Captain Marcus Wellington Murdock: Civil War Veteran, Farmer, and Railroad Promoter of Venice Center - Part 3

The Murdock Family of Venice Center, Cayuga County, New York (continued)

Lyman Murdock's Career at Venice Center (continued)

The "Murdock Line," Lyman Murdock's First Railroad Promotion

Lyman Murdock had a great interest in railroad development that might benefit Venice Center and surrounding communities situated between Cayuga Lake on the west and the Owasco Lake valley on the east.

The elder Lyman Murdock was one of the leading promoters of one of the first north-south railroads in Central New York. Because of his active interests in its behalf, the road was nicknamed the "Murdock Line" in his honor. Efforts to raise money met with little success and it is remarkable anything was accomplished at all. The "first" Lake Ontario, Auburn & New York Railroad was incorporated Aug. 23, 1852 to build a line from "Lake Ontario to any point on the Erie road." The company organized with a capital of $1,500,000 and naturally Mr. Murdock was one of the directors. Levi Williams of Auburn, a reputable civil engineer, was employed to survey the line, the terminal being Fair Haven and Pugsley's station. A feasible route was selected and on Aug. 24, 1852 contracts were let. Construction was pushed energetically through in the winter of 1854, when money began to run dry.

-- Richard Palmer, Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Line Nicknamed For Early Venice Family (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Citizen-Advertiser, Wednesday, 30 April 1969), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

Pugsley's station was located southeast of Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York (1), and Fair Haven is located on Lake Ontario in the Town of Sterling, Cayuga Co., New York. The southern portion of the route of the Lake Ontario, Auburn & New York Railroad more or less followed the valley of Big Salmon Creek northward from North Lansing, Tompkins Co., New York through the hamlets of Genoa, Venice Center, and Merrifield toward Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York. About half of the proposed route eventually was graded before an improper bonding process and consequent lack of funds brought construction to a halt (1).

Lyman Murdock worked to keep the Lake Ontario, Auburn & New York alive during 1855 and 1856.

Rail Road Meeting. At a meeting of the Directors of the Preliminary organization of the Lake Ontario, Auburn and New York Railroad, held at the office of Charles P. Wood, in the city of Auburn, Oct. 29th, 1855, Mr. Chas. P. Wood was called to the Chair, and D. E. Havens was appointed Secretary. . . . Resolved, That the members of this Board individually and collectively use their best and most strenuous efforts and endeavors to procure subscriptions to the Capital Stock of the Road, in order to obtain if possible, the amount necessary to re-commence and finish the Northern division of the Road, ready for laying the iron from Auburn to the Bay, and report the same at the next meeting of the Board. . . . Resolved, That Lyman Murdock, of Venice, be appointed a Director, in the place of Slocum Howland declined. . . .

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Road Meeting 2 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Weekly Journal, Wednesday, 31 October 1855), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

Rail Road Meeting. - At an adjourned meeting of the subscribers of the Lake Ontario and New York Rail Road, held at Standford Hall on Friday, May 9th inst., it was resolved to proceed to the election of a Board of Directors, to run for the term of one year; and the following named persons were duly elected:--To wit. . . . Lyman Murdock, Venice. . . . 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Road Meeting (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily American, Saturday, 10 May 1856), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

Lyman Murdock's election as a Director of the Lake Ontario, Auburn & New York Railroad in May 1856 immediately preceded reorganization of the company in a further attempt to raise funds and complete construction. This effort allowed further work on the railroad grade but ultimately failed (1).

Times were stringent and the money market tight. The contractors pressed for payment of arrears. Some $200,000 was imperatively needed to advance the work to completion. Efforts to raise money failed and the company succumbed in March, 1855. But, as the old saying goes, if at first you don't succeed, try again, And so they did. The second company by the same name was incorporated was incorporated May 23, 1856 ''for the object of finishing the urgently needed road." Again, Murdock is mentioned as a director. Work was re-commenced on the Rd. and the grading north of Seneca River was nearly completed when the Civil War broke out. By 1862, a total of $449,541 had been spent.

 -- Richard Palmer, Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Line Nicknamed For Early Venice Family (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Citizen-Advertiser, Wednesday, 30 April 1969), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

"The completed grading has been referred to ever since as the 'Murdock Line,' after a resident of Venice Center, Lyman Murdock, who was interested in this and subsequent railroad development in the area" (1).

The New York & Oswego Midland Railroad, Lyman Murdock's Second Railroad Promotion

Lyman Murdock doesn't seem to have been discouraged by the failure of the "Murdock Line." It seems he had been working without success to get a railroad to Venice Center through the years during and after the Civil War. However, by early 1870, Lyman saw a new opportunity to get rail service to the hamlets on or near the old "Murdock Line" route, including Venice Center. The New York & Oswego Midland Railroad was considering a branch route from Norwich, Chenango Co., New York to Auburn (2). Lyman lobbied for the proposed Auburn branch to go by way of the partially constructed roadbed remaining from the uncompleted Lake Ontario, Auburn & New York project begun some 15 years earlier.

Local and Miscellany. . . . The Union Springs Advertiser has the following:  "LYMAN MURDOCK, of Venice, is laboring zealously to change the proposed branch of the Oswego Midland to Auburn from Norwich, so as to have it run over the road-bed of the Murdock line from Ithaca, intersecting the New York Central half way between Auburn and Cayuga. This evidently will need a stronger force. . . ."

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Local and Miscellany 4 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily Bulletin, Monday, 28 February 1870), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

The following year saw rapid progress by the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad and supporters of resurrecting the "Murdock Line" route.

On Jan. 1, 1871, the line was sold to the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad as its "Western Extension" of the Auburn branch from Norwich. It was the original intention of the Midland promoters to build into Auburn, thence westward to Buffalo or "a point on the Niagara River.". . .

-- Richard Palmer, Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Line Nicknamed For Early Venice Family (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Citizen-Advertiser, Wednesday, 30 April 1969), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

Lyman Murdock appears to have been heavily involved in raising funds for construction of the Auburn Branch of the New York & Oswego Midland during the summer of 1871.

Editorial Correspondence. THE MIDLAND RAILROAD. . . . SCIPIO CENTRE, June 22. There is no diminution in the interest shown in the Midland Railroad.--The progress of Mr. Littlejohn and party has been almost triumphal, inspiring those who have labored so long, with new courage, and convincing the doubtful or opposing. . . . At Sherwoods Corners a goodly audience assembled on the grounds of Slocum Howland, Esq., who, like many of his neighbors, is an ardent friend of a railroad from Auburn, South, through the county. The next gathering was at Venice Centre, and appropriately held on the grounds of Lyman Murdock, Esq., the man who, with indomitable perseverance, has labored through sunshine and storm, for the past nine years, to obtain a railroad connection with Auburn. A fitting monument to his untiring zeal will be the New York Midland, occupying the road bed which has cost him so much time, labor and money. . . . So many new names were added to the consents, that at night, signatures representing two thirds of the property, have been obtained. This evening the church at Scipio Centre was completely filled. Mr. Littlejohn's request for a subscription of $100,000 by the town of Scipio, was cordially entertained by a large number of those present, and all are sanguine that the assents for that amount can be readily obtained. The consultation at Scipioville will probably decide the question in this town. 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Editorial Correspondence. The Midland Railroad. . . . Scipio Centre, June 22 (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily Bulletin, Friday, 23 June 1871), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

The New York & Oswego Midland obtained rights to use the tracks of the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad from Cortland, Cortland Co., New York to Freeville, Tompkins Co. in March 1872. From that point, the Midland constructed new line to the vicinity of South Lansing, Lansing, Tompkins Co., New York where they merged onto the old "Murdock Line" roadbed at Ozmun's, which they followed north to Scipio (3). Several hamlets along the route held celebrations as the line was completed through their location. Lyman Murdock was a willing but modest participant in the celebrations.

A FETE DAY IN GENOA! - The Midland Railroad in Cayuga County! . . . For some months past the Midland Railroad has been quietly, but steadily pushing its way on from Cortland and the east toward Cayuga County; and a few days since it was announced that on Tuesday, October 1st, a railroad celebration would be held in Genoa, to rejoice over the completion of the Midland road to that village. . . . A HAPPY MAN. Our report would be incomplete without some reference to one of the chief projectors of the old road Mr. Lyman Murdock, of Venice whose untiring efforts to secure the building of a road over that route has given it its name, and who, through all the reverses and discouragements it has met, has never lost faith in the "Murdock route." Yesterday he was present and saw the consummation of his hopes. He appeared the happiest man on the ground. . . .

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), A Fete Day In Genoa! - The Midland Railroad in Cayuga County! (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Weekly News, Monday, 7 October 1872), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

ANOTHER MIDLAND CELEBRATION! - The Iron Horse Reaches Lyman Murdock's Residence. . . . Yesterday was the day appointed for the celebration of the completion of the Midland Railroad to Venice Center, or Murdock's Corners, in the town of Venice. . . . AT FREEVILLE the excursion train for Venice was in waiting. . . . Five passenger coaches . . . came from Cortland, and must have contained four or five hundred people. Besides these there was one other passenger coach and seven box and flat cars arranged with seats. . . . At 12 o'clock the train left Freeville for Venice. At every station large numbers were "taken in," until the coaches were jammed and the platforms flat cars, engine and tender swarmed with human beings. At Beardsley's a crowd of about 200 were told they must wait until a train could be sent back for them; and accordingly a gravel train was dispatched from Genoa for them. The thirteen cars could not have contained less than 1,000 people. . . . a train of half-a-dozen cars left for Venice with the Genoese almost en masse. . . . At about two o'clock we approached Venice. . . . In a large field just east of the railroad and south of the hotel, was a mammoth three-pole tent, 125 feet long and proportionately wide. . . . The number of people present was, for a rural town like Venice, really immense. Not less than two thousand came by rail, and the hillside black with teams and vehicles gave evidence that the country for miles about had turned out grandly. A safe estimate would be that SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE were present. . . . Hon. Horatio N. Ballard of Cortland, was called out. He made an apt speech, congratulating the Venetians and picturing the benefits of railroads in general, and this one in particular. After he sat down, Lyman Murdock, Esq., the veteran railroad man of Southern Cayuga, was loudly called for, and upon his rising, three rousing cheers were given him. Mr. Murdock merely said that it would take till January for him to give the whole history of 'the old line;' he would not attempt it, but would delegate Frank Wright, Esq., of Auburn, to speak for him. Mr. Wright made a brief but stirring speech, in the course of which he said he believed that ere long the people of Venice would be connected with Auburn at one end of the road, as with New York soon at the other. . . . 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Another Midland Celebration! - The Iron Horse Reaches Lyman Murdock's Residence (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn Daily Bulletin, Thursday, 31 October 1872), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

The Western Extension of the Auburn Branch of the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad was completed to Scipio Summit in the Town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., New York on 16 December 1872 (4). Lyman Murdock must have been deeply satisfied with having a railroad through Venice Center, but he had always wanted the connection to Auburn that remained unconstructed north of Scipio Summit near Merrifield. He would need more patience because the Midland was overextended when a financial crash occurred in September 1873 and went into receivership several months later. Later, operation of the Auburn Branch was leased to the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad in return for use and maintenance of the Midland's assets (4)(5).

Mr. O. F. Peet purchased the Western Extension of the Midland on 31 May 1876 (4). It is said that the Ithaca, Auburn & Western Railroad Company was formed to hold this property, which remained leased to Utica, Ithaca & Elmira (U. I. & E.) for operation (4)(5).

 The Sale of the Auburn Branch Midland. . . . The "Western Extension" of the Midland railroad was sold at Ithaca, Wednesday, by the referee, D. Ira Baker, of New York. The property was disposed of for $25,000 to O. F. Peet, of New York. It is probable that this purchase is in behalf of the bondholders, although Mr. Peet did not appear directly in that interest. . . . It is now hoped that there will be no further difficulty regarding the reorganization, which contemplates the immediate completion of the Western Extension to Auburn. . . . 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), The Sale of the Auburn Branch Midland (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, News and Democrat, Thursday, 8 June 1876), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

Lyman Murdock's involvement in the Ithaca, Auburn & Western Railroad Company (I. A. & W.) at the time of its formation, if any, has not been found. By the summer of 1879, however, Lyman was promoting the I. A. & W. by speaking at one or more fund-raising events in support of extending the line from its terminus in Scipio to the City of Auburn.

Local and Miscellany. . . . Ithaca, Auburn & Western. - DOLLARS JINGLE AT VENICE CENTER. A large and enthusiastic meeting was held at Venice Centre on Saturday evening, at which Sidney Mosher presided, and L. V. Smith acted as Secretary. Present from Auburn were Secretary Peet and L. E. Lyon. Otis E. Wood, of Freeville, and Lyman Murdock, the father of the "old line," were among the speakers. One thousand dollars in subscriptions resulted, up to 10 o'clock P. M. A committee was appointed to solicit further aid, and the locality is expected to give a good record. 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Local and Miscellany. . . . Ithaca, Auburn & Western. - Dollars Jingle At Venice Center (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, Auburn News and Bulletin, Monday, 28 July 1879), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

We hear no more of Lyman Murdock's promotion of railroads after the preceding event. He was just under 75 years old at the time and presumably entering retirement, but two of his sons and a grandson would carry on his work in subsequent years. In the meantime, trains continued to roll over the old "Murdock Route," eventually reaching Auburn while he yet lived, as Lyman had long envisioned.

While operated by the U. I. & E. the twelve miles to Auburn were completed and the line thereby acquired some nuisance value to the Southern Central owners, who accordingly leased it in 1883. In 1889 it was acquired outright by the Lehigh Valley (then controllers of the Southern Central), who abandoned it and removed the rails. . . .

-- Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, Bankruptcy of the Midland; pp. 32-33

Lyman Murdock's Second Marriage and Final Years

Death of Clarinda Tracy Murdock

Clarinda Tracy Murdock, Lyman's first wife died on 9 June 1871 at Venice Center and was laid to rest in Venice Center Cemetery. Lyman's son, Marcus Wellington Murdock, and family lived with him at the Murdock Homestead, so Lyman was not alone following Clarinda's death. In addition, Lyman's daughter, Mary Ann Howard, had been widowed about December 1869 in Albany Co., New York and had returned to Venice Center with her two young daughters to also reside at the Homestead. We can presume that Lyman was thoroughly surrounded by family for the next 5 years.

Marriage to Charity Dean Adams

In June of 1876, Lyman married Charity Adams of Candor, Tioga Co., New York, widow of George Q. Adams. I have not found an account of how Lyman and Charity came to meet. Charity was the daughter of John B. and Sarah Dean of Candor, born ca. 1824, and had not married the widower, Mr. Adams, until sometime between 1860 and 1865. George Q. Adams died 2 August 1872.

The marriage of Lyman Murdock and Mrs. Charity Adams may well have occurred at Candor because in the following month Charity was appointed Postmaster of North Candor, a location no longer extant except for the name of a small cemetery on the West Candor Road several miles west of Candor Village. Charity's appointment lasted until July 1880 when the North Candor Post Office was discontinued. From this evidence, it is probably that Lyman and Charity lived in the Town of Candor at least from July 1876 through July 1880 although one source (6) says they only lived there several years. Lyman and Charity were censused at Candor in 1880.

The couple spent several years in Florida before returning to Venice Center near the end of their lives (6). Little record of their Florida residence has been found, but several clues emerge. First, Evander Murdock, the oldest son of Lyman Murdock and Clarinda Tracy, resided at Holly Hill, Volusia Co., Florida before his death in 1884. Lyman and Charity may have stayed with Evander, or at least near his residence in Volusia Co. Second, a County Judge of Volusia Co. received an official copy of Lyman Murdock's probate documents from the  Cayuga Co. Surrogate on 24 November 1890 in response to a request for same by one Champion H. Spencer, reason unknown (7). Together, these clues suggest that Lyman and Charity's time in Florida likely was in Volusia Co.

Deaths of Lyman and Charity Murdock

Charity Dean Adams Murdock died in April 1887 at Venice Center. No record of her burial has been found either at Venice Center or at Candor. Lyman Murdock died at Venice Center the following year on the 18th or 19th of June (sources differ).

Lyman Murdock. an aged and respected citizen of Venice Centre, died at his home in that place, June 18, in his 84th year. He had lived on the homestead farm nearly his whole lifetime, with the exception of two winters in Florida, where he overtaxed his strength making improvements on his Florida home. He returned with his health greatly impaired and gradually failed up to the time of his death. He was a man of marked ability, an exemplary citizen, a good neighbor, genial, kind and obliging. He added much to the growth and prosperity of the place. When he undertook an enterprise he never faltered until it became a success. It was largely through his efforts that the Ithaca, Auburn & Western railway was constructed. . . .

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), MURDOCK, Lyman: News Item on Death at Venice Center (Union Springs, Springport, Cayuga Co., NY, The Advertiser, Thursday, 12 July 1888), Old Fulton New York Post Cards http://www.fultonhistory.com

LOCAL NEWS COLUMNS. - Brevities. . . . Mr. Lyman Murdock, whose recent death occurred at his home at Venice Center, in the town of Venice, was in his 84th year, and at one time probably as well known throughout the county as was any one man, which grew out of his energetic efforts in the interest of the old "Lake Ontario, Auburn and New york Railroad" project of more than thirty years ago. It was through his connection therewith, that Venice Centre came to be very generally known as "Murdock's," or "Murdock's Corners," and that part of the projected railroad running through this county, as "The Murdock Line," and out of which grew a long series of contentions, and litigated cases, some of which are not even yet ended. Subsequently he aided greatly in the establishment of the present Ithaca, Auburn and Western branch of the Southern Central, a portion of which occupies the old original L. O., A. and N. Y. roadbed. 

-- Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Local News Columns. - Brevities (Dryden, Tompkins Co., NY, The Dryden Herald, Wednesday, 25 July 1888), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

References

(1). Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, The Murdock Line; pp. 15-16

(2). Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, The Controversies of 1870; p. 18

(3). Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, 1872 and the Auburn Branch of the Midland; pp. 25-26

(4). Richard Palmer, Thomas Tryniski (scan), Roger Post (transcriber), Rail Line Nicknamed For Early Venice Family (Auburn, Cayuga Co., NY, The Citizen-Advertiser, Wednesday, 30 April 1969), Old Fulton New York Post Cards https://www.fultonhistory.com

(5). Hardy C. Lee, revised and expanded by Winton G. Rossiter and John Marcham, A History of Railroads in Tompkins County, 3rd Edition (Ithaca, Tompkins Co., New York, DeWitt Historical Society, The History Center in Tompkins County, 2008), https://hdl.handle.net/1813/11518, Bankruptcy of the Midland; pp. 31-33

(6). Joseph Ballard Murdock, Murdock Genealogy:  Robert Murdock of Roxbury, Massachusetts and Some of His Descendants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA, C. E. Goodspeed & Co., 1925), Internet Archive http://archive.org/, pp. 89-90
https://archive.org/details/murdockgenealogy00murd/page/88/mode/2up

(7). State of Florida, Florida, Wills and Probate Records, 1810-1974 (Florida County, District and Probate Courts), Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com, Probate Records, 1855-1872, 1874-1922; County Judge's Court (Volusia County). "Name: Lyman Murdock; Probate Date: 24 Nov 1890; Probate Place: Volusia, Florida, USA; Inferred Death Year: Abt 1890; Inferred Death Place: Florida, USA; Item Description: Wills, Vol D, Vol 1 1874-1901 [NOTE:  This doesn't appear to be an actual probate, rather it is a copy of Lyman Murdock's Cayuga Co., New York probate sent to a County Judge of Volusia Co., Florida in response to a request by one Champion H. Spencer - R. A. Post]"
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8993&h=499406&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TJa32528&_phstart=successSource