USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents > Part 67
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There were then no centers of population, like the present large villages which are found in almost every town, but the sparse population was spread over a wide extent of territory. Instead of the smooth roads over which the physicians at the present day ride in their easy carriages, here and there a way was cut through the forest and the stumps left standing; or perhaps the way was only marked, to obviate the danger of being lost. Over such roads Dr. H. could only go on horseback, or in some cases on foot.
Physicians then were more like angels' visits, few and far between, than now. If the husband, wife or child in a dis- tant solitary pioneer cabin languished on a sick bed, the aid of the doctor was invoked; and perhaps the place was only accessible by' leaving the horse that had borne him a portion of the distance tied to a sapling, crossing a swollen, unford-
able stream on a log, and threading his way through the forest, guided by marked trees, with his saddle bags on his arm. On his return, overtaken perhaps by the darkness, he was compelled to listen to the howling of the wolves; not sufficiently famished to embolden them to making an attack, but hungry enough to prompt such an expression of a desire to pick his bones as to make him think of his fireside and wish himself there. Neither he nor the settlers whom he served enjoyed the facilities which everywhere abound now for procuring medicines. A few common drugs were kept at the pioneer store, and the merchant took with him on his annual or biennial visits to Albany the doctor's memorandum, and brought back the medicines ordered; but he was compelled to rely to some extent on the roots, barks and plants which he gathered in the woods and prepared in his homely office, and thus he kept himself familiar with the medical properties of many indigenous plants of which physicians are now wholly ignorant.
SCHOOLS IN THE TOWN.
About the year 1819 the first school that is remembered was taught in the town of Perry, near the Center, by Samuel Waldo, in a house that stood on the corner just west from S. W. Tewksbury's. residence.
Under the school law of 1811 there were commissioners elected, and a division of the town into districts was made in accordance with then existing circumstances. About 1820 the town was redistricted, and the districts then estab- lished were changed from time to time, as changing circum- stances required.
Latterly, as the rural population has decreased, and fewer children are living in these districts, the number of districts diminishes. This diminution is due both to the decrease of population and to the practice which has come of late to prevail of consolidating districts in order to make the schools larger, extend the curriculum of study in them, and render them more efficient. In this respect the schools of Perry are like those of other towns. The school district at Perry Center embraces a territory some three miles in extent each way, and two teachers are employed in the school.
THE SILVER LAKE SERPENT.
Some twenty-three years since a very successful canard was circulated here, and afterward, by the connivance of cer- tain editors, it spread through the entire country.
From time immemorial a tradition had existed among the Indians of a monstrous serpent that inhabited Silver lake. This tradition was known to many of the inhabitants in the vicinity, and by some few was credited. A man who was gathering flags between the inlet and the outlet of the lake, saw suddenly rise before him something which so frightened him that he left in haste and could not be induced to return. Not long afterward several men, who were entirely credible, saw something which they took to be an enormous serpent. These men verified their statement by an affidavit which was published, and many visited the lake and watched for his snakeship. A journalist from Buffalo wrote a glowing ac- count of the serpent, which was illustrated by its likeness, and was republished in all parts of the country. An obser- vatory was erected at a place commanding a view of the en- tire lake, and in this people watched "from morn till night." An intrepid whaleman, armed with a harpoon and the other
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FARM RESIDENCE OF R . W. BRIGHAM, PERRY, N .Y.
RESIDENCE OF B.H. HOLLISTER, PERRY, N. Y.
RESIDENCE OF JAMES WYLIE, PERRY, N .Y.
RES. OF S. L.CHAPIN, PERRY, N. Y.
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FARM RESIDENCE OF PARIS OLIN, NEAR PERRY CENTRE, N.Y.
FARM RESIDENCE OF A . W. TOAN, PERRY N. Y.
RESIDENCE OF M. C. WILLIAMS , PERRY N. Y.
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OFFICERS OF PERRY-WEST PERRY AND PERRY CENTER.
implements of his office, cruised daily in search of the mon- ster. It afterward "leaked out " that a certain fun loving Boniface had hired him to do this, and it was whispered that an attempt was made to manufacture an india-rubber ser- pent in order to meet an evident demand for a humbug. The journals continued to publish extravagant stories of the matter, and the excitement was kept up for some time, greatly to the advantage of railroad companies, stage pro- prietors and hotel keepers; and Silver lake became more thoroughly advertised than it could have been by any other process. It is doubted, however, whether any snake larger than those which, under certain circumstances, infest people's boots, was ever seen.
POLITICAL HISTORY AND STATISTICS.
As has been stated, Perry was incorporated in 1814. In that year the first town meeting was held at the house of Peter Beebe, at Perry Center; Jairus Cruttenden was chosen supervisor, Warren Buckland town clerk, and Salmon Pres- ton constable and collector. Levi Benton, Pardon Tabor, James Symonds and Robert Moore were the first justices chosen by the supervisors and judges under the constitu- tion of 1821.
The records of the town were burnt on the first of Feb- ruary, 1866. The names of the supervisors previous to that time were obtained from the records of the counties of Genesee and Wyoming. In 1814 Jairus Cruttenden was elected ; in 1815 and 1818, Levi Benton ; 1817, John Bowers ; 1821, Oren Sheldon ; 1823 and 1850, Rufus H. Smith ; 1827, Robert Moore ; 1830 and 1834, James Sym- onds ; 1831, Phicol M. Ward ; 1835, Truman Benedict ; 1844, Samuel Benedict ; 1848, Lewis H. Parsons ; 1849, Jason Lathrop ; 1851, John Coleman ; 1856, Dennis R. Taylor ; 1866 and 1873, Samuel W. Tewksbury ; 1871, Randall W. Brigham ; 1874, William Crichton ; 1876, Henry N. Page.
Perry, like several other towns of the county, has suffered a serious loss of population during the last forty years. The State census returns since 1825 furnish the following figures: 1830, 2,792; 1835, 2,984; 1840, 3,087; 1845, 2,952; 1850, 2,832; 1855, 2,560; 1860, 2,452; 1865, 2,366; 1870, 2,342; 1875, 2,416.
WEST PERRY.
West Perry is a hamlet near the foot of Silver lake, about a mile and a half from Perry village.
About the year 1824 the cemetery at West Perry was established, by a voluntary association, of which Dan Dickinson, Nathaniel Otis and Arad Stilwell were trustees. These trustees bought from Charles P. Jewett an acre of ground for $7. This they enclosed with a rail fence, and divided it into lots of a convenient size.
PERRY CENTER.
This village is a place of some forty houses. The first postmaster was Talcott Howard, and he was followed in succession by Jason Lathrop, Henry Cleveland, Charles McEntee and Daniel Ball; but the dates of their appoint- ment are lost.
In 1816 a store was established by a Mr. Pierce, of Avon, with John D. Landon as his agent. This store was a small building that stood on the present garden of Dr.
William Crichton. It was long since moved away, and converted successively into a tailor's shop, dwelling-house, barn, and finally into a hop house, for which it is used by its present owner, William O. Newcomb.
Clough and Howe were the first blacksmiths.
The first tavern at Perry Center was built by Peter Beebe. It.was a log house, and it stood on ground now occupied by Daniel Ball's house. Mr. Beebe settled here in 1810 or 1811, and built this house soon afterward. He occupied it as a tavern a few years, and then erected a framed building on the same site, which he used many years as a hotel. It was afterward moved away, and it is now the principal part of the residence of William O. Newcomb.
On the northwest corner a large framed building was erected for a hotel in 1817, by one Atwood. It was occupied as a hotel by various parties till 1858. . It is now the resi- dence of William H. Hawley.
Mrs. Polly Higgins, whose maiden name was Taylor, and who was born in Berkshire county, Mass., in 1800, came to Perry Center in 1813. She is now living at Perry. She re- members that when she came, with her parents, twenty days were consumed on the road, with two teams and some house- hold goods. They brought the second barrel of pork that came into the town. At the time she came there were but two settlers between Moscow and Perry Center. They were a Mr. Smith and a Mr. Blackmore, near the Center. In ad- dition to those already spoken of, she remembers Ralph Ward, Hervey Butler, Orren Sheldon, Mr. Howard and his children, Captain Atwood, Mr. Pettis, Mr. Macklin, Horace Bingham and Noah D. Sanger; north were Thomas Mc- Entee and his brother and others; west were Mr. Buckland, Alexander Kinney and Henry Bush; south were Hollister, Brigham and Gould.
CEMETERY, PERRY CENTER.
The cemetery at Perry' Center is under the management of an incorporated association, formed in 1818, with Samuel Howard, Phicol M. Ward and Orren Sheldon as trustees. They bought half an acre from Lemuel Blackmer for $40, and the ground has since been enlarged to two acres. The original division was into lots of a square rod each, which were sold at fifty cents apiece. Improvements have been made by voluntary contributions.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, PERRY CENTER.
The first church organization in the town of Perry, and one of the oldest Congregational churches in the county, was organized at Perry Center on the 28th of June, 1814, by Rev. Oliver Ayer and Rev. Silas Hubbard, who had been sent out from the Connecticut Missionary Society. The original members were Samuel Howard, Ralph Ward, Mrs. Lorain Ward, Miss Catey Ward, Hervey Butler, Mrs. Sally Butler and Miss Roxa Carpenter.
The ecclesiastical society was formed and trustees were . chosen July 21st, 1817; and the society was reorganized De- cember 6th, 1825. The first house of worship was com- menced in 1828, and dedicated March 4th, 1830; Rev. Julius Steele, of Warsaw, officiating. It was repaired in 1856, and rededicated on the 29th of December of that year; Rev. J. E. Nassau, of Warsaw, preaching the sermon. It was again repaired in 1867.
In 1816 the church united with the Presbytery of Geneva,
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
but retained the Congregational form of government. This was called union on the "accommodation plan." In 1817, by a division of the Presbytery of Geneva, this church be- came a part of the Presbytery of Ontario; and by another division, in 1819, of that of Genesee, which connection was retained till 1831, when the church unanimously resolved to dissolve its union with the presbytery, and was regularly dismissed. Since that time its government has been Congre- gational. In 1865 this church became a member of the Wyoming County Conference of Congregational Ministers and Churches, an advisory body, possessing no ecclesiastical authority.
Since 1824 there has existed among the female members of this church a missionary society, which has been at dif- ferent times auxiliary to the Foreign Missionary Society, the Home Missionary Society and the Bethel Society. In 1846 the Female Benevolent Society was formed for various benev- olent purposes.
The pastors of this church have been:
Reve. Edmund Ingalls, jr., 1816 ; Elthu Mason, 1817, 1880 ; Edward Andrews, 1819; Samuel T. Mills, 1821-24 ; Eli 8. Hunter, 1826, 1826 ; Jonathan Sbeidon, 1826. 1887 ; Lot B. Sullivan, 1827, 1828 ; Dexter Cary, 1829; William P. Jackson, 1829; Samuel H. Gridley, D. D., 1880-86 ; Oren Brown, 1836; Caleb Burge, 1887, 1886: George W. Newcomb, 1888-40; John Scott, 1840, 1841; George W. Gridley, 1812; Wales Tileston, 1848, 1844; Philo Canfield, 1845-48 ; Watson Mearsmith, 1848: Thomas Morey Hodgman, 1848-68; George J. Means, 1860- 68; Imac N. Ely, 1868; Claudius B. Lord, 1864-66 ; James Pierce Boot, 1806-74 ; W. C. Sexton, 1875-77; Edgar Perkins, the present pastor, came in 1877.
Of these pastors three, S. H. Gridley, D. D., Rev. T. M. Hodgman, and Rev. George J. Means were installed at the beginning of their pastorates. Rev. C. Burge, during his ministry in this church, died because of being thrown from his carriage descending Warsaw hill on his way to conduct the exercises at a funeral.
The following have been elected deacons of this church: Jabez Ward and Hervey Butler in 1814, Horace Sheldon, 1817, Samuel Howard, 1843, Simeon R. Barber, 1854, John M. Butler, 1854.
Of the former members of this church Messrs. Stewart Sheldon, C. A. Huntington and Joseph Ward have become clergymen.
In 1822 a number of the members of this organization established a Presbyterian church in the village of Perry, but in 1831 this organization became extinct. It was revived in 1835, since which time it has been successful.
A Sabbath-school was established and a Bible class formed by Deacon H. Sheldon about 1829. Captain P. McEntee, Deacons S. R. Barber and John S. Butler, Thomas McEntee, George Keeney, George K. Sheldon, Andrew Sheldon, Joseph Buckland and J. L. Wygant have been superintend- ents.
PERRY VILLAGE.
This place began to give promise of becoming a village soon after the first settlement of the town. A grist-mill and saw-mill were built here in 1811, and within two or three years a small store was established. It was first called by the people of the town Shacksburg, then Columbia, and afterward Nineveh; but it finally, as well as the town, took the name of the hero of Lake Erie.
The first store was kept on the hill near where the rail- road depot now stands, but as time went on and the village grew, the center of business came to be where it is now. The village never had any periods of spasmodic growth, but in- creased steadily in size and activity till about 1842, since which its growth has been less rapid. The location of the county seat at Warsaw induced many to become residents of that village who would otherwise have settled at Perry, and thus its growth was retarded. The general introduction of steam as a motive power has, by facilitating the establish- ment of manufactories wherever the raw material exists, prevented the utilization of water power; and for this reason Perry is less of a manufacturing village than it might other- wise have become.
Nine years since a railroad was built, by the enterprise of the citizens of the town and village, from this place to Gaines- ville, where it connects with the N. Y., L. E. & W. Railroad, thus affording facilities for travei and transportation fully equal to those of any village in this part of the county. Within a few years the beautiful shores of Silver lake have attracted many hither during the summer season, and this of course increases the activity of the place; and this increase is likely to continue, for Silver lake is rapidly becoming more and more of a summer resort. The population of the village in 1870 was 867, and now (1879) it is probably about 1,000.
PERRY VILLAGE POLITICAL HISTORY.
Perry was incorporated by an act of the Legislature in the year 1830. The act of incorporation created the usual municipal officers, and invested these officers with the powers ordinarily conferred for the administration and regulation of village affairs.
It is true of many villages that the inhabitants, who are largely composed of mechanics, tradesmen and retired busi- ness men, who own places of business and village residences, are anxious to extend the limits of these corporations, and include sometimes an unreasonable area of real estate in or- der that their burden of taxation may be lighter. That such was not the case here is shown by the thirteenth section of the act, which reads thus:
"The lands comprebended within the bounds of the village, and which are reserved as woodlands, meadow lands, pastures, brubards, and in general all such lands as are kept and improved as farming lands, with their appurte- nances (dwelling-houses, mills and buildings excepted), shall not, as long as they are so reserved, kept or used, be taxed for the benefit of the village."
This charter was revised and amended, or rather a new one was granted, by a special act in 1864 to meet the wants which changed circumstances had created. The same pro- vision above quoted is a part of this charter.
The records of the village are said to have been destroyed by fire, as were those of the town, in 1866. The charter provides that the president shall be chosen each year by the board of trustees from among their number. Since 1866 the following citizens have held the office of president and trustee:
Presidents .- In 1867. Mortimer Sharpsteen ; 1808, John S. Thompson : 1809. 1870, Samuel L. Chapin ; 1871, Lyman G. Morgan : 1872, R. C. Moredo&t; 1878, 1874, Jerome Allen ; 1875, H. N. Page ; 1876, 1877, R. C. Smith ; 1878, 1870, H. C. Loomis.
Trustees .- J. Beardsley, E. H. Wygant, A. Hershey, James Wylie, Alex- ander Cole, J. W. Bolton, E. G. Matthews, Hugh X. Scranton, David An- drus, Charles W. G. Nobles, William T. Hamlin, M. C. Williams, D. C. White. M. E. Benedict. M. G Datis, Alanson King, Horace A. Brigham, George Tomlinson, F. O. Bullard. William Keeton. R. H. Sherman. H. T. Tuttie. Charles H. Homan, S. A. Hatch, G. B. Westlake and John Richmond.
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CEMETERIES AT PERRY-BUSINESS MEN-LODGES.
CEMETERIES IN PERRY VILLAGE.
At a very early day Selden, Ebenezer and Dr. Otis Hig- gins purchased from William Wiles the land on lot 29 that included the old cemetery, which is now on the east side of Main street. At this time there were two graves there. In- terments continued to be made there, and the ground was enclosed by a picket fence, planted with trees and more sys- tematically arranged. It originally extended across what is now Main street, and even included a strip of ground on the opposite side, between the Presbyterian and Baptist churches. Main street had no existence then, and the cemetery fronted on the road southeast from it.
This ground became nearly filled with graves, and a vol- untary association was formed and arrangements made for a second cemetery. An acre and three-fourths was bought of Calvin P. Bailey and Samuel Hatch by Elnathan Lacy, William Dolbeer and Willard Chapin, October 3d, 1833. In 1857 additional land on the same lot was conveyed to William Dolbeer, and this was the village cemetery from 1833 till 1876.
All this was conveyed to the Hope Cemetery Association, which was organized in the spring of 1876. The corpora- tors were David Andrus, Ann Kinney, Mrs. C. P. Andrus, Edward G. Matthews, Mrs. R. T. Tuttle and G. B. Olin. At their first meeting, May 5th, 1876, David Andrus was chosen president, and G. B. Olin secretary and superintendent of the grounds.
An addition was made to the cemetery lot, and the whole includes five acres. The grounds were laid out by H. B. Allen, surveyor, of Arcade.
Mr. Andrus and Mr. Olin remain president and secretary. The trustees are the same as at first, except Alanson King in place of Mr. Matthews.
BUSINESS MEN OF PERRY.
The following list of the business men in the village of Perry is derived from the memory of citizens, and it is not probably given in the exact order in which they engaged in business, and probably it does not embrace the names of all the business men of the place:
General Merchants :- T. & J. C. Eagerly. Bailey & Hatch, Benjamin Gard- ner. - De Zang, Richard Bayley, William Wiles. R. H. Smith, Orris Gard- ner. Phoenix & Brother, Armitage & Faulkner, L. B. Parsons & Son, Parsons & Clark. Smith & Graves. D. Graves, Cleveland & Graves, C. P. Bailey & Son, Corydon Weed, S. W. Merrill & Sons, George L. Davis, A. D. Smith, H. N. Page, S. P. Clark. J. H. Bailey, H. W. Barton, J. H. & C. W. Bailey, Robert Grisewood, Cook & Currier, N. P. Currier. F. O. Bullard, Moredoff & Higgins, Eugene Andrus, R. C. Moredoff, M. C. Williams, A. H. Sleeper, Bobert 8tainton.
Grocers :- Walter Little. H. W. Barton, Jirab Higgins, Hicks & Bafley, R. B. Hicks, - Stratton, E. W. Frost, Williams & Stedman, George Pritchard, C. P. Andrus, Wheeler & Garrison, Billings & Ring, F. O. Bullard, Mark Smith, R. H. Stedman, John Garrison, Hatch & Co.
Hardware Merchants :- E. P. Clark, Wyckoff, Tuttle & Olin.
Druggists :- Joseph Lamberson, D. Mitchell. S. & D. B. Higgins, Wright & Allen, J. H. Terry, W. J. Chapin, James H. Owen.
Booksellers, Stationers, etc .:- E. M. Tompkins. H. N. Page, E. H. Wygant. Clothiers :- J. S. Westlake, J. 8. Brayton. S. N. May, Alexander Morton, M. Duryes.
Bont and Shoe Dealers :- W. J. Chapin & Bon, Moffat & Brown, R. C. Smith, A. C. Barras, J. B. Sherman, Alexander Cole.
Furniture Dealers :- A. 8. Horton, Hooper & Butree, N. Edgerly, W. T. Butree. G. H. Westlake.
Musical Instruments :- German Sweet.
Hotel Keepers :- R. Watrous, J. H. Kermott, - Livingston, - Taylor, B. Harford, - Cole, A. B. Walker.
Foundries and Machine Shops :- Hicks & Railey. Bacheller & Higgins, suo- ceeded by many firms, and finally Royce Reaper Manufactory.
Tanneries :- The first tannery was built just at the north end of Andrus's store by Willard J. Chapin, and owned by bim till it rotted down. The tan- nery of the Phoenix Brothers has been elsewhere spoken of.
Physicians :- Otis Higgins, Mason G. Smith, Jacob Nevins, Jabez Ward. George L. Keeney. Jonas Huntington, E. Z. Joslyn, Jonathan Howard, R. A. Patchen, C. A. Dake, J. W. Post. M. G Davis, Charles R. Pearce, T. R. Hunt- ington, G. R. Traver, L. L. Rockafellow, J. H. Wbeeldon, L. W. Hunt.
Attorneys :- Robert Moore, Calvin Pepper, M. C. Hough, I. N. Stoddard, L. W. Thayer, Lovi Gibbs, J. J. Pettit, William Pettit, L. A. Hayward, William Mitchell, - Blaunerhasset, A. A. Hendee, D. L. Gilman, A. Lent, E. B. Fiske. G. L. Walker, M. A. Lovejoy, Owen Harris.
At the time when hats were manufactured by hand a hatter's shop was to be found in every considerable village, and the making and repairing of hats was a regular branch of industry. Of those who carried on this business in Perry, Alanson O. Buddington, Harmon Skidmore and R. C. More- doff are remembered. Thomas Brown, George Brown and - Sleight are spoken of as early tailors; Houghton & Torry, cabinet makers; Antonio Willard, one of the earliest among wagon makers, and B. Townly, the first tinsmith who worked in the village.
SMITH'S BANK.
This was organized in 1855 as a State bank, with a capital of $50,000, by R. H. Smith (president) and A. D. Smith, his son (cashier). On the death of R. H. Smith, in 1858, A. D. Smith became president, and Charles W. Hendee cashier. In 1862 H. N. Page became cashier.
A. D. Smith died in 1866, and his widow became sole proprietress of the bank. Mr. Page has since had sole charge. When the national banking system went into oper- ation this bank ceased to circulate notes, and it has since been a private bank.
LODGES.
Constellation Lodge, No. 404, F. & A. M. was constituted by a charter from the grand lodge of New York, which charter bore date July 5th, 1846. The officers named in this charter were Charles W. Hendee, W. M .; Henry E. Daniels, S. W .; Joseph B. Wycoff, J. W.
The charter was surrendered in 1862, and during ten years the sound of the gavel was not heard. It was restored in 1872.
The present officers are E. M. Reed, W. M .; M. S. Nobles, S. W .; M. Hathaway, J. W .; C. Hoinan, treasurer; J. J. Martin, secretary; L. E. Chapin, S. D .; H. L. Birdsall, J. D .; R. F. Bullard, tyler. The present membership is 44.
Oriental Lodge, No. 173, A. O. U. W. was instituted Sep- tember zoth, 1878, with thirteen charter members.
The first officers were Robert Stainton, P. M. W .; G. R. Traver, M. W .; F. C .. Green, recorder; F. E. Cole, F .; M. Duryee, receiver. The trustees were G. R. Smith, A. S. Whitcomb and G. H. Westlake. Since its commencement the lodge has received eleven new members, and has lost one by removal; none have died.
The present officers are the same as at first, except that G. R. Traver is the P. M. W .; Robert Stainton, M. W .; M. E. Williams, G. F .; and A. S. Whitcomb, recorder. The place of meeting is at their hall, corner of Main and Coving- ton streets, Perry village.
PERRY ACADEMY AND UNION SCHOOL.
Perry Academy was established in 1854. The corner stone of the academy building was laid July 4th, 1853. The expense of the building was defrayed by voluntary contri- bution of the citizens of the town of Perry, and the school was conducted as a union or non-sectarian academy for three
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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.
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