USA > New York > Wyoming County > Perry > History of the town of Perry, New York > Part 11
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On Sunday, Aug. 1st, 1909, it was dedicated by Bishop Col- ton, assisted by Rev. Dean Vandepoel of LeRoy, Rev. Francis Sullivan of Albion, Rev. J. MeGrath, Rev. Charles Duffy, D. D., Rev. M. J. Kean, and Rev. Thomas Walsh, D. D., D. C. L. of Buffalo. Rev. John H. O'Rourke, S. J., of New York City, de- livered the sermon of the day. The church is a beautiful mar- ble edifice and cost approximately $50,000, including furnish- ings. It commands the admiration of all who see it and their wonderment how it could have been constructed for the sum ex- pended. It is a lasting and substantial memorial of the care, foresight and executive ability of Father Caraher, who gave his personal attention to every detail and secured complete re- turn for every dollar expended.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
HOLY APOSTLES EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Episcopal services were held in Perry in Prof. Allen's pri- vate school rooms as early as 1845. At this time the Rt. Rev. Bishop DeLancey acted as supply. About the year 1875, the small body of Episcopalians living in Perry held services in the little chapel that stood upon a site on Main street, now the en . trance to Borden avenue. Revs. Sweetland and Battin were the only regular pastors of whom the writer has any information.
Services were finally abandoned in this little church, and the few adherents of the faith affiliated with other religious bodies of the town. The avails of the sale of the church prop- erty formed a nucleus for a larger fund, and as the town rapidly increased in poulation, it was found that a considerable number of the new comers were Episcopalians, who were desirous of seeing a church of that denomination in the place. This fact gave courage to the old members and their interest was re- newed. About the year 1897, weekly meetings were held by the Episcopalians in the Universalist Church, and earnest efforts were made to realize their ambition to have a church of their own. The fund for the purpose grew, and in 1899 the present edifice was constructed at a cost of $3500, the corner stone be- ing laid by Bishop Walker of the Diocese of Western New York.
During the period since the building of the church there have been seven rectors appointed, viz: W. A. Atkinson, who was the first, labored here for two and one-half years, the others in order being as follows: Revs. Stoddard, Willey, Har- vey, Murch, and the present rector, Percy Isherwood. Mr. F. E. Eustace supplied vacancies as lay reader. The present mem- bership comprises about 60 families.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
FREE METHODIST CHURCH
The first meetings of this society were held in Smith's Hall, located on the corner of Main and Lake streets, in the third story of the brick block erected by Rufus H. Smith. The or- ganization as a church society was established at a meeting held on Nov. 5th, 1860, with the following named persons as members in full connection : John Grisewood, Hannah Grise- wood, Jonathan Handley, Mary Handley, James R. Johnson, Rhoda M. Johnson, Mark Johnson, Wm. Rudd, Sarah Rudd, Thomas B. Catton, Sarah H. Catton, James Purdy, Sarah Purdy, Wright Mason, Mary Clark Sanford, Hannah Sanford, Lydia Grisewood, Ann Smith, Elizabeth Hare. The following Summer they erected a church building on a lot presented to them by Anson D. Smith, on the corner of Main and Gardeau streets. This church was dedicated on July 20th, 1861, by Revs. Asa Abell and Loren Stiles. The parsonage was built on Gar- dean street, adjoining the church. In the Fall of 1862, a class of 25 from Burke Hill united with the Free Methodists and the organization was then known as "The Perry and Burke Hill Cirenit." A Sunday School was organized with Thomas B. Catton as its first superintendent Only one of the charter members is now living-Mr. Wm. Rudd, who is still active in the work of the church.
In May, 1915, the society purchased of E. J. Soper, his new residence property and vacant lot on Church street. The residence will be used as a parsonage, and it is the intention of the society to erect a new church building in the near future.
The pastors who have served the church are : A. A. Phelps, W'm. Manning, Asa Abell, G. W. Humphrey, George Slack, C. Hudson, S. H. Lowe, J. W. Reddy, Henry Hornsby, T. J. Ewell, M. C. Burritt, George W. Marcellus, G. W. Coleman, C. B. Essex, J. A. Green, D. S. Warner, W. C. Chamberlain, C. W. Bacon,
THOMAS B. CATTON
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
D. G. Mark, J. Robinson, J. H. Wheeler, J. H. Harmon, W. T. Wees, L. Barmore, R. Carne, L. A. Southworth, M. A. Parker, H. J. Wood.
LEICESTER STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
During the Summer of 1879, owing to a controversy of over a year's duration, concerning secret societies, a portion of the congregation of the First Baptist Church withdrew from that organization and formed what later became known as "The Leicester Street Baptist Society of Perry." For a period of about three years they held their regular church services in the Academy building. Rev. Jesse Ellicott preached to the con- gregation until his death in March, 1880, when Rev. J. D. Tucker was engaged as pastor.
A council of the Genesee Baptist Association was called and convened at Perry on Feb. 15th, 1881, at which time argu- ments were heard for and against the recognition of the organi- zation as an independent church. Not being able to agree upon the subject, an adjournment was taken until Nov. 15th, at which time the organization succeeded in obtaining the desired recognition.
The society purchased a lot on Leicester street and the erection of a church edifice was begun in the Summer of 1881. On Jan. 26, 1882,, it was formally dedicated by Rev. H. D. Ewell. The cost of the building was $4,300.
Regular services were held in this church until February, 1909, when the organization disbanded and the members re- united with the mother church, under the name of the "Baptist Church of Perry."
Other pastors of the church were : Revs. Brown, D. C. Her- rell, and James Blanden.
About the year 1909, the church property was sold to the late W. P. Andrus, who converted the building into an apart- ment house.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
ST. STANISLAUS CHURCH
The growth of Perry's largest knitting industry from a working force of 100 or more to over one thousand created a labor problem that induced many Polish people to come here and seek employment in the mills. When the number reached about 300, a Catholic priest of their own nationality was se- cured in the person of Rev. Joseph Rudzinski, and the parish of "St. Stanislaus Kosta" was instituted on Nov. 14, 1910, by Bishop Colton. At that time the congregation numbered over 300, representing over 40 families. The congregation now num- bers nearly one thousand and the society has a church building, a rectory and other property, including a cemetery, totaling in value about $10,000.
Father Rudzinski is a loyal citizen of his adopted country and has done much for the uplift of his people, encouraging them in learning American customs and inspiring in them a devotion to American ideals.
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CHAPTER X
Excitement Over Discoveries of Gold in California-Perry Men Were Among Those Who Were Lured by the Fortunes Quickly Made.
In the late '40's, gold discoveries in California created great excitement and drew many people to the Pacific Coast in search of their fortune. A large number of men went alone while many others took their families across the country in " prairie schooners" and braved the perils that beset them nearly all of the way west of the Missouri River.
From Ridpath's history of the United States we quote : "A few days after the signing of the treaty of peace with Mexico, an event occurred in California which spread excitement through the civilized world. A laborer, employed by Captain Sutter, to eut a mill race on the American fork of the Sacramento River, discovered some pieces of gold in the sand in which he was dig- ging. With further search, other particles were found. The news spread as if borne on the wind. From all quarters, adventurers came flocking. Other explorations led to further revelations of the precious metal. For a while there seemed to be no end to the discoveries. Straggling gold hunters sometimes picked up in a few hours the value of $500. The intelligence went fly- ing through the states to the Atlantic, and then the ends of the world. Men thousands of miles away were crazed with excitement. Workshops were shut up, business houses aband- oned, fertile farms left tenantless, offices deserted. Though the overland routes to California were scarcely yet discovered, thousands of our eager adventurers started on the long, long journey."
The "gold fever" manifested itself in Perry and infected Riley Senter, Charles H. Erickson, Samuel P. Pierce and Mark A. Pierce, who left here on May 11th, 1849, and started for Cali- fornia by the "overland route." At Council Bluffs, Ia., they
MARK A. PIERCE
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
met others who were bound for the "Golden State, " and at that place the "wagon train" was formed. The long journey across the plains was begun about June 1st, 1849, and after several un- expected delays, the party reached Salt Lake City in November. It was deemed inadvisable to take the shortest route from Salt Lake to California on account of the heavy snows in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, hence they left Salt Lake City in December, taking a trail running a southerly course.
At Laramie, Wyoming, before reaching Salt Lake City, the party was obliged to stop for a time and make repairs to their wagons and outfit. In a letter written from Laramie on Aug. 25th, 1849, Riley Senter told of some of their experiences. It was published in the Perry Democrat, from which we make the following excerpts :
"The land about here is far from being fit to cultivate. There is an immense region of country between the States and the Rocky Mountains that is fit only for buffalo and other wild animals to range upon. From where we crossed the Missouri it continues to grow more barren as we journey westward. The country is almost entirely destitute of timber. There is gener- ally some along the river and creek banks, just a few scattering trees. Great quantities of material have been thrown out here. On all of the abandoned camping places are to be found boxes, barrels, trunks, a great quantity of iron in all shapes-wagon tires, horse shoes, blacksmith tools, etc. Wagons have been burned with their provisions by some, because they could not get any offers for the property. The North American Fur Com- pany have a station here to trade with the Indians, and I can readily see how large profits are made. These traders pay a mere trifle for buffalo robes. A cup of coffee and one of flour is about the usual price. I was told that one cup of molasses is sufficient to purchase a buffalo robe. Moccasins are bought for a few cents. The buffalo is the only dependence of the In- dians ; for hats they cut the hair from the hides and sew it. The Indians are looking with a great deal of anxiety upon the emi- gration of the whites through their territory, fearing that all
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"THE FORTY-NINERS"
of the buffalo will be killed and that they will have to starve. Officials at the forts endeavor to pacify the Indians by telling them that the United States will supply them with food when the proper time arrives. Indians are experts in shooting the buffalo, and I have frequently been told that they can drive an arrow through an animal. I really believe it from the appear- ance of their arrows, which are pointed with a sharp iron, shaped something like the old flint arrow heads found in Wyo- ming County. From the time we started until within ten miles of Laramie we did not see an Indian, and then discovered about 25 lodges on the opposite side of the river. Although having frequently been told to be very cautious about going into dan- ger, some half a dozen of us started immediately for their camp. Before getting over the river we saw them go for their horses and rush across between us and the wagon train, which was moving on. We hardly knew what to make of their move- ment, but thinking it best to start directly for them, we did so and found that their great anxiety was to get to our train for the purpose of trading and getting presents. They had plenty of ponies, some buffalo robes and moccasins, and were anxious to trade their ponies for our horses. Anything that an Indian takes a fancy to will buy one of their best ponies. An old military coat will buy a pony at any time, such as the traders ask from $75 to $100 for. These Indians are the Sioux. They have suffered terribly from the cholera, which began its rav. ages among them last spring, but now has nearly ceased. They do not bury their dead, but hang the bodies up, either in trees or upon long poles, believing that if buried the dead one could not see. In following one creek, some of us found several bodies in trees; one was that of a child carefully placed on a network of sticks woven together. By its side lay a pretty red blanket folded up along with several deer and elk skins of the softest kind, together with several small trinkets. * We intend to start tomorrow by the river route. There is no doubt that gold is there or near there in abundance; so we are told by the Mormons on the road, and if there is as much as is said to be we shall go in for a share. I hope to send some of the dust home by next spring. I like the company I am with; they are a set of men who know how and are ready to work ; some me- chanics, others farmers when at home. My health is excellent and I have never regretted starting from Perry."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
Charles Erickson died on the trip, particulars of his death being written to the home folks by Mark Pierce in a letter from which we make the following excerpts :
"Our course after we left Salt Lake City lay through a dreary and desolate region inhabited only by Indians who sub- sist mostly by robbery. We followed the route marked on the map as 'Fremont's trail of 1844.' Before we crossed the divid- ing ridge of the Great Basin we encountered severe weather; the mercury registered 22 degrees below zero and the snow was nearly two feet in depth. Although we were much exposed to the inclement weather, we endured it better than one would expect. After crossing the dividing ridge and traveling down the Santa Clara River a day or two, we emerged into spring-like elimate which continued until we reached our destination. We had occasion to stop during the first few days of January on a small stream called 'Muddy,' which is the only watercourse between the 'Rio Virgin' and 'Vegas,' in order to recruit our cattle. A desert 60 miles in length lies between the Muddy and Vegas, and it is destitute of water nearly the whole season. After leaving the Muddy we pushed our way along as fast as possible and camped near a patch of grass, which was only enough to meet the needs for one night. Charles complained of illness and we gave him a simple remedy, which soon quieted his pain and he fell asleep. Early the next morning we were under way and had the good fortune to find some grass and water in the afternoon. Charles rode all day upon a bed made in the wagon. At night he was ap- parently better, but the dampness of the wagon cover from the frequent showers of the day was not conducive to his comfort. On Sunday. Jan. 4th (1850) we arrived at the 'Vegas' (a fer- tile spot in the desert,) pitched our tent and collected a quan- tity of dry canes to spread upon the ground. We immediately made a bed for Charles and covered him snugly. He was suf- fering from a severe form of erysipelas and we gave him reme- dies that we hoped would ease his pain and quiet his nerves. On Monday morning he was somewhat better and when the sun rose he wrapped himself in his blanket and walked about con- siderably. A physician connected with our train gave him some remedies which alleviated his suffering and the next day he appeared better, but early in the evening he became sud-
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denly worse and we became much alarmed about him. We call- ed another physician, who was connected with Pomeroy's train, encamped nearby, to counsel with ours. I was pained to hear their decision that his symptoms were very unfavorable. They did all in their power to alleviate his trouble, but he became partly deranged and continued in that state until a few mom- ents before he died at 5 o'clock in the morning of Jan. 9th, 1850."
The party entered the Mountain Meadow pass and reached the old Santa Fe and California trail 200 miles south of Salt Lake City. Progress along the trail was slow, San Bernardino Mission in Southern California being reached on Jan. 30th, and SanFrancisco about Feb. 15th. At SanFrancisco they met four other men from Perry who had gone by the Isthmus of Panama route, viz : Lee Higgins, Harvey Nobles, Alonzo Robbins and Frimate Jenks, a brother of the late Joshua Jenks. From them they received the first news from home since their departure.
Charles H. Homan and the late David Andrus were other Perry men who were numbered among the '49'ers, but none of them succeeded in making their fortune in the Golden State. Their experiences, however, were among the most exciting and interesting of their lives.
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CHAPTER XI
The Silver Lake Sea Serpent, a Cleverly Conceived Hoax That Was Successfully Employed for Some Time and Brought Silver Lake Into Prominence.
In 1855, the villages of Perry and Castile were fearfully excited over the reported discovery of a wonderful and hideous monster that had been discovered in the liquid depths of beau- tiful Silver Lake. In time this excitement extended all over the State, and eventually to many parts of the entire United States. People came on foot, by carriage, on horseback, and, in fact, by any means of locomotion obtainable, to see if even a glimpse of the monster could be obtained, and the hotels found that they had "struck a bonanza." The Perry paper, edited by Truman S. Gillett. made hay while the sun shone and issued extras illustrated with cuts of the lake and the monster suppos- ed to live in its depths, and these papers had a large sale. Dr. Sheldon Higgins, who was the proprietor of the Perry Drug Store, and who was also an adept in the engravers' art, furnished the ents for the paper.
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Old wood engraving made to illustrate the Sea Serpent.
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THE SILVER LAKE SEA SERPENT
An old whaleman by the name of Daniel Smith was im- ported, bringing his boat, harpoon and lances, and proved to be quite an object of curiosity to the people who congregated at the lake.
The writer is indebted to the Wyoming Times and an article published at the Castilian office in 1880 by Gaines & Terry for our narrative, and will begin the strange tale with the follow- ing article from the Times, dated Perry, July 18th, 1855 :
APPEARANCE OF A SEA SERPENT IN SILVER LAKE
The Testimony of Five Credible Witnesses --- Great Excitement, Narrow Escapes, Etc.
"The beauties of Silver Lake, half a mile from this village have been recorded in prose and verse time and again. It is a splendid sheet of water, about four miles long and from one- half to three-quarters of a mile wide. Its outlet, after coursing through a deep gorge, flows into the Genesee River. It con- tains sites for 16 or 18. milling privileges, about half of which are improved. The lake is a great resort for fishing parties, muscallonge, pickerel and bass being caught here with live bait during the summer, and speared through the ice during the winter. Catfish or bullheads are as thick as grasshoppers in a wheat field ...... It is the resort of pleasure parties from the village and abroad, and seldom has anything occurred by which the fair fame of Silver Lake has been tarnished; nor has it acquired any other than an honest reputation as being one of the most beautiful, safe and desirable places of resort in the State, either for fishing or-in its season-hunting. But to our story :
"Friday evening last, as a party of which we formed one was disembarking from a trip up the lake, with a hundred pounds or less of dressed catfish, Messrs. Charles Hall, Joseph R. McKnight, Charles and Alonzo Scribner, accompanied by two boys named George Hall and John Scribner, were just leaving the landing on an evening's fishing excursion. The story of their voyage and its incident is theirs as related to us
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
in all sincerity, and we give it with the remark that the party had no liquor in their boat, nor was there any in or about the party.
"They left the landing near Mr. Howe's pump factory about 7 p. m. on Friday, and rowed up the narrows of the out- let, where two of the party got out and dragged the boat through. As the channel became wider they took seats in the boat and rowed steadily up the lake. They anchored in about the center, near the northeast end. and began fish- ing. The evening was not dark; both shores were in view, and the stars and clouds appeared alternately. About 9 o'clock, as the entire party were fishing, MeKnight-who sat in the stern of the boat-called attention to what had the sem- blanee, though much larger, of a long tree trimmed off, lying on the surface of the water, north of their boat and a dozen yards off. All looked at it, and various suggestions were made re- garding it. It appeared to be 80 or 100 feet long. However, the party continued fishing. The thing they saw, be it tree, log, or whatnot, remained in the same position for twenty minutes or half an hour. At about 9:30 it had disappeared, when or how the party had not observed. In about ten minutes Mc- Knight called attention to the same object between the boat they occupied and the old sailboat 'Frolic,' which lies aground, disabled on the east shore. The center of the log, tree, or what- ever it was, was in a direct line from the stern of the boat and not more than four rods away. After watching it a few min- utes, MeKnight, who was nearest it, exclaimed : 'Boys, that thing is moving!' All looked at it, but having concluded that it was a log, when first seen, continued pulling up the catfish. A few minutes more passed, and Hall noticing that it had and was changing its position, exclaimed : 'See. itis bowing around !' And true enough, so it was. All looked and saw the same movement. Its head-it could no longer be called a log-was now within three rods of the boat, and, as it approached, the waves parted on either side as if a boat were leisurely ap- proaching.
"Scribner, in an attempt to cut the rope attached to the anchor and boat, lost his knife and pulled up the anchor. Hall grasped the oars and began pulling vigorously for the west
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THE SILVER LAKE SEA SERPENT
shore, McKnight steering the boat. Scribner took seat with Hall and assisted in rowing. All this was the work of an in- stant, and their mysterious and unwelcome guest disappeared while it was going forward, to the great joy of the party. But they were not clear of their visitor. The boat had not been propelled more than forty rods when the strange visitor was again visible on the surface for the third time, to the northeast of them, and between the boat and the outlet. This time the visitor was within one rod of the boat, and the party were mak- ing rapid progress toward the inlet. All in the boat saw the creature. It again disappeared.
"For the fourth time, when the party was within 35 or 40 rods from their proposed and now nearest landing point, the south side of the inlet, the Serpent-for now there was no mis- taking its character -- darted from the water, about 4 feet from the stern of the boat, close by the rudder paddle, the head and forward parts of the monster rising above the surface of the water 8 or 12 feet in an oblique direction from the boat. All in the boat had a fair view of the creature and concur in repre- senting it as a most horrid and repulsive looking monster. Mc- Knight has no doubt that the portion of the body above the water was as large in circumference as a flour barrel, while Hall-one of the oarsmen-thinks that it was the size of a but- ter firkin in circumference. Both agree as to the length ex- posed to view. On the opposite side of the boat, about a rod and a half to the northeast, the other extremity of the serpent was in full view, lashing the water with its tail. When the for- ward part descended upon the water it created waves that nearly capsized the boat and suspended regular operations at the oars.
"The party reached shore in safety, but frightened most out of their senses. They left the boat on the side of the lake farthest from home, and footed it home, some two miles, rather than venture down the outlet, not more than half a mile in length. It is almost needless to say that they slept little that night or the next. We will add, for the benefit of the incredu- lous, that these men are persons of character; they would be believed in this community in any ordinary matter between man and man. We admit that it is a large story, but it is about a
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