The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 364
Union Springs / Town of Springport

fayette Hoff,) the Cayuga Plaster Company, four millinery shops, (kept by Helen Richardson, Mrs. D. W. Myers, Lucy Rickon and Miss Kate Henry,) two furniture and undertaking establishments, (J. B. Pierson and Peter T. Howell,) two blacksmith shops, (McDermott Bros. and Hoagland & Rosecrants,) two barber shops, (Adam Alt and Frank Hornbeck,) one photographer, (R. R. Abbott,) one bakery, (A. Terry,) a cigar and tobacco store, (George E. Carr,) marble works, (John Irving,) two coal and lumber dealers, (H. H. Morse and E. C. Bowen,) a grain ware-house, (George P. Schenck,) a nursery, (Horace Anthony,) and a patent buckwheat huller manufactory, (Isaac H. Thomas.) Population about 1,400.

The village was incorporated November 8th, 1848, and originally included 1,086.85 acres. In 1877, the west bounds were extended to the center of the lake. The following named officers were elected January 16th, 1849: Eseck M. Winegar, President; Eseck M. Winegar, William B. Schobey, Silas Ludlow, James S. Everett and Leonard Simons, Trustees; Philip Winegar, Almeron Durkee and Daniel Mersereau, Assessors; Samuel Smith, Collector; John C. Yawger, Treasurer; John Griffing, Clerk. The present officers (1878) are Henry H. Morse, President; Henry H. Morse, Gaylord Anthony, Michael McDermott and John Close, Trustees; Wm. Cozzens, Treasurer; James Fay, Collector; Noyes S. Collins, Clerk; George Day, Street Commissioner.

FRONTENAC ISLAND, containing somewhat less than an acre of land, was used by the aborigines as a place of sepulcher, at least the numerous relics of Indian warfare, and the large quantity of bones found there make this probable. It was deeded to the trustees of Union Springs by the Legislature, in April, 1856, to be kept as a park and pleasure ground. Soon after it was greatly improved by clearing away the brushwood and making gravel walks, and seats; but latterly, from neglect, it is lapsing into its primitive wildness. Great interest attaches to it, as no other island is found in this tier of lakes.

MERCHANTS.--The first merchants at Union Springs were Laban Hoskins, from Genoa, and Judge Walter Wood, from Aurora, who opened a store in 1810, where the bank now stands, in the building now used as a dwelling by John Irving. About 1815, Hoskins, (who died here Aug. 29th, 1863, aged 73,) bought Wood's interest, and did business till 1837, when Luman H. Capen, his brother-in-law from Seneca Falls, became his partner, and the two did business till 1855, when they sold to Lebeus Barton, who came in from Scipioville in 1836, and commenced business here in 1849, selling in 1852, to William Cozzens. He had previously, in 1854, purchased William H. Chase's stock. In 1857, Byron Brown became his partner, and in 1858, Samuel Barton, his brother, was admitted. In 1861, the Bartons bought Brown's interest and divided the stock, Samuel continuing the business here three years, and Lebeus going to North Huron, Wayne Co.; but, returning in 1871, he bought out Weed, Day & Co., grocers and bakers, and in 1873, he built the store now occupied by M. A. Barton, into which he put a general stock. In the spring of 1875, he was succeeded by M. A. Barton, who is still doing business.

Dr. John Mosher, Capt. William Cozzens and Asa Burnham, started a store in the fall of 1815, which they continued for several years. Burnham and Mosher afterwards did business alone, the former but a few years, the latter continuing till about 1842. The same fall (1815) another store was started by Samuel, John and James Williams, and a brother-in-law of theirs named Robinson. They failed in about four years. Philip Winegar and his son Eseck M. opened a store about 1821 or '22. Isaac Valentine, from Flushing, L. I., succeeded the Williamses and continued several years.

Daniel Mersereau, from Staten Island, commenced business here about 1830, and continued till his death, March 7th, 1853, when the business went into the hands of his children, and was continued under the name of T. J. Mersereau & Co., till 1867, when T. F. & D. P. Mersereau bought the entire interest of the remaining heirs and have since continued it.

Archibald Stewart, who came in from New Jersey with his father, Robert L., in 1811, and settled at Sherwood, commenced the boot and shoe business here in 1831, and still conducts it.

Geo. H. Ham commenced business here in the fall of 1836, and failed after a few years. He was previously engaged in mercantile business several years at Hamburg, about three-fourths of a mile south of Union Springs, which derived its name from him, and to which a considerable num-

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