USA > New York > Chemung County > A brief history of Chemung county, New York > Part 2
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11VINCENT MATTHEWS was the first lawyer to settle in the county. He was a man of unusual abilities and was one of the most distinguished citizens of the State of his time. Dr. AMOS PARK was the first physician. But he was more than a physician. He was a teacher and preacher, and built, largely with his own hands, the first frame house in Elmira. Dr. JOSEPH HINCHMAN soon followed Dr. Park. He became a prominent man in the community, was Sheriff of the county for one term, and held other public offices. JOHN BENNETT was a carpenter and joiner, coming into Horseheads from Orange County. His son, COMFORT be- came the largest landholder in the county. The family was a large one and has many representatives to this day. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, one of the strongest characters of his day, was a hatter. He acquired large wealth and contri- buted to the county many distinguished sons. WILLIAM DUNN, the original ancestor of the family of that name that became prominent in the valley, was an innkeeper. NATHAN TEALL was an innkeeper. From his youngest daughter Elmira gets its name. He was a conspicuous and active man, and as under sheriff was the first one to occupy and have charge of the new Court House on Sullivan Street. ABRAHAM MILLER, who became the first Judge of the county, was a wagon-maker and black- smith. His family arose to great prominence in the affairs of the county.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF
into the name of the place. Big Flats was known to the Indians as "Great Plains." It was descrip- tive, for the great prairies of the West were un- known then. In the rural vernacular; the dignified Indian appellation dropped into "Big Flats." At best; either name is better than borrowing from the classical dictionary or the countries of Europe.
As we have seen, in a little more than a decade,' the last one of the eighteenth century; what is now the county of Chemung acquired a momentum toward development that augured well for the future of the locality.
PART II
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The County of Chemung during the first half of the XIX Century
Ah, happy hills! Ah, pleasing shade! Ah, fields beloved in vain! Where once my careless childhood strayed, A stranger yet to pain: I feel the gales that from ye blow, A momentary bliss bestow, As, waving fresh their gladsome wing, My weary soul they seem to soothe, And, redolent of joy and youth, To breathe a second spring .- THOMAS GRAY.
Still o'er these scenes my memory wakes And fondly broods with miser care; Time but the impression deeper makes, As streams their channels deeper wear. -ROBERT BURNS.
The First Half of the XIXth Century
Postal facilities .- The first day of the new century; January 1; 1801; was signalized by the establish- ment of two new post-offices in the county. At Chemung; Elijah Buck being the postmaster and at Newtown; John Konkle being the postmaster. John Konkle's son; Aaron Konkle, succeeded his father as postmaster in 1809.12
The county's first citizens .- Chemung County from the start was fortunate and continues so to be, to the present time; in counting among its citi- zens men who were untiring in their efforts to ad- vance the prosperity of their locality; and it is to be observed that in different periods the same men always appear united in the one purpose then in view.13
12ELIJAH BUCK served as Postmaster for thirty-three years; AARON KONKLE for thirteen years. He was afterward Dis- trict-Attorney for the county for nine years, and County Judge for one year. The family name of Konkle, once so prominent, has entirely disappeared from the County.
18In this early period, the beginning of the XIXth century, the following-named men seemed to be at the bottom of every public undertaking, all stirring, active citizens: John H. Knapp, Grant B. Baldwin, Samuel H. Maxwell, Levi J. Cooley, John Konkle, Stephen Tuttle, Asahel Buck, John Arnot, Robert Covell, William Guthrie, Dexter Newell, Ebenezer Sayre, Elijah Hinman, Isaac Baldwin, Guy Max- well, John C. Clark, Abner M. Hetfield, Matthew Carpenter, Solomon L. Smith, William Maxwell, Lyman Covell, David Reynolds, Caleb Baker, John G. McDowell, Alonzo I. Wyn- koop, all of whom have left representatives in the valley, and all of whom are remembered with affection and respect.
19
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There were a number of attempts at enterprises which seem now to be curious and ahead of their times; as they never came to anything; showing; however, the activity prevalent.14
One of the most eagerly sought-for and desired enterprises was an easier and more rapid method of communication for business purposes with the people of the State to which the county belonged; and not to be so utterly dependent upon the river and the States of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Methods of communication with the outer world .- On March 22, 1803, an act of the Legislature was procured; authorizing the construction of a turn- pike from Newtown to Seneca Lake; to connect there with the turnpike to Catskill on the Hudson. This was the beginning of what is now known as Lake Street; in Elmira; and it ran from the Che- mung River to the head of the lake at "Catherine's Landing," now Watkins.
Then authority was given to certain ones to ex-
14There was a corporation authorized in the first decade of the century called "The Tioga Coal, Iron, and Manufac- turing Company." It had a very wide sweep of operations. It was authorized to dig and vend coal, and manufacture iron and glass. It went much farther than this, for the corporation was allowed to do whatever it chose with the Chemung River; build towpaths, locks, culverts, dams, anything to improve the stream. It was also authorized to lay a railroad to the Pennsylvania line. There was a "Chemung Mutual Insurance Company" that never wrote a policy, and a "Chemung and Ithaca Railroad" that con- templated, but never built, a line down Wynkoop Creek, also to the Pennsylvania line. In the latter part of the year 1829, there was a company incorporated with very ample powers called "The Seneca and Susquehanna Lock Navi- gation Company." It surrendered its rights, however, in favor of the Chemung Canal.
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CHEMUNG COUNTY, N. Y.
plore's and lay out a route to connect Ithaca; then in Seneca County, with Newtown.
In 1807, the only regular communication by mail that the county had was with Wilkesbarre; Pa .; by means of a post-boy on horseback, who took four days for the journey, each way, a distance of hardly one hundred miles.16
The Chemung Canal .- The chief and most impor- tant result of the efforts of the county at this period was the construction of the Chemung Canal.17 Judge Caleb Baker, of Chemung Township, at the time Member of Assembly for the county; was largely instrumental in carrying the bill through to its successful conclusion.1 8 When it was known
15The word "explore," used in the act, was particularly apt and expressive. This was in 1812, and at that time and as late as 1823, the State was offering a reward of five dollars each for the destruction of any "wolf or wolf-whelp or panther" in the County of Tioga, in which Chemung was situated, and two dollars each for wild-cats!
16The community was always in need of iron and nails. It is curious now to read how it got them. In 1827, PHILIP SCHULTZ, assisted by his brother John, was doing the work as occasion required. They had a great canvas-covered wagon like a "prairie schooner," drawn by four horses, and plied between Elmira and Bellefonte, Pa. Each trip occu- pied from two to three weeks, and the return was almost as much of an event to the village as when a ship comes in.
17The first steps were taken by the Legislature looking to the work on April 25, 1825, when the selection of a suitable route from the river to Seneca Lake was authorized. The undertaking was made certain on April 15, 1829, by the appropriation of $300,000 for the construction of the work. It is to be observed that this act, for the first time, gave the official designation of the river as "The Chemung." Before this it had been called "The Tioga River."
18Judge BAKER was a conspicuous citizen of the county in those early days, active, and enterprising. He came to the locality in 1798. He, through his son-in-law, Richard A. Baker, who was a prominent politician in his day, left many
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF
that the bill had passed; there was great rejoicing all through the region that the canal traversed. Work was begun in 1830; with impressive cere- monies, Col. John Hendy throwing up the first spadeful of earth; and when it was completed in 1832; a similar; if not wilder, celebration was in- dulged in; in which appeared a barge; loaded down to suffocation; drawn by four horses, and profusely decorated with American flags, with the same Col. John Hendy standing proudly at the prow "sail- ing up" the stream as far as Millport.ยบ Not a ves- tige of this public work now remains.
Stage-coaching days .- Stage-coaching in the val- ley during the last three decades of the half century was an important and rather picturesque interest. There were lines established from Elmira to the head of Seneca Lake, down the river to Owego; Binghamton; and Wilkesbarre, south to Williams- port, Pa .; and up the river to Corning and Bath. Handsome Concord coaches; drawn by well-kept four-horse teams, were used and they enlivened the landscape as they moved on; with pleasant effect. The first coach ever run in the valley was to "Cath-
descendants who became some of the best-known citizens of the county.
19This little village, originally "Millvale," became of much note by reason of its abundance of water-power. It is near the summit of the streams, one flowing south, toward the Chemung River, and the other north into Seneca Lake. It speedily had numerous sawmills in operation, and a number of boat-building yards. The first two boats were built by JOHN JACKSON, a lively citizen of Horseheads, and were named by him General Sullivan and Lady Sullivan. They were launched on the Fourth of July of the year subsequent to the opening of the canal.
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CHEMUNG COUNTY, N. Y.
erine's Landing,"20 at the head of Seneca Lake. It was run by John Davis, whose inn at the corner of what is now Lake and East Water Streets, in Elmira; "The Black Horse Tavern," was for many years the most conspicuous spot in the valley; the place for all public gatherings of every kind that were held.21
The Erie Railway .- On April 21; 1825; an act was passed by the Legislature ordering a survey to be made through the southern tier of New York to discover a route for a railroad, and the line now in operation and existence was declared to be im- practicable!
Nevertheless, seven years later; on April 24; 1832; the organization of the "New York and Erie Rail- road Company" was authorized by the Legislature, realizing the hopes and expectations of every citi- zen of the county to get into complete, easy; and close communication with the whole world.
The road was completed to Elmira in the fall of 1849.22
On April 21; 1832; the Legislature authorized the
20This little place, not now in Chemung County, got its original name from the fact there was located there an Indian village owned by "Catherine Montour," the half-breed wife of a Seneca Chief.
"Those who controlled these early lines of travel were J. Davis Baldwin, Sly, and McGrath, and Cooley and Max- well, all public-spirited and active citizens.
"The first Superintendent of the division of the road in which Chemung County is situated was William E. Rutter, an experienced railroad man who came from Providence, R. I. His eldest son, James H. Rutter, became the Presi- dent of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad. Another Superintendent of the division in later years was H. D. V. Pratt, who achieved high distinction as a railroad man, becoming the General Superintendent of the road.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF
construction of a railroad from Elmira to Williams- port; Pa .; but advantage was not taken of its pro- visions until twenty years later.
On May 14, 1845; the Chemung Railroad Company was incorporated. Its line was from Elmira to Seneca Lake. The Erie road used it to make con- nections; by means of the Lake 23 at Geneva, with the railroad already established there.
Commercial enterprises .- The building of the canal had given a powerful impulse to the business of the county. Every town had felt it.24 The chief product of the county was lumber, of which the white pine; in width and quality, has never been equalled in the markets of the country. There were sawmills established in every corner and mil- lions of feet found an easy market; by means of the canal.25
"It was an era in steamboating on the interior lakes of the State. The Ben Loder, named for the President of the Erie road, in size and equipment would compare favorably with the best boats anywhere. It was long remembered in the locality with satisfaction and pride. Nothing equal- ing it has since been seen there.
"The town of Horseheads perhaps had felt it the most. In three years it nearly doubled in population. It seemed to be the most important village on the canal, being at the junction of the "feeder" to the canal, coming from the upper waters of the river near Corning. The tolls were col- lected there and the office for their collection was maintained there for forty-three years. Thomas Maxwell was the first collector. Soon after the opening of the canal, on May 15, 1837, the village was incorporated as "Fairport." It was well enough for it was very fair and a sure enough "port," if an inland one. But the people wouldn't have it. They stood it for eight years, but with much discontent and grum- bling, and on April 8, 1845, they were glad to get back to the honest, descriptive old Saxon "Horseheads." It is likely it will ever remain so.
"In the town of Southport, advantage being taken of
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CHEMUNG COUNTY, N. Y.
A large number of persons engaged in the lumber traffic came to the county very soon after the open- ing of the canal.26
There were many woolen mills scattered through the county. The first one was established in the town of Southport by Silas Billings, in 1820. An- other one, and the largest in the county, was built in 1842, on Newtown Creek, at the foot of East Hill, Elmira, by Daniel and Ransom Pratt, brothers.27
The purely mercantile men who were attracted to the county during this period by its growing
Seely and South Creeks, from 1840 to 1844, there were eighteen sawmills in operation. "Pine City," in the township originally "Pine Woods," a little hamlet, owes its name to its chief product. Charles Atkins, a cooper by trade, the first settler there, came in 1830. Pine Valley, in Veteran Township, where the supply of white pine was also large, gets its name from the same source.
26 Among those deserving to be remembered were the follow- ing-named, who attained high positions in the business world of the county, and occupied conspicuous positions in other lines than that in which they were particularly engaged. Samuel B. Strang, Benjamin A. Towner, Asaph Colburn, Lyman Gibson, William S. Hatch, Henry M. Partridge, Bradley Griffin, J. C. Sampson, Hiram Crane, W. E. Judson, Aaron F. Potter, William L. Gibson, Andrus and Langdon, Richmond Jones, Ward Jones, James Fairman, Henry C. Spaulding, William Halliday, William Birdsall, and the four Fitch Brothers, D. H., O. N., John S., and Lewis. Some of these, after the supply of lumber was exhausted, sought other fields and pastures new, but most of them engaged in other pursuits in the city.
27 DANIEL and RANSOM PRATT were Scotchmen. They tried the neighborhood of the upper part of the county, but came to the spot they had selected in the year named. The water-power furnished by Newtown Creek was fine. They were the first to introduce into the county the power loom and wool-condensing machines. They were very success- ful in their undertakings, and in time founded the Second National Bank in Elmira.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF
importance, were numerous. Many of their "stores" seemed to be the originals of what are now called "department stores," for they carried in stock about everything from kid gloves to grindstones.28
Circulating medium .- Business, as it was in- creasing, called for some circulating medium. Much, if not all, of the traffic was carried on by barter, a system that at the time was taught in the district schools, very much to the annoyance, if not displeasure, of the children. The products of the soil were valuable and plentiful, but men needed something besides a wagon load of wheat or a bin of oats with which to pay their debts. This need gave rise to the incorporation of the Chemung
28It is a long list, for they were many, and going over it is like striking the chords of a harp that has long been mute. There is not in all the county a single name left of all those that made up the business community in the first half of last century. Here they are, and every one of them has an interest for some one who will recall them with pleasure and often with affection: David H. Tuthill, Benjamin C. Wickham, Matthew McReynolds, Joseph Dumars, S. S. auce, S. B. Hubbell, J. M. Robinson, Robert and Edward Covell, Miles Covell, William Viall, Norris North, E. L. Skinner, Green M. Tuthill, Timothy Satterlee, William Fos- ter, George Kingsbury, John Selover, R. F. Seabury, James Reeves, John Parmenter, D. A. Towner, Brinton Paine, Solomon L. Gillett, William Hoffman, Wakeman Merwin, Riggs Watrous, G. A. Gridley, S. S. Hamlin, R. C. Rice, J. K. Perry, John Hill, David Bulmer, John N. Elmore, T. O. Elmore, William P. Yates, Samuel Hall, Samuel Part- ridge, William Ogden, Tracy Beadle, Simeon Benjamin, Anson C. Ely, Francis Hall, Christopher Preswick, A. Z. Sickles, James T. Dudley, Stephen Hill, Erastus Hill, Henry Wilson, Edward Maxwell, William E. Hart, Seth Kelly, Elijah Jones, Noah Robinson, H. M. Seward, Fox Holden, E. P. Hutchinson, H. D. Treadwell, Stephen McDonald, John R. Jones, the Hanfords (boot and shoe men), Platt Cole, F. A. Scribner, E. S. Palmer, Thomas S. Pattinson, George Pattinson, Ephraim P. Davenport, William McClure, Christian Smith.
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CHEMUNG COUNTY, N. Y.
Canal Bank.29 Its first president was John G. McDowell,30 and its first cashier, William Max- well.31 In 1842 the bank came under the control of John Arnot32 and so remained for many years.
The Bank of Chemung was organized in 1849. Its first president was Simeon Benjamin, and its first cashier, Tracy Beadle. 33
29Its charter was obtained on April 9, 1833. Subscrip- tions were asked for the stock, and although only $200,000 was required, there were received offers that amounted to $1,434,450. For more than seventy years it stood a finan- cial rock upon which the whole neighborhood rested in security and content.
30 Judge JOHN G. McDOWELL was one of the most remark- able men produced in the county. He was the son of Daniel McDowell, one of the first settlers of the valley, and was born in 1794, in Chemung Township. He took a large part in the War of 1812, and was an intimate personal friend of all the eminent men of his day. He was a member of Assem- bly for one term, State Senator, and one of the old Commis- sioners of Loans. He was a presidential elector in 1852, voting for the successful candidate. It was his last appear- ance in public life. Descendants of his are yet among the most highly-esteemed citizens of the county.
31 WILLIAM MAXWELL was a son of Guy Maxwell, who came early to the valley, and in his time occupied a very high posi- tion in all the affairs of the county. He was State Senator for one term. Some of the blood of the Maxwells remain in the valley, but not more than one or two of the name.
32JOHN ARNOT stands alone in the annals of the county, a colossal figure of business and finance. He was a Scotch- man, born at Perthshire in 1789. He came to the valley in 1819, on a mercantile venture, and remained there. From that time all his life was passed there. All his enterprises were successful, and he amassed a fortune of great magni- tude, which he dispensed with rare judgment and generosity. His wife was the granddaughter of Matthias Hollenbeck. He died in 1873. But one life remains to perpetuate his name, and when that is gone it will become only a memory.
33SIMEON BENJAMIN came to Elmira from Long Island in 1833. He was at the time possessed of considerable wealth and for many years after his settlement in Elmira was esteemed the richest man there. He had great business capacity and largely "increased his store." He was also a
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF
Matters pertaining to religion .- The Presbyterian Church in Elmira, the "old Mother Church" as it has been called, of the county in the early part of the century, was in charge of the Rev. Simeon Jones, who came to the county from New Jersey in 1804. He was also a school teacher and united the two professions in one.34 There is a long list of eminent clergymen who faithfully served this First Church. 35
The first feeble beginnings of a Presbyterian Church were made in Southport in 1820. In Horseheads the first Presbyterian Church of the town was organized on February 8, 1832. It was effected under the charge of the Revs. Ethan Pratt, M. L. Farnsworth, and Elder John McConnell. The first church edifice was erected in 1832. In
generous and liberal man, making the Elmira College for Women possible by his large gifts to it in the early days of its existence.
TRACY BEADLE was a druggist, coming to Elmira from Cooperstown, N. Y., in 1835. With everything that the words imply he was indeed, always one of the leading citizens of the valley, meriting the title "A Christian Gentleman."
34The Rev. SIMEON JONES was followed into the valley by three brothers. Joel was a tailor, who settled in Southport. Elijah was a jeweler, who, however, became an innkeeper and for many years was in charge of the "Mansion House" in Elmira, and made it a well-known hostelry all over that portion of the State. Philo settled in 1817 in the town of Southport, and became one of its best-known and popular citizens. For seventeen years he was the proprietor of a hotel in the locality where he had settled. He built mills and further improved the country thereabouts, and served one term as Member of Assembly. A son of his, Finla M. Jones, served as postmaster at the little hamlet where he lived, for twenty-seven years.
35 Among those well remembered are Dr. Philomon H. Fowler, who served eleven years, and was at one time the Moderator of the General Assembly, and Dr. David Murdoch, a Scotchman, strong, hearty, and patient. One of his sons, John Murdoch, became one of the most distinguished mem- bers of the Chemung County Bar.
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CHEMUNG COUNTY, N. Y.
Big Flats the first Presbyterian Church was organ- ized in 1825, with Nathan Reynolds, Charles Fry, and Joseph Pound as deacons. In 1829 an edifice was built. Its first settled pastor was the Rev. S. Harmon. In Veteran, at the village of Millport, a church was organized in 1836, Myron Collins and Jervis Langdon36 being active in the under- taking. The Rev. H. L. Jackson was the first pas- tor. By the removal of many prominent families the society became disorganized and its church became the property of the Baptists. In Erin a Presbyterian Church was erected in 1836, but after a few years the society disbanded.
From early in the century there had been occa- sionally a Methodist minister who, riding his cir- cuit, had found the little spot on the Chemung and had ministered as he was able to those of his faith. It was not, however, until 1812 that the town was regularly included in a Methodist circuit. The first class was organized in 1819, and the first class leader was Isaac Roe. 37 The first Sunday-school
36JERVIS LANGDON was one of the most prominent and highly thought of citizens of the county. He attained a very high position in the business world of the county. Almost his first business adventure was made in Millport, where he came in 1838, when less than thirty years of age. The place was small, but there was great activity there on account of the recent opening of the Chemung Canal. It may be remembered that it aspired to be the rival of Elmira in business importance and population. MYRON COLLINS, spoken of, was MR. LANGDON's partner. MR. LANGDON came to Elmira in 1845, and ever after, until his death, resided there. He achieved a great success in the coal trade, being the first one to introduce anthracite in the Western country. One of his daughters became the wife of S. L. Clemens (Mark Twain).
37.ISAAC ROE came to the valley in 1817. His wife was a Drake, of the same family as the famous Sir Francis Drake.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF
of the church was organized in 1825; and the first church building was erected in 1832.38 Many emi- nent men of the church in their turn had charge of this society during the first half of the century, and under their ministrations it prospered to a great degree.39
He was a tanner and shoemaker by trade. A son of his, Francis A., was an officer in the American navy, and rose to the rank of Rear-Admiral. He died in January, 1902.
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