The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 296
Town of Cato

pany with John Hooker, the latter of whom settled in the Ira side of the village. They came about 1809, and were preceded by some squatters, whose improvements Jakway bought. The village was long known as Jakway's Corners, a name it derived from the fact of Jakway's settlement there.

MERCHANTS.--The first merchants at Cato are supposed to have been Andrus P. Preston and Augustus Ferris, who kept a store about 1820, which they continued till about 1842, when they closed out, Preston removing to Red Creek, and Ferris remaining in Ira till his death about 1848. Benj. B. Conger opened a store about 1830. About 1834 Samuel Hale became a partner with him and continued about three years, when David R. Conger, a son of Benjamin, was admitted to partnership, and the business was conducted by them about five years, when they sold to -----Moore and Reuben P. Conger, who did business about three years. Benj. B. and Reuben P. Conger then formed a partnership, which continued about four years. Dr. John Jakway opened a store about 1838, which he kept some seven or eight years, when he sold his stock to Wm. H. Nobles, who kept a store four or five years. Theophilus Daniels opened a store about 1840, and kept it about three years. David Cook and David R. Conger kept a store about two years, and sold to Gilbert & Green, who kept it about a year. Wm. Fields bought their stock and kept store about a year. A union store was started about 1855, which was run about a year. Evarts & Daratt bought their stock and continued about two years. Knapp, Barrett & Co., opened a large store in 1856 and failed in 1860. H.M. Wright bought their stock and continued till 1868. Hunter Bros. opened a store in 1870, and were burned out in 1876. David Mack opened a store about 1845 and kept it about ten years, when he sold his stock to G.A. Benedict, who did business till about 1866. J.M. Dutton & Co. opened a store in 1865. After some three or four years Mark Wright bought Dutton's interest, and the business was conducted by Turner & Wright till about 1875, when J.W. Hapeman bought Wright's interest. Hapeman sold in February, 1877,. to M.M. Hunter, and the business is still conducted by Turner & Hunter. In 1866, Geo. R. Rich built a store, which was occupied by his son Jno. E. Rich till January 9th, 1869, when he was burned out. A.C. Bartlett kept a store from 1860's-'5. Hapeman & Hunt opened a hardware store about 1865, and in 1868 they sold to S.J. Chase, who, in 1870, admitted Henry S. Hunt to partnership. In April, 1878, R.W. Cole bought the interest of Mr. Hunt, who opened, the same month, the store he now keeps. S.J. Chase and R.W. Cole still carry on the business, under the firm name of Chase & Cole. T. Jorolemon, general merchant, commenced in the spring of 1874, the business in which he is now engaged.

POSTMASTERS.--The first postmaster at Cato was Augustus F. Ferris, who was followed by Andrus P. Preston, William H. Noble, Judge Humphreys, Reuben P. Conger, George H. Carr, E.G. Allen, Amos Bartlett, George P. Knapp, Elias Richards, R.W. Cole, John E. Rich, Lewis Donius, J.W. Hapeman and S.J. Chase, the latter of whom, the present incumbent, received the appointment in 1870.

PHYSICIANS.--The first physician at Cato was John Jakway, who practiced till his death in 1844. The next was John Hoxie, who practiced with Jakway till 1833. Ezra Parker came in from Fort Ann, Washington county, about 1833, and practiced with Jakway some ten years, when he removed to Wisconsin. Robert T. Paine came in from Washington county about 1835 and practiced about fourteen years, when he removed to Jordan, where he died. J.B.R. Martin, from Victory, studied with Paine, and practiced from about 1842 till his death, about 1852. Dr. Hedger, from Cato, practiced with Martin about two years and then moved west. A.J. Brewster, from Jefferson county, came about 1850 and practiced till 1875, when he removed to Syracuse, where he is now practicing. Dr. Ogden succeeded Martin and remained one year, when he went west. Lucius Hooker, allopath, came in from Victory about 1855, and is still practicing here. James D. Benton came in from Ira Corners in 1865 and practiced till 1874, when he removed to Syracuse, where he is now practicing. Frank Murphy, from Wayne county, came in 1876 and practiced about six months, when he removed to Yates county. C.A. Groat, from Wayne county, came in 1876, and is still practicing here. He belongs to the allopathic school of medicine. E.S. Everts, homeopath, came from Auburn in the spring of 1878, and is still practicing here.

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