History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 108

Author: Franklin Ellis and Eugene Arns Nash
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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 108

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

son, although the citizens of the place manifest a com- mendable interest in the matter and give it encouraging support.

SECRET ORDERS.

Limestone Lodge, No. 780, F. A. M .- This flourishing lodge first held its meetings under a dispensation granted in 1877, and in June, 1878, it was duly chartered with 9 members. The initiations and additions from other sources have increased the membership to 35, having the following officers : Warren Dow, W. M .; H. V. Day, S. W .; F. H. Robinson, J. W .; James Nichols, Treasurer ; E. R. Schoon- maker, Secretary ; John A. Todd, S. D .; Guy C. Irvine, J. D .; E. E. Herrick, J. H. Beardsley, Masters of Cere- monies ; J. G. Drehmer, Tiler. The lodge meets in an elegant hall in the Bell Block.

Tuna Lodge, No. 1217, K. of H., was instituted at Limestone, with 21 charter members, Sept. 19, 1878. The first officers were T. N. Cooper, P. D .; H. G. Andrews, D .; C. M. Stone, V. D .; M. R. Wheelock, Ass't D .; S. R. Vibbard, Rep .; M. H. Paxon, F. R .; E. M. Bell, Treas., J. W. Fritts, Chap. ; E. E. Hardy, G .; J. Greenwood, Guard; J. F. Bassett, Sen.

Limestone Lodge, No. 177, A. O. U. W., was organized Oct. 18, 1878, with 57 members, and, as officers, F. H. Robinson, P. M. W .; J. H. Beardsley, M. W .; J. G. Drehmer, G. F .; Lorenze Hill, O .; S. L. Vibbard, R .; C. M. Stone, F .; George Paton, Rec .; A. L. Metcalf, G .; S. Woodring, J. W .; E. S. Knapp, O. W. The meetings of both of the above orders are held in Masonic Hall, and both are highly prosperous.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HENRY RENNER.

Among the most prominent business men of Limestone, and those whose industry made them successful in life, none deserve more credit than he whose name heads this brief notice. He was a self-made man in every sense of the term, and one whose influence was felt wherever he lived, particularly in the community in which he passed the last eleven years of his active business life.

Henry Renner was born in Mense, Germany, June 6, 1826. He emigrated to America about the year 1840, and first settled near Glenwood, Susquehanna Co., Pa., where he remained nine years engaged in tanning, a trade which he learned in Germany. Among other firms he worked eight years for Messrs. Schultz & Eaton, of Sus- quehanna County, and after coming to Limestone, in October, 1869, he worked three years at his trade there. In 1873 he purchased the present site of the Limestone House, and two years afterwards he erected the present hotel thereon, which stands to-day a monument to his enterprise and a credit to the village.

On the 24th of December, 1857, he was married to Mrs. Juliana Bell, widow of Worthy Bell, a native of Susquehanna County. The result of this union was much mutual happiness and one daughter, Maud, who was born

June 13, 1860. After a useful and busy life Mr. Renner died, April 19, 1878, respected by all who knew him, and loved by a host of friends. He was a good practical busi- ness man, honest and fair in all his dealings, and always sustaining a reputation for integrity that was above re- proach.

Henry Kamer

Mr. Renner held several offices in the town in which he lived, and in all of them his official conduct was actuated by the same principles of honor that characterized his private business life.

Mr. Renner was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being in good standing at the time of his death as a member of Olean Lodge, No. 253, and also of St. John's Commandery. He was interred with the beautiful ceremonies of the Masonic order.

By her first husband Mrs. Renner had three children, two sons and one daughter, of whom the latter is deceased. Her other sons, Edwin M., and Maurice J. Bell, are exten- sively engaged in the mercantile and banking business at Limestone, under the firm-name of Bell Brothers.

JAMES NICHOLS, M.D.

Cattaraugus County is noted for the number and excel- lence of its professional men. Nor are these confined to any particular locality, but we find them in various parts of the county ; one or more in every village of any consider- able size. The representative physician and surgeon of Limestone and its surroundings is Dr. James Nichols, who has practiced medicine in this county for about fifteen years with reasonable success.

James Nichols was born at Arcade, Wyoming Co., N. Y., July 23, 1825. He was the oldest son of John and Sally Nichols, who came to Arcade in 1812, and were among its first as they were among its most respectable settlers. He

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

moved with his parents to Centreville, Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1837. About that time his father met with financial misfortune, losing his property, so that young Nichols was compelled to depend upon his own labor for support and education. He went to Farmersville, Cattaraugus Co., in 1844, and there taught the village school several terms. He subsequently chose medicine as a profession, and en- gaged in its study with E. S. Stewart, M.D., of that place, now of Ellicottville, completing his medical education at

Jamas Acholes K.D.

the Buffalo Medical College, from which institution he was honorably graduated. On account of ill-health he did not immediately engage in active practice, but moved to Car- rolton in 1856, where he followed the lumber business, and, through the arduous, muscular labor of that, greatly im- proved his physical condition. He commenced the regular practice of medicine in 1864, and has since been uninter- ruptedly engaged therein. He is a member of the Catta- raugus County Medical Society, of which he has been president, and also elected delegate to the State Medical Society.

On the 1st of March, 1852, he was united in marriage with Mary Jane Wade, the eldest daughter of Henry Wade, Esq. They have had four children, namely: Henry James, born Aug. 26, 1856, died Sept. 19, 1857 ; Jennie M., born Jan. 19, 1858; H. James, born Sept. 16, 1859; John B., born Jan. 1, 1861.

Dr. Nichols was twice elected a member of the board of supervisors for Farmersville, and nine times to the same position in the town of Carrolton. He was a war Demo- crat, and was appointed upon the Senatorial Committee by Gov. Morgan, and assisted in raising and organizing the

113th and 154th Regiments of New York Volunteers. His political record has been a peculiarly honest one. Act- uated always by the same principles of integrity that char- acterize his private business, he succeeded in fulfilling the duties of the various offices to which he has been elevated with a remarkable fidelity.

He is at present a member of the firm of Nichols & Paton, druggists, of Limestone, and besides attending to his extensive medical practice, finds time to attend the re- quirements of his business. He has been almost a constant member of and at different times president of the board of education of Limestone Union Free School, and was largely instrumental in procuring the organization of that and also of the Limestone Academy. The doctor became a member of Union Lodge, No. 334, F. A. M., Bradford, Pa., about sixteen years ago. He withdrew from that lodge in March, 1878, and was one of the charter members of Limestone Lodge, No. 780. He is now a member of Olean Chapter, No. 150, and of St. John's Commandery, K. T., No. 24.

PETER BOYLE

was born in County Mayo, Ireland, about the year 1835. He emigrated to America in 1850, and settled in Dunkirk, where he remained for about fifteen years. In 1865 he re- moved to Carrolton, where he embarked in the mercantile business. He continued in that for about two years, with fair success. In 1870 he erected the Junction Hotel, to fill a want long felt by the traveling public, as there was no good public stopping-place at Carrolton before. He has done well, and made a financial success of the enterprise.

In 1868 he was appointed postmaster at Carrolton, and has retained the office ever since.

He was in the 68th Regiment of New York National Guards, which was called out to do duty during the rebel- lion, being stationed near Harrisburg, Pa., during an emer- gency. He is a consistent Republican.

On New Year's day, 1862, he was united in marriage with Margaret, daughter of John T. Tyrrell, Esq., a promi- nent Irish citizen of Buffalo, a man noted for athletic strength and a fondness for manly sports. Mrs. Boyle was born near St. Catharine's, Canada, April 5, 1852. They have had eight children, namely : John J., Edward D., Nellie May, Kittie Maud (deceased), Grace C. (deceased), Charles Peter, Mary Maud, and William P. Boyle.

Mr. and Mrs. Boyle are consistent and earnest members of the Roman Catholic Church, and attend the same as regularly as services are held at Carrolton, and frequently at Dun- kirk.

Peter Boyle is now proprietor of the Junction Hotel, in connection with which he has a restaurant, billiard-room, and livery-stable. In addition to his regular business he farms quite extensively. He is an intelligent and practical business man, enjoying a good reputation for honesty and fair dealing. A fine illustration of his hotel and surround- ings, with portraits of himself and wife, can be seen in an- other part of this volume.

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PORTVILLE.

THE town of Portville lies in the southeast corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Hinsdale, east by the county of Allegany, south by the State of Pennsylvania, and west by Olean.

The surface is mostly a hilly upland, especially in the southern part, the highest summits being from 500 to 600 feet above the valleys.

Its principal water-course-the Allegany River-enters the town about the centre of the south border, and flowing in a northerly and northwesterly direction, leaves it about the centre of the west border. It receives as tributaries Haskell Creek from the north, Dodge's Creek from the east, and Oswayo Creek from the south, all of which enter it on the east bank. Many smaller streams unite their waters with these, the principal of which is Wolf Run.

The soil is a sandy loam, and quite fertile, especially in the valleys. The people in the southern part are chiefly engaged in the manufacture of lumber, shingles, and leather. In the northern part the pursuit of agriculture more par- ticularly engages the attention of the people. Ultimately, as the forests disappear, and lumbering ceases to occupy so large a share of the employed capital and labor, good farm- ing lands will be opened all over the township.

At the depth of about 1600 feet, petroleum has been found in the west and southwest parts, and indications point to it as lying within that region of the Bradford dis- trict which may yet be developed into good oil-producing territory.

The town contains a total area of 23,106 acres, of which 7000 acres are improved; and in 1875 had a population of 2140 inhabitants, of whom 261 were foreign born, and 21 colored.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

During the year 1806, Jacob Swartz, John Young, Asahel Atherton, Rufus Atherton, Wm. Atherton, Daniel Edwards, John Holdrich, Simeon Munson, Samuel Todd, Richard Frayer, Isaac Phelps, Ira Higgins, Daniel Church, Daniel Mckay, Reuben Clark, and James Green made contracts for land in township 1, range 3, of the Holland Purchase.

Now, while several or all of those named in the foregoing list may have been settlers for a time, and then, becoming discouraged with the herculean task before them,-i.e, of converting the howling wilderness into cultivated fields during their lifetime,-had sold out their " betterments" and removed to other more inviting localities, it seems to be a conceded fact-by those who have been in a position to know-that the only residents in the territory now known as the town of Portville, in 1809, were the Athertons. William Atherton seems to have been the leading spirit among them. It is stated that he came in from the Genesee River country in 1809, and settled upon the east bank of

the Allegany River, just below the mouth of the Oswayo Creek. The following year he built a saw-mill on the same creek, about forty rods below the present site of Smith's Mills.

He was joined soon after by his brothers, Asahel and Rufus. The Athertons remained in this vicinity until about 1819, when they removed farther west. In 1810, Gideon Haskell and Hill, his brother-in-law, came in and settled on Haskell Creek, in the western part of the town. The same year they built a saw-mill on Haskell Creek, about sixty rods above where the railroad crosses, and soon after Haskell erected the first framed house in town. This house is described as having been 1 story in height, 18 feet wide, and 50 feet long. In 1820, Haskell & Hill owned parts of lots 63, 64, 65, 73, 74, and 75, comprising in all about 550 acres.

John Morris, in 1813, became the first settler upon the site of the village of Portville. Although still a young man, his life had been an eventful one. A native of Rhode Island, he had been with Aaron Burr on Blenner- hasset's Island, and, during "'Mad Anthony's" campaign against the Indians, served with Gen. Shelby's command of Kentuckians. He arrived in Olean in 1811, and for some two years was employed by Maj. Hoops.

During this time he married the daughter of an emi- grating German family, whose destination was the valley of the Hockhocking River, Ohio, and in 1813, as before men- tioned, he became a resident of Portville. Here was born, in 1814, the Rev. Dexter Morris, of State Line, whose birth is the first of which there is any record in the town- ship. The elder Morris, after a residence of but a short period, sold his improvements to the Dodges, and joined his wife's people in Ohio. Returning to the Allegany River Valley again, he opened a tavern, and for many years after, as his son states it, " kept tavern all along the river from Olean to Pittsburgh."

The same year, 1813, the brothers Jonathan, Lynds, Alfred, and Daniel Dodge settled in the central part of township 1, range 3. Jonathan located upon lot 27, and Lynds upon lot 28. Their lands embraced all the territory lying within the present limits of the village of Portville, and the creek which flows through it derives its name from this family. The Dodge brothers are described as having been large, muscular men, peculiarly well fitted for the pe- riod in which they lived, when the sole occupation of the people was lumbering and rafting, when brains, in compar- ison with brawn and muscle, were at a discount.

Dennis Warner, from Ontario Co., N. Y., settled in Olean in 1816, and until 1819 was employed as salesman in Judge Martin's store. The latter year he became a resident of Portville, and located at Weston's Mills, then Rice's Mills.

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Mr. Warner was an active and prominent man in the town of Olean, and as a town officer served in various capacities. He died at the age of twenty-six years.

Settlements did not increase very rapidly in this town until about 1840, for it is found by referring to an assess- ment-roll of the town of Olean, for 1820, that the only res- ident land-owners in township 1, range 3, at that date other than those already mentioned, viz. : Haskell, Hill, and the Dodge brothers, were John J. Cook, who was settled on lot 13; Jacob Downing, lot 28; Ebenezer Jones, on lot 29; Kennard and Mead, who owned parts of lots 1, 2, and 9; William Pinkerton, who resided on lot 11, and owned parts of 2, 11, 20, and 21; Allen Rice was at Weston's Mills, and owned an extensive saw-mill (for that time) and 1000 acres in the immediate vicinity ; Luman Rice owned 137 acres of lot 47; Elihu Fobes was on lot 17; David Fos- binder, who owned 378 acres on lots 3, 9, and 10; John Thompson, Jr., who owned about 525 acres on lots 23, 24, 25, and 26; Ebenezer Reed, on lot 40; and John Thomp- son, lot 39.

A majority of the pioneers of Portville came in from Allegany County, where they had first settled after coming from sections in Eastern New York and the New England States.

Joel Wakefield and Rodolphus Scott made contracts for land in township 2, range 3, as early as 1815, but it seems that the Wakefields and Scott did not become residents until some ten or twelve years later.

In 1824, Samuel, John, and A. V. P. Mills were settled in the valley of the Oswayo, in the south part. John Pink- erton was also in the south part, and Truman Parker, on lot 47. Walter Rea was on the southwest part of lot 22, Elias Williams on lot 39, John, John Jr., and H. H. Wilson were south of the village of Portville, and Daniel Weymouth on 55.

The year 1832 found Loyal Stevens on lot 9, Alexander Woodruff on lot 1, Joseph Crandall on lots 10 and 22, David McCormick on lot 21, Henry T. Leighton on lots 23 and 38, Roswell Jackson, south of the village. Luman Rice, who had become a settler in 1822, was keeping tavern on lot 27, John Wolcott was on lot 29, John W. Baxter on lot 9, Reuben Rice on lot 46, Paul Reed on 63 and 62, Josiah F. Mason on lot 73, Ransom Bartlett on lot 74, and New- ton Parker on the north part of lot 63; all in township 1, range 3.

In township 2, range 3, there were John Conrad, on lot 25, Joel, Jonathan, Enoch, and Alpheus Wakefield, on lot 20, Rodolphus Scott on lot 19, and Alfred Dodge on 18.

Other residents, not land-owners, in 1832, were David Bales, Milton Main, Marion Reynolds, Prentiss Moore, Cyrenus Ackley, Daniel W. Disbrow, Thomas T. Wasson, James Bowers, Silas Ferry, Clark Cooper, Peter Cooper, Samuel Brown, Jacob Nichols, S. Judd, E. Tubbs, V. Tubbs, J. Tubbs, V. Caswell, S. Horner, William Palmer, Alexander Sykes, Miles Andrews, John Searl, Charles Jewell, Erastus Boyington, Robert Lacey, Jeffrey Godfrey, Thomas Bissell, Smith Parish, Jonathan E. Parker, Loomis Bartlett, Asahel Slafter, and Thomas Sherlock.

Smith Parish, then a young man, became a resident of Portville in 1830, and from that time to the present has

been prominently identified with its history and business interests. He has served his town in various official capaci- ties, and represented the county in the State Legislature during the session of 1864.

William F. Wheeler, from Delaware Co., N. Y., settled in 1834, and has since become widely known as a banker, manufacturer, and lumber-dealer.

CIVIL HISTORY.

By an act of the Legislature of the State, passed April 27, 1837, Portville was formed from Olean, and comprises all that part of the Holland Purchase known as township 1, range 3, and the south half of township 2, range 3.

It derives its name from the fact that at an early day it was a prominent point for the shipment of lumber, shingles, etc., down the Ohio and Allegany Rivers to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and other points on those rivers.

At the first town-meeting the electors of the town of Portville assembled at the house of Luman Rice, in the village of Portville, March 6, 1838. William Wales, a justice of the peace, called the meeting to order, when Luman Rice was chosen moderator, and Isaac Senter and Harvey D. May poll clerks. The meeting then adjourned to the district school-house in the village of Portville, and the following-named town officers were elected :

Supervisor, Luman Rice; Town Clerk, Addison J. Wheeler ; Assessors, Lemuel Smith, Harvey D. May, Al- pheus Wakefield; Commissioners of Highways, Ezra May, Smith Parish, Joseph Crandall; Overseers of the Poor, John Conrad, Isaac Senter; Collector, Henry T. Leighton ; Constables, Charles C. Jewell, Henry T. Leighton, Harlow M. Hopkins; Commissioners of Common Schools, Henry Dusenbury, Walter Rea, Darius Wheeler; Inspectors of Common Schools, Lemuel Smith, Harvey D. May, Am- brose P. Willard ; Justices of the Peace, Smith Parish, Stanton H. Laing, Olcott P. Boardman ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, Addison J. Wheeler; Overseers of Highways, Henry Terry, Albert Burdick, Clark Lillibridge, Gardner Coon, Amos Scofield, Barzilla Scofield, Rodolphus Scott.

The following is a list of the supervisors, town clerks, and justices of the peace, from 1838 to 1878, inclusive :

1838

Supervisors. Luman Rice. Alpheus Wakefield.

Town Clerks. Addison J. Wheeler. Isaac Senter. "

1839.

1840

1841

1842

1843

Henry Dusenbury. "

Harlow M. Hopkins. William Wales.

1845

John Meddaugh.

1846

Henry Dusenbury.

1847.

David Bocks.

1848.

Lemuel Smith.

1849

Henry T. Leighton. 4

1851

.Henry Bockes.

1852

Smith Parish.

1853

Henry Dusenbury.

1854

1855

Samuel I. Meseroau.

1856

1857

Henry Dusenbury. Lewis D. Warner.

1859

1860

1861.

Orson S. Keyes. Henry C. Schofield.

1862

John G. Mesereau.

1864

.John E. Dusenbury. "

1865

J. M. Copp.

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Addison J. Wheeler. Isaac Senter.

1844

1850

1858

1863

HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

410

HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

1866

Supervisors. John E. Dusenbury.

Town Clerks. John H. Warden. "

1867

1868

1869

Lewis D. Warner.

1870

1871

1872

1873

1874

J. E. Dusenbury.

1875.

1876.

1877.

H. J. Crandall.

1878

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

1838. Smith Parish.

Stanton HI. Laing.

Olcott P. Boardman.

Andrew D. Rice.

1839. Isaac Senter.

1859. Adam T. Warden. Asa E. Halbert. Oliver B. Langworthy.

1840. William Wales.

David Coon.

1860. Guy T. Lowrey.

1841. James R. Barnes.

1861. Oliver B. Langworthy.

Darius Wheeler.

1862. Lewis D. Warner.

1863. Adam T. Warden.

1842. John Meddaugh. Thomas Sbelly. 1843. Smith Parish.

Atwood Fales.

1864. Schuyler M. Gaston.

David Bockes.

1865. Oliver B. Langworthy.

1844. William Wales.

1866. Atwood Fales.

Charles C. Jewell.

William E. Hornblower.

1845. James R. Barnes.

1846-47. Alpheus Wakefield.

David Bockes.

1868. S. M. Gaston.

Adam T. Warden.

Willis M. Howe.

1848. William Wales. Harlow M. Hopkins.

1869. William E. Hornblower. Guy T. Lowrey.

1870. Henry Conrad.

1871. Guy T. Lowrey.

1852. Willis M. Howe.

Lewis D. Warner.

1853. Mark Comstock.

1872. Schuyler M. Gaston. HI. D. Bennie.

William Wales.

1873. H. B. Smith.

Harlow M. Hopkins.

W. W. Weston.

Lewis D. Warner.

1874. A. G. Packard.

1855. John Sanderson.

Jacob Bedford.

1856. Willis M. Howe.

1875. Guy T. Lowrey. Lewis D. Warner.

Joseph Crandall.

1857. Lewis D. Warner. Willis M. Howe.

1876. E. M. Bedford.

1877. John Millgate.

Adam T. Warden.

1878. A. G. Packard.

The following is a list of resident land owners in township 1, range 3, 1820. Showing the number of acres owned, and the assessed valuation.

Acres.

Valuation.

John J. Cook

285

$2135

Alfred Dodge.

200

Jonathan Dodge.

233

2400

Lynds Dodge.

183

1197

Jacob Downing.

50 200

Haskell & Hill.

547

3142

Ebenezer Joncs.

210

1000

Kennard & Mead

557

3085

William Pinkerton

556

5640

Allen Rice.

1007

7676

Luman Rice.

137

548

Elibu Fobes

152

538

David Fosbinder ..

378

1512

John Thompson, Jr ...

524

6885

Ebenezer Reed.

352

John Thompson.

105

420

At this period there were no residents in that part of town- ship 2, range 3, now included within the present town of Portville.

The following is a complete list of all the residents of the town who were assessed for highway labor in 1832: Loyal Stevens, David Bales, Milton Main, Marion Reynolds,

Alexander Woodruff, Prentiss Moore, Cyrenus Ackley, Joseph Crandall, David McCormick, Walter Rea, Daniel W. Disbrow, Thomas T. Wasson, James Bowers, Silas Ferry, Clark Cooper, Peter Cooper, Henry T. Leighton, Samuel Brown, Roswell Jackson, Luman Rice, Lynds Dodge, John Wolcott, John W. Baxter, Ebenezer Jones, William Plimpton, Reuben Rice, Jacob Nichols, S. Judd, E. Tubbs, J. Tubbs, V. Tubbs, V. Caswell, S. Horner, William Palmer, Paul Reed, Josiah F. Mason, Alexander Sikes, Miles Andrews, John Searle, Charles Jewell, Erastus Boyington, Daniel Weymouth, Robert Lacy, Jeffrey God- frey, Thomas Bissell, Ransom Bartlett, Newton Parker, Smith Parish, John Conrad, Freeman Parker, Jonathan E. Baker, Loomis Bartlett, Jonathan Dodge, Joel Wakefield, Jonathan Wakefield, Enoch Wakefield, Alpheus Wake- field, Asahel Slafter, Rodolphus Scott, Alfred Dodge, Thomas Sherlock.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

By an act of the Legislature, passed in 1857, an extension of the Genesee Valley Canal was authorized from Olean east- ward across Olean Creek, and thence along the bottom- lands on the north bank of the Allegany River, to Mill Grove Pond; the distance being 62 miles. This exten- sion has been of great usefulness to merchants, lumbermen, and others, but, with the main line, it was abandoned at the close of the season of 1878.

The Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad enters the town near the centre, on the west border, and ex- tending up the valley of the Allegany River on the north bank, leaves the town near the centre, on the south border. Portville and Weston's Mills are stations. The road was completed in 1873. The citizens of Portville subscribed $1100, and erected the depot in their village.

INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

The carly settlers were mainly engaged in the manufac- ture of shingles and lumber. The fall and winter season was devoted to the preparation of a stock on hand, so that with the coming of the spring floods they were ready to make the trip down the rivers to the markets of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Louisville. They were enabled to return about the first of June, and debts which had been accu- mulating during the preceding twelve months were then can- celed. Scarcely a man can be met, who has lived along the river for twenty years or more, or who is "to the manor born," who has not made the voyage on a raft down the Allegany and Ohio Rivers. The life was a rolliek- ing one, and country youths, while down the river, were enabled to obtain a glimpse of city life, as represented in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Not to have made the trip and walked back, once at least, lessened one's worth, ability, and manhood in the estimation of himself, his fellows, and all veteran raftsmen. But the hill-sides and valleys have been denuded of their primeval growth. The towering pines have almost disappeared from view, and rafting, as an occupation, has become a thing of the past.

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History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 108

Author: Franklin Ellis and Eugene Arns Nash Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Franklin Ellis and Eugene Arns Nash
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: