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 36
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In the spring and summer of 1831 there was a small boom in build- ing. Samuel Huson built a store and dwelling on the corner of Water and Union streets. John Sweeney, Dr. Benjamin Nichols, B. B. Beek- man, Thomas Swarthout and E. J. Smith, each built dwellings on Main street, west side. The Harpending House was enlarged and the Bap- tists erected the first house of worship in the village. From this time the future of the village was assured, and Eddytown as a business place was doomed, its prestege was gone. Little by little its trade left and was absorbed by its young rival. One by one its stores disappeared ; some closed out, some removed, and others went out legitimately (failed), until in time there was none left.
Starkey Corners was a place of considerable business importance. It had a church, Methodist Episcopal, one store, two hotels, and a good supply of mechanics. The store and one of the hotels have gone; the . other hotel is the Reeder homestead. A few dwellings occupied by the owners is all that remains of the hamlet which in early times had quite as much business as Harpending's Corners.
In the summer of 1834 the changing of the name of the village was agitated. There had been an attempt to call it Plainville, which failed, there being another village of that name in the State. This probably produced more excitement than any event before or since. The num- ber of names proposed were only limited to the number of the inhabit-
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ants, nearly every one having a pet name largely of the " ville " order. The Harpending family very naturally wanted the old name in part retained, and proposed " Harpending " or 'Harpendale." Rev. E. W. Martin's choice was La Grange, while others thought Stark or Stark- ville the better name at a meeting called to decide the matter. James Gifford proposed Dundee, which was accepted. The real contest was between Dundee and La Grange. Mr. Gifford afterward emigrated West and founded the city of Elgin, Ill., to which he gave another Scotch name. Mr. Gifford built the first house in Elgin. He named another village in Illinois Dundee. From these names it would be supposed that he was a Scotchman. This was not so. He was an old- fashioned singing-school teacher and selected his names from the musica sacra. While Eddytown and Starkey's Corners was favored with a daily mail and a daily line of four-horse stage coaches, and Wayne and Tyrone had the same accommodation, a weekly mail service, and that carried on horseback, was the postal accommodations for this place until 1838. The Hon. J. T. Andrews, while in Congress, with difficulty had the service increased to semi-weekly mail. The late Nehemiah Raplee was postmaster, and the postoffice was kept in the kitchen of his dwell- ing. There was no public conveyance to and from Dundee until about the year 1841. Then Col. Benjamin Tuthill, of Starkey's Corners, mail contractor, put upon the road a one-horse vehicle in which the mail and passengers were carried to and from Starkey Landing, on Seneca Lake. The mail service had been increased to a tri-weekly mail. The accom- modation was ample and the old red one-horse " 'bus" was never so crowded but that there was room for one more.
Saturday was considered a holiday. The people from the country flocked into the village. Shooting at a " mark," wrestling, jumping, and base-ball playing (old style), and other sports were indulged in. The day usually closed with one or more scrub-races and several fights- whisky was cheap, three cents a glass or a shilling a bottle. The race course was Seneca street, and the stakes were one, three, and on extra occasions five dollars. Also a special purse of ten dollars was some- times risked.
In speaking of the early inhabitants and their relation to the early history of the village, the late Gen. Nehemiah Raplee was a prominent
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figure. For more than a half century he was a resident of this place, and in its early days was associated with its material development. He was always alive to the interest of the village, and in many ways con- tributed to its advancement. He held many important offices and was elected as a Democrat to the Assembly in 1848, when the county was Whig by a large majority. Subsequently he was elected associate judge, and for some years was brigadier-general of militia. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to the young and those starting in life. His endorsement, and Samuel Harpending's, were on many notes, and were always honored at the bank. Many now in good circumstances were indebted to such help for their start in life. After misfortune had over- taken him he said to the writer that he never asked favors of those he had helped but of those on whom he had no claim. He made no con- cealment of his likes or dislikes and was a man of decided opinions, and being a trifle belligerent sometimes, made enemies. Those who only remember him in the latter days of his life, when crushed and broken by misfortune would hardly recognize in him the handsome, active, busy, hustling business man of early days.
Fires .- Dundee has been severely scourged by fires. The three most disastrous occurred in the year 1859-60-61. The first started on the east side of Main street in the center of a frame block, and burning in both directions destroyed all but one building (Mrs. Wolcott's) be- tween Hollister and Seneca streets, and on Seneca street east to the Sleeper residence. The second large fire was started on the west side of Main street on the site of the Wilson house, and burning north de- stroyed every building to the corner of Union street. The losses in this fire were estimated at $60,000, insurance $37,000. In this fire George Sayre lost a store. A. C. Harpending, a dry goods merchant, lost a block of three brick stores, estimated loss $20,000, insurance $4,500; he had no insurance on his stock. Hamlin & Martin, dry goods, estimated loss $20,000 ; real loss not more than $12,000, fully insured. W. B. Hamlin lost a block of three brick stores. W. H. Sawyer, dry goods, $12,000, and twelve other concerns including clothing, millinery, and drug stores, oyster saloon, law office, daguerrean and record office. There was no other spot in the village where so large an amount was exposed ; a greater amount was destroyed than in all previous
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fires. The great fire commenced about one o'clock on Saturday morn- ing of March 1, 1861. It was first discovered in a barn in the rear of a brick block on Water street. A gale was blowing at the time and the fire spread in all directions. Everything went down before it. It was said that there were forty buildings burning at one time. This was the third great fire. The people were panic stricken and gave up the town as doomed. There was not a building left on the corners. All the landmarks were gone and men blundered and stumbled in the darkness and fell into the cellars. There were but half the number of inhabitants that there is now, and in proportion to the size of the town it was a more disastrous fire than those of Chicago or Boston. There was no places for business left, and so the merchants erected rough board shan- ties of 100 feet in length, where they transacted their business until other buildings were erected. In these fires N. F. Murdock lost twelve stores and his dwelling and barn. W. B. Hamlin lost one brick and one frame block. He had three buildings on the same foundation in one year. Hamlin & Martin lost two stocks of goods in three months ; begin- ning with $20,000 stock and ending with $300. Justus Ellis lost two hotels, three brick stores, one bowling-alley, three barns, and several mechanics shops. The Harpending House was burned leaving the vil- lage without a hotel. The business part of the east side of Main street has been burned over three different times: The two last fires were undoubtedly incendiary. Henry Light was indicted and tried for the offence. The jury did not agree. Eleven jurors voted for conviction, one for acquittal. He was given his choice between another trial or enlisting for three years in the army. He chose the latter, soon de- serted and was lost sight of.
Banks .-- The first banking institution was "Jep " Raplee's exchange and banking office opened in 1856; soon after it was changed into a State bank, 1857, and moved to Penn Yan 1858. The bank building and fixtures were sold to H. G. Stafford, who continued the business until 1871, when it closed. Lewis J. Wilkin opened a banking office in 1868 and continued in business until 1880, when he sold to the Dundee National Bank. The National bank began business April 1, 1880, with a capital of $50,000, with James Spicer, president; Morris F. Sheppard, vice- president ; and Frank R. Durry, cashier. Mr. Spicer still retains the
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office of president ; the vice-president, M. F. Sheppard, was succeeded by T. D. Beekman, January 1887. Mr. Beekman is still vice president. The cashier, F. R. Durry, was succeeded by George S. Sheppard, January 1, 1881. Mr. G. S. Sheppard held that office until August, 1882, and was then succeeded by G. S. Shattuck, who still retains that position, November, 1891.
Dundee State Bank, February 28, 1882, Andrew Harpending, presi- dent; Lewis J. Wilkin, cashier. Present officers, George P. Lord, presi- dent; William C. Swarts, vice-president; Lewis J. Wilkin, cashier; H. J. Youngs, assistant cashier. Capital, $50,000.
Former Business Firms -The following list of former business firms are given from memory. There may be a few errors, and possibly some omissions, but the list is nearly accurate. The firms are given in the order of their existence as near as can be ascertained, and date down to a few years. Jonathan Botsford, John Starkey, Starkey & Simmons, Honey & Simmons, Doolittle & Simmons, Calvin Honey (failed 1830), Simmons & Huson (Alonzo), Burgess Truesdell, Myron Hamlin, Sam- uel Huson, Newell F. Murdock, 1832, William and J. H. Kinnan, 1834, Ira Fisher (peddler), Huson & Lewis, Samuel Kress, Huson & Simmons (G. W.), Caleb Westcott, Lewis & Kress, W. B. Hamlin, 1835, E. W. Lewis & Co., 1837, Miller & Huson, Cyrus Miller, A. C. Harpending, 1835, Smith & Silsbee, James Holden, J. D. Morgan & Co. (hard- ware), S. Huson, 1839, George W. Simmons, E. W. Lewis & Co. (G. W. S.), Huson & Maltby, R. H. Murdock & Co., A. Maltby & Co. (Raplee), Maltby & Bradley, Benham & Horn, S. S. Benham, Stafford, Martin & Co., 1846, (first time for Martin 1847), Eaton, Spicer & Co., Spicer & Church (failed), Hollister & Parks (failed), Mor- gan & Caton, Caton & Wickoff, James Watson, Edmund H. Pierce, H. B. Newcomb (failed), Valentine Oldfield, J. T. Raplee, William B. Hamlin & Co., 1849, (C. H. Martin), John Caton (hardware), F. Holden, Clapp & Crittenden, W. H. Sawyer & Bro. (E. L.), Eaton, Spicer & Co., A. Maltby & Co. (Huson), David E. Bedell, Horace Kidder, John Spicer, Rothchild (clothing), George P. Rose (jewelry), two or three other clothing stores a short time, A. Wolf (clothing), L. C. Murdock (drugs), Hamlin & Martin, Maltby & McLean, Hiram Murdock, Smith & Benedict, Beam & Noble, W. Benedict, William Sawyer (clothing),
es
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Jacob Koons, Smith & Kingsley, John Backman, Horn & Benedict, C. R. Tenant, Smith & Headley, Morris Grant (fire bug), Ira D. Fowler, Martin Vosburgh & Co., 1866, Green, Rhode & Knapp, C. E. Smith, Woodward Bros., James Headley, Luther Brown, Rhode & Knapp, A. Maltby & Son, A. Hollister, C. P. McLean & Co., George Z. Noble, M. E. Bennett & Bro., George Harrington, Harpending & Bro., Boardman & Tate, Martin & Vosburgh, R. Vosburgh & Son."
Present Business Firms .- In the dry goods trade the firm of C. P. McLean & Co. is the oldest. Mr. McLean commenced business about thirty years ago in partnership with Augustus Maltby. The present firm commenced business in 1872. The firm are doing a large and apparently a profitable business. They keep a general stock, in- cluding all articles sold in a country store. Wall & Murdock are in the same trade. They are young men, very ambitious, and are selling a large amount of goods. Mr. Wall came from Grand Rapids, and was a clerk for Martin & Vosburgh several years. At the present time there are four grocery stores, Floyd Ludlow, John C. Koons, James Headly, and Charles Wixon, all reliable and prospering. The clothing business is represented by L. D. West and Samuel Levi ; both carry large stocks and have a custom deportment. A. T. Gay is doing a tailoring business at his dwelling. The boot and shoe business is rep- resented by John H. Knapp and George Kingsley. The dry goods and clothing houses have shoe departments and are doing a good business in that line. The two millinery and fancy goods stores are conducted by George H. Harrington and Mrs. Clary Finch, where attractive as- sortments of goods can be found at all times, and at reasonable prices. Charles Tenant and Levi Sproul represent the jewelry business of the village. The two drug stores of W. T. Millard and S. A. Price, with their extensive assortments would compare favorably with those of our largest cities. L. C. Davis has a variety store.
The buying and shipping of grain and fruit, which before the building of the Syracuse, Geneva & Corning Railroad, was merely nothing, has become the largest business of the village. Three large elevators were erected near the depot. They are owned by C. Swarts, W. S. Earn- est, and Charles Watson respectively, giving the natural grain and fruit market fine facilties for the purchase and shipping of cereals. Each of
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them are doing a lively business. The Goble brothers, Charles, George and Harry, erected on the completion of the railroad, near the depot, a large planing-mill. This is one of the most important manufacturing enterprises of the village. Charles Rowland occupies the old location of the Dundee Manufacturing Company, and makes a specialty of the manufacture of the Dundee chilled plow. All other work in the foundry line receives attention.
Harrison Howell, successor to Strader Howell (his father) is proprie- tor of the barrel factory on Union street. The demand for fruit barrels the present season has been so great that he has had orders for barrels a month ahead, and it was not unusual to see a line of a dozen teams waiting their turn. He also has a large basket factory, giving employ- ment to a large number of girls and boys.
Timothy Lynch, William Hamilton, William Paige and J. Ruddick compose the quartette of blacksmiths, all in a huddle on Union street. Two wagon shops, Jesse C. Knapp and J. Baker, in the same neighbor- hood, with Rowlands foundry complete the manufacturing and mechani- cal interests of Union street.
Up to the month of November, 1843, the town had been without a newspaper. In that month the want was supplied by Gifford J. Booth who issued the first number of the Dundee Record. Some time in the first years of its publication William Butman became a partner and the firm of Booth & Butman continued the publication until 1847. At that time Edward Hoogland became owner and editor. Mr. Hoogland was an old newspaper reporter and had worked on the New York Herald. The Record under Mr Hoogland's management was a spicy and read- able paper, and his retirement from the editorship of the paper was re- gretted by all his patrons. Mr. Hoogland removed to Kansas where he remained until his death which occurred many years ago.
J. J. Diefendorf became editor and owner of the Record in 1853 and held the position until 1857 or 1858, when it was sold and David Bruner became editor and owner. In 1860 the entire plant of the Record was destroyed by the fire of November 30, and Henry Bruner became a partner in January, 1861. The Bruners sold out to George D. A. Bridgman in the fall of 1862. Bridgman made a Democratic paper of it and supported Horatio Seymour for governor. The change was not
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popular and he sold at the first opportunity to " Elder " J. M. Westcott. Under the management of Mr. Westcott it did not thrive, and at his death it came into the possession of his grandsons, who sold it to Dr. Noble, and after having a half dozen or less owners it was merged in the Home Advocate, and the Dundee Record was a thing of the past. The next paper was the Dundee Herald, published by Dennison & Hobson. It was short-lived and was finally sold to -- Robinson. In 1869 Mr. Robinson traded the Dundee Expositor with George D. A. Bridgman for the Penn Yan Express. Bridgman conducted the paper for one year, and in March, 1870, he stopped its publication and moved the material to Penn Yan. He then repurchased the Penn Yan Express of Robin- son, and in the deal Robinson took the material of the Expositor and moved it to Charleston or Savannah.
Early Merchants .- In the year 1808 or 1809 Benjamin Potter built a double log house on the west side of Main street just across Big Stream. The building was occupied as dwelling and tavern, and was the first public house in what is now the village of Dundee. Twelve feet north of the house he located his blacksmith shop. The twelve feet between the buildings was enclosed and occupied by Jonathan Botsford, known sobriquet of " Ducklegs," or "Ducklegs Johnny." This was the first store in what is now Dundee. The place had no name then (it was be- fore the Harpending's Corners era) and was sometimes called Stark's Mills. Of Johnny's antecedants it is known that he was the son of Jonathan Botsford, who came in with the Universal Friend and was one of her adherents. It is safe to assume that his business was not a success, for after his store had remained closed for two days the door was forced and Botsford was found hanging by the neck stark and dead.
Potash in those early days was the main reliance of the merchant. It was about the only article that commanded cash, and was marketed with difficulty. The time of which I am now writing was long before the building of the Erie Canal, and the only water communication was by the way of the Seneca and Oswego Rivers to Lake Ontario, and the market was Montreal.
Soon after Botsford's suicide we find John Walton occupying the same premises. He afterward built a store and dwelling combined, south of Big Stream near the apple trees on the old fairground. The building re-
49
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
mained until a few years since, when it was taken down. Mr. Walton was a native of Nova Scotia. His business, though small, was a paying one,-at least he paid. It was managed with the most rigid economy.
The only public conveyance of the times was the four horse " tally- ho " stage coach, and the fare was six cents per mile. To avoid this expense Mr. Walton traveled the distance to and from New York or Al- bany on foot to make his purchases, saving about $40 each trip. He became involved in law suits and was compelled to close his business and leave the town. He returned to Nova Scotia, where he remained until his death, which occurred many years ago. After Mr. Walton closed his business the hamlet was for some time without a store. Ed- dytown monopolized the business and was the most important place be- tween Geneva and Elmira (then Newtown.) .
The next merchant in order was John Starkey. Mr. Starkey was a native of Maryland, but came here from Seneca County. He built a store on the west side of Main street, on the brow of the hill where Nathan Sayre's dwelling now stands. This building was afterward moved on to the Presbyterian church lot, and after being occupied for mechanics' shops, gambling rooms, and dwelling, was purchased by the Presbyterian Society, a " lean-to " was attached to it and it was used as a meeting house. The old building was destroyed by fire in 1860. Mr. Starkey was an able, enterprising and successful merchant. The late Nehemiah Raplee made his debut in this place as clerk for Mr. Starkey. In company with his brother-in-law, Clayton Semans, Mr. Starkey built the old red grist-mill, the second grist-mill in the town, near the Big Stream bridge on Main street. The mill was burned a few years since. Soon after it was completed Semans sold his interest in the mill to his partner, and about the same time another brother-in- law, Samuel Kress, became a member of the firm. On April 6, 1824, the town of Starkey was organized. It was taken from the town of Reading. In honor of Mr. Starkey it was given his name, and he was the first supervisor elected. After remaining in business a few years the firm of Starkey & Kress was dissolved. The mills and other real estate were sold to Nehemiah Raplee; consideration, $9,000. Mr. Starkey removed to Starkey's Corners, which was considered the more eligible business place, there built a store, and for a time left the hamlet
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again destitute of a mercantile establishment. After residing in Star- key's Corners some years Mr. Starkey removed to the village of Lodi where he remained until his death.
Honey & Simmons .- In the year 1824 Samuel Harpending erected on the southwest corner of Main and Union streets, in what at the time was a pasture lot, a one and a half story frame store for the firm of Honey & Simmons. The inevitable ashery belonging to the store was on Union street. The firm remained in business about three years, when it was dissolved. Honey built a new store on the corner of Main and Spring streets (" Potash lane "), and carried on the business alone, Simmons continuing the business at the old stand with - Doolittle, first, and later, Samuel Huson as partner.
Calvin Honey occupied a very prominent place in the early history of the village. His failure, the first that occurred in the village, gave undue prominence to a very ordinary man. Mr. Honey came from Troy, N. Y. He had formerly been engaged in the Hudson River trade, running a sloop, of which he was the owner, between Troy and New York. It is supposed that he had at some time had some experi- ence as clerk in some mercantile establishment in Troy. He had accu - mulated a capital of $1,300, which he invested in the business of the firm of Honey & Simmons. Thirteen hundred dollars was no mean sum in those times. The firm of Honey & Simmons was successful, and Mr. Honey had probably added to his capital before commencing busi- ness on his own account. After the dissolution of the firm of Honey & Simmons, Honey built a store on the corner of Main and Spring streets, was not successful in business, and in 1830 made an assignment for the benefit of his creditors to Samuel Kress. Honey was a dull, heavy man, and his personal appearance was not prepossessing. He was short, square built, stoop shouldered, dull eyed, of a tallow- colored complexion, and had a downcast look. His appearance was that of a common laborer. It used to be said that " he would sell a bill of goods on credit, place a dunning letter in the package and sue the purchaser before he reached home." After his failure he removed to Mount Morris, where he re- mained several years, and after serving a term in Auburn prison for grand larceny he returned to Dundee, where he remained until his death. The last years of his life he supported himself and family by working as a common laborer.
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Alonzo Simmons was born in Washington County in the village of Whitehall. In his obituary notice we read that his " parents were only in moderate circumstances, consequently his only heritage was an iron will, and industry and perseverance that knew no bounds." Mr. Sim - mons was a clear-headed business man and a very successful merchant. He served in the War of 1812 with honor. After pursuing various av- ocations until 1824, he came into what is now Dundee, and in company with Calvin Honey occupied the store at the corner of Main and Union streets, built for them by Samuel Harpending. After a few years the firm of Honey & Simmons was dissolved, and Mr. Simmons continued the business at the old stand, first with - Doolittle as partner, and afterward with Samuel Huson. After closing his business here he moved to Avoca, Steuben County, and continued in the same business with his brother George as partner. From there he removed to Rock Stream, continuing in business until 1843, when, having accumulated a large and constantly increasing fortune, he retied from active business and purchased a farm at Reading Center, where he resided until his death.
- Doolittle came from Seneca County. Of his business qualifi- cations little is known. He was a large man of fine presence. He would now be called a " dude," but "dandy " was the term then ap . plied to him. He is said to have been a man of violent temper, and was not popular with his customers. A story used to be told of his carrying an elegant silk umbrella. One day while passing from his store to his boarding-house, during a violent storm, a sudden gust of wind wrenched it from his hand and deposited it in a mud-puddle. This so enraged him that he jumped upon the offending article, stamped it in the mud and left it a perfect wreck. Mr. Doolittle did not remain long. He returned to his former residence, when he was lost sight of.
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