USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York > Part 73
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The Methodist Church .- The first Methodist class was formed in 18II. Among the members were Farley Fuller, Basil Burgess, Andrew Spear, their wives and others. Meetings were held usually at the house of Farley Fuller at East Ripley, at Andrew Spear's in the village, and afterward at the school- houses, and later the Methodists worshipped in the first house built by the Baptists. In January, 1842, a church building was dedicated. This was used for church purposes over 30 years. In 1873 a large brick edifice was erected a few rods east of the first, dedicated in 1874, by Rev. Benoni Ives of Auburn. A new parsonage was built in 1891. The meeting-house at State Line stands in Pennsylvania, but is connected with the Ripley circuit. A church building has been erected at South Ripley within a few years.
The " First Presbyterian Church of Ripley" was formed in ISIS at East Ripley. The meetings were held in the schoohouse. The first pastor was Rev. Giles Doolittle, who preached alternately at Ripley and North East for several years. A church building was commenced in 1828, but when near completion was struck by lightning and burned. Another building was erected in 1829. The pastors who succeeded Mr. Doolittle were J. B. Pres- ton, Mr. Gillett, Mr. Harris, and in 1839 Rev. Samuel G. Orton assumed his pastorate which continued until the division of the society in 1853. A sec- ond society was then organized, the "Second Presbyterian Church and Society of Ripley." A brick edifice was built in 1853 at the village which was dedicated in May 1854 by Rev. Reuben Tinker of Westfield. Meetings were held in these two places of worship until 1871, when the churches were reunited under the name of the "First Presbyterian Church and Society of Ripley." . The old building at East Ripley was sold in ISSi and removed, and the cemetery extended on the north to the main road.
An Universalist society was organized in 1872 with Rev. I. George pas- tor. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. G. Laurie. The meetings were in the town hall. . The society still exists, but with no regular preacher.
Cemeteries,-One acre of ground was donated in 1815 by Robert Dickson,
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for the first cemetery. Many of the head stones marking the graves of the old settlers were made from stone from quarries in North East and Ripley, but are so defaced by the hand of time that the inscriptions are not legible. In 1858 the " Rural Cemetery " grounds were purchased by the cemetery association and laid out in lots. Extensive additions have been made to both cemeteries, and each contains some costly monuments.
SUPERVISORS .- Amos Atwater, 1816; Thomas Prendergast, 1817-18, to '25 and '27 ; Ebenezer Ward, 1826; Moses Adams, 1828; Henry Fairchild, 1829 to 1832 ; Orrin Willis, 1833-34 ; Gurdon H. Wattles, 1835-36; Ethan Sawin, 1837-38; Charles B. Brockway, 1839, '40, '52, '57, '64, '68 and '77. Hezekiah Mason, 1841-42 ; Moses A. Tennant, 1843 to '45, '47, '48, '53 ; Matthew S. MeClintock, 1846 ; Stephen Prendergast, 1849-50 ; George Good- rich, 1851 ; Selden Marvin, 1854; Caleb O. Daughaday, 1855 ; Simeon Col- lins, 1856, '58 to '61, '63; Henry A. Prendergast, 1862; Addison Mason, 1869, '72 ; Lucius G. Hamilton, 1870-71; Erbin C. Wattles, 1873-74-75-76 ; Nathan J. Horton, 1878 ; Lyman Bennett, 1879-80 ; John A. Tennant, 1881- 82 ; Fred B. Brockway, 1883 ; William L. Stanton, 1884-85-86-87-88 ; Fred B. Brockway, ISSO : Lyman Bennett, 1890-91 ; Fred N. Randall, IS92-93 ; Charles B. Brockway, 1894.
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· SHERIDAN.
BY GEO. E. MCLAURY.
CHAPTER LVII.
T HE first evidence of a coming generation in Sheridan, was the opening of a wagon road from Buffalo to Chautauqua creek by General Paine in 1802. This road passed through Sheridan on a well-defined gravel ridge, following almost the same route of the present Erie or main road, which divides the town into two nearly equal parts. On either side of this highway the pioneer home builders made their little clearings, built rude log-cabins and laid the foundation for the future prosperity and well being of their descendants. Sheridan is finely situated, having a front on Lake Erie of about seven miles, and a view of the lake can be had from almost any point in the town. The surface is nearly level, except in the southeast por- tion, which rises in places about 500 feet above the lake. It is well watered with springs and small streams, and once was heavily timbered with white- wood, basswood, hemlock, beech and maple with some inferior pine along
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the gravel ridges. There were plain evidences of former Indian occupation at the time of the first settlement (see page 44) and some are discernible now. On the farm now owned by J. G. Gould, lot 35, was a fort in the form of a horseshoe, and a burying ground from which in 1875 Hon. Daniel Sherman exhumed a quantity of bones and sent them to the Smithsonian Institute for the purpose of throwing some light on the history of the mound builders. On the farm of J. G. Button, lot 67, was a circular embankment about 20 rods across with an castern elongation to a small creek. The main road passes through it. Mr. Button has a quantity of arrow heads, stone axes, and other implements evidently for skinning deer and dressing the skins. There are other stones nicely dressed into shape, but for what use cannot even be conjectured.
In 1804 the first purchases of land were made by settlers in Sheridan. William Webber and Hezadiah Stebbins located on lot 17, Abner Hohnes on lot 43, and Alanson Holmes on lot 53. In 1805 Gerard Griswold located on lot 35, Orsamus Holmes on lot 60, Joel Lee on lot 52, John Walker on lot 67, John Hollister on lot 66, and Thomas Stebbins on lot IS. Purchases con- tinued until in 1830 it is estimated that there were about 100 homes on which were centered the hopes and the affections of nearly 1,000 people. With increasing emigration came the necessity for places of entertainment for travelers. The first " inn " was kept by Orsamus Holmes on lot 60, on the Usher property, now owned by William Wollert. Mr. Holmes was born in Pembroke, Mass., October 11, 1757, was a soldier in the Revolution, was taken prisoner, carried to Canada, escaped and succeeded in reaching the frontier settlements of Vermont. In 1804 he made a selection of land in Sheridan, and in the summer of 1805 his family took possession of their new home. He was a respected citizen, postmaster for many years, and at the age of 76 removed to Killbuck, Hohnes county, Ohio, and died in 1835.
William Griswold kept the first tavern at the Center, where he located in 1805. It was discontinued in 1837. At what was afterward Robert Corners, one Pryor kept an inn as early as 1811 or 1812. This was burned, and, in 1815, he had a house containing only two small rooms, which, with the farm, he traded to Benjamin Roberts for the Haskin farm on lot 53. Benjamin Roberts came from Madison county in ISHI, settled on lot 34, afterward on the Haskin farm lot 54 north of the main road, and in 1815 moved to the location yet known by his name, and into the small building put up by Pryor. This was added to until it became quite a spacious " hos- telry." It was kept by him until his death in 1836, then by his son Abner until 1848, and by other parties until 1852. After his trade with Roberts, Pryor built another tavern on lot 53 south of the Main road. This he sold to one Taylor and in 1824 Taylor sold to Enoch Haskin. Mr. Haskin came to Fredonia from Pittstown, Rensselaer county, in 1818. He had a fine span
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
of horses and was employed by Colonel Abell to plow for the first time the ground now the Fredonia park. In 1819 he moved to Sheridan where John Harner now lives and in 1824 to the Taylor inn. This building was burned in 1833, was rebuilt by him and kept until 1850. . Mr. Haskin also kept the Orrington post office from 1824 until 1839. He moved to Winona, Min., and died in 1866. The Kensington tavern was probably established as early as 1812, as there was a store and postoffice there in 1816. It changed land- lords more times than any other tavern in town. It was kept by Joseph Edwards, William Holbrook, Asa Pierce, Sam Davis, Alexander Williams and Daniel Lee, discontinued about 1850, and torn down about 1865. "Huyck's tavern " was first established on the south side of the Main road by one Goodwin between 1815 and 1820. Afterward he built north of the road. Richard Huyck came from Sidney, Delaware county, in 1831, and bought of Mr. Goodwin on the south side of the road, and in 1834 the tavern also. He kept it until 1851 and died in 1869. The Kensington and Huyck taverns were one mile apart with a fine stretch of gravel road between them often used as a racecourse, and hundreds have congregated there to enjoy the races. John I. Eacker came from Herkimer county, in 1835, and bought Edmund Mead's store building in 1837. This he moved to the northeast corner at the Center, and in it kept tavern until the stages stopped running in 1852. He also kept store and Sheridan postoffice. He died in Illinois in 1877. William Ensign came from Delaware county in 1814, and commenced keep- ing tavern one mile east of the Center in 1825. The house, which was brick, was burned in 1847 and rebuilt, but the tavern was discontinued. Kensing- ton postoffice, with Dr. Terry as postmaster, was kept here a few years. A tavern was early kept in a log house on the hill in the south part of the town by Nathaniel Loomis. It was replaced by a frame building which is still standing on the farm of Robert Miller. There were at one time in Sheridan seven public houses, and there were times when they were all filled and people turned away.
Elisha Grey is said to have kept the first store, located east of the Haskin stand on the main road. Allen Denny kept a few groceries for sale where William Elliott now lives. William Holbrook kept store at Kensington in 1816. Edmund Mead kept the first store at the Center. He was born in New York city in 1809 and came to Sheridan in 1830. His father, a mer- chant, sent on a stock of merchandise which Mr. Mead put into a store built on land owned by Israel C. Holmes on lot 44, about half a mile south of the Center. One year later he moved the building with oxen, grabbing the stumps from the highway to give room, and placed it on the northwest corner at the Center, near his present residence. The building proved too small, was sold and is now the residence of Rev. G. W. Chesbro. A new building succeeded it and was used by Mr. Mead until 1834, when he sold
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the goods to Leroy Farnham, who kept the store until 1836, when the build- ing was sold to Johu I. Eacker, moved to the northeast corner, and used for a tavern, store and postoffice. It burned in 1871 while occupied by Arthur Gifford, was rebuilt in 1872, and is now the store and dwelling of Mrs. A. H. Munson. P. H. Shelley bought the old Presbyterian church at the Cen- ter in 1874, remodeled it, added a public hall, and is still keeping a grocery and postoffice. The first marriage was Thomas Barris to Betsey Stebbins, a sister of Thomas and Hezadialı Stebbins, in 1807 or 1880. They settled in Hall- over where one of their sons now resides. The first death was Origen, son Orsamus Holmes, Jan. 1, 1806, aged 18. It is stated in Young's history that Joel Lee built the first frame house. The first frame barn, built on the farm of Otis Ensign on lot 65, is still standing in a good state of preservation. The last log house used as a dwelling was occupied by Hiram Fessenden, Sr. on lot 51 until his death in 1886. After his decease it was torn down.
Sheridan was formed in 1827. Of its 67 lots 35 were from Han- over and 32 from Pomfret. The first town meeting was held at the house of William Griswold, when Lyscom Mixer was elected supervisor. The first postoffice in the town, the second in the county, was Canadaway, established at the tavern of Orsamus Holmes in June, 1806, with Mr. Holmes post- master. The next was Hanover, afterward Kensington, established Decem- ber 7, 1816, William Holbrook postmaster. In 1829 South Sheridan post- office was established at the residence of John E. Griswold, postmaster, where Nelson Merritt lives. In 1824 Canadaway postoffice was moved to the Has- kin tavern and called Orrington, Enoch Haskin postmaster. The chest in which the mail was kept is now owned by F. C. Haskin. In 1839, mainly through the efforts of Edmund Mead, Esq., a postoffice was established at the Center with John I. Eacker postmaster, and Kensington, Orrington and South Sheridan offices were discontinued.
The first religious meeting was held at the house of Orsamus Holmes in 1807. It was conducted by Rev. John Spencer, who afterward settled where William Elliott now lives. He died in 1826 and is buried in a little plot of ground donated by him to the town for burial purposes. His epitaph says : " He was the first Gospel Minister who traversed the wilderness then called the Hol- land Purchase, and was the instrument, under God, in forming most of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches which existed in this region when he rested from his labors in 1826, aged 68 years. He tread a useful but laborious path to immortality in the ardent and unremitted exercise of doing good."
A frame for a church was erected by the Presbyterians at the Center in 1828, never enclosed, and was soon torn down. Worthy Allen, Joel Spencer, Haven Brigham and others built a commodious house of worship at New- ell's Corners in 1822. In 1849 it was sold to Newell Usher for a barn. In 1832 Jonah Howe and others erected a church at the Center. Mr. Howe also
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
built a pipe organ for this church and taught his daughter to play it. It was the only pipe organ ever put up or used in the town. The church was used for a preaching place until about 1870. In 1874 it was sold to P. H. Shelley. A Methodist Episcopal society was formed at the residence of Stephen Bush 12 mile east of the Center in 1809. This is said to have been the first Methodist preaching place and this the first class formed in the county. This society built a church in 1834. It was remodelled and a bel- fry added in 1854 and Mrs. Eliza Mead of New York city presented the society with a fine church bell. A Baptist society was organized in the south part of the town in 1844. Martin Carey, Hiram Ranny and Ira Fuller were among its first members. A church was erected in 1845. Services were continued somewhat irregularly until 1860 or 1861. Rev. Levi Wright, a Wesleyan Methodist, built a small church in the north west part of the town, on the farm of Baxter Dodge about 1855. It was used as a church about five years.
The first school was kept by William Griswold in his house, in the win- ter of 1807-8. There are now 10 schoolhouses in town with a well- attended school in each.
The first tannery was built by. Haven Brigham on Beaver creek, where D. U. Herrick resides, in 1811. The next was established where Beaver creek crosses the main road, by Enoch Haskins and Nathaniel Gray in 1820. It was sold to Perry Gifford, who continued the business and kept a shoe shop until his death in 1850. William Doty, who came from Delaware county in 1815, built a tannery near the Ensign tavern in 1831. The bark was ground with a circular stone 8 inches thick and about 7 feet across. This was set on edge, with a horizontal shaft attached to a revolving center- post. A horse was hitched to this shaft and the stone was rolled in a circle on the bark placed on the floor. A shoe shop was added to the business. Both tannery and shoe shop were discontinued in 1847. The first and only gristmill was built by Haven Brigham on Beaver creek in 1811, where he also built a sawmill. There have been at least ten water and three steam mills built ; one, the Ogden sawmill on main road, built by Orlo Hart in 1820remains.
A lime kiln was built about 1845 by George Robinson and Alanson Denny on Denny's farm near the beach. It had a capacity of 5 cords of stone, 400 bushels of lime. The stone was brought from Canada and Kelly's Island. In 1854 Orlando Elmore became owner ; it was discontinued in 1864.
A ropewalk 14 by 165 feet was built in 1833 by Thomas Chapman, who emigrated from Jefferson county in 1810 and bought and settled on lot 15 in ISII. Rope was made from flax and hemp. Some had been made previous to the erection of the ropewalk by spinning in the house and twisting out of doors. Mr. Chapman was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was at the burn- ing of Buffalo. He died in 1846. He had 11 sons and 3 daughters ; all lived to an adult age. His son Marcus now lives in Pomfret.
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SHERIDAN.
A brick kiln was started early by Jonathan Pattison and William Ensign on Pattison's farm. The farmhouses of E. J. Griswold and Mrs. G. Hol- comb and the Forestville Baptist church were built from brick made here. Mr. Holmes operated a kiln on the flats of Scott's creek where it crosses the main road. Cheap pottery, jugs, crocks, etc., were also made.
The main throughfare between the east and the great west passing through this town made a large amount of business for stages and taverns, but upon the completion of the Buffalo and State Line R. R. in 1852, the stages ceased to run, the crack of the driver's whip was heard no more, and the taverns became objects of interest only as they brought to mind the toils and struggles of the emigrant seeking to better his condition in the comparatively unknown western territory. A telegraph line was built along the main road in 1847. The wire was composed of two strands twisted together similar to fence wire. Another line was built along same road in 1848. A long distance telephone was built along the lake road in 1889, and in 1892 a loop was built by pub- lic subscription to the Center. During the great oil excitement a number who sold lands in the oil regions came here and invested largely in farming lands. Samuel A. Patterson, from near Titusville, settled at the Center. From his Pennsylvania farm nearly $1,000,000 worth of oil has been taken. He purchased over 1,000 acres in Sheridan paying $109,000.
Sheridan although not possessing a lake port has been prolific of sailors, and they are among our most worthy citizens. More than 20 have been masters of the finest vessels on the lakes. Probably the first was Capt. Zep- haniah Perkins attached to the lake marines in the war of 1812. He was captain of the schooner Kingbird running between Buffalo and Dunkirk in 1815. In 1831 George Reed was master of the schooner Beaver when 25. In 1836 Ahnon Robinson when 26 was master of the schooner Luther Wright ; Hiram Chapman (30) was master of the schooner Atlantic. In 1837 Joseph Ferry (30) was master of the schooner Juliette. In 1842 John Reed (35) was master of the schooner John Grant. In 1844 Reuben Rork (28) was master of the schooner Alps; in 1844 Theron Chapman (28) was master of the schooner Aetna. In 1851 J. C. Doty (31) was master of the schooner William Buckley running between Buffalo and Coneaut. In 1840 David Fisk (35) was master of the schooner Henry Roop. In 1859 A. W. Reed (24) was master of the schooner Richard Mott, (Buffalo and Chicago). In 1861 M. M. Drake (25) was master of the propeller Genesee Chief (Buffalo and Erie). In 1866 Henry H. Reed (26) was master of the bark Levi Raw- son (Buffalo and Chicago) ; also A. B. Drake (26) was master of the propeller Owego (Buffalo and Toledo). In 1872 Walter Robinson (28) was master of the propeller Olean (Buffalo and Detroit). In 1876 B. F. Borthwick (26) was master of the schooner F. A. Georger (Buffalo and Chicago). In 1881 Delos Waite was master of the steamner Empire State (Buffalo and Duluth). In
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
1883 Will Borthwick (28) was master of the propeller Geo. S. Hazzard (Buffalo and Chicago). In 1887 Alva Reed (24) was master of the schooner David Dow (Buffalo and Chicago) ; also Nelson Robinson (34) was master of the steamer M. M. Drake (Buffalo and Chicago). These were the first vessels sailed by these captains.
At the first town meeting, May 8, 1827, were elected : Supervisor, Lyscom Mixer ; clerk, Enoch Haskins; assessors, Haven Brigham ; Otis Ensign, Sheldon Stanley ; collector, Rodolphus Simons ; commissioners of highways, Nathaniel Loomis, William Ensign, John N. Gregg ; overseers of poor, Otis Ensign, Jonathan S. Pattison ; constables, Rodolphus Simons, Orlow Hart ; commissioners of schools, Benjamin Brownell, Royal Teft, Lyscom Mixer ; inspectors of schools, Elihu Mason, Nathaniel Gray, Samuel Davis.
SUPERVISORS .- 1827-8-9-30, Lyscom Mixer ; 1831, Nathaniel Gray ; 1832, Lyscom Mixer ; 1833, Nicholas Mallett ; 1834, Leroy Farnham ; 1835, Nathaniel Gray ; 1836-7, Jonathan S. Pattison ; 1838, Nathaniel Gray ; 1839-49-1-2, Willard W. Brigham ; 1843, John I. Eacker ; 1844, John N. Gregg ; 1845-6-7-8-9, Harry Hall ; 1850-1-2, Edmund Mead ; 1853, John I. Eacker ; 1854, Edmund Mead'; 1855, Newton P. Smith ; 1856, Edmund Mead ; 1857, Newell Gould ; 1858-9, William O. Strong *; 1860-1-2, John C. Cranstoff : 1863-4-5-6-7, Buel Tolles ; 1868, Joseph C. Doty ; 1869-70, Buel Tolles; 1871-2, Josephi C. Doty ; 1873, George W. Eacker ; 1874, Stewart T. Christy ; 1875, Henry J. Cranston ; 1876, George W. Cranston ; 1877-8, George W. Eacker ; 1879, Asahel C. Brace ; 1880-1, Geo. W. Eacker ; 1882, Asahel C. Brace; 1883, Geo. W. Cranston ; 1884, Harvey M. Bailey ; 1885-6-7-8-9-90, William R. Miner ; 1891-2-3-4, Edgar J. Griswold.
Just 90 years have elapsed since the first settler laid his axe at the roots of the mighty monarchs of which the primeval forest was composed to sub- due it. Now, instead of the wilderness, there are meadows and vineyards ; the log cabins have been replaced by capacious barns and beautiful mansions. Instead of the cumbersome wagon and the side-saddle, we have fine carriages cushioned with broadcloth, and to trains of luxurious steam cars stop at our doors every day, and in them we may go to the ends of the earth. The cranes and the andirons have gone to the junk dealer, while the flaxbrake and the loom have been reduced to ashes. The spinningwheel and the reel have been consigned to the garret leaving the little flaxwheel to pose as a curiosity. The grain cradle and the sickle hang idle in the barn loft, while the once vigorous arms that wielded them have mouldered to dust. Little do we realize the toil, privation and suffering it cost those pioneers that we might have Sheridan as it now is, beautiful for situation and the joy of all who live within its bounds.
*William Orson Strong, born in Spencertown, Columbia county, Nov. 3, 1809, came with his father, Asa Strong, in 1511, to what was then part of Harmony. He died Jan. 26, 1892. For So years he was a resident here and had endured the privations and hardships of pioneer life and early acquired those principles of economy, strict integrity and purity of character which followed him through his long life, and was loved and honored . for those qualities which dignify and ennoble a man.
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HANOVER.
HANOVER.
BY MARCUS SACKETT, ESQ.
CHAPTER LVIII.
T HIS town in the northeast corner of the county, contains 30,402 acres, is well watered, having Lake Erie and Cattaraugus creek on its nortli- ern border, Silver creek and Walnut creek flowing through it into Lake Erie with numerous smaller streams. The soil is mostly gravelly loam and is in the " grape belt." The land rises gradually as it recedes from the lake. In the south part the hills must be 500 or 600 feet above the lake, yet the rise is so regular that from most of the farms a view of the lake is had. From some a broad fine view, from others only glimpses. This slope is being rapidly covered with vineyards. In the northeast part is the northern extremity of the Cattaraugus Indian reservation with six Indian families. Walnut creek received its name from large black walnut trees growing on its banks. A notable one grew near Silver creek. (See page 37).
At the time of the Holland Land Company's survey of Hanover into lots, it was an almost unbroken wilderness. There were forests of great hem- locks, blackwalnut, whitewood, elin, beecli, etc. Not fifty years ago it was no uncommon thing for boys and young men while chestnutting to cut down a large chestnut tree three or more feet through for the nuts, or that of any other kind to capture a "coon." No one complained or thought it waste, as the owner's great desire was to clear the land for the plow as soon and as easily as possible. The few white settlers that were here when the survey was made were along Cattaraugus creek and at Silver Creek. Mr. Ellicott, in his field notes of the survey, mentions "Ezekiel Lane's shanty on lot 48 of Cattaraugus village, and Amos Sottle's clearing on lot 59, C. V. There was also on the Cattaraugus at that time Charles Avery, William G. Sidney and John Sidnor ; and at Silver Creek Abel Cleveland, David Dickinson and John E. Howard.
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