USA > New York > Allegany County > Gazetteer and business directory of Allegany County, N. Y. for 1875 > Part 7
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The first religions services were conducted by Rev. Robert Hubbard, a Presbyterian, in 1811 ; and the first Church, now denominated the First Presbyterian Church, of which, as well as the Church at Almond, he wa- installed pastor Ang. 20, 1812, was organized by Rev. John Niles, then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Bath, May 6, 1812, with six mem- bers, viz : Moses Van Campen and Margaret his wife. James Renwick, David Chamberlain, Elizabeth his wife and Mrs. Prudence Johnson, his daughter, Moses Van Campen was chosen ruling eller in the Church the same day. The installation services were heldl on the veranda of Evert Van Wickle's house, the female part of the congregation being necommo- dated with seats in the house, and most of the males in the open nir in front of it. In 1830 their first house of worship was erected ; and in 1836 the present one, which will seat 400 persons, was erected, at a cost of $7,000. The Society, which is without a pastor, numbers 130, and its property is valued at $10,000. Mr. Hubbard's connection with the Church was dis- solved Oct. 4, 1826, when he removed to Dansville, where he was instru- mental in gathering a Church, though he was never again regularly installed as pastor.
" Mr. Hubbard," says Ilotchkin in his History of Western New York, to which, and to Mr. Smith Davis of Angeliea, we are Indebted for the foregoing facta relative lo this Society, " was a native of Shelburne. [Mass.] lie was a graduate of Williams' l'ollege of the class of IN}]. He was probably about twenty years old when he left College ; regular in his habits, but not plous. After leaving college he commenced the study of the law, and pursued it, as the author belleves, about two years. During this period his attention was called to a consideration of the things which concerned the salvation of his soul ; hls vlews were radically changed, and he wasled to enter- tain a hope in Christ. The change in Mr. Hubbard was very visible, and through the remainder of his life was very distinctly marked. When he was brought by the teachings of the spirit and personal experience to know the value of an interest in Christ, he ardently desired that his fellow-men might be partakers of the same benefit. The ministry of reconciliation appeared to him a most desirable employ- ment. He relinquished the study of the law, and commenced the study of Theology under the tuition of Dr. Packard the pastor of the Church of Shelburne. * * * His licensure took place, probably, in 1809-'10. He is known to have been recently licensed. when he came into Western New York in 1810. During the period in which he resided in the county of Allegany, his labors were by no means confined to the congregations from which he received his support, but were extended through all parts of that county. and the western part of the county of Steuben. Ile was the only minister of the Presbyterian denomination in the region. He was unwearied in his labors. and in attending to his ministerial appointments was utterly regardless of the vicissitudes of the weather. But it was impossible for him to cultivate so extensive a field in any thorough manner ; hence he was not distinguished for great success and remarkable results. lle formed a number of churches and kept them alive : but it was impossi- ble for him to bestow upon them the amount of labor needed to cause them to flourish. He undertook to cultivate too large a field, and would probably have been
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more useful, had his feld of labor been more circumscribed. Mr. Hubbard was tür ugh life distinguished for a derotlonal spirit. He evidently lived near to God. llo was remarkable for his Indifference to the things of the world, and for his exten- sivo cha. Ity. At any time he was ready to divide the last loaf with any destitute 1 roop He was not, however, always judletons in his charitles, but suffered him- self to be Imposed upon by the worthless and designing. During the last years of his life his health was ferble ; consumptive symptoms manifested themselves ; but to the extent of his power he continued in the work of the ministry, although he baj no particular charge of any congregation. Death overtook him at Canisteo, where he luel gone to perform the work of the ministry, on the 24th day of May, Ist, and in the fifty-seventh year of his age."
&. Paul's Church, (Protestant Episcopal, ) at Angelica, was organized by Rev. W. Bostwick, the first pastor, in 1828. The first house of worship was created in 1934; and in 1848 the present one, which will seat 300 per- sons, was erected at a cost of $3,500. The present pastor is Rev. John Lerch, our informant, and the number of members, sixty-two. The Church property is valued at $5,500.
BELFAST was formed from Caneadea, March 24, 1824, as Orrinsburgh, and its named changed April 21, 1825. Another part of Caneadea was annexed in 1831. The first town meeting was held April 6, 1824, and the following named officers were elected : David Hitchcock, Supervisor ; Elijah Reynolds, Town Clerk ; Elisha Chamberlain, Jr., Constable and Collector ; Solo- mon Benjamin, John McIntosh and John McKeen, Assessors ; Packard Bruce, Nathaniel Reynolds and Joseph Benjamin, Com- missioners of Highways; Joseph T. Ford, Samuel Wilkinson and John McKeen, Commissioners of Common Schools; D. D. Hardy, Hiram Gray and F. S. Willson, Justices ; and James Jennings, Overseer of the Poor.
The town lies a hitthe north-west of the center of the county and contains 21,988 acres. The surface is broken and hilly, especially in the western part, and is separated into distinct ridges. The summits of the highest hills are 600 to 800 feet almove the streams. It is drained by Genesee River, which crosses the north-east part, and its tributaries Black and White creeks, which flow diagonally in a north-easterly direction through the town. Crawford Creek, also a tributary to the Genesee, crosses the north-west corner. The creeks flow through murrow, irregular valleys bordered by abrupt hillsides. The soil upon the hills is a clayey loam and in the valleys, especially in that of the Genesee, a highly productive gravelly loam. About a mile above the month of White Creek is a quarry from which large quantities of stone are annually taken.
The Genesee Valley Canal crosses the north-west part of the town, in the valley of Black Creek.
The line of the proposed Rochester, Nunda & Pennsylvania R. R. crosses the town from East lo West, following the valley of Black Creek after crossing the Genesee:
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,488; of whom all were white, 1,367, native and 121, foreign.
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BELFAST.
BELFAST, (p. v.) situated on the west bank of the Genesee, near the north line of the town, and adjacent to the Genesee Valley Canal, is the seat of Genesee Valley Seminary, which was chartered in 1856, opened Dec. 2, 1857, will accommodate 300 students, and is under the charge of the M. E. Church, and contains three churches, two hotels, one grist mill, two saw mills, three shoe shops, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one harness shop, two cabinet shops, one jewelry shop. a sash, door and blind factory, a cheese factory, two millinery establishments, several stores, and about 500 inhabitants. It is connected with Belvidere on the Erie R. R. by daily stage.
Belfast Cheese Factory was erected in 1869, by Messrs. Kinney & Gunn and is now owned by Messr . Kinney & Rich. The building is 156 feet long and 32 feet wide. Mr. Eaton Kinney has kindly furnished ns with the following statistics relative to this factory for the year 1873:
The factory opened March 23d and closed Nov. 14th. The average number of cows from which milk was received during the season was 650. The number of pounds of cheese made nt the time of sales was 229,988. The number of pounds of milk received during the season was 2, 165, 803. The quantity of milk consumed in the manufacture of one pound of cheese was 9 1bs. and 607. The average price received for cheese during the season was 12.77 cents per pound. The milk paid the patrons $1. 17 per 100 lbs. The number of cheeses made during the season was 3805. The price paid for making was $1.50 per 100 1bs.
Amount received for cheese ... $29,173.86.
paid for making and furnishing. .. $ 3,448.77.
" drayage to depot .. 339.83. ١١ 66 to salesman. 50.00.
.4 " patrons 25,335.26.
-- $20,173.86.
The following are the statistics for the White Creek Cheese Factory for 1823, furnished by Mr. J. H. Neely, the proprietor and manufacturer.
The factory was erected in 1872 by the present owner. The number of pounds of milk received during the season was 792,841, from an average number of 250 cows, the whole number being 300. The number of pounds of cheese made was 84,317. The quantity of milk consumed in the manufacture of one pound of cheese was 9 lbs. and 4 oz. The whole amount received for cheese was $10,203. 13 ; the amount paid to patrons, $8,617.11. The price paid for making was $1.80.
Thurston & Co.'s Steam Saw Mill, built in 1867, by Mr. Thurston, the present owner, manufactured during the year 1813, 750,000 feet of Inmber, 100,000 shingles and 200,000 lath.
TRANSIT BRIDGE (p. o.) is a hamlet situated on the Genesee River and on the east line of the town, and contains a cheese factory.
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ROCKVILLE is a hamlet situated on the Genesee Valley Canal in the west part of the town. It is named from a grindstone quarry in the viemity which is not now worked.
Settlement was commenced in 1803, by Benjamin, Elisha, Calvin and David Chamberlain, brothers, who came from Penn- sylvana and located on Genesee River, near the line of Angelica. They were followed soon after by Nathaniel Reynolds, Thaddeus Bennett and David Sanford. Jedediah Nobles and Benjamin Latiletou, from Elmira, came in 1805, and located, the former on the river, und the latter on Wigwam Creek. George JJenkins sos he was born on lot 10, on the east side of Genesee River, 11 1605, and lived there until 1816, when he moved with his father to lot 48, on White Creek, upon which stream, he says, they were the first settlers. Thomas Mapes, now of Willing, was born in Belfast in March, 1811, and has been a resident of this county most of his life. Rockwell Harper, who was born in Chemung Co., in 1792, removed to this town in February, 1512, and settled on lot 10, where he now lives. Simon C. Moore was born in Oxford, Worcester Co., Mass., Aug. 7, 1791, and removed thence on foot to Belfast, May 13, 1813, riding only across the Hudson. After teaching school one year he entered the store of Alex. Dautremont of Angelica as clerk, there he remained three years when he removed to the town of Cuba and settled three-fourths of a mile south of Cuba village. Mr. Moore says that when he went to Angelica there was no church there, meetings being held in the jail. Harry Byrus, a native of Oneida Co., removed with his father from that county to Seio in 1812, and to this town in 1813, locating a little south of the village of Belfast, where, he says, there was, at that time, only a saw and grist mill and a log shanty owned by Elder Sanford. These were the first mills in the town and were erect- ed by David Sanlord, on the river, just below the village, in 1809. He also, it is believed, built the first framed house, at the village. Mr. Byrns, who still lives where he first located, rays his father's was the first painted framed honse in town, In 1829. Joseph T. Ford and wife, natives of Connecticut, came in 1818. Lewis H. Ford, also a native of Connecticut, came in 1819 and settled in the north-east part of the town,. on Jot 8, on the place now occupied by John Sellon. Mrs. Milton Millett, a native of Canada, settled in the town in 1820, on White Creek, on the section line of lot 55. O. A. Jenkins was born in Belfast in 1822 and lived there till 1847, when he re- moved to WIntesville, in the town of Independence, where he now resides. Settlements were made in 1824 by Mrs. Ezra Tibbetts, Charles Drew and Matthew Lounsbury. Mrs. Tibbetts is a native of Connecticut. She settled on lot 11, where
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George Ramsey now lives. Drew and Lounsbury settled in the south-west corner of the town, the former on lot 9 and the latter on lot 1. Drew is a native of Orange Co. In 1837 he erected a saw mill on the north branch of White Creek, which then afforded a good water power, though there is not now sufficient water to run a mill. Lounsbury is a native of New Jersey. He came into the county from Steuben Co., with an ox team and s ed, cutting his road before him, the year previous to his settlement in this town. He purchased 123 acres of land from the Holland Land Co., paying therefor $2.50 per acre. While at Angelica he had a ring put in his ox yoke, the charge for which was nineteen cents, but as he did not have the money to pay for it he was obliged to give his note for the amount, paya- ble one day after date. He and his brother Samnel built a log shanty by felling trees and covered it with bark. He lay at night for three weeks with his rifle in his hand to defend himself from the attack of wild beasts which were then very numerous. He threshed his wheat with a flail and cleaned it with a hand fan, which was made of deer skin strained over a hoop. He could clean over twenty bushels in a day. He brought with him apple seeds from which he raised a nursery and set ont trees. Starkey Gleason, a native of Seneca Co., moved in with his father in 1825. In 1842 he removed to the town of New Hudson, where he now lives. He remembers while living in Belfast of seeing nine deer in a wheat field at one time. Stephen Willson, a native of Susquehanna Co., Pa., moved in here .in 1829. Wm. Pasco, a native of Washington Co., came the same year and settled near the line of Friendship, on the farm now occupied by Wm. Guilford. Mrs. Lucinda Crawford moved in from Yates Co., in 1830 and settled on "Gleason Hill."
In July, 1838, a destructive tornado which crossed the county from north-west to south-east did much damage in this town. It swept away houses, barns and other moveable things and laid the forest trees in a wind-row nearly half a mile wide. Large trees were torn up by the roots or broken and carried some- times a distance of twenty feet through the air and left in hugh piles twelve to twenty feet high. So great was its force that trees that had for some time been felled were moved from their posi- tion. Articles, says Lewis Ford, were carried a distance of a mile, and one, Charles Bullock, and family, seeing the gale coming, sought refuge upon the bed, which, with its human freight, was carried a distance of four or five rods. Their house was demolished above them and they badly injured. Stephen Willson says he was putting his team in the barn when the tornado struck them. The barn was moved from its foundation and he buried beneath its ruined timbers. His wife, he says,
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clung to the casing of a door near the chimney. The house was moved about six feet. The chimney fell through to the cellar, leaving his wife standing on the edge of the chasm. Siding from his house was carred a distance of ten or twelve miles.
The first birth in town was that of Deborah Reynolds, in August, 1805. The first marriage was that of John Sanford and Mary Collar, in 1806. The first school was taught by Eljah Reynolds, in 1807. Joseph S. Raymond kept the first inn, near the village, in 1821. Samuel King and Martin Butts kept the first store, on lot 12, near where J. H. Chamberlain now lives, in 1824. The first house upon the hill where Belfast village now is was a log structure built in 1816, by Alex. V. P. Chamberlain. The first store in the same locality was kept by B. Chamberlain and --- Hues. about 1840, and the first hotel, by Henry D. Lyman, about 1842.
Rev. Ephraim Sanford, a Baptist, conducted the first religious services nt the house of Nathaniel Reynolds, in 1806, and formed the first Church in 1507-08 .- French's Gazetteer of New York.
The First Baptist Church of Belfast was organized with twelve members, by Rev. - Sanford, in 1911. The church edifice was erected in 1842, at a rost of $1,200. It will seat 250 persons. The first pastor was Rev. Isninh Smith. The Society, numbering fifty, is under the pastoral care of Rey R. E. Hillman, and its property is valued at $4,000 .- [Information furnished by Mr. Lewis HI. Ford. ]
The First M. E Church of Belfast erected their house of worship, which will seat 275 persons, in 1848, at a cost of $1500. It consists of seventy- one members. Its property is valued at $5,000. The pastor is Rev. E. J. Cook, our informant, who is unable to give fuller data in consequence of the loss of the early records.
BIRDSALL was formed from Allen and Almond, May 4, 1829, and derives its name from Judge John Birdsall, Circuit Julge of the Eighth Judicial District in 1828-9. The first town meeting was held at the house of James Matthews in 1829, and the following named officers were elected : Andrew C. Hull, Supervisor ; Horace B. Camp, Town Clerk ; Thomas Parker, R. Thompson and James Matthews, Assessors ; Samuel Hodg- man, Thomas Havens and David Bennett, Commissioners of Highways ; David Bennett, Abram J. Havens and Daniel Schenck, School Commissioners ; Joseph B. Welch, Horace B. Camp and John P. Albangh, Inspectors of Schools ; Josiah Whit- man and Gilbert C. Little, Overseers of the Poor ; Chester Sloteker, Thomas M. Van Wormer and Jonathan Jackson, Con- stables ; Thomas Vun Wormer, Collector ; Josiah Whitman and Lawrence Dey, Justices ; and Aaron Hale, Town Sealer.
It is an interior town, lying north-east of the center of the county, and contains 22,267 acres. The surface is principally a
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hilly upland, separated into several distinct ridges. The declivi- ties of the hills are usually very abrupt, and their highest sum- mits are 500 to 800 feet above the valleys. Black Creek, flow- ing south through the west part, and the head waters of Canisteo River, in the south-east part, form the principal drainage. The soil is clay loam, underlaid by hard-pan, and is well adapted' to wheat and grass.
The line of the proposed Rochester, Nunda & Pennsylvania R. R., as surveyed, extends in a south-westerly direction through the central part of the town.
The population of the town in 1860 was 755; of whom all were white, 652, native and 103, foreign.
BIRDSALL, (p. o.) situated on the line of the proposed R., N. & P. R. R., one mile west of the center of the town, contains a church, (M. E.) two stores, one blacksmith shop, one saw mill and a few dwellings. The building of a hotel is comtemplated.
The first settlement was made on lot 24, by Josiah Whitman, in 1816. Wm. P. Schaack and a man named Vance, from New Jersey, and Jeremiah Van Wormer, from Cayuga Co., settled here soon after. James Matthews, also from New Jersey, settled on lot 21. near the center, in 1818. Win. Dey and his son, Lemuel C. Dey, came in from Cayuga Co., in 1822 and settled on lot 5. John I., James I., and Lawrence J. Dey and John Meserall came in from Middlesex Co., N. J., in 1823, and settled on lot 5. The first birth was that of James E. Matthews, son of James Matthews, March 7. 1820; the first marriage was that of Samnel Van Wickle to Harriet Freeman, dar ghter of Reuben Freeman, in 1821; and the first death, that of Leah Riggs, daughter of John Riggs, in 1824. Hannah Scott taught the first school in 1822. Elias Hull kept the first inn and Joseph B. Welch the first store, in 1828. Win. Lord erected the first saw mill, on Black Creek, in 1823 or '24.
The first religious services were held at the house of Win Dey, by Rev. Robert Hubbard, a Presbyterian, in 1823 ; and the first Church (M. E.) was formed by Rev. Eleazur Dewey, in 1825.
Crittenden M. E. Church, at Birdsall, was organized with four members in 1857, by Rev. Alfred I. Blanchard, the first pastor. The church editiee was erected in 1871. It cost $2,000, one half the present value of the Church property, and will seat 200 persons. There are sixty members, who are under the spiritual tutelage of Rev. George Sherer. [Information furnished by Mr. Charles P. Headley.
St. Joseph's Church (Catholic) was organized with forty-three members, and their house of worship, which will seat eighty persons, was erected in 1850, at a cost of $900. The first pastor was Rev. Daniel More ; the present one is Rev. Peter Donehuc. The Society numbers forty-five, and its property is valued at $1,000. [Information furnished by MMr. Thomas Riley ]
BOLIVAR.
BOLIVAR was formed from Friendship, Feb. 15, 1825. A part of Wirt was taken off April 12, 1838. The first town meeting was held March 1, 1825, and the following named officers were elected : Asa Cowles, Supervisor ; Anstin Cowles, Toen Clerk ; Pliny L. Evans, Jonah French and Eli Lesuer, Awwsors ; Elijah Fuller, Collector ; Simon Wightman and Jonathan Hitchcock, Overseers of the Poor ; Elijah Fuller and Philip Appleby, Constables ; and Levi Appleby, Ebenezer Kel- logg and Alvan Richardson, Commissioners of Common Schools.
The town lies upon the south border. west of the center of the county, and contains 22,600 acres. The surface is a broken, hilly upland, the hills in some parts being too steep for profita- ble cultivation. It is drained by Little. Genesee ' Creek, which cross the north-west corner, Honeoye Creek, which crosses the south-east corner, and Horse Creek, a small tributary to the latter stream, which flows through the south-west part. The soil npon the hills is a reddish clay loam, and in the valleys a gravelly loam. It is generally best adapted to grazing. The people are principally engaged in farming, dairying being the chief pursuit in the northern and western parts.
Thepopulation in 1870 was 959 ; of whom all, except fifteen, Were native and all, except three, white.
BOLIVAR, (p. o.) situated on Little Genesee Creek and on the line of the proposed R., N. & P. R. R., in the north-west part of the town, contains a church, (M. E.) one hotel, three general stores, one boot and shoe store, one grocery, a grist mill, a small tannery, wagon shop, blacksmith shop, harness shop, two shoe shops, cheese factory, thirty-seven dwellings and about 180 inhabitants.
SOUTH BOLIVAR. (p. o.) (locally known also as Honeoye Corners and Honeoye Forks, ) situated on Honeove Creek, in the south part, contains a wagon shop, blacksmith shop, nine dwellings und about fifty inhabitants.
Two or three years previous to the first permanent settlement Zephuniah Smith, a hunter from Unadilla, Otsego Co., was necustomed to spend the winter in this vicinity in hunting, re- turning in the summer to Otsego Co. His last visit was during the winter of 1818-19. He builta log hut about sixteen feet square, with a chamber, in which several of the first settlers lived till they could build n house of their own. He directed many of the first settlers to this town. This rude structure was the first human habitation in the town. The first permanent settlement was made Dec. 8, 1819, by Timothy Cowles, a native of Ver- mont, who came in from Otsego Co., and settled on lot 61, where he remained till about 1850, when he went west and
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soon after died. His sons, Alvin T. and Erastus Cowles, the former of whom was born in Otsego Co., in 1808, and the latter, in the town of Friendship, June 19, 1819, came in with him and still reside in the town. Alvin lived with his father till 1833, when he took up land on lot 52. In the spring of the same year Jonathan Hitchcock, in company with Alvin Richard- son and Nathan Gilbert, moved into the county. Hitchcock took up land on lot 48, in this town, in the south part of the village of Richburg, while his companions located in the present town of Wirt, both of these towns being then a part of Friendship. Hitchcock actually made the first improvements in the town, if we except Smith, though Cowles was the first to move his family in. Hitchcock bought the claim of Zephaniah Smith. He renovated the hut Smith had erected, putting in a new floor, and a new roof in place of the bark one. Ile also built a linter, or lean-to. During this season he cleared a piece of land on which he planted corn and potatoes, and later in the season he cleared some live acres, on which, in the autumn, he sowed wheat. In the latter part of November he started for Unadilla, Otsego Co., after his wife and children, four in num- ber, leaving his step-son and step danghter, Samuel and Polly Buckley, who came with him, at Azal Buckley's, in the town of Wirt, till his return. Mr. Hitchcock returned with his family Feb. 15, 1820, finding that Christopher Tyler, who had come in during the winter, had taken possession of the house. Mr. Tyler was born in Rhode Island, July 21, 1787. He removed to Friendship from Otsego Co., in company with Timothy, Asa and Austin Cowles, who also, its appears, remained a short time in that town, and the latter two of whom moved into this town soon after him. He lived with Mr. Hitchcock till June, 1820, when he removed to his own land on lot 55. Mr. Hitchcock lived in the town till his death in 1863, with the exception of one year. He was born in Northampton, Conn., Ang. 5, 1770. Ilis son, Horace, who was born in January, 1812, and came in- to the town with the family, has since lived there, with the exception of six years. Eli Lesuer, who was born in Unadilla, Otsego Co., Nov. 25, 1796, removed thence to Bolivar in the autumn of 1821, and selected land on lot 62, where he built a log house. He then went back to Otsego after his family, returning with them the following January. The nearest grist mill and physician, he says, were at Friendship, a distance of twelve miles. The settlers were accustomed to put their grists upon a sled, to which two yokes of oxen were attached, and a man was selected to take them to mill. The journey occupied two to three days. The only article which commanded money was black salts, which all the first settlers made. They were
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