USA > New York > Monroe County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 46
USA > New York > Allegany County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming > Part 46
USA > New York > Livingston County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 46
USA > New York > Yates County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 46
USA > New York > Ontario County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 46
USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 46
USA > New York > Steuben County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 46
USA > New York > Genesee County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 46
USA > New York > Wayne County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 46
USA > New York > Orleans County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 46
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Red Jacket, who had ably defended the interests of his people, and acquitted himself with much credit during the tedious negotia- tion, played Red Jacket, and not the great orator, at its close. The night previous to the signing of the treaty, he sought a private in- terview with Mr. Morris, and told him that he had pretended to the other chiefs that he was opposed to it; but that after its execution by the other chiefs, he would come to him and have his name affix- ed privately ; and for that purpose, wanted a space reserved. He added that it would not do for the treaty to go to Philadelphia with- out his signature, as Gen. Washington would observe the omission, and conclude that he had been degraded, and lost his rank and in- fluence among the Senecas. The blank was left, and his signature thus privately added. D For unpublished reminiscences of Red Jacket, see Appendix, No. 16.
Thus concluded a treaty which gave title to all of what is now known as the Holland Purchase and Morris' Reserve ; the account of which has been given in a detail that may seem to some unne- cessary for historical purposes ; but as there had been many garbled and imperfect relations of it, the author has availed himself of the authentic documents in his possession, to give a pretty full, and what may be regarded as a correct history of the whole transaction.
The surveys of the Holland Company commenced in 1788, un- der the general supervision of Joseph Ellicott ; surveying parties were soon traversing the wilderness in all directions ; a mere woods road was made upon the main east and west route; and before the close of 1789, families had moved in for the purpose of opening houses of public entertainment at Stafford, near the present village of Caryville, and at Clarence ; and at Stafford, Mr. Ellicott had erected a store-house quarters for his surveyors, covering them with bark.
In the meantime, Captain Bruff and his successor, Maj. Rivardi, had prevailed upon the Indians to allow a sufficient improvement of the old Niagara trail to admit of carrying provisions through by
excited. Among the sons of the white woman at Gardeau, was John Jemison. [See Life of Mary Jemison. ] Heading a party of warriors, he left Gardeau, and gave out upon his route that he was "going to kill Reese." Well does the author remember of being one of a party of school children who fled, affrighted, at his approach. He personated the "ideal angel of death ;" he was arined with a war club and tomahawk, red paint was daubed upon his swarthy face, and long bunches of horse hair, dyed red, were pendant from each arm. Reese was kept secreted, and thus, in all probabili- ty, avoided the fate that even kindred had met at the hands of John Jemison.
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sleighing, from the settlements east of the river to Fort Niagara ; and a weekly horse mail was put upon the long and mostly woods route from Canandaigua to Fort Niagara. Add to this, the two or three log and one framed hut at Buffalo, and two or three tenements at Lewiston, and the reader will have a pretty good idea of all, in the way of improvement, that had transpired upon the Holland Purchase before the close of 1799; and at the close of the cen- tury, there was but little more than the addition of a few families along on the Buffalo road, and the prosecution of surveys.
The author had supposed that he was done with Indian wars, and Indian war alarms ; coming down to this period, he finds a letter from Capt. Bruff to Capt. Israel Chapin, which would indicate that some apprehension was entertained in this quarter, that the Indians here would be drawn into a southern alliance with the western Indians, in connection with the then pending difficulties with France and Spain. The letter is given in the Appendix, [No. 16,] more as a curious local reminiscence than from any thing of local consequence allied to it.
Previous to the advent of Mr. Ellicott and his surveying parties, in the spring of 1798, the Senecas had not surrendered the possession of their lands, and were extremely jealous of any encroachments until certain preliminaries were arranged with the Holland Com- pany. In March, Hinds Chamberlain and Jesse Beach, who had the year previous been to Le Boeuf, Pa., and fixed upon locations there, started from Avon, with two yoke of oxen and sleds, and making their own road the greater portion of the distance, arrived at Buffalo, where some four hundred Indians were assembled, high- ly exasperated at what they considered an invasion of their terri- tory. The trespassers informed them that Poudry, of Tonawanda, had assured them that he had obtained their consent; and after menacing and threatening, the matter was settled by Red Jacket, as the principal negotiator, for " two gallons of Indian whiskey, and some tobacco." And this is but one of the many instances in which that chief sullied his high character, by assisting to feign resentment to levy tributes - generally payable in that which he would often sacrifice his honor to obtain.
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CHAPTER IX.
ALLEGANY - JOHN B. CHURCH, AND PHILIP CHURCH.
JOHN B. CHURCH came from England to the American colonies, a young adventurer, a few years previous to the Revolution. He had been placed by a wealthy uncle in a large mercantile establishment in London, but the business not suiting his inclination, he emigrated, fixing his residence in Boston, where he prosecuted for several years, with great success, the business of an underwriter. When the Revolution broke out, or as soon as an army organization was per- fected he was engaged in the commissary department, with Jeremiah Wadsworth, in which he continued throughout the war. Gen. Philip Schuyler, being also engaged in the commissary department for the northern division of the army, business relations led to an acquaintance, and before the close of the Revolution, Mr. Church married one of his daughters. 'The official duties of Messrs. Wads- worth and Church, embracing the care of the subsistence of the French army, an intimate acquaintance with the French military and naval officers of the Revolution, succeeded. Soon after the close of the Revolution - in '85, - some unliquidated accounts between the commissary department and the army of Rochambeau, made it necessary for Messrs. Wadsworth and Church to visit the French capital, where they remained with their families for eighteen months. Mr. Church removed his family to London, residing there and at a country seat in Berkshire, on the Thames, until '97, when he returned to America, and settled in the city of New York.
The eldest son of John B. Church, is the present Judge Philip Church, of Belvidere, Allegany county, the Pioneer of that region. In his early boyhood he was taken to Paris by his father and after- wards to England, receiving his education at the celebrated Eaton school. Returning to America, he became a student of law, with
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his uncle Alexander Hamilton,* and also his private Secretary. Changing his destination in life soon after his majority, and becom- ing the patroon of new settlements in the wilderness.
Judge Church is now 71 years of age. With a yet vigorous intellect, his memory goes back to the early scenes of his youth, and calls up reminiscences of the American and French Revolutions, of England and English satesmen, which, although they belong to the province of general history, will, the author is confident, not be unacceptable, if preserved in these local annals. - See Appendix No. 18.
While pursuing his studies, the difficulties occurring with France, on the raising of the provincial army, he was commissioned as a Captain though he saw little of service, as the difficulty was soon adjusted.| Gen. Hamilton, as the agent of John B. Church, had in his absence, loaned to Robert Morris $80,000 and taken a mortgage on Morris Square, Philadelphia; the lien being afterwards transferred to 100,000 acres of land, on Morris' Reserve in the now county of Allegany. In 1800 the mortgage was foreclosed, the land was sold at Canandaigua by Benj. Barton, then Sheriff of Ontario, and bid in by Philip Church for his father .¿
At the period of this sale, there was no white settler on all the territory now embraced in the county of Allegany, with the excep- tion of two localities which will be named. The survey and settle- ment of the 100,000 acre tract was commenced under the general supervision of Philip Church. Shortly after he had graduated from the law office of Edmund Pendleton, where he had finished his law studies -in July 1801 -he made a second advent to the Genesee country. Taking Geneva and Lyons in his route, he employed as
*Gen. Hamilton married a daughter of Gen. Philip Schuyler.
t When the secretary of his uncle, and having frequent occasions to carry messages and papers to Washington, he was cautioned by General Hamilton to be punctual, if he wished to gain.his esteem. When application was made for a commission for him in the army, Washington at first objected that he was too young ; but observing that he remembered the promptness and punctuality of the young man, granted the com- mission,
# This was Judge Church's first visit to the Genesee Country. After his return, he visited a club with his father ; among the members present, were Brockholst Livings- Eton, Richard Varrick, Messrs. Bayard and Le Roy, Richard Harrison, Governeur Mor- ris. The conversation turned upon the wretched state of the road from New York to Albany. Philip Church remarked that they would have a good turnpike road from Albany to Canandaigua before there was one on the Hudson. He was pronounced beside himself by the club, and retiring, he was chided by his father for offering so rash an opinion.
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surveyor and local agent, Evert Van Wickle, who was accompa- nied by John Gibson, John Lewis and Stephen Price. Laying in provisions and camp equipage at Geneva and Bath, the party ren- dezvoused at the settlement, which had been commenced by the Rev. Andrew Gray and Moses Van Campen, in what is now Almond, Allegany county. Mr. Van Campen, who to use a sailor phrase, knew all the " ropes" of the forest, was enlisted in the expedition. Proceeding on, the party came to the house of - Dyke, a solitary settler who occupied the advanced post of civilization, near the junction of the eastern line of Allegany with the Pennsylvania line ; slept in a log barn, and then pushed on into the dark forests upon the Genesee River. This was the first breaking into the woods in all the region which is now embraced in the western portion of Allegany, Wyoming, southern portions of Erie, Chautauque and Cattaraugus, and all that part of Pennsylvania bordering upon this state, with the exception of Presque Isle, and the solitary family of Francis King, at Cerestown, near the Allegany river, that had a short time before exchanged a residence in the city of London for a solitary one in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, a days journey from their nearest neighbor.
The party made a pretty thorough exploration of the tract, camp- ing and breaking up their camp from day to day, encountering almost constant rains and swollen streams. With Judge Church it was a youthful advent -a first introduction to the woods - and a pretty rugged specimen he encountered, as all will acknowledge who have traversed the alternating hills and valleys of Allegany. Arriv- ed at the north-west corner of the tract, the party mostly returned to their homes; Judge Church and Van Campen, making up their minds for a pleasure trip, taking an Indian trail * that bore off in the direction of Niagara Falls. This they pursued for two days, when they found themselves in the Seneca Indian village. They made their appearance in the little white settlement of " New Am- sterdam," (Buffalo) in a sorry plight ; with torn clothes, beards un- shaven, tanned and camp smoked. They visited the Falls, returned
* This trail led from the Indian village of Canaedea on the Allegany river, over the summit that divides the waters of the Genesee from those of Lake Erie, fell into the valley of the Cattaraugus, then passed over into the valley of the west branch of Buf- falo creek, and pursued generally, the course of that stream, to the Indian village at its junction with the main stream, four miles from its mouth.
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to Buffalo, and took the " white man's trail"* on their return to Bath. No such tramps had been contemplated, and soon after leaving Buffalo, money and provisions had both been exhausted ; all but a surplus of chocolate, which they exchanged along with the new settlers for meals of vietuals. Mr. Ellicott had just got his land office built at Batavia. At Ganson's there was a militia training, the first that was ever had west of the Genesee river. Richard W. Stoddard being one of the officers, supplied Mr. Church with money ; and proceeding on to Geneseo, they visited Mr. Wads- worth, whom Mr. Church had become acquainted with in New York.
Returning to Lyons, Judge Church arranged with Mr. Van Wickle to go on to the Allegany lands, and commence surveys and im- provements, having previously designated the site of Angelica, as a primitive location. A mill calculated for one run of stones, and a saw mill, was soon commenced, and a road opened from four miles west of Hornellsville, (west line of Steuben) to Angelica.t This road was cut through by Silas Ferry and John Ayers. The saw mill was in operation in 1802, the grist mill in 1803. A framed dwelling house for Mr. Van Wickle, a small log land office, and a few shantees to live in, were also erected. Judge Church remembers that the transportation of his mill irons from Albany to Angelica, cost $6,00 per cwt. All the early transporting was done with sleighs and wagons, from Geneva (80 miles ;) with light loads, a trip would generally consume seven days. In 1802, Joseph Taylor opened a tavern. In the same year, Judge Church opened a small store, which was managed by John Gibson, one of his companions in the primitive exploration, who now survives, a resident of the neighborhood of Angelica, aged 72 years. John Ayers who helped cut out the first road leading into Angelica, is also alive, a resident near the Transit Bridge, on the river. In 1803 a road was opened from Angelica to Belvidere, and in 1805 was continued on to the present site of Hobbyville, to which point Dr. Hyde had advanced and erected a log tavern house. This was in 1807; the road was for several years but little better than a woods' path.
* " When we had made a track through the forest," says Mr Stephen Lusk, of Pittsford, we called it a "white man's trail, to distinguish it from the Indian trails."
t It was the name of Mrs. Philip Schuyler -" An-ge-gwah-a-ka," after the daugh- ter of the Indian chief " San-gi-wa."
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From the commencement of settlement, until 1805, Allegany was a part of the town of Leicester, Ontario county, and the new settlers had to go to the old village of Leicester on the Genesee river, via Hornel'sville, to town meeting. In 1805 what is now Allegany county, was erected into a new town, and called Angelica. In April of that year the first town meeting was held at the house of Joseph Taylor. Benjamin Briggs was elected supervisor. Jacob S. Holt, town clerk. Other town officers : - John T. Hyde, David Church, Luke Goodspeed, Sylvester Russel, Elijah Church, Wm. Barney, Evert Van Wickle, Joseph Taylor, Abisha Cole, Wm. S. Heydon, Stephen Waterman, Thomas Cole, John Bennett, Ezra Bacon, George Otto, Jacob S. Holt.
In this year there are the records of roads, as follows : - Through main street of Angelica; from Angelica to Indian line, or Canaedea ; from Angelica to south line of Van Campen's farm ; from Angelica to Philipsburgh mills ; to Philips creek ; to Vandermark's creek ; to Dike's settlement.
No resolutions were passed in 1805. In 1806 Luke Goodspeed was supervisor. It was resolved that "every man's yard should be his pound ; " that the town of Angelica should pay $2,50 for every wolf caught within the limits of the town.
At the first election, April, 1805, John Nicholas had 16 votes for Senator : for members of Assembly, Alexander Rhea, had 30 votes, Ezra Patterson 25, Daniel W. Lewis 16, Jeremiah Munson 12. In 1806, Daniel W. Lewis as a candidate for Congress, had 51 votes ; for the Senate, Joseph Annin 42, Evens Wherey 38, John Mc- Whorter 33, Freegift Patterson 33; for Assembly, Philip Church 82, Timothy Burt 35, Philetus Swift 33, James Reed 32, Asahel Warner 30, Joseph M'Clure 6. In 1807, as candidates for Governor, Morgan Lewis had 37 votes, Daniel D. Tompkins 28.
Judge Church spent several months in the new settlement, in each of the years 1801, '2, '3, and '4. In 1803, he selected as his residence, a location upon the Genesee River, where he now resides, four miles from Angelica, which was named Belvidere. His large farm is a beautiful sweep of flats, table and up land. The Judge, who in his prime, was somewhat noted for athletic feats, is said to have looked out the favorite spot, by climbing tall pine trees upon the highlands. The winding of the river at that point, and the frequent breaks in the ranges of highlands as they rise from the valley, sur-
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rounds cultivated fields, a fine mansion with its English lawn, culti- vated groves, orchards and gardens, - with a varied, wild and ro- mantic landscape. The primitive framed house - built in 1803 - which stood for years, an outpost of civilization, is yet preserved ; its architecture, its old fashioned cut nails, marking a period when it must have looked almost aristocratic. Its founder still lives, but how many of the early men of the Genesee country, who have been sheltered under that venerable roof, have long since gone to their graves!
Belvidere is retired and secluded, even now. After an occupan- cy of nearly half a century, the guest of its hospitable founder, will often be waked from his slumbers, by the crack of the rifle, and the baying of hounds upon the surrounding hills. How must it have been when miles of forest intervened between it and the nearest settlements, and those settlements far away from the earlier ones of the Genesee country !
In 1805, Judge Church married the daughter of General Walter Stewart, of Philadelphia,* transferring her at the age of eighteen years, from city life and its associations, to the far off home in the wilderness, that has been described. The then young wife - the now venerable matron -remembers that woods journey, and des- cribes it, even in a vein of gaiety and humor. There was the long and tedious journey from Albany to Geneva, and Bath; then the jolting wagon, over a wood's road to Hornellsville; and then when wheels could no longer be used, the horseback ride over what was but little better than a wood's path, to Angelica, and her new home at Belvidere. With a characteristic gallantry, Thomas Morris, then the active promoter of settlement, in the Genesee country, accom-
* Gen. Stewart had a command in the Pennsylvania line during the Revolution. His house in Philadelphia was often the hospitable retreat of Washington, La Fayette, Rochambeau, and other of the eminent men of the Revolution. Mrs. Church has a valuable heir loom of the family, a relic of the father of his country. It is his por- trait in a frame ; upon the back of the frame is pasted an original autograph addressed to Mrs. Stewart, which accompanied the portrait. It was something unique in its way at the time. In the note, Washington with characteristic modesty, begs Mrs. Stewart to regard it " not so much for any merit of the original, as for its excellence as a work of art; the production of a young lady."
Extract from Washington's general order book, Moore's House, 1779 : - " The com- mander in chief directs a general court martial to be held at the usual place to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock, for the trial of Col. Armaud ; Col. Walter Stewart to preside." &c. By aresolution of Congress, medals were ordered struck for Gen. Wayne, Major Walter Stewart and Lt. Col. Fleury, for their gallant conduct in the storming of Stony Point
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panied her in this her bridal tour to the wilderness. She had her first experience in housekeeping, and lived for several years, miles away from neighbors; often the business of her husband calling him away for weeks ; her only companion a colored female domes- tic, and a small boy .* She made an early acquaintance with the Indians at Canaedea, and was a favorite with them. Upon one oc- casion, in the absence of Judge Church, she attended one of their festivals, contributing to its feast out of her stores, and enjoying with a high relish their Pagan rites, dances and rude sports. They gave her as a name, "Ye-nun-ke-a-wa," or the " first woman that has come ; " having reference to settlement upon the river. Judge Church being in England on the breaking out of the war of 1812, a party of Canaedea Indians, headed by a chief, went to Belvidere, and in gratitude for Mrs. Church's kindness to their people, offered to keep a guard around her house, to protect her from the British Indians. Regarding herself as secure from invasion, in the woods of Allegany, she thanked them but declined their proffered gallantry.
John B. Church died in London, in 1816. His sons, other than Philip Church, were :- John B. Church, who now resides in Paris ; Alexander, who died young, and Richard, who now resides in Eng- land. His daughters became the wives of Bertram P. Cruger, of New York, and Rodolph Bunner, late of Oswego.
The family of Philip Church, now consists of John B. Church, of New York, who married a daughter of Professor Silliman ; Walter and Henry Church, of New York; Philip Church, who re- · sides near Belvidere, and Richard Church, who resides at the home- stead. Daughters : - Mrs. John Warren, of New York, Mrs. Pendleton Hoosick, of New York, and an unmarried daughter, re- siding with her parents.
The southern portion of all that part of Allegany, which is upon the Holland Purchase, was not settled until just preceding the war of 1812. As early as 1804, a few families had settled at Olean, but no road from Angelica to that point was opened until 1809 or '10, and then but a woods road. It was surveyed by Moses Van Campen,
* There was much of woman's nature in her reply, in long after years, to an obser- vation made to her, expressing some surprise that she could have endured such a change - from a gay and social city to the woods : - "Oh," said she, " I was just the one to do it, I had youth, health ; to be sure it was pretty hard at first, but the rela- tions of a wife, to which was added the cares of a mother, soon reconciled me to my new home."
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in 1815, and soon after settlers dropped in, began to be worked by them and the proprietors of Olean; though when it began, in 1816, '17, to be thronged with western emigrants on their way to embark upon the Allegany, it was only by sleighing they could get along comfortably ; when that left them, as it often did, they plodded through sloughs, and over stumps and roots, making slow progress. There are emigrants on the Ohio and Wabash and in southern Illinois, who remember their early journey through the woods of Allegany and Cattaraugus, as by far the most trying scene they encountered upon their journey. Soon after 1816, a state road was laid there, the state making a small appropriation, but the pay for its construc- tion principally made dependent upon the proceeds of tolls. It was completed in 1822. The road was principally built by David D. Howe.
In 1805 Judge Church purchased and had drove to Belvidere twen- ty-four sheep. Arriving late in the evening, they were folded close by the house. In the morning a brother-in-law, from New York, being his guest, he invited him out early to see them. Approaching the pen, they found 19 of the 24 lying dead. The wolves had tracked them in, and made the havoc. As is usual, where they have a plenty of victims, they had only bitten the throats, and ex- hausted the blood. The woods of Allegany were especially the haunts of wild beasts ; trapping and hunting was a serious diver- sion of the new settlers, from the work of improvement.
In early years. the Post-office nearest Angelica, was at Bath, 40 miles distant. The citizens clubbed, and contracted with William Barney to make the trip, carrying letters and papers once a month. A blind boy of Mr. Barney made the trips, until he was killed by a fall from his horse.
There was no physician in Allegany, in the earliest years ; Judge Church says he brought in a medicine chest, and " Buchan's Family Medicine," and occasionally made prescriptions. The nearest phy- sician, Dr. Niles, in Steuben county. The first settled physician in Angelica, was Dr. Ellis, who was succeeded by Dr. Southworth, now of Lockport.
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