COMMENTS FOUND IN GAZETTEERS

It should be interesting at this point to present some observations made in Gazetteer of New York State, published at various times in the early life of Cayuga County. As is true with much historical material, our ability to make "hindsight" observations often makes the subject matter quite amusing. Our first Gazetteer was published by Horatio Gates Spafford in 1813. There was no Weedsport at the time and the town of Brutus comprised most of the Military township of Brutus. The population (in 1810) was 2030. The only post office was located at Brutus, now Sennett. Mr. Spafford reveals some statistical data on the County but gives nothing specific to the various towns. The observation which follows was also applied to the County but it doubtless included some residents of Brutus. "The inhabitants clothe themselves principally in the products of their own families; and, were it not for the orbitant number of their distilleries, I should add, are very temperate and industrious, the character given them by my Correspondents. In a county that could afford cider in such abundance, ardent spirits should yield to this cheap and wholesome beverage, or to malt-liquors. Cayuga sends 2 Members to the Assembly."

The same author in an 1824 Gazetteer reports as follows (Remember that the statistics include practically all of the Military township of Brutus, except parts of Mentz and Montezuma.

Brutus: "Silk is produced to a great amount, but I cannot learn any particulars worth communication to the people, though I am told that some individuals make, annually, to the amount of some thousand dollars worth of sewing silk."

"Brutus, a post town, Gypsum is found in this tom and in Aurelius, and pretty extensively wrought. A ledge of first quality of limestone extends thru the town. The surface is even and the soil very rich and fertile, and well watered. A turnpike from Salina to Cayuga leads across the town as does the great turnpike connecting Albany with the western part of the State. (Note that Sennett not yet set off from Aurelius and Brutus. ) The Erie Canal, runs across THIS TOWN, and Mentz, but its route is at present thru the least cultivated part of the county. Weeds Port is becoming a place of business, for the accomodating trade by the Erie Canal and is the canal port for the business of Auburn. This village has been made by the canal. It now has Weedsport post office, and some 60 or 70 buildings. The lines of Erie Packets exchange passengers here daily, coming from Utica and Rochester. Weedsport is four miles east of Bucksville and nine miles east of Montezuma, post offices on the canal, the two latter in Mentz. The Brutus post office is kept about 4 miles southeast of Weedsport and 5 from Auburn.

Twenty schools; 2 grist mills; 10 saw mills; 1 fulling mill; 1 carding machine; 1 triphammer; 3 distilleries; 2 asheries."

Thomas F. Gordon's 1836 Gazetteer provides the following Brutus information: "Brutus drained north by Broad (Bread) Creek and Cold Spring, the former is a canal feeder. Limestone and plaster found here; plaster quarry being worked. Bread Creek a good mill stream. Weedsport and Centreport are villages.

Weedsport, Incorporated 1834 7 miles north of Auburn, 87 west of Utica, 26 from Syracuse, and canal 197 from Albany; named after the founder; has a post office, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist Church; 1 ashery; tannery; 8 stores; 3 forwarding establishments; 3 taverns; 1 furnace; 1 saw mill; and 120 dwellings. This is a thriving viilage at which much business is done, being the canal port for the northern part of the county and for Auburn. This is one of the hundred canal creations.

Centreport. has merely a grocery and about 20 dwellings, rounded as a rival to Weedsport, but it has been unsuccessful in the race.

Brutus population: 1820 - 3579; 1825 - 4098; 1830 - 1827; 1885 - 1991.