History of Chautauqua County, New York : from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches, Part 80

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 80

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

John Dawson now resides. In 1852, he was elected special judge of the county, and in 1855, county judge. In 1860, he removed to Erie, where he has been for many years, and is now, associated with S. S. Spencer in the practice of law. He was married in Ripley, May 25, 1847, to Sarah W. Dinsmore. They had 5 children : Dudley, who died in Erie, in 1864; Mary W .; Charles D .; Elizabeth S. ; and Anna H.

SHERMAN.

Josiah R. Keeler, an early settler, was a son of Matthew and Rebecca (Raymond) Keeler, natives of Norwalk, Conn., who had 8 sons : Josiah R., George A., Smith B., Zalmon, Rufus, William K., Burr, and Jonah C. Josiah R. came first, and settled, in 1826, on the hill, having cut his road thither, where he built a house, a store, and an ashery. He was soon followed by emigrants from Farmington, Conn., many of them Congrega- tionalists ; and a church of that order was soon formed, June, 1827, many bringing letters from Rev. Dr. Noah Porter's church in Farmington. At the request of the new church, Dr. Porter and his church selected for them a minister, Rev. Justin Marsh, a young man, agreeing to pay him half of his salary, $200, leaving $200 to be raised by the new church, of which Josiah R. and Smith B. Keeler paid $100. A new meeting-house was commenced in 1832, and dedicated in May, 1833. It cost about $2,000, of which the Keelers paid about one-half. Mr. Marsh married a daughter of Dr. Fenn Deming of Westfield ; had a family, and died in Michigan. Mr. Keeler is said to have been an obliging man and decidedly religions.

Mr. Keeler bought and manufactured largely pot and pearl ashes ; his brother being employed mainly in the ashery. The ashes were delivered at Portland Harbor, [Barcelona, ] for shipment east ; and his goods were received at the same harbor. The road being extremely bad, it required two yoke of oxen to draw three barrels of ashes, and three days to perform the trip, eighteen miles and return. His brothers George and Zalmon also came to Sherman, and were in the employ of their eldest brother; but neither of them, it is believed, was a partner. Smith, George, and Zalmon removed to Jamestown, where they resided for a time. Zalmon G. Keeler, with Simeon W. Parks, came to Jamestown, about 1833, and opened a store, being sup- plied with goods by Josiah R. Keeler. Mr. Park is still there, in other business. Zalmon G. Keeler died some years ago, in Jamestown, where his widow and daughters still reside. Josiah R. Keeler died in Sherman, long since, leaving a widow and children. A son, Osborn, entered Yale College after his father's death ; his health g, he went home and died of consumption.

[On page 547, Wm. H. Keeler is mentioned as having had a store in : Sherman, and a son Osborn. There is some doubt as to the correctness of a part of this statement. Josiah R. Keeler had a store and a son Osborn, and is probably the person alluded to. He had a son Wm. H., whose name is on the map of 1854, in the south-west part of lot 28.]

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STOCKTON.

ELLSWORTH FAMILY .- Dr. Waterman Ellsworth, a prominent citizen of Stockton, came to that town about the year 1822, some say 1824, where he resided till he died, in 1849. [Sketch, p. 564.] He had five sons : Stukely, Hazelius, Franklin, Henry M., and Clay W. P.

Stukely Ellsworth was born in Stockton, Dec. 18, 1826. He received academical education at Fredonia, Westfield, and Mayville academies, and graduated at Yale College in 1847. He studied law at Buffalo nearly three years ; was admitted to the supreme court of the United States, at Washing- ton, in 1855 ; and settled the same year at Eugene City, Oregon. He was married, in 1856, to May C. Stevens, of Coldwater, Michigan, and has five children. In 1875, he, for the first time in twenty years, revisited his native county, accompanied by his oldest daughter, and visiting the Atlantic states as grand representative from Oregon to the Grand Lodge of the United States, I. O. O. F. He has been steadily engaged in the practice of his profession, giving but little attention to politics ; his only candidacy for office at the hands of any political party during his residence in Oregon, having been for the office of judge of the supreme court of the state, in 1866, for which he was defeated by the incumbent, who was reelected. His children are Harriet Rosina, aged 18 years ; John Waterman, 16; Sarah Louisa, 12; Georgia Alice, 8 ; Mark Adams, 6. His present residence and post-office address is La Grande, Oregon.

Hazelius Ellsworth was born at Stockton, Nov. 14, 1828. He adopted the profession of his father, attending nearly three full courses of lectures at the University of New York, interrupted, in the last course, by the death of his father. He removed to Eugene City, Oregon, October, 1863, and still resides there, being now, and having been, for the last 10 or 11 years, engaged in the druggist business. He is unmarried.

Franklin Ellsworth was born August 14, 1830, and removed, in 1852, to San Francisco, Cal .; was married, in 1865, to Miss McLane, and has a son, 8 years old.

Henry Martyn Ellsworth, born in Stockton, removed to Oregon in 1854. He was married, Oct. 11, 1865, at La Grande, Oregon, to Marietta Pierce, daughter of James M. Pierce, of Stockton, and granddaughter of John West and wife, still living at the old homestead in Stockton. Mrs. Ellsworth's mother, Henrietta Pierce, resides at Delanti. Mrs. Ellsworth died at San Francisco, April 22, 1875, leaving two daughters, Ella Pierce and Henrietta Rosina, aged respectively 7 and 3 years. Mr. Ellsworth resides at Kelton, Utah, and is a merchant, and agent of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express.

Clay W. P. Ellsworth is the fifth son of Dr. Ellsworth, but no information respecting his residence or family has been received.

FISHER FAMILIES .- The Fishers were natives of Princeton, Mass. Icha- bod, John, Jabez, and Joel, sons of Ichabod, all came to Chautauqua Co., most of them from Oneida county, and settled at and near Cassadaga lake.

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

Ichabod, the oldest brother, came in 1813, and bought a whole lot, parts of which were taken by others. He was born, Jan., 1772, and died May 5, 1847. His sons are Orrin H., now in Nebraska, and Willard W., postmaster at Cassadaga. Ichabod Fisher kept a tavern, the first in the town of Stock- ton ; his license having been taken in 1816.

John Fisher, who had settled in Madison county, came to Chautauqua Co., in or about 1836. A son, Andrew, came with him, and settled here. Andrew's children were Marion F., John P., Joel A., George F., deceased, Andrew C,, and Lydia M.

Jabez Fisher had two sons, Van Rensselaer and Lyman F., both of whom died in Charlotte.

Joel Fisher, a native of Princeton, Mass., removed to Oneida Co., N. Y., thence, the next year, [1809,] to Chautauqua Co., and settled in the south- east part of Pomfret. His house was the half-way house between Fredonia and Sinclairville. There were no bridges across the Canadaway; nor was there a road except a path. Provisions were scarce. He paid the Indian, Complanter, 47 pounds of maple sugar for a bushel of corn. He also paid $22 for a barrel of salt. He served in the war of 1812, and witnessed the burning of Buffalo. He is said to have taken the first drove of cattle over Blue Ridge to Philadelphia. Crossing the mountain was performed with great difficulty. He was married, in Massachusetts, to Lydia Matthews. They had eight children : Asahel and Joel were born in Massachusetts ; Lydia, Phebe, Oliver H. Perry, John, Sybil, and Joseph, in Pomfret.

Ichabod Fisher, Sr., was born in 1746, and came to this county when his son Ichabod came, and died November, 1818, aged 72 years.

Sawyer Phillips was born in Ashfield, Mass., in 1791, and emigrated to Stockton in 1816, accompanied by his father, Philip Phillips, and mother, also two sisters and a younger brother, the last of whom died about 1835, unmarried. The sisters married John Robertson and Israel Smith, the former of - whom had but one child, Eliscom Roberts, and both died soon after mar- riage. The aged parents lived with the son till their death, in 1842 and 1846. Sawyer married, in 1818, Jane Parker, of Ellery, a daughter of Benjamin Parker, by whom he had 15 children, three of whom died in infancy; three lived to be young men, and a daughter lived to the age of 11. Eight brothers and a sister are still living, as follows : 1. Thomas D., who married Lorette Hartford, and had, by her, two sons, Sawyer and Charles, and a daughter, Mary. His wife died in 1847, and he afterwards married Sybil Fisher, a daughter, of Joel Fisher. 2. Williston J., a merchant and hotel- keeper, who married Mary Ellis, who died in 1860, leaving a daughter. He married, second, Eliza Hatch,of Cattaraugus Co., by whom he had two sons and a daughter. 3. Alonso Parker, a physician, who practiced seven years in Allegany, Cattaraugus Co., and seventeen years in his native town ; and a few years since removed to Fredonia, where he is engaged in the nur- sery business. He married Fidelia Woods, daughter of Elijah Woods, and had three children : Jennie, Burton, and Frank H., who recently died, aged

Nury Dalon

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15. 4. William W., who married Celestia, daughter of Lyman Ely, and had 4 children, two of whom died in infancy. 5. Charles, who married Eunice Cummings, of New Hampshire, and had no children. 6. Philip, who mar- ried a daughter of Harvey Clark, of Ohio. He is a noted singer and com- poser of sacred song, has made two singing tours to England and the British possessions, under the auspices of the London Sunday School Union, and is at present fulfilling an engagement under the auspices of the same society, in Australia and Van Dieman's Land. 7. Rosina, who married Milton Beebe, architect, and resides in Buffalo. 8. George H., who married a daughter of D. B. Baker, and resides in Springfield, Ohio. 9. Z. Barney, who married Sally Sharp, of Springfield, O., where he is engaged in mercantile business.

VILLENOVA.

Villeroy Balcom was born in Templeton, Worcester Co., Mass., July 25, 1791. He was the oldest son of Joseph Balcom, an officer in the Revolu- tionary army, who was at the battles of Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Germantown, Brandywine, and others. He was at Yorktown, and was at the surrender of Cornwallis. He served through the war, and till Washing- ton resigned the command of the army. He had command of the guard on the 2d of October, 1780, when Maj. Andre was hung at Tappan. Joseph Balcom died in 1827. Villeroy Balcom settled in Villenova, in 1815, on lots 9 and 10, where he lived to within a short time before his death. When he came, there were only ten or eleven families in the town. The next year he went to Mass., and married Anna Puffer, and returned, making the long journey in a one-horse wagon. He died in Villenova, Feb. 2, 1868. His wife has since lived with her daughter, Mrs. Robert Nisbet, at Hamilton, Canada, and is in her 84th year. They had two sons and six daughters, all yet living except one son, who died young. Mr. B. was the first postmaster in the town. He was appointed Dec. 14, 1826, and held the office for more than thirty years. He carried the first mails from Fayette, (now Silver Creek,) to Cherry Creek, on horseback. He volunteered to carry the mails one year in order to get a regular mail for the settlers. In 1831, he was commission- ed, by Gov. Throop, as captain of a rifle company in the town. He was appointed justice of the peace, by the council of appointment, and elected to that office under the constitution of 1821, and was several times reelected. And he was eight times elected supervisor. He had received a good English education for one of that day, and did some legal business, drawing up deeds, mortgages, wills, and other written instruments. The Balcom and Puffer families came from England in the early part of the seventeenth century, and settled near Boston, Mass.

The First Freewill Baptist Church of Villenova was organized in 1828, by Amos C. Andros, with nine members : Lyman Town, - King, Enos Brunson, - Badger, and their wives, and one not named. The first pas- tor was Thomas Grinnell. The present house of worship was built in 1839,

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

and dedicated in 1840. Four ministers have been ordained from this church : Osha Crawford, brother of Lavina Crawford, missionary to India; Washing- ton Shepard, Thomas Main, and Henry Blackmar ; all of whom, except Main and Crawford, are yet living. The present pastor is Rev. Washington Shepard.

WESTFIELD.

Correction .- In the biographical sketch of Sherman Williams, page 615, is the following :

" In 1865-6, he was cashier of the Western Union Telegraph Company." It should read : "In 1865, he was cashier of the United States Telegraph Company at Buffalo, which position he held until that company was consoli- dated with the Western Union Telegraph Company in 1866."

POMFRET.

For the imperfect sketch of Henry Bosworth, page 481, and that of Noah D. Snow, page 491, the following are substituted :

Henry Bosworth, son of Samuel Bosworth, was born in Westfield, Mass., April 12, 1794, and came, in 1817, to Fredonia, where he established the jewelry and watch-repairing business, which was probably the first establish- ment of the kind in the county, and which he carried on to the time of his death, May 3, 1853, a period of 36 years. Major Bosworth was married, in 1820, to Love D. Snow. They had two children, Minerva Ann and Love D. After the death of his wife, Mr. B. married, in 1824, Betsey Wheaton. Their children were Thaddeus H., Samuel Snow, Henry, Sarah L., Cushing, and Mary Elizabeth, all of whom are dead. Minerva Ann Bosworth married Septimus C. Stevenson, Dec., 1868, and they reside near Jacksonville, Ill.

Noah D. Snow was born at Boonville, Oneida Co., Sept. 9, 1803, and came to this county with his father, Dr. Samuel Snow, who settled a mile west of Fredonia, in 1814. Noah was a merchant in Fredonia about 6 years, and removed to Adamsville, Mich., and built a flouring mill. After two years he removed to Forestville, where he was engaged in the milling business. In 1838 he entered into a co-partnership with Oliver Lee, of Silver Creek ; which continued until Mr. Lee's death, in 1846. He then became a partner of Mr. Lee's sons, Charles H. and John H., with whom he continued until he was elected sheriff, in 1849. Soon after the expiration of his term of office, he went to California, and, after about a year, returned. In 1855, he removed to Brant, Erie Co., where he was engaged in lumbering and farming about two years, during which time, a fine residence was built on the Avenue, in Fredonia, the present residence of Mr. Gideon Webster, to which Mr. Snow removed in 1857, and where he died, Nov. 16, 1858. He had only one child, Frank, who married Love D. Bosworth, Nov. 4, 1847, and had 5 children : Alice M., Noah Bosworth, Mary Minerva, Henry Frank, and Martha Couch.

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SUPPLEMENT.

647

Ralph H. Hall, brother of John P. Hall, is noticed on page 486. An error having been made in the name of the former, which was printed Ralph N. Hall, and a similar error in the name of his brother, printed John A. Hall, the corrections are here noted.

Omission supplied .- To the sketch of William H. Abell, page 479, should have been added : " Mr. Abell married, for his second wife, Miss Margaret Hussey, of Buffalo, January 17, 1871,"

PORTLAND.

Lewis Pullman, the son of Salter and Elizabeth (Lewis) Pullman, was born in Rhode Island, July 26, 1800. He married at Auburn, N. Y., Sept. 24, 1825, Emily C. Minton, eldest daughter of James and Theodosia (Lewis) Minton, who was born at Auburn, Aug. 14, 1808. They removed to Chau- tauqua Co., in January, 1830; and, in the following year, Mr. Pullman pur- chased and settled upon a part of lot 21, tp. 5, being the tract commonly known as the Budlong farm. Here he resided for fourteen years, pursuing also his trade as a carpenter, until, in 1835, he had patented his well-known apparatus for removing buildings. It is in connection with this ingenious and effective machine that his name is best known to the inhabitants of Chautauqua county. In 1845, he removed with his family to Albion, Orleans Co., where he died, Nov. 1, 1853. Mrs. Pullman now resides in New York city. Ten children were born to them, as follows: I. Royal Henry, who married Harriet J. Barmore, is a clergyman of the Universalist church, and general secretary of the Universalist General Convention-office in New York. 2. Albert B., who married Emily A. Bennett, and is second vice- president of the Pullman Palace Car Company-office in Chicago. 3. George M., who married Hattie A. Sanger; is the originator of the famous Pullman palace cars, and president of the company- offices in New York and Chicago. 4. Frances C., who died in infancy. 5. James M., who mar- ried Jennie S. Tracy; is a clergyman of the Universalist church, pastor of the "Church of our Saviour," and permanent secretary of the General Con- vention, New York city. 6. William E., who died in infancy. 7. Charles L., who married Clara J. Slosser, served three years in the army during the rebellion, rising to the rank of major, and now resides near Paola, Kansas. 8. Helen A., graduate at Clinton (N. Y.) Liberal Institute; married, in 1871, George West, and resides at Providence, R. I. 9. Emma C,, graduate at Clinton Liberal Institute ; resides in New York city. 10. Frank W., gradu- ate at the Albany Law School, in 1873, now assistant United States district attorney, New York city.

CONEWANGO, CATTARAUGUS COUNTY.

THOMAS J. WHEELER, son of Hezekiah and Abigail Wheeler, was born in Plainfield, Conn., Nov. 16, 1803. His ancestors, paternal and maternal,

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

were among the early English settlers of New England. He removed with his parents to Middlefield, Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1806. In 1817, he became a student in Cherry Valley academy. In 1820, he began the study of medi- cine in Middlefield, with Dr. Sumner Ely, with whom he remained three years ; and then entered the office of Dr. Delos White, of Cherry Valley, where he remained until he was licensed, in 1824. He taught common schools four winters, commencing 1819. In July, 1824, he came to Ripley, and commenced practice as a partner of Alvin Ryan ; and, in 1826, he re- moved to Conewango, Cattaraugus Co. In 1829, he was appointed post- master at Conewango ; in 1830, assistant marshal to take the census in the county. In 1833, he was appointed a judge of the county court, and held the office by reappointment, until 1845, when he resigned. In 1836, he was one of the presidential electors of this state. In 1845, he was elected to the state senate, and held the office until Jan. 1, 1848, when the constitution of 1846 closed the official term. And he attended as a delegate to the democratic national conventions of 1852 and 1856. Dr. Wheeler was mar- ried three times ; first, May 10, 1827, to Isabella McGlashan, who was born in York, Livingston Co., April 2, 18ro, and died March 23, 1832 ; second, October 15, 1834, to Christiana D. Gardner, born in Woodstock, Vt., March 9, 1807, and died Jan. 17, 1848; and third, Dec. 28, 1853, to Hannah Johnson, who was born in Livonia, March 14, 1819, and, in 1875, removed to Fredonia, where she now resides. He had, by his first marriage, a daughter, Susan Maria, who married Oliver Worden, and removed to Wis- consin, where she died; and by the third marriage a daughter, Eliza Ann, living with her mother.

RETIREMENT OF JUDGES.

At the term of. the county court in February, 1843, Judge Foote, in charg- ing the grand jury, took occasion to call up some reminiscences of the early history of the county, and to declare his intention to retire from the bench. Judge Campbell also having intimated such intention, action was taken, with reference to the event, by the grand jurors and by the members of the bar, respectively. The proceedings, as published in the county papers, were as follows :

JUDGES FOOTE AND CAMPBELL .- The grand jurors of the county of Chautauqua, having learned from Hon. E. T. Foote, in his charge to us, at the present term of this court, that he now retires from the bench, having served as judge for five years, and for four successive terms or twenty years, as first judge ; Resolve, That we wish to bear testimony to the ability, fidelity, promptness, and impartiality with which he has discharged his judi- cial duties ; and we regret that the circumstances are such that he declines a reappointment.

Resolved, unanimously, That there is a respect due to official station, and that when an incumbent retires from that station, having for a fourth of a century been endeared to us by a friendly and honorable intercourse, we

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regret the separation of the bond which has so long united us, and which is now to be severed, probably forever.

Resolved, unanimously, That it is desirable that a portrait of Judge Foote be placed in this court room, to the end that when we retire from the busy scenes of life, and this bench and these seats shall be occupied by those who succeed us, they may have the pleasure of beholding the likeness of those who have been pioneers in the judiciary of our county, and who have borne the responsibilities of office with dignity and usefulness, and who have shared in the toils and privations of a country in its infancy, but now grown to a vigorous manhood.

This grand jury being also informed, that His Honor Thomas B. Camp- bell retires from the bench of this court at the close of the present term, after a service of seventeen years, do Resolve, That it is with pleasure we improve this opportunity to manifest our high sense of his sterling integrity, practical good sense, urbanity of manners, and fidelity, and do regret that the citizens of this county, whom we represent, are now to be deprived of the benefits of his experience, ability and worth.

Resolved, unanimously, That it is our request, that the above resolutions be filed by the clerk, and entered on the minutes of the court, and that Judges Foote and Campbell be furnished with copies of the same.

Dated at Mayville, February 18, 1843.

A. H. WALKER, Clerk.

N. MIXER, Foreman.

MAYVILLE, February 16, 1843.

To the Hon. E. T. Foote, First Judge of Chautauqua County, New York:

DEAR SIR : As you are about to retire from the bench of our county, after having held a seat thereon for nearly twenty-five years, and for the last twenty years as first judge of said county, the duties and responsibilities of which station have been ably, faithfully, and honestly discharged, with honor to yourself and to the general satisfaction and approbation of your associates on the bench, and members of the bar, and officers of the court, and the public generally :

And as you declined a reappointment, and are about to retire, as intimated in your charge to the grand jury at the opening of this court, we feel called upon by a sense of duty, to express to you in this public manner, our con- tinued confidence and esteem, and in consideration of the able, faithful and upright discharge of the duties of judge, we hereby tender to you this as a token of our unabated confidence and respect, and the regret with which we part with you in your official capacity-hoping you may find, in retirement, a continuance of that confidence and esteem, from an intelligent community, which you have so well merited and so universally received while upon the bench.

Signed by ELISHA WARD, F. H. RUGGLES, T. B. CAMPBELL.

Judges.

Attorneys- Samuel A. Brown, James Mullett, Anselm Potter, Jacob Hough- ton, Richard P. Marvin, Austin Smith, Charles S. H. Williams, Orsell Cook, John H. Pray, Abner Lewis, Abner Hazeltine, P. Falconer, L. Morris, David Mann, R. Sacket, W. S. Hinckley, Z. C. Young, [O. Stiles, W. P. Mellin, Henry Keep, P. R. Cook, J. M. Keep, W. H. Cutler, G. A. Green, D. Edson, C. R. Leland, C. W. Parker, C. Tucker,

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

M. Strope, M. Burnell, John Dixon, William Smith, G. W. Tew, A. Richmond, E. B. Forbush, S. Mervin Smith. JOHN G. HINCKLEY, Clerk. A. W. MuzzY, Sheriff.

M. P. BEMUS, County Treasurer. HENRY GIFFORD, Under Sheriff.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted at a county convention of democratic delegates from the several towns, assembled at the court- house in Mayville, the 17th of December, 1842 :

" Whereas, the Hon. Elial T. Foote and the Hon. Thomas B. Campbell have, by respectful communications to this convention, declined a renomina- tion to the offices they have so long and ably filled : be it therefore Resolved, That this convention, representing as it does, not only the sentiments and feelings of the democratic party, but on this occasion, as we believe, the undivided opinion of the great body of citizens of the county, regardless of party divisions and feelings, are called upon to tender, which we do from a just sense of obligation and duty as well as pride, our acknowledgments to them for the prompt, dignified and efficient discharge of their duties as judges for a long series of years, and cannot permit the occasion of such separation to pass without this sincere and just tribute to their distinguished talents and services as officers, and their high moral worth as men, and that they will carry with them into retirement our best wishes for their future health and prosperity."

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