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 7
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In 1848, Benjamin F. Fargo and his brother, Francis F., sons of David Fargo, commenced the mercantile business in this village. About a year after, John M., son of Allen Fargo, became a partner; and the firm was changed to B. F. Fargo & Co. In 1851, F. F. and John having retired, David and Allen came into the concern, the name of the firm re- maining unchanged. In 1857, the firm was dissolved, and
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
the dry goods business discontinued. B. F. Fargo afterward commenced the grocery and provision trade, in which he continues.
In 1862, George L. Foote, R. O. Holden, and Thomas S. Glover, of Batavia, established a store in this village, under the firm of G. L. Foote & Co. In 1864, Mr. Glover bought the stock of the firm, and still continues the business.
ILARDWARE STORES.
As has been already stated, Hardware was for many years a part of the stock of country merchants generally. In Octo- ber, 1830, John Windsor, from Pike, commenced in this vil- lage the manufacture of Tin and Sheet Iron ware. In 1842, Joshua H. and J. Madison Darling bought the stock of Mr. Windsor, and added a general assortment of Hardware. They continued business about a year.
In July, 1843, Seth M. Gates and Henry Garretsee (Gates & Garretsee) bought the goods of J. H. & J. M. Darling, and commenced the Stove, Tin, and Hardware business, and con- tinued it until the year 1852, when Mr. Gates left the concern, and his place was taken by his brother Chauncey C., (firm C. C. Gates & Co.) Business was conducted by them four years, when Miles II. Morris became a partner, and the firm (H. Garretsee & Co.) continued until 1858, when Mr. Gates left the firm. Garretsee & Morris continued the business until 1863, when the firm was dissolved. The business has since been conducted by H. Garretsee, who continues also the cast- ing of stoves and other articles. The sales of stoves by this establishment, commencing with Gates & Garretsee, have been exceeded by few if any west of Genesee river, outside of the cities. Thousands have been carried by teams into other counties, especially into the counties of Allegany and Cattaraugus.
About the time Gates & Garretsec began business, perhaps a little later, Perry & Israel Hodge commenced the same business. Perry soon after sold his interest to Noble Morris,
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MERCHANTS.
(firm Hodge & Morris.) Otis S. Buxton bought Hodge's in- terest; and Morris & Buxton subsequently sold one-third of their interest to C. & T. Buxton. Morris afterwards sold his interest to the Buxtons, who next sold to Morris & Lewis, (Simeon D.,) who still continue the business.
Ammi II. Carpenter has, at different times, carried on the Tin and Sheet Iron and Stove business, alone and with partners.
DRUG STORES.
Dr. Chauncey L. Sheldon, the first physician in this town, was probably the first dealer in Drugs and Medicines. Being Postmaster, he kept theni in his Post-Office, a small building, twelve by sixteen feet, standing on the east side of Main street, nearly opposite the Bank corner. The building, after two removals, may be seen on Water street, where it forms the wing of a small dwelling, and may be known now, and probably for the period of at least another generation, by the compound word, " Post-Office," painted on the frieze, in shaded letters, partially obliterated by a coat of white paint. In 1817, Dr. Sheldon was joined in professional business by Dr. Augustus Frank, and the building continued to be used for the same purpose a year or two, when they went into the regular mercantile business in their new store, Drugs and Medicines forming a part of their stock. After their dissolu- tion, Dr. Frank also connected with his store this branch of trade; and the more common drugs and patent medicines were kept by merchants generally.
The first drug store in the place, separate from general merchandise, was established about the year 1847 or 1848, by Edwin II. Lansing, of Nunda. With this business, how- ever, he connected the sale of Books and Stationery, of which he kept a more extensive assortment than other merchants. Mr. Lansing, alone and in partnership with Charles J. Judd, and perhaps others, continned in business until 1855, when he sold out his interest and removed to Rockford, Ill. Mr. Judd has also been connected with James C. Ferris and Simeon D. Lewis in this business.
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Artemas Blake, either alone or in partnership, was in the Drug and Grocery business many years, until he was burned out in the fire of February, 1867.
A Drug and Grocery store was kept a few years by George Duryce and his brothers-in-law, Josiah S. and John B. Matthews. In the fall of 1861, Alanson Holly bought the stock; continued the business three years, and sold his goods to Blake & Homer, who were in the same business. Theirs was then the only Drug store in the town.
April 1, 1867, James O. McClure commenced the Drug business, which he still continues.
In 1868, Chauncey C. Buxton and Frank Lewis (Buxton & Lewis) established a new Drug store, connecting with it also the Grocery business.
BOOKSTORES.
School-books and the more common articles of stationery were, until a quite late period, sold by merchants in general. And for many years after the book-trade had been concen- trated in the hands of those called "book-sellers," it was found necessary to connect with it some one or more other branches of trade. The earliest book-sellers, it is believed, were Charles J. Judd and Edwin L. Fuller. In 1851, Mr. Fuller sold his stock of books and other goods to Nehemiah Park.
The book business, soon after, went chiefly into the hands of Lewis E. Walker, who confines himself to the several de- partments of this trade.
GROCERIES.
The trade in Groceries has been abandoned by our Dry Goods merchants, and is chiefly confined to the Grocery and Provision dealers proper, and to the Druggists, who usually keep groceries. Of Grocers, there have been many who have done extensive business; but it would be impossible to obtain a full list of them. Nor would its insertion be compatible with the limits prescribed to this work.
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MANUFACTURES.
MANUFACTURES.
SAW-MILLS AND GRIST-MILLS.
THE first saw-mill in this town is said to have been built by Judge Webster in 1804. But, as has been shown, it could not have been in operation before the next year. [ See p. 43.] It was on O-at-ka creek, about a mile and a half south of the village, near where the road up the East Hill crosses the stream, and near the sites of the old Morris grist-mill and of the saw-mill now owned by Leonard Martin. A mill was built at an early day on the west branch of the O-at-ka, at or near the place now known as Frankville, and where Dr. Frank and Samuel Mc Whorter erected another in 1825. In the year 1813, another was built by Samnel Hongh on the same stream about a mile east of the line of Orangeville, and afterwards owned or run by William S. Stone. There have been mills running on this site for many years, by different persons. It was for a long time known as " Whiting's saw- mill." Another was built on the same stream above the Whiting mill, three-fourths of a mile cast of Orangeville, by Amos Picket. On this site, mills have since been owned or rebuilt by several different persons.
In 1827, a saw-mill was built by Jonathan and Andrew W. Young, on the farm of the former, a short distance above the Picket mill before mentioned. This mill was never rebuilt. Another was built on a small stream in the south- west part of the town, and owned by different persons, among whom was Nathaniel Moss.
The only saw-mills now running in this town, are the mill of Leonard Martin before mentioned; the mill connected with the Map Roller factory at Martinville, a mile and a half sonth of the village; and the mill of the Patterson Manufacturing Company in the village.
The first grist-mill in town was the Morris mill already mentioned, left unfinished by Joseph Mauley, a little below
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
South Warsaw. This mill is said to have been built in 1806; but it is not certain that it was in running order until the next year.
The third grist-mill in this town was built in the village by Simeon Cumings, of Batavia, in 1816, on the land bought of Judge Webster. Mr. Cumings having failed to pay the purchase money, the property was sold in 1818, at Sheriff's sale, to Trumbull Cary, of Batavia, who continued sole owner of the mill until March, 1822, when he sold one-half of his interest in it to John Wilder, who then became a resident of the village. In 1837, he sold his interest to Ichabod and Martin Hodge, whose interest afterwards fell into the hands of Mr. Cary, who was then again sole proprietor. In April, 1842, he sold one-half to Isaac C. Bronson, and the 1st of May the other half to Leonard Wilkin. January 13, 1849, Wilkin sold out to Stephens Whitcher, and in September, 1850, Bronson and Whitcher both sold to George Reed. April 1, 1852, Reed sold one-half to Edwin II. Lansing, and November 1, 1852, the other half to Charles J. Judd. In March, 1855, Lansing sold his half to James C. Ferris, and in March, 1856, Judd sold his half to Ferris. July 18, 1859, Ferris sold his whole interest to James and John W. Sprague. In 1854, John W. Sprague became, and is still, the sole pro- prietor. It is now more than fifty years since this mill was built. Of course little, if any, of the original structure remains except the frame, which has been considerably en- larged since the building was first erected.
In 1814 or 1815, a grist-mill was built by Cyrus Webster at the head of the "Gulf" on West Hill, propelled by the small stream which there enters the ravine, and by an "over- shot " wheel. It was a small mill; but it was a considerable convenience to the people living west of the village, until the mill in the village was built; after which it was run but a short time before it was destroyed by fire.
In 1826, Abial Lathrop built a grist-mill near South War- saw. IIe afterwards sold the mill to Willard Stearns and
-
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MANUFACTURES.
John F. Clark. Stearns sold to Roswell Gould, and Gould to John Truesdell. Truesdell and Clark rebuilt in 1833, and run it eighteen or twenty years. Truesdell bought out Clark, and after managing it a short time, he sold back to Clark a half interest; and it was run by them a few years. Truesdell then sold his half to Deacon Eliphalet Owen, of Middlebury. Owen sold to Enoch Hovey; Hovey to Webster and Andrews; they to Alonzo Choate; and Choate to Leonard Wilkin. Next Clark sold his half interest to Joshua II. Darling, and Darling to Wilkin, who was then sole owner. Wilkin after- wards sold out his whole interest to Robert R. Munger and his son Samuel. This son is now sole proprietor.
A few years after the erection of the saw-mill of Me Whorter and Frank, Dr. Frank built just below it a grist-mill, which was run a few years, and converted into a wool-carding and a turning machine, which were not long in operation.
The woolen manufactory erected by Gardner, Utter & Co., elsewhere noticed, came into the hands of Robert R. Munger, and was by him converted into a grist-mill, which has since been owned successively by Oliver C. Chapman, Brown (George) & Milliman, Taylor & Milliman, Taylor & Durfee, and C. K. & A. Brown, its present owners.
There are at present three grist-mills in this town-the two in the village, and the one in the south part of the town.
WOOLEN MANUFACTURE.
For a long time previous to the first settlement of this town, and for many years afterwards, most of the woolen goods worn in the families of farmers, were of household manufac- ture. Many now living remember when carding machines first relieved their mothers from the tedious process of carding the wool by hand. This labor saving machine, however, had be- come common when this town was settled; and some of the earliest settlers were obliged to send wool a great distance to be carded. As soon as the flocks in this and the adjacent towns were sufficient to warrant the enterprise, a wool-card-
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ing and cloth dressing establishment was put up in this town. It was built by Seymour Ensign, in the south part of the town, on the small stream which crosses the road near Rufus Morris's in South Warsaw, on the west side of the road. Another was afterwards built by Simeon R. Glazier, in the same neighborhood, on O-at-ka creek, which was destroyed by fire, and rebuilt. It was owned at different times by several persons.
In 1816, a carding and cloth-dressing establishment was built in the village near the grist-mill, by Samuel Hough and Elijah Norton. After two years, Orson Hough acquired the interest of his father. Norton & Hongh carried on the bnsi- ness two or three years, and built in the south part of the village, on or near the present site of Garretsee's foundry. After about two years, Hough became the sole owner, and continued so until about the year 1838, when he sold to William K. Crooks, with whose term of proprietorship the business ended; and the establishment was converted first into a tannery, by Daniel Young, and next into a furnace and machine shop. It has for many years been, and is still, owned and kept in operation, by Mr. Henry Garretsee, who has also connected with it a carding machine.
In 1825, Conable & Moss enlarged their business in South Warsaw, by the establishment of a proper Woolen Factory, which, after three years, they sold to David Seymour. At the end of one year, Conable became joint proprietor with Seymour, and soon after, sole owner, and continued so three years. Ile then sold half of his interest to Joseph Pike. After two years, William Webster bonght Conable's remain- ing interest, and at the end of one year sold to Edward Naramore. The partnership of Pike & Naramore continued nine or ten years, when they sold to Chester Hurd & Son, who retained and used the carding machines for custom work, and attached to the building a machine shop. They run them about two years, when they were destroyed by fire.
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MANUFACTURES.
In 1841, a woolen factory was established by - Gardner, Isaac Utter, Isaac C. Bronson, and John Windsor, under the firm of Gardner, Utter & Co. It was run by them a number of years, when Gardner and Windsor left the concern, and Erastus D. Day became a partner with Bronson & Utter. Utter, Day & Co., carried on the business for a few years, when the mercantile firm of Comstock, Andrews & Co., be- came partners; and the firm was changed to E. D. Day & Co., and so remained until the business was discontinued, and the building sold to Robert R. Munger, who turned it into a grist-mill, elsewhere noticed. An extensive manufacturing business was done at this establishment during the earlier years of its existence. Its fabrics were sold throughout West- ern New York.
CARRIAGE MANUFACTURE.
For a number of years prior to 1824, the business of wagon repairing and the making of hunber sleighs, was done by Ephriam Beebe. In 1824, the carriage and sleigh-making business was established by Horace Hollister, which, for many years, kept up with the increasing demand for work of this kind. Ilis shop was on Water street, a few rods north of the residence of IIon. Seth M. Gates, which also was built by Mr. Hollister.
In September, 1836, Mr. Hollister sold out his establish- ment to the Buxton brothers, William, Chauncey, and Timo- thy. At the end of the first year, William withdrew from the firm, and the business was continued by C. & T. Buxton for nearly thirty years. After having done business here a few years, they removed their shop to its present location, near the Baptist church, on Main street. They have from time to time made additions to their buildings to meet the in- creased demand for their work. They began with a capital of a few hundred dollars, and had to buy almost wholly on credit. Their work soon acquired a high reputation for strength and durability, and their business continued to in-
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
crease, until large quantities of their manufacture went out of this state into Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California. Nearly $15,000 worth was sold in Illinois in a single year. Their aggregate annual sales for several years ranged from $20,000 to nearly $30,000. While others of their trade have had to succumb to "hard times," their business, though for several years materially depressed, has always been remunerative.
Having successfully prosecuted their business until October, 1866, (thirty years,) Channecy sold his interest to Ferris W. Norton and Charles E. Williams; and the firm was changed to T. H. Buxton & Co. An additional partner, Mr. Crippen, has since been admitted, without a change of firm.
An establishment of this kind for plain work was conducted for several years on a limited scale in South Warsaw, by Jeremiah Ensign.
Another similar mannfactory has lately been commenced in this village by Jacob W. Knapp, Eli Dibble, and James M. Fullington, on Genesee street.
TANNERIES.
When and by whom the first Tannery was built, we can not state with certainty. Deacon John Munger came to War- saw in 1806, and bought a farm half a mile south of the village. He was by trade a tanner and currier, and carried on that business for many years with his farming. If, as is probable, he built his tannery soon after his coming in, his was, it is presumed, the first in town. It was carried on by him about twenty years.
In 1814, Calvin Rumsey established a tannery in this vil- lage, on Buffalo street, west side of the creek. He was joined in 1817 by his brother Aaron, who, after a partnership of ten years in tanning and shoemaking, sold his interest to his brother Calvin in 1827, and removed to Westfield. Several years after, Calvin sold to Miller & Preston, who con- dueted the business for several years. In or about the year 1836, Preston sold out his interest to Miller, and moved to
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MANUFACTURES.
Illinois; and a few years after, Miller discontinued the busi- ness. For a number of years, the establishment was owned and conducted by different persons, when it was finally dis- continued.
Abraham W. Brown built a small tannery in the east part of the town, and continued the business some fifteen or twenty years. Another was built by Solomon Truesdell in the south part of the town, in the valley, near Gainesville. It was car- ried on, first by himself for a number of years, afterwards by Peter R. Warren. ยท
John Truesdell and John F. Clark established a tannery in south Warsaw, about the year 1830-perhaps a little later- which was continued many years.
Henry B. Jenks and H. A. Metcalf built a tannery in the west part of the village; and, after running it a short time, sold it, January 1, 1864, to Wolcott J. Humphrey. In 1865, Samuel B. Humphrey became a partner, and Lester II. Ifumphrey in 1867. In the spring of 1868, this establish- ment, which did an extensive business, was destroyed by fire, together with a large amount of stock, finished and un- finished. It was immediately rebuilt by S. B. Humphrey, who continues the business.
MAP-ROLLER FACTORY.
In 1851, Leonard L. Martin bought a water privilege a mile and a half south of the village. The next year he built a saw-mill, and in 1853, in connection with his brother, Mavor Martin, started the business of manufacturing map-rollers. Although the property and business have since been in the hands of different firms, it has most of the time been under the superintendence of one or the other of the two brothers. The present proprietors are Mavor Martin, Washington Martin, and Henry Sheldon, associated under the firm of Martin & Co.
This business was first suggested by Mr. Horace Thayer, then connected with an extensive map publishing house in New York, and rendered material assistance in starting it.
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
Not only did this factory supply the house for whose conve- nience and benefit it was chiefly designed, but its business has been greatly extended, until it probably equals any other establishment of the kind in this country. It gives employ- ment to from ten to fifteen hands. It turns off work steadily to an average value, monthly, of about $1,000; but it has, at times, much exceeded that amount. It consumes annually about 150,000 feet of lumber, sawed by the mill connected with it, and turns out about 125,000 rollers.
[Since the above was written, Washington Martin, of the above firm has died.]
FOUNDRIES.
The first Furnace or Iron Foundry was established on the north side of Buffalo street, between the corner of Water street and the bridge, by Dr. Angustus Frank and Benjamin L. Watkins, about the year 1824. It was afterwards carried on by Frank & Gregg, who manufactured stoves, plows, ma- chinery, etc., until 1838, when it was continued by Dr. Frank and Nathan Raymond, (firm, N. Raymond & Co.,) and con- ducted by them three years; and then by Dr. Frank alone for several years. The business was then removed to a new brick building erected on Main street, nearly opposite the Brick Hotel, and continued for some time. In 1848, it was leased to Comstock, Andrews & Co. for three years. They continued the business two years and eight months, and sold out to Gates & Garetsee, who, after four months, removed their business to the present stand of Henry Garretsee in the south part of the village.
The business of Comstock, Andrews & Co., was about $20,000 a year in this line. The number of cook stoves made yearly was about one thousand seven hundred, besides many box-stoves. The manufacturing of various agricultural imple- ments, and a general machinery business, were connected with the establishment. The stoves produced by this firm were chiefly made for Gates & Garretsee, hardware mer- chants in this village.
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MANUFACTURES.
Since the business passed into the hands of Gates & Gar- retsee, it has been carried on extensively by them and the successive firms of C. C. Gates & Co., Garretsee & Morris, and II. Garetsee, by whom it is still conducted, turning out work to the amount of from $15,000 to $20,000 annually.
About the year 1837, Hodge & Wilder erected works on the race directly north of Sprague's grist-mill, for the manu- facture of scales, box stoves, and machinery. The business was discontinued about the year 1846, and the buildings were removed.
In 1860, William Robinson, Jun., erected a brick Furnace on Genesee street, and carried on the business about one year; next, Abraham B. Lawrence, about the same length of time; and after his enlistment in the army in August, 1862, Ira Hurd, also about a year, when it was discontinued. The building is now used by Knapp, Fullington & Co. as a wagon and carriage shop.
PLANING MILLS.
The first settlers, as has been stated, were unable to obtain lumber for building. Their log houses were covered with bark, and their floors were made of split basswood plank, hewed on one side. Saw-mills were soon built, but they furnished the settlers with coarse lumber only. The pine lumber used was brought chiefly from Allegany county. And we take occasion here to state, that the pine lumber trade came in time to constitute a considerable portion of the busi- ness of this village. The people in the pine region were de- pendent upon the more agricultural and carlier settled towns for many of the necessaries of life; and vast quantities of their great staple, pine lumber, was brought in by teams, and ex- changed for store goods, grain, and other commodities.
Until within a late period, lumber for the siding of houses, for doors, floors, window sash, blinds, &c., was dressed by hand. A great change has taken place. The lumber is now chiefly brought to this place by railroad; and the dressing is done by machinery.
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HISTORY OF WARSAW.
In 1835, Chester Hurd and his son, C. Paddock Hurd, erected, a short distance in the rear of the Buxtons' Carriage Manufactory, a building for a Steam Planing Mill. They put in machinery for planing lumber, and for manufacturing all kinds of wood work required for building. They soon formed a co-partnership with S. M. Gates and Allen Y. Breck, ( Gates & Breck,) merchants; and under the firm of Breck, Gates & Hurd the business was enlarged by the addition of a saw mill and other machinery.
In April, 1859, Mr. Breck and Chester Hurd sold their interest to Mr. Gates and C. P. Hurd. On the night of the 14th of October, the entire establishment, including a large lot of lumber, was destroyed by fire. The loss-nearly ten thousand dollars-was so severe, that they hesitated about rebuilding. But the citizens, regarding such an establishment of great utility to the town and surrounding country, raised about two thousand dollars to aid in rebuilding. A new building of brick was immediately erected; the business was soon resumed, and was successfully prosecuted for several years. The property was leased to Horace Thayer, who added to the saw-mill and machinery other branches of manufactur- ing. He had carried on the business but a short time when the property was again destroyed by fire, just six years, to a day, after the first fire. The loss to the owners was about four thousand dollars, and considerable to Mr. Thayer. The lot and the property saved were disposed of, and the business closed.
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