History

Town of Dryden History
Excerpts from “Centennial History of the Town of Dryden”

 Cabin

  • Prior to 1779 – Native American Hunting Ground
  • 1779 – Sullivan’s campaign-part of the Revolutionary War-with about 5000 men resulted in the complete humiliation of the Iroquois and opened the way for settlement. With the exception of the Oneidas who remained friendly to the colonies and a part of the Onondagas, the Iroquois were driven from this part of the state. Within the next 10 years, the Iroquois ceded their lands, by various treaties to the state.
  • 1789 – NY State Legislature passed a law for surveying & setting apart for the use of its soldiers of the Revolution who then survived, a large section of land between Seneca and Oneida Lakes, afterwards known as the “Military Tract” comprising nearly 2 million acres and including the town of Dryden, which was designated in the survey as Township 23. Each township was 10 miles by 10 miles square and divided into 100 lots about 1 square mile each.
  • 1790 – The Military Tract was surveyed.
  • 1791 – Lots were drawn by ballot by NY soldiers of the Revolution.
  • 1793 to 1795 Road built from Oxford to Cayuga Lake.
  • 1797 – Amos Sweet became the first settler in what is now the town of Dryden. At 19 East Main Street, he built a cabin 10ft by 10ft and lived there with his wife, 2 children, his mother and his brother.
  • 1801 – Nathaniel Sheldon claimed real ownership of the land Amos Sweet built his cabin on and compelled Mr. Sweet and his family to leave it. It is said Mr. Sweet soon sickened and died.
  • 1803 – Township 23 was set off by itself, having been previously named Dryden by the commissioner of the land office, in honor of John Dryden, the English Poet.
  • 1804 – First School opened in what was originally Amos Sweet’s cabin.
  • 1857 – Village of Dryden Incorporated with a population of about 400.
  • 1884 – Southworth Library Opened.
  • 1887 – Village of Freeville Incorporated.
  • 1895 – George Jr Republic Established.
  • 1897 – Centennial Celebration.
  • 1997 – Bicentennial Celebration.
  • 2000 – Census-Town of Dryden Population 13,532, Village of Dryden 1832, Village of Freeville 505.

For more information on the history or heritage in and around the Town of Dryden you can contact the Dryden Town Historical Society.