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 63
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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
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elected trustee by the Erie Methodist Conference, which position he still fills.
Mr. Holdridge was an anti-slavery Whig until the forma- tion of the Republican party, when he became, and has ever remained one of its most active members, and was efficient in the support of the government during the late civil war. In religious belief he is in hearty accord with the Metho- dist Church, and his life has been marked with a strict observance of temperance principles. He is a firm friend
of the cause of education, and an earnest worker in its behalf. His business pursuits have been various,-lumber- ing, farming, mercantile,-and he now owns and operates a flouring-mill at East Randolph, enjoying a competency, the result of a life of great industry, strict economy, and honor- able dealing.
Mr. Holdridge now resides at the village of East Ran- dolph, N. Y., highly respected as a man of broad charities, generous impulses, and manly honor.
Photo. by A. B. Wells, East Randolph, N. Y.
Pillin Deros
ROLLIN DOW
was born March 31, 1846, at Silver Creek, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. He is the second son of Amos and Eliza Ann Dow. He was married, Dec. 11, 1867, to Nellie M., daughter of
ER
Photo. by A. B. Wells, East Randolph, N. Y
Milli Mo Dow.
Jonathan and Diantha Gates, of Pike, Wyoming Co., N. Y., who was born Dec. 16, 1846. Mr. Dow engaged in the mer- cantile business at East Randolph, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1868, and at present (Jan. 1, 1879) represents one of the leading interests of the town.
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WELLS J. BIGELOW.
John Bigelow, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was of Scotch descent, and was born in the State of Con- necticut, Dec. 8, 1767. He married Miss Temperance Spencer, Sept. 29, 1791, and in that year settled in Col- chester, Conn. In 1833 he removed to Copake, N. Y., where his wife died in 1834. In 1835 he moved to Con- newango, Cattaraugus Co., and settled upon a farm, where he died, April 14, 1844, having married Mrs. Mary G. Kelly in 1836, who was a daughter of W. Dudley and Sally Noyes, of Leon, N. Y. She died Jan 17, 1865.
Mr. Bigelow was many years a Baptist minister, and always a strong pillar in that church. He helped to organize the first Baptist Church in his town. He was familiarly known as Deacon Bigelow. He was a man of earnest piety and great worth. His son, John S. Bigelow, father of Wells J, was born in Colchester, Conn., March 14, 1807. In 1833 he removed to Napoli, and in 1837 settled in Connewango, where he died, March 26, 1866. In 1829 he was married to Miss Caroline A. Wells, a lady highly esteemed, who was born in Colchester, Conn., Feb. 12, 1810, and is now living in Connewango. Her father, Asa Wells, was born in Colchester, Conn , and died in Middle Haddam, in 1834. His wife, Betsey Treadway, was born in Colchester, Conn., and died in 1838.
Wells J. Bigelow, whose portrait may be seen upon another page of this work, was born in Colchester, Conn., Nov. 15, 1830, and came with his parents to this county in 1833. Jan. 1, 1852, he married Miss Laura P. Wood, a lady of much worth, daughter of Gaius and Julana M. Wood. Gains Wood was a son of Gen. Seth Wood, who was born in Woodstock, Vt., and came to Connewango in 1822, settling on lot 15. He removed to Ravenna, Ohio, in 1832, where he died in 1842. His wife, Priscilla Randall, was born in Woodstock, Vt., and died in Conne- wango, N. Y., in February, 1853. Gaius was born in
Woodstock, Vt., Sept. 25, 1802. In 1821 he came to Connewango. In 1826 he went to Jefferson Co., N. Y., where he remained until 1832, when he returned to Con- newango. He removed to Kirtland, Ohio, in 1837, thence to Missouri in 1838, and to New Hartford, Ill., in 1839. The same year he removed to Connewango, where he died Oct. 15, 1876. He was married, Nov. 9, 1827, to Miss Julana M. Brown, of Watertown, N. Y. Her grandfather, Elijah Fields, was a Revolutionary soldier during the entire war. He was of English descent, and born in Connecticut. After the close of the war he settled in Woodstock, Vt., and in 1806 he removed to Watertown, N. Y., where he died. His daughter, Philena Fields, mother of Julana M. Brown, was born in Woodstock, Vt., Aug. 29, 1786, and was married to Robert Brown, of Watertown, N. Y., Feb. 23, 1808, who died Oct. 31, 1810. May 11, 1811, she was married to Feliz, a brother of Robert Brown, who died Jan. 2, 1822. In 1823 she married George Frisbee, of Watertown, N. Y. They moved to Connewango, N. Y., in 1832, where they both died, Mrs. Frisbee April 13, 1864, and Mr. Frisbee Feb. 25, 1868. Julana M. Brown, daughter of Robert and Philena Brown, and mother of Mrs. Wells J. Bigelow, was born in Watertown, N. Y., June 1, 1809, and died in Connewango Jan. 23, 1872. Carrie J. Bigelow, daughter of Wells J. and Laura P. Bigelow, was born in Connewango, N. Y., July 10, 1867.
Mr. W. J. Bigelow received a good common-school education, and pursued the business of farming until six years ago, since which time he has been engaged in opera- ting factories for the manufacture of butter and cheese, owning the factories, and receiving the milk of one thousand cows. He is a master of his business, and is considered one of the best factory-men in the county. He is thorough and methodical in his business, and has the entire confidence of the people as being strictly honorable in all his dealings.
STILES B. ELLSWORTH.
Stiles B. Ellsworth, only son of Benjamin Ellsworth, was born in Ellington, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Feb. 6, 1832. His father, Benjamin Ellsworth, a Connecticut farmer, was born in East Windsor, in that State, Dec. 25, 1793. At an early day he migrated to Western New York, and in May, 1840, settled in Connewango, Cattaraugus Co., where he remained until his death, Nov. 8, 1871. His wife was Calista Day, daughter of Judge Day, of Vermont. Their children were M. Eliza, Stiles B., and Frances A.
The son, Stiles B., to whom this sketch has reference, received the rudiments of his education at the common school, and completed it at the Fredonia Academy. He early learned civil engineering, and has since practiced the profession with scarcely any intermission until about 1873. Since he removed with his parents to Connewango, he has lived there on the farm on which his father lived and died.
In 1862 he enlisted as private in Company K, of the 154th New York, and served with that regiment through some of the most memorable campaigns of the war of the Rebellion. At the battle of Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863, he received three wounds, and was left for dead on that bloody field. There he laid for four days without food or medical attendance, and fell into the hands of the enemy. After a time he was exchanged, and rejoined his regiment at Chattanooga, Tenn., in time to participate in the cam- paign extending from Chattanooga to Atlanta. During his term of service he earned and received promotion to the grade of first lieutenant.
He has been twice married : first, Jan. 1, 1856, to Vic- toria Jenks, who died Aug. 13, 1867; second, Oct. 14, 1869, to Betsey M., daughter of Daniel W. Gardner. Since the close of his service in the army he has been very successfully engaged in mercantile business.
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WICKHAM HOUSE
WICKHAM
HOUSE
RESIDENCE OF R.F. EWING
R.F.EWING'S TENANT HOUSE
KHAM HOUSE
WICKHAM HOUSE.
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JOHN WICKHAM.
DEPOT.
R.F.EWING'S STORE.
R. F. EWING'S BUILDINGS.
VIEWS IN PINE VALLEY, CATTARAUGUS CO., N. Y.
DAYTON.
DAYTON lies on the western border of the county, and is the second town from the north. East is the town of Persia, and south the town of Leon. On the north is Perrysburg, from which Dayton was erected Feb. 7, 1835, to embrace all of township 5, range 9, of the Holland survey. The area is 23,137 acres, whose surface is less broken than that of most other towns. The northern and the eastern parts of the town are elevated and irregular, the summits of the hills being a few hundred feet higher than the general level. In the central, southwestern, and west- ern parts of the town the surface is mainly level, and in some places not enough undulated to afford natural drain- age. This forms a swamp, whose outlet is Connewango Creek, a very sluggish stream. Along the water-courses the town was originally heavily timbered with forests of pine and hemlock, a considerable portion of which yet remains. On the uplands the timber was chiefly maple and beech, and was not so heavy as on the flats; but while the work of clearing the ground was less, the soil is not so strong and productive as on the lowlands. These were at first not esteemed valuable for farming, but since the lands have been improved, constitute the best parts of the town. The soil here is a loam, more or less admixed with clay. On the hills it is a light loam, with a mixture of gravel or clay. The principal products are oats and hay; and at present dairying is the controlling industry. The streams of the town, draining north, are tributaries of Cattaraugus Creek, and are no larger than brooks The affluents of Connewango Creek, flowing from the east, northeast, and northwest, unite in the southern part of the town to form what is usually known as the east branch of Connewango Creek. The volume of this stream is great, but it has but little fall, and such low banks that little power is afforded. Nor do the banks restrain the water in times of freshet, rendering useless much of the land bordering on these streams, on account of untimely overflows. The proposed improvement of the lower Connewango would greatly pro- mote the current of the head-waters, whereby a large por- tion of this land might be redeemed for farming purposes. In that event the southern part of the town will become the richest and most productive section, although the last settled.
THE PIONEER SETTLEMENTS
were made in the northern and eastern parts of Dayton. A list of the lands owned in 1819 contains the following names :
Lot
Lot
Abraham Hale. 2
Timothy M. Shaw
31
Peter Allen .. 23
James H. Shaw
31
Ralph Johnson .. 30
Hiram Howard. 31
William Blasdell
30
Heman Merrill 31
Jedediah Lee 32 Anson C. Merrill 30
Lot
Lot
Lyman Wood
37
Luther Hubbard
53
Nathaniel Blasdell
37
Jeremiah Pratt.
53
Frederick A. Redfield 37
Azariah Darbee. 54
Chauncy Hammond. 39
Chester Darbee.
54
Belah H. Redfield. 39 Caleb Webb 55
Samuel Hammond. 39
Joshua Webb 56
Samuel K. Strickland 40
Leman H. Pitcher. 58
Stephen Parsall
40
James P. Pitcher. 58
John Parsall
40
Arza Corbett
59
George Babcock
40
A. Starkweather
59
Thomas Newcomb 46
Ephraim Smith.
60
Sylvanus Finch. 47
Ephaphras Smith 60
`Ezra T. Winship. 47
Chester McDaniels. 47
Moses Morgan 62
Ebenezer Roberts. 48
William Reed .. 63
Aaron Nash. 48
Silas Nash 64
64
Lyman Bumpus
52
Simeon Bunce. Don S. Downer
64
Simeon Dryer
53
Some of these resided on their lands at this time, and nearly all became actual settlers in the course of ten years. A few of the first only can be noticed in detail. In the fall of 1810, Simeon Bunce and his brother-in-law, Silas Nash, left Otsego County to find a home in the western part of the State. They had heard of Chautauqua County, and determined to locate there; and when they took up their lands, on lot 64, they believed them to be in that county. Each articled 100 acres, at eighteen shillings per acre, and at once made substantial improvements, Nash building a log house the same year, the first in the town of Dayton, which his family occupied. In this humble pioneer home occurred the first birth in the town, in June, 1811,-a son, who was named Aras. Here, also, the following year, in the month of February, came the angel of death to claim his first sacrifice,-Dewitt, another son of Silas Nash ; and thus the house of rejoicing became a house of mourning. Silas Nash put up the first saw-mill in town, in 1817, and continued for many years a leader among the early settlers, holding many positions of honor and trust in Day- ton. His descendants also became active, energetic citizens, some of them attaining prominent places in the affairs of the county.
Simeon Bunce was a native of Connecticut, having been born at Hartford in 1788. To this State he returned in 1813, and brought on his father's family to the home he had made, on lot 64, in Dayton. He had three children, one of whom survives, a son who occupies the old home- stead,-and here Bunce lived until his death, in 1875.
Timothy M. Shaw came from Herkimer County in 1814, and located a piece of land on lot 31. To this place he brought his family, consisting of wife and one child, the following year. He was accompanied by Heman and Anson C. Merrill, from Onondaga County. The former settled on the same lot as Shaw, and Anson C. on lot 30. Both occupied these places until their death, leaving many descendants in the county. Shaw died in 1872. A son,
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Eldad Corlit 61
Nathan Bumpus 52
230
HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
James S., lives in Dayton, and another son, C. H., in Perrysburg.
Ralph Johnson, from Connecticut, came in the latter part of 1815, and settled on lot 30. He was a tanner and currier by trade, and followed this business in town until 1865. He was also an early innkeeper, and the first post- master of the Dayton office. He remained in the town until his death, a few years ago. Joshua and Caleb Webb, from Madison County, came the same year, 1815, and settled on lots 55 and 56, being the first in that locality. At the house of the former was held the first religious meeting the following year. Ten years later they became innkeepers at what is now called the Cottage neighborhood. The Webb farm was sold in 1833 to John H. Rice.
At South Dayton, on lot 58, Leman H. and James P. Pitcher were the first settlers, in 1816. They did not re- main in town very long, but sold their interests to M. C. Nickerson, who afterwards became a Mormon. This farm is now owned by Asa Barnum.
In the spring of 1816 Azariah Darbee settled on lot 54, where he made preparations to bring on his family the fol- lowing year from his native place, Rutland Co., Vt. The journey hither was made by ox-team. He set out on his place the first orchard in town, getting his trees from Ham- burg, Erie Co. His son, Azariah, now occupies this farm, and is the oldest settler in town, residing on the original purchase.
In March, 1817, Samuel K. Strickland came from Cen- tral New York and located on lot 40, bringing with him his wife and son, Robert O. The streams on the way were crossed on the ice, and many hardships were endured.
The same year, Thomas Newcomb settled on lot 46; William Blasdell on lot 30; and Nathaniel Blasdell on lot 37. Peter and Luther Allen, the latter a minor, came from Onondaga County in 1818, and after some removals settled on lot 23. Luther Allen returned to Onondaga County for a wife, and brought her to his home in Dayton on an ox-sled. In 1834 he put up the first frame house where the village of Dayton now is, and which is still standing. He removed to Gowanda, where he died in February, 1847. In 1820, his brother Asahel came and located on the same lot, No. 23, settling on the place now occupied by Norman M. Allen, who was born in this locality. Asahel Allen died in town, about 1858.
After this period so many settlers came that it will be impossible to enumerate them all here. The Redfield, Parsall, Smith, Hubbard, Bacon, Park, Austin, Hammond, Judd, and many other prominent families came before 1830.
The condition of the settlements can better be seen from a carefully-compiled list of actual residents and owners of improved property in 1833.
The valuation of the buildings here given may be less than their actual worth, but the relative measure of the improvements is the same in each case.
No. of Lot.
Value of Buildings.
Isaac Wait.
1
$50
David Milks.
1
45
Peter Kellogg ..
2
35
Ephraim Dutton
2
100
Jonathan Milks 45 2
No. of Lot.
Buildings.
Daniel C. Bassett.
40
Eleazer Hilllibert.
60
Norman L. Bacon.
40
P. Collins.
D. Loomer
Wyman Hulet.
7
35
Daniel Guptel
8
45
Chapel Judd
30
Ezekiel Seekins.
9
Leander Bacon
11
Constant C. Bacon.
11
Peniwil Bacon.
11
40
Avery Park
11
Abel M. Bacon
12
Deloss C. Burdick
14
Horace C. Adams
15
Artemas Coon
16
Sidney Park
19
Russell J. Burdick
20
40
John Wattenpaugh.
22
45
Asahel Allen
23
35
Luther Allen 23
23
Gershom Wells,
24
35
William Farnsworth
24
E. Dutton
29
Ralph Johnson
30
Anson C. Merrill.
30
Gile Johnson.
30
Timothy M. Shaw
31
Jonathan Palmer. 31
25
Heman Merrill.
31
Hale Matteson.
32
Jonathan Milks.
38
R. E. Knight ..
38
Garrett Parsall
40
Samuel K. Strickland.
40
John Parsall
40
Thomas Newcomb
46
William B. Smith ..
47
Ebenezer Roberts
50
John Hammond
40
Asa H. Nichols
52
Alvah Cole.
52
Stephen Sowle.
53
Simeon Dryer.
53
95
Lemuel Webster.
54
Azariah Darbee
54
James Cadwell.
54
Caleb Webb.
55
William B. Smith
55
John H. Blish
56
100
Goodale & Wheeler
56
Thomas Newcomb.
56
Isaac P. Hubbard.
56
35
M. C. Nickerson
58
130
George Passmore.
59
20
Tilly Sanford
59
40
Sylvester James.
60
50
Isaac Holbrook
61
Nathan Bumpus.
62
Silas Nash
64
190
Simeon Bunce.
64
110
Daniel Whelpley
64
80
In addition to the foregoing there were half a dozen tracts of improved land in town owned by parties living in adjoining towns. In 1835 there were 4313 acres of im- proved land in Dayton, three saw-mills, and one tannery. The population in 1860 was 1294; in 1875, 1402.
CIVIL HISTORY.
The town records are so imperfect and so few in number that the compilation of a full and satisfactory civil history is impossible. From sources outside of the records it has been ascertained that the first annual meeting was held at the school-house near Ralph Johnson's, the last Tuesday in February, 1835 ; and that Silas Nash was chosen super- visor, Ralph Johnson town clerk, and Luther Allen justice of the peace. Since this period these officers have been as follows (excepting, perhaps, some irregularity in the list of justices, arising from the obscurity of the data available) :
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40 45 250 225 45 30
110 45 90 50
35
40 50 30 50
48
51
20 80 45
35 45 45
125 120
130 35
40 90
Reuben Robertson
57 45 65 40
10 45
33446 6 4 4
40
35
40 40 40
Value of
35 35
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LUCIUS HUBBARD.
MRS. HARRIET HUBBARD
RESIDENCE OF LUCIUS HUBBARD, DAYTON, CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Supervisora. 1836. Silas Nash.
Town Clerks. Ralph Johnson.
Justices. John H. Blish. Avery Park. Luther Allen.
1837. Luther Allen.
1838. "
"
1838. Anson C. Merrill.
1840.
1841. Silas Nash. 1842.
1843.
"
1844. Luther Allen.
1845. Silas Nash.
1846. Heman Merrill. 1847. " "
"
1848. Calvin F. Yaw.
Orsman Markham.
1849.
1850.
T. W. Johnson.
James S. Shaw.
1851. Ralph Johnson.
Avery Park.
1852. John B. Reed.
N. M. Allen.
John W. Badgero.
1853.
T. W. Johnson.
1854. Franklin Philbrick.
1855. Gile Johnson.
1856. F. Philbrick.
1857. Gile Johnson. 1858. Dewitt C. Nash. 1859.
1860. Norman M. Allen.
«
1861.
1862.
1863.
G. P. Dart.
1864.
A. M. De Long.
J. B. Allen.
1866. =
M. P. Roberts.
James S. Shaw.
1867.
Silas H. Merrill.
G. P. Dart.
1868.
"
Charles Blair.
1869.
J. B. Allen.
1870.
"
W. S. Thrasher.
1871. 1872.
N. A. Chaffee.
L. O. Hall.
Charles Blair.
1873.
Fernando Smith.
J. B. Badgero.
1874.
Harrison Judd.
1875.
L. Ranlett.
1876.
B. H. Lamb.
1877.
A. M. Hall.
Charles W. Smith.
1878.
«
Charles Blair.
The act setting off Dayton from Perrysburg provided for the division of the unexpended public money. Dayton received as her share twelve and a half cents.
The finances of the town have been well managed, and Dayton is now entirely free from debt. Many thousand dollars were raised by the town to aid in suppressing the Rebellion ; and in addition to this there were liberal con- tributions by individuals to stay the government in the hour of peril.
DAYTON THOROUGHFARES.
These embrace many miles of highways, and two rail- roads. Some of the former were early located, one of the first being the road from southern points by way of South Dayton to Perrysburg, passing through the western part of the town. On this there was travel as early as 1817. What is popularly known as the " Jamestown road" has been the principal road of the town, being to the eastern part what the other road is to the western. The reference in the records to these and other roads are so vague that we cannot produce them here. The roads at the present are well ordered, and in most instances are in a fair condition.
The Erie Railroad passes through the northeastern part of the town along the divide of the streams in this section, and has a station at Dayton village. This is on the sum- mit between the Connewango and Cattaraugus Valleys, and the elevation is more than a thousand feet above the lake at Dunkirk. In July, 1875, the Buffalo and James- town (now Buffalo and Southwestern) Railroad was com- pleted through Dayton. Its course is nearly described by a line passing diagonally through the town, from the north- east to the southwest corner. At Dayton village it passes about thirty feet below the road-bed of the Erie, and forms a junction with that road, by means of a back track, from the main line of the Buffalo and Southwestern Railroad, a quarter of a mile from the Erie station. There are, also, stations at Markham's, in the central part of the town, and at Pine Valley, on the Chautauqua County line. This rail- way has proved very beneficial to the town, and shows that the ten thousand dollars appropriated by Dayton for its con- struction was money wisely expended.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
Owing to the limited water-power in town but little manufacturing was carried on as long as this was the only motor. Silas Nash was the pioneer manufacturer. In 1817 he put up a saw-mill on the stream at West Dayton, which he operated a number of years. In a rebuilt condi- tion the mill was continued until 1856, among the later owners being J. H. Rice and David Saunders. About 1853, John Knowlton got in operation a steam saw-mill at West Dayton, which has been improved and the capacity increased. It is at present the property of John Cran- dall.
On lot 30 Colonel Ralph Johnson began the business of tanning soon after his settlement in 1815. His first vat was hollowed out of a large log. Gradually his facilities were increased until he had, about 1830, a pretty fair tan- nery, which at a still later period contained twelve vats. The tannery was carried on until about 1865.
About 1830, Ralph Johnson and Anson C. Merrill put up a saw-mill in this locality, and on its site a mill is yet operated by Henry Markham. It has a capacity of three thousand feet per day. Markham also operates a shingle-mill, put up in 1862 by Henry Wolf. Five men are employed in the manufacture of fifteen thousand shin- gles per day. Gorham Dart was an early shingle manu- facturer, building in all three mills in the " swamp," and manufactured a large portion of the timber there growing. Some of these mills were removed to other parts of the town, and afterwards operated by Moses Dart and C. L. Watkins. The same may be said of saw-mills. After being operated a period in one locality they were removed, when the timber supply was exhausted, to a more favorable place. In 1873, Watkins & Tarbell removed their mill from the East Leon neighborhood to Dayton, and in 1877 the mill operated at the Jamestown crossing was removed by Henry Wolf to lot 22, below Dayton village. Here it was continued until June 12, 1878, when it was demolished by the explosion of the boiler. The disaster was aocom- panied by the loss of four lives, killing almost instantly Henry Wolfe and his son William, Joseph Harbine, and
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JohnMcMillan.
John H. Blish. Lemuel Wetter. Avery Park. Luther Allen. Lemuel Webster.
8
Richard Johnson.
Avery Park. Luther Allen. John B. Reed. Eleazer J. Hilbert. Avery Park. Franklin Philbrick. Asahel Allen.
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Asahel Allen. James S. Shaw. Avery Park. Norman M. Allen. J. B. Allen. James S. Shaw. I. H. Alden. H. W. Locke. J. B. Allen. James S. Shaw. I. H. Alden. H. W. Locke.
1865.
"
232
HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the engineer, a Norwegian named Fronds. Two others, employed in the mill, had a narrow escape.
William Wolfe had a combined saw- and shingle-mill below Markham's, and in the same locality Jacob Dursey has at present a shingle-mill in operation.
At Dayton village are C. L. Watkins' planing-mill, sash- and door-factory, established in 1874. The motor is from a fifteen horse-power steam engine, which also operates a small foed-mill, and, in season, a cider-mill. These indus- tries occupy a large shop a short distance from the railroad depot. Here is, also, Fernando Smith's stave- and heading- factory. Work was begun in 1876, and employment is given to fifteen men in the manufacture of from two hun- dred thousand to three hundred thousand staves per year, most of which have been worked into barrels on the ground. The product last year was fifteen thousand apple- and six thousand flour-barrels. The power is furnished by a good forty horse-power engine.
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