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 65
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The object of the association is to provide a suitable hall for lodge and other purposes at Pine Valley. In the fall of 1878 a building 22 by 50 feet, two stories high, was erected at a cost of about one thousand dollars. To this place the meetings of Valley Lodge will be transferred at an early day.
There have been temperance societies and other secret orders in town, but the meetings have been discontinued, and their history, in consequence, cannot be here given.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HON. NORMAN M. ALLEN.
The subject of this sketch is in a large and emphatic sense a " self-made" man, and he is recognized as a promi- nent and distinguished citizen of this county, and is worthy of such recognition.
Norman M. Allen was born in the town of Dayton, this county, Dec. 24, 1828. His father, Luther, and his mother, Huldah ( Benedict) Allen, were natives of Onondaga Co., N. Y., being born in the town of Fabius, from which place they emigrated in an early day to Cattaraugus County, and settled in the town of Dayton.
He was left an orphan at an early age, his mother dying when he was but ten years of age, and his father when he was seventeen. He was thus thrown upon his own resources at this early age, and was without adventitious aid; but by the force of his own talents, aided by an indomitable energy, he has made for himself a successful career, and has become distinguished in the affairs of this county, district, and State.
To his native talent, self-culture, and untiring energy his success may be largely ascribed. His educational advan- tages were extremely limited, the merest rudiments of an English education being acquired by a few years' attendance in the common schools of his native town, prior to the death of his father, after which event he was compelled to commence the " battle of life" in earnest. His school days were ended at this early age, but not his hours of study. All the leisure moments he could find were, for many years, devoted to study, and he is still a hard student.
For several years after his father's decease he taught in common schools in his vicinity .in the winter, and worked at farming in the summer. He continued this course until his health became impaired so much that for three years he was unable to perform active out-door labor. This period of his life was given to hard study, and his success was more remarkable from the fact that he had the aid of no teacher in his pursuit of knowledge; his thirst for knowl- edge was his only inspiration. Although he cannot claim a scholastic training, yet, by his own unaided efforts, he has achieved an intellectual culture of which many college grad- uates might be proud.
At the age of nineteen, in 1848, he married Huldah Merrill, daughter of Heman and Amelia (Hawkins) Mer- rill. She is a native of Dayton, her parents having removed hither from Onondaga Co., N. Y., and being among the pioneer settlers of the place.
He was admitted to the practice of the law in 1864, at Albany, N. Y. During ten years prior to his admission to practice, he had been a diligent student of all the law-books he could purchase with his scanty means, or that he could obtain in his vicinity. And from the fact that he pursued his legal studies in this manner, in no office, and without an instructor, his success seems the more remarkable.
From the outset of his legal studies he began to obtain employment in legal affairs, and became, almost at once, the legal adviser of his friends and townsmen, did much of their law-business, drew writings, and tried causes for them in justice's court. His legal knowledge, business, and reputa- tion continued to increase, until 1864, while serving his first term in the State Senate, he made the acquaintance of the Hon. Amasa J. Parker, on whose motion he was ad- mitted to practice as a lawyer in all the courts of this State.
From the time of obtaining his majority until 1855, he was in politics a Democrat ; but since that date he has been a Republican. He has held varied and important political offices in his town, county, senatorial district, and State, the duties of which have been discharged with rare fidelity and integrity. For nineteen successive years he has been elected supervisor of his town (Dayton), during fifteen of which he has been the chairman of the Board of Supervisors of this county.
In 1855 he was elected county superintendent of the poor upon the first Republican ticket nominated in the county, and held that office until 1857, when he resigned to accept the office of school commissioner, which office he held during the years 1858-60. His services in behalf of the common schools of this county, and his assistance and aid extended to teachers, are held to-day by many in kindly remembrance.
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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
In 1861 he was appointed to the position of United States mail-route agent, and held and discharged the duties of this position until February, 1863, when he resigned to accept the office of paymaster in the army, to which he had been appointed by President Lincoln, which station he only filled for a short time, resigning it to accept the office of assistant provost-marshal of the 31st Congressional Dis- trict, which position he held up to the time of his first election to the Senate, in the fall of 1863. In the election of that year he was the candidate of the Republican party, and was elected to the Senate over John C. Devereux, Democrat, by 6114 majority, being the largest majority re- ceived by any candidate of the Republican party in the dis- trict. Mr. Allen was again elected to the Senate in 1871, over Frank L. Stowell, Democrat, by 4276 majority. In the Senate of 1864 and 1865 he served upon the committee on literature and other important committees, and in the Senate of 1872 and 1873 upon the judiciary and other committees, and by virtue of his office as Senator was a member of the court of impeachment that tried and re- moved Judge Barnard from office. In 1867 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, receiving all the votes in his own town, save one, of all parties. That convention was composed of one hundred and sixty dele- gates, many of whom were then or have since become dis- tinguished in the nation, embracing such names as Wm. M. Evarts, William A. Wheeler, Francis Kernan, Samuel J. Tilden, Amasa J. Parker, Horace Greeley, George Wm. Curtis, etc.
In the year 1866, Mr. Allen was appointed State assessor, and held that position for four years. The duties of this office required him to visit all parts of the State in com- pany with his two associates, and it is but justice to all of the members then constituting the board, to say that their equalization reports were accepted with less criticism and objection than the reports of that body have usually been received.
In 1868, and again in 1876, he was one of the candidates for elector upon the Republican electoral ticket.
During the years of the late war of the Rebellion he did good loyal service in helping in the formation of regiments and in sustaining the cause of the country ; and when the
remains of the murdered President Lincoln were brought to Albany, on their way to the great West, Mr. Allen was one of the pall-bearers appointed by the Senate who attended the remains of the dead President during their stay at the capital of the State.
Mr. Allen is esteemed by his neighbors and acquaint- ances as few men are, and in a way of which any man may well be proud. Some of the reasons for it seem to be found in the fact that he is courteous and obliging to all, kind and generous towards poor men, never oppressive, and charitable to all deserving charities.
The family of Mr. Allen embraces four children : Mary A. F., now the wife of W. S. Thrasher, who is associated with him in legal copartnership; Kate C. E., the wife of W. W. Brand, of Dayton ; Carlton W. Allen and Hoyt M. Allen, both being at home.
We cannot better sum up the salient points of Mr. Allen's character than by quoting the words of one of his political opponents, Col. J. T. Henry, as given in his re- cently-published " Recollections" in the Olean Record :
" Mr. Allen is among the few representative men of this Senatorial district who have escaped sharp criticism and calumny in office. No suspicion of wrong has ever been breathed upon his record. He was ever conscientious, high-toned, faithful, and honest in all his public life and acts, and without a cloud or color as a private citizen. He was a member of the last Constitutional Convention,- Hon. George Van Campen, of Olean, being his colleague, -where he attained distinction for his wise counsel and solid worth.
. . . He has administrative ability of a high order, and discharges all his public duties with faithfulness and rare intelligence. A man who has seen so much of public life, and escaped political slander and vituperation, is an exception to the almost universal rule. Mr. Allen has accomplished this in ample measure. He has not only been unassailed, but has so conducted himself in public as to be entirely unassailable. He is yet in middle life, in the enjoyment of excellent health, a large practice, and enough of this world's wealth to keep " the wolf from the door," and insure his declining years from care or anxiety on this account."
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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Photos. by Edgerton & Chase, Gowanda, N. Y.
RALPH JOHNSON.
MARIAH JOHNSON.
GILE JOIINSON,*
the fourth son of John and. Althea Watkins Johnson, was born in Stafford, Conn., in the year 1804, and soon after removed with his parents to Herkimer Co., N. Y. When seven years of age, he, with his five brothers and a sister, became orphaned by the death of his father. His mother, unable to provide for so large a family with her limited means, found a home for him in the family of a Mr. Gris- wold, a farmer of that county, with whom he lived until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1826 he came to Catta- raugus Co., N. Y., and bought a farm, adjoining his brother Ralph's, in the town of Dayton, which, like the entire sur- rounding country, was a dense forest, and which, by his energy and industry, was soon cleared up, and with an occa- sional addition of fifty or a hundred acres, occupied by him till his death, which took place Dec. 7, 1872. Two years after purchasing his farm he married Philena Salisbury, daughter of Calvin Salisbury, of Herkimer Co., N. Y., who 'died in 1839, leaving three little boys. He soon after mar- ried Milley, daughter of Calvin and Hannah Rich, of New Albion, who died in 1858, deeply lamented by her numerous friends and acquaintances, and especially by her family, con- sisting of two sons and four daughters, besides the sons of her adoption, all whom are now living, excepting his eldest son, who died from disease contracted in the army. He afterwards married Rosalinda Hubbard, of Dayton, who lived but a few months ; and in 1860 he married his pres- ent surviving wife, Mrs. Sarah Ann Bailey, daughter of Nathaniel Hurd, of Perrysburg, whose portrait is given else-
where, who now lives on the old homestead, honored and respected by her husband's entire family. Her residence is seen in the engraving near where the subject of this sketch lived and died. Her son, by a former marriage, also makes his home there when off from duty, being a naval officer.
In early life he became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Dayton, of which he remained a faith- ful member through life, and had the satisfaction of seeing nearly all his family honored members of the same. Be- sides being a constant officer in the church, he also was twice elected to the office of supervisor, and often held other responsible offices in his town.
Like most men whose accumulations depend upon their own industry, he was prudent and economical ; yet he would not on any account take advantage of the necessity of others. At an early day, during a period of scarcity of wheat, many of his neighbors were suffering for want of it ; and when it could be sold for several dollars per bushel, he would sell his wheat for one dollar per bushel, and would sell but a few bushels to each individual ; and also during periods of scarcity of hay, when his neighbors' cattle were starving for want of it, and when it could be sold for a fabulous price, he would sell his hay for ten dollars per ton, and divide it among his neighbors, according to their neces- sity. He was conscientiously honest in all his dealings. In regard to his farm-work, his motto was " Drive your work, and not let your work drive you." In all business trans- actions he was punctual and prompt to meet all contracts and engagements. He took a deep and lively interest in the welfare of his family, and was a kind and affectionate husband; and his example in life was in perfect harmony with his Christian profession.
* See portraits of Gile and Sarah A. Johnson, with the view of their residence, on opposite page.
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PHOTO BY A. A. TOWNSEND.
PHOTO BY 'A. A. TOWNSEND ..
GILE JOHNSON
MRS. SARAH ANN JOHNSON
HOMESTEAD OF GILE JOHNSON, DAYTON, CATTARAUGUS CO., N. Y.
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MATILDA RICH .
PHOTO BY SEYMOUR & MOLLY, CHERRY CREEK.N.Y
RESIDENCE or JAMES M. RICH, DAYTON , CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, N. Y.
JAMES M. RICH.
PHOTO BY SEYMOUR & HOLLY CHERRY CREEK,N. Y.
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JOHN R. TOWN SEND
MRS. S.A.TOWNSEND
RESIDENCE OF JOHN R.TOWNSEND, PERRYSBURG, CATTARAUGUS CO., N. Y.
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PERRYSBURG.
THIS is the extreme northwest town of the county, and was originally erected as Perry, April 13, 1814, by an Act which provided " That all that part of Cattaraugus County situated west of the east boundary line of the seventh range of townships, in the said Holland Company's land, shall, from and after the day preceding the first Tuesday in April next, be erected into a separate town by the name of Perry,* and that the first town-meeting in said town shall be holden at the house lately occupied by Mr. Nichols, deceased, on the second Tuesday of April next." These magnificent bounds were contracted by an Act of the Legislature, April 10, 1818, which provided that all that part of the town lying south of the fifth tier of townships should be set off as a separate town to be named Little Valley. This act also changed the name of the old town to Perrysburg. Another division was made Jan. 29, 1863, when the terri- tory east of the south branch of the Cattaraugus Creek was taken off to form Otto; and a third reduction Feb. 7, 1835, when Persia and Dayton were taken off. It now comprises so much of township 6, in the ninth range, as lies south and west of Cattaraugus Creek,-18,328 acres. A small portion of this is included in the Cattaraugus Reservation of Seneca Indians, which extends into the town on the north and the east.
The surface of the town is elevated nearly 1000 feet above the lake at Dunkirk, is somewhat hilly in the south, but becomes level and plain-like in the north. But little of it is so much broken that it may not be cultivated. The town was originally covered with a fine growth of timber, chiefly deciduous woods, although there were fine forests of pines and hemlocks in the northern part, and when cleared up afforded very productive land of easy cultivation. The soil varies from a rather stiff clay to a gravelly loam, and is especially favorable for growing grass and corn. The natu- ral drainage in the south and the east is excellent, here being the head-waters of many small streams, flowing north- ward into Cattaraugus Creek and forming in their course Big and Little Indian Creeks, and Mill Brook. These streams afford limited water-power, and some of them have beds of rock from which good building-material may be pro- cured. This rock is also found in ledges in other parts of the town.
EARLY LAND-OWNERS AND PIONEER SETTLERS.
The records of the old town of Perry indicate that the following were land-owners in 1818, four or five of whom had " articled" as early as 1815 :
Lot
Lo
Benjamin Waterman.
3
Jonathan G. Rugg
38
Amos Partridge
5
Ralph Griswold.
8
Elijah Waterman.
2
Ephraim Keyes.
18
Heman Waterman
5 William Cooper.
28
Samuel Averill
5 Daniel Johnson. 27
Henry Brand.
6
Royal Aldrich
36
Stephen Whitcomb
5
Joseph Putney
44
Ralph Griswold
8
John Sprague.
43
Simeon Waterman
8
Miller Hardin. 44
Alpheus Colton
10
Elder Moore
20
Harrison Elwell
10
Samuel Barr 19
John Clark
27
Truman Edwards 28
Lyman Ranney
20
Isaac Edwards
26
John C. Moore
19
James Wallbridge
40
Elisha Ward.
12
1 Preserved Wilber.
46
Joel Gleason ..
11
Mordecai Cox
47
Benjamin Parkman.
27
Eli Perkins.
45
Artemas Coon
36
Hosea Hogeboom
45
John Farnsworth
18
John G. McGee
43
Daniel Brand
26
Stephen Crocker.
11
Phineas Spencer.
20
Hiram Borden.
11
Hugh Campbell
9
John Prosser
34
Harvey Elwell.
22
Joseph Keyes.
18
Elisha Roberts.
22
W. S. Brigham
18
Abraham Rugg
38
Most of the above lived in the town at that period or became settlers within a few years.
John Clark, who came to the town in 1815, was prob- ably the first man to bring in his family. For a number of months, Mrs. Clark was the only white woman in town, and did the baking for the neighboring settlers. Clark kept a tavern on lot 28, in a log house, about 1816, and after a few years removed to the West.
Phineas Spencer, on lot 20, also came in 1815. He was a large-hearted, generous, and enterprising man. He re- moved to Gowanda, then called Lodi, where he kept the first store, and became a prominent public man. He died Sept. 31, 1839.
Hugh Campbell came from Albany County in the fall of 1817. He had at that time four children. The oldest son, Chancellor, then a lad of seven years, yet resides in town, and is now one of the oldest settlers. Another son, Colin, lives in the eastern part of Perrysburg. Hugh Campbell lived on lot 9, was in early times one of the fore- most men in town, and died at his adopted home about 1870.
William Cooper came from Saratoga County to prospect for land in 1816, making a selection on lot 28. He visited the town again in 1818, but did not bring in his family, consisting of a newly-married wife, until the following spring, just before the ice broke up on Cattaraugus Creek, which they crossed at Gowanda. He was accompanied by his brother-in-law, Truman Edwards, and Daniel Johnson, and the journey was made by ox-teams and sleds, and was attended with considerable adventure and real hardships, which did not daunt the young pioneers. William Cooper became one of the representative men of the county. He died in Perrysburg in December, 1874. He had
* In honor of Oliver HI. Perry, the hero of Lake Erie.
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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
three sons,-William, who became the sheriff of the county, Waldron, and George. One of his daughters became the wife of Devillo Smith. Benjamin Cooper, a brother of the above, visited the town frequently in early times, but did not come in as a pioneer. For the past forty years he has been identified with the town, and is now one of its oldest citizens.
Truman Edwards also located on lot 28, and at once ap- plied himself to the arduous work of making a home in the then wilderness. He became a useful, respected citizen. holding many offices of trust. Two sons grew to manhood, James and E. M. The latter resides on lot 27, and has in his possession a noteworthy relic of pioneer times. It is a cow-bell more than two hundred years old, and was brought from England to the wilds of Connecticut by the Edwards family when that country was first settled. It has been transmitted from generation to generation, and has told the whereabouts of the cattle in the wilds of half a dozen differ- ent places where the oldest of the Edwards' went as pio- neers, and was given in Saratoga by Isaac Edwards to his son, Truman. Such long service had so much worn the edge that it has been cut off several times, but it is yet a respectable memento of the olden times.
Daniel Johnson settled on the farm now owned by E. M. Edwards. Several of his sons live in this and the ad- joining towns. Benjamin Parkman accompanied Daniel Johnson and William Cooper from Saratoga in 1818, and still lives in town, an old and respected citizen ; and George Flower and Samuel K. Strickland, pioneers of the same period, removed to Dayton, after residing in Perrys- burg a number of years.
Simeon Waterman and his brothers came about 1816, and for many years were leading men of the town. At the house of the former, on lot 8, were held the carly town- meetings. This place is now owned by Devillo Smith. Benjamin Waterman lived on the Dailey place, on the flats near Gowanda, where he kept the first tavern in town. John Sprague, an early settler on lot 43, moved to Illinois ; and Ralph Griswold, who came at the same period, 1816, settled on lot 8.
Stephen Crocker, the son of a Quaker, came the same year, and opened a farm on lot 11. He was very pro- gressive, and was one of the first to introduce and use good farming implements. He removed to the West, where he became quite a prominent citizen.
Alanson Dewey, at that time but eleven years old, came with his step-father, Ephraim Walker, from Attica, in 1817. After attaining mature years he settled on lot 4, where he still resides.
Abel Jolls was a settler on lot 4, about 1817. Here he reared two sons, who still live in that locality ; and Edwin Farnsworth, on lot No. 1, opened a farm, which is yet in possession of the family.
Abram and Jonathan G. Rugg came from Genesee County carly in the spring of 1818. The latter selected the north part of lot 38, and began building a shanty there in March of that year, sleeping under a covering made by brush meanwhile. He became a widely-known citizen, and resided on the place until his death, May, 1877. The sons were Corrydon C., Addison, and Jonathan G., several of
whom became physicians of note. Abram Rugg was an uncle of Jonathan G., also living on lot 38 until his death, many years ago.
John Dawley, from Jefferson County, visited the town in 1819, making a selection on lot 46. Next year he brought his family, settling in Chautauqua County near his land, which he commenced to improve, being assisted by his sons, Peleg and John R. The latter still resides on lot 47, one of the oldest citizens of the northwestern part of the town.
Daniel Prosser came from Otsego County in March 1818, as a teamster for a Mr. Wells, who settled in Chau- tauqua County. In. May of that year he contracted for 100 acres of land on lot 34, on which he commenced chop- ping in December. The following spring he and his father, John Prosser, took up their abode on this land, and lived together until 1820, when the latter moved to Chautauqua County. Daniel then kept bachelor's hall, but soon con- cluded that it was too lonesome a way of life. By much saving, and selling a quantity of "black salts," he was en- abled to become the owner of a fine white shirt, which was to be worn on his wedding occasion. But a misfortune suddenly ended his plans for happiness. The garment was hung up to dry with other articles of washing, and while at dinner, a cow, as if possessed by the spirit of evil, came along and chewed it to pieces. The marriage had to be postponed, but finally, after a season of work, and going in debt $3.50, the object was consummated. The shoes Mr. Prosser wore on this occasion were made by himself, from leather tanned in the hollow of a log by Johnson. Dan- iel Prosser has since resided on lot 34, rearing a family there, and although he is eighty-two years old, and endured all the hardships of a pioneer, is yet a hale and vigorous man. Daniel Brand was one of Mr. Prosser's early neighbors ; Joseph Putney was an early settler on lot 44 ; John Haven, east from Daniel Prosser, and Charles Black- ney in the central part of the town. The latter yet resides at the village of Dayton.
Thomas Townsend, from Yates County, came before 1825, and purchased the John Clark place, where his son, John R. Townsend, now resides. Elijah Wells, from Oneida County, settled in the town in 1821, and reared sons named John, Dexter, Elijah, Luther, and Thomas, the latter now residing on lot 7. And John Parker opened a farm on lot 41, about the same time.
A brother of the latter, David D. Parker, came from Vermont in 1822, and took up a tract of land on lot 49. In after-years he removed to Versailles, where he died in December, 1875. A son, Myron M., was born May 24, 1824, and is one of the oldest native-born citizens of the town. Other sons, living in town, are D. N. and E. L. Parker.
North of the village of Perrysburg, Noah Cook and John Eaton were early settlers, and yet live in that part of the town. At a later period, J. L. Wright and N. Slawson became prominent citizens of Perrysburg.
Many settlers came to the town after 1825, and substan- tial improvements were made on every hand. In 1833, the owners of improved lands having buildings, whose value is here given, were as follows :
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