USA > New York > Steuben County > Landmarks of Steuben County, New York > Part 33
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RATHBONEVILLE .- In the year 1842 Gen. Ransom Rathbone came to the Canisteo valley to engage in manufacturing and shipping lumber. Unquestionably he was a man of excellent judgment in business affairs, for his efforts here were fairly rewarded. Not a pioneer in the locality, he nevertheless opened the first store in the town, secured a post sta-
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tion, was active in organizing the town itself, and, in return for his ser- vices, the latter was named in his honor, as well as the hamlet. Half a century ago this was the center of an extensive lumber region, where many enterprising operators were engaged in lucrative business. This led to the starting of other industries, and a little energy and push created a village settlement. Among the persons engaged in milling and kindred pursuits, were Orman S. and Keyes Whitmore, who began in 1845. Ten years later Henry Rathbone built a fair sized flour and grist mill. In the year first mentioned General Rathbone opened his store and secured the post-office. A meeting house for religious wor- ship was soon erected, a school house was opened, and by these insti- tutions the village was created. The operation of the railroad only added to local prosperity, and Rathboneville became an established and permanent fact ; and to-day it is the principal village of that town.
The population of the "ville," as briefly called, is hardly more than one hundred and fifty, yet here is a busy hamlet. The leading indus- tries are the saw and grist mills of F. J. Brady ; the hay press of E. M. Cafferty ; large general stores of M. P. Young and J. F. Boyer ; tobacco store and barber shop of town clerk, Jesse F. Cole; the blacksmith shop of W. S. Wilson, and the hotel (Magnolia House) kept by H. Bird. The public institutions are the district school and the M. E. church.
THE VILLAGE OF REXVILLE .- In 1849 Charles and Daniel Rexford came into the valley of Bennett's Creek and built a saw mill on the site of the village named for them. They also erected the first frame build- ing in the town and opened a tavern which was called the "Eagle." These enterprising brothers were also instrumental in bringing about many improvements in the settlement and were in all respects useful and progressive citizens. However, they sold the tavern to James McCormick and soon afterward left the village. In 1855 Jesse Jones and Dr. Cyrus B. Knight opened a store in the village, and soon after- ward a mail route was established through this part of the valley. Thus the village settlement became a fact, and although never having more than 200 population it is a business center of some importance. The public buildings are the Methodist Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches and the district school. The merchants are Failing & Co.,
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Mrs. Sarah P. Harden, Joseph Mckeon, Bernard Harrigan and John McCormick. Postmaster, John P. Harden. The manufacturing indus- tries of the village are the combined saw and grist mill, built in 1872 and 1876, owned by Mortimer Richey ; the cheese factory owned by O. Snyder and operated by Edwin Carpenter, and a few other small shops.
RISINGVILLE .-- This hamlet is located in the southwest part of the town about three miles from Thurston village. It was named in allusion to Noble A. Rising and was brought into existence by the erection of a large mill in the year 1852. The mill was built by Josephus Turbell and was one of the most complete of its kind in the county at that time. Harley Sears opened a store near the mill in 1853, a school and church were established about the same time and Risingville soon became a settlement of some importance. The post-office was established in 1853, Noble H. Rising, postmaster. The only business interests of the village of the day are those carried on by E. J. Jerry.
ROGERSVILLE .- Among the earliest settlers on the village site were Jonas Bridge, Prosper Booth and Daniel Handy, who with John Miller built a flour mill in 1822. The post-office, which down to about 1848, had been located at Beachville, was removed to this village, and at the same time William C. Rogers moved to the old store from Beachville and opened therein a select school which soon afterward became the academy. In 1850 a foundry was established by R. W. and D. Dans, near the store, for the manufacture of stoves and farming implements.
The Rogersville Academy, a notable institution during its palmy days, was organized in 1849, and the buildings were erected in 1852. The Rogersville Union Seminary, an institution designed for the higher edu- tion of young ladies, was incorporated by the regents January 28, 1853. However, both of these institutions lost much of their old time impor- tance with the gradual enlargement of the public school system of the town. At its best Rogersville had a population of about 250 inhabi-
tants. Twenty years ago its business interests comprised three or four stores, a good hotel, three blacksmith and two wagon shops, a broker's - office and a flouring mill. There were also the academy and the semi- nary and the Methodist Episcopal and the Universalist churches.
The present business interests of the village are the well stocked
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stores of Henry Weirmiller and Mundy & Root, general merchants ; the flour and feed mill of Byron Wallace, and the saw mill of Jacob Kurtz. The post-office designation of this village is South Dansville ; postmas- ter, Dyer L. Kingsley.
SAVONA VILLAGE .- On the 30th of April, 1833, the village of Savona was incorporated, and thereafter became separated from the mother town of Bath so far at least as local government was concerned. The name of this little village is all that now remains of the once known town of Savona which was annexed to Bath in 1862. Had the town scheme been perpetual, our village would have been its principal trading center and metropolis, yet notwithstanding the annexation, the life of the place, both in hamlet and village character, has been one of con- tinued growth and prosperity. With the natural attractions of the county seat and the superior trading facilities offered by the enterpris- ing city of Corning, business interests in Savona have been compelled to establish themselves against opposing circumstances, yet they have grown with other branches of village life and are now firmly established. In fact Savona enjoys the same advantages of location as does Bath, and like it is in the center of a rich agricultural region. The Erie and D. L. & W. railroads are built through the village, affording excellent shipping facilities both east and west. The Conhocton also contributes its share in promoting the public welfare. It is not frequent that two incorporated villages are built up within the limits of one town, as in Bath, and both be prosperous, while the first established and incorporated happens to be a county seat. From this condition of things we may conclude that there is much of enterprise and progressiveness on the part of the younger village and its inhabitants ; at least the residents and business men of other localities claim this for Savona, and as the opinion is disinterested it carries the conviction of truth.
From old records it is learned that this part of the town of Bath was for many years within the general region called Mud Creek, from the fact that that stream discharges into the Conhocton at the village site ; and in the early history of the town this point of junction was an im- portant center to lumbermen and boatmen on both streams. The pio- neer of this locality was Thomas Corbitt, 1793, followed by John Dole- son and Henry McElwee in 1794, and soon afterward by Henry Bush
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and others. A post-office and trading center was established here about 1823, Elisha McCoy being of one the early postmasters. Among the other early settlers in the locality were John Moore, David Whitaker, Uriah Hughes and others now forgotten.
The water privilege offered by Mud Creek and the Conhocton had much to do with the founding of a village in this part of the town, and it only remained for the industrious inhabitants of that time and of later years to enjoy railroad facilities when that popular thoroughfare of transportation and travel superseded the slow current of the streams. Within a stone's-throw of the the school house in the village can be found at least half a dozen substantial citizens who remember the infancy of Savona, and also the once wide popularity of Mud Creek. However, all is now changed by the the march of progress, and where only a few years ago was a struggling hamlet is now a flourishing village of six hundred inhabitants. The public buildings comprise the Baptist and Methodist churches, and the village school. A Union school district was organized in 1891, and the Savona school now compares favorably with any of like size in the county. The board of education is composed of Charles Peterson, Daniel Collier and A. Burt.
The village officers are John P. Hedges, president, and Will Sanford, Jerome Freeman and George Stinson, trustees, T. C. Wall, clerk, and W. E. Joint, treasurer.
The business interests comprise the grist mill of George Allen, the sash and blind factory of George Scripture, the planing-mill of Clarence Hubbard and the "patent sluice" factory of Charles Davis. The mercan- tile interests include two good general stores, Sanford & Stinson, and William Stevenson ; two drug stores, W. H. Ward and G. U. Sexton ; one hardware store W. E. Joint ; one furniture and undertaking store, A. Cushing ; a jewelry store W. M. Shutts ; two hotels, three black- smiths, a carriage shop, a cigar factory (John Ward), a music store, meat market, barber shop, two milliners, and several shops, such as are usual to country villages. Savona has one good, live newspaper, the Savona Review, well edited, and published by T. C. Wall.
SONORA .- This hamlet is a small post-office settlement in the north- east part of the town of Bath, and three miles north of Savona. Half a a century ago Sonora and Savona were regarded as sister hamlets, the
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advantage and location, however, being with the latter. The store of P. A. Bryant, a blacksmith and carpenter shop, comprise the business interests of the place. Here, also, is the school of district 14, and a Methodist church.
SOUTH ADDISON .- In the early history of the north part of the present town of Tuscarora, Amos Carr made a settlement and improve- ment, and from him the locality was designated Carrtown. However, when a post- office was established in the little hamlet which was built up, the name South Addison was adopted, and has since been continued. About a mile from this settlement was built in 1856 a large tannery, around which another cluster of dwellings was built. The present in- stitutions of South Addison comprise the nearby school and the M. E. church.
The Addison tannery was built in 1856, by Robert Hammond, and although twice partly burned, it has been an important industry of the town. It was bought in 1865 by W. Stratton, from whom it became known as Stratton's tannery. In 1893 it became a part of of the large syndicate called the United Leather Company.
SOUTH BRADFORD is a hamlet situate in the south part of the town of Bradford, and on the highest land in the town. Joel Hallock cleared the first land on the village site. Increase Cooley was the first store- keeper, and Moses Ellas the first hotel-keeper. The present interests comprise two stores, a few small shops, while the public buildings are the Baptist and Methodist churches and the district school.
SOUTH HOWARD .- This is a post-office station located in the south- east part of the town. Postmaster, Samuel T. Hoagland.
SOUTH PULTENEY, OR BLUFFPORT, is a hamlet and post-office in the southeast part of the town of Pulteney.
SOUTH TROUPSBURG is a post-office hamlet in the south part of the town of Troupsburg. The postmaster here is James B. Murdock. This place has a general store.
STEPHENS MILLS .- This little hamlet, otherwise known as Fremont Center, was named in allusion to Elisha G. Stephens, who for a period of more than half a century was identified with the best interests and history of the town. In 1833 Mr. Stephens purchased the Upson farm, near the center of the town, and engaged extensively in milling, lum-
JAMES B. MURDOCK.
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bering and farming, and as a result of his industry the village settle- ment was built up. He also established the hotel and secured the post- office for this place. The hotel he built in 1854, and in 1839, on the death of his daughter, caused the pretty cemetery to be laid out. In the village are three churches, the Methodist Episcopal, Advent and Evangelical, the latter just outside the village proper.
The merchants at the center are N. Davis, E. R. Killbury, B. Pickle & Son and E. L. Welsh. The industries are the mill, established by Mr. Upson, and now owned by Jesse L. Spaulding; W. B. Stephens' saw mill and shoe last factory, and the blacksmith shops of J. A. Kester . and L. Clark. The local postmaster is John Helmer.
THURSTON VILLAGE .- This hamlet is situated in the east part of the town on Michigan Creek, and until a comparatively recent day was known as Merchantville. In 1841 Edwin Merchant bought the village site and opened a blacksmith and wagon shop between Hawley's farm and Eddy's tannery. In 1845 he built a saw mill, and in 1854 Alva Carpenter and O. P. Alderman bought a stock of goods of Harley Sears and began doing business. From that time Merchantville has been a trading point and business center. Mail is received daily from Camp- bell station. However, Thurston village has lost much of its oldtime importance and now numbers hardly more than 100 inhabitants. Here is located the Methodist Episcopal and Christian churches, the district school house, two stores, a few shops and about twenty-five dwellings. The merchants are J. W. Colson and J. M. Alderman. Postmaster, Frank Allerton.
TOWLESVILLE .- This hamlet is located about a mile west from the town line, on the Turnpike road, and was named from Richard Towle, a prominent early settler in the vicinity. This place has two churches, the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal, a school, four stores and one or two shops. The merchants are H. Clark McChesney, Hollie Hoagland and Will Boughter, general stores; G. R. De Groat, hardware. Black- smith, George Wyckoff.
TROUPSBURG VILLAGE is a pleasantly situated hamlet, near the cen- ter of the town and on Troup Creek. Independent of the surrounding country, the hamlet has little history, for its founding and subsequent growth were almost wholly due to the necessities of the inhabitants of
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the locality ; and not at any time during the period of its history has the local population exceeded 250. Pioneer George Martin, better known as "Captain" Martin, made the hamlet beginning here when he built the saw mill on the creek many years ago. This improvement was followed by the country store, then a public house, and finally the the small shops incident to such places completed the village settlement.
However, as the hamlet grew in importance and the surrounding township became freely settled, an academy was founded which en- joyed for many years a prosperous existence, and afforded educational advantages not obtainable in all towns. After its destruction by fire the academy was followed by a graded district school of excellent standing among the institutions of the county. As at present constituted the business interests of Troupsburg comprise several well appointed gen- eral stores, saw and feed mills, several blacksmiths and wagon and repair shops, a good hotel and about forty dwellings. The Methodist Epis- copal and Baptist churches are also located here, and will be found more fully mentioned in another department. The postmaster at Troupsburg is Benjamin F. Ford.
WALLACE .- This is a small hamlet situated northeast of Avoca, in the Conhocton Valley, and on the line of the Erie and Delaware, Lack- awanna & Western Railroads. To these lines of travel the hamlet owes its greatest prosperity and almost its very existence. The local post- master is J. H. Cotton.
WAYLAND VILLAGE .- The town of Wayland was brought into ex- istence chiefly through the efforts of John Hess and Myron M. Patchin, and the village in an equal measure was brought into life by the energy of James G. Bennett, also one of the leading men of the town. He secured the consolidation of the previously existing post-offices of Patch- inville and Begola, under the name of Wayland Depot, in 1848, by which designation the place was known until 1884, when the word "Depot" was dropped. As Mr. Jervis has said, "The building of the Erie Rail- road determined finally the location of the village and assisted in its growth. The nearest station to Dansville, all the traffic from that en- terprising village passed through Wayland; and the old stage coach, with its four horses and Captain McHenry in charge, is vividly re- membered by the older citizens-the four horses reduced to one and the
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old coach exchanged for a 'buck-board' made its last trip over this his- toric route on July 20, 1889." However, later railroad constructions added greatly to local advancement. The now known Delaware, Lack- awanna & Western road was built through the town and opened for traffic in 1882, and the Rochester, Hornellsville & Lackawanna began business January 25, 1888. By the latter the village was given direct communication with Hornellsville, and the three thoroughfares of travel and transportation combined to make this village one of the most im- portant railroad points in the county. . The village, too, has profited by these roads, and if we may be guided by the prophecy of observing men the future of Wayland is to be one of continued prosperity and substantial growth.
In 1877 the population and business interests were such as to create a demand for incorporation. Consequently in April of that year the Court of Sessions made an order by which the place advanced from the hamlet to the village character. The first officers were elected on May 22, 1877, and were as follows : H. S. Rosenkrans, president; N. N. St. John, Guy Bennett, Henry Schley, trustees ; Torrey S. Beeman, col- lector ; George Morehouse, treasurer. C. C. Tinker was the first clerk. The present officers are : George C. Whitman, president ; B. Kusch, jr., Frank Kester and W. W. Capron, jr., trustees and assessors ; P. H. Zimmerman, clerk; Frank K. Smith, treasurer; S. B. Young, collector.
The incorporation of the village was an absolute necessity, for at that time the population approximated 600, and improvements were needed which could not be secured at the general expense of the town. The trustees first caused suitable sidewalks to be laid, then secured a system of street lighting, and provided against some of the annoying elements incident to hamlets. A small though efficient fire department was organized, the present apparatus being a good truck, Champion Hook and Ladder Co., comfortably housed in Music Hall.
The Union School of the village is one of its best institutions, aca- demic in character, and standing in the front rank among the schools of the county. The present trustees are W. W. Clark, Julian A. Mor- ris, William Flory, George C. Beitzel and R. C. Niel.
The business interests of Wayland are noted for their stability, and notwithstanding the disastrous fire of 1883, by which many buildings
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were destroyed, the present condition of affairs is an improvement upon the former. In truth, there is much progressiveness and public- spiritedness on the part of this German and American municipality and its people. There are a number of good hotels, among them the Bryant House, kept by O. F. Leiders ; the Commercial, by N. Schu, jr .; the Central, by Shepard Rowell ; the Wayland, by Thomas Cramer ; the Engel, by Frank Engel, and the Rauber, by J. N. Rauber.
The mercantile interests are represented substantially as follows : Dry goods, J. I. Sterner, A. L. Morley, C. Gottschall & Son ; grocers, John C. Mehlenbacker, Weinhart Bros., Kausch Bros., T. K. Smith, W. N. Deitzel, Mrs. M. Rauver ; hardware, M. Kimmel & Son, Geo. E. Whiteman & Co .; druggists, Guile & Snyder; baker, Gunderman & Huppes ; furniture, J. A. Rosenkrans, agent ; boots and shoes, George Nold, G. Zeilbeer & Son ; meat markets, George Fox, Frank Reufern- barth ; jewelers, A. J. Pardee, J. M. Purcell ; undertakers, V. Kausch, jr., Rosenkrans & Tinker ; cigar dealers and makers, Sherman Bassler, A. M. Hartshorn ; wholesale liquors, Edward Tyler ; coal and produce, W. W. Capron, jr., H. W. Hatch & Son, B. J. Scott & Son; bankers, Morris & Morris, a private bank, established in 1887.
The Wayland Register and the Union Advertiser, are enterprising weekly newspapers published in the village, the former by Bert Goodno, and the latter by H. B. Newell.
Among the manufacturing industries of the village the cement com- panies demand first attention. The Wayland Portland Cement Com- pany began the manufacture of a superior grade of cement in 1891, and almost at once gained great popularity with their product in the market. The works were burned July 4, 1892, but were immediately rebuilt. This concern manufactures 300 barrels of cement daily. A second company under the same name is ready to begin business, and also promises to become an extensive industry in the village. The pro- prietors of the company first mentioned are T. Millin & Co. Messrs. Schaffer and Wolf are proprietors of a combined planing and saw mill, and are also contractors and builders. The second saw mill is owned by W. F. Kiel. The village blacksmiths are B. J. Scott, Frank Kester, J. M. Ryder, William Drumm, H. Teed and E. Harter. The flouring mill at Patchinville is owned by J. P. Morsch.
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MARTIN KIMMEL.
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In addition to the business interests already enumerated, we may mention as elements of municipal life four organized church societies, the Methodist Episcopal, Evangelical, Roman Catholic and Christian ; also the customary social and fraternal organizations, prominent among which is Lodge 176, I. O. O. F. The principal entertainment hall is Wienhart's Opera House. The population of Wayland village in 1880 was 605, and 679 in 1890.
WAYLAND DEPOT is a hamlet on the D., L. & W. Road. Here are two hotels and the station, but no business interests of any impor- tance.
WAYNE VILLAGE is a pretty little hamlet lying in the northeast por- tion and partly in the adjoining county of Schuyler. As a trading center the village possesses some commercial importance yet a fair pro- portion of business interests are outside the boundaries of this town. The more recent enterprises are embraced in three good general stores, two feed mills, a saw mill and basket factory, and a few shops. Here, also, are two hotels, a good school, and the Episcopal, Baptist and Methodist churches, the latter being referred to elsewhere in this work. The postmaster at Wayne is Edson Bailey.
WAYNE FOUR CORNERS is a settlement and trading center in the south part of Wayne, having a few business interests of various kinds. The postmaster here is C. A. Castner.
WEST CATON .- A post-office was established at this point in 1888 (May 29). The hamlet is situated in the northwest corner of the town. The merchant here is S. E. Quackenbush, and the mill proprietor C. D. Barnard. The mill was built in 1860. Postmaster, S. E. Quacken- bush.
WHEELER VILLAGE .- This little hamlet is pleasantly situated near the center of the town of the same name, and although it has never attained to a position of any special prominence among the villages of the county, it is nevertheless an important trading center and also an excellent shipping point on the line of the Kanona and Prattsburg Rail- road. The necessity of a trading post within the town led to the build- ing up of the hamlet and a post-office was established here many years ago. Levi Gray was the first postmaster, followed by Daniel Gray, O. F. Marshall and Ephraim Aulls in the order mentioned. The busi-
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ness interests of the hamlet are few, yet sufficient to supply all local demands. The merchants are E. K. Derick and Fred F. Lewis, while the other interests are embraced in the few small shops incident to country hamlets. However, the saw mill owned and operated by Charles M. Renchan is one of the largest industries of its kind in all Steuben county. The village church and district school are the only public buildings worthy of note.
THE VILLAGE OF WOODHULL .- This is one of the most important of the unincorporated villages in the county, and is situated near the center of a large farming district, hence attracts trade of such character as to materially advance all local interests. Moreover, the village is noted for its delightful situation and beautiful surroundings. The first beginning on the village site was made in 1806 by Caleb Smith, builder of the first mills in the town. Micajah Sherwood was also an early settler here and largely instrumental in building up the hamlet. Jus- of the Peace Calvin Searles was an early comer here, as also were Joseph Tubbs, landlord ; Levi Tubbs, carpenter and shoemaker ; Lyman Rosier, blacksmith; Ichabod Leach, merchant and potash manufac turer; Ira Smith, storekeeper, and others. In these primitive indus- tries was laid the foundation of the village, and after the separate or- ganization of the town the little hamlet became the chief center of trade.
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