THE CARRS OF CARR'S COVE
An Historical Research Paper
by
Claudia A. Chappell
April 11, 1962
English 102
Section 8
Mrs. Wuetig
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
I. Hartman Carr 3rd Today ....................................1,2
II. Forebears
A. Great-grandfather, James Carr.............2-7
B. Grandfather, Hartman Carr, Sr.............6-7
C. Father, Henry Clay Carr .......................7-11
III. Hartman Carr 3rd ..........................................11-16
IV. Bibliography .......................................................17-18
V. Acknowledgements.................................................18
Page (1)
THE CARRS OF CARR'S COVE
A few months ago there appeared a feature article in a
local newspaper, “The Citizen-Advertiser”, of Auburn, N. Y. about
the Carr family of Carr's Cove. This brought to my mind that I had studied
about a James Carr in Social Studies when I was in the seventh grade. My curiosity being aroused, I thought
it would be interesting to learn more of this old family. I knew that there were Carrs still
living on the shores of Cayuga Lake at Carr's Cove, so I decided to
investigate.
Carr's Cove is located on Cayuga Lake about fourteen
miles south and west of Auburn, New York, and one and one half miles south of
Union Springs, New York. It is
within the Town of Springport and is entirely contained within the Cayuga
Indian Residence Reservation. The "Cove", as it is referred to by the
natives, is a calm, peaceful body of water opening into Cayuga Lake and is
unique for the lovely Lotus lillies that bloom annually at its southern
end. Nature made here a natural
protection for water fowl and its waters abound with many types of game
fish. At this beautiful location
stands the “homestead” of the Carr family, surrounded by lovely old
trees. It is now the home of Hartman Carr and his wife Leona, who, also before
her marriage was a Carr. She was,
in fact, her husband’s fourth cousin. Hartman, or “Hart” as he is affectionately
known, is the great-grandson of the James Carr I had originally heard of
Page (2)
in school.
Upon entering the home I was immediately impressed
with the beautiful blue eyes of the elderly gentleman who rose to greet
me. I noticed that he had been
sitting in a charming antique Boston Rocking chair which had been finished in
the natural wood. On a cherry
drop-leaf table next to his chair, were some items of interest he had gathered
to show me. Hart is an extremely
cordial gentleman. He walks with a slight limp which is a result of a wound
received in World War I. His
manner is gracious, his attitude keen and his lively interest in all things
about him belie his eighty five years.
Most of this gentleman’s life has been spent right here, in Carr's
Cove near the very spot where his great-grandfather James Carr built his first
log home.
Great-grandfather James, was the founder of this fine
family. He had been a soldier in
the Continental Army and a Captain in the French and Indian Wars.1
He first saw this area when he was with Lieutenant Col. Butler,
whose men laid waste the Indian villages on the east shore of Cayuga Lake. Camp was pitched September 21, 1779 at
Gewauga, the present site of
1. Frederic Cook, General John
Sullivan’s Indian Expedition of 1779, Auburn, New York, 1887, p.318
Page (3)
of Union Springs, New York.2 This occurred during the Sullivan Indian Expedition of 1779. On October 10, 1780, James Carr was captured at Fort Anne, New York and was conveyed to Montreal, Canada where he was kept prisoner until November 1782. At that time he was exchanged.3
Following the war, James married Miss Margaret Morrell
of Cambridge, New York. They
resided at Johnstown, New York for a number of years where their first six
children were born.4
During the Sullivan Campaign, James Carr was very much
impressed by the large yield of Indian Corn and the abundant crops on the peach
trees which were cultivated by the Indians. Although their military orders had been to destroy these
crops, the fertility of the soil in this area was indeed apparent. For this reason, many young men
returned as permanent settlers.
Since the financial situation of the national
government at this time could not afford monetary payment for military
services, the soldiers were given land grants in lieu of cash.
James Carr received approximately 1,600 acres as his
payment. In addition to this land
grant, he purchased from the Indians, the small area surrounding Carr's Cove.5
In 1797 he
2. Galpin, Central New York, an Inland Empire, 1941,
Vol. II, p.15.
3. Clinton S. Care, Record of the Carr Family in
America, n.p., p.1.
4. Ibid. p.1.
5. Ibid. p.7.
Page
(4)
returned alone, cleared some of the land and built a
log cabin near the shore of the Cove.
He worked the land each spring, summer and fall and then returned to his
home in Johnstown,
New York for the winter. He walked each way every spring and fall for three
consecutive years; until in 1800 he returned with his wife and six children.6 On this final trip, they came through
the wilderness by ox team with their household goods, seeds and plant
cuttings. The trip took seventeen
days. When we stop to consider the
stamina of this early pioneer and all that he and his family had to accomplish
to carve a home in the wilderness, we can better appreciate the pride and
patriotism which exists in the Carr family today.
James Carr was a great friend of the Indians and he
and the Red Men lived together in peace.
When the Cayuga Indians transferred to their reservation in Canada,
because of the over population of the white man, Canistoga, who was the chief
of all of the Cayugas, was then a very old man, he asked James if he could be
permitted to live out his days beside the lake so dear to him, where he had
spent so much of his life. His
tribe, including his squaw and his children, all left him there. He
6. Elliot G. Storke & James H. Smith, History
of Cayuga County. New York 1789-1879,
Syracuse, New York, 1879. p. 364
Page (5)
lived for about three years afterwards and was cared
for during his last illness by James Carr and three of James' sons, Jonathan,
Jacob and Hartman.7
When Canistoga died, the Carrs buried him according to known Indian rites. He was wrapped in his Chief’s blanket, and laid in the grave beside him were his favorite musket, extra leggings and moccasins (for his long Journey to the far land), food for several days, a fur cap and some pottery vessels.8 His grave was dug where his Wigwam had stood for so many years. This was on the west ridge of The Great Gully, next to Mr. Utt's barn.9 It is located on what is known today as “The MacIntosh Farm”.
Another famous Indian who lived south of Carr’s Cove near what is now known as Farley’s Point was Kanistagia, Chief of the Tuscaroras. He was called ‘Steel Trap’ and was the King of the Tuscaroras. His wife, Esther was queen.10 Steel Trap was a great friend of James Carr and his family and lived with them for several years. Indeed, the little log cab in provided shelter to many of the Indians on frequent occasions. They were
7.
Carr. p.2.
8.
Storke & Smith. p. 31
9.
Carr. p. 2
10.
Storke & Smith. p. 389
Page (6)
always welcome. Some years later, about 1810, Steel
Trap was poisoned by a white man and died.11 He was buried by James Carr, his
son Hartman and grandson Henry.
Soon after Steel Trap’s death, his wife Esther and the small band
of remaining Tuscaroras moved west to what is now Buffalo, New York.12 Legend has it that the Carr family was asked to keep secret
the final resting place of this, the last of the Tuscarora Chiefs. The secret has been handed down from
father to son to this very day. No
other white man knows the location of Steel Trap’s grave.
After James had settled his family in their log home,
the family was increased by the birth of four more children, making ten in all.13
In September of 1832, James Carr applied for a war pension which he received. After his death his widow was also entitled to be pensioned. He died May 3rd, 1839 at Springport, New York at the age of 76. He is buried in the old Quaker Cemetery in the Village of Union Springs. His wife died April 7th, 1843 and is buried next to her husband.14
Hartman Carr, son of James and grandfather of Hart, the subject of this paper, was born in 1797 at Johnstown, New York.
11. Storke & Smith. p. 369
12. Temple R. Hollcroft, A Brief History of Union
Springs, p. 3
14. Ibid. p. 2
Page (7)
He came with his father to the Cove and lived all of
his life near the old homestead.15 In 1821 he married Ann Brook and they had fourteen
children.16 Hartman Carr was a Brick Maker and
carried on this business until his death.l7 During their married life, Hartman and
his wife Ann were to see the region transformed from a forest to a populous
community.
In 1850 records show that Hartman Sr. owned 4 1/2
acres of “second class land” in the Town of Springport, valued at
$483.00. Included with this land, was a house and small barn. His taxes at this time were forty three
cents, a meager amount campared to present day rates.18
Four of Hartman's sons were in the Civil War. Ashbel
and Henry C. (father of Hartman III) were in the 3rd New York Artillery.
Jonathan was a captain in the First Ohio Cavalry and Hartman Jr. was in the
Union Navy, Pacific Squadron, Flagship "Lancaster". 19 According to his grandson, Hartman Sr.
was a fifer in the 19th New York Regimental Band and Hartman Jr. participated
in the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac.
Henry Clay Carr was the fifth son and ninth child born
to Hartman and Ann Carr. He was born December 24th, 1844. 20 He
15.
Carr. p.4
16.
Ibid. p. 4
17.
Ibid p.7
18.
Town of Springport, Assay Book for 1850-51.
19.
Carr P. 9 & 10
20.
Ibid p.4
Page (8)
went into business with his father in the brick yard and during the Civil War enlisted with his brothers and several cousins in the army. Before the Civil War, a cornet band had been organized in the village of Union Springs. Most of the members of this band were descendants of James Carr. One of James Carr's grandchildren was the leader of the band and another was its musical director. 21 The band provided entertainment for many local. occasions and was indeed very popular. Many people of the day considered it one of the best bands in the State.
At the outbreak of the Civil
War, the cornet band enlisted as a group in the Army.22 They became the Regimental Band of the
19th New York Volunteers.23 Two of its members, Lafayette and George W. Carr,
cousins of Henry, were unfortunately captured at Beachgrove, So. Carolina. They were imprisoned and died at
Andersonville, Georgia.24
Lafayette, it seems, was a victim of a Captain Wirz. It is not known whether he had tried to
escape prison, or if it was a premeditated murder.
Soon after the close of the Civil War, on November 27,
1867, to be exact, Henry Clay Qarr married Georgia Simons.25
21. Storke & Smith. p. 385
22. Ibid. p. 385..
23. Newspaper Clipping from the Scrapbook of Georgia Carr.
24. Army Registration Book, Union Springs, N. Y. 184. p.5
25. Carr. p.4
Page
(9)
It was for this young couple that the pleasant brick
home I visited, was built. In this
house their children were born.
They were: Clinton and Lewis, now deceased; Hartman III, the present
occupant of the brick house; Sidney, who live. in Ithaca and William, who lives
in Michigan.
In 1876, upon the death of Hatman Carr Sr., Henry
inherited the Brick Yard at the Cove.
By 1878, six men were employed
and 400,000 bricks were manufactured each year.26 It is from these bricks that his home
was built. Dishes and pottery
objects were also made in the “yard” and some of the dishes used in
the home today were made on the premises.
During this time Henry and some members of his family
used to cut ice in the Cove in the winter time to be sold the following
summer. In 1887 we note that 300
loads of ice were supplied to residents in the village of Aurora from Carr's
Cove.27 His son Hartman III told me that they had great
fun as young people, discovering apples among the ice cakes. The apples had
been stored there the previous winter when the ice was packed in the huge ice
house. These buried apples came out in remarkable condition and this actually
was early type of
26. Storke & Smith. p. 374
27. Scrapbook of Georgia Carr
Page (10)
cold storage.
Henry Carr was greatly interested in sports. He was a
personal friend of Charles Courtney, the famous single scull (a type of light
rowboat) champion. Courtney instigated Crew Racing at Cornell University and
became their first Rowing coach. Henry Carr was on Courtney’s own team
for the first four-man race against Cornell. Henry later became Game Protector for Cayuga County and
served in this capacity for nearly twenty years. He and his wife also conducted
a Dancing School. After his retirement as game protector, he ran a boat livery
and operated a ferry across Cayuga Lake.
A newspaper clipping concerning the celebration of the
50th wedding anniversary of this couple notes that in addition to the above,
Henry Carr had been an attache at the State Capitol in Albany during the
Cleveland and Hill administration of 1865.28
It is apparent that Henry and his wife must have both shared en interest in sprots and the great out doors. Another newspaper clipping, taken from her own scrap book tells how Mrs. Henry C. Carr, (Georgia Simons) actually walked all the way from her home at Carr’s Cove, to the city of Auburn to
28. Carr Scrap Book
Page
(11)
visit
her son, William. This she did on
Thursday, September 25, 1917 in her 72nd year. The distance she covered in the
four hour interval was 13 1/2 miles.29 Quite an accomplishment for an old lady.
Henry Carr died August 14, 1922 at the age of 83. His
wife lived on to see 92 years. Her
motto for a good long life was: “Be happy and have a good time".30 This cheerful bit of philosophy has
been inherited by her many descendants.
Hartman Carr 3rd, the third son of Henry and Georgia Carr was born December 30, 1876.31 Hartman married his distant cousin Leona Carr, January 1st, 1899, and they started housekeeping in Union Springs. They have three children: Henry Clay (Hank), Harlan (Gotch) and Marjorie Carr Smith. The boys were born in the village and their daughter in Auburn.
Throughout his life, Hart has been extremely
interested in sports. Hunting, fishing, swimming, baseball, football and track
and field games have brought him many honors.
When he was a boy, Hart learned the Indian sign
language and the finger language of the deaf and dumb. An Indian called Walt Fox Lyon came
from Canada to the Carr home. During
his stay he taught Hart and his father the indian language. Hart was
29. Carr Scrap Book.
30. Ibid.
31. Ibid.
Page
(12)
taught the finger language of
the deaf and dumb by Mr. and Mrs. Jacob DeShong who were deaf from birth.
Hart was taught the Danish
language by Jeff Nelson, a horticulturist who was employed by Anderson and
Farley’s Nursery for several years. It was this man who gave Clinton
Carr, Hart’s older brother, the roots of the Lotus which eventually
bloomed at the Cove.
While at Hobart College, Hart
received honors in French. His teacher was professor Fermand, a former neighbor
at the Cove.
The sign languages, Danish
and French helped Hart a great deal during World War I.
While Hart was a student at
Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y. he enlisted in the army for the
Spanish—American War. This was on February 16, 1898. He was in the 3rd
New York Infantry, Company “B”. He was honorably discharged, July
15, 1898.32
In 1914, Mr. Carr signed for
service during the Mexican Border trouble. He was in the 3rd New York Company
“M” from Auburn. 33 Hart later enrolled in Theodore Roosevelt’s army on
January 1, 1917. 34 He
was appointed a sergeant. That same year
32. Carr Scrap Book. p. 305
33. Ibid p.305
34. Ibid p. 305
Page (13)
he received an appointment to
Officer’s Training Corps and reported for duty August 23, 1917. 35 He was transferred to the Intelligence
service and finally to the tank corps on July 10, 1918. 36
Hart “shipped
out” for France and there participated in the battles of the Marne, Saint
Mihiel, Verdun, Meuse, Argonne and Sedan. On November 9, 1918 he was gassed. He
also received severe head and shoulder wounds from eighteen pieces of shell. He
was wounded, ironically enough, the day before the Armistice was signed.
For his service during World War I, Hart received the French "Croix de Guerre”, with gold star, the “Purple Heart”, the “Silver Star”, a Distinguished Service Medal and a six-starred battle cluster, all of which he showed to me.
During World War II, Hart again
heard the call of his country. lie volunteered for service and was
accepted. He did some intelligence
work and became Chief Observer for the Air Corps in Union Springs, New York.
As a sportsman, Hart
excelled. He was once a High
School and College Star. His proficiency as a baseball player brought him many
offers from various National Leagues.
He played with
35. Carr Scrap Book. p. 305
36. Ibid. p. 305
Page (14)
some of the Minor Leagues,
also. As Hart tells it, “...
made more money playing independently than for the Leagues. The Leagues offered $125.00 to $150.00
a month, but I could make $100.00 a week playing independent ball during the
summer, with board thrown in!”
In the year 1910, Hart
started to swim from Ithaca, New York to Cayuga, New York on Cayuga Lake, a
distance of approximately forty miles, but had to give up when still going
strong at the half-way mark. It
seems his escorts in the boat got “dry” and hungry and wanted to
quit. They were tired, but not
Hart. He was also Champion diver
and swimmer while at Fort Niagara in 1917.
Hartman Carr’s records
in various other sports, although not official, since they were taken by
students, remained unbeaten at Hobart College for years. In track and
swimming, in shot put, discus and hammer throwing he won, “hands
down”.
Hart has never been idle. His
love of the out doors kept him busy guiding others on hunting and fishing
trips. Until recently, he has been active in many organizations in Cayuga
County. This past winter he was awarded his fifty—year pin which was
given to him by Warren Lodge, F. & A. M. He has always worked for the Red
Cross and has sponsored and supported
Page (15)
the work of the Boy and Girl
Scouts in the community. He has
been a member of the Union Springs Board of Trade and was of valuable help as a
member of the Springport Civic Association when that organization sponsored and
ran the Union Springs Centennial Celebration in 1948.37 He has been a Volunteer Fireman and an
active member of the local Rod and Gun Club.
In fact, Hart admitted to me that he was a “joiner”. Not much went on in the village or the vicinity but that he was “right on deck”. He joined many organizations and always was interested in young people and civic activities.
In the fall of 1929, Hart
participated in a pageant at Geneva, New York which was produced to celebrate
the 150th Anniversary of the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign. In this pageant he protrayed a member
of the Continental Congress.38
His great zest for living has been inherited by his children. His son, Henry C. is Game Protector for Cayuga County. Hank”, as he is better known, will stand for no infraction of the law, but, nevertheless, is loved and respected by all who know him. His second son, Harlan has always been interested in sports and now lives in Florida. His daughter, Marjorie Smith,
37. Centennial Program of Events. Union Springs, New York. 1848-1948. p.2
38. George V. C. Lord. Sullivan—Clinton Campaign Historical Program and Dedication of Markers Along Route of March, Albany, New York, 1929. p. 61
Page (16)
lives in Ithaca, New York and
is one of the principals In the Ithaca school system.
Life now for Hart and Leona
is a bit more quiet. The
"latch string" is always out at the Cove. A visitor receives a warm, cordial welcome. The charming
rooms are full of old furniture, souveniers of the wars and many valuable old
Indian relics. Hart loves visitors
and when he starts to reminisce about the past, one had just better be prepared
to “stop and set for awhile".
Page (17)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Carr, Clinton S. Record of the Carr Family in America. Union Springs, New York: n.p., 1,2,4,7,9,10
Carr, Mrs. Georgia Simons. Scrapbook: Newspaper And Other Entries. 83-388
Cook, Frederic. General John Sullivan’s Indian Expedition of 1779. Auburn, New York: Knapp, Peck, and Thompson, 1887. 318
French, J. H. Historical Statistical Gazateer of New York Syracuse, New York: R. P. Smith, 1860. 205
Galpin. Central New York, Syracuse, New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc. 1941. II 15
Stork., Elliot G. and James H. Smith. History of Cayuga County, New York 1789-1879. Syracuse, New York: D. Mason and Company, 1879. pp. 31, 32, 112, 361-385, 369, 445.
Assay Book, Town of Springport. Union Springs, New York: n.p., 1850. p.3
Army Registration Book, Town of Springport. Union Springs, New York: n.p. 1864. p.5
Page (18)
Eyres, Lawrence E. Along The Sullivan Trail. Elmira, N. Y.: n.p., 1954 p. 16, 37
Getman, Mrs. Lloyd H. Centennial Historian. Centennial Program of Events, Union Springs, New York. 1848-1948 (Souvenier Booklet). Union Springs,: Centennial Committee, 1948. p. 2,3,5,13,l9,30,33,34,67
Hollcroft, Temple R. A Brief History of Union Springs. from a speech delivered to Lyons International, Union Springs, N. Y.: October, 1960. p. 3, V
Lord, George V. C. One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign. Historical Program. Albany: University of the State of New York, 1929. p. 81
++++++++++++++
Acknowledgements:
Interview April 2, 1962 with Harry Flinn who let me see the Assay books and the Civil War Registration Roll for Union Springs.
Interview April 3, 1962 with Mr. and Mrs. Hartman Carr.