A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 9

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 9

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In 1808 Roger Mills put up a gristmill in Hume, and Judge Church erected one at Belmont. The first religious services in Andover were held by Rev. Silas Hubbard, at the house of Nathanael Dike in 1808. Eneas Garey from Vermont began improvements in 1808 in Rushford. He built the first framed barn in that town but in just what year cannot be told. The first birth in Friendship was that of Sherman Haskins, March 8, 1808, in a sugar camp.

During all these years the Genesee river was crossed only by fording, by canoes. or on the ice. but, in 1809. a bridge was begun by Wilson Redfield, and finished by Jonathan Millett, at the "Transit." So at least say some authorities, and, being so particular in giving names of builders, it would seem conclusive. It still seems strange that a bridge should be built at any other point earlier than the one at Judge Church's, which is said to have been put up in 1811. Whenever and wherever it was, the first bridge was an im- portent event to the people.

By the act of March 11, 1808, $1,500 was authorized to be raised and levied on the freeholders and inhabitants, for building a court house and

HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

jail, and Moses Van Campen, John Gibson and William Higgins, were appointed commissioners to superintend the construction. It was provided that the county treasurer should have 1 per cent for receiving and paying out the money thus appropriated.

Joshua Skiff an Otsego county man made his appearance in Hume in 1809. He became a man well and favorably known throughout the county. In 1809 David Sanford built a saw and gristmill in Belfast, the first in that town. The first marriage in Friendship was in 1809, James Sanford and Sally Harrison the contracting parties. Silas Bellamy and Betsy Knight were the first couple married in Scio, the year 1809. Edward Green this year erected the first framed house in Alfred. The first birth in Center- ville was that of Calvin P. Perry, in June 1809; and the first death, that of the same person, the same month. Dr. Ebenezer Hyde the same year opened the first public house in Amity. Silas Bellamy and Silas Palmer settled in Scio in 1809.

The year 1810 was marked by an increasing number of actual settlers, and the inauguration of new enterprises and improvements. The first school in Amity was taught this year by Polly Baker. Joseph Baker, wife and seven children, and Joseph Woodruff, wife and three children settled in Andover in 1810. Major Alanson Burr was among the most prominent of the settlers this year, locating in Caneadea. Bethiah Belknap and Samuel Gordon were born in Rushford in 1810; the former in the spring, the latter June the 12th. They were the first births in that town. The first inn kept in Centerville by a Mr. Thatcher; the first in Caneadea by Lucretia Radley. The first gristmill in Friendship was built in 1810 by Aaron Axtell and Sylvanus Merriam. It was on the south branch about half way between Friendship village and Nile. The first religious services in Friendship were held in a barn by Samuel Vary in July, 1810, and first school by Pelatiah Morgan in the winter of 1810-11. The first birth in Allen, that of William Wilson, occurred Jan. 30. 1810. The first gristmill in Burns was built by Daniel Shull, and the first school was taught in that town by David Crooks in a log schoolhouse one-half mile west of Canaseraga in 1810. February 8, 1810, the Legislature passed an act incorporating the " Angelica and Alle- gany Turnpike Company." in which Philip Church. John Mullender and John T. Hyde were named as associates.

An enumeration of the inhabitants was made and a census taken in 1810 by the United States, which gave a population of 1,942 to the five towns of the county shown in the accompanying map.

THIS CENTURY'S FIRST DECADE.

ALLEGANY, IN 1810 AS DEFINED AND DIVIDED INTO TOWNS BY ACT OF MARCH 11. 1808 GENESEE COUNTY

NUN DIA

NTY

OSSIAN

COU

Z C COUNT S

MERIDIAN

ANGELICA

CANEADEA.

ANGELICA.

PENNSY

UND. S. MINARD DEL.

CATTARAUGUS

ALFRED.

STEU

TRANSIT

HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

CHAPTER XV.

SECOND DECADE .- 1811-1820.

PROMINENT among the settlers in the northern part of the county in 1811 was Benjamin Blanchard from Vermont. who located in Center- ville. John Gordon, Samuel Hardy, Tarbell and William Gordon settled in Rushford this year. The first marriage in Centerville occurred this year, William Foy and Ruth Morrill. The war of 1812 interrupted to some extent the progress of settlement. A sufficient number of inhabitants were found from which to secure quite a number of enlistments, and some were drafted. The board of supervisors constituted Robert Hoops a commissioner to attend an Indian council at Cold Spring, for the purpose it is supposed of entreating the Indians to side with the United States. The In- dians finally determined to espouse the cause of the United States, and no further anxiety was experienced in regard to them. Rockwell Hopper from Chenango county, and Harry Burns from Oneida county settled in Scio in 1812, staying there only a year they moved down to Belfast where they re- mained the rest of their lives. Eleazar Burbank and George P. Ketchum began improvements in Caneadea this year. The first school in Hume was taught by Caroline Russell in 1812. Settlement was commenced in Cuba in 1812. by Salmon Abbott, from Luzerne county, Pa., locating near the site of the reservoir. From the proceedings of the board of supervisors for this year, which is far back as the records have been preserved, we learn that the board consisted of six members. the town of Olean (then very large) in Cattaraugus county being by law required to be represented upon the Alle- gany board. The following are their names and the towns they represented; John T. Hyde, Angelica; Thaddeus Bennett, Caneadea; John Griffith, Nunda; Clark Crandall. Alfred; Richard W. Porter, Ossian; and Cornelius Brooks, Olean. The board met at the jail. and adjourned at night to meet at 6 o'clock the next morning. A resolution was passed appropriating $5 to pay Tim- othy H. Porter for " Pleading for the People vs. Berry, " acting in the capaci- ty of District Attorney. Eli Griffith and John Mullender were allowed pay for "going to the lines." and Robert Hoops. for attending Cold Spring coun- cil. was allowed 88.06. Cattaraugus county was charged one-half of the clerk's fees $32.50. At the June term of the Court of General Sessions, in 1812. Jasper(?) Clark was indicted for intent to commit murder. Afterward tried and cleared, but was bound to keep the peace especially toward James McHenry.

In 1813 Mark Blanchard and Eber Hotchkiss erected the first sawmill in Centerville. and a Mr. Warren built the first gristmill in Rushford. It must have been quite a rude affair for it is said the bolt cloths were book'

SECOND DECADE .- 1811-1820.

muslin, and the upper stone hung at the end of a shaft from a tub-wheel, with no intermediate gearing.

A settlement was made between Alfred Station and Alfred Centre by David Satterlee from Rensselaer county, in 1813. The first birth in Wirt occurred in 1813. the new comer being Benjamin Crabtree. At the annual session of the board of supervisors in 1813, it was " Resolved that in equal- izing the rolls the board establish the following rates: unimproved lands $1 per acre, and improved lands 82 per acre." Prisoners were taken to the jail at Bath. The Alfred school fund this year was $28.70. and the town at that time comprised all south of Ossian in the eastern range of towns in Al- legany. The town, and a large one at that. of Ischua, Cattaraugus county, was represented on the board this year.

Pliny Bannister was the pioneer teacher in Rushford conducting a school in the winter of 1813-14. The first school in what is now Wellsville was taught by Ithamar Brookings in 1814 near the east line in the Dike neighborhood. The first religious services in Amity were held at the house of Samuel Van Campen, by Rev. Robert Hubbard in 1814. This year Rich- ard Hull, Abel Burdick, Stephen Coon and Stephen Coon, Jr., Jesse Whit- ford and James C. Burdick, made beginnings in Alfred. Rev. Dr. N. V. Hull was a son of this Richard Hull. The first postoffice in Almond was established in 1813 or '14. Perkins B. Woodward taught the first school in Centerville in the winter of 1813-14. The first religious services in Hume were held at the house of Roger Mills during the war of 1812-14, being con- ducted by missionaries from Rushford and Caneadea. A decided improve- ment in roads now began to appear. The clearings were much enlarged, and fields which were stumpless rewarded the ardent labors of the pioneer with bounteous crops of grass, wheat, corn, oats and rye. Large bounties were paid for the destruction of wolves, which made havoc among the sheep of the early settlers. Deer were very plenty, and venison constituted quite a percentage of the meat used. The trusty rifle was largely depended on to secure it. Every settler was more or less a hunter, some attaining to rare skill and achieving no little fame.

Levi Benjamin from Vermont settled in Rushford in 1815, about a mile north of the village. He was the first postmaster. In 1815, Rodman Place from Rensselaer county settled in Alfred. and David Stillman from the same county, settled near Alfred Centre. The Peaveys settled in the west part of Allen this year, giving their name to the Peavey road. This year came. also, to Burns Horatio Tilden, from Avon, and Alvah Cruttenden from LeRoy. Samuel Hunt from Vermont came to Caneadea, and Samuel H. Morgan to Cuba locating near the Reservoir. while Ebenezer Steenrod made his begin- ning in Friendship.

1816 was distinguished by the erection of carding mills at Friendship and Mills Mills, events of great importance. To each of these in time were added machinery for fulling, dyeing and pressing the home-spun and home- woven cloth made by the pioneer wives and daughters, and which did such

HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

good service. "Shoddy " was a thing of the far distant future, and the wearing qualities of garments made from those cloths, were wonderful in- deed. Paris Green. Amos Burdick and Russell Davis from Madison county settled in Alfred this year. This was probably the first Paris Green ever seen in the county, and preceded by an ordinary lifetime the event of the potato-bug! The first house (a log one) where the village of Belfast is was put up in 1816 by Alex. V. P. Chamberlain, and William Miller from Avon settled in Burns, having to cut a road over a mile to reach his land. John Hoyt from Vermont settled in Caneadea immediately erecting the first saw- mill in that town at the mouth of Caneadea Creek. Settlement was com- menced this year in Granger by Reuben Smith, his sons Wilcox and Isaac, and sons-in-law Rufus Turnbull and James McCoon. In 1816 the woods of New Hudson were also made to ring with the axe of its first settler. John Spencer, Matthew P. Cady and others built the first sawmill in Rushford on Caneadea Creek, and Judge James McCall opened the first store in Rushford. Lucy Moore taught the first school in Scio in Silas Knight's house. 1816 was and is known as "the cold season." According to all accounts it was in very deed a very cold one; frosts occurring in every month in the year shortened the crops to a mere nothing, but the most pinching times came on the next year.

The prospects were dreary when 1817 dawned. In addition to the hard times, which closely succeeded the war, was the general shortage of the limited area of crops. The condition of some of those settlers, who had no teams nor other means to get out to the older settlements for corn and wheat, became before harvest distressing if not alarming. With some leeks were a blessing being some degrees better than nothing as food. Ground- nuts and "putty root " also helped. In cases of dire necessity potatoes that had been planted were dug up and eaten. Ripening grain was eagerly watched, some of the earliest to ripen was harvested, cured as quickly as possible for threshing, placed in a large kettle over a fire and briskly stirred to get in a condition to grind, then hurried off to the nearest mill. Some of the old settlers used to claim in all sincerity that the sweetest cakes and best bread they ever tasted was made from flour thus prepared. In 1817 came Samuel Thatcher from Vermont, and Stephen Collins and Isaac Burdick from Madison county and settled in Alfred, Collins coming all the way on foot, and covering his first log-house with split hollow basswood logs. This year came also Chester Rotch,- Otto, and- Lefever, and settled at Allen Centre, and a Mrs. Armstrong settled in the southern part of that town. Nathaniel Bennett from Vermont located in the north part of Burns in 1817, journeying all the way with horses and wagons. Luther Houghton, wife and family of five children, settled in the northwest part of Caneadea this year. A small creek in the neighborhood still bears his name as does also the village near where he located, the postoffice, and the Wesleyan seat of learning at that place. Cyrus H. Clement, also from Vermont, settled in Caneadea in 1817, as did Joshua Wilson and sons Simon, Freeman S. and

SECOND DECADE .- 1811-1820.

Lewis and Angus McIntosh. Russell Higgins and Packard Bruce built the first gristmill in Centerville this year. and Gen. Calvin T. Chamberlain built in 1817 the first sawmill in Cuba. Ira Hopper from Steuben county bought land and settled in Granger this year. Joel Stockwell, a Vermonter, "took up" a large farm on the river flats in the extreme northeast corner of Hume in 1817, and Daniel Atherton opened the first public house in West Almond. At the January term of court Medad Mckay was indicted for murder. About this time there seems to have been an epidemic of assault and battery cases. Indictment after indictment was found, very many of the parties being pronounced "not guilty " by the jury. In cases where they were held they were fined from $1 to $150; $1.50 to $2.50 being generally the amount imposed.

In 1818 Amos Crandall and Samuel Lanphear and families came from Rhode Island and settled in the north part of Alfred, bringing their goods on an ox cart, a horse being hitched on ahead of the oxen. About this time was built the first framed house and barn in Elm Valley, by whom author- ities differ. The first framed house in the valley at Andover was built by Asa S. Allen about this time. Settlements were many this year. John Common from Northumberlandshire, Eng., came to Angelica, John T. Ford to Belfast, James Matthews to Birdsall Centre, Samuel Whipple and Ezra Whiting to Burns, Thos. Worden, Samuel Horton, Oliver Smith, Charles Abbott, James Osmond, and John Wheeler, afterward so well known as supervisor and member of assembly. came to Granger and began improve- ments. The settlement of Grove was commenced in 1818 by John White, from Herkimer county, moving his family in with an ox team; cutting his own road from Nunda. His house, a log structure, which he at once erected, was the first in town. Alexander Bailey came about the same time. Ros- well Gibbs came this year to the northwest part of Hume, and Oliver Austin to Wirt.

By an act of the Legislature passed March 19, 1818, it was declared "That so much of the Genesee river, from the confluence of the Canasaraga creek, up to the bridge near the house of Philip Church, Esquire, in the town of Angelica in the county of Allegany, except from the foot of the falls to the head of the rapids, in the town of Nunda, and so much of said river as is included from the Pennsylvania line down to Phillipburgh Mills, in the said town of Angelica, be, and is hereby declared a public highway: Provided that nothing in this act shall be construed to extend to or affect any mill, or dam for the use thereof, that may have been erected, or the building thereof commenced on either of the said streams of water before the passing of this act. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall hereafter cut or fell any tree or trees into said stream, or roll any log or logs therein, except for the purpose of rafting the same, or place any other obstruction therein and shall not remove the same out of said stream with- in 48 hours thereafter, every such person shall forfeit and pay the sum of

five dollars for every such offense, * Provided nevertheless, That if

HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

any person erecting any mill or other works, on either of the above men- tioned streams, shall cut or dig a sufficient canal, or make a sufficient lock or locks, so that the navigation of the same be not injured by means of such dam or dams, mill or works, such persons shall not be liable to any penalties of this act."

April 10, 1818, an act was passed appointing Thomas Dole of Nunda. John Hoyt of Caneadea, and James McCall of Rushford, commissioners to lay out a road on the west side of the Genesee river through the Caneadea Indian Reservation, and to "agree with and satisfy the Indians owning and possessing said land, for their reasonable damages for said roads passing through their improved lands," and $1,000 was appropriated for the pur- pose.

In 1819 Joseph Claire from Rensselaer county settled in Alfred and Luther Strong built the first saw-and-grist mill in Andover about & of a mile east of the village. Edmund Coats settled in Angelica in 1819. Angelica was the largest place in the county. All roads were laid with direct refer- ence to reaching the county seat. Many people were called there during " court week." It was on the line of the Lake Erie Turnpike, and had already become a place of considerable importance, attracting men of means and enterprise as well as the more distinguished in the legal profession. Lewis H. Ford came to Belfast this year (1819) and Stephen Mundy from New Jersey purchased 500 acres in the west part of Burns beginning active operation in clearing and making improvements. Daniel Ingersoll purchased land and began improvements in the north part of Caneadea this year, and Newman Crabtree began the first sawmill in Genesee on Little Genesee Creek. The first birth in Genesee was that of Francis K. Bell and his was the first death, he being born Nov. 25, 1819, and dying Dec. 29, 1819. Darling Smith, Curtis Coe and John Bouton settled in the northeast part of Granger. Elijah White came to Grove this year, and "White settlement " still retains his name. Dexter settled in the northeast part of Hume on the river flats. A burial place was enclosed adjoining his north line and is still known as the "Carpenter burying ground." Capt. Isaac Van Nostrand, who afterward became a very prominent man in town and county affairs, came to Granger in 1819, and built its first sawmill.

In October, 1820, Franklin Cowdery started at Angelica the Angelica Republican, the first newspaper of Allegany. Previous to this the nearest printing-office was at Bath. This was a great convenience to the people and was an event second to no other in this decade. In 1820 the first store in Centerville was opened by Sparrow Smith, and Judge John Griffin located in Cuba, purchasing the lands upon which the village has grown up. The first framed dwelling in Independence was put up this year by John Teater, and the first religious services were held on New Year's Day at the house of Samuel S. White, Rev. Daniel Babcock a Seventh-day Baptist conducting them. The settlement of Hume village was commenced this year by Sylvanus Hammond building the regulation log house, and Spencer Lyon

SECOND DECADE .- 1811-1820.

ALLEGANY

IN 1820.

GENESEE

COUNTY

PIRE.

SNUINDA.

OSSIAN.

UNTY.

1 COUNTY. U

Z C

DEA

A ANGELICA.

ALFRED.

FRIENDSHIP.

STEUBEN

TRAN

PENNSYLVANIA

UND. S. MINARD DEL.

CATTARAUGUS

RR. RUSHFORR.

NTERVILLE.

HISTORY OF ALLEGANY COUNTY, N. Y.

located in the south part of New Hudson. Abel and James Tarbell and Nathan C. Kimball came to Rushford, and Hazard P. Clark settled in the south part of Andover. The first birth in Birdsall occurred this year, that of James E. Matthews, and Bolivar made her first attempt at population, other than by immigration, Almond W. Cowles being the recipient of especial attention upon his birth. Rachael Gilbert, for the extravagant compensation of seventy-five cents per week, taught the first school in Bolivar (in a log school house of course) and was followed the succeeding winter by Austin Cowles, who, in 1820, conducted the first religious services in that town. The first store and public house was opened in what is now Ward about this time by Joseph Goodrich, who came in 1819.

This decade, notwithstanding the existence during the first part of it of discouraging conditions, at its close showed a great improvement over the preceding one. Important roads were opened, and the last years were marked by a large influx of population. More men of means were turning their attention to its inviting prospects; its wealth of pine forests was coming to be considered with reference to and in connection with improved facilities for transportation, and instead of being regarded with abhorrence, " shied " around and avoided as undesirable, became the subject for many close cal- culations on the part of capitalists. The older clearings were becoming in many cases well conducted farms showing thrifty husbandry, while new ones were continually being made. The appalling monotony of uninterrupted forest was broken, clearings in some cases connecting with clearings. Vil- lages and hamlets began to appear. Centerville, Rushford, Pike and Friend- ship had been formed and their supervisors took their seats at the annual meeting of the board. The census taken that year revealed 9,330 inhabitants in the county, which was subdivided into nine towns as appears by the accompanying map.

CHAPTER XVI.

THIRD DECADE .- 1821-1830.

IN 1821. Joseph S. Raymond opened the first inn in Belfast, near present village. Henry Bennett settled on the Stateroad, in the east part of Gran- ger. The first birth of a white child in Grove occurred, that of Laura Bai- ley. The first public house in Scio was opened by Alfred Johnson, in a small log house just south of the town line. The first school in New Hudson was taught this summer by Mrs. Graham Mckean. Philip Appleby from Onondaga county settled in Wirt. It is said that he caught 42 deer in one trap in the course of three or four years. The first marriage in Birdsall

THIRD DECADE-1821-1830.

occurred, the parties being Samuel Van Wickle and Harriet Freeman. As the last decade closed with nine towns in the county, represented by as many supervisors, who annually met at the county seat to transact the county business we give the organization of the board at the commencement of this decade. This year the board of supervisors organized by electing Jesse Bullock chairman, and Amos Peabody clerk.

1822. Elijah Woolworth settled in Alfred, raising some grain on a farm in the west part of the town on which some improvements had already been made. Joseph Jennings settled in the south part of Allen, and Adelbert Root began improvements in Bolivar. An association of early settlers in Bolivar, Christopher Tyler, Luther Austin, Asa and Austin Cowles built the first sawmill in that town near the village. Settlement in Clarksville was commenced by John and Horatio Slayton, a little south of the center. It was then one unbroken woods from Cuba to their purchase and they had to cut a road the entire distance. Joseph Palmer also settled in Clarksville. The first birth in Clarksville that of Joseph P. Slayton occurred this year. Hannah Scott taught the first school in Birdsall, and the Baptist Church in Friendship was organized with six members. Jabez Burdick made a chop- ping and built a log house on lot 3 in Genesee, and Samuel Moses settled in the northeast part of Granger. Riley Parker began improvements in Grove, and Jonathan Parsons made the first beginning at Brewer's Corners. Jacob Baldwin and Stephen Cady built the first gristmill in Cuba on Oil creek, about two miles from the village, and King and Graves opened the first store in Cuba in 1821 or 1822. Jesse and Philip Haseltine settled on lot 74 Independence, building a log house and cutting and logging three acres of an old windfall without the help of a team. "Pudding and milk " was their chief article of food eaten from wooden troughs with legs. Cal- vin and Samuel Riggs also came to Independence. The first marriage in New Hudson occurred, that of Earl Gould and Catharine Eastwood. Benj. Palmer built the first sawmill in Scio, and Jonah French made a beginning in Wirt. The town of Hume was erected. The board of supervisors con- sisted of 13 members, Jesse Bullock was made chairman and Amos Peabody clerk.

1823. The first religious services in Birdsall were held at the house of Wm. Dey, by Rev. Robert Hubbard, a Presbyterian. Samuel Davie came to Bolivar, bringing the first span of horses in town, and the only one be- tween "Notch Hill " in Wirt and Ceres. Ebenezer Kellogg also settled here. In the spring Jabez Burdick was appointed pathmaster, his beat extend- ing nearly seven miles, and his was the only family on it. He and his son worked about 60 days, and used $10 of public money. Blakely and Drake built the first sawmill at Hume village. Abner Comstock settled in the northeast part of Granger, and Beriah Crandall started the first tannery in Independence. Prominent among the early settlers of this year were Jacob McElheny who settled at Black Creek, and C. H. Ingham, who opened a public house (a log one) at Hume.

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A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany county, New York, Part 9

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