USA > New York > Steuben County > Pioneer history & atlas of Steuben County, N.Y. : compiled from historical, statistical & official records > Part 8
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A road was chopped through the valley from Greenwood to the Pennsylvania line by the Land Office.
An old oil field,-"The Andover Pool", en- ters and extends into Steuben County, in the town of Greenwood.
A cheese box factory was located at Green- wood and operated by Ward Slocum.
The site of the Greenwood Catholic Church was donated by Patrick Flinn, the Rev. Father McEvoy, the founder, ministered to the parish from 1845 to 1849. The church was established in 1845 and first used in 1846.
One of the first official acts of Father C. D. McMullen after he was appointed pastor in 1869, was the transfer of parochial jurisdiction from Greenwood to Rexville in the town of West Union.
The first school was opened in Greenwood village about 1825 in a log house, the first teacher being Sarah Carr. The first schoolhouse was on the site of what was later the old Union Free School. About 1866 the first school became a two-room school. A new building was erected, and about 1894 the school was chartered as a Union Free School with three teachers and a pupil registration of 90 to 100.
It later became a high school of two years grade. In November, 1935 the school system was changed to that of the Greenwood Central Rural School and today employs a faculty of 14 and has a registration of 243 pupils. The new building is very modern and modernly equipped throughout, the auditorium having a seating capacity of 400. It has a gymnasium and athle- tic instructor for all athletic sports. The school has a band and conducts instruction in agricul- ture, shop work and homemaking. Under its efficient management the school is a credit to the town and efforts of its citizens and Board of Education.
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62
HORNELLS VILLE
-
2100
2
0
-
RO.
PURDY
HARTSVILLE
1 N
HARTSVIL
3
OFISING
9777
4
cooper Sho pall
2300
1900
6
State
creek
GREENWOOD
SCALE
4 MILES
HARTSVILLE
Hartsville was formed from Hornellsville February 7, 1844. It lays on the west border of the county south of center. Its surface is a hilly upland broken by several deep valleys. Purdy Creek flows east through the north part, and the valley of Bennett Creek extends along the east border. These creeks are bordered by steep hill- sides, 400 to 600 feet high. The soil is a shaley and clayey loam.
Hartsville Center, (Purdy Creek, P. O.) on Purdy Creek, near the center of the town, con- tained 15 houses in 1855. The first settlement was made in 1809 by Benjamn Brookins. Joseph Purdy settled in the town in 1810. Mr. Blake, Thomas Williams and other settlers were also among the first.
Joseph Purdy, an earnest and hard-working Irishman, located in the north part in 1810 and occupied the abandoned cabin of Benjamin Brookins. Joseph Purdy made a good beginning and cleared a good farm. The name of Purdy is preserved in the name of the principal stream and name of the postoffice.
Hartsville is regarded as one of the best dairying towns in the county.
The town was named in honor of Charles N. Hart, the first supervisor of the town.
The first birth was that of Sarah Carpenter.
This valley was a famous hunting ground. Deer gathered in numbers all along the valley to feed upon the moss which clung to the trees in the shady valley. Fearful stories of the valley were circulated by the hunters of Canisteo in order to dissuade persons from settling in their favorite hunting ground.
On the old Indian corn-field on the flats near Hartsville Center were found many bent poles which had been used by the Indians in their camps. The pioneer settlers plowed up mortars and other implements which the Indians had abandoned when the white men came to the val- ley.
There were several of these Indian corn- fields along Purdy Creek, also there was a large apple tree which stood for many years below the Purdy place.
A deer lick (Birch Lick), was discovered at
Canist
MARESVILLE
I
Purdy
Creety
63
an early date near the head of Purdy Creek. "Deer licks" were more or less saline, (salty in composition. )
Before the organization of Hartsville, as a separate township, the first election for this part of the old town of Hornellsville, was held at the home of Daniel P. Carpenter. The men came on horseback to vote, and all the women in the neighborhood came to assist in cooking their dinner which was cooked and served on a grand scale.
Along the creek prior to 1855 there were three sawmills and a stave and shingle mill. All were running till about 1855 when the stock of timber began to give out. The clearing of the timber from the land lowered the streams so that the season of operation was greatly shortened. As late as 1879 there were six sawmills, a cheese factory, a feed mill and a shingle mill.
There were postoffices and trading points near each side of the town.
At an early date 3 cheese factories were in operation, one in the village of Hartsville, one on Call Hill and one on Hartsville Hill in the north- west part of the town. The principal cheese fac- tory was at Hartsville village, manufacturing up- wards of $10,000.00 worth a season.
Hartsville had the following enterprises in the early days : an ashery, cooper shop, hotel, grist-mill and several sawmills.
The first Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in June, 1825. The Baptist Church was formed at the house of H. Carnwell in Novem- ber, 1838.
The Seventh Day Baptist Church was the first church built in the town. Rev. H. R. Bur- dick started a Sunday school while he was yet 16 years old. He later became a widely known temperance lecturer.
Across the Dixon Swamp was a corduroy road leading to Call Hill.
On Purdy Creek southwest of the village of Hartsville was a deposit of blue clay from which some pottery was made.
ERWIN
(Continued from page 59)
arrow points and other implements of Indian warfare, cooking utensils for the long journey to the happy hunting grounds.
It is a matter of record in the notes pub- lished by Charles H. Erwin that in the spring of 1860 Stout and Hurd erected a wagon shop and that the "Painted Post" stood in front of their shop. Erwin's sons came to Painted Post in 1792.
The annals of the first Presbyterian Church of Painted Post, town of Erwin, reveal the "Post Church" as a strong link in the denomination which established the first churches in many com- munities in this section of New York State.
Four Presbyterian Churches have borne the name Painted Post.
The present Corning Church was originally the Painted Post First Church, then the name of that church was changed to Corning. A sec- ond church within the present Corning was en- rolled for a few years as Painted Post First Church.
The Caton Church was enrolled as Painted Post Village Church.
The First Presbyterian Church in the village of Painted Post in the town of Erwin, was formed in the schoolhouse at a meeting held June 25, 1839, and a building was erected during 1839.
At a meeting held in the church March 16, 1841 the Painted Post Church was organized.
PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL
John E. Evans taught the first school in the Painted Post settlement in 1812.
Facts by Mr. J. R. Wilder, secretary, in re- gard to Painted Post High School as taken from the History of the Town and Village of Painted Post written by Charles H. Erwin in 1874 and from the minutes of the Board of Education from 1868 to 1934:
The first schoolhouse that we recollect was situated on the site of the dwelling now occupied by E. S. Borland, on which is also Messrs. Hodgeman's farm house. This school was built
(Continued on page 65, column 2)
64
CM
U
Y
LER
5
-
HORNBY
H
ORNAB
UNDWIND
26
-
/1210
€23
5
CRENDAUER
1520
CORNING
FRWIN
0
INE
14 MILES
SCALE
0
HORNBY
Hornby was named from John Hornby, an English landholder to a large extent, in this and other western counties. Hornby was formed from Painted Post January 27, 1826. Campbell was taken off in 1831 and a part was annexed to Orange, Schuyler County, April 11, 1842.
It lays near the center of the east border of the county and its surface is mostly a high roll- ing upland. The streams are Dry Run in the northwest and Post and Borden Creeks in the south, all flowing in deep narrow valleys. The soil is of a shaley and clayey loam of good quality.
In 1855 Hornby Forks contained two churches, several manufactories, and 21 dwell- ings. The first settlement was made in 1814, by Asa and Uriah Nash from Otsego County. Jesse Platt, John Robbins, Edward Stubbs settled in the town in 1815. Ezra Shaw kept the first inn in the Underwood district.
The Hon. A. B. Dickinson settled on a tract of 700 acres in early days and erected a high fence around a field in order to preserve his sheep from the wolves and wildcats. It was almost impossible to raise sheep. Major Dickinson rep- resented his senatorial district for four years. Under President Lincoln's administration he was appointed minister to Nicaragua. The Nicara- guan government requested his return. He moved to Nicaragua and and purchased a sugar plantation, and lived there until his death in 1873.
The Hon. A. B. Dickinson kept the first store in Hornby Forks, Mr. LaFevre built the first mill and Jane Leach taught the first school.
There were four churches in the township in 1855.
Hornby was a wild region and inhabited with wild animals of many kinds. Hogs fattened on beechnuts in the woods. Indians were never troublesome or numerous.
The settlers in Hornby were engaged prin- cipally in lumbering until about 1838, when they began to plow the land. They sowed the land to winter wheat but sometimes with spring wheat and oats. At no time was there a failure of a
65
In 1824 they clothed themselves in home- spun wool and flax which when made into cloth was taken to a primitive mill for fulling.
Goods were brought from Newburgh on the Hudson River in wagons. These goods consisted of bake-kettles and skillets, in place of the modern stove. Ammunition was a heavy item of trade, the men and boys all having guns of some kind. Tea, coffee and other commodities were sold in exchange for hides and grains to be sent down the river in arks. Making maple sugar was a big source of income.
Fredalius Ferenbaugh in 1826 settled in the town of Hornby on Post Creek, 51/2 miles from Corning and 4 miles from Hornby village. Just opposite the creek bridge was the farm of Thomas Oldfield which was the first settlement between Beaver Dams and Corning. The only building in this valley in 1824 was a log house on the present Oldfield farm. Game of all kinds was abundant. Before the road was built through the Post Creek Valley it took two days to go to Corning and back.
Hornby in the early days was well supplied with saw and shingle mills, blacksmith and wa- gon shops, etc., usually found throughout the pioneer towns. Isaac Goodsell kept the first tavern at Hornby village. There was a small tannery at Hornby for a short time operated by Holloway Stephens. There was also an ashery a short distance south of the village.
Between 1824 and 1830 the Baptist Church in Hornby was holding meetings at Robbins set- tlement and at Meads Creek. The Presbyterian Church was organized September 14, 1831. The M. E. Church organized a class in 1828, and re- organized in 1863. The Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized in 1843.
ERWIN
(Continued from page 63)
of plank and the rent of ground given by Capt. Samuel Erwin.
The next one was built on the south side of the river and is now used as a dwelling by Mrs. Hallock.
In 1848 or 1849 the late Arthur H. Erwin built a large two-story frame building on the south side of the river and nearly opposite the residence of the late C. J. Chatfield. This build- ing was rented to the district together with two acres of ground for $100.00 per annum, to be used as a district schoolhouse. The main build- ing was some fifty by seventy-five feet with a projecting gable supported by four large pillars in front, and a wing on the south and north sides, making a front upon the street of about 100 feet. This building was burned in 1871. It was used by the district until 1868, when the present model brick schoolhouse on Charles Street was built, at an expense of $14,000.00, including the lot and furniture. Wm. C. Bronson was the contrac- tor, Maj. M. H. McGrath, architect.
This building was used until 1911 when it was remodeled and enlarged. Addition and other improvements cost $25,000.00.
In 1925-1926 the present building was crected and the old high school building re- modeled. The cost of additional grounds, in- cluding the purchase of four houses and lots, the present new building and remodeling old original brick building was $262,000.00.
Four teachers were employed when the char- ter for the Union Free School was received in 1868.
This year the faculty includes 40 teachers with 800 pupils registered.
The auditorium has a seating capacity of 800.
The school has a gymnasium and athletic field. Basketball and baseball teams are under an able instructor.
Home economics, music and art, commercial subjects, health and physical education are a few of the school's many activities.
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DANSVI
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FARKPORT
A. C.B.S.
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2
3
1200
SCALE OF MILES
Lake
M
8
1700
NORTH HORNELL
HORNELUSVILLE
RD
ALMOND
1150
HORNELL
1
33Mill
7
¥10
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SINUO
HARTSVILLE
HORNELLSVILLE
Hornellsville was named from Hon. George Hornell, one of the early settlers. Hornellsville was formed from Canisteo April 1, 1820, Harts- ville was taken off in 1844 and a part of Fremont in 1854.
It lays near the center of the west border of the county. The surface is mostly a rolling up- land, divided into two nearly equal parts by the Canisteo Valley. This valley is one to two miles wide and is bordered by steep hills 400 to 500 feet high. Canacadea and Crosby Creeks flow through deep valleys from the west and are tribu- taries of the Canisteo River. The soil is generally a clayey and gravelly loam.
Hornellsville, now Hornell, is situated at the junction of the Canisteo River and Canacadea Creek and is an important station on the Erie R. R.
In 1855 it had four churches, two newspaper offices, one bank, two flouring mills and a popu- lation of 1,519.
Arkport, a station on the Erie R. R. con- tained one church, about 50 houses.
Almond village is partly in this town.
The first settlement in the town was made by Benjamin Crosby in 1792. In 1793 George Hornell and Elias Stephens settled in the town. Elijah Stephens in 1794, John and Hugh Carney in 1796, Christopher Hurlbut and Nathan Cary in 1797, Reuben Crosby and James Jones in 1800.
Hornellsville's first settler was Benjamin Crosby who made a clearing in 1790 on the site now occupied by St. James Mercy Hospital. Crosby Creek was named in his honor. In 1792 George Hornell, one of the first settlers after whom the town and city were named, built a sawmill and grist-mill on the site later occupied by the Thacher mills. He owned several thousand acres of land, kept the first store and inn, and was elected to the Legislature in 1808, also he was one of the few slave owners in the valley.
The period of the town's most rapid growth began with the construction of the Erie R. R.
On Sunday, September 1, 1850 the first loco- motive came up the valley and stopped in Hor- nellsville.
R
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Elanistco
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The first school in Hornellsville village was taught by Miss Sara Thacher in about 1810.
Hornell Library was the first village library established in western New York.
Hornell had two tanneries, two furniture factories, a boot and shoe factory, planing mill, sash, door and blind mill, flouring mill, etc. Major Moses Van Campen and his brother Ben- jamin were early settlers in the western part of Hornellsville. In 1801 he surveyed the No. 4 Road, extending from George Hornell's westerly up through the north valley in the No. 4 settle- ment to the county line. No doubt the Almond road was the No. + Road.
In 1797 Christopher Hurlbut came with his eldest son John, to Arkport, purchasing a tract of 640 acres from Colonel Charles Williamson, later he made further purchases bringing his holdings up to 1,365 acres. Christopher Hurlbut built the first ark in 1800 and loaded it with wheat, sending it down the Canisteo, Chemung and Susquehanna Rivers to Baltimore where the grain and lumber were sold.
Nathanial Cary in 1797 settled in Arkport.
The first school was taught by Abigal Hurl- but in 1796 at Arkport.
About the same year John Morrison launch- ed the first raft of lumber down the Canisteo River. In the same year Christopher Hurlbut erected a sawmill and large storehouse on the east bank of the Canisteo River. To this store- house the farmers of the Genesee Valley brought butter, cheese, wheat and corn, and other market- able products for storing, waiting only for the "Moving of the Waters", when the goods were shipped to Baltimore. Thousands of bushels of grain were shipped annually from this port. Some seasons there were as many as 11 arks loaded with wheat and corn and sent down the Susquehanna.
In 1804 General James Wadsworth started from Arkport with two boatlods of very large, stall fed oxen reaching Baltimore in safety.
In 1806 Hall and Ellsworth of Geneseo sent down an ark loaded with 300 barrels of pork. A large quantity of cheese and a great number of venison hams were shipped down the Susquehanna to Baltimore.
Not until the Erie Canal was built did this important channel of trade change.
About 1798 Abigail Hurlbut and her sister, Mrs. Taggart, established the first Sunday school which has been sustained ever since.
Joel Atherton was the first blacksmith in Arkport in 1798.
In 1802 salt was sold from the warehouse in Arkport at $10.00 per barrel and coarse un- bleached cotton cloth at 50c per yard.
In 1814 William Sharp, Jr., was the first cabinet maker.
About two miles north of Arkport on Lime Kiln Creek was a lime kiln. It was made possible by a nearby marl deposit. The kiln was really in the south part of Dansville but near to Arkport. It was operated by Mr. Lanephere carly in the last century.
At an early date before the railroad came to Arkport or the valley, there was at Arkport a cooper shop, three hotels to accommodate the many teams constantly hauling lumber, grain, etc. north and south; carriage and wagon shop. three blacksmith shops, and an ashery.
Potash and maple sugar provided a source of income.
There were many looms for weaving cloth, blankets, etc., in the houses.
HISTORY OF ST. ANN'S SCHOOL
The old one-story building which stood on the site of the present St. Ann's School was built many years before the Civil War. In 1870 the Rev. W. McNab who succeeded the Rev. M. Creedom had it replaced with a two-story wooden building quite modern for the time.
In 1889 the Rev. J. M. Early started the erection of the present school but he died before its completion. The Rev. J. O'Loughlin took charge on November 28, 1890 and completed the school. There were 300 pupils registered at the time and six teachers were employed.
In 1894 Rev. A. R. Barlow was successful in obtaining the Regents' Charter. Mr. W. H. Mur- ray accompanied Father Barlow when he went to Albany to make the arrangements. At this time the school consisted of six grades on the lower
(Continued on page 69, column 2)
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HOWARD
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HOWARD
Howard was formed from Bath and Dans- ville, June 18, 1812. A part of Avoca was taken off in 1843 and a part of Fremont in 1854.
It is an interior town laying a little north- west of the center of the county. Its surface is mostly of rolling upland forming a part of the dividing ridge between the Conhocton and Can- isteo Rivers. The streams are small. In the northeast part are two small lakes. The soil is generally a heavy clay loam.
Howard contained in 1855, two churches and a population of 143. Towlesville contained two churches and 15 houses. Buena Vista, and Goff's Mills are hamlets, and at South How- ard was a postoffice. The first settlement was made by Abraham Johnson at Towlesville in 1806. Henry Kennedy built the first sawmill in 1809. James Vaughn erected the first grist-mill in 1810 and Benjamin Bennett kept the first inn in 1816. There were five churches in the town- ship in 1855.
The first school was opened in about 1815, near the residence of Aaron McConnell. An academy was founded and built in 1835. It was an excellent institution, well equipped and sup- plied with an efficient corps of teachers.
The area of Howard is 34,900 acres.
Asa McConnell represented his district in the state legislature in 1843. He was a son of one of the earliest settlers.
Daniel R. and Jacob Bennett settled on the plateau where the village of Howard now stands. This area was for many years called Bennett's Flats.
Sometime in the winter of 1810, William Allen, John Hoagland and David Smith settled in Howard. William Allen settled just to the east of the pond and David Smith on the west side of the pond, now called Smith's Lake.
John Hoagland settled near Smith's Lake. Israel Baldwin arrived at the settlement in February, 1811 and settled south of the lake.
Henry Kennedy, about 1809, settled on Goff Creek road about three miles east of Howard
CANISTER
2010
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village. He built the first sawmill. The erection of this sawmill was a great boon to the settlers, who prior to the erection of this sawmill covered their log cabins with slabs of split timbers.
William Goff in the fall of 1812 settled on Goff Creek road about three miles east of How- ard village. The erection of the Goff mill was hailed with great delight since the settlers before this event had to travel long distances with their corn, wheat and other bread grain on their shoulders to have it ground, since very few had teams of horses with which to go to mill. The roads at that time were mere paths through the forest.
During the year of famine Mr. Goff, with what means he could command, went east and purchased corn. On his return he distributed the flour to the almost starving people.
Prior to the coming of the Erie R. R. to Hornell, Howard was considered a place of some considerable note. For quite a number of years it was considered one of the best business centers of the county.
At Goff's Mill there was a box factory in 1865.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Simeon Bacon.
Timothy Bennett was the first supervisor of the town of Howard.
Mr. Flohr operated a tannery for some time. It later became a sawmill and cheese factory.
The store now operated by Mr. Lewis Ben- nett at Howard was built in 1831. The Baldwin store was erected a little later.
Howard had two hotels in the stage-coach days. It was on the stage-coach road, and was a station for changing horses and for refreshment of passengers.
Dr. Marcus Whitman and the Rev. Henry Spaulding and wife met at Howard February 14, 1836, at the old inn and decided to go together to Oregon.
Goff's Mills comprised a saw, grist, carding, fulling and hub mill, and also a brick kiln.
HORNELLSVILLE
(Continued from page 67 )
floor and one on the upper,-the seventh grade. The remainder was an auditorium. The entrance was on Erie Avenue.
In 1901 the Rev. F. Naughton remodeled the present building. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. A. Maley. The attendance of the school was increased by 170 pupils during Father Maley's time and in the fall of 1932 the teaching staff was increased by three teachers. At the present time, 1942, registration is 425 and the faculty consists of 14 teachers.
NORTH HORNELL
The first schoolhouse in North Hornell was erected as a two-room school on the site of the present large brick school building. The present building was erected in 1927 and employed three teachers with a registration of 80 pupils. The faculty today numbers five, with a registration of 88 pupils. The school has an auditorium with a seating capacity of 250 and a gymnasium and athletic grounds with equipment.
It is the largest grade school in the county outside of the cities.
Arkport Central Rural School
Since 1796 when Abigal Hurlbut taught the first school in Arkport, the school system has grown to considerable proportions. The Arkport Central Rural School organized in 1935 occupied their new and modern building in 1937. The Arkport Central Rural School today has con- solidated 10 rural schools within its present juris- diction. The registration at the present time ranges from 375 to 400 pupils with a faculty of 19 teachers. The building is architecturally im- posing. The school has a large athletic field and grounds and also has a good band.
The Present School System of Hornell
It is a long stride from the block school- house of 1810 with one teacher, Miss Sarah Thacher, to the present school system that today serves the citizens of the city of Hornell.
(Continued on page 71, column 2)
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