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 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 | 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
Reed, Thomas G. Abell and Bela D. Coe placed them upon the route and run a daily line between these points and delivered daily mails. This year, at the age of 76 years, Col. Bird retired from business. He removed to Hamburg, Erie county this state, and died there January 8th, 1847, aged 84.
Previous to 1827 the route through Portland was on the south road substantially as now located, leaving the north road half a mile east of the Pomfret town line on the farm of Edwin Hall, and reaching the south road a few rods east of the town line on lot 62, T. 5, R. 12, on the farm of D. P. Benjamin; coaches stopping at the taverns before named, and the post-office of Calvin Barnes. In the fall of 1827 the route was changed in part, to the north road, through Salem X Roads or the Corners as then called, to Portland center as afterward located, then crossing to the south road. The next year, 1828, the north road became the permanent ronte from the east to the Center, and from there to the south road until the discontinuance of the Portland office in September 1829, when it was divided according to the state of the roads. This line of stages was continued until 1852; and for the most part of the time a single coach each way was sufficient to transport the traveling public, about five thon- sand a year. What would staging do now towards trans- porting the two millions of passengers and more that pass over the Lake Shore Railroad per year? In 1852 the Buffalo & State Line Railroad commenced carrying the mails and the stages were withdrawn; the last three passing through Portland together, with single teams. and without a passenger: like old and faithful servants, in solemn procession, retiring from the active scenes of life to make way for the more active and efficient agents of modern enterprise.
Too much praise cannot be awarded the citizens of the town along the principal thoroughfare east and west. for
-
105
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
their liberality in aiding the proprietors, by labor upon the highway, in their determination to maintain their line of stages. In this they but manifested the spirit of public enterprise that existed among them, and without which the public highways of the town might have remained years longer before becoming passable.
106
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
-
CHAPTER XIX.
Schools-The Pioneer Schools-Schoolhouses and first Districts.
Scarcely had the first pioneer of the wilds of Portland, Capt. James Dunn, become fairly settled upon his purchase ere he began to cast about him for the means of educating his children. Ile had left older and more favored regions for this home in the forest, where he had learned to prize the benefits of knowledge and the blessings that flow from its dissemination amongst the people, and although now shut out from immediate intercourse with these more favored localities, he did not propose to allow his offspring to grow up in ignorance. They must be taught the rudiments of an education at least.
In 1808 or '9 he had erceted a small log building near his dwelling on lot 30. T. 5. very near the present dwelling of Mr. John Dudley, for what definite purpose is not now known; but in the spring of 1810 it was dedicated to the interest of science, a teacher hired and a school opened consisting of some six or seven scholars, all the children of the founder, proprietor and for a time the sole patron and supporter. Soon a few others were allowed to send their children by paying a proportion of the teacher's wages. This school continued for a term of three or four months and was the first taught within the limits of the town. Whether it was revived and continued during the next summer is not known to the writer. but it is quite probable that it was not. for a school-
107
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
house was built the same summer or fall-the first one built in town. This first schoolhouse was built by vol- untary effort on the part of the settlers and stood opposite the site of the "old stone schoolhouse" in District No. 3, nearly in the road now running south at that point. on lot 41, T. 5. It was quite a small, low, log building with a small door in one end and a window of four lights in the side. It had a dutch fireplace and a hole through the roof of shakes for the smoke. A few years since some of the logs deeply imbedded in the soil vet remained. Miss Anna Eaton taught the first school in town. at Captain Dunn's; and Mr. Angustine Khmph taught the first and only school in the new schoolhouse in the winter of 1810-11. The location of this house did not prove convenient for the settlers and it was abandoned and one built in 1811, of logs of course, near a spring on land now ocenpied by the orchard of Cullen Burr, a little west of his dwelling on lot 34. T. 5, and in front of the residence of J. S. West. In this house a school was regularly kept, ie. a summer and a winter term, until the winter of 1817-18. During the summer of 1817 a frame school- house was erected on the farm now owned by Daniel Britcher. commonly called the Bowdish farm, on lot 33, T. 5, on the northeast corner where the road leads south from the old Erie road, opposite and west of the residence of Milton J. Munson : which was occupied for school purposes until the winter of 1828-9. This house was a good deal primitive in style, with but few of the conveniences now deemed necessary, but it answered the purpose of the settler well. and in it some of the men that now stand high in the estimation of the publie, laid the foundation of an education and of their usefulness. The same may be said of most of these early structures. A school was kept in the summer of 1811 in a small log house on lands of John Price, sontheast part of lot 38. T. 5. nearly in tront of the residence of the late David Eaton. by Miss Polly
108
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
Price ; the family of Thomas Klumph occupying the pioneer schoolhouse built the year before.
About 1820 a log schoolhouse was built on the farm of Mr. L. Woods. on the central portion of lot 55, T. 4, a little south of the house of E. Saunders and on the opposite side of the road, in which a school was kept more or less until the winter of 1828-9, when it was dis- continued, as also the one last spoken of. and both districts united in one. commonly called the "stone schoolhouse distriet." or No. 3.
A log schoolhouse was built in the year 1814 on ground now occupied by the orchard of Wm. Becker on the southern part of lot 19, T. 5, which was burned down two or three years later and a school was kept for a term in a back room of the tavern house of David Joy standing where the house of Wm. W. Pettit now stands. These early schoolhouses were models in their way though the hand of the accom- plished architect . was not partienlarly visible in their construction. Very little improvement was visible for many years. "Whenever the people of any district or neighbor- hood could agree upon a site, they went to work in earnest and built the schoolhouse without any tax or any compulsory process whatever, but each one did or gave what he pleased ; and the teachers were paid by voluntary subscription."
These early schools were in general well attended, con- sidering the sparseness of the population; and the elements of the various branches of an English education taught with good success. In those early times little was taught but reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic, with a smattering of geography: but these branches were more thoroughly taught than at the present day, in the esti- mation of some of the old pioneers at least, with the exception of arithmetic; in fact old people claim that they had more good readers and spellers in proportion to the number taught. then than now.
Many anecdotes are told the writer, of early school life
109
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
in Portland; and many a heart beats young again, and many an eye kindles with renewed brightness as those early scenes are talked over, and a pleasure enjoyed in their recital far beyond the reality of later interests, sur- rounded as they were with toil and care. What a blessed thing to the old is memory! How the exercise of that faculty so impressible in the early years of life, like some magic wand pictures to the mind with most vivid distinct- ness the scenes and events of childhood and youth. and wells up in the soul the most pleasurable emotions; and yet how often are they tinged with a shade of melancholy of Sorrow.
For further particulars with reference to schools and schoolhouses, see History of Districts.
Prior to 1814 no schools were established by law in the town of Portland. Several acts had been passed by the Legislature for the encouragement of schools, but on June 19th, 1812, an act was passed designed to embody the benefits of other state systems and the benefits of experience of former years, and establish a system that should bring im education in common schools within the reach of all. This act was in force at the erection of the town of Portland. April 9th. 1813: yet it was left for each town to adopt or reject its provisions as they should see fit in their individual capacity, by action at their ammal town elections. Each town accepting the provisions of the law would be entitled to a portion of the benefits of a fund provided by the state for the support of schools. under certain regulations.
The act, provided for the appointment of a Superintendent of Common Schools by the council of appointment, to have his office at the seat of government and with a salary of $300: but the salary not to commence until there should be a distribution of the interest accruing upon the school fund. and no distribution to take place until the interest should amont to $50,000 a year. In order that any town in the state receive a proportion of said sum. it was necessary
110
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
that a like sum or any sum equal and not more than twice the amount be raised by tax upon the taxable property of the townin like manner as other taxes were levied and collected: in which case they were entitled to a sum from the public school fund proportioned to the mumber of inhabitants in said town, which was to be divided amongst the several districts according to the number of children in each district from five to fifteen years of age, inclusive. The inhabit- ants of each and every town proposing to comply with the provisions of the law, were to elect at their annual town meeting on the first Tuesday in April of each and every year, three School Commissioners "to superintend and manage the concerns of the schools within said town, and to perform such service relative to schools as they shall be directed to perform." And to receive for their services "so much as the inhabitants shall direct." Their powers extended to the division of the town into districts and the alteration of the same, or the formation of new ones as the interests of the town seemed to demand; and they were to apportion and distribute all school moneys of the town.
The inhabitants were in like manner to choose three and not exceeding six persons. who with the school commis- sioners were to be inspectors of schools of the town. which inspectors were to examine teachers. visit the schools quarterly or oftener as they should deem it necessary. Two or more were to form a quorum. No person was to be allowed to teach a school in any district "without being in possession of a valid certificate of qualifications. and of good moral character." They were to examine schools with reference to the proficiency of the scholars, good order and the regularity of attendance: and advise with the trustees with reference to government &c.
Three trustees were to be chosen in each district, who were to select a teacher and manage the immediate concerns of the district : make an annual report to the commis.
111
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
sioners. who were to report to the county clerk, who in turn was to report to the state Superintendent.
The provisions of the law did not extend to the city and county of New York until March 12th. 1813. when an act was passed bringing them also under the same regulations and directions with reference to the disbursement of the school fund : the children however were to be numbered from four to fifteen years. instead of from five to fifteen as throughout the rest of the state.
Such are the main features of the law of 1812. It has since been largely altered from time to time as was thought to be for the interests of the cause of a general education of the masses ; principally with reference to school officers. and making property the basis for a fund for the education of the people. The office of county Superintendent of Common Schools was created by act of May 26th. 1841. and continued until the act of Nov. 13th 1847. when it was abolished. In 1843 the Board of Town School Inspectors and School Commissioners was abolished and the office of Town Superintendent substituted, which in turn was abolished by act of the Legislature dated April 12th. 1856. By the same act the office of Commissioner of Common Schools was created: one to be elected for each assembly district and holling for three years. His duties are nearly the same as the Town Superintendent of Common Schools, with the exception of the disbursement of the school funds. which is made the duty of the Super visor of each town. This was substantially returning to a county superintendency.
The ancient town of Portland. including the present town. Westfield and Ripley, was erected by act of Legis lature dated April 9th. 1813. and the first town meeting was held at the house of Jonathan Cass in the now village of Westfield on the first Tuesday in April 1814. A portion of the record of that town meeting reads as follows: "Voted to comply with the common school act.
15
112
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
and ordered the Supervisor to cause the inhabitants of the town to be assessed in that way which may raise double the sum for the support of common schools which the town may receive from the state." "Chose Jabez Hul- burt, Robert Dickson and David Eaton, Commissioners of Common Schools. Voted that Elijah Hayden, Amos Atwater and James Parker be Inspectors of Common schools."
The sum authorized to be raised by the above vote was a little short of thirty dollars, and of course the sum appropriated by the state could have been but abont fit- teen dollars. A small beginning considering the extent of the territory.
On the 7th of May following, the school commissioners met at the house of Jonathan Cass and resolved that the town of Portland be divided into seven school districts. The first five of these were entirely within the present towns of Ripley and Westfield, except a small portion of No. 5 : and the description so unintelligible to all but those whose memories run back to those early years. that I pass them by without a notice and describe the last two only. No. 6 began one fourth of a mile east of the town line road between Portland and Westfield. "passing easterly. ended at the coast line of James Dunn's farm." now the east line of John Dudley's farm, on lot 30, T. 5. No. 7 extended from the east line of No. 6 to the line of the town of Pomfret : thus dividing the town from south to north into two districts. Most of the' settlers were then living along what are now termed the main roads east and west : but those living north and south were included in these divisions.
No. 6 ocenpied the house built in 1811. before spoken of. and No. 7 the house referred to as standing near the present house of Win. Becker on lot 19, T. 5.
In 1815. May 27th, another district was formed from the east part of Westfield and the west part of Portland.
113
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
the eastern line being a line running north and south near the center of the western tier of lots in Range 13. On the division of the town and the erection of the town of Ripley, March 1st. 1816, owing to the increase of the population and for convenience. it became necessary to re-district the town and increase the number. At a meeting of the commissioners of schools May . 9th. 1816. present Ethan A. Fay. James Parker and Reuben Stetson. it was ordered that District No. 1 extend from Chautauqua Creek to Nathaniel Bird's west line, lands now owned by Thomas Prendergast. on south part of lot 27, T. 4. R. 14. including all inhabitants north and south of said line.
No. 2. beginning at the east line of No. 1, and extending to a line running north and south near the center of the western tier of lots in Range 13. including all north of said line and all south of said line as far as a line drawn from Alexander Lowry's to Jared Taylor's, land now owned by Ozni N. Stowell, southwest part lot 63. T. 4. R. 13.
No. 3, beginning in the center of west tier of lots in Range 13 and extending to the west line of John Quigley's farm, now owned by Mrs. Mericle, northeast part. of lot 30, T. 5, R. 13. including all north and south of said line. This district was very nearly the same as the No. 6 of -the first division.
No. 4. beginning at the east line of No. 3 and extending to the Pomfret town line, including all inhabitants south of a line drawn from the dwelling of John R. Coney on the northwest part of lot 19, T. 5, to Moses Sage's honse. north part of lot 13. T. 5. now owned and occupied by J. N. Porter. No. 5 included all inhabitants south of No. 2, including Jared Taylor on southwest part of lot 63. T. 4. R. 14.
No. 6 included all inhabitants from the line of Pomfret to .J. R. Coney's west line, or line between lots 19 and 26. T. 5. and all north of district No. 3 to the lake shore.
. The honses in districts No. 3 and 4 were the same as those occupied after the first division in 1814. Nothing definite can
114
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
1
now be determined with reference to the place of holding schools in districts No. 5 and 6.
On March 25. 1817, a new district was formed (No. 7) from all that part of district No. 3 north of James Dunn's north line. The present school district No. 7 is a part of the district then formed.
At the same date all territory south of lots 40, 48 and 55, T. 4, R. 14, was annexed to No. 5, as above defined. [See second division. ]
Nov. 19, 1817, No. 8 was formed entirely within the town of Westfield.
May 22, 1818, the entire town was again districted by commissioners Parsons, Taylor and Jabez Hulburt, adding two new districts: No. 9 on the lake shore in Westfield and No. 10 including all the south part of No. 1 in Westfield to the town line sonth. This, however, was reannexed to No. 1 Nov. 30, 1818. The other changes were not so material that we will note them here.
On May 21, 1819, the town was again districted and the bounds of each district made definite by town lines and lots. a thing that had not before been done. Twelve districts were formed but as they were some of them divided within a few months and the boundaries of others very materially changed it will serve no good purpose to define them here.
No. 13 was formed March 15. 1820, by a division of No. I in Westfield, nearest to Mayville.
No. 14 was formed May 10, 1820. from territory about Prospect station on the B. C. & P. R. R. and lots or parts of lots 55. 54. 62 and 63. T. 4. R. 13. The school house stood about sixty rods east of the station on the north side of the road but was afterward moved to the south side.
No. 15 was erected March 25, 1823. and was very nearly the same as the present No. 2. It included lots 24. 32 and 40 and that part of lots 23 and 31 in Portland in T. 4. R. 13, and lots 23, 28 and part of lot 33 in 5th T .. 13th R .. and the present joint district No. 8.
115
.
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
No. 16 was formed May 17, 1823, substantially the No. 1 of the present, in the northeast part of the town, with a part. of the north part of the present No. 9. This district was discontinued within the next few months but was eventually reformed with changed boundaries.
No. 10, in the southwest portion of the town. was again formed April 10, 1824, and included the eastern portion of lot 32. T. 4. R. 14.
The above will suffice to show the early formation and changes of school districts and as far as is necessary for our purpose. though the records of the doings of the school officers are mimerous and extensive (nongh to fill a small volume.
116
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
CHAPTER XX.
School Districts, continued.
Changes have been continually taking place from the first division of the town into districts, but less frequently since about 1830. The members were, also changed from time to time until about 1838. since which time they have remained the same with but slight alterations. No. 10 having been changed in 1843 from 13. its first number When in 1838. and No. 12 to that of No. 5 in 1869. the major part of the districts as they now exist were numbered. or when the many changes in boundaries that must have taken place between 1825 and 1833 were made. it is now impossible to determine, as there does not exist a trace of the records of the acts of school officers between and including the years named. Incidentally and from other records a few facts have been gleaned and are made to suffice. Since January 1. 1836. a book of records has been kept separate from the other town records by the school officers. and full enough for practical purposes.
The present number of school districts is eleven, as follows :
No. 1 is substantially the No. 11 of the division made May 2, 1819, and the No. 16 of the division made May 17. 1823. with some changes on the west, and occupies the northeast corner of the town. It was organized May 6. 1830. and on May 13th Roc Goldsmith, Samuel Everden and John Odell were chosen trustees. At this meeting it was
117
THE TOWN OF PORTLAND.
" voted to build a school house," which was accomplished the same year at a cost of $128.50. This house stood on the northeast corner of the cross-roads near the residence of Wm. Martin in that district, ou the west part of lot 7, T. 5. It was used until 1852, when the present house was built which stands on the northwest part of lot 7.
No. 2. This is the old No. 15 changed somewhat in boundaries and occupies the side hill along the line between T's 4 and 5. It was formed March 25. 1823. The first house was a log house built in 1823 or 24 and stood on the northwest corner of lot 32, T. I. very nearly upon the site of the present one. In 1837 a frame house was built nearly on the site of the old one at a cost of $131. including the expense of the lot. The present house was built in 1861 on the site of the old one at a cost of about $250.
No. 3 is a joint district. Westfield and Portland, occupying the west part of Portland and the east part of Westfield. mainly along the Main road, and is commonly known as the " stone school-house district." It was formed on May 9, 1816. though since it has been largely changed and shorn of its original proportions. As elsewhere stated the first school honse in town was built in this district in 1810 and the first frame school house in 1817. In 1828 a stone house was built a few rods cast of the present house and on the old Erie road at a cost of $380. This stone house was used for school purposes until 1869 when the present brick house was built on a site purchased of HI. A. Blowers a few rods farther west. at a cost of $2.000. Both these houses were erected ou the southeasterly part of lot 41. T. 5. R. 13.
No. 4. This district is the remains of No. 7 of the first division in 1814 and the No. 1 of the division of May 9. 1816. though like No. 3 it has suffered largely in regard to bounda ries. The first school house in this district was a small log one built in 1814 and stood on ground nearly opposite the house of Win. Becker, south part of lot 19. T. 5. It was burned in two or three years, probably in 1816. and a school
118
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF
was kept for a term in the back room of a tavern honse standing where the house of Win. W. Pettit now stands, on south part lot 19, T. 5. A log house was built in the fall of 1816 or spring of 1817 on the southwest corner of the cross- roads east of the first honse, which was also burned in 1819. Another log house was at once built upon the same site, which was occupied until 1827. when the present one was erected. In 1850 it was removed a little farther south. enlarged and otherwise improved. It is still occupied.
No. 5 was erected on April 17. 1823. and is a part of No. 6 of the division of May-7. 1814. and the northern part of No. 3 of the division of May 9, 1816. Its No. was 12 until 1869. when it was changed to No. 5. It occupies the northwest corner of the town and along the lake road as far east as the cast line of lands of John Springstead or a line a few rods west of the line between lots 32 and 36. The first school house built in this district was upon lands of Hollis Fay in 1827 and stood upon the north side of the road at the south edge of a grove of young trees east of the house so long occupied by Mr. Fay on lot 42. T. 5. The next house was built in 1833: was a frame, planked and shingled on the sides as well as on the roof. and stood a few rods east of the present residence of Samuel Caldwell on north part lot 40. T. 5. The present honse was built in 1855 on a site one-eighth of a mile east of the site of the house of 1833.
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.