History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 51

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 51

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In April, 1820, about three months after his marriage, Mr. Cook removed to Cohocton, in Steuben Co., where he re- sumed the business of farming ; but soon became interested with John Magee, late of Watkins, but formerly of Bath, in numerous passenger and mail routes, by the efficient man- agement of which they gave great satisfaction to the public, and laid the foundation of the fortunes which they subsequently built up. About the year 1840, while still residing at Cohocton, Mr. Cook was appointed one of the judges of the county, an office which he filled for the term of three years.

In 1843, Judge Cook removed to Bath, and engaged in commercial pursuits with Mr. Magee ; but their attention was soon drawn to that great work, the construction of the Erie Railway, and, in company with J. S. T. Strana- han, of Buffalo; John H. Chedell, of Auburn; John Arnot, of Elmira ; and Charles Cook, of Havana, they took the contract for the building of the road from Bing- hamton to Corning. The general management of this work was intrusted by his associates to Judge Cook, who prosecuted it with such vigor and success as to win for him very substantial tokens of satisfaction from all concerned. Subsequently, with the Hon. John Magee, he projected and built the Buffalo, New York and Corning Road, from Corning to Buffalo, by way of Batavia and Attica, Still later he projected the Bloss Coal Company, located at Arnot, near Blossburgh, Pa.

During the last twenty years of his life, Judge Cook became widely known for his banking-house at Bath, which, early in the war, was converted into a national bank, and soon took rank with the soundest and most successful insti- tutions of the kind in the State. The last great and erown- ing enterprise of his life was one of special interest to the congregation of St. Thomas' Church, Bath, who learned one day, about six years before his decease, that he had pro-

* Proverbs xxxi. 10-31.

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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

posed to the vestry to start a subseription for a new church edifice, which had long been greatly needed, with the sum of twenty thousand dollars, which he soon after inereased to thirty thousand, on condition that half as much more should be raised by the parish. The proposition was gratefully received and warmly seconded, and the result is now seen in one of the most commodious and beautiful church edifices in the diocese.

Bishop Coxe, in his address to the Convention of the Diocese of Western New York in 1871, says :

" It was a good day for the diocese when, in Easter week, I consecrated the church at Bath. It is one of the most beautiful fabrics in Western New York, and it adorns one of its most charming villages. The munificence of a single parishioner, Mr. Constant Cook, gave it this scale of spaciousness and splendor, but the parishioners generally had liberally contributed to the work. The large attendance of our clergy and laity at the consecration, the spirit and animation of the services, and the crowded missionary meeting that completed the solemnities of the festive day, bore witness to the depth of interest which the good work had awakened throughout the diocese."

The death of Judge Cook, after a long-protracted illness, occurred on the 24th day of February, 1874, at the age of seventy-six years, three months, and thirteen days. The Courier of March 4 adds : " The funeral of the late Judge Cook was attended from his residence in this village on Thursday afternoon last, a very large number of citizens and friends from abroad being present The solemn and impressive services were conducted by the rector, Rev. Dr. Howard. Delegations of mourning friends from Elmira, Corning, and other places were present, and a long proces- sion followed his remains to their final resting-place, in Grove Cemetery."

Of eight children, three only survive him,-Henry H. Cook, Esq., now of New York City, and Mrs. L. D. Hodg- man and Edwin C. Cook, both of Bath. He also left six sisters,-Mrs. Hiser, Mrs. Woodruff, Mrs. Chedell, and Miss Celente Cook, of Auburn ; Mrs. Orton, of Brooklyn ; and Mrs. Brown, of Bath.

As before intimated, it will be readily seen that the suc- eess of Judge Cook was greatly owing to early-formed habits of persevering diligence and strict economy. Never idle himself, he had little sympathy with the drones in the great hive of human industry. We have met with no more apt disciple of the school that teaches " whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."

And then, as was natural to such a man, he was socially, and practically at heart, one of the most democratic of men, sympathizing deeply with all sorts and conditions of men, so long as they respected their own manhood, and sought to act well their part in that state of life to which it had pleased God to call them.

Naturally, too, his was a wise and discriminating liberality. The truly needy and deserving always found in him one who was ready to listen to their appeals, and to take their eases into consideration. And there was hardly any public improvement, or any religions, educational, or benevolent

enterprise, to which he was not a generous contributor. Churches and ministers of all denominations could testify to this enlarged spirit of liberality.

Judge Cook will also long be remembered, by those associated with him in various enterprises, as one who habitually sought to promote harmony and peace. In the vestry, of which he was a member some ten years, and especially in the new church enterprise, it was natural that he should have his own views and preferences upon some points, and feel, too, that he was entitled to press them. But he never did. If the majority differed from him, no one could yield his opinion more readily or gracefully.

We may add that he will be remembered by those who knew him familiarly for the shrewd and pithy sayings which daily fell from his lips, as, for instance, his reply to the aspiring youth who " wanted to know how to get rich." " Hire out to some farmer," said the judge, " at ten dollars a month, and save half of it." We shall have studied his life and character to little purpose if we fail to discover that taking care of money is quite as important an element in all prosperity as earning or making money.

JOHN A. BOWLBY.

John A. Bowlby was born in the town of Dryden, Tompkins Co., N. Y., Feb. 6, 1829. Ile is the son of James and Catherine Bowlby, both natives of New Jersey, where they were married. Mr. Bowlby, Sr., was bound out when a boy to learn the tanner and currier's trade, and served until he reached his majority. Hle settled in Tomp- kins County soon after his marriage, and, being naturally of an ingenious turn of mind, gave his attention to the carpenter and joiner trade, in which he became an expert. After several years he turned his attention to farming, and in 1838 came to Steuben County and settled in the town of Bath, where his son now resides, on one hundred and twenty acres of land. He was a man of mueh resolution and activity, and a peculiar characteristic of him was his fondness for hunting,-being a remarkably good marksman. He died September 14, 1862, at the age of eighty-four. His wife died Sept. 14, 1869, at the same age.

John A. Bowlby is the youngest in a family of nine chil- dren, and received a fair education from books, which he has improved by reading and contact with business. He was married Sept. 30, 1854, to Lydia R., daughter of Peter and Lucinda Hunter, of Bath, but formerly of Orange County, settling here about 1823. Their children are Frank H., John II., Helen C., and Carrie L.

Mr. Bowlby is known as a representative agriculturist in the town, and resides on the farm occupied by his father, to which he has made an addition of seventy acres, besides valuable tracts in other localities. A view of his residence and surroundings may be seen on another page of this work.

Mr. Bowlby has been a Republican since the organiza- tion of the party, has served the town officially, and is now one of the assessors.

JOHN A. BOWLBY.

MRS. JOHN A. BOWLBY

RESIDENCE OF JOHN A. BOWLBY, BATH, STEUBEN CO., N. Y

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BRADFORD.

GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION.

THE town of Bradford is situated near the centre of the east border of the county, and is bounded north by Wayne, east by the county-line, south by Campbell, and west by Urbana and Bath.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The southern part of this town is made up of high hills, from which the waters run northeast into Mud Creek and southwest into Mead's Creek, both streams being tributaries of the Conhoeton. The soil of the valleys is rich alluvium, gravelly clay, and sand, productive of excellent erops of corn and wheat. The hills yield abundance of pasturage and grass, and of late years are being subjected to a more systematie cultivation.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

In 1793, Frederick Bartles and John Harvey, from New Jersey, located on the outlet of Mud Lake, at a place known in the early days as " Bartles' Hollow." Under the pa- tronage of Col. Williamson, he erected a flouring- and saw- mill in 1795. While the men were employed in erecting this mill, Benjamin Patterson, the hunter, was hired to supply them with wild meat, and was paid $2 a day and the skins of the animals. In three months he killed nearly 100 deer and several bears, and his companion, named Broeher, nearly as many more.

Bartles was an intelligent, generous, and hospitable man. His mill-pond covered about a thousand acres, and was filled with fish of various kinds, affording rare sport during the fishing season. Parties of pleasure were entertained by Mr. Bartles in the best style and free of charge. He possessed an inexhaustible fund of pleasant aneedote, and his dialeet, being a mixture of Dutch and English, was very amusing.

Mud Creek at this time was a navigable stream, and it was thought that the commerce of Mud Lake would re- quire considerable of a town at this point, but the early expectations were not realized.

In 1798, Mr. Bartles rafted 100,000 feet of boards from his mills to Baltimore. In 1800 he ran two arks from the same place, of which the following record was made by the county elerk :

" STEUBEN COUNTY :- This fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred, started from the mills of Frederick Bartles, on the outlet of Mud Lake, two arks of the following dimensions: one built by Col. Charles Williamson, of Bath, 72 feet long and 15 wide; the other built by Nathan Harvey, 71 feet long and 15 wide, were conducted down the Conhoeton (after coming through Mod Creek without acci- dent) to Painted Post, for Baltimore. Those arks are the first built in this county, except one built on the Conhocton, at White's saw- mill, five miles below Bath, by a Mr. Patterson, Swceny, and others,

from Pennsylvania, 70 feet long and 16 feet wide, which was finished and started about the 20th of March the same year.

" This mionte is entered to show, at a future day, the first com- mencement of embarkation in this (as is hoped) nseful invention.

" By HENRY A. TOWNSEND. " Clerk of Steuben County."

Mud Creek has ceased to be navigable since the clearing of the forests, and the produce of this region seeks the Eastern markets by canals and railroads.

Among the early settlers of Bradford were Henry Swit- zer, Samuel S. Camp, Abram Rosenberg, Thomas Rowles, Michael Seott, Daniel Bartholomew, and Capt. John N. light. Henry Axtelle, John Heminp, John Schriner, Ezekiel Sackett, and a Mr. Smith also settled here at an early day. The first birth was that of a daughter of John Harvey, in 1799, and the first death that of Mrs. Thomas Rowles, in August, 1803. Frederick and Charles Bartles opened the first store in 1800, and the first tavern or inn in 1806. Mr. Smith taught the first school, in 1810. Rev. E. Sanford was the first preacher in town, and Rev. Mr. Lazelle ( Baptist ) was the first settled minister, settling in town in 1816.

The flouring-mill built by Frederick Bartles stood ou the site of the present mill in the village of Bradford. Its dimensions were 30 by 40 feet. It was destroyed by the flood and another built on the same site, which was burned, and a third was built; that also burned and was replaced by the present building. Frederick Bartles conveyed the property to Frank Whitney; the latter conveyed it to Munson & Merriman, and it finally passed from their hands to the present owners, Jesse and Cyrus Munson.

Thomas Rowles came from the State of Maryland in the year 1805, and settled in the town of Bradford, on the farm on the corner about one mile southeast of the village of Bradford. By hard work he soon erected a house and made an opening in the heavy timber, and finally saw his farm eleared up. His children were Thomas Rowles, who died in the town of Bradford, David, Sally, Merey, Amy, and Mary.

Michael Scott came from Maryland in 1805, and settled the first farm southwest of that settled by Thomas Rowles, with his wife and two children, Thomas and Mary. He was one of the first blacksmiths in town. He experienced the life common to the pioneer in an unsettled country, sur- rounded by wild beasts and Indians. Bears were often seen, and on one occasion chased his hogs to his house.

At one time Mr. Scott having gone from home, and his wife being then dead, his little children were left alone, and the Indians came and took possession of his house. They turned three horses into a lot near the barn, and scattered hay taken from the barn over the lot for their horses. During the

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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

night Mr. Scott's cattle hooked one of the horses, and it died the next morning. When Mr. Scott returned, in com- pany with Thomas Corbitt, he found his home in possession of the redskins, and was soon told of their loss. As the dusky savages gathered around a blazing fire on his hearth- stone, they earnestly said to him, " You pay all." Mr. Scott told them, " No, I am not to blame; you are more to blame yourselves than I am. You came here and took pos- session of my house and barn when my little children were alone, and you will have to stand it yourselves; you are more able to lose it than I am to pay for it."

The Indians laid the case before Squire Bartles, who told them they claimed more than $50, and he could not entertain the case, and referred them to Samuel S. Haight, of Bath. They went to Mr. Haight, and while he was making out the papers Mr. Corbitt entered and gave the counselor the history of the case as he saw it, and legal proceedings were stopped. The Indians afterwards frequently visited Mr. Scott, and their relations were always friendly. His child- ren were Thomas, who now lives on the same farm; Samuel, who went to Michigan ; Michael, who also went West ; Mary, who married Levi Miller ; Jane, who married for her first husband Thomas Sanford, and again married Joseph Tichner ; and Nancy, who married Henry Younger.

Daniel Bartholomew left Lancaster Co., Pa., for Seneca Co., N. Y. When he reached the place where he now resides, in the Mud Creek Valley, his family were taken sick with fever and ague, and he was, in consequence, compelled to stop. Hle there erected a rude cabin and commenced clearing. He always lived on the same farm, and reared a family, of which the following were mem- bers : Naney, Catherine, Jacob, and Daniel (who served in the war of 1812). Both sons died in the town of Brad- ford.

Henry Axtell came from near Binghamton, about the year 1815, and first settled the farm on which James Decker now resides. He served in the war of the Revo- lution. ITis children were John, Nancy, Alfred, and Henry, the latter of whom became a successful farmer by persistent effort, and died, in the town of Bradford, possessed of about five hundred acres of land. His children were Samuel, John B., Sarah, Melissa Franklin, and James.

Asa Tolbert was the first settler, and made the first clear- ing, on the first farm south of that settled by Thomas Rowles. A number of years after, while his family still lived on the same farm, he was drowned while running a raft down the Susquehanna River, near Tunkhannock, Pa. His children were Asa, Samuel, Joshua, Mary Ann, Betsey, and Maria.

In an early day George Snell located and first settled about 500 acres of land, about three miles south of the vil- lage of Bradford, on the brow of Oak Hill. Hle laid out and opened the road that now runs south from the first corner below the village as far as his settlement. His chil- dren were Anson, Sylvenus, Jacob, and Margaret.

Stephen Edwards first settled the Platt property, and built the first saw-mill on the mill-site about two miles west of the village of Bradford. He felt the deprivations usual in a new country. Being unable at that time to get i

any tea, he used in his family, as a substitute, hemlock ; and the twigs, after being steeped, accumulated in a large pile near his door. His children were John Edwards, Charles, Dennis, Luman, and a daughter.

John Zimmerman, an early and prominent pioneer, was born in Austria, and at the age of sixteen was taken from his bed at dead of night, ironed, and forced into the military service of the Austrians, and afterwards was taken prisoner by the French ; and after service under Napoleon Bonaparte, was again taken prisoner by the English and sent to Canada, in the service of the British government, at which place he was sent to look for a corporal who had deserted, when he and Jacob Swartz, following the example of the corporal, deserted, as the following copy of the original passport, found among his papers, will show :

" BUFFALO, 20th Sept .. 1811.

" This is to certify that the bearer hereof, John Zimmer- man, late private in His Majesty's service, is a deserter from the British army, and after passing Canandaigua may be at liberty to engage as a laborer or otherwise, but not to re- turn of his own accord within one hundred miles of this frontier.

"11. BRADY, Col. Comd'g."

lle often said that he was looking for the corporal yet.

From Buffalo he made his way through sparse settle- ments and deep woods to the settlement of Jersey (now Bradford ), in the month of September, 1814, and immedi- ately engaged with Frederick Bartles as a distiller, and after a service of seven months he received a recommendation from his employer " as an excellent distiller, industrious and faithful, and has behaved himself in a very becoming man- ner in every other respect," which indicates somewhat the qualities that afterwards gave him prominence in his pioneer home. He then went to Lancaster, Pa., intending to re- turn to Austria, but there learning that affairs in his old home were still unsettled, turned his attention again to dis- tilling, with a good degree of prosperity. On the 7th day of March, 1819, he was married to Elizabeth Green. In 1824, with his wife and two children, Jacob and Elizabeth, he returned again to play a part in the history of Jersey. Ile erected a distillery on the present site of G. IT. Given's barn, and engaged with characteristic energy in business. He added brewing, lumbering. farming (on the farm now owned by G. II. Givens), and grain-buying to his business, and for a time was the most prominent business character in Jersey. Later his fortunes turned, as is often the case with men of too large benevolence.

The following children were born in Bradford : John, Catharine, Martin, Sylvanus, and Napoleon; the two last of whom now live in the town of Bradford.

David light settled the farm Jeremiah Longwell now lives on, about two miles west of the village of Bradford.

David Woodard first settled the farm Franklin Barkly now lives on. His sons were George, John, and Gamaliel.

John Inscho and Abel Eveland settled, in 1830, the farm, on the edge of Oak Hill, David Inscho now lives on, about one mile from Mnd Creek. The children of the former were Joseph, Andrew, Abel, Frank, Mary, Lucy, and Sobrina. Abel Eveland held the office of justice of

JOHN KISHPAUGH.

MRS JOHN KISHPAUGH

JOHN KISHPAUGH.

John Kishpaugh was born in Sussex Co., N. J., June 15, 18. He was the son of Joseph and Catharine Kishpaugh. s ancestors were of German descent. Joseph Kishpaugh 1 family came from New Jersey, and settled in the town of lan, Yates Co., in the year 1832, John Kishpaugh being n fourteen years of age. From a boy he was taught the son of self-dependence. Beginning at the age of fifteen as a ver on the Erie Canal, and after that working summers on a m and attending school winters, he never since that time 3 known what it was to be dependent upon anybody. One the prominent features in the history of John Kishpaugh 8 his uniting with the Baptist Church at Lodi, N. Y., at the of twenty-one years. In 1837 he enlisted in the Hector de Company, of Hector, N. Y., and held the offices of 1st geant, lieutenant, and captain. From 1839 until 1843 lie ed in Tompkins County. In December, 1843, he married argarette Clawson, and on March 17, 1846, with his wife, he ne to Bradford, Steuben Co., and settled upon the farm upon ich he now resides, surrounded by the results of his ambition i toil. To Mr. and Mrs. Kishpangh were born two children, . : Garry B., who married Agnes M. Ayers, and is a farmer of tes County, and Elanor Jane, who married Francis L. Drake, d lives in Schuyler County. Mr. Kishpaugh has always fol- ved the occupation of a farmer. Coming into Bradford in 1846, cleared land upon his own farm, and for a time lived in a

log house upon the same farm, where since he has erected a fine farm-house and commodious buildings, which stand to-day as an exponent of what his industry and economy have accomplished. His wife, Margarette, after bringing up her children so that they are useful members of society, and ever performing her duties as wife and mother, died Sept. 10, 1872.

Politically Mr. Kishpaugh is a Democrat, and has always adhered to the principles of that party. He has held the offices of overseer of the poor and justice of the peace. Mr. Kish- paugh is essentially a self-made man, and by his own energy and labor has made himself one of the successful farmers of Brad- ford. On the 29th of January, 1874, Mr. Kishpaugh married Christina Brymer, of Schuyler County, whose father was one of the pioneer farmers of Steuben County, having served in the war of 1812. Mr. Brymer was regarded as one of the repre- sentative farmers of the county. John Kishpaugh is now an acting justice of the peace, and deacon of the Baptist Church at South Bradford. His wife is also an active member of that denomination and society. Mr. Kishpaugh has never taken any steps backward in regard to the principles shown when he was twenty-one years old, but has endeavored to strengthen them by age. He is regarded by his townsmen as a good citizen and an honest man. Mr. and Mrs. John Kishpangh live upon the old farm in Bradford, and after lives of toil they are in- dependent in a good degree and enjoying the fruits of their labor.

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the peace eight years, was town commissioner of schools, and served one term as member of Assembly. His chil- dren are Alonzo, Isaac, Joseph, Thomas, Catherine, and Mary.

Eli is Thomas settled the first farm on the hill north of the village of Bradford, on which Benjamin Whitehead now lives ; he held the office of commissioner of highways in 1815.

Peter Rose was also an early settler on the same farm, and the first physician in the town. His children were Jesse, Maria, E., and Ira ; the latter of whom, returning late at night from hunting, while hanging up his rifle, accidentally discharged it, and the ball passed through the floor and bed above, and lodged in the body of John Sanger, from the effects of which he soon died.

Capt. Hight settled the first farm north of the farm last mentioned ; killed the first panther, on the Caleb Hedges farm ; killed the first bear.

The first clearing on Oak Hill-in the south part of the town-was made by John Shriner, on the farm John Kish- paugh now lives on. His children were Cornelius and Low.

The next elearing was on the farm now owned by E. W. Bennett, by Peter Low, to the extent of 6 aeres, and sowed to wheat. Deer destroyed the erop.

Rumsey Miller settled the farm where Asa Walling now lives.

David Dennis, in an early day, settled and cleared the farm on which he died. He drew straw with an ox-team from Wayne Hotel, twelve miles, through the pines and hemlocks on Mud Creek, to take his stoek through the first winter. He went to mill in the summer on sleighs, with wooden shoes. He married Anna Biggers. His children were Robert, John, David, Joseph,-who live in the town of Bradford,-Sallie, Emily, Fannie, Ira, Hannah, Rachel, -who married Levi Fergus and lives in the town of Brad- ford,-and Maria, who married James Gillmore and also lives in this town.

Evan F. Thomas came from Luzerne Co., Pa., and set- tled in Bradford in 1827. He followed the trade of a carpenter for thirty-two years, and built two arks for trans- porting grain in the early days of Bradford. Since 1859 he has been a farmer, and at the present time owns a farm of 202 aeres.

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History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 51

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