USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume I > Part 38
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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 1862, 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 1873, 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 1884, 1,200 volumes.
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Proposed extension of Black Rock Dam
NIAGARA RIVER
BLO
WESTERN TURNPIKE
ONTO
BUFFALO
Canal
Hydrauliek
Fort Erie
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Proposed Break Water for Buffalo
HARBOVE
ERIE CANAL
PROPOSED HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS IN 1836.
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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-
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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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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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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
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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FROM 1832 TO 1840.
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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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
of them made an attempt to take possession of a farm, the holder of which was in arrears, he was bombarded with threatening notices; armed men gathered on the hillsides and indulged in ominous move- ments until the hapless agent's anxiety and fear drove him away be- fore his purpose was accomplished. There was, of course, no ground for contesting the title of the company and the Legislature refused to interfere. In most of the towns the large majority of the settlers, by persistent effort extending over many years and aided by the gradual further improvement of their farms and the resulting increase of prod- ucts, succeeded in paying their indebtedness and securing deeds to their lands. In a few localities so stubborn and long-continued was the resistance that the company put off forcible collections until the holders of farms acquired title by adverse possession, in which they were sustained by the courts. It is unquestioned that this state of af- fairs in the rural districts tended to cripple the energies of settlers, hinder progress and delay improvements.
The town of Tonawanda was set off from the town of Buffalo on the 16th of April, 1836, and included the present town of that name and Grand Island. The little village of Tonawanda, which then embraced what is now the city of North Tonawanda, had by that time begun to attain a small business importance.
Three other towns were erected prior to 1840. On the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1839, all that part of the town of Buffalo outside of the city was formed into the town of Black Rock. The new town extended around the city from Black Rock village to the lake shore At the first town meeting held William A. Bird was elected supervisor. This town had an existence of only about thirteen years. On the 25th of March the town of Brant was formed, and Cheektowaga was erected on the 22d of the same month. The former was taken from Evans and Collins, and the first town meeting was held on the 16th of the following month at the house of Ansel Smith. Milton Morse had already in 1835 es- tablished the first store in the town, at the Center, which was for some time called Morse's Corners. Mr. Morse was also the first postmaster in the office established after the formation of the town.
The new town of Cheektowaga was formed from Amherst, its name being derived from an Indian term signifying "the place of the crab- apple tree," this fruit abounding in that section in a wild state. The territory of this town was quite well settled at the date of its formation. Alexander Hitchcock, long a respected citizen, was chosen the first
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FROM 1832 TO 1840.
supervisor, and is said to have suggested the name of the town. Israel Ely settled in the town in 1833; he had been sent out by the New York Missionary Society in 1818 to ascertain the condition of the Indians on the Holland Purchase. He was father of Judah, Israel N., E. Sterling, and E. Selden Ely. Israel N. Ely was member of assembly in 1833, and E. Selden Ely was eleven years supervisor of Cheektowaga.
As to progress in other parts of the county during the period under consideration, it can only be described as inconsiderable and unimpor- tant. The epidemic of cholera and the great financial panic were suf- ficient to account for this fact. The village of Williamsville made a little advancement and in 1837 a company was chartered to build a macadam road from Buffalo to the village; the road was finished with- in two years, and was the first attempt to thus improve one of the old highways.
On the 27th of April, 1837, the supervisors of the county were author- ized by an act of the Legislature to raise by taxation $5, 000 in the towns of Lancaster, Alden and part of Amherst and Buffalo, with which "to make, repair and improve the road from the easterly termination of Genesee street in Buffalo, through the villages of Lancaster and Alden to the westerly line of Genesee county." Again, on May 9 of that year, the supervisors were similarly empowered to raise a like sum to improve the roads on the Indian Reservation in the towns of Ham- burg, Aurora, Wales, Holland, Colden, Sardinia, Concord, Boston, Collins, Eden and Evans. These improvements were much needed, as the roads of the county were in most cases and for many years in very poor condition.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
CHAPTER XXII.
TOWN AND VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT.
Features of Town and Village Growth-Condition of the County at the Date of Its Formation-Effects of the Land Sale to the Ogden Company-Development in Aurora between 1821 and 1840-Growth in Holland and Newstead-Beginning of the Village of Akron-Alden and West Seneca-Advancement in Hamburg and East Hamburg-The Celebrated Hamburg Cheese-Growth and Advancement in the Various Other Towns and Villages.
During the nearly twenty years that elapsed between the date of the formation of Erie county (1821) and 1840, the history of which as far as relates to Buffalo and to subjects of general county interest has been told in the two immediately preceding chapters, considerable material advancement was made in all parts of the county, the historical aspects of which are of especial interest in connection with the various towns. Seven new towns were formed during that period, besides three that were created in the month of March succeeding the erection of the county in April, 1821. In the county at large many hamlets were developed, some of which in later years grew to thriving villages, where the shops of the early shoemaker, tinsmith, wagonmaker, black- smith, and the store of the merchant were established; where mills were built, if there was the least available water power, to which the farmer of those days carried his grain to obtain flour and meal for his family use, or drew the saw logs to be cut into lumber for his own buildings; where the pioneer physicians, unselfish and frequently over- taxed in covering the wide extent of territory to see their scattered patients, settled and dwelt; and where here and there a lawyer found, or hoped to find, a living in his profession.
When Erie county was formed a large portion of its territory was yet covered with forest and many wild animals still stealthily visited the remote settlers to deplete their accumulations of live stock. Many thousands of acres of this forest were cleared during that period and put under tillage, to be covered in the autumn months with fields of ripening grain, in which wheat was most conspicuous. The nationality
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TOWN AND VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT,
of the inhabitants was in the mean time materially modified, the influx of Germans being very large. At the date of the formation of the county the population was almost wholly American-Yankees from the Eastern States, with a few Irish and a very few Swedes and Germans. But the Germans soon constituted a prominent element and brought to the agricultural communities, as well as to the city, a conservative, methodical, rather slow-moving, and yet industrious, prudent and every way useful class of citizens. The village and agricultural dis- tricts profited more or less by the new canal, which, if it did not actu- ally increase prices of farm products during that period, made a more active market in Buffalo to which the farmers could go with confi- dence that they would receive for grain, vegetables, etc., rates as high as those paid in other localities; while merchants and shopkeepers paid far less for freighting their goods and supplies in from eastern markets than before the canal was opened.
In the years of reckless speculation country merchants and many farmers, particularly in towns near to Buffalo, became to some extent infected with the prevailing heresy; but instances of speculation and subsequent disaster were not numerous among them. They suffered severely, however, in the general depression and stagnation that fol- lowed, although they had contributed little to the causes.
The purchase of lands from the Indians by the Ogden Company in 1826, which is fully described in Chapter I, opened to settlement a vast area in some of the towns, which was speedily sold and occupied. The towns most affected by this sale were Marilla, Alden, Lancaster, Cheek- towaga, Elma, West Seneca, Wales, Hamburg and East Hamburg, Aurora and Concord.
During the period from the formation of the town of Aurora (1818) to 1830 and a little later it was one of the most thriving regions in Erie county. Settlement was rapid, and numerous mills of various kinds, but generally of modest pretensions, were built. Besides the mill erected by Abram Smith at West Falls, another was built called the lower mill, where the Big Tree road crosses Cazenove Creek, and when the old mill built by Phineas Stephens was burned, it was succeeded by another erected by John C. Pratt. About 1820 Lemuel Spooner built still another grist mill in the southeast corner of the town, which was subsequently owned by Lyman Cornwall. At about the same time David Nichols built a carding mill on the west branch of Cazenove Creek a mile and a half above its mouth, and about 1822 Sylvester Mc-
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Kay established an oil mill on the same dam, and near by Benjamin Enos built a tannery. At Griffin's Mills in 1820 there were in opera- tion a grist mill, a saw mill, a distillery and an ashery, while Robert Griffin kept a tavern and Adam Paul a store. In 1822 a brick hotel was erected. Ledyard R. Phelps established a tannery there in 1828 and James Ives opened a store in 1825. Joseph S. Bartlett built a carding and fulling mill on the east branch of Buffalo Creek a little above the site of the Stephens grist mill before mentioned; this was burned in 1865. Most of the owners of these various early industries carried on farming also. In the mean time the early Upper and Lower Villages which now constitute the one village of East Aurora assumed considerable business importance. Nathaniel Fillmore settled in the town about 1820, and in the fall of 1821 his son, Millard Fillmore, the future president of the United States, arrived at his father's house. He had already devoted some time to the study of law and soon found a little business in that profession, at the same time teaching school in the winter of 1821-22. In the spring of 1822 he went to Buffalo and studied and taught school until he was admitted to practice, when he returned to Aurora and opened an office. In 1830 he settled perma- nently in Buffalo. Nathaniel Fillmore was a brother of Calvin, who also settled about the same time in Aurora. Dr. Erastus Wallis settled at the Lower Village, as it was then called, about 1825 and acquired a large practice, while Dr. Jonathan Hoyt continued at the Upper Vil- lage; a little later Dr. Jabez Allen and Dr. George H. Lapham located in the village. Stephen Holmes, who established his store in East Aurora in 1828, continued in business nearly thirty years, and in 1831 Samuel W. Bowen purchased the mercantile business which had been conducted some years by N. G. Reynolds; both of these stores were at the Lower Village. At the Upper Village Joseph Howard, jr., con- ducted a store and hotel from about 1820, and in 1828 built a brick block, in part of which he kept a store; he continued in active business until his death in 1836. Joseph Riley, also an active business man, settled in the place in 1830. Nathan K. Hall studied in Mr. Fillmore's office and followed him to the city a little later. The well known Aurora Academy was opened in 1833 and added to the prosperity of the place; and in 1835 Almon N. Clapp began the publication of the Aurora Standard. Peter M. Vosburgh settled in the village some time between 1830 and 1835 as a lawyer and remained in practice about ten years, until he was appointed surrogate of the county, when he re-
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