History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 67

Author: Edson, Obed, 1832-; Merrill, Georgia Drew, editor
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Boston, Mass. : W.A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1068

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here for some years. In ISHI he built the first frame building, a barn, in Portland. In 1816 he sold to Joseph Cass and left town. He had two sons, Jolin and William. Wilder Enierson came in 1812, settled on part of lot 55. He lived here 14 years. He was a man of great energy, a Congregationalist, and a Whig. Calvin Barnes, born in Weston, Mass., in 1766, came to Port- land in 1811. His family occupied a log house until 1824, when the frame house now occupied by H. S. Munson was built. Mr. B. was the first post- master, appointed in 1814, and held the office until it was discontinued in 1829. He was in the war of 1812, was wounded in the knce which made him a cripple for life. He was prominent for years. His children were Mollie, Calvin, Lydia, Ann, Maria, Rachel, Fatima, Robert K., Lucy.

Simon Burton was born in Sutton, Mass., November 19, 1769, married Margaret French in 1786. Mr. Burton and four of his sons enlisted in the war of 1812. In 1816 he built a mill for William Dunham, and located in July part of lot 27, T. 5, and the next March part of lot 22, and moved his family to Portland. Mr. Burton invented a water wheel and a machine for .

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

cutting book-board from timber. He was a man of great energy. He was unremitting in his efforts to advance the interests of Universalism. He died in 1842, his wife in 1850. Their sons were Salmon, (who died July 30, 1813, at Sackett's Harbor from wounds received at the taking of Little York, 110w Toronto, Canada). Simon and John (twins) ; Willard, Hiram, Linus, (killed by the British at Ogdensburg, February 22, 18(3), and Jefferson.

Theodore S. Moss, a long time business man of Portland, was born in Kingsbury, Washington county. When sixteen he became clerk in the store of R. S. Morrison at Salen: X roads. In 1845 he became a partner with Mr. Mor- rison and continned until 1858 when the firm of Moss & Haight was estab- lished, which transacted business as merchants and bankers for many years. Mr. Moss subsequently erected a large brick building, in which merchandiz- ing was carried on by his son Theodore C. Moss and Brewer Phillips. He was a Democrat in politics, for eight years was a prominent member of the board of supervisors. In all town and county affairs he was public spirited and sagacious ; and in the community where he lived for more than. half-a- century, he was respected for his ability and appreciated for his estimable characteristics. His death occurred in October, 1891. He married Helen Saxton. Their children were Helen S., (Mrs. Julius A. Dunham), Lucy C., (Mrs. Jay P. Mericle), Emma V., (Mrs. Hanson Roberts), Ida N., (Mrs. Brewer Phillips), Theodore C. and Edward S.

Hosea Ballou Crandall was born at Kinderhook, Columbia county, April 18, 1826. He is a son of Stephen and Christina (Benjamin) Crandall, who set- tled in Portland in 1836. Mr. Crandall married first, Sarah A. Randall in 1851, second, Malvina P. Kelsey, third, Peace Submit Howard in 1893. He is a Republican and a Methodist, and has been steward, trustee and class leader in the M. E. Church. He is the senior member of the firin of H. B. Crandall & Sons, who manufacture grape baskets. The factory was started in 1872 by Crandall & Lowell, and their product was mainly berry baskets. In 1875 the making of grape baskets was commenced. In ISS7 Mr. Lowell sold his interest to Jay E. son of Hosea B. Crandall, and since the business has beeni conducted under the name of H. B. Crandall & Sons.

William Wirt Pettit, son of James Jacob and Saralı (Hill) Pettit, was born in Pulaski, Oswego county. He married Laura E. Reynolds. His grand- father, James Pettit, was a native of Albany, born in 1777. Mr. Pettit served in the civil war, and was first lieutenant of Company G., Ist Wisconsin Infan- try, and has held the office of surgeon of James A. Hall Post, G. A. R., No. 292. He affiliates with the Republican party, is a Methodist and a farmer.

Irving A. Wilson, son of Edson I. and Amanda M. (Smith) Wilcox, was born in Arkwright. He is a grandson of Major William Wilcox who settled in Arkwright at an early day and was supervisor of that town for 16 years. Mr. Wilcox married Effie M. Fay. He is one of the "fruit growers " of

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Portland, a market gardener, and has been president of the "Chautauqua County Horticultural Society." He is a Republican politically, a Baptist in his religious views, and has been superintendent of the Congregational Sun- day school.

George M. Mathews, born in Litchfield, Conn., February 11, 1803, and his wife Louisa (Fields) Mathews, born in Berlini, Vt., November 23, 1807, came to the town of Chautauqua in November, 1832, and settled on lot 28, township 3, range 14. Their children were Orrin H., born in Homer, Cort- land county, in 1830, owns the homestead in Chautauqua, Erastus S., born in Homer in 1832, died in 1858, Alvah, Almira, born in 1838, died in 1839. Mr. Mathews resided on his farm until his death June 7, 1864; his wife died September 15, 1883. Alvah Mathews was born in Chautauqua, April 2, 1838. He married Amelia M. Wood, resides in Portland and is a farmer, a Republican, and a justice of the peace. He was a soldier in the civil war and served in the 112th N. V. Vols. He has been dictator of the Knights of Honor, master workman of the A. O. U. W., commander of the G. A. R., and master of the Grange.

Jacob C. Hipwell, one of Portland's agriculturists, is a son of Thomas and Charlotte Hipwell, and was born in England. He married Helen E. Jones, whose grandfather, Rufus Fross, was an early settler of Stockton and served in the war of 1812. Mr. Hipwell served his adopted country in the civil war as a private in the 9th N. Y. Cavalry. He is a Methodist and has held the office of treasurer, steward and trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Portland. He is a "Grand Army " man, a member of the Knights of Honor, a "Granger," a Republican, and has been highway commissioner two years.

George W. Fuller is a native of Portland and son of Ralph D. and Ada- line (Coney) Fuller. Ralph D. Fuller was prominent in the development of the grape industry. Mrs. Fuller is a descendant of John Coney who was born in Boston, Mass., in 1753, and served two years in the Continental army, and was subsequently in goverment employ until the close of the war. John Coney emigrated to Portland in 1823. . George W. Fuller married M. Berdena Fay, a descendant of pioneer settlers of the town. He is engaged in the grape and wine business, (see History of the Grape Industry), is a Democrat in politics, a Methodist in religion, a member of Dunkirk Com- mandery, K. T., No. 40, and holds membership in Brocton Lodge, No. 284, Knights of Pythias.

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HORACE CLEFTON TAYLOR, M. D.

Horace Clefton Taylor, M. D., is a native of Massachusetts, and inherited the characteristics of the good, strong New England people from whom he descended. He is a son of Bernice and Caroline (Estabrook) Taylor,* and was born in Montague, Massachusetts, November 26, 1813. In May, 1827, he came with his parents and their family of six children, he being the eld- est, to Fredonia. After five years' residence in this beautiful village, avail- ing himself of the educational advantages of the common schools and Fre- donia Academy, he began a preparation for the ministry, as his ambition was to be a preacher of God's word. But his course was diverted by poverty. He subsequently turned his attention to medicine, and studied for the medi- cal profession at Salem X Roads, now Brocton, and with Prof. B. L. Hill, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, also attended medical lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Electic Medical Institute in the classes of 1848 and 1849, was graduated in June 1849, and immediately commenced practice at Brocton. Here he continued for over 40 years, and, notwithstanding his devotion to his profes- sion and its manifold cares, Dr. Taylor has been no idle spectator of the pro- gressive, political, moral and intellectual forces of the town, county and state, and in every worthy enterprise his word and influence is never withheld. In religious sentiment he is a Presbyterian, and for more than half a century has been a consistent member of that church. In politics he is a Republican. He was supervisor of Portland in 1859, 1861, 1862 and 1878. Dr. Taylor has long been connected with the charitable institutions of the county. In 1873 lie was elected county superintendent of the poor, held the office three years, was appointed to the same office in 1881, and elected in 1883 and in 1886. His efficiency for this office was shown by his enlarged views of its duties, and his patient, conscientious discharge of them. He is well known throughout the state for his interest in and knowledge of the condition of the poor and his care for them, and for his able and interesting articles relat- ting to that subject read at state meetings. He was U. S. examining surgeon for pension claims for 27 years, closing his term of service in October, 1893. With all his duties, Dr. Taylor, ever faithful, energetic and untiring, although the frosts of fourscore winters have silvered his locks, has found time for much

*Mr. Taylor died in Pomfret. April 10, 1553, aged ;o years. Mrs. Taylor died at Brocton, July 19, 1354. aged ( 7 years.

mento

ils. L. Vorher, M. D .

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PORTLAND.

literary work of value. He is the author of a history of " The Town of Portland," published in 1873, also of the condensed history of Portland and the comprehensive and valuable " History of the Grape Industry of Northern Chautauqua," that are published in this work. He is a member and was first vice-president of the Chautauqua Society of History and Natural Science until July 19, 1894, when he was elected president. Of unquestioned integ- rity, irreproachable character, with a clear head and a tender heart, and always true to his convictions, he is a type of the self-made man of good, New England stock. Dr. Taylor married Eliza Jane Roff, October 1, 1835, who died May 13, 1846; he married Frances Chambers, June 14, 1847. Of his children only Mrs. Carrie E. Farnham of Brocton, is now living.

Henry B. Taylor, son of Dr. Taylor, was the first to respond to President Lincoln's second call for troops May 3, 1861, and joined the 68th Regiment at Fredonia, but, impatient of delay, he left for Jamestown and enlisted May 22, in the historic Co. B., recruited by Capt. James M. Brown.

GARRETT E. RYCKMAN .*

The extraordinary development of the grape industry of Western New York, and the enormous increase of the wealth of this district through this de- velopment, canses great interest to attach to the record of those men, who, by their sagacity, their perseverance, their pluck and hard unceasing labor through long years, have been the chief factors in bringing about this grand result. At the head of all these of the present generation by universal acknowledg- . ment stands Garrett E. Ryckman, proprietor of Brocton Wine Cellars and a leading grape producer. Mr. Ryckman is the son of Lawrence F. and Lydia E. (Fay) Ryckman, t and was born March 16, 1835, on the old homestead at Brocton, located upon in 1811 by his grandfather, Deacon Elijah Fay, the pioneer, who introduced the grape into this section in 1818. One-third of this "old farm" is now owned and occupied by Mr. Ryckman, while the other two-thirds is covered by the village of Brocton. Deacon Fay was a native of Southboro, Mass., born in 1781 and married Lucy Belknap, of Westboro, Mass., in 1807. He was prominent among the founders of the

*Contributed.

tProminent among the vigorous Holland families that brought civilization so early (1623-1664) to Manhat. tan Island and the valley of the Hudson was the Ryckman family. Its members were men of prosperity, high character, and commercial integrity, and its various generations filled official trusts with dignified and able statesmanship. The crabbed Dutch text of the earliest colonial occupancy has got all been preserved, but scattered here and there among the pages that remain the name of Ryckman often appears. In 1655, when Governor Stuyvesant recaptured Fort Christiana from the Swedes, Washington Irving says that among the troops, representing the "sturdy chivalry of the Hudson," were the Van Dycks, Van Burens, Ryckmans and others. In 1657 Abel and Albert Ryckman were aldermen of New Amsterdam in the brilliant administration of city affairs by Peter Stuyvesant. In 1690 Albert Ryckman was commissioner to the Six Nations. The report of military officers to the commander-in-chief under date of December 30, 1ft, says : " We are busy in making another blockhouse at the strand back of Albert Ryckman's." In the last decade of the seventeenth century Albert Ryckman, Albert Ryckman, jr., and Harman Ryckman were among the signers of the celebrated petition of Protestants to King William III. In 1714 Peter Ryckman was one of the merchant petitioners of Albany to the Lords of Trade.

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

Baptist church in Portland, and was one of its first deacons. His children were Clinton S., Lydia E., (Mrs. Ryckman), and Joseph B. Deacon Fay died in 1860. "The deacon was regarded as one of the best of the good men who peopled Portland." Mr. Ryckman's paternal grandfather resided near Albany, and had four children, Garrett W., born in 1804; Caroline, boru in 1808 ; Lawrence F., born in 1812 ; Peter, born in 1814, who met a soldier's death while serving in the Union army in the attack on Fort Fisher. Law- rence F. Ryckman came to Fredonia as a student of the Academy, there met Miss Fay (whom he later married), and learned the clothier's trade of Major Gorham, at Laona. His children were Garrett E., Lucy F., (Mrs. Henry G. Wilson of Pasadena, Cal.,) Mary E., (Mrs. S. M. Munson, also of Pasadena). Some years after his marriage Mr. Ryckman removed to Herkimer county, and was connected with woolen mills at Hartford and Clayville for many years. He died in 1873.

Garrett passed his boyhood and youth with his grandfather Fay, having an attendance of 13 weeks at Fredonia Academy in addition to the education provided him at the district schools, and from very early years, he attended to the marketing of the apples, pears, peaches, etc., produced on the large fruit-farm of his grandfather. He drove a wagon loaded with fruit, pies, gingerbread, etc., to those old centers of festivity and merriment, county fairs, regimental and brigade musters, and carried on a lively trade annually at many of these gatherings in this and other counties. This practical edu- cation in the disposition of fruit was the best possible preparation for the shipment of grapes when they became a leading product. Deacon Fay, who introduced the grapes into Chautauqua county in 1818, carefully and thor- oughly instructed his grandson in viniculture, imbued him with his faith in its possibilities and future importance, and, from boyhood, as one expresses it, "Garrett knew all about grapes." From 1849 to 1852 occurred the first extensive planting of grapes in this belt, and by 1854 wine-making had assumed considerable proportions. In that year Mr. Ryckman purchased Isabella and Catawba grapes and manufactured a few barrels of sweet wine. The excellence and purity of this wine was appreciated at home, and the entire vintage was sold to local druggists for $2 a gallon. This was the commencement of Mr. Ryckman's long, and successful career as a wine man- nfacturer, and from that year he has steadily increased his production, using the same care to maintain the high quality and purity that characterised his first attempt at wine-making. The business increased so rapidly that in 1859 Mr. Ryckman, Capt. Joseph B. Fay, and Col. Rufus Haywood built the Brocton Wine Cellars. These were two stories in height, with a cellar and sub-cellar 30x50 feet. In 1865 the brick building was built, and addi- tional cellars and sub-cellars 40x70 feet in size. Mr. Ryckman became sole owner in 1879, and in 1886 he added an extension of 20x60 feet to his vaults.

4.8

Kyckman

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In ISS9 the product had so increased that two additions were made to the vaults, one cellar of 20x50 feet and another of 41x60 feet. His cellars now oocupy 410 feet in length with storage capacity of 200,000 gallons, and they can be easily arranged to store 300,000 gallons. Mr. Ryckman has now in stock 175,000 gallons according to the season. His exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago showed 20 varieties of wines and native brandies, and 25 ont of the go varieties of grapes cultivated by him. His wines stand deservedly at the head of American wines, and have brought him many tokens of value-first-class premiums and awards of merit from numerous exhibitions, a silver medal from the State Fair of Pennsylvania, a bronze medal from the Paris Exposition, etc., etc.

At the Chicago Exposition in 1893 he received the first premium for the best exhibition of native grapes, five medals on his exhibition of Brocton wines, and the first premiun on his exhibition of fine native brandy, which the judge, M. Julian Roy, president of the chamber of commerce of Cognac, Chareste, France, the accredited commissioner from France to this govern- ment, pronounced absolutely pure, and the best distillation on exhibition from the state. Mr. Ryckman's efforts have been to produce wines that would stand the test of a comparison with not only American wines, but European in purity, boquet, body and flavor. The result is shown in his large and annually increasing trade, which the merits of his products alone have brought him, as he has used none of the devices employed to build up a fictitious reputation. Mr. Ryckman has about 140 acres of grapes now (1893) in bearing ; of these 110 acres are on one farm of 132 acres. (This shows how much of the area of this town is adapted to grape culture.) The leading varieties are Concord, Niagara, Agawan, Clinton, Montefiero, Worden, Moore's Early, Delaware, Catawba and Isabella. Mr. Ryckman was the first exporter of grapes from the Chautauqua grape belt to England. He shipped 200 baskets thither in 1889 as an experiment. They arrived in good con- dition and netted him from four to six cents per pound. Dec. 29, 1875, Mr. Ryckman married Jennie A., daughter of Richard and Ruth Reynolds. They commenced housekeeping at the old Fay homestead. This has always been their home, and under their tasteful hands the "home" has become one of the pleasantest of country residences. They have two children, Law- rence R., Ruth E.

A Republican in politics from 1856, Mr. Ryckman's care has been rather to see that good men were placed in office, than that those offices were con- ferred on him. Originally a Baptist, Mr. Ryckman now attends the Metho- dist church. He has taken a great interest in brotherhood organizations. He was " made a mason " in Forest Lodge of F. & A. M., Fredonia, away back in the fifties, still retains his membership in the lodge, is a member of Fredonia Chapter, and of Dunkirk Commandery, to which latter he was

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transferred from Hugh de Payen Commandery of Buffalo. He is also a prominent member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of the Knights of Honor, of Brocton Grange, No. 2, (from organization), and of Pomona Grange. In each and all of these societies he is a willing worker and prized companion. He is a liberal and public spirited citizen-a leader in every- thing tending to advance the community or the grape-growing section, and his time and money are generously expended in attaining these objects. He was largely instrumental in the organization of the village of Brocton, and at the first election, April 17, 1894, was unanimously elected its president. He is one of the successful and prosperous self-made men of Chautauqua county.

WESTFIELD.

CHAPTER LIV.

W ESTFIELD, the second town in the state when coming from the west along the shore of Lake Erie, is fifty-seven miles south of west from Buffalo. It was formed from Portland and Ripley, March 29, 1829. It contains 29,341 acres of land, of which about two-thirds lies on the slightly rising plain stretching back from Lake Erie. Its west line is a " range" line running south ten miles from Lake Erie to the south line of Township 3. The south line follows the south line of Township 3 east across three lots from the west line 2.25 miles. The east line runs due north nearly 2.3 miles to Chautauqua creek, then follows the creek until it leaves it about two miles from Westfield village and runs nearly paralled with the Lake Erie shore to the southwest corner of Portland. From this point it follows the range line running from Lake Erie. The soil is productive. Grape culture today takes precedence in the level parts. The southern por- tion is hilly affording fine dairy farms. Chautauqua creek runs northerly through the town in a picturesque gorge with rocky sides from 30 to 60 feet high, covered in many places with wild grapevines, other "climbers " and shrubs. The Little Chautauqua creek runs west and northwest, and unites with Chautauqua creek one mile south of the village. From the hills delightful views are enjoyed, and the drive from Westfield to Mayville is one of the finest in this region. The town is traversed by the " Lake Shore " and "Nickel Plate " railroads, which give speedy and direct communication with both the east and west, and good shipping facilities. The population in 1860 was 3,640 ; in 1865, 3,559; in 1870, 3,645; in 1875, 3,651; 1880,

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3,323 ; 1890, 3,401 ; 1892, 3,615. The total valuation of assessed real estate and personal property in 1892 was $2, 107,697.

A dense and tangled jungle of heavy hemlocks, cedars and tamaracs, mingled with maples, oaks, beeches, and chestnuts, here covered the ground for many years. Chautauqua creek, choked by fallen logs and the debris of ages, rolled its vast volume to Lake Erie, while many smaller streams, now dry in summer, and with scarce any magnitude at any time, kept sinuous course through the marshy forests and made homes for thousands of trout and other finny inhabitants. The Indians roamed here, engaged in warfare, gathered game, and glided away, the fall of their moccasins striking sound- less on the yielding forest carpet. The people who preceded them, like the savages themselves, left no evidence of their occupancy, unless the scarce discernible remains of the " old fort " (of which the older citizens tell) date back to that day. The first clear light of European occupation shone through the mists however at an early day of American history, Long before the colonists dreamed of resisting the sway of England, France, that subtle foe of Britain, " made seizin " of the soil of Westfield as an outpost in her struggle for the American continent. Would it not surprise the people even more than did the sight of the famous English and Central trains from the Chicago Exposition of 1893 to know that an army of nearly 1,500 French- men, with nine pieces of artillery, coming in enormous boats propelled by large paddles, had landed at the mouth of Chautauqua creek ? This landing was made in October, 1753, and 200 of them cut out " a good wagon road " to Mayville (see page 84). This road not only served the purpose of its builders, but when the French vanished, like their predecessors the Indians, this road remained, and became one of the first highways of the early pio- neers, and much merchandise, " with salt from Onondaga county," passed over it en route to the Ohio Valley. Traces of this work-the first civiliza- tion of our county-may yet be noted by the careful antiquarian. No doubt this highway had something to do with the early settlement of Westfield, although nearly fifty years had passed, for young James McMahan, (whose first visit was in 1795), could hardly have surveyed two seasons in " the lake country " without learning of and doubtless availing himself of the advant- ages of this road, and the accounts of the fertility and beauty of this region which he carried to his Pennsylvania home perhaps acquired an added romance from the story of this strange highway found in this unpeopled dis- trict. Be that as it may, the nineteenth century had but just appeared on the dial plate of time, when, with his brother John, he came over this same highway, and after purchasing 4,074 acres of land further west, bought for a home a lot of land within a short distance of this mystic " Portage Road." "On this spot ten acres of land were cleared, and the first home established in the county was built in 1802." (See chapters 18 and 19). Here he proposed

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to found a village to be named " Northumberland " from his native county. He surveyed the first road of the county in 1805, and did this so that the " Crossroads " were located here. Here also was established the county's first post office, " Chautauqua," in 1866, himself the postmaster. Edward MeHenry settled adjoining McMahan in 1802 and was drowned the next year. He opened the first tavern of the county.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 67

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