USA > New York > Wayne County > Landmarks of Wayne County, New York, Pt. 1 > Part 19
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The town has thirteen school districts and school houses, which were taught during 1892-3 by twenty-four teachers and attended by 912 scholars. The school buildings and sites are valued at $47,000; as- sessed valuation of districts, $3,008,000; public money received from the State, $4,036.59: raised by local tax, $9,091.35.
During the War of the Rebellion the town of Palmyra sent more than 110 of her brave and loyal citizens to fight the nation's battles. Several were promoted to commissioned offices, and nearly 100 killed in action or died of starvation in rebel prisons. Few remain of those who re- turned to tell the thrilling story of that long, sanguinary conflict, and on Memorial Day of each year the dead and living alike are honored by a grateful people.
In 1810 the town of Palmyra (including Macedon and perhaps other territory) had, according to Spafford, 2, 187 inhabitants or 355 families, with 290 senatorial electors; that year 33, 719 yards of cloth were manu- factured. In 1858 there were 12, 100 acres improved land; value of real estate, $1, 190,524; personal property, $195,000; 2,062 male and 2,053 female inhabitants; 713 dwellings; 846 families; 527 freeholders; 14 school districts; 1,319 school children; 859 horses; 1,303 oxen and calves; 1,193 cows; 7,954 sheep; 1,900 swine; the productions were 31,073 bushels winter and 112,235 spring wheat, 3, 713 tons hay, 16,201 bushels potatoes, 33, 113 bushels apples, 105, 711 pounds butter, 14, 816 pounds cheese, and 268 yards domestic cloths.
In 1890 the population was 4,188, or 247 less than in 1880. In 1893 the assessed valuation of land was $937, 179 (equalized $929,282); vil- lage and mill property, $1,015,812 (equalized $1,092,553); railroads and telegraphs, $614, 533 (equalized $583,049); personal property, $525,500. Schedule of taxes 1893: Contingent fund, $3,088. 45; town poor fund, $700; special town tax, $150; reimburse county poor fund, $1,404.32; school tax, $2, 864.06; county tax, $6,852.59; State tax, $3, 776.15; State insane tax, $974.17; dog tax, $314. Total tax, $20,138.65; rate per cent., .00650466. August 8, 1890, the town was divided into four elec- tion districts.
PALMYRA VILLAGE .- Situated on the west border of Palmyra near the southwest corner of the town, on the Erie Canal, and just south of the New York Central and West Shore railroads, this village is one of the finest and one of the most historic in Wayne county. It was the birth- place of Mormonism and Morganism, and closely connected with the in- stitution of spiritualism, all of which are detailed in other pages of this
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volume. It is also the site of the first permanent settlement-that of John Swift in 1790-in the district of Tolland. Swift built a wool card- ing machine, an ashery in 1791, laid out Main street in 1792, and estab- lished a boat landing at the mouth of Red Creek in 1793; he also re- served for a gospel and school lot the site of the present old cemetery, and surveyed out village lots of four acres each on the south side of Main street the same year. In the rear of these, ten-acre lots were laid out, and the first village property, including the present residence lot of C. D. Johnson, was sold to James Galloway. The gospel and school lot was reserved for a burial place in 1796. Stephen Phelps purchased a part of Galloway's lot and built, in 1796, on the site of the Powers Hotel, the second tavern in the village. June 13, 1596, Swift sold nearly all his landed property to Sarah Brockway for $2,000; this was reconveyed to him June 8, 1799, for $2,500. Capt. John Hurlburt, in 1795, bought lots of Swift on the north side of Main street in the upper part of the village, and about the same time John Russell purchased the first lot east of Chapel street, the site of the Presbyterian Church. Theodatus Sawyer, a brother-in-law of Swift, bought one of three lots between Fayette and Cuyler streets, which he sold to Constant South- worth, who in 1806 sold to William Howe Cuyler, from whom Cuyler street was named. The other purchasers of these three lots were Ste- phen Phelps and Joseph Colt. Swift's landing at first promised to be- come the village, for there Zebulon Williams, as previously stated, early established the first store, but the prevalence of fever and ague checked further progress.
In 1812 the village consisted of Main, Canandaigua, and Church streets, the Ensworth tavern, Abner Cole's office, the house of Rev. Eliphalet Rowe on Canandaigua street, the dwellings of James Benson and George Beckwith (Washington Hall) on Church street, a church on the old cemetery site, the drug store of Dr. Gain Robinson, a low building oc- cupied by William Jackway and Platt and Zebulon Williams, a distil- lery, the store of N. H. & G. Beckwith, the tailor shop of A. II. Reed, the saddlery of Abraham Shattuck, the drug store of Mr. MeIntyre, the stores of Nathan Thayer, Samuel Wagstaff, and O'Rourke, the Durfee mill and dwelling, the cooper shop and house of William Cook, known as the "Long House," the " Democratic" and "Federal " school houses, the store of Selby & Phelps and the Phelps tavern, the dwellings of Ezra Shepardson, William P. Wilson (the tanner), Levi Daggett (black- smith), Benjamin Cole (brother of Abner), Mr. Blackman (blacksmith),
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John B. Robson, Levi Thayer, Peleg Holmes, John Swift, Deacon Jes- sup (tanner), Stephen Skellinger, William T. Hussy, Samuel Jennings (merchant), Mr. Johnson (tailor), Dr. Robinson, Joseph Colt; Silas Hart, Dyer Ensworth, John Russell, and a few others, the house, of- fice, and store of William Howe Cuyler, and the clothiery of Andrew G. Howe, where the Episcopal Church now stands.
The first merchant inside the corporation was Joseph Colt; Hubbard Hall was his partner for a time. About 1831 Colt died, and his son Joseph S. carried on business until he removed. Colt owned-two Dur- ham boats, and it is said that Cooper Culver, William Clark, Silas Stoddard, John Phelps, and Gilbert Howell took them, in 1804, to Schenectady, loaded with pork and flour, and returned with a load of merchandise, occupying two months making the trip; other trips fol- lowed. Hall succeeded the Colts, and was followed by Seymour Sco- ville. Patrick O'Rourke and Samuel Jennings were also early merchants; the latter's building was burned in November, 1876. James and Orren White built the first brick building, two stories high, in the village, on the site of the Episcopal church; they were succeeded by Israel J. Richardson, afterward a lawyer, and Samuel Allen, later stage propri- ctor between Palmyra and Canandaigua. T. C. Strong occupied a building where the Baptist church now stands, which was opened as a supply store by Lasher & Candee, canal contractors, who brought here the first stock of gilt-framed mirrors. Nathan Thayer was succeeded by Joel and Levi, brothers, who also had an ashery where the gas house now is. The latter were twins, and built several canal boats, one of which was named Twin Brothers. The first canal collector was Philip Grandin.
Subsequent merchants were: Davenport, Barnes & Co., succeeded by S. L. Thompson & Co .; George N. Williams; Barach, a brother of George Beckwith; Stephen Phelps and Ira Selby; and Leonard Wescott, Daniel G. Pinch, Giles S. Ely, Zuell & White, J. C. Lovett, William HI. Farnham, M. Story, A. C. Sanford, Thomas Birdsell, Pliny Sexton (the first hardware dealer and jewelry merchant), Martin Butterfield, George W. Cuyler, Bowman & Seymour, H. M. Johnson & Co., Bowman & Walker, Brigham, Royce & Co., Alexander MeInyre, Dr. L. Cowen, Cassius C. Robinson, Hoyt & May, William H. Peckham, Elihu Durfee, Thomas Douglass, James F. Barker, David Hotchkiss, and Franklin Williams. The first physician was Dr. Reuben Town.
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Joseph Smith, sr., came here in 1816 from Royalton, Vt. ; his family consisted of Alvin, Sophronia, Joseph, jr., Samuel H., William, Catha- rine, Carlos, and Lucy. He opened a "cake and beer shop," and used a hand-cart in peddling his wares through the streets. In 1818 the family moved to a wild farm, two miles south of the village, and lived in a log house about twelve years. In 1831 they removed. "They were a shiftless set, and Joseph, jr., was the worst of the lot." The Mormon "religion" was instituted, as detailed in a previous chapter, by Joseph Swith, jr., and the organization known as "Latter-Day Saints" came into existence in June, 1830. Even to this day members of that sect come to Palmyra and drive to "Mormon" hill, upon which they gaze with reverential awe.
The first tanner was William P. Wilson about 1800; in 1832 he sub- stituted his old vat system by a brick building, which burned in 1865, and the business was discontinued. About 1820 Wells Anderson started a tannery in the rear of the Powers Hotel, which in 1850 was converted into a carriage shop by the father of A. R. Sherman. Henry Jessup was in partnership with Wilson, whose interest he finally purchased, and about 1816 took George Palmer as partner. Jessup died in 1854. James Blackman was the first blacksmith; others were Asa Lilley and Marshall Johnson. The first saddler was Salmon Hathaway, whose shop occupied the site of the present town hall. Palatiah West was a harnessmaker in 1824. The first cloth dressing and wool-carding mill was built by Calvin Perrine, and Edward Durfee and Jonah Howell established the first grist and saw mills. About 1830 the Palmyra Manufacturing Company built a steam mill on the canal, at the foot of William street, which was burned ten years later. Jessup started another about 1846, which was discontinued in 1860. West of the vil- lage is the "Yellow Mill" of the Downing Brothers, while inside the corporation is the grist mill of A. P. Barnhart. The old George Harri- son mill, now discontinued, is owned by his sons.
The first tavern in the village was built and opened about 1792 by Dr. Azel Ensworth, brother-in-law to William Rogers; it stood on the site of the Methodist church. The second public house was the Stephen Phelps tavern, which occupied the location of the Powers Hotel. In 1820 Phelps removed to Illinois, and in 1824 the structure was rebuilt and enlarged to three stories. It became the Eagle Hotel, and among the landlords were: Horace Warren (a son-in-law to Phelps), Alexander R. Galloway, William Rogers, jr., Lovell Hurd, and Solomon St. Johns.
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About 1835 it was removed and became a store, giving place to the present semi-courtly structure, the erection of which was due to a com- pany consisting of Thomas Rogers, Henry Jessup, B. Butler, Robert C. Jackson, and others. It cost $13,000, and in 1840 was purchased and kept by William P. Nottingham as the Palmyra Hotel. Successive landlords were: Cleveland, Gates, Joseph E. Cochran, and Delos Cum- mings. A few years since the present proprietor, W. A. Powers, assumed charge and changed its name to the Powers Hotel. ' In carly days Asa Lilley kept what was called Lilley's Coffee House; the build- ing was finally removed and occupied by Francis Bartles as a dwelling. Salmon Hathaway built and kept the Franklin House where the village hall now stands; Kingsley Miller was later its landlord. The Bunker Hill House was opened about 1825 by William W. Burrell, who was succeeded by W. P. Nottingham. The present Eagle Hotel was built by Abner F. Lakey for a cabinet shop, and opened as a public house by William Doran. The Farmers' House was opened and rebuilt by Butler Newton. The Cummings House was formerly a dwelling.
Palmyra post-office was established as early as September, 1806; the postmasters, with the dates of their appointments, have been as follows:
Dr. Azel Ensworth, September, 1806; Ira Selby, June 16, 1814; Lemuel Parkhurst, December 31, 1817; Ezra Shepardson, October 23, 1818; William A. MeLane, Novem- ber 17, 1819; Joseph S. Colt, May 5, 1891; Marlin W. Wilcox, August 6, 1829; Pomeroy Tucker, February 13, 1839; David D. Hoyt, March 18, 1841; John O. Vorse, October 21, 1844; William H. Cuyler, January 20, 1848; Thomas Ninde, May 3, 1849; William L. Tucker, April 1, 1853; William H. Cuyler, April 20, 1857; William II. Southwick, May 28, 1861 ; Charles J. Ferrin, August 3, 1865; John W. Corning, October 10, 1866; Charles J. Ferrin, April 12, 1867, Edward S. Averill, 1871; Wells Tyler, 1548; Henry A. Chase, 1877; Frank C. Brown, 1885; Joseph W. Corning, April 15, 1889. Mi. Corning died June 29, 1890, and his widow, Louisa N. Corning, was appointed and held the position until September, 1894, when Daniel B. Harman, the present in- cumbent, took charge.
Palmyra village was incorporated March 29, 1822, and the first election of officers was authorized to be held May 1; there was no election, how- ever, and the charter was amended, designating February 4, 1828, and the house of Lovell Hurd as the time and place for the first meeting. The presiding justices were : Alexander R. Tiffany and Frederick Smith, and the first officers chosen were: Trustees, Joseph Colt, president, Joel Thayer, Thomas Rogers, Nathaniel H. Beckwith, James White; clerk, Thomas P. Baldwin ; treasurer, William Parke; assessors, George N. Williams, Alvah Hendee, George Beckwith ; fire wardens, Stephen
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Ackley, Pliny Sexton, Benjamin Throop. February 19, it was voted to purchase à fire engine and ladders, to remove obstructions from Gan- argwa ( Mud) Creek, to purchase or lease a site for a pound, and to procure a water supply for use in case of fire. The first street (Division) was laid out February 22, and a fire company was organized May 23, with twenty members: Thomas P. Baldwin, Giles S. Ely, Lovewell Hurd, Martin Butterfield, Egbert B. Grandin, Hiram K. Jerome, Joseph D. Hayward, Philip Grandin, Dorastus Cole, Pelatiah West, John W. M. Zuell, James F. Barker, George W. Gazely, Nathaniel Crandall, Adolphus T. Newland, Harry Cooley, Truman Heminway, Jehiel Todd, Sutton Birdsall, and Homer B. Williams. The last sur- vivor was Hiram K. Jerome. That year Franklin, Holmes, and Clinton streets were laid out.
In 1829 Division and Fayette streets were extended, Washington, Cuyler, Jackson, and Carroll streets were laid out, and May 4, the charter was amended. In 1832 it was voted to build an engine house, and August 22, 1835, a tax of $125 was authorized for the purchase of a horse and harness for the village. In 1836 $500 was voted for a new engine, and April 16, 1836, a legislative act increased the number of firemen to thirty-four, which act was supplemented by another, April 24, 1832, adding twenty more. In 1839 an engine and hose house were authorized, and in 1842 a night watch was established. May 9, 1843, $500 were voted to buy a burial place and fence it, and in 1844 the present cemetery was opened. In 1846 a new fire engine was purchased for $1,000. Fires burned Anderson's barn, etc., November 29; and February 2, 1812, the Methodist chapel and Jenner's chair factory were destroyed. March 13, 1852, the village was divided into three fire districts, and a fire alarm attached to the Presbyterian church ; May 21, Red Rover Engine Co. No. I was organized. May 25, 1853, $1,600 were voted to improve Railroad avenue, which was laid out August 1. May 7, 1855, the fire department was reorganized; the old companies were disbanded, and Continental Fire Co. No. 1 was formed with thirty- six members. September 18, a tax of $2,800 was voted to purchase lots and erect engine houses. In August, 1857, the Franklin House was purchased, and November 2, the old engine houses were ordered sold at auction. In 1858, Joseph W. Corning was appointed the first police justice. January 13, 1860, the fire department was again re- organized, with G. C. Williams, foreman of Eagle Fire Co. No. 1, and C. J. Ferrin, forman of No. 2. May 11, 1869, a Silsby steamer and 950
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feet of hose were purchased for $6,000. October 25, 1892, the steel flag pole was dedicated.
July 5, 1876, the Jarvis Block was burned and at once rebuilt of brick. The fire losses in 1876 aggregated about $60,000.
In 1838 the following advertisements appeared in the local papers: Arnold E. Rice, Bunker Hill House; Williams & Filmore, livery and exchange; Higby & Coleman, D. S. Aldrich, and C. W. White, dry goods, etc .; J. K. Cummings, J. & L. Thayer, and Beecher & Glossen- den, forwarding; Ely & Delamater, Butler & Williams, Seaman &
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EASTERN VIEW IN MAIN ST., PALMYRA .- From on old print, 1840.
Thompson, tailoring and clothing; James Jenner, cabinet warehouse; Ely & Beckwith, looking-glasses and frames; E. Williams, Richmond & Brown, plow factories and furnaces; S. Jackson, Palmyra rifle fac- tory; E. S. Townsend, Elihu Durfee, formed a partnership for manu- facturing rope; W. B. Tilden, Linus North, copper, tinware, etc .; Wil- liams's mills, on the Outlet, ground plaster and cash paid for wheat ; Jessup, Smith & Co. and Cyrus Leonard, shoes and leather; C. Terry, groceries; A. P. Crandall, Sherman & Crandall, carriages; W. W. Gordon and Z. Williams, dissolution notice; Lyman W. Post, Higby & Coleman, general stores; Sexton & Butterfield, cash paid for flax seed; D. Hotchkiss, jeweler; Hoyt & May, E. A. Jackway, drugs; S. & T. T. Birdsall, hatter; II. Linnell, chair manufacturer; Warren & Rob. 24
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bins, marble factory; C. B. Bingham, H. Armington, blacksmiths; L. G. Buckley, saddler; HI. K. Jerome, Pomeroy Tucker, lawyers; Wayne County Bank, J. S. Fenton, cashier; Wells Anderson, shoes; Miss H. L. Putnam, select school; High School, H. K. Jerome, sec- retary ; A. Evans, D. D. Hoyt, physicians.
The presidents of the village have been as follows:
Joseph Colt, 1828,
Frederick Smith, 1829, (resigned, and James White, elected),
J. W. Corning, 1856, A. G. Myrick, 185 :- 59, W. H. Southwick, 1860,
James White, 1830, M. W. Wilcox, 1831, Draper Allen, 1832,
A. G. Myrick, 1861-63,
P. P. Huyck, 1864-66,
Truman Heminway, 1833,
Joseph Colt, 1834,
G. W. Cuyler, 1869,
R. C. Jackson, 1835-36,
F. C. Brown, 1870,
Martin W. Wilcox, 1837,
William M. Smith, 1871-72,
Frederick Smith, 1838-39,
Samuel W. Sawyer, 1873-74,
Pomeroy Tucker, 1840.
Henry H. Haile, 1875,
Truman Heminway, 1841,
William S. Phelps, 1876,
Isaac E. Beecher, 1842,
Mark C. Finley, 1877, Charles D. Johnson, 1878,
David Hotchkiss, 1846,
(). 11. Palmer, 1847, David Hotchkiss, 1848,
A. C. Sanford, 1849,
Aaron P. Seeley, 1887, Charles H. Brigham, 1888,
Augustus Elmendorf, 1850,
Albert S. Rogers, 1889,
A. G. Myrick, 1851-52,-
Lewis M. Chase, 1890,
George G. Jessup, 1853,
William W. Williamson, 1891,
Thomas Ninde, 1854,
D. Glossender, 1855,
Henry P. Knowles, 1892, S. Nelson Sawyer, 1893-94. €
The village officers for 1894-5 are: S. Nelson Sawyer, president; Eugene Nichols, George L, Clark, Larue A. Olvitt, R. A. Vanderboget, trustees; Henry D. Sanders, clerk; Alexander P. Milne, treasurer; Charles H. Chapman, Peter II. Ford, George II. Crandall, assessors; M. C. Finley, police justice; J. Morrison Ford, street superintendent ; Eugene Conant, chief of police; George C. Williams, chief, and W. A. Fowers, assistant chief of fire department.
The Palmyra village hall, a brick structure, was erected in 1867 and completed in January, 1868, the contractor being Elon St. John, and the building committee A. P. Crandall and Carlton H. Rogers. It cost about $20,000, and contains the post-office, village offices, fire appara- tus, lockup, and a large auditorium.
Pliny T. Sexton, 1879-83, Edwin B. Anderson, 1884, Oliver Durfee, 1885-86,
Draper Allen, 1843, Augustus Elmendorf, 1844-45,
George W. Cuyler, 1867, A. P. Crandall, 1868,
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In 1853 permission was given Messrs. Jones and Osborne to erect gas works and lay pipes in the street: They failed to carry out the fran- chise, and October 29, 1856, the Palmyra Gas Light Company was or- ganized, comprising George W. Tyler, president; William F. Aldrich, secretary; Franklin Williams, treasurer; and William H. Bowman, James E. Walker, A. C. Sanford, A. P. Crandall, William B. Crandall, Stillman Jackson, and Joseph C. Lovett, of whom the only survivor is A. C. Sanford. A plant was erected on the present site, north of the canal, and the first gas distributed in the fall of 1857. The works have twice been burned and rebuilt. The capital has been increased from $12,000 to $20,000. A. P. Crandall was, until his death in 1893, prin- cipal officer and manager. The present one is Charles MeLouth, presi- dent, secretary, and treasurer.
In March, 1882, a franchise was granted W. W. Williamson, Fred- erick W. Griffith, W. A. Powers, and Frank H. Brown, to establish an electric light system in the village. They were unsuccessful.
The Palmyra Electric Light and Power Company was incorporated in March, 1894, by B. H. Davis, president; W. J. Morrison, vice-presi- dent; G. T. Tinklepaugh, secretary; L. P. Nichols, treasurer; and C. C. M. Hunt. The capital is $10,000. The company obtains the elec- tric current from the plant at Littleville, Ontario county, about eight miles south from Palmyra. The system was placed in operation in the fall of 1894.
The Wayne County Bank of Palmyra was chartered April 30, 1829, with a capital of $100,000. The president was A. Strong, who was suc- ceeded by Thomas Rogers; the cashier was J. S. Fenton. The institu- tion finally wound up its affairs and passed out of existence.
The Palmyra Savings Bank was incorporated April 12, 1842, but after a brief career it went down.
December 25, 1865, Lyman Lyon and S. B. Gavitt began a private banking business in an upper room of Williams's store. Mr. Lyon pur- chased Gavitt's interest in June, 1867, continued alone until his death in August, 1887, when the affairs of the bank were closed up. Mr. Lyon was county clerk two terms.
The First National Bank of Palmyra is the successor and outgrowth of the earlier banking business, conducted for many years in its present offices by the late Pliny Sexton and the late George W. Cuyler. In 1814 Pliny Sexton established, under the then new free banking law, the " Palmyra Bank." Some time afterward George W. Cuyler also estab-
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lished under the same law the " Cuyler's Bank." The business of both parties was later merged, and as partners they continued the business of banking, under the organization of the "Cuyler's Bank," until the incorporation in January, 1864, by the same parties and their associates, of the First National Bank of Palmyra, soon after which time their former State bank was wound up. The incorporators of the First Na- tional Bank were George W. Cuyler, Pliny Sexton, Pliny T. Sexton, William II. Cuyler, Charles MeLouth, and David S. Aldrich, and they also constituted its first board of directors. Its first officers were: George W. Cuyler, president; Pliny Sexton, vice-president; Pliny T. Sexton, cashier. The officers remained unchanged until the death of Mr. Cuyler, in July, 1876. The vacancy thus occasioned was filled on December 30 of that year, by the election of Pliny T. Sexton as presi- dent of the bank. At the same time Robert M. Smith, who had been its teller for several years, was made cashier of the bank, and Stephen P. Seymour was chosen its second vice-president. The three last named officers still (1894) retain their respective positions. On March 26, 1881, Pliny Sexton, the first vice-president, died, and on the 13th of the fol- lowing month Harriot II. Sexton succeeded him as a director of the bank, and was also, on January 18, 1882, chosen his successor as vice- president. The capital of the bank at its organization was $100,000, with the privilege of increasing the same to $1,000,000, to which latter amount, by three separate additions, it attained in September, 1882. The building in which the bank is located was erected in 1830 by the Wayne County Bank, an institution which soon afterward passed out of existence. It was remodeled in 1870, and is now occupied by the of- fices of the First National Bank, and also includes the family residence of Pliny T. Sexton, its president and principal owner. It is a hand- some building and is situated on the corner of Main and William streets.
H. P. Knowles & Co. (William Scott) opened a private banking office in 1866. Mr. Scott was succeeded by B. R. Rogers and he by George W. Knowles, a brother of HI. P. The firm also conduct the express business of the village, which is contemporary with the establishment of their bank.
The Wayne Building, Loan, and Accumulating Fund Association, the only concern of the kind in the county, was incorporated March 8, 1888, with a capital of $5,000,000, which in 1891 was increased to $100, - 000,000. The first officers were George R. Brown, president; D. A. Aldrich, vice-president; A. C. Hopkins, secretary; S. P. Nichols,
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treasurer; S. E. Harkness, L. M. Chase, W. W. Williamson, S. N. Sawyer, F. E. Ryckman, trustees; all of whom constituted the Board of Directors. The successive secretaries have been Frank H. Hale and J. O. Shipman; the other executive officers have remained the same. The present trustees are S. N. Sawyer, L. M. Chase, W. W. William- son, W. A. Powers, and John C. Coates. Shares are $100 each, and from $1,080.60 of assets January 1, 1889, the business has grown to $211, 403.34 to June 30, 1894.
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