The Cossitt's of Onondaga County, New York
As many people were migrating from the eastern
seashore to the Midwest in the early 1800’s, a popular stopover was
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York.
Some of these migrating people set up home and
stayed for a time being, while others discarded all but their
necessities and continued on.
The Cossitt family occupies a great position
among the pioneers of Onondaga County, New York.
About
1815, Stirling (Sterling) Cossitt, the great grandson of Rene and Ruth
Cossitt (born December, 1781 in Granby, Connecticut, died May 9, 1828)
became the proprietor of Bogardus's Tavern.
Another citizen of Onondaga County, Rufus
Cossitt, also a great grandson of Rene and Ruth Cossitt, was born in
Granby, Connecticut in 1790, and came to Marcellus with his father,
Major Martin Cossitt, in 1794. Four years later the family settled in
Marcellus village, then known as Nine Mile Creek, where the major died in 1824.
Major Martin Cossitt derived his title from official services in the
State militia, and was prominent in the early settlement of that town.
Rufus Cossitt obtained a good education, was graduated at Hamilton
College, read law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced his profession
for many years.
Rufus Cossitt took a keen interest in the
affairs of his town and participated in many of the public movements. He
greatly assisted in advancing the cause of education and religion. In
the November election of 1849 Rufus Cossitt was elected County Clerk of
Onondaga County.
Rufus Cossitt died in August 27, 1878 in
Onondaga County, New York.
His wife, Elizabeth Van Kleek, and
mother of his four children, had died in 1848.
Rufus Cossitt
Davis Cossitt
Davis Cossitt
Davis Cossitt, son of Rufus and Elizabeth Cossitt, was born at
Onondaga Hill in 1823, and received his education in the public schools
and Onondaga Academy. He purchased the family farm when he was a young
man and farmed it until 1862 when he enlisted in Co. D, 122d New York
Volunteers. He was wounded at Fort Stevens on January 12, 1864. After
spending about ten months in the hospital, he was honorably discharged.
He returned to his farm and in 1872 married Mary
Geddes.
He died on January 3, 1909 in Onondaga County.
