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 113
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 following is an alphabetical list of the resident land- owners in the town of Hinsdale in 1820; showing also the number of acres owned by each, and the assessed val- uation :
Acres. Value.
Acres. Value.
Bouton, Seymour 982 $2804
Millard, Israel 100 $200
Bouton, Sands.
40 160
Neff, Silas B 217 474
Cowdin, Nat.
100 240
Noble, Zachariah 150
500
Camp, David ... 66 132
Pitcher, Amos. 200
700
Camp, Ephraim 100
200
Pitcher, William S .. 38
326
Campbell, Alexander 50
100
Putnam, Samuel. 180
240
Curtis, Israel 602
1646
Pottman, Peter.
223 1246
Chamberlin, Jacob. 185
410
Parker, Harvey. 195
1115
Dodge, David.
160
380
Strong, Jedediah 374
1622
Davis, Jonathan 234
546
Thornton, Ezra .. 96
492
Foot, John. 98
376
260
Wood, Lewis. 885* 2870
Farewell, Abram M 505
1660
Wood, Jarvis .. 120 240
Houghton, Aaron. 100
500
Wood, Wheelock. 120 890
Hungerford, William. 313 1031
100 Welton, Zaphniah .. 200
Hicks, Simcon. 210
1220
Wasson. Thornton .. 365 990
Hinds, Robert.
143
1236
Yates, Emery. 120 240
Kimball, William. 125
650
-
! 1851. Alexander Storrs. William G. Todd.
1855. Alexander Storrs. William G. Todd.
1856. Elihu M. Wasson.
Christopher Willover.
1857. Martin L. Stevenson. Seth Lock wood.
1858. Augustus H. Phelps. 1859. Alexander Storrs.
1860. Seth Lock wood.
1861. Charles D. Murray.
1862. Phalismus Snyder.
1863. Albertus Norton.
1865. Almon B. Bullard. Austin May. Augustus H. Phelps.
1866. John A. Ostrander. Alexander Storrs.
1867. James T. Terry.
1868. Elibu M. Wasson.
1869. Augustus H. Phelps. . John L. Adams.
1870. Henry K. White. Augustus H. Phelps. 1871. John L. Adams.
1872. Nelson I. Norton.
1873. Augustus H. Phelps.
1874. William E. Gould. John L. Adams.
1875. Carlton E. Yates.
122 Weeks, Joshua 494 Fay, Lambert. 110
Digitized by Google
1875
Willis Thrall. 217 994
428
HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
tauqua, and Cattaraugus in the New York State Legislature, Benjamin Ellicott, for member of Congress, received 36 votes ; Henry Seymour, for State Senator, received 14 votes ; James McCall, for State Senator, received 14 votes ; David Cason, for member of Assembly, received 33 votes ; Calvin Fillmore, for member of Assembly, received 32 votes.
At the gubernatorial election held Nov. 1, 1824, De Witt Clinton received, for Governor, 32 votes; Samuel Young, for Governor, 23 votes.
A POOR-BILL.
" An account of money expended for the benefit of the poor in 1824.
" Aug. 14, paid Judge Warner for 1 1b. tea.
$1.00
" 1 gall. whisky 62} .....
.62}
" 40 lbs. flour @ 3.50 per
100.
1.40
" 39 1bs. flour @ 3.50 per 100. 1.36
Aug. 16, paid Thornton Wasson for 80 lbs. flour.
2.80
"
Judge Warner for } lb. tea. .50
.53
Aug. 23
50
Aug. 28
{ 1b. tea ...
.50
Sept. 9
=
..
" 5 1bs. sugar
.62}
..
1 qt. brandy (lacking & gill).
.44
$11.28
"The above articles were furnished by us, for, and delivered to, M.
F., Jr., and the Widow A., whose families were sick and in waut. (Signed) " EMORY Woon,
"THORNTON WASSON,
" Overseers of the Poor."
The following is a list of jurors in the town of Hinsdale, 1827: Enoch B. Andrews, Moses W. Butterfield, Peter Bush, Joseph Bristol, Jabez A. Beebe, James Bennett, William Bennett, Eliasaph Bouton, Tunis D. Bush, Daniel Chandler, Henry Conrad, John Conrad, Daniel Conrad, Anthony Caswell, Jonathan Davis, Thomas Densmore, Lewis Fay, Lambert Fay, Jarvis Fuy, Reynolds Ferris, Daniel A. Ferris, Elisha Foot, Peter Frantz, Horace Guild, Joel Godfrey, Chas. C. Hatch, David Hidmer, Aaron Hough- ton, William Hawley, Sherman Johnson, Allen Jones, Levi Kent, Christopher Keller, Wm. Kinner, John Lock wood, Jacob Linderman, Geo. Learn, Jacob Learn, Dan'I K. Lewis, George Miner, Bela May, Eli Martin, William May, Zach- ariah Noble, David Parker, Harry H. Pitcher, Peter Pott- man, William Raub, David Raub, Jedediah Strong, Henry Steffy, Abner Smith, Michael Vincent, John Waggoner, Emery Yates.
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF EXCISE.
"At a meeting of the commissioners of the Board of Excise of the town of Hinsdale, held at the house of William Vinton, this 11th day of July, 1829, for the purpose of granting licenses, &c. It is resolved, that we have satisfactory evidence that William Vinton, Reuben Scott, Harry H. Pitcher, Eleazer Densmore, and Jabez A. Beebe, who apply to us for licenses, severally, to keep an Inn or Tavern in said town, are respectively of good moral character, and of sufficient abilities to keep an Inn or Tavern, and have, respectively, accommodations to entertain travelers, and that Inns or taverns are absolutely necessary at the places where said persons propose to keep taverns for the ac- tual accommodation of Travelers."
(Signed)
" EMERY WOOD, Superrisor.
" DANIEL CHANDLER, J. P.
" JOHN CONRAD, J. P."
The following is an alphabetical list of resident land-own- ers in the town of Hinsdale in 1830, showing the number of acres owned and improved by each :
Owned. Iınp.
Owned. Imp.
Andrews, Enoch B .. 98 17
Johnson, Sherman ..... 161 12
Bouton, Elisaph .. 125 24
Jones, Allen. 100
Barnum, Charles. 60
15
Keller, Christopher ... 125
Bouton, Lewis. 127
Boyce, John. 100
Buzzard, Joseph 180
...
Kunklan, Lewis .. 150
12
Beebe, Caleb .. 100
12
Kester, John. 100
...
Bennett, Jobn A 99
...
Kapp, Geo., Jr. 127
...
Bush, Peter. 250
46
Lock wood, Thomas. 189
+ Lewis, Dan. K 100
5
Beebe, Levi 128
Butterfield, Moses W. 100 Broad, Samuel, 120
Bouton, Wm. H. 36
2
1
Lock wood, Joseph 100
Bovee, Jacob ...
50
4
Lockwood, Horace 290
Bristol, Joseph
70
Bristol, Joseph B
40
2
Melegar, Jacob. 158
30
Moyer, Henry 173
... 18
Bennett, William
150
12
Moyer, John. 100
Martin, Eli
Melegar, John. 100
...
...
Miller, Peter. 100
3
Morris, Neeley 150
...
20
Millard, Israel. 120
Miner, George. 88
...
Miner. Denison 85
3
Metcalf. Samuel, Jr ... 75
Cooper. Andrew. 263 66
Conrad, Daniel. 97
11
Cothral, William 99
6
Osmond, Aaron. 100
5
1
Preston, Ebenezer. 162
15
Chan ller, Daniel.
12 Parker, Thomas. 105
2
Colwell, Williamn.
230
5
Carmer, Peter .. 150 5
Chamberlin, Ira. 147 11
12
Pipher, Samuel .. 349
56
Pottman, Peter. 100
Pitcher, William S 32
10
Densmore, Eleazer. 126
50
Queer, William .. 100
12
Deal, John. 199
Everhart, Jacob. 150
Farewell, Abram M 137
Foot, Elisha
48
16
Raub, David. 176
2.
Robinson, Jonathan ... 452
2
Sweeton, Elijah 48 Strong, Elizabeth. 213
7
Seward, Alpha 100
...
Fay, Jarvis .. 53
5
Swarts, Peter. 243
... 40
Fay, Moses, Jr. 118
3
Snyder, Jobn. 123
18
Fay, Lewis M. 58
8
Stevenson, James. 200
...
Forris, Reynolds. 100
Ferris, Daniel A. 100
6
Sinith, William 116 Scott, Reuben. 190 15
32
Goodrich, Isanc. 50
Gross, Henry. 220
...
Gould, Jesse. 100
8
Stewart, Charles. 150
3
Guild, Horace. 100
19
Tyler & Cook 73
25 7
Granger, Leicester.
50
Thrall, Hi: am. 103 25
Hicks, Simeon
77
12
Taylor, Zera .. 50
Hull, Orrin
80
6
Vincent, Michael
100 Vinton, William. 11
11 25
Houghton, Aaron ..
50
Hawley, William 114
16
6
Howe, Jonathan ..
150
2
5
Howe, Titus. 100
18
3
Hawley, Benjamin ... .....
...
11 Wester. William. 100
...
Hatch, John S 71
... Wood, Emery .. 134
30
Hungerford, Joshua ... 70
...
25 Wood, Wheelock 121
15
Hatch, Charles C .. 127
6 York, Jacob 103
15
This list includes all then living in the present town of Ischua, which was then known as Hinsdale.
Digitized by Google
14 25 25 15
Conrad, Nicholas 50
Case, Archibald. 160
Conrad, Joseph.
129
Campbell. Alva.
99
M. tcall, John .. 100
Metcalf, Lewis P. 175
10 15
Carpenter, Lowell. 71
Cole, Joshua. 1 58
Chamberlin, Corn. 200
Conrad, Henry 446
Conrad, Samuel.
51
Davis, Jonathan, 353
Densmore, Thomas .. 147
Raub, David 125
...
Raub, John ... 270
Raub, Joseph. 00
18
Raub, Andrew 100
Fay, Lambert
173
Fay, Clement .. 103
Farewell, John H .. 117
8
Farewell, Thaddeus J. 100 Frost, Gideon. 34
2
Shaver, Samuel. 100
Sherlock, Thomas. 120
5
Grimes, Daniel
50
Shark, Myron.
... Steffy, Henry 200
15
Guild, George 109
10
Townsend, Chester. 100
... 30
Hungerford, William. 75 75
5
Wasson, Thomas T 504 Wheeler, Aaron .. 112
...
Wagner, John. 150 Whitney, Lyman. 106 Wetherby, Heber 100 Whitlock, Morris 100
...
Warren, Thomas 99
15
=
" bottle and brandy.
Bowens, Andrew. 120
Barrows, Samuel .. 109 12
Burt. Aaron.
50
Burt. Daniel 50
Caswell, Anthony
100
Noble, Zachariah 150
Osterstuck. John. 50
15 Parker, David. 108
Pierer, Cyrus. 216
Purington, David .. 50
6 12 35
23 22
6 8 23 ... 36 30
Bugby, Elias.
100
2
. .. Larn, Jacob. 165
13
9
Linderman, Jacob. 100
8
9 Larn, George .. 165
15
14
Lockwood, Jobn. 100
15
Bullard, Gardner.
Losie, Stephen 100
Beche, Jabez A
172
Bowers. Jacob. 120
May, Bela 151
13 4 ...
Sept. 22
.50
+ 1b. tea.
.50
= I qt. brandy
May, William 2:5
10
Kent, Levi .. 100
...
e :
Brown, Zebina. 129
26 Keller, Joseph. 180
12 20
... 24
Frantz, Peter. 215
...
Sergent, Enoch. 150
Guild, Alpha 50
Houghton, Williamn ...
Howe, Jacob. 100
Hibner, David. 249
8 Searl, Samuel. 32
55 Pitcher, E. M. 100
15 15 ...
" 1 qt. brandy.
429
HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
A revised list of the jurors of the town of Hinsdale, made the first Monday of July, 1830, according to instruc- tions of the revised statutes, is as follows :
Eliasaph Bouton, farmer ; Jabez A. Beebe, innkeeper ; Peter Bush, Joseph Buzzard, Andrew Cooper, Anthony Caswell, Jonathan Davis, farmers; Eleazer Densmore, inn- keeper ; Elisha Foot, Capt. John H. Farewell, Lewis M. Fay, Zachariah Noble, Aaron Osborn, Peter Pottman, Jonathan Robinson, John Snyder, Capt. William Smith, farmers; Emery Wood, Esq., merchant; Capt. Thomas T. Wasson, Sniffin Wilson, Capt. Wheelock Wood, farmers.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The first highway in the town was the road from An- gelica, Allegany Co., to Olean. The old road entered the town near the house first occupied by Simeon Hicks, and followed down the west bank of Oil Creek to near the site of Hinsdale village, then crossed to the east side, and con- tinued on in a southerly direction on the route now trav- ersed, with some slight variations, from Hinsdale to Olean. The present highway, the State road, was opened and com- pleted by the contractor, David D. Howe, in 1817.
The Genesee Valley Cunal enters the town in the northeast corner, and extends through it along the east bank of Oil and Olean Creeks. A feeder from Ischua Creek crosses lots 42 and 33, of township 3, range 3, and taken across Oil Creek by an aqueduct some 25 feet in height and about 300 feet in length, empties its waters into the canal about one mile northeast of Hinsdale village. This canal was authorized by an act of the Legislature passed May 6, 1836. Work was commenced the same year, and in 1856 it was completed through the town of Hinsdale. It extends from Rochester to Olcan. The summit level is 978 feet above Rochester and 86 feet above the Allegany River at Olean, and from it 97 locks descend towards the north and 9 towards the south. It has from its incipiency been a non-paying investment, and with the close of the season of 1878 it was abandoned. W. O. Leland, of Hinsdale, in 1863 made the first and only shipment of grain from Cattaraugus County by canal, when he shipped two boat-loads of oats from Hinsdale to Albany.
The Erie Railway enters the town near the northeast corner, and passes through on the line of and south of the Genesee Valley Canal. It was completed in 1851. The citizens, at a cost of $500, gave the company the land now occupied by the depot and side-tracks at Hinsdale.
The Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad enters the town near the centre, on the north border, and follows down the valleys of the Ischua and Olean Creeks, keeping on the west bank of those streams. It was com- pleted in 1872. Hinsdale village is a station.
INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
Here, as elsewhere in the southern portion of Cattarau- gus County, the pioneers and their immediate descendants were at an early day largely engaged in lumbering and raft- ing. The business, in its results, paid in a twofold pro- portion. Their land became cleared of the heavy forests which encumbered it, and by means of the Olean Creek
and Allegany River the markets of Pittsburgh and Cincin- nati were accessible, and a little money was obtained by the sale of their timber. Yet, after viewing some portions of the territory thus stripped of the virgin forests, one cannot but think that if the fathers had left the trees standing on many acres which now lie uncultivated, exposing to view a cold, rough, barren, surface, the timber would be worth much more than the present value of the land.
Of late years the people have turned their attention more particularly to agricultural pursuits. Good farm lands exist in all portions of the town, and in the produc- tion of fruits, potatoes, hay, and the cereals, it is second to none in the county, according to the acreage in cultiva- tion. Dairying is also successfully conducted. The cheese- factories of Messrs. A. L. Walker, Peter Pettit, Charles Houser, and Dr. Ira J. Brownson, using the milk of about 1500 cows, will produce 550,000 pounds of cheese an- nuully.
A comparative statement of the value of lands, number of acres improved, value and amount of productions, live- stock, manufactories, etc., 1835 and 1875 :
1835.
Number of acres of improved Innd. 5,637
Assessed valuation of real estate ៛69,120
Assessed valuation of personal estate. $1,160
Number of cattle 1,571
Number of horses 323
Number of sheep
1,902
Number of #wine.
1,242
Number of yards of fulled woolens produced
1,405
Number of yards of unfulle I woolens produced.
2,042
Number of yards of linens and cottons produced.
3,142
Amount of county tax
$641.73
Amount of town tax
$961.49
Number of grist-mills
2
Number of saw-mills.
10
Fulling-mill
1
Carding-machine
1
Distillery
1
Tannery
1
1875.
Cash value of farms, farin buildings, live-stock, tools, and implements ..
$895,290
Total area of improved lands. 12,288
4,470
Bushels of buckwheat 2,408
Bushels of Indian corn. 13,029
Bushels of oats
33,412
Bushels of spring wheat.
1,073
Bushels of winter wheat.
1,262
Bushels of potatoes
22,286
Bushels of apples
16,688
Barrels of cider.
395
Pounds of maple-sugar.
23,800
Gallons of maple-syrup.
366
Number of horses.
379
Number of cattle.
1,464
Number of milch cows,
1,416
Number of cows whose milk was sent to factory ....
1,028
Pounds of butter made in families.
56,525
Pounds of wool clipped
5,700
Pounds of pork made on farms
80,370
VILLAGES.
HINSDALE.
The village of Hinsdale, situated at the junction of Oil and Ischua Creeks, is a station on the line of the Genesee Valley Canal, the Erie Railway, and the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad. It contains one church -Methodist Episcopal,-two hotels, five stores of general merchandise, two grocery-stores, meat-market, post-office, district school-house, a cheese-factory, several small me- chanic shops, and about 350 inhabitants. The original
Digitized by Google
Tons of hay produced.
430
HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
owner of its site was Henry Conrad. He built the first house in 1821, and soon after opened it to the public as an inn or place of entertainment. Emery Wood was the next to locate, in 1822. He was the first merchant and post- master, in 1825. Wm. Vinton was also an early tavern- keeper. John Crabtree erected a small tannery in 1833. Wheelock Wood built a more extensive one in 1837. Ac- cording to the census report of 1835, the village then con- tained three stores, two taverns, one grist-mill, three saw- mills, one tannery, wood-carding and cloth-dressing works, and twenty-five dwelling-houses. Dr. James Trowbridge was the first resident physician. Dr. Paul Clark was also an early physician. Drs. Hinman, Palmer, Goodyear, and Brownson have practiced here in more recent years. Dr. Ira J. Brownson settled Jan. 16, 1853, and has been in continuous practice to the present time. It argues well for the healthfulness of the village and the surrounding country when physicians complain of a lack of profession 1 business.
About forty years ago Samuel P. Lyman and others sought to build up a city here. Several hundred acres lying within a radius that incloses Hinsdale and Scott's Corners were bought up. The land was surveyed, mapped, and regularly laid out into streets, walks, squares, parks, and presented a magnificent appearance-upon paper. But the draughtsman's pencil, combined with the imaginative brain of Lyman and his confrères, could not give existence to a city where nature had decreed otherwise.
SCOTT'S CORNERS,
situated upon Ischua Creek, near the line of the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad, and about three- fourths of a mile north of Hinsdale village, derives its name from Hollis Scott, who opened a store there about 1835, and contains a church (Baptist), grist-mill, saw-mill, one or two small mechanic-shops, and about fifteen dwelling-houses. Lewis Wood was the original owner of the site.
HASKELL FLATS,
a post-office station, is situated on Haskell Creek, near the southeast corner of the town. It contains an extensive cheese-factory and a few dwelling-houses.
SCHOOLS.
As mentioned in other pages, we find that Miss Loranda Murray taught the first school in 1810. In 1818 the first framed school-house was erected at Scott's Corners. From that time until 1835, school-houses and scholars increased rapidly. The census of the latter year reported as follows : "Number of school districts, 16; number of scholars of school age, 663; amount of public money expended, $169."
The town, which then included the present town of Ischua, contained a population of 1543 inhabitants.
In 1843, one Elder W. M. Fay made his appearance in Hinsdale, ostensibly as the pastor of the Baptist Church. He soon became imbued with the idea of founding a gigan- tic educational institution, and with labor as an adjunct it was at once to be placed upon a self-sustaining basis. A newspaper called The Freeman and Messenger, published
in the interests of the " Manual Labor Institute," was established at Scott's Corners, while the elder traversed the country begging for aid and selling scholarships for $25 each. The citizens of Hinsdale also subscribed quite liberally to the building-fund, and the construction of the auxiliary edifice was commenced in Hinsdale village. The main structure was to be erected at Scott's Corners, the two to be connected by a covered walk. Meantime the elder became involved in some matter of scandal, which destroyed his usefulness as an educator or teacher of morality and religion, and he hied himself to distant parts. Citizens who were interested, pecuniarily and otherwise, went for- ward and completed the edifice as it stands to-day, and it was soon after opened and denominated the " Hinsdale Academy."
A prospectus issued at about this time gives the following information :
" The Hinsdale Academy will be opened Oct. 30, 1843; Prof. O. W. Gibbs, Principal; Miss Adeline Walker, Pre- ceptress.
"Thirty young ladies can be taken ; board, $1.25 per week. Also, arrangements have been made so that forty mechanics can be boarded and attend school, by working four hours per day."
This institution flourished for some two or three years ; and we are assured that as an institution of learning it was a success, but a failure financially. The property was finally purchased by the authorities of the school district in which it is situated, and is now used as a district school-house and town hall.
From the report of the county school commissioners, for the year ending Sept. 30, 1878, the following statistics are taken :
Number of school districts in town
8
Value of
with sites.
$4080.00
Volumes in library. 80
Value of library.
$25.00
Number of teachers employed.
8
Amount of money paid teachers. $1690.41
Number of children of school age 513
Average daily attendance. 209.3.53
Number of weeks taught .. 513
Amount of public money received from State .. $1077.53
"
" money received from tax ..
$735.88
NEWSPAPERS.
The Hinsdale Democrat, a weekly paper, published in the interests of Democracy and edited by Joseph T. Lyman, was established in the spring of 1837. Its publication was continued for a period of two years, and is said to have been ably conducted.
The People's Gazette was established in 1840. It was edited by George Smith, was Democratic in principles, and had an existence for about two years.
The Freeman and Messenger, published in the interests of the " Manual Labor Institute," was edited by Edwin Fuller. It was established in 1843, and its publication continued for about two years.
The office and material connected with the last-named paper finally came into the full possession of Allen C. Fuller, who, in 1845, issued The Expositor. This was intended as an expose of the rascalities of Elder Fay and
Digitized by Google
buildings in town. 8
431
HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the first managers of the " Manual Labor Institute." Its publication was discontinued after about six months.
These papers were all weeklies. The Democrat and Gazette were published in Hinsdale. The Freeman and Messenger and Expositor at Scott's Corners.
CHURCHES.
During the years from 1806 to 1827 preachers of various denominations visited the town, and meetings were held in barns, dwelling-houses, and school-houses. It is stated that the people first met for religious worship in the log barn of Zachariah Noble, in June, 1807. That Rev. Reuben Ayles- worth was the first regular minister located here. That he came in 1820, and in 1821 organized the first religious asso- ciation in town. It is an undisputed fact that Rev. Reuben Aylesworth, a Methodist, and Rev. John Spencer, a Con- gregationalist minister, did preach here at irregular intervals at about 1820 ; but no written records are preserved to show that any regularly organized religious society existed in the town of Hinsdale prior to the formation and incorporation of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Hinsdale (now in the town of Ischua), Dec. 31, 1827, and the organiza- tion of the First Baptist Church of Hinsdale, the same year.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptist Church of Hinsdale, at Scott's Corners, was organized in A. M. Farwell's barn, in the year 1827, by Rev. Eliab Going, a missionary sent out by the New York State Convention. He was afterwards pastor of this church, remaining for many years. The original members were eight in number, as follows : Peter Putnam, Charles C. Hatch, Mrs. Mary Putnam, Mrs. Anna K. Hatch, Mrs. Lydia Farwell, Mrs. Elizabeth Farwell, Mrs. Sarah Davis, Mrs. Lucetta Miner.
Meetings were held once in four weeks in the school- houses at Farwell's, Putnam's, Scott's Corners, and the vil- lage.
In 1834 the society was reorganized, and incorporated February 8 of the same year. Elisha Foot, Hollis Scott, Peter Bush, Gardner Bullard, and Charles C. Hatch com- posed the first board of trustees.
The members at this time were about 55 in num- ber, as follows. Elisha Foot, Hollis Scott, Peter Bush, Gardner Bullard, Charles C. Hatch, Elijah Sill, Heber Weatherby, Nelson Chapin, Fidelia Chapin, Diana Bul- lard, Nancy Weatherby, Nelson Nourse, Nancy Nourse, John H. Farwell, Catherine A. Farwell, Lydia Farwell, Mary Ann Farwell, Elizabeth Farwell, W. H. Wing, Ro- setta Smith, Mrs. Foot, Benjamin Conrad, Nehemiah Wil- son, Ruth M. Wilson, John A. Ostrander, Mary J. Ostran- der, Luther Scott, Eliza Scott, John Lucas, Polly A. Lucas, Fannie Conrad, Peter Conrad, Lyman Whitney, Mrs. L. Whitney, Valentine Krutts, Myron Cooper, Polly Cooper, Antoinette Howe, Sarah Corthill, Susan Chamberlin, Sarah Davis, Freelove Knapp, Ruth M. Graves, Catherine Con- rad, Justus B. Knapp, Seth Warren, Andrew Mead, S. D. Morris, John Ellis, William Ellis, Peggy Sill, Jonas Brown, and Mrs. Bronson.
In 1844 a church edifice was erected at Scott's Corners, at a cost of $2000. It has sittings for about 300 persons.
The pastors of the church, named in the order of their succession, showing also the year of commencing their pas- toral duties, are as follows : Reverends Eliab Going, 1827; W. M. Fay, 1843; E. B. Sparks, 1844; S. H. Card, 1846 ; D. D. Atwater, 1854; L. F Ames, 1856; P. P. Sander- son, 1860; R. Cherryman, 1862; C. H. Mitchelmore, present pastor, June 16, 1878.
There are 80 members at the present time, and the Sab- bath-school, of which W. S. Kent is superintendent, num- bers about 70 pupils.
In the words of the pastor, "the Baptist Church of Hinsdale" has been, in every sense of the word, " a mother church." The churches of Olean, Haskell, and Ischua have gone out from her, while 11 members went from her fellowship to organize a church in Minneapolis, Ottawa Co., Kansas.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first society of the Methodist Episcopal Church and congregation in Hinsdale was incorporated Jan. 1, 1849, and John C. White, Wells Lyman, Seymour J. Noble, Lo- renzo Yates, and William S. Morris composed the first board of trustees. The church edifice was erected in Hinsdale village in 1850. It cost $2500, and will seat 350 persons. This society lost their organization in 1852, by a failure to elect trustees, and December 13 of the same year were re-incorporated as " The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Hinsdale," of which Seymour J. Noble, Wells Lyman, and Paul Clark were clected trustees. From the time of its organization until 1860, this society was connected with the Olean and Cuba charge. The latter year, the Hinsdale charge, comprised of Hinsdale and Haskell Flats, was formed and placed under the pastoral care of Rev. A. McIn- tyre. A parsonage was erected in 1865, at a cost of $1000. The church property is valued at $5500. Present member- ship, 80; number of pupils in Sunday-school, 120; volumes in Sunday-school library, 40. Rev. A. J. Johnson, Pastor; H. K. White, Superintendent of Sabbath-schools.
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.