History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 34

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 34

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In the spring of 1815 the first operations in real estate began. A number of lots fifty by one hundred twenty feet were surveyed and placed on the market at $50 each, and we are told that $50 was the ruling price for a lot for a period of about ten years, beginning with 1815. Under existing conditions this was enough, for there was little about the location in and of itself to attract any but the adven- turous pioneer. Indeed, Jamestown in 1815 was little more than a crude lumber camp, as will be readily seen from the perusal of a sketch written by Judge Foote, who describes the village as follows :

A one and one-half story gristmill building, with two runs of stones, two single sawmills and one gang saw- mill, all owned by James Prendergast. There was one small store of goods owned by Jediah and Martin Prendergast, of Mayville, managed by Thomas Disher, a clerk. Two small shanty blacksmith shops were occupied by Eleazer Daniels and Patrick Campbell, and a small out of doors tannery owned by John Burge and James Rice. The chief business was cutting lum- ber. In November, 1815, there were thirteen families iving on Jamestown territory, occupying rude cabins, and some men without families. A few families lived n adjacent territory; one in the extreme northwestern corner of the city limits, and two or three at Cass Mills (East Jamestown).

Among the early settlers whose names must always be included in any list of the "founders of Jamestown" are these: Abner Hazeltine, Daniel Hazeltine, Samuel Barrett, Samuel A. Brown, Thos. W. Harvey, Royal Keyes, Rufus Pier, Wm. Hall, Silas Tiffany, Doctor Foote, Horace Allen, Col. Augustus F. Allen, Dascum Allen, Col. Henry Baker, Adolphus Fletcher, Solomon and Ellick Jones, Chas. R. Harvey, Silas Shearman, Geo. W. Tew, Wm. H. Tew, Woodley W. Chandler, and John W. Winsor.

The settlement was locally known as "Pren- lergast Mills" and "The Rapids," but in 1815 he name "Jamestown" was adopted, and a

year or so later a post office was established and Jamestown was a fixture on the maps of the county.

By 1827 the number of settlers had increased to such an extent that the desirability of a vil- lage government was manifest, and an act of incorporation passed by the Legislature be- came a law March 6, 1827. The first village election was held at the home of Solomon Jones and these officers were elected : Trustees, Thomas W. Harvey, Jediah E. Budlong, Dan- iel Hazeltine, Jr., Samuel Barrett, Alvin Plumb ; treasurer, Samuel A. Brown; clerk, George W. Tew ; collector, R. F. Fenton. After the elec- tion, E. T. Foote, Horace Allen, S. A. Brown, Abner Hazeltine and Joseph Waite were ap- pointed to draft a constitution and by-laws, and when their work was completed James- town was ready to assume the duties and re- sponsibilities of a village.

The act incorporating the village of James- town was drawn with great care. In terse lan- guage, the act defined the rights and prescribed the duties of the inhabitants and officials, and all in all was a very satisfactory scheme of government, as may be inferred from the fact that the principles that were then laid down were in a large degree adhered to in the amend- ments made from time to time to meet the de- mands of a growing village.

To adequately protect the village from the ravages of fire was one of the first duties of the newly formed village government, and to pro- vide fire protection a meeting was held July 5, 1827. At that meeting it was decided to raise $300 by tax. Eventually it was raised, and August 31, 1829, the first fire company was organized-Fire Company No. 1. This com- pany had a little hand pump which was hauled to the nearest reservoir at the outbreak of a fire, and with a dozen muscular young men on the brakes did more or less effective work. The first officers of this company were: Ellick Jones, captain : William H. Tew, captain's mate ; Phineas Palmeter, Jr., engineer ; James H. Culver, assistant engineer. All these offi- cers were prominent citizens. Ellick Jones, the captain, was the father of Orsino E. Jones.

It is evident from a perusal of the early vil- lage records that the purchase of equipment for the department, the management of the same and the selection of officers, cut quite a figure in the politics of the village, and the minutes of a meeting held May 13, 1844, show that the main topic for consideration was a fire department controversy.

The first system of fire protection consisted

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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

of a series of small storage reservoirs located in various sections of the village. Crude hand engines supplied water pressure for hose, and thus the villagers were able to cope with an ordinary blaze. With the growth of the vil- lage came the demand for additional reservoirs and engines and to meet this demand hose com- panies and engine companies were organized from time to time. The first engine company, Engine Company No. I, was later known as Deluge Engine Company, and claims the dis- tinction of being the oldest in the volunteer department. This claim was sharply disputed by the Ellicott Hook and Ladder Company, and there are no records available which deci- sively settle this dispute, although an impartial investigation which was conducted in August, 1892, resulted in a decision that the Deluge Company was entitled to claim the seniority.

The order in which the present companies of the department were organized is as fol- lows: Deluge Engine Company, Ellicott Hook and Ladder Company, Rescue Hose Company, Eagle Hose Company, Prendergast Hose Com- pany, Jeffords Hose Company, Fire Police, Martyn Hose Company.

The village grew so rapidly that in a few years it was found impracticable to adequately protect the buildings with the reservoir scheme, and a private company constructed a simple system of water works with mains running through the business section of Main street. Pressure was supplied by a large steam pump and thus the business section of the village was fairly well protected, residents of the out- lying portions of the village still relying on the reservoirs and hand engines.

In 1886, a general system of water works was projected. This system covered the en- tire town, and with powerful steam pumps provided ample pressure for all localities. Then the old hand engines were laid away forever, and the volunteer firemen assumed the task of protecting the property of the village under more favorable auspices. In turn, the volun- teer department gave way to the modern paid department with motor equipment on engines, hose carts and hook and ladder trucks. There are six fire stations with the most modern fire alarm system, having boxes all over the city. Fire headquarters are at No. I Spring street, Howard S. Rodgers, chief (July, 1920.)

The documents prepared by the Chautauqua County Bank in 1831, in which they applied for a charter from the Legislature, set forth these reasons why a charter should be granted :

In 1816 there was no post office within twenty miles of Jamestown, where it is proposed to locate this bank.

Population of Jamestown, January, 1827, 393. Population of Jamestown, June, 1830, 884.

It has now eleven stores, one woolen factory, one sash factory, one gristmill with three run of stones, one gang sawmill, three common sawmills, two printing offices, and a great number of mechanic establishments. A steamboat of eighty tons burden plies daily between Jamestown and Mayville on the Chautauqua Lake. One of the Lake Erie steamboats is solely employed in doing the business of Chautauqua county.

Jamestown is ninety miles on the route usually trav- eled, from the nearest banking institution in this State (United States Branch Bank at Buffalo). The bank at Lockport is the nearest State institution. There is no bank in the southern tier of counties from Orange to Lake Erie.

The lumber included in this estimate is produced in a territory about the size of Chautauqua which is partly in this county, partly in the county of Cattaraugus, and partly in the State of Pennsylvania, and of which Jamestown is the commercial center.

The county of Chautauqua ranks among the first in the State for size, commercial advantages, and fer- tility of soil. It has no large swamps nor barren moun- tains, and is probably capable of supporting as numer- ous and dense a population as any in the State.

The charter for this bank was granted April 18, 1831. The institution was organized under the safety fund act, with a capital of $100,000, and the privilege of issuing bills to twice the amount of the capital. The first directors were Leverett Barker, John G. Saxton, William Pea- cock, James Hall, Samuel Barrett, Jediah E. Budlong, Oliver Lee, Thomas Campbell, Dan- iel Shearman, Elial T. Foote, Alvin Plumb, Abner Hazeltine, Richard P. Marvin. The first officers were Elial T. Foote, president, with an allowance of one cent for each bill signed by him, and Arad Joy, cashier, with an annual salary of $550.

The prudent, conservative policies adopted by the founders of this bank have always been strictly adhered to not only by their successors but also by the officials of the other excellent banking institutions which in the course of time followed, and it is a pleasure to record the fact that there has never been a bank failure in Jamestown, and that all the banks have at all times maintained the most harmonious re- lations with each other. The present banks of the city (1920) are the Chautauqua County National Bank; First National Bank; Ameri- can National Bank; Bank of Jamestown: Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank; Liberty Na- tional Bank; Union Trust Company.

James Prendergast, with his rare foresight early realized the temporary character of the lumber manufacturing business, and did every. thing possible to induce manufacturers in other lines to settle in Jamestown. This policy has always been adhered to, and new industries have been liberally dealt with, the result that

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THE CITY OF JAMESTOWN

Jamestown is a manufacturing city, its growth due to the developinent of industrial enterprise.

The first manufacturing industry of which there is any record was a small cabinet-making shop started by Royal Keyes about 1815. The same year the Chautauqua Manufacturing Company was organized for the manufacture of cloth, and each year has seen the number increase until to-day (July 6, 1920) Jamestown manufactures in city and suburbs, wood and metal furniture, voting machines, washing ma- chines, pianos, paving brick, wrenches, woolen dress goods, suitings, towels, window screens, blinds, tools, rubbing, carving and sanding ma- chines, mirrors, automobile running gears com- plete, veneer, and bee hives. The census (State) of 1915 gives the names of 96 principal manufacturing firms and states that there are 73 smaller factories-in all employing 6,616 men, 1,785 women, 141 children and 561 office workers. The largest employing concern was the Art Metal Construction Company, with two plants and 1,130 hands ; the William Brod- head Mills second, with 809; and the Salisbury Wheel and Manufacturing Company, 335.

The furniture factories employ by far the greater number of hands, 70 factories and about 5,000 people being engaged in that line of manufacture, the city ranking second in the manufacture of wood furniture. Twice a year a furniture market is held, hundreds of buyers coming to the city to select and place orders. A nine-story furniture exposition building has Deen erected, in which the goods are displayed and large additions are now planned. The worsted and woolen of Jamestown and Fal- coner are known through their products all over the land and have added greatly to the wealth of the city. At this writing, five years ifter the State census from which the fore- going figures are taken, there are 263 factories n and around Jamestown, representing a great variety of industries.

Jamestown has always possessed a high grade of retail and wholesale merchants, and ts stores of all kinds are modern examples of merchandising. The seven financial institu- ions of the city have ably played their part in he development of manufacturing and mer- handising and the diversified industries of the ity have attracted a very desirable class of itizens, of whom a large percentage own their wn homes.

The first railroad to reach the village of amestown was the Atlantic & Great Western, ow a part of the Erie system, which ran its rst train into the city August 23, 1860. James- own is now on the main line of the Erie be-

tween Chicago and New York, and is the south- ern terminal of the Buffalo & Southwestern branch of the Erie, and in close touch by street cars with the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley & Pittsburgh railroad at Falconer, that road be- ginning at Dunkirk and terminating at Titus- ville. Pennsylvania. Jamestown is connected with the New York Central system by the Jamestown, Westfield & Northwestern rail- way and the Chautauqua Traction Com- pany, the lines of these roads extending from Jamestown to Westfield on both sides of Chau- tauqua Lake. At Mayville, connection is made with the Pennsylvania system. The James- town Street Railway serves the cities, Celoron and Falconer. The Warren & Jamestown Street Railway Company connects Jamestown with Warren, Pennsylvania, while excursion steamers make frequent trips around the lake touching at the various landings.

Jamestown took upon herself the dignity of a city, April 19, 1886, after nearly a year spent in the discussion of the details incident to the preparation of a city charter. The committee of ten appointed to draft a charter was: Rob- ert N. Marvin, A. N. Broadhead, F. E. Gifford, Porter Sheldon, John T. Wilson, Orsino E. Jones, John J. Whitney, James I. Fowler, Jerome Preston and Oscar F. Price. The pro- posed charter, perfected to the satisfaction of all, was passed by the Legislature March 31, 1886, the act was signed by Governor David B. Hill, and Jamestown became a city. By the provisions of this charter the city was divided into five wards. The legislative branch was vested in a common council or board of alder- men, with two representatives from each ward. The executive authority was vested in the mayor. The first election was held April 13, 1886, and resulted as follows: Mayor, Oscar F. Price ; city clerk, Fred R. Peterson : Alder- men, First Ward, Adam Ports, John G. Wicks; Second Ward, W. T. Bradshaw, T. E. Gran- din; Third Ward, C. F. Hedman, J. S. Ellis ; Fourth Ward, Conrad A. Hult, E. F. Carpen- ter : Fifth Ward, H. S. Hall, E. R. Bootey ; police justice, Henry J. Yates ; justices of the peace, Marshall P. Strunk, DeForest D. Wood- ford, Egburt E. Woodbury, Herbert U. Bain ; assessors, James C. Swanson, John W. John- son, John M. Farnham. There was no contest for the office of mayor. The total vote was 1.950, of which number Mr. Price received 1,780.

The change from a village to a city took place on the evening of April 19, 1886, on which occasion the old board of trustees met, can- vassed the vote of the election and declared the

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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

result. In retiring, Major Hiram Smith, one of the trustees, took occasion to review briefly the past history of Jamestown and express his confidence in the ability and integrity of the newly elected officials.

In addition to the usual city officials, James- town has a board of estimate and review, a board of water and lighting commissioners, a board of hospital commissioners, a board of park and city planning commissioners, and a civil service commission.

Jamestown was one of the pioneer cities of New York in advocating municipal ownership of public utilities. Just what has been accom- plished is best set forth in an address of wel- come delivered by Mayor Samuel A. Carlson to the New York State Conference of Mayors and Other City Officials in session in James- town the week of July 4, 1920 :

It is fitting that you should meet here because James- town is one of the cities in which many successful ex- periments in municipal democracy have been made.

We invite you to inspect our municipally owned water works, which is self-sustaining and which, not- withstanding our high hills and high cost of labor and material has continued to supply our citizens with the purest water on earth at the low cost of one cent per barrel.

We invite you to examine our municipally owned lighting system by the means of which we are able to supply electric light at 41/2c per K. W. And we call your attention to the fact that notwithstanding this low rate, the plant pays all expenses, all interest and prin- cipal on bonds and makes proper allowance for depre- ciation. The plant has never cost the taxpayers a dollar, except the $48.00 per year charge for each street light, and it has met the test and scrutiny of every antagonistic expert investigator.

We invite you to look over our municipally owned public market system and building which has paid for itself without any tax assistance and which is patron- ized by thousands of our people every week.

We invite you to inspect our municipally owned hos- pital which is maintained at a cost to the city of less than one cent per week per capita, and in which 15,000 persons have been treated since its establishment ten years ago. We hold that it is just as much the func- tion of city government to rescue a citizen's life from the menace of disease as it is to rescue his property from the menace of fire.

We invite you to inspect our municipally owned sand and gravel pit and our municipally constructed pavements, by which we have eliminated the profiteer- ing element usually imposed by contractors.

We invite you to visit our beautiful parks, our insti- tutions of worship and social uplift, our Chadakoin Valley, filled with thriving industries, and our hillsides covered with homes owned by those who toil in these industries. Wherever you find home-owners you find no Bolsheviki.

We call your attention to the annual publication of our entire assessment roll, which enables our whole taxpaying citizenship to constitute itself into a board of review. Less than I per cent. of our total tax levy remains uncollected in any year.

We call your attention to our sanitary method of handling garbage by which each householder is re-

quired to wrap his garbage in paper bundles thereby minimizing the task of its collection and rendering it suitable for consumption by some 500 hogs, making an inexpensive substitute for a disposal plant.

Our milk supply is subject to a bacteriological test at a laboratory conducted by our Health Department.

And all our health regulations are such that James- town now enjoys, I believe, the lowest death rate of any city in this State. We put the emphasis on a low death rate rather than a low tax rate.

We call your attention to the fact that we have suc- cessfully put into practice the referendum method of determining important questions of public policy on which citizens are divided in opinion.

And all commissioners in charge of our public utili- ties are appointed without any reference whatsoever to partisan politics.

Had this speech been delivered about six weeks later, Mayor Carlson could have re- ferred to the municipal milk plant which was voted at a special election held in August, 1920.

These innovations did not come easily or quickly, but through the public-spirited leaders and the determination of the citizens. The mu- nicipal lighting plant was won after a long fight, and at a special election held September 26, 1890, three propositions were submitted to the voters of Jamestown-one to issue bonds for the construction of a sewer system, car- ried ; another, to issue bonds for paving, lost ; another, to issue bonds for the equipment of an electric light plant. Bonds were issued and sold at a premium, the contract for the con- struction and equipment of the plant was let, and on July 4, 1891, at 9 p. m., the machinery was started and electric lights flashed up in all parts of the city. During the evening a demon- stration was arranged in honor of George M. Martyn, one of the leaders in the fight, and later a considerable sum was subscribed by his friends, and a bronze drinking fountain was erected at the corner of Main and Third streets.

The sewer system was begun at the corner of Sprague and West Second streets on the ‘ morning of April 11, 1893, and paving followed naturally. A determined effort was made in 1893 to secure the removal of the county seat from Mayville to Jamestown, but on submis- sion of the question to the voters of the county the proposition was lost, there being 282 votes cast "against" in Jamestown, which had they been cast "for" would have brought the county seat to Jamestown. The city quietly acquiesced in the decision and at once began the erection of a City Hall, costing $85,000, the cornerstone being laid with Masonic ceremonies, Septem- ber 28, 1895.

Public improvements followed fast, and finally an abundant and unfailing water supply became the great unsolved problem. The Jamestown Water Supply Company had sur-

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THE CITY OF JAMESTOWN

ceeded to the earlier rights and franchises granted by village trustees and city aldermen, and had a plant which gave the city satisfac- tory pressure for fire protection, and there was no objection to the quality of the water or the service. But municipal water service was de- manded and a committee was appointed to in- vestigate the two plants which had been bought-the purchase of the plant of the Jamestown Water Supply Company and the erection of a new plant. The committee em- ployed J. F. Witmer, a hydraulic engineer, who began his work January 21, 1901, reported in September, 1901, and negotiations were opened or the purchase of the plant of the water com- any. A proposition to purchase the plant for $600,000 was submitted to the voters, a bill was nacted creating a water commission, bonds of he city were sold, and on April 1, 1903, the city ook possession of its own water supply sys- em.

The source of supply is at Levant, three or our miles east of the city. Artesian wells tap n unfailing supply of pure and cold water. `his supply has been constant even during the reatest drought and it is believed it will be mple to supply the city for all time to come. Oscar F. Price was mayor of Jamestown "om its incorporation as a city until 1894, Then he retired, and Eleazer Green was elected y practically a unanimous vote. Mr. Green ad for some years been one of the leading ttorneys of the city and an active and aggres- ve Republican. In an appreciative and timely iographical sketch, the "Journal" said: "His omination was a recognition of his fitness, rogressive business spirit and sterling integ- ty, and his overwhelming election was irther proof of the trust reposed in him. No lan could enter upon his official career with reater evidence of esteem and confidence than Des Mr. Green. He was selected with the ex- ectation that the city would be conducted in business manner, and that there should be a ean, creditable administration."

Mayor Green took the oath of office in the ommon Council chamber May 7, 1894. On hat occasion Mayor Price presented to Mayor reen the handsome silver tipped gavel which 'e had received so many years ago, and said he 'as glad to surrender this emblem of authority ) a man of honor and ability. "Since coming › this council eleven years ago," said Mayor rice, "the city has more than doubled its opulation. This has been due to the enter- rise of her citizens and to the wisdom of those ho have shaped its destiny during the early ays of its cityhood."

In the fall of 1895 Mr. Green was elected dis- trict attorney of Chautauqua county, assuming the duties of the office January 1, 1896. He therefore retired from office upon the expira- tion, and was succeeded as mayor by Oscar F. Price, his predecessor, who two years later was succeeded by Henry H. Cooper, who took the oath of office April 11, 1898. In the spring of 1900, Mayor Cooper was succeeded by J. Emil Johnson, during whose administration the mu- nicipal water plant was acquired.

In 1908 Samuel A. Carlson was elected mayor of Jamestown and in 1920 he began his seventh term as chief executive of the city.

The following table gives the population of Jamestown from 1827 down to the last census : 1827, 393; 1830, 884; 1840, 1,212; 1845, 1,642; 1855, . 2,625 ; 1860, 3,155; 1870, 5,336; 1880, 9,357 ; 1890, 16,038; 1892, 18,627; 1900, 22,892 ; 1905, 26,160; 1910, 31,297; 1915, 37,780; 1920, 38,898, corrected, 38,917.

The schools of Jamestown are included in the educational chapter, Dr. Rovillus R. Rogers, editor. Jamestown is a city of churches, and perhaps no city in the State has in proportion to its population as large a religious element or as many imposing church edifices, Rev. Eliot C. Hall in 1900 prepared a brief sketch of Jamestown's church history, which is here quoted, as it contains all the essential facts concerning the various church denominations :

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 34

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