PRODUCTS OF THE PEOPLE

Aqriculture

Before the openinq of the Erie Canal in 1825, practically all of the products of the area were consumed by the people who produced them. It was a system of subsistence living that used barter to secure commodities the family didn't produce on it's own farm. The more resourceful the family, the better it lived. Farms produced meat, some milk, wool, corn and wheat. The wool was spun into clothinq for the family. In 1821 the households in Cayuga County made 876,541 yards of cloth. Moralists of the day lamented the quantity of "ardent spirits" that the settlers distilled from their surplus corn and wheat. One authority speaking of the new area quoted the going price of home distilled whiskey at eighteen cents a qallon. This fact probably made it more practical to use at home than to move into the market. The writer felt that construction of the Erie Canal was justified if only because it got the grain off the farm land.

About the only source of cash income was the ashes which resulted from burninq the forest trees removed to make arable land. But the family had the first chance at the ashes which were used to make soft soap. Lard from the butchered hogs supplied the fat inqredient. The hocks fitted particularly well into subsistence economy. They needed some shelter and feed during the inter but when sprinq came the sows took off to the woods, raised their families and apparently came home in the fall.

Considering the difficulties and restrictions forced by subsistence living the development of industry in the county is almost incredible. The census of 1810 reports as follows: Asheries, 48; Distilleries, 47; tanneries, 19; clotheries, ll; carding machines, ll; earthenware factories, 6; oil mills (for flax), 3; airfurnace, 1; trip hammer, 1; nail factories, several.

By 1820 the Town of Brutus had two grist mills, ten sawmills, one filing mill, one carding mill; one triphammer; three distilleries and two asheries. Note that this was the Military township, not the present Town of Brutus. The little known silk production enterprise got off to an early start; 25, OOO skeins of silk were produced armually according to the 1810 census, Ten years later a writer commented that "silk is produced to a great amount ". Whether or not silk was produced in Brutus is not known.

The rapid increase in the number of manufacturing and service facilities was beneficial to the settler but fhe lack of roads and travel, slow and difficult. During the spring, fall and winter many people got to fie mill by carrying the grist on their backs - and the miller usually took a share for his services.

From earliest settlement, agriculture has remained the most important human activity in the County. Dairy farming has always been important. The number of dairy cows in the County was not tabulated until 1855 when there were 19,800 listed. Interestingly the number has changed little from year to year up to the present time. However, the milk produced per cow has increased from less than 2,OOO pounds per year to at least 12,OOO. Sheep so important for clothing in the early days reached a peak number of 188, OOO in 1850 and is now down to about 4,OOO head. Horses, the most common source of power on farms held their numbers quite steadily at about 15,OOO from 1835, reaching a peak at 18, 700 in 1890, and now are steady at about 1,OOO head - mainly riding horses. By 1840 the county boasted 63,OOO head of hogs but that number dwindled very gradually down to about 3,OOO head at the present time.

Hay has always been an important agricultural product in Brutus

and surrounding territory. Timothy, the favored horse hay was shipped from Weedsport by the thousands of tons to help feed and dray horses in New York City. About 1OO years ago it was found that alfalfa would make excellent yields in the rich high-lime drumlin soils. It too found a ready down-state market. Hay and grain shipping became very important and a great number of "Produce" companies came and went in the community .- some of the better known concerns included C.C. Adams & Sons; W.H. Eldredge; Caywood; Stickle & Co.; Mitchell Bros.; D.W. Cady; D.O. Blumer; Blumer & Shoecraft; F.K. Stickle & Co.; W.M. Howe; D.W. Wright; Irving DeLamater & Co.; and many others. Daniel Denhey and his sons were also in the produce business but specialized in fruit, especially apples which, until 1910, were produced in quantities in Brutus and surrounding towns. The Denneys expanded to a point of having an outlet of their own in Chicago.

The business of farming has changed incredibly since 18OO. From a subsistence. economy, when well over 90% of the population farmed, to a point where in 1970 only five farm s large enough to be considered commercial, remained in the town of Brutus.