History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 80

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 80

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1868- 71. Elisha Dake.

1872. Alexander A. Courter.

1848-49. William F. Elliott. 1850. William Rumsey.

1873-75. Benjamin G. Green.

1851. Julius B. Maltby.

1876-78. Thomas B. Soule.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

The first were elected in 1827, and were classed as follows : Asahel Hill, for one year ; John T. Ferris, for two years; Samuel Tuthill, for three years; Abraham L. Gibbs, for four years ; Joseph Allen, Ozi M. Goodale, Joseph Foster, Asa Leland, Isaac Mason, Arnold Bently, Joseph Allen, Joseph Foster, Daniel Pratt, Selleck St John, Sylvester Pierce, Hugh Orr, Asa Leland, Homer J. Wooden, E. A. Rice, Joseph Foster, Joseph Allen, John Wilcox, Selleck St. John, Philander Griffiths, Conrad Vosburg, Joseph Allen, John C. Carpenter, Selleck St. John, Samuel C. Everts, Tyler M. Beach, Joseph Foster, Orson Cochrane, Arnold Bently, Homer J. Wooden, Conrad Vosburg, Selleck St. John, George W. Harvey, Joseph Foster, Homer J. Wooden, David T. Gibson, Miles M. More, Ju- lius B. Maltby, Philip Lake, Oliver Dake, Henry Bull, Orson Cochrane, Ralph Dewey, Walter H. Strickland, James C. Green, Philip Lake, Orson Cochrane, Ralph Dewey, George Parkinson, Albert Hemstreet, Ralph Dewey, John A. Losee, D. T. Gibson, Justus Scott, Orson Cochrane, John T. Newman, Walter H. Strickland, Orson Cochrane, Nathan Larabee, Darwin C. Bab- cock, David C. Gibson, Charles E. Pratt.

SCHOOLS.

The first settlers in Otto were in the Valley of 'Zoar, in 1810, and the children of these pioneers attended schools in the town of Collins, on the north side of Cattaraugus Creek. The school-house stood on a bluff. The first in-

dication of a school in the town was at the first annual town-meeting, in March, 1823, when it was voted to raise by tax double the amount of the school fund appropriated by the State ; and at a meeting of the commissioners of schools, convened at the house of Tyler M. Beach, March 18, 1823, it was voted to erect the following tract of land into a school district, by the name of District No. 1, comprising four tiers of lots, from the east side of township No. 5, in the 7th range. District No. 2, being four tiers of lots from the west side of the same township, was erected the same day, Jabez Hull and Harvey Butler, commissioners. The 19th day of March, 1823, Districts Nos. 3 and 4 were erected; May 8, 1823, Nos. 5 and 6 ; Sept. 13, 1823, No. 7 ; April 18, 1825, No. 8; May 13, 1825, No. 9; Oct. 21, 1825, No. 10; and Nov. 11, 1826, No. 11 were erected, these comprising the districts that are now in Otto and East Otto and part of Ashford.

The first school-house was built of logs in the spring of 1823, on lot No. 14, on the farm now owned by Job Austin, and school was taught the summer of that year by Betsey Chaffee. Harvey Little was sent by his father on horseback to Springville to bring her from that place to teach the school. She married afterwards - Eaton, of Springville, and her descendants are living in that village. In the winter of 1823-24, Edward W. Austin taught in the same place. William Farlane taught there also in the winter of 1824-25. In the spring of 1825, a school-house was built on the farm of Benjamin Austin, lot 7, now owned by Jacob Austin. Philura Beach was the teacher that summer. She afterwards married Martin Perrins, of Collins. A school-house was built the same season near Davis Benedict's.

The first school taught in Waverly was in the log house of Stephen Rogers, built where the William T. Elliott's bank now stands, and Sydney Stearns was the teacher in the winter of 1826. The present school building in Waverly was erected in 1876, at a cost of $2200.

The present number of school districts is 8, containing 8 school buildings, valued, with their sites, at $3725. Volumes in library number 187, valued at $60. Nine teachers are employed, and the amount paid for teachers' wages for year ending Sept. 30, 1878, $1673.99. The number of children of school age was 344; the average daily attendance, 153.779; the number of weeks taught, 2443. The amount of public money received from the State was 8919.25 ; amount of money received from tax, $952.32.

These statistics are from the report made to the Hon. Neil Gilmour, superintendent of public instruction, and furnished by him.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The first Presbyterian minister that preached in this town was the Rev. Ira Dunning. In the summer and fall of 1828, the persons who were interested in religious mat- ters, feeling the necessity of an organization, decided to call a meeting for that purpose. In accordance with such a notice, a meeting was held at the house of Sylvanus Park- inson, Oct. 18, 1828, for the purpose of taking into con- sideration the propriety of organizing a church of the Pres-

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1856. Charles H. Morris. 1857. Levi Goldsborough. 1858. Charles H. Morris.

1859-60. William E. Hunt. 1861. David T. Gibson.

1862-66. William E. Hunt. 1867. James C. Green. 1868-69. William E. Hunt. 1870-74. Ralph Dewey.

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

byterian order. The Rev. Wm. J. Wilcox was appointed moderator, and the meeting opened by prayer. The fol- lowing persons presented themselves as candidates for the proposed church : Sylvanus Parkinson and Hannah, his wife; Peter Karger and Margaret, his wife; Catharine Parkinson, Abagail Cox, Caroline Plumb, Rebecca Bowen, Jeremiah Spalding, and Tyler Spalding, all of whom were certified by letter as being in good and regular standing in the Presbyterian Church. Jane Cotrael, who had never professed religion, also offered herself as a candidate. After much free and mutual conversation on the subject of doc- trinal and experimental religion, the above-named persons declared themselves ready and willing to receive each other in the fellowship of the gospel, and unanimously agreed to accept the articles of faith and covenant; after the reading of which, the church was constituted by prayer, under the name and title of the First Presbyterian Church of Otto. Sylvanus Parkinson and Jeremiah Spalding were unanimously elected to the office of ruling elders and deacon. Sylvanus Parkinson was chosen to represent the church at the next meeting of the Presbytery of Buffalo, and in January, 1829, it was received as a member of that body. In April, 1830, the church reported 16 members.

March 29, 1834, Jeremiah Spalding, Tyler Spalding, Elijah Crowley, and Deborah, his wife, were dismissed, to unite with a church about to be organized in the east part of the town. In 1835, at a meeting of the session, it was the opinion that the articles of faith held by them were exceptionable, and it was unanimously agreed to adopt the articles of faith as recommended by the Presbytery of Buffalo to the churches under their care. In 1839 the church reported 45 members.

July 19, 1858, at a meeting called for the purpose of determining whether the church should remain under the Presbyterian form of government or adopt the Congrega- tional, it was decided, after full and free conference of the members present, to administer the government of the church for the present under the Congregational plan, while they still continue under the watch-care of the Presbytery. An Ecclesiastical Council was held with the church, Sept. 21, 1858, for the purpose of setting apart to the gospel ministry, by ordination, W. W. Norton. Pastors and del- egates from the following churches assembled at the house of W. W. Norton : Presbyterian Church of Ellicottville, Rev. Chas. Jerome, Ira Norton ; Congregational Church of Napoli, Rev. H. D. Sawing, S. N. Newel; Presbyterian Church of Olean, Rev. Sylvester Cowles; Congregational Church of Little Valley, Rev. C. Burgess, George R. Pow- ers. Rev. Charles Jerome was chosen Moderator, and Rev. H. D. Sawing, Scribe. The candidate was examined, ac- cepted, and was ordained as pastor of the church, Rev. Charles Jerome preaching the ordination sermon.

Dec. 31, 1859, at a church-meeting, it was voted unani- mously that the church be known hereafter as the First Congregational Church of Otto.

In the spring and summer of 1861 a church edifice was erected on the spot it now occupies, at a cost of $3000, and was dedicated Oct. 30, 1861 ; the Rev. Wm. J. Reynolds, of Chautauqua Co., preaching the dedication sermon from Matt. v. 14: " Ye are the light of the world."

Jan. 4, 1862, it was decided to make application to the Consociation of Western New York for admission to that body, and at the next meeting, Jan. 14, 1862, the church was welcomed to all the privileges.

The Rev. Wm. D. Henry, a missionary sent out to the feeble churches in Western New York, ministered to this church with the pastor, January and February, 1862, and great good was accomplished. As the result of this meeting, 53 were accepted and added to the church in March, 1862.

The pastors, from 1828 to the present time, who have ministered to the church have been as follows : Rev. Wm. J. Wilcox was stated supply for half the time; for more than one year from April, 1833, and was standing moder- ator from the time of its organization till 1835 ; Rev. Daniel T. Condee, afterwards missionary to the Sandwich Islands, was stated supply to this church and East Otto for one year from October, 1835. He was succeeded by the Rev. Sylvester Cowles, who supplied the church until 1839, when the Rev. Miles Doolittle became his successor, and ministered to the two churches for three years, when the Rev. Aaron Van Wormer assumed the pastoral care. Again, in 1845, the Rev. M. Doolittle returned to the care of the church, after which were the Revs. Royal Twitchell, S. J. Orton, Josiah Baldwin, W. W. Norton, E. C. Hall, H. M. Hickey, F. P. Tompkins, and W. D. Williams, who is the present pastor. The church numbers at present 73 members, hav- ing a Sunday-school of 90 pupils. H. S. Cotrael, Super- intendent.

Their house of worship was repaired in 1873, at a cost of about $1000; they also have a parsonage in connection The society is free from debt, and in good healthy condition.

METHODIST CHURCHES OF OTTO.

The first minister of this denomination who preached in this section, was John Griffith, and a class was organized at the house of Caleb Lewis, composed of Caleb Lewis and wife, Daniel Botsford and wife, Adam Ballard and wife, and Humphrey Ingram, with Daniel Botsford as first leader. This class was at that time on the Boston Circuit, then embracing the most of Cattaraugus County, Loring Grant, presiding elder. The church was organized in 1826, very soon after the class, and Jehial Lamb, and Joseph Foster, and Charles H. Morris were members of the first society. The ministers in charge at the organization were John Wiley and Wilber Hoag, and they were the first pastors. Services were held at the houses of the members, and sometimes in barns, until 1836, when the first church was built on the spot where the present church of North Otto stands.

In 1832, the first quarterly-meeting was held in a barn belonging to Luther Sprague; Rev. Micah Segur was pre- siding elder. A new church was built in 1870, at a cost of $2000, and dedicated in October of that year by the Rev. C. D. Burlingame. In the fall of 1836, a new class was formed at Waverly from the mother church by Garri- son Ballard and wife, W. H. Strickland, and Mrs. Bur- roughs. The first meetings were held at the school-house on Thomas Rogers' land, under the charge of the Rev. Ira Bronson. A church was erected by this branch in 1845, on its present site, at a cost of $5000. The ministers, as

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

far as can be ascertained since the organization of the church, are as follows: John Wiley, Wilber Hoag, Ira Bronson, Coburn, Heywood, Cook, Davis, Kennard, Kent, Buck, Packard, H. Butlin, F. W. Conable, Blake, O. N. Roberts, F. D. Sargent, C. D. Rowley, F. D. Goodrich, and J. E. Clayton, who is the present pastor.

These churches are under the same charge, and number 187 members. The Sunday-school of North Otto contains 100 scholars; William Bull, superintendent. The one at Waverly contains 56 scholars; Ralph Dewey, superinten- dent. There is also in connection and under the charge of these churches, a Sunday-school at East Mansfield, with 100 pupils ; Frank Keeler of this town is the superintendent. The society is in good condition, and entirely free from debt.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

This church was organized the 14th day of November, 1875, at the Masonic Hall, with 64 members. The minis- ter in charge was the Rev. Mr. Hyer, from Missouri. A church edifice was erected in 1875-76, and dedicated Nov. 12, 1876, the services being conducted in German by the Rev. A. Z. Groszberger, assisted by the Rev. J. Bernrau- ther of Olean. On Monday, November 13, services were conducted in English by the pastor, Rev. C. F. Boezh. The present membership is 35, and the trustees are Lewis Miller, Frederick Beaver, and Henry Gold.

BAPTIST CHURCH IN OTTO.

The Second Baptist Church in Otto was organized in December, 1831, with 18 members, and services were held in school-houses. The Rev. A. Wells was the first pastor in 1833, ministering half the time. The church was re- ceived in the Association in 1833, reporting at that time 47 members. The pastors succeeding Mr. Wells were the Revs. D. Platt, L. Wall, and D. Platt. In 1839, they re- ported 57 members. No reports were made to the Associa- tion after this year, and the society has become disorgan- ized. No church edifice was erected.

THE CLINTON F. PAGE LODGE, NO. 620, F. AND A. M., was constituted at Otto, June 15, 1867, by the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, with Ralph Dewey as Master, and Phipps Lake as Senior Warden.

The Past Masters have been Ralph Dewey, Frank Elliot, Phipps Lake, T. B. Gibson, and John T. Newman.

The present officers are T. W. Gibson. W. M .; W. Pflueger, S. W .; Frank Barber, J. W .; M. S. Botsford, Treas. ; Ralph Dewey, Sec.

Masonic Hall building is owned by the society, the upper story of which is devoted to their use. They number at present 70 members.

OTTO LODGE, NO. 386, I. O. OF O. F.,

was constituted by the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, Aug. 22, 1848, with G. S. Gowdy, N. G .; Pliny L. Fox, V. G .; E. C. Eddy, Treas. ; and W. H. Eddy, Sec.

Besides the charter-members, four were admitted by card and twelve were initiated the first night of meeting. The Grand Lodge took up the old charter, issuing a new one, under the name and title of Otto Lodge, No. 137, Dec. 1,

1850. The lodge was in good condition for several years, but was discontinued about 1870.

OTTO GRANGE, NO. 381, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY, is in the northwest part of the town. The meetings are held at the Dake school-house. They number 27 members.

CEMETERIES.

Waverly Burying-Ground Association is situated on the hill east of the village, adjoining the Congregational church, and contains about three acres. It is incorporated, and the oficers are C. B. Allen, Pres. ; W. F. Elliot, Treas. ; W. E. Hunt, Sec.

A burial-ground is in the north part of the town, near the Methodist church, and is known as the Benedict Bury- ing-Ground. It is still in use.

WAVERLY

was first settled by C. B. Parkinson, Stephen Rogers, and others, the first in 1822. It is situated in the centre of the southern part of the town, near the boundary line, and in a deep valley of the south branch of Cattaraugus Creek. The business portion of the village is in the valley, and the residences are mostly upon the slopes and the plateau upon the hill to the east. The south branch of the Cattaraugus Creek at this place was dammed as early as 1822, and the saw-mills and grist-mills that were erected have long since passed away, but the water privileges are still utilized. D. M. Brown has a flouring-mill, known as the " Otto Mills," in successful operation, having three run of stone. This mill was built in 1860, and passed to its present ownership in 1871. A saw-mill is situated above the bridge, and has connected with it a cider-mill. Down the stream is located the iron-foundry and machine-shop of R. Dewey. The present building was erected in 1877, the old one having been destroyed by fire. About a quarter of a mile farther down the stream stand the Pearce Woolen-Mills, having 750 spindles and 2 full sets of machinery, which are in successful operation. The first mill erected here was in 1829, by Roswell Knowlton, as a custom-mill. In 1839, machinery was added for the manufacture of woolen goods, the most of the time under the firm of Allen & Gibson, until 1867, when the buildings were destroyed by fire. They were re-erected by D. T. Gibson, and are now owned by Charles B. Pearce.

A cheese-factory, owned by persons in New York City and Herkimer County, under the name of the American Association, is located on the creek, at the village, and manufactures the milk of 300 cows.

In March, 1867, Cox, Elliot & Co. opened a private bank in the village of Waverly. In 1869, Mr. Cox re- tired, and the business was conducted by W. F. Elliot & Son, until 1874, since which time it has been conducted entirely by W. F. Elliot.

Besides these the village contains 2 hotels, 2 churches, school-house, post-office, 3 dry-goods and grocery stores, 2 groceries, tobacco and cigar-store, 2 drug-stores, jeweler, hardware-store, merchant-tailor, market, boot and shoe-store, harness-shop, cabinet-shop, 3 blacksmith-shops, 2 carriage- shops, photograph-gallery, millinery-store, manufacturer of oils, 1 lawyer, and 3 physicians.

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

AGRICULTURE.

Otto ranks with the best agricultural towns of the county. Among the principal crops produced by its farmers are hay, oats, corn, potatoes, and fruit,-especially apples. But the predominating industry is grazing, and the production of butter and cheese. The former is chiefly made in families, the latter almost entirely in factories. Of these there are seven, which receive and manufacture the milk of about 2250 cows, producing yearly nearly 1,000,000 pounds of cheese. These factories are as follows :

Col. C. A. Ross has three factories, north from Waverly about six miles, near " Forty." About 1000 cows are in connection with these factories, and about 8000 cheeses are annually made.

Myron Barker, two miles northwest from Waverly, has a factory that uses the milk of about 300 cows, and about 2500 cheeses are made yearly.

The Tallman is located six miles due north from Waverly; the milk from 250 cows is used, and about 2800 cheeses are made annually.

The American Association Factory is located at Waverly, and uses the milk from 300 cows. 2500 cheeses are manu- factured yearly.

Fred. H. Yerke, near Scott's Corners, has a factory that uses the milk from about 400 cows, from which about 3000 cheeses are made annually.

The agricultural statistics for 1835, together with the manufactures, school districts, teachers' wages, public money, etc., are given below :

Acres

42,139

County tax ..

$660.52

" improved.

7,252

Town tax.

$451.25

Assessed value of real estate

$91,803

Saw-mills ..

Assessed value of per- sonal estate.

Cattle

Asheries

Horses.

Tanneries

Sheep

3,087 Number of school dist's.

Swine

1,705

Public money expended.

$163

Fulled cloth, yds.

2,632

Teachers' wages and pub- lic money.

$259

Cottons, linen, etc., yds .. 3,679 Number of scholars, 507

Comparative statement of the agricultural statistics of 1855 and 1875, as taken from the census, are given below :

1855.

Acres of improved land ..

11,049

= unimproved land.

10,272

meadow land, producing 2540 tons of hay ... 2,985

825

corn,

16,573 "

512

potatoes " 6,686

Bushels apples.

9,186

Pounds maple-sugar.

10,312

honey.

3,070

Cows

1,229

Pounds butter.

77,823

" cheese.

208,476

1875.

Acres of improved land. 13,541

unimproved land.

5,395

meadow land, producing 4,496 tons of hay. 3,650

corn,

10,844 bushels 251

oats,

29,044 "

1,047 89

= potatoes, " 10,859 "

9,796

Apple-trees, producing 22,137 bushels of apples Pounds maple-sugar

3,012

Cows

2,181

Pounds butter made in families. 63,280

10,190

The population of the town of Otto is given for com- parison, from the census returns of the following years :

1825, 601; 1830, 1224; 1835, 1731; 1840, 2133; 1845, 1110; 1850, 2267; 1855, 1094; 1865, 1006; 1875, 1089.

Waverly, in 1855, contained 277 inhabitants; in 1865, 344.

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION AND WAR OF 1812, who are buried in the town of Otto.

John Boutwell was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and died Sept. 12, 1847, aged eighty-five years.

Benjamin Austin, soldier of the war of 1812; died April 14, 1852, aged eighty-seven years.

William Bull, soldier of the war of 1812; died Nov. 12, 1863, aged eighty-two years.

Humphrey Ingraham, soldier of the war of 1812; died Sept. 13, 1870, aged seventy-two years.

John Morris, soldier of the war of 1812; died Oct. 1, 1852, aged seventy-eight years and six months.

Joseph Satterlee, soldier of the war of 1812; died Dec. 15, 1863, aged seventy-four years and four months.

Jonathan Boon, soldier of the war of 1812; died in 1837, aged seventy years.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. S. V. POOL, M.D.

This gentleman was born in Springville, Erie Co., N. Y., March 14, 1837, his father, Elmedoras Chase Pool, being a physician of forty years' practice.

Simeon received not only a common school, but an aca- demic education. After leaving the Springville Academy, he commenced the study of his chosen profession in the spring of 1858, attending the first course of lectures at the Buffalo Medical College, from which institution he graduated with honors, in 1866. He subsequently (1872) attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He prac- ticed medicine in Colden, Erie Co., until his removal to Otto, in the fall of 1867, at which place he has continued his profession, having made for himself a large practice, which engrosses the most of his time and attention ..

Dr. Pool has been a member of the Cattaraugus County Medical Society since first coming into the county, and one of the medical censors for most of the time. The duties of the censors are arduous, they having to examine every can- didate for a license to practice medicine " who shall have complied with the requisitions of the laws of the State of New York," and if found qualified, to give a certificate to that effect.

In 1865 he married Miss Esther Maria Allen, daughter of Constant B. Allen, of Otto. His family consists of two children,-a son and a daughter.

Dr. Pool is a patriotic man, and very few have suffered more for his country than he. He entered the Union army in 1862, as 1st lieutenant, in the 154th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted in 1863 to a captaincy, and served until the close of the war not only with

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Grist-mills.

Fulling-mill

$3,843 2,267 296

Carding-machine

Woolen " unfulled, yds.

3,456

" cheese

oats, producing 20,219 bushels

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

an honorable record, but having experienced a most eventful one. Participating in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, in the latter engagement he was taken prisoner, and endured the tortures of Libby and other Southern prison-pens for twenty months. While confined in the rebel prison at Charlotte, N. C., he effected his escape, Feb. 17, 1865, by running the guard, in attempting which many others had been shot. For four weeks he was a fugitive within the enemy's lines, skulking wearily along unfre- quented paths by night, and hiding in the woods and marshes during the day ; wandering over to him unknown roads, crossing and re-crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains several times, only to find himself as far from liberty as before, and receiving his nourishment chiefly at the hands of friendly negroes and sympathizing " crackers." After a walk of four hundred miles, on the 16th of March he found himself, to his unbounded joy, in the vicinage of a Union camp, and entered the Federal lines at French Broad River, eighty miles above Knoxville. During his journey, before reaching the mountains, he came to the Catawba River in the night time, to cross which he stripped off his clothes and tied them on the back of his head, expecting to have to swim, but the water was too shallow, and he waded across. Upon reaching the Union army, he went immedi- ately to Washington and reported for duty.

Politically, Dr. Pool has always been a Republican. He has served as supervisor of Otto for three years, and in the fall of 1877 was elected to the State Legislature, assembly- man for the Second District of this county, by a handsome majority over Charles E. Gallagher, the Democratic candi- date. In the State Legislature he served as a member of the committee on public health, and as chairman of the committee on Indian affairs. He was re-elected in 1878. Although bred to the profession of medicine, he has shown marked ability as a legislator, and were he ambitious of political honors, could have almost any office at the gift of his fellow-townsmen, so greatly esteemed is he in his town and vicinity. But he prefers the duties of his profession.

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History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 80

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: