USA > New York > Allegany County > Gazetteer and business directory of Allegany County, N. Y. for 1875 > Part 8
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BOLIVAR.
usually drawn to Friendship, but on one occasion Mr. Lesner says he drew them to Franklinville. in Cattaraugus Co. He is still living in the town. Samuel Davie was born in New Jer- sev, Feb. 14, 1790, and removed with his parents at an early age to Otsego Co. In March, 1823, he removed to this town and bought of Abram Crandall, a land speculator at Friend- ship, a piece of land he had selected on lot 62, upon which was a small log house, but no clearing. He commenced a clearing for a garden plot and for corn. He remained until about the first of June, when, having made his garden and planted some corn, he went back to Otsego Co. after his family, returning with them the same month. He brought with him a team of horses, which, he says. was the first in town and the only one between " Notch Hil!," in Wirt, and Ceres. He served as a soldier for a short time in the war of 1812; and during the late war of the Rebellion beenlisted and was accepted by repre- senting himself to be only forty-four years old. His two sons on hearing of his enlistment, with much diffienlty prevailed upon him to relinquish the idea of joining the army, and he only consented to do so on their promise to enlist themselves, which they finally did. He has resided in the town since he first came. Ebenezer Kellogg removed from the same county and settled un lot 56, in or about the same year (1823.) Abel Root, a Intive of Otsego Co., removed from Madison Co., to Scio in February, 1822, and in February, 1824, to lot 54 in this town, where he remained till 1845, when he moved to Illinois. Three children ( Abel Jr., David C. and Truman B.,) who came with him, and one (James HI.) who was born here, still live in the town. David C. Root lived with his father till he attained his majority, (in 1829) when he took an article for land on lot 38, upon which he removed his family in 1831, and where he still lives. Abel Root Jr. married in 1826 and settled on lot 46, where he remamed till 1839, when he removed to lot 38, where he still lives. He was the first settler in " Root Hollow." II. B. Newton moved in from Madison Co., in 1824, and settled ust Bolivar village. In 1825 he and Asa Cowles opened a store there, which was the first one in the town. In 1831 he opened at the same place the first hotel, which he continued to keep till 1845. He died in the town in 1873, aged seventy-four years. banc and Win. Wellman and Samuel Frost moved in from Vermont the same year ( 1824,) and were the first to settle in the north-east part of the town. The Wellman brothers located on lot 16, remaining only a year, and Frost, on lot 24, where he lived about three years. Isaac Case and his son Bradford W. Case, the latter of whom was born in New Bed- ford, Mass, Sept. 6, 1812, moved from Onondaga Co. with an
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ox team and settled in the south-east part of the town of Wirt in January, 1822. Owing to the depth of snow they were unable to reach their destination, so they stopped at Levi Applebee's, near the center of Wirt, till March, when they moved into the house the father had built the previous year. In 1825 they removed to lot 16 in this town. B. W. Case has lived in this town and Wirt since he first came to the county. He was a mechanic, and built nine saw mills for different par- ties in one year. He relates that in 1825 Samuel Frost and two or three of his sons went one Sunday afternoon to pick chest- nuts a little south of their house. At night Mr. Frost started home to do the chores, leaving his boys to follow when they had finished picking. When the latter reached home their father had not arrived and apprehending danger from his pro- tracted delay they went over to Isaac Case's to get help to search for him. They repaired to the locality where he had been pick-, ing chestnuts, but could find no trace of him. The next morn- ing the neighbors were alarmed and joined in the search, and in the afternoon, as no tidings were learned of him, Mr. Case went to Friendship village to procure additional help to join the search, so that by Monday night some twenty or thirty men had gathered together. A corresponding number of women hud collected at the house of the missing man to help to cook and provide for the searchers. The search was continued until Thursday night, at day und more or less at night, when they met in council and decided that it was useless longer to con- tinue it. While they were thus engaged Mr. Case bethought him to look in a small gully near by. He soon discovered tracks which he followed to a muddy place, and while making a detour around this he discovered Mr. Frost lying beside a log, very weak and nearly insensible. A rude litter was constructed on which he was carried home. Ile was able to be around again in a few days. A ten quart pail with which he started for home was found on Tuesday, half full of chestnuts, and the large quantity of shucks which were found strewn around near it indicated that he had spent the previous night in walking be- tween two large trees twelve or fourteen feet apart. We pre- sume Mr. Frost became lost in the woods, though we are not advised upon that point. Peter Ayers removed from Seneca Co. to the town of Wirt in April, 1821, and in 1827, to this town, where he has since resided. David Thurber moved in from Cayuga Co. in March, 1829, and settled on lot 46, where he remained till his death in February, 1845. His wife still lives npon the old homestead. Jeremiah Burdick, from Cort- land Co., and Leonard Daniels, from Otsego Co., came in 1830, the latter in October. Burdick settled on lot 55, and lived in
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the town till his death in 18:3. Daniels settled on lot 53. Elias Scott, a native of New Hampshire, removed with his father to Friendship, from Genesee Co., in 1828, and in 1831, to lot 39, in this town, where he has since lived. Levi Lesuer, from Otsego Co., settled on fot 55, in June, 1832. Charles Cowles, from Steuben Co., and James Davie, from Otsego Co., settled in the town in 1833, Davie on lot 54. In 1834 John Phillips, from Vermont, settled ou lot 24. Clark Millard moved in from Otsego Co. and settled on lot 60, in October of the same year. In March. 1850, he removed to the town of Genesee, where he still resides. His son Nelson, who came with him, still lives in the town. S. W. Thomas was born at Angelica, Oct. 14, 1814, and in June, 1834, he removed to Richburg and entered the store of Nelson Hoyt as clerk. In 1836 Mr. Hoyt removed to Bolivar village and built and opened a store, which, says Mr. Thomas, was the first " regular" store in Bolivar. It was built in the winter of 1835-6, and opened in February, 1836. Mr. Thomas also connected himself with Mr. Hoyt as clerk in this store, and sold the first goods in it. In 1840 he entered into partnership with Mr. Hoyt, and three years thereafter he open- ed a store of his own. He has since continned that business in this village, with the exception of two years spent in Richburg in the same business. Mr. Hoyt kept the store till his death about 1857.
The first birth in town was that of Almond W. Cowles, in 1820; the first marriage, that of Daniel Kellogg and Sophia Hitch- cock, in 1825 ; and the first death, that of a child of Luther Austin, in 1823. The first school house was a log structure, built on the north-east corner of lot 55, on lands now owned by S. G. S. Rowley, in the early part of the summer of 1820. The first school was taught the same summer by Rachel Gil- bert, at seventy-five cents per week. Anstin Cowles taught in the winter of 1820-21. The first saw mill was built in 1822, on Little Genesee Creek, on lot 55,- near the village, by an association of early settlers, consisting of Christopher Tyler, Asa and Austin Cowles and Luther Austin, the latter of whom was the millwright. Asa Cowles erected the first grist mill on lot 54, at the village, in 1824. Luther Anstin built the first frumed house on lot 55. Morris Wilson built and opened the first store at . Iloneoye Corners. He also kept the first public house there. Two brothers named Warner opened a grocery store at the Corners soon after Wilson did his.
The first religious services were held by the Methodists and conducted by Austin Cowles, in 1820. The first Church was organized by the same denomination in 1828.
The First Baptist Church of Richburg was organized in 1832, by Rev.
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Eliab Gowen, and the church edifice, which will seat 250 persons, was erected in 1840, at a cost of about $2,500. Rev. Joseph Wilcox was the first pastor ; Rev. C. F. Blakeman is the present one. There are seventy- seven members. The Church property is valued at $4,500. [Information furnished by Mr. II. Fritts.
BURNS was formed from Ossian, (Livingston Co.,) March 12, 1826, and derives its name from the celebrated Scotch poet. The first town officers were, Philip Rich, Supervisor ; J. H. Boylan, Town Clerk ; Benj. Jones, John Boylan and Wm. Mor- ley, Assessors ; Wm. Carroll, Collector ; Wm. Carroll, Joseph Leonard, Samuel Carpenter, Horace Morse and T. Vanscoter, Constubles ; Nathan Bennett, Elias Vanscoter and Silas Rease, Commissioners of Highways ; Wm. Shepard and James Carroll, Poor Masters : Josephus Miller, Jonathan Paley and Royal Whitney, School Commissioners ; P. Rich, Horatio Tilden and Wmn. Carroll, School Inspectors ; Philip Rich, Justice of the Peace.
It is the north-east corner town in the county, and contains 15,482 acres. The surface is hilly and broken, and is best adapted to grazing. The summits of the highest hills are 400 to 700 feet above the valleys. The principal streams are Canase- raga Creek,* which flows in a north-easterly direction through the northern part, and its tributaries, South Valley and Slader creeks, the former of which flows north through the central, and the latter north and east through the south-western part.
The Buffalo Branch of the Erie R. R. crosses the northern part of the town. The proposed Rochester, Nunda & Pennsyl- vania R. R. just enters the north -west corner of the town and leaves it again almost immediately by a short turn.
The population in 1870 was 1340; of whom 1221 were native, 119, foreign and all, white.
CANASERAGA (p. v.) (formerly called Whitney Valley) is situated on Canaseraga Creek and the Buffalo Division of the Erie R. R., north of the center of the town, and contains three churches, (Baptist, Episcopal and M. E ) two hotels, sixteen stores of various kinds, a printing office, ( Canaseraga Times, neutral in politics, started Nov. 27, 1873, and published weekly by H. C. Scott,) a photograph gallery, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one steam saw mill, two planing mills and abont 800 inhabitants.
BURNS STATION, (Burns p. o.) situated on the east line of the town, a little south of the center, lying partially in this town and partially in Steuben Co., is a station on the Buffalo
* The Indian name of this creek was Ga-nose-ga-go. Pioneer History of Phelps & Gorham's Purchase, p. 359.
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Division of the Erie R. R. and contains one church, (M. E.) one hotel, one store, and about twenty dwellings.
GARWOOD STATION, (p. o.) situated on Canaseraga Creek. and the Buffalo Division of the Erie R. R., in the north-west cor- ner of the town, contains one store, one blacksmith shop, one steamn saw mill and about a dozen dwellings.
BURNS, situated in the eastern part of the town, about one mile north-west of Burns Station, contains one church (not in use) and about a dozen dwellings.
Bailey & Garwood's Mill gives employment to about forty persons and annually manufactures about one million feet of lumber besides a large quantity of staves and heading.
'The first settlement was made in the north-western part of the town, on Canaseraga Creek, in 1805, by Moses and Jeremiah Gregory, John Gaddis and Samuel Rodman. It is related of Mrs. Rodman that she was acenstomed to visit at Canaseraga, and while walking the distance there and back would foot a pair of stockings. Settlements were made in 1806 by Wm. Carroll, Win. Hopkins, Elijah and Daniel Abbott, Elias Van- scoter, Thomas Quick and Thomas Boylan. Carroll settled a little sonth of the central part of the town, on lot 40. He was n soldier in the Revolutionary war, and after that he spent some time as a sailor. March 3, 1785, he married Phebe Wort- man. He came here from the south-west part of Pennsylvania, bringing with him his family consisting of his wife, five sons and three daughters, and spent the remainder of his life on the farm he then took up. His son John, who was about eight years old when they came in, lived on the same farm till his death at the age 78 years. He never had any shoes till he was eight years old. He was a noted hunter, and furnished his neighbors with game, which was abundant at an early day. Hopkins, who settled in the central part of the town, the Abbotts, who settled at De Witt's Valley, and Quick, who set- tled in the eastern part, were also from Pennsylvania. Van- scoter, originally from Pennsylvania, came from Arkport, Steuben Co., and settled in the eastern part, where he spent the rest of his life. Boylan was the first settler at Canase- raga. He came from Bluff Point on Crooked Lake in the spring of 1806, about the time the trees leaved out, with one of his sons, James H., and purchased a tract of land a half mile square, lot 99. They brought with them, on their backs, provisions enough to last till they had cut six acres of timber, when they returned to Bluff Point to attend to haying and harvesting. After harvest a cart was loaded with seed grain und provisions and the twain again set out for this locality.
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At Dansville they were obliged to abandon the cart, and load its contents upon the backs of the oxen, as there was nothing but an Indian path from that place to their destination. Having logged a fallow they turned out the cattle to feed along the creek while they burned it. When they went in search of the cattle one of them was found dead, so that Mr. Boylan was obliged to return to Bluff Point for another and for more seed grain. After the grain was in the body of a log house was erected north of the creek, on the eastern edge of the village, and a patch of timber cut around it. They then returned to Bluff Point and remained till spring, when Mir. Boylan came on and put in some corn and potatoes among the logs and covered his house. He then returned for his family, (consisting of his wife, Elizabeth,) and five sons, (James H., John, Firman, Isaac and Samuel,) and his stock, consisting of twenty-two head of cattle. All he had to winter his cattle upon was the wheat straw and few corn stalks he had raised, so that he was obliged to browse his cattle a good part of the winter. On the fourth of March, 1807, snow fell four feet deep on the level. He occupied his log house till about 1820 and cleared a large portion of his farm. He then built a frame house where the Pelton House now stands, and which is a part of that building. A frame house was built about the same time by a Mr. Abbott in the eastern part of the town. Christopher Boylan, son of Samuel, to whom we are indebted for the facts relative to his father's family, was accustomed to go to school bare-footed, bare-headed and without mittens and to slide upon the ice as long as those who had shoes, stockings, hats and mittens. He says he never had a hat nor a pair of shoes till after he was ten years old. He is still living near Canaseraga village. Nathaniel Summers settled in the south-east part of the town, James Crooks, in the northern part, a little west of Canaseraga, a Mr. Mills, in the western part, and a Mr. Fry, near Burns village, at a very early day. Among the first settlers were the Mc- Curdys, Slaters and Wilsons, and among those who came a little later were the Whitneys and Carpenters. Henry Leonard moved in from Towanda, Pa., with his family, consisting of his wife and five children, (two girls and three boys,) in 1809, and settled at Canaseraga, where two of the sons are still living, and where he remained till his death. Joseph Leonard, who is liv- ing on the farm his father took up, has held the office of justice of the peace for the last forty-two years. Horatio Tilden, from Avon, Livingston Co., and Alvah Cruttenden, from Leroy, Genesee Co., settled in 1815, the former east of the center, on lot 25, and the latter in the western part, where he took up a large farm, on which one of his sons lives, and on which he
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spent the rest of his life. Wmn. Miller, from Avon, Livingston Co., settled in the south part about 1816, and died there. He out a road for over a mile to reach his land. Nathaniel Bennett, from Vermont, settled in the northern part in 1817. He brought with him his wife, four sons (one of whom was lost on the way) and two daughters. They made the journey with horses and wagons. One of his sons (Daniel W. ) still lives on the old homestead. Samuel Whipple and Ezra Whitney moved in from Vermont in 1818. Whipple settled at Canaseraga, and the next year put up a framed house,* in the northern part of the village. Whitney came in with a somewhat numerous family, two of his sous being married, and took up a large tract of land in the locality of Garwood Station. Stephen Mundy came in from Middlesex Co., N. J., in 1819, and purchased 500 aeres of land in the western part of the town, on which he settled. He says the town was very heavily timbered, oak, pine and hemlock prevailing in the eastern part. The first birth in town was that of Lewis W. Carroll, Ang. 1, 1807; the first marriage, that of John Gregory and Betsy Doty; and the first deaths, those of Jeremiah and Sammel Gregory, twin brothers, who were killed by the fall of a tree, the former April 4, 1812, and the latter Sept. 17th of the same year. The first school was taught in 1810, in a log school house one-half mile west of Canuseraga, by David Crooks. The first hotel was kept at Burns village in 1826, by Simeon D. Drown, so says Joseph Leonard ; while Stephen Mundy says it was probably kept by Oliver Carpenter, in a log house situated about half a mile east of Canuseraga. The first store was kept in 1828, by Isaac N. Town, on the site of the Pelton House, in Canaseraga village. The first grist mill was built in 1810 by Daniel Shull. It was located on Canaseraga Creek, one mile below Canaseraga. The first saw mill, says Joseph Leonard, was built (in 1813) on Canaseraga Creek, two miles west of Canaseraga, by David Mc- Curdy ; while Christopher Boylan, who is considered excellent authority, says it was built in the same locality, by Ezra Whitney.
The first religious services were held by the Methodists at the house of Moses Gregory, in 1806, and were conducted by Robert Parker.
The First Baptist Church of Canaseraga was organized in 1810, by Rev. Jesse Braman, the first pastor. Their house of worship was erected in 1556. ut a cost of $3,000. It will sent 300 persons The Society, number- ing sixty six, is under the pastoral care of Rev. Colwill Townsend, and its property is valued at $1,000. [Information furnished by Mr. Joseph Leon- ard.]
" Gap Spring Valley Church" (M. E.) was organized with twelve mem-
ยท Authorities differ as to whether this or the house erected by Samuel Boylan was the Ilrat framed house In the town. Que year's priority is claimed for this.
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bers in 1846, by Rev. Veranius Brownell, the first pastor, and who, in con- neetion with Rev. John Spinks, is the present one. The church edifice was erected in 1861-2. It cost $600 and will seat 300 persons. There are thirty members. The Church property is valued at $1,000. [Informuition furnished by Mr. Joseph Flint.]
The M. E. Church, at Burns Station, was organized with about six men- bers, by Rev. Mr. Bliven, the first pastor, about 1859, and the church edifice, which will seat 200 persons, was erected in 1871, at a cost of $2,000, the present value of the Church property. The Society numbers twenty-one, and is under the spiritual tutelage of Rev. J. Spinks. [Infor- mation furnished by Mr. M. Mc Master.]
The First Presbyterian Church of Canaseraga was organized with thir- teen members, Oct. 26, 1872. by Rev. J. H. Board, the first and present pastor, and our informant The Society consists of twenty one members. They have no house of worship.
Trinity Church, (Protestant Episcopal) at Canaseraga, was organized with ten members, in 1853, by Rev. John E. Battin and Lloyd Windsor, the former of whom was the first pastor. The church edifice, which will seat 350 persons, was erected in 1864-5, at a cost of $3,700. The Society consists of ninety members, and is under the pastoral care of Rev E E Chamberlain, our informant. The Church property is valued at $8,500. It has sometimes had two missions, at Ossian and Garwood Station, and has seldom failed to supply the services of the Church at Ossian more or less regularly.
CANEADEA was formed from Angelica, March 11, 1808. Friendship was taken off March 24, 1815; Rushford, March S' 1816 ; and Orrinsburgh, (now Belfast,) March 24, 1824. A part was annexed to Belfast in 1831. The first town meeting was held at the house of Jedediah Nobles, April 5, 1808, and the following named officers were elected : Wm. Pinkerton, Super- visor ; Isaac Sanford, Town Clerk ; David Sanford, Asa Harris and John Higgins, Assessors ; Simon Gates, Squire Haskell and James Rice, Commissioners of Highways ; James Sanford, Con- stable and Collector ; Ezra Sanford and Elisha Chamberlain, Overseers of the Poor.
It is an interior town, lying north-west of the center of the county, and contains 21,950 acres. The surface is divided into two ridges by Genesee River, which flows north through the central part, and receives Caneadea, Houghton and Crawford* creeks from the west. Upon Caneadea Creek is a valuable stone quarry. The soil upon the highlands is a gravelly and clavey loam, and in the valleys a gravelly loam and alluvium. The valley of the Genesee is highly productive and is well adapted to grain raising. The town generally is best adapted
* Named from Crawford. who is reputed to be the first settler upon it. He came from the Susquehanna country in Pennsylvania, in 1805, bringing his family with an ox team, and took up 100 acres of land one and one-half miles above the mouth of the creek. He died March 29, 1869. aged 89 years and 9 months. Ilis sons Lyndes and Harry, the former of whom was born in this town in 1811, and the latter in 1819, are living in the town of Belfast.
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to grazing and most of the farmers are engaged in dairying. The Genesee Valley Canal passes through the town west of the Genesee.
The southern part of Caneadea Reservation lies in the north part of the town, npon both sides of the river. The oid council house stood upon the east bank of the river, on lot 39. An old Indian orchard still marks the locality.
In June, 1811, October, 1817, and October 20, 1835, the valley of the Genesee was visited by severe floods, which swept away mills and other buildings, produce and even stock.
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,869; of whom 1683 were native, 186, foreign, 1822, white and 47, colored.
ORAMEL, (p. v.) situated on the Genesee River and Genesee Valley Canal, in the south part of the town, was incorporated June 9, 1856, and contains two churches, five stores, one hotel, an iron foundry, a steam saw mill, a shingle mill, harness shop, Wagon shop, two blacksmith shops and abont 450 inhabitants. The census of 1870 gives it a population of 289.
Elijah F. Johnson's Steam Saw Mill, located abont one half mile north of Oramel, gives employment, to about fifteen men and annually manufactures about 1,500,000 feet of lumber.
CANEADEA, (p. v.) situated on Genesee River and the Genesee Valley Canal, a little west of the center of the town, and at the month of Caneadea Creek, contains one church, (M. E.) four stores, two hotels, a shingle mill, cheese factory, harness shop, wagon shop, three blacksmith shops and about 400 inhabit- ants. The census of 1870 gives it a population of 236.
HOUGHTON CREEK, (p. o.) is a hamlet situated on the creek of the same name and the Genesee Valley Canal, in the north- west part of the town.
Settlement was commenced about 1800, by a Mr. Schoonover, from Pennsylvania, who located about two miles below Canea- dea village, on lot 8. Ephraim Sanford and Zephaniah Huff, from the town of Wayne, Steuben Co., came in 1802 and ex- plored the country bordering upon the east bank of the Gene- see from near the transit line in Angelica to Portage, where they crossed the river and continned their explorations along the west shore up to the point where they first struck it. They then returned to their homes. Huff returned the following year and built a log house and planted some corn ; and in the fall, after harvesting the latter, he put it in the chamber of his house and returned home for his family, which he moved in in February, 1804. Hle settled on the opposite side of the river from Caneaden, on lot 11. Sanford also returned in 1803, bringing with him from the same county, in addition to Huff,
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