History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 26

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 26

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In early times shingles were rived and shaved from the best pine timber, but as first-class pine diminished, shingle machines were introduced and timber that would not admit splitting and shaving was sawed into shingles. Twenty-five thousand pine shingles cut from a single tree was not an uncommon product in those times. The product of these several mills was hauled to the nearest point on the banks of the Conewango, usually during the winter season, as wagons were un- known in the earlier days. The boards were rafted and loaded with shingles ready to float out on the first spring freshet. Vast fleets of lumber were sent yearly down the Conewango to the Allegheny river to Pitts- burgh and farther south. For several years the best pine was worth only $2.50 per thousand feet. This was traded for supplies, as flour, pork, tea, coffee, sugar, cotton cloth, etc., flour at times being twenty dollars and pork forty dollars a barrel. A canoe was taken on the raft. and into this were loaded the supplies, then pushed back at the end of a setting pole against a strong current to the starting point.

When the first bridge was built across the Allegheny river at Pittsburgh, the contractor came to the Cone- wango country. He found the timber wanted near the . Pennsylvania line. Upon inquiring the price, the owner told him he could have all he wanted for nothing as the ground upon which the timber stood was worth more for agricultural purposes than the timber itself. Thousands of pine logs cut from the timber from this valley measured more than five feet at the stump and made from three to five thousand feet of lumber, while there were occasional logs that measured seven feet across. None of these majestic sentinels now remain. In 1878 A. M. Woodcock cut from lot 45 two trees measuring four and a half feet at the stump that netted him $185. While these did not compare with many of their predecessors in size, their commercial value was considerably greater.

The last tract of land of any considerable size with a growth of primeval pine upon it was the Prendergast estate in Kiantone, formerly a part of Carroll. It was purchased in 1887 by William Townsend and Daniel Griswold, who erected a mill and manufactured it into lumber. The estate comprised more than eight hun- dred acres, of which six hundred were timbered. Many of them were magnificent trees fit for the mast of a stately ship. There were several millions of lumber cut from this tract.

Supervisors-James Hall, 1826-33-39; James Parker, 1834-37-56-57; Esbai Kidder, 1838; Phineas Spencer, 1840; Jediah E. Budlong, 1841 ; Gordon Swift, 1842-44; John Frew, 1845; Reuben E. Fenton, 1846-52; Edwin Eaton, 1853-73; William H. H. Fenton, 1854-65-71; Charles L. Norton, 1855-58-64; Lucius M. Robertson, 1872; William Sheldon, 1874; Al- bert Fox, 1875; Temple A. Parker, 1876-77; Edward L. Hall, 1878; Lucius M. Robertson, 1879; George G. Davis, 1880; Silas W. Parker, 1881-87; Marcus T. Howard, 1888-90: John Venman, 1891-93-98-1903; Charles E. Dodge, 1894-97; Dana J. Hunt, 1904-07; Herbert R. Bennett, 1908-19; Loye T. Durrand, 1920.

The full value of Busti real estate in 1918 was $1,022,784; equalized, $802,446.

Charlotte-For the centennial history of Chautauqua county published in 1904, Obed Edson, Chautauqua's foremost historian, now passed to eternal rest, prepared a history of Charlotte, his own "home town," the scene of the activities of his father, Judge John M. Ed- son, and of his father's step-father, Major Sam- uel Sinclear. That history is herein consider- ably drawn upon, as is a companion article from the pen of Mrs. Robert C. Seaver, entitled "The Founder of Sinclairville and Charlotte Center-1762-1827."

The first settlement of the town of Charlotte was made in the northwestern part, known as the Pickett neighborhood. John Pickett, April I, 1809, then unmarried, settled on lot 62, and built on the Pickett brook a log house, the first in the town. He was born in Spencertown,

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Columbia county, June 20, 1789. He after- wards removed to Chenango county, and Feb- ruary 23, 1809, came to Chautauqua county. His brother, Daniel Pickett, and his family settled upon lot 63, built a cabin and moved into it in the fall. His brother-in-law, Arva O. Austin and wife, the same year moved into a log house that he built upon lot 63. Abel Prior and Taylor Gregg took up land in the south part of lot 62, but did not remain during the winter. January 25, 1810, was born Phoebe, daughter of Arva O. Austin, the first white child, she married Adin Wait. John Cleland, Jr., in March, 1810, took up land on lot 54. In September, Mrs. Joseph Arnold, then residing n the Pickett settlement, died, the next day her sister, Jerusha Barris, died; they were buried in one grave on the farm once owned by Chauncey Pierpont on lot 62. These were the irst deaths in the town. In March, 1811, Na- han and Oliver Cleland, brothers of John Cleland, Jr., and in the fall Samuel, another rother, with their father, John Cleland, set- led on lot 54. In 1811 Moses Cleland was mar- ied to Sally Anderson by Rev. John Spencer ; his was the first marriage. Joel Burnell in SII settled upon lot 46, where he resided until his death. He was the father of Madison and Ransom Burnell, eminent lawyers, both born n Charlotte. Among other settlers who left lescendants here were Freeman Ellis, Edward Dalrymple, Eliakim Barnum, Jacob Hall, James Cross, David Ames and Caleb Clark. Orton, on of Caleb, was surrogate, 1848-52 inclusive. ohn B. Cardot, from France, settled in this art of the town. He was followed by other amilies from that country.

Charlotte Center was first settled by Rob- rt W. Seaver, a soldier of the Revolution. His on, Randolph W., and grandson, Corydon, be- ame supervisors. In the spring of 1809, Mr. eaver and Barna Edson selected ninety acres f lot 37. The same spring William Devine ettled upon the west part of lot 29, where he uilt the first building at the Center. Oliver Filmour, Daniel Jackson and Aaron Seaver ere early settlers. Stephen Lyman, brother- 1-law of Major Sinclear, settled near the Cen- er. In 18II Barney Cole was buried at the enter ; he was the first male person who died 1 the town. At an early day a shop was built n Mill creek by Edward Landas, for wool arding and cloth dressing, which was later sed as a pail and wood mill factory, and turn- ig shop. About 1817 the first saw mill was uilt there. In 1869 a steam saw mill was ected by Addison Lake and Edwin Tuttle. bout 1851 Joseph Landas built and opened

the first store at the Center, although others had for brief periods sold limited amounts of merchandise. In 1821 Nathan Lake and his brother Calvin, from New England, settled east of the Center. Their brothers, Daniel B. and Luther Lake, in 1826 settled in what be- came the "Lake Settlement." Freeman Lake came later. The Lake brothers were men of character and intelligence, and their descend- ants have been leading and influential citizens. Nathan Lake was the first supervisor, elected in 1830. Allen A. Stephens, son-in-law of Na- than Lake; Edwin F. Lake, son, and Horace E. Kimbel, son-in-law of Daniel B. Lake and Henry C. Lake, son of Calvin, have all been supervisors. Henry C. Lake during two terms was a member of Assembly from Chautauqua county, and his son, Clarence H. Lake, sheriff. Hon. John Woodward, his nephew, a grand- son of Calvin Lake, was born at Charlotte Cen- ter, and became a Justice of the Supreme Court. Arthur C. Wade, the distinguished lawyer, and Charles L. Webster, the distin- guished publisher (made a "Knight of the Order of Pius VII" by the Pope) were both born at Charlotte Center. Thomas J. Allen, while residing at Charlotte Center, was elected to the Assembly in 1837. Hugh Harper, of County Donegal, Ireland, in 1838 settled about a mile south of that place ; he died at the age of 96, leaving many descendants. His brother William came from Ireland a few years later and settled in the town, where he has numer- ous descendants. The population of Charlotte Center in 1875 was 127.

Sinclairville (originally Sinclearville) was next settled in June, 1809. John Pickett, of the Pickett settlement, piloted a party of pio- neers down Mill creek to Cassadaga; here he felled a tree to enable the party to cross the stream. After pointing out the way that led to the Smiley settlement in Ellery, he returned to his home. No white man of whom we have any account had visited the place now Sin- clairville prior to Mr. Pickett, except the sur- veyors of the Holland Company. Sinclairville derives its name from Major Samuel Sinclear, a soldier of the Revolution, and belonged to a celebrated family of New Hampshire. Among other distinguished relatives he had as a near kinsman Joseph Cilley, United States Senator from New Hampshire. He was also a kinsman of Governor B. F. Butler, of Massachusetts, and uncle of John G. Sinclear, a distinguished orator and lieutenant-governor of New Hamp- shire. Having purchased lot 41, embracing the land where the village is situated, in No- vember, 1809, he commenced settlement by

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causing a log house to be built at the intersec- tion of the roads now leading from Sinclair- ville, the one to Charlotte Center, the other to Cherry Creek. In March, 1810, he, his son John and William Berry and family and Chauncey Andrus arrived at this log house, the snow then lying deep. They occupied for two days and nights a wigwam made of poles and hemlock boughs, until their log house was completed. In the fall of 1810 Mr. Sinclear cut a road from Fredonia to Sinclearville, the first opened into the central part of the county. October 22, 1810, his family, which included his stepsons, Obed and John M. Edson, arrived. In ISIo he erected a saw mill, and in the fall a frame dwelling which was for many years the village tavern. In ISII he built a grist mill. Each of these buildings was the first of its kind erected in the eastern and central part of the county.

Nathaniel Johnson, a Revolutionary soldier, came to Sinclairville from Madison county in 1814. His son Forbes, for many years a resi- dent here, was a member of the Legislature in 1844. His daughter Hannah married Sylvanus L. Henderson, who settled in Sinclairville, No- vember 26, 1816. Dr. W. W. Henderson, born in Sinclairville, and formerly collector of United States revenue, was his son. Forbes Johnson and John M. Edson constructed the first tannery and built a grist mill at Sinclair- ville early. John M. Edson was often super- visor, and a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Dr. Henry Sargent was the earliest postmaster. The mails were first carried through Sinclairville by Sampson Crooker, father of Hon. George A. S. Crooker ; he went through once a week on foot. William Hepp- ner settled in the village in 1853; he was the first German to come, and was followed by many of that nationality. Samuel Sinclear and Jonathan Hedges were the first innkeepers; Elias Wheeler, John Love, Jarvis B. Rice, Levi F. Harrison, Henry Sylvester and William H. Rice were later ones. Stages were first run from Fredonia to Jamestown by Obed Edson, brother of John M. Edson, and Reuben Scott, about 1827. Subsequently the line was extend- ed to Warren, Pa., by Obed Edson. In 1832 a school house was built, schools having been previously kept in the first log house built in the village, and in a school house built in 1816 in Gerry but within the village corporation. Early in 1849 Sinclairville was made a station on the telegraph line between Fredonia and Pittsburgh, nearly the first telegraph station established in the county. In 1852 a plank road was constructed from Fredonia through Sin-

clairville to Ellicott; it was built principally: through the exertions of the people here. Perez Dewey was its largest stockholder, and first president. Obed Edson surveyed the road.

The first merchant was Abraham Winsor ... He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in: 1778, married Sophia Bigelow, sister of Fanny, the wife of Major Samuel Sinclear. He came from Madison county, and in 1813 built an ashery not far from the town line on Railroad avenue, where the old mill pond was after- ward made, and in 1815 built and opened a store in nearly the same place. In early years he transported down the Cassadaga in canoes the pot ashes he received for his goods, and thence down the Allegheny to Pittsburgh, where he received in exchange, flour, tobacco, nails, glass and other merchandise.

The settlement of the village and surround- ing country was slow until the completion of the Erie canal. There was but little sale for goods until 1824, when Walter Smith and George A. French, of Dunkirk, opened a store at Sinclairville. This and the opening of the Erie canal gave a new impetus to settlement. Their store was built upon the corner of Main and Park streets, on the site of the Grange buildings; Joy Handy succeeded them. Levi Risley and Judge John M. Barbour were clerks in this store. In 1828 Walter Chester came: Mr. Ten Eyck, of Cazenovia, his partner, fur- nished the capital. They occupied the build- ing that had been used by Smith and French. Mr. Chester in 1832 built a dwelling, then the finest in the town. This was owned by C. J. Allen at his decease, and later by Obed Edson Mr. Chester sold out and removed to Dunkirk' He was succeeded by Thomas J. Allen and he by Bela Tracy. In 1843 Caleb J. Allen went into possession. The old yellow store on the corner was now divided into parts and moved to different places in the village and a new store built in its place by Mr. Allen. He con- tinued in trade until the fall of 1846, when he was succeeded by Alonzo Langworthy. Mr Langworthy was a leading citizen, active in promoting the building of the railroad, the. school, public library and improvement of the cemetery. He was long the president of the respective boards of trustees of these public institutions. He carried on an extensive and successful business until 1851, when Mr. Allen resumed trade here and Mr. Langworthy pur- chased the Methodist parsonage on the site of the drug store of Jay Bargar and traded ten years. In 1862 he purchased the store on the old corner of Mr. Allen and resumed trade there. The following merchants conducted

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business there after Mr. Langworthy: Charles Danforth, Thompson & Chafee, Thompson & Lapham, Alonzo Putnam, Putnam & Cum- mings and John H. Cummings.

The next store was erected by Perez Dewey, at the corner of Main street and Edson's Lane. Mr. Dewey was born in Westfield, Mass., De- cember 18, 1792. He was early a peddler of small notions, which he carried in a tin trunk. When his business sufficiently improved he carried his wares in two hand trunks, then he procured a horse and wagon, and added dry goods and tinware to his stock, and for many years made an annual circuit of the county. At length Mr. Dewey established a sort of head- quarters with Mr. Beebe near Cassadaga, where he shipped goods and replenished his stock. About 1830 he and Joseph Sinclear com- menced trade in a building on Main street. While thus engaged, he built a substantial store which he first occupied in January, 1834. Here he did an extensive business, selling largely on credit. Mr. Dewey was a bachelor, devoted to his own affairs and well known for his peculiarities. In the spring of 1851, hav- ing become the most wealthy man in the town, he retired from active business. He was suc- ceeded by his nephew, John Dewey.

In 1845 Mr. Brown erected at the corner of Main and Lester streets a store, the first brick building in Sinclairville; Nelson Mitchell laid the bricks and built the store. Near it later he erected a brick dwelling. The first firm to occupy the store was P. and J. Rathbone in 1845, succeeded by E. T. Brown & Co. (Hen- derson); Nelson Mitchell purchased Hender- son's interest. This firm was followed by Mitchell, Brunson & Rathbone. John M. Brun- son came next, then Nelson Mitchell, followed by Mitchell, Sheldon (R. E.) and Danforth (C. L.) Nelson Mitchell was next again in trade, then the firm of Putnam & Thompson. This was succeeded by Alonzo Putnam, and he by Edwin Williams, when for about six months Fred Trusler and D. B. Dorsett were in trade as Trusler & Company, after which Edwin Williams resumed trade. Mr. Williams occu- pied the store in all about thirteen years.

R. E. Sheldon was long the leading merchant and business man of later years. He built the brick store on Main street later occupied by mis son B. T. Sheldon. Among other well- Known traders of early days were Davis A. Havens, Job Smith, A. Z. Madison, David Forbes and A. G. Dow, dealers in tin and hard- vare, later a senator representing Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Of the hardware lealers, Reed & Reynolds were for many years

the leading firm. John T. and William Spear were also hardware dealers. Emory O. Bargar and Zardius Phillips were the first to estab- lish drug stores in the village. Charles Smith was the first shoemaker. Chester Wilson, father of W. Thomas Wilson (long a justice of the peace and lawyer of the village), was the first saddler and harnessmaker. A hat store was established in 1835 by S. and William Griffith. The first school was taught by Wil- liam Gilmour in the winter of 1811-12, in the log house erected in 1809 by Mr. Sinclear.

Dr. Orange Y. Campbell and Henry Sargent were the first physicians. Drs. William Copp, Henry B. Hedges, J. E. Kimbell, Gilbert Rich- mond and George S. Harrison of a later period were for many years practicing physicians of Sinclairville. Dr. George S. Harrison was born in Madison county, New York, in ISI0; came to Chautauqua county in 1825, where for forty- four years he practiced medicine. He was an excellent and popular physician, a man of abil- ity and force of character, a leading Democrat, and for three years a supervisor. Benjamin L. Harrison, his son, was a citizen of Dunkirk, many years in the service of the Dunkirk, Alle- gany Valley & Pittsburgh railroad, was for- merly an alderman, and later a justice of the peace of Dunkirk. He married Lucy, daugh- ter of Abner Putnam, an early citizen. They had one son, Louis P., assistant purchasing agent of the American Locomotive Company. George M., their eldest son, a physician, died in 1887.

Drs. H. P. Hall and Allen A. Stevens were prominent physicians of a still later period. Drs. George F. Smith and Charles Cleland, both educated at the Sinclairville Union School were later well known physicians of the vil- lage.

The first religious meeting in the town was held October 22, 18II, by Rev. John Spencer, in the first log house built by Major Sinclear. Rev. Asa Turner, a Baptist, was an early mis- sionary here. The first religious society was the Methodist Episcopal in 1812. For many years commencing in 1820 meetings were regu- larly held by the Christians or Unitarians. Revs. Joseph Bailey and Oliver Barr are well remembered preachers of that denomination. June 2, 1826, the Baptist church was organized. In 1834 its house of worship was erected, the first church edifice built in the town. In 1845 the Congregationalists built a house of wor- ship. In 1851 the Methodists built a church, and the same year the Universalists also, which was afterwards owned by the Catholics, and finally by the Episcopalians.

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Albert Richmond was the first lawyer of Sinclairville. He was born in Brattleboro, Vermont. He was admitted to the bar in the same class with Horatio Seymour, came to Sin- clairville in 1833, and was one term surrogate. He died in 1878. E. B. Forbush commenced the practice of law in Sinclairville about 1836. He removed to Buffalo, when he became a suc- cessful patent lawyer ; he was killed in the rail- road accident at Angola in 1867. S. Mervin Smith and A. B. Fenner were early lawyers. E. M. Peck was a man of ability, practiced law in the village thirty years. E. H. Sears, after- ward judge of the Supreme Court of Iowa, was a lawyer of Sinclairville. Worthy Putnam, the well-known author of a book on elocution, and who as a county superintendent rendered greater service to the schools of the county than any other person previous to his day, read law with Obed Edson and commenced practice in Sinclairville. C. F. Chapman also read law with Obed Edson, and was his partner in the practice of law there. James A. Allen, of Buf- falo, Samuel T. Allen, of Holden, Missouri, Caleb J. Allen, Jr., of Iowa, and Stephen H. Allen, of Topeka, Kansas, born in Sinclairville and for six years a judge of the highest court in Kansas, were all brothers and sons of Caleb J. Allen, Sr., and all commenced the practice or study of law in Sinclairville. W. Thomas Wilson read law with Gen. Charles H. S. Wil- liams, at Fredonia, came to Sinclairville in 1861, practiced law there for many years. He was twenty-eight years a justice of the peace, and five terms justice of sessions of the county court. Charles M. Reed, born in Sinclairville, educated at the Sinclairville Union School, read law with C. F. Chapman, graduated at the Albany Law University in 1885, for several years special surrogate, and Fred H. Sylvester, who was born in Sinclairville, educated at the Union School, read law with Obed Edson, won the Clinton scholarship and was graduated at the Buffalo Law School in May, 1890, were later practicing lawyers of the village. Obed Edson was for many years a practicing lawyer at Sinclairville. Walter H. Edson, born in Sin- clairville, and Harley N. Crosby, both of Fal- coner, commenced the study of law with Obed Edson and its practice at Sinclairville.

Evergreen Cemetery was organized June 21, 1862. Owing to its favorable situation, the taste and good management of those having it in charge, it far excells any other in the county, and is now one of the most beautiful in West- ern New York. Bernard W. Field was its first president and first superintendent.

April 7, 1868, occurred the severest fire that

ever visited Sinclairville-the Bennet block on Main street. Three stores composing the block, the Sinclairville House and one dwelling house, a barn, the meat market and a shoeshop burned, and a harness shop was torn down to prevent the spread of the flames.

February 6, 1870, the Sinclairville Library was founded by Rev. E. P. McElroy.

The people of Sinclairville were the first to move the construction of the Dunkirk, Alle- gany Valley & Pittsburgh railroad. The first train was run over it June 22, 1871. Timothy D. Copp was the first president of the road. Mr. Copp was often supervisor of the town. In 1868 he was elected presidential elector.

November 5, 1874, the Sinclairville Fair Ground Association was incorporated. In 1881 a Board of Trade was organized which has continued with great benefit to the busi- ness interests until the present time. William H. Scott, its first president, and Richard Reed, its secretary, were most efficient in its support. Later the Sinclairville stock farm of Holstein cattle and French coach and Percheron horses was established by Bela B. Lord, a native of the village, and the stock farms of Jersey cattle by Frank E. Shaw, a nephew of "Josh Billings" and also a native of the town, and have been a great benefit to the village and town and have added to their reputation. A Grange has long been established in Sinclairville. Its flour- ishing condition is largely due to the efforts of Mrs. Bela B. Lord. In 1880 a Union School District was formed and a fine brick school- house built which was opened in 1881. The vil- lage was incorporated in 1887. Its first presi- dent was William Reed. Waterworks were constructed in 1892 upon the gravity system, which were purchased by the village in 1899.

The southeast part of the town was first set- tled by Leman Cleveland, on lot 10. In 1814 Samuel T. Booth settled on lot 26; John How- ard in 1817 on lot 1 ; Justus Torrey in 1819 set- tled on lot 18. He chopped and cleared with his own hands several hundred acres of land, and during many years manufactured large quantities of maple sugar. Widow Lemira W. Camp settled upon lot 17, on two hundred acres of land known as the Camp farm. She. was the mother of Milo, Merlin, John Wilson, Herman and Samuel Camp, and of Mrs. Han- nah Waggoner and Mrs. Anna LaGrys. Among other early citizens in this part of the town were David Sheldon, John Luce and James Parsons and Robert, Peter and Allen Robert- son.

Kent street and adjacent territory was first settled by families from England. Samuel

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 26

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc. Number of Pages: 649

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649