USA > New York > Orleans County > Pioneer history of Orleans County, New York, containing some account of the civil divisions of western New York > Part 6
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In February, 1812, putting all on board an ox sled covered with cloth, with two yoke of oxen attached, after bidding farewell to friends, with wife and child aboard, whip in hand, we set out for our wilderness home, my brother driving two cows, and three young cattle.
After a journey of nine days, we arrived at Daniel Pratt's, where we unloaded our goods, and I soon started to find some wheat, which I found in Riga, and got it ground in Churchville.
Soon after my return, myself and brother set out for our future home.
There was a track as far as the Five Corners. Thus far we took a grind stone, and six pail kettle, with some other articles, were then about a mile and a half from our place, and no track. The snow was about three feet deep, with a hard crust about two feet from the ground, sufficient to bear a man, but not a beast.
We commenced breaking the crust in the direction of our place, and drove the cattle as far as we could
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break that day. fell some trees for them to browse, and one across the path to keep them from returning, and we went back to the Five Corners for our lodging.
In the morning, we took a straw bed and some oth- er articles on our backs, and went and found the cat- tle all safe. That day we got through just before night, foddered our cattle on browse ; fell a dry stub and made a good fire from it; shoveled away the snow, made us a bush shanty with some boughs to lay our bed on, took supper and went to bed.
Next morning the snow on our feet and limbs, which were a little too long for our shanty, was two or three inches deep. However, we had a good nights rest. We staid there until some time in April, going to the Ridge every Saturday night, and returning ev- ery Monday morning, with a weeks' provisions.
On one occasion we found one of our cows cast .- We divided the loaf with her, put a bell on her, and if we could not hear the tinkle of the bell in the night we got up and looked after her. Thus we carried our cattle all safe through the winter.
When we went to the Five Corners to fetch our ket- tle, while the snow crust was hard, on our return, our dog barked earnestly at a large hollow tree, that had fallen down. On looking into the hollow, we saw two eyes, but could not tell what animal it was with- in. My brother went after an ax and gun, while I watched the hole. After filling the hollow with sticks, we cut several holes in the log, to ascertain the char- acter of the animal. Soon however she passed one of the holes, and we knew it was a bear. We then re- moved the sticks, and put in the dog. The bear seized the dog, and my brother reached in his hand and pulled the dog out badly hurt. The bear pre- sented her head at the hole, and I killed her with the ax.
On searching the log, we found a cub, which we-
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took home with us. It could not bite, but would try.
A Mrs. Adams, who had recently lost a babe, took it and nursed it, until it got to be quite a bear, and rather harsh in its manners.
As soon as the snow settled, we made us a hovel house, such as we could lay up ourselves of logs, twelve by fourteen feet square, with split logs for floor and roof, the roof projecting over, to afford a shelter to put things under, outside the house.
When the snow was mostly gone, three of us with ax in hand went through on a line as near as we could, cutting out the under-brush for a road, coming out a little west of where Gaines village now is, on the Ridge road, which is now called 'the Gaines Basin road.' This we accomplished in less than half a day.
In a few days we had the satisfaction of introducing Mrs. Bailey, my wife, into our new house and were happy to get home.
Our next work was to clear a small patch and sow some apple seeds, carrying dirt in a tray to cover them ; from those seeds originated many of the orch- ards in Orleans County.
In June following we peeled basswood bark for our chamber floor and elm bark for a roof to our house.
Harvesting came and we went to Mr. James Math- er's in Gaines, to reap wheat. He would not give us one bushel of wheat per day for our work, as he gave his other hands, but would give us seven bushels for cutting a certain piece, which we did in two days .- On my return home at night I found Mrs. Bailey had left home, where she had gone I knew not till next morning I learned she had been sent for to attend Mrs. Daniel Pratt, who was sick and died soon after.
We cleared fifteen acres the first season. It was a task in time of logging to get up our oxen in the
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morning, especially on Mondays, as they would have Sundays to stray away into the woods.
On one occasion I started after them and found their tracks near where Jonathan Whitney now lives, on the Oak Orchard road, a mile and a half south of Albion. I followed the tracks eastward all day, crossing the Transit Line several times. I could tell that line by the timber having been cut on it by the Holland Company.
After a hard day's toil and travel, making a good fire I camped by it for the night and had a good night's rest. In the morning I heard a dog bark and a bell tinkle, I followed in the direction of these sounds, carefully noting where I left the cattle tracks and came out on the Ridge road, at Huff's tavern, in East Gaines and was right glad to get something to eat.
Mr. Rosier was there returning from the dangers of the war, driving some cattle and mine had got in with them. I renewed my pursuit and found my ox- en about two miles south of the marsh, which lies south of the Ridge, in East Gaines and glad was I to get them home again.
When it was time to sow our wheat, we went with- out bread three days rather than leave our work to go to mill. I have been to Churchville, Johnson's Creek, Rochester and Salmon Creek, for milling, be- fore there were mills built nearer.
In the fall, I built me a good, comfortable log house, without a board, nail, or pane of glass in it, using bark for roof and chamber floor, split stuff for gable ends, lower floor and doors and oiled paper for windows, being compelled to exercise strict econ- omy and also to be quite independent in building my house. I found it however a good shelter and a com- fortable home for several years.
Soon after I moved into my house, my brother left
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for the east, leaving me in care of seven head of cattle to carry through the winter, with no fodder except a few cornstalks. Winter set in early and by the time I had killed my winter's supply of venison, the corn- stalks were all gone and I found all I could do to keep fires and fodder my cattle, Sundays not except- ed.
Thus I labored, cutting trees for the cattle as best I could, until my brother's return, the latter part of winter. We should not have attempted to winter our cattle, had not persons here assured us our cattle would winter with little or no care.
In June, 1812, the town of Ridgeway was set off from Batavia, which before then comprised the whole present county of Orleans. In April, 1813, the first town meeting was held on the Ridge road, west of Oak Orchard Creek. At that time, the flats along the creek were covered with water from bank to bank. In going to the town meeting, we, who lived east, crossed the creek as best we could, on rafts of felled trees.
At that election I was chosen one of the assessors for the east part of the town. On the day appointed for holding the general election, I started for Mr. Brown's, on Johnson's Creek, where we were to open the polls. When I came to the Oak Orchard Creek, I put off my clothes and went through. On opening the polls, the board were challenged by Paul Brown, as not being free-holders ; true we were not, but we did not regard it. We adjourned at noon to Mr. El- licott's, at Barnegat, in what is now the town of Shelby and next day to Ridgeway Corners and from thence to Gaines Corners, where we closed.
The above journey was performed by the Board of Inspectors of the Election on foot .. I do not think there was a horse in town at that time.
Thus far all had passed off pleasantly, soon after,
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however, I was taken sick with the fever and ague, which was so severe as to confine me to the house .- Dr. Wm. White was called to attend me. He came. said he could give me something that would stop it, but would not advise me to take it. I replied I would take it on my own responsibility. He gave me arse- nic. I took it. It stopped the ague, but I did not get well for a long time.
On the 3d of May, 1813, my wife was confined. My brother went to Five Corners for assistance, and when he returned with one of the neighboring women, they found me on one bed, my wife and one babe on an- other bed, and another babe on a pillow, on a chair. all right and doing well. I thought the woods was a fruitful place.
I made a cradle from a hollow log, long enough to hold one baby in each end, and being round, it need- ed no rockers, and served our purpose nicely.
In July after, I called upon my neighbors, some of whom lived several miles from me, to help me put up a log barn. Some fifteen came. We found we could not get through in season for them to get home that day and rather than come again, they finished it, though it got to be late before it was done and they all staid over night, on beds spread on the floor, pio. neer fashion.
About this time, in 1813, one morning while we were at breakfast, a man came in from the Ridge and said the British had landed from the lake at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek and would probably come up to the Ridge, if not repulsed. We were well armed. My brother took the rifle and started on quick time. I could not go as fast as they, but followed on as fast as my strength would admit. I soon reached the Ridge road and was glad to learn there was no dan- ger. The enemy only wanted to steal some of Mr. Brown's cattle, from near the Two Bridges, in Carlton.
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After I left home on this military expedition Mr. Farr and Mr. Holsenburgh came to chop for me .- They left their homes before the news came. We re- turned about 4 o'clock afternoon the same day. Mr. Darrow came with us to get a pig. With some diffi- culty the men chopping could see my cabin from where they were at work. My brother, as we came near, gave a loud whoop, like an Indian. I stopped him. He then blew a blast on a tin horn he had. I stopped him again, saying supper was not ready. I then threw my frock over my shoulders and went to the pen to catch the pig. Farr and Holsenburgh heard the whoop and the horn and saw me going to the pen and mistook my frock for the blanket of an Indian ; and hearing the pig squeal soon after, they concluded the Indians had come and killed my fam- ily and were going to finish with a feast from the pigs ; and they started for their homes to get their guns to fight the Indians. Mr. Farr then lived at the Five Corners in Gaines and Mr. Holsenburgh, on the place afterwards owned by Ebenezer Rogers, a mile south of Albion.
Mr. Farr hurried home, got his gun and was ready for a fight. Mr. Chaffee, on hearing the story, told Mr. Farr it could not be true, as there were no Indians landed and he saw us when we started for home.
Holsenburgh went directly to Mr. Darrow's, before any of the party had got back, told what had happen- ed at my house, said Mrs. Darrow and Mrs. Hart and their families must hide in the woods, as the Indians would soon be there and actually got them started. The men returned however in time to stop them.
While the above was being performed, we could hear no sound from the axes, and knew not the reason until near sunset, when Mr. Farr came and explained the whole transaction.
About the first of August, my brother was taken
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with fever and ague. Some one told him of a remedy. He tried it, a violent fever ensued, which lasted but a few days, and he died, August Sth. Before my brotli- er was buried, my wife was taken sick with the same fever and died on the 13th of the same month. They were both in succession carried by friends to the burying ground in Gaines, and interred there. Some friends living on the Ridge took my children home with them, while I returned to my desolate house to spend one of the loneliest nights I ever knew, as there was no one to accompany me home.
I informed my father of what had transpired. He soon came and took two of my children home with him. I hired a Mrs. Adams, a cousin of mine, to take care of the other.
I was now so lonely that as soon as I could secure my crops, I left home and went to my father's.
In the fall before leaving, Mr. Parmelee, a brother- in-law came with a wagon to help secure my corn, which we had planted among the logs. I did but lit- tle work that season, not logging one acre.
On going into my cornfield we found it badly torn down. We got a dog, and lantern in hand went at night to the field. The dog started off furiously and soon treed some animal up a large hemlock. On looking up I could at times see eyes shine. We con- cluded it was a bear, and each one selecting a small tree to climb, in case the bear should come down and attack us, I went to try my skill in shooting in the darkness. Soon as I fired there was a sereeching up the tree. The creature must have gone nearly to the top of the tree. Directly there was a cracking heard among the limbs. I scrambled up my tree, and the bear came down from hers.
No sooner had she struck the ground than the dog grappled in with her, but soon cried out piteously .- We thought the dog was being killed. I hastened
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down from my tree, called for the light to see to load my gun. We walked up to the combatants and found the dog biting instead of being bitten. Parmelee said he did not climb his tree. He had some sport after- wards telling how he had saved my life by holding the lantern so that I could see and not climb off at the top of the tree.
Before my return to the east, Mr. Caleb C. Thurs- ton came to view the country, said he would move in- to my house, if I would drive my oxen down and help him up, as he did not wish to buy another yoke, and would hire me to clear five acres when he bought a lot ; to this I consented.
In the winter of 1814, Mr. Thurston moved on with oxen and wagon. While gone to my father's, Lewis- ton and Buffalo were burned and Capt. McCarty, with a part of the Company to which I belonged, went as far as Molyneaux tavern, where they sur- rounded the house, shooting one Indian through the window. Finding another helpless on the floor drunk, a Mr. Cass pinned him to the floor with his bayonet. The British soldiers ran up stairs and were taken prisoners. Mr. Molyneaux said he would find rails as long as they would find Indians, and they burned the bodies of the killed.
In the summer following, I took my oxen and wag- on and seventeen bushels of wheat, with Mrs. Thurs- ton on the load, for a visit to Mr. Pratt's and went to mill beyond Clarkson. I returned as far as Mr. Pratt's the next night about dark. I asked Mrs. Thurston if she would venture through the woods with me. She said she would and if we had to lay out, we would do the best we could.
When we left the Ridge and turned into the woods, it was so dark I could not see my oxen, although I was sitting on the foreboard. We arrived safe home, without accident.
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I think it would be difficult in these days to find women of sufficient fortitude to endure such hard- ships and privations, as did these early pioneer women.
At this time there was no clearing between my place and the Ridge road.
The war with Great Britain was now raging along our frontiers, in all its horrors. More settlers were then leaving the country than were coming in. There were then but five families in what was then called Freeman's settlement, west of Eagle Harbor. No road had been opened. We had to follow marked trees as our guide.
Mr. Thurston's eldest daughter, then about ten years old, went to stay with our friends there a few days. She was taken sick and not able to walk home. Her father and myself went after her and car- ried her back to her father's house, the most of the distance on our backs. It was a hard lift for us to get her up the bank of Otter Creek.
The first of September, our militia company was or- dered to Buffalo. On the fifth we reached Batavia .- Mr. Thurston being infirm, was allowed to return to his family in their solitude. I was kept with the Company, until the first of October, when I was dis- charged and returned home, having received seven dollars and fifty cents pay for services and two dol- lars for extra labor.
I lodged the first night on my return with the Ton- awanda Indians. I have never since turned an Indian away, who desired to stay with me over night.
Before I left home to go to Buffalo, as a soldier, I had baited some pigeons. After we were gone, Mrs. Thurston took the net and caught them and in this way herself and children were provided with a rich repast, although so far off in the wilderness alone.
In the winter of 1815, with my pack on my back, I
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returned to Whitestown, and on the 8th day of Feb- ruary, was married to Miss Sylvia Pratt, who return- ed with me to share alike the toils and blessings of life, where, by the blessing of God, we still remain.
I have had twelve children ; three died young, I had the pleasure of sitting down with all the others at my own table, the present summer, (1861) although some of them reside eight hundred miles away from me.
At the close of the war, settlers came in rapidly and soon I was out of the woods, having it cleared and settled all around me.
In the early settlement of the country, it was diffi- cult to raise pigs, as the bears would catch them in the summer. Consequently, pork was high priced, and scarce. With my rifle, I could take what veni- son I needed, and therefore fared well for meat. The oil of the raccoon was first rate for frying cakes .- Thus we fared sumptuously.
At one time, I had a sow and pigs in the woods .- One day I heard the sow squeal. Being nearer to them than to the house, I ran, supposing I could save her. As I came near and hallooed, bruin dropped his prey and reared up on his hind legs, when he saw me he ran off, but he had killed the hog. I got my rifle and pursued, but saw no more of him.
In the summer of 1816, I heard a man's voice hal- looing in the woods south of my house. I went to see what was going on. Saw several men there and in- quired what they were about. One of them said they were going to make us a canal. I laughed at them, and told them they would hardly make water run up hill between here and Albany. I added, it would be as long as I would ask to live, to be able to see such a canal as they talked of in operation. How little did I then know of what men could perform, aided by intellectual culture and public wealth, hav-
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ing up to that time spent most of my life in the woods. Before this we had to go to Batavia for our merchants goods and to the Post-office.
The foregoing comprises what I think of now of my pioneer life.
I cannot look back upon the past of my life and contemplate what the good Lord has in his loving kindness done for me, without acknowledging his preserving care, and that too when the most of my days have been spent in rebellion against him, in not obeying his commands and in neglecting to acknowl- edge him under the sore afflictions he has seen fit to bring upon me and to sustain me under them ; and above all, that in after life, He by his good spirit should call after me, until I was brought to see and feel his goodness, in the forgiveness of my sins and to thank and praise him for all his mercies and to ask that I may be accepted by him through the merits of his Son, and have the pleasure of meeting in his kingdom above, with all the old pioneers, not of the woods only, but all those that are seeking a better and a heavenly country.
LANSING BAILEY."
Dated-Barre, August 1, 1861.
Mr. Lansing Bailey, the author of the foregoing sketch, died at his residence in Barre, December 1866, aged 79 years. Many years before his death he sold out the land he took up from the Holland Company and bought the north-east part of lot 10, town 15, range 2, of the Holland Purchase, on which he ever after resided, and which is now occupied and owned by his son, Timothy C. Bailey.
Lansing Bailey was a man of strong, native good sense, who always stood high in the estimation of all who knew him, highest with those who knew him best. He used to say when he left his father's house, his father gave him a hoe and three sheep, and he thought
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his father did as well by him as he was able, as he not only gave him a hoe, but taught him to dig, for which he always felt grateful.
Mr. Bailey was always industrious and frugal and by a life of economy and prudence, acquired a handsome property. He was liberal and public spirited in his character, almost always holding some public office or trust. He was for many years Super- visor of the town of Barre and was relieved from that office only after he had peremtorily declined being a candidate, against the wishes of a large majority in his town.
GIDEON HARD.
Hon. Gideon Hard was born in Arlington, Vermont, April 29, 1797. His grand-mother was sister of Col. Seth Warner, celebrated in the history of the Revo- lutionary war for his services in taking Ticonderoga, and in the battle of Bennington. In his youth he labored first upon a farm, afterwards with an older brother at the trade of house joiner for two years.
About this time he resolved to obtain a college education. Being poor and dependent mainly on his own exertions, like many other New England boys, he taught school in the winter seasons and studied the remainder of the time, until he succeeded in passing through Union College at Schenectady, where he re- ceived his first degree in July, 1822. In the autumn of that year he commenced studying law with Hon. John L. Wendell, then of Cambridge, Washington county, since law reporter of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
The rules of the Supreme Court at that time re- quired three years of law study previous to admission to practice. By the aid of his friend and teacher, J.L. Wendell, he was allowed to take his examination at the May Term of the Court 1825, and was then ad- mitted attorney in the Supreme Court.
Gideon Hard
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OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
In March, 1826, he settled to practice his profession in Newport, now Albion, but did not move his wife to his new home until July of the same year.
He opened his office and began his practice.
In 1827 he was elected Commissioner of Schools for Barre and in the autumn of that year he was ap- pointed County Treasurer, an office he held six years. In 1832 he was elected a Representative in Congress from the district comprising Orleans and Niagara counties, and took his seat in Congress in Dec. 1833, during the first year of President Jackson's adminis- tration, in political classification being ranked as a Whig. In 1834 he was re-elected to Congress, and dur- ing the long session of 1836 he served on the committee on elections. The case ot James Graham, a member from North Carolina, whose seat was contested, came before that committee, where after a lengthy examin- ation a majority of the committee reported in favor of the contestant, General Newland.
Mr. Hard drafted a counter report of the minority in favor of Graham, which he presented and advo- cated in a personal effort before the House. He was sustained by the vote of the House. This result, in a body where he was largely in the minority, on a question which was decided mainly on party grounds and by his political opponents, was highly gratifying to his political friends and party and flattering to his ambition.
On the 4th of March 1837, he left Congress and re- turned to Albion to practice his profession.
In 1841 he was elected Senator in the State Senate to represent the eighth district of New York, and was the only Whig Senator elected in the State that year. The Senate of the State at that time constituted the Court for the Correction of Errors, of which Court he thus became a member.
The business of the Court consisted in reviewing
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the decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Chancery, which might be brought before them on appeal. The Court held three terms of four weeks each annually.
As the Senate was composed largely of civilians, who in the decision of cases which came before them while sitting as a court of law, did little more then vote upon the final questions, the main labor of the Court fell upon the members who were lawyers, in investigating the questions of law presented, and writing out the opinions that were given.
Mr. Hard took his share of this labor, thoroughly examining the causes in the Court and writing out his opinions in support of the conclusions to which he arrived, many of which are published in the Law Reports of the State.
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