History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 21

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 21

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Farmer's Gazette was commenced in Bath in 1816, by David Rumsey, and was published about one year.

The Steuben Messenger was started at Bath, April 17,

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

1828, by David Rumsey, and was published by him, Samuel M. Eddie, William P. Angel, and Charles Adams, successively, till 1834, when its name was changed to The Constitutionalist, and its publication was continued succes- sively by R. L. Underhill, Whitemore & Van Valkenburgh, and Dow & Richards, and by the last-named firm as The Steuben Democrat, until 1844, when the paper was sus- pended. In 1848 it was renewed by L. J. Beach, and in 1849 was transferred to George II. Bidewell, by whom its publication was continued till 1852.

The Steuben Whig was published at Bath during the political campaign of 1828, by William M. Swain.

The Temperance Gem was published at Bath in 1854, by Misses Jenny and Caroline Rumsey.

The Addison Record was published at Addison by Isaac D. Booth, from 1840 to 1842, and in 1849 by Dryden & Peck.

The Addison Advocate was published by II. D. Dyer in 1848-49.

The Voice of the Nation was commenced at Addison by R. Denton, in 1852. In 1855 the paper passed into the hands of A. L. Underhill, by whom it was published till 1856, when it was removed to Bath and its name changed to The Steuben American, and its publication continued until May, 1867.

The Cunisteo Express was published at Addison in 1850, by Thomas Messenger.

The Addison Journal was started in 1851 by R. Deuton, and was removed to Allegany County in 1852.

The Addison Demoerat was commenced by Charles L. Phelps in 1853, and was merged in the Voice of the Na- tion in 1854.

The Corning und Blossburg Advocate was commenced at Corning in 1840, by Charles Adams. In 1841 it passed into the hands of Henry H. Hull, by whom it was merged, in 1843, in the Steuben Courier, at Bath.

The Corning Sun was started in 1853 by M. M. Pome- roy and P. C. Van Gelder. In 1854, Rev. Fra Brown be- came the publisher, and changed the name to The Elmira Southern Tier Farmer and Corning Sun, and continued it till 1856.

The United States Farmer was published at Corning iu the spring of 1856.

The Painted Post Gazette was started by Mr. Fairchild in 1846, and continued a few months.

The Painted Post Ilerald was published by Ransom Bennett and B. M. Hawley, from May, 1848, for about one year.

The National American was established at Hornellsville in 1856, by C. M. Harmon. In November, 1858, it was sold to Charles A. Kinney, and its name changed to Can- isteo T'alley Journal.

The Painted Post Times was begun in October, 1870, by William C. Bronson, 11. C. IFigmau, and S. II. Feren- baugh. It was discontinued some time in 1877.

THE SATURDAY NEWS was established at Bath, by Enos W. Barnes, in the early part of the year 1868. It was Republican in politics. But eleven numbers were issued, wheu Mr. Barnes returned to the Steuben Courier office, from which he had retired Jan. 1, 1868.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE LAND CONTROVERSY.

Difficulties with the Landt-Office-Meeting of Settlers-The Protesting Convention-Memorial to Col. Robert Troup-Col. Troup's Instruc- tions to his Sub-Agent.

THE difficulties which many of the early settlers on the Pulteney and Hornby estates had to encounter in paying for their lands can be little understood or appreciated by the present generation. While it was evidently the desire and aim of the agents to treat the settlers with justice and equity, yet the policy adopted by them and acquiesced in by hundreds of land-purchasers proved to be of a very embarrassing nature. Thousands bought their lands on contract, agreeing to pay for them in installments, together with a certain stipulated interest thereon, which accumu- lated from year to year, amounting in a few years to more than the lands were worth. Many of them were poor, and had all they could do to gaiu a subsistence for themselves and families on the new lands, which exhausted all their energies and resources to clear and improve, to say nothing of paying their installments and meeting the annual interest when it became due. If these sumis were not paid they were compounded or added to the principal, on which in- terest was again charged, involving them more hopelessly than ever iu pecuniary embarrassment. The longer this state of things continued, the worse it became. The agents could not go on forever accepting promises to pay, and the only prospect left for many of the settlers was that the lands on which they had toiled so long to gain a meagre subsistence would be sold from under them to those who could pay for them. This matter became so serious that in 1830 the settlers in Allegany and Steuben Counties began to arouse themselves to the perils of their situation, and hold public meetings for the purpose of considering what remedy could be adopted. We give below the report of

A CONVENTION OF SETTLERS

held at the court-house iu Bath, in the county of Steuben, on the nineteenthi day of January, 1830, "to take into consideration the condition of the settlers on the Pulteney and Hornby estates" in the counties of Steuben and Alle- gany. Henry A. Townsend, Esq., was called to the chair, and Edward Howell and George C. Edwards, Esqs., ap- pointed secretaries. The following delegates appeared, and took their seats :

Addison .- William Wombough, Lemuel B. Searles, Da- vid Shumway, Eber Scofield, and Daniel Burdick.

Bath .- William Woods, James Warden, John Corbitt, Peter Hunter, Melvin Schenck, Caleb P. Fulton, and Elisha Hawks.

Cameron .- Jacob Thayer, Joseph Loughry, Isaac San- tee, Sheldon Porter, and Hiram Averill.

Cohocton .- Paul C. Cook, David Weld, Elnathan Wing, Peter Haight, and Alfred Shattuck.

Cunisteo .- Henry D. Millard, William Stephens, Jere- miah Baker, George Santee, and Moses Hallett.

Dansville .- Thomas M. Bowen, Peter Covert, Annis Newcomb, Leeds Allen, and Martin Smith.

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Erwin .- John E. Evans, Samuel Erwin, and John Cooper, Jr.

Greenwood .- Levi Davis, Thomas Johnson, Anson Cook, William J. Strong, and Randall Pease.

Hornby .- Isaac Goodsell, Samuel Oldfield, Josiah Wheat, Francis Northway, and Levi Nash.

Hornellsville .- Oliver Coon, Othniel Call, Oliver Petti- bone, Jabez Lamphere, and John J. Sharp.

Howard .- Daniel N. Bennett, Byram L. Harlow, Wil- liam Goff, John D. Collyer, and Jacob G. Winne.

Jersey .- Abraham M. Lybolt, Gilbert Reed, Caleb Wol- cott, Peter Houck, and Henry Switzer.

Jasper .- William Hunter, Benjamin Heliker, Ira Smith, Uzal M'Mynderse, and Hinckley Spencer.

Painted Post .- Robert 11. Hoyt, Joseph Gillett, Charles Wolcott, Jr., William Webster, and Henry D. Smith.

Prattsburgh .- Stephen Prentiss, Gamaliel Loomis, Jo- sialı Allis, Ira C. Clark, and Joseph Potter.

Pulteney .- David Hobart, William Sagar, Barnet Retan, Daniel Bennett, and Seth Weed.

Tyrone .- Henry S. Williams, Henry L. Arnold, John Sebering, Samuel L. Bigelow, and Daniel Child.

Troupsburgh .- Samuel Cady, Samuel Griggs, Joshua Slayter, Jesse Wilden, and Nathan S. Hayes.

Urbana .- Henry A. Townsend, John Sanford, Jr., John Powers, Elias Ketchum, and Dyer Cranmer.

Wheeler .- Jonathan Barney, Nathan Rose (2d), Abram

J. Quackenbush, David Barney, and John C. Overhizer.

Wayne .-- Latham Fitch, John H. Sherwood, and Thorn- ton F. Curry.

Woodhull .- Caleb Smith, Samuel Stroud, Asher John- son, Jeffrey Smith, and Martin Harder.

Alfred-Edward Green, Daniel Babcock, Spencer Sweet, Richard Hall, and Clark Crandall.

Burns,-Stephen Mundy, Nathaniel Bennett, and Jose- phus Miller.

Almond .- David Crandall, George Lockhart, Joseph Baldwin, James MeHlenry, and Jasper White.

Andorer .- Philip Wardner, Asa S. Allen, Iliram Har- mon, Elias Purrington, and Stephen Potts.

Independence .- Alva Wood, William W. Reynolds, and Almond Crandall.

Italy .- James Fox.

Samuel S. Haight, Edward Howell, and George C. Ed- wards, at the request of the convention, took their seats as members thereof. The court-house being insufficient to ac- commodate the convention and the spectators, the conven- tion adjourned to the Presbyterian meeting-house.

The convention having reassembled at the meeting- house, and the objects of the meeting having been discussed, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted :

" Whereas, The nuusual and alarming embarrassment of a great portion of the settlers on what are usually termed the Pulteney and Ilornby estates, in the counties of Steuben and Allegany, call loudly for the interference of some power to interpose between them and a state of pecuniary depression which threatens eventually to termi- nate in consequences disastrous to the welfare and prosperity of this section of the State.

" Whereas, In the opinion of this meeting, the proprietors of any estate cannot be benefited by the existence of a state of things in the

administration of its affairs productive only of general distress, em- barrassment, and poverty.

" Whereas, In the opinion of this meeting, the true cause of the present embarrassment and depression may be traced to an ill-judged policy in the direction and management of the said estates :

" By tho disposal of their lands at prices above their value and entirely beyond the power of the settlers to meet ;

" By the practice adopted by the agency of compounding the in- terest annually un demands due, until by its accumulation it has, in most cases, increased the original demand to a sum beyond the value of the land and the improvements thereon ; and

" By threatening to enforce a course of rigid punctuality on many of the settlers, while at the same time legal restraints are imposed which render it entirely hopeless for them to attempt the payment of any considerablo portion of their debts.

" And whereas, it is not only the privilege but the duty of the peo- ple at all times to assemble in a constitutional manner, with a view to the correction of a state of things evidently prejudicial to the wel- fare of the community of which they are members.

" Resolved, therefore, That a committee of one from cach town rep- resented in this convention, together with the chairman and secretaries and William Woods, Esq., be appointed a committee to draft a memo- rial to the principal agents of the Pulteney and Hornby estates on the subject of existing grievances.

" Resolved, That the following persons, together with those above mentioned, constitute the said committee, to wit : Lemuel B. Searles, James Warden, Iliram Averill, David Weld, Jeremiah Baker, Thomas M. Brown, John E. Evans, Levi Davis, Isaac Goodsell, Oliver Petti- bone, William Goff, Henry Switzer, Hinckley Spencer, Robert II. Hoyt, Gamaliel Loomis, David Hobart, Henry S. Williams, Samuel Grigges, John Powers, John II. Sherwood, Asher Johnson, Clark Cran- dall, Josephus Miller, David Crandall, Asa S. Allen, Alva Wood. and James Fox.

" Resolved, That this convention adjourn till nine o'clock this even- ing to hear the report of the committee appointed in the preceding resolutions.

" Whereupon the convention adjourned, and again assembled at tho hour above specified, and the committee reported a memorial, which having been read, it was

" Resolved, That the same be adopted and be signed by the delegates composing the said convention."

The convention then adjourned till nine o'clock next morning.

The convention met on the 20th of January, pursuant to adjournment, when the following resolutions were adopted :

" Resolved, That Stephen Prentiss, William Woods, Clark Crandall, Ira C. Clark, and George McClure, together with the chairman and secretaries, be a committee to forward the memorial to Col. Robert Troup and to John Gregge, Esq., on behalf of the inhabitants of said counties, and to correspond and confer with them on the subject of such memorial, as well as any other matter relating thereto; and that they report the result of such correspondence to this meeting at a future day.

" Resolved, That this convention, when it adjourns, will adjourn to meet again at such time and place as the ebairman and secretaries may appoint, and that notice be published by them of such subse- quent meeting.

" Resolved, That the members of this convention continue to hold their places until the objects of the convention shall be obtained, or nutil others shall he appointed in their stead.

" Resolved, That it be recommended to those towas interested in the objects of this meeting, and who are not fully represented in this convention, to choose delegates to at least the number of five, to rep- resent them in all future meetings.

" Resolved, That the delegation in this convention from caeh town be a committee to be denominated the Committee of Grievances, whose duty it shall be to collect all information on the subject of existing evils and report the same to this convention at some future meeting. And that said committee be also authorized to colleet funds to defray the expenses attending the carrying into effect the object of this meeting, and to pay over the same to the treasarer hereinafter appointed.

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

" Resolved, That George C. Edwards he and is hereby appointed treasurer, for the purpose of receiving all funds that may be paid over for the purpose aforesaid, and whose duty it shall be to dis- burse the same nt his discretion, with the advice of the chairman nnd secretaries, in aid of the object contemplated by this meeting.

" Resolved, That the chairman and secretaries be authorized to cor- respond with such non-resident land-holders in the said counties as they may deem proper, and which in their opinion may be produc- tivo of good to the settlers on such lands.

" Resolved, That while we will use such measures only as are justi- fied by the laws of the land, to effect the removal of the evils under which the people of this vicinity labor, we pledge ourselves to cach other nnd to the public steadily to pursue the object for which this convention is assembled, until a sense of justice on the part of the land-holders and their agents shall induce them to adopt measures calculated to alleviate existing emharrassments among the settlers on said estates.

" Resolved, That the proceedings of this convention be signed by the chairman and secretaries and published in the several public journals of the counties of Steuben, Allegany, and Yates, and that one thousand copies of such proceedings be published in the form of a handbill for circulation.

" II. A. TOWNSEND, Chairman. " EDWARD HOWELL, " GEORGE C. EDWARDS,

Secretaries."

MEMORIAL.

" To ROBERT TROUP, Esquire, Chief Agent of the Pulteney Estate, and

" To JOHN GREGG, Esquire, Chief Agent of the Hornby Estate.

" THE MEMORIAL

" of the subscribers, delegates chosen by the settlers resident upon the said extutes in the several towns of the counties of Stenben and Allegany,

" RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH,-

" That previous to the construction of the great Eric Canal the numerous navigable streams penetrating the county of Steuben, and affording means for the cheap and easy transportation of the products of the soil to a market upon our Atlantic coast, were considered as conferring important advantages over the more fertile country through which the canal now passes, and produced a consequent advancement in the valuation of the land. That at that period of time the com- motions of the French Revolution had involved the whole civilized world, our own country excepted, in a general and sanguinary war. The armies of the several powers of Europe, augmented to the utmost possible exteot, bad withdrawn from the cultivation of the soil such immense numbers of people that the productions of those countries were found entirely inadequate to the support of their inhabitants, and the whole of Europe, threatened with a general dearth and famine, were compelled to procure their bread from the granaries of this country. The productions of our farms were advanced to a price unprecedented; money was abundant, enterprise high, a spirit of emulation had gone abroad in the community, which impelled thou- sands to leave the okler settled parts of the country and press on to the wilderness of the West, calculating upon the continuance of this fictitious prosperity ; and, estimating very extravagantly the local advantages of this country, a large number of settlers located them- selves here, contracted for lands at an extravagant price, and for a time appeared prosperous and happy. Produce of all kinds continued to command a high price in ready money, and a few of the first set- tlers, who had obtained the best lands, succeeded in paying for their farms and establishing themselves in independence and competence. Very different, however, is the fate of a very large portion of the set- tlers upon your agency. The lands were covered with a very large growth of timber, and the labor of clearing excessively great. The first crops upon the new lands were small in quantity and inferior in quality. The occupants were poor; for a long time labored under the greatest difficulties in supporting themselves and their families ; and finally, when they had succeeded in making such improvements upon their farms as to enable them to raise some surplus beyond the most indispensable provision for themselves and their families, the fortunate period for drawing profit from the productions of the land had passed away.

" A general peace had succeeded the commolions and distractions of war; trade and all the arts of life had settled down into their natural and ordinary channels. A stagnation had succeeded as profound as the excitement and activity which had preceded it was general, and property of all kinds underwent a diminution of more than one-half in value. The productions of the soil, no longer required abroad, glutted our markets at home, remaining on hand for the want of pur- chasers, or selling at prices little better than nominal. In the mean time the debt of the settler, now swelled by the continual accumula- tion of interest, was augmented to a sum beyond his ability or his hope of payment. Add to this that the construction of the great Erie Canal, while it conferred the greatest advantages upon the country through which it passed, operated in the same ratio against this by arresting the tide of emigration from it by the course of its channel to the great regions of the West. By the great reduction in the labor and expense of traveling and transportation, distance has, in effect, been diminished, and the lands of the United States, in the State of Ohio and Territory of Michigan, become accessible with less labor and expense than those on which we reside. The adoption of a new policy by the Government of the United States with regard to the national lands so introduced into the market, has also had a very se- rions effect upon this country. Tho reduction of the price of those lands to one dollar and twenty- five cents per acre, and the facility of transporting their products to market by the lake and the Grand Canal, have induced many of our citizens who had the means of emigration thither to do so, and all are prevented from settling bere who have the means of purchasing and paying for lands.

" The Holland Land Company, impressed with a belief of the impe- rious necessity of the case, have reduced the price of their lands ac- cording to the exigeney of the times, and by their low prices and the superior quality of the soil and advantages of location upon the great canal, draw off the settlers from us and prevent the sale of lands here. In short, the great change which has within a few years taken place in the value of all kinds of property everywhere; the great reduction of the relative value of lands in these counties, occasioned hy the construction of the great canal ; the reduction in the price of the gov- ernment lands and the lands of the IFolland Land Company ; the di- version of the tide of emigration, capital, and enterprise to other channels ; the great amount of debt now due for lands which the whole value of real estate now in the hands of the settlers, including the improvements made by them ; the utter impossibility of selling their lands at their estimated value, and their utter inability to dis- charge their debts, have produced a crisis in the affairs of the inhabi- tants of a most momentous character, compelling them to appeal to you for relief from burdens and difficulties too great to be longer borne.

" Impressed with the truth of these considerations, your memorial- ists, on the part of the whole community whom they represent, earn- estly recommend the situation of this country to your consideration ; and fully that you have the power as well as the inclination to afford them the fullest relief, they respectfully suggest the propriety of adopt- ing, with regard to this ageney, a policy similar to that lately taken up by the Holland Land Company, which has had the happy effect there of restoring peace and confidence, establishing prosperity aud enterprise among the settlers, and effecting the collection of a larger sum of money for the proprietors than was ever before realized for their lands, and which will undoubtedly produce similar effects here. Should you adopt this course, gentlemen, we have no hesitation in saying, that while you most effectually promote the interest as well of the land-owners as of the settlers, yon will cause your own names to be handed down to posterity among those of the greatest benefac- tors of mankind.

" Dated Jan. 20, 1830."

COL. TROUP'S INSTRUCTIONS.

About three months after the above memorial was pre- sented, Col. Robert Troup, chief agent of the Pulteney estate, issued the following letter of instruction to Hon. William W. MeCay, sub-agent at Bath, in respect to the management of the estate in Steuben and Allegany Counties :

" NEW YORK, March 14, 1830.

"DEAR SIR,-I am informed that the settlers on the Pulteney estate, in Steuben and Allegany Counties, suppose the debts they owe

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the estate are so large as, for the most part, to exceed their ability to pay.

"I am also informed that, in consequence of their supposed inabil- ity to pay their debts, the settlers entertain serious apprehensions that they may ultimately lose their farms, and thus be involved in ruin.

" I have uniformly cherished the kindest feelings towards the set- tlers, and therefore it is difficult for me to express my extreme regret at the apprehensions which may agitate their minds.

"As far as was compatible with a just regard for the interests of my principals, who aet in the character of trustees and executors, I have uniformly endeavored to promote the welfare of the settlers in the course of policy I have pursued since my connection with the estate. Accordingly, I have on all occasions endeavored to treat the settlers with justice and liberality. and to show them every forbear- ance and indulgence called for by the difficulties attending the settle- ment of a new country. I have moreover cheerfully made liberal contributions, from time to time, for promoting religion. opening roads, building bridges, and other public improvements. In so doing, I have also acted in perfeet necordance with the wishes of my English friends.

" For some time past I have entertained a belief that the debts due from the settlers in your department of the agency were generally too large for their means of payment. I had therefore determined ou what appeared to me a proper plan for reducing the debts to a reasonable aud equitable amount. My objects in determining on this plau were to animate the agricultural labors of the settlers, and to inspire them with confidence in their future prosperity and happiness, by convincing them that I had no desire whatever to deprive themu of the hard-earned fruits of their industry. The plan had in view the fair appraisement of the buildings and other improvements on every lot, together with the present value of the cleared land, and the present value of the land remaining in a state of nature. The actual value of each lut being thus ascertained, I proposed, by makiog an abatement upon just and equitable principles, to reduce the contract debt to a sum below the appraised value, whenever the settler was ready to make a moderate payment on account of the balance. Be- sides such reduction of his debt, tho settler was to be accommodated with a liberal eulargement of time for paying the balance, in easy instalhuents.

"I thought it would be plain to every considerate and unprejudiced person, who became acquainted with this plan. that it was deeply founded in equity, and afforded the settler every assurance that he would finally be able, by his own exertions, to pay for his farm.

" Soon after I had determined on the plao, I instructed you to put it forthwith in a train of execution, by employing one of the assist- ants in the land-office to make the necessary appraisement of the value of the lots. The plan was accordingly put in a train of exeen- tion ; but a good deal of time was necessary to a judicious and impar- tial appraisement of the lots, and it has consequently happened that the work has hitherto been performed only in some townships under your agency.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 21

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