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254 CORTLAND COUNTY.
PREBLE—named in honor of Commodore Edward Preble, was formed from Tully upon the
organization of Cortland co., April 8, 1808, and embraced the southern half of the latter town.
Scott was taken off in 1815. It lies upon the northern border of the county, w. of the center. Its
surface consists of the valley of the western branch of the Tioughnioga River, which is here nearly
2 miles wide, and the ridges which rise on the e. and w. Mount Toppin, s. w. of the village, is
1,700 feet above tide; Truxton Hills are the highest land in the county. The declivities of the
hills are steep, and some of their summits sharp ridges. North of Mount Toppin a valley extends
northward and opens into the valley of the Otisco Inlet. In the northern part of the town are
several beautiful little lakes; and upon the southern borders are others of a similar character,
known as the Little York Lakes.' The soil is a fine quality of gravelly loam. Preble Corners
(Preble p.o.) contains 200 inhabitants, and Baltimore 75. The first settlers were James and
Robert Cravarth, John Gillett, and Elijah Mason, who came in 1798.1 The first church (Cong.)
was formed through the efforts of Revs. Theodore Hinsdale and Joel Hall, missionaries from Conn.2
Rev. Matt. Harrison was the first pastor.
SCOTT—was formed from Preble, April 14, 1815, and named in honor of Gen. Winfield Scott.
It is the n. w. corner town of the county. Its surface is mostly upland, broken by two deep and
narrow valleys which extend n. and s. through the town. The declivities of the hills are very
steep, and in many places precipitous. Cold Brook flows through the eastern valley, and Factory
Brook and Skaneateles Inlet through the western. Skaneateles Lake borders upon the n.w.
corner. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam, and is best adapted to grazing. Scott Center
(Scott p.o.) contains about 300 inhabitants. Scott Corners (East Scott p. o.) is a hamlet.
Peleg and Solomon Babcock and Asa Howard (from Mass.) and George Dennison (from Yt.)
located on lot 82 in 1799.2 The first church was a Seventh Day Baptist, organized in 1820, Wm. B.
Maxson first pastor.3
SOIiOJV—was formed from Homer, March 9, 1798, and embraced the townships of Solon and
Cincinnatus. A portion was annexed to Truxton, April 4, 1811. Cincinnatus was 'taken off in
1804, and Taylor in 1849. It is an interior town, lying near the center of the county. The surface
is mostly upland, broken by numerous narrow valleys of small brooks and creeks. The hills on
the eastern border are 1400 to 1500 feet above tide. Many of the highest summits are too rough
for cultivation, and are crowned with forests. Trout Brook flows in a westerly direction through
near the center, forming a narrow but fertile valley. The soil is a gravelly loam, well adapted
to grazing. Solon (p.v.) contains about 100 inhabitants. The first settlers were Johnson
Bingham and Eddy Wildman, from Canterbury, Conn., who located, the former on lot 62, and tha
latter on lot 51, in 1796.4 The first church was formed in 1804, Rev. Josiah Butler the first
preacher.5
TAYUOR—was formed from Solon, Dee. 5,1849, and named in honor of Gen. Zachary Taylor.
It lies near the center of the eastern border of the county. Its surface is mostly upland and is
very broken and hilly. The declivities are generally .precipitous, rising 600 to 800 feet above the
valleys. Mount Rhoderick, lying partly in this town and partly in Solon, is the highest point.
The streams are mere brooks, generally flowing in a southerly direction and discharging their
waters into the Otselie. Solon Pond is a small sheet of water near the center of the town. The soil
is a sandy and gravelly loam. Taylorvllle, (Taylor p. o.,) or “Bangall,” contains 25 houses,
and Union Valley (p. v.) 20.7 The first settlers were Zerah Beebe, a Revolutionary soldier,
Latus Beebe, his son, and John Tinker, his son-in-law, from Waterbury, Conn., in 1794.6
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4 Besides this, there are in town 3 societies; Bap., M. E., and
Presb.
8 Among the other first settlers were Benj. Beebe, Lewis
Beebe, (first innkeeper,) Daniel Porter, Zerah Tinker, Jas. H.
Wheeler, Elisha Johnson, Sami. G. Hathaway, Stephen N. Peck,
and Noah Greeley, (first mill owner.) The first child born was
a daughter Of Johnson Bingham; the first marriage, that of
Robt. Smith and Amy Smith, and the first death, a daughter of
Johnson Bingham. Roxana Beebe and Lydianna Stewart taught
the first school, in 1804; and B. Tubbs kept the first store.
6 The census reports 2 churches; 1 Bap. and 1R. C.
7 The census reports 5 churches; Bap., Cong., Wes. Meth.,
2 M. E.
8 The first child born was Kezia Beebe; the first marriage,
that of Asaph Butler and Lucy Beebe; and the first death, that
of Zerah Beebe, in 1800. Beers taught the first school, in
1810; Orlando Beebe kept the first inn, Hurlbut & Gilbert the
first store, and Ezra and Thos. Rockwell built the first saw mill,
in 1816. |
1
Among the other first settlers were Amos Skeel, Seth and
Samuel Trowbridge, Richard Egbertson, Samuel Orvis, Jabez
R. Phelps, Ed. Cummings, and Francis, Albert, and Garret Van
Hoesen. The first child born was Nancy Gill; the first mar¬
riage, that of Amos Ball and Sally Mason; and the first death,
that of John Patterson, a Revolutionary patriot, in 1799. Ruth
Thorp taught the first school, in 1801; Davis & Taylor kept the
first store, and Moses Nash the second ; Samuel Trowbrige kept
tlie first inn.
2
* Among the other first settlers were Cornish Messenger and
Daniel Jakeway, (from De Ruyter,) Maxon Babcock, (from Mass.,)
Gershom Richardson, Jared and John Babcock, Elisha Sabins,
3
Henry and Jesse Burdick, Timothy Browm. and Nathl. Morgan.
4
The first child born was Harriet Babcock; tlie first marriage, that
5
of Solomon Babcock and Amy Morgan, and the first death, that
6
the first school, in 1804; James Babcock kept the first inn, and
Nathan Babcock the first store.
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