USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Portland > Historical sketches of the town of Portland : comprising also the pioneer history of Chautauqua County, with biographical sketches of the early settlers > Part 14
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14. Minton's Hotel: 1833 .- That portion of the building now owned and occupied C. S. Ogden, on the northeast corner of Main and N. Div. Sts. in Brocton, as a dwelling, was built for a tavern in 1833 by Milton Jones and D. Howell, and occupied by them in the fall of the same year. In 1836 it was sold to A. B. Holbrook, and occupied by Alfred Holmes. It was occupied by various parties up to 1868 when it was purchased by Mr. Ogden, and amongst them Zadoc Martin, Darius Tallman, J. H. Minton, A. J. Mericle. J. W. Crocker, Richardson and Ryan and others. Mr. Minton owned and occupied it for several years.
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15. Exchange Hotel : 1837 .- The north front of this tavern building standing on the southwest corner of Main and S. Div. Sts. Brocton, was built in 1835 by Samuel Hall and E. R. Southwick for a store and dwelling and occupied by them as such for one year. It was sold in the winter of 1836-'37 to .1. B. Holbrook. who sold it to B. F. Post. Mr. Post enlarged the house in 1837 and opened it as a tavern. In 1838 it was occupied by Wm. Benjamin and father; in 1839 by -- Langdon, and in 1840 by Porter Pemberton. Mr. Post sold the property to Russell Fitch in 1841, who sold to A. M. Hunt in January 1850. Mr. Hunt sold to Z. L. Goodsell in April 1865. The proprie- tors following were, U. S. Ladne, Darius James, Wm. Ren onard, M. Francis, J. D. Love and D. Morey the present owner. The house has been kept as a tavern thirty-six years. .
16. Jones' Temperance House: 1839 .- The building now occupied by C. W. Haight as a store in Brocton, and the one occupied by A. J. Mericle, also as a store, were converted into a tavern from private dwellings, by E. L. Jackson and Milton Jones in 1839. It was occupied by them for two years, when it was discontinued until 1845, when it was kept by D. Tallman for one year. after which it was closed.
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CHAPTER XXXIII.
Temperance and other Societies
No public expression upon the subject of temperance in the county, in the form of a society, was had until the summer of 1829, when a county society was formed. In the fall of the same year the first society formed in the territory of the old town of Portland, and a correspondent thinks the first local society in the county, was formed at Westfield. Lincoln Fay, Isaac Durand and Robert K. Barnes from this town were present and became members. This movement aroused strong opposition and many honest minded persons hield the whole movement to be an encroachment upon the liberties of the people and a step toward the union of the church and state. Societies soon formed in other sections and a town society for Portland in the winter of 1830-31, Lincoln Fay president, R. W. M. Dalee vice president, R. K. Barnes secretary, J. W. Morgan. Isaac Durand and others executive committee. Meetings were frequently held during the winter and spring and addresses delivered by H. L. Richmond of Westfield, now of Meadville, Pa., and member of congress from that district, Sylvester Randall 'of Fredonia. late Judge Randall of Illinois. Austin Smith of Westfield, David Eaton and others of Portland. The society was made auxiliary to the county society. A remarkable revival of religion in 1831 gave a fresh impulse to the temperance movement and a large amount of work was done. The society continued with varied success and one or two reorganizations until the inauguration of the Washingtonian movement. In this effort the key note to
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success seems to have been struck. Throughout the county a gradual change in an incredibly short space of time came over the people and the masses not only adopted the practice of total abstinence but "publicly arrayed themselves on the side of temperance, integrity and virtue." In 1832 while the excite- ment occasioned by the efforts against the ruling spirit of the country was greatest Mr. R. K. Barnes attempted a temperance raising of a large barn at the then center of Portland, the barn now owned by O. Jerome Greene. Predictions were rife that not a stick could be moved without firstly a moving of the spirit. Such an effort was an encroachment upon old established customs and was met by strong opposition. "But the day of raising came, refreshments were ample, friends rallied in large numbers, and under the management of Martin Quigley the work was done and the company went home with steady steps."-[Mrs. M. B.] This was the second temperance raising in the county. the first taking place in Sheridan a few days previously. That or the next year a fourth of July cele- bration on temperance principles was had in the grove near the school house in district No. 8. David Eaton was president of the day and Grant Goodrich of Westfield. now Judge Goodrich of Chicago. orator. By these and other means a healthy public sentiment was established with reference to the use of alcoholic liquors as a beverage. Of the pioneers of the temperance reform in town a correspondent writes : "There is one feature very marked in regard to them-they were true to the pledge. Many of them have passed away but they have left a record untarnished. Those who remain are nearly all true to the cause they espoused." Temperance efforts have taken varied shape from time to time from causes hard to define. One of the most efficient agents for good in this direction was a secret organization instituted in the hall of the house of O. J. Greene, on lot 34, T. 5, on the 2d of April. 1849. It was known as
Portland Division Sons of Temperance No. 510 of the State of New York. Their place of meeting was changed in the following June to an upper room now owned by Mrs. Traverse
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in Brocton. and soon after to a hall in the building opposite the school house in Brocton, furnished by Mr. Linus Burton. which they occupied until the discontinuance of the Division in 1853. The charter members were Darwin G. Goodrich, M. P. Vanleuven, A. J. Abrams, Thomas Cushing, G. H. Townsend, O. N. Fay, Oscar Eaton, O. J. Coats, L. Clark. A. Bowdish, Geo. Wells. The first W. P. was O. N. Fay. The membership reached 120. Some of the best temperance work in town was done by this order.
Social Circle .- For the purpose of admitting females to a full participation in the duties and privileges of an organization of this class a new secret temperance order was instituted at Albany, this state, in July, 1850, called the "Order of Social Circles." A subordinate was instituted at Salem X Roads in Temperance Hall May 5, 1853. The first C. G., or presiding officer, was H. C. Taylor. The Circle was numbered ten. The following were charter members : J. B. Haywood. L. L. Lathrop. L. W. Richardson. C. W. D. Lathrop. C. W. Burton. A. E. Ogden, S. Burton, E. Elmore, O. L. Ogden, Alf. Burton, MI. L. Ogden. James Thompson, J. W. Bowdish. John O'Hara, H. C. Taylor, Julia Haywood, M. R. Lathrop, Mary Haywood, C. C. Thompson, Harriet Bowdish. Elizabeth Elmore, Frances Taylor. Its membership reached sixty. It was a working order, but existed less than two years.
Good Templars .- A lodge of this order (another secret temperance organization) was instituted at Portland Center in the fall of 1854, but was discontinued after a few months existence. J. E. Harris was the first W. C. T. Their place of meeting was the house opposite the tavern occupied by Asahel Peck. A second lodge of the order was instituted at the same place in the fall of 1868 which remained in working order until the spring of 1872. Their places of meeting were at the M. E. church, the hall of O. J. Greene, the hall of L. Douglass and lastly in the hall of Mr. Wm. Clark in the old M. E. church edifice. A lodge of this order was instituted at Brocton in the fall of 1868 but ceased to exist in the fall of
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1871. These lodges numbered among their members some of the best material in town. and they were efficient agents in the great work of temperancere form and are entitled to a large share of credit in shaping public opinion with reference to it. but they failed eventually from the effect of those strong revulsions that invariably come over all associated effort in moral enterprises. At the present writing there is not a temperance organization in town other than so far as the various churches may be considered as such. Most of the members of the orders named. now living. as far as known. remain true to their obligations. and the town will compare favorably with other towns in regard to the status of the people on this question.
Masonic Order .- There are in town thirty-six members of this order belonging to lodges in other towns according to location. a part to "Forest" lodge. Fredonia. a part to "Summit " lodge. Westfield. a part to "Peacock" lodge. May- ville. and a few to lodges more remote. No lodge has as vet been instituted in town. the near proximity to the lodges named seeming to render it impractical.
Odd Fellows-A lodge of this order was instituted at Salem X Roads. now Brocton. in the summer of 1849. Thomas Cushing was the first N. G. Its meetings were held in the hall of the Sons of Temperance. Its members numbered 66. Its charter was surrendered in 1852. It is not known that there is now a member of the order in town.
Bible Societies .- A society of this class has been formed in town on four occasions for the purpose of furnishing the Scriptures to every family in town not in possession of a copy. The first society it is said was formed in 1633. which as far as remembered. as also the next two formed. accomplishel the object for which they were created. The last was formed in the summer of 1867. which. nominally at least. is still in exist- ence. It was made auxiliary to the county society. What has been accomplished by or through it the writer has been unable to learn. The importance of such an organization it would
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seem ought to prompt the best interests and energies of the whole moral and christian element in its behalf.
Anti-Slavery and other Benevolent Societies have existed in town at various times. No records were kept and nothing definite can be written with reference to them. Without doubt they had their influence on the public mind and the first to some extent aided in establishing the great principles of human liberty and civil and political equality that have since so revolutionized the sentiment of the whole country and wiped out the darkest stain upon our national escutcheon and the foulest blight upon the moral and christian sentiment of christendom.
Early Newspapers .- Very many of the settlers on leaving their early homes made arrangements with friends for the family paper after its perusal there. Occasionally one received it direct from the office of publication. It was always a welcome visitor. Until 1814 these papers were received through the office at Canadaway or at the crossroads. The first regular paper known to have been taken in town and sent from the office of publication, other than as above indicated. was the Buffalo Gazette, afterward called the Buffalo Patriot, by David Eaton and three or four others in 1811. The first county paper taken was the Chautauque Gazette. first published in Fredonia in 1817. In 1821, the year of its first publication, the Fredonia Censor was taken by a few, more largely the next year and afterward, until at the present (1873) the circulation is about one hundred. Of the religious papers the following only are remembered: The Gospel Advocate, a universalist publication which was commenced in Buffalo in 1822 by Rev. Thomas Gross, circulated largely in town, one of the proprietors, Mr. Simon Burton. an early settler. giving it his influence and earnest support. The Methodist Magazine. published in New York, was taken by Simon Burton. jr., and Elisha Fay as early as 1820 or '21, and possibly by others. From time to time other papers were taken but the names are forgotten.
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
Physicians.
From 1805 to 1808 it is probable that no physician was called by the few settlers within the present town of Portland. in fact none were within reach, and from 1808 to 1812 they were obliged to rely upon Canadaway, and from the latter date to 1824 upon Canadaway and the Crossroads for medical aid. Dr. Squire White came to Canadaway in the fall of 1808. He was a brother of Dr. Asa White, of Sherburn, Chenango county. this state, in whose office he commenced the study of his profession in the year 1800. He afterward went to Cherry Valley, Otsego county, and for a year was a partner with the celebrated Dr. White of that place, whose skill as a surgeon extended throughout the state. During his course of study he attended medical lectures three winters in New York city and was licensed to practice by the Chenango Co. Medical Soci- ety May 2, 1808. He taught school during the winter of 1808-9 in what is now the west part of Sheridan, this county. [See Early Teachers.] From this time forward he practiced his pro fession to the close of his life. The fact of his having practiced for many years over our sparsely settled region is well remembered by the older settlers of Portland. He was a man of excellent abilities and shared largely the confidence of the people. At this day he is often referred to by those who remember his eccentricities and his ability to divine the peculiarities of human character. He commanded the respect- ful consideration of the citizens of the town. as elsewhere.
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as a man and a physician to the day of his death. He was the first regularly licensed physician settling in the county and was surgeon of the first regiment of militia organized in the county.
Dr. Lawton Richmond-Was the second physician doing business in and the first residing in the old town of Portland. He was the second licensed physician settling in the county. He was born in Kent county. R. I., August 17. 1784, and removed with his father and family to Herkimer county, N. Y., about 1794. By untiring energy he acquired a good English education and mainly through his own unaided efforts, and at his majority commenced the study of medicine and in due time was licensed by the proper authorities. He married Sally Townsend, May 23. 1809, and that summer removed to Chautauqua county near the head of Chautauqua lake, in the present town of that name. In 1812 he removed to the ancient crossroads, now Westfield, and continued the practice of medicine. and for five years traversed the entire region from the east line of Portland to the line of the state on the west. In 1817 he was induced to "sell out" and remove to southern Indiana. but owing to a series of hindrances and severe misfortunes he did not arrive at his destination until the fall of 1818. He eventually settled in the little village of Allensville, Switzerland county, then consisting of but a dozen log houses. The climate proving uncongenial and his health failing him he was obliged to seek again a location in the vicinity of the lakes and in 1828 removed to Rock Run. a short distance from Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1829 he returned to Westfield. There he practiced his profession until 1834 when he purchased a farm near Meadville, Pa .. to which he removed. He died here in Nov. 1843 .- [Hon. H. L. Richmond M. C., Meadville, Pa.] Dr. Silas Spencer, who was for some time a partner with Dr. R., says : "As a man, a christian and honest practitioner of medicine looking to the welfare of his patients rather than to their purses, he stood high above the reach of reproach." Dr. R. was a local preacher of the M. E.
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order, an easy speaker and of deep religious convictions. He had the credit of having preached the first Methodist sermon ever preached in the county of Chautauqua. [See M. E. Church. ]
Dr Fenn Deming-Was the second physician settling within the old town of Portland and doing business within the present town. Dr. D. was from Connecticut formerly; came from Oneida county. this state, to the crossroads about 1814. He practiced but a few years. leaving the profession for the less laborious business of selling drugs, opening the first drug store at the crossroads some time previous to 1818. He was for some time surgeon in the U. S. army in the war of 1812. He was the first postmaster of the Westfield postoffice, estab lished in 1818. He lived in Westfield but a few years. removing to Illinois where he died.
Dr Silas Spencer-Was a native of Connecticut but came to the crossroads from St. Lawrence county, N. Y .. in the fall of 1817. Ile was a man of ability and very soon obtained a good reputation as a practitioner, and after the removal of Dr. Simons in 1820 was the only physician in the old town of Portland for three years and did an extensive practice. Many of the older citizens of the present town of Portland often refer to Dr. Spencer a d his arduous. self-sacrificing labors among the comparatively few settlers in town. He is still living at Westfield in the enjoyment of a green old age. (May, 1873.)
Dr. Marcius Simons .- Dr. Simons was a native of Massaclni- setts, but in early life emigrated to Chenango county, N. Y. He studied medicine firstly in Norwich, that county, afterward with Dr. Valentine Mott in New York city and a. tended lectures there. Ile came to this county and settled in Westfield in 1816. In 1820 he removed to Forestville. in 182- to Lodi, now Gowanda, but returned the same year to Forestville. In 1836 he removed to Buffalo. in 1838 to Fredonia, in 1845 to Silver Creek and in February, 1849, to Brocton. While living at Westfield he built the first brick. house built in the county. He was one of the early practitioners
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in the present town of Portland. A cotemporary says of him : "He was a man of good talents and acquirements and a good practitioner of medicine." He was an esteemed citizen. He died at Brocton April 6, 1865.
Dr. Carlton Jones .- Dr. Jones came to Westfield about 1823. He did less business in the present town of Port- land than Dr Spencer, but was a man of skill, particularly in surgical practice : and became eminent in the treatment of inflamed eyes. He died in that place a few years since. His widow and one son still live in Westfield.
Dr. Daniel Ingalls-Came to Portland from Springville. Erie county. N. Y., in 1824. He was the first physician set- tling in the present town He had a large practice and became wealthy, but eventually failed, a victim of the specu- lation mania of 1836 and '37. He was a man of good skill in his profession. [See Biog. Sketches.]
Dr. Silas Pomeroy .- Dr. Pomeroy came to Portland in 1828, and settled on a part of lot 40, T. 5. He was what was termed a Botanic Physician, and was successful in the treat- ment of chronic diseases. [See Biog. Sketches. ]
Dr. Aaron Wilbur .- Dr. Wilbur came to Portland from Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1828 : and for many years occupied the Price farm, now owned and occupied by Edward McGarrall. Although a practitioner for many years in other parts of the state, he never entered upon the duties of a profession in Portland. [See Biog. Sketches.]
Dr. James Ball .- Dr. Ball came to Portland from Alle- gany county, N. Y., in the spring of 1832. He at first occupied a house standing on the premises now owned by Wm. H. Bell on lot 33, T. 5, afterward a house now owned and occupied by Mrs. Salome Martin at Centerville: moving to Salem X Roads about 1835. In 1841 or '42 he removed to Michigan. where he died a few years later. He was a man of average skill in his profession, and is often referred to by the early settlers.
Dr. - Saunders .- Dr. Saunders came to Portland about.
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1837, and for some time occupied the house on Main St. Brocton, now owned by J. H. Haight. He remained in town but a few years. removing eventually to some point in Massachusetts. Although capable, he did not sue- ceed well in his profession. Very little, definitely, seems to be remembered of him.
Dr. Swartwood .- Dr. S. came to Portland in 1839, and set tled at Centerville. He taught a select school in that village in the winter of 1839-'40. Not receiving patronage as he expected, he left town within a year. "Whence he came or whither he went" is not now remembered.
Dr. - Barnes-Came to Portland about 1842 or '43 : and for a few months occupied a house standing where the store of R. A. Hall now stands in Brocton. He stayed less than a year, leaving for "parts unknown."
Dr. - Marcum-Came to Portland about 1841. He was a practitioner of the Botanic system of medicine as then understood, and was particularly successful in the treatment of chronic diseases. He was a man ot good ability. but unsteady habits. He removed to the south part of the county about 1847, where three or four years later. for canses not understood. he committed suicide.
Dr. Daniel Henn .- Dr. Henn came to Portland from Cherry Valley. this state, in 1838. He was a young man, and com- menced here the practice of his profession. He boarded at the hotel of J. R. Coney. Early in 1839 he removed to Westfield, where he continued the duties of his profession until death. some years since. He was an ambitious, energetic man and a good physician.
Dr. Wm. G. Wolcott .- Dr. Wolcott came to Portland from Whitehall, Washington county, this state, in 1838. He lived after his marriage in the house now owned and occupied by Mr. E. Randall in Brocton. In 1845 he sold his property to Dr. James A. Hall and removed to Westfield, this county: but after one or two years returned to Whitehall where he died of consumption a few years later. He was Allopathic
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in medical sentiment, but while living here adopted Homeo- pathy. He was an excellent man.
Dr. - Austin-Came to Portland in 1843 or'4. He was a young man and commenced here the practice of medi- cine. He had no family but boarded at the hotel of R. Fitch. He stayed but a few months. For causes not known he committed suicide at some point in the vicinity of James- town in this county.
Dr. James A. Hall .- Dr. Hall was a son of Ahira Hall, an early settler of the town of Portland. He studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Albina Hall, in the state of Maine ; attended medical lectures at Bowdoin College at Brunswick, that state, and after practicing in Maine for six years removed to Salem X Roads in 1844 and continued his profession. In 1845 he purchased of Dr. W. G. Wolcott the house and lot in that village now owned by E. Randall, but sold some years later and purchased the house and lot on Main street now owned by J. II. Haight, and still later the house now occupied by the family. Dr. Hall was an active, energetic business man, a good practitioner and an excellent citizen. He died at Brocton April 8, 1866. [See war of 1861.]
Dr. Lemuel Clark .- Dr. Clark was born in Harbor Creek. Erie county, Pa. He studied the botanic practice of medicine and commenced the duties of the profession in Salem X Roads. now Broeton, in the spring of 1845, occupying the house and store now owned by J. E. White on the corner of Main and South Division streets. He attended medical lectures in the winter of 1849-50 at the E. M. Institute, Cincinnati. Ohio. He afterward practiced at Fredonia, Mayville and Summerville, in this county, and is now living on his farm in the town of Chautauqua. He was a successful practitioner and a good citizen.
Dr. - Rose .- Dr. Rose was an eminent practitioner of the botanic school, and came to Portland from Harbor Creek, Pa., with Dr. L. Clark in 1845. Being advanced in years, he did not engage in the active duties of the profession, doing
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but an office business. One or two years later he returned to Harbor Creek. Few men of any school were endowed with a better faculty for the successful practice of medicine than Dr. Rose. He was a man of excellent qualities. He died many years since.
Dr Thomas Cushing .- Dr. Cushing came to Portland from Cazenovia, this state, in the winter of 1848-9. He attended medieal lectures at the Albany Medical College. He was a good practitioner and succeeded well in his profession. He bought and occupied the house in Brocton now owned by D. T. Taylor. Dr. Cushing removed to North East, Pa., in 185- and after a few years to Orleans county, N. Y., where he still resides.
Dr. Horace C. Taylor .- Dr. T. is a native of Franklin county, Massachusetts. He commenced the study of medicine at Fredonia, N. Y., in 1845; afterward studied at Salem X Roads, now Brocton, and attended lectures at the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, classes of 1848 and '49. He commenced the practice of the profession at Salem X Roads in July, 1849. He has ever shared in a reasonable degree the confidence of the people and is still engaged in the duties of the profession. He occupies the property on East Main street, Brocton, located by Hollis Fay in 1813.
Dr. - McIntyre .- Dr. McIntyre came into Portland in 185- from He purchased the house on South Division street built by T. S. Moss some years since and now owned by Mrs. II. Kelley. He remained, however, but two or three years, removing to Wisconsin in 185 -.
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