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 45
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THE CHAMBERLIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, of which George Chamberlin & Sons are the proprietors, was first established by the senior partner of the present
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RESIDENCE OF R.W. EVANS, UNION STREET, OLEAN , NEW YORK .
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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
concern in 1848, and was at that time located on the site now occupied by Charles Gillingham. In 1873, the estab- lishment was removed to its present location. Their principal business is the manufacture of stump-pullers and ditching- plows. They employ at the works an average of ten men.
THE OLEAN HANDLE-MANUFACTORY
of Jacob Coss & Sons was established by the late Jacob Coss, in the fall of 1868, and is now continued by his sons, Charles G. Coss, Frederick Coss, and Frank Coss, under the style and title of Jacob Coss' Sons. They manufacture hoe, fork, rake, and shovel handles, dowels, trunk-slats, hard-wood lumber, and dimension stuff, also band and ball. wheels, and oil-tank and sucker rods. They employ an average of 40 hands, and do an extensive and profitable business.
THE OLEAN HUB-FACTORY
was established in 1874, by L. S. Whitney. In 1875, R. M. Whitney, brother of the original proprietor, was taken into the concern as a partner, and in July, 1878, the latter, purchasing the interest of the former, became sole proprie- tor. The principal articles manufactured are black birch hubs, which have been quite extensively used by Stude- backer Bros., the well-known wagon-manufacturers of South Bend, Ind., and other 'large wagon-manufacturers. Capa- city, 125,000 hubs per annum. Hands employed, 15.
THE OLEAN SASH-FACTORY
was established in March, 1866, by Gillingham & Bagnall. In January, 1867, it was destroyed by fire, but the proprie- tors, with characteristic enterprise, rebuilt it immediately. In August of the same year, Mr. Bagnall was accidentally killed in the factory, while working at a circular saw. The present style of the firm is Gillingham & Co. Besides regular factory work, they contract for the building of public and private structures, churches, schools, residences, etc. They usually employ from 20 to 30 hands, and do a busi- ness amounting to from $30,000 to $50,000 annually.
THE PLANING-MILL
of Brickell, Bros. & Co., was established in the early part of 1878, and after running for a short time was burnt by an incendiary, May 15, of the same year. The firm pro- ceeded at once to erect their present building. They are largely engaged as contractors, and employ from 20 to 25 hands, doing quite an extensive business in their line.
THE OLEAN BREWERY,
Charles Dotterweich, proprietor, was established by him in 1856. In 1872 it was destroyed by fire, and in 1874 the present substantial brick building was erected. The capa- city of the brewery is 3000 barrels per annum ; the number of hands employed, 6.
THE OLEAN POTTERY
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was established about 1852, by Isaac H. Wands, a practical potter and a good business man. He conducted the busi- ness for about twenty years. From 1872 until the present proprietor, James H. Brooks, purchased the concern, Oct. 31, 1877, it changed hands several times. Mr. Brooks
succeeded Johnson & Knapp, and they Crane, and he Mon- tell. The goods manufactured include all kinds of stone- ware, which is made of South Amboy (New Jersey) clay, the best clay in America for the purpose. The capacity of the factory is about $10,000 per annum, and employs 10 hands.
THE OLEAN FLOURING- AND GRIST-MILLS
were erected by Judge F. S. Martin, in 1851, and were conducted by him until his death in 1865, when they re- verted to his heirs, and from them to A. H. Marsh. In the spring of 1878, the Chesbro Bros. purchased the prop- erty, and in the winter of the same year Mr. John Sax, a man of some means and a practical miller, entered a copart- nership with them, under the style of Frank Chesbro & Co. The mills have six runs of stones and all the latest improved machinery. Their capacity is about 75 barrels of mer- chant and 200 bushels of custom work per day.
OLEAN OIL DISTRICT.
Up to 1874 the oil developments in the Bradford district were limited. A few wells on both sides of the State line, in Cattaraugus and Mckean Counties, were producing small quantities of what is known as " slush oil ;" the third sand oil, up to that time, had not been found. The oil that was produced was in close proximity to the Bradford branch of the Erie Railroad. Some of the oil being of heavier gravity was sold to various parties for lubricating purposes, the re- maining portion being shipped over the Erie, by parties loading the car of Mr. Pratt, and consigning the oil to men in New York, and, in the course of a week or ten days, re- ceiving a remittance for the same. About this time (Sep- tember, 1874), J. H. Dilks came here, and after looking over the ground very carefully, concluded, from general in- dications, that the Olean district would, at no distant day, be productive of a large quantity of oil. In consequence of these favorable indications, Mr. Dilks commenced the organization of the "Olean Petroleum Company (Lim- ited)," which was composed entirely of Eastern capitalists. Rights of way were obtained, and the construction of a pipe-line from a point in Cattaraugus County, on the State line, was commenced. Stations were erected and terminal facilities provided on the Buffalo, New York and Phil- adelphia Railroad, at Olean, and on Thanksgiving Day, 1874, the first oil was pumped through the pipe-line a dis- tance of fourteen and a quarter miles, and over an elevation of 968 feet, and with one pump of 60 horse-power. Nat- urally enough, the completion of such a project was hailed with rejoicings and demonstrations of pleasure. And as the stations, pipe-line, and terminal facilities were all within the limits of Cattaraugus County, the enterprise was claimed as a local affair, to which the people of the county gave their hearty co-operation and support. From a production of a few hundred barrels per day, the district within three years from the starting of the operation, was producing 20,000 per day, and from the loading of 7 cars a day at Olean, it had grown into 150 cars a day. At first only a two-inch pipe was used; now the line consists of one three-inch and one four-inch pipe, with ample tanking facilities. In 1876 the Olean Petroleum Company passed into the hands of the " Empire Transportation Company," which also controlled
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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the Empire Pipe-Line. In 1877 the Empire Pipe-Line was disposed of the Standard Oil Company through the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The original pipe-line at Olean was constructed at a cost of about $225,000, which, with subsequent improvements, has at least doubled in value and capacity. The amount of oil pumped through during the month of November, 1878, exceeded 175,000 barrels.
OLEAN OIL-REFINERY.
In the fall of 1876, Wing, Wilbur & Co. commenced the construction of an oil-refinery at Olean, and completed it early in 1877, at a cost of $22,000, and having a capacity for 500 barrels per diem. After operating it one year they sold out to the Standard Oil Company, who have trebled its capacity, refining now 1500 barrels per day. Being situated at the terminus of the pipe-line, with the advan- tage of three railroads for distribution and competition, it is considered one of the best locations in the whole country.
The oil developments in the immediate vicinity of Olean north and east of the ridge separating it from the Bradford district proper-with the exception of three or four ill- judged experiments which proved failures, made by some piratical parties who, like camp-followers and parasites of an army, are a kind of pensioners upon legitimate oil oper- ators-were not commenced until in October, 1876, when J. G. Johnson, of Olean, A. H. Marsh, N. A. Dye, E. C. Howard, and W. H. Smith, of Allegany, and R. W. Evans, then of Bradford, organized a company called the " Alle- gany Oil Company," with sufficient capital to make a thorough test of the lands in Olean and Allegany. Their first effort was on the lands of J. G. and E. M. Johnson, in Allegany, where they obtained a good paying well, to the perfect surprise of the whole community, who were waiting for the result, and ready to apply the old maxim, " fools and their money are soon parted." In little more than two years from the successful issue of their enterprise more than 150 good, profitable wells are in operation in the vicinity of the visionary project, so called by the knowing ones, and 2000 barrels of oil flow daily from the great underlying reservoirs, which is to reward the courage and energy of the pioneers in oil within the Olean district, who, in face of discouragements and difficulties, persevered on to success.
Among those residents of Olean who are extensively engaged in oil operations are J. G. Johnson and his son, Elisha M. Johnson, C. V. B. Barse and his son, Mills W. Barse, H. C. Morris, R. W. Evans, J. H. Dilks, Joseph N. Pew, and Capt. Thompson.
BANKS AND BANKING.
The first banking institution having a nominal existence at Olean was the " Butchers' and Drovers' Bank," estab- lished in 1848 by Rufus Hatch, now of New York, with headquarters at Buffalo, and a resident cashier, George W. Smith, at Olean. This bank loaned its money and trans- acted its general business in Buffalo, but made its bills payable at Olean, on account of the difficulty the redeem- ing agent of the State had in getting to its so-called head- quarters. To get to Olean at that time required a stage journey of three days. The institution died gradually, without doing any good and very little harm.
In 1860 a private banking-office was started by Stowell, Chamberlain & Co., of which Calvin T. Chamberlain was manager and F. L. Stowell cashier. It quietly ceased its existence in 1866.
THE EXCHANGE NATIONAL BANK OF OLEAN.
In 1869 there was a deep-felt want of a bank in Olean. At that time a majority of the business men of the place, and of the towns adjoining, kept their accounts and did their banking business at Cuba. Several attempts were made to organize a bank, but failed to secure the necessary amount of cash capital. About this time C. V. B. Barse had returned from Bay City, Michigan, where he had dis- posed of his hardware business, and with his son and part ner took nine-tenths of the stock of the State Bank, which was organized with a paid-up cash capital of $100,000, and . began business in the summer of 1870. Since that time the bank has been under the personal care and supervision of Mr. Barse, and has been so soundly and conservatively managed as to secure the unlimited favor and liberal custom of the best business element of the country.
The first and present officers of the bank were and are C. V. B. Barse, President ; Henry S. Morris, Vice-Presi- dent; Mills W. Barse, Cashier. R. O. Smith and Charles S. Cary, with the above, are its directors.
The subjoined is the official statement of the financial condition of the bank at the close of business, Dec. 21, 1878;
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts
$230,110.10
Overdrafts.
3,205.00
United States bonds to secure circulation.
100,000.00
Due from approved reserve agents .. 18,067.98
Due from other national banks 10.00
Due from State banks and bankers
12,528.41
Real estate, furniture, and fixtures
8,000.00
Current expenses and taxes paid
1,767.62
Checks and other cash items.
736.32
Fractional currency (including nickels).
29.24
Specie .
1,441.41
United States legal tender notes
20,780.00
Bills of other banks
4,660.00
Redemption fund
4,500.00
Total
$405,836.08
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in.
$100,000.00
Undivided profits.
16,651.29
National bank notes outstanding ..
90,000.00
Individual deposits ..
144,397.23
Demand certificates of deposit
49,378.09
Certified checks.
38.50
Due to banks and bankers
5,370.97
Total
$405,836.08
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OLEAN
was organized in September, 1871, with William F. Wheeler as President; Nelson S. Butler, Vice-President; L. F. Law- ton, Cashier ; John E. Dusenbury, E. G. Dusenbury, Geo. S. McIntosh, Samuel Oosterhoudt, James G. Johnson, and Asher W. Miner (and the above officers), Directors. This institution was established for the purpose of facilitating the banking interests of the village and vicinity through the medium of a national bank. The gentlemen connected with the establishment are all capitalists and first-class busi- ness men, and most of them men of considerable financial experience and ability. The First National Bank is a gov-
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1874
BLAKE'S OPERA HOUSES
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UNIT D PIPE LINES.
[A.BLAKEP FURNITURE
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JOHN.G PE
BLAKE'S OPERA HOUSE
OPERA HOUSE BLOCK, A. BLAKE, PROPRIETOR, OLEAN , N. Y.
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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
ernment depository, and at the close of business, Dec. 21, 1878, held $14,606.99 to the credit of the United States.
The following is the statement of the financial condition of the bank, as per the last official statement :
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts
.$358,094.56
Overdrafts
3,383.99
U. S. bonds to secure circulation.
100,000.00
Other stocks, bonds, and mortgages
1,927.03
Due from approved reserve agents.
10,725.00
Due from other National banks
655.43
Due from State banks and bankers
9,864.87
Real estate, furniture, and fixtures
15,360.34
Current expenses and taxes paid.
4,302.67
Premiums paid.
3,057.50
Checks and other cash items.
2,239.24
Bills of other banks
3,410.00
Fractional currency (including nickels).
701.52
Specie
2,480.65
Legal tender notes.
10,980.00
Redemption fund with U. S. Treasurer (5 per cent. of circulation)
4,500.00
Due from U. S. Treasurer, other than 5 per cent. redemption fund.
700.00
Total
$532,382.80
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in
$100,000.00
Surplus fund
22,000.00
Undivided profits.
16,823.06
National bank notes outstanding.
90,000.00
Dividends unpaid
2,805.00
Individual deposits subject to check
$155,584.98
Time certificates of deposit.
74,832.93
Certified checks ..
37.60
230,455.51
Cashier's checks outstanding.
1,000.00
United States deposits.
14,606.99
Due to other National banks ..
31,281.51
Due to State banks and bankers.
1,410.73
Notes and bills re-discounted.
22,000.00
Total
.$532,382.80
THE WESTERN INSURANCE COMPANY.
Among the institutions that have gone out of existence was the " Western Insurance Company," which was in- corporated on the 22d of January, 1853, and did business until December, 1855, when its affairs passed into the hands of a receiver.
FIRES IN OLEAN.
One of the greatest obstacles to the progress of Olean has been the frequency and extent of its conflagrations. The most serious visitation of this kind occurred on Monday, Jan. 15, 1866. It commenced in and destroyed George John's store, and spread with terrible rapidity until all the buildings on that side of the street, to the corner above Barse's store, were consumed. The loss to the busi- ness portion of the village was great, aggregating $250,000, upon which the total insurance was $169,555. In this fire H. Harper Phelps lost his life in endeavoring to save his library.
About two years subsequent to the above, namely, on the 10th of March, 1868, the wooden block, from the Olean House to the Petroleum Hotel, was destroyed by fire, including in its devastation the Advertiser office. The loss this time was $65,000, and the insurance $30,000. Notwithstanding these calamities the business interests of the village have progressed. The burnt districts have been rebuilt in most instances by substantial brick blocks, which are alike an ornament to the place and a credit to those erecting them, respectively.
THE OLEAN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The first successful attempt at organizing a fire depart- ment in the village was made on the 17th of September, 1856, when the old " Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company" was organized with a good working membership. The first officers of this company were J. A. Petrie, Foreman ; Wil- liam B. Barse, First Assistant Foreman ; J. F. Johnson, Second Assistant Foreman ; H. Harper Phelps (who subse- quently lost his life in a fire while endeavoring to save his library), Secretary ; W. P. Wilcox, Treasurer; Nelson S. Butler, Steward; M. A. Blakeslee, Axeman ; D. T. Stringham, First Assistant Axeman ; William Brown, Second Assistant Axeman. This company was in existence until 1865, when it was allowed to disband, and the village was without a hook and ladder department until Dec. 27, 1877, when
PIONEER HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY, NO. 1,
was organized at the office of W. H. Mandeville, at which the following officers were elected : Charles Phillips, First Foreman ; H. Pullman, First Assistant Foreman; E. S. Andrews, Second Assistant Foreman ; J. K. Van Campen, Treasurer; R. C. Hill, Secretary. The present membership is 24.
EAGLE ENGINE COMPANY, NO. 1,
was organized in 1857, with a full complement of working members, of 40 men. This company has kept up its ex- istence, sometimes a somewhat feeble one, since its organi- zation. The last election of officers was held May 8, 1877, at which the following officers were elected, namely : M. A. Blakeslee, Foreman ; E. M. Johnson, First Assistant Fore- man ; S. R. Sill, Second Assistant Foreman ; F. W. Kruse, Secretary ; D. C. Conklin, Treasurer ; C. W. Havens, Stew- ard ; John Williams, Nozzleman.
FOUNTAIN HOSE COMPANY, NO. 1,
was organized in 1857, and has maintained its organization uninterruptedly ever since. It has generally been well officered, and noted for the promptitude with which its members mustered for a fire. The present officers are Fred. C. Mayer, Foreman; Thomas Randolph, First Assistant; W. D. Hatch, Secretary ; Herman Schutz, Treasurer. Present membership, 25. The present fire department consists of a Chief Engineer, W. H. Mandeville, and Assistant Chief Engineer, Chas. H. Emerson ; a Treasurer, A. H. Abbey, and three other members,-Fred. C. Mayer, C. H. Phillips, and M. A. Blakeslee, who each occupy the position of fore- man of the respective companies.
THE POST-OFFICE AT OLEAN.
The official establishment of the Olean post-office was effected Nov. 10, 1817. Prior to this date, a weekly mail was carried from Olean to Moscow by Calvin Abbott. In the latter part of the decade ending in 1830, Stephen Olney carried a mail between this place and Warren, Pa. Moses Haney, now of Hinsdale, was another early mail- carrier. The late John Magee, of Steuben Bank memory, together with his brothers, T. J. and Hugh Magee, were the first contractors for carrying the eastern mail between Olean and Bath in stages. In writing on this subject, Col.
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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
James G. Johnson says, "It is undoubtedly best to state in this connection, that the principal routes of travel from the east to the west led to Olean, and thence by the river. One of these routes was from Canandaigua through Gene- seo, Moscow, Perry, Pike, Rushford, Cuba, and Hinsdale. Another was through Dansville, Almond, Angelica, Friend- ship, Cuba, and Hinsdale. There was also a turnpike road beginning at Bath and terminating at Hinsdale, which was a toll-road, and within my recollection there was a toll-gate on it at what was then known as the Howe Farm, two and a half miles above Hinsdale."
From a communication received from the post-office de- partment at Washington, we are enabled to give the list of the postmasters at Olean, together with the dates of their appointments respectively. They are as follows, namely : Horatio Orton, appointed Nov. 10, 1817; Sylvanus Rus- sell, July 20, 1820; Henry Bryan, May 26, 1824; Dar- rar Swain, Oct. 26, 1829 ; Frederick S. Martin, Dec. 25, 1830; David Day, Nov. 14, 1839; Olcott P. Boardman, July 11, 1849; David Day, May 23, 1853; Henry W. Fish, Dec. 19, 1857; Rufus L. Page, March 27, 1861; James G. Johnson, Oct. 25, 1870; George N. Fobes, Feb. 3, 1877; Milton B. Fobes, May 28, 1878.
RELIGIOUS.
The religious history of a community constitutes one of the principal and most important features of its social civility. Liberty of conscience in religious matters is one of the chief traits of American freedom. Nor was it in indifference to religious convictions that this religious lib- erty originated, but in the finally well-understood and well- applied principle of the freedom and equality of moral as well as of political rights. Religious freedom and indepen- dence were almost paramount to all other aims and objects which were had in view by the primitive emigrants to America; and those of all creeds came here with the pur- pose of establishing and enjoying the freedom of religious convictions. Intolerance and persecution stained, however, even in this land, the first pages of Puritanic establishment. It was the momentary victory of the dark spirit of the past overpowering at times the bright coruscations of truth. But bigoted ferocity finally yielded before the light of reason, before the vital and all-absorbing force of principles. And the justice of religious tolerance has been handed down from father to son through all the generations succeeding the Pilgrim fathers. In all communities is found not only the innate love of religious equality, but also its full enjoyment. The pioneers of this village, like those of all other localities, were of various religious beliefs, but sectarian prejudices were abandoned, and for a time at least, all worshiped to- gether until the followers of each denomination represented were numerically and financially strong enough to establish religious societies according to the tenets of their faiths, respectively. Thus we find, after some years, churches of each denomination organized, and as soon as circumstances permitted, edifices were erected, used separately by the dif- ferent sects, or alternately by two or more of them. Finally, the Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopalians, Lu- therans, and Roman Catholics severally erected houses of worship in the village, and the members of each now wor-
ship God according to the dictates of their own consciences, and yet remain devoid of intolerant bigotry and sectarian animosity.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF OLEAN.
The first missionary of this denomination in Western New York was Rev. John Spencer, for his worth and years reverently called Father Spencer. Sent out by the Home Missionary Society of Connecticut in 1809, he received as his field of labor all the tract then known as the Holland Purchase. He probably preached the first regular sermon in this place.
The first church organization was formed Aug. 28, 1822, by Rev. William Stone, missionary, who came on from the East. The organization and early meetings were held in the chamber of a store, then owned by Hoyt Webb, which stood upon the present site of the hardware-store of C. V. B. Barse. The original documents of this organization-" the confession of faith," "the covenant," etc., with names of original members-are still preserved. The original mem- bers were Cornelius Brooks, Ahijah C. Warren, Anson King, Norman Smith, John Boardman, Bathsheba War- ren, Sophia King, and Abigail Smith. The first church- meeting was held the same day, and Anson King, Ahijah C. Warren, and Norman Smith were chosen elders. Anson King was elected deacon and Norman Smith clerk.
This infant society placed itself under the care of the Presbytery of Bath. The Presbytery of Angelica, which was formed in Angelica, Nov. 25, 1828, has this church enrolled upon the minutes of its first meeting. Weakened by the removal of several of its members, this organization in a few years passed out of existence.
A second organization took place in the latter part of the year 1838, under the ministerial care of Rev. Reuben A. Willoughby.
Judge Adkins and family came into the town some time before this and held prayer-meetings in their house, and from this influence the organization sprang. The building in which the society was formed-the house of Judge Ad- kins-is still standing, on the east side of the Olean Creek. Many of the original members are still living. Among those who then became members were Henry Dusenbury and wife, Wm. F. Wheeler, Judge Adkins and his wife and two daughters, Erastus E. Platt, and John W. Mulford. Others afterwards prominent in the society were James G. Johnson, Norman Birge, A. S. Wheeler, Caleb Smith, and O. P. Boardman.
In the spring of 1839 a lot was purchased, which now constitutes a part of the church property, and a wagon-shop upon it was remodeled and repaired for a house of worship. The cost of the entire property was $200.
On Dec. 9, 1841, there was organized the society in con- nection with the church. This was done to meet the re- quirements of the revised statutes of the State. The day chosen was most appropriately that one set apart by Gov. Leonard, as the day of thanksgiving. Deacon Henry Du- senbery presided over the meeting. On motion of Erastus E. Platt the society was legally organized. The first trus- tees chosen were Henry Bryan, Wm. F. Wheeler, Edwin M. Birge, Olcott P. Boardman, James G. Johnson. Rev. John
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