USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 2 > Part 88
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The other principal streams are Cayuga, Tonawanda, Little Tonawanda, Oatka, East Coy, Wis- coy, Cattaraugus, and Buffalo Creeks. The valley of Oatka Creek, from near the s. border of Warsaw to the N. line of the co., is bordered by steep hills 400 to 1,000 ft. high. Silver Lake, in Castilc, (the principal body of water, ) is 3 mi. long and about } mi. wide. The rocks of this co. consist principally of the shales and sandstones of the Portage group. The summits of the southern hills are covered with the rocks belonging to the Chemung group. Thin layers of com- pact Portage sandstone are found in many parts of the co. and are extensively quarried for flagging. Upon the ridges little rounded eminences are frequently seen, appcaring like drift hills; but upon examination they are found to be shale roek covered with a thin soil. Marl and muck are found in considerable quantities in the swamps. The waters of Silver Lake and of several of the streams are constantly depositing lime in the form of marl. The drift deposits in the co. are very extensive, and the soil in some parts is derived from disintegration. Upon the hills it is mostly a clay loam underlaid by hardpan, and in the valleys it is a fertile, gravelly loam and alluvium. The people are principally engaged in stock and wool growing and in dairying, for which the soil upon the hills is admirably adapted. Wheat, barley, corn, and fruits are largely cultivated in the valleys. Very little attention is paid to manufactures except such as are strictly necessary to an agricultural community.
The county seat is located at Warsaw.2 The courthouse is a commodious brick edifice, situated in the N. part of the village. The co. clerk's office is a fireproof building, adjacent to the court- house. The jail is a wood building, arranged so as to enable the keeper to classify the prisoners
1 The Upper or Horse-Shoe Falls are about three-fourths of a mi. below Portageville. The name is derived from the curve in the face of the cliff over which the water flows. For a short distance above the edge of the precipice tho water is broken by a succes- sion of steps in the rock, forming a series of rapids. The height of the fall, including the rapids, is about 70 ft. The Middle Falls are about one-half mi. further down the river. For 2 or 3 rods above the edge of the cliff' the water is broken into rapids, and theu in an unbroken sheet it pours down 110 ft. into a chiasni below. bounded by perpendicular ledges. A cave, called the " Devil's Oven," has been worn in the rocks under the w. bank, near the bottom of the falls. In low water 100 persons can be seated within it; but when the river is high it is filled with water, and is only accessible by boats. The Lower Falls consist of a series of rapids one-half mi. in extent. with an aggregate tall of 150 ft. For abont 2 mi. below the Middle Falls the river pursnes a winding and rapid course between high. perpendicular walls; then descends in a succession of steps almost as regular as a staircase. dives under a shelving rock, shoots ont in a uarrow pass not more than 15 ft. wide, rushes down a nearly perpendicu- lar descent of 20 ft., strikes against the base of high rocks stand- ing almost directly in its course, whirls back, and, turning at nearly right angles, falls into a deep pool overhung with shelving
rocks. An isolated mass of rocks, 15 ft. in diameter and 100 ft. high, known as " Sugar Loaf," rises from the river bed at the bend of the stream and receives nearly the whole force of the rushing water. It is bordered on one side by the present bed of the stream, and on the other by a deep chasm which separates it from the E. bank of the river. Within the memory of people now living, the river flowed over the precipice on the level of the rock which now forms its w. bank, and Sugar Loaf was an island. These falls are accessible only from the w. The perpendicular bank on the w. side of the river at one point is 380 ft. high.
2 The commissioners named in tho act to select the location were Peter R. Reed, of Onondaga, Davis Hurd, of Niagara, and John Thompson, of Stenben. The building commissioners were John A. McElwaine, Paul Richards, and JJonathan Perry. Trum- ble Cary, Esq., of Batavia, gave to the co. an ample public square upon which to erect the public buildings. The first courts were held at a public house at East Orangeville, in June, 1841, and the first meeting of the Board of Supervisors was at the same place. The first co. officers were Paul Richards, First Judge ; James Sprague, Peter Patterson, Jos. Johnson, Associate Judges ; W. Riley Smith, District Attorney ; N. Wolcott. Co. Clerk ; W. R. Groger, Sheriff; and Harvey Putnam, Surrogate.
710
711
WYOMING COUNTY.
according to law.1 The poorhouse is situated on a farm of 97 aeres near the w. border of Orange- ville, 9 mi. w. of Warsaw. The average number of inmates is 73, supported at a cost of 75 cts. per week each. The farm yields a revenue of about $300.2
The Buffalo, New York & Erie R. R. extends s. E. through Attiea, Middlebury, Warsaw, Gainesville, Castile, and Gencsee Falls, erossing the Portage Falls and connecting with the N. Y. & E. R. R. at Hornellsville. A R. R. route has been surveyed, and a road-bed graded, from Attica s. w. to the Allegany River.8
There are 5 weekly newspapers published in the eo.4
The eastern tier of towns in this co., with the exception of a portion of Castile, belonged to the Ogden, Silver Lake, and Cotringer tracts of the Morris Reservation, and the remaining parts of the co. to the Holland Land Purchase. The Gardeau Tract, containing 17,927 acres on both sides of the Genesec, was reserved for Mary Jemison (the "old white woman") by the Seneca Nation in their treaty with Robert Morris in 1797.5 About one-half of this traet lies in the present town of Castile. Upon this tract Mary Jemison and her descendants continued to reside until 1816, when she sold all but 2 sq. mi. on the w. side of the river to Micah Brooks and Jellis Clute. The remaining 2 mi. she sold in 1831 to Henry B. Gibson and Jellis Clute, and removed to the Cattaraugus Reservation. The first white man that lived within the limits of the co. was a tory, named Ebenezer Allen, who in consequence of his erimes fled from Penn. and joined the Indians about 1780. He located upon the Genesee, and for a time lived upon the lands of Mary Jemison. He afterward built a saw and grist mill on the present site of Rochester, removed thence to Oatka Creek,6 and thence to Canada." 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 most of the best lands of the co. were taken up. Most of the early settlers were from New England; but the later immigrants have principally been Germans.
ATTICA-was formed from Sheldon, April 4, 1811. Orangeville was taken off in 1816. It
I The courthouse, jail, and clerk's office were erected in 1842, | The Wyoming Republican was commenced at Warsaw by E. L. at a cost of $12,000.
2 The poorhouse contains 22 rooms, and the inmates are pro- vided with good, substantial food ; but the lrouse does not admit of proper accommodations for the paupers, or for classification of the insane, of which there are always a number.
8 The Allegany Valley Railroad.
4 The Genesee Register, the first newspaper in the co., was established at Warsaw in 1828 by L. & W. Walker, aud was continued 6 months.
The Warsaw Sentinel was commenced by Andrew W. Young in May, 1830, and continued until Dec. 1831, when it was merged in the Republican Advocate at Batavia.
The Attica Republican was commenced by David Scott in 1833- 34. It was soon after changed to
The Attica Republican and Genesee Advertiser. E. A. Cooley became its publisher, and changed it to
The Attica Balance, and subsequently to
The Attica Democrat, and continued it until 1846.
The Genesee Recorder was commenced at Perry by Geo. M. Ship- per in 1834, and continued about 2 years.
The American Citizen was commenced at Warsaw in 1836 by J. A. Iladley. After I year, it was removed to Perry and published by Mitchell & Warren. Mr. Mitchell con- tinued the publication until Jan. 1841, when it was re- moved to Rochester.
The Pike, Whig was commenced by Thos. Carrier in 1838. Soon after, its name was changed to
The Pike Gazette, and it was continned for about a year.
The Watchtower, a Bap. paper, was issued in 1839 from the office of The American Citizen. It was published 1 year by Ansel Warren.
The Register, a campaign paper, was published at Perry in 1840 by Isaac N. Stoddard and John HI. Bailey.
The Perry Democrat was commenced in 1841 by Pet. Lawrence. In 1848 it passed to C. C. Britt, who continued it until 1853.
The Western New Yorker was commenced at Perry in Jan. 1841, by John H. Bailey. In the summer of the saine year it passed into the hands of Barlow & Wood- ward, wlio removed it to Warsaw. It was successively published by Barlow & Blanchard, Mr. Blanchard, und Il. A. Dudley until April 1, 1858, when it passed into the hands of Elijah W. Andrews. and afterward to Andrews & Harrington, by whom it is still published.
The Countryman was commenced at Perry by N. S. Woodward in 1843. It soon passed to Dan'i. S. Curtis, who changed its name to
The Impartial Countryman, and continued it until Ang. 1846, when it passed to Ansel Warren, who changed its name to
The Free Citizen, and continued it until Aug. 1847.
Fuller in 1844; it was published until March, 1847.
The Attica Telegraph was commenced by Abraham Dinsmore in Oct. 1846, and was published about 2 years.
The Old Eighth Whig was commenced at Attica, April 1, 1848, by R. W. Dibble and W. II. Civer. After about 6 mos. Mr. Dibble retired and Mr. Civer continued the paper, as The Spirit of the Old Eighth, until 1850.
The Attica Atlas was commenced Jan. 1, 1851, by Silas Folsom, by whom it is still published.
The Christian Investigator was published at the office of the Free Citizen for I year. Edited by Wni. Gooddell. The Wyoming (b. Advertiser was commenced Dec. 22, 1853, and was published 1 year by Horace Wilcox.
The Wyoming Times was commenced at Perry by T. S. Gillet iu May, 1855. It was destroyed by fire in 1856, and resuscitated soon after. It is still puh. by Mr. Gillet. The Wyoming Co. Mirror was commenced at War- saw iu 1848 by A. Holley. In 1856 it passed into the hands of Babbitt & Lewis. in 1858 to Lewis & Merrill, and in 1859 to HI. A. Dudley, by whom it is still published. The Arcade Enterprise was started March 31, 1859, by J. II. Gibson, and is still published.
The parents of Mary Jemison emigrated from Ireland iu 1743, and Mary was horn during the voyage across the oceau. The family settled upon the western frontiers of Penn., where they remained iu peace until the breaking out of the French War in 1754. In 1755 a party of Indians visited the settlement and took the family prisoners, and on their retreat murdered all but Mary. then a girl of 12 or 13 years. She was carried captive to an Indian settlement on the Ohio, and adopted by two women who had lost a brother in the war. She grew to woman- hood among the Indians, adopted their habits and custonis, was twice married, and had 8 children,-3 sons and 5 daughters. After the Revohition she had an opportunity to return to her white friends; but she preferred to remain with her husband and children. She was greatly beloved by the Indians, and highly respected by the whites who becante acquainted with her. She retained her knowledge of the English language, and to the last remembered the carly instructions of her mother, abd the last counsel which that mother gave when they were taken captive and the designs of the Indians to murder the father and mother became manifest. She died at the Cattarangus Reservation, Sept. 19, 1833. aged 90 or 91 years.
6 This creek is still locally known as Allens Creek.
7 Few characters mentioned in either history or fiction have approached so near the idea of total depravity as this blood- thirsty monster. He was an open polygamist,-murdered several persons while professing the greatest friendship for them,-and while upon the war-trail with the Indians amused himself by dashing out the brains of infauts.
712
WYOMING COUNTY.
lies upon the N. border of the co., w. of the center. Its surface is a rolling upland, broken by the ravines of the streams. In the E. part are several considerable hills with long gradual slopes. Tonawanda Creek, the principal stream, flows through the N. w. corner, and receives numerous branches from the E., the largest of which is Crow Creck. The soil is a clay and gravelly loam. Attica, (p. v.,) upon Tonawanda Creek, in the N. w. part of the town, was incorp. May 2, 1837. It contains a flourishing union school, a bank, a newspaper office, a flouring mill, and 5 churches. Pop. 1,184. Attica Center (p.o.) and Vernal arc hamlets. The first settle- ment was made in 1802, by Zera Phelps.1 The first religious services were held Sept. 21, 1809, by Rev. Royal Phelps, at which time the first church (Cong.) was formed, with 5 members.2
BENNINGTON-was formed from Sheldon, March 6, 1818. It is the N. w. corner town of the co. Its surface is a rolling upland, broken by the ravines of small streams. Cayuga Creek and its branches drain the central, and Murder Creek the N. part of the town. Tonawanda Creek flows through the s. E. corner. The soil is a clayey, gravelly and sandy loam. Bennington Center (Bennington p. o.) contains 3 churches and 30 dwellings; and Cowlesville, (p. v.,) in the N. w. part of the town, 2 churches and 206 inhabitants. Folsomdale (p. o.) is a hamlet, on Cayuga Creek, and has a valuable water-power. The first settlement was made near the center of the town, in 1802, by John Tolles, Jacob Wright, and William Barber, from Vt.' Tho first re- ligious services were conducted by Rev. Peter B. Root, in 1805. The first church (M. E.) was formed in 1807.4
CASTILE (Cas-tile)-was formed from Perry, Feb. 27, 1821. It is the central town upon the E. border of the co. Its surface is a rolling and terraced upland, broken by the decp valleys of the streams. Genesee River, forming a portion of the E. boundary, is bordered by steep banks 300 to 350 ft. above the water. In some places the faces of the bluffs are perpendicular ledges 200 ft. high. Numerous small tributaries of the river have worn deep lateral channels in these bluffs. The valley of Silver Lake occupies a wide and shallow basin in the N. part of the town.5 Its outlet is toward the N. Wolf Creek rises in a swamp near the head of the lake and flows s. A wide, Icvel valley, bordered by low terraces, extends from the E. shore of the lake and opens into the valley of Wolf Creek at Castile Village. The soil is a clay and gravelly loam. Castile (p. v.) lies on Wolf Creek, in the s. w. part of the town. It is a station on the B. & N. Y. City R. R. Pop. 682. St. Helena, (p. v., ) on Gencsec River, in the s. E. corner of the town, contains 20 dwellings. The first settlement was made in 1808, by Robert Whalley, from R. I., 1 mi. E. of Castile Village.6 The first religious services (Bap.) were held near the s. end of Silver Lake, in 1816, by Elder Benj. Luther.7
CHINA -- was formed from Sheldon, March 6, 1818. Java was taken off in 1832. It is the s. w. corner town of the co. Its surface is a rolling or hilly upland, broken by valleys. Catta- raugus Creek flows s. w. through near the center of the town, and reccives several tributaries, tho principal of which is Clear Creek, from the s. From the valleys the town spreads out into a rolling region, with long gradual slopes arable to their summits. The highest point is the ridge in the N. E., which is 1,100 ft. above Lake Eric, as determined by actual survey. The soil of the upland is a clayey and in the valleys a gravelly loam. Arcade (China p. o.) is situated at the junction of Cattaraugus and Clear Creeks, in the s. w. part of the town. It has a fine
1 Among the other early settlers were Deacon Porter, Nath'l | in the alders at the foot of this lake while Gen. Sullivan Sprout, and Maj. P. Adams. The first child horn was Harriet Phelps, July 25, 1803; the first marriage, 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; Daniel Stanton kept the first inn, iu 1809; - Fitch, the first store; and Zera Phelps huilt the first mill, in 1506.
2 The census reports 6 churches; Cong., Presh., F. W. Bap., Bap., M. E., and R. C.
3 Among the other early settlers were Chauncey, Justin, and George Loomnis, Peletiah Case, Joseph Farnham, George Hoskins, David Tolles, Aaron Clapp, and Ezra Ludden. The first marriage was that of Aaron Whitney and Rachel Truesdale, in 1807 ; and the first death in town. that of a child of Win. Barber, in 1803. The first school was tanght hy Rachel Truesdale, in 1807; the first inn was kept by Joseph Farnham, in 1817. Chauncey Loomis erected the first sawmill, in 1808; he also kept the first store. Quartus Clapp built the first gristmill, at Cowlesville. A son of David Tolles, 8 or 9 years old, was lost in the woods in 1806 and was never found.
4 The census reports 5 churches; Bap., F. W. Bap., Presb., M. E., and Univ.
5 Mary Jemison, the "old white woman," with her family, hid
was laying waste the Indian villages upon the Genesee. In the suminer of 1855 it was reported that an immense serpent, 100 ft. long, had been seen in this lake. So well was the story apparently authenticated that thousands of visitors came from all parts of the country to obtain a sight of his snakeship. A hurlesque account of the capture of the serpent, which appeared in the Buffalo Republic, raised the excitement to the highest pitch; and immediately afterward the whole humbug collapsed.
6 Soon after, a settlement was made at the foot of the lake, in the w. part of the town, called the " Tullman Settlement." Ziba Hurd and Jonathan Gilbert, from Vt., were the first settlers at Castile Village. in 1816. The first child born was Jane McRay, in 1813; and the first death was that of Laura Wilcox, in 1815. The first school was taught in 1816, hy Anna Bennett, from Vt. Robert Whalley kept the first inn, and erected the first sawmill, on Wolf Creek, below Castile Village, in 1811. John Card and Sylvester Lathrop built the first gristinill, on Lot 40, in 1820; the first store was kept by Lemuei Eldridge and M. Frost, in 1815.
7 The census reports 4 churches; Cong., Bap., M. E., and Christian.
713
WYOMING COUNTY.
water power, and contains a woolen factory, flouring mill, and 3 churches. Pop. 637. East China is a p. o. The first settlement was made in 1808, on Lot 28, by Silas Meech, from New England.1 The first religious services were conducted by Rev. John Spencer, at Arcade, in 1812. The first church (Cong.) was formed at Arcade, by Jno. Spencer, July 24, 1813.ยช
COVINGTON-named from Gen. Leonard Covington-was formed from Le Roy (Genesee co.) and Perry, Jan. 31, 1817. A part was annexed to York (Livingston co.) in 1823. It is the N. E. corner town of the co. The surface is a moderately hilly upland, broken by the deep ravines of the streams. Oatka Creek flows through the N. w. corner, and receives as tributary Pearl Creek, which flows N. w. through near the center. Wide, fertile alluvial flats extend along Oatka Creek. The soil of the uplands is generally a gravelly loam. Covington Center, (Coving- ton p. o., ) in the N. part, contains 20 dwellings; Pearl Creek, (p.v., ) in the N. w., contains 15 dwellings ; La Grange, (p. v.,) near the s. line, a church and 20 dwellings ; and Peoria, (p. v.,) near the E. line, 15 dwellings. The first settlement was made in 1807, in the w. part, by Jairus Cruttenden, William Miller, and John and William Sprague, all from New England.3 The first religious services were held at the house of David Norris, in 1814, by Rev. Mark Norris, from Vt.4
EAGLE-was formed from Pike, Jan. 21, 1823. It occupies a central position on the s. border of the co. Its surface is a hilly upland, broken by the deep ravines of the streams. Nearly the whole drainage is through Wiscoy Creek and its branches. Cold Creek takes its rise in the s. E. part of the town. The hills bordering upon the streams are very steep, and their summits are 400 to 700 ft. above the valleys. Eagle Lake, a small body of water in the s. w. part, has no visible outlet. The soil is a elayey and gravelly loam. Eagle Village, (p. v.,) in the s. w. part of the town, contains a church and 20 dwellings. Eagle, (p.o.,) in the N. E. part, is a hamlet. The first settlement was made in town in 1808, on Lot 8, by Silas and Wm. Hodges, from Cayuga co.5 There are 3 churches in town ; M. E., F. W. Bap., and Christian.
GAINESVILLE-named from Gen. E. P. Gaines-was formed from Warsaw, as " Hebe," Feb. 25, 1814. Its name was changed April 17, 1816. It is an interior town, lying s. E. of the center of the co. The surface is an upland, slightly undulating and broken by the valleys of the streams. Oatka Creek flows through the N. E. part, and East Coy Creek through the s. w. The soil on the hills is a thin, dark loam underlaid by hardpan, and in the valleys a fertile, gravelly loam. A good quality of building stone is quarried in the N. part of the town. Gaines- ville Creek, (Gainesville p. o.,) on East Coy Creek, near the center of the town, contains a female seminary,6 3 churches, and about 300 inhabitants. East Gainesville, (p.v.,) a station on the B. & N. Y. City R. R., contains 20 houses. Gainesville Center and Newburgh are hamlets. The first settlements were made at Gainesville Creek in 1805, by Wm., Richard, and Chas. Bristol, from Columbia co., and Elnathan George, from Vt.1 The first religious meeting was held in 1809. The first church (Presb.) was formed in 1815.8
GENESEE FALLS-was formed from Pike and Portage, (Livingston co.,) April 1, 1846. It lies on Genesce River, in the s. E. corner of the co. A nearly perpendicular rocky bluff, 100 to 300 ft. high, borders upon the river, and from its summit the country spreads out into an undu- lating upland. The celebrated Portage Falls, in the Genesee River, are opposite this placc.9 The soil is a sandy and claycy loam. Portageville, (p. v.,) on Genesee River, contains 5 churches and several mills. Pop. 561. The B. & N. Y. City R. R. crosses the Genesee, near the village, by a bridge 800 ft. long and 234 ft. above the bed of the river. This bridge was built at a cost of
I Ichabod Sanders, Samnel Nichols, Silas and Leonard Parker, Jacob Jackson, Win. Barnes, Amasa and Alfred Kilhourn-most of them from Vt .- settled in the town in 1809. The first child born was a daughter of Jacob Jackson, and the second a son of Samuel Nichols, hoth in 1810; the first marriage was that of Silas Meech and Lydia Parker; and the first death, that of Mrs. A. Kilbourn, in the spring of 1812. Rebecca Parker taught the first school. in 1811: Silas Parker kept the first inn, iu 1812, and the first store, in 1815. Maj. Moses Smith built the first saw- inill. in 1811, and Col. Duel Rowley the first gristmill, in 1810. The census reports 5 churches; Cong., Bap., F. W. Bap., M. E., and R. C.
3 The first child born was Viola, daughter of Dr. Dan'l White, in 1809 : the first marriage was that of Calvin Davis and Sylvia Beardsley, in 1814; and the first death, that of Mrs. Easty, in 1814. Wm. Miller kept the first inn, in 1813; Dan'l Balcom, the first store, in 1812; -- Spaulding built the first gristmill, in 1810; and Sprague and Spaulding the first sawmill, in 1812.
" The census reports 3 churches; Presb., Asso. l'resb., and M. E.
6 Alanson, son of Silas llodges, was the first child born, Oct. 13, 1809. The first inn was kept hy Dan Beach, the first store, by Elijah Hlyde, and the first sawmill was erected by Amos llumtley. The Gainesville Female Seminary was established in 1855, by Misses Hardy and Eldridge, and other citizens of this place. The school is on the plan of the Mount Holyoke (Mass ) school. The buildings will accommodate 100 boarding pupils and 150 day scholars.
7 John Patterson and James Cravath. with others, settled in 1806. Pamela l'atterson was the first child born, in 1807. The first school was taught in Dec. 11. by Benj. Cole. The first inn was kept at the Center, by Benj. Hoag, in 1815; and the first store, by Lewis Wood, in the Yates settlement, in 1816. Wheel- ock Wood erected the first sawmill, in 1809, on Oatka Creek ; and John Card and Benj. Mallory, the first gristmill, in 1825, at Gainesville Creek.
8 The censuy reports 5 churches; 2 M. E., and 1 each Cong, Bap .. and Univ.
9 See page 710.
714
WYOMING COUNTY.
$175,000, and is the largest wooden R. R. bridge in the world. The Genesee Valley Canal also erosses the river at this point by an aqueduet built upon stone abutments 40 ft. high ; the struc- ture eost $70,000. The first settlements were made on the river, above Portageville, in 1804, by John, Samuel, and Seth Fields.1 The first religious meeting was held by Rev. John Griffitli, (M. E.,) in 1809; and the first church (Bap.) was formed by Rev. Joseph Case, at " Bigelows Cor ners," in 1818.2
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