History of Chautauqua County, New York : from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches, Part 18

Author: Young, Andrew W. (Andrew White), 1802-1877; Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. fmo; Huntington Free Library. fmo
Publication date: 1875
Publisher: Buffalo, N.Y. : Printing House of Matthews & Warren
Number of Pages: 948

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York : from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 18

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"When the fires of persecution assailed you, sir, our hearts were taught to burn with indignation, and to shiver at the name of Olmutz, when its prison damps were settling on the brow of our hero and friend. God be thanked, we trust those scenes of sufferings and wrongs and persecutions will no more be renewed. But on this spirit stirring subject I must not dwell. In behalf of my beloved fellow-citizens, most cordially do I welcome you, where, through the influence of our free institutions, which you yourself, sir, so greatly contributed to rear, the wilderness of yesterday is now blossoming as the rose. As our country's friend and benefactor, with heartfelt sincerity and gratitude do I salute you. May that ever gracious Being, by whom we are thus favored, strew the path of your pilgrimage with his richest blessings, until, at some far distant day, he may please to receive you to Himself in glory everlasting."

The General grasped the speaker's hand with great emotion, and replied :

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" MY DEAR SIR : Accept my most sincere thanks for your most affec- tionate address. Your allusion to my early visit to America, to my services here and to my sufferings since, are very kind, and, as I must frankly con- fess, are very gratifying to my feelings. The manner of my reception here, my very dear sir, in a place so shortly since a wilderness, as you have said, surprises me as much as it pleases me. Surely, I am very much obliged. And I beg you, sir, with the committee, who have shown me every kindness, to accept my grateful acknowledgments."

The General, then turning to the military and ladies and citizens, assem- bled in front of the bower, addressed them in a warm and animated style of thankfulness for their attentions, and especially for awaiting his arri- val to so late an hour. * * * "That the ladies, too," to use his own affectionate words, "that the ladies, too, should remain up all night to receive me, surely it is too much."

After several introductions, the ladies were presented to him, to whom he severally gave his hand, greeting them most affectionately, and giving them many compliments for these flattering testimonials of their respect to him. The Revolutionary soldiers were next introduced to him. The scene was truly interesting. The crowd was so great, that, to afford all an opportunity to see him, he took a stand on the front of the platform, where the military and citizens passed in review before him. He then sat down to an entertain- ment prepared by Mr. Abell with great taste and elegance.

Day began to dawn when he arose from the table; and the military, again in advance, escorted him to Dunkirk, where, with the committee and several military officers from this place, he embarked on board the steam brig Supe- rior, which, agreeably to an arrangement, was in readiness to receive him on board and convey him to Buffalo. As the yawl was gliding along, a salute of twenty-four guns was fired from the steamboat in quick succession, which was followed by another salute of twenty-four guns from the artillery on shore, in a handsome style.

Too much praise can not be bestowed upon the military and band ot music belonging to Col. Abell's regiment-all under the command of Col. Smith, the marshal of the day-who turned out on so short a notice ; and, notwithstanding their fatigue and exhaustion, patiently and soldier-like kept on the ground, not only all day but all night, to welcome the "Guest of the Nation." It was a pleasure to see Major-General Risley, with a part of his staff, and Brigadier-General Barker, contributing, as on all similar occasions, greatly to the fine appearance of the military. The entertainment and prep- arations made by Mr. Abell were splendid, and got up in a style worthy the reception of so distinguished a guest.

The platform erected in front of the house, set round with green trees planted in the ground, overhung with lamps and chandeliers, with an arch in front, all beautifully dressed off by the fine taste and decorations of our ladies, had an effect at that late hour of the night, and amid the illumina- tions of the village, bordering on enchantment. And to crown the imposing scene, the eloquent, spirit-stirring address delivered by the Rev. Mr. Brown,

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in a manner preeminently calculated to awaken the ardor of the patriot's bosom, had an effect which we are unable adequately to describe. Every eye gazed intently, now at the General and now at the orator, with thrilling delight. The reply of the General was warm and affectionate, and showed that the patriotic flame which burst forth so brilliantly and burned so efful- gently in the Revolutionary struggle, had not ceased to glow in his devoted bosom at this late period of his life.

The procession accompanying the General from this place to Dunkirk, consisting of the military, and ladies and citizens in carriages and on horse- back, extended very nearly a mile. We were highly gratified with the hand- some manner of his reception by the Buffalo committee on the pier at Dunkirk. The steam brig lay off a mile from shore, and presented a fine appearance. Her salute was in a style that would have been creditable to a ship of war; and with the advantage of an echo from our forests, rolling back its reverberations on the ears of thousands of spectators, we scarcely recollect anything equal to it.

The morning was clear and tranquil, and everything in Nature seemed to have been carefully arranged for the purpose of contributing to the interest of the occasion.

TEMPERANCE HISTORY.

DRINKING CUSTOMS.

THE use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage by all classes of the commu- nity, and the direful consequences of its use, prevailed throughout the coun- try. Although the evils of intemperance are still lamentably prevalent, a material change in the custom of drinking has been wrought. Good men and bad indulged in it. The whisky jug was thought an indispensable help in the harvest field, and was ever present at house-raisings, log-rollings, and corn-huskings ; nor was the decanter with its exhilarating contents usually wanting at social gatherings. A man meeting a friend near a tavern, invited him to the bar to "take a drink." A man was deemed wanting in hospitality if he did not "treat" his visitors. A traveler stopping at a tavern to warm himself, thought it "mean " to leave without patronizing the bar to the amount of a sixpence or a shilling.' The idea had not been conceived, that both parties would have been gainers if the money had been paid for the fire, and the liquor left in the decanter. Liquor bought by the gallon, and even by the barrel, was kept in families for daily use. Seated at the break- fast table, the glass was passed round to "give an appetite." Bittered with some herb or drug, it was used as a "sovereign remedy " for many of the ail- ments "flesh is heir to," and often as a preventive. It was taken because the weather was hot, and because it was cold. Liquors being kept in coun- try stores, some merchants were wont to treat their customers, especially

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when they made large bills, and sometimes beforehand, to sharpen their appetite for trading. Happily most of these customs have become obsolete among the better classes of society, and, it is hoped, never to be revived.

In nearly every town was a distillery-in some towns a number-where farmers exchanged their rye and corn for whisky, which was a common arti- cle of traffic. Merchants exchanged for it the grain received from their cus- tomers, and, after supplying the demand at home, sent the surplus to the eastern markets, after the opening of the Erie canal. Having reached its destination, a large portion of it was, by some mystic process, suddenly con- verted into another article, and, under a different name, bought, perhaps, by the same country merchants, to supply their customers with " a pure brandy for medicinal purposes."

That drunkenness, and its natural concomitants-poverty, crime, and pre- mature death-were the result of the practices we have mentioned, is not surprising. The marvel is, that the opinions and habits so long prevalent, should have had the sanction of good men. The evils of intemperance be- came at length intolerable, and remedial measures began to be suggested and discussed.

Further evidence of the general prevalence of liquors as a beverage among all classes, is found in the by-laws adopted by the grand jury of Chautauqua county, in June, 1827-a body of men whose duty it was to indict men for crimes, the most of which were committed under the influence of the bever- age which was the principal cause of crime, and to the popular use of which these inquisitors of crime contributed the weight of their example. The subject of by-laws was referred to a committee who reported seven rules, the first two of which were as follows :

" 1. That the foreman of the jury pay one bottle of brandy for the honor of his seat. 2. That the secretary also pay one bottle."

The other rules imposed fines of 1272 cents for the violation of certain rules of etiquette, or non-observance of some prescribed formality. And it is quite probable that these fines were expended in intoxicating drinks.

A noticeable specimen of the use and cost of liquor is found in a tavern bar-book of Jacob Fenton in Jamestown, in 1817. A glance over its pages will convince any person of the mistake of those who think that more liquor is drunk now than there was before the organization of temperance societies. On page 19, G. G. is charged with 3 half pints whisky, at three different times, at 25 cents each, making 75 cents, and supper and lodging, 44 cents. Total, $1.19. N. L. is charged 3 milk punches, 25 cents each. E. W. is credited on account $2.05, to apply on tavern bills contracted, it is presumed, at the above rates. H. B., 1 gill whisky, 13c. W. M., 2 gills whisky, 25c. A Mr. J. M. buys, in one day, 5 gills at 121/2c. each. On the next page are charged 11 gills at 121/2c. each, and 2 breakfasts at 37c .; 2 lodgings at 7c., and a supper, 25c. Total, $2.44. This man probably had a wife and children in town. On another page are 7 half pints whisky at 12 1/2c., and I qt. porter, 25c., charged in succession, no charge against another person

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intervening. Here are seen the names of well known business men scat- tered through the book. It is readily seen that, in proportion to the capital employed, tavern-keeping must have been the most lucrative business at that time carried on ; provided, however, that there were no "bad debts." A citizen is charged for 1 gallon and i qt. $2.50 ; from which it appears that "landlord " Fenton sold for the same price, pro rata, by wholesale and retail.

TEMPERANCE REFORM MEASURES.

Where, or how, or when the temperance reform originated, is, perhaps, not now known. The first temperance document the writer recollects, was an ad- dress by Mr. Kittridge, of New Hampshire, which, if it did not start the reform, gave it a powerful impetus ; and the name of the pamphlet, "Kittridge's Ad- dress," became, in some parts of the country, as familiar as a household word. This was soon followed [in 1826] by "Six Sermons on Intemperance," by Rev. Lyman Beecher, of Boston, which also rendered the cause essential service. A portion of the newspaper press soon came to its support. Meetings were held in all parts of the country. The pledge of abstinence was circulated, and was signed by a large number of both sexes, among whom were many intemperate persons. Although many of these relapsed, some were effect- ually reclaimed.

For a number of years only spirituous liquors were interdicted by the pledge. Complete success, it was believed, required abstinence from intox- icating liquors of all kinds ; and the societies soon adopted the principle of total abstinence.

When and where the first temperance society was formed, perhaps no person knows. The Chautauqua County Temperance Society, auxiliary to the state society, was organized in 1829. Pursuant to previous notice, the friends of temperance met at the court-house for the purpose of forming a society. In a county containing 31,000 inhabitants, only fifteen met for that purpose. The number being so small, they repaired to the law office of Anselm Potter, and organized by choosing Elial T. Foote, president, and Harvey Newcomb, secretary. Among the number assembled were Abner Hazeltine, Hiram Couch, and Thomas W. Harvey. This organization, though small in its beginning, soon became a respectable and efficient society, sustained by auxiliaries in the several towns.

Like other reformatory movements, the temperance cause had both open and negative opponents. Among the latter were respectable men. Some of them drank temperately ; others, perhaps not at all, but would "not sign away their liberty," and manifested their professed regard for their unfortunate fellow-men by a "masterly inactivity." In their view, it was well enough for drunkards, and those likely to become such, to take the pledge ; but for the temperate it was not necessary. Among these were at first many members of religious societies, whose example furnished the intemperate and the,occa- sional drunkard with the most effective shield against the arguments and

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entreaties of the friends of the cause. Happily, many of these, convinced of the adverse influence of their example, abandoned their position, and took an active part in the reformation.

About the year 1840, a fresh impulse was given to the temperance cause by the efforts of men called Washingtonians. A number of abandoned men in the city of Baltimore, who had been wont to spend their evenings at the taverns and other haunts of the vicious and dissipated, resolved to reform, and at once became "teetotalers." They traversed a large portion of the country, lecturing to large gatherings. Drunkards in large numbers and from great distances attended ; and many of them signed the pledge. The most noted of this band of reformers was John Hawkins, who, though unlettered, was one of the most effective lecturers in the country. Although there was nothing in their principles or mode of operation to distinguish them from other temperance men, they took the name of "Washingtonians." Their efforts resulted in the reformation of many drunkards, who became mission- aries, and constituted, for a time, the principal lecturing force of the country.

It must be confessed, however, that the benefits of this " temperance revi- val" which many anticipated, were not fully realized. These reformers came to be regarded by many as almost the only efficient champions of the cause, while its earliest and ablest advocates were lightly esteemed. Hence these were chiefly superseded as lecturers, by reformed inebriates, many of whom, though for the time abstaining from the use of intoxicating drinks, were far from having attained the character of the true reformer. Often was the pul- pit surrendered, on the sabbath, to men whose mirth-provoking stories were wholly unbecoming the place and the occasion. It is not strange that some who, under such influences, signed the pledge, soon relapsed into their former habits. Still, much good was accomplished. Probably about this time, and for several years thereafter, less ardent spirits were drank in proportion to our population, than at any other time since distilleries were first established.

The Washingtonian movement was succeeded by other organizations. Among the earliest of them was that of the Sons of Temperance, which was for several years a popular order of temperance men. But it seems to have been, to a considerable extent, superseded by the Good Templars, who have organ- izations in most of the towns. These two orders are both secret. Whether their efficiency is increased by this feature in their organization, or not, it is not easy to determine.

As incidental to the efforts for the promotion of the temperance reforma- tion, came the license question. Notwithstanding the marked progress of the cause by the simple instrumentality of the pledge, many, with a view to its more rapid advancement, began to invoke the aid of legislation by the enactment of prohibitory laws. Without questioning the propriety of these laws, it may be said, with truth, that in proportion as the friends of the cause relied on legislation to accomplish the desired reform, their labors in the use of the pledge were relaxed. The effect of this relaxation of effort was a retrogression of the cause.

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A stringent prohibitory law was passed in Maine. Well authenticated official statements soon showed a reduction, in some districts, of more than three-fourths of the expense of pauperism and crime. A similar law was tried in one or more other states, and with similar results, for short periods of time. But the strong opposition which these laws have encountered has greatly impaired their efficiency, or effected their repeal. Hence many of the friends of temperance advise a return to the old tried and effectual method of promoting the cause, not as a substitute for legislation, but as a means of reclaiming inebriates, and of preparing public sentiment to sustain prohibitory laws if any should be enacted.

Many different laws for checking the evils of intemperance have been enacted in many of the states. In communities in which these laws have been enforced, they have had a salutary effect. But they are generally little more than a dead letter on the statute book. The evil to be remedied is firmly rooted ; and its eradication, or even its material mitigation, requires unwearied, persevering effort on the part of the friends of temperance. Although intemperance may be measurably checked by legislation, more may be done by prevention. Let the young be trained in the principles of Christian morality, and be early pledged to total abstinence from all intoxi- cating drinks, and a marked improvement in the state of society will soon appear.

ANTISLAVERY HISTORY.

IN 1829, Wm. Lloyd Garrison became joint-editor of the Genius of Uni- versal Emancipation, an antislavery journal, published in Baltimore, pre- viously established, it is believed, by Benjamin Lundy. It had advocated the gradual abolition of slavery ; but Mr. Garrison distinctly avowed the doctrine that immediate emancipation was the right of the slave, and the duty of the master. Having, soon after, denounced certain persons engaged in the domestic slave-trade, which he stigmatized as "domestic piracy," he was tried and convicted for a libel. Unable to pay the penalty, he was sent to prison. After a few weeks' confinement, a friend paid the fine, and released him. He went to Boston, where, on the ist of January, 1831, he issued the first number of the Liberator. Other papers soon followed in advocating immediate abolition of slavery; and antislavery societies began to be formed. The American Antislavery Society was formed in 1833.

The abolitionists believed with their opponents, that slavery in the states could only be abolished by their respective governments. Their chief object was, by the discussion of the subject, in all its bearings, social, moral, and political, to convince slaveholders that it was their duty, and that it would be for their interest, to abolish slavery. They hoped also, that a general expres- sion of northern sentiment against the institution as morally wrong, might

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serve to hasten action on the part of the slave states. And as the power of Congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia and the territories of the United States, was generally admitted in the North, petitions in vast numbers, praying for the exercise of this power, were sent to Congress from all the free states. Town and county societies were formed throughout the North. This movement alarmed as well as exasperated the southern people ; and the excitement soon became general. In the North as well as in the South, meetings were held, and resolutions passed, bitterly denouncing the abolitionists. Antislavery meetings in many places were broken up by violence, and several antislavery presses were demolished.

These acts of violence were not always the work of men of the "baser sort," but were, in many instances, not only instigated but perpetrated by men of high standing. The men who, in Utica, in 1835, entered a church in which the delegates of the New York State Antislavery Society were assem- bled, and actually dispersed the occupants of the house by force, were promi- nent professional men and other men of high official and social position. A respectable minister, a resident of the city, was violently thrown upon the floor, his own son, a lawyer, being one of the participators in the shameful affray. The governor of the state, in 1836, took part in a meeting in Albany, by which the most denunciatory resolutions against the abolitionists were passed, and the deepest sympathy was expressed for their "southern brethren."

An antislavery convention had assembled in a court-house in Western New York. A committee of fifty, embracing nearly every man of fair social position in the village, having been appointed for the purpose at a public meeting, entered the court-house, and read the resolutions adopted at that meeting, disapproving the views of the abolitionists, and advising the con- vention to disperse, intimating that they might not be permitted to proceed peaceably in their deliberations. In the gallery were seated about twenty ruffians, who, on signals given by two lawyers and an editor standing below and facing the gallery, would, by hissing, stamping, and other noises, inter- rupt the proceedings of the convention. After several fruitless attempts to proceed to the transaction of business, the meeting was adjourned to a future day, and to another part of the county.

Many now will wonder that the discussion of an evil of such magnitude, should not be allowed in a country whose constitution guaranties the right of freedom of speech, even when the subject is liberty itself. It is, however, proper to state, that much of this opposition to the antislavery effort arose, not from a regard for slavery, but from a misapprehension of the aims of the abolitionists. [For political action on the slavery question, see Political History.]

A majority of Congress being opposed to the objects of the abolitionists, who continued to send in their petitions for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, and for prohibiting the slave trade between the states, the house resolved that such petitions should, on presentation, be laid on the

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table without being debated, printed, or referred. This action of the house rather increased than allayed agitation; and petitions were daily offered as usual- some for the repeal of the "gag resolutions," as they were called.

But as yet there was no political antislavery party. The abolitionists, however, began to vote for candidates in favor of their views without respect to party. The subject of a political organization was soon after agitated ; and in November, 1839, at a small meeting of abolitionists in Western New York, James G. Birney, formerly a slaveholder in Alabama, who had eman- cipated his slaves and removed to the North, was nominated for president. This party never became numerous. A large majority of the abolitionists refused to join it, believing their object was more likely to be effected by adhering to the original plan of the societies.

MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

THIS society was formed in June, 1818, in court week. Pursuant to pre- vious public notice, a number of physicians and surgeons met at the hall of Gen. John McMahan, in Mayville. Dr. E. T. Foote was chosen chairman of the meeting, and Dr. Fenn Deming, secretary. Officers of the society were elected as follows: President, Elial T. Foote. Vice-President, Samuel Snow. Secretary, Treasurer, and Librarian, Fenn Deming. Censors, Orris Crosby, John P. M. Whaley, Henry Sargent. The last three named were also ap- pointed as a committee to prepare a code of by-laws for the society, to be presented at the next meeting ; and Dr. Foote was appointed a delegate to the state society. At the meeting in June, 1819, Dr. Sargent presented a code of by-laws prepared by himself, which were adopted. Dr. Jediah Prendergast was chosen president for the ensuing year ; Dr. Squire White, vice-president ; Dr. Ebenezer P. Upham, secretary ; Drs. Foote, Crosby, and Sargent, censors. Dr. Sargent was appointed to deliver an address at the next annual meeting.

ECLECTIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

The first " Reform Medical Society " was organized in Fredonia, in 1844, Dr. J. R. Bush, president, and M. Hobart, secretary. Under the auspices of this society, a course of lectures was given in Fredonia by Prof. Hill, of Cincinnati, commencing June, 1847. About twenty students were in attend- ance. The last meeting of the society of which a record is obtained, was held at Jamestown, in September, 1850. The Eclectic Medical Association of Chautauqua County was organized in September, 1856, Dr. O. C. Payne, president ; A. P. Parsons, M. D., secretary. During nine years, this associa- tion held thirty meetings for the transaction of business, and received thirty- five members. Their names are as follows :

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