USA > New York > Cattaraugus County > Historical review of Cattaraugus County > Part 7
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In 1826 a resolution was passed at Napoli that "every person be subject to a fine of $50 who shall suffer Canada thistles, white or yellow daisies, or tory weeds to grow on his lands, or on the public highways adjoining the same, after three days' notice of their presence." Evidently the time "when the law can stop the blades of grass from growing as they grow" was to come close to being tested in a practical way in Napoli.
In 1807 a few settlers occupied land along Little Valley Creek, among them John Green and Benjamin Chamberlain (the judge's name figured prominently in several townships). Luther Stewart,
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William Gillmore, Alpheus Bascom and David Powers came shortly afterwards, the latter operating the first saw-mill. It is said that these settlers left about the time of the War of 1812. Steven Crosby was probably the first permanent settler in the town. Daniel Smead built the first frame dwelling in the town in 1820. Among the saw-mills of steam operation, the one operated by O. and A. Brown was probably the most important. Although destroyed by an explosion in 1872, it was rebuilt, only to be demolished a second time June 5, 1875. Three people, James H. Wiest, David Brown and the four-year-old son of Brown were killed.
Little Valley became an early center of activity in dairying, several cheese factories and creameries flourishing there.
Elkdale, called Little Valley Center in the early days, was once a hamlet of considerable size; three physicians practiced there at one time about 1870. It later declined, and at present it is practically limit- ed to a few houses and a school on Route 18.
The village of Little Valley was an obscure hamlet before the Erie Railroad was constructed. Even after this advantage had come its way, it failed to rank with the county's most bustling villages. Its importance dates from the year 1868, in which year the county offices were moved from Ellicottville to the new county seat. The removal was largely due to the efforts of the town of Little Valley which guaranteed $10,000 to the county if the county buildings were erected at that village. Another fund of $30,000 was guaranteed to be at the disposal of the Board of Supervisors for county expenses and im- provements if they approved of the new sight. An additional $5,000 was later appropriated by the town and the desired end was secured. Napoli also extended financial aid to this cause. The court house, erected in 1868, is an edifice of imposing appearance. The jail, located at the rear of the court house, and the county clerk's office were built about the same time.
The removal of the county offices to their new location resulted in Little Valley becoming a thriving center of activity. Several hotels, among them the Rock City Hotel and Hotel Whitney, were constructed or improved, new attorneys located in the village, and merchandise establishments prepared for the extra benefits which would result from their location at the county seat. Two industries of prime im- portance, Borden's (Klim) Milk Plant, and the Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. located in Little Valley, the latter having a huge warehouse as well as a plant. Little Valley's incorporation took place in 1876. Its limits included a total of 640 acres.
The town of South Valley was considerable of a lumbering region during the greater part of the nineteenth century, and it appears that
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this region flourished after most of the other districts in the county had declined. The first settler was probably Ephraim Morrisson, who came to South Valley in 1825. Morrisson kept a tavern at an early date. David Corgill came to the town the same year as Morrisson, later removing to Warren. The Pierce and Bone families figured prom- inently in the town history, the latter family having its name per- petuated in the name of Bone Run, the present surfaced highway from the river valley toward Frewsburg. It has been said that South Valley was featured by poor highway facilities for many years. William Wy- man and Willard Littlefield operated a shingle mill, and another was operated by Mark Murphy.
According to one report, the settlement along the river near the present Onoville, was once known as "Jugville," a name said to have been given to the hamlet because it was customary for woodsmen to take a jug of liquor into the woods from this place. Another report has it that a settlement at or near the same spot was called "Jug Point," due to the fact that raftsmen were accustomed to the accom- modation of having a jug hidden on the river bank for their benefit, as it was unlawful to sell liquor on the reservation.
Regardless of the value of these legends, the circumstances sur- rounding the naming of the hamlet "Onoville," appears to be well authenticated. In the year 1859, a meeting was held in the village at which the subject of a suitable name was discussed. The suggestion of a name by any of the townspeople was almost invariably followed by the exclamation "Oh, no!" It has been said that the name of the township, South Valley, was suggested and met with that response. William C. Weber suggested that, as the words "Ono!" were being used so readily at the meeting, that the village receive its name from that phrase. The suggestion was ratified by the convention and the name "Onoville" resulted.
In November, 1890, Elko was subtracted from South Valley, it being the last town in the county to appear on the scene. The early history of this region is closely bound up with the Friends' efforts in aiding the Indians, a subject previously discussed in this book. Elizi Flagg and Charles Smith settled in Wolf Run, the former coming to Elko in 1831. He operated a shingle mill for a time. Leonard Barton, who came from Chautauqua County in 1838, constructed a saw-mill in the town, which was ready for operation about 1859. A ferry boat was operated across the Allegany at about the sight of the present Quaker Bridge for many years. It had been inaugurated by the Quakers for the material and financial benefits which would accrue to the Indians from it.
It has already been mentioned that the vicinity of Bay State, on the south side of the Allegany River, was a prominent lumbering region at an early date. Darius Frink, who settled in the town of Red
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House about 1828, is believed to have been the first permanent white settler. James Rosenberry, who later moved to the vicinity of Sala- manca, and Caleb Omens, whose tragic death is related in a further chapter, were among the earliest settlers in the town. About 1860 a bridge was built across the river, but it must have been a primitive affair, for we are told that an effort was made in 1869 to have a bridge constructed jointly by the state and town. This effort was successful, and the bridge which was subsequently built, endured until about 1930 when it was razed due to the construction of the present modern bridge a short distance down stream from the old one. The town's share of the bridge was met by a tax of 7c an acre on land on the south side of the river. The shingle mill, which had flourished in Red House for a time, was destroyed by fire in 1872.
The passage of the A. & G. W. Railroad through the town result- ed in a station being established at Red House, although the number of white inhabitants was negligent. Theodore Bristol operated a store near the depot, and in 1871 Burgett Hotel was opened a short distance from the north end of the present bridge. A small settlement could also be found north of the river, it probably dating from the advent of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Another cluster of houses came into being just outside the reservation, it perhaps dating from the rise of the chemical works, the ruins of which were visible until recently.
In the town of Salamanca, James Rosenberry was probably the first permanent settler. William C. Crawford, a river raftsman who is said to have served about forty years as a pilot, also settled in the town. The town became well known as a lumbering region, the hills hereabouts abounding in valuable hemlock. A chair factory existed at Sawmill Run during part of the past century. Hamlets in the town included Bucktooth and Hemlock, both of which later became part of Salamanca. The early history of the city of Salamanca will be dis- cussed in a later chapter.
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SECTION FOURTEEN
THE COUNTY'S ROLE IN THE CIVIL WAR
The Civil War resulted in the mobilization of man-power in the northern and southern states more completely than in any previous engagement since the Revolutionary War. As is usual at such times, the outbreak of the call for volunteers was accompanied by a series of patriotic meetings at which oratory flowed and bands "whooped it up." Committees were formed to stimulate volunteering, and it was a common thing for either a town government or a private citizen to offer a cash award to be divided among those first to enlist. Volun- teering was usually for a limited period; President Lincoln's first call was for men to enlist for six months service, and it was a common belief among the rank and file of the people that the war would be over by that time. At the end of the enlistment period the volunteers were discharged from service, and it appears that their welcome upon reaching their home town was as complete as if the war were not still raging with the ultimate result uncertain. It is quite likely that some re-enlisted after a rest and perhaps served until the close of the war.
It has been said that nearly 3,500 men from Cattaraugus County saw service in the war. Men from the county are said to have been members of as many as 180 different regiments. Many volunteers went to Buffalo, Elmira, or other points to enlist with regiments from other sections rather than wait for the divisions from Cattaraugus County to form. Soon after the outbreak of hostilities, two companies were formed, many of the members of which had belonged to the old 64th regiment of the militia. These two companies, the Chamberlain Guards, under Luke Harmon, and the Cattaraugus Guards, under William Clarke, proceeded to Elmira in May, 1861. They left Elmira the same month for New York, where they became a part of the 37th Regiment of the New York volunteers. They went from New York to Washington by train in June, and stayed in or around the capitol city until July 21. The regiment moved into Virginia at that time, and the Cattaraugus companies were detached from the 37th Regiment there and joined with another. Members of these two Cattaraugus com- panies took part in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, in both of which the Confederates, under Lee and Stonewall Jackson, administered defeats to the Union forces. Members of these two com- panies were mustered out of service June 22, 1863, their term of en- listment having been fulfilled. They were acclaimed as heroes upon reaching their home towns.
The 64th Regiment of New York Volunteers was formed mostly from men from Cattaraugus County. About one hundred from Ran-
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dolph met with a similar number from Gowanda at Salamanca, where they proceeded by train to Elmira, which was a focal point for volun- teers to meet. Other volunteers from this section followed, and the 64th was known as the Cattaraugus Regiment. It contained, however, a considerable number from other counties, especially Allegany. This regiment was presented with the regimental banner by the county board of supervisors. They were assigned to Howard's Brigade at Clouds' Mills, Virginia, and subsequently took part in the peninsular campaign, also in the battles of Cold Harbor and Fair Oaks. Their ranks had been greatly depleted by casualties, and after the Battle of Fair Oaks they joined forces with the 61st Regiment New York Volunteers. They likewise suffered heavy losses at Antietam, and General McClellan is said to have complimented them in his report of the battle. They also saw service at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and the Wilderness.
In June, 1862, a meeting was held at Mayville, Chautauqua County, for the purpose of forming a regiment from Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. A similar meeting was held in Ellicottville a few days later which was intended to supplement the Mayville meet- ing. The regiment soon had enough men enrolled, however, without any general aid from Cattaraugus County, so a second regiment was formed, the 154th New York Volunteers, consisting almost entirely of men from Cattaraugus County. At Little Valley, Steven Green offered a resolution, which was subsequently adopted, that "a tax of $2,000 be levied upon property of the town, and collected, to pay each of the twenty volunteers $100 bounty." This regiment was completed in September, 1862. Like the other groups mentioned above, they proceeded to Elmira from this section. Men from this regiment took part in the Battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Lookout Moun- tain.
The 9th New York Cavalry contained two companies from Catta- raugus County. Citizens from the county likewise took part in sev- eral other regiments, the general conscription which was put in force in 1863 resulting in further enlargement of the Union forces.
There appears to have been no general dissatisfaction among the Cattaraugus County citizens over the clause which permitted the "well-to-do" to escape the draft by hiring substitutes, but mention has been made of murmuring by the volunteers over what they believed to be permission of political standing to influence military appoint- ments.
In 1868 a re-union of the county's war veterans was held at Ran- dolph and ten years later a similar meeting was held at Ellicottville at which eight to ten thousand people were estimated to be present.
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The organization of the veterans into the Grand Army of the Republic was a slow process, but in the course of time virtually all of the men of the county who had seen active service became members.
One of the lasting benefits of the nation's mobilization of man- power in the Civil War was the growth of familiarity with the game of baseball. The origin of this game seems to be wrapped up in an evolutionary process, and its early history has been a subject of con- troversy among students of sport, but the efforts of Major Abner Doubleday in the game's behalf in 1839 are generally taken as the be- ginning of the sport in its modern form. During the periods of train- ing, as well as in times of military inactivity, baseball was played by those already familiar with its points, also by those whose knowledge of it was limited, and its general popularity may be said to date back to that time. After the close of the war, the men who had served were influential in the formation of village teams, and baseball took the prominent place in village and rural life which it has maintained to the present.
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SECTION FIFTEEN
SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
The existence of institutions such as taverns, general stores, parish churches, educational institutions and public wards is bound to have a profound influence on the course of society in any com- munity. Nineteenth century Cattaraugus proved to be no exception. In the earliest days of settlement, the public house or tavern was the most influential of these. In many quarters their presence preceded that of a school, a church, or even a store. Travel by boat, on horse- back or by stage coach was slow and tiresome, and the friendly hos- pitality which was usually displayed to travelers at these public houses gave them a chance to secure rest and comfort on their journey. Many day laborers likewise patronized the inns, perhaps working in the mills during the busier part of the lumbering season and aiding the settler clear his newly-purchased holding at some other period of the year. Woodsmen, rivermen and settlers alike, patronized the bar, and from this quarter of the business it seems likely that the greatest amount of revenue was realized. Pay day at the lumber camp or the mills was likely to result in a capacity crowd appearing at the tavern. Much of the time, however, the tavern was a quiet stopping place at which the men of the vicinity discussed the political or economic sub- jects, either local or national, like the inn described in Goldsmith's Deserted Village:
"Where village statesmen talked with looks profound And news much older than their ale went round."
The number of taverns which were opened during the first half of the nineteenth century would seem to be greater than the county's sparse population would demand, but it is quite likely that many folded up after a short existence.
Another institution of curious and fascinating nature was the general store. The earliest stores were often included in the same building as the proprietor's home. Most of their produce he secured by taking trips to Buffalo or other trade centers and hauling them to his store by wagon and team. As the county grew, more convenient systems of supply were inaugurated. Like the tavern, the store often became a forum at which news was exchanged; it appears to have been noted for this long after the tavern had declined in importance. The general store was usually featured by the presence of a large wood stove near the center or rear of the counting room, around which a group of chairs was arrayed. The "village statesmen" spent much of the time during days of winter at their regular position around the stove. Splinters from the wood box, which was placed conveniently
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beside the stove, proved handy instruments with which to light their pipes. At this forum of discussion Whigs and Democrats ironed out their differences in the presence of an audience which might (or might not) dare to interfere in the heated discussion, the prices of various tracts of timber or farm land were discussed or quarreled over, the "ups-and-downs" of the butter and cheese market were an- alyzed, and the passing of a resident of the community brought forth his eulogy and biography. The result of a presidential or guber- national election was usually unknown for several days or weeks, and this period of suspense was often featured by vague or conflicting rumors. These likewise furnished material for discussion at the gen- eral store. Clearly, the forum of the retail establishment played an important part in nineteenth century rural and village life.
It appears that a similar forum for discussion of news existed at the grist mills. It was here that farmers brought their grain by means of teams of horses or oxen, and it has been said that on some spring days as many as fifteen or twenty teams could be seen at the East Randolph Mill, known today as Glover's Mill. Stewart Miller, who wrote a brief history of this old landmark in 1938, says:
"The issues of twenty-six presidential elections have been argued around its doorway. What hidden secrets that doorway carries! For years before the telegraph, telephone, or daily paper were known, it was a natural meeting place where news covering local, state and national life was discussed."
Mr. Miller also has mentioned that Abraham Lincoln's assassina- tion was the subject of conversation by the saddened citizens on one spring day at the mill.
Church services were slow at making headway in southwestern New York in its early days. A saying was in vogue at one time that the Sabbath did not extend beyond the Genesee River. This condition prevailed for many years in spite of the fact that the Holland Land Co. was willing to donate land for church usage, also the fact that several proprietors showed their willingness to extend financial aid toward the erection of church edifices.
Religious meetings were sometimes held in private houses, barns or other convenient places. In the course of time, however, frame church buildings made their way throughout the county.
It was not unheard of for a neighborhood to organize a parish and vote on the denomination with which it was to affiliate. Such a course was followed by the Congregational Church of Otto, which chose that denomination in preference to Presbyterianism. The two denominations were closely associated and, according to one report, regarded as almost identical.
Another practice followed was the building of a "union church" which would be placed at the disposal of various denominations. Such
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a procedure was followed in Steamburg, and an event which preced- ed the erection of this edifice was one which had at least some influ- ence on its future.
The axe-murder of Caleb Omens by his step-son took place in Steamburg while a New Year's dance was in progress, celebrating the arrival of the year 1872. The trial, at which the defendant was rep- resented by P. O. Bock, a Buffalo attorney, resulted in the step-son's sentence to state prison, from which he was pardoned after a few years. The consensus of opinion in the village was that other mem- bers of the family had lent moral support to the crime.
Several years after the Omens' tragedy, citizens of Steamburg organized for the purpose of building a union church. The lot on which the murder had taken place happened to be selected for the building. After its completion, some of the residents of the village refused to attend service there, "apparently believing some dire evil might re- sult should they pass over a spot which had been dyed with human blood."
The Methodist Episcopal Church had a following in practically every section of the county, and in several communities it was the earliest on the scene. Benjamin Chamberlain was a zealous follower of this denomination, his financial endowments aiding in spreading its influence.
There were eighteen congregations of the M. E. Church in 1855; twenty years later the number had increased to thirty. The census of 1855 listed only two sects, Methodists and Baptists, with a regular attendance of over one thousand.
Presbyterianism was represented largely in the northeastern sec- tion, especially in Lyndon and Freedom.
The Episcopal Church appears to have risen in numerical strength in the latter part of the century, it not being listed among the lead- ing sects in 1855.
The United Brethern Church likewise appears to have risen at a later period, it having only a few members in 1855.
The coming of the German settlers to the country was accom- panied by the rise of the Lutheran faith in those sections, notably in Allegany, Otto, East Otto and Little Valley.
A wave of "Modern Spiritualism" was felt in the county about the middle of the century, resulting in several prominent citizens abandoning their denominations in favor of this movement.
Mormonism gained a number of converts in this section, among them James Strang, of Randolph, who established a colony on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. He was proclaimed "king" of that Island by his followers.
At one of the early church gatherings held in Great Valley, John Green attended wearing tattered clothes, having neglected to arrange
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his hair or beard, and having the appearance of a woodsman finishing his daily tasks. The minister, being unfamiliar with Mr. Green, mis- took him for one of the Indians. He proceeded to offer thanks to the Lord for having directed one of the heathens into the service.
The settlements made by the Irish in the town of Ellicottville and elsewhere was the beginning of the rise of the Catholic Church to a place of prominence in the county. Many of the German settlers were also Catholics, especially about the villages of Allegany, West Valley and Cattaraugus. By 1875 the Catholic Church was the largest single denomination in the county.
Nicholas Devereux was instrumental in bringing the Franciscans to the county to aid in administering to the scattered Catholic popula- tion. The Franciscans had been organized by St. Francis of Assisi during the early thirteenth century, and had played an important role in the promotion of education and civilization throughout the world. The old missions of California, the stately remains of which have been an inspiration to song and verse, stand as monuments to the zeal of the Franciscans in their efforts at bringing Christianity and civiliza- tion to the Indians. Devereux saw that if the Franciscans could be brought to this section, his dream of a great educational center at Allegany might be fulfilled. The labors of these Friars were in great demand, and it was only after a considerable amount of effort that Devereux was successful in his plea. In 1855 the first members of this order came to the county, consisting of four priests and one lay brother. Arrangements for the monastery at Allegany had not been completed, and the Franciscans were established at Ellicottville. The contempt with which some of the people held them upon their arrival is said to have changed to admiration and respect in a short time.
About three years after their arrival, the Franciscans were estab- lished in Allegany, where a large building was being erected as their monastery. Four more priests came to Allegany a few years later, and the Franciscans administered at various times to Catholic Church- es in Ellicottville, Jamestown, Allegany, Olean, Humphrey, Chipmunk, Randolph, Onoville and Cuba.
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