USA > New York > Schuyler County > Gazetteer and business directory of Chemung and Schuyler counties, N.Y. for 1868-9 > Part 10
USA > New York > Chemung County > Gazetteer and business directory of Chemung and Schuyler counties, N.Y. for 1868-9 > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
Breckville, (Chemung p. o.) situated on Chemung River, con- tains a church and about sixty houses. It is also a station on the N. Y. & E. R. R.
Chemung Center is a post office.
The first settlement of this town was made at Breckville, in 1788, by Elijah Breck, Capt. Daniel MeDowell and William Wynkoop. Breck and McDowell were from Pennsylvania. Other early set- tlers were Jacob Beidleman, Hon. John G. McDowell, Dr. Harvey Everett and Jacob Lowman.
The first marriage was that of Guy Maxwell and Nellie Wyn- koop; and the first death that of William Bosworth. The first inn was kept by William Wynkoop, on Wynkoop's Creek, and the first store by Elijah Breck, at Breckville. Epinetus Owen erected the first gristmill, on Wynkoop's Creek. William Wynkoop was from Ulster County, and settled at the mouth of the creek which bears his name. Samuel Wallace was the first school teacher ; he was killed by the Indians. The first church (Bap.) was formed in 1790 by Roswell Goff. Asa Parshall, one of the first settlers of the Chemung Valley, was present at the Indian treaty at Newtown, in 1790, and ran a foot race with an Indian, and came off victorious. In 1865 the town contained a population of 1,950; its area is 29,300 acres.
The town contains fifteen school districts, employing sixteen teachers. The number of persons of school age was 73, the aver- age attendance the past year 283, and the amount expended for schools &4,462.27.
ELMIRA was formed from Chemung, as " Newtown," April 10, 1792, and its name was changed April 6, 1808. Catharine (Schuyler Co.,) was taken off in 1795; Big Flats and Southport in 1822; Horseheads in 1854; and a part of Ashland in 1867. It is situated south of the center of the County. On the east and west borders are ranges of hills, between which extends a wide valley. The summits of the hills are from 400 to 600 feet above the valleys, and their dechvities are generally steep. Chemung river, which forins the south boundary, and Newtown and Gold-
73
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
smiths Creeks, are the principal streams. The soil is a gravelly loam upon the uplands, and a fertile sandy loam in the valleys. The town had a population of 1,169 in 1865, and an area of 14,652 acres.
Elmira contains six school districts, employing six teachers. The whole number of persons of school age was 460, the average attendance the last year 165, and the amount expended for schools $1,594.59.
ELMIRA CITY was formed from Elmira and Southport, April 7, 1865. It was incorporated as a village March 3, 1815, as "Newtown," and its name was changed April 21, 1828. It is situ- ated on Chemung River, chiefly upon its north bank. The city contains the County buildings, four banks, two daily and two weekly papers, a book and job printing office, twelve churches, a Jewish synagogue, a female college, a water cure establishment and sev- eral large manufacturing establishments. The population of the city in 1865 was 13,130. It is rapidly increasing and is now va- riously estimated at fifteen to twenty thousand.
The Elmira Female College was the first one of the kind estab- lished in the State. It was opened in October 1855, under the charge of Mrs. Dunlap, an accomplished lady and experienced teacher. The design of the institution was to afford to ladies a more extensive course of study than is usually offered in semina- ries and academies. The College has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity, and its founders and patrons are encouraged to continue to labor in its behalf. It is not sectarian in its character, but has in its Board of Trustees, members of the leading Christian denom- inations of the State. The college owes its finar cial success to the liberality of Simeon Benjamin, Esq., the able and generous Treas- urer of the Board of Trustees. He has made donations to the In- stitution, amounting in the aggregate to nearly $60,000. Since preparing this article, the sad intelligence comes to us that Mr. Benjamin has finished his work on earth, and gone to his reward.
The public schools are graded and in a flourishing condition. The whole number of pupils on the school register for 1867 was 2,832, and the number of teachers employed, forty-four. The whole cost of tuition for each scholar in the schools during the same year was 810,35.
The Elmira Academy of Sciences is an organization for the pro- motion of scientific investigations. Through the liberality of the citizens, an Observatory has been erected, containing a telescope, a sidereal clock and other apparatus for astronomical observa- tions.
Among the manufactories worthy of notice is the establishment of the Elmira Rolling Mill Company. It was incorporated in 1860,
74
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
and immediately erected spacious buildings which have been in- creased from time to time to keep pace with the increasing busi- ness of the Company. The Company manufacture railroad and merchant bar iron, and give employment to about three hundred men.
The Clinton Woolen Mills Company was organized in 1868, and purchased the mill and machinery of the Elmira Woolen Manufac- turing Company, and are carrying on the manufacturing business. Messrs. D. & R. Pratt, now interested in the business, were the pioneers of the County in this branch of manufacturing, having in- trodueed the first power-loom into the County.
Extensive railway car shops have been established here. The saw manufactory of Andrews & Burbage is very extensive, making all kinds and sizes for mill and hand use.
The Southern Tier Orphans' Home. This institution had its ori- gin in the " Elmira Phoenix Hospital Aid Association," organized in October 1864. Its first object was to care for soldiers' families. An industrial department supplied sewing to those who were able to labor, and homes were provided for those who had none. To carry out the objects of the Association, it was found necessary to have a place where the sick women and little children could be properly cared for. To accomplish this, efforts were made to raise money by subscription for the erection of a building where cheap rent and employment might be given to soldiers' families. The name of the Society was now changed to the " Elmira Ladies Re- lief Association." Two thousand dollars were raised by subserip- tion, which, with an appropriation from the Government, enabled the Association, January 1, 1566, to purchase the house and grounds now occupied, being about three-fourths of an acre. The house was soon opened and filled to its utmost capacity with sick adults and little children. Soon after the close of the war it was decided to change the character of the institution, and make it an Orphan Asylum, and it received the name of the Southern Tier Orphans Ilome. In the fall of 1867, the building was so enlarged as to ac- commodate thirty. Various plans have been resorted to with suc- cess in order to support this everchanging family ; such as public suppers, tableaux, concerts and lectures. The Legislature have each year granted a small appropriation ; citizens send in clothing, provisions, furniture, and sometimes money. Mr. and Mrs. Bur- lingame are Superintendent and Matron, Mrs. David Decker, Pres- ident ; Mrs. P. A. Lafrance and Mrs. A. Robertson, Vice Presi- dents ; Mrs. Luther Caldwell, Corresponding Secretary ; Mrs. J. B. Dunning, Recording Secretary and Mr. N. P. Fassett, Treasurer. More than one hundred have been received at the Institution, most of whom have been provided with good homes. About twenty are now enjoying the advantages of the Institution. A sabbath
75
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
and day school are kept in a small building on the premises. Though the Institution has been supported chiefly by the citizens of Elmira and vicinity, excepting appropriations from the State, its doors are opened to the needy in the southern tier of counties in the State.
The first settlement of the town was made by Colonel John Hendy, in 1788, near the present site of Elmira City. He came up the river from Wilkesbarre, Penn., in a canoc. Soon after his arrival he planted a field of corn, and during the summer spent considerable time in exploring the region for a suitable place for a permanent settlement. Among other early settlers were Christian and Peter Loup, John Conkle, James Cameron, William Seely, John Miller, Caleb Baker, Thomas Hendy and Mr. Marks. The earliest settlers purchased their land of the Clintons. Col. Hendy purchased eight hundred acres of James Clinton, for one shilling an acre. The place was surveyed by James Clinton, Gen. John Hath- orn and John Cantine, Commissioners. In 1791, an Indian Coun- cil was held at Newtown Point. The Indians assembled in great numbers, not less than twelve hundred being present; among them were some of their most noted Chiefs. The object of the assembly was to form a treaty with the United States Government. Col. Timothy Pickering, a Revolutionary patriot, represented the Gov- ernment. The treaty was negotiated under a tree, which was sub- sequently known as the " Old Council Tree."
Dr. Amos Park was the first physician, and was also a preacher. The Kline Ilouse, was one of the first hotels, kept by a man nained Stoner. The first representative to the State Legislature was Hon. Vincent Matthews, who was elected to the Assembly in 1794- 95, and to the Senate, from the Western District, in 1796, in which he served till 1802. The first merchants were Cyrus Hallenbeck and Daniel Cruger. The first gristmill was built by Brinton Paine and William Dunn. General Matthew Carpenter built a sawmill, and a wool carding and cloth dressing mill at an early day.
In 1797, Louis Phillippe, and two French noblemen, visited this place. They came on foot from Canandaigua, where they had spent some time, having letters of introduction from Thomas Morris to Henry Tower, Esq. Mr. Tower entertained his distinguished guests for several days, after which they went to Harrisburg, in a boat fitted up for the purpose.
The first church (Presbyterian, ) was organized in 1795, by Rev. Daniel Thatcher.
In 1861 Elmira was designated as a place of rendezvous for the volunteers who cheerfully offered their services in defence of their country against the assault of traitors. Barracks were erected, and here assembled the volunteers from Central and Western New York, to await the organization of regiments, to receive arms,
.
78
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
equipments and supplies for the active duties to which they were subsequently called. Among those who offered their services were some of the descendants of the former owners of the soil, the children of the Six Nations. In 1864, a military prison was established here, and about 12,000 prisoners, chiefly from North Carolina, were furnished with quarters. Though they were well cared for, received comfortable food, clothing and medical attend- ance, nearly three thousand of them fell victims to disease, and were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
March 1Sth, 1864, while the Sanitary Fair was in successful operation, a terrible accident occurred that sent a thrill of horror through the whole community, and shrouded in gloom the hearts of all. The First Presbyterian Church, in which the Fair was held, took fire while it was being lighted for the evening. The festoons of evergreen which decorated the church, had become dry, and so rapidly the flames leaped from festoon to festoon that in a few minutes the whole interior was in flames. But few persons were in the church at the time, or the loss of life must have been great ; as it was, two only perished in the flames, though others were seriously injured in their endeavors to reseue from a terrible fate their friends who were exposed to imminent peril.
ERIN was formed from Chemung, March 29th, 1822. In 1854 a part of VanEtten was taken off. It extends from near the center of the County to the north border. The surface is an up- land, hilly, and broken by the deep and narrow valleys of the streams. The streams are small, the principal being Baker's, Baldwin's, Wynkoop's and Newtown Creeks. There is a fine sul- phur spring in the south part of the town, on Baker's Creek. The soil is a gravelly loam, tolerably productive, but better adapted to grazing than to tillage. Lumber is manufactured to some extent, and not more than half of the surface is under improvement.
Erin and State Road are post offices.
The first settlement was made in 1817, by Robert Park and John Banfield. Jesse L. White, Isaac Shoemaker, Alexander and John McKay, Thomas Baker, William and Robert Stewart, John and James Hollenbeck, B. Sperry, Thomas Van Houton, Philip Thomas, J. Boyn, Robert MeDowell and his son Barnum, Andrew Austin, Joseph, Daniel and Samuel Vaughn, were among the other early settlers.
The first death was that of Mrs. Thomas Baker. The first school was kept on Newtown Creek. The first saw mill was erected at the same place by J. & J. Miller.
In 1865 the population way 1,250; its area is 26,S17 acres.
The town contains thirteen school districts, employing thirteen teachers. The number of persons of school age was 457, the aver-
77
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
age attendance the last year 165, and the amount expended for schools 82,191.06.
HORSEHEADS was formed from Elmira, February 17th, 1854. It is an interior town, lying near the center of the County. The surface in the east part is hilly, and in the west rolling and level. The summits of the hills are from 600 to 800 fect above Seneca Lake, and the summit level of the Chemung Canal at Horseheads is 443 feet above the same. Newtown Creek and its branches are the principal streams. The soil is a gravelly loam, of good quality. Tobacco has been cultivated to considerable extent for several years.
Horseheads (p. v.) was incorporated May 15th, 1837, as Fair- port, and its name changed April 1Sth, 1845. It contains five churches, viz: Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal and Roman Catholic; two flouring mills, one steam saw and planing mill, one brick yard, a woolen factory, a foundry and machine shop, two carriage shops, and several other manufactories. The "Empire Mills" and the "Horseheads Mills" are each capable of manufacturing about 800 bushels daily. The " Kline Iron Works" is one of the most extensive establishments in this part of the State, for the manufacture of mill irons and machinery, building fronts, fences and agricultural implements.
The brick manufactory of Mr. Benjamin Westlake is one of the largest in the State. It contains five machines, each capable of turning out 50,000 bricks daily. The various kinds of brick manu- factured here are of the best quality. Mr. Westlake is prepared to fill all orders at short notice. The Chemung navigable freder, from Corning, intersects the canal at this place, affording facilities for the transfer of freight to all parts of the country.
Breexport, (p. v.) situated in the eastern part, contains two churches and about 400 inhabitants. It also contains a large steam saw mill, and is largely engaged in the lumbering business.
Mr. Richard Hetfield, of this town, is extensively engaged in the manufacture of Elderberry wine. He cultivates his berries, and makes about 100 barrels per year. It sells for about $2.00 per gallon.
The first settlement was made in 1789, by John Breese, from New Jersey. Ile built a log house a short distance below the village, on the east side of the road leading from the river to Sen- eca Lake. While Gen. Sullivan was encamped at this place. he caused a large number of condemned horses to be shot. The Indi- ans afterwards collected the bones of the heads and placed them along the path, and from that circumstance the place received the name of Horseheads.
In 1791, Jonathan S. Conklin, Nathaniel Huntington. Asa Guil- dersleve, and a family named Gilbert, arrived and settled in this
78
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
vicinity. Soon after, a company from Orange County, New Jer- sey, among whom were James, Ebenezer and John Sayre, pur- chased 1,400 acres of land, covering the site of the village, and set- tled on it. From Wilkesbarre, Penn., their goods were poled up the river on a flatboat, while the women and children, on horse- back, followed along the banks.
The first birth was that of Susanna Conklin, in 1792; the first marriage that of William Dunn and Mary Sayre; and the first death that of Susanna Conklin. The first school was taught by Amelia Parkhurst, in a log house. Solomon More built the first tannery, and Vincent Conklin kept the first inn. The first grist mill was erected by Lewis Breese. The first church (Presb.) of Horseheads was organized in 1832, and in April 1833 Rev. Ethan Pratt was installed pastor. In August 1862, a disastrous fire oc- curred in the village of Horseheads, which destroyed property to the amount of $75.000. Mrs. Sarah Jackson, now in the 80th year of her age, is said to be the first white woman born in the County.
The population of the town in 1805 was 2,838; its area is 21,- 880 acres.
The town contains ten school districts, employing fifteen teach- ers. The whole number of persons between five and twenty-one years of age was 1,111, the average attendance during the last year was 337, and the amount expended for schools $4,831.53.
SOUTHPORT was formed from Elmira, April 16, 1822, and a part of Ashland was taken off in 1867. It is the south-west corner town of the County. The surface is chiefly a hilly upland, broken by the deep valleys of the streams. Chemung River form- ing a part of the north boundary, is the principal stream ; it is bor- dered by broad, fertile alluvial flats. Seely Creek receives as tributaries South, Bird and Mud Lick Creeks. Hendy Creek flows along the north border. The soil upon the hills is a slaty loam, and in the valleys a fine quality of gravelly loam.
South port (p. v.) is situated in the north-east part, and contains two churches, several mills and manufactories, and about 200 in- habitants.
Scely Creek, in the central part, is a post office.
Webbs Mills (p. o.) is a hamlet in the southern part.
The first settlement was made at Southport in 1789, by Abraham Miller, from Pennsylvania. He served as Captain in the army during the Revolution and was appointed First Judge of Tioga County, by Governor Clinton, in Ff: 1.
The first sawmill was erected by Colonel Miller, on a branch of Seely Creek ; the first gristmulls were erected by David Gris- wold and Solomon Bovier, and the first factory by Charles Evans,
79
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
at Southport. John and Timothy Smith, Lebeus Hammond, Wil- liam Jenkins and Rufus Baldwin, were some of the other early set- tlers.
The population of the town in 1865 was 3,412, and its area is 28,- 969 acres.
There are sixteen school districts, employing sixteen teachers. The whole number of persons between five and twenty-one years of age, during the last year, was 926; the average attendance 270, and the amount expended for school purposes was $4,705.49.
TAN ETTEN, named from James B. Van Etten, was formed from Erin and Cayuta, April 17th, 1854. It is situated in. the north-east corner of the County. The surface is a hilly upland. Cayuta Creek flows south-east through the center, and re- ceives as tributaries Jackson and Langford's Creeks from the north, and Baker's Creek from the south. The soil is a clay loam upon the hills and a gravelly loam in the valleys.
Van Ettenville, (p. v.) situated in the east part of the town, con- tains three churches and about twenty houses.
Van Etten is a post office in the western part.
The first settlements were made along the valley of Cayuta Creek in 1795, by Alexander, Benjamin, Ennis, Peter, Jacob, Emanuel and Isaac Swartwood, from New Jersey. From 1795 to 1800, Cayuta Flats, at and near Van Ettenville, was settled by persons from the Delaware River, among whom were James Van Etten, John and David Hill, Isaac and Levi Decker, Samuel, James, Daniel and Joshua Westbrook, John Lattimore, and a Mr. Johnson and Cramer. In 1802, Harmon White, from Litchfield, Conn., David and Gabriel Jayne, from New Jersey, settled on a branch of Cavuta Creek. Most of these settlers were men who had served in the army during the war, two of whom, James Van Etten and Isaac Decker, were wounded by musket balls, which they carried to their graves.
Flanders and Skaats kept the first store at VanEttenville; Isaac Swartwood erected the first gristmill in 1803, and Jacob Swart- wood opened the first inn in 1801. The first church (Bap.) was formed by Rev. Ebenezer Jayne, the first settled minister.
The population in 1805 was 1,485; its area is 24,787 acres.
There are fourteen school districts, employing fifteen teachers. The whole number of persons between five and twenty-one years of age during the last school year was 521; the average attendance 139, and the amount expended for school purposes 81,963.23.
TETERAN was formed from Catharine, April 16, 1823. It is situated on the north line of the County, west of the center. The surface is chiefly a hilly upland. Catharine Creek flows north
80
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
.
along the west border, affording numerous mill sites. The other streams are Newtown and Beardsley Creeks. The soil is fertile, being a gravelly loam ; in some places however it is clayey.
Millport, (p. v.) situated in the north-west part of the town, on the Northern Central R. R., and Chemung Canal, contains two churches, three large flouring mills, a sash and blind factory, a bed- stead factory, a cabinet shop, a foundry, a hotel, half a dozen stores and several mechanic shops, and a population of about 800.
Sullivanville, (p. v.) in the south-east part, contains a church, two hotels, two wagon shops, a stave factory and about 200 inhabitants.
Pine Valley, (p. v.) is situated on the Northern Central R. R., and the Chemung Canal, and contains a hotel, two stores, a black- smith shop and a shoe shop. The Free Will Baptists are erecting a church here.
Pine Grove is a post office.
The first settlements were made about the commencement of the century, in the north part of the town, by immigrants from Connec- ticut ; and in the south part, by immigrants from Pennsylvania. Among those from Connectient may be named E. Mallary and son, Eli and David Banks, and families named Meeker, Baldwin and Parsons. Theodore Vallean, D. ShatTer, N. Botsford and B. Lock- esby came from Pennsylvania.
E. Crandall, kept the first store, at Millport, and Daniel Parsons kept the first inn. G. Bennett erected the first sawmill, on Catha- rine Creek, below Millport. The first church (M. E.) was formed in 1817.
In the summer of 1857 a very destructive flood occured upon the stream, sweeping away every dam upon it, and every lock upon the canal, from Horseheads to Seneca Lake. The whole valley was flooded, and at Millport and other places along the streamn, people were obliged to flee for their lives.
In 1865 the town contained a population of 2,429, and its area is 22,775 acres.
There are seventeen school districts, employing nineteen teachers. The whole number of persons between five and twenty-one years of age was 891; the average attendance 275, and the amount ex- pended for schools $4,161.39.
81
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
[The following sketches of the lives of some of the early settlers of this County, and incidents in their personal history, are present- ed as reminiscenses of the early times, not unworthy of a place in a work like this.]
COL. HENDY.
COL. JOHN HENDY, the first settler in the County, was born in Wyoming, Penn., September 3d, 1757. He enlisted in the army at the age of seventeen, and was in the battles at Bunker Hill, Princetown, Trenton, Monmouth and other places. He served the whole time under Washington, and rose to the rank of Captain. After leaving the army he returned to Wilkesbarre and engaged in farming, having married a Miss Baker. He subsequently removed to Tioga Point, where he remained until 1788, when he came to Chemung County, engaged in farming, and continued to reside here until his death, a period of more than fifty years. Ile re- moved the first shovel-ful of dirt in the excavation of the Chemung Canal, a work in which he was greatly interested. During the war of 1812-15 he raised several companies, but they were not called into the service. In 1789 he received a commission of Captain of a militia company, in the town of Chemung, and sub- sequently that of Second Major of a regiment in the County of Tioga. In 1803 he received a commission of Lieut .- Colonel of the same regiment, from Governor George Clinton. He was buried in the old cemetery, but his remains were subsequently removed to Woodlawn Cemetery, and a suitable monument erected over them. Col. Hendy was a man greatly respected and esteemed for his honesty, integrity and kindness of heart.
WILLIAM HOFFMAN.
WILLIAM HOFFMAN was born in the town of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, about the year 1777. When about nineteen years of age, he left his home to seek his fortune among the wilds of Chemung County. Embarking with his scanty effects in a boat,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.