Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 5

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 820

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It will now be correctly inferred that at the beginning of the present century the frontier had seen little change from its condition during the long period of strife through which it had passed. Fort Niagara had only recently been surrendered to the United States; Lewiston and Schlosser were mere trading places; and Buffalo gave little promise of future greatness. But important changes were at hand. Niagara county, then including what is now Erie county, was erected from Genesee March 11, 1808, and the county seat fixed at Buffalo. There the first courts were held and the county buildings erected, but in fol- lowing the history of settlement and growth in Niagara county we shall, of course, confine ourselves to the present boundaries of the county. When the county was erected the territory now constituting Niagara county was all comprised in the town of Cambria, erected at that time from Willink.

After the opening of the year the sales of land by the Holland Com- pany rapidly increased ; in 1809 they were more than a thousand. During the first decade of the century settlement had been well ad- vanced in many localities within the boundaries of the county as it now exists ; but no new towns were erected until 1812, as noticed further on. It was natural that the advantages of the Ridge road attracted the earliest settlers. Here, amid the primeval forest, above the swamps and avoiding hills, was a natural highway in every way inviting to the pioneer. From Warren's to Dickersonville it was always passable, while on either side, and especially on the north, it was almost impass- able except in winter and the dry months of summer. What are now the richest sections of the county were then avoided. Some settlements were made early near Lake Ontario, in what are now Wilson and New- fane, but along the river and the Ridge they were most numerous.

The first town meeting in the new town of Cambria was held at the house of Joseph Hewitt April 5, 1808. Joseph Hewitt was elected supervisor ; James Harrison, clerk; Robert Lee, Benjamin Barton, and Charles Wilbur, commissioners of highways; Lemuel Cook, Silas Hop- kins, and John Dunn, assessors; Stephen Hopkins, collector ; Philemon Baldwin and Thomas Slayton, overseers of the poor ; Stephen Hopkins, Ray March, Stephen A. Baldwin, and Alexander Haskin, constables ; Enoch Hitchcock and Thomas Hustler, poundmasters for the eastern

and western districts respectively. Sixteen overseers of highways were elected and assigned to districts.

It was voted to pay a reward of five dollars for every wolf killed, on proof before a magistrate, accompanied with the skull and the entire skin attached. One hundred dollars was voted for wolf bounties. Other customary regulations were voted for the government of the great town, which embraced all of the present Niagara county.

The most prominent settler to arrive here early in the century was Augustus Porter, who came in 1806 with his wife and three sons, A. H., P. B., jr., and A. S. Porter. Augustus Porter had represented the dis- trict of Ontario and Steuben in the Assembly of 1802. His brother, Peter B. Porter, represented Genesee and Ontario in the Assembly of 1803, but did not come to this locality until several years later, and then from Black Rock. Augustus Porter had been here as early as 1795 and again in 1796, on his way to the Western Reserve of Ohio, as chief of a company of surveyors. The further extensive operations of the Porter family in this vicinity are described in the history of Niagara Falls in later pages.

James Field became a settler in 1808 on the Porter farm ; he subse- - quently kept a tavern. He was grandfather of the late C. W. Field. The town meetings were held at Field's tavern many years. In 1809 Enos Broughton opened a tavern in the Stedman house, as it had then been vacated by Mr. Porter.

Meanwhile settlers were locating at Lewiston. In 1802 came Capt. Lemuel Cook who had been a surgeon in the army ; sons of his were the well known prominent citizens of Lewiston, Bates Cook, afterwards comptroller, Lathrop Cook, afterwards the first sheriff of Niagara county after Erie was set off in 1821. Benjamin Barton came in 1809, having previously visited the frontier in 1787. Soon after came John Latta who built a tannery which he operated until driven out by the war of 1812. Jesse Beach, before mentioned, settled in 1803, and John Rob- inson in 1806. Asahel Sage settled in 1807. John Gould and a few others were then his neighbors. Aaron Childs settled on the Ridge in 1809, where he kept a tavern, and subsequently removed to Lewis- ton. Two years later Achish Pool removed from Massachusetts to a home where Dickersonville now is and where he lived to an old age.

His son, the late Thomas F. Pool, who resided in Dickersonville until his death in 1886, and William H. Pool, who removed to Michigan, were sons of Achish and small boys at the time of the arrival of the pioneer. Their conveyance, like that of most of the earliest settlers, was a yoke of oxen ; they brought in, also, one horse.

Col. Andrew Sutherland came from Sutherland Falls, Vt., in 1810, with his family and settled on a farm east of Molyneaux Corners on the Ridge; the homestead was afterwards occupied by his son, Fletcher Sutherland, and now owned by the latter's daughters. Colonel Suther- land took part in the war of 1812. A tavern had been opened in 1806 at Warren's Corners by John Forsythe. About this time Reuben Hurd settled on the North Ridge.

In what is now the town of Porter settlement began early but was slower in progress than in Lewiston or Niagara. John Lloyd, who had been a soldier, settled near the old Peter Tower homestead in 1801. Others soon came in, among them the families named Doty, Hopkins, Zittle, Abijah Perry, and Cogswell, the first school teacher. Jonathan Lutts settled in 1806, Jacob Lutts in 1808, and his brother Michael soon after. The town received its name from Augustus Porter and was thinly settled until after the war of 1812. John Young settled in the town of Niagara in 1810 with a large family in what has always been known as the Young neighborhood ; his sons were excellent citi- zens. In the same year John Witmer settled in the same neighborhood, purchased a farm, and built a saw mill which was in use many years. These pioneers are more fully noticed in the later town annals.

Jacob Fitts settled early in Somerset, where he was preceded by a Mr. Kemp. The Meade families were early and prominent in that town. In Newfane the early settlers were William Chambers, John Brewer, and a Mr. Cotton, in 1807. James Van Horn began operating a mill on Eighteen-mile Creek about 1810. It was burned by the Brit- ish in 1813.

In 1811 the port of entry, which had been at Fort Niagara since its opening in 1799, was removed to Lewiston, giving that village consid- erable added importance ; it remained there until 1863 when it was re- moved to Suspension Bridge. In all the years that intervened between the close of the Revolution and the beginning of the war of 1812, there

was little cultivation of friendly relations between the American settlers on this side of the river, and the people on the other side. The latter were largely composed of the members of Butler's Rangers, whose deeds were too fresh in the minds of our pioneers to render their friendly intercourse welcome. The British kept up a strong garrison, and there was a feeling of enmity not less strong because not publicly expressed, between the two sections.

On the Ist of June, 1812, three new towns were erected in the county ; these were Hartland, Niagara (as Schlosser), and Porter, all taken, of course, from Cambria.

CHAPTER VI.

1800 TO 1825 -- THE WAR OF 1812.

The first quarter of the present century witnessed important changes and stirring events in what is now Niagara county. There was a large increase of settlers at some points ; many acres of forests were cleared away and cultivation advanced on many farms; mills and shops were built and manufactures inaugurated ; little hamlets had their inception ; churches and schools were established, and, finally, war was renewed which for two years paralyzed business and caused anxiety and suffer- ing along the frontier.

At the beginning of the century the population of this State had reached 589,000, of which total about 60,000 dwelt in New York city. Albany was a considerable community, while at Utica, Rochester and Buffalo the foundations had been laid for the present thriving cities. Commerce on the lakes was just coming into existence. Matthew Mc- Nair, at Oswego, bought a sloop in 1803, rechristened it and began the forwarding business there ; and there was soon a small fleet of vessels trading and transporting freight along the lakes. The Ontario, the first steamer to enter the Niagara from Lake Ontario, was built at Sackett's Harbor in 1816, and was soon followed by others. Prospects of peace and plenty throughout the country were hopeful.

Early in the century began the acts on the part of England and France which resulted in another war. Through orders issued by Great Brit- ain and decrees made by the Emperor Napoleon, all American com- merce in neutral ships with either of these belligerent nations was sus- pended. American sailors, claimed as British subjects, were seized on American vessels; and the right to board American vessels for this purpose was one of the unjust claims set up by Great Britain. These and other outrages continued until they could no longer be borne in silence. Late in October, 1807, Congress opposed this action by lay- ing an embargo on all vessels in United States harbors. This measure, necessary as it may have appeared as a general policy, was disastrous to the mercantile and shipping interests of the whole country. The embargo act was supported by a large part of the Democratic party, but was strenuously opposed by the Federalists.

On June I, 1812, President Madison sent a confidential message to Congress, in which he reviewed the causes of complaint against Great Britain, and asked for a decision whether Congress would act upon its light and as duty dictated, or remain passive under accumulating in- justice. It was well known that the president favored open retaliation. By one party the president was urged by threats as well as ridicule to declare war, while the other, among whom were many whose personal interests were already suffering, bitterly opposed such action. The Committee on Foreign Relations made its report June 3, accompanying it with a bill declaring war against Great Britain. After prolonged de- bate and amid the greatest excitement throughout the country, Con- gress passed the bill on July 18, and Madison signed it. On the 19th the president issued a proclamation announcing the fact and calling on the people to support the government in its war policy.

At no point in the country, perhaps, was this event discussed with deeper interest and more anxiety than on the Niagara frontier. In 181I the port of entry for the Niagara customs district was located at Lewis- ton, having previously since its establishment in 1799 been at Fort Niagara. This gave additional importance to Lewiston. 1

1 The office was retained at Lewiston until 1863, when it was removed to Suspension Bridge. Thus for half a century Lewiston was a political headquarters, the collectorship being the prin- cipal political office in this section.

During the period between the close of the Revolution and the war of 1812 there was little cultivation of friendly relations between the settlers on opposite sides of the river ; the feeling on either side was that of enmity, the causes for which will be readily understood. The Brit- ish kept a strong garrison at Fort George, and the declaration of war meant constant menace and possible invasion at any time, with destruc- tion of the new- made homes and perhaps loss of life. The Tuscaroras and Senecas proved their friendship for the Americans and rendered valuable service ; but the Mohawks, who had been located in Canada by their British friends, remained our implacable enemies. To secure the co-operation of the Indians a council was held at Buffalo July 6, at which Red Jacket made speeches declaring in favor of neutrality and volunteering to send to the Mohawks and urge them to abandon the war path ; but the effort failed. Immediately upon the declaration of war Gen. Isaac Brock, commander-in-chief of the British forces in Upper Canada, took command of the Niagara frontier on that side and strength- ened its defenses ; while similar action was taken on the American side, where Gen. William Wadsworth took command in person. By a gen- eral order issued by the War Department on April 21, 1812, the de- tached militia of this State had been arranged in two divisions, eight brigades and numerous regiments. In June the first detachment of the militia quota of New York was placed under command of General Brown, who was charged with the defense of the northern frontier from Oswego to Lake St. Francis. A regiment under Col. C. P. Bellinger, was stationed at Sackett's Harbor.

The chief purpose and hope of the war enthusiasts on this side of the Niagara frontier, was the conquest of Canada. Detroit was early cap- tured by Brock, whose forces, thus relieved, came hither and threatened an invasion. They took possession of Grand Island; but nothing of importance took place until the fall of 1812, when Stephen Van Rens- selaer established his headquarters at Lewiston, while Brock faced him across the river. There was at that time probably not as many troops under Van Rensselaer as would make one full regiment, and he called for reinforcements. By October he had gathered about 2,500 men, while at Fort Niagara there was a regiment of infantry and about 300 light artillery. There was a considerable force at Buffalo and a regiment

at Schlosser under command of Lieut .- Col. Winfield Scott. At Queens- ton were two companies of infantry , while at Fort George and near by was a disciplined force of 2,000 soldiers. Batteries opposed each other at favorable points on either side. An invasion of Canada was the chief topic of discussion ; there were the usual predictions of what would be accomplished by the Americans in such an event ; but when it came to the point of crossing the river the raw militia shrank from the danger, and the burden of taking the initiative fell upon the regulars from the fort. On the morning of October 13, a crossing was effected without much difficulty, until the march began upon up the slope to Queenston. There determined opposition was met, the Americans were driven back, and a few lives were lost. Soon afterward, with reinforcements from this side, Capt. John E. Wool (later a distinguished general) stormed the heights, drove back two companies stationed there and captured a battery. The uproar of the battle was heard at Fort George and Gen- eral Brock hastened to the front with a larger force. In his heroic effort to recapture the heights Brock was killed and his troops were re- pulsed in disorder. The decisive moment had arrived when, had the remainder of the Americans promptly crossed the river, a permanent victory would have been assured ; but the militia could not be prevailed upon to cross, and Brant, with five hundred Mohawks, made his appear- ance on the field, and in spite of the gallant defense of the little army under Scott, they were defeated ; many were killed and wounded and a large number were marched to Fort George as prisoners. During the progress of the battle a brisk bombardment of Fort Niagara from Fort George caused Captain Leonard to abandon the works. This closed the campaign on the immediate frontier.

During the year 1813 the march of military events was rapid and eventful on the frontier. General Van Rensselaer resigned his command soon after the battle at Queenston and was succeeded by Gen. Alexan- der Smyth, of the regular army, who had been in this vicinity a short time as inspector-general. He was a Virginian who in 1808 had aban- doned his profession and resigned from his State Legislature to accept a colonelcy in the army and had been promoted to brigadier- general. Immediately on taking command he began the concentration of troops at Buffalo and Black Rock, preparatory to an invasion of Canada. He

also had scows built for the river transportation of artillery. On the 12th of November General Smyth issued a flaming address declaring among other things that within a few days his troops would plant the American flag in Canada. Other still more bombastic addresses fol- lowed. The attempt to cross the river was made November 28, and several detachments were sent over ; but owing chiefly to the imperfect arrangements and want of concentration, the movement was almost a ridiculous failure. Derision and ridicule were heaped upon the com- mander by the troops and subordinate officers. One of the latter was Gen. Peter B. Porter, a brave and competent officer, who was out- spoken in condemnation of the operations. This led to a duel which was fought on Grand Island, but neither of the participants was injured. The army now went into winter quarters.

The conquest of Canada was still the hope of the Americans in the campaign of 1813. The government had gathered quite a fleet of vessels on Lake Ontario, which were placed under command of Com- modore Isaac Chauncey, who made his headquarters at Sackett's Har- bor. He successfully defended that port against the operations of Sir James L. Yeo, commanding the British squadron, in May, 1813, and thereafter practically controlled the lake. Toronto had been captured in April, and measures were adopted looking to the capture of Fort George. General Henry Dearborn was in command of the department and took part in the capture of Toronto. That victory prevented the British from sending reinforcements to Fort George when the time arrived for its capture. For this event troops and war munitions were landed at Four-mile Creek and a large number of boats were built at Five-mile Meadows, a few miles below Lewiston, and taken down the river to the rendezvous. A cannonade was opened from both sides, and early on the morning of May 27 the troops embarked and the fleet of Commodore Chauncey took its position. The heavy fire from Fort Niagara and the vessels drove the enemy from one battery, enabling the Americans to make a landing. A sharp engagement followed a little distance from the beach, which merged in a combined assault and the enemy was driven back through the village, while Fort George was deserted. Preparations had been made to blow up the work and one magazine exploded, throwing Col. Winfield Scott from his horse, but

5 I

without seriously injuring him. The enemy was pursued several miles by Scott, but he was recalled just as he felt confident of their capture. The victory was a decisive one, all the positions at Niagara (which then bore the name of Newark) being in possession of the Americans, while the British losses were nearly three times as many as ours. On the 4th of July an unimportant raid was made on Schlosser by a lieutenant and a small British force, surprising the guard there and capturing a field piece, some arms, provisions, etc.

It would seem that territory on the frontier which had been captured by the Americans should have been held ; but such was not to be the case. Up to midsummer of this year no Indians had been taken into the service of the United States. In the spring the warriors of the Six Nations had been solicited to come into the American camps, and a few hundred did come, under lead of the veteran Farmer's Brother ; but they requested that they be allowed to remain and take no part for the present in military operations. When in the early part of July a skirmish took place near Fort George in which an American lieutenant and ten men were captured and never heard from, leading to the con- clusion that they had been massacred by Indians, General Boyd ac- cepted the services of the Indian warriors.

Gen. James Wilkinson succeeded General Dearborn and proved an efficient officer ; but by some mistaken policy most of the American troops were withdrawn from this frontier. Colonel McClure garrisoned Fort George with only sixty men, and in November a British force marched to recapture the work, upon which McClure abandoned the fort and crossed the river on the 10th of December. But before he embarked he made the fatal mistake of firing the British village of Newark.

On the 18th of that month, a strong force of British and Indians landed at or near Five-mile Meadows in the night. The regulars marched on towards Fort Niagara with the intention of storming it ; but this was not necessary. They captured the pickets without giving an alarm and found the gates of the fort open several hours before sun - rise. A slight defense was made from the blockhouse and the barracks, and Colonel Murray, the British commander, was wounded. The gar- rison of four hundred and fifty men was captured, and it is recorded that

about eighty soldiers and hospital patients were murdered after the surrender, but this is believed to be exaggerated. The loss of this fort at that time and the terrible operations that rapidly followed were mo- mentous events. Colonel McClure had left the fort and gone to Buffalo to announce the alarming situation at the mouth of the river, leaving the fort in command of Captain Leonard. The latter, for some un- accountable reason, was at his house several miles above Youngstown. Charges of treason, more particularly against Leonard, were freely made, and that officer found his residence for some years after at Five-mile Meadows a most undesirable one, if the opinions of his neighbors affected him. He was always held in contempt, which he doubtless merited, for even a meager defense would have given the people alarm and en- abled them to avoid the calamities that followed.1 As soon as Niagara was captured, McClure, who did not escape blameless, retreated with his regulars to Batavia, against the vehement protest of the inhabitants of Buffalo, leaving that village wholly unprotected. The British forces now on this side of the river proceeded to burn the few houses at

1 While this was common talk among those who had been driven from their homes, and thus found a place in local historical sketches as truth, there are reasons for believing that Captain Leonard was unjustly accused. He was not at Five-mile Meadows, probably did not then own the place-not far below Lewiston-but had gone to attend his sick wife at Four-mile Creek, leav- ing a subordinate in command. It had been known two or three weeks that an invasion was be- ing planned, and with this knowledge Colonel McClure had gone to Buffalo to secure aid for defense. Full preparations had been made to defend the fort, guns placed, etc., and a battery on the brow of the mountain, overlooking Lewiston and the river below, was in charge of an officer instructed to watch for any attempted crossing and signal the fort by firing three cannon shots. This signal was given as the enemy crossed not far from Five-mile Meadows. If unheard at the fort it is evidence in support of a well authenticated report that the garrison slept after a drunken debauch, and that accounts for the easy capture. Robert Fleming, father of William Fleming (born in Lewiston in 1817, and now living in Buffalo), was stationed at the battery and related the particulars to his son years afterwards. He was subsequently a member of the State Legislature, and was always on the most friendly terms with Captain Leonard when he afterwards resided at Five-mile Meadows. The Bartons and other prominent Lewistonians were also intimate friends of Captain Leonard, and as all these were intensely patriotic, they must have known the truth in the matter. Captain Leonard was one of the first trustees of the Lewiston Academy, organized only about ten years after, and this is evidence in his favor. It was natural for the pioneer set- tlers to accept suggestions of disloyalty. My father and grandfather had to flee and suffer ac- cordingly, and often repeated these common reports. Turner says Captain Leonard was tried and dismissed the service, but we can find no evidence in proof and it probably cannot be had outside of the War Department. It is believed to be erroneous. The late Hon. W. H. Merritt, father of Hon. J. S. Merritt, of St. Catherines, had command of part of the British forces, but did not partieipate in the invasion, being sick at his home. In his memoirs published by his son, it is stated that Captain Leonard was captured and sent to Quebec. In my youth I heard much of the bitter feeling among pioneer settlers on the frontier. Suspicion easily grew to positive statement, and of such too much history made. In this note I desire to do justice to a townsman of my youth and therefore this extended note .- WILLIAM POOL.

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Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, Part 5

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Pool, William, 1825-1912, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: [Syracuse] : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 820