History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 72

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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In an obituary notice of Dr. Brewer, published Monday, August 1, 1892, the Pittsburgh Daily Dispatch mentioned the formation of the " Pennsylvania. Rock Oil Company " and said :

Your Sincere friend J.B. Brower

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At the same time Samuel Kier was collecting crude oil from a small vein struck in a salt well at Tarentum and was bottling and selling it as a medicine. Francis B. Brewer was the first man who ascertained the commercial value of Pennsylvania petroleum as an illuminator and lubricant, as a business matter.

The Erie (Pa.) Evening Herald, July 30, 1892, in an obituary notice, evidently written by some one familiar with the history of petroleum devel- opment, said :

The firm of Brewer. Watson & Co., had the first oil lease on record. It was from J. D. Ainger, and is dated July 4, 1853, and filed in Venango county. To Col. Drake is usually given the credit of being the pioneer oil man, and that is true, as a producer by the process of drilling ; but Dr. Brewer had used the oil two years, and formed his oil company, before Col. Drake's attention was called to the subject, or he began to drill.

The timber lands of Brewer, Watson & Co., and their mill properties, turned out to be, generally, productive oil territory, and they secured many other valuable properties under leases. The lumber business was closed out, and the firm for the next twelve years engaged in producing and shipping petroleum. The active management was in the hands of Dr. Brewer, though his father held the position of senior partner. Having found oil, it was necessary to find a market for it, and the firm undertook to create a market by practically giving away the crude oil-shipping to New York, Boston, Phil- adelphia and Pittsburgh, and requiring only that the cost of the barrels and freight charges should be returned. This policy soon brought the merits of petroleum to the knowledge of a long suffering public, weary of bad smell- ing whale oil and murderous " camphene." John S. Schooley, in his account of the early petroleum industry, published by Harpers in 1864, says : " Brewer, Watson & Co., were really the great pioneers in the introduction of petroleum in large quantities. This enterprising firm expended $750,000 in cash for barrels alone before they realized one cent of profit." This pol- icy proved wise and remunerative, and with the exhaustion of their territory the members of the firm were ready to close their partnership, and the settle- ment of interests and liquidation were confided wholly to Dr. Brewer.

Meanwhile, after nine years' residence in Pittsburgh and Titusville, he removed to Westfield, and was largely interested in banking and manufac- turing. In 1864 hie organized the First National Bank of Westfield, was its president for ten years and a director for nearly thirty years,-to the end of his life. In every enterprise promising advantage to his town and neigh- borhood he was cordially interested, and was always among the most liberal contributors of money to such undertakings.

Dr. Brewer in early life had been an ardent Whig and anti-slavery man, and joined the Republican party on its organization, and was an ardent and loyal supporter of the Union cause. In 1864 'Governor Fenton appointed him medical inspector, with the rank of inajor, aud he was engaged until the close of the war on duty in Virginia and the Carolinas and in the hospitals of Annapolis and Washington. In 1872 he was elected to the New York

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Assembly and reelected the following year. He was an ardent admirer and supporter of General U. S. Grant and a delegate to the National Repub- lican convention in Philadelphia in 1872, which nominated Grant for the Presidency. In 1874 President Grant appointed Dr. Brewer government director of the Union Pacific railroad, to which position he was reappointed by President Hayes. In 1881 he was appointed by Governor Cornell one of the managers of the State Insane Asylum at Buffalo, and was reappointed by Governor Hill. In 1882 Dr. Brewer was elected to the Forty-Eighth Con- gress as representative of the district comprising Chautauqua and Cattarau- gus counties. He served for ten terms as the representative of the town of Westfield in the board of supervisors of the county and was for several years chairman of the board.

Dr. Brewer was a thorough believer in American institutions, and regarded efficient local government as their most commendable feature. He never sought preferment. or office, but never declined to serve his fellow citi- zens as long as his health permitted. He was a member of Sunnit Lodge, No. 219, F. & A. M., and gave his cordial cooperation in all organizations formed to advance the interests of his town and county. In his domestic and social relations Dr. Brewer was a man of the utmost refinement, honor, courtesy and generosity, and as a citizen was always animated by public spirit, and ready with assistance on any reasonable request. He was assidu- ous in his charities and in his aid to those struggling with misfortune where- ever found, and the affectionate regard of the entire community in which he passed the last thirty years of his life is the best memorial he can have.

Dr. Brewer married, in 1848, Susan Hooper, daughter of Professor Heman Rood, D. D., of Hanover, N. H., who survives him, with three sons, Eben, Francis Beattie and George Emerson. His only daughter, Frances, married William C. Fitch, Esq., of Buffalo, in 1875, and died in 1886, leaving three children.

Dr. Brewer died of heart failure, due to an attack of grip, July 29, 1892, surrounded by his entire family. His funeral, Saturday, July 30, at the Presbyterian church in Westfield, was remarkably impressive, not only by reason of the great attendance, but on account of the voluntary closing of all the business houses in Westfield as a tribute of respect, and of sympathy with the bereaved family. He was buried in the family lot in the Allegheny cemetery, Pittsburgh.

Dr. Brewer retained up to his death business interests in Western Pennsyl- vania, principally at Erie, and was almost as much identified with that section as with Chautauqua county. The Erie Daily Times published this estimate of his character the day after his death :

Dr. Brewer's residence in Westfield was marked by many evidences of his hospitality, benevo- lence and public spirit, all indicative of what might denominate him as the foremost man of the

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place. His generosity and publie spirit were constantly appealed to, and not often in vain. In the lighting of the place he was foremost. In furnishing water he was influential in the suc- cessful plan which proved self supporting. He was active in concentrating the railroad yards at Westfield. For many years he was the leading stockholder of the Erie Dispatch Company, and for a while its president. He was a typical American : learned, energetic and successful. A review of his career reveals a foresight and resolute force of character which seem now con- spicuous. He penetrated the forests of the Oil Creek Valley, undergoing the vicissitudes of the lumber business. His enterprise was munificently rewarded. A handsome fortune and the respect of a wide circle of friends were the rewards of a life in which his enterprise and far- sightedness were as marked as his energy was noticeable and untiring. For some years he had been subject to physical infirmity to which his fine constitution finally succumbed. Dr. Brewer, though belonging to a long-lived race, died before he reached the close of his seventy-second year. Though seemingly not yet old in years, he goes to his grave loaded with honors and embalmed in the memory and regards of a wide circle of friends.

RIPLEY.

BY MIRIAM A. DICKSON.

CHAPTER LVI.

R IPLEY was formed in 1817 and named in honor of Gen. E. W. Ripley. I shall touch upon Ripley in the past and in the present, referring to the older settlers and indicate the progress of the town, and speak of it as it exists since the last change in the eastern boundary line in 1829. A large tract (4,074 acres) was purchased or contracted for by James McMahan in 1801 (see page 161), and the settlers. in the eastern part of the town bought from him. When the village was first called Quincy we cannot learn, but it was so known until about 30 years ago. The Buffalo and Erie road, often called the "Ellicott " road, and now the "main " road, was surveyed in 1804. The lake and sidehill roads running parallel with the main road were not laid out until later. The principal grape growers reside upon the main, lake and sidehill roads. Many of the larger farms have been divided to suit pur- chasers where they desired them for grape lands. Especially is this true along the lake shore road, which is considered more favorable for grapes.

In 1803 Robert Dunlap, of Otsego county, contracted for lands on the McMahan tract. He subsequently went to Louisiana. In 1804 William Alexander, from Ireland, bought over 500 acres of this tract. He planted the first orchard, which was considered for many years the best in the county. A stone "tomb table," marking the last resting place of his brother, Camp- bell Alexander, a lieutenant in the war of 1812, may still be seen upon the farm which he sold to David Royce. Mr. Alexander was one of

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the first associate judges of the county. Alexander Cochran, of the north of Ireland, was the first settler in the west part in 1804. Josiah Farnsworth came in 1806, and settled near Ripley village. He also purchased lands on the McMahan tract. Mr. Cochran was the first settler who paid for his land at the time of purchase. During the first few years the office of the Holland Land Company was at Batavia where purchasers were obliged to make payments, and the journey was not always unattended with danger. Mr. Cochran chose to travel on his way as a " moneyless man," calling upon the settlers and obtaining food and lodging, and on his return compensating those who had befriended him.

William Crossgrove in 1805 settled near Mr. Cochran, on the west .* Nathan Wisner purchased lot No. 13, and sold 130 acres to John B. Dins- more. The greater part of the village situated on the south side of the main road, was purchased of Mr. Wisner. On the north side the land was first . owned by Josiah Farnsworth and Jonathan Parsons. Perry G. Ellsworth, Asa, William and Andrew Spear and others soon arrived. It was often related that Ellsworth, Farnsworth and Asa Spear were obliged to make a jour- ney to Batavia, and that but one pair of boots in a condition to be worn from home could be obtained, as leather was scarce and high. These belonged to Ellsworth, who performed the journey and returned, afterward lending the boots in succession to Farnsworth and Spear. In 1868 Charles Forsythe, of Connecticut, settled on the McMahan tract, where he resided until his death in 1860. He early established sawmills, and, after orchards became productive, manufactured cider and cider brandy. His was the first brick dwelling house in Ripley. The land is owned by the heirs of his son. In 1809, Basil Burgess from Maryland, bought lands which he sold the same year to Robert Dickson from Cherry Valley, (a relative of Robert Dunlap), and Moses Adams from Dutchess county. Mr. Burgess settled on the land adjoining, on the Lake road, now owned by his grandson, Henry Burgess. Jonathan Adams settled near him, where his great-grandson now resides. Oliver Loomis settled on land which he soon sold to Thomas Prendergast, and bought of Perry G. Ellsworth west of Quincy. These lands included farmns afterwards deeded to his sons Harry and Walter Loomis. Silas Baird, in 1809, settled on the western part of the McMahan tract ; sold the next year to Jolin Dickson, who was killed in 1811 by the fall of a tree. The farm was sold in 1814 to Burban Brockway, from Ontario county. His lands are now owned by the heirs of Charles B. Brockway. Mr. Baird afterward bought near the village,

Farley Fuller, Oliver Hitchcock and Asahel Peck were early settlers, and,

*Mr. Crosgrove married Rachel Cochrane. Their sons were Samuel, Thomas, Alexander, James, William, Hugh, and John. James Crossgrove had four daughters, Rachel, Jane, Eliza and Mary. Rachel married Wil- liam Crosgrove and resides in Jamestown. Their sons are Walter S., foreman in the Jamestown Bedstead Company's works, and Fred O. (See Jamestown Desk Company.)

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with Silas Baird, Basil Burgess and Andrew Spear, were the pioneers of Methodism in Ripley. Robert and Hugh Cochran, brothers of Alexander, settled on the Main and Lake roads, near the Westfield line, on lands now in possession of their descendants. John Post bought the farm at East Ripley where Hugh Thompson now resides. Mr. Post built the house where he kept a tavern, and which was afterwards owned by Mrs. Averill who kept a tavern for many years. Mr. Post built the first tannery in the town which was soon abandoned. Samuel and David Dickson built a distillery near the residence of Mr. Post. Corn and rye were abundant and cheap ; whiskey 25 cents, never more than "two shillings, six pence " per gallon, yet the manu- facturers, in a pecuniary sense, were not losers. Gideon Goodrich, from Sara- toga county, was an early settler on the lake road. His sons, Anson and George, bought on the main road near the village, built a tannery and were also engaged in shoemaking. They paid the men who cleared their lands largely in leather and work. Anson Goodrich married Susan Dinsmore. Oliver Stetson and Elijah Hayden settled near the state line. Stetson was a soldier in the war of 1812, was taken prisoner at the battle of Black Rock, taken to Montreal, but was soon exchanged. Orren Willis bought of the Hol- land Land Company, the farm which he afterward sold to his brother, Anson, who was for several years a manufacturer of horn combs. Henry Fairchild, subsequent to 1820, was for many years an extensive land owner in Ripley.

Caleb O. Daughaday from Maryland settled at first in Pennsylvania at the " gulf," and bought the mills known as the Franklin Mills. Later he removed to a farm adjoining that of Win. Crossgrove. In 1836 he removed to the village, where he resided until his death in January, 1872, and where his widow, a grand-niece of the Ellicott brothers, resides, aged 87. He was an associate judge of the court of common pleas. We extractfrom Colonel Bab- cock's tribute to him :

" The poorer class of the community will most sensibly feel his loss. His mind, though strong and vigorous, was deeply imbned with sympathy ; he would condole with the afflicted, and impart comfort by kind and tender conversation. His charities, though nummer- ous and varied, were impromptu ; he acted quietly, but without ostentation. Naturally of an impulsive temperament, he never for a moment hesitated to hate hypocricy, openly denounce and heartily despise a mean act, no matter whence it emanated or by whom committed. He was quick to repel an intended injury or personal insult, and equally prompt to forgive and forget when kindly approached. He was devoted to his family and left them a rich legacy-a good name."

In June, 1817, the first wagon track was made over the hills toward the south part of the town by Israel Palmer, of Vermont, who had purchased land three miles south of the main road. His cabin was built of logs, with a floor of hemlock brush. Owing to the failure of crops in 1816, remem- bered as the " year without a summer," the privations were severe. These facts were related by Israel Palmer, Jr., then a lad : .

"The nearest gristmill was at Findley's Lake. The hired man and the lad started early one

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Friday morning, the boy riding on horseback carrying the bag of corn, while the man cut the way through the woods, and marked the trees. At night they built fires, while the wolves surveyed them from a distance. When they reached the mill Saturday morning they were told that the grist would not be ready until late at night. On Sunday morning they were refused the grist, the miller fearing they would go through the woods " hollerin' on Sunday." In vain they rep- resented the destitution of the family at home, whose fare was only potatoes and buttermilk. The miller was inexorable and they were compelled to wait until Monday morning. They reached home late at night, and found the family seriously alarmed, fearing they had been killed by wolves."

Wiseman C. Nichols, then a lad of 16, says : "There was quite a snow- storin in July, 1816, and snow or ice every month in the year, and as a con- sequence a scarcity of bread in 1817. We went without bread for three weeks. Captain Shipboy went to Erie, nearly 30 miles, on horseback, and purchased 112 bushels of corn for which he paid $5, got it ground and gave it to his neighbors. My father's family being large received two quarts of the meal."

Sawmills were built about 1817, on the east branch of the Twenty-mile creek, and elsewhere where good water power could be obtained. The first steam sawmill was built in 1827 by George Mason and Orson Kingsley, and after several years others were built. H. Rater has a sawmill in the south part of town ; Brockway & Miller at the village, and Joseph Miller south of the state line in the west part. Several gristmills have been built. In 1875 G. M. Daughaday purchased the feed mill of John Baker, and the tannery built by D. C. Tracy in 1860, and after remodelling it established the " Model Mills." These mills are still running and are owned by Geo. W. Hitchcock. As soon as practicable the log cabins gave way to framed houses, built with large chimneys, and fire-places with brick ovens attached, and great quanti- ties of brick were required. Silas Baird, John Akers and Henry Fairchild, formed a company to manufacture brick, made on the farm of Silas Baird. This company furnished brick for many houses.

The larger houses were often two stories high, built with the side toward the street, and with a large hall extending the width of the building. On each side of the entrance were doors opening into large square rooms. The kitchen and large woodshed of 11; stories adjoined the main building, the kitchen having a large fire-place and oven. Alexander Cochran had just completed a house when, by a change in the location of the road, the kitchen and buildings back of it were made to face the street. This change, though not satisfactory, proved to be the final one in the Buffalo and Erie road. Ash floors which admitted of a high polish were at first considered indispen- sable (this same polish requiring a vast amount of " elbow grease ") but in a few years the floor of the best rooms were covered with yarn carpets. These were spun, dyed, and often woven at home. Many were of a pattern that appears to have belonged exclusively to Ripley, which, though brilliant, had the colors so nicely shaded and so harmoniously arranged, that we do not .

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wonder they were considered by the owners " marvels of beauty." Flannels of domestic manufacture were indispensable to the winter wardrobes, and the plaids and stripes manufactured for dresses of the women were often very pretty. After the establishment of woolen mills these were sent to the fac- tory to be pressed. Some of these goods would compare favorably with the dress goods of the present.

The first woolen mills in Ripley were built at Gage's gulf by Kinney & Manning. They were afterwards purchased by Hezekiah Mason, father of Addison Mason, who continued to make woolen goods for several years. There are now no woolen factories in Ripley. The Falvay Brothers have a grape basket factory at Ripley Crossing, W. Rickenbrode has one at the vil- lage, where he has a sawmill and saws his own lumber, and E. Beatty at State Line. These factories afford employment for a large number of per- sons. Many of our young girls are experts in the art of basket making. The south part, or " uplands " of the town, is well adapted to dairying pur- poses, as the several creameries there give evidence. The Sheldon's Corners creamery is near the southeast corner of the town, the Empire creamery nearer the center. on the farm of C. Homewood, the Cold Spring creamery on the land of H. V. Stone, and the Star creamery at Carris' Corners. The first creamery was built at Ripley in 1874, near the village, by F. Dingley and others from Stockton.

The first tavern was kept at State Line in 1805 by Samuel Truesdale. Later, his brother, James, built the tavern known as the. State Line House. The house stood in Pennsylvania but the ontbuildings in New York. The building was eventually torn down and a small house of worship built by the Wesleyan Methodists. This denomination held a brief existence, and the building is now occupied as a store by Isaac Wolf. Iuns were kept at an early day by Perry G. Ellsworth and Oliver Loomis ; at Quincy by Elihu Murray and by Asa Spear, who built where the Presbyterian church stands ; the house was at first used as a store, afterwards as a tavern by Mr. Spear and others until 1853, when it was purchased by the Second Presbyterian church, removed, and now is part of the Union Hotel. Henry Fairchild built a tavern a short distance east, which he sold to Henry Shaver, Sr. After nearly 50 years, during which it had been used as a hotel, or occupied by private families, it was purchased by Daniel Bryant, who has since erected a dwelling upon the site. David Royce (near Ripley Crossing) and John Post were carly tavern keepers at East Ripley. At the present the hotels are the " Union House," by D. Furman, " Ripley House," by A. E. Safford, and "State Line House," by M. McFarland.

The State Line village is built mostly upon lands owned by the early settlers Hugh Whitehill, Noah P. Hayden and Win. McBride. The first store was kept at State Line by parties from Buffalo. The first at Quincy

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by Rappole & Keeler, who built the first ashery in the town. Others were built soon after. Potash was shipped from Barcelona to Buffalo, thence to Montreal, where it commanded a high price. Farmers manufactured black salts, to procure money to pay taxes. In 1842 an ashery with a pearling oven was built by Bell & Dickson (merchants). This was discontinued after a few years.

The present merchants are J. W. Morris & Hildred, Fred N. Randall, and Stanton & Baxter. Mr. Randall is also largely interested in the grape culture. The grocers are E. C. Porter, W. H. Udy and D. O. Sherman. The first hardware store was opened by Abiatha Edwards in 1854. He was succeeded by Scott, Baker & Graham, Adams Brothers, George Morse and others. There are now two hardware stores, Win. B. Perry & Son in the Mason block, and L. Bennett & Son. L. Bennett is also engaged in the real estate business.

The opera house block was built in 1881 by A. Palmer and Nelson Ran- 'dall. The larger part, containing two stores and the opera house, are owned by F. N. Randall and E. C. Porter. The Safford block was built in 1868 by Perry & Tillinghast. The upper story was used for a town hall, and the lower rooms for stores by Joseph Bell and later by N. J. Horton and others. Dr. E. G. Simons purchased the block and added a third story. The first story is occupied by A. B. Hawkins and A. E. Safford druggists. A hotel is kept in the upper stories. The Mason block was built by N. Randall, and is now owned by Clarence Mason. The Eimers' block, built in 1893, is east of Mason's block.

The secret societies are, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, instituted June 10, 1873 ; the Knights of Honor ; Equitable Aid Union ; the Royal Arcanum ; the Tent of the Knights of the Maccabees, instituted in November, 1893 ; and a Hive of the Ladies of the Maccabees founded December 13, 1893.

Schools-The first framed school house was built in Ripley village in 1St;, and is referred to by the older inhabitants as the "schoolhouse on the corner." In ISis a framed house was built at East Ripley, also one in the district west of the village. Among the teachers then considered well-educated were Nathan Day, Seymour Adams, Catharine Dinsmore, Harriet Osborne and Miss Cassidy. After several years a larger house of brick was built nearer the central part of the village, and in 1858, a large two-story schoolhouse was erected east of the Presbyterian church. The lower rooms were occupied by the district schools, and the upper story exclusively by the "Quincy High School." Prof. Alanson Wedge was the first principal. The Ripley Union School was established later, and in 1888 a large brick building was erected on Lake street. In the district west of the village and at East Ripley new brick buildings have taken the place of the old wood structures, and there are few districts that do not possess comfortable school buildings.

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The Baptist Church .- Rev. Samuel Wisner is said to have preached the first sermon at the house of his brother Nathan in 1806. Baptist mission- aries preached in this vicinity for many years. A society was formed in 1825, and later a house of worship was erected west of the village. Some of the wealthier inhabitants were Baptists, but many removed to other places, and the society was reorganized at Wattlesburg, and a house of worship built. This house is now occupied by the Methodists. In I891 the society was again reorganized in Ripley village as the "First Baptist Church and Society of Ripley," Rev. G. Woodbury, pastor. A parsonage was purchased and a handsome church edifice of brick was completed, dedicated in June, 1893. The church is in a prosperous condition, with a laige membership. Rev. M. B. Comfort is the present pastor.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 72

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