History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 123

Author: Franklin Ellis and Eugene Arns Nash
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USA > New York > Cattaraugus County > History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 123

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).

Since 1847 the following have been the

1851

John Converse. E. D. Fenton. Clark R. White. "

Wm. Chandler

Amos B. Chapman

Stephen Cooper

John Crooks

1864

1865

Austin J. Morrison.

· Duryea Covell. William Drayton.

Elzi Flagg.

Howard Fuller.

W. L. Reeves. Napoleon R. Wilcox. Fred. Aldrich.

Warren L. Reeves.

Wm. Johnson.

Sherman Lock. 39

Montgomery Morrison

F. K. Moore ..

Wm. Newman ..

1850. John D. Woodward.

William L. Marsh.

1866. John Fenton.

Wm. J. Reeves

1853. William R. Johnson.

Leonard Barton.

1855. Warren H. Reeves.

Asa Phillips.

1856. Isaac Baker.

Austin W. Needham.

1857. Harrison Morrison. Richard L. Stone. Elzi Flagg.

1858. Jackson Sample.

Jedediah Hiller. Alonzo Norton.

Alonzo Norton.

S. P. Wilcox. " Warren L. Reeves. "

1861

1863

Samuel Phillips ..

1 1

Supervisors.

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ment had been provided by the Friends and given to the Indians to work for the tolls arising therefrom. At this point, in 1867, was erected a fine bridge nearly 600 feet long. Its cost was defrayed by a tax of forty cents an acre on the lands lying cast of the river. The State also appropriated $1000, and appointed Leonard Barton as a commissioner to erect the bridge. The approaches having been injured by a flood, the State made an additional appro- priation of $1500 in 1874 to repair it, and it is now a very substantial structure. At low stages the river may readily be forded at a number of points in the town. Communi- cation with outside points was formerly afforded by barges on the river, or the ruder forms of rafts and canoes. Since 1860 railway communication may be had at Steamburg, six miles distant from the centre of the town.

THE LUMBER INTERESTS

of South Valley have always constituted the principal features of its business, and have given occupation to nearly all its inhabitants. Only since the forests have been de- nuded of their finest trees has attention been directed to other industries. The lumber was drawn to the river and formed into rafts, which were floated to Pittsburgh or points still lower on the Ohio.

On the east side of the river, on the lot of land pur- chased by the Friends, a grist-mill was put in operation early in 1805, to grind corn for the Indians. On this same stream, Quaker Run, they had previously built a saw-mill. Both mills have been kept up till the present day, and oc- cupy the original sites. The grain mill is at present pro- vided with one run of stones for grinding corn and feed. Both did work for the whites on the same terms as other mills, and were a great convenience to the early settlers of the southwestern part of the county. A small tannery was also here operated soon after the mills were built, but was discontinued before 1830.

Saw-Mill Run has furnished the power for a number of mills. On lot 12, Ira Green had a saw-mill, which was allowed to go down, but near by John M. Stryker is now operating saw- and shingle-mills.

About 1830, Smith Ott put up a saw-mill on lot 21, which became the property of the Stryker family in 1835. Their grist-mill in this locality was built in 1857, and is the only complete mill in town. It is supplied with three run of stones, and has a good capacity.

On lot 30, Patrick Quinn put up a saw-mill in 1846; David Walsh at present operates a mill on this site.

Whitman & Newman got in operation a saw-mill on lot 45 about 1850, which is now owned by David Tucker.

On lot 46, Stephen G. Wilcox and James Aikin erected a mill in 1850, and while raising the frame, John Townsend, the carpenter, was accidentally killed. The power is at present unemployed.

Quinn & Murphy put up a mill on lot 28, which be- came the property of A. & A. Crowley, and is now owned by James Murphy. On the same lot Richard Orr built a mill, which Baker & Whitney converted into a steam mill, which is now operated by J. Brannan. Farther up, on lot 43, Fenton, Frew & Scowden had a good steam mill which has been removed; and on lot 51 was Wyman's

mill, from which the machinery has also been taken away. In this locality shingle-mills have been operated by W. Wyman, Willard Littlefield, and Mark Murphy.

On Bone Run, on lot 1, Roswell Fenton put up a water- power saw-mill, about 1835, which was rebuilt by A. M. Thornton, and was last operated by Wheeler & Aldrich.

On the same stream, on lot 6, Fred. K. Moore put up a mill about 1845, which was operated by the Moore family many years, but has been abandoned.

The next site above, on lot 14, was first improved by John Fenton about 1846, and here were operated saw- and shingle-mills of large capacity. The Fenton family ope- rated these mills until 1873, since which Gideon Caskey has here carried on the lumber business, running his lumber- mill by steam, and using the water-power to operate a stave- factory. Both are supplied with good machinery and have a large capacity.

On lot 32, John Fenton put up a mill in 1837, which has been abandoned. It was one of the first in the town.

On lot 41, Isaac L. Smith had a steam mill, which has been removed; and, on lot 15, on a branch of Bone Run, H. A. Phillips had a saw-mill, which has been supplied with shingle machinery, and is operated by A. Colburn. Another shingle-mill in this locality was operated by the " Fenton Mill Co."

On Pierce's Run, on lot 9, Barzilla Kent & Co., and others had mills, which have been abandoned.

On Hotchkiss' Run, Hotchkiss & Foster put up a mill, on lot 24, which Varnum Godfrey and others owned, but which has been abandoned; also, a mill on lot 34, which had been put up by Ira Hotchkiss; and another on lot 46, built by John D. Wheat, in 1850, has also gone to decay.

Near the State line, on the Allegany, Guy C. Irvine had in operation a mill from 1841 to 1855. It is said that Irvine built the dam in five days and prided himself much on the accomplishment of the feat, which, considering the work done, was truly remarkable. The mill was supplied with a gang of fourteen saws and three shingle saws, ca- pacitating it to cut an immense quantity of lumber per year.

On the east side of the Allegany, Elzi Flagg put up the first saw-mill above the Quaker mill, on the same stream, in 1838. It stood on lot 10, near Mr. Flagg's residence, and had a capacity of 5000 feet per day. In 1845, he erected another mill below the same dam, and operated both about twelve years.

On lot 9, Leonard Barton put up a saw-mill in 1841, which was operated many years. The site is now unim- proved.

After 1870, a steam mill was put up above this point, and is at present operated by J. Beemer.

In 1857, Elzi Flagg erected a steam mill on lot 4; and on the same lot, Flagg had several shingle-mills. In this locality Robert Kane is now operating a steam mill, put up in 1873. On lots 11 and 25, Charles Fuller and Abbott & Co. had steam saw-mills after 1858, which were operated a number of years, then removed.

On Wolf Run, Gideon Marsh and Uriah Wellman put up a mill about 1845, and afterwards put up a shingle-mill near the same point. Here is at present a good steam mill

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

operated by Bemis & Ostrander. On the same stream were formerly operated other saw- and shingle-mills, which were discontinued years ago. These mills annually cut mil- lions of feet of lumber, and gave many localities a busy appearance.

ONOVILLE,

the only hamlet in the town, was the centre of the lumber trade, and a depot for supplies for men working in camps. It was formerly locally known as " Jugville," because, it is said, every lumberman carried from here a jug of ardent spirits when he went into the woods in the fall. It received the present name about the time the post-office was estab- lished, which it was proposed to call by the name of the town. But there being another South Valley in the State, it became necessary to select some other name. A meet- ing for this purpose was held, but the citizens could not harmonize upon a suitable term. One after another was declined, generally with the remark "Oh, no, that will not do." The wag of the hamlet, William Webber, heard the various names in silence, and then suggested, "Well, call it Oh, no, ville, then, and be done with it." The quaintness of the idea pleased the people, and the term was adopted with a modified orthography,-Onoville.

The hamlet is situated half a mile from the west bank of the Allegany River, in the southern part of the town, in what is properly the South Valley. It contains a Catholic church, several stores, post-office, shops, and about 20 dwellings.

Some time after 1840, John Convers opened the first store at Onoville, in a building which is yet used for mer- cantile purposes. In this house have traded Warren H. and Warren L. Reeves, Frederick Aldrich, David Tucker, William Worth, and, since 1877, Fred. N. Aldrich. Near by is another business stand, where, since 1870, R. L. Stone has been in trade. On the Reservation Daniel Zibble has a grocery-store.

The post-office was established about 1859, and had E. D. Fenton as the first postmaster. The office has since been held by Wm. H. Aldrich, Stephen Wilcox, David Tucker, and R. L. Stone. Mail is carried from Steam- burg to Warren, Pa., tri-weekly each way.

Ephraim Morrison was an early innkeeper at Onoville, having a public-house soon after 1830. James Aikin built a house for tavern purposes in 1848, and kept it a few years. Other landlords here have been Stephen P. Wilcox, N. R. Wilcox, Fred. Aldrich, Joseph McCollister, Joseph Hall, Henry Morrison, and R. L. Stone.

In the northern part of the town a tavern was kept, be- fore 1830, by a man named Bovee. In 1832, William Earle was the keeper. Other landlords have been Daniel D. Grout, Barzilla Kent, Warren H. Reeves, John Morri- son, Marcus Johnson, and the present, Mrs. E. Johnson.

SCHOOLS AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The first school district was formed in 1829, and embraced all of township 1 in range 9. In 1878 there were seven districts, each containing a school building, the aggregate value of which was only $965. The number of children of school age was 307, and the average attendance, 135. Eight teachers were employed to teach 196 weeks of school,

and received as wages, $1334.94. The number of books in the several libraries was 354, and their value was reported at $125.

The Indians have several good school-houses, in which instruction is imparted by white teachers. Some of the pupils make commendable progress.

An early attempt to gather these Indians into a school was made by Friend Joseph Elkinton, who came from Philadelphia for this purpose in 1816. A log house was erected below the mouth of Cold Spring Creek, but was unsupplied with seats. To construct these he hunted up boards, and began his school under many other equally dis- couraging circumstances. Many were opposed to educating the Indian youth, but others of the Senecas favored the project, and not only sent their children, but sometimes came themselves and encouraged the pupils by a friendly talk.

At Old Town another school was taught by the Friends about 1830, and the years following. After this a frame school-house was built near the present bridge, in which instruction was given several years, when it was moved to the farm house and mills, and the present

FRIENDS' BOARDING-SCHOOL FOR INDIAN CHILDREN

established about 1848. This system of training the Indian youth has proved more satisfactory than a day- school, as the influence which is constantly exercised over them tends to draw them more fully from their old customs to the manners of the whites.

The school-house and boarding-hall has accommodations for 30 pupils; and this quota is generally maintained in the proportion of 25 girls to 5 boys, whose ages range from 7 to 16 years. The school year consists of 2 terms of 22 weeks each, during which time the pupils are expected to remain in school, and are taught, boarded, and provided with books at the expense of the society. No conditions of admission are required except an early attendance and a willingness to conform to the rules of the school. Pupils are expected to come provided with good plain clothing, but the want of proper apparel does not prove a barrier to admission, when there is a desire to become a pupil.

Instruction is given in the school-room in the rudiment- ary branches, some classes having thoroughly mastered Practical Arithmetic. All are capable of learning to write, and many become good penmen. The pupils go to and from the school-room in order; and system and precision of habit is studiously inculcated. Generally, these Indian children are teachable, although not so quick to compre- hend as the whites. They are submissive and usually quite tractable, and appear to have a proper regard for their benefactors. The present teacher is Miss Louisa Smith, of Keokuk, Iowa, who has been engaged here the past eight years. The superintendent is Aaron P. Dewees, who has been charged with the interests of the society here since 1873; and it is largely through his energy that the school has attained its present excellent standard. Mrs. Aaron P. Dewees is the matron of the school, and, with the aid of several assistants, gives instruction in cookery and house- hold work ; and as far as practicable manual labor is com- bined with school duties. Half a day each week is devoted

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

to instruction in plain sewing and dress-making. The boys assist on the farm and in the garden, and lessons of industry are taught on every hand. Every pupil must keep himself scrupulously clean, and is required to visit the bath-room regularly.

Religious instruction is imparted in meetings held accord- ing to the custom of the Friends, on the first and fifth days of the week ; and on the afternoon of the first day instruction is especially given in the Scriptures. All the pupils are assembled in the evening before retiring, and listen to the reading of the Bible or some religious book, and the duties of each day are begun with household wor- ship. In short, the way of conducting a Christian home is unfolded to them, and everything is made as commend- able and attractive as possible by the teachers, to wean these simple children from their semi-civilized habits and customs.

The effects of the training received here are apparent in the homes of those who were attendants, there being an increased amount of neatness and order, and an ambition to reach after the more excellent things of life. This un- doubtedly is the proper way to civilize and evangelize the Indians of our county,-to bend the twig as we would have the tree incline,-and much credit is due to the Friends who have so unselfishly maintained their mission here three-quarters of a century. Each pupil is supported at an expense to the Society of nearly one hundred dollars per year.

The Presbyterian mission had an extensive range among the Indians on the Reservation, aud at Old Town a fine house of worship was erected. The pioneer missionary, the Rev. William Hall, lived in the town many years, and did good service in the cause of Christianity and civiliza- tion. In later years this work has not been so actively prosecuted.

Methodist meetings have been held in various localities, and in District No. 2 regular services are at present main- tained, the preaching being supplied by ministers who also serve the societies at Corydon and Kinzua, Pa. There is a class of 20 members under the leadership of Jasper B. Stryker.

Occasional preaching is also held in the school-houses on Quaker and Wolf Runs, by the Methodist and other de- nominations.

SAINT MARY'S CHURCH (ROMAN CATHOLIC)

is the only organized body in town. Catholic meetings were first held in the school-house, at Onoville, by Fran- ciscan brethren from Allegany, and were attended with so much interest that a church was built in 1875. It is an attractive frame 25 by 40 feet, with a front tower 65 feet high. The cost was about $1200, and the house was formally dedicated in 1877. At this time Father J. J. Baxter was the minister, but at present the officiating priest is the Rev. R. R. Coyle, of the Jamestown parish. Twenty-five families belong to the church, which also owns a neat burial ground on lot 28. This is the only regular cemetery in town. Other interments are made on private grounds, or in cemeteries at Corydon and Ran- dolph.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GIDEON CASKEY.

This gentleman is the oldest son in a family of three sons and two daughters of James and Rebecca (Chrisman) Caskey. He was born in Worcester, Wayne Co., O., Nov. 29, 1833. His parents were natives of Westmoreland Co., Pa. Gideon remained at home with his parents until he

GIDEON CASKEY.

was eleven years old, when he commenced working in a saw-mill in Medina County, in his native State. This business he has followed, more or less, ever since, being connected with others in the proprietorship of several large timber tracts in this county, and in the State of Pennsyl- vania. His means of procuring an education were rather limited, his father being in poor circumstances, and unable to purchase for him the needful books, in lieu of which his father learned him his alphabet from a wooden paddle !

March 4, 1857, he removed to the town of South Val- ley, Cattaraugus Co., where he commenced his career with but ten shillings in his pocket. Nothing daunted by the low state of his exchequer, he commenced the battle of life bravely, and resolved to make himself a home and a competence. He commenced lumbering. He built a mill on Quaker Run, for Charles Fuller, and continued in his service for a year, and for various other parties until 1864, when he purchased his first lot of lumber in Pennsylvania, running in debt for the same. This, however, proved a very successful venture. He afterwards took a contract from Messrs. Scowden, Frew & Fenton, of Frewsburg, N. Y., for the milling of three million feet of lumber. In 1870 he removed West, and purchased a farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres, in Fairfield, Bureau Co., Ill., where he remained one year, when, receiving an offer from M. L. Fenton & Co., of Jamestown, N. Y., to mill their lumber in South Valley, he returned thither; he contracted with

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the parties named for the milling of twenty-four million feet of lumber. He purchased his present residence in 1873, it being the John Fenton homestead, and located on the original tract of four hundred and eighty-five acres. He has on his farm at present, besides a stave-mill, a cir- cular board- and lath-mill, employing fourteen men.

Mr. Caskey was married, June 30, 1858, to Elizabeth D., eldest daughter of Leonard and Evelina (Fargo) Bar- ton, of Carroll, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., of which place she was a native, being born Jan. 4, 1840. Her parents emi- grated to South Valley in the year 1841. Her father and mother were natives of Wyoming Co., N. Y., and Hunting-

ton, Vt., respectively. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Caskey numbers six children, of whom three (two sons and a daughter) died in early childhood, viz., Leonard M., born Feb. 15, 1859, deceased; James Bertrand, Aug. 2, 1860, deceased ; Jennie Maria, Jan. 18, 1862, deceased ; Roland Ernest, born Jan. 21, 1864; Bertha Evelina, born Nov. 29, 1870 ; and Berenice Mabel, Jan. 3, 1873.

Mr. Caskey is a member of the Democratic party. He was elected supervisor of the town of South Valley in 1869, again elected after his return from Illinois, in 1873, and re-elected each successive year, being the present in- cumbent of the office.

JOHN F. FENTON.

JOHN F. FENTON,

fourth son of George W. and Elsie (Owen) Fenton, was born in Carroll, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Oct. 30, 1816. His brothers were Roswell O. (deceased), George W., Jr., Wil- liam H. H., and Hon. Reuben E. Fenton.

He passed his early life on the farm where he was born, attending the district school, where he obtained a fair edu- cation, which in after-years he put to good practical use.

He was married Aug. 11, 1836, to Sally M. Woodward, by whom he had eight children : Minerva M., who first mar- ried Marcellus Phillips and after his decease, H. O. Burt ; George W., who died young; Emma, who married Melvin A. Crowley (now deceased); Loderna (deceased), who mar- ried Alvin Scudder ; Louise, who married Charles C. Rich ; George W., who married Louraine A. Dockstader ; Mary, unmarried ; Erie W., who married Addie M. Crowley.

MRS. JOHN F. FENTON.

In early life, before he arrived at majority, he commenced to purchase and ran lumber to market, investing the pro- ceeds in timber lands in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., near the Allegany River, where he soon removed, and continued to purchase lands, manufacture lumber, and run to market, till, at the time of his death, he owned about five thousand acres of land, for which he had been offered two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

He held the office of supervisor for four years ; he also held the office of assessor and of highway commissioner in his town. In politics he was a Republican, in religion a Protestant. In all business transactions he was upright and obliging, and by perseverance and industry his every effort was crowned with success.

Mr. Fenton died Sept. 10, 1869. Sally M., his wife, died Jan. 22, 1874.

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RESIDENCE OF THE LATE JOHN F. FENTON, SOUTH VALLEY, CATTARAUGUS CO., N.Y.

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NAPOLI.

NAPOLI is an interior town, lying west of the centre of the county, in the eighth range of the Holland Survey. It embraces all of township 3, and contains 23,063 acres. As erected from the town of Little Valley, it embraced all of townships 1, 2, and 3, in the eighth range, and bore the name of Cold Spring until April 15, 1828, when it received the title it now bears. It was reduced to its present area March 20, 1837, when townships 1 and 2 were set off to form the new town of Cold Spring.

The surface of Napoli is elevated, and appears in the form of broken upland. Some of the hills rise several hundred feet above the general level, and the summit on lot 4 is nearly 700 feet above the valley, and is reported the highest point in the county. Many of these hills are arable to their tops, but the soil of some is so cold that they are comparatively sterile; others are clothed with a rich verdure, and yield abundant grazing. The soil of the valleys is less clayey, and is generally a fertile, gravelly loam ; and the land here, though limited in area, is as pro- ductive as any in the county. The town was originally covered with fine forests of beech, maple, oak, chestnut ; hemlock and pine abounding in limited quantities. A liberal supply of most of these yet remains.

The general drainage of the town is south, and is afforded mainly by Cold Spring Creek and its tributary brooks. This stream rises from a large cool spring, in the northern part of the town, and flows south through its centre into the town of Cold Spring, where it empties into Allegany River. Formerly the volume of water in this stream was much greater than at present, and limited water-power was afforded. It also contained an abundance of fine fish. From the northeast and the east hills of the town flow brooks, fed by numerous springs, into Little Valley Creek and Saw- Mill Run; and in the northwest are a few brooks, which flow into Elin Creek in Connewango.

PIONEER SETTLERS AND INCIDENTS.

More than sixty years have elapsed since the first white man made his home in the dense forests of this town. In 1818, Major Timothy Butler came from Onondaga County, and located on lot 27, a little east of the present Napoli Corners. We know nothing concerning his antecedent life, but he removed to the State of Virginia and from there to southern Indiana, where he died. While in town he was an active man, and his place was widely known in the county as a conspicuous pioneer landmark.

George Hill, the second white person in Napoli, located on lot 29, in 1818. He set the first orchard in town. Where he came from or went, we have been unable to learn.

In the spring of 1819, Sargeant Morrill located on lot 50, on what is now the Jamestown road, southwest of Napoli

Corners. He was born in Vermont in 1755, and died in Napoli in 1835. Ruth, his wife, was born in 1760, and died in town, July 4, 1828. His son, Martin M., lives in Illinois, aged ninety years. John is living at Napoli Cor- ners, and Joanna, a daughter, in Indiana. Mr. Morrill, Major Butler, and Timothy Boardman, in 1819, cut a road, seven miles long, from Little Valley to Napoli, these three and their families being the only persons in town at that time. When Mr. Morrill arrived in town, having no team, he obtained the help of eight men and boys a day, who hauled logs with a chain and rope, and put up the body for a house. He put on a cob-roof and laid a log floor, and moved in. He was the first deacon of the Congregational Church, in 1821. The first grist of grain carried to mill from Napoli was three bushels of corn, taken on a mule to the Quaker Mill, twelve miles away, by John, a son of Sar- geant Morrill. Soon after leaving the mill, on his way home, it became dark, and John, being unable to follow the Indian path, mounted the mule and was carried safely home, arriving some time in the night. The next grist was three bushels of corn for each of the three settlers. It was taken. on an ox-sled to the same mill, the men cutting the road as they went. After John Morrill was married he wanted some cotton cloth in the house, so he took the job of cutting 1} acres of timber for $7.50, boarding himself. He took the money, went to Batavia, a distance of over 60 miles, on foot, and carried his goods home on his back. Sargeant Morrill and his son for several weeks brought on their backs all the provisions for the family from Little Valley, a dis- tance of nine miles.

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History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 123

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: