USA > New York > Wyoming County > Gazetteer and business directory of Wyoming County, N.Y., for 1870-71 > Part 10
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WYOMING COUNTY.
Theophilus Cazenove was the general agent of the Holland Company until 1:99. He was succeeded by Paul Busti, who r atinued in charge of the affairs of the Company until 1824. He was succeeded by John J. Vander Kemp, who continued in charge of the affairs of the Company until their settlement.
The first principal stations of the surveyors were at Williams- burgh and Buffalo Creek, but before the close of 1798 the prin- hol establishment was located at Stafford, and the locality. designated as the " Transit Store"House." Mr. James Brisbane was the chief clerk.
The Land Office was at first located at Pine Grove, the resi- dence of Asa Ransom, but in 1802, upon the organization of Genesee County, it was removed to Batavia, where it remained until the closing up of the affairs of the Company. Joseph Ellicott, the principal surveyor of the Company, received the appointment of local agent, and for more than twenty years had Mraost exclusive control of the local business. He was an en- ferprising citizen, and conducted the large and complicated business of the Company with marked ability. In 1821 he Forigned his agency and was succeeded by Jacob S. Otto, who 1. Il the office until his death in 1827. David E. Evans was Otto's successor and continued in office until 1837, when the business of the Company was closed up. In 1811 Ebenezer Mix entered the service of the Company as a clerk and had control of the sales and subdivisions of the land.
In 1835 the Company sold all their remaining lands to a new Company, composed chiefly of citizens of Batavia, and a new onder of things was established. Difficulties immediately arose between the new Company and the settlers in various parts of the Purchase, and mobs assembled to destroy the land offices. One of the principal causes of disturbance was a rumor that the new Company intended to exact a certain sum for the re- bewal of every contract. This rule became very obnoxious, and the extra payment was called the " Genesee Tariff," and opposi- tion to it was extensively resolved upon. The office at May- ville, Chautauqua Co., was broken open Feb. 6, 1836, the books and papers seized and burned in the street. On the 13th of May a report reached Batavia that 100 armed men were on their way to burn the Land Office at that place. Mr. Evans at once fortified the office and collected a force of fifty men well amned to protect it. The militia were also called out. The mob soon Came into town, but learning of the preparations that had been made to receive them, concluded that " discretion was the better part of valor," and went away without offering any violence. Between fifty and sixty of the ringleaders were prosecuted, but
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WYOMING COUNTY.
the difficulties were afterwards amicably adjusted and the prose- cutions dropped.
The opening of this new region to settlement, under the auspices of a rich and liberal company, instituted a new order of things in the general history of the County, and was of in- calculable benefit to the settlers. Mills were erected, roads opened and everything done to facilitate settlement and to re- move difficulties in the path of the settlers. The lands were sold at fair prices and on the most liberal terms. The affairs of the Company, both at their general and local offices, were con- ducted by gentlemen of liberal culture, enlarged views and hu- mane hearts. In consequence of the richness of the lands and the liberal terms upon which it was offered by the Company, the whole region rapidly filled up with an industrious, intelli- gent and enterprising population. Many of the first settlers afterwards occupied high official positions and became known throughout the State for their ability and integrity.
The first white man who lived in the County was Ebenezer Allan, a notorious Tory, commonly known as Indian Allan. Ile was a native of New Jersey, joined the marauders who, un- der Brant, scourged with fire and sword the Susquehanna Val- ley, and towards the close of the Revolutionary War settled upon the Genesee, cultivating for a time the fertile river flats belong- ing to Mary Jemison. He subsequently erected mills at Roches- ter, and afterwards lived for a time on Oatka Creek, until his removal to Canada. His character as portrayed by his acts re- corded in history, was one of the most depraved in the annals of our country.
The first permanent white settlers were John Tolles, Jacob Wright, Nathaniel Sprout and Stephen Crow, in 1802. The settlements increased rapidly, and in a few years a large part of the best lands were taken up. The early emigrants were chiefly from New England, and their influence for industry and enter- prise has not yet disappeared. Many of the later immigrants were Germans.
In laying out the roads upon the Holland Purchase, the usual custom appears to have been to have them run parallel, north and sonth, and east and west, crossing at right angles, so that each lot might have a highway on two of its sides at least. While this appears to have been the rule, variations from it were caused by swamps or hills, and sometimes important roads were laid out obliquely, to shorten distances. The first road running cast and west was the " Old Buffalo Road," extending through the towns of Perry, Warsaw and Sheldon. This read passed about a mile and a half north of the village of Warsaw, and
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WYOMING COUNTY.
through the village of Varysburgh. Another road, with the -atlie general direction, was laid out about three-fourths of a muthe south of the Buffalo Road, within a few years. In 1816. .. State Road, from Canandaigua to Lake Erie, was surveyed : Lemuel Foster. It was originally laid out one rod and fifty anke wide.
The Wyoming County Agricultural Society was formed in Oc- fober. 1843. The following were the first officers of the So- Boty: James C. Ferris, President; Dr. Augustus Frank, Vice President ; Linus W. Thayer, Secretary ; and John A. McElwain. Treasurer. The first Fair was held at Warsaw, September 30th and October 1st, 1844. The Fairs have generally been success- fal and highly creditable to the County, In 1856 the Society was reorganized, and grounds were purchased in the south-west part of the village of Warsaw as a permanent place for holding the Fairs. The site consists of fifteen acres well adapted to the purposes for which it was purchased.
The record of the County during the Great Rebellion was Jaghly creditable to the patriotism of the people. We have not the data to determine accurately the full extent of the men and means contributed for the support of the Government, but we hazard nothing in saying that few if any counties in the State Jil more in proportion to their men and means than Wyoming.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
ARCADE was formed from Sheldon, as Ching, March 6, 1818. Its name was changed by act of the Legislature, passed January 19, 1866, Java was taken off in 1832. In 1866 the three eastern tiers of lots, numbered from one to twenty-four, were annexed to Eagle, and in 1869 the Supervisors of the County voted unanimously to reannex the same to Arcade. It is the south-west corner town in the County. The surface is a rolling or hilly upland, broken by the valleys of the streams. Cattaraugus Creek, the principal stream, flows in a south- westerly direction through the town, a little south of the cen- ter, and receives as tributaries several small streams, the princi- pal of which is Clear Creek, from the south. From the valleys the surface spreads out into a rolling region, with long gradual slopes, which are arable to their summits. The highest point is the ridge in the north-east, which is 1,100 feet above Lake Erie, as determined by actual survey. The soil upon the up- lands is a clayey loam, and in the valleys gravelly.
Arcade, (p. v.) situated in the south-west part of the town, on Cattaraugus Creek, at the mouth of Clear Creek, contains three churches, viz., Baptist, Methodist and Congregationalist; an academy, a hotel, a grist mill, a foundry, two saw mills, a cheese box factory, a tannery, three dry goods stores, a book store, three groceries, a bank, a marble shop, a sash and blind factory, a carriage shop, a paint shop, several other stores and shops of various kinds, and about 800 inhabitants.
Wilson's Corners (West Eagle p. o.) contains a Roman Catho- lie church and about half a dozen dwellings.
This town was first settled in 1809, by Silas Meech. He was soon after followed by Ichabod Sanders, Samuel Nichols, Silas and Leonard Parker, Jacob Jackson, William Barnes, Amass and Alfred Kilbourn, most of whom were from Vermont, and settled in 1809 and 1810.
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M :. Pirker came in the spring of 1810. There was then only che house between Arcade Center and Pike Hollow, twelve n.fles distant. There were no roads, marked trees being the vily guide for trevelers. Bears and wolves were numerous, many of which were killed by Mr. Parker. He was obliged to auto Warsaw to mill, twenty-four miles distant, and to Mos- wow, thirty-five miles, for meat.
The first birth was that of a daughter of Jacob Jackson, and the second was that of a son of Saniuel Nichols, both in 1810. The first marriage was that of Silas Meoch and Lydia Parker, daughter of Leonard Parker; and the first death that of Mrs. 1. Kilbourn, in the spring of 1812; the coffin was made of boards hewn out with an ax. Rebecca Parker taught the first school, in 1811; Silas Parker kept the first inn. in 1812, and the first store, in IS15. Major Moses Smith erected the first taw mill, in 1811, and Col. Duel Rowley the first grist mill, in
The first religious services were conducted by Rev. John Spencer, at Arcade, in 1812. The first church was organized at Arcade village by Rev. John Spencer, July 24, 1813. It was organized as a Congregational church, but afterwards adopted the Presbyterian form of government.
Hleman Wilson has been a resident of Wyoming County longer than any other man now living in the County. He has been a justice of the peace for 34 years. - .
The population of the town in 1865 was 1,903, and its area 21.300 acres.
The number of children of school age in the town is 435; the number attending school, 379, and the average attendance, 154.
ATTIC.4 was formed from Sheldon, April 4, 1811; Orange- ville was taken off in 1816. It is located on the north border of the County, a little west of the center. The surface is chiefly a rolling upland, broken by the ravines of the streams. There are several hills in the east part, with long gradual slopes. Ton- awanda Creek is the principal stream; it flows through the north-west corner, and receives numerous branches from the east, the largest of which is Crow Creek. The soil is a clay and gravelly loam.
-1tica, (p. v.) situated in the north-west part of the town, on Tonawanda Creek, was incorporated May 2, 1837, and contains six churches, viz., Presbyterian. Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran. F. W. Baptist and Roman Catholic ; a newspaper printing office, two banks, a union school, a flouring mill. several other mills and manufactories and about 1,500 inhabitants The creek is
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crossed by a substantial iron bridge ; the streets are bordered by fine shade trees and good flag stone sidewalks, and the village contains many pleasant residences. The Buffalo Division of the Erie Railway extends through the village, and a branch of the N. Y. C. R. R. extends from Batavia.
Attica Center, a little south-east of the center of the town, is a hamlet.
The first settlement was made in 1802, by Zerah Phelps. Deacon Porter. Nathaniel Sprout, Isaac Townsend and Major P. Adams, were among the other early settlers. In 1804 John Smith, John Richards, Stewart Gardner, Daniel Gardner, Dan- jel Burbank, Nathaniel Sprout, Jr., Eli Hayes, Daniel White, Zadock Williams and Zadock Whipple, took contracts for land in this town. In 1805 Lemuel Whaley, Nehemiah Osborn, Joseph Munger. John Kean, Francis Rogers, Joel Bradner, Dan. Adams, Elihu Beckwith, Elijah Rice, Joseph Hopkins, David Beckwith, Benjamin Moulton, Simeon Porter, Luther Stan- hope, Stephen Crawford, Orator Holcomb, Benjamin Nelson, Nathaniel Eastman, Samuel Smith, Nancy Wood, Thomas Whaley, Patrick Alvord, Levi Stanhope, Joseph Munger, John M. Coffin, Eliphalet Hodges, Benjamin Powers and Clark Bur- lingame, are named among those who took contracts for land and soon after became settlers. Oliver Hodges came in 1805, and Asher Gardner in 1808. Mr. Gardner died Jan. 2, 1889, aged 89 years.
In 1806 Owen Cotton, from Vermont, a millwright by trade, came to this town and engaged in the erection of a saw mill for Zerah Phelps. John Wilder and Asa Johnson were in his en- ploy, and did most of the work required in putting in the run- ning gear. Phelps at this time owned most of the present site of Attica village. The next year John and Joseph Wilder, and Asa Johnson, bought out Phelps' mills at Attica.
About this time William Vary had erected a saw mill at Varysburgh, in Sheldon, and Wilder and Johnson put him up a small grist mill with one run of "rock stones." The grist mill was burned in 1809, with about a thousand bushels of grain. Wilder and Johnson built a new grist mill and saw mill the same year. The first clothing and carding establishment at Attica was erected by two brothers named Fuller, In 1809 Trumbull Cary, of Batavia, sont a stock of goods to Attica, which were deposited in a part of Mr. Wilder's house. This was the first store in the towa. In 1811 Gaius B. Rich opened a store. Mr. Wilder erected a distillery the same year. The Wilders retained the mills already noticed, until 1818, when they sold out to Parmenio Adams.
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The early settlers of Attica had a novel place to hold their Erst singing school. It was in a hollow buttonwood tree. Though not as large as the giant trees of California, it was, when felled, large enough for a common sized man to stand prect and walk through it. In this log, about thirty feet in length, seats were placed and holes cut to admit the light. This is said to have answered a very good purpose.
Mr. Seymour Brainard, father of Ephraim Brainard, now re- siding in the village of Attica, came to this town in 1811, and located about two miles east of the village; he purchased of a man named Burbank. In 1820 he erected a mill on the creek, in the town of Alexander, a short distance from Attica. When he commenced his mill, wheat was worth $2.50 per bushel, and when it was finished it was worth only three shillings. He had at one time twenty acres of winter wheat, which in the spring appeared to be killed, in consequence of which he sowed it again and had at harvest 800 bushels. Mr. Brainard came originally from Connecticut, but had resided in Oneida County for seven years previous to his coming to Attica. He came with an ox team, and up to a very recent date, the hubs of the cart which he brought from Connecticut were still in existence and in a tolerable state of preservation, considering their long exposure to the weather. "Mr. B. erected a distillery at an early day and purchased cattle, which he fattened with his "still-shops," and afterwards sold them for the New York market. He fattened ninety-six head in one year. Ile afterwards purchased 110 head of calves, which he wintered at his distillery. He sold pork at Rochester for 82.50 per hundred.
Mr. Owen Cotton, whose name has already been mentioned in connection with the first mill, settled in the town in 1817, and How resides in the village. Ile erected a mill for Wilder and Johnson, the stones and machinery of which were all construct- ed in the town. According to the contract the mill was to grind six bushels an hour. In 1828 he erected a mill three miles above Attica, and continued to own and operate it until 1857. It is still in operation. In 1820 he built an oil mill, and the next year put in a run of stones brought from Utica. In 1829 he enlarged the mill and put in a run of burr stones. The oil mill was kept in operation for thirty years. The Wilders, who have already been mentioned, were prominent men of the town and of the County for many years, John was Sheriff of Geu- cree County, and in the War of 1812 was first sergeant of a com- pany of Grenadiers, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Queenstown. Joseph was an early magistrate of Attica and held several military offices, that of Colonel being the highest.
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The first birth in the town was that of Harriet Phelps, July 25, 1803 ; the first marriage was that of Stephen Crow and Lucy Elwell, and the first death that of Thomas Mather, in the winter of 1803. Sophia Williams taught the first school, in 1807, and Daniel Stanton kept the first inn, in 1809.
The first religious services were held September 21, 1809, by Rev. Royal Phelps, at which time the first church (Cong.) was organized, with five members.
The population of the town In 1865 was 2,367, and its area 22,500 acres.
There are twelve school districts in the town, employing fif- teen teachers. The number of children of school age is 820; the number attending school, 656; the average attendance, 277, and the amount expended for school purposes for the year end- ing Sept. 30, 1869, was $1,753.07.
BENNINGTON was formed from Sheldon, March 6, 1818. It is the north-west corner town of the County. The surface is a rolling upland, broken by the ravines of small streams. The central part is drained by Cayuga Creek and its branches. and the north part by Murder Creek. . Tonawanda Creek flows through the south-east corner. The soil is a clayey, sandy and gravelly loam. Coal has been found in small quanti- ties in several places, and an inflammable gas exndes from the ground in some places, in sufficient quantities to light a village of several hundred dwellings, if properly utilized.
Bennington Center, (Bennington p. o.) located a little north of the center of the town, contains three churches, a hotel, two dry goods stores, several mechanic shops and about forty dwell- ings.
Cowlesville, (p. v.) situated on Cayuga Creek, in the north- east part of the town, contains two churches, a hotel, an iron foundry, a tannery, three dry goods stores, several mechanic shops and about 300 inhabitants.
Folsomdale (p. o.) is a hamlet about two miles south-east of Cowlesville, contains an excellent water-power and is rapidly in- creasing in business and population.
East Bennington, in the north-east part of the town, contains two churches, a hotel, several mechanic shops and about twenty- five houses.
The first settlement was made in the north-east part of the "town in 1802, by John Tolles, Jacob Wright and William Bar- ber, from Vermont. Each of these settlers erected a small log house and kept bachelor's hall for several months previous to
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removing their families, in the meantime clearing a small piece of land and sowing it with wheat. Further settlements were soon after made in the south part by the Hoard brothers, and by Chauncey, Justin and George Loomis, Ezra Ludden, George Hoskins, John, Asa and Abijah Jones, the descendants of whom still form a respectable portion of the inhabitants. Pelatiah Case, Aaron and Adolphus Clapp, Joseph Farnum and Nathan Clapp, were among the early settlers. In 1807 Chauncey Loomis purchased several thousand acres at one dollar per acre. He erected a saw mill about the same time. Several log houses were erected and the settlement increased more rapidly than it had previously. Mr. Loomis erected the first barn in the town, and invited all the settlers within a circuit of ten miles to assist in raising it. In 1808 and 1809, George Haskins, Jacob Rock- well and Joseph and Walter Burnham settled in the town. It is said by some that Jacob Wright built the first framed barn on the Holland Purchase, in 1805. In 1807, Messrs. Hoard erected a saw mill in the south part of the town, and another was erected at the center, the same year, by Judge Loomis. A saw mill and grist mill were erected at Cowlesville, by Quartos Clapp, in 1820; and in 1823 mills were crected at Folsomdale by Joseph Fitch. George Loomis was the first Supervisor of the town, only forty-three votes being cast at the first meeting. John Jones erected the first tannery and shoe shop in the town. Chauncey Loomis out the road from Bennington, through the Indian Reservation, to the Willink road, coming out half a mile above Red Jacket's wigwam. He was in the employ of the Hol- land Company. The first team that passed over the road was a wagon drawn by three yoke of oxen, going to Buffalo for salt ; it was three days making the journey. Lester Brace, Joseph Farnum and Levi Street were the teamsters. The breaking out of the war in 1812 checked the progress of the settlement for a time. The road from Bennington to Sheldon was cut in 1807, and was continued north to the south Buffalo road the next vear.
In 1808 a road was opened from Bennington to Attica.
The first marriage was that of Aaron Whitney and Rachel Truesdale, in 1807. The first death that of a child of William Barber in 1803. The first death of an adult was that of Amos Tolles, in 1803, at the age of 53. The first school was taught by Rachel Truesdale, in 1807. The first inn was kept by Joseph Farnum, and the first store by Chauncey Loomis. "The first grist mill was built by Quartus Clapp, at Cowlesville. "The first religious services were conducted by Peter B. Root, in 1805. The first church (Methodist) was organized in 1807. The Bap- tist Church was the second one organized upon the Purchase. Mrs. Loomis made a donation to the Church of one thousand
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dollars. Elder Herrick was the first settled minister in the town. The first physician in the town was Salmon King; the next was Ira Cross. The first birth was that of. a daughter of Adolphus Clapp.
Among the remarkable afflictions to be related is that of the Lost Boy. A. son of David Tolles, about eight or nine years old, was sent to keep the cattle from a small patch of oats that had been sowed, but the field was unfenced. Just before sun-set he drove the cattle into the woods and was never seen afterwards. Search was immediately commenced by a few of the neighbors, and the next day the alarm was spread throughout the whole region. The settlers came in from all parts, organized and searched in all directions. The third day a party of Indians joined in the search. The settlers furnished provisions to the extent of their means. Mr. Ellicott sent a load from Batavia, and Jabez Warren, who had provisions stored at Roswell Tur- ner's, in Sheldon, ordered them dealt out in rations. The search was continued by the whites a whole week, and by the Indians a longer time, but the fate of the lost boy was never known. His tracks were found the second day of the search, and the third day another party found where he had gathered hemlock boughs and slept. On the fourth day a party found where he had been into a creek and washed some roots. His tracks upon the rocks were so recent that the water was not dried off. This was the last trace of him.
The population of the town in 1865 was 2,445, and its area 33,900 acres.
The number of school districts is sixteen. employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 801 : number attending school, 543; average attendance, 245, and the amount expended for school purposes for the year end- ing September 30, 1869, was 83,299.95.
CASTILE was formed from Perry, Feb. 27, 1821. It is the central town upon the east border of the County. The sur- face is a rolling and terraced upland, broken by the deep val- leys of the streams. Genesee River, forming a portion of the rast boundary, is bordered by steep banks from 300 to 350 feet in higha. In some places the perpendicular ledges are 200 feet high. The small tributaries of the river have worn deep lah ral channels in these banks. The valley of Silver Lake oe- eupies a wide and shallow basin in the north part of the town. Its outlet is towards the north. Wolf Creek rises in a swamp, near the head of the lake, and flows south-easterly into the Genesce River. A wide level valley, bordered by low terraces, extends from the east shore of the lake, and opens into the val-
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1 .; of Wolf Creek at Castile village. The soil is a gravelly and clarey loam.
Custile, (p. v.) situated on Wolf Creek, in the south-west part of the town, contains five churches, viz., Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Christian; a hotel, two dry goods Sures, two hardware stores, a jewelry shop, a harness shop, a het and cap store, a drug store, three shoe stores, a foundry, a prist mill, a saw mill, a sash and blind factory, a cheese factory, a spion school, several mechanic shops and about 900 inhabitants. There is also a water cure for females located in the village.
Custile Station is about half a mile from the village, on the Buffidlo Division of the Erie Railway, and contains two hotels, a More and about a dozen dwellings.
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