A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 87

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 87

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

until 1894. He had 6 children, Emily (Mrs. Theodore Gardiner) dec., Jennie A. (Mrs. Charles Stillman), Fred S. (a professor in Alfred University), R. Artamisia and two who died in infancy.

Thomas Place, son of Rodman, a native of Alfred, married Elizabeth, daughter of Enos Burdick, and in 1858 established the first undertaking establishment of the town, and for some time made coffins. He was a man of extensive acquaintance and conducted trade until his death in 1885, when his son, Phil S. Place, succeeded him and now conducts the business. P. S. Place married Margaret M, daughter of Q. D. Green of Adams Center, Jefferson county.

Jeremiah Reading, a cooper, settled early in Independence where he died in 1836. His son, Jeremiah K. Reading, born in Independence in 1836, enlisted in July, 1861, in Co. I, 27th N. Y. Inf., and was discharged May 31, 1863. Returning to Independence he married Ruth, daughter of Elias Smith of Alfred. In 1882 he removed to Alfred where he is in trade as a grocer. He has been justice of the peace nine years, and was postmaster under President Harrison. Mr. Reading was taken prisoner at the first battle of Bull Run, carried to Richmond, New Orleans and then to Salisbury, N. C .. and suffered the privations of rebel captivity 10 months and 10 days. He is a member of B. Frank Maxson Post, G. A. R.

Ezekiel Saunders, son of Clark and grandson of Peleg, was born in Westerly, R. I., April I, 1801. In 1826, he emigrated to Alfred, took up 75 acres, cleared and cultivated his land, made his home. His wife was Clarissa, a daughter of Jonathan Lanphear. Of their 7 children, 6 attained maturity. Mr. Saunders was a member of the Seventh-day Baptist church, aud a man much respected by his neighbors. He died Oct. 26, 1878, his wife Dec. 19, 1873. Henry Saunders, son of Ezekiel and Clarissa (Lanphear) Saunders, was born Sept. 5, 1844. He mar- ried Laura, daughter of Sylvester and Lura (VanNess) Compton of Wirt, and settled on the homestead where he is a farmer. His children are Clarissa A., Clark E., Charles L., Marion H., S. May and Wilson S.

George Sherman, son of Samuel, was born in Norway, N. Y., Oct. 15, 1793. He married Arta M. Wright. They had 6 children. Mrs. Sherman died in April, 1831. His second wife was Anna Potter, whom he married in 1833. In 1836 he moved to Alfred and located on lot 30. He was a farmer, a respected member of the Seventh-day Baptist church, and was a soldier of the War of 1812. He died May 11, 1869, his wife died June 7, 1877. Clark Sherman, son of George, was born June 12, 1825. He married Phebe, daughter of Rodman and Sally (Stillman) Place, and settled on the farm where he now resides. They have 2 children, George C. and Harley P. Mr. Sherman was supervisor of the town in 1870 and '71 and road commissioner several years. George C. Sherman, son of Clark and Phebe (Place) Sherman, was born May 19, 1854. He married, Sept. 25, 1878, Martha, daughter of Manning and Emeline (Smith) Liver- more. The Livermore family was a noted one in early New England days. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman have six children: Ethel E., David C., Susan B., Thomas P., Emma A., and Harley B. Mr. Sherman was formerly engaged in the machine business, but in 1893 Mrs. Sherman purchased a paper box plant and is now manufacturing paper boxes under the name of M. L. Sherman. Mr. Sherman is now managing the business for her. Their home and the plant are near Alfred Station.

Phineas K. Shaw, son of Anthony, came from Stephentown, N. Y., his native place, in 1824 or '5 and purchased 66 acres of land on the farm now the property of his son Milo. He then brought his widowed mother, and, with his brother John R., made his home in Alfred for life. He was a carpenter as well as a farmer, and was industrious and frugal. holding the offices of constable and collector, and assessor for years. Both he and his wife, Melissa, daughter of Rev. Spencer Sweet, an early settler, were active members of the Seventh-day Baptist church. They had II children. Their son Milo married Alzina, daughter of Daniel Coon, of West Ed- meston, Otsego Co., and succeeded his father in the possession of the homestead. He has been a successful farmer, assessor for three years, justice of the peace for eight years, and he and his wife are members of the Second Alfred Seventh-day Baptist church. Phineas A. Shaw, son of Phineas K., was born May 3, 1835. He was a soldier of the Civil War, enlisting May 10, 1861, in Co. E, 5th Wis. Inf., and was in several engagements with the Army of the Potomac, among them Williamsburg, McClellan's Seven Days' Fight, etc. From that time he was team- ster of the ambulance corps until the spring of 1864 when he took his gun and joined his com- pany again. He was discharged at Madison, Wis., July 30, 1864, returned to Alfred, in August married Fanny R., daughter of Joseph Stillman, of Alfred, and located in Almond. In 1894 he returned to Alfred.

David Stillman was born in Westerly, R. I., May 30, 1787. His father, Joseph Stillman, was a grandson of George Stillman, who came from England to Hadley, Mass., in 1701. His mother was Elizabeth Maxson. His parents removed to Petersburg, N. Y., when he was about nine years old. He married, July 1, 1809, Lillis, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Tanner) Rose. They came to Alfred in the spring of 1818 with three children and Peter Rose, Mrs. Stillman's brother, with his family. Their conveyance was a wagon of the "prairie

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schooner " style drawn by two pairs of oxen. A horse was purchased on the road to lead the team. Their cow was tied behind the wagon. They were a month on the journey, every day but one it rained or snowed. Stillman had previously brought a load of goods and stored them with his brother Silas Stillman, and purchased the improvements of John Teater on lot 14, on which he built a house the same season, the oldest house, with one possible exception, now standing in town, and now occupied by his daughter, Amanda Stillman, and his grandson, Charles Stillman, and where he died April 27, 1872. He took an active interest in public, edu- cational and church affairs, and was one of the first farmers to do his haying without liquor. He held the office of supervisor six years besides other minor town offices; was one of the original projectors of Alfred Academy, which was merged in Alfred University, and was the first president of its board of trustees. His children were: Lavinia, who married David R. Potter and died in Alfred, Dec. 19, 1893; Amanda, Orra, who died at Westerly, R. I., April 22, 1890, and David R., who was born in Alfred, Dec. 15, 1822, and lives on the home farm within speaking distance of the place of his birth, the old farm residence. He married Martha M., daughter of Isaiah W. and Betsey Bassett Green, of Independence.

They have four children : Charles, Rogers, Lillis E. and Martha R. He is extensively known, having been for 20 years connected with the board of supervisors of the county, 7 years as representative of the town, 3 years as assistant clerk, and 10 years as clerk of the board. He was business manager of the publishing house at Alfred from its establishment in June, 1872, to the end of the year 1882. He was appointed notary public by Gov. R. E. Fenton in 1866, and has held the position con- tinuously to the present time.

Charles Stillman, oldest son of David R. and Martha (Green) Stillman, was born at the old Stillman homestead Aug. 17, 1851. He worked on his father's farm, attending school in the fall and winter, first at the district school and later at Alfred University, until the winter of 1870-71, when he taught school winters most of the years up to 1882. From 1872 until 1883 he worked his father's homestead, then was in the store of E. S. Bliss at Richburg for one year. He was then employed in the County Clerk's office at Belmont about 5 years. January 1, 1890, he purchased the Stillman homestead in Alfred and resides there. December 2, 1874, he married Jennie A., daughter of Alvin and Ruth (Sherman) Place of Nile. They have three daughters, Vida Rose, Ruth and Elizabeth. From 1874 to 1880 he was assistant clerk of the board of supervisors of the county, and in 1881 he was elected clerk of the board which posi- tion he still holds. He is one of the justices of the peace of Alfred.

Rowland P. Thomas, son of Archibald, born in Petersburg, N. Y., came in 1821, and took up 50 acres on which he built a frame house and made his home. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, married Prudence Potter. Six of their nine children attained maturity. He died in 1874, his wife Dec. 14, 1886. Rowland A. Thomas, son of Rowland P., was born July 26, 1819. He married Ann Crandall, daughter of Isaiah, of Almond, in 1841, and settled on the farm now owned by J. and C. C. Champlin, where he conducted farming operations until 1880, when he sold the place. In 1876 he moved to Alfred Centre where he resides. He has been assessor 6 years, poormaster 5 years, and trustee of Alfred University 33 years. His six children were Wm. G., who enlisted in Co. H, 130th N. Y. Inf. in 1862, and died of disease in camp July II, 1864; Sarah M. (Mrs. H. D. Eaton), Lorenzo C., Alma E. (Mrs. Oliver Pierce), Lura A. (Mrs. Edward Beebe), Minnie M. (Mrs. E. E. Beckwith).

Daniel G. Vincent, son of Joshua [see page 495], was born in Berlin, N. Y. Joshua Vin- cent, one of the settlers of 1822, was a native of Rhode Island. After coming to Alfred he was in partnership with Judge Crandall in the manufacture of pails. He was supervisor several years, and justice of the peace. He died in 1873. Daniel G. Vincent married Lucretia Max- son, and made his home here. He was a school teacher, a cabinet maker by trade. He was justice of the peace for 24 years, and a well-known citizen of the town. Of his 5 children, 3 are living, Francis M., Charles M., and Claude A., who married Mary Shaw, and is in business as a jeweler. Paulding, one son, was a soldier in the 23d Regt. N. Y. S. V., and died in the army.

Allegany and Its People

A Centennial Memorial History

TOWNS OF THE HOLLAND PURCHASE

CANEADEA, BELFAST, FRIENDSHIP, HUME, CENTREVILLE, RUSHFORD, CUBA, WIRT, NEW HUDSON, GENESEE, BOLIVAR, CLARKSVILLE.

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CANEADEA.

BY JOHN S. MINARD.

CHAPTER LVII.

W HEN CANEADEA was formed March 11, 1808, it covered the territory now embraced in Belfast, Bolivar, Cuba, Clarksville, Friendship, Genesee, Rushford, New Hudson and Wirt, besides its present reduced area. The first townmeeting was held at the house of Jedediah Nobles April 5, 1808,* and the officers then elected were scattered over quite an extent of territory. It "held its own," territorially, until 1815, when in consequence of the rapid settlement of the country, Friendship was taken off comprising its present territory, Bolivar and Wirt, Cuba, Clarksville and Genesee. In 1816 Rushford was set off covering present Rushford and New Hudson. Belfast was taken off in 1824, not however with its northern boundary so far north as at present located. In 1831 a small part along the southern border was annexed to Belfast, since then its limits have remained unchanged, being township 5, of range 1, of the Holland Company's survey, excepting section 5, which was the triangle since known as "Brook's Gore." This laid between the Caneadea Reservation and the Transit Meridian, and was north of the present northern boundary of the town, now included in Hume.

Caneadea, the only Indian name given to a town in our county, comes from the old Seneca name found on the Guy Johnson map of 1771. (See page 38). The town is more connected with American and Indian history than any other Allegany town as here was located the famous " western door " of the Iroquois Confederacy. (See page 34.) The large stream com- ing from the west and emptying into the river at Caneadea Centre has always been called Caneadea Creek. Shongo brook has its source in the extreme eastern part of the town. It derives its name from Chief Shongo who lived on the flats at its mouth. and the flats have been called "Shongo flats."

Caneadea is an interior town, lying northwest of the center of the county and bounded north by Hume, east by Allen, south by Belfast, west by Rush- ford. The Genesee river forms its distinguishing geographical feature, here making the most noted change in its direction (so distinctly marked as to have been in early times called the "great angle "), changing abruptly from a northwest to a northeast course. The surface is broken into two distinct ranges of hills by the Genesee, while the western range is broken by Crawford Creek (named after an early settler) which rises in New Hud- son, runs northeasterly through the northwest corner of Belfast and dis- charges into the river north of Oramel, and the Caneadea Creek which, for two miles or more after entering the town, makes its way riverward, * The Nobles place is east of the Genesee, 112 miles above Belfast village, and now owned by W. W. Byrnes.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

through a rocky defile, presenting in some places perpendicular banks of over 100 feet in height, upon which for some part of the way still stands the original growth of hemlock, pine and other timber. Houghton Creek also comes from the west, piercing the same ridge, but without impressing itself so distinctly as the Crawford or Caneadea, while numerous smaller rills and brooklets seek the river at various points. On the east the only streams which have names are the Vandermark and Shongo, each finding its way through deep, rocky chasms, which in early times furnished facilities for mills, and so were made useful in manufacturing the cheap lumber with which this town abounded. These streams, as well as the river, when first visited by the white man, were well stocked with a great variety of fish, among which were innumerable brook trout.

When first explored by the white man Caneadea was covered, with the exception of occasional open flats along the river, with a prodigious growth of pine, oak, hemlock, elm, chestnut, beech, maple, cherry, ash, and along the river with butternut, hickory and wild plum. It was subdivided in 1800 by Alexander Rhea, assisted by James Rogers of Big Tree as hind chainman, George Washington, an Indian of Squakie Hill, as fore chainman, and Seth Fields of Big Tree as axeman and others.

In the northwestern part is a sheet of water, covering 25 to 40 acres, (the second largest natural body of water in the county) called Bull Head Pond, but more generally known as Moss Lake, from the large quantities of moss of a peculiar character about its margin. This is shipped to Rochester for use in packing fruit trees for shipment. This lake is quite popular as a pleasure resort.

Years ago grindstones were made in the gorge near the west side of the town. These stone, from their peculiar "grit," were known to the settlers north of here as early as 1807. For a long time the Caneadea grindstones have made no figure in the market.

THE OLD COUNCIL HOUSE .- When Joel Seaton came soon after 1830, he bought the lot on which was the Indian village of Caneadea. Here, with other buildings, stood the council house. It was some distance back from the road, and, at that time, a man of ordinary stature could reach the eaves with his hands, and had to stoop when going through the door. There were places for fires at each end and holes in the roof admitted light and gave egress to the smoke. Mr. Seaton took the house down and rebuilt it by the roadside, adding, however, some logs to the walls to make them higher. The Seaton family lived in it for some time, then used it as a barn. It was an object of much interest for many years. About 1871 Hon. W. P. Letch- worth purchased it and removed it to his residence at Glen Iris at Portage Falls, and under the supervision of John Shanks, an aged Indian, it was there reconstructed as nearly to its original condition and appearance as possible. It was " re-dedicated," Oct. 1, 1872, with interesting ceremonies, by a party of Indians, descendants of Brant, Cornplanter, Red Jacket and Mary Jemison. Many "pale faces " attended this "last council of the

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Senecas on the Genesee," and among the guests was ex-President Millard Fillmore. This " council " was made the subject of an interesting article in Scribner's Monthly of July, 1877. During the Columbian Exposition at Chicago, the taking of the council house thither as an " exhibit " in connect- ion with the New York state Indian village was considered, but the timbers were found to be in such condition as to render the idea an impracticable one.

It is universally conceded that one Schoonover, a Dutchman, was the first settler, he locating in 1800 on lot 11, section 10, east of the center. He made a small opening, burnt the brush, and scattered appleseeds and so came the first nursery in Allegany county. Here is still to be found what is supposed by some to be the largest apple tree in Western New York, if not in the state. It is about 8 feet in circumference and hardly ever fails of a good crop. In 1802 Ephraim Sanford and Zephaniah Huff from Wayne, Steuben Co., came by Almond and Angelica, and, reaching the river near the Transit Bridge, made exploration of it as far as Portage Falls. They then went back to Wayne, and the next spring Huff returned, planted corn, and put up a log house. Remaining until he had harvested his crop, he went back for his family, and in February, 1804, Huff settled opposite the village of Caneadea, on the lot now constituting the farms of Charles E. Parker, Ephraim Huff and Mr. Hale. Sanford returned in 1803, bringing with him from. Steuben 18 others, for which Mr. Ellicott let him have his land at a low rate.

In the spring of 1802 Timothy Hitchcock of Bainbridge, N. Y., came and articled lot 13, section 10. Building a little bark tent just east of the pres- ent village of Caneadea, he passed the summer in making improvements, then returned to Bainbridge. In the spring of 1803 he returned with James Rice, who had married his sister Eleanor. Rice paid $5 for the use of less than an acre of land on the site of the village of Angelica which he planted with corn. He bought Schoonover's interest in lot 11, section 10, and arti- cled lot 9, section 10. Rice and Hitchcock worked together improving the land and building their log houses. In the fall one returned to Bainbridge for their families and stock. A few years after James Rice built another house about where the Westbrook House barn stands, and opened the first public house kept in Caneadea. About 1806 or 1807, Arad and David Hitch- cock came from Bainbridge.

David Hitchcock and James Rice put up the first cardingmill in town (probably first in the county) about 1807 or 8. Hitchcock brought the machine from Bainbridge on a sled. It was located on the east side of present high- way on Caneadea Creek. A short time after a high flood carried away the dam and building, but through almost superhuman exertions of the settlers the machine was saved. It was then rebuilt farther up the stream, just west of present railroad. It caught fire and burned, causing quite a loss to the owners, as they had to pay their customers for the wool they had left with them at the rate of one dollar a pound.

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HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

Some time after a few families had settled, and made some improve- ments, they found themselves with seven "porkers," but no salt. They got together a few dollars, and Hitchcock made a dray of a tree-crotch, and started for the Onondaga salt works at Syracuse, having for most of the way only an Indian trail to follow. He returned in three weeks with two barrels of salt and made the settlers happy over the prospect of eating salt pork, in- stead of venison and bear meat.

The first birth was that of Elizabeth, daughter of Ezra Sanford, April 15, 1804. He lived on the Michael Dougherty place, where he no doubt built the town's first framed house. The first burying ground probably was on the river 2 miles above the center. An old burial ground was in Oramel where the schoolhouse stands, and some of the graves are still to be seen.

For some time during the War of 1812 the Indians run a sort of express from the north side of the hill where Houghton Seminary stands, up the ravine and on to Buffalo, and the people used to congregate there to hear the news from the front. Once there came a rumor that the Caneadea Indian warriors had gone to join the British. The frightened Mrs. Hitchcock began to prepare her children for flight, but Big Kettle, the chief, came and said "Squaw and papoose no go. Indian good friends," and the scare was over.

. James Caldwell who came early from Vermont was the first postmaster here, was supervisor and justice of the peace for many years. He built the first tannery in town, on the John Ingersoll place, and one later on the Munn place. The machinery for grinding the bark was simple. A large stone, six inches thick and five feet in diameter, shaped like a grindstone, was at- tached to a beam fastened to a center post. A circular trough of plank was filled with the bark and then a horse made the stone revolve like a wheel, crushing the bark over which it was made to run until it was ground. The stone is now used as a cover for a well on the Caldwell place in Hume, where James Caldwell removed, and died.

About 1805 Noah Franklin from Bainbridge settled on the John Ingersoll place. Noah's son Ramson was deaf, but not entirely dumb, and could work with skill at blacksmithing or carpenter and joiner work, and was quite a hunter. He once shot between the eyes, and killed a large panther near the quarry on Caneadea Creek.

Asa Harris, known as Squire Harris, came from Connecticut about 1808. He taught the first school here in 1811, in a log structure about opposite the residence of the Burr Bros. He built the first framed barn in town which is still standing on the John Ingersoll place, which he purchased from the Holland Land Company in 1830, and there lived, and died in 1842. His wife and 6 children survived him. He was highly esteemed. He was noted for his great self possession. Once some young fellows were picking berries back of his premises, and there came up a heavy thunder shower. They ran across his fields and found a valuable mare dead, killed by lightning. All excitement they hurried and told him, when he very calmly replied, "By the life, I will go right over and take her hide off." This was the nearest

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approach to swearing he ever made. He was a good friend of the Indians, and they gave him a name, Chic-wa-au-wie and called his children Chic-was- sies. The meaning of neither is known to me.

About 1820 Daniel Ingersoll from Steuben county took up land where the village of Houghton now is. He was friendly to the Indians, and they always asked his advice on business. He died in 1826, leaving a wife and ten children; all except Polly, Mrs. John S. Wilson, are died. John, the oldest son, helped his mother care for the family. When 30 years old he married Jenette, daughter of Squire Harris, and settled near Burrville. He had a good position during the construction of the old canal, and when it was completed he bought lumber and shipped to Rochester. In 1853 he bought out the heirs of the Harris estate, and removed to the farm in that year. He died at Caneadea Centre, Jan. 18, 1844. The farm is owned by his daugh- ters, Mrs. Viola Butler and Mrs. Lenora Vedder.

William Pinkerton, first from Pennsylvania, then from Steuben county, settled about a mile north of Caneadea in 1805. In 1806 he sold and removed to Cattaraugus county. In 1814 he returned and purchased a farm in the south part of the town. Daniel Dodge was a settler on the river in the north part of the town as early as 1809-10. Moses Stockwell settled about a mile below Caneadea, probably as early as 1807-8, for after making some improvements he sold to Major Alanson Burr, who came in 1810 from Bainbridge, Chenango county.

Samuel Burr, father of Alanson, came from Scottland. Alanson Burr, though born in Vermont, was a " bound out boy " in Connecticut. He first took up a farm in Bethany, Genesee county, where his wife, Mary Bush, died. He returned to Bainbridge, and married his wife's sister Susie, then fourteen years old. They came from Bainbridge to Caneadea, with an ox sled containing their household effects, and leading a cow. They were nine or ten days in making the distance, and sometimes " camped out " over night. Mr. Stockwell had made a little clearing where Burrville afterwards was. Indians were their neighbors. He helped to cut out the roads to Angelica and to Pike. Mrs. Burr used to ride horse to plow out corn with a child in her arms, and has been to Rushford to mill on horseback also with a child in her arms. Mr. Burr built a still, where is now Edgar Lewis' garden .* Indians used to frequent this still to exchange corn for whiskey. Loring Francis had a "still" east of the river near the south line of the town, about the same time.

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A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 87

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