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 15
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Dr. William Skinner .- Dr. Skinner was originally from Chenango county, this state; came from Sherman, in this county, to Portland in 1861. He was a consin of Capt. Chester Skinner of Brocton. He was educated at Columbia College, New York city, and was engaged in the practice of medicine many years before coming to Western New York. He was a man of fair talents but infirm health. He died of consumption in 1866.
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Dr. Herman J. Dean .- Dr. D. is a native of Lockport, New York, and completed his medical education at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He commenced the practice of the profession in Michigan but removed to Centerville, in this town, in May, 1857. He is a man of good abilities and succeeds well as a physician. He married Eda, a daughter of Mr. Lincoln Fay, and now owns and occupies the premises in Brocton so long owned and occupied by Capt. James Budlong.
Dr. Nathaniel H. Barnes-Came to Portland from Michigan in 1861 and for one year practiced in town, afterward removing to Jamestown, this county. He is a member of the Homeopathic school of practitioners. Dr. Barnes is also a clergyman and some years since relinquished medical practice for the pulpit.
Dr Thomas C. Wilson .- Dr. W. is a native of New York city. He commenced the study of medicine at Stockton, in this county, in 1866. He attended lectures at Bellevue medical college in New York city and commenced the practice of the profession at Centerville. this town, in 1869. Dr. W. was four years in the U. S. army, war of 1861. He is a young man but by perseverance cannot fail of success.
NOTE .- It was the intention of the writer to give a short sketch of each clergyman that at any time made Portland a home, in a manner similar to that of physicians, but it has been found impossible to obtain the information necessary except in comparatively few cases, and the effort is reluctantly abandoned. They have been named, however, as far as possible in connection with the churches to which they belonged.
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THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Merchants.
The first store opened within the bounds of the present town of Portland was by Thomas Klumph, a son of Augustus Klumph, in 1817, on the farm now owned by Chester Munson, north part of lot 37, T. 5. It was kept in a small room in one corner of his father's log house. Very few goods were kept and these were mostly of the Yankee notion class. A corres- pondent says that " a few yards of cloth, a handful of groceries, tobacco and pipes comprised the stock mostly." A perambu . lating German peddler might have carried away the whole concern upon his back. Mrs. Samuel Munson says that the first looking glass she ever owned she bought at this store. A glass was a luxury in those days. This store was but a small affair but was the first attempt at selling goods in town and was often a convenience to the settlers. It was discontinued after about two years.
The second store in town was opened in 1830 by Abial and Frank Silver, in the west room of the house now owned and occupied by Cullen Burr as a dwelling, south part of lot 34. T. 5. The stock consisted of such goods as were usually found in pioneer stores. A good trade was established here. In 1832 they sold to Wm. Curtis and E. Tinker. The Silvers removed to Michigan. The store was kept by the new proprietors until 1834 when it was discontinued.
The first store opened in Brocton was by Dr. Daniel Ingalls and Joseph Lockwood in 1830. The building is still standing
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on the southeast corner and owned by J. E. White and occupied by C. O. Furman. In 1832 or '33 the property was sold to B. F. Post. who also bought the goods belonging to Dr. Ingalls and continued the trade for a few years later. Mr. Lockwood removed his portion of the goods to Centerville. Various parties have since sold goods in the building and among them Chauncey Hulburt, H. A. S. Thompson, Thompson & White, Thompson & Wells and C. S. Ogden. A store was also opened here in 1836 or '37 by a firm from Rochester, but failing, the goods were sold to Harmon Smith and the trade continued for about one year later.
The north part of the hotel of D. Morey at Brocton was built in 1835 for a store and dwelling. The east room was used for the sale of goods by Samuel Hall and E. R. Southwick. the owners of the building, for about one year, when the building was sold and converted into a tavern. [See Taverns.]
The building now owned and occupied by J. B. Haywood as a store, on the northwest corner at Brocton, was built by E. R Southwick in 1836 and occupied by him as a store. In 1837 it was sold and occupied by A. S. Moss and J. B. Fay as a store. In 1839 it was purchased by Ransom S. Morrison and occupied by him for the sale of goods to 1840 ; by R. S. & O. Morrison to 1845 ; by R. S. Morrison to 1846 : by Morrison & Moss to 1858, and by R. S. Morrison to 1860. Various parties have sold goods in this building since and among them Rufus Haywood & James A. Hunt ; J. A. Hunt, C. O. & G. Furman : G. Furman & J. B. Haywood ; J. A. H. Skinner. and by the present owner in 1866 to the present.
In 1844 H. A. S. Thompson opened a store in the room so long occupied as a bar room in Ogden's building at Brocton. but removed to the southeast, corner in 1848.
J. H. & W. L. Minton opened a store in Brocton in 1847 in a building standing west of the hardware store of R. A. Hall and now occupied by G. W. Thompson, on the north side of the street, as a market. They removed to the store now occupied by C. S. Ogden in 1849. After 1852 it was continued
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by W. L. Minton, by Minton & Richardson and by W. L. Minton to 1863, when it was discontinued.
T. S. Moss & Mark Haight opened a store in Brocton in 1858 ; C. S. Ogden & J. A. Hunt in 1866 : C. S. Ogden in 1867 : D. Baker in 1867; Baker & Furman in 1868; C. O. Furman in 1870; A. J. Mericle in 1867 ; Mark Haight in 1870; Moss & Haight in 1871; E. Elmore, hardware, in 1864: Elmore & Thompson in 1866; Hall & Thompson in 1870; R. A. Hall & E. C. Ball in 1870, and R. A. Hall in 1873.
Thomas Klumph was the pioneer merchant of Centerville as he was of the town, opening a store in 1832 in the west room of the house on Main street owned by R. D. Fuller and nearly opposite the M. E. church. He continued the business until the fall of 1837 when he removed west. This house was built by two brothers by the name of Goodwin in 1831 and '32.
Joseph Lockwood opened a store at Centerville in a building a few feet east of the tavern house now owned by R. D. Fuller, in 1833. This building was afterward removed to the hollow east of Centerville and some portions of it eventually found a place in the house of George Couchman.
In 1835 Joseph Lockwood and David Somerman built the store building on the southeast corner at Centerville now occupied by the family of Asahel Peck, deceased, and occupied it as a store for about one year, when the goods were bought by Horace Lockwood and the trade continued for a year later. Lockwood sold to Harmon Smith, who sold to A. Abrams. S. C. Riley opened a store in 1845 ; S. C. Riley & Amos Barton in 1846 ; Amos Barton & Brother in 1850; Amos Barton in 1851; Curtis Wilbur in 1849; R. D. Fuller in 1850 ; P. Mericle & S. C. Riley in 1855, followed by A. Andrews and others, as - Griswold, F. Tower, P. Barber, Fuller & Townsend, Fuller & Barnhart, Fuller, Mericle & Barnhart, A. J. Mericle, J. Dunham, T. Rolph & Dodge, T. Rolph, I. Shattuck, Dr. T. C. Wilson, drugs, E. T. Harris and some others.
Various small grocery establishments have existed at various times but are hardly worthy of note.
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CHAPTER XXXVI.
Fruit-Fruit-Growing and Wine-making.
Portland occupies the center of one of the most import- ant fruit-growing regions of the state. Its whole extent is well fitted for the growth of the apple, pear and peach ; and all but a narrow strip on the south and a section in the southwest corner, admirably adapted to the cultivation of the grape and a large variety of the smaller fruits. It stands prominent in the front rank of towns, when considered with reference to the amount. variety and quality of the fruit grown.
Capt James Dunn's Orchard .- This was the first orchard of any kind set in town. Early in the spring of 1807 Mr. Dunn visited his former home in Pennsylvania, and on his return brought a small bundle of young apple trees from two to three feet in length. To save them he wat- ered them in the small streams by the way as often as he watered his horse. Mrs. Dunn with her own hands set the first of these young trees in the place where it now stands, on the well known Dunn farm, and tradition has it that in after years she gathered the first fruit grown upon it, and the first of its kind matured in town. The balance of the orchard, very nearly as now standing, was set from those sprouts, and from trees grown from seeds then planted by Mr. Dunn.
David Eaton's Orchard .- In 1807 Mr. Eaton planted a nursery from seeds brought from his early home in Mas-
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sachusetts. In 1809 he purchased one dozen young apple trees and commenced an orchard around his dwelling on lot 37, T. 5. A few of these are still standing: but the larger portion of the orchard as now seen was set from trees grown from the seeds planted in 1807. That year he planted pear seeds from which were grown trees that thirteen years after produced their first fruit, the first of the kind grown, not only in the present town. but in the county. "David Eaton's Pears" were both a novelty and a luxury. Four of these trees are still standing and producing fruit. These pears were of three kinds. the Harvest Bell, Harvest Pear and Madeline.
Elisha Fay's Orchard .- This orchard was set in part from a nursery planted by Mr. Fay from seeds brought by him from Massachusetts in 1807, and in part from one planted in 1813. Pear trees were also set. but few of them matured. This orchard is now owned by Geo. Smith, and stands on lands first settled by Mr. Fay, part of lot 25. T. 5. Mr. Fay claims the honor of introducing to Portland those standard varieties of apples. since become so famous, the Roxbury Russet, the R. I. Greening, and Spitzenburg: also the Baldwin and Sopsovine a little later, all from Massachusetts.
In 1820, Inman & Tinney, two men out of town, and largely interested in fruit growing. planted sev eral nurseries on shares with landholders. Some of these were well cared for, while others grew up a mass of worthless sprouts. The one planted on the farm of John Quigley was one of the latter. One planted on the farm of Nathaniel Fay was one of the former, and furnished trees for some of the best orchards in the country. In 1824 and '25. fruit trees of various kinds were largely introduced from the nurseries of Win. R. Prince of Long Island. through his agent, Rev. Charles LaHatt. The enthusiasm for nursery and fruit culture, since so prominent in the life of Mr. Lincoln Fay. began to be
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manifest at this date. In his communication Mr. Fay says: "I read much on the subject, and introduced all the val- uable varieties until I had tested one hundred and fifty varieties of apples, one hundred of peaches, besides all the other varieties adapted to a northern latitude. Most of them were a total loss, not more than one in ten of all tested have been propagated for sale." Mr. Fay has been a life-long market fruit-grower, has raised and sold trees on a small scale for forty years, "twenty five thousand trees being as many as he had growing at any one time." Of the variety and quality of fruit grown by Mr. Fay and also by all the principal fruit growers in town an estimate may be formed from the following extract from the letter of Mr. Fay: "I swept all the first premiums on fruit at the first U. S. Pomological Fair at Buffalo. Twelve states were represented. I really had, so said the judges, the best selected varieties found in any lot from any of the states, and they were obliged to award me the first premiums." Mr. Fay is still engaged in fruit growing, and although his nursery is on a limited scale, it is in fact, one of the finest in western New York.
Elijah Fay's Orchard-Was set from seeds planted in 1813. It was set in part in 1815 and in part in 1817. The orchard was in bearing condition in 1821; seven- teen and one-half bushels of apples being sold that year to thirteen of the settlers, no one venturing to purchase more than two and a half bushels. A large proportion of the trees in this orchard are still standing and in bearing condition, in all about ten acres. Pears were planted at the same time.
Nathaniel Fay's Orchard .- The nursery of Mr. Fay was planted from seeds in 1815, on the farm located by him, part of lot 12, T. 5, and largely increased in 1820. (See Elisha Fay's orchard). He furnished trees to settlers for many years. The orchard upon the farm, nearly as now seen, was set in 1820 or '21. A few trees were set before.
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Pear trees were set at the same time, some of which are still living.
The orchard about the residence of the writer was set by Moses Sage in 1816. A few trees of the orchard of A. B. Post, by Daniel Barnes in 1814. A part of the orchard of Corington Barker in 1816. A few trees on the farm of H. A. Blowers, by Thomas Klumph as early as 1812; and a part of the orchard of Edward . MeGarrall, by John Price in 1812 or '13.
Orchards rapidly increased, and new varieties of fruit were introduced, so that at the present the town in this par- ticular stands second to none in Western New York. A congenial soil and climate with proper manipulation have made the apple crop one of the most important raised in town, and large quantities are yearly sent to market, mostly to New York, Boston or other cities. The variety is large, but those relied upon for market are those already named.
Cherries and Plums were introduced very soon after the apple and pear, and are still grown extensively, and in their season are largely sent to the oil territory of Pennsylvania.
Since 1855 Strawberries have been largely cultivated, and have proved a source of large profit. Wilson's Seedling is the variety principally cultivated and upon which reliance is chiefly placed. Other varieties are largely cultivated, but less extensively. The oil territory of Pennsylvania. Buffalo and other eastern localities furnish a ready market.
Raspberries have been largely cultivated since about 1860, and find a ready sale in various localities, principally in the oil territory of Pennsylvania.
Peaches were first cultivated from the pits, planted in 1807 by Captain Dunn and others. Very little effort was necessary, the trees growing almost spontaneously and yielding prolifically. The fruit was at first small and inferior in quality, but was soon improved. It was usually the first fruit raised, and the crop was seldom a failure The writer
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well remembers that as late as 1827 the yield was so . extensive that there was not even a nominal value in the market and hogs were turned into the orchards to fatten. Some of the earlier varieties were the Heath, Sergeant's Yel- low, Early York, Kensington, Prince's Rareripe. These have mostly given place to improved varieties, as Hale's Early. Crawford's Early, and Hill's Chili. The Early York is still a leading variety.
For some years the peach has been a very uncertain crop. from a disease of the trees, called the Yellows. Of its nature nothing is known. Its approach is insidious, and as yet no certain remedy has been found. It is, however, less preva - lent than formerly. Other causes doubtless have their influence in rendering the crop uncertain, as the change in the climate and the blasting winds of early spring. Not- withstanding, there is seldom a year but some part of a crop of this luscious fruit is gathered.
Fay's Vineyard .- Dea. Elijah Fay has the honor of introducing to our climate and town that incomparable fruit, the grape. In 1818 he made an effort to introduce the native Fox grape from Massachusetts, but was not suc- cessful. the soil producing large vines but little fruit. In 1822 he obtained a few roots of Miller's Borgunda, Sweetwater and Hamburg varieties then popular, but with no better sue. cess. In 1824 he introduced the Isabella and Catawba. which proved to be well adapted to the soil and climate. The vines of these two varieties, covering a plat of ground no more than two by eight rods, were the only ones in town for many years, with perhaps an exception of a few on two or three farms or gardens. They were largely productive. The first wine made by Dea. Fay, was from grapes grown in 1830. from five to eight gallons. and was the first made from the cultivated grape in western or even central New York. Each year an addition was made nntil 1859. when the wine house of Fay. Ryekman & Haywood was built and put in operation. Until the winter of 1872-3 the old stocks of
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THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
these pioneer vines were strong and healthy, and each year sent forth a vigorous growth and have failed but twice of a crop of fruit since their first one in 1825. One of them had been trained a distance of one hundred and ten feet, and in 1871 yielded one hundred and sixty pounds of fruit. The severity of the past winter, 1872-'3, materially injured them and they are in part removed. The family have still a few gallons of the vintage of 1847. Probably three hundred gallons per year were made by Mr. Fay for the last four years of his life. His cellars contained one thousand five hun- dred gallons at the time of his death.
Wine House of Fay, Ryckman & Haywood-Was built in 1859 by Joseph B. Fay, Garrett E. Ryckman and Rufus Haywood on ground obtained of Dea. E. Fay at Brocton, consisting of a wooden structure one and one-half stories high. 30x50 feet on the ground, and with a double cellar, one beneath the other, of ten feet each in height. Facilities for the successful manufacture of wine were at once introduced and 2,000 gallons made the same fall. The success of Dea. Fay in the manufacture of wine had given an impetus to the culture of the grape, and at that date twenty acres would be a fair estimate of the area set and in bearing condition. Not until a few years later was it supposed that the heavy clay soil of the lake country or the shaley soil of the " side hill " was at all adapted to the culture of the grape and thus far it had been confined to the gravelly belt. The increase of fruit enabled the company to increase their manufacture from year to year and in 1865 the amount was 16,000 gallons. Their wines found a ready sale and from their excellent quality laid the foundation of the popularity of the present wine house of Ryckman, Day & Co. Mr. Fay retired from the firm in June, 1862. Ryekman & Haywood continuing the business until 1865. Their cellars had a storage capacity of 30.000 gallons. The expense of the concern, exclusive of storage. was $2,400.
Lake Shore Wine Company .- The establishment of the wine house of Fay, Ryckman & Haywood gave a strong
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impetus to the planting of vines and at the close of the war of 1861, when the minds of the inhabitants were relieved of the strain of anxiety consequent upon the war, the impulsiveness of the American character became strangely manifest in the avidity with which the people seized upon the idea of large profits and great and sudden wealth in the culture of the grape. The fact of the adaptability of the heavier lands of the town for grape culture had been demonstrated and vineyards of from one-half to two acres or more were set on nearly every farm and a plat of cuttings for new vines became a necessity. At the close of 1864 there were at least 400 acres of vines in town. The profits and fortunes of the speculation mania of 1836 and '37 bid fair to become manifest on a small scale on every hand, so strangely the spirit of speculation runs riot in men when the balance wheel of cool calculation has lost its influence or been overcome by the force of impulse. During this state of things, in the spring of 1865, a project was started at Brocton for building a wine house of more extended proportions and still further encouraging the growth of the grape. With very little difficulty a company was formed with a capital of $100,000 fully subscribed and fifty per cent. paid in, which went into operation April 1, 1865, with Timothy Judson president, J. B. Fay secretary and Albert Haywood superintendent. By previous agreement the company pur- chased the stock of 17,000 gallons of wine of Ryckman & Haywood and their entire wine interest, real and otherwise, for $38,000. The present wine house of Ryckman, Day & Co. was built the same season by the company at a cost of $6,500, consisting of a brick structure 40 feet by 70, two stories high of ten feet each and a cellar to compare with the old one. It was supplied with all the modern conveniences for an estab- lishment of the kind, but from a series of mismanagements and a strange fatuity the enterprise did not seem to prosper. The company became involved, a general derangement of its affairs occurred and stockholders became disheartened. At this juncture two prominent stockholders, G. E. Ryckman and
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R. B. Day, who held the paper of the company for large amounts, commenced proceedings for collection, and on June 2. 1868, sold the entire personal property of the company, much of which was purchased by themselves. and in June, 1869, to satisfy a balance yet due, sold the real estate, which they also purchased for the remaining indebtedness of the company. Thus terminated an enterprise that ought to have been a success. The same inflated ideas of large profits and speedy wealth were carried into the purchase of grapes and the manage- ment of the manufacture that existed at an earlier date in regard to vine culture, and the result was but a natural finale of such a course.
Wine House of Ryckman, Day & Co :- This firm commenced business the first of June, 1868. The wine purchased at the sale of the Lake Shore Wine Company's property was 24,000 gallons. The storage capacity was but 40,000 at that date. It is at this date (1872) 90,000 gallons. The storage capacity of the cellars is 120,000 gallons. In 1870 about 200 tons of grapes were manufactured and a like number in 1871. Mr. Ryckman furnished 30 tons, 100 to 125 tons were furnished by the vineyards of town and the balance from other towns and from northern Ohio and central New York. In 1870, 45,000 gallons of wine were made and in 1871, 42,000. The varieties of grapes used were Catawba, Isabella, Concord. Clinton, Iona, Delaware ; the larger proportion were of Isabella and Catawba. They have now in their cellars about 85,000 gallons. Energy and judicious expenditure of capital has placed the business of the company on a firm footing, the enterprise has become one of large profit to the firm, and their wines now rank equal if not superior to those of other wine houses in western or central New York. Champagne is also largely manufactured. A brandy distillery is also attached to the establishment but is not in operation.
Empire Vineyards .- The vineyards of Ralph D. Fuller, of Portland Center, were commenced in 1862, increased to six acres by 1867 and now consist of twelve acres. The fruit was
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sent to market until 1867 when the manufacture of wine was commenced, 200 gallons being made that year. In 1871 10,000 gallons were manufactured, and at this writing (1873) he has in his cellars 14,000 gallons. The varieties of grapes grown are Isabella, Catawba, Clinton, Delaware and Concord, the first in excess of the others. These wines find a ready sale in every locality where known. Mr. Fuller occupies the cellars of the tavern house built by J. R. Coney in 1834. This wine house is but an instance of individual enterprise in this direction and is a credit to the business energies of the proprietor.
Wine House of Thomas Quigley .- The raising of grapes for market was commenced by Mr. Quigley in 1858. The first wine made by him (20 to 30 gallons) was in 1863. The amount made in 1871 was 3,000 gallons. He occupies cellars under his own residence in the west part of Centerville. This is but another instance of enterprise in this direction among the citizens of town. A few others have occasionally made from ten to three or four hundred gallons, but only as a necessity from the low price of fruit.
The number of acres now (1873) set to grapes in town is about 600. From the low price of the fruit possibly a hundred acres have been torn up the present season.
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THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Railroads-Buffalo & Erie Railroad.
Mayville & Portland Railroad .- The act incorporat- ing a company for the construction of this road was passed March 29. 1832. with a capital of $150,000. The incorporators. names were "Wm. Peacock and those that shall subscribe to the capital stock." The commissioners named to secure subscriptions to the stock, were: Wmn. Peacock, Martin Prendergast, T. B. Campbell, James McClurg, E. L. Tinker, Gilbert Knapp. The extent of the charter was fifty years, and eight years were allowed for construc- tion. The intention was to construct a road from Port- land Harbor on Lake Erie to Mayville, or to Chautauqua Lake near Mayville. From various causes the design was uever carried out. It is quite probable that some portion of the present town of Portland would have been crossed in the construction.
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