The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 305
Town of Montezuma / Early Settlements

opened their stock of groceries and boots and shoes in December, 1874, under the firm name of Ross & McLoud.

John F. Daley, who has resided in the town some thirty years, and whose family has charge of the Clarke family's property, opened his grocery and meat market November 17th, 1875.

Frank Faatz, in the spring of 1877, opened the hardware store, which is now conducted under the name of Frank Faatz & Co.

PHYSICIANS.--The first physician was Dr. Nathan Wood, who lived in the Ward settlement in Throop. Dr. Job W. May was probably the first resident physician. He settled at the old village previous to 1814. He continued to practice until incapacitated by age and infirmities. In 1858 he removed to Wayne county, where he died, January 2d, 1875, aged 98 years. He was an excellent physician. Dr. Geo. W. Fitch, a brother of Caleb M. Fitch, came in from Onondaga Hollow shortly previous to 1822. The present physicians are Drs. C. E. Chase and E. W. Crispell.

Mrs. Sarah D. Stocking, formerly Mrs. S. D. Mack, and Mrs. Mary Sherman are the present milliners.

"The first postmaster was Dr. Job W. May. His successors were, Dr. Geo. W. Fitch, Dr. Noyes Palmer, E. Sherman, Norman Hurd, Lewis Bostedo, Zebulon Mack, Samuel W. Budlong, Benj. F. Janes, E. Sherman, G. A. Stocking and Horatio Mack.

"Judge Wardwell, who died in Jefferson county, in April, 1878, was the first canal collector. He was succeeded by Wm. Noble, Dr. Noyes Palmer, Alfred Hovey, E. B. Cobb, Dr. Alleben, Elijah Miller, Theron Green, Wm. H. Day, David S. Titus, E. H. Whitney, Giles Ross, Stephen M. Stokes, Wm. K. Wheat, Hiram Titus, Chas. Truesdale, Royal E. Torrey, Henry Stokes, Garrett Forshee, A. White, Wm. Thorn, B. Ross, John Nolan, and Wm. Emerson."*

The first saw-mill was built about 1810 or '12; and the first grist-mill about 1842 or '43, by Horatio Griffin. It was a steam-mill, and stood on the lot owned by Catharine Joiner, on the east side of the road between the old and new village. A saw-mill was connected with it, but both burned down soon after. Previous to that the settlers took their grists to Throopsville and Port Byron.

The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 gave a new impetus to the village, and diverted settlements to its locality, which is denominated the new village, in contradistinction from the settlements made when the salt interests were the center of attraction.

TOWN OFFICERS.--Montezuma was organized as a town April 8th, 1859, being set off from Mentz. The first town meeting was held at the house of Isaac W. Trufant, March 6th, 1860, at which time the following named officers were elected: Royal Torrey, Supervisor; Isaac W. Trufant, Clerk; Morgan L. Worden, William Bell and Robert Jeffries, Justices of the Peace; James A. Baldwin, William Pease and John B. Myers, Assessors; Ezra Pease and Joseph McLoud, Overseers of the Poor; Robert Ransom, Joseph Weston, John A. Taylor, Jr., Commissioners of Highways; Jesse S. Leigh, Collector; Henry Stokes, Harmon H. Morgan, Christopher Trufant, Moses Gay and John W. Mills, Constables; Bennett Ratford, Smith D. Mallory and Charles H. Gamwell, Inspectors of Election; Titus Bargy, Sealer of Weights and Measures; N. Post and G. H. Stocking, Justices of the Peace.

The present officers are (1879):

Supervisor--Alonzo D. Drake.
Town Clerk--William F. Daley
Justices--Nathaniel Post, Frank Torrey and Jonathan P. Jones.
Assessors--John Ross, Charles W. Ball, and James D. Nye.
Collector--William Kelley.
Overseer of the Poor--Silas H. Pease.
Constables--Horace Davenport and Charles Humphrey.
Inspectors of Election--Curtis I. Trufant, Thos. Hall and Charles Walling.
Game Constable--Jacob H. Shaw.
Commissioners of Highways--William Buckingham, John Stahlnecker, Jr., and Harrison L. Crofut.
Commissioner of Excise--George Eckert.

Montezuma sent over one hundred men into the field during the Rebellion, of whom many died. La Due, Walling and Mosher died in Andersonville prison, and Franklin Reed, Harmon A. Morgan, George White, Henry Mink and others, were slain in battle.

CHURCHES.--The first church formed in the town was The First Presbyterian Church of the town of Mentz, now located at Port Byron, about the beginning of the present century. The meet-

* Horatio Mack. Contribution to Cayuga Chief.

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