THE HISTORY OF UNION SPRINGS - 1813-1860

By Thomas Connor


The early settler saw the placid and beautiful Cayuga on the west which 
would furnish him a means of easy transportation and whose waters were 
teeming with fish for his food, also the delightful climate combined 
with the streams, which would afford him water-power for mills and 
factories and various industries, the oak and hickory trees that would 
yield abuttments for bridges, logs for dwellings, mills and factories 
and he knew that the soil, which supported these trees, was strong and 
fertile and well drained by the numerous streams finding their way to 
the lake, and it was no wonder that the settler looked with covetous 
eyes on the little Indian village of Gewauga, and resolved that it 
should be theirs and History tells us it was destroyed September, 22, 
1779 and that 

In the place of the little Indian village is Union Springs, which is 
beautifully situated on Cayuga Lake, south of the center of the town and 
on its western border, and derives its name from the springs, which flow 
from the ground in the village, furnishing valuable water power.  There 
has been much speculation as to the origin of these springs, but nothing 
satisfactory and conclusive has yet been determined as to their source.  
History tells us that it has been thought that they come from Owasco 
Lake, which is considerably higher than Cayuga, but geologists claim 
that the formation of the rocks in that locality will not admit of such 
a theory.  A singular circumstance exists in the fact, that from two to 
four miles east of Cayuga Lake, large streams have been found forty-five 
feet under-ground, running from east to west.

Edward Richardson dammed the north spring about 1790, and a log grist 
mill was built not long after but the other spring was not used till 
several years later.

The view of the village approaching the lake is beautiful, so also is 
the view from the lake.  

Opposite the village lies the little island of Frontenac, the only one 
to be found in the whole chain of lakes of Central New York.  The island 
is three quarters of a mile from the village, contains about an acre of 
land, and was used as a place of burial by the Indians, who inhabited 
the country around. Numerous relics of Indian warfare and the chase, 
with many human bones, are still found on it.  Frontenac was deeded to 
Union Springs by the commissioners of the land office, acting under the 
provisions of legislative enactment, on condition that it should be kept 
and maintained as a park and pleasure ground.

When the Cayugas sold their lands to the state, they refused to part 
with a strip four miles wide extending from Aurora to Montezuma.  In 
1789, Mr. Richardson and several others had settled on this reservation 
the Indians entered a complaint against them, and the force of the state 
compelled the intruders to seek elsewhere for a place of settlement.  
Thus the land in this locality was not occupied permanently, as early as 
the country lying farther south for no title could be secured to the 
land till the Indians surrendered the Reservation to the State.  "The 
remnant of the tribe lingered on the point south of the village and one 
of the chiefs remained after his dusky friends and associates had gone 
to the far west, saying "it is impossible for me to leave the beautiful 
water."  After a time, he died and was burried near the waters he so 
well loved, by his friend James Carr.

It is stated that a hamlet containing several dwellings and a store, had 
been built up before a building was erected in what is now Union Springs 
but if such was the case not a trace of it remains at the present day.

Like most of the early settled towns in the country, this owed its 
location and growth to it's water power.  

The first permanent settlement was made by James Carr, Frederick 
Gearheart, Thomas Thompson, Wm. S. Burling, Dr. John Mosher, Dr.Stephen 
Mosher, John Early, Wm Barker, Captain Cozzens all of whom settled in, 
or about, 1800.

The first Post Office was established in the year 1800 and was kept by 
John Mosher.  It stood where the Town Hall now stands.  The first road, 
coming from the east, led to the little log mill which stood along the 
south side of North Millpond and a branch of this road extended to the 
first store kept by Laban Hoskins and Walter Low about 1810.  Thomas 
Collins was the first innkeeper of the inn, which stood near the present 
home of Yawger Bray.  It was at this inn that the early elections were 
held and Esek Winegar was elected as first village president.  It was 
here also that Robert L. Warne and Edward Greene stopped on a journey 
through Union Springs in the first covered carriage that ever passed 
through the village.  The second inn was located near the present site 
of the Bertram House and a portion of it now forms a dwelling house 
owned by Mrs. Jefferson Yawger on south Main Street.  It was replaced by 
a brick Hotel built by Silas Ludlow.  Still another inn popularly known 
as the "Battle Ground" stood east of George Fordyce's office.  The 
"Battle Ground" was kept by James Flinn.

The town was laid out in 1813 and the first street was Main street laid 
out in the same year.  The next street was Factory street, named from 
the various industries located along the street.  A large woolen mill 
stood on Factory street and a sawmill, tannery and clothing 
establishment made this an appropriate name.  Basin street extending 
down to the "Battle Ground" and what is now Rail-Road street containing 
the house now occupied by Americus Shay completed the streets extending 
to the lake.

Of the streets extending to the east Park street was the first to be 
laid out.

Homer street was second and for a long time contained only two houses, 
the Amos Jones place [ 4 Homer Street], now occupied by H. C. Hackett, 
and the Archie Macomber house [20 Homer Street] which was on the present 
site of the John J. Thomas residence.

The next street extended a short distance east of the Central Inn and 
was what is now known as Center street.  Along the south side of this 
street, near the present home of Mrs. Elizabeth Bliss [6 Center Street], 
was an old plaster field where frequent company trainings were held and 
gala day celebrations took place.  For a long time what is now known as 
the Woodhull residence was the only house on the street.  Seminary 
street was the last of the early streets to be laid out.  In 1846, 
Seminary street was all farm land, as was Anthony street which was owned 
by David Anthony and named after him. The first side walk was laid from 
the Fowler house, now occupied by Mrs. Hamilton the then Daniel 
Mersereau store now the residence of Wm. H.Cotter.  

The shade trees were planted along the streets in 1857.

In 1810, Laban Hoskins kept a store near the present site of the store 
occupied by Mersereau and Coles and a part of this store now forms a 
portion of the residence of Mrs. Mortimer Durkee.  The second store was 
built by Esek* Winegar, on the corner of Basin and Main streets, about 
1818.

* - LPH questions the name “Esek.”   Esek Winegar was born in 1809 and 
would have been only 9 years old in 1818.  It is thought that the 
reference should have been to Esek Winegar’s father, Philip Winegar who 
came to Union Springs in 1816.

The store built by Mr. Winegar was destroyed by fire in 1834 and rebuilt 
again in 1835.  The store now occupied by S. W. Rogers was also built by 
Mr. Winegar.  The store now occupied by F. E. Forbes was built by John 
C. Yawger and the Methodist society held meetings in the third story of 
this building. Isaac Valentine kept the first butcher shop in the 
basement of a store near the present site of Charles Tate's meat market.  
Daniel Mersereau Sr. occupied a store in the north district, in what is 
now a part of Wm. Cotters house. Col. Smith kept store where the Fordyce 
block now stands and which contains the P. O. and sold groceries and 
clothing.  Wm. Henry Chase occupied the store on the corner where Dr. 
Swayze now lives.  The building was afterward moved on the corner Main 
and Factory Streets and is now occupied by Murphy and Son.   The first 
school, founded in the village, was about ten rods east of what is now 
the Bertram House and the building was afterwards moved farther east and 
south on the hill between the residences of G. P. Schenck and Wm. 
Mersereau and was known as the "South District."  Amos Comely, Mr. 
Gridley and Adonijah Tillotson were the pioneer teachers of this 
district.  The second school was held in a small store building that 
stood east of Yawger Bray's house and was known as the "North District."  
Apr. 9, 1816, a deed was given by John Yawger and his wife, Elsie, to 
John Mosher, Laban Hoskins and James Van Sickle, as the trustees of the 
school.  The early teachers were Sylvester Wicks, Ann Eliza Johnson and 
Charles Lawrence.  After a time this building was unable to accomodate 
the many scholars, that came to school and a larger two story stone 
building was built, which is now the home of Mrs. Lawlor.  The union of 
the North and South Districts made what was the Union School and what is 
now the U.S. High School.

The Friends Academy was founded, in 1858, by subscription and run by 
Elder Barber.  The original building was of brick one hundred thirty 
five (135) feet long, three stories high with a basement and would 
accomodate one hundred [100] boarders.  Their catalog says The school is 
maintained by its current receipts, all profits being applied to 
improvements.  Both sexes are instructed in the school, which partakes 
much of the character of a large family."

The first church was Congregational, and was formed by Rev. Joshua Lane, 
the first preacher.  The second church was the Presbyterian built by Mr. 
Ketchum. In 1846, the Christian church was built on land given by Col. 
Smith, on north side of Homer Street [5 Homer Street].

Previous to this, the Christian society held meetings in the second 
story of what is now known as the Beam house on the corner of Main and 
Homer streets, which was built by Col. Smith and used as a store.  The 
Orthodox Friends held meetings in a barn, which they repaired on the 
present site of Mrs. Lairds barn, which was afterwards moved to the 
place where the Friend's meeting house now stands.  In 1846 the 
Methodist meetings were held in the third story of John Yawger's store 
now occupied by Mr. Forbes.  Afterward this society built what is now 
known as the old Methodist church now occupied by Austin Brothers as a 
blacksmith shop.  The Catholic church was built in about 1851.  Before 
the church was built, the society held services in James Courtney's 
house where the Friends Meeting House now stands.  Different priests 
came from Auburn to hold services and Father Quigley was the first 
priest to stay here. The following trustees were serving when the church 
was built Andrew Clark, Peter Fedigan, Richard McCanna and Lawrence 
Connor.  The church was built on land bought of Wm. Schobey.  The 
Baptist church was moved from near Powers Corners and was afterward 
destroyed by fire but was replaced by the present edifice.

The first ferry was run by Jas. Carr and was a double boat with tread 
horse power between the parts which was used when the wind did not blow.  
The boat after-wards built was a steam ferry made on the same plan built 
by Smith and Morgan and was called the "Enterprise", afterward changed 
to "Albert Beardsley," and run by Peter Carr as captain and Hicks 
Hilicker as engineer and made trip from Union Springs to Canoga landing.  
The name of the first steam boat was Talamackus [Telemachus?].  The boat 
yard was situated west of Howlands Mills and run by Hiram MacDonald.  
There was a steamboat built in the yard named "Robert Howland" used as a 
passenger and as a tow boat.

Some of the early settlers are said to have gone eighty miles to get 
their corn ground.  Afterwards Hardenburg's mills were erected in Auburn 
and grists were carried on horse-back to these mills.  Still later the 
pioneer took his sack of corn in a skiff and rowed to Canoga Mills.  The 
first grist mill built in U.S. was a small log mill located on the south 
side of the north mill-pond, not far from where the spring mills now 
stand.  The millpond extended across the present road and several rods 
to the east.  Later - George Howland of New Bedford, purchased 
considerable property and in 1834 erected the flouring mill, at north 
mill-pond, that is known now as the "Spring Mills.."  The mill is of 
limestone, four stories high and cost forty thousand dollars.  Richard 
Fowler was the first miller.  Mr. Howland had the embankment around the 
mill pond built eight feet higher.  Adjoining the flour mill was a saw 
mill and plaster mill, the three being connected by canal with the lake 
making it an easy matter to ship the products of all three mills without 
trouble or expense.  Farther down the canal was an axe helve factory, 
run by Mr. Wright, and later was turned to a spoke factory and 
afterwards to a bending works which was destroyed by fire.  There was a 
cooper shop west of the plaster mill and the building is still standing.

The storehouse used to set where George Fordyce's office stands now.  
There was a track from the top of the building running to the ground, 
for taking grain to the grain bins.  On the first floor there was a 
large wheel with a rope around it and by turning the wheel with a crank 
it would pull the car to the top.  

This store-house was owned by Smith and Morgan, who owned a number of 
boats and provided their own transportation.  Later Mr. Smith formed a 
partnership with Mr. Cone.  Smith and Cone trnasferred the store house 
to Albert and Norman Beardsley and they moved it to its present site.  
The first grain taken in by them, was drawn by Horace Schenck from his 
grand-father, John Schenck's, farm on the gully road.  Philip Winegar 
owned the store now occupied by Mersereau Bros. and he bought grain, 
stored it over-head and drew it to the lake and loaded it on boats.

The foundry was built by Wm. MacFarland.  There was also a foundry, 
owned by Anthony and Roundtree, back of what is now Wm. Richardson's 
store which was destroyed by fire.

At the foot of Factory Street there was a woolen mill, kept by Winegar 
and sons.  North of the woolen mill there was a grist mill and north of 
this a saw mill.  At south-eastern side of the north mill pond there was 
a blacksmith shop, kept by by Timothy Bush, who was also a maker of edge 
tools.  No such axes or knives were to be found in the country and 
fortunate was the man who could boast of a "Bush tool."  East of Main 
street. by the arch, was a wagon shop owned by Charles Hoagland, then 
John Hoagland and Isaac Eldredge owned it and Charles Hoagland had his 
shop where Mrs. Terry now lives.  Later - Abel Finch kept a blacksmith 
shop at east end of south mill-pond across from the blacksmith shop.  
James Allen made threshing machines.  Wm.Clarke owned the first printing 
press and the first printing was done where Wm. Richardson now lives.

>From James Carr, a Revolutionary soldier, can be traced five 
generations namely James Carr Hartman Carr, son of James Carr, and 
Deborah Carr Hoff, wife of Esek Hoff, Bessie Hoff Furman, wife of George 
Furman, and Beulah daughter of Bessie Furman.  

Samuel Jenny was also a Revolutionary soldier from this town.  

A headstone in the cemetery bears the name of John Burger a sold. of the
Mexican war.  

The mails were first carried by a man on horse-back to the first Post 
Office, kept in this town where the Town Hall now stands, and dumped in 
a large desk, and the Post Master had to fumble over all the mail to 
find the right mail. Afterward a stage drawn by a four-horse team 
brought, the then considered ponderous, mail bags to town.  Then mail 
carrying was transferred to steam- boats and still later was brought by 
the cars.  The early letter postage was 25 cents.  It was customary for 
five families to club to gether and each family could retain the paper 
one day.  

Some of the oldest houses in town as The "Fowler house" now occupied by 
Mrs. Hamilton, the present home of Mrs. Wales, the Episcopal parsonage, 
the Dr. Dodge house, now owned by Dr. Howland the "Ely house", just east 
of the home of Thos. Miles.

One of the early politicians of the town was Mr. Richardson who served 
as town clerk and was a member of Congress from a district composed of 
three Counties. He has left an able representative in our present 
supervisor  Col Richardson - Note:  The preceding paragraph was crossed 
out with the notation:  Not true. - Ran for the office and was beaten by 
Mr. Morgan -   Some of the early politicians were Peter Yawger, 
Wm.Schobey, Lenard Simmons, Dr. Dodge and John Richardson were Members 
of Assembly.  When the war broke out Capt. Angel was one of the first to 
respond from this town.  He raised a company in this town with himself 
as Captain and led them to the war.