History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 60

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 60

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GEORGE J. STEPHENS.

ELIZABETH STEPHENS.

MOS. M. H. STSPRENS

MORDECAI H. STEPHENS.

Mondani H. Stegbens was born in Cavistes, Jan IN IMIA Heis sum of Cel. William and Anne Stephens, and grandson of Urish Steptions, che fos: seaice of the Canister Valley.

Col. William Stephens was a native de Pensyl- vaná, being homm si the mouth of the Janisos. Apr !!

Col. Stephens came to the Canister Valley fa the spring về 1791, having sexed in defving estle up the river Into this country. He wes mastried Aug. 14. 1787, and worked in Homeisville, where he

by Thomas Halicea.

in the Soste militia: simel is supervisor severs!

poormillent in the town.

He J'el Nev. 4. 1855, His wife died May 6. wal : Romjamin doomed : Ohadish dovessed): Mes. Philip Lex. som Mes. Williso Remmere, of Heraelleville: Mordens: H .; Max. Soth S. Bockwith.

John, die young.

Ohaddish was prominentiy identinei with the inter- ess of the tour and county, sad was elected to mar- ra ils Assembly dissix in the State Legislature. One bouvier of Col. Sapbens-Jun-also make!

Mordersi H. Stephen, remmeinei a: home until she agy of twenty-four, when he married Phebe, daughter

he remained as s farmer the most part of his active busines life.

He was Formerly Sentidod with the Whig pumy. and has been a member of the Republican party since its formation. Soon after his marriage he became a metüber of the Masonic fraternity of Canister, and has bell various (Bury âu chat bolly. He has boca for many years a mutuaber of the Horas"sville Cher- ter. Na IDI, and's director of the Southern Ties

Meribath, who người with học froher : Max. Charis Hinkley, died Jane 17. 187%, agnd thirty-three. lesving one Gangbeer. Myatie E: and Himm R.

219

TOWN OF CANISTEO.

A pleasant little anecdote is related of Moore, at his surrender in this battle, exhibiting his conrage and humor. In the fight, which was a hand-to-hand bayonet cucounter, Moore and a few of his companions had got separated a considerable distance from the main body, and were not included in the general surrender. A soldier was sent down to them to order them up to surrender their arms. Moore had posted himself on a barrel of whisky which they found in that part of the field, and drawn up his half- dozen men in order of battle around him, and stoutly refused to surrender unless certain conditions were granted. The soldier returned and reported, whereupon an officer and a sufficient number of men were sent to insure com- pliance. The officer found Moore still in position on his barrel of whisky. The officer demanded surrender. Moore replied that he was " ready to capitulate, but must have terms." The officer, pleased with Johnny's humor, in- quired what terms he demanded. Johnny replied that, " his men be permitted to march into camp under shoulder- arms, and that each one be allowed to fill his canteen from the barrel on which he stood." The officer humorously acceded to the terms proposed, and the canteens were filled, and Johnny, at the head of his column, marched into camp and surrendered. He was soon after paroled and sent into the American lines, but he did not for some time after leave the service.

Another adventure used to be told of Moore, illustrating his courage and endurance. Early in the history of the Valley, Moore and several others made an excursion to Cryder's Creek, a small stream in Allegany County. On their return they struck through the woods from some- where in the neighborhood of Andover to Canisteo. It was in midwinter, the snow was deep, the weather cold, and the distance a good day's travel with ordinarily good roads. Towards night, and while yet a good way from the end of their journey, our travelers began to feel excessively weary, and especially Moore, who was very short- legged ; but all saw the necessity of persevering and even of quick- ening their pace, as night was fast approaching. At length Moore gave out and refused to go farther. The others, who were less exhausted, urged and entreated him to con- tinne his efforts, but nothing could move him to ga farther ; and the party, thinking that all must perish if they attempted to spend the night there, finally left him and urged their way through. The sad story was soon told through the neighborhood, and a party early next morning started to find Moore, expecting that he had certainly per- ished during the night. But after going a few miles, what was their astonishment and joy to meet Johnny puffing his way through the snow and making as good headway as his abbreviated appendages would permit. On inquiring of him how he had kept from freezing during the night, he said that after resting awhile, he followed on till he came to a hollow log, into which he crawled as far as he could and soon fell asleep. After sleeping awhile he was awakened by finding something was crawling on his feet. The crea- ture, he said, lay quietly till nearly daylight and then quietly left. He said he lay warm and rested well. In the morning Moore backed out aud found by the tracks that his bed-fellow had been a huge bear. His friends

were so incredulous that they followed the back track to the log where Moore had slept, and found it even as he had said.

Mr. Moore, though he lived and died in humble life, be- queathed to his posterity a rich inheritance .- " a good name," which we are assured is far better than great riches.

In passing up Bennett's Creck, the first zettler above .Johnny Moore was Joshna Stephens, a son of the Rev. Jedediah Stephens. At what time he settled there we are not aware, but he is mentioned by an old citizen as being there in 1819, and the clearing was then a small beginning ; a small log house stood on the right hand, and a barn on the left of the road, and only a few acres were cleared. It was, however, a very desirable location, embracing a full sweep through the flats, and offering to industry a reward in the future which his worthy sona have made full proof of Joshua Stephens was a man of kind and amiable dis- position, and was highly esteemed as a neighbor and citi- zen. He married Miss Rhoda Stephens. a daughter of Uriah Stephens, Esq. Two sons. Clinton and George, still occupy the old homestead where their father lived and died. One of the daughters married Mr. Henry Hamilton, one of the most enterprising farmers in this section of the country. Mr. Stephens was cut down in the very vigor of manhood, and when earthly prospects were most inviting, flattering, and full of hope. With an estimable lady for a companion, a promising little family of beautiful children. a farm susceptible of being one of the most desirable in the neighborhood, there seemed but little between him and earthly felicity ; but in one sad hour the whole was shrouded in gloom. He went out one evening, as he was in the habit of doing, after his cows, but not returning and night coming on, the family became alarmed, and search was instituted. Ile was found the next morning a mile or more from the house, on the roadside, shot through the body and dead. lle had evidently traveled some distance after being shot, as his course was indicated by traces of blood. It was sup- posed that he thought himself fatally wounded and had made a great effort to reach the road, so that his body might be the more readily found. It is supposed that this murder was committed by two Indians who were encamped near by. The Indians were soon after arrested and put in jail, and after a time were tried for the murder. They were ably defended through the influence of their old friends, --- Jones & Clute, of Geneseo. The Indians were found not guilty, although a strong case was made by the people against them. Little doubt remained in the minds of the people that the Indians shot him. The names of the In- dians were Sundown and Curly Eye, and were well known to the carly settlers. The latter was a professed doctor, and went by the title of Dr. Curly Eye. Deacon Mowry Thacher, now living in Hornellsville, seventy-six years of age, and still active and vigorous, knew the Indians well ; had an intimate acquaintance with Mr. Stephens, and was familiar with the circumstances of the tragic death and the solemn funeral of the murdered citizen. He said in 1868, " Though some forty years have since elapsed, I have a most vivid recollection of that funeral. When the corpse was about to be removed from the house, his aged and ven- erable father, trembling under a weight of years, and his

220

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

heart smitten to the dust under his erushing sorrow, said to the audience, 'Stop, friends, a moment ; I want to pray before you remove the body.' The dear old man fell upon his knees, and the first words of his prayer were, 'Oh, God ! assuage my grief.' Few eyes were dry when he had finished. All hearts sympathized with the aged saint. But he had gained the victory. He arose apparently calm and submissive."*

The Indians abandoned their hunting-grounds immedi- ately, and very few of them were ever seen in this quarter afterwards.

A short distance above Mr. Stephens lived William S. Thomas, who accumulated a fair competence and lived to an old age. He left but one child.

Soon after the road was opened from Mr. Thomas' to the Salt Spring (1820), John Il. Stephens, son of Col. John, made a beginning in the midst of this nine or ten mile wilderness, with not a neighbor within five miles of him, Mr. Thomas being the nearest. Christian Coby about this time settled on the creek, and Phineas Stephens, bro- ther of John H., began an improvement the same or the following year. Batchelder and Woodard made settlements a few years later, and later still, Manning and Ordway. A large proportion of the valley of the creek was covered with a dense forest of white pine. Mills were soon put up all along the creek, which abounded with excellent water-power, and soon a large and profitable business was done in the manufacture of lumber. The timber being now exhausted, fine farms arc opened up the whole length of the ereek.

John HI. Stephens had quite a large family. Two of his sons, Jerome and Van Buren, are resident and active busi- ness men of Hartsville. One of the daughters is Mrs. Cos- ten, of Hornellsville; and another, Mrs. King, of the same village. Two are in Andover, two in Greenwood, one in Hartsville, and one in Portage, Allegany Co. Mr. Stephens himself quit the scenes of his arduous toil many years ago, and is spending the evening of his life in Hornellsville.

Phineas Stephens was located a little farther down the creek, and opened the farm afterwards known as the Stephens farm. He did not live long to enjoy the fruits of his toil, but died in the meridian of manhood, regarded by all who knew him as a good neighbor and a valuable citizen. His wife was a daughter of Rev. Jedediah Stephens (the late Mrs. Jeremiah Baker). Phineas had four children,-two sons, Edwin and Harvey, and two daughters, Melissa and Rachel. The former married Mr. Heetor C. Baker, and the latter, Hon. John Santee, one of the most successful business men and influential citizens of Hornellsville. Daniel McHenry Stephens, another of the sons of Col. John Stephens, settled and still resides on Slate Creck. Daniel had four sons and two daughters. One of the sons, and both daughters, are in Michigan ; the other three sons are still engaged in agri- eulture near the old home.

Col. John Stephens, of whose children and grandchildren we have just spoken, moved upon the creek in 1822, and built the mills known as the Stephens Mills. The country

was still new and the settlers few and far between. The mills in their first construction were adapted to the then present wants of the country rather than to prospective requirements of an increasing population. In 1830 the property passed into the hands of his son, Hon. Alexander HI. Stephens. His wife was the daughter of Levi Davis, who settled in that part of the county in 1825, and became the owner of the Salt Springs property. Alexander H. Stephens had one son, Redmond D. Stephens, who was by profession a lawyer, and a young man of fine education and much promise. Soon after completing his education, with the enterprising spirit of the old stock, he went West in search of a field adapted to his energies and ambition. He found it in Marion, Ia., where, mainly by his own energy of character, he has made himself an enviable standing and accumulated a fortune. One of the daughters is now Mrs. Crandall, also a resident of Marion, Ia .; another mar- ried a Joseph Woodbury, proprietor of the Stephens Mills in Greenwood ; and one danghter we believe still resides at the old home.

Col. John Stephens, the old patriarch of the families, had two other children, to whom brief allusion has been made,-Elias Stephens, Esq., of Canistco, and Mrs. Dr. Olin. The former has two sons and four daughters, all of whom, except one son, reside in Canisteo. Mrs. Dr. Olin had two sons and one daughter. Both of the sons, Mar- cellus and Marshall, reside in Hornellsville. Vernetta, the daughter, married Jedediah Baker, son of Hon. Jeremiah Baker, of Canistco, and resides in Iowa.

William Jameson, son of John Jameson, one of the original pioneers, is now living on the old farm where his father settled. He has one son, William Jameson, Jr., residing on the homestead, and one daughter, Mrs. Ira Day, of South Dansville.

Of the large Hallett family, among whom were Dr. Samuel Hallett, Nathan and Thomas Hallett, only one is now liv- ing, viz., James E. Hallett, who resides at Adrian, in this county.

Col. John Stephens was one of the original pioneers, or famous ten, who were enumerated as heads of families in numbers three and four in the fifth and sixth ranges of towns in 1790. The other nine were James Headley, Wil- liam Baker, Jedediah Stephens, Uriah Stephens, Uriah Stephens, Jr., Richard Crosby, Solomon Bennett, Andrew Bennett, and John Jameson. This ineluded all the heads of families in the Canisteo Valley, from Addison to Ark- port, at that date.

Levi Davis was also among the early settlers ou Bennett's Creek ; he moved in in 1825. Ile was a man of active business habits, and early, in addition to his agricultural operations, introduecd merchandise on a small scale. It gradually enlarged under his skillful management and that of his sons, until it assumed for many years the proportions and dignity of a large and remunerative business.

The Hon. Redmond Davis, one of the sons of Levi Davis, and merchant at Greenwood, has represented the Third Assembly District of Steuben County in the State Legislature, where he did honor to himself and his eon- stituency as an efficient and faithful member.

" In 1820," says one of our oldest citizens, “ I passed

# In 1830, Curly Eye was visited on the Genesee by Hon. Jeremiah Baker, and he informned the latter that Sundown's intention was to have shot Ezra'Stephens instead of Joshua, and that he was opposed to the murder and advised Sundown not to shoot.

J. Baku

JEREMIAH BAKER was born near the place where he now lives, in the town of Canisteo, Steuben Co., April 18, 1791, and was said to be the first white male child born in Steuben County. His father, Jeremiah Baker, was born in New England, married Anna Stephens, sister of Rev. Jede- diah Stephens, the first settler of his branch of the Stephens family in the Canisteo Valley, of Canaan, Conn. Of this union were born in the East: Polly, Hannah, Thankful, Cynthia, William, Simeon, John, and Bazey. Their father was a soldier through the entire Revolutionary war, his family living at Wyoming. It was while residents of Wyoming that the mother and children were taken prisoners, but were soon after rescued. He lost all his property there, his build- ings being burned at the time of the battle of Wyoming. The family removed to Tioga Point, now Athens, Pa., but soon after came to Canisteo by means of boats and canoes up the Canisteo River, and settled near the place where his son, Jeremiah Baker, now resides, in the fall of 1790, and henee was among the earliest pioneers of the valley.

The children born here were Jeremiah, Noah, and James. Poverty, privation, and hardship were common incidents for several years of this family, yet all were met with that courage and patience characteristic of the Baker family. Ilis father, mother, and Grandmother Corey were members of the first class in the Methodist Church of this part of the country, and were the organizers of the first Methodist Episcopal Church, under John B. Hudson, in Canisteo Valley ; was one of the seven voters of the town for four years, and held various offices in the early history of the town. IIe died about 1824; his wife died in 1825.

Mr. Baker had limited opportunities for book-knowledge. At the age of nineteen he married Eunice Powers, of Addison, a very worthy young lady, and as a wife and mother, a woman of rare excellence, and did her part well in training her chil- dren in all that makes true manhood and womanhood.

Mr. Baker's life has been mostly spent as a farmer, yet as a citizen he has been intimately connected with many of the most important local improvements of his town and county.

In 1829 his wife died, leaving seven children,-Mrs. John Crosby, Heetor C., Mrs. Nelson ITallett, Caleb, Asa, Elias, and Nathan.

During the same year he married llilda, daughter of Rev. Jedediah Stephens, and widow of the late Phineas Stephens. Of this union were born Jedediah, Orlando, and Mrs. James O'Connor, of Hornellsville. Politically, Mr. Baker has always been a Democrat, yet ever looked well to the men as well as to the principles to be represented. As a citizen he has held almost every position within the gift of his towns- men, as justice of the peace, school commissioner, town clerk, etc. ; was deputy sheriff with the first sheriff, General George McClure, of the county, and represented his Assembly district in the State Legislature in 1835.

IIe is one of the old landmarks that point to the early days, was for fifty years of the past a representative man in Steuben County, and is now a pensioner of the war of 1812-14, having served on the Niagara frontier under General MeClure. Ile is known as a man of broad ideas, liberal views, and in his day has been a liberal contributor, especially in the erection of church edifices in the county, and for the support of reli- gious institutions, having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for sixty-one years. For over half a cen- tury he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has ever been prominent in the councils of that body, and is now not only the oldest member of that body in Canisteo, but also the oldest person living in the town, and now able to dictate the main facts for this sketch. Ilis second wife died Nov. 22, 1871.

His son, Nathan S., was a volunteer in the late Rebellion ; was a member of the 86th Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel Bailey commanding; was in the engagements of second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Beverly Ford, Mine Run, Gettysburg, Manassas Junction, and the Wilderness, and was also in skirmishes before Petersburg and Richmond ; was cap- tain of his company, promoted in place of the captain, who died. He was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, and was one of about ten of the original company who returned to their homes. He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1865. He now resides on the old homestead, and cares for his father in his declining years. In May, 1855, he married Roxie Ordway, of Canisteo.

Elias was also a volunteer of the 86th Regiment, New York Volunteers, and served altogether about one and a half years.

LYMAN A. COOK was born in Canisteo, July 22, 1830. He is the third child of Atwell and Fanny (Moore) Cook, the former a native of Conway, Mass., born in 1792; the latter a daughter of James Moore, and born in 1796, in Canisteo. Her father was one of the early settlers of Canisteo, and came here with his family about 1791.

Mr. Atwell Cook is now one of the oldest resi- dents of Canisteo; married in 1823, he and his wife have lived together upwards of half a century, and now reside in Canisteo.

Their other children are James M., Mrs. Lawrence Hopper, Mrs. Richard Allison, and Mrs. David Corbett ; the three daughters are living.

Mr. Cook was eleven years of age when his parents removed to Hartsville. His minority was spent on the farm and attending the common school. In the year 1852 he married Polly, danghter of Nathaniel and Sophia Crane, of Waterloo, Seneca Co., N. Y. Her father was a native of Goshen, Orange Co., and her mother was born in New Jersey ; reared a family of eight children; were farmers, and settled in Harts- ville, in 1853, where the mother died in 1866, aged sixty-seven; the father died in Canisteo, in 1875, aged seventy-six.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cook settled in Hornellsville, and he, in partnership with his brother, James M., carried on farming, and to some extent lumbering for nine years; when they removed to

Hartsville, and after several years' residence there, returned to Hornellsville village, where he remained for two years ; his brother dying in the mean time. After settling the business, he returned to Harts- ville, and in 1872 settled in the village of Canis- teo, where he carried on farming, lumbering, and general business until his death, which occurred Dec. 23, 1878.

In politics Mr. Cook was active, and a staunch member of the Republican party. While a resident of Hartsville he represented his town in the Board of Supervisors, and after becoming a resident of Canisteo he held no office except as trustee of the village.

He was an interested eitizen in all local improve- ments, good society, and schools; was trustee of the Canisteo Academy, and also a trustee of the Baptist Church Society. He possessed a generous nature, and integrity and strictness in all the relations of life. In his business relations his character was un- sullied ; his interest in and care for the poor were proverbial. He was a man of untiring industry, and, with a self-reliance characteristic of himself, he carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook.

Their children are Mrs. William O. Hamilton and Dwight, living. One daughter, Frankie S. Cook, died at the age of eleven, in September, the same year, prior to the death of her father.

221

TOWN OF CANISTEO.

up the valley of Bennett's Creek through a dense forest from William S. Thomas' to what was then the Salt Springs, at which point there was a little spot cleared and a small log house. Now, upon that site there is a fine, flourishing little village." In the winter of that year the same party, in company with others, passed from the Salt Springs to Independence, a distance of thirteen miles, over a road that had just been opened by Nathaniel Thacher for the Pulteney estate. There was then not a house nor an acre of land cleared between the Salt Springs and Inde- pendence. The party came out at or near Peter Teater's, on what is known as the Forsyth farm. After being re- freshed by the kind hospitality of Mr. Peter Teater the party returned the same day to Elder David Smith's, in Troupsburgh, from whence they had started in the morning.

ORGANIZATION.

The first records of Canisteo which we have been able to find are dated "the first Tuesday in April, 1801," and record the election of the following town officers, at a meet- ing held at the house of Benjamin Crosby, in what is now the town of Hornellsville : Supervisor, Uriah Stephens ; Town Clerk, Joseph A. Rathbun ; Assessors, Obediah Ayers, Richard Crosby, Nathan Hallett ; Collector, Samuel Hallett, Jr. ; Overseers of the Poor, James Hadley, Nathan Hallett ; Commissioners of Highways, Matthew McHenry, Daniel Upson, Joseph Purdy ; Constables, Samuel Hallett, Jr., Samuel Van Campen, Joel Atherton ; Overseers of Highways, Christopher Hurlbut, George Hornell, Obediah Ayers, Joseph Coleman, Benjamin Crosby, Samuel Agnew, William Stephens, Benjamin Kenyon, and Samuel Hallett, Sr. ; Fence-Viewers, George Hornell, Uriah Stephens, and Moses Van Campen .*

* As Moses Van Campen once held the humble office of fenee-viewer in the town of Canisteo, and resided for many years in Dansville, formerly inelnded in this town, the writer eannot forbear making a note here respeeting him.

At the commencement of the Revolutionary war, Moses Van Cam- pen resided in Northumberland, Pa. With most of the young men of that patriotie village, he joined the militia, and being stationed on the frontier, engaged in many perilous enterprises against the In- dians. ffe was selected during Sullivan's campaign to take charge of several important and dangerous scouting movements, suffered the greatest fatigues and engaged in the most dangerous services. About one year after the campaign he was taken prisoner hy a party of 10 Seneca warriors, who had been sent by the British to make an attack in the Minsink settlements. The father of Maj. Van Campen was thrust through with a spear; and while the red warrior stood with his foot on the breast of his vietim, ende troring to extricate his spear, another savage dashed out the brains of Moses Van Campen's brother with a tomahawk, and was aiming a blow at his own head. He seized the Indian's arm and arrested the deseending blow. While thus en- gaged his father's murderer thrust the spear at his side; but he avoided the weapon, being only slightly wounded. At this moment the chief interfered and his life was spared. He was taken as a prisoner to near Tioga Point, and in the night, when the ten warriors were asleep, he and his two companions, Pence and Pike, seenred the rifles, and falling upon their eaptors, slew all but one, and made their eseape. An account of this terrible scene, and the marvelous heroism and daring of Van Campen, is found in the " Life of Brant," Vol. 2, p. 59. See also " Memoirs of Van Campen," by Juhn Niles Hubbard, of Dansville, a grandson of Maj. Van Campen.

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History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 60

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