Auburn Life
Fanny grew up in Auburn, a town in the Finger Lakes region of New York! Although she often visited her father in Washington D.C., Auburn was what she called home. However, the Auburn of Fanny’s day was not the same town that it is today!
Back in Fanny’s lifetime, Auburn would have looked different than it does now. Fanny’s grandpa, Judge Miller, built the house that their family would live in on South Street, and Fanny often recollects roaming the side streets nearby. In 1816, Judge Miller also laid the plans for the Auburn Prison. He began Auburn’s Fort Hill Cemetery as well, and was the first person buried there in 1851. There used to be a publishing house in Auburn, and the Sewards probably purchased many new books from here (which Fanny would have loved!). There was also Guss & Williams’ Bookstore, Harbottles’, and a glassblowing site. Since Fanny lived by the Finger Lakes, she would go to the nearest lake and dam and skate with her family and friends. Skating was all the rage in the 1850s! She even mentions Skaneateles in her writings!
“Mr Morgan has just been elected mayor of Auburn in place of Dr Briggs” Mar 11, 1860
Population and Demographics
The 1857 Auburn City Directory lists the Seward family along with other residents of Auburn. Beginning in the 1800s, directories were published for many cities in the United States. They were used to find out who lived in a town or city, what their occupation was, and what street they lived on. During Fanny’s lifetime, the population of Auburn increased greatly as more people moved to the area. In 1845, at the beginning of Fanny’s life, the population was 6,000 people. By the time of Fanny’s death, Auburn’s population had doubled to 12,000. Along with the increase in people, Auburn changed from being a village to being chartered as a city in 1848.
French’s 1857 Auburn NY City Directory (Seymour Library History Discovery Center)
“Agricultural Fair at Auburn” (Seymour Library History Discovery Center)
Agricultural Fair
Throughout Fanny’s life, Auburn hosted important people and events. In 1846, when Fanny was almost two, the State Fair was held in Auburn from September 15th-17th. People came to see the displays of agricultural products (flowers, fruits, livestock, grains, butter, and cheese) as well as a wide variety of manufactured products that included harrows, threshing machines, carriages, parlor and kitchen stoves, silverware, and carpeting. The fair also featured traveling shows and eating stands where food could be purchased.
On the first day of the fair, the Auburn Journal reported that “no former State Fair has brought so many together on its first day. People, by Railroad and private conveyance, were pouring into town all day.” The railroads scheduled special trains to accommodate the extra passengers. Auburn ran out of space for visitors who wanted to stay overnight at taverns and other lodging places and many visitors stayed in Seneca Falls, Geneva, or as far away as Syracuse.
Economics
Auburn’s connections to the rest of the world developed rapidly in the 1840s to 1860s. When Fanny was born in 1844, Auburn was already connected by railroad to Syracuse and Rochester. By the middle of the Civil War, large quantities of products moved through the NY Central Railroad depot that was located opposite to Auburn Prison. The 1863 city directory notes a long list of items for that year including:
14,000 lbs. fur and pelts
432,000 lbs. butter and eggs
49,000 lbs tobacco
549,000 lbs furniture
360,000 lbs domestic woolens
2,298,000 lbs flour
5,012,000 lbs agricultural implements
192,000 lbs clover seeds
Way bill, Auburn and Syracuse Railroad, 1840s (Seymour Library History Discovery Center)
Northern Christian Advocate (Auburn, NY) September 11, 1850, (Seymour Library History Discovery Center)
Improvements in Technology
In 1846 when Fanny was two, the installation of telegraph lines meant that Auburnians heard the news of the world much sooner than they had before. Telegraphed news from the battlefields of the Mexican-American War arrived at the local newspaper offices ten hours faster than it would have by mail.
And when Fanny was 5 years old, the new technology of gas light arrived in Auburn, illuminating parts of the city for the first time in September of 1850. A defect in the machinery caused one of the buildings of the Gas Light Company to catch fire on the second night but the machinery was soon repaired.
By the mid-1860’s, the city was at work installing water mains which made water available throughout Auburn for faucets, city fountains, and, most importantly, fire hydrants.
Business and Industry
The 1863 city directory noted that during the years 1862-1863, Genesee and South Streets had been improved by the addition of broad belts of grass on each side in addition to the existing shade trees. At the same time, “foundries are being built and factories extended.”
The Auburn Woolen Mill had opened in the 1840s, operating by means of the water power of the Owasco Outlet. The 1863 directory described the woolen mill as having a five-story high main building in addition to a dye house and wool sorting rooms. D. M. Osborne, a manufacturer of agricultural machines, was established in 1858 and produced Kirby reapers which increased farm production. By 1865 the Osborne Company would be producing 6,000 Kirby reaping machines each year. Factories in Auburn also made additional brands of farm machines, carpets, piano stools, flour, cabinets, stockings, paper, and many other items.
For shoppers, downtown Auburn bustled with shops and services. H. M. Drake on North Street sold baked goods, candies, and toys. One could also visit carriage makers, furniture dealers, grocers, tailors, hatters, boot and shoemakers, cigar shops, jewelers, photographers, blacksmiths, wall paper hangers, and booksellers.
Ads from the 1863-1864 Auburn City Directory (Seymour Library History Discovery Center)
Serving the Union
The Civil War began when Fanny was 16 years old. Volunteer soldiers from Auburn began heading out soon after war was declared, with the first companies leaving on April 29, 1861. Streets and buildings throughout the city were decorated with flags and bunting for the event. Stores and schools closed for the day so everyone could join the excitement.
As crowds gathered near Captain Baker’s Cigar Emporium and the Armory on State Street., the various companies of soldiers paraded through the city. Then after joining together into one group, they were escorted to the train depot by groups of veterans and a band.
Along the way, cheering residents lined the streets, waving handkerchiefs and throwing their hats in the air. Children waved miniature flags and shouted their farewells.
Well-wishers crowded the depot with some even standing on the prison wall for a better view. It was so crowded that the soldiers themselves could barely get through to the depot.
When the train finally arrived, the volunteer soldiers boarded, filling four cars, and headed off to the military depot in Elmira to begin their service for the Union.
Auburn Journal and Daily Advertiser, April 30, 1861 (Seymour Library History Discovery Center)