History of Seneca Co., New York, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public building and important manufactories, Part 30

Author:
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Ensign & Everts
Number of Pages: 294


USA > New York > Seneca County > History of Seneca Co., New York, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public building and important manufactories > Part 30


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Seneca County, bounded by beautiful lakes, small in area, favored in position,


desirable as a home or place of business, has no paltry showing in comparison with others. Her history teaches the value of persistence in carving homes from the native forest, the prosperity resulting from liberality in the use of natural advantages, the influence of highways in directing the tide of travel, the power of early training in school and church in implanting a patriotism and love of order which halts at no obstacle and hesitates at no sacrifice. The press is vigilant and active, high-toned and well supported. The banks are stable and accommodating, conducted by experienced financiers and well supplied with capital. Churches have advanced to a front rank and entered upon an era of promise. Schools are being elevated to a higher plane, and attract much interest. Manufacture experiences the vicissitudes of the times, yet the large establishments continue to prosper. Trade is remunerative, and agriculture, losing in one direc- tion, recovers ground in another. All in all, the past and present augur.well for the future.


PLAIF XXV


RESIDENCE OF THOMAS FATZINGER, MAIN ST., WATERLOO, N. Y.


S. H. GRIDLEY, O. 0.


RES. OF S. H. GRIDLEY, D. D. WATERLOO, N. Y.


PLATE XXVI


HON. ELISHA WILLIAMS.


THE subject of this sketch, son of Colonel Ebenezer Williams, was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, August 29, 1773. After the death of his father, Colonel Seth Gros- venor, of Pomfret, was appointed his guardian. Young Williams early manifested a desire for the law, and com- menced his studies with Judge Reeves, of Litchfield. He way an indefatigable student, and at the age of twenty was admitted to the bar. At the close of his legal studies he started out with a horse, portmanteau, and twenty dol- lars in money to seek his fortune. He traveled as far west as Spencertown, New York. In 1795 he united in marriage with Lucia Grosvenor, second daughter of his guardian, and removed to Hudson, New York, in 1799. In 1807 he purchased six hundred and forty seres of land, upon which is located the present village of Waterloo, paying for the same about three thousand dollars, or the magnificent sum of about three dollars per acre. The village was known by the Indian appellation of Scauyes until 1815, when it was called New Hudson, in honor of Mr. Williams, until the following year, when by s vote of


ENlilleany


0


the citizens it was changed to Waterloo, a name it ha since retained. In the year 1816 he erected, through his agent, Reuben Swift, the large and elegant " Mansion House," which was a wonder in its day, and still remains a monument of the enterprise and beneficence of this pub lic-spirited pioneer. The edifice mentioned above is repre sented in this work. Mr. Williams was untiring in bi: endeavors to assist the pioneers and place within their reach the conveniences of civilization. He was the pro- genitor of many industrial enterprises, and in 1816 erected the Waterloo Mills, the largest establishment of the kind in Western New York. Elisha Williams was a prominent attorney, and had for his associates the leading men in the State. When the announcement of his death was received in Oneida County the Supreme Court was in session at Utica, which immediately adjourned, and a committee was appointed to frame resolutions of condo- lence, of which Daniel Cady was chairman, and at a like meeting in the city of New York, John C. Spencer was chairman, and he and Chancellor Kent passed glowing eulogies upon his life and character. He died in New York, June 29, 1833.


MANSION HOUSE , WATERLOO N.Y.


HISTORY OF THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES


OF


SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


WATERLOO.


THE ORIGINAL TOWN OF JUNIUS.


IT may be well to note the civil changes of early days in order, and recall, in official positions, the names of the pioneers.


The settlement of Waterloo began when Onondaga was formed from Herkimer, in 1794. Two towns, Ovid and Romulus, embraced the area of Seneca County. In 1799, this region was included in Cayuga, and, in 1800, Washington was formed as a town from Romulus. Junius was formed from Washington, in 1803, and included the lands north of the Seneca River. The first town election was held Tuesday, March 1, 1803, John Parkhurst, clerk pro tem., and result shown by ballot :


Supervisor, Lewis Birdsall; Town Clerk, Gideon Bowdish; Assessors, Asa Moore, Hugh W. Dobbin, and Elisha Pratt; Commissioners of Highways, Jesse Southwick, Jabez Disbrow, and Nathaniel Potter; Overseers of the Poor, Herman Swift and Stephen Hooper; Collector, Sirenus Swift; Constables, Jacob Cham- berlain and S. Swift; Pound Master, Samuel Lay; Fence Viewers, S. Lay and Robert Oliver. Among road overseers are Josiah Crane, James Tripp, Henry Brightman, and Benjamin Collins.


Tuesday, March 6, 1804. Meeting held at Stephen Hooper's tavern. Super- visor and Clerk re-elected; Nicholas Squire appears as Assessor; Stephen Crane and Amasa Shearman are new Commissioners of Highways; Simeon Bacon is Collector ; Benjamin Stebbins, Constable. Fence Viewers are voted one dollar per day for services, and Oliver Brown, Bradley Disbrow, Henry Parker, Asa Bacon, Thomas Beadle, and William Galt are officials for this service and remu- neration.


March 5, 1805. Daniel Sayre is Supervisor; Russell Pratt, Town Clerk ; D. Southwick, Assessor; T. Morris, R. Disbrow, J. Hall, J. Maynard, L. Van Alstine, and S. Chapman, Overseers of Highways.


1806. A. Knapp and B. Parkhurst are Constables; and Messrs. Briggs, Liv- ingtone, Young, Southwick, Swift, Barnes, Reynolds, Parker, and Rogers in charge of roads.


The meeting of 1807 was held at Lewis Birdsall's. Jacob L. Lazelere, Town Clerk ; David Lum and Asa Smith, Commissioners of Highways. "Voted that no person shall keep a tavern or inn in this town, unless he cause to be made a good and sufficient yard for lodging stock." Voted, in 1808, that the town be divided by the north line of Galen, the new town to be called "Stirling."


Meeting in 1811 at the house of J. Chamberlain. Resolved, that the town be divided at an original survey line, and the north part annexed to Galen. Election held in 1813, at Asa Bacon's, where State school allowance is refused as regards schools, and desired if a fund to educate the poor.


Election was held at Pontius Hooper's, in 1815, and for several years at Jesse Decker's. In 1822, a meeting was held at the court-house; T. F. Stevens, P. A. Barker, J. Burton, and A. A. Baldwin, Justice of the Peace, presiding. Re- ceived of County, for schools, $243.80; of Town Collector, $246.25. Total, $490.05. Fifty-seven highway districts in the town. A vote was cast on dividing the town in 1824, and carried in the negative by ten to one.


ORGANIZATION OF WATERLOO.


" We have no title-deeds to house or lands ; Owners and occupants of earlier dates From gravee forgotten stretch their dusty hands, And hold in mortmain etill their old estates."


The formation of the town of Waterloo is contemporary with the division of Junius, on March 26, 1829. Tts south line is the Seneca River. Its southwest


corner borders on Seneca Lake. Its surface is almost uniformly level. Lying low, marshes occupy portions of its area, and the bed of the river is but little below the general surface. The soil embraces a variety of gravel, muck and clay, and sandy loam. A single stream, flowing south and eastward, and termed Black Brook, rises in and drains the surplus waters of the town into the Seneca River. The N. Y. C. and H. R. R (old road) follows the general course of the river across the south lands of the town, which is divided, for educational purposes, into nine school districts. Roads radiate from Waterloo village along the river to Geneva and Seneca Falls, and stretch diagonally to the northwest across the town. The Revolutionary war had closed, and this region was part of a large portion of land set apart for the benefit of the soldiery, few of whom seem to have valued their warrants sufficiently to desire a location upon them. Their claims were bought by speculators, and sold entire or fragmentary to actual settlers. As may be stated in the village history, the Indians had long resided on the banks of the Seneca, and felt themselves the rightful owners of the soil while yielding to the inevitable; and hence our extract starting this chapter. To those who have been long residents of this locality a recollection of wellnigh forgotten names will revive old memories, and make a journey from lot to lot enjoyable. The pioneer land-hunter marked a tract for real or supposed advantages, and there began his labors. It is notable that the tide did not sweep on unbroken, but left here and there, at often distant intervals, a settler or a group of settlers, and spent its force in the northwest territory. The unequal settlement of lots is thus explained, and some tracts not desirable fell to late comers, who had no choice. In the northwest corner of the town lies No. 65, which was settled by Jonathan Oakley, who had bought a fifty-acre piece in the east part, and moved on into the woods. A blacksmith by trade, the clang of his hammer was often heard by the traveler in those parts, and many the job done by the frontier knight of the forge. He wearied of the locality after four years' residence, and, selling to Thomas Bruce in 1814, the latter sold again to L. Smith, whose family are yet owners. John Crittenden came on from the East with a family, and started a tavero upon the central part of the lot, about 1814. Nearly a score of years passed away, when William, a brother, bought the place and John went West. Noah, a third Crittenden, brought on a family, and lived on one hundred acres of the south side. Next, east, lies 66, whither came, about 1800, James Tripp and family from Washington County, N. Y. Tripp had the southeast quarter; moved in 1815 to Galen, and afterwards to Tyre, where he died. Thomas Pitcher was his successor, John Shekell his ; then, prior to 1840, came Henry Bonnell, the present occupant. Upon the southwest part moved William Hampton, of New Jersey, in 1800. For ten years he strove with Nature for the mastery, and with his family removing west- ward, gave way to Richard Dell, who built a frame house in 1814, and found a satisfactory home, whereon he died and left the property to his children, and the present owners are Charles and H. S. Bonnell and William C. Dutton. A settler was often a man of varied experience, and in 1804, there came from New Jersey, and settled on a farm of eighty acres, a man named Thomas Bills, who was known later as a preacher and earlier as an extensive traveler. His delight was a re- hearsal to attentive auditors of his experience in South America and in Eastern lands. The narratives of Bills to the children of the backwoods were as attractive to them as the voyages of Sindhad the Sailor to the cruel voluptuary on the throne of Persia. In 1806 the preacher had sold to a shoemaker, who pursued his calling busily and successfully. Nathaniel Bonnell did not farm, but probably hired his field-work. On the northeast corner lived John Green in 1808. Two years later, and a log school-house was erected in the west part of the lot, and here for several years taught Daniel Pound, who is remembered as a good in- structor. Benjamin Hampton, of New Jersey, in 1800, held one hundred and


81


82


HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


fifty acres in the south part of No. 67. He had gone West to seek his fortune, and, in 1807, married Mary Jackson. Webster Laing bought the place in 1834; James Shear, purchasing of him, remained but two years, and then the Hampton place was sold to A. S. MeIntyre, present occupant. From the ocean and whaling voyages to the western lands and thick woods was a strange transition to Ebenezer Chase, of Rhode Island ; yet, in 1802, we find him settled on a fifty-acre farm of this lot, where his sturdy sons resolutely set to work and cleared the land. Chase afterwards sold to Matthew Rogers, a carpenter, who followed his trade but little, attending maiuly to his farm-work. Rogers sold to Critchet, and the land passed successively to William Punderson, P. R. Wood, Webster Laing, and A. S. MeIntyre, the present holder. John Woodhouse settled on one hundred aeres at an early day, at the eross-roads, where J. Tulitt now lives. Cornelius Dunham had several log huts, in 1800, upon one hundred acres in the northeast part of the lot. A grandson owns the same traet as the third generation of occupants. One hundred and forty acres on the north part was owned in 1803 by Chancellor Hyde. In ownership Hyde was sneceeded by Benjamin Shotwell; other owners have been known, till it finally has passed to R. Lane. A single society of Friends has had its origin and decay outside of the village of Waterloo; its site was the south side of Lot 67. A society of Friends held their first meeting at the dwelling of Benjamin Hampton, north of the present meeting-house. Organizing, they erected a log church some time in 1806. The builders selected a site in the midst of the woods; the trees were cut, and a portion of their trunks incorporated in the sides of the structure. The membership of this forest-society of Quakers consisted of Henry Bonnell and wife, daughter Mary, and son Jacob; James Tripp, John Laing, wife and family, and Joseph Laing and family. Thomas Bills and B. Collins were exhorters. Elijah Pound was, a well-beloved and leading man in the society, and was their leader for a period extending from 1808 to 1829. The present two-story frame meeting-house was erected in 1818, at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars ; part of this sum was obtained by subscription and the rest by donation from the Yearly Meeting in New York City. Henry Hyde was the builder. Meetings have been held occasionally in the house ever since its first opening ; but the good old Friends died one by one, the more youthful moved elsewhere, till a single individual remains of a former large organization. Where the old pioneers were buried but few head-stones rise to arrest the step of the eareless and curious intruders ; silently and unknown they rest, awaiting the mighty trumpet- call to wake the buried nations. This grave-yard, near the Quaker meeting-honse, had early origin. Here lies the dust of Thomas Beadle, a Junins pioneer, and here was buried the wife of Thomas Bills and many another. On 68 lived Dr. Hubbard, a practicing physician ; his farm, of one hundred aeres, lay near the centre of the lot; his son, Orlando, received the place; then he, too, dying, it went to heirs, and is now owned by W. H. Dunham, a son-in-law. Opposite Hubbard, on one hundred and forty acres, lived Jacob Winters; his successor, George W. MeAllister, removed to Michigan and traded his Seneca farm to David Skaats, who sold to Abram Lane, and he to M. Hough. In 1806, Jacob Weatherlow owned sixty acres at the road intersection, and the old farm has passed to the hands of Thomas Godfrey .. Possibly not the first, yet early settlers on the south part of the lot, were Russell Ammon. John and Ethel Daley, of whom nothing is known.


In or about 1800, a man named Asa Bacon was the owner and ocenpant of Lot 81. During the epidemie of tavern-keeping, he erected and conducted a house of en- tertainment for some years. . Finally, dividing the lot, which is regarded as one of the best in the town, among his children, he returned to the Shakers at Lebanon, whence he had come. The old tavern has been transformed into a neat residence, and few would suspeet the stout bench-hewed studding, covered by medern weather- boarding, to have held together a half-century, and, still firm as metal, form the basis of J. C. Halstead's pleasant home. The lot is in part owned to-day by the grandchildren of the old settler, W. F. and B. Bacon, the former being a resident.


The first settler in the town of Waterloo was John Greene, who came here in 1789, from Rhode Island, and located at the eross-roads of Lot 80. Greene had right in one hundred and fifty acres, upon which he built a log hnt, and gave his time to hunting, trapping, and traffic with the Indians, who are said to have feared him, principally on account of his unusual strength. The advent of settlers destroyed the interest of Greene in this locality, and, selliog out to Walter Wood, he moved again to the woods beyond. Wood sold to John Tripp about 1800. The latter put up a frame tavern in 1803, and an addition to it afterwards. The building was burned some twenty years ago, while owned by Samuel Lundy, who had indireetly purchased of Tripp. The farm was sold to David Devoll, and by him disposed of to A. MeIntyre. Gideon Bowdish came upon the lot at a very. early period, and, buying eighty acres on the northwest, made a temporary home of logs. The farm has descended by entailment at death from Gideon to William, his son, and from the son to his children. John Fowler, a maker of spinning- 'wheels during leisure hours, was owner and dweller upon a farm of one hundred


and fifteen aeres of the northeast corner in the year 1805. His stay was transient, and he sold out to John Lane, a New Jersey carpenter, well qualified for his business; his services were in demand, and he is recalled as the leading mechanic of the locality. At his demise, the heirs sold to William Shotwell, and the suc- eessive owners have been Josiah E. Holbrook 'and S. S. Maynard, the present possessor. Joseph Bigelow had one hundred aeres on the south part, and moved upon them with his family in 1805. Sale was made to Benjamin Howland, who in turn sold to William Webster, from New Jersey. Abram Vail became its next owner, and his son-in-law, O. S. Maynard, is now occupant.


When Henry Bonnell, of New Jersey, in 1803, came out to Seneca County, bringing his family in a wagon, he settled on fifty-five aeres of the north part of Lot 79. Before he could put up the customary log house, the trees had to be cut away from the site, but these and like difficulties gave way before his persistent efforts. Twelve years he tilled the fields in summer and continued his improve- ments in winter, while a family grew up about him. At the elose of the war of 1812, he yielded to the impulse to sell, which has been to the advantage of some and the injury of many, and, receiving his price from Richard Dell, moved north to Wayne County. Dell continued in possession until 1834, when he gave way to Charles Bonnell, whose son is the present owner. Not with long, pointed tube, driven by successive blows deep into the earth, and having attached the justly celebrated pumps like those turned out by thousands from the works at Seneca Falls, but by an ever-deepening cylindrical hole, from which the earth, clay, and gravel came up slowly by the windlass, till a subterranean vein was reached, stone walled, with sweep and oaken bucket, was the early settler supplied with water, The well-digger's occupation is gone, but William Hyatt, wbo came September 1, 1800, with the Tripps from Washington County and dug the wells through the neighborhood, did an essential service to the settlers, and is remembered as having lived on a farm of fifty acres of the lot, which he found time to clear and make productive. Hyatt was stout and industrions, and maintained himself upon his possession until 1810, when he went West to Ohio, having made a sale to a black- smith named Daniel Mills, who ran a shop in connection with the farm. William Bowdish bought the field and deeded it to Phobe B. Dean, his daughter, and it is now the land of William R. Bonnell. Benjamin Ball, of New Jersey, moved with a family upon the centre of the lot, and claimed a tract of sixty-five acres. He was an adept at nail-making, which business, pursued at intervals in the East, furnished means to help clear up his land and surround himself with comforts. His trouble seems to have been the prevalence of bears, which lost no opportunity to carry off a hog; yet Ball was able to reimburse himself with the scarcely in- ferior meat of bruin's self, whose shaggy eoat made warm coverings. Hugh Jackson eame very early, and located upon eighty-five acres in the southeast of the lot ; having sold to Philetus Swift, he in turn transferred to Benjamin Hart- well, and then, from .various ownership, the traet has passed to become the property of Henry Bonnell.


Lot 78 lies on the west, and joins upon Ontario. Samuel Canfield, an early school-master, settled on the west line upon fifty acres, and was the first upon the lot, which lay unoceupied till 1828. A log house yet standing stood opposite Canfield's place. . In it lived Charles Doty, who was the owner of a traet, which has been known in consequence as Doty's Marsh. The lot has a number of occu- pants, principally of more recent date.


Lot 89 was first settled in 1804, by an Irishman named Martin, who moved upon the east side with his family, and erected a habitation. Martin moved away within a few years. Hugh W. Dobbin, a colonel during the second war with Great Britain and a gallant and meritorious officer, acquired the whole lot some time in 1825, and his sons, Lodowiek and William, took up a residence upon it. A part of the tract still remains with the descendants. Lot 90 was settled about 1802, by James Dobbin, from Long Island. He owned one hundred acres in the western part, and built a tavern, which is in use aa the residence of E. Stone, and he afterward became a well-known merchant of Rochester. Six years after the loca- tion of Dobbin on the lot, Septimus Evans settled a little to the east of him, and was known as a person of considerable property. Joseph Scott bought a part of Evans's land, and lived upon it many years ago. Two roads, two railroads, and a canal traverse the lot. H. W. Dobbin is regarded as the first settler upon. Lot 92. His farm embraced one hundred and thirty acres in the central portion. There he erected a frame house, and opened a tavern which he kept for many years, and became known as a social and military man and an excellent landlord, far and wide. We have said that he distinguished himself in the engagements fought on Canadian territory, and, returning to Seneca, he resumed his vocation of keeping a publie. house. Finally removing to Geneva, in 1840, he there resided till his death, which transpired at the age of eighty-six. S. S. Mallory now owns the former Dobbin farm. The east side of the lot was taken up by Gov- ernor Tompkins. About 1818, John Cowdry moved upon it with a family, and erected a frame dwelling. 'He had acquired the rank of colonel in the war of


83


HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


1812, and had been a resident of New York City, to which he returned in 1830, while his land passed to one Wheeler, a Geneva storekeeper. In the southwest part of the lot lived Nathan Teal, in 1805, upon a farm of one hundred acres, now held by William Sisson. Teal volunteered in 1812, and was commissioned a captain; built a tavern at the foot of the lake about 1830, and also a grist-mill. Near by was the clothiery of Jacoh Vreeland, run by him for several years. On the death of Teal, his son, George, took his place in the tavern, but finally sold out to George Page. Pitt Doty located early on the west side of the lot, north of the present road. He was a carpenter, and followed his trade in contracting and building houses and barns, while his boys partially cleared and carried on work upon the farm. No. 91 is supposed to have been first settled in 1800, by a Mr. Simpson, who owned one hundred and forty-eight acres in the southeast part, and became the occupant of a frame house erected upon it. Simpson moved elsewhere in 1805, and was succeeded hy P. Pierson, who made the usual emi- grant's journey in wagons, with wife aud children, from Long Island, and moved into the house vacated by Simpson. This served as a home until 1825, when he removed to a new dwelling, wherein he died in 1853. J. H. Pierson, a son, then came in possession, and at the age of sixty-eight is a farmer upon the place. On the west side, in 1808, there settled on one hundred acres Andrew Nicholson, from Dutchess County. Having established his family in a log house, he resumed and continued his business of weaving, and directed the lahors of his sons upon the farm. Thirteen years elapsed, and he sold to John Haviland, who lived there twenty-two years, and then died. The heirs sold to John L. Church, a New York storekeeper. Church died, and his heirs sold to D. E. Williams, the present owner. Upon the southwest corner, in 1816, was John Straughan, a Scotchman. For five years he lived in a log house, and worked upon his farm of ninety-three acres, and then sold to Robert Wooden, who owns it at present.


Lot 93 was early disputed territory. The soldier's right had been acquired by Mr. Munford, of Auburn, and had also been purchased by the well-known Gerrit Smith, and between the two the title was contested many years, and interfered with settle- ment. Munford was the successful litigant, and, when confirmed in title, began the sale of portions to actual settlers. One MeCurdy moved on about 1805, and combined the business of keeping tavern with work at the forge, blacksmithing being his vocation. Within a few years he died, and Cornelius Hill and father became owners and occupants for quite a period. The farm was bought by R. MeCurdy, son of the first settler. In 1808 John Bell came on with a large family, built a log cabin and began clearing the one hundred acres where S. P. Soule now owns. Within a few years Bell sold to the Nicholson brothers, three in number, who rented for a time, and finally passing to heirs, it was sold by them to one Bel- lamy, who transferred to the present possessor. Robert McCormick, from Geneva, removed to the land on the east side in 1820, built a log house, worked for a time, and left for Michigan, having sold to John Lidiard, an Englishman, who after several years' residence deeded to his son John, and the farm was by him trans- ferred to P. Pierson, in 1848. Lawson R. Pierson received the land from his father, and sold to Alfred Vail, who now lives upon it. James Wooden also settled in the central part of 93 in 1825. As early as 1805, one Cram had settled upon 94 and put up a tavern on the sonthwest corner. Having served the public as a host of the wayside inn for a reasonable period, he gave way to Joseph Nichols, with whom the building hurned ._ Another was erected, and the business continued; the stand was finally bought by R. McCurdy. A shingle-maker, named Sekell, lived in 1808 near Black Brook, where M. B. Pulver now owns. The early residents upon Lot 95 were, Whiteford, the Scotchman, who moved in'1808 upon the sonthwest part, and opened tavern at the corners, and Sears, who at an early day was living on the southeast part, where Toby now resides. Farther east, on 96, lived Moores Dimmick, of the tavern-keeping fraternity, in the house occupied by George N. Reed. In a log house, nearer Waterloo, lived a pettifogger named Benjamin A. Clapp, upon the farm now owned by Dr. Welles. Farther east, on the north side of the road, was Ricker, who kept tavern and grocery, and supplied attendants at the horse-races, then common, with gingerbread and beer.




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