History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 66

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 66
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 66
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 66
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 66

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).

Upon a summer evening two years afterwards, Colonel Hendy was out in the underbrush looking for his cows, with gun in hand, as was his custom, and, peering through the forest, he saw several Indians standing a little distance off, one of them pointing a gun at him. He took in the emergeney, and, rushing up to the group, threw aside the gun and exelaimed, " Will you shoot, brother? The hatchet is buried !" The Indian dropped his gun, and after relue- tantly shaking hands, at the demand of the colonel, slunk off. Upon inquiring of the other Indians (five in number) why he sought to kill him, they replied only, " Because he was a bad Indian, and would shoot him some time." He saw nothing more of him for six years, when, on a town-

meeting day, he was startled by some one slapping him on the shoulder, and at the next moment collared him and seized hold of his throat. Colonel Hendy turned, and at onee, by main strength, flung him to the ground, and gave him as sound a drubbing about the head and face as ever Indian had before. He sneaked away, and that was the last ever seen or heard of Yawbuck.

THIE FAMINE.

In the second year, in August, the first and only famine occurred, occasioned by the severest frost ever known in the valley cutting off all their summer products, upon which they depended before the ripening of the autumn harvests. The previous year supplies had been short; when, there- fore, they had almost reached the harvesting, the famine came upon them, every article of provision was exhausted. Three or four families in the valley-those of Colonel Hendy, Miller, Thomas Hendy (a cousin ), and Mineyer (now ealled Minier)-had no money with which to purchase pro- visions at the settlement down the river. For a while they subsisted on green pumpkins, then about half-grown, and dug up Indian beans, which were boiled and used in the ordinary way. The pumpkins were boiled and eaten with milk. Milk and butter were plentiful, but nothing in the line of breadstuff. Such food was insufficient for men,- women and children could barely exist upon it. Colonel Hendy came near starving to death, longing for bread, of which they were totally deprived. One Sunday a field of rye belonging to Judge Miller was pronounced fit to eut ; the neighbors were summoned and each one allowed to eut a portion. This was taken to the barn, thrashed, and the grain divided among the starving families. This imper- feetly-matured grain was dried in pans and pounded in the samp-block, then sifted, and made into mush and cakes. Mrs. Hendy prepared some rye mush, which was eagerly eaten by the children with milk. A little was offered to Colonel Hendy, who was lying on the bed, but his stomach revolted, and he resigned himself to death by starvation. His wife bethought herself that she might bake a cake of rye. She did so, and of this he was able to partake a few morsels at a time, and gradually reelaimed the stomach to endure a little meat, and in a few days he was himself again. The settlers never suffered again from this cause.

ROYAL VISITORS.

In 1797, Newtown was visited by no less a distinguished personage than Louis Philippe, of France. He put up at the Kline House, and remained ten days. His career had been a checkered one at that early period of his life. He had passed some time in Switzerland as a teacher, and afterwards served in the French army as an aid-de camp to a French general, under the assumed name of Corby, until 1794. Suspicion was aroused as to his true character, and he left the army and country, and for some time kept up a retirement in Denmark. IIis father had perished on the scaffold, and his mother had been immured in a Paris dun- geon, and his two brothers-the Due de Montpensier and the Count de Beaugardois-had been confined in the Castle of St. Jean, at Marseilles. In 1796, communication was opened between their mother and the French Directory,

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and it was agreed that if she would persuade her son to visit the United States the order of sequestration issued against their property should be removed, and her younger sons released and permitted to join theirs with their brother's fortunes in America. In carrying out the terms of settle- ment, Louis Philippe embarked for America from Han- burg by the ship " America," Captain Ewing, of Philadel- phia, on the 24th of September, 1796, and in twenty-seven days was landed in Philadelphia. The other brothers only reached the same destination after a tedious and dangerous voyage of ninety-three days.

After the reunion of the brothers they spent the winter in Philadelphia, invited and toasted by the best society. They paid their respeets to Washington at Mount Vernon, and made quite a traveling tour through Virginia, Ken- tueky, and parts of Ohio, and at an early date in June reached Buffalo. On their way from Buffalo to Canan- daigua, then in the wilderness, they met Alexander Baring, afterwards Lord Ashburton, whom the future king had met in Philadelphia, and who had married a daughter of Wil- liam Bingham, a distinguished gentleman of that city. They engaged in a few minutes' conversation, after which each proceeded on his respective journey, Mr. Baring re- marking to the king, according to General Cass, that he had left an almost impassable road behind him, and the king answering by the comfortable assurance that Mr. Bar- ing would find " no better one before him." The brothers reached Canandaigua, where they passed several weeks be- neath the hospitable roof of Thomas Morris, who then re- sided there. They continued their journey to Geneva, and here procuring a boat, embarked and made the voyage of Seneca Lake to its head. They rested here a few days with Mr. George Wells, and then, shouldering their packs, trudged on foot to Elmira, bringing letters to Henry Tower and other residents, from Thomas Morris.

That one who entered this little village in the wilds of America on foot, and bearing his pack on his back, should soon after reach the French throne, was a most improbable event, not to be entertained by the oldest romancer; yet such was the ease, to the no little astonishment as well as gratifieation of the king. They passed their days of sojourn here in fishing and hunting. When ready for their de- parture Mr. Tower furnished them a Durham boat, well fitted up, and in this they descended the Chemung and Susquehanna to Wilkesbarre, from whence they journeyed across the country overland to Philadelphia. Here, in a letter directed to his sister, the Princess Adelaide, of Or- leans, the Duc- de Montpensier described their journey, saying, " It took us four months ; we traveled during that time a thousand leagues, and always upon the same horses, except the last one hundred leagues, which was performed partly by water and partly on foot, partly on hired horses, and partly in the stage or public conveyance. We have seen many Indians, and remained several days in their country. To give you an idea of the agreeable manner in which they travel in this country, I will tell you that we passed fourteen nights in the woods, devoured by all manner of insects, after being wet to the skin, without being able to dry ourselves, and eating pork and sometimes a little salt beef and corn bread."

General Cass' " History of France and its Kings and People" gives many interesting reminiscences of the views of the king. His history after this event is known as a monarch of France,-the " citizen king," as he was ealled for his mild and temperate reign.

John Konkle, with his family, came to Newtown Point from New Jersey, about the year 1788. He was a public- spirited man, and easily obtained the indorsement of the people for the place of postmaster, which he was the first to fill, as will be seen by the " History of the Post-Office Department," in another part of this work. The position was filled by the people in those days, and confirmed by the government.

Thomas M. Perry came to Newtown Point, about 1793, from Wilkesbarre, Pa., when in his seventeenth year. He had been indentured to Matthias Hollenback, of Wilkes- barre, Pa., and was sent up the Susquehanna River to this place with a stock of goods in what was called a " Durham boat," which was pushed up with poles, and it took many days to make the trip. Mr. Perry was so energetic and trustworthy that the charge of the goods and the expedition was intrusted to him. This was the first important stock of goods sent to this place, although Mr. Hollenback had had a trading-post here for bartering with the Indians. The old building in which this stock was kept was on the east side of High Street, near the Chemung River. Mr. Perry married the daughter of John Konkle. His sons, John K. and Thomas, are still living, and are respected by all who know them.

Guy Maxwell, a native of Ireland (born July 15, 1770), came to Elmira in August, 1796; he began the mercantile business. He was soon after appointed sheriff of Tioga County by Governor George Clinton, which office he held for a number of years, and was given a number of other positions of honor and trust. He died Feb. 14, 1814, less than forty-four years of age. Associated with Stephen Tuttle, he put up the first flouring-mill, near the junetion of Newtown Creek and the river, on the present site of the Arnot Mills. About that time he laid out his village-plat called Dewittsburg. Henry Wisner, who owned lot 196 of Dewitt's Patent, laid out another plat, which took the name of Wisnerburg. The dividing line of the two plats was a little west of Baldwin Street. These names were not much recognized, all the settlements going under the name of Newtown. His descendants have also played important parts, as will be seen elsewhere.

One of the early pioneers of Newtown was Major John Gregg. He was a native of Ireland, born in Enniskillen, June 6, 1768. His father, Andrew Gregg, with his wife, Esther Kerr, a native of Scotland, came to America in 1776. The eldest of his sons, William Gregg, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and about the year 1795 removed to French Creek, on the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania, and was there massacred in his harvest field by the Indians.

After landing in this country, Andrew Gregg, with his family, resided in Montgomery County until about the year 1780, when he removed to Northumberland Co., Pa.

John Gregg first eame to Newtown Point in 1794, as a boatman upon the Susquehanna. In 1796, with his wife, Mary Hannah, of Dauphin Co., Pa., and two children, he

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took up his permanent residence here, at what is known as the old Gregg homestead, in the now Fourth Ward of the city of Elmira. IIere his father and mother joined him in the year 1800, and continued to reside with him until their decease, in 1807. For twenty years, and until the office was made elective, John Gregg was a justice of the peace, hold- ing a commission as such under the Council of Appointment. In the discharge of his magisterial duties he was remark- able for integrity and firmness, and commanded the confi- dence and respect of all whose controversies came before him. As a military officer, he held commissions under Governors George Clinton, Morgan Lewis, and Daniel D. Tompkins. His last commission, as Major of the Seventy- Ninth Regiment, New York State Militia, was issued March 9, 1814. Of this regiment the late General Matthew Car- penter was lieutenant-colonel. Full of years, and respected by all elasses of his fellow-citizens, John Gregg died, Aug. 5, 1843. His remains, with those of his wife and his father and mother, have been removed, and now repose in Woodlawn Cemetery, in this city.

Andrew Kerr Gregg, son of John Gregg, was born in Elmira in 1799. In early life he entered the law-office of Matthews & Edwards, and completed his legal studies in the office of Judge Gray. IIe meanwhile was admitted to the bar of the Common Pleas, and about six years later, in 1830, was admitted as an attorney of the Supreme Court of the State of New York ; in 1835 as a solicitor and coun- selor of the Court of Chancery; in 1842 as an attorney, proctor, solicitor, counselor, and advocate of the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of New York ; in 1862 as an attorney and counselor of the same court for the district of Wisconsin. He was also ap- pointed district attorney of old Tioga County, holding the office for two terms, from 1835 to 1841. For more than thirty years he was in constant practice of the law, giving it up only a few days prior to his death, which occurred at Chippewa Falls, Wis., April 5, 1868.

Henry Wisner, the proprietor of the west end of the vil- lage, was a man of marked character, a member of the Con- tinental Congress, and voted for the Declaration of Inde- pendence, July 2, 1776. But on the next day he was summoned home to command a regiment in the field, and left before the declaration was engrossed, and consequently his name is not attached to that imperishable document. He was liberal in his public gifts, and that of a public square will live as an imperishable monument in the midst of future generations.

Among the early tradesmen were Homer Goldsborough, James Irwin, Michael Pfautz, Ephraim Heller, Robert Covell, Isaac Baldwin, John Cheny, John IIolleubach, Thomas Maxwell, Samuel II. Maxwell, and Isaac Rey- nolds. John Arnet came here and commenced business as a merchant in the winter and spring of 1819. Major Horatio Ross was another merchant marked for upright- ness in dealing. In 1807, Lyman Covell, one of the oldest landmarks living, came to Ehnira from Wilkesbarre. He rode up on horseback in company with the post-boy, who brought the mail once a week. - There were settlements or taverns at Tunkhannock, Wyalusing, Wysox, and Tioga Point. There were two taverns in Elmira, one kept by

John Davis, and the other by - Kline. The growth of the settlements had been very rapid ; nine years had trans- formed the wilderness into quite a busy mart; the settle- ment extended between what is now known as Lake and Sullivan Streets, along Water Street. The trade was mostly in wheat, pork, potash, and lumber. The lumber business became so extensive as to cause the building of the Che- mung Canal and feeder. The river was narrower and deeper in its ordinary channel ; boats, scows, and arks of heavier tonnage could then navigate where now they would ground. In 1807, also, there had settled here many families whose descendants are still among us,-the Millers, Loups, Bald- wins, Seeleys, Slys, James Robinson, Wisners, Matthews, Dr. Bancroft, Dr. Satterlee, Hammonds, Jenkins, and Squire Konkle, Dr. Hinehman, Dr. Scott, William Dunn, and Nathaniel W. Howell. Besides the mill built at Newtown Point, soon after the settlement had got under way, another was erected on the creek, just above IIon. A. S. Diven's place, by Tuthill, Maxwell & Perry, a few years later. About the same time a third was crected on Seeley Creek. The first and most extensive distillery built was that of James and Ebenezer Sayer, at Horseheads. The Sayers, Colonel Hendy, the Millers, and the Slys set out fruit-trees in the vicinity of Elmira, and their orchards were noted for their productions.

James Robinson ("Squire Robinson") came to the Southern Tier in 1809, and entered upon the practice of law. He was a fine scholar, warm and ardent in his at- tachments, and always the best friend of his client or com- rade, in whom he never recognized faults ; he was seasoned with real Attic salt, and was never happier than in a toast or repartee. He was public-spirited, and his newspaper articles remarkable for ability, and contributed to the suc- eess of every measure he advocated. A large share of his time was devoted to matters of public concern. He was a stirring politician in the Harrison campaign ; he had for- merly been a consistent Democrat, but the "log-cabin" excitement seduced him from his life-long adherency, and made him a zealous supporter of General Harrison. His opening speech at the dedication of the first log cabin in Elmira will not soon be forgotten.

For his patriotie exertions his memory well deserves to be cherished ; but he will be remembered much longer for the wit, humor, and eccentricity by which his career was distinguished. A friend who watched with him the night before his death relates that, on going to his residence for that purpose, he found him, as never before, apparently low- spirited. On inquiring the cause, he remarked, " I have been looking over my account for another world." On being asked what he found to disquiet him, he replied that the review reminded him of Garrick's remark on the result of an unproductive benefit, " that it was a beggarly account of empty boxes." On being more particularly questioned, he said that the log-cabin excitement of 1840 lay heavy upon his mind ; that he had always been a Democrat, " dyed in the wool," but that his love for hard cider and military glory had led him astray ; that his attendance at log cabins, singing puerile songs, was degrading to one of his years, and at that moment was a subject of peculiar annoyance and vexation.

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For his many services to the publie, to show the appre- eiation by the citizens, when the Chemung Canal-to the building of which he had devoted himself so zealously- was completed, their gratitude was expressed by donating to him a house and lot. This was situated in the north part of the village, near the banks of the eanal. He eon- tinued to reside there until he died.

There are many individuals whose names should appear in a full history of the first settlement of our country, and there are few more intimately associated with the pioneer settlement of the valley of the Chemung than John G. McDowell. He was born in Chemung, Feb. 7, 1794, and at the time of his deeease, Jan. 1, 1866, was nearly seventy- two. In early life he was a merchant, but his agricultural tastes led him to the farm which he continued to eultivate during the greater portion of his days. During the latter years of his life he lived in comparative seclusion, but for- querly he was a man of influence and distinction in this seetion of the State, and was considered among the princi- pal citizens of the old western jury district. Under the old constitution he was the eotemporary in politieal life with Martin Van Buren, Silas Wright, Governor Marey, and General John A. Dix, with all of whom he held inti- mate personal relations.

In every relation of life Judge MeDowell possessed the faculty of ereating strong personal friendships, and his greatest pride and pleasure was to ineet and give generous hospitality to the old pioneers. Those to whom he was best known were always his most warmly-attached friends. He had a good intelleet, good business eapacity, a genial and jovial heart ; was a man of strong eonvietions, fervent impulses, high-minded, generous, and truthful. Those who might hesitate to adopt his views could not but admire his honest devotion to his principles, and the earnest inflexibil- ity with which he maintained them.

Mention of many other pioneers will be found in another portion of the work.

Opposite the present residence of Miss Catharine Sly, on Ann Street, stood the first log house built in the Fifth Ward. It was erected in 1788 by her father, John Sly, who oeeupied it with his young wife (a Miss Polly Ham- mond, then only fifteen years of age), for a number of years. He was married some distance up the river, and his " bridal trip" was accomplished on horseback. Upon his arrival he immediately built the humble cottage in the wilderness ; and it was a humble cottage; not even a floor graced this primitive dwelling for some time. After living here a few years he cut the timber and built "the old homestead." Mr. Sly eame here from Delaware, Pike Co., Pa., when only twenty-four years of age. He witnessed the gradual transformation of the wilderness into the thriv- ing village, and rearcd his numerous family to manhood and active life.

About 1830 the present briek structure just southeast of the tannery (Fifth Ward) was erected, designed for a hotel. The inseription over the door has always been a poser to elassical students, Auster portus diversorum. The inseription was furnished by Ransom Birdsall, then editor of the old Republican newspaper. The explanation was that a mistake had been made in the termination of the last

word, which ought to be in ium, and henee the interpreta- tion, "South Port Hotel," but it is inelegant at best.

On Water Street, above Lake Street, was a long two- story wooden building occupied as stores. In one of them, at the east end, was located Frederick I. Burritt, an irre- sistible wag. This was a great rallying-place for kindred spirits, and many were the jokes playcd on the unsuspeet- ing. Countrymen especially were frequently sent there to go through what was ealled " Niagaraing." The sell was always eondueted by Burritt himself, who by a series of questioning would make eapital for the risibilities of his companions. The facial expression of Mr. Burritt was a study for the physiognomist or the painter. He was the originator and foster parent of the " Bush Seine" Company, a title the very essence of ludicrousness whenever men- tioned. It was a long time a great institution for Elmira. He died years ago, and is buried in the old cemetery.

AN OLD-TIME WEDDING.

The old Mansion House stood nearly opposite David H. Luthill's store. The Mansion House was a rambling, dis- jointed structure, used for a hotel, with a Masonie lodge- room in the upper story, rather a forbidding place. In 1827 the landlord was Judge Bundy. He was succeeded by his brother, named Smith. The great social and festive event in the history of the building was the wedding of "Tom Tallada,"-all right. The popularity of this individ- ual was such that there was but little distinction shown in inviting guests, and the attendance was consequently very large, and not exclusively fashionable. They assembled at an carly hour. The event was so notable that prominent citizens took the ceremonies in charge. The knot-tying, as stipulated, was to take place at twelve o'clock precisely, by John W. Wisner, Justice of the Peace, for which job Tom agreed to eut for him a cord of wood. The groom was habited in a long-tailed blue coat, with brass buttons. The eoat, though much too small, was worn because it was loaned to him by his friend, George Kingsbury, and was bound together by a red sash tied round the waist. The village barber, duly sworn, tenderly shaved one-half of his face, under his instruction from the master of ceremonies, and a benevolent individual unearthed a three-cornered chapeau, which Tom was instructed was imperative for him to wear during the actual performance of the ceremony. As early as six o'clock the guests began to arrive, and loug before the time appointed about all the men and boys of the town had congregated in front of the building. The whisky bottle was circulated freely, and Tom was plied with plenteous libations. By some mysterious accident his loving sweetheart spirited away. Tom was put on traek, with a proper escort for a successful pursuit and recapture. Finally at the precise hour and minute she was brought back, and the ceremony performed, and they were, with all judicial gravity, pronouneed " man and woman !" These words were the signal for the bride-kissing, which was done with the hcartiest and most resonant smacks. So ardent were the salutations that a grand rush was made, and the fair bride nearly smothered with congratulations.

The first shoemaker was John Wheeler Pedrick, who eame to Elmira in 1797. is grandson, Nathan Pedrick,

GENERAL WILLIAM R. JUDSON was born in the town of Butternuts, Otsego Co., N. Y., Oct. 25, 1810. His father, Silas B., was a lineal descendant of William Judson, who came from Stratford-on-Avon, England, and settled in Stratford, Conn., in the year 1634. . Ilis parents coming from Newtown, Conn., were early settlers of Otsego County, and in the year 1812 removed to the Chemung Valley, first settling on the memorable battle-ground of 1779, where Sullivan won his victory over Butler and Brant. They subsequently removed to Seeley Creek, where the father died in the year 1842, the mother dying three years previous. His father, Silas Burton Judson, prior to leaving Connecticut, was ensign of a company of militia, with com- mission dated 1793, and subsequently ranked as lieutenant, with com- inission dated 1794.

General Judson spent his boyhood days at home, and at the age of sixteen was apprenticed for a term of three years with Major L. J. Cooley, to learn the saddlery and harness trade ; at the close of which time, after serving one year as a journeyman, he purchased his stock and trade, and, with W. Merwin as a partner, continued the business until 1841, when he sold out his interest to Wm. Hoffman, Jr. In 1844 ho engaged in the lumber business, which he continued for some six years; and from then until the time of writing this sketch, 1878, he has been engaged in the purchase and sale of real estate in Elmira and the States of Michigan and Kansas, retaining his home at Elmira. From 1856 to 1866 he made twenty-one round trips from Elmira to · Kansas.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 66

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