USA > New York > Tioga County > Our county and its people : a memorial history of Tioga County, New York > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
1858 -- H. W. Longwell.
1826-28 -- Joel Sawyer.
1859 -- Henry S. Davis.
1829-30 -- Samuel Ellis.
1860-61 -- Horaee C. Hubert. 1879-81 -- Geo. W. Chaffee.
1830 -- Alex. Ellis. 1831-34 -- Chas. VanHorn.
1862 -- A. G. Allen. 1863 -- Wilbur F. Finch.
1864-Ozias Shipman.
1836 -- Inman Walling.
1865-67 -- G. G. Manning. 1868 -- Wilbur F. Finch.
1837-Seymour Wright. 1838 -- Arthur Yates.
1869 -- Benj. W. Bonnell. 1839-40 -- Alex. H. Schuyler. 1870 -- John E. Pembleton. 1841-42 -- Wm. H. Thomas. 1871-John R. Murray. 1843-49 -- Alex. H. Sehuyler. 1872-73-B. W. Bonnell.
1874-John R. Murray.
1875-76-P. P. Gallagher. 1877-78 -- Frank J. Campbell.
1835-Franklin Tallmadge.
1882 -- Samuel O. Shoemaker. 1883-85 -- D. John McDonald. 1886-87 -- Edwin S. Hanford. 1888-89 -- Geo. D. Genung. 1890-91-Edwin S. Hanford. 1892 -- V. C. Manners. 1893 -- Will H. Swain. 1894-96-Charles H. Turacy.
336
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1851-Jacob Newkirk. 1876-Wm. E. Casey.
1852-Seymour Wright. -George II. Grafft.
-Alexander Ellis.
1853-Horace C. Hubbert.
1855-Thomas Yates.
1856-Seymour Yates.
1857-Hiram Payne.
1858-Horace C. Hubbert.
1880-Wm. II. Spaulding.
-Washington Smith.
1859-Nicholas Shoemaker. -Stephen McKinney.
1881-William Corey.
1835-Joel Sawyer.
1836- Waslı. Smitlı.
1860-Nicholas Shoemaker.
1861-Alvah James.
1862-Horace C. Hubbert.
1884-Wm. H. Spaulding.
1838-Arthur Yates.
1863-64-Sami'l M. Newland.
-L. Bensley.
1839-Jonathan Barnes.
1864-Thomas Yates.
1885-G. H. Manning. -De Witt C. Bensley.
1886-DeWitt C. Bensley.
1887-George H. Grafft.
1888-Wm. H. Spaulding.
1843-Nicholas Shoemaker.
1869-Oliver B. Corwin.
1844-Amos Moore.
1870-Newton Kinney.
1845-Joel Sawyer.
-Lewis W. Mullock.
1889-Ezra Canfield. 1890-De Witt C. Bensley. 1891-George H. Grafft. 1892-Charles O. Hogan.
1846-Thomas Yates.
1871-Levi Westfall.
1847-Jacob Newkirk.
1872-DeWitt Dwyer.
1893-Richard H. Andrus.
1848-Lyman Wright.
1873 -- L. W. Mullock.
1894 -- DeWitt C. Bensley.
1849 -- Joel Sawyer.
1874-Coe Mullock.
1895-George H. Grafft.
1850-Peter Wentz.
1875-John T. Osborn.
1896-Charles O. Hogan.
-F. J. Armstrong. 1882-F. J. Armstrong. 1883 -- George H. Grafft.
1840-Inman Walling.
1865-Lewis M. Mullock.
1841-Joel Sawyer
1866 -- James Aplin.
1867-Thomas Yates.
1842-Thomas Yates. -Seymour Wright.
1868-S. M. Newland.
VILLAGES AND HAMLETS .- Among the settled localities of Barton the incorporated village of Waverly is first in importance and is indeed one of the most metropolitan municipalities in Tioga county, hence is reserved for special and extended mention in another chapter.
Barton, sometimes called " Barton City," not, however, in deri- sion but from a certain prominence the locality has ever held among the villages of the town, where settled and lived several of the most respected and worthy of the pioneers, whose names have been mentioned on earlier pages, is one of the most interest- ing places from a historic standpoint to be found in all the county. In the early history of the region Barton shared honors and busi- ness with Milltown and other established centres, but with the growth and wonderful prosperity of Factoryville of old and Waverly of more recent years, our little eastern hamlet suffered
1877-John R. Murray. -William F. Warner. 1878-J. W. Hollenback. 1879-George H. Grafft.
1830-Gilbert Smith. -Jonathan Barnes.
1831-Abel Sawyer. -Franklin Tallmadge. 1833-Alex. Ellis. 1834-Inman Walling.
1837-Arthur Yates.
-- Alex. Ellis.
337
TOWN OF BARTON.
loss with final result in its comparatively unimportant position. Yet, there is something in and about this hamlet which has always commanded a certain respect from the older and more sub- stantial element of the town's people. In the days of the stage and mail coach here was indeed a busy place, and when the rail- road superseded the old method of travel, Barton for a time retained its prestige, and in fact never did decline but was out- grown by more fortunate villages. It is now described as a station and postoffice on the line of the Lehigh Valley and Erie railroads, with a population of about 200, and business interests sufficient to supply the inhabitants of a rich and prosperous farming region. Here, too, is the Barton Methodist Episcopal church, a good dis- trict school, a hotel, with other interests necessary to supply all local requirements. It is also an important shipping point for agricultural products.
The M. E. church at Barton was one of the first of the denom- ination in the county, and was organized about 1805 at the dwell- ing of pioneer Peter Barnes. Among the first members were Peter Barnes and wife, Gilbert and Betsey Smith, Benjamin Aikins, Samuel Mundy, Daniel Bensley, Peter Hoffman, and Selah Payne. The first ministers to officiate here were Revs. Timothy Lee and Horace Agard, while Benjamin Aikins was the first local preacher. The first church edifice was built by the society in 1836, and from that until the present time this has been one of the strong M. E. churches in the county, outside the large villages. This charge is united with North Barton and Smithboro, under the pastoral care of Rev. S. A. Terry.
The present business interests of the hamlet are about as fol- lows: De Witt C. Bensley, coal dealer and justice of the peace ; Masterson & Cary, general store and two large storehouses ; F. W. Harding, general store ; I. F. Hoyt, shoemaker and dealer in notions ; The Johnson house, S. E. Johnson, proprietor ; F. A. Ellis, grist mill ; Wm. Cornell, saw and feed mill. The Barton steam mills burned in 1877, together with other valuable property. Mr. Cornell rebuilt the mill and established a saw and feed mill, though the latter has not been operated in several years.
Lockwood, as now known, owes its existence and business in-
338
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
portance almost wholly to the efforts of the firm of Bingham Broth- er's, who began operations here soon after the close of the war. How- ever, in the early history of the town Charles Bingham, Jr., son of the pioneer Charles, built a mill at Lockwood, or on the site of the subsequent hamlet so called. In later years the place came to be known as Bingham's Mills, and was so called until 1881, when on account of a political difference between the proprietors in fact of the place and a government official, the official having tlie power, caused the name to be changed from Bingham's Mills to Lockwood. The date of the change was November 18, 1881.
The postoffice was established January 7, 1870. and the post- masters have been George W. Bingham, appointed January 7, 1870, and November 18, 1881 ; George D. Brock, August 24, 1885 ; Edmund J. Bingham, May 2, 1889 ; Ezra Canfield, August 23, 1893.
A part of the extensive mills at this place which Bingham Brothers operate was burned in December, 1896, but was at once replaced with others. Therefore the business interests of Lock- wood are about as substantial as ever, and are represented as fol- lows : Bingham Brothers, general merchants, manufacturers of butter packages and proprietors of saw, planing and grist mills ; Truman Searles, grocer ; W. E. Edgerton, dealer in agricultural implements and proprietor of meat market.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Lockwood dates back to the days of early settlement, when a class was formed, although it was many years later that the formal organization was perfected. The church home was built in 1854, since which time the society has been generally prosperous. In this charge are now 177 mem- bers. The pastor is Rev. A. F. Brown.
North Barton is a post hamlet in the northern part of the town, in a purely agricultural region, but the country roundabout is rich and fertile in nature's products. The farming people here required a trading centre and this hamlet was built up to supply the want. No business interests are now maintained here, and the only public buildings are the M. E. church and the district school.
The North Barton Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1869, with eighteen members, and in 1870 the edifice was built. However, the society has never been sufficiently strong to support
339
TOWN OF BARTON.
a pastor and is therefore a part of the circuit comprising Smith- boro, Barton and North Barton, of which the pastor in charge is Rev. S. A. Terry.
The North Barton Agricultural Society was incorporated June 25, 1885, by S. C. Brown, D. V. Besenier, Alonzo Baker, M. B. Sager, P. H. Wheeler, Oscar Talcott, N. M. Brewster, H. E. Bar- den, S. W. Ellison and O. H. Stebbins.
The Acme Grange of North Barton was incorporated December 18, 1885, by L. W. Kingsnorth, S. C. Brown, S. Speer, O. H. Stebbins, Archie T. Smith, P. V. Bogart, Ezra Canfield, W. C. Edgerton, F. E. Steenburg, S. W. Ellison, James Payne and C. L. Baker. These societies were formed for the benefit and advance- ment of interests pertaining particularly to farmers, and such were their results.
Halsey Valley is a pretty hamlet in the northeast part of the town, lying in both Barton and Tioga. Its interests are chiefly in Tioga, hence requires no mention in this chapter.
Reniff is the name of a once prosperous hamlet and station on the line of the now called Lehigh Valley railroad, in the northwest corner of the town. Willis E. Gillett was for several years the active man of the place, but now all evidences of former prosperity are gone.
Barton Centre is the name given to designate a cluster of houses in the central part of the town, where twenty years ago was a quiet settlement.
340
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
CHAPTER XXI.
VILLAGE OF WAVERLY.
W HEN in 1796 John Shepard came up from the vicinity of Tioga Point and purchased a thousand acre tract of land from Gen- eral Thomas, he little thought the location residence would ever be the site of one of the most enterprising business villages in Tioga county. Pioneer John Shepard was a farmer and trader. a land speculator and bought and sold extensively, but he probably did not have in mind the thought of founding a village when he made the first purchase. He did not live to see the village of Wa- verly under that name, but he did live to see the old hamlet of Factoryville one of the most prosperous trading centres in the county. John Shepard died in 1837, and it remained for his son, Isaac Shepard, and other worthy pioneers, to make the many im- provements which contributed to the growth of the village.
From an old printed document it is learned that a large tract of land extending from the Chemung east to Shepard's creek and from the state line north a considerable distance, was origi- nally known as the Benedict location. East of the creek was the Lorillard tract, a portion of which, after the English custom, was reserved by the proprietor as a manor, otherwise called a " Bar- ton ;" and the theory has been advanced that from this fact the town received its name. From the same authority it is also learn- ed that in 1800 George Walker made the first substantial improve- ment at Factoryville by building a grist mill, and six years later John Shepard and Josiah Crocker, the latter from Lee, Mass., built a fulling mill and set up a carding machine at the settlement called Milltown on the state line. This was the beginning of im- provements which led to the subsequent village, and within the next few years so rapid was the growth in the locality that a post- office was established, and Factoryville became a fact as well as a name. A little later on Isaac and Job Shepard, sons of John, built a woollen mill at or near the east village, the same property
341
VILLAGE OF WAVERLY.
which was afterward bought by Alexander Brooks and which was burned in 1853. The postoffice was kept for several years in the woollen mill, but was removed to a more suitable location in Mr. Shepard's store on the then called Owego road, but now Chemung street.
A survey of Factoryville was made in 1819, by Major Flower, and the owner of the land, Mr. Shepard, divided it into lots of large size. Many of these lots were sold to Thomas Wilcox and Moses and Elisha Leonard, who, in turn, subdivided theni, sold many, built on others, and within the next five years Factoryville had become a trading and manufacturing point of much impor- tance in the county. Indeed, previous to the construction of the New York and Erie railroad, in 1849, this little hamlet was known as one of the most progressive in the southern tier, and only the erection of the station at "Shepardville" and the consequent transfer of business to that point took from Factoryville nearly all its former importance. Even then the transformation was hardly more than in name, for previous to the construction of the railroad all the settled and business locality here was known as Factoryville.
Deacon Ephraim Strong, of whom mention is made in the his- tory of the town, purchased 153 acres of the Shepard tract in 1819, and about the same time built a substantial plank house in what is now Waverly, this being the first dwelling in that locality. In 1821 the Turnpike from Owego to Chemung was opened for travel, and for the accommodation of the public Isaac Shepard built, in 1825, a substantial tavern. However, in 1824, Jerry Adams built a tannery near the state line, thus adding one more to the interests of Factoryville neighborhood. It stood on the site now occupied by the Sayre Butter Package Co.'s works. Adams sold to one Norris and he, in 1834, to Luther Stone, father to William and James Stone. In 1842, Mr. Stone removed the old buildings and erected larger ones, the same being burned in 1860. They were at once rebuilt, and after the death of Luther Stone, in 1866, the business was carried on by his sons until 1868, when J. A. Perkins became owner of a half interest, and, in 1870. pur- chased the entire plant.
342
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
After the turnpike was opened and after Isaac Shepard had completed the tavern at the west settlement, the settlement began to assume a position of importance and was the rival of the ham- let to the east. April 3, 1826, Owen Spalding and his brother, Amos, came to the place, and from that time to his death, May 3, 1882, Owen Spalding was one of the most enterprising and public spirited men of the village, and few indeed were the local enter- prises in which he was not in some manner interested. He is well remembered, too, and his name is perpetuated in the worthy organization known as Spalding Hose Fire company. Mr. Spald- ing lived for a time in the Deacon Strong plank house, but later on built on the site of the late Richard A. Elmer's residence.
Joseph Hallet came to the settlement in 1833, and purchased a hundred acre tract of land. This family, especially some of its later representatives, were prominent factors in Waverly history, and to Joseph Edward Hallet, familiarly known as "Uncle Joe," is due the honor of originating the Waverly fire department ; and he was actively connected with the organization to the time of his death. He also wrote the early history of Methodism in Barton, and of his manuscripts the present writer has made free use.
At this time, in 1833, says a recent narrative, there were only fifteen buildings in Waverly, and they were Isaac Shepard's tavern, Jacob Newkirk's distillery and house, Thomas Hill's house, and another small dwelling standing near the Shepard residence. Elder Jackson, the Baptist minister, lived just west of the more recently known Inman dwelling, and the elder's blacksmith shop stood on the site of the Slaughter residence of later days.
Among the later comers was Capt. Benjamin H. Davis, who proved a valuable acquisition to the hamlet, and who by reason of prominence was made the first postmaster at Waverly, March 14, 1850. He built, in 1852, the Davis block, later known as the "Exchange," to which he removed the postoffice. In many re- spects Capt. Davis was an important figure in the early history of the village.
Still there were other factors in history in Factoryville, for the whole settled part was so known until the incorporation, and among the many there may be recalled the names of Pierre Hyatt,
*
VILLAGE OF WAVERLY. 343
Paris and Robert Sanders, David Carmichael, Jonathan Robbins, G. W. Plummer, Jacob Swain, Nathan Slawson, Steven Van Der- lip, Daniel Blizard, David Mandeville, the elder, Peter and Lewis Quick, W. A. Lane, S. T. Van Derlip, Jesse Kirk, and others whose naines have perhaps been lost, but all of whom were in some manner identified with the interesting carly development of the region ; and we say region rather than village, for it would in- deed be difficult to say just where the village in fact begun or how its boundaries were defined. It was all Factoryville, and all the settlers were interested in its prosperity. However, among still later comers and worthy to be mentioned in this connection, were F. H. Baldwin, H. M. and W. E. Moore, Richard A. Elmer, senior, with his sons Howard and Richard A., junior, both of whom afterward became prominent in Waverly business and financial circles. There were also Jacob Reel, E. J. Brooks, J. A. Corwin, Sylvester Gibbons, Dr. R. O. Crandall, Squire Peter Wentz and Lawyer George Beebe, all necessary adjuncts of municipal life.
As early as 1840 the little west hamlet had sufficient population to justify laying out additional streets, and the next five years witnessed a material growth in every direction. In the spring of 1841 Squire Alva Jarvis opened the first store, and G. H. Hallet followed with the second in the fall. In 1842 Mr. Hallet and An- drew Price built a foundry on the corner of Chemung and Wa- verly streets, and very soon afterward started a cabinet shop on the second floor of the building. Later on the foundry was trans- formed into a hotel and christened "Clarmont House." In 1843 Edward Brigham built a hotel on the site of the Methodist church of later years, and where now stands the M. E. parsonage Robert Shakelton built a store and dwelling.
Of course these were but a part of the many improvements which resulted in the ultimate prosperous village, but gradually, step by step, the western settlement gained the greater prominence although it was not until the year 1854 that Factoryville lost its prestige ; and not until 1889 did the place lose all its former iden- tity and was absorbed by the extension on the limits of Waverly village.
In 1849, as is elsewhere stated, the New York and Erie railroad
344
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
was opened for traffic and although its line passed through Fac- toryville, Waverly secured the station and company buildings. The hamlet, however, was variously called. Isaac Shepard, for whom it should have been named, called it "Villemont," while others suggested the name "Loder," in allusion to the then vice- president of the railroad. Yet it remained for that worthy old citizen, Uncle Joseph E. Hallet, to suggest the name which was finally adopted "-Waverly-" at first spelled Waverley, and in honor of Scott's works, the famous Waverley novels. .
With the characteristic generosity for which they were noted, Owen Spalding, Isaac Shepard, and Capt. Benjamin Davis gave to the company the right of way through their lands, and the result was that business, which had previously centred around the park was soon transferred to the vicinity of the station. The depot was the first building erected there, but William Peck soon had a saloon ready for business on a site just west of the present War- ford house ; and in less than six months Captain Davis had started a saloon and public house between the Warford site and the old Waverly house location. This building was soon enlarged and made into a good hotel. Later on Stephen Bennet, a former vil- lage blacksmith, succeeded to the ownership of the hotel, but in the fall of 1856 Cyrus Warford bought it. It was burned in 1857 but the name of Warford house has ever since been known in local annals.
In the meantime Broad street had sprung into existence as the prominent thoroughfare of trade and traffic, and early acquired the importance it has ever since maintained. Here, too, the year 1849 witnessed many improvements. Amos Spalding erected a large store building, which Hiram Moore filled with goods about Christmas, soon after the first store had been started by William Gibbons. T. J. Brooks was the next merchant, and John A. Corbin the fourth, both of whom, with Mr. Moore, were in the Spalding block. Then Isaac Shepard built the Shepard block, and in 1850 Hiram Moore erected a foundry on the site of the more recent Slawson furniture store. In 1852 B. P. Snyder built a pub- lic house on the site of the Warford house. Mr. Warford purchased this hotel in 1855, and the present Warford house stands on its site.
345
THIE VILLAGE OF WAVERLY.
With a view of recalling the names of as many as possible of the old business men and residents of Waverly, the accumulated files in the Free Press office have been drawn upon, and from an old copy of the Luminary, published in April, 1852, we learn that mercantile and business interests in the hamlet were carried on by these proprietors : John Allen, butcher ; Barnes & Bailey, drugs, medicines, paints, oils and stationery ; T. J. Brooks, general store in Spalding block ; Peter V. Bennet, general store ; Bosworth & Shaw, saddlers and harness makers, in Waverly street ; George Beebe, attorney at law, over Bennet's store; S. Bennet, grocer and restaurant, under Foster's hotel, near the depot ; Mrs. Beard, milliner and dressmaker, Broad street ; J. A. Corbin, music and musical instruments and patent medicines ; Charles Corbin, "dag- uerreotypists," Spalding block ; R. O. Crandall, physician and surgeon ; Joseph Chamberlain, furniture dealer, corner Chemung and Waverly streets ; H. S. Davis, dry goods and groceries, Spald- ing block ; B. H. Davis, postmaster, Broad street ; George C. Drake, sash and blind manufacturer ; John W. Ellston, butcher, Broad street ; R. A. Elmer, marble dealer ; William Foster, hotel, near depot ; William Gibson, dry goods and groceries, Broad street ; L. Gilbert, boots and shoes, Broad street ; S. Gibbons, dry goods and groceries, Broad street ; William Galloway, painter ; Hay & Lovejoy, boots and shoes, leather and findings, Chemung street ; J. W. Hard, watches and jewelry.
With these and other interests, together with the residence por- tion of the village well built up, it was natural that the people should expect and demand at least a limited separation from the surrounding territory of the town. At that time the inhabitants of the village proper numbered about 750, the business and manu- facturing places were not less than twenty-five, and all required both fire and police protection, and other conditions of municipal life not to be enjoyed in the hamlet character. Therefore, on De- cember 12, 1853, the first steps toward incorporation were taken, and January 18, 1854, the proposition was submitted to the quali- fied electors, and the result was 114 votes for and 44 against the measure. It was at this time that the subject of an appropriate name was first seriously considered, and the final result was as has been stated.
346
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
While these events of history were taking place in the progres- sive west village, old Factoryville remained in much the same con- dition as before, but as business interests became unprofitable, or were lost through fire or other disaster, the owners generally re- moved to the corporation or retired from further operations. In the course of time it became necessary for the village authorities to enlarge the corporate limits of Waverly, and the residents of old Factoryville at length sought to be united to the village, and in 1889 petitioned the trustees to extend the boundaries of the corporation. A survey and map of the proposed territory were made and the question of union was submitted to the Factoryville inhabitants, and carried, although some fault was afterward found in certain quarters with the manner of procedure.
Then old historic Factoryville lost not only all its old-time pres- tige, but also its name. The people there hoped to retain the post- office, which they did for a time, and were then given the benefits of the free delivery system of the village. The Factoryville post- office was established in 1823, and from that to the time the office was discontinued the postmasters, with date of appointment, were as follows :
1823, Feb. 12, Isaac Shepard. 1875, April 6, Gordon G. Manning.
1835, Jan. 19, Samuel Smith. 1877, March 26, John T. Osborn.
1836, Jan. 21, Arthur Yates, 1877, May 25, Leonard H. Nichols.
1849, July 27, Benjamin HI. Davis. 1879, Feb. 18, Thomas P. Yates.
1850, March 14, Alexander Brooks.
1886, March 20, Clarence E. Cook.
1853, June 18, Silas Fordham.
1889, April 11, David H. Eaton.
1861, July 10, Thomas Yates.
Waverly was made a postoffice in 1850, from which time, with the date of appointment, the postmasters have been as follows :
1850, March 14, Benjamin II. Davis. 1883, Oct. 2, Charles C. Brooks.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.