The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 415
Town of Ledyard/Levanna - Ledyard

Levanna gave promise at an early day of becoming the chief seat of trade and commerce in the County. Here was established in 1798, by R. Delano, the first newspaper in Cayuga County, and the first in Onondaga County, which then embraced this County.* But its after life did not develop this promised fruitage. Its importance as a business center seems to have been of short duration. David Thomas speaks of it in 1819, as a deserted village.

MERCHANTS.-Prominent among the early merchants at Levanna were Samuel Allen, (who afterwards removed to Canandaigua, where he was also engaged in mercantile business,) Erastus Spalding, George Rathbun, Gardner Chidester, (who commenced about 1836 and sold in 1838 to Benjamin Wade,) Samuel Ayres, Garret VanSickle, (who sold to Seth Swift,) and John L. Howe, most of whom remained but a short time.

The present merchants are Otis Howe and L. B. Bowen, the latter of whom, a native of the town, commenced April 1st, 1878. Otis Howe, who came in from Scipio, has carried on mercantile business here since 1841, with the exception of five years spent in California.

POSTMASTERS.-The post-office at Levanna was established in the winter of 1834, with Gardner Chidester as postmaster. He held the office until 1838, when Seneca Boyce was appointed. He was succeeded by Otis Howe, who held it several years, when Seneca Boyce was again appointed. John L. Howe next held the office and was succeeded, first by his father Otis Howe, and afterwards by John Ellis, who still holds the office.

LEDYARD.

Ledyard is situated in the south-east part of the town, on the line between Ledyard and Venice, and lies partly within the two towns. It is distant two miles north of Northville. It contains one church, (M. E.) a district school, a store, two blacksmith shops, (kept by James H. Brightman and Albert Mason,) a carriage shop, (kept by Henry Purdy,) and a population of sixty-two. This place was originally called Capins Corners, and later, Talcotts Corners from early merchants named Capin and Talcott. It is still known by the latter name.

MERCHANTS.-The first merchant at Ledyard was Philip, or Aaron Capin, father-in-law of Benjamin Avery, Jr., who opened a store about, or soon after, 1800. He was succeeded by Richard Talcott, who commenced shortly before the war of 1812, and did business here a good many years. Lewis Seymour and Isaac Jacobs did business a few years; also Mosher & Divine, previous to 1831, about which time they sold to Alfred Avery, son of Benjamin Avery, Jr., who carried on mercantile business here a great many years, till about 1865. Abner Chapman, from Boston, did business two or three years previous to Mosher & Divine. Jonathan Proud and Sidney Mosher commenced business about 1867, and continued till 1870, when Thomas P. Peckham bought Proud's interest. In April, 1876, Wm. H. Avery, who continued till April, 1878, when Thomas P. Peckham bought Avery's interest. The business is now conducted under the firm name of Peckham & Hinckley.

POSTMASTERS.-The first postmaster at Ledyard was probably Thomas Mosher or Charles Divine, who held the office but a few years, and was succeeded by George Meacham, father of Dr. Isaac J. Meacham. Alfred Avery next held the office till 1866, April 1st of which year, Chas. D. Avery, the present incumbent, was appointed.

PHYSICIANS.-The first physician at Ledyard was Dr. Consider King, a native of Rochester, Mass., who practiced here from 1805 to 1837. In 1846 he removed to Wisconsin, and died there August 19th, 1848. He was a surgeon of some notoriety and was called on to perform nearly all the difficult operations in this section of country. Isaac J. Meacham practiced one year, in 1843, and removed to Nunda.

CHURCHES.-Meetings were held by members of the Methodist denomination as early as 1820, and continued till 1833, when the First M. E. Church of Ledyard was organized. W. Cameron is the first pastor whose name appears on the records, in 1835. He was succeeded in the pastorate by John Watson, in 1836-'38; Sylvester Minier, in 1838; S. Minier and S. C. Phinney, 1839-'40; Wm. W. Rundal and P. G. Bridgman, 1840; Wm. W. Rundal and A. Hamilton, 1841; Hiram E. Luther, 1842-'3; Jonathan Worthing,

*This paper was denominated the "Levanna Gazette; or Onondaga Advertiser." An early copy is preserved in the archives of the Cayuga County Historical Society. The earliest which has come under our observation is No. 23 of Vol. I., and is dated Wednesday, Nov. 21st, 1798.

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