History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 96

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 96

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Mr. O'Donnell was elected school collector in 1870, justice of the peace in 1873, member of the board of education in October, 1877, and supervisor of the town of Salamanca in February, 1878.

He commenced work as a laborer, in the employ of the Erie and Atlantic and Great Western Railways, in Decem- ber, 1864, and was promoted successively to tally man, shipping clerk, way-bill clerk, and in November, 1874, was promoted to the position of chief clerk in the freight-offices of said railway companies, which position he now holds.

l'hoto. by J. H. Blessing, Salamanca, N. Y. JOHN J. O'DONNELL.

He was married, Dec. 21, 1867, to Amanda Louisa Gor- ton, of Allegany Co., N. Y. They have five children, viz. : Eliza L., Benjamin E., Annabel, Sarah G., and Blanche.

In politics, Mr. O'Donnell is a Republican. His relig- ious faith is that of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and he is associated with St. Mary's Church, Salamanca; he has served in the capacity of vestryman or warden since its formation as a parish, in 1865.

HENRY O. WAIT,

the subject of this sketch, was born, Sept. 19, 1841, in the town of Owego, Tioga Co., N. Y. He is one of a family of six,-four girls, and the elder of two boys,-is a son of Christian Wait (of Quaker descent), who was born, Feb. 4, 1801, in Schoharie Co., N. Y., from whence he emigrated, when a boy, with his parents, and is one of the pioneers of Wait's Settlement, where he now resides, south of the Susquehanna River.

Where Owego now stands was at that time a wilderness, and they were obliged to cut a road six miles through the forest to the place where the old homestead now stands, and where, in 1830, he married Miss Rachel Briggs. She died Jan. 16, 1868.

Henry O. Wait was educated at a district school, and was by occupation a farmer until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted, April 28, 1861, and was as- signed to the 26th Regiment, New York State Volunteers, for two years, or during the war. He served with distinc- tion in the Army of the Potomac, First Army Corps, under Major-Gen. I. McDowell, and was engaged in the following battles : Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, South Moun-

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tain, and Antietam, where he was severely wounded, and, for gallant conduct, was promoted to captain on the field. He was laid up with his wounded limb for several months

HENRY O. WAIT.

in Queen Street Hospital, Alexandria, Va. His regiment was mustered out of the service at the expiration of two years, which ended their term of enlistment. He again --

enlisted for during the war, receiving a major's commission from President Lincoln, and was assigned to the Army of the Southwest, under Gen. Sherman, whom he joined at Chattanooga, where he was engaged in the battle of Look- out Mountain, Nov. 24, 1863; after which he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and was with Sherman's army in their " march to the sea," and until the surrender of Gen. Lee ; was again mustered out of the service by reason of the closing of the war.

He then turned his attention to railroading. He came to Salamanca, N. Y., where he is now, and has been for thirteen years, employed in the ticket department by the Erie and Atlantic and Great Western Railroads ; has always taken an active part in politics, and has always been a Re- publican. He was elected supervisor of the town of Sala- manca for three successive terms, 1873, 1874, 1875, by complimentary vote. He was elected to the office of treasurer of Cattaraugus County, by an overwhelming ma- jority, in 1878. He is a member of all the orders of Free Masonry,-Master Mason, Royal Arch, Council, Knight Templar, and all the degrees up to and including the thirty- second, and has held many responsible positions in the sev- eral bodies.

He was married, May 6, 1874, to Miss Bell Kirk pat- rick, only child of David and Josie Kirkpatrick, of Attica, N. Y.

MACHIAS.

THIS is an interior town, lying northeast of the centre of the county. It contains a total area of 25,890 acres, of which 16,831 are improved, and in 1875 had a population of 1385. The surface forms a portion of the elevated table- land which divides the waters of the Allegany River from those of Cattaraugus Creek. Near the residence of Chester Ashcraft, Esq., are two springs, separated by a distance of only about 30 feet, but the waters of one flow north to the St. Lawrence, while those of the other start on their way to the Mississippi. Lime Lake, in the northeast part, 1100 feet above Lake Erie, covers an expanse of about 500 acres. It receives its name from the fact that deposits of shell lime are to be found in its bottom. Its waters are discharged north into Cattaraugus Creek, the outlet affording fine water-power privileges. Ischua Creek flows south, through the eastern part, into the Allegany River.

The soil is a clay and gravelly loam, of good quality, and well adapted to grazing, stock-raising, and the cultivation of the cereals. Stock-raising and the manufacture of cheese occupies the attention of the farming classes.

The cheese-factories controlled by Messrs. Neff & Gampp, William Howden, and John Holden, comprising seven different establishments, use the milk of about 2200 cows, and manufacture over 502,000 pounds of cheese yearly.

This branch of industry has grown up since 1866, when R. and W. Follett established the first cheese-factory, at & point about one mile west of Machias village.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The early settlement of Machias was attended with all the hardships, difficulties, and dangers incident to, and shared in common by, the hardy pioneers of Cattaraugus during the two first decades of the present century.

Placing their wives and children and a few household goods on a heavy, rudely-made sled, the whole drawn by a yoke of oxen, the settler and his elder children trudging along on foot, would they depart from the comforts and facilities of their homes in Eastern New York and the New England States, and wend their slow and tedious way through trackless forests and over roads well-nigh im- passable to their future homes in the howling wilderness. The journey was usually made in early spring time, as that season afforded the necessary amount of sleighing, and gave the settler time to build a log house, to cut, burn, and clear an acre or so of land, and raise a crop the first season. The cattle, meanwhile, and very often until the second and third year, had to eke out a scanty subsistence by " browsing."

Numerous parties of Indians from the Reservations tra-

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FOR GOD'S POOR.

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY BUILDINGS, SITUATED AT MACHIAS, N.Y.

FOR THE INSANE.

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versed the country, both summer and winter, in their hunt- ing and fishing excursions. They were generally friendly, but a terror to the women and children.

Bears, wolves, panthers, and wild-cats abounded in every thicket ; and it was only by the utmost care and watchful- ness that the settlers could preserve their sheep, hogs, and other small domestic animals from the daily and nightly depredations of the savage beasts of the forests.

Although contracts for land in township 5, range 5, of the Holland Purchase, may have been taken previously, it is believed that to Maj. Timothy Butler may be conceded the honor of being the first actual settler in that part of Genesee County now known as Machias. He came from the State of Maine, and, in 1807, settled on lot No. 14, on the Ischua Creek, about one mile south of Machias village. He was accompanied here by his family, and a young man named Julius Underwood, who was in his employ. At about the same time, or very soon thereafter, Samuel Philbrick and E. Maxson came in from Maine, and were also employed by Maj. Butler. On the farm now known as the " Cagwin place," Maj. Butler began an extensive improvement, and in the spring-time tapped 1400 maple-trees. In 1810, he estab- lished a distillery, and began the distillation of rum from maple-sugar. There are people residing here to-day who remember this distillery and its products.

Maj. Butler remained here until the spring of 1818, when he removed to Napoli, being probably the first settler of that town.

Jeremiah Ballard and a man named Tiffany, also from Maine, came here in 1810. Ballard settled on lot 13, south of Maj. Butler's, while Tiffany was on the west part of lot 14; neither remained here but a few years. Julius Underwood was located on the knoll now owned by Wel- come Camp. His infant child crawled into the fireplace during the momentary absence of its mother, and was fatally burned. This was the first death which took place in the settlement. All of these parties before mentioned, except Philbrick and Maxson, removed from the town prior to 1818.

In 1815, Joseph Kinne and his sons, Friend, Isaac, and Joseph, Jr., settled on lot 23, on the west side of the present site of Machias village. Joseph, Jr., was quite a prominent man during the early days. He was one of the first justices of the peace. The following year (1816) Obadiah Vaughn and John Morean, from Essex Co., N. Y., and Charles H. Biggs, from Trenton, N. Y., settled on lot 24; also John Grover, a German or Dutchman, on the north part of lot 6.

The settlement was increased in numbers, in 1817, by the arrival of the families of Elijah T. Ashcraft and Charles Button. Mr. Button had visited this section the previous year, contracted for his lot, and built a log house. He came in from Clinton Co., N. Y. (although from Vermont orig- inally), and was accompanied here by his sons,-Harvey, Lyman, and Heman G., and three daughters. He settled on the premises now owned by A. M. Farrar. Numerous representatives of his large family are to be found in the county at the present time, all highly respected citizens. Hon. Heman G. Button, the third son of Charles, has proved himself worthy of the regard and confidence in which he is

held by his social and political friends and neighbors, and at their hands has been the recipient of many positions of official trust and honor. Besides the many years devoted to the interests of his town as supervisor, justice of the peace, etc., he represented his county in the State Legis- lature during the session of 1867.

Elijah T. Ashcraft emigrated from Northfield, Vt., to Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1810. In March, 1817, accom- panied by his wife and children, viz., Chester, Nathan, and Luvira, he removed by sled and ox-team to Ischua. When within three miles of their destination-the south part of lot 17-their sled broke down, and the remainder of the journey had to be performed on foot through snow knee- deep.

Squire Ashcraft was one of the foremost men in the new settlement, and was prominently identified with all that related to its best interests. He was one of the first justices of the peace in the town of Yorkshire (which was formed in 1820), and also of Machias, in 1827. His latch- string was ever out to the weary and hungry traveler, as well as to the needy of his own immediate neighborhood. Even the dusky sons and daughters of the forest sought the shelter of his roof, and often, during inclement weather, slept upon his kitchen floor to the number of a dozen at a time.

Mr. Ashcraft died at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, Betsey Thompson, died in 1877, aged ninety years. Of a family of twelve children, ten lived to be men and women, and eight survive, as follows : Chester and Nathan, in Machias; Luvira, in Springfield ; Hiram, in Wisconsin ; Albert and Norman, in Illinois; and Caroline and Daniel, in Michigan.

In 1818, John Farrar and his family, which consisted of himself, wife, and sons Wiggin M., George W., Royal C., John, Jr., and daughter Aseneth, came from Gilman- ton, N. H., and settled down for a few years upon the lands which had been opened to cultivation by Maj. But- ler. Afterwards they purchased lots upon sections 5, 7, 12, and 13.

John Farrar, the veteran of the Revolution, who settled here about 1827, was not related to this family. He came from Massachusetts, and is said to have been one of the Boston harbor tea-party.

Mr. Wiggin M. Farrar, now in his eighty-third year, and his sister, Mrs. Aseneth Leek, are the only survivors of the family who came here in 1818. As a soldier, he represented the State of New Hampshire during the war of 1812. During a long and eventful life he has ever taken a deep interest in all matters relating to the welfare of his town ; and in the various official stations he has so worthily filled, has shared in all its burdens and many of its honors.

In the fall of 1818, Daniel Vaughn, a brother of Oba- diah, came in, also Jeremiah Bennett, who took up a tract on the west part of lot 14.

Mr. Farrar says that at the close of 1818, the only families and representatives of families residing in the settlement were those before mentioned, viz., the Kinnes, Vaughns, Ashcrafts, Buttons, Grovers, Biggs, Philbrick, Maxson, Morean, Bennett, and the Farrars.

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Under his own immediate eyesight, this little settlement of half a dozen families has spread out and become a broad, populous, wealthy community. During the years of 1819 and 1820, emigrants from various portions of the East came in, and the settlement rapidly increased in importance and numbers. Mills were erected at the foot of Lime Lake. Log houses sprang up in a day in each little opening, and the resounding strokes of the pioneer's axe were heard on. every side.

The wants and necessities of the pioneer settlers were few compared with those of the present day ; but they were attained only by the greatest exertion and self-denial. For- tunate indeed was the family who had a quantity of black salts to exchange for calico, groceries, and other minor articles, so indispensable to health and a bare subsistence.

Among those who became settlers here during the years last mentioned were Joshua Daniels, from Essex County, who located on the east part of lot 32; Howard Peck, on lots 15 and 23; Willard Jefferson, on the County House farm ; Alva Jefferson, his brother, at the foot of Lime Lake; Daniel Potter, on lot 1, sixth township; James Colby, on lot 25, sixth township; Andrew McBuzzell, near the outlet of Lime Lake; Barnabas Cushman, just east of 'Squire Ashcraft; Elisha, Judah, Obadiah, J. M. L., and Brig- ham Brown, on the present site of Machias village.

Mr. Peck was the first supervisor of Machias, and an active business man. He established a distillery, also an ashery, at an early day, and at the same time, about 1822, in conjunction with Alva Jefferson, opened the first store in town, at the outlet of Lime Lake.

The first saw-mill was built by Andrew McBuzzell, in 1820, and was located at the same place; also the first grist- mill, erected by Daniel Potter in 1823.

Nathan Follett came from Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., and in 1823 entered the store of Messrs. Peck & Jefferson as salesman. The year previous (1822), while in the em- ploy of Henry L. Baker, he sold the first goods in York- shire, at Yorkshire Corners, using as salesroom a portion of the bar-room of Williams' tavern. As a pioneer merchant and town official, Mr. Follett has been prominently identi- fied with the business and interests of his town. He still resides here at the age of seventy-six years.

In 1825 we find that Eliphas Lafferty was northeast of the lake, on lot 1, sixth township; Sheldon Holbrook on the southeast part of lot 9, sixth township; David John- son, near John Grove's; Alanson Joslyn, on southwest part of lot 14; Brainard and Sylvester Cleveland, on lot 7; Richard Loomis and sons, on lot 13; Samuel Bush, on lot 11; Stephen Austin, on lot 14; Oliver C. Hubbard, on lot 23, where he built the second saw-mill in town ; Hiram McIntyre, on lot 25; Seymour Carpenter, on lot 9; Syl- vester Carver, on lot 12; the brothers Moses, Allen, Isaac, and Micah Gage, in the northwest part ; the brothers Hollister, Calvin, and Norman Brace, on lots 20 and 11, in the central part; and George Arnold and his sons in the northwest part.

Machias was formed from Yorkshire in 1827. In 1830 it had a population of 735 inhabitants, and less than 1500 acres of improved lands. Farms were small and families large in those days.

SUMMARY OF THE FIRST AND OLDEST.

Mr. Wiggin M. Farrar is the only survivor of the men who were here prior to 1818.

Heman G. Button, Chester and Nathan Ashcraft, can claim the earliest residence, having lived here since 1817. The first framed house in town was erected by Wiggin M. Farrar, in 1821 ; when nearly finished, he sold it to J. M. L. Brown, who completed it. It stood southeast of the corners, in Machias village, on land now owned by Mrs. Allen. Obadiah Brown built the first framed barn. It is now owned by Jared A. Brewer. Andrew McBuzzell built the first saw-mill, on the outlet of Lime Lake, in 1820. The first grist-mill, a small affair with but one run of stone and no bolting, was established by Daniel Potter in 1823. When Lime Lake burst its boundaries in 1832, and went bowling down the valley which confines the outlet, this mill was swept from its foundations, and was replaced by the present mill. G. W. Farrar owned the first buggy. Warner Sanford kept tavern at the Lake, 1830, and Ira Stev- ens at Machias village, 1832. Howard Peck and Alva Jef- ferson opened the first store, in 1822, at the Lake. Joseph Kinne, Jr., was the first postmaster. His office was estab- lished at Machias village about 1827. Isaac Carpenter, of Franklinville, carried the first mail, on horseback. Miss Amrilla Brown taught the first school in the summer of 1820, in a house built by John Morean, which was situated on the south part of lot 24. Nathaniel Bowen taught the winter following, and his school was the first which was entitled to school funds.

The first school-house was built in 1827, in district No. 1, and was situated about one mile north of the village. It was burned in 1830, and an insane man, Henry Davis, who had been placed there for safe-keeping through the night, was burned with it. The Free-Will Baptists formed the first religious society, 1818, and Rev. Herman Jenkins was the first preacher. Drs. Barber, Kneeland, and Isaac Shaw, were the first physicians to reside here. Nehemiah Love- well was the first surveyor. The first marriage was that of Elisha Brown and the widow Mason, about 1820. Jere- miah Bennett and Oliva Brown the second, and Brigham Brown, son of Elisha, and Polly Mason, daughter of the widow, the third marriage.

INCIDENTS.

Many incidents, some of a comic and others of a more pathetic nature, occurred in all these settlements during the first quarter of the present century. The old historians of the taverns, the participants and witnesses of these scenes, have nearly all passed away, and the following are recounted as illustrative of pioneer life in the wild woods of Cattarau- gus sixty years ago.

The old revolutionary hero, John Farrar, in passing through the woods in the north part of the town, discovered a bear ascending a large hollow tree, and watched him until he had disappeared inside; then hurrying to the Corners, a dozen men and boys, and as many dogs were gathered to- gether, and marched upon Bruin's quarters. Arriving there, the tree was surrounded, and then began a loud and contra- dictory discussion, as to the means to be employed to en- compass the bear and destroy him. Whether the tree should

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Maria Jenelle Brewer every & A Brewen S & Brewer Esther Elija Brewer

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RESIDENCE OF J. A. BREWER, MACHIAS . CATTARAUGUS CON.Y.

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Danford Wright

Eliza Wright

amon. D . Wright

Many Pright

PHOTOS.BY C. W. TALLMAN. BATAVIA.

RESIDENCE OF DANFORD WRIGHT, MACHIAS, CATTARAUGUS CO., N. Y.

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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.

be cut down, or whether they should endeavor to drive him out by loud noise, etc., etc. Meanwhile Bruin had concluded to change his base, and emerging from his hiding-place had backed down to within about 12 feet of his enemies, before being discovered. The next moment he dropped, or rather rolled right among them, like a huge black ball. The snarl- ing, yelling pack closed upon him, but rising upon his haunches, he shook them off, and then, while cuffing them to the right and left, began his retreat to a swamp near by. The hunters dared not shoot for fear of killing their dogs, which were valuable in those days. Bruin finally escaped unharmed. The ludicrous termination of this bear-hunt was the subject for much merriment among the rollicking, bois- terous frequenters of the neighborhood taverns, and the participators did not hear the last of it for many a day there- after.

But Daniel Vaughn was more successful as a bear-hunter. At an early day he was the owner of two cows, and traded one of them for a dog. This was considered by his neigh- bors as a very poor trade, but Vaughn was fully equal to the vocation he had chosen, and the following winter, with his dog, rifle, and spear (a weapon he extemporized by affixing an old bayonet to a stout pole), killed fifteen bears, and earned more money than would then have been the value of several cows.

Indeed, many of the first settlers of Machias and York- shire paid for their land with money received as bounty for the killing of noxious animals.

In the fall of 1823 three daughters of George Arnold, ranging from ten to seventeen years of age, started out one pleasant Sunday morning in quest of wintergreen-berries. They did not intend to go farther than half a mile from the house, but, after entering the woods, lost their way, and began wandering. Go whichever direction they would, it was all, all wilderness; no opening could be found. As they did not return at dinner-time, their people became alarmed, and began to halloo for them, but got no answer. In the afternoon search was begun by a few neighbors, their numbers constantly increasing as the news spread through the settlements that lost children were in the woods. Night- fall came, and still no tidings of the lost ones. A drench- ing rain-storm set in, and the search was discontinued, except by two men, who volunteered to remain out all night and listen for any unusual sound or cry of distress. By this time the search had been carried over into Ashford, three or four miles northwest of Mr. Arnold's house. Late in the night these two men heard a cry as if of a female or a panther, they could not determine which, but concluded not to investigate further until morning. They then pro- ceeded to a settler's house in Dutch Hollow, and remained till daylight.

The following day a militia company were to meet at Machias Corners for training. They assembled early, and, learning of the lost children, postponed their contemplated military evolutions and joined in the search. At daybreak the two men who had been out through the night sought the locality from whence proceeded the cry of the night be- fore, and there, away up on a high bluff, near the creek, were found the girls, shivering with hunger, cold, and fear, but otherwise unharmed.

They had walked the woods and called for help all through the long night. Once they passed very near and disturbed some animals, which they described as making a noise like little pigs. These, no doubt, were young cubs. Although this happened fifty years ago, the girls (now quite elderly ladies) are all here to-day, viz., Mrs. Chester Ash- craft and Mrs. Nathan Ashcraft, of Machias, and Mrs. Mercy Read, of Arcade.

CIVIL HISTORY.

Machias was formed from Yorkshire, April 16, 1827. (See laws State of New York, Chapter 309, fiftieth session.) The south tier of lots of township 6, range 5, and the south- west corner lot of township 6, range 4, were annexed in 1847. It derives its name from Machias, Maine, from whence came several of its first settlers.

" At a town-meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Machias, held at the house of Jeremiah Bennett, in said town, on Tuesday, May 8, 1827, for the purpose of electing town officers, and to transact such other business as should be deemed most proper, the following officers were elected :

. Supervisor, Howard Peck ; Town Clerk, Nathan Follett ; Assessors, Willard Jefferson, Wiggin M. Farrar, Sylvester Carver; Collector, Jeremiah Bennett; Commissioners of Highways, Sheldon Holbrook, Samuel Bush, Isaac Arnold; Overseers of the Poor, Richard Loomis, Robert Hollister ; School Commissioners, Wiggin M. Farrar, Willard Jeffer- son, Elijah Odell; Inspectors of Schools, Nathan Follett, Howard Peck, Wiggin M. Farrar; Constables, William Loomis, Jeremiah Bennett; Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures, and of Leather, Howard Peck.

The following is a list of the supervisors, town clerks, and justices of the peace, from 1827 to 1878 inclusive.

SUPERVISORS.

1827-31. Howard Peck. 1832-33. Willard Jefferson. 1834-36. Wiggin M. Farrar. 1837-40. Rensselaer Lamb. 1841-44. Lyman Twomley. 1845. Jedediah Robinson. 1846. Rensselaer Lamb. 1847-48. Wiggin M. Farrar.

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History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 96

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: