Early Settlers
Written by Vera Curtis, The History of Marion was printed in November 1925 in The Marion Enterprise and The Union-Gazette, and was revised in March 1937. The following excerpts highlight some of the early settlers:
BEGINNING IN 1795
Henry Lovell, Timothy Smith, and Daniel Powell came early in 1795. Henry Lovell and Timothy Smith took up what is now the west side of Main Street. Lovell's log house was built near the site of the house now occupied by Fred Cattieu. The first birth and the first death in the town of Marion was a child of Henry Lovell's born in 1795. This child lived but a few weeks and was buried under a large maple tree back of his house.
TIMOTHY SMITH
Timothy Smith built the original of the hotel in Marion. He must have been a public spirited man, for the first town meeting of Sodus, held on April 2, 1799, elected him highway commissioner and also school commissioner. In 1800 he was supervisor of the town of Sodus. The town meeting of Sodus in 1801 was held at his home in Marion, as was also the first town meeting of the newly formed town of Williamson, which was held at his home in March, 1803.
DANIEL POWELL
Daniel Powell with his wife and eight children came to Palmyra from Massachusetts in 1794 and removed to Marion in 1795. He was a wealthy man for those days. He took up a farm of 126 acres now owned by Arthur Young. He was a man of extraordinary strength and it is said he cleared over 500 acres in the towns of Marion and Williamson.
DAVID SWEEZEY
David Sweezey came to Marion in 1795 with his family from New Jersey, making the trip by boat. He settled a large farm in the southern part of the town. Part of this farm is still in the family, being owned by Lucian Sweezey. The first recorded meeting, April 2, 1799, of the old town of Sodus, which then included what now comprises seven towns, chose David Sweezey as collector and constable. David Sweezey was buried in the old family burying ground which was on the hill back of the school house just north of Lucian Sweezey's land.
SAMUEL CALDWELL
Samuel Caldwell came to Marion in 1795 coming from New Jersey by land with a team and wagon, leading a cow behind. He took up the farm still known as the "Caldwell Place," now owned by his great-great-grandson John S. Rich, second. The earliest recorded town meeting of Sodus, April 2, 1799, chose Samuel Caldwell as school commissioner. At the March 6, 1804 meeting of the town of Williamson, he was elected assessor and overseer of the poor. Samuel Caldwell was buried in the family burying ground on the farm, but now rests in the Marion Cemetery.
ROBERT SPRINGER
The year of 1796 brought David Sherman, Robert Springer and William B. Cogswell. Robert Springer came to Marion from Rhode Island and made a small clearing. He returned to Rhode Island and the next year brought his family, including five sons to the farm later known for a good many years as the James Shaw farm on the Palmyra Road. Later, he moved to the farm, part of which Edward Corteville now owns.
WILLIAM B. COGSWELL
William B. Cogswell, another pioneer from Rhode Island, came that year. He took up the land opposite the Thomas Witherden farm on the Williamson Road. Ontario County records of 1797 state that he was tax collector for the town of Sodus in that year. The tax collected was $233.50, coming from the seven towns of what is now Marion, Williamson, Sodus, Ontario, Walworth, Lyons and Arcadia. In 1804, William B. Cogswell was highway commissioner for the town of Williamson. Mrs. Amanda Hodges, a descendant, owned until recently the farm William B. Cogswell took up later in the town.
DAVID SHERMAN
David Sherman came in 1790 at the age of seventeen to Palmyra with his brothers. He married Elizabeth Howell in 1796 and settled on a hundred acre farm in Marion, which was a gift of his brother Humphrey Sherman. This he rapidly cleared and when he could find no more forests to conquer, he sold to the first purchaser which was Samuel Caldwell. This farm is still known as the Caldwell Farm. He bought a tangled woodland and made of it the Sherman farm, where his descendants have lived until recently when it was purchased by Joseph De Nearing. His fame as a driver of oxen through the forest or as a teamster in long journeys was wide spread. When the Negus family wanted to come west, David went to Rhode Island on foot and brought the family to Wayne County. When the Howells wanted to come from New Jersey, he went after them on foot. When the Browns wanted to go to the Mississippi River, he led the way for them, returning by foot. When sixty years old, he went to Rhode Island and returned on foot, staying only two nights. When Captain Williamson wished to send a load of goods from Canandaigua to Pultneyville, he selected David Sherman. He took the goods on his sled and came to Marion the first day. From William Cogswell's (Witherden Farm), it was unbroken forest. In four days, without help, he made his own roads and got the load through. His marriage to Elizabeth Howell was the first one in town. In I799, David Sherman registered his sheep mark in the town of Sodus. His grandson Jefferson Sherman was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1879. He also served as school commissioner in the Second District of Wayne County. David Sherman's great grandson, Orrin Sherman, was sheriff of Wayne County in 1910. Other Pioneers were John Harkness; Zadac Huggins, the singing teacher; Seth Harris; John Case, the preacher; Jesse Harding; David Mason; Zebina Crane; Seth Tucker, the first doctor, whose home was on the site of the present home of Roy Curtis; Judge Marvin Rich, who lived many years at the Upper Corners; Stephen Sanford; William and Thomas Cory, from whom Cory Corners is named; Julius Hutchinson; and Joel Hall, from whom Hall Center is named.
ELIPHALET DEAN
Eliphalet Dean came to Marion about the year 1810 from New Ashford, Mass., with his wife, Synda Mason. He located on the Dean farm, which belongs now to his great-grandson Miles B. Dean, who served the town as supervisor for many years. Eliphalet Dean died on April 20, 1852, at the age of 80, and was buried in the old Upper Corners Cemetery.
SETH CURTIS
Seth Curtis was born in Sharon, Connecticut in 1778. He lived for a time in Columbia County, and also in Steuben County, coming to Marion in 1807. He took up one hundred acres of land at $2.50 an acre. About this time he signed a note for $100 and had it to pay. He worked at his trade, carpentry, for one hundred days at one dollar a day, and allowed himself but two hours' sleep in twenty-four, so that he might have time to spend in clearing his farm. He had the ambition to leave behind him $10,000, which he more than realized. He saw service in the War of 1812 at Buffalo, Sackets Harbor and Fort Niagara. The gun which he carried during the war is in the possession of his grandson, Roy Curtis. This gun is a flint lock, which belonged to the English government and was assembled for use during the reign of King George I. Judge Cassius M. Clark of Peabody, Kansas, is a great-grandson of Seth Curtis. Rev. Seth Curtis Beach of Watertown, Massachusetts was a grandson.
STEPHEN SANFORD
Stephen Sanford came from Tiverton, Rhode Island, soon after the year 1800. He married Lydia, daughter of William Cory, before leaving Tiverton. He purchased 100 acres of land south of Cory Corners in 1805 for $325, and a year later 50 acres adjoining, for $250. They had ten sons and five daughters; all except four lived to be married. The land purchased by Stephen Sanford was divided among his children, who lived in Marion and are buried in Marion Cemetery. The deeds transferring 150 acres from Daniel Powell to Job Booth in 1797, and finally to Stephen Sanford in 1805 and 1806, are carefully preserved by a grandson, Chester Sanford.
ELIAS DURFEE
Elias Durfee was a leading townsman for many years. He was a member of the Assembly in 1847. He was supervisor first in 1829 and served thirteen years in all, in that office. He built in 1830 the beautiful Durfee home on Buffalo Street. During his lifetime part of the grounds were laid out to a deer park. This place is now the home of Charles Scutt.
EDDY RIDGE
Eddy Ridge was settled by Seth, David, and William Eddy. Seth Eddy was a member of the Assembly in 1831 and 1832. He was supervisor in 1826 and 1839. David Eddy was a side-judge at one time. He was supervisor from 1817 to 1820.
DAVID HARDING
David and William Harding came from Rhode Island. The town meeting of Williamson in 1803 elected David assessor and gave him a fee of $4.37 for this work. The oldest marker in the cemetery at Marion Upper Corners is that of his wife, Nabbey, who died September 1, 1806, at the age of 40 years. William Harding died November 10, 1824 and is also buried there. David Harding moved to Indiana and in 1862 his son Stephen Harding was governor of Utah.
MICAJAH HARDING
Micajah Harding was a leader in civil and religious matters. In 1804, he was assessor and also overseer of the poor for the town of Williamson. He was one of the original members of the Baptist Church in Marion in the same year. He organized a company of sharpshooters, who served in the War of 1812.
THOMAS YOUNG
Thomas Young came to Marion in 1803. His father, Thomas, was a Revolutionary War soldier from New Jersey. He settled the farm of 123 acres in Marion which for many years was the home of the Young family and is now owned by M. J. Merson. Thomas Young first lived in a log house and in 1817 started to build the beautiful home which is now on this farm. In 1830 he built the main part of the house from lumber out of the woods on the farm. He bought land on both sides of him and in all had 275 acres in his farm. In 1812, his son Nelson Young saw the soldiers go past the farm. He died at the age of 88 years in 1866. His grandson is Conway Young of East Palmyra and his great grandson is Thomas Young of Marion, whose home is on part of the farm of his great grandfather.
THOMAS CLARK
Thomas Clark came early to Marion and was a resident on the Clark farm until his death. This farm is located just north of Marion village and is now owned by Isaac W. Johnson. His grandson, Thomas M. Clark, was sheriff of Wayne County in 1876. Judge Cassius Clark of Peabody, Kansas, is a greatgrandson.
ZEBINA CRANE
Zebina Crane came to Marion in 1810 from Genoa, Cayuga County, to which place he had come from Cranetown, New Jersey. He settled about one-half mile from Marion on the farm which is now owned by Arthur White. He built a log house with bark roof, stone fireplace and used blankets for doors. Here he lived for about two years. He built the first blacksmith shop in town, was a famous shingle maker, and could do a fair job of mason work and carpentry. In the war of 1812, he went to the defense of Pultneyville and served for sometime after that in the war. He died in 1823 and is buried at the Upper Corners Cemetery.
NOLES NEGUS
Among the early settlers of Marion there were several soldiers who had served during the War of the Revolution. Noles Negus was a private from Rhode Island and is buried in the Negus family cemetery which is in the orchard on the hill of Peter VanHall's farm east of Marion. A road which is now unused passed these graves. There are no markers standing, for about twenty years ago they were taken down by the farm owner.
WILLIAM RICE
William Rice enlisted at the age of 16 from Massachusetts in the Revolutionary War. He also served three years in the War of 1812, He came to Marion in 1832 and died in 1835 at the age of 70. He was buried at Cory Corners on the farm now owned by Arthur Young. The marker from his grave was set in the wall of the hall of the Presbyterian Church when it was built in 1912.
OBIDIAH ARCHER
Obidiah Archer was born in Hebron, Connecticut, Feb. 5, 1700. He served two years in the Revolutionary War. He came to Marion in 1835 and died April 8, 1851, at the age of 91 years. His grave is well marked on the Archer lot in Marion Cemetery.
DURFEE HICKS
Durfee Hicks was another resident of Marion who served in the Revolutionary War. He was born March 1757. He enlisted in 1775. In 1776 he served as a marine on the ship Providence. He died Feb. 12, 1844, at the age of 86 years and is buried south of Marion, in the town of Palmyra, on the farm now owned by John Cleason. The grave has a good marker.
SOLOMON LEONARD
Solomon Leonard had been a private in the Connecticut Continental troops. He died about 1848 and is buried in the Marion Cemetery on the James Leonard lot; there is no marker on his grave. Albert C. Leonard of Newark, N.Y., is his grandson and has the bayonet he carried during the war.
WILLIAM CORY
William Cory was born in 1753. He enlisted on January 6, 1776, in Elliotte Regiment at the age of 23, and was corporal in Captain John Karzien's Company. His name was on the muster roll of Warwick-on-the Hudson, near New York City, February 15, 1778. He died on September 26, 1838, at the age of 85. Colonel William Prescott Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, placed a marker on his grave in the cemetery at Marion, with dedication ceremonies, on October 16, 1930.
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