USA > New York > Cattaraugus County > History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 106
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 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131
THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH AT SANDUSKY was organized with 25 members, May 24, 1845, by Rev. Gideon S. Gowdy, their first pastor. The first meetings
were held at the house of Elias Wood. The church cdi- fice was erected the same year, at a cost of $1500, and has sittings for 200 persons. Among the original members were Elias Wood, David Olnes, Henry Crandall, Walter B. Smith, Eber Holmes, Lot Crowel, Enoch Howlet, Samuel Norton.
There are about 40 members, but the society is without a pastor.
EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH (WELSH)
was organized with 42 members, March 2, 1843, by a coun- cil composed of ministers and delegates from surrounding churches. B. Cherryman was chairman, and B. Palmer, of Centreville, D. B. Corbyn, of Freedom, secretaries of the council. The first pastor, Rev. Richard Morris, was or- dained March 16, 1843. There were present at the ordi- nation ceremonies, Revs. M. Fuller, B. Cherryman, W. Metcalf, E. S. Smith, E. W. Clark, and J. M. Purinton. The first church edifice was dedicated in November, 1844, and cost $500. It was named the Ebenezer Church at the time of its dedication. Deacon John Lewis gave the land upon which it was erected. The present church edifice was erected in 1870, and dedicated in June, 1871. Its dimen- sions are 40 by 60 feet, cost $5000, all paid, and has sit- tings for 400 persons. Aneurim Jones was the architect, William and Thomas Davis builders. Among the first members of this church were Robert Williams, John Hig- gins, Thomas Rees, John Lewis, Daniel Morgans, H. O. Roberts, and Thomas Higgins, who came here from Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1841. Among the most prominent members of the church may be mentioned Robert Williams, who died in 1871, aged eighty-four years. Deacon John Lewis, who died, 1877, aged seventy-six years. He was a member for thirty years, and collected $1000 for the church edifice. John W. Rees, Daniel Rees, John H. Owens, Evan Owens, Mrs. Ann Morgans, Thomas Evans and wife, Wm. Thomas, and Stephen James, have also been prominently identified with this church. The first deacons were Robert Williams, John Lewis, and H. O. Roberts. The present deacons are Daniel Morgans, John Higgins, H. O. Roberts, and J. W. Williams.
The pastors have been the Revs. Richard Morris, who came in 1843, and remained two years; Wm. F. Phillips, from 1845 to 1850; D. Jenkins, two years ; Thos. Roberts, came in 1853 and remained six years ; J. P. Harris, 1860, and remained four years; J. W. James, came in 1864 and remained two years; John P. Harris, again in 1866 and remained eight years ; W. M. Evans, came in 1875, and is the present pastor.
John C. Williams, a member of this church, is a student at Hamilton University. This church has always been in a prosperous condition, and possesses, in addition to the church edifice, a parsonage valued at $800. Present mem- bership, 193; number of pupils in Sabbath-school, 70. Samuel Morgan superintendent, and D. H. Evans secre- tary of Sabbath-school.
SALEM CHURCH (WELSHI CALVINISTIC METHODIST).
The first meetings of this church were held in the school- house, near Mr. Powell's, Centreville, Allegany Co., in 1851, and Rev. Edward Rees preached the first sermon. Among
Digitized by Google
398
HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the first members were Joseph Parry, David Powell, and Wm. W. Thomas. They soon after held their meetings in the "Sand-Bank" school-house, and during the years 1852 and 1853 Rev. John D. Jones preached to them.
In 1854 the church was regularly organized with about 30 members by Rev. James Lamb, now of Liverpool, Eng- land. Among the first members of this later organization were David Charles and John G. Jones, deacons ; David Powell and wife, John D. Jones and wife, David Jones and wife, Mrs. Margaret Thomas, Wm. W. Thomas, John Thomas and wife, Evan Morgan and wife, Hugh Jones and wife, Wm. J. Williams and wife, Benjamin Parry and wife, and David P. Hooper and wife.
The church edifice was built in 1855 at a cost of $900, and has sittings for 250 people. The pastors since 1854 have been the Revs. Mr. James, John Williams, Joseph Rees, Richard F. Jones, and Benjamin D. Davies, who is the present pastor. Number of present members, 66; number of pupils in Sabbath-school, 60. John Parry superintendent, Isaac W. Morgan secretary.
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF FREEDOM AND LYNDON.
In 1840, William Mitchell, Alexander Vallance, James McKerrow, John Gillmore, Stephen Findlay, and others, representing Scotch families residing in the towns of Free- dom and Lyndon, formed a religious association called the Associate Reformed Church. The meetings were held in the school-house, now known as District No. 1, and Rev. William Howden was the first preacher. He had been followed by Revs. D. C. McVean and R. G. Campbell, present pastor. About 1858 the name was changed to that of the United Presbyterian Church of Freedom and Lyndon. Present membership, 30.
THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH AT ELTON
was organized at the school-house of District No. 25, of Freedom and Yorkshire, in the town of Freedom, by Rev. A. C. Andrews, their first pastor. The society was incor- porated March 20, 1834.
Among the first members were Nathan Cole, Jabez B. Hancock, Oliver Algar, Amos Wright, Elisha Manwaroine, Lyman Algar, and William Felch.
The first church edifice was erected in 1833; the present one, which will seat 350 persons, in 1873, at a cost of $2200. The present members are about 80 in number. Rev. C. Cook, pastor.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF FREEDOM
was organized in 1827, and was incorporated January 20 of the same year. The first board of trustees was composed of Jonathan Hooker, Heman Hyde, Joseph Braddish, John W. Leonard, Henry Jackson, and William Sparks. This church was disbanded many years ago.
THE MORMONS.
In concluding these historical sketches of the churches in the town of Freedom, it may be proper to add in the same connection some facts in regard to the Mormon excite- ment of 1835, and the success attending the labors of the Mormon leaders in their efforts to obtain proselytes.
At the time mentioned, the quiet precincts of Fish Lake neighborhood were invaded by Joe Smith, Sidney Rigdon, John Gould, and Parley Pratt. They made their head- quarters at Rufus Metcalf's and Dr. Warren Cowdery's. Meetings were held, daily and nightly, in barns and dwell- ing-houses, and a prodigious excitement pervaded the minds of many people in that immediate vicinity. Among those residents who were conspicuous as believers in the humbug, were Dr. Cowdery, Rufus Metcalf, Nehemiah Sparks, Orrin Cheney, Hurd Cheney, Capt. Heman Hyde, Heman T. Hyde and wife, and Barber Lawson. As a result, 30 men and women were induced to join the Mormons, and emi- grated with them to Kirtland, Ohio. Some came back and renounced their faith in Mormonism, while others continued with them to the end of their lives.
MILITARY RECORD.
At the taking of the sixth census (1840), the following named revolutionary pensioners were residents of the town of Freedom, viz. : John Nichols, eighty years of age; Zera Norton, aged seventy-six years; Betsey Fuller, aged eighty- three years ; and Susanna R. Champlin, seventy-eight years of age. Frederick Beakman was also a veteran of the Revolution, and Eber Holmes a soldier of 1812.
During the war of the Rebellion the town paid in bounties to her soldiers the sum of $16,434; the county paid to the same soldiers, $5400, making a total of $21,834.
The town received credit for 100 men, whose names, and the remarks opposite each-as found in the town records- are given in the soldiers' list in the general history of the county.
Digitized by Google
-
-
-
Digitized by
RESIDENCE OF LEWIS J. MC INTOSH, ASHFORD, CATTARAUGUS CO., N. Y.
RESIDENCE OF HAM BEARDSLEY , LIMESTONE, NEW YORK.
Digitized by
CARROLTON.
CARROLTON, named in honor of one of the original pro- prietors of this part of the county, is one of the border towns, erected from Great Valley, March 9, 1842, and embraces all of township 1 and the lower half of township 2, in range 6, of the Holland Survey, the area being 26,872 acres. The Allegany Reservation extends through the town, and was annexed to it for civil purposes in 1847. It comprises here, as well as in the other towns along the river, the finest lands for farming, and that which was most heavily timbered in the primeval condition. With the ex- ception of the Tuna Valley but little of the land is well adapted for agricultural purposes, the greater portion of the town being elevated and much broken by the spurs and ridges of the Allegany range of mountains, which here ex- tend into New York. The most elevated portion is Ball Hill, in the southeastern part of town, whose height above the valley is reported 800 feet ; and other elevations closely approximate this height. North of the Allegany the surface is also much broken, and too elevated to be arable. Between these breakers and along the streams of the town there were originally heavy growths of timber, which rendered lumbering the most profitable employment of the people ; and since the forests have been cleared away, the search for petroleum, which is found in paying quantities in town, has become the chief industry. The soil varies from a clay and shallow loam to a gravelly loam, the latter being the composition in the Tuna Valley, which is very fertile. The Allegany River crosses the northern part of the town and is the principal stream. Its principal tributaries are on the south side, and are Chipmunk or Trout Creek and the Tu- negawant, or as it is now most generally called, the Tuna Creek. The latter name is deemed the more appropriate, and will be hereafter employed in this sketch of the town's history. The stream rises in Pennsylvania, and flows in a very tortuous manner, nearly through the centre of the town, north to the Allegany. It has low banks and docs not afford good water-power, there being but one good mill- site on its course in town. Along the Tuna the chief oil developments have taken place, and its banks are now lined with derricks and machinery to reach the hidden wealth. Nichols' Run is the chief affluent of Tuna Creek from the east, and Limestone Creek from the west.
THE EARLY SETTLERS
of the town were led hither by the lumber interests, and came and went as their business required. They did not come to open farms or yet to build mills, but simply to cut down the finest trees for saw-logs, which were floated away to be manufactured. To this class belonged Chas. Foster, Horace Howe, and Marcus Leonard, who came in 1814, and lived temporarily on lots 28 and 29. Others in the
same business followed, but no account of them has been preserved except their names, among them being John and William Moore, Elias Stone, the Morrisons, and a few others.
Aaron Kellogg claims to have made the first permanent settlement in the Tuna Valley. He came from Madison County, N. Y., in 1822, to Mckean County, Pa., and in 1828 moved down the valley to his present place on lot 41, where he has resided ever since, being now the oldest resi- dent in town. Soon after, Jonathan Fuller made a small improvement at the mouth of Limestone Creek, but did not remain long here, moving farther up the creek to what afterwards became known as the Moore lot.
In 1831, Samuel Webber, a native of Maine, moved his family as far west as Angelica, in Allegany County, then came to the Tuna Valley, buying land on lot 41, just north of Kellogg, and then made the first substantial improve- ments in town, his family coming as soon as he had pro- vided a home. This was first a rude shanty, but the fol- lowing year was replaced by the first frame house in town. Webber removed in 1841, but a daughter married Aaron Kellogg, in 1831, and in their family was born, in 1832, " the first child in town,-a son, who was named Franklin Augustus. Mrs. Kellogg is now the oldest female resident in Carrolton, having lived here more than forty-seven years.
Levi Leonard came about the same time as Webber, and settled on the Reservation, below the mouth of Tuna Creek, where he had a ferry across the Allegany about twenty years. He also kept a public-house at that place, which was the first regular tavern in town, although it is said Elias Stone had a place here as early as 1829, at which travelers were entertained. Leonard then moved to a farm a mile below Limestone, where Edward Houck had previously settled, and still lives therc.
In February, 1831, John O. Beardsley came, with his family of a wife, four sons, and three daughters, from Chau- tauqua County to lot 17, on the Pennsylvania line. The journey was very difficult, and had to be made by sleds over rough paths, barely wide enough to admit their passage. The names of the sons were James, John O., Hiram, and William. Some of these became prominently identified with the interests of the town, and are to-day among its leading citizens.
Peter Zeliff made a settlement on the east side of Tuna Creek, about the same period as the foregoing. The original farm is now occupied by C. Willis, but a son, James Zeliff, yet lives in the village of Limestone. In this neighbor- hood Seth Wixon was an early settler, having a number of sons, among them being Barney, William, Wilson, and Reuben; and farther south were Charles McCune and his son, Wilson W., as pioneer settlers.
399
Digitized by Google
.
400
HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Calvin Leonard settled at an carly day on lot 26, where two of his sons now reside. At a later period Ira Rice settled the place occupied at present by Harper Andrews; he was an innkeeper and a man of some prominence in those days.
In 1844, Chase Fuller came from Erie County, and bought the whole of lot 25, where the village of Limestone now is, on which he resided until 1856, when he removed, but is at present again a citizen of the town. He had sons, named Philetus M., Lafayette T., and Manley C., none of whom remained in town.
A number of others had come to Carrolton as permanent citizens before this period, but the paucity of the settlements at that time and later years is shown from this list of
LAND-HOLDERS IN 1849,
most living on the lots described :
Lot. Town.
Lot. Town.
William Beardsley .. 17
1
Francis Moore
41
1
Hiram Beardsley.
17
1
Joseph McCoy.
17
1
J. O. Beardsley ... 40
1
Ira Rice.
44
1
Chase Fuller
25
1
Orange Spafford.
42
1
Manley C. Fuller. 25
1
Nathan S. Sears ..
48
Lafayette T. Fuller. 25
1
John N. Wixon. 26
1
Philetus M. Fuller. 25
1
Barnebus Wixon.
26
Sidney Fuller ..
16
1
39
1
Sylvanus Walker.
1
Abner O. Hunt .. 48
1
William S. Wixon 25
1
Ellis Ilazzard
41
1
Delos Whittaker. 39
1
Talcott Howard.
2
1
George Zeliff.
19
1
Guy C. Irvine. 29
1
Peter Zeliff 24
1
Giles Kellogg.
40
1
William Grimes.
1
2
Aaron Kellogg ..
41
1
Alfred Martin
3
2
Levi Leonard
Res. 1
Ira Washburne ...
1
2
In 1860 the entire population of the town was only 779; in 1875 it was 1218; and it is now, 1878, more than 2000. In 1849, the valuation of the town was $35,041; in 1878, it was $613,072.
CIVIL HISTORY.
The first town-meeting was held in May, 1842, when the officers elected were : Supervisor, Ferdinand D. Perkins; Town Clerk, John Palmer; Justices, Ira Rice, George W. Farr ; Assessors, Aaron Kellogg, Wm. L. Wixon, Ira Rice ; Commissioners of Highways, George W. Farr, Peter Zeliff, Levi Leonard; Commissioners of Common Schools, John Palmer, Wm. L. Wixon, E. E. Perkins; Inspectors of Common Schools, John Palmer, Wm. L. Wixon, Isaac Wright; Collector, Lafayette Rose; Constables, Dearborn F. Fellows, Lorin E. Lewis; Poormasters, Levi Leonard, George W. Farr; Scaler of Weights, Isaac Wright.
From this period until 1846 the records of the town are missing. In 1846, Chase Fuller was elected Supervisor ; James Fuller, Clerk ; and Enos Parsons and Wm. Grimes, Justices.
Since 1846 the principal town officials have been-
Supervisors.
Town Clerks.
1847.
Chase Fuller.
Daniel Warner. Enos Parsons.
1849
Chase Fuller.
James Fuller.
1850
Abner O. Hunt.
Nathan L. Scars.
1851
Chase Fuller.
Manley C. Fuller.
1852
"
A. O. Hunt.
1854
Abner O. Hunt.
Edwin A. Jones.
1855
Chase Fuller.
1856.
Wm. Beardsley.
1857
1858
James Nichols.
1859
1860
1861
1862
16
Supervisors.
Town Clerks.
1863
James Nichols.
1864
Daniel Smith.
1865
James Nichols.
1866
"
1867
Felix Bailer.
1868
Nelson Parker.
1869
1870 Job Moses.
1871
"
1872
¥
"
1873
Harper G. Andrews.
1874
Shep. S. Vibbard. George Paton.
1875
Harper G. Andrews.
1876
James Nichols.
1877
E. M. Bell.
1878.
J. II. Beardsley.
George Paton.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1847. Wm. Beardsley.
1863. James Zeliff.
V. I. Lowe.
John L. Baxter.
Lafayette Rose.
1864. Reuben Du Boisc.
1848. Isaac Freeland.
Marsball D. Harris.
Wm. Grimes.
1865. Ira Rice.
1849. Isaac W. Hall.
1866. Shep. S. Vibbard.
James Fuller.
Isaac Adams.
1850. Chase Fuller.
1867. Job Moses.
Daniel Warner. Abner O. Hunt.
1868. Milton Westbrook.
1851. Eliphalet Roselle.
R. E. Fuller.
1852. Ira Rice.
A. B. Hunt.
1853. Daniel Warner.
1869. A. V. Hill.
1854. Chase Fuller.
James Zeliff.
1855. Monroc Hayford.
1870. Shep. S. Vibbard.
Wm. Beardsley.
1871. R. E. Fuller. Win. J. Clark.
1856. Ira Ricc.
1857. Daniel Warner.
Walter J. Wright.
Manley C. Fuller.
1872. John F. Bassett.
1858. Michael Wheeler.
1873. Giles M. Kellogg.
1859. J. Baillett.
1874. Shep. S. Vibbard.
J. A. Hazzard.
Clark Frank.
Wm. Grimes.
1875. Levi H. Stephens.
1860. Michael Wherby.
1876. G. O. Cutler.
1861. M. J. Titus.
1877. Clark Frank.
Patrick McMahon.
1878. R. E. Fuller.
1862. Manley C. Fuller.
E. C. Topliff.
Ira Rice.
A special meeting was held at the house of Ira Rice, May 19, 1846, for the purpose of ascertaining the minds of the people on the propriety of licensing the sale of spirituous liquors. Whole number of votes cast, 9; in favor of re- tailing liquor, 6.
Among other action called forth by the late rebellion was a special meeting, Dec. 28, 1863, when Daniel Smith pre- sided and James Nichols acted as secretary. Calvin Leon- ard, Win. E. Zeliff, Sherman Jacobs, M. D. Harris, and M. C. Fuller were appointed a committee to draft resolutions, the import of which was that each volunteer or drafted man should receive a bounty of $300 from the town. The sub- sequent quotas were filled in the usual manner.
In 1878 the receipts of the town for the support of the poor were $611.08.
ROADS AND RAILROADS.
In 1846 the town was divided into three road districts, having Wm. Grimes, P. M. Fuller, and Ira Rice as overseers. The number of districts was increased as the county settled up, but owing to the peculiar nature of the territory, the mileage of roads was never so great as in other towns of the county having the same or no greater area. A favorite means of communication, in early times, was by boats or scows on the Tuna Creek and the Allegany River. Nearly
Digitized by Google
1
Daniel Warner.
41
1
Lester Granger.
41
1848
Ira Rice.
1853
Samuel W. Fish. Wm. E. Zeliff.
John L. Baxter.
Milton Westbrook. Giles M. Kellogg. Shep. S. Vibbard.
Giles M. Kellogg. Edwin M. Bell. Shep. S. Vibbard.
Charles II. Kellogg.
1
-
401
HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
every family in the Tuna Valley, where were the principal settlements, had one or the other of these crafts, and most generally employed them in bringing in provisions and taking out such products as the country then afforded.
A ferry, owned by Levi Leonard, was first employed to cross the Allegany, at the mouth of Tuna Creek, but on the 14th of July, 1849, measures were taken to erect a bridge across the stream at some convenient point. A tax of $1500 was voted, and Daniel Warner, Wm. Beardsley, and Isaac Freeland were appointed a committee to solicit additional aid from the people of Pennsylvania to help erect this structure, which was put up near the mouth of Chipmunk Creek. June 27, 1868, a new bridge across the Allegany was authorized by a special meeting. This was erected farther down the river, below the mouth of Tuna Creek, and the old site was abandoned.
In 1878 the commissioner reported that $1494.92 had been expended on the public roads, placing them, consider- ing the nature of the country, in a very fair condition. There are highways on either side of Tuna Creek and along its principal affluents, and a road on the Reservation, on the north side of the Allegany.
Parallel with this road runs the Erie Railroad. It con- sists of the main line and side-tracks and switches at Van- dalia and Carrolton Junction. The length of the former is 50 miles ; of the latter about 2 miles. A good station is maintained at Carrolton Junction. In 1876 the assessed value of the road in this town was $75,000.
The Bradford branch of the Erie Railroad extends from Carrolton Junction southward, on the east side of Tuna Creek. It was begun as the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Rail- road, and was afterwards known as the Buffalo, Bradford and Pittsburgh Railroad. It was intended primarily as an outlet for the coal in Northern Pennsylvania, and was located and graded to some extent before 1860, but was not completed until after that period; and after the track was laid some time elapsed before rolling-stock was sup- plied. It is said that various expedients were resorted to by the people along the line to transport freight. Among other means employed was a flat car on which was placed a stationary engine, from which power was communicated to the car by means of a leather belt. A Mr. Newell, of Bradford, is credited with having been the proprietor of this novel vehicle. The main line of the road in town is 738 miles, and the switches and side-tracks about three miles longer. Besides the junction building at Carrolton, there is a station at Limestone and a stopping-place at Irvine's Mills. The road does a large passenger and ship- ping business, and in 1876 was assessed at $80,000 in Car- rolton.
MANUFACTORIES.
The application of machinery for manufacturing in town was first made in 1828, by Stephen and Jesse Morrison, who put up a saw-mill on Tuna Creck, where Irvine's Mills now are. After this had gone down, a mill was put up on the opposite side of the stream, about 1840, by F. E. Perkins and others. In 1857, B. F. Irvine and Nelson Parker put up the present mills, which have since been improved. The firm engaged extensively in lumbering, some years cutting 4,000,000 feet of lumber and making
2,000,000 shingles per year, which were formed into rafts and floated down the Tuna to the Allegany, and so on to market. In addition to the power from the Tuna steam is employed, thus keeping engaged continually a large force of men. Parker was killed by the cars at Carrolton in 1874, and Irvine died in September, 1878. The lumber business is now here carried on by the Irvine Bros.
Near these mills M. Babcock & Son erected a handle- factory in 1874, having a capacity of 15,000 handles per day, which were shipped principally to European markets. At present the factory is idle.
Twenty or thirty years ago A. O. Hunt put up a small saw-mill on lot 41, to which a run of stone was added for grinding purposes. A saw-mill was operated at Limestone, on the Tuna, by Chase Fuller, and a steam saw-mill, at the same point, by Fish & Baxter, and above the village, on the Tuna, J. O. Beardsley had a saw-mill. But all these have long ago been discontinued.
In 1856, J. Nichols & Co. built a steam saw-mill on lot 2, on Nichols' Run, whose capacity was 8000 feet per day. In 1872 the mill was removed to Limestone village, where it is yet operated by Nichols, and now combines saw-, shingle-, and planing-mills. The motive power is furnished by a 30 horse-power engine.
In 1865, Wm. Grimes put up a steam saw-mill in town 2, west of Vandalia, which was destroyed by fire in 1872, and rebuilt by Grimes. It is yet operated by his family, and a saw-mill on the Reservation is carried on by J. L. Soule.
At Vandalia a planing-mill was put up in 1871, which was burned in 1873, and was rebuilt by Roy, Stone & Co., and is at present operated under the management of George O. Cretline. It contains excellent machinery, and is ca- pacitated to prepare 15,000 feet of lumber per day. Seven men are employed.
THE VANDALIA CHEMICAL-WORKS
were established by a company which became a corporate body Feb. 16, 1874. The capital stock was fixed at $20,000, in 800 shares. The first directors were Roy Stone, Cushman Bishop, and Edward D. Loveridge.
The object of the company was to extract tannin from hemlock and other barks, and vend the same. An estab- lishment, having a capacity of 15 barrels per day, was erected under the direction of the company, and operated two years, when a suspension followed. When fully worked, 13 men were employed. At present it is operated at less than its full capacity, by S. E. Bishop, for the proprietors, Adams & Shaler.
THE LIMESTONE TANNERY.
The business of tanning was begun at this point about 1858, by Dodge & Smith, who purchased Chase Fuller's interest in this real estate, and put up buildings of much smaller capacity than those at present employed. In 1863 A. E. & G. W. Palen became the proprietors, and soon enlarged the works,-introducing new machinery,-and con- ducted the business on a large scale. The panic of 1873 affected the firm, and in November of that year work was suspended. Nothing was done until 1875, when F. H.
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.