USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume I > Part 55
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1876-President of the Council, Asaph S. Bemis (Rep.); 1st ward, John Hanavan, John White; 2d ward, William V. Woods, A. L. Lothridge; 3d ward, Michael Danahy, Alfred H. Neal; 4th ward, Charles Persons, Asaph S. Bemis; 5th ward, Elijah Ambrose, Jacob Benzinger; 6th ward, Jacob Hiemenz, Henry J. Baker; 7th ward, John C. Weber, Donald Bain; 8th ward, Michael Keenan, John Pfeil; 9th ward, Clarence D. Simpson, N. C. Simons; 10th ward, Merritt Nichols, Peter J. Ferris; 11th ward, John Auchinvole, Christopher Smith; 12th ward, William Farmer, I. I. Van Allen; 13th ward, Charles Dickman, M. Shannon.
1877-President of the Council, John Auchinvole (Rep.); 1st ward, John White, James Ryan ; 2d ward, Alfred L. Lothridge, Elijah R. Saxton; 3d ward, Alfred H. Neal, Michael Danahy; 4th ward, Asaph S. Bemis, Melchoir Lotz; 5th ward, Jacob Benzinger, Henry J. Kreinheder; 6th ward, Henry J. Baker, August Baetzhold; 7th ward, Donald Bain, George Baer; 8th ward, John Pfeil, Thomas Collins; 9th ward, Nathan C. Simons, Earl D. Berry; 10th ward, Peter J. Ferris, Merritt Nichols; 11th ward, Christopher Smith, John Auchinvole; 12th ward, Isaac I. Van Allen, John Esser; 19th ward, Michael Shannon, William F. Wheeler.
1878-President of the Council, John B. Sackett (Dem.); 1st ward, James Ryan, John White; 2d ward, John B. Sackett, Elijah R. Saxton; 3d ward, Michael Dana . hy, George B. Miller; 4th ward, Francis Collignon, Melchoir Lotz; 5th ward, Henry Quinn, Henry J. Kreinheder; 6th ward, August Baetzhold, Gerhard Lang ; 7th ward, Harmon M. Lockrow, George Baer; 8th ward, Thomas Collins, John Quinn ; 9th ward, John C. Burns, Earl D. Berry; 10th ward, Merritt Nichols, David R. Morse; 11th ward, John Auchinvole, Robert Montgomery; 12th ward, Charles H. Hewitt, John Esser; 13th ward, William F. Wheeler, Henry H. Twichell.
1879-President of the Council, Merritt Nichols (Rep.); 1st ward, John White, William Walsh; 2d ward, John B. Sackett, Robert R. Hefford; 3d ward, George B. Miller, John Higham: 4th ward, Francis Collignon, August Beck; 5th ward, Henry Quinn, Lyman A. Daniels; 6th ward, Gerhard Lang, Louis Knell; 7th ward, Har- mon M. Lockrow, George F. Christ; 8th ward, John Quinn, Thomas Collins; 9th ward, John C. Burns, George E. Matteson; 10th ward, David R. Morse, Merritt Nichols; 11th ward, Robert Montgomery, Marcus M. Drake; 12th ward, Charles H. Hewitt, John Esser; 13th ward, Henry H. Twichell, William H. Little.'
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
1880-President of the Council, Milton E. Beebe (Rep.); 1st ward, William Walsh, John White; 2d ward, Robert R. Hefford, Milton E. Beebe; 3d ward, John Higham, George W. Patridge; 4th ward, August Beck, John A. Miller; 5th ward, Lyman A. Daniels, Jacob Benzinger; 6th ward, Louis Knell, Gerhard Lang; 7th ward, George F. Christ, August M. Witte; 8th ward, Thomas Collins, John Quinn; 9th ward, George E. Matteson, Frank Williams; 10th ward, Merritt Nichols, Thomas S. Rav; 11th ward, Marcus M. Drake, R. Porter Lee; 12th ward, John Esser, John C. Han- bach; 13th ward, William Little, Henry H. Twichell.
1881-President of the Council, Milton E. Beebe (Rep.); 1st ward, John White, Dennis Hanrahan; 2d ward, Milton E. Beebe, Robert R. Hefford; 3d ward, George W. Patridge, Joseph Maycock; 4th ward, John A. Miller, August Beck; 5th ward, Jacob Benzinger, Louis Fritz; 6th ward, Gerhard Lang, Louis Knell; 7th ward, August M. Witte, John C. Weber; 8th ward, John Quinn, James Rogers; 9th ward, Frank Williams, George E. Matteson; 10th ward, Thomas S. Ray, Harry H. Koch ; 11th ward, R. Porter Lee, Marcus M. Drake; 12th ward, John C. Hanbach, Peter Glor, jr .; 13th ward, Henry H. Twichell, William Little.
1882-President of the Council, George W. Patridge (Dem.) .; 1st ward, Dennis Hanrahan, John White; 2d ward, R. R. Hefford, Charles B. Doty; 3d ward, Joseph Maycock, George W. Patridge; 4th ward, August Beck, John A. Miller; 5th ward, Louis Fritz, William C. Brainard; 6th ward, Louis Knell, William Schier; 7th ward, Henry Rochevot, George Baer; 8th ward, James Rogers, John Elliott; 9th ward, George E. Matteson, Alexander McMaster; 10th ward, H. H. Koch, Henry Mont- gomery ; 11th ward, Marcus M. Drake, Charles A. Rupp; 12th ward, Peter Glor, jr., John C. Hanbach; 13th ward, William H. Little, Henry H. Twichell.
1883-President of the Council, Robert R. Hefford (Rep.); 1st ward John White, Andrew Beasley; 2d ward, Charles B. Doty, R. R. Hefford; 3d ward, George W. Patridge, Michael Callahan; 4th ward, John A. Miller, August Beck; 5th ward, William C. Brainard, Louis Fritz; 6th ward, William Schier, Jacob Hasselbeck; 7th ward, George Baer, Alfred Lyth; 8th ward, John Elliott, John Davy; 9th ward, Alexander, McMaster, William Franklin; 10th ward, Henry Montgomery, Samuel V. Parsons; 11th ward, Charles A. Rupp, Marcus M. Drake; 12th ward, John C. Hanbach, George Denner; 13th ward, Henry H. Twichell, William Summers.
1884-President of the Council, Robert R. Hefford (Rep.); 1st ward, John White, Andrew Beasley; 2d ward, Robert R. Hefford, Bradley D. Rogers; 3d ward, M. Callahan, George W. Patridge; 4th ward, August Beck, Jacob Ginther; 5th ward, Louis Fritz, Charles G. Pankow; 6th ward, Jacob Hasselbeck, Charles M. Lederer; 7th ward, Alfred Lyth, Harmon M. Lockrow; 8th ward, John Davy, Michael Gor- man; 9th ward, William Franklin, Alexander McMaster; 10th ward, Samuel V. Par- sons, Walter T. Wilson; 11th ward, Marcus M. Drake, William Richardson; 12th ward, George Denner, John C. Hanbach; 13th ward, William Summers, Henry H. Twichell.
1885-President of the Council, William Franklin (Rep.); 1st ward, John White, Andrew Beasley; 2d ward, Bradley D. Rogers, Joseph C. Greene; 3d ward, George W. Patridge, M. Callahan; 4th ward, Jacob Ginther, Solomon Scheu, jr .; 5th ward, Charles G. Pankow, Jacob Benzinger; 6th ward, Charles M. Lederer, John R. Walter; 7th ward, Harmon M. Lockrow, Alfred Lyth; 8th ward, Michael Gorman, John J. Kennedy; 9th ward, Alexander McMaster, William Franklin; 10th ward
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Walter T. Wilson, Thomas S. Ray; 11th ward, William Richardson, Marcus M. Drake; 12th ward, John C. Hanbach, Louis Roesch, 13th ward, Henry H. Twichell, William Summers.
1886-President of the Council, George W. Partridge (Dem.); 1st ward, Andrew Beasley, John White; 2d ward, Joseph C. Greene, John H. Cannon; 3d ward, Mi- chael Callahan, George W. Patridge; 4th ward, Solomon Scheu, jr., Henry H. Little ; 5th ward, Jacob Benzinger, Louis Rodenbach, sr .; 6th ward, John R. Walter, G. Richard Kuehn; 7th ward, Alfred Lyth, John H. Knepper; 8th ward, John J. Ken- nedy, John M. Laughlin; 9th ward, William Franklin, Alexander McMaster; 10th ward, Thomas S. Ray, James Jamison; 11th ward, Marcus M. Drake, William Rich- ardson; 12th ward, Louis Roesch, Charles O. Rano; 13th ward, William Summers, William Adams.
1887-President of the Council, George W. Patridge (Dem.); 1st ward, John White, Dennis M. Doyle; 2d ward, John H. Cannon, Frederick Kendall; 3d ward, George W. Patridge, Michael Callahan; 4th ward, Solomon Scheu, jr., Henry H. Little ; 5th ward, Louis Rodenbach, sr., S. J. Ramsperger; 6th ward, G. Richard Kuehn, John Kreitner; 7th ward, John H. Knepper, Philip Wurtz; 8th ward, John J. Kennedy, John M. Laughlin; 9th ward, Alexander McMaster, James Ash; 10th ward, James Jamison, Thomas S. Ray; 11th ward, Marcus M. Drake, William Richardson; 12th ward, Louis Roesch, Charles O. Rano; 13th ward, William Adams, William Sum- mers.
1888-President of the Council, William Summers (Dem.); 1st ward, John White, Dennis M. Doyle; 2d ward, John H. Cannon, Frederick Kendall; 3d ward, Michael Callahan, James L. Baldwin; 4th ward, Solomon Scheu, jr., August Beck ; 5th ward, S. J. Ramsperger, Adam Spang; 6th ward, Anthony Young, John Kreitner; 7th ward, John H. Knepper, Philip Wurtz; 8th ward, John J. Kennedy, John Davy; 9th ward, Alexander McMaster, James Ash ; 10th ward, Edward H. Hutchinson, Thomas S. Ray; 11th ward, Marcus M. Drake, Frank M. Fisher; 12th ward, Louis Roesch, George Denner; 13th ward, William Summers, William Adams.
1889-President of the Council, William Summers (Dem.); 1st ward, John H. Bradley, John White; 2d ward, John H. Cannon, F. J. Trautmann; 3d ward, Theo- dore Williamson, James L. Baldwin; 4th ward, August Beck, Solomon Scheu, jr .; 5th ward, Samuel J. Ramsperger, Adam Spang; 6th ward, Anthony Young, John Kreitner; 7th ward, John H. Knepper, Philip Wurtz; 8th ward, John Davy, John J. Kennedy; 9th ward, Alexander McMaster, James Franklin; 10th ward, Edward H. Hutchinson, Alexander M. Barnum; 11th ward, Marcus M. Drake, Frank M. Fisher ; 12th ward, George Denner, John Busch; 13th ward, William Adams, William Sum- mers.
1890-President of the Council, William Summers (Dem.); 1st ward, John H. Bradley, John White; 2d ward, John H. Cannon, F. J. Trautmann; 3d ward, Theo- dore Williamson, Andrew Kilgallon; 4th ward, Solomon Scheu, jr., August Beck; 5th ward, S. J. Ramsperger, Edward F. Stettenbenz; 6th ward, Anthony Young, John Kreitner; 7th ward, Philip Wurtz, Jacob Kissinger; 8th ward, John Davy, John J. Kennedy; 9th ward, James Franklin, John A. Donaldson; 10th ward, Alex- ander M. Barnum, Edgar A. Forsyth; 11th ward, William D. Collingwood, Marcus M. Drake; 12th ward, John Busch, John Mang; 13th ward, William Summers, Will- iam J. Hillery.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
1891-President of the Council, William Summers (Dem.); 1st ward, John White, John P. Sullivan ; 2d ward, John H. Cannon, Frank J. Trautman ; 3d ward, Andrew Kilgallon, Theodore Williamson; 4th ward, August Beck, Solomon Scheu, jr .; 5th ward, Edward F. Stettenbenz, Samuel J. Ramsperger; 6th ward, Anthony Young, John Kick; 7th ward, Jacob Kissinger, Frederick A. Menge; 8th ward, John Davy, John J. Kennedy; 9th ward, John A. Donaldson, James Franklin; 10th ward, Ed- gar A. Forsyth, Alexander M. Barnum; 11th ward, William D. Collingwood, Job King; 12th ward, Philip G. Meyers, John Mang; 13th ward, William J. Hillery, Will- iam Summers.
The charter of 1892 created a Board of Aldermen, with one member elected from each ward; a Board of Councilmen, consisting of nine members elected from the city at large; and a Common Council, com- posed jointly of the two bodies. The new State constitution of 1894 provided for a two-year term of service of aldermen; under this law the aldermen elected in 1894 served for three years and those elected in 1895 for two years, and in 1897 an entirely new two-year board was elected to take office January 1, 1898. A Legislative amendment of 1895 provided for the election in that year of three councilmen to serve four years; the same act provided for the election in 1897 of six coun- cilmen, two of whom shall serve for two years, and thereafter "there shall be elected alternately five and four councilmen for the term of four years. "'
1892-President of the Board of Aldermen, Solomon Scheu, jr. (Dem.); 1st ward, John White; 2d ward, John P. Sullivan; 3d ward, Frank J. Trautman; 4th ward, Theodore Williamson; 5th ward, William Summers; 6th ward, Solomon, Scheu, jr. ; 7th ward, Frank J. Bissing; 8th ward, Adam Durr; 9th ward, Jacob Johnson ; 10th ward, Samuel J. Ramsperger; 11th ward, Frederick Kelner; 12th ward, Anthony Young; 13th ward, John Kick; 14th ward, John Leible; 15th ward, Jacob Kissinger ; 16th ward, Frederick A. Menge; 17th ward, Richard Bullymore, jr. ; 18th ward, Henry P. Burgard; 19th ward, John J. Kennedy; 20th ward, James Franklin; 21st ward, Frank Maischoss; 22d ward, C. S. A. Coe; 23d ward, Alexander M. Barnum; 24th ward, Robert K. Smither; 25th ward, Philip G. Myers.
Board of Councilmen .- President, James Hanrahan; Jewett M. Richmond, Martin Maher, George W. Hayward, Andrew Kilgallon, George Sandrock, Mathias Strauss, George Baldus, Henry J. Kreinheder.
Common Council .- James Hanrahan, president.
1893-President of the Board of Aldermen, James Franklin (Rep.); 1st ward, John White; 2d ward, John P. Sullivan; 3d ward, Joseph Butler; 4th ward, John Carey ; 5th ward, William Summers; 6th ward, Solomon Scheu, jr; 7th ward, Frank J. Bissing; 8th ward, Abram Durr; 9th ward, Jacob Johnson; 10th ward, Adam Boeckel; 11th ward, Frederick Kelver; 12th ward, Anthony Young; 13th ward, John Kick; 14th ward, John Leible; 15th ward, Jacob Kissinger; 16th ward, Frederick A. Menge ; 17th ward, Richard Bullymore, jr. ; 18th ward, Henry P. Burgard ; 19th ward, John J. Kennedy; 20th ward, James Franklin ; 21st ward, Frank Maischoss; 22d ward, Clifford
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POLITICAL CHANGES AND CIVIL LIST.
S. A. Coe; 23d ward, William K. Williams; 24th ward, R. K. Smither; 25th ward, William H. Bradish.
Board of Councilmen .- Jewett M. Richmond, president; George Baldus, Henry J. Kreinheder (died in August, 1893), James Hanrahan, Martin Maher, George W. Hayward (died in March, 1893, and John B. Coakley elected to the vacancy), George Sandrock, Andrew Kilgallon, Mathias Strauss.
Common Council .- James Hanrahan, president.
1894-President of the Board of Alderman, James Franklin (Rep.); 1st ward, John Sheehan ; 2d ward, John P. Sullivan; 3d ward, Joseph Butler; 4th ward, John Carey ; 5th ward, William Summers; 6th ward, Solomon Scheu, jr .; 7th ward, Louis W. Faude; 8th ward, Abram Durr; 9th ward, John O. G. Robert; 10th ward, Adam Boeckel; 11th ward, Louis Fechter; 12th ward, Samuel Caldwell; 13th ward, John Kick; 14th ward, Charles P. Woltz; 15th ward, Jacob Kissinger; 16th ward, Freder- ick A. Menge; 17th ward, Richard Bullymore, jr .; 18th ward, George Zoeller; 19th ward, John J. Kennedy; 20th ward, James Franklin; 21st ward, Frank Maischoss; 22d ward, Clifford S. A. Coe; 23d ward, William K. Williams; 24th ward, Robert K. Smither; 25th ward, William H. Bradish.
Board of Councilmen .- Jewett M. Richmond, president; James Ash, George Bal- dus, James Hanrahan, Andrew Kilgallon, Christian Klinck, Martin Maher, Mathias Strauss, Michael J. Byrne.
Common Council .- Robert K. Smither, president.
1895-President of the Board of Aldermen, Robert K. Smither (Rep.); 1st ward, John Sheehan ; 2d, John P. Sullivan ; 3d, Joseph Butler; 4th, John Walsh; 5th, William Summers; 6th, Charles Kiefer; 7th, Louis W. Faude; 8th, Abram Durr; 9th, John O. G. Robert; 10th, Adam Boeckel; 11th, Louis Fechter; 12th, Samuel Caldwell; 13th John Kick; 14th, Charles P. Woltz; 15th, Jacob Kissinger; 16th, Frederick A. Menge; 17th, Richard Bullymore, jr .; 18th, George Zoeller; 19th, John J. Kennedy; 20th, James Franklin ; 21st. Frank Maischoss; 22d, Clifford S. A. Coe; 23d, Joseph C. Veling; 24th, Robert K. Smither; 25th, William H. Bradish.
Board of Councilmen .- James Ash, president; M .. J. Byrne, A. Frank Gorski, Christian Klinck, Henry J. Steul, Andrew J. Keller, James Hanrahan, Martin Maher, Mathias Strauss.
Common Council .- Frederick A. Menge, president.
1896-President of the Board of Aldermen, William H. Bradish (Rep.); 1st ward, John J. Coughlin ; 2d, John P. Sullivan; 3d, Joseph Butler; 4th, John Walsh; 5th, William Summers; 6th, Charles Kiefer; 7th, Edward J. G. Schaefer; 8th, Abram Durr; 9th, John O. G. Robert; 10th, Adam Boeckel; 11th, James Smith; 12th, Samuel Caldwell; 13th John Kick; 14th, Charles P. Woltz; 15th, Jacob Kissinger; 16th, Frederick A. Menge; 17th, Frederick W. M. Heerwagen ; 18th, George Zoeller ; 19th, John J. Kennedy; 20th, James Franklin; 21st, Frank Maischoss; 22d, Clifford S. A. Coe ; 23d, Joseph C. Veling ; 24th, Robert K. Smither; 25th, William H. Bradish.
Board of Councilmen .- Christian Klinck, president; James N. Adam, Andrew J. Keller, James Ash, Henry C. Steul, Michael J. Byrne, Charles H. Utley, A. Frank Gorski. Henry Zipp.
Common Council .- Adam Boeckel, president.
1897-President of the Board of Aldermen, Jacob Kissinger; members same as in 1896.
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Board of Councilmen .-- Christian Klinck, president; members same as in 1896. Common Council .- Charles P. Woltz, president.
1898 -- Board of Alderman: 1st ward, contest undecided December 1, 1897; 2d ward, John P. Sullivan ; 3d, Joseph Butler; 4th, John Walsh; 5th, William Summers; 6th, Charles Kiefer; 7th, Charles G. Smeeding; 8th, Eugene Nassoy; 9th, George Hend- ler; 10th, William Darmstadter; 11th, James Smith; 12th, Charles J. Schellback ; 13th, John Kick; 14th, Frank Cwiklinski; 15th, Joseph Kassler; 16th, John F. Barth; 17th, Frederick W. M. Heerwagen; 18th, George Zoeller; 19th, John J. Kennedy; 20th, James Franklin; 21st, Frank Maischoss; 22d, Clifford S. A. Coe; 23d, Joseph C. Veling; 24th, George S. Potter; 25th, George H. Striker.
Board of Councilmen .- James Ash, James N. Adam, Adam Boeckel, Frank J. Bissing, George Baldus, Jacob Missert, Henry C. Steul, Charles H. Utley, Henry Zipp.
CHAPTER XXVII.
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
TOWN OF ALDEN.
Alden is situated on the eastern border of the county, north of the center, with Newstead on the north, Genesee county on the east, Marilla on the south, and Lancaster on the west. Its territory is mostly within township 11, range 5, of the Holland Company's survey, contains almost thirty five square miles, or 20,833 acres. The surface in the north and west parts is nearly level; in the remainder it is gently undulating. Eleven-mile (or Ellicott) Creek flows northwesterly across the town, and Cayuga Creek flows a little north of west across the southwest part. The soil is deep, fertile loam, mixed with sand, gravel or clay.
The town was first settled by Moses Fenno in 1810, who located in the spring, and was followed in the same year by Joseph Freeman, William Snow, John Estabrook and Arunah Hibbard, each of whom built a log house near the site of Alden village. Settlers in 1811-12 were Samuel Slade, James Crocker, Samuel Huntington, Jonas Stick- ney, Nathaniel Estabrook, Saxton Bailey, William Humphrey, Nathan Willis, John Webster, and a Mr. Bunce and Mr. Cransaky. Willis and Webster both built mills on Cayuga Creek and were prominent citizens. Seth Butterfield settled in 1812 where J. L. Butterfield now lives.
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During the war of 1812 many settlers left the town, but returned in the spring of 1814, and in that year John C. Rogers built the first saw mill in the town on Ellicott Creek at the site of Alden Center.
The first school was taught in a log house in Alden village in 1815, by Mehitable Estabrook; in the same year Amos Bliss began keeping tavern in his house half a mile east of the village site. In 1816 or 1817 John C. Rogers built a grist mill near his saw mill, and about that time Seth Estabrook brought in some goods and began trade a little east of the village site, where Joshua Hendee had settled. The store and the tavern were both soon closed. Between 1816 and 1820 Homer Hendee, Amos Herrick, Moses Case, Jonas Van Wey, A. C. Burdick, Stephen Church, and possibly a few others located in the town. In 1822 Thomas Farnsworth settled in the town, and about the same time Dr. John M. Harrington began practice; John Bryant opened a store half a mile east of the village. From that date forward the town rapidly filled up with an energetic and generally prosperous class of men. Between 1830 and 1845 a large number of Germans took up residence in the town and have materially contributed to its growth. In 1843 the Buffalo & Attica Railroad was constructed through the town, and in 1853 the Buffalo & Rochester Railroad Company built a line which became part of the New York Central. In 1883 the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Company completed their road across the town between the other two lines, giving the inhabitants ample facilities for reaching the markets.
Alden Village .- This village is situated southeast of the center of the town on what is now the Erie Railroad. The post-office was estab- lished in 1823, from which date the place began to assume the char- acter of a village. Joseph Freeman was the first postmaster; among other postmasters were Harvey Litchfield, Samuel M. Butler, Spencer Stone, Horace Stanley, R. N. Butler, Elisha Saunders, E. T. Cross, C. N. Fulton, William E. Saunders, Fred Thatcher, Jerome J. Stick- ney, Lester P. Stickney, William C. Tucker, Brace G. Eddy, George A. Webb, Freeman P. Wheeler, incumbent.
The early growth of the village was slow. Thomas Farnsworth built a tannery in 1822 half a mile to the north. Calvin Bishop and John Bryant, Horace Stanley, Litchfield & Barstow, a Mr. Severance, and Samuel M. Butler, were in mercantile trade in past years. Elisha Saunders opened a store before the last war and continued to about 1877. L. P. & J. J. Stickney began trade in 1870 and continued to-
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gether or separate many years. Wasburn Parker had an early tavern a little west of the village. The hotel of Thomas Farnsworth was the first permanent public house; it continued until 1869 when it was burned. A house built in 1844 was subsequently used as a hotel, and was burned in 1894. Another was built in 1851 by Grove C. Gage; John A. Ferner took the house in 1883. The house called Martin's hotel was built in 1871 by Horace King, who was succeeded by George T. Patterson.
The Oddaographic, a newspaper, was started November 1, 1875, by, E. C. Dodge, but lived only a few months. The Industrial Union was started at Marilla April 1, 1892, by Benjamin H. and Evan H. Morey, and in April, 1893, it was removed to Alden village. In 1894 its name was changed to the Alden Union; the paper is still published by the men above named.
In 1854 William C. Leonard and others interested in education built a large frame building and established a seminary ; it continued a fairly prosperous existence several years. The present Alden Union High School was conducted as a graded school several years; it passed under the Regents in 1897. The school has three departments. J. P. Abbott has been principal since 1895.
Alden village has now 2 general stores, 2 hardware stores, 3 hotels, 1 newspaper, 1 harness shop, 2 blacksmiths, 1 feed store, 1 furniture store, 1 grist mill, 4 physicians, 1 wagonmaker, 2 markets, 1 tannery and 3 churches.
On the 7th day of May, 1869, the village was incorporated, with G. F. Vandervoort, E. W. Hendee, D. C. Skeels, J. B. Pride and A. D. Farnsworth, trustees. A reincorporation was effected in 1891, since which time considerable street improvements have been made. A fire department was organized in 1894, and a firemen's hall built in the same year. A hand engine and hook and ladder truck are owned.
The Spring Creek cheese factory began operations in 1880 under ownership of Benjamin Gifford. The building was burned and rebuilt by him and he still operates the factory.
The Alden Natural Gas Company was organized in 1892, and two wells were bored in the village and two outside; the village is now lighted by natural gas.
West Alden .- This is a hamlet situated about a mile and a half south- west of Alden village; it was long known as Alden Center, and a small business interest has long existed. A hotel which was kept many
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years by Almon Perry, was burned. The post-office was opened soon after 1870. Ira R. Martin opened a store in 1865, which was later con- verted into a hotel and burned. Charles Eels began trade in 1872 and still continues. The place has now a printing office, one store, one blacksmith shop and a church.
Alden Center .- This hamlet is situated in the center of the town, where John C. Rogers built the early mill before mentioned. This mill has had several owners and finally passed to John Smith. The post-office was established April 1, 1857, with William J. Perry post- master; his successors were Jacob Sandmann, Michael Killinger, Joseph Fix and Jacob Sandmann again. Mr. Killinger opened a grocery about 1850. George Holland built a hotel in 1855, which be- came the property of Jacob Sandmann and is now owned by his son. Another hotel was built by George Shank, which is now owned by his son. Jacob Sandmann kept a store several years. The village now contains one store, a meat market, two hotels and the grist mill.
Mill Grove .- This is a small village in the northwest part of the town, which had its inception in the opening of a store in 1848 by the pioneer, Moses Case. A post-office was procured by him in 1849, with Hugh M. Case postmaster. Henry Sadler was a merchant for a few years, and Emile Yund began mercantile business in 1861, which still continues. There are two hotels in the village and a few shops.
Crittenden .- This is a village on the New York Central Railroad in the northeast corner of the town. About the first business enterprise in the place was the building of a hotel in 1848 by Benjamin Arbuckle; it had half a dozen occupants within two or three years. About 1850 John Edson built a steam saw mill, which was burned a few years later. In 1852 the railroad station was established there and a post- office opened with the present name. In 1853 Isaac Mallory built a hotel, and two others have since been opened. H. H. & J. P. Edson opened a general store in 1864, and S. P. Waldo and D. J. Watson con- ducted the grocery business in former years. There are now in the village two general stores, three hotels, one grocery and a church.
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