History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 109

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > New York > Steuben County > History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 109

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Capt. Joel Pratt, a lineal descendant of the fifth genera- tion from John Pratt, and son of Deacon Elisha Pratt, of Colchester, Conn., boru Sept. 26, 1745, married Mrs. Mary Beach Fowler, daughter of Deacon Benjamin Beach, of Hebron, Conn., February, 1779 ; first settled in Columbia Co., N. Y., and in the year 1799 visited the wilderness about Prattsburgh on horseback, at which time what is now Prattsburgh was an unbroken wilderness. He returned home, and in the year 1800, with his son Harvey, a four- ox team, six men, and one hired girl, with needful tools and provisions, after a journey of eighteen days, reached what is now Urbana Hill, four miles west of the village of Ham- mondsport, and the first year cleared off one hundred and ten acres of forest, and made the land ready for wheat.

In 1802, Capt. Pratt removed his family to the new set- tlement. In 1804 he made improvements on the place now occupied and owned by William B. Pratt, near the village of Prattsburgh, and in 1805 settled there with his family. (For further particulars relative to Capt. Pratt's early settle-

ment, see history of Prattsburgh. ) Their children were Joel, Ira, Harvey, Anna, Dan, and Elisha.

Capt. Pratt was identified with and held a controlling interest in the early settlement and disposition of lands, gave the town its name, assisted in founding the first religious society, laid out the public park, and secured it to the Pratts- burgh Religious Society, together with a plat of ground for a cemetery, and lands for the support of church interests. Ile died at Prattsburgh, Sept. 30, 1821. His wife died at the age of sixty-three, Jan. 31, 1818.

Elisha, youngest son of Capt. Joel Pratt, born in Spen- certown, Columbia Co., Aug. 21, 1790, was twelve years of age when the family settled here. Ile married Emily, daughter of Dr. Bildad Beach, of Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Feb. 7, 1821 ; lived on the homestead first settled at Prattsburgh during his life; was a farmer by occupation ; led a strictly business life, was a man of correct habits and sterling integrity in all his business relations, and respected by all who knew him. He died April 12, 1849. His wife died June 2, 1871, aged seventy-four. She was a person of great vigor of mind, was the last relic of the early set- tlers on the road from Prattsburgh towards Bath, and was at the head of a family fifty years prior to her death. Their children were, Joel (deceased), William B., and Mary B. (who died young).

Mr. William B. Pratt, only surviving child of the family, was born Dec. 27, 1822, received a fair education at the common school and at the Franklin Academy, but spent a very large part of his majority at farm labor at home.

Mr. Pratt is among the representative agriculturists in

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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the town of Prattsburgh, and has ever been interested in all matters leading to local improvement and the general welfare of the citizens of the town. (A view of his resi- dence, built by his grandfather, Capt. Joel Pratt, in 1817, with its surroundings, may be seen on another page of this work.) He was formerly a member of the old Whig party, but in 1859 became a member of the Democratic party, the principles of which he still adheres to. From 1863 to 1868, inclusive, he represented his town as supervisor, and (which is a fact worthy of note here) in 1864, while acting as supervisor, he did the town very efficient service under the call of July, for ninety-two men for the army. In this matter, with the support of intelligent citizens, he is said to have saved the town some seventy-five thousand dollars.

For some fifteen years he was a member of the board of trustees of the Franklin Academy, and has ever been a liberal supporter of educational interests, and was largely instrumental in making the public park.

Mr. Pratt has engaged earnestly in the advocacy of the " Patrons of Husbandry," giving his time and money for its support, believing as he does that the farmer is the " golden goose," from which others pluck feathers of profit ; that he is largely the unequal tax-payer of the country, and hence is entitled to a representation in all matters affecting local, State, or national interests; and in behalf of this movement, and many others, he has written many articles for the press that have claimed the attention of the think- ing public.

Mr. Pratt has been married three times : first, to Mar- tha Jane MeNair, of West Sparta, Livingston Co., in 1847 (she died Nov. 14, 1848) ; second, to Mrs. Hester A. Carr, daughter of Deacon Babcock, of Prattsburgh (she died in 1852, leaving one son, Joel, who also died, at the age of 13); for his third wife he married Cornelia P., daughter of Henry and Mary Ann Brother, of Bath, Sept. 16, 1852. Of this union have been born eleven children, of whom nine survive.

OTIS WALDO

was third son and fourth child of Jesse and Martha Waldo, pioneer settlers in the town of Prattsburgh ; was born Dec. 28, 1794, in Connecticut, prior to the removal of the fam- ily to this county. The line of descent of the Waldo family here is traced back to Cornelius Waldo, the emigrant who settled in Ipswich, Mass., in 1650. The descent is through (1) Cornelius; (2) John; (3) Edward ; (+) Shuback ; (5) Jesse ; (6) Jesse second, father of the subject of this nar- rative.

About the year 1815, Mr. Waldo, with youthful vigor and a resolution to succeed, commenced life for himself, settled on some fifty acres of timbered land, built a saw- mill, and began lumbering and clearing off the original forest and preparing his land for tillage. He afterwards made additions to his original purchase, so that his farm comprised two hundred and ninety-four acres, now owned and occupied by the only surviving son, James A. Waldo.

In 1820, Sept. 28, he married Fanny, daughter of Dea- con Aaron and Miriam Cook, of Prattsburgh. She was

born Oct. 21, 1798. Their beginning was in a house built about 1816, a view of which may be seen in the same pic- ture with a view of the second residence erected by Mr. Waldo, as shown on another page of this work. For about a half-century, Mr. and Mrs. Waldo lived on this home- stead, made various improvements, erected commodious buildings, and cleared almost the entire farm of its original forest ; the result of a life of labor and toil.

Flis life was one of activity. Possessed of that force of character common to the family of Waldo, yet he was un- ostentatious and plain in his ways, a valuable citizen, and known for his integrity of purpose in all his business rela- tions, characterized for his consideration, firmness, and honesty.

Ile took no active part in political matters, further than to cast his vote, which he did intelligently, first with the Whig and afterwards with the Republican party.

In early life he became a member of the Congregational Church of Prattsburgh, and with his wife, both remained consistent to their religious faith until their death. Mr. Waldo was very fond of the study of the Scripture, and discussed with force and intelligence the various topics therein contained. He died July 15, 1870. His wife died Feb. 24, 1870. They had the following-named children : Otis H. Waldo, received his academie instruction in Franklin Academy, and graduated at Union College in 1843. In 1844 he advocated the interests of Clay and the Whig party, and after the election went South and studied law with Gen. John A. Quitman, of Natchez, Miss. In 1849 he settled in Milwaukee and entered upon the practice of the legal profession, soon rising to the front rank. Hle pursued his cherished avocation with vigor, was possessed of strong natural endowments, improved by much reading and study, an intense worker, and ambitious beyond his strength. As a lawyer he was successful, professionally and financially. Ile served as president of an important railroad leading from the city of Milwaukee, to whose energy that enterprise is said to be largely indebted. He was the unsuccessful candidate for the mayoralty of the city and for the United States Senate, the city being of adverse politics. His death occurred Oct. 30, 1874. Martha Miriam (died in infancy); Abigail F. (died young) ; and James A. Waldo, the youngest and only surviving member of the family, re- sides on the old homestead.

JOSEPHI M. HOPKINS

was born in the town of Prattsburgh, on the farm where he now resides, April 19, 1815. His grandfather, Capt. Con- sider llopkins, was born in West Hartford, Conn., in June, 1723, and died in August, 1795. He married Lydia Gil- bert, born in the city of Hartford, in 1731, and died in September, 1800. Their children were as follows :

Consider Hopkins, born in New Hartford, July, 1752, died 1838; Hannah Hopkins, born in New Hartford, April, 1754, died February, 1813; Roderick Hopkins, born in New Ilartford, April, 1756; George Hopkins, born in New Hartford, February, 1758; Elias Hopkins, born in New Hartford, Jan. 4, 1760; John Hopkins, born in New

Malolo

Janney Ce Haldo

RESIDENCE OF J. A. WALDO, PRATTSBURGH, STEUBEN CO.,N Y.

Joseph M. Hopkins

RESIDENCE OF J. M. HOPKINS, PRATTSBURGH, STEUBEN CO., N. Y

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TOWN OF PRATTSBURGH.

Hartford, Aug. 31, 1763; Mark Hopkins, born in New Hartford, Oct. 14, 1764.

In 16- two brothers by the name of llopkins emigrated from England and settled in Rhode Island, and the above are descendants from one of them.

Capt. Consider Hopkins was a farmer, and, it is said, was very fond of hunting, often braving extreme danger in searching out the hiding-places of the panther and wolf. He died at the age of abont forty-six, leaving a wife and six sons and one daughter, viz., Consider, Roderick, George, Elias, John, Mark, and Hannah (Mrs. Asher Bull). Ilis father, Mark, was the youngest of the sons, and the only one who did not reach the advanced age of eighty. When a young man, Mark Hopkins and his mother removed to Oneida County, where he was married, first to Lydia Mer- rill, of which union were born Elisha G. and Lydia. The mother of these children died in 1794, aged twenty-six. For his second wife he married Sarah Kellogg, Feb. 14, IS02. Of this union were born in Oneida County Ralph, Erastus, and Eliza C. (Mrs. Simeon Hayes, of Prattsburgh) ; after reaching Steuben County, Emily M. (Mrs. George E. Ilayes, of Buffalo), Ralph W., Mark, Joseph Mark, and Hiram.

The father first came to Prattsburgh and settled the farm now owned by his son, Joseph M., in the spring of 1806, taking up some one hundred and eighty-two acres of timbered land. In 1807, March, he moved his family here and began a. pioneer life in the new country. In 1814 he built the residence now standing on the premises and occupied by his son, and with the exception of some repairs, is as it was built, sixty- four years ago. A view of the same with its surroundings may be seen on another page of this work. He and his wife were among the early members of the Congregational Church, and he was one of the founders of the Franklin Academy, and one of its trustees for many years. Ile died in 1843, at the age of nearly seventy-nine. Ilis wife died in 1852, at the age of nearly seventy-eight. Of all the children, only Joseph M. and Mrs. Hayes have remained residents of Steuben County, they being now the only sur- viving ones.

Mr. Hopkins spent his minority on the farm, received a fair education at the common school and at Franklin Acad- emy, and was a teacher for one term. For many years after reaching his majority, on account of ill health, he spent little of his time on the farm. He was early identi- fied with the society of Odd-Fellows, and was District Deputy Grand Master in 1853-54, and visited officially the various lodges of the county ; and prior to that time had represented the society in the Grand Lodge of Northern New York several times.

In 1854, March 30, he married Laura A., daughter of Henry G. and Laura (Hopkins) Linsley, of Prattsburgh. She was born Oct. 26, 1831. Since his marriage he has given his attention mostly to farming. Ilis children are Mark H., Charles E. and Harriet E. (twins).

July, 1860, Mr. Hopkins became a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and has been identified with that body in Prattsburgh since.

He has not been actively identified in political matters, but ever interested in the questions of State and National

importance. Was formerly identified with the Whig party, and upon the formation of the Republican party became a supporter of its principles.

Mr. Hopkins has always been interested in educational matters and local improvements, and for some twenty years following the death of his father was a trustee of Franklin Academy.

He has been prominently identified with the " Patrons of Husbandry" since the organization in 1874, and liber- ally supports that interest looking to the welfare of the agriculturist, and is at present Worthy Master of the " Steuben County Council," and has been for three years elected Master of the " Prattsburgh Grange."

At the annual meeting of the Steuben County Agricul- tural Society, held in Bath, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1879, Mr. Hopkins was elected president of the society for the ensuing year. This is a just recognition of the ability of Mr. Hop- kins, as well as of his entire devotion to the business of agriculture.

JOIIN VAN HOUSEN

was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., Ang. 7, 1802. 1Fis grandfather, Henry Van Housen, was one of the first settlers of Albany County ; resided there until about thirty years of age; removed to Johnstown, Montgomery Co., where his six children were born, except the eldest, viz., Henry, John, Wynard, Jacob, Mrs. Linkinfelter, and Mrs. Flans- bury. The mother of these children died in that county, at the age of about forty. The father subsequently resided with his son Jacob, in Cato, N. Y., and died there at the age of sixty-nine. All of the children are dead.

His father, Henry Van Housen, was a native of Albany ; at the age of sixteen went to Montgomery County ; married Betsey Benedict, of the same county, but a native of Dan- bury, Coun., and her father, Robert Benedict, was an early pioneer of Saratoga County.

Of this union were born six sons and three daughters,- Ilenry, Robert, John, Sarah, Ann, Rebecca, Susan, Charles, and James ; of whom Robert, John, and Sarah are living. The father was a farmer, gave his children a fair opportunity for an education, and in the latter part of his life lived with his son John, in Prattsburgh, where he died, aged seventy-four, in the year 1853. The mother survived her husband some three years, and died at the residence of her daughter, in Boston, Mass., about the year 1856, at the age of seventy-six.

Mr. John Van Honsen spent his life until he was twenty- seven at home on the farm. In 1829, September 24, he married Ann, daughter of Cornelius Hoffman, of Mont- gomery County. She was born Sept. 23, 1805. Her father was a cousin of the father of ex-Governor John T. Iloffman.

IIe began life after marriage without pecuniary assistance from his parents, and by self-exertion, prudence, and strict economy through a business life of over half a century has secured a sufficient competence to place him and his family beyond the apprehension of want. For five years as a far- mer in Montgomery County, and forty-four years as a suc- cessful and leading agriculturist of Steuben County, he has led an active, industrious life of manual labor. In 1834

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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

he settled in the town of Howard with his family of wife and two children,-Charles IT. and Catharine (deceased). In 1846 he settled in the town of Prattsburgh, on what is known as the Jared Pratt farm of three hundred and ten aeres, and in 1876 purchased the place where he now resides, near the village. Besides his farm interests, he has dealt quite largely in real estate in the town of Prattsburgh, as also in the town of Iloward ; and in all his business transae- tions Mr. Van Housen has aeted with that successful saga- city and common sense often found among men who carve out their own fortune.

The children born in the town of IToward were Edward

and is a man of correct habits. In the days of slavery he stood strongly intrenched againt human bondage, and during the late Rebellion supported the Union cause, and one son, Israel A., was for nineteen months a soldier of that war.

It is a fact worthy of note here, that while a resident of the town of Howard, although not worth altogether one hundred dollars, Mr. Van Housen borrowed fifty dollars and assisted in the erection of the first Presbyterian church of that town. To such men churches, sehools, society, law and order owe their existence, and the sketches of the lives of such men may prove lessons of profit to their progeny and the rising generation who enjoy the results of their labor.

John Van Housen

Il. and Israel A. The mother died Oct. 7, 1841. For his second wife he married Adeline, daughter of Beriah Hotehkin, of Prattsburgh, Ang. 2, 1843. Of this union was born, in the town of Howard, also one daughter, Mrs. Dr. Warren Stewart, of Savona.

After moving to Prattsburgh the mother died, May 12, 1846, and for his third wife he married Mrs. P. W. An- drews, daughter of Joseph H. Williams, of Rushville, Yates Co.

She was born May 10, 1805, and is a lady of fine intellectual attainments. Mr. Van Housen has ever been a strong advocate of temperance principles before the people,

JE Van Housen

He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since he was fifteen years of age, and all of his wives have also been connected with the same religious body.

Mr. Van Housen, now in his seveuty-seventh year, is known as one of the most active men in the community, and shows a well-preserved constitution and active mental faculties ; and in the interests of the agriculturist, he has taken an active part in the spread of the platform adopted by the " Patrons of IIusbandry ;" was one of the charter members of the grange for the town of Prattsburgh, and has been prominent in its councils, and liberal in time and money to place before the people its principles.

PULTENEY.

GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION.

THIS town is situated upon the west shore of Crooked Lake, and is the northeast corner town of the county. It is bounded north by Yates County, east by Keuka, or Crooked Lake, south by Urbana, and west by Prattsburgh.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

Pulteney contains an area of 20,110 acres, 16,213 of which are improved farms, 3897 timbered and other unim- proved lands. The surface is a rolling upland, from seven to nine hundred feet above the surface of the lake, and presents many fine points of observation, from which the lake and surrounding country may be seen to advantage. The declivities along the lake-shore are broken by many narrow ravines, formed by small streams. The soil is chiefly a shaly and gravelly loam, but in some places near the lake clay predominates. The highlands are well adapted to farming, and since the introduction of grape culture, those along the declivities of the hills bordering upon the lake have been rendered valuable.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The names of a number of the early settlers, who came to Pulteney previous to ISO8, and who took a part in the organization and civil affairs of the town, are preserved in the records, from which we have transcribed largely in an- other section of our history of this town. John Van Camp and David Thompson appear to have been the first settlers, about the year 1797. Among the other early settlers were Samuel Miller, G. F. Fitzsimmons, John Black, James and George Simms, Henry Hoffman, Abraham Bennett, and Shadrach Norris. Samuel and Nathaniel Wallis, John Ellis, William White, James Daily, Erastus Glass, Harmon Emmons, and Seth Pierce arrived in 1806, and soon after Elias and John Hopkins, Cornelius Lounsbury, and George Raymond.

Shadrach Norris was an old Revolutionary soldier, and has many descendants still living in town, among whom are his grandsons, Levi, Samuel H., Johnson, Shadrach, and James Norris, and his granddaughters, Mrs. Esther Clark and Mrs. Susannah Halliday.

Thomas Hyatt, grandfather of Mrs. Celia Alexander and Mr. Nelson R. Hyatt, was one of the early settlers.

Stephen Stratton settled in the south part of the town, on the Palmer farm, now occupied by Vaniah Drake, in 1816. He is now ninety-two years old, and resides in Prattsburgh.

In February, 1808, the town of Pulteney was formed from Bath, and comprised what are now Prattsburgh and a part of Urbana. Prattsburgh was set off in 1813, and a part of Pulteney was annexed to Urbana in 1848.

Immediately upon the organization of the town, improve- ments began to be made in various directions, road and school districts were formed, and roads surveyed and opened. At the first town-meeting nineteen overseers of roads were elected, to superintend the opening and improvement of an equal number of road districts in the town. From 1814 settlers came in from the eastern part of the State and from New England, and took possession of the northern part of the town. They were a hardy, industrious, enterprising, and moral people.

Hon. Goldsmith Deniston, a former resident of Pulteney, was employed, in 1859, to make the agricultural survey of the county, a full report of which, together with a history of the title to lands and a brief sketch of the early settle- ment, was published in the Transactions of the State Agri- cultural Society for 1860. Mr. Deniston has since removed to New York.

ORGANIZATION.

The first town-meeting for the town of Pulteney was held at the house of Jesse Waldo, on the first Tuesday in March, 1808. The meeting was legally opened by Robert Porter, Esq., Moderator. A ballot then being taken, the following persons were chosen town officers: Uriel Chapin, Supervisor ; Aaron Bell, Town Clerk ; Aaron Cook, Elias Hopkins, Nathan Wallis, Assessors ; William Curtis, Col- lector ; Salisbury Burton and Daniel Bennett, Overseers of the Poor ; Samuel Hayes, John Hopkins, Shadrach Norris, Commissioners of Roads; John Ellis, Gamaliel Loomis, George Raymond, Cornelius Lounsbury, Josiah Allis, Fence- Viewers ; Hermon Emmons, William P. Curtis, Constables.

" Voted, to build two pounds at the expense of the town, one near the house of Shadrach Norris, the other in the centre of Pulteney Society."

" Voted, that Shadrach Norris and Joel Pratt, Jr., be Pound-keepers."

" Voted, to choose two committees of one person each to build the aforesaid pounds, and that Shadrach Norris and Joel Pratt, Jr., be said committees."

" Chosen Overseers of Roads : Cornelius Lounsbury, Sol- omon Daker, John Ellis, Isaac Spalding, Asa Brown, Aaron Bordin, James Stone, John Kent, Reuben IIall, John Black, Daniel Bennett, Isaac Pardy, Joel Tuttle, Asa Cooper, Josiah Allis, Martin Hayes, Stephen Prentiss, George Wrenchin, William Rowley."

At the election for senator held on the last Tuesday in April, 1808, the following persons received the votes set after their respective names : Samuel S. Forman, 15 votes ; Ilenry MeNcil, 14 votes ; Rowell Hopkins, 13 votes ; Fran- cis Henry, 13 votes; Putnam Catlin, 13 votes; Silas Halsey, 6 votes ; Francis A. Bloodgood, 6 votes.

For member of Congress the votes were as follows :

377

378

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Vineent Matthews, 76 votes; Joseph Grover, 45 votes ; George Hornell, 2 votes ; Henry A. Townsend, 1 vote.

For member of Assembly: George Hornell, 68 votes ; Henry A. Townsend, 52 votes ; Vincent Matthews, 4 votes. Uriel Chapin, Elias Hopkins, Nathaniel Wallis, Inspectors of Election.

LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.

Supervisors.

Town Clerks. Collectors.

1808. Uriel Chapin.

Aaron Bull.

William P. Curtis. 66

1809.

Jesse Waldo.

1810. Robert Porter.

Aaron Bull.

Benjamin Bridges.

1811. Uriel Chapin.

John Hopkins.

Stephen Norris.

1812.

JUSTICES ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.

1830. Nathaniel Ball. 1854. Nelson Ball.

1831. Lovitt H. Edget. 1855. Eli Pickett.

1832. John Ilathaway. 1856. John M. Clark.

1833. Daniel Northrop. 1857. Owen Riley.

1834. John Gload.

1858. Harry Godfrey.

1835. A. S. Bennett.

1859. Franklin N. Carpenter.

1836. John Gulick.

1860. James Fitzsimmons.

1837. Harry Godfrey.

1861. Owen Riley.

1821. Josiah Dunlap.

1822.

1823.

1824.

David Hobart.

1825.

1826.

Corn. M. Ilaight.

1827.

Lovet II. Edget.

1868. M. D. Covell.

1828. 66

Anson Cogswell.

1829.

1830. Johns. N. Reynolds.

1831.

Daniel S. Benton.

Jacob Lee.

1832.

1833.

1834.

1835.

Daniel Sheldon.

1836.

1Sā2. William Cavill.

1877. Orlando F. Elliott.

JSå3. Benjamin F. Welles.

1878. Philip Paddock.

PULTENEY VILLAGE.

The village or hamlet of Pulteney is situated in the northeast part of the town. It has two churches, three general stores, two steam-mills and box-factories, three blacksmith-shops, a post-offiee, and a distriet school. It is on the main road leading from Hammondsport to Braneh- port, and within a short mile of the steamboat landing on Keuka Lake. The steam-mills are owned respectively by Carpenter & Wintermute, and the Prentiss Brothers.

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History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 109

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 826