USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Ellicott > The early history of the town of Ellicott, Chautauqua County, N.Y. > Part 2
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upturns the skulls of a race whose history is lost. Our advent here is but one of the changes of time.
As the sons of William Prendergast Sen., were prominent among the earlier settlers of Chautauqua county, and one of them, James Prendergast, was the founder of our city, a few words about their first settle- ment in the wilderness of Chautauqua will not be misplaced.
William Prendergast Sen., the father, was born in Waterford, Ireland, in 1727. He emigrated to America and settled in Pawling, Dutchess county, N. Y., before he had reached the age of manhood. He remained there several years, and married Mehitable Wing, who was born in America of Scotch parents. Seven boys and six girls were the fruits of this union. All of these save one, attained the age of manhood and woman- hood, and the most of them lived to old age.
James the 5th and Jediah the 6th son, studied medicine in Dutchess county and afterwards in Rensselaer county, to which William Prendergast Sen., with the most of his family had removed at the break- ing out of the Revolutionary war. James Prendergast in 1794-95 made an extended tour into the south and west, and had many thrilling adventures with the In- dians. He practiced medicine a short time in Nash- ville, Tenn., and then pushed on into the then Spanish country of Northern Louisiana. Soon after the battle of Mad River he met the young chief Tecumseh, with whom he swapped rifles, the Indian getting the best of the bargain. He intended to pass up the Mississippi to the lakes, but finding this impossible, he returned home. A year or so later his brothers Jediah and Matthew, made a trip as far west as Nashville, Tenn.,
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with the view of finding a good location for all of the families to settle, and in 1803 Thomas Prendergast and William Bemus, a son-in-law of William Prendergast Sen., made a trip into Canada on the same errand, and also came to Chautauqua county. After the return of these exploring parties, each was anxious to settle in the country they had visited, but the Tennessee party carried the day, and immediate preparation was made for the emigration.
It had been agreed that wherever a majority should conclude to go all should go ; that they would live and die together, as in patriarchal times. William Prendergast Sen., was then 78 years old, his wife ten years younger, but they were in as good health as they could expect at that age and full of courage ; they said to the children, wherever you go we will go with you, live with you, and where you are there shall be our graves.
In the spring of 1805 the emigrants left their home in Pittstown in five canvass covered wagons, and a heavy travelling carriage, for the older and weaker of the party. These six vehicles were drawn by eighteen stout and valuable horses ; while en route $1200 was offered for one span with harness, which was promptly refused. The emigrants numbered twenty-nine per- sons, including Tom, a favorite negro slave, an heir loom of the family. The old patriarch William and his wife Mehitable were accompanied by four sons, viz : William, Jediah and Thomas with their wives and children, James who was single, William Bemus who was married to Mary Prendergast the eldest daughter, and their children, Susannah Prendergast, the widow of Oliver Whiteside, and her children, and two unmarried daughters. It must have been a cour-
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ageous undertaking, for the best of the roads were poor in those days ; nevertheless, they made their way by the nearest route possible to Pittsburgh. There they placed their horses and wagons on flat boats and pro- ceeded down the river to the Falls of the Ohio. From thence they again proceeded in their wagons to their place of destination in Tennessee. As they travelled across the state of Kentucky and through northern Tennessee, the majority of the party became more and more dissatisfied with the country and its inhabitants. They were permitted to see slavery as it then existed in the south, and it displeased them, and the manners and customs of the whites was equally displeasing, and the whole country soon, in their eyes, became poor and worthless. Several of the party had sore eyes, and many of them began to show the effects of the malari- ous climate. In fact, it may be said that all expressed a desire to return, but Dr. Jediah, who had tenaciousły insisted on coming south instead of to Chautauqua as desired by Bemus and his brother Thomas. Bemus now declared he would not be bound by his pledge, if they concluded to remain there, but would return north and settle on Chautauqua lake. Thomas de- elared that he would prefer 100 acres that he knew of near the cross roads in Chautauqua to 1,000 acres there, and strongly advocated a return. Tom declared "that, there were too many niggers there for him, and if they stayed there he should rund away to Pittstown, shuah." This decided the matter and all voted to return except Jediah, who did not oppose what he was already con- vinced would be the result.
They were soon on their long, weary return jour- ney ; passing by the best ascertained route acrost Ken- tucky to the Ohio river, and thence in a northwesterly
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direction through Ohio, passing through what was then known as the Western Reserve to Meadville, Pa., and from thece north to Presque Isle, now Erie. The next day in passing over the ford of 20 mile creek they lamed one of their most valuable horses, but continued their journey until they had passed the present village of Quincy, in Chautauqua county. Thomas desired thiem to make a halt before a log house owned by a settler named Farmsworth. He had been there before and now in his mind a serious but as yet unspoken re- solution had been reached. He exclaimed with much energy ; "I have travelled far enough. Our lame horses need rest, and I inform you all that I intend here to make my future home." He disappeared into the house, but returned in a few minutes and declared to his astonished relatives that he had made the man an offer for his interest in the location and that his offer had been accepted, and that he should go no further. Bemus declared he should remain with Thomas for he was anxious to gaze on what he hoped to make his home at the narrows of Chautauqua lake, although he feared it was then too late to secure it. Tom, the slave, declared he was glad to get back into a free state, and that he should "rund away from Masser William and stay with Masser Tom, shuah."
Up to this time there had been no agreement to settle in Chautauqua. Wm. Prendergast Sen., was of the two inclined to settle in Canada, but now was a chance to carry out the agreement made in Pittstown, and the decision of Tom to rund away, again settled the matter.
Wmn. Bemus found a place not far distant, near a Mr. Bells, in the town of Westfield, where he could re- main during the winter. He soon, however, became
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owner of the coveted tract on the east side of Chautau- qua lake, onto which he removed early in the follow- ing spring ; he also purchased a farm on the west side opposite, which became the home of his son Thomas Bemus.
The fall of 1805 and winter of 1806 was the time of great famine among the few settlers of Chautauqua. Provisions were extremely scarce and difficult to be procured at any price. It was arranged therefore that the remainder of the party should proceed to Canada where provisions were plenty, for the winter and return to Chautauqua in the spring and purchase lands. Leaving William Jr., and James to prospect for a good location during the winter the remainder departed for Canada. The brothers William Jr., and James spent much of the winter, having a span of horses at their command, in viewing the country, and finally made choice of about 3,500 acres on the west side of the lake a few miles from Mayville. In the spring before the party had returned from Canada, James made them a visit. His report was satisfactory, and he was requested to proceed to Batavia and enter the lands at the land office. Having performed this duty he with his brother William, who also had come on for a visit, again returned to Chautauqua. The rest soon followed except Dr. Jediah, who had entered into a profitable practice of his profession and concluded to remain for the present in Canada. When the families arrived William and James had a log house in readi- ness for them. James remained with his father and brother William during that season and helped them to make a clearing and get in some crops. William Prendergast had now with him his two sons William and James, and the redoutable swarth skinned Thom-
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as, who concluded he should "not rund away, shuah;" several span of horses and plenty of implements with which to subdue the forest and to commence agricul- ture. Several experienced choppers and loggers were at once employed, and in a remarkably short time blackened fields, and a wilderness of stumps appeared where but a short time previous had been a wilder- ness of trees.
Was there a directing Providence that induced James Prendergast to remain, as a dutiful son should, and assist his aged father during that spring and sum- mer of 1806? A slight circumstance directed and colored his whole future life and of his descendents and of thousands of others, then unborn. We do not stretch our imaginations or distort the facts, when we express the conviction that James Prendergast was Providentially chosen to be the pioneer of the Pearl City ; and shall we cease to believe that the same Un- seen Hand is yet guiding our pathway ?
A span of horses which had attended all their wanderings in the wilderness, and to which they were greatly attached, although they had ceased to be valu- able, were turned loose in the woods to pick their own living, and if possible to recuperate from their crippled condition. During the season they wandered away but no effort was made to find them, for it was con- cluded that they would finally return. Tom said he "knowed they would shurh; they wouldn't rund away no quicker as he would, thade come back shuah, if the wolves hadn't eaten them up." During the latter part of the summer the horses had been seen near the lower end of the lake, and soon after James made prepara- tions to follow and reclaim them. Equipped with a knapsack of provisions he followed down the west side
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of the lake, crossing at the narrows and staying with Win. Bemus the first night. Bemus informed him that he knew of no white settlers east nearer than Kennedy's mills and that when he came to Miles' road he had better turn south and go to Marshes where he might get some intelligence of his horses. That he probably would find Indians fishing near Miles land- ing, and that there was an Indian camp at what was called the rapids.
The next morning he continued his journey down the west side of the lake. Arriving at the Miles road he was undecided what course to follow, until provi- dentially he found the tracks of horses which he was able to follow for a considerable distance farther to the east and down the lake. He continued on and finally reached the head of the rapids near the pres- ent steam boat landing. He traversed the present site of Jamestown, and was the first white man to visit the locality of which we have any record, except of soldiers passing down to Pittsburgh. His second night out was spent in an Indian camp not far from where L. B. Warner's residence now stands.
He remained at the Rapids a day or longer, fascinated with the location. The dense pine forest, the rapid stream whispered to him scenes con- nected with his future. His Indian friends intuitively seemed to understand his errand; they undoubtedly had seen the horses and tried to tell him so. A party was about starting for Kiantone and he was invited to join them. Was not this another act of Providence, guid- ing him on his way ? He passed through the vast pinery of the Conewango valley. He saw the little clearings on the Conewango and the Kiantone on which the Senecas had planted their corn for centuries. Here
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had been one of the granaries of the Six Nations, here had been one of their cities of safety. At Kiantone they pointed him to go north for his horses. He followed their direction and passed through those forests of enor- mous pines, the largest and the best any country ever produced. He found his horses on the grass meadows near what is now known as Rutledge, in Cattaraugus county, in fine condition. They appeared to remem- ber him as an old acquaintance, and were willing to return to their home.
This memorable tramp of James Prendergast through the unbroken wilderness of southern Chau- tauqua, by chance if you will, took him through the two locations which were to be his future homes ; he found his horses, his fortune and his fame. All of his acts from that time indicate that the inspiring idea of founding a city had been generated in his fertile brain. * "He had traversed unbroken miles of as magnificent pine forests as ever stood. He reasoned that the first and for many years the only remunerative industry of the settlers on these head waters must be lumbering ; that the first mills and best water privilege would in- evitably be the center of trade and population for the whole section. He therefore selected Chautauqua lake as his mill pond, the nearest point to the lake where the outlet broke into a ripple, as the site of his mills and city. The prophetic sagacity of this location, as well as the subsequent management of the enterprise, stamps James Prendergast as the most marked char- acter of this family of able men."
At that time James had not sufficient means to carry through the extensive operations necessary to success, but he had already placed his heart in the keeping of one who would be able and willing to aid
* See Prendergast Memorial, by Coleman E. Bishop.
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in so noble an undertaking. There was a noble hearted and wealthy Scotch lassie waiting for him in Old Rensselaer. James with his brain teeming with castles and saw mills and his bosom full of Nancy, made but short tarry after returning the horses, but speedily returned to Pittstown and was married to Agnes Thompson early in the spring of 1807, * "and the shamrock and thistle were again crossed on the family escutcheon." Tom said "he knowed the old hosses would come back; old hosses, like old niggers, never rund away. Too tough for the wolves; would come back to see Tom, shuah."
Permit us here a passing notice of that gifted, noble woman, Agnes Thompson Prendergast-the fu- ture never to be forgotten "Aunt Nancy" of the village of Jamestown, the pride of her husband, the willing, generous helper in all of his undertakings,-the saint whom the early inhabitants of Jamestown worshiped.
Agnes Thompson was born in Galloway, Scotland, November 18th, 1771, and came to this country with her parents, who settled in Rensselaer Co. They were fore- handed and left her a handsome property. She was well educated, had fine literary taste, and with all was a most notable housewife. When their log house home burned, where the railroad round-house now stands in 1811, among their serious losses were stores of linen, much of it of her own spinning, and there- fore highly prized ; and a large library of well selected books which she had brought into the wilderness with her. All who ever knew her will re- member her, for her hospitality, her kindness, and her generosity, especially to the unfortunate, the needy, the sick, the distressed, and the dying. Oh, there was weeping on Main street in front of that lowly house
* Coleman E. Bishop in Memorials.
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when Aunt Nancy, in 1836, stepped into the carriage which bore her from Jamestown forever.
In the fall of 1806 James returned to Pittstown. Doubtless many pleasant evenings were spent with Agnes, recounting the hardships and the perils of the wilderness, and more than all the fairy land he had visited at the foot of Ja-dau-quah, the ancient medicine waters of the Senecas. That they would go there and make it their future home, build mills, grow up a vil- lage and peradventure a city. To accomplish this great dream, it would be necessary to use her wealth as well as his own. Agnes Thompson must have ap- proved of the plan for she married him in the early spring.
During that year, 1807, two brothers not before mentioned, Martin and Matthew, who remained in Pawling when Wm. Prendergast Sen., went to Pitts- town to reside, emigrated to Chautauqua county and joined their relatives there congregated. Matthew took up lands on the west side of the lake, near what has long been known as Prendergast Point, and Martin lo- cated himself on the bank of the lake at Mayville.
We know very little of James and Agnes during the next two years. There was a delay in the wife's disposing of her property and receiving her money ; and after Alexander Thompson Prendergast was born, in February, 1807, they had to wait until it was sate for him to be taken on such a journey. But James kept up good courage. One of his brothers, just men- tioned, at his suggestion secured 1,000 acres of land at the Rapids on which was the water privilege, and he was content to remain a while longer and watch the growth of his son. When he was six months old it was considered safe for him to travel, but when prepa-
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rations were about being made Nancy concluded that she and Alexander better remain in Pittstown another year, and consented that her husband should come on alone and make further purchases and arrangements about the lands, then return for the winter, and they would all go on together the next season. As here stated the plan was carried out.
In the early autumn of 1809 James Prendergast again came to Chautauqua accompanied by his faith- ful henchman, John Blowers, and after a visit to his father and mother and brothers on the west side of the lake, and especially to his brother Matthew, with whom · he arranged the purchase he had made for him at the Rapids, and removed from his tongue the band of silence as to the true purchaser, he passed down the lake to visit his brother-in-law at the Narrows, accompanied by his most constant attendant Blowers, whom he thought he could make useful. Blower's young wife was a favorite servant of Mrs. Prendergast and had remained to assist in the care of Alexander.
James suggested to William Bemus that he would be pleased to visit the rapids of the outlet, that he was through there three years previous when hunting for the old horses, and he wished to go there again ; that if he would furnish him with a good canoe and some one to help Blowers row it would be all he needed. Bemus replied : "I will go with you myself and take along the stoutest young settler in this country, Joseph Smiley who came in about a month ago and lives four or fives miles down the lake."
The next morning they started, stopping at what is now known as Smiley's bay to take in Bemus' stout young friend. During this trip James Prendergast for
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the first time had an opportunity to see the outlet be- tween the lake and the rapids ; he expressed himself not only as delighted but charmed at the beauty of the scene. Arriving at the rapids he spent the remainder of the day in examining the location on both sides of the stream. Finally he said : "I will build my house here, and place a saw mill there, and possibly grow up a town on the hill." "Your house ! Your saw mill ! What are we to understand ?" "This, that the land where we stand and on both sides of these rapids are my property. I intend to build a house near the place I have indicated, and come on next year and occupy it. I shall build a saw mill and cut these pine trees into lumber. I think this country will settle rapidly, and I shall build a grist mill, a vil- lage will be needed somewhere hereabouts, and I shall try to bring it here." "James, do you think that Nancy will consent to make this wilderness her home ?" "O yes, that was arranged long ago. When I returned to Pittstown the whole matter was thoroughly can- vassed. She approved, and ever since it has been a prominent subject of conversation. She is as anxious to be here as I am to come. Soon after Matthew moved in, two years ago, he secured 1,000 acres for me here and I intend to buy more immediately."
The shades of evening had began to gather when they started on their return, and as they were taking the first recorded moonlight ride up the narrow crooked outlet, the sound of their voices mingled with the wail of the lynx, and the howl of the wolf, but they were too busy with grand thoughts touching the future of this wilderness to attend to the voices it gave forth. They discussed the cutting down of these mighty forests,-the toils and privations
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the first settlers would be obliged to endure,-the rich rewards they would receive for their labors,-and the beautiful farms they would leave as a heritage to their children. When they arrived at the narrows they were surprised that the distance was so short and were inclined to doubt the accuracy of Bemus' old clock when it announced that it was two o'clock in the morning.
James in giving an account of this second visit to the Rapids to his brother Matthew, pointed out the necessity of securing another tract of land adjoining his present purchase, was surprised to hear his brother say that the articles for the lands desired were al- ready in his possession. "The first thousand acres were paid for in cash, the articles secure the balance of the lands which you wish, and you better leave it as it is until you have absolutely made the Rapids your home ; if not wanted it will be easy to dispose of the articles." The visit ended, James Prendergast returned to Pitts- town accompanied by Blowers. During the next sea- son he came to Chautauqua with Nancy his wife and the young Alexander, together with John and Mary Blowers, and three persons who came as drivers and who afterwards were employed, two of them by Mat- thew Prendergast and one by William Bemus. The family of James Prendergast found a home at Mat- thew's until the following year when they moved into their new log house at the Rapids.
During the year 1811, besides building the log house, he built a dam across the outlet just above the present Steele street bridge and erected a saw mill. Within a twelve month the house and the mill burned down. This was a bad beginning and a great loss, and the loss was total ; there were no insurance companies
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in those days. Nearly the whole contents of the house which were of great value were burned. But the in- domitable will and courage of the pioneer did not break under the disaster. He made immediate prepa- rations to repair damages.
As complaints had been made by settlers on the lake that his dam raised the water in the lake and overflowed their Hat lands, he built his new dam farther down the stream, where in his own judgment it should have been built in the first place; the reason why it was not, being the difficulty and the heavy cost of erecting a dam at that location.
There came,happily,almost immediately to hisassis- tance Capt. Wm. Forbes, of whom we shall speak here- after. Within a few days boards and plank were hauled from Work's and a cheap plank house built on the cast side of what is now Cherry street, between First and Sec- ond. This was a long, one-story house,with a huge double fire-place and chimney in the middle. Of this rude structure Prendergast occupied one end and Forbes the other. The second dam after great cost in money and labor was completed in the fall of 1812. The dam then built is the present Warner dam .* A race was made from the dam to what now is Main street, and a saw mill erected about twelve feet cast of Main street and south of the present rail road track. A wooden flume connected the race with the mill. This mill did not get into operation until late in the summer of 1813, and in the fall of 1815 burned down. We leave the subject of saw mills for a future chapter, but would here state that after
* Since Mr. Warner became owner of the saw mill a portion of the bed of the dam washed out and was repaired at a heavy expense As it was originally built at one of the most difficult places on the outlet, the work must have been well done.
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the burning of his house and mills in 1812, and hav- ing decided the location of his new dam and mill, he set John Blowers with several hands getting out timber for a house intended as a boarding house for the men engaged in building the dam and mills. The frame of this house was of heavy white oak timbers, 20x35 and one and one-half stories in height. This was the first framed building erected at the Rapids. It was also intended as a tavern or stop- ping place for those seeking locations until a tavern (Hotel) should be built. This house for several years was known as the Blowers' House, although it was sold to Dr. Laban Hazeltine in 1814, and occupied by him in June, 1815, and continued to be his resi- dence for nearly 40 years.
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