History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 40

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 40

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1833-1837.

York. "Before Damon was hung " is supposed to represent a period of time very remote in the mind of the old settler.

The hanging of Damon was the last public execution in the state. It was a subject of so much interest at the time and since that a few more facts respecting Damon and his relatives may be of interest. Joseph Damon was born at Worcester, Mass., March 18, 1800. He was the son of Stephen and Hannah Damon. He came with his parents and his three brothers, Stephen, Martin and North, to Chautauqua county in 1816. They all lived upon a farın in Pomfret near the residence of the late Elisha Norton. Little is known about Stephen. He was a half-brother of the others. Martin was a stone entter, and fashioned many of the gravestones that are so numerously seen in the early burial places of the county, particularly the old cemetery at Fredonia. These gravestones are readily recognized by the style of the work, as well as the material out of which they are made. They are usually in a good state of preservation, and are valuable as fine specimens of early skill. Martin carried on his business for a short time in a shop at or near Fredonia. He was the most respectable of the family, and his work proves him to have been a man of ability in his business, possessing skill and taste. There is an unique and almost grotesque specimen of his work in the old cemetery at Fredonia. Upon an ancient stone set at the grave of Capt. Thomas Abell, who died in 1814, he has represented the Day of Judgment. The angel Gabriel is seated on a great cloud, with a great trumpet nearly as long as his body, out of which issues the words, "Ye dead arise," "Come to Judgment." Other angels are seated on the cloud, hiding their faces in their hands as if weeping. Beneath them tombstones are represented as fall- ing into confusion, and the dead, with bald heads and curious, chubby faces, appear to be ascending out of open graves. The execution of this remark- able design is fine, much of the work being in high relief. The stone is fast going to decay. It would be well to preserve a fac-simile of this curious piece of workmanship as a relic of the past. It is told of Martin, who had a ready and sarcastic wit, that a leading Fredonia physician, who saw him at work, jocosely asked him if it was his custom to letter the gravestones before the person for whom they were intended had died. Martin grimly replied, "Not unless I hear he is your patient." Joseph quarried stone on the farm. Soon after the execution North Damon went to Canada. Subsequently dark rumors came back that he, too, had been executed for murder. Martin died soon after the death of Joseph.

At the election in the fall of 1835, Channecy J. Fox, Whig, was elected state senator over Benjamin Walworth of Chautauqua, Democrat, by a small majority. In Chautauqua county, Dr. Walworth received seven majority. Richard P. Marvin and Benjamin Donglass, Whigs, were elected to the assembly over Thomas B. Campbell and Bela Tracy, Democrats. By the

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

state census of 1835 the county had 44,869 inhabitants, an increase of 10,212 in five years.

In 1835 the Holland Land Company contracted their unsold lands, and lands of which there were outstanding and unexpired contracts, to Trum- ball Cary and George W. Lay. It was understood that such of the settlers as could not pay for their farms would be compelled to renew their con- tracts, and pay a certain sum per acre in addition to the original price, and such interest as had accumulated thereon. This proposed exaction was called the "Genesee tariff." As soon as this fact became known to the inhabitants of the county it produced great excitement. A large pub- lic meeting was held at Jamestown at which a committee was appointed, .consisting of Elial T. Foote, Oliver Lee, Samuel Barrett, Leverett Barker and George T. Camp, to confer with the proprietors at Batavia, and ascertain definitely their intentions towards the settlers. The committee so appointed were unable, however, to obtain satisfactory information as to the matter. A second public meeting was held at Mayville January 8, 1836. The people were now greatly aroused, and this meeting was even more numerously attended than the former one. Leverett Barker was chosen president, and Jolin M. Edson, secretary. James Mullett addressed the people in an impres- sive speech. Speeches were also made by Judge Foote and others ; a com- mitttee of seven was appointed by the chairman, to which was added the chairman and secretary of this meeting, to confer with William Peacock, the agent of the company for Chautauqua county. Mr. Peacock received the committee coldly, and the little information he gave them was very unsatis- factory. The result of this conference produced great excitement, and the excesses which followed the proposed exactions were such as might have been expected.

The early settlers had braved a wilderness, and wrought for themselves homes, such as only extreme toil, privation and hardship could accomplish. They had rallied at the call of danger, shed their blood, and perilled their lives in defence of the soil. The owners had grown wealthy by the industry of the settlers, and their agents rolled in fatness ; to impose such terms, at a time, and under such circumstances, as, in a majority of instances, would deprive the settlers of their farins, and compel them to abandon their posses- sions, while a course of fair dealing, and equitable requirements on the part of the owners, would enable them, after a few more years of toil, to call the soil on which the fire and vigor of their manhood had been expended their own, was more than they would submit to or endure .- Warren.

There were small gatherings of the people in Gerry, Ellicott and Ellery, in which the subject was discussed. The more it was talked over, the more were the people incensed and inclined to resort to harsh measures. As the result of these gatherings, a meeting was called at Hartfield, which was not well attended. This was adjourned by common consent to the 6th of Feb-

1833-1837.

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ruary, and it was understood, but without a formal declaration to that effect, that the purpose would be the tearing down of the land office. Notice of this meeting was circulated through the interior towns of the county. On the 6th of February, from 300 to 500 people assembled at Barnhart's inn at Hartfield. They were principally from Gerry, Ellery, Charlotte, Stockton, Poland, Ellicott, Busti and Harmony. Roland Cobb of Gerry was chosen chairman. Gen. George T. Camp was solicited by several to become their leader in the contemplated enterprise, but he declined, and in an earnest speech, endeavored to induce them to abandon their violent intentions, The chairman also said that the Land Company might yet be willing to make terms, should another conference be had with them. Nathan Cheney, an intelligent and resolute old settler, who stood leaning upon a sled-stake while the speeches were being made, now abruptly and effectively addressed the inceting in these words : "Those who are going to Mayville with me fall into line." The whole assemblage at once obeyed the order, chose Che- ney for their leader, George Van Pelt from Charlotte for lieutenant, formed into line and marched a short distance west of the Barnes' store in Hartfield and halted. Cheney then called for 25 of the stronger mnen to do the work of demolishing the land office. The number called for promptly stepped for- ward. Among them were Harrison Persons,' (the Allegany pilot,) " Zeke" Powers, (noted for his strength, and afterwards a soldier in the Mexican war where he lost his life), " Coon" and Jim Decker, " Bill" Pickard, Peter Strong and John Coe (from Pickard street in Ellery), and other strong and resolute men. The people then resumed their march in double-file for May- ville, the sappers and miners with Persons and Powers as leaders in advance. The only arms they carried were axes and crow-bars, and some hoop-poles taken from a cooper's shop on their march. Two kegs of powder were taken along, although no use was made of them. When the party arrived at the Land Office (which was at about 8 o'clock in the evening), Cheney posted the sappers and miners upon three of its sides, and paraded the rest of the party around these workmen to guard them from outside interference. As a light was burning in the building when they arrived, admittance was first demanded to which no response was given. Cheney, in a strong voice then gave the order to strike, which was obeyed, and all the windows came out with a crash. The door was broken down, and an entrance to the building effected. A costly clock was disposed of by the blow of an axe. A valuable map of the county, upon which every farm was delineated, was destroyed. The axemen made light work of the furniture and woodwork. They cut the posts and canted the building over. They found some difficulty in opening the vault that contained the safe, which was made of solid mason-work of cut stone. Van Pelt pried out the keystone with an iron bar ; others took one of the pillars of the building and used it as a battering ram, and strong

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

arms soon battered down the door of the vault. The iron safe enclosed was pried open, and half a cord of the books and papers of the company were taken out, placed on a sleigh and carried to Hartfield where a bonfire wa's made and they were burned. Some of them, however, were carried away by the people and have been preserved. The party dispersed and went to their homes about midnight.

The most of those engaged in this affair held contracts for the purchase of land, and, in many instances, would have suffered ruinous consequences - from the company's exactions. The proceedings were conducted in an orderly manner, and those engaged were generally sober, resolute men. No liquor was used except while the work of demolishing the building and open- ing the vault was going on. While the people were on their way from Hart- field to Mayville, Peacock was notified of their coming, and left his office and took refuge at the house of Donald Mckenzie, and after remaining a short time longer in Mayville, he went to Erie. No further communication was had between the Holland Land Company or their agents and the settlers until 1838, when a sale was made of the company's lands to Duer, Morrison and Seward, who opened an office in Westfield where their business was con- ducted without disturbances or dissatisfaction.

In 1836 the Chautanqua County Mutual Insurance Company was incor- porated. Its place of business was Fredonia. The Westfield and Nettle Hill Turnpike Company was incorporated in this year for the purpose of constructing a turnpike road between Westfield and Nettle Hill. Upon the supposition that the New York & Erie Railroad would be constructed along the valley of Cassadaga creek to Cassadaga lake, and thence desceud the northern face of the Ridge to Dunkirk, a charter was granted for its con- struction " from a point near the junction of the Cassadaga creek with the Chantauqua outlet, through the village of Jamestown, westwardly to the western boundary of the state in the direction of Erie in Pa." A company with a capital stock of $12,000 was also chartered for the purpose of build- ing a railroad from Fredonia to Van Buren Harbor. None of these projects were ever carried out.

At the general election held in the fall of 1836, Martin Van Buren, Dem- ocrat, was elected president over William Henry Harrison, Whig. William L. Marcy and Jolin Tracy were nominated by the Democrats for governor and lieutenant-governor, and Jesse Buel and Gamaliel H. Barstow were nom- inated by the Whigs. After it became evident that the United States bank would not be re-chartered, great pressure was brought to bear upon the legis- lature to obtain charters for state banks, and the influence which it was seen monied institutions could exert npon the legislature when they combined, alarmed thinking men, and led them to inquire into the propriety of the granting of exclusive rights to any class of men whatever. This brought

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into existence the " Equal Rights " party opposed to monopolies. The indi- viduals composing it were mostly residents of the city of New York. At a political meeting held in Tammany Hall in 1835, a struggle occurred between the anti-monopolists and their opponents for the control of the organization of the meeting, in the course of which the gas lights were suddenly exting- uished. The anti-monopolists had provided themselves with loco-foco matches and candles, and the room was instantly delighted. The anti-monop- olists were thereafter called Loco Focos. They nominated Isaac S. Smith of Buffalo for governor, and Moses Jaques for lientenant-governor. In the fall election in 1836, this party polled a strong vote in the city of New York; the next year they united with the Democrats. The result of the election was that Marcy and Tracy were elected governor and lieutenant-governor. In Chautauqua county the Whigs polled 3,895 votes, and the Democrats 3,120. The Whig majority was but 775. Buell received 3,855 votes, Marcy 3,153 in Chautauqua county. Buell's majority in the county was 702. Richard P. Marvin, Whig, was elected to congress over Oliver Lee, Demo- crat, his majority in Chautauqua county being 1,076. Alvin Plumb, Calvin Rumsey and William Wilcox, Whigs, were elected to the assembly over Thomas B. Campbell, James Hall and Daniel B. Parsons, Democrats.

In 1837 an act was passed appointing commissioners and authorizing the survey of a road from Fredonia to Jamestown through the valley of the Cas- sadaga creek. The survey was made but nothing further was done. The village of Dunkirk was incorporated this year.

At this period speculation was rife particularly in real estate. The country had been during the years immediately previous in a state of unexampled prosperity. The nation's credit stood high in all countries. Money was abundant and the farmer and laborer were receiving full com- pensation for their toil. Lands, both uncultivated and improved, began to rise in value, which was first observed in 1833. Speculation in real estate was now under full headway. Along the lakes, wherever there was a har- bor or the sign of one, a city was laid out, and its proprietors for the time being were supposed to possess great wealth. In the end these speculations resulted disastrously to the whole country. They affected Dunkirk more seriously than the rest of the county.

The termination of the New York & Erie railroad at this place, pointed it out, to those most deeply affected with the contagion, as a spot on which operations of the kind might be carried on, for a while at least, with success. The rage for corner lots and eligible sites was rife, and ran to so high a pitch, that men of all pursuits-farmers, mechanics, merchants, lawyers, and even ministers of the gospel, embarked upon the wild sea, without rudder or ballast, with nothing to propel them but a whirlwind that soon scattered them in broken fragments upon a lee shore. The general result has been a stagnation of trade, depreciation in the prices of all kinds of property, the

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ruin and entire prostration of many families who had been in prosperous cir- cumstances and on the high road to competence and even independence, and the hopeless bankruptcy of thousands of others. Though affected to a greater degree, this village (Dunkirk) was not alone in its madness. Most of the other villages were more or less influenced by the mania that swept over the land, and suffered in proportion to the extent of their operations .- Warren.

An increasing interest in the subject of agriculture had been manifested for several years. The society that had been formed in 1820, went down in a few years for the want of patronage by the state. It was now revived. Some citizens had met at the courthouse in Mayville, in October 1837, to organize an agricultural society. Jediah Tracy was chosen president, and William Prendergast, 2nd, secretary. This meeting was adjourned to the 4th of Jan- uary, 1837, when the "Chautauqua County Agricultural Society " was organized. William Prendergast, 2nd, was chosen president ; Henry Baker Timothy Judson, Thomas B. Campbell and Elias Clark, vice-presidents ; E. P. Upham, secretary ; Jediah Tracy, treasurer.

At the annual election in 1837 the Whig candidates were elected. Jud- son Southland was chosen sheriff over John Z. Saxton by 959 majority. George W. Tew, county clerk, over Joshua R. Babcock by 1, 136 majority, and George A. French, Abner Lewis and Thomas J. Allen were elected to the assembly over Otis Skinner, Gideon Evans and Pearson Crosby. Thomas B. Campbell was reappointed, and Thomas A. Osborne was appointed judge of the county court.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

1838-1844.

N THE winter of 1837 and 1838 occurred the " Patriot War." Many of the people of Canada were discontented with the British government, partienlarly the French inhabitants of Lower Canada. An armed rebel- lion broke out there, which was finally suppressed with some loss of life. Uprisings of a less serious character occured in Upper Canada. The little steamboat " Caroline," owned by a citizen of Buffalo, was captured by the British at Schlosser on the Niagara river, set on fire and sent over the Falls. One person was killed and several wounded. This affair caused mich excitement in Chantauqua county. A meeting was held in January at the courthouse at Mayville of which William Peacock was chairman, and George W. Tew, secretary. A committee of five was appointed to draft resolutions with reference to the outrage at Schlosser. Strong resolutions were passed

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condemning the act, and in favor of military preparations to protect the borders of the country against further outrages. Gen. T. J. Sutherland, a patriot leader, visited the county. Some enlistments were obtained. Secret lodges of " hunters," were formed along the frontier of Canada to collect munitions, and aid the " patriots." 200 or 300 stands of arms had been gathered, and were stored for the use of the "patriots" at Fredonia. A body of U. S. troops under General Worth, was sent up Lake Erie to sup- press these unlawful proceedings. They stopped at Dunkirk, and marched to Fredonia to break up the "hunters lodge " there. Several wagon-loads of arms and army supplies were captured. Among those who ventured into Canada and took up arms in the patriots' cause, was Linus W. Miller, who resided in Stockton. He was taken, tried, condemned, and punished by transportation to the island of " Van Diemen's Land." After an absence of nearly eight years, he returned to this county. The story of his captivity is told in the " Notes of an Exile," which he published.

The winter of the " Patriots' War " (1837 and 1838) was one of the mild- est that has ever visited Chautauqua county. Vessels navigated Lake Erie during the winter, even in January.

An amusing episode occurred this year in Ellington, the "Indian War," which is well remembered by many people in the eastern part of the county. This account of it is written by the Hon. T. A. Case of Ellington :

Probably no event has ever occurred in the history of Ellington which, for a brief period, more thoroughly aroused the people, or produced greater sensation than the "Indian War." In the forenoon of January 6, 1838, a single Indian from the neighboring Cattarangus reservation, had strayed over into the Bentley neighborhood, west of Olds' Corners on the old Chautauqua road, ostensibly in pursuit of some lost stock. In that neighborhood lived Joli Niles, a dissipated fellow, who had that day been imbibing too freely, and had sat down half-reclining by a log near the roadside in the edge of the forest in a drunken stupor. Just as the Indian had passed this point, the granddaughter of Niles, a simple-minded girl named Mercy, a daughter of Eldred Bentley appeared upon the scene. She saw her grandfather lying apparently lifeless by the roadside, his parted clothing disclosing a red shirt. She saw the retreating form of the Indian as he disappeared along the forest road, and, with scarce a second look, her excited imagination peopled the forest with Indians, and turned her grandfather's red shirt into a blood-stained garment. She ran to the house of the nearest neighbor, John Hall, telling him in her excitement that the Indians had murdered her grandfather, that the woods were full of them, and that they were murdering all the white people. Hall, startled by the girl's story, and not stopping to learn of its truth, sprang upon his horse and started on a run west along the old Chau- tauqua road, calling loudly at every house that " the Indians were over in the Bentley neighborhood, and were murdering all the white people." He continued his wild race west to the Bates settlement, then, turning, rode down the valley through Ellington village to Clear Creek, and back to Olds'

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Corners, shouting the terrible news as he ran. Upon reaching the latter place his horse expired and the chase ended. But the story, taking on addi- tional terrors, spread with alarming rapidity. The men in the several neigh- borhoods, after gathering their families in some central place of refuge, pro- ceeded with such weapons as they possessed to the place of conflict. Col. Knapp, of Clear Creek, who had command of the militia, with commendable forethought ground up his sword preparatory to the conflict. Women heated water with which to scald the invaders. The principal place of rendezvous was at the house of Benj. Ellsworth, a mile or two west of the scene of the outbreak. A messenger was sent to Sinclairville to warn ont the militia, but, as the inhabitants gathered together to do battle for their families and their homes, a messenger came announcing the cause of the trouble, where- upon the heroes assembled, after congratulating one another upon their mil- itary prowess, and their success in their campaign against the Indians, for- mally declared peace, and returned to their affrighted families and once more peaceful firesides.

On the 14th of June, 1838, the steamboat " Washington," on her down- ward trip to Buffalo, when about twelve miles below Dunkirk but several miles from shore, was discovered to be on fire. She immediately steered for the nearest harbor, Silver Creek, but the flames spread so rapidly that she soon became crippled, and was sinking when the steamboat "North Amer- ica" hove in sight, took her in tow, and succeeded in getting her within two miles of the shore when she sunk. Twelve of the 70 on board were lost.

In the fall elections of 1838 William H. Seward was the candidate of the Whigs for governor, and William L. Marcy of the Democrats. Seward was elected. His majority in Chautauqua county was 1,909. Richard P. Mar- vin was reelected to congress over Charles H. S. Williams ; Abner Lewis, Waterman Ellsworth and Timothy Judson were elected to the assembly over Rodney B. Smith, Elias Clark and Ethan Sawin. Elial T. Foote was reap- pointed first judge, and Joseph Wait district attorney.

At the election in the fall of 1839 Abram Dixon, Whig, of this county was elected to the state senate. His majority in the county over Isaac R. 11 Elwood, the Democratic candidate was 1,337. George A. French, Odin Ben- edict and William Rice were elected to the assembly over Thomas B. Camp- bell, James Hall and Jonathan Patterson. At the meeting of the board of supervisors of this year, certificates were granted for wolves killed in Busti and Clymer. The year 1839 closed with the heaviest fall of snow in the record of the county. This snow storm is still fresh in the recollection of all old residents. About Christmas in a short time the snow fell to the depth of four feet. The wind heaped it into drifts, rendering the roads entirely impassable. All communication was cut off, even between the nearest neigh- bors. Flocks were buried in the drifts, and physicians were interrupted in their duties, resulting in some instances in the death of their patients.

In IS to the temperance cause was greatly promoted by the efforts of the

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" Washingtonians." Great numbers of people who were in the habit of drinking signed the pledge, and many drunkards were reformed. The "Washingtonians " were succeeded about 1850 by the " Sons of Temperance," who accomplished much good. A marked improvement by this time mani- fested itself in the habits of the people with regard to the use of intoxicating drinks. Spirituous liquors were banished from many places where before they had been regarded as indispensable. The more ardent friends of tem- perance now begin to invoke legislative aid to promote the cause, but whether with more success than by the earlier methods of moral suasion is by no means certain. Compulsory laws excite opposition. Virtne, morality and religion are not the products of force, but the results of kindness, reason and education. At present the leading temperance organization is the "Good Templars." It has lodges in most of the towns, which are exerting a good influence with the young. The most potent influence to promote temperance reform, is, however, the home influence, especially that of the mother, with the son in his youth. If, through the inefficiency of parents, this fails, little is to be expected from the weak machinery of temperance organizations, and less from the still weaker expedients of the law.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 40

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