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Os9j 1128822
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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- OSWEGO. N. Y.
SALMON RIVER FALLS, PULASKI, N .Y.
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OSWEGO COUNTY,
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OSWEGO COUNTY,
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SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
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OPU-BLISHEID BY Ij. H. EAAEIiTS & CO., 714—16 Filliert Street, ^Philadelphia.
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1877.
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C O N T E N T S.
1128822
ISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTV.
VII.-
VIII.-
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.-
XV.-
XVI.
XXX.-
XXXI.-
XXXII.-
XXXIII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
XXXVI.
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIX.
Introductory . . . • A Rnid in 1615
-The Iroquois . . . • -Jesuits and Colonists -Do La Barre and Garangula . ■ Count Frontenae's Expedition -From 1097 to 1753 . -Tlie " Old French War" . -From 1761 to 1775 . -The Revolution -From 17S.3 to 1800 . From ISOl to 1812
10
10, 11 11-13 13-15 15-17 18, 19 19-2-t 2-1-35 35-38 38-41 41-55 55-62
—The War of 1812 ''2-69
From 1815 to 1830 .
From 1831 to 1861 .
0 XXIX.— Oswego in the R
Since the War .
•The Press of Oswego Count
County Buildings .
-The State Normal School
-The Common Schools — Religion and Temperance Medical Societies . Agricultural Societies The National Guard Oswego County Civil List
69-72
. 75-115 . 116,117 . 117-121 . 121,122 . 122-125
125 . 125,126 . 126-129 . 129-131
131
OSWEGO CITY.
of Oswego City . . . • Oswego Harbor ;c of Hon. G. B. Sloan
Thomas Kingsford
Thomson Kingsford
Elias Root .
Leonard Ames, with Portrail
Dclos De Wolf
Edwin Allen .
Edwin W. Clarke .
Joseph Hover
171
" Thomas S. Molt .
" and Portrait of B. B. Burt " Orvillc Robinson, with Portraits
" Farm Retreat," Residence of Thomson Kingsf< St. Paul's Church and School . Residence of E. G. Jones . " R. Gordon .
" 0. M. Bond .
First National Bank Building . City Savings " "
Mannister Wort's Block . Neal's Block (and Masonic Temple) Residence of Luther Wright, with portrait and biography
between 186, 187
Portrait and Biography of AlvinBronson . . facing 142
u " Sylvester Doolittle . . " 113
u " Cheney Ames ... "172
« " II, >n. A. P. Grant . . " 1"3
View of Kingsford's Starch-Factory (steel) . between 174, 175
Portraits of Thomas and Thomson Kingsford (steel) " 174, 175
Portrait and Biography of R. Oliphant . . • facing 176
Portraits of Myron Pardee and wife, with biography " 178
facing 13G
Portrait of Judge W. F. Allen (steel) . • ■ ""^'"S '
Hon. Elias Root (steel) .... "I
" S. Bates, with biography
Frederick T. Carrington (steel) . • l»eing 1
Portraits of E. G. Jones and wife . . . •
Portrait of Wm. S. Malcolm
" Mrs. Catharine Van Rensselaer Cochran " 1
PortraitandBiography of John B. Edwards . . . . 1 u '• Colonel Edward M. Paine . . 1
" Daniel E. Taylor . . - • 1
ti ti Lucius B. Crocker . . . .
Portrait and Biography of Hon. B. Doolittle . . • • « " II. Murray . . • fa<:i»g
Biography of Judge W. F. Allen
B.B.Burt •
" Hon. Elias Root
« Frederick T. Carrington
" Moses P. Neal
" Wm. S. Malcolm
Mrs. Catharine V. R. Cochran . . . •
" Orvillc Robinson
" Mrs. Lucrctia Robinson
Military Record
TOWN OF OSWEGO.
History of the Town of Oswego
Residence of Eli Wilder (double page) . . between 200, " Levi Pease (double page) ..." 202,
Portraits of Nathan Lewis and wife, with biography Stock Farm and Portrait oliThos. G. Thompson (and Agricul- tural Fair Grounds) .... between 204, Residence of William Clark .... "204
Biography of Eli Wilder
" Levi Peaso
Military Recoi-d
TOWN OF RICHLAND.
History of the Town of Richland
View of Court-House, Pulaski f''='^"g
" Pulaski Academy
Residence and Land-Office of Charles H. Cross, with portrait between ^ 1 0
and biography
Portrait of Thomas W. Dixon (steel) Residence of S. II. Fellows ....
" J. G. and G. W. White
First Congregational Church Building, with portra
Moacham and Rev. James Douglas Residence of Jas. N. Belts, M.D., with portrait
" and portrait of Don A. King .
Portrait of Robert L. IngorsoU (steel) Biography of " " . . . .
Captain Ira Doane " James N. Bctts, M.D. .
" Don A. King ....
Portrait and Biography of William Strong
of Ansel Brown
View of Salmon River House, Pulaski . Box and Bett's Block, Pulaski . . - . Residence of Capt. Ira Doanc, with portraits .
Military Record
TOWN OF VOLNEY. History of the Town of Volnoy Views on Oswego River, near Fulton
faci:
CONTENTS.
Portrait and Biography of Lovwell Johnson (steel) Willard Johnson (steel) Residence of J. H. Distin, with portraits .
F. Vant, " " . .
" Samuel Hart, " " . .
" Wm. D. Patterson ....
" D. W. Gardner ....
" Mrs. L. E. Loomis, with portraits
" Elias Thomas, with portraits
" Charles G. Bacon, M.D., withportrait
Portraits of Ira Carrier and wife, with biographj'
Farm View of Ira Carrier
Portraits of Colonel John Gasper and wives
" Ira Ives and wife, with biography
" Thomas Hubbard and wife, with biogr.aphy
facing
Kesidence of Thomas Hubbard, Esq. Portraits of Walter Wilber and wife, with biography " Timothy Pratt and wife, with biography
Residence of John W. Pratt, with portraits . . facing Portraits of Aaron G. Fish and wife, with biography Portrait of Lyman Pa'.terson, with biography .... Portraits of Holsey Hubbard and wife, with biography facing
" William Ingell and wife, with biography
Portrait of Isaac Marltham, and biography of Jason S. Marliham Residence of Jason S. Markham, with portraits . facing
Portraits of Freeman Gasper and wife, with biography Portrait of F. W. Squires, with biography . .
" Hon. Ransom H. Tyler, with biography . facing
Biography of Dr. Ransom Howard, with portraits . opposite
*' L. E. Loomis .......
" John H. Distin
" Elias Thomas
" Dr. Charles G. Baeon
" Samuel Hart
Military Record
TOWPf OF MEXICO.
History of the Town of Me.\i Residence of the late Euge
N. Hil
ith portraits facing 262
L. H. Conkli]
" J. B. Driggs
" Phineas Davis
Residence and Factory of S. N. Gustin (double page), bct« Carriage Manufactory of Lewis Miller
View of Grace Church
Portrait and Biograpliy of Hon. Avery Skinner " ** Ebcnezcr E. Menfer
Residence of Mrs. Dr. C. D. Snell ....
Toronto and State Mills
Portrait and Biography of Dr. C. D. Snell
Biography of Eugene N. Hills
Military Record
TOWN OF ALBION.
History of the Town of Albion 278
Residence of D. K. Averill (double page) . between 271S, 279
Portrait and Biography of Aaron Fuller 281
" " Thomas Henderson .... 282 Military Record 282
TOWN OF CONSTANTIA.
IHstory of the Town of Constantia .
Portraits and Biography of the Bernhard family
Residence and Portrait of Hon. William H. I!ak
Biography of Hon. W. H. Baker
Portraits of Rev. Christoj.hor Martin an.l wilo
Henry Winu a"ud wife . Portrait of Ephraim Cleveland Biography of Christopher Martin .
Hen Icnce of Patr ary Record .
ck 11
TOWN OF ORWELL.
History of the Town of Orwell 297
Residence of I. W. Bennett facing 297
James J. Montague .... "298
" John Washburn "298
Residences of John E. Potter and Alexander Potter, with por- traits facing 300
Residence of Hon. John Parker, with portraits . " 303
Biography of lion. John Parker 303
" Jas. J. Montague 303
" S. C. Davis 303
Property of S. C. Davis and Son ... . opposite 304
Portraits of the Davis family " 305
Military Record 30i
TOWN OF HANNIBAL.
History of the Town of Hannibal 307
Residence of Norman Titus facing 307
C. S. Chamberlain .... " 307
" E. S. Tallman (double page) . between 308, 309
" Jonas Shutts, with portraits (double page) between
310,311
Biography of Jonas Shutts 311
Residence of Avery Green, with portraits . . facing 312 Military Record 312
TOWN OF PALERMO.
History of the Town of Palermo 316
Residence and Store of D. H. Trimble, with portraits facing 316
Factory and Hotel of W. H. Hann.^n . . . opposite 318
Residence of J. F. Lansing '•' 319
" Frederick C. Church .... "319
" W. S. Lansing, with portraits . . facing 320
" D. L. Brown "321
Portraits of Almon Mason and wife .... "321
Portrait of Dr. Addison Beckwith .... "321
Biography of Isaac N. Lansing .... " 320
" Almon Mason "321
Biography of David L. Brown . . . . . . .321
Military Record 321
TOWN OF SCHROEPPEL.
History of the Town of Sehroeppel 324
Residence and Portrait of Alonzo Utiey . . . facing 324
" of W. H. Rico "324
Howard House " 32J
Residence of Nelson Corey (double page) . between 326, 327
Portraits of Andrew Gilbert and wife . . . facing 330
" Stephen Griffith " . . . . " 330
Portrait of E. L. Jennings " 330
" J. M. Williams " 330
Residence of R. Sutton, with portraits ... " 334
Biography of Reuben Sutton ....... 334
Military Record 334
TOWN OF NEW HAVEN.
History of the Town of New Ilavcn.
339
Premises of Orlando R. Cummings .... facing 339 Portrait of Seth Severance, with biography . . opposite 310
" A. W. Severance, " . . " 341
Portraits and Biography of A. H. Barton and wife . " 342
Residence of Edward W. Robinson, with portraits . " 343
Views at Captain Henry Daggett's, with portraits (double
page) between 344, 345
Portrait of Norman Rowo, with biography . " 344, 345
Residence of M. S. Lindall, with portrait . . " 344,345
Portrait of L. Cummings 345
Biography of Captain Henry J. Daggett 345
Military Record 345
TOWN OF AMBOY.
CONTENTS.
I'ortniits of P. J. Wilsou and wife .
Poitriiit of i'. I,aing
Philip Hess .... " Georgo D. Wells, with biogvniiliy
Biograjihy of Thomns Laing Rosiilciice of John Jamicson, with portrait Portrait of Charles Loigh, with biography Biography of John Jamicson Residence of II. and N. Leigh . Military Record .....
TOWN OF WILLIAIHSTOWN.
History of the Town of Williamstown 353
View of Lake and Mill at Kasoag .... facing 353
Residence of Edwin Comstoek, with portraits . . " 355
" and Hotel of C. S. Sage, with portraits . opposite 356
" A. Orton and William Steele, with portraits " 357
Biography of Hon. Chaunoey S. Sago 356
" Ashbel Orton 356
Military Record 357
TOWN OF HASTINGS.
History of the Town of Hastings 358
Residence of William B. Parkhurst, with portraits . facing 358
" D. D. Drake, M.D " 300
" Robert Elliott "360
" Leonard Snow ..... " 362
Military Record 365
TOWN OF WEST MONROE.
History of the Town of West Monroe 367
Military Record 369
TOWN OF BOYLSTON.
History of the Town of Boylston ...... 370
Residence of William Wart, with portraits . . facing 370
Biography of William Wart 373
Military Record 373
TOWN OF SANDY CREEK.
History of the Town of Sandy Creek 37i
High School Building facing 374:
Residence of William Bishop, with portraits . . " 376
" Orin R. Earl, with portrait ... " 378
Gilbert N. Harding .... "380
" William Jay Stevens .... "380
" Hon. A. S. Warner, with portraits . . .382
Biography of Hon. Orcn R. Earl 3S2
" " Andrew S. Warner 382
Residence of Julia K. Robbins, with portraits . . facing 383
Biography of Benjamin G. Robbins 383
" Julius S. Robbins 383
" William Bishop 383
Residence of J. S. Robbins facing 384
The Salisbury House "384
Portrait and Biography of Hon. Azariah Wart . . . 384
" of J. Lyman Bulkley 3S4
Military Record 384
TOWN OF GRANBY.
History of the Town of Granby 388
Residence of Wm. W. Palmer, with portraits . . facing 388
" Calvin French, with portraits . . " 389 Farm View and Residence of Thos. R. Wright, with portraits,
between 390, 391 Farm and Residence of Jasper H. Whitcomb, with portraits
(double page) between 392, 393
Residence of Felix M. Rico, with portraits . . facing 394
Oli
Pain
John C. Wells, Mrs. M. Howell
1'1'y
. oppi
Portraits of Benjamin Wells and wife, with bio
" Benj. B. Pierce '• " . .
Residence of I. F. Pierce, with portrait . . . facing " W. B. Gaylord, with portraits . . "
Portrait of Asa Phillips, with biography
Residence of Morgan Blakeman, with portraits . facing
" Lewis II. Hutchins, " . "
Portraits of Aaron Stranahan and wife, with biography .
Residence of Aaron Stranahan facing
" Wm. II. Tompkins, with portraits .
Portrait of David Willcox, with biography .... Residence of Milo Wilcox, with portraits . . . facing " Dan. S. Shattuck, "... "
" II. H. Merriam, "... "
" Mrs. Isaac Bogardus, "... "
" Jesse Reynolds, "
" Jackson Reynolds, "
J. II. Langdon .... )hy of John C. Wells .... " Isaac Boganlus ....
John I. AValradt .... " William B. Gaylord
" Jackson Reynolds ....
" Morgan lUakcman
" Scth Paine
" William U. Tompkins .
" Jasper II. Whitcomb
" Dan. S. Shattuck ....
" Calvin French ....
II. H. Merriam ....
" John Palmer
" David Hutchins ....
" Jesse Reynolds ....
Military Record
TOWN OF SCRIBA.
Biogr
History of the Town of Scviba .
Residence of Geo. Fradcnburgh
" Russell Turner, with portrait
Philo H. Burnham, "
Portrait of Thomas Askew, with biography " Daniel Hall (2d), "
" Erastus Stone ....
Biography of Erastus Stone
Portrait of Robert Simpson, with biography Geo. W. Snyder, M.D., "
Portraits of James Church and wife, " " Rev. Geo. Blossom an
" Philo Burnham and w
Military Record
ilh 1
TOWN OF REUFIELD.
History of the Town of Redfiold 423
Residence of James Petrie, with portrait . . . facing 424
Biography of James Petrie 428
Military Record 428
TOWN OF PARISH.
History of the Town of Parish 429
Portrait of Lieutenant-Colonel Melzar Richards, with biog- raphy facing 429
Residence of Hon. Harvey Palmer, with portraits . " 4:J2
Biography of Hon. Harvey Palmer 432
Military Reconl 432
MISCELLANEOUS.
List of Citizens who assisted in the publication of the History
of Oswego County, with personals 434
Outline Map of Oswego County .... facing 9
View of Salmon River Falls (vignette) . . facing title-j»age.
H I 8 T O K Y
OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
BY CRISFIELD JOHNSON.
CHAPTER I.
INTKODUCTORY.
Plan of Ibc Work— Sources of Information— List of Books Examined — Acknowledgments of Aid — Closing Remarks.
The plan of this work comprises :
First, a connected history of the events of general im- portance or interest which have occurred in the territory now comprising the county of Oswego, or in which residents of that county have been actors, from the advent of Cham- plain in 1615 down to the second year of the second century of American Independence.
Second, special and statistical matter relating to the county at large, and intended chiefly for reference.
Third, histories of the city of Oswego and of each town in the county, including notices of early settlers, and sketches of churches, lodges, and other local organizations.
Fourth, biographical sketches and personal records.
The general history is intended to follow strictly the chronological order from 1615 to 1877, confining itself to the territory of the present county and the acts of its resi- dents, referring to outside matters only so far as may be necessary to show the connection of events, telling the story not only of battles and sieges, in which this county has been extremely prolific, but of pioneer struggles and modern development, and not disdaining the use of anecdote and reminiscence to give vivacity to the picture. The other portions of the work must necessarily be arranged according to the subjects of which they treat.
That portion of the general history pertaining to the period previous to the beginning of settlement was derived entirely from books ; the later portion is partly from books, but largely from personal recollections, contemporary records, newspaper articles, etc. All these sources have also been utilized in compiling the special sketches and town histories.
The books which wc have consulted, and to which we desire to acknowledge our indebtedness, arc the Documentary and Colonial Histories of New York, Colden's History of the Five Nations, Smith's History of New York. Morgan's
League of the Iroquois, Squier's Antiquities, Schoolcraft's Report on Indian AflFairs, Stone's Life and Times of Sir William Johnson, Pouchot's Memoir of the War of 1754- 60, Lossing's Life of Schuyler, Bishop Timon's History of Missions in Western New York, Stone's Life and Times of Joseph Brant, Mrs. Grant's Memoirs of an American Lady, Bancroft's History of the United States, Cooper's Pathfinder, Clark's Onondaga, Turner's History of the Holland Pur- chase, Ketchum's History of Buffalo and the Senecas, Hough's History of Jefferson County, Hammond's Political History of New York, the New York Civil List, French's New York Gazetteer, numerous directories of Oswego, and several minor works.
Many of the volumes above named arc the property of B. B. Burt, E.sq., of Oswego, to whom we are indebted for their u.so, and whose knowledge of local history h;is enabled him to give us much v;Juable information regarding the subject of our labors. We are also especially indebted to F. W. Squiers, Esq., of North Volney, for assistance regarding early records and events after the settlement of the county. The Hon. Alvin Bronson, of Oswego, having been a resident there since 1810, having during the greater part of that time been active in commercial and political life, and having entered with form scarce bent and memory scarce dimmed upon his ninety-fifth year, has been able to furnish us much information not attainable from any other person.
We regret that it is impracticable to mention all those who have kindly enlightened us on minor points, but as they number many hundreds, scattered through every town in the county and every ward in the city, we are obliged to confine ourselves to a general expression of thaiiLs to thusc numerous aiders of our enterprise.
Of the manner in which the work is executed it were idle to speak at any length here. It must stand or fall on its own merits. Doubtless, between the frequent obscurity of the subject, and the numerous and often conflicting au- thorities to be consulted, occasional inaccuracies have crept in. Doubtless some things have been omitted, a.s worthy of attention as others which have been included ; yet we are certain there is an immense amount of information rc-
9
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
garding Oswego County within this volume, and we trust it is so arranged and presented that our patrons and their children and their children's children will long turn to these pages to learn the story of their own and their fathers' home.
CHAPTER II.
A KAID IN 1615.
Chamjilain in Oswego County— His previous Action— Attack on the Onondagas — Champlain Wounded — The Retreat.
Hundreds upon hundreds of almost naked savages, painted and plumed for war, gliding with stealthy step amid the tangled vines and beneath the autumn-tinted leaves of an American forest, armed with the bows and arrows, the war-clubs and the stone tomahawks, which had been the weapons of their ancestors from immemorial time, in whose midst marched a band of ten Europeans, equipped with arquebuse, and pistol, and cutlass, led by one whose mien betokened the habit of command and whose eye flashed with the fire of his adventurous spirit, — such was the scene to be witnessed in the early days of October, 1615, in the central portion of the territory now composing the county of Oswego.
Doubtless the same ground had previously seen many an Indian war-party on its errand of slaughter, but never before had it been pressed by the foot of the Caucasian. Samuel Champlain was then leading through Oswego County the first white men who ever visited any part of the Empire State west of the immediate vicinity of Hudson river. The period of his advent here was only a hundred and twenty-three years after the discovery of America by Columbus, eighty-one years after Cartier had sailed up the St. Lawrence to Montreal, making some fruitless efforts at colonization, twelve years after Champlain himself had founded the colony of Canada, nine years after Henry Hudson had discovered the noble river which bears his name, and five years before the Pilgrim Fathers landed on Plymouth rock.
From his first arrival in America, Champlain, eager to ingratiate himself with his neighbors, the Hurons, had aided them in their wars against their most dreaded foes, the far-famed Iroquois. Six years previous to the time in question he had led a band of the northern Indians along the shore of the lake which has received his name, and had engaged in battle with the Five Nations on the outskirts of their territory, thus arousing their deadly enmity — trans- iBTtted through many generations— against all the inhabit- ants of New France.
At length he and his Huron allies had determined to strike at the very centre of the great confederacy. With ten trusty companions he had sought the principal villages of the Hurons, situated on the lake of the same name. There he had been promised that twenty-five hundred war- riors should assemble to attack the Iroquois. What number actually congregated at the rendezvous is unknown, but it was undoubtedly large for an Indian wai-jiarly, and with
the aid of the terrible fire-arms of the white men they hoped to gain an easy victory over their dreaded and de- tested rivals. From the Huron country the whole party had made a portage with their canoes to the head-waters of the river Trent, had passed down its tortuous channel and through the bay of Quints to Lake Ontario (never before seen by a white man), had crossed that beautiful inland sea, and had landed somewhere on its eastern shore.
At what precise point they disembarked cannot be ascer- tained from the meagre account which Champlain has left. Blost authorities have located it at or near the mouth of Stony creek, in Jefierson county ; but one or two have be- lieved that Sandy Creek bay, Oswego county, more nearly accords with the facts stated by Champlain. At all events, as soon as they landed, the Indians carefully concealed their canoes, and set out in the direction of the enemy. For four French leagues (about ten miles) they marched along a sandy beach beside a beautiful country adorned with prairies and small lakes, crossed by numerous streams and by what Champlain calls two small rivers, which, if Sandy Creek bay was the landing-place, must have been Salmon river and Salmon creek.
Then the whole body struck boldly into the forest to seek the home of their foes. There is no reasonable doubt but that their object was to attack the main village of the Onondagas, situated on or near Onondaga lake. Other tribes and other localities have been suggested, but none that so well satisfies the description of Champlain. For three or four days the Huron wari-iors and their French companions pursued their devious and tedious way, guided only by the general knowledge which the former possessed of the location of their enemies. It was not until the fourth day after leaving their canoes, being the 9th of October, that they crossed Oneida river, at or near the site of Fort Brewerton, catching a glimpse of the beautiful Oneida lake, where Champlain, even in his hurried passage, noted the immense number of fish which inhabited the stream, making it the favorite fishing-place of the Onon- dagas.
Thenceforth their course was outside the present bounds of the county of Oswego, and it is not our purpose to give a minute description of events which have happened beyond those bounds, unless residents of the county were the chief actors in them. Barely enough will be related regarding such matters to show the connection in the chain of events. SufiSce it to say, then, that Champlain's expedition was entirely unsuccessful. He arrived before the enemy's prin- cipal village on the 10th of October, and found it so well defended by four rows of interlaced palisades that, notwith- •standing the number of his followers, notwithstanding the fire-arms of the Frenchmen and his own gallant leadership, he could not induce his undisciplined Hurons to make the persistent efi"orts necessary to success. After a spirited but irregular assault, in which Champlain himself was twice severely wounded and many of his warriors were also in- jured by the arrows of the Onondagas, and after vainly waiting several days for a friendly tribe which was expected from the south, the Hurons, in spite of their leader's re- monstrances, on the 16th of October turned their steps towards home. The Onondagas pui-.sui'd tlioni a short
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
distance, but were soon driven back by tbo Frenc'b ari|uo- basiers.
But littlo over a week after the long eortege swept througli the forests of Oswego County, full of savage pride and war- like hope, it came hastening back defeated and forlorn, each wounded warrior being borne on tlie back of one of his fellows, in a rude wicker-basket. Champlain himself Wiis thus carried, suffering severely from his wound, and still more so from the cramped condition to which he was coufiued by his basket ambulance. As soon a.s he could possibly bear his weight, he preferred to hobble with halting steps over the hills thau to remain pent up in the basket, which he describes as a perfect hell.
Feeling in constant danger of attack from the vengeful Iifii]iiois, the retreat of the Hurom was more rapid than their advance, and on the 18th of October they reached Lake Ontario at the point where they had concealed their canoes. Though Champlain was anxious to return directly down the St. Lawrence to Montreal, the Jfaroiis insisted on taking him back to their own country, where he remained during the winter; returning in the spring to his friends, who had for months mourned him as dead.
Such was the first appearance of the white man within the present borders of the county of Oswego, and, so far as that county is concerned, the month of October, 1615, marks the line between history and tradition. Standing at this divisional point betwixt the known and the un- known, let us employ a little time in peering amid the mists of earlier ages and dubious systems ere we go for- ward on firm ground along the ever-broadening historic pathway from 1615 to 1877.
CHAPTER II L
THE IROQUOIS.
Thoir Various Names— Their Origin— Curious Traditions— The Prob- able Truth— Formation of the Confederacy— Atotarho— The Sys- tem of Clans, Sachems, and Chiefs— Prowess and Eloquence- General Characteristics— Three Tribes in Oswego County.
At the time our history begins, the territory of the present county of Oswego was unnuestionably in the pos- session of that celebrated confederacy, whose renown has far surpassed that of any other North American Indians, and who were variously known as the Five Nations, the Iroquois, the Iledonosannee, and the People of the Long House. The term " Five Nations" explains itself The appellation Iroquois was given them by the French, but is not a French word. Old maps show a tribe of Indians called "CoKis," located near the site of Kingston, Canada; also " Isles des Couis" and " Bay des Couis,"' in that vicinity. Another map designates the country of the Six Nations as that of the '^Hiro Couis." It would seem, therefore, that the name "■Coicis" first belonged, or was given, to the Canadian Indians, and that the French, sup- posing the Five Nations to be of the same tribe, gave them the specific designation ''Iliro,' though what that means
is unknown. From •'Iliro Couis" to "Iroquois," the change is easily seen.
The Five Nations Ciilled themselves Ilriloiwsiinnee, liter- ally, " We form one cabin," thereby denoting that they were all of one political household ; and this name has been translated, with substantial correctness, "The People of the Long House." They also called them.selves " Oiigwe Honice," meaning Superior Men, but this appellation lias never been adojited by the whites, though it is in some sort continued by the proud motto of the Empire State, — " Excelsior."
When first discovered by the whites, each of the Five Na- tions was on the ground which it continued to occuiiy down to the outbreak of the American Revolution, and their names have been perpetuated by the waters whereon they dwelt, — that of the Mohawks by the Mohawk river, those of the Oneidas, the Onondugas, the Cnyugas, and the Scnecns by the lakes bearing the same appellations. These tribes, or nations, were linked together in a kind of federal union, which decided all questions of war and peace, and perhaps other matters affecting the general welfare, if any such there were. The origin of this league, the origin of the tribes which composed it, are alike uncertain. Where they were when found by the Europeans they might have been a thousand years, for aught that is positively known. But there were several traditions among the Iroquois regarding their origin, all pointing in the same direction, and all link- ing the history of the confederacy in an especial manner with the county of Oswego.
One account is simply that the Iroqiioif once resided in Canada, being neighbors and rivals of the Ilitrous ; that they were defeated by the latter, fled across Lake Ontario, passed up the Oswego river, and settled on the lakes and rivers of central New York. A more remarkable tradition, given by David Cusick, the Tuscnrora chief, is that their ancestors were called from the bowels of a mountain near Oswego falls, by Tareuyawayon, " the Holder of the Heavens," under whoso direction they went eastward to the Hudson, and thence back to Seneca lake, the several tribes dropping off on their way. Still another legend, related in Clark's " Onondaga," is that at one time, when the Irtquois were in great affliction on account of the blighting of their corn, the obstruction of their rivers by monsters, etc., two Onondagas, sauntering on the beach at Oswego, saw a white canoe coming over the lake, from which, when it landed, stepped a venerable personage, who announced himself as the Spirit-man, Taounyawatha, come to extricate the people from their troubles. He went up the Oswego river and removed the obstructions at the falls, so that canoes could pass without portage, though the cataract has been replaced, on account of the wickedness of succeeding generations. Then he continued his course up the O.swego and Seneca, cut in twain with one blow of liis paddle a serpent several miles in length, which lay across the stream a little above Three Rivers point, destroyed numerous other monsters, more terrible than those which fell under the wrath of Hercules, and, finally, laying aside his spiritual attributes, lived for a long time as a mere man, the fijther and adviser of the Iroquois, under the well- known name of Hiawatha.
12
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
All these traditions go to show that the Iroquois origi- nally came from the north, and that they made their advent in central New York by way of the Oswego river. Similar shadowy authority indicates that while there was a general resemblance and a kind of connection between the five tribes, yet that they were politically independent for a long time after their establishment in central New York, and were often engaged in deadly conflict with each other. At length, a wise old sachem named Daganawada, perceiving that all the tribes were likely to be destroyed by each other and by their common enemies, advised a confederation be- tween them, and proposed Atotarho, otherwise called Tado- daho, an Onondaga chief of extraordinary valor, as the head of the new league. His suggestion was agreed to, and a humble deputation of sachems sought out the renowned Onondaga in the midst of one of his swampy fastnesses, and persuaded him to accept the honors of leadership. One of the few pictorial representations of Indian origin repre- sents the terrible Atotarho, seated and smoking, with scores of living serpents curled around his legs and hissing from his hair, while two meek-looking ambassadors approach to oflfer him the presidency of the proposed confederacy.
After the formation of the league, it is said that the snakes were combed out of Atotarho's head by a Mohawk chieftain, thenceforward called Ha-yo-went-ha, " The Man who Combs." Perhaps this symbolizes the fact that the authority of the Atotarho, or head chief of the confederacy, was reduced to an almost nominal rank, involving little more than the privilege of presiding over the general council of the league ; but Indian symbolism, like Indian tradition, is of too shadowy a nature to admit of elaborate discussion in a work of this character.
Not only the early history of the Indian tribes, but their policy, laws, and organization, as they were before, or even since, the advent of the whites, cannot be delineated with any certainty of correctness. When the writer first began to consult authorities regarding the Five Nations, for the purpose of writing the history of another county, he sup- posed, after a short research, that he had mastered not indeed the minutia9, but the general outlines of the Iroquois policy, for the first book he read laid down the whole politi- cal and social system of those tribes with a clearness which could not be misunderstood and a positiveness which left nothing in doubt. But further investigation, instead of increasing, has sadly diminished his stock of knowledge on that subject, for other authorities give widely diflerent views not merely as to details, but in regard to the most essential points in the organization of the Ilcdonosaimee. He is now fully satisfied that their whole system was far less definite than is usually supposed, and that the precise and positive language which might properly be used by the historian to describe the constitution of a civilized people is entirely out of place in delineating the shadowy outlines of aborigi- nal customs.
Yet, as Oswego County was, from its first discovery to the close of the Revolution, acknowledged by French, Dutch, English, and Americans to be the property of the Iroquois, as it was constantly used by them as a hunting- ground, and as its fortunes during all that time were closely interwoven with those of that celebrated tribe, it would
seem as if an Oswego County history should give at least an outline sketch of their character and policy.
The most remarkable characteristic of the Iroquois was the system of clans, which extended through all the tribes of the confederacy. Although these associations were far diflFerent from the Scottish clans, which were almost inde- pendent nations (and, indeed, from any other societies in the world), yet the word " clan" is used by the best writers, as more nearly suiting the case than any other in our language.
There were, iit all, eight of thase clans, each named after something in the animal kingdom, viz. : Wolf, Bear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, Heron, and Hawk. Even in regard to this important matter we are met with the usual uncer- tainty which hangs over Indian affairs ; while some au- thorities declare that all the clans extended to all the tribes, others say that only the first three were thus widely spread, and that the other five clans only extended through two or three tribes each. The latter seems the more probable statement.
Each clan was a large family, all the members of which, however widely separated among the various tribes of the confederacy, were bound to each other by peculiar ties, and were under obligations to aid each other with fraternal care. The idea of family relationship was strengthened by pro- hibiting all intermarriage between members of the same clan. This was strictly enforced by public opinion, and those who violated it, if any such there were, were visited with the deepest disgrace. The Mohawk of the Beaver clan, whom the chase or war had led among the Senecas, living three hundred miles from his own castle, was at once made at home among his brother Beavers, though he might never have seen one of them before ; but he was bound to treat them as brothers and sisters, and marriage was not to be thought of
Whether the clan system was the fortunate outgrowth of fortuitous circumstances, or the splendid invention of some forest-born genius, there seems to be no doubt that it was the vital principle of the Iroquois confederacy. The feel- ing of brotherhood between the dans, carefully preserved by the prohibition of intermarriage, was a better preventive of war between the tribes than the most solemn compact which could have been formed among that barbarous people. The Oiiondagas could not go to war with the Cayugas, for in that case the Heron would have been compelled to do battle with his brother Heron. There must be no strife between the Oneidas and the distant Senecas, for if there were it would sunder the fraternal bonds uniting the Bear which reposed on the shore of Oneida lake to the fiercer Bear which roamed through the wilderness west of the
In each tribe there were several sachems, having some kind of authority. This much is certain ; but having ascer- tained so much, the unfortunate investigator is again sur- rounded by the clouds of doubt. The general belief is that the sachems were civil chiefs, having no authority in war. But Sir William Johnson, who ought to have had as good a knowledge of the Iroquois as any other white man in North America, said the sachems were elected chiefly on account of their warlike prowess. The latter view is much
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
more consistent with the usual customs of savages than the former, but the Iroquois were a peculiar people, and. wc are inclined to believe, from all the testimony, that there was more or less distinction between civil chiefs and war chiefs. Morgan, the able author of the " League of the Iroquois," says that there was no distinct class of war chiefs among the Five Nations, but every renowned warrior could beat up for volunteers, and obtain the leadership of a band of his countrymen. Certainly in some cases the fighting men of the Six Nations have been known to choose a leader for a particular battle only the day before it was to take place. The truth jirobably is that in regard to both civil sachems and war chiefs there was a lemleitcj/, so to say, to take them from particular ftimilies, but there were no definite regula- tions, and personal prowess, acknowledged wisdom, or oratorical skill frequently gained the day over the rights of primogeniture.
All admit that the Oiiondagas had a certain pre-emi- nence, and that the principal civil chief was always from that tribe, but the Senecas and the Mohaicks both claim to have had the honor of