History of Chautauqua County, New York : from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches, Part 25

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 25

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The People's Gazette was started at Forestville in 1824, by Wm. S. Snow. In 1826, it was united with The Chautauqua Gazette at Fredonia. The Western Intelligencer was published at Forestville a short time in 1833.

The Silver Creek Mail was started in 1848, by John C. Van Duzen. It was changed, in 1852, to The Home Register, and was published by James Long. In 1854, Samuel Wilson became proprietor, and changed it to The Silver Creek Gazette, and continued it until 1856, when it was discontinued. In August of that year, it was revived as The Lake Shore Mirror, by H. M. Morgan, and was afterward published by George A. Martin.

The Ellington Luminary, changed from The Jamestown Herald, and re- moved from Jamestown in 1853, was continued until 1856. The Philoma- thean Exponent was issued at Ellington by the students of the academy in 1852.

The Western New Yorker was started in 1853, in Sherman, edited by Patrick McFarland ; discontinued in 1855. The Sherman News was com- menced some years ago, (the year not ascertained ;) and in 1870 was re- moved to Mayville, its name changed to Chautauqua News, and published there about two years.

OLD SETTLERS' FESTIVALS.

REUNION AT FREDONIA.

THE IIth day of June, 1873, will never be forgotten by those who were so fortunate as to be present at the Reunion of "Old Settlers," at Fredonia. It was an experiment, and many entertained doubts of its success. An earlier day for the meeting had been announced ; but a later day was fixed upon as more likely to secure a fuller attendance.

At an early hour of the day, the people from all parts of the county, and not a few from other counties and states, former residents of Chautauqua, came together to exchange salutations once more with their old pioneer neighbors and friends. The streets were soon thronged; and the air was made vocal with joyful greetings, as friends met friends, after years of separation.

The exercises were appointed to be held at Union Hall, which, after it was opened, was filled in a few moments, without any apparent diminution of the crowd outside. As far as possible, those over 80 were seated in front; . those between 70 and 80, next ; and so on till most of the young folks were driven out, and the platform overlooked a sea of gray heads. The crowded room was called to order at 10.45 a. m., and A. C. Cushing, Esq., president of the village, delivered the following Address of Welcome :

" If out of the abundance of the heart the tongue always found utterance, I might hope that my lips on this occasion would be touched with a little of

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that inspiration, flowing from earnest and profound feeling, which sometimes lends eloquence to those who, like myself, possess neither utterance nor the power of speech.

"Friends of to-day, friends of former years, friends whose venerable heads are now white with the snows of more than seventy winters, friends who have clasped hands in genial companionship with our fathers, we bid you welcome here to-day. If but few of those who started with you on the march of life are left to extend their hearty greeting, we, their descendants, who stand in their places, receive you to our homes and our hearts with grateful recogni- tion, as the representatives of a generation whose hardy virtues, courage and endurance laid the foundation of all the advantages, all the prosperity we now enjoy. It is the seed sown by your hands in the solitudes of the forest amid hardships, privation and toil, which we reap in the glorious harvest of a high cultivation, surrounded by its comforts, its luxuries, and its refinements.

"And an honorable welcome, a welcome tender, kind and true as their own brave loving hearts, to the noble women, who in those early years, stood side by side with husbands, brothers and sons, sharing their hardships and light- ening their toils with pleasant smiles and encouraging words-women as heroic and self-sacrificing as those whom poets and historians have made immortal, although their virtues are written only in the hearts of those who love them.

"Some of you present to-day have witnessed the wonderful transformation which, within the allotted time of man's existence, has changed the whole face of the county. You retain vivid recollections of the early homes of the pioneers, and of the struggles and privations they endured. You also have pleasant remembrances of happy days and the warm friendship existing be- tween neighbors, though living miles apart, and making visits through the woods with ox-teams over roads marked only by blazed trees-softer memo- ries of quilting frolics where they ate pumpkin pie and doughnuts, and 'courted their sweethearts-pretty girls-just fifty years ago.' But many of your number have not been spared to note the march of improvement which has caused the 'wilderness and the solitary place to rejoice and blossom as the rose,' has tracked the once pathless forests with roads on which the iron horse obliterates distance ; has raised beautiful temples to the living God, where once stood the humble meeting-house of the early worshipers ; has built costly edifices of learning, the elegance of the structures only inferior to the grandeur of the objects to which they are dedicated ; has peopled the county with a busy and prosperous population ; has dotted it with thriving towns and villages, the seats of wealth with all its attendant luxuries and elegancies ; has broken the silence of the solitudes with the ceaseless roar of machinery, the blast of the furnace, and the hundred inventions of science and art.

" Yes, my friends, we are proud of our old Chautauqua. Her hills and plains are dear to us. We love her clear lakes and sparkling rivulets. Gen- erous nature has indeed been bountiful, and we feel that our ' lines have been laid in pleasant places.' We modestly exult in the high character for intel- ligence and enterprise borne by her people. Nor in looking over the long list of names made prominent in our country's history, need we blush for the place held there by Chautauqua county. Amid that array in positions of high trust and responsibility stand honorably conspicuous many of her citizens. Of offices of highest dignity and honor bestowed by our state, she holds a full and worthy share. Some of her sons have been called to fill high and

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exalted positions in the councils and conduct of national affairs. She claims as hers the venerated names of some, who, having dropped the harness of earthly toil, now rest from their labors and sleep in honored and honorable repose.

" We are assembled to-day in commemoration of the merits and memories of these and such as these, the early founders of our county, to whose firm courage, perseverance and energy we owe, under God, all the blessings with which we are so richly endowed. *

* * To our departed pioneer heroes we render not worship, but the affectionate remembrance and profound veneration which their merits and our deep obligations demand. To the veteran band, whom it is our privilege still to retain in our midst, we can only say, that the tribute of applause and grateful respect which we tender to them and to their departed companions, in the perils and hardships of pioneer life, flows straight from earnest hearts, and is the utterance of honest lips.

" The establishment of an annual festival, which shall call friends together in hospitable and pleasant reunion, we conceive to be a happy idea, and a landable attempt to keep bright the links of social intercourse between those who once may have been close companions, or old neighbors, but are now sundered by the changes of time and circumstance. Each passing year, we trust, shall again bring us together, at the period of the Old Settlers' Annual Festival, and tighten the bands of good fellowship and unity. Like the patriarchs of old, we will spread our yearly 'feast of fat things,' and, with old friends and neighbors, drink 'the wine of gladness.'"

After his address, for the purpose of organization, Mr. Cushing " nominated a gentleman as president of the day who has often held positions of dignity and responsibility in the state and county, and who has ever discharged his duties to the approbation of all-Hon. Geo. W. Patterson, of Westfield."

The nomination was adopted unanimously. Gov. Patterson was conducted to the chair, and responded as follows :

" Mr. Chairman, and Fellow-Citizens : For the honor which the commit- tee of arrangements have conferred upon me in offering my name as pre- siding officer, I tender my grateful acknowledgments. With my fellow-citi- zens from other localities I wish to congratulate you, one and all, that the people of Fredonia have invited you, not only to this reunion, but to the hospitality of their homes. Great credit is due them for their efforts which will be appreciated.

"Fellow-citizens : It is about seventy years since the first white man settled in the county. * * * In July, 1802, the first infant child was born at Westfield. I had hoped to have the first born of the county here ; I passed him to-day in a private conveyance-(voice in the audience-" He is in the village.") Bring him up. (Orson Stiles : "We will ; he is being escorted in by a four-horse team.") His name is John McHenry.

" I know something of the hardships and privations of the early pioneers, although but little of the full reality. In 1822-3-4, I built fanning mills in Ripley, where I tried to raise the wind, with what success many of you know. There may be gentlemen here who settled in Chautauqua in 1804 and' 1805. Just think of the improvements which they have witnessed. Not a foot of land was then owned, except one farm. The first title given was to Alexander Cochran, of Ripley, in 1804, but contracts were recorded prior to that. The history of Westfield shows that for some families that came in during those

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years, the first table spread was a stone on a stump. It is comparatively but a few years since land-holders owned their land in fee simple. I see before me faces that then hardly expected to own lands in fee simple. As late as 1841, when I took charge of the land-office at Westfield, there was due $1,500,000, and 95,000 acres of untaken land. To-day there are a hundred men before me that could pay that debt. I know not the arrangements of the committee, but suppose others are to follow me, and will yield the floor."

At the conclusion of Gov. Patterson's remarks, Mr. Stiles spoke in behalf of the multitude outside, suggesting that the afternoon session be held in the park ; and he would arrange for seats immediately. The suggestion was adopted unanimously.

C. F. Matteson, chairman of committee of arrangements, announced the following named gentlemen as vice-presidents and secretaries :

Vice-Presidents-Levi Baldwin, Arkwright; Eliakim Garfield, Busti ; Nathan Cleland, Charlotte ; Thomas A. Osborne, Chautauqua ; Alva Billings, Cherry Creek; Edwin Eaton, Carroll ; Nehemiah Royce, Clymer ; Walter Smith, Dunkirk; Abner Hazeltine, Ellicott; Charles B. Green, Ellington ; Abijah Clark, Ellery; Silas Terry, French Creek; Sidney E. Palmer, Gerry ; Amos R. Avery, Hanover ; Daniel Williams, Harmony; Aaron J. Phillips, Kiantone; Luke Grover, Mina; Joseph Clark, Poland; Elisha Fay, Port- land; Wm. Risley, Pomfret; Charles B. Brockway, Ripley; Jonathan S. Pattison, Sheridan; Platt Osborn, Sherman; Harlow Crissey, Stockton ; Obadiah Warner, Villenova ; Thomas B. Campbell, Westfield.

Robert Miles, of Warren, Pa., who settled within a mile of the Chautauqua county line in 1797, was also made a vice-president.

Secretaries-C. E. Benton, of the Advertiser and Union; Louis McKins- try, of the Fredonia Censor ; A. B. Fletcher, of the Jamestown Daily Demo- crat ; Davis H. Waite, of the Jamestown Daily Journal ; C. F. Hall, of the Westfield Republican ; John F. Phelps, of the Mayville Sentinel; D. A. A. Nichols, reporter for Young's History of the County.

Rev. T. Stillman, D. D., was called upon to offer prayer, upon the conclu- sion of which Judge Foote said he had a favor to ask. He wanted all present to join with him in singing the first verse of old "Coronation :"

" All hail the power of Jesus' name !" etc.

Judge Foote, in the interval of business, addressed the meeting. He spoke of his "love of old Chautauqua," and of his endeavors to preserve its history, pointing to the twenty-six large folio volumes of historic scrap-books on the stage as evidence of his labor. He spoke with deep feeling and earnest- ness. Among other things, he said : "I want a history that commemorates your virtues and hardships before I came into the county. I love these gray heads, many of them I have known since I came into the county. I pro- posed that hymn because I know you are a Christian people. We all believe alike in the foundation-Christ Jesus. I reside in New Haven, but live in Chautauqua. Here I am to be buried-have so provided in my will. This is the last meeting for many of us, but no matter, if we are ripe for the harvest."

The chairman introduced to the audience the first man born of Chautau-

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qua "dust." The Fredonia Musical Association then gave "Auld Lang Syne" with excellent effect, under lead of Prof. Riggs-Mrs. E. F. Swart at the organ.

For the purpose of estimating how many decades of ages could be accom- modated at the first table, those over ninety years old were called on to stand up, then those over eighty. The following named responded :

Those over 90-Elijah Fay, of Portland; Bartlett Luce, of Pomfret ; Timothy Goulding, 91, of Sheridan ; Charles F. Arnold, 93, of Sheridan.

From 80 to 90-Isaac Bussing, Pomfret, 89; Arna Wood, Pomfret, 82 ; Charles P. Young, Ripley, 82 ; Allen Denny, Stockton, 82 ; Samuel Rock- wood, Sheridan, 86 ; John Seymour, Pomfret, 80 ; Stephen Ross, Arkwright, 87 ; Rev. John P. Kent, Lima, 80; Hugh Harper, Charlotte, 85 ; Ezekiel Gould, Chautauqua, 84; Aaron Smith, Stockton, 80; Jeremiah Curtis, Stock- ton, 80; Darius Knapp, Pomfret, 84; David Griggs, Pomfret, 84; Silas Spencer, Westfield, 84; Abram Dixon, Westfield, 86; Benjamin H. Dick- son, Ripley, 81 ; Chester Brown, Pomfret, 86; Naomi Miller, Stockton, 83 ; David Parker, Perrysburg, 80; Orpha Burritt, Fredonia, 81 ; D. J. Matteson, Fredonia, 81 ; Mr. Lazelle, Stockton, 85; Henry Smith, Charlotte, 82 ; Thos. Magee, Hanover, 87 ; T. B. Campbell, Westfield, 85; J. Ackley, Pine Grove, Pa., 83 ; Abner Hazeltine, Jamestown, 80; Joseph Davis, Pomfret, 80; Polly Wilson, Pomfret, 80 ; Samuel Cleland, 85 ; John Cleland, 81 ; Nathan Cleland, 78, of Charlotte, and Oliver Cleland, 79, of Berlin, O .; Hoel Beadle, Westfield, 80 ; James Billings, Chautauqua, 82 ; with others subse- quently recorded, making upwards of forty.

Of those between 70 and 80 years of age, the record, though said to be incomplete, shows nearly 150.

Gov. Patterson then announced that it was time to go to dinner. He had his grandfather's time-piece with him, which was never wound up but once, and that was ninety years ago, but it had always kept time, and does now just as accurately as it did then. There was some curiosity manifested to see such a wonderful time-piece, which was only satisfied when the Governor held out his old sun dial. Newell Putnam, of Conneaut, O., said, " Here is one that had to be wound up once in a while, but it is a hundred years old, and keeps time yet," and sent up a venerable silver watch for exhibition.

Mrs. A. C. Russell, of Dunkirk, then came upon the stage in ancient costume and sang a solo, which she said Judge Foote taught her forty-five years ago. The bonnet worn by Mrs. Russell, was the same that was made in Fredonia, in 1805, for Mrs. Thomas Fargo.

The president, vice-presidents, and all present over 80 years old, were then invited to form in procession for dinner ; and they passed out of the hall to where the Stockton military band was in waiting to escort them to the academy, in which the collation was served. Judge Foote and lady, though yet under the age of 80, were given a place among those who headed this noble band of octogenarians.

The meeting, in charge of Mr. C. F. Matteson, chairman of the committee

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of arrangements, continued in session during the absence of the officers. Several letters responding to invitations to attend the "Old Settlers'" gather- ing, some of which, with an interesting paper written by Mr. Wm. Risley, of Fredonia, were read by Judge Emory F. Warren and the chairman.

Rev. Dr. Stillman, of Dunkirk, then addressed the meeting, giving his recollections of coming to the county in 1830, when he was 32 hours staging and footing it from Buffalo to the Haskins tavern in Sheridan, 40 miles. The United States mail from Buffalo for all the west was then carried by stage, usually in two bags; one large for the west distributing office ; one small for the way offices, both bags occupying only part of the space under the driver's seat. Now it is no uncommon thing, any day, to see fifteen tons of westward mail on the platform at Dunkirk for the illimitable west. For several years of his early residence at Dunkirk, he had authority from the postmaster to bring down the mail to that village when it reached Fredonia behind time ; and he had carried it many a time in his hat without incon- venience. Now a single business house receives a daily average of letters the whole village used to receive in a week. Dr. S. gave also a list of the prices of the various kinds of tavern beverages, copied from M. W. & T. G. Abell's bar book, showing the enormous amounts paid by the citizens for strong drink, but omitting the names of the persons charged ; saying, how- ever : "Nearly every man in town was charged with grog on that book."

At I o'clock, the elder guests having got through, their juniors-between 70 and 80 years of age-formed in line for the tables which were reset for them in the academy; 'and the meeting adjourned to the Common, to re- assemble at 3 o'clock. The intervening time was spent in exhibiting the numerous relics which many were impatiently waiting for an opportunity to examine.

After the persons of 70 years had dined, the tables, which accommodated about 150 at once, were set about twice more; and victuals were also passed round in baskets to the crowd outside, unable to enter, for an hour and a half. There had been prepared forty pans of baked beans, with a proportionate quantity of meats, breadstuffs, pies, cakes, etc. If any went away hungry, it was not from a lack of provisions, as there were many left ; nor from inattention on the part of the committee in charge, whose chairman, G. D. Hinkley, and secretary, J. C. Mullett, were highly commended for their skill as engineers of a public collation. The committee's task was an arduous one, but was well performed. In addition to the collation, several hundred persons were made welcome guests at the homes of citizens. Probably considerably more than 1,000 persons were fed at the academy ; and still there were provisions left, many baskets full.

An old fashioned dinner was served during the intermission. At about 2 p. m., Gov. Patterson and wife, Judge Foote and wife, Judge Warren and wife, Sam. Cleland, and the mother of Horace White, Oliver Cleland, and Polly Wilson (the Polly that was hired girl for Zattu Cushing when the tim- ber on the land where Union Hall now is was being cleared off), Mrs. Judge

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Hazeltine, seated themselves on such slab benches and stools as some of them had sat upon in " auld lang syne " at the old Wilson table placed upon the stage of Union Hall. The table was set with the old china and pewter dishes ; and the bill of fare comprised such solid food as boiled pork (with the fat in) and greens, Indian bread and pudding, a johnny cake baked on a board, pies and cakes from the old recipes of '76, and tea and coffee-all of which seemed to be relished. The feelings of the guests were expressed by Gov. Patterson in the following sentiment : "The early settlers of Chautau- qua and their entertainers at Fredonia-may all live and prosper ; " to which Horace White responded : "The venerable pioneers of Chautauqua, whose enterprising, sterling virtues and industry have brought the country from its wilderness to be the most flourishing in the state in its agricultural interests." A Silver Creek miss, dressed as Sally of yore might have been, did the serving satisfactorily.

AFTERNOON SESSION .- After music by the two bands, President Patterson requested the attention of the multitude reassembled, when A. C. Cushing, Esq., offered a resolution to appoint a committee of seven, of which the president was to be one, to agree upon a permanent organization, and upor the next place of meeting. The chair appointed E. F. Warren, Alvin Plumb, J. L. Bugbee, Obed Edson, Abner Hazeltine, and C. F. Matteson.

Gov. Patterson here exhibited a revolutionary soldier's canteen. It is made of a section of an ox horn made tight at each end with wooden stoppers. He said they could all see by that what the old settlers meant when they talked of taking a " pretty good horn." -

A noteworthy feature of this assemblage was the exhibition of relics, which, in respect to their number, variety, rareness, and antiquity, have probably never been equaled on a similar occasion, in any part of this or in any other state. Of the oil portraits and photographs, there were about 100. Of the relics, the mention of them, with the briefest description, occupied four columns of a county paper, and were several hundreds in number. Believing that nothing done or exhibited at the meeting would be read with deeper interest, it was intended to select from the long list a considerable number for insertion in the History ; but the difficulty of making a proper discrimina- tion in the selection, and the want of space, forbid the carrying of this in- tention into effect. A small number only are given :

Two volumes of the earlier newspapers of the county, between the years 1817 and 1827 ; and several New England papers of 1780-90 ; also a copy of the Connecticut Courant, of Oct. 29, 1764, in which is the following paragraph :

"A surprising concatination of events in one week. Published a Sunday ; married a Tuesday; had a child a Tuesday; stole a horse a Wednesday; banished a Thursday; died a Friday; buried a Saturday-all in one week."

An old fashioned side-saddle, by Mrs. Barmore, the history of which she can trace back 130 years. How much older it is she does not know.

A chair by Buell Tolles, of Sheridan, brought into the county by his father

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in 1826, and over 100 years old. Although old style, it is very easy sitting. . Also the old fashioned tinder-box. The process of striking fire with the old flint was many times repeated, to the great curiosity of the young folks, while the old ones would exclaim, "How many times I have done that." Also a pewter platter over 100 years old ; also the old fashioned foot stove that used to keep the church pews warm, nearly 100 years old.

The identical axe that cut the first tree felled in Fredonia, by John Bartoo, of Forestville. It was one of the tools Col. Bartoo used to build a mill dam and saw-mill for Hezekiah Barker.

A pewter basin by Mrs. Joy Handy-part of the outfit of the wedding of the Major's grandparents. When New London was burned during the Revo- lutionary war, this basin was hid with other valuables under a stone wall, and thus saved ; also a chopping knife belonging to the same outfit, and a toilet spread made by an immediate descendant of Pocahontas, 60 years ago.

Plated sugar tongs, 100 years old, by Miss Jane Osborne ; also two needle- books, 150 years old-regular "grandma's" style; also Thomas Osborne's (her father,) commission as captain in 1806 ; also a summons to her father to attend the Great Wigwam of Tammany, Oct. 12, 1809, and the cockade worn by him in the war of 1812.

A canteen of the war of 1776, by Wm. B. Griswold; it was carried by Stephen Bush, of Ct., afterwards of Sheridan, and also in the war of 1812, by Wm. Griswold and Nicholas Mallett, both of Sheridan.

The old pocket compass owned by Capt. Robert Kidd, presented by Dr. L. Clark, of Mayville; also a razor owned by Jonathan Clark in the 17th century.

A splint-bottomed, high-backed chair, 100 years old, by Rowland Porter. Another by Mrs. E. S. Kellogg-an arm chair, (green,) a portion of the first parlor suit made in Oneida county, in 1780. Another of 1811, by H. H. Lamphier.

A bed pan of Mrs. Edmund Day, of Dunkirk, 200 years old; it was brought here by Eli Drake-one of the first settlers.

An Ulster Co. Gazette, of Jan. 4, 1800, in mourning for George Washing- ton, by Mrs. J. D. Andrews.

Mrs. T. W. Stevens presents a needle-book in daily use 60 years ago; a piece of Capt. Phineas Stevens' dressing gown-Capt. S. was a surgeon in Burgoyne's army in 1775 ; a wallet worked before 1770; worked embroidery done before the Revolution; and patterns and bobbins for lace making in use during the Revolution.

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