Page 20 - 2026 Cortland Travel Guide

HISTORY

America 250 in Cortland County
Celebrate

America’s 250th is the perfect excuse to explore Cortland County’s Revolutionary-era
roots and the early-settlement stories that grew from them. Use the stops below as a
self-guided history hop, then scan the QR code for more events and sites.

Want to go deeper? Start at the Cortland County Historical Society for exhibits, local
context, and the stories behind these stops.

CINCINNATUS
CINCINNATUS CEMETERY
If you like hidden-history details, this
cemetery delivers: at least nine Revolutionary
War veterans are buried here, along with
“Coffin Man” gravestones like Mitchell
Kingman’s marker. The stone that sparked
the Coffin Man research can be found at
Texas Valley Cemetery in Marathon.
HOMER
CORTLANDVILLE HOMER VILLAGE GREEN
HISTORIC MARKER
SOUTH CORTLAND
CEMETERY Homer was Indian territory until the Revolutionary
War. In 1781, New York created military tracts to
A rare chance to connect local ground to
major Revolutionary War moments: veterans reward soldiers for their service, and in 1805 this
buried here include John Daboll (served block was deeded to the First Religious Society of
1776–1783, later described fighting at CUYLER Homer for worship and education by the heirs of
Monmouth and Stony Point) and John DAVID MORSE CABIN Revolutionary War veteran James M’Kinney, who
Stanbro (fought at the Battle of Rhode HISTORIC MARKER died during the war.
Island, 1778). Revolutionary War veteran David Morse
came to what’s now Cuyler to settle land VIRGIL
GEE HILL HISTORIC MARKER
awarded to him for his Revolutionary War
service—one of the few veterans known to Revolutionary War veteran John Gee helped found
have done so in Cortland County. His story early Virgil in the 1790s. His family of 10 started
also ties into Cuyler’s 1792 “first campfire” out in a 16’ x 12’ cabin built with only an axe, with
moment with James Lockwood, no boards, nails, or even a pane of glass, on what’s
remembered as an early peace-making still known as Gee Hill.
meeting with local Native people.

JULY 4 CELEBRATION
AT DWYER MEMORIAL PARK
6799 LITTLE YORK LAKE ROAD IN PREBLE
Fireworks, community energy, and a classic
Independence Day tradition. Add it to your
America 250 season plans.

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