USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 49
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No records are extant to throw definite light on its origin and history. It is learned that the Evangelists, in 1842, purchased of Erhardt Rau an old dwelling house which was moved on the present site and refitted for church uses. The first minis- ter of this society was Rev. John Sendlinger, who occupied their pulpit two years. Bishop Siberd also preached to them, but at what time we could not learn. In the summer of 1857 this edifice was reframed and changed to the Union church of the
* To this venerable pastor, and to Hugh T. McNair, Esq., we are in- debted for the facts in the history of this and the Second Presbyterian church of Sparta.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Baptists and Evangelists. The first Baptist min- ister was Elder Kellogg. The succession of pastors in neither society can be given. The Baptists hold no meetings there at present. The Evangelical pastor in 1880 was Rev. William Wallace.
First M. E. Church of Sparta .- This church is located a little south of the center of the town. The Society was organized in 1841. The church edifice was erected in 1862. Rev. James Duncan was the first pastor after the erection of the church, remaining three years. Rev. Stephen Brown sup- plied the pulpit two years. Rev. DeWitt Munger was then pastor for two years, succeeded by Rev. Henry Van Ben Schoten, who also remained two years. For several years after the ministry of the latter pastor the church was supplied by local preachers until the coming of Rev. John Parker who presided two years. His successor was the Rev. George Dryer who officiated but one year. Rev. John Burchard preached two years, Rev. Joseph Wayne two years, and Rev. James Landreth two years, supplying the pulpit of the Methodist church at Scottsburgh also. He was succeeded by the Rev. W. W. Mandeville, who remained one year. The present pastor is Rev. D. C. Blakely, who resides in Scottsburgh.
SCHOOL STATISTICS .- The town of Sparta con- tains nine school districts. In these districts there are 398 children over five and under twenty-one years of age. During the past year school was taught 276 2-5 weeks, employing nine teachers, and having an average attendance of 177 scholars. The number of children attending during some por- tion of the year was 302. The amount paid to teachers was $1,514.15. The district libraries contain 305 volumes valued at $175. There was paid out during the year for school apparatus $96. The total incidental expenditures for the year were $201.10. For school houses, fences, repairs, fur- niture, etc., there was paid out during the year $492.18. The school houses and sites are valued at $3,100. The total valuation of the districts is $6,975.64. The houses are all frame buildings, some quite comfortable, but many too poor for school purposes.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS .- At the last census of the State, Sparta contained 12,987 acres of im- proved lands, 3,191 acres of woodland, and 447 acres of other lands unimproved. The valuation of farm lands was $1,042,080; of farm buildings, aside from residences, $149,075; of tools and agricultural implements, $40,915 ; and of stock, $124,684. The gross sales from these farms was
$98,883, while the cost for fertilizers was but $730. The area plowed was 3,895 acres; 2,439 acres were devoted to pastures, and 2,669 acres were seeded to hay, producing 1,694 bushels of seed, and 3,207 tons of hay.
STATISTICS OF POPULATION,-According to the census of 1870, Sparta contained a population of 1,182, of which 1,080 were native, 102 foreign, and none of the colored race. In 1875, the total population was 1,133; native, 1,039, and foreign, 94 ; a decrease of 49 in the total population in those five years. Of the population at that cen- sus, 789 were born in the county of Livingston ; 72 in adjoining counties; and 46 in other counties of the State. The nativity of the remainder was : New Hampshire, 1; Vermont, 4; Massachusetts, 1 ; Connecticut, 4 ; New Jersey, 7 ; Pennsylvania, 105, and 10 in other sections of the United States ; IS were born in Canada, 13 in England, 3 in Scot- land, 36 in Ireland, and 24 in the German Empire.
SCOTTSBURGH.
The pleasant little village of Scottsburgh lies in the northern part of the town, close to the line be- tween Sparta and Groveland.
This is the only place of note or commercial im- portance in the town. The village has about two hundred and eighty inhabitants, and contains two stores, the postoffice, two churches, school house, one hotel, three blacksmith shops, and two manu- factories for wagons. The postmaster is J. E. Brownell, who was appointed to that position May 9, 1875. The merchants are, Brownell & Slaight, dealers in general merchandise, who began busi- ness here in April of 1857, and John Shepard, also dealer in general merchandise, who has been en- gaged in business here nearly thirty years. The business was established by Mr. Shepard. In 1854 the firm name was Shepard & Blake. The part- nership continued some five years, when Mr. Shepard bought Mr. Blake's interest and has since conducted the business alone.
The hotel, the Scottsburgh House, is the one kept at a former time by William Scott, and built by him in 1819. The present proprietor is W. H. Gny, who has been in the business one year.
Of the blacksmiths and workers in iron, John McMillan has been in business here three years and Frank Craver one year.
Rockwell M. Lozier, carriage and general painter, has been in that business here three years.
J. B. Cratser, wagon maker, started in that busi-
'ITTLE
Photo. by Wiley, Dansville.
JOHN FLORY.
David Flory was born in Lancaster county, Penn, and emigrated thence to Franklin county, N. Y., when quite a young man. From there he removed to Buffalo, where he remained till a short time after that city was burned by the British, when he removed to Sparta and settled on the farm where he lived till his death, and on which his son John was born. David Flory was the father of four children, of whom two are now living-John, the youngest of the family, and Jeremiah, who resides near his brother.
John Flory, the subject of this sketch, remained at home assisting his father in his farm work, until twenty years of age, when he rented the same farm of one hundred and twenty-two acres which he afterwards pur- chased. To this he added from time to time till at the present date he is the owner of three hundred and eighty-six acres of land, situated in the town of Sparta.
Nov. 18, 1834, Mr. Flory was married to Clorinda, daughter of Matthew and Annie Scott, of Scottsburgh. To them were born five children, as follows : - Elizabeth Ann, born Nov. 25, 1835, died May 10, 1862 :
Milton, born Sept. 1, 1839, joined the 136th Regiment, passed through all the battles of that regiment till their discharge at the close of the war, was wounded with a piece of shell at Gettysburg, and died Feb. 16, 1875 ; Mary, born Aug. 17, 1841, died Nov. 14, 1863 ; John, born July 14, 1845, the only surviving child ; and Scott, born Sept. 27, 1849, died Nov. 22, 1863.
Mr. Flory is a worthy member of the Presbyterian church of Sparta, having joined with that congregation many years ago, during which time he has been ever read; to assist in all cases where he has seen the need of such assistance. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and although he has held the office of assessor six or seven years, he has never been a politician, but has preferred to have the office seek the man.
Mr. Flory has resided on his present farm, or a portion of the same, during the last sixty- seven years, and it is entirely due to his energy and perseverance that the broad fields which greet the gaze of the passer-by, are in such a fine state of cultivation and so well provided with the many requisites of a well kept farm.
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SCOTTSBURGH -JESSE SMITH.
ness here in 1877. J. H. Shutt began the ·manu- facture of wagons here twenty-two years ago. From this shop very fine work is turned out.
The churches are the First Free Baptist and the Methodist Episcopal. The former was organized in 1840. The first pastor was Rev. Levi Kellogg .* The succession of pastors thereafter, as near as can be learned, was Elders Mckay, Cobb, H. Esten, Joseph Wood, D. M. Stewart, D. I. Whitney, James L. Box, J. W. Brown. The present pastor is Rev. William Walker, who has presided three years. The membership at the last report was eighty-three. The church edifice is a neat and substantial building, with a comfortable parsonage attached, both clear of debt.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1840. In 1839 the first class was formed com- posed of some eight or ten members, among whom were James Collar and wife, Mr. Moore, James Haynes, S. P. Keep and Timothy Hopkins. In the spring of 1840, Rev. Mr. Kellogg came to Scottsburgh, and under his ministration a series of extra meetings were held which resulted in the en- deavor to permanently establish a church of this denomination. This endeavor assumed definite form on the 29th of April, 1840, when a meeting of "the male members of full age of the M. E. congregation in Scottsburgh," was held in the school-house in the village for the purpose of forming a religious incorporation. Of this meeting Chandler Wheeler and Timothy Hopkins were appointed as chief officers, and five trustees were elected. These were, James Collar, Timo- thy Hopkins, James Carey, William Scott and Eli Holeman. It was resolved that the incorporation receive the name of the Third Society of the M. E. church in Sparta ; Timothy Hopkins was appointed to take charge of the records of that meeting. The voters who participated in the proceedings at that date were Timothy Hopkins, Chandler Wheeler, James Collar, Allen Simons, Orlo M. Hopkins, Eli Holeman, James Carey and James Fitzgerald.
The only men now living in Scottsburgh, who belonged to the church in its early days are John Shepard and Samuel Scott.
The erection of the church edifice was begun in 1841, and finished in 1842, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Doolittle. The succession of pastors, owing to the meagreness of the records, could not be learned. Since 1872 the following ministers have officiated :-
Rev. James Wayne, 1872-75; Rev. James
Landreth, 1875-77; Rev. W. W. Mandeville, 1878-79; Rev. D. C. Blakely, 1879-80.
The present membership is seventy-seven.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
-
JESSE SMITH.
Photo. by Betts, Dansville.
(JESSE SMITH.)
Jesse Smith, who was born in Northumberland county, Pa., Dec. 16, 1822, is a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Kline) Smith, who came from Pennsyl- vania, and settled in Sparta in 1825, where the father carried on the business of farming until within a few years of his death, which occurred Nov. 25, 1878. His wife died July 14, 1857. Jesse was three years of age when his father came to this county, and his education was only such as he could obtain at the district school winters, his summers being spent in working on the farm for his father and others. In his twenty-third year he decided to learn the business of blacksmithing, and settled in Mt. Morris for that purpose. Having served his apprenticeship he returned to Sparta and built a shop near his present residence, where he now carries on the business to a limited extent in con- nection with farming. Oct. 2, 1856, he married Catherine, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Kiehle, of Sparta. Of this marriage were born three children, Myron, William B. and Lizzie M. Mr. Smith has been a member of the M. E. Church twenty-one years, and his wife is a mem- ber of the German Lutheran Church of Sparta. In politics he is a Republican, having acted with
* Now living in Addison, N. Y.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
that party since its formation. He has been Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace, and is now Justice of Sessions, having been reelected for the third term. Having always been a careful and industrious man, and investing his money in land, he now owns a farm consisting of 91 acres, together with his other business.
ELIAS DRIESBACH.
Elias Driesbach, was a son of Henry and Lydia Driesbach, and we are sure that in saying he is a worthy son of his highly respected parents, we but utter a truth that is his due. Like his father he is a farmer and no better cultivator of the soil is found in the town of Sparta. Besides this he is one of the largest land owners in that town. His homestead farm where he resides consists of one hundred and thirty-nine acres. It is beautifully situated on elevated land above the magnificent valley of the Canaseraga, which lies in all its beauty in full view of his homestead, stretching far away to the north, until lost in the valley of the Genesee. No finer view than this is found in Western New York. Elias I)., was born at Sparta, Feb. 17, 1822. In his youth he was subjected to the trials and hardships incident to a life in a new country, and therefore had few advantages for gaining an education. But he made the best use of those he did have, and obtained a competent common school education-all that was necessary to rank him among the intelligent, successful farmers around him. It is not saying too much that he possesses in a large degree, native sagacity, judgment and discernment. He is a man of much practical ability, order and promptness.
His honor and integrity have never been ques- tioned or doubted and his word has always been regarded as good as his bond-which is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, good. In his dealings with men he is upright and just, demanding what is his due, and giving to others their whole due to the last farthing. Until he was twenty-three years of age he lived with his father, and much of his labor was devoted to assisting him on his farm. January 16, 1845, he married Susannah, daughter of Joseph Kidd, of Dansville. She, though now an invalid, is all that a wife and mother should be, kind, affectionate and exemplary. Thus far six children have been born to them, named as fol- lows, Susan Catharine, Lydia Ann, Mary, Rosy, Joseph and Emma. Mr. Driesbach settled on the farm where he now resides, soon after his marriage. He has been very fortunate in his business rela- tions. By successful negotiations and far-sighted enterprise, he has accumulated quite a large fortune. Among his property he owns five hun- (red and ninety-four acres of valuable land, one hundred and forty acres of which are situated in the town of Springwater and the remainder in Sparta, including the old homestead of seventy
acres, purchased by his father. Mr. Driesbach is a member of the Lutheran Reformed church, of Dansville, having united with that congregation many years ago. The old church, which still stands, was erected in 1826, and his father was very active in building it and sustaining the con- gregation, Mr. Driesbach has, since uniting with the church, been a consistent, influential, devoted, and exemplary member. In politics, like his father, he is a Democrat, strong in the faith of the fathers of that party. While firm in his principles, he still accords the same right to his political oppo- nents, believing in everyone's thinking for himself, and would not, if he could, control any person in his political or religious rights or belief. It is just to Mr. Driesbach to state that in his business re- lations, in his family and as a citizen, his life and career is certainly an honor to his town and county, and that the pages of this history could not prop- erly be filled without a fair, impartial, and just biography of him.
HENRY DRIESBACH, JR.
Henry Driesbach, Jr., was another son of Henry Driesbach, Sr., whose biography appears in the pages of this work. He was a farmer, and in the truest sense realized and appreciated the duties, trials and embarrassments of an agricultural life. It is said by those in the great book of human na- ture that all men are born with natural proclivities for certain business occupations or science. Hence, one man is a chemist, another an anatomist, an- other an astronomer, some are intuitively mechan- ies and some musicians. Conceding this to be true, then, we unhesitatingly say that Henry Dries- bach was intuitively a farmer. To him the farm was as natural as the native heath of the McGre- gors to Roderick Dhu.
One of the distinguishing features of Livingston county is the success of its farmers in raising stock. Into this Mr. Driesbach entered enthusiastically. His judgment in this department was second to no man's in the county, young as he was during the active period of his business life.
He was born at Sparta, Livingston county, May 9, 1824. He lived with his father until he was twenty eight years old. Having attained that age he decided to commence business for himself. Be- ing of an independent, self-reliant turn of mind, and determined to be indebted to no one for whatever success awaited him, he declined to ask his father for any pecuniary assistance. Trusting to his own intelligence and business capacity, he purchased on his own account the farm just north of the vil- lage of Dansville called the "Shepard farm." Without a dollar in the world he entered into spec- ulation. His self-reliance gave him success, and within a comparatively brief period of time he stocked his farm, paid for it and brought it to a very high state of cultivation. As an evidence of his perseverance we relate the following :-
Driesbach
1 (1(L)
Henry Dieis back je
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WEST SPARTA-EARLY SETTLERS.
A portion of his farm extended to the bottom) land of the Canaseraga, and was accordingly so damp and boggy that it was a common thing to see cattle almost hopelessly mired in those bogs. Mr. Driesbach conceived the idea of draining those lands. He accordingly commenced a system of drainage by underground causeway with such suc- cess that he soon made the lands perfectly dry, fertile and productive.
Henry Driesbach was a man of uncommon good sense, thoughtful, candid, honest and direct. He had no platitudes. One always knew exactly how to take him, and if he gave his word he carried it out to the letter, as to time, place and everything. He was a man of very few words, but when he spoke it was to the point. He was retiring but firm in his convictions, to an extent a little removed fron stubbornness. In the midst of activity and usefulness he was seized by an incurable malady which ended his days while he was in the prime of manhood, and in the midst of his finan- cial success and usefulness. He died October 28, 1868, at the age of forty-five. His knowledge of the value of farming land was almost unequalled. In recognition of this knowledge he was elected an assessor of the town of Sparta for a considerable period of time. In politics he was a Democrat, honest and true to his convictions, but modest and unassuming in declaring them. He early united with the Lutheran Reformed Church at Dansville, and was in every sense a worthy, consistent, Chris- tian man, observant of all the duties and ordi- nances of the Church. Such was Henry Dries- bach, Jr .; in every sense a man who commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him.
CHAPTER XIX.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WEST SPARTA.
THE town of West Sparta lies south of the T center of the county. It is bounded on the north by Groveland, on the south by Ossian, on the east by Sparta and North Dansville, and on the west by Mt. Morris and Nunda.
The surface of West Sparta is also quite hilly, though less mountainous than that of Sparta and Ossian. There is also more of an unsettled, un- cultivated appearance than is characteristic of the towns lying to the east or west. The soil is some- what heavier than that of the surrounding towns, especially in the northern part, where it is of a clay loam. In the southern part the soil inclines to a sandy loam. An extensive marsh, known as Can- aseraga swamp, in the northeastern part robs the town of much of its tillable soil. The only impor- tant streams are Canaseraga creek, which flows north along the eastern border, forming the boun-
dary line between this town and Sparta, and Butler brook, a smaller stream in the southern part, in which is a perpendicular cascade of some sixty feet. The Dansville Railroad passes through the extreme eastern part of the town.
This town was formed at the time of the division of the original town of Sparta, February 27, 1846. The first white person to break land and build a cabin in the present limits of the town were William McCartney and Andrew Smith, who came from) Scotland in 1791, landing in Philadelphia and coming to West Sparta in 1792. William McCart- ney acted as clerk for Captain Williamson, a land agent.
The cabin which was built under the directions of Williamson was situated on land afterwards owned by John McNair, later by Judge James McNair, and at present by Hugh T. McNair. The nearest white settlers at that time were at Arkport, Steuben county, some fourteen miles south, and at Williams- burgh, in Groveland, twelve miles north.
McCartney and Smith, however, must be regarded only as temporary residents within these limits, for two years later the former purchased land near what is now known as Comminsville, within the present limits of North Dansville, where he moved and where he resided until his death in 1831. Andrew Smith remained but one year, when, on account of fever and ague which was probably developed by the swampy nature of the soil in that section of the town, he removed to Bath, purchasing there a farm where he resided until his death, some time about 1840.
The first permanent settler was Jeremiah Gregory, who located in 1795 in the southern part of the town. After him a short time came other settlers, among whom were William Stevens, in 1796, Abel Wilsey in 1797, Benjamin Wilcox in 1798, and still later, Sam- uel McNair in the year 1802 or'3. John McNair, in 1803, came on a prospective trip to this new country and purchased of John Wilson of Fred- ericksburgh, Maryland, a tract of land containing four hundred acres in the then town of Sparta three miles north of Dansville. He then returned to his home in what was known as " The Irish Set- tlement," Northampton county, Pennsylvania ; and in the early part of 1804, with his family of six sons and one daughter with her husband, set out for his new home in the Canaseraga Valley, joining there a son and daughter who a year or two before had preceded him. The journey was made in cov- ered wagons, containing besides the family the furniture and implements with which to begin their
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
pioneer life in this region of forests and hills. Arriving some time in the middle of June, the family found a temporary home in the log cabin which had been put up on the tract in 1792 by direction of Captain Williamson, and occupied by William McCartney. A part of the farm was cleared of timber and had doubtless been at some time cultivated by the Indians.
Here on this traet they at once built a comfort- able home of hewn logs, which is still standing in a good state of preservation on the farm which is now owned by Hugh T. McNair.
The children of John MeNair were William, Samuel, John, David, James, Andrew, Robert, Margaret and Christiana, all of whom are dead; but many descendants are now living in the vicin- ity.
Among other pioneers of the McNair family was Judge Hugh MeNair, grandfather to Hugh T. Mc- Nair, now living in West Sparta, who for some years was Prothonotary of Ontario when it in- cluded the county of Livingston. All of his sons are dead but one who lives in Corning, lowa. William W. McNair, whose widow lives here, was Hugh's oldest son.
The early history of this region is but a repeti- tion of that of the surrounding towns. Lumbering and shingle making were for some years the prin- cipal occupations of the settlers. The privations incident to the new settlement were keenly felt; but it is not known that any of the pioneers suffer- ed from actual want. For some time the mar- ket for such produce as their farms yielded was confined to the settlers each year arriving, or oc- casionally they bartered their products for the wares and goods of the merchants at Bath and other as scantily inhabited settlements in Steuben county.
It was not until 1823 that the first store in the town was opened by Jonathan Russell at what is now Union Corners. The nearest post-office was at Bath, thirty miles distant. These inconven- iences in procuring merchandise, and in keeping up an intercourse with the outside world, were, it may be imagined, among the chief hardships of their pioneer existence.
It is to the fortitude with which these early fathers and mothers endured privations; to their hardy self-denial, and to their courage under the difficulties which beset them, that their descend- ants are indebted for whatever prosperity and comforts surround them to-day.
Beyond the clearing of land into farms, and the
lumbering traffic attendant upon such labors, the progress in other kinds of business was slow.
The first grist-mill was built by Samuel Stoner in 1823. The first tavern kept in the town was by Ebenezer McMaster in 1820,* at what is now known as Kysorville. The first wool-carding and cloth-dressing mill was established by Benjamin Hungerford in the year 1814. In this establish- ment Millard Fillmore, President of the United States in 1850-53, was apprenticed to the trade of cloth-dressing, serving four months on trial. Hav- ing been set by Hungerford at menial labor that had no connection with the contemplated trade, when the four months had elapsed he gave up the busi- ness and returned to his home in Cayuga county to begin the career which made his name a house- hold word throughout the nation.
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