USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents > Part 56
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Town Clerks .- Nelson Wolcott, 1898, 1804, 1897; Samuel Clark, 1996, 1886; Joseph Currier, 1888. 1800; Moses Twies, 1840-43, 1846; Nathan P. Currier, 1844: Obed R. Marston, 1845; Thomas B. Ring, 1847, 1843: Milton R. Brown.
1849 ; A. R. Bevier, 1860; Patrick O'Connor, 1861, 1808, 1865-78 ; Philo W. Pot- ter, 1868; Linus Peok, 1864; James H. Moore, 1874; James A. Mccluskey, 1875-80.
PIONEER SETTLERS.
No permanent settlements were begun in this town pre- vious to 1809. In that year the Holland Land Company is- sued the first articles to land in township number 8, range 3. The first six articles were taken by Samuel Coleman, Joshua Gates, David Wolcott, Erastus Wells, Guy Morgan and Abraham C. Hollenbeck, but there is no evidence that either of these ever located on his land. The first six who " arti- cled " land in range 4 (1811) were Timothy Kerby, Daniel H. Wooster, Amasa Joslin, James Hall, Lemuel J. Paul and Orren Waters.
Timothy Kerby, from Massachusetts, is said to have been the pioneer settler of the town, locating on lot 32, range 4, about 1812. A few years later he removed to Currier's Cor- ners, where he soon after died. It is impossible to give the names of the pioneers in the order of their settlement, but among those who located in the northwest part of the town during the war of 1812 were William and Josiah Richardson, Daniel H. Wooster, Milo Warner, Daniel Smith, Elijah Smith and Lemuel J. Paul. In 1817 settlements were begun in the vicinity of Currier's Corners. In the fall of that year Moses and Allen Twiss located on lot 17. They were soon after followed by John Brown, Henry Woolsey, Rodney Day, Cyrus McClure, B. Dickerson, Charles Fox and others.
John Eddy was the first settler between Java Village and Currier's Corners. He came in the spring of 1818. He is a native of Rhode Island, born in 1795, and came in 1815 to Sheldon, where he was married in December, 1817, to Caroline Ward, whose parents located in Sheldon' in 1811. Mr. Eddy located on lot 20, and is still living near the site of his first pioneer shanty. His wife, a native of New Hampshire, born in January, 1799, is also living, and was the pioneer female in the western portion of the town. They are the oldest living couple in the town.
Samuel Woodworth, from Vermont, located on lot 32, range 4, in 1819, and remained a resident of the town until his death, in 1869. Henry Woolsey, from Columbia county, located in 1819 on lot 23, range 4, where he died in 1870.
The first settlements in township 8, range 3, were made in the vicinity of North Java. Rufus Jewell located on lot 16 in the spring of 1816; Barney Lockwood and his son Squire Lockwood on lot 7 in the spring of 1817; Elijah Bassett on. the same lot in 1819.
Moses Twiss and his brother Allen were the pioneer set- tlers in the southwestern part of the town. They were born
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EARLY SETTLERS IN JAVA-MILLS AT JAVA VILLAGE.
in Charlton, Worcester county, Mass., the former January 17th, 1793, and the latter May 11th, 1795. In the spring of 1817 they came on foot to this county, arriving at Strykers- ville on May 11th, having been seventeen days on the road. They immediately " articled " land on lot 17, range 4, and the following fall constructed a log cabin and commenced improvements. For the first few months they were obliged to go to Strykersville, six miles away, for their baking, there not being a house between that place and their shanty. Moses Twiss was married April 25th, 1810, to Louisa Wood- worth, of Rutland county, Vt., where she was born July 27th, 1798. He continued to reside on and improve the farm upon which he first located until October, 1836, when he removed to one on lot 18, where he remained until his death, January 29th, 1868. He was an active and success- ful business man, and an influential citizen, being promi- nently identified with the political history of the town While Java was yet a part of China he held several town of- fices, serving as town clerk a number of years. He was in- strumental in the formation of the town of Java, was elect- ed its first supervisor, and held that office five consecutive years. He reared ten children, most of whom are still resi- dents of the county. His wife is living with her son on the old homestead.
Allen Twiss is still living where he first located, one of the oldest residents of the town. He was married May 25th, 1823, to Jeannette M. Russell, of Arcade. She died Febru- ary Ist, 1854. Mr. Twiss has always had the confidence and respect of the community, who have honored him with offices of trust. He has held the office of assessor for thirty years.
Milo Warner became a resident of Java in March, 1814, removing his family and effects from Vermont with an ox team, occupying twenty-six days on the journey. He located in the forest, on lot 32, range 4, where he carved out a home and remained until his death, May Ist, 1873. He was born in Rutland county, Vt., June 11th, 1791, and was married in November, 1812, to Lucina K. Sykes, of the same county. She died in Java July 20th, 1843. Mr. Warner was foremost in educational, temperance, religious and all other efforts for the improvement and advancement of society, and was first to abandon liquor in the harvest field. He was one of the first school teachers in that section, was instrumental in the organization of the Congregational church at Strykers- ville, was chosen its first deacon, and served as such until his death. He was kind, generous and hospitable, influen- tial and respected. He reared a large family, many of whom are still residents of the county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Daniel H. Wooster was one of the first settlers in the town. In 1811 he articled the tract of land upon which Java village is now situated, where he located as early as 1812 or 1813. He was a native of this State, and came from Canandaigua to Sheldon about 1808, where he was soon after married to Anna Gillett. He was the pioneer mill- wright and miller of the town, and remained a resident until about 1826, when he removed to Strykersville, where he died in 1873, aged ninety-two years. Soon after his advent in this town he came very near losing his life in a combat with a huge buck which he surprised in the woods asleep. As the buck sprang up to run, his horns caught in some bushes for a moment, and Mr. Wooster thought to
make him his prey; but the buck soon released himself, and turned upon his antagonist. A large club lying providen- tially at hand dispatched the buck and saved Mr. Wooster's life, but not until his clothes were nearly all torn from his body.
Lemuel J. Paul, from Vermont, took up one hundred and fifty acres just north of Java village in 1811, and settled in the spring of 1814 where James W. Ives now resides, where he remained until his death.
. Jonas Brown, a native of New Hampshire, came to Java village in June, 1829, where he remained until his death in March, 1876. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife is still a resident of the place, in her eighty-sixth year.
Daniel Smith took up three hundred acres of land on lot 39, upon which he located in the spring of 1814. He lived here until July, 1823, when he sold and removed.
Among the Irish population the first to locate in Java were three brothers-Lawrence, Owen and Richard McGwyer- who came in the spring of 1829. They were all unmarried, but became permanent residents here. They were followed the same year by James McGinnis, James Conroy, Patrick Corcoran and John King.
JAVA VILLAGE.
This enterprising little village contains a grist-mill and two saw-mills, in connection with one of which is a cheese-box and barrel factory; a hotel, two general stores, a hardware store and tin shop, a tannery, a cheese factory, one wagon and two blacksmith shops, a cabinetware and undertaking establishment, besides several other shops. The present population is about 200.
HISTORY OF BUSINESS AT JAVA VILLAGE.
The first grist- mill in the town of Java was built. at this place, in 1816, by Samuel H. Wooster. It stood not far from the east bank of Buffalo creek, from which the water was conveyed through .pump logs to the overshot water wheel. The stones used were chiseled from native rocks, and moose wood bark constituted most of the belting and fastenings. Many laughable stories are yet told of the ca- pacity and workings of this mill. It continued to do execu- tion for two or three years, when Mr. Wooster built another, near the site of the present one. It was a square building of hewed logs, and the power and machinery were sufficient for the demand for a time. This mill he operated until about 1822, when he sold it to Gourney & Whitney. They were succeeded by Joseph Barber and Charles Richardson. The construction of the present grist-mill was begun by Barber & Richardson in 1835, and completed by Mr. Richardson in 1836.
Harry Eddy built a saw-mill at this place as early as 1820, which he operated several years. It was afterward owned by D. W. Hall, and still later by L. Cleft, on whose hands it burned down.
Lyman D. Wood located here about 1825, and soon after built a mill for wool carding and cloth dressing, which he carried on many years. The building was converted into a saw-mill by Peter G. Clark, and is now owned and operated by Richardson Howard as a saw-mill and cheese-box factory.
The first stock of goods was brought in about 1824 by H. J. Comstock, who occupied a portion of the hewed log grist-
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
mill as a store. His successor in trade was Levi Smith, who sold at the same place. Lyman D. Wood built the first store, which he stocked about 1828 or 1829. The building is the one .now occupied by Nichols & Conrad for the same purposes. Among the other early merchants at this place were Sheffield Herrington, 'George Baldwin, George Far- well, Schuyler Gough, Porter and Lyndorf Potter, Timothy G. Clark and his son Timothy G. Clark, jr., Barnard C. Ring, Charles H. Richardson and Sylvester Griggs.
William Brooks, who located here about 1826, built the first tannery soon after. He was followed by John Fry, Gilbert Winegar and Obadiah Green. This establishment was burned about 1848; but eight or ten years previous to this John Fry had built a second tannery. In 1852 Elijah Smith built one on a more extensive scale than his prede- cessors, and he conducted the business several years. He was followed in ownership by Andrew J. Taylor, Amos Stevens and Dr. Green. The building was burned in 1871. The present tannery was built in 1873 by Patrick Hogan.
Wood & Nelson built a distillery here about 1829.
Palmer Whitney came here about 1823, and soon after opened the first hotel. Joseph Barber opened the first shoe shop, in 1823, and Jacob Fancher the first blacksmith shop, in 1825.
A post-office was established here about 1826, under the name of Gurney's Mills. Lyman D. Wood was the first postmaster. The name of the office was a few years later changed to Java Village.
A school-house was built about 1818, and was the first frame building in the village.
The first and present cemetery was established about 1827. A child of Harry Eddy was the first person buried in it.
GOOD TEMPLARS' LODGE.
Java Village Lodge, No. 574, I. O. G. T. was instituted April 3d, 1868, by R. L. Hurlburt, with thirty-two members. The first leading officers were: G. B. Clark, W. C. T .; Mrs. Howard M. Clark, W. V. T .; Joseph Cooper, W. C .; J. W. Ives, W. S .; James Barnes, W. T .; Henry B. Hogan, P. W. C. T. This lodge has sustained its organization without intermission from its commencement, and has lately built a two-story building for its accommodation. Regular meet- ings are held on Saturday evenings.
NORTH JAVA.
But few inland villages in Wyoming county do a more flourishing business, in proportion to the number of occu- pations represented, than does North Java. It is situated in the northeast part of the town, and contains 160 inhabit- ants, with two general stores, one hardware store, two churches, a hotel, three blacksmith and two wagon shops, two millinery and dressmaking shops, a patent medicine establishment, one harness and two shoe shops, a photo- graph gallery and two resident physicians. A saw and shingle mill and a cheese factory are located within a con- venient distance of the village.
Among the first settlers on the site of the village were Rufus Jewell, - Watson, - Ingraham, Stephen Car- son, - Grover and Levi Mann, locating from 1816 to- 1820.
About 1823 James Mann, who had previously located near the site of the present M. E. church, converted his
log dwelling into a tavern, and immediately after put up a frame addition to it, which was the first frame structure erected in this part of the town. Though removed from its original site, it is still in existence, and is occupied as part of a large dwelling. Mr. Mann continued to accommodate the public at his original place until 1829, when he erected the present hotel on the corners, which he kept for several years, and was succeeded by A. C. Williams. It was subse- quently owned and kept by Merrit B. Lewis until 1855, when it was bought by the present proprietor, O. G. Warren.
The first store was built and opened in 1832, by Ormus Doolittle and David McWethy as proprietors. Elijah Bassett did the carpenter and joiner work, Doolittle and McWethy furnished the stock and Seth Lewis managed the business. The latter subsequently became sole proprietor.
Among the other early merchants at this point were James Bronson, Jotham D. Tower and Alpheus Baldwin.
Elijah Bassett opened the first shoe shop here, about 1820, and Abram Fancher the first blacksmith shop about 1830.
Dr. Benjamin Potter, of Sheldon, was the first physician to practice in this vicinity, and Dr. Isaac Garvin the first to locate at North Java.
The first school-house in the district was built of logs, about 1823, and stood three-fourths of a mile south of the village. About 1830 the first school-house (frame) was built at North Java.
CHURCHES OF NORTH JAVA.
Free Will Baptist .- A church of this denomination was organized at the Gulf school-house, on the east line of the town, about 1828. The constituent members were few, but a revival soon increased their number to over forty. Their services were at first held at the Gulf school-house and at North Java. Among the first pastors were Revs. H. Jen- kins, Hitchcock, Moses, Tanner, Brown and Miner. The society began the construction of a meeting-house within a few years after its organization, but the church having be- come reduced in 1836 to but few members, it was disbanded before the building was finished. About 1847 a reorganiza- tion of the church was effected, and by uniting with the Congregational society, which was organized the same year, the church building was completed, and was used by both societies alternately for a few years, when the former became extinct as an organization, and the latter society became sole owner of the church property by mutual consent.
First Congregational .- This church was constituted Aug- ust 14th, 1847, under the direction of Rev. W. C. Childs, with fifteen members, viz .: Deacon S. B. Joy, Deacon M. C. Humphrey, M. M. Childs, Dr. J. C. Tibbetts, H. M. Hum- phrey, John R. Mills, C. Lovell, Nathan R. Clark, Mrs. E. Joy, Mrs. Sarah Lovell, Mrs. Charity Mills, Mrs. Lydia Humphrey, Mrs. L. Chipman, Mrs. S. Humphrey and Miss Sophia Joy.
Rev. W. C. Childs became the first pastor of the church, and remained until 1851. His successors were Rev. N. T. Yeomans, from June, 1852, until June, 1855; Rev. C. C. Crossfield, from 1855 to 1857; Rev. T. J. Quigley, for three years from April, 1858; Rev. D. Powell, one year; Rev. William Hall, one year from October Ist, 1862. After this the church was supplied at stated intervals for a time by Rev. Messrs. Smith and Dewey.
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VILLAGES IN JAVA-CHURCH AND LODGE HISTORIES.
This church had seasons of increase and prosperity, but deaths and removals at length diminished the membership, until in 1874 only two members remained, Mrs. E. Joy and Sophia Joy.
In October, 1874, a reorganization of this church was ef- fected, under the direction of Rev. J. C. Caswell, with six- teen members. The church building was repaired and re- fitted at an expense of $700, and was afterward supplied with a bell, an organ and commodious sheds;
Mr. Caswell remained as pastor until the spring of 1878, and was succeeded the same year by the present pastor, Rev. D. Dunham.
The church now numbers forty-two members.
LODGES AT NORTH JAVA.
Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 263, F. & A. M., of North Java, was chartered June 17th, 1852, and is the oldest lodge of this order now in existence in the county. Among its charter members were John C. Tibbetts, George A. John- son, Calvin Rogers, John Curtis, John Parish, Amasa Briggs, Justus Blakely, James Case and Ebenezer Jackson. The first leading officers were John C. Tibbetts, W. M .; George A. Johnson, S. W .; and Calvin Rogers, J. W. Its meetings were continued quite regularly until 1869, when they were neglected, and the charter was at length arrested by the grand lodge. . In June, 1871, Charles D. Wolcott, Nelson E. Torrey and Dr. T. D. Powell were sent as delegates to the meeting of the grand lodge in New York, and succeeded in securing the restoration of the charter, since which time the lodge has been in a flourishing condition. In 1873 it erected a two-story frame building at North Java, at a cost of about $1,000, the upper part of which is used for lodge purposes. The present membership is 46.
North Java Lodge, No. 126, A. O. U. W. was instituted at North Java January 25th, 1878, by --- Webb, with four- teen charter members. The following were among the first officers elected: Master Workman, Walter S. Joy; P. M. W., D. C. Blakely; recorder, William W. Boddy; general foreman, Nelson E. Torrey; Overseer, E. R. Fox; financier, Leonard Blakely. Regular meetings are held on Friday evenings, in Masonic Hall.
CURRIER'S CORNERS (JAVA POST-OFFICE).
This locality was originally know as Fox's Corners, but was subsequently called Currier's Corners, by which name it is still known throughout this part of the country, although the name of the post-office is Java, and has been since its establishment.
The first settler here was John Brown, who came from Vermont in the winter of 1817 and 1818. He was followed .in the spring of 1819 by Charles Fox, who in 1822 built a tavern on one of the four corners. He was succeeded in 1827 by Nahum Thompson, and he two years later by Edgar Camp, who soon after removed the original building, and built the present hotel on the same site. About 1831 this property came into the possession of Abner Currier. The business was continued by Mr. Currier and his two sons, Ulricks and Joseph, successively for many years, from which fact the village derived its present name. In 1829 Nahum Thompson built a hotel. He kept it about three years, when it was converted into a private dwelling.
The first stock of merchandise was brought to this place
in 1828, by Daniel and William Jackman, who built and occupied the store now occupied by Lyford & Kent. They also built an ashery here about the same time, which they carried on in connection with store keeping. Among the other early merchants were Edgar Camp, Abner Currier, Watson Miller and Colonel Abraham Smith.
A saw- mill was built in this vicinity in 1831, by Blake Howard. It was subsequently owned and worked by Gor- din D. Fox, and afterward by Dan Dickerson. It was even- tually destroyed by fire, and rebuilt by Mr. Dickerson, but finally abandoned as unprofitable.
The village now contains two general stores, a hotel, a church, a steam saw-mill, a cheese factory, one wagon shop and two blacksmith shops.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT CURRIER'S CORNERS.
This church was organized in the school-house at Cur- rier's Corners in May, 1854, by Revs. J. S. Northrup and L. A. Skinner, with thirty-one constituent members, among whom were Ira Kibbe, Ephraim Fisk, Moses Smith, Luke Smith, Hiram Moore and George Wainwright, Ira Kibbe and Ephraim Fisk were chosen as the first deacons.
The society was legally incorporated January 11th, 1855, under the name of the "First Congregational Society of West Java." The first trustees were Ephraim Fisk, jr., Ira Kibbe and Gordin D. Fox. A building committee, consist- ing of Moses Smith, John B. Gillett and Lucius Thompson was appointed at the same time, and the society soon after built a frame church edifice, which was completed and dedi- cated early in 1856 by Rev. G. S. Northrup. It cost, in- cluding ground and sheds, about $2,000.
Rev. G. S. Northrup served as the first pastor, and was followed by Revs. L. Parker, Gregg, Frost and others.
The present membership is 35.
WILLIAMSVILLE,
situated three-fourths of a mile south of North Java, con- tains a few mechanics' shops and about a dozen dwellings, and is identified with North Java in all its interests. The locality takes its name from Hiram Williams, who settled here about 1838, and for many years did quite an exten- sive business in a mechanical line. The mercantile busi- ness, which was begun at this point by James Bronson in 1852, has long since been absorbed by North Java.
EAST JAVA.
East Java, situated in the southeasterly part of the town, is a hamlet containing a store, a hotel, a cheese factory and half a dozen dwellings. The place is more familiarly known as Java Lake, being situated near the outlet of Cattaraugus lake. Levi Stearns was the first settler in this locality, about 1816. Freedom Lord located uear here in 1820, and about 1825 opened a tavern in a two-story log house, the upper part of which was used by a masonic lodge, which became extinct soon after the abduction of Morgan. James Barton built and worked an ashery here about 1821, and a few years later opened a log tavern on one of the present four corners. Henry Rice built and kept the first frame hotel, about 1829; the building is still standing, and known as " the red house." -The present hotel was built in 1832, by Joseph Fuller, who kept it several years.
A man named Wright built a store here and brought in
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the first stock of goods about 1824. Andelusha Pyer acted as his agent. Nelson Wolcott was also an early mer- chant here.
JAVA CENTRE
has one of the largest and most costly churches in this part of the State, recently erected by the Catholic society of the town. The hamlet also contains the priest's residence, a hotel, a cheese factory and five or six dwellings.
James McGinnis, who was the first settler here, located in 1829, and soon after opened his new home as a tavern, con- tinuing the business until his death in 1852. This was, in early times, quite a trading point. Benjamin Gardner, Booth and Denio were among the first to sell goods here, but the business has long since been abandoned.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
BENJAMIN C. BARBER, cabinet maker and undertaker since 1886, and be- fore that a miller, was born in Franklin county, Mass .. December 9th, 1812, and came to Java Village in October, 1833, where he has since resided. He was married September 23th, 1835, to Elias Carroll, of Fitzwilliam, N. H., a native of Massachusetts. He has been a deacon of the Baptist church of Strykeraville many years. His father. Joseph Barber. came from Massachu- setts-wbere be was born in 1780-to Java Village in 1883, bringing with him a large family. He opened the first shoe shop al Java Village,and continued that business until bis death, March &d, 1839.
CHARLES BARBER, son of Joseph Barber, is a native of Java, born Febru- ary 6th, 1821, and was married August 8th, 1817, to Fidella Stock well, a native of Jefferson county, N. Y. Excepting seven years spent in Illinois be bas remained a resident of this town. He located on his present farm in 1876. He enlisted October 8th, 1861, in Company A. 101th N. Y. infantry; was wounded at the Wilderness, and honorably discharged October 30th, 1851.
JAMES S. BARNES, a native and life-long resident of Java. was born April 15th. 1845. In the spring of 1835 be Incated at Java Village, where he has since been blacksmithing. He was married in July, 1867. to Mary A. Murther. of Java. His father. Michael Barnes, emigrated from Ireland to Connecti- cut in his youth, and came to Java about 1833, where he died in February, 1870.
SAMUEL THORNE BROWRE is descended from ancestors who emigrated from Holland to this State in 1630. He was born in Dutchess county. N. Y., December 80th, 1810. He is a tinsmith, and was at one time extensively en- gaged in the hardware business in Sy.nouse. For about seven years be kept botels in Otsego and Greene counties, and was deputy sheriff several terms. He spent several years at his trade in Buffalo. Helussted at Java Village in 1878. He was married in 1832 to Sarah 8. Wood, of Otsego, and bas six children.
THOMAS BURNHAM came to Jara Village in 1840. He was born in Upper Canada December 16th. 1812, and was married January 18th, 1812, to Philena, daughter of Joseph Barber, of Java Village. He is a carpenter and joiner.
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