History of Early Settlement and a Hope for the Future!

Jim Monahan and his reenactors!

The history of settlement in many of our early communities formed around lush rich soil, water bodies or old transportation routes, in some cases around something as simple as mineral deposits like “salt”.

In early times a salt source or spring was sought and early settlers flocked to it to boil off water to gain a cup of the needed mineral.  Salt in colonial times was as valuable as gold as a source of money or for trade. Salt as a trade-ware is traced as early as 6050 BC.  Salt is a need mineral for man or animal…needed to dry meat and preserve fish, it was also needed to make many other components of life.  From the history of salt in America we find from “SALT WORKS”  – History of Salt….. 

“Salt motivated the American pioneers. The American Revolution had heroes who were salt makers and part of the British strategy was to deny the American rebels access to salt. Salt was on the mind of William Clark in the groundbreaking Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific Northwest. The first patent issued by the British crown to an American settler gave Samuel Winslow of the Massachusetts Bay Colony the exclusive right for ten years to make salt by his particular method. The Land Act of 1795 included a provision for salt reservations (to prevent monopolies), as did an earlier treaty between the Iroquois' Onondaga tribe and the state of New York. New York has always been important in salt production.”

Yes the settlement of Central New York...our area…counted on local commerce products like fur and salt... something that in part created the need for Fort Stanwix to guard the area known as the “Oneida Carry”. 

History is in some ways is a road sign to the future. It seems that as a historian you are continually seeing the current happenings in a context of what has transpired in the past and then predicting what will happen in the future.  In every small town in rural America we can see that past disappearing before our eyes.  Sitting here at night writing I wonder if perhaps there might be a rebirth of the rural small communities as more and more people do business from home and seek out peaceful setting to escape to. 

Here in Eaton we have the reservoirs and small lakes that in the past filled with only summer people…but more and more of these “camps” are becoming year round homes.  As the suburbs inch closer and our electric & Internet improve… I wonder if some of these areas like Eaton might again revitalize again.  It’s a wonderful thought isn’t it.!

Video of past Memorial Day Mondays at the Potters Field honoring our Veterans please view and enjoy!.

Wee Willy Winkie of Eaton!

The Old Town of Eaton will be open on Sunday from 1 pm until 3 pm and I about the original Fourth of July in our area.  This celebration would have come much later to the official outpost for the area Fort Stanwix.... sometime around the 20th or so. So stop in and learn some history!

Some humor for you!

With our electric cost rising we know all of the energy saving tips..Energy Star appliances (if you can afford them), use cold water to wash clothes with, turn off computers and TV's that have heater thingys to keep them ready to spring alive....turn off lights when not in use....ahhh but I never seemed to be able to remember to do that...!

I have done them all.  I am poor and need to save energy as my electric bill is high.  Down here in the country I have electric water pump, electric stove, electric water heater and in the winter electric fans and a space heater in the bathroom.  Last year I froze and got an unbelievable bill or two! So I am saving for next year!

I have closed the house down to two rooms, cooked on a wood stove if possible in winter, and have little multiple outlets with interrupters on them attached to computers, TVs etc.  I flip the switch after I use it and ..bam no electric use...I disconnect chargers for everything the same way.....bam!

But the most energy I have saved on my electric bill came from my newest dilemma...no lightbulbs.  Yes I use the squiggly kind to save energy but they have died.  So now I use my new energy saving method...BULB SNATCHING!!!

I know this sounds funny but if I carry the same bulb from room to room with me..one - the light is off in the room I left..and  two - I only use light where I am...I cut my bill way down...way down!

So if you really need to save money...BULB SNATCH...you will see your bill go down !! REALLY! It works for me.

But if you come to my house at night ..wait for me to keep moving the bulb ...especially if I am in the front of the house and you are at the backdoor.  It takes time for me to get there......or you can bring your own bulb!

The Historic Eaton Church is 193 Years Old Today!

June 6th is an important date in Eaton as it is the Anniversary of the founding of the Eaton Church founded on June 6th, 1833 and is the sight I see each morning while writing this blog. At that time it was the Congregational Church, its founding members included two of the original incorporators of the Baptist Theological Seminary that became Madison University and today's Colgate University.

In 1848 the church hosted the Congregational Society’s yearly northeast meeting at which time the Congregational Society officially adopted an anti-slavery stand.  Some information on this is in the Cornell College Library.

The church had many noteworthy pastors including its first installed minister the Reverend E D Willis.  I became interested in Willis because he lived in my house, a house that Allen Nelson Wood and his wife would buy on their return to Eaton.

The church’s members at that time included Allen Nelson Wood founder of the Wood, Taber & Morse Steam Engine Works and both his partners Loyal Clark Taber and Walter Morse.

Other famous Eatonites who attended services were Melville Delancey Landon and his family. Landon became a well known as both a writer and as a lecturer. Many rich and famous people attended the church during the Victorian era during what time Grover Cleveland’s brother; the Reverend William Cleveland was its pastor. E D Willis the first installed Minister was a friend of Gerrit Smith and married the Tiffany Family members.

The church still today houses a historic Meneely Clock and Bell that were paid for in 1848 by Ellis Morse son of Joseph Morse founder of Eaton. and the churches windows which bear the names of some of Eaton’s greats... still grace its interior; an interior that sported  hand turned pillars turned by Allen Wood himself.

During the Civil War the Eaton Churches banded together and held services attended by each other patrons during the week to pray for the wars end.  Prayers were also read during the Wars that followed.

Eventually, the Congregational Church became part of the Federated Churches of Eaton and then later became a Community Bible Church under the Pastor Thomas Clark who improved not only the building, and but helped institute a fabulous AWANA program. During the time he was pastor the congregation also built a large activities building  that is used today for youths to play basketball and games and to host special functions.

The Church located on Brooklyn Street is the focal point of a new display at the Eaton Museum.

Speech at the Cemetery on Memorial Day...& Thank You!

 Well folks..... the Big Memorial Day Event is over.....with a bit of rain and good help... it was a success....To all that turned out..Thank You!

For me the big complaint was the speaker system at the cemetery...So sorry we tried to borrow one...but was unable to, most likely because of other Memorial Day Services.  Since it was important to the event...I will give you what I said that morning here!

The Historic Eaton Cemetery has within its grounds the bodies of many of the men who fought in the Revolutionary War and who moved west to settle this historic town.  Veterans of that war who fought at Lexington and Concord...(the Shot heard around the World) as well as Bunker Hill (Breeds Hill)

These men moved to this community from, in many cases, Massachusetts to make this part of that state. We ended up becoming  New York State.

George Washington and George Clinton with Col. William Smith rode through this area after the war to look for land to buy.  Today the Washington Tract still has Historic Markers that read to that effect.

Col. William Smith an adj. to Washington. who married President Adams daughter Abigail, bought the parcel that makes up much of Eaton selling these parcels to Col. Joshua Leland.   The area became known as Smith's Valley and is the first clearing in Madison county. These men fought for freedom and democracy and so we honor them here today...including Miles Standish III...grandson of Miles Standish...and all the Veterans of all the Wars fought for our Freedom buried here. 

The flag that we raisted was sent to us in 1995 by the Hometown of many of these men, Sherburne, Mass...they flew the flag over the Town Hall and presented it to us with a formal proclamation!

Below is a video I did for this area which tells the rest of the story...put you sound on and learn local history!

Lets come together for Memorial Day and Remember what is good and enjoy our community!

Today here in Eaton we say Eaton Day or “History Day” as we originally called it and celebrate it on Memorial Day, but for many years it followed the tradition of a “community day” every year on the 4^th of July.  Today of course, Hamilton has stolen the 4^th as their big day… but in the past it was Eaton’s Day and people came for miles to strut their stuff and catch up with the community and it people.

In those days the event even included horse racing at breakneck speeds through town and across.  The local stable was a noted hang out to “star” horses and one of its ‘overnight” guests was the incredible horse Dan Patch.  Flora Temple once graced the small paddock on what was then the Hamilton Skaneateles Turnpike, a road whose cost the Morse family of Eaton half paid for in 1811.

The Eaton Band and the Military Band beat the drums and blared martial music as the merchants (then many) put out their wares. The bandstand was located next to the place we hold Eaton Day each year on what was then the Skaneateles Turnpike today’s route 26.   The spot we set up is actually the spot where Samuel Chubbuck invented the key and sounder for SFB Morse’s Telegraph!  It is his equipment that sent the first message. Chubbuck’s father was noted for running a hotel and more than one Tavern.

The ladies aid put on supers and the lunch business thrived.  A dance and suppers were often held in the Masonic Hall, a building that is dilapidated today but still standing in town with a roof that once extended over gas pumps.

 The ladies of the churches put on meals for visitors… and their famous preachers including Grover Cleveland’s brother, and Nathaniel Kendrick… would have tried to tone down the activities. One of Eaton’s historic churches still stands with its historical marker out front. Families of the Churches would have included the famous missionaries to be, Emily Chubbuck Judson, Jonathan Wade, Andrew Bigelow Morse, and more.

Wood. Taber & Morse's new Steam Engines would be there in front of the factory...all shined up ready to impress, Melville Landon "Eli Perkins" might be up from New York or Washington to summer and relatives from far and near would return to enjoy the community they sprung from.

Gone is Davenports Store that was noted for its wares and for its owners who were loved by the population and were successful for many years.  That store is still standing is now a residence with its large white pillars on the side…. not in the front! 

Paddy Miles firing not a cannon but his anvil for many years jolted the town awake.  Yes, an Anvil…. that had a hole in it where black powder was poured and a fuse lit.  Today we have Jim Monahan and his cannon crew who dress in Revolutionary War era costume and fire a real cannon on occasion.  This tradition being brought down since the majority of founding fathers served in the Revolution.

And for the holiday itself, the Eaton Cemetery is spruced up and over 200 flags grace the graves of men and women who served their country in all conflicts of the past including some that were at Bunker Hill, Lexington and Concord.

Old times and memories to be sure, but pieces of history that should be celebrated, and people who should be honored for their service in this the 221^st year of the community.  In order to protect their history and the artifacts that remain… we the Friends of the Old Town of Eaton Museum... beg you to come out and enjoy the day. Talk to each other, eat, get involved in the raffles, bake sale, white elephant sale… join the "Friends" and support a museum that preserves the history of the area and the “Community.”

Future generations will thank you for it!

News for Memorial Weekend here in Eaton.

 This year we are starting the Event on Sunday with our Annual White Elephant/Garage Sale and Gift  Shop & Bake Sale.  The fun begins at 9am and will close at 3pm.  Come early as the goodies won't last long..  The Old Town Museum will be open from 1pm to 3 pm with Backstreet Mary there to answer any questions you might have.  At the Gift Shop and Sale you will be able to purchase our 50/50 Raffle tickets as well as our Raffle of many special Donated items including  

an Afghan, Art Work,  Craft Items & More... that have been Donated.

SETTLEMENT 

I decided this year it would be proper for us we to honor the Revolutionary War Veterans who settled this area, including Smith's Valley.

One of the more interesting aspects of our area is the old historic marker that stands on River Road marking Madison Counties Early settlement history.  The marker lies just below the Old Town of Eaton Museum and lists the first clearing in what is now Madison County.. 1788...The Bark Hut.

If one takes the time to pick threw Mrs. Hammond's History of Madison County you will note many stories on our early founding including where men forged into what was still considered" indian country," and upon arrival made a rudimentary hut to stay in. This area actually formed what was eventually a set of log homes that stretched from Lebanon to Eaton then dubbed "Log City".

Most of these men and those that came later were veteran's of the Revolutionary War and some had followed Col. William Smith to his land patent set up by Joshua Smith (not a relative) who served under him. Joshua was sent by Col. Smith to find him the best tract of land in the area...which Joshua did, and where upon he built a bark hut.These actual squatters were indeed our first settlers and ironically today over two hundred years latter,  many of these families names still live on here.

Col.William Smith is buried inWest Hill Cemetery in Sherburne, but members of his family (sisters & brothers) owned land in Eaton.  It is interesting to read the many storied by Harry Hart, and one in particular that accused Smith's brother Justice of trying to hold up deeds from purchasers.

We have many veterans buried in the area and some like Miles Standish who is buried in the Eaton Village Cemetery,

To honor these men we decided to do a talk on the Revolutionary War to open our Memorial Day
Celebration if it is possible.

Backstreet Mary will be Speaking on Memorial Day... Subject Early Settlement!

Come and join us on Memorial Day to learn the history of our early settlement...straight out of our 250 years of History!

There is so much history in this little CNY area I live in …but it seems time and time again only the glitzy, money pushed, history sites make it to our attention.

Take for instance the existence of a peace-seeking town where people could interact as brothers working together to form a new community and a better life after many struggles.

No it isn’t a commune with religious fanatics or gun totting radicals… it is a place called Brothertown. Yes Brothertown.  

This town like every other Native American site has been pushed out of our local history.  Brothertown was located around the area we call Deansboro today.

The population of it was made up of a number of New England tribes that had been marginalized (our new modern term) as the white man took over American soil.  Pequots, Mahegans, Mohegans, Narragansetts,  and more. (Yes Uncas’ Mohegans) 

The idea was the brainchild of leaders like Joseph Johnson and then organized and realized by Samson Occum.  Both Native Americans who had attended the school of Rev. Eleazer Wheelock, both Christian converts.  Samson Occom became the first Native American to have his works published and was considered a fabulous public speaker which can be attested to by the amount of money he raised in England for Rev. Wheelock’s cause… of educating Native Americans in Christian white culture. The money raised eventually helped Wheelock form Dartmouth College, which like our own Hamilton College pandered to white societies children.

Started on a tract of land given to them by the Oneida Nation prior to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the community never came into being until after the Revolution.  Then the group in the 1830’s was pushed out to Wisconsin.  A few remained or returned thanks to the help of Quaker missionaries… but the site itself now is just another American community called Deansboro, and roads like Bougusville Hill Road are nothing but back roads where a NYS Historic Marker denotes an abandon cemetery or two… and nothing more.

Samson Occum was a special man we should know about in our local history. 

With all the rain this week I was unable to finish a video that I have planned to do on Samson Occum's graveyard at Occum Grove. As the Madison County Historian I got to meet one of the Mahican historian's who was researching the different families that migrated to Brothertown and although many think that the Brothertown and Stockbridge tribes just signed the paper to sell the land without duress before their move to Wisconsin... this is something I sincerely doubt considering the atmosphere and hatred of the era of "Indian Relocation to reservation in the West".  We may never know.  But locally the move occurred after the death of Samson Occum their leader.

Samson Occum was an unusual man… he was said to be a direct descendant of the great Chief Uncas of the Mohegan’s.  (There were a number of Uncas leaders… a fictitious one was put in as a character in James Fennimore Cooper’s “Last of the Mohegan’s”.)

Occum studied at the Rev. Eleazer Wheelock’s “Latin Theology” school and was able to read English and Hebrew. After graduation Samson became an ordained Presbyterian minister and teacher to the Pequot’s of Montauk, New York.

In 1851 his former teacher Rev. Wheelock…asked Occum to travel abroad to raise money for a charity school he was founding for the schooling of Native American children in Christian white ways.  

On this tour of England, Occum and a co-speaker raised over 12,000 pounds for Wheelock and preached 300 plus speeches (sermons – appeals) to an audience that was most likely in awe of a Native American preacher and speaker. *King George himself donated 200 of these pounds.

While Occum was out of the country however… the money he raised was being used by Wheelock to start what would become Dartmouth College, a school that catered to children of white families with some money.  (Wheelock had also failed to take care of Occum’s wife and children… something that was part of the agreement he made with Wheelock before leaving.)

So with his son-in-law Joseph Johnson, Occum then set out to found his own tribe of Christian Indians from the New England area, they became known as Brothertowns.  The Brothertowns settled on a parcel of property given to them by the Christian Oneida’s of Kanowanhole, the land lying in today’s Town of Marshall.  

This piece was just outside of Rev. Samuel Kirkland’s parcel now called Clinton. (Kirkland)  Ironically Kirkland said that he too was going to found a college where the White and Native Americans could learn together.  That college became today’s Hamilton College and up until recent years that school had not graduated one Native American.

Occum’s home is marked by and NYS Historic marker near Deansboro and Samson Occum is buried in the Occum Grove Cemetery on Bougusville Hill Road. His obituary was carried in many Newspapers and the Rev. Samuel Kirkland delivered his funeral sermon.  Some of Occum’s papers rest today at Dartmouth College.  

The chief of the Christian Oneida’s that supported the colonies in the Revolutionary War and great friend of Kirkland’s who gave land  and promoted the college for co-education of Native Americans and whites...(Skenandoah) is buried with Kirkland at the Hamilton College Cemetery.