Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 10

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1180

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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

raised by local tax the additional sum of $24, 143.24 Eleven trees were planted in 1894.

DANSVILLE .- Originally, this town composed all the territory that is now Dansville, Fremont, Wayland and portions of Howard and Co- hocton It was one of the original towns of the county, formed in March, 1796, and was named from Daniel P. Faulkner, an early and spirited citizen familiarly known as Captain Dan. Parts of Cohocton and How- ard were taken off in 1812, a part of Wayland in 1848, and of Fremont in 1854. A portion was also annexed to Sparta in 1822, and a part of Cohocton was re-annexed April 26, 1834. Reduced to its present limits, Dansville contains 30,000 acres of land. The surface is chiefly upland divided into ridges by the narrow valleys of small streams. The declivities of the hills are steep and their summits are 300 to 400 feet above the valleys. The streams are the head branches of Canas- eraga Creek, flowing north, and of Canisteo River, flowing south. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam in the east and north, and gravel underlaid by hardpan in the southwest part of the town.

Notwithstanding the fact that the early settlement of this town was much delayed by reason of the uninviting character of the land, it ap- pears that when once begun the population increased rapidly, and in 1810 there were 666 inhabitants in the district. There seems also to have been made a mistake regarding the fertility of the land in this region as later years and persistent effort developed the fact that Dans- ville possessed natural resources almost equal to any portion of the county. To-day, as a potato producing section it leads all others in this part of the State; and William C. Healey is one of the most ex- tensive farmers and growers.

In proof of this statement we may quote from the words of a writer of local history in 1812, as follows : "This is an excellent tract of land, well and variously timbered, and the soil is various though commonly good for a rich farming country. There is a large marsh in the west part, and Loon Pond, near the center, is about one mile broad. There are three grain mills, four or five saw mills, an oil mill, paper mill, full- ing mill, and a carding machine." Speaking of the locality of Dans- ville village, the same writer says: "The valley embracing this settle- ment contains 3,000 acres of choice lands and the soil is warm and pro-

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

ductive. There is a road from Bath to Dansville that leads diagonally across the center of this town, and another between Dansville and On- tario county leads across the northern part." At about this time there were 100 taxable inhabitants in the town.

The pioneers of Dansville were Isaac Sterling and Samuel Gilson (some authorities say Gibson) who made a settlement about a half mile east of Burn's Station in the year 1804. These settlers were followed very soon afterward by James, John and Major Jones, Frederick Fry, William Young, Thomas and Nathaniel Brayton, Tisdale Haskin, Thomas and John Root, Joshua Healey, Charles Oliver, Joseph Phelps, Elisha Robinson, William C. Rogers, Jesse Bridge, Josiah Pond, Joseph Cobb, Martin Smith, Newman Bell, Putnam Rich, better known as Put. Rich, Judge David Demeree, Jehial, Gross and James Gates, Arad Sheldon, Silas Brookins, Isaiah Goodno and Venare Cook. The settlers were principally Vermonters from Addison and Rutland counties, from the old towns of Pittsford, Benson, Orwell, Shoreham, and Salisbury. They were descendants of Green Mountain stock and left their homes in that rich locality for an uncertain future in an undeveloped country. However, as Vermonters, they were men of great determination and by their efforts `early succeeded in placing Dansville among the first towns in Steuben county.

As early as 1806 pioneer Isaac Sterling opened a public house on the old Arkport and Dansville road, and as this was a much traveled highway it is said that within a very few years there was a tavern at every mile on the road, and the woods were alive with noisy oxteamsters who hauled staves to Arkport, from which point they were boated down the Canisteo to market. Indeed settlement must have been rapid for in 1811 James Jones opened a school not far from Doty's Corners. Rufus Fuller built a saw mill in 1816, and four years later built a grist- mill and another saw mill, taking the stones from Oak Hill. The grist mill was carried away by high water about 1823. The settlement by the Vermont colony was begun in 1815 and continued for the next five years at which latter time pioneership ceased, as the population in 1820 was 1,565.

However, among the other pioneers and early settlers we may men- tion the names of Osgood Carleton, 1815, Jesse Churchill, tavern-

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

keeper in 1816, Timothy Atwood, surveyor and school teacher, William S. Lemen, whose son James P., born March, 1816, was the first white child born in the town. Chauncey Day settled in 1816. The locality known as Sandy Hill was settled principally by Germans, among whom Alexander Leib, John Hayt, Alexander Green and Jacob Kurtz, sen. and jr., were the first comers. The patriarch of this locality was John Brail, whom every one knew as " Grandpap Brail." He came to I)ans- ville in 1817. Among the early German families in this locality were the surnames of Bolinger, Rider, Kersh and Schu. On Oak Hill a set- tlement was made in 1816-17 by Moses Hulbert, Joshua Williams, Daniel, George and Hubbard Griswold, William C. Rogers, Thomas Buck, George Butler and Joshua Woodward. One of the first mar- riages in the town, June 16, 1818, was that of Cyril Buck and Philena Hall. Dr. Thomas M. Bowen settled east of Beachville in 1819 and was an early postmaster at South Dansville. Eli Carrington, Timothy, Nathaniel and Meyer Wallace, Vermonters, joined the settlement in 1820. Here Arad Sheldon opened a tavern, and the place soon became a business center. It was named Beachville, after Aaron, Robert and John Beach, brothers, who were prominent tavern and store keepers.

With settlement thus rapidly accomplished, Dansville early became an important division of the county. Its greatest population was at- tained in 1840, the inhabitants then numbering 2,725. However, by subsequent reductions in its territory, and the natural decline in popu- lation and interest noticeable in nearly all purely agricultural towns, Dansville has a population, according to the enumeration of 1892, of only 1,544.

The organization of Dansville was effected on April 4, 1797, at which time the town contained its original area, and before any reductions to its territory had been made. At that time the population could not have numbered more than 200 inhabitants. The meeting was held in the village of Dansville at the house of Samuel Faulkner, at which time James Faulkner and Isaac Van Deventer were elected overseers of high- ways, and David Fuller, collector. The first records of the town are somewhat obscure and imperfect, yet we know that in 1799 Daniel P. Faulkner was elected supervisor, James Hooker, town clerk, and Alex- ander Fullerton, William Porter and John Phoenix, assessors. The first

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

justices, who of course at the time were appointed, were Isaac Van De- venter, 1807, Jonas Cleland, 1809, Stephen Haight, 1810, and John Metcalfe, 181I.

The town officers for the year 1895 are as follows : Lorenzo Hul- bert, supervisor ; C. C. Wood, town clerk; L. K. Robinson, D. G. Haynes, Philip Webb and C. Byron Wallace, justices of the peace ; D. H. Griswold, Alexander Smart and Wendell Gessner, assessors ; Valen- tine Weber, collector ; Daniel Eveland, highway commissioner ; John C. Grobe, overseer of the poor ; John Haight, Peter Schubmehl and Charles O. Currey, excise commissioners.

The supervisors of Dansville, in succession, have been as follows : Daniel P. Faulkner, 1799; Alexander Fullerton, 1799, to fill vacancy ; Jacob Van Deventer, 1800; Amariah Hammond, 1800, to fill vacancy ; Samuel Faulkner, 1801; Amariah Hammond, 1802-06; Richard W. Porter, 1807-08 ; Jared Irwin, 1808, to fill vacancy ; Samuel Cuthbert- son, 1809; Jared Irwin, 1810; Jonathan Rowley. 1811-12 ; Wm. B. Rochester, 1813; Thomas McWharton, 1813-15; James Faulkner, 1816-18; Joshua Healey, 1819 and 1821-26; James Faulkner, 1820; Charles Oliver, 1827-32; Nathaniel Brayton, 1833 ; Aaron W. Beach, 1834-36; Joel Carrington, 1837-39 ; Timothy Wallace, 1840-42; Joshua Healey, 1843 ; Charles Oliver, 1844 and 1847-48 ; Leeds Allen, 1845- 46; Joel Carrington, 1849-50, and 1854; Luther White, 1851-53; Wm. W. Healey, 1855, '58 and '60 ; Eli Carrington, 1856-57 ; Wm. A. Woodard, 1859; Chas. S. Ackley, 1861-62; Wm. W. Healey, 1863 ; Dyer L. Kingsley, 1864-68 ; Benj F. Kershner, 1869 ; Warren Wallace, 1870-71; Fred. M. Kreidler, 1872; Morgan H. Carney, 1873-74; Lewellyn S. Healey, 1875-76; Chas Oliver, 1877-80; D. Campbell, 1881 ; J. McWoolever, 1882-83 ; Morgan L. Miller, 1884; Peter S. Pealer, 1885-86 ; C. M. Ackley, 1887-89; C. S. Kreidler, 1890-91 ; Lorenzo Hurlburt, 1892 ; Ira G. Day, 1893 ; Lorenzo Hurlburt, 1894-95.

From first to last, the social and industrial history of Dansville has been rich and interesting, although during the last thirty years there has been witnessed a gradual decline in population in the town. The first important event in local annals was the anti-rent conflict, in which the people felt a deep anxiety, for their interests were greatly affected by the distress prevailing at that time throughout the region. In the 13

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY

measures for relief the leading men were actively engaged, and in the Bath convention of January, 1830, the town was represented by Thomas M. Brown, Peter Covert, Annis Newcomb, Leeds Allen and Martin Smith. However, this disturbing period had hardly passed before there was visited upon the people here the dreadful cholera scourge of 1834, as a result of which many persons in the town met premature death. Nothing further of a serious nature took place to disturb the serenity of town affairs and progress until the outbreak of the war of 1861-5, dur- ing which period the patriotism and loyalty of Dansville were tested and found true. Many of the brave sons of the town were enlisted among the volunteer regiments of the county, and several still sleep in southern graves.

Due care and attention have also been given to the spiritual and edu- cational welfare of the youth of the town, and during the period of its history no less than five church societies have been organized and edi- fices provided for religious worship. In 1811 James Jones opened a primitive school in the town, although several years passed before dis- tricts were formed and schools provided for each. However, at a much later period, two academic institutions were founded at Rogersville, the principal village of the town, and from that time Dansville occupied a front rank among the educational localities of the entire region. As at present disposed, the town is divided into fourteen districts, each of which is provided with a comfortable school house. During the school year 1893-4, fourteen teachers were employed, and 357 children were in attendance. The value of school property in the town is estimated at $6,000. The town received of public moneys, $1,610.83, and raised by tax, $1,701.94. Fourteen trees were planted in 1893.

Among the religious societies of this town which have passed out of active existence, we may mention the Evangelical church, organized in the German settlement on Oak Hill in 1863, and also the Catholic mission, established in the same locality as early as 1834. A Baptist society was also formed in Dansville about 1820, but this, too, is among the things of the past.

ERWIN .- On the 27th day of January, 1826, the town of Painted Post (formed March 18, 1796,) was divided and a portion of the territory set off was erected into a new town by the name of Erwin; and so called in

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

allusion to Col. Arthur Erwin, formerly of Bucks county, Penn., who had been an officer in the Revolutionary army, and by whom the town was purchased from the Phelps and Gorham proprietary. However, from the original town of Erwin, Lindley was taken off in 1837, and a part of Corning was re annexed in 1856. As then constituted and now existing, this town contains 23,300 acres of land, of as good quality for general agricultural purposes as can be found in Steuben county.

The physical features and natural characteristics are remarkable and quite different from those of the county at large. The land surface is nearly equally divided between high rolling uplands and the low valleys of streams. The more elevated lands are from 400 to 650 feet above the valleys. In the southern part of the town the waters of the Canisteo unite with the Tioga, and in the northeast part the latter stream unites with the Cohocton and forms the Chemung River. In all respects Er- win may justly be regarded the best watered division of this large county. The valleys of the streams vary in width from one to two miles, and the soil is a fine quality of alluvium.

However, notwithstanding all the various advantages of location, and the general fertility of soil, both on hills and in the valleys, it is only within the last score of years that the forest growths have been removed, and there are still in the town a few desirable timbered tracts.

This town contains, according to accredited authority, one of the most historic landmarks of Steuben county-the famous " Painted Post," the subject of rhyme and story ; and concerning which all students of arche- ology and the Indianologists as well, were at loss in satisfactorily basing and proving their theories. However, this subject is so fully treated in one of the early chapters of the present work that nothing more than a brief allusion to it is necessary at this time. The town abounds in In- dian history and traditions, well authenticated in many cases, and purely mythical in others, and all have been treated and frequently enlarged upon by past writers, wherefore in this narrative we propose to deal only with the civilized white settlement, tracing briefly the interesting record of growth and development to the present time.

In the summer of 1789, Col. Arthur Erwin set out from his home in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, accompanied with a good number of help- ers, bound for Canandaigua, the seat of operations of the Phelps and

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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

Gorham proprietary. This adventurous pioneer came with a determi- nation to locate in the Genesee country, and brought with him a fair drove of cattle to be turned into cash or used as stock on his proposed purchase. At that time the fact was well known that Samuel Harris, trapper and Indian trader, had a cabin within the limits of the pres- ent village of Painted Post, and here Colonel Erwin stopped to rest his cattle. The location and general outlook pleased the colonel, and he immediately resumed his journey to Canandaigua, reaching which he at once enquired if township number two, range two, was in the market, and, if so, at what price. Phelps charged and Erwin paid the gross sum of £1,400 New York money, for the township, turning his cattle in part payment and cash for the balance and thus became the owner of the town afterwards named for him, the subject of this chapter.

Three years previous to this event, or in 1786, Samuel Harris built a cabin on the village site, and employed himself in trapping, curing and dealing in furs, and trading among the Indian occupants of the region. He was not in any sense a pioneer and made no attempt at clearing or improving the land. According to Judge McMaster, the Harris cabin was subsequently burned. In 1789 this pioneer adventurer moved to a point near the foot of Cayuga Lake. Augustus Porter, surveyor for Phelps and Gorham, made the Harris cabin his headquarters while lay- ing out the townships in this part of Ontario county.

The settlement in fact of the town began in 1788, for account of which we have recourse to a previously published narrative, as follows : In 1788 came Eli Mead and George Goodhue and their families. In 1789 came David Fuller and family ; in 1790, Bradford Edgeton, Will . iam Hincher. James Shaw, with their families, and David Cook, whose family came in 1792. Col. Arthur Erwin, the owner of the township, came in the very early spring of 1791 with the intention of making it his permanent home. On his return to Bucks county for his family, he had reached his possessions then in Luzerne county, and while sitting in the house of his tenant, Daniel McDuffe, he was assassinated by a squatter, who immediately made his escape on a stolen horse. In 1791 came John Wyman and family, Capt. Samuel Erwin, then unmarried, and Major Arthur Erwin, both sons of Colonel Erwin. In 1793 Eldad

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THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

Mead became a settler, and in the following year John Mulhollen and several others were added to the settlement along the rivers. The year 1796 witnessed the arrival of Hugh Erwin, another son of Colonel Erwin, while among the settlers of 1797 were Joseph Grant, Jacob Turner, Homer and Asher Lane and John Kemp, nearly all of whom brought families.

Among the other early settlers in our town were Benjamin Patterson, famed throughout the region for his hunting proclivities, and as well for his generous hospitality as a tavern-keeper; and as a story teller and general entertainer he was without a peer in the town. . Prominent also among the pioneers were John E. Evans, who taught the first school in the town, and was at one time postmaster, also George Young and Edward Cooper, all of whom were identified with the town in its early history.

Referring briefly to some of the first events of local history, it may be stated that Samuel Erwin built the first saw mill, in 1820, and the the first grist mill in 1823, while David Fuller opened the first public house in 1792. John E. Evans began teaching school in 1812, and among his pupils were Robert and John Patterson, Gen. F. E. Erwin, Gen. William D. Knox, John Erwin, Col. F. E. Young, Thomas Wheat, Arthur H. Erwin, John McBurney, Samuel Shannon, Philander Knox and others, each of whom occupied positions of trust and responsibility in after years.

The war of 1812- 15 was an important period in local history, and one not without interest to the people of the town. Among those drafted for service were Abner Trowbridge, Edmund C. Cooper, James Gillen and Thomas Wheat. Joseph Gillett held a lieutenant's commission, and was wounded in battle. Judge Thomas McBurney was another com- missioned officer. Edmund C. Cooper sent a substitute in his place. Daniel Mullhollen enlisted twice, and finally lost an arm in the service.

The town of Erwin, having within its boundaries parts of four con- siderable rivers, has several times been subjected to serious inundation, and some of these occasions have passed into history as notable events, hence worthy of at least passing mention. In the fall of the year 1817 there came what has ever been known as the "pumpkin" flood, by which crops, cattle and many buildings were swept away. In 1833 the

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waters of both Conhocton and Tioga were swollen to an unusual de- gree, and some damage and still more excitement was the result. Next came the great flood of 1857, which also proved disastrous, and finally that of St. Patrick's day, 1865.

The interest of Colonel Erwin in this town was an entire one, and had that worthy pioneer lived to witness the execution of his plans here indeed would undoubtedly have been a municipality of considerable commercial importance ; but his unfortunate and untimely taking off unsettled all plans for the future of the town, although his sons showed commendable ability and zeal in settling the affairs of the estate and holding intact its value. After Colonel Erwin's death the property was divided among his ten children, of whom Samuel, Francis, Arthur, Rebecca and Mrs. Mulhollen became residents of the town. The estate was divided by a commission comprising John Konkle, Eleazer Lud- ley and Henry McCormick.

In this narrative thus far progressed we have generally alluded to the town under its present name-Erwin-although as a matter of fact the territory remained a part of Painted Post until 1826. After being set off, the first town meeting was held March 7, of the year mentioned, at the dwelling of Daniel Rooks, jr. Ethan Pier presided on this occa- sion and Capt. Samuel Erwin was elected supervisor, and John E. Evans, town clerk. From that time it is interesting to note the succession of supervisors, the principal town office, viz .:

Samuel Erwin, 1826-29; Abner Thurber, 1830-32; John Cooper, jr., 1833 ; Chauncey Hoffman, 1834-35 ; A. C. Morgan, 1836; Francis E. Erwin, 1837-38 ; Arthur Erwin, jr., 1839-42; William J. Gillett, 1843-48 ; Arthur H. Erwin, 1849-50; Ira P. Bennett, 1851; Uri Balcom, 1852-53 ; Samuel Erwin, 1854; Arthur H. Erwin, 1855-62 ; William J. Gilbert, 1863 ; Wm. C. Bronson, 1864-67 ; Alanson J. Fox, 1868; W. C. Bronson, 1869; Lyman Balcom, 1870; Ira P. Bennett, 1871; Charles J. Fox, 1872-74; Francis Erwin, 1875 ; W. S. Hodg- man, 1876 ; Francis Erwin, 1877-80; Charles Iredell, 1881-33 ; Thomas R. Peck, 1884; W. S. Hodgman, 1885-88 ; F. E. Bronson, 1889-90; George W. Campbell, 1891-95.

In this connection we may also properly furnish the list of town of- ficers for the present year, 1895 : George W. Campbell, supervisor ; J.

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THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

D. Orcutt, town clerk ; J. S. Tobias, S B. Howell, W. C. Morse and George Dunklee, justices; Hiram P. Badger, L. Kinsella and C. D. Rouse, assessors ; Frank Berry, collector and overseer of the poor ; F. C. Wilcox, highway commissioner ; E. D. Bonham, W. A. Allen and E. E. Erwin, excise commissioners.

Soon after the separate organization of Erwin, the inhabitants of the entire region were much disturbed on account of the land controversy of about 1830, but as this town was entirely outside the interests of the Pultney Association, the serious effects of the conflict were not felt here. However, the event was the subject of much discussion in the accustomed resorts, and the town was represented by delegates in the famous Bath convention. This duty was delegated to John E. Evans, Samuel Erwin and John Cooper, jr.

In 1860 Erwin contained 1,859 inhabitants, yet, during the war of 1861-65, the town is credited with having furnishing a total of two hundred and ten men for the service, or about ten and one-fourth per cent of the population. A history of the several companies in which were Erwin volunteers will be found in another chapter of this work.

During the period of its history, there have been built up and estab- lished within the limits of this town several villages or hamlets, known, respectively, as Painted Post, an incorporated village and as well one of the most interesting and historic localities in the county ; Gang Mills, a hamlet southwest of the principal village and brought into existence about 1832 ; Cooper's Plains, a hamlet and post-office in the north part of the town ; and Erwin, a station on the Erie road and established about 1873. The village of Painted Post and also each of these ham- lets will be found mentioned in the chapter devoted to municipal history.

In concluding this chapter we may with propriety refer briefly to the census reports and from that source glean some facts relative to the population of Erwin at different periods. In 1830 the inhabitants in the town were 795 in number, while in 1840 it had decreased to 785. During the next ten years the increase was remarkable, the census showing the population to be 1,435. In 1860 the number increased to 1,859, and in 1870 to 1,977. The greatest number of inhabitants was reached in 1880, being 2,095, but a decrease followed, the number in 1890 being 1, 884. According to the count of 1892, Erwin's popula- tion was 1,843.

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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

FREMONT .- In the year 1854, about the time of the organization of the Republican party, the creating powers were petitioned to form a new town in Steuben county, and in accordance with the request there was erected the present town of Fremont, so named in allusion to John C. Fremont, who at that particular time was a conspicuous figure in national politics. The town was erected on November 17, and the older divisions Hornellsville, Dansville, Wayland, and Howard surren- dered portions of their territory to the new formation. The new town contains 19,600 acres of land, and is located in the northwest part of the county. Its surface is a hilly upland and forms a part of the divid- ing ridge between the Canisteo and Conhocton Rivers. The soil is chiefly a shaly loam, derived from the disintegration of the surface rocks.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 10

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1180