USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents > Part 29
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The fire-place is furnished with all the utensils for cook- ing that were formerly used, and many of these are dupli- cated and even triplicated. From the lug pole and crane are suspended by trammels and books every variety of old iron vessels, and by the sides of the andirons stand bake kettles, spiders, skillets, gridirons, toasters, griddles, tin bakers, etc., etc. At the sides of the fire-place are the fire shovels and
tongs made for handling the heavy logs and brands of old time fires, waffle irons, etc. Hanging to the chimney braces are bellows, gourds, and other articles, and resting on and hanging in front of the mantel shelf are the lanterns, candle- sticks of tin and iron of various fashions, tongs for lighting candles or pipes, kettle hooks, spits or trammeled hooks for roasting meat, etc.
The shelves on the logs at the side of the fire-place are covered with everything which such shelves formerly held, far more and in greater variety than any one cabin was fur- nished with. On these shelves and in the fire-place may be seen specimens of every utensil used in the culinary depart- ment of early settlers' houses. All these have seen actual service among the first inhabitants, and many were old heir- looms in their families. It is impossible, within reasonable limits, to enumerate the articles that may be seen in this corner. Everything, from a bark bread tray and wooden mortar to the minutest articles formerly in use, may be found there.
In the opposite corner, under the ladder, stands an old dye tub; the seat which noisy urchins were sometimes re- quired to occupy, the one where studious youths sat to read or cypher by firelight, and the one where their grand- mothers rested, with their elbows on their knees, while the smoke from their pipes ascended the chimney with that from the fire. Near to it stands another obsolete article-the rack used in making tallow dips or candles; and on this lie some of the old candle rods, to which the candles were sus- pended during the process of dipping.
Suspended on the poles in front of the fire-place are can- teens and runlets or water bottles, one of which has two cavities, one for water and one for -; old fashioned sad- dle bags, such as pioneer physicians carried into many a log house; and among other articles the identical chair once used by Debewamis, or " the white woman."
The pegs and hooks on the walls support specimens of al- most everything which formerly pertained to pioneer houses. Quaint old bonnets and hats and other articles of apparel, pictures and prints, guns, bayonets, cartridge boxes, powder horns, swords, pistols, etc., etc., some of which did service in the Revolution, and even in the French and Indian war; various inplements of farm and domestic industry, the uses of some of which are hardly known now, warming pans, children's dresses, specimens of domestic linen, etc.
The bedstead is surrounded by tasteful old curtains of spotless white, and over it is spread a coverlet woven in 1698. Standing by the head of the bed is an old tin candle stand. Above the toilet shelf hangs a mirror, which began to cast reflections in 1803. Under this is the comb basket, and on the shelf lies the old pin cushion.
On the shelf at the foot of the bed is "grandfather's clock," which during eighty years, "without slumbering, tick-tick-tick," has numbered the passing seconds and struck the hours; and still it ticks and strikes.
In front of the bed stands a cradle, in which the ruddy babies of probably more than one generation have been rocked.
A long board table, seventy years old, stands in the mid- dle of the floor, and on this rests the first show case that was used to display goods in the village of Perry. This case contains many rare and interesting relics.
Standing against the wall is an old secretary and book
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
case, filled with such books as were found in the scanty libraries of pioneers; among which are many specimens of old time school books. Many ancient records and old papers are deposited here. One of these is a copy of No. LV. of " The New England Weekly Journal, containing the most remarkable occurrences, foreign and domestic," dated " Monday, April 8th, 1728."
This sheet was published in Boston, "Printed by S. Knee- land & T. Green, at the Printing House in Queen street, where advertisements are taken in."
The sheet measures twelve by six inches, printed on both sides, in two columns. At the head of the first column it is stated:
There are measures concerting for rendering this pa- per yet more universally esteemed and useful, in which'tis hoped the Publick will be gratified, and by which gentlemen who de- sire to be improved in History, Philosophy, Poetry, &c., will be greatly advantaged. We will take the liberty at this time to insert the following Passage of History:"
Then follow the quotation and a story. The next column is filled with communications between "His Excellency Robert Hunter, Esq.," and the council. The third column is filled with items of intelligence from England, bearing va- rious dates from October 28th, 1727, to November 16th of the same year.
At the head of the fourth column appears: " Burials in the Town of Boston since our last, Five Whites, One Black- Baptised in the Several Churches, Nine."
Then follows: " Custom House, Boston, April 6th, Entred Inwards" (names of persons), " Cleared out" (names), and " Outward Bound" (names).
The remaining space in the column is filled with adver- tisements of discourses and other publications, one of which was " On the Nature and Necessity of REPENTANCE; Occa- sioned by the Earthquake."
Arthur Savage advertises " Choice New Coffee," at " Eight shillings per pound."
" Mr. Nath. Pigott intends to open school on Monday next, for the instruction of Negro's in Reading, Catechizing and Writing, if required; if any are so well inclined as to send their servants to said school near Mr. Checkley's Meet- ing House care will be taken for their instruction as afore- said."
" EJ A very likely Negro woman who can do household work and is fit either for Town or Country service, about 22 years of age, to be sold. Inquire of the printer hereof."
A very likely Negro girl about 13 or 14 years of age, speaks good English, has been in the Country some years, to be sold. Inquire of the printer hereof."
A copy of the Ulster County Gazette, published at Kings- ton January 4th, 1800, contributed by Mrs. Prindle, of East Bethany, is also here. It contains copious extracts from journals concerning the war then in progress in Europe. The inside is dressed in mourning for the death of George Washington, and contains an account of his obsequies and communications between the Senate and President John Adams, on the occasion of his death. In this paper also is advertised for sale by John Schoonmaker, of the town of Rochester, " A STOUT, HEALTHY, ACTIVE negro wench."
There is also a fac-simile of the first number of the Boston News Letter, the first newspaper published in America.
In the loft are deposited several spinning wheels, reels,
swifts, quill wheels, and a loom with all its fixtures-all the facilities, in short, for the domestic manufacture of cloth.
In the rear of the building, under the projecting eaves, are old ox yokes, calf yokes, double neck yokes for old Dutch harnesses, a one-handed bull plough, with its wooden mold-board, a three-cornered harrow, corn fans, a flax brake and swingling board and knife; and the logs under the eaves are garnished with bunches of dried herbs.
A short distance from the cabin is a well with a section of a hollow log for a curb, and a primitive sweep for drawing water. At the end of the house are growing bunches of useful and ornamental plants, such as hollyhocks, comfrey, catnip, carraway, smellage, tanzy, etc., and in the top of a partially hollow stump near by flourishes a cluster of live- forever. In front is a small bed in which are cultivated striped grass, sweet clover, fleur de lis, etc. These are such manifestations of esthetic taste as the circumstances by which pioneer wives were surrounded would permit. A platform is laid under the projecting roof in front, and on this stand old wagon chairs and primitive benches made of slabs.
In front of the gateway stands a column or post taken from a school-house that was built in 1832. On the top of this is a large wooden ball that was the first school globe ever used in the town of Perry. The rustic arch over the gateway is surmounted by the dried head of an elk, with enormous spreading and branching antlers ..
This cabin, with its surroundings and the relics which it contains, is almost a complete pioneer history.
On one portion of the grounds seats and speakers' stands are arranged, and another part is occupied by tables for spreading refreshments for several hundred people at the annual picnics of the association. Squirrels gambol over the grounds and sport among the limbs of the trees almost with- out fear, and the grove is vocal with the songs of birds.
CHAPTER XXX.
A GEOLOGICAL SKETCH OF WYOMING COUNTY.
By A. P. CHAPIN.
HIS county presents many interesting features to the geological student, only a few of which can be included in this chapter. Standard works on the subject, and careful observation of the rock formations and water marks as found in the ravines and on the hillsides, will afford ample oppor- tunity to those who desire to pursue the study further than will interest the general reader.
In their lithological character the rocks of this region are much varied in composition and texture. To this fact is due not only those pleasing and beneficial inequalities of surface, but also the origin of some of the streams and waterfalls which beautify and enliven the scenery and encourage agri- culture, industry and enterprise among the people. To the same cause to which we owe these prominent features is due also the deep fertile soil prevailing throughout the greater part of the county. The materials excavated from these
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GEOLOGICAL FEATURES.
valleys, in the form of decomposed and disintegrated rocks, have been transported and reduced to the condition of sand, clay and pebbles, which are distributed over the surface of the lower lands. The high hills and deep valleys and gorges indicate the extent of this work. The effects of erosion are seen, first in the imprint of the falling rain drop-a trifling matter to the ordinary observer, but not so to the geologist; for it remains among the earliest as well as the latest strata, and shows that it rained then as now. It teaches what lands at that time were exposed, and what were buried be. neath the waters of the ocean. The gathering drops from the rills combine into rivulets, and the rivulets wear pathways down the hillsides. The rivulets unite to form larger streams, and these work with accumulating force and excavate deep gorges. The mist and rains about the higher lands are usually the main source of the water. As the streamlets combine the torrent increases, and thus exercises the greatest force near the base of the declivity. There the valley first takes its shape and size. Examples of this form of erosion may be found among the tributaries of Allan's creek, and in various other parts of the county. As the erosion continues a constantly deepening valley is formed, the head of which slowly but surely travels up the stream. The nature of the rocks causes modifications in these results. If the rocks are of a soft shaly character, as are many of the rocks in this region, the work progresses much more rapidly than among rocks of a dense and compact character. The com- position of the rocks may also have much to do in regulating the rate of wear. Many examples are on record where gorges hundreds of feet deep have been cut in the solid rock by the work of only two or three centuries. This, however, is accomplished only under the most favorable circum- stances. Although the rocks of Wyoming county are not of the denser varieties, doubtless her precipitous valleys have been undergoing many centuries of formation. The prod- ucts of erosion are carried down into the valleys, where the speed of the water slackens, and there form the alluvial beds so characteristic of the valleys.
The soil of the entire county rests upon rocks known as the
PORTAGE GROUP.
This group presents an extensive development of shales and flagstones, and some sandstone toward its upper part. It is extremely variable in character at different points. " From its superior development along the banks of the Genesee rivet in the vicinity of Portage it has received that name to distinguish it from the higher rocks, which possess some differences in lithological characters, but a more striking dissimilarity in organic remains." This group rises sometimes in a gentle slope, and at other times quite abruptly from the softer shales below. The enduring sand- stones of the upper part have enabled it to withstand the action of air and water to a considerable degree. These sandstone formations often extend well to the northward on the elevated grounds between the deep valleys, running in a north and south direction, or nearly so. The valleys are generally bounded by steep hills, thinly covered with north- ern drift. This character of the formation is well illustrated along the Genesee valley for several miles below Portage bridge, and in the valleys of Allan's creek and the Tona- wanda creek. On approaching the northern margin of the Portage group the observer finds a gradually increasing
elevation of bills and abruptness of slope. These elevations often extend several miles unbroken, except partially by the deep ravines which indent their sides, and which originated in water-courses which took their rise upon the summits of these hills.
The higher sandstones of the group, and in many in- stances the intermediate ones, have produced falls in the streams which pass over them. Some of the most beautiful cascades in the State are found among the rocks of this group. The highest perpendicular fall of water in the State is found in the rocks of this group, and its grand and pic- turesque scenery is rarely equaled. The traveler often finds his course impeded by a deep gorge, and in the very bottom of this is the small winding stream, the only repre- sentative of the once rushing torrent that has worn so deep a pathway through the rocks. The rocks of this group are generally divided into three parts. The lower of these is known as the
Cashaqua Shale.
This rests upon what is known as the Genesee slate. It differs in its fossils sufficiently from those above to be con- sidered under a separate name. From its more complete development upon the Cashaqua creek the name was or- iginally applied to it, and before the overlapping rocks had been thoroughly examined. This formation consists of a soft, argillaceous rock of a greenish color, which rapidly crumbles on being exposed to the atmosphere and storms, and forms a soft, sticky clay. It is therefore difficult to procure good specimens, and its fossils, not being abundant, are quite apt to be overlooked. Certain species of shells, however, have been found only in this rock, and these are found in the same position to an extent of one hundred and fifty miles. On tracing it west of the Genesee it presents continually the same features as on the Cashaqua creek. The lower part is occasionally darker colored, and in some places is separated from the Genesee slate by a thin band of a species of limestone. It is largely exposed in the numer- ous streams and ravines situated in the hills bordering on Allan's creek and Tonawanda creek. It appears at the vil- lage of Wyoming and at numerous other points in that vi- cinity. ¡ Its greatest thickness at any visible point is on the Genesee river, and is about one hundred and ten feet. It decreases in thickness toward the north, and disappears on a line running through the southern part of Genesee county. Resting upon this is the middle division of the Fortage group, known as the
Gardeau Shale and Flagstones.
Along the Genesee river, above the Cashaqua shale, we find an extensive development of greenish black slaty and sandy shales, of various shades of color between green and black, with thin layers of sandstone, which form beautiful and enduring flagstones. These flagstones are found in the same geological position in several places in this county, and adorn many of the streets of our villages. These rocks form high, almost perpendicular banks on the Genesee and in some of the numerous ravines of this county, only indented as the results of slides or running water. From their ex- tensive exposure along the Gardeau reservation that name was adopted to distinguish this part of the formation. As we ascend the arenaceous matter increases, and the shale
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
forms distinct alternations of black and green, often many times in succession within a perpendicular distance of fifty or sixty feet. The sandstone layers in the upper part of the formation are generally too thick for flagstones, and the shale divides into thicker leaves. These characteristics, however, vary considerably in different localities, and the observer needs to note carefully the composition of the rocks and the few native fossils, to be sure of his position.
Portage Sandstones.
"The thick-bedded sandstones at Portage form the ter- minal rocks of the group. These are well exposed in the deep gorge below Portageville, where the perpendicular cliffs rise to the height of three hundred and fifty feet. The upper part consists of thick-bedded sandstone, with little shale; while below the sandy layers become thinner, with more frequent alternations of shale. The character of the sandstones, and the presence of fucoids passing vertically through the strata, induced the separation from the rocks below, where the characteristic species of the same genus lies horizontally upon the surface of the strata. The litho- logical character of the sandstone, and the presence of the vertical fucoid, hold uniform over a considerable extent; and the presence of the latter alone is often sufficient to decide the position of the rock where it is but slightly exposed."
The preceding description of these three divisions will furnish a correct idea of the group, and will apply to nearly if not quite the entire surface of Wyoming county. The whole series consists of shales and shaly sandstones. Never- theless, in lithological characters there is no abrupt change, or.evidence of very different conditions in the ocean from which they were deposited, from the termination of the Tully limestone to the final deposition of the Chemung group. Shales and sandstones compose the entire assem- blage. The Portage group forms the lower part of this great division of rocks.
Fossils.
Throughout the entire thickness of the Portage group, which is not less than one thousand feet, there are but two forms of organic remains, which can be referred to the Brachiopoda; one of these is the Delthyris, and the other the Orthis. Both of these are quite unlike any others which have been seen in the rocks above or below. Shells of this family, though of a different variety, predominate in the Hamilton and Chemung groups, and are much more numer- ous than .in the Portage group. In addition we find the Goniatites, a group of Cephalopods with Nautilus-like shells; the Bellerophon, a genus of Heteropods, with the respira- tory and digestive organs forming a kind of nucleus on the posterior part of the back, and with the foot divided into a ventral fin, sucker and terminal fin. They are rapid swim- mers, found at the surface in mid-ocean, moving by their fin-shaped foot and tail, and attaching themselves to sea- weed by the sucker. They feed on minute pteropods and jelly fishes. These are the animals which lived in the great ocean of waters while all this region was beneath its sur- face, and while its slow but constant deposition formed the rocks covering a large portion of western New York. The paucity of fossils in this group, when compared with those below and above it, is a marked characteristic. Whole days may be spent without finding more than a few, and some-
times even no shells. In a few localities some forms have been detected which seem peculiarly typical of the group, and so far as at present known, have never been found else- where.
In.this absence of fossil shells we find a great abundance of marine vegetation, or fucoids. Scarcely a locality can be examined where one or more species does not occur. The Fucoides Graphica occurs in great numbers, in short, rigid fragments, throughout the central portion of the group, and generally lying on the surface of the thin layers of flagstones. The sidewalks often furnish good specimens of this class of fucoids. They are also often found in profusion in the beds of the ravines, having fallen down in broken fragments of rocks from either side. The Fucoides Verticalis is characteristic of the upper part of the group. It may be at the lower falls of Portage, and in many of the sandstone strata above this; but it is most abundant in the upper sandstone at Portage. The terminating mass of the group may be everywhere recognized by its presence. These con- stitute the principal fossils of this group of rocks, and they are the only ones that occur with any regularity in this county, though some few others may be occasionally found.
Ripple marks are abundant in the sandy shale, or where the shale becomes interstratified with sandstone; but it is often difficult to obtain good specimens. Many of them have the appearance of being produced by a "chopped sea," or where a current opposed the direction of the wind. The same effect is often visible on sandy beaches where the tide has ebbed; the surface being broken, interrupted and irregular ripples produced either by the tidal current opposing the wind or by some other similar conflict of forces. There is abundant proof among the strata that such circumstances were in operation at the time these rocks were deposited, and that the sea was alternately shallow and again deeper. The dark and green shales bear no evidence of ripple marks, or diagonal lamination, and were probably deposited in deep water; but all the sandy shales and alternations of shale and sandstone furnish evidence of a shallow sea.
"This group throughout presents a great variety of con- cretionary forms. The strata, however, are all uniform, and rarely give any appearance of concretionary structure in themselves. The concretions are more or less calcareous in different parts of the group and in different shales. The more perfectly spherical, with seams of crystalline matter, are found in the black shale, while the forms varying from this to the very flat or lenticular ones are found in the shales varying from blackish to greenish black and green." The more spherical forms are due to a higher degree of crystal- lization, which results from a larger proportion of carbonate of lime, while the flattened forms are less crystalline, and consequently less spherical, from the larger amount of argillaceous matter. These forms are too well known to need further description. They sometimes assume fantastic shapes, which cause them to be mistaken for organic bodies. This arises from the seams on the surface, which are fancied to resemble the lines of suture in the shells of the tortoise or turtle, and by these names they are frequently known in localities where they occur plentifully. The more usual form of these bodies is that of a flattened spheroid. They are in some places burned for hydraulic cement, and pro- duce a very good material for this purpose.
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SOIL AND MINERAL PRODUCTS.
Minerals.
The minerals of the Portage group of rocks are as follows, and all are represented in Wyoming county: The concre- tions contain crystallized carbonate of lime, and sometimes sulphate of baryta. Iron pyrites is freely disseminated through the rock, and from its decomposition the surface of the slaty lamins and the sides of joints are often stained with iron. It also gives origin to sulphate of lime, or gypsum, which often coats the shaly lamins, or appears in the form of small crystals in the seams and joints. Carbonaceous matter is disseminated through the black shales, and some- times appears in seams of half an inch in thickness. Some fragments of large vegetable forms appear, and thin laminæe of coal usually accompany these. From the frequency of these small seams of coal, which are usually of no greater extent than the specimen procured, excavations and borings have been made, in the hope of finding large deposits of coal. It ought to be unnecessary to say that these under- takings in rocks of this period always have failed, and always will fail. If the people could be made to understand that coal does not exist in any valuable quantity in these rocks, useless expenditure of time and money might be pre- vented. They seem, however, to prefer to learn the lesson at the cost of their own experience in a vain effort to find it.
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