Our county and its people : a memorial history of Tioga County, New York, Part 26

Author: Kingman, Leroy W., ed
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Elmira, N. Y. : W. A. Fergusson and Company
Number of Pages: 932


USA > New York > Tioga County > Our county and its people : a memorial history of Tioga County, New York > Part 26


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FLEMINGVILLE .- In the northwest corner of the town, five miles distant from the county seat, is the pleasant little hamlet called Flemingville, so named in allusion to Captain David Fleming, who came from Newton, N. J., to Nichols in 1806, and thence to Owego in 1808, settling on the site mentioned. In the war of 1812-15 Captain Fleming held a commission in the 3d company, 3d regi- ment of heavy artillery, and fought at Sackett's Harbor, Lake George and Fort Erie. He died at Flemingville, February 4, 1862. Gen. Robert L. Fleming, son of the pioneer, was with his father in the capacity of waiter, during the war, and afterward became captain of a militia company. In 1835 he was elected brigadier- general, in command of the 9th brigade N. Y. state artillery. In the war of 1861-5, he assisted Col. Kane in raising the famous Pennsylvania "Bucktail" regiment, the old "Kane's Rifles," as originally known. In 1840 Gen. Fleming was elected sheriff of the county and served four years. He died February 26, 1877.


The pioneer on the Flemingville site was Asahel Pritchard, the famous hunter of the valley, who was said to have paid for his farm with the earnings of his rifle. As has been stated on a pre- ceding page, pioneer Pritchard came to this town among the earli- est settlers, and ever afterward. lived in the locality. He died at Flemingville, September 24, 1840. Other early settlers in the same


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vicinity, several of whom have been mentioned elsewhere, were Anzi Stedman, Daniel Ferguson, Daniel Ferguson, Jr., Jeremiah and Benjamin Brown, father and son, and Richard Searles, who built a saw-mill here in 1795.


Another of the early settlers in this part of the town was Aaron Truman, a native of Granville, Berkshire county, Mass., and a pioneer in Sparta, Livingston county, N. Y. He came to Owego in 1804, to teach school, and about two years afterward settled near Flemingville, where he took up and cleared a large tract of pine tim- ber land. He married with Experience Park, and to them were born ten children : Lyman P., Charles E., Dorinda, Orin, Francis W., Charlotte, George, Fanny, Mary E. and Adeline. These sons and daughters in later years became identified with the best his- tory of the town and village of Owego and are mentioned at length in the village chapter.


Notwithstanding the fact that this part of the town of Owego was settled almost as early as and by a class of pioneers as sub- stantial as in other localities, and the further fact that the hamlet was pleasantly and conveniently located on Owego creek, Flem- ingville has not attained any marked prominence among the vil- lages outlying from the county seat. Richard Searles's saw-mill was the first industry, and as early as 1812 Samuel Stewart had opened public house. The postoffice was established about 1820. A store was also opened about the same time, and around these interests was built up the hamlet, with a population at one time of about 200 persons. In 1811 a Methodist class was formed, and a school district was organized two years later, but beyond this condition of progress the hamlet advanced but little. A store has always been maintained here, and until quite recently two hotels have been kept open. The present merchants are B. F. Joiner, grocer, also postmaster, and Wheeler Stedman, feed store.


The Flemingville Methodist Episcopal society was organized as a class in 1811, with fifteen members, and with Thomas Stocky and David Fleming, class-leaders. The church organization was fully completed several years later, and a meeting-house was built in 1834, under the pastorate of Revs. Alanson Wood and Sylvester Minear. The present membership numbers about 130 persons ;


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TOWN OF OWEGO.


pastor, Rev. Carl Councilman. The Sunday-school has 50 pupils, and is under the superintendence of C. Vincent Mead.


CAMPVILLE .- In the year 1800, Colonel Asa Camp moved from Apalachin to the north side of the river and laid the foundation for a future village by building and opening a tavern ; but the ear- liest mention of the place in its hamlet character was as East Owego, and it was not until Stephen B. Leonard's term in con- gress, (1835-37), that the name Campville was given to the post- office then established. Col. Camp was in all respects a progress- ive, public-spirited citizen, and his presence had much to do with ยท the early importance of the hamlet among the settled localities of the valley. In town affairs he held the offices of pound-master, assessor, commissioner of highways, overseer of the poor, and supervisor. He died in 1848, one year previous to the opening of the railroad, hence he did not live to witness the greatest growth and importance of the village named in his honor. This came with the establishment of the stockyards by the railroad company, and by this acquisition much business was brought to Campville. However, after the yards were removed a marked depression fol- lowed, and now nothing but a few old and much worn buildings mark the scene of former prosperity. The landmarks remain but the glory of the place has departed. The old "Campville House," built in 1835, still stands, but offers no shelter to the weary trav- eller, and only the accommodation trains now stop at the station. The only public buildings are the schoolhouse of district No. 33 and the M. E. church. The McNeil mills at Campville were built in 1876. The place has one small store.


Roswell C. McNeil was for many years the leading citizen of Campville, and was, as well, a descendant of an old family in the . vicinity. His father was Rev. Cyrenus McNeil, an early settler near Campville. Mr. McNeil was the first station agent of the New York and Erie railroad at Campville, appointed in June, 1849. The stockyards were established here in 1855, and he was super- intendent in charge of the company's interests until their removal to Deposit in January, 1871. McNeil died at Campville June 29, 1885, leaving a wife, three sons, and two daughters.


The Methodist Episcopal church at Campville was organized as


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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.


a class as early as the year 1820, and as a church society abont thirteen years later (1833). However, the meeting house was not built until 1854. This church forms a joint charge with Apalachin and South Owego, under the pastorate of Rev. S. H. Flory.


GASKILL CORNERS is a little hamlet, about five miles northeast from Owego, on Little Nanticoke creek, and was named from Joseph Gaskill, pioneer, who, with his father, Silas Gaskill, canie to the town in March, 1789, and to the Corners in 1822. In the same locality Elijah Walter was an early settler, and came from Great Barrington, Mass., about 1810. He raised to maturity a family of five children, and several of his descendants still live in the town.


The Corners was made a postoffice station in 1866, Clark Green, postmaster. A store has been maintained here many years, the present one being known as a grange store. Here, also, is a cider and saw mill, Harmon Curtis, proprietor ; and a creamery owned by the Standard Butter Co. of Owego. The hamlet is in school district No. 20. The postmaster is John Pierson.


SOUTH OWEGO is the name of a postoffice in the south part of the town, in school district No. 22, about seven and one-half miles south of Owego village. In 1840 a postoffice was established here, and at times a store has been kept in the locality. About two . miles north Burr Duane formerly had a steam saw mill (built in 1856), but nearly all evidences of early industry have now dis- appeared, and only the schoolhouse and the M. E. church mark the present hamlet. The South Owego Methodist Episcopal church was organized as a class about 1830, and as a church society, May 20, 1856. In the year last mentioned the meeting-house was built, and cost $1,200. The society is now small, and is supplied from Apalachin by Rev. S. H. Flory.


GIBSON CORNERS is a little cluster of dwellings built up at a cross- roads in school district No. 25, in the southwest part of the town, on the site where Eli Gibson settled in the spring of 1835. He was born at Stowe, Middlesex county, Mass., June 17, 1795, and died March 12, 1864. This hamlet is located in the centre of a good farming territory, but it has no business interests, nor public buildings other than the district school and the grange hall. The


4


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TOWN OF OWEGO.


latter was built about fifteen years ago, and is used for farmers' meetings and occasionally for religious services.


FOSTER is the name of a locality in the eastern part of the town, in school district No. 17, and was so called from Daniel R. Foster, who built a mill here in 1836. The mill has been operated and maintained from that time to the present, both as saw and feed mill, and is now owned by Leonard Foster, of Owego village.


WHITTEMORE HILL is in the same district, though farther north. This locality was named from the old family surname, Whitte- more, many descendants of which are still in the town. Isaac Whittemore settled here about 1830. On the hill, in 1850 and '51, was built a Methodist Episcopal church, on land leased to the society by Isaac Whittemore for the nominal consideration of one dollar, so long as the edifice should be used for church purposes. This charge is joint with Union, in Broome county.


WAIT SETTLEMENT is a name applied to the locality in which Henry Wait (from Half-Moon, Saratoga county) settled about 1818. The settlement is located in the extreme southwest corner of the town, in what is now school district No. 3. The people of this section have built a M. E. church at the cross-roads, south- west of the centre of the district.


NORTH OWEGO is the name of a settlement south of Flemingville and just north of the county poor farm.


The old Red Mill, on Owego creek, about half way between the village and the county farm, was built in 1820, by Jonathan Platt and David Turner. In 1868 it was purchased by George Nichols, and is still owned by his estate.


Another of the landmarks was the steam grist and saw mills, built by James Pumpelly and John R. Drake, and located on the south side of the river, about one mile below the bridge. . The buildings were carried away by high water in 1865, after which Jacob Hand purchased the site and built new mills. These, in turn, were burned July 3, 1874, and were replaced in 1876 by other mills, erected by John D. Weed.


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SUCCESSION OF SUPERVISORS .*


1791-92-Joshua Whitney.


1850-51-George W. Hollenback.


1793-Jonathan Fiteh.


1852-James Ely.


1794-Daniel Hudson.


1853-John Holmes.


1795-Luke Bates.


1854-Stephen B. Leonard.


1796-97-Orring Stoddard.


1855-George W. Hollenback.


1798-Samuel Seymour.


1856-Stephen B. Leonard.


1799-Joshua Mersereau.


1857-Lyman Truman.


1800-1-John Brown.


1858-Arba Campbell.


1802-Joseph Waldo.


1859-Agur E. Cable.


1803-5-John Brown.


1860-Charles K. Lineoln.


1806-Asa Leonard.


1861-Ezra S. Buekbee.


1807-8-Stephen Maek.


1862-William P. Raymond.


1813-John R. Drake.


1869-Frederick O. Cable.


1814-Eleazer Dana.


1815-16-Anson Camp.


1874-Frederiek O. Cable.


1817-18-Asa Camp.


1875- William H. Corey.


1819-20-Anson Camp.


1876-John B. Brush.


1821-24-Charles Pumpelly.


1878-Anson Decker.


1831-Anson Camp.


1879-Frank A. Bliss.


1832-33-William A. Ely.


1880-Anson Decker.


1834-David P. Tinkham.


1881-Aaron Steele.


1835-39-William A. Ely.


1882-John Jones.


1840-Lyman Truman.


1883-84-George W. Barton.


1841 -- James Ely.


1885-Jonas Shays.


1842-Joseph C. Bell.


1886-88-Orlando G. King.


1843-James Cameron.


1889-90-George F. Andrews


1844-45-James Ely.


1891-Otis S. Beach.


1846-David Wallis.


1892-93-Aaron P. Storrs.


1847-48-Benjamin W. Green.


1894-95-Calvin B. Dean.


1849-Lyman Truman.


1896-97-Lyman T. Stanbrough.


1863-Agur E. Cable.


1809-10-Charles Pumpelly.


1811-12-Stephen Maek.


1864-68-James Bishop.


1877 -- Charles M. Haywood.


1825-30-William A.Ely.


1870-73-Frederick K. Hull.


*Town of Union from 1791 to 1800; Tioga from 1800 to 1813; Owego from 1813.


W.A. F gussulLato


A. Gobum


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VILLAGE OF OWEGO.


CHAPTER XIX.


VILLAGE OF OWEGO.


THE SEAT OF JUSTICE OF TIOGA COUNTY.


W HEN James McMaster first came into the Susquehanna val- ley, in 1784, and visited the scene of his former exploits as a soldier of the revolution, he little thought the land which appeared to him the most desirable as a home farm would ever become the site of one of the pleasantest villages of the state ; nor did he then believe the land on which he "made his pitch " would ever be selected as the seat of justice of one of the best in- terior agricultural counties of New York. It was the general fertility of soil and the desirable situation of the land, the first considerations that presented themselves to a farmer's mind, that impelled pioneer McMaster to select this spot as the site of his future home, and it made little difference to the Indians whether he selected lands on the east or the west side of Owego creek, the north or the south side of the Susquehanna ; but if early tradition and record be true the worthy pioneer had previous knowledge of the productive character of the soil, for in 1779 he had helped to destroy the Indian village standing on the site of his proposed home, and had also helped to lay waste the abundant fields of corn and the orchard trees found growing on the north bank of the river, east of the creek.


James McMaster lived to see Tioga county created and organized ; he lived to see the little village settlement started, and contributed generously to that end ; he lived to see the lands of his half-town- ship set off from Tioga to form a part of Broome county, but he did not live to see the territory again restored to the mother county, nor to see the village in the character of county seat. His concession of land from the Massachusetts proprietary extended up Owego creek a distance of six miles, and three miles up the Susquehanna from the mouth of the creek, yet before his death


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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.


James McMaster parted with his title to all this vast and valuable property, and left the town to spend his latter days with a daugh- ter in Candor, where he met an accidental death in 1818 ; and all that Owego now has in memory of this worthy pioneer is a single village street leading northward from Main street to the corpora- tion line.


In a narrative of early village life mention must also be made of Amos Draper, the nearest neighbor of McMaster, and whose home was up the river fourteen miles, at the little Indian village called Choconut. Indeed, it was through Draper's influence with the natives that McMaster secured this splendid tract of land, and he, too, became the possessor of several fine lots in the half-township in recompense for his service and assistance in bringing about the conveyance from the proprietary to the pioneer. McMaster also deeded a considerable portion of his tract to Captain Luke Bates, who was a conspicuous figure in early village life, and who had much to do with the events of his time. He was the first settler be- tween Union and Campville, and in 1795 built the first tavern in the village. A portion of his purchase was within the village plat.


As the story is told in the history of the town, James Mc- Master became a permanent settler on the village site in 1785, and at the same time also came Robert McMaster, William Taylor, John Nealy and William Woods. Amos Draper came in the spring of 1787, and his was the first family to settle in the village. His house stood near the bank of the river, in the rear of the present residence of John R. Chatfield.


The second family was James McMaster's, who came in the spring of 1788, followed in the same year by James McQuigg and his family. McQuigg's house stood on the site of Camp's furnace, on the south side of Front street, while the McMaster dwelling was further down the same street, on the site now occupied by G. H. Pumpelly's residence. Both faced the river and between them and the stream was the only thoroughfare known to the settler, the old Indian trail running along the river bank. Front street, as now laid out, takes part of the land used by the first settlers for garden purposes.


The old village tract comprised the greater portion of lot num-


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VILLAGE OF OWEGO.


ber twenty-three in the west half township. It was in part sur- veyed by Amaziah Hutchinson in 1788 and '89. and completed by David Pixley, Jr., in 1789 and '90. The western limits of the vil- lage then extended only a short distance west of the park, while the eastern boundary was just beyond Paige street. The northern tier of lots was south of Temple street. Surveyor James Pum- pelly increased the size of the village plat in his survey, made soon after 1800.


STREETS AND HIGHWAYS .-- The first regularly laid out highway through the village began at the " fording place " on Owego creek, below where Main street now crosses, and thence extended east on the present course of the street to MeMaster street ; thence down to Front street, and easterly on that thoroughfare to and beyond the village limits.


When Amaziah Hutchinson surveyed the town plat, a narrow road ran from the river north through where Lake street now is, extending through the lot occupied by the Times office, and on up the valley of Owego creek. This was known as the " Lake Road," as it led from Owego to Cayuga lake. In 1802 it was regularly laid out as a highway by Henry Steward and Solomon Williams, com- missioners of highways, and extended from the river bank to the south line of Joseph and Lemuel Brown's lot-a point near where stood the Thurston planing mill of later days, in North avenue. The late William Pumpelly, on May 17, 1802, then a lad of thirteen, passed up this road with his father's family on the journey from Salisbury, Conn., to Tompkins county ; and he said at that time the vicinity of Lake street was a wilderness of pine trees, so tall that to his youthful imagination they seemed to touch the clouds. The road was not so wide as the present street, and on each side was a rail fence. When the Hutchinson survey was made Front street was variously known as "the main street," as "Water street," and also as " the river road." In 1795 it was made a high- way, though not particularly straight in its course.


The highway now called Main street extended from where Park street now is to the Cayuga lake trail (MeMaster street). and was known as Second street, and also as Back street, being back of the main road. MeMaster street is nearly identical in its course with


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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.


the old Indian trail leading from the river bank north through the village tract. The trail led to Cayuga lake, hence the name " Cay- uga lake trail." Another road began near the old Bates tavern (site of Ahwaga House) and thence ran diagonally across open fields to the northwest corner of the park. In August, 1801, Back street was extended from the northwest corner of the park east to the lake road, and the road from the Bates tavern, which had been laid out by Jabez Winship and Lemuel Brown, was discontinued. The Hutchinson survey also laid out a street, or lane, extending from the rivernorth, between the residence of J. C. Dwelle and the old Avery house, across Back street and as far as Temple street. Paige street was laid down on the map as a lane. The highways thus far mentioned in this chapter were the only streets in the set- tlement previous to the year 1800.


In 1802 the Lake road north of Back street was discontinued, and a new highway was opened and was known, successively, as the Owego and Ithaca turnpike, Ithaca street, and North avenue. In 1803 a bridge was built across Owego creek, after which all travel west went by Back street, and the old river road was aban- doned. The old Owego and Ithaca Turnpike Road Company was incorporated April 6, 1807, and the highway was laid out during that and the year following. The Owego terminus was in Main street, now the south end of North avenue. (For a more detailed history of this thoroughfare, see chapter IX).


McMaster street was laid out in 1806, on the Cayuga lake trail, by commissioners of highways Lemuel Brown and Abijah Foster. That portion between Main and Front streets was subsequently known as Chapel street, and all north of Main street was called McMaster street. The name Chapel street was changed to Acad- emy street by the board of village trustees, April 26, 1886. The next highway laid out and opened was Ross street, November 18, 1812, by commissioners Asa Camp and John R. Drake. For sev- eral years it was known as the upper cross street, being in the extreme eastern limits of the village. Fourth street (now Fox) was laid out February 26, 1821, by William Pumpelly and Elisha Bundy, commissioners. It was named in honor of Captain Syl- venus Fox. In 1810, Lemuel Brown and Abijah Foster, commis-


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VILLAGE OF OWEGO.


sioners, laid out a road running from the river road to Back (Main) street, near where Paige street now runs. The road was aban- doned in 1820, and that portion now known as Paige street was surveyed and laid out.


These streets were of course laid out for the convenience of property owners and the inhabitants of the village, but in many cases the course was irregular, and they were so insufficiently de- fined as to be little better than lanes. However, in 1827 the village was incorporated, and the newly created board of trustees at once took steps to put the public highways in order, and appropriate and permanent names were given them. The river road of pio- neer days was named Front street ; Back street was called Main street ; Upper cross street became Ross street, in allusion to Major Horatio Ross, an early merchant. That portion of Paige street between Front and Main was named Leonard street, in honor of Stephen B. Leonard, and was so called as late as 1837. Paige street was named in honor of Dr. Joel S. Paige, and the part of the village in which he lived was known as "Paigeville." Pre- vious to the incorporation Church street was called "Dutch alley." Lake street was named Ithaca street. The latter name was after- ward given to the street now called North avenue. Down at the foot of William street was the old ark yard, from which the name Ark street arose. The trustees changed the name to William street.


In 1836 the trustees determined upon a new survey and map of the village, and for that purpose engaged the services of Stephen Dexter, of Ithaca. In many instances Mr. Dexter cut off door- yards and valuable property fronts along the streets, to the great displeasure of owners. But his survey was adopted, and the street lines are now in accordance with his map. The map was duly filed in the county clerk's office, but was either borrowed, or se- cretly removed, probably by some displeased land owner.


Front street, from Church to Court, was first paved with cobble stones in the summer of 1839, by James Erwin, of Smithville, Chenango county. He also paved Lake street in the fall of the next year.


Referring briefly to the more important streets subsequently


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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.


laid out and opened, mention may be made of the extension of Church street, in the fall of 1836; Main street from McMaster street west to Owego creek, in June, 1838; Temple street from North avenue to Paige street, in June, 1838, and extended west to McMaster street in January, 1853. March 8, 1842, the name of Ithaca street was changed to North avenue, and in 1878 to Broad- way. March 28, 1881, the name North avenue was restored. In 1850 the narrow lane previously known as " Dog alley," was wid- ened and named Liberty street, and was extended north to Fox street in 1857. John street was opened June 17, 1850, and named for John Hollenback. Fulton street was opened April 17, 1854. Farm street was laid out in May, 1858, but the name was after- ward changed to Division street. Walnut street was opened in September, 1858. Tinkham street was opened in May, 1855, (named in allusion to Samuel Standish Tinkham), and was changed to Chestnut street April 28, 1856. Forsyth street was laid out and opened May 4, 1857. Spencer avenue was originally laid out as Furnace lane (1853), but was extended and called St. Patrick street in 1858. The name Spencer avenue was given by the trustees in 1870.


Previous to the completion of the New York and Erie railroad to Owego, in 1849, Judge Drake owned a large tract of land on both sides of the proposed road, extending from North avenue to the creek. This tract he caused to be surveyed into lots and streets, and the plan was by him called "A map of Drake's Reservation in the Village of Owego." The streets, with one or two excep- tions, were named for his children and grandchildren, hence the village thoroughfares known as Arianna, Theodore, Charlotte, Adaline, Delphine, and others. Judge Drake intended to build up a village on "the flats," but an attack of paralysis prevented him from carrying out the work.


Bell street, named for Joseph C. Bell, was laid out in August, 1843 ; Green street in the same year ; Erie street in January, 1859 ; South Depot and North Depot streets in 1851; "Little John" street in 1851; Central avenue, which runs just west of the line of the old Ithaca and Owego horse railroad line, in May, 1862 ; Talcott street (named for George Talcott) in August, 1862 ; Hill




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