The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879
BIOGRAPHY OF SOLOMON CUYKENDALL.

SOLOMON CUYKENDALL

SOLOMON CUYKENDALL was born in Minisink, Orange County, N. Y., December 6th, 1789 and was the first of a family of thirteen children of Martin and Anna (Cole) Cuykendall, natives of that place, where his father was born February 18th, 1764, and his mother, August 3d, 1769. His parents were married February 16th, 1789, and pursued farming in their native county till 1801, when they removed to the town of Aurelius, now Owasco, and bought a large tract of land on lot 100, near the site of Owasco village, upon which they resided till their death. Martin Cuykendall built, on the site of the present mills near Owasco, a grist and saw-mill, which were destroyed by fire about fifteen years ago. He operated these mills many years in connection with his farming operations, for he pursued the vocation of a farmer after his removal to this county. He was a representative man, thoroughly identified with the important interests of his town and an active participant in the administration of its affairs. He was a man of strict integrity, good executive ability and enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence of his townsmen, who honored him with many offices of trust and responsibility, among them that of Justice of the Peace, an office he held for many years. He was a prominent member of the Dutch Reformed Church of Owasco, and not only gave the ground upon which the edifice erected by that society stands, but also contributed largely in money and material in aid of its erection. He was a member of that Church for many years and until the division which occurred in that body in 1821, when he, with others, separated to form the True Reformed Dutch Church of Owasco, the house of worship for which society he also helped to build. He held the office of ruling elder in these churches more than forty years and faithfully discharged the duties of that office.

Martin Cuykendall died December 14th, 1843, and his wife, February 1st, 1844. He, together with his wife, two sons, two daughters-in-law and a grand-daughter, were stricken down within the short period of fourteen weeks with typhoid erysipelas, a malignant disease, more commonly known as "black tongue,: which was then prevalent. Mr. Cuykendall was universally esteemed. He was the firm friend of the Bible cause, of Evangelical missions, of temperance, and of every good work. He was ever ready with his counsel, prayers and property to minister to and ameliorate the sufferings of the afflicted. "His death was peaceful. He departed relying not on any work he had ever done, but exclusively on the merits of a crucified Savior." His son Cornelius, together with his wife Betsey, who died March 13th, 1844, aged 50, and infant daughter, Caroline Austin, who died February 29th, 1844, aged 3 years, were among the victims to this disease. Cornelius was a man of more than ordinary talents and acquirements. He enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens, and places of trust and responsibility were cheerfully confided to him. He held the office of magistrate for many years; was Member of Assembly in 1834 and '35; and held many other important offices, in all of which he acquitted himself honorably. In social and domestic life both he and his wife were uniformly kind, affectionate and cheerful, and sought to promote the happiness of all around them.

The children of Martin and Anna Cuykendall were, in addition to Solomon, Cornelius, who was born June 24th, 1791, and died March 4th, 1844; Leah, who was born July 5th, 1793, an died in April, 1857; Elizabeth, who was born August 25th, 1795, and died November 10th, 1796; Moses who was born August 11th, 1797, and died May 20th, 1804; Ezra, who was born October 30th, 1799, and died February 10th, 1813(?); Peter, who was born November 17th, 1801, and is still living in Ripon, Wisconsin; Wilhelmus, who was born March 5th, 1804, and died November 17th, 1843, with the black tongue; Levi, who was born March 7th, 1806, and died November 23d, 1806; Elias, who was born January 3d, 1808, and died December 10th, 1876; Catharine, who was born January 18th, 1810, and is now living un-married in Elmira, N. Y., Martin, who was born January 23d, 1812, and died December 23d, 1812; and John, who was born October 31st, 1814, and died July 25th, 1874.

Solomon remained on the homestead farm until he was 29 years old. He never attended school after he was twelve years old. Yet he had a good education, which he obtained by a close application to the best books and papers. He was a close observer and was well posted on all religious and political topics,--a man thoroughly well informed. He assisted his father in clearing off the forest and carrying on the farm. At the age of twenty-six years he was united in marriage with Mary Brann, daughter of John and Isabelle Brann. She was born in Orange County November 10th, 1792. Three years after his marriage he bought a farm of seventy acres in the village of Owasco and worked it about thirty years, when, in consequence of his inability to carry on business, he sold it to his son, with whom he resided till his death, which occurred March 24th, 1872.

He possessed estimable qualities of head and heart, which commended him to, and won for him, the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. He was a prominent man in his town, in which he held the offices of supervisor three terms, postmaster, justice of the peace, assessor and commissioner of highways, performing the varied and responsible duties connected therewith with singular fidelity, strict integrity, and an efficiency which reflected much credit on his mental capacity and executive ability.

In politics Mr. Cuykendall was a Democrat. He was a man of strong religious convictions and a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, to which his wife also belonged.

Polly C., wife of Solomon Cuykendall, died December 17th, 1843, and was one of the seven who died within so short a period of the disease before referred to. She was prostrated upon a bed of languishing and death after having watched for a fortnight, by day and night, at the sick bed of her husband and others of her family, and after all had recovered or were convalescing.

Mrs. Cuykendall was an excellent woman, and was actuated by motives of a high order in all the varied relations of life. As a daughter she was filial, as a wife, affectionate; as a mother, loving and devoted; and as a neighbor, kind and charitable. She adorned her religious profession by a uniform, consistent, christian life. "The reality and depth of her piety were envinced in the deep and abiding sense she had of her sinfulness and unworthiness; placing all her confidence for justification and eternal life in a crucified Savior. During her last illness she was unable to converse much with her friends, but she was enabled to express her meek submission to the will of her Heavenly Father and a joyful hope of eternal blessedness through the blood of her blessed Redeemer."

Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Cuykendall had three children,---sons, viz: Martin S., who was born November 23d, 1816, married Ellen Brinkerhoff of Niles, January 29th, 1838, by whom he had one son, (Martin S., born November 21st, 1838,) and died May 21st, 1838; John B., who is now living in Owasco, was born December 17th, 1818, and married Sarah Cole of Locke, March 15th, 1849, by whom he has two children, William Titus, born December 12th, 1849, and Mary B., born March 25th, 1854; and William B., now living in Plymouth, Ohio, who was born July 3d, 1828, married Adelaide O. Tompkins of Owasco, February 4th, 1852, by whom he had three children, all of whom are dead.

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