USA > New York > Erie County > Gowanda > Historical sketch of the village of Gowanda, N.Y. : in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of its incorporation, August 8, 1898 > Part 8
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
Torrance's grist mill and Dean's saw mill were burned February 3, 1884. As a result, a special village election was called for March 5th, at which, by a vote of 146 to 11, the board of trustees were authorized to expend 85,000 for fire protection.
On March 6th the board closed a contract with the Silsby Manu- facturing Co. of Seneca Falls for one steam fire engine, two hose carts and 1,000 feet of Eureka hose, at a cost of £3,200.
On March 19, 1884, the fire department was organized with the following companies :
Erie Hose Co. No. 1, M. T. Hill Hose Company No. 2, Gaenss- len Hose Co. No. 3, Gowanda Steamer Co. No. 1, Vinton H. & L. Co. No. 1, Dankert Engine Co. No. 2.
To the above have been added the following companies :
T. D. Keyes Hose Co. No. 4, June 11, 1894; W. R. Smallwood Hose Co. No. 5, March 19, 1898.
April 19, 1898, the Dankert Engine Company disbanded, leaving at present seven active companies in the department.
The following persons have been chiefs of the department :
Frank C. Vinton, 1884; W. H. Bard, 1885 to 1888; L. W. Beach, 1889 ; J. Peter Brueck, 1890 to -.
The following have served as assistant chiefs of the department :
George B. Taylor, H. R. Gaensslen, William Smith, W. G. Van Ostrand, R. E. Moss, W. R. Smallwood, O. D. Sprague, Samuel Inskip, Truman Witherell, S. G. Keyes, R. C. Noblett and G. M. Congdon.
April 15, 1885, the fire board was organized, with John J. Horton as secretary and treasurer, who continued as such to 1890, since which time F. L. Mattocks has been secretary and treasurer, till the fire board was abolished.
101
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
By the Laws of 1897, the fire council took the place of the fire board, and the same is now officered as follows :
J. P. Brueck, chief, president ; H. R. Gaensslen, 1st assistant chief, 1st vice-president ; G. M. Congdon, 2d assistant chief, 2d vice- president ; John Collins, secretary ; F. M. Davis, treasurer ; Joseph Kehrer, collector.
The council also includes the following members from each com- pany, who are designated as Fire Wardens :
Erie Hose No. 1, Fred Ley, foreman, and Charles Straub.
M. T. Hill Hose No. 2, F. M. Davis, foreman, and R. A. Noblett. Gaensslen Hose No. 3, Jos. Kehrer, foreman, and Geo. Kramer.
T. D. Keyes Hose No. 4, E. Bardwell, foreman, and John Collins. W. R. Smallwood Hose No. 5, L. Holcomb, foreman, and W. Van Deusen.
Steamer Co. No. 1, R. M. Hussey, foreman, and J. Ward. H. & L. Co. No. 1, John Falk, foreman, and M. McGuire.
The department now has 102 active members, thirty-four active exempts, and forty honorary exempts. Total, 176.
The property of the department inventories at 86,403.45, in addition to the property of separate companies and individual mem- bers.
The electric fire alarm system embraces eight miles of wire, eleven alarm stations and twenty-nine call bells.
There are also seventeen hydrants scattered through the village. connected with the gravity system of the Gowanda Water Works Co., which have a continual pressure averaging about seventy-four pounds to the inch.
The efficiency of the fire department has been demonstrated many times, and while at first by some it was considered an experiment, it is now conceded by all to be an assured fact.
The department is supplied with one Silsby steamer, one hand engine, two hook and ladder trucks, four hose carts, one supply wagon, 2,500 feet of hose, thirteen play pipes, and sundry other articles which go to make the equipment of a good fire department.
102
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
HOMEOPATHIC STATE HOSPITAL.
T "HE Homeopathic State Hospital grounds are situated within about one half mile from the village limits, and Gowanda is designated by law as the place of communication with the hospital.
The hospital was created by an Act of the Legislature in 1894 to afford to the homeopathic medical profession and its adherents a hospi- tal, and the securing to them the care and treatment of their insane upon homeopathic principles of medicine. To this end, and by virtue of the Act referred to, a tract of 500 acres in the town of Collins, and known as the " Taylor tract," was purchased in 1894 from the county of Erie, which had acquired possession of it for a hospital for its insane before the present system of State care had been inaugurated in this State. The history of the movement which resulted in the purchase of this tract of land by the County of Erie is briefly as follows :
In 1888 the Legislature authorized the County of Erie to select a suitable site, and to erect the required buildings for the care and maintenance of the chronic and indigent insane in Erie County, and acting under this law the Board of Supervisors appointed a committee to select a suitable site for the proposed County hospital. Our towns- man, Mr. Fred J. Blackmon, was then Supervisor of the town of Collins, and he presented to such committee the "Taylor" tract. The committee visited and inspected more than twenty farms in Erie County, and after such inspection unanimously recommended the pur- chase of the " Taylor" tract. The report of this committee to the Board of Supervisors embodied many statements setting forth the superior quality of this tract of land for the purposes proposed, the following, condensed therefrom, being the most prominent :
" The premises consist of 500 acres situated in the town of Collins, near Gowanda, the Erie Railroad crossing the farm, thereby furnish- ing ample railroad accommodations. The farm, being sheltered on all sides.by higher lands, is, to a certain extent, protected from strong and bleak winds, thereby lengthening at least a month the time for
过程.
《肉:字
.
THE LODI HOUSE, NORTH CORNER MAIN AND WATER STREETS. BURNED APRIL 30, 1856.
STATE HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL, GOWANDA, N. Y.
103
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
the outdoor life of patients, and also lengthening the season for the planting, maturing, and gathering of crops. The farm consists of no waste or unproductive land. The soil is of a warm, fertile loam, that, under proper cultivation, will return abundant crops ; free from mias- matic contamination, and quickly becomes dry after rain. It contains within its own limits facilities for complete and thorough drainage, and an abundant supply of portable water."
Hon. Wm. P. Letchworth, President of the State Board of Chari- ties, presented a report to the Board of Supervisors regarding this tract of land, in which he says :
"After a careful, patient and unbiased examination of the several tracts referred to, I arrive at the conclusion that what is designated by your committee as the " Taylor tract " is well adapted to meet the needs of the chronic insane of Erie County as regards their health, care and comfort, and that it is capable of satisfying all reasonable expectation as to economical maintenance. I do not hesitate, there- fore, to recommend it for your consideration.
" I may say further, however, that having in view all the require- ments for an insane hospital of the kind proposed, I think this tract possesses these requirements in a greater degree than any hospital farm I have ever seen, not excepting the fine estate of 800 acres surrounding the Alt-Scherbitz asylum, situate in a charming and sheltered valley on the banks of the little river Elster, in Saxon Prussia.
"Should careful judgment be exercised in the development of the property on the simple cottage plan, and its affairs be well ad- ministered, I see nothing in the way of making the proposed hospital a credit to Erie County, the pride even of the whole State and a model for other countries."
Soon following the purchase of this tract of land by the County of Erie, and before it had inaugurated a hospital for itself, the "State Care" Act went into effect, and all the insane were transferred to State hospitals. By subsequent legislation this tract of land was taken
from the County of Erie by the State, and when the present hospital was created by the Laws of 1894, as above referred to, the State turned over this tract of land to the hospital.
-
104
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDAI, N. Y.
No appropriation was made in 1894, but the Legislature in 1895 appropriated 825,000 for building a sewer from the hospital to the ' Cattaraugus Creek, and developing its water supply, and for the gen- eral management and preparation of the farm for a hospital. But little work was accomplished in 1895, but in 1896 a sewer was constructed at a cost of $14,000, the water supply developed, and the commence- ment of the building of a hospital inaugurated, and since then appro- priations have been made from time to time, and buildings have progressed, with as much rapidity as is consistent in the building of buildings of this character.
There was erected in 1896-97 an administration building, one-story annex and a hospital wing, at a cost of 8143,000, and there is now under course of erection a water tower and water plant costing $13,000, a power house costing $36,000, an additional wing costing $65,000, and a laundry, kitchen, dining room and bakery, at a cost of about $100,000.
The first Board of Managers consisted of
Dr. William Tod Helmuth of New York City.
Dr. H. M. Paine of Albany, N. Y.
Mr. S. Lewis Soule of Collins, N. Y.
This Board of Managers was succeeded in 1895 by
Dr. William Tod Helmuth of New York City.
Dr. Asa Stone Couch of Fredonia, N. Y.
Mr. Fred J. Blackmon of Gowanda, N. Y.
By the Insanity law, which was passed by the Legislature in 1896, the Board of Managers was increased to seven, and the present Board consists of
Dr. William Tod Helmuth of New York City.
Dr. Asa Stone Couch of Fredonia, N. Y.
Dr. Edwin H. Wolcott of Rochester, N. Y.
Dr. Frank B. Ormes of Jamestown, N. Y.
Dr. George W. Seymour of Westfield, N. Y.
Mr. Fred J. Blackmon of Gowanda, N. Y.
Mr. O. P. Letchworth of Buffalo, N. Y.
The officers of the Board are
Dr. William Tod Helmuth. President.
Mr. Fred J. Blackmon, Secretary and Treasurer.
105
HISTORICAL SKETCHI OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
In March, 1897, Dr. George Allen, then of the Middletown State Hospital, was appointed Medical Superintendent of the hospital, and continued until his death in November, 1897.
In March, 1898, he was succeeded by Dr. Daniel H. Arthur, of Middletown, as Medical Superintendent, who is now in charge of the hospital.
It is expected by the Board of Managers that the hospital buildings will be completed and equipped, and the hospital become operative, · about the 1st of September of this year, and will accommodate at the outset about 400 patients. The Board of Managers anticipate con- tinued building and development until the hospital will sustain at least 1,500 patients.
106
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
GOWANDA CHAPTER, No. 136, ROYAL ARCH MASONS.
BY DR. A. D. LAKE.
This Chapter was organized on the third day of October, 1851, under the name of Forestville Chapter, No. 136, at Forestville, N. Y. The following named companions were the first officers :
ALBERT H. CAMP, High Priest.
MARSHALL CASS, . King.
WILLIAM COLVILLE, Scribe.
JAMES LOCKE, . Captain of the Host.
ELIAS HALL, . Principal Sojourner.
DAVID D. PARKER,
Royal Arch Captain.
REUBEN WARD,
Master of 3d Vail.
DANIEL B. PARSONS, .
Master of 2d Vail.
SAMUEL AIKIN,
Master of 1st Vail.
GEORGE HOPKINS,
Secretary.
CHARLES BROWN,
Treasurer.
From the beginning a large portion of the membership was from this village and its neighboring villages, Perrysburgh and Versailles, in fact, the second Master Mason to become a member of the new Chapter was Myron M. Parker, then, and now, a resident of Versailles.
From the fact that so many Masons living in or near Gowanda were earnestly interested in the organization it was thought its best interests would be promoted by its removal here, which was accord- ingly done on the first day of March, 1859.
On the 22d day of March, 1864, it again changed its location, going to Perrysburgh. Still another change was in store, and on July 21, 1885, it was moved back to Gowanda, and soon after the name was changed to Gowanda Chapter.
The following named Companions have filled the position of High . Priest since the organization of the Chapter :
Albert H. Camp, William Colville, Albert W. Hull, David F. Moody, Frank Campbell, Adolphus M. DeLong, Byron L. Kimble,
107
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
Truman D. Keyes and Glenn M. Congdon, the last named being the present High Priest.
The other officers of the Chapter at present are as follows :
BYRON L. KIMBLE, King.
NORMAN B. ALLEN, Scribe.
J. E. VAN DEUSEN,
Captain of the Host.
WILLIAM N. WALLACE, Principal Sojourner.
ASHER C. STAFFORD, Royal Arch Captain.
RICHARD P. JOHNSON,
Master of 3d Vail.
JOHN WARD,
Master of 2d Vail.
J. W. DAUBER,
Master of 1st Vail.
A. M. DELONG,
Secretary.
J. W. DAUBER,
Treasurer.
CHARLES W. GAUGER,
Tiler.
The Chapter is in a flourishing condition with a large membership.
.
-----
108
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y. -
PHOENIX LODGE, No. 262, F. & A. M.
This lodge was organized and has since continued in this village.
The first meeting was under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge and was held December 8, 1851, the following acting as officers :
Elias Hall, W. M .; William S. Herrick, S. W .; David D. Parker, J. W .; James Locke, treasurer ; A. L. Chaffee, secretary : James Locke, S. D .: Samuel Aikin, J. D .; and George H. Hall, Tiler.
The initiation fee was fixed at $15, but has since been raised to 825.
The lodge was granted a charter under date of June 16, 1852, and on August 3, 1852, the first set of officers were installed as follows :
Elias Hall, W. M .; William S. Herrick, S. W .; David D. Parker. J. W .; James Locke, treasurer ; A. L. Chaffee, secretary : Samuel Aikin, S. D .: Josiah Cass, J. D .; George H. Hall, Tiler.
For many years up to 1884 the lodge held its meetings in the third story of the building owned by B. L. Kimble, adjoining the present site of the Commercial Hotel. The last meeting was held in that room November 12, 1884, when the lodge leased its present hall in the new brick store of Enoch Taylor on the north side of Main Street, then just completed. The first meeting in the new rooms was held November 19, 1884.
On December 4, 1884, the new rooms were dedicated by M. W. William A. Brodie, then Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York. This occasion probably witnessed one of the largest Masonic gatherings ever assembled in this village.
The lodge calendar for 1897 shows a membership of 125.
Since receiving its charter the lodge has had the following Masters :
ELIAS HALL, . 1852. '53.
WILLIAM S. HERRICK, 1854. '55.
DAVID D. PARKER, 1856.
GROUP OF INDIAN CHILDREN
THOMAS ORPHAN ASYLUM.
HISTORICAL SKETCHI OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
109
V. A. LORD, 1857, '58.
HARMON KELLY,
1859.
H. S. STEBBINS,
1860.
J. SAVAGE, .
1861.
H. S. STEBBINS,
1862.
HARMON KELLY, 1863, '64.
JAMES J. KERR,
1865.
HARMON KELLY,
1866, '67.
JOHN S. STARR, 1868.
HARMON KELLY, .
1869.
WILLIAM A. FISH,
1870, '71, '72, '73.
WILLIAM PEACOCK,
1874.
WILLIAM A. FISH,
1875, 76.
J. W. DAUBER,
1877, '78. 1879.
A. J. PECK,
BYRON L. KIMBLE,
1880, '81, '82.
EDWARD ETSLER,
1883.
I. R. LEONARD,
1884.
H. F. CLARK, .
1885.
WILLIAM N. WALLACE, 1886, '87.
Dr. R. E. Moss, .
1888.
A. C. ROMER, . 1889.
A. C. STAFFORD,
1890, '91.
EDWARD ETSLER, 1892.
FRANK C. VINTON,
1893.
I. R. LEONARD, 1894.
J. P. BRUECK, .
1895, '96, '97.
P. H. HORTON,
1898.
Other officers for the present year are as follows: Glenn M. Congdon, S. W .; B. W. Hathaway, J. W .; . J. W. Dauber, treasurer ; A. M. DeLong, secretary ; W. N. Wallace, S. D .; John M. Schrott, J. D .; N. B. Allen, S. M. C .; J. H. Wilson, J. M. C .; Chas. W. Gauger, Tiler.
110
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
RELIEF LODGE, No. 328, I. O. O. F.
BY M. N. ALLEN.
This lodge was instituted by D. D. G. M. Timothy Parsons of Wyoming, October 13, 1847, with the following charter members :
M. H. Barker, John B. Wilbor, A. H. Barker, Darwin R. Barker, Ashbel H. Hurd, Frederick E. DeWolf, Stephen W. Gould, David N. Brown, Myron Parker, Stephen O. Mead, Phineas S. Fish and George N. Mead.
Thirty-seven new members were added, among which was A. W. W. Chaffee, now living here. On April 1, 1849, the lodge was changed to No. 61.
During the war, from 1861 to 1865, the members became scattered and the lodge suspended.
On January 8, 1884, Relief Lodge No. 511 was reorganized by D. D. G. M. C. D. Tuttle of East Randolph, with the following charter members :
William Peacock, N. C. Cass, Joshua Allen, Edwin P. Dailey, Ransom W. Moss, L. S. Jenks, and the following card members, viz : J. P. Romer, J. A. Bestrup, Nicholas Romer, P. J. Dudney, and the following new members, viz : M. N. Allen, J. D. Zwetsch, Charles Romer, C. D. Bigelow, H. F. Clark and Peter Larsen.
At present the officers are : George I. Lincoln, N. G .; John D. Studley, V. G .; M. N. Allen, secretary ; and J. A. Falk, treasurer.
David N. Brown, now of Otto, N. Y., and Myron H. Parker of Versailles, N. Y., are the only first charter members now living, while Joshua Allen is the only second charter member still a member of the lodge, and M. N. Allen the only one of the new made mem- bers of the second charter now a member here.
111
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
BANNER TENT, No. 8, K. O. T. M.
BY M. N. ALLEN.
This tent was instituted June 5, 1885, with the following officers :
Dr. R. E. Moss, Commander.
F. W. KAMMERER,
Lieut. - Commander.
M. N. ALLEN, .
Record Keeper.
J. V. COLE,
Prelate.
A. C. ROMER, .
Sergeant.
E. H. WOODWARD,
Master at Arms.
A. T. HANSON,
1st Master of Guard.
J. A. BESTRUP,
2d Master of Guard.
CHAS. A. PALM,
Sentinel.
JOSEPH LUCAS,
Picket.
J. H. SCHAACK,
Past Commander.
Subsequent Commanders have been the following :
J. H. SCHAACK, 1886.
W. C. PROCTOR,
1887.
A. C. ROMER, . 1888.
W. J. GRIMM, . 1889.
A. H. ROMANS, W. J. GRIMM, .
1891.
C. J. STRAUB, .
1892.
J. P. BRUECK, .
1893.
C. J. STRAUB, .
1894.
WM. DERUCIA, 1895.
S. E. TIFFANY, 1896.
D. W. SCHULTZ,
1897.
The present officers are as follows :
Com., T. N. Witherell ; L .- Com., J. P. Dean ; R. K., A. T. Skinner ; F. K., M. N. Allen.
The above tent now has a membership of 107. Dr. R. E. Moss, the first Commander, is now Supreme Medical Examiner of the Order, with headquarters at Port Huron, Mich.
1890.
112
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOUTINDA, N. Y.
Among the other fraternal and other societies of the village are the following :
GOWANDA LODGE No. 46, A. O. U. W .- L. C. Feigel, M. W .; Geo. W. Howard, Secretary.
DARBY POST No. 359, G. A. R .- J. A. Gleazen, Commander ; G. W. Howard, Adjutant.
W. C. T. C .- Mrs. J. E. Pratt, President ; Mrs. M. S. Torrance, Secretary.
Moss HIVE NO. 5, L. O. T. M .- Mrs. Georgia Foster, Lady Com .: Mrs. Geo. Thoen, Lady R. K.
THE GOWANDA CLUB .- Wm. N. Wallace, President ; Franklin E. Bard, Secretary.
LADIES' MONDAY EVENING CLUB .- Mrs. Mary L. Babcock, Presi- - dent; Mrs. Fred Allen, Secretary.
GO-WAN-GO MOHAWK TRIBE No. 383, I. O. R. M .- Instituted March 5, 1898. Frank L. Mattocks, Sachem : George W. Kramer, Senior Sagamore ; L. J. Stafford, Keeper of Records ; J. P. Dean, Keeper of Wampum. Meets every Wednesday evening at Odd Fel- lows' Hall.
---
:
113
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, M. Y.
THE THOMAS ASYLUM.
BY DR. A. D. LAKE.
T HE Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children, although not located within the corporate limits of the village, has been closely identified with Gowanda since its existence.
A majority of its board of managers have generally been citizens of this place, and the same is true of the several superintendents, matrons, physicians and teachers who, at various times, have filled these posi- -tions in the institution.
This noble charity, as its name implies, is devoted to the mainte- nance and education of Indian children, natives of the various reserva- tions of the State. It is located on the Cattaraugus Reservation, and owns one hundred acres of the most productive land in the country. Fifty acres of this land was the gift of the Seneca Nation of Indians.
Its inception is due to Rev. Asher Wright and his wife, missiona- ries who spent their long and active lives in unselfish and devoted work, teaching these Indians Christianity and civilization.
Mr. Wright found among the Indians under his care numerous instances of destitution and degradation. His sympathies were espe- cially awakened by the condition of many of the children, who, deprived of opportunities of education and moral training, began early the acquirement of vicious habits.
The necessity of some means which should overcome this condition and prevent its inevitable results, so appealed to him and his estima- ble wife, that they assumed the care and maintenance of ten of these Indian children, taking them to their home and there providing for them as though they were their own.
Influenced by the zeal and kindness to their children exhibited by Mr. Wright, the Indian council, about the year 1854, set aside a tract , of fifty acres on which should be located an asylum and school for the benefit of the orphan and destitute Indian children of all the reserva- tions of the State.
114
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
Following this gift of land, the institution was incorporated by act of the Legislature passed in 1855. This act appointed the following named gentlemen as the first board of managers, viz :
Eber M. Pettit, Chauncey F. Carrier, S. G. Ellis, Elisha Brown and Asher Wright, white men, and Sylvester Lay, Wallace King, Zacha- riah L. Jimmerson, Lewis Seneca and Joshua Pierce, Indians.
The Legislature also, by this act, appropriated the sum of $2,000 toward the erection of a building and $500 annually for two years to assist in the maintenance of the inmates.
With this small sum Mr. Wright and his fellow members of the board of managers began the work. By aid from various sources, largely through the generosity of Philip Thomas of Baltimore, from whom the institution derives its name, sufficient money was obtained to erect a portion of the present building. The corner stone was laid Friday, October 14, 1855. A large concourse of people were present at the ceremonies, and eloquent addresses were made by both Indians and white men.
The building was first occupied in June, 1856, and fifty children were received therein.
Aside from the yearly appropriation of $500, which by urgent solicitation was continued by the Legislature beyond the two years originally provided for, the asylum was entirely dependent upon indi- vidual aid. For twenty years each member of the board became of necessity a soliciting agent, seeking to obtain from any source any gift, either money, food or clothing, which would enable them to con- tinue the noble charity in which they had engaged.
In 1875, however, brighter days opened upon the institution. By an act of the Legislature of this year it became a State institution, receiving an annual appropriation of 88,500, which sum has been increased at various times until at present the yearly maintenance fund is 820,000.
By an additional appropriation made by the last two Legislatures, provision is made for the erection of new buildings to cost $50,000. These structures are now in process of erection and will be ready for occupancy January 1, 1899.
The Asylum has been most fortunate in both its managers and offi- cers. They have always been intelligent men and women, deeply · interested in the work assigned them.
The following named gentlemen have filled the position of superin- tendent, viz :
-
THOMAS ORPHAN ASYLUM.
115
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
B. F. Hall, J. H. Van Valkenburg, H. W. Hooker, A. F. Bennett and George I. Lincoln.
The present Board of Managers consists of :
Mrs. Lily Lord Tifft, Henry R. Howland, Heman M. Blasdell, N. A. Chaffee, S. G. Keyes, John Schoepflin, John C. Wilber, Harrison Halftown, Walker Jimmerson and King Tallchief.
The institution is at present under the efficient management of George I. Lincoln, Superintendent, and Mrs. Emily P. Lincoln, Matron.
It has come to be recognized as one of the most deserving charities of the State. It now maintains and educates 100 Indian children, who are retained in the institution until the age of sixteen, and are then furnished homes, preferably among white people, by the man- agement. It has been, since its existence, one of the most import- ant factors in raising the Indians to a higher plane of civilization, leading them toward the inevitable goal of citizenship, where they shall be merged into the body politic of the commonwealth.
It has the encouragement and good will of all the people who have investigated its noble work, and who realize the important bearing its successful efforts have had upon the people for whose good it has an existence.
1
116
HISTORICAL. SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
OUR ADVERTISERS.
G OWANDA can refer with pardonable pride to her mercantile houses, manufactories and other industries, some of which are represented in this book. This village has the various branches of business usually found in villages of its size. It is not claimed that Gowanda leads all other villages, but we do claim that it is a thriving. healthy locality of pleasant homes and prosperous people, which will not suffer by comparison with its sister villages. It is a pleasing fact that, almost without exception, those who formerly lived here still have a deep interest in this village and its people. This has been especially noticeable in the preparations for the celebration of this 50th anniversary. Many who have gone from among us to other localities have become prominent in professional and business circles, and some of those business interests are here represented.
In the Buffalo Bolt Co. we have its president, Mr. Ralph H. Plumb, a native of Gowanda, who lived here till early manhood, and who has been for many years a prominent manufacturer of the city of Buffalo. The Buffalo Bolt Co. is among the largest manufacturers of nuts and bolts in the United States.
Charles B. Barker was also born in Gowanda, and lived nearly half his life here. The Barker House, a cut of which appears in another part of this book, was for many years prior to 1875 a familiar landmark in this village ; and Charley Barker, as he was familiarly called, was a friend of every one in this vicinity, and was as well known as the hotel of which he and his father, the Hon. Michael H. Barker, were the proprietors for so many years. Mr. Barker has for some time been the head of the C. B. Barker Manufacturing Co. of New York and Brooklyn, makers of silver-plated ware.
Fayette R. Plumb, a brother of Ralph H. Plumb, is another repre- sentative of the former citizens of Gowanda. Both are sons of the Hon. J. H. Plumb, and grandsons of Ralph Plumb, one of the pioneers of this vicinity. Fayette R. Plumb was born in Gowanda, and for many years past has been one of the largest manufacturers in the city of Philadelphia, being at the head of the corporation which bears his name.
Gowanda, on her fiftieth birthday, sends greetings to her former residents, with her best wishes for their future happiness and prosperity.
HISTORICAL SKETCHI OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
SUPPLEMENTAL.
The following interesting communication has been received from one of our former residents, the Rev. Albert H. Plumb, D. D., of Boston, Mass.
It is here inserted, as it was received after the preceding portion of this book had been printed.
Prior to 1849 what is now comprised in the Union School District was in two districts. One school house was near the site of the present M. E. Church, the other, ' The old red school house," was on Buffalo Street, on " the site now occu- pied by Peter Rink's store." (See page 85. ) In this school house the Presbyterian Church worshiped for a time. Here the first temperance society was formed, and, later, during the Washingtonian temperance reformation, stirring meetings were held here, one reformed man (Barney McGrady) sometimes electrifying the audi- -ence, by describing "the mind-engraving business" he used to carry on in the gutters.
In the campaign between Harrison and Van Buren, in 1840, rousing whig meet- ings made the old school house echo for "Tippecanoe and Tyler too, and with them we'll beat little Van, Van, Van, Van is a used-up man," as they sang.
Various select schools were early taught, mainly by ladies - one in a school build- ing in the rear of the Presbyterian church, one over R. Plumb's store near the bridge, another in a large upper room in Mr. Pierce's house on Main Street, above the Mansion House.
A ladies' seminary was for some years maintained in the old store on the green, near the Eagle Tavern, by Mrs. Fisk, a sister of Joseph and Ralph Plumb, the widow of a clergyman. Pupils came to this school from Eden and Fredonia and other places. A school was taught for a time, I think, over Porter Welch's store, by Joseph G. Cochrane, who afterwards married Deborah, daughter of Joseph Plumb.
They went to Persia as missionaries, where they died after many years of labor. Their son, a graduate of Buffalo Medical College, established the first hospital ever opened in Persia.
During the pastorate of Rev. J. B. Preston he taught a flourishing school in the basement of the Presbyterian Church.
After the church was burned, worship was continued in the ball room of the Eagle Tavern, and there also the school was held.
In 1842 and 1843, Mr. Edwin E. Williams, from Hamilton College, was the prin- cipal. He became a minister in 1856, and after long and useful pastorates in Warsaw, N. Y., and Elyria, O., died in 1896.
Samuel Sedgwick was the first principal of the Union School. in 1844. He was succeeded by F. P. Kennedy, who gave way, in the spring of 1847, to Rev. B. T. Roberts, who afterwards founded the Free Methodist Church here, the son of Titus Roberts, merchant and minister.
.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF GOWANDA, N. Y.
In 1848, Samuel Gurley Love, afterwards at the head of Randolph Academy, became the principal ; and this position was held during the winter term of 1849 and '50, by Albert II. Plumb, Dr. John F. Allen having charge of the classical department.
One of the pupils under Rev. B. T. Roberts was Edwin A. Johnson, son of Alfred Johnson, who was a cabinet maker and gunsmith, and a renowned hunter. He was an active member of the Methodist Church, and his son Edwin became a Methodist minister of prominence, dying some years since in connection, I think, with the Pittsburgh Conference.
Among other pupils of Gowanda Union School were two sons of Alvin Bugbee - Lucius H. Bugbee, D. D., eminent as a preacher and educator in the Methodist denomination, and George Bugbee, D. D., an Episcopal clergyman of Los Angeles, Cal.
( The widow of Lucius H. Bugbee is now Mrs. Elisha L. Johnson of Cattaraugus, N. Y.)
I do not think there was ever a district school at Hidi. There was a school house at Point Peter, where I used to go for a mission Sunday School in 1849 ; also, one at Bagdad, or Lapham's Mills, two and one half miles northeast from Gowanda, where we also had a mission Sunday School. A school house east from Gowanda, one mile above George and Enos Southwick's places, at the four corners, was the near- est school house. Anti-slavery meetings used to be held there, as also in other out- lying school houses, and in the basement of the Presbyterian Church, where they were sometimes broken up.
The Gowanda brass band was to give a concert in the Presbyterian Church the night it burned down. A fire was made to warm the church, and the stove pipe, where it entered the chimney in the attic, had became rusted out so that the soot took fire and set the building afire.
Mr. Charles E. Swett, principal of the school from 1864 to July, 1865, now of Boston, Mass., says William Wallace Roller (page 78), after his return from the war, entered school to prepare for college - a full grown man in size, he took his place with boys and girls in the classes and made rapid progress. He after- wards followed Mr. Swett to his school at Oneida, N. Y. (where fifteen Gowanda students went, nine being there at one time), and when fitted entered Dartmouth College, where he spent two years. Mr. Roller was the son of John P. Roller, whose father, who was a long time the sexton of the Presbyterian Church, fought in the wars against Napoleon.
Brazilla Coon (page 16) climbed the shagbark hickory pole in front of the post- office when the flag cord came down. The rough bark took the skin off from his hands.
I think Mr. Amasa L. Chaffee threw a stone with a cord over the catch on the top of the pole when the cord fell again.
Mr. Chaffee had his hat taken off his head by a " Snake's head," as it was called (a bent rail, one of the old strap rails on the early railroads, which would work loose at the ends and bend up till they would be caught by a wheel, and come up through the floor of the car), as he was returning from buying goods in New York. '
F.85/322.5
5563
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.