USA > New York > Yates County > History of Yates County, N.Y. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 27
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283
TOWN OF MILO.
Where now is situated the principal business portion of the village of Penn Yan, was prior to 1796 an extensive area of untilled and unin- habited land. In that year David Wagener became the owner by pur- chase of nearly all this tract, extending north to about the present Court street, and including about 275 acres of land. David Wagener was the head of one of the most prominent pioneer families of Yates County, and he was, moreover, a faithful and ardent follower of the Friend. He was born January 25, 1752. His wife, Rebecca Supplee, whom he married January 13, 1774, was born November 25, 1749. As near as can be determined at this time, David Wagener came to the New Jerusalem in 1791, from which will be discovered the fact by reference to the following record, that nearly all of his children were natives of Pennsylvania, near or at Norristown, from whence the family came to Yates County. The children of David and Rebecca were as follows : Abraham, born November 9, 1774; Mary Magdalene, born February 14, 1776; Anna, born September 10, 1777; Melchoir, born January 31, 1779; Elizabeth, born August 27, 1780 ; David, born April 27, 1783 ; Rebecca, born January I, 1785 ; Lament, born November 13, 1787 ; Rachel, born September II, 1789; Rebecca (2d), born February 1, I794.
It is said that David Wagener came to live upon his lands at Penn Yan soon after making the purchase ; and that he dwelt for a time in a log house. In 1796 he commenced the erection of a saw-mill on the south side of the outlet, but in constructing a dam across that stream, contracted a severe cold that ultimately resulted in his death. He died August 26, 1799, and his body was buried in the cemetery west of where the village was built up. He donated this land for burial pur- poses, and was himself the first person to be interred therein.
To his eldest child, Abraham, David Wagener devised that part of his lands which lay north of the outlet, while to his second son, Melchoir, likewise descended the lands south of the stream. Abraham subse quently purchased Melchoir's portion and the latter moved to Pultne: , Abraham came upon the lands immediately following the death of h . father, completed the improvements the latter had begun, and beca :. c one of the foremost men of the county. No man contributed more th.i.) he to the establishing and building up the village. The story of his life
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
and actions is told on later pages of this chapter, relating particularly to village history.
Abraham Wagener settled near Himrods in 1792, but afterward moved to Penn Yan. On May 26, 1796, he married Mary Castner, by whom he had seven children : David, Samuel, Jacob, William, Mary, Charles, and George. In 1809 Mary, wife of Abraham Wagner died, and in 1811 he married Joanna Edmandson of Philadelphia, who bore him these children : Abraham N., George, Annette, Henry N., Hen- rietta, Henrietta (the first child of that name having died in extreme infancy). Abraham Wagener died May 21, 1853.
The surname Sheppard is well known throughout Yates County. The pioneer of this prominent family was Morris F. Sheppard, born at Germantown, Pa., November 28, 1774. In 1799 Mr. Sheppard came to Penn Yan. He had heard of the Friend, possible he knew her, but he never became her follower. By occupation Mr. Sheppard was a cloth fuller and established himself in that business soon after arriving here. Later he added a tannery to his business interests. On October 22, 1801, Mr. Sheppard married Rachel, daughter of Peter Supplee, by whom he had children as follows: George Ashbridge Sheppard, born September II, 1802, died February 26, 1874; Sarah Fletcher Shep- pard, born July 26, 1804, married September 14, 1843, to Eli Sheldon, died October 5, 1849; John Shoemaker Sheppard, born June 18, 1806, died at Geneva March 2, 1828; Charles Clement Sheppard, born June 9, 1808 ; Susan Sheppard, born February 26, 1812, died July 28, 1842.
Charles Clement Sheppard married, May 26, 1835, Jane W., daugh- ter of Henry Bradley. Their children were Jane S., born July 21, 1838, married William Patteson, died in Chicago in 1865; John Shoe- maker, born August 18, 1840, married January 21, 1866; Morris F. Sheppard, born July 20, 1843; Henry Bradley Sheppard, born July 10, 1845, died April 6, 1865 ; Susan Sheppard, born September 26, 1847, died April 24, 1861 ; Charles Clement Sheppard, jr., born October 20, 1851, died December 30, 1855; Sarah Fletcher Sheppard, born De- cember 15, 1856, wife of Hatley K. Armstrong. Charles C. Sheppard died January 17, 1888.
Dr. William Cornwell came to Penn Yan about the year 1809. He was an educated physician, and in connection with his practice taught
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285
TOWN OF MILO.
school for a time. He also studied law and was admitted to practice. He married Sarah Chidsey, of an old and respected family of Milo, by whom he had ten children : John, Achsa Ann, Emily, William Augus- tus, Henry Baldwin, Elizabeth, Samuel, Caroline, George Rathbun, and Frances Helen.
Those who have been mentioned in the foregoing brief sketches were pioneers in Milo, and upon them fell the burden of the labor incident to all pioneer improvements. They, and perhaps others whose names are now lost, paved the way for succeeding generations of their children and their childrens' children ; and substantial has been the reward and inheritance left to many of them. Of the old pioneers the majority were probably farmers, while some wrought at trades, and still others were merchants or manufacturers. But each and all of them were earnest, industrious workers in the direction in which nature best en- dowed them with qualities of mind, body and heart.
Pioneer settlements in Milo began with the coming of the Friend's colony in 1788, and so rapid was the growth in population and develop- ment that the year 1820 found the town to possess 2,612 inhabitants, about 400 families, and there were then in operation seven grist-mills, fourteen saw-mills, three fulling-mills, one oil-mill, four carding ma- chines, six distilleries, three asheries, and two trip-hammers. Today the town has but three grist- mills, no fulling-mills nor carding-machines, no more than three saw-mills, and fortunately but one distillery.
In 1818 the town of Milo was set off from Benton and given an in- dependent corporate organization. The first town meeting was held April 7th, at the house of Isaac Nichols, and then the first town officers . were elected as follows : Avery Smith, supervisor ; Charles Roberts, town clerk; George I. Remer, collector; Benedict Robinson, George Nichols, and George Youngs, assessors ; Richard Henderson and Roger Sutherland, overseers of the poor; Isaac Hedges, David Briggs, and Solomon Finch, commissioners of highways; Isaac Nichols, Thomas Hathaway, and Allen Vorce, school commissioners ; Samuel Hender- son, Joel Gillette, John Randolph, James N. Edmondson, Peter Young, and Luther Sisson, school inspectors ; George I. Remer, Stephen Youngs, David J. Bennett, and Walter Wolcott, constables. Prior to 1855 the annual town meetings were held at Milo Center, but the setting off of
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Torrey in 1853, and the increase in number of inhabitants in and about Penn Yan, so changed the center of population in the town that a vote of the electors determined upon the county seat as the place for hold- ing elections.
The designation of Penn Yan 'as the seat of justice of Yates County gave Milo an important advantage over the other towns, and was of the greatest benefit, directly and indirectly, to the people of the town. The civil jurisdiction of Milo extends over and includes the village, and the whole people, electors, unite in the election of town officers. This situ - ation has advantages and objections, but these are not proper subjects for discussion here. Penn Yan has a corporate character independent from Milo, and elects its own officers for municipal government. Likewise the village of Penn Yan has a history which is distinct from that of the town at large, and this is made the subject of special and extended mention on the later pages of the present chapter. Outside of the vil- lage of Penn Yan Milo has three trading localities or centers, but neither of them has ever organized a population of importance sufficient to en- title it to any corporate character. The hamlets of Milo are Himrods, Milo Center, and Second Milo as at present known.
Himrods, the hamlet proper, is located on lot No. 6 of the Potter location, and was originally called Himrod's Corners, after Wilhemus L. Himrod, the founder of a store at the place in 1831. Through the vil- lage courses Plum Point Brook, a small stream having no present im- portance because of the devastation of the forests of the locality, but formerly furnishing power sufficient to run mills. Himrod's Corners was the name of the postoffice established here in 1832, and so continued for many years and until changed to the more dignified, and perhaps more appropriate name of Himrods.
But Himrod's Corners and Himrods have never succeeded in acquir- ing any special importance either in mercantile pursuits or in point of population. Its greatest glory was attained in the construction of the Northern Central Railroad, a condition subsequently slighted improved by the building of the Fall Brook line as at present known.
The pioneer industry of the hamlet, or its locality, was the distillery business established about 1794 by Richard Matthews; and this appears to have been about the only enterprise, except farming, that was con-
287
TOWN OF MILO.
ducted in the vicinity until Mr. Himrod started his store in 1831. Stephen Card was a pioneer in the Friend's settlement, but in later years took up his residence where Himrods now is, and here he built and maintained a public house, such as the present generation would call a tavern or hotel. This he conducted for many years. The next hotel was that built by Garrett S. Ayers in 1835, which passed through several owners and finally was transformed into a double dwelling. In · 1861 William S. Semans built the Eagle Hotel, a fairly large and well appointed hostelry. It is now the property of John Sheppard, and con- ducted by his son-in-law, Frank Knapp.
The mercantile business interests of Himrods have been represented by numerous proprietors since the time of Wilhemus Himrod, the suc- cession including Gilbert R. Riley, Ellis & Baker, John and Jephtha F. Randolph, Marshall & Sherman, William S. Ellis, Philip Drake, Jonathan G. Baker, Miles G. Raplee, Peter Wyckoff, Cornelius Post, William S. Semans, Amos E. Van Osdol, Covert & Chubb, George Swartz and Hiram Swartz. The last two named are the present lead- ing merchants of the village. In addition to these there may be men - tioned the grain business of S. Nelson Jones.
The first Baptist Church of Milo is the only religious society having an abiding place at Himrods. The earlier meetings of this denomination in this locality commenced in the year 1803, and were conducted by Elder Simon Sutherland at Nichols Corners and other places best suited to the convenience of the members. In 1804 an organization was begun at the house of Thomas Hollowell, and completed in 1805, March 13th, at the Raplee school house at East Milo, then having a membership of twenty- nine persons. It was not until 1833 that the society had sufficient strength to erect a church home, but at the time named the edifice at Himrods was built at a cost of $1.400. This house was used by the society until 1368, and then replaced by the present large and attractive church building. As this is the only church build- ing at Himrods, or in that immediate vicinity, its congregation is made up of church goers of various denominations as well as by the Baptist portion of the community. The present membership reaches nearly 125. Among the ministers of the First Baptist Church of Milo can be recalled the names of Revs. Simon Sutherland, John B. Chase, B. R.
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Swick, Enos Marshall, Hezekiah West, James Pease, J. Batchelder, A. Wells, J. Sabin, A. W. Sunderlin, J. Parker, A. B. DeGroat, M. Liver- more, John Rooney, W. W. Holt, and others whose names have become lost.
In the extreme south part of the town of Milo, about two or three miles west from Himrods, in the Goundry neighborhood, so-called, was built many years ago a Freewill Baptist Church. The society was or- · ganized about or soon after 1838, the result of the labors of Stephen S. Lanning and Ezra F. Crane, ministers of the Freewill Baptist faith. Gilbert Baker was one of the most prominent leaders of the society, and the one upon whom fell a burden of the society's indebtedness. The church was built at Baker's Corners, on lot eight, at a cost of about $1,250. The society was prospered for a time, but at length fell into a decline with result in final dismemberment.
Milo Center as commonly known but properly Milo, is a sınall ham- let of about two dozen houses, a store, a shop, hotel and possibly a few other light industries situated in the eastern-central part of the town- ship. This point was originally known as Nichols Corners, so-called from the pioneer family of the locality, of which family Isaac Nichols was the head and parent. And even to this day the surname Nichols, representing descendants from the same ancestor, is frequent in this part of Milo. Isaac Nichols's son, Isaac, jr., appears to have been the prime mover in the endeavors to establish a village at this point, and what- ever was accomplished in this direction was mainly due to him. He opened a public house at the Corners in 1820 and was the first post- master after an office had been established there. George B. Nichols and Herman Smith were the pioneer merchants of the berg. During the stage coach period Nichols Corners or Milo was a point of some im- portance, but when railroads superseded the slower means of travel the village lost much of its old-time importance. It is now no nearer than a mile from Milo station on the Northern Central road.
During the period of its existence the Center has had a number of successful merchants, among whom can be recalled the names of Nichols & Smith, Joseph C. Stull, William Holden, Denreau & Fiero, Abel B. Hunt, Moses W. Eastman, George Hollowell, H. F. Anderson, Schuyler Sutherland, George W. and W. H. Millard. Among the va-
289
TOWN OF MILO.
rious landlords, proprietors of the public house in the village, have been Isaac Nichols, jr., Philip Drake, Manchester Townsend, F. F. Randolph, John Clark, M. Depew, Patrick Byrne and others. The present land- lord is Silas Spink.
The only public building at the village is the Milo Center Methodist Church, a society having an incipient organization as early as 1797, and drawing its membership from throughout the entire township. The pioneer meetings which resulted in the founding of the church were con- ducted by William Smith, a local preacher of some prominence. Early meetings were held at the Spink school-house,. the log school house in the Friend's settlement, and at William Smith's and Joseph Hollowell's residence. In 1821, or about that time, the society became definitely organized, and in 1833 the articles of association were filed to make the organization perfect. A lot was purchased from Isaac Nichols, upon which, at a cost of $2,000, the first church edifice was erected. It was dedicated in September, 1833. In 1862 substantial repairs were made, but in 1869 the building was remodeled and enlarged at an expense of $4,000. Among the early class leaders were Samuel Kress, sr., Samuel Castner, Abraham Prosser, William W. Aspell, Thomas Goundry, Ben- jamin B. Spooner, M. D. Jackson, John B. Hollowell, Archibald Stro- bridge, H. F. Anderson, P. J. Seeley, Samuel Depew, H. T. Aspell, Will- iam Hollowell, L. M. Millard, S. C. Hatmaker, N. B. Raplee.
Second Milo is the name that has been applied to one of the hamlets of the town of Milo, but this name appears to have been given the only public building of the place, viz., the Second Milo Baptist Church. Formerly and even to the present day this particular locality has been known as Cat Head. But Second Milo has never acquired much of a population ; neither has it any important industries or business inter- ests. The erection of the meeting-house brought to the place what- ever of importance it possesses. The hamlet is situate in the central- western portion of the township, at the four corners made by the inter- section of the telegraph road and the principal east and west thorough- fare of the town.
Although Second Milo is a settlement of no great extent, it is never- theless the center of a rich agricultural district: In this locality are the excellent farms of James A. Thayer, Isaiah Youngs, Lewis Swarthout,
37
290
HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Ira Owen, Abner Gardner, Rowland J. Gardner, J. P. Castner, Andrew Longwell, Gilbert Baxter, Daniel Plaisted, Frank Maloney, and others of whom mention might worthily be made in the same connection. In fact this particular locality can boast of as rich and productive farm lands as can be found in Yates County, and the husbandmen resident hereabouts are as thrifty, progressive, and public- spirited as their lands are valuable.
West from Second Milo about one mile is historic ground, but con- nected with it is but very little known history. On the farm of Lewis Swarthout, on a little circular rise of ground of some two acres in ex- tent, once stood a fortification of some kind, but by whom built, by whom occupied, and for what particular purpose, both record and tra- dition are silent ; they furnish no satisfactory information. That the
fort at one time existed there can be no shadow of doubt, for traces of it even at this late day are still discernible. The only mystery sur - rounding the subject grows out of the doubtful causes that necessitated its construction. Here was the interior country of the Senecas' vast possessions, and not within hundreds of miles was there an enemy ; from which we reason that the Indians themselves could not have built the fortress. The French Jesuits and adventurers traveled the country of the Iroquois and built forts at various places for their own protec- tion. But of the principal defenses erected by them we have sufficient record, and any mention of this one is not to be found. It is hardly fair or reasonable to suppose that this fort could have been the handi- work of a pre- historic race of occupants.
The Second Milo Baptist Church had its inception in the early meet- ings held by Elder Simon Sutherland during the first years of the pres- ent century, although it was not until the year 1832 that the society was provided with a church home. The first organization was effected in 18II under the name of South Benton Baptist Church, for then Milo as a township was unknown. But when Milo was set off from Benton and formed into a township the name became inappropriate. There was already another Baptist society in the town, and for convenience and accurate designation the name of this society and church was changed to the Second Baptist Church of Milo, and afterward to the Second Milo Baptist Church. The first church building of the society was erected in 1832 at the southwest corner of lot 21, at a cost of
291
TOWN OF MILO.
$1,200. In 1851 a new meeting-house was built for the society on the same site at a cost of nearly $3,000. Reuben P. Lamb was the first pastor of the society, he assuming the duties in 1830, and was ordained in 1831. He resigned in 1836 and was succeeded by Elder A. W. Sunderlin, the latter remaining fourteen years. Others in succession among the early pastors were Philander Shedd, John Smith, N. Fergu- son, George Balcom, S. S. Bidwell, William Dunbar, Thomas Allen, and Moses Livermore. The Second Milo Baptist Church now numbers about 150 members.
The Ark has become one of the fixed institutions and localities of the town of Milo, and one which is deserving of at least a passing no- tice in this chapter. There once was a boat on Lake Keuka, called Keuka, which in the course of events became a wreck and was beached near the north end of the lake. Calvin Carpenter, an old lake sailor and boatman, purchased the abandoned craft, took from it its cabins, mounted them on a scow, and anchored near the now popular sulphur springs. The boat with its cabins was called The Ark, and from that time, 1850, to this present the locality has always been known as "The Ark." The investment by Mr. Carpenter was in the nature of a busi- ness venture and it proved a success. In 1873 the old structure was removed and replaced with a substantial frame building, but the old name was retained. In 1880 the property was sold to David E. Dewey, who has succeeded in building up the Ark and its surrounding locality into a popular summer resort.
Manufacturing on the Outlet .- From the foot of Lake Keuka to Sen- eca Lake the distance is about seven or eight miles. The surface of the former above the latter is 267 feet. From a time far back of the first white settlement in this region the discharge waters of Lake Keuka have passed through a narrow channel and coursed generally eastward through the present towns of Milo and Torrey, and eventually emptied into Seneca Lake. It was the falling of these waters over the rocks that first attracted the attention of the Friend's emissaries to this side of Sen- eca Lake, and they were the first to utilize the power for manufacturing purposes. From that time to this present the so- called outlet has been the chief center of manufacture in Yates County, and the greater por- tion thereof has been an industry of the town of Milo. At not less
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
than a dozen places along the stream, and at every point where the waters could be profitably diverted, has there been some industry built up and operated. During the firsttwenty-five or thirty years of the present century the manufactures were chiefly lumber, flour, feed, and potashes, while abundant have been the distilleries in the same locality. The saw-mills are all gone. The distilleries and potashes have like - wise disappeared, and the flour and feed-mills number but three within the jurisdiction of Milo. Of the latter the farthest down the stream in this town is the present May's mills, the waters here being utilized for running a feed-mill and a saw-mill. This was one of the ancient Wagener mill-sites, and has passed through different ownerships and uses, at one time being the fulling mill of Caleb Legg, then of the Hen- dersons, and finally deeded to Walter May about twenty-two years ago.
In 1828 an act of the State legislature authorized a survey to be made in order to determine upon the advisability of constructing a canal of sufficient magnitude to admit of freight-boat passage between Seneca and Keuka Lakes. The scheme was found practicable and the result was that in April, 1829, the Crooked Lake Canal was ordered to be built. Work of construction was commenced in 1830 and was com- pleted in 1833. It was eight miles long, but along its course it was found necessary to put in twenty-seven locks. Lake Keuka was its feeder and Seneca Lake its outlet. This canal was of inestimable ben- efit to Penn Yan and to the country up Crooked Lake, and while it took much of the water that was needful in supplying power to the factories along its course the owners derived great advantage in that they were aided by the canal in transporting their products to market. The canal was in operation about forty years and then abandoned by the State, but for a time it was maintained at the expense of intersted manufacturers of the town and locality.
A few years after the abandonment of the old Crooked Lake Canal a few of the enterprising business men of Penn Yan, prominent among whom were Oliver G. Shearman, William H. Fox, John T. Andrews, 2d, Franklin E. Smith, George Wagener, and Calvin Russell, inaugurated a movement having for its end the building of a railroad along the line of the unused State highway. For this purpose they caused to be in- corporated and organized the Penn Yan and New York Railway Com-
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TOWN OF MILO.
pany. Oliver G. Shearman was its president ; Franklin E. Smith, sec- retary ; Henry Tuthill, treasurer ; and Oliver G. Shearman, Henry Tuthill, John T. Andrews, 2d, William H. Fox, John S. Sheppard, George Wagener, Perley P. Curtis, John H. Butler, and Calvin Russell, directors.
In the face of many obstacles, and opposed by doubting influences on the part of ultra-conservative citizens and a few malcontents, these men set themselves to work to accomplish the task of procuring a line of road to connect Penn Yan and the lake with the Fall Brook line at Dresden. As an incentive they, or part of them at least, purchased the old Sheets & Castner and Gillett mills, which they moved back from Main street and then rebuilt, with results that are today apparent to every resident of the locality, although to the investers themselves it was a personal sacrifice and pecuniary loss. More than this, they raised the grade of the street in front of the mills and caused to be built the substantial stone arch bridge that now crosses the outlet in the very heart of the village.
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