Gazetteer and business directory of Chautauqua County, N.Y., for 1873-4, Part 10

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- cn
Publication date: 1873
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y.
Number of Pages: 850

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Gazetteer and business directory of Chautauqua County, N.Y., for 1873-4 > Part 10

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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

Although the country bordering upon Lake Erie is subject to rigorous winters, it enjoys a certain immunity from those early frosts which prove so destructive to fruit in sections re- mote from it-a fact which gives it a peculiar value to the pomologist. A fact of little less importance, especially to the grape culturist, is the retardation of winter by the warm em- anations from the lake. Vegetation along the shore of the lake remains verdant several weeks longer than in sections re- mnote from it, allowing the wood of the more tender trees to mature and become sufficiently hardened to withstand the cold of winter. This imparts a degree of vigor and productiveness unknown in localities where growth is suddenly arrested by frost at a period of immaturity. The warm emanations from the lake, which retard the approach of winter, have their analogy in the cold emanations which retard the approach of spring, and check the tendency of premature growth and reactionary frosts. The lake's influence is, however, variable ; but when the air does become sufficiently chilled at night to admit the formation of ice, the first rays of the rising sun are arrested by a haze, which soon thickens, and before noon a warm rain probably falls. The frost is abstracted so gradually from vege- tation as not to impair the latter's vitality. Occasional excep- tions to this occur, of which the year 1834 was a noticeable one. When the lake's warmth is most rapidly imparted to the incumbent atmosphere, strong southerly winds prevail at the earth's surface, while volumes of clouds, at a high elevation, may at the same time be moving rapidly in an opposite direc- tion .* These emanations are condensed by the cool north winds, which commence about the middle of October, and pass off to the south, without, at first, discharging much rain. The latter part of October, as the cold from the north seems to gain the ascendancy, squalls of hail, rain and rounded snow appear alternately, with intervals of clear and warm weather, and as these premonitions always precede the autumnal frosts, no ap-

examining its course on a map ; and the wearing action upon the rocks are still Visible at Dexterville below Jamestown. At the time the original outlet was ob- itructed, the waters of the lake must have been raised to more than thirty feet ttove the present level, overflowing for a great distance the low valleys on its west- «ru side and its northern extremity, and which exhibit clearly the evidence of such condition from the almost level deposits of fine alluvium which cover them .- [James HAN's Report of the Fourth Geological District of New York ; to which, and to Lewis Book'S Report on the Mineralogy of the Fourth District of New York : Dana's System of Mineralogy; Rev. Dr. J. W. Armstrong. Principal of the Fredonia Normal and Training School ; and Mr. Elias Forbes. President of the Fredonia Gas Company we are indebted for data relative to the natural history of this county.

$ Says J. P. Kirtland, in Silliman's Journal of 1852, p. 217 : " These counter-currents Wr sometimes given origin to a phenomenon in the city of Cleveland, not well un- stand by all of its good citizens. The value of the lofty spire of the Baptist . standing on a high ridge of ground, may point steadily to the north, while n the low cupola of the First Presbyterian Church, situated on a less elevated jan, may be directed to an opposite point of the compass, with a stiff southerly bierze at the same time."

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

prehensions for tender vegetables are felt until they make their appearance. During the winter comparatively little snow falls, and still less accumulates here, though it may be abun- dant on the higher grounds, thirty or forty miles in the in- terior. The long and severe droughts which often prevail in the summer, while the interior portions of the country enjoy bountiful showers, are in part counteracted by moisture in the atmosphere. The indigenous vegetation of this vicinity is of rather a southern type -- shown by the absence in a great mea- sure of evergreens, and the occurrence of more southern genera as the Judas tree, holley, horse chestnut, sacred bean, honey locust and magnolia. On the other hand, strange hyperborean plants are frequently found, which have been washed down from the north-west, through the chain of great lakes .*

The staple productions of the county are the cereals, es- pecially spring wheat, in which this county ranks as ninth in the State, wine, of which considerable quantities of an excel- lent quality are made, butter, cheese, hay, grass seed, flax, maple sugar, maple molasses, and the products of the orchard and garden. The dairy interests, already important, are in- creasing in magnitude. For the number of pounds of butter made, this county ranks as fourth in the State. A belt of country bordering upon the shore of the lake, and from three to five miles wide, is largely devoted to the culture of grapes, for which it is admirably adapted. These are mainly converted into wine, a business which, in the town of Portland, is an im- portant branch of industry. This county ranks as fifth in the number of gallons of wine made; first in the number of gal- lons of maple molasses ; eighth in the number of tons of hay and pounds of flax; sixth in the value of its forest products ; and tenth in the value of its orchard products.t

The manufactures of the county are rapidly increasing in importance and valne, especially at Dunkirk and Jamestown.t Its commerce, once important, though, as at present, mainly confined to Dunkirk, has been seriously affected by the diver- sion of the main line of the Erie Railroad from Dunkirk, where it formerly terminated, Barcelona and Silver Creek are har- bors of less note.

* J. P. Kirtland. on the Peculiarities of the Climate, Flora and Fauna of the South Share of Lake Erie, in the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio, in Silliman's Journal. 1852, P 015-19 ; and John Torrey, in Natural History of New York, Part II., Botany, Vol. I.

+ For more minute data relative to the agricultural statistics of this county the reader is referred to the tabular statement which appears in another part of this

; A detailed account of the manufacturing interests will be given in the respective towns.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

The county seat is still located at Mayville, at the head of Chautauqua Lake, and all the county buildings, except the poor house and insane asylum, are located there-upon, or ad- jacent to Main street, in the north-west part of the village. The court house, a plain two story brick structure, with a portico in front supported by six wooden pillars, was erected in 1834, at a cost of $11,000, and though commodious, evinces signs of di- lapidation, and is illy heated and ventilated. The court room, jury room and ante-rooms occupy the upper story, and library and grand jury rooms the lower. The clerk's and surrogate's offices are opposite the court house. The latter was formerly occupied by both officers. They are both one story brick buildings. The new clerk's office stands north of the surro- gate's office ; and was built in 1860, at a cost of about $3,600, the appropriation of $2,500 made in 1860, being insufficient. It is 30 by 36 feet on the ground. The rear half, used for storing the records, is fire proof. The jail is a brick building situated south-east of the court house, and is 36 by 60 feet in the main part, two stories high, with a wooden addition about 30 by 60 feet on the south-east side, one and one-half stories high. The sheriff's family occupy the front third of the brick part and most of the wing, a portion, however, being occupied by the sheriff as an office. The rest of the brick part and the upper part of the wooden addition are used for the confinement of prisoners. There are twelve cells in the brick part, which is used for male prisoners. The females are confined in the upper part of the wooden addition, in a single room. At present there are fourteen inmates, six of whom are confined for intoxi- cation, one for debt, on body execution, two for vagrancy, one for grand larceny, one for petit larceny, one for as- sault and battery, one for obtaining goods under false pre- tenses, and one for murder, all of whom are males. The jail is not sufficiently large, but is calculated to ensure the safety and comfort of the inmates, when the number does not exceed that it was designed to accommodate. The poor house and in- sane asylum are located about three-fourths of a mile north of Dewittville, upon a farm of 306 acres, valued at $24,480. They are elegant brick structures, suitably furnished, and evince a care for the welfare and comfort of their unfortunate inmates, which reflects much credit upon the county. The former was erected in 1870, replacing the one erected in 1832. The build- ings are adjacent, and cost $60,000. Religious services are held at the poor house once in two weeks. The present num- ber of paupers (May, 1873) is 120 ; of insane persons, 77. The poor house will accommodate 200 persons; the , asylum, CO.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY .:

The insane who cannot be accommodated at the asylum are cared for at the poor house .*

The principal works of internal improvement are the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern R. R., which enters the county at Irving and extends along the shore of the lake, through the towns of Hanover, Sheridan, Dunkirk, Portland, Westfield and Ripley ; the Erie R. R., which enters the county near the cen- ter of the east line of Hanover, and extends through that town and Sheridan, in a westerly direction to the village of Dun- kirk; the Atlantic and Great Western R. R., which connects with the Erie at Salamanca, enters the county in the north- east corner of Poland and runs in a south-westerly direction through Poland, Ellicott, Busti and Harmony ; the Buffalo, Corry and Pittsburgh (or Cross Cut) R. R., which has recently passed under the management of the Allegheny Valley R. R. Co., enters the county in the south-west corner of Clymer, and passes in a northerly direction through that town, Sherman, Chautauqua and Portland to Salem on Erie, (Brocton Station) where it connects with the L. S. & M. S .; the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley and Pittsburgh R. R., which extends from the L. S. & M. S.R.R. at Dunkirk, through Dunkirk, Pomfret, Stockton, Gerry, Ellicott, Poland and Carroll, leaving the county in the south, west corner of the latter town ; and the Jamestown and Buffalo R. R., which is now in process of construction, and, as sur- veyed, enters the county at the point where the A. & G. W. R. R. leaves it, runs parallel with that road to the point where it enters the county, passes into Cattaraugus county, again enters this county at Clear Creek, near the center of the east line of El- lington, and extends in a northerly direction to the north-east corner of Cherry Creek, where it again leaves the county.t A horse railroad connects Dunkirk and Fredonia, three miles distant. These facilities for travel and commerce are aug- mented by the traffic on Lake Erie and a line of steamboatst

* From the Report of the Superintendent for the year ending October 16, 18.2. wo glean the following facts : The number of persons relieved at the poor house dur- ing the year was 216 : at the asylum, 86. The average number at the poor house was 121 ; at the asylum, 63. The number at the poor house at the end of the year was SS : at the asylum. 67. The average number in both houses during the year was 1.4. Twelve died at the poor house : and two died, two absconded, and fifteen were dis- charged at the Asylum. " The total expense for the support of each person for the year, after deducting $1.122.51 for money received for board and care at the Poor House and Asylum from various sources, [was] $42.10." The number of persons relieved at the poor house and asylum during the year was 4,031. The total amount expended for the support of the poor during the year was $26.935.02. The value of supplies and personal property on hand at the end of the year was $. 4,367.30.

+ " Chautauqua county already has more miles of railroad than any other county in the State," and other lines are projected, but the projects are too vague at pres- ent to warrant details.

There is at present but one boat-the Jamestown-making regular trips, though another is being built to take the place of the Chautengan, which exploded her boiler about 0:45 P. M. Aug. 11, 1-71. while taking in wood at Whitney's Landing. Six miles down the lake. By this accident, of some 25 persons who were on board at the time, ning were killed immediately, or died soon after from wounds received, four- teen were seriously wounded and five were slightly wounded.

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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

on Chautauqua Lake, connecting Mayville at the head of that lake with Jamestown on its outlet.

This county and Cattaraugus compose the Thirty-Second Congressional and Senatorial Districts; it is in the Eighth Judicial District of the State; and it forms two Assembly Dis- tricts -- the first being composed of the towns of Busti, Chau- tanqua, Clymer, Ellery, French Creek, Harmony, Mina, Port- land, Ripley, Sherman, Stockton and Westfield; and the second of Arkwright, Carroll, Charlotte, Cherry Creek, Dun- kirk, Ellicott, Ellington, Gerry, Hanover, Kiantone, Poland, l'omfret, Sheridan and Villenova.

There are eleven newspapers published in the county-two dailies and nine weeklies.

THE FREDONIA CENSOR, (weekly) the oldest paper published in the county, was commenced in March, 1821, by Henry C. Frisbee, who continued it for seventeen years. In 1838 it was purchased by E. and Jonas Winchester, and was published by the former for three years; after which it was sold to R. Cunnington, who published it one year. In 1842, it was purchased by Willard Mckinstry, who, in 1852, admitted as partner A. Winthrop Mckinstry, his brother, and the paper was published under the firm name of Mckinstry & Bro. until 1865, when A. W. Mckinstry severed his connection with it. 'The senior member published it alone two years, and in 1867, Louis Mckinstry, his son, became a partner, and the paper has since been published under the firm name of Mckinstry & Son .*

The JAMESTOWN JOURNAL (daily and weekly) was commenced as a weekly in June, 1826, by Adolphus Fletcher, and was continued by him until 1846. It was then issued by John W. Fletcher, a son of the original proprietor, for two years, when it passed into the hands of F. W. Palmer, who con- tinued at the head of the establishment until 1858, having had in the meantime associated with him as partners, Francis P. Bailey, Ebenezer P. Upham and C. D. Sackett. Mr. Palmer's interest was purchased by C. E. Bishop, and the paper was then published by Sackett & Bishop until the death of the former in 1862. The firma then became Bishop Bros., by the admission of Prentice E. Bishop, and remained such until the death of Prentice. The paper was published by C. E. Bishop alone ubtil May 1, 1866, when Alex. M. Clark became a mem- ber of the firm. June 1, 1868, Mr. Clark purchased the inter- Het of Mr. Bishop, and became sole proprietor, and Jan. 1,

er was first started as the New York causar, as "being so near I'm shama, and that State then supposed to be made up mostly of thick-headed Dutelmen. I wanted to avoid being thought located over the line."-[Speech of Mr. Frisbee at the Semi-Centennial Celebration of the Censor.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

1870, he established the Jamestown Daily Journal. Aug. 14, 1871, he sold a half interest to Davis H. Waite, since which time the papers have been published by Clark & Waite.

The MAYVILLE SENTINEL (weekly) was started in the fall of 1834, by Hons. Thos. A. Osborne and Wm. Smith and Mr. Samuel S. Whallon, with Judge Osborne as editor. It was a Democratic organ, and its management was entrusted to Timothy Kibbe, a practical printer. The following year it passed into the hands of Hon. Beman Brockway, (now con- nected with the Times and Reformer, at Watertown,) who pur- chased it in 1836, and became its editor and proprietor. In the fall of 1837, Horace E. Purdy became interested with Mr. Brockway in its publication, and continued his interest a year or more. In April, 1844, Mr. Brockway sold the establish- ment to John F. Phelps, by whom the paper is still published. The CHAUTAUQUA DEMOCRAT, (daily and weekly,) was commenced at Jamestown, as The Liberty Star, by Harvey A. Smith, in 1847. In 1849 it passed into the hands of Adol- phus Fletcher, and was changed to The Northern Citizen. In 1853, John W. Fletcher became proprietor; and in 1855 it received its present name, and was published by Adolphus Fletcher, with James Parker as editor. In 1860, A. Brooks Fletcher, son of Adolphus, became a member of the firm, and the paper was published by Fletcher & Co. until Oct. 1, 1862, when Davis H. Waite purchased the interest of Adolphus Fletcher, the senior member, after which the paper was published by Fletcher & Waite about three and a half years. Mr. Waite then sold his interest to his partner, who published it alone until August, 1872, when Rev. Edward Anderson purchased au interest. The firm name then became Fletcher & Anderson, and a daily was started and published in connection with the weekly, and is still continued. March 1, 1873, Mr. Anderson retired from the firm, but he is still associated with Mr. Fletcher in the editorial management .*

THE DUNKIRK JOURNAL, (weekly,) was started at Dunkirk as The Chautauqua Journal, in May, 1850, by W. L. Carpenter, who during his management started a daily-The Dunkirk Daily Journal -- which he published about two months. In a short time from its commencement the present name was given the weekly. In 1861, Mr. Carpenter sold it to Beecher & Sill, who published it about three years, and then sold it to Rev. Isaac George, by whom it was published a short time and sold

* On the night of Ion. 31, 171, the office and all its effects were destroyed by the fire which consumed the Broadhead Block. Mr. Fletcher repaired immediately to New York and purchased material which he moved into the building now occupied. and which he purchased for the purpose. In the interim the paper was published at the Journal office, and not an issue was omitted.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

to Willard A. Cobb. After about two years, it again passed into the hands of Mr. George, and was by him sold Dec. 1, 1871, to Amos K. Warren and Cyrus D. Angel, in whose interest it was published by Geo. R. Dean, who was the putative owner. It was published by them until March 1, 1872, when it was purchased by Willard Mckinstry & Sons, who still continue to publish it under the style of The Dunkirk Journal Company. Mr. George started a daily during his connection with the paper, but issued only one number.

THE ADVERTISER AND UNION, (weekly,) published at Dun- kirk and Fredonia, was started Dec. 25, 1868, by the unitication of The Dunkirk Union and Fredonia Advertiser, the former pub- lished by Monroe D. Cushing, and the latter by C. E. Benton, who are still associated in the publication of this paper, under the firm name of Benton & Cushing .*

The WESTFIELD REPUBLICAN, (weekly,) " the first Republi- can paper in the State," was commenced April 25, 1855. It was first edited by M. O. Rice, and continued in his hands until March, 1873, when it was purchased by J. II. & F. A. Hall, the present proprietors.

THE CHAUTAUQUA NEWS, (weekly,) was started at Sherman, as The Sherman News, April 6th, 1868, by B. D. Southworth, who moved it to Mayville, and changed its name to that it now bears, Oct. 20, 1870, and still continues its publication.

The CHAUTAUQUA FARMER (weekly) was started at Dunkirk in January, 1869, by J. M. Lake, and in September of that year was removed to Forestville. In February, 1870, it was purchased by A. G. Parker, who admitted H. I. Russell as a partner, under the firm name of Parker & Russell. In February, 1871, Parker bought Russell's interest, and im- mediately sold a half interest to F. Hendricks, the firm then

* The Dunkirk Union was started in 1860, by L. P. Osmer and C. E. Daily, under the firm name of Osmer & Daily, who purchased the material used in printing The Don- Kirk Press and Western Argue, and issued the first number of the paper Oct. 16, 1560. June 3. 1893, Osmer sold his interest to George R. Dean. when the firm name became Dean & Daily. Dean purchased Daily's interest Nov. 17, 1863, and published it alone till May 4. 1866, when he sold it to Monroe D. Cushing, by whom it was published un- til united with the Fredonia Advertiser.

The Fredonia Advertiser was started as a Whig paper, July 4, 1851. by Col. A. E. Tyler and Joseph Shepard, under the firm name of Tyler & Shepard, with Levi L. Pratt as editor. April 30th, 1552, it was purchased by L. L. Pratt and J. Burrows, and was published under the brm name of L. L. Pratt & Co., with Pratt as senior editor and proprietor, until August 12, 1961, undergoing various changes in proprietors associated with Mr Pratt, and a change, in 155. to an American organ, and . gain. in 1-2, to a Democratic paper. Prati, Morgan & Hilton sold it in 1944 to J. C. Mullett and C. E. Benton, who published it under the firm name of Mullett & Benton. until March 31. 1-45, when Mr. Benton purchased his partner's interest, and continued it until uniting it with The Dunkirk Union.

fret issue under the consolidation was dated Jan. 1. 1-49. 'Tte design of muting the two papers was to lessen the expense and increase the ." Heury, by making one strong paper from two comparatively weak ones : at the can time securing to each village a local representation in its columns. In the union of the publishers, the experiment has been highly successful. The respee- the offices are continued.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

becoming Parker & Hendricks, by whom the paper is still pub- lished. It is devoted to the interests of agriculture and the family circle .*

* The following is a list of the publications which have been issued in this county and are now obsolete :

The Chautauque Gazette, the first paper published in the county, was started at Fredonia, in January, 1817, by James Percival. It was subsequently published by Carpenter & Hull, and by James Hull, and was suspended in 1822. It was revived by James Hull in 1823, and continued till 1826, when it was united with the People's Gazette. and published a short time by Hull & Snow as

The Fredonia Gazette, when it was removed to Dunkirk by Mr. Hull, and changed to The Dunkirk Gazette. In a few months it was removed to Westfield, and united with The Chautauque Phonix.

The People's Gazelle was started at Forestville in 1894, by Wm. S. Snow. . In 1826 it was removed to Fredonia and united with The Chautauque Gazette.

The Chautauque Eagle was started at Mayville in May, 1819, by Robt. J. Curtis, and was published about one year.

The Western Star was started at Westfield in June, 1826, by Harvey Newcomb, and was discontinued after two years. It was soon after revived as

The Chautauque Phanir, by Hull & Newcomb. In 1831 its name was changed to

The American Eagle, and was issued by G. W. Newcomb. In 1838 it was changed to The Westfield Courier. and was issued a short time by G. W. Bliss.

The Chitutanque Republican was started at Jamestown in 1828. by Morgan Bates. Richard K. Kellogg, Lewis C. Todd, Chas. MeLean. Alfred Smith and Wm. H. Cutler were successively interested in its publication until 1833, when it passed into the hands of S. S. C. Hamilton, and its name was changed to

The Republican Banner. It was soon after removed to Mayville, and in a few months was discontinued.

The Genius of Liberty was started at Jamestown in 1899, by Lewis C. Todd, and was continued about two years.

The Western Intelligencer was published a short time at Forestville in 1833.

The Chautauque. Whig was started at Dunkirk in August, 1834, by Thompson & Car- penter. About 1814 its name was changed to

The Dunkirk Beacon, and it was discontinued a short time afterward.

The Westfield Lyceum was started in 1835 and issued a short time by Sheldon & Palmer.

The Western Democrat and Literary Inquirer was started at Fredonia in 1835, by Wmn. Verrinder. It was successively issued by Randall. Crosby & Co. and Arba K. Maynard, and by the latter it was removed to Van Buren Harbor in 1837, and issued as

The Van Buren Times. It soon after passed into the hands of W. H. Cutler, and was continued about two years.

The Western Farmer was started at Westfield in 1855, by Bliss & Knight, and was published about two years. . The saHler was issued a short time in 1850 from the Fredonia Censor office, by E. Winchester.

The Westfield Advocate was commenced in May, 1841, and was published only a few months.

The Westfield Messenger was started in August, 1811, by C. J. J. & T. Ingersoll. In 1551 it passed into the hands of Edgar W. Dennison, and was changed to

The Westfeld Transcript. Buck & Wilson published it about one year from 1856.

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Gazetteer and business directory of Chautauqua County, N.Y., for 1873-4, Part 10

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- cn Publication date: 1873 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. Number of Pages: 850

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- cn
Publication date: 1873
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y.
Number of Pages: 850