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 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
Miagara County Pioneer Association.
COMPILED BY FREDERICK F. PURDY.
WORK of this character, issued on the twenty- fifth anniversary of the organization of the Ni- agara County Pioneer Association, would in- deed be incomplete without at least briefly re- counting the growth of this unique institution of Western New York, where, each year at Olcott, gather old friends from the ends of Niagara County by the thousands to greet each other, and where political fortunes are made and unmade.
The roster of the presidents of the association includes some of the most eminent citizens of the county, past and
Brook, whom everybody knows, from Youngstown to Wol- cottsville and from Somerset to the Tonawandas. But the work would then have such a flavor of autobiography and call for the use of so many capital "I's" that the modest founder of the Pioneer Association insists that this duty shall devolve upon the writer. Consequently, with data which we have secured from him, together with some of his personal reminiscences, we assume this task of compilation, rather than of authorship, with less diffidence than would be the case under any other circumstances.
Andrew Ten Brook, though thoroughly alive to the
2
3
I-ANDREW TEN BROOK. 2-BARBARA TEN BROOK.
present, and indicates the high place the Pioneer Associa- tion has had during all these twenty-five years in the esteem of the people of the county. The first president was Hon. John Van Horn, who was followed successively by Hon. Franklin Spalding, Hon. Alfred Holmes, Hon. Lyman A. Spalding, Hon. Guy C. Humphrey, Colonel George L. Moote, John G. Freeman, Hon. John Hodge, Elisha B. Swift, Hon. Benjamin F. Felton, Hon. Lee R. Sanborn, Hon. John E. Pound, Hon. Thomas V. Welch and the pres- ent incumbent, Hon. Peter A. Porter.
This sketch could best be written by Andrew Ten
3-ELIZA TEN BROOK. 4-WILLIAM TEN BROOK.
present, carries with him the memory and the atmosphere of a former day. His name and his lineaments betoken his sturdy Dutch and Knickerbocker ancestry. Indeed. it has been suggested by people in whose minds Irving's charming Knickerbocker History of New York is fresh that the inde- fatigable promoter of the Pioneer Association has jumped right out of some of its pages. But be that as it may. what- ever reverence he may have for the past. he is still an earn- est worker and effective advocate of the purposes for which the Pioneer Assocition was formed.
Early in the summer of 1877 Mr. Ten Brook read in the
20
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Lockport Journal a notice of the projected formation of a Western New York Pioneer Association at Attica. Recog- nizing the value of such a society to the pioneers of the County of Niagara, he projected the formation of the organ- ization. He conferred with a number of citizens on the project, among them Moses C. Richardson, former editor of the Journal, and Willard A. Cobb, one of Mr. Richardson's successors. They and others viewed the project favorably and advised Mr. Ten Brook to call a meeting. The meeting was accordingly called and for some reason or other only six responded. However, Mr. Ten Brook went right ahead and issued the call for the first picnic of the "Pioneer Asso- ciation of Niagara County." It was held at Olcott; and in- asmuch as 1,500 people attended, and it was the first effort, it may well be regarded as a success. In 1878 the attend- ance had risen to 5,000. In 1888, when the log cabin was formally dedicated at Olcott, the attendance was 10,000. In 1900, when Governor Roosevelt was the speaker, the throng numbered 20,000. In 1901 the attendance was 25,000.
THE FIRST PIONEER PICNIC
The first picnic of the Pioneer Association was held in Ten Brook's Grove at Olcott on September 13, 1877. The weather was fine, and notwithstanding the busy season was largely attended by people from all parts of the county, farmers, merchants, manufacturers and politicians.
In the afternoon a temporary organization was ef- fected with Hon. John Van Horn as president and F. N. Al- bright as secretary. It was resolved to form a permanent organization and the following committee was appointed to that end : J. C. Hopkins, of Wilson, Rev. B. L. Brunning, of Olcott, and Willard Weld, of Lockport.
During the meeting of the committee Peter Tower, of Porter, told some tales of the early settlers' difficulties and trials. He also gave an account of the Morgan affair and a bear story which, according to the newspaper records, were all highly relished.
The committee on permanent organization reported as follows :
For President, Hon. John Van Horn.
For Secretary, F. N. Albright.
For Vice Presidents, Stephen Wilson, Newfane; David Barker, Somerset; Richard C. Holmes, Wilson; Peter Tower, Porter; John Cornell, Lewiston; Asahel Colt, Nia- gara ; Lewis S. Payne, Wheatfield; Daniel Van Horn, Hart- land; Orrin Fisk, Pendleton; P. P. Murphy, Royalton ; Thomas Barnes, Cambria ; Elias Clapp, Lockport.
Press and General Manager, Andrew Ten Brook, Lock- port.
Music was furnished by an old-fashioned fife and drum corps of "ye olden time." "Old settlers' speeches" were made by Peter Tower, Daniel Van Horn, David Barker, F. N. Albright and Mr. Fitts.
A short, but very interesting, letter of regret was read from Hon. Lyman A. Spalding, the first grain buyer of Lockport.
None of the speakers came prepared to talk at length except David Barker of Somerset. He read a brief, con- cise sketch of the lives of some of the pioneers. F. N. Al- bright was another interesting speaker.
A permanent executive committee was chosen whose duty it was to call a meeting for the next year, arrange for a celebration and for a program of exercises.
Among those present were the following :
Seaman Hoag, Somerset, aged 92.
Herman Halsey, Wilson, aged 85.
Daniel Van Horn, Hartland, aged 83.
Ezra Stratton, Olcott, aged 82. George Van Fleet, Newfane, aged 82. Peter Shaver, Newfane, aged 78. Loren Fitts, Somerset, aged 77. Daniel Cartwright, Somerset, aged 71. John Miller, Wright's Corners, aged 71. P. W. Brigham, Somerset, aged 70. A. G. Johnson, Newfane, aged 69. Adam Pease, Somerset, aged 69. C. K. Swick, Newfane, aged 66.
R. D. Feagles, Hartland, aged 65. G. W. Mead, Newfane, aged 65. William Ten Brook, Olcott, aged 65. John Van Horn, Lockport, aged 64. Joseph Hess, Olcott, aged 63.
G. C. Hopkins, Ransomville, aged 59.
J. D. Rummery, Newfane, aged 50.
SOME OF THE EARLY MEETINGS.
That the idea of a Pioneer Association had taken hold of the people was evidenced by the fact that at the second meeting, held on August 15, 1878, the attendance had in- creased to 5,000. It was held at Ten Brook's grove, Olcott, where the picnic of the previous year had been held, and where every succeeding affair of the kind has taken place.
The oration of the day was delivered by George W. Holley, of Niagara Falls, in which he referred to the settle- ment of the various towns of the county and furnished a val- uable fund of information, much of which is embodied in other portions of this book. Dr. Simeon Tucker Clark read an original poem adapted to the occasion, and there were in- teresting talks by David Barker of Somerset, J. C. Hopkins of Porter, Chipman Turner of Lockport, F. N. Albright of Olcott, Col. S. W. Torrence of Rochester and Capt. W. W. Bush of Lockport. A special committee was appointed to prepare resolutions on the death of Hon. Elisha Clapp, L. F. Bowen, Theodore Hullet and Lewis S. Payne.
The committee on resolutions reported at length in fa- vor of a continuance of the yearly meetings and perpetuity of the association, with a gathering together of all the speeches and poems delivered on each occasion. Thanks were tendered to President Van Horn and to Mr. Holley, who delivered the oration of the day, and to Dr. Clark for his poem. Hon. Franklin Spalding of Lewiston was elected president and Willard A. Cobb, secretary.
At the meeting of 1879, on August 14, the oration was delivered by Hon. Burt Van Horn, and it is described as a masterly effort, that was received with great satisfaction by the audience. Resolutions of respect were adopted to the memory of James C. Hopkins, Jabez Pomeroy, Harvey Beach, Nathan B. Rogers, Ezra Stratton, Aaron Dake and Huldah Bush, who had died during the year. Hon. Frank- lin Spalding was elected president and Dr. Ephraim W. Gantt, secretary. The following citizens then responded to the call of the president for reminiscences : Rev. S. C. Town- send of Lockport, Captain Van Cleve of Lewiston, F. N. Albright of Somerset, Chipman P. Turner and Joseph. A. Ward of Lockport, W. H. H. Childs of Niagara, Ebenezer Seeley of Hartland, David Barker of Somerset and Jonas Young of Niagara. David Hunt of Ridgeway then started a number of old-time hymns, which were sung with much feeling.
The picnic of 1880 was held on August 18, at which time Hon. Alfred Holmes of Lockport was elected president and Willard A. Cobb, secretarv. The oration was delivered by Rev. J. S. Bacon of Niagara Falls. The resolutions
21
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
adopted referred in fitting terms to the following, who had died during the year: David Gould, Jonas Young, Rodol- phus Wilson, John Sitler, Jonas Shook, Lorenzo Webster, Richard Weaver, Benjamin H. Benson, Asa Coates and James Northam. Impromptu speeches were made by Rev. S. C. Townsend, Chief John Mt. Pleasant, Ebenezer Seeley and George W. Holley.
Some ten or twelve thousand people attended the meet- ing that was held on August 20, 1881. Judge David Millar of Lockport, chairman of the executive committee, called the meeting to order in the absence of Judge Holmes, pres- ident of the association. He nominated Elisha B. Swift of Cambria as president of the day. He was unanimously elected and gracefully performed his task. Rev. K. P. Jervis of Somerset was the orator of the day. Hon. Lyman A. Spalding was elected president and Dr. Ephraim W. Gantt, secretary. The committee on resolutions feelingly commented on the death of Hon. John Van Horn, Henry Brown, Thomas Davison and Mr. Fuller. A poem was read
There was an exceptionally large attendance at the pic- nic of 1886, held August 25. Hon. Richard Crowley was the orator of the day. Col. Moote and Dr. Gantt were re- elected to fill their respective positions of president and sec- retary.
At the picnic of 1887, which occurred on August 8, a motion was made by Andrew Ten Brook to the effect that the Pioneer Association should build a log cabin at Olcott for the safe keeping of relics donated to the organization. The motion was seconded and enthusiastically adopted and Mr. Ten Brook was appointed a committee of one to solicit logs from members in various portions of the county with which to rear the cabin.
The annual address was delivered by Charles H. Squires. John G. Freeman was chosen president for the ensuing year and Willard A. Cobb, secretary.
THE LOG CABIN.
The dedication of the log cabin was the feature of the
THE PIONEER ASSOCIATION LOG CABIN.
by David Crandall and speeches were made by Hon. John S. Williams of La Fayette, Ind., and C. P. Turner.
At the meeting of 1882, held on August 24, Hon. Lyman A. Spalding was elected president and Willard A. Cobb, secretary. M. S. Hunting delivered the annual address. The usual resolutions were adopted. A resolution offered by Hon. William Morgan of Hartland was adopted, which was an expression of sympathy with the venerable David Barker of Somerset, then in his 89th year, who was suffer- ing from a stroke of paralysis. Ebenezer Seeley, then in his 8Ist year, responded to a call for remarks with an ad- dress, which is described as full of incident and fact and very effectively delivered. Among the venerable women who were present were Mrs. Shepherd of Lewiston, aged 88; Mrs. Anderson of Cambria, aged 85; Mrs. Shafer of New- fane, aged 82, and Mrs. Humphrey of Somerset, aged 83.
James F. Fitts of Lockport delivered the annual ad- dress at the meeting of 1883. In the absence of the presi- dent, Hon. Lyman A. Spalding, Hon. Guy C. Humphrey acted as presiding officer. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted in the choice of Hon. Guy C. Hum- phrey as president and Dr. Ephraim W. Gantt as secretary.
The meeting of 1884 was held on August 20 and Charles H. Squires was the speaker. Hon. Guy C. Humphrey was elected president and Willard A. Cobb, secretary.
Hon. A. Augustus Porter was the orator at the picnic of 1885, which occurred on August 13. Col. George L. Moote was elected president and Dr. Ephraim W. Gantt, secretary.
meeting of August 8, 1888. A larger attendance was re- ported than ever before, especially of the older residents of the county. Among them were Asahel Carpenter of Lock- port, aged 100; John D. Townsend of Somerset, aged 93; Elisha Tracy of Warren's Corners, aged 89; James McCol- lum of Newfane, aged 83: George Steele of Newfane, aged 82; Peter Palmateer of Newfane, aged 82; John S. Cudda- back of Wilson, aged 81, and M. Van Wagoner of Lockport, aged 80.
The brass band, composed of Tuscarora Indians, was one of the novel features. Prof. Compton and chorus were also present. The oration was delivered by Hon. Edward L. Pitts of Medina. On motion of Col. Moote it was re- solved to hold succeeding meetings on the third Wednes- days of August.
J. W. Doel, representing the York Pioneers of Toronto. was present with a number of members of his organization. He presented President Freeman with a badge, signifying honorary membership in the Canadian Pioneer Association.
The election of officers being next in order, a full ticket was chosen as usual, and President Freeman and Secretary Cobb were re-elected.
The log cabin was opened for the first time on this oc- casion. It was filled with relics that had been contributed and solicited from members of the association by Andrew Ten Brook. The cabin was the center of attraction during the day.
The logs had been delivered during the winter and the cornerstone had been laid on June 20, 1888. A number of
2.,
22
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the pioneers and their descendants gathered on that day, having brought their axes to assist in the work. Among them was Homer Shaver, with his yoke of oxen, who hauled logs into position. The work was done under the supervis- ion of Andrew Ten Brook and the cabin was designed by Lyman A. Dietrick. It is 24x30 feet, one and a half stories high, with roof projecting over both sides, supported by eight columns. A long chimney, bult of stone and brick, is in place, and there are a large hearth and a fireplace.
The cornerstone contains the names of the then Pres- ident of the United States, Governor of the State of New York, officers of Niagara County, and officers of the Niagara County Pioneer Association. In addition, all those present on June 20, 1888, were invited to inscribe their names upon a roll which was deposited with the other relics, which in- cluded a copy of all the Niagara County newspapers and other mementoes. The cornerstone was donated by Thomas G. Watson and came from his celebrated stone quarries at Lockport. The hearthstone was presented by Charles Whitmore from the Rattlesnake Hill stone quarry at Lockport. Stone and brick for the chimney came from the old bake oven in the Pavilion Hotel at Lockport, built by Chauncey Woodward about 1836, also from the chimney of the old residence of Luman H. Nichols on Cottage street, from the old residence of Asa Douglas on Washburn street, from the house of Michael McGrath on Church street, and from the old Wright's Corners Hotel and the old bake oven of James Van Horn, father of Hon. Burt Van Horn, at New- fane.
The following citizens of Niagara County donated the logs for the cabin :
Hon. Thomas T. Flagler, Hon. James Jackson, Hon. A. K. Potter, Hon. Guy C. Humphrey, Hon. Peter A. Por- ter, Hon. N. D. Haskell, Hon. John Hodge, Hon. David Millar, Hon. John T. Darrison, Hon. C. F. Goerss, Hon. James Atwater, John G. Freeman, Col. William McRae, Col. George L. Moore, Albert H. Pikard, Daniel C. Carroll, Wil- liam J. Bulger, Charles W. Hatch, M. C. Conlon, W. H. Cooke, Samuel H. Pettit, H. H. Servoss, Frank P. Weaver, John Noble, Samuel Mulhair, Charles Young, Ruthven Kill, C. D. Ackerson, Thomas Stainthrope, William Ten Brook, Thomas McMahon, Moses Brady, Adam Rabb, A. Edick, William Sawyer, Frank Shaver, Peter Phillips, John Edick, Sr., W. Spaulding, W. S. Wright, J. M. Harwood, W. Fuller, J. Coulter, W. H. Lockwood, P. H. Corwin, Col. Hayne, John Henning, Dayton Wright, J. O. Lockwood, Union Printing & Publishing Company, J. Barnes, H. Bullard, E. J. McClew, D. C. Leonard, J. Kelley, C. V. Tompkins, James McClew, J. G. O. Brown, S. Wright McCollum, J. J. Arnold, Martin Wendel, D. E. Brong, D. Elwood Jeffery, J. A. McCollum, A. W. Mitchell, H. H. Sheldon, Andrew Ten Brook, J. Lentz, Mrs. D. Holmes, Reuben Wilson & Co., Ransom & Baker, Shaw & Kenney.
LATER MEETINGS.
The gathering of 1889 occurred on August 21. Hon. John E. Pound was the orator of the day. Visitors from the Canadian association were again present, who were cordially welcomed by Hon. Burt Van Horn in a felicitous manner. Hon. John Hodge was elected president and Dr. E. W. Gantt, secretary. The Canadian guests made brief addresses, after which the visitors gave three lusty cheers for the Niagara County Pioneer Association, which were followed by three deafening roars from the Niagara County citizens for their Canadian brethren.
President Hodge presided over the meeting of 1890.
The annual address was given by Rev. George W. Powell, and there were short speeches by other pioneers present. Hon. John Hodge was re-elected president and Willard A. Cobb was chosen secretary.
The meeting of 1891, on August 19, marked a forward step in point of attendance, when it was estimated that 15,- 000 people were present. Elisha B. Swift of Cambria was elected president and Col. W. E. Palmer, secretary. Hon. Daniel N. Lockwood delivered the oration. Joseph H. Rainor also made a brief address, after which Selden E. Graves read an original poem.
The meeting of 1892 was held on August 10. The annual address was delivered by Rev. C. W. Camp and there was an oration by Harry R. Palmer, a student of the Lock- port Union School. Elisha B. Swift and Col. W. F. Palmer were re-elected president and secretary, respectively.
At the meeting of August 16, 1893, Hon. Benjamin F. Felton of North Tonawanda, was elected president and Col. W. E. Palmer, secretary. The annual address was deliv- ered by Dr. Ephraim W. Gantt, editor of the Lockport Union. Hon. Lee R. Sanborn gave some interesting remin- iscences and was followed by Lyman A. Dietrick, Will A. Dietrick and Lyman A. Spalding, son of L. Austin Spalding and grandson of Hon. Lyman A. Spalding, ex-president of the Pioneer Association. A poem entitled "The Original Pioneer of His County," by Miss May Lindsay, was a pleas- ing feature of the exercises.
Hon. Richard Crowley was the orator of the day on August 15, 1894, in the absence of E. M. Ashley. An old- fashioned choir sang, Charles H. Squires read an original poem and there were reminiscences of pioneer days by some of the early settlers. Hon. Lee R. Sanborn was elected president and Charles H. Squires, secretary.
Hon. William A. Sutherland of Rochester was the or- ator at the gathering of August 21, 1895. President San- born and Secretary Squire were re-elected. Hon. William Pool, corresponding secretary, presented a necrological re- port of the mortality of the members of the association from December, 1893, to August, 1895, including citizens of 60 years of age and over. There were 173 names on his list. Of these Jeremiah Mitchell was 98 years old, and there were five who died at the age of 90 or over. Hon. John Hodge, former president of the association, died August 7, 1895, a few days before the picnic of that year.
The meeting of 1896 was postponed until September 2, because of the firemen's State convention at Lockport and the celebration of the evacuation of Fort Niagara at Youngstown, being held on conflicting dates. Prof. Edward Hayward, of the Lockport Union School, gave the annual address, and Seth M. Lovell favored the audience with one of his dialect recitations. Hon. John E. Pound was elected president and George S. Gooding, secretary.
The chief speaker at the gathering of 1897 was Hon. Jonas W. Brown; addresses were also delivered by Hon. Richard Crowley and Hon. Thomas V. Welch. Hon. John E. Pound was chosen president and E. T. Williams, secre- tary.
The Pioneer Association celebrated its majority on August 17, 1898, the organization then being twenty-one years old. The clouds and rain of the morning decreased the attendance greatly. though the fair weather of the after- noon brought it up to nearly the average. Hon. Thomas V. Welch was elected president and Charles F. Foley, secre- tary. The annual oration was delivered by Edward Tay- lor of Lockport. An address touching upon educational
23
SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
matters was given by Hon. Jonas W. Brown and another on behalf of the veterans of Niagara County by Lyman A. Dietrick.
ROOSEVELT AT OLCOTT.
Theodore Roosevelt, then Governor of New York, was the orator of the day at the Pioneer picnic of August 16, 1899. Twenty thousand people were present and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed. The Governor's address was in the rugged, masculine vein that pervades all his speeches. We quote a part of his address :
"I am glad to note the name you commemorate, that of the pioneer. See that building there (pointing to the log cabin visible through the trees), that log house. For fifteen years a good part of the time I was a pioneer myself and lived on the Little Missouri in a cabin compared to which that is a palace. That has two stories. Ours didn't have two stories. That has mortar in the chinks. Ours had mud ; and it had a mud roof until a railroad bridge up the
the road were severely tested. Hon. W. Caryl Ely came down on his special car from Buffalo, accompanied by Man- ager Burt Van Horn, Senator William F. Mackey, orator of the day, and a party of prominent citizens of Buffalo.
In his opening address Hon. Thomas V. Welch, presi- dent of the association, referred to the banding together of the cities of Niagara County with their greater neighbor, Buffalo, for the mutual benefit of all, and intimated that the time might not be far distant when the trolley girdle of the county would be completed by the building of the last link. which would connect Olcott with Youngstown and Fort Niagara by way of Wilson.
Hon. W. Caryl Ely, president of the International Trac- tion Company, was then introduced. He referred to the wonderful adaptation of the trolley to the needs of a civil- ized community, transferring city people to the country and country people to the city. He said he regarded the coun- ties of Niagara and Erie as pioneers in electric railway con-
PINE TREE GROVE AT OLCOTT BEACH.
river broke and we used the timbers that floated down as a roof. * *
* I want to refer to that cabin again. * The pioneer of the cabins might have reasoned, 'I am not going to disturb the Indians; they might fight me.' If the man had said that, there might be Mohawks here now. They would be free and independent Mohawks, but they'd be Mohawks, that's all."
Mrs. Roosevelt accompanied her husband and was a guest for several hours of Mrs. E. Ashley Smith and Mrs. J. Carl Jackson at their cottage at Olcott, where there was an informal reception.
Frank M. Byron sung "Cuba Libre," a song written and composed by him in honor of Governor Roosevelt's visit to Niagara County.
Among the older citizens who attended the picnic were John Swick of Wilson, aged 96; William Wilson of Wilson, aged 91 ; and Peter Hayner of Wilson, aged 89 years.
Hon. Thomas V. Welch was re-elected president and Charles F. Foley, secretary.
LOCKPORT-OLCOTT TROLLEY OPENED.
The day of the Pioneer picnic of 1900 will also be re- membered as the day when the trolley from Lockport to Olcott was first opened to the public. The occasion took on the character of a joint celebration. It is estimated that the International Traction Company carried 12,000 people from Lockport to Olcott during the day. The facilities of
struction, and predicted a wonderful future for the subtle power.
Burt Van Horn, general manager of the International Traction Company, made a few remarks and promised the best possible service not only for Olcott, but for every point on the company's lines.
Senator Mackey was next introduced and delivered a masterly oration, which was highly appreciated. The Sena- tor is a former resident of Lockport and a graduate of our Union School.
Hon. William Pool, corresponding secretary, reported the death of the following since the last meeting: Col. George L. Moote, ex-president of the Pioneer Association ; Hon. Willard A. Cobb, H. H. Sheldon, Harmon B. Tower and Hon. Edward Evans.
Hon. Peter A. Porter was chosen president and Charles F. Foley, secretary.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.