History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 56

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 56

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" Almost every man kept a rifle with a flint lock, which often disappointed him when he expected it to go off and take down a deer. Their plows in those days were the old-fashioned bull-plow, with wooden mould-board, and no iron about them except the share. We knew nothing about the mowing-machine, horse-rake, thrashing-machine, grain-drill, steam-engine, railroad, telegraph, sewing-ma- chine, or any of the numerous inventions now in use. We were very profligate of our timber; it was so plenty that we would not have thought of charging a neighbor any- thing for a dozen or twenty pine-trees. We felt secure from burglars in our habitations without a lock to our doors.

"One incident in the war of 1812 I remember very dis- tinctly. It used to be talked that there was danger of the Indians coming over from Canada and going around killing and sealping the inhabitants. Well, one day I was busy with my play, my back towards the road, no one near me that I knew of, when suddenly a hand came spat on the top of my head, and fingers clenched into my hair and gave it a shake. I turned my head while he yet held my hair, and two large Indians with their hunting implements stood behind me. I thought my scalp had got to come off. They asked me in plain English if my father was at home; I answered that he was. When they saw how they had surprised me they had a hearty laugh over it.

" One of the Campbell boys and myself once built a fish- rack, and one night, late in the fall, we caught fish enough to fill a common-sized two-horse wagon box full. I will also tell an authentic hunting story. An old hunter in this neighborhood saw an animal which he took to be a large wolf, feeding on the careass of a deer, and shot and wounded it slightly. He followed it the remainder of the day, and the next day with another man, but saw nothing of the animal. The next day another man went with a gun and dogs. The dogs going ahead of the hunter soon came up with the animal, and it turned and looked at the dogs, but they kept out of its reach, while the man came up and saw that it was a panther. The day following a brother and cousin of mine went with him and followed it till almost night, when the dogs started it in a thicket of large hem- lock-trees. The dogs drove it into a trec. The men came up, and after looking some time saw the panther in the top of a large tree. Brother Ben shot him, and he barely kept

ROBERT CAMPBELL, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Scotland, and was born April 23, 1709, and was married April 13, 1727, and settled in Canaan, Conn., Oct. 20, 1761. He had eleven children, viz. : Rebecca, born Oct. 2, 1728; Lydia, born Aug. 21, 1730; Daniel, born March 12, 1733; Mary, born Aug. 19, 1734; Elizabeth, born Oct. 1, 1736; Joan, born June 19, 1739; Robert, Jr., born May 3, 1741 ; Daniel (2d), born July 29, 1743; Sarah, born Oct. 15, 1745; and Solomon, born June 13, 1749.

He was a Presbyterian clergyman of marked ability, and was ordained minister Oct. 20, 1761, at Canaan. Ile removed to Stillwater, Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1762, and was accom- panied by a very large number of bis congregation from Con- necticut, about one hundred members. He continued to preach as long as his health would permit, and died, mourned by a host of warm friends, on the 19th of February, 1789 ; his wife died July 29, 1763.

Solomon Campbell was undoubtedly born in Connecticut, and removed to Stillwater, Saratoga Co., N. Y., in company with his parents and many others who left Connecticut for their new home in Stillwater. His father was the first min- ister in Stillwater. Solomon, Sr., married Sarah Andrews, Aug. 1, 1771, and had the following children, viz. : Sarah, born May 14, 1772; Mary, born June 21, 1775; Archie, born Feb. 23, 1777; Solomon, Jr., born Oct. 30, 1779; Elizabeth, born Dec. 20, 1781; John, born Dec. 6, 1785; Lydia, born April 3, 1788; Rebecca, born July 18, 1790; Tartullius, born Aug. 11, 1792 ; Daniel, born June 31, 1797.

Solomon was known as Capt. Campbell, and no doubt served in the Revolutionary war. He was a farmer by occupation. Capt. Solomon Campbell removed to Campbelltown very soon after his son Archie, who settled in Campbell in the winter of 1801-1802. Solomon died Dec. 30, 1823, and his wife died Sept. 20, 1806, in the fifty-fifth year of her age.

Col. Archie Campbell, son of Solomon, was born on Long Island, and married Miss Sarah Persall, a native of Fishkill, N. Y., about 1796 or 1797.

Of this union seven children were born, viz. : Solomon A., James, Bradford, Elvin, Mary, Jane, and George W. Of this number, Solomon A. and James were born before coming to Campbelltown, and Bradford was the first white child born in the town of Campbell. Col. Archie Campbell was a colo-

nel of the State militia, and served as captain in the war of 1812. He was extensively engaged in the lumber interest while a resident of Campbell, and was a farmer. He died suddenly, March 14, 1825, in the prime of life, and Mrs. Camp- bell died July 11, 1852.

George W. Campbell, son of Col. Archie and Sarah Camp- bell, was born in Campbell, Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug. 2, 1818. He received a common-school education, but at the age of six- teen he quit attending school, and was compelled to work in order to get a living. He commenced to learn the harness trade at Hammondsport, Penn Yan, and Bath, and continued four years ; then went into a store at Bath for Amos Babcock, and continued till 1844; then was engaged in company with his brother, Solomon A., in the lumber trade in running lum- ber down the Susquehanna until 1848; then went to Painted Post and engaged in the mercantile business with R. O. Smith, now of Olean, for two years, when Mr. Campbell's health compelled him to give up the business. He soon commenced the humber interest again with Solomon A. until 1857, when he purchased one-half of his brother's farm, some four hundred acres, and was engaged in farming for eight years, when he sold his farm in 1866, and commenced the mercantile business at Campbell, where he now resides.

Mr. Campbell's business career has been one of steady, on- ward gain. He commenced life poor, and to-day is one of the most substantial business men of his native town. In politics he is closely identified with the Republican party, and joined the party at its organization in 1856, having previously been a Whig, as all of his ancestors were. He was supervisor of his town from 1861 to 1865, and superintendent of the poor from 1872 to 1875. Mr. Campbell has been identified with the Board of Education for the past three years, and is serving in that capacity now. Mr. Campbell has given general satis- faction in all his official business, and to-day is honored by the re- spect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. He married Miss Elizabeth M., daughter of Columbus and Louise Burrill, of Fairfield, Maine, July 10, 1853. Mrs. Elizabeth M. Campbell was born in Fairfield, Maine, Nov. 16, 1829, and settled in Campbell with her parents in October, 1850. Of this union three children were born, viz .: Sarah Louise, born Jan. 6, 1857; Solomon A., born March 7, 1860; and Archie W., born Sept. 6, 1863.

REA

JONAS STEVENS.

MRS. JONAS STEVENS.

JONAS STEVENS.

JOSEPH STEVENS, SR., was either a native of New England or came from England previons to the Revolutionary war, as he served in that war and had settled in Saratoga County before the war, where some of his children were born.

Joseph, Sr., and his son, Joseph, Jr., settled in Campbelltown, Steuben Co., abont the same time, being March, 1805,-both of whom were farmers. Joseph, Sr., died while a resident in Wheeler, Steuben Co., far advanced in years. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church at the time of their death.

Joseph, Jr., and family (except one) were members of the Presbyterian Society.

Jonas Stevens came to Campbell with his parents March 13, 1805, and has continued to reside here ever since except a few years spent at Monterey. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Jedediah Miller, of Ulysses, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1826. Mrs. Stevens was born Ang. 18, 1807. Of this union five children were born, viz. : George, Hannah, Harmon, Ralph, and Jennie. All are living in Campbell, except Jennie, who resides at Avon, N. Y. Mr. Stevens has been a farmer by occupation, and has endured the privations incident to a pioneer life.

For more than forty-eight years he and Mrs. Stevens have been living at their present home in Campbell, and he has always been closely identified with the best interests of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have been members of the Presbyterian Society for more than fifty years, and Mr. Stevens is one of two of the first seven who organized the Presbyterian Church at Campbell. In polities Mr. Stevens is a staunch Republican, and two of his sons,

Harmon and Ralph, were soldiers in the 107th Regiment, New York Volunteers, in the late war. Ralph lost his right arm during the engagement at Dallas, Ga., in 1864. Harmon and Ralph were both honorably discharged, and are now citizens of Campbell.

For more than fifty-two years Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have been walking life's journey together, and now in their advanced years they can look back over those years of labor with the satisfaction of knowing that their children are numbered among the respect- able citizens of Steuben County.

JONAS STEVENS, the subject of this sketeli, is of English origin. Jonas, son of Joseph, Jr., and Abi- gail Knowlton Stevens, was born in Sangerfield, Oneida Co., N. Y., March 13, 1803.

Joseph, Jr., son of Joseph, Sr., was born in Still- water, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Dec. 5, 1771, and died in Campbell, N. Y., Dec. 1, 1843. His wife, Abigail Knowlton, was born in Stillwater, Saratoga Co., N. Y., June 22, 1777, and died in Michigan, Dec. 19, 1864. Her remains were brought home and buried by the side of her husband, upon the farm where they spent so many pleasant years together.

By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stevens had eleven children, all of whom, save the five oldest, were born in Campbell, N. Y., and the others in Sangerfield, Oneida Co., N. Y. Names of children, -Jared, Permelia, Haddassah, Amos, Jonas, Ben- jamin, Joseph, Ralph, Marcus, Almon, and John. All of this large family lived to be men and women, and those who died each reached more than seventy years save two. Two others are to-day upwards of seventy-two years of age.

PHOTOS BY EVANS

DEACON JACOB WOODWARD

MRS JACOB WOODWARD

DEACON JACOB WOODWARD.

The ancestors of the subject of this sketch came from England, and settled in Massachusetts. . Jacob, son of Jonas and Mary Woodward, was born in Stratton, Windham Co., Vt., Jan. 2, 1794. Ilis father was a native of Millbury, Worcester Co., Mass. He married Mary Morsman, a native of Massachusetts, also. Of this union thirteen children were born, twelve of whom lived to be men and women, and eight are still living.

Jonas was a farmer by occupation, and followed it through life. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and every one of his family, two of whom have been deacons and two ministers.

He left Vermont in May, 1816, and came to Steuben County, and located on Mead's Creek, his son Jacob having preceded him some two months. Jonas and Jacob kept bachelors' hall during their stay, and returned to Vermont in July-Jonas to get his family, and Jacob to marry.

Jacob married Miss Betsey, daughter of Joseph Wilder, of Wardsboro, Windham Co., Vt., Sept. 2, 1816. Of this union four children grew to manhood and womanhood, viz .: Abigail, died at the age of sixteen ; Christiana, married Isaac P. Good- sell, of Painted Post ; Zatter W., married Sarah Powers, and is now on the home farm; and Dimmis S., married Dr. Samuel N. Everett, who is now a practicing physician at Campbell.

Deacon Woodward has always been a farmer. He united with the Baptist Church at the early age of twelve, and ever since has been a very active member of the same, and for more than forty years has been a deacon. When a young man he commenced as a teacher of music, and has continued to follow his chosen profession until within a few years. In politics, formerly a Dem-

oerat, but when the Republican party was organized he joined it. He has been a staunch temperance man for a great many years, and was the first man to organize the first temperanee society in his community. He has held various official positions to the satisfaction of his constituents.

His wife died Nov. 23, 1873, while visiting with her daughter, Mrs. I. P. Goodsell, at Painted Post. Her memory is cherished by her husband and children. Deacon Woodward is now an old man of eighty-five, hale and hearty, and retains all his faculties. His only son, Zatter W., is a prominent man of Campbell, and is a farmer by occupation. He has two sons, Gernane P. and Miles J., aud a daughter, Mary, who married Geo. Mason, of Campbell.

Zatter W. was born May 11, 1823; married Miss Sarah D. Powers, November, 1862. Mrs. Z. W. Woodward was born Nov. 10, 1826, in Cortland, Cortland Co., N. Y. Mr. Wood- ward is a farmer by occupation. He has been magistrate, for - nine consecutive years, of Campbell, and at present is one of the assessors of the town.

In politics he is identified with the Republican party. Like his honored father, he early espoused the temperance cause, and is one of the strong temperance men of the town. He and . his wife are worthy members of the Baptist Church of Cooper's Plains. He has been clerk of that society for more than twenty years. Perhaps there is no family in the county that is more highly respected than the Woodward family. The impress of a well-ordered life is plainly seen in this family, and Deacon Woodward, like Deacon St. John, of Hornby, has an untar- nished name.

209

TOWN OF CAMPBELL.

from falling. Then Nute attempted to shoot, but his gun would not go off, so Ben reloaded his gun. The hunter then shot and brought him down dead. One man could not lift him from the ground. They turned the skin off as whole as they could ; filled it with straw. It looked quite natural. It measured eight feet from the end of its nose to the tip of its tail. Benjamin Patterson, well known about Painted Post and Corning, saw it, and said he had killed many of them, but he never saw as large a one as that."*

The first grist-mill was built by Gen. John Knox and Archa Campbell, in 1812. It stood across the race from the present flouring-mills of Bemis & MeKay.

In 1846 a saw- and grist-mill combined was built by Marcus Wheelock for Andrew Langdon, where the Bemis saw-mill now stands. Mr. Samuel Cornell, now residing with his son-in-law Emmons Abel, was many years miller in this mill. He is the father of John Cornell, of Bath, and Johnson Cornell, of Cooper's Plains, and is now eighty- four years of age.

MEAD'S CREEK COLONY.

David Holines and his brother William were the original owners of the lands on Mead's Creek, in the eastern part of the town. They traded their wild lands here with the first settlers for small farms in Vermont. The offer to ex- change in this manner induced quite a colony to emigrate to this part of the town in 1816. The original colonists were Jonas and Jacob Woodward, Ilinsdale Hammond, and Stephen Corbin, from Windham Co., Vt. Jonas Wood- ward had a family of eleven children, and his son Jacob, still living near the old homestead, was a young married man when they came to the town. From his remarkably clear recollection we have elicited the following facts con- cerning the old settlers :

The colony came in 1816. The next year Sampson Bixby and his son Amasa settled in the edge of what is now Hornby. Mr. Hammond settled on the place where the Hendersons and Mr. Welch now reside. Seth Hammond settled on the Mead's Creek road, where I. F. Dibble now lives. Jonas Woodward settled on the Harmon Stevens place, un Mead's Creek, and Jacob Woodward on the place now occupied by Mr. Anthony Brown. He built here his first log house, in 1817. About ten years later he settled on the first farm over the Hornby town line, where he resided about twenty years. Then he exchanged his farm with Amos Bixby for the place which he now owns on Dry Run, and where he has resided for the past thirty years.

Of the original settlers all are dead except Jacob Wood- ward. He was born in Windham Co., Vt., Jan. 2, 1794, and is consequently in his eighty-sixth year. Jonas and Benjamin Stevens, Mrs. Lucy Teeple, and Mr. Woodward are the oldest settlers now left in town. Alson Pierce, whose place is just over the line, in the town of Erwin, settled here from Windham Co., Vt., in 1814.

Z. W. Woodward, son of Jacob, is a citizen of the town, residing on the old homestead. Demis Woodward, now

Mrs. S. N. Everett, a daughter of Jacob Woodward, re- sides on the farm adjoining the old homestead. A daugh- ter of Hinsdale Hammond, who was born in Vermont, and came here with the family, is still living in Hornby. Her name is Rachel, widow of the late Jonathan Remington, who came to the town about 1818.

When the colonists came here there was a little patch of land which had been cleared by Cyrus Ames, the hunter, on the place where Jonas Woodward settled, on which was a little log cabin. All the rest of the valley was an un- broken wilderness. The hunter's cabin was made the com- mon stopping-place of the settlers till they could get their own cabins ready for occupancy.

Of the eleven children of Jonas Woodward whom he brought with him to this valley, eight are yet living. Two daughters-Mrs. Lucy Davis and Mrs. Olive Wheeler- reside in Bradford.

The first school in the settlement was taught in the hun- ter's cabin, by Rhoda Simmons, in 1817. The next school was taught in a frame barn. Betsey, wife of Joseph Wood- ward, and Mrs. Davis, his sister, were among the early teachers. The first school-house proper was a log building on land now owned by David Cook.

The little colony from Vermont were mostly Baptists. On the 22d of February, 1823, they organized what was known as the " First Baptist Church of Painted Post," Rev. Jonathan Stone, pastor. They held services in private houses and at the first school-house. About 1840, they, with others, built the Baptist church at Cooper's Plains, where the members in this neighborhood now attend wor- ship. Rev. A. Tilden, pastor.

ORGANIZATION.

The act for the organization of the town was passed April 15, 1831. The first town-meeting was held at the house of Samuel Bestly, at which Daniel Clark was elected Supervisor ; Milo IIurd, Town Clerk ; William Stewart, Samuel Cook, Daniel Horton, Assessors ; John H. Burritt, William Stewart, Selah Hammond, Commissioners of High- ways; Joseph Stevens, Plyna Cobb, Overseers of the Poor ; Holace Corbin, Frederick Stewart, Miner Campbell, Com- missioners of Schools ; Milo Hurd, Harvey Burritt, Daniel Horton, Inspectors of Schools ; Aden J. Pratt, Collector ; Aden J. Pratt, John Robbins, Jr., Constables; Parley Seamans, Alvin Corbin, Justices of the Peace. The town was divided into fourteen road districts, of which the fol- lowing persons were overseers in the order named, beginning with Distriet No. 1 : Richard Gregory, Samuel Bestly, Daniel Clark, Gilbert Reed, Benjamin F. Balcom, Alson Pierce, Peter Covenhoven, Stephen Boyden, Moses Ham- mond, Moses Woodworth, Salmon Hunsinger, Salmon Dickinson, Parley Seamans, Hosea Robbins.

LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.

Supervisors.

Town Clerks.

Collectors.

1832. Daniel Clark.

Milo Hurd.

A. J. Pratt.

1833. William D. Knox.

Harvey Burritt.

1834.

Daniel Clark.

Minor C. Nute.

1835. Benjamin Farwell.

Jared Stevens.

1836.

Frederick Stewart.

1837.

* Mr. Stevens wrote this sketeh at the age of seventy-five. 27

210

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Supervisors.

Town Clerks. Aden J. Pratt.

Collectors. Selah Hammond.

1839.

1840. S. A. Campbell.

1841.

Miner Campbell.

1842.

1843. William Stewart.

1844, 44

John P. Knox.

1845. Willis MeNeil.

Charles T. Iforton. E. S. Millard.

1846. 46

Walter Tousey. .. ..

Elijah Dawley.

18448.

Aden J. Pratt.

Charles T. Horton.

1849. S. A. Campbell.

Henry Van Coren. .6

1850. John P. Knox.

Orville Sharp. Joseph Ilammondl. Z. W. Woodward.

1853. Joseph Hammond.

1854. S. J. Teeple.

Joseph S. Pratt. S. M. Quimby.

1857. Samuel Balcom.

1858.

A. J. Pratt.

1859. 16

S. N. Everett.

1860.

1861. Geo. WW. Campbell.

Saml. IF. Thompson.

1862.

1863.

186-4.

1865.

1866. Charles Cass.

Charles T. Horton.

Byron Pierce. Ralph Stevens.

1867.

1868. 6.

1869. ..

Josiah T. Burrows. Isaac T. Bullard.

1872.

Ralph Stevens.

Josiah T. Burrows. John Wilcox.

1874. 66

Solomon A. Coss.

J. T. Quimby.

1875. G. R. Sutherland.

Jacob Clawson.

J. T. Burrows.

1876.

N. S. Jaynes.

1877.

1878. Elias A. Overhiser.

Jerome T. Quimby.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

1832. Parley Scamans.

1854. John Tomer.

Alvin Corbin.

I855. J. S. Drew.

1833. Selah Hammond.

Daniel S. Whittenhall.

1835. Plyna Cobb. 1856. Joseph Hammond.

Daniel Clark.

Miner C. Nute.

1836. Seth Ilammnond.

1857. John P. Knox.

1837. Daniel Horton.

1858. Charles Cass.

William Stewart.

Joreah Devendorf.

1838. Plyna Cobb.

1859. Miner C. Nute. John Tomer.

1839. Daniel Clark.

1840. Ebenezer Leavenworth.

1860. llenry J. Wagner.

1841. Miner C. Nute.

1861. Charles T. Ilorton.

1842. Alson Pierce.

1862. John Tomer.

1843. Daniel Clark.

1863. Orr Smith.

Seth Ilammond.

1864. Ifenry J. Wagner.

1844. E. Leavenworth.

1865. Charles T. Ilorton.

1845. Miner C. Nute.

1866. John Tomer.

1846. Seth Hammond.

1867. Orr Smith.

18-17. Orrin B. Chapin.

1868. Zatter W. Woodward.

1848. David Curtis.

1869. Charles T. Horton.

1849. Henry L. Griffith. Plyna Cobb.

1871. Orr Smith.

1850. Vincent M. Shoemaker.

1872. Zatter W. Woodward.

1851. Orrin B. Chapin. Seth llammond.

1874. Charles T. Ilorton.

1852. Orlando Comstock.

1853. E. S. Millard. J. D. Hamilton.

1854. Plyna Cobb.

1878. Charles T. Horton.

EARLY POPULATION OF CAMPBELL.

Rev. S. M. Campbell, D.D., of Rochester, who was born and spent his early life in this town, preached the dedication sermon of the new Presbyterian church, Feb. 4, 186S. In the course of his preliminary remarks he spoke as follows, in regard to the early population of this town and vicinity :

" When the more permanent population of this place began to settle here, it embraced several valuable families ; but, as often occurs, it was divided into several Christian denominations. One of the families, that of Zalmon Tousey, quite marked among the surrounding population for literary taste and intellectual culture, preferred the Epis- copal mode of worship; at a later day another household of the same preference and peculiarities also appeared, that of David Curtis, Esq. In the lower part of the town dwelt another influential family, that of Robert Bonham, em- bracing several very energetie women, whose sympathies were with the Methodists ; and they too were soon strength- ened by a second household, that of Samuel Cook, who pitched their tent hard by, and who were of like religious feeling. Coming farther up the valley, we encountered still another household, that of Daniel Clark, the head of which, time out of mind, held the very lucrative office of justice of the peace among us, where the principles of the Baptists prevailed ; and this household, too, had its mate a little farther still up the valley, where another justice of the peace, Daniel Horton, held his court, who was also a Baptist. In our Methodist families the denominational preferences were mostly seen among the women; in our Baptist families it was much the stronger with the men.

" It will be seen, singularly enough, that thus far the denominational households came among us, as the living creatures went into Noah's ark, just two of a sort, and in a general sense the same statement will be found true as we turn to the Presbyterians. One of our Presbyterian households was more a tribe than a family, but the two names Stevens and Campbell, in some of their out-branch- ing relations, for a time embraced them all.

"Such was the material out of which to build a church. It seems unpromising, perhaps, broken into so many frag- ments, but the hearts of the people were far better united than might be supposed. If they were unlike in denomi- national preferences in another thing they were agreed,- a willingness to forego such preferences for a common good. If there was a Baptist meeting in those early days, all went in; if a Methodist, it was the same; and in some respeets the people of God here were at the time like those of a still more primitive period, when 'the whole multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul, neither said any among them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common.'

" Suffer a word also here upon the early industrial pur- suits of the town. Work is an educator, and the kind of work which men follow sometimes has great influence on the characters they form. In this place, besides the usual business of a new country, there were great inducements to engage in the manufacture and sale of lumber.

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History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 56

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