A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 112

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 112

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The famous Cuba reservoir, Lake Cuba, covering an area of nearly 1,600 acres, the largest artificial body of water in the state, is almost entirely within the town. This is quite a pleasure resort ; a hotel is located on its banks, and the reservoir is well stocked with fish. The reservoir was con- structed to feed the Genesee Valley and Erie canals, and at an expense to the state of $150,000. The dam is about 60 feet in height, and it has been considered by many as a great menace to the village of Cuba. The reser- voir is a permanent one, and competent engineers have estimated its capaci- ty when full to be equal to 200 miles of canal. The reservoir is now a feeder

* It was at first called "Oil Creek," from its principal stream and the famous oil spring. The name was soon changed to Cuba, at whose suggestion or for what reason the writer has not been able to learn, but will offer the suggestion or the name Gah-nooks, by which the oil spring was known by the Senecas. We have only one town in the county which has an Indian name. Would not Gah-nooks be a good one for Cuba ?

J. S. M.

t According to Col. Thomas Proctor, who visited this region in 1791, there were at that time an " upper" and a " lower " " Cornplanter's town." In his journal he speaks of "oil springs, near which Cornplanter had his residence." The " upper one" was probably Olean, or near it, and I have so referred to it in the text of the county history. J. S. M.

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for the Erie canal. Its waters are thereby diverted from their natural course, as before the construction of the dam the drainage of this pond or reservoir area was all tributary to Oil creek.

The population of Cuba in 1830 was 1,059. Genesee was set off in April, 1830, so the enumeration probably included the present town of Clarksville as well as present Cuba. In May, 1835, Clarksville was taken off. The pop- ulation that year is given as 1.478, showing a fair growth if the enumeration was made before May 11th, and a remarkable increase of it was made after that date. In 1840 the number of inhabitants was 1,768, while in 1845 it was only 1,585. In 1850, during the construction of the public works, the cen- sus returned 2,243; in 1855, 2,116; 1860, 2,187; 1865, 1,978; 1870, 2,397; 1875, 2.260 ; 1880, 2,203 ; 1890, 2,328 ; 1892, 2,348.

The Holland company, in 1806, "articled " land to Enos Silsby, Andrew Hawley, Stephen Coles, Benjamin Riggs, George W. Higgins, James Has- kins, Richard Friar and Levi Gregory, but no improvements were made nor any attempt at settlement on the land for some time after. Turner says that " four miles from Deacon Rawson's, toward Cuba, on Oil creek, two settlers located soon after 1808, but the prominent settler in that vicinity was Col. Samuel H. Morgan who located there in 1811 (others say as late as 1815), and became the founder of a public house that was widely known in all the early years." Other authorities award Salmon Abbott the distinc- tion of commencing the settlement of this town in 1812. He came from Luzerne Co., Pa., and made his beginning near the location of the reservoir. About the same time Connecticut sent in a delegation. Andrew Hawley, John Bennett, Stephen Cole and two others, one Hall and one Frier

In 1816 Gen. Calvin T. Chamberlain settled two miles out from Cuba village, and in 1817 built the first sawmill. James Strong in 1817 purchased the land now covered by the village. Judge John Griffin in 1820 succeeded to the possession of the land which Strong "took up."

In 1822 the first school was taught by David Row in a log house. The first inn had been kept in 1814 by Stephen Cole, 2} miles from the village on the Friendship road, and on the farm now owned by Mary E. Crandall. The first store was kept by King & Graves, in 1821 or 22. (This may have been the first store devoted exclusively to merchandise, but Judge Griffin had offered for sale in his tavern, in addition to whiskey, tea, tobacco, and cotton and woolen cloths )

Adam Renwick, father of Mrs. Reuben German, came to Cuba in 1824, and in 1825 settled permanently on lot 26. He never settled in Friendship as has heretofore been stated. James McMonagle was the first settler in the south part of the town about 1823. David S. German came in from Che- mango Co. in 1827 and settled on a farm near his son Reuben. He afterward moved to Wisconsin. Jeremiah Beebe settled on a farm east of Cuba vil- lage in 1829, and died there. Job Anson and Hosea Capple settled on farms in the southeast part of Cuba about 1823. William Grove became a resident there about 1824. Robert Kirkwood settled on the farm now owned by

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Ralph N. Wright in 1824 or 25. Benj. Ables and Nicholas Everson both settled here in 1826.

John Coller, of English stock, born in 1775 in New Jersey, came from Susquehanna Co., Pa., with wife, Hannah Rynearson, and several children, with wagons, in June, 1829, and located 150 acres on the southwest corner of lot 9, where he resided until his death in February, 1860. Both he and his wife were members of the Free Will Baptist church of Wirt. They were typical pioneers. Mrs. Coller died in 1850. The children who came with them were Isaac R., Rachel, who married John Belcher, and for some years lived in the southwest corner of the town. Hannah, who married Urial McKinster, lived on the Coller farm for some years, James V., an ec- centric but extremely industrious man, William, who succeeded to the old farm where he died in 1888.

Keller Hill receives its name from Christopher Keller, its first settler in 1822. Here Andrew and Christopher Keller, brothers, made their home in the forest in that year, and the bounteous fields they and their descend- ants developed from the wilderness attest the faithfulness of their labors. William Jackson settled early in the woods on Jackson Hill, thus giving his name to the locality. Beebe Hill was named from its first settler, Jeremiah Beebe, in 1829.

NORTH CUBA was early the prospective business center. The first gristmill of the town was here built in 1818, and a sawmill not far from 1820. It was first called Cady town, from Stephen Cady, who was connected with Jacob Baldwin in these early enterprises, and went west in 1835. Mr. Baldwin remained and his family has been one of the representative ones of this sec- tion. Robert Campbell came in 1821. His sons James M. and Dillon came the next year. This family has made much progress in the development of the place. Rufus R., son of Robert, was an energetic pioneer. The embryo city has given way to a small hamlet surrounded by beautiful, well-kept farms. The principal business is the North Cuba Creamery, now owned by O. J. Warren (600 pounds of butter was churned here in one day in March). Ioan Powers, son of John M. Powers, a native of North Cuba, was city at- torney of Rochester, N. Y., in 1886 and 1887.

The turnpike was completed to Olean in 1822, and one of the principal streams of western emigration passed over this road, which through present Cuba village followed substantially the course of Main street. An- other avenue of emigration was the Allegany road, which passed from the Genesee river at Cuylerville to Moscow, Perry, Castile, Pike and Centre- ville, where one branch went through Rushford, Rawson and by the old Morgan stand, meeting the turnpike at the old Simeon Hicks' tavern just beyond the county line, while another passed more to the west through Fair- view, Farmersville and Franklinville, reaching the turnpike only a little way this side of Olean. The number of people who passed over these roads was truly marvelous. For a few years many emigrants made Cuba a place of embarkation for the west. Families would move into the place in the fall or

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

winter, construct a rude temporary habitation, and devote the time before the first spring flood to building boats or rafts with which to prosecute their journey. The boats were made of sufficient size to carry from two to five families each, were ingeniously constructed of logs and plank, and, in many cases, the lumber was prepared to use in building their new homes at the places of their destination. The rafts were made small to safely navigate the creek, but when Olean was reached, a number of these rafts were joined together, and the journey resumed.

Previous to the construction of the turnpike the roads over which this immense tide of emigration poured were of the most primitive character. For some parts of the way, especially over the low grounds, where now is the village of Cuba, was one continuous mudhole, with seemingly unfathom- able depth. It is said that 800 pounds then made a heavy load for a three- horse team, and it took from three to four days to make the trip to Olean and back, carrying a load one way. Many were the horses that gave out, their owners selling them for whatever they could get and taking to boats and rafts. Indeed, so frequent was this the case that some men conducted quite a lucrative business in buying up these " fagged-out " animals and re- cruiting them, then selling them. It was the " old, old story " of one man's misfortunes being another's opportunity.

In all these early years the wolves and wildcats laid claim to the terri- tory as their paradise, and they made it a veritable pandemonium for the settlers. Gaunt and hungry, they were always prowling for something upon which to exercise their ravenous jaws, and the keeping of sheep and the raising of lambs were greatly retarded, as they were especially fond of mutton. Large bounties were given by county and state for their destruc- tion, and the business became quite lucrative. It has been claimed that, notwithstanding the purity of motives and honesty of purpose with which we are prone to invest our worthy pioneers, that great frauds were perpe- trated, and that, if the truth could be clearly established, it would be found that not nearly so many wolves have actually been killed in our county and towns as the records of the boards of supervisors show. This of course made the non-wolf-killing taxpayers complain, and Cuba (in sadness be it said), enjoyed a reputation for wolf-killing inhabitants second to none in the county. But the town and county survived the wolf-killing period, and the last " wolf's long howl " was heard not far from 1840.

Before the wolves had disappeared the Erie canal had been opened and the great celebration of its successful completion been held. Though re- mote from the line of that great artery of commerce, its effects were soon felt at Cuba, as goods need only be hauled from Rochester and Buffalo. And so improvements and the "clearing up " of farms was stimulated.

During the thirties it became apparent that Cuba possessed men of sa- gacious minds and commanding influence. Turner, in his "History of the Holland Purchase," says that the idea of the feasibility of the construction of the Genesee Valley canal was first publicly suggested at a meeting in

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this town, attended by Gen. C. T. Chamberlain, John Griffin, Samuel Mor- gan. Daniel Raymond, Simeon C. Moore, and others from Allegany and Cat- taraugus counties. In 1836 an act was passed authorizing its construction, and, after 20 years of waiting, the first boat passed the summit level. The Erie railroad (the construction of which was agitated about the same time as the canal enterprise), in the interest of which one of the largest and most enthusiastic of a series of meetings along its proposed route, was held in Cuba in 1839, was completed in 1851, anticipating the completed canal by five years. As a great outlay of work and the expenditure of large sums of money was necessary in the immediate neighborhood of Cuba, this town was largely benefited by the construction of these public works, and proba- bly the best years the town ever experienced were those in which the work was prosecuted.

In 1882 and 1883 the Valley railroad succeeded the canal, and gave the town first-class railroad facilities, contributing materially to its prosperity. The wild lands have been so cleared up and reclaimed that further improve- ments in that direction are not advisable. The village has had a good healthy growth, and is now one of the best business points in the county, and, all things considered, a successful future is assured for both the town and village.

For these few things the town of Cuba is distinguished. As having the highest altitude of land in the county and the highest summit of the W. N. Y. & P. Railway in the county; the oil spring, not only as a natural curiosity, but as being one of the very first places in the county mentioned in the journals of early explorers ; the oil spring reservoir, the largest artificial pond in the state ; the popular Cuba camp-ground ; and for the milk record of D. B. Whipple's wonderful cow, "Pietertje, 2d, " of "112 pounds 7 ounces in one day, 3,289 pounds 11 ounces in 31 consecutive days, and 30,318 pounds 8 ounces in one year of 365 days." Her udder, by "careful measurements, contained 1,292 cubic inches, and she had to stand on a platform of eight inches elevation for the first eight months to be milked."

In 1894 the number of acres assessed on the tax roll was 22,150, and the equalized value per acre was $36.83. The total equalized value of real and personal estate was $1,017,921, and Cuba was then in this respect the third town in the county, which relation it still retains. For 1895 the total valua- tion was $1,175,630.

CHEESE MARKET, CHEESE FACTORIES, ETC .- At present there are in Cuba five cheese factories, North Cuba, Cuba Village, Marsh, Keller Hill, and the Sheldon; probably using the milk from 2,000 cows. The Cuba cheese market has, it is claimed, won the second place on the list of three notable cheese markets, Utica being first and Little Falls third. Three firms are extensively engaged in handling cheese in Cuba, and the integrity of the dealers and superior quality of the cheese of this section have been the main factors in the growth of the trade here. Ackerly, Sill & Co., George H. Harris & Co., and Demcey & Sibley.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

The cold storage warehouse of Ackerly, Sill & Co. was the second one built in the county. It was erected in 1894, and before building some of the best cold storage establishments in the country were closely studied, and the proprietors have combined all the best and latest features in their building. This is 76 by 36 feet in size on the ground. Its storage capacity is about 20,000 boxes. and with a stock of 400 to 500 tons of ice the storage rooms can be kept at a temperature practically the same during the extreme heat of summer and cold of winter. Ackerly, Sill & Co. buy cheese from over an extended section of country; from Almond on the east to Randolph on the west, from Tioga Co., N. Y., from Tioga Co., Pa., the Snyder com- bination, and others. Their sales are made to large jobbers, wholesale deal- ers and retailers, and aggregate from 400,000 to 500,000 boxes annually. Ackerly, Sill & Co. claim for the cheese of this section (and particularly of Allegany) that it sends out " the best white cheese in the world."

To Cuba belongs the honor of producing the largest milk record from a single cow in the world. This was the famous Holstein-Friesian cow, " Pietertje 2d," No. 3272, H. H. B. She was calved April 25, 1877, in Fries- land, Holland; imported by Alonzo Bradley, of Lee, Mass., in 1882; sold to Elizar Smith, of Lee, and purchased and brought to Cuba by Dallas B. Whipple in September, 1874. Here in one year (365 days) she produced 30,318} pounds of milk-a record not broken before nor since. During the making of this record she gave over 112 pounds of milk in one day. This record is supported by affidavits of 12 persons. Mr. Whipple several times refused $10,000 for the cow. She was sold with her family (7 in all) to Hon. J. B. Dutcher & Son, of Pauline, N. Y., at a large figure. Her daughter, "Pietertje 3d," H. F. H. B., produced in 1888 the world's milk record for a four-year-old, her record for 12 months being 24,125 pounds. Her son "Holland King" was the first and only Holstein-Friesian bull whose ser- vices were patronized at $500. Both were bred and owned in Cuba by Mr. Whipple.

"SOLDIER DEAD " buried in the Cuba cemetery, as furnished by Clinton H. Miner, Esq. As only a small part have company and regiment attached, the names only are given.

War of the Rebellion .- Lester Beckwith, Col. C. T. Otis, Charles Gallup, J. O. Gallup, James Carpenter, Harvey Van Horn, Wilfred Bradley, Charles Haskell, Jerome C. Brown, Darius German, Eugene G. Snyder, Robert Or- ton, Alexander Frazier, James Brown, Aaron Gear, Henry Sizer, George Stewart, Stephen T. Bartle, Capt. Amos F. Davis, Myron Brown, George Fowler, Frank Masseson, A. F. Dekay, J. S. Webster, W. H. Walrath, W. H. Root, Frank Page, Charles Coy, Cicero Phelps, John Foot, Judson Cutter, Charles Wilcox, Edward Bradley, Charles Eaton, Harvey Graham, Edward Adams. The following were either buried on battlefields, or from hospitals and prisons: W. D. Setchel, Leeman Sheldon, Albert Gallup, James Presho, and - Fitch.

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War of 1812 .- Joseph Palmer, Ananias Wisner, Wm, Dunkin, Philo Rob- erts, Martin Smith, Jacob Woodard.

Second Baptist Church of Cuba .- Jan. 18, 1834, members of the Friend- ship Baptist church living in Cuba met in covenant meeting and discussed a separate church organization. James Jordan, Abraham Rude and William Dunkin were appointed a committee to request of the Friendship church the dismission of its Cuba members. This was granted, and Feb. 15, 1834, these persons organized the Second Baptist church of Cuba: John Jordan, James Jordan, Abraham Rude, William Dunkin, Benjamin Abels, John Dakin, David Rose, Alden Stone, Jacob Bower, John Shafer, William South- worth, Nathan Southworth, Asa Southworth, Nicholas Everson, Job Anson, William German, Leonard Anson, Rufus Cone, James Ayers, John Carter, Cornelia Jordan, Katherine Jordan, Anna Rude, Patty Dunkin, Cynthia Abels, Amerilas Dakin, Betsey Rose, Amanda Rose, Lucy Bower, Laura Shafer, Elvira Luroy, Amelia Partridge, Caroline Rude, Mary Everson, Charlotte Anson, Arvilla Rude, Almira Keller, Mrs. R. Cone, Mrs. J. Ayers, Julia Jordan, and Harriet Coller. James Jordan and William Dunkin were chosen deacons; John Jordan, clerk; and Abraham Rude, Benjamin Abels and David Rose, trustees. June 4, 1834, a council from the churches in Friendship, Amity, Bolivar, Rushford and Hinsdale convened in Cuba and recognized the new church. The first pastor, Rev. Anson Tuthill, closed his labors August, 1834, and died in October. Rev. J. G. L. Haskins then became pastor until December, 1836. He later became a Presbyterian. The third pastor was Rev. Leonard Anson, from April, 1837, to January, 1840. During his pastorate, in 1838, the first meetinghouse was built. Mr. Anson contributed $100 toward the edifice and Gen. C. T. Chamberlain gave the lot. Gen. Chamberlain, Joseph Palmer and Stephen Smith gave $100 each. Abraham Rude had charge of building the house. The bell weighed 4663 pounds and was of unusual excellence. The fourth pastor, Rev. B. F. Robins came in April, 1840, and remained until Jan. 1, 1845. He received by baptism 59 and by letter 58 members. At this time the church was di- vided by the Millerite excitement. The pastor and many of the members were so carried away with it that they sat up one Monday night until 2 o'clock anxiously awaiting the end of the world. Throughout the village the excitement was equally intense. Rev. Mr. Robins embraced Sabbata- rian views and in 1848 united with the Seventh-day Baptist church of Nile. "After a few years he was excommunicated for heresy in advocating the speedy coming of Christ, the sleep of the dead, materialism and the annihil- ation of the wicked." The next pastor, Rev. Daniel M. Root, assumed charge early in 1845 and stayed one year. This year was mainly occupied with disciplinary measures consequent upon the Millerite craze, and 45 were dropped from the church lists, but afterwards most of them returned. The sixth pastor was Rev. O. W. Gibbs, from May, 1846, until May, 1849. He was ordained at Cuba, July 19, 1846. Rev. Z. Smith came in 1849 and con- tinued until 1852, and received 39 by baptism and 21 by letter. In 1850 the

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parsonage, costing $650, was built, the site being given by Gen. C. T. Cham- berlain. The eighth pastor was Rev. A. T. Cole, from May, 1852, to May, 1863. During eleven years 112 persons were added to the church by bap- tism and 75 by letter. 1854 and 1858 were years of especial revival interest. In 1860-61 the edifice was repaired, the pulpit removed from between the doors to the opposite end of the house, the seats turned about, the audience room enlarged, and a lecture room built on, at a cost of $2,300. At the close of Rev. Mr. Cole's pastorate the church numbered over 180 members. The next pastor, Rev. Ira W. Simpson, continued about one year. Rev. Harvey H. Stockton began in May, 1864, and remained until his death, March 2, 1866. The eleventh pastor, Rev. S. W. Titus, began in 1866, continued 15 months, added 39 by baptism and 59 by letter. Rev. W. C. Learned was pastor from Oct. 1, 1867, and continued a year and a half. The next pastor was Rev. Isaac C. Seely, from 1869 until his death, Dec. 22, 1874. In 1870 the meetinghouse was burned and the present brick edifice erected. A fine organ was purchased in 1874. In the erection of this building Mr. Seely was tireless in efforts to bring it to completion and led the movement to se- cure the organ, but was privileged to preach only once after it was ready for use. The pastorate of Rev. V. A. Sage began in April, 1875, and closed Jan. 1, 1887. In May, 1892, at their annual meeting the trustees voted to change the corporate name of the church to the "First Baptist Church of Cuba," but so far no legal steps have been taken to carry out this action. Since, the pastors have been in succession, Rev. T. M. Davis, 1887-89; Rev. E. L. Scott, 1889-91; Rev. D. H. Denison, 1891-96. There are 247 members in this church and a Sunday school of 178 members. In 1873 Daniel B. Sill was chosen superintendent and re-elected each year until 1885, when Prof. W. H. Kinney assumed the office. He was succeeded by the present super- intendent, Robert Bowen. Connected with the church are the senior and junior societies of Y. P. S. C. E., Woman's Home and Foreign Mission Cir- cle, The Northern Lights (the young woman's mission circle), and the Ladies' Aid Society.

CHRIST CHURCH (EPISCOPAL) .- The first Episcopal services in Cuba were held in the Presbyterian church in 1839 by Rev. Mr. Bruce, who offi- ciated occasionally for several years after. The first baptism into this church was that of Mrs. Wealthy Ann Maxson, wife of Dr. Stephen Max- son, January 29, 1843. In the summer of 1843 W. H. DeLancy, D. D., bishop of the diocese, held service, preached and made an effort to unite Rushford and Cuba in one parish. Subsequently Rev. Thomas Morris of Ellicottville occasionally held services, still using the Presbyterian house of worship. The first communicant who resided in Cuba was Mrs. Sarah R. Chamber- lain, wife of Gen. Calvin T. Chamberlain, in 1846. In 1852 Noah P. Love- ridge, the first male communicant arrived. In 1852 Rev. Mr. Wilson of Olean began holding services in the Methodist church once in two weeks, which was continued for some years. At this time a parish, "Christ's Church Parish of Cuba," was organized. Calvin T. Chamberlain and An-

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son Stewart were wardens; Rufus L. Colwell, Dr. Stephen Maxson, D. A. Kirkpatrick, Noah P. Loveridge, Marshall B. Champlain, Stephen L. David- son and Samuel M. Russell vestrymen. At a later period meetings were held in school rooms, halls and offices, as convenience seemed to dictate, and when no clergyman was present, Noah P. Loveridge read sermons. Mrs. Ann Champlain was the first person confirmed from this parish, in Olean, May 21, 1854. Rev. Moses E. Wilson resigned the rectorship of Olean and Cuba parishes at Easter, 1855, and was succeeded by Rev. Charles E. Beardsley who officiated every third Sunday till Easter, 1859. A chapel was erected in 1856-57 and occupied the latter year, continuing to be their place of worship till it was burned in 1871. Rev. John A. Bowman took charge of the parish in 1859, alternating with Wellsville. From 1860 to 1865, Rev. John Dobyns was rector three years and services were continued by lay reading. From 1865 to 1867 Rev. J. H. Waterbury had charge. Rev. S. S. Lewis officiated from 1867 to 1870, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Bell, under whose rectorship the present church edifice was erected, the cornerstone being laid May 30, 1871, by Rev. D. E. Loveridge of Norwich, N. Y. The architect was Col. C. N. Otis. The building is of brick, seats 300 people, and together with the lot, furniture and appointments is worth $15,000. Since and including 1871, the rectors have been Rev. E. J. Cooke. Rev. J. W. Greenwood, Rev. J. Sidney Kent, Rev. J. E. Goodhue, Rev. W. W. Rufter, and Rev. F. N. Bouck. The present officers are, E. D. Loveridge, senior warden; Geo. H. Brooks, junior warden; A. J. Phillips, treasurer. Hon. E. D. Loveridge is superintendent of the Sabbath school of 40 members.

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A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 112

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