USA > New York > Wyoming County > Perry > History of the town of Perry, New York > Part 3
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Another incident of the early days is well worth repeating at this time. In the year 1808, Mr. Benjamin Parker, who had located in the Town of Warsaw, made a trip through this sec- tion on foot. Upon his return through the forest that covered nearly the whole region between the Transit and Perry Center, he met seven bears-three old ones and four cubs. Having no other weapon than a large club, he struck one of the bears, breaking his club. "Vith no alternative he was obliged to retreat and took refug. in a small tree. His cry for help was heard by Elisha Smith, though nearly a mile distant, and forthwith he went to the rescue, armed with an axe and gun, accompanied by his dig. The four cubs and two of the bears were soon treed, and as it was quite dark, fires were kindled to prevent their escape. In the morning, the two bears were shot and the cubs were taken alive.
During the early years, rattlesnakes were very numerous and many persons were bitten by them. The cases were suc- cessfully treated by Tall Chief, an Indian doctor who resided at Squawkie Hill, in the Town of Leicester. The settlers hunt- ed and attacked the snakes in their dens and soon thinned them out.
CHAPTER III
Anecdotes of Calvin P. Bailey, one of the Most Prominent Early Settlers-Perry's First Tavern-Early Settlers of Castile- Perry's Pioneer Physicians-Town Meetings at Perry Center.
Mr. Calvin P. Bailey arrived in Perry in 1816, bringing his family and a stock of merchandise. He formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Samuel Hatch (father of our towns- man, S. A. Hatch) and opened a store on the site of the present Hatch block on the corner of Main and Covington streets, now occupied by Roche's grocery, and the firm became Perry's first permanent merchants, although, as stated previously, James C. Edgerly had brought in a few goods. Mr. Bailey was a son of Charles and Martha Bailey and was born in Newbury, Vt., in 1792. In 1814 he married Sybil, daughter of John and Waitsell Hatch, of Hardwick, Vt. Eight children were born of the union. Mr. Bailey continued in the mercantile and gen- eral business until his retirement from active pursuits. In the year 1828 he was elected to represent his district in the State Assembly, and in 1840 he was chosen as delegate to the National Convention which placed the name of William Henry Harrison in nomination for the Presidency, on which occasion Mr. Bailey proposed the name of Henry Clay for the nomina- tion, but he was defeated. Mr. Bailey was also the delegate representing Wyoming and Genesee counties at the National Convention of the Whigs, held in Baltimore in 1844.
A story is told of Mr. Bailey's first speech in the Assembly. Notwithstanding the fact that it was a good address, a member of the opposite party desiring to ridicule him, arose following the address and remarked : "Gentlemen, I have often heard of the Genesee Flats, but this is the first time I was ever privi- leged to see and hear one."
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Mr. Bailey was a man of force and positive nature. He . never brooked interference and resented opposition. A story is told that at one time he was having a small bridge built across the outlet, near the old tannery site, probably at the time that he was road commissioner. He was assisting a man in laying plank and was standing near the end of a plank about to be spiked to the stringer. He told the man to go and bring a certain tool, and when the man said, "If I do, you'll-" Mr. Bailey commanded him to "Get that tool !" The man obeyed stepping off the other end of the plank, and Mr. Bailey plumped into the outlet with a great splash. He came up spluttering and was assisted to the bridge by his helper, but Mr. Bailey realized that the man had simply obeyed orders and he said nothing in condemnation and took his medicine philoso- phically. But the story has lived to this day.
Mr. Bailey was a man of generous and philanthropic nature, especially in contributing funds for local institutions. He paid nearly one-half of the expense of building the old Presbyterian Church, although he was not affiliated with the church society. His sons-John H. and Charles W .- were among the first college graduates of the town.
ยท In 1824, Bailey & Hatch erected an oil mill, and in 1827 a grist mill. In 1836, Mr. Bailey and one other erected the block now occupied by Roche's grocery and Chaddock's hard- ware. All of the stone used in the construction of this building was hauled overland from Brockport, N. Y. The block was an advance over any building that had been erected in the town. At the time of the big fire of 1856, which will be described in an- other chapter, Mr. Bailey kept the roof from taking fire at great risk to himself. It is about the oldest building in the bus- iness section, as nearly all of the rest have been burned at some time or other. Mr. Bailey died at his residence on North Main street on Sept. 8th, 1860. His wife died in 1872. His home oc-
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cupied the site of the present residence of Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Wyckoff (the former M. H. Olin property,) and the original building was moved to Water street, where it is now used as a Polish grocery.
Following the opening of the general store by Bailey & Hatch, other mercantile firms came in rapidly, and soon stores covered a good share of the northern part of our present busi- ness district.
Warsaw, Batavia, LeRoy and Perry were the four towns in this section favored as centers of trade in the early days. Few goods were sold for cash; almost the whole trade was on credit or barter basis. Notes were made payable in grain, lumber, cattle, etc. Maple sugar formed an important article of trade for many years, constituting the principal source of sweetening. Ashes from burnt timber formed another of the most important articles of trade, and after being converted into black salts, was one of the most valuable commodities at the command of the inhabitants. Containing much value in small bulk, they could be easily transported, and commanded a ready market.
In reading old newspaper advertisements of Perry's early business men, it is a noteworthy feature that all classes of deal- ers advertised to take furs, lumber, dairy products, in fact any- thing raised by the settlers in exchange for furniture, groceries, hardware, or anything else held by them for sale. Even the editor of one of Perry's earliest newspapers offered to take "wheat, corn, hay, wood, pork or lard" from those who were indebted to him. That cash was scarce is evident, and most business was conducted, as before stated, on the swap plan.
As previously stated, the Town of Perry was incorporated in 1814. In that year the first town meeting was held at the tavern kept by Peter Beebe at Perry Center, and the following named officers were chosen: Supervisor, Jairus Cruttenden
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
(who had settled in that portion of Perry which was afterward taken off in forming the Town of Covington.) Town Clerk, Warren Buckland. Collector and Constable, Salmon Preston. Justices of the Peace, Robert Moore, Pardon Tabor, Levi Ben- ton and James Symonds.
For several years after the formation of the town, the people were obliged to go to Batavia for the most of their public business, that town being the county seat, embracing most of the towns now included in Wyoming County.
Town meetings were held at Perry Center regularly until about 40 years ago. As the Village of Perry grew in population, there was more or less agitation about changing the meeting place to the village, but because of the small attendance of the villagers at these meetings, the Perry Center people managed to defeat the proposition as regularly as it came to vote. On one occasion, however, prominent citizens of the village succeeded in getting together a sufficient number and carried the meas- ure. After the proposition had been voted upon a number of the villagers arose in their glee and started for Perry, without waiting for the adjournment of the meeting. One of the sly Perry Center politicians, who had been quietly taking in the situation, arose and made a motion that they rescind the pre- vious action. The motion was promptly seconded and carried, much to the chagrin of the remaining Perryites, who were thus forced to journey to the Center for their next annual meeting.
The first tavern at Perry Center was built by Peter Beebe in about the year 1809. It was constructed of logs and stood on the ground now occupied by the residence of Chas. Ball. Mr. Beebe conducted the log tavern a few years, then had it torn down and erected in its place a framed building which he used for many years as a hotel. It was eventually closed, sold and
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EARLY SETTLEMENT OF PERRY
removed to land owned by Mr. W. O. Newcomb, and by him converted into a dwelling house. On the northwest of the four corners, a framed hotel was erected by a certain Mr. Atwood. This was conducted by various parties as a hotel until 1858. It was subsequently purchased by Mr. Wm. H. Hawley, Sr., and used by him as a dwelling house. The first store at Perry Center was established by Mr. Pierce of Avon, with John D. Langdon as his clerk. The building stood on the southwest of the four corners. Among the early settlers of that vicinity was Samuel Safford, born in Connecticut on Nov. 24th, 1788. In 1810, at the age of 21 years, he went as an American seaman to the Island of Cuba, and served four years before the mast. In 1818 he started for New York and came to Buffalo Corners by way of Bethany, walking a distance of 400 miles, carrying a pack on his back. After securing a place at Buffalo Corners, he returned to Connieetieut with his brother-in-law, Sidney Morse, and shortly afterward started again for Perry, with an ox team and a horse ahead, drawing a covered wagon. His family consisted of his wife and two sons-Amos and Harding, aged 4 and 2 years, respectively. They arrived at Buffalo Cor- ners on October 14th, 1818. He afterward erected a small store at the Corners and mail matter was left there in his care. Many a homeseeker was made welcome at his humble abode, and he was urged to build a tavern. He died on October 23d, 1880, aged 92 years, and was buried with his family in Prospect Hill Cemetery at the Center. Buffalo Corners derived its name from the fact that it was in early days a prominent point on the main traveled road between Buffalo and Albany.
Levi Silver, Sr., was born in New England and spent his early married life at Lempster, N. H. After a few years he moved to Sutton, Vt., from whence he came in 1815 to Perry. His brother-in-law, Captain Peter Atwood, whose wife was Abi .. gail Silver, had previously settled near what is now Perry Vil-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
lage and about a mile from a beautiful little lake called "Silver Lake," named, no doubt, partly from these settlers as well as because of the clearness of its waters. Captain Atwood drove to Vermont to bring the family, which consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Silver and nine children.
Levi Silver moved in 1820 to the farm in the west part of the town, now owned and occupied by George Humphrey. Here, in 1821, he built the house as it now stands (with the exeception of the porches and slight changes inside,) which was used as a tavern for many years. His wife, Susan Nichols Silver, was noted for her famous warmed potatoes, and many a traveler made it a point to reach the Silver Tavern on account of this attraction. At that time, Samuel Perkins of Warsaw drove the stage from Warsaw to Geneseo and put up at this tavern. Mrs. Silver lived to the ripe old age of 99 years.
Many of the early settlers of the Town of Perry, including the Otis, Kingsley, Blanchard, Bacon, Stowell, Dickerson and Wiles families, located in the vicinity of West Perry. Soon a thriving and prosperous community was established. In the late 30's the little hamlet at the corners boasted a school, a gen- eral store, a tavern, a shoe shop, a distillery, and a blacksmith and wagon-making establishment. It was also the birthplace of a man who became famous as an artist, whose son has achieved even greater fame than his father. Lemuel M. Wiles was born in West Perry on October 21st, 1826. In 1847 he was graduated from the New York State Normal School, and later he was for ten years director of the College of Fine Arts, Ing- ham University, LeRoy, N. Y. After leaving that institution he was director of the Art Department of Nashville University, Nashville, Tenn. He was a splendid instructor and was noted as a landscape painter. Prof. Wiles erected a large building on the west side of Silver Lake, which he conducted for several years as a Summer Art School, where instruction was given to
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EARLY SETTLEMENT OF PERRY
many pupils from a distance as well as from this section of the State. His son, Prof. Irving R. Wiles, is one of the most noted portrait painters in the country, and a prominent artist of New York City.
As Castile was a part of Perry until Feb. 27th, 1821, the following early history of that place is given : The first settle- ment was begun about 1808 or 1809, by Daniel MeKay of Cale- donia, who erected a saw mill on Wolf Creek, in the southeast- ern part of the town. About the same time, Robert Whaley removed from Caledonia and settled on the Allegany Road, a short distance from the center of the present Town of Castile. Mr. Whaley had charge of the saw mill, which was about one- half mile from the mouth of the creek, on the Cotringer tract. This mill was stocked with the fine logs purchased from Mary Jemison, and the lumber was transported to the river's high bank, where there was a slide by which it was conveyed to the river, thence floated down to the older settlements. Mr. Whaley opened a tavern at his place of residence, and for many years the "Whaley Stand" was widely known and patronized by the settlers of this and other parts of the country farther west. In 1816 a severe calamity occurred at this pioneer tavern. Mr. Whaley had removed to his mill and rented the house to a Mr. Eldredge. Several men from LeRoy put up there for the night, when the house took fire and two of the men perished in the flames. The house was rebuilt, and in 1817 Mr. Whaley occu- pied it, passing away there soon afterward. His widow con- tinued the business for a number of years.
The first settlers at the village were Ziba Hurd and Jona- than Gilbert, who came from Vermont in 1816. Among other early settlers were Clark Sanford, Jacob Kellogg and his two brothers, A. Pond, James Thompson, William Tripp, Dow I. Clute, Charles Tallman, Freeman Sanford, Ebenezer Seymour and Sylvester Derby. A settlement was begun at an early day
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
in the western part of the town, near Silver Lake, called the "Tallman Settlement." The first birth in the town was that of Jane MeRay in 1813; the first death was that of Laura Wilcox in 1815; the first school was taught by Anna Bennett, who came from Vermont in 1816. The first grist mill was built by John Card and Sylvester Lathrop on Lot No. 40 in 1820. The first store was kept by Lemuel Eldridge and M. E. Frost in 1815. In 1821 a postoffice was established, and Mr. Hurd was appointed postmaster. During the same year he was also elected as Castile's first supervisor. The first religious services were held near the south end of Silver Lake in 1816 by Rev. Benjamin Luther of the Baptist denomination. A Christian Society was organized in 1819; a Presbyterian Society in 1824; also a Methodist Society in the same year. The Bap- tist Society was organized in 1835.
The water power furnished by Wolf Creek, and the abund- ance of fine timber in the vicinity gave great activity to the lumber business for many years. At one period, not less than 14 saw mills were located on this creek. When Mr. Clark San- ford settled in the town in 1816, Mary Jemison was living near the Genesee River, a mile below St. Helena. Castile Village at that time contained about half a dozen framed houses and a few log ones. Dr. Child kept a small store in the village at that period.
In 1817 a landslide occurred and about 25 acres of the present town of Castile slid into the Genesee River, damming it and causing a permanent change in its course.
Before the village took the name of Castile it was known first as Rickettsville, then as Freemansburg, and later as Oak- dale.
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PERRY'S PIONEER PHYSICIANS
To the late Amos Otis, who settled in Perry in 1810, and who kept a diary containing particular record of early events, numerous extracts from which were published in the Wyoming Times of 1856, we are indebted for many of the facts which ap- pear in this history.
Dr. Jabez Ward was the first physician to settle within the Town of Perry. He was a son of Ralph and Lorain Ward and was born on Feb. 3d, 1788. He came here and located just east of Perry Center in 1813. Dr. Ward received his education in the east, being licensed to practice by the Connecticut Medi- cal Society. A pleasant picture of good old Dr. Ward is given by one of the old Perry Center boys-Edward A. Sheldon, Ph. D., founder of the State Normal School at Oswego, N. Y .- in a reminiscence of the old home church and community, written on June 25th, 1889. He said : "Among those who made a strong impression upon my young life was Dr. Jabez Ward, one of the original organizers of the (Perry Center) church. He was our family physician, as he was of nearly all of the families of the town. He was a man of marked and rare traits of charac- ter. He may be justly termed a unique man. His duplicate would be hard to find. He was a cheerful, and we might al- most say, a jolly man. . His best remedies for the sick were not to be found in his saddlebags. I cannot say that I ever enjoyed the latter, with its unswallowable pills and picra, but I was ever willing to endure them for the sake of a visit from one whose. presence was such pleasant and wholesome medicine for both the body and soul. He cut an odd figure on his old horse as he threw his arms up and down and his heels out and in, as if in frantic effort to waken an animal that appeared to be in a jogging slumber. I am sure that both horse and rider took many of their naps on the road. So thoroughly was the horse habituated, to a certain gait that any ordinary nap would not in the least interfere with his measured step. The rider often
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
fell from his horse in his sleep, but he was too much of a phil- osopher ever to be hurt by such falls. He knew too well the danger of saddle-girths and efforts to save oneself from the ef- fects of a fall, to expose himself by the presence of the former, or by yielding to the natural impulses to rely on the latter for protection. He always went to the ground like a bag of sand, and his saddle with him, with no harm to wind or limb. The only harm that ever followed war the trouble of throwing on the saddle and leading the horse to a fence and remounting. His happy repartee and stories made him an agreeable con- panion alike to old and young. He was a man of strong affec- tions and deep religious feelings, and his influence for good was felt in every home he visited, as well as in the church in which he presided as an officer."
The story that is told in connection with the last illness of Dr. Ward portrays the character of his whole life of service and self-sacrifice. In July, 1843, he was seized with pneumonia, a result, perhaps, of exposure on some errand of mercy. The disease progressed, and he laid on his bed in a serious condi- tion. Two young friends were sitting up with him, giving him the needed medicine from time to time. As the hours passed slowly by, the watchers became drowsy and slept in their chairs. A knock came at the door, unheard by the young men, but the ready ear of the sick man heard, and he arose and an- swered the summons. It was a messenger with an urgent call from one of his patients a mile or so away. Perhaps the Doctor did not realize the seriousness of his own condition. At all events, he left the house, his own watchers still sleeping, and at- tended the case with his customary success. When he returned to his own bed, he was careful not to disturb the slumbers of the tired young friends. In the morning the doctor was worse, undoubtedly due to his midnight ride, and a day or two later,
.
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PERRY'S PIONEER PHYSICIANS
on the 16th of the month, he passed away. His remains were buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery at Perry Center.
Dr. Ward's old account books reveal a life of hard work with very small return. The people whom he served were nearly all poor, hard working citizens. When the difference between the time of his arrival in Perry and the present date is considered, it will not be imagined that the Doctor led an easier life than did the pioneer who leveled the forest and cleared the land. The population at that time was scattered over wide extent of territory. There were a few roads which at the present time would be called miserable, but which at that period were considered good. Sometimes, the Doctor in making his calls was forced to follow a path which had been cut through the woods, and in which the stumps had been left standing ; or, perhaps, the way was only marked with an ax cut or a brand upon the trees. At other times he would follow the lighted torch of a settler who had come in the night to guide him to the afflicted household.
The task of procuring medicines was a serious one for the early practitioner. The supply had to be purchased six months or a year in advance, as the pioneer merchant made but one or two trips east in the course of a year. When the supply was exhausted, the Doctor was forced to rely upon the roots, barks, herbs, etc., which grew in the forest.
The patient of today has a much easier time in his illness than did his forefathers. Antiseptics were unknown, and a severe surgical operation meant practically certain death. - Nor was there ether, choloroform or other anesthetics for the relief of pain. Bleeding was resorted to for numerous afflictions, such as headaches, fevers, inflammations, etc. We of this later period may congratulate ourselves that the practice of medicine and surgery has been raised to a much higher standard than
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
was thought possible, due to research and discovery on broader and more scientific educational lines.
Dr. Jacob Nevins was born in Danville, Vt., January 28, 1788. He re- ceived his medical education at St. "Johnsbury, Vt., coming to Perry later and locating on the farm now owned by his son, Hon. B. A. Nevins. He died on September 28th, 1860.
Dr. Jacob Nevins was the second physician to settle in the town, coming in the year 1816. Dr. Ezra Child was the first .: physician to locate in the village. He resided here a short time , and then emigrated to the State of Indiana. Doctors Otis Hig- gins and Mason G. Smith were also early practitioners in Perry." Dr. Higgins came in 1818 and practiced his profession in this immediate vicinity until his death in 1844.
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.
Geo. L. Keeney, M. D., was a son of Josiah and Phoebe Keeney. He was born in 1809 and died on Dec. 31st, 1869. His parents were natives of Conneticut and located in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, in the latter part of the 18th century. The doctor graduated from Yale College in 1832, and during that year entered upon the practice of his profession in Perry, where, in 1835, he married Ann, daughter of William and Hannah Dolbeer.
CHAPTER IV
Perry Three-quarters of a Century Ago-Days of the Mail Coach- Manufacturing Concerns and Business Places-Early Educa- tional Institutions-Musical Organizations.
Between the years of 1810 and 1820, the population of the town increased rapidly, particularly after the war with Eng- land had elosed. The next decade, from 1820 to 1830, showed still more rapid progress in all respects. The whole of Western New York was now well filled, comparatively speaking. It was during this period that the Erie Canal was completed. The rich and fertile "Genesee Country" had become well known. The extreme hardships of the pioneer had entirely passed. The facilities for travel by the completion of the canal were greatly improved, and a more ready sale of the products of the soil re- sulted in bringing from New England and the eastern and mid- dle sections of New York a larger number of people than at any previous time. During the next ten years, from 1830 to 1840, the largest population in Perry's rural districts was shown, and it has never since been exceeded. Although, since that period the rural population has diminished, we have since 1840 constantly improved our farms and buildings, beautified our homes, increased our religious and educational privileges and facilities, added to the comforts of life and gained in posi- tion, influence and general prosperity.
Now let us take a glance at the Village of Perry and see it as it was about three-quarters of a century ago, between the years of 1840 and 1845. At that time Perry possessed neither a bank, a railroad, a telegraph nor a telephone line ; but people listened daily for the toot of the horn of the mail coach, as drawn by four horses it dashed through the streets and finally
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