The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 142
City of Auburn

western emigration and its appearance rather repelled than invited settlers; other sections presented to the emigrants more inviting prospects. The "Openings" or light timbered lands in the western part of the town, and the fertile and apparently more favored regions bordering on Cayuga Lake, were strong rivals.

SLAVES.--Slaves were at this time held by such of our sitizens as could afford their cost, and slavery was tolerated by law and upheld by public opinion. One of Colonel Hardenbergh's slaves purchased his freedom by clearing for his master eighty acres of heavily timbered land; and two slaves of Peter Hughes purchased their freedom in the same way. Liberty, to those who paid for it so great a price, must have been highly prized. Slaves were then advertised and sold as other chattels. Such advertisements may be seen in the early newspapers of the village.

THE FIRST BIRTH of a white child at the "Corners," was that of John H., son of Colonel Hardenbergh, in 1798. The Colonel is said to have made the acquaintance of the lady he married, a daughter of Roeliff Brinkerhoff, of Owasco, while she was waiting for a grist to be ground, which she had brought on horseback several miles through the forest. Harriet and Polly, daughters of William Bostwick, were the first girls born at the Corners, of white parents.

THE FIRST POST-OFFICE was established in 1800, at which time a mail was received once in two weeks. Stages were run over the Genesee road the same year, traveling only in the day time and making exceedingly slow progress. As late as 1817, four days were required to reach Albany. In 1804 stages ran twice a week, and fours years later, three times per week. Isaac, father of the late Colonel John M. Sherwood, and Jason Parker, were the first mail carriers, the mail being borne on horseback.

The first bridge across the outlet was built of logs, in 1800. Teams had previously forded it, and footmen had passed over it on the trunks of trees felled across the stream.

A broad and substantially built plank bridge was thrown across the outlet in 1802 and was a favorite place of resort of the citizens for various athletic sports. Hard as they toiled, they yet had sufficient vigor to enjoy physical sports.

In 1800, Daniel Grant, Zenas Goodrich, Francis Hunter and Elijah Esty became residents. The latter, in 1805, bought the tannery on North street, of David Hyde. The large elm now in front of the property was soon after planted when a mere shrub, by his daughter, the late Sally Wood. This tree has now had a growth of over 70 years, and is a conspicuous monument of the past. Abner Beach, John Kellogg, Moses Sawyer, Bradley Tuttle, and Richard L. Smith, all prominent and useful citizens, took up their residence here in 1801. Messrs. Kellogg, Sawyer and Smith were lawyers of distinction. Bradley Tuttle bought and conducted the Goodrich tavern for many years; but subsequently followed his trade as a builder, in which he became conspicuous.

THE FIRST HATTER in the place was Seth Burgess, in 1803. Nathaniel Garrow came the same year, and Lyman Payne and Henry Ammerman in 1804. The latter, for about twelve years, kept the leading hotel of the place, the Centre House, in the long room of which for several years public and religious meetings were held; dancing parties, mountebank shows and religious meetings succeeding each other.

The brothers Robert and John Patty began business here in 1805. They had been traveling peddlers. They first opened a general store and afterwards engaged also in tanning, carrying on a large and prosperous business.

WILD ANIMALS.--The early settlers of Auburn and of the County at large, were both favored and annoyed by the great abundance of wild game. They were annoyed by foxes destoying their poultry and lambs; wolves were destructive to sheep, lambs, calves, and other small domestic animals, and children and even adults were not safe from their ferocity, when they roamed in packs. Deer, bears, squirrels, and raccoons were great plunderers of the growing crops; yet the flesh of many of these animals served a valuable purpose for food and their skins were utilized for various domestic purposes, those of the deer, bear and wolf serving the double purpose of bedding and clothing.

To guard against the entrance to their houses of the voracious wolves and the bold and greedy bears, some of their cabins were entered through high windows by means of ladders, and their domestic animals corralled in high log pens at night.

The township of Aurelius, in 1797, voted a

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