USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. I > Part 47
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THOMAS F. WOODLOCK.
NEW YORK, Feb. 10.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: In your issue of the 11th inst. you published a letter, not now before me, which complained of the issue by the United States government of a book or books about Marcus Whitman and Oregon. In regard to the statement of the writer of the letter that such book or books contained slanderous statements, I have no word to write. But his assumption that Marcus Whitman, or the Marcus Whitman who is claimed to have saved Oregon is a myth, and that Prof. Bourne of Yale has found him such, is likely to be assailed. The Sunday School Times last summer issued a call to every one who knew anything of Whitman to send the infor- mation to that paper. The replies came in voluminously, and this paper has published for the past eight months much pointed and valuable first-hand evi- dence. Would it not be a good thing for The Sun to reestablish, if it justly can, the old reputation of Marcus Whitman as having done something substan- tial toward securing Oregon for the United States ?
Have not his claims been investigated by three states and did they not unite recently to honor him ?
HAROLD VERNON.
FEB. 12.
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In spite of all, admitting that the midwinter journey to Wash- ington, his interview with President Tyler and Secretary Webster is only a legend, a fabrication, it cannot be denied that Marcus Whitman and his beloved Narcissa, the equal in fidelity, Christian character, lovable and attractive abilities and winning ways; the prototype of the character clothed with immortality by Dr. Edward Young in his "Night Thoughts"-did much, if not the most, to save Oregon to this nation and modern civilization. They gave, to ac- complish that, their means, their life-work and their life-blood, at the hands of treachery and unholy incitation. The state of Wash- ington has given their name to one of its most prosperous counties in a rich agricultural region, destined to be the home of industry and intelligence. Their name is still further honored and made a shining living guide to ambitious youth in Whitman College, at the city of Walla Walla, state of Washington, in sight of the graves of these martyrs. It was organized in 1882, is undenominational in policy and co-educational, has a president and twenty-five in- structors, two hundred and forty students and a library of five thou- sand volumes, according to the reports for the year 1910.
Spaulding and his wife set out for their missionary field of labor before Whitman and his wife and were well on their way be- fore they were overtaken by the Whitman party, and were induced by the latter to change their destination to the county of the Nez- Perces, Idaho, in the valley of the Snake river. The Whitmans went on and down the valley of the Snake river to Waiilatpui. These places were from fifty to seventy miles apart; because Spaulding records that he saw the smoke from the burning building of Whit- man's mission at the time of their destruction and the massacre of the inmates.
Spaulding was not an aggressive man and seldom had trouble with his Indians. He maintained friendly relations with Father De Smet, the Jesuit, whose mission was near the international boundary and under the protection of the Hudson Bay Company. Of Father De Smet Parkman writes that "he better understood the character, religious rites and customs of the Indians of the north- west than any other white man in British America; and had their confidence to a greater extent. His advice and aid were frequently sought by the officers and employes of this great company, to smoothi out and settle difficulties that frequently arose between them. The result was usually satisfactory to both. De Smet and Spaulding were the best of friends, and always labored in harmony. A letter of Spaulding records: "De Smet is a good man; I try to be." Was he not the true missionary ?
We take the extract below from the Spokane Review of June 9, 1893. Spokane is in the state of Washington:
"The Rev. Spaulding referred to was a minister sent out by the Pres- byterian church of Prattsburg. He is spoken of as having been more than an orphan boy, who by great self-denial obtained an education at the Prattsburg Academy. In 1836 he and Dr. Whitman, with their wives, went out to Ore- gon as missionaries to the Indians, and were the first white settlers in Ore- gon. Later Dr. and Mrs. Whitman were massacred by the Indians. Mr. Spaulding has a record of having received during his ministry over one thou- sand Indians into his church. No doubt that the migration of Spaulding and Whitman to Oregon territory saved all our present possessions beyond the Rocky mountains to the United States."
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A LONELY GRAVE AT LAPWAI.
"I visited the old mission and Indian burial ground," writes a recent visitor to the Lapwai mission in Idaho, "and bared my head by the graves of Spaulding and Monteith. The following, taken from one of the headstones, speaks volumes concerning the consecration of the early missionaries on this coast :"
REV. HENRY HARMON SPAULDING. BORN AT BATH, N. Y., NOV. 26, 1803. COMMENCED THE NEZ PERCES MISSION IN 1836. DIED AMONG HIS PEOPLE AT LAPWAI, I. T., AUGUST 3, 1874, AGED 70 YEARS, 8 MONTHS, 7 DAYS.
"The pen of the historian has hardly done relative justice to the memory of this remarkable soldier of the cross whose ashes repose beneath the sod at the quiet old mission. The thrill, the dash, the romance of Whitman's ride have diverted the public mind from the achievements of his associate and co-worker. Yet surrounding the youthful sacrifice of Rev. Spaulding there were some circumstances that made his missionary efforts more simply heroic than those of the lamented Whitman.
"Spaulding and bride had set their faces toward the broad savannas of the west before the youthful Whitman started upon his remarkable wedding journey. The former had chosen as his field of missionary labors the country of the Osages. Whitman ran after him, overtook his novel conveyance of com- bination sleigh and prairie schooner, and importuned him to go with himself and bride to the solitudes of the ultima thule of the Oregon. Mrs. Spaulding was still weak and emaciated from the effects of a severe illness, but the reso- lute young couple sought inspiration from their Master, and ten minutes later the heroic young wife, with radiant face and eyes filled with holy zeal and hope, said, 'I have made up my mind for Oregon.' And to Oregon they came, blazing the trail through the wilderness and the desert, the trail that Fre- mont followed six years later and claimed for himself the fustian title of the 'Pathfinder.' Upon the very summit of the continent Mrs. Spaulding fainted from exhaustion, but a cup of water dipped from a tiny stream flowing to the Pacific restored her to consciousness. There was magic, it seems, in the very waters that went rippling to the mighty Oregon.
"The civilization thus faintly begun has yet to do full justice to the memory of these gallant men and heroic Christian women. They were the first to come in peace and love; all before them had come in conquest and trade. They brought the priceless leaven of religion and knowledge; their memories should be perpetuated and sanctified in every church and school- house that sits upon the smiling slopes of the Pacific coast."
These were people from Steuben county. They were students of Franklin Academy. On this portion of the backbone of the con- tinent the good influences of the home county have taken root. The instruction, object and aim of Franklin Academy of Prattsburg, Steuben county, New York, prevail at Whitman College in the state of Washington. There Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Prentiss Whit- man abide.
At Spaulding and Lapwai, in the state of Idaho, the trials and successes of Henry Harmon Spaulding will be a living memory. A town and village called Spaulding in Nez-Perces was organized and named for the good missionary. A slight recognition of the esteem, worth and efforts of the hardy pioneers of the great west in the line of what they justly believed to be their sacred duties.
CANISTEO ACADEMY.
Canisteo Academy was incorporated on March 16, 1868, by the regents of the university of the state. It erected a large brick build- ing, three stories in height, beautifully situated on an eminence south of and overlooking the village. It is of tasteful architecture, com-
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modious in size and was well appointed; was finished and opened in September, 1871, and cost, including furniture, library and ap- paratus, $20,000. It had a very creditable observatory, equipped with a large revolving telescope-the only one in the county-af- fording excellent opportunity for the study of astronomy, the most interesting of natural sciences.
For a time the school prospered with a most flattering outlook for the future. The village had a most excellent graded school sup- ported by a tax upon the property of the school district. To main- tain the academy pupils who attended had to support the school. The result was easy to be determined. The academy must close or the school district be prevailed upon to assume the burden. After delay the school district bought the property and disposed of its buildings, then in need of enlargement and general improvement; so that the school of the district was removed to the very pleasant and modern academy building, where now, under the name of the Cani- steo High School, it is in a most prosperous condition and, under the new education law, has a very flattering future.
One unfortunate incident is the fact that the observatory and its excellent telescope are not now used by the school, because, for some reason, the curriculum established by the education department of the state does not include astronomy.
Too brief a review of the old academies that have lived, pros- pered, accomplished much good and become extinct has been at- tempted. No other institution has. left the lasting good upon the people at large. It required much economy on the part of parent and child to be able to "go to the academy." All were put on al- lowance or short rations for the object; it was the aim and delight to give the child the benefit of the instruction there acquired. It was not cheap. It was greatly prized because of the effort and acquisition. The free school system does not require the sacrifice. Therefore, to the old academy, hail and farewell !
CHAPTER XVIII.
MILITARY HISTORY.
STEUBEN COUNTY IN THE EARLY WARS-YOUNG MEN, THE SONS OF LIBERTY -- REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS-SOLDIERS OF THREE WARS.
Steuben county, by reason of being an unsettled wilderness, fur- nished no men or support for the Revolutionary war. Settlements did not begin until fully fifteen years after the close of that con- flict. Among the early settlers who became residents of the county were many who had well served the cause of independence in that heroic struggle and who by their lives, conduct and noble. record have left their example and patriotic devotion as elevating influences upon their descendants. It is to be regretted that a complete roster of these soldiers is not available for insertion in this work.
After much labor and expense the pension office at Washington has furnished an incomplete list of . Revolutionary pensioners who resided in this county at the time of their application for pension ; the towns in which they then resided; place and date of birth; date and place of enlistment; term of such enlistment; name of organiza- tion ; length and place of service; battles, incidents and place of service ; re-enlistments ; when and where discharged; places of resi- dence, since the close of the war ; and last place of residence. These are from the official records of the general government; can be re- lied upon, and are not subject to the uncertainties of egotistical and impaired memories. In most instances the descendants of these old soldiers know but little or nothing of their worthy ancestors, entitled to a place in the Hall of Fame, and, when questioned, exhibit in- difference, ignorance or embarrassment ; but these descendants should make it an object to show how the old soldiers so worthily coutrib- uted to their sturdy family trees. Pensions were not given until some time after the close of the Revolution ; then not to all-only to those who were dependent on the bounty of the government. These records disclose the facts that a large percentage of these soldiers of the Revolution entered the service of their country when under the age of twenty-one years and that a larger portion were under the age of twenty-five years. This is shown by the following list, which includes only those veterans who were residents of this county at the time of their application for a pension. It is regretted that a full list of the Revolutionary pensioners, residents of Steuben county, is not here included; the task of making the list presented.
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was only obtained by scanning each individual name to ascertain his place of residence at the date of application. When that was found the remainder of the information was not so difficult to ascer- tain ; the application contains most of that matter.
Why did not the men of more mature age enter the patriot army? Were the young men the only "Sons of Liberty"? A fact not so generally known as it ought to be is that the Civil war was fought on the Union side, mainly by the youths of the north. There is a record of 2,778,000 enlistments during the Civil war. It is stated that of this number not fewer than 2,150,798 were under twenty-two years of age. Those under nineteen numbered 1,151,483, and those under seventeen years, 844,891. In the south there must have been in proportion to those who participated in the struggle a far greater number of middle-aged and old men than in the north, the reason being the smaller southern population and the consequent- ly greater demands on its resources.
The following is an incomplete list of Steuben county residents who were pensioners of the Revolutionary war:
Sampson Bixby, Campbell. Certificate No. 24559. Resided at Sutton, Massachusetts, where he was born May 3, 1759. Drafted latter part of August, 1777, for four and one-half months, was at Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered, was discharged at Warwick Neck, Rhode Island, January, 1779. Removed to the Painted Post country in 1815. Applied for pension October 16, 1832; then 73 years old.
Robert Harrison, Bath. Certificate No. 4107. Enlisted at Jolin- ston, Rhode Island, in March, 1777. Discharged June 3, 1783, at Saratoga Barracks. Was in the battles of Red Bank, Monmouth, Springfield and at the siege of Yorktown. Applied for pension May 16, 1818; then sixty years of age.
Thomas Buck, Dansville. Certificate No. 5314. Born at Som- ers, Connecticut, September 2, 1762. Applied for pension October 16, 1832, age of seventy years. Enlisted as a substitute in April, 1778. Served as a sailor on the sloop "Hawk." After discharge again enlisted in May, 1780. Was a nine-months' minuteman; was muster-master; was mustered in at an encampment in New Jersey May 10, 1780. General Steuben was muster-master. General La Fayette was present; selected from the ranks to serve as a waiter. Camped at Nelson's Point, where he received his discharge. He afterwards removed to Dansville, New York, where he was a clergy- man in good standing in the Methodist church.
Samuel Gillette, Prattsburg. Certificate No. 28868. Born in Southington, Connecticut, 1759. Application October 16, 1832; seventy-three years old. Enlisted in December, 1776; in July, 1777; in December, 1777; in May, 1780. He served at various places in Connecticut and New York as conductor of teams and transporta- tion. Died May 8, 1845.
James Johnson, Bath. Certificate No. 6551. Residence at date of enlistment, December 1, 1775, Roxbury, Massachusetts. Dis- charged January 1, 1777. Again enlisted April 1, 1777. Served one year; discharged at Peekskill, New York. Served along the Hudson river.
Nathaniel Kellogg, Jasper. Born February 24, 1758, at West- field, Massachusetts. Resided, at enlistment, April 1, 1775, at Al-
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ford, Berkshire county, Massachusetts; again January -1, 1776, and June, 1777. Claimed to have been a clergyman of the Baptist church for more than fifty years. In the census of 1840 he is found in Jasper, Steuben county, living with James Ingersoll. His age given, eighty-two years.
Amos Stone, Urbana. Certificate No. 20126. Resided, at en- listment, 1776 (born Harvard, Massachusetts, September 28, 1759), at Greenwich, Hampshire county, Massachusetts. Applied for pen- sion October 16, 1832. Was at Boston when British evacuated the city. Then went to Ticonderoga, New York, until his enlistment expired; again enlisted May 1, 1777. Returned to Ticonderoga and was there when the Americans evacuated it, in 1777. In August, 1777, went into the army as a substitute, attached to General Lin- coln's brigade; was in the battle of Saratoga ; present when General Burgoyne surrendered. Enlisted in May, 1778, and in April, 1779; was present in the line of his duty when Andre was hung. Was discharged at West Point, New York, at the end of his term; moved to Urbana, 1794.
Nathan Delano, Howard. Certificate No. 8678. Born in Lanes- borough, Massachusetts, March 16, 1764. Residence at date of en- listment, October 1, 1780, New Lebanon, Albany county, New York. Enlisted again April, 1781. Was stationed at Fort Herkimer. Dis- charged at Schenectady in January, 1783. Applied for pension October 16, 1832; sixty-eight years old.
Isaac Train, Urbana. Certificate No. 5806. Born May 22, 1759. Enlisted at Adams, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Febru- ary 1, 1776, and Athol, Massachusetts, 1778. Applied for pension October 6, 1832. Marched directly for Quebec and joined his com- pany on the Plains of Abraham. He was in the retreat of the Americans, was discharged at the mouth of the Sorel river May 22, 1776. He again eulisted, and in July, 1777, in Colonel Seth War- ner's regiment, took part in the battle of Bennington, Vermont. After several further enlistments and service in New York and New Jersey continued until the expiration of his term of service.
Peter Tyler, Pulteney. Certificate No. 31387. Born in Bran- ford, Connecticut, in 1761, where he lived at date of enlistment. En- listed at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1776, as a substitute, one year; again enlisted as a substitute; after several additional enlist- ments he was discharged upon expiration of term.
James Moore, Dansville. Certificate No. 18822. Enlisted in Connecticut, 1776. Applied for pension February 7, 1822; then sixty-three years old. Discharged in May, 1777, Morristown, New Jersey. He was in the battles of White Plains and Trenton.
John Phelps, Prattsburg. Certificate No. 24,778. Boru at Longmeadow, Massachusetts, 1761. Resided at date of enlistment at New Canaan, New York. Applied for pension October 15, 1833; seventy-two years old. Enlisted as a substitute; marched to Albany ; joined the army under General Gates; marched to and was in the battles of Bemis Heights, Stillwater and Saratoga; was at Bur- goyne's surrender ; discharged at Newburgh, New York, service of three months; was drafted in June, 1778; served about Schoharie and Cherry Valley hunting Indians. In 1779 was at Fort Hunter fighting Indians; served at Fishkill, New York, until the end of his term.
Vol. I-23
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Oliver Harding, Canisteo. Certificate No. 575. Born Sep- tember, 1755. Resided at time of enlistment at Little Britain, Ulster county, New York, about 1778, in Colonel John Lamb's regiment, General Knox's brigade, Continental artillery; served to the close of the Revolutionary war, four years and three months. He was at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Discharged at West Point, New York. He was injured at the battle of Yorktown by the discharge of a cannon. He died April 8, 1838; applied for pension May 5, 1818.
Matthew Halsey, Howard. Certificate No. 8219. Born at Southampton, Long Island, 1753. Applied for pension October 16, 1832; seventy-nine years old; and enlisted in June, 1775; then living at Southampton, Long Island. He was stationed at Ticon- deroga to guard the ammunition wagons. He was discharged at Fort Constitution February 14, 1776. He did duty as a militiaman from April until after the battle of Long Island and to the latter part of July (four months). After the Revolution he resided in Springfield, Otsego county, New York, whence he removed to How- ard.
Benjamin Eaton, Painted Post. Certificate No. 27799. Born 1762. Enlisted at Atkinson, Rockingham county, New Hampshire, February 1, 1777, in Colonel Scammel's Third Regiment, New Hampshire Line, General Enoch Poor's brigade; marched to Ticon- deroga; thence to Lake George landing, to take charge of block house there. In June returned to Ticonderoga; thence retreated with the army. Took part in the battle of Hubbardton, Vermont, July 7, 1777; afterwards joined the army under General St. Clair. Applied for pension October 16, 1832; age then seventy years.
Uriah Stephens (Stevens), Canisteo. Certificate No. 8:16. Born January 26, 1761, at Canaan, Lichfield county, Connecticut. Resided at date of enlistment (drafted), in 1777, at Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania; in Captain Hayes company, at Fort Rice, then Fort Bosley; in 1778, in Captain John Chatham's com- pany. While in this company served on the frontier where the Wyoming massacre occurred. Discharged at Northumberland June 1, 1779. Again enlisted; detached to go to Middletown on the Sus- quehanna river to collect boats, provisions and stores for General Sullivan's expedition against the Indians. Discharged again at Northumberland, Pennsylvania, in November, 1:79. Removed to Kingston, Pennsylvania, opposite Wyoming, April 1, 1780; there enrolled in the militia, on May 10, 1780; served in Colonel Zebulon Butler's regiment to the end of the war. In 1766 he removed to Stillwater, Saratoga county, New York; thence to Kingston, Lu- zerne county, Pennsylvania, 1772. In 1774 moved to Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania ; in 1780, to Wyoming, Pennsylvania : in 1781, to Tioga Point, Pennsylvania; and in 1783, to Newton, Tioga. county (now Elmira), New York. In 1790 he moved to Canisteo, New York, where he died.
Isaac Palmateer, Prattsburg. Certificate No. 6859. Born 1762. Enlisted in the city of New York in 1776, in Captain Abraham Swartout's company of infantry, commanded by Colonel Gansevoort, and served in that regiment until the capture of Burgoyne, when he was transferred to Colonel Van Schaick's First Regiment of New York Infantry. He was in Captain Cornelius Johnson's company
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and continued therein until his discharge June 8, 1783, at New- burgh, New York. He was at the capture of Lord Cornwallis; was at the siege of Fort Stanwix and was engaged in several skirmishes.
His original discharge, with badge of merit for seven years' faithful service, is on file with his application for pension.
In 1820. He mentions his wife, fifty-six years of age, and states he has twelve children, six of them still in his family, viz. : Richard, the oldest, is twenty-one years of age; Rachel, sixteen years ; Joseph, fifteen years; John, fourteen years; Jacob, twelve years : David, nine years.
In 1821 some of his neighbors sent in a petition stating that Isaac Palmateer had more property than would come within the acts of congress respecting pensions of Revolutionary soldiers and asking that his name be struck from the rolls of pensions. This was done, but suspension was removed June 12, 1823. Another petition in 1828, containing the names of other neighbors, was sent to the commissioner of pensions protesting against his continuing on the pension list. His friends sent a long petition in favor of retaining him and letters from prominent Steuben county people, including the member of congress from that district, Hon. John. Magee, were sent in his favor. His pension was not again withdrawn.
David Haynes, Dansville. Certificate No. 14226. Born April 13, 1762, at Paxton, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Enlisted June, 1777, in Captain John Chatham's company, Pennsylvania militia. He acted as a pilot through the woods against the Indians; again in June, 1778, as a ranger or Indian spy, under. Colonel James Murray. He again enlisted as a substitute in October, 1781, in Colonel George Ross' regiment of Pennsylvania militia; discharged at Lancaster, after serving one month. Applied for pension Janu- ary 3, 1833; then resided in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania .; there until 1793, when he removed to Geneseo, Livingston county, New York. In 1822 he removed to Dansville. In 1837 he lived with his children in Jackson county, Michigan.
David Hawkins, Steuben county. Certificate No .; 28864. Born in Dutchess county, New York, 1758. Enlisted August or Septem- ber, 1776, in Colonel Swartout's New York state troops for five months ; was stationed at White plains, Peekskill and Fort Consti- tution, and was discharged at expiration of term., He was out at different times on alarms; always under Captain Hezekiah Mead until 1780, and was present and under arms when Major Andre was hung. Was living in Urbana, Steuben county, in 1840. His appli- cation, in 1832, states his residence as Starkey, Yates county, New York.
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