The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 293
Meridian Churches

works were originally built for a grist-mill, in 1853, by a stock company, at a cost of $10,000. In 1858, John Seymour bought it, and in 1860 he converted the grist-mill into a tannery. The saw-mill was built at the same time as the grist-mill. The motive power is furnished by a twenty-five horse-power engine. The capital invested is $15,000. The works give employment to six men, and turn out 3,000 sides of leather and 500,000 feet of lumber per annum.

S. M. Chittenden came in from Plainville and opened his carriage works in 1876.

HOTELS--The first hotel at Meridian was kept by Jesse Elwell, on the site of the Meridian House. About 1818 he sold to Abner Hollister, who that year built the lower portion of the front part of the present house. He closed it in in 1830 and occupied it as a dwelling till his death March 14th, 1852, when it was sold to Wm. Smith Ingham, who rented it in 1853, to Lucius M. Hollister, son of Abner, who kept it as a temperance house one year. Chas. Austin kept it as a temperance house one year, and was succeeded by Isaac Upham and Benjamin Daratt, who bought the hotel of Ingham, and enlarged it to its present size. It subsequently became the property of Timby and Daratt, who, in 1860, sold it to the present occupant, Isaac R. Merritt, who had previously kept a hotel ten years in Victory. A second hotel, the Hunt House, was started by Solomon Loveless, who also kept a blacksmith shop. Gideon Acker bought it in 1840 and sold it after four or five years to his cousin, Cyrus Acker, who subseqently sold to another cousin, Abram Acker, by whom it was repaired and kept till about 1850, when it was again bought by Cyrus Acker, who sold it to Julius Whiting. Whiting sold it about 1858 to Lewis Van Auken, who rented it to Isaac Curtis, by whom it was kept five years, when D. D. Burchard bought it and kept it till about five years ago, when it was sold to satisfy a mortgage to Gareett Mowl, by whom it was sold in 1874 to the present proprietor, John A. Hunt, who came in the preceding year from Ira. This hotel was formerly known as the Eagle Hotel.

THE FARMERS' JOINT STOCK INSURANCE COMPANY, at Meridian, was organized in April, 1861, with a capital of $50,000. The first officers were Robert Bloomfield, of Cato, president; Chauncey B. Laird, of Elbridge, Daniel B. Smith of Lysander, and Homer Lockwood of Victory, vice-president; Abel West of Meridian, secretary; and Cyrus Dudley of Meridian, treasurer. The company did a good business in the early part of its existence, but lattlerly much difficulty was experienced in collecting premiums. A sharp competition existed in the class of risks to which, by the terms of their charter, they were restricted, (viz: farm property) and these, together with their cumbrous organiztion, rendered it impossible to continue business without suffering impairment of their capital. They therefore dissolved February 6th, 1877, at which time the officers were Henry Daboll of Memphis, president; Homer N. Lockwood of Auburn, David Sutfin and Jabez H. Norton of Lysander, vice-presidents; G. H. Lawrence of Meridian, secretary; and Marcus D. Drew of Meridian, treasurer. Following is an abstract of their report to the Insurance Department May 1st, 1878: Total premiums received to date, $923,734; dividends declared since business was commenced, $100,625; losses paid from date of organization, $577,481.

SCHOOLS.--Although the school at Meridian is a district school, it is graded and furnishes excellent instruction. The principal is A. E. Ringee, who is assisted by Misses Franc Foote and S. E. Meacham, the latter of whom has taught in this school some twenty-five years, all the time in the primary department.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY OF MERIDIAN was organized October 26th, 1810, with twenty-two members, but, owing to the loss of their early records, the names of the following only can be ascertained: D. Parker and wife, C. Green and wife, A. Pasko and wife, J. Root and wife, H. Ferris and wife, Nancy Carr and Seviah Flemman. Their first pastor was Rev. Daniel Palmer, who commenced his labors as a licentiate, but was afterwards ordained pastor, and remained with them four years. Their first revival occurred in 1812, in which year sixteen were added to their numbers, but it continued and increased in interest till ninety-two converts were added. B. Seamans, a licentiate, succeeded Palmer in 1815, and remained one year.

The Church was without a pastor from this time till the spring of 1820,when Orlando Mack settled with them. A revival immediately followed, but he was smitten with death in its midst, August 12th, 1820. Jeremy F. Tallman

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