USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. I > Part 40
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In 1860 the Pleasant Valley Wine Company was organized, erected a well-appointed and spacious wine cellar and commenced the manufacture of wine. The first year it used about eighteen tons of grapes. This consumption steadily increased until in 1874, when it consumed above one thousand and five hundred tons, and the manufacture has steadily increased until the present time. It began the manufacture of champagne and now has an output of about two hundred thousand bottles annually. It has steadily en- larged its plant and storage. The plant of this company is located in Pleasant valley, in the town of Urbana, about two miles from the village of Hammondsport, at the head of Lake Keuka, on the
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Bath and Hammondsport railroad. The station is very appropri- ately called Rheims. Its cellars have a capacity for over one mil- lion bottles of champagne and one hundred and fifty thousand gallons of still wine. The Pleasant Valley Wine Company has a reputation for its product of champagne that is not equalled on the American continent. The latest returned total valuation of this company is $155,000.
Another wine-producing factory is located on the west shore of Lake Keuka, called the Urbana Wine Company, which was or- ganized in 1865, with a capital stock of $250,000. The buildings consist of sandstone dwelling houses, two" isolated fireproof build- ings and two hundred and twenty-five acres of carefully selected grape land, mostly well set to grapes in full bearing in the season. It is said that the champagne produced here is the equal of any made in the most celebrated districts of Europe. The latest re- turned valuation of this company is $132,000.
In addition to the above are the Germania Wine Company, New Hammondsport Wine Company, Rowalet Wine Company, Vine City Wine Company and Fridell Wine Company. The proc- ess of wine making is a skilled industry and only competent and thoroughly trained people are employed. After the juice has been expressed and separated from the pulp, skins and seeds of the fruit, the careful treatment begins. Each bottle separately is in- spected and placed in the rack at the proper angle; the daylight, temperature and air admitted and regulated; then comes the bot- tling, corking and shipping. All this vast amount of labor and expenditure of money is far in excess of what was required by the early people in the making of cider, their only and perhaps su- perior beverage.
AERIAL NAVIGATION.
In addition to grape culture and wine-making in the Steuben county towns, bordering on this lake, the gem of the lake region of the Empire state, Hammondsport at its head and most southern reach, was the scene of some of the earliest experiments and later successes of aerial navigation. The notoriety caused by the suc- cessful flights over Lake Keuka was wide, but almost unbelievable; the story of Darius Green and his flying machine was recalled by the incredulous young and old. Wherever maps were available search was made for the locality where this new craft was launched; more index fingers pointed out on the map to the location of this now noted lake, for a time, than to any other spot on the globe. The principal was not new. Every boy who had shied a chip, shingle or bit of thin board into the air, or skipped a smooth, flat stone over the surface of a pond, is familiar with the basic prin- ciple of the success of the air craft; only the man never before had gumption to apply it to practical use. It is told that when the first suspension bridge was contemplated across the gorge at Ni- agara the first and principal difficulty was to get a wire or cable across. Learned and skillful civil engineers studied, planned and pondered, and a small reward was offered to any one who would span the gorge. The boy was then and there the father of the man. On the Canada side a boy built a large, strong kite and attached to it a long, stout cord. He knew the direction of the prevailing wind
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and the effect of the rapid, rushing water of the gorge upon the air for a considerable distance above. With his outfit he went to the high ground to the west of the gorge, sent up his kite, the west wind carried it to a great height and it drifted east to the New York side, where it landed. His confederate there gleefully se- cured the cord and the attempt was a success. It was easy enough, if you knew how.
OBJECT LESSON TAUGHT.
In this brief review of the manufactures of this county, from the rude arts and artisans of the pioneer to the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, no other object lesson is so im- pressively shown as the wonderful strides of intelligence and in- vention. What is true of the locality under consideration is equally or more fully perceived in all parts of the nation, and, indeed, in the civilized world at large. They of the early years of the last century had to remove the forests before they could make farms, with the prevailing and dominant idea, centuries old, that the cut- ting off and destroying of the timber was necessary for the im- provement of the land. Ignorant of true economy and greed for land to cultivate have destroyed forests on areas entirely unfit for any other purpose. Conservation of the timber of these tracts would now mean largely increased wealth. To accomplish this waste and destruction the forces provided by nature were employed. Water in the streams was running away, over cascades, falls and rapids, without benefit to any mechanical purpose. By enterprise and intelligence these waters were confined and made to assist in this work of denudation by driving mills and factories. After the work had been completed, again the streams were released and unconfined, awaiting the ingenuity and enterprise of the man of the future to again harness the waters in order to generate that mys- terious and all pervading force, electricity, the chief of motion and destroyer of inertness, or, as it has been termed, the "vicegerent of creative power, the prime minister of omnipotence." The chronicler of passing events and the conservator of the past is, in comparison, like a person rowing a boat. His vision is to the stern of his craft, and if he is true to his position he sees only the past ; but the uneasy and inquisitive laborer at the oars cannot resist looking ahead over his shoulders, becomes a seer, perchance a soothsayer, and asserts the conquests of the future-the golden age of manufactures.
Every perennial stream, however humble, tumbling or rapidly running down the hillside and across the meadows, or through a glade, possesses potentialities sufficient to supply all the labor, wants and comforts of a farm, a rural neighborhood, hamlet or village, creating energy in place of lassitude, comfort in place of wretchedness, contentment for unrest.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE IMPERIAL OCCUPATION.
RISE OF AGRICULTURE-STEUBEN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY- THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY-EDUCATION BY GRANGE AND COLLEGE-HORNELLSVILLE FAIRS-THE PASSING OF THE "FAST HORSE"-CATTLE AND DAIRY PRODUCTS-SHEEP, HOGS, EGGS, POULTRY, ETC .- POTATOES AND OTHER VEGETABLES-VINE- YARDS OF THE COUNTY-BUCKWHEAT-FARMING MOST SUB- STANTIAL BASIS OF PROSPERITY.
The rich and fertile land of the Genesee and of the Painted Post country was first brought to the attention of the people of the New England states, of the eastern parts of the states of New York and Pennsylvania and of the state of New Jersey by the glowing accounts given by the returning soldiers of Sullivan's army from the invasion of the "Indian country," as this whole region was then known. Until after the close of the War of the Revolution and after the Massachusetts cession of its interest in all of the territory lying west of Seneca lake and between Lake Ontario and the state of Pennsylvania, emigration did not actively commence, and then by way of the Mohawk river and by roads through the wilderness to the northerly part of the new territory. Other and more frequented routes of penetrating the country were by way of the Susquehanna river and its tributaries. These emi- grations came largely from eastern Pennsylvania and New Jer- sey. Emigrants from eastern New York and the New England states came to Albany, thence up the Mohawk to its tributary from the south, the Scoharie creek, and by short and easy portages to the headwaters of the main branch of the Susquehanna, floating down this river to the "Indian Arrow," or Tioga Point, at the confluence of what is now known as the Chemung river; thence propelling their flat-boats up this stream, arriving at the junction of the Conhocton, Canisteo and the Tioga rivers, or the location of the famous Painted Post, from which the territory drained by these constituent rivers became known. The valleys of these streams were generally from one to three miles wide; between and separat- ing these valleys were high hills covered with heavy timber, largely pine and hemlock, interspersed with deciduous trees. In many places these valleys had been occupied and rudely cultivated by Indians, and some natural meadows, or long-cleared lands, were
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found. The Genesee country was not so easily accessible, though the surface of the country was more inviting to the prospective farmers.
The first arrivals in Steuben county found dense forests of heavy timber. After clearing ground enough to build a habita- tion and a limited tract for corn, beans, squashes and a few roots, the newcomers depended on these meager crops and what animal food was furnished by the woods and streams for their sustenance. But it was soon ascertained that the pine lumber from the forests on the hills and in the valleys, when manufactured into lumber, was of larger value than the crops from the cultivated land. Saw- mills were built and logs were floated or drawn to them and con- verted into the best quality of pine lumber. The streams supplied an easy way of transporting the pine lumber, in arks or rafts, to the markets of the lower river, from which was realized more money than the rude cultivation of the land would yield in a long time. The land from which these pine trees were cut was not usually cleared beyond this cutting except when fires created havoc, consuming the dead tops and limbs, undergrowth and much valu- able timber. The land so cleared could be planted or sowed, but aside from that little attention was paid to this rude cultivation. It was more profitable to lumber than to farm, and, besides, an opportunity was afforded to "go down the river" and see the out- side world. In the Genesee country no such allurements from truc agriculture prevailed; the timber was mostly hardwood, of no value except to get it off the land and convert it into black salts. Its settlers cleared the land, made beautiful farms and soon trans- formed their country into the most desirable part of the state for productiveness in grain and fruit.
Because of the more ready returns from the lumbering busi- ness the improvement and cultivation of the land in Steuben coun- ty and its entire agricultural advancement have been greatly re- tarded. If the forests had been of deciduous instead of evergreen growth the agricultural development would at the end of fifty years have been far more advanced, and again if the original tim- ber was now in the same condition as at the first settlement it would be the richest of the rural counties in the state.
RISE OF AGRICULTURE.
Not much attention was paid to the business of farming and stock-raising until about 1850. The pine timber had been nearly all removed from the land, so that attention to the cultivation of the land was now necessary. These lumber producers, raftsmen and river men, like sailors, fishermen or canalers, were poor farm- ers, with little or no disposition to improve upon the methods of half a century before. The prospects for success in this generally rough and broken country could only be realized by hard work, and the men who subdued the wilderness were heroes, with little prom- ise or encouragement for the younger part of the inhabitants to remain. The glowing accounts of the level and productive lands of the states of the Mississippi valley and the riches of the mines of California induced many to dispose of their neglected land to a new class of people from the Mohawk valley and the states of Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut, who were farmers by
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birth and experience. They introduced new methods and habits of living; eleared and subdued the land; introduced new ways of cul- tivation ; planted superior grain, brought with them, and raised im- proved cattle, horses, sheep, swine and fowl.
The Civil war operated against all employment, more rigorous- ly against the farmers and rural dwellers than those of any other occupation ; the strong, brawny and liberty-loving sons of farmers largely composed the army of the north; the south was equally drained to maintain the army of the confederates. The colored people of the south supplied the drain, but were without any di- reeting mind. In the northern states nearly every female adult knew something about farm labor and the management of the farm, and nobly, without hesitation, performed the new but ornerous duties naturally devolving on husbands, sons, brothers or lovers who were at the front defending the nation's honor. The elose of the war found the agricultural interests of both north and south in a depressed condition.
STEUBEN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
To more fully set forth the growth of agriculture, stock, grain and fruit culture, a brief history of the Steuben County Agricul- tural Society is here inserted. It is contended that the growth and importance of the farming and kindred interests cannot be better presented than by thus reverting to the society. For most of the matter relating thereto the editor is indebted to Reuben E. Robie, Esq., of Bath, New York, its accomplished secretary.
The first fair in what was then called western New York was due to the efforts of the first representative of the Pulteney estate, whole sole desire was to make known to the whole country the at- traetions and induements of his domain. The place of meeting was the village of Williamsburgh on the Genesee, near the mouth of the Canaseraga and at one time contained a good hotel building, a drygoods store, a distillery, blacksmith shop and grocery shops, a grain warehouse and about forty dwellings. It was founded by Captain Charles Williamson in 1792. Like many air castles, not a vestige of the place remains that was famous for holding the first western World's Fair, one hundred years ago.
Similar fairs were annually held at the same place for many years.
General history and our state legislative records show that the men who achieved our national independence and laid up for them- selves in the memory of all coming generations a most grateful re- membrance soon turned "their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks," for early in 1793 we find them before the legislature asking of the state aid in the promotion and ex- tension of agricultural knowledge. They seemed to have surveyed the subject in all of its aspeets, and to have been fully possessed with the idea of the inereased importance of agricultural pursuits, both to the people and to the government. Their application was received favorably, and by chapter 59, laws of 1793, passed March 12, the incorporation of The Society for the Promotion of Agrieul- ture, Arts and Manufactures. Speaking of the passage of this law an early writer says: "Although the act did not appropriate any money, still it gave good earnest of a brighter day to come in the
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history of our state; it laid broad and deep the foundations of its strength and greatness by granting at so early a day to the tiller of the soil that encouragement and assistance which the relative usefulness of agriculture demanded."
In 1795, only two years after the beginning of the first settle- ment at Bath, Colonel Williamson, with all the energy and zeal that characterizes the "promoter" of any scheme to sell choice building lots in the moon at the present day, flushed with the suc- cess that had already attended his sale of lands, in order to call still wider notice to the Bath settlement and outlying country, caused the following advertisement of a fair and races at Bath and Williamsburgh (a place now extinct, but then located on the Gene- see river, between Mount Morris and Geneseo), to be published in the Albany Gazette of May 1, 1795:
GENESEE FAIR AND RACES,
To be held at Bath, in the Genesee country, on the first of September next. The annual Fair and Races at Williamsburgh, Genesee river, on the 15th of September.
The particulars will be expressed in a future advertisement.
CHAS. WILLIAMSON.
Bath, Ontario County, May 1, 1795.
A race course of the then regulation length and width was cleared and carefully grubbed, east of May street, upon the farm now owned by Freeman D. Hopkins, and every preparation made for the grand event, but, as seems by a notice which appeared in the Western Sentinel of August 11, 1795, published at Whitestown, Oneida county, the fair and races at Bath were postponed to the 21st day of September, on account of the meeting of the court of oyer and terminer and circuit at Canandaigua, of which Colonel Williamson, as judge, was compelled to attend on the first Monday of September. That the meeting was a grand success there can be no doubt.
The final advertisement rcads as follows :
WILLIAMSBURGII FAIR AND GENESEE RACES.
This is to give notice that there will be held at Williamsburgh, at the Great Forks of the Genesee River, an annual fair for the sale and purchase of cattle, horses, sheep, etc., to commence on Monday, the 23rd day of Sep- tember, next, and continue on Tuesday, the 24th. It is expected at this fair that a number of fat bullocks and working oxen of the best New England breed are to be shown, with which that country is well supplied. As the situation of Williamsburgh lays convenient to the Niagara market, it is also expected that both horses and young cattle will meet with a ready sale and a high price, the demand from upper Canada being considerable. On Wednesday, the 25th of September, there will be run for, over the race ground at Williamsburgh, a purse of fifty pounds, and the same day a subscription purse. -
On Thursday, the 26th of September, there will be run for, the sweep- stakes, and some races for small prizes.
As this meeting will be held in the center of a country already abounding with provisions, strangers will find no difficulty in providing for themselves and horses, and pains will be taken to afford them every possible accommoda- tion. Particular convenience will be made for such horses as are brought there with the intention of running for the different prizes.
The horses to be regularly entered and to carry weight according to the established rules at the races in the low country, and the same restrictions to take place with regard to such horses as are prescribed at other races. N. B .- The new state post-road leading from Philadelphia to Williams- burgh passes through Northumberland and Lycoming. The distance from
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Philadelphia to the entrance of the Genesee country by this new route does not exceed 200 miles.
Of the fair and races of 1796 the local historians say: "In 1796 Colonel Williamson advertised to the country at large that grand races would be held at Bath, and all the resources of the place were brought forth for the entertainment of as many gentle- men of distinction and miscellaneous strangers as might honor the festival with their presence. But what probability was there that such a festival would be celebrated with success in the midst of a wilderness of nine hundred thousand acres? From Niagara to the Mohawk were but a few hundred scattered cabins and in the south a dozen ragged settlements contained a greater part of the civilized population till you reached Lyoming. But Colonel Williamson did not mistake the spirit of the times.
"On the day and at the place appointed for the race in the proclamation, sportsmen from New York, Philadelphia and Balti- more were in attendance. The high-blades of Virginia and Mary- land; the fast boys of Jersey ; the wise jockeys of Long Island; men of Ontario, Pennsylvania and Canada; settlers, choppers, gamesters and hunters to the number of one thousand and five hundred or two thousand met on the pine plains to see the horses run-a number as great, considering the conditions of the region where they met, as now assemble at state fairs and mass meetings; men of blood and spirit made the journey from the Potomac and the Hudson on horse- back, supported by the high spirit of the ancients to endure the miseries of blind trails and log taverns.
"The races passed off brilliantly. Colonel Williamson, him- self a sportsman of spirit and discretion, entered a southern mare named Virginia Nell; High Sheriff Dunn entered Silk Stockings, a New Jersey horse, quadrupeds of renown even to the present day. Money was plenty and the betting lively. The ladies of the two dignitaries who owned the rival animals bet each $300 and a pipe of wine on the horses of their lords, or, as is related, poured $700 into the apron of the third lady who was stake holder. Silk Stock- ings was victorious."
On May 4, 1804, the life of the Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, Arts and Manufactures expired by limitation, and such organization was merged in "The Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts," incorporated by chapter 41 of the laws of 1804, the then members of the old association together with those who should join with them constituted members thereof, with the usual powers conferred upon such corporations, and in addition I ob- serve that the members of the legislature were made honorary mem- bers thereof.
ELKANAH WATSON.
Very soon thereafter there came into notice in the agricultural world a gentleman who had won eminent distinction in other of the walks of life, Mr. Elkanah Watson, of Albany, New York, who was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on January 22, 1758, for whom the claim has been made of having first conceived the project of building the Erie canal; that he early saw what good would re- sult to this county and all territory adjacent thereto by the con- struction of the Crooked Lake canal will appear later. Mr. Watson
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was foremost in awakening an interest in agricultural and indus- trial associations in this state. He first founded the Berkshire Agri- cultural Society at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, which was incorpor- ated in 1811, but gave exhibitions annually under the elms in the public square there for four years prior thereto.
Returning to Albany in 1815, Mr. Watson threw his energies into organizing similar county societies in this and other states. The Berkshire society, organized after the style of our county so- cieties now, was a success and he sent copies of his pamphlet history of that society to every county in New York and generally throughout the United States, with a view to awakening an interest in the subject; and to the zeal and energy he displayed we are in- debted for all legislation upon this subject subsequent to the act of 1804, above referred to. He carried the matter to the legislature in 1819, and, after a bitter fight, on April 7th of that year suc- ceeded in securing the passage of "an act to improve the agricul- ture of this state," (Chap. 107), which appropriated $10,000 per year, for two years, towards the promotion of agriculture and fam- ily domestic manufactures in the state, of which sum $100 was apportioned to this county-the several county appropriations only to be paid over by the comptroller upon satisfactory proof that the county agricultural society, if one had already been established, or should be, should have raised a like amount by voluntary sub- scription.
Of the part Mr. Watson took in the organization of a Steuben county agricultural society he tells us in his "History of Agri- cultural Societies of the Modern Berkshire System," at pages 163- 164, viz. : "On the 3d June, 1819, I commenced a western tour in my little wagon and was gratified to meet a warm reception on my route among the presidents and officers of agricultural societies recently established.
"In six days I reached Bath, in Steuben county, two hundred and fifty miles from Albany, via Geneva. I soon learned that, being expected there, a number of gentlemen who contemplated the estab- lishment of an agricultural society had appointed a meeting at the court house on the 10th. A committee called upon me at Mr. Cruger's and pressed my co-operation, and in a public manner to address the community on the occasion. In a hope of being instru- mental to allay a political ferment which agitated the community and to reconcile discordant materials which I had had the good fortune to effect, on similar occasions, although unprepared, I ac- cepted the invitation and was accordingly conducted by a commit- tee, with the Rev. Mr. Higgins, to the court house at four o'clock.
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