History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 114

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 114

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" After passing our worthy friend, Unele Nicholas, the next house on the State road was built by Nathaniel Thacher in 1808 .* A description of this house will fur- nish a picture of a large class of houses in that wild region at that day. Bear in mind that this was sixty years ago.t . There were no saw-mills within five and twenty miles of this settlement ; the roads were over mountains rough and high, and through sloughs and creeks unbridged. It was therefore no small affair to get a thousand fect of boards from Tuscarora (now Addison) or Canisteo to Troupsburgh. Besides the pioneers were generally, if not altogether, men of small means, who were braving all the hardships of pio- neer life to make themselves a home in the wilderness. Well, then the house, the model house :

" The road runs here nearly north and south, and the house was built on the west side of the road, the ground gently falling to the east and south. It was, I judge, about 20 by 24 or 26 feet; the walls were of round logs, cut within a stone's throw of the site of the building, notched (or ' saddled,' in settler parlance) together at the ends, and thus raised to the height of ten or twelve feet. The beams

to separate the stories were of the same material, round logs. Rude rafters, made of poles and flattened on one side, were notched into the top logs and pinned together at the top to support the coming roof. Across the rafters were pinned ribs made of round poles, flattened on one side, and sometimes strips split out for the purpose from bass- wood logs or other timber. Upon these ribs were laid the shingles for the covering. The shingles were out of the nicest pine, and were some three feet in length. Upon cach course were laid large-sized poles to hold the shingles in place. These poles were kept in place by short billets of wood lying between the poles that held the roof down. And now the house is covered and inclosed. The floors were made of bass-wood planks split out from the trunks of the trees, and made as smooth as they well could be on one side by hewing ; doors and partitions of boards ; the chin- ney of rough stone gathered from the adjoining grounds, and made sufficiently wide and deep to admit a log six feet long and two feet in diameter. The house had a very pleasant outlook towards the south, and must needs have a piazza. This was made by extending the beams a few feet beyond the walls and carrying the roof to the outer ends of the beams, and flooring the piazza with the inevitable bass- wood. Such, dear reader, was the home of many a back- woodsman at the day and in the place of which I am speaking, but it was howe nevertheless, with its peculiar attractions, though destitute of refined polish or even com- fort.

" This farm afterwards became the property of Dr. Charles Hunter, who lived but a few years to enjoy it. A little beyond, and adjoining this farm, lived Jesse Lapham, a good, kind-hearted, and, of course, honest Quaker, with his gentle dame, his son Porter, and his daughter Ruth. I think they remained but a single year, and the premises were soon after occupied by Philip Cady. It became a beautiful farm many years after, in the hands of John Simpson, of whom I have before spoken. From this farm you ascend what used to seem to the writer a very long hill, upon the summit of which, and on the left of the road, lived Elijah Hance. It was, I think, nearly opposite where the cemetery now is (or was forty years since). Of this family I have long since lost all knowledge. I only recol- leet he had one son named Lyman and one John, and one daughter named Cynthia. A little east of IIance, and on a branch road, were Reuben Stiles and Dan Martin. Mrs. Ann Stiles is still living (1879) in Troupsburgh, at the great age of ninety-five years.

" Nearly opposite the cemetery grounds was the first school-house in Troupsburgh. In the winter of 1809, the school in this house was taught by Abner Thomas ; in the summer following, by Sarah Thacher. In a little valley not far beyond the cemetery, lived an old patriarch, Elihu Cady, a tall, noble figure, and apparently a man of great physical power, but through whose locks, like Schanado's, ' the snows of nearly fourscore winters had already passed.' His companion, too, a healthy, light-hearted, social old lady, had apparently left her threescore and ten considerably in the distance behind her. This aged couple had entered the wilderness in their old age, with a large family of grown-up children, and endured all the hardships and privations of a

# Father of Deacon Mowry Thacher, now living in Hornellsville, and the author of these reminiscences.

+ Now seventy years, as the above was written in 1868.

394

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

rough country, that they might enjoy the pleasures and privilege of living and dying with their children. They lived several years after this, and were, I suppose, like Abraham, buried by their sons. Maj. Samuel Cady, whom the old man used to call his baby, as I suppose he was the youngest, lived a little farther on, upon the rise of ground on the right-hand side of the way. The major stood in the front rank, if not in advance of his contemporaries. He was a man of a good deal of tact and energy, and had be- gun to make ' the wilderness blossom and bring forth fruit for the eater.' There were three other sons in this family, -Peter, Curtis and Philip,-whether any daughters I do not recollect. None of that family, I think, remain in Troupsburgh. The farm owned by Maj. Samuel, soon after the time of which I am speaking, came into the hands of the late Hon. Samuel Griggs, who made of it a most beau- tiful and desirable home. Mr. Griggs, though a few years younger, was really contemporary with the earliest settlers. Ilis home, for a long number of years, was on the Cady farm, though this was only a part of the large landed estate of which he was proprietor. At an early period he entered also into mercantile business, and kept a small, but steadily- increasing stock of goods, till he became a well-known and respectable merchant. Ile often represented his town as supervisor, and was for many years an acting magistrate, and was at one time one of the representatives from Steuben County in the State Legislature (in 1838). He was modest and retiring in his manners, and yet he was a man of ex- tensive influence in the town where he lived. He was for many years an esteemed and active member in the Methodist Church. One of the sons of this excellent man is now a prominent and successful merchant in his native town. One of the daughters is Mrs. H. Reynolds. There were several other children in this family, some of whom have gone to the land whence none return, and some remain, it is hoped, to fill the place of an honored father.

" Andy B. Reynolds, son of Squire Reynolds, occupied next to Mr. Griggs, on the opposite side of the road, and only a short distance beyond. He was a man of consider- able prominence in his carly life, being both justice and supervisor for many years. Squire Reynolds was one of the settlers of 1808 or 1809, and located in the hollow, a little off the State road, on the right, upon the road now running from the State road to Troupsburgh Centre. Ilis family consisted of five sons and three daughters. The eldest of the daughters, Martha, married Lewis Hayes, a very worthy man, and also a settler of 1809. From this worthy pair sprang a numerous and respectable family, many of whom are still occupying respectable and useful positions in society. Another of the daughters became the wife of John Simpson. She died in early life, and left several children. One of the sons, I think, is a clergyman, and another a man of extensive business engagements. The third daughter is Mrs. Orange Perry, whose husband is one of the most extensive and successful agriculturists in that part of the county, and whose sons are distinguish- ing themselves in the same department of usefulness. Of the sons of Squire Reynolds, the oldest, Lent Reynolds, is now dead, and the place is occupied by his son, George Reynoldls. Of the sons of Lent Reynolds, five in number,

two are elergymen, two have followed merchandise, and the fifth is an agriculturist, and remains at the old home. A daughter is the wife of a clergyman. Harry B., another of Squire Reynolds' sons, was for many years proprietor of the mills at Troupsburgh Centre, a man of respectability and good business talents. Ile is still living, at an advanced age. Of his family, or of his brother Frederick's, the writer is unable to speak.

" Jonathan Rogers was a neighbor of Squire Reynolds, living just across the way. Ile was a quiet, good citizen, and left a large family, some of whom are still occupying the place of their father, who is gone.

" Capt. George Martin, who was also one of the first settlers, located at what is now the Centre, and a few years after commenced the erection of a grist-mill on Troup's Creek, which is something of a stream where it passes the Centre. Martin's means were very limited, and the mill was a rude structure, built of round logs. It was a lame apology for a mill, but it was in good time, and certainly in a good place, as any one would be likely to think who had the experience of carrying a bushel of corn twenty miles on horseback to get it ground. In after-years it became the property of Mr. II. B. Reynolds, and was rebuilt and re- modeled, and became an important fixture for the enter- prising owner, and not less so for the many who had, by bitter experience, learned the way to Judge Hornell's mill, in Upper Canisteo. This fine property passed into the hands of Mr. Mallory (son of Nathaniel), and now, with steam added to the water-power, makes an establishment second to few in the country. Upon this original Martin farm stands the very pleasant little village of Troupsburgh Centre.

" Upon a pleasant little eminence just above the village and overlooking it stood a very nice and comfortable academy building, a monument of the taste, culture, and sacrifice of the few for the benefit and future good of the many. Great credit is due to Prof. N. Reynolds, of Wellsborough, for laying the foundation out of which grew this enterprise, so much to the credit and honor of his native town. In his first vacation after receiving his degree of A.B. he started a select school near the Centre, which so increased in pop- ularity and numbers that an academy became a necessity. 4 A few generous-hearted men put shoulder to the wheel and consummated the enterprise. The building was burnt a few years ago.

"The Mallory Settlement was so called from the three Mallory brothers, who first broke the wilderness in that part of the town and made there as beautiful farms as could be desired in that region. They made for themselves, and left to their children, a competence of worldly goods and the better inheritance of a good name. There is a place there still known as Mallory's Corners, where a considerable business has heretofore been done in merchandise. Mr. Lewis Biles, of Bath, was about the first in that business at this point. It was afterwards occupied by Lent Reynolds and later by Lewis Bowen, still later by Bowen & Bassett ; but I think it is now abandoned as a place of trade.

"On the road running from the Centre to Mallory's Corners lived that well-known and estimable man Zadoc Bowen, father of Mr. E. Bowen, of Hornellsville. Mr.

395

TOWN OF TROUPSBURGII.

Bowen, though not the earliest, might yet well be consid- ered as belonging to the pioneers, as but little had yet been accomplished to soften the privations and discomforts of a beginning in the wilderness. The place then occupied by Mr. Bowen is now a fine farm, and was made so, very much if not altogether, by his own persevering toil and industry. Ile has some years since rested from his labors.

" Farther on, near the Corners, and nearly contemporary with the Mallorys, was Elder David Smith,-then compar- atively a young man,-who seemed to have entered the wilderness with the double purpose of making a home for himself and rising family and of preaching the gospel to the then almost entirely destitute of that and the surrounding towns; and in a most praiseworthy manner he accom- plished both objects. Under his persevering industry and skillful management the forest gave way, and in its place arose a most beautiful farm clothed with verdure and floeks. During the six days of labor his hands ministered to his own and others' wants, and the Sabbath generally found him at some destitute point, ready to break the bread of life to the famishing. The forest and field furnished his study, the Bible his library, the whole surrounding country his parish, and his salary was the result of his own toil. I think the first church organization in that entire region was the result of his labors. He also preached at all points along the river. At Cameron was quite a church gathered by him, and he often preached in what is now Hornells- ville, and for nearly or quite a year steadily. He finally left that part of the country and located in Bath,-a few miles from the village,-where I suppose, if living, he still resides.

" Alanson Perry also lived on this road, and had a fine farm not far from Zadoc Bowen's.

" Returning, now, and gaining the State road near Squire Reynolds', and going still towards Cowanesqne, we come to Richard Philips, who was among the first settlers, but did not remain long in that neighborhood. Near and next to him were two brothers by the name of Lord, who were early settlers, and this was the end of the settlement in that direction. The early settlers forming the nucleus of the Chenango Settlement were James Carpenter, John Miller, and others.

" The early settlers of this region were drawn hither by all the variety of motives which in all parts of the country induce the pioneer to seek the frontier ; but the great pre vailing motive was cheap land and long payments. The Pulteney and other estates were crowding their lands upon the market, and inducing settlement by low prices and long credit. Twenty shillings cash or three bushels of wheat per aere was the standard price of the land, with ten years, or longer if desired, for payment. After 1809 the migration was quite rapid and the lands were rapidly put under contract, the settlers finding it about all they could do to support their families and pay (as they were obliged to do) the taxes, and very few of them did more. Most of them were compelled to let the interest accumulate year after year, till payment of principal became nearly au impossibility, and after long years of hard toil, privation,

and suffering, found themselves worn out, with a family but without a home. Very few, indeed, of the original contractors ever had a deed. They labored truly, and other men entered into and enjoyed the fruits of their labors. The pioneers were a hardy, industrious, energetie class of men, who could endure almost everything to accomplish the great object of their desire, to maket hemselves a home ; but it took the full length of an ordinary lease of life to disrobe the lands of such a forest as covered the hills of Troups- burgh in 1800. Squire Reynolds and his boys used to clear twenty aeres a year of this immensely heavy forest, and put it into winter wheat, but he never had a deed, as I think. ' Little Bobby Sharp,' as they used to call him, who lived on the State road near Spencer's, a little bit of humanity, chopped with his own hands more than a hundred acres of those overgrown hemlocks, maples, beech, and elms, the ashes of which would now be worth muore than the original price of the land. But I think he never had a deed, at least not of the original purchase. He would clear off quite a farm, sell out the improvements, and begin in the woods again. But the seene after a long half-century has most agreeably changed. The old pioneers have nearly all' gone the way of all the earth. In many instances their descend- ants are enjoying the fruits of their toil and privation. Everywhere in that region is seen the appearance of comfort and thrift. Fine, well-improved farms, comfortable and tasty dwellings, good outbuildings and orchards, all unmistakably tell that, whatever else is or was, Troupsburgh is not a failure."

ORGANIZATION.

The town of Troupsburgh was formed from Addison, then known as Middletown, and Canisteo, Feb. 12, 1808. Green- wood, then including a part of West Union, and a part of Jasper, were taken off in 1827, and the greater part of Woodhull in 1828. The name was given in honor of Robert Troup, Esq., of New York, who succeeded Col. Williamson as agent of the Pulteney estate, in 1802.

At the first annual election. held at the house of Danie Johnson, near the present village of Woodhull, in March, 1808, the following officers were elected : Daniel Johnson, Supervisor ; Samuel B. Rice, Town Clerk ; Stephen Dol- son, Brown Gillespie, Elijah Cady, Assessors; Uri Martin, William Wooley, Nathaniel Mallory, Commissioners of Highways ; Rezen Searse, Constable and Collector ; Daniel Johnson, Poormaster ; Elijah Cady, Second Poormaster ; Caleb Smith, Fence-Viewer; and Domady Prisor, Peter Cady, Overseers of Highways.

LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.

Supervisors. 1808. Daniel Johnson.

Town Clerks. Samnel B. Rice.

Collectors.

Rezen Searse.

1809.

1810.

ISI1.

1812.

Charles Card ( v.).

Wm. Card (v.).

1813.

1814.

Square Reynolds.

1815.

Rufus Gilbert.

1816.

4 4

Calvin Serl.

1817.

Samuel Cady.

ISIS.

Samuet Griggs.

# See biography of Jamies Carpenter.

1819.

Lemuel Benham.

396

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Supervisors.

Town Clerks. Samuel B. Rice.

Collectors. B. Reynolds. Adna B. Reynolds.

1821.

1822.

Samuel Griggs.

Lent Reynolds.

1843. Thomas W. Bailey. 1844. Ilarry B. Reynolds. 1845. Levi Grinolds. Lyman Dodge.#

1861. W. Wheaton. 1862. S. L. McFarland. 1863. E. T. Mallory. 1864. John G. Lozier.

1846. Lyman Dodge. 1865. S. W. Wheaton. 1847. Jonathan K. Ketchum. 1866. O. L. McFarland.

1827. 46

1828. Samuel Griggs.

William Card.

1829. .. ..

JS30.

I831. 66

1832.

Ilarry B. Reynolds. Marsena Cummings.

1835. Joshua SInyter.

1836. William Card.

Seiluthan Loomis.

1855. Stephen Oatman.

1875. O. L. McFarland.

1856. Levi Grinolds. 1876. James Bouton.

1857. William O. Sluyter.

1877. John G. Lozier.

1858. Orson L. McFarland. Asa Ward.#

1878. W. J. Miller. James D. Bennett.$

CHURCHIES.

REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

The first steps were taken towards organizing a church May 5, 1835, at a meeting of the surrounding Baptist Churches, in a conference held at the house of Rufus Fuller. Rev. Edward Murdock acted as moderator, and Rufus Fuller was chosen elerk. The early record is lost, but the name of Lueinda Harrington is still remembered as one of the first members, and a leading spirit in the church. In 1836 a couneil was held in a barn, Rev. J. B. Chase being moderator, and David Simson elerk. This meeting re- sulted in the church being accepted by the Association. Bradshaw White was the first deacon ; Rufus Fuller, clerk. The pastors of this society have been : 1836-45, Edward Murdock ; 1845-47, Rev. Byron Hunt. Afterwards, Rev. J. M. Wade, Rev. Edward Murdoek, 1866-68 ; Rev. Ira Thomas, 1868-72; Rev. W. P. Omans, 1872; to the present time, Rev. Hudson Seeley. E. J. Hunt and Joshua Murdock were ordained deaeons in 1868. Present offieers : E. C. Picket, Clerk ; Joshua Murdock, E. J. Hunt, and Bradshaw White, Deacons. Of the 115 present members, the greater portion live in the town of Troupsburgh, together with all the officers named, but the new church is located just over the line, in Pennsylvania.

The country having become more generally settled soon after, meetings were also held in the " Chenango Settlement," in the east part of the town, at the house of John S. Miller and others, until 1839, when the school-house was built in District No. 4, and occupied by the society. April 7, 1855, a meeting was held at the school-house, with Elder Warren Rice, Moderator, and Ami Hayes, Clerk, at which it was resolved to organize a separate society, to be ealled the

EAST TROUPSBURGH BAPTIST CHURCH.

Wm. Holmes and Parley B. Miller, father of the present elerk, were appointed deacons. Among the first members were Warren Riee and wife, Wmn. Holmes, Parley B. Miller and wife, Peter Dodge and wife, Thomas Musto and wife,

1840. Noble D. Ormsby. 1841. Levi Grioolds. 1842. Cyrus Van Wrakel. * Vacancy.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

1827. Asher Johnson.

Samnel Griggs (4 years).

William Card (3 years). Joshna SInyter (2 years). J830. Samuel Griggs (1 year). J831. Joshua Sluyter.

1832. Jesse Weldon.

1833. William Card.

1834. Harry B. Reynolds.

1835. Edmon W. Reliseo. Abram Marlatt.

1836. Orrin Shaw.

Abram Marlatt.

1837. Joshua Sluyter (2 years). Abram Marlatt (3 years). Levi Grinolds (4 years). 1838. William B. Miller. 1839. Thomas W. Bailey. Lyman Dodge (2 years).

1969. 66

Matthew Rogers.

66 46

1870. ..

1871. 16

1872. W. N. Griggs. Willis White. ¥

1873.

James F. Brooks. =

1874. Nathaniel M. Perry. Byron Scely.

1875.

4. 16

1876. Willis White.

1877.

1878. W. N. Griggs. 66

Lewis Edwards. Hiram S. Ilayes. Emerson D. Shaw. Lewis E. Boweo. Henry Rude, Sr. Harvey S. Webster. Henry Rude, Sr. Benj. Grinelds. David Nuel.

Erastus T. Mallory. =

IS49. Wm. Ten Broeck. 1850. "

1851. Levi Grioolds.

1852. 4

Richard Capwell. "

Matthew Rogers.

1855. James B. Murdock.

1856.

1857.

1858.

1859. Eleazer Fenton. I860.

Nelson Card. Byron Jones.

1861. Samuel Olmstead.

Matthew Rogers. Iseltoo Wilcox.

Henry Brutzman. Leicester B. Lewis. Eli Batez. Eleazer Fenton.

1862. Wm. Carpenter. 1863. Elcazer Fenton. 1864. 16

George C. Blake.

N. Vickery. R. Bates. Wm. W. Card. James Bouton. 66

1865. Jarees B. Murdock. Matthew Rogers. 1866. Eleazer Fenton. 1867. John G. Lozier. 1868,

Ilenry Simpson. J. F. Brooks. George C. Blake.

Leonidas Works. Levi W. Grinelds. Win. O. Sluyter. Orson McFarland. David Church.

1853. Win. Ten Broeck. J854. 44 66

Griffin Rogers.

1S41. “

1842. «

66 66

1843. Samuel Griggs.

Fred. S. Reynolds.

1844. Bradshaw White.

1845. Nathaniel Mallory. 1846. Alexander Tucker. 1847. Levi Grinolds. 1848. 4

Griffin Rogers.

Elijah Griggs. Samuel Olmstead. Wm. N. Griggs.

Wm. Sluyter.

1854. Alanson Wilson.

1874. Isleton Wilcox.

1837. Orange Perry.

Lyman Dodge.

Griffin Ragers. Charles Fay.

Ezra Bowen. Chas. JIunter (v.).

1840. Levi Grinolds.

1859. Seymour Sanford.

1860. Levi Grineld. J. W. Bailey .*

1824.

1825.

1826. Asher Johnson.

Harry B. Reynolds. Jeffrey Smith. Wm. Sluyter. 66

1848. Harry B. Reynolds. J. W. Bailey.# IS49. Rufus Fuller. 1850. Parlea B. Miller.

1851. J. K. Ketehum. Levi Grinelds.#

1869. Jerry G. Smith. 1870. O. L. McFarland. 1871. James Bouton.

1852. Thomas W. Baily.

1872. Elcazer Fenton. 1873. Urial Atwood.

1853. Griffin Rogers.

1867. JE. Simpson. 1868. J. G. Lozier. Amos Turner.#

1842. Stephen Phetaplace.# Joshua Sluyter.#

1820. Samuel Cady.

1823. Adua B. Reynells.

4 .

1833. 1834. William Card.

1838. 16 1839. Alexander Tucker.

Sel. F. McFarland. Geo. Il. Williams. Matthew Rogers. Eleazer Fenton.

N.M. Perry

NATHANIEL M. PERRY was born in the town of Troups- burgh, Feb. 26, 1817. His ancestors were originally from England, from whence they came to Rhode Island ; thence to Connecticut, wbere Eliakim, the paternal grandfather of the subject of our sketch, was born. The celebrated Oliver H. Perry was of another branch of this family. Eliakim Perry emigrated from Connecticut to Middletown, Rutland Co., Vt., where he married a Miss Downer. He was a farmer, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Of this union were born five children, tbree sons and two daughters.

Nathaniel Mallory, the maternal grandfather of Dr. Perry, and from whom he received his name, was born in Vermont, about 1752. He was an ardent patriot, serving in the battles of the Revolution, and was wounded in the service. He mar- ried Keziah Pray, from whom descended Dr. Perry, and the union brought forth three children, all daughters. le mar- ried a Miss Wood for bis second wife, whom he also survived, dying in 1828, aged seventy-six years.

Alanson Perry, the fourth child of Eliakim Perry, was born in Middletown, Rutland Co., Vt., about 1782. lFe spent his youth with his father on the farm, married Rachel Mallory in 1806, and in 1808 the young couple came to Troupsburgh, then a forest wilderness, to struggle with others amid toil and great privations until a home was carved from the primitive woods. lle did well his part ; was a hardy pioneer farmer, ever alive to the improvement and best interests of his town, and in his old age enjoyed the result of his youthful toil and the esteem of his associates. In politics he never wavered, holding to the principles of Democracy as enunciated by Thomas Jeffer- son. To this couple were born seven children : Brunette, in 1807; Ilarriet, in 1809; Lloyd, in 1811; Nathaniel M., in 1817; Teresa, in 1819; Melissa, in 1821; and Emily, in 1824. All save Brunette were born in Troupsburgh. Mr. Perry

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History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 114

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