Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 20

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

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William, Nathaniel Leigh, John Barker, Anderson Tyler and Seth and Martin Sprague settled in that town not much later, and all near the lake shore road.

In Aurora in 1809 David Rowley and Samuel Calkins settled south of East Aurora village, and Timothy and Oren Treat elsewhere in the town. Oren passed his long life there. In the same year Humphrey Smith (possibly associated with his father, Abram) began building a grist mill at the site of Griffin's Mills, which was completed the next year. Wales settlers were increased in number in that year by the arrival of Peleg Havens, Welcome Moore, Isaac Reed and perhaps a few others.

In the northern part of the county settlement advanced still more rapidly in 1809. In Newstead Archibald S. Clarke was doing a grow- ing mercantile business and was again elected to the Assembly. Among other new settlers were Isaac Denio, John Millerman, and Benjamin Ballou. Most of the settlers in Clarence still located in the south part of the town, but Matthias Vantine penetrated the wilderness to four miles north of Harris Hill and there made his home. His son David was then fifteen years old and lived his long life in that town. He stated before his death that in 1809 there was not a family north of the limestone ledge. Samuel Beaman, afterwards honored with the title of "Colonel," settled in 1809 three miles north of Clarence Hollow and dwelt on the same farm sixty-seven years. In the same year Rev. Glezen Fillmore, who was licensed as a Methodist exhorter in March, 1809, started on foot from his home in Oneida county and traveled through the snow and mud to begin a long period of arduous and ef- ficient labor for his Master. Going first to the home of his uncle Cal- vin in Clarence, he began work, preaching first in David Hamlin's house. He subsequently procured land and lived thereafter at Clarence Hollow. He returned to Oneida county in the fall of 1809 to wed Lavina Atwell, who came back with him and lived to about ninety years of age in her new home. She stated that when she arrived there a Methodist society was already in existence. Samuel Hill, jr., was elected supervisor of Clarence for 1809, about which time Otis Ingalls opened the first store in that town, at what is now Clarence Hollow.

Meanwhile the little hamlet on Buffalo Creek was attracting many residents, among whom were some whose names are still familiar in the speech of modern years and who wielded a large influence on the destiny of the place.

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Dr. Ebenezer Johnson arrived in Buffalo in 1809, bearing a flattering letter of introduction from his brother Hezekiah to Erastus Granger, dated at Cherry Valley. Dr. Johnson practiced his profession several years and later became successful in other business affairs. He was for a period associated with Samuel Wilkeson, and later engaged in banking and brokerage; but he suffered severe losses in the financial revulsion of 1836, his fortune was swept away, and he removed to another State where he soon after died. Dr. Johnson was the first mayor of Buffalo city, and the peculiar stone residence on Delaware avenue, now connected with the Female Academy, built by him, and the adjoining Johnson park, perpetuate his memory.

Among the purchasers of lots in Buffalo in 1809 were Marmaduke Wells, a brother of Joseph Wells, and Otis R. Hopkins. They prob- ably did not settle in the place, although it appears that Mr. Wells held the office of constable in the village at an early period.

Benjamin Caryl settled in Buffalo in 1808, afterwards lived for a time at Williamsville and still later returned to Buffalo where he died. Four of his daughters married respectively Gen. Lucius Storrs, Royal Colton, J. H. Coleman, and R. W. Haskins, all of whom were residents of Buf- falo. Isaac Davis was one of the very early merchants of the village and had a store and dwelling on the west side of Main street just below Seneca. Heavy losses soon after the war drove him to commit suicide in 1818.

An important arrival in Buffalo in 1808 was Juba Storrs, who became a prominent business man of the county, and was associated within a short time with Benjamin Caryl and Samuel Pratt, jr., in mercantile operations, although he had been educated for the law. He wrote the following letter to his father soon after his arrival:

BUFFALO CREEK, July 15, 1808.

My Dear Parent-You will perceive from the date of this that I am farther from home than I contemplated when I left Mansfield. It is a good day's ride from Ontario, where I thought of making a stand; but the information I received at Geneva and Canandaigua induced me to pursue my route to this place. You will find it on the map by the name of New Amsterdam. It is a considerable village, at the mouth of Buffalo creek, where it empties into Lake Erie, and is a port of entry for Lake Ontario [Erie] the St. Lawrence and all the western lakes, and will eventually be the Utica and more than the Utica of this western country.

A little later he wrote as follows:

My partner nor myself have been able to obtain from Ellicott a well situated village

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lot. Caryl contracted for a lot, with a house sufficient for a store, for $500-then the best that we could get, for which I suppose we could get six hundred, if we did not think the rise would be something handsome within a short time.

This firm built a brick store in 1810 on the northeast corner of Wash- ington and Exchange streets, which was without doubt the first brick building in Buffalo. During the existence of the firm Mr. Pratt was appointed sheriff and Mr. Storrs county clerk. After Mr. Pratt's re- tirement from the firm Lucius Storrs, brother of Juba, took his place. After the burning of the village the mercantile business was removed to Canandaigua; but previously, in 1812, they leased mill property at Williamsville.

The extracts from the foregoing letters of Mr. Storrs possess peculiar interest. Utica, as indicated therein, was then the most preten- tious interior city in the State, while the allusion to the probability that at some future time Buffalo would overtake and pass that city in size and wealth is somewhat amusing from the standpoint of the present. The rapidly spreading reputation of Buffalo, and its auspicious pros- pects, and the judgment of men at distant points on that subject, are shown by the statement of Mr. Storrs as to his abandonment of his original purpose and his determination to settle in the village at the foot of Lake Erie on the advice of men in Geneva and Canandaigua. So, also, he gives us valuable information concerning real estate and its rising value.

As to the condition and appearance of Buffalo as a whole in 1809 we fortunately have clear records. The customs "District of Buffalo Creek," as it was officially known, was established probably in 1808 and Erastus Granger was appointed collector. In the winter of 1808-9 it appears an effort was made in Congress by Peter B. Porter to remove the custom office to Black Rock where his prospective interests largely lay. He had been elected to Congress for that year from the most western district of the State, and was still a resident of Canandaigua. But with his elder brother, Augustus Porter, and Benjamin Barton, jr., he had formed a partnership under the name of Porter, Barton & Co., and the firm were the principal forwarders of eastern goods to the west over the well known route by Oneida Lake, Oswego, and Lake Ontario to Lewiston, and thence by land around the falls and by vessel up Lake Erie. They also, in association with others, had bought 800 acres of land extending from Scajaquada Creek southward to near what is now Breckinridge street. South of that was the 100-acre State ferry lot, and

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still farther on what was then called South Black Rock, where the State had signified its intention of laying out a village which would extend to the " mile-line" on the west side of Buffalo. Buffalo itself then had no harbor worthy of the name, and all vessels of much tonnage stopped at Black Rock. This effort to remove the custom office was naturally opposed by prominent citizens of Buffalo village. Erastus Granger was loyal to Buffalo, as will be seen in the following letter, which not only covers the subject of the proposed removal, but gives us a vivid, if somewhat enthusiastic, description of the place at that time. The entire letter is, therefore, worthy of a place here:

BUFFALO, October 20, 1809.

Hon. A. Gallatin :

SIR-During the last session in Congress I noticed the passing of a resolution for instructing the committee on commerce and manufactures to inquire into the ex- pediency of removing the custom house in the district of Niagara and Buffalo Creek from Fort Niagara to Lewiston, and from Buffalo to Black Rock. I have since un- derstood that Col. Peter B. Porter, member from this State, was the mover of the resolution. That there may be reasons for removing the custom house in the former place I do not deny, but to remove the latter at this time, I think would be highly improper. Believing that I am correct in my opinion, and believing also that to remain silent on the subject would be a neglect of duty which I owe to you, the head of the Revenue Department, I hasten to communicate a brief statement of facts for your consideration.

The village of Buffalo, where the custom house is now kept, is situate near the mouth of Buffalo Creek, and at the outlet of Lake Erie. It is a good harbor for boats. Vessels often lie off at the mouth of the creek and receive loading. The place is fast increasing in population and business. It already contains forty-three families, besides a number of young gentlemen who are centered here in professional and mercantile pursuits.

It is the seat of justice for the County of Niagara, and has a handsome Court house and Jail nearly completed. Most of the importations heretofore from Canada have been made by the citizens of this place. Its situation for obtaining informa- tion of what is passing in the district is superior to any other place.

Black Rock is opposite the rapids in Niagara River, and is only two and a quarter miles from the center of the village of Buffalo, as the road now goes.

The land for a considerable distance below and above Black Rock, is owned by the State of New York, and no law is yet passed for the selling of it. A Mr. Miller has built a temporary house at the Rock, under the bank of the river, where a ferry bouse and tavern are kept.

Messrs. Porter, Barton & Co. have built a store on the Rock; one other white family and two black families compose the inhabitants of the place. About three- fourths of a mile below the rock there are two other families living on land belong- ing to Messrs. Porter & Co.

The vessels employed in the navigation of Lake Erie, when in port, lie at the

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head of the rapids in the Niagara River, and a little below a reef of rocks called Bird Island. At this place they receive and discharge their loading by boats. The distance of this place from Black Rock is one mile, and from Buffalo one and three- fourths miles; making the difference in favor of the former only three-fourths of a mile. The land opposite Bird Island is owned by the State. There is some busi- ness done on the lake in open boats. These uniformly use the harbor of Buffalo Creek.

I cannot say but in time it will be expedient to remove the Custom house from Buffalo, but at present I do not conceive there is any necessity for, or propriety in, the measure.

I have no private motives or personal interest in opposing the measure, for should I be continued as the Collector, I could as well do the business at Black Rock as at Buffalo, provided I could buy a piece of land on which to build an office, and not be- come a squatter on other's land.

I will only observe that the foregoing statement is founded on facts, and I pledge myself to prove it by unquestionable testimony if necessary.

I have the honor to be sir, with great respect, your obedient, humble servant,

ERASTUS GRANGER.

It is a pleasure at this late date to know that Mr. Granger's appeal was heeded and the port of entry remained for a period at Buffalo.

Farther on the same subject we have the following from the pen of Henry Lovejoy, written at about the same time:

Save a few houses on Main street, four or five on the lower end of Washington street, and seven or eight on the lower end of Pearl street, one unbroken and primeval forest cast its shadow over and around the whole extent, relieved only by a little ray of light where the entrance to Buffalo creek revealed to the eye a glimpse of the broad expanse of Erie's waters. The lake shore above and below the mouth of the creek was one continuous arbor of trees covered with the native grape vine and so thickly were they matted together that it was no difficult task to pass from one to another on their tangled surface. This natural arbor continued down the beach some distance below the mouth of the creek, when one came to what were called the Sand Hills; they rose abruptly from the back part of the beach, some of them to a height of forty or fifty feet, and were covered on the back with full sized forest trees to the summit; in front they were nearly barren. Between the Sand Hills and the Terrace was a dense forest, except a narrow strip called the Cranberry Marsh. The Sand Hills continued down to near Fort Porter.

Upon Turner's authority it is stated that the first religious meetings in Buffalo were held in the court house, and in 1809 the first society was organized by the Congregationalists and Presbyterians who united for the purpose, under direction of Rev. Thaddeus Osgood. Amos Callen- der was a leading member and promoter of the church, but there was no regular preacher until later.

In the same year the peculiar curve which disfigured one side of

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Main street in front of the lot taken by Mr. Ellicott, as before noticed, was straightened, probably by authority of the highway commissioners of the town of Clarence, who then had jurisdiction over such matters in the village. Surprise has often been expressed that Mr. Ellicott, with the influence that he then undoubtedly possessed, did not prevent this action, if he so desired. He had already procured stone for the building of a large residence; but the fact remains that the street was made straight and the stone used in building the new jail. The lot was not subdivided and sold until after Mr. Ellicott's death.

Although two years were still to elapse before the opening of a con- flict in which this county was to be most deeply interested, the clouds of the oncoming storm were already rising above the horizon.

CHAPTER XIII.

JUST BEFORE THE WAR.

Continued Immigration-Census of 1810-Erection of the Town of "Buffaloe"- Holland Company's Sale of Rights in Indian Territories-Completion of Court House and Jail-Settlers in Buffalo in 1810-11-The Firm of Townsend & Coit- Grosvenor & Heacock-Removal of Custom House-Surveys of Black Rock- The Old Ferry-Its Removal to Ferry Street-A Moral Society-Settlement in the Various Towns-Characteristics of the Pioneers-The Buffalo Gazette-Division of Willink-Erection of New Towns-Preparations for War.

While the inhabitants of Erie county, in common with those of all the northern frontier, heard with dread and apprehension the first faint whispers foreshadowing another conflict with England, there is no evidence that they turned aside from those pursuits that were just beginning the transformation of the wilderness to cultivated farms, and the establishment of the foundations of a city. Although it must have been apparent to all that a war with England would bring suffer- ing and possible bloodshed to all dwellers along the frontier, the tide of immigration flowed on, and during the two and a half years from the date reached in the preceding chapter until the actual outbreak of the struggle, rapid progress was made and some important occurrences took place within and near Erie county.

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The United States census taken in 1810 shows the population of Ni- agara county to have been 6,132, of whom about two-thirds were within the present Erie county; while according to Judge Granger's record there were forty-three families and a considerable number of unmarried persons in Buffalo village. The old town of " Buffaloe " was erected on February 10, of that year, comprising within its limits all of the orig- inal Clarence lying west of the West Transit; or, to make it more clear, it comprised what are now Buffalo city and the towns of Grand Island, Tonawanda, Amherst and Cheektowaga, and the north part of West Seneca. The new town was about eighteen miles in extent north and south, and from eight to sixteen miles wide.

It was in this year that the Holland Company sold their pre-emption right in all the Indian reservations on the purchase to the Ogden Com- pany. The territory embraced about 196,000 acres, and the price was $98,000, or about fifty cents an acre. The court-house and jail were also completed in 1810, and the judicial and official machinery of Niag- ara county was set in motion. The jail stood a little north of the first court-house on Washington street. It was built of stone and withstood the flames in 1813, to such an extent that it was repaired after the war and again used.

During the period under consideration the population of the village of Buffalo received considerable accession and its business interests were materially advanced. While a few lots were sold in Black Rock in this year, and a few stores built and opened, the purchases were quite nu- merous in Buffalo, which was soon to outstrip its early rival and ulti- mately to swallow it bodily. The Holland Company's records show that in 1810 William Best, Asahel Adkins, Asa Coltrin, Eli Hart, John Mullett, Gamaliel St. John, and Nathan Toles purchased lots in Buffalo. Mr. St. John was, perhaps, in the village prior to 1810, for the record shows that he purchased inner lot 53 (on what is now Main street above Court) on January 24, of that year. It was on that lot that he built the dwelling which escaped the torch of the British in 1813, as related farther on.

Asa Coltrin was a physician and at one time a partner of Dr. Cy- renius Chapin. John Mullett, who purchased inner lot 10 (east side of Main street, second lot south of Swan) was a tailor and had a partner in James Sweeney; that lot was later occupied by Sweeney & Efner, who were long the leading tailors of the village and were succeeded by Thomas Kennett.

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Eli Hart purchased inner lot 41 (corner of Main and Erie streets) September 1, 1810, built a store and early became a merchant; by sub- sequently taking his brother in law into partnership the firm became Hart & Lay. A daughter of Mr. Lay married Charles Ensign.

Oliver Forward, a brother-in-law of Erastus Granger, arrived prior to 1810 and occupied a small one-story wooden dwelling on Pearl street at what subsequently became No. 102; in an addition to that building he acted as deputy postmaster and collector of customs for Mr. Granger. The dwelling was burned in the war and Mr. Forward, in 1814, built a double two-story brick building on the site; it was for some time con- sidered the finest residence in the place. The post-office and custom collector's office were opened in the northern half of the building. Mr. Forward succeeded Judge Granger as collector and later was appointed associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He died in April, 1832.

Ralph M. Pomeroy about 1810 erected his afterwards famous hotel on the northeast corner of Main and Seneca streets. That was inner lot 7, which he purchased of Samuel Tupper; his hotel was opened in 1811. Raphael Cook was in Buffalo as early as 1810.and leased a building and opened a public house therein on Main street opposite Pomeroy's. "Cook's Tavern " became a celebrated hostelry and was the scene of many public meetings He left Buffalo when his house was destroyed at the burning, but returned after the war and opened a tavern on the site of the present "Tifft House." : The old building occupied by him stood many years, and was known as the "Old Phoe- nix Hotel." Mr. Cook continued its proprietor until his death, April 15, 1821.

The medical profession in Buffalo received several accessions during the period under consideration. Among them was Dr. Josiah Trow- bridge, who began practice across the river in 1810, but at about the time of the beginning of the war removed to Buffalo where he practiced nearly half a century. A part of this period he was associated with Dr. Cyrenius Chapin. Dr. Daniel Chapin also settled in Buffalo at about this time and became a determined rival of Dr. Cyrenius Chapin. Of their many spirited controversies and encounters the reader will learn something in later chapters.

The arrival in 1811 of Charles Townsend' (afterwards well known as

1 Mr. Townsend was born in Norwich, Conn., on January 22, 1786. After his arrival in Buf- falo he was engaged with Mr. Coit in the transportation business until 1821. In 1813 Mr. Town- send was appointed a judge of Niagara county and administered the duties of the office with 22

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Judge Townsend) and George Coit, who came from Norwich, Conn., where they had been fellow clerks in a drug store, was an important one, particularly from a business point of view. Being possessed of means they established a drug store on Main street, on the site of the old Eagle Hotel. In the following spring they purchased the lot extending from Main to Pearl, corner of Swan; there, on the site of Townsend Hall, they built their store and Mr. Coit's residence. They sold their drug business in 1818 to Dr. John E. Marshall, father of O. H. Mar- shall. They then engaged in storage and forwarding in buildings erected by themselves at the foot of Commercial street. Subsequently they joined with Sheldon, Thompson & Co., who removed to Buffalo from Black Rock after the completion of the Erie Canal, and a great busi- ness was built up by them under the name of the Troy and Erie Line. The firm dissolved in 1844.

Abel M. Grosvenor arrived in Buffalo in 1811 and purchased inner lot 28, running through from Main to Pearl streets just south of Swan street. He was accompanied by Reuben B. Heacock,' and they opened a store on Main street, nearly opposite the lot just mentioned, under the firm name of Grosvenor & Heacock. Each of these men married the sister of the other. Mr. Grosvenor left the city about the last of 1812 and died soon afterward.

The first hat manufactory in Buffalo was established in 1811 by the firm of Stocking & Bull (Joseph Stocking and Joseph Bull) on inner lot 11, corner of Main and Seneca streets; their store was on the Main street front and their factory on Washington street. When

ability until 1826. He was one of four (the others were Mr. Coit, Samuel Wilkeson and Oliver Forward) who mortgaged their property to the State in 1821 to procure a loan of $12,000 with which to improve the Buffalo harbor. For his uprightness of character, his sterling ability, and his unblemished business career Judge Townsend gained the high respect of his fellow citizens. He died September 14, 1847.

George Coit was born in Norwich, Conn., June 10, 1790. He was a man of great public spirit and unbounded energy, and in all the public affairs of Buffalo for about half a century he was always found among the leaders. As a member of the business firm before alluded to he con- tributed largely to its success and was in full sympathy with his partner in the honorable busi- ness methods which characterized the firm. To him as well as to Judge Townsend was due much of the early progress of commerce on the lakes. Mr. Coit was an unostentatious man and never sought public station of any kind. He was a member of the Buffalo Historical Society, the Buffalo Board of Trade, the Water Works Co., and other local organizations. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church more than forty years.

1 Reuben B. Heacock continued among the honorable business men of Buffalo for many years and exercised a large influence in the county politically and otherwise. He was elected to the Legislature of the year 1826; was one of the foremost in organizing the hydraulic company, which afterwards utilized the waters of Buffalo Creek for milling purposes, and he was active in all good works. His death took place in 1833 and he left well known descendants in the city.

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their establishment was burned in 1813, they removed the manufactur- ing part of their business to Canandaigua and supplied their store from there.

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Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 20

Author: Truman C. White Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017