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 128
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The present trustees are Wm. Gardner, D. Z. Gibbs, E. Aulls, O. F. Marshal, Orville Raymond, and Henry Chi- chester.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF WHEELER.
In the early history of the society, meetings were held in the Cole school-house, just south of the present church. The elass was at time a part of the Avoca charge. About. 1845, Joseph II. Tuttle, pastor, and John A. Banter, George Bauter, George Sheppard, Iliram Rose, John Over- heiser, were the trustees. The society, having received a deed of the present site of Erastus Rose, proceeded to erect a church building thereon, at a cost of about $800, by George Renchan, carpenter. The building was again painted, about 1861, by A. Ballard, of Hammondsport. C. L. Gifford was pastor. The class was attached to the Kanona charge about 1861, where it remained until 1872, when it was united with the class at Wheeler Centre and the class at the llemlocks, and a new charge or circuit thereby created.
The number of Sabbath-school scholars at present is
:
Platt P. Smith.
Geo. C. Wise.
James J. Maxfield. Daniel D. Lewis. Joseph Hankerson. George Renehan. Adam Banter. James E. Taylor. H.Y.M.Charlesworth. George Renchan. John C. Williams.
William Thompson. Jacob Lewis.
1857. Ira P. Barney. 1858. «
1859. Daniel Gray.
IS60. James Derrick.
O. F. Marshal. James E. Taylor.
Lemmel II. Lewis. .. ..
1866. Daniel Gray.
..
II. N. Rose. Edmund P. Smith. Erastus Rose.
..
1842. Sherman If. Rose.
444
IHISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
about 30. The Bible-class numbers about 25. Present trustees are D. D. Lewis, Nathan Rose, and Robert Webb. Pastors, since separated from Kanona charge, J. II. Dn Bois, two years; II. O. Abbot, one year ; G. J. Dn Bois, one year ; Gco. W. Moxey, one year, and Chas. P. Patterson.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY OF WHEELER CENTRE.
The Methodist Episcopal society at Wheeler Centre formerly belonged to the Kanona charge. At one time it held meetings in the building now occupied by S. Bailey as a blacksmith shop.
A separate charge was organized in 1872 at the Western New York Conference, in Rochester, from the Wheeler Centre Class, the Hill Class, and the class at the Hemlocks. A. F. Morey, Presiding Elder; J. H. Du Bois, Pastor. The first trustees were D. G. Lowe, John Scott, P. F. Myrtle, David Ackerson, J. W. Searles, and John Eckler. Class-Leader, Horace Palmer.
The first marriage was that of Frank Aulls to Miss Elva Gay, J. H. Du Bois officiating minister. The first baptisms were in October, 1872, as follows : P. F. Myrtle, David Ack- erson, Daniel Benediet, Charles Searles, and Eliza Brewer, by A. F. Morey. Fourteen persons have since been re- ceived in the church by baptism. Thirty-eight persons belonged to the church since the organization.
In 1874 the society bought the present parsonage-lot, of P. F. Myrtle, for $650. The dwelling was enlarged by inclosing the front upright part, in 1877, at a cost of about $450. Albert Richards, carpenter.
The number of Sunday-school children is about 0. Su- perintendents and teachers about 12. Present class-leader, W. Edwin Coats Present trustees, P. F. Myrtle, A. P. Overheiser, John Eckler. Pastors since organization, 1872 : J. H. Du Bois, two years ; H. O. Abbott, one year ; G. J. Du Bois, George Moxey, and Chas. Patterson.
MILITARY RECORD OF WIIEELER.
Williams, Seabury, private, 23dl Inf., Co. A ; enl. April, 1861, twe years ; killed at Autietam, Sept. 17, 1862.
Ilew, Elisha, private, 23d Inf., Co. A; enl. April, 1861, two years ; disch. June, 1863, nt Elmira.
Smith, Charles, private, 23d Inf., Co. A : enl. April, 1861, two years ; re-enl. in 14tla II. Art.
Couch, Geo, Jr., private, 34th Inf., Co. I ; enl. May, 1861, twe years.
Waide, Charles, private, 34th Inf., Co. I; enl. May, 1561, two years; disch. for disability, Ang. 1861.
Gray, Aaron, private, 34th Inf., Co. I ; enl. May, 1861, two years ; re-eal. ja 46th Pa. Regt.
McGuinnis, Henry, private, Ist N. Y. Art., Co. E; enl. Aug. 19, 1861, two years. McGuinnis, Matthew, private, 1st N. Y. Art., Co. E; enl. Ang. 1861, two years. Tewusend, Elijah, private, Ist N. Y. Art., Ce. E; enl. Ang. 1861, twe years.
Iegesoll, Gilbert, private, Ist N. Y. Art., Co. E; enl. Ang. 1861, two years ; re-enlisted.
Armstrong, Isaac H., private, 102d Inf., Co. D; enl. 1862, three years; re-eol .; disch. at end of the war.
Armstrong, Eliphalet, private, 102d Inf., Ce. D; eul. 1862, three years ; rs-eal. ; disch. at end ef the war.
Armstrong, Wm. W., 102d Inf., Co. D ; enl. 1862, three years; re-enl .; disch. at end of the war.
Crecker, Peter, 102d Inf., Co. D; en1. 1862, three years.
Pelham, John, private, 10th Cav., Co. G; enl. Oct. 12, 1861, three years; disch. for disability, Sept. 1862.
Welch, W'm., 10th Cav., Co. G; enl. Oct. 12, 1861, three years ; disch. July, 1865. Townsend, Asbury Peter, 14th H. Art., Co. E; en1. 1862, three years ; disch. for disability ; re-enlisted.
Billings, Otis, private, Wheeler's Battery; eul. Ang. 10, 1861, three years ; killed at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863.
Billings, Wallace, private, 14Ist Inf., Co. E; enl. Sept. 1864, one year ; disch. Ang. 8, 1865, near Washington.
Stevens, Jesse Everett, private, 107th Inf., Co. G ; enl. Aug. 2, 1862, three years ; killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.
Everett, Wm. L., private, 107th Inf., Co. G ; enl. Ang. 2, 1862, three years ; killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.
TFarris, Edwin M., private, 107th Inf., Co. G ; enl. July, 1862, three years ; disch. June 5, 1865.
Brewer, Nelson James, private, 107th Inf., Co. G ; enl. July, 1862, three years ; disch, at Elmira, June, 1865.
Kelly, Edwin, private, 107th Inf., Co. G; enl. Aug. 1862, three years; disch. at Elmira, June, 1865.
Brewer, Henry, private, 107th Inf., Co. K : enl. Ang. 1862, three years; died io hospital at Harper's Ferry.
Jordan, Ilenry, private, 161-t Inf., Co. A ; enl. Ang. 22, 1862, three years; disch. Nov. 1865.
Remer, William, private; enl. Jan. 2, 1862, three years ; wounded at Fort Fisher ; died Feb. 8, 1865, in hospital at Fort Schuyler.
Allen, James, private, 141st Inf, Co. E; enl. Aug. 1862, three years; disch. at Cincinnati, July, 1865.
Allen, W'n. S., 141st Inf., Co. E ; enl. Ang. 1862, three years; died in hospital at Nashville, Tean.
Baker, Samuel, private, 161st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Aug. 1862, three years ; disch. at Elmira, Nev. 1865.
Aulls, Theein«, private, 189th lof., Ce. C; enl. Aug. 1864, one year; disch. May, 1865.
Harris, Andrew Jackson, private, 107th Taf., Co. G; enl. July, 1862, three years ; disch. June, 1865.
Merse, Garret G., private, 22d Cav., Co. G; enl. Jan. 1864, three years; disch. Aug. 1865.
Jordae, Solomon, private, 1GIst Inf., Co. A ; eul. Aug. 22, 1862, three years ; disch. Ang. 29, 1863, fur disability ; re-enl. 189th Inf., Co. G, Aug. 1864, one year; disch. May 19, 1865, at Alexandria.
Pelham, Clinton, private, 161st Inf., Cu. A; enl. Aug. 1862, three years: disch. Oct. 1865.
Jerdan, John, private, 22d Cav., Co. G; enl. Jan. 1864, three years ; disch. at Rechester, Ang. 1865.
Jolly, Wm., corp., 161st Tuf., Co. A ; enl. Aug. 14, 1862, three years; disch. at Pert Jefferson, Sept. 20, 1865.
Borden, Jehn, private, 141st Int., Ce. E; enl. Aug. 20, 1862, three years ; wounded at Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864; disch. at Jefferson hospital, Nov. 24, 18G4.
Barrett, Joseph, private, 16Ist Inf., Co. G; enl. Jan. 2, 1864, three years; disch. at Tallahassee, Nov. 12, 1865.
Horton, John, private, 189th Inf., Co. C; enl. Aug. 1864, ene year ; disch. at El . mira, June, 1865.
Wygant, Harvey E., private, 86th Inf., Co. C; enl. Aug. 12, 1862, three years ; disch. June, 1865.
Wallace, Caleb L., private, 22d Cav., Co. G ; enl. Dec. 23, IS63, three years ; takea pris. June 23, 1864, within eleven miles ef Richmond, confined a short time in Liliby prison, remeved to Andersenville, and died of starvation, Nov. 25, 1865.
Barrett, Grattan Henry, private, 161st Inf., Co. C; enl. Dec. IS63, three years ; slightly weunded at Mansfield ; disch. at Tallahassee, Nev. IS65.
Palmer, llorace, Ist sergt., 161st Inf., Co. A : enl. Ang. 17, 1862, thres years ; lisch. at Tallahassee, Fla., Nev. 12, 1865.
Coats, Sylvenus, private, 189th Inf, Ce. H; ent. Sept. 15, 1865, one year.
Earl, Benjamin, private, 161st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Aug. 21, 1862, three years ; dis ch. at Port Jefferson, Sept. 20, 1865.
Sterms, Charles Ilenry, private, 107th Inf., Co. K; ent. Aug. 11, 1862, three years : taken sick and removed to general field hospital at Chattanooga ; died June 19, 1864.
Overhiser, Levi Barney, private, 107th Inf., Co. K ; enl. Aug. 11, 1862, three years ; taken pris. in Georgia, ceafined a short time in Florence; ex- changed ; disch, at Elmira, June, 1865.
Overhiser, Jeseph Story, private, 22d Cav., Co. G ; enl. Jan. 1864, thres years ; disch. at Rochester, Aug. 6, 1865.
Lockweod, Charles Fletcher, private, 16Ist Inf., Co. A ; enl. Ang. 22, 1862, three years ; trans, to Ist Drageons, Dec. 1S62; disch for disability ; re-eal. 10th Cav., Ce. G, Jan. 1864, three years, disch. Dec. 31, 1864, on acceunt of wounds and disability.
Lockwood, Lebeus Drew, private, 22d Cav., Cn. G; enl. Dec. 1863; died at Linceln hospital, Washington.
Strong, Byron Pete, private, 76th Inf .; must. Sept. 1863, three years ; sub. fer John G. Webb ; died in U. S. gen. hosp., Armery Square, April 22, 1864. Ilouse, Menzee, private, 107th Inf., Co. I; enl. Ang. 11, 1862, three years ; takea pris. at Rutledge, Ga. ; pareled ; disch. June, 1865.
Hlouse, Peter Abram, private, 107th Inf., Co. I; enl. Aug. 11, 1862, three years; disch. June 22, 1865, at York, Pa.
House, Wm. Ambrose, private, 161st Inf., Co. I; sal. Ang. 1862, three years; disch. Sept. 1865.
Heuse, Martin V., private, 189th Inf. ; eal. Sept. 1864, one year ; disch. Juns 5, 1865, near Washington.
Dillenbeck, Stephen, private, 161st Inf., Co. T; enl. Ang. 1862, three years; disch. Oct. 16, at Elmira.
Clark, Win. E., private, 161st Inf., Co. A; eal. Ang. 1862, three years; disch. Oct. 1865.
Clark, Martin V., 76th Inf., Co. H; drafted July 14, 1863, three years; dischi. io 91st Regt., July 3, 1865.
Lewis, George, private, 16Ist Iaf., Co. A ; enl. Ang. 1862, three years; disch. Oct. 17, 1865.
4.45
TOWN OF WOODHULL.
Maxfield, Godfrey, private, 161st Inf., Co. A ; en1. Aug. IS62, three years; disch. Oct. 1865.
Van Pelt, Alexander, private, 107th Inf., Co. E ; enl. Aug. 21, 1862, three years ; disch. for disability, Sept. 7, 1863.
Wheaton, Charles L., private, 161st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Aug. 1862, three years ; taken pris. ; died April 16, 1864.
Willard, Sagar, private, 161st Iof., Co. A; enl. Sept. 1862, three years.
Garvey, Henry William, private, 161st Inf., Co. A; enl. Aug. 1862, three years ; disch. June 10, 1864, at Elmira.
Blakesley, Joel, 161st Inf., Co. A ; en1. Ang. 1862, three years.
McChesney, Lucas, private, 161st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Ang. 1862, three years; disch. Oct. 1865.
Stratton, Edward, private, 161st Inf., Co. A; enl. Ang. 1862, three years ; killed at Port Hudson, May 27, 1863.
Brush, John, private, 161st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Ang. 1862, three years; disch. Sept. 20, 1865.
Upthegrove, Clark, private, 161st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Ang. 1862, three years ; came home on furlough, Nov. 5, 1862; taken sick with typhoid fever, and died Dec. 1862.
Stryker, Frank, private, 107th Inf., Cu. G; enl. Aug. 1862, three years.
Weaver, George, private, 189th Inf., Co. G; enl. Aug. 1864, one year; disch. June 30, 1865, at Alexandria.
Bellinger, George, private ; enl. Jan. 1864, three years.
Taylor, Sylvenus P., private, 16Ist Inf., Co. A ; enl. Jan. 1864. three years; takeo sick ; died July 25, 1864, at University hospital, New Orleans.
Conch, Charles, private, 161st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Jan. 1864, three years; died in hospital at New Orleans, Ang. 24, 1804.
Shults, Ezeriah, private; enl. Jan. 1864, three years.
Briggs, George A., private ; enl. Jan. 1864, three years.
Greek, W'm., private ; enl. Feb. 1864, three years.
Raymond, Wm., private ; three years.
Hamill, Philip, private ; three years.
Wheeler, Wm. Henry, private, 189th Inf., Co. C .; enl. Ang. 1864, three years; disch. June 8, 1865.
Cuoke, Ilarvey Edward, private, 161st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Ang. 1862, three years; disch. Jan. 1863, for disability ; re-enl. Sept. 1863, 1st Vet. Cav., Co. F; disch. July 29, 1865.
Toby, Ransford, enl. April, 1864, three years.
Wilkins, Robert, enl. April, 1864.
Paris, Tyler, private, 107th Inf., Co. G, enl. July 22, 1862, three years ; wounded in left knee ; disch. June 5, 1865, at Elmira.
Brimer Ilial, enl. May, 1864, three years.
Delany, Palsey, enl. Ang. 1862, three years ; sub. for Franklin J. Marshal. Cunnelly, Daniel, must. Sept. 1864, three years; sub. for James P. Streight. Murphy, John, must. Sept. 1864, three years ; sub. for Lemnel Lewis. Owooney, John, must. Sept. 1864, three years; sub, for Nathan Rose. Douglass, Davld, must. Sept. 1864, three years ; suh, for Richard M. Thompson. Kelsey, Francis, must. Sept. 1864, three years ; sub. for John HI, Prine.
Bagley, Charles F., must. Sept. 1864, three years ; snb, for Phil'p Prine. Saleman, George, must. Sept. 1864, three years; sub. for David 11. Prine. Welch, George, must. Sept. 1864, three years; sub. for George E. Derrick.
Taylor, George W., must. Sept. 1864, three years ; sub. for Orville Thompson. Shults, Merlin, private, 189th Inf., Co. C; enl. Sept. 1564, one year; disch. June, 1865,
Cooper, Ira, Jr., private, 189th Inf., Co. C; enl. Sept. ISG1, one year; disch. at Elmira for disability.
White, Wm., private, 189th Inf., Co. "; enl. Sept. 1864, one year ; disch. June, I865.
Morrison, David Henry, private, 189th Inf. ; enl. Sept. 1564, one year; disch. June, 1515.
Ackerson, John, enl. Sept. 1864, one year; disch. Nov. 1864.
Read, Mortimer W., sergt., 189th Iuf., Co. C; enl. Aug. 1864, one year ; disch. June, 18€5.
Gray, Charles Munson, private, 189th Inf., Co. C; enl. Ang. 1864, one year.
Welch, Benjamin S., private, 141st Inf., Co. K ; ent. Sept. 3, 1864, one year ; died Dec. 9, 18G1, of typhoid fever.
Cermic, Robert J., private, 189th Inf., Co. C; enl. Sept. 18G4, one year ; disch. June, 1865.
Simons, Alva D., private, 189th Inf., Co. C; enl. Sept. 1864, one year ; disch. June, 1865.
Ilina, Peter, private, 141st Inf., Co. HI ; enl. Sept. 1861, one year; disch. June 8, 1865.
Churchill, Daniel, private ; enl. Sept. 1861, one year.
Keeper, Waddell L., private ; ent. Sept. ISG1, one year.
Hark, Charles, private; enl. Sept. 1861, one year.
Hickory, David J., private ; eul. Dec. 1864, one year.
Preston, George, eal. Dec. 16, 1864, three years; sub. for Thomas J. Gray.
Robeshaw, Charles, enl. Dec. 17, 1864, three years ; sub. for Richard Gray.
Castor, Charles, private, 107th Inf., Co. K ; enl. Aug. 11, 1862, three years ; wounded May 25, 1864, at New Hope Church; disch. May 30, 1865.
Dowd, Tra C., private, 14Ist Inf., Co. C; enl. Ang. 1862, three years; died in Georgia, Dec. 1864.
Irons, Emir A., private, HA1st Inf., Co. E; enl. Aug. 1862, three years ; disch. July 6, 1864.
Brown, John Wesley, 107th Inf., Co. G; enl. Aug. 1862, three years; disch. for disability.
Warner, Franklin, private, 141st Inf., Co. G; enl. Ang. 1862, three years.
Drake, Edwin, private, 1GIst Inf., Co. A ; enl. Ang. 1862, three years.
Krants, Moses, private, 107th Inf., Co. G; enl. Aug. 1862, three years.
Blakesley, Robert, private, 161st Inf., Co. I; enl. Aug. 1862, three years. Billings, Elisha, private, 107th Inf .; enl. Aug. 1862.
Allen, Elijah Read, private, Capt. Mowers; three years,
MeNeal, Lyman, private ; enl. Sept. 1862, three years ; brought home, Ang. 1865; died.
Shant, Franklin, drafted, 1863.
Mower>, Belden, private, 161st Inf .; enl. Ang. 1862, three years.
WOODHULL.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
THIS town occupies a central position upon the southern border of the county. Its surface is a hilly upland, varie- gated with forests and cultivated farms. The principal stream is the Tuscarora Creck, which flows cast through the uortherly part of the town. The general character of the soil is that of a clayey and gravelly loam, and is good land for agricultural purposes.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Laying back from the river-valley, and off the line of general travel, the town of Woodhull presented but little inducement to the permanent settler in its first years of oc- cupation. Some venturesome hunter, who had found his way over the hills south of the Canisteo, discovered among the dark hemlocks of the Tuscarora hills a beautiful little valley, thinly covered with groves of maple, oak, and hem- lock, and inhabited by countless herds of elk and deer. It
seemed to be a hunter's paradise. To the east, a gently- sloping hill-side occupied the space between two streams which, uniting at its basc, formed the South branch of the Tuscarora Creek. Westward, a point of land at the lower end of the valley left barely room for the stream-some forty yards in width-to find its way out. Continuing towards the east in its general course, sometimes filling the narrow space between the hills, and again opening at the month of some smaller tributary into a level valley, so obstructed in its course by fallen trees as to be almost impassable in its downward course of 700 feet, it finds an outlet through the Tuscarora Valley into the Canisteo River, twelve miles dis- tant. The first inhabitants of this town were men who lived for the pleasure of the chase, and found their way into this secluded spot with their families, only to leave on the approach of a more permanent settlement.
In 1804, Daniel Johnsou, father of Asher Johnson, first supervisor of Woodhull, and for a number of years a prom-
44G
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
inent citizen, settled on the South branch, about a mile west of the present village of Woodhull .* Mr. Johnson was the first permanent settler within the bounds of the present town, and was supervisor of the old town of Troupsburgh, which then included a portion of Woodhull until 1812. - Spears and - Merlin entered four hundred acres of land cach, on the left bank of the Tuscarora, and Mr. Merlin did some chopping on the west end of Col. Jeffrey Smith's farm, in the north part of the village, but abandoned it with- ont making any settlement. In the spring of 1805, Bethuel Tubbs, father of Joel and Zebulon Tubbs, came up the frozen creek, upon the ice, and located upon the North branch, a short distance above the point. During the same year, Squire Wilkes located on the hill near the point, Caleb Colvin coming about the same time and locating near him, and Josiah Styles settling on the Cook place. Stephen Dolson, Breakhill Patrick, Wmn. Martin, and Bethuel Tubbs settled back, on the west of the point. These settlers did little more than to build themselves cabins and open com- munications with the outer world by way of the creek. In March, 1806, Caleb Smith, a native of Orange County, who had recently settled at Southport, Chemung Co., sold his improvement at that place, and with the proceeds ($1300) ascended the Tuscarora with his family of nine children, for the purpose of establishing a mill at the new settlement. He purchased ten acres of land immediately, as a freehold, and commenced work upon his mills. A dam was built across the narrow outlet of the creek, at the lower end of the valley, and two separate mills were erected, a saw- and a grist-mill. The grist-mill was built of logs, and the stones were taken from the bed of the stream near by. During this year the settlement increased, Joshua Green, Asel Styles, and Henry Martin locating half a mile north of the creek, towards Jasper. Lekins Clark, Daniel Cortright, a Mr. Mynear, and Mr. Laton settled up the South branch in the order named. Several of the South branch families only remained while game was plenty, mak- ing but little improvement.
Samuel Smith, whose place was on the point occupied by the academy, came in 1807. The grist-mill was burned the year after it was built, and the next year the dam and saw-mill was carried away by high-water. These were the first mills in the town. The first birth recorded is that of Polly, daughter of Samuel Smith. Levi Rice and Cynthia Tubbs, Zebulon Tubbs and Sally Rice, and Abner Thomas, who taught the first school, and Esther Tubbs were the first couples married in the town. The first death was that of a daughter of Stephen Dobson, in 1808. The first meetings were held at the house of Daniel Johnson, a Rev. Mr. Jones, of Elmira, preaching. During the same year a school-house was built of hewn logs, two miles up the creek, towards an- other settlement, Abner Thomas teaching the first school. The first settlers who came were poor, and subsisted mainly by hunting and fishing. What clearing was done they did in the easiest way, cutting out the scattering underbrush and smaller timber, and girdling the hemlocks. The more energetic, but less experienced, cut a ring around the hem-
-
locks to the depth of three or four inches, to make sure their death. If large trees stood where a fence was wanted, they were felled, and brush was freely used to piece out the distance between them. Limbs and dead trecs were con- stantly falling upon the growing erops, and the shade of the surrounding forest caused wheat to smut badly. Rye was a surer crop, and was the staff of life for many years. Work was to be had on the river, payable in grain, and if the harvest was too far off to suit the family appetite, wheat and corn could be had of the river farmers, payable after har- vest, with a peck on each bushel for interest. Interest may have been high, but the nufortunates were rarely brought before the power of the law.
The boys had their annual trip to the river in the fall to get butternut bark for coloring their winter clothing. Buck- skin was worn, some of the girls even appearing at school with buckskin waist and coarse woolen skirt. Home-made shoes, made from leather tanned on shares away down the river, and called " leggins," were common. An old settler, now a man of wealth and influence, tells of the pride with which he donned his first cotton shirt, made of coarse, dark, three- quarter cloth at a cost of 50 cents a yard. Many of the early settlers becoming discontented, abandoned their lands, which, growing up to grass, made pasture for the cattle of those who remained. In 1812, the death of Mr. Johnson and five of his family from a fever which appeared general, scared off some of the settlers who thought the locality to be unhealthy.
George Martin built the second mill during this year, farther down the creek. There was a little further settle- ment before 1821, when Seth Peirce opened the road which still bears his name. This road, commencing on the Can- isteo River, was cut through the heavy timber south in as direct a course as possible, passing through an unbroken forest to the valley where now is Woodhull village, continu- ing south to near the Pennsylvania line. The object of this road appears to have been to induce settlement, and was in a slight degree successful. Mr. Peirce received from the Pulteney office some lands near the south end of the road, laid out a four corners, and built three or four log houses. He also chopped over 30 or 40 acres of land, but never moved there. Peter Smith, who helped make the road, his wife cooking for the hands, was induced to remain for a while at the opening, but it was finally abandoned. Win. Wildrich and William H. Sly now own the fine farms upon which this first effort at settlement proved a failure.
Micajah Sherwood, father of the late Hon. Henry Sher- wood, of Corning, Iliram Sherwood, of Jasper, and Wm. M. Sherwood, of Woodhull, made the first opening on this road south of Woodhull, a mile and a half from the village, in 1821, building his first house upon a large hem- lock which he felled across the hill. His second or per- manent house still stands above the road near the watering- trough, its heavy door and little old-fashioned windows looking forth from beneath the broad, old-fashioned open "stoop," over which projects at least a third of the roof of the house. Here the old pioneer died, in 1843. John Stone and Hugh Boyd opened farms adjoining, south, in 1822, and soon after, others, from Pulteney, settling south and southeast, gave the locality the name of Pulteney Hill.
# At Woodhull, on the South Branch of the Tuscarora, the two streams above are known as the North and South branches ; the North branch being the main stream.
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4 17
TOWN OF WOODHULL.
To the north, Mr. Hornocker and James Williams at- tempted a settement on the present Bebout place, but find- ing it too far back, and water scarce in the dry season, Mr. Williams moved down on the Tuscarora Creek, and made the first permanent settlement between " Rowley's" and Woodhull village, selling his place on the llill to Asel Bears in 1825. The same year (1826), Worcester Perry moved on to the place where he still lives, at the foot of the hill south overlooking Hedgesville; Thomas Hedges coming the same week. The Peirce road does not appear to have been used previous to this time, as Mr. Perry spent a whole week iu opening it so that he could get through with his wagon.
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