USA > New York > Livingston County > Nunda > Centennial history of the town of Nunda : with a preliminary recital of the winning of western New York, from the fort builders age to the last conquest by our Revolutionary forefathers > Part 46
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James Lusk, son of Rev. William Lusk. A. B., ex-pastor Presbyterian Church. achieved success in a legal way and became a judge in a western state.
Lindsey Joslyn a pioneer blacksmith and mill builder of Nunda, went west and became a judge of a Probate Court. He was Nunda's first postmaster.
William P. Wilcox, kept a pioneer store and inn at Wilcox Corners, went to Pennsylvania engaged in selling lands, became postmaster, Assemblyman. State Senator, Speaker of Upper House-equivalent to Lieutenant Governor in this state.
Hon. Alonzo Wilcox. his son, became a lumberman, Assemblyman, and was on the staff of the Governor, was a Democrat, became a Republican in war times, neither of these pioneers are living.
CIVIL LIST ABROAD-OUR BOYS, THE CHAPS WE USED TO KNOW
"No pent up Utica controls our powers But the whole boundless Universe is ours."
Andrew Jackson Knight, Nunda law student, has had the honor of being elected to the position of the District Attorney in Wyoming County, and in due time his son has taken and filled the same position, evidently they were chips from the same block. He was an Institute boy, and his picture taken years ago when he was a pedagogue, we present to our readers. (See Institute.)
Adelbert Moot, LL. B., a legal celebrity, studied law and attended school in Nunda, and commenced achieving success and won his first suit by marrying a Nunda preceptress so that he could always have instruction, "not that he has already attained" all that is in store for him along legal lines ; but, when the Uni- tarians of America choose him as their presiding officer, it goes without telling that his legal lore and scholastic attainments are beyond question, as their con- ventions are made up largely of the cultured and the erudite. A wealthy cor- poration that can command the highest legal talent also employs him, at rates that allow him to take his vacations in Europe.
Another birthright citizen of Nunda has a brilliant record in educational and legal erudition, till he wears the ermine of a judge of high degree.
John B. Winslow, son of principal H. G. Winslow, of the Nunda Literary Institute about 1850, was born on Massachusetts Street (Mrs. Conklins house) about 1851. The following is but a partial record of his scholastic and legal record.
John B. Winslow was born October 4, 1851, at Nunda, Livingston County, N. Y. He graduated at Racine College, Wis., in 1871, and entered upon the study of law in the law office of E. O. Hand, and later in the law office of Fuller
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HON. D. W. HICKEY AND FAMILY State Senator, Wyoming
THOMAS B. REID U. S. Consul to Portugal and U. S. Marshal
ALEX. J. REID U. S. Consul to Dublin and P. M. of City of Appleton, Wis.
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& Dyer. He finished his course of reading at the law department of the Uni- versity of Wisconsin, from which he graduated in 1875, and entered upon the practice at Racine. He was for several years city attorney of Racine. In April, 1883, he was elected circuit judge of the First Judicial Circuit, and entered upon judicial duties in January, 1884, serving in that capacity (being re-elected), until May 4, 1891, when he was appointed associated justice of the Supreme Court, in place of Hon. David Taylor, deceased. In April 1802, he was elected to fill the residue of Judge Taylor's term ; in April, 1895, he was re-elected for a full term. But this is not quite complete, he is now the highest legal star in the Wisconsin Constellation. Supreme Justice of the entire State of Wisconsin ; and the Uni- versity of Wisconsin proud of the successes already attained at middle age, has given him his third degree, that of LL. D .. on the same day that his son Horatio Gates Winslow a noble looking youngster named for his grandfather, our former professor, received his A. B., that both might rejoice together. The writer soli- cited a picture of John B. in legal robes, but he assured the writer that Wiscon- sin judges do not wear gowns, but college men do, so he sent the one taken with his son, and so we have both. (See College list.)
Dennis W. Hickey of Dalton. found his way through railroad activities to position and influence and is now State Senator in Wyoming. He married the daughter of Winfield S. Batterson of Nunda, and as we have the picture of the household it is with pleasure we introduce this climbing Irish-American and liis Yankee family. America makes Americans of all born on her soil.
Hon. Thomas B. Reid learned printing of C. K. Sanders, and George Hand attended Asher B. Evans school and the Union School, went west in 1856, be- came U. S. Consul to Portugal for five years, also became U. S. Marshal of Wisconsin.
Hon. Alexander J. Reid, born in Nunda, attended schools of Nunda, be- came a printer, edited and still edits with his brother the Appleton Post, has been U. S. Consul to Dublin, Ireland. also post master of Appleton, a city of sixteen thousand population.
GOVERNOR WASHINGTON HUNT
Washington Hunt came to Nunda in 1819, and was a boy citizen for the remainder of the time that Portage was a part of Nunda. He studied law two years at Geneseo, and was admitted to the bar in 1829 at Lockport, he was soon after married to Miss Mary, daughter of Henry Wallbridge, Esq. In 1836, he was nominated to Congress and lacked but a few votes of being elected. He was appointed Judge of Niagara County and served five years, in 1842 Judge Hunt became a candidate for Congress and was elected in 1849; he succeeded Millard Fillmore as Comptroller of the State : in 1850 he was elected Governor of the State of New York. The honors conferred upon Washington Hunt were so numerous and great that we can but rejoice that he once lived in Nunda.
Less we become convinced that no one from Nunda can equal this record we present one more name.
William S. Plummer, son of Lemira Heath Plummer, and grandson of Asa and Amy Satterlee Heath, was born and lived during his boyhood in Nunda village, he went with his people to California. No intermediate grades of honor are given, but he became U. S. Senator from California, and we all who are middle aged, have read his name often. He visited Nunda, about twenty years ago, he died in California.
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HON. ARTHUR SUTHERLAND Judge of Supreme Court, State of New York
JOHN B. WINSLOW Judge of Supreme Court of Wisconsin
OUR ARTHUR
Modern Nunda has a way of claiming full right and title to Arthur Suther- land. Ministers sons belong to the public, they are intended for general re- proof or unlimited praise. if they are full of vitality and humor, every body reproves them with a suppressed twinkle in the eye, because they know they are used to reproof at home, and now Nunda is delighted that it did not spoil their favorite. He graduated from our Union School, ( with Academic depart- ment), then from Middletown College, Conn .; then from law school ; then be- came County Judge of Monroe. and finally became Justice of the Supreme Court of the seventh Judicial District of Western New York; and now the Nunda special friends, of Sutherland ( the noble six hundred) don't know what to call him-Art. as formerly ; Arthur, Judge, or your worship. The latter is most appropriate for they worship him-from a mistaken notion that they in- spired his upward climb. It is not so, he won his own victories and there are still other scalps awaiting still this young Keshequa brave.
THE LOCAL PRESS
The pen is mightier than the sword ; the press gives form to this might and makes its power eternal.
The editor of a local paper is a local historian.
A printer's epitaph :
"Here lies a form, place no imposing stone To mark the head where weary it is lain ;
'Tis matter dead! Its mission being done To be distributed to dust again. The body's but the type at best of man Whose impress is the spirits deathless page ;
Worn out the type is thrown to pi again ;
The impression lives through an eternal age."
How to Write Right
For the Benefit of Editors and Amateur Authors.
It is hard to write right, so I give you this rule That I learned when a youth at the Cooperville School :
"Write we know is written right When we see it written right, But when we see it written wright We know it is not written right, For write to have it written right Must not be written right or wright, Nor yet should it be written rite, But write, for so 'tis written right."
OUR FIRST NEWSPAPER AND ITS EDITOR
The Genesee Valley Recorder was the first newspaper in Nunda. It made. its debut (a very polite one to the public ), September 17, 1840, a year after our incoporation as a village, and when we had about as many citizens as we have
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The
nunda
Mens.
C. K. SANDERS Founder of the Nunda News, 1859 Associate Editor
W. B. SANDERS, Editor, Nunda News
E. MERRY Editor Dalton Enterprise
EDWARD W. KOPPIE Editor of "Truth"
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now, the local poet was already on hand to give it his blessing and a good send off ; but poets and editors in those days moralized and preached as solemn as owls-or parsons. It was a freak way in those days, to sign some classical name, to let the public know in advance that they were learned, and old and fossilized, and to make them guess for a week who wrote it. Well. the poetry lived, for poems good or bad were carefully cut out and put into a scrap book, to foster poesy in Jeremiah and Jerusha. Here is the greeting poem, by Celo.
TO THE NUNDA PRESS
"Hail! Hail! thou welcome harbinger, We greet thee to our vale, Be thon to all a messenger Of joy to hill and dale ! Let thy benign and genial smile On Science ever rest
Then will thou e'er the hours beguile. Of those who love thee best,
Like the soft dew that Heaven bestows To beautify the flower, Or glisten in the blushing rose That blossoms in the bower :
Thus may thy influence be given To elevate the mind
And beautify that flower which Heaven Has made of nobler kind.
If Science fair claim thy regard And virtue give thee fame
Thou will require no rustic bard To immortalize thy name. Thy potent rays may then exist Down to the end of time And when her darkening clouds are past In their full radiance shine."
Such a starter ought to have given the editor courage to print and send about fifty extras. Pardon this digression, for I have wandered from my first Nunda newspaper, and must return and introduce the public to the editor of this and other newspapers, for every bright enterprising man who can write an essay, or essay to do so. is liable to get the editorial bee buzzing in his brilliant brain.
"If ever you knew a big-headed dunce That did not try this as often as once Well, all I can say of him along this line He never would do for a hero of mine."
Probably if his head bulged too much he became an Amateur Author.
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1
THE GENESEE VALLEY RECORDER
Was the first newspaper published in Nunda. Ira G. Wisner a brother of Col. Reuben Wisner of Mt. Morris, was the proprietor, it was fairly successful and was regularly published under that name until November II, 1841, when the name was changed to the Independent Gazette. It was discontinued in 1842. It was during the entire two years under the ownership and control of its able and efficient editor.
As Mr. Wisner came here in 1840, he represents not only the first news- paper printed in Nunda, but also the only one printed in the pioneer days of the township. The editor married during his brief sojourn in Nunda, Miss Ade- laide Merrill, the daughter of one of the early State Road pioneers, Riley Mer- rill, herself one of the pioneer teachers of the place. Their daughter married T. J. Gamble, Esq., of Mt. Morris, and their granddaughter, is the wife of a former Nunda man, Frank Wakeman, who has been cashier of the Genesee River Bank in Mt. Morris.
It is safe to say Editor Wisner has great reason to congratulate himself on his newspaper, and other successes in Nunda. The Merrill girls were worth wooing and winning. Many important historical events that were newspaper items at that time have thus been preserved, that would otherwise have been lost or forgotten. Every local newspaper is a recorder of local events, and every editor of such a paper is a local historian. Unfortunately only the editor keeps the entire file, and only the scrap book and the pantry shelves, save for a time the rest.
The Nunda Democrat, a second newspaper venture in Nunda, seems to have been a traveler, it was brought from Geneseo in 1848 by Gilbert F. Shank- land, and Milo D. Chamberlain (the latter a former student of the Nunda Lit- erary Institute), and published in Nunda for a short time, and then it moved on again, to Ellicottville, Cattaraugus County.
The Nunda Telegraph was started in 1850 by a Nunda man, Charles At- wood, and lived about a year. Nunda talent has always been at a discount, in Nunda.
The Nunda Times was established by N. T. Hackstaff in 1851. It was meet- ing with a well merited success, when a great fire that consumed the Empire Block, July 24, 1852, destroyed the office, and brought the paper to an untimely end.
The last issue of the Times was printed at Dansville after the fire. It tells its fatal story of the loss of the Empire Block, on Saturday morning at 3 A. M. This block, a fine three story structure situated at the corner of First and State Streets, contained three stores, several offices, besides the office of the Nunda Times. Loss estimated at $10,000.
The editor lived to a great old age, was one of the thirong that came to our first Old Honte Week celebration in 1905, but died soon after, aged 90.
The last issue of this best of all the early newspapers has been preserved by James Swain, and is now the property of C. K. Sanders, and with other early documents was loaned to the author in the interests of local history. We give the paper entire.
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LAST ISSUE OF THE NUNDA TIMES
Nunda Times-Extra.
Wednesday Morning, July 28, 1852.
To Our Patrons :
The office of the Times Destroyed. We come before you this week with the "smell of fire" upon our garments. With painful feelings of interest we have to announce to our patrons, that the office of the "Nunda Times" is among the things that were. On Saturday morning last, at three o'clock we were awak- ened and startled by the cry of fire ringing through our usually quiet streets. Hastening to the scene of the conflagration, our own office was already in flame and beyond the power of aid. Everything was lost even our books. The press was ruined, the type melted, and the whole establishment made a total wreck, our own loss is probably not far from $1,000 ($1000) upon which there is an insurance of $400.
The explanation of this issue in the form of an extra, is due to its having been printed at the office of the Dansville Herald, to the proprietors of which paper, we are indebted, for the prompt and cheerful tender of their facilities for the purpose.
FIRE AT NUNDA-ESTIMATED LOSS $10,000
A fire broke out on Saturday morning at three o'clock in the Empire Block on the corner of State and First Streets, in this village, and before it could be subdued, the whole of this fine block, together with the dwelling and soap fac- tory of D. Thayer, and the Carriage Shop of D. D. Morse, were entirely con- sumed. The air at the time was perfectly calm and still. otherwise the whole main portion of the village, must have been swept away by the devouring ele- ment. Great credit is due to the citizens for their vigorous exertions in arrest- ing the progress of the fire and removing the valuables from those buildings that could not be saved.
The following is a list of the sufferers: M. Oppenheimer, Clothing store. goods mostly saved, fully insured, the store was insured for $1,000.
E. M. Brown, Boot and Shoe store and Post Office. The greater part of the goods were saved, covered by insurance.
L. B. Warner. Dry Goods, a large portion of the goods saved ; insurance on goods $3.000, on building $1.300.
H. S. Flint. Empire Saloon, loss about $210, no insurance.
Dr. C. F. Warners office and library, loss not known.
Dr. Wrights office, also occupied by J. Seaver, Esq., as a Justice office, loss about $250.
N. T. Hackstaff, Times ( printing) office, loss about $950, insurance $400.
D. D. Morse carriage shop, loss about $1,200, insured for $700.
N. Baird, Barber shop, loss $150.
D. Waldo, shoe maker, loss small.
D. Thayer, house and shop. loss $300.
William N. Alward, barn burned, loss $150.
The Eagle Hotel and the Hardware store of A. C. King had a very narrow escape, but by the greatest exertion of the citizens of the village, they succeeded in saving them, otherwise the whole block of stores would have been entirely con- sumed. We must say to those who managed the engine, that they deserve great praise.
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THE ANGRY KESHEQUA
THE GENTLE KESHEQUA
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"The New Era," was issued at Hunt's Hollow in 1854 by David B. and Mer- ritt Galley, boys aged fifteen and seventeen years respectively. In 1855 it was removed to Nunda, where under the name of "The Young America," its publi- cation was continued until 1856. Both editors are living in Brooklyn, they both have been graduated at college, and Merritt Galley is a very successful in- ventor.
"The Nunda News," has proved to be a stayer. It was founded October, 1859 by Chauncey K. Sanders. It was first printed in the office of the Dans- ville Herald, by George Sanders, the editor's brother. In this office C. K. San- ders had been employed for two years, and one year prior to that he had been in the office of the Geneseo Democrat.
The paper is one that this village and any other village, might well be proud of. It secures annually a word of merited praise from the editors of other vil- lages of Western New York. It is of the greatest value to, former residents of Nunda, throughout the United States and keeps them in touch with old time friends, "The folks they used to know." In December, 1898, Mr. Sanders was succeeded in the proprietorship of the paper by his son, Walter B. Sanders, the former remained as associate editor. At the time of the retirement of Mr. Sanders, Sr., no paper in the county had been for so many years conducted con- tinuously by the same proprietor. Its semi-centennial is due next year, and it is hoped it will in due time reach its Centennial. Mr. C. K. Sanders is the oldest active editor in Livingston County, long may he remain so.
1868-1876
The Livingston Democrat was started in Nunda in January, 1868, and lived until November 4, 1876. It was published successively by H. M. Dake, Charles F. Peck, Shepard & Holly and C. L. Shepard. Peck and Shepard have won successes outside of their editorial career.
DALTON NEWSPAPERS
"Occasional," was a sixteen sheet paper. It was first printed at Dalton in October, 1880, by W. S. Orcult. It maintained an irregular existence until May I, 1881, when A. D. Baker became a co-partner with Mr. Orcult, and the "Dal- ton Era" took the place of "Occasional." In November Mr. Orcuit sold out to Mr. Baker who continued to publish the Era until November, 1888, when George E. Daggett published it and changed the name to the Dalton Enterprise. In September, 1889, Mr. Daggett died, and the paper was sold to Rev. W. A. Hunt- ington of Hunt's, and George L. White of Dalton, who changed it to a prohibi- tion sheet under the name of the Dalton Freeman. In September, 1890, Mr. White became sole proprietor and continued its publication until February I, 1893, when it was purchased by E. Merry. Under the new proprietorship the paper became Republican and the name Daiton Enterprise was restored. In July it was enlarged to a seven column folio and again in April, 1903, it was en- larged to an eight column folio. Mr. Merry is still the proprietor, and the En- terprise seems to meet the wants of the "Enterprising" village. The paper, like wine, improves with age, and has become a necessity. A long and "Merry" future mav it have.
"The Nunda Herald" was started by Erwin Lamont, and was for a short time fairly successful. It advocated temperance and much of the patronage de- pended on the editor, continuing to practice what he advocated. Its discontinu- ance told its own story.
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The (second) Nunda Herald, a Democratic paper founded by George W. Mason, A. M., was started in 1881 or '2 and continued about two and one-hali years. Willard Wood, and Frederick Davidson, were earnest supporters of it. the last year of its brief existence. Mr. Mason also edited and published "The Pioneer Monthly," the only magazine ever published in Nunda. Mr. Mason was a scholar, a graduate of Madison, now Colgate University. It is to be regretted that his "Pioneer Monthly" was not continued, for at that time ( 1882 and '3) it would have been less difficult to write of pioneer events, then little more than a half a century old. As I never remember to have seen a copy of the Herald. I cannot speak of its intrinsic worth. It failed for want of patronage. The edi- tor died recently in Buffalo. As a writer of ability, he probably had no equal in the county but he lived in a time when Democrats were not as active or ener- getic or numerous as now. There was real merit in his magazine.
"Truth" was established in Nunda May 8, 1902, by Lester B. Scott and Ed- ward W. Koppie, who conducted it in partnership until June 17, of the same year. when Mr. Koppie became and still remains sole owner, editor and publisher. The paper aims to be independent in politics and has succeeded in establishing itself permanently in a village where with the exception of the Nunda News, fail- ure or misfortune has been the history of newspaper ventures. There seems to be a demand and sufficient support for two papers now, where half a century ago it was doubtful if one could be sustained. The beginning of the "Twentieth Century" is so unlike the beginning of the "Nineteenth" that this last news- paper venture in this new century, with new methods, finds admirers and sup- porters of the new era type, sufficient to secure a "twentieth century" success. and so we say with Joe Jefferson. long may it live and "pwosper."
Other editors and men who have gone from Nunda. James T. Ray, printer has a position in the Government Printing Department, Washington.
Wilbur C. Phillips is a skilled correspondent for city papers at Philadel- phia. Merton Wilner is connected with the Buffalo Express: E. F. Baldwin is editor and publisher of the Peoria Star: Thomas B. and Alexander Reid edit and publish the Appleton ( Wis.) Journal.
AUTHORS WHO FORMERLY LIVED IN NUNDA
John S. Wright issued a pamphlet on pioneer conditions in Ohio previous to 1830. Dr. Jabez Dake. Jr .. published text books of medicine used in the Hahneman College. Sophia Webster Lloyd wrote poems for the leading papers of her day, which were published by her son, John Uri Lloyd. the novelist. Some of them were written in Nunda. Mary Bennett Hall wrote a book of poems entitled "Live Coals." James R. Bowen wrote the history of the First New York Dragoons. a book highly prized by the veterans of that regiment ; Aiken Aspinwall compiled the genealogy of the Aspinwall family : . Prof. Wayland Benedict wrote many books on Theism and Philosophy ; Prof. M. S. Whitcomb has written text books on Geography, History of Art, and as a compiler of condensed knowledge suitable for study has been eminently successful. Charles E. Fairman has written on the Fungi of Western New York ; Anna Warner French, daughter of Anna Warner of Nunda, has written a family genealogy and numerous novels of an up-to-date order, so piquant and racy that she has wrought success (spelled with a capital) in the line of
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her work; Rev. T. Dwight Hunt, ex-missionary to Hawaii, wrote a book on the moral outlook of the Sandwich Islands.
Arthur J. Barnes and Mrs. Barnes have written and published many text books for their commercial college in St. Louis, creating new methods ; also a shorthand manual and translations. Their successes are largely due to their original systems, now in common use in the city schools of St. Louis.
SELF-MADE MEN
It is a pleasant duty to record the achievements of a class of men who not only deserve success but were marvelously successful. Their successes were along lines of activity, with varying bows of hope, beckoning them onward. Like Kenjockety, they were all "above the multitude." It is doubtful if they had not in common many of the same qualities, though their aims were dis- similar. They all possess industry, courage, perseverance, patience and an all controlling power of will. The product attained, however, depended wholly on their varying ideals of life and happiness. But they won. Out of weakness some attained strength ; out of ignorance others acquired wisdom: out of poverty many rose to affluence : seeking only to be helpful, a few found and wrought righteousness. Some had other aims, social position, political power. wealth for its own sake ; and others affluence, as the steward of philanthropy. Verily, they all received their reward. let local history give to each his due. The book were brief that heralds but the great. Too often merit goes unrec- ognized. The striver, verily, has his reward.
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