The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 406
TOWN OF LEDYARD.

removing to the store previously occupied by Daniel Foote, opposite the residence of Richard Morgan. In 1810, Mr. Morgan built a store just south of Richard Morgan's residence, which he occupied until 1827, when his son, Edwin B. Morgan, succeeded him in the business, and in 1829, erected the building now occupied by his brother Richard, next south of the hotel, discontinuing the old store in 1830. In 1831, Edwin formed a copartnership with his brother Henry. George, another brother, subsequently acquired an interest in the business, and sold August 9th, 1850, to his brother Richard, who also bought Henry's interest April 1st, 1856, and Edwin's January 1st, 1859. In 1850, the firm name was Morgans, and remained such until 1859, when it became R. Morgan. March 6th, 1863, Richard admitted his son Christopher B. to partnership, and the business has since been conducted under the name of R. Morgan & Son. This, with one exception, is said to be the oldest mercantile house in the State.

Jonathan Swan, a Quaker, from Western, Oneida county, came about 1812, and opened a store, which he continued until about 1820. He continued to reside in the village till his death. Mary, wife of Wm. Wilkinson, of Buffalo, and Joseph R. Swan, an ex-Judge and a distinguished citizen of Columbus, Ohio, are children of his. Charles E. Shepard, a native of the town, son of Daniel Shepard, a lawyer, who settled in the village about 1795, opened a store about 1830, which he continued some ten years, when he read law and removed to Buffalo, where he now resides. Frederick E. Curtis and John Marsh opened a store about the same time as Shepard. They did business some six years and failed. Both are natives of this town, in which their parents were early settlers. Ephraim C. Marsh, father of John Marsh, came from Morristown, New Jersey, and settled and cleared up a lot two miles south of the village, which was awarded to his father for Revolutionary services, and on which he resided till his death, January 2d, 1842, aged fifty-five. Curtis soon after removed to New Jersey, where he now resides. Marsh is living on a farm adjoining his father's homestead. Numerous persons did business here for short periods of time, but were not prominent as business men.

Those who are at present doing business in the village besides the Messrs. Morgan are Samuel G. Daykin, proprietor of a shoe store, who commenced here in the spring of 1865, having previously carried on the same business at Scipioville since 1852 ; R. Murphy, grocer, who bought out Johnson McDowell in 1872 ; Wm. Martin, grocer, who commenced in the spring of 1875, having previously resided here since 1867 ; and Arthur Parsons, hardware dealer, who came from Poplar Ridge, in Venice, where he had resided some eighteen years, and bought out W. O. Cory in March, 1877.

POSTMASTERS.-The post-office at Aurora was established at Scipio, April 1st, 1795, with judge Walter Wood as postmaster. Previous to that date there was no post-office in the State west of Canajoharie. Contemporary with the establishment of the office at Aurora, offices were established at Onondaigua, with Comfort Tyler as postmaster; Kanandaigua, with Thaddeus Chapin as postmaster; at Whitestown ; Geneva, with John Johnson as postmaster. Offices were established at Auburn, as Aurelius, in 1804 ; Canajoharie, March 20th, 1793 ; Schenectady, April 25th, 1793 ; and Lansingburgh, October 9th, 1793. The comparative importance of the settlements at these respective places may thus be seen. The receipts of the office at Aurora the first year were $39.28. Edward Paine contracted to carry the mail from Cooperstown three years at $175 per year. April 1st, 1810, the name of the office was changed to Aurora, and another office was established at Stewarts Corners, ( Venice,) also bearing the name Scipio, with James Glover as postmaster.

Judge Wood held the office till his removal to Montville in 1811, when he was succeeded by his son-in-law, Eleazer Burnham, who had been deputy since 1798, and who held the office till about 1822, when Seneca Wood, son of Walter, was appointed and held it till about 1828 He was succeeded January 1st, of that year, by Lazarus Ewer who held it till his' death September 4th, 1834. Charles E. Shepard next received the appointment and held the office until 1841, when he was succeeded by Charles Campbell, who held it till January, 1843. Campbell was succeeded by Edward Dougherty, who held the office till 1844 or 5, when John Lincklaen Cuyler was appointed and held it till 1849. Chas. Campbell again succeeded to the office and held

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