USA > New York > Orange County > History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 151
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& EWalubury
NATHANIEL R. FEAGLES.
Gardner H Mamme
The father of Gardner K. was Joseph Nanny, who was born Nov. 7, 1785, and was married in 1807 to Miss Sallie Johnson, whose birth oc- curred April 13, 1789. Their children were Maria, born in 1808; Johnson, born in 1810; and the subject of this biography, whose birth occurred Jan. 12, 1821. The latter was in early years a member of his father's family cirele, where his growing years were devoted to attend- ance at the district school, and subsequently to the employments of the farm.
On the death of his father he inherited the estate. Mr. Nanny was united in marriage, April 16, 1862, to Miss Adeline, daughter of John Arnout, Esq., of Edenville, who was the parent of five children,-William H., Samuel H., John W., Mary A., and Mrs. Nanny.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nanny were born two daughters,-Frances M. and Sadie O. Mr. Nanny, not having a taste for farming pir- suits, soon after his marriage removed to Edenville, having acquired the residence now occupied by the family.
The excitement and honors consequent upon official life were not congenial to his taste. He therefore never sought official position, and was content simply to cast his ballot in obedience to the requirement of every American citizen.
In politics he was a Republican, and in his religious profession a Methodist, both he and his wife being members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Edenville. Mr. Nanny's death occurred at Edenville, June 7, 1874, in his fifty- third year.
HEZEKIAHI HOYT.
613
CHESTER.
in 1858 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Peter N. Ryer- son, of Vernon, Sussex Co., N. J. They have had nine children, of whom the following survive,-Mary, Susan, Jacob, Anna, Charles, Nathaniel R., Eliza- beth, and Henry.
HEZEKIAH HOYT.
early years at school and in labor upon the estate of his father, and having, at a later date, deeided upon the importance of a trade, acquired that of a mason. Mercantile pursuits having offered a larger field, he repaired to Bloomingburgh, Sullivan Co., N. Y., and embarked in business, remaining from 1834 to 1836. During the latter year he came to Warwiek township, and continued his mercantile ventures at Amity. In 1842 he purchased the farm which is his present resi-
The Hoyt family are of English lineage, the great- grandfather of Mr. Hoyt having resided in Stamford, Conn., and served with eredit during the war of the | denee, and which has been his home since that date. Revolution. His children were two sons-Hezekiah Mr. Hoyt was united in marriage, Oet. 12, 1837, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Joel Wheeler, whose wife, Catharine Finn, was the mother of three children,- John A., Catharine L., and Mrs. Iloyt. His second wife was Miss Dinah Finn, by whom he had children, -William F. and Robert F. and Joseph-and two daughters,-Hannah and Sarah. The former, a soldier in the war of 1812, was united in marriage to Miss Esther Selleck, of Stamford, Conn., to whom the following children were born : Isaac, Hezekiah, William, Caroline, Harriet, Maria, James W., Henry W., and Gilbert F., of whom six Mr. Hoyt is an uncompromising Republican in his political views, and has ever manifested a lively in- terest in public affairs, though not an office-holder. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of New Milford, and survive. Hezekiah, the second son, whose life is here briefly sketched, is a native of Stamford, having been born Feb. 20, 1805. When four years of age his parents made Middletown, Orange Co., their residence, and were accompanied by their son. He spent his . liberal in the advancement of its aims.
CHESTER.
I .- SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, AREA, TITLE.
CHESTER is an interior town of the county, lying southeast of the eentre. It is bounded north by Go- shen and Blooming-Grove, east by Blooming-Grove and Monroe, south by Warwiek, and west by War- wick and Goshen. The area, as determined in the equalization table of the last board of supervisors, is 16,0473 acres. As often explained, the true area must exceed this somewhat in consequence of highways, village lots, and other parcels being excepted by the assessors in making up the average. The general title is derived from the Wawayanda Patent.
II .- NATURAL FEATURES.
The town contains several rocky elevations unfit for cultivation, as Goose Pond Mountain, Lazy Ifill, and Sugar-Loaf Mountain. The highest summits are from five to six hundred feet above the neighboring valleys. Thompson's Pond, on the line between Chester and Warwick, covers an area of about one hundred acres. It is a tributary of Quaker Creek. The pond is now named upon the maps of the county Glenmere Lake. The largest portion of it is in Warwick. Black Meadow Brook, formed of several tributaries from different directions, drains a large portion of the western part of the town, and empties into the -Otterkill near West Chester. Trout Brook, in the
south, is an inlet of Bull Pond, and flowing northward from this is Seeley Creek, the outlet. This unites with the Cromeline, eastward in Blooming-Grove. In this town are the Gray Court Meadows, which in- clude about seven hundred acres, now nearly all under cultivation, and are exceedingly fertile.
III .- EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The general story of early settlement upon the territory constituting the town will be found to a great extent in the chapters devoted to those towns from which Chester was formed. The fertile country around Chester village attracted the attention of im- migrants at an early day, and this was the point of earliest location, though the Sugar-Loaf district is spoken of in very early documents.
The village was settled as early as 1751 by John Yelverton, but at what time it received the name is uncertain.
John Beers owned about 120 acres, and in 1751 sold to .James Ensign, who sold to Yelverton .* This land
* There is no doubt that upon the land purchased by Yelverton and as- sociates there was laid out a plat under the name of the township of Chester. The precise date of the laying out of this plat we have not been able to ascertain, but it is entirely clear that such a plat was made. Yelverton was an active man in this mode of opening up the country to settlement, having been associated in the founding of Goshen, New- burgh, and New Windsor, as well as Chester.
614
HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
descended to his grandson, Abijah Yelverton, the father of Anthony Yelverton, who died a few years since. The present village is on this 120 acres.
The family was originally from Wales. When John Yelverton came he was accompanied by a brother and a sister, and his children were John, Anthony, Thomas, James, and several daughters. One married Mr. Carpenter, of Goshen ; one Mr. Howell, of Go- shen ; one Mr. Marvin, of Oxford; one Mr. Carman.
John (2d) had but one child, Abijah. Abijah's chil- dren were John, Anthony, and Abijah. Thomas' chil- dren were James, William, and Elizabeth.
The family came from England to Long Island, from there to Orange County, residing at different times at Goshen, Newburgh, Chester, and New Windsor.
John Yelverton, the first settler, was a carpenter. He died in the village of New Windsor, and his grave and monument may now be seen in the Pres- byterian cemetery there.
Wm. Yelverton, a son of Abijah, is still living at an advanced age at Gray Court Station.
Capt. Nathaniel Roe located a mile and a half south, on a farm subsequently owned by his grand- son, Jesse Roe. Nathaniel had two sons,-Nathaniel and William ; and Jesse was the son of Nathaniel (2d).
Peter Townsend also settled here. His sons were William, Peter, and Isaac. His daughter Ann mar- ried Solomon Townsend, and Sarah, Dr. Anthony Davis.
John Jackson located north of Yelverton, and Fletcher Woodhull married his only daughter.
Joseph Drake was among the earliest in this vicin- ity ; he owned the farm of 200 acres where Joseph G. afterwards lived.
Colvill Carpenter settled on the lands subsequently owned by his son Jesse. He had two sons,-Daniel and Jesse.
Hector St. John must not be forgotten. He came from France, and lived where Hezekiah Moffat, Esq., lived and died. During the war of the Revolution he returned to France, took one son with him, and after the war returned to this country, and was appointed consul for New York. The other son and danghter were left in the country, sent to the East, and edu- cated. Frances, the daughter, married a Frenchman by the name of Otto and went to Franee. There he was created Count Otto, and sent as minister to the court of Vienna. During the French Revolution they were reduced to poverty, and Frances suffered every possible privation.
the Conklingtown neighborhood in Goshen, and ex- tending to Fort Hill.
The assessor for this district was Capt. Nathaniel Roe. He resided a mile and a half south of Chester village, on the farm owned in later years by his grand- son, Jesse Roe. This assessment-roll is the best authority now extant to determine the families of a hundred years ago.
District No. 1, September, 1775-NATHANIEL ROE, Assessor.
Names.
Estimate of
Names.
Estimate of
Property.
Property, £ 8. d.
Thomas Morgan
0
0
Robert Anderson ....
0
1
6
John King.
0
0
Nathaniel Knapp ..
3 8
Abralanı Stagg, Jr
0
0
Nathaniel Knapp, Jr.
3 8
Henry McElroy
0
0 James Hanochs
1 6
10
Andrew Babcock
0 17 8 Francis Duffin.
Hope Rhoades.
0
7
4
Solomon Finch.
4
0
Josepli liolley.
0 10 0
Jacob Bleshar
0
0
Isaac Rhoades
0
8
6
Isaac Odell
0
6
0
Wm. Veal (Vail)
1
2
7
Justus Odell. 0 ?
0
Richard Jennings.
0 13 3
David Williams
4
0
Thomas Deoton.
7
0
0
Samuel Conklin
0
0)
Bowman Halsted.
9
James Babcock
0
0
Daniel 1Iall.
0 0
-
Joseph Patterson
0
0
Joseph Beckis
Jonas Denton
8
Thomas Fitzgerald.
0
2
() James Hamilton.
0
Gideon Mace
8
John Roe.
3
€
1
4
Peter Brass
0
9 Ruth Carpenter
1
1
3
John Miller.
0 18 8 David Bailey
4 6 11
Andrew Debow
11
4 Benjamin Jennings.
6 10
John Clark
12
Jeremialı Mullock
4 3 9
Jacob Swathvod
4
3
Alexander Jackson.
4 16 G
Christopher Trickey
0
0
0 Benjamin Meeker, Jr.
1
8
3
George Davis
0 19
0
0
2
0
Jonathan Archer
14 3
John Springsted.
4 14 5
Nathan Bailey ...
6
Chas. Durling (Dorland).
5 18 0
Nathan Bailey, Jr ...
1 19 9
William Helm
5
1
Capt. John Jackson
4 7 9
David Mapes.
4 8
Matthew Dilling.
5 15
1
Bezaliel Seeley
7 15 11
Joseph Mapes.
0.
2 6
7 10 3
John Kinner, Jr.
3 1
3
0
3
John Kinner
5 8
3
James Smith (tailor).
1 10 9
James Kinner
0 11
0
9
Joshua Howell
3
7 11 Michael Jackson (judge). 13
9
5
Samnel Bailey
5 12 4 Ilenry Jayne (bl'ksmith)
0
Ebenezer Holley.
0 14 9 John Gardner.
0 5 G
Samuel Satterly
2
6 Jasper Hart.
1 1
0
Joseph Drake
8 11
7 Jolin Fengles.
3 18
3
Oliver Smith
2 18
Wm. Kinner
0
2
3
Abijah Yelverton
2 17
5
Francis Giloe.
0 16 9
Peter Townsend
30
8
Jobn Bradner, Esq.
5 13
Abel Noble.
19
9
John Bradner, Jr
0 12 6
William Drake.
1
OC
3
Gerard Rayner
0 9
John McDowell
0 14
9
Solomon Tidd.
0 16
Isaac Cooley
0
3
7
Andrew Cristey.
3
6
6
Barnabas llorton, Jr.
5
5
0
Nathaniel Allison
2 17 10
Barnabas Horton.
9
3
0
Abraham Chandler, Jr .. Jacobus Tidd
1 16
9
Birdseye Young.
11 19
George Thompson
5 17
James Mosier
3 6 10
Silas Hortoo.
4
2
3
Nomiah Carpenter.
0
6
0
Jonathan Horton.
2 9
6
Capt. Nathaniel Roe
10 15 1
Phineas Rumsey
8 13 5
George Thompson, Jr ...... 3
0
John Chandler,
8 0
1 Isaac Smith.
0 10 6
Joseph Carpenter.
5 17
0
James Simpson ..
0 26 5
Phineas Dunn
4 13
7
"The within is a list of the assessment of all the inhabitants within
my district, taken September, 1775. By me, NATHANIEL ROE."
Through the aid of Mr. George Board, Mr. James Burt, president of the Chester Bank, and others, the following memorandum, with reference to a portion of these names, is given.
To further show the names of those residing in this section of country at the opening of the Revolution we give the assessment-roll of 1775 for district No. 4 in the old precinet of Goshen. It ineludes other ter- John King settled near Bull's Mills, in what is now the town of Chester, some time previous to the Revo- lutionary war. His homestead was the place now owned by his grandson, John King. He had two sons,-James and Ezra. John King the pioneer had ritory than the town of Chester. The district may be described somewhat in general terms as comprising East Chester, extending to Satterly Town, and inclu- ding the Gray Court neighborhood; also West Ches- ter, the families along the Somerville road, including . three brothers who also came into Orange County,-
3
Benjamin Jackson.
3
1
0
Benjamin Sayre.
5
Joseph Carpenter, Jr.
9
5
Richard Clark
4
6
8
2
6
3
George Crossen
1
5 Wm. Hilington
6 Benjamin Drake.
0 13 9
Zephanialı Kalloy.
0 15
2
0 17 =
Joshua Whiteman ...
11
Calvin Carpenter
5 19 9
Thomas Beech.
Uriah Tuller (Fuller)
3 Wul. Knapp.
1
Jolin Armon
0
6
3
0 14 0
Charles McElroy
0 13
d.
-1
9
2 1
7
Matthias Jayne
2 14
6
14
615
CHESTER.
Peter, Joseph, and Charles. The latter went West at an early day. Peter and Joseph settled on farms ad- joining that of John King. Joseph afterwards re- moved to Monroe, near Little Round Pond. His sons were George, John, Gabriel. The sons of Peter were James G. and Abel. A son of James G., Mr. Wil- liam B. King, resides in Chester village.
In the early settlement of the county there were three brothers by the name of Board,-James, Joseph, and Cornelius. Either they or their ancestors earlier are understood to have come over as book-keepers for the iron-works at Ringwood, N. J. Cornelius came to Sngar-Loaf Valley soon after the Revolution. He had one son, John Board, and several daughters, -- Mrs. Gabriel Wisner, Mrs. John Wood, Mrs. Jesse Bull, Mrs. Mills Davis. Mr. Gabriel Wisner's first wife dying, he married another daughter of Corne- lius Board.
Of George Board, a son of John, we have obtained several of these notes upon early families. Charles Durland settled where his descendant, James Durland, now lives about the year 1756. His wife was Jane Swartwont. His children were Garret, Joseph, John, Charles, Samuel, Mary, who married John Wood ; Elizabeth, who married Vincent Wood ; Rosanna, who married Peter Holbert.
Daniel Cromeline settled on the well-known Gray Court farm in 1716, and built the old stone house which stood until 1832. It is not known that he was more than a temporary resident. (See notice of Wm. Bull, Hamptonburgh.)
Phineas Rumsey settled in the East Division of Goshen, where the Widow Murray now lives. The ' place was owned by several Phineas Rumseys in succession. The original immigrants to this country were four brothers, one of whom settled on Long Island, two in the town of Monroe, and the one mentioned in Goshen. The children of Nathan D. Rumsey, of Monroe, were four sons-Earl, Royal S., Charles, and Nathan D .- and two daughters, one who became Mrs. Lamarenx, and after his death Mrs. Hal- lock, and one who died unmarried. Royal S. Rumsey had fourteen children, who all grew up to mature years except one daughter, who died at the age of seventeen.
Henry McElroy probably lived on Rye Hill, town of Monroe. Thomas Fitzgerald settled near the boundary line of Warwick. John Clark's homestead was in the vicinity of Wickham Pond. George Davis was located in Sugar-Loaf Valley. David Mapes was in the same neighborhood as Nathaniel Roe. John Kinner was probably living on the farm now owned by Wisner Wood. The Howells were at Sngar-Loaf. Edmund Satterly lived near Chester village, on what is now the farm of Thaddeus Durland. An orchard there is still known as Satterly's orchard. There was one daughter, who became the wife of John Board. Joseph Drake lived where the late Joseph G. Drake resided. Oliver Smith's homestead was where Henry
W. Wood now lives. The frame of the present house, or a part of it, is very old. Abijah Yelverton kept a tavern for a long series of years at Chester village. Peter Townsend's homestead was at Chester village, where William Wood now owns, near the Yelverton place. Abel Noble lived between Sugar-Loaf and Warwick, in the Bellvale neighborhood. Isaac Cooley's place was on the back road, so called, be- tween Gray Court and Sugar-Loaf. An old Jackson homestead was where James Bull now lives. An early Carpenter homestead was the present Green farm, on the road from Chester to Craigville, for- merly the Moffatt place.
An early Horton place was on the road from Goshen to Craigville, now owned by the descendants, two great-grandchildren of the pioneer. Birdseye Young lived on a cross-road, the place still being in the hands of his descendants by the name of Thomp- son. George Thompson's homestead was probably the present Samuel Houston place. John Chandler, mentioned in the roll, was probably the Dr. Chand- Jer of Blooming-Grove whose grandson, Benjamin C. Sears, now occupies the place. Nathaniel Knapp lived at Sugar-Loaf, on the place now owned by a de- seendant, John Knapp. The Holley homestead was where John W. Roe now lives. Richard Jennings' place was the present farm of Mr. Wells, formerly a part of the estate of Judge Samuel Seward. The Denton homestead was between Chester and Goshen, where William Lawrence now lives. Daniel Hall probably lived near the Dentons, on the road to Goshen. Matthias Jayne was over towards Florida. John Springsted lived near Conklingtown, in Goshen. He was one of the securities on Peter Townsend's contract with Congress to cast cannon. The Whit- man homestead was near Conklingtown, in Goshen.
Thomas Beach lived on the road to Warwick, his homestead being where the brick house of David R. Seeley now stands. John Feagles lived over the line in what is now Warwick probably. An old Tidd homestead lies between Sugar-Loaf and Florida.
Not far from Gray Court Station the two pioneer brothers, Josiah Seeley and Bezaliel Seeley, settled at an early day. They were descendants of Samuel Seeley, who came to this country about 1600. They built their first dwelling, a log house, northeast of Gray Court, on the flats near the present Newburgh Branch of the Erie Railroad. The wife of Josiah Seeley was Abigail Smith. Their children were Joanna, who married Thaddeus Seeley; Josiah, Jr. ; Ebenezer; Jonas (father of Jonas Seeley, formerly ot Chester, but now residing with his daughter, Mrs. F. M. Cummins, at Goshen, aged eighty-three) ; Henry ; Susan, who married Robert Townsend; Mercy, who married Joshua Brown, and after his death Abel B. Watkins; Martha, who married James Strong ; and Abigail, who married Timothy Little.
Ebenezer, mentioned above, was a very active man in promoting the settlement of the county, and in
616
HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
opening np for settlement the township or village of the school building of the Union school district (for- New Windsor, and the township or village of inerly the academy ), and quite a number of dwellings. Chester. (See New Windsor.)
The William Vail homestead was near the academy at Chester. He had four sons,-Asa, William, Absa- lom, and Benjamin. The latter was the father of John H. Vail, now of Chester.
IV .- ORGANIZATION.
Chester is a specimen of "patchwork," in respect to its "make-up," a piece being taken from each of sev- eral towns and united to constitute a new town. Once brought together, however, they made a symmetrical town very conveniently arranged for the transaction of public business. The name was, of course, derived from that of its principal village, which had been given to it at its first settlement. In consequence of the destruction of the town books by fire, we are unable to give the minutes of the first town-meeting, the names of the early officers, and many other mat- ters of public interest usually found in such records.
Supervisors,-1845, James Gray; 1846-47, Jesse Wood; 1848, Jesse Hol- bert; 1849-51, Hezekiah Il. Moffat; 1852, S. M. Kniffin; 1853-56, Charles B. Howell; 1857, Daniel D. Hallock ; 1858-59, Charles B. llowell; 1860, F. W. Dunning; 1861-66, James B. Stevens ; 1867-68, Joseph Durland; 1869-74, John H. Vail; 1875, Samnel H. Hadden; 1876, D. HFowell Roe; 1877, Nathaniel Rue; 1878-80, Joseph Board. Town Clerks from 1875 .- 1875-77, John G. Kerner ; 1878-79, A. J. Martin ; 1880, W. H. Wood.
The justices of the peace since 1872 are the following :
1872, Abraham Wright; 1873, Andrew J. King; 1874, Benjamin R. Conklin; 1875, Thomas Bailey; 1876, Abraham Wright; 1877, Charles H. Westervelt; 1878, Andrew J. King; 1879, James Stevens; 1880, Abraham Wright.
V .- VILLAGES, NEIGHBORHOODS.
The group of villages near each other under the general name of Chester require a brief explanation as to location and name.
CHESTER PROPER.
Chester of the old times is the village that grew up on the Yelverton estate, at the corners where is now sitnated the store of Joseph Durland, about a miłe from the Erie depot. The present business of the place includes the following : Charles Dix, hotel ; C. H. Westervelt, justice of the peace, branch post- office, insurance agency, etc .; Frederick Miles & Son, bakery; W. H. Wood, undertaker; E. F. Kallinir, boots and shoes ; Allison's store, a place of trade for many years, now closed ; J. H. Cornelius, stoves and hardware; R. H. Walker, confectionery ; George Riley, restaurant ; Dr. Carpenter, office; Miss Betsy Edwards, groceries; meat-market, John A. Wells; drug-store, E. T. Jackson ; dry-goods, groceries, and general merchandise, Joseph Durland, formerly the old Yelverton place of trade ; Fred. Volmer, harness- shop; Mrs. Osman, dress-making; Miss Amelia Bailey, millinery ; Jacob Schultz, carpenter; Wm. A. Vail, carpenter.
At this village are located the Presbyterian church,
CHESTER,
as known by railway men, and by the citizens as "the village at the depot," is a place of considerable busi- ness, and has grown up since the building of the Erie Railroad and the establishment of a station at that point. The present business of this place includes the station building and other structures of the rail- road; N. S. Thompson, drug-store; Hiram Tuthill, dry-goods, groceries, etc .; M. E. Clark, groceries ; J. T. Thompson, hardware; King & Board, feed, lumber, etc .; J. P. Bull, confectionery and tobacco, also postmaster; S. Haddan, carriage manufactory ; Masterson Brothers, dry-goods, groceries, etc .; T. H. Bryan, sash, blinds, and coal ; the Howland House, built by Daniel Conklin about 1844, and now kept by J. C. Howland ; D. H. Rose, groceries, coal, feed; S. Suffern, meat-market; J. G. Kerner, boots and shoes; Masten Brothers, restaurant ; Samuels' cloth- ing-store; Misses Snowden, millinery ; Mrs. Wilkin, millinery and dress-making; barber-rooms by Fisher, also by Hildebrandt; Charles MI. Crissey, chair-fac- tory and dealing in furniture; W. H. Conklin, tailor; Dr. Barcoe, dentist ; blacksmith-shops by Samuel Wilkin, Joseph Gavin, and Charles Crist; Payne's jewelry-store; William C. Bodle, Timothy MeGrath, Kinner & Wilkin, onion dealers.
The Methodist church, the national bank, the school-house of the primary department of the Union School, Roe's Hall, and the new opera-house consti- tute the public buildings of the place. These, together with quite a number of fine private resi- dences, form a pleasant as well as a stirring business place.
WEST CHESTER
is situated about a mile from Chester. It is a small hamlet, distinct from the other villages sufficient to have a separate name. There are located at this place the creamery and cheese-factory of W. A. Lawrence, and a tailor-shop, combined with something of a grocery-store, by Charles House. At this place Frank J. Murray resides, who does a large wholesale business in buying veal calves and slaughtering for the New York market. Near by, on the Otterkill, is the Seeley grist-mill. This was formerly known as the Daniel Denton mill. There is also a saw-mill in connection.
EAST CHESTER
is the name given to the station of the Warwick Val- ley Railway, a halt-mile or more from Old Chester. A small station-building, a blacksmith-shop by B. Du Bois, and a wagon-shop by Charles Olmstead are about all that can be mentioned at that place.
GRAY COURT STATION.
This is an important railway jnnetion. The New- burgh Branch of the Erie Railway unites with the
617
CHESTER.
main line at this point, and the Warwick Valley Rail- The first meeting was held, pursuant to legal notice, road also. The railroad business is naturally of con- siderable extent. A few residences have been erected near. There is a hotel and restaurant by John Proc- tor, and a store by Thomas Stevenson.
THE SALEM NEIGHBORHOOD
is a pleasant district on the east or southeast part of the town. The Protestant Methodist Church of Ches- ter is located there, and a school-house, but there is no trade or other business there except farming.
SUGAR-LOAF VILLAGE
takes its name from the mountain and the valley, both known by that name in the early settlement. At this place is the Crans' Hotel, and there are stores by J. Vanduzer and W. W. Elmer, and one or two shops or other business places. The Methodist church, a school-house, and a few residences complete the village. The post-office was established about 1825. The first postmaster was Josiah Howell. He was suc- ceeded, 1830 or 1831, by Edgar Wells. His succes- sors have been A. A. Ackley, William Hallock, N. W. Conklin, 1864 to 1873; W. W. Elmer, for about three months; N. W. Conklin, reappointed, and re- taining the office at the present time.
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