USA > New York > Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
This radical change in the methods of ad- ministration of Indian affairs from those pre- vailing under the regime of the chiefs is one of the most striking evidences of the general advancement and development made by this people. While their officials are often corrupt and inefficient, and their methods of legisla- ture and judicial procedure frequently crude and primitive, yet their efforts in this line will compare favorably with those of the whites in
225
NEW YORK.
primitive times. This breaking up of tribal methods, prevailing from time immemorial, presents its pathetic and even tragical features, like the felling of the native oak in order that the fields might be available for cultivation, it was necessary to relieve the Indian people from the arbitrary rule and dominion of the chiefs before they were susceptible of any real advancement.
The Senecas have made marked progress along educational lines as well as in their ad- ministrative affairs. The first whites perma- nently locating within the territory now con- stituting the county of Cattaraugus were three young men, members of the Society of Friends, from the county of Chester, Pennsyl- vania,-Joel Swayne, Halliday Jackson and Henry Somers. They settled at a point now within the town of Elko, and inspired with Christian zeal, Quaker piety, and an undaunted determination to materially improve the con- dition of the natives, they soon succeeded in organizing a school for the Senecas. Under their direction a crude grist mill was con- structed, obviating the necessity for longer use of the mortar and pestle in grinding corn in that vicinity. They instructed the Senecas in the rudimentary principles of agriculture, and sought to divert to some extent their attention from fishing and hunting to tillage of the soil. A society known as "The Society for the Grad- ual Civilization of the Indian Nations" had previously acquired title to a small tract of land adjoining the reservation; a small build- ing was secured and moved upon the ground, and an Indian school opened therein, which was continued with some degree of success until the year 1831, when a new and more com- modious building was constructed, and a boarding school, combining the comforts of a home with educational advantages, established. This building was destroyed by fire in 1886, but directly thereafter the Society of Friends erected a larger building at an expense of $13,000 where the so-called "Quaker School" has ever since been maintained. A large and fertile farm connected with this school has been developed and equipped with suitable farm buildings. The production of this farm materially diminishes the expense of maintain- ing the institution ; any deficiency, however, is liberally met by the Quakers. This school has been usually well patronized by the Indians ; the parents are required to furnish clothing for the children, but all other expense is sus- 15-W
tained by the institution. In addition to in- struction in primary English, the boys are taught all branches of farm work, and the girls are instructed in domestic science. The pupils are provided not only with all reason- able home comforts, but are shielded and pro- tected by Christian and other civilizing influ- ences. All things considered, it will be ob- served that this unselfish, humanitarian work of the Quakers has been productive of the greatest good among the Senecas.
Another interesting educational institution is the Thomas Asylum for Orphans, originally founded in the Mission House on the Cattar- augus Reservation, and for a long time main- tained through the efforts of the Rev. Asher Wright and his wife Laura. This institution was incorporated by special act of the legisla- ture in 1885, and since then maintained by the state. It is located a few miles distant from the village of Gowanda; its location is beauti- ful, picturesque and healthful; several large brick buildings have been constructed, the grounds about them artistically developed, commodious dormitories for the use of the stu- dents provided, competent teachers employed, and educational facilities furnished equal to those of our best graded schools. The number of pupils varies from one hundred to two hun- dred. Regular courses of study are prescribed, commencement and graduating exercises held at the close of the school year, and the grade of intellectual ability displayed upon these oc- casions by the Seneca students is a revelation to the uninitiated.
In addition to these institutions, the state maintains sixteen other Indian schools upon these reservations. Comfortable school build- ings have been constructed at convenient points, white teachers employed, and every facility furnished the Indian children to secure primary education. These schools are under the jurisdiction of the state department of pub- lic instruction, and are ordinarily well patron- ized and appreciated by the natives.
The conversion of the Senecas from their pagan faith and practices has been a more dif- ficult task. For many years the Indian pre- ferred his own conceptions of the felicitations of the "Happy Hunting Grounds" to the promised joys of the white man's heaven. Their pagan feasts and ceremonials were more alluring and seductive than the entreaties and exhortations of the missionary. The feast of "The White Dog," the "Green Corn Dance,"
226
NEW YORK.
and the "Strawberry Festival" had been too long and religiously observed to be lightly dis- carded. In 1822 a Presbyterian Mission was established upon the Cattaraugus Reservation, and vigorous measures adopted for the conver- sion and christianizing of the Senecas. The Baptist and Methodist societies began active religious work upon the reservations in 1850. but the progress was slow and conversions few until the Rev. M. F. Tripp, a Presbyterian mis- sionary, began his remarkable work among the Senecas. Enthusiastic and self-denying, he has devoted substantially his entire business lifetime in promoting the moral and social wel- fare of the Senecas. Possessing all necessary qualifications, unswerving Christianity, pleas- ing personality, physical vigor, and intense earnestness, he easily gained the confidence and friendship of the Indians, and has succeeded in greatly reducing many of their social evils, establishing greater stability and uniformity in their marital relations, de- creasing the sins of drunkenness and immor- ality, and at the end of a quarter of a century of constant effort has the satisfaction of know- ing that a majority of the Senecas has aban- doned their pagan belief and become chris- tianized. His labors have been principally con- fined to the Allegany Reservation, but similar methods have been followed with considerable success upon the Cattaraugus Reservation through the intelligent efforts of Rev. J. Emery Fisher, a missionary of the Presbyte- rian faith. In this connection the zealous la- bors of earlier missionaries like the Rev. Asher Wright and Rev. William Hall are worthy of mention.
It is the general consensus of opinion among those conversant with Indian affairs that the most practical method of dealing with the In- dian problem in this country consists in break- ing up their tribal relations, allotting their lands among them, and as fast as practicable making them citizens. The Dawes Allottment Bill is based on this theory. The greater por- tion of the Senecas are undoubtedly as well qualified for citizenship-more, so, in fact- than many of those becoming citizens of this country through the instrumentality of nat- uralization : but unfortunately an unsurmount- able obstacle exists at the present time in ap- plying this method to the Senecas. It is found in the uncertain nature of their tenure to the lands they occupy. The United States courts have held that the rights of the Indians in their
lands are tribal and not individual; in case of destruction of their tribal autonomy, either by legislation, executive order or general dis- integration, their capacity to own or occupy their reservations is terminated; the individ- uals do not succeed to the collective rights of the Indian Nations.
For many years controversy has existed be- tween the Indians and the so-called Ogden Land Company, regarding their respective in- terests in the lands of the Allegany and Cattar- augus Reservations; the history of such con- troversy may be briefly stated. Prior to the year 1786 a disagreement arose between New York and Massachusetts regarding their rights to certain lands in Western New York, of which these reservations form a part. New York predicated its claim upon the provisions of the grants to the Duke of York; Massa- chusetts upon the grant to the Plymouth Col- ony. In the adjustment of this dispute a com- pact was entered into between the two con- tending parties, in 1786, whereby New York assumed to grant and convey to Massachu- setts the right of pre-emption of the soil from the native Indians, as well as all the estate, right, title and interest which New York pos- sessed in and to these lands; and Massachu- setts thereby assumed to transfer to New York the governmental sovereignty over this territory. Subsequent to the making of this agreement, Massachusetts conveyed all its in- terest thus acquired to Robert Morris, he to the Holland Land Company, and it to the Og- den Land Company, who are the present own- ers thereof. The Ogden Land Company is unincorporated, and merely an association of tenants in common of various shares or inter- ests, all represented at present by Charles E. Appleby, of New York, as trustee. They as- sert that, by virtue of the various grants re- ferred to, they are the absolute owners of the fee to these lands, subject only to the Indians' tribal right of occupancy, and that, whenever such tribal rights are extinguished, they will immediately become entitled to the possession by virtue of their title. They base their claim upon the general trend of American decisions to the effect that the rights of the aborigines to their lands are merely possessory and sub- ordinate to the absolute ultimate title of the European colonists. Chief Justice Marshall. in considering this question, asserts that "it has never been doubted that either the United States or the several States had a clear title to
227
NEW YORK.
all lands within the boundaries described in the treaties, subject only to the Indians' right of occupancy." The Indians, on the contrary, assert the absolute title to these lands is vested in them; that all the Ogden Land Company has acquired through the various conveyances mentioned was merely a preemption right, that is, the right to buy these lands whenever the Indians desired to sell them. An action was recently brought by the Seneca Nation against the Ogden Land Company under a provision of the New York code of civil pro- cedure for the purpose of securing an adjudi- cation of this troublesome question. The trial court decided this action in favor of the con- tention of the Ogden Land Company; an ap- peal was taken from such determination to the appellate division of the supreme court of the state of New York, where the judgment of the trial court was affirmed by a divided court, however, Justice Spring, writing the prevailing opinion, and Justice Kruse dissent- ing. An appeal was afterward taken to the court of appeals, where the action was dis- missed without consideration of the merits, upon the ground that the Seneca Nation had no authority under the section of the code re- ferred to, to bring or maintain the action. In the year 1904 the Hon. Edward B. Vreeland, member of congress, introduced a bill in con- gress providing for the extinguishment of the claim of the Ogden Land Company by payment to it of the sum of $200,000, such expenditure to be sustained equitably between the Indians and the lease holders residing and owning property with the limits of the va- rious villages upon the Allegany Reservation ; this act also provided for the allottment of the reservations lands outside of the village limits between the Indians, and for eventual citizenship of the members of the tribe. This act passed the house of representatives, but failed to pass the senate. Such is the situa- tion of this unfortunate controversy at the present time, and it will readily be observed that, until this question of title is finally and definitely determined, there will be no safety in breaking up the tribal relations of the Senecas.
When in the general line of development of Western New York the Erie Railroad Com- pany decided to construct its line of railway from Jersey City to Dunkirk, it became neces- sary to a right of way over the Allegany Res- ervation ; accordingly an agreement was made
between the council of the Seneca Nation and the railroad company for a lease for a long term of years at an agreed rental of the land required for such purpose. This road was completed and put in operation; white set- tlers identified with its management and oper- ation found it necessary to locate and reside upon the reservation along the railroad and little settlements of whites sprang up in va- rious localities, such settlers usually leasing from individual Indians such land as they de- sired to occupy. These leases, however, were entirely without legality; the tenure of the white man depended entirely upon the good will of his Indian lessor. In consequence of this situation congress passed an act in 1875 rati- fying existing leases made by the council of the Seneca Nation to railroad companies, di- rected the appointment by the president of the United States of three commissioners for the purpose of establishing and locating certain villages upon the Allegany Reservation, in- cluding within the boundaries thereof, so far as practicable, the lands held and occupied by whites under individual Indian leases, legal- izing such leases for a period of five years, and providing that at the end of that period the white lessees should be entitled to a renewal of their leases for further and consecutive pe- riods of twelve years each, the rentals to be adjusted between the parties or by arbitration in case of disagreement. By a subsequent amendment to this act, the term of such leases was increased to ninety-nine years. Under the provisions of this act of congress, six vil- lages were established upon the Allegany Res- ervation, viz : Vandalia, Carrollton, Great Val- ley, Salamanca, West Salamanca and Red House, of which Salamanca is the most im- portant ; this village, located upon both sides of the Alleghany river, in the town of Sala- manca, is one of the most prosperous in west- ern New York. It has a population of nearly seven thousand people, three railroads, a sys- tem of electric railway connecting it with the city of Bradford, Pennsylvania, the city of Olean, and the village of Little Valley ; it has many extensive and flourishing manufactur- ing industries, among them two large tanner- ies, four furniture factories, woolen mill, ma- chine shop and foundry, panel veneering plant, and other industries.
The rents accruing upon leases made under the act of congress referred to are collected annually by the United States Indian agent,
228
NEW YORK.
paid into the treasury of the United States to the credit of the Seneca Nation, $2,500 thereof appropriated each year and paid over to the treasurer of the Seneca. Nation with which to meet the expenses of its government, and the balance distributed per capita among the members of the tribe.
Many other interesting observations might be made concerning the condition of the Sen- ecas occupying these two reservations did time and space permit; but enough has al- ready been said to convince the intelligent mind that it is much better to encourage and assist them in their efforts toward advance- ment and civilization than to attempt to ostra- cize, expatriate or exterminate them. Their faults and failings are more the result of the adverse conditions under which they have for many years existed, than from any inherent per- versity on their part. They have been treated as dependents, as wards of the nation, de- prived of the right of absolute ownership of their lands and homes, and thus without the most effectual stimulant to industry and econ- omy. They are deserving of commendation rather than condemnation.
CAREY D. DAVIE.
WHEELER The Wheeler family of Buf- falo, New York, is of Eng- lish origin. Some of the an- cient family at least, belonged to the ruling class. During the reign of Charles II, 1649- 1685, Sir Charles Wheeler was appointed "Cap- tain General of the Carribee Islands," and in 1693 the English fleet under command of Sir Francis Wheeler put into Boston to recruit. Orcutt, the historian of Stratford, Connecticut, says the Wheelers were in and around London, England, for four hundred years. Between 1620 and 1650 there were many families of the name who came from England and settled in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia. In Hotten's "Lists of Emigrants to America, 1600-1700," it is stated that in 1620 Henrie Wheeler arrived in Virginia in the "Tryall"; that Edward Wheeler embarked at London, May 16, 1635, in the "Plaine Joane" for Vir- ginia; that July 24, 1635, John Wheeler em- barked in the "Assurance" from London to Virginia ; and that August 1, 1679, John Wheel- er, Junior, embarked at London for New Eng- land. There was a John Wheeler in Newbury, Massachusetts, who, Savage says, came in the "Mary and John" in 1634. (This is the Amer-
ican ancestor of the Wheelers herein record- ed). George, Joseph and Obadiah Wheeler were among the early settlers of Concord, Massachusetts, and may have been members of the first party that settled there in 1635. Thomas (1), Timothy, Ephraim and Thomas Wheeler (2) came directly to Concord from England in 1639. There was a Thomas Wheel- er in Boston in 1636; an Isaac in Charlestown in 1643; a Joseph in Newbury who died in. 1659; a Thomas in Lynn in 1642, and a Moses in Stratford, Connecticut, born 1698, in Kent county, England. Shattuck says that between 1650 and 1680 there were in Concord alone thirty distinct families of the name. Farmer records as an interesting fact that twenty-six of the name had been graduated from New England colleges in 1826.
(I) The Wheelers herein named are de- scended from John of Newbury, and are car- ried through ten generations in direct male line. Among the vessels detained in the River Thames by order of the King's privy council, February 14, 1633-34, was the ship "Mary and John," Robert Sayres, master. On March 24 and 26 following, thirty-eight passengers, whose names are found among the early settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts, and others, took the oath of supremacy and allegiance to the king, and were allowed to sail in the ship for New England. Among the thirty-eight was "John Whelyer." They arrived at Boston in May, 1634, and most of the thirty-eight, with their families, settled at Ipswich, where they re- mained during the following winter, removing in the spring to the settlement on the Parker river, which was renamed "Newbury." John Wheeler was accompanied to America by his wife Ann and several children. They came from the city of Salisbury, John Wheeler must have been in middle life at that time, as he left in England his three eldest sons (Adam, Ed- ward and William), neither of whom is known to have ever come to America. Following the winter at Ipswich (then Agawam) came his removal to Newbury, where his subsequent life was spent. The settlement on the north banks of the Merrimac was first called Col- chester, and was founded in 1638 by the colo- nial council, giving permission to certain peti- tioners "to begin a plantation at Merrimack." October 7, 1640, the name was changed to Salisbury. The original settlement was subse- quent to the settlement of Newbury, on the south side of the Merrimac river. It appears
229
NEW YORK.
that John Wheeler first (in 1641) received lands in Salisbury, and is said to have lived there, but prior to 1650 removed again to New- bury, where he died in 1670. He left children living at Newbury at the time of his death, and it is probable that their presence, among other things, brought him back to Newbury. He is of frequent mention in the records and seems to have borne well his part. His will, dated March 28, 1668 (original now on file in the office of the clerk of the probate court in Salem, Massachusetts), appointed his son Henry executor, and directed his body be buried in the burying ground at Newbury. Children : Adam, Edward and William, all of whom remained in England ; David, born about 1625, married Sarah Wise; Anne, married Aquilla Chase; Mercy; Elizabeth, married a Mr. Burton; Roger, married Mary Wilson; Henry, of further mention; George, married Susannah Storer ; Joseph.
(II) . Henry, ninth child and sixth son of John and Ann Wheeler, appears to have lived and died at Salisbury, and is the son named in his father's will as executor. He married, in 1659, Abigail Allen, who survived him many years. In 1696, then a resident of Boston, she. deeded a house and land in Salisbury to one Richard Hubbard. Children: Henry, born 1659; Abigail, 1660; William, 1663; Moses, 1664; Ann, May 27, 1667, married Thomas Griggs (2), of Gloucester, son of Thomas (1), one of the first settlers of that town ; James, of whom further, twin of Ann; Josiah, born May, 1669; Ruth; Nathaniel, 1675; Jeremiah, 1677 i Benjamin, 1681 ; Mary.
(III) James, six child and fourth son of Henry and Abigail (Allen) Wheeler, was born in Salisbury, Massachusetts, May 27, 1667; died at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, in 1753. He was the first of his line to settle at Rehoboth, which then became the family seat for many generations. He married Grisel, daughter of Philip Squier, of Boston. Children : William, born April 3, 1691 ; James, of further mention ; Philip, born March 4, 1698; Rachael, April 4, 1701 ; Squier, April 3, 1703; Ann, February 26, 1705.
(IV) James (2), son of James (1) and Grisel (Squier) Wheeler, was born March 27, 1697, died April 22, 1740. He was a resident of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. He married Eliz- abeth Thurber. Children: I. Elizabeth, born June 9, 1719, married Ebenezer Ingalls ; Henry, December 29, -; James, March 4, 1721 ;
Mehitable, March 26, 1724; John, May 7, 1726; Nathaniel, May 8, 1728; Jeremiah, of further mention ; Hannah, August 1, 1733.
(V) Jeremiah, seventh child and fourth son of James (2) and Elizabeth (Thurber) Wheeler, was born at Rehoboth, Massachu- setts, March 23, 1731. He married (first), January 4, 1753, Submit Horton, who bore him ten children ; a second wife bore him three children : Jeremiah, of further mention; Eliz- abeth, born October 28, 1755 ; Keziah, May 14, 1758; Submit, February 17, 1760; Barnard, April 30, 1762; Royal, September 22, 1764; Cyril, June 22, 1766; Nancy, February 17, 1770; Russell, June 3, 1771 ; Jarvis, Septem- ber 22, 1774; Abigail, June 28, 1780; Nathan- iel, November 1, 1781 ; Samuel, April 5, 1784. (VI) Jeremiah (2), eldest son of Jeremiah (1) and Submit (Horton) Wheeler, was born at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, September 28, 1753. He married Elizabeth Troup. Chil- dren : Dexter, born May, 1777; Rebecca, Feb- ruary 28, 1781 ; Elizabeth, January 5, 1783; Benoni, March 13, 1785 ; Cyrus, June 11, 1787 ; Cyrenus, of further mention.
(VII) Cyrenus, youngest child and fourth son of Jeremiah (2) and Elizabeth (Troup) Wheel- er, was born at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, Au- gust 13, 1791 ; died July 4, 1887, being within four years of the century. mark in point of years. His father was a farmer of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, but also gifted with some me- chanical genius which he transmitted to his son. Cyrenus worked on the farm and also became interested in manufacturing. He moved from Rehoboth to the present city of Fall River, Massachusetts, then known as Troy, and in connection with his elder brother, Dexter Wheeler, who was an inventor of cotton spin- ning and weaving machinery, established the first cotton mill ever built at Fall River. Cyrenus Wheeler was more or less of a natural mechanic. He, with his family, removed to New York state, settling in the town of Venice, Cayuga county, not far from the city of Au- burn, where the death of Mr. Wheeler occurred. He married Thirza Dillingham Evans, who died February 13, 1884, aged eighty-seven years. Children : 1. Cyrenus, of further men- tion. 2. Candice (or Candace), born at See- konk, Massachusetts, May 1, 1819. 3. Delana Borden, born December 13, 1822. 4. Marian Isabella, born April 24, 1820. 5. Henry Jo- sephus, born February 22, 1834.
(VIII) Cyrenus (2), son of Cyrenus (1)
.
230
NEW YORK.
and Thirza Dillingham (Evans) Wheeler, was Auburn banks, and was of influence in their operations, and he only retired from active business life when he was about seventy-five years of age. He was a warm friend of the citizen soldiery, and the Wheeler Rifles of Au- burn were named in his honor. He was for a long time trustee of the Auburn Central Pres- byterian Church, to which he gave liberally of his time and means. He was warm-hearted and generous, and his useful life was filled with deeds of kindness to others. He carved his own way in the world but success did not make him vain nor unfriendly to those less fortunate. A man of strict integrity and high business ideals, he never surrendered to ex- pediency or covetousness. He married (first) Harriet, born November 11, 1819, died May 22, 1843, daughter of Charles Kendall, of Cayuga county. He married (second) Susan K. Frary, of Bethany, New York. He mar- ried (third) Jane Barker, born May 12, 1821, died January 5, 1895, daughter of John A. and Phoebe (Ogden) Barker, of Ledyard, Cayuga county, New York. Children of first marriage : Lucy M., born September 27, 1841 ; Dexter, May 18, 1843. Child of second marriage: of third marriage: Charles Barker, of whom further ; Allen Mosher, born January 22, 1853, died June 9, 1860; Thirza Jane, born January 22, 1857, died June 7, 1860. born at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, March 21, 1817; died March 23, 1899. He attended the town schools until he was twelve years of age. He accompanied his father to Fall River, Mas- sachusetts, and when about fifteen years of age entered the cotton mills at Fall River. He mastered the knowledge of the manufacture of cotton cloth. When eighteen years of age, in company with his father, he removed to the state of New York. He had an inborn love of machinery and was a natural mechanic, always seeking an opportunity to improve upon the settled way of doing things. His inventive turn of mind asserted itself. He made hay- rakes to be drawn by horses, hay cutters, and other implements. Soon after reaching legal age he purchased a farm and devoted several years to scientific farming, his methods being far in advance of his neighbors. But the whole trend of his nature was toward mechanics and inventions, and not farming, yet, without his practical knowledge of the farmer's needs, he could not so successfully have thought out many of his inventions. In the summer of 1852 there was held at Geneva, New York, a trial of a mower that proved unsatisfactory. . Harriet Frary, born May 16, 1845. Children Mr. Wheeler was told by a neighbor of the trial and saw where the machine was weak, and at once began work on a machine that would mow. He brought out some fifty patents on mowers, reapers and other farm machinery, and when satisfied that he had successfully solved his problem, in 1865 he removed to Auburn, New York, and organized the Cayuga Chief Manu- facturing Company, and began making mowers and reapers and other machines from his own designs and patents, numbering well toward one hundred. His machines were a success and gave the farming industry new life and energy. He continued at the head of his own company, doing a large and successful business, until its merger with the D. M. Osborne Company, of Auburn, of which he was for several years vice-president.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.