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 28
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In 1878, after many months of planning, and scheming, and arguing with the powers, they succeeded in obtaining from the legislature an act which authorized the Commissioners of the Land Office to convey to the Penn Yan and New York Railway Company all the lands between the blue lines of the Crooked Lake Canal, with certain reservations, re- strictions, and conditions, which are not material to this narrative. The consideration of this transfer by the State was $100, but the cost in fact to the proprietors of the enterprise and paid by them individually amounted to at least fifteen times that sum. Having at last secured a clean right of way from lake to lake by virtue of the deed referred to and the purchase of other interests, an arrangement was at once made with the Fall Brook Coal Company to build and equip the road. This work was completed about the Ist of August, 1884, and the first train passed over the line on the 3d of that month. Immediately after this event the Penn Yan and New York Railway Company sold, transferred, and set over to the Fall Brook Company all the right, title, and interest which the former had acquired, either from the State or from individ- uals. More than that the Penn Yan and New York Company paid their grantee company a bonus of $20,000 for bringing about this much de-
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
sired consummation. This fund was created through the efforts of the local company, and was contributed by the generous residents, princi- pally of Milo, Benton, and Torrey, and a few from Jerusalem.
This digression from the general course of our narrative has been suggested by the fact of the almost inseparable connection existing be- tween the present operating railroad company and the several manu- facturing interests along the line of its road. Each leans upon the other in a great measure, and their interests are mutual. The daily output of freight from the mills alone is said to average about seven or eight car loads. Passenger traffic must be added to this, also incoming freights, to furnish any adequate idea of the magnitude of the company's business.
However important or interesting might be the recital of history of the old mills that formerly and originally occupied the sites now used in the manufacturing on the outlet, the same cannot be done with any degree of accuracy or thoroughness. Therefore let them be passed, and let the attention of the reader be turned to the chiefest of those that do now exist, and which have contributed so much to the prosperity of the village and town during the last fifteen to twenty-five years. The manufacturing industries situated within the limits of the village will be found mentioned in that branch of the present chapter which relates particularly to the county seat ; wherefore it becomes necessary to here refer to those that are located outside the village and in the town of Milo.
With the single exception of May's mills, the present operating in- dustries on the outlet below the village limits and as far down as Dres- den, are those devoted to the manufacture of paper from straw, and slightly from rags. The pioneer of this special industry in this locality was William H. Fox, who with his brother, under the name of L. & W. H. Fox, bought the old Youngs & Hewins mill, so-called, or rather the old Yates mills, formerly occupied for the manufacture of flour, feed, plaster, and as a saw mill, and converted it into a paper mill. This was in 1865. After about one year L. Fox retired from the firm, and W. H. Fox continued the business as sole proprietor until 1884, when Perley P. Curtis became a partner, under the style of Fox & Curtss, which firm has operated continuously and successfully to the present time. Their
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TOWN OF MILO.
manufactures embrace all grades of wrapping paper, for which they operate two machines. The daily output of this firm runs from six to nine tons. The Fox & Curtis plant is called " Keuka mills."
The Cascade mill was started in 1867, by a company comprising George R. Youngs, William C. Joy, S. S. Raplee, and John Wilkinson. It was in Torrey, but as an industry incident to the outlet it may be appropriately mentioned here. The firm saw money in the paper mak- ing business, or at least they thought they did, but results showed dif- ferently. The plant was destroyed by fire, and about the same time the firm failed. After this the mill privilege was for some years idle, but in 1882 Charles J. Cave, of New York, purchased the site and erected on it a straw paper-mill, producing the same general commod- ity as do the others. This mill has two machines and puts out four or five tons of paper daily.
The Milo mills are the property of John T. Andrews, 2d, of Penn Yan. Near the site was formerly Tuall's distillery. From that owner- ship it passed to Russell & Co., composed of Calvin and Henry Russell and Frank Krum. They bought the privilege about 1868, and distilled high wines until 1871, when the property was changed into a paper- mill. The firm dissolved about 1874, all its members except Calvin Russell retiring. In the spring of 1882, John T. Andrews, 2d, became Russell's partner, and so continued until December, 1888, and then succeeded to the entire ownership and management of the enterprise. Mr. Andrews made radical changes and enlargements to the property in 1889, in fact building an almost entire new factory. The new mill commenced making straw wrapping paper in April, 1890. It has three improved machines with a total capacity of about twelve tons of paper per day. This is the most extensive mill of its kind on the outlet, and one of the largest in the country.
The Seneca mills come next in point of time of founding. They are owned and operated by Russell & Co., Calvin Russell being the active partner in the concern. The firm has two machines with a capacity of six or eight tons of paper per day. The plant and property include an area of about forty acres. This mill also furnishes the electric light for Penn Yan village. This privilege was formerly used as a pulp-mill, and the site has a history reaching back into the early years of the century.
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
It is to be regretted that more particular mention cannot be made of this present large enterprise, but the most faithful inquiry directed to the active proprietor has failed of its chief purpose, and been unre- warded by data.
The Yates mills, so-called, until quite recently owned and operated by Shutts & Wilson, were started in 1887, succeeding the spoke factory and feed-mill formerly of Seymour Shutts, and afterward owned by John Shutts. During the late fall of 1891 the firm of Shutts & Wilson was dissolved, Mr. Wilson retiring. Soon after this the Shutts Manu- facturing Company was incorporated and duly organized for the pur- pose of operating the mills. The product of this factory is straw board, or, more commonly known, card board. Under the new management the capacity of the mills is increased. A short distance below the Fox & Curtis mills stands an unoccupied factory building of good propor- tions and of fair appearance. Here was once a cloth-mill ; then a flax- mill. Originally a saw- mill occupied this site.
In accordance with a generally observed custom in closing this branch of the present chapter, it is deemed expedient to append the succession of supervisors and justices of the peace of the town of Milo from the or- ganization of the district to the present year. These are considered the leading offices filled at each town meeting; the supervisor being the power of the town, while the justice is regarded as his second in author- ity and importance. The succession is as follows :
Supervisors .- Avery Smith, 1818-23 ; Samuel S. Ellsworth, 1824- 27 ; George Youngs, 1828-31; Jeremiah B. Andrews, 1832; James C. Robinson, 1833 ; Joshua Lee, 1834; Abel Buckley, 1835; Samuel Stevens, 1836; Gilbert Baker, 1837; George I. Remer, 1838; Jere- miah B. Andrews, 1839-40 ; Smith L. Mallory, 1841-42 ; Nelson Vorce, 1843; Ray G. Wait, 1844; Samuel J. Potter, 1845; Russell R. Fargo, 1846; Charles Lee, 1847; Adam Clark, 1848-49; William Baxter, 1850; James Lawrence, 1851-52; Charles Hubbard, 1853, '55 ; John C. Sheetz, 1854, 1860, 1863-67 ; Stephen B. Ayres, 1856; Daniel W. Streeter, 1857, '59; Nathaniel K. Beardsley, 1858; Charles Wagener, 1861, 1868; Melatiah H. Lawrence, 1862; Theodore Bogart, 1869-71, 1873; George D. Stewart, 1872; Franklin E. Smith, 1874; John C. Sheetz, 1875 ; Daniel Lanning, 1876-79; Evan J. Potter, 1880;
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VILLAGE OF PENN YAN.
Rowland J. Gardner, 1881 ; Samuel S. Ellsworth, 1882-83; Franklin E. Smith, 1884; Edson Potter, 1885-87; Charles Hunter, 1888-89 ; William T. Beaumont, 1890-91.
Justices of the Peace .- James Parker was four times appointed justice of the peace, the third time in 1799, and again in 1804; Benedict Rob- inson in 1796 ; Eliphalet Norris in 1799; Hezekiah Townsend, in 1808, and held the office many years; Abraham Wagener in 1808, 1811, and 1820; Thomas Lee, in 1813 ; Morris F. Sheppard in 1813 and 1816. George Youngs and Henry Wisner were also justices by appointment. Since the office became elective the succession of justices, with dates of election, has been as follows: George Youngs, 1829, '33, '37, and '41 ; Avery Smith, 1830; Henry A. Wisner, 1831; Luther Sisson, 1832; George B. Nichols, 1834; Asa Norton, 1835 ; Samuel J. Potter, 1836, '40; R. G. Wait, 1838; Samuel Stevens, 1839; Darius A. Ogden, 1841; Amos Y. Carr, 1842, '46, '50; Thomas H. Locke, 1843, '47 ; Jesse Davis, 1844; A. J. McIntyre, 1845; Peter Youngs, 1848 ; Green Kenyon, 1849; Benjamin L. Hoyt, 1850, '53, '57, '61, '65, and '69 ; James V. Van Alen, 1851, '55 ; George Van Osdol, 1852; Hixson F. Anderson, 1854, '58, and '62; William S. Seamans, 1856, '60, '64, and '84; John Sloan, 1859; John L. Lewis, jr., 1863, '67, and '71; Jacob H. Sheppard, 1866, '70; Jeptha F. Randolph, 1868 ; J. Wells Taylor, 1871, '72, '80; D. A. Ogden, 1873 ; Charles D. Davis, 1874; Benjamin L. Hoyt, 1875, '79; D. F. Randolph, 1876; Lewis B. Graham, 1877 ; Charles D. Davis, 1878, '82, and '86; Abraham Gridley, 1881, '85 ; Delos A. Bellis, 1883, '87, '91; Garrett A. Bigger, 1888; William H. Fiero, 1889 ; David B. Aspell, 1890.
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE OF PENN YAN, THE SEAT OF JUSTICE OF YATES COUNTY.
In the northern portion of township No. 7, of the first range, better and more commonly known as the town of Milo, at a point near and about the foot of Ogoyago, or Crooked Lake, where the waters find an outlet through a narrow channel, and eventually discharge into Seneca Lake, nature provided a splendid site upon which civilized man might build up a thriving, prosperous village. That consummation has been
38
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
reached, in fact was attained nearly three-quarters of a century ago, but each succeeding year has witnessed some material improvement, some development of new resources, until by slow stages it has grown to con- tain a population of more than 4,000 souls, and is provided with all the enterprises, the industries and commercial advantages that can be found in any interior village in the Empire State.
Little did that worthy old pioneer, that steady- going, honest plodder, follower of the " Friend," David Wagener, think or dream that on the tract of land bought by him in 1796, would ever be built up a munici- pality, and become the seat of justice of a county. But could David Wagener have lived a half score of years longer, and observed the march of improvement and settlement on his ancient estate, it is ex- tremely doubtful if he would ever have consented to the adoption of that singularly odd and unique appellation of Penn Yan, for the little burgh. And it would have been an equally astonishing thing had that good and earnest pioneer been able to then look into the far off future and see standing where he built the primitive grist-mill, on the south side of the outlet, a large four-storied, modern structure, capable of manufacturing an hundred barrels of flour daily, when his own little mill could at best produce not more than one or two barrels in the same time. These, and a thousand and more of other changes might be recalled, to show the advancement in almost every branch of trade that has been worked in the last three-quarters of a century. These comparisons are interesting to old and young alike; to the aged, for they show that the grand march of improvement and progress in this locality has kept even step with the onward movement elsewhere, and interesting to the younger generations, for it brings to them an under- standing of how their forefathers lived, and against what obstacles they had to contend to establish themselves securely in life and leave a goodly inheritance to their children.
The founding of a village where Penn Yan now stands was the out- growth of necessity, and not of design. It was a natural consequence. and not the result of speculative schemes. David Wagener1 bought
1 In this connection the statement may be made that the northwest corner lot in Milo, No. 37, was originally the property of George Wheeler, a pioneer in Benton. The land was given by him to Robert Chissom and James Scofield, who are said to have settled thereon in 1791.
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VILLAGE OF PENN YAN.
the lands because they were desirable, and not that he is believed to have contemplated the building up of a village. But Mr. Wagener did not live to enjoy the substantial fruits of his purchase in this immediate locality. He died in 1799, and his estate in lands, on which the village stands, was inherited by his sons, Abraham and Melchior Wagener. In area the estate embraced 276 acres, lying both north and south of the outlet; that part north of the stream fell to Abraham, while his brother became the owner of the lands on the south side. Eventually, however, Abraham succeeded to the ownership of the whole tract.
To Abraham Wagener, therefore, attaches all credit for taking the initial steps that resulted in a substantial village corporation. In 1801 he took active measures in having surveyed and constructed a highway leading from Canandaigua to Newtown (now Elmira). This road soon became an established mail route, and a postoffice was located soon afterward at Abraham Wagener's house. He was the first postmaster, and the name of the office was Jerusalem, being, as this locality then was, within the district called Jerusalem.
On the first of January, 1800, Mr. Wagener moved into " town," and occupied a dwelling built the year before for his use. This was the first frame building erected on the village site, and stood where later was the Miles Benham tavern, the old structure forming a part of the hotel as afterward established. The building was burned in 1841. When Mr. Wagener came here to reside there were three log cabins within his tract, all standing on the stream called Jacob's Brook, and occupied by Indians and their families. These primitive inhabitants were tenants by the sufferance of Mr. Wagener, they having no title nor claim to the land they occupied. They are said to have remained for a time, but the constant arrival of white settlers caused them to retire from the neighborhood.
The stream heretofore mentioned as "Jacob's Brook," a name by which it has ever since been known, has its source or head waters in the town of Benton, whence it flows into the village and passes through the business center, a few rods east of Main street, and discharges into the outlet in rear of the Russell & Birkett grist and feed- mill. Con- cerning the derivation of its name, Jacob's Brook, there has for many years been a difference of opinion, some authorities contending that the
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
name was applied in allusion to an old Indian who lived near the stream, and whose name was Jacob, while others assert that the name was given in reference to Jacob Wagener. The latter is probably correct.
For fourteen years after his appointment Abraham Wagener held the office of postmaster at his little village; but he was otherwise honored in public affairs. In 1808, he was appointed justice of the peace for the town of Snell, which then included all that afterward be- came Benton and Milo. This office Mr. Wagener held for about twenty- five years, and from his long continued incumbency thereof became generally known as "Squire " Wagener, by which name he was called as long as he lived.
Abraham Wagener, the founder in fact of the village, was in all re- spects the honorable, straightforward, public-spirited citizen ; a man of large means and much influence in the town. The land on which the court-house was built was his voluntary gift, while also the main thor- oughfare through the village was donated and laid out by him. Of course these things greatly enhanced the value of his property in the locality, but at the same time they forwarded the interests of other per- sons who, perhaps, were less able or less inclined to give than was he. Squire Wagener continued to reside in Penn Yan, as the village after- ward was named, until 1833, in which year he moved to Bluff Point, where he occupied an elegant stone mansion which he had erected dur- ing that year. However, before his removal to Bluff Point, Squire Wagener built a second residence in the village, which stood on the land now in part occupied by the Knapp House, about where the din- ing-room of that hostelry is situated. This dwelling is believed to have been erected in 1816, and to it was given the name of Mansion House. This name was preserved in after years, when the building was changed in character and occupancy and put to hotel use. In rear of the house stood the old famous Wagener apple tree, so-called from its owner, the one who planted the seed, nourished and cultivated the sprout, and dis- tributed its seed in return throughout the vicinity, the yield of which has always been known as the Wagener apple. Now the old Mansion House has become a part of the more modern Knapp House ; the apple tree has been cut down that the land may be used for other purposes, and the founder of the village, its pioneer and most influential and useful citizen,
M.J. Sheppard
301
VILLAGE OF PENN YAN.
lies buried in the old cemetery which his father gave to the people for the interment of their dead.
The Wagener lands proper extended from the outlet northward to the immediate vicinity of what is now called Court street, while still farther north was another tract which passed through the same descent of title and ownership, and eventually found its way to divers owners. It was upon the latter tract that the first village was established, at the point where Head street crosses Main street. The highway first men- tioned formed the dividing line between the towns of Benton and Milo, as afterward established, but the village was built up without reference to town lines. Therefore, the little hamlet lay in parts of two towns, but for some years, and until Milo was set off, all the people voted and acted in the same manner as if but one town held their village. When Milo was separated from Benton the residents south of the east and west road voted for their own town candidates, while those north of the road were subjects of Benton and voted for nominees therein. And even to the present day, notwithstanding the fact that the village has become incorporated as a city of the lesser class, the residents north of Head street are yet Benton people and vote as residents of that town for town officers, while those south of the street are citizens of Milo and vote for officers therein. In addition to this the residents within the corporate limits of the village of Penn Yan choose their own officers for local government, and in the corporation elections the people of the town do not participate.
While Abraham Wagener was undoubtedly the most prominent and influential man in the village during the days of its infancy, there were others who contributed in no small degree, building up and improving the locality during the same period. Morris F. Sheppard was one of the persons worthy of mention in this special connection. Like 'Squire Wagener, Mr. Sheppard was a native of Pennsylvania. He also was a pioneer in this locality, one of the early settlers in the little hamlet, and one who became identified with its business interests when the settle- ment was founded. He started a tannery and also a fulling or cloth - mill on his own lands, on Sucker Brook. These he conducted for several years, until the cutting away of the forest trees along the brook deprived him of a sufficient water supply, and thus compelled him to relinquish his manufacturing enterprises.
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Mr. Sheppard was also the friend of and fellow-worker with 'Squire Wagener, and it was through their joint efforts that the village became an important point at so early a day. These men were the leaders of what has been conveniently termed the Pennsylvania element of local population, while the opposition, the Yankee contingent, were under the guidance of Mr. Stewart. After the senior Sheppard retired from active participation in business he was succeeded by his son, Charles C. Shep- pard, who appears to have inherited his father's business qualities, and who also was a man of worth and capacity, not only during the early days of village life, but in after years, even down to a time within the memory of now middle- aged men.
In the same connection there may be mentioned the name of Asa Cole, whose place of abode and lands lay within the town of Benton. Asa was a pioneer farmer, and in connection with that occupation opened and for years maintained a hotel or tavern at the head of the street. The establishing of the public house was an important event in the early history of the village, as its vicinity at once became a center of trade. Here the stage drivers were wont to stop for rest and re- freshment, and here the weary traveler found a comfortable lodging. In those days the hotel was a popular resort for all classes of people, where the news from abroad was always to be learned, while the land- lord himself was generally regarded as somewhat above the average of mankind.
But at last the worthies who constituted the influential portion of the little settlement found themselves involved in a serious dispute, all be- cause they could not agree upon a proper and fitting name for their village. Numerous conferences were held, but public sentiment was so divided that no result could be reached. In the meantime various names were given the village, but most of them were applied in a spirit of derision. A number of the residents called the place Unionville, while to outsiders, who viewed the controversy from a distance, it be- came known as Pandemonium. The Pennsylvanians of the locality wished a name that would recall some locality of their native State, while the Yankees, the settlers who came from New England, possessed an equally strong desire that a name be given that would suggest a locality from whence they emigrated. However, this difficult problem
Eng ªby F. G Kernan,N.Y.
Charles Sheppard
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VILLAGE OF PENN YAN.
was at length solved by the good offices of Philemon Baldwin, upon the occasion of a "barn raising." After the last rafter had been made fast in place Mr. Baldwin climbed up the frame to the plate and there ad- dressed the assembled people. He referred to the dispute concerning the name, and then remarked that as part of the inhabitants were Penn- sylvanians and part Yankees a compromise was fair to both factions, and suggested the name Penn Yan as sufficient for both parties. This proposition was agreed to and the christening was completed. The naming was soon afterward ratified in the change of the post station from Jerusalem to Penn Yan.
The "head of the street" remained for many years the center of busi- ness and residence, but as years passed away dwelling-houses became more frequent along both sides of the highway leading to Wagener's mill. In fact it was not many years afterward that this locality began to assume the character of a hamlet. The vicinity of the outlet and the foot of the lake formed a highly desirable site for a village, for boat com- munication with points up the lake opened a thoroughfare of trade and travel in that direction. In 1800 a road was surveyed from the foot of the lake about two-thirds of a mile eastward, Joseph Jones, Ezra Cole, and John Plympton being the commissioners to do the work. Another road led from the Lee place to Wagener's mills constructed in 1806, and three years later commissioners Morris F. Sheppard and Charles Rob. erts laid out still another highway leading from Plympton's Bridge to the mills.
The opening of these roads was made necessary to accommodate the Milo people in getting to and from the mills on the outlet. But about the time the work was commenced, possibly earlier, another little settle- ment had sprung up near the foot of the lake. This locality at once became a rival to the hamlet at the head of the street. The tract was laid out in village lots and many improvements were made there. The name of Elizabethtown was given the place, and it boasted of a hotel, store, and several dwellings. The tavern was built by Wallace Finch, who was succeeded by Peter Heltibidal, and the latter in turn by George and Robert Shearman. Afterward it became known as the Kimball Hotel, but was torn down many years ago. Another hotel stood where Charles D. Welle's dwelling is erected, but that hostelry eventually was
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