USA > New York > Steuben County > Wayland > Directory of the Village of Wayland, N.Y, 1901 > Part 3
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Satisfaction has always been guaranteed.
Once a customer always a customer.
Careful consideration of our patrons' needs, together with a per- sistent effort to please the shoewearing public is the combination that unlocks our successful career.
C. F. ZEILBEER.
H. J. NILES.
THE WAYLAND ADVANCE.
VOL. II, NO. VII.
WAYLAND, N. Y., THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1901.
SI. PER YEAR.
OFFICE 6 SOUTH MAIN.
33
DIRECTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
FINANCIAL
First National Bank of Wayland, corner Main and W Naples, capital $50,000. Organized 1899. William W. Clark, President ; Martin Kimmel, Vice- president ; John J. Morris, cashier.
Directors :- William W. Clark, John Hill, Martin Kimmel, John J. Morris, Mrs. L. G. Jervis, Henry V. Pratt, Bert C. Patchin, Addison L. Morley, Wiley W. Capron.
Wayland Dime Saving and Loan Association, 9 N Main. Organized 1887. Assets $66, 183. Members 200. George Nold President, A. L. Morley Vice- President, C. S. Folts, treasurer, Peter H. Zimmerman, secretary. ·
Directors :- George Nold, C. S. Folts, John Walker, Sylvester Dodge, A. L. Morley, P. H. Zimmerman, John Kimmel, Peter Gessner.
NEWSPAPERS
Wayland Advance-Office 6 S Main, H. J. Niles, Editor and Publisher, weekly, Thursday. Subscription $1. Established 1900.
Wayland Register-Office 12 W Naples, Bert Goodno, Editor and Publisher, weekly, Wednesday. Subscription $1. Established 1888.
Union Advertiser-Office 15 S Wayland. H. Boyington Newell, Editor and Pub- lisher. Weekly, Saturday. Subscription $1. Established 1877.
RAILROADS
Erie Railroad. Station N Main, Daniel Tierney, Agent. Trains depart : east, 7:45 a. m., II :II a. m, 6:53 p. m. West, 5:38 a, m, 9:00 a. m, 3:56 p. m., 7:35 p. m.
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. Station Lack'a ave. R. Charles Neill, agent. Trains depart : east, 10:43 a. m., 6:45 p. m. West 4:40 a. m., 6:43 a. m., 3:23 p. m
Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad. Station Lack'a ave. R. Charles Neill, agent. Trains depart : 6:45 a. m., 10:45 a. m., 3:30 p. m. Trains arrive : 10:10 a. m., 2:15 p. m., 6:40 p. m.
EXPRESS COMPANIES
Wells, Fargo Express Company-Office Erie Railroad Station, N Main. Daniel Tierney, Agent, George W. Marts messenger,
United States Express Company-Office D. L. & W. R. R. Station, Lack'a ave. Uptown office, Weinhart Bros., 18-20 N. Main, R. Charles Neill, agent. Weinhart Bros., messengers.
TELEGRAPH
Western Union Telegraph Co .- Office Erie R. R. Station, N Main, Urban H. Steinhardt, manager.
TELEPHONE
New York and Pennsylvania Telephone and Telegraph Co. Local and Long Distance .- Central pay office, Snyder & Patchin's 2 N Main
Bell Telephone Co. of Buffalo, Long Distance .- Central pav office, Snyder & Pat- chin's 2 N Main.
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34
DIRECTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
WAYLAND BAKERY
AND
ICE CREAM PARLOR
WILLIAM PARSONS
PROPRIETOR.
All the leading periodicals, daily, weekly and monthly.
AT STURM'S.
A fine line of Fruits and Confec- tionery, always fresh.
AT STURM'S.
The largest stock of Cigars and Tobbaccos. AT STURM'S.
An immense assortment of Pipes and Smokers' Sundries.
AT STURM'S.
F. S. STURM,
ENGEL BLDG.
BICYCLE REPAIRS
My repair shop is equipped with machinery and tools that enable me to execute first-class work neatly, promptly and substantially.
I also do Gun Repairing of all descriptions, including re- bering, re stocking and choke boring for Nitro powder, on up-to-date principles.
L. B. OLNEY.
LOUIS A. SCHWAN
MERCHANT
TAILOR
KIMMEL BUILDING, WAYLAND.
35
1473573
DIRECTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
Carpenter Edwin A., 4 Sullivan Kimmel, M. & Son, 9-1I N Main
Kramer, John A. 23 Fremont. Loveland, Henry J., 7 W. Naples
Rauber, Jacob N., 15 E Naples Snyder, Charles, 10 N Main Weinhart Bros 18-20 N Main
ARCHITECT. Granger, Mark L., 4 N Main AUCTIONEERS.
Magee, John C., 2 N Main
Rosenkrans, John A., 12 S Main Weiermiller, Christian J., 47 Washington BAKERY.
Parsons, William, 23-25 N Main BARBERS
Abrams, Glen D . 21 N Main Henchen, Charles, 3 S Main
LaTerre, Allen A. 21 N Main
Merrill, Elbert, 21 N Main Shaffer, Herman J,, 3 S Main
BILLIARDS.
Abrams, Glen D. 21 N Main
BLACKSMITHS.
Curtis, Harris, 11 E Naples
Dean, Stanley L., 36 N Main Falvey, William, 36 N Main Harter, Ertam
Kester & Shaver, 11 W Naples, F. J. Kes- ter, A. C. Shaver
Scott, Burton J., 42 N Main Teed, Harvey J., 24 S Main
BOOKKEEPERS.
Bennett, Frank L., Elmira, N. Y.
Bennett, Lawrence B., D. L. & W. Station Caywood, William S., Incubator Co.
Engel, Peter J., W. W. Capron, Jr. Fogal, Frank Guile, Lucile H., Canning Factory
Millington, Fred'k. W., T. Millen & Sons Morris, John A., First National Bank Neill. Stewart D., Columbus, O. Wolff, Frederick W.
BOOTS AND SHOES.
Davis Grant S., (S) 39 N Main
Jacobs, Joseph P. (R ) 6 E Naples
Knauer, Ernest, (R ) 6 S Main Morley, A. L., (S) 14 E Naples Nold, George, (R S) 6 E Naples Sorge. William F. (R) 6 E Naples Zeilbeer, Charles F. (S) 6 S Main (R-Repairing, S-Stock)
BOTTLING WORKS. Mattes, George J. Mgr., N Scott CARPENTERS AND BUILDERS.
Bartholomew, Arthur, 8 Water Folts, Christian J., 16 Washington Johnson, Lewis A., 12 Mill Johnston, New ell, 38 Rosenkrans Lander, Frederick C., 10 & Scott Lander, Frederick J., 20 Lincoln Lander, George W., do Neis. Frank, 30 Rosenkrans Neis, Jacob. 2 Rosenkrans Neis, Joseph, 30 Rosenkrans Ostrander, William E, 13 S Main Richards, Charles H., 53 Lincoln Robinson. Frank N .. 65 S Main Robinson. Stephen E, 41 S Wayland
Weiermiller, Christian J., 47 Washington Wenner, Charles, 12 Lincoln
CIGAR AND NEWSDEALER.
Sturm, Frederick J., 31 N Main CLERGYMEN.
French, Rev. Mrs Ella J. 22 W Naples
French, Rev. George J. do Janes, Rev. W. Irving 12 Sullivan King, Rev. John M . 20 Fremont Stemler, Rev. John B., 26 Fremont
CLERKS.
Adams, Charles B., G. S. Davis, 39 N Main
Bowers, Harry S, J. I. Sterner, 4 N Main Campbell, Karl D., Morley, Carpenter & Co .. 3 W Naples
Clark, William H , First Nat'l Bank, cor Main and W Naples
Dunne, Arthur, Bryant House
Engel, Joseph, Cohn & Friedman, 6 N Main
Folts, Charles C., J. I. Sterner, 4 N Main Fox, John E., George Fox 4 S Main
Gallagher, Charles A , Bryant House Hall, Daniel F. Bryant House
Hastings, Edwin P, St. James Hotel Hemmer John, Val. Hemmer, 16 N Main Hoffman, A. Frederick, A. L. Morley, 14 E Naples
Kimmel, Jacob J., M. Kimmel & Son, 9-II N Main
Kramer, George J., Snyder & Patchin, 2 N Main
Mckenzie, Roy B., Chas. Snyder, 10 N Main Peabody, Arthur S., Steuben Drug Co., 27 N Main Rauber, Frank D., Gottschall & Son, 7 N Main
Rose Harry B., M. Wolf. 15 N Main
Sauerbier, Wm. A., M. Kimmel & Son, 9 11 N Main
Smalt, Bert A., F. K. Smith, 5 N Main Stannarius. George H., Post Office, 8 N Main
Underham, Nettie A , Central Telephone, 2 N Main
Walling, Nina, Incubator Co., Lack'a ave Weinhart, Charles C., Weinhart Bros, 18- 20 N Main Weinhart, Frank A., Weinhart Bros, 18- 20 N Main Weinhart, John L., Vacuum Oil Co., Mill- iman
Yochem. Jacob, F K. Smith, 5 N Main Young, Fay, D Lerch, 9 W Naples
Zimmerman, Victor B, Post Office, 8 N Main CLOTHING.
Cohn & Friedman 6 N Main, David Cohn, . Friedman Rauber & Vogt, 29 N Main, Charles J. Rauber. George Vogt Wolf. Morris, 15 N Main
COAL. Hatch, Otto & Co., 55 N Main, Albert Bar- tholomew, Mgr. Magee, John C., 2 N Main
COOPERS.
Wicks, George, Cement Works, Lack'a ava Wicks, Henry, do do
Wicks, John, do do
4
36
DIRECTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
THE POPULAR STORE
Largest Stock
Fairest Prices
R. & V.
Best Quality
Squarest Dealing
Ready-to-wear Clothing Merchant Tailoring Hats and Caps Haberdashery
RAUBER & VOGT
Charles J. Rauber George Vogt WAYLAND, N. Y.
37
DIRECTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
DENTIST.
Baker, Bertram J., D. D. S., 2 N Main McPhee, J. F., D. D. S., 3 S Main
DRAYING. Jacobs, Edward, 36 S Wayland
DRESSMAKING.
Bennett, Mrs Alida B., 13 E Naples Dodge, Cora 12 Lack,a Green, Carrie, 12 Fremont Kester, The Misses, 7 Mill, Ruby Kester, Gertrude Kester
Mehlenbacher, Mrs. Kate, 12 Fremont Moora, Mrs. Mary F., 29 Hamilton Newell, Mrs. Catherine, 22 E Naples Shults, Mrs. Gertrude, 7 S Main
DRUGGISTS.
Snyder & Patchin, 2 N Main, Martin W. Snyder, Bert C. Patchin
Steuben Drug Co., 27 N Main, Dr. George M. Peabody, Frank J. Peabody
DRY GOODS.
Gottschall, C. & Son, 7 N Main, Christian Gottschall, H. Alonzo Gottschall Morley, Carpenter & Co., 3 W Naples, Ray L Morley, Lucien D. Carpenter, A. L. Morley Sterner, John I., 4 N Main
ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
Shaffer, Wolff & Co., Milliman, Jacob, Shaffer, Anthon Wolff, John Kimmel FEED, HAY, ETC. Dudley, S. B ., 42 N Main Weinhart Bros, 18 20 N Main
FOUNDRY. Kiel, John F., Maple
FURNITURE.
Rauber & Deitzel, 23 E Naples, Jacob N. Rauber, Jacob F. Deitzel
GROCERIES.
Davis. Grant S , 39 N Main
Deitzel, William H., 16 E Naples Fox. Frank, 133 Lack'a Kausch Bros., 12 N Main, William F. Kausch, Valentine Kausch, Jr. Morley, A. L., 14 E Naples
Rauber, Nicholas, II Hamilton
Smith, Frank K., 5 N Main Sterner, John I., 4 N Main Weinhart Bros , 18-20 N Main
HALLS.
Music Hall, 35-37 N Main, H. L. Moora, Mgr. Weinhart Opera House, 7 W Naples, Weinhart Bros., 18-20 N Main
HARDWARE.
Kimmel, M. & Son, 9-11 N Main Snyder, Charles, 10 N Main
HARNESS.
Mattice, J Bert, 32 N Main
HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS.
Engel. Frank, 33 N Main, Steuben House Holmes, William, 13[ Lack'a, Holmes
Hotel
Last, Nicholas, 26-28 N Main, St. James Hotel
Lieder. Otto F., 1-3 N Main, Bryant House Lerch, Douglas, 9 W Naples
Locke, Albert S., 47 N Main Locke's Hotel
Mangan, Matthew M., 49 N Main, New Wayland House
Rauber, Jacob N., 15 E Naples, Rauber's Hotel Sauerbier, Albert, 3 E Naples
Schud, Nicholas, Jr , I E Naples, Commer- cial House Tyler, Mrs. Rose C., 2 Filmore
INSURANCE.
Jervis. Charles M , 16 W Naples Morris, Julian A., 5 N Main Schwan, Louis A., 5 E Naples Showers, James E., 67 E Naples Zimmerman, Peter H., 9 N Main
JEWELRY. Pardee, Amos J , 24 N Main Pursel, James M., 10 N Main
LAUNDRY.
Peters, Harry S., 39 N Main. Home Steam Laundry
LAWYERS.
Bill, Christian C., 18 E Naples Clark & Pratt, 6 N Main, William W. Clark, Henry V. Pratt, William W. Clark, District Attorney DeGraw & Green, 11 N Main, F. Allen DeGraw, Floyd G. Green
LIVERIES.
Avery, John, 2 W Naples Robinson, W. Addison, 19 S Wayland Weinhart Bros., 18-20 N Main, Joseph F. Weinhart, Conrad H. Weinhart
LUMBER.
Branch & Son, Maple, George H. Branch, Clarence G. Branch
Hatch, Otto & Co, 55 N Main, Albert Bartholomew, Mgr. Shaffer & Wolff, Clark, Jacob Shaffer, Anthon Wolff
MACHINIST. Kiel, John F., Maple Olney, Lee B., 26 Sullivan
MANUFACTORIES.
Branch & Son, Maple, Building Material, George H. Branch, Clarence G. Branch Cyphers Incubator Co., Lack'a ave, Incu- bators, Charles A. Cyphers, Grant M. Curtis, Frank G. Patchin Green & Young, 36 N Main, Mop Wringers William H. Green, James E Young. Kiel, John F., Maple, Casting and Foun- dry
Kiel, W. Fred, Hamilton, Shingles and Sawing
Millen, T. & Sons, Lack'a, Portland Ce- ment, Thomas Millen, Duane Millen, Homer C. Millen
O'Hara Brothers, Lack'a. Barrels and Cooperage, M. J O'Hara, J. P. O'Hara, J. W. O'Hara. Rosenkrans, Lee Verne, 5 Hamilton, Cider and Vinegar Shaffer & Wolff, Clark, Building Material, Jacob Shaffer, Anthon Wolff
Snyder & Patchin, 2 N Main. Proprietary Medicines, Martin W. Snyder, Bert C. Patchin
Steuben Cigar Co, 8 N Main, Cigars, William H Foltz, Newton Snader, Abram Fidler
38
DIRECTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
FOR PURE FOOD STUFFS
Your attention is invited to my line of Staple and Fancy
GROCERIES
Your confidence is the first requisite in my business. It is to be gained only by giving you the best goods for your money. That's why I am so careful to excel in quality.
It is flattering to have people pleased with my large line of
WALL PAPER
as they are personal selections -no "job lots," for my trade.
CROCKERY
and an extensive assortment of NOVELTIES completes a stock well worth a thrifty buy- er's notice.
W. H. DEITZEL
EAST NAPLES ST.
JULIAN A. MORRIS GENERAL INSURACE AGENT.
REPRESENTS
Aetna Ins. Co.,
Of Hartford, Conn.
Hartford Fire Ins. Co.,
Of Hartford, Conn.
Phoenix Ins. Co.,
Of Hartford, Conn.
Home Ins. Co.,
Of New York City.
Continental Ins. Co.,
Of New York City.
German Alliance Ins. Co.,
Of New York City.
Glens Falls Ins. Co.,
Of Glens Falls, N. Y.
Fidelity & Casualty
Accident Ins. Co.,
Of New York City.
United States Life Ins. Co.
Of New York City.
Office 5 North Main Street,
WAYLAND, N. Y.
1
39
DIRECTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
Wayland Canning Factory, Rosenkrans, Canned Goods, Wesley R. Guile, Mgr. Edwin L. Matteson, Processor
Willcox, W. D. & Co., Clark, Flour, Wal- . PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. ter D. Willcox, Charles J. Coxe Woodard, J. Dora, 45 Washington, Flavor- ing Extracts MEAT MARKETS. Fox, George, 4 S Main PRODUCE. Hemmer, Valentine, 16 N Main
MERCHANT TAILORS. Haas, Henry, 29 N Main, with Rauber Vogt Karagan, Michael G., 3 W Naples Schmidt, Frederick, 32 W Main Schwan, Louis A., 5 E Naples
&
MILLINERY.
Lafayette, Josephine, 18 S Wayland Conrad Sisters, 25 N Main, Katherine Conrad, Yetta Conrad Loveland, Mrs. Nellie E , 29 W Naples Salter, Mrs. Ella, 2 Cass
MONUMENTS. Drakeford, W. E. & Co., 19 S Wayland, Andrew Redsicker, Mgr. MUSIC. Young, Walter E., 20 E Naples
OIL.
Vacuum Oil Co., Milliman
OPTICIAN. Hyde, Prof. Horace B., I Lack'a PAINTERS.
Abrams, Noble S., 7 Fremont Barnum, Cordie, 7 Pine Brown, John, 15 S Main
Dunn. Harvey M., 26 Hamilton Griswold, Louie W., 136 Lack'a John, Albert, 11 Hamilton Kittle, Harry H., 5 Lincoln Munn, Frank A., 15 S Main
Rosenkrans, Maynard H., 33 W Naples Schu, Frank J., 23 E Naples Totten, Murray M., I Sullivan
Young, James E., 18 N Main
PHOTOGRAPHY.
Parsons, Ernest D., 10 W Naples White, Alexander L., 5 St. John
Dorr, Dr. James M , 2 N Main Peabody, Dr. George M., 27 N Main Piatt, Dr. Alva A,, 10 S Main Skinner, Dr. George M., 10 N Main
Capron, Wiley W., 59 N Main
Ferrin Bros., 42 N Main, John A. Bennett Mgr. Hatch, Otto & Co, 55 N Main, A. Bar- tholomew, Mgr.
Pierce, Harrison G., 138 Lack'a Scott, Burton J., 42 N Main
SEWING MACHINES. Baker, Merrit H., 12 S Wayland Conrad, Philip N., 27 Fremont Young, Walter E., 20 E Naples
STENOGRAPHERS. Beeman, Nina C., Incubator Co. Dapper, Alice, do
Denny, Bessie L. do
Mckay, Daisy C. do
TELEGRAPH OPERATORS. Badeau, Walter, P. S. & N. R. R.
Ford, John, D. L. & W.
Marr, Patrick, Erie
Rosenkrans, Merton J., Corning, N. Y.
Rowley, Elmer E.
Sands, George W., D L. & W.
Showers, Frederick W. Steinhardt, Urban H., Erie
UNDERTAKERS. Kausch Bros., 12 N Main, William F. Kausch, Valentine Kausch, Jr. Tinker, Charles C., 9 Lack'a
VETERINARY. Moose, Dr. M. Fletcher, 2 W Naples
WAGON MAKERS Gross, Nicholas, 2 Lincoln Hann, Charles F., 20 N Scott Ryder, John M., 11 Washington
40
DIRECTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
1851. 1901. THE BRYANT HOUSE
Noted for its High Standard of Excellence.
OTTO F. LIEDERS, PROP'R.
4
1
MR. JOHN HESS.
A HISTORY
: : OF THE : :
VILLAGE OF
WAYLAND, N. Y.
FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE CLOSE OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
BY CHARLES M. JERVIS.
1901. WAYLAND, N. Y.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Indian Occupation. Phelps and Gorham Purchase. Pulteney Title.
CHAPTER II.
Erection of Steuben County. Colonel Williamson. Efforts at Settlement.
CHAPTER III. First Settlements in Wayland.
CHAPTER IV. Patchinsville. Early Families at Village. "Old Tilden."
CHAPTER V.
Organization of the Town. Building of the Railroad. Founding of the Village. Village before 1860. Town Fair.
CHAPTER VI. Wayland in the Civil War.
CHAPTER VII. 1860 to 1870.
CHAPTER VIII. Business Growth and Succession from 1870 to 1900
CHAPTER IX. Business Growth and Succession from 1870 to 1900 Continued.
CHAPTER X. Events from 1870 to 1900.
CHAPTER XI. Churches and Societies.
APPENDICES. A .- Population of the Town and Village. B -Financial Statistics of the Village. C. Spanish War Veterans. D .- Town Office:s. E .- Village Officers. F .- Poll List of 1861.
4
PREFACE.
O COLLECT and preserve the annals of our village; to record the facts and anecdotes in the lives of our predecessors, in whose strug- gle for existence and advancement is written a history not only of interest to ourselves, but of equal importance to the student of mankind with the devel- opment of any people of any age, is, the writer believes, an object that re- quires no apology.
To supplement this work with a Di- rectory of the names of people resident in the village at the beginning of the century, and with pictures of the leading men and principal buildings, thereby photographing ourselves for the future, will, it is hoped, be an added value.
What at the out-set seemed an easy task soon became one of many perplex- ities, as statements hitherto accepted as facts have in most instances been found unreliable, and a great deal of unex- pected research has been required to verify or correct former accounts. It may be said that where ever, in the following pages, occurs a positive state- ment of fact or date the reader may understand that the writer has secured evidence sufficient to warrant his asser- tion,-a claim made necessary by the carelessness of former authors.
Contemporaneous subjects are always difficult of just treatment, and the writer
has endeavored to be impartial in all instances, and not intrude the pleasant criticisms that he has often been tempted to make.
That the method he has pursued in treating the subject will be open to ·criticism is not merely expected, but is cordialy invited, and suggestions of errors of omission and commission are particularly requested, to the end that, in time, the story of the builders of Wayland may be perfected for the ben- efit of posterity.
The reader should keep in mind that our story closes with the nineteenth century, and business and other changes since January first have not been con- sidered.
A name by name acknowledgement of the indebtedness that the writer feels is due for assistance and encourage- ment in the preparation of the work would be almost a repetition of the vil- lage directory, and he is, therefor, re- luctantly obliged to restrict personal mention to those who have contributed the articles on the several churches and organizations embraced in the final chapter, and to Mr. Henry V. Pratt and Mr. George H. Stannarius for their valued and painstaking assistance in revision.
Wayland, N. Y., 27th June, 1901.
HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
CHAPTER I.
INDIAN OCCUPATION. PHELPS AND GOR- HAM PURCHASE. PULTENEY TITLE.
Little more than a century ago the territory now included in Steuben county was exclusively Indian domain, and no white man had ventured within its bounds. The rivers, larger than now, flowed through channels clogged with the driftwood of years, and the hills and valleys were covered with heavy forests inhabited by a dense population of wild beasts and snakes. It was not a place with flats and glades for native villages, but with hills and glens, leaf- darkened avenues and primeval stillness, it was rather the ideal hunting ground for the stealthy red man. Now, red man and deer have vanished, forest and stream have shrunken, darkness and silence have yielded their sway before a civilization that with relentless tread is leading the onward march, and a cen- tury hence the record of this early time will read as fable.
The Indians who occupied this part of the country at the time of its discov- ery were a remarkable people. They were brave, haughty and eloquent,- traits, which partially viewed, have acquired for them a title of nobleness, but they were also cunning, treacherous and cruel, and despite philanthropic sympathy, were thoroughly savage.
The Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga and Seneca tribes were bound
together in a confederacy, or warfare league, and were called by themselves "Mingoes," or united people. The En- glish named them "Five Nations," and the French, "Iroquois." In 1712 the Tuscaroras were admitted, making six nations. Their home was New York state, and from the Hudson to Lake Erie they called Ho-de-no-sau-nee, or the Long House, and no stranger was allowed to enter this territory without permission.
The grand council house was on the banks of Onondaga lake, and the Onon- dagas were entrusted with its care and with attention to the sacred council fires, and were also entitled to the presiding officer. Each tribe had one representa- tive in the council, except the Senecas, who, from numerical preponderance, had two. The council had no power beyond the weight of its opinion, which must be unanimous, and which was really abso- lute.
The Mohawks furnished the comman- der-in-chief of the warriors, of which there were about 2, 500, aside from the levies made on subject tribes. The tribes of the confederacy were entirely independent, and could vote, or refuse to join in war without offense to their allies.
When first visited by traders the glory of their rule was evidently on the wane, though they then held dominion over most of the tribes east of the Mississip- pi, and the fate of expatriation they had
46
HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
so mercilessly dealt to their predecessors was in store for themselves.
The "west door" to the Long House was guarded by the Senecas, who were thus the first known landlords of the village of Wayland. Concerning their origin and the people which they dis- possessed the following tradition is pre- served in Seaver's Life of Mary Jemison:
"The tradition of the Seneca Indians in regard to their origin is that they broke out of the earth from a large mountain at the head of Canandaigua lake and that mountain they still ven- erate as the place of their birth. Thence they derive their name "Ge nun-de- wah," or "great hill," and are called the great hill people, which is the true defi- nition of the word Seneca. The great hill at the head of Canandaigua lake, from whence they sprung, is called Ge- nun-de-wah, and has for a long time past been the place where the Indians of this tribe met in council to hold great talks and to offer up prayers to the Great Spirit, on account of its having been their birthplace ; and also in con- sequence of the destruction of a Ser- pent at that place, in ancient tine, in a most miraculous manner, which threat- ened the destruction of the whole of the Senecas, and barely spared enough to commence replenishing the earth The Indians say that the fort on the big hill, or Ge-nun-de-wah near the head of Canandaigua lake, was surrounded by a monstrous serpent, whose head and tail came together at the gate. A long time it lay there, confounding the peo- ple with its breath. At length they at- tempted to make their escape,-some with their homony blocks, and others with different implements of household furniture, and in marching out of the fort walked down the throat of the ser- pent. Two orphan children who had es caped this general destruction, being left on this side of the fort, were informed by an oracle of the means by which they could get rid of their formidable enemy,
-- which was to take a small bow, and a poisoned arrow made of a kind of willow, and with that shoot the serpent under the scales. This they did, and the arrow proved effectual ; for, on its penetrating the skin, the serpent became sick, and, extending itself, rolled down the hill, breaking down all the timber that was in its way, and disgorging itself as it went. At every motion a human head was discharged and rolled down the hill into the lake, where they lie to this day in a petrified state, having the hard- ness and appearance of stones ; and the pagan Indians of the Senecas believe that all the little snakes were made from the blood of the great serpent after it rolled into the lake. To this day the Indians visit that sacred place to mourn the loss of their friends, and celebrate some rites that are peculiar to themselves. To the knowledge of the white people there has been no timber on the great hill since it was first dis- covered by them, though it lay appar- ently in a state of nature for a great number of years without cultivation. Stones the shape of Indians heads may be seen lying in the lake in great plenty, which are said to be the same that were deposited there at the death of the ser- pent,
The Senecas have a tradition that previous to, and for some time after their origin at Ge-nun-de-wah the coun- try, especially about the lakes, was thickly inhabited by a race of civil, en- terprising and industrious people, who were totally destroyed by the great ser- pent, that afterward surrounded the great hill fort, and that they (the Scne- cas) went into the possession of the im- provements that were left by this race. In those days the Indians throughout the whole country-as the Senecas say -spoke one language ; but having be- come considerably numerous, the before mentioned great serpent, by an unknown influence, confounded their language so that they could not understand each other, which was the cause of their di- vision into nations, as the Mohawks,
4
47
HISTORY OF WAYLAND, N. Y.
Oneidas etc. At that time, however, the Senecas retained the original lang- uage and continued to occupy their mother hill on which they fortified themselves against their enemies and lived peacably, until, having offended the serpent, they were cut off as here- tofore remarked."
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