USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents > Part 33
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In 1802 Zerah Phelps, wishing to better his condition and having heard much talk of the land flowing with milk and honey known all over the eastern States as the " Genesee country," bade farewell to kindred and friends in the old "nutmeg State," and pushed out for the headquarters of the Holland Land Company, whose office at that time was at Batavia. He was finally "booked," "articled " and "deed- ed " a tract of land in what, nine years after, turned out to be the town of Attica. He was accompanied by Deacon Porter, Nathaniel Sprout, Isaac Townsend and Major P. Adams. With a major to command the movements and a deacon to look after the spiritual wants of the little band,
they continuously and courageously advanced upon the dense forest that lay before them, and plunged into its very heart. They had to brave the dangers, endure the toil and suffer the hardships incident to pioneer life; but they were born of a stock inured to privations and educated in the school of devotion to principle.
July 25th, 1803, the household of Zerah Phelps rejoiced over the birth of the pioneer baby in their family, who was duly named Harriet Phelps.
The contracting parties to the first wedding in this town were Stephen Crow and Lucy Elwell. The first death in this town after it was first settled by Mr. Phelps was that of Thomas Mather, in the winter of 1803.
It was not long before the little band of first comers re- ceived accessions, for we find that in 1804 John Smith, John Richards, Steward Gardner, Daniel Gardner, Daniel Bur- bank, Nathaniel Sprout, jr., Eli Hayes, Daniel White, Zadoc Williams and Zadoc Whipple bought land in this township. Levi Nelson came in 1804 and settled on the farm now owned by William Nelson, south of Attica village.
The trials, hardships and privations of this colony were not as severe as those of the first, for they benefited by the experience and were sheltered by the cabins of their pre- decessors while they were building their own houses. Their furniture was of the most primitive kind, to say nothing of the log cabin without floor, door or windows, and the cracks between the logs of the house were unchinked, that the smoke might have a chance to circulate freely. The bed- stead was made by driving four crotches in the ground in one corner of the mansion, with poles laid in for side pieces and smaller ones laid across to serve as a bedcord, and. on top of them a few spruce boughs laid by way of matress. The table was made in another corner by boring two holes in the side of the house at the proper height, and driving into them sticks projecting enough to hold a sheet of bark. The dishes were wooden or pewter, and the old fashioned long handled frying-pan, the bake-kettle, a dinner-pot and a dish-kettle composed the whole kit of cooking utensils. The old broad fire-place, without chimney or jambs, served the triple purpose of cooking, heating and lighting, and the chairs were blocks or logs.
In 1805 the town received a fresh supply of New England bone and sinew, by the immigration of such families as those of Oliver Hodges, Clark Burlingame, Benjamin Powers, Eliphalet Hodges, Jacob Howe, John M. Coffin, Joseph Munger, Levi Stanhope, Patrick Alvord, Thomas Whaley, Nancy Wood, Samuel Smith, Nathaniel Eastman, Benjamin Nelson, Orator Holcomb, Stephen Crawford, Luther Stan-
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EARLY SETTLERS IN ATTICA.
hope, Simeon Porter, Benjamin Moulton, David Beckwith, Joseph Hopkins, Elijah Rice, Elihu Beckwith, Daniel Adams, Joel Bradnor, Francis Rodgers, John Kean, Joseph. Munger, Nehemiah Osborn and Lemuel Whaley.
In 1806 Owen Cotton came in from Vermont, and in 1808 and 1809 he was followed by Asher Gardner, John Wilder, Asa Johnson, Joseph Wilder, William Vary and one Fuller.
Charles D. Beman, born in Williamstown, Mass., January 11th, 1797, also located in Attica in 1809, where he still re- sides. We are indebted to him for much valuable informa- tion. He was one of the soldiers of 1812 from this town; others were Abel Baker, Caleb Starkweather and Joel Boughton.
In 1811 Gaius B. Rich and Seymour Brainard came to this town, Brainard locating about three miles east of what is now the village of Attica. He bought his land of Daniel Burbank, and in 1820 built a grist-mill down the Tonawanda creek, a short distance from Attica. He was a farmer, as well as mill owner, and had at one time about twenty acres of wheat, which at that period was considered a very large acreage for this country. In the spring it had the appear- ance of having been winter killed, and 'he sowed it again, which resulted in a harvest of over eight hundred bushels of very nice wheat. When he commenced building his grist-mill wheat was worth $2.50 per bushel, but it was worth only about three shillings a bushel when he was ready for converting wheat into flour.
LOCATION AND OCCUPATION OF EARLY SETTLERS.
The farm now owned and occupied by Truman F. Bald- win, three miles east of Attica village, is the spot where Seymour Brainard finally located. He lived two and a half years in a log house a little further east, on the place now owned by Kriegelstein, and finally located on the Baldwin farm, where he lived until his death. He came from Old Haddam, Conn. His team consisted of two yoke of oxen and one horse, all hitched to an ox-cart of his own make. Upon the cart were piled all the goods and chattels possessed by Mr. B. The old cart body was made long, and above the wheels spread out to about ten feet wide. Over the whole was a top or cover, the bows made of saplings cut in the woods, and the covering of cotton cloth. In this "schooner" was loaded not only his furniture, but his family, which con- sisted of a wife and seven children, and the "spike team " was headed for the Genesee country, where cart and family finally arrived without the loss of a relic. It should not be forgotten that in the bottom of the load, among the black- smith tools, for Brainard was a blacksmith, were stowed away four thousand dollars in cash, with which he made his purchases, cleared lands, built mills and distilleries, and, in short, became the " farmer prince " of the region. It was nothing unusual for him to fatten from fifty to one hundred head of cattle annually for the Albany and New York mar- kets, and this, too, before there was any means of trans- portation other than driving them on foot. He would feed them on "still slops," as it was called, through the winter, and start them for market in the spring, after the grass was up enough to feed the drove along the way and keep them in good condition. Thus he managed, and amassed a for- tune. He was a large land owner in this town, and as his children were married off they were each provided with a
well stocked farm for a "start " in life. Although a black- smith, Mr. Brainard never worked at his trade after coming to the town. After his distillery was in operation in 1816 he contracted with John Wilder, of Batavia, to deliver at his place ten thousand gallons of rye whiskey, at sixteen cents per gallon, which he made in one season. He built a grist-mill in 1820, on the Tonawanda creek, about a mile and a half below Attica. This was afterward known as the Blodgett mill, and in a few years was destroyed by fire. In 1824 he built a distillery on the farm now owned by Charles Kriegelstein.
Dudley Nichols located in the northeast part of the town in 1808, on the farm now owned and occupied by J. S. Kriegelstein. He was a stonemason by trade. He built a stone house, in which he lived for many years. The house has been taken down, and the stone used for other pur- poses.
Oliver Hodges, who settled here in 1805, was a farmer by occupation, and lived on the farm now owned by Armenius B. Scoville, a son-in-law of Mr. Hodges.
Parmenio Adams located on the place which Mrs. Mason now owns, in the village of Attica. He was a farmer. He was known as Major Adams, as he had been commissioned as major in the State militia of Connecticut. In 1824 he was elected to Congress over Isaac Wilson by one majority. The result greatly pleased his friends in the town, and a great jubilee was held to celebrate the event.
Orator Holcomb located in this town in 1805, on what is now the Vernal road. He was a millwright by trade, and worked for Mr. Brainard on his distilleries and mills.
Clark Burlingame located up Crow creek, near the center of the town. He was a carpenter by trade, and in 1813 built a frame barn for Seymour Brainard.
Asher Gardner located in 1808 about one mile south of the village, on the farm owned by Mr. Stocky.
Zadoc Williams located here in 1804, on the farm now owned by Hiram Cooley, northeast of the village. He was a farmer.
Deacon Porter was a farmer, and located bere in 1802, near Attica Center.
Stewart Gardner located on his purchase near the east line of the town, at what was once the village of Vernal, and Daniel Gardner, who came here the same year, settled south- west of what is now the village of Attica.
Lemuel Whaley, who came in 1805, settled on the east line, near the northeast corner of the town.
Owen Cotton, who came in 1806, was a millwright by trade, and finally located three miles south of Attica village, on the Tonawanda creek.
In 1809 a man by the name of Pierson located where Hi- ram Cooley now lives, and built a small tannery, which he carried on several years.
The first surveyor who resided in this town was Daniel Adams, who came here in 1805, and located a mile east of Attica village.
The pioneer lawyers in the village were Harvey Putnam, who came here in 1814, and soon afterward Moulton Farn- ham, who died but a few years ago.
The pioneer tavern was kept in a log house in 1810, on the corner about a mile east of the village of Attica, on the site now occupied by Spann & Andrews's cheese factory. It was indeed a primitive affair. It did not even hang out the
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
old pioneer sign, with the words "entertainment for man and beast." Nevertheless, it was known as the place for the weary traveler to rest and refresh himself. Mine host Hezekiah Eastman did the honors of the establishment. The next hostelry was kept by John Wilder, on what is now Market street, in the village of Attica, and in 1808 Erastus Crosby purchased of Dyer Fitch his house on what is now the corner of Main and Exchange streets in the village, and opened what was termed in those days a first class tavern, in a little frame house. As the country was new and sparse- ly settled, these three taverns were quite sufficient for the accommodation of the traveling public and for what little town custom they received. The same year that Crosby opened his tavern he built a distillery near where Wil- liam Wilder's carpenter shop now stands, on Washington street.
In 1810 Hezekiah Eastman built a distillery on the cheese factory lot of Spann & Andrews, east of the village, which stood but a few years. Brainard's distillery, built in 1815, is noticed in another place. There was also a distillery at Vernal, a small hamlet in the northeast corner of the town, in 1820; one in the gulf near the cemetery, in the west part of the village, another at Attica Center, another east of where Nelson Reynolds's house now stands, in the village of Attica, one on the west side of the town, and another a little west of the present Attica cemetery grounds, all of which went to decay many years ago.
Hezekiah Eastman was not only landlord and distiller, but a physician as well, having quite a large practice for a new country.
His brother, Nathaniel Eastman, M. D., first settled south of Attica village, and in 1811 located on the farm now owned by Francis M. Wilson, east of the village. As this part of the Holland Purchase became more thickly settled other physicians came, and among the number were Dr. Park, who located at Vernal, and Drs. Crocker and Disbrow, near the Center. On the farm of Orlando Earl, on the north side of the village of Attica, is a sulphur spring, and as long ago as 1811 its waters were applied both externally and internally for the various ills that pioneer life was heir to. A rude building was erected over the spring, in one part of which was a room rudely fitted up for a shower bath. The waters of this spring have not been used for medical purposes for many years.
In 1806 Asa Johnson, John Wilder and Joseph Wilder located in the town, near what is now the village of Attica. They were all carpenters and millwrights, and were engaged in putting up the first mills and other frame buildings in the town. They built the first mills at Attica and Varysburg, and the distilleries throughout this region.
The first weaver here, Reynolds Whaley, came in 1805. He lived a short distance east of the village of Attica. The inhabitants furnished him the raw material, and he returned to them coverlids and blankets of the most approved pat- tern of the times.
In 1808 George Cooley, with his family, located in the northeast part of the town. Mrs. Cooley had in her younger days learned the tailoress's trade. She soon became the neighborhood tailoress, and such "fits," Ephraim Brainard, Esq., says he has never seen since and never experienced be- fore. However well the clothes didn't fit the boy had to " don " them, if his feelings did suffer martyrdom.
William Jenkins, a native of Massachusetts, was the pio- neer saddler and harness maker in Attica. He worked here as early as 1816, and a few years ago he returned to Boston, Mass., where he died in January, 1879, aged eighty-four years.
At what is known on the map as " Vernal," in the north- east part of the town, Allen and Cable built a distillery, tavern, store and dwelling as early as 1809, and for many years this was the business part of the town. Now the old well from which the settlers drew water is the only evidence of a once flourishing hamlet.
In 1810 there was a brick yard near the site now occupied by Vosburgh's steam-mills, on the east side of Attica vil- lage. Charles D. Beman, who now lives in the village, worked in .the brick yard that year. The brick were made in the same way as at present; and in those early days but few were used, and those for chimneys only.
FIRST ROADS.
The oldest road in this town crossed it from Vernal, on the east line, to Attica village, and so on west to Benning- ton. It is known as the Buffalo and Moscow road; consti- tutes Main street in Attica, and is called the Bennington road west from Attica. There was also a road leading from near the Brainard settlement to Attica Center. The road leading up Tonawanda creek from Attica to Varysburg, in Sheldon, was in use as early as 1806. The one running up Crow creek to Attica Center was also one of the pioneer roads. At this early date, 1806, these roads had not been worked, and in most places were mere paths. The Benning- ton road, toward Buffalo, was followed by marked trees until after a mail route was established, about 1814. The first road laid out according to law was from Attica to Geneseo.
POLITICAL HISTORY AND STATISTICS.
This town was formed from Sheldon, Genesee county, April 4th, 18t1, and originally included the present town of Orangeville, which was taken off in 1816.
The following is a list of the supervisors of the town of Attica from 1812 to 1879, inclusive:
In 1812, John Hubbard ; 1818, 1814. 1623, Thomas Cooley ; 185, Ama Johnson, jr .; 1816. 1817, Robert Earle; 1818, 1826, 1834, Thomas Cooley, jr .; 1819, 1830, Hanford Conger ; 1881, 1822, 1897, George Cooley ; 1816, 1826, David Scott ; 1837, 1844, Charles Chaffey ; 1889-31. 1245, 1846, Reuben Benbam; 1813, 1804. Hosen B. Sprout ; 1888, James Douglas ; 1866, Exra Biebop ; 1008, 1889. John 8. Billings; 1840, 1841, Oliver Hodges ; 1848, 1843, 1847, Boswell Gardner ; 1848, 1860, 1866, William Walbridge: 1851-58, William Powers; 1864,; Newcomb Demary, jr .; 1866, William B. Goodwin ; 1897, 1808, 1864-08, 1872, James H. Loomis ; 1809, Lyman Brainard ; 1800, 1881, William C. Smith ; 1802, 1882, John B. Skinner (second); 1897, 1809, M. C. Bigelow : 1009-71, 1878-15, Charles B. Benedict ; 1876, Augustus A. Smith ; 1817, 1878, R. J. Rodgers: 1878, R. H. Farnham.
The following named persons have been town clerks from 1842 to 1879. The record previous to 1842 has been lost or destroyed:
In 1848, Noah Wells; 1848, 1845, 1848, 1866, Jirah A. Pember : 1844, Parmento N. Adams; 1848, 1847, Horace D. W. Gladding ; 1849-61, Hiram T. Beman ; 1868, 1808, Timothy Loomis ; 1864, 1856, C. C. Pratt ; 1857-59, John 8. Putnam; 1860, John W. Colton ; 1881, 1662, Edward R. West : 1802, Charles Houghton ; 1864, 1863, Edward D. Tolles; 1896-66, William Bellsmith : 1826. 1873, 1878, Jacob Algier, jr .; 1871, 1872, James H. Hill ; 1878-76, George W. Reynolds; 1876, B. F. Ellison : 1817, 1879, J. D. Evans.
Attica has probably furnished its full share of the public men of this county, not only for home service, but in the legislative halls of the State and nation. The town has been represented in the Assembly by Gaius B. Rich, David Scott and Reuben Benham; and in the Senate by Harvey Putnam for four years, and by Hon. James H. Loomis, the
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ATTICA CENSUS ITEMS-BRAINARD CEMETERY-CHEESE FACTORIES-FIRST VOLUNTEERS. 129
present State Senator. Of the citizens of Attica Parmenio Adams was a member of Congress in 1824, and Harvey Putnam, George G. Hoskins (elected lieutenant-governor in 1879), and (in the last Congress) Charles B. Benedict have held the same position. County judges from this town have been Robert Earll, A. S. Stevens and W. Riley Smith. The county has also selected from this town for sheriffs John Wilder, Parmenio Adams and Newcomb Demary.
In 1875 the census reported 17,453 acres of improved land, and 4,191 acres woodland in Attica, the whole valued by the occupants at $1,191,145; farm buildings, $915,070; stock, $206,472; tools, $53,960, making a grand total of farm property in 1875 of $2,366,647; there were 8,686 acres of pasture land in the town, and 5,270 acres of meadow land, which produced 7,192 tons of hay. The same year there were raised 6,811 bushels of barley, 2,828 of buck- wheat, 16,440 of corn, 25,826 of oats, 3,852 of spring wheat, 7,881 of winter wheat, 29,049 of potatoes and 56,638 of ap- ples. There were 28,765 pounds of maple sugar made that year. The clip of wool in 1875 was 13,857 pounds, from 2,118 sheep shorn. Pork made on farms amounted to 122,- 163 pounds.
The population of Attica at the State census of 1875 was larger than at any previous one, but the growth has not been uniform, as will be seen by the annexed returns : 1830, 2,485 ; 1835, 2,981 ; 1840, 2,709 ; 1845, 2,382 ; 1850, 2.363 ; 1855, 2,679 ; 1860, 2,547 ; 1865, 2,367 ; 1870, 2,546 ; 1875, 3,057.
The assessment on the property of the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad Company in 1878 was $44,000, tax $199.09; Central assessment, $10,000, tax $45.25.
The first orchard in this town is the Steven's orchard, in the village of Attica. . It was set out by Samuel Sexton, or Saxton, who came here as early as 1810 or 1811. Previous to that, orchards, as such, were unknown. From that time to the present there has been a pretty stead y increase in fruit culture until, in 1875, the census showed 33,657 apple trees, besides large numbers of other fruit trees.
THE BRAINARD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.
The Brainard Cemetery, in the northeast part of the town, contained originally one acre of" land, and was bequeathed to the inhabitants of that part of the town for burial pur- poses by the late Seymour Brainard. For the better preser- vation of the grounds an association was formed October 11th, 1832, trustees elected, and a committee appointed to raise sixty dollars for building fence and improving the grounds. In this way the grounds were cared for until 1861, when Ephraim Brainard, John S. Kriegelstein and Lucius Austin were elected trustees, and Ephraim Brainard secre- tary and treasurer. The same condition of affairs continued until on October 19th, 1872, a public meeting was called, at which the Brainard Cemetery Association was formed, and the following persons were elected trustees: For three years, Ephraim Brainard, David Filkins; for two years, Charles Kriegelstein, Elbridge Austin; for one year, Robert Roberts, Jasper J. Brainard. On the 5th of the next month the following officers were elected: President, David Fil- kins; vice-president, Jasper J. Brainard; treasurer, Charles Kriegelstein; . secretary, Ephraim Brainard.
The association subsequently purchased of Charles Austin one and a half acres of land on the east side of the old
grounds, at an expense of about $250. Since then the grounds have been kept in a good state of preservation.
The following are the present trustees and officers of the association: Trustees, Jasper J. Brainard, Robert H. Rob- erts, Charles Kriegelstein, David Filkins, Elbridge Austin and Francis M. Wilson; president, David Filkins; treasurer, Francis M. Wilson; secretary, Ephraim Brainard.
DAIRY INTERESTS.
Until the advent of cheese factories in this town, in 1866, when the Lindsay factory was built, dairying was considered of much less importance than at the present day, when there are five cheese factories, the smallest of which has a capacity for using the milk of three hundred and fifty cows.
The Andrews factory, three-quarters of a mile east of the village of Attica, was built in the spring of 1870. In 1878 it used the milk from six hundred and fifty cows, and made one hundred and fifty-eight thousand six hundred and fifty pounds of cheese.
The Attica Center factory is located at Attica Center, and in 1878 used the milk of three hundred and fifty cows.
The Town Line factory is located on the east line of the town, a little south of the Vernal road, and made cheese from the milk of two hundred and fifty cows in 1878.
The Madison factory is a mile west of the village of Atti- ca, and in 1878 manufactured the milk of three hundred cows.
The Cowden factory, three miles south of Attica village up Tonawanda creek, made into cheese the milk from four hundred cows during the season of 1878.
It will be seen that in 1878 there was taken to factories the milk of one thousand nine hundred cows.
In 1875 there were ninety-one thousand seven hundred and thirty-six pounds of butter, and forty-seven thousand nine hundred and sixty-five pounds of cheese made in fam- ilies, and five thousand one hundred and ninety-five gallons of milk sold in market. The average number of cows kept in this town in 1875 was one thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
UNION SOLDIERS FROM ATTICA.
The first soldiers to enlist from this town for the sup- pression of the Rebellion were Nelson Updyke, April 18th, 1861; James Shipard, April 27th, 1861, and George Baars, May 13th, 1861. These men enlisted under the first call for three months, were discharged at the expiration of their time, and re-enlisted.
On the 9th of September, 1861, the following persons left this town to join a company of cavalry, which was organized at Pike by Captain Washington Wheeler, E. D. and R. N. Tolles, Merritt N. Chaffee, Luke S. Williams, William H. Niemann, Gardner L. Pratt, Horton Kimball, Hickson Fowler, W. H. Fowler and Nelson Updyke. So large a number of young men, so well known, leaving at one time, so early in the war, caused great interest, and a large concourse of citizens gathered at the railroad to see them off. Miss Nellie Dis- brow, now Mrs. James O. Prescott, presented each of the volunteers with a bouquet on behalf of -the scholars of the union school, and Merritt N. Chaffee responded on behalf of the volunters.
The company which they joined was known as Company F, 5th N. Y. cavalry, Colonel O. De Forrest. This regiment
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
served in the Army of the Potomac, and made for itself a very honorable record, Company F doing its full share in securing its good name and reputation.
Only five of the above named volunteers are now alive :- Edward D. Tolles and M. N. Chaffee, both first lieutenants when discharged; Gardner L. Pratt, Nelson Updyke and William H. Fowler.
Early in 1864 it was voted to pay a bounty of $300 to each volunteer who should be credited to Attica on the latest call for 200,000 men.
At a special town meeting held at Doty's hall, in the vil- lage of Attica, July 16th, 1864, it was voted to pay a sum not exceeding four hundred dollars to any person who should volunteer for this town on any future call of the President for men.
At a special town meeting held August 19th, 1864, it was resolved that a town bounty of $400, over and above the county bounty, be paid to each person who furnished a sub- stitute to be credited to Attica, under the latest call, and a like sum, not exceeding $400, to each person who should thereafter volunteer on that call, or be drafted and accepted, or furnish a substitute to be credited to the town; and that the town board be authorized to issue and dispose of bonds to raise money for such purpose.
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