Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 15

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

USA > New York > Steuben County > Landmarks of Steuben County, New York > Part 15

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THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

vines, J. W. Prentiss had a number of producing plants, yet was making no special effort in the direction of what might properly be termed grape culture.

As is elsewhere noted, this town was formed and organized in 1808, and at that time the territory was comparatively well populated. In fact, in 1810 the inhabitants numbered 1,038, and 1, 162 in 1820. In 1813 Prattsburg was created and took largely of both population and area, the inhabitants of the district set off numbering 615 in 1814. In the same region in 1800 there were 132 persons.

The first town meeting in Pulteney was held at the dwelling of Jesse Waldo on the first Tuesday of March, 1808, at which time Urial Chapin was elected supervisor ; Aaron Bell, town clerk; Aaron Cook, Elias Hop- kins and Nathan Wallis, assessors ; William Curtis, collector, together with a full complement of minor officers. Urial Chapin held the office of supervisor four years and was, with Robert Porter, Stephen and John Prentiss, John Hathaway, Josiah Dunlap and others, a leader in the affairs of the town at an early day. However, in this connection it is interesting to note the succession of supervisors in the old town of Pulteney, which has been as follows :

Urial Chapin, 1808-09 and 1811-12 ; Robert Porter, 1810; Stephen Prentiss, 1813 ; John Hathaway, 1814; John Prentiss, 1815-20; Josiah Dunlap, 1821-29; John N. Reynolds, 1830-38 ; Robert Miller, 1839- 46; Jared T. Benton, 1847 and 1851 ; Ira Hyatt, 1849-50, 1852 and 1856-57 ; John A. Prentiss, 1850 ; Robert Miller, 1853; Josiah Dunlap, 1854 ; John N. Reynolds, 1855 ; Samuel Fitzsimmons, 1858 ; Josiah W. Eggleston, 1859 ; Wm. H. Clark, 1860; Geo. Coward, 1861-63 ; Harry Godfrey, 1864; J. J. Reynolds, 1865-71, and 1873 ; Odel C. Cross, 1872 ; S. B. Lyon, 1874 and 1876-77 ; John Gilson, 1875 ; A. H. Den- niston, 1878-80 ; J. D. Stone, 1881 ; S. B. Lyon, 1882-84; James H. Giffin, 1885-87 ; Philip Paddock, 1888-89 ; Edward D. Cross, 1890-95.

The officers of Pulteney for the year 1895 are : Edward D. Cross, supervisor ; Guy D. Finch, clerk ; H. R. Hess, J. B. Hadden, J. H. Os- born and J. T. Bachman, justices; W. H. French, J. C. Barber and Darius Tyler, assessors ; S. E. Stone, overseer of the poor; F. H. Ar- nold, collector.

In 1892 this town had 1,693 inhabitants, and it is estimated that

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about one-half of this population are at least indirectly interested in grape growing or its associated industries. The people in the west part of the town are agriculturists, with no special product to attract more than ordinary interest. From the earliest generation of occupants here the region has produced farmers, all devoted to the arts of peace, and there have been built up many fine farms as the result of continued perseverance and industry. During the period of the war of 1812, the entire townspeople were somewhat alarmed for the safety of their families and property, but fortunately no untoward event took place to mar the tranquillity of domestic life. However, during the period com- monly known as the anti-rent conflict, at a time when the population reached 1,700 and more, and when the town was possessed of many strong men, public excitement ran high, and we find Pulteney an active factor in the measures proposed for the common welfare. In the nota- ble Bath convention, in January, 1830, the town was represented by David Hobart, William Sagar, Barnet Retan, Daniel Bennett and Seth Weed. This period also passed without serious disturbance, other than temporary embarrassment, and until the outbreak of the war of 1861- 65 the history of the town was uneventful, other than was disclosed by the general advancement of local interests. It was during the years following 1850, and from that until about 1880, that the special interest of grape, wine and fruit culture began to attract attention to the locality. This brought to Pulteney an enviable notoriety ; spread abroad the re- markable resources of the town; increased the value of lands on the lake front, and was in all respects the source of much advantage to the whole people. One of the chief auxiliary interests connected with the grape product is the manufacture of wines of various grades and quali- ties. The chief seat of these operations is in the vicinity of Hammonds- port, yet the business established by J. S. Foster more than a quarter of a century ago is worthy of at least passing mention. It is a fact of local and general history that the product of the Pulteney cellars are " true to name, pure and unadulterated."

Such is, in brief, a general historical view of the town at large. Still, in this connection it is proper to call attention to the general stability of all local interests and institutions. Even in population there has always been maintained a substantial degree of uniformity and gradual

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growth. The present population is estimated at 1,700; in 1840 the number of inhabitants was 1,724. In 1860 the records disclose the fact that the population was only 1,470, and but 1, 393 ten years later. How- ever, during the war of the Rebellion, Pulteney sent into the service a total of IIo men, a patriotic record, and one not frequently exceeded in similar towns.

The history of the schools in this town are incomplete and somewhat defective. It is known, however, that the first school was opened and taught by Polly Wentworth, in the year 1808. From this humble be- ginning the present system and condition have grown and developed, and at this time Pulteney compares favorably with the towns of the county generally. As now disposed there are eleven districts, with a school house in each, in which fourteen teachers were employed during the last school year. The value of school property is estimated at $8,325. About $1,680 of public money is annually received for school maintenance, while the town raises by tax for like purpose about $2,300.

The ecclesiastical history of Pulteney forms an interesting element of local annals, though the absence of reliable records embarrasses the efforts of the enquirer. It is said that the first religious services were held by Close-Communion Baptists, followed soon afterward by the Methodists ; and that there were also Seventh Day Baptists and Chris- tians in the field at an early day. The now called Second Baptist Church of Pulteney was organized in 1814, the church home being located at South Pulteney. The church has a membership of 105 per- sons. At Pine Grove is another Baptist society. At Pulteney village is a Presbyterian and also a Methodist Episcopal church, each engaged in evangelical and praiseworthy work.

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CHAPTER X.

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

RATHBONE. - William Benham and William Hadley were indeed brave pioneers of the Canisteo valley an hundred years ago when they made the first settlement in the wild and uninviting region now called Rathbone. If record and tradition be true, these men came to the valley in the year 1793, and had not even the companionship of one another, for Benham built his cabin on the east line of the town, while Hadley was on the west side. Notwithstanding this, each made a suc- cessful location, paving the way for other settlers and opening the land for cultivation. Of necessity the pioneers were lumbermen, for we are told that when Benham and Hadley first visited the locality nothing was in view except woods and rocks and the noiseless waters of the Canisteo. And we are also told that the stillness of night was almost invariably broken by the noises of wild animals, while rattlesnakes were frequently unwelcome visitors to the settler's log cabin.

Such was the character of this region a century ago, but with steady advances the pioneers cleared the forests, cultivated the land, and finally destroyed all the objectionable elements of wilderness life. Yet all this was not accomplished by the single efforts of pioneers Benham and Hadley, for others soon came to the locality and gave material assist- ance in developing the resources of the town. As early as the year 1804 Samuel Benham had built and opened a public house, and Abel White furnished the settlers with game and fish. In 1806 Solomon Tracy and Benjamin Biggs made an improvement on the site of Rath- bonville, and, among other things, built a large double log house. On the opposite side of the Canisteo, Isaac and Jonathan Tracy built the first saw mill in the town, and in 1816 a grist mill was added to the industries of the vicinity.

Among the other early settlers were Peleg Cole, Martin Young,

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Moses Powers, Jacob Cook, Zephaniah Townsend, Thomas Maybury, Zeno Sellick, John Sellick, John Helmer, from whom Helmer creek re- ceived its name, Jonathan Rowley, Benjamin Northrup, founder of the Northrup settlement, Thomas Allen, Jacob Cole, Harvey Fultz, Seth Cook and others whose names are now forgotten. These were the lead- ing men of this part of the valley previous to 1825, and at least thirty years before the town was set off and separately organized.

Recalling briefly some of the more important first events of town history, we may note that the first white child born here was Luther White, that event taking place June 4, 1804. In the same year Luther Benham opened a tavern. The first marriage was that of Peleg Cole and Polly Tracy. Moses Powers taught the first school, and General Rathbone opened the first store in 1842, although previous to that time he was an extensive lumberman and land owner. Isaac Tracy built the first saw mill in 1806. The first school house was built of logs, and the second on the same site, was of frame, built in 1852.

Previous to its separate organization, Rathbone formed a part of the older towns of Addison, Cameron and Woodhull. On the Phelps and Gorham purchase it includes portions of townships two in the third and fourth ranges, and being set off contains 20,600 acres of land. Geo- graphically, the town lies near and south of the center of the county. Its principal water course is Canisteo river, while the north branch of Tuscarora creek flows across the southwest corner. The uplands are from three hundred to four hundred feet above the valleys. The first settlers were attracted to this part of the valley by the magnificent growth of forest trees, and naturally lumbering was the chief occupation of the early inhabitants. This brought to the region an entirely desir- able class of residents and for many years peace and plenty were the lot of the people. So deeply indeed were the settlers engaged in clear- ing the forests and rafting timber to market that they gave little heed to the founding of villages or establishing trading places until about fifty years ago. At that time Addison was the common trading and marketing center for the whole region, and there, too, the lumbermen were wont to visit for the transaction of their business, and not until Ransom Rathbone opened a store in this town in 1845, also secured a post-office, that a hamlet was founded in what is now Rathbone. Still,

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for at least twenty- five years previous to 1845 this was a very busy locality, as mills lined the Canisteo on both sides.

Through the efforts of General Rathbone and a few other leading ope- rators in this part of the valley a new town was created, on March 28, 1850, and was named Rathbone in allusion to the person just mentioned. On the 6th of May following the electors assembled in town meeting and chose officers as follows: William R. Rathbone, supervisor ; George W. Young, town clerk; Israel Horton and Stephen Gloyd, justices of the peace ; Edmund L. Peckham, superintendent of common schools ; Lucius Parker, commissioner of highways; George Northrup, Jonathan Bromley and William C. Cummins, assessors; Abram Rogers and James Northrup, overseers of the poor; Samuel Edmunds, collector.

This first town town meeting appears to have been an event of great importance in local annals, for there were present 243 persons who cast votes. This would indicate a total population of about 1,000. There was no federal census of the town previous to 1860, at which time the population was 1,381. The subsequent fluctations in number of inhab- itants is best shown by quoting from the census reports. In 1870 the population was 1,357 ; in 1880 was 1,371 ; in 1890 was 1,269, and in 1892 was 1,226.

The supervisors of Rathbone since 1850 have been as follows : Wm. H. Rathbone, 1856; Cormander H. Cole, 1857; Wm. R. Rathbone, 1858; George Northrup, 1859-60; A. H. Kinney, 1861 ; George C. Lloyd, 1862-64; John Miles, 1865; George W. Young, 1866-73 ; James Northrup, 1874; John Kenally, 1875-77; Moses Northrup, 1878; Horace Mather, 1879-83 ; John Toles, 1884; Horace Mather, 1885 ; N. Northrup, 1886; C. S. Whitmore, 1887; Norman Northrup, 1888-91 ; G. S. Goff, 1892-93; John McWilliams, 1894-95.

The present town officers are John McWilliams, supervisor ; Jesse F. Cole, town clerk ; N. P. Young, D. W. Gloyd, John Toles and William McCaig, justices of the peace ; George M. Lloyd, F. S. Chapel and George E. Meering, assessors; Wm. Bailey, collector; Richard Mc- Caig, overseer of the poor; William Young, collector; Kitchell Lyon, Levi Perry and B. F. Chapel, excise commissioners.

During the war of 1861-65, the town is credited with having furnished a total of one hundred and seventy-four men for the service. They

WALTER L. MOORE.

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were scattered through the several commands recruited in the county, noticeably in the 23d, 86th, and 107th regiments of infantry. A more full record of the services and composition of each of these regiments will be found in the military chapter in this volume.

Previous to the formation of Rathbone the schools of the vicinity were a part of the system in use in the older towns from which this was erected. At the first town meeting in Rathbone Edmund L. Peckham was elected superintendent of common schools, and soon after the or- ganization the territory was divided into districts according to the re- quirements of the inhabitants. At present, the districts are twelve in number, each provided with a comfortable school. The town contains a school population of about 375. The value of school property is es- timated at $6,990, Thirteen teachers were employed during the last school year, and for maintenance the appropriation of public moneys amounted to $1417, 94, while the town raised by local tax the additional sum of $1,654.36. Twenty -six trees were planted by pupils in 1894.

Rathboneville and Cameron Mills are the hamlets of this town. The former is located near and east of the center, and the latter in the north- east part, near the Cameron line. Both are on the line of the Erie rail- road, to the construction of which in 1850 they owe their chief impor- tance. The road, too, is benefited by the villages, for they are shipping points for agricultural products and lumber of no mean importance. However, for further record of the hamlets of Rathbone, the reader is directed to the municipal department of this work.

THURSTON .- On the 28th of February, 1844, the Legislature divided the town of Cameron, and taking 22,000 acres off the east side created a new town, naming it Thurston, in honor of William B. Thurston, an extensive land owner in the region who did much to promote local im- provement and development.

Geographically, this town occupies a central position in the county, and within its borders are observed several of nature's unusual dispen- sations. We refer particularly to the deep gulf, which is almost impass- able except at a single point at the south part, and here is found about six acres of rich flat land. In this locality was built the Yost saw mill. The gulf is 400 feet deep in places, and was originally filled with a dense growth of hemlock and hard timber. Another natural curiosity

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of Thurston was in the vicinity known as Cranberry or Friend's Pond, being a bottomless body of water, half a mile wide, and at one time adundantly supplied with fish. In the boggy lands around the pond there grew cranberries, to which the settlers helped themselves unstint- edly, and from this product the name Cranberry Pond was applied. Among the early settlers in this part of the town were many who were of the society of Friends, hence that name.

On the high lands in the northwest part of the town Luke Bonny and William Smith made the first settlement in 1813, and from the pioneer first mentioned the locality was ever afterward known Bonny Hill. He also cut the road into the town from Bath, and was in many respects a leading man in the region. Anderson Carpenter settled on the hill in the same year, but was killed by a falling tree in 1817. Other early settlers in the same locality were Amos Dickinson, 1814, Joseph Fluent, 1817, David Smith, 1822, Harvey Halliday, Jacob Parker, John and Boanerges Fluent, John Stocking, Harlow Smith, Moses De Pue, and others whose names are lost with the lapse of time.

Among the settlers in the south of the town we may mention Stephen Aldrich and his sons Warner, Thomas, Stephen and George, who came in 1822 and located near the pond. Still others were Stephenson Pugsley, William and James Jack, Samuel Fisk and also Amos, Elias and Boralis Fisk. Seth Cook and Arnold Payne were also early set- tlers. In the same connection and worthy to be named among the older residents of what is now Thurston, were James Jerry, M. O. Keith, John Vandewarker, Henry Forburg, William Hawley, Fenner Eddy, tanner in the town in 1832, Paris Wheelock, Lifus Fish, John Corbett, Edwin Merchant, founder of the settlement called Merchantville, Josephus Turbell, Alva Carpenter, Harley Sears, O. P. Alderman and others, all of whom were identified with the growth of the town if they were not pioneers.

Many of these old residents of Thurston were lumbermen, and were attracted to the locality by the remarkably fine timber that stood on the land. In olden times Stocking Creek and Michigan Creek enjoyed about the same relative importance as did the Canisteo and Conhocton River regions. But as the lands were stripped of their forest growths good farms were developed and Thurston became recognized among

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THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

the agricultural towns of the county. However, to the present day lumbering has been recognized as one of the industries. These extensive interests led to the founding of several hamlets, and less than forty years ago the isolated town of Thurston had five small villages, known as Merchantville, Bonny Hill, Risingville, Thurston and South Thurston. Now the post-offices of the town are Thurston and Risingville.

The first child born in the town was Irma Smith in 1813 ; the first marriage was that of Joseph Fluent and Fanny Dickinson, in 1818; the first death was that of Anderson Carpenter, in 1817; the first school was that at Bonny Hill, taught by Caroline Vinan ; the first store was kept by Harlow Sears at Merchantville; the first saw mill was built by Paris Wheelock, on Otter Creek.

The first meeting of electors of the town was held on April 2, 1844, and the following officers were chosen : Joseph Cross, supervisor ; Noble H. Rising, town clerk ; John S. Depew, Henry Briggs, Peter D. Edsell and Arnold Payne, justices of the peace ; Henry Rising, James Ostrander and Fenner Eddy, assessors ; William Jack, Amos Fluent and Jared Goodell, highway commissioners ; John S. Eddy, collector ; Stephen Waitman and Abijah Youmans, overseers of the poor.

The supervisors of Thurston have been as follows: Joseph Cross, 1844; Fenner Eddy, 1845-48 ; John S. De Pue, 1849-50 and 1856-65 ; Noble H. Rising, 1851 ; Cornelius Bouton, 1852-53 ; John Royce, 1854-55 ; Oliver P. Alderman, 1866; Alva Carpenter, 1867 and 1869- 71; James Jerry, 1868 and 1875-76 and 1879-80; Lewis Masters, 1872-73; Lyman H. Phillips, 1874, 1881-85 and 1890; William Richt- myer, 1877-78 and 1888-89 ; E. J. Jerry, 1886; W. H. Rising, 1887 and 1891 ; G D. Wilson, 1892; E. J. Jerry, 1893-95.

The town officers for the year 1895 are as follows : Emeron J. Jerry, supervisor ; Lorenz Angst, town clerk; W. H. Guernsey, T. C. Mor- row, A. H. Kennedy, J. F. Eddy, justices of the peace; J. A. Filkins, T. C. Morrow, and J. W. French, assessors; S. W. Jessup, collector ; A. B. Merrill, overseer of the poor; William V. Creveling, highway commissioner ; J. D. Parker, Joseph Shearer, jr., and R. B. Rising, excise commissioners.

In 1845 the population of Thurston was 576, and in 1850 had in-

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creased to 726. Ten years later the inhabitants numbered 1, 100 and 1,215 in 1870. In 1880 the population was 1,336, but dropped to 1, 113 in 1890. In 1892 the town had 1,084 inhabitants.

During the war of the Rebellion, Thurston sent ninety-eight men into the service.

From early records we learn that the first school in this part of the town of Cameron was taught by Caroline Vinan on Bonny Hill in 1818. However, previous to 1844 the general school history of Thurston was a part of the annals of the mother town, but still we may state that in 1828 $100 was appropriated to build a frame school house, and that in December of that year the town voted "that all hardness and quarrel- ing in the district shall cease from this date, and we shall live in peace as neighbors ought to do." At the present time Thurston has eleven school districts, and eleven teachers are employed annually. The num- ber of children who attend school is 302. The value of school property is $5,550. In 1893-94 the town received of public moneys $1,286.33, and raised by local tax $1, 121.66.

TROUPSBURG .- In the southwestern part of Steuben county is located a civil division by the name of Troupsburg, so named in honor of Robert Troup, agent for the Pulteney Association. It was perhaps fortunate for Colonel Troup that this jurisdiction was created in 1808, for had that event been delayed twenty years it is doubtful whether the inhabitants would have been so well disposed to honor the former patron of their region. During the anti-rent conflict in 1830, and about that time, the agent, by reason of his trust capacity, was compelled to assume and maintain a somewhat determined attitude regarding the lands owned by his principals, and the settlers were not generally satis- fied with the measures of relief offered them. However, all things con- sidered, the town was worthily named. Moreover, it has always been regarded as one of the important towns of the county, notwithstanding its remote locality.

Within its present boundaries Troupsburg contains 35,700 acres of land, being second in size in the county. As originally formed from Middletown and Canisteo, the town contained a vast area, eighteen miles long, east and west, and about ten miles wide. At that time it included half of township I, of range 4, also Nos. I in the 5th and 6th

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ranges, with the fourth part of No. 2 in the 4th range. An early writer of Troupsburg history says of the town in 1811: "No. I in the 5th range is an excellent township, the hills low, and the timber maple, birch, basswood, walnut, &c. It has good mill sites on Tuscarora and Troup Creeks. No. 2 in the same range is also good, as is No. I in the 6th range, the timber oak, walnut, elm, basswood, birch and maple. This town has been settled only since 1805, and is yet very wild. It has good iron ore."

In the course of time, however, Troupsburg was called upon to sur- render portions of her territory to other formations. Parts of Green- wood and Jasper were taken off in 1827; part of Woodhull in 1828, while a portion of Canisteo was annexed to this town on April 4, 1818. Therefore the original town of Troupsburg included at least portions of the present towns of Woodhull, Troupsburg, West Union, Greenwood and Jasper.

It is a well known fact that in the town are some of the most elevated lands in the county, if not in the entire region, reaching at times the extreme height of 2,500 above tide. The settlement called High Up is indeed appropriately named. Troup's Creek is the principal water course.

Among the earliest settlers in Troupsburg were Andrew Simpson, Ebenezer Spencer and Andrew Craig, all of whom raised families and were active and highly respected men in the region. Simpson did the the blacksmith work for his few neighbors, while pioneer Craig was en- ergetic in developing the early resources of the region. He made and marketed the first butter sent from the town, and it was his custom to take the season's products from the neighborhood and journey to Phila- delphia to make his sales. The Marlatt family was also prominent in the locality, some of its descendants, as well as those of the Craig family, gaining positions of importance in county affairs. Alanson Perry settled here in 1808, and Judge Mallory came about the same time. This, too, was a prominent family in the new region, and from them the locality known as Mallory's Settlement was named. We may also recall the name of Caleb Smith, Rev. Robert Hubbard, Nicholas Brutzman, Nathaniel Thacher, Jesse Lapham, Philip Cady, Elijah Hance, Reuben Stiles, Daniel Martin, Abner Thomas (the first school

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 15

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