USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 92
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 92
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 92
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 92
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1
GARRET M. HOLLENBECK.
MRS. G. M. HOLLENBECK.
GARRET M. HOLLENBECK.
The subject of this sketch is of German origin ; his ancestors settled at or near Albany previous to the Revolutionary war. He is the son of John and Maria Hollenbeck, and was born in Erin, Chenango Co., N. Y., Sept. 13, 1820. His father was a native of Albany Co., N. Y., and removed to Chenango County in 1818 or 1819, and settled some four miles west of where his son, Garret M., now resides.
John Hollenbeck reared a family of seven chil- dren, five of whom are now living. He died May 16, 1853. His occupation through life was that of a farmer. His wife (Maria) died some three or four years previous to 1853.
Garret M. Hollenbeck has always been a very
successful farmer, and stands to-day among the most highly respected citizens of Erin.
He was married to Mary Woolever, of Dryden, Tompkins Co., N. Y., March 18, 1843. She was born Feb. 28, 1822. By this happy imnion seven children were born, viz .: Chauncey; Mary A. and Charles, both dead (Charles died in Washington, while serving his country during the Rebellion); John J., Electa, Martha, and Wallace.
Mr. Hollenbeck settled on his present farm in 1845. In politics, a staneh Republican. He has been assessor for six years and supervisor for two years. He is a strong temperance man. He is ever alive to the best interests of society.
337
AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
1841-43. Thomas N. Andrus. 1844-45. John Hoag.
1846. Daniel Long.
1847-50. Jason P. Woolever.
1851-52. John A. McKey.
1853-54. Samuel Roberts.
1872. Charles Baker.
1854. John A. MeKey (v.).
1873. Garret M. Ilollenbeck. 1874-75. Albert H. MeDowell.
1876-77. J. J. Park. 1878. John G. Cowan.
TOWN CLERKS.
1822-24. Ardon Austin.
1852-54. Charles Baker.
1825. Thomas Baldwin.
1855. Jason Frost.
1826-29. Robert Stewart.
1856-58. John Cay wood.
1830. James V. Baker.
1859. Peter Blauvelt.
1831. Robert Stewart.
1860-61. A. II. McDowell.
1832-37. Daniel Vaughn.
1862-66. Alvah B. Rosenkrans.
1838. Ardon Austin.
1867-69. Charles Baker.
1839-40. Isaac Saunders.
1870-71. Jaines Dibhle.
1841-42. Peter McKey.
1872-73. Sidney L. Dibble.
1843-44. James McMillan.
1874-77. Giles Hallenbeck.
1845-48. Zephaniah Richmond.
1878. A. H. Van Gorder.
1849-51. Alexander 11. Park.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1822-25. Harmon Sawyer.
Green M. Tuthill.
1826-29. Daniel Vaughn.
Ardon Austin.
1830. Charles Chapman.
1831. Ardon Austin.
1856. Charles Baker.
1857. Ardon Austin.
1858. Charles H. Lewis.
1859. Philip Thomas.
1860. Peter Blauvelt.
1861. Alexander 1I. Park.
1862. John F. Hillaker.
1837. Charles Chapman.
Samuel G. Stage.
1863. Albert II. McDowell.
1838. John A. McKey.
1864. Amasa R. Herrington,
1839. Ardon Austin. Philip Thomas.
1865. William Chapman. 1866. Charles 11. Lewis.
1840. Peter Blauvelt. 1841. M. Everitt.
1867. Albert H. McDowell.
1842. Joshua Baker.
1843. Jacob Banfield.
1844. Peter Blauvelt.
1845. Jeremiah Rumsey. Samuel Roberts.
1871. A. 1I. MeDowell.
1872. Peter Blauvelt.
1873. William Chapman.
1846. Joshua Baker. Allen C. Lott.
1847. Samuel Roberts.
1848. Peter Blauvelt.
1849. Zephaniah Richmond.
1876. Amasa R. Herrington. John F. llillaker.
1851. Samuel Roberts.
1877. Alexander Shoemaker.
1878. Joshua Stevens.
The following list of persons assessed for highway labor, 1823, is interesting and valuable, because it shows the name of every resident of the town of Erin, at that date, over twenty-one years of age.
District No. 1 .- Joseph Bennett, Silas Valentine, Zach- ariah Valentine, John McMillan, Isaac Van Tile, Joseph Mills, John Hartgrove, Levi Deeker, James Decker, Henry Decker, Benjamin Smith, William Smith, James McMillan, George R. McMillan, James MeMillan, Jr., Robert Stew- art, William D. Stewart, John Burrows, John Cooper, Jer- emiah Barnes, Isaac Shoemaker, Elijah Shoemaker.
Distriet No. 2 .- Robert Park, Alexander Park, David Park, Jacob C. Swartwood.
District No. 3 .- James Boyer, Israel Boyer, Isaac Brown, William Brown, Silas Brown, Joseph Frost, Daniel Vaughn, Samuel Vaughu, Elihu Everitt, Andrew H. Everitt, Cor- nelius Westbrook, Ardon Austin, John B. Andrews, James Vaughn, Jeremiah Jareds.
District No. 4 .- Robert McDoel, William Hoyt, Daniel Decker, Varuum McDoel, Thomas McDoel, Francis Ban- field, Michael Robinson, Joshua Clark.
District No. 5 .- Thomas Baldwin, John Boyer, James Elya, Oliver Elya, John Hollenbeck, Anthony Hollenbeck, Henry Hollenbeck, James Hollenbeck, Abraham Elston, Philip Thomas.
Distriet No. 6 .- James Van Houter, Thomas S. Van Houter, John Banfield, Daniel Curtis, Gabriel Curtis, David Jackson, William Groom.
District No. 7 .- John W. Watkins, Lewis Catlin, Jolm Elston, Nathaniel Campbell.
District No. 8 .- Mathew N. Norris, Richard Walker, Jared Patehen, Ephraim Bennett, Daniel D. Bennett, Jed- ediah Bennett, Caleb Curtis, Daniel Howell, Elias Billing- ton, James Bishop, Henry Clear, Morris Dean, John Wal- ker.
District No. 9 .- Charles Chapman, Herman Sawyer, Horace Sawyer, Smith Pareil, Nicholas Pareil.
District No. 10 .- Eli Summers, Ira Simmons, Julins Simmons.
District No. 11 .- Abraham Shoemaker, Daniel Swart- wood, Isaac Shoemaker, Abraham Swartwood, David Swart- wood, Jonah Osborne, Joseph McIntyre, William McIntyre.
Distriet No. 12 .- Brewster Goldsmith, Thomas Lewis, Christopher Hedges, Christopher Hedges, Jr., Farrel Hedges.
District No. 13 .- John Tuthill, John Tuthill, Jr., Green M. Tuthill, Allen Hurlbut, David Herrington, Ran- som L. Wade.
Distriet No. 14 .- Alexander MeKey, John A. McKey. Total number, 111.
Of the persons named on this list, Cornelius Westbrook, Varnum MeDoel, John Boyer, James Hollenbeck, Philip Thomas, John Elston, Mathew N. Norris, William Me Intire, and Brewster Goldsmith are the only survivors. "
In 1827 there were but three framed houses in town, owned respectively by Ardon Austin, Thomas Baker, and Robert MeDoel, while Thomas Baker, John Banfield, Charles Chapman, George Humphrey, and Mathew N. Norris owned frame barns, and George and Cornelins Humphrey a saw-mill. All other buildings were of logs.
VILLAGES. ERIN VILLAGE,
a station on the Utica, Ithaca and Elmira Railroad, is sit- uated on Newtown Creek, in the central part of the town. It contains two churches ( Methodist Episcopal and Baptist), one store of general merchandise, one grocery-store, one tavern, one steam saw-mill, three blacksmith-shops, two wagon-shops, two shoe-shops, one district school, about forty dwelling-houses, and two hundred inhabitants.
The village is of recent growth. Its building-up and
43
1853. Jason P. Woolever.
1854. Cornelius Hammond. Franeis Beveridge.
1855. Johnson Hawley. William Chapman.
1832-33. William D. Stewart. John White.
1834. Hiram Tuthill.
1835-36. Ardon Austin.
Philip Thomas.
1868. Amasa R. Herrington.
1869. William Chapman.
1870. John F. Ilillaker. Peter Blauvelt.
1874. John F. Ilillaker. William Kendall. 1875. Albert II. McDowell.
1850. C. C. Humphrey.
1852. Peter Blauvelt, J. B. Moore.
1860-61. lliram Tuthill.
1862-65. Alexander II. Park.
1866-67. Hiram Tuthill.
1868-69. William Chapman. 1870-71. Charles II. Lewis.
1855-56. Ardon Austin.
1857-58. Jason P. Woolever.
1859. Garret M. Hollenbeck.
338
HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,
prosperity began with the establishment of Mr. James H. Rodbourn's mill,* in 1868, assisted by the completion of the railroad in 1874.
It occupies the land owned originally by Alexander Mc- Key and Jeremiah Barnes.
PARK'S,
in the northeast part, is a post-office station on the line of the Utica, Ithaca and Elmira Railroad.
HERRINGTON'S CORNERS
is a post-offiee station in the southern part of the town.
SCHOOLS.
In a report made to the State Superintendent of Com- mon Schools, State of New York, by John Tuthill and Wm. D. Stewart, Commissioners of Common Schools for the town of Erin, dated July 4, 1823, they reported three school districts in the town. District No. 1 contained 33 children of school age, and school had been taught three months during the year, for which $13.40 had been paid as teachers' wages. District No. 2 contained 51 children of school age; school had been taught three months during the year, for which $20.71 had been paid as teachers' wages. Distriet No. 3 had 41 children of school age ; school had been taught three months, for which $16,66 had been paid as teachers' wages; and they concluded their report as follows :
" And we, the said commissioners, do further report that the whole amount of money received by us for the use of common schools during the year ending on the date of this report, and since the date of the last report for our town, is $50.77, of which sum the State paid $25.77 and the town $25.00. That the said sum of money has been expended in paying the wages of teachers qualified aeeording to law. That the school-books most in use are the Holy Scriptures, English Reader, Daboll's and Pike's arithmeties, Webster's and Cobb's spelling-books."
In contrast with the foregoing we take the following from the report of the school commissioner, county of Chemung, for the year ending Sept. 30, 1877 :
The town has 13 distriets and 12 frame school-houses, the latter valued, with their sites, at $4675. Five hundred and seventeen children of the school age reside in the town, of whom 473 attended the public schools during the year. They were taught by 8 male and 19 female teachers, who were paid $2371.58 for their services. Three hundred and fifty-two volumes in the libraries, valued at $76. The in- come of the school treasury was $1299.05 from the State, $968.05 from taxes, $496.55 from other sourees; total, with balance on hand Sept. 1, 1876, $2841.11. The total expenses, aside from teachers' wages, amounted to $378.85. The State appropriation for 1878 is $1371.05.
THE SIMPSON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ERIN was formed in 1827. Among the original members were Jeremiah Barnes and his wife, C. C. Humphrey and his wife,
# The steam saw-mill of Mr. James H. Rodbourn, situated in the village of Erin, was established in 1868, and gives steady employ- ment to 30 men. The engine is of 60 horse-power, and 2,000,000 feet of lumber are manufactured per year. There is connected with it a lath-machine and planing-mill.
Mrs. Baker (wife of Joshua Baker), Cornelius Becker and his wife, and James Baker and wife. The first meetings of the society were held in the school-house of District No. 1. They held meetings once in two weeks, and were supplied by preachers from the Oneida Conference. Rev. James Taylor was the first local preacher; Rev. Mr. Torrey the first circuit preacher. The society continued to hold its meetings in the school-house until 1874, when the present church edifice was completed, eosting $3500. Rev. William Saunders was the first preacher on the charge. Rev. S. T. Tackabury is the present pastor. The church will seat 250 persons. The society numbers 113 members, and the Sunday-school classes 130; Mr. A. H. MeDowel being the Superintendent.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF ERIN,
a branch of the Breesport Church, was organized in 1864. Miles Ennis and his wife, Terresa, Melzor Kellogg and his wife, James Dibble and wife, and Warner Baldwin were among the original members. Their first meetings were held in the school-house of District No. 8, and they con- tinued to hold them there until 1871, when their present edifice, situated in the village of Erin, was completed at a eost of $2400. It has sittings for about 300 people. The society has 25 members at the present time. Rev. Mr. Whitney was their first pastor. Alexander Shoemaker is the Superintendent of Sunday-schools.
The Presbyterian church, which was situated about two miles southwest of the village, and ereeted about forty years ago, was torn down in 1874.
The Methodist church on Austin Hill has fallen into disuse, and the society dispersed.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The Utiea, Ithaca and Elmira Railroad enters the town at the northeast eorner, and running in a southwesterly di- rection, passes Park Station and Erin Centre, and thence following down the valley of Newtown Creek, leaves the town near the southwest eorner. It was completed in 1874, and the town was bonded to the amount of $30,000 to assist in its construction.
For valuable information and courtesies extended, we desire to return to Messrs. Philip Thomas, James Hollen- beck, Amasa L. Herrington, G. S. Becker, J. H. Rodbourn, Rev. S. T. Tackabury, Isaac Shoemaker, Charles Baker, and A. H. Van Gorder our thanks.
MILITARY RECORD.
Ara Carpenter, private, 8th N. Y. Art .; enl. Dec. 21, 1863. Daniel Dibble, private, Co. G, 8th N. Y. Art .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863.
Henry Conklin, private, Co. G, 8th N. Y. Art .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863.
Miles W. Elston, private, Co. G, 8th N. Y. Art .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863 ; died of dis- ease, no date.
William II. Lee, colored recruit ; enl. Dec. 22, 1863.
Asa G. Brooks, private, 8th N. Y. Art .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863. Damon Lamphear, private, 8th N. Y. Art .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863. George Perry, private, 8th N. Y. Art .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863. Oliver Timerson, private, 8th N. Y. Art .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863.
Ambrus Armstrong, private, 8th N. Y. Art .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863; disch, 1864, disability.
Abram Elston, private, 8th N. Y. Art .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863.
Philander Collson, private, 8th N. Y. Art. ; enl. Dec. 28, 1863. Nathaniel McConnell, private, 50th N. Y. Eng .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863. Austin Leonard, private, 16th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Dec. 9, 1863.
339
AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
Orville Compton, private, 16th N. Y. Ragt .; enl. Jan. 2, 1863.
Reuben B. Whenton, private, 16th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863; killed, no date given.
Smith Greek, private, 50tlı N. Y. Eng .; en1. Feb. 22, 1864.
Harvey B. Lowry, private, 50th N. Y. Eng. ; enl. Feb. 24, 1865.
Joseph E. Utter, private, 50th N. Y. Eng .; enl. Feb. 24, 1864 ; had served one term of enlistment in a Penna. regt. James L. Wilsey, private, 50th N. Y. Eng. ; enl. Feb, 24, 1864. Theodore Redington, private, 50th Eng. ; enl. Feb. 25, 1864; served to end of war, and enlisted in regnlur service.
Daniel E. Compton, private, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Feb. 19, 1864; re-enlisted ; taken prisoner; disch. at close of war.
Nathan Osborn, private, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Feb. 25, 1864. Peter Halleran, private, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Jan. 3, 1865. William Neish, lient., 1st Vet. Regt .; enl. May 25, 1863. Isaac Northrup, private, 111th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 31, 1865. James Northrup, private, 111th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 31, 1865. Levi E. Cooley, private, 161st N. Y. Ragt .; enl. Sept. 3, 1864. David Howard, private, 17 th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 5, 1864. Aneil Harding, private, 1st Vet. Regt .; enl. Ang. 31, 1864. William II. Ells, private, Ist Vet. Regt .; enl. Ang. 31, 1864. John Decker, private, 1st Vet. Regt .; enl. Ang. 31, 1864. James E. Campbell, private, 16Ist N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Sept. 2, 1861. William Hurd, private, 1st Vet. Regt. ; enl. S .pt. 3, 1864. Samnel M. Dibble, private, 1st Vet. Regt .; enl. Aug. 31, 1864. Solomon Degraw, private, 50th N. Y. Eng .; enl. Ang. 11, 1864. Peter Palmer, private, 161st N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 3, 1864. John J. White, private, 179th Regt .; enl. Sept. 12, 1864. Myron Vredenburg, private, 1st Vet. Regt .; enl. Aug. 12, 1864. Henry F. Braze, private, 28th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 12, 1864. Nehemiah Hodge, private, 28th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 2, 1864. James Doyle, private, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 12, 1864. Isaac Davis, private, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 12, 1864. John Brady, private, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 16, 1864. Garrett Groesbeck, private, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 17, 1864. John H. Beckwith, private, 179th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Sept. 17, 1864. Sprague C. Whitaker, private, 179th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Sept. 17, 1864. John Benjamin, private, 50th N. Y. Eng. ; enl. Sept. 3, 1864. Stephen Carnvike, private, 181st N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Sept. 12, 1864. Joseph Hessman, private, 14th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Nov. 12, 1864. Edgar Bailey, private, 9th N. Y. Cav .; enl. Jan. 10, 1864. Edward Lollia, private, 9th N. Y. Cav. ; enl. Jan. 12, 1865. Thomas Crumlich, private, 61st N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Jan. 12, 1865. William H. Mirrick, private, 61st N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Jan. 13, 1865. John S. Curran, private, 61st N. Y. Regt .; enl. Jan. 14, 1865. Robert Galbraith, private, 161st N. Y. Regt .; enl. Jan. 25, 1865. Cornelius Bouse, private, 107th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Jan. 30, 1865. August Rachel, private, 14th N. Y. Regt.
Michael Farrell, private, 14th N. Y. Regt.
Henry C. Lee, private, 14thi N. Y. Regt.
William Kelly, private, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 12, 1864. Spencer Brown, private, 14th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Jan. 1865. Armel Walker, private, 14th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Jan. 1865. Isaac Porter, enl. Feb. 3, 1865.
Nelson Smith (drafted), private, 189th Regt., 1863; wonnded; dischi. at end of war.
Levi Decker (drafted), 1863; died of disease; no date given. Sylvester Blauvelt (drafted), 1863 ; disch. for disability ; no date.
David Vosburg, private, 107th N. Y. Regt .; enl. 18 62. John Bcaseley, private, 107th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. 1862. George W. IInmmer, private, 107th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. 1862. Samuel Elston, private, enl. 1862.
Isaac Elston, private, 86th N. Y. Regt .; enl. 1862. Charles Elston.
Persons who resided in Erin and went for other towns.
Myron Humphrey, John Humphrey, Horace Jones, James Neish, Edward Haw- ley, Andrew Winters, Albert McMillan, Ira Jones, Arnot Staples, Chann - cey Hallenbeck, Charles Hallenbeck (died in service), Alonzo White, David Leonard (died in service), Bradley Groom, Henry Inman, Rumsey Harrington.
Jerome Hammer, private, 1st Vet. Regt.
Sylvester Westbrook, private, 161st N. Y. Regt. Chester Harrington, private, 141st N. Y. Regt .; enl. 1862. Avery P. Ilarrington, private, 107th N. Y. Regt .; enl. 1862. Miles Harrington, private, 107th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. 1862. Andrus Ilarrington, enl. 1862.
CHAPTER LIV.
HORSEHEADS.
THIS town is geographically located near the centre of the county. The surface in the east part is hilly, and in
the west rolling and level. The summits of the hills are from 600 to 800 feet above Seneca Lake, and the summit level of the Chemung Canal at the village of Horseheads is 443 feet above the same. The soil of the town is a good quality of gravelly loam, adapted to all kinds of agricul- tural products, including tobacco, which has been cultivated to a considerable extent for several years. The area of the town is 28,969 acres. The principal streams are New- town Creek and its branches. The Ezra L'Hommedieu Tract of 1440 acres, and part of the Lush and Robbinson Tract, are included within the present limits of the town, and the " Old Chemung Line" runs through it a short distance south of its centre.
The origin of the name of the town is historie. From the best authenticated sources, it appears that during Gen- eral Sullivan's encampment on the plains surrounding the village, on the 25th of September, 1779, the officer in command issued an order for the slaughter of a large number of superfluous horses. This was done, and their bones were afterwards arranged along the route by the Indians, and were thus found by the first settlers ; and the circumstance being looked upon by them as typical of their own probable fate, they were ceaseless in their vigilance over the wily and treacherous aborigine. This name, there- fore, though not as euphonious as some, is still cherished by the few remaining pioneers with great respect, and efforts to change it have always met with very decided opposition, -notably at the time the post-office was altered to Fair- port, the old citizens never eeased their endeavors until the restoration of the old name was effected.
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Considerable controversy has been had as to the priority of the settlement of John Brees and Colonel John Hendy in that part of the old town of Chemung that became Elmira in 1792 and Horseheads in 1854. Claims have been made by local writers, and also by other authorities, that Colonel Hendy was the first white settler in the Chemung Valley ; while it is reasonably certain that Mr. Brees preceded Colonel Hendy, and that there were settlements effected prior to the arrival of either.
John Brees, his wife (whose maiden name was Hannah Guildersleeve), and eight children came from Somerset Co., N. J., in 1787. They started in the spring of the year, and traveled through the wilds of Northern Pennsylvania until they reached the Wyoming Valley ; taking the river at Wyoming, they followed it to Tioga Point, where they halted a few days; then coming up the Chemung, they stopped at the Flats, about one mile and a half below the present city of Elmira, arriving in June, 1787. Two years later, or in 1789, Mr. Brees with his family removed to what is now the town of Horseheads, building the first log house, which he located on the east side of the road leading from the river to Seneca Lake, on the farm subsequently owned by Civilian Brown, Esq., and now occupied by his son, Menzo Brown.
Among Mr. Brees' children, who became prominent set- tlers, were Azariah, who was in his sixth year when his father came into the Chemung Valley ; born Sept. 5, 1781, died June 21, 1866; Sarah, who was born Feb. 18. 1789,
340
HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,
in Horseheads, now the widow of John Jackson, and in her ninetieth year .*
Those preceding Mr. Breese were Lebbeus Hammond, -who was one of the two men who escaped the Wyoming massacre, -Samuel Tubbs, and Phineas Stephens, of whom Mr. Tubbs was the only one having a family. They par- took of the hospitality of the new-comers in the shape of tea and rum, partaken of under a tent and on the family chest, which served as a table. This primitive gathering has been facetiously termed the "first tea-party in the Chemung Valley," by D. W. C. Curtis, Esq., in his admirable sketch of " Horseheads and Vicinity," published in 1868.
In 1790-91, Asa Guildersleeve, brother-in-law of the elder John Brees, came in and settled on the farm, a part of which is now owned by the widow and heirs of William Chap- pee, and built a house which, until recently, stood as a land- mark of "ye olden time." Its venerable antiquity made it deserving of preservation. About the same time as the above came John Winkler, who settled on the David McConnell farm ; David Powers, who located on the farm now owned by Colonel H. C. Hoffman ; Christopher Van- devender, who built the house near the former site of the Major John Puff Hotel. Concerning the settlement of the Conkling and Sayre families, William Curtis says, " About the 12th of April, 1791, a company left Blooming- grove, Orange Co., N. Y., to try their fortunes in this val- ley, consisting of Jonathan S. Conkling, wife and three children, James Sayre, wife and seven ehildren, Ebenezer Sayre, John Sayre, wife and one ehild. This company started with a pair of horses ahead of a yoke of oxen at- tached to a eart. This vchiele, with the aid of one hired team and wagon, earried their earthly possessions, exeept a few eows, which were driven by the company. In this manner they traveled through the alınost unbroken wilder- ness of Northern Pennsylvania, until they arrived at the Susquchanna River, near Wilkesbarre. Here they plaeed their goods on board of a flat-boat. Everything being in readiness the men started the boat, poling it up the stream, while the women on horseback, some with two children each, with the eows, followed along the banks. At night the boat was tied to the shore, the eloth-tents spread, and their frugal meal prepared and partaken of in common. In this manner, after a wearisome journey of sixteen days, the company arrived at a place called 'Conent's Cove,' situated on the Lowman farm, in the town of Chemung. At this place James Sayre and family, with Ebenezer, stopped, while Mr. Conkling and John Sayre, with their families, continued their journey, and arrived here about the 1st of May."
Mr. Conkling purchased 120 acres lying south of the John Brees road, and located his house near where the dwelling of N. Van Dusen now stands. The next spring, 1792, James Sayre and family, and Ebenezer, came up from Chemung and purchased 700 of the 1440 acres eon- tained in the L'Hommedieu Patent and built houses thereon. These pioneer families-Brees, Conkling, and Sayres-have a numerous posterity in this town and eounty, -the former of whose descendants in the seeond, third,
and fourth generations, in the town of Horseheads alone, number eighteen. Of the second generation only two re- main, namely, John Brces, who resides in the old home- stead, and Sarah, widow of John Jaekson, before men- tioned. Of the Conkling family three members of the second generation reniain,-Captain Vincent Conkling, Rebecca, wife of Samuel H. Maxwell, and Susan, widow of Richard Hetfield.
Among those who arrived prior to the war of 1812 were Colonel Brinton Payne. He was a victim of the old British prison ship and an officer of the Revolution, taken pris- oner while on active duty, and then maltreated with many other suffering patriots. He died at the advaneed age of eighty-one years. George Payne and son, Solonion More, Jacob Powell, Mordecai Rickey, who settled on the farm where he died seventy-three years later, Oct. 9, 1867, and which is now occupied by his son Wilson ; Joseph Riekey, another of his sons, is an old and respected resident of the town ; John Tenbrook ; Gershom Livesay, father of Joseph Livesay; John Jackson, who is aeeredited with having built the first frame barn in the town. Among those who arrived after the war of 1812 and prior to 1830 were Da- rius Bentley, a surveyor, still a resident of the village, who came in 1815; Paris Green, Rev. James Taylor, Jo- seph and John MeConnell, and Ziba, son of Joseph and father of Hiram H. MeConnell, a prominent eitizen. Mad- ison now lives on the old homestcad farm ; Daniel Car- penter and Zeno Carpenter, father of John L. Carpenter ; Levi Maxwell, father of Samuel ; Levi, Isaae, and Josiah Maxwell ; Almer, Jesse, and David Shappee; J. C. Wan- maker.
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