USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Portland > Historical sketches of the town of Portland : comprising also the pioneer history of Chautauqua County, with biographical sketches of the early settlers > Part 1
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1800
76.6. Taylor.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
TOWN OF PORTLAND,
COMPRISING ALSO THE
PIONEER HISTORY OF
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY,
WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
BY jerry felton H. C. TAYLOR, M. D.
" In the silent greenwood glade, In the dim old forest shade, By the gliding river, Are historic voices ringing, Music in the soft breeze flinging, And they haunt me cver. I love them well, for they to me Are as some pleasant memory."
FREDONIA, N. Y. : W. MCKINSTRY & SON, PRINTERS. 1873.
F129 PS&IT'S
Entered according to Act of Cougreen, in theyear IN73, by
H. C. TAYLOR.
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of New York.
143406 09
PREFACE.
The following pages are not the result of hasty research or careless investigation. but for three years have occupied the earnest attention of the author during the hours that could be spared from the demands of a most laborious profession. The compilation was not undertaken for the want of employment. but to rescue from the wasting influence of time the facts and incidents connected with the settlement and early history of the town. It has been a labor of love, and in one sense the author regrets the close of the volume. It was not expected that more than from two to three hundred pages could be written, but such was the accumulation of material that it would have been far easier to have written two volumes than condense it within the present limits. It was said by a friend that he who could write a good town history is fitted to write a book on any other subject. However this may be, it ix certain he would be capable of almost any amount of hard labor, and for his patience well deserving a niche close by the one occupied by that rigid old moralist, the man of Uz. Amid the discouragements consequent upon the prosecution of the work, it becomes a pleasant duty to mention the names of a few of the numerous friends whose kind sympathies and intelligent aid have cheered the author in his difficult labors. But for them the work might have been abandoned long since.
vi
PREFACE.
To Hon. E. T. Foote of New Haven, Conn., he is indebted for many suggestions of importance and many facts in regard to the early history of the county ; to David Eaton, an early settler of the town who died the past season, for a large amount of local history that it would have been impossible to have reached from any other source ; to Hon. Abner Hazel- tine of Jamestown, this county, E. B. Taylor, Alfred Eaton. J. S. West, and many others of this town, and over two hundred correspondents in twelve states of the Union. In addition, a vast number of books, manuscripts and records have been consulted and the utmost effort made to render the whole truthful and a reliable book of reference. Errors may be discovered by careful antiquarians, but it is believed that it will be found as free from defects as it is possible for intense solicitude and hard labor to make it. It is hoped that none by a hasty glance will pronounce this or that statement incor- rect, but on the contrary subject them first to serious conside- ration or investigation.
To the good people of Portland, firstly, and to friends in every locality, this book is dedicated, with the best wishes of the author, H. C. TAYLOR.
CONTENTS.
Page
Pag .
A
Blacksmiths, early.
182
Bible Society.
195
Bonding town
220
Acres in each lot 29 Bell, Arthur, Super 235
Animals-native.
41
Arkwright, first settlement of
70
Academy, Salem
122
Aid furnished soldiers 280
C
County of Genesee erected.
15
Chautauqua, original town of
16
Clerk of first election . 17
Chautauqua county erected
18
County buildings, site of
19
County officers, first 19
Center of town
28
Climate of town
33
Cascades
39
Chautauqua, first settlement of 69 70
Batavia, town of 15 Carroll,
Batavia, town of, divided.
16
Charlotte,
66
Boundaries of Chautauqua county.
18
Cherry Creek,
Boundaries of Portland, original.
24
Clymer,
71
Boundaries of Portland, present. 26 Centers of population 78
Busti, first settlement of 70
Burgettstown P. office .. 95
Canadaway
94
Churches .. 134
Church, Congregational, formed. 134
Baptist church, Portland 153
¥ society, when formed. 156
church of W. Portland. 159
66
" reformed 138
Methodist Episcopal. 148
society formed
150
at Brocton
150
6
first preacher.
15%
66
Baptist, when formed
153
66
society formed.
156
West Baptist
159
Bookbindery
182
66
reformed.
136
66
soc'y formed. 136
society of W. Portland. 162
Battle of Queenstown.
248
of Black Rock .. 254
Bounty to the 112th reg't, war of 1861 .. 269
66
154th
46 " .. 270
to those re-eulisting, & others. 277 66
Barn, first frame.
313
=
66
soc'y, when formed 162
Blood, Asa, Super
237
Brocton Cemetery.
300
Asheries. .
182
Anti-slavery Society.
196
Agricultural products 230 Assessors, first 242
Ayers, Samuel, Super
236
Arnold, Elisha, Super 237
Andrews, Asa, Super.
237
Association, Library
133
70
71
Chautauqua postoffice. 93
Barnes, Calvin, first P. M. in Portland. 98
Bird, Col. Nath 101
Act forming town of Chautauqua . 16
Acres in town, assessed and real. 29
viii
CONTENTS.
Page
Church, Protestant Methodist 167
Freewill Baptist. 168
Universalist
164
Early military company. Appendix
Effect of war of 1861.
297
Empire vineyards. 215
Early newspapers. 196
Cavalry, 9th New York.
285
Carding machine 181
Cheese factory 181
Cider mills 181
Circle, Social 194
Clerks, town 240
Commissioners of schools
244
of highways. 243
Collectors of taxes 243
Constables, first 244
Campbell, T. B., Super
231
Coney, J. R., Super. 237
Cemetery, first in county 97
Evergreen 299
Brocton
300
66 W. & P. Union. 300
North Portland. 300
Union Lawn 501
On lot 16, T. 5. 301
66 Private 301
Cow, David Joy's. 320
D
David Eaton, clerk of electiou. 17
Division of poor fund.
26
Description of roads 84
Dunkirk, settlement of. 68
Dunkirk postoffice. 98
District school, first 112
Draft of 1863-war of 1861. 273
66
" Busti 70
Distilleries 184
..
" Villenova 70
" Gerry 70
" Cherry Creek. 71
" French Creek 71
" Ellington
" Mina 71
Elections at Batavia. .
16
..
" Clymer
Election, first in Chautauqua
" clerk of. 17
..
..
" Hanover 71
Erection of each town in county
21
69
69
Ellery, 66
71
Families in town in 1812.
246
Erie road
82
First postoffice 93
92 First mail contractor 94
Ellicott road
..
" Ripley . 69
" Chautauqua
69
" Poland. 69
" Ellicott 69
" Ellery. 69
" Harmony 69
" Arkwright 70
" Carroll .. 70
" Kiantone, 70
" Charlotte. 70
" Stockton 70
Dwellings in town 2 9
Deed, first executed in town 306
David Joy's cow 320
F
First town meeting in Chautauqua 16
justices appointed .. 17
formation of Chautauqua connty . 18
66 county officers. 19
town meeting of Portland.
27
Forest trees.
37
Fortifications, old
44
First settlement of Westfield. 66
" Pomfret. 68
.
Pago
Express mail ... 95
Early Library Association. 133
Roman Catholic.
167
Community, Harris.
169
Company, first for war of 1812 247
Election, time of holding first 17
Elections, special. 234
Elections, inspectors of . 243
Eaton, David, Super 236
Eaton, Alfred, Super 239
Evergreen Cemetery ..
299
Extent of grant of King James
51
66
" Portland. 72
" Dunkirk 68
Ellington,
17
..
" Sherman. 71
" Sheridan.
72
Ellicott, first settlement of .
46
',
ix
CONTENTS.
First mail carrier
94
First P. M. in county 93
First P. M. in town 98
Fredonia named.
95
First mail stage
102
Fellows, Odd 195
Fay, Nathaniel, Super 237
Fuller, R. D., Super 238
Fay, J. B., Super 239
First deed executed in town
306
First frame barn
313
First widow 310
First frame house 321
Fund, public school. 124
First school teachers
128
First church formed.
135
.6 names of members 135
First company-war of 1812 247
Forty-ninth regiment-war of 1861 264
Forty-fourth regiment-war of 1861
264
Fruit growing
5208
G
Genesee, county of, erected
15
" " divided. 18
Geological features of town
34
Gas springs 35
Gerry, first settlement of
70
General training, first
Appendix
Good Templars
194
Governor, vote for.
224
Goodrich, D. G., Super
238
Grant of King James
49
H
Harbors
36
Highlands, view from 39
Harmony, first settlement of 59
Hanover,
71
Harris Community
169
Hatter, first in town
397
Highways, Commissioners of
243
Haywood, A., Super
239
Harris, Ebenezer, Super
237
Harris, J. E., Super
239
House, first frame
321
Holland Company
59
I
Inspectors of elections
243
Inspectors of schools
244
Page
Justices, first appointed. 17
Justices, elected 240
Judson, Timothy, Super.
237
K
Kiantone, first settlement of
70
L
Land office established
20
Location of town of Portland.
28
Lots, acres in each. 29
Lakes in town
32
Lake shore, view from 40
Library Association.
133
LaHatt, Rev. Charles
155
Lake Shore Wine Company.
213
London Company.
49
Mina, first settlement of
71
Mail routes
93
Mayville postoffice.
96
Methodist church, classes, &c.
148
society formed
150
Military companies, early
Appendix
Men furnished in war of 1861
278
Masouic order
195
Meetings, town, where held.
231
McMahan, John, Super 235
Marsh, C. A., Super.
238
Moss, T. S., Super
239
Mills, Dunhams
175
Sa ge's.
175
.. Burton's 175
Fay's, Hollis. 176
Ogden's
176
Burr's.
176
Taylor' 176
6 Fay's, Nath 176
Everts'.
176
Bacon's
176
Dalee's, 1st and 2d 177
Goodsell's
177
Elliott's
177
Fletcher's
177
Coney's.
177
Jewett's
178
Bigelow's
178
Hall's
178
Richardson's
178
X
CONTENTS.
Page
Mills, Arnold's.
178
Robbins', steam 178
.. Jewett's, steam 178
Fay & Goodrich, steam
178
Wheeler's, steam
179
.6 Crandall's. 173
Whitcher's 179
Burton's grist 179
Coney's grist 179
..
Godfrey's grist
179
Vanleuven's 180
Brocton grist. 180
Centerville grist
180
..
Brotherhood
180
Millwrights
182
Merchants, first and others
205
Morris' purchase
56
N
Native animals
North Portland postoffice 99
Normal schools
127
Number of men furnished war of 1861. 278
North Portland Cemetery
300
Page
Postoffices 83
Pomfret postoffice
94
Portland postoffice
98
North, postoffice.
99
Protestant Methodist church
167
Pioneer schools
106
schoolhouses 107
Present school districts
116
Public school fund. 124
Preachers, Cong. church.
137
Baptist church 156
..
West church
161
Methodist church
151
Universalist church
164
Parsonage, Baptist
157
= Methodist. 151
Potteries
181
Papers, early, taken 196
Political status of town
225
41 Presidential vote
225
Population of town
229
Population, sex, places of birth, &c. 229
Products, agricultural. 230
Peace, justices of.
240
Poor, overseers of
245
Prendergast, Thomas, Super.
235
Prendergast, Matthew, Super 236
Prescott, Gen., captured. 340
Physicians
197
.. Squire White. 197
.. Lawton Richmond 198
..
Silas Spencer 199
..
Marcius Simons 199
Carlton Jones. 200
Daniel Ingalls. 200
Silas Pomeroy 200
Aaron Wilbur
200
Odd Fellows
195
P
Pomfret erected.
19
Portland, south line
25
first town meeting 27
..
boundaries of
28
location of
28
Poor fund divided 20
Pomfret, settlement of. 68
Poland.
69
Portland
،،
72
Population, center of.
79
Paine's road 81
20
Old fortifications 44
Old roadways
47
One hundredth regiment-war of 1861. 264
One hundred and eleventh regiment 296 One hundred and twelfth regiment .. 268 One hundred and fifty-fourth regiment 270 Officers, town, first elected 240
Overseers of poor
245
Orchards. Dunn's and others
208
..
James Ball
200
---- Saunders 200
- Swartwood. 201
-- Barnes 201
-Marcum
201
Daniel Henn
201
W. G. Wolcott
201
- Austin. 202
James A. Hall 202
Lemuel Clark 202
-- Rose.
202
Thomas Cushing
203
H. C. Taylor
203
Original town of Chautauqua
Office, land, established.
16
Fenn Deming 199
xi
CONTENTS.
Page
Physicians, -- McIntyre. 203
Wm. Skinner
203
Stage route
93
Schools, pioneer
106
Schoolhouses, first
107
School districts, first
112
present 116
Schools, Union 127
Salem Academy
122
School teachers, early
128
School fund
124
Statistical history, war of 1861 283
Shoemakers, early
182
. Sons of Temperance 193
Social Circle.
194
Slavery.
223
Special elections, 234
Special town meetings 233
Schools, Normal.
127
School commissioners
244
School inspectors
244
Superintendent of schools
244
Supervisors, Biog. Sketches
235
Road, portage 402
Ripley, settlement of 69
Rev. John Spencer
142
Rev. Charles LaHatt. 155
Roman Catholics
167
Re-enlistment-war of 1861
278
Railroads, B. & Erie 217
.. Mayville & Portland 217
Fredonia & VanBuren 218
Dunkirk & State Line 218
L. S. & M. Southern
218
B., C. & Pittsburg
220
Teachers' institutes
127
Taverns, Dunn's and others
186
Training, general, first.
Appendix
Temperance Society
192
Temperance, Sons of
193
Site of county buildings
Soil and surface of town. 30
Streams, springs, &c 30 Taxes from 1829 228
Springs, gas.
35
Settlement of town of Portland 72
70
Title ..
49
Town officers
240
Taylor, H. C., Super. 238
Taylor, G. M., Super
238
Surveys by Holland Company. 62
Settlers, and lots settled 72
Settlement, rate of
78
Stages.
102
Salen X Roads P. office
100
Pago
Salem X Roads name changed.
101
H. J. Dean. 20
..
N. H. Barnes
204
T. C. Wilson 204
Plymouth Company 19
Phelps & Gorham's purchase 53
Purchase of Holland Company
59
Q
Queenstown, battle of.
248
Quigley's wine house
216
Real estate in town
29
Rocks
34
Roadways, old. 47
Road. Paine's.
81
Erie.
Ellicott.
82
91
Roads described
S4
Turnpike
Town of Batavia.
15
Town of Chautauqua, original.
19
Town meeting, first in county
16
Town of Pomfret, erection of
19
Time of erection of each town in Co 21
Trees, forest. 37
Town, view of before settlement 42
Turnpike company 91
Teachers, early
128
19 Templars, Good 194
Town, bonding of 220
Town meetings, where held. 231
Tanneries, Parker's and others
180
Stockton, settlement of
Sherman, settlement of
71
Sheridan,
72
U
Universalist Society
164
church
165
Real estate of railroads
30
Religions meetings, first.
134
xii
CONTENTS.
Page
Page
Universalist preachers 166
W
66 names of first members. 165
Westfield, settlement of Appendix & 66
Williams, R., contractor 96
Williams, Mrs. Sophia.
96
Westfield postoffice
98
War of 1812.
246
War of 1861, call for troops. 263
View from highlands 39
lake shore
40
View of town before settlement. 42
Villenova, first settlement of.
70
Wagon makers, early 182
Vineyard's, Fay's and others
212
Wine house R., F. & Haywood 213
Vote for Governor to 1872. 224
Wine Company, Lake Shore. 213
Vote for President to 1872. . 225
Wine house, Ryckman, Day & Co 215
Valuation of real estate 226
Wine house, Fuller's. 215
Wine house, Quigley's.
216
Widow, first in town, 310
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Abell, Henry 332
Bump, Jacob. 397
Andrews, Erastus
363
Beebe, Abner B 398
Andrews, Wilson
375
Bassell, Samuel 400
Andrews, James 376
Burdick, Ezra 407
Andrews, Asa. 376
Bigelow, Thomas. 417
Anderson, Samuel. 389
Baker, Warren 424
Andrews, Sylvester 396
Crosby, Nathan 313
Andrews, Amos C 406
Carpenter, David. 315
Averill, Lemon 409
Churchill, Sylvester 334
Arnold, C. F 423
Churchill, John 335
Arnold, Elisha. 435
Coney, John
337
Barnes, Daniel
316
Correll, William
343
Barnes, Calvin
321
Crosby, Luther.
354
Berry, William
322
Cass, Josoph. 355
Burch, Jonathan
3:29
Cotton, William 363
Bushnall, Chester
331
Crane, Lemuel
363
Brainard, Cephas 333
Conner John
365
Brooks, Asa ..
337
Colt, Wolcott
380
Barker, Barzilla.
442
Cook, Samuel
388
Burton, Simon
352
Charter, James.
391
Bennett, James
354
Crosby, Erastus 396
Bacon, Gillett. 336
Corning, John and brothers 396
Baldwin, Jesse 363
Clough, Horace 399
Berrage, Richard. 374
Case, William 400
Barnes, James 377
Crosby, Joshua 406
Bail, Frederick. 378
Carley, T. G .. 407
Bradley, Collins 379
Carley, L. P 408
Bowhall, John.
379
Carpenter, Timothy 410
Beach, Roswell
390
Clements, H. C.
418
Brown, Mansur
390
Dunn, James 303
Bump, As, 397
Dodge, Daniel.
321
Union Lawn cemetery 301
Union schools 127
statistical history 283
men drafted
275
66
men furnished
278
6. compared 227
CONTENTS.
xiii
Pago
Dusenbury, J. 346
Dinsmore, Silas. .Appendix & 337
Hill, Zimri 345
Dunhanı, William. 356
Druse, John ..
357
Hill, Lewis.
357
Doty, Elijah. . 399
Doolittle, Lyman.
399
Hefrou, William
378
Dalee, James W
411
Hutchins, Calvin. . 379
Denton, Isaac
418
Howe, William.
385
Dean, David.
424
Hubbard, Isaac
390
Driggs, Anson 427
Howard, Henry
390
Eaton, David ..
307
Holenbeck, John
391
Emerson, Wilder.
323
Hitchcock, G. A
391
Ely, Heman.
335
Hall, Aaron.
392
Ensign, Otis.
366
Houghton, Silas.
293
Hedgeline, John
395
Ensign, Thomas. 405
Everts, Jesse
410
Everden, Samuel.
412
Everden, John
412
Howe, Isaac. 401
Elliot, Oliver 433
Fay, Nathan
305
Fay, Nathaniel 311
Fay, Elisha
306
Ingersoll. Peter.
313
Ingalls, Daniel. 408
Fay, Hollis 323
Joy, David.
319
Fay, Elijah. 324
Flsh, Hiram 337
Fuller, Asa.
57
352
Jackson Joshua 436
Flint, Abial.
366
Kaue, Peter
310
Ford, Almon 367
Klumph, Thomas 314
Kelsey, Andrew 317
Freeman, Robert 406
Klumph, Augustine 318
Fellows, Abigail 411
Klumph, Jeremiah 381
Granger, David B 315
340
Kinney, Erastus.
413
413
Geer, Samuel 336
Lee, James
363
Gator, Richard. 357
Light, John
389
Goodwin, Tyrus 397
Lilly, Leonard 392
Gill, Amos
407
Lake, Nicholas
394
Gibbs, Joseph. ¥ 331
Lewis, Pardon
396
Hutchins, Benjamin 305
Lewis, Walker.
407
Hart, Josiah 313
Logan, John
413
Harris, Absalom 315
Leech, Robert. 416
Hodge, Alfred. 315
Leavitt, Robert.
422
Hall, Perry. 317
Martin, Zadoc. 358
Hutchins, William· 328
Mumford, Walter 362
Haines, anford.
331
Millet, Samuel
370
Harris, William
339
MeIntyre, John T.
374
396
Harris, Samuel
999
Hibbard, Eleazer .. 399
Hall, Samuel. 420
Hunt, Obadiah
419
Hulburt, David, Rev 421
Farlin, David
314
Jordan, Benajah 381
Judson, Timothy 427
Klumph, Jacob W 382
Goldsmith, Roe
Guyle, Joseph. 344
Kinney, Rufus
Logan, Cyrus
393
Gifford, David 432
Page
Harris, William, jun 339
Hall, Ahira. 347
Durand, Jeremiah
382
Hubbell, Brewer 363
Harris, Ebenezer
368
Eastwood, Cornelius.
394
Harris, Joseph .. ..
Freeman, George 367
xiv
CONTENTS.
Page
Merritt, Felix 375
Shuff, Henry 359
McManus, C. and brothers 377
Safford, Jonas. 359
McAllister, Andrew. 381
Smalley, Stephen 366
McGregor, David 382
Simmons, Zuriel 372
Munson, Samuel 383
Spafford, Oliver 373
Mumford, Henry 390
Simpson, Obadiah. 379
Miller, William
395
Spencer, Henry 386
Mills, Deforest 395
Skinner, David. 387
Moore, Rufus 407
Skinner, Chester 386
Matthewson, Andrew 433
Skinner, Alfred
386
Nichols, Benjamin 418
Skinner, Albert
388
Nash, Cotton 433
Smith, Joel.
397
Owen, Ethan A
359
Shattuck Samuel
402
Owen, Frederick 393
Shattuck, Seth
405
Odell, Robert
415
Shumway, Ebenezer 410
Odell, John.
415
Shaver, Joseph 425
Onthank, Lovel.
415
Stilson, Jacob 432
Orton, Thomas
432
Stetson, William A 435
Price, John
311
Taylor, Erastus 313
315
Perry, Rufus 313
Taylor, Renben
34×
Potter, Jeremiah 321
Thornton, Asa
Palmer, Abel 346
Thayer, Jedediah
360
Perkins, Orris 366
Pierce, Aaron. 367
371
Thayer, Lemuel 392
Thayer, Elijah 393
Tucker, Samuel 429
Tillotson, Cyrus 432
Peters, Joseph P. 413
Tibbals, John . 433
Powell, Lorenzo 414
Utter, Eleazer
377
Patch, Reuben B 418
Underhill, John 408
Price, Charles 419
Uhl, Nicholas 426
Pomeroy, Silas 424
Vangaasbeek, M. P 360
Peck, Asahel
429
Vangaasbeek, Peter 372
Palmer, Nathaniel. 406
Vibbard, Leonard 395
Pease, Solomon and Asa.
Wilder, James, 331
Pullman, Lewis. 433
Williams, Richard 351
Quigley, John
329
Whitcomb, Simeon 361
Quigley, Martin 369
Williams, Ebenezer 362
Rice, Lester 374
Wooden, Calvin
395
Reeder, Nathaniel. 394
West, Joshua S. 409
Reeder, James 394
Winslow, Nathaniel 410
Risley, Jared. 413
Wilbur, John. 41%
Ray, James 426
Williams, Harvey 420
Smith, Martin 314
Wilbur, Aaron ..
421
Sage, Moses
341
Wilbur, Brownell.
Titcomb, Moses 377
Tower, John 384
Prime, Jewett
Pratt, James 395
Pullman, Nathaniel. 432
Pomeroy, Plynn. 408
312
Taylor, Parsons
Parker, James
Page
CHAPTER I.
To make the following pages the more intelligible, as well as more acceptable to the reader it is proposed in the outset to devote a brief space to eivil divisions, not only of the county of Chautauqua, of which Portland forms a part, but more or less definitely of the whole western part of the State.
Few, comparatively, have any very definite knowledge with reference to the various divisions of that vast tract of country in western New York commonly known as the Holland Purehase; when they were made, or who were the actors in those early scenes-a knowledge at once interesting, useful and often neces- sary. It is proposed to place a record of this character, as far as suits onr purpose, within the reach of every former and pres- ent citizen of the town of Portland, and as many of their de- scendants as it is possible to reach.
By an act of the Legislature of the State, dated March 30, 1802, the original county of Genesee was erected, embracing substantially all that part of the State west of Steuben county and the Genesee river, and from which originated the present connties of Niagara. Orleans, Genesee, Erie, Wyoming, Alle- gany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and parts of Monroe and Liv- ingston. Batavia was the county seat. By the same act the county was divided into four towns, Northampton, Southampton, Leicester and Batavia. The town of Batavia embraced nearly all the territory within the present counties of Niagara, Catta- rangus and Chautauqua. Emigration pressing westward with a rapidity almost beyond precedent. considering the difficulties to be overcome and the hardships to be endured, soon created a demand for a still further division: and on April 11. 1804, the
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
town of Batavia was divided into the towns of Batavia, Wil- link, Erie and Chautauqua. Previous to this date the elections were held at the village of Batavia, and some of the electors living in the remote settlements of that extended town were obliged to travel, if voting at all, a distance of nearly one hun- dred miles and occupy an entire week for the purpose.
It has generally been understood that the original town of Chautauqua embraced all the territory within the present county of that name: but the act defining the boundaries of the town reads thus :
"And all that part of the town of Batavia, beginning in the north boundary of the state of Pennsylvania, where the meri- dian line between the tenth and eleventh ranges of the Holland Company's Lands commences; thence north along said meridian line, bounding east on the town of Erie, to the boundary line in Lake Erie" &c. Thus leaving the towns of Carroll, Poland, Ellington, Cherry Creek, Villenova and Hanover, except the first four lots of T 6, 11th Range, and that part of Kiantone lying east of the township line as defined on the Holland Com- pany's maps, outside the limits of the present county and with- in the town of Erie. [See Original Laws V. 34, No. 112.]
This act also specified that the first Town meeting should be held at the house of widow MeHlenry. Mrs. McHenry lived at the ancient Cross Roads, about one mile west of the center of the present village of Westfield, near where now stands a mon- umental stone. In April of the following year. 1805, the first Town Meeting was held at the place specified, at which John MeMahan was elected Supervisor, and James Montgomery, Town Clerk. James Dunn was elected one of the Road Com- missioners, and was the first elected to office from the territory now comprising the town of Portland, in fact was the only legal voter in town.
This first Town Meeting was deemed to be invalid from a mistake in the name of the town, and an appointment was made of the officers chosen by the people, by Benj. Elliott, David McCraeken and Asa Ransom. then Justices of the Peace and
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THIE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
all living east of Buffalo ; with the exception of Zattu Cushing, in whose place Orsamus Holmes was appointed as Overseer of the Poor. [See List of Town Officers.]
The office of Justice of the Peace was not then elective, but appointments were made by the council of appointment at Al- bany, and the first selected to fill that office for the new town of Chautauqua were: Perry G. Ellsworth, David Kinkade and Peter Kane in March 1895. Perry G. Ellsworth, John McMahan and David Eason were appointeed in March 1806. [See List of Town Officers. ] The meetings of the Board of Supervisors for 1806-7-8 were held at the village of Batavia. No general elec tion was held in the town until 1807; when the vote of the town was 69 : Daniel D. Tompkins receiving 41 and Morgan Lewis 28.
Elections were then held on the last Tuesday in April and the two following days, instead of the first Tuesday in November as at present; the Board having the power to adjourn to such places as should seem most for the convenience of the settlers. At this first election the polls were opened on the first day at the house of Wm. Bemus on the east side of Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point : the second at the house of Mrs. Perry, form- ly Mrs. McHenry, at the ancient Cross Roads, now Westfield, and the third day in the forenoon at the house of Hezekiah Bar- ker at Canadaway, now Fredonia, and in the afternoon at the house of Orsamus Holmes in the present town of Sheridan, at a point familiarly known as the "Roberts Stand." The expense of that election to the town was 68 dollars, each vote costing within a fraction of one dollar. The only means of travel then was by horseback and through an almost interminable wilder- ness, with roads little better than a trail, in fact with ahnost no roads at all. The Board packed their ballot boxes into their pockets, and proceeded on their "devious winding way" in single file from one point to the others designated. David Eaton, Esq .. of the present town of Portland, was clerk of that board.
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