USA > New York > Tioga County > Historical gazetter of Tioga County, New York, 1785-1888. Pt. 2 > Part 8
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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
The comparative growth of the town may be seen by the fol- lowing citation from the several census enumerations since the town was organized : 1835, 882 ; 1845, 1,093 ; 1850, 1,208 ; 1855, 1, 182 ; 1860, 1,404 ; 1865, 1,283 ; 1870, 1,434; 1875, 1,451 ; ISSO, 1,477.
Organisation .- The town of Richford was formed from Berk- shire, first as the town of Arlington, April 9, 1831 ; its name being changed by act of legislature April 9, 1832. The town was duly organized, at the first town meeting, held at the Rich hotel, on Tuesday, March 6, 1832, when civil officers were duly elected, as follows: William Dunham. supervisor ; John C. Steadman, town clerk: William Belden, Hubbard F. Wells, and Heman Daniels, commissioners of highways; Jacob Burget, Elijah Powell, and Tower Whiting, commissioners of common schools ; Simeon R. Griffin, Israel Wells, and Edward W. Surdam, school inspectors ; Nathaniel Johnson and William Raymond, overseers of the poor ; Obadiah Livermore, collector ; Hiram W. Tyler and Henry Tal- mage, constables; Seth B. Torrey, sealer of weights and meas-
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ures ; Platt F. Grow, Eri Osburn, and David C. Garrison, justices of the peace. The said meeting took further action, to wit :
" Voted, The town raise a sum of money equal to that drawn from the treasury.
"Voted, That we pay the Inspectors of Common Schools seven- ty-five cents per day, as compensation for their services.
" Voted, That hogs may be commoners by being rung suffi- ciently and yoked with a sufficient yoke ; the yoke is to be twice the width of the neck above, and thirdth below.
" Voted, That no cattle nor hogs be commoners at any season of the year within one-half mile of the village of Richford.
" Voted, That O. L. Livermore be Poundmaster, and his yard be the Pound for the ensuing year.
" Voted, This meeting be adjourned to the house now kept by S. M. Crandal, on the Ist Tuesday in March, 1833."
Material and Mercantile Interests .-- The prominent industrial interest of the town is agriculture in its various branches, par- ticularly the dairy. The principal exports have been of live stock, hay, wool, pork and butter, chiefly the latter. No cereals are sent from the town, but recently the growing of potatoes for shipping has become a special industry. At present the resources of the farming community consists in potatoes, calves, and butter. Heretofore, lumbering in its various branches has been the most prominent pursuit in the eastern part of the town, a business that has died a natural death. The money paid for the lumber and bark has not materially enriched the town, not stopped therein, but been paid for merchandise brought from other parts, the locality serving simply as a camp.
Ezekiel Rich was the first to open a store in Richford. He commenced trade in 1821, and turned over the business to William Dunham, in 1823, who continued trade in the "Old Abby" until the corner brick building was completed, when he moved therein, about 1827. A few years later, Dunham vacated the brick store and opened a new store, situated on his experi- mental city plot, half-mile below, which went up with his vision- ary castle. While Mr. Dunham was yet trading in the Abbey, Gad Worthington erected a store about mid-way between C. L. Rich's residence and the public square. This was the first build- ing erected in Richford to be used exclusively as a store, and he put in a stock of goods and commenced trade in 1825. Later Mr. Cook purchased the store of Worthington, and continued trade a few years.
About 1829, James Robins opened a store in the brick building
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vacated by Dunham, and his stock was of a greater variety and more complete than any store yet in the place. Robins con- tinued business in the brick store until the present Rich's store was erected, in 1834, when he removed and occupied the new store, until 1844, when he sold to C. L. Rich and William Pier- son. During the period of Robins's trading, there was not much competition, but while Rich & Pierson were trading, S. R. Griffin opened a store in the building now standing near the corner of the street leading to the depot. Later, he sold to Enoch Glezen, who occupied the store a few years, after which C. A. Clark, of Owego, opened the store, and later still Nathaniel Moore, of Berkshire, opened it and after trading a while sold to W. H. Powell and M. Westcott, who wound up the competition, leaving the field to C. L. Rich and sons with J. H. Deming. Before Mr. Robins opened his store, Doctor Seaman erected the building now occupied by W. F. Miller and by C. H. Swift, for use as a store, and he put therein a stock of goods and continued trade several years ; and he run the only distillery ever put in operation here. In 1869, H. B. Rowley opened a store in the brick store, where he is still trading. About 1880, James S. Smith opened a store in the Rich block, and in 18- he sold his stock to W. C. Smith & Co.
In 1870, H. Tane and T. Brainard opened the old Seaman store a hardware and house furnishing store, with stoves and articles used about the house, together with the manufacture of tin, copper and ironware. The firm did business about three years, then made a general assignment to C. J. Robinson, who continued the business about three years and then closed it out.
In 18So, C. H. Swift opened a store and shop like that last mentioned, and in the same building, where he is still doing busi- ness.
One of the most popular stores is that owned and conducted by Mrs. Delos Yaple, in the Rich block. She has been in trade twelve or more years, carrying on millinery business in connec- tion with her store.
At an early day Joseph Bayette (a Frenchman) came in the eastern portion of the town, settled and built a log house and manufactured cigars, then removed to Ithaca, returned in 1850, and, in the large building fronting the square, again commenced the manufacture of cigars. He was succeeded by his sons, who increased the business and employed twenty-five hands. They were succeeded by George and Edward Rich, sons of Chauncey
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Rich, and the business was continued until the spring of 1877, when it was discontinued.
C. L. Rich, who commenced clerking for Mr. Robins, in 1834, has been chief of the mercantile trade in Richford. He retired from trade, to accept the office of treasurer of the Southern Central Railroad, of which he has been not only treasurer but also one of the leading directors and stockholders. He conducted the financial business of the road with so much ability that it re- mained in first hands much longer than any other road in the state or elsewhere. Mr. Rich, his sons and brother-in-law, are bankers, the sons being at the head of a bank in Fort Dodge, Iowa, C. L. having retired from active business on the road and now lives at his home in Richford.
BUSINESS CENTERS.
RICHFORD VILLAGE is located in the southern-central part of the town, where the railroad crosses the old Catskill turnpike. It has one church, one hotel, two general stores, hardware store, furniture store, millinery and grocery store, a saw-mill and novelty works, grist-mill, two blacksmith shops, and about 250 inhabitants.
EAST RICHFORD is a small settlement in the eastern part of the town.
WEST RICHFORD is a small settlement in the western part of the town.
Prior to the establishment of a postoffice in Berkshire village, about 1824, the office. nearest to Richford was at a point on the Creek road one and one half miles south of the boundary, be- tween Berkshire and Newark, eight miles distant from Richford. The Richford postoffice was established in 1830, with William Dunham postmaster. He kept the office in his dwelling, the "Old Abby," the first house erected in the village ; afterward the office was removed into the brick store on the corner, and O. L. Livermore, officiated as deputy postmaster. Later, Simeon Crandal was appointed postmaster, and he removed the postoffice from the brick store into the Rich hotel, of which he was inn- keeper. Later still, C. L. Rich was appointed postmaster, and he removed the office from the hotel into the store where, ex- cepting a few years (1862 to '66) the office has been kept to the present time. Mr. Rich was succeeded by J. H. Deming, and at the next change in the administration, Mr. Rich was re-ap-
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pointed. Matthew. Westcott was appointed later. In 1866, C. D. Rich was appointed, and later he resigned in favor of C. W. Finch. In 1886 C. A. Clark was appointed, and is the present incumbent.
During a long period, the mails were carried by stages running on the turnpike, leading from Catskill to Ithaca, also on the road from Homer to Owego. As the mail going east reached Cats- kill, it was transferred to steamboats plying on the Hudson, and would make the round trip via New York city in five days. The two-horse stage line from Homer to Richford was discontinued in 183-, and the four-horse stage line on the pike was discontinued at the time the New York and Erie railroad was opened as far as Owego, June 1, 1849. A two-horse stage continued to carry the mail from Lisle through Richford to Ithaca, during a few years, up to 1852. And a two-horse stage transmitted the mail daily from Richford to Owego and return, up to the opening of the Southern Central railroad.
In 1852 a postoffice was established in the town, under the title of " West Richford Postoffice," Erie Osborn, postmaster. In 1860, this office was discontinued.
MANUFACTORIES.
The history of mills in the town begins with the ones erected by Caleb Arnold ; but the exact date cannot be ascertained, though it was probably 1813. He had a saw and grist mill also wool- carding works, located on the West Owego creek, on lot 500. The saw-mill was rebuilt in 1835 ; the other mill run down long before, and Mr. Arnold had left. The next saw and grist-mill was erected by Gad Worthington, on the East creek, at a point not far south of the depot, in 1823-24. A few years later, Wil- liam Dunham bought the mills, and allowed them to run down later. In 1831, Simeon R. Griffin erected a grist-mill some forty rods northwest of the junction of Aurora street with the old pike road. The motor power was water taken from the brook, led onto a thirty foot over-shot wheel. The mill did a good business until 1840. After Griffin ran it a few years, he sold to Enoch Gleazen, who sold to Mr. Torrey, who let the mill go down. About 1830, a Mr. Wells erected a saw-mill just north of the vil- lage. Later, Abram Deming became owner of, and rebuilt the mill, and after sawing millions of feet of pine lumber, sold to Elisha Hart, who sold in turn to William Cross ; and afterward Henry
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Geer owned and repaired the mill, and later William Allen became owner, allowing it to go down.
About 1830, William Pumpelly, ot Owego, erected a saw-mill on his lands, two miles north of Richford village. Afterward the mill was owned by Milton Holcomb, John Gee, and finally got into Clinton Cleveland's hands, who rebuilt it, with a large circu- lar saw, in place of the up-and-down saw. The mill is still in running order.
In 1850, Belden Brothers erected a saw-mill on their premises, some forty rods north of the highway bridge across the creek. The mill cut a vast quantity of lumber, and recently the supply of stock became exhausted, and the mill was abandoned.
In 1850, a saw-mill was erected on the creek a little south of Harford Mills, in this town. Subsequently, a factory for manu- facturing sash, blinds and doors was erected beside the mill. The property is now.owned by Mr. Granger.
In 1853, William Andrews built a steam saw-mill on lot 493, two and one-half miles east of the village, on the old pike road. It was the first steam motor used in the town. The mill was a costly structure, and ample in its capacity, had it been fittingly arranged ; but only one sash-saw was put in operation. The manufacture of lumber, under the circumstances, could not be made a success, financially, and Mr. Andrews was forced to sac- rifice and return to Connecticut, his former home. The mill was not put to much use, and some three years after its completion, it burned. A few years later, Jones & Hubbard erected a new steam-mill on this site, with a circular saw ; but the business still met with poor success, and after a few years the mill burned.
In the fall of 1870, Messrs. C. W. and H. S. Finch erected a steam saw-mill not far from the depot. A branch track is one of the appurtenances of the mill. The mill did an extensive business until September 12, 1871, when it took fire at midnight and burned, with all therein and about it. The owners at once rebuilt the mill, and again, October 31, 1879, at noon, the mill took fire, making a clean sweep of all therein and adjacent. Again the same owners promptly rebuilt, and the mill is now in operation. This mill is an institution very elaborate in machinery, whereby huge forest trees are wrought into articles for use, from a rail- road bridge-beam one hundred feet in length, down to a cloths- pin ; and all kinds of lumber required for building is dressed complete in finish, ready to be nailed in place. The mill is of a capacity equal to sawing 25,000 feet of lumber per day, and has
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been run nearly all the time since it started. This mill has been a success, financially. C. W. Finch runs the mill, and H. S. Finch, with J. Allen, are the lumber merchants.
In 1876, Franklin Bliss erected a steam mill for grinding feed and threshing grain, about one-fourth mile west of the village. The same year H. S. Finch put in a mill for grinding feed, attached to his provision store, near the depot. In 1884, Mr. Bliss shut down his mill, and purchased the mill owned by Finch, and added one more run of stones, and other first-class machin- ery for manufacturing best quality of buckwheat flour. In the fall of 1886, the mill took fire at noon, and burned. Nothing was saved pertaining to the mill, and a large stock of grain was lost. The mill was very promptly rebuilt and put in operation, and Mr. Bliss is doing a good business, manufacturing buckwheat four, and ships large quantities to Philadelphia and other mar- kets, besides grinding many car-loads of grain each year for the home market.
The saw-mill of J. W. Allen, located, on road 18, is operated by water-power and has the capacity for cutting 1,000,000 feet of lumber annually. The first mill built on this site was about 1830, by Milton Holcomb ; but has from time to time been rebuilt, and for a short time steam was used in the mill. It is equipped with lumber-saw, double lath-saw, planing and matching machines, and employs six men.
CHURCHES.
There are but three meeting-houses in the town, one of which is not utilized, or only opened occasionally. Of the three churches formed within the town, but one seems to hold out prosperously, the original first church, the nucleus of which were Puritans of the Mayflower lineage, from Massachusetts. The church record fails, by reason of the imperfect manner it has been kept, to give a full or comprehensive history of the church from the first. Fortunately, there is one survivor, Deacon W. F. Belden, whose parents were of the few originators, and he has himself been a member during nearly three-score years, during which time he has kept a private record, to which we are in- debted for much of the ecclesiastical history of the town.
The first settlers in Richford were mostly families from Lenox, Mass., among whom was Stephen Wells, a deacon of the Pres- byterian church in Lenox, who commenced holding meetings in
ยท
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the new (first) school-house, in 1821. On December 4, 1821, the few inhabitants of Richford assembled in the school-house, in the evening, for the purpose of considering the subject of organizing a church society and the building of a meeting.house. At this meeting a society was duly formed, to be known as " The North Society of the Town of Berkshire." The meeting was adjourned, to meet at the house (hotel) of Ezekiel Rich, one week later, and from week to week to meet at said house. Finally, the meeting took action by passing a resolution to build a meeting-house in the summer of 1822, at an expense of five hundred dollars, " and, if a steeple is put on, the cost of the structure not to exceed seven hundred dollars." The house was erected as per resolu- tion, and soon after, the Rev. Seth Burt, a missionary sent out by the Berkshire and Columbia (Mass). Missionary Society, becamee the pastor. On December 23, 1822, thirty-one of the inhabitants of Richtord and vicinity banded themselves together as a society, entitled " The Society of Columbia," which title it still retains. On January 14, 1823, a Christian Church was duly organized, according to the order of Presbyterian faith, with forty-one char- ter members, of which twenty-two presented letters, and nine- teen made confession of faith. One of the most devoted of the charter members, Mrs. Ezekiel Rich, united with the old church of Berkshire (prior to the formation of Newark), the first Sab- bath in April, 1820, and in 1821, she removed from Newark Val- ley to Richford, where she presented a letter of membership. She was one who aided the organizing of the church, and the last of the forty-one to die-ever zealous, she was the last to leave the Richford church militant and join the church triumphant, on the 2d day of June, 1883, aged ninety-two years.
The church was connected with the Cayuga presbytery. The first delegation of elders sent from Richford were Dea. S. Wells, Thomas P. Brown, and Deodatus Royce. The church contin- ued as a Presbyterian order until 1827, when the members unani- mously resolved to change and adopt the Congregational form of discipline, and duly appointed delegates to go and inquire into the standing of the " Union Association ;" also constituted dele- gates to attend a meeting of the presbytery for instructions, resolving to remain in the fold of the Presbytery on "the accom- modation plan." November 2, 1827, the elders tendered their resignation, and the church became Congregational in form, but remained connected with the Presbytery until 1868, at which
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date, in October, the church connected itself with the Susque- hanna Association, there being no change since.
In 1833, a church was formed in the town of Berkshire, as now bounded, and twelve of the members of the Richford church took letters to unite with the new organization at Berkshire village.
The first church edifice was erected on the site now occupied. The building was smaller in size than the last one built. Its style of architecture was Eastern, a steeple and bell, the latter still used. The front half of the steeple projected from the main edi- fice and rested on four large turned columns, having ornamental base and capitals. Internally, a gallery extended around on two sides and the rear end, forming a semi-circle, the central portion of which was occupied by the choir and a pulpit, the back of which was the inner wall of the vestibule. On the main floor were two aisles, between which were two tiers of seats, and on one side of either aisle was a row of seats in square sections, or "pews." The best of pine lumber was used in constructing the meeting-house; because the Lord had placed the material near at hand, His servants took it as His own, wherever found, without regard to the will of land-owners. In 1854, the old house was taken down and a new one of larger dimensions erected, and which has been rearranged internally and ornamented with a dif- ferent style of steeple. The church-going people of early times here allude to the advent of " fire in meeting-houses." Furnaces and stoves were not then in use, and worshipers had to endure a severe ordeal when they attended meeting in winter; so after the stove came as a new blessing, warmth was a very grateful part of the meeting in cold weather.
The whole number in communion with the church up to Feb- ruary, 1875. was 278; the number at that date was, present and absent, seventy-three. In 1874, twelve took letters and joined other churches. At times there have been handsome accessions to the church ; but death and emigration depleted the ranks to such an extent that augmentation permanently was scarcely pos- sible.
Referring to the several pastors, Rev. Mr. Burt closed his term in 1825, leaving the church without a visable shepherd until 1827, when Rev. Henry Ford ministered one year. Rev. Mr. Cary occupied the pulpit a portion of the time up to 1829, at which date the Rev. David S. Morse became pastor, and continued such until April, 1833. Rev. Mr. Graves succeeded Mr. Morse, for a short period. In December, 1833, Rev. Mr. Ripley commenced
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preaching in the Richford church each alternate Sabbath, continu. ing up to April, 1835, when Mr. Morse returned and continued until 1840. During 1841, Rev. Mr. McEwen occupied the pulpit, and Rev. Mr. Babbitt during 1842, who was not succeeded until 1844, when Mr. Morse returned again, and continued pastor up to IS49. Then Mr. Page served from 1850 to 1851, when Rev. Jeremiah Woodruff officiated during a term of four years. In 1856, Rev. Mr. Worden, who was pastor of the Methodist church at Berkshire, occupied the pulpit here each alternate Sabbath In April, 1857, Rev. Richard Woodruff became pastor and served six years, less one month, when, after preaching three sermons one Sabbath, he died before morning, March 9, 1863, and was buried beside his wife in the cemetery at Richford. His age was sixty- two. In July, 1863, Rev. J. S. Hanna commenced a term of pas- toral service, continued one year, and the year following Rev. David Gibbs served as pastor. In the winter of 1866, Mr. Morse served six months, also a six months' term in the winter of 1867. His whole term of service was about eighteen years. He was born in 1793, died in 1871, and lies buried in Richford cemetery. Mr. Morse was a man of superior understanding. In July 1868, Rev. George Porter, from England, became pastor, and served two years, less six weeks. In July, 1870, Rev. Mr. Green took charge, and served until May, 1873. Another vacancy then occurred, extending to November, 1874, when Rev. Mr. Thomas commenced and served two years. Rev. E. W. Fisher commenced April 1, 1878. The next pastor was A. D. Stowell, who com- menced in June, ISSO, and who was succeeded by Rev. E. P. Dada, in May, 1882; Rev. George Miller, in September 1884, and Charles Burgen, the incumbent pastor, commenced service May 1, 1887. The largest salary paid per year to any of the pastors employed was one thousand dollars, to Mr. Porter, for the first year. The Missionary Society has liberally contributed toward paying the salaries.
In IS23 a Sabbath-school was established in which there were sixty-five attendants, who resided within a territory stretching nine miles east and west and seven miles from point to point, north and south. Many who attended, found their way through the forest by blazed trecs. Here it is worthy of mention, in paying honor due to faithful Christians, that a certain widow, Mrs. Gardner. and her two daughters, who resided on lot 418. on the border of the town of Berkshire, over two miles distant, were sure to be in attendance each Sabbath regardless of inclement weather. Their
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pathway to and from the meetings was over rugged, hilly ground, their course all the way marked only by blazed trees. The Sabbath-school has been well maintained to the present.
Of the early settlers in the town, a few were Episcopalians, who organized a church, and erected a small house on the site where now stands C. L. Rich's barn. It was built about 1832, and was removed to Speedsville, in 1843. No record of the proceedings of the Episcopalians in the town is obtainable ; but memories relate some incidents.
In 1857, a society was formed which was styled " The Rich- ford Hill Christian Church." and in 1860 they erected a house, in which to worship according to their creed. They have a clear title to a desirable rural site of ample dimensions, including a cemetery, in which are erected monuments, some of which are elaborate and costly. At one time the church numbered thirty or more members, but later it fell to zero ; yet later still, a rally occurred and it recuperated, and now they have a shepherd who occupies the pulpit regularly, in connection with a neighboring society. Rev. Mr. Tyler officiates as pastor.
In 1864, a church society was duly organized in the eastern part of the town. Their creed was Baptist, and in 1870 they completed a church edifice. The number of members have not exceeded twenty-three. A portion of the time of their existence the vital spark seemed to wane to a low ebb. At present they have a joint interest in a minister who resides at a distance.
S C PENCER* lies in the extreme north-western corner of the county, and is bounded north by the county line, east by Candor, south by Barton, and west by the county line. The town was formed by an act of the legislature passed February 28, 1806, receiving its name in honor of Judge Ambrose Spencer. At this time, however, it was a town of great extent, set off from Owego (now Tioga). From this large territory have been formed the towns of Candor, Caroline, Danby and Newfield, the latter three in Tompkins county, set off February 22, ISII ; and Cayuta, in Schuyler county, organized March 20, 1824. Thus Spencer may truly be said to be a " mother of towns;" but these large.
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