USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 90
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 90
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 90
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 90
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One of the most prominent families of this valley from 42
the earliest settlement to the present time was the Baldwin family.
Isaac Baldwin, the elder, with a family of eight sons and three daughters came from Wyoming in 1787, and settled near the mouth of Baldwin Creek. Thomas, the second son, was a sergeant in the Continental service, and was wounded in the battle at Newtown. ITis son, Vine Bald- win, is elaimed to have been the first white male child born west of the Allegheny Mountains. Sons of Vine Bald- win are living in the following locations : Thomas, at Troy, Pa. ; Vine, at Wellsboro', Pa .; Robert C., in Chemung ; as does also Miles C., who is as well known a farmer as there is in the county.
Waterman, the third son of the elder Isaae, was a remarkable character. It is believed that he filled to the full his measure of usefulness during the war of the Revo- lution, in a capacity similar to that of Harvey Birch, whom Cooper has made immortal in the tale of the "Spy," and under the immediate eye of Washington himself. At least, " Watt," as he was called, prided himself as one whom Washington had trusted. He possessed a silver-mounted saddle, which had been given to him by the officers of the army, and a horse called " Roanoke," which performed some feats that were wonderful. " Watt" was also an adopted son of the famous Indian chief Cornplanter, who had been struck by his bravery and coolness shown under discourag- ing circumstances. He did not take very kindly to the ways of civilization, preferring life on the mountains and in the woods. Innumerable incidents of a striking and humorous character are told of him, few of which have ever seen the light. He was taken prisoner by the Indians three times. It is related that when the surveying-party were running out the line between this State and the State of Pennsylvania one of their number was killed by an Indian. The tribe to which the murderer belonged were induced, by threats or otherwise, to surrender him to the whites. A meeting of the settlers was called, and after an investigation it was determined to send him to Niagara, and the hat was passed to raise money to defray expenses, etc. Fourteen cents was the amount collected. Waterman, Baldwin, and another were detailed as the party to take him in charge. They started out one morning early, and returned the same day. At the present time, a trip to Buffalo and return in the same day would be no unusual thing. Is it to be presumed that Baldwin and his com- panion accomplished the journey as quickly ?
INITIAL EVENTS.
Major Wm. Wynkoop built the first framed house, the boards and timbers for which being sawed out by a whip- saw; he also built the first grist-mill. Asa Parshall erected the first brick house, in the year 1829. Elijah Buck, Wm. Wynkoop, and Daniel McDowell cleared and opened the first farms. Wm. Wynkrop kept the first tavern, 1788. A man by the name of "cater was the first to carry the mail through the valley. Ile made the trip once a week. Stephen B. Leonard owned the first stage-line, and Joseph Batterson was one of the first drivers. The post-office was established about 1810, and Elijah Buck was the first post- master. Samuel Walker was the first school-teacher. He
330
IIISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,
was killed afterwards by the Indians. Master Cooper also taught school at a very early day, in Israel Parshall's weav- ing-room. The first church cdifice erected was that of the Methodists, near Wynkoop's Creek, built 1838. The first religions society was formed by the Baptists, in 1789, Rev. Roswell Goff being the leader. Guy Maxwell (a young surveyor) and Eleanor Van Steinberg, a step-daughter of Major Wynkoop, were the first couple married. It is re- lated that young Maxwell engaged the services of a justice of the peace living at Tioga Point. The justice on his arrival found that he was outside of his jurisdiction, where- upon the large party then assembled at Major Wynkoop's adjourned to the field near the 63d mile-stone, and erossing the imaginary line dividing the States of Pennsylvania and New York, the happy pair were made one.
The first birth recorded is that of Morris Catlin, son of Israel and Ditha Catlin.
The first death was that of William Bosworth, from Connectieut. He was an uncle of Elijah Buek, and died 1790. Dr. Hovey Everitt was the first physician to settle in the town,-previously the people had been attended by Drs. Hopkins and Spring, from Tioga Point. Moses De Witt was the first surveyor, and ran out all the lots for the first settlers.
Nathaniel Goodspeed was the first commissioner of high- ways, in 1788. Elijah Buck kept the first store. Asahel Buck, his son, was the first lawyer.
CIVIL HISTORY.
Chemung was formed March 22, 1788, as a town of Montgomery County, and comprised within its limits all the territory described and bounded as follows :
" Beginning at the intersection of the partition line be- tween this State and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Pennsylvania line, and running from said point of intersection due north along said partition line to the dis- tance of two miles north of Tioga River; thence with a straight line to the Owego River, to intersect said river at the distance of four miles on a straight line from the con- fluenee thereof with the Susquehanna; thenee down the Owego and Susquehanna to the Pennsylvania line; and thence along the same to the place of beginning."
In 1791, on the ereetion of Tioga County, the town boundaries were changed, being limited to the Cayuta Creek on the cast, and extended northward to the north bounds of the county,-the same then being identical with the north line of the present town of Hector, in Schuyler County.
The town of Elmira, as Newtown, was taken off April 10, 1792 ; Erin, March 29, 1822 ; Baldwin, April 7, 1856 ; and a part of Ashland, April 25, 1867. The town derived its name from the river Chemung,* an Indian word signi- fying Big-horn.
The town records for the years 1788, 1789, and 1790 have been lost, except a list of persons (innkeepers) to whom a license was granted for the sale of strong and spirituous liquors, which list will appear in another place.
TOWN-MEETING, 1791.
Proceedings of a town-meeting held at the house of George Hornell, in Chemung, April 5, 1791:
" Pursuant to a law of the Legislature of the State of New York, Entitled an act for the dividing of the county of Montgomery, passed the sixteenth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one." Mr. Daniel Me- Dowell, late town clerk, having advertised a town-meeting agreeably to the above-mentioned aet, Esquires Brinton Paine, Bezaleel Scely, and John Miller, Inspectors, met agreeably to the advertisement, and the following-named gentlemen were chosen town officers :
Abner Kelsy, Supervisor ; John Kunkle, Town Clerk ; Brinton Paine, Bezaleel Seely, and Lebius Hammond, t Commissioners of Highways ; Conrad Smith, Jr., Constable and Collector ; Christian Loop, John Parkhurst, Daniel De Witt, and James Cameron, Constables ; Joseph Hinchman, Phineas Catlin, and Caleb Baker, Assessors; Abraham Miller, Esq., William Jenkins, Samuel Seely, Thomas Keeney, Elijah Buck, Esq., Thomas Baldwin, Brinton Paine, Esq., Cornelius Lowe, and Caleb Gardner, Fence- Viewers ; David Burt, Thomas Baldwin, and Wm. Jenkins,. Pound-Keepers.
Overseers of Highways, Epenetus Owens, First Distriet ; Elijah Drake, Second Distriet ; Thomas Baldwin, Third Distriet ; Joshua Carpenter, Fourth District; Phineas Catlin, Fifth Distriet; Thomas Handy, Sixth Distriet; and Elisha Brown, " Big Flat" District. Overseers on the south side of the river Tioga (Chemung), Thomas Keeney, First District ; Abler Kelsy, Second District ; Wm. Jen- kins, Third Distriet ; and Abner Hatfield, on Seely's Creek.
The following is a list of those holding the offices of Supervisor, Town Clerk, and Justice of the Peace from 1791 to 1878, inclusive :
SUPERVISORS.
1791-92. Abner Kelsey. 1841-42. Alonzo I. Wynkoop.
1793-94. Daniel McDowell. 1843-44. Daniel D. MeDowell.
1795-96. Elijah Buck. 1845-47. George H. Buck.
1797-1803. Enoch Warren. 1848. Daniel F. Pickering.
1804-9. Jacob Lowman.
1849. George Lowman.
1810. Thomas Floyd. 1850. James M. Baldwin.
1811. Benjamin Wynkoop. 1851. George W. Buck.
1812. Thomas Floyd. 1852-53. William H. Little.
1813. Jacob Lowman.
1854. I. B. Clark.
1814-16. Benjamin Wynkoop.
1855. William Collson.
1856-58. George W. Buck.
1817. Thomas Floyd.
1818-29. Asahel Buck.
1859-60. Robert C. Wilson.
1830-31. Isaac Shepard.
1861-63. George W. Buck.
1832-33. Ninolia T. Wynkoop.
1864. Robert C. Wilson.
1834-35. Alpheus H. Tozer.
1865-69. George W. Buck.
1836. Isaac Shepard.
1870-71. Robert C. Wilson.
1837-38. John G. McDowell.
1872. Gordon Snell.
1839. Harry N. Floyd.
1873-76. John G. Lowman.
1840. John G. McDowell.
1877-78. Ulysses W. De Witt.
TOWN CLERKS.
1790. Daniel McDowell.
1803. Elijah Buck.
1791-92. John Konkle.
1804-6. Joseph Green.
1793-98. John Kress.
1807-10. Elijah Buck.
1799-1800. Daniel McDowell. 1811-12. Jacob Kress.
1801-2. John Kress.
1813-19. Elijah Buck.
+ Mr. Hammoud was the only person that made his escape, of four- teen that were set down in a circle to be killed by Queen Esther, after the great defeat at Wyoming.
# Sce Chapter XXXVI., " Civil History Chemung County."
331
AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
MARCU, 17SS.
TOWN OF CHEMUNG, To SAMUEL TUBBS, DR.
To twenty-two days spent in his office laying out roads £ 8. d. in this town, at the rate and allowance of the State laws for such service per day, Gs. 6 12
At a town-meeting held April 3, 1792, it was voted unanimously that forty shillings be paid by the town for every wolf killed within its limits. To be paid in grain.
The following description of the bounds and limits of the several road districts in the town of Chemung in 1791 is copied verbatim.
" 1st Dist. Begins at the town line ealled Kyuta, or Shep- ard's Mill Creek, and extends to William Wynkoop's Mill Creek. 2d Dist. Begins in the middle of Mr. Wynkoop's Mill Creek, and extends to Mr. Isaae Baldwin's Mill Creek, on the middle of the bridge. 3d Dist. Begins on the mid- dle of the bridge at Mr. Isaae Baldwin's Mill Creek, and extends from thence to the middle of the bridge at New- town Point. 4th Dist. Begins on the middle of the bridge at Newtown Point, and extends from thenee northwardly to the old town line, and westerly to Abisha Marks' Ferry, including cross-roads, etc. 5th Dist. Begins at the said ferry, and extends to the middle of Mr. Thomas Hendy's Narrows. 6th Dist. Begins at the middle of Hendy's Narrows, and extends from thence to the Massachusetts Pre-emption line. 7th Dist. Begins at the old town line, and extends to Catherine's Town and Seneca Lake. Dis- tricts south of the River Tyoga .- 1st Dist. Begins at West- brook's Ferry, and extends to the middle of the Narrows. 2d Dist. Begins at the middle of the Narrows, from thence extending to the middle of Mr. Culver's bridge. 3d Dist. Begins at the middle of Culver's bridge, and extends from thence to Marks' Ferry. 4th Dist. Begins near the grave- yard, and extends from thence west thro' to the Inhab- itants on Seely's Creek."
The following quaint records are from the book kept by the Overseer of the Poor, and are copied verbatim :
THE FIRST TRAMP.
A complaint com to me against Abrou jonson as a straglin fellow on April the 9th, 1798. he, hearin the news, went ameaditly. THos. KEENEY, Overseer of the Poor.
AN IXGODLY MAN. Dee. the 28th, 1798. Received of Elias Meadow six Shillings for breach of the Sabath by the hand of E-qur. Buek. THOS. KEENEY, Overseer of the Poor.
The town of Chemung. To Thos. Keeney, Dr.
To looking plases and riting up too pair of indenters for binding out too of Mitchel bennits children as apprin- £ «. d.
tices 0 19 0
ANOTHER TRAMP. MARCH THE 12TH, A.D. 1799.
The town of Chemung, to Thos. Keeney. Deter.
To one day and a half going down to John Shepards to warn the widow Moss out of this town, and finding that she was not a resident hear. I warned her out. $1 00
The following is a copy of an assessment-roll of the real and personal estate in the town of Chemung and county of
1820. John G. MeDowell. 1821. Benjamin Wynkoop. 1822-25. John G. MeDowell. 1826-27. Benjamin Wynkoop. 1828. William Foulke. 1829. Joseph Foulke. 1830. Benjamin Wynkoop. 1831-32. Harry N. Floyd. 1833. Jacob Snell.
1834. William Seaward.
1835-38. Ninolia T. Wynkoop. 1839-43. Oliver D. Boyd.
1844. John Pickering.
1845. Daniel F. Pickering.
1870-72. Ulysses W. De Witt.
1846. William Lowman. 1847-48. Wilson Gamage.
1873. William C. Buek.
1874-78. Martin Wood.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1791. Brinton Paine.
1853. James F. Jones.
Bezaleel Seeley.
1854. George W. Roberts.
John Miller.
1855. Asahel Buek.
1793. Elijah Buek.
Robert Cassidy.
1830. William Mckinstry.
1832. Jacob Batterson.
Milo Smith. 1833. Sabin Hateh. Phineas Squires.
1834. Ninolia T. Wynkoop. M. Griswold.
George P'. West.
1835. George Landis. Levi Little.
1862. Noble Weller.
1836. Isaae M. Griswokl. Milo Smith.
1863. Noble Weller.
1864. Daniel Cornwell.
1837. Ninolia T. Wynkoop. Martin Lowman. Joseph K. Coleman.
1865. Simon B. Lathrop. John A. Carey.
1838. M. Griswold. William Guthrie.
1866. Andrus Gere.
1867. Noble Weller.
1839. Anthony Collson.
1840. William Guthrie.
1841. John Benedict.
1842. Miramin Griswold.
1869. Thomas B. Manyon.
1843. William MeComber.
1870. James F. Harlow.
1844. William Guthrie.
1871. Gordon Snell.
1872. Andrus Gere. A. D. Carey.
1873. John A. Carey.
1874. Mason Harrington.
1848. Gersham HI. Guthrie.
1875. George Deeker.
1876. George W. Drake.
1849. Elijah Kress. Asa Parshall.
Phineas S. Roberts.
1850. George W. Roberts.
1877. Noble Weller.
1851. Noble Weller.
1878. Andrus Gere.
1852. Zachariah Tarble. Elijah Smith.
The names of innkeepers retailing liquors with lieense, by the payment of £2 each, for the year 1788, are as fol- lows : William Wynkoop, Joel Thomas, Anthony Rummer- field, Ezekiel Brown.
The following were innkeepers and retail liquor dealers, licensed by the payment of £2 each, for the year 1789 : Jacob Shinneberg, Christian Loop, Joseph Hinchman, William Wynkoop, Moses Brown. In 1790 there were licensed for the same purpose, by the payment of £2 each, Joel Thomas, John Konkle, Messrs. Dunn & Hornell, Isaae Baldwin, Ezra Patterson, and John Love.
Ashkenaz Shappee is permitted to keep a ferry and retail strong and spirituous liquors, not to be drank in his own house, by the payment of £2.
1850-54. Henry Baker.
1855. Wilson Gamage. 1856. Harris Peek.# Asahel Buek.
1857. Elias B. Doolittle. 1858-59. Andrus Gere. 1860. Elias B. Doolittle.
1861-63. C. C. MeKinny. 1864. Allen W. Smith. 1865. James M. Sawyer. 1866. Charles Ruggles. 1867-68. John H. Oreutt. 1869. James M. Sawyer.
1856. George P. West. Gordon Snell. 1856-57. Noble Weller.
1 1858. Gordon Snell.
1859. M. S. Robbins.
1860. D. D. Harnden.
1861. Andrus Gere.
Gordon Snell.
Albert P. Maxwell.
1868. John A. Carey. John Benedict.
1845. John Kent.
1846. Belden Burt.
1847. William Lowman. Wells Newton.
A WORK OF LABOR.
$ Resigned.
1849. Noble Weller.
332
HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,
Tioga, made the 10th day of December, 1799, according to the directions of the statute entitled " An Act for the As- sessment and Collection of Taxes." Assessment made by John Kress, Thomas Keeney, and Elijah Buck, assessors of the town of Chemung :
Name and Description.
Value of Real Estate.
Value of Per- sonal Estate.
Elijah Buck, house and farm.
$2,282.00
$305.00
Daniel McDowell, house and farm ...
2,417.00
257.00
Thomas Burt, house and farm
2,728.00
118.00
Benjamin Wynkoop, house and farmn.
1,983.00
66.00
Johnson Miller, house and lot ..
363.00
30.00
Jacob Lowman, house and farm.
187.00
128.00
Uriah Wilson, house and farm.
340.00
186.00
Josiah Pierce, house and farm ..
470.00
78.00
Franz. Snekenberger, house and lot
153.00
90.00
Adam Hart, house and lot ..
89.00
76.00
Joseph Drake, house and lot
17.00
52.00
William Sisco.
30.00
John Daily
George Hill
Joseph Bennett, house and farm.
1,190.00
40.00
John Budd, house and farm
212.00
70.00
Simon Simonson
347.00
86.00
Thomas Wilson, house and lot.
70.00
50.00
Jonathan Wilson
40.00
Abial Fry, house and farm.
862.00
124.00
Thomas Kecney, house and farm.
95.00
184.00
Kinney Burnham, house and farm.
620.00
16.00
John Ifillman, house and farm
570.00
40.00
David Burt, house and lot.
1,164.00
80.00
Justus Bennett, house and farm
1,130.00
117.00
Joseph Green.
14.00
Ebenezer Green, house and farm.
1,065.00
94.00
John Squires, house and farm ...
1,789.00
98.00
Abijalı Batterson, house and farm.
1,695.00
89.00
John Squires, Jr
40.00
D. Vancamp
B. Burt, honse and farm.
1,698.00
$6.00
B. IFulss ..
30.00
Samuel Kress, house and lot
1,802.00
48.00
John Westbrook
1,490.00
127.00
Elias Medaugh, honse and farm.
626.00
154.00
V. Medaugh,
15.00
Jacob Slingman
18.00
C. Hart, house and lot.
135.00
76.00
Asahel Burnham, house and lot.
314.00
40.00
Abraham Bennett
15,00
Jacob Decker
10.00
Isaac Rawson
12.00
Silas Baldwin.
4.00
Waterman Baldwin, honse and farm.
1,032.00
91.00
Moses Depue, house and farm.
1,871.00
119.00
Jacob Kress
50.00
James Wilson, house and farmu
2,079.00
46.00
Abraham Brewer, house and farm.
603.00
88.00
Gideon Griswold, house and farmn.
372.00
162.00
Jonathan Griswold, house and farm
553.00
109.00
Elisha Griswold, honse and farm.
525.00
146.00
Robert Cassady, house and farm.
300.00
87.00
Zachariah Van Wye, bouse and farm.
150.00
56.00
Cornelius Kress, bouse and farm.
705.00
18.00
George Kress.
34.00
Ebenezer Kress.
24.00
Enoch Warren, house and farm.
895.00
150.00
Enoch Warren, Jr., house and farm
1,542.00
146.00
Israel Parshall, house and farm.
1,252.00
132.00
Thomas Keeney, Jr.
12.00
Asa Parshall
26.00
Samuel Beidelman, house and farm
1.712.00
44.00
Ephraim Bennett
30.00
E. Brewer.
20.00
Jacob Gray
12,00
John Kress.
10.00
J. Thomas, land. ..
17,541.00
Samuel Hepburn, land ..
409.00
A. Wells, land.
85.00
VILLAGES.
CHEMUNG VILLAGE,
lying near the southern border of the town, east of the centre, is pleasantly located on a plain which rises to the height of about twenty feet above the bottom-lands of the Chemung River. It is built upon the land owned orig-
inally by Daniel McDowell and Elijah Buck. Years ago it was known as Buckville. It is a station on the Erie Railway, and contains two churches (Methodist and Bap- tist), one school-house, two hotels, three stores, two black- smith-shops, two shoe-shops, one harness-shop, two wagon- shops, one cabinet-shop, one meat-market, a post-office, about forty dwelling-houses, and two hundred inhabitants.
CHEMUNG CENTRE,
on Wynkoop's Creek, near the northwest corner of the town, has one store, one saw-mill, one blacksmith-shop, a post-office, and about thirty inhabitants.
OWEN'S MILLS,
a hamlet on Mallory Creek, northeast of the centre of the town, contains one store, one saw-mill, one cooper-shop, a post-office, and about twenty-five inhabitants.
SCHOOLS.
From the report of the school commissioners of the county of Chemung for the year ending Sept. 30, 1877, we take the following :
The town is divided into 17 districts, and has 15 frame school-houses, valued, with their sites, at $6890. 748 children of the school age reside in the town, of whom 601 were pupils of the public schools, which were in session 486 weeks during the year, and were taught by 9 male and 19 female teachers. 677 volumes were in the libraries, valued at $273. The income of the school treasury was as follows : Balance on hand September, 1876, $190.30; received from the State, $1746.48; received from taxes, $1560.45; received from other sources, $751.80 ; total income, $4249.03. Paid teachers' wages, $3612.96 ; other expenses, $524.89; total disbursements, $4137.85. Appropriation from the State for 1878, $1829.60.
CHURCHES.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF CHIEMUNG
was formed during a revival in the year 1819. The original society numbered about 30 members, among whom were Jerry Holland and his wife, James Ribble and his wife, Epenetus Owens and his wife, Philip McConnell and his wife, Joseph Swain and his wife, William Kellogg and his wife, Stephen Vanderlip and his wife, Nancy Floyd, Katie Floyd, Julia Wynkoop, Betsy Swain, and Treadway Kel- logg. The first meeting was held in the school-house near Wynkoop's Creek. Rev. Horace Agard was the first pre- siding elder, and Rev. Sophronus Stocking one of the first circuit preachers. Rev. William H. Pearne was the first resident pastor. The society continued to hold its meetings in the school-house until the year 1838, when they built a small church a few rods east of Wynkoop's Creek, which was occupied until 1849, when the Erie Railway Company bought them out, and the society proceeded to the erection of a church in Chemung village. It was completed in 1850, at a cost of $1500, and has sittings for 450 persons. The society numbers at the present time 130, and the Sun- day-school classes 85. Martin Wood, Superintendent of Sunday-schools ; Rev. I. B. Hyde is the present pastor.
Samuel Vangorden, house and farm 765.00
68.00
34.00
Joseph Van Wye.
336.00
Samuel Westbrook, honse and farm.
60.00
Jane Cortright, house and lot.
50.00
30.00
4,00
PHOTO. BY J. E LARKIN.
THE OLD M
NELSON WARREN
RESIDENCE OF NELSON WARRI
OSITE.
PHOTO. PY ./ E. GARKIN.
JERUSHA S.WARREN.
ING, CHEMUNG COUNTY, N. Y.
LITH BY | NEVER'S PHILADA.
333
AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHEMUNG
was organized at Dry Brook, Feb. 3, 1855. Previous to that time they were a branch of the Factoryville Church, and had built a small church edifice at Dry Brook about 1848. The society, upon its organizing as an independent body, was composed of 73 members, among whom were Phineas Rogers, Reuben R. Tooker, Stephen Vanderlip, William H. Bassett, William F. Rogers, Zelotus G. Car- penter, Samuel H. Rumsey, Stephen Hoover, Hawley B. Rogers, John HI. Hicks, Samuel Corey, Abraham HI. Knight, C. D. Hill, Ruth Rogers, Hulda Bowling, Emma M. Knight, Phebe H. Bennett, Mary A. Saunders, and 55 others. The society continued to occupy the church at Dry Brook until 1870, when the present church of the society, located in Chemung village, was completed, at a eost of $5000. It will seat 400 people. Rev. J. M. Coley was the first pastor. The society has a membership of 60 in number at the present, and 40 pupils in Sunday- school, of which A. H. Knight is Superintendent. Their present pastor is Rev. William H. Garnett.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The Erie Railway, which was completed to this point in 1849, enters the town at the southeast corner, and, follow- ing the course of the Chemung Valley, passes Chemung village (which is a station), and leaves the town south of the centre, on the west border.
SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
By an act of the Legislature, passed May 4, 1869, and amended May 14, 1875, authorizing the construction and maintenance of a free bridge over the Chemung River, in the town of Chemung, Mijamin Griswold, Jesse Owens, and Henry Baker, of the town of Chemung, were appointed bridge commissioners to locate and construet a bridge, at a cost not exceeding $18,000, and to issue bonds which should be binding on the town. The commissioners, after filing bonds in the penalty of $25,000, went forward and constructed the present beautiful structure, which is situ- ated about one mile southwest of the village of Chemung.
It is of great convenience and importance to citizens of the town living south of the river, as well as to those resi- dents of the United States who live in Johnny Cake, Pa.
SOCIETIES.
The Chemung Valley Lodge, No. 330, F. and A. M., was chartered June 8, 1855, and organized with the fol- lowing officers : Asahel Buek, Master ; Henry Baker, Senior Warden ; William Guthrie, Junior Warden. The present officers are E. Gere, Master; George W. Drake, Senior Warden ; Fletcher Snell, Junior Warden ; James Marvin, Treas. ; Wilson Ruggles, See. Regular commu- nications are held in Masonic Hall, Chemung.
Chemung Grange, No. 204, was instituted May, 1874, with 40 members and the following officers : Joshua S. Holbert, Master ; Miles C. Baldwin, Overseer ; Peter Ben- nett, Lecturer ; Willard Doolittle, Treas. ; M. C. Gardner, Chaplain ; John M. Crispin, See. The present officers are Joshua S. Holbert, Master ; Miles C. Baldwin, Overseer ; William Holbert, Lecturer; Willard Doolittle, Treas .;
Joseph Joslin, Chaplain ; John M. Crispin, See. The grange numbers 106 members at the present, and meets every alternate Friday in Grange Hall, Chemung.
MILITARY.
The part taken by the old town of Chemung during the war of the Rebellion was a grand and noble one, such as we should expect from the descendants of her Revolution- ary pioneers. She responded promptly to every call of the general government for volunteers, and was represented on nearly every battle-field in Virginia. Others of her sons marched with General Sherman to the sea.
The town paid in bounties to soldiers $39,145, and in expenses relating to the same $1760, making a total of $40,905. It was reimbursed by the State to the amount of $12,900; the full amount expended being $28,005.
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