History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 47

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 47

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).

Israel Palmer built the first wagon roa over the hills toward the south in 1817. F was from Vermont, and had bought land ar built a log cabin three miles south of the Ma road. In 1816 the summer was so cool th

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there was a failure of crops and the pioneers and their families suffered much hardship in consequence.

Samuel Truesdale kept the first tavern at State Line, beginning in 1805. Afterwards James Truesdale, his brother, built a tavern, called the State Line House, the main building standing in Pennsylvania, but the outbuildings in New York State. The Wesleyan Metho- dists subsequently built a small church on the site of the tavern, which had been torn down. Perry G. Ellsworth and Oliver Loomis were early tavern keepers. Elihu Murray and Asa Spear kept inns at Quincy, the last named where the Presbyterian church was afterwards built. After the Second Presbyterian Church bought the property, the old tavern was re- moved and became a part of the Union Hotel. Henry Fairchild built a tavern and sold it to Henry Shaver, Sr .: later it was bought by Daniel Bryant, who built a dwelling on the site. David Royce and John Post were early keepers of taverns at East Ripley.

Sawmills were built about 1817 on Twenty- mile creek and other streams. George Mason and Orson Kingsley built the first steam saw- mill in 1827. Among the early proprietors of sawmills were Brockway & Miller, at the vil- lage, and Joseph Miller, south of the State line in the west part. Gristmills were early built. Silas Baird, John Akers and Henry Fairchild formed a company for the manufacture of brick, and continued the business many years.

Kinsey & Manning built the first woolen mills in Ripley, at Gage's Gulf, and the prop- erty was afterwards purchased by Hezekiah Mason, who conducted the mills for years. The first creamery in Ripley was built in 1874, by F. Dingley and others from Stockton.

Hugh Whitehill, Noah P. Hayden and Wil- liam McBride, early settlers, owned the lands on which the village at the State line was after- wards built. Buffalo people opened the first store here. At Quincy the first store was kept by Rappole & Keeler, and the same men built the first ashery. Other asheries were built soon after.

The postoffice in Ripley was established about 1815. Robert Dickson was postmaster, and the office was kept in his house. Burban Brockway was next, and the office was re- moved to his house. Moses Adams was the third, and he likewise kept the office at his home.

The first framed school house was built in Ripley in 1817, the inhabitants referring to it as the "school house on the corner." In 1818 a frame school house was built at East Ripley,

and one in the district west of the village. A large brick school house was finally built near the central part of the village, and in 1858 a large two-story school house was built east of the Presbyterian church. The lower rooms were used for the district school, the upper rooms for the "Quincy High School." Prof. Alanson Wedge was the first teacher. Later the Ripley Union School was established, and in 1888 a large brick building was erected ou Lake street. At East Ripley and in the dis- trict west of the village, all wooden buildings used as school houses were replaced by brick years ago, and the town has both good schools and good school buildings.

Baptist missionaries preached in this vicin- ity, but the first sermon preached in Ripley of which there is record was by Rev. Samuel Wisner, in 1806. A Baptist society was formed in 1825, and later a church was built west of the village. The society was reorganized at Wattlesburg, where a church was built, which later came into the possession of the Metho- dists. In 1891 the society was again reorgan- ized in Ripley village as the First Baptist Church and Society of Ripley, Rev. G. Wood- bury, pastor.

The first Methodist class was formed in 1811, Farley Fuller, Basil Burgess, Andrew Spear, their wives and others, among the mem- bers. Meetings were held at the house of Far- ley Fuller at East Ripley, at Andrew Spear's in the village, at the school houses after the congregations had grown considerably, and later in the first house built by the Baptists. In January. 1842, a church building was dedicated. which was used for more than thirty years. In 1873 a large brick edifice was built a short dis- tance east of the first. It was dedicated in 1874 by Rev. Benoni Ives of Auburn. A par- sonage was built in 1891, and about that time a church was built at South Ripley. The church at State Line stands within the State of Pennsylvania, but is connected with the Ripley circuit.

The First Presbyterian Church of Ripley was formed in 1818 at East Ripley. The meetings were held in the school house. Rev. Giles Doolittle was the first pastor. A church building begun in 1828 was struck by light- ning and burned after it was nearly completed. Another building was erected in 1829. Revs. J. B. Preston, Gillett, Harris and Samuel G. Orton were pastors after Mr. Doolittle, in the order named. Mr. Orton continued from 1839 until the division of the society in 1853. The Second Presbyterian Church and Society of Ripley was organized, and a brick church was

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built in 1853 at the village, which was dedi- cated in May, 1854, by Rev. Reuben Tinker, of Westfield. Meetings were held in the two churches until 1871, when a union was effected under the name of the First Presbyterian Church and Society of Ripley. The old build- ing at East Ripley was sold in 1881 and re- moved to permit the desired extension of the cemetery.

A Universalist Society was organized in 1872, with Rev. I. George as pastor, who was succeeded by Rev. A. G. Laurie. The meet- ings were held in the town hall. There are people of the Universalist faith in Ripley, but the society has not had a regular pastor.

The first cemetery, one acre of ground, was given in 1815 by Robert Dickson. Quarries at Ripley and North East furnished the stone for many of the headstones. In 1858 the Rural Cemetery grounds were bought by the Ceme- tery Association and laid out in lots. Exten- sive additions have been made to both ceme- teries.

The Ripley Literary Club was organized in 1893, through the influence of Mrs. Mary E. Wethy, who was elected the first president and remained in office five years. The main object of the club was to keep the women and the girls beyond school age in touch with the events of the day, and to develop the study of history, art and literature. The club started with a membership of thirty-five, with the active membership limited to forty, but as the associate membership is not limited, there are now sixty members. Every year a new pro- gram of work and study is arranged by a com- mittee of four or five members, and by this method a great many women in our village have received benefit in an educational way. The club has presented pictures to the school, adopted a French orphan, prepared and sent out Christmas gifts to the needy, and has taken full charge of the Memorial or Decoration Day services for a number of years. The pres- ent officers are: Mrs. Lillian P. Mason, presi- dent ; Mrs. Clara Stebbins, vice-president ; Miss Julia Conley, recording secretary ; Mrs. Arley N. Taylor, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Ella A. Mahle, treasurer. The club is a member of the Western New York Federation, and two of its club members, Mrs. Harriet M. Randall and Mrs. Ella A. Mahle, have held the office of treasurer of the Federation.

Mrs. Mary E. Wethy was also instrumental in organizing the Ladies' Auxiliary Cemetery Association, in March, 1894, for the purpose of improving the Ripley Cemetery. The first work was to hire a landscape gardener for two

summers to lay out the grounds according to . a plot drawn up years before, which consisted ‹ of walks, drives and a circle. This required . grading and terracing of the ground, lowering : monuments, and straightening headstones. The association purchased two carloads of fer- tilizer and seed to produce a good lawn ; pur- chased an iron fence ; had the city water piped into grounds : furnished hose and hydrants to water lawn, flower beds and urns, also lawn mowers and all tools: helped pay off an old debt, and hired a caretaker every season. All these expenses were paid by money raised by the ladies in their yearly dues to the associa- tion of fifty cents, in having a bazaar each year, rummage sales, and entertainments of various kinds carried out by local talent. The officers are : President, Mrs. Mary E. Wethy; vice-president, Mrs. Charles Shaver; record- ing secretary, Mrs. Effie Hildred ; correspond- ing secretary, Mrs. Ella Mahle ; treasurer, Mrs. Ada McGinnies; chairman flower committee, Mrs. Harriet Randall.

There is another organization in the town of Ripley doing the same splendid work,-the East Ripley Auxiliary Cemetery Association, organized April 1, 1901, and which has for its purpose the beautifying of the East Ripley Cemetery. The members are going through the same arduous tasks in earning money for this cause. The officers are: President, Mrs. Ella Kolpien ; vice-president. Mrs. Cora Pitt; recording secretary, Mrs. Horace Parker; cor- responding secretary, Mrs. Emma Collins : treasurer, Miss Ollie Jones.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union has a membership in Ripley of fifty-five, and the officers are: President. Mrs. Cora Pitt; vice-president, Mrs. Effie Hildred; secretary! and treasurer, Mrs. Harry Goodrich, corre- sponding secretary, Mrs. Emma Rickenbrode. The union meets one afternoon every two. weeks, and a certain period of each meeting is given over to the study of legislative laws and civics. They have a flower mission day for sending flowers, jellies or other dainties to the sick or needy. They have also adopted a French orphan.

Supervisors-1816, Amos Atwater : 1817-25- 27. Thomas Prendergast; 1826, Ebenezer Ward; 1828, Moses Adams: 1829-32, Henry Fairchild ; 1833-34, Orrin Willis ; 1835-36, Gor- don H. Wattles; 1837-38, Ethan Sawin ; 1839- 40-52-57-64-68-77. Chas. B. Brockway : 1841-42. Hezekiah Mason; 1843-45-48-53. Moses A. Tennant : 1846, Matthew S. Mcclintock : 1849- 50, Stephen Prendergast; 1851, George Good- rich ; 1854, Selden Marvin; 1855, Caleb O.

MAIN STREET-SHERIDAN First Road Laid Out in Chautauqua County-Located by Colonel Payne in 1802

LAND OFFICE VAULT AT MAYVILLE, STILL STANDING

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Daughaday : 1856-58-61-63, Simeon Collins; 1862, Henry A. Prendergast, 1869-72, Addison Mason ; 1870-71, Lucius G. Hamilton ; 1873-76, Erban C. Wattles; 1878, Nathan J. Horton ; 1870-80, Lyman Bennett; 1881-82, John A. Tennant : 1883, Fred B. Brockway; 1884-88, William L. Stanton ; 1889, Fred B. Brockway ; 18go-91, Lyman Bennett ; 1892-93, Fred N. Randall ; 1894-95, Charles R. Brockway ; 1896- 1920, Joseph A. McGinnies.

Mr. McGinnies was also elected clerk of the board in 1905, and has held office continuously until the present (1920).

Ripley is essentially a town of one industry and around the famous Chautauqua grape its prosperity is built. The town is a vast vine- yard; grape juice is manufactured in large quantities and the manufacture of grape bas- kets is carried on extensively. The principal manufacturing concern of the town is the Ran- dall Fruit Juice Company, that company hav- ing a large vineyard acreage in Ripley as well as their manufacturing plant.

William B. Rickerobrode is a large manu- facturer of grape baskets in Ripley. The vil- lage of Ripley has a gravity system of water works, and is a rural community in which it is pleasant to dwell.

The assessed value of Ripley's real estate in 19 8 was $1,890.879, the full value of the same being placed at $2,415,309.

Sheridan-Sheridan, with Hanover on the east, Arkwright on the south, Pomfret and Dunkirk on the west, and Lake Erie as the northern boundary, is beautifully located, a view of the lake to be had from almost any point in the town. The surface is nearly level except in the southeast part, which rises in places to a height of 500 feet above the lake level. It is well watered, and was once heavily timbered. There were plain evidences of for- mer Indian occupation at the time of the first settlement, and some are discernable now. On the farm now owned by J. G. Gould, lot 35, was a fort in the form of a horseshoe, and a ourying ground, from which in 1875 Daniel Sherman, at that time Indian agent, exhumed 1 quantity of bones and sent them to the Smithsonian Institution for the purpose of hrowing some light on the history of the nound builders. On the farm of George I. 'utton, lot 67, was a circular embankinent in- ·losing a space about twenty rods across, with n eastern elongation extending to a small reek. The main road ran through this en- closure, and the embankment could be readily raced as late as 1860. Mr. Button collected a quantity of arrow heads, stone axes, stone ham-

mers, and other implements evidently for skin- ning deer and dressing their skins. There are other stones nicely dressed into shape, but for what use cannot even be conjectured.

The first purchases of land by settlers were made in 1804-Francis Webber and Hazadiah Stebbins on lot 17, William Webber on lot 27, Abner Holmes on lot 43, and Alanson Holmes on lot 53. In 1805 Gerald Griswold located on lot 35, Orsamus Holmes on lots 14 and 60. Joel Lee on lot 52, John Walker on lot 67. John Hollister on lot 66, Thomas Stebbins on lot 18 and Simeon Austin on lot 52. Purchases continued until in 1830 there were about one hundred homes in the town and approximately 1,000 people. The town is still a rural com- munity and, according to the State census of 1915. has a population of 2,077, of whom 124 are aliens. The villages of the town are Havi- lah, a station on the New York Central, and Sheridan on the Erie, which crosses the town from east to west. There are 22,675 acres in the town, valued in 1918 at $3.497,238, upon which the assessment for the same year was $2.743.832.

The first tavern was kept by Orsamus Holmes on lot 60, on the Usher property. Mr. Holmes was born in Pembroke, Mass., Octo- ber II, 1757; was a soldier in the Revolution ; was taken prisoner and carried to Canada, and escaped. In 1804 he selected land in Sheridan, and in 1805 his family took possession. He was postmaster many years, and at the age of seventy-six removed to Holmer county, Ohio, and died there in 1835.

William Griswold kept the first tavern at the Center, where he located in 1805: it was discontinued in 1837. At what was afterward known as Robert's Corners, one Pryor kept an inn as early as 1811 or 1812. This was burned, and in 1815 he had a house containing only two small rooms, which with the farm, he traded with Benjamin Roberts for the Haskin farm on lot 53. Benjamin Roberts came from Madison county in 1811, settled on lot 34, afterwards on the Haskin farm, lot 54, north of the Main road, and in 1815 moved to the location yet known by his name, and into the small dwelling erected by Pryor. This was added to until it became quite a spacious hos- telry ; was kept by him until his death in 1836, then by his son Abner until 1848, and by other parties until 1852. After his trade with Rob- berts, Pryor built another tavern on lot 53. south of the Main road. This he sold to one Taylor, and in 1824 Taylor sold to Enoch Has- kin ; Mr. Haskin came from Rensselaer county in 1818. He had a fine span of horses and was

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employed by Colonel Abell to plow for the first time the grounds now known as the Barker Common, in Fredonia. In 1819 he moved to Sheridan, onto what is now known as the Har- ner farm, and in 1824 to the Taylor inn, which was burned in 1833, rebuilt by him, and kept until 1850. Mr. Haskin also kept the Orrington post office from 1824 until 1839. He moved to Minnesota, and died there in 1866. The Kensington tavern was probably established as early as 1812, as there was a store and post- office there in 1816. It changed landlords more times than any other tavern in town, was discontinued about 1850, and torn down about 1865. Huyck's Tavern was first established on the south side of the Main road by one Good- win between 1815 and 1820. Afterward he built on the north side of the road. Richard Huyck came from Delaware county in 1831, and bought of Mr. Goodwin on the south side of the road, and in 1834 the tavern also ; he kept it until 1851, and died in 1869. The Kensing- ton and Huyck taverns were about one mile apart, with a fine stretch of gravel road be- tween them, which was often used as a race course, many horses famous for their speed being brought here to make an exhibition be- fore the people who assembled in large num- bers to witness the racing.

John I. Eacker came from Herkimer county in 1835, and bought Edmund Mead's store building, at the Center, in 1837. This he moved to the northeast corner, kept it, the post office and a tavern until the stages stopped running in 1852. He died in Illinois, in 1877. William Ensign came from Delaware county in 1814, bought a farm one mile east of the Center in 1815, and commenced keeping a tavern in 1825. The house of brick was burned in 1847. It was rebuilt, but the tavern was discontinued. Kensington post office, with Dr. Terry as post- master, was kept here for a few years. A tay- ern was kept at an early day in a log house on the hill in the south part of town by Nathaniel Loomis : it was replaced by a frame building. There were for many years seven taverns in the town, but emigration attained such pro- portions, that it was often impossible to fur- nish accommodations for all who wished.

Elisha Grey is said to have kept the first store, a little east of the Haskin tavern, on the Main road. Allen Denny kept groceries for sale at his residence on the John Spencer farm near Newell's Corners. William Holbrook kept a store at Kensington in 1816. Edmund Mead kept the first store at the Center. He was born in New York City in 1809, and came to Sheridan in 1830. His father, who was a

merchant in New York, sent on a stock of mer- chandise, which Mr. Mead put into a store built on land owned by Israel C. Holmes on lot 44, about half a mile south of the Center. One year later he moved the building to the north-i west corner at the Center, where he built a commodious residence. The store building proving too small, was sold and moved away for a dwelling house. A new building suc- ceeded it, that was used by Mr. Mead until 1834, when he sold the goods to Leroy Farn- ham, who kept the store until 1837, when the building was sold to John I. Eacker, who moved it to the northeast corner and used it for a tavern, store and post office. It burned in 1871 while occupied by Arthur Gifford, but was rebuilt in 1872.

P. H. Shelley bought the old Presbyteriar church at the Center in 1874, remodeled it added a public hall, and kept a grocery and the Sheridan post office.

The first marriage was Thomas Barris to Betsy Stebbins, a sister of Thomas and Haza diah Stebbins, in 1807 or 1808. They settle( in Hanover, where some of their descendant yet reside. The first death was that of Origen son of Orsamus Holmes, January 1, 1806, ager eighteen years. It is stated in Young's His tory that Joel Lee built the first frame house The first frame barn was built on the farm o Otis Ensign, lot 65, about ISog. The last lo! house used as a dwelling was occupied b Hiram Fessenden, Sr., until his death in 1886 after which it was torn down.

This town of Sheridan was formed in Apri 1827, by taking thirty-two lots from the tow of Pomfret, and thirty-five from Hanove Nathaniel Grey, John E. Griswold and Have Brigham made the journey to Albany in th winter and lobbied the Legislature until the succeeded in their mission. William E. Gri- wold, an elder brother of John E., contribute fifty dollars toward the expenses. Mr. Gre was a great admirer of the poet Sheridan, an proposed that his name be given to the new! formed town. His proposition was adopte and the name clung.

The first town meeting was held at the hou: of William Griswold, Tuesday, May 8, 1827, ; which time the following were elected : Supe visor, Lyscom Mixer : town clerk. Enoch Ha kin : assessors, Haven Brigham, Otis Ensig Sheldon Stanley ; collector, Rodolphus Simon commissioners of highways, Nathaniel Loomi William Ensign, John N. Gregg ; overseers the poor. Otis Ensign, Jonathan S. Pattison constables, Rodolphus Simmons, Orlow Har commissioners of schools, Benjamin Browne

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Royal Teft, Lyscom Mixer; inspectors of chools, Elisha Mason, Nathaniel Grey, Sanı- 1el Davis.

The first post office in the town and the econd in the county was established in June, 806, at the Holmes Tavern, with Orsamus Holmes postmaster, the office bearing the name Canadaway ; but not the Canadaway, a name iven later to the settlement which was the eginning of the present Fredonia. The next post office was at Hanover. afterward Kensing- on, established December 7, 1816, William Holbrook postmaster. In 1829 South Sheri- an postoffice was established at the residence f John E. Griswold, who was appointed post- laster. In 1824, Canadaway postoffice was loved to the Haskin Tavern, and the name hanged to Orrington; Enoch Haskin, post- laster. In 1839 Sheridan postoffice was stablished at the Center, with John I. Eacker ostmaster, and Kensington, Orrington and outh Sheridan offices were discontinued.

The first religious meeting was held at the 'ouse of Orsamus Holmes, in 1807, conducted y Rev. John Spencer, who afterward located ear Newell's Corners. He had been a soldier the Revolutionary War, and held a commis- on as lieutenant in Captain Peter Van Rens- laer's company, Colonel Marinus Willets' giment, New York Levies, which was or- anized at Fort Herkimer, October 7. 1781. e died in 1826 and was buried in a plot of round contributed by him from his farm to ie town for burial purposes. A frame for a murch was erected by the Presbyterians at the enter in 1828, but was never enclosed, and as soon torn down. Worthy Allen. Joel pencer, Haven Brigham and others, built a buse of worship at Newell's Corners in 1822. 1 1849 it was sold to Newell Usher, who "oved it onto his farm and used it for a barn. 1 1832, Jonah Howe and others erected a durch at the Center. Mr. Howe also built a :pe organ for the church, and taught his Aughter to play it. This church was used ntil about 1870. Later it was converted into i store, for which purpose it was used by its wner. P. H. Shelley. A Methodist Episcopal ociety was formed at the residence of Stephen ush, one-half mile east of the Center in 1809. 'his is said to have been the first Methodist reaching place, and the first class formed in ie county. This society built a church at the enter in 1834; it was remodeled in 1854, when Irs. Eliza Mead, of New York City, presented 'le society with a bell. The church is still ted as a meeting house, and presents a neat „tractive appearance.

A Baptist society was organized in the south part of town in 1844, Martin Cary, Hiram Ran- ney and Ira Fuller among its first members. A church was erected in 1845, and services were held irregularly until 1860 or 1861, when the society was disbanded and the church building was used for a barn on the Week's place. Rev. Levi Wright, a Wesleyan Metho- dist minister, was instrumental in building a small church on the farm of Baxter Dodge about 1855. After about five years, services were discontinued and the church turned into a dwelling.

The first school was kept by William Gris- wold in his house at the Center in the winter of 1807-1808. There are now ten school houses in town, with a well attended school in each. The first tannery was built by Haven Brigham on Beaver creek in 1811. The next was estab- lished where Beaver Creek crosses the Main road, by Enoch Haskin and Nathaniel Grey, in 1820. It was sold to Perry Gifford, who continued the business, and also a shoe shop, until his death in 1850. William Doty, who came from Delaware county in 1820, built a tannery near the Ensign Tavern in 1836. A shoe shop was added to the business, but both were discontinued in 1847. The first and only gristmill in town was built by Haven Brigham on Beaver creek in 1811, where he also built a sawmill and tannery.

A lime kiln was built about 1845 by George Robinson and Alanson Denny, near the lake. on Denny's farm. It had a capacity of about five cords of stone, from which could be made four hundred bushels of lime. The stone was brought in schooners from Kelley's Island and Canada. In 1854 Orlando Elmore was the owner and it was discontinued in 1864.

A rope walk, fourteen by one hundred sixty- five feet, was built in 1833. by Thomas Chap- man, who emigrated from Jefferson county in ISIO, and settled on lot 15 in 1811. Rope was made from flax and hemp. Previous to the erection of the rope walk some rope had been made by spinning it in the house and twisting it out of doors. Mr. Chapman was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was at the burning of Buffalo. He died in 1846. He had eleven sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to an adult age.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 47

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