Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 5

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 5

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Pioneer Reuben Searle held the office of supervisor until 1804, and Clerk Miller had charge of the town records until 1800. However, as is done in each of the town chapters of this work, we may also in Addison furnish the succession of supervisors from the organization meeting to the present time, viz .: Lemuel Searle, 1797-1803 ; George Martin, 1804; Semuel Searle, 1805; George Martin, 1806-09; David Dickinson, 1810 ; Timothy Searle, 1811-13 ; Wm. B. Jones, 1814-16; Samuel 6

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

Colgrove, 1817-20 ; Wm. B. Jones, 1821-22 ; Samuel Colgrove, 1823 -27 ; Edward Nichols, 1828; Wm. Wombaugh, 1829-30; John Loop, 1831-32; Jas. Baldwin, 1833-35 ; Jno. H. Thompson, 1836-37; Wm Hamilton, 1838; Jno. H. Thompson, 1839-42 ; L. A. Jones, 1843-44 ; Frederick R. Wagner, 1845 ; Wm. Wombaugh, 1846; Rufus Baldwin, 1847; W. W. Smith, 1848; Jas. H. Miles, 1849-50; H. Ross Jones, 1851-52; E. D. Root, 1853 ; Geo. W. Carr, 1854; Abram Dudley, 1855; Edwin J. Horn, 1856; O. Seymour, 1857-58 ; Thos. Paxton, 1859 ; Henry Baldwin, 1860; E. J. Horn, 1861-63; F. C. Dininny, 1864-71 ; Henry Baldwin, 1872-73 ; S. V. Lattimer, 1874-77 ; Albert G. Crane, 1878-80 ; Henry Baldwin, 1881-85 ; D. C. Hagar, 1886; E. D. Root, 1887-93 ; James S. Harrison, 1894-95.

The town officers for the year 1895 are : James S. Harrison, super- visor ; Frank B. Orser, town clerk ; Philander C. Daniels, Eugene Wade, Charles Turnbull, W. A. Bartlett, justices ; J. J. Martin, F. H. Wheaton and C. O'Connor, assessors ; R. B. Orr, collector ; Oliver D. Stewart, overseer of the poor ; Jos. Thompson, highway commissioner ; Frank Bliss, C. Connors and A. Allison, excise commissioners.

The town of Addison, inclusive of the village. had a population in 1890 of 2,908. In the history of the town there has ever been shown a gradual increase both in population and business interests, though the frequent reductions in areas, taken for other towns, makes it difficult to present any comparative tables showing actual progress in all directions. As we have mentioned, the inhabitants in 1800 numbered 174, and 369 in 1810. In 1820 the number was 652, and in 1830 was 944. It was 1,920 in 1840, and the greatest number, 3,721, was reached in 1850. 1856 Rathbone was taken off, and the census of 1860 gave Addison a population of 1,715. From this time no further reductions in territory were made, and subsequent years have witnessed a constant increase as follows : 2,218 in 1870 ; 2,534 in 1880, and 2,908 in 1890.

In the early history of the town it appears that Addison had in its population a number of enterprising men, who were firm believers in improvement of the region as well as personal gain, and from well preserved records we learn that George Goodhue built the first saw mill in 1793, while William Wombaugh's saw mill was built in 1805, and his grist mill one year later. Samuel Smith was the first storekeeper. Stephen Rice, son of Samuel, was the first white child born in the town,

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

while the first marriage was that of Brown Gillespie and the daughter of Elisha Gilbert. A post-office was established in 1804. Slavery was not an unknown institution of the town, although the number of slaves owned here was far less than noticeable in some other localities. The records show occasional entries of ownership and birth of slaves, yet this custom of the past was found not to be congenial to the interests of proprietors, and the bondmen were soon set free.

The first settlers also found a few straggling Indian occupants still in the region, and the latter reluctantly withdrew before the steady ad- vance of civilization. Little trouble was occasioned by their presence and few indeed are the Indian traditions and stories of a century ago. A little later, during the war of 1812-15, much excitement prevailed in the region, growing out of the discussions of the events of the time, and there seemed to be a small though determined element of Federalism pervading this community. However, public feeling seldom went be- yond animated controversy and the patriotic pioneers enrolled them- selves on the side of " home and country," joined the militia and made ready for war and the threatened possibilities of an invasion.

About the year 1825, and from that time on to 1855, Addison was the very center of a vast lumber region. Indeed, this was one of the most famous pine lumber localities in the State, and also a place of resort for all the lumbermen on the northern border of Pennsylvania and Southern New York. "In the spring of the year," says a cotem - porary writer, "the surface of the Canisteo was a complete sheet of rafts from Hornellsville to the ' Deadwater,' as Addison was then called ; and the story has often been told that during the rafting season that one could almost walk from Hornellsville to Addison on rafts, except where there were dams across the river."

A few years before lumbering was at its height in this region, the settlers passed through the period remembered as the anti-rent conflict, and all local interests were more or less affected by it ; and at one time, it is said, business was practically at a standstill. Many of the foremost men of the town were active participants in the events of the period, and in the Bath convention, in January, 1830, the local delegates were William Wombaugh, Lemuel B. Searles, David Shumway, Eber Scofield and Daniel Burdick.

Another interesting subject for perusal and reference in the history

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

of this town is found in the record made by her contingent of volun- teers enlisted and sent into the service during the war of 1861-5, by which it is known that the early martial spirit of the ancestor was in- herited by the later generation of descendants. By the acts of the lat- ter the patriotic reputation for which this town has long been noted was upheld and elevated. A brief reference to the roster of volunteers from Addison discloses the fact that during the period of the war the town furnished two hundred men for the service, who were scattered through the several regiments recruited in the county and in this part of the State. In another chapter the reader will find a complete list of the several commands, and also a record of their service at the front, wherefore the subject may be briefly mentioned in this place.

In matters pertaining to the spiritual and educational welfare of the youth of the town, the first settlers gave full heed, and their example has been accepted as a rule of action for the authorities during later years. The church and religious societies will be found mentioned in another department of this work, hence repetition here is unnecessary. Unfortunately, the early records afford but little reliable information concerning the first schools of the town, or the division of the territory into districts, yet well verified tradition informs us that the schools have kept even pace with progress in other directions. As at present con- stituted the town is divided into five districts, each of which is provided with a good school. In the town, including the village, sixteen teachers were employed during the last current year, and the whole number of children attending school was 646. The value of all school property is estimated at $33,715, and the assessed valuation of the districts is $879,870. There was apportioned to the town public moneys to the extent of $2,313.34, and the town raised by tax the sum of $8,387.38, all used for maintenance and support of schools.

AVOCA .- On the 12th of April, 1843, the towns of Bath, Cohocton, Howard and Wheeler surrendered portions of their territory to a new formation by the name of Avoca; and so called, it is said, in allusion either to Moore's poem " Sweet Vale of Avoca," or " Meeting of the · Waters." However, to the pioneers this locality was known as Bu- chanan, from the fact that William Buchanan was the first settler in the region. The locality also bore the designation of "Eight Mile Tree," being eight miles distant west from the county seat, from which point all early reckonings were made.

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

Speaking briefly of the natural features of the town, the statement may be made that Avoca is to be numbered among the hilly divisions of the county, a few of the summits reaching a height of nearly 500 feet. Nearly north and south across the town runs the Conhocton, which, with its principal tributaries, Twelve-Mile, Ten-Mile and Niel's Creeks, form beautiful valleys and scenery unsurpassed in the county. Notwithstand- ing the rough and hilly character of the land surface, Avoca is regarded as one of the first towns in the entire Conhocton valley in point of general fertility and productiveness ; and during comparatively recent years an additional importance attaches to the town, for its villages and hamlets on the lines of railroad are shipping points of much note. Although very irregular in surface and boundary, the 21,300 acres of land which comprise the town are in favorable comparison with any similarly situated division of historic Steuben.

Going back a hundred years and more the sole occupants of this part of the Conhocton valley were Indians, scattered fragments of the once powerful Iroquois tribes who were loth to leave their favorite resorts and fishing grounds, although the voice of the savage nation had spoken in favor of a sale of the land. Pioneers William and Michael Buchanan found a considerable Indian settlement in the valley in 1794, while as late as 1808, Abram Towner came and described from 50 to 100 lodges on the flat lands below his house. All settlers, early and late, referred to these occupants as a lazy, shiftless set, and occasionally inclined to create trouble, but about 1818 they had departed for the reservations generously provided for them by the State.

As we have stated. William Buchanan and his son Michael were the pioneers in this town, having been sent into this part of the then town of Bath in 1794 to open and maintain a public house for the entertain- ment of prospective settlers. These pioneers made various improve- ments, among them putting up a log inn and planting an orchard. From his settlement the locality became known as Buchanan's, although the name " Eight Mile Tree " was more suggestive of the distance from the settlement to the village at Bath. Following soon after the Buchan- ans, came James and Hugh McWhorter, James and George Moore, Gershom Townley and Finley McClure, all of whom were here previous to 1800, and who were active in clearing and improving the region in one direction and another. McClure was a farmer and opened a road

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

from Kanona to his cabin home. Towner was an inn keeper and kept a resort of much fame in early days, and was noted for his generosity and hospitality.

The other early settlers who came to this region between the years 1801 and 1815, and were scattered over the entire district, were Abram Towner, Asa Phillips, James Babcock, Richard and John Van Buskirk, James Davis, Henry Smith, Daniel Mckenzie, William Moody, Jon- athan Tilton, John Donahue, Allen Smith, Samuel Burnham, Oliver Rice and Eleazor Tucker, all of whom settled in that part of the town which was set off from Bath.

The Howard contribution comprised Isaac Baldwin, William Allen, Timothy Parkhill, Charles Robords, Henry Kennedy and William Goff. Still later comers, yet worthy to be mentioned among the pioneers, were Gershom Salmon, John B. Calkins, Joseph Matthewson, John Putnam, James Silsbee, Hugh Briggs, Van Heusen Hopkins and others. Being taken from older and prominent towns, Avoca has little to present in the way of important early events, yet it is said that William McWhor- ter and Michael Buchanan 2d, were the first children born ; that Michael Buchanan died in 1811; that James McWhorter and the widow Buchanan were married in 1812 ; that in 1809 Henry Kennedy built the saw mill at the place called Goff's Mills, while Eleazur Tucker is credited with having built the first saw mill in the town, though at a now unknown date. William Goff built the first grist mill in 1812. Alonzo Simmons kept the first store. Tucker, above mentioned, built a saw mill on the river in 1825. Previous to 1812 there were but two teams of horses in the town. The first framed dwelling in Avoca was built by James McWhorter. Elders Buzzell and Elisha Brownson were the first preachers.

Such were the early events of town history in Avoca, but they took place long years before the town itself was formed or even contem- plated. Settlement here was of much the same character as in other parts of Bath and Howard ; there were the same hardships and the same pleasures as attended pioneership elsewhere in the county. Dur- ing the war of 1812-15, the same excitement existed here as lower down the valley, and the immediate presence of the Indians occasioned a feeling of fear and uncertainty not experienced in some other locali- ties. But the period passed without serious disturbance and the return

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

of peace witnessed great strides in settlement and prosperity. A little later came the anti-rent conflict, but this was the cause of not more than temporary embarrassment to local interests.

Settlement, growth and development in this part of Conhocton valley was so rapid that as years passed a new town was considered desirable, yet not until about 1840 was the subject seriously discussed ; and still three years more passed before the older towns were called upon to yield portions of their territory to the new formation. Thus, when the organization was in fact effected the affairs of the locality were all in order, the hamlets had been built up and established, and the simple act of election of town officers was the only necessary thing to be accomplished

The records show that the first town meeting was held at the house of James G. Barto, on May 12, 1843, at which time these officers were elected : Henry A. Louck, supervisor ; Jesse Louck, town clerk ; Oliver Rice, Simeon Holmes, Luther Tilton, justices; John Donahe, John L. Robords, Marcus Peck, assessors; James Gorton, John Collier, John T. Allen, highway commissioners ; Jonathan Silsbee and Abram Turner, overseers of the poor ; Perry S. Donahe, collector.

In this connection it is also interesting to note the succession of supervisors from the time of organization to the present, viz .: Henry A. Loucks, 1843 ; George W. Burnham, 1844-48; Henry H. Bouton, 1849-52 ; Jos. I. Burnham, 1853 ; H. H. Bouton, 1854; Henry Goff, 1855 ; Salmon Waterbury, 1856-57 ; Joel Carrington, 1858-59 ; Henry A. Loucks, 1860; A. M. Waterbury, 1861 ; J. H. Nicholson, 1862-63 ; Salmon H. Palmer, 1864-66; Joel Carrington, 1867-68 ; I. J. Haskin, 1869; S. E. Haskin, 1870; I. J. Haskin, 1871; F. N. Barney, 1872 ; I J. Haskin, 1873 ; D. E. Hoadley, 1874; Thomas Cotton, 1875-76; N. B. Chase, 1877-80; Thomas Cotton, 1881-82; C. Patterson, 1883 ; Lawrence Saltsman, 1884; C. Patterson, 1885 ; Jerry Hall, 1886; A. J. Arnold, 1887-88 ; Lemuel Matthewson, 1889-90; A. J. Arnold, 1891-92 ; A. L. Zielley, 1893-95.

The town officers for the year 1895 are Alex. L. Zielley, supervisor ; J. L. Hunn, town clerk; George C. Silsbee, Thomas J. Redhead, George A. Fox and Ripley C. Oxx, justices ; A. C. Wagner, Martin Brown and James Robinson, assessors ; Joseph Ells, collector ; Lyman Arnold, overseer of the poor; John E. Olmsted, highway commis-

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

sioner ; Orton Dye, Frank Shultz and Fred L. Peck (did not qualify) commissioners of excise.

When set off and organized in 1843, the inhabitants of Avoca num- bered about 1,660, and, according to the enumeration of 1845, the number was 1,668. In 1850 it had fallen to 1,574, but during the suc- ceeding ten years increased to 1,885, the greatest population in the history of the town to that time. In 1870 the number was 1,740, and in 1880 was 1,843 In 1890 Avoca contained 2,242 inhabitants, show- ing a somewhat surprising growth in the pretty little village of Avoca, a historical sketch of which will be found elsewhere in this work.

From what has been stated in this brief chapter it will be seen that the early and perhaps the most interesting history in this town was made while its territory formed a part of the older divisions from which it was created. Yet, notwithstanding this, it may truthfully be said that the greatest strides in advancement and prosperity have been made during the last half century, and many of them may be placed to the credit of the last twenty five years. The construction of the railroad (now the Erie) through Conhocton valley was the one event which above all others contributed to local welfare, and the more recent building of the D. L. & W. road only added to the progress then being made, and also stimulated the inhabitants to greater exertions. The result of local energy and thrift are apparent, for Avoca enjoys the pleasant reputation of being one of the best and most productive towns in all Steuben. It lies well within the "potato belt " and produces remarkably in that and also in general farm crops under careful atten- tion. This condition of things has built up and made Avoca village what it is, and the hamlets of the town have shared in the general pros- perity.

The only event of general importance in the history of the town, outside of ordinary affairs, was the period of the war of 1861-65, dur- ing the terms of office of supervisors Waterbury, Nicholson and Palmer, all of whom were prominently identified with the "war measures " adopted and the hearty support accorded to all efforts of raising troops and creating bounty funds. During the war, Avoca sent into the service a total of one hundred and twenty three men, and exceeded her quota by a fair number. Of a truth it may be said that no town in the region displayed more patriotism or public-spiritedness during that

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

terrible four years than did Avoca, and none made more free and gen- erous provision for the payment of bounties to recruits.

The early history of the schools of Avoca was a part of the record of the older towns and furnishes little of interest to this chapter. At the organization meeting, John B. Stevenson and John Conner were elected commissioners, and Charles W. C. Howard and Addison Niles inspec- tors of common schools. After the erection of the town its territory was regularly divided into new districts, formed to suit the convenience of the inhabitants, and these have been changed in later years as neces- sity required. As now constituted the town contains eleven school districts, and fifteen teachers are annually employed. During 1894, four hundred and sixty nine children attended school. The value of school property is estimated at $9,445. The town received of public moneys, $1,852.14, and raised by local tax $3,582.09. Four trees were planted during the year.

BATH .- On the 15th of April, 1793, Charles Cameron and a party of pioneer woodsmen landed from their flat boats and made a camp near where the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western station now stands in the village of Bath. This was the advance guard of civilization in an uninhabited and comparatively unknown region, and the adventurers themselves were sent hither at the direction of Charles Williamson, the latter the owner of almost a principality, though in fact he was only the representative of a syndicate of capitalists whose only aim was personal gain. Yet Charles Williamson was vested with almost extraordinary authority and power and lavishly did he expend his principals' money in improving and developing the country in which he afterward lived for several years.

Captain Williamson reached Bath very soon after the arrival of Cameron and companions. They came from Northumberland, Penn- sylvania, by water and brought supplies and provisions for both sub- sistence and the founding of a settlement. At that time we are told this region was a vast, dense forest, inhabited only by wild animals and a few scattered fragments of the once powerful Seneca Indians. The latter had signed away their domain to the Phelps and Gorham proprie- tary, and through a series of transfers the lands had come into the ownership of the Pulteney associates, whose agent Williamson was and 7

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY

under whose direction was now to be undertaken the development and sale of this vast estate.

If we correctly interpret his character there was nothing of the nig- gard in Captain Williamson, nor did he enter half-heartedly into any of his many enterprises ; and while he was ever mindful of the rights and interests of his principals, he also kept faith with his promises to settlers, thus gaining their respect and admiration. True, he was charged with prodigality and unnecessary expenditures in the use of the revenues of his principals, yet no person who knew the genial captain ever believed he acted or dealt solely for personal purposes or gain. The Pulteney as- sociates, being foreigners and non-residents, were never in a position to fully appreciate the situation of affairs on their territory in New York, nor the fact that their agent was engaged in an effort to settle quite un- desirable land in competition with some of the most fertile and beautiful tracts for which Western New York is and ever has been noted. To accomplish this it became necessary for the agent to make outlays in building a principal thoroughfare of travel from far across the Pennsyl- vania border into the very center of the region sought to be disposed of at best advantage. And it became necessary, too, to found a new village in the region, and to this end the pioneers were sent up the Conhocton and pitched their camps on the site of the village of Bath. Captain Williamson had previously made headquarters at Northumber- land, from which point he did effective work, but the necessities of the occasion and the situation of the lands in New York demanded a change, hence his action in founding the settlement which soon afterward be- came the shire town of one of the largest and most important inland counties of this great State.

"The first comers," says Mr. McCall's address,1 " were not roman- cers, but stern workers who braced themselves for the toils and priva- tions before them. Thomas Rees, jr., the surveyor, with his corps of assistants, began at once to plot the village, locate the streets and squares, and number the lots, while Cameron and his helpers, after clearing the ground and making rustic cabins in which to shelter them- selves, proceeded to erect a log building on the south side of Pulteney

1 Ansel J. McCall is conceded authority on all matters of local history, and the writer has made free use of his valuable manuscripts and excellent memory in the preparation of this chapter.

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

Square, of sufficient capacity for the accommodation of Captain William- son's family and the transaction of his official business. On the north side of Morris street, about twenty rods west of the square, they erected a log structure for John Metcalf's hostelry. James Henderson, the mill-wright, sought a mill site on the Conhocton (now owned by John Baker and occupied by his flour mill) and with his crew began building a saw mill to furnish boards for floors, doors and roof for the new land office, hotel and other structures being put up. It was the first saw mill in the town, and was completed on the 25th of August.

Captain Williamson in a few days was on the ground in person, super- intending operations and cheering the faint hearted by his presence and stirring words."

In the Cameron party of pioneers and builders of a county town were these persons : Andrew Smith, familiarly called " Muckle" Andrew, in allusion to his remarkable size and strength, and grandfather to John L. Smith ; William McCartney, the pioneer of Dansville ; Hector Mc- Kenzie, who died in the West Indies and Henry Tower, an afterward prominent business man, all of whom came from the vicinity of Cap - tain Williamson's home near Balgray, Scotland. There were also Thomas Corbett, pioneer at Mud Creek; Thomas Rees, jr., the sur- veyor who plotted the village and likewise made many surveys in the vicinity, all of which have ever been regarded as a standard ; Alexander Ewing, who afterward settled at Mt. Morris; William Ewing, also a surveyor, who moved to Ohio ; John Metcalf, the pioneer tavern-keeper, and one of the village worthies; James Henderson, the millwright ; Samuel Doyle, an old patriot of the Revolution, and whose descendants still live in the vicinity, and Joseph Arbour, Richard Armour, John Scott, Charles McClure, Peter Loop, Mr. Upton, Benjamin Patterson, the hunter, and Joseph Bivens, who kept the first tavern at Bloods, now Atlanta. Most of these were Scotch Irishmen from the West Branch, and came to the new settlement chiefly as laborers and me- chanics, yet many of them became permanent residents, developed into useful and capable men, and were in all respects worthy citizens and upright men.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 5

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