USA > New York > Steuben County > Landmarks of Steuben County, New York > Part 12
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In 1830, four years after the organization of Hornby, the inhabitants of the district numbered 1,365, and in 1840, Campbell having been formed in the meantime, the population was 1,048. In 1850 the num- ber was 1,314; in 1860 was 1,291; in 1870 was 1,202; in 1880 was 1,209, and in 1890 was 1,011. Thus we discover that in more recent years this town, in common with other similarly situated localities, has suffered a material reduction in population, owing to the same causes prevailing elsewhere-the decline in interest and profit in agricultural pursuits and the tendency of the young people of both sexes to seek employment in cities and large villages.
The first election of town officers in Hornby was held at the tavern kept by Mr. Shaw, also at Knowlton's and Dickinson's stores, and is remembered as covering a period of about three days. This was in 1826. The officers elected were Andrew B. Dickinson, supervisor ; Josiah Wheat, town clerk; Hiram Gardner, collector ; Alonzo Gaylord, Milo Hurd and Jonathan Fellows, justices of the peace ; Amasa Stan- ton, commissioner of highways; Hiram Gardner, constable. A more complete list of first town officers is impossible owing to the imperfect condition of records.
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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
The supervisors of Hornby, in succession, have been as follows : An- drew B. Dickinson, 1826; Rice Nash, 1827 ; A. B. Dickinson, 1828- 29 ; Daniel Clark, 1830-31 ; A. B. Dickinson, 1832-37 ; W. H. Gay- lord, 1838 ; Amasa Stanton, 1839-41 ; David Smith, 1842-44; Flavel W. Morrow, 1845 ; Peter Rhoda, 1846-47 ; Willis H. Gaylord, 1848; F. W. Morrow, 1849; John T. Stanton, 1850; Peter Covenhoven, 1851-52 ; John T. Stanton, 1853; F. W. Morrow, 1854; Wm. A. Armstrong, 1855 ; F. W. Morrow, 1856-58 ; George Adams, 1859-60; N. B. Stanton, 1861-64; J. H Ferenbaugh, 1865 ; Asem Eddy, 1866- 67 ; James B. Humphrey. 1868; Samuel Easterbrook, 1869-70 ; J. H. Ferenbaugh, 1871-73; Samuel Easterbrook, 1874-75 ; Samuel C. Erwin, 1876-77; Alfred Roloson, 1878-81 ; Thomas Oldfield, 1882- 83 ; Daniel Rogers, 1884-85 ; Albert Duvall, 1886-87 ; Thomas Old - field, 1888; J. H. Ferenbaugh, 1889; J. A. Stanton, 1890-92 ; E. J. Easterbrook, 1893-95.
The officers for the year 1895 are as follows : E. J. Easterbrooks, supervisor ; C. C. Roloson, town clerk; W. J. Underwood, H. D. L. Adams, F. L. Rogers and W. S. Lilly, justices of the peace ; Oren Roloson, W. J. Wasson and P. B. Humphrey, assessors ; James E. Armstrong, highway commissioner ; John D. Scott, overseer of the poor ; James McCarty, collector.
During the first fifteen years of civilized white settlement and life in Hornby, the inhabitants had little else to distract attention than their constant efforts to exterminate the wild animals then infesting the region. This people were not subject to the embarrassing incidents of the war of 1812-15, nor were there troublesome Indian neighbors to add to the difficulties attending pioneer life. However, only four short years after the organization was effected there came the anti-rent or land controversy, the first serious period in local history ; yet even this had not the distressing effect felt in many localities as the lands here were purchased at moderate prices, and only the difficulties of realizing ready cash on sales of crops confronted or annoyed the settlers. In all the events of the time local residents took a deep interest and some of them an active part. Meetings were held and the subject thoroughly dis- cussed, and its result was a delegation to the Bath convention in Janu- ary, 1830, attended by Isaac Goodsell, Samuel Oldfield, Josiah Wheat,
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THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.
Francis Northway and Levi Nash. Delegate Goodsell served on the committee appointed to petition the agents of the Pulteney and Hornby estates, and in all respects was a worthy and competent representative. This town was named in respectful allusion to John Hornby, who was an extensive land owner in the Genesee country ; in fact was the holder of a two twelfths interest in the noted Pulteney association.
After this period had passed nothing noteworthy occurred to disturb the serenity of domestic life until the outbreak of the war of the Rebel- lion, during which period the town is credited with having furnished for the service a total of fifty one men. These were scattered through the several commands recruited in the county, and a more full narration of their services will be found in another chapter of this work.
The one event which more than all others has contributed to the welfare of Hornby was the construction and operation of the Syracuse, Geneva and Corning railroad, the line of which passes across the south- east part of the town. The company was chartered August 27, 1875, and was opened for traffic December 10, 1877. The entire town is benefited by this thoroughfare of trade, and to it the little hamlet called Ferenbaugh almost owes its existence.
The mention of this post-office and station leads to the observation that Hornby has three settled hamlets, established for the convenience of the inhabitants of the town. They are designated by the names of Hornby, or Hornby Forks, Dyke, and Ferenbaugh. Of these Hornby Forks is perhaps the largest. Each has a post-office. The hamlet first mentioned has a good school and the Baptist and Presbyterian churches. Dyke has a school and a Wesleyan Methodist church.
Speaking of schools recalls the fact that the first school in this town was taught by Jane C. Leach in the days of early history, while another early teacher was Alonzo Gaylord. Soon after the formation of the town in 1826, the territory was divided into districts, but five years later, after Campbell was set off, redistricting became necessary. Since that time only such changes have been made as the public convenience demanded. The districts are now twelve in number, and the school property is estimated to be worth $5,300. The school population is about 235. In 1894 the public moneys apportioned to Hornby amounted to $1,354.40, and there was raised by local tax the additional sum of $1,429.14.
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HORNELLSVILLE .- In the early part of the year 1789 Solomon Bennett, Capt. John Jamison, Benjamin Crosby, Uriah Stephens, and possibly Elisha Brown, left the Wyoming valley in Pennsylvania and proceeded by way of the Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers to visit the Phelps and Gorham purchase, for the purpose of investigating the character of the region, with the ultimate intention of making for them- selves and their families permanent homes in the new country. On reaching the historic locality known as Painted Post, the party journeyed up the Conhocton several miles, but not finding the lands suited to their desires, returned, and next proceeded up the valley of the Canisteo to the present town of Hornellsville. In this vicinity a careful examination of the lands was made, and here the party decided to purchase and es- tablish a settlement.
Accordingly, a company was organized, comprising Solomon Bennett, Elisha Brown, James Hadley, John Jamison, Arthur Erwin, Uriah Stephens. jr., Joel Thomas, Christian Kress, John Stephens, William Bennett, Uriah Stephens, sr., and William Wynkoop. Solomon Bennett and Elisha Brown were delegated to visit Oliver Phelps at Canandaigua and purchase from the proprietary two townships-No. 3 in the 5th range and No. 4 in the 6th range, but through an error they in fact pur- chased townships numbers 3 in the 5th and 6th ranges, and the mistake was not discovered until after some improvements had been made in the township first mentioned ; and when the company applied to Mr. Phelps for a correction of the error that shrewd proprietor made a new con- veyance only after taking from the north side of number 4, range 6, a strip of land one mile in width. The corrected deed was executed on the 17th day of September, 1790. We may further state by way of ex- planation that township 3 of the 5th range comprises substantially the present town of Canisteo, while number 4 of the 6th range in the same manner constitutes the division of the county now known as Hornells- ville, although now within its boundaries are included portions of other townships.
As constituted by this conveyance the town last mentioned was six miles from east to west, and five miles north and south. However, since its organization as a separate town (April 1, 1820), Hornellsville has surrendered portions of her territory to other formations; Harts-
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THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.
ville was taken off in 1844, and a part of Fremont in 1854. Hornells- ville, within its present boundaries, contains 26,200 acres of land.
The new proprietors, immediately after their purchase, proceeded to draw lots for lands in the township, which for this purpose was divided into twelve parts. This disposition of the lands (which now would be quite novel, but was then common) resulted in James Hadley secur- ing Lot No. 1 ; John Jamison (or Jemingsen), No. 2; Arthur Er- win, No. 3 ; Christian Kress, No. 4; Joel Thomas, No. 5; Uriah Stephens, jr., No. 6; John Stephens, No. 7; William Wynkoop, No. 8 ; Uriah Stephens, sr., No. 9; Thomas Bennett, No. 10; Elisha Brown, No. II ; Solomon Bennett, No. 12.
The pioneer and early settlement of this town was accomplished while the territory formed a part of the still older town of Canisteo, and for the purpose of designation, the region of which we write was known as " Upper Canisteo;" a name which was in fact continued until the separate organization of the town of Hornellsville.
There has long existed a difference of opinion among writers of early local history as to the year in which the first permanent settlement was made in this town, and according to the reminiscences of Deacon Mowry Thatcher, of honored memory, the date may be recorded as 1790 instead of 1793 ; and drawing information from all reliable sources, the present writer feels bound to accord the honor of pioneership to Benjamin Crosby, who, in the year 1790, located on the site of the present city of Hornellsville. His lands comprised 1,600 acres, and his dwelling is believed to have stood where now is built the Hotel Osborne. Richard Crosby, son of the pioneer, came at the same time, and his house was located near the creek, just north of the Mr. Hough's, on Maple avenue.
Oliver Harding is believed to have been the second settler, following soon after pioneer Crosby, and located between Main and Genesee streets, near Hakes avenue. He was the nearest neighbor to Mr. Crosby. Later on he moved to Harding Hill, in Fremont. The Stephens family was also prominent among the pioneers, Uriah, sr., being the head, although Uriah, jr., attained greater prominence in local history. His name is still well preserved in the county.
"On July 9th, 1793," says Mr. Near, "John Stephens, who drew
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great lot No. 7, conveyed this lot, containing 1,600 acres, to George Hornell, for a consideration of £111." From the same authority we also learn that Judge Hornell built the first mill on the site afterward occupied by the Thacher mill, being the first grist mill west of Elmira, except the Bennett mill at Canisteo. According to the researches of Miles W. Hawley, Mr. Hornell had previously visited this region in the capacity of trader among the Indians, and thus became acquainted with the locality in which he permanently settled in 1792, although he did 'not purchase the Stephens lot until the next year. Judge Hornell, as afterward known, made a small clearing at the upper end of Main street, near the intersection with Washington street. In 1800 he built the first tavern in either town or village, and by his enterprise and public spiritedness almost at once became the leading man of the upper Canisteo region. He was identified with many measures which bene- fited the public rather than himself, hence the honors that were after- ward bestowed upon him were worthily deserved. The town, the village, and the present city of Hornellsville have been successively named in his honor. He was one of the early associate judges of the county, also one of the first postmasters, and was in the Legislature in 1808. Judge Hornell died during the fever epidemic of 1813, which swept so disastrously throughout this region.
These were the earliest settlers in the town, and in fact the Crosbys, Hardings, Stephens and Hornells were about the only settlers previous to 1810 on what is now the city site. However, in the upper part of the valley the lands were taken quite early, and from Mr. Hawley's papers we learn that Judge Hurlbut and his son John located at Ark- port as early as 1797, and made improvements. Among the other settlers in the same locality were Nathan Corey, Stephen Webb, Joel Atherton, Joseph Corey, while later comers were William Hyde, Elias Van Scoter, Julius Cleveland, Captain Abbott, John P. Ryers, John Pitts, Silas Stephens, Willis Hyde, William Sharp, Capt. Andrew Morris and others.
Arkport became a place of some note at an early day, due largely to the efforts of Judge Hurlbut, who built a public house in 1798, a saw- mill and storehouse in 1800, and in the same year launched the famous "ark " on the waters of the Canisteo, and transported the first cargo
J. H. KEELER.
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THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.
of grain from this region to Baltimore. Referring to the other early settlers in the town, we may mention Nathaniel Thacher, father of Deacon Mowry Thacher, who came from Troupsburg in 1810 and set- tled a mile below the village site, near the Arnot grist mill. He was also a strong man in the new region, and was frequently elected to positions of trust and honor. Deacon Thacher was only a boy when his father moved into the valley, and possessed the fortunate faculty of retaining early memories of the town, and from his reminiscences have come many of the most interesting facts of local history. Still other and perhaps later settlers, worthy, however, of mention were Dugald Cameron, John R. Stephens, Medad Bostwick, Andy L. Smith, James Dildine, Martin Adsit, William O'Connor, Jonathan Nicholson, Orson Sheldon, Abram Cadogan, Jesse Eddy, John Peak, Nathaniel Finch, Rufus Tuttle and Peter Labour, all of whom were in some manner identified with the development and growth of the town more than half a century ago.
Settlement on the hills which abound in the town was naturally de- layed to a time later than the occupation of the valleys. In the locality known as Wellever Hill, near the Hartsville line, the first settler was Mr. Cahran, followed later on by David Wellever, Andrew Hender- shott, Samuel Hathaway, Peter Best, John Meeks and James Spencer. Alanson Stephens made a clearing on the hill overlooking the city. In the Crosby Creek neighborhood the first settlers were Leonard Drake, Jerry Davis, William D. Burdick, Richard Peterson, Samuel and Thomas Burnett, Asa Whitford, Isaiah Bartlett and Elisha Potter. Among the first occupants of the region of Pennsylvania Hill were James Dildine, James McMichael, William Emery, A. Sutton, Daniel Sutton, Ira Hyde and Gilbert Wright. The well known Webb district was settled by Col. John R. Stephens, Stephen Webb and Bazey Baker. Matthias Reed was the first settler in the Winfield neighborhood, where the Win- fields, Clevelands, Burches, Belts, Keefers and Newsons afterwards located. On the turnpike road between this town and Bath, Major Burnett made a settlement in 1808, and later on there came here John Beattie, Jonathan Nicholson, Dudley Robinson, William R. Stephens, Samuel Jones, Henry Chapman, Nathaniel Finch, Nathan Osborne and others.
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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
The first birth in the town is said to have been that of William Stephens, in December, 1792 ; the first marriage, that of Reuben Crosby and Jenny McQueen, in 1799; and the first death, that of a child of Judge Hornell. The judge built the first saw and grist mill, kept the first public house, and also the first store. The first school was taught by Abigail Hurlbut in 1796.
Early settlement in this part of the Canisteo valley was somewhat slow, as the census reports inform us that in 1800 the entire town had only 510 inhabitants, in 1810 but 656, and in 1820 the number was 891. However, the inhabitants of the Upper Canisteo country felt the necessity of a separate jurisdiction, and accordingly had recourse to the Legislature, and the result was the creation of a new town named Hor- nellsville, a tribute of respect to the memory of one of the foremost men of the region. The erecting act was passed April 1, 1820, and within the limits of the new formation was all the territory of the present town of Hornellsville, together with Hartsville and a portion of Fremont. The former was separated from this town in 1844, and the latter ten years later.
The full organization was completed at a meeting of the freemen held at the house of Martha Hornell, widow of the pioneer, on the first Tues- day in March, 1821, at which time these officers were elected : Ira Davenport, supervisor ; John R. Stephens, town clerk ; John Hurlbut, George Hornell and James Harding, assessors ; William B. Bostwick, collector ; Elijah Stephens and Stephen Webb, overseers of the poor ; Stephen Coon, Asa Upton and Samuel Harding, highway commis- sioners ; Christopher Hurlbut, Arvin Kennedy and George Hornell, in- spectors of schools ; James Taggart, William Stephens and Amos Graves, commissioners of common schools; William B. Bostwick, David Whit- ney and William Webb, constables ; Amasa Thacher, Justus Harding and William Stephens, jr., fence viewers.
Having become fully organized, the authorities of the town, acting in harmony with the leading inhabitants, at once set about the develop- ment of all local interests, establishing a prosperous condition of affairs on every hand as the best and strongest inducement to attract other settlers. The result was an immediate and thenceforth constant growth in population and business interests, and whereas the entire jurisdiction
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THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.
of Canisteo had a population of 891 in 1820, the town of Hornellsville contained 834 inhabitants in 1825. In 1830 the number had increased to 1,572, and ten years later to 2, 12I. In 1850 the population was 2,637, and 4,230 in 1860, despite the fact that during the last two dec- ades one full town and a portion of another had been formed from the territory of this town. Again, in 1870 the census gave Hornells- ville a population of 5,837, and in 1880 of 9,852. During the next decade, in 1888, the city was entirely separated from the mother town, taking therefrom nearly 10,000 of her inhabitants ; still, in 1890, the town had a population of 1,939. Including the population of the city, which lies wholly within the geographical limits of the town, the num- ber of inhabitants now living in the joint districts is conservatively estimated at 14,000.
The history of the city, from the time when pioneers Crosby, Hard- ing, Hornell and their early associates made the first improvement, forms an interesting element of the history of the town at large ; yet, according to the plan of this work, they are separated and each is made the subject of a distinct chapter. The busy little hamlet of Arkport will also be found mentioned in another part of this volume.
In this connection it is interesting to note the succession of leading officers of the town; that is, the supervisors, town clerks and justices of the peace.
Supervisors .- Ira Davenport, 1821-22 ; John R. Stephens, 1823-25 ; Thomas Bennett, 1826-27 ; James McBurney, 1828-31 ; James Dyke, 1832-33 ; James McBurney, 1834-35 ; Ira Davenport, 1836-39; Hugh Magee, 1840-41 ; John R. Morris, 1842-44 ; Thomas Major, 1845-47 ; Martin Adsit, 1848 ; Aaron Morris, 1849-50; Elisha G. Stevens, 1851- 52 ; Wm. Bennett, 1853-54 ; Lewis D. Benton, 1855 ; Marcus E. Brown, 1856-57 ; Alanson Stephens, 1858-59 ; Philip Van Scoter, 1860-61; J. H. Stephens, jr., 1862-64 ; John A. Major, 1865-66; Chas. F. Smith, 1867 ; J. W. Robinson, 1868; Arza P. Breeze, 1869 ; John McDougall, 1870-72 ; Walter G. Rose, 1873-74; Miles W. Hawley, 1875-77 ; S. E. Shattuck, 1878; Samuel Mitchell, 1879; Esek Page, 1880-82 ; J. William Nicholson, 1883 ; M. W. Hawley, 1884; Walter G. Rose, 1885 ; George Holland, 1886; Avery McDougall, 1887 ; Miles W. Hawley, 1888 ; Henry Colgrove, 1889; L. C. Healy, 1890; Henry Colgrove, 1891 ; L. C. Healy, 1892 ; William S. Hurlbut, 1893-95.
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LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Town Clerks .- John R. Stephens, 1821-22 ; George Hornell, 1823 ; Samuel Thacher, 1824; William Stephens, jr., 1825 ; Otis Thacher, 1826-28; Augustus Newell, 1829; Thomas Bennett, 1830; John Morris, 1831; Jno. R. Morris, 1832; Thomas J. Reynolds, 1833; Martin Adsit, 1834-39; Charles Lefferts, 1840 ; Andy L. Smith, jr., 1841 ; Hiram Bennett, 1842-44; Rufus Tuttle, 1845 ; Andy L. Smith, jr., 1846; Rufus Tuttle, 1847 ; Daniel Bullard, 1848 ; William H. Doty, 1849; Nath. Blakesley, 1850-52; Marcus E. Brown, 1853-55 ; Chas. E. Baldwin, 1856; Nathan Nichols, 1857; Miles W. Hawley, 1858; Theo. Badger, 1859; Nathan Nichols, 1860; Joseph Lanphear, 1861 ; C. C. Reynolds, 1862; Elmon D. Smith, 1863 ; Peter P. Houck, 1864; M. W. Hawley, 1865-72; Wm. H. Greenhow, 1873-77 ; Joseph Cam- eron, 1880; Niles L. Harrison, 1881 ; Wm. H. Reynolds, 1882-83 ; Jos. Cameron, 1884-86; Harris C. Sawyer, 1887-88; Julius Weber, 1889-90 ; Wm. Ford, 1891-92 ; James F. Deeter, 1893-95.
Justices of the Peace, (elected) .- John Pitts, Jabez Lanphear, 1830; Jno. R. Stephens, 1831 ; Ephraim Wood, 1832 ; Chas. N. Hart, 1833 and 37; Jno. Baldwin, 1834 and 38 ; Stephen Abbott, 1835 ; Dexter Strait, 1836 ; Jno. Pitts, 1838-39, 1844 ; David Crandall, 1839 and 40 ; Chas. Lefferts, 1841 ; Elisha G. Stephens, 1842; Israel Adams, 1842 ; Sid- ney Frisbie, 1843; Nathaniel Finch, 1844, 1848 and 1849; Hiram Bennett, 1845, 1850, '54, '61 and '65 ; Benj. T. Hoyes, 1846; Ethan Coats, 1847 ; Andrew Morris, 1847-51 ; John Hurlbut, 1848, '56, '60 : Wm. E. Haight, 1852; James Atley, 1853; Jno. M. Wisewell, 1857 ; Homer Holliday, 1855, '59, '63, '68 and '73 ; Richard C. Major, 1858; Wm. W. Osgoodby, 1862; James McWoolever, 1864; F. Colgrove, 1865 ; S. M. Thacher, 1866; S. D. Pitts, 1866; Stephen F. Gilbert, 1867 ; Rodney Dennis and Henry Howard, 1869; Chas. E. Beard, 1870, '74 ; H. F. Howard, 1871, '75, '79, '83; Martin V. Doty, 1872; Orson Mosher, 1876; Edwin J. Cox, 1877 ; Henry L. Walker, 1878- 79; Fay P. Rathbun, 1870; John Griffin, 1880; Wm. E. Haight, 1882 ; Irving Paine, 1884; James H. Clancy, 1885 ; Lot Reznor, 1886; Warren W. Oxx, 1887; Frank Kelley, 1888; Chas. P. Emery, 1889; M. A. Emery and D. C. Hopkins, 1890; W. E. Ellis and D. L. Dungan, 1891 ; J. L. Kellison, 1892 ; Norman Bennett, 1893; Chester Halbert and A. A. Sewell, 1894; W. E. Ellis, 1895.
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THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.
Present Town Officers (1895). - William S. Hurlbut, supervisor ; James F. Deeter, town clerk ; Wells E. Ellis, Chester Halbert, J. L. Kellison and Adelbert A. Sewell, justices; Nelson Ayres, Thomas Burris and Henry Colegrove, assessors ; Austin C. Hill, overseer of the poor ; John W. Wood, collector ; Lot Reznor, highway commissioner ; Henry Lovee, Hiram Ellis and Frank Waddington, excise commission- ers.
The civil history of the town of Hornellsville, from first to last, forms an interesting and instructive chapter in the annals of Steuben county. The pioneers of this special region had to contend with the same ob- stacles and the same discouragements as did those of other localities, and the lands here were not more inviting than in other parts of the Canisteo valley. The first comers found a few patches of cleared land and the Indians were still occupants of the soil. Within the present boundaries of the town were several places where stood the rude hab- itations of the red man, and while the latter were not hostile, they were never particularly friendly, and yielded to the advances of civilization with ill-disguised feelings of reluctance. During the war of 1812, the remaining Indians were regarded with distrust and apprehension by the settlers, as it was feared they might again return to their old alliance with the British. However, after the danger of an outbreak had passed, the arts of peace engaged the undivided attention of the inhabitants, farms were cleared, new lands were developed, and an era of pros- perity prevailed on every hand.
Preceding and during the period of the so-called Anti-rent Con- flict, the public mind was much interested, but as the Pulteney and Hornby associations had no interests in this town the people here for- tunately escaped the embarrassments caused by it. In fact the dis- turbed condition of affairs elsewhere had the effect of attracting settle- ment to this town, and during the five years between 1825 and 1830, the population of Hornellsville was nearly doubled.
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