History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 121

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


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 121


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


Digitized by Google


462


HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.


T. Chamberlain, of Cuba, was also a brother of the judge. He died in 1878. Jeremy, Henry, and Lewis Wooster came with the pioncers of 1816. David Gregory, John Alexander, Daniel Farrington. Col. William Baker was an early settler at the mouth of Great Valley Creck, where he built a house and kept an inn on the east side of the creek. A part of the house is still standing, it being now over sixty years old, and is occupied as a dwelling. It is owned by J. H. Melhuish. That tavern was a much-frequented stopping-place in pioneer times, especially for raftsmen. Marcus Leonard kept an inn on the west side of the creek, beginning a few years later than Col. Baker. David Farn- ham, who was an carly pioneer, settled near Peth about 1816. He died in 1878, at the age of eighty-five years. Among other carly settlers in town were Arza Searl, David Simmons, John Sawyer, Truman and Erasmus D. Kelsey, D. Markham, Chas. Ward, F. Bryant, John Ellis, Isaac Lawton, J. Mudgett, Elmore Scars, John Alexander, N. and M. Chase, J. and R. Chase, Benj. B. Bacon, Wm. Barker, Robert Patterson, Parley Carver, G. W. Drake, N. Bonesteel, N. L. and M. Gibson, and Michael Hickey. The father of Benjamin Chamberlain was called Benjamin Chambers. This was because, as a soldier of the Revolu- tion, he served under the name of Chambers. He was a pensioner until his death in 1855, aged ninety-four years. Other carly settlers were Nicholas Flint, Daniel Mckay, B. Hibbard, Moses Chase, Reuben and Robert Chase; and many of those early settlers had sons, who also soon took an active part in the business affairs of the town.


Among men of distinction, who in their early days were residents of Great Valley, and who are still living, are Hon. Chauncey J. Fox, of Ellicottville; Hon. Alonzo Hawley, of Hinsdale, whose first wife was the only child of Judge Chamberlain ; Hon. Nelson I. Norton, of Hinsdale, mem- ber of Congress; Hon. Wesley Flint, of Washington, D. C., late consul to China; and Hon. A. A. Gregory, now of Michigan, formerly a member of Assembly, and for many years sheriff of Cattaraugus County.


INDIANS.


On the carly settlement of Great Valley, there existed an Indian town or settlement, in the midst of which was the wigwam of Kill Buck, their chief, which stood on the site of the present store of J. M. Bemis & Co. The names by which some of the Indians were known were John Logan, John Halfwhite, David Snow, Jonathan Titus, Wm. Half- town, Daniel Halftown, William Johnson, John Hutchin- son, Daniel Kill Buck, and several others.


These Indians subsisted by hunting, fishing, and a small annual annuity which they received from Government. They, like most of their tribe, were indolent, fond of whisky, and mostly poor. Their sons are not much inclined to adopt the agricultural pursuits of the white people. They derived a considerable income from lands rented to white people. They have a council-house at " Horseshoe Bend," on the river, about two miles above Kill Buck. Here they meet several times in each year to worship the " Great Spirit" in their Pagan way, and for dances and other sin- gular ceremonies peculiar to Indians. Jonathan Titus is still living, and in good health, at the age of eighty-eight


years, and says he is going to reach one hundred. He certainly bids fair to become at least a centenarian. The sound of the engine and the rush of the white men who came to the new town to erect buildings and carry on busi- ness soon induced the Indians to lease their lands to the new-comers and retire a little farther back.


INITIAL EVENTS AND PIONEER INCIDENTS.


The first birth in town was that of Ira Green, in 1813. The first death was that of Mrs. Hibbard the same year. The first school was taught at the house of James Green, by Joel Fairbanks, in the winter of 1817. A school was kept a year or two later in a small plank house, near the present residence of H. D. Didcock, by Daniel Chandler, who afterwards was a somewhat prominent citizen of Hins- dale. There were only a few children to attend the school. The first marriage in town, it is now supposed, was at the Double Mill in 1818, of Matthew Gibson to Esther Mark- ham. Among the carly marriages in town were Nathan Howe, Jr., to Nancy Mudgett, and John Green to Lucy Howe. The last-named lady is still living at Kill Buck, a widow, John Green having died March 31, 1874, at the age of seventy-five years. James Green kept the first inn, in 1813, near the mouth of Great Valley Creek. Lewis Wooster kept the first store, which was located at Peth, in 1815. The first doctor was Dr. Trowbridge, who located at Kill Buck. He was at first without means, and went on foot to see his patients; but, being a pretty good physician, he succeeded in doing a fair business for several years. But, for the most part, doctors, as well as lawyers, when needed, were obtained from Ellicottville, or some other adjacent town.


At one of the early meetings John Green attended, and being rather roughly dressed, in lumberman style, with a blanket coat, the preacher mistook him for one of the abo- rigines, and in his prayer thanked the Lord that the heathen had turned out to hear the word.


A story is related of a thievish fellow who came to Kill Buck in those early days, and learning that John Green had considerable amounts of money, and commonly kept it in a trunk, he slyly crept around and stole trunk and all. But he got only about $30, as John had just paid out most of his money for land. A lot of men took the thief in a canoe out on the river, at night, and ducked him in the water several times. The next morning he told Mrs. Pat- terson of his troubles, and the rough handling he got; and said he, " I was three times in eternity last night."


It is related that a traveling preacher came along to Kill Buck, and made inquiry for a deacon or leading professor, probably with a view of finding an acceptable place to stay overnight. Some waggish person sent him to Otis Howe, and he in turn told him it was a mistake in sending him there, but told him that he presumed Deacon Pemberton, rather a rough but good pilot, was the man, and directed him to the place where the deacon was at work. The priest found him and tried to make known that he was looking for a good brother in the church, but Pemberton was quite deaf and did not get his meaning. Again the preacher re- peated, " This is Deacon Pemberton, I suppose ?" Pem- berton turned and looking earnestly at him, said, " I don't


Digitized by Google


JOHN GREEN.


MRS. JOHN GREEN.


JOHN GREEN


was born May 31, 1799, in Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y. He removed to Cattaraugus County with his father's family and settled in Olean when he was about ten years of age. His father, James Green, engaged in the lumber business there, erecting the first saw-mill in the town of Olean. After remaining in Olean about five years he sold out and removed to Little Valley, and there built the first saw-mill. After remaining there about five years he sold out and came to Great Valley, and built the first saw- and grist-mill in that town, where he lived for fifteen years; he then sold and removed to Illinois, where he resided till his death, which occurred in 1854. John remained with his father till the latter moved West. His education was limited to the common schools of Cattaraugus County.


After his father left, John learned the millwright and carpenter's trade, and there followed his trade in connection with the lumbering business until about 1855, when he retired from business.


On Sept. 4, 1828, he was married to Lucy, daughter of Nathan and Mary Howe, of Great Valley. No children.


Mrs. Green was born August 16, 1807, in the town of Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y.


Mr. John Green was magistrate for four years, and commissioner of highways for several years, and was postmaster of Great Valley for nine years. Was always a staunch Democrat.


In religious sentiment both he and wife were Universalists. He died Sept. 4, 1874. His wife still survives him.


-


Digitized by


Google


Digitized by


Google -


-


463


HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.


hear you. Speak a little louder ; I'm as deaf as a d-d adder." The preacher began to think he had fallen upon a streak of bad luck and rough deacons; but a little fur- ther inquiry convinced him that there were plenty of hos- pitable people at Great Valley, with whom any civil person could find entertainment.


RUNNING RAFTS.


During the period in which the various saw-mills on Great Valley Creek were in active operation, the lumber made at the mills, as far up as the Lawton mill, was piled on the bank until rafting time, which was usually about the month of March, when it was rafted into the creek, await- ing the spring flood, when the rafts were run down the creek to the river. The creek rafts consisted of one string of four to five platforms or lengths. At the river, about four of these strings were put into a Warren raft. When run to Warren, three of those fleets were put together to make up a Pittsburgh fleet, being three abreast and twenty platforms in length. On the Ohio, from Pittsburgh, the usual raft or fleet was from three to five platforms abreast, and from twenty to forty platforms in length." On a creek raft, from three to five hands were employed. On a War- ren raft, from seven to ten hands, including the pilot; and on the Ohio, from a dozen to twenty men.


A creek platform commonly contained from 16,000 to 20,000 feet, and a river platform, 25,000 feet. Large quantities of shingles were often carried to market on the rafts. Many of the rafts had cabins or shanties on them, some of which were made quite comfortable and well furn- ished, even to nice carpets on the floors. In carly times it was customary for raftsmen to travel home from Pittsburgh on foot. Oarsmen were paid $4 to $7 per trip to Warren, $20 to $30 to Pittsburgh, and $30 to $40 to Cincinnati. Pilots were paid twice as much, or more. A full size Ohio raft is 80 fect in width, and 640 feet in length, and con- tains about from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 feet of lumber. They are, however, seldom as large as that.


EARLY LAND-OWNERS, AS ASSESSED IN 1821.


NAMES.


Lot.


Town.


Range.


Acres.


Value of


Land.


Ira Norton.


38


G


136


$200


James Green


37


G


325


892


Benjamin Chamberlain


35


3


G


450


1575


C. Hodges


38


3


G


300


570


Henry Wooster


33


3


G


50


435


Jeremy Wooster.


33


3


6


932


550


Ebenezer Reed.


39


3


G


285


467


John Sawyer ..


33


3


3


6


300


50G


Lewis Wooster


3


6


200


300


David Gregory.


3


6


66


131


N. Chase


3


G


5616


116


William Baxter


3


3


G


200


Edward and Lewis Bryant


19


3


200


Richard Wright


27


3


6


420


Joseph McCulloch


3


125


217


Abraham Wright


12


3


125


251


Richard Green ..


2x


3


G


300


490


Isaac Lawton


7


3


G


100


Thomas Hamtin


Will am Mark ham.


3


5


100


158


Jacob Chase ..


13


3


G


Robert Chase


15


3


G


100


150 150


MILLS.


The mills built by the early settlers, on Great Valley Creek, for the manufacture of pine lumber, averaged about one for each mile from the mouth of the creek to the Elli- cottville line.


The first, at Kill Buck, near the mouth of the creek, was built by James Green, and afterwards owned and run by Capt. Howe. This was built about 1812.


The second, the Wooster mill, built by B. Chamberlain, near the present residence of H. D. Didcock, in about 1816.


The third was at the bend, two miles from the river, and was built by David Gregory and Sawyer. There was also a grist-mill built by them, and they owned a store at that point. The mills were destroyed by fire soon after, and were not rebuilt. This was built about 1814.


Fourth, the Double Mills, built by Col. Baker and Judge Chamberlain, stood a few rods above the present railroad- bridge. A large amount of lumber was manufactured by them for years.


Fifth, the grist- and saw-mill at Peth, built by Jeremy & Lewis Wooster, in 1815, and sold to Judge Chamberlain, on the west side of the creek. Later, Dunn & Morton built a saw-mill on the east side of the stream, and used the water from the same dam.


Sixth, the saw-mill built by Isaac Lawton, five miles below Ellicottville, near the Plank Road House, about 1818.


Seventh, a mill about two miles above Lawton's, built several years later (about 1837), by J. W. Staunton, and since known as the Williams Mill.


Eighth, the grist- and saw-mill built about 1816, by James Green, and afterwards sold to Rev. John Ellis. They stood about two miles south of Ellicottville.


Ninth, a saw-mill on the east side of the creek, just be- low the town line, built some years later than the Ellis Mill, by Colby, Chamberlain & Brothers.


On Wright's Creek, Judge Francis Green built a saw- mill about 1836.


About 1820, Richard Wright built a saw-mill on the stream which takes its name from him, and after using the same four or five years, he sold out to David Chamberlain, who, after residing there twenty years, sold his establish- ment to William J. Nelson, who occupied the same until his death, in 1862.


The Willoughby saw-mill, on lot 11, was built some years later than the last named, and for some years past there has been a steam saw-mill in operation, about a quar- ter of a mile below the site of Willoughby's ; but both, like most of the saw-mills in town, have disappeared within the last few years.


There was a saw-mill in Sugartown Creek, built by D. Huntley in about 1835, and afterwards owned by W. & R. Wright. It was rebuilt by Rev. Mr. McKoon, and is now owned by his son, N. C. McKoon, and is still used. It is near the line of Humphrey.


Morgan Thorp built a saw-mill on Windfall Creek, about a mile north of the river, in 1850. It is still in use when the supply of water is sufficient.


The first steam saw-mill on the river-bank, at Kill Buck, was built by C. Burnside & Co., in 1850. The building


Digitized by Google


G


355


1402


David Markham.


36


3


G


68


36


2


116


T. L. and M. Gibson


11


3


100


150


John Woole ot


198


3


146


275


360


572


170


779


34


464


HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.


was 36 by 80 feet, and two stories high, and gave employ- ment to 20 hands. They manufactured 20,000 feet of lumber daily. The establishment was sold to Bemis & Co. in 1863. It was burned in 1878. A new steam-mill has been erected by Bemnis & Co., a few rods above the old site, which is 100 by 50 feet and two stories high. About the same number of hands are employed as in the old mill. Improved circular saws, and greatly improved machinery are now used, by the help of which the saw-logs are con- verted into lumber in much. less time than was required by the old process of manufacturing lumber.


PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.


At an early period roads were laid out through the wil- derness. The old stage-road from Buffalo to Olean passed through the town. At first, it passed down the Great Val- ley Creek to Peth, where the post-office was kept ; thence up the valley of Wright's Creek to Chapellsburg. The road was first marked out, and the underbrush and logs cleared away, so that teams (oxen and sleds) could pass, and after- wards the trees were cut away, the rough places graded, and bridges built. A large amount of labor was required to make the road passable for the stage. That road was a great convenience to the early settlers. Judge Ira Norton, and his brother-in-law, Samuel L. Hollister, and two other men, were seven days at work in getting from Franklinville to Great Valley, by the way of Sugartown. The distance is about fifteen miles. This was in the year 1816. There was a road, at an early day, leading along the north bank of the river to Great Valley, and so down to Warren, Pa., but it was extremely rough, and used mostly by footmen and lumbermen returning from their trips down the river with rafts. There was a road built under authority of an act of the Legislature, passed in 1841, and running on the north side of the river also, through the Reservation. This was a much-needed improvement. It was cut out through the woods, three rods wide, and graded and bridges built.


On the completion of the Erie Railroad, in 1852, a plank-road was constructed from the river to Ellicottville, a distance of ten miles. This was much used for some years, but was finally discontinued, as it scarcely paid the expense of gate-tenders and keeping in repair.


About four miles of the Eric Railroad and nine miles of the Rochester and State Line Railroad pass through the town of Great Valley. The Erie station, at the mouth of the creek, is called Great Valley, and the station on the Rochester and State Line Road, five miles north, has same name.


CIVIL GOVERNMENT.


No records of the town-meetings prior to 1841 are to be found in the town clerk's office, the old book of town records having been lost or destroyed. Henry Wooster is believed to have been the first supervisor, in 1819, when the town comprised Great Valley, Carrolton, Allegany, and Humphrey. Other early supervisors were Francis Green, Richard Wright, B. Chamberlain, Charles Ward, and Seth Cole.


Among those who held the office of justice of the peace in town previous to 1841 were Daniel Farrington, Richard


Wright, Stephen S. Cole, Seth Cole, Ira Norton, Daniel Howe, Francis Green, B. Chamberlain, John Mudgett. Since 1840, the principal officers have been as follows :


Supervisors.


Town Clerks.


1841


Benj. Chamberlain.


Marcus Leonard.


1842


Francis Green.


Daniel Farrington.


1843


. Horace Howe.


1844


Wm. Cross.


1845


David Chamberlain. James Nelson.


1846


"


1847


=


66


Wm. J. Nelson.


1849


Eli Ellsworth.


1850


Alexander Chambers.


"


"


1851


Daniel Farrington. " "


Henry Heath. Wm. J. Nelson.


1852


Francis E. Baillett.


Jobn Palmer.


1854


Wm. Cross.


Henry Ilcath.


1855


Francis E. Baillett.


John Montgomery.


1856


James Nelson.


Henry Heath.


1857 Wm. Cross.


=


Andrews L. Norton.


1859


Geo. J. Witherell.


1860


"


Oscar B. Sencar.


1861


Charles Burnside.


1862


C. M. Barker.


1863


Andrews L. Norton.


David Leslie.


1864


Bethuel McCoy.


Henry D. Didcock.


1867


"


1869


1870


1871


1872 Myron W. Hicks.


M. H. Cullinan.


1873


1874 Morgan Thorp.


1875


M. W. Hicks.


1876


J. Edward Bemis.


"


Frank Quilter.


1878 Michael HI. Cullinan. Geo. J. Witherell.


JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.


1841. John Green.


1859. Henry Heath.


Jeremy Wooster.


1860. Arunah Ward.


1842. David Farrington.


1843. Truman Kelsey.


1844. Charles Ward.


1862. Jeremiah Frank.


1863. Henry Heath.


1846. D. Farrington. Alex. Chambers.


1864. A. J. Chamberlain. Sherman Sibley.


1847. Horace Fox.


1865. Wm. Barker.


1848. Arza Scarl.


A. W. Rasey.


1849. Jos. II. Mudgett.


1866. Jeremiah Frank.


1850. Wm. Scoby.


1867. Sherman Sibley. Elins HI. Hess.


1851. Jos. Miller.


1868. S. W. McCoy.


John Palmer.


1869. S. W. McCoy.


Geo. Rider.


1870. A. W. Rasey.


Henry Heath.


1871. A. C. Mason. Perry Whaley.


1854. Alex. Chambers.


Le Roy Chamberlain.


1872. Sylvester Faraday. S. Sibley.


1855. Charles Pierce. John Montgomery.


1874. Charles Potter.


1856. Wm. Barker. H. Heath.


1875. E. A. Hayes.


1857. Le Roy Chamberlain. Sherman Silbey.


1876. Wilson N. Howc. Walter HI. Gibbs.


1858. Wm. C. Hubbard.


1877. S. Sibley.


1859. Jeremiah Frank.


1878. Charles B. Potter.


POST-OFFICES.


In 1830, Benjamin Chamberlain was postmaster at Peth. After him, in 1833, Francis Green was postmaster. The accrued postage amounted to $22.82. The next postmaster was Ira Norton, in 1842, and for several years, and Andrus L. Norton was next postmaster. In 1870, Frederick Cra-


Digitized by Google 1


"


Michael H. Cullinan.


M. H. Cullinan.


Geo. J. Witherell. "


1877


Jeremiah Frank. "


1865


1866


Morgan Thorp.


1868.


Myron W. Hicks. Walter E. Phelps.


S. M. Blood.


1861. Win. J. Nelson.


Wm. Barker.


1845. George T. Barkley.


Andrews B. Norton.


1852. Arunah Ward.


1853. D. Farrington.


Colby Chamberlain.


1873. S. Sibley.


Horace II. Morgan.


Daniel Farrington.


1848


¥


1853


1858


=


465


HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.


mer was postmaster, and soon after the post-office was changed from Peth to the Plank-Road House, and M. W. Hicks appointed postmaster. In 1876 measures were taken to re-establish a post-office at Peth. It was to be called Great Valley Centre. George E. Howland was appointed postmaster, but the project failed to be carried out.


A post office was at Kill Buck about 1836. Marcus Leonard was postmaster in 1840, on the west side of the creek. After him William Cross was appointed, and held the office several years. About that time the office was re- moved to the east side of the creek, where it has continued to be kept. George J. Witherell was postmaster, and after him Walter E. Phelps held the office for several years. D. H. Patterson is the present postmaster. Charles T. Jenks is deputy, and has charge of the office.


PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


From the earliest settlement, the establishment and main- tenance of schools for the instruction of their children has been an object of foremost importance with the people in every locality in town. The first school-houses built in the wilderness were, of course, rough and rude, but made as comfortable as possible with the limited means which they possessed. Men were hired as teachers at from eight to twelve dollars per month, and women at from six to ten shil- lings per week. The teachers usually " boarded around" the districts among the patrons. There are now good frame school-houses in each of the seven school districts in town. In District No. 1, at Kill Buck, there is a large two-story school-house, well furnished for the use of primary and more advanced scholars, and usually good teachers have been employed. There has been for many years a good school maintained in District No. 2, at Peth. In District No. 3, at Great Valley Centre, there is a good school-house. Also in No. 4, on the Sugartown, there is a good and well-built house. In No. 5, on Wright's Creek, there is another suita- ble house. In District No. 6, adjoining Little Valley, the school-house, which is also a good one, is about a mile west from Peth. In District No. 7, adjoining Ellicottville, a good school-house was built at an early day, and has been rebuilt within a few years. There is an Indian school- house at Horse-Shoe Bend, on the Reservation, for the in- struction of the Indian children, and also those of white people living in the vicinity, in the rudiments of an English education.


The school statistics of the town for 1878 are obtained from Sanford B. McClure. The town has 9 school districts, containing 9 school-houses, which, with sites, are valued at $3885, having 425 volumes in library, valued at $288. The number of teachers employed is 10, to whom was paid $1921.15. The number of weeks taught was 2643. The number of children of school age is 619. Average daily attendance, 12331717. Amount of public money received from State, $1240.65; amount of momey received from tax, $727.14.


VILLAGES.


There is a small village at Great Valley Station on the Erie Railroad, two miles east of Salamanca. It contains a store, tavern, wagon- and blacksmith-shop, steam saw-mill, grocery, and a saloon, besides the depot and several dwellings.


At the corners, half a mile north of the depot, is another collection of buildings, called Kill Buck. This place con- tains a store, hotel, meat-market, wagon- and blacksmith- shop, Methodist Episcopal church, a post-office, and a large two-story school-house, and about 20 dwellings. On the opposite side of the creek, and a few rods west from the post- office, are several dwellings, a Catholic church, a brewery, cooper-shop, and a hotel or saloon.


At the Plank-road or Half-way House, as it is commonly called, there are two stores, a hotel, Great Valley post-office, a steam saw-mill, a blacksmith-shop, and several dwellings ; and on the west side of the creek opposite is the new rail- road-station, a school-house, cheese-factory, and a few dwell- ing-houses. A depot building is soon to be erected.


The small village of Peth is situated on the Great Valley Creek, three miles from the river. It has a tavern, a grocery- store, school-house, blacksmith-shop, a shingle-mill, and several dwelling-houses. The handle-factory was burned September, 1878. At an early period after the first settle- ment of Great Valley the village of Peth was an important point, being the central business place for a large lumber district for a period of about forty years. Here centered the business operations of the Woosters, the Greens, the Chamberlains, the Gibsons, the Howes, the Kelseys, the Markhams, and other active early settlers and their sons. About 1845, a dozen or more Scotch families settled at Peth and its vicinity. James Nelson owns and occupies the farm and large dwelling-house formerly occupied by Judge Chamberlain. With the decline of the lumber business some of the settlers left, and the population of Peth also declined.


STORES.


The first store kept at Kill Buck was by Daniel and Horace Howe, on the west side of the creek, in 1834. It was afterwards kept by Marcus Leonard, who also kept an inn at that point for some years. He died of the cholera, at Buffalo, in 1850. Hiram Smith, from Chautauqua County, was the next proprietor of said store for a year or two, and he was succeeded by Cross & Ellsworth, about 1846. They continued in the business for some years. In 1857, Andrew Merkt bought the store, including the tavern in the same building, and carried on the business of brew- ing lager beer and hotel-keeping for some years. After his death, in 1860, Lewis P. Brewer was proprietor of the brewery and hotel. There was no store kept on the west side of the creek after about 1855. The brewery and ho- tel was burned about 1865. It was rebuilt by John Spra- ker, in 1874, and bought by Lewis Torge, Jr., in 1876. He makes beer for the wholesale trade, and does no retail business. In 1852, James W. Phelps built a large two- story store, on the northwest corner of the streets, at Kill Buck. He kept a good stock of merchandise, and traded at that stand for about twenty years. Mr. Phelps still owns the store, which is occupied by Geo. J. Witherell as a general variety store.




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.