USA > New York > Wyoming County > Warsaw > History of the town of Warsaw, New York, from its first settlement to the present time; with numerous family sketches and biographical notes > Part 11
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IIISTORY OF WARSAW.
Mr. Chester Hurd (aged 68) said he came into this town in 1811. IIe had not been accustomed to hunting nor farm- ing; he had followed the carpenter and joiner business-had built eight churches; and thought if building churches tended to make people better, he had done some good in Warsaw. He had built many good houses, but had himself always lived in poor ones. IIe well remembered the Indian alarms. News came at one time that the Indians would be here next day. Some of the women armed themselves with bush scythes, pitchforks, &c. He was framing a building when Judge Webster came along and advised him to take the timbers and build a fort, saying the Indians were coming, and we should want it. He left his work, went through the woods home, and found folks abandoning their houses and taking shelter in the woods.
Mr. Henry Hovey, the oldest male inhabitant born in the town, was called out. He said he had never made a public speech, but was pleased to address the meeting, and gave a few statistics. His father came to this town in 1804, and in 1805 took in a boarder. I appear before you as that boarder. When about fifteen years old, he took a load of wheat to Rochester, and sold it for three shillings and six pence per bushel. He stopped at a hotel where he paid as much for a meal of victuals. He lodged with other teamsters who were there selling wheat. One of them said, if he had to give a bushel of wheat for his supper, he would try to get his money's worth. That night he did not rest well; he was out of bed on the floor, when some one inquired, "What's the matter?" He replied, " My bushel of wheat lies heavy on my stomach."
Mr. ITiram Porter ( aged 63) said he was not an old settler, but his recollection extended back about fifty years. Ile contrasted the past with the present, and said the rising gen- eration should understand it. He alluded to the table spread before them in contrast with the coarse and scanty fare of former times. He pointed to the comfortable and elegant carriages standing without, and said he remembered when a
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certain young man was thought to be rather aristocratic because he had got a lumber one-horse wagon, painted all over, and inside with shining red lead, and had got a seat in it with a high back. He had occasion also to remember the Indian alarm, for a ball which he was attending was broken up by it.
Mr. Win. Smallwood said he had been in town thirty-six years. He could not testify to the Indian alarms, &c., but could testify to very great improvements since he first came here. There had been great moral improvement, especially in the matter of temperance. He used to draw wood down the hill, and often met ten or a dozen jugs going up hill; but now he saw no jugs. Hle was much gratified with what he had seen and heard this day.
The united choirs then sang
" When shall we meet again ?"
Mr. Job Sherman, of Middlebury, said this was the first time he was ever called upon to speak in public. He came into this country at the close of the war. The country pros- perous-wheat $2 per bushel, pork $30 per barrel. But after- wards he drew wheat to Rochester, and sold it for two shillings and six pence per bushel, and took trade at that. In order to get money, he had to haul his wheat to Albany all the way by team, aud sell it there for nine shillings per bushel. He thought the present generation knew little of the hardships of those days, or of the feeling of brotherhood- the disposition to help one another-which then prevailed. Ile drew a contrast in these respects rather favorable to the generation which is passing away.
Mr. Newbury Bronson, after some interesting remarks, spoke of the peculiarities and the cheering and healthful ten- dencies of this social gathering, and tendered his thanks to Messrs. F. & E. B. Miller for planning the design, and for so generously opening and preparing their beautiful yards for the entertainment.
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At the conclusion of this address, on motion of IIon. S. M. Gates, it was unanimously
" Resolved, That the virtual resolution of thanks to the Messrs. Miller, contained in the closing part of Mr. Bronson's speech, be adopted as the sentiment of this meeting."
Mr. E. B. Miller responded. He desired to return his thanks for so much of the compliment in this resolution as might be justly due to himself. To a great number of others, and especially the ladies, without whose aid in planning, ar- ranging and executing, nothing of this kind could be so suc- cessfully carried out, the larger portion of this compliment was due. And as to the idea of an entertainment of this kind, he desired again to render honor to whom honor is due. The first and only one of this nature was given by Dr. Augustus Frank, (now deceased,) at his house in 1850; and closed his remarks by reading an account of that gathering as published in the Mirror at the time.
Mr. Frank Miller followed. He fully indorsed the senti- ments uttered by his brother, awarding to the committee and to the ladies and gentlemen who had contributed so much to this entertainment, the full measure of the compliment to which they were so justly entitled. Although he had never offered a toast in his life, he would, if this were a fitting occa- sion, be strongly tempted to toast the ladies. [Voices, "A toast -- a toast-let us have a toast."] Well, then, he would offer-
"The Ladies of Warsaw-Ever ready, with warm hearts and liberal hands, to contribute to the comfort of others-not by words only, but by deeds."
On the utterance of this toast, the President called for three cheers for Frank Miller; and the call was heartily res- ponded to.
Hon. S. M. Gates then presented, in a short and appropriate speech, some resolutions with reference to the forming of a County Historical Society. The President remarked that the Committee to be appointed under these resolutions would be duly announced in the newspapers.
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General McElwain responded to a call for a speech from the President. He said he was not one of the earliest settlers of Warsaw. He came from Massachusetts, when a youth; he was without protection or restraint, and was exposed to bad influences; but he early formed three resolutions which had never been broken, and probably never would be. They were, 1st, that he would never use tobacco; 2d, that he would not keep rowdy company; 3d, that he would not play cards for money. He contrasted the manners and social amuse- ments of fifty years ago with those of the present day by several amusing illustrations. One of them was the following:
On a Fourth of July, some of the young men of Warsaw attended a celebration at Gainesville, there being none at home. Horse teams being rather scarce, they engaged a team of two yoke of oxen and an ox-cart. They decorated the cart with evergreens, and covered it with a roof of boughs. At Gainesville the driver stopped in front of the tavern, backed up to the door, and, loosening the fore end of the cart body, " dumped " the jolly load into the tavern. They had a first rate "backwoods " celebration; and some of the party returned the same night.
After the singing of a Hymn by the united choirs, Mr. Eli Merrill was called for. He said he came to this county thirty-five years ago, and engaged in teaching school. He was glad to see some of his scholars here to-day. Ile had listened attentively to the stories of the hardships and perils of the early settlers; but a fact mentioned by one of the speakers had particularly aroused his sympathies. It had been said that some of the carly settlers were obliged to send several miles to Sheldon to get their bread baked. The thought which awakened his tender sympathies was, that he could not have been there to furnish them with stoves, (Mr. M's present business being that of a stove peddler.) Concerning the Indian alarms he had but one incident to relate: Thirty-five years ago he attended an exhibition at Middlebury Academy. A
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student gave a poetical description of the effects of the fright, one verse of which he remembered, and would repeat:
"And, by the help of Providence divine, Soon they reached the Warsaw line; And, to assure themselves they were not dead, Clapp'd up their hand and felt their head."
The exercises were then formally closed, and the whole company rose and united their voices in singing to the tune of Old Hundred, the Doxology,
" Praise God from whom all blessings flow."
The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Buck.
After the formal closing of the meeting, a large portion of the company remained upon the ground more than an hour, and listened to speeches from George W. Morris, Esq., Mr. Peter Young, and Rev. Mr. Buck.
Mr. Morris said experience was our best school-master, as many here could testify, and had testified. This occasion was to him one of great rejoicing-he liked the peculiar features of it. IIe came here in 1804-had watched the progress of things from that time to this, and could testify to the great contrast. IIe said we ought to be grateful to Divine Provi- dence for our present privileges, and see to it that we rightly improve them.
Mr. Young said he was not used to speech making-related some instances of hardship endured by the early settlers, and gave some interesting items of the religious history of the town.
Rev. Mr. Buck made a humorous speech. Although he was not yet fifty years old, he was here by special invitation. He did not know but he would have a right here indepen- dently of the invitation, by virtue of the probability that some of these old settlers were ferried across Genesee river on their way hither by his father ; and he would take occasion to say, that if any of them had forgotten to pay the ferriage, he had
William Smallwood. Sketch.6 332.
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OLD FOLKS' FESTIVALS.
the books, and would be ready to settle with them at any time. He entertained the company in a similar strain, at considerable length, pronouncing the highest encomiums upon Warsaw and its inhabitants with only one drawback, which was the scarcity of marriages and marriage fees.
Thus were finally closed the exercises of the day-a day long to be remembered by all who were present. The com- pany of invited guests indicated their high gratification with the entertainment; and the entertainers doubtless felt them- selves fully compensated in the satisfaction which attends every successful endeavor to promote the happiness of others. 10
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
PUBLIC MEETINGS,
ON EXTRAORDINARY OCCASIONS.
SEVERAL events of unusual interest have called forth public expressions of the feelings and sentiments of our citizens. Prominent among the occasions of these popular demonstra- tions, were the deaths of Presidents Taylor and Lincoln.
DEATH OF PRESIDENT TAYLOR.
Zachary Taylor, President of the United States, died July 9, 1850, a year and four months after his inauguration. What added interest to this sad event, was the fact, that it was the second death of a President at an early period in his administration, and but nine years after the death of Presi- dent Harrison, which occurred April 4, 1841, just one month after he was inaugurated. At an early day after the news was received, a large number of the people of Warsaw, without distinction of party, assembled at the Court House, to render due honors to the deceased Chief Magistrate of the nation.
At about one o'clock, a procession was formed on Main street, under the direction of the Marshal, Linus W. Thayer, Esq., and marched to the Court House to the sound of martial music; minute guns firing and bells tolling during the time. After sonic appropriate remarks by the Chairman, Isaac C. Bronson, and prayer by Rev. K. D. Nettleton, an Address was delivered by James R. Doolittle, Esq., then a resident of Warsaw, at present United States Senator from Wisconsin. Did our limits permit, we should give some extracts of this interesting address. A Doxology by the Choir, and the ben- ediction by Rev. James P. Fisher, closed the services at the Court House. The procession then formed again and re- ----
turned, minute guns firing and bells tolling as before.
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PUBLIC MEETINGS.
DEATH OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
An event more appalling, or of more pervading interest, is not recorded in our country's history, than the assassination of President Lincoln. A sketch of the action of our citizens in relation to this extraordinary occurrence, seems to deserve a place in the history of our town, and will be read with inte- rest by our descendants. Our sketch is drawn chiefly from the proceedings published in the newspapers.
The crime was perpetrated on the evening of Friday, the 14th of April, 1864; and the news reached Warsaw the next morning. In the language of the Western New Yorker, of Thursday following: "The terrible tidings, which turned the nation's joy into mourning, fell like a pall upon our quiet village. To carry heavy, anxious hearts into the dull routine of daily business, seemed impossible."
Moved by a common impulse, a large number of citizens assembled, organized, and appointed a committee, consisting of II. L. Comstock, Rev. J. E. Bills, Leonard W. Smith, Gideon II. Jenkins, Wm. D. Miner, and Wm. H. Merrill, to report a plan for the proper observance of this saddest day of all the year. The committee reported the following resolu- tion, which was unanimously adopted :
" Resolved, That in view of the terrible and heart-rending calamity which has befallen ns as a nation, in the assassina- tion of President Lincoln-a calamity so stupendous, so sudden, and so overwhelming, that no words can express its extent, or give utterance to the profound grief it occasions; we recommend to the citizens of Warsaw the immediate closing of all business places, and the suspension of all ordi- nary occupations; that the bells of the town be tolled, and that the citizens assemble at the Methodist church, at two o'clock P. M., to mingle their expressions of grief at the irreparable loss which the nation has sustained in this hour of the final triumph of our arms on the battle-field."
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IIISTORY OF WARSAW.
By ten o'clock the stores and business places were closed. The muffled bells were tolled; stores and dwellings were draped in mourning; the old Flag hung at half-mast; and dwellings displayed flags fringed with black. At two o'clock, in pursuance of the recommendation of the morning meeting, the citizens assembled at the Methodist church, which was soon filled. It was heavily draped with black. Rev. J. E. Bills stated the object of the meeting; and on his motion, IIon. Augustus Frank was called to the Chair; and on motion of Alanson Holly, Wm. II. Merrill was chosen secretary.
Mr. Frank, on taking the chair, spoke of the personal char- acter of the deceased President-of his sublime faith, stead- fast purpose, pure integrity, and the universal gloom occasioned by his sudden death. Speaking with the warmth of a personal friend and acquaintance, and as one who had enjoyed unusual facilities for knowing the great work performed by the Presi- dent, as well as his spotless character as a man and a states- man, Mr. Frank's remarks were full of sad interest. After an impressive prayer by Rev. Mr. Williams, and the reading of scripture appropriate to the occasion, the large choir, under the direction of Mr. Snyder, sang a hymn.
Rev. Mr. Nassau then briefly addressed the meeting. He spoke of the solemnity of this "place of weeping," and of the occasion as one where words can not do the office of grief. IIe presented what he thought were the lessons taught by the sad and shocking event-the frailty of human life-the im- pressiveness of this new lesson that "God only is great," and that no arm of flesh could save us-and of this dispensation as a test given us as a people by God, not necessarily as a judgment on us or on Abraham Lincoln. "Man is immortal till his work is done; " and President Lincoln's work was done. The veil would yet be lifted:
* God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain."
Rev. Mr. Williams spoke feelingly of the personal charac- ter and traits of the lamented Chief Magistrate, and closed
--
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by exhorting his hearers that this was not a time to despair, but to trust in the God above and over all, who has thus far guided and guarded us. Rev. Mr. Horwood, L. W. Thayer, and H. L. Comstock, also addressed the meeting.
On motion of Mr. Thayer, the chairman appointed a com- mittee of thirteen to make arrangements for the funeral services. The committee consisted of L. W. Thayer, II. L. Comstock, J. II. Darling, J. A. McElwain, J. E. Bills, J. Watts, II. A. Dudley, C. W. Bailey, L. A. Hayward, A. Holly, B. Healy, M. II. Morris, J. Ransom.
The Western New Yorker remarked, in reference to the occasion, that "the solemn and universal observance of the day was grateful to every loyal heart, and reflected honor upon the good taste and sense of propriety of our citizens. It was a day never to be forgotten by those who participated in its observance."
The committee of thirteen reported that the public demon- stration should take place at the Methodist church at noon of the following Wednesday, that being the day and hour fixed for the obsequies at Washington; and that Rev. Joseph E. Nassau, pastor of the Presbyterian church, should deliver the funeral discourse. On that day the places of business were closed and hung with mourning. The church, also thus draped, was crowded with citizens of Warsaw and the sur- rounding towns. The discourse was able, appropriate, and eloquent.
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
TEMPERANCE.
THE date of the first Temperance Society in this town, we are unable to ascertain. According to our best recollection, the Genesee County Temperance Society was formed in 1826 or 1827; and the society in this town was probably formed as early.
Where, or by whom, the temperance reform was originated, we do not remember, if we ever knew. The first temperance document we can call to mind, was an address by a Mr. Kittridge, of New Hampshire, which gave to the cause a powerful impulse; and the name of the pamphlet, "Kit- tridge's Address," soon became, throughout the country, as familiar as any household word. This was soon followed by Beecher's "Six Sermons on Intemperance," which also ren- dered the cause essential service. A portion of the newspaper press soon came to its support. Meetings were held in all parts of the country; the Pledge of abstinence was circulated in every town, and signed by large numbers of persons of both sexes; among them many intemperate persons. And, although a large portion of the latter relapsed, many were effectually reclaimed.
But as yet spiritnous liquors only were proscribed. Com- plete success, it was believed, required a pledge to abstain from all intoxicating drinks; and the societies soon adopted the total abstinence principle. In 1836, the Genesee County Temperance Society held a meeting in Warsaw, when, after a discussion of two days, this principle was adopted with but two dissenting votes; and these were given by men who, though " tee-totalers " in principle and practice, opposed the change simply from the apprehension that it would alienate many friends of the cause, and retard its progress. These fears, entertained here and elsewhere, were soon found to have been ill-founded.
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The light elicited by discussion wrought a great change in the minds and practice of men. This is not surprising. The marvel is, that the opinions and habits so long prevalent should ever have received the sanction of wise and good men. The whisky jug was thought an indispensable help in the harvest field. A man meeting a friend at or near a tavern, invited him to the bar to "take a drink." A man was deemed wanting in hospitality if he did not "treat " his visitors. The traveler who stopped at the tavern to warm, thought it "mean " to leave without patronizing the bar to the amount of a sixpence or a shilling. The idea had not yet been conceived that both parties would have been more bene- fited had the money been paid for the fire, and the liquor left in the decanter. Liquor bought by large measure was kept in many families for daily use. Seated at the breakfast table, or just before sitting, the glass was passed around to " give an appetite." Bittered with some herb or drug, it was used as a sovereign remedy for most of the ailments "flesh is heir to," and often in advance as a preventive. It was taken because the weather was hot, and because it was cold. Liquors being kept in most country stores, some merchants were wont to " treat " their customers, especially when they made liberal bills, and sometimes beforehand, to sharpen their appetite for trading. Happily, most of these customs soon became obso- lete, especially among the better class of society, and, it is hoped, will never be revived.
With the progress of the temperance cause, the manu- facture of domestic distilled spirits declined. There was in nearly every town a distillery, in some towns two or more. In a few years, most of them were stopped.
Although active and ethicient friends of the cause arose at once in every town, in no part of the county of Genesee was its early progress more rapid than in the southern towns; and in none of them was there a greater number of effective laborers than in the towns of Warsaw, Perry, and Arcade. Prominent among the pioneers in this enterprise in Perry,
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were Samnel F. Phenix, Henry Phenix, Willard J. Chapin, and Josiah Andrews. In Arcade were Huntington Lyman, R. W. Lyman, Charles O. Shepard, and others. In Warsaw, among those who united with the Society within the first year or two, were Dr. Daniel Rumsey, Dea. John Munger, Peter Young, Frank Miller, Dr. Augustus Frank, William Patter- son, Andrew W. Young, James and John Crocker, and others; and within the next few years, Joshua H. Darling, Isaac Preston, Dea. William Buxton, George W. Morris, F. C. D. McKay, Charles J. Judd, and Alanson Holly. Most of those of the latter class were not residents of the town until some years after the Society was formed.
THE WASHINGTONIAN MOVEMENT.
In 1840 commenced what has often been spoken of as the great "temperance revival." A mimber of abandoned men in the city of Baltimore, who were wont to spend their evenings at the taverns and other haunts of vice and drunk- enness, resolved to reform, and at once became "tee-totalers." Not content with their own reformation, they started on a mission to reform others. They traversed a large portion of the country, lecturing generally to large gatherings. Drunk- ards in large numbers, and from great distances attended, and many of them signed the pledge. The most prominent of this band of reformers was John Hawkins, who, though unlet- tered, was one of the most effective temperance lecturers in the country. Although there was nothing in their principles and efforts to distinguish them from other temperance men- it being their object to induce persons of all classes to sign and keep the pledge-yet these men and their converts were generally designated "Washingtonians." As the result of their efforts, reformed drunkards became missionaries, and constituted for a time, the principal lecturing force of the country. Many drunkards were reclaimed, and many mod- erate drinkers became thorough temperance men.
Perhaps we shall be justified in mentioning an evil, inci- dent to this movement, for which, however, the movement
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itself is not responsible. The public, to a great extent, came to regard these men as the great champions of the cause and indispensable to its success, while the ablest and most efficient pioneers in it were esteemed as of little account. Often was the pulpit surrendered, on the Sabbath, to men whose vulgar, laughter-provoking stories were wholly unbecoming the place and the occasion. It was by no means strange that many who, under such influences, signed the pledge, soon relapsed into their old habits. Yet great good was accomplished. Probably at about the close of these " special efforts " and for a few years thereafter, less ardent spirits were drank in pro- portion to our population than there have been at any time since distilleries were established.
LICENSE QUESTION.
As incidental to the temperance reform, came the question of "license, or no license." Licenses to sell liquors at retail were then granted in each town by the Board of Excise, con- sisting of the Supervisor and the four Justices of the Peace. For fifteen or twenty years, men were elected to these offices in this town, a majority of whom were opposed to granting licenses. So also in many other towns. Although more or less liquors were sold in this town in violation of law, the quantity drank was greatly diminished. For months at a time, a drunken man was not seen in the streets of this village. As one of the happy effects of the temperance effort, a number of respectable citizens who, as yet, became only occasionally intoxicated, were saved by taking the pledge; made a pro- fession of religion, and ever after led an exemplary life.
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