USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York > Part 37
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barn, all others being nearly the same, only changing a few words as the occasion would seem to require :
The pride of the builder and owner's delight, Framed in ten days and raised at midnight.
The boards for this barn were drawn on an ox sled from Maj. Samuel Sinclear's mill at Sinclairville in June, over the crossways and through the mud holes that prevailed during the greater part of the year. My father used to relate that, while drawing the boards for this barn, on his return trip, a mile and a half from home, the sled struck a sapling, as the oxen shied to avoid a mudhole and broke the yoke in the middle. He knew the workmen would soon be waiting for the lumber and some way must be devised to deliver the load in due time. His only tool for the construction of another yoke was an axe, which was always carried with a team on the road. Seeing a basswood tree the right size near at hand, he cut it down, took out a sec- tion the right length, chipped out two notches or saddles for the necks of the oxen, when the very serious problem arose how the holes were to be made to receive the bows and the staple and ring. After a moment's reflection hie split the yoke in two in the middle, cut notches of the proper size, put the staple on the rear half, tied the sections together with three substantial withes made of river beech, put the new yoke upon the oxen, the bows through the notches, hitched to his load and drew it home and was only an hour late. This incident must not be taken as showing any peculiar tact or trait of this man, but as illustrating the indomitable perseverance of the Chautauqua pioneer. This barn is 30x44 feet, and is still standing in good preservation, having received its third coat of shingles. The first roof was of shaved pine shingles, and failed in 30 years, being blown off in many places. This will not be surprising when it is known that many of the shingles were fastened with a gimlet and pine pegs. We have been thus minute in the description of this barn that it may be taken as a sample of others to be found all over the county."
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
CHAPTER XXXV ..
1826-1827-1828.
W E HAVE now brought this history to the close of the pioneer period. As the existing records of events transpiring before this time are scanty, and in danger of being lost, we have devoted more atten- tion to their detailed preservation than we otherwise would have done. In the well-kept records of public offices, and in the files of newspapers, which have greatly multiplied since then, are preserved full accounts of more recent events. We shall therefore devote less space to detailed accounts of occur- rences of later years.
By the state census of 1825 the population of the 15 towns of the county was 20,639, an increase of 5,371, or more than 33 per cent. in five years. The rapid increase of population, the completion of the Erie canal, and other evidences of coming prosperity, elated the people. They celebrated the Fourth of July at Mayville with much enthusiasm. The day was ushered in by a salute from a six-pounder which was captured by Perry in the battle of Lake Erie, and the oration was delivered by David Man.
John Quincy Adams, Republican, was chosen president. The defeated candidates were also Republicans. During his administration we may see the beginning of the process that eventually resulted in the formation of the two great parties, Whig and Democrat, which for many years contended for supremacy and controlled the politics of the county. During Adams' admin- istration his supporters were designated as the Adams or Administration party. The friends of Jackson, Crawford and Calhoun, defeated candidates, who had now united in opposition to the Adams or Administration party, were known as the Opposition or Jackson party. In New York DeWitt Clinton, the most distinguished member of the People's party, had from the beginning strongly favored the election of Jackson. VanBuren, the leader of the Regency party in this state, and also a leading member of the Crawford party in the nation, had decided to support General Jackson for the next presidency. A disposition appeared among many of the leaders of these two parties in the state to unite in opposition to Adams, but it was not strong enough to prevent the nomination of opposing candidates to be supported at the fall election. The People's party nominated DeWitt Clinton for gover- nor, and Henry Huntington for lieutenant-governor. The Regency party
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nominated Judge William B. Rochester for governor, notwithstanding he was a supporter and friend of Mr. Adams, and Gen. Nathaniel Pitcher favored the candidacy of Jackson. Clinton was again elected governor by a majority of 3,650. His majority in Chantanqua county was 227. The town of Chau- tauqua gave Clinton 137 votes and Rochester 128; Pomfret Clinton 360, Rochester : 47; Ellicott Clinton 126, Rochester 106; Gerry Clinton 147, Rochester 76; Hanover Clinton 158, Rochester 261 ; Portland Clinton 185, Rochester 112 ; Ripley Clinton HIS, Rochester 141 ; Harmony Clinton 79, Rochester So ; Clymer Clinton 21, Rochester 56 ; Ellery Clinton 66, Roch- ester 140 ; Stockton Clinton 66, Rochester, 68 ; Villenova Clinton 49, Roch- ester S2 ; Busti Clinton 112, Rochester 45 ; Mina Clinton 50, Rochester 75 ; Carroll Clinton 87, Rochester 47 ; Ellington Clinton 78, Rochester 48.
Daniel G. Garnsey was re-elected to Congress by a small majority over Albert H. Tracy, after a bitter contest chiefly on personal grounds. In April, 1826, a law was passed reorganizing the senate districts upon the basis of the census of 1825, and apportioning the members of assembly, by which apportionment the county became entitled to two members. At this election Elial T. Foote, the candidate of the Regency party, and Samuel A. Brown of the People's party, both of Jamestown, were elected to the assembly over Nathan Mixer of the Regency, and Philo Orton of the People's party.
In 1827 the town of Sheridan was formed from Hanover. At the first town meeting, held at the house of William Griswold, May S, Lyscom Mixer was elected the first supervisor. The village of Jamestown was also incorpo- rated. Its population in January of this year was but 393. This was the first village in the county on which corporate powers were conferred.
In 1827, the " Cassadaga Steam-Mill Company " was incorporated with a capital of $10,000. A few years before a dam had been constructed across the outlet of the Cassadaga lake which raised the waters of the lake about four feet above the natural level. A gristmill and sawmill was erected near this point. Sickness cansed by the raising of the dam compelled its removal. In order to save the use of the mills the project of propelling them by steam was formed, and this company incorporated ; the project was finally aban- doned. About this time people in Fredonia obtained the right from the owner of the land to dig a ditch from the north end of the upper Cassadaga lake to a small branch of the Canadaway, to supply the failing waters of that stream. A ditch some 60 rods long, and in no place over six feet deep, was dug, and the lake began to discharge its waters into this tributary of Lake Erie. Parties residing in the vicinity soon filled the ditch, which the Fre- donia people reopened. The law was finally invoked, and the ditch-diggers were restrained from diverting the waters of the lake.
In 1827 also "The Cassadaga Navigation Company" was formed and incorporated with a capital of $20,000 to improve the navigation of the Cas-
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
sadaga from its source to its junction with the Conewango, and also to improve the navigation of the Conewango to the state line. Merchandise shipped from the east for Jamestown and Warren had then to be transported over the hills from Dunkirk through Sinclairville. Walter Smith, one of the most efficient and enterprising citizens of the county, conceived the plan of opening the Cassadaga and Conewango to keelboats. He was seconded by leading citizens of Fredonia. Some money was expended in the project. Men were hired to clear out the alders, logs and other obstructions to the navigation of these streams. People along the upper Cassadaga also contrib- uted their labor. A keelboat about 25 feet long was constructed. It came up the Conewango and Cassadaga from Warren to Cassadaga lake loaded with salt. It returned to Warren with a light cargo, and again ascended the Conewango and Cassadaga, leaving part of its load at Barras', about three miles from Sinclairville. The Cassadaga was so small when the obstructions were removed (as it dwindled from full banks to an insignificant stream,) and its bends were so short, that navigation was found impracticable. The project was abandoned and the keelboat found its way down the Allegany river.
$4,000 having been appropriated by Congress for the building of a light- house at Dunkirk, work was commenced upon it in 1827. This was the first expenditure made in Chautauqua county for improving the navigation of Lake Erie. At that time the well-known steam boat " Pioneer," Captain Miles, was carrying passengers, and making regular daily trips between Buffalo and Dunkirk. She would leave Buffalo at 9 o'clock in the evening, and arrive at Dunkirk the next morning at 8 o'clock. Returning, it would leave Dunkirk at 9 o'clock a. m., and arrive at Buffalo at 2 o'clock p. 11. A line of stages between Dunkirk and Erie, by Fredonia and Westfield, con- nected with the " Pioneer." At Erie this line connected with a line of stages for Pittsburgh, and with another for Cleveland. By these routes passengers from Buffalo could reach Cleveland in two days, and Pittsburg in three.
A new and exciting element was introduced into the political contest of 1827. Freemasonry was an institution originating with the architects and builders of an ancient period, and finally came to be supported by people of other vocations, and in high ranks. It had existed in some form in Europe since the Crusades. Masonic societies existed in most civilized nations, and were even found among people that can hardly be said to be civilized. In 1730 it reached America, where many lodges of Masons were established, and many distinguished people became members. Among them were Wash- ington, Franklin (first grand master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania), and General Warren, who fell at Bunker Hill, and who was at the time grand master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. DeWitt Clinton, governor of this state, held the highest office in the Grand Chapter of the United States.
315
1826-1827-1828.
In New York many public officers and prominent men of all parties as well as other people were masons. Many citizens of all classes in Chantauqna county belonged to the order, and several masonic lodges had been instituted in the county.
Forest Lodge, at Fredonia, was organized as early as 1816, and was the first one established in the county. Mont Moriah Lodge No. 297, at James- town, was the second lodge organized, Heman Bush was named as its first master in the charter, and Solomon Jones as senior, and Theron Plumb as junior wardens. The officers were probably installed October 16, 1817. Summit Lodge at Mayville was organized in 1818. Hanover Lodge was installed at Forestville, February 5, 1824. Luther Thwing was its first mas- ter, and Ezra Puffer and Seth Snow were its first senior and junior wardens. Sylvan Lodge No. 303, at Sinclairville, it is believed was organized the same year. Major Samuel Sinclear was the first master, and James Schofield, grand-father of Gen. John M. Schofield, present commander-in-chief of the army of the United States, was a succeeding master. - United Brethren Lodge, in Busti, was installed at the house of Heman Bush July 4, 1826. Heman Bush was its master. Albion Lodge was installed August 14, 1826, at Westfield, by E. T. Foote, installing officer, with this committee of arrange- ments, Jonathan Cass, Aaron Rumsey, Carleton Jones and Joshua R. Babcock, Harmony Lodge was installed August 16, 1826, at Ashville ; committee of arrangements, Hiram Alden, Isaac Fitch, Jolin Stow.
In September, 1826, William Morgan, a Royal Arch mason, and a printer by trade, residing in Batavia, who had threatened to publish a book that would reveal the secrets of the order, was abducted from his home and was never seen afterwards. He was traced to Lewiston and Niagara, but no further. The citizens of Batavia and vicinity, with commendable zeal and spirit, took measures to hunt out the perpetrators of this outrage. Governor Clinton offered a reward for the discovery of the offenders, and the legislature appointed a committee to investigate the matter which reported that Morgan was murdered ; and such was the general belief, although no positive evidence was obtained that such was the fact. Two of the persons engaged in the abduction were convicted and sentenced to be imprisoned, one for two years and four months, and the other for one year and three months. Intense indigna- tion throughout western New York followed the perpetration of this offence, which was believed to have been committed by persons connected with the masonic fraternity. Morgan's book of masonry, was soon published under the title of "Illustrations of Masonry." A fourth edition was published in Westfield in 1827. It was followed by others, all claiming to reveal the secrets of the order, among them, "Light in Masonry" by Rev. David Ber- nard, then a resident of Genesee, and afterwards of Chautauqua county. Many citizens determined to hold the whole masonic order responsible for
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the abduction and probable murder of Morgan. The masonic fraternity repelled with indignation the charge so implicating them. . The excitement increased until it reached the highest pitch ever witnessed in this part of the state. The question entered into the religious and social relations of life, and soon divided churches and violently affected the politics of the state, and established the "Anti-Masonic Party."
In October of this year a convention of Anti-Masons was held at May- ville, of which Abiram Orton was chairman, and Alvin Plumb secretary. Esquire White, Silas Spencer and Alvin Phunb were appointed a committee to report an address against secret societies. The address, published in the Fredonia Gazette, was very ably written. Nathaniel Fenton and Nathan Mixer were nominated by this convention as candidates for members of assembly. An address upon the other side of the question was published in the same paper, signed by Thomas A. Osborne, John Crane, James Mullett, Jr., and E. L. Tinker. This was also well-written, evidently by the able pen of Thomas A. Osborne.
The Adams party had no candidate for the assembly in the field. The Jackson party, which may be said to include the Bucktail or Regency party, nominated James Mullett and Thomas A. Osborne, who received respectively 1,232 and 1, 101 votes. Fenton received 2, 192 votes, and Mixer 2,091 votes, and they were elected. The Fredonia Gazette supported the Masonic or Jackson ticket.
The year 1828 was one of the most important in the history of political parties in the county and state, and we may say also in the nation. The Anti-Masons, since the election of 1827, had greatly increased in numbers. They were not generally favorable to General Jackson for president, because he was a mason. They preferred Adams, because he was not. They drew most of their strength from the Clintonian or People's party, notwithstand- ing De Witt Clinton, the great leader of that party, was strongly in favor of the candidacy of Gen. Jackson for the presidency, and was also a radical Democrat. The masons, on the other hand, generally became members of the Jackson party, which was composed principally of a majority of the old and regular Bucktail and Regency parties. The Adams party was left few in numbers, composed of Clintonians, and of many masons who were unwill- ing to join either the Jackson or Anti-Masonic party. The Anti-Masons nominated Solomon Southwick for governor. The Adams party nominated Judge Smith Thompson, and the Jackson, or Democratic party, nominated Martin Van Buren for governor, and Enos T. Throop for lieutenant governor. The Democratic party nominated Andrew Jackson, and the Adams party John Quincy Adams for president. Jackson was elected president, Van Buren governor, and Throop lieutenant governor. In Chautauqua county Adams received 2,893 votes, and Jackson 1,556 votes, a majority of 1,337 for Adams.
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1826-1827-1828.
The result of this election in Chautauqua is very interesting, as it shows how the Whig, the great rival of the Democratic party, began to exist in the county. John Quincy Adams, when he was elected president in 1824, was as truly a Democrat as was Jackson, or, as were his other competitors. Events had now made Adams the leader of that wing of the old Republican party, which was destined a few years later to join with the Anti-Masons and form the Whig party. We give the vote in each of the towns of the county to illustrate this fact, and also to show the existing sentiment of the comty upon the exciting subject of Anti- Masonry, as shown in the principal election in which its strength was exhibited.
The vote for governor was : Chautauqua, Van Buren, Democrat, 147, Thompson, Adams party, 48, Southwick, Anti-Mason, 135; Pomfret, Dem., 107, Adams party, 295, Anti-Mason, 150, Ellicott, Dem., 140, Adams party, 63, Anti-Mason, 108; Gerry, Dem., 85, Adams party, 37, Anti-Mason, 146; Hanover, Dem., 95, Adams, 214, Anti-Mason, 10 ; Portland, Dem., 108, Adams, 65, Anti-Mason, 174; Ripley, Dem., 188, Adams, 44, Anti-Mason, 84 ; Harmony, Dem., 43, Adams, 17, Anti-Mason, 187; Clymer, Dem., 16, Adams, 5, Anti-Mason, 87 ; Ellery, Dem., 90, Adams, 27, Anti-Mason, 146 ; Stockton, Dem., 85, Adams, 21, Anti-Mason, 78; l'illenova, Dem., 94, Adams, 63, Anti-Mason, 37 ; Busti, Dem., 45; Adams, 18, Anti-Mason, 149 ; Mina, Dem., 65, Adams, 8, Anti-Mason, 83; Carroll, Dem., 89, Adams party, 29, Anti-Mason, 83; Ellington, Dem., 72, Adams party, 72, Anti-Mason, 49; Sheridan, Dem., 47, Adams party, too, Anti-Mason, 77. Total : Democrat, 1,520 ; Adams party, 1, 135; Anti-Mason, 1,783.
The Democratic vote for president was but 36 more than the Democratic vote for governor, and the sum of the votes cast for the Adams party and the Anti-Masonic candidates for governor was but 25 more than the votes polled in the county for Adams for president: This proved that while the same voters that voted for Jackson voted also for Van Buren, and that the electors who cast their votes for Thompson and Southwick for governor voted also for Adams for president. One familiar with the history of the politics of the county during successive years of struggle between Democrats and Whigs, and the still later contests between Democrats and Republicans, can trace to the present time in the vote of the county, and in each of the towns of the county, the strong impress that anti-masonic sentiment made in 1828 upon the minds of the people, and we may realize to what extent an isolated and comparatively trifling circumstance will fix men's opinions and deter- mine their actions for generations. We may also observe how much the abduction, perhaps murder, of William Morgan by a few irresponsible and desperate men, had to do with establishing the political complexion of Chau- tauqua county and Western New York for more than half-a-century.
No paper in the county at the time of the abduction of Morgan is known
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
to have been edited by a mason. The papers which first supported the new political movement was the Western Star, published and edited by Harvey Newcomb of Westfield, and the Jamestown Journal, published by Adolphus Fletcher, and edited by Abner Hazeltine. The rapid growth of the Anti- Masonic party in Chautauqua county was due in a great measure to the great influence of Mr. Hazeltine. As . Anti-Masonic candidate for member of assembly in 1828, he received 2,056 votes and Nathan Mixer 2,091. Joseph White received 1,458 and John McAlister 1, 158 votes as Jackson or. Demo- cratic candidates, and James Hall received 1,091 and John Crane 936 votes as administration or Adams candidates. Hazeltine and Mixer were elected. Daniel Sherman was elected sheriff, and James B. Lowry county clerk. Elial T. Foote was appointed first judge.
In his year the Holland Land Company make the first great sale of lands in this county. They sold 60,000 acres in the eastern and southeastern towns to Levi Beardsly, James-O. Morse and Alvan Stewart, and employed agents to sell their lands to local settlers. These persons were afterwards known as the Cherry Valley company.
In 1828 Chautauqua lake was first navigated by steam. It was then the highest body of water so navigated in the world. Before the settlement of the county it had been made a means of communication between the great lakes and the Ohio, and immediately after the settlement was much used as a means of transit. In the winter, when the lake was surrounded by a wilderness traversed by but few roads, and those rudely made, the people traveled upon the ice, that then almost invariably covered the lake. In the summer, families with their household goods were carried over its waters to points nearest their destination in canoes. Provisions and goods and other commodities were carried in this way from Pittsburgh to Mayville. A very large canoe, made from a pine tree over five feet in diameter, was launched at " Miles Landing" in 1806. For many years it was the largest craft on the lake, and was edasiderably used for carrying purposes. " Other flatboats were also placed on the lake. Finally Jared Irwin and Mr. Nixon built the schooner Mink which navigated the lake for a short time. About 1829 it went ashore at Fair Point and was abandoned. Dr. Gilbert Hazeltine gives a voluminous and entertaining account of the early navigation of the lake and of the first steamboat launched upon it in his Early History of Ellicott. From it we quote :
There was so much merchandise and so many household goods coming to and passing through Jamestown that in 1824 Elisha Allen concluded to build what was then called a " horse boat." This boat was built on precisely the same ground now occupied by the U. S. Express company's office. It
*Large quanties of salt from the salt springs of New York, were transported southward from Mayville over the lake to Jamestown in a large scow or flatboat built by Judge Prendergast, thence in keel and Durham boats down the river.
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1826-1827-1828.
was, one might say, a large scow, with a cabin on one side for passengers ; and stables for eight horses on the other side. There were small paddle wheels on either side like a steamboat, and a large wheel in the center of the boat connected with the shaft of the paddle wheels by gearing. This center wheel was put in motion by four horses. At the stern was an oar like those used on rafts. The wheel to which the horses were hitched was painted red. The horse boat ran semi-occasionally a year, it may have made a few trips a second year, and then gave way to the schooner Mink, and scows with sails. The horse boat was a complete failure. No four horses could stand it at that wheel over an hour at a time, then they were removed and the other four hitched on, continuing in this way to the end of the trip. The distance from Jamestown to Mayville was never made in less than ten hours, with the wind favorable, and it frequently took a week to make a round trip. The Mink and the scows-the Mink under command of Captain Carpenter, the Palmeter scow under Captain Jacobs, another under Captain Shaw, competed as the steamboats do now for the freight from Mayville to Jamestown and had plenty up to 1823.
Passengers came and went in Ballard's stages. In 1827 Alvin Plumb formed a company and built a steamboat for Chautauqua lake, and, although the first, it was one of the staunchest ever on the lake. It was built of the best white oak by a ship carpenter, Richards, from Buffalo. The timber of the boat was selected and ent by Eliakim Garfield. The plank were sawed by the boatbuilders from logs rolled up on a staging so that one of the sawyers conldl stand under it. This boat was built partly on the ground now occupied by the old freight station of the N. Y. P. & O. railway and partly west thereof. The main stream then ran where the present freight station stands, and close to the bank under the high hill to a point due south of Maj. Hiram Smith's residence, where it made nearly a square bend to the south. Where the stream formerly was is now solid ground. The steamboat was ready for launching in the following May. That was a great day for the residents of Jamestown and vicinity. The whole surrounding country assembled. Plumb had caused to be brought from Westfield a large connon belonging to Alex. McClurg. It was planted on top of the hill where Mrs. Charles Stern's house now stands on West Second street. Captain Carpenter was placed in command. Then for the first time the boys of Jamestown heard the roar of artillery. A gun was fired, Capt. Richards gave the word and the huge boat began to move, cabin-end foremost toward the outlet, and as she struck the water, Capt. Carpenter gave us another of his terrific ear- splitting, earth-shaking bangs. As the boat touched the water a lady of James- town broke a bottle of currant wine over her bow and said, "I name thee Chautauqua." The steamboat was poled up to where the landing now is, and there speedily finished and painted. A magnificent figure of a female head and bust was placed on her bow in a place built for it. Phineas Pal- meter soon arrived from Pittsburgh with the machinery, accompanied by an engineer named Starring, who put it in place, and was engineer of the steam- boat the first and, I think, the second year. After Starring, Pahneter had charge of the engine. The last of June she was in readiness for work. Cap- tain John I. Wilson, an old Lake Erie captain who was to command her, came over from Sugar Grove, and she made a trip up into the lake and back.
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