Wyllys Gaylord was born in Bristol, Connecticut, 1792. In 1801, Lemon Gaylord, the father of Wyllys, moved to the town of Otisco, he being the third settler in the town. At that time his son was but nine year old. At this early age, the deep shade of an almost unbroken forest, as the wandering pioneers penetrated its dark recesses in the beginning of summer, guided only by "blazed trees," made an impression upon his mind and excited a passion for woodland scenery which was never effaced. Admiration, and even enthusiasm filled his mind, as in after years he spoke of the scenes and perils of early forest life. In a letter written but a short time before his death, he says:* "When we entered these forests, the heavy foliage wore its richest green, and the elm, the maple and the linden, were successively laden with flowers; and never shall I forget the rich, the indescribable perfume which filled the air, as tree after tree was cut down; and day and after passed away before the blossoms had ceased to exhale their odors from their withered cups."
At this early period, it was his misfortune to be necessarily deprived from the advantages of schools; for as yet, none had been established in the town. But to compensate in a measure for this, the father at intervals gave wholesome lessons of instruction. By these he was benefitted, and limited as it was, it laid the foundation of his future usefulness. At the early age of twelve years, he was violently attacked with a rheumatic affection, which resulted in a curvature of the spine, and completely unfitted him in all after life for any active or laborious pursuit. His desire for knowledge and his love for books was such, that physical infirmity presented no obstacle to his researches after knowledge Being unable to attend school, he studied such books as chance happened to throw in his way. The catalogue at that early period was small; but such as he had access to, he mastered with great avidity, aided in the more difficult portions by those to whom circumstances gave him admission. He was remarkable for his assiduity in studying all books which came within his reach; and at an early age his mind was stored with a fund of intellectual wealth, from which in later years he could draw with pleasure and profit. Often has he been known to sit for hours under the shade of some wide spread tree, listening to the songs of the birds and the chirping of insects, pursuing his studies with pencil and note book in hand preserving the current of his thoughts. While thus anxiously engaged in the quiet pursuit of knowledge, and in the enjoyment of such a measure of health as permitted him to engage occasionally in the lighter labors of the field, he met with an accident, which entailed upon him a vast amount of suffering, and rendered him nearly helpless until death. It was occasioned by a fall, from which at the time, he noticed only a slight bruise on the left arm. It afterwards swelled and became a running sore inclining to scrofula, causing a sloughing off of the bone, rendering his arm ever after entirely useless. This affection of the arm continued for many years, and when it healed, an abscess formed in one of his sides, which was troublesome, with occasional alleviations till the day of his death. Notwithstanding these bodily infirmities and excessive pain, he was remarkable for his cheerful and happy disposition, and under the most acute suffering, was never known to complain. His physical constitution was exceedingly slight. His weight was less than one hundred pounds, low in stature, and by no means prepossessing in personal appearance; but when he opened his mouth, the melody of his voice, the richness of his tones, and his happy manner of expression, immediately dissipated all preconceived opinions of his inferiority.
His favorite resort was to the beautiful shore of the lake in the vicinity of his house; there, while gazing upon the charming view, inhaling the balmy breeze, and contemplating the works of a beneficent Creator, his mind was refreshed, his imagination enlivened, and from these quiet resources have flowed in uncontaminated streams the workings of his admirable genius.
For more than twenty years he was a valuable contributor to many of the scientific journals of the day, in this country; and in several instances, to some of the most popular magazines of Europe. His contributions to the newspaper press of this country, on every variety of topic, literary, scientific, religious, miscellaneous, and occasionally poetry, have been numerous and of the highest order of excellence. He was the author of several prize essays upon various subjects, published in the magazines of New-York, Boston and Philadelphia. It is believed, that in no instance where his talents were exerted, has he failed in taking a premium. It has been remarked by Judge Buell and other distinguished men, that he had not his equal in the land as a ready prose writer. He composed with wonderful facility and so correctly, that his first productions needed little or no criticism, extra embellishment or correction. He possessed the most fascinating colloquial powers, and his conversations were marked for being highly intellectual, exceedingly chaste, agreeable and instructive. He had made the study of medicine an accessory to his pleasures and pursuits; and physicians who have enjoyed his acquaintance, award to him the merit of being theoretically, a man of science, well skilled in all the minutiae of the Materia Medica, and second to few in the depths of investigation, and in correctness of judgment.
He was fond of music and possessed considerable mechanical genius. He constructed a very fine toned organ, without the aid of an instrument to look upon, solely from a drawing and description given in the Edinburgh Encyclopedia. With this he beguiled his leisure hours, and made that time agreeable, which to many hangs irksome and heavy. Among his early productions was a history of the late war; he was then quite young; it being in the year 1816-17. The manuscript was offered to a publisher, who judging more from the personal appearance of the author than from the merits of the production, discouraged him and his father from proceeding with its publication. This manuscript, since his reputation as a writer has been confirmed, has been sought for with great solicitude, but has never been re-produced. The refusal to publish this his early production, fortunately was not a cause of discouragement, but he pressed vigorously on, till he reached a high elevation in the walks of literature and science.
His writings collected in a volume, would no doubt be received by the public with approbation and delight; and some one who is competent to do justice to his merits, we trust my yet come forward as his historiographer, and do honor to his memory.
The versatility of his talents, the rapidity with which he wrote, and the variety of his productions, have excited the admiration and astonishment of his friends. To him the agricultural portion of community more than any other, are greatly indebted for his scientific and literary labors in their behalf. In every department of his darling profession was he thoroughly versed, and with Virgil, in truth might he say, "Cecini pascua, rura, duces." His essays on practical, scientific and theoretical agriculture are the most valuable, and will be the most enduring of his writings. The services he has rendered his country in these departments are incalculable, and are a rich legacy, which will endure to remote generations. His connection with the old Genesee Farmer and Albany Cultivator, from 1833 to 1844, will long be remembered with lively interest. He labored to elevate the condition of society and to benefit mankind; and the town of Otisco and the county of Onondaga will feel the power of his influence in the vista of future years; and long will the dwellers in this favored county deplore the loss of an eminent man.
He died without a groan or struggle after a short illness of thirty-three hours, at Howlet Hill, town of Camillus, Lime Rock Farm, on the 27th of March, 1844, in the fifty-first year of his age. He had been for more than thirty years an exemplary member of the Presbyterian Church, and expired in the hope of a joyful resurrection.
OTISCO.--This town was erected in 1806, from parts of Pompey, Marcellus and Tully. It is centrally situated, about fifteen miles south of Syracuse. It is about five miles long and little more than four broad. Settlements were commenced in 1801, five years before its organization, while the territory was comprised in the townships of Tully, Pompey and Marcellus. The first settler in the town, was Chauncey Rust, from Massachusetts. In 1801, his son, Timothy Rust, was the first white child born in the town. Other settlers came in the same and the following years; among the earliest of whom, were Charles J. Merriman, from Connecticut; Otis Baker, from Massachusetts; Josiah Clark, Lemon Gaylord, Benjamin and Amos Cowles, Daniel Bennett, Elias and Jared Thayer, Henry Elethrop, Samuel, Ebenezer and Luther French, Jared and Noah Parsons, Rufus Clapp and others, all from New England. The first settlement of the town was very rapid. The first tavern kept in town was by Benoni Merriman, in a log house near Otisco Center, in 1804; Michael Johnson succeeded him. Jesse Swan was the first merchant in 1808, and Josiah Everett, afterwards.
First marketing was done at Albany, with teams, and milling was done at Jamesville and Manlius, until a grist mill was built in 1806 by Esquire Merriman. Saw mills were erected by him and others, about the same time, in different parts of the town. Elias Thayer built the first frame house, 1805, and Oliver Tuttle the next. A Post Office was established, 1814, Dr. Luther French, first Post Master.
The first school was established in a log school house, 1804, soon after was built a frame school house. The first practicing physician, who settled in town was Dr. Jonathan S. Judd, in 1806, and Dr. Luther French, in 1818. There has never been but one lawyer residing in town, John Thomas, Esq., and he remained but a short time, and moved to Cortland.
The "Washington Religious Congregational Society of Otisco," at Otisco Center, was organized 1804, by the Rev. Hugh Wallace. A house of worship was put up but not completed, in 1807. The present meeting house was built in 1816, a very neat and commodious house, with a long string of sheds on the south, west and north, capable of sheltering nearly one hundred vehicles. Rev. Geo. Colton officiated as first pastor, in 1806-7. After him was ordained in the parish, Rev. William J. Wilcox, who remained about thirteen years. Rev. Charles Johnson succeeded him a short time. Rev. Richard S. Corning, was pastor from 1824 to 1833; he was succeeded by Rev. Messrs. Levi Parsons, Levi Griswold, Sidney Mills, Thaddeus Pomeroy, Clement Lewis and Addison K. Strong. This society, and its ministers, have had a very healthful influence on the generation which has grown up under its precepts and teachings. Otisco Center, is a lively inland village, of about one hundred houses, shops, stores, &c., and is deservedly noted for the hospitality, sobriety and intelligence of its inhabitants. There is no tavern in the place, and but two in the town.
Amber, a snug, pleasant little village in this town, is situated on the north-east bank of Otisco Lake, of about the same dimensions and character as Otisco Center. It has a small woolen factory, a saw mill, a store and a Post Office.
The Amber religious society, was organized 6th of September, 1824, Miles Bishop, Robert Kenyon, Barber Kenyon, Isaac Briggs and Samuel Steward, Trustees. The society have since erected a convenient and tasteful house of worship. There are two Methodist societies in town, but without settled or local preachers.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Daniel Bennett, 1st of April, 1806. Dan Bradley, of Marcellus, Chairman, and Dan Bradley and Timothy Copp, Esqrs., presiding Justices. Judah Hopkins was chosen Supervisor, and Josephus Baker, Town Clerk, and Noah Parsons, Lemon Gaylord and Josephus Baker, assessors. An extra town meeting was held in the month of August following, at the school house, near Daniel Bennett's tavern, at which a committee of three, were chosen to ascertain the center of the town, in order to centrally located public buildings.
The principal forests of this section were heavy and consisted, on the
hills, mostly of deciduous trees. In the valleys, were hemlock, and
some pine. After it was cleared, (which was done at great labor and
expense,) the soil proved productive, and yielded abundant crops of wheat,
corn and other kinds of grain. This town is well watered with abundant
springs and small streams, and is well adapted to dairy and sheep husbandry.
The face of the country is uneven, nevertheless, the soil is fertile, and
most of it arable. From what has been generally related of this town,
it is very much underrated. Its present appearance would compare
favorably with any town in the county. Its inhabitants are hardy,
industrious, frugal and independent, attentive to their own business, out
of debt, and have the means of sustaining themselves. Not a pauper
or lawyer is there in town, nor a man unable or unwilling to pay his school
bills. Gospel and schools are well supported, hard times are unknown.
It is said a hundred dollars could not be lent in this town. none
are very rich, and none are very poor. The condition of this town,
is very much of that desirable kind, so happily described in the old Chinese
aphorism, as follows:
"Where spades grow bright, and idle swords grow dull,
Where jails are empty, and where barns are full,
Where church paths are by frequent feet outworn,
Law court-yards weedy, silent and forlorn,
Where doctors foot it, and where farmers ride,
Where age abounds, and youth is multiplied,
Where these signs are, they truly indicate,
A happy people, and well governed State."
There is a richness and beauty unsurpassed, in the scenery as one looks from hill to hill--the fields laden with the golden harvest, and the woodlands giving shade and variety to the prospect. The Otisco Lake bounds the town on the west. It was called by the Indians, Otskah, sometimes Kaioongk. This lake is about five miles long, and one broad--a beautiful sheet of water, skirted by cultivated fields to the water's edge, variegated with woodland and pasture grounds. The red man anciently cast his lines and nets in the pure clear waters of the Otskah, and was rewarded for his labor, with abundance of trout and smaller fish. Recently his successors have introduced the perch and pickerel, which are becoming abundant. In former times, the Onondagas had a path from their village to this lake, whither they came to fish, and hunt the deer, as he came to quench his thirst at the brink.
There is a small, weak salt spring on the west side of the Otisco Lake, nearly opposite the village of Amber, on the margin where deer used to frequent, to obtain the cooling condiment.
There are no quarries of good building stone in this town, the ledges of rocks are mostly red and brown shale. In the northern section of this town, on the road from Onondaga South Hollow to Otisco, is one of the most extensive deposits of what is termed by Mr. Vanuxem, in the Geology of the third district of New-York, "Marcellus goniatite."
This singular deposit seems to be about ten feet deep, and exhibits at the points exposed to the surface, millions of specimens of what are termed "horn rocks," from one to three inches in diameter, and from two to twelve inches long, slightly curved. These are isolated and can be picked up in any quantities. They are of adulterated, dark brown limestone, and are the remains of molusca deposited at some unknown period, and are worthy the attention of the geologist. The same strata appears in other parts of the town, though not as prominent. They lie underneath the red shale.
Statistics for the town of Otisco, taken from the census of 1845:--
Number of inhabitants, 1701; subject to military duty, 127; voters, 400; aliens, 11; children attending common schools, 408; acres of improved land, 12899; grist mills, 1; saw mills, 8; woolen factory, 1; Tanneries, 2; Churches--Congregational, 1; Methodist, 1; common schools, 14; taverns, 2; stores, 4; farmers, 269; merchants, 4; manufacturers, 20; mechanics, 32; clergy, 2; physicians, 3.