History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 60

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 60

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Cyrus Childs was the third settler in town. A native of Massachusetts, he came with his family from that State to this town in 1818, and settled on lot 22. He died in town a few years since, aged ninety-three.

James Blanchard came in 1818, and settled on lot 22. He was born in Bennington, Vt., July, 1789. His wife, Eunice, was born in Halifax, Vt., January, 1796. They opened a tavern, in 1820, on the old Chautauqua road. He also built a hotel in Rutledge in 1827, being the first frame

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Photos. by A. B. Wells, East Randolph, N. Y.

DAVID HUNTINGTON.

MRS. DAVID HUNTINGTON.

DAVID HUNTINGTON.

David Huntington was born June 27, 1812, in the town of Bethany, Genesee Co., N. Y. He was the seventh son of John Huntington, who was born in the State of Vermont, Aug. 20, 1775, and was an excellent type of the energy and industry of the people of that noble little State. He was in the service of the government in the war of 1812-15. He was unexceptionable in every relation of private life. He was an early pioneer into the wilds of Connewango, set- tling in that town in 1824, where he died, March 23, 1860. His wife, Betsey Metcalf, mother of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of Vermont; was born May 6, 1780. She was a woman of piety and much worth. She died in Conne- wango, April 29, 1862. In the early settlement of the county the opportunities for securing an education were very limited. David attended a few terms of the district school, where he received his only education. He remained with his father, clearing away the forests, until he was twenty-one, when he commenced the battle of life for himself. In January, 1839, he married Miss Adaline Gordon, an estimable lady of Rush- ford, Allegany Co., N. Y. Her paternal grandfather, a native of Scotland, emigrated to the colonies when eighteen years of age. He was a soldier in the American army during the Revolutionary struggle, serving as aid-de-camp to Gen- eral Washington. He died in Rushford, N. Y., at the ad- vanced age of ninety-two. Ilis son, Tarbell Gordon, was born in Vermont, July 22, 1785, and was married to Miss Lucy Lawrence, who was born in Vermont, April 12, 1783. They removed to Rushford, Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1810, where Adaline (Mrs. Huntington) was born, Feb. 9, 1815. Mr. Huntington is emphatically a self-made man. He has filled all the most important offices in his town, from super- visor down, in all of which he served with industry, integrity, and fidelity to the best interests of the people. Mr. Hunt- ington was a Whig until the Republican party was organized, when he became an active Republican. He is very indepen- dent in his politics, having given Peter Cooper the only vote

in town, except one, in 1876, being a Greenbacker of the most advanced views. He was the Greenback candidate for the Assembly in his district in 1877, and ran far ahead of his ticket in his own town and vicinity. He is a good, logical reasoner, and a ready, off-hand debater, it seeming to make but little difference with him what the subject may be. He is a firm friend of the cause of temperance. In religion, as in politics, he is a liberal, believing the highest type of Chris- tianity and the truest religion consists in doing right.

They have raised a family of five children,-one son and four daughters, all born in the town of Connewango. Loraine E. was born Oct. 19, 1840; married to Marcus J. Benson, Oct. 15, 1860; died May 29, 1868. Mary J. was born Sept. 18, 1841. Charles D. was born July 12, 1848 ; married Miss Fannie Dean, granddaughter of Hon. Geo. A. S. Crooker, April 19, 1866. He enlisted in the 9th N. Y. Cavalry, serv- ing three years ; died Feb. 7, 1869, at the home of his parents. Ellen L. was born June 18, 1846; married Hubert D. Nutting, June 18, 1866; now living at Stamburgh, N. Y. Inez G. was born Dec. 9, 1855.

Mary and Inez are living with their parents. The former is a lady of fine literary taste, and an excellent writer. The latter is a young lady of culture, having been educated at Chamberlain Institute, devoting a portion of her time to teaching.

Mr. Huntington now resides on Elm Creek, a short distance from the village of East Randolph. He owns and occupies the same farm upon which he has lived fifty-four years. A fine farm-house and buildings, surrounded with productive fields subdued from the wilderness, will always bear witness to years of persevering toil and honest industry. Mr. Hunt- ington is above medium height, with a broad high forehead, mild blue eyes, dark brown hair, now frosted by age; but he retains the physical and mental vigor of mature manhood. It is the earnest wish of his many friends that he may live long to enjoy the many comforts and blessings of life, well earned by upright industry and honest dealings.

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public-house in town. He died March, 1833. The widow is yet living on lot 48, aged eighty-three years. They had a family of four sons and four daughters. One of the sons, Hiram, is living on lot 48, and a daughter, Lucinda, in the town of Leon. Mrs. Blanchard is now the oldest resident living in town.

Lyman Wyllys came from his native State, Massachu- setts, in 1818. He settled on lot 23, but removed to Michigan.

Daniel Grover, a native of Vermont, settled on lot 23 in 1818. He was born in 1792, and is now living in Illinois. His wife was born in Vermont in 1797, and died in Illinois in 1873.

Calvin Treat settled on lot 38 in 1818. He married Miss Adaline Childs, May 21, 1819. He built a small grist-mill, the first in the town, on Spring Brook in 1822. He died on the same farm in 1832.

David Davidson came from Vermont in 1818, and set- tled on 48. He was the carpenter who built the first frame building in town in 1820. He was born in Vermont, 1777, and died in Chautauqua Co., N. Y.

Sampson Crooker, an old sea-captain, came to Conne- wango, from Cairo, Greene Co., in 1818, and settled on lot 47. In company with Robert McGlasher he built the first saw-mill in town. He and Culver Crumb also built a saw-mill and a grist-mill on Clear Creek in 1825. It is still in operation. He set out the first orchard in town, and gave the land for the first cemetery, on the rise of ground just east of Rutledge. His wife was a true pioneer, and once killed a large wild-cat with the fire-tongs, at her hen-roost, in the winter of 1819. She also made the trip from her home to Catskill, N. Y., alone, with a horse and

wagon, taking with her a live bear, which she sold to help pay the expenses of the trip. Soon after this their son, George A. S. Crooker, settled on lot 54. He was a rising lawyer, having for some years studied in Catskill, and after- wards in Moscow. He is not only entitled to a place in the history of the county as one of her most distinguished and talented men, but Connewango, as a town, feels a pride in his citizenship and in the eminent service which he ren- dered her people. He stood high as a legal counselor, and as an advocate had but few peers. He possessed a liberal heart and the most kindly feelings, and no sacrifice was too great to be made in the behalf of his friends. Abiding with her people for half a century, the esteem in which his abilities were held is told in the record of his civil his- tory. He represented his town in the Board of Supervisors for nearly a third of a century, and the representatives of the county in that body made him their presiding officer for twenty-seven years. He was a member in the State Legislature from Cattaraugus County, where he took a high position as a ready debater. He was also a member from his district in the Constitutional Convention of 1846. In debate he skillfully parried the blows of his opponents, and gave them telling home-thrusts. He was keen in wit and scathing in satire, but no petty enmity or rankling bitter- ness ever found lodgment in his heart. He died at St. Charles, Ill., in 1874, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, but at his request his remains were brought back to Con- newango, and interred in the cemetery, the ground for which was given by his father nearly sixty years ago.

Rufus Wyllys settled on lot 30, 1819. He was born in Massachusetts, 1780, and moved from that State, a distance of 500 miles, upon an ox-sled, being twenty-three days on the road. The sled carried the family of eleven persons and all their worldly effects. John Wyllys, a son, says their bread for much of the time was obtained by pounding corn on a block of wood. They would try and pound it fine enough to get out a little fine meal for a " Johnny" cake for breakfast, make samp for dinner, and the same for supper, if they found the cows. For a table, for sev- eral years, they used a slab split from a large cucumber log, with four holes bored in the corners, into which logs were driven ; and the only chairs were made in the same rude manner. " Catamounts" were used for bedsteads. At first they had to go to Fredonia to mill. Afterwards, Kent's Mill was built on the head-waters of the Connewango. Their usual mode of going to mill was with an ox-team, drawing a crotch. Afterwards they dug a canoe from a pine log, and carried their grists in that on the Conne- wango. Mr. Wyllys and Samuel Farlee built a saw-mill on Elm Creek in 1823. John Wyllys, a son, lives on lot 27, aged sixty-nine years, having lived in town fifty-nine years, and with one exception is the oldest resident in Connewango. In speaking of the customs of the pioneer times he says, " It was against the rule of the neighborhood for any one to build a chimney until they had first burned out three logs of the house."

Daniel Newcomb went on lot 21 in 1821. He was born in Goshen, N. Y., and came to this town from Livingston County. When he built his house every foot of his lumber was split from logs and hewed. There were nine children :

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Sallie M. married Wm. Snow, and still lives in town ; Maxamilla married Suel Snow, and lives at Rutledge ; and David and Morrell live in Elgin, Ill.

Mr. Newcomb had obtained a few sheep the season after his arrival, and the oldest daughter, Sally, was employed in watching them as they fed at a short distance from the house. While thus engaged, she saw a large bear near by also watching the sheep. The dog held the bear at bay while Sally made her escape to the house. Soon after, in Mr. Newcomb's absence, the attention of the family was drawn, late in the evening, by an unusual noise outside and the efforts of the dog to get from the house. Mrs. New- comb, looking out between the logs, saw, by the light of the fire she had built, nine wolves. The dog was let loose, and, following the wolves, was absent four days. Mr. Newcomb died in town, in 1855, and Mrs. Newcomb died on the farm now owned by Joseph Grey, in 1846.

Julius Gibbs, from Chautauqua County, settled on lot 47 in 1822. A blacksmith by the name of Bradner settled on lot 30 in 1819; and Chauncy Butler, from Mt. Morris, N. Y., on lot 39 the same year.

Leonard and Aaron Barton, young men from Massachu- setts, settled on lot 15 in 1820. They chopped about ten acres, but becoming discouraged returned to Massachusetts. About 1822, General Seth Wood took this land and lived here several years. He then moved to Ohio, where he died, leaving two sons in town, Thomas and Gaius. Thomas settled on lot 8, and died there. Gaius died in town about two years since.

Samuel Farlee came from Genesee County in 1819, and settled on lot 12. It took fourteen hands an entire day to clear a road two miles to where he built his shanty, which was put up without a nail. He moved to lot 5, and in 1827 built a good-sized grist-mill on Elm Creek, having two run of stone. It continued to do business until about 1870. In 1865 a Mr. Farnsworth was employed in these mills. During the great flood of that year, in attempting to remove the slash-boards from the dam, he was washed away and drowned. His body was found the next day two miles below in the woods, on C. D. Tuttle's land, sitting in a natural position against a tree, entirely nude except one boot, the collar-band, and one wrist-band of the shirt.

Elias Wilcox, from Livingston Co., N. Y., settled on lot 47 in 1820. He afterwards moved to East Randolph, where he lived until his death. Russel Pennock settled on lot 30 in 1819, put up a log house and remained until about 1830, when he moved to Ohio.

Thomas Darling, a native of Windsor Co., Vt., came from York, N. Y., in 1820, and settled on lot 30, after- wards moving to Ohio.

Peter Blanchard settled on lot 22 in 1819. He was born in Vermont, but came from Cayuga Co., N. Y. He died and was buried on the same farm in 1825, being the fourth adult death in town.

Two brothers, Nicholas and Thomas Northrup, came to this town in 1818, from Stephentown, N. Y. In 1860, Mr. Northrup went West on a visit, and on his return was killed by the cars. Of his sons, George died in Georgia in 1862, and Anson moved to Minnesota and pre-empted the lands and built the first shanty, and then the first frame

building, where Minneapolis now stands, and afterwards did the same at St. Paul; Stephen is living in Illinois; J. Brock and his sister, Freelove, now live at East Randolph. Thomas Northrup also settled early in town. He built a small shanty, covering it with elm-bark. He was the first town clerk of the town, which office he held for several terms.

Asahel Brown settled on lot 14 in 1823. He was born at Grand Isle, Vt., in 1799. His wife, Flora, was born in Massachusetts in 1802. A small log house had been built by Lyman Wyllys, in which Mr. Brown lived for about twenty years, when he built what was known in the vicinity as the " Red House." He is now, at the age of seventy- nine, living with his son, Martin, upon the old homestead.

John Darling settled on lot 38 in 1821. He.came from the State of Vermont, where he was born in 1786. His wife was born in the same State in 1797. Mr. Darling was the first supervisor of the town of Connewango. Soon after his settlement he was once engaged in boiling maple-sap until late in the evening. Thinking it about time to return to the house, he lighted a torch and started, but soon found himself literally surrounded by wolves. He was compelled to return to his fires and remain until morning amid the howling of his companions. He died on the same farm in December, 1867, aged eighty-one. His wife died in 1840. He left three children,-Isaiah, John, and Betsy.

Benjamin Darling, a brother of the above, was born in Windsor, Vt., March, 1782, and Maria, his wife, was born in the same year at Plymouth, Mass. They came to this town in 1821, and settled on lot 46. They came with an ox-team and sled, and were four weeks in making the journey. There being no school in the small log school- house near by, they occupied it while putting up a log house, which they covered with shakes and mossed in. He then went to Mayville, Chautauqua Co., to get his land hooked, but not having money to procure an article, he called on Mr. Peacock, the agent, and stated to him that he wanted booked to him 179 acres, being the east part of lot 46.

" Where are you from ?"

" I am from Windsor County, Vermont."

" How much do you wish to pay ?"

" Nothing, except the bare expense of booking."

" Well, what have you got at home ?"

" I have a wife and five children, a yoke of oxen, a set of log-chains, and three good axes."

" You can have the land, Mr. Darling."

Mr. Darling died on this farm March, 1861. Sylvester B., one of the children, lives on lot 38. Ezra and sister Huldah now live on the old home farm. And here we must be allowed to say we are under many obligations to Mr. Ezra Darling for the aid he rendered in procuring pioneer and other history. We learned from him that the first dance held in town was on the Fourth of July, 1821, at the house of Russel Pennock. There being nothing but ox-teams, most of the girls came on foot. A Frenchman played the fiddle. The second dance was held at the house of Benjamin Darling, the following New Year's Day. There being good sleighing, the girls were brought on ox- sleds. We here learn that these scattering settlers, amid

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RUFUS WYLLYS.

MRS. RUFUS WYLLYS.

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their privations and toils in carving out new homes in the wilderness, did not forget to lighten their cares by these sources of amusement.

Ezra Amadon came from Cayuga County, in 1820, and settled on lot 15. He was born in Bennington, Vt., in 1796, and his wife in Guilford, Vt., in 1798. They stopped with James Blanchard until he put up a rough log house, with " cob" roof and split logs for a floor. After eleven years he moved to lot 56, commencing a new farm. Mr. Amadon says, " He possessed the first grain-cradle in town." He once caught a live bear, and, after keeping it awhile, sent it East and sold it. He says that with the cattle he once turned into the woods, late at night, was a spring calf. In the morning he found it a short distance from the house, having been killed in the night by a panther. Of a family of ten children three are living : Lucius and Calvin live in Pennsylvania, and George resides with his parents in the town of Leon. Mr. Amadon is eighty-four years of age, with a vigorous mind and clear memory. He gave much information that could not have been obtained without his aid.

Culver Crumb settled on lot 61, in 1820.

Goldsmith Coffin, of Seneca County, was the first settler on lot 63. John Fairbanks, from Onondaga County, settled on lot 56, in 1822. He was born in Massachusetts, in 1766. His wife, Experience, was born in the same State, in 1769. They had fourteen children,-eleven sons and three daughters. Mr. Fairbanks died on the same farm, in 1837. His wife died in 1835.

Henry Pellit, a native of England, came from Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1823, settling on lot 13. His widow is yet living in Connewango. James Hammond came from Chau- tauqua County, in 1823, settling on lot 61. He was born in Rhode Island, in 1797, and died on the farm now owned by Alonzo Grover, in 1866. Remus Baldwin, from Cale- donia, settled on lot 46, in 1818, and Dana Phillips, from Vermont, on lot 48, in 1819. He moved to Michigan. Bela B. Post settled on lot 27, in 1819, but sold to Joel Post, a brother, and moved to Iowa, where he died.

John Farlee settled on lot 20, in 1819. He came from Genesee County. His wife died in the fall of 1821. She was buried in the garden, near their rude log cabin. It was the first death of an adult in town. We were informed by Mrs. Blanchard that on the day of the burial, being late in the fall, one of the most terrible storms she ever experienced raged the entire day and night. The winds howled fearfully through the almost unbroken forests, and a blinding snow-storm, unusual for the season, rendered it almost impossible for assistance to reach this pioneer home. There was no minister of God to offer consoling ministra- tions ; but a simple, fervid prayer was offered up by one of the friends, and the deceased was by loving hands laid kindly and tenderly away in her new garden home.

Stephen Nichols settled on lot 61, in 1820, and David Cooper on lot 29, about the same time.

Nathan Burt settled on lot 21, in 1821. He came from Mount Morris, N. Y., and died on the same farm. Valen- tine Hill came from Ohio in 1822, and settled on lot 21.

Lomis Lillie settled on lot 21, Joseph Cunningham on lot 32, and Luke Ward on lot 32, in 1823. Daniel Whit- 28

ing, from Vermont, settled on lot 48, in 1819; and Luther Marlow on the same lot, in 1823.

John Towers, from Ontario County, settled on lot 37, in 1826. For six weeks an old trunk served them for a table. One Sunday the following summer Mr. and Mrs. Towers went to a neighbor's to attend a religious meeting, leaving the children at home, with instructions not to leave the yard, which was inclosed by a brush fence. Upon their return, the children said they had fed two black dogs just over the fence, which really were two young bears. Soon after, Mr. Towers, in looking for his cows, was attracted, by the barking of his dog, to a tree, up which the dog had driven these cubs. Mrs. Towers was called, and left to keep the bears from descending, while Mr. Towers went to a neighbor's for a gun. She soon discovered an old bear near by. She set the dog upon the bear and drove it away. When Mr. Towers returned it was getting dusk. He shot one of the young bears, but could not see the other. They built a fire at the foot of the tree, and remained until morning, when they killed the other cub, and then followed the old bear, which they found and killed in the forenoon. Mr. Towers died in town. ITis wife is yet living, near the old homestead.

Jotham Metcalf settled on lot 2, in 1823. He was born in New Hampshire, in 1791. His wife, Sarah Ash, was born in Rensselaer County, in 1794. They built a rough log house, moved in, and commenced driving back the thick forests surrounding them. Mr. Metcalf and wife were exemplary Free-Will Baptists, having united with that church when young, and ever remaining members of it, except for a few years after his arrival in this town. There being then no Free Baptist church, they united with sev- eral others in forming a Methodist class at his house, in 1826. Mr. Metcalf was chosen leader of the class, and meetings were held at his house for two or three years, and it was known as the " preachers' home." They again united with the Free-Will Baptists as soon as a church was formed at Little Valley, although twelve miles distant. Mr. Metcalf died in 1875. His widow is living with her son Harvey, and, at eighty-four years, is smart and active. When we called to see her, she had just come in from a walk of nearly two miles, having been out to call upon an old neighbor. Harvey and Henry L., sons, live upon parts of the farm first settled on; David, another son, lives in Cold Spring; Harriet, a daughter, died in Randolph, in 1854; and Mary (Mrs. L. Smith) lives in Napoli.

Ralph Williams, a native of Connecticut, born in 1778, came to this town in 1823, and settled on lot 1. His wife was born in Connecticut, in 1782. They continued to re- side on the same farm until 1868, when they went to live with their son, George A. In 1875, Mr. Williams died at the age of ninety-seven, and his wife at ninety-three, having lived together in married life for the very unusual period of seventy-two years. They had six sons; Alzarat lives in Chautauqua County ; Lauren died in Cold Spring, in 1871 ; N. Bishop lives on the old farm ; William W. and Frederic R., in Napoli.

In 1827, Nathan Snow, from Genesee County, but a native of Connecticut, settled on lot 4. Having no house, he went to work, cleared away the timber, cut the logs,

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built a house, and moved in, all within a week. He died on the same furm October, 1861, aged seventy-one years. His widow, Lura Suow, was born in Oneida County, and is now living with her son on the old farm. She is eighty- two years of age. Six sons and two daughters are all living in the immediate vicinity. William D. lives on lot 6; Suel H. at Rutledge; Orre on lot 11; Edward in Ran- dolph ; Melvin on the home furm; and Chauncey A. on the same lot. He keeps a large dairy, manufacturing his own butter. He is also a stock dealer. The oldest daugh- ter, Mrs. George Watkins, lives at East Randolph; and Mrs. Walter Thorp, another daughter, in Napoli.

We have thus far neglected to speak of the McGlashen family. The widow, Ann McGlashen, consort of Peter McGlashen, with four sons, came to this town at an early date, and settled at or near Rutledge. Robert came in 1818, settling on lot 47. He was the first justice in town. James came in 1819, settling on lot 39, and Charles about 1825. These two brothers did much in building up Rut- ledge and vicinity. They built the first frame house in town. In 1831 they built a large hotel with a commodious store, and became successful merchants. They were also large dealers in cattle. Some years later, the other brother, Peter, settled in Rutledge. They had quite a military ambition, and James became a brigadier-general of the militia, Charles a colonel, and Peter brigade inspector. James died at Cincinnati, O .; Charles moved to Red Wing, Minn., in 1860, where he died in 1872.

Richard McDaniels settled on lot 1 in 1824. He soon after sold to Jeremiah Bundy, who remained about three years and sold to George L. Fox, who died on the place in 1838. His widow and son yet live on the farm.

Henry L. Gardner, a native of Windsor, Vt., came to Connewango in 1825, where he married a daughter of Nicholas Northrup, and settled on lot 55. Peter Pennock came from Genesee County in 1821.

Samuel Cowley settled on lot 8 in 1822. He was born in Cayuga County, in 1798, and came to this town from York, N. Y. Mrs. Cowley was a native of Connecticut. In October, 1844, during the presidential excitement of that year, Mr. Cowley in climbing a hickory pole fell, breaking both his legs. One of them not healing, ampu- tation became necessary the following February, and he died while the operation was being performed. Mrs. Cow- ley and a son now live on the old farm.

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History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 60

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: