USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 155
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 155
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 155
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 155
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The Schuyler County Homoeopathic Medical Society was duly organized in accordance with the aforesaid statutes of the State of New York.
Pursuant to a call, a meeting of the homeopathie phy- . sicians of Schuyler County was held at the office of Dr. Guliek, in Watkins, Tuesday, July 9, 1872, and, in pur- suance of an act entitled " An Act to Incorporate Homœo- pathie Societies," a society was formed to be known as the Schuyler County Homoeopathic Medical Society.
Present-Drs. William Gulick, E. W. Lewis, Alex. V. Stobbs, G. A. Tracy, and A. P. Hollett.
The first officers were as follows: Dr. William Gulick, President ; Dr. Alex. V. Stobbs, Vice-President; Dr. A. P. Hollett, Secretary and Treasurer ; Censors, Drs. G. A. Traey, E. W. Lewis, C. B. Knight. Dr. A. P. Hollett, delegate to the State Homoeopathic Medical Society.
Since this time the officers of the society have been as follows, viz .:
1873. Elected July 8 .- Dr. William Gulick, President; Dr. Alex. V. Stobbs, Vice-President ; Dr. A. P. Hollett, Secretary and Treasurer ; Censors, Drs. E. W. Lewis, G. A. Tracy, C. B. Knight. Dr. Alex. V. Stobbs, delegate to the State Homoeopathic Medical Society.
1874. Elected July 14 .- Dr. William Guliek, President; Dr. E. W. Lewis, Vice-President ; Dr. A. P. Hollett, Sec- retary and Treasurer ; Censors, Drs. G. A. Tracy, Alex. V. Stobbs, George H. King, C. B. Knight, and A. P. Hollett.
1875. Elected July 13 .- Dr. William Gulick, President ; Dr. E. W. Lewis, Vice-President ; Dr. A. P. Hollett, Seere- tary and Treasurer ; Censors, Drs. G. A. Traey, J. B. Sar- gent, Alex. V. Stobbs, C. B. Knight, and George H. King.
1876. Elected July 11 .- Dr. Alex. V. Stobbs, President; Dr. E. W. Lewis, Vice-President ; Dr. A. P. Hollett, Seere- tary and Treasurer; Censors, Drs. G. A. Tracy, William Gulick, C. B. Knight, George HI. King, and J. B. Sargent. Dr. G. A. Traey, delegate to the State Homoeopathic Med- ical Society.
1877. Elected July 10 .- Dr. E. W. Rogers, President ; Dr. G. A. Tracy, Vice-President ; Dr. A. P. Hollett, See- retary and Treasurer ; Censors, Drs. William Gulick, Alex. V. Stobbs, C. B. Knight, F. W. Adriance, and J. B. Sar- gent. Dr. E. W. Rogers, Delegate to the State Homoco- pathie Medical Society.
1878. Elected July 9 .- Dr. E. W. Rogers, President ; Dr. F. W. Adriance, Vice-President; Dr. A. P. Hollett, Secretary and Treasurer ; Censors, Drs. William Gulick, F. W. Adrianee, Alex. V. Stobbs, J. B. Sargent, and D. A. Dean.
The list of members is as follows :
Names. Residence.
Date of Election. July 9, 1872.
" Alex. V. Stobbs,
Mecklenburgh, N. Y.,
" G. A. Tracy,
Logan, N. Y.,
" E. W. Lewis,
Watkins, N. Y.,
" C. B. Knight,
Orange, N. Y.,
" A. P. Hollett,
. Havana, N. Y.,
" A. J. Clark,“
Lewisburg, Pa., Jan. 13, 1874.
" T. B. Sellen, t
Watkins, N. Y.,
" George H. King, North Hector, N. Y.,
July 14, 1874.
" Elisha IFill,"
Jan. 12, 1875.
" J. B. Sargent, Tyrone, N. Y.,
July 13, 1875.
" E. W. Rogers, Crystal Springs, N. Y.,
" F. W. Adriauce, Watkins, N. Y., July 10, 1877.
" D. A. Dean,
Wayne, N. Y., April 9, 1878.
" F. L. HI. Willis,±
Glenora, N. Y., Oct. 8, 1872.
" Rev. C.W. Brooks, Watkins, N. Y.,
July 14, 1874.
" O. W. Sutton, Dundec, N. Y., July 9, 1878.
SCHUYLER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The yeomanry of Schuyler County have always taken a commendable interest in the improvement of their farms, the betterment of their stock, and the general develop- ment of everything pertaining to agricultural pursuits. The year following the organization of the county, and less than two years after the passage of the act entitled " an act to facilitate the forming of agricultural and horticultural societies,"§ a number of the best practical farmers and citizens of the county convened for the purpose of organ- izing the "Sehuyler County Agricultural Society," which was done March 14, 1855. It was determined that " the number of trustees, directors, or managers of the society designated to manage the same shall be nine, one for each town in the county, except Heetor, which shall be entitled to three." The names of those chosen to manage the affairs of the society for the first year of its existence are as follows : Henry Fish, Mordecai Carman, and Jacob Hendricks, Hector; John Roberts (2d), Reading; Isaac P. Seymour, Tyrone ; Robert Hughey, Orange; Solomon Williams, Catharine; John Ennis, Cayuta; George G. Freer, Dix.
The first executive officers of the society were John Woodward, President ; William Ross, Cyrus Seabring, Cornelius Haring, Charles Matthews, Colonel Eli C. Frost, and Hiram White, Viee-Presidents; Orlando Hurd, Sec- retary ; Thomas Evans, Treasurer.
The subjoined list contains the names of all those who have occupied the position of president of the society, from its formation to the present, excepting the years 1858 and 1860, for which no records were kept : John Woodward, Daniel Tuttle, J. M. Jackson, Colonel Green Bennitt, Samuel Ross, H. L. Gregory, Timothy Owen, S. C. Beardsley, A. M. Coon (resigned June 19, 1865, and Matthew D. Freer was elected to fill vacaney), Matthew D. Freer (elected to serve in 1866), Colonel Eli C. Frost
# Removed from the county.
# Honorary member.
+ Dead.
¿ Passed June 8, 1853.
Dr. William Gulick, Watkins, N. Y.,
572
HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,
(five years), George J. Magce (two years), F. Davis, Jr. (two years), V. T. Brown, Jesse Lyon (two years). The present officers of the society are Jesse Lyon, President ; John G. Reynolds, M. H. Gray, Adam Snyder, James P. Sherrer, John W. Warner, Isaac Fero, and William Crowe, Vice-Presidents ; S. W. Sackett, Secretary ; Alonzo Sellen, Treasurer. The exccutive committee consists of the fol- lowing gentlemen, viz. : Scipio C. Beardsley, Jacob Fitz- gerald, Charles Bennett, J. W. Thompson, Andrew Scoby, P. C. Durland, James Allen, Daniel Thompson, James Hazlitt, Solomon Williams, Charles W. Matthews, Samuel Ross, R. S. Huey, and Lewis Beach.
The first annual meeting of the society was held on their fair grounds, at Watkins, in the fall of 1855, and its twenty- fifth annual or silver fait was held Sept. 19, 20, and 21, 1878.
THE CATHARINE VALLEY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
was organized March 8, 1826, as the Union Agricultural Society of the counties of Schuyler, Chemung, Tompkins, Steuben, and Yates, to be located at Havana. It includes the towns of Schuyler County ; Catlin and Veteran, in Che- mung; Newfield and Enfield, in Tompkins; Hornby, in Steuben; and Starkey, in Yates.
The society was incorporated under the act of April 13, 1855, and the certificate of incorporation was signed by William Vaughn, John C. Larne, A. S. De Witt, A. S. Durkee, HI. Cushing, A. G. Everts, E. Shelton, E. K. Manderville, John McIntire, Lewis Thompson, Charles Prince, Nelson Bowlby, Timothy Owens, and Austin J. Bradley.
The officers for 1878 are as follows : President, G. W. Wager; Treasurer, Mr. Pahner; Secretary, Charles A. Tracy. This society has done much to advance the agri- cultural interests of this section, and is now in a prosperous and healthy condition.
THE SCHUYLER COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY
was organized by the American Bible Society in February, 1856. The donations of the society from its organization to the present time amount to $2382.77. The cash value of Bibles sold and donated amounts to $1713.24.
SCHUYLER COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.
A Teachers' Association was organized under Commis- sioner Beach, and held a few sessions at different points in the county. A similar organization existed for one year under Commissioner Winpuld. It was also reorganized and continued for a short time under Commissioner Thomas.
In April, 1873, Commissioner Andrews issued a circular calling for a meeting of the teachers of the county, on May 3, to organize a teachers' association, which should hold its sessions monthly. This association was intended to supple- ment the Institute in the instruction of teachers. Its char- acter is clearly set forth in the following extract from the circular mentioned above :
"The objects of this association are an improvement in the qualifi- cations of the teachers, the attainment of uniformity in the methods of instruction throughout the county, and the consequent advantages to the schools. It is not intended for a lyceum or a literary society,
and its exercises will be conducted solely with reference to the prac- tical needs of the teacher in the school-room.
"Instruction in the various branches taught in the common schools, and in the best methods of teaching, will be given for the benefit of younger teachers, and an opportunity will be afforded the more ex- perienced to set forth their methods of government and instruction, that, by mutual comparison and selection, they may fully prepare themselves for the successful practice of their profession.
" A portion of each session will be devoted to advice and sugges- tions in regard to the perplexing questions or difficult cases in teach- ing and government that may have arisen in the actual experience of the teachers.
"It is the desire of the Commissioner to make these associations interesting and profitable to the teachers and a benefit to the schools of the county. To this end he asks for the hearty co-operation of not only the teachers, but of the school officers and in general of the friends and patrons of the public schools.
" All who feel interested in elevating the condition of our common schools are earnestly requested to aid us by their efforts or influence ; and it is respectfully suggested that pains be taken in each district to furnish the teachers with means of conveyance to and from the various sessions.
" It is particularly necessary that all who purpose teaching in the county during the coming summer should be present at the first meet- ing; and the Commissioner desires and expects that no ordinary ob- stacle will prevent any teacher from attending every session of the asso- ciation."
The association continued under the direct charge of the School Commissioner until December, 1877, when a constitu- tion was adopted providing for officers to be elected semi- annually at the meetings in June and December.
The first officers were D. H. Stoll, Watkins, President; Henry C. Howard, Reading, Vice-President; Sarah Dakin, Watkins, Secretary; Mary E. Duryea, Watkins, Treasurer.
At the meeting in June, 1878, the president and vice- president were re-elected. Mary Huntley, of Watkins, was chosen secretary, and Anna G. Smith, Watkins, treasurer.
The, regular meetings are held at Watkins, on the first Saturday of each month, and the original design is adhered to in the programme of exercises, although essays, debates, and orations are not excluded.
On the 16th of August, 1878, an excursion was taken to the coal mines of Antrim, Pennsylvania, under the auspices of this association, and nearly one thousand people participated in the trip.
CHAPTER LXXXII.
STATISTICAL.
Agricultural Statistics-Crops, Produce-Horses, Cattle, Hogs, etc .- Butter and Cheese-Population-Annual Tax List, from 1854 to 1878-Assessment and Taxation, 1854 and 1877.
ACRES of improved land, 147,581; woodland, 38,506; other, 9378. Cash value of farms, $9,848,118; of farm buildings other than dwellings, $1,360,591; of stock, $1,227,868 ; of tools and implements, $403,926 ; amount of gross sales from farms in 1874, $1,014,412; acres plowed in 1875, 48,992; acres in pasture, 36,499 ; acres mown, 32,014 ; hay produced, 34,295 tons ; grass-seed pro- duced, 4603 bushels ; acres of barley, 11,399 ; bushels pro- duced, 180,405 ; acres of buckwheat sown in 1874, 7231;
573
AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
in 1875, 7409 ; bushels produced in 1874, 130,944; aeres of corn in 1874, 6292 ; in 1875, 7504; bushels produced in 1874, 234,218; aeres of oats sown in 1874, 17,339; in 1875, 19,625 ; bushels produced in 1874, 421,403 ; aeres of rye in 1874, 1046; in 1875, 1365 ; bushels produced in 1874, 10,256; aeres of spring wheat in 1874, 1668; in 1875, 1188; bushels produced, 13,410 ; acres of winter wheat in 1873, 11,427; in 1874, 13,207; bushels pro- duced, 166,253; acres of beans in 1874, 384; in 1875, 384; bushels produced, 5272 ; aeres of peas in 1874, 20 ; in 1875, 14; bushels produced in 1874, 340 ; aeres of hops in 1874, 4; pounds produced, 900; acres of potatoes in 1874, 1499; in 1875, 1385 ; bushels produced, 163,774 ; pounds of tobacco produced in 1874, 10,000; bushels of apples produced, 186,082 ; barrels of eider, 5204; pounds of grapes produced, 598,501 ; gallons of wine, 3094 ; pounds of maple-sugar, 3298 ; gallons of syrup, 464; pounds of honey collected, 32,244.
In 1875 there were 6160 horses and colts on farms; mules, 109; value of poultry owned in 1875, $28,270; sold, 1874, $15,044 ; value of eggs sold, $23,149; neat cattle on farms, June 1, 1875, two years old, 1463; year- lings, 2044 ; ealves, 2209 ; bulls of all ages, 1119; work- ing oxen and steers, 1408; average number of milch cows kept in 1875, 7435; cattle slaughtered in 1874, 1045; cows whose milk was sent to factory in 1874, 274 ; in 1875, 214; butter made in families, 917,602 pounds ; cheese made in families, 24,510 ; milk sold in market, 44,659 gallons.
In 1874 there were 27,591 sheep shorn; in 1875, 26,- 163; weight of elip in 1874, 133,786; in 1875, 127,705 ; lambs raised in 1874, 10,860; in 1875, 11,974; sheep slaughtered in 1874, 927 ; killed by dogs, 287; number of hogs slaughtered on farins in 1874, 4497 ; pounds of pork inade on farms, 1,081,795.
STATISTICS OF BUTTER- AND CHEESE-FACTORIES FOR THE SEASON OF 1874.
Number of establishments, 4; capital, $2950; wages, $750; average number of cows, 255; number of days in the season, 595; average number of patrons, 42; total pounds of milk used during the season, 701,000; pounds of milk used in making cheese, 701,000 ; pounds of cheese made, 70,000.
POPULATION.
1845.
1850.
1855.
1860.
1865.
1870.
1875.
Catharine
2,611
3,09G
3,517
3,688
1,622
1,629
1,551
Cayuta.
1,001
1,035
618
708
636
G41
669
Dix
2,335
2,953
2,884
2,908
3,432
4,282
4,218
Hector.
5,904
6,052
5,629
5,623
5,048
4,905
4,970
Montour.
1,756
2,055
2,483
2,364
2,094
1,960
1,942
Reading
1,555
1,434
1,452
1,453
1,682
1,751
1,715
Tyrone.
2,165
1,894
2,194
2,096
2,073
1,993
1,964
In asylums, penal insti- tutions, etc ..
14
Total
17,327
18,519
18,277
18,840 18,441
18,989 18,928
The following table exhibits the population of the vari- ous towns; males and females, number of naturalized citizens, ete., as reported by the assessors for the year 1875 :
TOWNS.
Males.
Females.
Natural- ized Citizens.
21 years old and upwards unable to read and write.
Catharine.
755
795
7
6
Cayuta .
335
334
4
0
Dix.
2043
2167
141
7
Hector
2478
2492
75
38
Montour
918
963
46
2
Orange ..
979
963
56
25
Reading
843
872
71
15
Tyrone.
969
990
33
27
Total.
8230
8447
422
114
The following exhibit shows the total tax-list of Sehuyler County, annually, from the organization of the county to 1876 :
1855 $25,428.25
1866
.$140,722.62
1856
24,097.68
1867
141,930.27
1857
36,452.24
1869
129,170.60
1858
30,901.72
1870.
91,468.19
1859
31,570.68
1871
80,142.02
1860
34,963.50
1872 72,601.65
1861
11,864.64
1873
101,949.87
1862
46,357.28
1874
93,372.96
1863
61,612.19
1875
80,982.58
1864
148,078.54
1876
70,798.45
FIRST ASSESSMENT AND TAX-LIST, 1854.
TOWNS.
Acres.
Assessed Valnation of Real Estate.
Assessed Valuation of Personal Property.
County Tax.
Town Tax.
School Tax.
Road Tax.
Expenses.
Military Tax.
Poor Tax.
Cayuta
12,482
$83,700 892,029
$1,200
$102.20
$405.10 1838.53
$73.36
$200.00
$131.14
$16.00
Catharine ..
30,587
209,923
1265.93
565.22
752.15
521.16
35.50
Dix
22,739
584,652
34,115
774.02
999.03
371.16
140.00
523.27
99.00
Hector.
61,906
1,604,791
71,710
2011.37
2586.71
1166.68
500,00
738.14
51,50
Orange
32,299
477,655
36,291
638.18
840.28
285.00
198.00
339.02
60 00
Reading
16,215
569,346
24,050
570.34
793.09
260.00
250.00
311.01
71.00
Tyrone.
23,953
638,604
35,800
718.46
660.24
325.00
100.00
236.14
81.00
Total
200,811
$4,850,777
$413,089
$6083.50
$8122.98
$3046.42
$2140.15
$2820.53
$414.00
$200
1,854
1,828
1,885
Orange ...
$200
574
HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,
ASSESSMENT AND TAX-LIST OF 1877.
TOWNS.
Acres.
Valuation of Real Estate.
Valuation of Personal Property.
State Tax.
State School Tax.
County Tax.
Town Tax.
Total.
Catharine
20,084
$575,359
$61,690
$981.68
$340.92
$1,915.62
$1,637.21
$4,805.43
Cayuta
12,224
54,354
2,000
117.16
97.62
345.67
481.72
1,102.19
Dix ..
21,942
139,938
183,325
2,630.18
1,449.28
5,132.52
4,620.38
13,832.36
Hector ..
61,795
2,107,387
275,759
4,502.81
2,481.14
8,786.75
4,200.63
19,971.33
Montour.
10,704
651,855
88,550
1,166.77
642.92
2,276.84
2,475,21
6,561.74
Orange.
31,777
398,696
23,343
639.61
352.44
1,248.12
1,144.82
3,384.99
Reading ..
16,399
1,052,715
51,000
1,676.36
923.71
3,27 L.24
2,139.09
8,010.40
Tyrone.
23,352
864,150
99,600
1,286.64
708.97
2,510.75
810.65
5.317.01
Total
198,277
$7,428,654
$781,267
$13,061.21
$7,197.00
$21,487.53
$17,239.71
$62,985.45
VILLAGE OF WATKINS.
CHAPTER LXXXIII.
WATKINS.
IN 1788, Wolcott and Wilson at Havana, Culver and Smith at Watkins, and George Fausett on the Lake Road, near North Hector, having, with their families, slowly and wearily wended their way through the forest to these local- ities, exclaiming " Alabama !" erected their cabins and began to know the wilderness of Schuyler. In the beginning, as in many an after-scene, distance lent enchantment to the view, and these pioncers were on neighboring terms; so that while Fausett's settlement was a few rods north of Hector line, he was identified with Schuyler as a pioneer. Wilson and Smith were buried in the old grave-yard on the county line, where slabs of native stone tell that they were laid away in 1793 and 1795.
John Dow, a native of Voluntown, Windham Co., Conn., born in 1769, when about twenty years of age set out alone and on horseback ( April 6, 1789) for the " Genesee Country," and reached the head of Seneca Lake the latter part of the same month. In the summer of 1791 he " raised a good crop of corn," and was married in the fall to the widow Mallory, a member of the Friends, and mother of Meredith Mallory, formerly a member of Congress from Steuben and Gates. She bore him two daughters. The date of her death is not given. He afterwards married the widow Lake, and in 1794 bought 200 acres of land of John W. Watkins, and in 1798 located at the head of Seneca Lake. His farm was then included in Cayuga County, and was, with other territory, afterwards annexcd to Fredericksburg, in Steuben County, from which the town. of Reading was subsequently formed. He was ap- pointed justice of the peace in 1805, and judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1808.
Mr. Dow built the log house that stood a few rods north of the post-office, and boarded the men employed by John W. Watkins while engaged in building the first Watkins mansion, which stood on the west hill, half a mile northwest of the Lake View Hotel. The structure was large, costly, and fine for those days. It occupied a sightly position, and was long known as the " White House." The reason for its being located so far from the lake, and at such an alti-
tude above the valley, was that notwithstanding the noted Watkins and Flint purchase of over 325,000 acres, cxtend- ing south, east, and west from the head of Seneca Lake, had then been made, it did not cover 4000 acres on which most of Watkins and part of Havana now stand, that num- ber having previously been purchased of the State of New York by one Ezra L'Hommedieu, a wealthy French Hu- guenot, and therefore exempted in the Watkins and Flint patent dated July 25, 1794.
In 1819-20, Mr. Dow was elected to the General Assem- bly. He was a life-long Democrat and a zealous Methodist.
John W. Watkins represented a company consisting of Royal Flint, Jonathan Lawrence, Robert C. Livingston, John Lamb, Melancthon Smith, James Watson, and John W. Watkins. The application was made to the State by John W. Watkins and Royal Flint, hence the name of " Watkins and Flint Purchase," which has always attached to the territory and the deeds connected with its subsequent division.
John W. erected a large house on the side of the hill, near what is now the western boundary of the village. Charles built a blacksmith-shop and grist-mill on the north bank of what is now called the Glen, known then as the " Big Gully," near what is called " Omega Falls," at the upper end of the second big basin, and grists had to be carried down a steep pathway to and from the mill, on the backs of horses. The almost obscure traces of the old shop and the site of the mill are still visible. He continued this work of out-house, barn, and saw-mill building for a number of years, when he was overtaken with adversity, and returned to New York, after which the estate passed into the hands of their brother, Dr. Samuel Watkins, who came here in 1828 from New York City and remained until he died, in 1851. He laid out and mapped out the village, built the Jefferson House, which was completed in 1834; also several. stores, dwellings, flour- and saw-mills. And after his marriage to Miss Cintha Ann Cass he built the fine Watkins residence, now owned by Mrs. Angel, for- merly Mrs. D. S. Magee. Dr. Watkins was born on Long Island, about 1771 or 1772. His brothers were natives of Wales, in Great Britain. The doctor was a successful druggist in New York, where he accumulated a handsome fortune. He named this village Salubria ; but Isaac Q. Lcake, an old resident of the place, who then owned the property in the vicinity of the present residences of General
يتحملع
575
AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
G. J. Magee, A. Stothoff, and F. Davis, Jr., and who built the old Delavan or Miller storehouse, having laid out a rival village, and called it "Savoy," the doetor changed the name of Salubria to Jefferson, by which it was incorporated April 11, 1842 ; and an act to change the name of the village of Jefferson to that of Watkins was passed April 8, 1852. The charter of the village, ein- braeing the aet of reorganization, passed April 3, 1861, and the several amendments and additions from 1861 to 1878.
A map published in 1793 enumerates 100 inhabitants living within the present limits of Sehuyler County.
David Culver and family settled on a farm near Mr. Dow, built the first log house, which was on Franklin Street, between where Glen Creek now runs and the Glen Park Hotel. This he used for a residence, and afterwards for a tavern ; for a time this settlement was ealled "Culver's."
Isaae Q. Leake, according to the memory of C. J. Bas- kin, "spent a few years here at quite an early period. He married a sister of John L. Tillinghas, Esq., author of " Tillinghas' Forms." Mr. Leake's wife was granddaughter of General Lamb, of Revolutionary fame, and through that channel owner of that part of Watkins north of the old county line. Mr. Leake subsequently was editor of the Albany Argus, private secretary of Governor Tompkins, and president of a State bank. He returned to Watkins about 1826, and was once or twice elected civil magistrate of the town of Reading.
Origin of the Willows .- The origin of the willow-trees flourishing here and in the vieinity is said to have been from a willow-sprout eut for a whip, and brought to the head of the lake by a Mr. Gilbert (father of Dayton Gilbert, of Reading), who journeyed here from Connectieut about 1807; on his arrival he stuek it into the ground, and it lived, and from this euttings have been taken and planted with like sueeess.
The First Sunday-School .- Mrs. Wm. R. Williams, one of the oldest early settlers of Watkins, states that a Miss or Mrs. Watkins, sister or widowed sister of John W. Watkins, opened the first Sunday-sehool in this part of the country at the " White House," and that she was one of the pupils, seven or eight years old, sixty years ago.
The Baskins and Divens, according to C. J. Baskin, in the year 1802 " pulled up stakes" and turned their faees to the west, leaving their homes on the Susquehanna at " Baskin Island." They had pushed their way along to Newtown, and halted for rest and refreshments, and then proceeded to " Mills' Landing" (now Havana); when they arrived they found several white families, their neighbors, the Indians, predominating; in the forest were panthers, wild eats, foxes, wolves, deer, and bear.
Clark J. Baskin, now sixty-four years old, remembers that the first tavern was built in the limits of what is now Watkins, and was located where Henry S. Fleet now lives. It was a frame house, one and a half stories high, two rooms below and two above, painted red, and built about 1810 ; was oeeupied by one MeChinstre, who died in Wat- kins about 1825.
J. J. Van Allen remembers a log house on the hill-side above the post-office, which was used for a tavern ; this was built about 1800.
The first drug-store was on the bank of the lake, and kept by Dr. Adams, about 1828.
Hiram Chapman kept a store about 1828, according to Baskin.
Prominently identified with the interest of Watkins was Hon. John Magee, who eame there from Bath, in 1864, was a man of great energy, and in the truest sense the maker of his own fortune. In 1820 he was appointed marshal of the county of Steuben, and it devolved on him to take the eensus, which duty he performed on foot, over a territory of more than double the present limits of the county ; in this work he showed remarkable powers of memory. He simply took the names of the inhabitants, making no record of their answers to the required questions, carrying them with unfailing exaetness in his mind until he returned home in the evening, when his wife, with ready pen and seholarly ability, transferred them to the return books. Upon the completion of his report, he received publie thanks for the remarkable faithfulness and aeeuraey of his returns, accompanied by a handsome set of table silver ; he afterwards filled the office of sheriff with satis- faetion to the people. Soon after coming to Watkins he made extensive purchases of village property at the head of Seneca Lake, for the location of trestle-works, basins, ete., for the delivery and shipment of eoal, for boat-build- ing, a steam flouring-mill, dwellings for his workmen, his own residence, and other purposes. He was president and owner of the Fall Brook Coal Company, one of the pro- jeetors of the New York and Erie Railroad, and of the Cohoeton Valley Railway, from Corning to Buffalo ; a eon- traetor for the construction of the road from Binghamton to Hornellsville, also from Hornellsville to Genesce; was interested in the Blossburgh and Corning Railway, which owes its sueeess chiefly to his energy.
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