He also carried on the business of gunsmith in connection with his other work for many years. His shop was afterwards purchased by Thaddeus S. Whitney, who partially changed it to a manufactory of edge tools. In this line Mr. Whitney did a large business.
OTHER BUSINESS INTERESTS
Ambrose Allen was a blacksmith at Taylor for a time, as was also Philander Kingsbury.
G. P. Swan at an early day established a wagon and repair shop in Taylor. This was afterwards owned by Edwin E. Hoag, and later by John D. Joyner. The first saw mill in the town was built in 1812 by Thomas Rockwell. He sold it to a Mr. Isabell, after whose proprietorship it passed through the hands of Ezra Rockwell, Ira Wicks, Jonathan Brooks, Joseph Rice and Hiel Tanner.
The grist mill was built about 1830 by Wells & Lord and continued to do a flourishing business until 1881, when it was burned. At the time of the fire it was owned by Hayes & Out.
The first mercantile business in the town was done at Bangall (Taylor) by Hiram Rockwell early in 1800. During the years which have elapsed since Mr. Rockwell sold out his business, the following have been engaged in the mercantile trade at Taylor: Eli Dickinson, Ezra Rockwell, Albert West, A. J. B. Norton. A. West, J. B. Kellogg, Kellogg & Clark (Mr. Kellogg is now the proprietor of a large dry goods store in the city of Cortland; Mr. Clark is a member of the grocery firm of Clark & Angel.) The next owner of the store was William Comstock. He sold the business to J. B. Kellogg. Mr. Kellogg carried on a very profitable trade there for a few years, and then sold to Augustus K. Bennett.
AUGUSTUS K. BENNETT.
Mr. Bennett was born in Pitcher July 28, 1856. His education was obtained at the Pitcher school, and at the Cincinnatus academy. In 1877 he purchased the store at Cheningo, and for seven years did a profitable business there. He then removed to Taylor, having previously purchased the store of J. B. Kellogg. Here for fourteen years Mr. Bennett conducted a general store, handling all kinds of farm implements and taking all kinds of farm produce in exchange for goods. In politics Mr. Bennett is a staunch Republican, and during '88 and 89 served his town as supervisor. Mr. Bennett is an acknowledged leader and stands high throughout the county. His genial ways and fair dealing brought to him a lucrative trade. He still owns the store building, which for the last year has been under the immediate supervision of Frank Todd, who for many years was a resident of Cortland. On April 1st Mr. Bennett sold his extensive stock of goods to Earl Feint, a promising young man of Taylor, who will hereafter conduct the business. Mr. Feint has also been appointed deputy postmaster by Mr. Bennett. The real estate still remains in the possession of Mr. Bennett.
DAIRY INDUSTRIES.
For many years the attention of the residents of the town of Taylor has been largely given to the manufacture of butter and cheese. The Hawley factory was built in 1866 by Frank Hawley, and was the first of its kind in the town. The building is 108 feet long by twenty feet wide. During the years which have passed this factory has done an immense business, and although now in a state of decay, still is extensively patronized. Frank Hawley, the original owner, has passed away but the property still remains the property of his descendants. At an early day a small cheese factory was built at Taylorville and has since been converted into a town hall. It is still used for town meetings and elections.
POSTMASTERS.
The first postoffice in Taylor was opened at Taylorville in 1834, under the care of Ezra Rockwell as postmaster. He continued in this capacity for fifteen consecutive years and also held the office again in 1856. He was succeeded by Edwin Potter and Orrin Leonard. G. W. Gage took the office in 1880 and continued in that capacity for several years. Mr. Gage was also clerk of the town and proprietor of a shoe shop for many years.
HOTELS.
The first tavern in the town of Taylor was kept by Orlando Beebe on lot 100 for many years. The first one in Taylor village was built by Leonard Holmes in 1842, and was kept as a public house until 1875, when it was burned. It was at different times owned by Levi Mallery, Levi Lock, Mr. Neal, Mr. Chatfield, E. W. Fish, Geo. Thorpe and others. Mr. Thorpe was its owner when it burned.
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Ichabod Allen was one of the earliest physicians in the town and continued in practice many years. Dr. Jerome Angell was also for a long time a skillful practitioner of the town of Taylor. He afterwards removed to Cortland where he enjoyed an extensive practice until the time of his death. His son, Walter H. Angel, now resides about two miles east of Cortland and is well and favorable known by many residents of this county.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Religious services were first held in Taylor under the care of Dr. Seth Williston, a Congregational missionary. Reuben Hurd was the first settled pastor, but when he began his labors is not known. He was pastor of a church at Pitcher in 1813. The Wesleyan Methodists of Taylorville and vicinity erected a house of worship in 1835, but this organization has always been weak. An Episcopal society was also formed at Taylor, but few in numbers.
WAR VETERANS.
The following list shows the names of the patriotic sons of Taylor who enlisted under the various calls of 1863, '64 and '65: James W. Smith, Benjamin J. Strong, Libeas H. Merry, Orlando Oliver, Hiram W. Perry, Owen Coon, Edson C. Rogers, Moses M. Whitney, Dudley W. Wire, Lewis Perry, Albert Johnson, Mortimer Johnson, William C. Young, James Mahoney, John W. Foster, Charles Marsh, Henry Williams, John Farrell, James Vaughn, George Smith, Charles Hill, Jas. P. Clark, Bartholomew Castle, Henry Harden, William S. Barnum, Leonard W. Wood, John T. Earl, G. P. Rockwell, Maurice P. Rockwell, Geo. W. Gage, Robert W. Brooks, Martin E. Chapin, Alfred E. Watrous, Austin O. Watrous, George W. Chapin, Egbert Peck, Henry E. Phelps, Enoch Rood, Nathan W. Sperry Orson B. Torry, Melvin Wavle, Edgar Burlingham, Edmund Eaton, Charles A. Goodyear, William H. Oliver, Alanson Oliver, Harden Potter, Samuel C. Potter, Welcome J. Potter, Samuel Sluth, Joseph L. Cotton, Albert J. Wildman, John Ryan, John Grant, Thomas Fannon, Alexander H. Radford, Lewis Stanton, Jos. Thompson, Theophile Clouter, Thomas W. Ackerman, James Kierns, William Johnson, Charles Edward, A. W. Angel, and G. W. Clark.
Of these the following still reside in the town of Taylor: Lewis Seargent, Geo. Miner, Lorenzo Thorington, Geo. Smith, Edgar Burlingham, Robert Brooks, G. P. Rockwell. Amanzo White, L. D. Finn, Henry Temple, William Oliver, Nathan Oliver, and Henry Sieber. Many of those previously mentioned have answered the last ''bugle call" and now rest, either in the local cemeteries of the county or upon foreign battle fields.
FIRST TOWN OFFICERS.
The regular organization of the town of Taylor was perfected on the 5th day of December, 1849, and the officers elected for the year were as follows:
Supervisor—Sheldon Warner.
Town Clerk—John N. Wire.
Supt. of Schools—Nelson L. Brooks.
Justices of the Peace—Stephen Kellogg, Eli Wright, Stephen Skinner.
Assessors—Aaron W. Dunbar, S. Fuller.
Commissioner of Highways—Hubbard Harrison, Horace Newell.
Collector—David Wire.
Constables—Perry Mudge, David Wire 2nd, Calvin M. Barber, Mathew W. Richmond.
Overseer of Poor—Israel Ellis.
Inspectors of Election—Potter Joslyn, James Blanchard, Seth Hobart. None of these are now living.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
The present town officers are as follows:
Supervisor—Irving W. Phelps.
Town Clerk—L. D. Finn.
Justices of Peace—T. O. Brown, Floyd L. Smith, Dever Austin, M. D. Ellis.
Assessors—S. D. McKee, James E. Lake, C. S. Brookes.
Overseer of Poor—Walter S. Brookes.
Collector—Benton Miner.
Commissioner of Highways—Elwin Cass.
Inspectors of election—Chas. O. Kinney, Clay Brooks, E. G. Feint, Ned Rockwell, Valley Jipson.
Constables Benton Miner, Clay Brooks, Willard Potter.
The following carefully compiled list shows the names of all those who have represented the town of Taylor upon the board of supervisors and the years in which they served:
Sheldon Warner, 1852; Thos. C. Wentworth, 1853; Sheldon Warner, 1854; Zadoc Short, 1855; Leander Green, 1857; Sheldon Warner, 1858; William C. Angell, 1859-60; Irving W. Phelps, 1861-2; Chandler Heath, 1863; Oramel F. Forbes, 1864-5-6; Irving W. Phelps, 1867; Oramel F. Forbes, 1868-9; Irving W. Phelps, 1870-1-2-3; C. P. Warner, 1874; J. L. Cotton, 1875 to 1881; George W. Gage, 1881; Jerome Angel, 1882; Albert Clark, 1883-4-5; Jerome Angel, 1886-7; A. K. Bennett, 1888-9; Oscar P. Miner, 1890 to 1894 , Myron H. Potter, 1894; Willis H. DeLong, 1885-6-7-8; Irving W. Phelps, 1899-1900.
SCHOOLS.
The subject of education has always received the utmost attention from the residents of the town of Taylor, and although the demand for school opportunities does not warrant a union school at the village, still nine well conducted district schools exist in the town, known to the inhabitants as follows: [Cheningo], Hawley, Seacord Hill, Limeback, Taylor Center, Potter Hill, Hyderville, Crane, and South Hill districts.
TAYLOR PEOPLE NOW RESIDING ELSEWHERE.
Many of the former residents of Taylor now reside in the city of Cortland, having been drawn here by the superior business advantages to be found. Among this number we wish to mention Albert Clark and A. W. Angel, who have for several years so successfully conducted the grocery store in the Cortland House block; O. P. Miner, ex-superintendent of poor; Walter Angel, now a prominent farmer of the town of [Cortlandville]; James B. Kellogg, a prominent dry goods merchant; Hon. O. J. Kellogg who now stands at the head of the legal profession in this county; Henry T. Newell, Daniel Geer and Frank Rice.
GRIST MILL.
The only grist mill in the immediate vicinity of Taylor village is owned and conducted by Nahum Perry. A saw mill is also connected with this mill and a large amount of business done in both departments. Mr. Perry is a highly respected citizen and enjoys the confidence of the entire community.
BUSINESS MEN.
A. K. Bennett, the present postmaster of Taylor, now resides at Cincinnatus, where he conducts the Cincinnatus hotel, but the office is still in Mr. Bennett's hands and is conducted by Mr. Earl Feint, who on April 1, purchased the stock of goods of Mr. Bennett and now manages the only store in Taylor village. He is a highly respected young man and will no doubt maintain the present popularity of the store.
AGED RESIDENTS.
Among the aged residents of Taylor who have outlived the allotted three score years and ten, and have been privileged to see the improvements which have taken place in Taylor during these years are: Aunt Sophia Potter aged 95, Joel Potter aged 86, Phylinda Bowen aged 85, Peter Jordan aged 87, Sophronia DeBell aged 83 and Horace Kinney aged 78.
GEO. W. GAGE.
Among the prominent men of Taylor who have recently died we desire to mention Mr. Geo. W. Gage. Mr. Gage was a veteran of the war of the Rebellion [civil war—Ed.] and for many years afterwards a resident of the town of Taylor. For many years be was the postmaster and town clerk of the town, and was universally respected by his townsmen. He was a shoemaker by trade and conducted a repair shop in Taylor village for many years.
BLACKSMITHS.
Only two blacksmith shops are at present doing business in the town of Taylor. The one at the village is owned by A. K. Bennett and rented and conducted by Morell White, who is a first-class workman and enjoys a large patronage from the surrounding farmers. The other shop is located at Taylor Center, mention of which will be made in a future article.
FARMERS.
Like most of the outside towns of this county, the residents are nearly all engaged in farming, and many of the farms of Taylor are highly productive. On the road leading from Taylor to Cortland, or in the immediate vicinity of this road, are located the farms of Mrs. Hattie Ufford (worked by Raymond Whitney), John M. Whitney, Joseph Cass, Mary Smith (worked by Melvin McLoughlin), Lucien Birdlebough, Wm. Skinner (worked by Edwin Crump), and R. A. Cass. West of the village are the farms of R. E. Jaquins, Frank Rice, and Dow L. Wire. On the road to Union Valley are the farms of Thomas Weaver, G. B. Rockwell, Marcus Wire, Martin C. Wire, Myron H. Potter, Leslie Potter, D. D. Bennett, Frank Dodge, R. L. Cass, Anah Lincoln and James E. Lake. On the road leading from Taylor to the Crane school district are found the following prosperous farmers: Jane Andrews, William Oliver, E. S. Crane, Thos. Crane, DeForest Crane (farm worked by Elwin Cass), Orris W. and James B. Kellogg, Frank Wood, Leonard McDowell, Harrison Wells (farm worked by L. Sergeant) D. B. Elwood, Eugene and Lewis Maine, Harley Seargent, Wallace Fuller (on farm of F. DeBell).
Among the prominent families which have contributed to the growth and prosperity of Taylor, none are perhaps worthy of more credit than are the Rockwells and Beebes. From the early history of the town to the present day the name of Rockwell is a familiar one throughout Cortland county, and especially through the eastern portion. Ira Rockwell, perhaps the oldest of the family now living, resides with Albert Clark, his son-in-law, at Cortland; Henry G. Rockwell, a son of Ira, resides at Homer; Ned Rockwell, who is the genial clerk of the Cincinnatus House; and G. S. Rockwell, who occupies the homestead farm at Taylor.
In the preceding article particular attention has been given to the residents who naturally center at Taylor village as their post office, and it is expected that the residents in the immediate vicinity of Mt. Roderick, Taylor Valley, Taylor Center and Union Valley will be the subject of a brief sketch in some future issue of the DEMOCRAT.
HERE AND THERE.
Through the courtesy of W. J. Mantanye, one of the commissioners of state prisons, we are in receipt of a copy of the fifth annual report of the commission to the legislature. Unlike many state documents of this nature, it is exceedingly interesting reading and some of the recommendations will be referred to in the future.
Rev. O. D. Moore has been invited to preach on Sunday next in the Baptist church, Harpursville, Broome county, as a pastoral candidate. Mr. Moore has a host of friends in Cortland who regret to have him leave the city, but as it is his intention to resume preaching and accept a charge over some church, his removal seems unavoidable.
The members of Rev. J. C. B. Moyer's Sunday school class passed a very pleasant evening Wednesday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. D Randall, North Main-st. Refreshments were served, and social intercourse spiced with wit tended to cement the members of the class in a bond of fraternal fellowship that will continue as long as life shall last.
Chas. F. Tupper of Binghamton was last Friday appointed deputy collector of internal revenue in place of Frederick M. Hallock, deceased. The appointment is a good one, as Charley is a thorough business man and very accurate in clerical work, having been clerk of Broome county several years, and he was also member of assembly in 1896 and '97.
A most pleasing entertainment was given by the Alpha Delta Sorority at Normal hall last Saturday evening, when the drama, "Anita's Trial," in three acts, was given to a large and enthusiastic audience. Miss Alice W. Benham as Mrs. Deacon Pippin was one of the stars, and Miss Clara M. Enos as Ethel Manning was "ready for anything" to please the audience.
We hear but little about the Five States Milk Producers' association lately.
This is the time of year to clean up your lawns and yards. It is your duty to make your premises look as neat as possible. It makes a pleasant impression upon the strangers in our midst.
Following the sweet note of the robin comes the piping of the frogs. Although the latter is not so musical as the former, it is no less a trustworthy sign of the arrival of spring—welcome spring.
That the farmers are awakening to the fact that the birds are a protection and not a detriment to their interests, is demonstrated by their recent endeavors to protect these feathered helpers. They work for him as faithfully and continuously as any other helper he can get. When the birds are seen to be particularly active and busy and present in large numbers, close observance will reveal the fact that some noxious insect is present in great numbers. It has been shown that one pair of robins will bring to their brood in one season more than three thousand worms. The robin saves to the farmers more than enough to compensate them for injury done by all other birds together. Thrushers and larks feed in much the same way. The woodpecker is instrumental in preserving valuable timber, in his lookout for beetles, wood ants and other insects, which bore into trees. Some of the birds are condemned for the injury they inflict upon the fruits but the good they do counter balance this lesser evil. When farmers, their wives and children become acquainted with the good work the birds do in the meadows, orchards, gardens and forests, it will be dangerous for anyone to destroy these feathered helpers. Some of the parents of the boys who are seen daily with air guns, in quest of birds, are in a measure responsible for an offense that should be actionable.
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