History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents, Part 72

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Publication date: 1880
Publisher: F.W. Beers & Co.
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USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents > Part 72


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EBENEZER WITTER was born in Bolpio, Cayuga county, April 4th, 1815. February Med, 1887, he married Elisa Ellsworth, daughter of Daniel C. and Eunice (Jones) Ellsworth, who died March 6th, 1878. He removed from Cayuga county to Livonia, Livingston county. to La Grange, to Burke Hill and to his présent location. He is a well known farmer, and a member of the Baptist church of La Grange, with which his late wife was also identi- fed. Of six children which have been born to him only three are living- Ebeneser D., born in 1609; Volney 8., born in 1862; and William Elleworth, ·born in 1889. Mr. Witter's father was born in Preston, Conn., May 7th, 1786. and in 1818 married Lovies Reed. He came with his father to Cayuga county, where he took up a mile square of land and erected a log bouse. Ebeneser Witter, his grandfather, enlisted in the company of his father. who was a captain, and served during the greater part of the Revolutionary war. He was also an active supporter of missions among the beatben. Volney 8. Witter, one of Mr. Witter's above mentioned sons, served in the 9th N. Y. volunteer cavalry, under Captain H. K. 8timpson, during a portion of the late war.


JAMES W YOKOFT, son of James and Esther Wyckoff, was born in Hopewell, Ontario county. in 1820. In 1843 be married Caroline, daughter of Joseph and Anna Tuttle, of Seneca, Ontario county, and came from Hopewell to Perry in 1807. He is one of the partners in the firm of. Wyckoff. Tuttle & Olin, hardware dealers, proprietors of the Perry foundry, and manufacturers of the Royce reaper and other agricultural implements. This establishment affords employment to sixty-Ave to seventy men, and turns out about $300,- 000 worth of manufactures annually.


JAMES, son of Henry and Agnes WYLIE, was born in Elderalle, Scotland, in 1896. Having learned the trade of spinner. he emigrated to America and lo- osted at Waterloo, Seneca county, and be was employed two years in the Wa- terloo sbawi factory, where be learned the manufacture of woolen goods, and in 1857 located at Milltown. Pa., whence be removed. In 1865, to Perry, where be is the proprietor of the Perry woolen mills, which turn out -ten thousand yards andnally, and give employment to eight skilled workmen. In 1899 be married Mary S. Thompson, of Athens. Pa., by wbom be bes six children. Mr. and Mrs. Wylle are members of the Baptist church.


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THE TOWN OF PIKE.


HIS town formed a component part of Albany county \from November 1st, 1683, to March 12th, 1772; Tryon county from March, 1772, to April 2nd, 1784; Montgomery county April 2nd, 1784, to January 27th, 1789; Ontario county January 27th, 1789. to March 30th, 1802; Genesee county, town of Batavia, from March 30th, 1802, to April 7th, 1806; Allegany county, town of Angelica, from April 7th, 1806, to March 11th, 1808; town of Nunda from March 11th, 1808, to March 6th, 1818, when it was set off as a separate town, including also the territory of the present towns of Eagle, Centerville and Hume.


The Legislature on the 18th of March, 1818, passed an act dividing the town of Nunda and organizing the four western townships (now Pike, Eagle, Hume and Centerville) into a new town, which they named Pike, after General Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who was killed by the explosion of a mine at the capture of Toronto May 13th, 1813. This action was taken on the request of the people of Nunda, who, in a town meeting at the village of Pike, December 18th, 1817, appointed Dan Beach, Thomas Dole, Asahel Trow- bridge, Asahel Newcomb and Seth Wetmore a committee to petition the Legislature in their behalf.


A town meeting for the election of officers for the new town was held at the inn of Benjamin G. Chamberlain, at Pike, on the 7th of April, 1818, when the following were elected: Thomas Dole, supervisor; Asahel Newcomb, town clerk; Dan Beach, Jesse Bullock and Bailey Clough, assessors; Samuel Wolcott, collector; Thomas Dole and Dan Beach, overseers of the poor; Jonathan Barlow, Daniel Coldwell and Jesse Bullock, commissioners of highways; Caleb Powers, Salmon N. Griffiths, Samuel Wolcott, Zaccheus Spencer and Job Bonney, constables; Thomas Dole, Perkins B. Woodward and Seth Wetmore, commissioners of common schools, and George Flint, Salmon Newcomb and Jesse Bullock were elected inspectors of common schools.


It was voted that each overseer of highways should be a fenceviewer and poundmaster, and each fenceviewer's yard a legal pound, and that horned cattle should be free com- moners.


At an election in April, 1821. Benjamin Ellicott had 131 votes and Albert H. Tracy 48 votes for member of Congress from the 22nd district. For senators for the western district James McCall received 155 votes and Henry Seymour 152. For Assemblyman to represent the counties of Steuben and Allegany Grattan H. Wheeler had 136 votes, Amos Peabody 159, Asa Davison 64 and William Wood 32 votes. For a


convention to amend the constitution there were 133 votes; against convention 61.


At an election held in June, 1821, to elect a delegate to the State convention, James McCall had 108 votes, Alvin Burr 26, and Cornelius Younglove 24. At a special election held in January, 1822, to vote on the amended constitution, 84 votes were given for and 139 against.


The following votes were passed at the annual town meet- ing held in April, 1827, together with others restraining vagrant live stock.


"Voted, that hogs shall not be free commoners at no times.


" Voted, that geese shall not run at large at no time on the penalty of having their necks rung whenever cetched."


The vote of Pike in November, 1828, for Presidential elector was: for Clark Crandall. Democrat, 150 votes; for John Lloyd, Whig, 139. Since that time, however, the Democrats have been but a feeble minority in presidential elections. They polled but 121 votes to 359 Republican in 1876.


Supervisors and town clerks of the town of Pike have been elected as follows:


Supervisors. - 1818, Thomas Dole: 1821, Joshua Skiff : 1822, 1827, George Barlow : 1834, Abner Adams; 1621, William Hyslop : 1886, Ebeneser Griffith : 1880, Hiram Bond ; 1838, Lutber C. Peck: 1887, Benjamin Burlington : 1840, Timothy Rockwell : 1842, Norman N. Olin : 1846. John V. W. Abbott : 1848. 1864, 1857. 1808. 1878, Orace V. Whitcomb: 1849, Jobn Renwick : 1861. Hiram Watkins : 1832, Cyrenus M. Fuller, jr .: 1836, 1865. 1872, Marcus A. Hull ; 1859. A. P. Sherrill : 1888, Henry M. Jackson : 1800, Martin Hodge : 1871, Marvin Trall ; 1876. George M. Palmer : 1800, Jesse H. Ward.


Town Clerks .- 1818. Asabel Newcomb; 1831. Aboer Adams : 1821. Benjamta Packard : 1828. 1886, Asber P. Hickox : 1823, Moses Smith ; 183), 1834, William Windsor : 1838, Jonathan Emery : 1837. James G. Sprague: 1839, 1844. A. M. Huntting : 1818. Alvin Peck : 1819, Delano P. Gordon ; 1831. 1834, A. Spencer Huntting: 1868, 1858. Artemus C. Bacon ; 1865. George 8. Huntting : 1861. M. P.Skiff; 1867, N.T. Parker; 1809. A P. Sherrill; 1878, G. S. Van Gorder.


Of those who have held prominent civil offices from this town, Moses Smith was elected sheriff in 1834, and held the office three years; Luther C. Peck was elected member of Congress in 1837, and held the office for two terms; Ezra Smith was superintendent of the poor three years, and Wil- liam Windsor was county clerk from 1841 to 1847; Marvin Trall was elected county judge in 1851, and held the office four years; Mills L. Rice, elected sheriff in 1858, held the office for one term; John Renwick, elected in 1864, was sheriff three years; Marcus A. Hull was member of Assembly in 1869 and 1870; Hiram P. Melville is serving his second term as coroner.


The following statistics were taken from the State census of 1875: Number of inhabitants, 1,726-males, 850, females, 876; males of voting age, 511; persons of school age, 385;


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THE SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF PIKE.


number of families, 420; inhabited houses, 382; improved land, 14,198 acres; woodland, etc., 4,599; number of farms, 256; cash value of farms, $954.332; acres mown, 3,792; tons of hay, 4,613; acres of barley, 207; number of bushels, 3,600; acres of corn, 227; nuniber of bushels, 8,096; acres of oats, 1,663; number of bushels. 39,832; acres of winter wheat, 448; number of bushels, 5,889; acres of potatoes, 256; number of bushels, 25,500.


We are obliged to remark in the case of Pike, as in ref- erence to so many other towns, the almost constant decrease in population during the last half century. The following interesting figures showing this fact are quoted from the "red book " of the Legislature: 1830, 2,016; 1835, 2,179; 1840, 2,18; 1845, 2,172; 1850, 2,063; 1855, 1,887; 1860, 1,824; 1865, 1,805; 1870, 1,730; 1875, 1,726.


SETTLEMENT AND FIRST EVENTS.


Pike is township 7, range I, of the Holland Purchase. The first settlers took "articles " from the Holland Company for their lands, and received deeds upon the payment of a stip- ulated price. Those who took the first articles were:


Peter Granger, Isaac Granger, Eli Griffith and Philip Fuller in 1805; and Azel Lyon, Ashahel Newcomb, Micah Griffith, Joshua Powers, Alanson Landon, Oliver Stacy, Arunah Cooley, Amos Bill, Aaron Fuller, jr., Eli Griffith, jr., Thomas Worden, Christopher Olin, Thomas Dole, Asahel Trowbridge, John Stewart, Eli Stewart, John Willard, Alexander Axtell, David Hoyt and Roger Mills in 1806.


The following were among the first to receive their deeds:


Benjamin Wakeman, lot 9, 1816; Jonathan Barlow, lot 19, 1814; Ebenezer Harvey, lot 11, 1811 : Arnold Sykes. lot 12, 1815; Samuel Flint, lot 15, 1815: Edmund Skiff, Jot 17, 1819; Jellis Clute and Elihu Griffith, Jot 20, 1816; Amos Gri@th, lot 20, 1816 : Christopher Olin. lot 22. 1806 ; Eli Stewart, Jot 28, 1809 : Benjamin Skiff. lot 26, 1815 : Thomas Dole, lot 37, 1811 : Salmon and Aschel Newcomb, lot 28, 1816 : Josiah Metcalf, lot 86, 1815; Ama Emery, lot 86, 1816 ; Bara Willard, lot 41, 1817; Christopher Olin, lot 43, 1816; Ell Grimtb, south part of lot 44, 1811; Abner Bunnals, northwest part of lot 44, Calvin N. Grifth, north part of lot 44, 1829; Thurston Clark, lot 49, 1817: Timothy Rockwell. lot 49, 1824 ; John Willard, Jot 51, 1815; Jonathan Willard, lot 68, 1816 ; W. Trowbridge, lot 86, 1817: Russell H. Benton, lot 61, 1809; John Reesique, lot 61, 1812 ; Calvin Le Gare, lot 62, 1815 ; Reuben Doty, lot 68, 1816; Siles Hodges, lot 64, 1816.


The oldest deed was given to Russell H. Benton, for the lot No. 61, in 1809. He died December 29th, 1814. There is but one tombstone in the village cemetery older than this, that of Eli Griffith, Esq., who died December 11th, 1812.


The first permanent settlement in Pike was made in 1806, by Asahel Newcomb, Eli Griffith, Peter Granger, Caleb Powers and Phineas Harvey, all from Whitehall, N. Y.


Captain Newcomb settled on lot No. 28, and occupied it till his death. He was justice of the peace, coroner, captain of militia, and was appointed judge of Allegany county by Governor Clinton, but declined the honor. He died May 5th, 1862, aged eighty-two years. Eli Griffith settled on lot 44, which is now Pike village, where he kept the first tavern, in 1808, and built the first saw-mill in 1809, and the first grist-mill in 1810, about three-quarters of a mile north of the village. John Wilder, of Warsaw, was the boss builder. Caleb Powers also settled on lot 44, and Peter Granger near Metcalf's Corners, on the Center road, where he afterward kept a tavern several years.


The first child born was Louisa, daughter of Captain Asahel Newcomb, born in August, 1806. The first marriage was that of Russell H. Benton to Susannah Olin, February


23d, 1809, and the first deaths were those of twin children of Phineas Harvey, in the spring of 1807, which were fol- lowed by his death the ensuing autumn.


The first school was taught by Miss Beulah Abel, from Washington county, in the summer of 1809. She afterward married Abel Townsend, who settled on lot 22 in 1808.


Tilly Parker kept the first store, in 1810, in Pike village.


The first carding and fulling mill was built by Ezra Smith and J. Ganson, in 1823-4, upon the site of the present woolen factory. It was burned in December, 1840, and a woolen factory erected the ensuing season by Ezra Smith & Co. M. A. Hull bought a share in the factory in 1843. This building was burned December 28th, 1855. and a larger one was built the next spring. Harvey Smith and Martin M. Smith subsequently owned shares in the factory; but it is now owned and operated by Messrs. G. A., J. F. and D. E. Greene, and is making large quantities of first class woolen cloths, flannels, yarns, etc.


The grist-mill in the village was built by Ezra Smith and J. Ganson in 1821, and subsequently owned by J. G. Sprague, G. C. Sprague, Samuel Hatch, A. C. Bacon and Elijah F. Durfey, who sold it to Allen Clark. The last named recon- structed it and put in new machinery in 1872. It is now owned and run by A. & H. A. Clark.


A furnace was built in 1823 by J. Ganson, on the bank of the Wiscoy creek, where Frank Lyon's barn now stands; after being owned by several persons it was purchased by Albert B. Smith, who added a machine shop and made threshing machines. The establishment was burned down July Ist, 1849, and rebuilt the following year. C. B. Lyon was the owner when it was again burned in May, 1869. It has not been rebuilt.


The following are the dates of the erection of the more prominent buildings in the village of Pike: Baptist church on the hill, 1829; the present building in 1850; Methodist and Presbyterian churches, 1832; the present building of the latter, 1841; Pike Seminary, 1856; Eagle Hotel, 1832; Smith's mill, 1829; present woolen factory, 1856; J. Emory's . stone store, 1833; Hatch's stone store, 1839; A. Adams's stone tannery, 1842 (now occupied by William & E. L. Powers for a saw and planing-mill and box factory); red school-house, 1822; new school-house, 1877; grist-mill, 1819 (remodeled to a flouring-mill in 1872); Kerr's hotel, 1839; Skiff 's store, 1831; Besancon's, 1832; Adams's yel- low tannery, 1830; Kellogg's furniture store, 1856; A. P. Sherrill's store, 1842; the sills and plates of this building were from old trees which were cut down on the transit line when it was run by the Holland Land Company, in 1798.


POST-OFFICES AND MAIL ROUTES.


For a number of years after the first settlement of the town the people went to Geneseo for their mail. The first post-office was established July 4th, 1818; Russell G. Hurd was the first postmaster. A mail route to Warsaw was es- tablished, and a few years later a tri-weekly mail route from Canandaigua, Geneseo, Perry and Pike, on to Ellicottville and Jamestown. The following named persons have been appointed postmasters in the years mentioned: Thomas Dole, March, 1819; Justin Otis, 1839; Abraham P. Sherrill, 1840, 1861; Horace Hatch, 1841; Ira Barnes, 1843; Delano P. Gordon, 1845, 1853; Samuel Windsor, 1849.


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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY, NEW YORK.


A post-office was established at East Pike as early as 1827; Henry Burt was the postmaster. His successors have been Daniel Flint, Spencer S. Hammond, Zina Baker, O. B. Van Deusen and Marion R. Mosier.


The office at East Koy was established about 1843; Isaac Quackenbush was the first postmaster. It was discontinued in 1862, but re-established a few years since. James N. Dowd is the postmaster.


SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS.


From its earliest settlement the citizens of Pike have taken a lively interest in the cause of education. Under the common school system their schools are above the average grade. At first they were kept in private houses or log school-houses, with an open fire-place at one end, with a stick and mud chimney. The seats were of slabs, with auger holes bored through them for the legs. In 1822 the old red school-house was built. It was two stories high, the upper room being for many years used for a masonic lodge. In this house many persons who have since become eminent as ministers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc., have received the rudiments of their education.


The first school of a higher grade than the district school, and in which the higher branches were taught, was com- menced by Tracy Scott in 1833-34, and continued about three years. It was kept in the old Packard building, near the spot where L. M. Chaffee's house now stands, and was well patronized by students from other towns.


In 1844 the two school districts in the village were con- solidated, the school-house in the upper district was removed and annexed to the red school-house, and the district or- ganized under the union school plan. In 1877 the "old red " was sold, removed to the corner of F. D. Chandler's lot, and reconstructed into a dwelling, and it is now owned by Mrs. M. Kendall. The same year a neat new school- house was erected in the village, a few rods nearer the Wis- coy creek than the old one, at a cost of $1,200. The grad- ing and furnishing cost $400 more. Collins W. Thomas was the contractor, and Henry C. Lathrop was the trustee at the time.


PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS MEN.


William Hyslop was the first lawyer who settled in the town. He came from Otsego county after the war of 1812. He was supervisor, also justice of the peace for a number of years.


Luther C. Peck came from Orleans county in 1826 or 1827; was supervisor six years, and justice of the peace ten years. In 1836 he was elected to Congress, and re-elected in 1838. While at Washington he married Miss Cynthia Fletcher, a native of that city. He subsequently (1841) re- moved to Nunda and pursued his profession, in which he held high rank. He died February 5th, 1876.


Benson Owen came in 1830 or 1831, and practiced two or three years. Alvin Peck studied with his brother, Luther, and was admitted to the bar in 1836. He was justice of the peace from 1841 till he removed in May, 1853. Marvin Trall commenced practice in 1837. He was justice of the peace until elected county judge in 1851. In 1874 he re- moved to Attica. James Harvey Windsor began to practice about 1849. He died in October, 1858. Almon P. Russell came here in the autumn of 1862, and died in October, 1867.


Edwin Spencer was in practice here about two years pre- ceding 1869. Francis M. Buck came in 1874, and practiced for about three years, when he removed to Eagle, and was in 1877 succeeded by Greenfield Scott. Van Gorder, who is now practicing here. Homer E. Dean has lately been licensed to practice law.


Dr. Andrew Dutton was the first resident physician. He came here soon after the war of 1812, from Vermont.


Simeon Capron, also from Vermont, came in 1817. He was a skillful surgeon, and had an extensive practice. He was surgeon of the 204th regiment N. Y. militia, and as a land surveyor he laid out many of the roads in the town. He died in 1862, aged seventy.


Dr. Isaac Minard came from Vermont, and first settled on the East street, in 1831. He was held in high repute as a practitioner in pulmonary and chronic complaints. He died in 1875.


The names and dates of settlement in the town of the other physicians are nearly as follows: Clifford C. Chaffee, 1837; John V. W. Abbott, 1839; Dr. Wheeler, 1840; Dr. Russell, 1850; George Hutchinson, 1849; Edgar A. Finn, 1852; William W. Fenno, 1856; Horatio Spencer (a native of the town, has practiced over twenty-five years); George M. Palm- er, 1856; Hiram P. Merville, 1874; William M. McFarlin, 1878; John J. Van Slyke was a physician of the eclectic school, and resided at East Pike.


Seth Wetmore was the first surveyor. After him were Simeon Capron, Asa Morse, James Reed, Joseph E. Weeden, Allen Nourse, Samuel Burroughs, Carlos Stebbins and C. Butler Ryder. Eli Griffith laid out a road to Leicester in 1806 and 1807. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was ordered to Buffalo under Smyth's proclamation, as were Chandler Benton and Jonathan Couch. They all died of disease in the service.


The following have been merchants in the town:


Tilly Parker. Thomas Dole & A. P. Hinman, Russell G. Hurd, John Parker. Lyman Ayrault, Daniel L. Gilman, L. and L. W. Whitcomb, Horace Hatob. Benjamin Packard, Ezra 8. Winslow, Abraham M. Huntting, William and August Windsor, Asher P. Hecox, William Sherman, C. L. Dautremont, Abraham P. Sherrill, Albert B. Smith, John Renwick, Rufus Robinson, N. N. Olin. Thomas & Barnes. Joba C. Gillispie, Amos Brunson, Fuller & Huntting. William E. Hammond, Fuller & Kelly, A. 8. Gordon & Co., A. C. Bacon, O. T. Higgins, Samuel Blodgett, James L. Platt, James W. Lloyd, Jonathan Gates, H. G. Rogers, Edmund C. Skid. John 8. Newcomb, William Eggleston. Orman Houghton, Royal Adams, Adams & Bush, Guilford Meacham. M. P. Skif, Parker & Coons,' Wing & Bush, Benjamin Knapp. Horace Blodget. Royal H. Adams. A. J. Beebe, A. C. Thompson, H. C. Lathrop, F. D. Chand- ler, Powell & 'Lewis, Curtis A. Prentice, A. O. & S. L. Skif, John W. Brown- son & Co., Charles 8. Dean, Beebe & Norris.


PIKE'S MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES.


The following named persons served in the war of the Revolution, and afterward became residents of Pike: Joshua Whitney, Ephraim Patch, John . Bostwick, Henry Bennett, William Van Slyke, James Smith and Thomas Griffith.


The following persons held military commissions from the governor, under the old militia system, from 1808 to the close of the war of 1812:


Eli Griffith and Asahel Newcomb, captains; Samuel Wol- cott, Joshua Skiff and Bazaleel Beede, lieutenants. In 1822 Thomas Dole was brigadier-general; Anson Hinman, colonel; Amos Griffith, lieutenant-colonel; Simeon Heath, major, and Jacob H. Olin, lieutenant. At later dates Daniel L. Gilman was colonel and George W. Merrill lieutenant- colonel; Abram M. Huntting and Delano P. Gordon were majors; John Comstock and Amos Griffith, captains; Simeon


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M. Bakan


REV. JOHN STAINTON.


MRS. LYDIA STAINTON.


DR. F. C. HOLT.


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SOLDIERS FROM PIKE-INSTITUTIONS OF PIKE VILLAGE.


Capron, regimental surgeon; Lewis Graves, lieutenant-colonel of artillery; William Eggleston, captain, and Stephen L. Wing and Lyman Ellithorp, lieutenants.


Eli Griffith, Chandler Benton and Jonathan Couch went from this town in the war of 1812. The following persons served in that war and removed to this town afterward: John I. Helmer, Benjamin Wakeman, Lewis Akin, Smith Ellis, Robert Flint, Samuel Hays, Timothy Rockwell, John Stew- art, Martin Van Alst, Joshua Abbott, Sherman Kimberly, Uriah Rose, Asaph Griffith, Abel Spencer, Timothy Brooks, Eliphalet Metcalf, John Gleason, Abraham M. Huntting, Jonathan F. Hibbard, Jacob' R. Horning, Calvin Lewis.


The four last named are now living in the town.


John Gurnsey, drum major, John P. Hodges, corporal, and Erastus Bates, private, were soldiers from this town in the Mexican war.


The following citizens of this town were soldiers in the Patriot war: Lewis Graves, lieutenant-colonel; William Eg- gleston, captain; Stephen L. Wing (Eagle), first lieutenant; Lyman Ellithorp, sccond lieutenant; Paul S. Newcomb, first sergeant; John F. Ellinwood, second; Samuel Marsh, drum- mer; Ambrose Spencer, Morris S. Holt, Lewis Holt, Na- thaniel Gowan, Hezekiah Metcalf, Simeon Hodges, William P. Smith, George C. Flint.


Pike was not dilatory in responding to the call for volun- teers to put down the Rebellion. Among those most prominent in procuring enlistments in the early stages of the war were Major Washington Wheeler, Captain Henry Run- yan, Rev. Daniel Russell, Hon. M. A. Hull and Carlos Steb- bins. For the records of the soldiers from this town we must refer the reader to the histories of regiments in an earlier portion of the work.


PIKE VILLAGE.


Pike village was incorporated on the 23d of June, 1848, embracing one square mile. The population was 616. The following first officers were elected at the Eagle Tavern on the 11th of September, 1848: Moses Smith, Abner Adams, Marcus A. Hull, A. P. Sherrill and Dr. J. V. W. Abbott, trustees; Ezra Smith, C. M. Fuller, jr., N. N. Olin, asses- sors; Delano P. Gordon, clerk; Lyman Ayrault, treasurer; Mills L. Rice, collector; Edwin L. Smith, pound master. Moses Smith was chosen president of the board of trustees.


Pursuant to a law of 1870, Pike was incorporated under its provisions on the 23d of March, 1871, when Marvin Trall was unanimously elected president; Silas Newcomb, Horace Blodget and Allen Clark were elected trustees; R. H. Adams treasurer, and Collins W. Thomas collector.


NEWSPAPERS.


In 1837 Thomas Carrier published a paper in Pike, called the Pike Whig, which was soon after changed to the Pike Gazette; but after being here about a year he removed his press to Angelica, and published the Allegany Gasette.


In May, 1876, the Farmers' Gasette was established by B. H. Randolph, of Warsaw, and after six months the concern


was purchased by H. Besancon, of Pike, and removed thither, the name being changed to Wyoming County Gasette. In a few months the name was again changed, to the Pike Gasette, and the paper is still published. Mr. Besancon's industry and perseverance have created a paper comparing favorably with many published in larger villages of older growth, and fairly entitling him to a patronage worthy of its merits.




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