ABOVE PHOTO: Unknown family at unknown location near Jordan. Perhaps one of Jonathan Rowley's early homes in Jordan looked similar to this dwelling. (Sign above porch: "KAMP KILL KARE")
Jonathan Rowley (Oct. 22, 1758-Oct. 2, 1849, age 90) and his wife, Amy Smith Rowley (1769-Mar. 29, 1849, age 80), were two of the first people who settled in what was to become Jordan, New York. Their farm was west of the village. They are both buried in the old Meech Cemetery, located on Brutus Road, a little west of Pump Road. Jonathan was born in Connecticut. He passed away just 20 days short of his 91st birthday. His wife, Amy, was born in Orange County, New York.
Jonathan Rowley's great-grandfather, Shubael Rowley, Sr., was born in 1660 in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, the son of Moses Rowley, Sr., who was born in London in 1627. Moses Rowley immigrated to the New World in the 1600's.
ABOVE IMAGE: Jonathan Rowley's family tree. Jonathan's great-great grandfather, Moses Rowley, immigrated from England to the New World in the 1600's.
The following newspaper article shares a fascinating story told by Jonathan about his experiences moving to Jordan sometime around 1797. This was before any roads were built, and before the forests had been cleared. It was also before Jordan's White Mill was built in 1812. The physical challenges endured by Jonathan which are described in this article highlight the significance of the White Mill to the early settlers of Jordan.
Experience of a Farmer Who Began the World Without One
Cent
Cooper's
Clarksburg Register
September
1, 1852
A letter-writer in the Tribune at Newtown, N. Y., tells the following experience of a thriving and wealthy farmer who was one of the early settlers of New York State:
Jonathan Rowley, of Camillus, (now Elbridge,) Onondaga county, N. Y., who is still living, or was two years since, informed me that he purchased his farm of a capitalist in Albany, about fifty years ago, on a credit of six years, at $3 an acre; that in the winter he engaged a farmer, who had been down with a load of wheat, to take himself, wife and child back to Elbridge for $7 50, where [h]e worked for their board until spring. He then hired a house, put his bed, wife and children into it, took his ax, hand-saw and auger in his hands, and started early in the morning for his future home, and cut his way three miles through the wood; fell basswood trees such as he and his wife could handle, built him a shanty, and got it done before six o'clock P.M. He then took his auger, went to the stump of the first tree he felled, bored a hole in the top, took from his pocket the last six pence he had in the world, dropped it in, made a plug, drove that in the hole, "and that is the last I have ever seen of it," said he.
In answer to my inquiry why he disposed of his last cent in that manner, he replied—"I knew I had to depend on my hands, and I had so little, I was determined to begin without a cent. In the spring," he continued, "I and my wife cleared off two acres, and planted it with corn. My wife would nurse the child, wrap it up and place it in the crotch of the roots of a large tree, and pile and burn the brush. During harvesting I worked for old Judge Munro for wheat to eat. I carried it to Skaneateles, nine miles, on my back to the mill. I carried one-and-a-half bushels at a time, and it took a day. The second year I used up my corn before my wheat came in, and I went again to the Judge and agreed to chop one acre for him, and he advanced to me a bushel and a half of corn. I had nothing to eat while doing it but johnnycake and maple sugar. I took in my pocket some large lumps of rock salt, which I occasionally held in my mouth; that made me drink freely, and kept the water from injuring me, and assisting in satisfying nature.—My two acres of wheat came in good, but my pantaloons were worn out, and I had to part with twenty bushels, at 2s. 6d. a bushel, to get a new pair. My wife was better clad and did not need any addition yet. The third year I had three acres of wheat and one of corn. I bought a cow and one hog, and I have never wanted a bushel of grain or a pound of pork since. I also built me a good log cabin the third year. I have raised a large family of boys and girls, and we have always had a plenty of everything. But it was hard work to pay for my land, as wheat was only worth about 32 cents a bushel. The last payment I made I got 40 cents a bushel for it at my barn."
"But," said I, "Uncle Rowley, how did you enjoy yourself when you were living on corn-cakes and maple-sugar?"
He replied by a slap on the shoulder, and said, "I assure you my young friend, those were the happiest days of my life. We really took comfort then."
ABOVE PHOTO: Meech Cemetery, Brutus Road, west of Jordan.
ABOVE PHOTO: Historic roadside marker for Meech Cemetery.
ABOVE PHOTO: Headstone for Jonathan Rowley (Oct. 22, 1758-Oct. 2, 1849, age 90) and his wife, Amy Smith Rowley (1769-Mar. 29, 1849, age 80), Meech Cemetery.