History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 67

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 67

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PHOTO BY EDGERTON B CHASE

PHOTO. BY EDGERTON &CHASE

JOHN TICKNOR.

D.W. SPRAGUE.

MILLS AND RESIDENCE OF SPRAGUE & TICKNOR, MANUFACTURERS OF

FLOUR AND FEED, SAWED AND . DRESSED LUMBER, STAVES, HEADING, SAWED SHINGLES & ALL KINDS OF BARRELLS & COOPERAGE. GRAIN CRADLE FINGERS, OAK STAVE BASKETS &9

ZT3NEAS SVATEB3381 JUS IAW 23NOE NOCH , NITITY SMART TEROR 23ICH PERRYSBURG. CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, N. Y. TY90 293517 110AH0. 23JGARO MRDO CKA WIRD 30AM BOAH 30 PERDIDAICHAM

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SILAS SLAWSON.

MRS. SILAS SLAWSON.

SILAS SLAWSON

was born in Penn Yan, N. Y., in 1814, and with his father moved to Hanover, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1822, where he resided until 1855, when he removed to Perrysburg, in this county, where his home has continued to be. In 1856, under the act authorizing the election of a school commissioner for each Assembly district in this State, Mr. Slawson was selected for the second district of Cattaraugus County. He had pre- viously been a successful teacher ; and entered upon the work of this responsible office with enthusiasm, and continued per- forming its duties with untiring energy during the term of nearly three years. As soon as his round of examination of, and granting certificates to, teachers was completed, he com- menced visiting the schools, aiding in creating new districts or consolidating old ones, and harmonizing differences as they occurred. He was emphatically a worker ; continually on the move from school to school in the eighteen towns comprising the Assembly district ; imparting his energy to teachers, urging them to greater effort in their honorable profession, and inspiring pupils with the importance and necessity of education. It is not too much to say that no commissioner has since excelled him; and, also, we state the fact that he held the Teachers' Institutes, with his associate commissioners of the first district, during his term. He has filled several positions of public trust in his towns with intelligence and strict integrity.

Mr. Slawson and his wife are now enjoying the fruits of an industrious life,-a pleasant home in the village of Perrysburg, with a competency honestly acquired,-respected by their neighbors and numerous acquaintances.

Newton Slawson was a teacher several years, justice of the peace twelve years, is a thriving farmer in Perrysburg, and with his wife, who is an intelligent lady, are living in a pleasant home, with good surroundings, and both are highly respected. He twice offered his services to the Government as a soldier in the war for the Union, but was rejected on ac- count of physical disability. Intent upon sharing in the responsibilities of the war, he furnished a "representative recruit," who served in his stead during its continuance. He enjoys the confidence of his townsmen.

Samuel E. Slawson was a merchant in Perrysburg for several years, and is now in the same business at Bradford, Pa. He owns a good farm in Hanover, and is in flourishing circum- stances. His wife is a lady of cultivation, a successful teacher of music. They are happily situated and are highly respected.

Mr. Slawson's grandmother was a twin sister of Col. E. A. Nash's great-grandfather, Silas Nash, and they were born in Hartford, Conn., in 1765. Mr. Slawson was reared under the roof of his venerated grandmother, and he attributes his habits of study, thrift, and industry to her watchful care, kindness, moral teachings, and energy.

Ebenezer Slawson was born in Schenectady Co., N. Y., Aug. 17, 1795; Betsy Carr, his wife, was born in Maryland, in 1798. They were married at Penn Yan, N. Y., June 12, 1818. He died Aug. 18, 1877; she died March 9, 1858. They had nine children-

1. Silas Nash Slawson, born in Penn Yan, July 7, 1814. He married Temperance Lurancy Hopper, daughter of Na- thaniel and Lucretia (Taylor) Hopper, in Hanover, N. Y., March 10, 1886. Three children-

I. Newton, born in Hanover, N. Y., Feb. 22, 1840; he married Rose C. Brown, April 30, 1863; two children; Min- nie, born Jan. 12, 1865; Willie, born May 28, 1878.

II. Temperance Ann, born in Hanover, Dec. 15, 1845; she died Feb. 18, 1846.

III. Samuel Emery, born in Hanover, May 12, 1850; he married Inez Parsell, Sept. 17, 1873.

2. Samuel, born July 17, 1816; married Milla Stone, in April, 1886; he died Oct. 5, 1872; two children.

8. Melissa, born Sept. 21, 1818; married Roderick W. Rider, Oct., 1835; six children.

4. Eliza, born Oct. 20, 1820; married John S. Bettis; she died April, 1849; two children.

5. Daniel Carr, born Aug. 18, 1823; married Mary P. Scofield ; he died August 5, 1848; one son.

6. Caroline, born Feb. 8, 1825; married George W. Mer- ritt ; three children.

7. John, born Aug. 24, 1831; married Mary Dennison ; eight children.

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BY EDGERTON & CHASE

NEWTON SLAWSON.

RESIDENCE OF SILAS NASH SLAWSON, PERRYSBURG,N.Y.

PHOTO BY EDGERTON & CHAS

MRS.NEWTON SLAWSON

RESIDENCE OF NEWTON SLAWSON, PERRYSBURG, CATTARAUGUS CO., N. Y.

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245

HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The greatest number of months taught in any district was 10; the least, 5; the number of children taught was 433; and the cost of the schools was $573.26.

In 1878 the commissioner reported the following :

Money

District.

Children. Paid by the State.

No. 1

$73.92

257.24

89.75

145

296.81

104.35

99.52

81.19

101.50

88.57

433

$1192.85

THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The zealous Methodist preachers proclaimed the word to the pioneer settlers as early as 1820, and an effort was made that year to form a society to secure the benefits aris- ing from the offer of a lot of land from the Holland Com- pany. But the members of that faith were too few in numbers and lived too remotely to carry the purpose into effect.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH

was the first organized, at a meeting held for this purpose, near the present village of Versailles, Nov. 19, 1821. Ru- fus Watson, Phineas Spencer, Benjamin Waterman, John Clark, and Daniel Allen were selected as trustees, and a title secured for the 40 acres of land offered by the Holland Company to the first religious society in town, which were located on lot 25. Upon this a parsonage was erected years after, which has since been occupied by the clergy of the church.

In addition to the persons already named as trustees, the Baptist Society had, as early members, Elisha Ward, Hugh Campbell, Harry Pelton, Isaac Balcomb, Jacob Balcomb, Sereno Edwards, Elijah Stillwell,, Ahiram Gaylord, John Johnson, Ralph Griswold, Almerin Sprague, Samuel Loomer, Elam Lee, Benjamin Hill, James Waters, Alvah Wood, James Norton ; and later, Wm. Hull, Hosea Hogeboom, and Daniel Wood belonged to the society.

The church was formally constituted March 19, 1822, but it does not appear that it was supplied with a regular pastor until 1838, when the Rev. Sheldon N. Smith served it in this capacity. After a few years Elder D. Platt be- came the officiating minister, and in 1842 the Rev. Salmon Horton was reported as the preacher. Subsequently the pastoral office has been filled by the Revs. M. T. Wads- worth, T. T. Horton, Nathan Wood, J. C. Allison, and J. A. Pickard.

The church has fifteen members, whose meetings are held in the Methodist meeting-house at Versailles.

The trustees of the society in 1878 were Henry Hoge- boom, Jonathan Hogeboom, and Oliver Staunton.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF VERSAILLES was legally organized Jan. 26, 1842, and Lester Wood, Philander Porter, and Martin Lindsley elected trustees. The same year a small frame meeting-house was erected in the village, in connection with the Baptists, in which wor- ship was held until the fall of 1878, when a new edifice was occupied for this purpose. It is an attractive frame building 38 by 56 feet, costing $3000, and has a seating

capacity for 300 persons. The present trustees are William Herrington, Ira Hawley, and Clinton Van Vlack.

The church at Versailles has always been connected with other Methodist charges in the town, and has had the same ministerial connection as the Perrysburg church. It had a membership of 45 in 1878, and supported a Sabbath-school, numbering 68 scholars, superintended by Heman Merrill.

THE WEST PERRYSBURG METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, in the Rugg neighborhood, is one of the oldest societies of this faith in town, and was organized about 1822 as a Methodist class, numbering eight or ten members. Services were thereafter held in the houses of the members and in the school-house in this locality, but no church building was erected until 1852.

Dec. 19, 1851, the members incorporated themselves as the " Rugg Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church," and elected Stephen R. Hall, John R. Dawley, and Carlos A. Rugg trustees. The following season a frame meeting- house was built on the northwest corner of lot 38, which was remodeled and much improved in the spring of 1878, and is now worth $1500. It will comfortably seat 300 per- sons, and was rededicated to the worship of the Divine Being the latter part of June, by the Rev. Mr. Merchant, of Fredonia. The church is connected with Versailles and Perrysburg in forming a circuit, and has had the same pastoral care as those bodies. There are at present about 25 members. A Sunday-school having 40 members, and O. Putney as Superintendent, is also connected with the church.

The trustees of the society in 1878 were O. Putney, J. Hall, F. E. Ranney, F. Strickland, A. Rugg, Warren Hall, and Monseur Pond.

THE PERRYSBURG METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was incorporated Nov. 9, 1853, with a board of trustees composed of Truman Edwards, William Cooper, Henry C. Hurd, Abial Titus, Luther G. Chadwick, James Cooper, Jr., and Chancellor Campbell. About that time a house of worship was erected for the society by N. Cook, at a cost of $1200, which was consecrated by the presiding elder, Rev. W. F. Wilson, Feb. 8, 1854. In 1865 it was re- paired and very much beautified, and will now accommo- date 300 persons. There is also a comfortable parsonage close by, and the estimated value of the entire property is $3500. It is in charge of the following trustees and their successors : W. L. Haven, Benjamin Cooper, Orrin Knowl- ton, J. B. Marvin, A. R. Graves, D. O. Ball, A. M. De Long, and L. G. Chadwick.

The church has no clear record of its early history ; the oldest accessible account being the minutes of a Quarterly Conference, held in the village in 1849. Five classes were reported, under the leadership of Charles Blackney, Benja- min Parkman, Isaac Dawley, George Kirkland, and John Waters. The Rev. W. H. Hunter was at that time the presiding elder, and Rev. I. H. Tackett the pastor. One Sunday-school was reported.

About this time the Perrysburg circuit was formed, which greatly promoted the growth of the different classes, and induced the building of churches, as has been noted above. The Rev. J. Schofield was the pastor in charge in

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

1851, and was followed in 1852 by Rev. R. L. Blackmer, during whose pastorate the buildings were completed. Since that period the preachers in charge of the circuit have been the Revs. S. A. Warner, Edwin Hull, James H. Allen, W. W. Warner, J. K. Shearer, A. A. Horton, J. W. Davis, J. Marsh, J. Shields, N. W. Jones, and E. Brown.

The church at Perrysburg had, in 1878, 50 members, and maintained a Sunday-school which reported a member- ship of 65 scholars. R. E. Waller was the Superintendent. It may not be uninteresting and inappropriate to give, in this connection, the names of the carly ministers, and those who preached in this locality before the circuit was formed, commencing with 1819: Revs. Robert C. Hatton, Benja- min P. Hill; 1820, John Summerville; 1821, Nathaniel Reeder, Ira Brunson; 1822, Richard Wright, Sylvester Cary ; 1823, Parker Buel, Richard Wright ; 1824, Josiah Keyes; 1825, Henry Knapp, John Scott; 1826, Job Wil- son, John P. Kent; 1827, Joseph S. Barris, Zachariah Ragan ; 1828, Joseph S. Barris, Samuel Ayers ; 1829, James Gilmore, Alured Plimpton ; 1830, David Preston, Samuel E. Babcock; 1831, David Preston, John Robin- son, Nelson Henry ; 1832, John K. Hallock, Daniel M. Stearns; 1833, John K. Hallock, Ignatius H. Tackett ; 1834, Hiram Luce, L. Gregg; 1835, Lorenzo Rogers, I. H. Tackett, Darius Smith ; 1836, J. Demming, Darius Smith ; 1837, T. Goodwin, M. Hill; 1838, Samuel Gregg, H. J. Moore; 1839, T. Stowe, E. J. L. Baker; 1840, J. O. Rich, T. Stone; 1841, D. Smith, D. Pritchard ; 1842, W. B. Lloyd; 1843-44, Nirom Norton ; 1845, W. S. Worrells, T. H. Cummings ; 1846, J. Uncles, S. Churchill ; 1847, A. Burgess, I. Blackford ; 1848, J. E. Chapin, J. N. Henry.

The bounds of conferences, districts, and circuits, were so frequently changed that the above list may not embrace the names of all who preached Methodism in the north- western part of the country. Additional names will be given in the histories of the Leon and Randolph churches of those who sometimes preached in Perrysburg.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL SOCITY OF VERSAILLES was incorporated at a meeting held at the school-house, Feb. 3, 1846. Trustees were chosen composed of Samuel , Holmes, James Nichols, and Alexander H. Barker. If we have been correctly informed, nothing further was done than to perfect this preliminary organization. Although occasional Congregational meetings were held the following years, the membership was too feeble to carry on a regular church work, and some of the members again connected themselves with the church at Gowanda, from which they had withdrawn.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WM. COOPER *

was born in the town of Stillwater, Saratoga Co., Dec. 8, 1793, where he lived until 1816, when, single-handed and alone, he came to this town, where he located and com-

# Deceased.

menced clearing a farm in the then unbroken wilderness. He erected, with his own hands, a log shanty, in which he lived alone for over a year without any associates but the wild beasts of the forest and a cow, which he fed on browse, from which he derived his only subsistence during that time, save the little Indian meal which he brought a great distance on his back.

In 1817 he returned to his native town, married a daugh- ter of Jeremiah Eddy, of Stillwater, and again returned in 1817, accompanied by his wife, Truman Edwards, Benja- min Parkman, and Daniel Johnson, and their wives, with ox-teams, driving their cows with them. Perrysburg at that time comprised the towns of Perrysburg, Persia, Day- ton, Otto, and East Otto, at the first town-meeting in which town but seven votes were cast.

Mr. Cooper, while actively engaged in clearing his farm, which has ever been kept in his family,-was not unmind- ful of the public good. He watched, with unceasing care, the construction of all the public highways for miles around him, being careful to have the same regularly located on the lot-lines, and wrought with untiring energy till they were all susceptible of travel. He was the founder of the first district school in this town, and has ever labored to main- tain a liberal system of education. Nor did his ambition rest here, but freely contributed of his influence and means to the organization of a Christian society and the erection of a place for public worship.

Generosity, energy, perseverance, industry, economy, cheerfulness. and harmony were his chief characteristics. With his mind ever active,-extending charity unto all,- he became eminently distinguished among his neighbors, who relied implicitly on his honor and judgment, and thus became, meritoriously, the recipient of many official trusts.

He amassed a large fortune, from which he gave without stint to his children, for whom he held the strongest regard. As age advanced, his mind, with his body, became weak and incapable of longer contending with life's storms, and he waited, with perfect composure, the time of his dissolu- tion,-often expressing a desire to try the realities of the life which is to come. He failed gradually but constantly, in body and mind alike, became weaker and weaker, until respiration ceased. He departed on the 31st of December, 1872, in Perrysburg, aged seventy-nine years and twenty- three days.

IIOMER WOODIN

was born in Bristol, Hartford Co., Conn., July 6, 1806. Was married in Burlington, Conn., March 10, 1829, to Miss Vashti Beckwith, and she was born at Burlington, Connecticut, May 14, 1805; and since the death of her husband, which occurred at his home-place in the town of Perrysburg, Dec. 12, 1875, she has lived, and is still living, at Dayton Station.

Homer Woodin's family consisted of the following child- ren : William Woodin, born Dec. 27, 1829; Martin H. Woodin, born Sept. 1, 1831 ; Horatio Woodin, born April 12, 1833; Lydia Ann Woodin, born Jan. 29, 1836, wife of Charles W. Chaffe, now living at Gowanda, N. Y .; Rachel Woodin, born April 15, 1840, was married to Frank

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Daggert, of Springville, N. Y .; Ellen Eliza Woodin, born Sept. 5, 1838, is the wife of Amos M. Hall, and is now living at Dayton Station; Eri Woodin was born June 2, 1843; Luna Woodin was born May 29, 1846, is the wife of Newton A. Chaffe, and is now living at Dayton Sta- tion.

Of the above-named children born to them four are dead, as follows : Wm. Woodin fell dead of the heart-disease, in Otto, Jan. 2, 1864, leaving a wife (Abi S. Darbey) and one son, Homer E. Woodin, and one daughter, Theresa V., who died in about a year after her father's death, with diphthe- ria,-the son is still living; Rachel Daggert died Nov. 19, 1865, of typhoid fever, in Perrysburg, leaving no child- ren ; Horatio Woodin, their son, died in Perrysburg, of typhoid fever, Dec. 11, 1865,-he was unmarried; Eri Woodin died April 4, 1878, in Perrysburg, of consump- tion, leaving a wife (Hattie Stilson) and three children,- two girls, Mary and Georgie, and one son, William.

The father of Homer Woodin was named Eri Woodin;

this trip. Buffalo at that time was a small place compared with Buffalo of to-day. They hired a man with his team, who brought them to Zoar, to Hyal Hill's tavern, where they stayed overnight.

Luzon Bottsford was living in Otto at this time; had been living there about two years. He married Mrs. Woodin's sister Polly. Mr. Bottsford met them at Hill's tavern, and they went and stayed with Mr. Bottsford and family about three weeks, until Mr. Woodin found and bought one hundred acres of land with a rough shanty al- ready built upon it, and upon which there was about twenty- five acres of improvement. This land he bought of Harvey Butler, and paid him three hundred dollars cash down for the improvements that he had made. He then went to Ellicottville and paid twenty-five dollars for a new article of Devereux, the land-agent, and he met his payments upon his land promptly. He paid, we think, at the rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre in addition to what has already been mentioned. He moved into the shanty

Photos. by Edgerton & Chase.

HOMER WOODIN.

MRS. HOMER WOODIN.

was a blacksmith by trade; lived in Bristol, Conn., and then moved to Farmington, Conn .; then moved back to Bristol, where his wife died; then he came to Otto, N. Y., and lived with Homer, who was his youngest child. Then his oldest son, Harmon, with whom he had lived in Con- necticut, moved to Ohio and took his father with him. After living in Ohio about five years, he, with Harmon, moved to Iowa, where he died, twenty or twenty-five years ago, and where are also buried all his brothers and sisters. His father's family consisted of Harmon, Louis, Lydia, and Homer,-two boys and two girls.

Homer worked on a farm for William Whitman, from the time he married, in March, until about the 1st of November, 1829, and then moved into the western part of the State of New York, and settled in the town of Otto, Cattaraugus Co. They came from Burlington, Conn., to Albany, N. Y., by team, and were three days on the road. Her brother, Hoel Beckwith, moved with them, and settled with them in the same town. They came from Albany to Buffalo, via Erie Canal; it took them two weeks to make

mentioned, where the two oldest children were born. The remainder of the family were born in a log house on the same piece of land, which was built and moved into about four years afterwards, in which log house they lived about fourteen years.

The next spring, in March, 1830, leaving his wife in care of Mr. Bottsford's family, he started for Connecticut with only seven dollars in his pocket, the only money he pos- sessed. He walked back afoot, being taken sick upon the road. He stopped with his sister Louise about a week, in what is called the Black River country. He then con- tinued his walk, and arrived at Connecticut and hired out to Gad Cole, of Farmington, an old acquaintance of his, and worked on a farm. He came back in the fall with one hundred dollars, and this money, thus earned, was the saving of his place; and he bought him a yoke of oxen. They lived on this piece of land about twenty years, the two last years of which time were spent in enjoying the comforts of a good frame house, which he built. He then traded this piece of land with Stephen Soal's farm of four

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

hundred acres, where they commenced and kept a dairy of cows. They remained here about seven years, when, his two oldest sons having married, he let these sons and their wives run this farm. He then bought and moved the re- mainder of his family upon the farm of Warren Allen, of three hundred and thirty acres, in the town of Perrysburg, about one and a half miles west of Gowanda, where he lived the remainder of his days, excepting that in the spring of 1869 he bought the home-place of William Smith, contain- ing some thirty acres, which adjoined the farm immediately on the east line, on which place he moved with his wife, while the Allen farm was carried on by his son Eri, with its fifty cows. The most of Mr. Woodin's time was spent, after locating in Perrysburg, in buying butter and cheese. He undoubtedly bought more cheese and handled more money in this business than any other man in this county.

In politics he was a Whig as long as that party existed, and when it went down he connected himself with the Re- publican party, and was always a steadfast and consistent Republican, voting and working with that party. He held the office of assessor and justice of the peace for many years. He worked for his party through principle, and not for official honors, as these he did not crave. He

had the nomination of Assemblyman offered to him at one time by his district convention, but would not accept it, as a thorough business life was more acceptable to him. He possessed great moral worth, and was a man of no uncom- mon energy.

Mrs. Vashti Woodin's father was a farmer. He owned one hundred and fifty acres of land. He lived and died in the same town in which he was born, which was the town of Burlington, Conn.

Her father's name was Abner Beckwith. He was mar- ried twice. His first wife was surnamed Humphrey, by whom he had four children,-three boys and one girl,-viz., Samuel, Israel, Humphrey, and Lydia. His second wife was Rachel Laird, by whom he had three girls and two boys,-namely, Eliza, Polly, Vashti, Hoel, and Orvill.

Mrs. Woodin's mother-Rachel-was born in Massachu- setts, Sept. 25, 1769, and died at the home of Mrs. Woodin, in Perrysburg, Aug. 31, 1853, where the twelve last years of her life were spent, where every attention was shown her, and her last days made comfortable by the affectionate kindness of her daughter and husband. She could re- member, and did relate to her grandchildren, many incidents of the trying times of the Revolution.

ELLICOTTVILLE.

THIS town embraces within its present limits all of town- ship No. 4, and the southeastern portion of township 5 in the 6th range of the Holland Company's survey. Its northern boundary is formed by the towns of Ashford and East Otto; its eastern by Machias and Franklinville. Its south border lies against the town of Great Valley, and it is joined on the west by East Otto and Mansfield. Its southwestern corner is very nearly the territorial centre of the county.

The topographical features of Ellicottville are similar to those of the adjoining and neighboring towns. It contains no mountain range, but its surface is everywhere broken by hills and ridges, rising to heights varying from 100 to 500 feet above the valleys which separate them. The broadest and most fertile of these lowlands lie along the Great Valley Creek, which enters the town across its eastern boundary from Franklinville, flows thence in a general southwesterly course to the village of Ellicottville, where it turns rather abruptly towards the southeast and passes into the town of Great Valley. This stream and its various tributaries are the only waters within the town, except some inconsiderable rivulets, which take their rise in the northwest, and flow in that direction until they find an outlet through Cattaraugus Creek into Lake Erie.

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History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 67

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: