History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 111

Author: Franklin Ellis and Eugene Arns Nash
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1876. Frank E. Wells. Hiram L. Sanders.

1877. Hezekiah Owen. 1878. John Hackett. L. Nutting.

At the first town-meeting, March 6, 1838, a resolution was passed to raise twice the amount of school money fur- nished by the State, and also to raise $250 to improve highways. At the same meeting it was resolved that sub- stantial fences should be built 4} feet high, and that fence- viewers should receive $1 per day for services. At the second meeting $250 road money was voted, and also that cattle, horses, and sheep be free commoners. In 1840, hogs were added to the list of commoners.

In 1855 the town subscribed for 140 shares of $50 each of the capital stock of the Erie and New York City Rail- road. In September, 1862, the town, at a special meeting, voted to raise by tax 12 per cent. of the subscribed stock and pay the same to the company, returning the stock and receiving the bonds in return, which were canceled.

ROADS.

The first highways were opened about 1821. But pre- vious to that time some roads had been underbrushed to get through with ox-teams and sleds, as some of the settlers in towns farther north had to reach the Quaker Mill on the south side of the Allegany. At the organization of the town, in 1838, there were twelve road-districts. In 1840 three more were formed. In 1842 there were eigh- teen districts, and at present there are twenty-seven.

The " Old Indian Trail," in this town, left the Allegany River at the mouth of Cold Spring Creek, then following that stream, passed into the town of Napoli, on lot No. 41. Previous to the settlement of the town it was merely a foot-path. The Atlantic and Great Western Railroad passes through this town nearly east and west, a distance of seven miles, and has a station at Steamburg.

LUMBER-MILLS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES.

The Halls built a saw-mill on Spring Brook in 1822, which was probably the first in town; although Nathan Crook claims his father, Charles Crook, built one on Cold Spring Creek as early as 1822, which was run about twenty-five years. The Halls built a second mill on the

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Town Clerks. Eastman Prescott. James Pease. =

Frederick Aldrich. " " Howard Fuller. Frederick Aldrich.

1848.

1850

Thomas Higgins. William Wyman. 4 James A. Swan.

1856.

Samuel H. Barrett. Daniel Swan. James H. Swan. Daniel S. Swan.

1872.

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Little Connewango in 1836, and another in 1839. In 1842 they built a mill on Spring Brook, and in 1844 the one now owned by J. F. Stewart. They erected a small grist-mill, with one run of stone, on Spring Brook in 1824, and a much larger one, with three run of stone, in 1833, which is now owned by Holdridge & Davenport, and is the upper mill at East Randolph.

Price & Culver erected a saw-mill on the Little Conne- wango in 1840, which was rebuilt by Reuben Niles in 1870, and is yet in operation.

James Orton and Thomas Harvey erected a saw-mill on Cold Spring Creek about 1835; and Thomas Harvey and son erected one on the same stream in 1838; and Eben Sibley and Marvin Fearry another in 1840.

Parley Marsh put up a saw-mill on what is now called Trout Grove Brook in 1827. It has since been rebuilt, but is not in operation at present. Amos Hall erected a saw-mill on Spring Brook in 1858, which is now owned and run by Geo. W. Watkins. It will cut 300,000 feet of lumber per annum. In 1842, Amos Hall put up a shingle- mill on Spring Brook, which is now owned by Lewis Mor- ton, and has been enlarged to comprise a grist-mill and a cooperage.

A wool-carding and cloth-dressing mill, on Spring Brook, at East Randolph, was erected by Enoch Holdridge in 1858. It is now owned by Frederick Butcher & Son, and is quite extensively used for manufacturing yarns and flannels.

The first steam-mill in Cattaraugus County was built by Nye & White for Holt & Jeffords in 1846, at Cold Spring. It was purchased by E. L. Lyon in 1848, and was burned down in 1854. It cut 1,250,000 feet of lumber per year.

Lyon & Vale erected a steam saw-mill on Robinson Run in 1847. It was burned in 1849, and rebuilt in 1850 by Alonzo Woodford. In 1858 it was moved to the mouth of Robinson Run; then to lot 30 in 1862; and in 1868 again moved to the Larkins tract.

A steam saw-mill was erected on lot 8 by Curtis Hard- ing in 1848. It was run about six years, cutting about 1,500,000 feet annually.

The Jeffords steam saw-mill was built at Steamburg, in 1858, by William M. Brown ; was moved to Meeting-House Run in 1861, and to Robinson Run in 1864. It was then purchased by Silas Harkness, and moved to the village of Cold Spring. It cut from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 feet per year.

Curtis Harding built a steam saw-mill on lot 8 about 1860, which cut about 3,000,000 feet of lumber per year.

A steam saw-mill, 28 by 42 feet, was erected at Steam- burg, in 1851, by E. L. Lyon. It was burned in 1853, and rebuilt the same year. It was again destroyed by fire in 1854, and rebuilt the same season. It was afterwards enlarged, and now cuts 1,500,000 feet of lumber and 2,000,000 of shingles per annum. It is also used for cutting staves and as a planing-mill. The engine is a 35 horse-power.

A saw-mill was erected on the Little Connewango, in 1845, by Samuel Price. It was 25 by 50 feet. It has since been rebuilt by Joseph Price, and is now owned by him. It is in good running condition.

In 1872, Gideon Marsh erected a grist-mill, with one run

of stone, on the Little Connewango. The upright is 30 by 36 feet, two stories high, with a wing 24 by 26 feet. It is now owned by Mr. Marsh. He also operates a turning- lathe, slitting-saws, scroll-saws, etc.

A spoke- and hub-factory was built at Steamburg a few years ago by H. L. Sanders, who is operating it at present.

A spoke- and hub-factory was erected on Trout Grove Brook, in 1870, by A. & S. T. Stedman, who still own and run it, doing about $3000 of business per year.

CREAMERIES.

The Price & Williams Creamery was built in 1874, at a cost of $4400. The size is 36 by 56 feet, and three stories high. It is run by an 8 horse-power engine. It receives the milk of 270 cows, making 10 cheeses and 250 pounds of butter daily. It is now owned by Mrs. E. C. Price and Emma Price.

The Rich Creamery, situated a short distance southeast of East Randolph, was built by Edwin Stone in 1874, at a cost of $5180. It is now owned and operated by Joshua Rich. It manufactures the milk of 425 cows, making 16 cheeses and 300 pounds of butter daily. It is 40 by 60 feet, and three stories high, having an engine of 8 horse- power.

TROUT GROVE FISHERY.

Among the industries of this town, on lot 53 is one of great novelty and much interest. On less than ten acres of land nearly 150 springs gush from the earth, and almost entirely by natural channels concentrate their waters in a pond of three-fourths of an acre. This pond was con- structed over fifty years ago, by Parley Marsh, to run a saw-mill which he erected in 1827 a few rods below the pond. He obtained a fall of 30 feet in a distance of 150 feet, making about a 25 horse-power. In the centre of the pond is a natural island of much beauty, 75 feet in diamre- ter; and on the east shore are capes and bays, perfectly natural. East of the pond and bordering directly upon its shore is a fine grove of second-growth hard-wood, inter- spersed with evergreen timber. The volume of water from the springs never varies, heavy floods or severe droughts never seeming to affect their fountain source. The water is transparent, pure, soft, and very cold. It falls from the main pond in a sheet 8 feet in width, being about 220 cubic inches. In 1868, John B. Eddy, a native of Middlefield, Otsego Co., N. Y., purchased these grounds and commenced improving them, until at present there are sixteen ponds. In 1873 he commenced breeding trout to supply his ponds, and is now propagating them for the ponds of other parties, and also for the market. Mr. Eddy thinks with proper improvements he could turn off from $15,000 $20,000 worth of fish per annum. In fact, there would scarcely be any limit to the business. At present he has about 60,000 fish, ranging from one to five years of age. No ice ever forms on these ponds, and experiments have shown that these springs are from 15 to 20 feet below the surface ; and their equal can hardly be found in this country.

VILLAGES.

A part of East Randolph is situated in this town, but as that place will be fully noticed in the history of the town of Randolph, further mention of it is here omitted.

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

STEAMBURG,

a station on the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, in the southwestern part of the town, is a thriving village, having several hundred inhabitants. It derived its name from the number of steam works and mills at one time located here. The site was originally settled by Eastman Prescott, in a rather early day, but no effort was made to found a village until after the completion of the railroad, in 1860, when the principal interests of the old village of Cold Spring were diverted to this point.

The first store was erected by Freedom Jeffords, in 1856. It was kept by Howard Fuller and B. G. Casler. The second was built by E. L. Lyon, in 1871, and occu- · pied by Robert Carson. The third was built in 1873, by Franklin Jackson, and occupied by Nutting Brothers. There are also several grocery-stores, by M. A. Jaquay and H. K. Whelpley.

The first hotel was built by Moses B. Wells, and now is owned by Alpha Flagg; it was built in 1863. B. Kent erected the second, in 1865, and it was kept by him until 1878, and since by Horace Frederick.

The Steamburg post-office is the only one in town. It was established October, 1861, with E. L. Lyon as post- master, a position which he held seven or eight years. Other appointees have been B. G. Casler, Maurice Gibbs, Robert Carson, F. L. Beyers, M. A. Jaquay, and, since August, 1876, H. D. Nutting. The place has daily mails from the East and West, and a tri-weekly mail to points South by stage.

Dr. Alson Leavenworth located in Cold Springs as a practicing physician about 1836. Since then Doctors Tomp- kins, Crandall, and Butterworth have been in practice. The present physician is W. W. Daniels.

A fine school building, 30 by 50 feet, costing $2000, is a credit to the inhabitants of Steamburg. A good school, having an attendance of 65 pupils, is maintained. The children of school age in the district number 112.

In the village are also half a dozen mechanic shops and several large steam lumber-mills and factories.

COLD SPRING

was formerly a hamlet of considerable importance, having been the centre of a great lumber trade. In 1839 the place had three taverns, conducted by Howard Fuller, Alonzo Woodford, and Abram Casler. The former con- tinued about twenty years, and for much of the time kept a store. Others in trade at this point were Benjamin Giles, De Witt Wheat, Foster Barlow, Wm. Brown, Daniel Swan, Howard Fuller, Jr., Alfred Fuller, G. Casler, Stephen Aldrich, etc. Jesse Champlin was the last innkeeper at this place, and one of the best-remembered postmasters was Jonathan Cricks.

After the lumber business declined and the railroad was built through Steamburg, the whites living in the hamlet removed, leaving it tenanted by the Indians, and there is nothing now to remind the passer-by of the former activity and importance of the old village of Cold Spring.

PUBLIC CEMETERIES.

As far as known, those who died first in town were in- terred in the woods on lot 29, a few rods from the depot at Steamburg. Their remains have never been removed. Another burial-plat, much used by the early settlers, was given for this purpose on lot 32, by Nathan Crook. At least forty persons were here interred when its use was abandoned, and it is now a cultivated field.

THE BUNKER HILL CEMETERY

on lot 38, near the village of Steamburg, was opened by an association formed in 1863. The first officers were Ebenezer C. Price, President ; Freedom Jeffords, Secretary ; G. A. Williams, Treasurer; Sylvester A. May, William Earle, and E. L. Lyon, Trustees. The cemetery contains an acre of ground, having good natural drainage, and is neatly inclosed. The managing board of trustees at pres- ent is composed of John Hotchkiss, George W. Van Sickle, Thomas Turner, H. L. Sander, and Sylvester A. May.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

It is said that Rev. Wm. J. Wilcox, a Congregational minister, held the first religious meeting in town, in 1823. It does not appear that any church organization was then effected, or in subsequent years until 1851, when

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

was formed at what is now Steamburg. The minister in charge was the Rev. Mr. Chesbrough, and the members were composed of the Woodworth families, Alvah Williams and wife, W. D. Arrance and wife, and Mr. Jonathan Whipple. James M. Woodworth was elected class-leader. The Revs. Blynn, Day, Moore, Barnhart, and Meade were among the earlier preachers, and the meetings were held in the school- house. The class at present numbers thirty-two, and is under the leadership of Clark Myers.

THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST

formally organized a class at Steamburg in 1872, the mem- bers being Austin Davis and wife, Hiram Briest and wife, Mrs. Whipple, and Mrs. Turk. A Rev. Mr. Reeves was the first pastor, and a Rev. Mr. Robinson the present.

THE FREE METHODISTS

have also lately established meetings in town, with encour- aging prospects of organizing a church. The Rev. J. McGeary preaches at Steamburg at regular intervals.

MILITARY.

The town gave a willing and active response to the calls for troops to suppress the rebellion, and resolutions were passed to raise money for volunteers from Cold Spring, and to provide means for the support of their families. The action of the town, authorizing bounties of from $150 to $600 per man, was supplemented by many generous private subscriptions ; and all united in a determined effort to sus- tain the Government and vindicate the supremacy of the national authority.

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HINSDALE.

THE town of Hinsdale lies upon the east border of the county, south of the centre. Its surface is a broken and hilly upland. Irregular ranges of high hills, with abrupt declivities, and deep, narrow valleys, alternate. The sum- mits of these hills are from 500 to 600 feet above the rail- way at Hinsdale village.

The principal water-courses are the Ischua Creek, entering the town near the centre, on the north border, and flowing south, and Oil Creek, entering it in the northeast corner and flowing southwest, which unite near the village of Hinsdale and form Olean Creek, which continues in a southerly direction through the centre of the town. These streams afford excellent water-power privileges. Haskell Creek is a small stream, which rises in the eastern part and flows through it in a southerly direction.

The soil upon the uplands is chiefly of a clay loam and in the valleys a gravelly loam. It is productive, well adapted to grazing, dairying, and the cultivation of fruits and the cereals. The agricultural classes, which comprise the major portion of the inhabitants, are chiefly interested in the prop- agation and care of live-stock and in the monthly dividends of cheese-factories.

Petroleum has been sought, and many evidences exist that it is here, but attempts to find it in paying quantities have thus far proved futile.

The town contains a total area of 24,786 acres, of which 12,500 acres are improved. Its population in 1875 was 1566, of whom 128 were foreign born and 10 colored.

THE PIONEERS.

Its proximity to the settlement already established at Hamilton, now Olean, by Major Adam Hoops; the beau- tiful scenery presented, as, approached from the south, the Olean, Ischua, and Oil Creek Valleys lay outspread to view in all their pristine glory and loveliness; the fertility of the soil, and the easy terms offered to actual settlers by the agents of the Holland Land Company, induced a few fami- lies, during the first decade of the present century, to make their home in that part of the county of Genesee now known as the town of Hinsdale.

According to tradition and facts already gathered and published,-for none of their representatives are here at the present day, -the brothers, Zachariah, Horace, and Seymour Noble, Charles Foot, and Thomas Lusk, natives of the State of Massachusetts, came here from Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1806, and settled on section 3, township 2, range 4.

Their contracts for land were made with Major Hoops, who had previously become proprietor of sections 3 and 4 in the township just named. It is related that two years of quiet rural life passed without much to elate or startle

the pioneers, save the frequent visits of wild beasts; when it was whispered from house to house that Horace Noble was a father, and they called her " Clarissa." She was born in the fall of 1808, and was the first white child born . in the town. Of these people already named, Zachariah Noble seems to have been the only one who remained here for any length of time, and became fully identified with the history and interests of the town. He was a plain, unas- suming man, but a good, worthy citizen. He was located upon lot 7, section 3, township 2, range 4. In 1807, in conjunction with his brother-in-law, Foote, he made the first cheese ever made in Cattaraugus County.

Lusk settled upon lot 1, section 4 of the fourth range. Jedediah Strong came from Vermont in 1807, and the same year, with Bibbin Follett and Dr. Bradley, rafted the first lumber down the Allegany River. Follett died in 1809. His death is supposed to have been the first in the town. Mr. Strong married the widow of Wm. Shepard about 1811, and settled upon section 3. In 1820 he owned lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 of section 3, township 2, range 4. He was a leading citizen, and up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1828, was prominently identified and active in all matters pertaining to the interests of Hinsdale. He was one of the first assessors, and the second supervisor of the town.

Simeon Hicks came from the vicinity of Schenectady, N. Y., in 1807, and the same year entered into a contract with the agents of the Holland Land Company* for land in the northeast part of lot 4, third township, third range, or what is now the northeast corner lot of the town. He first worked for Major Hoops in his saw-mill. In 1812 he married Loranda, the daughter of Capt. Elibu Murray (the marriage ceremony was performed by John Brooks, Esq., of Olean), and soon after he settled upon the Burt farm, now. owned by William Towsley. The next year Mr. Hicks opened a tavern. In 1817 the highway called the State road was opened from Olean Point to Angelica. This im-

# The books of the Ilolland Land Company showed the following men as being the first contractors for lands in the territory now in- cluded within the towns of Hinsdale, Ischua, and Portville.

Township 2, range 4, Asahel Beach, in 1806. Township 3, range 3, 1807, Jotham Blakesley, Barnabas Strong, John Brooks, Samuel Kimball, Asa Folsom, Simeon Ilicks. Township 2, range 3, 1813, James Haskins, Israel Curtis, Joel Wakefield, Rodolphus Scott, Joseph Smith, Alfred Dodge. Township 3, range 4, 1813, Lewis Wood, Sey- mour Bouton, Julius Underwood, and Emery Yates. As Major Hoops had already obtained control of the greater portion of township 2, range 4, it is found that the first settlers in the town of Hinsdale, as now constituted, settled upon Hoops' Tract. Of the names given as above, we find that Simeon Hicks, Israel Curtis, Lewis Wood, and Emery Yates became actual settlers of Hinsdale, and Seymour Bouton of that part of Hinsdale now known as Ischua.

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

provement changed the carriage-way from the west side to the east side of Oil Creek, and Hicks' tavern was left on the opposite side of the stream, and a long distance from the new avenue of travel. He then built a hotel at the corners, which became widely known as " Hicks' 'Tavern," or Hicksville. As emigrants bound for the "far west" streamed through this valley on their way to Olean Point, his business increased to such an extent that his accommo- dations were inadequate. In 1832 he erected a new hotel at a cost of $3000, and continued in the hotel business until 1850, when the hotel took fire and was burned. The old tavern was torn down at the same time to save the dwelling-house, now occupied by his widow, Mrs. Loranda Hicks.

About 1808, Joseph Burt, from Connecticut, settled upon the Towsley farm, and was the first settler in township 3, range 3. He remained until 1812, when he sold out his improvements to Simeon Hicks, and went farther west. Mrs. Hicks relates that Burt had built two large log houses (the logs of which were hewn smooth inside), with good puncheon floors of basswood, and that he had some 15 acres under cultivation.

Seth Humphrey and his brother Elisha were from Con- necticut, and previous to 1809 were settled upon the farm now owned by the widow Scott. Seth removed from the town at an early day,-prior to 1820. Elisha afterwards settled upon lot 6, section 4, township 2, range 4.

Capt. Elihu Murray, a native of Deerfield, Mass., who had served with distinction in the Continental army during the war for American Independence, settled in Oxford, Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1790. He remained at Oxford until the spring of 1809, when, accompanied by his sons, Elihu, Jr., and Dauphin, and Loranda, his daughter, he started out with his own conveyance, drawn by a span of good horses, for the wilds of Cattaraugus.

They traveled by the way of the " Lake country." At Gorham, Ontario Co., N. Y., Miss Murray, who was then eighteen years of age, was induced to remain a year and teach school. Her younger brother, Dauphin, remained with her. Capt. Murray and his son, Elihu, Jr., finally reached Cattaraugus County, and bought out the improve- ments of Thomas Lusk, which consisted of a log house, log barn, and a few acres of cleared land. The next year (1810), Elihu Murray, Jr., opened the first tavern in the town. This tavern-stand was afterwards occupied by Israel Curtis and others, and was situated about one mile below the village of Hinsdale.

Capt. Murray did not entertain a very exalted opinion of Cattaraugus, and about the beginning of the war of 1812- 14, with his horses and wagon, set out on his return to Chenango County. At Bath, Steuben Co., he met Gen. McClure, who was then organizing a force to march to the Canadian frontier. Capt. Murray was induced by the gen- eral to join the expedition, and, as a wagon-master or bag- gage-master, proceeded with the American forces, and with them crossed into Canada. After a few months' service of this nature, he continued on his way to Chenango Co., N. Y., and there passed the remainder of his life.

As before mentioned, Mrs. Hicks-then Miss Murray- remained in Ontario County until 1810, when she rejoined

her family in the valley of Olean Creek. Her recollections of the people already settled in the valley in 1810, their peculiarities, etc., are vivid, interesting, and worthy of men- tion here. She relates that when she arrived, Seth Hum- phrey was living upon the widow Scott place. Clafford, an old man who had a blind wife, was upon the Webster farm, and John Foot was upon the James Lockwood place. Willis Thrall lived on the Barrows place, and the widow of William Shepard was living near Thrall. Shepard and Thrall were brothers-in-law, and she thinks that the mill built by them on Olean Creek in 1807 was the first saw-mill erected in Cattaraugus County.

The summer of 1810, Miss Murray taught school in a log house, which stood near the present residence of Horace W. Smith. Among her pupils were Olean and Bird Shep- ard, and Seth Humphrey's children. She taught the Shepard children their A B C's, and mentions that one of Humphrey's boys was a remarkable child. He was about seven or eight years of age. When he commenced he did not know his letters, and in six months' time he could read a book.

Below Thrall's and the widow Shepard's lived John Brooks, and next below him James Brooks. Still farther south was Benjamin Seeley, who owned a saw-mill. A few years later Seeley's wife became insane. He took Mary Ann Riggs and her mother, left his family, and went West.

At Olean Point there were but three families living, viz., Adem Hoops and his father, who lived in a hewn-log house, which stood on the right side of the road going south to Portville, a little east of the Olean Creek. The other fami- lies were those of Sylvanus Russell and Jake Putnam, who lived near each other, down by the Allegany River.

Before the marriage of Mrs. Hicks she accepted an in- vitation to a party at Major Hoops'. Wealthy Thrall-who afterwards married John Cruger-kept house for him. They had for supper venison steak, good potatoes, cranberry- sauce, wheat bread, and coffee. The men were treated to some kind of liquor.

Willis Thrall and wife, Mrs. Shepard, and Jedediah Strong were present at this party.

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History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 111

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: