A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 67

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 67

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 (link on the Part 1 page).

David McGibeny born in Hebron, N. Y., married Lavinia Cooper. Mr. McGibeny located in West Almond in 1835 and attended the first town meeting. He bought 100 acres of land which he cleared. Of his 7 children, 3 sons died in the Civil War, the others, 2 daughters and 2 sons, are residents of the county.

Soldiers .- Many of our citizens who served in the Civil War are credited to other towns and we can find no record of the names of those who went from West Almond. These few names secured from the best attainable sources are inaccurate, inadequate and incomplete. 86th N. Y., Alamanzo and Alexander L. Litchard; 1st N. Y. Dragoons, Co. A, Lyman R. Hanks; Co. C, Hector A. Arnold; Co. H. Wilbur F. McGibeny, George Dean, Henry P. Green, Henry H. McGibeny, Henry Sawyer, Clayton L. Hurd, Theodore Ostrander; 136th N. Y., Co. E, William H. Safford: 189th N. Y .. Co. C, William J. Reniff: 188th N. Y., Joel R. Green, fifer. Let it be known however that West Almond showed as patriotic and self-denying a spirit in the terrible days of war as any of her sister towns.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

GRANGER. CHAPTER XLVI.

BY JOHN S. MINARD.

G RANGER is the central northern town of the county. It contains 20,450 acres and was originally a part of the Morris Reserve. it formed a part of the town of Leicester, then of Angelica, from Feb. 25, 1805 to March 11, 1808, then until March 8, 1827, it formed a part of Nunda. From 1827 to April 18. 1838, it was a part of Grove, was then set off from Grove, as West Grove, re- taining that name until March 6, 1839, then changed to Granger. A meet- ing was held at Short Tract at which a change of name was considered, and Perth Amboy and Pine Grove were spoken of but at the suggestion of Wm. Van Nostrand, it was named for Francis Granger, of Canandaigua, then post- master general. Its territory is made up of the southeast part of the Cot- tringer Tract, lots 236 to 279 inclusive, and such part of the Church Tract, as was called T 6, excepting that part of lot 1, which lies west of the Genesee river. Its population was greatest in 1860 when it had 1,257, in 1870, it was 1,050; in 1880, 1,086; in 1890, 954, in 1892, 909. It is bounded on the north by the town of Portage, Liv. Co., east by Grove, south by Allen, and west by Hume, the Genesee river forming more than half of its western boundary. Its waters are all tributary to the Genesee, mostly finding their way to the river through Rush creek, the only stream in the town which has a name. The Indians called it Shonnety-ye, a name of no apparent particular local significance nor can I find it, in what purports to be a list of " Indian names in New York." Who gave the name of Rush creek is not known. Elisha Johnson calls it so in his field notes in 1807, as does Van Campen in 1810. The name probably came from the luxuriant growth of rushes in the stream. In times of heavy rainfall its waters come rushing down the valley brooking no delay. It is then pre-eminently Rush creek.

"Short Tract," the name applied to a large part of the town, particularly to the territory through which the main central road runs from north to south, comes from Wm. Short the mortgagee and later owner of a part of the Church Tract. This is also the name of the postoffice on the Short Tract road, in the south part of the town. Granger postoffice is on the same road in the north part of the town, while East Granger is on the State Road in the east part of the town.

The surface of Granger is generally a hilly upland, thrown into ridges conforming to the course of Rush creek, which has its source in the north- east part of the town, and pursues a southwest course to a point about a mile and a half east of the southwest corner, where it enters Allen. Returning in a northwest direction it cuts off a small part of the southwest lot, and enters Hume. These ridges are transversely, though quite irregularly cut

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up by the tributaries of Rush creek and the river, which have worn deep gorges or ravines, making a marked topographical feature of the town. Scarce any flats exist along the river which is bordered by abrupt hills which rise to heights in some places of from 400 to 600 feet.

The part of the town embraced in the Cottringer Tract was surveyed into lots in 1807 by Elisha Johnson, afterward mayor of Rochester, and the land of the Church Tract was subdivided in 1810 by Van Campen. Neither make mention of finding squatters or Indian huts or villages in the territory. Most of Granger was originally covered with a good quality of pine, while hemlock in large quantities was found in some parts. Oak, chestnut, beech, and maple were the other prevailing timbers. It is pre-eminently an inland town, no other road than the highway ever having been constructed within its limits. Its soil upon the hills is a clayey loam, and in the valley it is quite gravelly. It is better adapted to grazing than to crops, and the prevailing industry is dairying. It is especially adapted to sheep husbandry, and when the price of wool warrants it, large numbers of sheep are kept. No saloon or hotel has existence in town nor has had for some years past. Its people as a rule are industrious, thrifty, happy and contented.

The first settlement was made on the Short Tract in February, 1816, by Reuben Smith, his sons, Wilcox and Isaac, his sons-in-law, Rufus Trumbull and James McCoon, a Mr. Ellis from Vermont, and Elias Smith from Otsego county in the south part of the town, Elias Smith locating where O. A. Fuller now lives. The late Hiram Smith stated that his father, Darling Smith, also from Otsego county, came about 1816 took a contract for 50 acres in the northeast part, building his own house, and sleeping in it the first night after it was up. For a time his nearest neighbor on the north was three miles distant, and on the south seven. Ira Hopper from Steuben settled in the south part about 1816, and Wm. White from New England settled near the center in 1818.

In March, 1817, Olive Smith, the first white child in town was born. As to the first death in town one account states that Olive Linee was the first one to die, in 1817. According to Willian Van Nostrand a negro named Jaques was the first to die, (in 1817). He was buried on lot 20. and two years later re-interred in a burial ground near by. The first marriage was in the spring of 1821, Isaac Hatch and Clarissa Pratt being the parties.

About 1818 Solomon Rathbun of Saratoga county, made an exploration of Western New York and passed through the Church Tract. He was impressed with the magnificent growth of pine near the Short Tract Road. His de- scription of the country and its advantages encouraged Isaac Van Nostrand to visit the Church Tract in 1819. He purchased 290 acres of lot 20, and erected a log cabin, and lived alone until he could make a home for his fam- ily. During the summer he built the first sawmill in Granger, nearly a mile west of the Short Tract Road. He went seven miles to procure help to raise it, and some of the Caneadea Indians assisted. The timbers were heavy- and in raising one of the " bents, " some faint-hearted ones came near releas,

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

ing their hold to the peril of all their lives. Van Nostrand seized a handspike and threatened direst vengeance on any one that did not do his utmost. Giv- ing thundering command, "He-o-heave," all lifted with a will and up went the bent into place. William Moore and Isaac Hatch were associated with Van Nostrand in building the mill which was soon running. Logs were cut and sawed into lumber out of which the next year Van Nostrand built the first framed house in the town, in which he installed his wife and five chil- dren, he returning to Milton to bring them. His son Luzon had come the May before. They left Milton in August and were a week on the road.

Isaac Hatch and Mr. Van Nostrand, both good mechanics, were asso- ciated in building many of the early framed houses. For some time Mr. Van Nostrand had the only time piece and it was arranged that he should blow upon a conch shell at four o'clock in the morning, at noon, and at nine o'clock P. M. It has been claimed that that conch shell has been heard seven miles. It is now the property of Luzon Van Nostrand. Isaac Van Nostrand was a leading spirit with great influence among the settlers. He was the town's first supervisor, had been supervisor of Grove before the erection of Granger, and was foremost in all public enterprises.

Thomas Worden from Massachusetts, and Samuel Horton from Canan- daigua made a settlement in the central part about 1819-20, also Oliver Smith. Charles Abbott purchased land on lot 37. James Osman and Jona- than Allen on lot 28. John Wheeler from Vermont about 1819 settled on lot 247, on the river. He came to be prominent in town and county politics, served several terms as supervisor, was long justice of the peace and justice of sessions, was member of assembly, and thoroughly identified and conver- sant with public affairs. Curtis Coe and John Broughton from Cayuga county settled in the northeast part on the State Road. Joel Pratt and Ebe- nezer Balch came from White Hall, Washington county, and settled near Short Tract on lot 21 in 1819.

The first school meeting was held May 21, 1819, when it was resolved to build a schoolhouse of logs, 22 feet long (how wide?) it to be ready for use by June 20, 1819. The first school was taught by Miss Arzivilla Williams the same season. Isaac Van Ostrand and Elias Smith were foremost in this work. Elias Smith kept the first inn at Short Tract in 1819. Also the first store at the same place the next year. This pioneer inn was a log structure. The venerable Luzon Van Ostrand of Allen is authority for many statements here recorded. Elias Smith bought many shingles at 50 cents per thousand and paid in whiskey. He would allow Coan Horton only three shillings for one bunch. This so offended Horton that he took them out in the road, broke them open and burned them. Sometime in the twenties Mr. Patterson lost a little girl, who wandered too far into the woods. The news spread rapidly and everybody turned out to hunt for her. The understanding was that a gun should be fired or a horn blown when the child was found, and that no one should fire, not even at a deer. The hunt was prosecuted all night and

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next day she was found. Anxiety gave way to great rejoicing, guns were fired. horns blown and bells rung.

Hunt had a store and ashery at Hunt's Hollow. Pete Holliday took a bag of ashes there on his back, and asked if they had any shilling pocket knives? He was answered "Yes." "How much do you ask for them?" says Pete.

In an early year the people arranged for a Fourth of July celebration. Jehial Smith wanted to go with his " girl, " and cut four cords of " four-foot " wood for 50 cents, got the money and went and took his girl too! Think of that. young men of to-day, when you are repining and "taking on " over your hard lot! You haven't taken the first lesson in hard times.

In 1820 Ephraim Bullock, a young cooper from Vermont, came and was the first one in town. He was long and favorably known. He married Electa White in 1821 (the second marriage of the town), and in 1822 bought quite a tract of land on lot 20, nearly all of which he cleared. He later traded lands with Isaac Van Ostrand.

John Bellows, Philetus Reynolds and Charles Mills settled in the south- eastern part in 1820 as did Rufus Shepard and Darius Scoville, on the State Road in the eastern part. Before the close of 1820 Willard Moore from Sara- toga county settled on lot 20. Mr. Moore and Joel Pratt built the first framed barns. In 1822 Samuel Moses from Lima, N. Y., settled in the northeastern part. Abner Comstock came in January, 1823, and bought 40 acres of land, which he cleared. and put up a log house. He did his full share in the de- velopment of this section. He cut seven miles of the road to Nunda, and his name often appears in the town records. Enos Baldwin, who died in 1876, is well remembered by Granger people. He came from Mt. Morris in 1823 and took up a farm at Short Tract, where he ever after resided. He was for some years a captain in the militia, was justice 32 years and held various offices. His son, G. W. Baldwin. is a well-known resident. Samuel C., son of John C. Jones, settled on the State Road at an early day. He was quite prominent in town affairs. During 1823 Ira Parker, from Scipio, Cayuga county, settled on the old state road, making an opening and erecting a log house. Manning Hardy located on lot 264 in January, 1823, and during the same year Solomon Crofoot, Peleg Sweet and Samuel Hurd settled on lot 13, and Stephen Spencer made a beginning in the southeast part of the town. This year also Daniel Moses settled on lot 263 on the old Church road, taking up 50 acres, erecting the regulation log cabin, to which he soon brought his family. He came from Lima, Livingston Co., and attained and retained un- til his death in 1867, considerable prominence in the town. His sons, Wash- ington and Aziza, have been quite conspicuous in town and county affairs.

The first framed schoolhouse was put up in 1824 by Isaac Van Nostrand, Isaac Hatch, Elias Smith, and others. It occupied substantially the same site as the present very creditable structure on the Short Tract road. Enoch Holliday and his family (Harlow Holliday, his son, is still living in the town) made their advent into Granger in 1826. first buying of Norman Can-

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

field 50 acres on Oak Hill. Marmaduke Aldrich, Horace Doane, Salmon Remington and Abraham Lampman settled here from 1826 to 1829. Among the settlers of 1830 were James Wilcox, William L. Weaver, William Ralph, John Bennett and William Pitt.

Mr. Pitt came from England, purchased 140 acres, made a pleasant home, and became a leading citizen, at various times being assessor, town clerk and highway commissioner. His wife died in 1873. One of their ten children, Prof. Wm. H. Pitt, has attained fame as a scientist. Lieut. Geo. W. Pitt of the 85th N. Y., and John S. Pitt of the 104th N. Y., were their sons.

Our prominent citizen, William Weaver, now living in Angelica, is a son of William L. Weaver above mentioned.

Mr. Jesse Bennett, late of Hume, where he is now justice of the peace, is a son of John Bennett. the pioneer.

Dr. Reuben H. Smith from New Jersey, settled in the north part of the town in 1828. In addition to his medical practice, he practiced surveying for several years. His son, Dr. Wm. M. Smith, became very prominent. (See page 219.) His grandson, Frank S. Smith, son of Dr. Wm. M., is now a reputable member of the New York City bar. (See page 285.)

In 1831 William and Henry Bennett, from England, accompanied by their families, took up 240 acres, and worked about the neighborhood until they had paid for it.

Montgomery Thorp was early a settler at the Short Tract. He reared a family of much more than ordinary ability and accomplishments. Simeon M. became state superintendent of public instruction of Kansas. He was a prominent "Free State " and Union man, and was shot dead in his own door yard in one of the famous Quantrell raids. He was then state senator. Capt. Alexander K., another son, an Union officer, was shot in the battle of Winchester. His remains were interred in the cemetery at Short Tract. Thomas J., another son, had just graduated from Union College when the war broke out. He helped organize the 85th New York and was commis- sioned captain of Co. E. He was wounded at Fair Oaks but gallantly en- dured the sufferings of the great Seven Days historic retreat. He was com- missioned lieutenant-colonel of the 130th N. Y. (1st N. Y. Dragoons) while on furlough. He achieved high distinction with that regiment, and was promoted colonel March 1, 1865. After the war he was prominent in educa- tional matters, and is now a resident of Oregon.

Gen. Thorp erected an elegant " soldiers' monument " in Granger. This is a beautiful shaft of granite 25 feet high, on which is inscribed the honorable record of his family and immediate relatives, and also the names of Granger's other heroes of the Civil War. One side of the monument is dedicated to "The brave soldiers of Granger who fell for the Union." Their names are: G. H. Cole, F. M. Cook, Wm. Hall, C. P. Emery, Wm. Davis, Wm. Huson, E. S. Drury, N. J. Smith, M. W. Snider, G. T. Warden, G. W. Abbott, M. D. Luther, J. D. Weaver, I. R. Weaver, E. M. Parker, J. M. Parker, Wm. Wallace, Wm. Whittle, John Parks, J. H. Bennett, Wm. Bentley,

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Geo. Shepard, John Emmons, Geo. Sibbald, Jos. Bentley, Eber Bullock, Richard Grove, Daniel Chilson, Luther Moses, Pembroke Berry, Charles Williams, Darius Snider, Robert T. Lockwood, David Lockwood, Attorney Smith, I. N. Van Nostrand, Aaron Van Nostrand. On the north side appears "Gen. Thos. J. Thorp, son of M. Thorp, born 1833, died - Mandana C. wife of T. J. Thorp, born 1843, -. Simeon A. son, born 1867. Emma L. died 1870. Anna, daughter, born 1871." On the south side appears: "Lynes Thorp, a Patriot soldier of 1776. Montgomery Thorp, son of the Patriot, born at Bristol, Conn., 1796 .* Wm. Jones a Patriot soldier of 1776. John C. Jones, son of the Patriot, born 1780, died 1827. Bethiah, wife of Mont- gomery Thorp, and daughter of John C. Jones, born 1807. Louisa Thorp, born 1833, died 1836. Ann Thorp, born 1842, died 1847." The only expense to the town or friends of the honored dead was that of carving the inscription.

On what is known as " Snyder Hill," a widow by the name of Swan was the first settler early in the thirties. Ezra Bottsford, Benjamin and Rudolph Snyder, Storey Curtis and Azariah Townsend were early settlers, also Hiram Tuttle at a later period. After there was quite a settlement on the Short Tract, the territory west of it to the river in Hume was an unbroken wilderness. The names given to (and still retained by) the different sec- tions or settlements were State Road, Short Tract, Weaver Settlement, Horton Hill and Snyder Hill.

In 1834 Luzon and Lewis Van Nostrand, William Morse and John White built a gristmill on lot 35. Two " run " of stone, 24 inches in diameter, were put in. Afterward a "four-foot run " obtained at Auburn was added. A man was hired to run the mill, and Luzon learned of him and afterward ran it. This mill was put up before any roads were laid out in its immediate vicinity. Roads were soon opened, and the mill for some years was quite a central place, but it was abandoned some thirty years ago and nothing but ruins mark the spot where it stood. There is no gristmill in the town now. Calvin B. Lawrence put in the first steam sawmill in town on either lot 257 or 258 of the Cottringer Tract sometime in the forties.

The settlement of Granger was made between 1816 and 1840, and since the latter date, but little land has been cleared. The wooded lands should not be further encroached upon, but carefully preserved. The pressing need of the pioneer was cleared ground upon which to raise crops for the subsistence of his family and stock, and so clearing land was the principal business of the settlers. The ashes were sold or worked up into " black salts," which found a ready market, and brought in about the only money that came into town for the first few years.

Braiding palm-leaf hats was an industry which some of the wives and daughters of the settlers from 1830 to 1850 engaged in. Merchants would bring in a stock of palm leaves, and sell them to the hat braiders (and some

* Died recently in Michigan.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

very good hats they made), they at the same time purchased groceries and such other articles as were needed in the plainly furnished houses.

The first cheese factory was built by John Barnes. It was in the south part of the town on the cross road between the Short Tract and State Road. After a few years it was abandoned. At present there are two cheese factories in town, one on the Short Tract, owned by Young & Young of Fill- more, the other on the State Road in the northeast part of the town, owned by Charles and Ed. Newsbickle. There are five blacksmith shops run respectively by Lawrence Fletcher, Charles White, Fred Bennett, Alfred Bennett, and Lewis Wright, all strung along on the Short Tract road.

Dr. Reuben H. Smith, the first physician, lived on Horton Hill. He was succeeded by his son Dr. Wm. M., followed by Drs. Fenno, Miller, Hunger- ford, A. W. Smith and C. G. Anderson. At present the physicians are Drs. Geo. P. St. John and C. A. Doolittle. Capt. Isaac Van Nostrand owned a "turnkey " and extracted teeth for the settlers even before there was a physician.

Elias Smith, the first merchant, also kept an inn. It is supposed that both inn and store were in the same building which was lately the residence of O. A. Fuller. Joseph Platt, the second merchant, in connection with his store carried on an extensive lumber business. He afterward removed to Angelica. Geo. Ayrault, now of Silver Springs, Jesse Bennett, now at Rossburg, Lowell & Saxton, A. Butler, Wm. Welstead, J. R. Collister. John Wilcox and Robt. Bennett have kept stores at the Short Tract. The only store ever kept on Horton Hill was owned by the Atwood brothers. Philip and Freeman. George and Fred Reynold have carried on the harness trade, while Mr. Parsons, Charles Aldrich, and Lowell & Augustine have dealt in flour and feed.

Granger had the credit of having a prominent station on the famous "underground railroad " of the old anti-slavery days, when many fugitives bound for Canada made their way through this section. Rev. A. Richmond was said to be the agent. John Broughton and Dr. Reuben H. Smith were early surveyers, John Walbridge a later one. John Backus was the first postmaster at "Church Tract " office located on the State Road. Elias Smith was the first postmaster at Short Tract, about 1824. "Hickory Swale " was an early postoffice in the north part of the town. It was moved further south and changed to Granger. Previous to the establishment of these offices Nunda and Mt. Morris offices supplied the people.

From the Town Records .- At the first town meeting (March 5, 1839) these officers were elected : Isaac Van Nostrand, supervisor; Samuel C. Jones, town clerk; John L. Johnson, collector; Rufus Shepard, William Pitt and Salmon Remington, assessors; Moses White and Hosea Haskins, overseers of the poor; Rudolph Snider, Orville Hitchings and William L. Weaver, com- missioners of highways; Thomas Kinne, Ephraim Bullock and Reuben H. Smith, commissioners of common schools ; P. B. Richmond, Luzon Van Nostrand and Silas Olney, inspectors of schools; John L. Johnson, Forbes

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H. Oliver and John Utter, constables. It was voted to raise $20 for high- ways. "to pay a bounty of $10 for old, and $5 for young wolves,* 50 cents for old and 25 cents for young foxes, and 50 cents for wildcats killed by the in- habitants of the town." From this it seems that neither wolves nor wild- cats had disappeared as late as 1839. In 1841 no road money was appropri- ated. In 1843 a bounty of one shilling on crows was voted. In 1844 it was voted to raise no school money, but that all penalties and forfeitures and money in supervisor's hands should be devoted to schools. In 1846 bounty on foxes and crows was removed, and cattle and sheep made free common- ers. At this town meeting 92 voted for license and 103 for no license.

When cattle and sheep were free commoners, stock was allowed to run at large, and sheep were marked by cutting and slitting their ears in vari- ous ways, and a record made in a book kept by the town clerk. The first ear mark recorded was that of Enos Baldwin. March 12. 1839, and the last Frederick Smith's, June 21. 1858.

During the Civil War special town meetings became necessary. One was held March 19. 1864, when it was voted "to pay a bounty of $300 to those soldiers in the 85th and 104th regiments who re-enlist, and the same for volunteers." During the pendency of a draft in 1864 a special town meeting was held August 9th, and it was voted that "the town auditors be authorized to fill the quota on the best terms obtainable." Jan. 10, 1865, at another special town meeting it was voted to pay $600 for one year, $700 for two years, and $800 for three years' men to fill the town quota. This was the last special town meeting called to consider war matters. The town of Granger did well her part in that sanguinary struggle. Many of her noble sons gave up their lives that the government might survive, and no town in the county has a more honorable record or furnished better soldiers.

Religion .- The first religious services were conducted at the house of Elias Smith by Rev. Mr. Hill. The Methodist Episcopal society was organ- ized in 1826 by the first pastor. Meetings were held in private houses and the schoolhouse. The first church edifice was erected in 1841. and in 1863, under the labors of Rev. Mr. Bush, it was refitted and enlarged to seat 300 people. In 1877, under Rev. J. C. Stephens, it was again enlarged. The property is worth about $6,000. The ministers have been: Rev. Deway, William Gage, G. Gould, Asa Orcult, Henry Wisner, Asa Story, Mr. Brun- son, John Watson, Chandler Wheeler, Joseph Pearsall. Mr. Pickard, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Anderson, A. Maker, William Haskell, Mr. Wright, Mr. Cor- nels, C. Gool. Milo Scott, Ralph Clapp, L. L. Rogers, Stephen Brown, E. Huntington, James Duncan, Mr. Bush, W. N. Shulp, F. M. Smith, P. D. Clark, V. Brownell, J. B. Peck, S. D. Pickett. A. H. Maryot, John Spinks, R. F. Kay, T. J. O. Wooden, J. C. Stephens, Isaac Harris, G. S. Watson, A. W. Staple, H. L. Newton, W. Magavern, Cornelius Dillenbeck, C. L. Fish, N.

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A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 67

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