History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 112

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 112

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Abram Martin, son of William, lived aiways in Kiantone except from about 1828 to 1840 when he was with his father in Busti. He occupied part of the land in lot 23, originally taken by his father. He died November 29, 1893. He was active in the support of the Republican party from its organi- zation until about 1880, when he considered the prohibition of the liquor traffic the principal issue before the country, and joined the Prohibition politi- cal party. He was active in promoting general public interests. He was at different times trustee of the Universalist societies of Kiantone, Frewsburg and Jamestown, and an advocate of the enfranchisement of women. His children are : Ellen A. Martin, born Jannary 16, 1847. Miss Martin was the first woman in this county who regularly pursued the study of law. In 1871 she entered Cook & Lockwood's office for the study of law and as a clerk. In 1873 she entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and was graduated therefrom in 1875. This admitted her to practice in Michigan

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

courts. In January, 1876, she was admitted to the bar of Illinois at Spring- field, and has since been in practice in Chicago ; Willis A. Martin born . June 13, 1850, married Edith Morris and lives in Pittsburgh, Pa. ; George B., born June 3, 1853, lives with his mother on the Kiantone homestead.

Ezbai Kidder, a native of Webster, Mass., came from Vermont to Ellicott in 1813, and in 1816 cleared land on his purchase in what is now the north- east corner of Kiantone. Mr. Kidder was the first supervisor of the town of Kiantone. He was a member of the Congregational church of Jamestown. He died aged 92 years. His wife, Louisa (Shearman) Kidder, died in 1867. Samuel Kidder, their son, occupies and owns the homestead. He married Eleanor Partridge.

CHURCHES .- The First Congregational Church of Kiantone was organized in 1815, as the First Church of Ellicott, about a year earlier than the Con- gregationa! Church of Jamestown. After Carroll was formed from Ellicott in 1825, the church was called the Congregational Church of Carroll ; and since the erection of Kiantone from Carroll in 1853, the church has been known as the Congregational Church of Kiantone. It was organized by Rev. Jolin Spencer, with these members : Asa Moore, Samuel Garfield, Levi Jones, and their wives ; John Jones, Anna, wife of Ebenezer Cheney, Mrs. Wheeler, wife of Josiah Wheeler, and Win. Deland. The first deacon was John Jones. For several years the church had occasional preaching in dwellings and schoolhouses by John Spencer. Early ministers were Amasa West, Samuel Leonard, Isaac Eddy, Simeon Peck, Joseph S. Emory, O. D. Hibbard, S. W. Edson, T. A. Gale, E. M. Spencer, W. T. Reynolds, N. H. Barnes, W. A. Hallock. In 1830 a meetinghouse was built on a site given the society by Mrs. Ruby (Cheney) Sears.

The First Christian Society of Universalists in Carroll was formed at the present village of Kiantone, Dec. 30, 1853. The constitution and bylaws of the society were subscribed to by about 25 persons. A meetinghouse was built in 1845, and a church was organized Nov. 26, 1853. A constitution, articles of faith, and form of church covenant were adopted, and were signed by Rev. F. M. Alvord, pastor ; N. A. Alexander, Horatio N. Thornton, stew- ards ; Joseph Case, Arthur B. Braley, Oliver G. Chase, Caroline Wheaton, Eunice N. Thornton, Mary S. Thornton. H. N. Thornton was chosen clerk.

Association of Beneficents .- In 1852 a mineral spring discovered in Penn- sylvania near the state line was brought to the attention of Jolin M. Spear, a spiritual medium, who found the conditions of the surrounding country in the romantic Kiantone valley suitable for the establishment of a model com- minity on the principles of universal brotherhood and freedom of the indi- vidual, and an " association " was formed consisting of Thaddeus S. Sheldon, Horace Fenton, John M. Sterling, and others with Mr. Spear as " oracle." 173 acres of land were bought in Kiantone, and quite a village developed.

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KIANTONE.

Seven stone buildings from 16 to 30 feet in diameter and circular in form were built and occupied. In 1858 the association was instructed to dig a " cavity " into the side of the hill near the " deer lick spring " at an angle of 45° and at a specified depth they would discover relics of a web-footed prehis- toric race of human beings. The "cavity" was dug like a stairway with regular steps and wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The late Oliver G. Chase worked 100 days with others in making the excavation. The " cavity " was dug to the depth of 151 feet and relinquished. The con- fidence of the association in finding the relics was so great that they had provided a velvet-lined box or casket to hold them. No relics, however, were found, but they did bring to light a splendid sulphur spring. A great many people were attracted here from a distance, among them those who were not actuated by the high ideals of Mr. Spear, and brought upon the association the stigma of being a " free love " institution, and people from the surrounding country to the number of several thousand assembled for the purpose of forcibly breaking up the community. An address made by a lady of the association allayed their excitement. For seven or eight years from 1854 this society had an active existence, then internal dissensions arose, and the land was purchased by Mr. Sterling, who gave it in trust to the board of trustees as long as it was used for educational and healing pur- poses. A school was maintained for about three years, but during the eighties this was abandoned, and the land reverted to the heirs of Mr. Sterling.

The first townmeeting for the election of officers was held at the house of E. Frissell, February 21, 1854. Ezbai Kidder was elected supervisor ; Levant B. Brown clerk ; Levant B. Brown, Martin C. Grant, Charles Russell, Aaron J. Phillips, justices of the peace ; Francis M. Alford, superintendent of schools ; Joel Scudder, Jr., and Nathan A. Alexander, assessors; Simeon C. Davis, Smith Spencer* and Stephen C. Rhinehart, commissioners of highways ; . Stephen Norton, collector ; Eddy Weatherly, Joshua Norton, overseers of the poor ; Stephen Norton, Joseph Davis, Abram Martin, James Griffin, consta- bles ; Milo Van Namce, George A. Dorn, Stephen Norton, inspectors of elec- tion ; (appointed). Alexander T. Prendergast, Benj. T. Morgan and James B. Slocum, with Albert Scudder as clerk, were designated a board to preside at this meeting.

SUPERVISORS .- 1853-54, Ezbai Kidder ; 1855-56, Lucian V. Axtell ; 1857, Charles Spencer ; 1858, D. G. Morgan ; 1859, Russell M. Brown ; 1860, George A. Hall ; 1861, Russell M. Brown ; IS62-63-64-65, Wellington Woodward ; 1866-67, Aaron J. Phillips; 1868, W. Woodward ; 1869- 70-71-72, Joel Scudder ; 1873, Aaron J. Phillips ; 1874-75, John H. Russell ; 1876, Charles W. Creal ; 1877, W. Woodward ; 1878, Charles W. Creal ; 1879-80, Joel Scudder ; 1881, Charles W. Creal ; 1882, C. E. Woodworth ; 1883-84-85, George C. Frissell ; 1886-87, Samuel Kidder ; ISSS-89, Azariah Hall ; 1890, Samuel Kidder ; 1891-92-93-94, Allen A. Gould. -

*Mr. Spencer, one of the respected citizens of the town, has passed his three score years and ten, and at a family reunion in September, 1894, his children and grandchildren, 18 in number, were present.

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

MINA. CHAPTER LXXXII.

INA is an agricultural town, rolling and hilly, situated on the water- shed between the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi valleys, the water from the streams of the northern part flowing into Lake Erie, while the tributaries of French creek, its largest stream, send their waters to the Gulf of Mexico. Findley's lake lies in a valley or deep depression among the hills, and it is a lovely sheet with its pure waters and two beauti- ful islands. Many a lovely bit of scenery is presented along its shores that would grace the canvas of the most famed artists of the world. It is the sec- ond largest body of water in the county. Its waters flow through French creek into the Allegany, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and the outlet furnishies power for several mills for a distance of nearly two miles below the lake, that has been utilized from 1816, when the canny Scotch-Irishman who gave his name to the beautiful woodland lake commenced a mill. Twenty- mile creek heads in the northeast part. Mina has an acreage of 22,028 acres, had an assessed valuation of real and personal property in 1893 of $450,557, and $2,859.21 was the total taxation. It comprises township 2, range 15. It was set off from Clymer as a town March 23, 1824, and then included Sherman, which was formed from it in 1832. A few purchases were made here before 1823, and a few adventurous settlers had sought homes here soon after the war of 1812, but the deer and bear were ranging over the hills at a later period, and the traces of numerous beaver dams existed to show that hunters and trappers had still earlier made temporary abodes.

Alexander Findley came from the north of Ireland about 1790, with his family. For a time he resided in Greenfield, Pa., and in his hunting and land- looking expeditions penetrated the wilderness in which sparkled the waters of the lake now bearing his name, and selected and bought in 1811, land on lot 52, at the foot of the lake. He was given concessions by the Holland Land Company to locate and build mills. He then commenced a sawmill in 1815, and in 1816 here made his permanent home. He completed his sawmill in 1816, and a gristmill soon after, and conducted them during his life. Findley's pond at first, Findley's lake next, became the name of the lake, and also of the village that sprung up around the mills. Young says : " By the

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construction of the dam several hundred acres of land were overflowed. The dam was several years later swept away by a June freshet, and on the land which had again become uncovered, a luxuriant growth of herbage sprung up before a new dam was erected ; and the subsequent decomposition of the herbage under the water caused sickness ; and Mr. Findley was indicted for maintaining a nuisance." Litigation followed, which lasted during Mr. Findley's life. About 1827 Mr. Findley built a cardingmill, in which he also dressed cloth. He was a resolute man, and a good man for the develop- ment of a new country. He and his son William served in the war of 1812. Of his HI children, three sons, Hugh, Russell and Carson became residents of Mina. Hugh B. and Carson inherited the mill properties, sold the upper site to Robert Corbett, who built new mills and stopped the sickness. James D. Findley, son of Hugh B., a farmer, is a descendant and one of the represen- tatives of the old pioneer, and has served as postmaster at Findley's Lake. James D. Findley, and his brother Henry B., served in the civil war. Henry was killed June 1, 1864, at the battle of Cold Harbor. James D. lost his left arm June 26, 1864, at Petersburg. Thus three generations of this family have proved their patriotism on the field of battle.

Findley's Lake is now a prosperous little village of 450 population, with several stores, a good hotel, a creamery, various shops, two meetinghouses, a fine school building and a newspaper, The Findley's Lake Breese, J. H. Boorman, publisher, established in 1883.

EARLY SETTLERS .- Aaron Whitney bought on lot 59 in October, 1818, and became a life-long resident and raised a large family. He was one of the first assessors of Mina. Jonathan Darrow on lot 58, George and Roger Haskell on lots 58 and 59 in the southwest part of the town were probably the earliest to settle in a neighborhood. They were all located here previous to 1820. Aaron Whitney later bought on lot 59 and owned 200 acres, was a life-long resident and reared a large family. Jeremiah Knowles was an early settler in the wilderness, although not an original purchaser. He was a surveyor and laid out the first road in the west part of the town. Zina Rickards settled in the forest near Mina Corners, in 1818 on lot 2S, but did not article his land until 1825. Cullen Barnes settled at Mina early, prob- ably about the same time as Rickards. George Collier came in 1821, bought a farm on lot 45 and long resided there. His son, George H., born in Mina, is now at Eugene, Ore., professor of chemistry and physics in the University of Oregon. 1823, 1824 and 1825 saw numerous additions to the purchasers of land and settlers, and civilization had begun to make roads and bridges, and to talk of schools and " meetings." Preaching had been held at Mr. Find- ley's before this date. Along the east side of the town about this time came quite a number of stalwart yeomen from County Kent, England, James Ottaway being the pioneer in 1823. His descendants occupy responsible

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

positions in the county today. Others of these " men of Kent " were Edward Buss, William and George Relf, Edward Chambers, (his sons were Joseph, Frederick, William and John), Edward Barden, Thomas Coveney. George Relf, son of William, was supervisor for some years, inherited the homestead on lot 21 and died there. His brother Isaac was for years a merchant, post- master and justice at Mina Corners. Robert Corbett came from Milford, Mass., and purchased in 1824 a part of lot 3. He later purchased the mill- site at the village and rebuilt the Findley saw and gristmills. His son Newell, removed to Sherman, another son, Robert A., succeeded to the mills and sold them in 1864 to William Selkregg.

The venerable Peter R. Montague writes us that two early industries were tanning and dis- tilling. Benjamin Hazen had a few vats and tanned leather for many years. Another Hazen had a small distillery and distilled whiskey from potatoes and corn meal, which readily sold for 25 cents a gallon. The making of black salts was a regular avocation for each settler. The ashes made in clearing his land was thus transformed into the only article that could always be exchanged for money, generally $3 for 100 1bs. P. R. Montague and another young man took a job to clear one acre of land for which they received 10 bushels of wheat and the ashes. From the ashes they made black salts which they sold for $21. Those that had pine timber that would make shingles could shave shingles and get one dollar a thousand for them "in trade" at the stores. The price of eggs was from 6 to 8 cents per dozen ; butter 8 to 9 cents per lb. Wolves were troublesome. Sheep had to be yarded every night. The settlers trapped them by building a pen of logs about 12 feet square at the bottom and growing smaller toward the top until at the height of eight feet it would be but three feet across. Fresh meat would be placed in this pen at night and in the morning the wolf or wolves would often be found inside. The town was so evenly divided into Whigs and Democrats in the early days that it was difficult to judge in advance the result of any election ; not infrequently the successful candidate received but one majority and was as likely to be of one political faith as the other. The health of the conununity has been excellent. There are now residing in town 13 men and three women over 80 years of age, but of the early settlers all have gone but two, Daniel Fox and Peter R. Montague. The first company training (militia ) that Mr. Montague attended was held at Zina Rickard's, where Samuel Barringer now lives. These "trainings" were held yearly in Septem- ber. John Pg Adams was captain on this occasion. Later three brothers named Barber, who were born on the same day and resembled each other so much as to be frequently mistaken for each other, were chosen officers-one captain, one lieutenant, one orderly sergeant. Mr. Mon- tague says : "So much did they resemble each other, that although I lived by them for ten years I could not tell them apart, but had to say ' Mr. Barber,' and let it go."

Sawmills and gristmills were built in various parts of the town from 1825 to 1840. As the land was cleared of its timber and the water in the streams became of less volume the greater number of them ceased operations. The first steam mill was built by Davison & Greenman in 1866, in the northwest part of the town on lot 64. It later passed into the hands of E. Chesley & Co., and later Emerson Chesley & Sons, who cut much lumber and lath. The Chesley family is a prominent one, and has been for many years domi- ciled in America ; members of it were taxpayers in Dover, N. H., as early as 1633, and many of them have held responsible offices in New England from that time to the present. A. D. Holdridge, an active business man, built a saw, shingle and lathmill at Mina in 1872, which gave employment to a

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number of men. There is a sawmill on lot 16, in the north part of the town near Ripley line, on Twenty-mile creek. This has been owned and operated since 1852 by Samuel Gill (who died in 1879) and his son, Samuel H., who is the present proprietor, aud occupies part of the homestead farm of his father. As the timber became exhausted, and smooth fields succeeded the forests, dairying became a general vocation, and the making of butter and cheese, carried on for years in each farmer's family, is now accelerated by the introduction of creameries, which have greatly facilitated the labors of the farmers. Cheese and butter making have become professions, in which skill and artistic taste brings ample reward. Lyman H. Stanton is one of the rep- resentatives of the latter class. Among the farmers who have lived long and prominently in the town are A. M. Douglass, D. Clifford, Volney White, E. D. Wing, E. Skellie, and other worthy citizens.

The first townmeeting in Mina, then comprising the townships No. 2, in range 14 and 15 was held at the schoolhouse hear Alexander Findley's, April, 1824. The officers elected were : supervisor, Nathaniel Throop ; town clerk, Roger Haskell ; assessors, Aaron Whitney, Zina Rickard, Otis Skinner ; collector, Isaac Hazen ; overseers of the poor, Alexander Findley, Orlando Durkee ; commissioners of highways, Benjamin Hazen, Jeremiah Knowles, Potter Sullivan ; constables, Isaac Hazen, Thomas Downey ; com- missioners of schools, Zina Rickard, Jeremiah Knowles, Alexander Findley ; inspectors of schools, Daniel Waldo, Jr., Isaac Hazen, Samuel Dickerson. Child's Gazetteer says : "It is said that Nehemiah Finn made the first but- ter sent to New York from Chautauqua county, and john Shaver made the first firkin, and owned the first dog-power of the county. The first birth was that of a daughter of Nathaniel Throop in 1823, and the first death that of the mother of the same individual in 1825. The first marriage contracted was that of Isaac Stedman and Nancy Wilcox in April, 1826. Elisha Moore taught the first school in 1826 near Findley's mills. The first store was kept in 1824 by Horace Brockway on lot 52." The first inn, says Child, was opened in 1827 by Cullen Barnes on lot 20.

James Ottaway, the oldest son of the pioneer, married Submit, daughter of Sewell Shattuck, who settled near Chautauqua lake, not far from May- ville, in 1819, on a tract of land which had been partially cleared and a block house commenced by a young man who had returned east. I give the descrip- tion of that part of the country at that early day, in Mrs. Submit S. Otto- way's words written in 1893, at the age of 82 years. (She died in September, 1893, having survived her husband seven years). "My father finished the house, cleared and planted a part of the slashing, which had grown up to blackberries, and as my brother, sisters and myself went to pick berries, we would see the tracks of bears that had come to feast on the hiscious fruit. We used to go to a small settlement called 'Neeley's' guided by marked

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

trees, to religious meetings held in a dwellinghouse. As we went through the wood the deer threw back their heads and fled in fear. We stayed there two years, and in that time three families, one at a time, came in with us, 'pioneer style,' while they built their loghouses ; Joseph Lyon east of us, Hiram Northway and a Mr. Lincoln west of us. In 1821 my father went to Findley's Lake, being a miller, to work in a mill. I do not remember as there was a dwelling from Mr. Northway's until two miles east of Findley's Lake; the roads were in the newest state ; stumps and mud. In 1827 I passed over the road again ; it was inhabited several miles east of Findley's and west of Northway's, but a space between was still woods, mud and water. One place was so bad I stepped from the saddle to a log, fearing my horse and I would sink together." Jolin E. Ottaway, the seventh son of James, Sr., now owns the home farm of 230 acres his father purchased, cultivated and occupied until his death.

Peter R. Montague, son of Zenas Montague of Massachusetts, and Abigail (Owen) Montague, was born in Bradford, Vt., July 3, 1809. His father died . in Syracuse, in ISI0, and Peter came with his mother and her second hus- band, Ezra Bisbee, to Mina in April, 1824. Mrs. Bisbee was born in Ver- mont, October 12, 1781, and died October 12, 1870, in Mina. Mr. Montague married Olive F. Hall. She died September 19, 1891. Their children are O. H., Ellen A., Elvira L., Clara C., Hattie S. Mr. Montague has beeen a resident of the town 70 years, has never, since he was entitled to vote, missed but one fall election, is a strong Republican, has held the office of commis- sioner of highways 16 years, has served 21 years as overseer of the poor. Is a Baptist in his religious preference. He has always been a farmer on the place settled by his step-father.

Edward Buss, who was born in Kent, England, August 8, 1SOS, belonged to the hardy yeomen of old England, whose strong practicality and industry infuse a good element into our American people. He emigrated to America, came to Mina in 1826, and subsequently located on lot 7 in the northeast part of the town near the line of Sherman. He married Elizabeth Hewitt of Sherman in 1831. They had a large family. Their sons were George A., Charles A., Henry Franklin, Adelbert and Herbert. The two youngest became farmers in Mina. Edward Buss served as supervisor of Mina in 1858 and 1863.

Samuel Gill, who settled in Mina over half a century ago, was born in Ann, Washington county, in 1776, whither his parents had removed from Coleraine, Franklin county, Massachusetts. Their next home was in Eaton, Madison county, where Samuel Gill attained manhood, married Eliza Mont- gomery and continued his residence for some years, and here his two oldest children, daughters, were born ; he then moved to Cayuga county where in 1830, in the town of Aurelius, a son was born to them. After a short stay

22.

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in Genesee, now Wyoming county, he went to Erie county, where another daughter was born. Mr. Gill came with his family to Mina in the winter of 1838 and 1839 and turned his attention to farming. In 1840 his youngest son was born. In 1852 Mr. Gill purchased a farm and a sawmill in the north part of the town, occupied and cultivated the farm, and conducted the mill to within a few years of his death, which occurred in December, 1879. Only two of his children survive him : the oldest daughter, Mrs. Grimes, and the oldest son, Samuel H. Gill, who owns the mill and a part of the farm.

Alexander D. Holdridge was born at Plainfield, Otsego county, N. Y., June 24, 1813. In 1835 he came to Mina, bought at the land office at May- ville So acres of land on lot 28 of the Holland Land Company survey, then returned to Otsego county. June 24, 1841, he married Almeda Jane Park of West Winfield, Herkimer county, and July 13 he came again to Mina and bought on lot 29 about 200 acres of land on which he lived until just before the war broke out, when he rented his farm and went into the mercantile business at Mina Corners, (then called) where he bought a home and remained till the messenger death came to claim its own November 28, 1890. He was the father of six children ; his wife and two children survived him. He was a staunch Republican ; joined that party at its organization, knowing that true Republican principle was the safe-guard of our country. He was a strong temperance man, and never bought but two drinks of liquor for himself in his life. He was an acting justice of the peace 16 years, postinas- ter six years. He was one of the men who bore the responsibility of erect- ing a church edifice, paid liberally of his means for that object and main- taining the same, and rejoiced when he was able to say : " we have a church in this community." Mr. Holdridge was a kind husband, a good father, a good provider and fearless in his expressions of what he thought was right. Chester P. Holdridge, his son, is a farmer. i

Adam Merket emigrated from Germany, in May, 1839, and located in Sherman the same year, purchased 26 acres of land, built his loghouse and was a resident for four years. He then went to Mina and settled in the northwest part of the town, where he lived until about 1882, when he moved to Greenfield, Pa., where he died. His sons were Luzern, Joseph J., William H., George and Samuel. Luzern enlisted . in Co. C., ILIth Regt., Penn. Vols., in 1861, was discharged in 1865, and subsequently made North East, Pa., his residence. Joseph J. Merket was born in Mina in September, 1847, and June 1, 1864, enlisted in Co. A., 9th Regt., N. Y. Cavalry, was in several battles, among them those of Five Forks and Appomattox, and was one of the boys detailed to carry the news of Lee's surrender to Grant's headquarters. He was discharged in July, 1865. He returned to Mina, and in 1869 mar- ried Laura J., daughter of Emerson and Rachel Chesley. He resided in Mina until 1886 when he moved to Greenfield, Pa.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 112

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