USA > New York > Niagara County > Souvenir history of Niagara County, New York : commemorative of the 25th anniversary of the Pioneer Association of Niagara County > Part 18
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Let the reader consider, too, the stalwart quality of the men who made the great migration to the frontier. Achish Pool, of Massachusetts, had two sons, Thomas and William, and decided that he would make them a home for their man- hood on the famed, but far off Niagara. With a horse and
a yoke of oxen for his team, the sturdy man made his way through the wilderness to near where Dickersonville now stands; there pitched his camp ; made his home; reared his family ; took interest in all things of public interest, and was gathered to his fathers in a ripe old age. How many men would like to make that trip now ; the same means of trans- port, under even all present conditions; but, then, streams to be crossed by wading; woods' roads to be traversed, sometimes trails, with no roads at all; camp to be made nightly in the woods, forage to be daily gathered for the beasts, and weeks required for the long, toilsome, weary pas- sage ; then the camp to be made; the logs cut for a home ; the woods to be redeemed to cultivation, and the tireless in- dustry and careful economy practiced to give maintenance and comfort to all in the thinly settled region? But the Pioneers of the frontier were built of just such material as this resolute son of Achish Pool. Mr. Pool was a law client of my father's, and always on the same side in politics. A number of times, each year, he would call at my father's office and spend part of the day in the most earnest talk on all questions of the day. The old gentleman had the New England way of clipping his words, and addressed my father always as "L'yar Cooke." In writing, the apostrophe can indicate the elision ; but in speech, not. I asked my father once why Mr. Pool always called him "L'yar Cooke." "O, I am a lawyer, you know, and perhaps he thinks that lawyers don't always tell the truth." It is seventy years ; but how clearly cut in memory is the short, firm figure; the bright eye, the gray hair and the vigorous speech that gave as- surance of no more doubt of the soundness of Whig princi- ples than of the Bible. So I am not surprised to see the vigorous Massachusetts man bringing his religion with him, and his name entered with his wife's in the roll of the Lew- iston Presbyterian Church, in 1817. eight miles from his home. As with his descendant, our venerable friend of the Niagara Courier, politics and Revelation stood on the one and impregnable ground of right, as he sees it !
LORENZO DOW, THE EVANGELIST.
One of my most vivid remembrances, connected with early life in Lewiston, is that of a visit and service for the celebrated Lorenzo Dow. I am glad to advert to this, to disabuse any of the present day from the view of him by many, that he was half crazy ; mentally unbalanced. Noth- ing could be farther from the fact. Eccentric, in the ex- treme, he undoubtedly was, but a gifted, earnest, faithful preacher, as an evangelist, of the Gospel. His ways were his own, and he took his own ways. A faithful Methodist, he yet held himself commissioned by Christ, not by man, and to go and come, not as directed by bishop or conference, but as directed by the providence of God. He was so de- vout and consistent a Christian, and so fearless and far- reaching in his preaching and work, that the officials gave him free rein. From Maine to New Orleans, along the whole frontier, and where no one else could or would go, he made full proof of his ministry ; and his life was a faithful and extraordinary public service of his Master. His very ap- pearance was remarkable. Of a slight, spare build, but ac- tive and wiry : with long, straight black hair, hanging to his shoulders ; with high cheek bones and a skin as swarthy as an Indian, and an eye of intense brightness, and his one dis- tinguishing feature. Odd tales were abroad of his peculiar- ities, and created a desire beforehand to see and hear him. Not long before his visit to us he had visited a frontier town, now one of our largest Western cities. Giving no- tice of a meeting, and making arrangements for it, he was
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told of a blacksmith in the suburbs noted for his violent tem- per and infidelity, who utterly refused his wife attendance on any religious meeting. "That is just the kind of man and woman I like to see." "But, Mr. Dow, he is just as likely to assault you as not, and probably will, if you go to his house." "I long ago got over fear of the Devil, and I am not afraid of his servants."
He called; the poor woman confirmed the report as to her husband ; stated that she was a member of the Methodist Church at the East, but had been prevented and forbidden attendance at any occasional meeting here. "And, Mr. Dow, I am sorry to say that you are in danger of assault if my husband should find you here." "Don't be alarmed, sister ; I have met just such men, and they are the biggest cowards in the world." "There he comes now, Mr. Dow; I am very much afraid." Hanging on the wall was an old sword in a rusty iron scabbard. Dow took it from the wall and got behind the door. The man entered. "Has old Dow been here?" "Yes, he was here to give notice of a meeting, and asking us to go." "Well, if you try to at- tend those meetings I will flog you, if you are my wife." "No, you won't!" screamed Dow, springing from his place, and drawing the sword, with a fearful rattle, from its iron sheath. "No, you won't, you miserable coward ! Get down on your knees, or I'll cut you to the chin." His eye glared, his face flamed, and the man thought he had to do with a lunatic. "Down with you," thundered Dow, and the man dropped on his knees. "Don't strike, don't strike, Mr. Dow ; I will do as you say." "Well, then, promise that you will let your wife come to meeting, and that you will come with her; or"-and up went the sword in the air. "Yes, yes, Mr. Dow; she shall go. I'll go with her ; don't get excited!" Dow sheathed the sword, hung it in its place, and said : "Get up, my friend." He arose. "I am no more crazy than you are ; but, as man to man, I ask you if it is manly to cross your wife's religious belief when she never crosses yours? Is it manly to take a woman from her home to live with you, in a love as strong as your own, and play the ty- rant to shut her off from one of the great enjoyments of her life; you, who promised before God and Man to love her and study her happiness; is it manly?" "Well, Mr. Dow, I have not looked at it in just that way ; I don't suppose it is. I will not disturb her any more." "Now you are a man, and act like a man. Come to my meetings. I shall not refuse you your right of judgment, any more than you ought to re- fuse me mine. And now, my friend, it is near tea time and I would like to take tea with you and your wife." "You are welcome, Mr. Dow, and as often as you please while you are here." These things went all over the country, and all were glad to see the kindly, eccentric man. He hired the tent of an itinerant merry-go-round, in our place, and gave out notice of meetings. The tent was thronged. Just as he had risen to give out the hymn, there came sailing in, with two or three other girls, the young woman who ac- counts herself the social leader of the place. Fluttering her fan at some boys on the upper seats, she took her place be- low, directly in the middle of the ring. While Mr. Dow was reading the hymn she was twittering away to the girls, signing to the boys, and otherwise showing that she was not taken in by all this thing. Through all the preliminary ser- vices she kept it up, and even after Mr. Dow had began to speak. Suddenly he stopped. He looked intently up at the roof of the tent. All became still as death. The girl her- self paused to see. Still looking up, he said: "I have preached in a Maine lumber camp, and lumbermen are a
wild, lawless set; I have preached in a New Orleans gam- bling hell, where the very air was oaths ; I have preached on a. Kentucky race ground-and that is the nearest to hell I have ever been ; but in all the places where I have been, I have never seen man or woman behave so shamelessly as"- and he flashed his eye on her, and flung out his long, skinny finger -- "that young woman, right there!" It was fearful. Her companions involuntarily moved away from her; she turned pale, then scarlet, and seemed without health. My own feeling, of a boy of twelve years old, was that, if I could get out of that tent I would scuttle home and get under the biggest bed in the house; there was no knowing where the lightning might strike next. The social leader was one of the most exemplary attendants on all the rest of the meet- ings, but boys and girls were scarce in the vicinity where she sat.
FREE FIELD AND FAIR PLAY.
I have spoken of brave men of the frontier. John Rob- inson was one of these men. Passing the Frontier House one day he saw Lothrop Cooke, backed up against the hotel wall, and holding off with his crutch three angry men, in liquor, with whom he had had a controversy on Masonry. He stepped at once to the side of the assaulted man, set his own back against the wall, and said: "Gentlemen, I don't know what the trouble is about, but when I see one man, and him a cripple, attacked by three men, they will have to do with John Robinson." He was known as a powerful man, and the job was declined. I give these particular instances, for they show the quality and general character of the men.
In my reminiscences thus far I have sought to give those of a pleasant character. It would be gratifying if those of no other kind existed.
THE OLD ACADEMY.
The Old Academy is a monument to the intense desire of the men of the frontier that their children should have what had been denied by early privations to themselves-a good education. Hon. James Atwater has in his hands the material which will set this forth ; and the hands are those of a practiced writer and teacher. The painful themes for reminiscences are two: the fearful ravages wrought by whisky and the drinking habit among the people, high and low, and the deplorable lack of interest of nearly the entire leading class in the community in public morals and religion.
RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENCE.
I will advert to the religious indifference, and close these reminiscences. I shall dwell chiefly on these as illus- trated by the case of the Presbyterian Church ; our friends of the Episcopal and the Catholic churches, building much later, found the same obstacles in their way. In 1817 a Presbyterian Church was organized, with Rev. David M. Smith, newly ordained, as pastor. It is not surprising to see the names of Aaron Childs and John Robinson among the organizing members, nor that of Achish and Susannah Pool among those earliest received. Of these, Mr. Childs soon after removed to another town and Mr. Robinson was lost to the little number from disaffection. From that time
on the little band added to its numbers only the lowly and obscure. In the little band, slowly growing, meeting for years in private houses, in school rooms, no lawyer's name is found ; no doctors, no merchants, no village magnates; the poor in place and the humble in calling make up the growth. But they do not look to man. Early in the twenties they venture on the building of a church. How small the num- ber ; how feeble the means! The Indians of Tuscarora were
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
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worshiping for years in a church built for them by the Con- necticut Missionary Society, while the people of Lewiston were meeting in private houses, or in a school room. In poverty, in struggle and in prayer, the little band struggled on; they raised their walls and covered them, and met for worship without windows; the only strife for seats at that time was when the sun might not shine or the rain beat in. They attained windows, and were glad, though the floor was the ground and the seats were planks or sections of logs. I have myself sat at church and Sunday school with my feet in the grass. Yet, under such conditions and in such days, we were privileged to hear some of the saintliest men who went the rounds of the wilderness for their Master ; the ven- erable Elder Segur, of the Methodist Church; Eldridge, of the Baptist ; Tomlison, of the Universalist ; men as stainless of soul as the white around the neck that marked the gen- tleman and the minister of the day. Then came the floor- the seats, the pulpit, indeed, and the little company, still poor and obscure, said in their hearts, as the Son of old, "Grace, grace unto it." Then came the days of song and of triumph; the days of Wisner and Sherwood; of Burchard and others, and the members grew, and men like Richard Ayer, and Arthur Gray, and Sparrow Sage, and Hetzel Colt took a stand for Christ and His cause. The temperance re- formation always found the old church enrolled, to a mem- ber, and at the front. The cause of the slave was plead from the pulpit and held up in prayer; and when the Civil War broke out members from her number were among the first martyrs, and the solid old walls were the rallying point of the
men for the Union. With her sister and later churches she stands today, as she has always stood, for all that is best for men here, and all that is for hope hereafter. Her humble pioneer founders built in feebleness and tears, but they builded better than they knew.
RECORD BOOK OF THE FUTURE.
Among the thousands who visit the famous Queenston Heights, and look upon the grand, vast scene before them, almost an uniform question is, "What is that white building across the river, so central and so distinctive?" "That is the Pioneer Church of Lewiston, built seventy-five years ago, and in perfect condition still !" Readers of these words of the past, there is another Record Book to be opened up, when this and all earthly volumes have passed away. When the page of Lewiston is turned it will not be the names of leading men, in all worldly sense ; of names and material pio- neer enterprise, that will stand highest in record then. At the head of all will be the name of one of the lowliest, as to place, one of the poorest as to men; one of the feeblest as to strength of the band of pioneers. While others lived for this world, he made this world a stepping for another and higher, and for others, as well as himself. Whole genera- tions of the young call him blessed in their age, for he led them in, and shielded them with counsel and with prayer. Poor in this world's goods, for he shared with the poor to his loss; he made his treasure that hope whose fulfillment is Heaven. In the Heavenly reminiscences of Lewiston the first name will be that of Josiah Tryon.
VIEW OF SUSPENSION BRIDGE AT LEWISTON-OPENING DAY.
6.
The Lockport Home for the Friendless.
BY MRS. E. ASHLEY SMITH, RECORDING SECRETARY .
THE ROGER WALCOTT KEEP BUILDING.
JOHN HODGE_MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
MAIN BUILDING.
N THE early seventies the Lockport Home for the Friendless was struggling in its infancy, but from our present standpoint its day of small beginnings is not to be despised. The War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1864, devastated our firesides and cast its helpless widows and orphans upon the great heart of hu- - manity. Aid and relief societies sprang up like magic throughout the State, and noble women of Lockport, prov- ing equal to the emergency, organized, September, 1865, the Lockport Ladies' Relief Society and Home for the Friendless.
For six years, down to 1871, the society dispensed relief and charity in the form of provisions and coal ; also clothing- and bedding made in the society, and accomplished much.
But at this point the necessity of a permanent home for the friendless and destitute children, where they could be cared for, trained and placed in families for adoption, so pressed upon the society and its staunch supporters that an effort was at once set on foot for its accomplishment.
The subject was agitated, and a meeting of citizens con- vened, canvassed the matter and discussed plans.
A charter was obtained and signed February 8, 1871, by nine trustees, Judge Hiram Gardner, Hon. John Hodge, J. L. Breyfogle, Horatio Kilborne, Gustavus P. Hosmer, D.
F. Bishop, Thomas Hall, M. W. Evans and J. W. Helmer, "who builded better than they knew" when they organized this "Home," so humble in its inception-so grand in its achievement.
At a meeting of many friends of the enterprise a consti- tution and by-laws were framed, adopted and the first board of directors appointed. J. W. Helmer, the first president of the board of trustees, then G. P. Hosmer, J. L. Breyfogle and P. B. Aiken, followed by Hon. John Hodge, in 1883, whose continuous service until his death, in 1895, was full of wise leadership and ceaseless efforts for the prosperity of the Home. His memory will be an inspiration to more faithful service and his name ever be associated with the Lockport Home for the Friendless.
In October, 1895, Hon. John E. Pound followed as pres- ident of the association, and has given most efficient and untiring attention to the constantly increasing duties and responsibilities, which are shared by the present active and capable Board of Trustees.
Mrs. A. J. Mansfield was the first treasurer. The sec- ond, Hon. John Hodge, elected in 1873, followed by the faithful and arduous services of J. A. Ward, elected in 1876, and continuing to 1901, when the duties of the position hav- ing grown so arduous they were divided, Mr. Ward consent-
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ing to act as secretary, and Mr. C. J. Townsend as treasurer.
Mrs. J. T. Bellah was the first president of the Board of Directresses, whose wise counsel and devotion led success- fully through those early days of perplexity to 1897, when her mantle fell upon our present efficient and honored pres- ident, Mrs. C. L. Hoag, who with Mrs. Martha White, first vice president, Mrs. E. Ashley-Smith, recording secretary ; Mrs. A. L. Beverly, directress, were of the original board, and still remain in active service, associated for many years with Mrs. John Hodge, Mrs. C. N. Palmer, vice presidents, and Mrs. W. T. Rogers, corresponding secretary.
It was difficult at that time to raise funds and to secure a suitable building. Under these circumstances it was that the zeal and efforts of love and charity organized into this a real and beneficent institution.
On application to the Board of Supervisors, that body appropriated, upon conditions, the amount of $3.473.47, then in the treasury of the County, received under appropriation by the Legislature for such purposes.
The two conditions required were: First-that the money should be applied upon the purchase of a Home ; Sec- ond-that an equal amount be raised by voluntary contribu- tion.
The latter condition having been accomplished, in De- cember, 1871, the trustees secured the residence of F. N. Nelson, on High street, consisting of two and one-half acres of ground and house with outbuildings. The citizens were generous in their subscriptions, both in merchandise goods and furniture, to start this venture.
During February, 1872, the first weekly meetings of the association were held at the Home.
As time passed the work of sheltering orphan and des- titute children has been steadily pursued, increasing in mag- nitude and importance. And to the present day we have not lost sight of the original plan when suitable means could be secured, that of providing a home also for old ladies of Niagara County, thrown upon the cold charity of the world.
After years of anxiety from fear of exposure to calam- ity in the old Home, and of fruitless planning and hoping for a house safer and more convenient, in August, 1892, the lim- ited quarters on High street were exchanged for the present commodious Home at Wyndham Lawn. Here we could have, under the same supervision, the babies and young chil- dren committed to our care. Having up to this time been obliged to place the infants where they could be cared for and nursed outside the Home proper. This greatly ham- pered the work, and was an added care and anxiety to the Board of Managers, who so patiently waited until the way opened and larger buildings and better facilities were pro- vided. And today the two nurseries, always so well filled, need no farther comment as to the necessities of the case.
January, 1893, brought to us one of the brightest and most cheering experiences of our history, in the first visit of the Sir Knights, of Genesee Commandery, so fruitful in sub- stantial gifts and encouragement.
The best of it all was the assurance that it was to be per- petuated for all time.
Experience taught the need of some one who could give personal attention to the placing of children in good and suitable homes, and, in 1891, was secured the services of John R. Bayliss, who is still in our employ. His tact and judgment have added greatly to the success of the work, and his conscientious supervision over the children as the years pass, visiting them constantly from time to time, can only be appreciated when the record of his life's work shall
be closed, and its influence upon the lives of the many friendless little ones with whom he comes in contact shall be known. He has placed in good homes over 100 children, and continues his supervision of them. Since the organi- zation of the Home nearly 1,000 children have been received to its sheltering care.
We have now associated with us a board of auxiliary vice presidents from the County for co-operation and effort in the work. W. Bryant Cook has given a service of fifteen years as Sunday School superintendent, and with unusual de- votion, never allowing himself to be absent, nor one minute late. Thus by example and precept he has left an impress upon the minds of the children hardly surpassed by the more fortunate who are under the parental roof.
In this connection mention should be made of many of those who have been engaged in this institution, as helpers, in capacities of responsibility and usefulness. As teachers, Miss Hurd, Mrs. Webster, Miss Draper, Miss Hoover, Miss Webster and Miss Jack. Among those who have so grat- ifyingly filled the laborious position of matron are Mrs. Empson, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Kate Brockway and Mrs. Frances Dennison, who was ideal, with her loving, untiring devotion to the welfare of the little ones, and with an effi- ciency that made her retirement a great loss to the Home. It is with characteristic good fortune that the services of our present matron, Miss Ladd, was secured, who gives ev- idence of being surpassed by none.
The children who have been the beneficiaries, and who were, and still are, being placed in happy homes, often glad- den our hearts by letters, showing in many cases that they are occupying positions of responsibility in life. They al- ways express continued interest in the Home and pleasant memories of the days spent here.
The Home has always been blessed with the attendance of skillful physicians, first Drs. Bishop and Evans, up to 1886, followed by the faithful and untiring service of Dr. S. Wright Hurd, until 1900, when, owing to illness in the fam- ily, Dr. Hurd felt obliged to resign, and Dr. Carl Blackley has been his most attentive successor.
For over thirty years have the successive Board of Man- agers wrought with untiring zeal, until their hopes and plans for increased usefulness and enlarged facilities are in a great measure realized in the present well established institution. This has been made possible by the generosity of many in- terested in the work, who have contributed largely to its es- tablishment and maintenance.
Among these we would mention the legacy of Lyman A. Pound, which made possible the purchase of our present grounds and improvements.
Other legacies which have materially aided the work it is impossible to mention in this limited space. Among them are Cheeseboroughs and that of Robert H. James and Miss Mary Keep.
Through the generous thought and gift of Roger Wol- cott Keep a fine building was erected in 1898, ample in di- mentions and equipment to the needs of the boys, including a large school room, play room, dormitories and bath rooms, fitted with all modern and hygienic appliances.
Toward the close of 1897 our work was enlarged by car- ing for the children of Genesee and Orleans Counties.
On February 23, 1902, the gift of the John Hodge Me- morial Hospital was formally tendered the Trustees of the Home, and on the following day, at a special meeting of the joint Boards of the Home, it was formally delivered into their custody, and was personally inspected, when a
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genuine surprise awaited all, as they crossed the threshold to find the most attractive up-to-date and complete little hos- pital any vivid imagination could picture. Words failed to express the delight and appreciation of Mrs. Hodge's muni- ficent benefaction, and many were the expressions of endear- ment and gratitude to the giver, whose pleasure it was to thus perpetuate the memory of a beloved companion.
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