USA > New York > Erie County > Gowanda > Historical sketch of the village of Gowanda, N.Y. : in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of its incorporation, August 8, 1898 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
Gc 974.702 G748 1753313
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Go
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01177 1521
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00leon_0
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE
VILLAGE OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
IN
COMMEMORATION
OF THE
Fiftieth Anniversary of its Incorporation
AUGUST 8, 1898.
COMPILED BY I. R. LEONARD.
THE COMPLETE ART-PRINTING WORKS OF THE MATTHEWS- BUFFALO, N. Y
840
-
1753313
GOWANDA, NEW YORK.
-
INDEX.
PAGE.
INTRODUCTORY,
5
THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY, 7
GOWANDA, N. Y.,
10
INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE AND ITS OFFICERS, . 15
JOURNALISM IN GOWANDA, . 22 ECHOES OF LONG AGO, 26
THE POST-OFFICE, 63
THE GOWANDA UNION SCHOOL, 65
PUBLIC OFFICIALS FROM GOWANDA, 67
MILITARY HISTORY, PRIOR TO THE REBELLION,
69
GOWANDA AND VICINITY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, 71
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 85
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 88
THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH,
91
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH,
93
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 95
THE LEGAL FRATERNITY, 96
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, . 97
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
98
HOMEOPATHIC STATE HOSPITAL, 102
GOWANDA CHAPTER NO. 136, ROYAL ARCH MASONS, 106
PHOENIX LODGE NO. 262, F. & A. M., . 108
RELIEF LODGE No. 328, I. O. O. F., . 110
BANNER TENT NO. 8, K. O. T. M., AND OTHER SOCIETIES, . 111 .
THE THOMAS ASYLUM,
113
ERECTED 1889, BY THE GROTON BRIDGE AND MANUFACTURING CO., GROTON, N. Y.
IRON BRIDGE OVER CATTARAUGUS CREEK.
والناسكلها »
1.
INTRODUCTORY.
ROM time immemorial it has been the custom of nations and individuals to celebrate with appropriate ceremonies the anniversary of im- portant events in their political and personal history.
Following this custom, the people of the village of Gowanda desire in like manner to observe the fiftieth anniversary of their municipal existence.
As a part of the ceremonies commemorating this event, it has been deemed appropriate to combine, in a souvenir or his- toric volume, such information relating to this village and its earlier residents as can be readily obtained, and which will be of general interest.
All history, not a matter of actual and immediate record, must of a necessity be more or less inaccurate.
While not expecting it to be absolutely correct, it has been the intention to have the contents of this volume conform as nearly as possible to the actual facts.
The information has been derived from the most reliable sources, so far as known, and as errors have been discovered from time to time, corrections have been made.
Trusting the reader will take it, excusing such inaccuracies as exist, and in the spirit in which it was compiled, this book is submitted without further apology or comment.
I. R. LEONARD.
GOWANDA, N. Y., June 1, 189S.
THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
N THE latter part of the year 1897 the citizens of Gowanda began to discuss the idea of celebrating, in August, 1898, the fiftieth anniversary of the incorpora- tion of the village.
The Gowanda Board of Trade, of which J. E. VanDeusen is presi- dent and S. G. Keyes, secretary, had been instrumental in procuring several enterprises for the village, hence the first definite action towards the celebration was very appropriately taken by this board.
Early in February, 1898, a committee, consisting of Dr. A. D. Lake, J. H. Schaack and I. R. Leonard, were appointed, at a meeting of the board, to outline a plan for the proposed celebration, and to suggest appropriate committees to carry the same into execution.
The report was adopted, and the committees appointed as sug- gested, thus perfecting the anniversary organization.
In addition to the above, the executive committee were authorized to create other committees as occasion might require, and to name persons to fill the same.
The permanent organization as completed is composed of the following committees :
Executive.
E. C. FISHER, Chairman.
Dr. A. D. LAKE,
W. N. WALLACE, EDWARD ETSLER, FRANK W. KAMMERER.
Finance.
GEORGE B. TAYLOR, Chairman.
F. E. BARD,
F. J. BLACKMON,
R. C. HOLMES, J. H. SCHAACK,
E. A. SHAW, A. T. JOHNSON.
8
HISTORICAL. SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
Decorations. B. L. KIMBLE, Chairman.
R. A. NOBLETT,
PETER RINK,
GEORGE W. SCOTT,
E. C. COUNTRYMAN, N. B. ALLEN,
C. S. PHELPS,
WILLIAM WOODIN,
A. L. ANDERSON,
FRED ARNOLD,
JOHN SCHWARTZ,
A. S. CARPENTER, GEORGE MOLL,
CHARLES SIPPLE,
GEO. C. McMILLEN.
Loan Exhibition. W. R. SMALLWOOD, Chairman.
S. G. KEYES, R. M. HUSSEY, S. C. MUNGER,
G. M. CONGDON, O. K. PARKER, N. A. CHAFFEE, JAMES KAVANAUGH, J. A. BESTRUP.
Old Settlers' Reunion. Dr. C. C. JOHNSON, Chairman .* M. N. ALLEN, Capt. J. B. MALTBIE,
E. T. MCCUTCHEON,
W. W. WELCH,
Col. T. J. PARKER, M. T. HILL, Dr. J. G. RUGG.
Reception.
J. E. VANDEUSEN, Chairman.
Hon. J. M. CONGDON, A. M. DELONG,
M. M. MCGUIRE,
A. C. STAFFORD, F. L. MATTOCKS, W. W. CHAFFEE,
B. G. HILL, J. H. VAN VALKENBURG, JAMES KAVANAUGH,
LEE GEORGE, V. C. ARMES, JOHN R. CLARK,
Dr. J. D. ZWETSCH, Dr. B. R. JOHNSON, W. H. BRITTON, Jr.
Parades.
H. R. GAENSSLEN, Chairman.
C. B. MORGAN, T. D. KEYES, GEO. I. LINCOLN, J. P. BRUECK, JOHN DANKERT, H. S. PIERCE, * Deceased.
R. P. JOHNSON, H. W. HOOKER,
D. H. FOSTER, P. H. HORTON,
D. B. FORBUSH, F. BRENNENSTUHL,
FRANK DAVIS, M. KENNEDY,
FRANK REYNOLDS, JOHN WILSON,
And members of G. A. R.
3
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
Advertising.
FRANKLIN D. LOCKE, Buffalo ; FRANK W. KAMMERER,
RALPH H. PLUMB, Buffalo ; HENRY C. WELCH.
Souvenirs.
P. H. HORTON, W. H. BRITTON, Jr.
Music. J. H. SCHAACK, Chairman. S. H. ARNOLD, WILLIAM EATON.
General Officers.
N. A. CHAFFEE, . Corresponding Secretary.
W. H. BARD,
Treasurer.
GEO. H. SWIFT,
(He to choose his aides. ) Marshal.
I. R. LEONARD, . Historian.
It is but justice that the anniversary organization shall here express the thanks of its members and of the people of this village to the former residents of Gowanda, who have so generously contributed towards the expenses of this celebration.
Their acts show that they still retain kindly recollections of this village and its people.
Thanks are no less due to those of our citizens who, financially and otherwise, have aided so materially in making this celebration appro- priate to the occasion.
Particular mention is due Messrs. Grattan & Jennings, the con- tractors in charge of the State Hospital buildings, who are among the most liberal contributors to the celebration fund.
Although these gentlemen have never been residents of our village, still, in connection with their various enterprises in this vicinity, . they and their representatives have been associated with our people so intimately that we have almost come to consider them residents of Gowanda.
GOWANDA, N. Y.
OWANDA is an incorporated village of about 2,000 inhab- itants, lying on both sides of the Cattaraugus Creek, which at this point is the dividing line between the counties of Erie and Cattaraugus.
The village lies about equally in the town of Collins, in Erie County, and in the town of Persia, in Cattaraugus County.
It is situate on the Buffalo and Southwestern Division of the Erie Railroad, about thirty-three miles from Buffalo and thirty-seven miles from Jamestown.
Eight passenger trains stop at the station here each week day and four on Sundays.
The village is supplied with an abundance of pure spring water from springs on the hills just out of the village, in Collins, by a gravity system, the property of the Gowanda Water Works Co., which has been in operation about ten years.
In 1896, the village constructed a sewer system, with lines in the principal streets, at an expense of about $19,000, which furnishes the proper sanitary method of disposing of all refuse liquid matter.
Communication by long distance telephone can be had here over two lines ; and W. R. Smallwood's local telephone furnishes an easy method of communication in the village and to some of the surround- ing towns.
When incorporated, in 1848, the village covered a territory of 746 acres. By the re-incorporation, in 1878, more territory was added, so that now it comprises approximately 800 acres.
During the past fifty years, this village, like all localities, has had its periods of prosperity and adversity ; but without question never during its existence has it been so prosperous as at the present time.
From the recent county history, it appears that Gowanda had the honor of furnishing the first cadet from Cattaraugus County to the U. S. Military Academy, at West Point, in the person of Oscar F. Winship, who entered the academy in 1836.
He graduated and entered the service as 2d Lieutenant of Dragoons on the 1st of July, 1840, and commenced his military career among
RESIDENCE OF MRS. CHARLES ROLLINSON, MAIN STREET.
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE JORGE WILLIAM WOODBURY, MAIN STREET.
11
HISTORICAL SKETCHI OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
the pine barrens of Florida. He served with great credit to himself and usefulness to the country during the latter part of the Indian war in Florida. During the Mexican war he was brevetted captain for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, and was afterwards promoted to the rank of Major. He was for a period Chief of Staff of Brigadier-General Pierce, later President of the United States.
He filled other important positions, and was for a time after the Mexican war stationed at Troy, N. Y., and in 1851 was married to Mary B. Pierson, a daughter of Job Pierson, a prominent member at that time of the Rensselaer County bar. Mrs. Winship is now living, together with one son, Samuel C. Winship, in the city of New York.
Gowanda has also the honor of furnishing a participant in the first battle in the war with Spain, in the person of Frank H. Bailey, who was chief engineer of the " Raleigh," one of the vessels composing the Asiatic squadron, which captured the Spanish fleet at Manila, in the Philippine Islands, May 1, 1898.
Mr. Bailey is a graduate of the naval academy at Annapolis, Md., and has been in the navy for about twenty years.
What is now Gowanda was once known as Aldrich's Mills. In 1823 the village and post-office became Lodi, but, as there was a Lodi in Seneca County, much confusion arose in the mails, hence the post-office was changed to Persia, but the name of the village, Lodi, was retained.
It became evident that it was bad policy to have different names for the village and post-office, and it was proposed to select a new name for both the village and post-office. Judge Chester Howe and Hon. J. H. Plumb conceived the idea of selecting an Indian name, and referred the matter to Rev. Asher Wright, the Presbyterian mission- ary on the Cattaraugus Reservation, and asked him to suggest a name of Indian origin.
He informed them that the Indians at an early day had applied the name " Juc-Gowanda " to this valley, the signification being "A valley among the hills." He suggested that they might drop the " Juc " and select Gowanda as the name of the village.
This met the approval of the citizens and the change was accord- ingly made.
No other post-office by the name of Gowanda appears in the U. S. Post-office directory.
-
12
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWAANDA, N. Y.
Ralph Plumb was the pioneer merchant of the then village of Lodi, he having established the first store in the place. At the time of his death he had been a resident of Erie County for fifty years.
In 1829 he was Postmaster here, and in 1835 was elected to the Legislature, and in 1843 was elected sheriff of Erie County. In an early day he made extensive purchases of pine lands in this vicinity, and built saw mills and grist mills on the Cattaraugus Creek at this place.
He was supervisor from the town of Collins for fourteen or fifteen years, during nearly all of which time he was the chairman of that body. He died on the 28th of February, 1865.
Turner Stewart, now about seventy years of age, is the oldest per- son born in the village who now lives here, and Amasa W. W. Chaffee is the next oldest. Mr. Chaffee is the only survivor of the officers elected at the first village election in 1848. Turner Stewart is a grandson of Turner Aldrich, who about the year 1818 bought from the Holland Land Company all, or nearly all, the land compos- ing the present village of Gowanda.
Mrs. S. C. Springer and Mrs. Delia Burke are the two oldest residents now living here.
The pioneers of this vicinity undoubtedly recognized the value of the water power furnished by the Cattaraugus Creek at this place, and to that fact was probably due the location of the village at this point.
While the water power has been of great value to this vicinity, at the same time the stream has been a source of much expense from time to time, especially in the matter of bridges.
The Legislature of 1826 passed an act authorizing a few of the towns of Erie and Cattaraugus counties to erect a bridge across the Cattaraugus Creek at Lodi, the expense to be charged upon the tax- able property of those towns, and appointing Phineas Spencer, Ralph Plumb and Benjamin Waterman commissioners to carry the same into effect. In July of that year these commissioners entered into a con- tract with Ahaz Allen and Edwin Farnsworth to build a bridge and have it completed by the first of January, 1827, at an expense of $1,200. The bridge was a covered wooden structure, and was burned by the fire in April, 1856.
Soon after a similar bridge was erected on the same site, which stood until September, 1861, when the same was washed away and landed down the stream near the school house.
13
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
So much of the bank was washed away that it became necessary to have a bridge of greater span. The span of the old bridges between the abutments had been 128 feet, and it was decided to lengthen the new bridge nineteen feet, making the span between the abutments 147 feet.
.
January 31, 1862, James Locke, commissioner on behalf of Catta- raugus County, and John E. Moss, commissioner on the part of Erie County, entered into a contract with Edwin P. and George Dailey to build this new bridge, of a style similar to the old one of the length above stated.
They were permitted to use so much of the old bridge as was suit- able for the purpose. The lower cords were to extend several feet over the abutments, and for that reason were to be 163 feet in their entire length. For doing the work and furnishing the materials the Messrs. Dailey were to receive 81,800. The bridge was accepted as satisfactory by the commissioners October 1, 1862.
During the interval between the washing away of the old bridge and the completion of the new bridge, temporary bridges, resting on trestles were erected, seven of which were washed away and as often rebuilt. The bridge, built in 1862, stood until 1889, when it was declared unsafe, and was replaced by the present iron bridge.
On May 16, 1889, a contract was entered into by James H. Green and Frederick Weigand, commissioners of highways of the town of Persia, and John A. Schoos, commissioner of the town of Collins, with the Groton Bridge & Manufacturing Co., to erect the present bridge for 87,796.00. The extreme length is 153 feet. The entire cost of removing old bridge, erecting new abutments and build- ing new bridge was about 813,000. The present piers were built by Silas Vinton, contractor.
The village for many years had two cemeteries, one adjoining the town line of Perrysburgh and one on Buffalo Street.
In the sixties the need of a larger cemetery became apparent, and in 1867 the Gowanda Pine Hill Cemetery Association was formed. The site of the present Pine Hill Cemetery, on the hill east of the village, in the town of Collins, consisting of twenty acres, was donated by Hon. J. H. Plumb, the cemetery authorities to see that it was properly arranged and kept in condition.
The first trustees were John E. Moss, Charles Rollinson, Joseph H. Plumb, Cyrenius C. Torrance, Porter Welch and James H. McMillen.
·
14
HISTORICAL SKETCHI OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
In 1897, the association purchased two and one third acres more of land adjoining the grounds, for the purpose of procuring water for the cemetery grounds, and a system of water works is now in process of construction.
A gift of $1,000 from Hon. J. H. Plumb, and of $200 from Mrs. Jeanette I. Kirby, and a bequest of $1,000 from the late C. C. Tor- rance, forms a fund in the hands of the trustees, the income from which is used in beautifying the grounds.
The present board of Trustees are as follows :
William W. Welch, president ; Byron L. Kimble, vice-president ; William R. Smallwood, secretary and treasurer ; George H. Swift. Wallace E. Farnsworth, Theodore F. Welch. George H. Swift, superintendent.
While there are older incorporated villages than Gowanda in Erie County, with the exception of Ellicottville, Gowanda was the first incorporated village in Cattaraugus County, and so far as appears from the recent Cattaraugus County history, will be the first in Cattaraugus County to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of its incorporation.
This village will compare favorably with other villages of its size in point of manufacturing, mercantile establishments, and other lines of business, some of which are represented in the advertising portion of this book.
About the year 1896 the tannery firm of Gaensslen, Fisher & Co. (successors to Gaensslen Brothers ) expressed a wish to locate their enlarged plant at Hidi in this village, provided they could be fur- nished with switch accommodations connecting their plant with the railroad. The Board of Trade and the citizens at once took hold of the matter, and soon enough was raised by contribution to purchase and grade the right of way from the railroad to the tannery plant, a distance of about one mile.
About 83,000 was raised by the citizens, and the Erie Railroad Company very promptly assisted the enterprise by furnishing the ties and rails and laying the same.
The wisdom of securing this enterprise is apparent from the fact that employment is furnished to about 160 men.
1
INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE AND ITS OFFICERS.
T HE original incorporation was under Chapter 426 of the Laws of 1847.
The following comments and notices are copied from the Western Democrat, published here at that time, relative to the incorporation, the change of name from Lodi to Gowanda, the elections, etc., under the dates given :
JULY 19, 1848.
It will be seen by the notice that our Gowanda corporation elec- tion will take place on the 1st day of August. The question stands : Gowanda or no corporation.
AUGUST 9, 1848.
On the 1st day of August the voters within the proposed territory of incorporation met pursuant to public notice for the purpose of changing the name of Lodi with the corporation bill.
The vote was a decided one, only about one-fourth voting against the name Gowanda and the corporation.
Henceforth we will be addressed at the " plain beyond the hills," instead of the justly called place of Low-die.
SEPTEMBER 13, 1848.
There will be a caucus of the voters of the village of Gowanda, on Saturday evening, at seven o'clock, at the Mansion House, kept by H. Pinney, for the purpose of nominating corporation officers.
Our friends and exchanges will discover that we have changed the name of our paper to the new one chosen for our village.
We will receive our address, as we have heretofore, as we have not yet changed the name of the post-office, but shall in a few days from Persia to that of Gowanda. We shall next week give our readers the Indian meaning of the word chosen to designate the village of Lodi.
16
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDI, N. Y.
SEPTEMBER 20, 1848.
We have no room for the Gowanda signification as promised last week.
NOTICE !
Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the electors of the village of Gowanda will be held at the Mansion House, kept by H. Pinney. in said village, on Saturday, the 23d day of September, A. D. 1848. for the purpose of electing officers for said village.
At such meeting the polls will be opened at ten o'clock in the fore- noon and will be kept open until four o'clock in the afternoon, when they will be closed. The officers to be elected at said meeting are five trustees, three assessors, one collector, one treasurer, one clerk, three street commissioners and one poundmaster, together with such other officers as shall be deemed necessary.
A. CAMP, A. BUGBEE, W. VAN VECHTEN. Inspectors of Election.
GOWANDA, September 6, 1848.
SEPTEMBER 27, 1848.
GOWANDA CORPORATION ELECTION.
TRUSTEES. - Seth Field, James Locke, Daniel C. Amsden, Harlow Crandall and Francis Peacock.
ASSESSORS .- Amasa L. Chaffee, Hiram Palmer and Samuel Aikin.
STREET COMMISSIONERS. - James H. McMillen, Joseph J. Benton and George S. Hickox.
COLLECTOR. - William H. Murphy.
TREASURER. - Elisha W. Henry.
. CLERK. - Samuel C. Springer.
POUNDMASTER. - Ralph Griswold.
HOG CONSTABLES. - Felix McGready, Serono Humphrey. A. W. W. Chaffee.
CONSTABLE. - Brazil Coon.
RESIDENCE OF CHIEF ENGINEER F. H. BAILEY, U. S. N., MAIN STREET.
RESIDENCE OF I. R. LEONARD AND LAW OFFICE OF THRASHER & LEONARD. JAMESTOWN STREET.
17
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWAND.I, N. Y.
The following, relating to the incorporation, are taken from the records in the County Clerk's office of Cattaraugus County, where they are recorded in Liber two of Miscellaneous Records, at pages 297, 298.
INCORPORATION OF GOWANDA.
We, Asahel Camp, Alvin Bugbee and William Van Vechten, inspec- tors of election of the town of Persia, do hereby certify that a meet- ing of electors was held at the time and place specified in and in all respects pursuant to the annexed " Notice."
That immediately after the polls were closed we canvassed the bal- lots given thereat. That the whole number of such ballots was ninety- six. That the number having thereon the word " Yes " was seventy- five, and the number having thereon the word " No " was twenty-one.
ASAHEL CAMP, W. VAN VECHTEN, ALVIN BUGBEE.
Dated August 1, A. D. 1848.
NOTICE.
The Court of Sessions of the County of Cattaraugus having made an order declaring that the territory hereinafter described shall be an incorporated village by the name of Gowanda, if the electors thereof shall consent thereto, according to the provisions of an act to provide for the incorporation of villages, passed December 7, 1847 ;
Notice is therefore given that a meeting of the electors of the said territory will be held at the Lodi House, kept by M. H. Barker, in such territory, on the 1st day of August, A. D. 1848, for the purpose of determining whether such territory shall be an incorporated village. At such meeting the polls will be opened at ten o'clock in the fore- noon and will be kept open until four o'clock in the afternoon, when they will be closed.
The said territory is situated in the town of Persia, in the County of Cattaraugus, and town of Collins, in the County of Erie, and is bounded as follows, viz :
Beginning on the east line of the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, at the northwest corner of the farm occupied by John F. Allen : run- ning thence south two degrees and twelve minutes west on the west
-
18
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDAI, N. Y.
line of the sixth township, in the eighth range, one hundred and twenty-three chains and three links, to the southwest corner of lot number twenty-eight in said township; thence south eighty-seven and three-fourths degrees east on the south line of said lot number twenty-eight and of lot number twenty-seven and on said line pro- duced, sixty chains twenty-eight links, to the east line of lot number twenty-six, in said township; thence north two and one-fourth degrees east, on the east line of said lot number twenty-six and of lot number thirty-six, in said township, one hundred and twenty-four chains and twenty-one links, to the northeast corner of said farm occupied by John F. Allen aforesaid ; thence north eighty-eight degrees and fifty-three minutes west on the north line of said farm, and the south line of land owned by Hosea Stewart, sixty chains and forty-five links, to the place of beginning, containing seven hundred and forty-six acres.
ASAHEL CAMP, W. VAN VECHTEN, A. BUGBEE, Inspectors of Election of the Town of Persia.
Dated July 8, 1848.
CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, SS.
William Van Vechten, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he is proprietor and editor of a newspaper known as the Western Democrat, which is printed and published in the territory described in the notice annexed above. That such notice was published in said newspaper once in each week for three successive weeks, pre- vious to the meeting mentioned in said notice. and which was held on the first day of August, instant.
W. VAN VECHTEN.
Sworn this 3d day of August)
A D., 1848, before me. -
W. W. WOODBURY, J. P.
CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, SS.
I hereby certify that I have examined the within notice, certificate and affidavit, and from such examination am satisfied that the notifying and holding the meeting in the within notice and certificate mentioned, the canvassing the votes at such meeting and the certificate thereof, are all legal.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.