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 17
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 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
1806. Same as 1805.
1807, At Mrs. Perry's (Mrs. McHenry), same as 1806.
1808, At the house of Hezekiah Barker at - Canadaway settlement," now Fredonia.
1809, At the house of John Scott, inn-keeper in the now village of Mayville.
1810, Same as 1809.
1811, At the house of Matthew B. Lawrie.
1812. House of John Scott. Same as 1809.
1813, Same as 1812.
On the erection of the town of Portland town meetings were held, in
1×14, At the house of Jonathan Cass in the now village of Westfield, the house standing a little in the rear of the store of H. J. Minton.
1815. At the house of Mrs. Sarah Perry. Same as 1807.
1816. At the house of Martin Smith. house standing where the house of Milton J. Munson now stands, on lot 33. T. 5. R. 13 : house built by Jeremiah Potter in 1812. the first frame house built in the present town of Portland.
1817. At the house of Martin Smith. Same as 1816.
30
232
IlISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
1818, At the house of Joseph Cass on the Mckenzie farm. part of lot 4!, T. 5. This year the present frame dwelling was built, but it is not known whether the town meeting was held in this or in the old double log house across the way, in which Mr. Cass lived two years.
1819, At the house of Joseph Cass. Same as 1818.
:820, At the house of Joseph Cass. Same as 1819.
1821, At the house of Perry G. Ellsworth. Same as Joseph Cass.
1822, At the house of Jonathan Boardwell, same as Joseph ('ass. on the Mckenzie farm.
1823 and '24. Same as 1822.
1825. House of Lemon Averill. Same as Joseph Cass. [See 1818.]
1826, House of Lemon Averill. Same as 1825.
1827, House of Moses Sage : house now owned and occupied by J. N. Porter, east of Brocton. on part of lot 13. T. 5.
1828, House of Henry Abell in the village of Westfield : house standing where the Brewer block now stands.
1829, At the house of Martin Coney in the present town of Portland ; house now owned and occupied by (). Jerome Greene, on part of lot 34. T. 5.
1830. House of Martin Coney. Same as 1829.
1831, At the house of Andrew Mathewson; house standing where the house of Wm. W. Pettit now stands. on central part of lot 19, T. 5.
1832, At the house of John R. Coney ; house standing upon the "Coney farm," northwest corner of lot 19, T. 5.
1833, At the house of R. K. Barnes. Same as 1829.
1834, At the house of Wm. Curtis ; house now occupied by (). J. Greene. Same as 1833.
1835, At the house of John R. Coney, the tavern house built by him at Portland Center in 1834 on the northwest corner of lot 25, T. 5.
From this date to the present (1873) the town meetings have been uniformly held at the same place as in 1835. The fall
233
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
elections were held each year at the place of holding the town meetings, according to the provisions of the statute.
Special Town Meetings have been held as follows :
Ist. January 27, 1816, at the house of Mrs. Sarah Perry; with reference to a division of the town. It was adjourned to the house of Perry G. Ellsworth. The vote was 46 in favor and 51 against a division.
2d. May 12, 1818, at the house of Joseph Cass, for the election of town officers failing to qualify.
3d. July 12, 1824, at the house of Jonathan Boardwell, for the election of officers failing to qualify.
4th. January 29, 1833, at the house of R. K. Barnes, with reference to the disposition of the poor fund. [See School Fund.]
5th. May 2. 1836, at the house of J. R. Coney, for the election of officers failing to qualify.
6th, May 6, 1839 ; same as 1836.
7th. May 19, 1846, at the house of J. R. Coney, with refer- ence to the granting of licenses to sell intoxicating liquors. [See act May 14. 1845.] Vote cast, 280. For license, 115; opposed. 165.
8th. May 1, 1847, at the house of J. R. Coney, with refer- ence to granting of licenses, as in 1846. Whole vote, 289. For license. 160 ; opposed, 129.
9th. April 10. 1851, at the house of Cdleb Griswold, for the election of town officers failing to qualify.
10th, March 8, 1864, at the house of S. C. Riley, with refer- ence to tax for bounty for veteran soldiers reenlisting-war of 1861. [See War of 1861.]
11th, July 30, 1864. at the office of Isaac Shattuck, with reference to tax as bounty for those enlisting under the call of the president of .July 18. 1864-war of 1861. [Sce War of 1861.]
12th. January 7. 1865. at the house of S. C. Kiley. with reference to tax as bounty for volunteers under the call for
234
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
men made December 19, 1864-war of 1861. [ See War of 1861.]
Speciul General Elections have been held as follows :
1. April 30, 1816, and two following days, for election of member of the 14th congress. Vote cast as follows: Archibald S. Clark. 44 : Daniel W. Lewis, 33.
2. June 19, 20, 21, 1821, for members of constitutional convention, in accordance with act of March 13, 1821. Vote cast as follows: Augustus Porter, 73; Samuel Russell, 76 : Joseph W. Moulton. 21 ; Philo Orton, 20 : Matthew Prender- gast, 1.
3. Held on the third Tuesday in January, 1822, and two following days, with reference to the adoption of the new constitution framed in 1821. Vote cast. 103. For. 102 : opposed. 1.
235 °
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
CHAPTER XL.
Town Officers-Supervisors.
1. John McMahan was the first supervisor of the old town of Chautauqua, elected April 1805, and re-elected in 1806 and 1807, and met with the board of Genesee . county at Batavia. "He was the son of James, and born in Chilisquaqua, Pennsylvania, about 1764. He came to Chautauqua Creek in 1803, and purchased in the present town of Westfield 22,014 acres of land, and erected mills on the creek in 1804. He died at Mayville, September 22, 1831, aged 66 years."-[Hon. E. T. Foote.]
2. Arthur Bell-Was elected supervisor of Chautauqua in April, 1808, and served with the Niagara county board which met at Buffalo. "He was born at Paxton, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1753. He was a revolu- tionary soldier. He was one of the founders of the first Presbyterian church in the county. He died August 6, 1834, aged 81 years."-[Hon. E. T. Foote.]
3. Thomas Prendergast-Was the first supervisor of the town of Chautauqua after its division, elected in 1809. "He was the son of William, and born in Pawling, N. Y., September 14, 1758. He emigrated to the present town of Ripley in 1806, where he died June 3, 1842, aged 84 years." He was the first supervisor of the ancient town of Portland, elected in 1814. He was a patriarch on the board, representing Ripley from 1817 to 1827 inclusive excepting 1826 .- [Hon. E. T. Foote.]
236
HISTORICAL SKETCHIES OF
4. Matthew Prendergast-Was supervisor of Chautauqua in 1810 and 1811. "He was the eldest son of William. and was born in Pawling, N. Y., and emigrated from Pitts- town, N. Y., to Chautauqua in 1806. He was sixty years of age when he came to this county." He was for some years a judge of the county. He died at his residence on the west side of Chautauqua Lake, February 24. 1838, aged 83 .- [Hon. E. T. Foote.]
5. Samuel Ayers-Was supervisor of Chautauqua in 1812. His residence was on the east side of Chautauqua Lake. "He was born at Killingworth, Connecticut, Nov- ember 9th, 1769, and came to Chautauqua in 1808. He removed to Mason county, Virginia, about 1825, where he died August 29th, 1829."-[Hon. E. T. Foote.]
6. John Scott-Was supervisor of Chautauqua in 1813. . "Ile was the son of William, and born in Taunton. Mass- achusetts, January 1, 1770. He came to Canadaway settle- ment in 1804, married Brilliant, a daughter of Dea. Orsa- mus Holmes, and settled in Mayville in 1807. and opened a public house. He removed from Mayville in 1826, and eventually settled. in Lee county, Illinois, where he died in 1 845."-[Hon. E. T. Foote.]
7. Thomas Prendergast .- [See No. 3.]
8. David Eaton-Was the second supervisor of the ancient town of Portland. serving on the board for 1815 and for the second town of Portland for 1816 and 1817. He was also a member from the present town for 1833. 34, '35 .- [See Biog. Sketches.]
9. Thomas B. Campbell-Is of Scotch descent. His grandfather. Thomas, was born in Arjillshire, Scotland ; his father in Londonderry, New Hampshire, and his mother in Bedford. same state. Judge Campbell was born in Alexandra, Grafton county, of that state. May 19th. 1788. He came to the ancient cross roads in March. 1817, was elected supervisor in 1813. and for nine years in succession. He was chairman of the board in 1820. '23. '24 and '25.
237
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
In his letter he says: "I have been a resident of the same homestead I now occupy fifty-five years, and there are but few of my former associates now remaining-some have removed but many have died. I have lived to wit- ness the contrast between the appearance and condition of the county fifty five years ago, then almost a wilderness, and now, one of the most prosperous and promising counties of the Empire State."
10. Elishu Arnold-Was supervisor of the second town of Portland for 1827 and 1828, and for the present town for 1829, '31 and '32. He was an active, efficient member .- [See Biog. Sketches No. 261.]
11. Nathaniel Fay-Was supervisor for the year 1830. He served his constituents well, and filled various posi- tions in town for many years .- [See Biog. Sketches. ]
12. David Euton .- [Sce No. 8, also Biog. Sketches.]
13. Asa Andrews-Was supervisor for 1836 and 1840. He was an efficient officer .- [See Biog. Sketches. ]
14. Timothy Judson-Was elected to nearly every position in town, and to that of supervisor for the years 1837, '38, '39. '41, '42, '43, '46, '47, '49. '52. '53. and '54. He was chairman of the board in 1839, 1852, 1853 and 1854. [See Biog. Sketches. ]
15. John R. Coney-Was elected supervisor of the town for 1844, '45 and '51. He was a capable business man. -- [See Biog. Sketches. ]
16. Ebenezer Harris-Was supervisor for the year 1848. -[See Biog. Sketches.]
17. Asa Blood-Was supervisor of the town for 1850. He was the son of Comfort and Mary Morey Blood. and was born in Vermont, April 8th. 1808. He emigrated to Mayville. in this county, in 1829, and to Portland in 1831. and for thirty-five years lived on a farm near Portland Center. part of lot 26, T. 5. He was an active business man and large dealer in cattle. Ho now lives at Westfield. this county.
238
HISTORICAL SKETCHIES OF
18. Charles A. Marsh-Was supervisor for the year 1855, and was an efficient officer. He was the son of Isaac and Polly Roby Marsh, and was born at Nashua, N. H., and came with his family from Michigan to Portland in June, 1836; settling with his father on northwest part of lot 24, T. 5. By an accident some years since Mr. Marsh became disabled, the motor nerves of his lower extremi- ties became paralyzed, and he has since been unable to walk. He now lives on his farm at Portland Center.
19. Darwin G. Goodrich-Was elected supervisor for the years 1856 and 1858, and was an active, capable officer. He was the son of Charles and Rebecca Brownell Goodrich, and was born at Sinclairville, this county, December 25, 1824, and came with the family to Portland in 1835. He was a dealer in wood and Inmber. He now lives at Clermont, Iowa, and is editor and publisher of a spirited weekly paper at that place.
20. Ralph D. Fuller-Was elected supervisor of the town for the year 1857. He was the son of Ebenezer and Hannah Honse Fuller, and was born in Cazenovia. this state, February 26, 1820. He came to Portland in 1845. Mr. Fuller is a merchant, and proprietor of the Empire Vineyards at Portland Center.
21. Horace C. Taylor -- Son of Bernice and Caroline Esta- brook Taylor, was born in Montague, Franklin county, Massa- chusetts. November 26th, 1813. He came with his family to Fredonia, this county, in the spring of 1827, and settled in Portland in October, 1847. He was elected supervisor of the town for the years 1859, '61 and '62. He is a physician. and has been in the practice of his profession at Brocton since 1849. He was supervisor during the first two years of the war of 1861, and shared largely in the perplexing duties of the position, with reference to raising men and means to answer the calls of the government.
22. Gurdon M. Taylor -- Was the son of Erastus and Elizabeth Mathewson Taylor, and was born in Portland.
239
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
May 10th, 1821. He was elected supervisor in 1860. He was a man of sterling integrity and an esteemed citizen. He was a farmer, and died March 4th, 1861, on the farm settled by his father in 1809.
23. Albert Haywood-Son of Benjamin and Polly Sawyer Haywood, was born in Jaffrey, Cheshire county, N. H., August 10th, 1825, and came to Portland from there in May, 1855. He was elected supervisor for 1863 and '64, the last two years of the war of 1861, when the duties of the office with reference to raising men to fill the quota of the town, and money by taxation and otherwise, were perplexing and arduous, yet were acceptably discharged. Mr. Haywood is a dealer in horses and cattle and resides in Fredonia.
24. Joseph B. Fay .- Mr. Fay for many years shared the confidence of the people, and was often elected to office : and for the years 1866 and '67 was a member of Assembly from the first district of this county. IIe was the son of Elijah and Lucy Belknap Fay, and was born in Portland, May 17th, 1817. He was elected supervisor for the years 1865 and 1866. Mr. Fay is a farmer and fruit grower, but a year since sold his interest in town, and is now living at Topeka, Kansas.
25. Alfred Eaton-The son of David and Mercy Eaton, was born in Portland, March 4th, 1815. He was elected supervisor of the town for the years 1867 and '68, and dis- charged the duties of the office acceptably. He is a farmer and occupies the farm settled by his father in 1806. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1869.
26. Joseph E. Harris-The son of Joshua and Clarissa Scott Harris ; was born in the county of Windham, Vermont. July 15th, 1809. Hle came to Portland in 1831. In some capacity he served the town many years. He was elected supervisor for the year 1869. Mr. Harris is a farmer and occupies a portion of the land settled by Wm. Dunham in 1816.
27. Theodore S. Moss-Was elected supervisor for the
31
240
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
years 1870, '71, '72 and '73. He was the son of Edward and Sally Sherwood Moss, and was born in Washington county, this state, October 16th, 1822. He came from there to Portland in 1839. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1849. Mr. Moss was for many years a merchant, and now is a member of the firm of Moss, Haight & Dunham, bankers at Brocton.
Town Clerks .- Town clerks of the town of Chautauqua. county of Genesee: 1805, James Montgomery : 1806, James Montgomery ; 1807, John S. Bellows.
Of the town of Chautauqua and county of Chautauqua : 1808, John Scott: 1809, John Scott; 1810, Lazarus Cary : 1811, Lazarus Cary ; 1812, John F. Cary ; 1813, George McG. Ogle.
Of the ancient town of Portland: 1814, Asa Hall; 1815, Amos Atwater.
Of the second town of Portland: 1816, Jabez Hulburt : 1×17, Fenn Deming; 1818, Fenn Deming: 1819 to 1828. David Eaton.
Of the present town of Portland: 1829-32, David Eaton. 1833-34, Timothy Judson ; 1835-43, John R. Coney ; 1844-45. Asa Andrews; 1846-48, John R. Coney; 1849, Asa Andrews : 1850, Orlando Daily; 1851, Caleb Griswold: 1852, Asa Andrews; 1853-56, Ralph D. Fuller; 1857, Win. L. Minton ; 1858, H. J. Dean ; 1859, Isaac Shattuck ; 1860, R. D. Fuller : 1861. Isaac Shattuck ; 1862-63, J. A. H. Skinner; 1864-65. Isaac Shattuck ; 1866, Thomas Rolph ; 1867, T. K. Bambriek. 1868, G. W. Marsh ; 1869, H. S. Woods ; 1870-73, T. C. Wilson.
Justices of the Peace-Were appointed by the governor and council of appointments until 1823, after which they were appointed by the board of supervisors and judges of the county until 1826, when they were made elective by the people at the annual elections. The time of their election was changed in 1829 to the time of holding town meetings. the first Tuesday in April. In 1839 the time of holding the town meetings was changed to the first
241
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
Tuesday in March; and again to the third Tuesday in February in 1852.
Those appointed for the old town of Chautauqua county of Genesee, were, in 1805, Perry G. Ellsworth, David Kinkade and Peter Kane; 1806, Perry G. Ellsworth, David Eason, and John McMahan : 1807 no appointments.
For the town of Chautauqua, county of Niagara : 1808. John McMahan and Matthew Prendergast.
For the town of Portland from 1813 to 1823: 1813, Jabez Hulburt ; 1814, Guy Webster; 1815, Calvin Barnes : 1816, Calvin Barnes ; 1818, Fenn Deming, T. B. Campbell : 1821, Fenn Deming, John House. Parsons Taylor, Lemon Averill, Henry Mumford, Ahira Hall.
The whole number appointed for the territory of the county up to 1823 was fifty-four.
The writer searched diligently for a record of those appointed by the judge and board of supervisors from 1823 to 1826 for the town of Portland, but was able to find but two, Henry Mumford and Fenn Deming, whose appointment bears date February 19th, 1823. There are doubtless others, but their appointments are not now to be found.
The first election of justices by the people was on the 5th of November, 1827; election at the house of Moses Sage. This feature in elections was a novelty, and the vote is given as a matter of curiosity. Thirteen candidates were voted for. Elisha Arnold received 345 votes; Ahira Hall. 198; Wm. Dunn, 185; Ilarvey Newcomb, 179; David Mann. 172 ; Walter Mumford, 137; Samuel Hall, 119; G. W. Fowle, 39; David Eaton 1; Oliver Lee, 1: Parsons Taylor, 1 : Lyman Redington, 1 : John Me Whorter, 1.
The first four named were declared elected, and classified as follows: Elisha Arnold held for 4 years : Harvey New- comb for 3 years ; Wm. Dunn for 2 years, and Ahira Hall for 1 year. In 1828 Ahira Hall was reelected by a vote of 242, against G. W. Fowle, 45 votes.
The first election of justices for the present town of Port-
242
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
land was held on the second of November, 1829 and the two following days. Four candidates were voted for although but two were to be elected. David Eaton received 166 votes ; Ebenezer Harris 143; Parsons Taylor 83, and Walter Mumford 57 votes. David Eaton and Ebenezer Harris were declared elected, and classified as follows: David Eaton to hold for four years, and E. Harris for one year. The fol- lowing is a list of those since elected. :
1830, Ebenezer Harris ; 1831, Elisha Arnold; 1832, James Aldrich ; 1833, Asa Andrews; 1834, Ebenezer Harris ; Timothy Judson, vac. ; 1835, Samuel Hall ; 1836, T. Judson ; 1837, Z. L. Goodsell ; 1838, Ebenezer Harris; 1839, Landais Lathrop : 1840, Z. L. Goodsell; 1841, Wm. Clark; 1842, Ebenezer Har- ris ; 1843, James Thompson ; 1844, Asa Andrews ; 1845, T. Judson : 1846, Z. L. Goodsell; 1847, George Wells; 1848, Ebenezer Harris ; 1849, T. S. Moss ; 1850, J. S. West, Amos Barton, vac .; 1851, T. Judson, and vac .; 1852, Thomas Judd ; 1853, T. S. Moss ; 1854, Amos Barton ; 1855, T. Judson ; 1856, J. S. West, and vac .; 1857, T. S. Moss; 1858, Isaac Shattuck ; 1859, U. S. Ladue : 1860, J. L. Hatch ; 1861, Rufus Haywood ; 1862, Isaac Shattuck; 1863, U. S. Ladue; 1864, Edwin Elmore ; 1865, Thomas Flanders ; 1866, J. G. Weld, and vac .; 1867, Amos Barton ; 1868, Edwin Elmore, U. S. Ladue, vac .; 1869, Alfred Eaton ; 1870, H. S. Woods; 1871, J. A. H. Skin- ner; 1872, Edwin Elmore ; 1873, U. S. Ladue.
Assessors .- Assessors have always been elective by the people, and for one year only, until 1846 when they were elected for three years, one being elected each year, and confined to three in number. Those elected for the old town of Chautauqua, at the first town meeting, 1805, were James McMahan, Benj Barrett, Wm. Alexander. The first elected for the second town of Chautauqua, in 1808, were David Eason, Alanson Weed, Wm. Alexander.
The first elected for the original town of Portland, in 1814, were Oliver Stetson, Jonathan Cass, David Eaton.
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND. 243
The first elected for the second town of Portland, in 1816, were Elijah Fay, Reuben Slayton, Jonathan Harmon.
The first elected in the present town of Portland, in 1829, were Ebenezer Harris, Parsons Taylor, Hiram Fish.
The first elected in 1846, and classified, were as follows: Hiram Fish to hold for one year; Daniel Webster for two years, and M. P Vangaasbeek for three years.
Commissioners, of Highways .- As in the case of assessors, commissioners were elected but for a single year, until the act of May 10th, 1845, when they were elected for three years, and classified, one being elected each year thereafter.
The first elected for the old town of Chautauqua in 1805- were Thomas Mcclintock, James Dunn, Arthur Bell.
The first elected for the second town of Chautauqua in 1808, were Alexander Cochran, Abijah Bennett, Matthew Prendergast.
The first elected for the old town of Portland, in 1814, were John Post, Wm. Bell, and James Parker.
The first elected for the second town of Portland, in 1816, were Jonathan Cass, Nathaniel Fay, David Eaton.
The first elected for the present town of Portland in 1829, were John T. McIntyre. John R. Coney. M. P Vangaasbeek.
In 1866, under act of December 14th, 1847, the town voted to dispense with a board, and elect but a single com- missioner, yearly ; and the first elected under this arrange- ment was Erastus Denison.
Collectors-Have always been elected yearly. The first elected for the old town of Portland in 1814, was Samuel Dickson.
The first elected for the second town of Portland in 1816 was David B. Granger.
The first elected for the present town in 1829 was Asa Andrews.
Inspectors of Elections .- The justices of the peace with the town clerk of each town presided at general elections,
1
244
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
as at town meetings, until 1843, since which inspectors have been chosen by the people at their town meetings. three being necessary; two only upon the same ticket, the highest upon an opposing ticket usually being appointed by the board.
The first elected in town, in 1843, were Ebenezer Harris and Warren Couch : Zalmon L. Goodsell, appointed.
Common School Commissioner .- By act of June 19, 1812- this office was created, three being necessary to constitute a board, and were elected yearly. [See Schools.]
The first elected for the old town of Portland (in 1814) were Robert Dickson, Jabez Hulburt, David Eaton.
The first elected for the second town of Portland (in 1816) were James Parker, Reuben Slayton, Ethan A. Fay.
The first elected for the present town (in 1829) were Ahira Hall, Lemon Averill, Walter Mumford.
By act of 1843 this office was abolished and that of town superintendent created. David Eaton was appointed to the office by the town board until the next town election, in 1844. when Joseph Correll was elected and held the position for five years in succession. This office was in turn abolished by act of April 12. 1856, and that of school commissioner created. [ See Schools. ]
Inspectors of Common Schools .- This office was created by the same act as that of commissioners of schools and was abolished at the same time, 1843.
Those first elected for the old town of Portland (in 1814) were Elijah Hayden. Amos Atwater, James Parker.
Those first elected for the second town of Portland (in 1816) were David Eaton, Nathaniel Bird and Peter Kane.
Those first elected for the present town of Portland (in 1829) were Daniel Ingalls, Timothy Judson, David Eaton.
Constables .- The first elected for the old town of Chantan qua (in 1805) was John Lyons.
The first elected for the second town of Chautauqua (in
245
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
1808) were Daniel Cornwell, Hugh Whiteside, Alanson Weed. Those first elected for the old town of Portland were Samuel Dickson, Asa Hall.
For the second town of Portland, in 1816. David B. Granger.
Those first elected for the present town of Portland (in 1829) were Asa Andrews, Oliver Coney.
Overseers of the Poor .- The first overseers elected for the old town of Chautauqua (in 1805) were Zattu Cushing. Abraham Frederick. Mr. Cushing declined and Orsamus Holmes was appointed to fill the vacancy.
Those first elected for the second town of Chautauqua (in 1808) were Thomas Prendergast. Abijah Bennett.
Those first elected for the old town of Portland (in 1814) were James Montgomery, John Brewer.
Those first elected for the second town of Portland (in 1816) were Low Minegar, John House.
Those first elected for the present town of Portland (in 1829) were Cephas Brainard, Elijah Fay.
In the records of town meeting of 1812 is the following : " Sun being down, adjourned till the next morning, 6 o'clock. Next morning met agreeable to adjournnient and proceeded to business."
246
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
CHAPTER XLI.
War of 1812-Declaration of War-Call for Troops-The Response by the County and by the Town of Portland-The March to Buffalo and Lewiston-Battle of Queenstown-Chautauqua Regiment Engaged.
It is not designed to give an account of the causes of the war of 1812. They long since passed into history and are familiar to the most casual student. The particular scenes in which the Chautauqua men were engaged will alone receive attention. The war was formally declared June 18, 1812. At that time the population of the whole county was not above 2,900, and that of the present town of Portland, composed of thirty-eight families, was not above two hundred and fifty. These thirty-eight families were located principally along and near the south and Erie roads and the now town line road between Portland and Westfield. On account of their scattered and defenseless condition in the wilderness. the news of a declara- tion of war was more than usually depressing, and during its continuance they were subjected to numerous alarms that were harrassing in the extreme. It is probable that an actual invasion of the town would have produced no more of a disturbance in the minds of the settlers than the continued reports of the approach of the British and Indians, the burning of houses and the flight or massacre of the inmates; yet in no section of the Union had the spirit of patriotism a deeper root. A very few condemned the war, but the large body of the settlers responded with promptness and enthusiasm to the calls made upon them. "Early in June, 1812, Col. John McMahan received an order from Gov. Tompkins
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.