USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Gazetteer and business directory of Chautauqua County, N.Y., for 1873-4 > Part 17
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+ This business was established in 1865. by the present proprietors. Messrs. Howes. Babcock & Co., who, having already increased their facilities, find that their rapidly growing business demands a still further enlargement to double their present capa- city which is contemplated the present season (1973.) From 100, the number of machines tuale in 15. they have increased the product of their works until in 1922 they manufactured 1050 machines. They give employment to about fifty persons. The another at present invested in buildings and machinery is $50.000.
In 197. MeNeal & Huyck erected a building, put in a steam engine and machiu- ery and comme need the manufacture of the Strep Creek Sound Machine, which is cull- structed on a different principle from that made by Howes, Babcock & Co., and a ler number have been made and sold. Huyck retired from the firm in 1871 and Me- Neal now conduets the business alone.
: The Greatsion Bran Duster and Millinge Purifier Co., give employment to 25 per- sous and manufacture 160 bran dusters and 400 purifiers.
§ This mill contains two runs of stones, gives employment to three men and grinds about 50,000 busheis of wheat per antim.
This place commeneed to assume importance in 1831. in which year improve- ments were communeed by John 1. Thorn and Hon. Viram Sackert, who, in 1:30, had purchased that part of the village known as lots 10, 47 and 1%, with other lands. Th. Here un w known as Upper Irving was for many years called La Grange. In Is wachsen Buds nearer the mouth of the crock in an".
CA E. R. R. Through this mathieuer the a- changed to Irving.
. This will contains three raus of stones, giving it a grinding capacity of two bun- dres hush is per day.
HOW T'S, the Largest and Cheapest
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products evinced more enterprise and thrift than many of the places along the shores of the lake, which are now more im- portant. Individuals engaged in mercantile pursuits, the pro- fessions and mechanic arts, with good schools and churches, all in a flourishing condition, have given way, to a considerable extent, to the ravages of the waters of the creek occasioned by the freshets. The soil is loose and easily moved by the water, and often great damage is done to private property by this agency. There is still, however, much business enterprise left.
SMITHS MILLS, * (p. v.) situated on Silver Creek and near the line of the Erie R. R., a little east of the center of the town, contains a school house, hotel, two stores, a tannery, i saw and feed mill, marble shop. blacksmith shop, wagon shop, two shoe shops and had, in 1870, 128 inhabitants.
NASHVILLE,Į (p. o.) situated in the south-east part, contains two churches, a store, blacksmith shop, cheese factory,§ and about twenty dwellings.
HANOVER CENTER is a hamlet in the north-west part. about equidistant between the village of Silver Creek and Smiths Mills.
The Excelsior Cheese Factory, located on road 29, (see map) was built by a stock company in 1865. In it two persons are employed, the milk of 350 cows used and forty tons of cheese made per annum.
Settlement was commenced near Irving in 1792, by Amos Sottle, who, as before stated, was the first settler in the county." Wm. Sidney and Capt. Rosecrantz settled in 1801; Abel Cleve- land and David Dickerson, at Silver Creek, in 1802; Sylvanus Maybee, Amos Avery, Benj. Kenyon and Solomon Lane, on the Cattarangus bottom lands, and Nathan Cass, from Boston, Jehiel Moore and Jonas Green, at Forestville, in 1805; JJuhu E. Howard and John Mack in 1806, the former at Silver Creek and the latter at the mouth of Cattarangus Creek. From 1800 to 1811, and especially in 1810 and '11, the settlements in- creased rapidly. In 1809 Artemas R. Clothier, who is now living at Silver Creek, where he settled, aged 87 years, came from Berkshire county, Mass,, with an ox team, the journey occupying three weeks. Samuel Johnson settled a little north
* Namel from Rodney B. Smith, who owned the mills and was the only man in this vicinity who paid cash for grain at an early day.
+ Ment de romper was established in 1495. It gives emph ament to twenty- four persons. manually con unaes Se cords of bark and tans Wwwsites of Market. + Sammel frem De acon Silas Nach. § This fairtury gives employment to three persons, uses the milk of 600 cows and mannfactores from 180,000 to 150,000 pounds of cheese per antium. See page 70.
Diy Goods and Clothing House in Jam town.
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of Forestville the same year. Thomas Merritt, Joseph Brown- ell, Joseph Henderson, Geo. Comstock, John Parker and James Jewett came in 1810. Merritt came in March and located one and one-half miles east of Forestville, cutting his way through the pathless forests. He' was well and favorably known from his participation in the militia trainings in West- field. He died in Iowa, Nov. 15, 1871, at the age of 83 years. Brownell was a native of Newport, R. I. He settled at Nashville, where he was the first post master, and in 1812, upon the erec- tion of the town, he was elected the first Supervisor. He was called out with the militia in 1812. He took an active part in forming the first Baptist Church in town, and for many years kept an excellent tavern. He was actively identified with the interests of the town until his death, at the age of 71 years, April 14, 1844. Henderson and Comstock located at Hanover Center, long known as Angells Settlement, the former owning the lands belonging to the Gridley family and Daniel C. Smith, and the latter, those belonging to Alonzo Horton and a part of the Ethan Angell farm. Parker and Jewett settled on the road leading from Silver Creek to Forestville, near where J. F. Spink and Comfort Birdseye now live. James Knapp, who served as a Captain during the war of 1812 and was present at the burning of Buffalo, came from Butternuts; Otsego county, about 1810. Samuel J. Smith, Nedebiah Angell, Samuel Nevins, Salmon Prentice, John DeGroat, Isaac Smith, Christo- pher McManus and Dr. Jacob Burgess came in 1811. S. J. Smith, who is now 85 years old and retains his mental faculties, came from Saratoga county in June and settled on the farm he now owns. He has held several town offices. Angell, Nevins, Prentice and DeGroat settled at Angells Settlement, near Hanover Center, to which Mr. Angell gave his name. Angell located on the farm recently known as the Wiley farm, on the four corners, and having held many town and county offices, and kept an inn at Forestville from 1830 to 1833, removed the latter year to Battle Creek, Mich .; Nevins, on the farm now owned by H. H. Hawkins; and Prentice, on the farm owned by Luke Cockburn, though .the buildings then stood on the road leading to Smiths Mills, and opposite the site of Thomas Roberts present residence. Isaac Smith first hired a small log house one mile north-east of Forestville, and the same year took up the piece of land now owned by Warren Griswold. He brought with him twelve children, among whom was Rodney Smith, from whose ownership of the mills at Smiths Mille that place derived its name, and who, after a life of use- fulness, is still living at the age of 75 years. Christopher Mc- Manns, a Revolutionary hero, came in March of that year
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(1811) and located on the place now owned by his son James. He died in 1849, at the advanced age of 91 years. Dr. Burgess was a fine scholar and possessed high attainments. He prac- ticed his profession successfully many years, and died at a ripe old age, about 1856. Thomas Bagley, a native of New Hamp- shire and hero of the war of 1812, came in 1813, and is now living, aged 87 years. From this period until the close of the war settlement was retarded. Being a frontier town it was ex- posed to the visits of the British naval forces. Capt. Harmon, of Ashtabula, Ohio, the owner of a small vessel, was pursued by the British armed brigs Queen Charlotte and Hunter and sought refuge in Cattaraugus Creek. The brigs fired several shots, which were afterward found and kept many years in re- membrance of their visit, but the little vessel had found safe mooring up the creek about eight rods above the railroad bridge. On the appearance of the vessels a messenger was sent to the Indians upon their reservation. They came quickly and in large numbers, anxious for a fight, and took posts along the banks of the creek, near the lake. Soon after the arrival of the Indians the vessels, to the great disappointment of the savages, but the no less satisfaction of the residents, turned and went off into the lake. One company of militia from Hanover accompanied the Chautauqua regiment to Buffalo and Black Rock in December, 1813. Unaccustomed to the stern exactions of war they returned home after & few skirmishes and one battle in a distressed and somewhat demoralized con- dition, with the loss of three killed ( Messrs. Nash. Bovee and Hubbard) and some wounded. During the war and two or three years following it much suffering was experienced by the settlers. The seasons were unpropitious and a scarcity of provisions was felt. Some were obliged to dig up the potatoes they had planted, to satisfy the hunger of their children. Soon after the restoration of peace the influx of settlers commenced with considerable ac- tivitv. About this time Otis Tower settled at Hanover Center, on the farm now occupied by Philo Osborne; Marshall Brown, on the farm upon which his grandson, Rush Brown. now re- sides; and Jacob Morrison, at Silver Creek, on the north side of the creek, on Howard street, where he worked a small tan- nery. James Black, from Oneida county, Marmaduke Ball, Benj. Horton, Belimus Green, John Weeks and Ebenezer Wood came in 1816. Ball came from Pompey, Onondaga county, and Stephen Ball, his son, who came with him, is still living in the town. Horton, who came from Cheshire, Mass,, bougat of Cron-tock's widow and settled where he now resides, in the family of his son, Alonzo. He is &0 years old. Green, who came from Vermont, and is about the same age as Horton,
Dry Goods and Clothing House in Jamestown.
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settled on the farm where he now lives with his son, Edwin. Weeks and Wood were also from Vermont and settled where Charles Stebbins and Timothy Vallance now live. Walter Libby came from Maine in 1817 aud settled on the farm he now owns. He is S2 years old and still in possession of vigorous mental faculties. Philo Newton came with his sons, (Heman, Samuel, Lyman, Charles and Henry J.,) from Berkshire county, Mass. His other sons came at a later day. About this time came Wm. Colvill from Scotland. He settled on the north side of Main street, near where his sons Wm. Jr. and Dr. D. Colvill now reside. He was a man of sterling character, and his family of highly educated sons and daughters was justly considered a great acquisition to the town. Soon after his ar- rival he purchased the mills of Jehiel Moore and lands lying west of the village, on the side hill, as well as most of the lands north of Main street to the creek. The price was paid in British coin and was said by the settlers of that period to be of such marvelous amount that Moore could but just carry the bag containing it upon his shoulder.
The first child born in the town was Caroline Sidney, in 1604. The first marriage was contracted by Richard Smith (who was in after years one of the Judges of the Court of Com- mon Pleas of Erie county, then a part of Niagara.) and Sally Mack, daughter of Capt. John Mack, in 1807. The first death was that of Wm. Sidney, (the same who accompanied Sottle on his return in 1801.) in January of the same year. The first saw mill was built by Abel Cleveland and David Dickerson. at Silver Creek, in 1804, and to the saw gate they attached a pestle. by which they pounded corn for food in a mortar made by dig- ging and burning out the end of a log. The next year they built a grist mill, near the creek, on or near what is now known as Howard street, and north-west of where Elder Woodbury now lives. Jehiel Moore built a grist mill about the same time at Forestville, upon the site now occupied for the same par- poze by C. D. Angell & Co. The first public house of any pre- tensions was opened in 1806, by Capt. Mack, near the mouth of Cattaraugus Creek, though Skinner, as before stated, had pre. vously entertained such as were in need of shelter. Mack's tavern and ferry were institutions well and favorably known for many years. In 1806 John E. Howard purchased some 300 or 400 acres of land from Cleveland and Dickerson, (they re- saving some thirty acres where their mills and improvement- were) and built a framed bonse, in which he opened the first These were lonesome dave for the
mi this new country, and many were the sighs tha broke forth in those lone forest homes. John Sprague taught
OVE'S the Largest and Choanos
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the first school in Silver Creek in a log hut, which stood on the north side of the creek between the residence of George Swenderman and the new house built by J. J. Robson. The first religious services were held by Rev. John Spencer, in 1808 or 1809.
The M. E. Church of Forestrille was organized with seven members, in 1816, by Rev. D. D. Davidson, the first pastor. The first church edifice was erected in 1816: the present one. which will seat 400 persons, in 18i1. at a cost of $6,500. There are 125 members, who are under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Townsend. The Church pro- perty is valued at $15,000 .*
The Forestville Baptist Church was organized with 20 members. Nov. 15, 1817. by Nathan Mixer and others. The first house of worship was erected in 1825: the pres- ett var, in 1:410, at a cost of 31,000. It will swat 350 persons. The first paster was Rev. James Deunstr: the present one is Rev. Emerson Mills. There are 196 mem- bers. the whole number who have united with the Church being $13. The Church property is valned at $6.000.t
The M. E. Church of Silver Creek was organized with seven members, about 1&2. by Ro.v. J. Robinson, the first pastor. Their house of worship, which will seat 30) persons, was erected in 18is, at a cost of $1.100. Previous to its erection the society worshiped in school houses and the house of the Presbyterians. The pastor is Rev. J. M. Bray. The Society numbers eighty-two members; its property is valued at $5,6.00 .;
The First Presentation Church of Silver Creek was organized with thirteen members Oft. Ex IM, by Rev. B. B. Gray and Timothy Stillman. Their first church edifice whereted in 191 ; the present one in 1-101, at a cost of 23.000. It was remodeled and thoroughly repaired in 198-1. at an expense of some 81.000, and will seat 3:1) pero' s. R.v. O. C. Beardsley was the first pastor; Rev. Charles W. Wood is the present one. The Society numbers 125 members; its property is valued at $12.000.s
The FRAME. Cham Ping was organized by J. H. Teggert, and erected its fr-themen 1" and "38. It was repaired in 1-71. and will seat en prague. 1: 11 I'mnot stor is Rev. P. Burrows, and the number of members about thirty. The Church property is vallied at $2.300 .;
The Fire Budist Claren of Honorer, at Nashville, erected their church edifer in !il are most of $1.300. the present value of Church property. The present past. r i- Rov. D. E. Purt.
ITARMIONE was formed from Chautauqua, Feb. 14, 1816.9 A part of Busti was taken off April 16, 1823. It lies upon the south border of the county, a little west of the center, and contains 54.915 acres. being by far the largest town in the county. The surface is a moderately hilly upland, the highest stamirs being about 900 feet above Lake Erie. Chautauqua
* Infiltration furnished by A. R. Avery.
+ Intim ation furnished by Julius A. Parsons. the Church clerk.
AT. fraction furnished by Rev. J. M. Fray, the pastor.
§ b forumtim furnished by Geo. W. Tow.
" Internation farmi Led by S. S. Staring. " The Best town meeting was held at the house of Eleazer Fletcher. April 1. 1817. and Karar Pulling was elected Saprai; Orange Phelps, Toun ce Wm. Mat- twin. Daniel B. Carpenter and Joseph S. Printer, Avecsors; Palmer Phillips, Was. Manos na Dania 5. Carpenter, Cornichons Rus; Palmer Philips, Joseph 1 Urach Bentley, Jonas Langle at. D. B. Carpenter and Sheron Pow. ir! .
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r .. i) . Lawren Sinth and Israel Carpenter, Ofereceram Highways. 1
Drer foods and Clothing House in Jamestown.
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Lake forms the north-east boundary. The streams are Little Broken Straw Creek, which flows south into Pennsylvania, and Goose Creek and a branch of Prendergast Creek, which ilow north into Chautauqua Lake. The soil is a clay and gravelly loam. Quarries of a fine kind of sandstone for building pur- poses are found in various localities. Upon the farm of Lester Hobart, about two miles south-east of Panama, is a mineral spring which is said to possess great medicinal properties, and whose waters, we are informed, were much used by the carly settlers. The water, as it flows from the hillside, is highly col- ored, and decidedly brackish.
The Atlantic & Great Western R. R. crosses the south-east corner of the town.
The population of the town in 1870 was 3,416, of whom 3,213 were native, 203 foreign, and all, except eight, white.
During the year ending Sept. 30, 1872, the town contained twenty-two school districts and employed twenty-three teach- ers. The number of children of school age was 1,046; the number attending school, 910; the average attendance, 491 ; the amount expended for school purposes, 86,399.08; and the value of school houses and sites, $21,175.
PANAMA, (p. v.) situated on Little Broken Straw Creek, west of the center of the town, is a pleasant village of about 600 in- habitants,* and was incorporated in 1861. It contains three churches, (Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian,) a Union school, eight stores, three shoe shops, two carriage factories, a grist mill, saw mill, two planing mills, a cooper shop, barness shop and four blacksmith shops. It was once a thriving vil- lage, but its isolation from railroad communication has effectu- ally checked its growth. It is distant five miles from the A. & G. W. R. R. on the east, and equally distant from the Buf- falo, Corry & Pittsburgh R. R. on the west. A hotel formerly stood upon the beautiful hills on the west side, but was de- stroved by fire some five years since. The village is now with- out a hotel of any kind, and its want proves a serious Joss to the business men and inconvenience to the traveling public.
ASHIVILLE, (Harmony p. o.) situated on Goose Creek, near the east line and Chautauqua Lake, is a station on the A. & G. W. R. R., and contains three churches, (Baptist, Congregational and Methodist,) one school, one hotel, three stores, a grist mill, saw mill. two shoe shops, two wagon shops, one cabinet shop. two lacksmith shops, a harness shop, and had, in 1870, 350
* The py ulation in 1570 was 050.
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Charity Lodge, I. O. of G. T. was organized Nov. 28, 1868. It has forty members.
Alhambra Division, No. 46, S. & D. of T. was organized Feb. 7, 1868, and has sixty members.
GRANT STATION, (Broken Straw, p. o.) situated on Little Broken Straw Creek, in the south part of the town, is a station on the A. & G. W. R. R., and contains two churches, one school, one hotel, two stores, a blacksmith shop, saw mill and about thirty dwellings.
BLOCKVILLE, (p. o.) situated on Goose Creek, four and one- half miles east of Panama, contains one church, (Methodist) a school house, a saw mill, grist mill, two blacksmith shops, three cooper shops. one carriage shop, two groceries and about thirty dwellings. The population in 1870 was 200.
PANAMA STATION, (Watts Flatts p. o.) situated in the south- east part, on the A. & G. W. R. R., contains a school house, saw mill, feed mill, four stores, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, a shovel-bandle manufactory and about thirty houses.
STEDMAN (p. o.) is a hamlet near the north line.
Strenuous efforts are being made to effect a division of the town and the organization of a new one by running a north and south line through the town about four miles west of Ash- ville and annexing a part of Busti, thus making Ashville a cen- tral point in a new town.
Settlement was commenced upon the west shore of the lake in 1806, by Jonathan Cheney .* Daniel B. Carpenter, from Washington county, settled near the lake the same year. My- ron Bly, Sr., from Burlington, Otsego county, settled upon Goose Creek, on the site of Ashville, in 1809, bringing with him his family, consisting of his wife and four children. Myron Bly, Jr., his third son, who was 65 years old Dec. 10, 1872, has, with the exception of about four years, since been a resident of Ashville. Obediah Morley, Renben Slayton, Jr., and Theron Bly, brother of Myron, came in 1810. Morley brought his family and settled where his son Venus now resides. Slayton settled upon Goose Creek, on the site of Ashville, March 10th of that year. He came from Springfield, Otsego county, with his family consisting of his wife and four children, and pur- chased a tract of 250 acres. In 1811 he built a saw mill upon
* Wo state this upon the authority of Calvin Cheney, a son of Jonathan, who is now 2 years of age and with the exception of a few years has resided upon the fern -willby his father. This statement conflicts with other authorities which Superbe fretotal nett was made only B. T . S. Nr.
which. he says is In: what De Taylor agree with Fresh in every part anneisso, indeed. that it presents the appearance of an exact copy from that author.
For Dry Goods, Clothing or Carpets, Jamestown.
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the site of the present saw and grist mills in Ashville, and on the south side of the saw mill he built an addition for a grist mill. He borrowed for the latter a run of stones at the inket for a short time. A rock was found, which, by being split, fur- nished a pair of stones of such excellence that they were con- tinued in use until the fall of 1872, a period of about sixty years. The raising of the water by the construction of the dam produced a sickness in his family which resulted in the death of his wife, brother (Thomas) and mother-in law. His father, from whom he was named, who also accompanied him, returned to Springfield with the intention of removing his family here. but he sickened and died soon after reaching that place. At this saw mill, which was the first in the town, Slayton sawed the lumber for the Jamestown saw mill, which was built soon after his. Charles D. Slayton, the fourth child of Reuben Slav- ton, Jr., who was 65 years old Dec. 4, 182, has since resided in the town. Theron Bly came from Burlington, Otsego county. with his family consisting of his wife and three children, and after three years residence here he returned to that county to take charge of his father's farm, remaining five years, when he again came to this county and died in 1850, at the age of 63. He left three sous and one daughter, the latter of whom and two of the former are still residing in the town. Win. Matte- son. Sr., Orange Phelps and Josiah Carpenter became residents of this town in 1811. Matteson was from Burlington, Otsego county, and settled, with his family, consisting of his wife and twelve children, on the shore of the lake. three miles from Ashville, upon land purchased in 1809, on the 9th of February. They came down Chautauqua Lake upon the ice from Mayville. Matteson was a blacksmith and the first one of his profession to settle in the town. Hle was a soldier of the Revolution, and was the last pensioner of that war in Chautauqua county. Hu Med in April, 185%, aged 08 years. His son, Victor M. Matte- con, has since resided in the county, and, with the exception of four years, in this town. Phelps settled in the county in 1800 and in this town, at Ashville, in 1811. He died Feb. 14, 1%. aged s0 years. Carpenter purchased land in the town in 1802. but did not settle upon it until 1811, since which time his family have resided here. Samuel Hurlbat. with his family. consisting of his wife and three children, settled near Block- ville in 1$15, since which time Elson, his son, has been a resi- deut of the town. Samuel died in 1865, aged 85 years. Simeon Howare settled here in 1816, and Wm. Webber in 181%. John „ came from the town of Frankfurt, Herkimer to the town of Ellery, February 20, 1%11, and to Her- moby in February, 1821. He died April 15, 1526. Ilis
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sons John, Jr., and Sardius have resided in Harmony since 1821, the former, who was for ten years Supervisor of Harmony and for two years a member of the State Legislature, now re- sides at Panama, and the latter at Ashville. The first birth was that of Junia Carpenter, son of James and grand-son of Josiah Carpenter. About twenty-five years since he removed with his family to Ohio, where he died some twelve or fifteen years ago. The family is so scattered that we were unable to ascertain the date, though the fact is stated on good authority .* James McClellan kept the first public house and Titus Kel- logg. the first store. The latter also built the first ashory, and Ephraim Berry, the first distillery. Eben Pratt taught the first school in 1817.
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