USA > New York > Steuben County > Pioneer history & atlas of Steuben County, N.Y. : compiled from historical, statistical & official records > Part 10
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The Magnolia House was built in 1850. It was a two-story hotel with 25 rooms and it was a going hotel in its day. Many dances and parties were held there.
There were two cheese factories, one was one mile east of Rathbone village and the other at South Rathbone.
The old hotel at Cameron Mills was pur- chased by the Masonic Fraternity and was re- parsonage.
modeled for their use. The postoffice is included in this building.
Seth Cook had a sawmill and manufactured hand rakes on Saunders Creek. About 11/2 miles north from the river road toward Risingville he erected a steam sawmill about 1865 and changed the upright saw to a circular saw in 1872.
In 1855 there were two Methodist Episcopal Churches in Rathbone. It is recorded that the first religious meetings were held in the town in 1831.
The first schoolhouse was built on the land of Jacob Cole. The town was well provided with schools at an early date.
Rev. Abner Chase visited the valley in 1812 making his circuit on horseback. He was joined later in his long circuit by Rev. Ebenezer White and Charles Giles.
The Methodist Episcopal Church formed a class at the Town Line schoolhouse in 1831.
In 1844-45 a church was built in the town of Cameron, joining the Addison line, known as the Town Line Church.
The formation of the town of Rathbone placed this church in the center of the town.
In 1847 a class was formed at the Cole schoolhouse. They joined in building a large edifice in the village of Rathboneville which was dedicated in 1850 and is joined by a handsome
80
BATH
12
BOYN HILL
1664
$6
THURSTO
1243
PHORSTON MERCHANTVILLE
RISINGVILLE . RO.
SOUTH
11730
Cronder
8
dive
Lake
RATH BONE
2
BISON
SCALE IC
1 4 MILES
THURSTON
Thurston was named from William R. Thurston, a landholder residing in New York City or vicinity. This town was formed from Cameron February 28, 1844. It is an interior town, laying just southeast of the center of the county.
Its surface is mostly a high broken upland forming a portion of the dividing ridge between Conhocton and Canisteo Rivers. Summits of the hills are 500 to 600 feet above the river val- leys. The streams are Stocking Creek from the northwest, Michigan Creek in the south, also Otter Creek flowing in deep narrow ravines bordered by steep hillsides. The soil is a shaley and gravelly loam.
Merchantville in the east, Bonny Hill in the northwest and Risingville in the west, were hamlets. Thurston and South Thurston were Postoffices. The first settlers were William Smith, Luke Bonney and Anderson Carpenter at Bonny Hill in 1813. Amos Dickinson settled in 1814, Joseph Fluent at Bonny Hill in 1817. The first settlers at Aldrich settlement (South Thurston) were William Jack, Samuel Fisk and Thomas Aldrich in 1823.
The first school was taught at Bonny Hill by Caroline Vinan in 1818. The first store was kept by Harlow Sears at Risingville. No tavern was ever kept in the town and no license was ever granted to sell liquor. The first religious association (Methodist Episcopal) was formed in 1814. Rev. Parker Buell was the first preacher.
The census reports four churches, two M. E., a Baptist and a Christian.
Luke Bonney received much encouragement from the land office and was awarded the job of cutting a road from Bath south through the town of Thurston crossing Otter Creek at Risingville.
Friends Pond (named in 1880) located in the town of Thurston is so called because early settlers were of the Society of Friends.
Goodhue Lake is partly in the town of Thurston near a settlement which was called New Michigan.
The first sawmill was built by Parris Whee-
HURSTON
7 7
NOV3WE5
280400
81
lock on Otter Creek near the east line of the town.
The variety of pleasures to be had near Otter Creek were hunting, fishing, clearing new land, or searching the deep woods for stray cat- tle. Edwin Merchant came from Herkimer County in 1841 and purchased from the land office the site of the present village, opened a blacksmith and wagon shop in the woods. In 1845 he built the first sawmill.
At Risingville in 1855 there were 8 stores, a saw and shingle mill, 2 blacksmith shops, a wagon and paint shop, M. E. Church and par- sonage, schoolhouse and 26 dwellings.
Three miles toward Campbell in the eastern part of Thurston was Merchantville, where there was a sawmill. Fenner Eddy, in 1832, opened a custom tannery on the place now occupied by his son. Also there was Mr. Balleau's wagon shop, a half-dozen other shops and a schoolhouse in which religious meetings were held.
The Risingville mill was the leading insti- tution of its kind. Two 40-horse power engines furnished the power for the Risingville mills.
Stephen Aldrich and Fenner Eddy's names appeared often on the town clerk's book as re- ceiving wolf bounties.
Peter Bightly bought a large tract of tim- ber around Goodhue Lake and erected a saw- mill. At one time there were three sawmills on Stocking Creek before it reached the river.
A wagon and carriage factory was operated at Merchantville.
Friends Lake and Cranberry Lake were both applied to the same pond. Goodhue Lake covered about 50 acres. Otter Creek flows into Michigan Creek.
Early post offices in the town were Rising- ville, Thurston, South Thurston and Corbet Hill.
In 1852 at Risingville there was a clearing of some 15 acres in the valley on which there stood two houses, one of which was occupied by Noble H. Rising.
The Risingville mill was a leading institu- tion of its kind. An old-fashioned gate with a single saw cut all dimensions of lumber to order.
A second saw cut the sides of the logs into boards, leaving the flat body to be turned down and run through the 30 saws of the "gang" which left it a pile of finished boards, ready to be stored in the mill yard, or hauled on wagons to Campbell town for shipment. A shingle mill, a picket-saw, wood-saw, and an cdger completed the equipment. Some 30 hands were required in and about the mill. A blacksmith shop was a necessary adjunct. A large boarding house was built near the mill for the single hands and cabins were erected along the road for the families of the married men.
The old Rising house still stands in Rising- ville.
Harlow Sears kept the first store in Rising- ville near the mill.
In 1855 there were 4 churches in Thurston. At the site of the old sawmill on Stocking Creek there is a colony of beavers.
There were two cheese factories in the town. THURSTON CHURCHES
The Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. Buel Parker was the pioneer preacher, having held meetings at the homes of the settlers as early as 1814.
Later, services were held in the old log school, then in the schoolhouse which stands near the church which was erected in 1826.
The church was built and dedicated in Feb- ruary, 1843.
The Christian church was organized at Smith's schoolhouse in the town of Bath March 26, 1836.
In the year 1842 this society was transferred to West Hill and the church edifice was dedicated in 1852.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Rising- ville, held its first meetings in the old red school- house before 1840.
Services were held in the old Sears store, and in the Aldrich schoolhouse until 1864 when a fine church building was erected and dedicated.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Mer- chantville organized a class before 1850, the church was dedicated in 1861.
82
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5
P
HIGHUP
AST
1850
1730
NOINA
197
12
17:30
12000
TROURSBUR
YOUNG
A.S
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Ra
560
Troupsburg
TROUPSBURG-
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16
71720
3
1440
500
SCALELO
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2160
PENNA.
TROUPSBURG
Troupsburg was named for Robert Troop of New York City, General Agent of the Pulte- ney Estate. This town was formed from Middle- town (now Addison) and Canisteo February 12, 1808. Parts of Greenwood and Jasper were taken off in 1827 and a part of Woodhull in 1828. A part of Canisteo was annexed April 4, 1818. It lays on the south border of the county west of the center.
Its surface is principally a hilly upland broken by the deep valleys of small streams. The highest summits are 2,500 feet above tide and are the highest points in the county. Troups Creek flowing south is the principal stream. The soil is a slatey and clayey loam.
Troupsburg Center (Troupsburg) is on Troups Creek near the center of the town and contained an academy and twenty dwellings in 1855. South Troupsburg contained 16 dwellings. East Troupsburg, West Troupsburg and Young Hickory are hamlets.
The pioneer settler was Samuel B. Rice from Connecticut who located east of the cen- ter of the town in 1805. Peter Young and Peter Dalson from Addison settled near Mr. Rice in 1806. Lt. Reynolds and Jonathan Rodgers set- tled at the same place in 1809, George Martin in 1810 and James Works in 1811. Abner
Thomas taught the first school located a little east of Troupsburg village. Lt. Reynolds kept the first inn four miles from the Center, and Ichabod C. Leach the first store two miles from the Center. George Martin erected the first grist-mill at Troupsburg village.
The first religious association (Methodist Episcopal) was formed at the home of Samuel Cady by Rev. Parker Buell, the first preacher. The Methodist Church in Troupsburg dates its history back to the year 1819. The society was donated the "Gospel Lot" of 100 acres of land by the Pulteney Association.
The census of 1860 states that Troupsburg had an Academy with an enrollment of 60 pupils. For many years this Academy enjoyed a pros- perous existence, and afforded advantages that were not obtained in all towns of the county. After its destruction by fire, the Academy was followed by a Union Free School District of excellent standing. In 1935 this in turn became the Troupsburg Central Rural School of today. The Principal at the time of centralization was Wood Howell who was instrumental in the change.
"Highup" was a post office at East Troups- burg, with Samuel S. Wyckoff as postmaster. One of the earliest cheese factories in the town was located at the Center, and was owned and
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operated by James McKinley, while one of the first stores at the Center was kept by Wesley N. Griggs. Another early settler was Byron Jones, a teacher and storekeeper. Mr. Bentzein operated a cooper shop and George Blowers & Sons, a blacksmith shop. Lewis Wilson Rude was a cabinet maker, making furniture and coffins. He also had a wagon shop.
First steps in the organization of a Baptist Society were taken May 5, 1835. In 1836 at a meeting the society was accepted by the Associa- tion. In early days meetings were held in vari- ous houses throughout the town, until 1839 when the schoolhouse was built in School District No. 4 at East Troupsburg and occupied by the Society. The Rev. J. M. Wade preached at the schoolhouse at Troupsburg Center as early as 1844. The Baptist Church of Troupsburg was dedicated in 1874 by the Rev. N. S. Reynolds of Tioga.
The Free-Will Baptist Church was organ- ized in 1850, the Rev. B. F. Mack having been the pioneer preacher.
Troupsburg Central Rural School
The first school opened about 1848 in a
frame building which stood near the store of Charles Elwell, with Abner Thomas as the first teacher. About 1870 the school became a two- room school. Due to the growth in population of the village and immediate region, it became necessary to provide increased accommodations.
In 1882 a larger building was erected and in 1892 the school received a charter from the state as a Union Free School with a faculty of six teachers, the registration varying from 60 to 90 pupils. It maintained a three-year high school course in 1890.
In 1939 it became the Troupsburg Central Rural School with a four-year high school course. The faculty numbers 15 and the pupil regis- tration is 213. The building of today is impos- ing, commodious and modernly equipped, with an auditorium of 450 seating capacity and a gymnasium. Among its activities are included the following courses: Home Making, Agricul- ture and Music.
It is noteworthy that from early days the community has ever been mindful of the advance- ment of their school system and the efficiency of their teachers.
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RATHBONE
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HAMBACON
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157 ORA HILL
TUSCARORA
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7
6
1540
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Log house
NI
POLE
SCALE 10 PEYNA:
3
14 MILES
TUSCARORA
Tuscarora, formerly a part of the town of Addison, was set off from Addison December 13, 1859. The town was first called "Orville" and later changed to "Tuscarora", the name of the adopted tribe making the 6th Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy. The Tuscaroras were re- ceived by the Indians and adopted in the year 1712.
William Wombough of New Jersey pur- chased 187 acres of land in the Tuscarora Valley. He engaged in lumbering quite extensively for a time and cleared a tract of land and raised grain. The latter commodity was much sought by set- tlers. In 1806 pioneer Wombough built a grist- mill on his land in the valley. He also built the first sawmill in 1805. The neighborhood of Wombough's mills early became a place of prominence, making him a leading man of the region and all honors which came to him were worthily bestowed. The Wombough family were for many years millers and farmers.
William Wombough built three sawmills in Tuscarora. William Wombough, Jr., built a woolen mill in 1844 at the expense of $14,000.00. The mill operated 250 spindles and employed 30 operators for 20 years. It was an important in- dustry to the towns of Campbell, Corning, Caton and surrounding towns in northern Pennsylva- nia. Later generations succeeded the pioneer.
Other early settlers in the town of Tusca- rora were Amos Doll, located at a place called Carrtown, later Addison Hill. Amos Towsley, Jesse Rowley, Solomon Colgrove were all settled near Wombough's. Daniel Strait, an old Revo- lutionary soldier, came in 1809. Asahel Thomas, Joseph Gile, John C. Orr and other members (Levi, Aaron and Robert) of the Orr family. These early inhabitants of the Tuscarora Valley were a hardy and determined set of men to whom the ordinary privations of pioneership were not a discouraging obstacle. At that time their town- ship formed a part of the older jurisdiction of Addison. The village was several miles distant. The name, Orr Settlement, came from the Orr family who were an earnest and hard-working family and deserved the position they held in the community.
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OTINKERTOWN
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The cooper shop at Liberty Pole made bar- rels for shipment to Cuba for sugar. The bar- rels were shipped by boat in "knock-down" shape and in bundles. When nearing Cuba coopers would set up the barrels to be ready for the re- turn trip to the United States filled with sugar.
T. P. Wells operated a sawmill at Freeman.
First blacksmith was Mr. Albee at Freeman.
Considerable tobacco was raised in the early days.
There was also a tannery, wagon shop, sev- eral blacksmith shops, a hotel, several general stores and sawmills.
The old plank road which ran through the valley from Addison to Elkland, Pa. was opened in 1851 and was discontinued in 1878.
Tuscarora was formed December 13, 1859 and as of this date is the youngest township in the county.
The First Methodist Church of Addison was formed in Tuscarora before it became a separate town.
The first meetings were held in the early settlers' homes before 1829.
The class was formed in 1833, and a lot of 50 acres was given the society by the Pulteney Estate. This was called the "Gospel Lot". The present church stands near the site of the old log schoolhouse where early services were held.
The Free Will Baptist Church of Tusca- rora was organized in 1826 as a Free Commu- nion Church, changed to Free Will character in 1842.
The church edifice in the valley was built in 1847.
A society has been formed in the southeast part of the town.
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PRATTSLYRE
0
WHEELER
C
5
SCALE OF MILES
TENEY
750
12
R
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1500
Break
0
HAMMONDSPORT
4
SHEATHE TOWNLIL
5
NA
PLUSTHE. VALLEY
VAMOS STOP
COLD
PAING
9
FIS
VERY
1000
BATH
URBANA
Urbana was formed from Bath April 17, 1822. A part was annexed to Bath in 1839, a part of Wheeler was annexed May 3, 1839 and a part of Pulteney April 12, 1848. It lays at the head of Keuka Lake, northeast of the center of the county.
Its surface is divided by Pleasant Valley, a continuation of Crooked Lake Valley, into two series of uplands rising 800 to 1,000 feet above the lake. Cold Springs Creek takes its rise in this valley and flows northeast to the lake. The soil in the valleys is alluvium and on the hill tops a heavy gravelly loam. From their sheltered situation the slopes of the hills descending to the south and east are finely adapted to the culture of grapes.
In 1857 thirty acres were devoted to vine- yards and the success of the experiment was so great that the number of acres was doubled in 1858. There are more than 2,000 acres in the town with the south and east inclination adapted to this purpose. Hammondsport at the head. of the lake was incorporated June 16, 1856. It re- ceived its name from Lazarus Hammond who came from Dansville in 1810 to Cold Spring. He became a large shipper of grain and farm pro- duce by canal boat over Keuka Lake. A daily line of steamboats plied between this place and Penn Yan. Its population in 1855 was 560. North Urbana in the northeast part of the town contained two churches and twenty houses. Cold Springs was a hamlet and Mt. Washington on the southeast was a post office. William Aulls and his son Ephriam from Pennsylvania settled at Pleasant Valley in 1793. Samuel Baker, Eli Read and Captain Shether, James Shether and Richard Daniels settled in 1795. These settlers were from New England, most of them from Connecticut. They had served through the Revo- lutionary War, some of them with distinction as officers, and all were inured to the privations and dangers incident to pioneer settlement. Elder Ephriam Sanford, Baptist minister, preached the first sermon at the house of Mr. Baker in 1795. Eliphalet Norris taught the first school in 1795 at Pleasant Valley. Caleb Chapman kept the first inn at North Urbana. Henry A. Townsend kept the first store at Cold Springs in 1815. John Shether built the first sawmill in Pleasant Valley in 1795. General George McClure built the first grist-mill at Cold Springs in 1802. Cornelius Younglove settled at Pleasant Valley in 1807.
The town was noted for the fine yield and quality of wheat and wool.
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It has long been noted for its excellent grapes and other small fruits. The wines, bran- dies and champagnes made from Hammondsport grapes are widely renowned.
Besides the prominence that Hammondsport has derived from its grapes and wines, world- wide importance was given the community as the home of Glenn Curtiss, the manufacturer of Curtiss airplanes.
The first public flight in an aeroplane was made by Glenn H. Curtiss over the Champlin and Younglove farms near the village of Ham- mondsport, N. Y., July 4, 1908. The flight by Mr. Curtiss was the world's first, pre-announced aeroplane flight of more than one kilometer. A crowd had gathered for the event from New York, Washington and other cities besides many from the immediate region. The spectators waited throughout the day, for these early ma- chines were so fragile no attempt was made to fly them if any breeze were stirring. It was nearly sundown before Mr. Curtiss signalled for starting the motor. Flying straight down the course until the kilometer mark was passed, he then continued onward to complete the first flight of one mile. For this feat, accomplished July 4, 1908, the first pre-announced flight of more than one kilometer, he received the "Scientific Ameri- can Trophy".
Flying a Curtiss machine with a Curtiss motor, Mr. Curtiss was awarded other prizes in 1909. On August 29, 1929, Mr. Curtiss received a cash prize of $5,000 at Rheims, France. In the same year he received the Italian Grand Prex prize, won at Brescia, Italy.
The U. S. Navy began its first aviation work at Hammondsport in 1911, establishing its first aviation camp on the shores of Lake Keuka, at the invitation of Mr. Curtiss who offered free instruction in aviation to Army and Navy offi- cers. Hammondsport and its nearby flying fields was the rendezvous of Army and Navy officers from all over the world, of scientists, of sports- men seeking a new thrill, of the dare-devil exhi- bition flyers who entertained the world during the period between 1909 and the opening of the World War.
The Baptist Church in the town of Urbana includes two separate organizations, one known as the Urbana Baptist Church formed in 1835, and the South Urbana Church formed in 1891.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in Urbana comprises two society organizations and two charges at Hammondsport and North Urbana.
The Presbyterian Church of Hammonds- port was organized September 14, 1831. The house of worship was dedicated in 1847, the par- sonage was purchased in 1849.
St. James Church, Hammondsport, was organ- ized June 15, 1829.
In 1833 the old church was consecrated.
The corner-stone of the new church was laid April 18, 1876, it was consecrated in 1877.
Glenn H. Curtiss Memorial and Central Rural School, Hammondsport, N. Y.
From the first school in the town of Urbana at Pleasant Valley in 1795 to the present impos- ing and very modern school building at Ham- mondsport is a span of 147 years. The first schoolhouse in the village of Hammondsport was built in 1827 on the present site of the St. James Episcopal Church. The large stone school build- ing was erected for an academy in 1858. J. W. McLaury was the principal for 6 years while it continued as an academy. In 1879 the school employed 3 teachers, and 4 during the winter. About this time it was changed to a Union Free School under the management of a Board of Education. December 7, 1897 the academic de- partment was authorized as a High School. The area was centralized in 1941, and at present has an enrollment of about 600 students. The facili- ties are a large new building, combined gym- auditorium, separate home economics unit and agricultural department, athletic field adjoining building and large separate playing field, auto- matic heating and lighting unit. Also inter- communicating and public address system and large modern busses for transportation. Extra curricular activities are dramatics, publications, intramural sports, public speaking, clubs, choral work, band. There are 33 members constituting the present faculty, with John Arden Woodall, principal.
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WAYLAND
Wayland was formed from Cohocton and Dansville April 12, 1848. A part of Fremont was taken off in 1854. It is the most western town upon the north border of the county. Its surface is rolling upland in the north and moder- ately hilly in the south. It forms a portion of the watershed between the Susquehanna River and Lake Ontario and its highest summits are 1600 to 1800 feet above the tide. Its streams are
small creeks and brooks. Loon and Mud Lakes are situated in a valley in the south part of the town and their waters flow in opposite directions. The outlet of Loon Lake is subterranean for half a mile and where it comes to the surface it was of sufficient volume to form a valuable mill stream. At one time there were no less than 14 mills powered by this stream. The soil in the north is gravel and muck and in the south a shaley loam.
Wayland (Wayland Depot) in 1855, located in the northeast part of the town, contained 40 dwellings. It is a station on the Corning and Rochester branch of the Erie R. R.
Perkinsville, two and one-half miles south- west of Wayland, contained two churches and 30 dwellings. Portway is the name of the sta- tion on the D. L. & W. R. R., that is the hamlet of Perkinsville.
Patchin Mills was a post office and a ham- let 21/2 miles south of Wayland village.
The first settlement was made in 1806 and 1807 by Captain Thomas Bowles and John H. Miller in the north part of the town. Among the carly settlers were Adam Zimmerman, David Brown, Mr. Kaizier, Steven Hicks and Thomas Begole. Adam Zimmerman settled where the depot now is. Solomon, James and Elisha Brownson and Isaac Willie settled at Loon Lake in 1813. Osgood Carlton at the south end of Loon Lake and Solomon Draper on the west side. In the center of the town Dennis Hess and Sam- uel Draper settled. Walter Patchin and his son, Dr. Warren Patchin settled at Patchinville.
The only road passing through the town was that of the old road from Bath to Dansville.
Dr. Warren Patchin built a sawmill in 1820 and a grist-mill in 1822.
At Patchinville four corners, Dr. Warren Patchin in 1824 built a hotel of 21 rooms. This was on the stagecoach route from New York to Buffalo. It was a station on the route where they changed horses regularly. Besides a general store, he operated a large cheese factory and also built a flouring mill in 1822. The Honorable Gordon Patchin was a member of the New York State Assembly.
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