Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 31

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 31

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The water supply was secured and system completed in the fall of 1893. This department is controlled by three commissioners, Charles Oliver, Merritt Dusenbury and A. Weld The officers of the village are W. E. Adair, president ; I. L. Goff clerk; J. L Bartheline, T. B. Fowler, Webster Edmunds, trustees; E. B. Slayton, treasurer ; P. A. Seeley, collector. The trustees are the village assessors

Noting briefly the village interests of the village, we may mention the A. Larrowe Milling Company, and the Model Roller Flour Mill, both large and successful industries. Wilcox & Son are coal dealers, also proprietors of a saw mill. The local druggists are Hiram Wygant and Hill & Vorhees ; the dry goods houses are those of F. R. Harris, Shults & Shiefen, and Foults Bros .; the grocers are W. J. Becker, E. L. Jenks, Henry Michael, A. Dewey, and J. L. Bottleman ; the hardware dealers,

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George W. Peck & Co., and M. Kimmel & Son; boot and shoe dealers, R. J. Rocker (also clothier), Fults Bros. (also clothing), and Henry Snyder ; jeweler, James M. Reynolds ; baker, Henry Smith ; furniture and undertaking, T. S. Crosby & Son ; produce dealer, Charles Keefer ; coal dealer, George E. Wagner; music dealer, W. E. Adair ; cigar manufacturers, Frank Crew, J. S. Schubmehl & Co., and Frank B. Folts ; bottling works, Fred Lamb ; photographers, Messrs. Hoffman and Chubbuck ; meat markets, C. Sherman, and Henry Finch. There are also two barber shops, six blacksmiths, one wholesale liquor store (Casey & Lickey), and four hotels.

The village also has one good private bank, an institution of years standing and known for the careful methods of its managers, W. J. Shults & Co.

There are two good newspaper publications having a seat of opera- tions at Cohocton-the Times, owned by S. D. Shattuck, and the Index, Hyatt C. Hatch. proprietor. (See Press chapter for more extended mention of newspapers.)

Thus it will be seen that Cohocton, the successor of the old hamlet of Liberty, is in all respects a well ordered village, supplied with all the requisites of flourishing municipalities. On every hand are evidences of thrift and enterprise, while within are the substantial elements of success.

COOPER'S PLAINS .- In the north part of the present town of Erwin, near the Campbell line, John Williams settled about the year 1795. Local tradition has it that Williams was a " Hessian " soldier in Bur- goyne's army and was included in the surrender at Saratoga in 1777. When the Genesee country was opened to settlement, Williams came to the region and made a residence in the then town of Painted Post. Among the later land owners or settlers in this locality were Judge McBurney, Alson Pierce and the Cobbs, all as early as 1814 and 1815. Finally a settlement was started and a post station established, the post-office being, it is said, a shingle nailed to a tree, under which let- ters and papers were placed.

Judge, or as otherwise known, Dr. Cooper, came to this part of the town in 1828, and was in fact the founder of the hamlet. In 1841 he built a large residence and laid out into lots a part of his farm. Albert

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Mulligan opened a store, Col. Uri Balcom built a saw mill, and Anson Buck opened public house. Thus the hamlet was founded, but after the timber lands had been cleared business began to wane, and only as a station in a fertile region on the line of the Erie and D. & W. Rail- roads has the place any importance.

CURTIS is a small settlement on the railroad, southeast of Campbell, where in 1835 Col. Balcom built a saw mill. The post-office was es- tablished here in 1875. The present postmaster is Jerome J. Quinby, who also has a general store. In 1854 the firm of Howell, Curtis & Co. built a large tannery at this place, and for one of the partners the post- office and village were named. The tannery was burned in 1858, and rebuilt by Curtis Bros. It was burned a second time in 1869, but immediately restored. The concern is now owned and operated by the U. S. Leather Company. At the post- office called East Campbell, Eugene Smith has a grocery. The postmaster is Harmon Stevens.

DYKE is a post hamlet near the center of the town of Hornby, and was established August 1, 1889, for the convenience of the people of the vicinity. Here is located the "Shady Grove" district school and the Wesleyan Methodist church. The merchant here is Manley L. Baker, who is also postmaster.

EAST TROUPSBURG is a post-office in the east part of the town where is a small settlement and one or two industries. In this locality, also, is the East Troupsburg Baptist church. The local postmaster is Stephen C. Brewer. This hamlet has a store and a few other interests of lesser importance.

ERWIN .- In the southwest part of the town of Erwin, on the line of the Erie Railroad, is a small hamlet known as Erwin. The station was built in 1873, and about that time E. E. Townsend was appointed post- master. The present postmaster is James W. Thompson.

FERENBAUGH .- This hamlet, a post office and station on the line of the now called Fall Brook road, was named in allusion to one of the prominent families of Hornby. The hamlet itself is small, its industries few, yet as a shipping point for farm produce it has some prominence. The merchants here are Ferenbaugh Bros. The postmaster is John H. Ferenbaugh.

FREEMAN .- This little hamlet is situated near the center of the town

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of Tuscarora, and includes about thirty dwellings, a church, two stores, a district school, recently built, a saw and feed mill, and a few shops. The hamlet was named for one of the old and prominent settlers of the locality. The present merchants are Atwood Weeks and William H. Whitcomb ; blacksmiths, Martin Andrews and Levi Chase ; shoemaker, George Mullen. Postmaster, William H. Whitcomb.

GANG MILLS .- This hamlet was a place of much importance during the lumbering period of town history in Erwin. A firm comprised of Isaac Gray and Platt and Dana purchased, about 1832, a 4,000 acre tract of timber from the William Erwin estate, and built and put in operation a large saw mill. The locality afterward became known as Gang Mills, but with the devastation of the forests the importance of the settlement also departed.

GIBSON'S LANDING (Catawba P. O.) .- This is a pretty little hamlet on the lake front, and, during the period of canal-boating on the lake, was an important shipping point. It is now a summer resort, enjoying an excellent standing in that respect, and still possesses a certain prom- inence from a commercial standpoint. The Lake Keuka Wine Cellars are near the hamlet. The officers of the company are George H. Keeler, president ; R. R. Soper, vice-president; Monroe Wheeler, treasurer, and Charles G. Wheeler, secretary.

GOODHUE LAKE is the name of a post hamlet situated in the north- west corner of the town of Addison, near the small body of water of the same name. A post-office was established here for the convenience of the inhabitants of this locality, and naturally a little trading center has been built up. William A. Jimmerson is the merchant and post- master at this place. Here also is a district school.

GEORGE GIBSON.

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CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.

CHAPTER XIX.

CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.

THE VILLAGE OF GREENWOOD .- This little hamlet of about 250 in- habitants is situated in the southeast part of the town of Greenwood, on what is known as Bennett's Creek, and distant ten miles from Canisteo. It contains three churches (see church history), several stores and shops, and a number of manufacturing industries. Mail reaches here daily from Canisteo.

The merchants of the village are George M. Webster & Co., large general stock; N. E. Coston, general store ; Woodward & Young, gen- eral store; Shaw & Austin, and J. M. Cheesman, hardware; and S. A. Scribner, harness dealer. The manufacturing interests are the machine shops, foundry and planing mill owned by George M. Woodward ; the wagon and carriage shops of T. E. Mallory ; the wood-working factory of Byron Rugar, and the lumber business of G. D. Woodward.

The town at large has eleven school districts, No. 2 comprising the village school. This is a school of advanced standing, a Union Free School, with an academic department. Here are employed a principal and two assistants.

THE VILLAGE OF HAMMONDSPORT .- In the year 1802, Gen. George McClure purchased several hundred acres of land in Pleasant Valley, near Cold Spring, on which he caused to be built a saw mill, fulling mill, flour mill and carding machine. About the same time he also opened a store on the site of Hammondsport, and by all his operations laid the foundation for what has now become one of the most progress- ive villages in Steuben county. General McClure also built the first vessel on the lake, the Sally, a small schoner of about thirty tons burden, and thus was the pioneer in opening Lake Keuka to navigation. The schooner is said to have been built in 1803.

However, it remained for a later comer to found the village in fact.

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Capt. John Shether was the original settler on the village tract, in 1796, and a portion at least of his lands afterward passed to Judge Lazarus Ham- mond. This was in 1807, and about the same time the purchaser came to reside on the land. He at once saw the possibilities of a village at the head of the lake, hence laid out a series of lots, and also donated a pleasantly located tract of land for a public park or square. Still many years passed before the settlement assumed the proportions or character of a settlement, and even as late as 1825 the lands in the vicinity were used chiefly for farming purposes.

In the year last mentioned, William Hastings opened a well stocked store, and Lemuel D. Hastings acted in the capacity of clerk. In the following fall Ira G. Smith, of Prattsburg, built a store and soon after- ward a number of business interests were established about the public square. In 1830 the Crooked Lake canal was begun, and finished the next year, and from this time Hammondsport became a place of con- siderable importance in the commercial world and the future success of the village was assured. Among the varied industries of early and even later days, was that of boat building. The Keuka was put upon the lake in 1835, a steamboat of good capacity. Others followed in suc- cession, as necessity required, or as competition suggested, until at length historic and beautiful Lake Keuka became known for the num- ber and quality of her steam craft. In 1831 General McClure built a saw and plaster mill in the village, also a good dwelling for his own use. John Randel came in 1833, and built a store, and was a prom- inent merchant and citizen for the next quarter of a century. The stone mill was built in 1835-6, by Meredith Mallory, and though the enterprise was not successful as a business venture, the old mill build- ings became one of the conspicuous landmarks of the region.

Among the early business men of Hammondsport, in addition to those already mentioned, we may recall the names of A. M. Adsit, Delos Rose, William Hastings & Co., Adsit & Co., J. W. Davis, Lemuel D. Hastings, and G. W. Nichols. The first school house was built in 1827, and stood where St. James' church was afterward erected. The large and attractive stone school house was erected for academic pur- poses in 1858. J. W. McLaurey was it principal for the first six or more years.

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CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.

One of the most desirable public improvements, and one which has proven of the greatest material advantage to the village, was the con- struction of the Bath and Hammondsport railroad, begun in 1872 and opened for traffic in 1874. By the opening of this thoroughfare of travel and traffic the county seat and the interior of the county were given direct and rapid communication with the Erie Canal and the New York Central railroad, while the benefit to Hammondsport inter- ests were greatly increased. For this short road the town of Urbana bonded to the extent $40,000, and the village $30,000. In fact they built the road or at least furnished the means with which it was con- structed.

As the hamlet grew and increased in population and importance, the inhabitants became desirous to make improvements and establish insti- tutions which were not directly beneficial to the town at large, and to which the people of the latter were not inclined to contribute. There - fore it was determined that a corporation should be established, and to this end Delos Rose, S. B. Fairchild, William Hastings, S. Watrous, Henry Benham and Benjamin Bennitt petitioned the court for an order of incorporation under the provisions of the law. The order was granted and Hammondsport became a body corporate aud politic on the 16th of June, 1856. The area of the village at that time was about 172 acres, and within its boundaries were 530 inhabitants. At an election held June 29, 1856, the electors ratified the corporation measure by a vote of forty-seven to thirty-four, Thus it is seen in this case, as in nearly all other similar movements, the opponents were a strong mi- nority of the voting element. However, the spirit of progress and en- terprise prevailed and the village of Hammondsport took a place among the municipalities of Steuben county.

The first election of village officers was held November 22, 1856, and resulted as follows : Trustees, William Hastings, John Randel, J. N. Crane, J. W. Davis, Clark Bell ; assessors, Orlando Shepard, Benjamin Bennitt; collector, Lewis Wood ; treasurer, John Watrous; clerk, B. Frank Drew. In January, 1871, a village charter was granted Ham- mondsport, and our little municipality increased and broadened her powers and advanced her corporate character. The first meeting for election of officers under the charter was held March 21, 1871, and

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Absalom Hadden was elected president ; George W. Nichols, Allen Wood and Walter L. Moore, trustees; Benjamin F. Drew, treasurer, and George C. Wise, collector. The first clerk of the board of trustees was William W. Wright ; David Burch, police constable, and J. B. Van Auken, chief engineer of the fire department.

At this time the fire department was carefully reorganized and be- came an important adjunct of the village. In fact all departments of local government were then firmly established and Hammondsport advanced to the degree of a municipality of the second class. The present department consists of a good horse power fire engine, a hook and ladder, and also a hose company. In 1894-5 a water works system was established, the source of supply being the abundant springs on the well known Scofield farm. Fire hydrants have been distributed throughout the streets, placed at convenient points, and with simple gravity pressure the village has excellent fire protection, and is, more- over, supplied with pure and wholesome water for all domestic pur- poses. The plant complete was constructed at a total cost of about $25,000, and is owned by the village.

Hammondsport enjoys the pleasant notoriety of being one of the most attractive and desirable residence villages in Steuben county. Situated as it is in the very midst of a vast vineyard region and on the head waters of charming Lake Keuka, added to which may also be mentioned a rich agricultural and fruit producing country, all elements combine to make this one of the most delightful localities in the Genesee country. The people, too, are known to be hospitable, entertaining and progres- sive. The manufactures are chiefly wine and other products of the vine and fruit tree.

The officers for the year 1895 are as follows: Trevor Moore, presi- dent; Henry Frey, Milan H. Hall, Phineas H. Casterline, trustees; G. W. Hubbs, clerk, and Aaron G. Pratt, treasurer. The president and trustees constitute a board of village assessors. The estimated popula- tion of the village is 1,000 ; in 1890 the number was 934, and in 1880 was 775.

The manufacture of wines may be regarded as the staple industry of the village and its immediate locality, and in this production much cap- ital is employed, while directly and indirectly hundreds of workmen are

John War's

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engaged. So great indeed is this industry that we may briefly refer to some of the more important wine producing companies. The Urbana Wine Company was organized in 1865, having an original capital of $250,000. The present capital is $100,000. The extensive cellars are located on the west side of the lake, four miles below the village. Among the many and various grades of wine manufactured here may be specially mentioned the famed " Gold Seal," a purely dry wine much prized by epicures. The officers of the company are Harlo Hakes, president ; D. M. Hildreth, vice-president ; H. A. Switzer, secretary ; W. W. Allen, treasurer, and John W. Davis, general manager. It is only a just compliment to say that much of the success achieved by the Urbana Wine Company is due to the untiring efforts of Mr. Davis.

The Pleasant Valley Wine Company may be sufficiently introduced to the reader by the mere mention that at its cellars is manufactured the noted "Great Western," an exceedingly choice dry wine. The works are located at Rheims, a small hamlet and station on the line of the Bath and Hammondsport railroad, and less than two miles south of the village. This company was organized in 1860. Its officers are James Lyon, president ; De Witt Bauder, secretary and treasurer, and Jules Masson, superintendent.

The Germania Wine Cellars are located between Hammondsport and Rheims, but, like the others, is regarded as a village industry. The proprietors here are Frey Brothers ( John and Gottlieb), who are own- ers of a large and well established plant Jacob Frey established the business of which this company is the outgrowth about thirty-five years ago.

The cellars of the Columbia Wine Company are also located at Rheims, and are owned by Henry Frey and j. S. Hubbs. Here is con- ducted a large and successful business, though the industry itself is of more recent founding than some of those mentioned above.

The Hammondsport Wine Company is distinctly an industry of the village, and was incorporated October 24, 1880. Its capital is $50,000, and the output is justly noted for purity and general excellence. The officers of the company are Edwin S. Underhill, president ; G. I. Allen, treasurer ; G. H. Wheeler, secretary, and H. G. Layton, superin- tendent.

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The Port Glen Wine Company's cellars are also to be mentioned and are in all respects worthy of patronage. They are under the proprie- torship of A. F. Bricout.

Auxiliary to these leading industries are several manufactories de- voted to box, package and basket making, all furnishing employment to workingmen and women, and contributing in some degree to the general welfare. H. M. Champlin has a good roller flouring mill, with a capacity for the manufacture of fifty barrels of flour per day. Another flourishing industry is a broom factory, located just outside the village . limits. On the inlet are a number of busy enterprises, chiefly box or basket factories, while the latest acquisition up the stream is the State Fish Hatchery. For the convenience of the inhabitants living in the town south of the village post offices have been established at various places. One is at Rheims, with DeWitt Bauder postmaster, while a second, still further up the stream, is called Taggart ; John W. Kirkham, postmaster.

In the village of Hammondsport is an excellent school, for the people of this town have ever been noted for generosity in the matter of afford- ing proper education to the youth of the locality. A reference to the town history will disclose the fact that as early as 1795, long before a village was thought of, Messrs. Reed, Stone and Baker were given by Charles Williamson fifty acres of land for the benefit of a public school. This tract was afterward deeded to trustees, this being one of the few towns in which the people received the full benefit of the donor's gen- erosity. The first village school stood where St. James' church was built, and was erected in 1827. The academy was built in 1858, and aud was afterward used by the district under the Union Free School system. The present members of the board are J. W. Keeler, Will S. Wood, J. S. Thorp, H. Y. Rose, H. J. Moore and Mrs. Matilda Bennett.

All branches of mercantile business appear to be well represented in Hammondsport, and there is little evidence of overcompetition. There are several hotels, the largest being the Fairchild House, near the land- ing. The others are the Steuben House, the Park Hotel and the Grand Central. At present the excise commissioners have granted eight vil- lage licenses. The merchants are Rothschild & Oloskey, clothiers ; C. A. Champlin, general merchandise ; George H. Keeler, hardware ;

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Frank Crookston, grocer; George Vroom, grocer; Orson Brundage, grocer ; John R. Brown, shoe dealer ; Mr. Brough, clothier ; James H. Smellie, druggist; L. I. Rose & Son, dry goods; F. W. Fawcett, furni- ture dealer. At Lakeside the business men are George M. Chapman, grocer; H. J. Moore, druggist ; E. K. Chapman, baker.

The Bank of Hammondsport, as now known, is the outgrowth of a banking business started in the village in 1876 by H. C. Ainsworth, as a branch of a still older business in Prattsburg. At one time the firm of bankers was Ainsworth & Co. The bank was continued unin- terruptedly until 1894, and was then purchased by John J. Frey and Aaron J. Pratt, by whom it is now conducted under the firm name of Frey & Pratt. The members of this firm are tried business men, prompt and reliable in all their transactions. Their office contains one of the best banking equipments in the county, and is provided with a remarkably secure safe and a correspondingly strong and firmly con- structed vault.

The church history of Hammondsport is interesting and worthy of record, for a perusal of which the reader is directed to another depart- ment of this work, wherein will be found at least a brief sketch of each organized church society in the county.

HARMONYVILLE (Pulteney P. O.) .- This little hamlet, severally known as indicated above, is pleasantly situated in the northeast part of the town, yet among the villages of the county possesses little im- portance It is on the main thoroughfare leading from Hammondsport to Branchport, and about a mile distant from the lake. A trading cen- ter was established here many years ago, and until lake traffic drew trade to the eastward was the most important hamlet of the town. The public buildings here are the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal churches and the district school house. The merchants are G. W. Peck & Company, general store; F. N. Goodrich & Company, general store ; Coryell & Connell, general store ; A. J. Nichols, drugs, etc. The man- ufacturing interests are few, chiefly basket and box factories to supply the demands of the grape and fruit growers.

HARTSVILLE CENTER (Purdy Creek Post-Office), is a small hamlet situate north of and near the center of the town, on the upper waters of Purdy Creek. The first business in this locality was done a

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mile above the present hamlet, near where a cheese factory was built. Joseph Henry opened the Center House in 1851, and two years after- ward this became the business center. The post-office was located at Charles N. Hart's dwelling. J. D. Russell established a permanent store here in 1868, since which time two stores have generally been in operation. The present public buildings are the school house and the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches, both of which are mentioned elsewhere in this work. The merchants are F. E. Carney and F. W. Spencer, proprietors of general country stores. Here, also, is a saw

and feed mill, owned by William Donaldson. The other local interests are the blacksmith shop of Mr. Fuller and the harness shop of James Goodno. D. A. Oaks is proprietor of the Call Hill cheese factory. Another similar industry in the town is in process of erection. The postmaster at Purdy Creek is Scott Van Buskirk.

HASKINVILLE .- This little hamlet is situate in the northeast part of the town of Fremont, and was named for William Haskin, early settler and progressive citizen. At this place William Holden had a shingle mill as early as 1834, and soon afterward sold out his improvement to Mr. Haskin; and the latter built here the first tavern in the town in 1836. Around this the village was built up. Its early interests com- prised the hotel, a store, cheese factory, shoe and blacksmith shop, to- gether with about twenty dwellings. The present business interests are the store of Silsbee & Bowen, the hotel of Eli Chase and a few small shops. The postmaster is Ziba C. Silsbee. The Wesleyan Methodist church at this village is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 31

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