USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 47
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TOWN OF DARIEN.
and died there. His mother died aged 66, and his father 91. His brother Ephraim still lives on the homestead. Abram married, first, Mary Law- rence, who died six years after marriage. He married, a few years later, Nancy J. Roy, who is the mother of two of his daughters. She died in July, 1874. He first settled in Alden on the old homestead, moved to Pem- broke, and finally to Darien, where he now lives. George W. Thomas, oldest son of Abram and Mary, was born in Alden (now Marilla), March 27, 1844. July 28, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 129th N. Y. Vols, was transferred to the 8th N. Y. H. A., and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged June 9, 1865. He returned home and taught school II terms. March 8, 1870, he married Elvira J. Stiles, of Darien, and settled on the farm where he now resides. Mrs. Thomas died No- vember 19, 1885, leaving an only daughter, Bertha M., and March 15, 1887, Mr. Thomas married M. Amelia Taylor. He is now serving his sec- ond year as assessor, is secretary of the Patrons' Mutual Fire Relief As- sociation of Genesee County, and is master of Corfu Grange, No. 142. In politics he is a Democrat, is liberal in his religious views, and is super- intendent of the Union Sunday-school. Wesley L., second son of Abram and Mary Thomas, was born in Alden, August 16, 1846. He enlisted in the 3d N. Y. Cav., in February, 1864, was taken prisoner the ensuing summer, and died of starvation in Andersonville, September 17, 1864. Julia M. (Mrs. H. J. Brown), daughter of Abram and Nancy Thomas, re- sides in Corfu ; and Jennie N. (Mrs. Charles Schwartz) resides near her father.
Major William Thayer, son of Barach, a native of Vermont, came here in 1808, and settled on a farm next north of where his son William now lives. He held the office of major in the War of 1812, and was appointed by the governor a commissioner of highways in 1826. He located several roads on the Purchase, and placed mile-stones on them. He was also supervisor, magistrate, and overseer. He died in 1844.
Samuel N. Vickery, son of Benjamin and Catherine (Waterbury) Vick- ery, was born in Nassau, N. Y., September 14, 1821. May 8, 1833, he came with his parents to Yates, Orleans County, and spent his boyhood on his father's farm and at the common schools, with a few terms at Yates Academy. August 29, 1847, he married Jane E. Lombard, of Yates, where they settled on a farm, and remained six years He became ill with neuralgia, and because of failing to receive any benefit from the phy- sicians he investigated for himself, and commenced a course of self treat- ment, with so good results that he read further and commenced practice as an eclectic physician. In 1855 he removed to Darien, where he now resides, and where he is a successful practitioner and an enterprising farmer. His youngest son, Howard H., resides with him. His other chil- dren are Meritt E., an engineer in the West Avenue mills, at Attica ; Charles H., one of the proprietors; and Albert E., a farmer, residing in the village of Alexander. Dr. Vickery has successfully passed the legal ex- amination required, is a registered physician, and a graduate of Physio
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Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, O. He is liberal in religion, and in politics is a decided Democrat.
Jonathan Vaughan, born in Lebanon, Conn., April 15, 1784, came to Darien from Westmoreland, Oneida County, N. Y., in 1809, and settled where his daughter Emma S. and her husband, James R. Langworthy, now live. He cut the first tree and cleared the first acre on his farm, and in 1812 married Sophia Weston and brought her to his log cabin. In February, 1814, the pioneers were disturbed by the report that the In- dians in the employ of the British were on their way from the lake region to burn and destroy this infant settlement. Dea. William B. Garfield, cousin of the late President Garfield, with his family, and Mr. Vaughan with his, all loaded into an old sled hitched to a pair of horses, retreated two and a half miles in the night, and broke the sled near the cabin of their neighbor, Mr. Peck. They remained there and soon got news from Batavia that the Indians were not on the " war path." The party re- turned to their deserted houses. They suffered all the privations in- cident to pioneer life. In 1829 he built his pleasant and comfortable residence, which is now in a good state of preservation ; from time to time he has built nearly all the farm buildings now standing on the place. Mr. Vaughan had an original and clear intellect, was somewhat eccen- tric, a great reader, and was proverbially kind and generous to the poor and needy. In 1816 he and his wife united with the Baptist Church. The meetings were held at the school-house located on his farm, and his house was familiarly called the " Baptist tavern." Sometimes they had a pastor, but in the absence of a minister Mr. Vaughan, assisted by others, con- ducted the services. He was foremost in influence and in contributing to the financial interest of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan were al- ways in sympathy with their neighbors when any were sick, and went miles to attend them and administer to their comfort. Mr. Vaughan died December 17, 1857, aged 73, and Mrs Vaughan August 6, 1876. They had nine children, of whom only Mrs. A. A. Williams, of Attica, and Mrs. J. R. Langworthy, who resides on the old homestead, are now liv- ing.
Zina Waite, a native of Washington County, N. Y., was born in March, 1800. In 1823 he married Rebecca Buchanan, and in 1826 came to Darien, where he lived, and died March 2, 1843. Mrs. Wait died in 1868. He was a large farmer, having at one time 325 acres. He was elected supervisor three terms, and held other town offices. He was an old line Whig, and a delegate to the convention that nominated Harrison in 1840. They had a son, Horace, who married Almira Wyman, of Pem- broke, and who was keeper of the county poor-house 10 years. Cyrus Waite, son of Zina, was born on the Waite homestead, April 6, 1831, was educated in the district school and in the Wyoming and Genesee Semi- nary, and married, in 1856, Amaretta, daughter of John Lincoln, of Darien. She was born in May, 1831. He settled on the homestead, which is still owned by him, where he resided until 1880, when he re-
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TOWN OF DARIEN.
moved to Corfu village, where he now resides. Inheriting much of the native energy and spirit of his father Mr. Waite, besides attending to his farm, conducts an extensive business in wool, in which he has been suc- cessful. He takes an active interest in municipal affairs, is a promoter of the cause of education, and aids in the furtherance of religious matters. He has been supervisor two terms and a magistrate four years. Their only son, Charles, is in mercantile business in Buffalo. Mrs. Waite died January 6, 1885, lamented by a large circle of acquaintances.
Russel Wait was born in Cambridge, Washington County, N. Y., in 1787. He came to Genesee County in 1810, and located on a farm in Darien, then included in Batavia. In 1811 he married Mercy Booth, of his native town, and they resided on the farm in Darien until his death in 1854, the result of an injury received by being run over by the cars. He was strong and healthy, and a hard worker. He was noted for his honesty and fair dealing, was generous to the poor and needy, and was especially liberal to the Baptist Church, of which he was a member. His first wife was the mother of his 15 children, and died in 1835. He married, sec- ond, Mrs. Polly Aplin, who died in 1842. For his third wife he married Mrs. Clark, who survived until January 1, 1879. Four sons and six daughters survived their father, all of whom were married.
Michael Warner was born in Alsace, France, emigrated to America in 1830, lived in Orangeville and Attica, and died in 1885, at the home of his son Peter, in Darien, where he lived for 18 years. He was a farmer, and married Barbara Broadbrooks, who died in March, 1885. They were the parents of seven children. Peter was born in Orangeville, February 26, 1838. In February, 1867, he married Mina Giese, of Darien, and in 1868 settled on the farm where he now resides. Mr. Warner is an enter- prising and industrious farmer. A Republican in politics, he has been honored by his townsmen with the office of highway commissioner for four years, and is still holding the same. He is a kind, worthy, and intel- ligent citizen. The family consists of eight children. all of whom are liv- ing with their parents.
Theodore Young, son of Jacob, was born in Germany, January 14, 1841, and came to America with his parents in 1852, living with them until 14 years old, working on the farm summers and attending school winters. He was engaged as clerk in a grocery store for three years, after which he spent a short time at school. From 1858 to 1862 he clerked for H. H. Chapin, of Darien, when he was a partner until 1864, after which he pur- chased Mr. Chapin's interest, and has since conducted the business alone. By his management he has more than doubled the former business of the firm. By economy, industry, and perseverance Mr. Young has secured a competency. February 3, 1870, he married Fanny E. Fisk, who was born in Akron, N. Y., September 25, 1847. She has been of great assist- ance to him in his social and business relations. Their children are Leon- ard E., Arthur L., Delevan C., and Floyd T.
Mrs. Aurelia (Lapping) Lee came from Willington, Conn., to Darien
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in 1824, and married David J. Lee the same year. He was the son of Quartus Lee, a pioneer of Connecticut, who came to Darien in 1815. Mrs. Lee reared three adopted children, of whom Mrs. Theodore Young was the youngest. Says Mrs. Lee: "She was a good friend, and a true mother." Mrs. Lee is now 82 years of age, and one of the few old settlers left. Mr. Lee died in 1866.
ELBA.
€ LBA was erected from the town of Batavia, March 14, 1820, and at that time included the present town of Oakfield, covering an area of 38,000 acres. The early settlement of Elba will, to a con- siderable extent, also include that of Oakfield, as it was not until April II, 1842, that that town was erected and Elba assumed its present area of 22,631 acres. The act of March 14, 1820, was :
"That all that part of the town of Batavia known as the 13th township in the first and second ranges, including that part of the Tonawanda Reservation lying east of the division line between the second and third ranges, and north of the division line between the 12th and 13th tiers of townships in the Holland Company's Purchase, be and is hereby erected into a separate town by the name of ELBA."
Another section of the act provided for the election of town officers at the tavern of Nehemiah Ingersoll, on the Oak Orchard road, one and a half miles south of the village, on the 14th of April, 1820; and that the supervisor and overseers of the poor of Batavia act as a board of canvas- sers for the election, all of which was done according to the act.
It has been found, by improving the soil, that the early predictions of its productiveness have not failed. The surface is undulating, with gen- tly rising slopes without obstruction to easy cultivation. The composi- tion of the soil is a mixture of clay and loam with perceptible calcarious properties. Various crops are successfully raised, and wheat has been formerly its staple crop. Limestone deeply underlies the soil, but peb- bles of it are everywhere perceptible.
The never-failing supply of pure water is an indispensable characteris- tic of this healthy town. The principal source of the Oak Orchard Creek is an outlet of an ever-flowing spring, near what has long been known as " Dunham's Corners," called the "Hackley spring." It passes northeast through the center of the town to the northeast corner, thence west through the north part ; and this is the general direction of the tributa- ries that combine to swell Oak Orchard Creek. Spring Creek is formed from springs in the southeast corner of the town, and flows northeasterly into the town of Byron. These streams furnish pure spring water to the inhabitants and ample power for the flouring and custom mills of George
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W. Mather. The " Scott spring," strongly impregnated with sulphur, rises a mile away, which, with its accumulations, furnishes power for a woolen-mill and saw-mill located on the "Transit " (owned by Mason Fuller), and uniting with Spring Creek gives ample power for the "Tran- sit flouring mills." To the abundant supply of pure water from springs, and the wells so easily sunk in every part, is attributed the healthfulness of this beautiful town. A strip of the average width of one-lialf mile is occupied along the north edge by the Tonawanda Swamp.
ELBA (p. o.) village is located a short distance south of the center of the town, and is most beautifully situated. It was called " Pine Hill " at an early day, and by many " The Pinery"; and it is written by some historians that Joseph Ellicott contracted with Isaac Sutherland to cut a road from where he had located his land office, Batavia, to "The Pinery," in 1802. The term " rural retreat" cannot be more applicable than to this. A sufficiently dense farming population has vigorously made and sustained one of the enterprising villages of Western New York. Other sister villages have had natural advantages, as well as ar- tificial, to aid their advance; but this has had only the confiding support of a wealthy farming community, and the personal, well-applied energy of those who are engaged in its mercantile and mechanical pursuits, to bring it to its present important position. The advent of the West Shore Railroad has given the village an impetus for more rapid prosperity, and its permanence is assured by the background of rich and fertile farm lands of an area of over 40 square miles. The village has a population of about 500, settled in lucrative business and in homes of their own. The school and church advantages compare with sister villages of greater pre- tensions ; a commodious school building for primary and advanced de- partments accommodates the public, and a private seminary, established by Miss Mary Hollister in 1883, is receiving a support that promises a permanent and useful institution. Its places of business are, mainly, three dry goods stores, one hardware store, a drug store, two wagon shops, three blacksmiths, one millinery store, barber shop, meat market, a well kept hotel, and no saloons. There are located here two of the largest stave and heading factories in the country, producing large quan- tities annually ; also saw-mills and feed-mills with their peculiar advan- tages.
The land from which the village plat was taken was originally the farming lands of Asa Babcock, John Willis, Charles Woodworth, and Thomas Davis. Messrs. Babcock and Willis settled their lands in 1817, and the remaining portions were purchased of their descendants. For use on public occasions there are two well provided public halls, namely, Willit and Shepard's. The business of the place is provided with tele- phonic and telegraphic communication with all principal villages and cities.
An organization, of which the citizens may well be proud, is repre- sented by the cornet band. Organizing in 1874, they have built on the
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public park a stand or pagoda. Unlike many others, attempting to sus- tain like voluntary efforts to amuse the public, this remains popular and in a flourishing condition.
At the earliest effort of concentrating the business of the town at this point a postoffice was established, called "Elba," with Mason Turner first postmaster. Previous a wide spread settlement had to endure the burdens of obtaining their mail from Batavia. A daily mail arrives and departs. The only other postoffice in town is East Elba, established in 1857, from which is received two mails a week.
Early settlers .- John Young and wife came from Virginia in 1804, on horseback, and after innumerable dangers and hardships settled on the eastern part of the premises now owned by Albert Parker, south of Elba village. He received the first deed of farming lands issued by the Holland Land Co., July 11, 1803, in what is now Elba. For a bed they obtained a large cotton bag of Mr. Brisbane, at the "Transit store house," which, filled with the down of the cat- tail flag, certainly afforded them a downy bed, if not one of ease.
John Roraback settled at " Pine Hill," now Elba village, in 1804, and was the weaver for the entire section for many years. Thomas Turner settled on the premises now occupied by Mrs. Wilford, and Ephraim Hu- sted settled on the adjoining lot, both of which were afterwards purchased by Mr. Wilford. Bannan Clark came upon the place latterly owned by Orlando Town, who also was an early settler, and is now owned by Ed- win Parker, in the north part of the town. Ephraim Wortman early lo- cated upon the farm now owned by William Maltby. A story is told of Mr. Wortman that will bear repetition here. He went to the War of 1812 under Capt. White (who was killed at the burning of Buffalo), and poor Wortman had endured pioneer hardship so practically that, when he arrived in fort where there seemed such plenty, he suggested to the captain, " so much being on hand they might lunch 'tween meals."
Samuel, John, Jesse, and James Drake came about 1811. John set- tled in the southwest part of the town, on the farm now owned by Aaron Drake, and Norman Drake resides on the premises taken up by his fa- ther, James. Lemuel Foster settled on the farm afterwards owned by his son Eden, who also came to the town early. Eleazur Southworth settled in 1808 on the farm now owned by Albert Parker; Asa Sawtell located the farm now owned by Watson Bradley ; and Sherrard Parker settled a short distance north of the present village. Daniel Mills, in 1808, located on the farm now owned by his son-in-law, Horace B. Nor- ton, in the southeast part of the town. Mr. Mills was the first Sunday- school superintendent of the first Sabbath-school established in the town. Joel Mills, a brother of Daniel, settled on the premises now owned by his son Daniel D. There were also George Mills and John Mills, and the " Mills neighborhood " remains as a memento of this worthy family, of whom much could be said. The primitive residence of the pioneers, with its old fire-place, yet remains, and is preserved on the premises to remind
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the present generation that its proverbial hospitality is yet extant in the family. Locklin Norton settled near the " Mills neighborhood." and the death of his wife the first year was a serious event of that day. Isaac Higley settled in the eastern part of the town in 1808, and John Taylor located in the southeast part of the town in 1814, and was long noted for his enterprise and model farming.
Borden Wilcox became a resident in 1812, and we will mention the settlers of his neighborhood as he said he found them : Dudley Sawyer, Dea. Seymour, Enos Kellogg, and Sylvanus Humphrey. Mr. Wilcox also mentions Chester Scott, who came about 1817. He was a valuable man for the new settlement. Mr. Scott taught the first school in the town, assisted Comfort Smith in perfecting the first grist mill, becoming the owner, and completing the carding works started by Solomon Smith, and rebuilding an old log distillery to enable the pioneers to realize some cash for their grain. The raising of the mill, Mr. Wilcox said, was a memorable event for the town, and took the settlers for miles around to a jubilee. Col. Kellogg mounted the highest part of the frame, with the bottle, as was the custom of the day, and announced " another addition to the population of Pleasant Valley." The usefulness and enterprise of Capt. Scott is gratefully remembered by the elder and middle-aged citi- zens of the county as well as the town He carried on the distillery for 10 years, and then moved to Batavia. Whisky in those days was only 1 5 cents per gallon for new.
Andrew B. Jones purchased 20 acres on the Transit line, early, and a saw-mill of Horace Gibbs (also an early pioneer), in which was a set of native stones for grinding feed. He at once erected a distillery, in 1820 rebuilt the saw-mill, in 1822 built the mill known as the " Transit mill," and in 1836 completed a flouring-mill below. Mr. Jones proved himself a benefactor to the new and prosperous country. Nathaniel Ford, in 1820, located in the north part of the town, leaving descendants to per - petuate the name.
The settlers of the northwest portion of the town are not definitely known, but Ambrose Douglass gives a list of those who had settled prior to 1822, the time he became acquainted with the locality, viz .: John Wil- son, Washington Gardner, Elisha Buck, James Fuller, Abraham Sleeper, Smith Lane, Israel Hoag, Miles Britton, Wanton Aldrich, James Harris, Richard and Isaac Shotwell, and Robert Irwin.
Patrick O'Fling settled in the town very early, and he, with three sons and a son-in-law, enlisted in the War of 1812. At Fort George, in 1813, Gen. Dearborn, then in command, was attracted by the soldier- like bear- ing of the old man, and asked him where he had seen service, to which he replied, " in the Revolution under Captain Dearborn." This led to a recognition by the General, who afterwards took much interest in this family of soldiers.
Besides those mentioned previously as pioneers in the town of Elba we find from Turner's History of the early days of the Holland Purchase,
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and from other reliable sources, that the following were settlers at an early date : Archibald Whitten, David Kingsley, Thomas Parker, Nathan- iel Johnson, Hiram Smith, Col. Samuel Hall, Horace Carr, Benjamin Chase, Elisha Kellogg, Dudley Sawyer, Samuel Cumings, Nathan Miner, Silas Torrey, Edmund Burgess, Joel and Horace Jerome, Joseph Mills, Aaron White, Sylvanus Eldridge, Stephen Harmon, Mason Turner, Samuel Laing, Col. E. J. Pettibone, Asa Babcock, John Willis (an early tavern- keeper, the second in town), Mark Turner, Nelson Parker, Phineas and Loren Barr, John Lamberton, Isaac Barber, Ira Howe, Phineas and John Howe, Simeon Hosmer, Peter H. Knickerbocker, Cornelius Barr, I. Barlow, Richard Edgerton (1806), Nathaniel Ford (1820), S. Eldridge, Thomas Griffin (1820), Reuben Perry (1810), Daniel Wood- ward (a physician), and C. Woodworth, the greater portion of whom have left worthy descendants to perpetuate their memories and enjoy the fruits of their enterprise.
The first birth in the town was that of Betsey White in 1802, and the first death was David Kingsley in 1804 Stephen Harmon opened the first inn in 1815, and Samuel Laing the first store in 1819, at the place called Pine Hill. The first saw- mill and grist. mill were on Spring Creek, erected by Horace Gibbs and Comfort Smith, in 1810, as mentioned previously ; and the first school was taught by Mason Turner in 1811, on "Gifford Hill," at the house of J. W. Gardner. Daniel Woodward was the first physician who settled in the town, and the first justice of the peace appointed for the newly organized town was Charles Wood- worth. Dr. James A. Billings was an early physician who located at Dawes Corners, where he died. His brother was at Pine Hill.
'The first town meeting held, as was provided by the act, was March 14, 1820, at which the board of canvassers declared the following persons elected : supervisor, Lemuel Foster; town clerk and collector, Mason Turner ; assessors, George Mills, Charles Woodworth, and John Under- hill; overseers of the poor, Erastus Wolcott and Isaac Benedict; com- missioners of highways, Jeremiah Wilford, Mark Turner, and Dudley Saw- yer; commissioners of schools, Lemuel Foster, Jeremiah Wilford, and Isaac Higley ; constables, Eleazur D. Davis, Ichabod Hinckley, Jr., and Jes- semin Drake; school inspectors, E. D. Davis, Samuel White, and Martin Wilson ; poundmaster, Nehemiah Ingersoll.
The number of votes cast in the town was 166 It would be well for the reader to remember that in 1820, at this election, there were only the 166 voters, and the territory embraced was all that comprises the present towns of Elba and Oakfield. The number given in by the proper board for jury duty, as " fit and eligible " at the time, was 118. Eighteen road districts were organized in the spring of 1820, and the respective pathmasters appointed. In 1821 it was enacted by the town that every pathmaster destroy Canada thistles, tory weeds, and burdocks on his district three times during the year-a commendable law, and far in advance of the State at large at the present day.
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Shubael Dunham, Isaac Benedict, Lemuel Foster, Simeon Hosmer, and Nathaniel Ingersoll were constituted a committee to draft "by-laws for the town." The school committee formed seven full school districts and five joint with surrounding towns.
The development of the town was more rapid as the facilities of sur- rounding towns and its own were improved, and on the 11th of April, 1842, it was found necessary to form Oakfield from the territory, thus leaving the present town of Elba about six miles square.
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