The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 18, 1900.
UNION VALLEY, TAYLOR CENTRE, TAYLOR VALLEY, MT. RODERICK.
A History of the Town and Its Early Settlers, and Mention of Many Who are to-day Prominent as Business Men or Residents.
In the issue of April 27th particular attention was given in the history of Taylor, to such of the inhabitants of the town as reside within the limits of the Taylor post office, and we shall endeavor to now speak of those who reside in the immediate vicinity of Union Valley, Taylor Centre, Taylor Valley and Mt. Roderick.
UNION VALLEY.
The settlement of Union Valley was early formed and has by steady accessions now developed into a fair sized hamlet. Of the early days of Union Valley not much is related in history, but from such of the older inhabitants as could be seen the following facts regarding the early settlers of Union Valley have been obtained:
ASAHEL SEABURY BROOKS.
Among the early pioneers we desire to speak particularly of Asahel Seabury Brooks. Mr. Brooks was born in New Haven, Conn., April 19, 1794. Early in 1800 he came to Cincinnatus and in 1838 was married to Miss Hannah Cole of Albany, who was then stopping at Cincinnatus. The greater portion of their wedded life was spent in Taylor, and the last 24 years upon the same farm just south of Union Valley.
Eight children were born to them, namely: Elizabeth, Walter, Robert, Henry, Louisa, Willard, Lucia, and George. Mr. Brooks was a man of strong character and soon made his influence felt, not only in his native town, but in the county as well. On April 19, 1894, Mr. Brooks celebrated his 100th birthday, and about four hundred neighbors and friends gathered at his home to celebrate with him the unusual occasion. Mr. Brooks was then enjoying a fair degree of health and still retained full control of his mind, which for the century past had been ever active. The exercises of the day were thoroughly enjoyed by the venerable man and the necessary excitement attended upon such an occasion did not seem in any great measure to fatigue him, but during the fall which followed, his iron constitution gave way and he quietly passed away. Many of his descendants now reside in the vicinity of Union Valley and are highly respected citizens.
N. L. BROOKS.
N. L. Brooks was for many years among the leading citizens of Union Valley. In 1849 when the town of Taylor was formed Mr. Brooks was elected Superintendent of schools, which position he filled with marked ability. For nearly thirty years Mr. Brooks held the position of postmaster, and since his death, which occurred about seventeen years ago, with the exception of about four years the office has been under the supervision of Mrs. Brooks. The office is now located in the very comfortable home of Mrs. Brooks, where she resides. The other residents of the family are her son-in-law, Sackett Hart, wife and daughter, Adah E. Brooks. During the term of service of Postmaster General Wanamaker an inspection of all postoffices was ordered. The rating was in the following order: Excellent, good, fair, poor. The order also called for the insertion in the postal guide of all offices rated as excellent. The Union Valley office, then under the care of Mrs. Brooks, found a place among the "excellents." In the early days of Union Valley Mr. Brooks ran an ashery and did an extensive business in that line.
SCHOOL.
The education of the youth of Union Valley has always received the attention of the citizens, and an excellent school is maintained, at present under the care of F. E. Saunders.
FARMERS.
The principal industry of this section is agriculture and many large and productive farms are seen on every hand. On the road leading south from Union Valley are found the comfortable homes and in some cases extensive farms of Herbert Fuller, Geo. Kingsbury, Methodist society parsonage, (now occupied by Rev. J. W. Eberly,) Mrs. Wm. Stetson, Mrs. Wm. Randall, (farm worked by T. G. Brooks,) Robert Brooks, owner of two farms (one worked by E. E. Parks), Dever Austin, Walter Brooks and Burdette Craft. Going north from the four corners and on the west side of the valley you pass the homes of Wm. Peterson, Sarah Lincoln, Luther Bacon, G. H. C. Potter, N. R. Breed (farm worked by T. B. Marks), Fred Marks and W. P. Smith.
West of the village and extending over what is known as Potter Hill are situated the following homes or farms: B. A. Miner. Chas. Kingsbury, John Monroe, Elias French, Minnie Burgess, Philander Potter, Orville Potter, (farm worked by Wm. Peak,) Elna Phillips, M. L. Ellis, Geo. Miner, J. P. Ripley, Milford Henry, T. G. Brooks, (farm worked by Ed. Henry,) Jared Fisk and — Feint.
East of Union Valley are the residences of Miss Hattie Converse, Valley Jipson, Leroy Kingsbury, A. L. Stevens, F. B. Gilbert, Mrs. M. Perkins, G. R. Fox, I. D. Hughes, J. J. Burgess, Luman Eldredge, Calvin Gilbert, F. Gilbert and J. R. Leech, (farm worked by Ed. and Calvin Breed,) Chas. Randall, Chas. Eaton, W. H. Darling, Mrs. Thomas Burgess, (farm worked by J. J. Burgess,) and J. Trumbull.
SOIL.
The soil about Union Valley is rich and productive and particularly adapted to grazing.
CREAMERY.
The creamery which is run by J. D. Hughes is one of the best in the county. A very large amount of first class butter and cheese is manufactured here during the summer months, and finds a ready sale in the principal cities of New York and New Jersey.
B. A. MINER.
The mercantile business of the village is confined to one general store and is now conducted by B. A. Miner, a promising young business man, Mr. Miner is a son of Geo. Miner, a well-to do farmer living upon Potter hill, about two miles west of Union Valley. Mr. Miner was reared upon the farm and for some years followed the vocation of farming, but some years since purchased the stock of goods at the village store and has built up a profitable business with the surrounding farmers. He carries a full line of groceries, shelf goods, flour and provisions. He is ably assisted in the store by his wife, who thoroughly understands the business.
GRIST AND SAW MILL.
A large and well equipped grist and saw mill is located a short distance east of the village and is owned by G. R. Fox. Mr. Fox is one of the substantial business men of the place and has during his twenty-five years residence established a large and lucrative business. He carries a full line of flour, feed and seed grain. The saw mill is fully equipped with modern machinery and a large amount of custom sawing is annually done.
CHURCHES.
Two churches, the Congregational and Methodist Episcopal, are located at Union Valley. The congregation of both is necessarily small, but the members are zealous christian workers and maintain regular services. The pastor of the Congregational church, Rev. S. S. Bradford, is a resident of Lincklaen where he also has a church charge. Rev. J. W. Eberly, pastor of the M. E. church, occupies a pleasant parsonage in the central part of the hamlet and is highly respected by all who know him.
TAYLOR CENTER.
Taylor Center, a small hamlet located within the boundaries of the town of Taylor, is situated in the north-western part of the town and consists of one church, saw-mill, school house and about a half dozen private houses, which for the most part connected with farms adjacent. The M. E. church was built in 1873 and a small society formed. The membership, however, has never been large, still services are continued and a fair interest maintained.
ISAAC H. SMITH.
In 1869 Isaac H. Smith conducted a general store at Taylor Center and for many years was the postmaster of the hamlet. At an early date he built a grist and saw-mill at the outlet of Solon pond, a small body of water around which the hamlet was built. This mill was some years ago destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt. Some years afterwards a sawmill was built by Mr. Smith, a few rods south of the site of the old mill, and is still conducted by Mr. Smith, who although long past eighty years of age, is still hale and healthy and able to work about the mill.
STORE.
Early in 1800 J. I. V. Potter conducted a store at Taylor Center. At present no store is kept at that place, but a small one is run by Fred Freeman about one and one-half miles north in the town of Cuyler. The principal trading point of the people in this locality is at Cincinnatus. Here the productions of their farms find a ready market at profitable prices.
WELLS G. ALBRO.
Wells G. Albro, the postmaster of the hamlet, is one of the prominent young farmers of Taylor and is well and favorably known throughout the county. He was one of the jurors in the Truck murder trial.
SCHOOL.
Much interest has always been displayed by the residents of this locality in their school and it is now numbered among the first class country schools of the county. The present teacher, Harley Ackles of Preble, is a young man of excellent qualifications and a thorough gentleman. Under his care the people of Taylor Center can well trust their youth.
CREAMERY.
Several years ago Willis DeLong built and equipped a first class creamery at Taylor Center, and for several years did a flourishing business, but a few years ago Mr. DeLong removed to Polkville, and the factory has since been under the care of L. L. Blancher, a promising young man of Taylor Center. Butter and cheese of a high order is manufactured here and finds a ready sale in the leading cities of this state. He is ably assisted in the factory by Arna Loope, who has had a wide experience in the butter and cheese business. During the height of the season 9,000 lbs. of milk are received daily.
FARMERS.
The principal industry of this section of the county is farming and many have amassed a competency by strict attention to business. On the road leading north from Taylor Center are located the farms of W. P. Elwood, Chas. Loope, Fred Freeman, Eugene Fox, D. D. Fisk, Peter Jordan, Truman Sturdevant, Carl Allen, Geo. Feint, A. W. Allen, Almond Henry, Geo. Allen, Henry Duncan and W. D. McDonald. West of the office are the farms and houses of Fred Smith, J. E. Bush, E. A. Shufelt, C. S. Brooks, Andrew Brooks, Oscar Henry and Frank Jordan. On the south are the farms of Henry Sieber, E. M. Fisk and A. J. Stanton. On the east and on or near the road leading to Union Valley are the farms of Bert Oliver, Francis Ripley and H. R. Feint. Many of the farmers have during the last few years given considerable attention to the breeding of thoroughbred stock. Clinton Brooks has a very fine herd of Holsteins and Mrs. Brooks devotes much of her time to the raising of poultry, particular attention being given to the White Leghorn variety. Andrew Brooks also has many high grade Holsteins in which he exercises a just pride.
TAYLOR VALLEY.
Taylor Valley postoffice is situated about three miles south-west of Taylor Center and four miles north-west of Taylor village. The postoffice is located in the farm house of Wilson Hawley and is a great convenience to the farmers living nearby.
THE HAWLEY FAMILY.
The Hawley family is one of the oldest families in the town. Lewis Hawley came from Huntington, Conn., in 1805 and located on the site of the present Hawley farm. The original tract comprised 330 acres and still remains in the hands of his descendants. Lewis Hawley was the father of seven children, viz: Francis, Lewis, James, Hiram, John, Cyrus and Sarah. After reaching mature age Francis took possession of the homestead and at the death of his father came into possession of the same. He became the father of Oscar, Helen, Frank, Anna, Louisa, Cyrus, Wilson and Lincoln Hawley. Wilson Hawley at present conducts the farm which belongs to the heirs of Francis Hawley. For the last four years he has held the position of postmaster at the Valley.
CREAMERY.
A large creamery is conducted upon the farm and is managed by C. E. Hawley. The milk of 300 cows is annually manufactured at this factory.
FARMERS
On the road leading towards Taylor are the farms of Wm. Skinner, (now occupied by Edwin Crump,) R. A. Cass and Frank Skinner.
North of Taylor Valley are located the homes of Chas. Elam Goddard, DeForest Gay and Nelson Skinner. Or the hill north-west of the Valley are the homes of Dell Allen (on a Lidell farm,) Samuel McKee, Lee Lidell, Allen Lidell, Henry Jaquins (on farm of L. D. Finn,) Ransom Halbert and Frank Goodspeed (on the farm of Harrison Wells.)
MT. RODERICK.
Mt. Roderick postoffice is situated upon the highest point of land in the town and about five miles north-west of Taylor. The postmaster of this section is I. W. Phelps, who is also the supervisor of his town. Mr. Phelps has resided on the same farm for over half a century, his present home having been the property of his father early in 1899. This farm is one of the most productive in town.
FARMERS.
The following farmers live in the immediate locality and receive their mail at the Mt. Roderick postoffice: Marion Smith, Willard Moore, Fred Smith, Geo. McDonald, Alfred Smith, Adelbert Dwight, John Smith, F. B. Pritchard, Deville Brown, Henry Jaquins and Frank Goodspeed.
I. W. PHELPS.
The politics of the entire town of Taylor is largely Republican and the election of a Republican supervisor is almost a certainty. Mr. Phelps, the present incumbent of the office, is a veteran in the service having several times held the office during the last 20 years.
CHAS. WIGHT.
Chas. Wight is the owner of a large tract of land on the road leading from Mt. Roderick to Cincinnatus, and is one of the wealthy and influential residents of Taylor. He is the owner of what is known as Wight's grove where many public meetings and picnics have been held. A well conducted creamery is located upon this farm and is under the management of a son of Chas. Wight.
HERE AND THERE.
Commencements will soon commence. No comments.
The sun gets up early—about 4:40 these mornings.
The leaves on the trees are coming out very rapidly.
A man may catch a big fish, but that's no reason why he should lie about it.
If it wasn't for the Fourth of July, what a long time it would be until Christmas.
Fine strawberries were selling in the Cortland market last Saturday for fifteen cents.
An occasional caboose painted yellow varies the monotony on the Lackawanna railroad.
Proprietor W. H. Hall of the Virgil hotel will give a Decoration party, Wednesday, May 30. Bill $1.50.
A noted weather crank says the country will pass through the greatest dry spell this season that has been experienced for forty years.
F. H. Cobb & Co. have purchased the lot adjoining their store on Railroad-st. and will soon construct a fine brick storehouse thereon.
Workmen are engaged tearing down the iron bridge over the D., L. & W. tracks, which formerly connected the two Hitchcock buildings.
The Cortland & Homer Traction company has decided to give a half fare rate to and from Homer and McGrawville during Mahan's music festival.
James Murphy of Oswego has been appointed manager of the Cortland exchange of the Empire State Telephone company in place of James Nolan, deceased.
More runaways have occurred in Cortland since it became a city than the year previous under the village charter. Even the horses feel their importance under the new regime.
The board of public works have decided that no more new sidewalks shall be built of wood, but that cement shall be used. This may be a hardship to a few, but the cement walk is much cheaper in the end than the wooden one.
Judge Forbes of Canastota, who is holding court in Cortland, has fifteen of the best and fastest horses owned by any one man in Central New York, says the Oneida Union. Among the lot is a pacer, "Simmons," that holds the ice record of the world—2:16.
Over in Norwich Monday Sig. Sautelle's circus tent was packed both afternoon and evening.
The historical events which been running in the DEMOCRAT since January 1 will continue five weeks longer, making a history extending over a quarter century, from 1868 to 1892, inclusive. When these are concluded the DEMOCRAT will furnish something else equally as interesting, besides giving all the current events of city, county and state.
The contest between the fire companies Wednesday evening was won by Excelsior Hook & Ladder company, which made the time in one minute and twenty seconds. The test was hardly a fair one, for the reason that the bell did not strike the box number, the Emeralds especially not knowing in which direction to run. Orris hose company secured first water.
A correspondent at Otselic asks the following pertinent queries: "Will the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. and the E. & C. N. Y. R. R. Co. be consolidated? If so will we get a railroad? Is the consolidation talk all a fake? And do we still listen in vain for the roar of the iron wheels and the shrill stream of the locomotive whistle? Someone please tell us."
The practice of granting money to the schools of the state on Regents' examinations has been discontinued by the Regents. It was found to result in undue efforts on the part of the teachers to pass their pupils and, in effect, to virtually offer a premium on dishonesty. In the future money will be distributed on a basis of attendance of academic pupils instead of on Regents' examinations.
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| Albert W. Edgcomb. |
Personal.
Attorney Warren L. Loope of Matteawan has opened a law office in Cortland.
Dr. James M. Milne has been in Lowville and Watertown this week addressing teachers' institutes.
R. H. Beard has been in Syracuse this week attending a meeting of the State Embalming association.
Mrs. T. H. Wickwire, Mr. and Mrs A. W. Edgcomb and Miss Celia Hinman were in New York this week to bid Mr, and Mrs. S. M. Ballard farewell as they left for Europe Wednesday
Prof. T. J. McEvoy left Wednesday for Constableville, Lewis county, where he will assist at a teachers' institute. The trip will be doubly enjoyable to Prof. McEvoy for the reason that he at one time taught at Constableville, and the present principal of the school at that place was one of the Professor's former pupils.
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