The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 362
Early Settlements / Town of Springport

town. Lansing moved out of the town in 1805. Gilbert and John D. moved to Canadice, and died there. James moved out of the town about 1816 or '17.

James Nutt came in from Vermont soon after 1800, and settled two miles east of Union Springs, where his son, Harvey H., now lives, and where he died.

Philip Yawger came in from New Jersey with ten children, six sons and four daughters, in 1801, and settled one mile north of Union Springs, where his grandson John C. Yawger now lives. He came by means of Jersey wagons. He died on the homestead September 3d, 1830, aged 77. None of his children are living. One son, Peter, was Member of Assembly in 1827 and 1831. A small stream in the north part of the town perpetuates his name. Numerous grand-children are living in the County; among whom are Philip O., a merchant in Union Springs, and Lafayette, proprietor of a grist and plaster-mill on Yawger Creek, which was built about twenty-six years ago, and in which 500 to 600 tons of plaster are ground per year. Peter took up 260 acres, which are now owned by John O. and Henry, sons of Henry Yawger, and grandsons of Philip. Philip took up a section on the site of Owego, where he stopped one season; but disliking the location he came on to Springport. His grandson, Philip O. Yawger, says the Indians destroyed his first year's crops, which was the cause of much suffering. Upon Philip's farm was discovered the first plaster bed in Springport, about 1809. A portion of the plaster rock was brought to the surface by the plow, and having been paying a high price for Nova Scotia plaster, the hope of finding here a cheaper substitute for that article led him to give it a trial upon a fall crop. The rock was pulverized by means of pounding, and the result was so satisfactory as to lead to further investigation, and the discovery of the plaster bed as before stated. The embargo of 1812, which excluded Nova Scotia plaster, favored the rapid development of Cayuga plaster.

Humphrey Hunt came in from Orange county, Vt., in 1805, and settled one mile south of Union Springs, where Peter B. Wood now lives. He was a Revolutionary soldier, serving the whole seven years, first, on account of his youthfulness, as captain's waiter. He accompanied Sullivan's expedition against the Iroquois in 1779, and was one of the party detached to destroy the villages of the Cayugas on the east shore of Cayuga Lake. He was twice wounded, once in the hand and again in the hip. In 1828, he removed to Mt. Morris, Livingston county, and died there a little over a year after.

Ichabod Clark came in about 1805 or '7, and settled about three miles east of Union Springs. His wife was a daughter of Gilbert Weed.

Amos Howland came in from Galway, Saratoga county, about 1806, and settled on Big Gully Creek, two and one-half miles south-east of Union Springs, where he started a woolen-mill, in company with a man named Allen, which he conducted two or three years. He afterwards found employment in the woolen-mill erected by Philip Winegar, at the south spring. He resided here till his death, July 18th, 1850.

Thomas Collins, the first inn-keeper, located about 1807, in Union Springs, where his daughter, Sarah, widow of Thomas Van Sickle, now lives. William Cozzens came in from R. I., in 1810, and settled in Union Springs, where James Arnold now lives. He was an old sea-captain. He was engaged in agricultural, and for a short time, in mercantile, pursuits. He died here in 1842, aged 63. William Cozzens, his son, was a merchant here some thirty-five years and till his death April 3d, 1860. His children are all dead. Elisha Eldredge came from White Creek, Washington county, in 1810, and settled on 100 acres in the north part of the village of Union Springs, where James Arnold now lives. He sold to William Cozzens in 1815, and removed one mile east, to the next tier of lots, where he died November 2d, 1874, aged 97. Three children are living, viz: Joseph and Edward, in Springport, and Isaac, in Chicago.

William Taver came in from Rensselaer county, about 1813, and settled in the south-west corner of the lot on which the brick residence of Clinton Backus now stands. He moved to Williamson, Wayne county, in 1825, and subsequently to the west part of the State, where both he and his wife died.

Elam Anthony, came in from White Creek, Washington county, in 1815, and settled in Union Springs, where he has followed the business of carpenter and joiner. He is now living in that village, aged 88 years, October 5th, 1878. In 1818, he married Nancy, daughter of Humphrey

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