USA > New York > Erie County > Sardinia > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 63
USA > New York > Erie County > Collins > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 63
USA > New York > Erie County > Concord > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
On the second Saturday out we all returned to Aurora, to re- plenish our stock of provisions, which was getting rather low. The following Monday, all returned with the exception of my- self. I was taken down with the mumps and tarried at home until the next Saturday, when I started back for the camp with fifty pounds of provisions across one shoulder and a six- teen-pound rifle across the other. I had no difficulty to find the camp of the party, but it was unoccupied, and where the boys had gone I did not know. In looking around I found a piece of birch bark, that had this written across the smooth surface with a sharpened stick : "Stay here until we return." I had made up my mind to do as bidden, for I was somewhat tired, having traveled nearly twenty miles.
In stepping to the cart my eyes fell upon another piece of bark with this legend written upon it : "Follow the trail west until you overtake us." I heeded this and came upon them just as they had got ready for supper. After doing this meal ample justice, and being informed that there was a " deer-lick" on the little brook just west of us, I again shouldered my rifle and set out for it; I found that the Indians had constructed a " bough house" or blind, where the hunter could watch the
31
786
RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA.
"lick " and himself not be seen. I took possession, but my vigil was short and richly rewarded, for just as the sun was sinking beneath the western horizon I shot the largest buck I ever saw. It was but a short distance from the camp, and the report of my rifle brought the rest of my companions to the rescue, and we had that "monarch of the forest" dressed and in camp. The next day (Sunday) was spent in " jerking " the venison, which, happily for us all, would be a change from salt pork. That day we had a venison pot-pie for dinner. At that day this kind of game was so abundant and tame in the forests that often they would come and feed with our oxen when turned loose for rest and food at noon timc.
Our camp cooking utensils consisted of one bake kettle, one tea kettle that was used for a two-fold purpose, that of boiling water and then brewing the tea, and a skillet or frying pan. Each one was supplied with a tin cup and plate and knife and fork. There was no washing dishes, for each one took care of his own. The following day (Monday) we finished the job, and then we turned back to where we had made our claims. On the 27th day of June, 1809, at about II o'clock A. M., on lot nineteen, near the road just south of the house of Newell Hosmer, I made my first brush heap, and on the same day Uncle Sumner and the boys, after partaking of dinner, went east to Rice's Corners, near the brook, and went to chopping on his claim.
INCIDENTS IN THE WAR OF 1812.
Father was often called to the " lines," as he termed it, with- out a moment's warning. Like Cincinnatus of old, he would leave the plow standing in the furrow, or the crops of hay and grain would be left suffering for the want of a gleaner. Just east of the barn there grew six acres of winter wheat, ripe for the sickle. Upon three successive Saturdays had father come home to care for those who looked to him for protection, and to secure the crop that was to bread them through the long, bleak winter, and as many Sabbaths had he been called back to the field of duty. Even in those early days the Sabbaths were observed with Puritan strictness. Religious meetings were held in the log school house, or, weather permitting, in the woods
787
RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA.
just below where the Baptist church now stands. Two ser- mons each Sabbath were customary, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon Upon one occasion mother says, "after the morning sermon she saw all the people wending their way homeward, and she concluded that the preacher was sick. Awhile after she, having occasion to go to the door, was greatly surprised to see the meeting folks reaping the wheat. Soon one of the reapers visited the house for water, and she re- quested him to return after performing his intended mission. In the meantime she secured the fatling of the flock, and when he presented himself she enjoined secresy and bade him dress it. This was quickly donc, and by the time he had the lamb prepared she had the old stone oven ready to give it a warm reception. About the time the reapers were gathering the last sheaves mother visited the field to thank the men for their kindness, and she also requested them to come to the house as she had a little work to do that required united strength. This they cheerfully promised. After assembling at the house mother came to the door and requested them to step just back of the house. Some seized hand-spikes, while others levied upon the wood pile for instruments for assistance, and then went bounding around the corner of the old log house. Imag- ine their surprise, for instead of some ugly knotted log, mother had fixed a table beneath some trees, and had as bountiful a spread of goodies as the land afforded, with the fat lamb in the center done beautifully brown. The cheers from those honest- hearted men fairly made the dishes on the table tremble as they gathered around the board. This little incident in after years was the connecting link in procuring my venerable mother her pension."
On page two hundred and eighty one, of Mr. Johnson's history, will be found a reference to the battle of Conjockety Creek. As I have often heard my father relate the scenes there. I will give them as he related them one night, while we were boiling sap or making sugar. "In the afternoon we dis- covered the British coming over to Squaw Island. We antici- pated their movements, and that afternoon we took up all the planks (we suppose meaning planks of bridge) and brought them on this side, cut oak timber and hewed it on two sides,
788
RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA.
then built breast works in front of the string pieces (meaning, we presume, that the fort was built in front of the bridge, that they had stripped of planks, and that the fortifications were to prevent the British from crossing the creek, which they had to do to lay siege to the village-ED.) higher than our heads. Turned a wing on each side of the bank of the creek about breast high. Loop holes were cut that would just admit the muzzle of a gun, ranging with the stringers, and we could also bring a cross fire from the wings. After dark our spies dis- covered the British landing down the river. Morgan's men were stationed at the breast works ; I, with my men, about one hundred-fifty or sixty rods below-guarding the road, we were in the woods just back from the road. About 10 o'clock firing commenced ; could hear the British officer say : 'rush on my brave boys;' could hear one after another tumble into the water. They imagined they were firing too low, order was given to elevate their guns. Soon the bullets went whizzing through the limbs over our heads, they would cut off quite large limbs. At about II o'clock, Green, the Yorktown hero, as he was called, stood by my side with his drum. A stray buckshot struck me here (pointing to the place where he was wounded) father carried that shot to his grave, at the same time another struck the lower hoop of Green's drum, cutting it nearly in two, and badly shattering the shell. Green was a volunteer, although he had been in the regular service during the Revolution, and played upon this drum at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. (This drum came into my possession nearly fifty years ago, and I have it now just as it came out of that battle). About 3 o'clock I. received orders to go to Mor- gan's relief, soon after we got in position the firing ceased. No negroes were ever blacker than Morgan's men, with the burnt powder, as we discovered when daylight came. The famous drummers, the Streeter brothers, John, Tom and Elias, werc with Morgan during the battle. Between Elias and Morgan there had been some misunderstanding. After passing that night Elias stepped up to Morgan, raised his hat with his left hand as he grasped Morgan with his right, giving it a hearty shake, saying with much feeling, 'the old sore is all healed now.' The next morning our breast works were found to be
789
RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA.
one mass of lead. The trees back of the battery were all seared and cut up by the balls. The night was exceedingly dark."
A FOURTH OF JULY PARTY IN 18II.
THE FIRST ONE IN SARDINIA OR THE ORIGINAL TOWN OF CONCORD, AT RICHMOND'S-GOING WITH OXEN AND SLEDS-ANOTHER FOURTH OF JULY PARTY SEVENTY YEARS LATER.
The Richmond family and the Richmond farm and tavern were well known to the settlers hereabouts, but many changes have taken place and some explanations are necessary. The Richmond family came here from Vermont in 1809, and located on lots twenty-nine and thirty, township six, range six, which lots are bounded south by the Cattaraugus creek. Their house was built of logs and stood down near the creek, and as there were no saw-mills in this region in 1809, it consequently was built without lumber. The roof was of bark, and the floor was split out of basswood logs and hewed and fitted down. The old Richmond place is now in the southwest corner of the town of Sardinia. In 1811 it was in the town of Willink and in Niagara county. At that time there were about fifteen fam- ilies in the present town of Sardinia, located mostly along the Cattaraugus creek, and on or near the Genesee road, east of Colgrove's Corners. At that time in the present town of Con- cord there were about twenty families, located mostly along the Cattaraugus, on Townsend hill, and in Springville. The number either on the Cattaraugus or on Townsend hill was greater at that time than it was in the present village corpora- tion. In the present town of Collins there were then about fifteen families and they were located mostly at or near Collins Center, in Zoar, Gowanda, and Taylor Hollow.
A majority of the early settlers were young married people whose children were few and young, but in the Richmond family there were grown up sons and daughters. The father's name was George, and he was about forty-five years of age. The oldest child Frederick was twenty-three or twenty-four years old-then there was Anna, Betsey, George, Jr., Louisa and Sally.
790
RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA.
In 1811 the few roads here were cut out only wide enough for teams to pass through, and they generally wound hither and thither wherever they could get along most conveniently, without regard to lot lines or points of compass. All the settlers owned and used sleds, for they could make them, them- selves, and could get through the woods easier with them than with wagons. Only a few of the earliest settlers owned wagons. They came to this 4th of July party in 1811, with oxen and sleds, some of them came at least ten miles. On the 4th of July, 1811, Fiddler's Green was unknown to fame and unnamed. There were no fiddlers here then, and no green-that was be- fore the event of the boss fiddler, David Leroy. David Ben- sley, Truman Bensley and Mortimer Arnold had not yet ar- rived. Tom Jennings, the fiddling shoemaker, had not yet put in appearance. On the 4th of July, 1811, there was not a grist mill, nor a saw mill, nor a store, nor a grocery, nor a school- house, nor a meeting house, nor a lawyer, nor a doctor, nor a preacher, nor a post-office, nor a mail route, nor a newspaper taken in the four towns whereof we write. There was only one paper published west of the Genesee river, and that was a small sheet at Batavia.
At that 4th of July party in 1811, there were present besides the Richmond family, Morton Crosby and wife. Christopher Douglass and wife, David Shultes and wife, Bethuel Bishop and wife, John Godding and wife, James Hinman, Sr., and wife, Elijah Parmenter and wife, Giles Briggs and wife, John Johnson and wife (from Arcade), Luther Thompson and wife, Nehemiah Rodgers and wife, Capt. Charles Wells (his family was not here), George Shultus, unmarried, William Shultus, young bachelor, Dennis Riley, young bachelor, two other mar- ried couples from a distance, names not remembered, John Wilcox, a large boy or young man, and Miss Lovina Johnson. The fiddler on that occasion was John Haskell, a brother of Jonathan Townsend's first wife. He had arrived from Massa- chusetts that Spring and was rusticating on Townsend Hill. John was patriotic and liberal, and held himself in readiness at all times when called upon, to " lay down the shovel and de hoe, and take up the fiddle and de bow," and go and play for a 4th of July party for a moderate compensation.
791
RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA.
Some may feel disposed to doubt whether all the persons named above would attend a 4th of July dance, but the fact that they were there is obtained from an eye witness. and while it is not claimed that they all danced, yet under the cir- cumstances it was the most natural and reasonable thing in the world for them to wish to assemble together on that national holiday and visit and have a good social time. Some of them lived miles away from any neighbors, in the lonely forest where for days, and perhaps weeks they saw no persons except mem- bers of their own household. And there were then no religious meetings, and no political meetings and no public gathering of any kind, except log raising, and no newspapers to read.
Let us in imagination move back the hands of time just seventy years, and remand the country and the people here, back to their then condition. We are supposed to be young men and stopping here. The morning of the 4th of July, 1811, has come. We have heard of the party down at Richmond's and have concluded to attend. We have no horses and we start on foot, through the woods, up the East Hill and on to. where Harrison Pingry now lives; there is the first house and James Hinman lives there His wife is ready and he is hitch- ing up his cattle to go. We pass on through the forest and the next house we come to is Bethuel Bishop's, located on the top of the " breakers" where a few apple trees still stand, halfway between the railroad and the wagon road, (railroads have not been invented yet, but all the roads hereabouts are narrow gauge). Mr. Bishop and his wife are going to walk down. We pass down the breakers, down the hill, out onto the flats, and then near the banks of the " raging Cattaraugus," we arrive at Richmond's house and tavern. Capt. Charles Wells lives next east of Richmond's, John Godding on the next lot east of him, and Commodore Rogers on the next lot further cast. They live near by and all walked down. John Johnson comes down from Arcade with his oxen; Giles Briggs from Rice's Corners, in the east part of Sardinia, and another couple living further east came down with their steers and sled ; David Shultus and Christopher Douglass came up from near the Shultus bridge (that is to be); Elijah Parmenter comes up seven miles from
792
RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA.
down towards Frye's; Morton Crosby comes down from his place a mile or two above. Some of them were acquainted with each other " down east " and they meet each other with cordial and heart-felt greetings.
About 4 o'clock P. M., they form on for a dance. They do not dance round dances, but form in lines and " face their partners." They do not dance the Spanish dance, nor the Maznrka, nor the Schottische, nor the Zingarilla, nor any other of those dances with jaw-breaking names, but they dance those good old-fashioned down-country figures, such as the Monnie Musk, Opera Reel, Crooked S, &c. They have no "calling," but " dance to the music." John Haskell has tuned up his fiddle and " rosined the bow." All is ready and the Opera Reel is the dance-the music strikes up and they strike in, the first couple pass down the outside and back again, then join hands and lead the center and back again, cast off next couple and right and left first four, first couple balance and swing partners. The first couple is Geo. Richmond, Sen. and wife ; he is older than the others but dances well. That couple that comes to the head is Morton Crosby and wife; he is a strong and pow- erful man but dances well. Now comes to the head George Shultus ; he is tall and slim and not as heavy as the others, but dances pretty well. Now look at that couple see how lightly they move, how supple they are, that is young Dennis Riley and his partner is Anna Richmond; Dennis is as limber as an eel and Anna dances as nice as any " school marm." Now look, see, that small, nervous man that comes to the front now, is Christopher Douglas ; watch him, he is excited, see him shave it down, see him put in the double-shuffle. Look at those two large boys, or young men over there; see them watch the dancers ; see how eager they look, and how anxious to have a hand (or foot) in the dance. One of them is George Rich- mond, Jr,, (not our George, but his father), and the other one is John Wilcox. That small, eleven-year-old boy is Pearl Crosby, and that little nine-year-old girl is Lucy Crosby, and mentally she is taking notes, and they will be printed seventy years afterwards. Over yonder sits Capt. Charles Wells, Mr. Hin- man, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Parmenter and others, and converse of the past and the prospects of the future. And thus while some
793
RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA.
of them dance, others converse and visit, and all stay and enjoy themselves till "daylight doth appear." All of that goodly company that attended that Fourth of July party that Rich- mond had in 1811, have undoubtedly passed away, except the two children mentioned above. Most of them lived and died in this vicinity. Some of them were afterwards promoted to responsible positions.
John Haskell, the pioneer fiddler of those parts, afterwards lived in Collins a few years and from there went west where he died. Dennis Riley was a Captain and served on the Niagara frontier in the war of 1812-15 ; he moved away after a few years. Morton Crosby served in that war, and afterwards held the office of Justice of the Peace and Supervisor. Frederick Richmond served in that war, was an officer, and was wounded, afterwards was a Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and Brigadier- General. Christopher Douglas was the first Justice of the Peace hereabouts, and was side Judge and sat on the bench when the "three Thayers" were tried for murder in Buffalo in 1825; he moved west nearly fifty years ago; twenty-three years ago he was farming and keeping hotel in Wisconsin.
Seventy years after there was another Fourth of July party in Sardinia.
First. This last party was not held at the house of George Richmond on the Cattaraugus creek, but at the house of George Andrews in Sardinia village.
Second. The first dance was in the lower and only story of a log-house with puncheon floor and bark roof. The last dance was in the third story of a framed house with matched pine floor and Mansard roof.
Third. They went to the first party through the forest, on foot or on ox sleds. They went to the last party in buggies, carriages and railroad cars.
Fourth. The musicians at the first party was one lean Yankee, sitting in the corner by the big Dutch fire-place. At the last party there were six Germans, both fat and lean, sitting in a row on the elevated platform.
Fifth. At the first party the music was made with a single
794
SOLDIERS' RECORD.
fiddle. At the last party they had first fiddle, second fiddle, cornet, clarionet, trombone and bass viol.
Sixth. At the first party only eight or ten couples could dance at a time, and only a dozen couples did dance at all. At the last party ten times that number could dance at a time, and more than two hundred and twenty-five did dance in all.
Seventh. At the first party the attendants were mostly youngerly married people. At the last party they were mostly young and unmarried.
Eighth. At the first party they danced old-fashioned dances only, without calling. At the last party they had calling and danced old-fashioned figures, quadrilles, fancy dances, etc.
Ninth. The bill of fare at the first party has not come down to us, and of that we are not prepared to speak. But at the last party the refreshments were excellent and abundant; and were prepared and served in a proper and satisfactory manner.
Tenth. Seventy years hence there will undoubtedly again be a Fourth of July party in Sardinia, but at whose house it will be, or who will make the music, or who will participate in the dance, or who will be there to report, this deponent sayeth not.
SARDINIA SOLDIERS' RECORD.
When disunion threatened the supremacy of the " old flag,"
" Flag of the free hearts, hope and home, By angel hands to valor given"-
Sardinia sent out a goodly number of her sons to protect the welfare of the nation. She was represented in twenty-eight different regiments, although over one-third (33) of her soldiers were in Companies C, F and D, of the 116th New York Volun- teers, The service which this regiment performed is perhaps sufficiently familiar to the reader to need no relating here.
Many other regiments in which Sardinia was represented also took an active part in the Rebellion.
The following list was compiled from a record in the Town Clerk's office, prepared in 1865, for the bureau of military record :
795
SOLDIERS' RECORD.
NOTE .- A star placed opposite a name indicates death in the service, and the person's name will be fo. nd at the close in a list of the dead.
Andrews, Judson, 116th N. Y. V., Co. C.
Baker, Joshua, Serg't, Hoth N. Y. V., Co. F.
Baker, Amander, 8th N. Y. Cav. Baker, Russell, 5th N. Y. V.
Baker, David, drummer, 160th N. Y. V.
*Beasor, Peter, 21st N. Y. V. *Bond, Harrison, 116th N. Y. V., Co. F. Clark, Edwin, 10th N. Y. Cav. Case, John, 140th N. Y. V. Crocker, Thomas B., 44th N. Y. V., Co. H. Champiin, James H., Cor., 44th N. Y. V., Co. H.
Clair, Conrad, 116th N. Y. V., Co. C. "Childs, Henry, 94th N. Y. Inf. *Crosby, Morton, 24th N. Y. Battery. *Crosby, David, 116th N. Y. V., Co. F. Davis, Byron, 116th N. Y. V., Co. F. Davis, LeRoy W., 116th N. Y. V. Davis, Cyrus, 9th N. Y. Cav.
Davis, - -,
Eddy, William, 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery. Eddy, Veloral, Cor., 44th N. Y. V. Eddy, A. C., 44th N. Y. V. Eddengton, Charles, 116th N. Y. V., Co. C. Ellis, Richard, Freeman, Samuel, 78th N. Y. V. Furman Silas, 169th Pa. Inf., Co. C. *Furman, Ebenezer, 116th N. Y. V., Co. C. Fuller, James D., 116th N. Y. V., Co, C. Goodspeed, George C. Gill, Wallace, Serg't., 44th N. Y. V., Co. H. *Gill, Carlton, 90th N. Y. Inf. Guyger, Ignots, 116th N. Y. V., Co. I. Hopkins, Emory C., 116th N. Y. V., Co. F. Hooker, Charles, 116th N. Y. V., Co. F. Hover, Jonathan, 188th N. Y. V. James, Edwin, 116th N. Y. V., Co. C. Joslyn, Frederick, 116th N. Y. V., Co. C.
796
SOLDIERS' RECORD.
Joslyn, Willis W., 104th N. Y. V., Co. C. *Judd, George H., 4th N. Y. V. Kingsley, Jacob, 78th N. Y. V. King, Philemon, 116th N. Y. V., Co. F. King, Chauncey, icoth N. Y. V., Co. A. Nichols, Ira, 116th N. Y. V., Co. F. *Newton, Charles E., 105th N. Y. V. Nichols, Reuben, "Scott's 900th" Cav. Orr. George W., musician, 44th N. Y. V., Co. H. Owens, David, 116th N. V. V., Co. C. Pingrey, Edwin R., 116th N. Y. V., Co. C.
Pingrey, Robert H., 116th N. Y. V., Co. F. Pollitt, William, 116th N. Y. V., Co. I. Reynolds, Madison, Ser. 116th N. Y. V., Co. F. *Rogers, Harry, 116th N. Y. V., Co. F. Runyan, Elbert, 116th N. Y. V., Co.F. Stokes, James N., 185th N . Y. V., Co. H. Stokes, Chauncey G., 187th N. Y. V., Co. E. *Shultes, Stephen D., 54th N. Y Cav. Sillenay James, 116th N. Y. V., Co. C. Starkweather, Wallace, 100th N . Y. V., Co. A. Thomas, C. B., 5th N. Y. V. Cav. *Thomas, Santford, 116th N. Y. V., Co. I. Thomas, Andrew J., 116th N. Y. V., Co. F.
Titus, Thomas J., 78th N. Y V., Co. G. Van Slyke, William, Lieut. 116th N. Y. V., Co. C. Wilkes, Abram, 121st N. Y. V. Wiser, John, 116th N. Y. V., Co. C.
White, Dennis, 116th N. Y. V., Co. C.
Wilber, Ebenezer, 72d N. Y. V.
Wilber, Clark, 100th N. Y. V.
Weatherlow, John, 28th N. Y. V., Co. I.
White, Theodore, 100th N. Y. V., Co. A. Weatherlow, John F., 28th N. Y. V., Co. F. Zimmer, Peter, 115th N. Y. V., Co. C.
797
SOLDIERS' RECORD --- BAPTIST CHURCH.
LIST OF THOSE WHO WERE KILLED OR DIED IN THE SERVICE
Beasor, Peter, died in Sardinia, March 20, 1864.
Bond Harrison, died in hospital near Port Hudson, La.
Childs, Henry, killed Dec. 13th, 1862, at Battle of Fredericks- burg.
Crosby, Morton, died of starvation in Andersonville prison, July 14, 1864.
Crosby, David, died at Chicago, Ill., July 10, 1864.
Firman, Ebenezer, died at Fortress Monroc, Va., Dec. 4, 1862. 1
Gill, Carlton, killed Oct. 19, 1864, at the Battle of Cedar Creck.
Judd, George H., died in Virginia, April 9, 1865.
Newton, Charles E., killed Aug. 30, 1862.
Rogers, Harry, died in Sardinia. Nov. 5, 1863.
Shultes, Stephen D., died at Macon, Ga., April 3, 1863.
Thomas, Santford, killed at Battle of White Stone Plains, La
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SARDINIA.
The society was organized March 1, 1820, with twenty con- stituent members. Meetings were held at different places until 1829, when the present church edifice was built ; it was dedicated Jan. 27, 1830; Rev. Elisha Tucker preached the dedicatory sermon.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.