The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 141

Major Noah Olmstead, Jr., Zenas Huggins, Gideon Tyler and his sons Elliot, Warren, Salmon, and Gideon, settled here.

THE FIRST BURIAL GROUND was on the lot on which is now the residence of C. M. Howlett, and for a time was the only burial place. In 1795, three-fourths of an acre was cleared in the northwest corner of the North Street Cemetery and fenced with logs. Gideon Tyler, Jr., was the first person buried there.

THE FIRST STORE at Hardenbergh's Corners, was opened in a log building on the site of the town hall, by James O'Brien, in 1795. Dr. Samuel Crossett soon after opened another store, also in a log building, on the site of the First Church chapel.

THE FIRST PHYSICIAN.--Dr. Samuel Crossett was the first physician, and Dr. Ellis the second, Dr. Burt read medicine with Dr. Crossett in 1796.

THE FIRST INN.--Samuel Bristol opened the first Inn in 1796, on the corner of North and Genesee streets, where is now the store of H. J. Brown. It was a small log cabin in which a store was also kept. A framed addition to it was built, and it was retained for many years as a public house. Nehemiah Smith built in 1796, a log house where is now the residence of James Seymour, on North street. Mr. Smith planted the poplars which were last year (1878) removed by Mr. Seymour and which, therefore, had stood there over eighty years. St. Clair Smith settled the same year in Aurelius, and Jehial Clark in Clarksville, the year before; the latter engaged largely in milling in opposition to Colonel Hardenbergh, in the eastern part of the settlement. They were both vigorous and enterprising men and between them there was a sharp rivalry as to which should draw to his locality the greatest number of settlers and secure the most business. Clark's Village was the name which first designated the western settlement. It was afterwards changed to Clarksville.

Mr. Clark had a fine water power on the stream, which he utilized by the erecton of a substantial saw and grist mill, the latter of the two run of stones. He also opened and improved the roads leading to his mills and the prospective village, of which he regarded his property as the center. His mill is yet standing and forms a part of the Mayflower Mills.

William Bostwick and Dan Hyde, arrived in 1798. The former was a builder and erected a large double log house on the north side of Genesee street where now stands the Beach block. Here he opened a tavern. The building was made conspicuous by a coat of whitewash both inside and out. A stump in the rear yard supported the family oven.

THE FIRST TANNERY.--Mr. Hyde built a tannery on the site of the Knight block, which in 1805, became the property of Elijah Esty; the former engaging in the mercantile business with Dr. Burt. The latter, two years later, became the sole owner of the business, and the former engaged in milling.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN.--The town government of Aurelius was first formed in 1794. The town meeting was held at the house of Col. Hardenbergh. The voters that attended that meeting were an honest, hardy, and weather-beaten band, in strong contrast with similar gatherings of to-day. They selected their supervisor, town clerk, school committee, overseers of the poor, highway commissioners, and all the other town officers.

These elections were held annually for nine years at the house of Colonel Hardenbergh, and afterwards at some tavern or school-house in the town, at the "Corners," or the "Openings," as the light timbered lands to the west of the Corners were called.

EARLY TOWN CLERKS.-- The early town clerks of Aurelius were as follows: Colonel John L. Hardenbergh, from 1794 to 1802; Samuel Crossett, M. D., from 1802 to 1803; John Harring, from 1803 to 1807; Dr. Hackaliah Burt, from 1807 to 1810; John Harring, from 1810 to 1811; David Brinkerhoff, from 1811 to 1813; Nathaniel Garrow, from 1813 to 1814; David Brinkerhoff, from 1814 to 1822; and David Calkins, from 1822 to 1823.

In 1800, the "Corners" were really yet "in the woods," there were only about 150 acres of cleared land, and the general appearance of the place was far from inviting. Large and dense hemlock, covered all the lower parts of the hamlet, and bogs, ponds and small streams covered large areas. The roads through the place were generally wet, very muddy and difficult of passage.

Through the hamlet passed the great flood of

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