USA > New York > Erie County > Centennial history of Erie County, New York : being its annals from the earliest recorded events to the hundredth year of American independence > Part 32
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The grand canal was now fairly under way in this section. All along the banks of the Niagara, from Buffalo to Tonawanda creek, ploughs and spades were busily at work. Early in the winter the commissioners had let the contract for a dam at the mouth of that creek to judge Wilkeson and Dr. Johnson, and throughout the summer of 1823 those energetic business men kept that locality alive with the noise of a host of laborers. Mr. Wilkeson also established a store there, the first one nearer than Williamsville. Soon afterwards, Tracy, Townsend and other Buffalonians formed a company, bought a tract of land, and laid off a village at that point. This was the beginning of Tonawanda, a place of which large expectations were formed, that waited long for their fulfillment, but which in the last ten years have been amply realized.
The war between Buffalo and Black Rock was at its height in 1823, the champions of the former place being the Buffalo Patriot and the Buffalo Journal, and that of the latter the Black Rock Beacon, which had been started the year before. This was the time when the fortunes of Black Rock reached their climax, its citizens being still inspired by the hope of having a "cut off," which should give then the actual terminus of the canal. It was probably nearly half as large as Buffalo. But thenceforward it stood nearly still, until it was absorbed in Buffalo and began to share its growth.
Buffalo's lack of a harbor had been so fully remedied in 1823 that, on the 12th of July, one of her journals proudly boasted of twenty-nine vessels at her wharves at once. The imports in- cluded cedar posts, flax-seed, corn, oats, whisky, maple-sugar, ashes, and ginseng. No wheat nor flour that time-though wheat and flour occasionally came, in small quantities.
In the spring of this year (1823) Mr. Wilkeson resigned his judicial position, and Ebenezer Walden, the pioneer lawyer of the county, was appointed first judge of the Common Pleas. In the fall the ex-judge was selected to represent the county in the assembly.
358
AN UNEVENTFUL YEAR.
The undestroyed records show the following supervisors elected in 1823 and '24, nearly all of them serving both years : Buffalo, Josiah Trowbridge; Amherst, John Grove and Oziel Smith; Clarence, Simeon Fillmore; Alden, Edmond Badger ; Wales, Ebenezer Holmes; Hamburg, Lemuel Wasson ; Eden, James Green and Asa Warren; Boston, John Twining ; Holland, Mitchell Corliss; Sardinia, Morton Crosby and Horace Clark; Collins, Stephen White and Nathaniel Knight.
The year 1824 was not an eventful one in Erie county. The canal was nearly finished within the county limits, and only awaited the completion of the great cut through the mountain ridge at Lockport, and some work of less importance on either side. While it was thus in progress its great advocate, De Witt Clinton, who after being governor many years was then serving as canal commissioner, was removed from that humble but im- portant office through partisan hostility. This ungrateful act roused the intense resentment of a large portion of the people, and in the fall he received an independent nomination for gov- ernor, and was triumphantly elected. Erie county remembered her benefactor and gave him a handsome majority.
At the same time Colonel Calvin Fillmore, of Aurora, was chosen to represent the county in the assembly, and Judge Wilkeson was elected to the senate. Daniel G. Garnsey, of Chautauqua county, was elected to Congress. Mr. Tracy de- clined a renomination for that position, and in the winter was nominated by the State senate for United States senator, though then but thirty-one years of age. The assembly, however, failed to concur, and on a subsequent joint ballot another aspirant was elected. Another weekly paper was established this year, by Lazelle & Francis, called the Buffalo Emporium.
Not far from the time under consideration, certainly during the administration of Mr. Otto as local agent, the Holland Company adopted a system of receiving from the settlers the products of their farms, in payment for land. Agents yearly received cattle at certain advertised points, and endorsed the value thereof on the contracts. Turner states that, while the measure was highly beneficial to the settlers, the company, by reason of the expense of agencies, etc., lost largely by the new system.
359
AN EXCITING SEARCH.
CHAPTER XXXII.
A YEAR OF SENSATIONS.
An Exciting Search .- The Thayers .- John Love .- The Shooting Match. - The Dis- covery .- The Trial .- The Confession .- The Execution .- Reception of La- fayette .- Interview with Red Jacket .- An Amusing Episode .- Major Noah. -Ararat .- Laying the Corner-stone .- Noah's Proclamation. - The End of Ararat .- The Climax of Absurdity .- Completion of the Canal. - The Grand Celebration .- De Witt Clinton .- The State Salute .- The Wedding of Lake and Ocean .- Political Matters.
The quiet of 1824 was more than compensated by the excite- ments of 1825. Since the close of the war no such eventful twelvemonth had passed over the county of Erie.
Early in the year the public first learned of a tragedy which became celebrated throughout the country, and to which old residents of Western New York still look back as the event most deeply branded on their memories. For many reasons I would be willing to omit all mention of this wretched event, yet it was so notorious that it would obviously be out of the question for any one to pretend to write a history of Erie county, without giving some account of the episode of "The Three Thayers."
In the latter part of February, 1825, there was a great excite- ment in the town of Boston, especially in the northern portion. Men and boys were out on all the hillsides and in all the valleys, peering into bushes, looking under logs, exploring every nook where a human body might be secreted. They were searching for the corpse of John Love. Love was a Scotchman by birth, who made a practice of sailing the lake in summer and going on peddling tours in winter. He was an unmarried man, and for two or three years had made his headquarters among the Thayers, near North Boston.
These were an old man, Israel Thayer, and his three sons, Nelson, Israel, Jr., and Isaac. The two first were married, though the oldest was but twenty-three years of age, the young- est of the three being nineteen. They were all in very humble
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360
THE THREE THAVERS.
circumstances, and the young men have generally been reputed as of reckless and evil character. On the other hand, it has been said by some who knew them well that their general be- havior was no worse than that of many young men, and that, had it not been for their subsequent crimes, their characters would have passed without special reprobation. S. V. R. Graves, Esq., of East Hamburg, so informed me, and added that either of them would share his last sixpence with an acquaintance, in case of need. Certain it is that the two oldest both married into respectable families.
Love had acquired some money, which he was in the habit of loaning. He had lent some to the Thayers. During the sum- mer of 1824 he sailed in the employ of young Bennett, now the venerable Deacon Joseph Bennett, of Evans, then the owner and captain of a small vessel on the lake. Deacon Bennett declares Love to have been a penurious, grasping man, and says he has no doubt, from circumstances within his knowledge, that he was planning to get possession of all the little property the Thayers had.
In the fall of 1824, Love, after returning from the lake to Boston, and remaining with the Thayers for awhile, suddenly disappeared. Little was thought of it at first, as it was sup- posed he had gone on one of his peddling trips. Ere long, how- ever, it was noticed that the Thayers, usually so poor, were well supplied with money.
Perhaps the first suspicion against them was aroused at a shooting-match in Boston, on Christmas day. Shots were a six- pence apiece, and sixpences were scarce in those times. Marks- men were in the habit of economizing, especially if they found themselves missing many shots. But all the afternoon the three Thayers kept up a constant firing at the match-maker's turkeys, careless whether they hit or missed, and flinging out their six- pences with a profusion positively startling to the rural mind of that era.
Soon, one or another of the young men was seen riding a fine horse which had belonged to Love, and which they said he had given them. Finally, with that fatuity which so often lures criminals to their destruction, the Thayers attempted to collect notes and accounts, which they represented that Love had left
DISCOVERY, TRIAL AND CONVICTION. 361
with them for that purpose. The debtors demurred. One of them refused to pay because no power of attorney was pro- duced. In a few days a power of attorney was brought forward. Then suspicions rapidly grew rife. The Thayers were closely questioned as to Love's whereabouts, and their unsatisfactory answers increased the suspicions.
At length Nelson and Israel were arrested, and, as I have said, men gathered from all the country round to search for the body of Love. The magistrates of Boston offered for its recor- ery a reward of ten dollars! But ten dollars was more then than it is now. The searchers circled far and near, exploring every suspicious nook, but without results, and toward nightfall they returned, wearied and unsuccessful, but still unsatisfied.
One of them had his attention called to a piece of sloping ground back of the cabin of Israel Thayer, Jr. It is generally reported that this was caused by old Mr. Thayer's asking whether they had examined that locality, but there is nothing in the sworn evidence to that effect. At all events several men went to examine the spot. And there, lying on his back in a shallow grave, carelessly covered with brush, his toes peeping through the frozen ground, was the body of John Love, only twenty or thirty rods from the house of his murderer. The ar- rest of Isaac and the old man immediately followed, and all were soon in jail.
They were tried at the Erie county Oyer and Terminer, on the 19th and 20th of April. Reuben H. Walworth, judge of the fourth district and afterwards chancellor of the State, pre- sided, while on the bench with him sat Ebenezer Walden, first judge of the Common Pleas, and Associate-Judges Russell, Doug- lass and Camp. District-Attorney Potter appeared for the peo- ple, assisted by Sheldon Smith and Henry B. White, both young lawyers, lately admitted. The prisoners were defended by Thos. C. Love. Ebenezer Griffin and Ethan B. Allen. Israel, Jr., and Isaac were tried first, and Nelson separately, afterwards. The father was not put on trial. Associate-Judge William Mills was also on the bench, at the second trial. Of the jurors, Jas. Clark of Lancaster, and Elijah Knight of Michigan, still survive, and possibly others. The evidence was too plain for serious contest, and all three were found guilty and sentenced to death.
24
362
CONFESSION AND EXECUTION.
Finding their doom sealed, they made a full confession of their crime. I pass, as briefly as may be, over its tragic details. The murder had been planned for several days before the 15th of December, 1824. On that day Love had been persuaded to go to the house of Israel, Jr., whose wife had been sent away. While he was seated before the fire-place, Isaac, from the outside, fired through the window, hitting him in the head. As he did not fall from his chair, the oldest of the brothers struck him with an axe in the neck, completing the work. £ Isaac then went away, declaring that he had done his part, and the other two buried the body, as has been said, in a grave so shallow that the earth scarcely covered its feet.
They all said their father had nothing to do with the crime, and it was not generally believed that he had, except that he might, perhaps, have been made aware of it after its commission.
On the 7th of June, 1825, was seen the remarkable spectacle of three brothers led to execution for murder. It was this cir- cumstance which made the crime famous, and which drew an enormous crowd to the scene of doom. When executions were public every one attracted a throng-but three executions at once had a fascination which hardly any one could resist. Even the day before the last tragedy, many bent their way toward Buffalo, and on the morning of the execution, every road was crowded with people-men, women and children-hurrying for- ward in every kind of vehicle, on horseback and on foot. Never had there been seen such thronging numbers since that dismal day in December, 1813, when all the people fled, not to, but from, the execution which they feared at the hands of savage invaders.
There was, however, one notable exception. As Judge Wal- den was entering the village from his farm in Hamburg, he met the veteran Red Jacket, striding alone toward his home at the Seneca village.
"Why, how is this," said the judge, "why do you not go to see the execution, like the rest?"
"Ugh," growled the old chieftain contemptuously, "fools enough there now-battle is the place to see men die ; " and with this aphorism he haughtily pursued his way.
The morning of the execution the wretched father was re- leased, and returned to his desolate home.
363
A HUNGRY THRONG.
As usual the militia was called out, and besides the regiment of foot, commanded by Colonel and District-Attorney Potter, I find mention of Captains Matthews' and Vosburgh's troops of horse, and Captain Crary's artillery. A mass of people, es- timated at from twenty to thirty thousand but probably not half so large, was gathered about Niagara Square, near the west side of which the gallows was situated. Again, as twice before, Elder Glezen Fillmore was chosen to preach the customary ser- mon, and the survivors of the scene still remember the solemn impression which he made, as his mighty voice rolled out over the heads of the hushed throng.
This was the last public execution at Buffalo, and the only one in Erie county after its separate organization. Like most other noted events of that era, the tragedy was celebrated in divers most unmelodious attempts at rhyme. One of them was so remarkably uncouth in style, and so disjointed in meter, that it may fairly be termed a classic among doggerels. Verses are often quoted from it by old residents, and the newspapers have several times reprinted it for the delectation of their younger readers.
One somewhat curious item illustrates the eagerness of the people to visit the execution, and marks a point in the history of Alden. Thomas Farnsworth, as his son informs me, had put up a large house on the site of Alden village in 1823. He sometimes entertained travelers, but kept no regular tavern for two years. When the crowd came flocking to the execution they, in common parlance, ate him out of house and home. He furnished them everything he could, and then prepared a large supply of eatables and drinkables in expectation of their return. Again the hungry throngs cleared his larder ; he then concluded that he might as well keep a tavern in earnest, and accordingly put up a sign.
It may be noted, too, as another landmark of progress, that in that year James Wood and Orsamus Warren, both deceased within the past year, opened the first store at "Wood's Hollow" in Wales. In fact it was about the first large store in that section, and drew trade from a wide range of country.
Between the trial and execution of the Thayers occurred an- other event of wide-spread interest. For two or three days Cap-
364
LAFAYETTE AND RED JACKET.
tain Vosburgh's cavalry and Captain Rathbun's Frontier Guard were kept under arms at Buffalo, awaiting the arrival of the steamer Superior. A large concourse of citizens also assembled daily.
At length, about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of June 4th, the steamer came, and from it descended an old man of medium height, venerable appearance and mild demeanor. A great crowd saluted him with enthusiastic cheers, the soldiers pre- sented arms, and under their escort the stranger passed up Main street, to Rathbun's Eagle tavern. It was Lafayette, the guest of the nation, returning from his western tour.
In front of the hotel a handsome pavilion had been erected, where Judge Forward, on behalf of the people, welcomed the distinguished stranger in a brief address, to which the general made an appropriate reply.
Among those who had awaited his arrival was Red Jacket, proudly displaying his Washington medal, and doubtless looking forward with his usual vanity, though with apparent stoicism, to a scene in which it was arranged that he should play a strik- ing part. As the whites naturally wanted their aboriginal lion to make a creditable appearance, a special committee kept close watch to see that the lion did not get drunk before the visitor came.
After the formal reception was over, the orator was escorted on the stage by the committee. "The Douglass in his hall," says Turner, who was present, "never walked with a firmer step or a prouder bearing." He almost seemed to condescend to take notice of the gentleman from France.
Their conversation was through an interpreter ; in fact Red Jacket always employed one on state occasions. In the course of it the treaty of Fort Stanwix was mentioned. Lafayette asked his interlocutor if he knew what had become of the young chief, who at that time eloquently opposed the "burying of the tomahawk."
" He stands before you," proudly and promptly replied the aged orator. Nevertheless there is a good deal of doubt as to whether Red Jacket was present at Fort Stanwix at all. If he saw a good chance to add to the dramatic interest of his inter- view with Lafayette, he would probably be quite willing to seize
365
AN AMUSING EPISODE.
it, without regard to the trifling matter of his absence from the council.
In further conversation, the sachem remarked that time had not visited the general so hardly as himself.
"Time has left you a fresh countenance, and hair to cover your head ; while as for me-sce!" and taking off the handkerchief which had covered his head, he disclosed that he was nearly bald. A laugh went round among the spectators, for most of them knew that Lafayette himself wore a wig. On the chief- tain's being informed of this fact, he drily remarked that he supposed he, too, might supply himself with a new head of hair, with the aid of his scalping-knife.
That evening the village was illuminated, and the next morn- ing the general set out for the Falls, being escorted as far as Black Rock by the military.
The occurrences which I shall next describe form altogether the most amusing episode in the history of the county of Erie. Seldom, indeed, have there happened anywhere events which properly entered into history, and yet which were of so intensely farcical a character. This account of them is to a great extent condensed from an essay read by Hon. Lewis F. Allen before the Buffalo Historical Society, though the journals of the time have also been consulted.
From the time of its "conquest," and the expatriation of its would-be sovereigns, in 1819, Grand Island had remained un- tenanted by man, save perchance by an occasional squatter, who had stolen back and occupied his old ground so quietly that no one had cared to disturb him. Deer were abundant. Bears and wolves were occasionally seen, and fish could be caught in unlimited quantities. White hunters occasionally visited the island, and the Indians of the neighboring reservations held an- nual carnivals of weeks at a time, always returning with canoes filled with venison.
After several years of this Arcadian existence, the State caused the island to be surveyed into farm lots in 1824 and '25, and in the latter year they were offered for sale. While the sur- vey was going on, Major Mordecai Manuel Noah, a prominent Israelite of the city of New York, formed a plan to purchase the island, (a part of it at first,) found a city, and gather there the
366
THIE "JUDGE OF ISRAEL."
Hebrews of all nations, making it an asylum for that oppressed people.
Despite the visionary nature of his scheme, Major Noah was a shrewd man of the world in ordinary affairs-a native of the United States, a counselor at law, a successful politician, and the editor of the principal organ of the Tammany, or "Bucktail," party in the metropolis. By the favor of that party he had been made consul at Tunis and high sheriff of the county of New York.
He does not, however, seem to have had much influence with his own people, though always a loyal and devoted son of Abra- ham. The Hebrews, even of his own acquaintance, distrusted his judgment and rejected his proposals.
Nevertheless he persisted in his plan. Poor in means himself, notwithstanding his political influence, he persuaded his Gentile friend, Samuel Leggett, to purchase about a thousand acres at the head of Grand Island, and fifteen hundred on the castern side, opposite Tonawanda. Mr. L. agreed to pay nearly seven dollars an acre, but only one-eighth was paid down. Other par- tics, including Peter Smith, father of the late Gerrit Smith, stimulated by Noah's talk of building a city, purchased nearly all the rest of the island at a little less than four dollars per acre.
Noah now assumed the title of "Judge of Israel," without the slightest sanction from any assemblage of his compatriots, how- ever small, or from any of the actual dignitaries of the Jewish church. He then provided himself with robes of office, and, at- tended only by a solitary secretary, set forth to found his city. For it he had selected the appellation of "Ararat," and the wits of the day declared it very natural that, in searching for a name, Noah should light on Ararat.
He arrived in Buffalo near the middle of September, 1825. Some of the necessary arrangements had been made in advance. A flag-staff had been erected on the island to bear the Grand Standard of Israel, and a flat stone, resembling in appearance a large, old-fashioned gravestone, had been inscribed by a Buf- falo mechanic with a suitable device, furnished by Major Noah. Though called a "corner-stone," it does not appear to have been intended for any particular building, but rather as a memento of the founding of the city.
367
A GRAND PROCESSION.
And here comes the most amusing and surprising part of all this strange performance. Finding, according to his own state- ment, that enough boats could not be procured to convey to the island all who wished to see the ceremony, Major Noah deter- mined to lay the foundation-stone of the city of Ararat in the village of Buffalo, twelve miles distant, and on the other side of the cast branch of the Niagara river. I suspect, however, that this astonishing absurdity was due rather to the facilities which the village afforded for a good show, as compared with the wilds of Grand Island ; for vanity was certainly one of the . principal characteristics of the self-styled judge.
The people of Buffalo were full of excitement over the almost- completed canal, and their own expected greatness, and gladly availed themselves of any opportunity to make a display. More- over, as if to add to the oddity of the whole affair, it was de- termined to lay the foundation of this Jewish city of refuge within the walls of the. Episcopal church of St. Paul's. The masons, too, lent their aid, some of the military companies agreed to turn out, and the officers of the corporation consented to appear in a body.
The 15th of September was fixed as. the day for the cerc- mony. At sunrise salutes were fired in front of the court-house and on the Terrace. At eleven o'clock a procession formed in front of the masonic lodge-room, and moved toward the church. Colonel Heman B. Potter acted as grand marshal.
There was a band of music, and militia companies, and citi- zens, and various officers both civil and military. Then came the masons, in full regalia, with the emblematic corn, wine and oil. Then, almost at the last, followed only by a few royal arch masons and knights templar, came the principal figure of the procession. In an article written by Major Noah himself, for an extra edition of the Buffalo Patriot, that figure is described as " The Judge of Israel, in black, wearing the judicial robes of crimson silk, trimmed with ermine, and a richly embossed golden medal suspended from the neck."
At the church the troops opened each way, and the proces- sion entered, while the band played the grand march from Judas Maccabees. The " corner stone" lay on the communion table ! The masonic corn, wine and oil lay in silver cups on the stone.
368
A WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION.
The latter bore the following inscription, the first line being in Hebrew :
Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God-the Lord is one. ARARAT, A City of Refuge for the Jews. Founded by MORDECAI MANUEL NOAH, In the month of Tizri 5586-Sept. 1825, in the 50th year of American Independence.
The Episcopal morning service was read by the Rev. Addison Searle, the missionary rector of St. Paul's, and then a hymn was sung to the tune of "Old Hundred." Then came various prayers, reading's from the Bible, a psalm in Hebrew, and finally the benediction. The ordinary ceremony of laying a corner- stone with trowel and mortar was necessarily omitted.
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