USA > New York > Erie County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1) > Part 38
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1 The Young Men's Association thus entered upon its life of beneficence. In the first five years of its existence the library increased 257 volumes; in the second five years, 925 volumes; in the third five years, 1,092 volumes; in the fourth five years, 4,319 volumes. The number of volumes now in the library is nearly 90.000, besides 10,000 pamphlets. The first librarian was B. W. Jenks, who was succeeded by Charles H. Raymond, and he by Phineas Sergeant. Lewis Jenkins was the next incumbent and was succeeded in 1852 by William Ives, who has successfully occupied the
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326
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
PAST HISTORY OF THE ASSO-
Paid for books and
Paid for papers, peri-
Volumes added.
Periodicals and pap'rs
Members elected and
Honorary members.
Life members elect'd.
Number of paying
Rate of initiation.
Rate of dues.
Debt of the Associa-
tion.
1836
$2,102 87
$730 00
2,700
102
400
44
400
$2 00
$2 00
$300 00
1837
653 13
341 00
86
45
82
8
16
304
2 00
5.00
2,484 00
1838
140 51
378 00
no acc.
45
53
303
2. 00
5 00
2,075 00
1839
250 00
none.
35
195
2 00
5 00
1,976 00
1840
36 00
323 00
128
81
33
281
1
407
2 00
5 00
408 62
1842
103 56
289 00
122
30
90
401
1 00
3 00
370 04
1843
84 30
158 00
248
42
57
271
1 00
3 00
481 58
1844
78 48
204 33
20
no ac
40
1
278
1 00
3 00
545 78
1845
427 60
140 00
385
21
64
458
1 00
3 00
1846
159 82
208 95
155
no ac
63
1
400
1 00
3 00
1847
574 99
209 54
420
43
133
3
475
1 00
3 00
1848
231 97
233 96
170
41
134
1
398
1 00
3 00
1849
320 04
190 07
199
31
132
1
445
1 00
3 00
1850
245 00
196 82
208
30
72
3
397
1 00
3 00
1851
382 43
198 76
25
34
276
1
4
797
1 00
3 00
1852
796 67
196 87
918
48
266
2
1
814
1 00
3 00
1853
1,345 14
202 49
576
52
254
1
1
1 00
3 00
1854
1,618 00
245 51
857
55
184
9
1
853
1 00
3 00
1855
730 88
233 21
679
55
344
3
1,070
1 00
3 00
1856
2,068 41
288 45
1,289
55
324
20
1,046
1 00
3 00
185%
1,666 55
302 94
1,021
57
105
1
721
1 00
3 00
1859
465 15
349 28
342
52
113
7
1 00
3 00
1860
487 69
186 44
543
50
183
14
800
1 00
3 00
1862
756 59
265 20
635
52
490
3
1,240
1 00
3 00
1863
697 87
278 26
671
47
117
2
2
1,191
1 00
3.00
1864
1,672 41
254 42
561
47
605
54
1,522
1 00
3 00
50,000 00
1865
2,672 18
633 81
989
63
717
3
11
1,910
1 00
3 00
50,000 00
1866
2,540 75
526 44
1,493
65
1,091
3
19
2,805
1 00
3 00
50,000 00
1867
3,397 43
504 05
2,002
299
3
18
2,103
1 00
3 00
45,000 00
1868
2,795 81
586 86
1,509
168
258
3
6
1,755
1 00
3 00
39,000 00
1869
1,337 67
601 31
775
75
298
27
1,950
1 00
3 00
28,000 00
1870
7,897 94
656 08
3,767
89
487
17
1,974
1 00
3 00
41,000 00
1871
12,001 64
905 54
6,004
116
450
45
1 00
3 00
1872
3,448 14
748 33
1,771
199
537
1
14
1 00
3 00
34,050 00
1873
1,878 44
768 48
894
123
831
4
21
2,356
1 00
3 00
26,250 00
1874
3,403 05
844 17
1,711
121
212
12
2,100
1 00
3 00
18,950 00
1875
2,557 27
728 62
1,196
122
237
1,800
1 00
3 00
15,250 00
1876
3,303 20
767 91
1,177
127
3
4
1,973
1 00
3 00
12,550 00
1877
2,519 24
815 8
1,160
126
214
1
1,841
1 00
3 00
8,350 00
1878
3,355 60
651 96
2,254
81
214
6
1
1,493
1 00
3 00
8,200 00
1880
5,435 49
744 17
3,291
116
300
1.770
1 00 3 00
7,900 00
1881
5,842 65
726 11
3,167
121
354
10
1,777
3 00
1882
4,519 81
643 00
2.794
111
4:22
C.
1,776
3 00
10,500 00
1883
1,260 71
690 12
3,085
108
337
371
1.814
3.00
1884
4,800 20
682 21
3,114
116
334
406
95
1,369
3 00
1886
1,337 97
625 68
3,522
154
337
1,509
3 00
225,000 00
1887
3,724 35
800 51
3,191
173
600
1,614
3 00
1888
3,365 21
637 17
2,807
191
901
2.178
3 00
1889
3,115 56
673 68
2,630
182
437
1
1,881
3 00
955,000 00
1890
3,425 86
494 28
2,835
183
512
10
1,729
3 00
910,000 00
1891
3,329 49
731 03
2,220
200
591
..
10
1.774
3 00
906,500 00
1893
4,164 12
506 41
3,047
208
504
4
1,588
3 00
902,500 00
1894
6,731 64
551 80
3.978
240
1:55
1.672
8 00
901,000 00
1896
6,375 21
595 12
4,551
241
657
1
1,592
3 00
899,500 00
Digitized by
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L
1858
435 52
423 30
375
55
65
860
1 00
3 00
1 00
3 00
1861
241 80
279 53
277
55
116
....
..
. .
1,778
3 00
910,000 00
1892
3,659 15
794 52
2,776
203
586
. .
1,619
3 00
902,500 00
1895
7.018 97
505 90
1,378
1885
4,657 34
646 71
3.672
133
.
1,507
1 00
3 00
8,250 00
1879
5,164 78
660 24
3,310
112
4 4 00 € 100000
124
2 00
5 00
803 00
1841
148 40
284 90
odicals, etc.
taken.
paid.
YEAR.
binding.
members.
838
784
6
3 00
827
FROM 1832 TO 1840.
CIATION IN TABULAR FORM.
Volumes drawn from
Initiation and dues.
donations in-
cluding life mem-
Net receipts from lec-
Am't left in treasury.
Am't of library fund.
Presidents.
$5,500
$1,234 00
$3,787 00
Free. Free.
$189 15
Seth C. Hawley
7.500
1,010 74
1,425 00
198 19
Seth C. Hawley
6,300
1,121 00
484 00
Free.
78 16
George E. Hayes
6,600
1,047 00
297 75
$+ 50
69 47
Edward Norton
6,400
675 75
1,253 00
10 00
3 84
Walter Joy
10,400
1,352 00
418 00
35 69
63 64
Warren Bryant
11,100
1,292 00
35 50
2 00
W. L. G. Smith
9,000
868 75
53 00
7 00
164 74
W. H. Greene
8,000
878 87
52 00
No Lec.
16 25
Jabez B. Bull
8,200
1,444 44
248 28
162 90
367 93
Gibson T. Williams
8.250
1,218 75
51 25
144 47
571 39
Samuel T. Atwater
10,600
1,556 56
378 75
31 20
003 38
Thomas C. Welch
14,200
1,327 62
227 46
20 77
406 12
James Sheldon
12,000
1,467 12
:2110 42
60 00
18 41
349 36
Charles D. Norton
11,400
2,664 60
1,494 00
332 30
1,900 44
J. M. Hutchinson james L. Butler
19,229
2,769 25
160 50
691 93
2,954 77
Bronson C. Rumsey
22.995
2,743 63
50 00
380 37
2.214 11
Wells D. Walbridge
22,793
3,524 74
150 00
271 69
3,040 33
$1,150 00
Alex. W. Harvey
27,830
3,461 15
1.000 00
$27 43
3,051 94
John G. Guenther
20,83
3,349 75
50 00
1,120 48
1,603 31
Wm. Fleming
20,716;
2, 153 52
300 00
628 47
1.736 93
2.50 00
David F. Day
18,689
2,304 00
350 00
1,272 75
4,470 17
3,300 00
[R. L. Howard
24,706
1,871 75
100 00
928 NO
4.32 24
6, 122 23
S. V. R. Watson
23,281
5,237 00
84, 465 00
1,252 50
6,910 11
6,628 57
S. V. R. Watson
37,130
5,956 55
Albert Sherwood
43.385
4,879 00
00 00
1,343 23
5.652 54
8,800 00
George Truscott
38.988
3,900 00
300 00
956 40
9,212 05
11,100 00
Henry A. Richmond
35,207
4,735 00
550 00
2 .: 2 44
6,499 11
13,300 00
Chas. F. Wadsworth
60,992
4,826 75
2,250 00
2,571 16
2,820 19
13,950 00
Geo. S. Wardwell
73,138
4,180 72
700 00
1,144 74
3, 702 62
19,750 00
Oscar Folsom
75.983
6,081 00
6,050 00
1,176 40
1.493 34
20,050 00
David Bell
84.412
4,228 00
300 00
2.717 23
20,350 00
Howard H Baker
72,529 !
4,009 75
300 00
2.10; 12
20.635 04
Franklin D. Locke
74,127
3.959 25
200 00
3,511 23
20,935 04
E. Carlton Spragne
76,591
3,780 25
200 00
1,73: 02
21,035 04
Robert P. Wilson
72,832
4,107 25
100 00
2.089 96
21.355 04 Richard K. Nove
90,222
4,767 75
300 00
3, 192 01
21. 835 04
Wilson H. Bissell
91,429
4.518 75
2250 00
1.098 76
22.085 01
Charles A. Sweet Henry Bull
29,108
4,071 60
1.077 63
22.033 74
Edward B. Smith
88,113 1
3,873 00
1.202 50
2,033 71
Edward B. Smith
84,918 |
3,144 00
1.009 56
29.03 71
Jewett M. Richmond
59,943 1
2,917 03
599 38
2.18 :
Jewett M Richmond
100,136
4,406 49
102,600
3,293 25
9,700 00
15.772 00
102,749
4,116 08
5.700 00
17.39; 05
104,244
4,027 10
1,300 00
:0.533 50
62.541 03
!Ralph I. Plumb
114,719
4,271 62
5,950 00
10,13 22
67.991 03
Frank M. Hollister
118,931
4,283 40
11,935 1;
61,856 03
George B. Hayes
128,222
3,990 00
10.45 0
Henry C. French
140,651
4,405 75
14,759 27
72. 56 03
Joseph P. Dudley
142,659
3,579 25
20 000 00
11,943 30
2,906 03
IT. Guilford Smith
Digitized by
14,440
2,708 $36
85 00
152 34
2,038 98
1,200 00
Everard Palmer
21,215
2,647 18
61 3
336 22
1,620 76
2.800 00
Wm. T. Wardwell
21,495
2,350 50
1,302 00
1,192 07
2.561 75
3.200 00
Joseph Warren
18,454
3,212 25
551 00
5.216 43
8. 249 65
Sherman S. Jewett
Edwin T. Evans
41,740
3,823 00
1,300 00
91 00
21.085 01
William H. Gurney
77.826
3,431 00
93,363
4,322 13
2,550 00
231 94
Jewett M. Richmond
89.035
3,667 75
124. 879 25
George Gorham
Daniel H. Mc Millan
31,853 74 39.228 99
Philo D. Beard
Library.
Cash
bership.
tures.
546 75
Isaac Sherman
1,202 18
5,048 00
950 00
8,500 00
10,100 00
1,200 00
1,081 61
328
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
During the speculative period before described a project was inaugu- rated by a number of citizens of both Black Rock and Buffalo which they anticipated would result in building up a city at the former place, and in consequent large profits through the sale of land. One feature of this project was the construction of a pier or dam extending from Bird Island to a point near the outer end of the Buffalo breakwater. It was expected that this extension would make it possible for vessels to run down there at all times, would improve the Black Rock water power and prevent the then existing basin from filling up with sand and ice.
position until the present time. In 1857 a library fund was founded, based upon receipts for life membership; the fund now amounts to $92,906.03. In 1864-65 began a movement which inaugurat- ed an era of greater prosperity for the association. Nine leading men of the city headed a sub- scription with $3,000 each to raise funds for the purchase of the property on the corner of Main, Eagle and Washington streets; the names of the nine were Sherman S. Jewett, Dean Richmond, Charles Ensign, S. V. R. Watson, Thomas Clark, Gibson T. Williams, Myron P. Bush, Rufus L. Howard, and James Brayley. By generous gifts from many other persons the fund was raised to something more than $83,0, and the property was bought in 1865, and occupied by the association in 18666; its cost was $112,500. At the date last named the association was in debt about $50,000; but by prudent and successful management the indebtedness was cleared away in 1876. In April, 1877. J. N. Larned was made superintendent of the library, a responsible position which he filled in the most satisfactory manner until 1897, when he resigned, and Henry L. Elmendorf was ap- pointed to the position. Under his administration the practical working of the library itself reached the highest possible success. In the latter part of 1888 a subscription fund was founded with the ultimate object of purchasing a new site and erecting a building more commodious and better adapted for the purposes of the association. The sum of $117,000 was raised which was used towords erecting the splendid building now in use; it was completed in 1887 and cost about $32,- 000 exclusive of the site. The Association retained its property on Main and Eagle streets and re- stored it to its original hotel purposes, calling it the Richmond. Six months later both it and the adjoining St. James Hall were burned and were replaced by the present Iroquois Hotel. The an- nual receipts of the library are now nearly $60 000. Preliminary steps were taken in 1896 to make this library free, through co-operation by the city authorities, and to transfer it to the city in trust. After thorough discussion and necessary action by various committees, a law was passed on the 4th of February, 1897, under which the transfer was made, the city pledging itself to raise annually by general tax a sum not less than 3-100 of 1 per cent. nor more than 5-100 of 1 per cent. of the tax- able assessed valuation of city property, four-fifths of which sum should be paid to the trustees of the institution, which was given the title, Buffalo Library. The same act made a similar trans- fer of the Grosvenor Library (noticed in another chapter), and the remaining one-fifth of the sum raised by tax was thereby made payable to the trustees of that institution. The library report for 1806 gives details of these proceedings, to which the reader is referred. The Buffalo Library was formally opened to the public as a free institution September 1, 1897. It contains over 90,000 volumes and about 10,000 pamphlets.
Other libraries in Buffalo are as follows; German Young Men's Association Library, founded in 1841. 7.000 volumes; the Young Men's Christian Association, formed in 1852, 7,000 volumes, with numerous branches: Buffalo Historical Society Library, founded in 1882, 9,000 volumes and 7.000 pamphlets: Grosvenor Library, founded by Seth Grosvenor in 1857, opened in 1870, 41,000 volumes; Law Library, Eighth Judicial District, founded in 1863, 10,000 volumes; Catholic Institute Library, founded in 1866, 7,000 volumes and 300 pamphlets; Lutheran Young Men's Association Library, founded in 1823, 4,000 volumes; the Polish Library, organized in 1889, 1,500 volumes; the Buffalo Medical and Erie County Medical Society Libraries, 5,000 volumes; Erie Railway Library Asso- ciation, 4,000 volumes; Harugari Library, 1,400 volumes; the Lord Library, 5,000 volumes; North Buffalo Catholic Association Library, incorporated in 1888, 2,500 volumes; St. Michael's Young Men's Sodality Library, 1,000 volumes; Women's Educational and Industrial Union Library. or- ganized in 1824, 1,200 volumes.
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Fort Erie
X
E
E
R
I
E
Prepared Break Water for Buffete
NIAGARA RIVER
CRIC CANAL
. ..
Tanul
PROPOSED HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS IN 1836.
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1
329
FROM 1832 TO 1840.
Congress having already granted large appropriations for Black Rock harbor improvements, was to be petitioned for further aid in this work. The matter went so far that surveys and soundings were made in the summer of 1835. Against this scheme Buffalo at large opened a deter- mined opposition, in which Samuel Wilkeson took an active part; a memorial was drawn by him, addressed to Congress, contending that the existing dam at Black Rock had greatly injured the Buffalo harbor, chiefly by causing a rise in the water level, and that the proposed work would cause still greater injury, besides being a scheme intended, to some extent, to enrich its authors. This dam was never built as pro- prosed. At the same time (January, 1836) Mr. Wilkeson and his friends procured the drawing of a map showing the proposed improvements in Buffalo harbor; this map and accompanying address to the citizens of Buffalo was published as an extra to the Whig and Journal. The fol- lowing is quoted from the address:
Since much has been said for the past few weeks of the necessity of extending Buffalo harbor, it may be interesting to some of you to examine the accompanying plan by which our harbor room can be increased to any desirable extent by excavat- ing slips and basins on ground now unproductive to the owners, but which, by the earth excavated from the slips may be raised above the floods and made to furnish valuable sites for docks and warehouses. Should this plan be adopted it will put at rest forever all apprehensions of want of room. .
. Those on the south side of Buffalo creek will be particularly adapted to the great western and canal business and perhaps exclusively used for such. The proposed increase of room by enlarging Clark & Skinner's canal, and converting the basin on Little Buffalo creek, intended for canal boats, into one for large vessels, will still leave this plan subject to enlarge- ments to any extent which may comport with the interests of the eastern portion of this city.
The address then reviews the great benefits to be derived from the proposed improvements and urged the execution of the work upon the people and the Common Council. A comparison of this map, as here shown, with Mr. Ball's map of 1825, and of both with the present city maps, gives a clear idea of the condition of the harbor at the respective dates, and also indicates how nearly the proposed improvements were finally made. Much of the harbor improvement indicated on the map of 1836 was made about the year 1840.
With the approach of the winter of 1837-8, when the inhabitants of Erie county had partially recovered from the shock of financial ruin, an ominous cloud arose on the horizon bringing new cause for anxiety. During several previous years a spirit of discontent with the home gov-
42
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330
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
ernment had been growing in the Canadian provinces, and particularly among the French population in Lower Canada, which finally developed into armed rebellion. It will be correctly inferred that a movement of this character, when it reached the upper provinces and came near the American boundary, would find ready sympathizers among certain classes on this side of the lakes and rivers. The two struggles in which Americans had been engaged with England, although crowned with success to the former, were not forgotten by them, and a slumbering feeling of enmity towards everything British still existed. This so- called Patriot War awakened it. The sympathizers with the patriots formed secret lodges of "Hunters," so called, and a few armed men crossed the line into Canada. William Lyon Mackenzie, an ex member of the provincial parliament, was the leader of the rebellion in Upper Canada, and after an unsuccessful outbreak north of Toronto, fled to Buffalo early in December, 1837. Public meetings were held in the city, at which Mackenzie, a certain Gen. T. J. Sutherland, and a few Buffalonians spoke in favor of the patriot cause. In the same month excitement rose to a high pitch when it was learned that the main force of patriots had established themselves on Navy Island, to the number of between 300 and 400 men, many of whom were Americans. On this side of the border eagerness and enthusiasm increased with the passing days to aid the patriots. In this emergency the United States marshal appointed thirty deputies from the prominent citizens of Buf- falo, to aid in preventing violations of neutrality, should the occasion arise. The body of Americans on the island were under nominal com- mand of Gen. Rensselaer Van Rensselaer, a son of the gallant old soldier, Col. Solomon Van Rensselaer, who was wounded at the battle of Queenston Heights.
The winter was unusually mild and vessels were navigated until midwinter. On the 29th of December a little steamboat called the Caroline, the property of William Wells, of Buffalo, went down to Navy Island for the purpose of running back and forth between the camp and Schlosser with supplies and men. After making two or three trips on that day she tied up at the Schlosser wharf. Early on the fol- lowing morning the exciting news reached Buffalo that a body of Brit- ish soldiers had crossed the river, cut out the steamer, killed fifteen or twenty men, set the boat on fire and sent her over the falls. The main part of this story proved true. A man named Durfee was found dead on the wharf on the morning after the attack; he was shot through the
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831
FROM 1832 TO 1840.
head. His body was brought to Buffalo, where his funeral was at- tended by a large and excited crowd, after which Henry K. Smith de- livered a speech of brilliant eloquence. After several days and upon thorough investigation, it was found that Durfee was the only person killed, while three or four were wounded. It was learned presently that the expedition was sent over by Sir Allan McNab, commanding the British forces on the frontier, with full endorsement of the gov- ernor general of Canada, and it was, therefore, an unwarrented inva- sion of American territory; its only palliation was the fact that many of the insurgents were Americans. A long diplomatic contest followed, but no redress was ever obtained. The two Buffalo daily newspapers filled their columns with editorials on the subject, the Star accusing the Commercial of acting in the interest of the British, and the latter in- sisting that the Star was endeavoring to stir up discord that might lead to war.
In the mean time the American authorities adopted prompt measures to prevent armed expeditions from leaving these shores and to repel possible invasion from the other side. The 47th Brigade of militia, wholly constituted of Erie county men, under command of Col. Orange T. Brown, was called out, under orders of Governor Marcy, by Gen. David Burt and made its headquarters in Buffalo. Randall's Brigade of artillery, the companies of which were drawn from a larger district, was also ordered out and made its rendezvous in the city. On the 5th of January the president issued a proclamation and sent General Scott to the frontier, accompanied by Col. William J. Worth, chief of staff. Soon after their arrival the regulars and militia were ordered out to re- pel a rumored attack on Schlosser; but the invasion was not attempted and the troops returned.
At that time the steamer Barcelona was running between Buffalo and Navy Island, and report was made that three armed English schooners lying opposite Black Rock were about to fire on her. The troops were marched to Lower Black Rock, where the schooners were seen, one of them in American waters. Scott formed his infantry near the river and posted the artillery on the high ground in rear; he then rode down to the water's edge, hailed the nearest schooner, ordered her out of American waters and to not molest the Barcelona, which was then coming up close in to the American shore. The schooner reluctantly withdrew. The patriot cause was now approaching its hopeless con- clusion. British regulars and Canadian militia early in January con-
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centrated opposite Navy Island, cannonaded the forest which covered it and made preparations to cross the channel. Van Rensselaer saw that resistance would be useless; his command was small. his finances low and Scott's arrival had cut off hope of reinforcements. On Janu- ary 15 his little army fled to the American shore and scattered in every direction. A few cannon that had been stolen by them were aban- doned to the State authorities; five of them were placed in charge of Col. Harry B. Ransom and a body of militia at Tonawanda. A squad of men came to him and presented an order for the delivery of the guns, the order bearing the signature of General Scott .. Ransom hesi- tated, but when a prominent citizen stepped up and declared that he knew Scott's writing and that the signature was genuine, the guns were given up, and on a forged order. But these remaining patriots, who were thus endeavoring to obtain artillery, were forced to abandon their operations for fear of the United States marshal and the guns went into possession of the State.
In the mean time the incipient war was carried westward. Brig .- Gen. T. J. Sutherland, before mentioned, proceeded to the western end of Lake Erie, gathered a few volunteers, issued proclamations, and made preparations to invade Canada across the Detroit River. To put a stop to these operations, a body of regulars and volunteers was sent up the lake; with them went twenty volunteers from the Aurora militia company, under command of Capt. Almon N. Clapp, then publisher of the Aurora Standard, who were to stop at Erie and preserve the peace in that section. Stopping at Dunkirk, these troops proceeded to Fre- donia, whence they carried 200 or more stand of arms and embarked by steamer for Erie. It will be borne in mind that it was past the middle of January, a fact indicating that it was the mildest winter ever known on the lake; but when the boat reached Erie ice was rapidly forming, rendering it difficult to enter the harbor. The Aurora vol- unteers remained there eleven days and returned by land. By that time it was thought there would be little further trouble in this vicin- ity and the infantry and artillery were discharged. There was, how- ever, some further demonstrations in this foolhardy enterprise that deserves notice. The lake was soon ice-covered and a band of the in- vaders determined to make it an avenue of passage across to Canada at a point where discovery would be improbable. Information of this movement reached the frontier and a company of the Buffalo City Guard and Clapp's volunteers were sent on a cold night in sleighs on
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the turnpike to the lake shore, and thence three or four miles on the ice to a point where they found thirty or forty men camped in shanties, sleeping on hemlock boughs, and awaiting reinforcements from Can- ada. These patriots promptly surrendered, their shanties were de- molished and their arms captured.
A little later another body of patriots numbering between 300 and 400, who had obtained possession of a cannon, assembled near Comstock's tavern in Hamburg. On the 24th of February a detachment of regulars and volunteers and the crew of a revenue cutter, all under command of Colonel Worth, who had returned from the West, marched out of Buf- falo, surprised the camp, captured their cannon and dispersed the men. This was the last attempt to invade Canada from within the borders of Erie county until the Fenian excitement of 1866. Considerable polit- ical capital was made of this event, the administration receiving a large share of blame, and the Whig party profiting by it in a proportionate degree. The latter organization in this county was not, however, in need of such aid, as its majority was already overwhelming.
The general discontent and discouragement caused by the financial stringency served to augment and intensify the opposition to the Hol- land Land Company, to which reference has already been made in these pages. Long arrears of interest as well as principal were due on many farms, the payment of which was rendered more difficult than ever be- fore by the scarcity of money. Public expression of dissatisfaction and opposition was made at meetings which were held in various towns of the county, at which the company was denounced, a modification of its terms demanded, interference by the Legislature requested and the attorney general called upon to contest the company's title. In the month of February, 1837, what was boldly called an Agrarian Conven- tion assembled at Aurora, where the counties of Erie, Genesee, Niag- ara and Chautauqua were represented. Dyre Tillinghast, of Buffalo, was president; Charles Richardson, of Java, Genesee county (now Wy- oming), and Hawxhurst Addington, of Aurora, vice-presidents; A. M. Clapp, of Aurora, and H. N. A Holmes, of Wales, secretaries. Speech- es were made and resolutions adopted expressive of the sense of the meeting as above indicated, and the " Judases" who favored the com- pany were bitterly censured. Action more decisive even than this was taken in some sections of the county. If actual violence was not offered to the agents of the company, they were made to feel that their pres- - ence was most unwelcome and their persons liable to assault. If one
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