USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 35
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The early settlers were, for the most part, interested in religious matters, and favored the formation of churches. Many meetings, however, were held before any church was formed, and no minister of any denomi- nation visited the place without being invited to preach.
The First Congregational Church was organized in 1816 by Rev. John Spencer, a missionary from Con- necticut, and legally incorporated in 1821.
A Methodist class was formed at Worksburg in 1814, and a Congregational church in what is now Kiantone, in 1815. (Both Worksburg and Kiantone were then in the town of Ellicott, in which township Jamestown was also located.) A building formerly used for school purposes known as the Old Academy served as a place of worship until the year 1828, when a church building was erected on the southwest corner of Main and Fifth streets.
A commodious brick church edifice was erected in 1869 on East Third street, which has been enlarged and remodeled and is now used by this church.
Rev. Isaac Eddy was the first pastor of the church.
The present First Methodist Episcopal Church grew out of the class formed at Worksburg in 1814. This class was duly organized into a church and moved to Jamestown in 1823. Their first church edifice was erected at the junction of Second and Chandler streets, and completed in 1833. They now occupy a fine brick structure which has a seating capacity of about 1,500. This church has had a remarkably vigorous growth, and has the largest membership of any of the English- speaking churches of the city.
The First Baptist Church was organized in 1832. Their first church edifice was built in 1833. The present
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building, constructed of Warsaw blue stone, is one of the finest in the city. It is situated at the corner of Fourth and Church streets and is a monument to the zeal and devotion of both pastor and people.
The First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1834 by Rev. E. J. Gillett, forty-one members of the Congregational church having withdrawn to unite in its formation. In 1837 a substantial church edifice was built of wood, on the corner of West Third and Cherry streets. This building was burned in 1877, but was replaced by a large and commodious brick edifice, the interior of which was destroyed by fire in 1890. The building was immediately rebuilt with all modern con- veniences and facilities for church work. The church has a large and growing membership, and has been ably served by its pastors.
St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church was organ- ized in 1834, but was without a stated pastor until the year 1853, when Rev. Levi W. Norton took charge of this parish. The first church building of wood, erected on the corner of Main and Fourth streets, was conse- crated in 1856. This building was burned in 1862 and replaced by a second building upon the same founda- tion in 1865. The present beautiful church edifice was the munificent gift of the late Mrs. Mary A. Prender- gast, as a memorial to her daughter, Catherine. It is constructed of Medina sandstone, is fire-proof and complete in all its equipments. It has a clock tower which contains the only chime of bells in the city.
The Free Methodist Church was incorporated in 1874, the outgrowth of a class formed in 1871. The present church building was erected in 1884 on the corner of Lincoln and East Seventh streets.
SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church occupies a fine stone building on the corner of West Sixth and Cherry streets. For a number of years Jamestown was part of a large parish embracing several towns served by one church official. In 1874 a separate par- ish was formed here under the care of Rev. Father Richard Coyle, under whose wise administration the church greatly prospered.
The English Lutheran Church has a modest brick house of worship on West Fourth street. The church was organized by Rev. S. G. Weiskotten in 1877.
The First Unitarian Church was organized by Rev. J. G. Townsend as an Independent Congregational Church in 1885. Its church property at the junction of East Second and Chandler streets was purchased from the First Methodist Episcopal Church and com- pletely remodeled and refurnished.
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was organized in 1882 as a Union Church, but subsequently placed itself under the care of the African Methodist Episcopal Conference. It has a new church building on its lot on Spring street.
The Seventh Day Adventists have a church building on Cherry street.
The First Church of Christ (Scientist) has a unique church building on the corner of East Fourth street and Prendergast avenue.
A Primitive Methodist Church has recently been organized, and a house of worship erected on Allen street.
The Brooklyn Heights Methodist Episcopal Church has a neat house of worship on the corner of Sprague and Palmer streets.
The Salvation Army holds services in both the Eng- lish and Swedish languages. There are also six chapels where Sunday Schools and occasional preaching serv- ices are held.
There is also a Spiritualistic and a Theosophic Soci- ety which meet by appointment in different places.
Jamestown has a large Swedish population, and they are largely a church-going people. A Swedish Metho- dist Episcopal Church was formed here as early as 1852. This church now occupies a fine brick struc- ture on the corner of Chandler street and Foote ave- nue.
The First Swedish Lutheran Church was organized in 1857. Rev. Carl Otto Hultgren, D. D., became pastor in 1864. A large and imposing Medina sand stone church building is located on Chandler street.
The Swedish Mission Church was organized in 1879 and has recently erected a fine brick building on Chand- ler street.
The Swedish Christian Zion Church was organized by members who withdrew from the Mission Church and have a fine brick house of worship on College street.
The Swedish Immanuel Lutheran Church was formed from members who withdrew from the First Lutheran Church in 1887. They have a commodious brick church on East Second street.
A Danish service is held each Sunday in the Congre- gational church on Institute street.
Since the above was written, the Pilgrim Memorial Church has been located on McKin- ley and Forest avenues. The Salvation Army has a handsome citadel on the corner of Spring and Third streets. The Calvary Baptist Church is located at the corner of Ashville and Liv- ingston avenues. The Swedish Baptist Church is located on Chandler street. St. James' Church, Roman Catholic, is situated on Vic- toria avenue. Holy Trinity, English Lutheran, is located on Fourth street, between North Main and Cherry. Buffalo Street Methodist Episcopal Church, at Buffalo and Falconer streets. Grace United Brethren Church at North Main and Fourteenth streets.
The newspapers of the city are:
The Chautauqua Democrat (weekly). Pub- lished by the Jamestown Evening News Com- pany.
The Evening Journal. Published daily ex- cept Sunday, at 12 West Second street by The Journal Printing Company, Frederick P. Hall, president and general manager; James A.' Clary, vice-president and managing editor; Henri M. Hall, treasurer and business man- ager.
The Jamestown Journal. Twice-a-week, published at 12 West Second street, by The Journal Printing Company (for officers see above) ; established 1826.
The Morning Post. Published daily except Sunday at 311-313 Washington street, by The Post Publishing Company, Ralph C. Sheldon, president ; Edward L. Allen, secretary and managing editor; Robert K. Beach, treasurer and business manager. Established in 1901.
The Evening News. Published daily except Sunday, by the Jamestown Evening News Company, Inc. 307 Spring.
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THIE CITY OF JAMESTOWN
The St. Clairsville Commercial. Published every Thursday by The Jamestown Evening News Company.
The Vart Land (Swedish). Published at 307 Spring street every Thursday by the Vart Land Company, F. G. Curtis, president ; S. A. Carlson, secretary.
Skandia (Swedish). Published every Thurs- day by Liberty Printing Company, 14 West Second : C. E. Lindstone, editor.
The Union Advocate. Published every Thursday by The Jamestown Evening News Company, 307 Spring.
The Furniture Index. Devoted to furniture trade, and published once a month by the Fur- niture Trade Publishing Company.
The following are the philanthropic institu- tions of the city :
The Woman's Christian Association Hospital, corner Foote avenue and Allen street, one of the best in the country, and supported largely by voluntary contribu- tions.
Gustavus Adolphus Orphans' Home, 1381 East Sec- ond street. This institution is controlled by the Lu- theran Augustana Synod (Swedish).
During the year 1911 the O. E. Jones Memorial Hos- pital, erected on a tract of ground willed to the city by O. E. Jones, was opened to the public.
Jamestown has a number of handsome public build- ngs, viz .: Federal building, City Hall. James Prender- gast Library and Art Gallery; State Armory.
The Young Men's Christian Association owns a building and plant valued at $100,000, and the Young Women's Christian Association a handsome building, which with lot cost $65,000.
The Agnes Association owns a large brick residence ind grounds which is conducted as a boarding home or working girls.
The Warner Home for the Aged, the latest of James- own's benevolent institutions, had its beginning in 911 and received at the hands of Mrs. Mary H. War- 1er the L. B. Warner homestead in Forest avenue as : memorial to Mr. Warner, who died in 1905.
A comprehensive park system has been planned and . park commission composed of public-spirited citizens vho have given and are giving much time gratuitously o the work of developing these parks into beauty spots hat will be a credit to the city. One of the largest of hese parks is the Allen Park located on the south side, most picturesque and beautiful spot.
What is known as the "Hundred Acre Lot," a wood- and lying on the borders of the city has been acquired, hrough public subscription, for the particular benefit of the pupils of the public schools.
There are two parks on the north side, one between Vest Fourth and West Fifth streets, known as Baker 'ark, and the other between West Sixth and West Seventh streets, known as Dow Park.
The Soldiers' Memorial Park, the purchase of which vas authorized at a taxpayers' election in the spring of 919, has been turned over to the local American Legion Post as a Memorial Home for Jamestown's oldiers. This park was formerly the Governor Fen- on Homestead, is near the center of the city and with he mansion and grounds is a very fitting memorial ) the soldier boys.
The Jones Memorial Park is on the shores of Chat- tauqua lake outlet. It is still in a rough state but in time will be made into a modern park.
The area of the city is approximately nine and one-half square miles, or 6,136 acres. There are more than 33 miles of paving, mostly shale brick, although some of the business streets are paved with bitulithic and asphalt block.
The assessed valuation of the city in 1908 was $13.347,981 ; in 1909, $13,498,331 ; in 1910, $14,133,149; in 1912, $16,046,366; in 1913, $16,- 981.395 ; in 1914, $16,455,020; in 1915, $17,713,- 396, and in 1918, $23,850,405.
On the settlement of the affairs of James Prendergast, son of Alexander T. and grand- son of James Prendergast, the founder of Jamestown, whose funeral was held December 26, 1879, a brief memoranda was found which requested that the business block at the corner of Main and Third streets should be made available as an endowment for a free public library. On January 2, 1880, The James Pren- dergast Library Association was incorporated, and January 3, the association was duly organ- ized and took title to the property. Mary (Norton) Prendergast, mother of James and wife of Alexander T. Prendergast, and the last survivor of the family, died in Rochester, De- cember 22, 1889. By will she devised the by far greater part of her estate to public pur- poses. The various Prendergast bequests are as follows :
The James Prendergast Library (which has ex- tended notice in chapter on Libraries) was completed at a cost of $60,000, and furnished with an art gallery costing $45,000. The grounds upon which the building is located cover an entire city square in one of the best residence districts of the city. It was opened to the public, December 1, 1891, and then contained 8,666 volumes, a number which has been constantly increased during the twenty-nine years the Library has been in existence.
A bronze drinking fountain erected near one of the main entrances to Lake View Cemetery at a cost of $2,000.
The magnificent St. Luke's Episcopal Church edifice, erected at a cost of $125,000.
The sum of $2,000 set aside and the income derived therefrom is divided annually into four prizes to be paid to students in the Jamestown schools for superior merit in scholarship, the same to be determined by competitive examinations.
The sum of $500 set aside and the income derived therefrom is expended in the purchase of books for the library of the Mission Sunday School conducted under the auspices of the Woman's Christian Associa- tion.
The rental of the Prendergast building at the corner of Main and Third streets provides an income suffi- cient to defray the operating expenses of the library. Thus it will be seen that the Prendergast family im- posed no restrictions, for they not only built the library
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but they equipped it, and provided an endowment suffi- cient to support it for all time to come-a truly royal gift.
The general welfare of the city of James- town is promoted by a Chamber of Commerce, a Manufacturers' Association and lesser busi- ness organizations. The fraternal orders are well represented, the Elks, Eagles, Odd Fel- lows and Masonic orders all being well housed in their own buildings. There are many liter- ary, musical, art and social clubs.
The leading clubs are the Jamestown Nor- den and Mozart, the list, however, being capa- ble of great extension. There is a chapter of
the Sons of the Revolution located in the city and a chapter of the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution. Other patriotic orders are: James Hall Camp, No. 1I, Sons of Veterans; James M. Brown Post, No. 285, G. A. R .; Woman's Relief Corps, No. 73; Encampment No. 95, Union Veteran Legion ; Auxiliary No. 24, Ladies of the Union Veteran Legion; Ira Lou Spring Post, American Legion.
There are lodges of the Scandinavian Fra- ternal Association of America, Swedish Broth- erhood, Swedish Sisterhood, Sons of St. George, Daughters of St. George, and many others, social, athletic, religious and fraternal.
CHAPTER XX.
Towns: Ellington - French Creek - Gerry -Hanover - Harmony.
Ellington *- He who attempts to write the history of people who existed, and events that transpired nearly a century ago, perpetuated largely in the memory of the few who are liv- ing and the sayings of the many who are dead, must needs feel that there is danger often of weaving into the story an occasional thread of fiction ; but the writer has endeavored in this instance to search for truth, reconcile conflict- ing statements and wherever possible to sub- stantiate the record by documentary proof.
To the few representatives of the "Old Fami- lies" who are left to tell their stories and re- count the doings and sayings of their ances- tors, the author of this brief history desires to extend his grateful acknowledgments; know- ing that the records of many persons who con- tributed largely to the material development of the town and the intellectual and moral prog- ress of this community, must pass without mention, owing to the lack of sufficient data and sources of information. Families, promi- nent in an early day, have become extinct, or their descendants have moved away, and the brief record of their lives exist only in the inemory of the living or some old structure or landmark that reflects the work of their hands.
I, therefore, beg to invoke the charitable criticism of any who may feel interested in this necessarily brief review of the first centenary of Ellington and its people.
The town of Ellington is bounded on the north by the town of Cherry Creek, on the west by the town of Gerry, south by the town of Poland, and on the east by Cattaraugus county. It is understood to have been named after Ellington in Connecticut. Most of the
early settlers came from that State and Massa- chusetts and Vermont.
On April 1, 1824, it was set off from the town of Gerry, and at that time included the town of Cherry Creek; the latter town being set apart from Ellington, May 4, 1829. It is township number three of the tenth range of the Holland Land Company's survey, and em- braces about 23,000 acres of land.
The major part of its surface is undulating upland. The principal valleys are the valleys of Clear creek and its tributaries. The sources of Clear creek are in the neighboring towns of Gerry and Charlotte. It enters the northwest part of the town on lot 56, and running south- easterly through the central portions of the town empties into the Conewango east of the village of Clear Creek in Cattaraugus county. The northeast corner of the town takes in a : portion of the Conewango Valley, that stream passing through the northeast corner of lot 7 and centrally through lot 8 and through the northeast corner of lot 16.
The village of Ellington is located on lots 28 and 29, at about the center of the town, and in the valley of Clear creek and Twenty-eight creek, which streams unite just east of the vil- lage. The present population of the village is about 400, and of the town about 1,400. Two and one-half miles east of the village and on the county-line road between Chautauqua and Cattaraugus, is the village of Clear Creek, and one and one-fourth miles north of the latter place on lot 7 is Conewango Valley, a station on the Buffalo & Southwestern railroad. From this place a bus runs twice a day, carrying mail and passengers to and from Ellington via Clear Creek. Four and one-half miles to the south is Kennedy, in Poland; a station on the Erie
*This narrative is by Mr. Theodore A. Case.
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railroad which takes much of the travel and traffic from Ellington.
Ellington is essentially a dairy town and has long been famous for its fine butter and cheese. Its diversified surface affords good grazing and plenty of water and the farmer who is attentive to his calling seldom fails of an abun- dant harvest.
In the town are two steam mills engaged in he manufacture of lumber, by Charles J. Main ind by Mason H. Terry. Among the citizens of he village of Ellington who are actively en- raged in business pursuits are the following : On the west side of the public park is the dry roods store and the general store of Luce Brothers, and in the south half of the same lock the drug store of George G. Gilbert is ocated, also the village post office. On the outh side is the grist mill and the flour and eed business of Luce Brothers, the garage of Jiske & Dye, Odd Fellows Hall and Murray's Grocery. On the east side is the general store f Charles A. Seekins and the shop of A. D. Kellogg, barber and watch repairer. On the orth side is Grange Hall, the brick hardware tore of The George B. Waith Company, and he blacksmith shop of Axel Tell. On west Iain street is the law office of Theodore A. 'ase and the blacksmith shop of Willard Al- rich. At Conewango Valley on the Chau- auqua side of the street, Mark Hopkins has a eneral store; Charles J. Mahon and D. A. eager are also merchants of that village. The lagg store and mill is on the Cattaraugus side f the street.
The fact as to who was the first actual set- er in the town of Ellington, as its boundaries re at present constituted, seems to be a matter f some little doubt, but the best authorities gree that the first opening in the forest was lade in the northeast part of the town on lot and Joshua Bentley is credited as being the rst actual settler. It is claimed, however, and erhaps justly, that another party, whose ame is unknown, made a clearing and erected log cabin near the same place a year or two 1 advance of Bentley, but remained only a hort time. Mr. Bentley came from Stephen- own. Rensselaer county, this State, in 1814, nd by the joint labors of himself and wife onstructed a rude log cabin on the east part of me lot above named, near the present site of ne dwelling now owned by Eldred Bentley. at onewango Valley. The following year Mr. entley purchased 300 acres on lot 16, and bout the same time land on lots 9 and 15 of je present town of Cherry Creek. Mr. Bent- y's son, Joshua, Jr., who it appears was for
a time engaged with a party of surveyors, came about the same time as his father, and in the spring of 1815 settled on lot 15 of the Cherry Creek purchase. Later the records show that Joshua Bentley, Jr., bought a part of lot 5 in the town of Ellington and built a frame dwelling, the same now owned by Lu- man Mather, north of Clear creek.
Following Joshua Bentley, Sr., about three years later came his brother, Eldred Bentley, from the same place, and settled on lot 15, about three-fourths of a mile to the west on the line of the old Chautauqua road. From these two brothers sprang the numerous fami- lies of Bentleys that reside in that and other portions of this town and Cherry Creek.
With the opening up of this portion of the old Mayville and Ellicottville road in 1814, settlers were attracted to lands lying along its course. In the spring of 1815, James Bates, with his family, came from Onondaga county, but originally from Massachusetts, and settled on lot 48. In 1816 Benjamin Follet settled on lot 40, building a log house on the same prem- ises now owned by Frank Bentley. The same vear Samuel McConnell, from Cayuga county, N. Y., located on lot 47, west of Follet's, where the road crosses the Clear Creek Valley, later known as the Boyd farm. In 1817 Abner Bates, from Chesterfield, Mass., came with his family, consisting of his wife (Nancy) and five children, Vinal, Joseph P., Maria, Alvah and Corydon, and settled on lots 48 and 56. For the first year Mr. Bates was obliged to bring most of his family supplies from Fredonia on his back. The same year Reuben Penhollow arrived from Pittsfield, Mass., and settled on lot 39. Dwight Bates settled on the same lot, on the farm now owned by Joseph Luce. Ben- jamin Rider settled on lot 48, later known as the Kinsman place. In 1820 Benjamin Ells- worth settled on lot 31, known as the Throop farm, coming from Hartford county, Conn., on foot, bringing all his worldly possessions in a little bundle swung over his shoulder. He built a log house the same year and later mar- ried Calista Day, daughter of William Day, of Cattaraugus county. These are a few of the early settlers along the line of the old Chau- tauqua road. while in other parts of the town. outside of the present village limits, we note the following: In 1816 Simon Lawrence drove through from Rutland county, Vermont, with an ox-team and located on lot 38 in the Clear Creek Valley. After providing shelter for him- self and family he proceeded to clear the side- hill back of his log house and plant an orchard, the first in town ; many of the trees
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. are still standing. His son, Simon Lawrence, Jr., who was born upon the premises soon after his parents came, succeeded to the ownership upon his father's death and spent his whole life there. He died a few years since and his youngest son, Edgar P., now owns and occu- pies the old homestead. The same year Ward King, from Massachusetts, located in the northeast part of the town on lot 16. In 1817 Charles Thacher, from Vermont, settled on lot 64, and the following year Oliver Bugbee on lot 23, Nathan Billings on lot 21, known as the Nye farm, and his brother, Daniel Bill- ings, on lot 13, later known as the Alverson farm. In 1821 Rolli Rublee, from Pittsfield, Mass., settled on lot 12, building a log house on the south bank of Clear creek, near the present iron bridge opposite the Day school house, and later a slab house on the farm now owned by Lorenzo Green. The same year Hiram Putnam, a brother of the late Worthy Putnam, settled on lot 4, east of Rublee's; he married a daughter of Simon Lawrence.
In 1822 the population was largely increased. Among the new settlers were: Enos Bush, lot I; Samuel Newton and Gershum Newton, lot 46; Gardner Bentley and Benjamin Carr, lot 16; James Leach, lot 18; Amos Leach, lot II ; John Leach, lot 10; Benjamin Livermore, lot I ; Henry Abbey, lot 32; Hosea Saxton, lot 25; David Gates, lot II; Henry Day, lot 24; Sey- inour Saxton, lot 18; Jeremiah West, lot 10; Z. L. Bemus, lot 1; Ira Gates, lot 19; Nathan Bugbee (brother of Wyman) lot 20; John Woodward, Jr., lot 2. Mr. Woodward was seven years supervisor of the town, and in 1835 was elected member of Assembly. He was grandfather of Hon. John Woodward, later justice of the Supreme Court. He with his brother David, who later settled on lot 9. moved to the west.
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