USA > New York > Steuben County > Pioneer history & atlas of Steuben County, N.Y. : compiled from historical, statistical & official records > Part 9
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JASPER
Jasper was named from Sergeant Jasper, noted for his courage at the battle at Fort Moul- tric, South Carolina, June 28. 1776. It was formed from Troupsburg and Canisteo. January 24: 1827 and a part of Jasper was annexed to Greenwood in 1848.
It is situated near the southwest corner of the county. Its surface is a hilly and broken upland, the highest summits being nearly 2,000 feet above tide. Streams are small brooks. The soil is a gravelly and clayey loam.
Four Corners (Jasper P. O.) contained in 1855 two churches and had a population of 222. Jasper Five Corners contained 15 houses. West Jasper and South Hill were post offices. Set- tlement was commenced in 1807 by Nicholas Brotzman, Ebenezer Spencer and William Wooley. Adam Brotzman and Andrew Craig were also early settlers.
Nicholas Brotzman was the first innkeeper. Amanda Smith taught the first school. The first church, (Presbyterian) was organized in 1827. The Rev. George Howell was the first preacher. Census reports five churches in the township in 1855.
The early settlers of this town were hardy and courageous pioneers. The problems that they faced and overcame would have discouraged the pioneer settlers of the Genesee Flats.
In 1848 Nelson Johnson built a steam flour- ing mill. There were also two tanneries erected in the town. In the early days Francis Woodard was the gunsmith and Arza Johnson operated a cooper shop. making tubs, firkins, buckets and barrels. There were several cheese factories in the town.
Many logs were rafted from Troupsburg township down the south branch of the Tusca- rora Creek, to Baltimore.
There was a sawmill southeast of the Five Corners, also a tannery. Jasper village had a boot and shoe maker.
A drill ground for "training days" was located on the flats near the village.
About 65 years ago, William Hooper sent droves of cattle on foot to Philadelphia. Each of these droves numbered from 100 to 150 head of cattle. It took 17 days to make the drive, and some 14 droves were thus taken to Philadelphia a travel distance of about 300 miles. These drives were all made over 60 years ago,-L. E. Hunt of Jasper, then a boy, making a number of these trips for William Hooper.
Andrew Craig Sr., from Ireland, settled in Jasper in 1810. He spent his first night in an Indian wigwam. Mr. Craig made the first but- ter for market, his wife going to Philadelphia with him, to "work the butter over" into rolls. He was a sub land agent for proprietors in Philadelphia.
20 1740
GREENWOOD
2250
RAKE
71
The names of the five churches referred to above are Baptist, organized in 1817; Presby- terian, organized in 1827; Methodist Episcopal, organized in 1818: Wesleyan Methodist, organ- ized in 1871: and the Christian Church, the organization date of which is not given.
"LEAD MINE"
A Legendary Story From Pioneer Days
The pioneers observed that the Indians were well supplied with lead from which they made their bullets. It soon became rumored that the Indians possessed a lead mine.
It is not remarkable that the newcomers be- lieved this, since they argued that the Indians knew the resources of the region better than they.
Professor Clayton's "History of Steuben" is the only substantiation in print of this lead mine.
When the Prutsman and Craig families settled near the present location of Jasper Vil- lage, they found there a small group of Indians who used the valley as a hunting ground. Among these Indians was an old chief, called Nicholas, a name probably given him by the settlers. The old warrior found pleasure in playing with the white children. With a stick he would draw figures of men and animals in the ground and he would then melt lead and pour into these moulds to make leaden images pleasing to the children. When he had used up his supply of lead he would go away, only to return in a short time with another supply. When questioned the children's playmate, (an old assassin) would only grunt and say, "Plenty not far off". The settlers were, however, never able to locate the source of supply of the old Indian or the other Indians.
The foregoing is probably only a legendary story, since the presence of such a deposit is dis- proved by the geological formation of this county.
The Schools of Jasper
The first school was in a frame building built in 1827. The first teacher was Amanda Smith. This school was located near the house of Peter Grabaut. With the growth of the vil-
lage, the school became a two-room school in 1844.
The school became a high school in 1929 with a three-year course of instruction.
Today the Jasper Central Rural School (organized in 1929) occupies a modern and well- equipped building. The student registration numbers 190, instructed by an efficient faculty of 13 members.
The auditorium and gymnasium are com- bined and have a seating capacity of 400. A school band and mixed choir are outstanding features of the school's activities, they were winners recently in a state contest. The agricul- tural and homemaking departments are particu- larly active.
HORNELLSVILLE
(Continued from page 69 )
About 1813 the first district school, No. 7 was built. This building burned, and a small frame building was built on the site of the Canis- teo Block, at the corner of Main and Church Streets. In 1833 the district purchased land on the point of Canisteo and Church Streets for $40.00. The "Old Red Schoolhouse" was built at a cost of about $200.00. The building was 22 feet by 28 feet. In the summer of 1844 the new schoolhouse west of the park was built. In 1844 Mowry Thacher was elected to the office of town superintendent of common schools in the town- ship, being the first town superintendent.
The school continued to grow until a graded system and academic department was added, then in November, 1872 the first "Regents Ex- aminations" were held.
Today six large, imposing and modernly equipped buildings provide the public school sys- tem of Hornell with educational facilities. The system comprises junior and senior high schools and five elementary schools. The teaching faculty numbers 130 teachers. The registration of pupils numbers over 3,000. The graduating class in the Senior High School in 1942 was 212.
The school curriculum in addition to the grade and usual high school subjects provides
(Continued on page 73, column 2)
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ERWIN
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8
960
PRESHO
ERWIN CTR.
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LINDLEY
3
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138
1180
SCALE 10
PEN 11
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YMILES
LINDLEY
Lindley, named in honor of Colonel Elea- zur Lindley, was formed from Erwin May 12, 1837. It lays upon the south border of the county, east of the center. Its surface is a hilly upland broken by the deep valley of Tioga River, which extends centrally through the town. The summits of the hills are 400 to 600 feet above the valley, and most of them were covered with forests in 1858. The valley is about one mile wide and is bordered by steep hillsides. The soil upon the hills is a heavy shaley loam and in the valleys a rich alluvium.
In 1855 lumbering was extensively carried on. Lindley town on Tioga River is a station on the B. and C. R. R. and contained 15 dwellings in 1855.
Erwin Center is a railroad station and ham- let on the river, near the north border of the town. The first settlement was made in 1790 by Colonel Eleazur Lindley, from New Jersey, the original proprietor of the town who located upon the Tioga flats. Colonel Lindley served with the Jersey Blues during the Revolutionary War. In his migration to his new home he was accom- panied by his two sons Samuel and Eleazur, and his sons-in-law Ezekiel Mulford and John Seeley, and a man named David Cook. The first child born was Eliza Mulford, August 10, 1792; the first marriage that of David Cook, Jr. and Eliza- beth Cady; and the first death, that of Colonel Eleazur Lindley, in June 1794. Joseph Miller taught the first school, near the Pennsylvania line in 1793. The widow of Colonel Lindley kept the first inn, on the west bank of the river; and John P. Ryers, the first store. The first sawmill was erected by Colonel Lindley. A sawmill is located on the same site today.
There was no hotel, nor place where liquor was sold in Lindley in 1855. The Lindley colony, (as it has been called), numbered about 40 per- sons, many of whom were relatives of the pro- prietor. They left New Jersey in the spring of 1790, making their journey in wagons and on horseback to the Susquehanna River at Wilkes- Barre and thence came in boats to the purchase. They arrived and landed at the Tioga flats on June 7, 1790. Nearly all brought families and in
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VOSSA
NOLLO
First Mam arnt Mill
ridley
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the party were several slaves. This was unques- tionably the first introduction of slaves in the south part of Ontario County. They were soon set free and provided for, because of our state laws.
Colonel Lindley was an important per- sonage, an earnest Christian and a worthy leader. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1793, and died in 1794. Colonel Lindley in 1790 brought with him the machinery for a sawmill. This mill was unquestionably the first sawmill in the Tioga Valley. On the Tioga flats were many evidences of Indian corn hills. Much of the Tioga flats was covered with rank grass. It was on these corn lands of the Indians that the first crops of the settlers were raised. Buck- wheat, corn, milk and game constituted their food the first winter. The grain was pounded out in the dugout top of a stump with a large pestle. These operations were carried on dur- ing the winter, till the ice went out of the river, when the grain was carried in canoes to Shep- pard's Mills at Tioga Point, 52 miles down the river.
Joseph Miller, the first school teacher in the colony, reported to the school commissioner in 1826 that the school books used in four school dis- tricts were as follows: Webster's Speller, Mur- ray's English Reader, Murray's Grammar, Wal- ker's Dictionary, Daboll's Arithmetic, Flint's Surveying and Moar's Geography.
Oak trees on the flats furnished acorns to feed and fatten the half-wild hogs, and butternuts covered the ground in their season. Deer were plentiful and could be shot at will in the woods or while feeding on the rich moss along the river. Every family had its dugout.
In 1840 a railroad from Corning to Bloss-
burg's coal mines was built with wooden tracks and thin strip iron rails.
Lindley Station contained at one time a saw and planing mill, 2 stores, a furniture shop, 2 blacksmith and wagon shops, hay press, 2 school houses, 3 churches and 34 dwellings.
The First Baptist Church was organized in Lindley town June 13, 1841 and ceased to exist as such about 1864.
In 1850 the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at Erwin Center, the class was changed to Painted Post to the Tuscarora charge until 1866 when it became a separate charge.
The Independent Church of Lindley was organized May 10, 1875. The churchi name was changed to The Baptist Church of Lindley May 22, 1877 and a delegation appointed to represent the church at the next session of the Baptist Association.
The Free Methodist Church was organized in 1866 and a church was built on the Schofield place at Lindley town.
HORNELLSVILLE
(Continued from page 71)
instruction in music, trades, draughting, secre- tarial course, art, athletic, etc. Three full time and two part time athletic instructors are employ- ed; a full time physician and a full time nurse are constantly in attendance. The system main- tains a children's guidance clinic.
Superintendent Harrison S. Dodge with 130 efficient teachers maintains a high quality of instruction throughout the entire city's school system.
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-ONTARIO CO .:
Co.
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INGLESIDE
18
1500
1498
RIKCA'S
HOLLOW
1900
- 2100
PRATTSBURG
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PRATTSBURG
Prattsburg
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PRATTSBURG
Prattsburg was named from Captain Joel Pratt, one of the first settlers. Prattsburg was formed from Pulteney April 12, 1813. A part of Wheeler was taken off in 1820.
It is centrally situated upon the north bor- der of the county. Its surface is a hilly upland broken by the valleys of several small streams flowing in a general southwest direction. The principal streams are Five Mile, Ten and Twelve Mile Creeks. The valley at Prattsburg village is 1,400 feet above tide and the hills are 400 feet higher. The soil is a gravelly and clayey loam.
Prattsburg was incorporated December 7, 1848. It contained in 1855 the Franklin Academy, two churches, several manufacturing plants, a foundry, a tannery and a flouring mill. It had a population of about 600 in 1855.
Rikers Hollow, now Ingleside, is a hamlet. The first settler in the township was Jared Pratt who came in 1801 and for two and one-half. years was the only inhabitant. Rev. John Niles, David Buell, Samuel Tuthill and Captain Joel Pratt came into town in 1803. They were all originally from New England.
The first school was taught in the church by Horace Bull in 1806 and 1807. The first inn, built of logs, was kept by Aaron Bull the same year. The first mill was erected at Five Mile Creek by Robert Porter. Joel Pratt was a large property owner of the town, and the first settle-
ment was conducted wholly under his encourage- ment, advice and direction.
The first religious service was held at the house of Jared Pratt by the Rev. John Niles in the fall of 1803.
Joel Pratt, Jr., and Ira Pratt first drew attention to the settlement by opening a storc.
"The News", printed by Paul B. Howe, was an early newspaper of the county.
Captain Joel Pratt and his son, Harvey came to this region from New England with four ox teams, six hired men, a hired girl, needed tools and provisions. They settled on Hemlock Hill, four miles west of Pleasant Valley. They cleared 110 acres of heavy forest and sowed the land in the fall with wheat. The next year the grain was cut with sickles by men obtained from Bath and Pleasant Valley, the only near settle- ments. The wheat was threshed in the winter with flails and hauled to Bath with ox teams, part of it floured and part stored, and the whole product floated to Baltimore in the spring of 1802 on arks. It was sold for 20 shillings and 4 pence per bushel. Captain Pratt sold his wheat for over $2.50 per bushel and came back from Baltimore on foot with nearly $8,000 in his pocket. Captain Joel Pratt when bringing his family in 1802 with horses and oxen, blazed trees for a number of miles before reaching his destination.
June 6, 1802 Captain Joel Pratt and William
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Root of Albany, purchased the township of Prattsburg from Robert Troop, agent of the Pulteney Estate. This area was purchased on a commission basis.
A two-rod road was opened to Middletown prior to 1802, which extended to Bath by way of Hemlock Hill. Uriah Chapill was the builder of the road. The nearest mills were at Naples and Bath.
The Rev. John Niles in 1803 held the first religious service in Prattsburg at the home of Jared Pratt, and from that day the people of Prattsburg have not been without religious ser- vices. This was the foundation of the Presby- terian Church in Prattsburg.
The Baptist Church was probably organized in 1821 and the Methodist Society, as early as 1829. A report in 1855 shows six churches in the township: two Baptist, two Methodist, one Presbyterian and one Christian Church.
Prior to 1812 there were four schools in operation in the township.
The first frame building was erected in 1804 by Joel Pratt and the first frame barn by Jared Pratt, was used for a time as a place of worship.
Robert Porter moved to Prattsburg in 1805. He was educated at Yale and was an outstanding Christian man. He afterwards served as first principal at Samuel Kirkland's Academy for the Oneida Indians at Clinton, New York, which later became Hamilton College. He became a leading exponent of higher education and as a result of his encouragement and influence, Franklin Academy was started.
Franklin Academy in Prattsburg was built in 1823, and was chartered February 23, 1824. The Rev. William Beardsley was the first princi- pal. This academy enjoyed from its first incep- tion to the present day a wide-spread and high- standing reputation.
Henry Spaulding was born near Wheeler. He obtained his education at Franklin Academy by exercising great self-denial. Henry Spaulding
entered the ministry, and with his wife became a Presbyterian missionary to the Nez Perce Indians. They went to Oregon in 1836, and with Dr. and Mrs. Marcus Whitman were the first white settlers in Oregon. Theirs was the first covered wagon to make the long journey over the Rocky Mountains into the Oregon territory. The Rev. Henry Spaulding and wife received during his ministry over 1,000 Indians into the church, converted through their labors. These heroic men, Spaulding and Whitman, by their courage and devotion saved to the United States, Ore- gon and all our present possessions beyond the Rocky Mountains.
Mrs. Marcus Whitman, (Miss Narcissa Prentiss), was a much beloved student at Frank- lin Academy, and a faithful member of the Prattsburg Presbyterian Church. She was mar- ried to Dr. Marcus Whitman in the Presbyterian Church at Angelica. She and her husband were massacred by the Indians.
In the southeastern corner of this town is an extensive tract of muck lands which is being developed and profitably tilled for truck garden- ing. Only a few years back this area was a large and forested swamp.
The Prattsburg Central Rural School of today has a faculty of 19, and a student regis- tration of 325. The school occupies a large, inost modernly equipped and imposing structure. The athletic activities are under the instruction of a capable instructor. Baseball, basketball. band and orchestra of 35 pieces are outstanding features carried on by the school.
The auditorium is large with a seating capacity of 650.
A program in visual education and intra- inural physical education are other outstanding activities carried on at this school. The success of the Prattsburg Central Rural School is due to the efforts and judgment of a capable Board of Education in their selection of an efficient faculty.
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PULTENBY
2 URBANT PRATSQUA
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PULTENEYYZ HARMONYVILLE
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SOUTH
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1000
URB
ANA
PULTENEY
Pulteney was named from Sir William Pul- teney, former owner of the Pulteney tract. This town was formed from Bath February 12, 1808. Prattsburg was taken off in 1813 and part of Urbana in 1848. It lays upon the west shore of Keuka Lake and is a northeast corner town of the county.
The surface is a rolling upland 700 to 900 feet above the level of the lake. The declivities along the lake shore are broken by numerous narrow ravines formed by small streams. The soil is chiefly a shaley and gravelly loam and in some parts near the lake it is clayey.
Harmonyville (Pulteney) contained in 1855 two churches and twenty houses. Bluffport (South Pulteney) twenty houses. Peltonville was a hamlet. Gulicksville, a landing on the lake, had a storehouse and eight houses. Settlement commenced in 1802.
The first settlers were Samuel Miller, John VanCamp, G. F. Fitzsimmons, John Block, James and George Simms, Henry Hoffman, Abraham Bennett. Shadrack Norris settled in the town in 1805. Samuel and Nathaniel Wallis, John Ells, William White, James Dailey, Erastus Glass, Harmon Emmons and Seth Pierce in 1806. Rev. Ephriam Eggleston was the first settled preacher in the town in 1805. Melchoor Waggoner built the first sawmill in 1810 and the first grist-mill in 1814. Shadrack Norris kept the first inn in 1807 and Augustus Tyler the first store in 1808. The first school was taught by Polly Wentworth in 1808.
There were societies of the following reli- gious denominations: Baptist, Methodist, Chris- tian, Presbyterian and Congregationalist.
Pulteney village is situated in the north- castern part of the town about one mile west of Keuka Lake landing. Located here were two churches, three general stores, two steam mills and box factories, three blacksmith shops, also a distillery operated by Amish Tyler.
South Pulteney is a hamlet in the southern part of the town. It has a Baptist Church, a steam mill and box factory. Pulteney was the pioneer town in Steuben County to see the oppor- tunity afforded by the culture of grapes. This
Pulteney Of
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industry beginning with a few vines in gardens, grew to great proportions. As the grape industry grew it caused a number of other manufacturing plants to spring up. As the acreage increased, a package in which to ship to market became necessary, and in consequence several box fac- tories were erected and operated. Also several wineries were erected for the making of wine, brandy and champagne.
Josiah W. Prentiss settled in Pulteney in 1814. He saw the possibilities in grape culture and was the pioneer in its cultivation in Steuben County for market production. When he had three acres in bearing, it is related that he ship- ped a ton of grapes carefully selected, in half- barrel tubs to New York. On arrival there they were stored in the Erie R. R. freight building No. 5 and consigned to Mr. Starin, a commission merchant. This man knew nothing of grapes. Mr. Prentiss went to New York to look after
his shipment. Mr. Starin finally directed him to a merchant on Broadway, who after much per- suasion agreed to try 3 tubs daily, since more might glut the market. A ton of grapes was un- heard of at that time. The 3 tubs were soon sold and three more tubs placed on sale. These in turn were quickly disposed of and more tubs brought forth and as quickly sold, and a market for grapes in quantity established. Thus began a large industry in both production and market- ing, due to the efforts and foresight of Mr. Pren- tiss. The acreage grew from three acres till today many thousands of acres are under produc- tion in New York State.
The Second Baptist Church was organized in 1814 located at South Pulteney.
At Pine Grove is another Baptist Church.
At Pulteney village is a Presbyterian and also a Methodist Church.
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THURSTON
1020
Ra. Addison Synder
MILLS
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F
11
1680
1702
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RATHBONE
WITHHONEYALLE
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Tuscaror
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9
1600
CANISTEO
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HULL TUSCARORA
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RATHBONE
Rathbone was named from General Ransom Rathbone who settled in the town in 1842. The town was formed from Addison, Cameron and Woodhull March 28, 1856. It is an interior town laying south of the center of the county.
Its surface consists of a high rolling upland, broken by the valleys of Canisteo River and a branch of Tuscarora Creek. The upland is 300 to 400 feet above the valleys. Naked and pre- cipitous ledges of rock crop out on the hillsides along the valleys. The soil is a clayey and shaley loam and in the valleys is alluvium.
Rathboneville on the Canisteo River was a station on the Erie R. R. and contained in 1855 one church, a flouring mill and 33 houses.
West Addison (Saunders) and Cameron Mills were hamlets.
The first settlements were made in 1793 and 1795. James Hadley and William Benham were the first settlers. Among the early settlers were Isaac and Jonathan Tracey, Martin Young, William Morey, Moses Powers, Zephaniah Townsend, Thomas Maybury and Samuel Col- grove.
Isaac Tracey built the first sawmill in 1806, and the first grist-mill in 1816. Lemuel Benham kept the first inn in 1804 and General Rathbone the first store in 1842.
Abel White, for many years known as the most successful hunter and trapper in the town, settled on the flats a mile above the village of Rathbone on the right bank of the river, in 1804. On June 24, 1804 his son, Luther White was born, the first white child to be born in the town. Abel White was friendly with the Indians living along the river who cultivated and harvested small patches of corn.
The Canisteo River was alive with fish which gathered in shoals at the riffles and were casily caught. Shad ascended the river annually in great numbers.
The first cheese factory erected in Rath- bone was in 1875 by John Adamson. Above the cheese factory on Helmer Creek was at one time a large shingle mill, long since burned.
Cameron Mills was first known as Hub- bardsville. Daniel Hubbard from Broome
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A d
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County settled here and built and operated the first flouring mill and also the first store.
This village in the early days besides the mill, contained two blacksmith and wagon shops, a store, sawmill, hotel and schoolhouse. Colonel F. B. Hubbard and his brother C. P. Hubbard built roads in 1829.
Most of the hill lands were covered with hard timber while the ravines and lower lands back from the river were covered with large stands of hemlock. In that part of the town south of the river were four sawmills. Seth Cook one of the first settlers and one of the oldest lumbermen in the town was the owner of the mill containing planing, lath and shingle machines.
The "Gospel lot" of 100 acres, donated by Pulteney Estate to the first religious organiza- tion in the original town of Woodhull is situated in the town of Rathbone. This lot was farmed by the organization.
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