History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 117

Author: Franklin Ellis and Eugene Arns Nash
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Erastus Willard erected a store on the cast side of Main Street in 1846, in which he continued mercantile business

until the erection of his present large two-story brick store, which is now one of the largest and best-arranged stores in the county, kept by Willard & Smith, whose sales amount to $60,000 to $80,000 annually. James G. Johnson had a store on the east side of Main Street, and Geo. Van Campen kept one in a building which stood on the east side of Main Street; both in 1854. S. K. IIale began store- keeping in Allegany in a building called the Red Store, cast side of Main Street, in 1858. In 1862 he began in the store now occupied by Spraker & Mixer. He sold his store and dwelling to A. II. Marsh in 1864, and removed to Olean.

A. H. Marsh came to Allegany in 1851, as clerk for George Van Campen. In 1854 he became a partner, and remained till November, 1857. In 1859 he formed a partnership with Theo. Palen, which continued five years. In 1867 he bought S. K. Hale's store, at which time C. Spraker became a partner, under the firm-name of A. II. Marsh & Co., which continued for eight years. Spraker & Mixer still continue in the business.

In 1865, Howard & Phelps kept in the store next to William Spraker's. D. Phelps sold his interest to E. C. Howard in 1870, and built a store near his residence. In the spring of 1878, Haskell & McAuliffe bought E. C. Howard's store and goods.

In 1850, Forbes & Smead kept a grocery-store in a building which stood about on the site now occupied by Warren Onan's dwelling. Soon after they occupied for a time the store now occupied by N. A. Dye & Sons. In 1854 they built the store now occupied by Haskell & Mc- Auliffe.

A store in the Zink Brewery building, in 1844, was kept by Butterworth & Fox for several years, and then by David Chase. The building was then sold to Zink, and has since been used as a brewery and dwelling.

A. O. & W. H. Smith, with Harmon, Bro. & Co., kept a store in 1858 in the corner building now owned and occu- pied by William Spraker as grocery-store and post-office. They continued to sell a large quantity of merchandise until about 1864, when William Spraker and J. H. Far- quharson bought the building, and opened a grocery-store in the same. In 1874, William Spraker became the sole owner of the store.

Nathan A. Dye kept a grocery-store at the stand now occupied by him and his sons, beginning in 1853. They keep a general stock of groceries and provisions, flour, feed, etc., and do a good business.

Calvin G. Clark succeeded his father in the grocery busi- ness about 1863. They began in the north part of the village as early as 1843. In 1848 they occupied as a grocery the building on the west side of Main Street, now occupied as a dwelling by J. Fouser. In 1860 they built the store since and now occupied by C. G. Clark as a grocery.

A. C. Keyes began the tin and hardware business in Allegany, in 1851, in a building which stood south of E. Willard's store, on the east side of Main Street. He began in his present store, west side of Main Street, in 1852. He keeps a general assortment of hardware, tin, and stoves.

Charles Dolan began in the grocery business here in

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1860, and continued until his death, in 1869, since which time his widow has kept the store.

Grocery-stores have been started within a few years by M. Riley, J. B. and W. & F. Sweeten, and a flour- and feed- store by J. H. Bouton, in his new brick store. A grocery, started by Hickey & Sullivan, July, 1878, was burned Dec. 3, 1878.

POST-OFFICES.

The Burton post-office was established in 1840, on Five- Mile Run, about a mile north of the present village of Alle- gany. Jedediah Lathrop was the first postmaster. About 1852, John W. Clark was postmaster at that point, and was succeeded by David Chasc. In 1856 this office was discontinued. The first post-office in the town was estab- lished in 1828, on the Five-Mile Creek, and called Five- Mile Post-office, with Josiah Hall as first postmaster. Elias Fish was postmaster in 1837. About 1850, Wm. Wiltse was postmaster, and afterwards Cornell Wiltse kept the office until it was discontinued, in 1866.

The post-office at Allegany village was established in 1851, and called Burton until 1852, when the name was changed to Allegany. The first postmaster was D. Chase, and then Dr. A. P. Phillips. After him came Erastus Willard, who was succeeded by James Freeland. In 1858, Patrick McMahon became postmaster, and was succeeded by Warren Onan. A. C. Keyes was appointed in 1861, holding until 1865 ; then Wm. Spraker, Jr., until 1866, when Lewis S. Corthell was postmaster until 1869, when W. Onan again held the office for four years. William Spraker, the present postmaster, was then appointed. It was made a money-order office in 1874. The amount of business has greatly increased.

PROFESSIONAL MEN.

Joseph Bouton, an attorney-at-law, resided here in 1856, and had some business in the line of his profession. He removed to New York in 1858.

Dr. Andrew Mead, who was a man of considerable note, came from Olean, and resided in this town from about 1847 to the time of his tragical death in. 1871. He was one of the judges of this county at an early day, and was several times elected justice of the peace. For several years preceding his death he was frequently employed to attend suits in justices' courts. He was admitted as an attorney-at-law on the expiration of his term as associate judge. He had for many years a considerable practice as a physician. In 1869 he fitted up a building on the west side of Main Street, in which he lived alone, being a bachelor, and kept a grocery in the front part of his build- ing.

On an evening in December, 1871, being alone in his grocery, a young German, named Theodore Nicklas, entered, and soon, in an altercation which arose between them, the young man inflicted such terrible blows on the head, arms, and face of the old doctor, with an iron stove-poker, that he died within a few hours. Rendered speechless by his wounds, he was not able to tell the sad tale of his cruel murder. The murderer took about $55 from the doctor's pantaloons pocket and his watch from his vest, and locking the door as he went out, hid the key and ficd to Olean,

whence by crawling into a freight-car he went to Buffalo, via Hornellsville. So sudden, cautious, and slyly was the crime committed that he evaded detection for four weeks, when his sale of the watch, together with his spending money profusely in dissipation, and some other circum- stances, led to his arrest. He confessed the crime, making some frivolous and improbable excuses ; and was indicted, tried, and found guilty, and executed at Little Valley, in March following. The doctor was about eighty years old.

Edgar Shaw, an attorney, practiced law here from about 1856 to 1871, when he moved to Iowa.

A young lawyer, named John C. Spencer, resided here in 1865 for a short time, and then went to New York. In 1869, Joseph B. Wilkins, a lawyer, came here and prac- ticed until 1874, when he went West. In the spring of 1878, J. Arthur Corbin, a young attorney-at-law, opened an office here.

The first doctor who practiced here was Dr. Cleveland, who came in 1838 ; Dr. Lane in 1842. Dr. James Parker came in 1854, Dr. Fritts in about 1856. Dr. W. B. Par- ker came in 1854; he built the house which Warren Onan has since owned and occupied. He died in 1858. Dr. Finlay came in about 1860.

Dr. Henry Van Aernam lived here and practiced from 1848, for five years, and then moved to Franklinville. Dr. A. P. Phillips came in 1857, and practiced here until 1859, when he moved to Chautauqua County.

Dr. John L. Eddy came in 1857, and was in practice here until 1867, when he sold to Dr. Z. George Bullock and moved to Olean. Dr. Adelbert MeClary was a student of Dr. Eddy, and a partner for two or three years, until about 1866.

Dr. John P. Colgrove resided and practiced here from 1863 until 1867, when he went West, but returned in 1869, and was a partner of Dr. Bullock. Dr. Colgrove moved to Salamanca in 1874 ; and in 1875, Dr. S. B. Mc- Clure began practice, and became a partner of Dr. A. W. Bullock.

The first preacher who located here was the Rev. Mr. Dart, of the Free-Will Baptist persuasion. He came about 1850. Rev. Mr. Crane resided here also for a few years ; and also Rev. Mr. Sill, Baptist, was an early resident of Allegany. The Rev. Mr. Bascom, Presbyterian, a brother of Geo. Bascom, was an early resident here for a few years.

SCIIOOLS.

The first school in Allegany was taught by Leonard Cronkhite, in James Strong's house, in the north part of the town, in the winter of 1825-26.

School-houses were soon after built in District No. 2, near J. Freeland's ; in No. 1, near the mouth of Nine- Mile Creek ; in No. 3, in Allegany village; in No. 4, near S. J. Horton's ; in No. 5, in the north part of the town ; and in No. 6, near L. McNall's.

The statistics of the schools of the town for 1878 are furnished by Sanford B. McClure. The town has at pres- ent 13 school districts, containing 13 school-houses, valued, with their sites, at $5750, having 106 volumes in library, valued at $60. The number of teachers employed was 14, to whom was paid $3041.39; number of weeks taught,

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N. A. DYE.

His father, Dennis Dye, was born in the town of Litchfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., March 15, 1805, and resided there until about 1830, when he removed to the western part of the State. He has resided most of the time in Cattaraugus County, and since April, 1852, in Allegany. Up to the time of his death, Feb. 23, 1872, he was engaged as a farmer. His mother's maiden name was Minerva Merrill ; she was born in Johnstown, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Sept. 27, 1808, and now resides in the town of Allegany, this county.

N. A. Dye was born in the town of Litchfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1829, and was educa- ted in the common schools. He removed to the town of Allegany from Freedom, N. Y., March 7, 1852, and to the village of Allegany Sept. 1, 1853, and engaged in the grocery and provision trade, in which he has continued to the present time, having taken his two sons, Charles O. and Mason M., into co- partnership with himself May 1, 1874.

Mr. Dye has served in the following offices: as assessor, elected Feb. 26, 1861, and re-elected Feb. 23, 1864; as town clerk, elected Feb. 28, 1865; as justice of the peace, elected Feb. 26, 1867, re-elected

Feb. 25, 1868 ; as assessor, elected Feb. 22, 1870; justice of the sessions of Cattaraugus County, Nov. 7, 1871 ; and as justice of the peace, Feb. 27, 1877. Politically he is a Democrat.

He was married Jan. 26, 1851, at Yorkshire Centre, N. Y., by Charles T. Lowden, Esq. His wife, Rosaline Moore, was born in Royalton, Genesee Co., N. Y., Jan. 3, 1827. Her father, Oliver Moore, was born in Vermont, April 6, 1804; was a farmer and one of the early settlers of Freedom, in this county, where he resided forty years upon the farm which he cleared up. He removed to Allegany in April, 1869, and died March 2, 1877. Mrs. Dye's mother, Judith Pixley, was born in Vermont, Jan. 12, 1796. She resides in Allegany.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Dye are as follows: Charles O., born May 18, 1852; Mason M., born May 6, 1854; Jennie R., born Sept. 23, 1858; Edwyna M., born July 11, 1860; William H., born Nov. 19, 1862; Nellie B., born Sept. 3, 1868; Nathan E., born Oct. 14, 1870.

Charles O. was married to Mary D. Nessel, of Allegany, Jan. 8, 1876.

Nathan E. died Sept. 14, 1871.

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360; number of children of school age, 1176; average daily attendance, 380,24 1000; amount of public money received from the State, $1998.61 ; amount of money received from tax, $1908.74.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The first religious services in the town were held at the house of James Strong, Sr., conducted by Rev. Benjamin Cole, in 1823. The first religious society organized as the first society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1829. Jonathan Benson first preacher, assisted by William Gordon. Jabez Chapin was the first class-leader, assisted by Isaac Eggleston. Among the members were Reuben and Annie Lamberton, William B. and Sally Fox, Catharine Strong, David Orton, and Harriet Clark. About 1833, Geo. C. Sheldon was appointed class-leader, which position Mr. Sheldon has held in this and the Free Methodist Society up to this writing, and is now leader in the Free Methodist organization. First presiding elder was James Hemanway, succeeded by William Horner, John G. Gulick, and Eleazer Thomas, who was murdered by the Modoc Indians in Califor- nia, while on duty as a government commissioner. Eleazer Thomas was succeeded by A. D. Wilber, Calvin Kingsley, afterwards Bishop Kingsley ; Thomas Carlton, late of the Methodist Book Concern ; C. D. Burlingame, E. E. Cham- bers, A. P. Ripley, now of the Buffalo Christian Advocate, William S. Tuttle, E. A. Rice, L. D. Watson, and now S. A. Stevens. Preacher Benson was succeeded by W. D. Buck, William Mckinstry, A. C. Dubois, Francis Strang, Horatio N. Seaver, O. F. Comfort, D. V. B. Hoyt, Carlton Fuller, F. B. Hudson, Milo Scott, John Kennard, Schuyler Parker, B. F. MeNeal, A. C. Curry, C. P. Clark, John Worthington, William Jennings, John Ready, J. B. Coun- tryman, H. Butlin, C. S. Daley, William Magovern, J. C. Whiteside, and now N. N. Beers.

This was first Steuben District, Genesee Conference, after- wards Cattaraugus District, now Olcan District. The present church edifice for the society was erected in 1855. Geo. C. Sheldon, Erastus Willard, and Henry Chamberlin were the building committee; the expense about $2500. This edifice was dedicated by Rev. C. D. Burlingame, by whom the first funeral services were also conducted, the deceased being Mrs. Juliette Sheldon, wife of George C. Sheldon.

In 1858 the society numbered about 180 communicants, but was greatly reduced in 1860 by the withdrawal of mem- bers, who in the same year organized the Free Methodist Society.

In 1865-66 the edifice was repaired, at an expense of $1407, including the bell, and was rededicated, Rev. C. D. Burlingame again preaching the sermon, from the words, " The glory of the latter house shall exceed that of the former."

The society was reorganized in 1865, with Thos. D. Wil- son leader, who was succeeded by Erastus Willard, who is the present class-leader, with Wm. C. Bockoven. The society now numbers about 50 communicants, and has a Sabbath-school, which was established in 1866, with Thos. Clayton superintendent, succeeded by C. G. Wright, Zelia Keyes, Mary Calkins, and now Benj. H. Green, with about 70 scholars and teachers.

FREE METHODIST SOCIETY.

This society was organized Aug. 2, 1860, Rev. H. F. Curry, Preacher ; B. T. Roberts, General Manager ; Geo. C. Sheldon as leader, assisted by R. A. Eggleston and J. D. Ellis. As a large number of the members had with- .drawn from the Methodist Episcopal Church and united with the Free Methodist, the organization at its birth must have numbered nearly 100 at Allegany. In 1871 the so- ciety erected an edifice, at an expense of about $1200.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ALLEGANY.

This church was organized in 1852 as the successor of a Congregational Church and Society, the latter of which was organized Oct. 5, 1852, at a meeting of which Lewis Price was moderator and Caleb Jewett clerk, and at which Caleb Jewett, James G. Johnson, Martin G. Austin, Hiram W. McClure, and Artemas L. Simonds were elected trustees.

The deacons of the Presbyterian Church organized in 1852, as before mentioned, were H. W. McClure and N. P. Covill. The first pastor was Rev. Warner, who was succeeded by Rev. Messrs. Ogden, Titesworth, Cole (known as Father Cole), Akins, Beaumont, Ellery, Bascom, A. Woodruff, Billington, and S. B. Stephenson, who serves the church at present.

The present church edifice was built at the time of organ- ization, at a cost of about $2200; Dudley Phelps, N. T. Sheldon, Deacons, with nearly 50 communicants; Lewis S. Corthell is clerk.

The society has a Sabbath-school in a very flourishing condition, with 70 to 80 scholars and teachers. Dr. 'Z. George Bullock is superintendent.

THE LUTHERAN CHURCHI

was organized in 1858, and erected their present edifice in 1861, at an expense of about $1500. The trustees were John George Smith, William Spraker, Sr., John G. Wied- mann, John Reitz; Frederick Smith, clerk. The first preacher was Rev. Frederick Pultz, who has been succeeded by J. Barrance, G. Ziska, Thomas Massasky, - Engel- der, John Bernruither, who still serves. The society now numbers about 50 communicants, and has a prosperous Sabbath-school.

THE GERMAN METHODIST CHURCHI

was organized in 1877, Rev. Moit, preacher, and now numbers about 40 communicants, with fair prospect of success. This society worships in the Methodist Episcopal Church edifice on alternate Sabbath afternoons.

All the above-named religious societies are free of debt.

THE BAPTISTS.

At a meeting held at the " Willard Hall," April 3, 1854, to organize a Baptist Church, in pursuance of a notice given by Rev. E. F. Crane, E. F. Crane and Andrew Mead were appointed to preside at the meeting, and it was voted to organize "the First Baptist Society of Allegany," and to elect trustees. J. G. Thompson, A. P. Phillips, John Ellis, S. J. Horton, L. P. Forbes, and Andrew Mead were elected such trustees. The Rev. Dexter S. Morris, of Eldred, Pa., was one of the earliest preachers. Their meetings for wor-

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ship were held in the school-house in Allegany village, and they never erected a church edifice. The society has long ceased to meet for worship.

THE ST. FRANCIS MISSIONARY AND BENEVOLENT SO- CIETY,

organized under the act of 1848. Nicholas Devereux, Mary D. Devereux, John C. Devereux, Thomas B. Devereux, and John Timon associated themselves to establish a missionary, scientific, charitable, and benevolent society, to be located in the village of Allegany City or in Ellicottville, where it now has its beginning, or in both villages. Said parties, viz., John C. Devereux, Charles Dolan, Peter Carr, P. J. Cunningham, David O. Day, and Lawrence O'Connor, shall be known as " the Missionary, Scientific, Charitable, and Be- nevolent Society of Allegany City ;" and they declare that the object of the society which they thus constitute shall be to provide for missionary duties in the western part of the State of New York, for aiding the poor and the orphans, and instructing the ignorant as far as means permit, divine and human science, and for no other object; and the said Nicholas Devereux and John Timon and John C. Devereux shall be trustees for the first year of the aforesaid society.

THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF ALLEGANY

was organized Feb. 10, 1872. Nathan A. Dye, Charles Soule, and David Thurber, trustees. The Rev. Isaac George, of Dunkirk, was hired to preach occasionally for a year. Meetings were held at first in the Presbyterian House, and afterwards in Good Templars' Hall, over D. Phelps' store. In 1875, Rev. Benjamin Brunning was hired to preach every alternate Sunday, and he resided here and continued as pastor of the society a year, when he re- moved to Niagara County. No regular pastor of the society has been employed since he left. No meetings of this society have been held for worship for about two years.

CEMETERIES.

A cemetery near the Horton school-house, in district No. 4, has been in use as a burial-place since about 1820. It has been fenced and kept in a tolerably good condition for most of the time since its selection for the purpose.

Another burial-place is in the extreme north part of the town, and near the Five-Mile Baptist church. This ceme- tery was first appropriated for purposes of burial in 1826. It has been well protected by a good fence, and contains a considerable number of monuments and marble grave-stones.

As early as 1830, several deceased persons were buried on a lot selected for the purpose on the Clark farm, now owned by C. B. Learn, half a mile west of the village. And during the period from about 1830 to 1860 several burials were made on a lot appropriated for the purpose, on the farm of James Freeland, south of the river. Those buried at the latter place have, within a few years, been taken up and deposited at other places.

In 1855 the Allegany Cemetery Association was organ- ized, the trustees of which were James G. Johnson, Edgar Shaw, and Abiathar Phillips. They purchased a lot of ground, which is situated adjacent to the eastern part of the village, on the premises of George Bascom, containing

about five acres of ground. It is an elevated and suitable selection for the purpose, and has been graded and surveyed into lots, with regular alleys. It has been inclosed with a substantial fence and ornamented with shade-trees. The present trustees are James Wiltse, Erastus Willard, and Adelbert H. Marsh.

AGRICULTURAL.

Although the soil is good and adapted to grazing, and generally well watered, not more than one-third of the land in town has as yet been cleared and brought under good cultivation. Here, as in other towns contiguous to the river, lumbering has heretofore been the leading business of the people, as the most available method of realizing a present income, and this being the case, the thorough clear- ing up of the land has necessarily been neglected. A con- siderable amount of grain is raised, and something is done in the production of fruit, but the principal attention of farmers is turned to dairying, particularly the manufacture of cheese.

CHEESE-FACTORIES.

The first cheesc-factory building was erccted in 1867 by the Allegany Cheese-Factory Association, which was organ- ized at that time. This factory is situated about two miles north of the village, on Five-Mile Creek, on a site which has not, in all respects, proved satisfactory, although by good management a large quantity of good cheese has been manufactured in each year since the business was com- menced. The milk of about 500 cows has been consumed during the season of 1878, and 89 tons of cheese made. I. N. Sheldon, of Cuba, has run the factory for several years. E. B. Strong has an interest, and has had general charge of the business for two years, and O. A. Chase has made the cheese for the season of 1878.

A second cheese-factory is located on the south side of the river, near the village. It is managed and owned by the proprietors of the Five-Mile factory. F. W. Case has been employed for three years past to make the cheese. This factory was built in 1874. It has an excellent loca- tion, and uses the milk of about 300 cows. These two are the only cheese-factories within the town at the present time.

OIL DEVELOPMENTS.

During the excitement caused by the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania, a test well was put down to a depth of 600 fcet, on the farm of Walter Pratt, about a mile north of the village of Allegany. No oil was found. In 1875 a well was drilled, about a mile cast of Vandalia, to a depth of 1200 feet, without finding oil.

In the month of July, 1876, the Bradford Oil Company commenced drilling a well, on the Woodmansee place, a mile west of the village. At a depth of 850 feet a vein of oil was struck in shale-rock, and the well immediately was nearly filled with oil. There was great excitement and demon- strations of joy here and at Olean, and in fact, the finding of oil at Allegany was hailed with delight, and became the leading theme of conversation throughout the surrounding country. At first the general supposition was that the oleaginous belt had been struck, and that there was a river or sea of oil underlying Allegany, which was likely

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

to prove sufficient to enrich all the people of the town. But the excitement cooled down as the drilling continued without finding the right kind of third sand-rock, and after going down about 1300 feet no more indications of oil were found. The well was pumped, and produced a barrel or two a day for a while until 1877. From 100 to 200 barrels were taken out of the well in all. The Allegany Oil Company was formed in 1876, and they com- menced drilling a well on lands of J. G. Johnson, at the head of Four-Mile Run, in the fall of that year. At a depth of 1360 feet the third sand, unmistakably of the right quality, was found, and oil soon arose so as to nearly fill the well, which at once gave evidence that they had " struck oil" in paying quantities. The genuine oleaginous belt was found to underlie at least the southern portion of the town of Allegany. The event was hailed as the har- binger of lively times and the certain advent of a new oil field, which would immediately draw hundreds of people to it to see, or in some way to take part in the development of a new oil region.

In February, 1876, Geo. W. Stephens took several leases near the village for oil purposes. The Bradford Oil Co. bought the leases, and commenced a well on land of D. S. Woodmansee in May, 1876, and completed the same in July of the same year. It produced only about one barrel per day, and now, when pumped, produces about 5 barrels per week.

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History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 117

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: