USA > New York > Pioneer history of the Holland Purchase of western New York : embracing some account of the ancient remains > Part 55
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The Hawkins family came in along in 1804 and up to 1808; were enterprising and successful; known in long years as prosperous farmers and merchants. They were generally of strong, robust constitutions; but disease and death entered the family circle,. and in the short space of two years, five of the prominent members of it, died. Henry Hawkins, (formerly a State Senator,) died Oct. 1845; and Harvey but two weeks after; both, of the small pox. It is worthy of remark, that both when young had the small pox by inoculation. The father, (Rodolphus,) died in June, 1847, his wife in October following, and about the same time, Van Rensselaer. Among the bequests made by Henry Hawkins, was the endowment of the Genesee and Wyoming Seminary, located at Alexander, with the sum of $5000, in addition to the donation of the building, grounds and furniture.
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In reference to early times in Attica and its neighborhood, the author adds to what has already been given, some reminiscences obtained from Roswell Gardner, Esq. who settled there in 1809. The oldest resident is Eliphalet Hodges. He was a settler in 1805; is now 86 years old. When he built his log house it took all the able bodied men in the neighborhood, and there then were not enough to finish raising in one day. The first born in town, was Harriet, daughter of Zera Phelps. The early name of Attica was "Phelp's Settlement." Parmenio and Dan Adams were among the early settlers. Parmenio was Sheriff of Genesee county for two terms; twice elected to Congress. He died in 1822 or '23. Dan who was a Lieutenant in the company of grenadiers commanded by Capt. Seth Gates of Sheldon, was killed at the battle of Queenston Heights.
The pioneer settlers along up the creek between Attica and Varysburg, were, Joseph Munger, Joel Maxon, Benjamin Nelson, John Bogart.
The earliest physicians in the neighborhood were Dr. Nathaniel Eastman and his son, Dr. Hezekiah Eastman; the first settled minister was Elder Cheeny.
Paul Richards, Esq. of Orangeville, was a settler in that town as early as 1811. He says there were then from forty to fifty families in the town.
In few towns upon the Purchase, have the pioneer settlers had 10 contend with more formidable difficulties. Well does the author remember, when there, as in Sheldon and Bennington, they were dotted around in the forest, miles of impassable roads intervening, (or in many instances none but woods paths, )-with a few acres cleared around them, the dense and towering forests, of hemlock, beech and maple, reminding them of how much there was yet for their hands to do-enough, in prospective to appal even stout hearted men; - and it was a source of no unaffected gratification, to see after an absense of long years, that there too, as well as in all the rest of this favored region, the substantial comforts of life, were rewarding the toils of the pioneer adventurers. An early pioneer of Orangeville; one who has swung his axe among its sturdy hemlocks; ended his life in Buffalo, a few years since, at the head of a banking institution he had founded .*
*Oliver Lee, Esq.
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It will be new perhaps to most readers, to learn that there was one attempt upon the Holland Purchase, to subdue the forest with slave labor. Two of the early settlers of Orangeville, Joshua Mitchell and Adiel Sherwood,* married the daughter of a Mrs. Wood, from Maryland, who came into the country with them, bringing ten slaves. Involuntary servitude proved a difficult anom- aly in the backwoods of the Holland Purchase. The moral sense of the new settlers was manifested, as was alledged, by encoura- ging the negroes to escape from time to time; prosecutions were instituted against one or two of the neighbors. In the end most of the slaves liberated themselves. It was no difficult matter for them to walk over to Canada, or in fact, in almost any direction they chose to go. One of the last of the lot was sold to Mr. Keyes of Batavia, and will be remembered as the only dark feature in the history of that very respectable pioneer tavern, to which allusion - has before been made.
Alba Williams, an early settler of Orangeville, was chopping in the woods; his wife started out to make an afternoon's visit at a neighbor's house, taking her child in her arms. Toward evening the husband went to accompany her home, and in crossing a log bridge over a small stream, discovered his wife and child lying upon their faces in the water, both dead. It was supposed that Mrs. W. had gone to the edge of the stream to wash the face of her child, and while in the act of doing so, was attacked with a fit, fell forward, her face becoming sufficiently immersed in the water to produce suffocation; the child sharing her fate.
Ormus and Reuben Doolittle, though not settlers upon the Holland Purchase, until 1820, were prominent, enterprising and carly residents at Weathersfield Springs. John W. Perry, David Rood, Daniel Woicott, were previous residents there. The names of the two brothers, and their various well directed enterprises, involves a seeming paradox. They have been farmers, merchants, lumbermen, and woolen manufacturers. A neat Episcopal church, and parsonage-cost $5000-was built at their expense; as was a school house, which they kept in repair ten years, and sold to the district. Reuben Doolittle died while on a visit to Illinois in 1846; he was the father of James R. Doolittle, Esq. of Warsaw. Ormus Doolittle is still carrying on various branches of business, in the-
* Afterwards, the founder of the Sherwood tavern stand, five miles east of Buffalo:
.
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pleasant rural village, which the two brothers have done so much to build up.
Benjamin Bancroft, was the first, and is still the resident physician at the Springs.
Joel S. Smith, an early tavern keeper, drover, merchant and farmer-an enterprising and valuable citizen, is still a resident in the south part of Weathersfield.
Wheelock Wood, after having been a pioneer east of the river- settling where the Lima Seminary stands, in 1795-became a resi- dent at Gainsville, in 1807; from his son, Lewis Wood, the author derived some reminiscences of that region. In 1807, all the dwell- ings of the pioneers there, were built of logs and covered with bark; floors and doors of split plank; there was but a wood's road from Warsaw to Gainsville. A saw mill was built by the Woods, in 1809, on Allan's creek. Mr. Wood mentions the fact that he was collector of the town of Gainsville in 1812; the whole tax was but $350.
In an carly day (the year not recollected,) Wheelock Wood, erected a saw mill on Deep Gulley creek, (within the limits of Rochester, or near the north line of the city.) The mill was abandoned for the reason that it was so sickly in that region that no one would reside there to tend it.
While Mr. Wood resided east of the river, he carried hay and sold it to new settlers upon the Holland Purchase, as far west as Vandeventer's.
Roger Mills was the prominent pioneer settler of Hume; built saw mill and grist mill on the Wiscoy. The village of Cold Creek grew up on lands included in his purchase. C. G. Ingham, Charles Mather, Sylvanus Harmon, Ira Higby, Joseph Balcom, were early settlers at Cold Creek. The first school there, was in 1823; the first physician, Joseph Balcom; first settled minister, Rev. Oliver Reed. C. G. Ingham, kept the first tavern at Cold Creek; com- mencing in 1823, and still continuing at the same stand. He was the first P. M. The mail route from Angelica to Warsaw, was established in 1826: first mail contained one letter and no newspaper.
Joseph Maxson, was the pioneer of the town of Centreville, and his advent into the wilderness is well worthy of notice. Leaving his native place, (Hartwick, Otsego Co.) when but eighteen years old. he arrived at Pike in April, 1808. Two cents in money, a few
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articles of provisions, and a scanty wardrobe, constituted the worldly wealth of our young adventurer. Taking a new pair of shoes from his feet, he bartered them for an axe, and pushed into the wilderness, miles away from any habitation. Selecting his land, he erected a rude shanty, and to supply bed and bedding, pealed basswood bark, using one piece to separate himself from the cold ground, and another for covering. The snow fell to the depth of six inches, after he fixed himself in his new home. He spent eight months solitary and alone. It is noted on the books of the land office that he had five acres cleared, July 22, 1808; at which date, he had his land "booked" to him, paying nothing down. It is presumed that he had only chopped down the timber and burned the brush. He raised the first season, a few bushels of corn and potatoes, and in the fall sowed two acres of wheat.
Success rewarded the extraordinary efforts of the young pioneer. He became an early tavern keeper, the owner of a large, well improved farm; and selling out, was a short time since, building mills in Wisconsin. He has preserved as relics of his early advent upon the Holland Purchase, the axe that he got in exchange for his shoes; one of the cents that has been named; one kernel of the seed corn he procured to plant in 1808; and an old wooden fan with which he cleaned the first wheat raised in the town of Centreville. Mr. - Carpenter built the first framed house in Centreville; James Ward the first framed barn, and planted the first orchard. John Griffith officiated at the first religious meeting; Sparrow Smith was the first merchant; Calvin Cass the first physician.
The town of Rushford was set off from Canadea in the year 1816. [ For early settlers, see T. 5, R. 2.] William Gordon and Sampson Hardy, were early pioneers in addition to those named in the list. The first saw mill was built by M. P. Cady and others, in 1816; the first grist mill, by - - Warren in 1813. * The early miller was drowned in 1815, while in the act of mending his mill dam. James M'Call was the first merchant; commencing the business in 1816; his store was the first framed building in town. D. J. Board established the first blacksmith shop. The first church organiza- tion was that of the Baptists and Methodists, in 1817. The Baptists built a meeting house in 1817, the Methodists, in 1819.
* It was a small concern; the bolting cloths were made of book muslin. The upper stone was upon a spindle which was at the end of the shaft of a tub wheel; no interme- diate gearing.
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It is a fact that tells much for the moral character of the citizens of Rushford, that, for the space of fifteen years, no indictable offence was committed in the town. The mail route was established from Perry to Olean, in 1816; Levi Benjamin was the first P. M. at Rushford.
The venerable Judge James M'Call, the early merchant, who has been for a considerable period, a state senator, and filled many other important public offices, may perhaps be regarded as the patroon of the village of Rushford; conspicuous in the various enterprises that have contributed to its prosperity; his life has been an exemplary and useful one. He still survives; having reached his 74th year. He has reared a family of thirteen children, twelve of whom are married and settled; and has in all, over forty living descendants.
From some reminiscences the author has in his possession, he is enabled to glean a fact highly creditable to the subject of the above brief notice :- After the almost entire loss of the small crops of the new settlers, in the cold season of 1816, there, as in most of the new settlements upon the Purchase, extreme scarcity of provisions prevailed. The Judge owning a mill, controlled all the grain in the neighborhood, except a little corn that the Indians had upon the Canadea reservation; and his monopoly was kindly exercised .- He gave his miller orders to sell to no one man over forty pounds of flour or meal; and not to sell any to those who had teams, and the means of procuring bread stuff by going out to the older settle- ments after it. And when his supplies became reduced, he restricted the amount to be sold to any one man, to twenty pounds. In this way, the poorest and most destitute of the new settlers were carried along until the harvest of 1817.
The Erie Canal has been a work diffusive in its benefits, and yet its opening had the effect, temporarily, to create depression, and retard the settlement of the southern portion of the Holland Purchase. As has been before observed, the current of emigration to the west, was transferred from the main roads that led to the navigable waters of the Allegany river, to the canal and the lakes. A brisk travel and transportation suddenly ceased; Olean ceased to be a market for produce; in fact, all the local advantages that are derived from great thoroughfares, were lost. This, added to the financial crisis of 1818 and '19, and cold untoward seasons, almost brought settlement to a stand; there were times when farms in the
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western portion of Allegany, and southern portion of Cattaraugus, with fifty acres of improvements, would not bring two hundred dollars over and above the original purchase money. A large proportion of the settlers abandoned the idea of paying for their lands, and stopped improvements; many left the country, and more would have done so, could they have realized enough for their improvements, to pay the expenses of emigration.
In 1822 and '23 the gloomy prospect began to change; the Holland Company reduced the price of lands, began to pay liberal prices for cattle; and it was not long before the southern portion of the Pur- chase, in various ways, began to feel the effects of the prosperity, to which the Erie Canal had given so powerful an impetus, in its more immediate neighborhood.
The wolves made it difficult to keep sheep in all early days, in Allegany and Cattaraugus. In these as well as many other counties of the state, large bounties were paid for wolf scalps. It was with reference to those counties and several others in the northern por- tion of the state, that Gen. Root, in proposing a large increase of bounty, said, that "the British and the wolves had entered into a combination against American manufactures, and for one, I wish to break it up."
Elder Nathan Peck, was an early missionary in Allegany and Cattaraugus; and the indefatigable "Father Spencer" found his way to the log cabins of the early settlers about as soon as they were dotted, here and there, in the dense forest; partaking with the pio- neers their humble fare, and reminding them that their wilderness homes were not beyond the pale of civilization, or the wanderings of the faithful and searching missionary.
It will surprise those who are not already acquainted with the curious fact, to learn that there is a spot upon the Holland Purchase, where the speckled trout, passes from the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to those of the Gulf of Mexico, and vice versa. About six miles from Rushford, on the Olean road, in the town of New Hudson, the head waters of the Canadea and Oil creeks approach each other, and in freshets, mingle; affording the facility for the trout to pass over the dividing ridge.
Deacon Solomon Rawson, was the pioneer settler in Linden. An emigrant from Pennsylvania, he came in from the south, and settled on the Olean road, seven miles south-west of Rushford. He opened a woods road to Rushford. His house was often thrown
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open to accomodate the emigrants when they began to pass on that road to Olean. He raised the first crops; a daughter of his was the first born in town. The first preacher in the neighborhood was the Rev. Mr. Hubbard. The first church organized in Linden, was of the order of Free-will Baptists; the first physician, was Dr. Hotchkiss. Deacon Rawson says there was much suffering for food among the new settlers in 1817 and '18; flour was from $11 to $16 pr. barrel; pork, 25 cts. pr. lb .; many of the poorer class of new settlers subsisted on milk, boiled greens, and leeks.
The traveler who passes over the road from Rushford to Cuba, will have his attention arrested soon after he first strikes the head waters of Oil Creek, by a cluster of neat farm buildings, in the centre of a highly cultivated farm; the whole nestling rurally and quietly amid the surrounding hills. It is where the venerable pioneer we have introduced, first broke into the wilderness, and where he still lives to enjoy the rewards of his early toils and privations.
Four miles from Deacon Rawson's, toward Cuba, on Oil creek, two settlers located soon after 1808, but the prominent settler in that vicinity, was Col. Samuel Morgan, who located there in 1811, and became the founder of a public house, that was widely known in all early years. He was an enterprising, useful pioneer. He died in 1845.
The land which embraces the site of Cuba village, was originally purchased by James Strong, in 1817. Gen. Calvin T. Chamberlin settled two miles from the village, in 1816; he built the first saw mill in town in 1817. Stephen Cady and Jacob Baldwin, built saw mill and grist mill in 1822, two miles above the village.
Judge John Griffin was an early and prominent citizen of Cuba, locating there in 1820, and becoming the purchaser of the village site. There are few who have not heard anecdotes of the eccentric Judge. He was a man of unusual muscular power; tall, fearless, generous, with more than ordinary native intellect; enterprising and public spirited. In the war of 1812, (then a citizen of Ontario county,) he organized a corps of troops, and went out under Smyth's proclamation. He was a senator from the 8th district, previous to 1836, and for several years, one of the Judges of Allegany. He died in Cuba, in 1845, where his family now reside.
The founding of Cuba village commenced in 1835. In that year, Stephen Smith purchased out the property of Judge Griffin; and
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Gen. Chamberlin erected a public house, and opened a mercantile establishment.
The subject of the Genesee Valley Canal was first agitated at a publie meeting in Cuba. The participators in the proceedings of the meeting, were John Griffin, Calvin T. Chamberlin, Daniel Raymond, Samuel Morgan, Simeon C. Moore, and other citizens of Allegany and Cattaraugus.
The celebrated Oil spring, is two miles from the village of Cuba, on Oil creek. Most readers are familiar with its peculiar character. It is a curious fact; and demonstrates how wide was the range of the French Jesuits and traders, over the region of Western New York; that Joncaire knew of the existence of this spring, and described it to Charlevoix, in 1721. The mile square of land embracing it, was one of the reservations of the Seneca Indians, in their treaty with Robert Morris. The Indians regarded it of great value; attributed important medicinal qualities to the oil; in early years, after settlement commenced, it was a place, with them, of frequent resort. They used to spread their blankets upon the water, wring them, collecting the oil in their brass kettles.
Soon after the settlement of the country, the oil was collected and sold; and has been in use more or less, for nearly fifty years, though it is not certain that it possesses much virtue. The waters of the spring are pure and cold, not tainted with the oil. When the oil is skimmed off it will accumulate again, over the surface of the water, in one hour. It has a strong bituminous smell; in appearance, not unlike the British oil.
The venerable Samuel S. Haight, an early lawyer of Western New York, prominent in its annals, is a resident upon a farm near Cuba; now over 70 years of age.
The early settler on Allegany road between Cuba and Olean, was Simeon Hicks. He settled there in 1813. "Hick's tavern," was widely known, after emigration commenced via Olean, to the west. As many as two hundred emigrants have been sheltered under his roof at one time. When he went into the woods, his nearest neighbor east, was Elisha Strong, where the village of Friendship is now located; his nearest west, was James Brooks, who lived two miles from Olean. Andrew Hull, who settled on a branch of Oil creek, in 1814, raised the first crops in that region.
Judge Moses Van Campen surveyed road from Angelica to Olean, in 1815.
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The author has no reminiscences of Hindsdale, except a list of its first town officers, and the names of the first who took articles of land in the town. [See T. 2, R. 3, and T. 3, R. 3.] The first town meeting was in 1821. The officers chosen, were Israe! Curtiss, Supervisor; Robert Hinds, Town Clerk; Thomas Warren, Samuel Boughton, Jedediah Strong, Assessors; H. Gross, Collector, Charles Price, Harvey Parker, Emory Yates, Com. of highways; Henry Gross, Lambert Fay, Com. of common schools.
Major Adam Hoops, the founder of settlement at Olean, died in Westchester county, Pennsylvania in 1845; was in indigent cir- cumstances; subsisted in the last years of his life, upon his revolu- tionary pension; having at one period during that struggle, been one of the aids of Gen. Washington.
Joseph M'Clure, was the early settler at Franklinville, and the founder of the village. He surveyed many of the early roads of Cattaraugus and Allegany, and was somewhat noted for his faculty of making them terminate at the settlement he had commenced; was an active and enterprising pioncer.
A sketch, drawn from some reminiscences of primitive settlement in Farmersville, Cattaraugus county, will furnish the reader with a pretty distinct view of pioneer life. In 1816 and '17, Richard Tozer, Peleg Robbins, Peter Ten Broek, and Cornelius Ten Broek, began the settlement which they called Farmersville. They were all unmarried men except Richard Tozer. Isolated as they were, in their wilderness home, they found it necessary to make some local laws for the government of their small colony. They drew up a code, signed it themselves, and induced other settlers to sign it as they came in. One section of their mutual statute, was as follows :- "If any single woman who is over fourteen years of age, shall come to reside in our village, and no one of this confederacy shall offer her his company, within a fortnight thereafter, then and in such case, our board shall be called together, and some one shall be appointed to make her a visit; whose duty it shall be to perform the same, or forfeit the disapprobation of the company, and pay a fine sufficiently large to buy the lady thus neglected, a new dress." Few towns upon the Purchase have been more prosperous; and :" is quite likely that this early regulation aided essentially in the work of founding a new settlement and speeding its progress.
These pioneer adventurers carried their provisions ten and even twenty miles upon their backs, through the woods; and as a contrast
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between the past and the present; as an example of what industry and enterprise will accomplish, it may be remarked, that one of them (Judge Peter Ten Broek,) is now the owner of three thou- sand acres of land, and in the raising of stock and grain is not excelled by any farmer west of the Genesee river.
Richard Tozer built the first framed house in Farmersville; Levi Peet the first framed barn, and planted the first orchard; Joseph A. Tozer was the first born in town. Rev. Eliab Going preached the first sermon. Richard Tozer was elected supervisor, on the first organization of the town, in 1822, and Elijah Price, town clerk.
It will be noticed, by reference to the map of Cattaraugus, that Farmersville is upon the summit, embracing within its limits, the tributaries of the Allegany and Genesee rivers, and Cattaraugus creek, which is a tributary of lake Erie. There are two small streams that rise in the town, one running due east, and the other, nearly due north. They cross each other at right angles; flowing on as if undisturbed, though their waters must be supposed to have lost their identity, in the singular blending. There is one spot in the town, where a man can stand still and spit in the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. These things do not belong to the subject of pioneer settlement, but their extraordinary. character has invited a brief notice.
The author has a distinct recollection of some events attending the primitive breaking into the woods, in the south-west part of Wyoming county, upon the Cattaraugus creek; to which he is ena- bled to add some reminiscences obtained from Abraham Smith, Esq. (the present sheriff of Wyoming,) whose father was a settler there as early as 1811.
The pioneers in that region, were Abraham Jackson, and his sons, Capt. Amasa Kilbourn, Alfred Kilbourn, John Johnson, Samuel Nichols, Abner Bump, and his sons, and Silas Meach; these, with Moses Smith, comprised all the settlers in the town of China, pre- vious to 1812. The settlement commenced in 1809; Roswell Turner, the pioneer of Sheldon, had for the Holland Company, partly opened a road from his residence south to Cattaraugus creek; and in that year, he took up a lot upon the creek, made a small improvement, and a son-in-law of his, Ichabod R. Sanders, went on to the land, but did not become a permanent settler there .* In 1812
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