Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 15

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084

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Dr. William F. Eaman is a grandson of George Eaman, who was born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage, and died August 16, 1847, aged sixty. The latter married Janette Grant, of Edinburgh, Scot- land, who died March 7, 1852, aged sixty-five. George I., father of our subject, was born in Amsterdam, May II, 1825, and now lives at Ransomville, Niagara county. His wife was Sara J. Sickels, who was born in Buffalo, November 20, 1825, who is still living. Dr. Eaman was born in Dunville, Canada, in 1853, and attended the public schools of Ransomville, and later the Wilson Union School at Wilson, Niagara county, and the Lockport Union School, meantime pursuing studies in anatomy and physiology, after which he taught school three winters, still keeping up his studies in medicine, and attending school during the spring terms. He next entered the office of Dr. M. S. Kittinger, of Lockport, who is widely known through Niagara county, and remained with him over five years, during this time, however, spending two years at the Buffalo Medical College. He then attended Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York city, where he graduated in February, 1877, and immediately began practice in Gaines, where he has been

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eminently successful. September 30. 1880, he married Anna M. Kemp, daughter of Simon Kemp of this town. She was born October 13, 1859, and they have had four children : Howard, born October 13, 1884 ; Bessie L, born December 17, 1886; Marjory D., born March 20, 1889; and Myron B., born October 13, 1891, who died March 10, 1893.

Andrew J. Eaton, M. D., is a son of Ebenezer Eaton, and was born in Laona, Chautauqua county, January 19, 1824. He attended the old Fredonia Academy and began the study of medicine with Dr. Charles Smith of Laona, continuing with his cousin, Dr. Willard Eaton, of Eagle Harbor, Orleans county. He took lectures at the Central Eclec- tic Medical College of Rochester, received a degree of M. D. from the Eclectic Medical College of the city of New York, and began the prac- tice of his profession in Palmyra, Wis., in 1848. One year later he re- moved to Hillsdale, Mich., whence he came to Millville, Orleans county, in 1852, but in 1864 settled permanently at Kendall Mills, where he has since resided and continued his professional career. Dr. Eaton is a member of the Western New York Medical Society of Buffalo, a member and formerly vice-president of the Genesee Valley Eclectic Medical Society, long a member of the I. O. O. F. and an active member of Murray Lodge and Orleans Chapter of Masons. He married Ruth A., daughter of Ebenezer K. Webster, of Kendall Mills, and has one son, Carl Simon, who is pursuing the study of dentistry.

CHAPTER XII.

THE PRESS OF ORLEANS COUNTY.

The reader has learned in these pages that the village of Gaines was once the leading place in the county, and came very near being the county seat. It is this fact that accounts for the first newspaper in the county being established at Gaines. Judge Thomas places the date of the first issue about the year 1824 ; while other authorities make it as early as 1822. The paper was called The Gazette, and it was con-

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tinued about four years by Seymour Tracy. In July, 1827 (probably after the discontinuance of The Gazette), John Fisk established The Or- leans Whig at Gaines. It was continued regularly several years, but the date of its death is lost, as far as we know.

The first newspaper published in what is now Albion, was called The Newport Patriot, and was issued by Franklin Cowdry in 1823. It took its name from the little hamlet of Newport, which afterwards received the name of Albion. In February, 1825, Timothy C. Strong became the proprietor and changed the name of the paper to The Orleans Ad- vocate. In the year 1828, amid the anti-Masonic excitement, Mr. Strong espoused the cause of anti-Masonry and changed the name of the publication to The Orleans Advocate and Anti- Masonic Telegraph, and in February of that year shortened the title to The Orleans Anti- Masonic Telegraph. In June, 1828, another change was made to The Orleans Telegraph, and a little later the name of the paper was made The American Standard. The establishment was transferred to J. Kempshall, who conducted it about two years, when it again passed into possession of Mr. Strong, who changed the name of the paper to The Orleans American. In 1844 the property passed to possession of J. & J. H. Denio, who continued the business until 1853, when it was purchased by S. A. Andrews. With various partners, he continued the publication until January, 1861, when the establishment was pur- chased by D. S. & H. A. Bruner. This firm continued until July I, 1868, when H. A. Bruner became sole owner, and has ever since con- ducted the paper with signal ability and success. In December, 1868, the entire establishment was burned, but was promptly rebuilt by Mr. Bruner, and equipped with modern machinery and fixtures. Since the formation of the Republican party The American has been a staunch supporter of the political principles of that party and wields a strong influence throughout Orleans and adjoining counties. For nearly thirty-five years Mr. Bruner has faithfully and ably filled the editorial chair.

HENRY A. BRUNER, the editor and proprietor for over thirty years past of The Orleans American, is a son of Jacob and Esther Arwine Bruner, and was born in Danville, Pa. While yet a lad the family moved to Yates county, New York.

Harry A. Brunner

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Mr. Bruner in his childhood and youth had no other than the hum- blest opportunities for education afforded to every child in our common schools. But he diligently improved what chances he had for learning. Upon the death of his parents, being left poor, he first learned the trade of harnessmaking, but soon afterward managed to attend a select school and the public schools in Penn Yan, commenced teaching, and subse- quently finished his education at the State Normal School in Albany, where he graduated in the spring of 1847, and again taught school for a number of years, with such reputation and success, that, in June, 1856, he was appointed the first school commissioner of Yates county, and the next year, 1857, was elected to the same position, holding it in all for four and a half years.

In January, 1861, Mr. Bruner came to Albion, and, with his brother, David S. Bruner, bought of Andrews & Ray the Orleans American, tak- ing possession January 17. His brother's health failed, and July 1, 1868, Henry A. Bruner became and has ever since been sole proprietor. His course as editor of the first-established and leading newspaper in Or- leans county, has been to assert and maintain the principles and ascend- ancy of his party with uniform loyalty and consistency, steadily holding a leading position and wielding a more or less efficient influence in its councils. His services have been to some extent recognized by his polit- ical friends. He was postmaster at Albion four and a half years, 1871-1875, appointed by President Grant.

Mr. Bruner was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1880, which nominated Garfield, and was a special inspector of customs under Harrison's administration.

He was married in October, 1852, at Starkey, Yates county, to Je- rusha Maria Pierce, who died February 1, 1865. In September, 1866, he married Sara S. Smith, of Albion. His only surviving child, Liz- zie, is the wife of Dr. John E. Sutton, a practicing physician in Albion.

There is a tradition that a few numbers of a Democratic newspaper were published in Albion prior to 1829. In that year Anti-Masonry was flourishing in Western New York; the Democratic party was in the minority and without an organ. Chiefly through the influence of Alexis Ward, Cephas S. McConnell came to Albion, and on the 21st of October, 1829, issued the first number of the Orleans Republican. He

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continued the publication with a fair degree of success until 1841, when he sold out to a Mr. De Puy, and removed to Rochester. He returned in 1847 and started the Orleans Democrat, which he soon discontinued and bought back The Republican. He sold the property to Mr. J. O. Willsea in 1848, and removed to Chicago where he died in 1855. In 1850 Calvin G. Beach became associated as partner with Mr. Willsea, and the firm of Willsea & Beach conducted the business with success until 1860, when Mr Willsea retired. Mr. Beach continued the publi- cation alone until his death, which occurred July 8, 1868. Mr. Beach was born in Rochester, on June 30, 1830, and learned the printer's trade with Shepherd & Graves, of that city. He came to Albion in 1850, and had just reached his majority when he became partner with Mr. Willsea. In the conduct of his paper, Mr. Beach was assisted by his wife, a woman of rare literary attainments, who was a contributor to many of the papers and magazines of that day. Since the death of Mr. Beach, his widow has continued the publication of the paper. La- fayette H. Beach, the present editor and manager of The Republican, was born in Albion, on April 2, 1856; was educated at the old Albion Academy and graduated when fifteen years of age. Abandoning his desire for a college course, he entered his mother's printing office in 1871 and served a full apprenticeship. In 1878 he became associated with an older brother in the editorship of The Republican, and in 1882 was made sole editor and manager. Two other sons of the late Calvin G. Beach are engaged in journalism-Fred G. Beach, holding a prom- inent position with The Rochester Democrat, and Robert K. Beach, being editor of The Rochester Morning Herald. Editor Beach of The Republican is married and is the father of five children. He is iden- tified officially with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Albion, and has been superintendent of its Sunday school for fourteen consecutive years. He has also been secretary of the Orleans County Agricultural Society for a period of sixteen years.

The Republican is the Orleans county organ of the Democratic party and wields a powerful influence in that direction.

The Saturday Chronicle was started in Albion in the autumn of 1876, by William B. Young, who was a practical printer. It was neu- tral or independent in politics. The paper was discontinued after about two years.

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The first number of the Orleans County Herald was issued Septem- ber 4, 1888, by Frank E. Kittredge. It was started as a nine-column folio. In 1889 it was purchased by Clark D. Knapp. After several changes in proprietorship, the establishment recently (1894) passed to Ben A. Osborn and William B. Young. It is Republican in politics, is ably conducted and liberally patronized.

The Weekly News was established in Albion in 1888, by John Cunneen. The success of this publication has led to its being several times enlarged, until it reached the eight-column quarto size. The paper is independent in politics and pays particular attention to local news. In 1890 Pearl Coann became editor and proprietor of the paper and it is now owned and edited by A. M. Eddy. Mr. Coann has established and now edits The Albion Free Lance, a weekly publication.

The Young Oologist, a monthly publication devoted to birds, their nests, eggs and habits, was started in Albion in 1884. Two years later the name was changed to The Oologist. The editor and publisher is Frank H. Lattin, with Neil J. Posson, of Medina, as associate editor. The magazine has been very successful and has a large circulation.

Previous to the establishment of permanent newspapers in the village of Medina, several publications were started and soon added to the great newspaper death- roll. The first of these was The Medina Herald, which was begun in 1832 by Daniel P. Adams; it lived only two or three years,

In 1837 J. & J. H. Denio began the publication of The Medina Sentinel. In the next year the name of the paper was changed to The Orleans Sentinel and it lived until 1842.

A paper called The Bucktail was started just previous to the suspen- sion of The Herald, and afterward its name was changed to The Medina Democrat. It expired after two or three years of existence. S. M. Burroughs was the publisher.

In 1850 H. A. Smith began the publication of The Medina Citizen. In 1855 the title was changed to the Medina Tribune, which it still retains. Samuel H. Clark succeeded Mr. Smith as publisher, con- tinuing to January 1, 1871, when the establishment was purchased by John P. Gates and Frank H. Hurd. On January 1, 1874, Mr. Hurd purchased his partner's interest, and a year later Fred. M. Taylor be-

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came a partner in the business. On January 1, 1877, Mr. Hurd again became sole proprietor and has continued the business alone to the present time. The Tribune is Republican in politics and under Mr. Hurd's able conduct has become a powerful factor in the councils of the party, gaining a large circulation.

Frank H. Hurd was born in the town of Yates August 7, 1847, and received his education at the Yates Academy. At the age of sixteen he began to learn the trade of printer and has been connected with the printing and publishing business ever since. He was first with The Orleans Republican in Albion, a year in Syracuse and then with The Auburn Morning News, After two years in Auburn he returned to Albion and had charge of the mechanical department of the Orleans Republican for a year. In 1871 he purchased The Medina Tribune, and has been its proprietor and editor ever since. Mr. Hurd is a prominent Mason, belonging to the Chapter at Albion and the Genesee Commandery at Lockport, N. Y. He is active in politics and has been secretary of many conventions. In 1874 he married F. Louise Williams, of Rome, N. Y., who died in 1883. In 1885 he married Dolores E. Frary, of Medina. His father was Seymour A. Hurd, a merchant of Yates, son of the late Isaac Hurd, of that town. His mother was Mary Frost Hurd, daughter of the late Chester Frost, of Shelby. His ances tors, on both sides came from New England to this county in pioneer days.

The first number of The Orleans Democrat was issued in Albion in May, 1870, by W. W. Malay, who removed the establishment to Medina in February, 1871. In 1872 W. W. Mount purchased a half interest in the business, but withdrew a year later. In 1873 C. W. Tucker became a partner and was succeeded six months later by A. M. Thistlewaite. In 1874 Mr. Malay again became proprietor of the concern and in the fall of that year sold a half interest to Adna Bowen. The paper was suspended in 1876, but was revived soon afterwards under the title of The Medina Democrat, by Bowen & O'Brien. Five months later W. W. Malay became sole editor and proprietor, and per- manently discontinued the paper in 1877.

The Medina Register was started in the month (April, 1877,) that saw the death of The Democrat by Beach Brothers, who used the

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type and apparatus of The Democrat. In August of that year Joel B. Swett became sole proprietor of the establishment and successfully con- ducted the business until 1881, when he was succeeded by the present editor and proprietor, M. A. Bowen. Mr. Bowen was born in West Shelby November 7, 1859. He began work at the printing business before he finally left school, at first in the office of the Orleans Democrat. When he took possession of The Register he was fully equipped for the successful practical conduct of an able Democratic newspaper. He is a fluent and forcible writer and possesses business qualifications of a high order. He has made the Register an influential organ in the politics of Western New York as well as a welcome news medium in a large num- ber of homes. In 1882 Mr. Bowen was married to Harriet Green ; they have a son and a daughter. Mr. Bowen's father was Adna Bowen, also a native of Medina ; his mother was Eunice Post.

The only village in Orleans county, other than Albion and Medina, to boast a newspaper is the sprightly place of Holley. The first paper published in Holley was called The Holley Bulletin, and was issued in the fall of 1868 by Jay Densmore. It was a small weekly sheet, but after a few issues was changed to a semi monthly and quadrupled in size. Before the completion of the first volume the paper was discon- tinued and the office removed elsewhere.

The Monthly Advertiser, devoted to general reading and advertise- ments, was first issued in Holley in the fall of 1869, but only a few numbers were issued.

In the autumn of 1870 the publication of The Holley Standard was begun by Cyrus Marsh. The paper was continued with fair success until 1874, when the office was burned. Mr. Marsh then purchased The Brockport Democrat office and issued a paper called The Demo- crat and Standard, and designed to represent both villages. This plan was not successful and Mr. Marsh established a new office in Holley and resumed the publication of The Standard. In 1877 he sold out to Frank A. Lanstrom, who in turn sold to Frank A. Hayden a year later. He continued the paper until the spring of 1882, when he sold to the present proprietor, C. C. Hayden. The office was burned in January, 1885, but was re-established at once. The Standard is inde- pendent in politics. C. C. Hayden was born in Sennett, Cayuga county,

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N. Y., February 12, 1858; received his education in district schools and Auburn High School. He learned the printing trade in the offices of The Brockport Democrat and The Holley Standard, also acting as local reporter. In 1880 he went to Titusville, Pa., remaining nearly two years, as reporter on The Daily Herald and Daily World, and in 1882 purchased The Holley Standard. Mr. Hayden is a fluent writer and possesses the natural qualities that make the successful journalist.

In 1878 a monthly paper called The Agitator was established in Holley, as the organ of the Good Templars of Orleans county. It sur- vived only a short time.

CHAPTER XIII.

The Quarrying Industry -- Its Development and Present Proportions -- First Quarry Opened -- Operators and Owners -- Statistics.

In a previous chapter, describing the geology of Orleans county, special reference has been made to the formation of the celebrated Medina sandstone, a stratum that underlies nearly all that area be- tween the Niagara limestone terrace and Lake Ontario. This forma- tion was so named because it was best shown at Medina, along the shores of Oak Orchard Creek, where it was first discovered and utilized for building and other purposes. It seems to be divided into four different bands, the most valuable rock being found from five to thirty feet below the surface. It is characterized by its extreme hardness, compared to similar substances, and by contractors and builders is re- garded as one of the best varieties of stone found and utilized in the United States for building purposes. It is devoid of any granite quali- ties, however, is easily cut and fashioned into the most artistic of architectural shapes, and for durability it surpasses the average build - ing stone, the action of climatic changes having little influence upon its disintegration. It can be hewed and split, will not crack or break like limestone, and does not wear smooth and slippery like granite. It is usually found in layers of from one inch to four feet in thickness and

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varies in color from a light gray to a deep or brownish red. Naturally rich in beauty, which is enhanced by the artistic conception of the archi- tect or designer, it is susceptible of a variety of uses and unexcelled for architectural purposes.

In Orleans county the business of quarrying this stone has developed, next to agriculture, into the leading industry, especially along the lines of the Erie Canal and New York Central Railroad, where the opera- tions are almost entirely confined. In many ways it has had a material influence upon various other industries, some of which are directly tributary to this, and from a financial standpoint it has brought numer- ous benefits to the whole population. From an insignificant beginning it has grown to enormous proportions, and that, too, in the last quarter century. This development is mainly due to the excellent transporta- tion facilities afforded by the canal and railway, which compete so briskly for shipments that distant markets are opened almost to the very quarry pits. Nearly all the quarries in the county lie within a few rods of the canal, while many are supplied also with special switches from the railroad. The old method of drilling by hand, though still employed to some extent, has been generally superseded by the steam drill, and many other labor saving devices have been introduced in re- cent years. In the larger quarries the work is nearly all executed by machinery driven by steam-steam derricks, steam drills, steam pumps, and steam crushers -- employing hundreds of men and turning out thousands upon thousands of cords of stone each season. The product is shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada, and utilized for every purpose for which rock is used, the demand in many cases ex- ceeding the supply.

Bowlders of this rock were utilized at a very early day for building and other purposes, but it is not known that any quarries were opened or worked during the first quarter of a century after the settlement of this region commenced. As previously stated this sandstone was first employed for building purposes in the vicinity of Medina, and there also the first regular quarry in Orleans county seems to have been opened. It was located north of the canal, where the Medina Manufacturing Company's factory now stands, and was opened by John Ryan in 1837. This quarry furnished a good quality of building stone, but the flags

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taken from it were rough and unsuitable for use. A year later Mr. Ryan found good flags at a locality some distance northwest from the Shelby street canal bridge. Not wishing to develop this quarry then he filled the excavations he had made and in 1844 he purchased one hundred and fifty acres there and opened the quarry. He owned and operated it till 1865, was in charge of it until 1870. He sold it in 1865 to Chase & Howell, and it is now owned and operated by the widow of Mr. Howell. Seventy men are employed in it and stones for street work are mostly produced.

In 1845 James Kearney purchased land lying between this quarry and the canal, and opened a quarry on it. He operated this until his death some thirty years ago, and it has ever since been owned and worked by his heirs. It is not now extensively operated.

As early as 1827 Isaac Bennett procured stone for building purposes on the east side of Oak Orchard Creek, at and in the vicinity of what is known as Laurel Hill, or " Paddy Hill."

In 1839 James Cullen opened a quarry on Mr. Bennett's land, which he worked until his death in 1847, after which it became the property of Patrick Horan. The quarry property included twenty- four and one- half acres when purchased by Mr. Horan, and he since added to it forty-eight and one-half acres. The number of hands employed in this quarry has varied in different years, ranging from forty to one hundred and fifty. Mr. Horan died in 1893, and it has since been worked by his estate. All varieties of stone are produced.

In 1851 the Holloway Brothers, John, Isaac and William, stone deal- ers in Buffalo, purchased eight acres of land east from Oak Orchard Creek and north from the canal, and opened thereon a quarry. From time to time parcels of land have been added to this original purchase until the tract now includes seventy-eight acres. This quarry has ever since its first purchase been worked by the Holloway Company, al- though the original brothers are dead and the property belongs to their heirs. One hundred and twenty men are employed, and the product is almost exclusively what is known as street work.

In 1868 a quarry was opened by George Rand on the farm of Nelson McCormick, a mile east from Medina and north of the canal. Mr. Rand operated it two or three years, since which Mr. McCormick, and

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his son Adelbert J., the present proprietor, have worked it. Fifty hands are employed, and all varieties of stone are produced.

The Reynolds quarry was opened in 1873, on the farm of Hiram D. Reynolds, north of the canal and one mile and a half east from Medina. It was opened by Arnold & Cushman, who operated it under a lease eight years. Mr. Reynolds then operated it a year, when it was worked for a time by Noble & Lyle. The operator is H. D. Reynolds, who has recently resumed the proprietorship. All kinds of stone are pro- duced in this quarry and twenty men are employed.

There are several quarries about three miles west from Medina. One of these, the Levalley quarry, was first worked between thirty and forty years since.

In Albion stone was quarried for local use at an early day, but the business of quarrying for shipment did not commence prior to about 1860. For the first few years the industry developed quite slowly. In this town quarries have been worked in the formation known as the Clinton rock, which lies between the Medina sandstone and the Niagara limestone; but the products of these were only utilized for local pur- poses.

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Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 15

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084