A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 108

Author: Minard, John Stearns, 1834-1920; Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Alfred, N.Y., W. A. Fergusson & co.
Number of Pages: 1102

USA > New York > Allegany County > A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York > Part 108

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789

RUSHFORD.

BY JOHN S. MINARD.

CHAPTER LXIII.

R USHFORD lies on the western border of the county and comprises town- ship 5, range 2, of the Holland Land Company's survey. The sub- division into lots was made by William Rumsey in the summer of 1807, and immediately thereafter the land was offered for sale. The surface is mostly hilly upland divided into ridges and valleys by streams tributary to Canea- dea creek, the principal stream of the town, discharging into the Genesee river. Rush creek is its most considerable branch. The soil is generally a gravelly loam, though on some of the creek bottoms is a rich sandy loam. For upland the soil is better than the average, and though the town is better adapted to grazing and dairying, good crops of grain are raised, and in some parts potatoes and other vegetables find the elements just suited to their growth. The original forest, though pine in some localities predominated, presented almost every variety of timber grown in this latitude, some being very valuable. The first iron bridge in town was put up in 1879 when A. L. Litchard was highway commissioner. It was at Hardy's corners and built jointly with the town of Farmersville. The town of Rushford is out of debt. Its assessed valuation in 1895 was $539,680, tax collected $4,909.14. Eneas Garey, a Vermonter, was the first settler. When he moved on to his new purchase with his family in 1808 it is said that he brought coals in a kettle from Centreville to start a fire on arriving at his place. It is said that his daughter Nancy, who married Ely Woods, was the first white woman who ever slept in Rushford. She and a brother came four days in advance of the teams. She was only 10 years old.

In 1809 five brothers, James, Tarbell, William, John and Wilson Gor- don, from Vermont, settled in Rushford. They were sons of James, a Scotchman, who came to this country during the Revolution, was in Bur- goyne's army, deserted, joined the Americans, and at 16 was a waiter for Gen. Washington. William, our pioneer, was a local M. E. preacher, and settled where R. W. Benjamin lives. Charles Swift, Abraham J. Lyon, Amos Rose, Abel Belknap, Joshua Wilson and Joseph Young came in 1810. Young was 22 days coming from Wethersfield, Conn. Samuel Hardy from Vermont came in 1811. Great hardship and privations were endured by these early settlers, some passing even months without bread. In 1810 Bethiah Belknap and Samuel Gordon were born, the first births of white children. In 1811 occurred the first marriage, that of William Rawson and Luamy Swift. Jedediah B. Gordon was born in September, 1812, and is now the longest resident person in town.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

Among other early settlers previous to 1816, were Daniel and David Vaughan from Washington county, Ezra Lewis from Massachusetts, Abraham Crabb, Roderick Bannister, John White, Luther L. Woodworth, the two latter coming from Connecticut on foot. Levi Benjamin came in 1815 and located on lot 30. In the winter of 1813 and 14 was taught the first school in a log structure where now is the M. E. church, Pliny Bannister teacher. In 1813 was built by a Mr. Warren the first gristmill. This mill stood on land now owned by John B. Walker. "This was a very small mill, the bolting cloths made of book muslin, the upper stone hung upon a spindle at the end of the shaft of a tubwheel, with no intermediate gearing. The first miller was drowned in 1815, while repairing the dam." Mr. Warren also built the first sawmill. Pomeroy Johnson, another Vermonter, came in 1814, settling north of present village.

Before 1816 so many people had settled in the township, as to call for a new town, and March 8, 1816, the town of Rushford was created. It included present New Hudson until April 10, 1825. According to Mrs. Woods, mother of W. F. Woods, now of Macedon, N. Y., " the few residents agreed upon the name of Windsor for the town, after Windsor, Vt., the former home of most of them, and it was sent in to be inserted in the bill, but there was another town in the state by that name," and Rushford was suggested by some one. The venerable J. B. Gordon however says that the numerous patches of rushes along the streams, suggested the name as stated by early settlers Still another statement is that it was named for Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Levi Benjamin. The officers elected were: Supervisor, Dr. Dyer Story; town clerk, Pliny Ban- nister; assessors, Abel Belknap, Matthew P. Cady, and Roderick Bannister; commissioners of highways, Tarbell Gordon, J. White, and James Orcutt; . collector, Daniel Wood; constables, Levi Benjamin and Thomas L. Pratt; overseers of the poor, Ebenezer D. Perry and Levi Benjamin; school inspec- tors, Dyer Story and Abel Belknap. (The first returns of an election on record are for the year 1825, when 75 votes were cast for Benedict Brooks for state senator, and 22 for Ethan B. Allen.) The same year with the first town meeting the first store was opened by Judge James McCall, in what is claimed as the first framed building in town. This stood near Levi Benja- mins, over a mile north of the village. Mr. Benjamin kept a public house. The first taverns were kept by Eneas Gary, Charles Swift, Samson Hardy, Levi Benjamin, Joseph Young, and William Gary.

The town meetings to 1840 were held, 1817, at Samson Hardy's; 1818, '19, '20, '27, '28, at Joseph Young's; 1821, '22, '32, '33, '34, at the Baptist church; 1823, '24, '25, '26, at Eneas Gary's; 1829, at Jonathan Dunham's; 1830, at Samson Hardy's; 1831, at the Methodist Episcopal church; 1835, at J. Holmes; 1836; at Knickerbocker's; 1837, at J. Merrifield's; 1838, '39, at Chap- man Brooks'; 1840, at Winthrop G. Young's.

Early settlers on the road north from Elmer's cheese factory, were John Gordon, Tarbell Gordon, William Gordon, Judge McCall, Levi Benja-

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min, Mr. Beckwith, Elijah Lyman, Elijah Freeman, and on the Centerville road, Samson Hardy, Jonathan Dunham, Mr. Going, Mr. Swift, Eneas Gary, William Gary, John White, Jerry White, Leonard Farwell. Cephas Young kept an early tavern where James G. Benjamin now lives, and William Gary had a log tavern on the Centerville road. There were two rooms in it, a bar- room and kitchen, with a bed in each till about 1835. This shows the con- veniences and simplicity of the primitive public houses.

James McCall, in 1818 with William B. Rochester. and in 1819 with John Dow, represented Allegany and Steuben in the assembly. Judge Mc- Call was a state senator from the 8th district in 1824, '25, '26, '27. At the town meeting April 17, 1818, it was voted to raise $50 for school purposes, and, in 1821, "all that the law will allow."

Somewhere from 1820 to 1825, a carding mill was put up on Caneadea creek either by an Upham or J. B. Gordon's father. In 1830 J. B. Gordon joined and a new building was put up at Gordonsville. In 1840 Wm. Gor- don and sons, William and Samuel, added to the first 50 foot building, 90 feet more and a woolen factory making 100 yards of flannel and fullcloth per day was soon in operation employing 15 to 20 hands. An extensive business was done, people coming 30 miles to trade wool for cloth, and in 1844 Avery Washburn, a teacher from Connecticut, becoming a partner the firm (Gordon & Washburn) engaged in the woolen mill business. The fac- tory was run until 1873 when it was burned.

In 1844 Gordon & Sons built a gristmill, with 3 " run " of stones, and for years did a large custom and some merchant grinding. It was first run by water, later by steam, and was burned in 1883.

Before 1830 William Wilson and John Gordon built the first sawmill at Kelloggville and ran it for 25 years. George Colburn built a mill below the Gordon's at Kelloggville in 1851 or 52, and it ran till some 10 years since. Levi Benjamin was the first postmaster and kept the office at his place. It was established in 1816. Stephen Parker then a boy carried the first mail; the route being from Canandaigua to Olean and return. His father Ephraim Parker was the contractor, The exact time cannot be stated, though prob- ably it was soon after the postoffice was established. Oramel Griffin con- ducted the second store in town in 1822, in a log building. Bates Hapgood was next. Orville Boardman was an early merchant. Isaiah Lathrop was an early hardware dealer. Judge McCall built the second gristmill at East Rushford in 1832.

In all these early years the people practiced putting bells on their cows. Sometimes in going after them they would get lost in the woods; so it was arranged that if gone long, a gun should be fired, or a horn blown to guide them home. At an early day C. G. Leavens and O. D. Benjamin built a saw- mill on Thunder Shower creek. In 1863 it was worn out. The pioneer blacksmith was David J. Board, who located on lot 22 as early as 1816. His descendants retain the homestead.

792

HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

In 1818 when Asa Benjamin, brother of Levi, moved in there were but four framed houses at the village. No store nearer than Angelica on the south or Pike on the north. He has taken wheat to Angelica and exchanged it for window lights at the rate of 4 small lights for a bushel. He drove the first team through to Mills Mills on the new (present) road. He was two days making the trip, and on his way out " shot a deer, dressed it and hung it in a tree, thinking to get it next day on his return, but the Indians stole it." He was a shoemaker and would work at his trade for his neighbors, while they cleared his land. He was one of the first justices. Tim Thomas must have his " pumps" for a 4th of July dance. Work was crowding, and Mr. Ben- jamin made the pumps by working extra time, two whole nights being de- voted to the work. For recuperation he took an occasional cup of tea, and a little sleep on a side of sole leather fitted him for renewed effort. The pumps were finished by noon of the 4th. He also worked as a mason, and many of the early chimneys were laid by him.

Before the Genesee Valley canal was opened to Mt. Morris lumber was hauled to Buffalo, the trip taking four days. At the public houses 50 cents would pay for supper, lodging, breakfast and " horses to hay." The lumber was sold at ruinously low prices, but " loading back " with iron, tin, leather, whiskey, pork, salt, helped them out, though 25 cents was the " regulation price " for hauling a barrel of salt pork or whiskey.

Though the experiences of Rushford's early settlers were rough and pleasant, their stalwart energy and native "grit " and "gumption " tri- umphed, and before 1840 broad fields were basking in the sunlight, framed houses were quite common and things bespoke the thrifty habits of her peo- ple. Before 1850 Rushford village was the liveliest place (with possibly one exception) in the county, there being 8 drygoods stores and 3 or 4 gro- ceries, and other dealers and tradesmen in proportion.

Though the Weavers are not named as pioneers they came early. They were three brothers, William, Joseph, and Benjamin, and they certainly were pioneers in cheese making. Theirs however was the old way of family dairying, each one using a hoop in size proportioned to the number of cows he kept, reckoning on making one cheese a day, and storing it till the whole season's make was cured and ready for market, turning and greas- ing them every day. Buffalo and Rochester were markets, either place in- volved a long haul, over bad roads, with lumber wagons loaded as heavy as their teams could draw, and sales at prices which would perceptibly elongate the faces of modern Allegany dairymen; six cents being considered a good price, though it was sometimes sold at four cents, groceries taken in part payment. When the canal was opened hauling to Rochester ceased.

Rushford was the pioneer town of the state in the manufacture of pine- apple cheese. April 1, 1851, Robert Norton began to manufacture pine-apple cheese in a small building, a little south of the academy. Not long after Chas. J. Elmer became associated with Mr. Norton, and the managing man in the

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RUSHFORD.

enterprise. The manufacture of pine-apple cheese in Rushford continued for 32 years and most of the time by this firm. The products of this factory gained great celebrity. The cheese has been sold as high as 40 cents per pound and as low as 12 or 14 cents. As a rule it brought about double the price of dairy cheese. Mr. R. H. Heald of East Rushford about 1856 made the first cheese boxes in Allegany county.

The two decades from 1820 witnessed the greatest progress in " clear- ing up " the land, though this work was continued until 1850 when the town was practically all cleared. About 1852 the mowing machine was introduced and many labor-saving devices are used which materially lighten farm labor. The farmers of Rushford keep even with the advancing spirit of the age. Several silos have been made by Geo. H. Kingsley, A. W. and A. L. Litchard, J. S. VanDusen, E. T. James, Geo. W. Hall, etc.

The New Hudson, Caneadea and Rushford Plank Road was built in 1852, the main projectors being Southworth & McGraw from Tompkins county, who owned 2,100 acres of timber land in New Hudson, and had 4 sawmills. The capital stock was $20,000. Timothy Rice, Abel S. Nicholson, Luke R. Hitchcock and John Smith were its active promoters in Caneadea, and J. B. Luther, Wilson Gordon and O. T. Higgins in Rushford. The road ran from McGrawville, following closely Rush and Caneadea creeks to Caneadea, with a branch from Kellogg's to Rushford. The plank were cut 8} feet long and 3 in. thick, and were furnished at $5 per M. For a while the road did a good business. It was later sold by the sheriff and March 20, 1859, came into the hands of Columbus Balcom who continued it till the flood of 1864, which tore up and carried off a good share of it, especially in the gorge.

CHEESE FACTORIES .- Rushford was the first town of the county to embark in the factory system of making cheese. the first factory being con- structed by Robert Morrow, Charles Benjamin, and H. K. Stebbins, in 1863 and 1864, and beginning operations in July or August, 1864. In Novem- ber C. J. Elmer bought the plant and has since conducted it. For 2 or 3 years the factory made up the milk from 2,200 cows, some of it being hauled 7 or 8 miles. Other factories were soon erected, and the pioneer factory lost some of its patrons. Probably no town stands higher in point of excel- lence of her dairy products, and shipments have been made direct to London and Liverpool. There are now 7 factories, known respectively as the Elmer, Podunk, Kellogg, McGrawville, Hardy's, West Branch and Clear Spring; the annual product from each averaging 100,000 pounds, made from the milk of 2,500 cows.

Rushford Academy and Union School .- The town had from its institution been liberal in the support of schools, and so in 1851 was quick to catch the inspiration of the times, which led her citizens to make liberal subscriptions to the fund for building the academy (chartered February 21, 1852), which went into operation in the autumn of 1852. The building cost nearly $5.000. The first board of trustees were: B. T. Hapgood, John Holmes, Israel Thompson, Titus Bartlett, William Merryfield, Robert Norton, James Gor-

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

don, 2d, Isaac Stone, Washington White, Samson Hardy, Charles Benjamin, John G. Osborne, O. D. Benjamin, William Gordon and H. Damon, with B. T. Hapgood, president; Robert Norton, secretary and treasurer; Dr. Wm. M. McCall, corresponding secretary, and Ira Sayles librarian. Prof. Ira Sayles, a teacher of Alfred Academy, was secured as principal, who, with his assist- ants, opened the school with flattering prospects. The first board of instruction was: Ira Sayles, A. M., principal; William W. Bean, Miss E. Frances Post, assistants; Mrs. S. C. Sayles, assistant teacher of French; Miss Aurora Bailey, assistant teacher of music; Miss M. B. B. Sayles, assistant primary teacher, though early in its history Miss Henrietta S. Claflin was first female assistant; P. F. J. Wehrung, assistant in French and German; Anna M. Scott, assistant in music, and Miss Jane Hammond had charge of the primary department. The school was a success and the attendance liberal. In 1867, in order to better meet the demands for increased and freer educational facilities, it was organized into a UNION SCHOOL, as which it has since been conducted, the veteran instructor Prof. Sayles being its first principal. The principals have been: Academy, Ira Sayles, 1852-57; G. W. F. Buck, 1857-65; J. E. McIntyre, 1865-67. Union School, Ira Sayles, 1867-70; A. J. Crandall, 1870-71; Dana Jennison, 1871-73; Wm. Goodell, 1873-74; W. W. Bean, 1874-76; Frank Diamond, 1876-77; M. L. Spooner, 1877-80; H. J. Van Norman, 1880-82; J. McKee, 1882-85; W. D. Moulton, 1885; W. H. Wilson, 1885-87; Edward Maguire, 1887-93; Wm. C. White, 1893-94; H. J. Walter, 1895. The people of Rushford are deserving of great praise for the stand they early assumed in favor of liberal education, and even a slight acquaintance with its inhabitants who received their edu- cation at this institution, is a convincing proof of the wisdom of the fathers in founding Rushford Academy.

FIRES .- The village of Rushford has had its share of fires. The most ex- tensive conflagration occurred Dec. 20, 1883, when five buildings on the south side of Main street were destroyed. These firms were the sufferers: Pratt & Colburn, Mrs. M. A. Stacy, F. E. White. N. Jewell, C. W. Woodworth, W. W. Merrill, I. M. Seaman, C. McDonald, A. L. Green, Dr. Peters, dentist, Misses Butts & Weir, dressmakers, and the Spectator office. But little was saved. This was the third set of buildings burned on the same ground in less than 20 years. Losses $30,000; insurance $17,290. A fine brick block now covers the ground. A later fire starting in S. Root's furniture and un- dertaking rooms, caused a loss of from $8,000 to $10,000. The night was still fortunately or the loss would have been much greater. The insurance was small. The losers were: S. Root, Holden & Bond, A. Ray, R. R. Mur- ray, M. Claus, A. Peters and A. Edson. Only a portion of these burned buildings have been rebuilt.

FLOOD OF 1864 .- The disastrous flood of Aug. 16th and 17th, 1864, is well . remembered. Rain began falling at 6 o'clock P. M., and by 11 the flood was at its height. Much damage to property was done, some lives were lost, many endangered; while others barely escaped with their lives. Orin T.

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RUSHFORD.

Higgins' house was moved into the street, the lower story carried entirely away, while a lighted lamp standing on the mantel piece was undisturbed. Dr. O. T. Stacy's house was badly injured by a tree jamming into it, and his office was carried away. Israel Thompson's barn was utterly demolished, of the 15 cows in it 14 escaped. Alonzo Davidson had a cow taken away and never found. His floating house lodged against a tree, where he and his wife remained until the subsidence of the water. Mr. Welch, his wife and two children lived at East Rushford; the house was carried off. Welch swam ashore, leaving his wife and children in the house which went over one dam safely, but in passing over the next one went to pieces and all three were drowned. One Peterson, a peddler, put up at his sister's, Mrs. Harriet Dunn. The water twisted the house around, Peterson got into a tree; the barn was washed away and the horse drowned. The flood carried a calf across the Genesee river, and it was brought back safe and sound.

EAST RUSHFORD .- For some years previous to the flood of 1864 this place had attained considerable importance. It boasted of a foundry and chair factory, an oil mill, shingle mill, wagon shop. tannery, sash, door and blind factory, and melodeons were here manufactured. It had a postoffice and public house, a grist and sawmill, and was a lively enterprising little place. The flood nearly annihilated it, and since then the place has been but a little hamlet, the postoffice even, having been abolished.

In the early days Rushford abounded in sawmills. In the "Podunk " neighborhood Benjamin Dake and Oliver D. Benjamin built the first one. The territory covered by the Farwells' and Edwin Weaver's farms was then "' wolf meadows," and the little brooklet " wolf-meadow creek." Aaron Rice, Randolph Heald, and Ely and Daniel Woods built a mill on Ensworth Mc- Kinney's place, and Charles and Seth Colburn built a sawmill in 1840 on the Byron Woods farm. On Caneadea creek (beginning with Judge McCall's mill) next was Pliny Bannister down in the gorge. Leonard Walker had a mill in the gorge which was burned. Charles Colburn and his sons George and Caleb, in 1846, built a sawmill at "Kelloggville," sold about 1864 to Cal- vin Kellogg. Bannister here made grindstones and whetstones. The Walker mill and the grindstone business however was just in the edge of Caneadea, but the business relations of the parties were entirely with Rushford. Al- most every little stream which in spring and fall would furnish water suffi- cient to run an overshot wheel was utilized.

If ever a town deserved a railroad it is Rushford. Her people have put forth efforts which richly deserve success, and it is hoped that soon modern means of transit will reach the town. It did once enjoy railroad facilities, and a brief history of the Tonawanda Valley and Cuba railroad will here be given. The road connected Cuba with Attica and the route lay on through Rushford, Centreville, Freedom, Arcade to Attica In Rushford J. B. Gordon, C. J. Elmer, C. W. Woodworth, O. T. Stacy, W. E. Kyes, W. W. Bush and others raised about $18,000 for bonds and $1,200 for right of way, and built the round house. In 1881 work was began at Cuba and later at

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y

Hardy's. Then work was suspended until February, 1882, when work was again commenced, and a little later was in prosecution all along the line, and the road hurried to completion. In June the track-laying gang reached Rushford, from Cuba, and the people turned out in great numbers and celebrated the event. On the fourth of July an excursion was run to Cuba. September 4th the whole road was opened for traffic, and Sept. 25, 1882, a " time table " went into effect which gave Rushford the best train service of any town on the road. In May, 1884, a night freight was put on which was the culmination of the prosperity of the road. January 19, 1885, the mail train was taken off and the employees struck for four months' back pay. Soon business was resumed, but the trains were irregular. In Nov- ember, 1885, another strike for pay occurred. An irregular service was however kept up until Oct. 16, 1886, when trains were discontinued, by order of the receiver, south of Sandusky. Rust and weeds have since flourished unmolested along the line, and the rails have been removed. Nearly all the bonds taken by Rushford parties were sold in December, 1885, for 243 cents on the dollar. It is not a pleasant subject for Rushford people to discuss, but this railroad history proves conclusively that they are entitled to great credit for the determined fight they made for a road, and that they richly deserve better success than they then secured.

SEARCH FOR PETROLEUM .- In February, 1860, John T. and Elizabeth Moore contracted with certain oil operators to put down a well on their farm which was sunk 600 feet and left. May 3, 1864, the Moores contracted to sell 10 acres of land including the well for $1,000; the purchasers were to " de- velope " but did not sink the well much deeper. A reservation of one-twelfth of the product was made in this contract. Afterward J. B. Gordon and others organized a stock company and bought this one-twelfth interest. In 1880 another well was drilled 1,867.25 feet and abandoned. In 1864 some " wild- catting " was done on the Metcalf farm without result. Yet some insist that Rushford is oil territory.

CEMETERIES .- Probably the first place of interment was the "First Burying Ground of Rushford " in the west part of the village where burials were made as early as 1816. The deed of this property from David and Judith Searl to David Searl, Horatio Smith and Matthew P. Cady, trustees, bears date May 1, 1832. The grounds for some years suffered to lapse into neglect have recently, largely through the efforts of A. M. Taylor, been im- proved and renovated and now the cemetery has quite a tidy appearance. The trustees are A. M. Taylor, J. B. McFarland and Samuel A. Hardy.

The White Burying Ground is on the eastern borders of the village. It is not under control of a legally organized association, but an individual enter- prise, the ground being owned by M. C. White and sold off as parties desire. Many interments have been made here, and some beautiful monuments erected. It is situated on a gentle elevation and is well adapted to its purpose.

Rushford Cemetery Association was organized Oct. 2, 1850, with seven trustees. Elihu Talcott, president; John G. Osborne, vice president; Charles

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A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 108

Author: Minard, John Stearns, 1834-1920; Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Alfred, N.Y., W. A. Fergusson & co. Number of Pages: 1102

Author: Minard, John Stearns, 1834-1920; Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Alfred, N.Y., W. A. Fergusson & co.
Number of Pages: 1102