History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 103

Author: Edson, Obed, 1832-; Merrill, Georgia Drew, editor
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Boston, Mass. : W.A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1068

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York > Part 103

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866

HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY. 1

(INTERIOR TOWNS).

Charlotte, Gerry, Stockton, Villenova, Cherry Creek, Ellington, Poland, Carroll, Klantone, Mina, Sherman, Clymer, French Creek.

CHARLOTTE.

BY HON. OBED EDSON.

CHAPTER LXXIII.

C HARLOTTE was formed from Gerry April 18, 1829, and named from Charlotte in Vermont, on Lake Champlain. It is an interior town and lies a little northeast of the center of the county. It comprises the fourth township of range 11, Holland Land Company's survey, and con- tains 36 square miles. Mill creek the principal stream passes through the geographical center of the town in a southwesterly direction, crossing the town-line at Sinclairville, 112 miles east of the southwest corner. Its prin- cipal tributaries are Dayton and Torrey brooks. The other principal streams are Pickett brook, which passes through the northwest corner of the town, Clear creek, in the southeast corner, and the Canadaway in the northeast corner. The Cassadaga at one point approaches within a few rods of the west boundary of Charlotte. The surface is alternate hill and valley, the hills reaching their greatest altitude near the northern boundary. Luce hill, probably the highest hill in the county, affords a fine view from its summit, extending to Buffalo and Canada, and the forests of Pennsylvania. But few of the hills have steep declivities and all the land is tillable. The streams usually have their sources in springs of pure water. The soil is chiefly a clay loam, well adapted to grazing and dairying, to which the town is devoted. The timber upon the hills originally consisted principally of beech and maple, with considerable ash, birch, cucumber, elms and cherry, and now and then a tall pine, while upon the steep banks bordering the streams were hemlock and some pine. The town was surveyed into lots or sections in 1Sos by John Lamberton, and the land at the close of that year was ready for market.

The first settlement was in the northwestern part, known as the Pickett

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neighborhood. John Pickett, his brother Daniel, and brother-in-law Arva O. Austin, from Chenango county, John and Taylor Gregg and Abel Prior from Oneida county, Abel Beebe and Othello Church in March, IS09, explored this portion of the town. John Pickett, then unmarried, April, 1, 1809, settled on lot 62 and built upon the bank of the Pickett brook a log house, the first in the town. Daniel Pickett and his family settled upon lot 63, built a cabin and moved into it in the fall. Arva O. Austin and wife, the same year, moved into a log house he had built upon lot 63. Abel Prior and Taylor Gregg took up land on the south part of lot 62, but did not remain during the winter. January 25, 1810, Phebe, daugliter of Arva O. Austin, the first white child, was born. She married Adin Wait. John Cleland, Jr., in March, ISIo, took up land on lot 54. In September Mrs. Joseph Arnold, then resid- ing.in the Pickett settlement, died, and her sister, Jerusha Barras, died the next day. They were buried on the farm now owned by Chauncey Pier- pont on lot 62. These were the first deaths. In March, 1811, Nathan and Oliver Cleland, brothers of Joli Cleland, Jr., and in the fall Samuel, another brother, with their father, John Cleland, settled on lot 54. In ISII Moses Cleland was married to Sally Anderson by Rev. Jolin Spencer. This was the first marriage. Joel Burnell, in 1811, settled upon lot 46, where he resided until his death. He was an associate judge, and father of Madison and Ransom Burnell, and father-in-law of Rev. H. H. Moore. Among other settlers in this part, who have left descendants here, were Freeman Ellis, Edward Dalrymple, Eliakim Barnum, Jacob Hall, James Cross, David Ames and Caleb Clark. Orton, son of Caleb, was surrogate of the county from 1848 to 1852, inclusive. John B. Cardot, from France, settled in this part of the town. He was followed by many other respectable families.

CHARLOTTE CENTER was first settled by Robert W. Seaver, a soldier of the Revolution. In the spring of 1809, he and Barna Edson selected 90 acres at the Center on lot 37. He died in Charlotte in 1836. The same spring William Devine settled upon the west part of lot 29, where he built the first building at the Center, a log house between the schoolhouse and the highway. Oliver Gilmour, Daniel Jackson and Aaron Seaver were early settlers ; and, in the fall of 1826, Stephen Lyman, brother-in-law of Major Sinclear, settled near the Center ; his son Perry resides at Sinclairville. In ISII Barney Cole died and was buried at the Center. Ile was the first male who died in the town. At an early day a shop was built on Mill creek at the Center by Edward Landas, for wool-carding and cloth-dressing, which was later used as a pail and wood mill factory and turning shop. About 1817 the first sawmill was built there. In 1869 a steam mill was erected by Addison Lake and Edwin Tuttle. About 1851 Joseph Landas built and opened the first store at the Center; though others had, for brief periods, sold limited amounts of merchandise. In 1821 Nathan Lake and his brother,

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

Calvin, from New England settled east of the Center. Their brothers, Daniel B. and Luther Lake, in 1826 settled in what became " Lake Settle- ment." Freeman Lake came later. The Lake brothers, without exception, were men of character and intelligence. They and their descendants have been leading and influential citizens. Nathan Lake was the first supervisor, elected in 1830. Allen A. Stevens, son-in-law of Nathan Lake, Edwin F. Lake, son, and Horace E. Kimball, son-in-law of Daniel B. Lake, and Henry C. Lake have all been supervisors. Henry C. Lake, son of Calvin Lake and Sarah (Mather) Lake, and grandson of Henry Lake, a soldier of the Revolu- tion, was born in Charlotte, May 30, 1823, was educated at the common school and Fredonia Academy, read law and taught school. He was a mer- chant and manufacturer at Charlotte Center, but since 1865 has resided at Fredonia. He was several years supervisor of Charlotte, also weigher, and for four years assistant surveyor of the port of New York. During two terms he was a member of assembly for Chautauqua county. In 1847 he married Margaret M. Ames. Their children are Clarence II., assistant cashier of the Chautauqua county National Bank and ex-sheriff, Nellie C. and Mary M.

Hugh Harper, of County Donegal, Ireland, in 1838 settled about a mile south of the Center. He married Nancy Wilson and had five sons and four daughters. Ile cleared up his farm and died aged 96, a respectable citizen. His son Blythe married Loise, daughter of Jolm Mitchell, and settled upon the farm he now occupies. He has three children : Henry W., George W. and Lucy, wife of John J. Whatford. His son, Samuel Harper, occupies the old homestead. His brother William came from Ireland a few years after Hugh, and settled here. Then came other families from Ireland. They have numerous descendants. The population of Charlotte Center in 1875 was 120. July 4, 1876, Charlotte Center had one steam saw, shingle and grist mill, one steam cheesebox factory, turning, matching and planing shops, a general store, a grocery, a tin shop and a public hall, two blacksmith's shops, a cheese factory and a postoffice.

SINCLAIRVILLE was next settled. It derives its name from Major Samuel Sinclear. Hle belonged to a distinguished family of New Hampshire, was a near kinsman of Joseph Cilley, U. S. senator front New Hampshire, and of Tonathan Cilley, who, while a member of congress from Maine, was killed in the celebrated duel with Graves of Kentucky, and was a kinsman of Gov. B. F. Butler, of Massachusetts. Major Sinclear was a soldier of the Revolution in the regiment of his uncle, Col. Joseph Cilley, a distinguished officer of that war. Mr. Sinclear was in the battles at Saratoga that immediately preceded the surrender of Burgoyne, in the battle of Monmouth and at Valley Forge. He served in the campaign against the Indians under Sullivan. Mr. Sinclear, having purchased lot 41, embracing the land where the village is situated, in November, 1809, commenced settlement by causing the body of a log

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house to be built in the woods at the intersection of the roads now leading from Sinclairville to Charlotte Center and to Cherry Creek. In March, 1810, he, his son John and Win. Berry and family, and Chauncey Andrus, arrived at this log house, the snow then lying deep over the ground. 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 110 Mr. Sinclear cut a wagon road from Fredonia to Sinclairville, the first opened into the central part of the county. October 22, 1810, his family, which included his step-sons Obed and Jolm M. Edson, arrived. During the summer of 1810 he erected a sawmill, and in the fall a frame dwelling, which was for many years the village tavern ; and in 1811 a gristmill. Each of these buildings was the first of its kind erected in the central and eastern part of the county.

Dr. Orange Y. Campbell and Henry Sargent were the first physicians. Drs. Henry B. Hedges, J. E. Kimball, Gilbert Richmond and George S. Har- rison at a later period, were for many years practicing physicians of Sinclair- ville, and widely known in their profession through the county.

Dr. George S. Harrison was born in Madison county in 1810. He came from Ohio in 1825 to this county, where for 44 years he practiced medicine. Hle was an excellent and popular physician, a man of ability and great force of character. Ile was an influential Democrat and for three years supervisor. Benjamin L. Harrison, his son, was born in Stockton, March 1, 1841. Hle attended Ellington academy and the University of Michigan, and studied medicine. Ile engaged in teaching in the south until 1861 when he returned northi. Ile was subsequently in the service of the D. A. V. & P. R. R., and also engaged in farming. He has resided in Dunkirk and was an alderman of that city. Ile married Lucy, daughter of Abner Putnam. They have one son, Louis P., now of the Dunkirk locomotive works. George M., their eldest son, a promising young physician, died in ISS7.

Charles Smith was the first shoemaker ; Samuel Brunson the first black- smith ; Chester Wilson, father of W. Thomas Wilson, Esq., (long a justice of sessions), the first saddler and harness-maker. The first school was taught by William Gilmour in the winter of IS11-12. in the loghouse erected in 1809 by Mr. Sinclear.

Nathaniel Johnson, a Revolutionary soldier, came to Sinclairville from Madison county in 1814. His son Forbes, for many years a resident here, was a member of the legislature of 1844. Forbes and John M. Edson con- structed the first tannery, and built a gristinill at Sinclairville early. Han- nah, daughter of Nathaniel, married Sylvanus L. Henderson. Mr. Hender- son was born in Halifax, Vt., March 2, 1793. Ile afterwards resided at Sackett's Harbor and served in the war of 1812. November 26, 1816, he settled at Sinclairville where he resided, a leading and respected citizen, until his decease April 6, 1870. Mrs. Henderson died March 3, 1891, aged

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

91, in full possession of her mental powers. Their son, W. W. Henderson, was formerly collector of the U. S. revenue for the 27th revenue district and a leading citizen of the county. Their daughter Julia, married Dr. G. S. Harrison. Dr. Henry Sargent was the earliest postmaster. The mails were at first carried from Ellicottville to Mayville by Sampson Crooker, the father of IIon. George A. S. Crooker, who went through once a week on foot. Win. Ileppner from Germany, settled in the village in 1853; his brother Ernest in 1854. They were followed by many industrious and worthy German fam- ilies who have settled in the village and town.

The southeast part of the town was first settled by Leman Cleveland on the farm of Richard Langworthy on lot 10. In 1814 Samuel T. Booth settled on the farm now owned by Thomas Spear, John Howard in 1817 on lot I. Justus Torrey, from Genesee county, in 1819, settled on lot 18, on the farm now owned by his son, Sheldon Torrey. Ile chopped and cleared with his own hands several hundred acres of land, and during many years manufac- tured annually large quantities of maple sugar. Widow Lemira W. Camp, with her family, in March, 1819, settled upon 200 acres of land known as the Camp farm. She had been preceded by her son Samuel. Milo, Merlin, John, Wilson and Herman were sons of Mrs. Camp.

Among the early settlers in this part were also David Sheldon, Jolin Luce and James Parsons, Robert R., Peter and Allen Robertson. The latter were well-known citizens and were sons of Philip Robertson, whose father came from Scotland to Saratoga during the Revolution, and settled near Philip Schuyler and was in his employ. Philip was named for him. Peter Robertson was a well-known early school teacher. Allen was born June 25, 1814, came to Charlotte after he was 21, and married Harriet, daughter of Justus Torrey, May 16, 1839. Ile died Tune 17, 1886. His children were Elsie and Nelson, who was born July 15, 1843, at Charlotte. Nelson married a daughter of Firman Torrey.

KENT STREET and adjacent territory was first settled by families princi- pally from the south of England. Samuel Hurley was the pioneer. Ile came as early as 1817. Abraham Reynolds next came in ISIS direct from London. Twice he walked from Charlotte to New York. His daughters Mary and Elizabeth now reside in London. His son Henry is a merchant in Sinclairville. Ile was one of those who assisted to establish the Sinclairville Union School and Academy, was several years president of the board of trustees and three years supervisor. Robert Le Grys came in 1819; Jolin Thorn in 1834 ; and in 1836 from Devonshire, John Reed, who sons are Jolin, now in Australia ; William a farmer in Charlotte ; and Richard a merchant of Sinclairville. Richard Brock and Thomas D. Spiking came later. The street leading north from the Center to Arkwright was also largely settled by Englishmen from Yorkshire. Thomas Pearson, Win. Wright and their

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CHARLOTTE.

families, and Thomas Dickenson came over together in a ship from Hull and settled on this street in 1828; and many of their descendants reside in town. William Hilton came in 1830; his son John has been a director of the Erie railway. These Englishmen, their descendants, and others who in later years came from that country, constitute a very large and substantial portion of the population.

Among the early settlers residing near Sinclairville and in the south- western part were Ezra Richmond, Chauncey Andrus, Peter Warren, father of Judge Emory F. Warren, and William Brown. Upon the Owlsborough road Asa Dunbar, Philip Link, Henry Cipperly, William II. Gleason and Bela Tracy, brother of John Tracy, who was once lieutenant-governor of the state. James Williams was a well known resident of this part of the town. He was born of Quaker parentage at Newport, R. I., September 20, 1792, was a man of great reading and information, although entirely self-educated. He was early connected with an iron foundry in Pennsylvania, foreman in the New York State prison in New York city, a sailor on Cayuga lake and foreman of a cotton factory at Ithaca. In September, 1834, he settled in Charlotte and followed farming until 1863 when he removed to Sinclairville where he resided until his death, September 9, 1872. He married Esther, a sister of Bela and Ulysses Tracy, had nine children and has left many descendants. Mrs. Williams died in 1880, aged 84. Henry Soruberger was also an early settler in this part. He was born in Dutchess county, and was the son of Jonathan, a native of Holland. Henry married Clara Holmes of Dutchess county, and in 1822 came to Onondaga county, and in 1836 to Charlotte, where he died. He had nine children. Augustine W. Sornberger, his son, was born December 26, 1821. In 1847 he married first, Arminda Edson of Genesee county ; second, Permillia Smith of Stockton, resides in Charlotte and has one son, George.

The northeast part of the town was the last settled. Alanson Straigh; was the first to begin improvements. He settled about 1832 upon the farm now owned by Byron Lewis. In 1832 Nelson Chase located on the farm which he owned at his decease, and the same year, Nathan Penhollow, upon the farm where he died. Calvin Abbey, Elijah Lewis, Win. W. Rood, Neri Crampton, Daniel Hoisington, Henry Smith, Win. Luce, G. R. Mathewson, Peter Odell, and Nelson Mansfield were early settlers there. John Wilkes, who came in 1851, built the first sawmill in 1865. Upon his farm the last bear was killed in the town. James Hopkins, Patrick Doran and Garrett Wheeler from the west of Ireland, came about 1840. Others from Ireland settled a little later. James Hopkins, son of Peter and Mary Hopkins, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, July 25, 1816. He received a good education. In 1837 he came to Canada, in 1839 to Lockport, N. Y., and later to Vil- lenova, and soon after to this part of the town where lie now resides. He married Mary Malony who died in 1864.

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

Although the town was organized in April, 1829, the first town-meeting was not held until March 2, 1830, when these officers were chosen : super- visor, Nathan Lake; town clerk, Walter Chester ; justices of the peace, John M. Edson, Eldred Sampson, James S. Parkhurst ; collector, Barzillai Ellis ; assessors, Peter Warren, Bela Tracy, Spencer Clark ; overseers of the poor, Freeman Ellis, Abel Potter ; couunissioners of highways, Bela B. Lord, R. W. Seaver, Charles Goodrich ; commissioners of schools, Bela B. Lord, Sam- uel T. Booth, Crocker Richardson ; constables, Amasa Dalrymple, Barzillai Ellis, Benjamin Fisher ; collector, Barzillai Ellis ; sealer, Oshea Webber.

The town for many years after it was organized thrived and increased in population. Such importance as Sinclairville has had as a village since it was settled has been chiefly due to the enterprise and character of its mer- chants. It is centrally situated in a good dairying country, at a fair distance from other villages, and has been many years the center of a considerable amount of trade. The first merchant was Abraham Winsor. He was born in Providence, R. I., in 1778, married Sophia Bigelow, the sister of Fanny, the wife of Maior Samuel Sinclear. He came from Madison county, and in 1813 built an ashery ou Railroad avenue where the old millpond was after- wards made, and in 1815 built and opened a store on the same street in what is now the dwelling of Joseph Westley. In early years he transported down the Cassadaga in canoes the pot and pearl ashes manufactured from the ashes received for his goods, and thence down the Allegany to Pittsburgh, where he received in exchange flour, tobacco, nails and glass and other merchandise.

'The progress of the settlement of the town and surrounding country was slow, however, until the completion of the Erie canal, and there was but little sale for goods until about 1824, when Walter Smith and George A. French, of Dunkirk, opened a store at Sinclairville, and considerable trade was the result. This, and the opening of the Erie canal, gave a new impetus to the 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 came Walter Chester & Co., Mr. TenEyck of Cazenovia, his partner, furnishing the capital. They occupied the building that had been occupied by Smith & French. Mr. Chester, iu 1832, built a dwelling which was then the finest in town. This was owned by C. J. Allen at his decease. Mr. Chester was very successful, and made in trade at Sinclairville $14,000. In 1835 lie 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 familiar yellow store, that had stood so many years 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 continued in trade until the fall of 1846, when he was succeeded by Alonzo Langworthy, who carried on exten-

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sive and successful business until 1851, when Mr. Allen resumed trade here and Mr. Langworthy purchased the Methodist parsonage on the site of the drug store of Jolin Bargar, and traded ten years. In 1862 he purchased the store on the corner of Mr. Allen and resumed trade there. The following conducted business there after Mr. Langworthy : Charles Danforth, Thomp- son & Chaffee, Thompson & Lapham, Alonzo Putnam and Putnam & Cum- mings.

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., December 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 procured a horse and wagon, and added dry goods and tin- ware to his stock, and for many years made an annual circuit of the county. (See Judge L. Bugbee's article, page 305) .. At length Mr. Dewey established a sort of headquarters 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, afterwards known as the Hedges shoeshop. While thus engaged he built the substantial store (now Denni- nison's gristmill) which he occupied January, 1834. Here he did an exten- sive business, selling largely on credit. Mr. Dewey was a bachelor, devoted to his own affairs, and well known for his peculiarities. Although extremely economical, he was an honest man and a good and respected citizen. In the great storm of 1844, when the storehouses at Dunkirk were washed away, and the goods and merchandise scattered along the lake, a crate of undam- . aged crockery was rescued by Mr. Alton, which proved to be Mr. Dewey's, who opened it, divided it into two equal parts and told Mr. Alton to take his choice. In the spring of 1851, having become the most wealthy man in Sinclairville, he retired from active business. He died November 13, 1861. Jolin Dewey, his nephew, who succeeded him, was born in Turin, Lewis county, June 4, 1820, came to Sinclairville May 14, 1838, and was in his uncle's employ 13 years. April 1, 1851, he went into trade at his uncle's stand and later in the Bennett block opposite the hotel. At the death of his uncle he was appointed his administrator. In 1870 he moved to a farm near Jamestown, and in 1874 to that city, where for the last 12 years he has been engaged in real estate, insurance and loan business. July 22, 1844, he mar- ried Minerva A. Ward. They had one son, Adelbert D. Dewey, born in Sin- clairville, who has been an express and railroad station agent. The old Dewey stand has since been occupied by a drug store and later by a steam gristmill.

. In 1845 Mr. Brown erected on the corner of Main and Lester streets, a store, the first brick building in Sinclairville. Nelson Mitchell laid the brick and built the store. Near it later he erected a dwelling. The first

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

firm to occupy the store was P. & J. Rathbone in 1845. They were succeeded by E. T. Brown & Co., (Henderson). Nelson Mitchell purchased Hender- son's interest. This firm was followed by Mitchell, Bruuson & Rathbone. John M. Brunson came next, then Nelson Mitchell, who was followed by Mitchell, Sheldon (R. E.) & 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 & Co., after which Edwin Williams restned trade and was the last occupant. Mr. Williams ocenpied the store in all about 13 years. He is son of James Williams, and was born in Charlotte in 1837, married Calista T., daughter of D. B. Dorsett. He first went into trade here in company with Royal E. Sheldon.

Among other well-known traders are Davis A. Havens, Job Smith, A. Z. Madison, David Forbes. R. E. Sheldon has been the leading merchant and business man of later years. He built the brick store now occupied by him- self and his son, B. T. Sheldon. Of the hardware dealers Reed & Reynolds and John T. Spear & Co. have been the leading firms. W. H. Taylor and F. J. Trusler have been the leading grocers.

Samue! Sinclear and Jonathan Hedges were early inn keepers. Elias Wheeler, Jarvis B. Rice, Levi E. Harrison and Henry Sylvester were later ones, and Will I. Rice is the present hotel keeper. Stages were first run from Fredonia to Jamestown by Obed Edson, brother of John M. Edson, and by Renben Scott about 1827. Subsequently the line was extended to War- ien, Pa., by Obed Edson. In 18;2 a schoolhouse was first built ; schools having been previously kept in a schoolhouse built in 1816 in Gerry adjacent to Sinclairville. Early in 18449 Sinclairville was made a station on the tele- graph line leading from Fredonia to Pittsburgh. This line was discontinued. In 1852 the Fredonia and Sinclairville plank road was constructed from Fre- donia, through Sinclairville to Ellicott. It was built principally through the exertions of the people here. Perez Dewey was its largest stockholder und first president. Obed Edson surveyed the road. This plauk road con- tributed largely to the growth of the village.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 103

Author: Edson, Obed, 1832-; Merrill, Georgia Drew, editor Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Boston, Mass. : W.A. Fergusson Number of Pages: 1068

Author: Edson, Obed, 1832-; Merrill, Georgia Drew, editor
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Boston, Mass. : W.A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1068