Cincinnatus

Everyone begins their journey at birth.  For me, it began and grew in a small farming community called, Cincinnatus.  Cincinnatus, New York to be exact.  It's an interesting little town, surrounded by the rolling hills of Central New York and nestled in the Otselic River Valley. Forests filled with deer and game birds and a river full of fish.  It must have seemed like a haven to its first settlers, the Oneida tribe and when it was named one of 28 townships in the Central New York Military Tract, the Revolutionary War soldiers who claimed it's land saw a golden future within it's fertile soil.

Cincinnatus was settled in 1795 by Ezra and Thadeus Rockwell of Lenox, Massachusettes.  Soon others arrived with the first marriage being between Dr.  John McWhorter and Katy Young.  The town grew with more and settlers and soon stores, churches, and schools were built.  For the first few years, The Oneidas would visit and it was recorded "they killed forty-two bears" (history.rays-place.com/ny/cincinnatus-ny)  It was a peaceful visit visit and both people were friendly to one another for this was the new wilderness.  An area filled with wild animals and dangers needed friendships and allies in order to grow and expand; which it did.

Yes, my hometown was a part of the American expansion and the Military Tract.  Now the Central New York Military Tract was created by the United States Congress which allotted 100 acres to the soldiers of the Revolution.  Cincinnatus was one of the townships created from this tract.  The 28 townships were given Roman and Greek names which has been attributed to Robert Harpur, a clerk in the New York Surveyor General office, whose love of classical literature is noted in the naming of this region. Cincinnatus was named for Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a Roman statesman, general, and aristocrat who lived from 519 BC to 430 BC.

Now, Lucius was considered a hero to Romans and for the people of the American Revolution he was an inspiration as were other Roman and Greek heroes.  There is one difference about Lucius though, his name became a nickname for one of the American Founding Fathers.  Not Thomas Jefferson.  Not Benjamin Franklin.  Not John Adams.  No, not any of those. This man was and still is considered the greatest hero.  George Washington.  Yes, Cincinnatus became the nickname of George Washington due to the uncanny attributes noted in both men.  The characters and personalities were similar, the proven leadership abilities, the desire for farming and military shrewdness were equal.

Yes, they were indeed alike and by giving this township the name, Cincinnatus was more than just a tribute to the Roman.  It was a homage to George Washington as well.  The hero of the American Revolution and the first President of the United States.  The town I grew up in.  The small community who grew and became home to over 2000 people.  A place which still maintains a central school and independence from other communities.  Still a small town, but filled with people who love it and the surrounding areas.  A home with traditions and values.  Beautiful and tranquil.  My hometown.  Find and explore it.  You will fall in love.