A Tragic Event in Spencerport...Part 1

The first settlers came to Ogden (Spencerport) in 1803, prominent names like Abraham Colby, John Webster and Daniel Spencer. But the first to set foot on local soil were George W. Willey and his father Benajah. The Willey family played an important role in their establishment of Ogden and Spencerport, building their homesteads on the hill just south of the village, as well as being responsible for some historic firsts in the town’s history.
The first frame house and barn in the town was built by Benajah, while the first religious meeting was held in George’s home in 1805. In 1815 George housed the first library within his home’s four walls, humble beginnings for the Ogden Farmer’s Library. On the family farm, George’s wife Deidana died on April 2, 1804, making her the first of the Ogden settlers to die. Anna Willey, Benajah’s daughter, was the first wife of Daniel Spencer, the founder of Spencerport. Most importantly, for the sake of this article, Benajah Willey donated half an acre of his farmland for a town cemetery in 1808, which was used until the Fairfield Cemetery was established in 1858. For 45 years, the pioneers that cleared and farmed the land, opened the stores and taught in the school were laid to rest in that tiny patch of land. They were all important to the young town’s history.
Asa Allen was born on February 16, 1797. In 1828 Asa moved to Clarkson with his wife and children to become a minister. The entire family came down with a “fever,” but only Asa struggled to recover. The fever turned into dropsy and it proved to be a fatal affliction. While on his death bed he asked if he was going to die. When he was told that indeed he was, Asa simply replied “Amen.” He was only 31 years old when his light was extinguished. He was laid to rest in the half acre lot.
William Benning arrived in Ogden on June 9, 1803. He was responsible for planting the first orchard in 1804. Benning died on September 17, 1831, at the age of 56 years and 22 days. He also sleeps in the burial ground.
Dr. John Cobb graduated from Castleton Medical College in Vermont. Before coming to Ogden with his wife Sarah, he served in the War of 1812 as a physician. Cobb was the first doctor in town. However, he had a great historical connection with early American history, though, that was rooted deeper than the founding of Ogden. John Cobb was a direct descendant of Governor Bradford, governor of the Plymouth Colony in 1620 and passenger of the Mayflower. John and Sarah are both in the cemetery too, along with countless others that had great contributions to our local history.
The land surrounding the cemetery changed hands several times over the years and the cemetery was referred to as both the Pioneer Cemetery and the Campion-Wright Cemetery. Regardless of what it was called, the cemetery held the remains of some the hardiest and bravest pioneers that laid the foundations necessary for Ogden to grow and flourish. Unfortunately, there was a period of time when greed overshadowed the importance of protecting the legacy and respecting the memory of those who had gone before us.
On April 2, 1955 the headstones that survived the ravages of time, the stones that marked those final resting places and the fence surrounding the hallowed ground were leveled, the earthly remains still covered in a deep blanket of soil. The record of their lives wiped away with the blade of a dozer in order to erect an appliance store. For 151 years the cemetery sat on that half acre of land, only to be demolished and desecrated for a store that lasted only half as long. After a century and a half of being stewards of their memory, these souls were betrayed for the all mighty dollar.
My friend Joanie and I are working on reviving their legacy and bringing the stories of their loves back to “life,” if you will. Keep watching the progress of this journey to rattle some bones and bring justice to those who counted on us to take care of their earthly vessels and were let down.