Moses Butterfield first came to Homer in 1803, bought land on Lot 47, and built a log house. He planted some corn and returned to Connecticut to ready his family for the move back to Homer. He returned in October of the same year with his (second) wife and four children by his first wife. They spent an evening with Deacon Miller and went to their land the next day. Mrs. Butterfield was discouraged to find that their new dwelling had neither a door nor a roof. Moses went to work and before long they had both floors and a roof made of logs (no door mentioned!). The crevices in between the log walls were filled with mud, and soon the house was the envy of all.
In 1812, Moses Butterfield built a two-story frame house as most of our early settlers did after they established themselves. It seems likely that this house was the Butterfield Inn for a time. CCHS has a beautiful sign from the inn that is dated 1816, and we have contact with some of the direct descendants of Moses Butterfield who were thrilled to see the sign! (Side note: what chapter of YOUR family story is tucked away in the files at Cortland County Historical Society?)
The Butterfield file at CCHS has a packet of information about the Moses Butterfield family, but it is focused primarily on his children. Moses died in 1820 and his farm was divided amongst his four children. By this time, he was married for the fourth time. It would be interesting to see what his wife’s arrangements were in the estate. Correspondence in the file from 1993 indicates that the house is still standing. I “drove” down Route 13 using Google maps and think I have found the house. I think it is next to Albright Creek and Mead Road. See what you think and let me know if you have more information! ~Tabitha
Information from the files at Cortland County Historical Society
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