History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 78

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 78

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The first election of officers was held April, 1813, at the house of Joseph Akin. John Silsby, the nearest justice, presided, assisted by Laban Case, who was chosen moderator. The officers elected were : supervisor, James

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

Prendergast ; town clerk, Ebenezer Davis ; assessors, Solomon Jones, Benj. Covell, Wm. Deland ; commissioners of highways, Wm. Sears, Michael Frank, Laban Case ; overseers of poor, Joseph Akin, Stephen Frank ; constable and collector, James Hall; constable, Laban Case; fence viewers, Ebenezer Cheney, Aaron Martin. The second town meeting met at the house of Joseph Akin in 1814, and adjourned to the tavern of Laban Case, and these officers were elected : supervisor, James Prendergast ; clerk, Ebenezer Davis ; asses- sors, Solomon Jones, William Deland, Heman Bush ; overseers of poor, Joseph Akin, Stephen Frank ; commissioners of highways, Caleb Thompson, Amos Bird, Theron Phimb ; constable and collector, Henry L. Frank ; constable, Richard Covell ; fence viewers, Joseph Akin, Heman Bush, Solomon Jones ; commissioners of common schools, Heman Bush, Theron Plumb ; inspectors of schools, James Prendergast, Solomon Jones, Theron Plumb. In 1813 the town voted $250 for bridges and roads and that the supervisor solicit bridge money from the county. These roads were laid out in 1813. " From Joseph Akin's and Laban Case's past the 'Varium place ' to James Akin's ; Reuben Woodward's to Culbertson's (afterward Colonel Fenton's); from near Jones Simmons' to near Edward Work's mill ; from near Dr. Shaw's to near Sim- mons. From the mouth of Fairbank, past Sloan's to Russell's mill at the public highway ; from the house of Lawrence Frank to Stillwater ; from the Simmons' and Work's road at a sapling to James Prendergast's mills ; from a small beech tree on the bank of the creek a few rods north of Win. Sears' to Prendergast's mills." In 1814, October, roads were laid out from "Joel Tyler's to Conewango to a black oak ; from near Wm. Sears' dwelling house, as formerly laid out by courses and distances, cross Esquire Jones' bridge across Stillwater creek, to the bridge across the outlet of Chautauqua lake near and below James Prendergast's mills. (This was built by Reuben Landon); from Work's mill to the bridge over Cassadaga, leading to Ken- nedy's mills; from Fish's to near Garfield's." The $100 bridge money received in 1814 from the county was thus appropriated : Bridge across the outlet at Esquire Prendergast's $37.67 ; bridge across Stillwater creek, near Joseph Akin's, $29. Bridge across Kiantone creek at Robert Russell's mill, afterwards A. T. Prendergast's, $33.33. The remainder was raised by the inhabitants. The building of all bridges in those days was much aided by subscriptions payable in labor and materials.

The first settlers in Ellicott were William Wilson, George W. Fenton and James Culbertson. William Wilson located on the Chadakoin river, probably on lot 5, in a shanty in the spring of 1806; by June he had so far completed a log house as to make it his home, although, as the land was not yet surveyed, he could not buy until May, 1808, when he purchased a portion of the west part of lot 5 and of the east part of 12. The land was occupied by him until his death in 1850. The same spring George W. Fen-

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ton located near Levant, put up a log cabin and chopped and made quite a clearing which he sold to John Arthur on removing to Carroll. James Cul- bertson is said to have located at the same time " north of the outlet," prob- ably west would be better. These three, "except perhaps Edward Shillitto," were the three first settlers in the old "Twelve miles square town of Elli- cott." Dr. Hazeltine graphically groups the early settlers of Ellicott thus :

Wilson was living below Falconer in 1806, James Culbertson a mile below, Geo. W. Fenton, John Arthur and Robert Russell on the opposite side of the outlet a mile below Work's in 1809. During the following year Thomas Sloane was on the old Indian clearing (the Prendergast farm) on the Kiantone, Solomon Jones and the Akin's and others on the Stillwater. Nathaniel Bird was at the foot of the lake where Gideon Sherman now lives, and Win. Deland on the Solomon Butler farm. Previous to the settlement of " The Rapids," the Frews, the Owens's, the Myers's, James Hall, Ebenezer Cheney, Ebenezer Davis, William Sears, Jasper Marsh, and others were set- tlers on the Conewango and the Stillwater in that part now Carroll and Kiantone. The first settlement in southern Chautauqua was at Kennedy. Dr. Thomas Kennedy in 1804 built the first sawmill there on the Conewango, and there were a number of settlers but their names are lost. Probably some of them have descendants living in that part now, but so far as we have been able to ascertain they cannot furnish the date of their father's settle- ment. The Strunks, Zebulon Peterson, Augustus Moon, Benjamin Lee, Jonas Simmons, Amos Ferguson, Thomas Walkup, and other early settlers of the north part came in shortly before or soon after the settlement at the Rapids had commenced.

August 1, 1807, Dr. Thomas R. Kennedy and Edward Work, who were developing the mill power at Kennedy very rapidly, purchased a large tract on both sides of the outlet below Dexterville, including the mill sites at Worksburg and Tiffanys, and valuable timber land cast of the Cassadaga river and Levant, along the Kennedy road. In the fall of 1807, Work erected a hewed log house north of the outlet. In 1808 he built his sawmills and put them in operation. About this time Kennedy and Work opened a road from Kennedy's mills to Work's mill and built the first bridge across the Cassadaga about one-fourth of a mile above Levant. In 1809 Work built a gristmill with one run of stones which were split out of a large rock. The erection of this mill was a condition of the sale of the land. This mill was a great accommodation to settlers, and led to the opening of roads to the set- tlements about the foot of the lake and to Stillwater creek and Frank's set- tlement. These mills were built three years before the settlement at James- town, when almost all travel was in keel boats and canoes or by Indian trails. 12 of the boats used in the transportation of salt down the Allegany were built at Work's mill in 1808. The discovery of the salt springs on the Alle- gany, Kanawha and Ohio rivers cansed the discontinuance of the salt trade by this route. The keel boats that came up for salt brought loads of pro- visions, whiskey, iron castings, nails, glass, dried fruit, and other articles.

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

Edward Work was a man of ability (See pages 177, 188). He was a resident of Ellicott from 1807 till his death in 1857. From 1818 he was a prominent member of the Methodist church and his home an hospitable " Methodist tavern." In 1840 he sold most of his property and retired from business.

Jonas Simmons came in 1809 and made a claim at Fluvanna, and in 1810 brought his wife and 13 of his 15 children. John Strunk, his wife's brother, and Benjamin Lee, whose wife was sister to Mrs. Simmons, and Jolm Strunk came with him. Four of Joli Strunks's children were in the company, so a whole school district came in one company. These were the first settlers in the west part of Ellicott. Jacob Strunk, brother of Jolin, settled in 1816 on lot 53, town- ship 2, range 11. Augustus Moon, a soldier of 1812, located on lot 37, township 2, in 1814. His brothers Gideon, Samuel and Jonathan soon came. Their settlement gave name to Moon's creek. In 1815 Nathan Cass made a clear- ing and built a sawmill at East Jamestown. A year later he sold to John and Darius Dexter residents of Mayville from 1808. Darius was one of the most prominent citizens of Ellicott. He removed to Dexterville, as the mills were soon called, in 1818, and did extensive business for many years. He sold to Falconer, Jones & Allen. " He is remembered as the first colonel of the old 162d regiment," " and a charitable man of great popularity."

Benjamin Ross came from Cincinnati in 1815, and in 1816 bought on lot 30, township 2, range 11, " Ross Mills." His nearest neighbor was at Work's Mills and Mr. Ross and Isaac Young were 21 days in cutting a road through the intervening three miles. He built a log house and occupied it with his wife and child in December 1816. "For a month they endured the cold without doors or windows substituting blankets for them."

In 1817 Jacob Fenton came from Jamestown, where he had kept hotel and conducted a pottery from 1814, and established a pottery at Fluvama which he conducted until 1822, when he died, and his son William H. Fen- ton succeeded him. In 1826 Samuel Whittemore became a partner and the partnership continued nearly 20 years. Mr. Whittemore came from Concord, N. H., in 1826, and in 1827 was appointed postmaster of Fluvanna, and con- ' tinned in that office until near his death in 1875. He was an earnest advo- cate of temperance, and was chiefly instrumental in forming one of the earliest local temperance societies. He kept a hotel from very early date until his death, where no liquors were sold, and was much frequented as a summer resort-the first on the lake. His son Henry continued the hotel.

Nathan Meads settled on lot 35, township 2, range 11, in 1812, and pur- chased over 400 acres the next year. He built two small log houses near the outlet, and in 1815 commenced a large two-story house of square hewed pine timber, which, in 1816, he sold with his land to Solomon Jones and Henry Babcock. Thomas and Joseph Walkup in 1814 purchased lands on lot 48. Elias Tracy settled on lot 49 very early. Phineas Palmiter in 1813,

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Cyrus Fish his brother-in-law in 1814, and Stephen Wilcox in 1814 came with families. Palmiter bought on lot 64, but passed most of his life in Jamestown. Cyrus Fish had many children and his descendants are among the best families of the county. Cyrus Fish, Jr., built a sawmill on Clove run, where, it is said, he operated the first " shingle machine " of the county.

Jehial Tiffany, brother of Silas Tiffany, was born in Randolph, Vt., in 1798. He removed with his parents in 1809 to Darien, Genesee county. In 1816 he came to Ellicott and tarried a while, and after a visit to Darien returned to Jamestown in ISIS, and was in trade with his brother, and dealt in lumber. In 1829 they built mills on the 1,000 acre tract they had pur- chased on the Chadakoin river between Dexterville and Falconer, long known as " Tiffanyville." Here Mr. Tiffany resided, gave up merchandising and man- aged the mills and real estate. He died in 1867. His son, Jolin H., is a resident on the old place.

Levant, at the junction of Chadakoin river and the Cassadaga, early promised to be a place of importance. From 1840, when 500,000 bricks were made here annually, until the present, brick making has been con- ducted ; by M. J. Mecusker since 1878. David Rider, a farmer near Levant, is son of Silas Rider, who resided in Ellington from 1829 to his death in 1840. Stephen Pratt and family located in Gerry in 1819. He died in 1838. Mer- rick B. Pratt, a farmer, great-grandson of Stephen and son of Rufus, now lives in Ellicott. Levi S. Pratt lives in Gerry, and Wallace R. Pratt in Ellery. Nehemiah Horton settled in Gerry in 1818 and died August 1, 1855. His daughter, Mrs. Rufus Pratt, resides with her son Merrick B. Asa W. Hor- ton, son of Nehemiah, lives in the south part. Amos Blanchard settled in Ellicott in 1824. His son, Flint, a large farmer and dairyman, has been prominent in Democratic politics.

The largest body of pine timber of the county occupied the area of the original town of Ellicott. (See pages 3S and 39.) E. A. Ross, in a paper read before the "Chautauqua Society of History and Natural Science," gives the pioneer lumbermen and mills of the Cassadaga, and from it we make this summary: Russell run, the first stream above the "outlet," empties into the Cassadaga two miles above. Thomas Russell built the first saw mill on Russell run 112 miles above its mouth in 1816; he operated it some years. It was later owned by E. W. Scowden who ran it as long as there was timber. (Pine was the only kind then called fit to ent). Charles and James McConnell built a mill half a mile above Russell's ; after some years they sold to Cyrus and Artemas Fish. One mile above this Elisha Hall built a mill which he soon sold. The fourth mill and the lowest on the stream was built by Gideon Gilson and later sold to Elisha Hall. It was one mile from the Cassadaga, near the public highway and the residence of William Clark, one of the earliest settlers. The lumber from these mills was of fine quality

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

and was hauled to Gilson's Landing at the mouth of the stream and there rafted. The next stream was Folsom run, which emptied into the Cassadaga a short distance below Ross's Mills. This had four mills. The lower, built by Elijah Aikin, was later owner by Cyrus and Artemas Fish and later by Anson Chamberlain. The mill next above this was built by Joel Tyler, and changed owners often. John Cobb and Joseph Darling, whom I think was the last owner and cut the last lumber, being among them. This was a double mill and cut the most lumber of any mill on the small streams. The next mill was between the two last mills, about a mile from each, and was probably built by Nathan Cherry. Adolphus Hooker, who later owned it, built another mill a little above this, and ran both until the timber was exhausted. These mills cut a large amount of timber for mills situated on dry or "thunder shower" creeks. The first mill on the Cassadaga above its mouth was built in 1817 by Benjamin Ross at Ross's Mills. It was located in the bed of the natural stream. A dam was later built on its site, and a new mill built on a race dug from the pond. The mill irons for the first mill were brought from Pittsburgh in a canoe, the trip occupying two weeks. The mill irons, included castings for the gig and bull wheels, big crank, and gudgeon for the main water wheel, beaver tail for the pitman, the dogs and bars for the oldfashioned headblocks, bull-wheel chain and saw. These irons did service in all the old style mills on this site. This second mill was burned in July, 1832, after running only a short time. This was a sad blow to the little community that had come to depend upon the mill for employ- ment, but the neighbors came from miles around to aid in replacing it and in six days another mill frame was raised, as this stanza improvised on the occasion testifies :

Here is a good frame That deserves a good name. What shall we call it? Ross' industry and the carpenters' delight ; Framed in six days and raised before night.

This mill was operated until worn out and replaced with modern improvements with iron or " patent " waterwheel. This was the fourth and last mill owned by Benjamin Ross. He sold it to M. J. Morton, who sold it to Joel Partridge ; he rebuilt it and sold to Wesley Martin. Three miles above the Ross mill John Hines and William Newton in 1819 built a saw- mill on the Cassadaga, and in 1822 built the first gristmill of that section. Joel and Thomas Walkup owned them later, and they were long known as the Walkup mills. John Cobb operated them later. He and his brother Rolland were then largely interested in lumbering. The last owner was R. M. Miller. Hatch creek, the next tributary on which mills were built, empties into the Cassadaga half-a-mile above Walkup mills, and flows through

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Bucklin's Corners, early called "Vermont." There was only one mill on this stream at any time. Samuel Sinclear was builder and owner of one of the first mills. Tower run, a small stream heading in Ellery, was the next stream utilized. Henry Shaw built its first mill in 1816. Elisha Tower and Jesse Dexter built a mill in 1827, which was burned after running 18 months and reported to have been rebuilt and running in six days. Holden Moon built a third mill on this stream about 1840.

EARLY BOATING AND BOATBUILDING .-- Nathan Brown wrote several arti- cles for newspapers, from which we condense :

Walkup's Mills was the head of keelboat navigation on the Cassadaga, and when we first saw it in 1823 there were at the wharf two keelboats, one pirogue, a bateau and some canoes. The boats had discharged their lading of iron, nails, window glass, bacon, flour, grindstones, and a miscellaneous variety of other goods, including, not least, Monongahela whiskey, then decmed as essential to life by lumbermen, boatmen and pioneers. These boats were poled or " cordelled " up the Allegany and Conewango rapids by a hardy set of men who had become inured to the life and could endure any amount of fatigue. One of the boats was loaded for a . return trip by putting in " black salts," made by the pioneers by leaching ashes and boiling the lye, and potash, which was made from black salts. Both were used in making glass in the Pitts- burgh factories. They also took as part of their loading deer and bearskins, furs, maple sugar, and other products of a new country. The bateau was being loaded with shaved white pine shingles in the center (bought for 50 cents a thousand ) leaving a space on each side for the boat- men to walk with their poles. The keelboats were 40 feet long and to feet wide, built without decks, and the freight was covered with a tarpaulin. On each side was a walk on which was nailed cleats to prevent the boatmen from slipping. The poles were of white ash, about ten feet long, with a turned knob on the small end to set against the shoulder, and here the hard work carte in that tested endurance. The bateaux were about to feet long also, seven or eight feet wide, built extremely light and strong. The pirogues were made of two sticks of timber scooped and worked out and matched in the center to a shape like a canoe, were wide enough to take in a barrel crossways, and could carry quite a cargo. Sawmill owners were obliged when building their dams to construct locks to allow boats to pass, and when we became familiar with the streams, locks existed on all of the dams from Warren to Jamestown. Keelboating was contin- ued for years on the Allegany by a larger class of decked boats drawn by horses. They brought nearly all the iron, nails, glass and building material used in the country. The pioneer axe factory at Dexterville, and the pail factory at Jamestown up to ISto procured their iron, wire and paints at Pittsburgh and shipped them in keelboats to Warren. Flatboating and storeboat- ing dates back to an early day. Plmnb's pond at Levant was an early building place of them. They were from 60 to So feet long and built bottomside up, and it took all the men that could be gathered from miles around to turn one over when completed. The first one I ever saw turned was built at Phunb's pond in 1832 for Benham, Rogers & Scott. In 1835 Wood & Part- ridge built a set of stocks for boat turning in front of their pail factory at " Pionsville " extend- ing it nearly up to the dam. Here Wood & Partridge, Benham, Rogers & Scott, Scott & Bar- rows, R. V. Cunningham & Nathan Brown made many boats. S. B. Winsor later built stocks for boats at Levant, then removed them to Worksburg ( Falconer) just below the sawmill. Here he built many boats, 25 for me. Nelson Brown, and Charles Clark & Co, built boats of a superior quality. John Wilson & Sons erected stocks on the east side of sashi-factory pond, and some years later built some at Myers. The last set was at Plumb's pond where boats were built until 1880. Storeboat building in Ellicott was no mean industry, as 1, besides all the others, have had over 150 boats built.

FALCONER, the prosperous and rapidly growing manufacturing village of Ellicott, is an incorporated village, joining the city of Jamestown on the east. It is located on level ground with dry gravelly soil, surrounded by a fine

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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

farming country, and has an intelligent progressive population of about 1,000. It has most excellent shipping facilities, two of the lines of the Erie Railway system forming a junction with the Dunkirk, Allegany Valley and Pittsburgh railroad south of the Chadakoin river, and the latter road having also a station north of the Chiadakoin connecting with the Jamestown Elec- tric Street Railway. An abundance of excellent water underlies the village at a depth of from 15 to 20 feet and is obtained easily through driven wells. Robert Falconer, the first of that family, was a Scotchman, who after a prosperous business career in New York, located in Warren, Pa., and was the first president of the ill-fated " Lumbermen's Bank of Warren." He was at one time interested with Daniel Hazeltine in his manufacturing in James- town, and purchased real estate at Dexterville and Worksburg and at Ken- nedy. His sons Patrick and William became possessed of these valuable interests, and were extensive lumbermen and mill owners. Patrick studied law with Judge Hazeltine, for a time was his partner, and in 1840 bought his father's interests at Dexterville and Worksburg. In 1844, selling the Dex- terville property, he became owner of Worksburg (which took his name), and resided there until his death in 1887. William, although a minor, was by special legislation made executor of his father's will. He built the build- ing now the hotel at Falconer, and had other interests there. He was later a prominent resident of Kennedy, where he rebuilt the mills, and conducted extensive lumbering and merchandising for years.

W. T. Falconer and D. E. Merrill formed the "W. T. Falconer Manfac- turing Company " in 1888, to make apiarian supplies, washing machines, advertising novelties, etc. Their large factory is at Falconer station. They have employed 100 operatives, and publish " The Beekeeper," a monthly journal. F. T. Merriam established an extensive business here in 1888 for making sash, doors and blinds. Fenton, Robertson & Co., have employed from 50 to 75 men in making sideboards and bookcases. Carlson, Bloom- quist & Co., have employed over 50 operatives in making chamber sets. In 1892 the Lister Mills, for the manufacture of textile fabrics, were located here and the company organized with a capital of $300,000. Large and sub- stantial brick buildings were created in 1892, and the intention is ultimately to employ from 1,000 to 1,500 operatives. Goodwill & Ashworth erected a large brick building in 1892 for the manufacture of woolen warp, which has capacity for many employes. Various other manufactories, several mercan- tile establishments, two hotels, two churches and a large and beautiful school building make up a thriving and active community. Guy H. Fuller, dep- uty factory inspector, gives the manufacturing industries of Falconer, in May 1894, as " bicycle works, furniture factory, sash, door and blind factory, towel works, novelty works, mantel works, mills for textile fabrics, planing mill." The first mill in this country to make astrachan cloth is also located here.

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Charles M. Reed was born in Sinclairville, March 18, 1862, son of Rich- ard and Therese (Burlingame) Reed. His education was acquired at the Sinclairville Academy, Fredonia Normal School and Albany Law School. He was admitted to the bar at Albany in May 1885, and commenced his law practice in his native town in 1886. In 1893 he removed to Falconer.

Ephraim Mosher, son of Peter Mosher, was born in Openham, Fulton county, N. Y., May 26, 1802, and came to Ellington in 1837. Here he mar- ried in 1844, Harriet L., daughter of Henry and Eva (Ingersoll) Abbey. They resided in Poland from 1845 to 1860, when they moved to Falconer, where Mr. Mosher died in 1875. Their children were Henrietta (Mrs. R. I. Cowden), Victoria M. (Mrs. S. Ely), Stiles B., who lives with his mother.

Willard Cass, son of Pliny Cass, was born in Carroll, October 25, 1825. In February, 1864, he enlisted in Co. A., 112th Regt., N. Y. Vols., and in May died at Beaufort, South Carolina, of disease contracted in service. He mar- ried a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of Ellicott, a daughter of Rob- ert and Pamelia (Smith) Arthur, in 1855, and resided in Falconer, where Mrs. Cass lives. They had three children, Alice M., Lida A., and A. Dora.

SWEDISH CHURCHES .- In 1891 the Swedes erected a " Union Church " of brick on a lot 60x120 feet presented to them. The property is worth $2,000. The members then consisted of 35 Lutherans, 30 Methodists and 25 Mission Friends. The Lutherans in 1892 formed an independent society.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- In the fall of 1892 Brooklyn Heights Chapel of this church, then a Sunday-school mission of Jamestown church, and Falconer " appointment," having preaching " once a fortnight " on Sun- day afternoons, with 50 members connected with Frewsburg, were joined in one " charge " and named " The Second M. E. Church of Jamestown." The trustees, C. L. Hough, T. J. Pratt, H. E. Brunson, erected a parsonage cost- ing $1,600 on a lot secured adjoining the church. Membership 200.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, Part 78

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