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 16
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"October 13, 1834, the sum of $457 were obtained on sub- scription to build a meeting-house. The timber was got out, and the frame put up, by volunteer labor, superintended by Dea. Albro and other leading spirits of the church. The house was then let to John Blighiton to finish, which was done in 1835, and was dedicated to the Lord the same season. Elder H. N. Plumb preached on the occasion. Dea. Albro was truly a 'nursing father' to the church. Elder Jared Miner and William Moses preached to the church until 1836, when Elder Reed became its pastor. Elder Hiram Whitcher succeeded him in 1837, and held the pastorate two years. He was succeeded by Elder H. N. Plumb, who preached one year, and was succeeded by Silas H. Davis. Elder William Moses became pastor in 1843, and served as such two years, and was succeeded by Elder A. Hopkins, who preached two years, and was followed by H. M. Abbey, who preached one year, half the time. In 1849, Elder Luke Hitchcock accepted a call from the church, and was its pastor two years. After him, Elder H. H. Strickland was pastor one year, and then Elder S. R. Evans the next two years. In the fall of 1857, he was succeeded by Elder Levi Kellogg, who labored two years, and then Elder H. N. Plumb one year, who was succeeded April 1, 1861, by Elder W. W. Holt, who was pastor two years, and then Elder Rollins one year. Elder J. C. Steele became pastor in 1865, and remained two years.
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
"The amount of salary paid has ranged from $100 to $500 a year.
"This church has ever been against Slavery; and has upon its records some very strong resolutions against it. It has been equally decided in favor of Temperance. It has contributed considerable for benevolent purposes. A few years ago, several of its members gave as high as $100 each to help endow a college at Hillsdale, Mich., and in 1867, it raised $330 to aid in establishing a Normal School at Harper's Ferry, to educate teachers to instruct the people without regard to color, in the Southern States."
Besides the churches whose histories we have sketched, there is a church organization composed chiefly or wholly of Germans, residing in the west part of this town, and in Orangeville. It is of recent date, and in character Protestant; but its distinctive name we have not learned. Their house of worship is in this town, about three-fourths of a mile cast of Orangeville.
There was also formed in this village, a few years since, a Catholic Church, whose house of worship is in the north part of the village.
William Buxton
Sketch, p 242.
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GOSPEL LAND.
GOSPEL LAND.
In the year 1820, it was announced by the Agent of the Holland Land Company. that one hundred acres of land in every town would be given to religious societies. The man- ner in which this grant of land was obtained is related by Mr. Turner in his History of the Holland Purchase.
In the fall of 1820, Paul Busti, the General Agent of the Company at Philadelphia, while on a visit at Batavia, was importuned by a Presbyterian minister from a neighboring town, for a donation of land to every society of that persua- sion then formed on the Holland Purchase. Mr. Busti was for a long time indisposed to grant the request. But the Rev. gentleman having urged his suit until the Agent's patience was exhausted, the latter firmly replied : "Yes, Mr. R., I will give a tract of one hundred acres to a religious society in every town on the Purchase; and this is finis." But he was unwilling to give preference to any particular denomination. "But," said he, "to save contention, I will give it to the first religious society in every town." Mr. R., it is said, lost no time in communicating the information to the Presbyterians in the several towns in his vicinity. Mr. Turner proceeds, as follows:
" The land-office was soon flooded with petitions for land from societies organized according to law and empowered to hold real estate, and from those that were not, one of which was presented to Mr. Busti before he left, directed to 'Gen. Poll Busti,' on which he insisted, that it could not be from a religious society, for all religious societies read their Bibles, and know that P o double 7, does not spell Paul. Amidst this chaos of applications, it was thought unadvisable to be precipitant in granting these donations, the whole responsi- bility now resting on Mr. Ellicott to comply with the vague promise of Mr. Busti. Therefore conveyances of the 'gospel
14
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
land' were not executed for some space of time, notwith- standing the clamor of petitioners for 'deeds of our land;' during which time the matter was taken into consideration and systematized, so far as such an operation could be. Pains were taken to ascertain the merits of cach application; and finally a tract or tracts of land, not exceeding one hundred acres in all, were granted, free of expense, to one or more religious societies regularly organized according to law in each town on the Purchase, where the company had land undisposed of, which embraced every town then organized on the Purchase, except Bethany, Genesee county, and Sheldon, Wyoming county; the donees being in all cases allowed to select out of the unsold farming land in each town. In some towns it was all given to one society; in others, to two or three societies, separately; and in a few towns to four societies of different sects, twenty-five acres to each." And it is said the proceedings were so judiciously managed by Mr. Ellicott, that partiality was in no case charged against the agent or his assistants.
The Union Society, ( Presbyterian,) had, at the time of the Agent's proclamation, been the only legally organized society in the town for eight years, and was, it would seem, entitled to the land. We have noticed the incorpora- tion of the Methodist Church and Society. [p. 185.] An old member of that society says, that when the Agent's procla- mation appeared, the Methodists hastened to effect their organization and to get their papers on record, to secure the land. Whether the Presbyterians had previously applied for the title, we are not informed; nor do we know how the Agent came to divide the land between the two societies. Having never heard of any dissatisfaction on the part of either society, it is presumed that the division was satisfactory to both societies.
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WAR HISTORY.
WAR HISTORY.
WAR OF 1812.
THE first war for which troops were raised in Warsaw, was the war of 1812, declared by the United States against Great Britain. The difficulty, if not impossibility, of obtaining a complete list of all who enlisted in that war from this town, forbids our going beyond the recollection of some of our old settlers, still living. Dea. Samuel Salisbury, who was in the war, and a non-commissioned officer of a company of Light Infantry, which was called out, and who, after the war, be- came its Captain, recalls the names of nearly two-thirds of the Company. A few of them-four or five, perhaps-were from that part of the town which is now Gainesville, and one or two from Middlebury. A few also have been named who were of the ununiformed Militia and Cavalry; the latter being commanded by Isaac Wilson, of Middlebury, after- wards Judge Wilson.
LIGHT INFANTRY.
Russel Noble, Captain, Absalom Green, Lieutenant,
-Levi Rice,
John R. Knapp,
John Seymour, Ensign,
Elijah Hammond,
Chester Warriner, Sergeant,
Samuel Spalding.
John G. Parker, Sergeant,
Seymour Ensign,
George Densmore, Sergeant,
Absalom Carpenter,
Alexander Stone, Fifer,
Edmund Curtis,
Chester Hurd, Drummer,
Almerin Curtis,
Win. L. Blanchard, Drummer,
Timothy Miller,
Samuel Salisbury, Wm. S. Stone,
Thomas Stetson, Daniel W. Bannister,
Alanson Cutting,
Ezra B. Warriner,
Nathan Snow,
John Bisby, Isaac Boardman,
Philip Salisbury,
Levi Stearns,
Robert Burdick,
Anson Richards,
Leverett Hitchcock,
Lewis Richards,
Levi Walker,
- Green,
Jeremiah Truesdell,
Solomon Truesdell,
Timothy Truesdell,
Colegrove.
Giles Parker,
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
MILITIA AND CAVALRY.
Chauncey L. Sheldon, Surgeon,
Simeon Hovey, Teamster,
Daniel Knapp, Adjutant,
Suel Hovey,
Almon Stevens, Serg. Major.
Simeon R. Glazier, Cavalry,
Wm. Knapp, Jun., Quar. Master,
William Bristol, Cavalry,
Josiah Hovey, Captain,
Gurdon Hovey, Cavalry,
Samuel MeWhorter,
Julius Whitlock, Cavalry.
Warren Webster,
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
No history of Warsaw would be complete without a record of the part borne by her citizens in sustaining the Government in its efforts to preserve the Union by suppressing the Great Rebellion. Pains have been taken to present, as nearly as possible, the names of all who volunteered from this town, together with the dates of their enlistment, time of service, death or discharge, and other facts relating thereto; also a statement of the part taken by our citizens in furnishing vol- unteers, and an account of the moneys raised by tax in payment of bounties.
The first rebel gun fired at Fort Sumter, on the morning of April 12, 1861, summoned the startled nation to arms. Three days thereafter, President Lincoln issued his Proclamation, in which he called for 75,000 volunteers. A public meeting was immediately called by the prominent citizens of Warsaw, to be held at the Court-House. The following was the call, signed by large numbers of men of all parties:
" PATRIOTS, RALLY ! Our Country is in danger. War is upon us. Let Wyoming County do her duty. The time has come when all persons, without respect to former political opinions, should unite in a common effort to maintain our national honor and integrity. There will be a meeting at the Conrt-Honse in Warsaw, on Tuesday evening, the 23d inst., at 7 P. M., to take into consideration such measures as the
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WAR HISTORY.
exigencies of the times and a due regard for the preservation of our dearest and cherished institutions demand."
Such was the patriotic zeal of the young men of the village that, without waiting for the action of the meeting, ten of them went to Buffalo and enlisted in a Regiment there form- ing. On the evening of the day named for the meeting, the Court House being too small to contain the crowd there assembled, the meeting was adjourned to the Court-House yard. Thirty responded to the call for volunteers, and en- rolled their names for service. A Committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions for the support of the families of vol- unteers. At the close of the meeting the Committee reported the following contributions:
Augustus Frank, . $250 C. & T. Buxton, . $200
C. W. Bailey, $ 50
H. L. Comstock, . 100 George W. Frank, . 50 A. B. Lawrence, . 50
Manlius Gay. .
20 R. A. Crippen, . 20
J. H. Darling. 500 S. C. Allis, . . 100
George Duryee, 50 Amos Otis, . 100 B. B. Conable, . 100
F. & E. B. Miller, James A. Webster. C. C. Gates,
100
Alonzo Cleveland, 25 Artemas Blake, . 150
10 B. F. Homer. . 20 Henry Garretsee, 100
25 Miles H. Morris, 25 Hiram Stearns, . 10
Edmund Buck. . 10 O. A. Shaw,
10 Godfrey Gates, . 10
A. Y. Breck, 25
Benj. Bisby. 10
J. Watts, . 25
Wm. Bingham, . 50
L. W. Smith, 25
S. Holton. 10
E. Cook. .
25 B. Healy, 25 E. C. Shattuck. . 20
Uriah Johnson, 50
J. A. McElwain, 100
Morris & Lewis, 100
L. W. Thayer. . 100 R. H. Miller, 50
M. L. Rice, 15
R. R. Munger, .
50 N. Park,
25 N. J. Perry, .
52
Wm. Woodward, .
10 James Wilkin, 25 S. A. Murray, . 25
Geo. W. Parker, .
10 C. L. Seaver, .
10 H. C. Edgerly, . 10
Philander Truesdell, 10 E. K. Smith, 10 W. T. Warner, . 10
Geo. Brown, 10
S. Benedict,
15
B. F. Fargo, 10
E. E. Farman, . 50
When Harwood A. Dudley, publisher of the Wyoming County Mirror, was asked to subscribe, he arose and said he intended to subscribe another paper, which he held in his hand. He read an enlistment paper which he immediately signed, he being the first man to enlist. Gideon H. Jenkins followed, and then others, to the number of thirty, in all, as before stated. There was some difficulty in getting orders for
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
marching. After several days' delay, Mr. Dudley, who had been elected Lientenant, went to Albany, and obtained orders from the Adjutant-General. He telegraphed Mr. Jenkins, who had been chosen Captain, and who hurried off his men in the short time elsewhere stated.
FIRST COMPANY FROM WARSAW.
In less than a week, a full company was raised and organ- ized, with Gidcon H. Jenkins as Captain, and Harwood A. Dudley as Lieutenant. Warsaw furnished forty-eight men, and the adjoining towns twenty-nine. The preparations for " marching to the wars," were at once commenced with all the carnestness and enthusiasm that characterized the citizens throughout the country. The ladies of the village met in large numbers to prepare clothing for the volunteers. The company remained anxiously awaiting marching orders for some days, and the following incident from the Mirror, of May 22d, illustrates the spirit in which orders were finally received :
"QUICK TIME .- The marching orders for the Warsaw Com- pany reached here by Express about 4 P. M., on Monday. At 5 o'clock Capt. Jenkins had all his men mustered in line, ready for service.
"Capt. Jenkins-' Boys,' how long time do you want to get your baggage ready for a start?' A voice-'Ten minutes "' Another voice said, 'Two minutes !' Capt. Jenkins-' I will give you fifteen minutes, and at the end of that time I want every man in his place !'
"The company then broke line, some to refresh themselves with the good things that our kind hearted and thoughtful citizens passed to them in baskets through the crowd; some to gather their baggage, and some to say 'good bye.' Within twenty minutes they were on their march to the railroad, pre- ceded by the village Band, and attended by a large crowd of our citizens.
"At the station there was a large assemblage gathered to see the volunteers off. Here a beautiful and substantial copy
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WAR HISTORY.
of the New Testament was presented to each one, and appro- priate remarks were made by Rev. Mr. Nassau, Rev. Mr. Stimson, and Rev. Mr. Williams, of this village."
The company went to New York, and were attached to the 17th Regiment, and did valiant service on many hard-fought fields. The names are omitted here, as they are given in full elsewhere.
MORE MEN CALLED OUT.
During the summer, enlistments were made from Warsaw . for different regiments, but no active measures were taken to raise another company until September of the same year. More men had been called for by the President, and again they came from all sections, Warsaw being up with the fore- most. Rev. H. K. Stimson, and Lieut. Asa B. Merrill recruited a full company of Cavalry, with their headquarters here. Warsaw furnished twenty men, and the company was attached to the famous 9th Cavalry, and re-enlisted as "Vete- rans" at the end of its three years, participating in half-a- hundred battles. Capt. W. G. Bentley, and Lieut. W. L. Knapp, also recruited a company of Cavalry for the same Regiment, Warsaw furnishing its full proportion. Lieutenant Merrill was soon promoted to a Captaincy, and lost his life in the service. (See Sketch.) Capt. Bentley served with dis- tinction through the war, losing a leg in battle, and being promoted to a Colonelcy for his gallantry.
THIE CALL OF 1862.
In the summer of 1862, another call for troops was made, and Warsaw, with the other towns of the county, was at once aroused. Warsaw's quota was ninety-three men. A town bounty of $60, in addition to national, state, and county bounties, was pledged by subscriptions. In August, Capt. J. W. Knapp commenced recruiting a company for the 130th Regiment, afterwards the historic "1st Dragoons," and made rapid progress, securing thirty in one day. His ranks were soon filled, and contained six officers and thirty privates from
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
Warsaw. Capt. Knapp served faithfully to the end of the war; was promoted to be Major, and afterward, deservedly, breveted Colonel. Captains H. B. Jenks and Augustus Har- rington, also speedily recruited companies for the 136th Regi- ment. The former contained seven officers and thirty men from Warsaw, and the latter three officers and seven nien. In furtherance of these efforts, large and spirited meetings were held at different times, and the town's quota was speedily filled. The women were equally active with the men, especially in aiding the soldiers already in the field, as will be seen by the following extract from the Mirror of Sept. 1862: 'The ladies and children of our town have been quite indus- trious the past week, in preparing and sending off hospital stores. Six large boxes have gone, filled with comforts for the sick and wounded."
A TOUCHING SCENE.
Several of those who went from Warsaw, had lost their lives; and their bodies had been sent home for burial. One of the most touching incidents of the war is related, by a fellow-soldier, of Charles E. Bills, a member of Capt. Jen- kins' Company. Although it has been widely published, we give it a place in our record. It was written for the press by a gentleman to whom it was related by the soldier above alluded to, after his return:
"I was in the hospital as nurse for a long time," said the soldier. " and assisted in taking off limbs and dressing all sorts of wounds; but the hardest thing I ever did was to take my thumb off a man's leg."
"Ah!" said I, " how was that?" Then he told me.
"It was a young man who had a severe wound in the thigh. The ball passed completely through, and amputation was necessary. The limb was cut off close up to the body, the arteries taken up, and he seemed to be doing well. Subsequently one of the small arteries slonghed off. An incision was made and it was again taken up. 'It is well it was not the main artery,' said the surgeon as he performed the operation; 'he might have bled to death before it could be taken up.' But Charley got on finely, and was a favorite with us all.
"I was passing through the ward one night, about midnight. when suddenly as I was passing Charley's bed he spoke to me: . Il-, my leg is bleeding
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WAR HISTORY.
again.' I threw back the bed clothes, and the blood spirted in the air. The main artery had sloughed off.
"Fortunately I knew just what to do, and in an instant I had pressed my thumb on the place and stopped the bleeding. It was so close to the body that there was barely room for my thumb, but I succeeded in keeping it there, and arousing one of the convalescents, sent him for the surgeon, who came in on the run. 'I am so thankful, H-,' said he as he saw me, 'that you were up and knew what to do, for he must have bled to death before I could have got here.'
. But on examination of the case he looked exceedingly serious, and sent out for other surgeons. All came who were within reach, and a consultation was held over the poor fellow. One conclusion was reached by all. There was no place to work save the spot where my thumb was placed; they could not work under my thumb, and if I moved it he would bleed to death before the artery could be taken up. There was no way to save his life!
"Poor Charley! Ile was very calm when they told him, and requested that his brother, who was in the same hospital, might be called up. He came and sat down by the bed-side, and for three hours I stood, and by the pressure of my thumb kept up the life of Charley, while the brothers held their last conversation on earth. It was a strange place for me to be in, to feel that I held the life of a fellow mortal in my hands, as it were, and stranger yet, to feel that an act of mine must cause that life to depart. Loving the poor fel- low as I did, it was a hard thought; but there was no alternative.
" The last words were spoken. Charley had arranged all his business affairs, and sent tender messages to absent ones, who little dreamed how near their loved one stood to the grave. The tears filled my eyes more than once as I listened to those parting words. All were sad, and he turned to me. 'Now H-, I guess you had better take off your thumb.' .O, Charley ! how can I?' said I. . But it must be, you know,' he replied cheerfully. . I thank you very much for your kindness, and now. good bye.'
" He turned away his head, I raised my thumb, once more the life current gushed forth, and in three minutes poor Charlie was dead."
RETURN OF VOLUNTEERS.
The men of Company K. having enlisted for two years, their time expired in April, 1863. In anticipation of their return, the citizens of Warsaw met at the Court-House to make arrangements for a proper reception of the company. A committee of reception, a committee to provide entertain- ment, a marshal and an assistant, a speaker to pronounce the welcome, and a chaplain, were appointed. Delay in obtain- ing their discharge papers and other causes, prevented their return until the 10th of June. The committee of reception
P
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IIISTORY OF WARSAW.
met them at Portage. On their arrival at the Warsaw station, they were greeted by the multitude there assembled, with great enthusiasm. The soldiers soon formed in line, and a procession and escort were formed, and led by the Warsaw Band through the Gulf and Buffalo and Main streets, to the Court-House, where a still larger number awaited their arrival. They were appropriately addressed by the speaker, who was responded to by Capt. A. M. Whaley, who had succeeded Capt. Jenkins in command, the latter having previously returned with seriously impaired health. After the exercises were closed, the soldiers and their friends repaired to the table bountifully supplied by the committee of entertainment.
The company had at different times on its rolls about one hundred names. Only thirty or thirty-five of its members were left. Fifteen had died on the field or in hospitals; and many had been discharged.
In the summer of 1863, seventy-five more men were required from Warsaw under the call for 300,000. By the law of Congress they were permitted to secure exemption by the payment of $300 commutation, or by furnishing a substitute. Volunteering and substitution reduced the number to ten at the time the draft was enforced, and this number was made up, so that there are no records of any drafted men going to the war from this town.
SANITARY FAIR.
In February, 1864, the citizens held a Festival for the Sanitary Commission. The large show-rooms of the Messrs. Buxton's Wagon Manufactory were cleared out, decorated and fitted up for the occasion. On the lower floor refresh- ments were served, and in the second story an exhibition of tableaux and a concert by home musical talent were given. The amount realized for aiding the noble work of the Com- mission, was Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars.
Our citizens, during the entire period of the war, con- tributed greatly, in various ways, to the comfort of the soldiers
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WAR HISTORY.
in the field and in the hospitals. Boxes filled with provisions and clothing, such as the government was not required to furnish, were frequently sent. The ladies especially were active in the good work. They held frequent meetings, and by their "Aid Societies " did much to mitigate the sufferings of the brave defenders of the Union, and to cheer them on in the sanguinary conflict.
In the winter of 1863- 64 President Lincoln issued calls for 500,000 men, ordering a draft if the required number should not be furnished. The draft was postponed, and at a special town meeting held June 21, 1864, it was voted to pay a town bounty of from $300 to $500, at the discretion of the Super- visor to all volunteers enlisting during the remainder of the year. Only six votes were cast against the proposition. Recruiting was kept up steadily for the old regiments in the field, and before the day of the draft, Warsaw's quota was filled.
On the 18th day of July, 1864, President Lincoln issued his call for 500,000 more volunteers, and ordered a draft to be made on the 5th day of September, for the deficiencies. The commutation clause had been repealed. Warsaw's quota was seventy-one. Twenty-five citizens, some of them exempt under the law, at once put in personal substitutes- paying from $600 to $1000 each. Before the day set for the draft, the town's quota was again full.
One more call was issued by the President for 300,000 men for one year. But to this number Warsaw was not required to contribute. An unusually large proportion of her men had enlisted for three years; and the average term of their enlistments so far exceeded that of the enlistments in other sections, as to exempt her from further requisitions.
At the commencement of the war, enlistments were made without the offer of bounties. As the rebellion became more formidable and the calls for men frequent, it became neces- sary not only to pay bounties in order to raise men, but to increase their amount at each successive call. From fifty to
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
four hundred dollars per man was paid by our citizens, in addition to the sums paid by the county, the state, and the general government. Yet every call of the goverment was answered; and the largest sums that had to be raised were obtained, and in most cases cheerfully paid, whether by vol- untary contribution or otherwise.
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