USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York > Part 23
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These applications to the legislature resulted in an act passed March 11, ISos, by which Genesee was divided into the counties of Genesee, Niagara, Chautanque, (as it at present exists) and Cattaraugus. The counties of Chau- tanque and Cattaraugus for judicial and municipal purposes were to remain as a part of Niagara until they should respectively contain 500 taxable inhabitants qualified to vote for members of assembly, (which fact the board of supervisors of Niagara was to determine from the assessment rolls of the counties, which was to be certified by the governor,) and then the counties were to be fully organized. The act required each county to raise $1,500 to build a court-house and jail. The act also authorized the governor to appoint three commissioners to locate the sites in the three counties for county build- ings, which was to be done within one year from its passage. The commis- sioners appointed were Jonas Williams, Asa Ransom and Isaac Sutherland.
The people of Canadaway were alert to the interest of their locality.
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1807-1808.
With much labor they had cleared half-an-acre of land on the east end of the common on the west side of the creek intending it as site for the county buildings, thinking that the natural advantages of Canadaway and its rapidly gathering population would withont doubt secure to it the county seat. To their great disgust the commissioners did not "even stop and look at the place " which they had taken so much pains to prepare, but passed right on to Mayville and located the county seat in the woods, where, as the Canada- wayans claimed, they were obliged to ereet "a large hemlock post," as the commissioners' report read, in order to identify the spot. The settlers at Canadaway, believing the action of the commissioners in fixing the county seat at Mayville was unduly influenced by the Holland land company to enable them to sell their land there, did not soon forget their defeat. Thus with the act of establishing the county seat at Mayville, came a protest against it which from time to time has been renewed with more or less emphasis.
The county of Niagara, embracing, besides the present county of that name, that of Erie also, was organized this year. Zattu Cushing and Martin Prendergast of Chautauqua were designated judges of Niagara county, and served until Chautauqua was fully organized in 1811. Zattu Cushing had much influence with his neighbors. His energy and will made him a natural leader. He was a patriotic man devoted not only to his country but watch- ful of the interest of his locality. Prior to March, 1808, the town meetings had been held at the Cross Roads. Judge Cushing then rallied every voter in his region and succeeded, as it was said at the time, " in bringing the town meeting home with him." This led to a division of the old town of Chantau- qua and the creation of the new town of Pomfret.
The act of March 11, 1808, which ercted the county of Chautauqua also organized Pomfret* as a town. The present towns of Carroll, Poland, Elling- ton, Cherry Creek, Villenova, a small part of Kiantone, and nearly all of Hanover, had previously constituted a part of the town of Erie ; by this act thep were included in the county of Chantangna and made a part of Pom- fret. The present towns of Sheridan, Arkwright, Charlotte, Gerry, Ellicott, Pomfret, Dunkirk, Kiantone, a part of Busti, the cities of Jamestown and Dunkirk, were made to constitute the remainder of Pomfret. The old town of Chautauque was made to include the western and remaining towns of the county. It will be observed that the town of Chautanqua comprised sub- stantially what was for many years the first assembly district of the county, and Pomfret the second assembly district. This act provided that the first town meeting for Pomfret should be held at the house of Elisha Marvin. This town meeting was held in a barn nearly opposite the old stone school
*Dea. Orsamus Holmes was instrumental in having the town named from Pomfret, Connecticut, from which he emigrated.
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
house on the main road, April 9, 1808. It was opened by prayer by Rev. John Spencer. Ozias Hart served as moderator. The officers chosen were Philo Orton, supervisor, John S. Bellows, town clerk, Richard Williams, Justin Hinman, John E. Howard, assessors, Samuel Berry, Abiram Orton, John Mack, commissioners of highways, Zattu Cushing and Orsamus Holmes overseers of the poor, and George W. Pierce, constable and collector. Philo Orton the first supervisor of Pomfret was born in Tyringham, Mass., Septen- ber 9, 1778, and settled in Canadaway in 1806. He was a practical surveyor, was supervisor of Pomfret during the first eleven years of its organization, and for many years a judge of the county. He was a member of assembly in 1819, and also a presidential elector, voting for William Henry Harrison for president. The supervisor chosen for Chautauque this year was Arthur Bell. He was born in Paxton, Pa., Jannary 12, 1753, served in the army three years during the Revolution, settled at Chautauqua creek in 1803. The two supervisors from the county of Chautauque in 1808, served with . the board of supervisors of Niagara county at the village of Buffalo.
Although the city of Dunkirk is the most populous town in the oldest part of the county, it was not settled until a comparatively late date. Tim- othy Goulding located one mile west of the harbor of Dunkirk in 1808 within the city limits. John Brigham and John Brigham, Jr., also settled that year within the corporation. Luther Goulding, brother of Timothy, and his brother-in-law Solomon Chadwick, settled in 1809 upon the harbor, which for several years was known as Chadwick's Bay. Joel Brigham, Amon and Abiram Gaylord and Daniel Pier were early settlers.
In 1868 several events of such consequence occurred as to make it the most important of all the early years in the religious history of the county. Before that year no church organization existed. The gospel however had been preached in every settlement. Scarcely had the first log cabin been reared before it was visited by the early missionaries, sent by the mission- ary societies of New England, and other religious organizations of the east. The men employed were especially fitted for the work. They were seldom learned in more than the common branches of English education, but had vigorous practical minids, and were usually well versed in the Scriptures. Sometimes they possessed unusual talents and native eloquence. They were accustomed to life in the back woods, and were familiar with the ways of the pioneers. They journeyed along the obscure paths of the woods to carry the gospel to the distant settlements, satisfied with the rough accomodations of the settlers, cheerfully living upon their coarse fare, and receiving for their services a mere pittance. Their self-sacrificing lives furnish the highest evidence of their sincerity.
The first of these early missionaries to visit the county after its settle- ment was the Rev. Joseph Badger. He had passed through the county in
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1807-1808.
ISoI on his journey from the Western Reserve to Massachusetts, and again on his return to the Western Reserve the next year, and had found Skinner residing in Chautauqua county at the mouth of Cattaraugus creek. In Sep- tember, 1803, while attending a meeting held at Greenfield, now North East, which was the first meeting of the Presbytery held in Erie county, Pa., Mr. Robert Patterson was ordained as a minister, Rev. Samnel Tate and Rev. Joseph Badger officiating. The next day Mr. Badger went to the Cross Roads to preach the funeral sermon of Edward MeHenry. This was the first sermon preached within the county. Mr. Badger was born at Wilbra- ham, Mass., February 28, 1757. As a soldier of the Revolution he had many adventures. At the expiration of his term of service, he entered Yale college, graduated in 1785 and was licensed to preach in 1786. He labored in Mas- sachinsetts as a minister until 1801. Under an appointment of the Connecti- cut Missionary Society, that year he went to the Western Reserve, where he travelled and preached to the settlers and to the Indians. He moved to Perrysburgh, Ohio, in 1844 where he closed a long and eventful life.
Other missionaries traversed the wilderness. Rev. Jacob Crane, Septem- ber 29, 1805, preached at Beech Woods in Pennsylvania, and then travelled over the Indian trail up the Conewango to the Cattaraugus, and November Sth preached to the Indians at Hank Johnson's (White Indian Chief ) on the Cattaraugus reservation two miles above Irving. Johnson was his interpreter and treated him kindly.
After the death of McHenry, Connecticut missionaries, when travelling to and from the Western Reserve, occasionally preached at the house of James McMahan at the Cross Roads, and, when there was no preaching, religions meetings were held there on the Sabbath and printed sermons were read. Deacon James Montgomery was an active leader. In 1804 and 1805 the Rev. Robert Patterson was employed to preach a quarter of the time at the Cross Roads and the remainder of the time at North East and Colts Station, Pa.
A large proportion of the early settlers in the north west part of the county and at the Cross Roads including the McMahans were professedly pious. Many were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. Consequently the first preaching there was of Calvinistic doctrines. The following account of the ,meetings of these early Presbyterians, is from an address delivered by the Rev. W. L. Hyde at the fiftieth anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church of Ripley ..
"Just west of the village of North East, upon a rise of ground where now is the cemetery, lies a beautiful grove. And at the foot of the hill the water gushes ont, making a clear pellucid stream. Upon this hill there formerly stood a rude log building which the early Presbyterian settlers erected as a place of worship. Over the mountains from the interior counties of Penn- sylvania, even as far as Philadelphia, came ministers at times, to preach to these scattered settlers and administer to them the ordinances of the Gospel.
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
Rev. Mr. Tate, Rev. Johnston Eaton and Rev. Mr. McPherson are now most vividly remembered by our older members. They were men too of power, full of zeal. They were coarsely clad in homespun, and preached to plain, rough looking but warm-hearted men, with tongues of fire, with clear, logical reasoning. Out of the Scriptures they upheld the stern doctrines of our Cal- vinistic faith, not failing to declare the whole counsel of God as they believed it. Here the settlers along this main road used to go to receive the sacra- ment and to be fed with gospel manna. So infrequent were these opportuni- ties, that when they did occur it was to the settlers a great occasion. Meet- ings were held three days in succession commencing with Saturday, ordinary work was laid aside, and people gave up their time to the enjoyment of a gospel feast. Let us bring before our mind's eye one of these scenes ; it is the season of summer and good old Father Tate has sent word over the moun- tains that he 'will be at North East on such a week and preach on Saturday and Sunday, and after the sermon on Sunday administer the Lord's Supper.' The news has been so eagerly circulated that it is well known in every Pres- byterian family from Portland to Erie, and so often spoken of and anticipated that there is no danger of mistaking the time. Sunday morning comes, and ere the sun has risen, in some score or two of settler's cabins the family is roused to get ready for meeting. The necessary work done, they move out early enough to be on hand at the opening of services ; all along the rough forest road they thread their way. The people are moving, some on horse back, some on foot, some in wagons drawn slowly by oxen."
The first church organized in the county was formed by these Presbyter- ian settlers at the Cross Roads in 1808. Rev. John Lindsley had visited the place as a missionary the fall before on his way to Pennsylvania, and on his return he organized the church. It was called the "Chautauqua Church " and was attached to the Presbytery of Erie. The Messrs. McMahans and their wives, Deadon James Montgomery and wife, Mrs. Arthur Bell and Mrs. D. Kinkaid were the first members.
The same year the first Baptist church was also organized in the county. Zattu Cushing, William Gould, John Van Tassel, Benjamin Barrett, Eliphalet Burnham, Rachel Cushing, Rhoda Burnham, Sophia Williams and Silence Barto in November, 1805, commenced " to meet together on the Lord's Day to recommend the cause of Christ and confirm each other in the faith." March 14, 1807, they entered into a covenant to hold meetings on the last Saturday of every month. In the winter of the succeeding year, the Rev. Joy Handy removed from Brookfield, Madison county, and settled at the mouth of Canadaway creek, and, a few years later, removed to the Canada- way settlement, now Fredonia. October 20, at a council held at the resi- dence of Zattu Cushing at the Canadaway settlement, composed of Elder Joel Butler (it is believed he was a pastor of the church of Sangerfield, Oneida county,) Elder Hezekiah Eastman (probably of Madison county,) and Elder Joy Handy, the brethren and sisters, 16 in number, were examined and received into fellowship. In March, 1808, Pomfret was created a new town.
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1807-1808.
As the Presbyterian church that had been organized the same year at the Cross Roads was called the " Chautauqua Church " this was called the " First Baptist Church in Pomfret." This church was the mother of many of the Baptist churches in the county, they having been set off one after another as the county became settled. The Rev. Joy Handy was the pastor mostly from 1808 to 1822 ; he was succeeded by the Rev. Elisha Tucker, who continued pastor until 1831 or 1832.
In 1808 also the first Methodist Episcopal class was formed in the county, and the first Methodist sermon preached. In ISor the Erie circuit of the Baltimore conference was first formed. It was later known as the Erie con- ference, and finally embraced Chautauqua county. Rev. James Quinn was appointed its first presiding elder. He made Meadville the center of his cir- cuit. To form classes and to fill his 20 appointments, he travelled 400 miles through the wilderness every four weeks. About this time began the most memorable period in the religious history of the western borders. For years the itinerant Methodist minister mounted on horseback, with bible, hymn book and saddlebags, followed forest trails guided by marked trees, forded bridgeless streams, often camping in the woods at night, tired and hungry, enduring all the hardships and privations of the back woods to carry the gospel to the pioneers. The remarkable scenes at their revivals and camp meetings, the great crowds of people who came to listen, the burning words of the preacher awakening them to their lost condition, will long be remem- bered.
Many of the early settlers were from New England or were of Puritan descent and thoroughly imbued with the old and established Calvinistic doc- trines of that people. Between them and the Methodists, who were of a later and more liberal faith, there existed a strong antagonism, and a polemic war- fare was waged between them for many years. The zealous and aggressive spirit of Methodism prevailed against all opposition and they made converts everywhere. The traveling Methodist minister from 1800 to 1816 was enti- tled to receive but $80 a year and his traveling expenses. His wife was allowed $80 a year. An allowance was made to him of $16 annually for each child under seven years of age, and $24 for each child between seven and fourteen years of age. It is said that he in fact received not more than two- thirds of that amount, and yet for this pittance, these men labored summer and winter with, unremitting zeal.
From 1796 to 1812 western New York was within the bounds of the Philadelphia conference. In 1808 the "Holland Purchase " circuit was formed by that conference which embraced all of the state west of the Gene- see river. To that circuit Rev. George Lane was first appointed. The fol- lowing interesting account of the first establishing of Methodism in Chautau-
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
qua county we copy from Gregg's History of Methodism. The facts stated were furnished by the Hon. E. T. Foote.
"Some time in the winter of 1808-9, learning that a few members of the Methodist Episcopal church had settled in the west part of Sheridan in Chan- tauqua county, Mr. Lane started up from Buffalo in a one-horse sleigh to visit and preach to them. On his way up he overtook Mr. Gould and wife in a two-horse sleigh, who were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and resided in the place just mentioned, and who had been east on a visit, and were returning home. The snow was deep, and, as is usually the case in that region, badly drifted. Night came on them while in the woods some distance below Cattaraugus creek, and they became so buried in the snow that they could get their sleighs no further. After disengaging their horses from the sleighs, each person mounted a horse, and rode on the bare back to Mack's tavern, where they spent the remainder of the night. Next morn- ing they succeeded in getting their sleighs, and before night reached Mr. Gould's house, where Mr. Lane spent a few days and preached several times, and during his stay in the place formed a class consisting of Stephen Bush, Daniel Gould and wife, and Elijah Risley. This was undoubtedly the first Methodist preaching and the first class formed in Chautauqua county, state of New York."
The class so formed was without regular preaching until the year 1810. In that spring an entire class of ten members removed from the east and set- tled in Villenova. They consisted of John Arnold, leader, and his wife, Father Kent and wife, Daniel Whipple and wife, Roderick Wells, John P. Kent, James Kent and An Kent. By the influence of this class and the one formed in Sheridan, the Rev. "Billy " Brown was appointed " to labor and preach in Chautauqua." He was the first Methodist minister to preach regularly in the county. He posessed good knowledge of the Scripture. He was eccentric in his manner and ideas. He removed to Ohio in 1823 and died in 1850.
We have seen that in ISOS Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist organiz- ations were first formed in Chautauqua county. About the same time the Congregationalists were also represented here in the person and works of Father John Spencer. So that in 1808 at nearly the same time the four lead- ing Protestant denominations of that day were first established. No mission- ary labored so long and so effectively in early years as Father Spencer, and no one was so well known. There was scarcely a new settlement but that he visited more than once. He preached from house to house. His labors extended over much of the Holland Purchase, and he was as well known in Erie and Genesee counties as in Chautauqua. "A short, sturdy man, on a big, bob-tailed horse, riding from one scattered neighborhood to another, summer and winter, preaching, praying, organizing churches, burying the dead and marrying the living ; a man full of zeal in his Master's cause, but full also of life and mirth, ready to answer every jest with another, and a
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1809-1810.
universal favorite among the hardy pioneers." (Johnson's Hist. of Erie Co.)
Mr. Spencer was born in Spencertown, Columbia county, in 1758. He was of the same family as Hon. Ambrose Spencer, but was more nearly related to Joshua A. Spencer. He received his early education only at the com- mon schools. He served a long period in the Revolution, entered as a private and rose to be an officer. He served as aid to the gallant Col. Willets. He was licensed to preach by the Northern Associated Presbytery, October 29, 1800, at Spencertown, and was ordained by the same body at Stillwater, in 1801. Although he united with the Presbytery, Mr. Spencer was a decided Congregationalist, and before coming to Chautauqua he became a member of the Oneida Association. He removed with his family to Sheridan in 1807. His first labors were on the main road between Batavia and Buffalo, and thenee on the road between Buffalo and Erie. He was plain and simple in his habits. At first he dressed in the antique style of Revolutionary days, wearing short stockings and boots quite up to his knees. This dress in later years he laid aside. Mr. Spencer was fond of social intercourse and full of ancedotes. Although his education was limited, he wrote and spoke English with accuracy. He had a keen wit, was somewhat eccentric and posessed good practical common sense. As a preacher he was clear and logical. His sermons were short and practical and impressive. As a minister he was true to his duty, independent in all things. Although he could administer a just reproof, he was a peace maker, and a good and faithful man.
In August, 1826, Mr. Spencer was settled over a church in Busti. On the 24th of the month he died. His remains were brought to Sheridan where he was buried. As the result of his labor thirteen churches were founded in Western New York, five or six of which were in Chautauqua county ; all these he fostered until his death. Of all the early missionaries who have labored in Chautauqua county Father Spencer fills the most prominent place.
CHAPTER XXII. -
1809-1810.
T HE general election, held in the spring of 1809, resulted in the election of Daniel D. Tompkins, the" republican candidate for governor, over Jonas Platt, the federal candidate. This year Thomas Prendergast, son of William Prendergast, represented the town of Chautauqua, and Philo Orton the town of Pomfret at the meeting of the Niagara board of supervis- ors held in Buffalo. At the beginning of the year there were between 1,000
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
and 2,000 inhabitants in the county, most of them living north of the Ridge, but scattered at long intervals from Cattaraugus creek to the state line, and within three or four miles of Lake Erie. A smaller number were gathered close around the borders of Chautauqua lake, and a few others were settled along the outlet, and the Conewango, engaged in lumbering. By far the most extensive portion of the county, that high cold region among the hills in the eastern, central and southwestern parts, remained unsettled. The pioneers of Charlotte and Stockton were the first to enter the woods that cov- cred its hilly, and then less inviting, portions, miles away from the advant- ages afforded by the settlements in the more accessible parts.
Charlotte was settled in April, 1809, by John and Daniel Pickett, Arva O. Austin from Chenango county, Abel Prior and John and Taylor Gregg from Oneida county. They settled in the northwestern part, in what has been for many years known as the "Pickett neighborhood." A little later the same year, Robert W. Seaver, a soldier of the Revolution from Oneida . county, made the first settlement at Charlotte Center. Later still in the same year, William Devine from the same county, settled at the center of the town. Major Samuel Sinclear from Madison county, a cousin of Jonathan Cilley of Maine, who was killed at Bladensburg in the celebrated duel with Graves of Kentucky, and also a nephew of Gen. Joseph Cilley of Revolutionary fame, in whose regiment he served during the war, came in the fall of 1809, and erected the body of a log house upon the site of Sinclairville, several miles further into the wilderness, in the very heart of the county.
In March 1810, William Berry and family came from Madison county, and settled at Sinclairville. September 19, Mr. Sinclear started from Madi- son county with his family of ten persons, including his step-sons, Obed and John M. Edson, and their sister Fanny. He came with five two-horse wag- ons, one carrying his family, and the other four his household goods and per- sonal property. They passed over very bad roads to Buffalo, then followed the shore of the lake to Cattaraugus creek. The family halted a week at Ricli- ard Williams' log tavern at Fredonia, while woodsmen were cutting a road to the site of Sinclairville. This was the first road opened in the eastern portion of the county over the ridge to its southern part. The family of Mr. Sinclear arrived at Sinclairville, Oct. 22, 1810. Mr. Sinclear built a frame honse ; the first one built in the central part of the county. It was after- wards usel as the village tavern. He built also a sawmill and gristmill and other buildings. He was the founder and owner of the village that derives its name from him.
About this time settlement was commenced in Carroll, and the work begun of annihilating the noble forest pines that grew there in so great abundance. It became a town of sawmills ; as many as 25 were in operation at one time, and lumbering was long its leading industry.
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