History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 182

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112

USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 182
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 182
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 182
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 182

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

A church edifiee, ereeted by the Free-Will Baptists about thirty years ago, is situated one and one-half miles east of Bradford village. Its society has disbanded. It will seat 200 people, and is occupied when required by various reli- gious denominations.

Of the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH at Sugar Hill we have no history, although the pastor, clerk, and one of the dea- eons were respectfully requested to furnish the same. We believe it was formed some twenty years ago, members from the disbanded Pine Grove Church, of Tyrone, form- ing the nueleus.

SOCIETIES.

Orange Lodge, No. 621, F. and A. M., was organized Sept. 5, 1866, with thirteen eharter members and the fol- lowing offieers, viz .: Z. F. Wilder, W. M .; A. J. Van- gorden, S. W .; D. W. Bennett, J. W .; Curtis Maltbey, Treas .; W. J. Humiston, See. ; Thos. J. Crouch, S. D .; Leroy Gaylord, J. D. ; Ephraim Barkley, S. M. C .; John Rowley, J. M. C .; Charles Sedam, Tyler.

The officers for 1878 are Andrew Ellison, W. M .; Abram Barkley, S. W .; Warren A. Thomas, J. W .; Curtis Maltby, Treas. ; Robert Feagles, See. ; S. F. Kress, S. D .; Melvin Thompson, J. D .; David J. Hammond, S. M. C .; Marvin Gaylord, J. M. C .; C. Lockwood, Tyler; Geo. E. Sharp, Chaplain ; Charles Sedam, Organist; George Kels, Mar- shal. Trustees, W. Warden, Chas. Jones, D. R. Miller. Past Masters, 'Z. F. Wilder, Thos. J. Crouch, W. J. Ilum- iston, J. L. Goff.

Regular communications are held in Masonie Hall, Mon- terey village, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.

Orange Grange, No. 269, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized Nov. 26, 1874, with twenty-five charter members and the following offieers : Wm. C. Gray, Master; Curtis Maltby, Overseer; Wm. W. Bartlett, Lecturer; George Chrisjohn, Steward ; C. Chamberlain, Assistant Steward ; Andrew Ellison, Chaplain ; D. R. Miller, Treas .; J. C. Merrill, See .; Wm. Warden, Gate-Keeper; Mrs. C. Maltby, Ceres; Mrs. D. Miller, Pomona ; Mrs. W. Warden, Flora; Mrs. C. Chamberlain, Lady Assistant Steward.

The offieers for 1878 are Ellis Chamberlain, Master ; A. B. Webber, Overseer; W. W. Bartlett, Lecturer; I. B. McConnell, Steward; C. Chamberlain, Assistant Stew- ard ; Robt. Feagles, Chaplain ; W. Warden, Treas. ; Wm. C. Gray, See. ; W. W. Bartlett, Jr., Gate-Keeper; Mrs. L. Putnam, Ceres; Mrs. George Chrisjolin, Pomona ; Mrs. Luey Lockwood, Flora ; Mrs. L. S. Chamberlain, Lady

Assistant Steward. Present membership thirty-seven. Grange meets at Mrs. L. Putnam's house the first and third Saturdays of each month.

Monterey Lodge, No. 1010, Knights of Honor, was in- stituted by District Deputy E. A. Overhiser, April 5, 1878, with the following officers : J. W. Baker, Dictator; Lo- renzo Alden, Viee-Dictator; G. W. Humiston, Assistant Dictator ; T. S. Baker, Reporter; J. J. Overhiser, Treas. ; Alonzo Tucker, Financial Reporter ; A. S. McIntyre, Chap- lain ; W. A. Thomas, Guide; J. C. Vine, Guardian ; Chas. Mathews, Sentinel ; George Kels, Past Dictator. Trustees, George Kels, Lorenzo Alden, Alonzo Tucker.

The lodge meets in Grange Hall, Monterey village, every other Friday evening.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

The unfinished road-bed of the Corning and Sodus Bay Railroad follows up the outlet of Lake Lamoka, and cuts aeross the extreme northwest corner of the town. The work was done in 1876.

To Henry, Abram, and Stephen M. Switzer, George Kels, Charles Sedam, Sampson Doane, A. B. Webber, Win. C. Gray, Mrs. Mary Chrisjohn, T. S. Baker, and many others, we desire to return our thanks for their courtesy and the valuable information received from them.

MILITARY RECORD.

This town furnished 123 men during the war of the Re- bellion.

Paid in bounties to soldiers $5,300

County paid in bounties to soldiers. 7,800

Total .$13,100

A roster of soldiers and offieers of the town of Orange is herewith appended :

Jolin E. Hays, private, 141st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Ang. 1862; disch. at close of war. Thomas Putnam, private, 107th Inf., Co. Il; enl. Aug. 1802; dischi. at close of the war.

Ebenezer Putnam, private, 107th Inf., Co. HI ; enl. Aug. 1802.

William Lamphier, private, 14th H. Art., Co. L; enl. Jan. 1864; dischi. at close of the war.

Jackson Lamphier, private, Ist V. Cav., Co. I ; enl. Sept. 1864.

Henry Barber, private, 10th Cav., Co. A ; enl. Sept. 1862.

Lyman Bliss, private, 5th 11. Art., Co. L; enl. Jan. 1864.

Lyman Putnam, private, 86th Inf. : enl. Feb. 1862.

Frank De Witt, corp., 5th H. Art., Co. L ; eul. Feb. 1862; dischi. at expiration of term.

Henry I. Engell, private, 86th Iuf., Co. I ; enl. Oct. 1861 ; dischi, at expiration of term.

George De Witt, corp., 147th Iuf., CJ. HI ; enl. July, 1853; in nine battles; lost left log at llatcher's Run. 1 George Austin, private, Ist V. Cav., Co. 1; enl. Sept. 1864; disch. at close of the war.

Ransom Parker, private, 5th Art., Co. A ; eul. Jan. 1862; dischi. at close of terin ; re-enl. in navy.

William T. l'arker, private, 141st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Ang. 1862; dischi, at close of the war.

Joseph Strickland, private, 141st Inf., Co. A ; enl. Aug. 1862.

Lunian Edwards, private, 86th Inf., Co. I; enl. Sept. 1861.

William Ribble, private, 14th II. Art. : enl. Dec. 1863; disch. for disab., 1864. Charles Rarrick, private, 76th Inf., Co. C; enl. July, 1863 ; dischi. for di-ab., 1864. James Roff, private, 5th H. Art., Co. C; eul. Jan. 1864 ; dischi. at close of war.

Isaac l'otter, private, Ist V. Cav., Co. I; enl. March, 1864; disch. at close of the war.

Francis Galtry, private, 6th II. Art., Co. C; enl. Jan. 1864; disch. at close of the war.

Oscar De Witt, corp., 5th II. Art., Co. C; enl. Dec. 1863; disch. at close of war. Ira C. Knapp, private, 107th Iuf., Co. HI ; enl. Aug. 1862; died in service, Nov. 5, 1864.

Jolın B. Knapp, private, 107th Inf., Co. Il ; eul. Aug. 1862; prisoner at Auder- sonville ; died Jan. 7, 1865, ten days after arrival houte.

668

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

Franklin C. Babbitt, lieut., 141st Inf., Co. A : enl. Sept. 1862; mortally wounded at Peach-Tree Creek, July 20, 1864 ; died July 22, 1864.

George M. Sickles, private, Ist V. Cav., Co. I; enl. Sept. 1864; disch. at close of the war.

Hiram Andrews, sergt., 141st Inf., Co. B; enl. Aug. 1862; disch. Oct. 1864. Barnett Andrews, private, 141st Inf., Co. B; enl. Aug. 1862 ; disch. at close of the war.

James W. Rusco, private, Ist V. Cav., Co. I; enl. Sept. 1864; disch. at close of the war.

Frank Compton, private, Ist V. Cav., Co. I ; enl. Sept. 1864; disch. at close of the war.

Orlando De Witt, private, 1st V. Cav., Co. I; enl. Sept. 1864; disch. at close of the war.

Nichols Mathews, private, 141st Inf., Co. A; enl. Sept. 1862; disch. at close of the war.

Stephen Earing, private, Ist V. Cav., Co. I; enl. Sept. 1864; dischi. at close of the war.

George W. Beyea, private, Ist V. Cav., Co. I; cnl. Sept. 1864 ; disch. at close of the war.

William S. Vangilder, private, 89th Inf., Co. A ; enl. Sept. 1861 ; dischi. in Oct. 1862.

A. Randall, corp., 86th Inf., Co. I; enl. Oct. 1861; disch. at expiration of term ; re-enl.

Levi Randall, corp., 86th Inf., Co. I; enl. Oct. 1861 ; re-enl. ; killed Nov. 6, 1864. S. W. Coon, private, 14th Int., Co. C; enl. March, 1862; disch. at close of war. Frank A. Thompson, corp , 8th Cav., Co. A ; enl. Oct. 1861 ; prisoner ; wounded; disch. at close of term.

Chauncey De Witt, private, 141st Inf., Co. A; enl. Aug. 1862 ; disch. at close of war.

W. J. Dawson, private, 50th Eng., Co. K; died at Poplar Grove.

William S. Vangilder, corp., Ist Vet. Cav., Co. I; enl. Sept. 1864; disch. at close of war.

Erastus Carson, private, Ist Vet. Cav., Co. 1; enl. Sept. 1864; disch. at close of war.

Hiram Potter, private, 5th H. Art., Co. C; never mustered; died at home, Feb. 20, 1864.

Truman Edwards, private, 179th Inf., Co. A ; enl. Sept. 1864; disch, at close of war.

Daniel Mathews, corp., 86th Inf., Co. I; enl. Oct. 1861 ; died in service, Dec. 25, 1862.

Philander Miller, sergt., 5th H. Art., Co. C; enl. Jan. 1862; dischi. at close of term; re-enlisted; was wounded.

The soldiers' record of this town was never fully or properly made out. We find names of men who enlisted in Michigan and Illinois regiments, and other towns and counties in this State, where they received bounties, and were accredited. Besides the forty-seven men above mentioned, we find the names of only seventy-six men, with no remarks to show where they came from, or in what commands they served. Their names are as follows :

Daniel Orr. Edward Kinsman, A. L. Horton, Theodore Millspaugh, Clay M. Newcomb, Harvey Jaynes, Jr., Jasper Jaynes, William Cornell, S. II. Seeley, Orrin Smith, Jolin Vosburg, Albert S. Tanner, A. M. Crouch, Samuel G. Wilbur, Aaron Miller, Hiram HI. Miller, Il. W. Goodrich, Philander Miller, Orrin W. Smith, D. Parker, John O. Parker, David Frost, Guy Curtis, Abel Inscho, Jackson Benham, George Chrisjolin, William Meuter, H. S. Newcomb, Helon Ellis, Joseph Parks, Francis Webb, Garrett Haring, Clark Crumb, Nathaniel Covert, Ebenezer Covert, Charles C. Lybolt, Henry Palmer, N. M. Sickles, John M. Wright, James Scott, Jr., C. W. Thompson, George W. Thompson, Thomas Gowndrey, Charles Hungerford, Philip Rusco, C. Decker, George Compton, Lewis Keefer, Joseph S. Doane, Abiatha Doane, Wellington Hurd, Heman Lybolt, William Lybolt, James H. Lybolt, Lewis Butler, Gilbert Personius, An- drew Personius, Underhill Frost, Willis Ellis, Harlem Weller, A. Van Warren, Delos Thompson, Jerome Hall, James Chambers, L. Chambers, Peter Vela, John Hicks, George Rowley, Henry Brown, Chester Welch, Jesse Lee, D. B. Schofield, Henry Willock, Curtis Chamberlain, Matthew Dawson, Chester Chapman.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

NATHAN MILLER.

Nathan Miller was born at Quebec, Canada, June 2, 1800, and is the eldest child of Hampton Miller, a native of Orange Co., N. Y., who removed to Reading, Schuyler

Co., N. Y., shortly after the birth of our subject. He first remembers of going out and getting scared at the deer ; says the country was an entire wilderness, and as he grew older became very fond of hunting; when sixteen years of age he saw his mother take down the rifle and kill a deer which was fighting the hounds. In 1822, Mr. Miller mar- ried Catharine Horning, daughter of Jacob Horning, a Rev- olutionary soldier. In 1824 he moved upon a tract near

NATHAN MILLER.

his present residence, with a pair of two-year-old steers, cutting his way through the woods from what is known as the Hicks farm, now owned by Mr. Totten and located some two miles northwest of his present residence. He took up sixty-five acres, having ten years in which to pay for it. The taxes for the first ycar were fifty cents, and to pay them Mr. Miller was obliged to go six miles through the woods and chop all day for the amount. To get potatoes to plant he engaged with old Mr. Baskin to split one hun- dred rails for every bushel, which usually took one day's time; the said potatocs were carried by him a distance of two miles through the woods (by torch light, as protection against the wolves) every night upon the completion of his daily task. Mr. Miller built a cob house of sixteen and eighteen fect logs, which for two years he occupied without a floor and chimney ; the floor, when made, was constructed of split basswood logs. The roof was made from bark, which was peeled, split, dried, and pressed for the purpose. Mr. Miller made purchases to the extent of two hundred acres, paid for all by dint of hard labor, and gave to his eight children-three sons and five daughters, by his first wife-each five hundred dollars. In September, 1868, he traded farms with his son William, his present farm com- prising eighty-five acres. Mr. Miller lost the companion of his youth March 26, 1842. He married for his second wife Miss Abbey, daughter of Daniel S. Barker, of Sara- toga County, April 22, 1843. Mr. Barker was a soldier in the war of 1812. By this union were born ten children, two sons and eight daughters, six of whom are living.

669

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

About three years since Mr. Miller received a slight shock of paralysis, which affected his speech and memory ; aside from this he is in good health and able to do a good day's work. He has done as much towards elearing and improving as any man in the country. He relates many incidents of his early life as a hunter, being then and to this day passionately fond of hunting. One instance we give : he got up in the morning and found three deer in the tree-top, which he had felled the night previous for his cattle to browse on, and before the deer could get half a mile away he had shot two of them. Mr. Miller is surrounded with the eomforts of life, and is tenderly eared for in his declining years by his estimable companion.

ISAAC W. FERO.

Seldom do we meet with a man who has so long peace-, fully resided in one home as the subject of this article. For half a eentury he toiled on the same old farm to obtain the competency which he now enjoys as old age comes ereep- ing upon him. Isaac W. Fero was born in the town of Charleston (now Root), Montgomery Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1817. His father was Cornelius Fero, son of Peter Fero, who resided in the eastern part of New York State, and whose large family were scattered throughout the country, some of whom are still living. His mother was Alida Van Derveear, daughter of Garret Van Derveear, of Montgomery Co., N. Y. Isaac was one of four children, -two sons and two daughters. His childhood was spent near his birth- place, upon the farm which his parents rented. At that time, as it now is, the general feeling of beginners in life was to " go West," so at the age of nine years he removed with his parents to Jersey, Steuben Co., N. Y., which at that time was an unbroken forest. There were scarcely any roads, neighbors were few and far between, and the wild animals, such as wolves, deer, etc., had long held undisputed posses- sion of the ground which the Feros now selected for their home. They erected substantial log buildings, which after a few years were replaced by permanent fra me ones. Then life began in earnest for Isaac. Even at his tender age his was no small share of the toil and hardships of pioneer life, and at the age of fifteen he was able to and did do the work of a man. Thns with his assistanee acre after acre of land was eleared of the beautiful pine timber, which was con- sidered nearly worthless at that time (except for shingles), because there was no demand for it, and had there been there were no facilities for utilizing it. IIe shaved a great many thousand shingles, which they sold as one way of gaining that competeney which they were all laboring so hard to obtain. In 1841 he met with the loss by death of his younger sister, who had attained young womanhood. In 1842 he was married to Tryphena Knowlton, daughter of Chester Knowlton, a resident of Hornby, Steuben Co., N. Y., and one of the early settlers of that town. Mr. Knowlton and wife were " Green Mountaineers," from Vermont, and also settled in the forest, which they eleared into a smiling farm.

A few years after Mr. Fero's marriage he removed into

a new house, built for him upon another part of the same farm. Hard labor and exposure began to tell upon his strength, and about this time it was thought that his re- maining years would be few, but he rallied again and soon began to labor once more. In 1846 his only brother was called away by death, having reached manhood. Then he was the only surviving child at home, his sister (who was older than him) having gone back E ist when she was six- teen years of age, and remaining until several years after her marriage to Benjamin H. Voorhees, when she removed to Steuben County also, and now resides near her brother upon a farm which she inherited from her father's estate. He continued to toil upon the old farm, and by energy and perseverance gained a good farm of his own some distance from where he lived, and which he most of the time rented, as his father's declining years rendered it necessary for hin to take charge of the farm duties. In 1854 the county of Schuyler was formed, which brought him in the new county and the town of Orange. In 1861 his father died, when he came into possession of the old homestead, to which he removed, and where his mother resided until her death, which oceurred in 1869, and where he still resides. After his removal he proceeded to renovate the house and grounds by building verandas, ornamental fence-painting, grading the grounds, etc .; also his barns went through a thorough course of enlargement and repair; and, in fact, the whole farm (except two pieces of woodland), by patient industry and considerable expense, was cleared of every stump or reminder of the gloomy forest which once covered it. In 1871, as his health caused him to become aged beyond his years, he let his home farm to his son-in-law, who has con- tinued to work it up to the present time under his supervi- sion. In 1876 he exchanged his other farm for property in the village of Watkins, which he still owns. And now having but the one farm he was enabled to give it more attention and put it in the state of good and thorough cul- tivation in which it now is,

He has made farming a life-work and a success. By honesty and uprightness he has won the confidence and esteem of his fellow-people. Although never an aspirant for political fame, he lias many times held official positions. For several years, when he was of middle age, he held a captain's commission in the militia, which at that time were kept in reserve but were disbanded before the late war. At different times he was elected assessor in the town where he resides, until in all he faithfully served in that position twelve years. In the building up of society he has ever been active, and a liberal contributor to all charitable or worthy enterprises around him, and has fought actively against immorality and corruption both in society and posi- tions of trust. He will leave a name worthy to be remem- bered by his posterity. ITis family consists of three daughters, viz .: Alida L., wife of James HI. Moore; Esther S., wife of Milton Olmsted; and Robia F., wife of William F. Hall.

The above are all thriving farmers, and live a short dis- tance from the old homestead of their father and grandfather.

670

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

CHAPTER XCI.

READING.

THIS town lies upon the west bank of Seneca Lake, and is the central town upon the north border of the county. Its surface is a rolling upland, varying from 400 to 500 fect above the lake. The bluffs upon the shore are very steep, and in many places precipitous. The water-courses are many small brooks and creeks, which, flowing in an easterly course, empty into the lake. The soil is chiefly of a clayey loam.

From the census report of 1875, we find that it has a total area of 16,649 acres, of which 13,657 acres are im- proved, and a population of 1715 inhabitants, of whom 1555 are. natives, and 160 foreign born ; 1694 white, 21 colored ; 843 males, 872 females ; aliens, 10. Number of males of voting age, 484; number of males of military age, 327 ; persons of school age, 243 males, 218 females ; number of land-owners, 253 ; persons twenty-one years of age and upwards unable to read and write, 15.

The people are engaged principally in agricultural pur- suits, the soil being well adapted to the production of fine crops of hay and the cereals, also fruits. Considerable attention is paid to grape culture along the lake-shorc. The town contains no manufactories of any importance. Several hundred acres of the extreme southeast corner are included within the incorporated village of Watkins.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

There were published in The Dundee Record of 1852 a series of articles relating to the first settlers and the first settlement of Steuben County. Among them was a paper written by Judge John Dow, himself then in his eighty- second year. As he was one of the very first settlers in the territory embraced within the present county of Schuy- ler, and the first settler of the town of Reading, and as his narration explains some matters of civil history which are lost to us by the disappearance of the town records, we reproduce it nearly entire :

"I was born in the town of Voluntown, Windham Co., Conn., Aug. 13, 1769. In my boyhood I was taught to read, write, and cipher, and was required to labor under the direction of my father at the farming business until I reached my seventeenth or eighteenth year, when, with my father's eonsent, I went to work with a cabinct-maker, and subsequently, for some. time, with a spinning-wheel maker. When I had partially learned their trades, they wanted me no longer.

"I then worked for other people, and having procured a few dol- lars in money, and a saddle, my father gave me a horse, and, with his approval, I set out April 6, 1789, to travel to the Genesee country. I arrived at the head of the Seneca Lake (now Watkins) in the latter part of the same month, and was taken sick with the measles among strangers. Only parts of two or three families then resided in the viciuity. They were very kind to me, particularly David Culver's family. On my health being restored, I went with Benjamin Brown, in a boat, down the Seneca Lake to the Friends' Settlement, where I worked for him on his farm, situate about one mile southerly of the place where West Dresden now is, and worked for him until fall. Hc being of Jemima Wilkinson's followers, and as their meetings were held at his house, I became acquainted with many of them. Their form of worship was, in some respects, like that of the Quakers.

" These early settlers experienced extraordinary trials and priva- tions, especially those in limited circumstances. One family subsisted for many days on nothing more than the milk of one cow, and boiled

nettles. About this time Judge Potter made a settlement in his town- ship, some six miles northwesterly of the present village of Penn Yan, and sold land for fifty cents an acre. Jemima's followers first settled on land situated on the south side of the outlet of Crooked Lake, between that lake and the Seneca. They called themselves Friends, hence the name of 'Friends' Settlement.' Many of them afterwards removed to Jerusalem, the new township purchased by, or for, the Universal Friend, as Jemima Wilkinson called herself.

" In the fall of 1789, having lost my horse, I traveled home on foot to my father's in Voluntown, a distance of three hundred and fifty miles. My father gave me a yoke of steers that were well broke, and two cows that were learned to walk in the yoke before the steers. I got them shod, and with this team, and a sled-load of such articles as I would most need, we started, Feh. 15, 1790, on our journey for the head of Sencca Lake. We arrived there on the 20th of March, 1790. My father, who came with me, gave me a few dollars, and soon re- turned to his home in Connecticut. The summer of 1790 I raised a good crop of corn. In the winter following, I made a few spinning- wheels. There being a demand for wheels and chairs, I followed the business of making them during the winters, and part of the time summers, for nearly thirty years. I was married 1791. In 1794 I bought land of John W. Watkins, of Jefferson, the 200 acres on which I now reside, situated in the town of Reading, and in the spring of . 1798 moved on to it, having first resided at the head of the Seneca eight years. and paid all I owed for my land here. The country. in the vicinity was an unsettled wilderness for several miles in either direction. I lived there two years without neighbors, when, in 1800, Mr. David Culver moved on his land adjoining minc, whence arose the name of 'Culver's Settlement,' Mr. Culver having opened a tavern here. The tract of land east of the old pre-emption line, and west of Seneca Lake, within which my land was situated, was then, and for several years after, within the boundaries of Cayuga County, and was afterwards annexed to Frederickstown, Steuben Co. Emi- grants from Vermont had recently settled at Eddytown, in said tract. A number of us attended the annual town-meeting, held at Mr. Tyler's, on the first Tuesday of March, 1803, at which Esquires Bartles and Wells presided. Esquire Wells ran for supervisor, and his opponent was Solomon Wixon. The friends of each grew warm, electioneered, challenged voters, talked loud, and made much noise and confusion. Some made such disturbance that the justices ordered the contables to put them out. When out, five of the disturbers stripped, and challenged their opponents to fight. None accepted their challenge, and after scolding awhile they put on their clothes. Squire Wells was chosen Supervisor, and Joshua Smith, Town Clerk. The meeting then adjourned to next day, when the rest of the town officers were elected. The cause of the disturbance was this : one O'Gallegan had brought goods into Frederickstown some time pre- vious, sold them to certain individuals, taking their notes, payable in wheat, but no place was mentioned where it was to be delivered. He was absent when the notes became duc. He afterwards returned and sucd his debtors, demanding the money. Some of the young men, disguised by blacking their faces, undertook to take him into their custody, but he by some means avoided them. He made complaint before Esquire Wells. Several persons were brought before the justice for examination. Two of Esquire Wixon's sons were required to give evidence in the case; they refused, and were committed to prison. I cannot give all the details of this black scrape, as it was called, hut this is the substance of it, and its effeets were felt not only at the above town-meeting, hut at one or two subsequent ones.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 182

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 1112

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112