USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York : with a historical sketch of the county > Part 92
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In the fall of 1810, he caused John Blowers who was in his employ, to build a log house to be occupied by Blowers and his family. The house was completed, and Blowers moved into it before Christmas of that year. This was the first building erected in Jamestown, and Blow- ers became its first inhabitant, late in 1810.
In the spring of 1811, a large one and one- half-story log house was erected upon the out- let, within the city limits for Mr. Prendergast and his family. That year a dam was built by William Prendergast, across the outlet, a grist- mill was commenced, and a saw-mill completed, but it did not commence sawing until about the first of February, 1812.
At the court of sessions held in June, 1812, an indictment was found against Mr. Prender- gast for overflowing lands adjacent to Chautau- qua lake by the erection of liis dam; the indictment was pressed to trial, and he was fined fifteen dollars, notwithstanding he had removed his dam. Besides being obliged to remove his
dam and pay damages occasioned by the over- flowing of lands, and the expense occasioned by the rebuilding of the dam and mills, he lost his house and the most of its valuable contents by fire. He, however, after the fire, and in 1812, erected another house, into which he and Cap- tain Forbes moved their families in December, 1812. These families, and that of the Blowers were the only residents, and the house last men- tioned, and that built by Blowers in 1810, were the only houses at the close of the year 1812 in Jamestown.
In 1813 Blowers opened the first tavern in Jamestown, which he kept in his log house, and Mr. Prendergast purchased about 550 acres more of land in Jamestown, and completed a saw- mill, consisting of two single saws and a gang of sixteen saws. The first bridge over the Outlet was commenced in 1813, and completed in 1814. During the last war with England but little improvement was made at the Rapids, as it was then called, but in 1814 several fami- lies besides those above mentioned were residing in Jamestown, and a considerable number of new buildings erected, and the grist-mill finished this year. Mr. Prendergast, however, was the owner of all the real estate at the Rapids, which the assessors valued at $2976. His tax for that year was $38.98.
In 1815 Judge Prendergast erected an acade- mic building of two stories on the west side of Main street, near Fifth street. That year a large tavern was also erected in Jamestown, at the southeast corner of Main and Third streets, which was afterwards owned and kept for many years by Elisha Allen, the father of Colonel A. F. Allen; other buildings were erected that year, and some new residents came in, among them Dr. Laban Hazeltine and Dr. Elial G. Foote, both afterwards prominent physicians and distinguished citizens of Jamestown, and Abner Hazeltine, who was an eminent lawyer and much-respected citizen of the county. The Chautauqua manufacturing company was incor-
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porated this year with Judge Prendergast as its agent and executive officer. The village now began to be called Jamestown in honor of its founder, Judge James Prendergast, although the titles of "Ellicotts " and "The Rapids " were sometimes used.
We have now given something of an account of the early settlement of Jamestown, briefly tracing its history to the period, at which it became entitled to be considered a village, and receive a name. It is the design of this book to give only the history of the early set- tlement of the county, and of the towns and cities that compose it, leaving the reader to gain the knowledge of its subsequent history, from the preceding biographical sketches of its enter- prising and influential citizens, who have spent their lives in it, and have themselves contributed to make its history ; a novel method, which in certain respects has an advantage over a general historical narrative. Moreover, the develop- ment of Jamestown from an energetic little vil- lage, located in the midst of pine forests and lumber enterprises, into an active and progress- ive city, having great promise for the future, in- volves more than an ordinary amount of detail, and a narrative of events of such importance, as not to be compressed into the limits allotted to this writing. The names of the many lead- ing and influential men, that have been con- cerned in promoting the progress and prosperity of Jamestown ; many of whom are living, and many more have passed away, could be scarcely crowded into a sketch like this, much less, could a just history of the interesting events and cir- cumstances of its risc from a village of saw- mills, and sturdy lumbermen, to a fine city, equipped with the latest inodern improvements. The facts regarding Jamestown, however, should be patiently gathered before it is too late, carc- fully arranged, and faithfully and fully written.
The progress of Jamestown is not due to the enterprise of its citizens alone. Its growth has been a natural one, the logical result of the ad-
vantages of its situation. Judge James Prender- gast, Col. James McMahan, and Judge Zattu Cushing, three leading pioneers in different and distinct parts of the county, besides having broader and more comprehensive views, as to the direction in which the development of the county would tend, were possessed also, of more means than most of the early settlers, and could therefore proceed with more deliberation and care in choosing the spot at which to stake their fortunes. Col. McMahan, was a surveyor quite familiar with this western wilderness. He had traversed the county from its southern limits to Lake Erie, as early as 1795, with a view to a location and finally chose the beautiful farm- ing lands adjacent to Westfield, as presenting the most favorable prospect. Undoubtedly visions of commerce upon the great Lake, not far from the scene of his venture, influenced him in his choice. Judge Cushing, also passed through the county in 1798 or 1799, on his way to Presque Isle to superintend the building of the ship "Good Intent," and again on his re- turn East. He selected his home on the Caua- daway, in the fine lands around Fredonia, as of- fering the greatest promise, to one who would choose a home on the frontier. He was no doubt influenced in his choice, by similar con- siderations to those that governed Col. McMahan. Judge Prendergast, who as early as 1794 or 1795, traveled extensively in the southwest, having visited the Spanish country of northern Louisiana, and again in 1805 journeyed through Pennsylvania to Tennessee, with a view to set- tlement in that State, and had last explored the region around Chautauqua Lake, and along the Conewango, saw in the magnificent forests of southern Chautauqua, a source of wealth. He saw also, a prospect of its immediate realization, in the Allegheny and its tributaries, which of- fered the facilities for the transportation of the lumber manufactured at their sources, to the great market, which he perceived was destined to grow up in the valley of the Mississippi.
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He undoubtedly was also influenced in his choice of a location by the facilities for manu- facturing offered by the excellent water-power at the foot of the lake, which seemed then even better than now. For the forests which then covered all the region that supplied the lake with water, shielded the surface from evapora- tion, rendering the discharge more copious and constant than in late years. The result of his venture seems to have justified his choice. Lumbering was in early years the leading industry of Jamestown, as it was of all the southeastern part of the couuty. Although the prices obtained were exceedingly small for the excellent quality of pine which rafted from this region down the rivers, for much of it,. " not more than it cost to cut the logs, manu- facture the lumber, and run it to market," yet it brought all the cash that came to the settlers. The only resource of most of the pioneers in other parts of the county for many years, was from the sale of black salts, made from ashes gathered in the fallow where the timber was burned. It was the ouly product in many of the towns, that could be sold for cash or even exchanged for goods aud groceries. Lum- bering then, as grape culture now, was what brought money to the county. It early called attention to Jamestown and established the foundations for its prosperity. As the develop- ment of its other manufacturing industries which have been the chief cause of the later growth and present importance of Jamestown, came after the pine forests had been swept away, its history does not belong to the pioneer period, but to that of later years. No attempt therefore will be made in the limited space allotted to this sketch to trace the progress of these industries from the time the first tannery was started, and the little wool carding machine was erected in 1815, down to the extensive Alpaca mills of the present time.
The effect of the extensive manufacturing interests to promote the growth of Jamestown
may be briefly shown by a few comprehensive statistics. March 6, 1827, Jamestown was in- corporated as a village, being the first village incorporated in the county. The steamer Chau- tauqua was built at Jamestown and was the first steamboat launched upon the lake. She made her trial trip July 4, 1828. This was the beginning of a substantial navigation of the lake.
The population of Jamestown by the census of 1840 was 1212; thirty years later, 1870, it had increased to 5337, in 1880 it was 9357, and in 1890, 16,038, maintaining about the same rate of increase during the last ten years as in the previous decade. It was incorporated as a city in 1886. It has now electric street cars, and lights ; gas aud water-works, and all things belonging to a modern city.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY .- Matthew Prendergast, a son of William, afterwards a judge of the county, represeuted the town of Chautauqua, aud Philo Orton represented the town of Pomfret upon the Board of Supervisors for the year 1810, the last year that the county was represented in Niagara county, for at the meeting of the Board of Supervisors there it was ascertained from the assessment rolls that Chautauqua county contained five hundred voters for members of Assembly, which entitled the county to be fully organized, which was ac- complished by the appointment of county officers on the 9th day of February, 1811. The following officers were duly appointed, viz .:
First Judge .- Zattu Cushing. Associate Judges-Matthew Prendergast, Philo Orton, Jonathan Thompson, William Alexander.
Assistant Justices .- Henry Abell, William Gould, John Dexter, Abiram Orton.
Justices of the Peace .- Jeremiah Potter, John Silsbee, Abijah Bennett, Asa Spear, Jus- tus Hinsman, Benjamin Barrett, Daniel Pratt, Selah Pickett.
Clerk .- John E. Marshall. Sheriff-David Eason. Surrogate-Squire White. Coroners- Daniel G. Gould, Philo Hopson.
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Up to this time Chautauqua had no separate existence as a county. The settlers that had established their homes there were seattered nearly over its whole extent. Only narrow clearings had been made at wide intervals in the dense wilderness that everywhere covered the county. No thoroughfares of travel by land or water extended into it, and its people seemed to be shut out from communication with the populated parts of the county, and had no voice in the general government of the State; as a consequence a sense of solitude up to this time had oppressed them, which was in a measure removed by being permitted to have a voice in public affairs. The evidence of future pros- perity began to appear in the industry and energy of the settlers, in the widening of their clearings and in the increase of their improve- ments. By the United States census taken in the year 1810 the population of the county was 2381. Eight years before there was scareely an inhabitant in the county.
TOWNS SUBSEQUENTLY SETTLED .- The only remaining towns of the county in which settle- ment had not been commenced were six. Of these French Creek was first settled in 1812, Ellington about 1814, Cherry Creek and Mina about 1815, Clymer in 1820 and Sherman in 1823, and was the last settled town in the county.
CONCLUSION .- We have now completed the aceount of the principal events relating to Chau- tauqua county prior to its occupation by the pioneers of the Holland purchase, and have also given a history of its early settlement, bringing it down to the complete organization of the county in 1811, and this is all that was intended by this historical sketch. Although Chautauqua county was completely organized in 1811, and settlements substantially effected, its pioneer history did not end, however, until the completion of the Erie canal.
Emigration from the east, during the first years of the history of the county, first pressed
towards the western reserve, passing by the Holland purchase, the lands of which had not yet been put into market. When these lands were offered for sale (as the Holland Land com- pany sold theirs for $2.50 and $3.50 per acre on a credit, while western lands were sold at a less price for cash), those who possessed the ready means and were able to pay at once for their farms, sought more attractive homes in the fertile prairies and flowery openings of Ohio and the west, consequently the first settlers of the Holland purchase, and those particularly of the county of Chautauqua, were the poorest class of people -men who often expended their last dollar to procure the article for their land. Chautauqua county then was densely covered with a majestic forest of the largest growth, which cast its dark shadows everywhere, over hills and valleys, and along the streams and borders of the lakes. No- where in northern latitudes could be found trees so tall and large, and none could behold without awe and pleasure, the grandeur and grace of these mighty woods, yet a home here, to cope with and subdue them, promised a lifetime of toil and privation ; and no one felt invited hither but strong and hardy pioneers, men of the frontier who were aceustomed to wield the axe and handle the rifle; who eould grapple with the forest and rough it in the wilderness, and think it ease ; who could reap the thin harvest and live upon the coarse and often scanty fare of the woods and eall it plenty ; consequently thic first settlers of this county were mostly from the back-woods region, at the western verge of settlement. They brought with them strong arms, stout hearts and a thorough knowledge of the expedients of life in the woods. They were a body of picked young men, possessing vigorous bodies and practical minds. Among their number were often men of marked ability, whose talents would honor any station. Al- though the most of them possessed but little of the learning of books and schools, not a few were cultivated and accomplished men and
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women of refinement and education, whose at- tainments were such as to prepare them to adorn any society. The most of the early set- tlers were, however, educated in a true sense ; they possessed that learning, which, in the sit- uations in which it was their fortune to be cast, best fitted them for a life of usefulness, and en- abled them to contribute their full share in the great works of progress and improvement allot- ted to them. They were skillful adepts in their calling ; accomplished masters in wood-craft, and in all that pertained to the formidable task of preparing the way for the westward expan- sion of civilization and population.
A further history of the pioneer period of the county, as well as of the important events that have transpired since then, down to the present time, it is not our purpose here to re- late, after the manner of the general historian, and we shall be obliged at this time to omit the names, even, of leading pioneers and honored citizens who have acted a prominent part in the history of the county. Able works have been written, and valuable contributions made, to- wards the History of the County of Chautan- qua, among them the concise and excellent little pioneer work of the Hon. E. G. Warren, and chiefly the valuable and fully prepared History by Andrew Young, in which he received the invaluable assistance of Dr. E. T. Foote, to whom the county owes a great debt of gratitude for preserving its history ; the local contribution of Dr. H. C. Taylor, in his complete and excel- lent History of Portland; the History of Jamestown, by the able pen of Dr. G. W. Hazcl- tine, and also the valuable contributions of J. L. Bugbee and Samuel A. Brown.
It is the purpose of this work, in place of a general history of Chautauqua county, subse- quent to its organization, which has in a great
measure been written by others, to substitute sketches of its citizens, many of them represen- tative men of the county, who have partici- pated in its leading events, some, it may be, not distinguished beyond the ordinary walks of life, but all, it is believed, are worthy citizens, from the records of whose lives in their various spheres, a better knowledge of the rcal condi- tion and history of the county, can be ob- tained than from an ordinary historical nar- rative.
Biography often most vividly presents his- torical facts. It has been well said that : " Bi- ography is history by induction." As history is the synthesis of Biography, so Biography is the analysis of History. The old idea that the history of a country is contained in the record of its kings and its conquests, is being sup- planted. The real history of a country is the history of its people-their fortunes, conditions and customs, the common people of a nation, their mental and moral status-are what give it character and mould its destinies. Its rulers, the leaders of its armies, and its wars, are really trivial circumstances. Even forms of govern- ment are but a reflex of the character of the common people. History therefore is made up of the biographies of the masses, and is best ex- pressed in the life-records of its energetic and enterprising citizens.
The facts contained in these biographical sketches, it is believed, will have their value hereafter, in permanently preserving the records of leading citizens, and in aiding the future historian of the county to complete an orderly and authentic record of events transpiring sub- sequent to the organization of the county, and furnish valuable data for all parts of such his- tory, and it would be the desire of the writer of this sketch to aid in such a work.
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