USA > New York > Wyoming County > Gazetteer and business directory of Wyoming County, N.Y., for 1870-71 > Part 12
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In 1808 James Quail, father of Mrs. Jairus Miller, settled on the west part of the farm now owned by Jairus Miller, half a mile south of the center of the town. A Mr. Calkins settled
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wut the same time, south of the center. He chopped !!! timber from a piece of land, and soon after sold out to Gid- Brownell, who lived there many years. In 1810 Sylvanus inwes came here from Massachusetts, purchased a quarter sec- wi of land, east of the center, and built a house near where "Rues A. Ewell now lives. Dr. Seaver settled in 1810, near Wright's Corners, where he now resides.
Deacon Eliphalet Owen came to Middlebury in 1806, and lo- cand on Oatka Creek, where his sons now reside, in the south port of the town, when the whole region was an unbroken wil- Thesa. Before cutting the first tree, be kneeled atits root and sonimitted himself and his interests to God in prayer. He in- 'rested himself in establishing a Baptist church, and became efficient officer of the same, making it a principle to attend all its meetings. He was never known to remain at home upon the Sabbath, except in one instance. He was a liberal support- er of his own church, and was largely interested in missionary, Mlucational and other charitable objects. He was one of the founders of Middlebury Academy, and one of its Trustees dur- ing his life. As the fruits of a faithful religions life, he wit- nessed the conversion of upwards of thirty persons under his own roof, embracing his family and persons in his employ. He was born in Windham, Conn., May 1784, and died in 1856, in the 48d year of his age,
Moses Gleason, the father-in-law of James Quail, came in about the same time, and settled near him. In 1812 Moses Moon and his wife settled on the farm, where he recently died, at the age of 90 years. Ilis widow still lives with her son San- ford on the same farm. Mr. Halliday took up the farm where Jairus Miller now lives, the same upon which his father, Stephen Miller, moved in 1814. Aaron Miller bought the farm, consist- ing of 100 acres, of his brother-in-law, Sylvanus Howes, erected a log house and removed his family into it in the spring of 1813.
The first settlement at the village of Wyoming was made in 1809, by Silas Newell, from Hoosick, Rensselaer County. He came by the way of East Bethany, aided by marked trees. The place was called Newell's Settlement for several years. It received its present name in 1829, through the efforts of Hon. John B. Skinner.
During the War of 1812, the people were frequently alarmed. by rumors of Indians coming to lay waste the country. They Had burned Buffalo and devastated several places in the vicinity. Some of the inhabitants iled to the east, where they remained until they thought the danger was over. On one occasion the alarm was spread that the Indians were coming. Some left
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their houses and went into the dense forest, one man moved his pork barrel into the woods, and drove his cattle into a swamp. Most of the inhabitants concealed themselves in some place ; some of them fied to the gulf through which Red Brook flows. thinking that neither Indians nor white men would ever think of looking in such a rugged, dark and dismal place for any one. Mrs. Miller relates that she often heard her grandmother, Mrs. Moses Gleason, tell of that terrible night when they all fled. She alone remained, and after covering the fire, not daring to let it. burn, she sat alone through the whole night. Aaron Miller and his family remained in their house, Mrs. Miller said she would not run until she saw some danger. When peace was declared, the inhabitants returned to their homes.
Among the most prominent settlers in the north-west part of the town were Ebenezer Willson, and his sons, Ira, Isaac, Amos, Heman and Orsamus, all of whom lived on farms in the vicinity. Ebenezer Willson lived on the farm now occupied by John Quail. Several families of Smiths lived near the Willsons, all of whom are gone except Ira Willson, who now resides where his father formerly lived. Leonard Smith now lives on the farm formerly occupied by his father, Enoch Smith.
The Ewell family were formerly very numerous, eight broth- ers and sisters living on separate farms adjoining each other. Some of their descendants now occupy the same farms. Only one of the brothers remains. The Miller family was also quite extensive, and some of their children are now occupying the farms upon which their parents settled. Of six brothers, Aaron, Alanson, Hezekiah, Jairus, Hiram and Orlando Miller, and their children, married and settled in the town, there are twenty- four families.
Among the oldest residents of the south-east part of the town, who have numerous descendants settled around them, are Daniel and Abijah Bradley,- Levi and Spencer Curtis, Jacob, Abram, Aura and Seneca Cronkite. Moses Rowe kept a tavern for several years, on the cast side of the creek, about a mile from Wyoming.
In 1817 there were, seven distilleries in the town, and not a single church edifice. One of these distilleries was near the site of the North West Baptist church, one on L. DeWolf's farm, one on E. K. Wright's farm, one on Moses Moon's, one near Ethel C. Sherman's, one near Mr. Look's, and one near the War- saw line. It will be remembered that the price of grain was very low, and the cost of transporting it to a market very great. By distilling, the bulk was greatly diminished, and consequently the cost of transportation, but the moral influence was evil and only evil. Now there is not one distillery in the town, but there
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are five flourishing churches, an academy, and many schools to which all have access.
Three persons in this town have lived to exceed the age of lu0 years. Mrs. Gould, mother of Joseph Gould, one of the early settlers, died about thirty years ago, at the age of 103 RIS. Joseph Gould died about twenty years ago. Roswell Gould, another son, died about a year ago, in Warsaw. During his life he held several offices of trust in the town and County. Mrs. Peck, another centenarian, died in March, 1863, aged 100 wurs and three months. She was the mother of Jacob and Elias Howard, who now reside near Dale. They have a large number of descendants residing in this town and elsewhere.
Another centenarian was Mrs. Sarah Peterson, who was born August 23, 1763, in Rhode Island. Her maiden name was Brightman. She married Jonathan Peterson, and, about 1791, removed to New Haven, Addison Co., Vt. Here they endured the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and brought up a family of six children. In 1814 they sold out and removed to Covington, whither their children had previously gone. Mr. Peterson died in 1828, and Mrs. Peterson lived with her children many years, and afterwards with her grandchildren until her death. When she was 100 years old, her friends made her a birthday visit, at the house of W. W. Miller, whose wife was her granddaughter. There were present about thirty of her descendants, with a few old friends. Seated at the table in a row were five generations. At the head was Mrs. Peterson, aged 100 years, then her daughter and others, until the fifth genera- tion was represented by a girl of ten years. Up to this time, and until about two days before her death, Mrs. P. was able to walk about the house, make her bed, knit and converse intel- ligently with all. She was always glad to see her friends, or feel them, as she was blind for about twenty years before her death. She died December 9, 1865, aged 102 years and three months. Many of her descendants are still living in this town.
We have already noticed the advent to this town of Henry and Samuel Ewell. Their father and several brothers after- wards settled in the town. James Ewell, Sen., came from Hampshire Co., Mass,, in June, 1816. He came with an ox team and a wagon made of two ox carts. They were three weeks on the road. Peleg Ewell came in 1806, and settled on the farm now occupied by Cornelius Ewell. James Ewell, Jr., came in 1808, and settled on the farm now occupied by his son Hiram. He remained here until his death. Ell Ewell came in 1814, and settled on the farm now occupied by his grand-son, Albertice. Deborah Ewell, sister of the preceding, married Jonathan Perry, one of the early settlers, and lived on the
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" Flats," about one and a half miles south of Wyoming. John Ewell came in 1813; he is the only one of the brothers still Jiving. In 1819 he married Esther Walker. They are now liv- ing on the farm cleared and improved by himself.
Stephen Miller came to this town in 1814, from Massachu- setts. He was a soldier of the Revolution, enlisted under Gen- eral Gates, was in the battle at Saratoga, and present at the sur- render of Gen. Burgoyne. He came to this town with a team consisting of two span of horses attached to a sleigh. His fam- ily consisted of a wife and seven children. They were two weeks on the road. After years of industry and economy, he acquired a competency, and died of paralysis, Jan. 13, 1834. His widow died just twenty-one years afterwards. They had twelve children, all of whom married and raised families.
Aaron Miller, a son of the preceding, came to Middlebury in 1812, and purebased one hundred acres of his brother-in-law, Sylvanus Howes. The night previous to his death, his house took fire, in a room directly over the one in which he was lying. The fire was already dropping upon the bed when he was re- moved on a bed by four persons, to the house of his brother, Jairus Miller, where he died the next morning. He was the father of John S. Miller, who now occupies a part of the farm originally purchased by his father. Alanson Miller, brother of Aaron, came into this town in 1813 or 1814, and settled on the farm now owned by his heis, where he remained until his death. Hezekiah and Jairus Miller, two other sons of Stephen Miller, are now living in this town, surrounded by some of their children, who are married and raising families.
The first frame house erected in the town was by George and John Paddock. The site was a short distance west of the Mansion House, in the village of Wyoming. The first birth of the town was that of Dexter, son of Henry Ewell. He now re- sides in Alden, Erie county. The second birth was that of Enos K. Wright. He now resides near Wright's Corners.
Artemas Shattuck, a citizen of the town, while chopping in the woods, some distance from his home, had his foot caught in the crack of a log that was partly split open. Here he hung for a long time, suspended by one foot and partially supported by one hand, unable to extricate himself. At length, despairing of receiving aid, he took his pocket knife and unjointed his ankle, thus freeing himself from the trop in which he was caught. With a crooked stick for a crutch he then started for the house. He was found about dark, carried home and had his leg ampu- tated. He recovered and afterwards became a Baptist minister. The population in 1865 was 1,724, and its area 22,440 acres.
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The number of school districts in the town is 13, employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 609; the number attending school is 544; the average attendance is 240, and the amount expended for school purposes for the year ending September 30th, 1869, was $2,736.03.
ORANGEVILLE was formed from Attica, February 14th, 1816. Wethersfield was taken off in 1823. It is an in- terior town, lying north-west of the center of the County. The surface is a rolling upland, broken by deep ravines. The prin- cipal streams draining the west part are Tonawanda Creek and its branches, and in the east, small branches of Oatka and East Coy Creeks. The summits of the highest hills are from 400 to 700 feet above the valleye. The soil is a gravelly and clavey loam, underlaid by hardpan. On lot No. 2, in the south-east part of the town, on the farm of Joshua Butler, is a mineral spring, containing iron, sulphate of lime and other minerals, and is similar to the Vermont Spring.
Orangeville, (p. v.) near the center of the town, contains two churches, viz : Baptist and Presbyterian, a store, a hotel, a tan- nery, a saw mill, a cheese factory and about a dozen dwellings.
Johnsonburgh, (p. v.) in the west part of the town, on Tona- wanda Creek, is partly in the town of Sheldon, and contains two churches, viz : Methodist and Presbyterian; a grist mill, a saw mill, a map-roller factory, a hotel, several stores and mechanic shops, and about 100 inhabitants.
East Orangeville, (p. o.) in the east part of the town, is a hamlet.
Orangeville Cheese Factory was erected in 1863, it is owned by Hutchinson & Wilder, and uses the milk of 650 cows.
Orangeville Tannery was established in 1812.
The first settlement was made in 1805, by John Duncan, on lot 13, and Elisha Doty, from Cayuga County, on lot 12. The next year several additional settlers came in, among whom were Lemuel Chase, James Sayer, Seth and Adial Sherwood, Silas Merrifield and Asahel Ward.
Truman Lewis came from Oneida County and settled in Orangeville in 1807. On his way he passed through Warsaw, in the evening, in the middle of the highway, now Main street, and stopped and counted the children through the cracks of a house, which stood on the east side of the street. He came from Vernon on foot, and purchased a part of lot No. 28, upon which he settled several years before his marriage. He had a younger brother, named Jason, living with him. It was a year of great
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scarcity: They had plenty of meat and milk, but felt the need of bread, Mr. Truman started on horseback to see if he could buy some corn or wheat. Continuing his journey to a place on the Genesee River, near Mount Morris, he found a man who had a little wheat. He asked the man if he would sell a bushel for five dollars, and was told that he would not sell it for a bushel of dollars. His journey was continued to Caneades. in Allegany County, where he found a squaw who had a little corn, a part of which he purchased and brought home on his horse. Ile had wheat on the ground, and as soon as it began to ripen, he reaped a few bundles, dried them around the fire in his log house, thrashed them, and sent his brother Jason on foot, five miles, to Varysburgh, to have it ground. There had been no wheat in the mill for several weeks, and he was obliged " to watch the old man at the hopper, the old woman at the bolt, and the pet lamb at both." He arrived at home at 9 o'clock in the evening, and had "one good square meal of short cake and butter " before sleeping. Mr. Lewis was in the army in the War of 1812, holding a commission as Ensign, from Governor Tomp- kins. He was called out just at the commencement of the har- vest, and like others, was compelled to leave the women to secure the crops. He held several offices in the town and county, and was a member of the Assembly from Genesee County in 1834 and 1835.
Craig Goodwin came from Fitchburgh, Mass., and settled in the town in 1813. Harvey Merrill came from Oneida County in 1809, and has lived ever since on the farm where he now re- sides. He assisted in making the first road from Warsaw to this town. In 1810 he lived for two weeks on cow cabbage and salt. Ephraim Durfee moved from Johnstown, Fulton County, in 1810, and located on lot 34, where he now resides. William Buxton came from Belchertown, Mass., to Orangeville in 1811.
The first birth in the town was that of a son of Seth Sher- wood, in 1807; the first marriage was that of Adial Sherwood and Miss Wood, in 1809; and the first death that of Mrs. James Saver. The first schools were taught by Miss Corinna Lewis and Miss Mary McKnight, commencing May 1, 1811. Isaac Moore kept the first inn, in 1811, at the center, and Silas Hub- bard the first store, in 1814, at the same place. Robert Hopkins erected the first saw mill, in 1810, and Levi Johnson the first grist mill, in 181 ;.
The first church (Presbyterian) was organized by Rev. John Alexander, July 11, 1812.
This town is extensively engaged in dairying, several cheese factories being located in different parts of the town.
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The population of the town in 1865 was 1,322, and the arca :2.325 acres.
There are six school districts, employing the same number of Ancherd. The number of the school population is 276; the sumber attending school, 244; the average attendance, 108, and the amount expended for school purposes for the year ending apt. 30, 1869, was 81,389.68.
PERRY, named from Commodore O. H. Perry, was form- nl from Leicester, (Livingston Co.,) March 11, 1814. A part of Covington was taken off in 1817, and Castile in 1821. It lies ppon the east border of the County, north of the center, and has a level or gently rolling surface. Its streams are small brooks and creeks, the chief of which are Little Beards Creek, in the north-east part, Beards Creek, in the east, and Silver Lake Inlet and Silver Lake Outlet in the south part. A small portion of Silver Lake lies upon the south border.
Perry, (p. v.) situated on the outlet of Silver Lake, contains Ave churches, a newspaper office, a bank, an academy, three ho- tels, a saw and planing mill, a sash and blind factory, a foundry and machine shop, three grist mills, a woolen factory, a tannery, several stores and mechanic shops, and about 1,000 inhabitants
Silver Lake Mills, owned by Nobles, Tomlinson & Co., has four runs of stones and grinds thirty barrels daily, exclusive of cus- tom grinding.
Cataract Mills contain three runs of stones, and
Genesee Mills the same number, located in the east part of the village.
Silver Lake Cider Mill has a capacity for making one hundred barrels daily. The mill is run by water, and made 1500 barrels during the fall of 1869.
A Spoke and Ar-Helve Factory, on the outlet of Silver Lake, is carried on with a capital of 86,000.
A Hame Factory, on the same stream, is carried on with a cap- ital of $8,000.
Perry Foundry, owned by Millspaugh & Wheeler, employs a capital of 810.000.
Perry Woolen Factory, owned by James Wylie, employs a cap- ital of 820,000. It contains 216 spindles and five looms, manu- facturing 16,000 yards annually.
The Tunnery of G. C. Chapin employs a capital of $3,000.
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These manufactories are situated on the outlet of Silver Lake. which affords a valuable water-power.
The Saw Mill of E. M. Read & Co. manufactures about 600,000 feet of lumber annually. Connected with the establishment are planing and matching machines, a manufactory of sash and blinds, mouldings and scroll sawtag.
Perry Center, (p. v.) situated south-east of the center of the town, contains a Congregational church, a school. a store, a boot aud shoe store, a barness shop, a carriage shop, two blacksmith shops and abont forty dwellings.
This town was embraced in the Morris Reserve, and was a part of the fract deeded to Samuel Ogden, and known as the " Ogden Tract." It was surveyed in 1807 by William Shepherd, of Canandaigua, and soon after put into the market under the agency of John Greig. The first settler was Josiah Williams, from Vermont. In ISOS he located about half a mile east of Perry village, and opened an inn.
During the same year Samuel Gatos settled near the Inlet, on the road leading from Perry village to South Warsaw. Mr. Cates was a soldier of the Revolution, was at the surrender of Burgoyne and other important engagements. Soon after the Revolution he located in the valley of the Mohawk, and resided at Canajoharie for several years, after which he became a boat- man, transporting goods as far west as Seneca Lake, when there were none but Judian traders to supply. He died in 1818 and was buried in the cemetery of Perry village.
Amos Smith came from Sherburne, Chenango Co., in March, 18OS, and settled three-fourths of a mile east of Perry Center. There was no grist mill within twenty miles. Rattlesnakes were numerous: several persons were bitten and afterwards oured by fall Chief, of Mount Morris. Mr. Smith had an ox bitten by a rattlesnake and afterwards cured by Tall Chief. though it was so badly swollen that white people despaired of curing it. Mrs. John Olin, daughter of Amos Smith, from whom the above facts were received, once killed a rattlesnake, but in the encounter broke her toe.
The first barn raised in the town was that of Elisha Smith, in 1802. It was 30 by 40 feet, and required the aid of the wo- inen to raise it, as there were only eleven men whose services could be obtained.
Mr. Ichabod Miner relates that during the War of 1812, his father, Jusiab Miner, and his two sons, lived for several weeks on bran-bread and woodchuck meat.
David Jacy came to Perry in 1819, from Columbus, Chenan- go County; and Elnathan Lacy moved from Manlius to Perry
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in IS17.' Samuel Lacy, father of Elnathan, came at the same ume. They purchased 100 acres of Matthew Lemon, where Alanson Lacy now lives. Elisha M. Smith settled near the In- At. on the road Jeading through Perry Center, in 1810, and opened a tavern, putting up the first framed building
in the town, the same year. Peter Beebee settled at the Center in 1812, and James Otis became a neighbor of Mir. Gates in 1811. Mr. Canfield settled in the town the same year, and Mr. Curtis soon after. They erected a saw mill on the outlet, on the site of the present village. John Ham- morsly settled in 1811, and commented the erection of a saw and grist mill, and Mr. James Edgerly erected the first framed house in the town the same year. There were eleven families in the town at the close of the year 1811. The next year settlers came quite rapidly. In 1813 the mills of Canfield and Curtiss, with most of the land embraced in the village site, were pur- chased by Levi Benton. In 1817, William Wiles purchased the mills, and the same year Jonathan Childs and Benjamin Gard- her purchased the Hammersly Mills. In 1827 Mr. Gardner built a large flouring mill and commenced manufacturing for the New York market. James C. Edgerly kept the first store, though Calvin P. Bailey and Samuel Hatch became the first per- manent merchants, in 1817. In 1824 they erected an oil mill, add 1627 a grist mill. Among the other early settlers were Na- thaniel Howard, Samuel Howard, Phicol M. Ward and Amos
The first death in the town was that of Nancy Williams, daughter of Josiah Williams, or according to some authority, the daughter of Mr. Clark. The first birth was that of a daugh- ter of Samuel Gates. The first physician was Dr. Jabez Ward, who settled in 1813. James C. Edgerly was the first post master, the mail coming from Leicester, on horseback, once a week. Two school houses were erected in 1812 ; Ann Cutting tanght the first school. Ann Mann, from Massachusetts, taught the first school at Perry Center, in 1813.
The first Town Meeting was held at the house of Peter Prebe, at which Jairus Crittenden was chosen Supervisor, Warren Buckland, Town Clerk, and Salmon Preston, Constable and Collector.
The first sermon was preached by Rev. Robert Winchell. The first religious service at Perry Center was held in 1813, by Rev. Mr. Herrick, (Bap.) while on his retreat from Buffalo. The first church was organized June 28th, 1814, at Perry Center, by Rev. Oliver Ayer and Rev. Silas Hubbard, missionaries, sent out by the Connecticut Missionary Society. The religions services at that early day were held in log honses and barns. After school G
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houses were built the Sabbath services were held in them. Th - Church was Congregational at its organization, but in 181. united with the Geneva Presbytery, on the "accommodation, plan." The following are the names of the members at its or- ganization, viz : Samuel Howard, Ralph Ward and wife, Jahr: Ward, Catey Ward, Hervey Butler and wife, and Roxa Carpen- ter. Jabez Ward and Hervey Butler were the first deacons. The first church edifice was commenced in 1828, and dedicated March 4th, 1830, by Rev. Julius Steele, of Warsaw. The edifice was repaired in 1856, and re-dedicated Decemb ... 25, Rev. J. E. Nassau, of Warsaw, preaching the sermon. Er- tensive repairs were also made in 1867. In 1831 the Church dissolved its connection with the Presbytery and has since bert known as a Congregational church, uniting with the Wyoming County Conference of Congregationalists, on its organization. Jan. 17, 1865. The Sabbath School was established in conner- tion with the Church, and a Bible class formed by Deacon H. Sheldon, about the year 1829. Captain P. McEntee was the Superintendent for several years after the organization of !!! school. The Presbyterian Church at Perry village is an off- shoot of this Church, and was organized in 1835.
Wild animals of various kinds abounded in the forests and annoyed the settlers by preying upon their domestic animals. Mr. Otis brought in five hogs, four of which, with all their in- crease, were killed by bears. Mr. Otis however had his revenge by killing four bears. A couple of Indian hunters on one or- casion followed a bear, which climbed a hollow tree and dis- appeared in the cavity. The Indians made a ladder, climbed the tree, and dropping a fire brand into the hollow trunk, st- tioned themselves near by to witness the result. Not caring in be burned in that place, Bruin soon came out and was dispatch- ed with the rifles of the Indians. Wild game and fish, from Silver Lake, aided the settlers in supplying themselves with food during the early years of the settlement.
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