History of Cayuga, (Cayuga County) New York United States of America

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Local History Notes:

CAYUGA, a county near the centre of New York, has an area of about 752 square miles. It is partly bounded on the N. by Lake Ontario, and on the W. by Cayuga lake, and is drained by the Seneca river, Owasco creek, and other smaller streams, which furnish abundant water-power. Owasco lake, in this county, is a beautiful body of water, 10 miles long. The surface is undulating; the soil is generally very productive and well cultivated. Wheat, Indian corn, oats, and grass are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 704,954 bushels of corn; 468,730 of wheat; 735,441 of oats; 72,590 tons of hay, and 1,673,315 pounds of butter. There were 33 flour and grist mills, 72 saw mills, 2 cotton factories, 8 woollen factories, 3 carpet factories, 10 iron foundries, and 19 tanneries. It contained 87 churches and 7 newspaper establishments. There were 14,686 pupils attending public schools, and 607 attending academies or other schools. Water-limestone, gypsum, and limestone are found here in abundance. This county crossed by by the two Rochester and Syracuse railroads, and by the Erie canal. Capital, Auburn. Population, 55,458.

Biographies:

Theodore Medad Pomeroy, representative, was born in Cayuga, N.Y., Dec. 31, 1824; son of the Rev. Medad and Lilly (Maxwell) Pomeroy; grandson of Timothy and Anna (Burt) Pomeroy and of Joshua and Esther (Bryant) Maxwell, and a descendant of Eltweed Pomeroy, who came from England in 1632. He was graduated from Hamilton college, N.Y., in 1842; was admitted to the bar in 1846, and practised in Auburn, N.Y., 1846-70. He was married, Sept. 4, 1855, to Elizabeth Leitch, daughter of Robert and Margaret (Standart) Watson of Auburn, N.Y.; was district attorney of Cayuga county, N.Y., 1851-56; a member of the New York assembly, 1857; a Republican representative in the 37th-40th congresses, 1861-69, and was elected speaker of the house to succeed Schuyler Colfax, March 3, 1869. He was mayor of Auburn, N.Y., 1875-76; state senator, 1878-79; engaged in the banking business in Auburn, after 1870, and was first vice-president and general counsel of the American express company. He was a delegate to the Republican national conventions of 1860 and 1876, and temporary chairman of the convention in 1876.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor