USA > New York > Cattaraugus County > Dayton > Historical and biographical history of the township of Dayton, Cattaraugus County, New York : comprising the villages of Cottage, Wesley, Markham, Dayton, South Dayton, and Fair Plain > Part 13
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A TOWN that boasts inhabitants like me, can have no lack of good society. - Longfellow.
BE good and you will be lonesome. - Mark Twain.
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MICHAEL McFARLAND.
MRS. MICHAEL McFARLAND.
MICHAEL McFARLAND.
Michael McFarland was at one time one of the most extensive farmers and land-owners in the town of Dayton. He was born in June, 1816, in Ireland, and came to America in 1848, locating at Little Falls, N. Y., where he remained for two years, then moving to Buffalo, from there to Smith Mills and to Dayton in 1854. He helped to build the Erie R. R., and was foreman of the section at Dayton for forty-five years. He furnished employment for a large number of men in cutting wood for the Erie R. R. Co. He had several farms in the town of Dayton, aggregating 550 acres, a farm at Springville of 316 acres, besides two houses and lots in Dayton village. In 1870 he built a cheese factory which he successfully operated for twelve years. He married in 1838, in Ireland, Ann Creamer, who was born in May, 1825, and who still survives, residing with a daughter in Buffalo. Their children were Mary, born in 1850, she married Michael Manigan, and resides in Dunkirk; John, born in 1851, he married Nora Hannon, and they reside at East Buffalo; Michael, born in 1853, he married Abigail Holcomb, and they reside at State Line, N. Y .; James, born in 1856, he died February 14, 1892; William, born July 22, 1858, he married in 1886, Sarah Quinn, and they reside in Buffalo; Ann, born in 1860, she married Thomas Haley, and they reside in Buffalo; Margaret, born in 1863, she married February 9, 1887, P. J. Mulhern, and they reside in Buffalo; Ellen, born in 1865, she married W. A. Kelleher, and they reside in Buffalo; Thomas, born in 1866, he married Minnie Furling, and they reside in Buffalo; Peter, born in 1868, he died December 26, 1890; Frank, born September 22, 1871, resides in Buffalo; Henry, born February 12, 1874, he died December 23, 1898. Michael McFarland was a kind friend, a devoted husband and father. He died February 18, 1890, leaving a large family among which are twenty-nine grandchildren, and generally respected by all who knew him.
ADGATE T. GREGG.
A well known citizen and prosperous farmer of the town of Dayton, is Adgate T. Gregg, son of Jonathan and Phylena Gregg, was born April 20, 1837, in Dayton. Leaving the farm October 2, 1861, he enlisted in Co. H., 44th N. Y. Vols. He was in the battles of Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Gaines Mills, Seven Days Fight, Manassas, Antietam, Shepardstown, Fredericksburg, Boynton's Plank Road, Chancellorsville, Middleburg, Gettysburg, Jones' Cross Roads, Siege of Petersburg, Bristoe Station, Rappahannock Station, Planktown Road, Mine Run, Laurel Hill, Poplar Spring Church, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Wilderness Campaign and Weldon R. R. In 1864 an erysipelas attack confined him to his tent for about three weeks where he was affectionately cared for by his comrades. Only one detail duty which was that of caring for a sick comrade for a week. In May, 1864, he was made color guard taking the place vacated by H. Burt Inman who was wounded. He brought Old Glory home to Albany to rest in peace. (For a more detailed report of his record and regiment see war record. ) On July 6, 1865, he married Philena, daughter of Giles and Millie
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ADGATE T. GREGG.
MRS. ADGATE T. GREGG.
(Rich) Johnson, pioneer residents of the town. Their children Georgia Chester, born November 21, 1867, died March 19, 1869; Lizzie, born January 23, 1870, married December 16, 1891, Gaylord Hall, and now resides at Little Valley; Althea, born July 6, 1873, married November 28, 1894, Geo. Volk and now resides at Dayton Village; Clarinda, born September 15, 1875, she married August 8, 1898, Arthur V. Perrin and now resides at Markham. George Adgate, born June 1, 1881. Mrs. Gregg's brothers, Calvin and Giles N. were members of Co. K, 154th N. Y. Vols. (See G. N. Johnson). Mr. Gregg is a worthy member of the M. E. Church, the A. O. U. W., and the G. A. R. Politically, he is an uncompromising Republican and has filled the office of Commissioner of Highways for twelve years. He is an honored citizen, and loved as a true Christian gentleman.
ALBERT J. MERRILL.
Albert J. Merrill was born one mile south of Dayton Village on the farm where his son Will. E. now resides, July 23, 1833. His parents were Anson C. and Bethany (Elms) Merrill, who moved here from the eastern part of the state in the early part of the century being among the earliest settlers. On December 31, 1857, he was united in marriage to Nancy R. Blakesley of Wattsburg, Pa. To them were born four children Will. E., August 17, 1859; Esma C., July 25, 1867; Minnie B., July 23, 1871, and Fred O., November 24, 1873. Two of these Esma and Fred. are deceased. The wife of his early manhood died January 28, 1874, and on September 19, 1878, he was united in marriage to Sarah B. Sherman of North Collins with whom he resided until November 25, 1884, when after an illness of five days he died. He was
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ALBERT J. MERRIL.
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MRS. ALBERT J. MERRIL.
a man always ready to accommodate his friends and neighbors. He was industrious and a great lover of horses. His life was spent in the town of Dayton where he had many friends. Of him the old saying that "his word was as good as his note." was certainly true. He was public spirited and progressive and never lost an opportunity of advancing the interests of the town.
GEORGE VOLK.
Adam Volk was a son of Adam and was born and died in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany. He was a farmer and of his eight children George was born January 21, 1831, and came to America in 1853. After residing at Black Rock for one year he moved to Sandusky, Ohio, thence to Guelph, Canada, later to Gowanda and finally to Dayton, in June 1869, where he was killed by the cars March 14, 1893. He was a cooper by trade and for 17 years successfully followed the hotel business. As a gentleman and a citizen he was highy respected. His wife was Catharine Bissel, who was also born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, she died in 1884. Their children were John J. ; Lizzie, she married Elijah Cook, member of Assembly, 8th District, Erie County, resides at Hamburg, N. Y .; Emma, she married Erie Sample, cashier of Falconer Bank, and resides at Falconer, N. Y.
BOILER EXPLOSION IN 1878.
From the Gowanda Enterprise, June 14, 1878.
Wednesday afternoon at about thirty minutes past three o'clock the community of Dayton was suddenly startled by a loud report, and soon information spread of the explosion of a boiler in the mill of Henry Wolfe,
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From a photo 1869.
MRS. GEO. VOLK. J. J. VOLK.
GEO. VOLK.
situated in the woods about one mile southeast of Dayton village. Dayton people were not slow in reaching the spot to render aid, and from that time until after dark many people had witnessed the terrible wreck. Representatives of the Enterprise visited the scene of disaster at 6 o'clock, and obtained the following particulars: Six men were at work on the premises, four of them being employed in the mill and two in the yard. Henry Wolfe. proprietor, and his son William Wolfe, Francis Rankin, fireman and Joseph Harbine, tail sawyer, were inside the mill, Fred. Hartman and Augustus Shaek were at work in the yard. The explosion took place just as the saw was passing into the log, tearing the whole mill and engine house literally to pieces. Henry Wolfe was alive when picked up from the ruins, but died in about half or three-quarters of an hour. His skull had a large gash cut into it, his limbs were broken and he was badly scalded about the person. William Wolfe, son of the above, a young man 24 years of age, was found after a long search buried beneath the heavy timbers and planks; after a good deal of hard work his mangled and bleeding corpse was extricated from the ruins and presented a sickening sight. The back portion of the head from his forehead to the neck was torn to pieces, the left side crushed and bones were protruding from his limbs. When the corpse of Francis Rankin, the fireman, was picked up it was horribly torn and mangled. One arm was found some eight or ten feet from the body, Joseph Harbine, tail sawyer, was found in a clump of bushes, having been blown a number of rods from the mill. He was able to converse when taken to the house, but it was found he was considerably injured. Medical aid was at once summoned, and Drs. Lake of Perrysburg, and Babcock of Gowanda, were soon at the scene of disaster. Mr. Harbine's wounds were dressed, but he died at ten o'clock Wednesday night. He leaves a wife and two children. Fred. Hartman and Augustus Shaek, who were at work in the yard near the mill escaped without any serious injuries.
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Mr. Shaek was with an ox team drawing logs to the mill. He threw himself behind a heavy log as the explosion took place, which in all
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probability saved his life, as near where he dropped pieces of the boiler and timber struck in the ground. A small fragment inflicted a flesh wound on his shoulder, but he otherwise escaped uninjured. Fred. Hartman was not injured.
The scene presented was a sad one. Not a single timber remains in its place save the timber platform at the north end of the mill and a portion of the logway. Only one large piece of the heavy boiler remains on the mill site. Timbers and pieces of the frame work were blown over one hundred rods from the mill. We examined one piece of the boiler weighing over three hundred pounds which had been carried for thirty rods from the engine room. A large beam of the mill was lying not far from this piece of the boiler. Pieces of brick like hailstones were lying all around for a distance of over one hundred rods. A house standing about twelve rods from the mill was smashed in some places, and the windows shattered to pieces.
The smoke stack was found to the south of the mill and smaller pieces of the boiler in all directions. The cause of the concussion remains a secret, as not a person at that time in the mill is left to tell the story ; but it is supposed that the boiler had become dry, or nearly so, and that cold water was being pumped in. We are also convinced that from appearance the water used was not suitable to be heated in a boiler. The boiler seemed to have been coated with filth and dirt. The funeral of Henry Wolfe, son and the fireman, will be held in Dayton to-day at 12 o'clock. Mr. Wolfe was a member of the Dayton lodge A. O. U. W.
CKT
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JOHN WICKHAM.
"Only a few more miles, only a little way,
Heaven and home are just ahead, waiting at close of day."
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SOUTH DAYTON.
" He builded better than he knew."
S O DID the little band of hardy pioneers who laid the foundation of the present beautiful village of South Dayton. It is a beautiful and attractive place, nicely laid out with broad streets and well shaded, adorned withfine residences and business places, filled with active and enterprising business interests, including a bank, mills, and stores in every department of trade, providing all the necessaries and comforts of life. Fully equipped with a good hotel, churches, a Union Free School, and other agencies to stimulate and strengthen all that goes to make up the general intelligence of people and the highest form of civilization. Leman H. and James P. Pitcher were the first settlers in 1816. They did not remain long and sold their interest to M. C. Nickerson, he to the Farmer's Loan and Trust Co. The Trust Co. sold in 1838 to William Tweedy. In 1841, Mr. Tweedy sold to Christopher Smith, and Mr. Smith to his brother Daniel C. Smith in 1845. On February 4, 1849, Homer and Joseph Wheelock purchased of Mr. Smith. They sold in 1861 to Frederick C. Phillips, and in 1865 he to John and Cynthia Wickham. On April 10, 1875, Mr. Wickham sold to Robert F. Ewing 32 acres at $150 per acre. The village was then plotted and laid out into lots. Mr. Ewing owning one third and Mr. Wickham two-thirds. This was the beginning of Pine Valley of South Dayton proper. On this plot N. L. Rowe put up the first store, located in the park near the depot, a picture of which is here shown. Mr. Wickham erected a grist mill, the present hotel and about thirty buildings. Mr. Ewing erected a store, which was occupied by Ben. L. Babb, a number of buildings; and since that time the place has had a healthy
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ROBERT F. EWING.
Born, October 14, 1823. Died, July 28, 1897.
"His life was gentle, and the elements So mixed in him, that nature might stand up And say to all the world, 'This was a man !"
PINE STREET, SOUTH DAYTON.
and substantial growth. About 1855, the place was named Pine Valley, by Baron Hubbard, who lived on the place now owned by Chas. Miller. This name was retained by the railroad company until a few years ago when it was dropped. The post-office and the express office when established were both known and called South Dayton. The first grocery store was kept by David Barret, in about 1864, where Mrs. B. Ricebeck's residence now stands. He sold to A. P. Cushman, he to B. R. Tanner, he to Charles Shults, and he in 1870 to John Wickham. Mr. Wickham erected a new building, carried a good stock and finally sold to Ranlett & Chase. The first mail route, a neighborhood concern, was established by the people, they taking turns in carrying the mail from Perrysburg, and meeting in the school house to hear the war news read. The post-office was established in about 1860, with E. O. Beach, postmaster, who appointed Mrs. John Wickham, deputy. The first hotel keeper was A. B. Charlesworth; his place of business was in the house now owned by 'Hum' Thompson. This he conducted until the present hotel was erected, in 1877, and occupied by John Wickham. Among the early business men, some of whom are now in trade, were: Ranlett & Chase, N. L. Rowe, Ben. L. Babb, Ewing & Whipple, Wilson & Fuller, Wilson & Hale, J.
From an Amateur Photo by Roy E. Hale.
OAK STREET, SOUTH DAYTON.
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M. Frantz, R. L. Shepard, E. F. Beach, P. McCune, W. C. Cardot, G. P. Williams, James Peters, Theodore Buckentine, Babcock & McIntyre, Wilson & Wade, etc., etc. The whirligig of time has wrought many changes but South Dayton will never forget the factors of its growth and development.
JOHN WICKHAM.
The pen of the biographer has seldom a more enjoying theme than the life story of a good citizen, who has grown old in the service of his people, and has lived to see the fruits of his labors in their prosperity and happiness.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN WICKHAM.
Such a theme is presented in the career of John Wickham. He was born at Harpersville, Del. Co., N. Y., March 10, 1825, and removed while yet a youth with his parents to Otsego County. When eight years of age he came to Chautauqua County, settling near Irving. From childhood to manhood he passed through a course of training for the duties of life, not uncommon to boys of his class, and early in life drifted into the lumber business. He successfully operated for several years two sawmills, near Silver Creek. His business called him to Leon, and to what is now South Dayton. He was much taken up with this valley and with a true woodsman's clearness of vision, he saw at a glance the natural advantages of the place for a profitable
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business. There is a legend that this determination was powerfully stimulated by a vision which came to him in the midst of his first night's slumber. He related it to a resident, John D. Briggs, who claimed to be a prophet. He said that the valley would at no distant day be transformed into a good-sized village, that stores and workshops would be seen here and there, that the place would be a veritable beehive of industry. This prophecy seems to have been prophetic. Mr. Wickham says that this had an influence upon him, and he came to South Dayton in 1859 and purchased 400 acres of land, including all where the village now stands. The project of building South Dayton was then taken up. He commenced by opening a sawmill; with his influence and other's he succeeded in establishing a post-office. He opened a general store and commenced to build houses. In 1874, at the time that the railroad was contemplated, it was the intention of the surveyors to go in an air line from Markham to Cherry Creek. Through Mr. Wickham's influence the line was changed and brought to where the village now is. As an inducement he gave six and a half acres of land, valued at $1,000. He further sold to Mr. Ewing a plot of land and between them they laid out the village Mr. Wickham may not inaptly be styled the Father of South Dayton. He has witnessed its growth from a primitive settlement to its present proportions and by his public spiritedness and liberality, has, all the while, aided in giving vigor and trend to that growth. Socially his life has flowed on, full of cordial regard and considerate hospitality for all. He has met with many reverses. He sold most of his land cheap and on long time payments; he was very easy-going, not wishing to distress anybody. In business transactions always lenient, giving extended credit, and losing considerably. On September 8, 1857, he married Cynthia Shults, a daughter of William and Betsey Shults. The fruit of this union was four children. Wm. S., born May 21, 1859, a resident of Salamanca; Minnie, born July 9, 1865, died in 1874; John, died in infancy; James, born September 11, 1876, resides at Salamanca. They adopted in 1870, Jane Nicholls, who died in 1874. Mr. Wickham after living for forty years among his people, moved in 1897 to Salamanca, where he now resides. He has so to speak, survived his own make and overheard the judgment of prosterity. His course has not laid along the points or pinnacles reached by great men. But he has through his enterprise and liberality rendered a signal and substantial service to his fellows.
ROBERT F. EWING.
Robert Finley Ewing, the subject of this sketch, laid the foundations of the Village of South Dayton in the Town of Dayton. He was born October 14, 1823, at Victor, N. Y. He died at South Dayton, July 28, 1897, and was buried in the Coldspring cemetery near Randolph. His father moved to a farm near Randolph when Robert was seven years old. Mr. Ewing was married on December 1, 1854, to Aurelia Culver, who sur- vives him and is living in Chicago, 111. He had three children. First, Emily Ewing, born June 27, 1855, at Coldspring, N. Y., and married June 27, 1879, to Prof. John Fisher Peck of Oberlin
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.
ROBERT F. EWING.
College, Oberlin, Ohio. They had two children, Carl Ryder Peck, born May 6, 1881, died February 15, 1889; and Helen Fisher Peck, born August 10, 1886. Second, Robert Irwin Ewing, born August 31, 1856, in Chicago, Ill., died at the age of seven years and seven months. Third, Charles Hull Ewing, born July 11, 1868, at Randolph, N. Y., and living in Chicago. Mr. Ewing was of Scotch and English ancestry. His grandfather, James Ewing, came to this country from Scot- land, and, forsaking the tenets of the Church of England became a Baptist minister. He had seven children : Gideon Ewing, Oliver Hart Ewing, Samuel Ewing, Martha Ewing, Cherry, Peter Ewing, James Ewing and
Ewing. His father, Samuel Ewing, came from Princeton, N. J., where he was married to Margaret Morford by Robert
Finley her uncle. He was born October 18, 1787, and was familiarly known as "Squire" Ewing about Randolph, where he died at the age of ninety-seven years. He was Supervisor, Road Commissioner and for many years Superintendent of Schools for the Western District of Cattaraugus County. Mr. Ewing's mother, Margaret Morford Ewing, of English and French parentage, born at Princeton, N. J., June 29, 1795, died at the same place at the age of eighty-four years. Seven chidren were sprung from this union. First : Samuel Bailey Ewing, born February 11, 1819, died February 22, 1898, not married, first President of the Cattaraugus County Teachers' Association. Second: James Ewing, who died in childhood. Third: Charles Ewing, who died in childhood. Fourth : Robert Finley Ewing, the subject of this sketch. Fifth: Mary Ann Ewing, born December 7, 1828, died July 19, 1896, married to Nicholas Angle, having six children, Martha, Anna, Lida, Millard, Mary and Clarabel. Sixth: Joel Ewing, born March 31, 1830, married Caroline Williams Timmerman, June 13, 1864, by whom he had eight children, Margaret, Josephine, Samuel Finley, Charles Alfred, one unnamed, died in infancy, Ernest Eugene, Mary Estelle and Frank William. Seventh: Henry Ewing, born July 12, 1832, died August 20, 1894, married to Augusta Lorain Willis, September 20, 1855, having four children Frank, Cora, Arthur and Sidney.
Mr. Ewing was named after Robert Finley, his mother's uncle, the editor of the Librarian Advocate and the author of The American Colonization Society; an educator and preacher, who was for twelve years a Trustee of Princeton University and was later the President of the University of Georgia. Mr. Ewing also numbers in his ancestry, Samuel Finley the fifth President of Princeton and Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor of the electric telegraph.
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Mr. Ewing's activities were varied, as he was engaged at different times in farming, merchandising, lumbering and milling, and in civil engineering. He excelled as a locating engineer and made railroad engineering his profession and followed it during the greater part of his active life. In later years he was much called upon as an engineering expert in various parts of the country. His profession carried him into active service in eight or ten different states. Beginning as he did in the early days of railroading, he was connected from 1854 to 1886 either as a subordinate or as Chief Engineer with fifteen different roads, chief among these were, the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati R. R., the Atlantic & Great Western R. R., the Oil Creek & Allegany River R. R., the Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia R. R, the Erie R. R., the Bradford, Bordell & Kinzua R. R. and the Sinnemahoning Valley R. R. Of the two latter and of the Oil Creek & Allegany River R. R., the Tionesta & Clarion R. R. and of the Buffalo and Southwestern R R.,
DEPOT AT SOUTH DAYTON.
afterward absorbed by The Erie System, he was Chief Engineer. During the construction of the last named railroad, he purchased on January 19, 1875, of John Wickham 32 acres a part of the site of the present village of South Dayton, which he laid out the following year. Soon after making this purchase he built the old Ewing Homestead at the South East corner of Maple street and First st., now owned by Frank S. Peek, a photograph of which is shown in this book, and moved his family to South Dayton. He laid out the village in lots of good size and regular formation with fifty feet of frontage and one hundred and fifty feet of depth, fronting upon wide streets. He planted Maple trees on both sides of the streets on the lot lines and midway between them. The present beauty of the village is an evidence of his carefully laid plans. During the succeeding years he built ten or more houses, three stores and numerous buildings of less importance, such as barns, shops, etc. He was always among the first to aid in a public improvement and gave
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material help in the building of the churches and school house. He did much by example and influence, toward the clearing up and improvement of the low-lying, fertile lands of the valley, and, as Road Commissioner, was instrumental in laying out the highways which radiate in different directions from the village and make it a central market for the surrounding farming country. His chief characteristic was perhaps his integrity; it was well- known among his friends and neighbors that he would keep his word at no matter what cost and his statements could always be depended upon. He was faithful to his friends, a genial and good neighbor. Next to his integrity, his most prominent characteristic probably, was the liberality of his mental attitude. He cared not what a man believed in, so long as he lived an honorable and upright life and dealt justly with his neighbors. He had no patience with decepton or insincerity and was fearless in his denunciation of what he believed to be wrong in men or principle. South Dayton would probably have been built without the aid of Robert Finley Ewing, but the fact remains that it does exist because of his plans and energetic efforts.
SOUTH DAYTON POST-OFFICE.
South Dayton post-office was established in 1860 and Ehan O. Beach was the first postmaster. It was supplied from Perrysburg via Cottage twice a week. Clark W. Oakes was the first mail carrier. He was to receive the proceeds of both offices for his salary. He continued the service for two years but the amount received was too small for the service rendered and the office was stranded for a time. Later mail was received via Villenova post-office, a mail route was established from Silver Creek to Kennedy which carried the mail three times a week. About that time Henry T. Rice became postmaster and the office was kept in a small grocery run by B. R. Tanner and later by A. P. Cushman. In 1869 Lafayette Ranlett was appointed postmaster and mail matter was supplied from the Vil- lenova office until the opening of the Buffalo & Jamestown R. R. July 1, 1875. From that time the business of the office grew rapidly. On July 1, 1883, Mr. Ranlett established the money FLOUR FECO GROCERIES order business. In 1885 Eugene A. Hale was appointed postmaster under President Cleveland's administration. In 1889, Edwin F. Beach was appointed postmaster. In 1893 E. A. Hale was again appointed. The present incum- bent, Nathan L. Rowe was appointed in 1897. This office was among the first in the section to secure the Rural Free Delivery. The business of the office is growing rapidly and it will soon be placed in the third-class or presidential.
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