History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 32

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 32
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 32
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 32
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 32

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).

Captain Smith was at the surrender of Cornwallis in 1781, and served through the war ; surveyed a portion of

this territory iu 1793, settled in 1795, taught school here and at Owego, was the first justice of the peace, and an accurate surveyor. His work to-day settles many disputes concerning land titles. Ile was an active, energetie man, and foremost in all good works. He lived to see dense forests swept away and cleared fields and happy homes ap- pear, where only the trail of the red man and the mark of his own hatchet were seen when, with compass and chain, he first surveyed this wilderness. He had a large family of children, and several of them settled here. Hannah married John Gridley, and they settled at Dry Brook, where he still lives. Jared married Sarah Ward. Sally married Treza Hart, and settled where Mrs. Egbert Hart now lives. Lydia married Charles Woodford, who settled at Gridley- ville, where they still reside.

Captain Smith was very methodical and careful iu his business, and among his papers may be seen wills, deeds, surveys, and numerous other documents labeled and tied up with scrupulous eare. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-seven years, and died in 1847.

Elijah Hart and David Whittesey cante in the settlement in the winter of 1794-95, and built a grist- and saw-mill on the ground where Mr. John Ryan's saw-mill now stands. This mill was burned about 1813.

Abel Hart came from Stockbridge iu December, 1796, and located on lot 10, first tier, northwest section 12, now known as the " old homestead lot." He had visited pre- viously his old townsmen in Brown's Settlement on the Boston Purchase, and was so well pleased with the country that in February, 1794, he came with his family to make a permanent settlement. He did not immediately come to this place, but located first about five miles below Bing- hamton, near General Stoddard. He first built a plank house with one room, and soon afterwards added to it.

Elijah Hart, David Whittlesey, and Daniel H. Bacon boarded with them. He built a blacksmith-shop across the street and exchanged work with the people for many miles around, he doing their blacksmithing and they carrying on his farm work. He also built a distillery close by the shop. About 1807-8 travel increased largely through to the lake country, and he built a large frame tavern-house near the old one, completing it before 1810. The Ithaca and Owego turnpike was completed about that time. This road was previously located upon an old Indian trail from the Sus- quehanna to Cayuga Lake.

Before 1807, Abel Hart and Thomas Gridley built a saw- mill out in the wilderness, on the creek, and cut a road through the forest to it from the turnpike. It stood where the grist-mill now stands opposite Humboldt tannery, and was discontinued in 1832. From this time mills were erected by private eapital, and the sturdy emigrants entered into an active hand-to-hand contest with the mighty forests, which were speedily made subservient to the uses of civi- lization.

Mr. Hart was prosperous in business and contributed largely for benevolent and religious purposes, and lived to see his sons and daughters married and prospering around him.

Samuel Hart settled at Gridleyville. Daniel Hart ix living in Candor, near the Methodist Episcopal church.

132

IHISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

Mary married Harvey Potter, who came in 1807 ; they settled on the farm where she still lives with her son Henry. Selah Hart settled where Norman Hart lives, and is now living with his son-in-law, John McCarty.

Susan married Isaae V. Loeey, and they now live oppo- site the brick mill. Abel remained on the old homestead where Mrs. Hart and her son Lewis live.

Jacobus Shenich settled upon the Big Flatt or Cantine Joeation about 1797, but did not remain long. Captain Daniel Parks located on lot 1, seetion 1, township 12, on what is now known as Parks' Settlement, May 3, 1797, and Elisha Forsyth and Thomas Parks in the same loeality soon after. Hiram Williams settled on the Ford location the same year ; Seth Bacon on lot 2, seventh tier, northwest section 12, where William Hulbard lives, and kept tavern there for several years. Captain Eli Bacon on lot 1, seventh tier, northwest section 12, where Mrs. Anderson lives, prior to 1800. William Bates came up from Owego about 1796, and settled where Mrs. Sterling Barber lives. Mrs. Bates after his death moved to Spencer, and died at the age of one hundred and two years. Richard Ellis moved in the south part of the town about 1798-99, where Harvey Coles now lives. Selah Gridley came from Connectieut in 1803, and located on lot 12, second tier, northeast seetion 9, where William Gridley lives. Orange F. Booth settled in 1801 on lot 2, first tier, northeast seetion 9, where his son Edwin lives. He married Luey Hart, a sister of Cap- tain Abel Hart ; she is still living at the age of ninety years. He was appointed justice of the peace as early as 1820 by the Council of Appointment. In 1829 he built a saw-mill on Catatonk Creek with his eldest son Horaee, who is still living at Candor. A mill on the same site is carried on by Jesse and Theron Booth. He prospered greatly, and his family of six sons and three daughters were happily settled around him before he died. His death occurred in 1860, he being then seventy-eight years old.

Horaee, Dennis, Abel H., Mary S., Woodford, Orange, and Eliza A. and Edwin A. Booth are all living in the town.

Jacob Clark came in 1805 from Orange County, and took up lot 1, northwest seetion 11. From 1-804 to 1817, Chris- tian Hart, Ezra Smith, Dr. Joel Tallmadge, Hon. Jacob Willsey, and others settled on or near the " Big Flatt" location.

Joel Robinson came from Barton, Orleans Co., Vt., in 1816, and located on the farm he now occupies. He built the first Methodist church at this place, and the Saekett grist- mill, and is still hale and hearty at ninety-four years of age. His son, A. A. Robinson, has been for many years a promi- nent business man. John Whitley eame into the north part of the town in 1816. Aaron Whitley eame soon after, and settled on Shendaken Creek. Elisha Blinn and Beriah Strong settled in 1804 at Blinn's Settlement, known as Fairfield, and Caleb Galpin and Ebenezer Lake in 1809.

Moses Grimes eame from Washington Co., N. Y., and settled, in 1811, where his son, J. W. Grimes, still owns, near Parks' Settlement. He was one of the constituent members of the Presbyterian Church in Owego, and was recognized as a man of influence and ability, and filled many publie offiees, commanding the respeet of his fellow-eitizens. Na-

thaniel Sackett was a pioneer in Owego in 1789, and moved to Catatonk in 1803, and settled there. Evans, Pickett, Harrington, and others eame in about the same time. Mr. Sackett built a saw-mill and kept a tavern for many years, and was an influential man. Richard and John J. Sackett have been active and energetic men, and accomplished much to further the manufacturing interests of the town. John J. Sackett and his sisters, Mrs. Dr. Hunt and Mrs. Rachel Joslyn, are living in Candor.

Caleb Sackett built a saw-mill as early as 1815, on the ground north of the brick mill, and mills have been burned two or three times on the site. He married James MeMas- ter's daughter, and they kept tavern where the tannery now is for some time. James McMaster, who at one time owned the west half of the township of Owego, lived here during his latter days. One day, in 1818, he borrowed a horse of Captain Abel Hart to visit a son living in Spencer, and, in passing through the narrows above Selah Gridley's, his horse shied and threw him, breaking his ribs. He was taken into Mr. Gridley's and died in a few days, and was buried on the Caleb Sackett farin. Deaeon Jonathan B. Hart eame here as agent for his unele, who owned 1000 acres, bought of Watkins and Flint, and settled on lot 4, second tier, northeast seetion 9, in 1825, where he still resides. He was married in 1823 to Elvira Humiston. They lived . first in a log house, about one-quarter of a mile below lot 4, and in December following moved into the new frame house, Mr. Hart making his bedstead of saplings for posts and eording them up. He is active in all good works, fore- most in the Sunday-school and church, and mueh interested in the early history and settlement of this country, and from him much information pertaining to the history of this town has been obtained. Israel Barnum located in the northeast portion of the town in 1822.

Bissell Woodford served in the Revolutionary war, and resided here in his latter days with his children.

Samuel Barager eame in here in 1815 ; settled first at Fairfield, then settled in the village. He represented his county in the Assembly in 1829, and was justiee of the peaee many years. His daughter married Wakeman Smith, of Willseyville, and his son lives on the Thomas Gridley farm. Sylvester Woodford settled on the same farm where his son Sylvester now resides. Ozias Woodford at the same time, where Horace Loring lives. The physicians who attended the people for many years in this valley were Dr. Jones, of Owego, and Dr. Lewis Beers, of Danby. Dr. Horatio Woreester eame in at an early day, and was followed by Drs. Bartlett, Bacon, and Dr. A. V. McKey, who praetieed many years and then moved West.

INITIAL EVENTS.

Thomas Hollister kept the first tavern in 1795. He also built the first log barn and frame house, set out the first orehard, and raised the first apples, on or near the cemetery in the village of Candor. Elijah Hart and David Whit- tlesey built the first grist- and saw-mill, under the same roof, where John Ryan's saw-mill now stands. The first store was kept by Philip Case, on the farm owned by Mr. Mur- doek, at Adams Station, on the Utiea, Ithaea and Elmira Railroad. Abel Hart built the first blacksmith-shop, and

Lorin Booth

P. GEE Fall & Scal3 Barclay Se NY

LORIN BOOTH.

The life of Mr. Booth was comparatively unevent- ful, and marked by few incidents save such as occur in the life of every successful business man. He was emphatically a "man of affairs," industrious, sagacious, enterprising, and public-spirited ; early developing those qualities which so largely con- tributed to his success in after-life. He was born in Candor, Oct. 26, 1810, being the third son and third child of Orange F. and Lucy (Hart) Booth. He only received thic benefits of a common-school edu- cation, passing his early life on his father's farm, and early became connected in the lumbering business with his father and youngest brother, which part- nership continued till the death of his father, in 1860. The wisdom of his business qualities was shown in purchasing (in connection with others) large lumber tracts in Tioga and Allegany Counties, N. Y., also 5000 acres in Northern Michigan, which investment proved a financial success. In the manufacture and sale of lumber Mr. Booth passed the most of his life, and by his strict attention to business accumulated a large fortune. He was married, Oct. 16, 1834, to Esther M., daughter of Jesse and Esther (Hart) Smith. She is a native of Candor, being born May 29, 1811. The fruits of this union were four chil- dren, viz .: Anson H., a brief sketch of whose life appears in another part of this work; Lizzie Jane, born Jan. 26, 1844, and was married, May 27, 1869, to M. J. Daniels, of Rochester, Minn., where she now resides ; Jesse F., born May 17, 1849, and was mar- ried, Dec. 21, 1871, to Julia A. Willsley, slic being born in Candor, March 7, 1853, they have lost two

children ; Theron S., born Oct. 6, 1851. The sons arc following in the footsteps of their worthy parent, living upon their father's old homestead, and being engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber, lath, etc., at Candor, under the firm-name of Booth Bros. Politically, Mr. Booth was early cducated by his father to appreciate the wise and sound principles of Democracy, and during his life he never deviated from the wise counsels of his noble sire. He was solicited by his fellow-citizens, at various times, to serve them in some public capacity, but always steadily refused. As his time was too much occupied by his business and home affairs, he thought that he could not faith- fully attend to public matters. He was a strong be- liever in the Episcopal form of religion, and was a member of the St. Mark's Church of Candor, and served in the capacity of warden for about thirty-five years. He died June 22, 1876. In social life, witlı a pleasant address, he was refined, unselfish, and courteous, attracting to himself the warm friendship of the intelligent and cultivated. In his business life he was just and honorable in all his dealings, and had the respect and entire confidence of those with whom he was brought in contact. He had large views, and took an interest in all that concerned the prosperity of the town of his residence, con- tributing liberally of his substance to advance its interests, and he gave largely of his means in aid of institutions, especially those of a benevolent char- acter, and his charities to the poor were large and unostentatious, his sympathics going out readily to all in want.

HORACE BOOTH.

Very prominent among the living residents of the town of Candor is he whose name heads this notice. Horace Booth was born in the town of Candor, Oct. 13, 1807, being the first child and oldest son of Orange F. and Lucy (Hart) Booth. Like many another person similarly circumstanced, coming on to the stage of action in the early part of the present century, he received only a common-school education. His opportunities for acquiring book knowledge were limited, his early life having been spent upon his father's farm. On arriving at manhood he became a general mechanic, and has followed the avoca- tions of a millwright, blacksmith, carpenter, and joiner.

He was married, Sept. 22, 1831, to Minerva, daughter of Asahel and Sarah Atkins. She was a native of Connecticut, being born at New Hartford, May 21, 1803. They had three children, whose record is as follows: Lucy Elizabeth, born Jan. 23, 1833, married John F. Satterley, and resides at Monroeton, Bradford Co., Pa .; Horace Francis, born Dec. 9, 1835, and resides at Candor, where he

is engaged in the foundry, and officiates as the present postmaster ; Cynthia Eloise, born Nov. 12, 1838, is the widow of Dr. John J. Harris, late of Candor.

Mrs. Minerva Booth died Aug. 24, 1862. Mr. Booth married for his second wife, Oct. 1, 1863, Mary Helen, daughter of John H. and Maria Cooper, of Spencer, Tioga Co., N. Y. She was born in Lenox, Madison Co., N. Y., Oct. 1, 1835. One child was the issue of this marriage,-Abel F., who was born Aug. 7, 1867.

Previous to 1856, Mr. Booth was a member of the Democratic party ; but upon the organization of the Republican party, in that year, he became iden- tified with it, and later with the Greeley movement, in 1871, since which time he has acted with the Democratic organization. He held the office of supervisor of the town of Candor for the years 1840, '41, '42, and 1850, '51, '52; and represented the town of Spencer as its supervisor for one year.

Mr. Booth has led an active and useful life, and the community in which he resides bears the impress of his influence.

133

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

was the first blacksmith. The first distillery was built on his farm in 1796-97. Joel Smith taught the first school, and was the first justice of the peace. The first school- house was built of logs, sixteen by sixteen feet, as early as 1798, on the Joel Smith farm, where Mr. Bogart lives. The first religious services were held in barns and dwelling- houses, as early as 1797, by Rev. Seth Williston, a mis- sionary from Connecticut. The first church was built in 1818, where MeCarty & Co.'s store now stands. The first settled minister was Rev. Daniel Loring, in 1810. The first church organization was the Baptist, of West Owego Creek, in 1802. The first Sunday-school was held at the school-house in Gridleyville in 1820. The first tannery was built by - Durkee where the store-room of the woolen-factory now is. The first physician was Dr. Horatio Worcester. The first town-meeting was held in 1811. The first eensus was taken in 1814. The first brick-yard was kept by Sidney Hayden in 1835, and he was succeeded by Mansfield Bunnell in 1836. The first brick house was built by Noah Barber, and was sixteen by twenty-four feet, and is now owned by John Snover. The next was the Congregational parsonage, where Lewis Griffin lives. John McCarty built the first one in the village.

VILLAGE OF CANDOR.

For many years this place was in two settlements, known as Candor Corners and Candor Centre, but the gradual growth of both have united them, and they are now kuown as the village of Candor. It is situated on the Catatonk Creek, nearly in the centre of the town, and is a station on the Cayuga and Susquehanna division of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad.

The first settlement in the town was made upon this site, and many of the descendants of the early settlers are now living here. It has a population of about 1100 in- habitants, and is a thriving manufacturing village. It contains four churches (Congregational, Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopalian), union school and academy, bank, post- office, three publie halls, two tanneries, steam saw-mill, hardware-store, three dry-goods and grocery stores, three grocery-stores, printing-office, water-power saw-mill, planing- and moulding-mill, two grist-mills, two shoe-stores, three shoe-shops, two tin-shops, two hotels, two elothing-stores, two tailors, two cooper-shops, produce dealer, two drug- stores, two eabinet-shops, foundry and machine-shop, five blacksmith-shops, three harness-shops, four carriage-shops, dealer in agricultural implements, five physicians, four law- yers, express- and telegraph-office, coal-yard, three milliners, livery-stable, ete.

There are also lodges of Free and Accepted Masons, Knights of Honor, Independent Order of Good Templars, and Patrons of Husbandry.

MANUFACTURES.

The grist-mill on Catatonk Creek, owned by Halsey & Hixson, was built of brick, in 1838, by Jesse and Ogden Smith, and has four run of stone. The first miller was John Kirk.

The grist-mill on the Catatonk Creek, near Humboldt tannery, was built, in 1832, on the site of the old one, by

R. II. and John J. Sackett, and is now occupied and run by Young & Hoff.

Candor Iron- Works .- As early as 1854 plows were wooded here, the irons being cast at Montrose. Shortly after a cupola was erected, and castings of all kinds were made. They are now owned by Edwin A. Booth.

Woolen-Mills .- In 1824 a mill was built on the ground where Geo. Hart's planing-mill now stands, by Artemus Loeey and Isaac Locey, and was operated by them until 1838, when it was sold to Joseph Matthews, who kept it until 1842, when the machines were sold and the building used for other manufacturing purposes.

A plaster-mill was built by Abel Hart, but discontinued. R. H. and J. J. Sackett purchased the building and put in carding-machines, and for twenty-five years the business was conducted successfully, but is now discontinued.

Ryan's tannery was built in 1861, with additions in 1863. It has 4 leaches, 25 vats, 2 pools, and 3 limes, with capacity of turning out 3000 hides per annum of upper leather. In 1868 a saw-mill was built in connection with it, with a capacity to eut 5000 feet of lumber per day. They are situated on Catatonk Creek, a little north of the village.

Candor Humboldt tanuery was first built by Sackett & Elmendorf, in 1859 ; and E. S. Estey & Co. purchased the property July 25, 1865. It has a capacity of turning out 25,000 hides per annum, contains 120 vats, 4 leaches, and employs 30 men. Five thousand cords of bark are annually used at this tannery, representing 28,000 trees. The fire of 1868 eaused the entire destruction of this tannery.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CANDOR

was chartered March 30, 1864, Norman L. Carpenter, President, John J. Bush, Cashier, with a capital of $50,000, and privilege of increasing to $100,000. Edwin A. Booth is now President, and Jerome Thompson Cashier. It is situated on the corner of Main and Bank Streets.

The following record is taken from one of the bank books :

" FRIDAY, Dec. 18, 1868.

" Last night the bank was entered by burglars and robbed of about $13,000 in currency and $5000 in 5-20 United States bonds, besides $12,000 in bonds belonging to other parties, left here for safe-keeping. The above-named property was in a burglar-proof safe purchased of IIerring & Co., in the year 1864. The burglars, after tearing down the vault-door, laid the safe down on the bottom of the vault, door side up, and sprung the sides with steel wedges sufficiently to admit pow- der and blew the door open, abstracted the contents, aul made their escape."

WILLSEYVILLE.

This settlement is situated on what was known as the Big Flatt or Cantine location, and is on the north branch of the Catatonk Creek, in the northwest part of the town. A map of the lands about 1817 shows that Christian Hart had settled 50 aeres on the south side, Jaek Chambers on 100 aeres next north, Jacobus Shenich 200 acres, where the depot now is, and on this place he kept tavern as early as 1798. Nov. 1, 1809, he sold to Ezra Smith, who kept the tavern until 1812 or '13, when it burned down. In 1860 it was sold to Morgan White, who has charge of the depot, and has a store and hotel.

134

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

Ezra Smith eame from Westchester County. Settled first at Smithboro', in this county (and. while there was appointed commissioner to lay off lands in Pennsylvania), then eame to West Owego Creek, near Parks' Settlement, where he re- mained three years. He assisted at the building of the first mill at Factoryville. Wakeman Smith, a grandson of Ezra, living here, has in his possession an original patent for 540 acres of land, granted to Jonas Poirs and Benjamin Kotes, Feb. 2, 1791, signed by Geo. Clinton, with the great seal of New York attached by a cord. This seal is about three and a half inches in diameter, one quarter of an inch thick, and made of wax impressed with the seal of the State as used in 1777.

Jacob Willsey came from Fairfield, Herkimer Co .; was justice of the peace, and held the office of county judge for several years. Willseyville was named in honor of him. He was instrumental in the organization of the Baptist Church in 1838. The early records of this settlement can be found more complete in a bottle that was placed in the foundation of the church at the laying of the corner-stone, the same being written by Judge Willsey. Mrs. Wm. Willsey lives on the old homestead. His sons, Gaylord and Warren, live at Candor. Miss Maria Willsey, a daughter of Judge Willsey, married Rev. Jacob Thomas. They went as mis- sionaries to India, and when within a mile of their intended field of labor he was instantly killed by the falling of a tree across the eanoe, while they were going up the river. She remained there, and afterwards married Rev. Samuel Os- good, and returned to this country in 1847, after an absence of ten years, and died July 13, 1849, at Wyoming.

Dr. Joel Tallmadge settled here about 1817, where Mrs. Durphy lives, and came as agent for an unele, who owned a large tract of land. (He was a brother of N. P. Tall- mnadge, of national fame, who was at one time United States Senator, and subsequently Governor of Wisconsin.) He was justice of the peace, and member of Assembly in 1832. The first school-house in this section was built in 1817, above the bridge. The first mill was built in the upper portion of the town, by Bush and Dykman, about 1822. The settlement is at the junction of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna and Western Railroad, and Utica, Ithaca and El- mira Railroad, and contains two depots, one church, post- office, four groceries, two blacksmith-shops, school-house, and one saw-mill.

WELTONVILLE.

This hamlet is located on the east line of the town, on West Owego Creek, contains post-office, blacksmith-shop, wagon-shop, and school-house. It was named in honor of Rev. A. J. Welton. Jasper Taylor, Cornelius Cartwright, and others eame in here at an early day. They built their first houses at the base of the hill, fearful that the flats would be covered with water.

GRIDLEYVILLE

is a hamlet on the Catatonk Creek, and is a station on the Cayuga and Susquehanna division of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna and Western Railroad, about one mile from Candor village.

EAST CANDOR

is about four miles above Weltonville, and is on Doolittle Creek ; was first known as Blinn's Settlement, then as " Honey Pot," or Upper Fairfield. There is a union church here.

WEST CANDOR.

This settlement was commenced by Israel Mead, in 1796. Selah Gridley and Captain Ira Woodford were early settlers, and their descendants are yet living here. It is a station on the Utica, Ithaca and Elmira Railroad, and contains a depot, post-office, hotel, school-house, steam- and water-power saw-mill, and is about three and a half miles west of Candor village.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 32

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