USA > New York > Wyoming County > Gazetteer and business directory of Wyoming County, N.Y., for 1870-71 > Part 11
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St. Helena, on Genesee River, in the south-east part of the town, contains a cider mill, a blacksmith shop, a school house and about a dozen dwellings. There are two religious societies, viz., Protestant Methodist and Episcopal Methodist, but no hunse of worship. They occupy the school house.
The first settlement of this town was commenced about 1808 or '9. by Daniel McKar, of Caledonia, who erected a saw mill on Wolf Creek, in the south-east part of the town.
About the same time Robert Whaley removed from Caledonia and settled on the "Allegany Road," a short distance from the enter of the town, there being no other settler on the road », tween him and Leicester, a distance of thirteen miles. Mr. Whaley had charge of the saw mill, which was about half a mile from the mouth of the creck, on the Cotringer Tract. This maill was stocked with pine logs, purchased from Mary Jemison, aid the lumber was transported to the high river bank, where .. Was a slide by which it was conveyed to the river, thence floated down to the older settlements where it was needed. Mr. Whaley opened a public house at his place of residence, on the Allegany Road, and for many years the Whaley Stand was widely known siel patronized by the settlers in this and other parts of the country further west.
In 1816 a severe calamity occurred at this pioneer tavern. Mr. Whaley had removed to his mill, and rented the house to a Mr. Eldredge. Several men from LeRoy put up here for the matt. when the house took fire and two of the men perished in the flames. The house was rebuilt, and in 1812 Mr. Whaley turned to it, where he died soon after. His widow kept the House for some years afterwards.
The first settlers at the village were Ziba Hurd and Jonathan Gilbert, from Vermont, in 1816. Among the early settlers were
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
Aaron Pond, James Thompson, Clark Sanford. Dow J. Clute. Charles Tallman, Freeman Sanford, William Tripp, Ebenezer Seymour and Sylvester Derby. A settlement was commenced at an early day in the west part of the town, near the lake, called the " Tallman Settlement."
The first birth in the town was that of Jane MeRay, in 1813: the first death that of Laura Wilcox, in 1815. The first school was taught by Anna Bennett, from Vermont, in 1816. The first grist mill was built by John Card and Sylvester Lathrop, on lo: 40, in 1820. The first store was kept by Lemuel Eldredge and M. E. Frost, in 1815. In 1821 a post office was established, and Mr. Hurd appointed post master.
The first religious services were held near the south end of Silver Lake, in 1816, by Elder Benjamin Luther, of the Baptist denomination. . A. " Christian Society " was organized in 1819; 2 Presbyterian Society in 1824, also a Methodist Society the same year. The Baptist Society was organized in 1835.
This town has the honor of being among the pioneers in the cause of temperance. An organization was formed as early as 1825, by the ladies of Castile.
The water power furnished by Wolf Creek, and the abun- dance of fine timber in the vicinity, gave great activity to the lumber business for many years. At one period not less than fourteen saw mills were located on this creek.
When Mr. Clark Sanford settled in this town, in 1816, Mary Jemison, the white woman, was living near the Genesee River. a mile below St. Helena. Castile village at that time contained about half a dozen framed houses and a few log ones. Dr. Childs kept a small store in the village, and bears, wolves and rattlesnakes, held almost undisputed sway in the surrounding country. Ziba Hurd was the first supervisor of the town, and Jonathan Gilbert, James Waterhouse, Ebenezer Seymour and Clark Sanford, were the first justices of the peace. Mr. San- ford held the office for twenty years. In 1817 a land slide occurred, about twenty-five acres in this town sliding into Gene- see River, damming it up and causing a permanent change in its course.
During the summer of 1855 it was reported that an immense serpent had been seen in Silver Lake. The story was so well authenticated that thousands of visitors flocked from all parts of the country to see his snakeship. A burlesque account of the capture of the serpent, which appeared in the Buffalo Express. raised the excitement to the highest pitch, and soon after the whole humbug collapsed.
The population of the town in 1865 was 2,081, and its ares 22,800 acres.
WYOMING COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 85
M. S. VOSBURCH,
ATTICA, - Wyoming Co., N. Y.
Breeder and Dealer in
FULL BLOOD
.* JERSEY CATTLE 22
Il. keeps constantly on hand Full Blood Jersey Cattle, which he will sell as low as they can be bought in the United States.
HE ALSO KEEPS CHOICE VARIETIES OF
GEESE AND EENS!
All of which will be Warranted True to Name.
REFERENCES:
John Page, Esq.,. Jinaien Plain, Massachusetts. J. T .. Bridgeman, Hanover, New Hampshire. Dr. Crosby,.
Thomas Motley. Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.
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WYOMING COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
MARTIN ANDROS,
E. N. ANDRES
ANDRUS & 00 5 PERRY, N. Y., GAIN & PRODUCE BROKERS
AND WHOLESALE DEALERS IN .
GRAIN BUSTER,
DDANS, TOPS, 0.
E. F. ANDRUS,
PROPRIETOR OF Andras Regulator Store
AND DEALER IN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC
CARPETS, FURS, &c.
AND WHOLESALE DEALER IN
CENTRAL BLOCM. PERRY, N. Y
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
The last report shows that the number of children of school wie was 641 ; number attending school 555 ; average attend- spre 307.
COVINGTON. named from General Leonard Covington, was formed from LeRoy (Genesee Co.) and Perry, January 31, 1.37. A part was annexed to York (Livingston Co.) in 1823. 1: is the north-east corner town of the County. The surface is , moderately hilly upland, broken by the deep ravines of the streams. Oatka Creek flows through the north-west corner, and receives as tributary, Pearl Creek, which flows north-west, through near the center. Oatka Creck is bordered by fine for- the alluvial flats. The soil of the uplands is generally a gravelly Team.
Covington Center (Covington p. o.) contains a store, a town hall, a cooper shop, a blacksmith shop and about a dozen houses.
Pearl Creek, (p. v.) in the north-west part, contains & grocery, two grist mills, a saw mill, a blacksmith shop and about a dozen willings.
Peoria, (p. v.) in the east part, contains a hotel, a store, a blacksmith shop and cultivator factory, a wagon shop and about fifteen dwellings.
I. Grange, (p. v.) on the south border of the town, partly in Perry, contains a Baptist church, a store, a wagon shop, two steksmith shops and about twenty dwellings.
The first settlement was made in this town in 1807, in the West part, by Jairus Cruttenden, William Miller and John and William Sprague, all of whom were from New England.
The first child born in the town was Viola White, daughter if Dr. Daniel White, in 1809. The first marriage was that of Calvin Davis and Sylvia Beardsley, in 1814; and the first death Mitt of Mrs. Easty, during the same year. The first inn was sept by William Miller, in 1813, and the first store by Daniel Pilcom, in 1812. The first grist mill was built by Spauld- ing. in 1810, and the first saw mill by Sprague & Spaulding, in 1×12.
The first religious services were held at the house of David Norris, in 1814, by Rev. Mark Norris, from Vermont.
The population of the town in 1865 was 1,233, and its area 15,840 acres.
There are nine school districts, employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 385 ; the humber attending school, 312; the average attendance, 175, and the amount expended for school purposes for the year end- ing Sept. 30, 1869, was $2,570.27.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
EAGLE was formed from Pike, January 21, 1823. I: 1866 the three eastern tiers of lots in China, (now Arcade,) mon. bered from one to twenty-four, were annexed, and in 1869, 1 .. vote of the Supervisors of the County, this portion was re-a !. nexed to Arcade. It occupies a central position upon the souti border of the County. The surface is a hilly upland, broken Is the deep rayines of the streams. Wiscoy Creek and its tribut ... ries form the principal drainage of all the town except the north - west part, where Cattaraugus Creek and Spring Brook flow in a south-westerly direction. Cold Creek rises in the south-ea. part of the town. Most of the hills bordering upon the stream- are very steep, and their summits are from 400 to 700 feet above the valleys. Eagle Lake is a small body of water in the south part, having no visible outlet, The soil is a clayey and gravell; loam.
Eagle Village, (p. v.) situated in the south-west part of the town, contains a Methodist church, a hotel, three dry good- stores, a grocery, a saw mill, a grist mill, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, a shoe shop, a harness shop, a chees factory, using the milk of 400 cows, and about thirty dwelling:
Eagle is a post office.
The first settlement was made in 1808, on lot 8, by Silas and William Hodges, from Cayuga County.
The first birth in the town was that of Alanson Hodges, som of Silas Hodges, in 1802. The first inn was kept by De: Beach ; the first store by Elijah Hyde, and the first saw mi !: was erected by Amos Huntley.
This town embraces Township No. Seven, of the Second Range of the Holland Purchase. The early settlers endured a .. the hardships incident to the region, struggling with want an ! poverty, but like others, in a few years they obtained a com! petency.
The population of the town in 1865 was 1,211, and its ar : 31,300 acres.
According to the last report, the number of children of schon age in the town was 623; the number attending school, 551 : the average attendance, 263.
GAINESVILLE, named from Gen. E. P. Gaines, Va- formed from Warsaw, as Hebe, February 25, 1814. Its nams. was changed April 17, 1816. It is an interior town, lying some east of the center of the County. The surface is an upland, slightly undulating and broken by the valleys of the stream ?.. Oatka Creek flows through the north-east part, and East ('; through the south-west. The soil upon the hills isa thie dars
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ima, underlaid by hardpan, and in the valleys a fertile gravelly Good building stone is quarried in the north part of the
Gainesville, (p. v.) situated on East Coy Creek, near the cen- prof the town, contains four churches, viz., Methodist, Con- Tygational, Free Methodist and Universalist; a female semi- serv. a hotel, two stores, a tannery, a grist mill, a saw mill, a rese factory, several mechanic shops and about 250 inhabit- The Female Seminary was established in 1855, by Misses Birdy and Eldridge, and other citizens of the place. The whool was established on the plan of Mount Holyoke Seminary, 3. Massachusetts. The buildings will accommodate 100 board- rts and 150 day pupils.
East Gainesville, .(p. v.) on Wolf Creek, in the east part of the town, is'a station on the Buffalo & Erie Railway, and contains two stores, a hotel, a cheese factory and about 20 houses.
Gainesville Center and Newburgh are hamlets.
William, Richard and Charles Bristol, were the first settlers of this town. They came from Columbia Co. Elnathan George ruine from Vermont about the same time. There were no roads at the time of the first settlement, the settlers being compelled " out their own roads. These men came in and located in 1805. John Patterson and James Crarath, with others, settled in 1806. Hosea Sheffield was one of the early settlers, having come from "Tinga County in 180S. Alfred Wing settled at East Gaines- ville in 1812 ; he came from Vermont and is now living.
Mr. William Bristol assisted Wm. Peacock, a surveyor of the Holland Company, in surveying the township. . He also cut the north and south center road through the town, settled at the * rek and lived there the remainder of his life. He was ap- jointed justice of the peace in 1809, before Gainesville was set .f from Warsaw. He served in the War of 1812, as Lieutanant of Captain Isaac Wilson's company of cavalry. He was elected "De first supervisor of the town, in 1814, and held the office for { veral years. He was a member of the Assembly in 1823. Wil- sam Bristol, son of the first settler, now residing in Warsaw, Aved upon the old homestead until 1868. Benjamin F., anoth- Ar son, still resides in Gainesville.
Elisha Brainard moved to Gainesville from Madison County, Sx 1$16.
Willard Thayer removed from Massachusetts to Gainesville 11 1807, and resided there until his death. He was several times «lected supervisor, and three times justice of the peace. He was greatly averse to litigation, and often used his influence to bring
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about a settlement without a trial of the case. He was the father of L. W. Thayer, of Warsaw.
The population in 1865 was 1,635, and the area 22,500 acres The number of children of school age, according to the las report, was 492; the number attending school 419, and the average attendance for the year ending September 30, 1869, Wie 201.
GENESEE FALLS was formed from Pike and Port- age, (Livingston Co.,) April 1, 1846. It lies upon the Genes- River, in the south-cast corner of the County, A rocky blun. from 100 to 300 feet in hight, and nearly perpendicular, bor. ders the river, and from its summit the surface spreads out inte an undulating upland. The celebrated Portage Falls, on the Genesee River, are upon the border of this town. The soil is a sandy and clayey loam.
Portageville, (p. o.) situated on the Genesee River, contain: five churches, viz., Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Universal- ist and Roman Catholic; two hotels, two saw mills, sever .. stores and mechanic shops, and about 500 inhabitants. Th. village is about one mile from the station on the Erie Railway, upon the east side of the river. The railroad bridge at thi- place, said to be the largest wooden bridge in the world, is Sur feet in length, 234 feet high, and contains 1,600,000 feet of tin .- ber, 106,280 pounds of iron, and cost $175,000. The Falls and the scenery near this place attract many visitors, and the inte- provements already made and in contemplation will make i one of the most delightful resorts for summer tourists. Alar? hotel at the station will furnish accommodations for summer visitors.
The first settlements were made on the river, abore Portage- ville, in 1804, by John, Samuel and Seth Fields. Nathan an- Joseph Dixon, Joseph and Justice Bailey, and Sebetia Ward. settled previous to ISO7.
The first death was that of Sophia Smith, in 1817; the first school was taught by Maria Bellinger in 1800 ; and the first in was kept by Lewis Wood, at Portageville, in 1821.
A tract of 500 acres, embracing the village plat of Portage- ville, was purchased, soon after the lands in that vicinity Wer opened for sale, by a company consisting of Thomas Mumford. John M'Kay; Thomas M. Hubbard and Silas Smith. Mr. Smith was the only one of the company who resided here, and he erver- ed a saw mill in 1822. A bridge was soon after erected by th. proprietors. After the erection of a public house by Mr. Wood. the Falls and the wild and picturesque scenery began to attrac: the attention of visitors. Lucius Foot settled there, engaged in
1.
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" practice of law, and was the local agent of the proprietors. - died in 1826, and was succeeded in the local agency by Dr. Ficha D. Moses. Dr. Dutton erected a public house there in Among the other early settlers in the village were Henry 4. Brown, Lyman Church, Joshua Abbott, Benonia, Bezaleel and 11-d Shaw, Robert Hines and Charles Bristol. In 1826 or '7, 6.4. George Williams purchased the interest of one of the pro- mentors, and subsequently purchased all that remained unsold. The Genesee Valley Canal, and the Buffalo Branch of the Erie Hallway, both cross the river at this place, and have added great- Je to its business and growth.
The population of the town in 1865 was 1,070, and the area 1,500 acres.
The manber of children of school age is 275; the number attending school 236, and the average attendance for the year rading Sept. 30, 1869, was 118.
.JAVA was formed from China, now Arcade, April 20, 1832. It les upon the west border of the County, south of the center. The surface is an elevated region, broken by hills and the deep vallers of the streams. The highest summits are from 400 to Soo feet above the valleys, and from 1,000 to 1,200 feet above Lake Erie. Buffalo Creek flows through the west part and re- tives a large number of tributaries. Cattaraugus Creek flows Arough the south-east part. Cattaraugus Lake is a small sheet of water in the south-east part, nearly surrounded by steep hills. It foris one of the sources of Cattaraugus Creek. The soil upon the hills is a thin dark loam, underlaid by hardpan, and in the valleys a gravelly loam. A quarry of fine building stone is situated about a mile east of Java Village.
Jara Village, (p. v.) on Buffalo Creek. in the north-west part of the town, contains two stores, a grist mill, two tanneries, two carriage shops and about 25 dwellings.
North Jara, (p. v.) in the north-east part, contains a Con- pragational church, a hotel, two stores, a furniture and under- taking establishment, several mechanic shops and about 25 dwellings.
Currier's Corners, (Java p. o.) in the south-west part, contains & hotel, a store. a cheese factory and about a dozen dwellings.
East Java, (p. v.) in the south-east part, contains a church, two hotels, two stores and about 20 dwellings.
Jara Center is a hamlet.
This town, comprising Townships Three and Four of the Holland Purchase, was first settled by William Richardson and
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
Timothy Kirby, from Massachusetts. They located on lot 32. in the north-west part of the town. In 1812 and 1814, Charles Richardson and Daniel HI. Worcestor settled at Java Village, and Charles Fox at Currier's Corners.
The first mill was erected at Java Village in 1816, by Daniel H. Worcester; the first inn was kept at Currier's Corners in 1818, by Charles Fox, and the first store by Mr. Comstock in 1820, at Java Village.
Henry Woolsey came from Columbia County in 1816, and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by him. He is now in the 78th year of his age, is well and hearty and does his own work.
The population of the town in 1865 was 2,142, and the area 29.150 acres.
The number of children of school age is 657; the number at- tending school, 568, and the average attendance for the year ending September 30, 1869, was 273.
MIDDLEBURY was formed from Warsaw, March 20. 1812. It lies on the north border of the County, east of the center. The surface is a rolling upland, broken by the deep valleys of the streams. Oatka Creek flows through the south- east corner, and Little Tonawanda Creek through the west part. A deep ravine extends east and west, through the center of the town, forming a natural pass between the valleys of these two streams. The hills bordering upon Oatka Creek are from 400 to 600 feet high, and quite steep. The soil generally is a clavey and gravelly loam, well adapted to all kinds of grain and fruits common to this latitude. Near the middle of the south half of the town is the highest land in the town, called by the pio- neers Gavjen Hill. South of this hill is a tamarac swamp, con- taining about one hundred acres. Red Brook is a small stream, rising in this swamp and flowing into the Oatka.
Wyoming, (p. v.) situated in the cast part of the town, con- tains three churches, viz., Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian : an academy, two hotels, three stores, three groceries, two flour- ing mills, a saw mill, a barrel manufactory, several mechanic shops of various kinds, and about 100 inhabitants.
The Middlebury Academy was incorporated in 1819. The building was erected in 1817, through the liberality of the citi- zens, who appreciated the value of an education and were will- ing to contribute liberally to erect an elegant brick edifico, where their children might have the advantage of a thorough course of instruction, while the contributors were living in log houses, some of which had only one room. The value of the
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building, apparatus, &c., is at present estimated at $11,000; it tudoys four teachers and has about one hundred scholars .. It hos always maintained a high rank among the institutions of stis part of the State.
West Middlebury, (Dale p. o.) situated in the west part, is & vation on the Buffalo Division of the Erie Railway, and con- sins a F. W. Baptist church, two stores, two saw mills, a barrel : nufactory, several mechanic shops and about 260 inhabitants.
There are two cheese factories in the town, one at the west Fre and the other in the south corner of the town.
The first settlement of this town was made in 1802, by Jabez Warren, at what is called Wright's Corners. Here he created a log house and made a small improvement, raising a crop the next season, the first in that region. The other settlers who came in about the same time were Jonas Sellick, Rouben Cham- Blain, Frederick Gilbert, Sterling Stearns and Israel M. Dewey. Most of these settlers were from Vermont. They cut their own rad from LeRoy to Middlebury. Stearns was a Revolutionary soldier, volunteered in the War of 1812, and was killed at the Battle of Queenstown. Mr. Warren sold out in 1804 and went to Aurora.
The first store was kept by Edwin Putnam in 1810, near Wright's Corners ; the first grist mill was built by Silas Newell, in 1813, near Wyoming village, and the first saw mill by A. Worden, at West Middlebury, in 1800. Amzi Wright kept the first inn, at Wright's Corners, in 1806.
Among the early settlers and those who took up land in this town were Thomas Cahoon, James Fay, Elijah Cutting, David Torry, Job Cowen, John Roberts, Zophar Evans, Daniel Vanor- man, Jonathan Curtis, Samuel Tolles, Abner Bacon, Asahel Wright, Gideon Bardock, Samuel Ewell. Jonathan Whitney, Reuben and Elihu Hall, and Edmund Curtis.
Mr. Amzi Wright came to Middlebury in 1804. He had pre- vously spent a year in Batavia, attending the first town meet- lug on the Purchase. He purchased of Sterling Stearns the farin now occupied by his son Allen, and in 1800 opened a tar- ern. This tavern is described as a log house, containing one room. In one corner was the kitchen, in another the buttery, the bar occupied the third, and the bed the fourth. On the 4th of July 1815, about three hundred persons sat down to a din- ner in the grove, a little north-west of the brick house now owned by Heman Humphrey.
In 1803 James Sellick settled on the farm now owned by Chauncey L. Hayden. Henry and Samuel Ewell came in 1803, atl chopped and cleared ten acres of land ; this is said by some
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
to be the first cleared in the town, except a few acres supposed to have been cleared by the Indians. This was included in the lot taken up by Sylvanus Howes, and now owned by James A. Ewell. It was known by the early settlers as the " Old Field," and is now grown up to trees, from one foot to twenty inches in diameter. The Ewells purchased a barrel of pork and a half bushel of potatoes, at Bloomfield, on their way to this town. They built a rude cabin, in which they lived while clearing their land. The woods were infested with wolves and bears. The men seldom left their work in the day time, but in the evening went after their bread, which was baked by Mrs. Sellick, On one occasion, IIenry Ewell, starting; for home with his bread, heard the wolves howling so fiercely that he took Mr. Sellick's cow, with her heavy bell, for company, thinking that would be some protection against the ravenons beasts. As the wolves approached and their howls became fiercer, he stepped up to the cow and gave the bell a violent shaking, which served for a time to alarm the wolves, but soon they gathered again. By frequently repeating this operation he arrived home in safety. After clearing their land and sowing their wheat, they returned to Massachusetts on foot, a distance of 300 miles, performing the journey in ten days. They spent the winter in Massachu- setts, married and returned to their farm in the spring of 1804. Their wheat field was on the road north of Babbit's Corners, ou the east side of the road, at a place now occupied by a small orchard. Money was very scarce, and nearly all trade was car- ried on by exchanging produce. A gentleman of comparative wealth states that he found it difficult to borrow five shillings for a few days, and being called on to pay, was still more troubled, and could pay it only by doing a hard day's work for one shilling, and another one for a peck of salt, which he sold for four shillings. Their wheat had to be conveyed to Albany by teams, and subsequently- to Rochester, where it would not bring more than two or three shillings a bushel.
The next clearing after that of the Ewell's was made upon the farm now owned by Thos. Tabor, and formerly owned for many years by Martin Choate. Mr. Cobb cleared a few acres east of where the barns now stand, lived there about a year, and died of an epidemic. The burial was the common one at this time. A coffin made of rough boards inclosed the body, a prayer was offered by a neighbor, and the hearse was a sled drawn by oxen. The procession consisted of about a dozen persons, who followed on foot to the place of burial.
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