USA > New York > Broome County > Gazetteer and business directory of Broome and Tioga Counties, N. Y. for 1872-3 > Part 17
USA > New York > Tioga County > Gazetteer and business directory of Broome and Tioga Counties, N. Y. for 1872-3 > Part 17
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MCCLURE SETTLEMENT (p. o.) is located at the confluence of Oquaga Creek and North Brook, a little south of the center of the town. The post office was established here in 1865. D. & S. Post's steam saw mill, located here, gives employment to seven men, annually saws four millions of feet of lumber and manufactures 5,000 lath per day.
The first settlement was made in 1787, by Wm. McClure,*
*From Mr. M. R. Hulce of Deposit we learn the following interesting parti- culars relative to McClure : He was born in 1725. His father was a native of Ireland, near Londonderry, and was of Scotch descent. McClure acquired a good English education-including a knowledge of navigation, survey- ing and higher mathematics-and some knowledge of Latin. The religi- ous principles imbibed in his boyhood inspired him with a deep reverence for the Deity, and his early training confirmed in him habits of exem- plary morality. These, with his proficiency in mathematics, were his chief recommendations to the land-holders, by whom he was employed as surveyor and land-agent. In the Spring of 1787 he started from Orange county, (in which and Dutchess county he had been teaching successfully,) for the Cookhouse, in the employ of the owners of the Fisher & Norton Patent in this county, threading the pathless forests with the aid of his faithful mare "Ohio," and followed by assistants who came up the river in a canoe loaded with provisions. On his arrival he built a rude log cabin on Oquaga Creek, about five miles west of Deposit, which he called "Castle William," since known as McClure Settlement. During the sum- mer and fall he surveyed the greater part of Fisher & Norton Patent into lots one mile square. His labors were retarded by lack of provisions, caused by the pumpkin flood. As the winter approached he sent his men back and remained in the wilderness with no other companion than a faithful dog. His Bible, field-book and diary occupied much of'his time; while the stream, which abounded with trout, furnished his meat. The deprivation of society made the time drag heavily : and the want of bread and vegetables was keenly felt by him. His appetite failed, and toward spring indications of a fever were apparent. The depth of snow and his weak condition prevented escape. The nearest human habitation was Hyn- back's, on the east side of the river, at the "Cookhouse." His efforts to overcome his increasing weakness were unavailing, and soon he was unable to go to the brook for water and his accustomed supply of fish. As he lay stretched on his couch of boughs, unable to rise, death seemed the only relief which awaited him. His dog, which staid with him some days, left one morning, and toward night McClure was greeted by its joyous bark- ing, which heralded the coming of Cornelius Hynback, who soon entered the cabin, with stimulants, which he administered to McClure, whom he found helpless and almost dead. He staid with him until he was suffi- ciently recovered to render it safe to leave him, when he returned for sup- plies, which he brought as often as necessary. Hynback's farm was on elevated ground, so that the flood did not destroy his crops. The dog had made his way to Hynback's and by his action induced him to suspect that something was wrong at Castle William, and when Hynback started on his journey, the demonstrations of joy made by the dog, which led the way, were of the most extravagant nature.
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from Chester, New Hampshire. Captain Nathan Dean* and family followed him in 1791, and Squire Whitakert and fam- ily in 1797. Among the other early settlers were John Pinney, Anthony West, Luther Hulce, - Potter, James P. Apling- ton, John Peters, Simon and Zina Alexander, Alex. Butler, Geo. Plummer, Moses Farnham, Nathan Austin, Jonas Under- wood, Silas Seward, (the last three were Revolutionary soldiers) James and Benj. Coburn, Daniel Race, Noah Carpenter, S. P. Green, Joseph Page, Capt. Parker, Isaac Denton and Dexter May.
In 1821 there was not a sufficient number of freeholders in the town to form a jury and a special act was passed constitut- ing any man, a resident, a competent juror. The law is still in force. The 5th of March the following year the first town meeting was held at the house of Wm. McClure.t
The following spring McClure. having recovered from the prostration produced by his sickness and hibernation, resumed surveying and con- tinued it two or three years during the warm season, after which, more than satisfied with his monastic experience at Castle William, he returned to Orange county and again occupied himself in teaching. While thus engaged he became acquainted with Miss, Sarah Farnham, daughter of Capt. Elias Faruham, whom, in the early part of the winter of 1791, he married, and moved to a log house which he erected in November of the previous year, on the site of Castle William, in anticipation of the coming nuptials. Their effects were placed on a light sleigh, to which was hitched his favorite Ohio. McClure had purchased a large tract of land (including the site of Castle William,) with the proceeds of his services in surveying.
His children were William. David, Henry, Walter, Sally, Thomas, Fanny and Prudence. After the death of his first wife he married Lydia Austin of Conn. He died at Castle William in 1826, leaving numerous descendants in its vicinity.
* Nathan Dean located at Deposit in June, 1791, and purchased that part of the village lying in this county. He died in a few years leaving a widow and five children, viz: Nathan L., Joshua, Caleb, Zenas K. and Catharine, (who married James Aplington,) of whom Joshua and Zenas still survive. All had families and their descendants chiefly reside in the town.
+ Squire Whitaker came in April, 1797. The same day that he arrived his daughter Elizabeth was married to Conrad Edick. This was the first marriage in the town. The bride was dressed in linsey-woolsey, and the groom in browu-tow and buckskin moccasins, with stocking au-naturel. The ceremony was performed by a Baptist missionary named How. Mr. Whitaker and family were at Wyoming at the time of the massacre. He was taken prisouer in Fort Jenkins, but was released and, with his family, fled over the mountains, enduring severe hardships, and reached his former home in Orange Co.
# At that meeting was elected the following named officers: Ým. McClure, Supervisor ; Joshua Dean, Town Clerk; James P. Aplington, Nathaniel L. Dean and Wm. McClure, Assessors; Nathan L. Dean, Alex. Butler and Wm. MoClure Jr., Commissioners of Highways; John Peters and James P. Aplington, Overseers of the Poor; Wm. McClure, Nathan Dean and Alex. Dean, Commissioners of Common Schools; Jacob Edick, Constable und Collector ; Joseph Eddy, Constable; Daniel Evans, Gusham Loomis and Michael Child, Inspectors of Common Schools; John Pinney, Eli King and Nathan Austin, Fence Viewers. This list of officers includes all the freeholders in the town at that time.
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Formerly the streams abounded with fine trout and the forests with wild animals. Until after the Revolution the east line of the town was the division line between the Indians and the King, and was called the "property line." The growth of the town has leen gradual but constant, and it is now one of the wealthiest in the County.
The first saw mill was built in 1791 and the first grist mill in 1792, by Capt. Dean, who also opened the first store and kept the first inn in 1794. The first store in Deposit was built by Benj. and Peter Gardner, in 1795, where Vail's brick store now stands, near the Oquaga House. It was stocked with eight sleigh loads of goods which were brought from New York. The men and teams put up at Capt. Dean's. The first death was that of Stephen Whitaker, which occurred Oct. 23, 1793, in which year the first school was taught by Hugh Compton.
The Deposit Baptist Church was organized as the First Bap- tist Church of Tompkins, with fourteen members, March 7, 1812. The first house of worship was erected in 1827-8 and was burned down in 1851; the second one was blown down while being repaired in 1866 ; and the present one, which will seat 450 persons, was erected in 1866-7, at a cost of $9,000. The first pastor was Rev. - Holcomb; the present one is Rev. J. N. Adams. There are 255 members. The Church property is valued at $13,000.
The First Presbyterian Church at Deposit was organized July 21, 18.12, by J. T. Benedict and David Harowar, missionaries, with nine members .* The first church edifice was erected in 1819; the second one, which was consumed by fire in 1855, in 1853, and the present one, which will seat 600 persons, in 1856, at a cost of $6,000. The first pastor was Rev. Elisha Wise; the present one is Rev. Geo. O. Phelps. The present number of members is 255. The value of Church property is $10,000.
The First Baptist Church of Sanford, located in the north part of the town, was organized with thirteen members, May 12, 1842, by a council of delegates from the Baptist churches of Coventry, Masonville, Deposit and South Bainbridge. The church edifice was erected in 1846, at a cost of $400. It is still standing, but in consequence of its not being centrally located it has been unoccupied the past three years. The
*The church edifice is in Delaware county, but the members reside in both Broome and Delaware counties. The church has a Congregational form of government and is connected with the Presbytery on the "accommoda- tion plan." The three constituent male members at its organization were Wm. McClure, Aaron Stiles and Benj. Hawley.
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Society has held meetings regularly at two school houses, alternately. A movement is on foot to secure a site and build a more convenient church. The first pastor was Rev. E. L. Benedict, from Deposit ; the present one is Rev. A. H. Hamlin. There are thirty-six members.
TRIANGLE* was formed from Lisle April 18, 1831. It is situated in the extreme north part of the county, its north line bordering on Cortland county and its eastern, on Chenango county. Its surface consists of a broken upland, divided into ridges by the valleys of Otselic River and Half Way Brook. The hills attain an altitude of from 300 to 500 feet above the valleys. It covers an area of 24,231 acres, of which, in 1865, according to the census of that year, 17,2952, were improved. The soil is generally a gravelly loam, better adapted to grazing than tilling. It is watered by the Tioughnioga River, which flows through the south-west corner; the Otselic River, which flows south through the town, adjacent to the west line, and empties into the Tioughnioga near the south-west corner; and Half Way Brook, which flows south through the town a little east of the center.
The population of this town in 1870 was 1,944. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1871, there were twelve school districts in which were employed seventeen teachers. The number of children of school age was 570; the number attending school, 612; the average attendance, §36; the amount expended for school purposes, $7,673; and the value of school houses and sites, $15,525.
WHITNEYS POINTt (p. v.) is situated near the south-west cor- ner, at the confluence of the Tioughnioga and Otselic rivers, and is a station on the Syracuse & Binghamton R. R., which passes through the south west corner of the town. It is distant north from Binghamton by rail 20.55 miles, and south from Syracuse 58.78 miles. It was incorporated under the general act of the Legislature passed in 1870, and its boundaries changed by a special act of the Legislature, in April, 1872. It contains one hotel, (another is in process of erection on the site of the one which was recently burned,) five churches, (Grace Prot. Epis., Baptist, Congregational, M. E. and Catholic,) six general stores,
*"This name was applied to the tract sonth of the Military Tract and 'Twenty Towns,' and between the Chenango and Tioughnioga rivers. It was bought by Col. Wm. Smith, at three shillings, three pence per acre. The Chenango Triangle embraces Smithville and part of Greene in Che- nango county, and Triangle and part of Barker in Broome .- French's State Gazetteer.
+ Named from Thomas Whitney, who owned the bridge and mills at this place and a large landed property in the neighborhood.
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two drug stores, a Union School and Academy,* a jewelry store, two furniture stores, two stove, tin and hardware stores, a steam sash and blind factory,t a steam saw mill, two wagon shops, four blacksmith shops, one harness shop, one brick-yard, two cooper shops, four millinery shops, a photograph gallery, an undertaking establishment, a livery stable, 124 dwellings and about 700 inhabitants.
Messrs. G. C. & J. F. Bishop are about to open a beautiful grove in the south-west part of the village for the accommoda- tion of picnic and pleasure parties. Among its attractions are several ponds which are supplied with water from springs on the ground and which are already stocked with choice fish. In one are some 300 gold fish, in another some 100 yellow perch, while in others are some 2000 trout. From these are now being hatched some 50,000 spawn. A brace of foxes, twenty live mink, a dancing hall 24 by 96 feet, inclosing a collection of stuffed native birds, add to the attractive features of the place.
The grounds of the Broome County Agricultural Society, com- prising twenty-five acres, are located in the corporation, on the point of land between the Tioughnioga and Otselic rivers. Annual fairs are held there.
The factory of The Stillwater Cheese Manufacturing Co is located one and one-half miles north of the village. It is a two and one-half story frame building, 35 by 140 feet and is capacitated to use the milk from 1000 cows. Sixty cheeses per week are manufactured.§
UPPER LISLE, (p. v.) located on the Otselic River, near the north line, five miles north of Whitneys Point, contains one hotel, two churches, (Baptist and Universalist,) two stores, a
* The Whitneys Point Union School and Academy building, which consists of a two story frame building, forty-five feet square, capable of accommodating 200 pupils, was erected in 1866, at a cost (including the cost of grounds) of $9,000. The library, apparatus for illustrating Philosophy and Chemistry, and musical instruments cost about $2,000 more. T. H. Roberts is the principal.
+ Snook, Collins & Co.'s sash and blind factory gives employment to twenty-seven men. The building is a three-story frame structure, 56 by 100 feet. The department comprising the engine room and kiln consists of a two-story building 26 by 40 feet. The motive power is supplied by a fifty horse-power-engine and the building furnished with machinery of the latest and most approved patterns.
# The Society is officered by the following named gentlemen; Dr. E. G. Crafts, of Binghamton, President; C. C. Bennett, of Whitneys Point, Secretary; C. S. Olmstead, of Whitneys Point, Treasurer.
§ Geo. W. Hurd is President, and J. L. Smith, Scerctary.
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tannery,* a saw and planing mill, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a shoe shop, a school house, forty-five dwellings and about 200 inhabitants.
TRIANGLE, (p. v.) located near the south-east corner, on a branch of Half Way Brook, near its junction with that stream, lies in a beautiful and fertile vale, five miles east of Whitneys Point. It contains one hotel, three churches, (Bap- tist, Congregational and M. E.) a steam saw mill, two stores, two wagon shops, three blacksmith shops, one tannery, a school, forty dwellings and about 180 inhabitants. The farmers in this section are largely engaged in hop raising and dairying.
The first settlement was made in 1791, by Gen. John Patter- son, one of the proprietors of the Boston Company, who located at Whitneys Point, precisely where Thos. Whitney subsequently lived. Patterson was a Brigadier General during the Revolu- tionary war. He possessed a liberal education and refined ac- complishments, and though he never became wealthy in this vicinity he was highly revered and an acknowledged leader in public affairs. He was a native of Berkshire county, Mass. The following year David Seymour and family settled on the west bank of the Tioughnioga, a little below Gen. Patterson's. Between 1794 and 1797, Timothy Shepard, who afterwards be- came a Baptist minister, Asa Rogers, Benjamin and Hendrick J. Smith, and John Landers, settled at Upper Lisle. Mrs. Asa Page settled here at an early day and is supposed to be the first white woman who ascended the Otselic. Isaiah Chapman came in 1803 and located on the farm now owned by Joel Rouse & Sons. He was the first physician in the town. He died of cancer in 1812 and was buried on the farm. His bones were exhumed and re-interred in the cemetery at Upper Lisle, in October, 1859. The first death in the town was that of Mrs. Hannah Lee, in 1791. Martha Seymour taught the first school in 1793.t
The military record of the town of Triangle shows that 113 men were furnished for the army during the war of the Rebel- lion. Of this number two were substitutes. No regular com- pany was organized, but the enlistments were, made principally in the 89th, 109th and 137th Infantry regiments. A few enlisted in other regiments, and in Artillery and Cavalry com-
* This tannery, of which J. Burghardt & Sons are proprietors, is a two and one half story frame building, 40 by 160 feet, with a leach house 40 by 70 feet. It gives employment to 16 men and tans 20,000 sides of sole leather annually.
+ The town records previous to 1840 were destroyed by a fire which con- sumed the Town Clerk's office; hence we are unable to give a list of the first town officers.
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panies. Ninety-two enlisted for three years, and the others for different periods. Only one commissioned officer enlisted ; but two were promoted, one to First Lieut. and the other to Second Lieut. Of the whole number enlisted five were killed in battle, seven died from diseases contracted in the service, four were captured by the enemy and are supposed to have died in prison, and three deserted.
The First Baptist Church of Lisle, located at Upper Lisle, was organized March 13, 1802, by Timothy Shepard and others. Their church edifice, which will seat 500 persons, was erected in 1840. The first pastor was Elder Irish; the present one is Rev. D. T. Ross. There are twenty members. The Church property is valued at $2,000.
The Universalist Society of Upper Lisle was organized with eleven members, July 24, 1819, by Rev. Seth Jones, their first pastor, but were ministered to as early as 1812, by Rev. Archelaus Green, and in 1814, by Rev. Udini H. Jacobs, meetings being held in the school house. It was reorganized in 1830, and in 1831 their church edifice, which will seat 500 persons, was erected, and was dedicated in June of that year. There are 58 members, who are ministered to by Rev. F. B. Peck. The Church property is valued at $3,000.
The Triangle Baptist Church, located at Triangle, was organ- ized August 30, 1831. The church edifice, which will seat 500 persons, was erected the following year, at a cost of $1,650.75. The first pastor was Rev. Asenath Lawton; Rev. H. Cornell is the present one. There are forty-five members. The Church property is valued at $3,500.
The M. E. Church, at Triangle, was organized with ninety- eight members, in 1838, by E. L. North and Augustus Brown, who became its pastors. Their house of worship, which will seat 350 persons, was erected in 1854, at a cost of $1,300. There are sixty members, who enjoy the ministrations of Rev. Alex. Burrows, who received his Theological education at Drew Theological Seminary, N. J. The Church property is valued at $5,000.
The M. E. Church, at Whitneys Point, was organized in 1842, by Rev. T. D. Wise, its first pastor. The house of worship, which will seat 450 persons, was erected in 1841, at a cost of $3,000 and was remodeled in 1868. There are seventy-six members and nineteen probationers. The present pastor is Rev. J. W. Hewitt. The Church property is valued at $8,000.
The Baptist Church, at Whitneys Point, was organized with eleven members, in 1842. The following year their first house
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of worship was erected ; the present one, which will seat 250 persons, was erected in 1854, at a cost of $2,500. The present number of members is sixty-seven, and the pastor is Rev. D. T. Ross. The Church property is valued at $6,000.
The First Congregational Church of Whitneys Point was or- ganized with thirty-one members, by a council convened for the purpose, Sept. 7, 1854. The church edifice was built by the Lisle Congregational Society, to accommodate those who found it inconvenient to attend the church at Lisle, in 1842, at a cost of about $1,400. It will seat 300 persons. It was purchased by this Society after its organization. This Society is still un- der the charge of the Presbytery although in name and church discipline it is Congregational. Rev. S. N. Robinson was the first pastor; the present one is Rev. Richard A. Clark. The members number eighty-one. The Church property is valued at $10,000.
The Grace Church, (Protestant Episcopal) at Whitneys Point, was organized with eight members, by Rev. J. W. Capen, its first and present pastor, in December, 1870, and its house of worship, which will seat 250 persons, was erected in 1871, at a cost of $5,000, which is five-sixths of the present value of Church property. There are seventeen members.
The First Baptist Church of Triangle, located at Hazards Cor- ners, was organized with about fifteen members, by Timothy Shepard, its first pastor, and others, but in what year we were unable to learn. The church edifice, which will seat 150 per- sons, was erected about 1830. There are twenty members, but there is no pastor. The Church property is valued at $250.
The Congregational Church, at Triangle, was organized with fifteen members, by Rev. S. Williston, in 1819. Its house of worship, which will seat 250 persons, was erected in 1825, at a cost of $800. Rev. Henry Ford was the first pastor. At pres- ent the pulpit is vacant. There are sixty-two members. The Church property is valued at $2,500.
UNION was formed February 16, 1791. Portions were taken off to form the towns of Norwich and Oxford, (Chenango Co.) Jan. 19, 1793 ; Greene, (Chenango Co.) March 15, 1798 ; Tioga, (Tioga Co.) and Lisle, March 14, 1800; Chenango, in 1808; Vestal, Jan. 22, 1823 ; and Maine, March 27, 1848. A part was re-annexed from Tioga, (Tioga Co.) April 2, 1810, and from Lisle, April 11, 1827. It is one of the west border towns, lying south of the center of the County. It covers an area of 20,8722 acres, of which, in 1865, according to the census
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of that year, 16,510}, were improved. In the north the surface is hilly and the soil a rich slaty and gravelly loam, while in the south is the intervale of the Susquehanna with its fertile alluvium. The hills admit of tillage to their summits. It is watered by the Susquehanna River, which forms the southern boundary, and Nanticoke, Patterson and Little Choconut creeks, all of which are tributary to the Susquehanna. All the creeks flow in a southerly direction, Nanticoke through the western, Patterson through the central and Little Choconut through the eastern part.
The Erie R. R. extends through the south part, following the general course of the river.
In 1870 the population of the town was 2,538. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1871, there were fourteen school districts and sixteen teachers employed. The number of children of school age was 863; the number attending school, 680; the average attendance, 362; the amount expended for school pur- poses, $6,243; and the value of school houses and sites, $10,737.
UNION, (p. v.) located on the Susquehanna River and the Erie R. R., in the south-west part, is an incorporated village* of about 800 inhabitants. It is distant eight and one-half miles west of Binghamton, and thirteen and one-half miles east of Owego. It contains two churches,t (M. E. and Presbyterian,) a Union school, a banking-house,} a printing office, ( Union News) a foundry and machine shop,§ a grain cradle manufac- tory, a planing mill and sash and blind factory, fourteen stores, four wagon shops, four blacksmith shops, three hotels, a bakery, a harness shop, three shoe shops, two millinery stores, one jewelry store, two cooper shops and a tin and stove store.
UNION CENTER, (p. v.) located near the north line, on Nan- ticoke Creek, four miles north of Union, contains two churches, (Congregational and M. E.) two stores. a saw mill,|| a planing
* It was incorporated June 16, 1871. The following named persons con- stitute the first and present board of officers: F. B. Smith, President; E. C. Moody, Clerk; M. C. Rockwell, E. C. Mersereau and T. P. Knapp, Trustees. It was laid out into streets, and lots of three-quarters of an acre in size, in 1836.
+ An Episcopal Society was organized about a year ago, (present time April, 1872,) and is preparing to build a church edifice.
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