History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 44

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 44

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In the presidential election that occurred in 1864, Abraham Lincoln was the candidate of the Republicans and Gen. George B. Mcclellan that of the Democrats. Lincoln, the successful candidate, received in Chautauqua county 8,708 votes and Mcclellan 3,992. Reuben E. Fenton, of Chautauqua county, the Republican candidate for governor, received 8,762 votes in the county, and Horatio Seymour, the Democratic candidate, 3,952.

1865 witnessed the close of the war. One of the early events of 1865 was the capture of Fort Fisher. The 112th participated in the desperate assault, and lost 13, killed and 31 wounded ; among the killed was Col. J. F. Smith. On the 8th of April, General Lee and his whole army surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, which substantially closed the Civil War.

Limited space has permitted only a brief account of the part taken by the soldiers of Chantauqua county in the war of the Rebellion. A record of their honorable service should be fully preserved, including personal experiences and incidents, which now rest only in the memory of those liv- ing. The history of the 112th has already been admirably written by its chaplain, Rev. Win. L. Hyde, who has told the story of his regiment consci- entiously and without exaggeration. He has prepared for this history these sketches of the different regiments represented by soldiers of this county, which give a condensed and comprehensive account of the service that they rendered.

FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT .- Late in the summer of 1861, four companies were recruited at Fredonia, Westfield, Forestville and Jamestown. These companies were incorporated September 16th at Buffalo with six other com- panies as the 49th Regiment, under the command of Colonel, afterwards Brigadier General Bidwell, of Buffalo. Besides these, Lieut. T. T. Cluney took a number of men that he had recruited in Jamestown which were assigned to Co. A. The staff officers were: Lieutenant Colonel, W. A.

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Alberger ; Major, G. W. Johnson ; Q. M., H. D. Tillinghast ; Adjutant, W. Bullymore ; Surgeon, J. A. Hall ; Assistant Surgeon, W. W. Potter. Co. A. was commanded by H. N. Marsh, captain ; P. S. Cottle and T. T. Chiney, lientenants. Co. G., J. C. Drake captain, P. Stevens and J. G. Tomson lieutenants. Co. I., E. D. Holt captain, J. A. Boyd first lieutenant. Co. K., A. J. Marsh captain, A. J. Bowen and E. F. Carpenter lieutenants. Two weeks after it left the county this regiment was part of the army of the Potomac, "on the field." All of the history of the gallant Sixth Corps they shared in the making. In all the severe struggles through which the Army of the Potomac passed from MeClellan's first campaign against Richmond to the final issue at Appomattox under Grant the regiment had its part. Ser- geant R. F. Smith has a list of 23 battles in which the regiment was engaged, besides numerous lesser conflicts. It furnished several general officers to other regiments. The term of enlistment expired while fighting in the Shenandoah Valley, September 17, 1864. Many returned home. Enough reënlisted with the recruits to preserve the regimental organization, which did good service till the close of the war. The losses were heavy from the beginning of the campaign of '64. Total killed, or died from wounds, 521, out of a total enrolment of 1,312.

THE ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH REGIMENT was recruited in this county in the summer of 1862, in response to the two calls of President Lincoln, each for 300,000 volunteers to serve three years or during the war. The quota of this state was apportioned to the several senatorial districts. In the 31st district (Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties) the military committee, at first, resolved to raise one new regiment, and with the rest of the quota recruit the organizations previously formed in the district. Afterwards this plan was changed, and it was deemed most practical to raise two new regi- ments. The quota assigned to this county under both calls was 1,806, or one out of every sixty of its entire population. War meetings were held in the villages, the school districts were canvassed. Large bounties were held ont as inducements to enlist. This vigorous recruiting campaign resulted in raising 13 full companies of 100 men each. Ten of these constituted the 112th regiment. Two were joined to the 154th (Cattaraugus,) and one was organized as a company of " sharp shooters," and temporarily attached to the 112th. The companies were officered by those who had done the principal work of recruiting in the localities where they were raised. Capt. J. C. Drake of the 49th N. Y. V., who had left the ministry of the Baptist church in Westfield to take part in the great struggle for the Union, was chosen colonel. The regiment was composed of the best material the county could furnish, largely from the rural districts, and from all walks of civil life, young, vigorous, patriotic. It was mustered into U. S. service Sept. II, 1862, and the next day started for the seat of war.

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The officers of the colonel's staff were F. A. Redington, lientenant-colonel ; E. F. Carpenter, major; S. E. Marvin, adjutant ; F. Waters, Q. M. ; C. E. Washburn, surgeon ; E. Boyd and J. R. Thomas, assistant surgeons ; Rev. W. L. Hyde, chaplain. Non-commissioned staff : A. M. Lowry, sergt. major ; W. H. Shaw, Q. M. S .; Geo. F. Parmelee, C. S .; George Comstock, H. S. ; Hiram Vorce, A. S. The line officers were Co. A., J. F. Smith, captain ; A. Dunham, Ist lientenant ; H. R. Barrows, 2d lieutenant. Co. B., W. H. Chaddock, captain ; J. H. Maynard, Ist lieutenant ; J. C. Russ, 2d lieutenant. Co. C., N. S. Scott, captain ; G. L. Pierce and G. S. Talcott, lieutenants. Co. D., E. A. Curtis, captain ; R. A. L. Corbett and A. M. Thayer, lieu- tenants. Co. E., Frank Waters, captain ; S. H. Myrick and N. Randall, lieutenants. Co. F., J. H. Matthews, captain ; L. Andrews and C. W. Hoyt, lieutenants. Co. G., P. Stevens, captain ; G. W. Barber, G. W. Fox, lieu- tenants. Co. H., J. G. Palmiter, captain ; I. T. Damon, E. F. Smith, lieu- tenants. Co. I., C. H. Oley, captain ; L. J. Parker, C. A. Crane, lieutenants. Co. K., E. A. Ludwick, captain ; G. F. Mount, Geo. Colville, lieutenants.

The regiment was sent to Suffolk, Va., where it suffered severely from sickness. It was further depleted by permitting batteries of artillery to be recruited from its ranks. It did good service at the seige of Suffolk, and was afterward sent to Charleston Harbor to take part in the siege operations of General Gilmore. It was transferred to the army of the James in the spring of '64, and in June temporarily to the army of the Potomac. It shared in the operations against Petersburg, was engaged with the army of the James, north of the James river, in the fall of '64. The next winter it took part in the successful assault on Fort Fisher, N. C. It was " mustered out " June 29, 1865, at Raleigh, N. C. It was engaged in 16 battles. There were killed and died of wounds, officers 9, men 122 ; died of diseasep 193. Total enrolment LaSI.

THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT was principally recruited in Cattaraugus county during the summer of 1862. Two companies, E. and F., were recruited in this county. Co. E. had for its captain J. B. Fay, of Portland, lieutenants Isaac T. Jenkins and Alexander McDade. Co. F., Thomas Donnelly captain, John C. Griswold and Dana P. Horton lieutenants. The regimental staff was : Col., P. H. Jones ; Lieutenant-Colonel, H. C. Loomis ; Major, D. H. Allen ; Adjutant, S. C. Noyes ; Surgeon, H. Van Aernam ; Q. M., T. A. Allen ; Chaplain, H. D. Lowing. The regiment left for Washington, D. C., September 29, 1862. It was first attached to the 11th army corps of the army of the Potomac, afterwards it was connected with the 20th army corps and participated in its service during the war. As part of this corps it shared in Sherman's grand march from Atlanta to Savan- nah and thence to Raleigh, N. C. It also took part in the grand review in Washington 1865, and was mustered out June 11, 1865. Among the many

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battles in which it participated were Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wauhat- chie, Missionary Ridge, Mill Creek, Dallas, Pine Knob, Kennesaw, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah. The greatest loss it sustained in a single battle was at Rocky Face Ridge, May 8, 1864, when 14 were killed and 42 wounded. The total number of deaths in battle, prison, and disease was 278, of which go occurred in Confederate prisons.

SEVENTH SHARPSHOOTERS. In the summer of 1862, while recruiting for the army was going on, many expert riflemen in the south of the county thought that a sufficient number of accurate marksmen could be found to form a company of sharpshooters. Their quest was successful and an organiza- tion formed. Joseph S. Arnold was made captain, Mr. C. J. Hall and Clinton Perry, lieutenants. There were originally 13 non-commissioned officers and 83 privates. In October, 1863, the company received 12 recruits. The company was at first attached to the 112th regiment. At Suffolk it was detached, and assigned to its proper army organization. It did good service at the siege of Suffolk, and afterwards with the army of the Potomac. Its duty was full of peril. It was always at the front, alert and watchful to resist the first onset of the enemy. Its casualties were 9 killed, 11 died of wounds or disease.

SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT-Chautauqua county responded promptly to the call of President Lincoln, May 3, 1861. By the 28th of May, Captain J. M. Brown had recruited 110 men, (Co. B.,) in Jamestown and vicinity, and left for the rendezvous at Staten Island. He was soon followed by Cap- tains W. G. Stevens, Patrick Barrett and S. M. Doyle, with three companies from Dunkirk and vicinity, and Captain H. J. Bliss from Westfield with a company recruited there. These companies were constituted part of the 72d regiment of the famous Sickle's Brigade. The original organization was : Col. Nelson Taylor, Lieut. Col. I. Moses, Maj. W. O. Stevens, Surgeon C. K. Irwin, Chaplain Rev. L. W. Norton, Adjt. S. M. Doyle, Q. M., F. W. G. Frey. On the completion of the regiment Company B had as its captain Darwin Willard, Alfred S. Mason and S. Bailey lieutenants, 84 men. Co. D., Captain C. K. Abel, lieutenants, Hugh H. Hinman, John H. Howard, 76 men. Co. E., Captain Patrick Barrett, lieutenants Win. Toomey, G. W. Wallace, 87 men. Co. G., Captain H. J. Bliss, C. W. Bliss, J. A. Smith, lieutenants, 72 men. Co. H., Captain S. M. Doyle, L. Marcus, D. Loeb, lieutenants, 76 men.

The Regiment arrived at Washington July 26th, being one of the three first regiments to reach the capital after-the first battle of Bull Run. It formed part of the Third Corps, afterward the Second Corps of the army of the Potomac, with which it was connected during its term of service. The regimeut had its full share of the severe work of the gallant army of the Potomac. Its losses were heavy. Colonel Stevens, (promoted from major),

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was killed at Chancellorsville, Va., Captain Willard at Fort Magruder, Cap- tain Barrett at Williamsburg. The total of killed during the war was 165, or twelve and one-eighth per cent. of enrolment. 89 died of disease. The regiment was engaged in 15 battles, and present at 7 more. At the expira- tion of its term of service those who reenlisted and the recruits were, June 23, 1864, transferred to the 120th N. Y. Vols.

ONE HUNDREDTH REGIMENT. In the fall of 1861 this regiment was recruited in Buffalo and vicinity. At the same time Captain James M. Brown of Co. B. 72d N. Y., was in Jamestown on recruiting service. 'He was an officer of fine military bearing, had had experience in the Mexican war, a man of untiring energy and a rigid disciplinarian. The coloneley of the One Hundredth was tendered to him and accepted. Enough men to make a full company went with him to this regiment, which was first assigned to General Casey's Division, army of the Potomac. Colonel Brown fell at the battle of Seven Pines, May 31, 1862, while making a desperate charge at the head of his regiment. The One Hundredth participated in many battles during Mcclellan's peninsular campaign ; was sent to Charleston harbor in March, 1863, where it took part in the reduction of forts Gregg and Wag- ner. It served with the army of the James in 1816, and afterwards with the army of the Potomac until the close of the war. It has the honorable record of 26 battles in which it participated.

FORTY-FOURTH REGIMENT-" The Peoples Ellsworth Regiment." This command was organized at Albany and mustered into the U. S. service September 24, 1861, for three years or during the war. * It was com- posed of volunteers from nearly every town or ward in the state, and con- tained a superior class of young men all being under 30 years of age. (History of Cattaraugus County, page 205.)

NINTH CAVALRY-This regiment was organized at Albany and mustered into the service of the United States from September 9 to November 19, 1861, for three years under field officer Colonel John Beardsley, Lieutenant- Colonel William B. Hyde, and Majors William Sackett, Charles McL. Knox, and George S. Nichols. The regiment left for Washington November 26, and is credited with participating in the engagement of Cedar Mountain, Brandy Station (where it lost 4 killed and 25 wounded and missing, ) Gaines- ville, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, Gettysburgh, Rappahanock Station, Opequan, Trevilian Station (where 4 were killed and 46 wounded and missing.) The Wilderness, Coal Harbor, Deep Bottom, Winchester, Cul- peper, Cedar Creek, Petersburgh and Richmond. The deaths numbered 223 ; 90 were killed and died of wounds. On the expiration of their term of ser- vice the original members not veterans were mustered ont. The 4th N. Y. Cav. was then transferred to the 9th as Companies B, E, and L, and the whole, veterans and recruits mustered out July 17, 1865. (Catt. Co. Hist.)

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FIFTEENTH CAVALRY-This regiment organized for three years at Syra- cuse was composed of companies raised in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange and Tompkins counties. It was mustered into service from August 8, 1863, to January 14, 1864, and, June 17, 1865, was consolidated with the 6th Cavalry as the " Second N. Y. Provisional Cavalry." It lost altogether 168 men.

We have now brought the story of the county to a period which is within the memory of people not past the prime of life and who have been actors in its history. Familiarity with events divest them of historic interest and ren- der a detailed narrative tedious. Since the civil war the county has advanced in prosperity to an extraordinary degree. By the census of 1865 its popula- tion was 58,528 ; by the census of 1890 its population was 75,202. Its growth in wealth has been more extraordinary. The assessed value of real estate at the close of the civil war in 1865 was $12,904,010. In 1893 it was $26,590,- 395. To the growth of the grape industry, and the founding of the Chau- tauqua Assembly, this increase is largely due. These have been the import- ant events that have occurred here in later years. The grape industry has greatly advanced the value of real estate in the northern towns. The Chau- tanqua Assembly has caused thousands of people to gather here ammally and the value of property around the lake has enhanced, new and beautiful towns along its shores have been founded, and the population and wealth of those before established has increased. The high rank that the county holds for intellectual and moral influence. is also in a great measure due to the Chautauqua Assembly. The work of Bishop Vincent and his compeers has been of inestimable value to our people. They have made the name of Chautauqua famous.

Many highly distinguished men have been mmbered among our citizens while many others whose lives have passed elsewhere were born within our borders. Prominent among these was Reuben E. Fenton, who served 10 years in Congress, once elected United States senator and twice governor of New York ; he was born in Carroll, and had his residence all of his life in the county. George Stoneman, also born here, was educated at West Point, in the civil war distinguished himself as a generalof cavalry, and in 1863 made a famous raid in Virginia. After the war he was elected governor of Cali- fornia. Davis H. Waite, the distinguished governor of Colorado, was a native of Chautauqua county where he spent the greater part of his life being for many years the editor of the Jamestoum Journal. George W. Patterson, lieutenant-governor of the state of New York, and twice speaker of the assem- bly, was many years a citizen of Westfield where he died. John Bidwell, a resident of California, the prohibition candidate for president of the United States in 1892, was born in Clymer. Gen. John M. Schofield was born in Gerry, was graduated at West Point, served in the civil war, commanded the

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Union forces at the battle of Franklin in which he defeated Hood, was for a short time Secretary of War, and is now commander in chief of the United States army. William B. Cushing, famous for his daring deeds among which was the destruction of the Albemarle, was a grand-son of Zattu Cushing. He once made it his home in Chautauqua where his father Milton B. Cushing was born. Among the distinguished editors that the county has produced is Frank W. Palmer. He was born in Jamestown and was the editor of the Jamestown Journal. He subsequently became the editor of the Inter-Ocean at Chicago and post-master of that city. Elliot F. Shepard was born in Jamestown, married a daughter of William H. Vanderbilt of New York, was well known as the editor of the New York Mail and Express. Beman Brockway for many years in the earlier part of his life was the editor of the Mayville Sentinel and influential in the politics of the county. Horace Greeley in his early life lived for a short time in the county and set type for the Fredonia Censor. Philetus Sawyer, United States senator from Wiscon- sin, once owned and operated a sawmill in Poland. George M. Pullman, of Chicago, famed as the inventor of the " Pullman " cars was born in Portland. Sir Charles L. Webster, the publisher, who was knighted by the Pope and who received many favors from royalty, was born in this county. Ransom Burnell a native of Charlotte, a brother of Madison Burnell, became a prominent lawyer in California. Stephen H. Allen, born in Sinclairville, is now one of the judges that constitute the highest court in Kansas.

For many years Albion W. Tourgee the well-known author has made his home in Mayville. He has invested certain portions of our county with romance. Button's In will be read and its author remembered when others whose claims to distinction rest merely upon public position will be forgotten. Richard T. Ely, who as an author and political economist has a national reputation, is the son of Ezra Ely of Fredonia and was born in Ripley. He is a graduate of Columbia college and of Heidelberg University, Germany. Philip Phillips, the famous " Pilgrim Singer," whom Bishop Vincent speaks of as "a world wide traveler who has compassed the globe and reached a larger number of hearers than any other religious singer of the day," was a native of Stockton. Belle Weaver Cole, a singer of world-wide celebrity, was born near Mayville. The list of judges, members of congress and eminent men who are esteemed for their talent or distinguished for their achievements, and whose birth place or homes have been in Chautauqua, might be still further extended.

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CHAPTER XLI. SYLVA OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY. BY JAMES T. EDWARDS, D. D. LL. D.

S IEUR LA SALLE and his followers were the first Europeans who looked upon the frost-clad hills of Chautauqua county. This was dur- ing their voyage through Lake Erie in 1679 ; this wilderness, how- ever, was rarely traversed by the white man until a hundred years later. Probably no other portion of our country was more uniformly covered with a heavy growth of timber. The earliest settlers found few bare spaces, and the whole surface was essentially one unbroken forest. The county is bounded by straight lines on the south, east, and west, and on the north for a few miles by Cattaraugus creek to its outlet, thence by the shore of Lake Erie, which, from this point, ruus in a southwesterly direction. Nearly parallel with this shore, at a distance of from five to ten miles, is a ridge which divides the county into two parts, one belonging to the Saint Lawrence · basin, the other to the Mississippi Valley basin. This ridge enters the county near Mina, thence by Summit and Prospect crosses the Cattaraugus line near Nashville, in Hanover. A tier of five small lakes follows closely along this ridge. From this watershed start forth numerous streams which by winding and diverse paths seek the ocean. The surface of the county varies from 700 to 1,500 feet above sea level, thus its topography is highly favorable to forest growth. North of the ridge the climate is tempered by Lake Erie, and cherished, in addition to the hardier trees, some which usually flourish in a more southern latitude. The same conditions proved highly favorable to the growth of fruit trees, and have made this region famous as the "grape belt," which yields annually over $1,000,000 worth of this deli- cious product. Sixty-five native species of trees are found in this county, and only 107 in the whole state. The broad-leaved varieties are vastly in the majority, numbering sixty species. Of the narrow-leaved, or conifers, there are but five kinds-the white pine, hemlock, pitch pine, balsam fir and tam- arack. Although few in number, the conifers have been of far greater com- mercial value, but the hard woods in former times yielded no small revenue to the hardy pioneers. Their employment now in furniture and finishing not only opens up a new source of profit, but marks a distinct advance in good taste, for the beautiful grain and markings of the natural wood are incomparably more pleasing than cheap coverings of paint.

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The area of the county is 1,099 square miles, or 703.360 acres. Good judges estimate that this was originally covered with an average of 15,000 feet of sawing timber per acre. This would make an aggregate of 10,550,400 feet. At $3 per M. this would amount in value to $31,651,200. Most of the valuable timber has been cut, although no small amount of hard wood fit for sawing still remains, and it is probably safe to say that about one-tenth of the area is still covered with forests. North of the Ridge, however, the percentage is somewhat smaller. The preservation of these woods is a sub- ject well worthy the consideration of every intelligent citizen. The relation of trees to climate, fertility of soil, health industries and beauty of landscape is now commanding the attention of some of the best minds in our country.

Most of the forest area of this county was cleared without regard for the value of the timber. The primary idea was to get rid of it and thus prepare the land for agricultural purposes. Brush was piled, the trees cut into con- venient lengths and rolled or " skidded," into great heaps for burning. Neigli- borly cooperation usually lightened the labor of logging, but the toil of con- quering the forest was always heavy, and corn, wheat, and potatoes contested with huge stumps for the right to occupy the soil. The destruction of the forest was not by any means an entire waste. Three nses were served by the slaughtered trees -- they were needed for log houses and other purposes on the farm. The ashes were a source of revenue, and, in time, the more valuable kinds of lumber were marketable at home and in the great cities along the Allegany and Ohio. It is most interesting to converse with carly settlers in regard to the prominence of the "ash-kettle" in pioneer days. Ashes were carefully collected, and, strange to say, constituted for years the readiest, and often the only, means possessed by the settlers for obtaining money. These ashes were leached, and the lye boiled down to the. consistency of thick "hasty-pudding." This formed the "black salts" so well known to pioneers, which, by intense heat at the asheries, was con- verted into pearlash. Pot and pearlashes always commanded good prices. For these the farmers could get cash to pay taxes. The extent and value of this industry was remarkable. One merchant in Mayville averaged, for months, a payment for this article of $800 per week. A merchant in Dun- kirk declared that the cash received for goods at the time of sale did not exceed ten per cent., the remainder being "charged," and to be paid for in " black salts," or house ashes. The annual sale of pot and pearlashes at his store during six years varied from $20,000 to $40,000.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 44

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