USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Gazetteer and business directory of Chautauqua County, N.Y., for 1873-4 > Part 20
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Settlement was commenced on lot 31, in the vicinity of Cen- terville. in 1804, by Capt. James Dunn, from near Meadville, Pa. The following year he built a shanty, into which he moved his family, consisting of his wife and six children. A few months later he built a shanty on land now owned by John Dudley ; and in 1806 he erected a more commodious log house on lot 30, near the residence of Mr. Dudley. In 1808 he opened a tavern on the road surveyed by James McMahan in 1805. In 1806 settlements were made by Nathan and Elisha Fay on
HOYT BROTHERS !
Headonarters for Custom and Ready-Made Clothing, Jamestown, N. Y.
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lot 25, the former locating on the farm now owned by Lincoln Fay, and the latter where he now resides; Peter Kane and John Price on lot 38, the former on the farm now owned by Mrs. Leach, and the latter on that owned by Edward MeGar- rall; Benj. Hutchins, on lot 41, on the farm owned by Geo. W. Arnold's heirs; David Eaton, on lot 30; and Nathaniel Fay on that part of lot 12 now occupied by F. Fay. All settled in township V, and of the number only Elisha Fay is now living. James Parker settled on lot 37, Joseph Correll on the east part of lot 29, and Nathan Crosby on lot 33, all in township V. in 1807. Erastus Taylor settled on lot 4, in the same township, in 1808. In 1809, settlements were made in the same town- ship by Roe Goldsmith, on the north-west part of lot 7, Jere- miah Klumph on lot 19, Rufus Perry and David Joy on lot 33, David B. Granger on lot 37, P. Ingersoll on lot 41, Parsons Taylor on lot 34; and in township IV., by Andrew Kelsey on lot 55, and Jared Taylor on lot 63. In 1810 settlements were made by Perry Hall and Leonard Vibbard on lot 62, township IV .; and in township V, by Daniel Barnes on lot 3, Jeremiah Potter and Wm. Hutchins on lot 29, and Absalom Harris ou the east part of lot 33. In 1811 Wilder Emerson settled on lo: 55, and Jonathan Burch ou lot 62, in township IV. ; and Elijah Fay* on lot 20, Wm. Berry on lot 25, John Quigley on lot 30, and Calvin Barnes on lot 33, in township V. Hollis Fav came into the town this year, but did not locate land until 1813, when he settled in the north part of lot 13, in the latter township. Chester Bushnell located on lot 53, 'and Sanford Ilaines on lot 62, in township IV., in 1812; and Hiram Fish. on lot 54, in the same township, in 1813. During the war, the settlements were retarded, but after its close were resumed with the former rapidity.
The first religious services were held at the house of Capt. Dunn, in 1810, by Rer. John Spencer, who organized the first church (Congregational) in 1817.
The First Baptist Church of Portland, at Brocton, was organized with eleven me' ... bers, in 1819, by Rov. Jonathan Wilson, the first pastor. Their house of worship was erected in 18o7. It cost $11.000, and will seat 400 persons. There are 160 members. The pastor is Rev. G. W. Divoll. The Church property is valued at $13.000.
West Portland Baptist Church was organized with 87 members. The church edif. .. was erected in 1842, at a cost of $3,000, and will seat 200 persons. The present part 5 is Rev. Wm. B. Downer, our informant, and the present number of members. thirty. six. The first pastor was Rev. Jonathan Wilson. The Church property is valued at $4,000.
RIPLEYt was formed from Portland, March 1, 1817. A part of Westfield was taken off March 19, 1829. It lies upon
* Deacon Elijah Fay was the first settler in the vicinity of Brocton village. Helt- cated on the farm now owned by Mrs. I. E. Ryckman, and was the father of ti- praha culture in this county. He planted the first vineyard in 1321, and some of i. " vines then planted are still growing at the old homestead and continue to bea". though oll, except four, which are preserved as relies, have been taken up. t Named in honor of Gen. Eleazur W. Ripley.
Ioyt Brothors! Headquarters for Custom and Ready Made Clothing, Jamestown, N. i
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Lake Erie, in the north-west corner of the county, and contains 31,110 acres. A belt of level land two miles wide extends from the lake along the north border. The surface in the south-east part is broken and hilly, the highest summits being 800 feet above the lake. The middle and southern parts are much broken. The principal stream is Twenty Mile Creek which flows in a north-westerly direction through the central and southern parts, forming deep gorges, among which are Truesdall's and Peak's gulfs, which are 100 to 500 feet deep, with almost perpendicular banks on either side for several rods. In the former gulf Wm. S. Prouty lives upon a farm of about fifty acres which, although much cat up by the stream, is very productive, and grapes and fruit of all kinds common to the country grow in great abundance. Numerous small streams flow into the lake. The soil is a clay and gravelly loam. That in the plain bordering the lake is well adapted to the cereals, to which it is largely devoted ; while that upon the table lands is best adapted to dairying purposes. The timber skirting the creek is literally buried under the wild grape vine, which grows in great profusion. Valuable deposits of sand-stone exists along the lake shore, where quarries have been opened. These deposits exhibit interesting instances of elevation and fracture of the strata in the rocks of the Portage group. The strata are mostly shales or shaly sandstones, with a single thick bed of sandstone, which is broken at numerous points along the curve. The irregular fracture is strongly stained by decomposing pyrites ; and there seems to have been injected mud, which has forced its way into all the fissures and between the shaly lamina, for several inches and often for several feet .. The lamina of slate and shaly sandstone are broken, and stand in the fracture at various angles, from nearly horizontal to vertical. The fracturing of the strata has ren- dered the mass much more destructible, and the waves have worn a deep, cavernous depression, which recedes fifteen or twenty feet beyond the general line of the cliff. Many of the indentations along the shore are produced in this manner, their commencement being the fracture in the strata.
The monument erected on the west line of this town Aug. $3. 1790, to designate the west line of the State, was replaced in 1869 by another, located 440 feet south of it, by Commissioners from the States of New York and Pennsylvania, in consequence of its being defaced and in danger from the encroachment of the waters of the lake.
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern R. R. extends through the town near the lake shore.
Hoyt Brothers, Headquarters for Custom and Ready Made Clothing, Jamestown, N. Y.
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The population of the town in 1870 was 1,946, of whom 1,702 were native, 244, foreign and all, except five, white.
During the year ending Sept. 30, 1872, the town contained twelve school districts and employed thirteen teachers. The number of children of school age was 654; the number at- tending school, 530; the average attendance, 262; the amount expended for school purposes, 83,503.16; and the value of school houses and sites, 85,590.
QUINCY (Ripley p. o.) is a thriving village situated in the north part, one mile from the lake, and is a station on the L. S. & M. S. R. R. The population in 1870 was 350.
STATE LINE STATION is a hamlet near the west line and on the L. S. & M. S. R. R., containing a church, (M. E.) school house and two stores.
The town contains three steam saw mills which are doing a good business. They give employment to eight or ten men and saw about 17,000 feet per day. Carris & Houghton's shingle mill gives employment to three men and manufactures about half a million shingles annually. Goodrich's tannery gives employment to two men and tans about 3,000 hides per annum.
Settlement was commenced in 1804 by Josiah Farnsworth, who came from the east part of the State and located on the site of Quincy. Perry G. Ellsworth, Samuel Truesdall, Alex. Cochrane and Wm. Alexander settled in the town the same vear. Ellsworth located near Farnsworth, on lot 12. Trues- dall, who was a hotel keeper and farmer, near the Pennsylvania line; and Cochrane, on lot 10, in the north-west part. Silas Baird settled on lot 6, in the north-east part, in 1806, and Thomas Prendergast, who was born at Pawling, N. Y., Sept. 14, 1758, son of Wm. Prendergast, who emigrated from Ireland. settled in the town the same year, and died there June 3, 1842. aged 84 years. He was elected Supervisor of the town of Chautauqua in 1809, and though he did not change his resi- dence in this town, by the division of towns he was elected Supervisor of Portland in 1814 and of Ripley in 1817. Ira Loomis also settled here in 1806. Charles Forsyth settled here in 1808, and Alex. Lowry, brother of George and Morrow Lowry who settled. at Mayville, came here about 1808 or 9. The Lowry brothers had previously settled in Erie county. Penn., but owing to difficulties experienced relative to land titles they were obliged to leave their improvements there and commence anew in the wilderness of Chautauqua county. James Taylor, who was a noted hunter, came from Rockbridge
Hoyt Erothers,
Headquarters for Custom and Ready Made Clothing, Jamestown, N. Y.
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county, Va., to Greenfield, Erie county, Penn., 1803, and to State Line Station in this town in 1812. He subsequently took up 100 acres south of the Station. He had a family of six children-four sons and two daughters-only three of whom are now living. He died in 1840, at the age of 59 years, and his wife in 1836, at the age of 54 years. The first inn was kept near the State line in 1805, by Samuel Truesdall ; and the first school was taught a little west of Quincy, in 1810, by Ann Riddle.
The first religions services were held by the Baptists at the house of Nathan Wisuer, under the direction of Rev. Samuel Wisner, in 1806. .
The First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1817. Their first church edifice was erected abont 1821; the present one, which will seat 400 to 500 persons, in 1553, at a cost of $7,000. The first pastor was Rev. Giles Doolittle; the present one is R.v. F. S. Wright, D. D. The Society numbers 110 members; its property is valued 6₺ $10,500 .*
SHERIDAN was formed from Pomfret and Hanover, April 16, 1827.4 It lies upon the north border, on Lake Erie, near the north-east corner of the county, and contains 22,451 acres. The surface is level in the north-west, and hilly in the south-east, with a gradual inclination toward the lake, along which extends a nearly perpendicular bluff, 50 to 200 feet high. Numerous small streams, the principal of which are Scott and Beaver creeks, flow into the lake. The soil is a clay loam, in- termised in some places with gravel.
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern R. R. extends through the town contiguous to the lake, and the Erie R. R. crosses the center of the town in an east and west direction.
The population of the town in 18:0 was 1,686, of whom 1,363 were native, 323, foreign and all, white.
During the year ending Sept. 30, 1872, the town contained ten school districts and employed the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age was 547; the number at- tending school, 401; the average attendance, 229; the amount expended for school purposes, 82,822.90; and the value of school houses and sites, 85,875.
There is no hotel, and but one postoffice in the town.
SHERIDAN CENTER, (Sheridan p. o.) situated near the center of the town, on the Erie R. R., contains one church, (M. E.) a store, blacksmith shop, shoe shopand about twenty-five houses.
* Information furnished by Ira Loomis, deacon.
+ The first town meeting was held at the house of Wm, Griswold, at Sheridan Cen- tur. Tuesday, May >. 1897, and Lyscom Mixer was elected Supervisor : Enoch Has- ES Tomu fark : Rodelas Simons, Coletor ; Otis Ensign and Jonathan Pattison. artrx of the Poor; Haven Brigham, Otis Ensign and Sheldon Stanley, Anexors ; Seksnial Loomna, Wm. Eusign and John N. Great, Commissionvex of Higheggs; Ro- daraus Shops and Orlow Hart, fimstable; Benj. Brownell. Royal Teft and Lyscom Miser, Commissioners of Common Schools; Elibu Mason, Nathaniel Gray and Samuel Davis. Inspectors of Common Schools.
Moyt Brothers !
Homoparters for Castom and Ready Made Clothing, Jamestown. N. Y.
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A lodge of Good Templars was organized Dec. 21, 1868, and has 150 members.
Settlement was commenced on lot 17 in 1804, by Francis Webber, from Massachusetts. John Walker, Orsamus and Alanson Holmes, Jared and Wm. Griswold, Uriah Lee and Alva H. Walker settled in 1805, most of them near the center. Wm. Griswold came from New Hampshire at the age of twenty- five and located on lot 35. In 1809 he married Zilpha Bush, and in 1812 their domestic felicity was interrupted by the rude blast of war. He was summoned to the defense of his country, and witnessed the burning of Black Rock and Buffalo. With the return of peace he laid aside the implements of war for those of the agriculturist. After a life of activity and useful- ness he died in 1873. Walker, who is now residing at St. Johns, Mich., 71 years of age, had three brothers born, one in the town of Chautauqua, Genesee county, one in the town of Pomfret, Niagara county, and a third in the town of Sheridan. Chautauqua county, though all were born in the same house. Stephen Bush settled in the town in 1805 or '6, and Rev. John Spencer, at the center, in 1807 .* For some time after Mr. Spencer came to this county he was obliged to go to Buffalo, or cross the lake to Canada, to get to mill; and frequently when stopping at an inn for something to eat he was obliged to wait until the host ground the corn for the repast by means of the mortar and pestle in use at an early day. Jesse Baldwin, who is still living, came to this town in 1812, at the age of fifteen years, having been preceded by his brothers one year. Having arrived within two miles of their log cabin, he was directed to follow a path leading to it-the only house in that direction. Arriving at the door of the humble cabin and receiving no re- sponse to his knock thereon, he pulled the latch and entered. Seeing nothing familiar below he ascended a ladder in one cor- ner to the garret, where, after groping some time in the dark, he discovered a gun which had been purchased in the East by himself and brother. Having satisfied himself as to the identity of the place, he began to retrace his steps, but, to his surprise, at the place where he supposed he ascended there was neither
* A remarkable incident connected with the experience of Mr. Spencer is related by his daughter, who is still living. While on his way one night to visit a sick brother he bad occasion to cross Eighteen Mile Creek at a point where it flowed through a deep gorge, which was spanned by a bridge. The planks had been taken up from the bridge, leaving nothing but the baro stringers, but of this fhet Mr. Spencer was unaware, and astonishing as it may seem his horse crossed the bridge in safety. He remained unconscious of the danger to which he Lid been exposed until a friend, at whose house he stopped to refresh himself aud horse until daylight. inquired how he crossed the creek, and when answered that he had crossed upon the bridge he told him that could not be, as the planks were off. Anexamination in the morning revealed, to the astonishment of both, that the horse had actually crossed nyon the stringers, for his tracks wore plainly discernible at either end of the bridge.
Hoyt Brothers, Headquarters for Custom and Ready Made Clothing, Jamestown, N. Y
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opening nor ladder. The garret was without window and dark, but as the house was not large-being sixteen feet square, with one room below and a low garret above-he soon discovered by the light from below the place of exit. The next fall his father came on with the rest of the family, to the number of fifteen in all, and took up quarters in this small and rude habitation. They cleared off enough timber that winter to enable them to see Lake Erie. When the snow was deep trees could be felled in the door yard and fire wood was thus secured without the fatigue of hauling it. The cows got plenty of leeks in the spring, and their butter had a stronger flavor than any he has since seen, though this quality would scarcely commend it to one who is familiar with the product of the dairies of Chautau- qua county at the present day. Mr. Baldwin (Jesse) was drawn on one of the earliest grand juries, whose members served with- out pay and furnished their own board. So many oats were re- quired, at the prices which then prevailed, to pay for their board, that the jury, in their wrath, indicted every person brought before them, and the district attorney found it neces- cary to recall them to withdraw some indictments which had been found against innocent persons.
The first birth was that of Joseph Ellicott Holmes, in the family of Alanson Holmes, in 1805 ; the first marriage was cele- brated by Benj. Barrows and Betsey Stebbins, in 1807-8; and the first death was that of Alanson Holmes, in the fall of 1805. Wm. Griswold, the first school teacher in Chautauqua county, taught the first school in his own log house, in the winter of 1808-9. Orsamus Holmes kept the first inn, west of the cen- ter, in 1808, and Elisha Gray opened the first store the same Year. Haven Brigham built the first grist mill on Brighams Creek, in 1807.
The first religious services were held by the Presbyterians, at the house of Orsa- mois Holmnos, in IS07, and were conducted by Rev. John Spencer, a missionary for the Holland Purchase; and the first church, of the same denomination, was organized by him in 1516.
The Wesleyan Society of the M. E. Church, at Sheridan, was organized with seven members, in 1517, by Rev. B. P. Hill, the first pastor. Their house of worship, which will seat 250 persons, was erected in 1836, at a cost of about $1,200, and was repaired in 1970. There are 100 members, under the pastoral care of Rev. E. D. Metreary. The Church property is valued at $5,000.
SHERMAN* was formed from Mina, April 17, 1832. It
$ Named from Roger Sherman, who was born at Newton, Mass., April 19. 1721. Ho possessed no scholastic advantages, yet he was eager in the pursuit of knowledge, wil wort apprenticed to a shoemaker, a trade he followed until his 22d year. he often had a book open before him when at work. In 1743 he removed to New Mai- for.1. Coun., with his tools upon his back. He soon relinquished his trade, however, and was for a time engaged in mercantile pursuits. He subsequently studied law, an I was admitted to the bar in 1731, having previously settled in New Haven. H. was nomatter elected a member of the Connecticut Legislature. He was Judge of the i ounty. Superior and Supreme Courts for a period of 23 years; was a member of the First Congress, in 1774, and continued as such till 1759. He was one of the com-
Hoyt Brothora.
Headquarters for Custom and Ready Made Clothing, Jamestown, N. Y.
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is an interior town, lying south-west of the center of the county, and contains 22,161 acres. The surface is rolling and hilly, broken by the deep ravines of the streams, the principal of which are French Creek and its tributaries. The soil is a clay and sandy loam.
The Buffalo, Corry & Pittsburgh R. R. extends through the center of the town in a north and south direction.
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,470, of whom 1,328 were native, 142 foreign, and all, except two, white.
During the year ending Sept. 30, 1872, the town contained eight school districts and employed eleven teachers. The num- bor of children of school age was 463; the number attending school, 390 ; the average attendance, 248 ; the amount expended for school purposes, $6,310.14; and the value of school houses and sites, $13,120.
SHERMAN, (p. v.) situated on French Creek, in the north part, is a station on the B. C. & P. R. R., and had, in 1870, a population of 610.
CENTER SHERMAN (p. o.) is situated on French Creek in the south-west part.
PLEASANT VALLEY is situated on French Creek, west of the center.
WAITS CORNERS is situated south-east of the center.
There are several manufacturing establishments in the town, among which are Westley's butter tub factory, situated in the village of Sherman, which gives employment to four persons, and turns out 3,000 firkins per annum; Parsons' butter tub factory, which gives employment to two persons, and turns out 1.500 firkins per annum ; Parks' steam saw and shingle mill, situate on French Creek, three miles below Sherman, which employs two persons, and has facilities for sawing 5,000 feet of lumber per day ; and Phelps' steam saw and shingle mill, in the south-east part of the town, which is capable of sawing 2,000 feet of lumber and 7,000 shingles per day.
Settlement was commenced on lot 32, by Otis Skinner, from Chenango county, who came to this town in 1821. In 1823 he commenced a settlement, and in the spring of 1824, he moved his family in. Joseph Skinner, who is now living, was then
mittre appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence, which he signed, as well as the Articles of Confederation and Constitution. After the adoption of the Con- etit ition of the Cuited States in connection with which he took a prominent part, he was elected a representative in Congress. from Connectiont. He was chosen Sen- atran 1701. and filed that office until his death, July 23, 1703. He was a profound and sagacious statesman, an able and upright judge, and an exemplary Christian. He was made Master of Arts by Yale College, and was treasurer of that institution from 1796 to 1:76.
HOYT BROTHERS !
Headquarters for Custom and Ready Made Clothing, Jamestown, N. Y.
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six months old. He immediately set to work to build a log cabin, which, like many of the houses of that and an earlier period, was built without boards, nails or shingles. The floor was made of split logs, hewn smooth, and the doors of the same material, slatted and pinned together. After his farm was par- tially cleared, he sold it to his father, and took up another section joining it upon the west, upon which he built the first framed house in that part of the town, and one of the first in the town. Mr. Skinner was elected justice soon after his settlement, and flled that position for forty consecutive years, with the excep- tion of two or three terms. In 1810 he was appointed marshal for the twelve eastern towns in. Chautauqua county. He was a staunch advocate of temperance, and strenuously opposed the granting of licenses in his town. He died Aug. 7, 1812, aged 43 years. The latter year (1824) Alanson Weed, Harvey W. Goff, Lester R. Dewey and Hiram Gleason settled in the town. Weed and Dewey located on lot 31, Gough on lot 80, and Glea- son on lot 24. Charles Ross, who was an early settler of this town. was a noted hunter, and was accustomed to supply his D. neighbors with meat, they in turn doing his chopping. Dorman also settled in 1824. The first birth was that of Amasa Dorman, in 1824; the first marriage, that of Lester R. Dewer and Fanny Patterson, in 1825, the ceremony being performed by Justice Otis Skinner ; and the first death, that of Ar- nold, in 1826. Otis Skinner kept the first school, in his own house, in 1828. Josiah Keeler kept the first store and inn, on lot 2:, in 1827. The first mill was erected by Alanson Weed, on lot 30, in 1825.
The fret religious services were held by the Baptists, at the house of Jonathan Reynolds and were conducted by Rev. John Spencer, and the first church was formoit by the Congregationalists in 1827. There are six churches in the town- Buthey, Catholic, Free Will Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Universalist.
The First Presbyterian Church, at Sherman village, was organized with twenty-four m -:.. hors. June 23. 1827, by Revs. Miles P. Squire and Amasa West, members of the and, Presbytery. as the First congregational Church of Mina. The frame of the church politice was raised June 21. 1:32, and the house dedicated March 7. 1833: It was pretend at a cost of $2.000, and will seat 350 persons. The building was moved fr n. Such Hill in the fall of 1845, and was enlarged and repaired in 1866. Rev. Jus- th March was the first pastor: Rev. Wm. L. Hyde is the present one. There are 82 numbers. The Church property is valued at $10,000 .*
The M. E. Church, at Sherman village, was organized with twelve members, in IN ... by Rev. J. Williams. The first house of worship was ereeted in ISIS; the pres- PLt whv. which will seat 450 persons, in 1806, at a cost of $2.000. There are 51 mem- bers. Tho pastor is Rev. Win. H. Wilson. The Church property is valued at $10,000.+
STOCKTONt was formed from Chautauqua, Feb. 9
" Information furnished by Rev. Wm. L. Hyde, the pastor.
t Information furnished by Rov. Wm. H. Wilson, the pastor.
; Richard Stockton, from whom the town derives its name, was born at Princeton, N .J. O.r. 1. 17:0. He graduated at Princeton College in 171, when he commented the study of law with David Ogden, and adopted and became eminent to that pro- It was appointed a Judge both under the Provincial government and siir the adoption of the Constitution. He visited England in 1787 and became
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