History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 36

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 36
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 36
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 36
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 36

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).

Lucy M., wife of Frederick Beam ; Sarah M., wife of Giles Slosson; Henry M., who married Mary Ann Farrand; Gilbert ; Sabrinis L., who married Henry B. Slosson, and died Jan. 6, 1867 (her husband died three years previous) ; Mary E., widow of Marshall Hotchkin, who was married Dee. 30, 1852. Mr. Hotehkin was a native of Tioga County. He was known as a model practical farmer. For many years he was a member of the Congregational Church,

and an old and mueh-esteemed eitizen of the town of Newark Valley. He was widely connected with the families of his own and surrounding towns, and his death, which occurred May 24, 1874, was deeply mourned and sincerely regretted. William H. resides in Owego; Emily, unmarried, resides in Mainc ; and Charles Muzzy, a farmer, resides on the old homestead in Newark Valley.

Mr. Muzzy at the time of his death, Dec. 17, 1864, was the oldest man in the town, and the last of the primitive settlers in Newark Valley. His life covered the whole period of our national government. What vast changes has the county undergone since his coming to it! There were on his arrival but two log houses in Owego and one in Binghamton, and he passed but one frame house after he left the Hudson River. It is difficult for us of the present generation to conceive of the hardships that were endured by those who cleared up the forest and made their homes in the wilderness, and planted the institutions of civil liberty. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and should tenderly cherish their memories for the blessings they have bequeathed to us. He was for thirty-three years a con- sistent member of the Congregational Church. He died full of years, leaving behind him the provident legaey man ean leave-a good name and an honest reputation. Surely " the memory of the just is blessed."

P. 6 Tappan

DR. JOHN C. TAPPAN

was born in the county of Schoharie, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1821, and was the youngest child in a family of seven children of Anthony and Anna Tappan. The father of our subjeet emigrated to and settled in the town of Nichols, Tioga Co., N. Y., in the year 1822, where he remained ten years, when he removed to the town of Newark Valley. Our subject, at the age of twenty-four, after taking an academic course at the Canandaigua Academy, began the study of medieine with Dr. Root, of Newark Valley, and in the spring of 1848 graduated from the medical department of the University of New York City, and commenced practicing in Newark Valley. Was married, March 25, 1851, to Dianthe, daughter of James and Harriet Clifford, of Berkshire, Tioga Co., N. Y., where she was born Jan. 30, 1824. To them were born three children, one of whom is now living, viz., Revere C., who was born April 10, 1855.

Dr. John C. Tappan was of more than ordinary ability as a surgeon, and as a physician had but few superiors. His life was devoted to his profession, in which he became eminently successful. His social qualities were such as to endear him to the people of the community in which he lived ; and, after a most useful life, he was stricken down with apoplexy, and in the brief space of six days was numbered with the dead, Jan. 9, 1876.

Revere C., when but a youth, began the study of medicine with his father, and in the month of Feb- ruary, 1876, graduated from the University of New York City, and took up the earlier practice of his father.

In politics bothi were Democrats. Neither, how- ever, aspired to official positions, although the father was at one time county superintendent of common seliools.

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AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

her days; she died in 1820, aged nearly eighty years. She was one of the constituent members of the first church in the valley .* Her husband was captain of militia in the Revolution, and died of smallpox Jan. 8. 1777. Joseph Brown came with his mother, and settled near the cemetery, where David Noble lives, and near the old store. He was a blacksmith, and his shop was built on the opposite side of the street, in the corner of the orchard. He died in 1808. Solomon Williams and wife came from Stockbridge in the winter of 1795-96, and lived with Esbon Slosson in his new log house while building a log or block house op- posite, where the grist-mill stands.

Levi Bailey, a hatter, came in 1796 and worked at his trade ; built a log house above the Willson mill-house; after- terwards moved to where Jules Fivaz lives. Joseph Hos- ford and family were here in the spring of 1796, and they, too, went into the house with Slosson. Hosford built a log house on the southwest corner of lot 103, which was given him by Amos Patterson.

Hosford and Slosson married sisters of Solomon Williams. In January, 1797, Mrs. Mary Willson, mother of Peter and Elisha, came with her daughters and settled with Elisha. She died Dec. 9, 1814. Abram Johnson was here in 1798 ; married Mabel, sister of Esbon Slosson, and lived near where the fish-ponds arc. Edward and Jonathan Edwards, grandsons of Rev. Dr. Jonathan Edwards, were here in 1797. Edward lived between where Dr. Tappan lives and the Deacon Curtis farm ; removed to Ithaca, and then near the mouth of Nanticoke Creek. He was the first one to bring a suit, for he appears on 'Squire Brown's docket as plaintiff, Edward Edwards vs. Elijah Dwey. He was nonsuited and paid costs. Jonathan Edwards lived on the Daniel Moore farm, and removed to Binghamton in 1817. Henry Moore came from Stockbridge in the winter of 1798-99 ; settled near Dr. Tappan's house. His cidest daughter, Thersey, who taught school that summer in Asa Bement's barn, married Jonas Muzzy, Aug. 27, 1801. Henry Muzzy, Charles Muzzy, and Mrs. Mary G. Hotchkin are their children, and are now living in the town.

Jonas Muzzy was from Spencer, Mass., and felled the first tree on West Owego Creek, and was soon followed by Michael, Laban, and Elisha Jenks, Captain Scott, and Thomas Baird, where the settlement known as Jenksville is. He did not scttle then, but afterwards worked for Elisha Willson, and then bought and settled on the lot Mr. Fellows had bought for his son, an account of whose death is in the history of Berkshire. Stephen Williams, Jr., and a brother Timothy eame in the early part of 1801, and built a log house where Royal W. Clinton now lives.

Their father, Stephen, with two other sons, Henry and Oliver, came in the fall, and Daniel Churchill with them. Ile began his home on a part of the same lot, 103, build- ing the south front of the house now occupied by Mrs. Wells. Stephen Williams, Jr., married Selecta Draper, daughter of Amos Draper, one of the pioneers and Indian agent. She was the first white child born in Owego.

They all boarded at Esbon Slosson's while preparing their homes, as he was then keeping tavern where the old hotel now stands. Ripley Manning, Parley Simons, Joel Gay- lord, Jonathan Hedges, and others settled about this time. In 1803, Otis Lincoln eame in, when fourteen years of age, and worked for Elisha Willson; and in the spring-time, after his day's work was over, boiled sap and took the ashes for pay, selling them to an ashery as a means of getting cash. In 1810 he was manufacturing buckskin gloves, mittens, and breeches with Ezekiel Rich. Deer were plenty, and they tanned the skins in large quantities. Much of the early prosperity of the little settlement was due to his fore- sight and enterprise. He was a man of unusual ability, was foremost in all improvements and liberal towards schools and churches, was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, amassed a large property, was a leading and influ- ential citizen for over fifty years, and died Dee. 7, 1863, at the age of seventy-nine years. William Lincoln, his son, is living in Washington. His daughter is the wife of Dr. D. W. Patterson. Ezekiel Rich was here in 1808 or 1809, and engaged with Mr. Lincoln tanning deer-skins and manu- facturing gloves, etc. He married Caroline Slosson in 1812, and remained here until 1821, when he removed to Richford, and was a prominent citizen there. Mrs. Rich is still living. She was born in Stockbridge, Mass., the 23d day of February, 1791, the same day that the four young men left that place to commence life anew in this wild western wilderness. She came here when two years old, and her memory extends over a greater period than any one living in the town, and the reminiscences of her youth are still fresh. The following incident she related to the writer: she remembers distinctly a storm coming suddenly in the night, in September, 1795, that raised the creek so high it eamc into the shanty and floated the pun- cheons, of which the floor was made, and the bark roof slid off, leaving thew exposed to the rain. They took refuge in the log house of Enoch Slosson, passing through the water waist-deep to get there. Her father then built a log house where the Congregational lecture-room now stands.

INITIAL EVENTS.

The first sehool was taught by David McMaster, part of the time in Elisha Willson's bark-covered shanty, and part of the time in Josiah Ball's shoe-shop, in 1796-97, and later, in 1799, Miss Therscy Moore taught in Asa Bc- ment's barn. 3.

Log school-houses were soon built, and the little ones trndged long distances to school. Upon the enactment of the State law in 1812 the town of Berkshire, which then embraced the towns of Berkshire, Newark Valley, and Richford, was made into twelve districts. In 1823 this town was redistricted, and Newark Valley village is No. 14. A large and commodious school-house is now being

# In a History of Stoekbridge, Past and Present, or Record of an old Mission Station, compiled by Miss Elceta T. Jones, occur these words : " The Chenango Purchase [meaning tho Boston ten towns] was made about the closo of the Revolutionary war, and many Stockbridgo people engaged in tho enterprise. Among the first were the five sons of Abraham Brown, and Elisha, Peter, Mary, Phebe, and Mehitiblo Willson, who, with their mothers, settled in Newark ; they were fol- lowel by tho Balls, Williams', Slossons, Asa Bement, Hosford, the Carpenters, John Ruey, until Dr. Stephen West (their pastor) de- clared that if many more went he would go too.

" The Purchase consisted of ten townships, and our citizens seem to have been very generally distributed among them."

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IIISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

built at a cost of about $5000. The districts are all sup- plied with good school-houses, and the schools of this town are in a prosperous condition. Enos Slosson kept the first tavern and store in 1800, where the old hotel now stands, and in 1812 he was appointed the first postmaster. Asa Bement and Elisha Willson erected a grist-mill in 1797. Previous to this time the grain (except what was ground in that primitive mill, the hollowed-out stump) was carried to Fitch's mill, on Fitch's Creek, four miles above Bing- hamton, about forty miles distant, until 1793, when Colonel David Pixley erected a mill at Owego. The first carpenter was Stephen Williams, Sr., but he was quite aged.

Otis Lincoln, as before mentioned, tanned decr-skins and manufactured gloves, ctc. ; for many years connected with tannery.

The first regular tannery was built by David Settle in 1825, using dug-outs for vats, about three miles cast of the village. Jed Chapman did not come in till near 1830, but was a carpenter, and did much work in the valley.

The first steam saw-mill was built about 1830, by Chester Patterson and Jonathan Day, about one-quarter of a mile from the Methodist Episcopal church in East Settlement ; they employed about thirty hands, and had an engine with a walking-beam, such as are used on steamboats. Dr. Jos. Waldo was the only physician for many years up and down the valley. Drs. Scamary, Sutton, Curtis, Nelson, Root, Tappan, and others acted their part here in the drama of life. Drs. Sutton, Nelson, Root, Curtis, Tappan, and Churchill died and are buried herc. Dr. William Sutton represented his county in the Assembly in 1836, and died the next year. Dr. Seymour Churchill was reared here, studied and practiced abroad, died and was brought here for burial.

CHURCHES.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCII.

Religious services had been held in this town prior to the organization of this church, and were held in barns and dwelling-houses, and conducted by Rev. Seth Williston, a missionary from Connecticut. This church was formed as the first Congregational Church in the town of Tioga, Thursday, Nov. 17, 1803. The constituent members were Dr. Joseph Waldo, Nathaniel Ford, Jesse Gleazen, Levi Bailey, Beulah Brown, and Caroline Ford. The church was organized by Rev. Seth Williston and Rev. Jas Wood- ward, missionaries from Connecticut. Mrs. Sarah Slosson, wife of Enoch Slosson, Mrs. Mary Hosford, wife of Joseph Hosford, and Mrs. Rachel Williams, wife of Stephen Wil- liams, Sr., joined the church on Sunday, Nov. 20, 1803, three days after its organization. They probably had letters of dismission from churches in the East, as Barney Tru- man joined the church on profession of faith the same day and the first Sunday of its existence, making the number of its members at that time ten. It had no officers until April 4, 1805, when Nathaniel Ford was elected deacon, and no preaching except by the Connecticut missionaries.

The society of Western was organized Oct. 23, 1805, and fifty-eight of the inhabitants signed an agreement Nov. 11, 1805, fixing a rate of from two to eight per cent. which each should annually pay upon his property for the support

of the gospel. Dec. 24, 1805, the church and society voted to call Rev. Jeremiah Osborn to settle with them at a salary of $275 annually, with an annual increase of $25 until it reached $350. This call was accepted Jan. 11, 1806, and the church and pastor elect called a council to assist in his ordination. The council met at the house of Widow Dud- ley, an account of which is given in the history of the Con- gregational Church in Berkshire. March 3, 1811, the church applied for a union with the Presbytery of Cayuga, and was admitted as a constituent member Sept. 11, 1811, and remained in that connection until July 2, 1869. Since that time it has been associated with Congregational churches. Rev. Mr. Osborn remained with them until 1818, when he resigned ; was succeeded by Rev. Marcus Ford, who was ordained Dec. 3, 1820, filled the position acceptably, and resigned on account of ill health April 27, 1859. Samuel F. Bacon became their pastor in 1866; Samuel Johnson in 1871. Jay Clisbe, Jan. 14, 1872, commenced his labors, and is at present their pastor.

During the winter of 1830-31 a revival occurred, and in the April communion 107 joined the church by profession of faith and 6 by letter; in July following 22 more, thus more than doubling the membership. The whole number has been 705. They number at present 260. January 12, 1823, 8 members were dismissed to form the North Church, in Berkshire, now the Congregational Church of Richford. Three were dismissed, Sept. 14, 1823, to form a church on West Owego Creek. In June and July, 1833, 72 members were dismissed to be embodied in a church at Berkshire, which was organized July 24, 1833, with 68 members, of whom 54 were from this church. The first house of worship was built north of the village of New- ark Valley, where now stands the brick house owned by Samuel Watson. It was erected as early as 1803 or 1804, and was a plain framed house, 24 by 36 feet in size, with posts 11 feet high and a steep roof. It was never finished, but was left open from floor to rafter. This is the style of meeting-houses that for fourteen years the ancient worthies of this church worshiped in, without a fire, except the few coals the good old mothers carried in their foot-stoves. This building was moved across the way, a little below its original site, in the corner of the sugar-maple grove, after- wards used by Rev. Mr. Ford for a barn, and is now doing duty as a wagon-house on the place of Jules Fivaz.

The second house was built on the old site and dedicated July 4, 1817. It was 45 by 55 feet, with a spacious gallery and the old-fashioned high pulpit. For fourteen years more the congregation worshiped here, when the gradual growth of the two centres of business, Berkshire and Newark Val- ley, each three miles from the meeting-house, made it in- convenient for the people. September 1, 1831, the society instructed the trustees to consult the several individuals be- longing to the society relative to a change of place of wor- ship, and report at next meeting. The trustees reported in favor of moving, and the report was accepted, the north part of the society giving their consent. $1944.86 was subscribed for a new church. and the contractor bought the old house, took it down, and used it in the new house, built on the site where the present church stands (Otis Lincoln presenting balf an acre for that purpose), and substantially

LITTLE

WILLIAM SLOSSON.

The father of this gentleman was one of the first settlers of Newark Valley, emigrating from New England as early as 1793. Our subject was born in Newark Valley, Tioga Co., N. Y., in July, 1800, being the eldest son of five children of Esbon and Electa Slosson. He was united in marriage, July 1, 1824, to Maria, daughter of Joseph and Phebe Ben- jamin, of Ithaca, where she was born Jan. 29, 1807. Their family consisted of three children, two of whom are now living, viz. : George, who was born the 24th of June, 1825, and at present occupies the position as station agent at Newark Valley, on the Southern Central Railroad; and Phebe E., born March 9, 1830, is the widow of Frederic H. Todd, and resides on her father's old homestead located in the same town. Mr. Slosson was an active and energetic worker in the old Whig party, and on the formation of the Republican party in 1856 became one of its most prominent members. He was called upon by his fellow-citizens to oc- cupy many positions of trust and honor in the town ; held the office of supervisor, assessor, and was justice of the peace for about forty-five years. In his early life he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, but in later years he joined the Congregational. Mr. Slosson ended a busy life May 26, 1872, loved, honored, and respected by all who knew him. His widow, who had been his companion in life for nearly fifty years, survived him but a short time, she passing away Aug. 5, 1878. Thus we record on the pages of history a short sketch of the life of a descendant of one of Tioga's pioneer and prominent families.

FREDERIC H. TODD

was born in North Haven, New Haven Co., Conn., Feb. 6, 1819, being the youngest son of six children of Josiah and Elizabeth Todd. His father removed with his family to Newark Valley when our subject was about thirteen years of age, and being in poor circumstances could give his son only the advantages of a common-school education. Upon arriving at the age of manhood Mr. Todd became a tanner (which was his father's occupation in life), which business he followed for a number of years ; he also opened and carried on a store for the sale of general merchandise at Newark Valley. He was married, Sept. 17, 1851, to Phebe, daughter of William Slosson. Their family con- sisted of five children, two of whom are now living, viz. : Frederic L., born March 10, 1856 ; he is at present tele- graph operator at Towanda, Bradford Co., Pa. ; Frank H., born Feb. 26, 1866.

In 1858, Mr. Todd made a purchase of lumber lands in northern Michigan, and seven years later, or therc- abouts, began operations in clearing, lumbering, etc., in that State. He was drowned, 18th of March, 1868, in the Muskegon River while attempting to cross the boomn or shute, letting out the logs, the current being very rapid. He was a stanch member of the Republican party, and represented the town of Newark Valley in the board of supervisors for two or three terins. In his death his wife lost a dutiful husband; his children, a loving father ; his friends and business associates, an honest man.

ROYAL W. CLINTON.

Royal W. Clinton was born in the town of Colebrook, Litchfield Co., Conn., March 1, 1823, and was the eldest child of a family of thirteen children. His father was Lyman Clinton, Jr., and his grandfather Lyman Clinton, Sr. ; the latter a native of Connecticut, being born April 3, 1771, and who lived out the allotted span of threescore and ten years, and passed to his rest April 30, 1855, much respected in the community in which he lived. The wife of Lyman Clinton, Jr., and mother of Royal W., was Miranda, daughter of Wells Stone, of Sharon, Conn. In 1831 they removed to Newark Valley, arriving in the month of May, after a tedious journey, with teams, of two weeks, crossing the Catskill Mountains en route.

The grandfather of the gentleman of whom we write more particularly had visited this section of country in 1830, and had selected six hundred aeres of land for the purpose of dividing it among his children, reserving a portion thereof for himself. Lyman Clinton, Jr., not being satisfied with the location of his allotment, chose a different one a mile and a half cast of the present village of Newark Valley, where he remained until the winter of 1871, when he removed to the village ; and three years later, July 4, 1874, he passed away, aged seventy-five years. His widow survives and lives near her son, Royal W.

The subject of this memoir received a common-school edu- cation ; also attended a select school two years. He lived with his father until he was nineteen years of age, and two years later was married to Anna C., eldest daughter of William and Rosanna Knapp, of Newark Valley. Immediately sub- sequent to his marriage he became proprietor of his father-in- law's wool-carding and cloth-dressing establishment, which business he conducted summers, and during the winter months got out lumber, for about five years.

About this time he purchased a lot of timber-land, one and one-half miles east of the village, from which he commeneed getting the lumber, erceting a steam saw-mill on the property, which was the first one operated success- fully in the town. He cleared a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in the vicinity of the mill, making im- provements from time to time until it became a valuable property.

In 1861 he sold the mill, and in company with his brother- in-law, H. W. Clinton, built another mill, and from that time until the present has engaged extensively in the lumber trade, purchasing, in addition to what he sawed himself, all that sawed by three or four other mills in the surrounding country. Twelve years ago Mr. Clinton found it necessary, in order to facilitate his rapidly-increasing business, to remove to a more central point ; hence he erected a fine residence in the village, where he now resides.

In 1866 he engaged in the mercantile business with his son- in-law, Morris Elwell and brother, at Newark Valley, which is at present conducted by the Elwell Brothers. In 1866 he was appointed one of the railroad commissioners for the bonding of the town for the construction of the Southern Central Railroad, and in 1873 he was made one of the direct- ors of the company in recognition of his valuable services in procuring this necessary improvement. He has held various town offices in the gift of his fellow-citizens of the Republican party, to which political organization he belongs. At the age of nineteen he experienced religion and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Newark Valley, of . which he has ever since been an active and efficient member.

For more than thirty years consecutively he has been superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school of Newark Village. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton con- sists of three children, namely : Ella J., born April 20, 1845; Austin W., born March 11, 1850; Arthur G., born March 3, 1856. Austin W. was graduated with honors from Cornell University in the class of 1872, and he and his brother are now engaged in the mercantile and lumber business at Hartford Mills, Waltham Co., N. Y. The daughter, Ella W., is the wife of Morris Elwell, of Newark Valley.

From those who have known Mr. Clinton longest, and to whom he is best known, we learn that he is a man of strict personal integrity, of pure morality, and of a kind and neigh- borly disposition. By energy and enterprise he has achieved not only a creditable reputation, but also a position among the substantial business men of Tioga County. A deep relig- ious zeal has attended all his efforts, and whatever of success he has attained is attributable to unremitting industry and uncompromising rectitude.

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AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

like the old one. In 1849 it was moved back from the street and rebuilt in modern style, dedicated, and used seven years. In 1867 it took its third journey, about 100 feet to the north, to make way for its suecessor. In 1868 the present building was crected at a cost of $12,725, and was dedicated Jan. 14, 1869. After the completion of the new church the old " traveling sanctuary" was again removed, and is now used and known as the " Allison Opera-House." The trustees of the church at present are William B. Bush- nell, F. G. Bushnell, David Hess, William Reeves, C. H. Moore, H. Winship, Isaac Curtiss, Edgar Chapman, Her- bert Richardson. Deacons, William B. Bushnell, John E. Smith, Lambert Beecher.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 36

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