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CORNELL
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

 

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME
OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT
FUND GIVEN IN 1891 By

HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE

 

 

 

 
5 133 University Library

Ls 129N95 H

“Titi”

2 286 761

Overs

 

 

 
 

 

1808 - 1908

CENTENNIAL HISTORY

OF THE

TOWN OF NUNDA

WITH A PRELIMINARY RECITAL OF THE WINNING OF
WESTERN NEW YORK, FROM THE FORT BUILDERS
AGE TO THE LAST CONQUEST BY OUR
REVOLUTIONARY FOREFATHERS

EDITED BY H. WELLS HAND

PUBLISHED BY
ROCHESTER HERALD PRESS
1908

 

 
THE BOOK

“°Tis pleasant sure, to see one’s name in print,
A book’s a book, although there’s nothing in it.”
Byron.

“They have been at a great feast and stolen the scraps.”
Shakespeare.

“In this pudding is not one thing alone, but one thing with other things

together.”
Lord Lytletou.

“It is a regular omnibus, there is something in it to everybody's taste; those
who like fat can have it, so can they that like lean, as well as those who

prefer sugar, and those who choose pepper.”
Shirlen.

rere

My book’ is a cupboard of mixed frugal fare,

Its substantials are ‘weil done,’ its dainties ‘are rare,’

‘Over done’ is the beef, though ‘seasoned’ with care,

Of the last century’s venison, I bid you beware,

While the Indian meal is the moderns’ choice fare,

Though the smoke of the wigwam lingers still in the air,

There’s pepper and sugar, and ginger and suet,

Help yourself-——chew the ‘dates’—it's all yours—just go thru it.”

The Keshequa Bard—after Shirley.
AUTHOR’S TEN COMMANDMENTS TO HIMSELF

II.
III.

IV.

W

VI.

VII.

VII.

IX.

AND

COMMENTARY FOR OTHERS

Be intensely interested in your subject matter; let persons and places
reflect the interest of the writer.

Investigate, get to the bottom facts; remember your investigations
will save thousands of others personal research.

Persevere ; the persistent plodder alone succeeds ; miracles are wrought
by perseverance.

Be human,—have a sense of humor. Man is the only animal that
smiles; the Pioneers had a rich fund of humor, and transmitted it
through inheritance to their offspring. Young readers also crave it,
wit wins with them when wisdom wearies.

Give, when possible, personal knowledge of localities and events; it
adds something new from personal testimony, and is, at least, orig-
inal. Even fish stories lose half their fishiness if the fisherman him-
self tells them. This application is not specific: there are others.

Familiarize yourself with what has already been written, and, like a
soldier, “appropriate” every “scrap” and turn it into edible “‘scrap-

”

ple.

See the beauty in every scene, the good in every life; then lend the
public your spectacles that they may see what you see.

Avoid pessimism and slander; leave each skeleton in its closet, years
of retirement have not improved its aroma; leave out the bad when
possible; just assume that our forebears were as “bearish” as their
posterity, (don’t say descendants, it implies too much). Hunger
and toothache bring back the original savage. At our worst “we
are all poor critters.” At our best—well, we live in paradise—1. ¢.,
Nunda.

Be intensely in earnest when dealing with life’s realities. Death is as
real as birth; pathos as essential as humor. “Oakwood” is more
densely populated than the village or town we live in.

Don’t fear the critics; criticism, not commendation, is their stunt.
Banish fear, for the common man who writes
Is brother hero to the man who fights,
Neither are seeking wealth, fame or renown
For good of others shall their acts redound,
Then banish fear of blame, or critics frown,
Who does his best merits the victor’s crown.

On these ten precepts (prescribed for myself) hang all the hopes of suc-
cess of the amateur writer and

Local Historian.
 

 

 

 

 
DEDICATION

I dedicate to my mother, Anna Minerva Hand, on whose
centennial birthday, October 5, 1905, I com-
menced to write this humble record of the
lives and the environment of the
Pioneers of Nunda, of its
Heroes of Five Wars, of
its Scholars and
Teachers,
of Churches
and their Clergymen,
of its Merchants, Mechan-
ics and Manufacturers, of its Editors,
Authors, Poets and Artists, of its Pro-
fessional Men, “Civil List’’ and self-made men.

This hour glass of a century’s fleeting sands,

Will tell the wondrous tale this modern age demands.
PREFACE

TO

“CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NUNDA”

I.

Work of my hand, my heart, my brain,
Child of my inner life,

I live in thee; if not, how vain
The years of study, struggle, pain.

And e’en the few that yet remain
Seem menaced by suspended knife.

Or Death, with whom I wage unequal strife.

II.

Friends of my youth, old friends I knew
In Keshequa’s delightful vale!
I dedicate these years to you
And bid posterity renew
The plaudits that belong to you,
As men of thought, deed, purpose true;
I trace the record from primeval trail,

And lend my heart and eyes, lest yours forgetting fail.

III.

. Pioneers, scholars, heroes, self-made men,
Relive your lives in this historic tale,

In “Grand Review" I marshal vou again
In living picture, sketched with loving pen,

Show to your progeny, a NOBLE RACE OF MEN;
And unless hand, brain, loving heart shall fail,

I'll blaze a path to fame, as your enduring trail.

A.W. AH.
INDEBTEDNESS

N seeking for information concerning the pioneers of an early day, those
who were of the “second generation of pioneers,” all elderly people, have
been my chief source of information. I cannot begin to name all, but

must mention a few out of the many I have interviewed. Mrs. Mercy J.
Bowhall, born in Nunda in 1825, has remembered most; Mr. Porter Warren
has been here longest, since 1819; Mrs. Mary Barrett Barron, our oldest citi-
zen, now 94, who settled in 1834; Mr. Munson Barker, aged 85, born in Nunda;
Mrs. Adeline Barker; Mrs. Minerva Rathbun and Mrs. Matilda Sherwood
Russell, both born in 1826; Mr. Peter Townsend, born in Nunda in 1827;
Mr. Leonard Jackson, who came from Portage to Nunda in 1831; Mrs. Nancy
White Passage, born in 1820; the late John Fitch of Oakland; the late Mrs.
Mary Wheeler Clark, (aged go); the late Rev. James R. Bowen and his sister,
Mrs. Justus Barker; Mrs. Rufus Robinson, (aged 88); Mr. Monroe Myers; Mrs.
Elizabeth Cree, who has lived 70 years in Nunda village; Mr. Robert R.
Wright, Miss Electa Day and Mr. John Kelley of Dalton; Mr. J. Monroe Cole,
(aged 84); Mr. Milton Hills, Miss Sarah Pettit, Mrs. E. O. Dickinson, the lat«
Rachel Bennett, Charles Parmalee, the late Yates Bennett, Mrs. Martha Lake
Johnson, Mr. George Ditto of Iowa. Others have furnished sketches and will
be credited with them. To all these I am exceedingly grateful for helping me
to do what I regarded as a duty, to try to keep the pioneers who made us the
recipients of their achievements, in grateful remembrance for their unnum-
bered benefactions to this age.

THE AUTHOR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
BOOK I

DEPARTMENT I

INDIANOLOGY

Our RED PREDECESSORS AND THEIR ALLIES
THE STORY OF THE WINNING OF WESTERN NEw YORK

Lament of Revolutionary Soldier-—
“The graves that our children gave us
Grudged us our renown.”

A Pioneer's Appeal—
“Go and when ye find a heart reflective
Where the thrill of kinship shall not fail
Of the lives we lived within your borders
Tell thou the homely tale.”

An Indian’s Appeal—
“Glad were your fathers to sit down on the threshold of our Long

House. Have we no place in your history?”
Dr. Peter [Vilson—A Cayuga Chief.

INTRODUCTORY TO DEPARTMENT I

ERE a text, or several of them, as essential in a history as in a ser-
mon, the excerpts selected would justify any departure or digres-

sion from the strict limits of this story of the past century.

OUR UNPAID DEBT OF GRATITUDE

We have an inheritance of priceless value, the title deed, written with the
blood of patriots, while the graves of those who also lived within our borders
fail to tell of their heroism. They gave us a country, and freedom, and the
priceless boon of Liberty. We have a part in the ingratitude and neglect shown
by their children. We, who claim to love heroism, leave these graves of the
benefactors of our nation and ourselves unsought, unhonored, unnamed, and
hence unknown.
OUR LACK OF VENERATION

The tale of struggle of the individual pioneer, the products of whose toil
we vearly enjoy in the harvests gathered from the fields they created out of
forests, but we owe them their personality, an abiding name, attached to the
farm they hewed out, the highway they opened, the store or shop they built,
or the position they filled, the type of life, of nobility, of worthy citizenship
they exemplified and transmitted as best they could to the next and future
generations, this needs to be retold to this irreverent age—as food for appre-
ciation.

OUR FIRST AMERICANS

The appeal of the only Americans not of foreign ancestry comes to us
across the centuries, like a message from a far away realm, “Have we no place
in your history? You who were weak when we were powerful. We who re-
ceived you as neighbors and friends, when we could have crushed you. You
whose ways we knew not; we who let you sit on our doorstep, and you
crowded us from our Long House; you who call so proudly our Ga-nun-no
your Great Empire State; have we no claim to remembrance, no part in your
story of the past, no place in your history? You tell of your heroes; had we
no heroism? You praise your statesmen; had we no men great in council?
Have your orators left no space on their platform for the Logans and Red
Jackets whose eloquence was unquestioned? Who followed the trails that for
centuries had been trodden only by the red men. Do none of these trails, now
your great highways of commerce, lead back to the villages of the Iroquois, to the
Lords of the forests and the plains, to the predecessors of the pioneers?”

INTRODUCTION

Successive centuries of the past

Could tell of wars in old Nunda,

Since the Fort-Builders held full sway,
Conquerors at first, then swept away

By tribe more fierce, no tribe could last
But half a century in Nunda.

Till sprang a race from hills away,

Ere great Columbus sought our shore,
Three centuries, held full sway, or more,
And left their honored name for aye,

Our blood bought realm, renowned Nunda.

These rhymes suggest the dilemma that besets the local historian. He
deals with a locality with a pre-historic past. His way is hedged by paradoxes,—
his subject has its limitations, for every town is limited, while the ramifica-
tions of his subject are unlimited, for Nunda is old—centuries old—and it
would be impossible even to write a Centennial History of Nunda, Livingston

10
County, for our Nunda has been in two counties since its township formation,
and in two other counties before the nineteenth century began, and in others
still before that.

One century is the child and grandchild of preceeding centuries, and His-
tory, like Biology, has something to say of its ancestry. The very name Nunda
is pre-Columbian, for it is Indian. It is the condensed name of the greatest
nation of Indian warriors and conquerors that the so-called “New World”
ever had. The “Hill born race,” called by others “The Senecas,” a name
accepted by them, for they were fond of a plurality, and even a multiplicity of
names, given to them because they lived between the two Seneca Rivers, for
the Genesee was once called the little Seneca, besides, as Seneca was the name
of a Roman, and the Romans were “world conquerors,” this race also came to
be called “The Romans of the New World,” and were proud to receive this
well bestowed title. They called themselves the Nunda wa-ono or “hill born
race,” shorn of its suffixes ono (people) and wa, or wah, (plain or valley).
These “lords of hill and vale’ were simply the Nunda Indians, but as they
knew no necessity for economy in nomenclature, and loved a variety of forms
of expression, this will in part explain the sixty or more forms of expression
used for this one royal tribe, our immediate predecessors, the Nunda-waos or
Senecas. The Indian word “nun” meant hill, and “non” great hill, chain of
hills, mountain or chain of mountains. The residence of a great Sachem,
whether a great war chief or great “council chief,” often changed the form of
a word and prefixed a great O to it. A few Indian words will elucidate this.
O-nondagas, the great mountain people; O-nondaga, the Indian village, great
council chief lived here ; O-nonda-O, the chief village for a time of the Senecas,
and the great war chief of the Iroquois lived here; Onondao, near Nunda vil-
lage, 200 years ago, means, where the chains of hills come together or “the
meeting of the hills;” Nunda-O, the hill in front; Nunda, encircled by hills;
Nundow, an earthwork (Ft. Hill) in front.

The first village in which the Senecas lived in New York State was near
Naples, and was called Ge-nunde-wa, the hill there was only a knoll; Nunde
means hilly or small hills. A great word that means the whole Empire State
when it meant about the same as the Long House of the Iroquois, i. e., from
Albany to Niagara, was Ga-nun-no.

So the Nunda of the Senecas was not the 6x6 town of our day, nor the
12x 24 town of a century ago, not even the hard fought battle fields won by
the Senecas from their predecessors from the Nunda of the Upper Genesee
and its former continuation down the Cashaqua Valley, but also the lower
valley of the Genesee and all the hills and plains to the Seneca Lake and river.
There have been many Nundas, all interesting, all beautiful, all worthy of
historical research and record. The pioneers found the “Nunda’s” or Seneca
Indians here, and the Indianologist of to-day finds abundant evidence of their
former camps and villages, their corn and potato fields. Former historians
have spoken of Nunda as simply hunting grounds for the Indians from their
immediate vicinity. The scarcity of large trees in our wide valley tells a dif-
ferent story, so far untold. Was it savage floods or savage men who swept
them away?

11
When did our history, as a part of the State, or a part of the Colony, of
New York commence? Was this section of land we call Nunda once a part
of New Netherlands, or was it New France? Where begins, and to what time
may we, like the great writer of the Pentateuch, say, “In the beginning.”
Geographically we are one of the many subdivisions of New York. Then, this
being a Centennial History, and the author is not yet three score and ten,
much less five score, this presents another difficulty. How is he to supplement
his personal recollections? Where do the sons of pioneers get their knowledge
of the first three or four decades, that preceded their advent in the Nunda val-
ley of six or seven decades ago?) What father and mother said, when we were
“light infantry,” and what other fathers and mothers told their children, and
the few things that these pioneers of the twenties and thirties have told to
writers of pioneer sketches, these must prove of incalculable value. However.
my parents were not early pioneers of “Pioneer Nunda.”. My father was born,
it is true, in the year of the Big Tree Treaty, held at Big Tree (Geneseo), in
1797, but born in Montgomery County, N. Y., and my mother, in 1805, in
Albany County, the year and the very day that our first supervisors from the
town of Angelica, Genesee County, met at Batavia, and though the original
trail from Albany to Buffalo was closely followed by the Erie Canal, my
parents did not find their way to the far famed Genesee Valley until they could
come with comfort by that form of improved canoe, the Erie Canal packet, as
far as Rochester. As for myself, I did not come even at that time, 1837 I
could not come then, and if I had had my say in that matter, I wouldn’t. How-
ever, a year or two later I also became by birthright a pioneer of the Keshaqua
Valley. I am sorry that my birth place was not in Nunda, for it is said, and
I won't dispute it, that anyone born in Nunda needs no second birth—no place
on earth could be better for the purpose or nearer Heaven at the close of life.

It is legitimate in writing pioneer history to prove yourself either a pio-
neer or a son of a pioneer, or both, “or forever after hold your peace.” I will
not call this, then, a digression, but I expect to show that our 6 x 6 town plot
is not only a part of Livingston County, but was also a part of Allegany, Gen-
esee, Ontario, Montgomery and Albany Counties as well as a part of Holland,
France and England.

History, geography and biography are all alike interesting and all inter-
iiend in the location of our heroes of five successive wars, and makes it diffi-
cult to tell when the epitomized story of the centuries begins that led to the
settlement of this section, whose Centennial is nearly at hand. While the
pioneers of various vocations, that are a part of our biological records, or their
ancestors, came from some of these first geographical subdivisions of our great
Empire State. And there is history in every event that makes a boundary,
a general, a county or its judge, or even a town and its supervisors.

OUR PIONEERS

Having divided up our State and subdivided our counties and even our
towns, and I speak advisedly, the counties and towns of which our present
Nunda has been a part, we will then tell the story of the man with the axe.
and the woman, smaller and weaker than the man, who did, and still does,
more hours of work in every twenty-four than this hard handed son of toil.

12
OUR SCHOOLS

Then the story of the schools, the teachers who taught all they knew, and
the scholars who learned all they could, all must be told from the very first
teacher in 1809 and the very first school, to the later schools and academies
taught by normal bred and college bred men and women; also students from
these schools, some of whom found their way to college and the professions.

OUR SOLDIERS

Nunda has ever been a patriotic town and has had citizens who were
soldiers, in every war the United States has engaged in, and these demand
and shall receive a separate department, and as far as possible every citizen.
or former citizen, of Nunda, who went into the tented field from here, or from
any town, county or state, shall have his military record given, where it may
be known and read by all the loyal hearted citizens of Nunda.

OUR CIVIL LIST

Our civil list is not conspicuous for high attainments; there are too many
towns in the state for every town to furnish a President or Vice President,
United States Senator or Judge of the Supreme Court, but some of the men
who have climbed high in State and Nation we call “ours” just the same,
though not on our civil list, and in our hearts we call them our \Vashington,
our Hamilton, our Lincoln, our Teddy and our young Jimmie. We have made
the town list longer by adding the names of those former citizens of Nunda
who went west and grew tremendously in their enlarged surroundings.

AUTHORS, PUBLISHERS AND PRINTERS

This list will include all of these classes, as far as known, who have ever
lived in Nunda and used printers’ ink. The professional men have their chap-
ter also and even the specialists of the town, whether artists or poets, have
all the space their dainty goods require.

The merchants, mechanics and manufacturers made the village as truly
as the farmers with God's aid made the town. The town, of course, includes
the village, and the old adage holds good, “God made the country, and man
made the town.” The town makers are a distinct class as much so as the
farm makers, and deserve the plaudit in this case of “well done.” The writer
is inclined to say, however, that some of the retired farmers have helped the
town makers in making the village every year more beautiful.

YOUR PART OF THE BOOK

Biography is the part of the book that determines who is to be remem-
bered a century hence. Modern Nunda and its present citizens are to have
such space as they desire, at a required rate, that their pedigree, selves and
family may live in history. But in local history mediocrity does not spell
“nothing,” but “something” and “somebody” for men who have climbed up
more steps than many whom the world calls great have climbed from low
probabilities and meagre opportunities, and from the fetters of poverty to af-

13
fluence and influence, and usefulness to intellectual vigor and moral integrity,
uprightness and worth.

“Thinkest thou perchance that these remain unknown,
Whom thou knowest not,

By angel trumps in Heaven their praise is blown,
Divine their lot.”

If mediocrity were left out the book would be thin and meagre and many
a man whose deeds were noble, and many a woman who “has done what she
could,” although they would ultimately receive the Savior's plaudit, ‘Well
done, good and faithful,” would pass down to the tomb and to oblivion “un-
wept, unhonored and unsung.”

OUR LIST OF SELF MADE MEN

A list of self made men, in various fields of endeavor, will not be without
interest.
The men who had no “silver spoon” at birth
But proved their “metal” by intrinsic worth.

The winning of \Western New York from the Senecas, through Sullivan's
campaign, and by purchase at the “Big Tree Treaty” in 1797, was not the
first time by many that it had been won. The history of our Nunda, in any
of its three forms, all during the past century, is but the winning of a wild
wilderness by our hardy pioneers, to its present condition of fine fertility.
Such a history would be shorn of nine-tenths of its interest if we did not go
back a century farther, to the predecessors of the pioneers and give their
story of how they won Nundaho, even the boy Indianologists of our town
who find at certain places an unusual collection of arrow heads and other evi-
dences of Indian habitation, know that these lands have been won and occu-
pied by certain races of Indians, and that there were villages here that no
previous historian has told about. Then the men Indianologists have made
greater discoveries, that satisfy them, that the Nunda or Keshequa Valley
has some day been the scene of battles, and not mere neutral hunting grounds
for different tribes, and they ask for a synopsis at least of former centuries of
possession.

The colonists won this Western wilderness from the British, and they—
the British—won it from the French, though neither owned it for it belonged
to the native Americans, the red races that possessed it and who won it suc-
cessively, nation after nation, by conquest.

To at least name the nations who have lived where we live, and have
left Indian names on land and streams is as far as this can be done, an impera-
iive duty, even if this leads us across six centuries to pre-Columbian days.
The first of these Indian nations that have left evidences of their presence in
our part of \Vestern New York are the Fort-builders, no Indians known since
the first white man followed trails thousands of years old into the interior of
New York Colony, or that of the New Netherlands, or of France, has ever
found a Fort-building Indian. The Iroquois Indian had no use for Fort Hill

14
or the three forts at Belvidere, or the one at Conesus, or those that extend to
Oswego. Excavations of these forts had led to the certainty that their pos-
sessors came from Ohio and brought with them some of the useful or orna-
mental utensils found in the huge mounds of the Mound-builders. This does
not prove that they were the same; it rather suggests that they were the
Mound-builders’ conquerors, and thus became the possessors of their articles
of skill. The mound suggests an Egyptian origin.

Next in order, unless they were the same, were the Allegewi, Talegewi
Allegany or Ohio River Indians, who called the Ohio River after them, and
when they in turn were driven out of Ohio they came up one branch of their
great river and gave it the same name. These people clung to the forts, used
fort defences, made high banks of streams their fortresses, and either with
bows and arrows drove out those who like David were expert with a sling, or
they were the stone throwers themselves and could not defend themselves
against a Huron or Algonquin antagonist armed with bow and arrow. Within
a mile of Nunda near what appears like a fort, quantities of these stones with
a small indentation on one side can be found; and yet some of us who live on
the Keshaqua trail that passes this scene of former battle for supremacy forget
that the trail and the battlefield have been here at least 800 vears. The story
of the winning of Nundao, and of all west of the Genesee, by the Nundawaono.
or Seneca Indians, will tell all there is to tell.

Again, we live in a township that has been subdivided till it forms many
towns, and it is interesting to retrace the subdivisions of Greater New York
Colony, Greater Albany County from which a whole state has been taken and
counties and towns enough to make several small states. Nunda is an integral
part of these great and important subdivisions and its centennial history can
gain interest by following the frontier settlements from Schenectady, the pine
woods of the East, to the larger pines of Allegany.

This two-fold story of successive possession and of successive divisions
of these possessions will tell us at least what this century has inherited from
its predecessors.

CHAPTER LI.

THE WINNING OF GA-NUN-NO ATTAINED BY THE WINNING OF \WESTERN NEW
YORK.

' N Y HAT we so proudly call the Empire State, what our European predeces-

sors, or would be possessors, called variously New Netherlands, “the
Colony of New York" and New France, the Six Nations finally called
Ga-nun-no. It seems to be a word coined by them after the Ho-de-no-sau-nee, or
Long House of the Iroquois extended beyond the Genesee River to the Niagara,
and included the new possessions of the Nunda-wao, won principally by this war-
like Fifth Nation, from the Kah Kwas and Eries, that is, it included Greater
Nunda, and by this increase of western domain finally their long house reached
across the state.
The winning of Western New York by the Senecas, aided at times by
the entire Confederacy, belongs within the period of reliable history, for the
Dutch were at Manhattan and Beaverswick (Albany), and the French at

15
Montreal and the British had settlements from Portsmouth to Jamestown.
when most of these victories were won. The coming of these three European
nations, in three successive years, to the Atlantic coast, England in 10607,
France in 1608 and Holland in 1609, inaugurates the conquest with the native
Americans for possession of the entire Indian Ga-nun-no.

From 1609 we may follow this trail of progress pursued by Hudson up
the river that bears his name, or of Champlain down Lake Champlain and
Lake George, and find both are intercepted by the keepers of the Eastern door,
of the “Long House,” and both unconsciously make acquaintance with the
rightful owners of the soil, that neither of them could dispossess or conquer.
Little did either know, or care, of this “five-fold-cord” compared with which
any other Indian Nation, or Holland, or even France, was simply a single
strand.

The Indians (the Mohawks) here waged their first warfare with the white
men and here learned how white men flash death with gleam of lightning and
sound of thunder at their foes, and they little suspected that the “fire water”
that Hudson's tars had given the Indians to drink, and not the firearms of
Champlain, would cost them ultimately the loss of their greatest Long House,
afterwards called Ga-nun-no. It was Champlain and his allies who retreated
from the greater numbers and greater valor of the Mohawks. The east door
was secure, and no force from New France could find an open door to the
south through which they could dispossess the less warlike Hollanders who
stood only on the threshold of an imperial domain. Well for the Dutch that
the Jroquois’ wall of protection stayed the invaders; well also for Great Britain
that the French did not reach the Hudson and Manhattan; well also that the
Hollanders soon formed an alliance with the Iroquois, whose “silver chain”
was never broken; well for the aggressive Briton that he in his turn renewed
the covenant when he in 1664 changed the New Netherlands to the colony of
New York, and soon gained as allies the strongest power on the continent;
well even for the future colonists that the alliance of the British with the Five
Nations, and the alliance of France with the mortal enemies of the Iroquois.
the Huron tribes, led to battles many and losses great, which decimated all
these belligerants, while it educated the men destined to conquer the conquer-
ors, better than a dozen military schools could have done, how to be stronger
than the strong, braver than the brave, greater in war than other great war-
riors, but greatest in peace when plowshares should succeed swords and prun-
ing hooks should supersede spears.

In warring against France and her Indian allies, Washington learned how
to be “first in war,” Wayne, Putnam, Ethan \llen, Nathaniel Green, Benedict
Arnold and his more loyal brothers, and lesser chieftains who commanded
companies like Captain Jacob S$. Glen and Captain Elias Hand, and his kins-
men, not officers, and thousands of others who became skilled veterans, expert
Indian fighters, by learning of the Senecas, the value of strategy of the Onon-
dagos to “hasten slowly,” to weigh important matters before acting, learned
to attack rather than be attacked, learned that through obedience to orders
the victory planned can generally be won, that if all obey the same commands,
every man’s strength and ability is multiplied by the entire numerical force,
be it counted by tens. hundreds or thousands. It was thus that the contest

16
with the French and Hurons, with the British and the Iroquois, was the “West
Point” that furnished generals their field, staff and line officers, and what
was no less important, a patriot army of veterans, who knew every weak point
of their adversaries, whether regular, tory or Indian, and every strong point
essential to those fighting for freedom, country and home, with the full assur-
ance that their cause was just, and that the God of Battles was their strongest
ally.

Much as we have all heard of the wrongs of the Indians, we should re-
member that every acre of land, even those bought with blood, was again
bought by purchase of its rightful owners, the Indians; bought, too, in many
of the greatest purchases with a view of the money being so paid as to be a
permanent benefit to those who sold, and to this day these wards of our gov-
ernment are yearly receiving a helpful income. Unlike the pensions that were
finally given to the army that conquered the British and their Indian allies,
which pension extended to only two generations, the annuity the Indians re-
ceived, even for lands that were first won from them by conquest, is to be
paid as long as heirs are found, generation after generation, absolutely forever
while the red man exists. This pledge to our foes, those who were true to the
British in one war, and equally true to their successors in another, ‘goes on”
like the waters of the Genesee “forever and forever.”

The sale, first of Staten Island followed by Manhatten Island, where New
York City was built, the first city in point of time in the new country and now
the first city in importance, the metropolis of the New World, which has its
center on that island, was sold for twenty-five dollars. This was the opening
wedge that resulted in successive divisions by sale until most of the “reserva-
tions” passed from their possession and only a few of these now remain, and
the great °Ga-nun-no” of, the Indian has become what our greatest American,
George Washington, first called it, the Empire State.

Western New York, or rather that part west of the Genesee River, and
also much of the debatable lands that others besides the Senecas once consid-
ered their hunting grounds, had first to be won from several very strong and
powerful Indian Nations before the Seneca Long-House, the Nunda-wa-o domin-
ion, could extend beyond the mountains to the Eries, or to the Niagara country
of the Neutrals.

CHAPTER II.
Our PREDECESSORS.

“Since the first sunlight spread itself o'er earth;
Since Chaos gave a thousand systems birth;
Since first the morning stars together sung;

Since first this globe was on its axis hung;
Untiring change, with ever moving hand,
Has waved o’er earth its more than magic wand.”

ESTERN New York has its own story of perpetual change. Much
of its territory was for several decades on debatable hunting lands.

The Keshaqua Valley and the upper Genesee have passed within a
thousand years under the jurisdiction of at least four different Indian nations,

17
while during the same time as many other civilized nations have held nominal
claims over the same territory. Back of the Senecas, the Eries were in a part
of Western New York, neighbors to the Senecas, were the Neutrals, Kah-
Kwas. or Ottawandaronks and still farther back, the Satanas or Andastes,
who we are told were driven from lands south of Lake Ontario, the first vic-
tims of the Nunda-wa-os prowess.

The Allegewi preceded all of these. If the changes seem kaleidoscopic.
are the European changes less so? Spain, after 1492, claimed the entire conti-
nent. France, after the advent of Champlain, claimed Northern and Western
New York for nearly one hundred and fifty years. Holland passively claimed
the entire state from 1609 to 1664. Great Britain disputed the claim of France
and with force of arms conquered the New Netherlands and made good her
claim to New York, as far as France or Holland was concerned, and also won
a province from France besides, not her own, which has proved so far to her
a perpetuity. In less than a quarter of a century after adding Canada as a
permanent province, she lost an empire. The Colonists, her successors, found
themselves free in 1783 though impoverished, but also found the Iroquois still
the real possessors of the soil, still “Lords of the forest and lakes.”

Even tradition cannot extend its filmy touch far beyond the pre-colonial
days. The remnant of the vanquished Satanas, who in their day supplanted
one of the successors of the Fort and Mound builders, probably the Allegany
Indians, were driven south, and were merged with the Shawnees of Kentucky
or were Shawnees, according to Bertram, who says in his ‘“Travels and Obser-
vations in America” (1757), “It is against this people, the Shawnees, the Six
Nations first turned their arms with success after they, the Iroquois, had fled
before the warlike Adirondacks.”

This is of special interest to us, who now occupy their ancient possessions
and hunting grounds. He makes the Satanas and Shawnees the same nation,
our first historic predecessors.

THE [RoguoIsS—HIAWATHA AND THE CONFEDERACY.

conquests that led to it were wrought by the confederated tribes, or the

Five Nations, in united effort that a statement of their organization and
achievements seems essential, although all the lands acquired by conquests
that affected our immediate territory became the possession of our last pred
ecessors, the Seneca or Nunda-wa-o Indians. As near as can be ascertained
this confederacy dates back to 1450 and is therefore pre-Columbian. Who
their Hi-a-wa-tha was that caused their organization is but a matter of con-
jecture or tradition. Possibly he was of Welch and Wyandot origin for he
displays wisdom and ability far transcending the ordinary Indian foresight
and acumen. The name Hiawatha signifies “very wise man.”” That we may
have a characteristic sketch of Indian wisdom and eloquence we copy the re-
puted speech of Hiawatha to the Five Nations:

“Friends and Brothers—You are members of many tribes and nations
You have come here, many of you, a great distance from your homes. We
have convened for one common purpose, to promote one commn interest, and
that is to provide for our mutual safety. and how it may best be accomplished.

[T the story of the winning of Western New York so many of the great

18
To oppose these hordes of northern foes by tribes, singly and alone, would
prove our certain destruction; we can make no progress in that way; we
must unite ourselves into one common band of brothers. Our warriors united
would surely repel these rude invaders and drive them from our borders. This
must be done and we shall be safe.

“You, the Mohawks, sitting under the shadow of the ‘great tree, whose
roots sink deep into the earth, and whose branches spread over a vast country,
shall be the first nation, because vou are warlike and mighty.

“And you Oneidas, a people who recline your bodies against the ‘everlast-
ing stone’ that cannot be moved, shall be the second nation, because you give
wise counsel.

“And you O-nonda-gas, who have your habitation at the ‘great mountain’
are not overshadowed by its crags, shall be the third nation, because you are
greatly gifted in speech and mighty in war.

“And you Cayugas, a people whose habitation is the ‘dark forest’ and
whose home is everywhere, shall be the fourth nation, because of your su
perior cunning in hunting.

“And you Senecas, a people who live in the open country and possess
much wisdom, shall be the fifth nation, because you understand better the art
of raising corn and beans and making cabins.

“You five great and powerful nations must unite and have one common
interest and no foe shall be able to disturb or subdue you.

“And you Manhattans, Nvacks, Metoaoks and others, who are as the
feeble bushes; and vou Naragansetts, \lohegans, \VWampanoags and your
neighbors who are a fishing people, may place yourselves under our protection
Be with us and we will defend you. You of the South, and you of the West
may do the same, and we will protect you. \We earnestly desire your alliance
and friendship.

“Brothers, if we unite in this bond the Great Spirit will smile upon us.
and we shall be free, prosperous and happy. [But if we remain as we are we
shall be subject to his frown; we shall be enslaved, ruined, perhaps annihi-
lated forever. \We shall perish and our names be blotted out from among the
nations of men.

“Brothers, these are the words of Hiawatha. Let them sink deep into your
hearts. I have said it.”

A day was taken for mature deliberation, which was characteristic of the
Iroquois. To this wise custom lics much of their power in council and in war
Assembled the next day, the wisdom of the proposition was unanimously con-
ceded, and there was formed that celebrated league of the Five Nations which
no external power has effectually broken. The Sixth Nation, the Southern
Tuscaroras or potato tribe, were not added until 1713.

The divine conception of Hiawatha, formed vears after his death, must
have been shaped after the Indians had heard from the Jesuits of the white
man’s divine man, Jesus, or still earlier from the Welch settlers who, tradition
says, were merged with the Southern Indians many centuries before. It is
evident that this league was not formed until after the Iroquois were driven
out of Canada, for their location is easily recognized.

19
The parting words of Hiawatha are instructive and indicate that the Sen-
ecas had been the chief beneficiaries of the instructions of this marvelous
teacher. Hiawatha also said:

“Friends and Brothers—I have now fulfilled my mission upon earth. I
have done everything which can be done at present for the good of this great
people. Age, infirmity and distress (his only daughter had just died) set
heavy upon me. During my sojourn with you I have removed all obstruc-
tions from the streams; Canoes can now pass safely everywhere. I have given
you good fishing waters and good hunting grounds. I have taught you the
manner of cultivating corn and beans, and instructed you in the art of making
cabins. Many other blessings I have liberally bestowed upon you.

“Lastly, I have now assisted you to form an everlasting league, and cov-
enant of strength and friendship for your future safety and protection. If
you preserve it, without the admission of other people, you will always be
free, numerous and mighty. If other nations are admitted to your councils
they will sow jealousies among you, and you will become enslaved, few and
feeble. Remember these words, they are the last you will hear from the lips
of Hiawatha. Listen, my friends, the Great Master of Breath calls me to go.
I have patiently waited his summons. I am ready; farewell.”

I have only to record the rest of this Iroquois tradition to show how the
superstitions of this race gain ready credence with them all. They had some-
time heard of the marvelous coming and going of the white man’s “Prophet,
Priest and King” and the red man’s Benefactor, so full of the spirit of his
great predecessor—must come like an Indian, live like an Indian, and depart
(in a canoe) like an Indian—but otherwise like the white man’s Divine
Teacher and Guide—ascend (in his white canoe) canopied in clouds.

PRINCE MADOC: A WELCH TRADITION

There are many corroborations of the theory that certain tribes of the
Indians, notably the Tuscaroras, were of lighter color than the majority of
Indians. More inclined to peace, sometimes they were spoken of with ridicule
because of this as squawmen. Back of all this is the Welch tradition of Prince
Madoc, Madog or Madawes; the last probably correct; departure from Wales
in 1170. This is confirmed by Welsh historians and his acts perpetuated by
Welsh bards.

The ruling prince of North Wales, Owen Guynedd, died A. D. 1168, and
a contest for the succession produced civil war. Prince Madoc, who had com-
mand of the the fleet, took no part in the strife, but with a few ships sailed
westward to select a place of settlement. According to the Historian Baldwin,
he established a settlement in a pleasant and fertile region, supposed to have
been in the Carolinas. Catlin believes it to have been on the coast of Florida
or about the mouth of the Mississippi. Baldwin calls attention, in advancing
his theory of settlement, to the fact that the Tuscaroras lived in the Carolinas,
and he further says: “It will be recollected that in the early colony times the
Tuscaroras were sometimes called White Indians. The writer has elsewhere
read that the Rev. Morgan Jones, a Welsh clergyman, published his adven-
tures among the Tuscaroras in the Gentlemen’s Magazine in 1740 from a rem-
iniscence made March 10, 1685. It appears from this he was captured by the

20
Tuscaroras in 1660 and while doomed to the stake, he prayed aloud in \elsh
to Jesus, his Master, to save, and his tormentors knew the language and un-
bound him and called him brother, and that for four months he preached to
them and conversed with them, and that they (Doegs) entertained him
civilly and courteously. Though this story is regarded by many “as apocry-
phal” it is not by any means an impossibility. It is more than a hint of the
origin of our Fort builders from the Mississippi to Oswego. And to one of
the race of the peaceful Welsh Prince, surcharged with the Spirit of the
“Prince of Peace” that we may read between the lines, if we choose, the real
origin and source of strength of the red man's “Great \Vise Man,” Hiawatha,
who taught them to build cabins instead of bark wigwams, plant orchards and
cultivate the soil, and band together for protection rather than for aggression.

CHAPTER III.

THE CONQUERED [ROQUOIS BECOME CONQUERORS.

theory of Lewis H. Morgan, an authority on Indian races and their

lands, that the Iroquois separated very early from the original family that
produced the great Dakotah Nation and settled in the East previous to the
settlement of the Algonquins who were in possession of the Canadas when first
this country was visited by Europeans as he sends Hiawatha back to their
kindred, the Dakotas, for wife.

The Iroquois were once a peaceful people and followed agricultural pur-
suits, while the Adirondacks were great hunters. The latter despised the
former because of their cultivation of corn, which they exchanged with the
hunters for venison. It chanced that game failed the hunters from scarcity
and they employed some of the young Iroquois to help them in hunting.
These young men became more expert than themselves, could endure fatigue
better than themselves, which excited anger and jealousy of the Adirondacks,
and chagrin by being excelled so soon by their despised neighbors.

Unwilling to be excelled in strength, endurance or skill, they murdered,
one night, all the young men they had with them. This brought complaint
from the supposed weaklings and, deeming them incapable of taking any
great revenge, they tried to lay the blame on the murdered men, but suggested
some trifling presents to be given to the relatives of the murdered men.

T Longfellow’s poem of Hiawatha he evidently endorsed the opinion and

The Five Nations, resolved on revenge, and their enemies hearing of their
purpose, determined to prevent this, by reducing them with force to obedience.

The Five Nations then lived where Mont-Real (Montreal) now stands
They defended themselves but feebly at first against the vigorous attacks of
their adversary and were forced to leave their own country and find a new
home on the opposite side of the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes. They
saw the necessity of becoming as expert in war as they had been skilled in the
art of peace. They tried their new spirit of warfare on the less warlike Satanas
and drove them from their country which they occupied, and from that time
defended and even carried the war into the villages of the Adirondacks and
finally forced them to leave them and to fly into that part of the country where

Quebec is now built.
21
The French having placed firearms in the hands of the neighboring
Hurons they all joined in the war against the Iroquois, but the rashness of
the voung warriors, and their impatience and neglect of orders, neutralized
their superior strength, and when opposed by the superior strategy of the
Iroquois, who drew them into successive ambushes that caused disastrous
losses. The persistence of the Iroquois relaxed only with the complete dispersion
and almost utter annihilation of all their former persecutors.

CHAPTER IV.

A SUCCESSION OF CONQUESTS

' N Y ITH the same deadly vehemence they pursued all their enemies, begin-

ning a career of successive conquests with the Andastes to the South,

the Neutrals and Eries to the West, the Adirnodacks and other Hurons
to the North, their vengence never satiated until their foes sued for unity, or were
wiped out of existence as nations. The dictators of the continent, their sway ex-
tended over a territory thought to be 1,200 miles long by 800 miles, includ-
ing a large part of New England and reaching thence to the “father of waters,”
while the French occupants of Canada, and the Cherokees and Catawbas in the far
South, were humbled by their power, but their actual leagued possessions were
from Albany to Niagara.

From those they subdued they exacted tribute and levied conscripts. From
the extent of their conquests, the tribute and aid they exacted, suggested to the
French Volney the name he gave them, and which clung to them from its very
appropriateness, “The Romans of the Western World.” Their conquests com-
menced when they could bring into the field but two thousand braves, and virtually
ended when with 5,000 warriors they annihilated the once mighty Eries in 1653.

No wonder that proud of their prowess they called themselves the “Ongue-
honwe"'—men surpassing all others. It is said that the average internal capacity
of the Iroquois crania was eighty-eight cubic inches, which is within two inches
of the size of the average Caucasian and four of the Teutonic, while they exceeded
the Mound-builders and others of their race and even the civilized races of Mexico
and Peru. Unfortunately, the difference in volume is chiefly confined to the occip-
ital and basal portions, the region of the animal propensities; and on this is pred-
icated their ferocity. It is, however, with these “confederates” that those higher
traits popularly ascribed to the race are found. They spared the young males—
white and red—who showed courage, to strengthen and improve their race. They
unified and systematized the elements which among other Indian nations were
digressive and chaotic. But for the advent of the Europeans, ere their power had
subdued and unified their entire race, the extinction and subduing (for they were
never subjugated) would have been the work of many centuries. The time!y ad-
vent of Europeans, with firearms, and the far more fatal fire-water, was the pre-

cursor alike of the downfall of the Confederacy and the ultimate extinction of the
-\merican Indian.

That they were keen and sagacious none can dispute; that they were equally
cruel and ferocious is alike self-evident. It was easier for them to follow the
polished barbarism cf the bad white man’s trail than to covet the civilization

22
whose crowning glory was to be peaceful, merciful, forgiving, upright, reverent.
loving, just, and good; qualities wholly antagonistic to their sense of manliness
and valor. It has been well said of this Confederacy that the Iroquois were a“‘fve
fold cord; their antagonists were single strands. Their league and its united
strength suggests the power of our Federal Union, our “multum in parvo,” which
bears many suggestions analogous to their confederate union. Each nation had
its own political functions, as each of our states has. Our legislative bodies, state
and national, are not unlike their councils at home, and, at the “great central fire.”
Each Indian nation could go upon the warpath to redress a wrong and, unless
greater aid was sought for at the Onondaga Central Fire or General Council, no
aid was given. It is seldom the army of the United States is required to put down
mobs or suppress riots within states but any Governor of any state may call for
such aid and receive it. These forest statesmen, wrought with wisdom born of
necessity, planned peace and unity at home and unlimited expansion abroad. The
Thomas Jefferson, whose dwelling was but a hunter's lodge, tradition says, was
a “wise man” of the Onondagas named Dagano-weda.

The supreme power was vested in a congress of sachems, fifty in number.
The Mohawks were entitled to nine members, the Oneidas to nine, the Onondagas
to fourteen, the Cayugas to ten, the Senecas to eight. The office of Sachem was
hereditary in tribes. They were “raised up,” not by their respective nations, but
by a council of all the Sachems. They formed the “Council of the League” and
in them resided the executive, legislative and judicial authority.

At their respective homes these Sachems governed, forming five independent
local sovereignties, modeled after the General Congress of the Sachems. They
were five distinct local Republics within one general Republic. It is as if our Con-
gressmen, when they returned from the general seat of government, formed at
home a council for local government. It was far more, however, than in our
government, “the rule of the few” filling up the ranks as vacancies occurred—a
power of self creation, liable to abuse, but so far as known did not prevent the
general well working of their system. Though all were equal in power, a Sachem
from the Onondagas (the central fire) had at least a nominal superiority. He was
the head of the Confederacy and was the one Great Wise Counsellor or, as. our
Presidents are, Ruler in Chief. His position was hereditary, not from birth, but
from locality. The first Onondaga, or Chief Sachem of the League. was variously
called Ta-do-da-hoh or, according to Cusisk, the At-ta-tar-ho, who was con-
temporary with the formation of the “Leage.” To this first great warrior Sachem,
whose dishes and spoons were made of the skulls of his enemies, and whose name
terrorized all aliens, we may read between the lines a demand for superiority and
of a compromise giving perpetual rights and privileges and additional representa-
tion to the O-nonda-gas or “Great Mountain Race.” The word king was often
applied to these Chief Sachems, who ruled with much arbitrary power, in their
own nations, by Europeans, but “Counselor of the People” was the extent of power
they claimed as rulers. The colonists called all the lesser chiefs John.

There were in the Five Nations the same number of War Chiefs as Sachems
The maxim “Old men for counsel and young men for war,” may have had its
origin in this wise arrangement. In Council the War Chief stood behind the
Counselor ready to execute the commands of his superior. However, if the two
went out with a war party, the Sachem became the subordinate, supreme in Coun-

23
cil but not in war. The supreme command of the war forces and the general con-
duct of the wars of the Confederacy, all this was entrusted to two military chiefs,
with hereditary rights. These were in all cases to be of the Seneca Nation. Such
were Hohskesio of Nunda and Little Beard of Leicester his successor. The
home advisers and counsellors, after the advent of the Europeans, were called
chiefs. Some of them became almost equal in rank and authority to the Sachems.
In each nation there were eight tribes which were arranged in two divisions and
named as follows:

Wolf Bear Beaver Turtle
Deer Snipe Heron Hawk

This division of men into tribes became the means of effecting the most per-
fect union (says Turner) of separate nations ever devised by the wit of man. In
effect, the Wolf Tribe was divided into five parts, and one-fifth of it placed in each
of the five nations. The other tribes were similarly divided and distributed, thus
giving to each nation eight tribes and making in their separated state forty tribes
in the Confederacy. Between those of the same name, 7. ¢., between the separated
parts of each tribe there existed a tie of brotherhood which linked the nations to-
gether with indissoluble bonds. The Mohawk of the Beaver Tribe recognized
the Seneca of the Beaver Tribe as his brother, and they were bound to each other.
Likewise, all the five tribes of the Turtle were brothers. They gave to each other
always a fraternal welcome. This cross relationship between the tribes of the
same name was stronger, if possible, than the chain of brotherhood between the
eight tribes of the same nation. It is still preserved in all its original strength.
This explains the tenacity with which the fragments of the old Confederacy still
cling together. For one nation to cast off its-alliance would have been the sever-
ing of the bonds of brotherhood. Had the nations come into warfare it would
have turned Hawk against Hawk, Heron against Heron; that is, brother against
brother.

Originally, with reference to marriage, the Wolf, Bear, Beaver and Turtle
Tribes were brothers to each other and cousins to the other tribes. They were not
allowed to intermarry. The other four tribes were brothers to each other and
cousins to the first four tribes, and these could not intermarry. Either of the first
four tribes could intermarry with either of the last four. The Hawk could choose
his wife from the tribes Bear, Beaver, Heron or Turtle. They can now marry
into any tribe but their own. The children always belong to the tribe of the mother.
The canons of descent of the Iroquois are the very reverse of that of the civilized
world. If the Deer Tribe of the Cayugas received a Sachemship at the original
distribution of these offices it must always remain with that tribe. The Sachem’s
son belongs to his mother’s tribe and is therefore disinherited. He cannot even
inherit from his father his medal or even his tomahawk much less succeed him
as Sachem. The brothers, or his sister’s children, or some individual of his tribe
not a relative follows the succession.

In the case of the death of a Sachem or War Chief his successor would first
be selected by the home council of the tribe, from the brothers of the deceased
or the sons of his sisters unless there were physical or other objections, or it was
obvious some member of the tribe by reason of his prowess or wisdom was evi-
dently better fitted for the position when the tribal decision was made, then the

24
nation summoned a council, in the name of the deceased, of all the Sachems of the
league, and the new Sachem was raised up by such council and invested with his
office.

We close this perhaps too lengthy description of the greatest of Indian at-
tempts at a Republic—a form of government of which they had never heard, by a
quotation from Dr. Peter Wilson, an educated Cayuga Chief, who addressed by
invitation on one occasion the New York Historical Society.

“The land Ga-nun-no, or the Empire State, as you love to call it, was once
laced by our trails from Albany to Buffalo; trails that we had trod for centuries ;
trails worn so deep by the feet of the Iroquois that they became your roads of
travels as your possessions gradually eat into those of my people. Your roads
still traverse those same lines of communication which bound one part of the Long
House to the other. Have we. the first holders, of this prosperous region no longer
a share in your history? Glad were your fathers to sit down upon the threshold of
the Long House. Rich did they hold themselves in getting the mere sweepings
from its door. Had our forefathers spurned you when the French were thunder-
ing on the other side to get a passage through and drive vou into the sea, what-
ever has been the fate of other Indians we might still have had a nation and I—
I instead of pleading here for the privilege of lingering within your borders I—I
might have had a country.”

To this eloquent half blood we are not only indebted for this choice specimen
of Indian eloquence but also for the Indian name of our own great state, Ga-
nun-no. Its meaning has not been greatly changed when we call it the Empire
State. To the Nunda-wa-o-no nation, whose prowess extended its dominion from
the Genesee to the Niagara, it meant the vast domain of the Hill-Born-Race.

CHAPTER V

Tue InvINcIBLE IROQUOIS—THEIR SUBJUGATION OF THE HurRONS AND OTHER
INDIAN NATIONS—THE NEUTRALS AND THEIR House oF PEACE.

“By the far Mississippi the Illinois shrank

When the trail of the Tortoise was seen at the bank,

On the hills of New England the Pequot turned pale,
When the howl of the Wolf swelled at night on the gale
And the Cherokee shook in his green smiling bowers
When the foot of the Bear stamped his carpet of flowers.”

from Canada had there been peace between these Indian nations; and

the barbarity of France in making galley slaves of some of the Iroquois
and of arming with guns their Indian allies in order to annihilate the Senecas,
who held them from possession of that part of New York they claimed as a por-
tion of New [rance, these acts had made France no less a mortal enemy. The
common hatred of England and of themselves against France made them allies
and led to extinction of the claims of France to Western New York. From 1648
it became evident that certain allies of the French, the Hurons, must be destroyed.

N EVER for a moment since the Hurons caused the flight of the Senecas

25
{In 1648 the Iroquois were again in force on the warpath waging aggressive war
on the Hurons. Father Antoine Daniel, a zealous Jesuit, had a mission station
at St. Joseph, and while the Hurons were absent on the chase their inveterate
enemies, the Senecas, came upon their old men, women and children, including
the missionary and they massacred them all, Father Antoine being the first of his
calling to find a martyr’s fate. In his attempt to bless the heathen he became the
first of many others to fall a victim to pagan and savage hatred. The saving of
the souls of their enemies was an offense that admitted of no palliation to these
savages who scalped their enemies to keep them from Paradise.

In the early part of 1649 a thousand Iroquois fell on two villages of the
Hurons and nearly exterminated the whole population. The missionaries of both
villages shared the common fate. In the latter part of the same year the Huron
village of St. Johns with nearly 3,000 population, with its missionary, perished.
A dire disease, beyond the skill of the Indian, aided the war club in decimating
their ranks. The remnant saw annihilation before them unless in humble submis-
sion they threw themselves on the clemency of their conquerors. They knew they
would accept additional warriors for greatness of numbers increases safety and
ensures subsequent victories; so they presented themselves to their conquerors,
pledged allegiance, and were accepted as kinsmen, and the few who did not come
willingly but wandered away were hunted down like wolves and exterminated.

THE MASSAWOMEKES

Before discussing the origin, peculiarities and fate that awaited alike the
“Great Wild Cat race,” the sable Kah Kwas or their kinsmen and neighbors, the
Eries, known by the French as the Cat nation, because they used certain furs in
their clothing, we must go back a little farther to the time of John Smith of the
Jamestown Colony days for the information he gives concerning a race of con-
querors that triumphed previous to his coming, whose conquests were as complete
as those of the Iroquois of later days, that many have hastily supposed that they
must have been the same. Writers, enthused by the belligerent spirit of the ‘Five
Nations,” of whom they were writing, have eagerly jumped at this conclusion,
ignoring the fact that stupendous conquests and victories over former possessors
had swept away the Mound-builders, the Fort-builders, the Allegewi or Ohio River
(once called the Allegany River) Indians before the Iroquois had won any great
victories save in the East. John Smith, while making one of his exploring expedi-
tions along Chesapeake Bay, reported that the tribes he met lived in perpetual fear
of a nation far away that they called Massawomekes, by the direction they
came from and by the fact that intervening tribes represented them as hostile, some
of whom were closely connected with the [roquois, it seems evident that they
were the Eries, so-called by the Hurons, by the Five Nations, Rique and by the
Mrench Chat or Cat, so-called by Segur in his History of Canada, published in
1836. There is also a belief that at this early date the Eries and Kah Kwas were
allies and went to war together, and when united were invincible.

THE KAH KWAS OR NEUTRALS

Very little is known or told of this giant race of grand physique and sable
coppery complexion. As they lived along the Niagara and in the Huron country

26
we naturally conclude they were Hurons. But the visit of the missionary fathers,
Jean De Brebeuf and Joseph Marie Chaumonot, in 1840, describe the difference
between these savages and the Hurons and also distinguish them from their near
neighbors, the Cats or Eries. Most authorities class them together or fail to men-
tion the Kah Kwas at all. No doubt at one time they were allies. Their neutrality
for a long period had given them great numerical strength and as hunters and
fishermen their location was an ideal Indian Paradise.

As the writer believes, the Kah Kwas had villages in this vicinity, as well
as a Nunda chief at a later day, he turns to the Jesuits of two and a half centuries
ago for information to refute or confirm his opinions.

Father Jean de Brebeuf, a skilled linguist familiar with the Huron dialect,
leaves his mission at St. Marie November 2, 1640, to establish a mission among
the Neuters. He visits 18 of their 4o villages and finds he has been preceded there
by Father De la Roch Daillon, a Recollect, who passed the winter there in 1626.
To quote the oft quoted letter to this Jesuit missionary: “The nation is very popu-
lous, there being estimated about forty villages. He gives the distance traveled
from St. Marie on Lake Huron to the first Kah Kwas village 40 leagues, due
South. From this it is four days’ travel to the place where the celebrated river of
the nation (Niagara) empties into Lake Ontario or ‘St. Louis... On the west
side of the river are the most numerous of the villages of the Neuter nation. There
are three or four on the east, extending from east to west toward the Eries or
Cat nation.” He gives the name of the Niagara and of their eastermost villages
as Onguiaahra (an imitation or allusion to the roar of the cataract) and he sug-
gests that if they—the French—could get control of the side of the lake nearest
the residence of the Iroquois “we could ascend by the river St. Lawrence without
danger, even to the Neuter nation, and much beyond with great saving of time
and labor. The Neuter Nation comprises 12,000 souls which enables them to fur-
nish 4,000 warriors notwithstanding that war pestilence and famine neve pre-
vailed among them for three vears in an extraordinary manner.

“Our French who first discovered this peaple, named them the Neuter Nation,
and not without reason for their country being the passage by land by some of
the Iroquois (the Senecas) and the Hurons who are sworn enemies they remained
at peace with both so that in times past the Hurons and Iroquois meeting in the
same wigwam or village were at peace and in safety while they were there.

“Recently, their enmity against each other 1s so great that there is no safety
for either party in any place, particularly for the Hurons, for whom the Neuter
Nation entertained the least good will.’ He surmises that all these nations.
Hurons, Neuters and Iroquois, were one nation but have separated, become alien-
ated. Some became enemies, some became Neutral and others (the live Nations)
friends.

“The food and the clothing of the Neuter Nation seem very different from
that of the Hurons. They (the Neuters) have Indian corn, beans and gourds (a
Frenchman's name for pumpkins and squashes) in equal abundance. .\lso plenty
of fish, some kinds of which abound in particular places only. They are much
employed in hunting deer, buffalo, wild cats (they were sometimes called wild
cats, while the Eries, once a part of them, were called Cats because they dressed
in skins of an animal of the cat kind that abounded in Ohio) wolves, wild boars,
beaver and other animals. leat is very abundant this year because of deep snow

27
which has aided the hunters. It is rare to see snow here more than a. foot deep;
this vear it is three feet deep. Wild turkeys abound which go in flocks in the
fields and woods. Their fruits are the same as with the Huron except chestnuts
which are more abundant and érabapples which are larger.”

He states that the Senecas, whom he calls Sonontonheronons, is a day's jour-
ney distant from the village of Niagara and is the most dreaded by the Hurons.

He also reports one village that he calls Khe-o-e-to-a, or “St. Michael,” which
gave them a kind reception, and says: “In this village a certain foreign nation,
which lived beyond the lake of Erie, named A-ouen-re-no-son, has taken refuge
here for many years.”

Chaleroux says that in the year 1642 a people larger, stronger and better
formed than any other savages, who lived south of the Huron country, were visited
by the Jesuits, who preached to them the “Kingdom of God.” They were the
Neuters and tried in vain to be neutral. To avoid the fury of the Iroquois they
finally joined them against the Hurons but gained nothing by the union. “The Ixo-
quois, like lions that have tasted blood, cannot be satiated, destroyed indiscrimi-
nately all that came in their way and at this day there remains no trace of the
Neuter Nation.” In another place he says the Neuter Nation was destroyed in
1643. A writer in the Buffalo Commercial in 1846 says this singular tribe whose
institution of neutrality has been likened by an eloquent writer to a calm and
peaceful island looking out upon a world of waves and tempests, in whose wig-
wams the fierce Hurons and relentless Jroquois met on neutral ground, fell victims
near the city of Buffalo to the insatiable ferocity of the latter. They were the first
proprietors as far as we can learn of the soil we now occupy.

But were they? Who built the earthworks at Ti-u-en-ta (Lewiston)? The
Fort-builders. Who subdued them? Not the “Romans of the New World,” the
Iroquois. Who were these foreigners in this village of the Kah Kwas? Possibly
the Allegewi or Ohio Indians. Who occupied some of these forts? Who con-
quered them? Possibly the AJessowomekes, once the terror of the eastern and
southern tribes. Where did these come from? From Lake Erie County. Where
did these Kah Kwas, cousins of the Senecas and Eries and Tuscaroras, get their
superior physique and darker color?) From amalgamation with some conquered
race.

The names given by the French to all the villages where they made converts
are exceedingly confusing and so this foreign nation and its village loses a con-
necting link in the chain of pre-occupants of the predecessors of the pioneers.

Again, it is of especial interest to record that when the French missionaries
and traders first reached the southern shores of Lake Ontario and the Niagara
River the Neuter Nation was in possession of the region west of the Genesee. The
Senecas’ domain extended only to the Genesee River. After the conquest of the
Eries, said to be in 1653, there is no possible reason to suppose that the Senecas
would not have at least small villages on both sides of the Genesee River, unless
their wars of extermination of some of the greatest Indian nations of the continent
had decimated their own numbers till it was policy to concentrate in their four
villages, where they were at the time of De Nonville’s invasion a few years after-
ward. We do not hear of any Eries saved for adoption, but the Kah Kwas were
to be found at Onondao and at Squakie Hill and at other villages. This system of
making good the numbers of the slain by adopting captives into families that had

28
sustained losses, and of whites as future interpreters, shows the superiority of the
Senecas over the Kha Kwas or other antagonists. At least three generations with
Kha Kwas blood lived at Onondao. Of these we are fortunate in being able to
furnish the likeness when a century old of Kenjockity, whose father was a chief,
and whose grand sire was a captive youth, a captive of 1643.

CHAPTER VI.

THE NevuTRALS BECOME W.\RRIORS—QUEEN Y.A\-GO-WA-NE-O: A Mopern SEmMI-
RAMIS—A Battle AT THE Mourn or THE KesHegua—A NATION OF 12,000
CEASE TO BE—TRADITIONAL DESTRUCTION OF THE Kan Kwas Asout 1643.

tainly incorrect as far as dates are concerned, is still of interest. Cusick,

being a Tuscarora, could not have known this save by tradition for the
Tuscaroras were not in New York until after 1713. He said: “A thousand years
before the arrival of Columbus (probably a hundred years after his arrival) the
Senecas were at war with the Kah Kwas. Battle succeeded battle and the Senecas
were repulsed with great slaughter. Tidings of their disaster having reached the
great Atotarho (King or Chief Counselor of the Iroquois) at Onondaga (the place
of the central fire or congress) he sent an army to their relief. Thus strengthened
they assumed the offensive and drove the enemy into their forts, which after a long
siege were surrendered and the principal chief put to death. The remnant of the
tribe became incorporated with their conquerors.

Chief David Cusick seems to have condensed the history of years into a single
battle, and left out the very interesting story of a Kha Kwa Queen who ruled her
nation of Neutrals to please herself and the young warriors, who had become
proud of their unused strength. Great in physical force and numerical strength
they doubtless were anxious to conquer the boastful conquerors of that age, the
Senecas. They would show their prowess. They would be a nation of warriors
and riot simply hunters and fishermen. The ambitious Queen, Ya-go-wa-ne-o, at
her fortified castle at Kienuca (Lewiston) would show the “Great \lountain Peo-
ple” that the Queen at the Great Cataract had no fear of the great A-ta-tar-ho if
his Long House was hundreds of miles in length. She would crush the long cabin
race before the A-ta-tar-ho could come to their assistance. She would crush one
village at a time. With this in view she had not long to wait for an opportunity
to prove her courage, pride, passion and vaulting ambition. What Shorihowane,
Queen Ya-go-wa-ne-o, would be a conqueror of nations, to the giant Nah Nwas
Queen Ya-go-wa-ne-o. a condueror of nations, would be to the giant Kah Kwas.
In her keeping was the symbolic “house of peace.” She received chiefs of other
tribes, made alliances with them, and formed treaties. There could be no conten-
tion in her presence, the fiercest strife of words was hushed at her approach, na-
tional chiefs at feud were bound to stay their quarrel while under her roof. Tradi-
tion attributes to her much wisdom as a pacifier, and for a long time she enjoyed
peculiar power and influence. All this, however, in a moment of unbridled pas-
sion, jealousy and ambition she imperiled and ultimately forfeited.

Two Seneca ambassadors had been received at her castle, and while smoking
the pipe of peace were, contrary to Indian usage, murdered for an alleged outrage

y | VNHIS Indian tradition, as told by Cusick, a Tuscarora Chief, though cer-

29
in a distant village. With 12,000 people and forty villages, some of them no doubi
in the Keshaqua valley, she had reason,to rely on her strength.

It was only too evident that this roval Se-mi-ra-mis desired an excuse to meas-
ure her power with her arrogant neighbor at Chennissio (then the west door of
the Long House). Had he slighted her in some way that made the woman nature
within her forget her duty as peace keeper? She acted with promptness, that
Napoleon, in after years, would have applauded. Her warriors must cross the
Genesee and follow some lonely trail and fall upon the village of the chief and
conquer their strong hold and kill their chief ere news of her rash act could reach
a single Seneca ear elsehere.

Alas! the best made schemes “gang aft agley.” What one woman planned in
hate another thwarted because of love. A Kah Kwa maid, with a lover at Canan-
daigua, fled by the direct Canawagas trail to Kaneandahgua and told her lover of
the assassination and the intended assault at Chennissio. The chieftain acted with
promptitude and 1,500 men from nearby towns soon set out in two divisions, de-
termined to ambush and surprise the surprisers and foil and frustrate the invading
host. The war party of the Senecas, it is said, reached Kanaugsaws (Conesus)
and there the squaws, old men and boys brought up their supplies. From here they
arranged near the Canaseraga where all the trails cross an ambush and sent out a
scout dressed as a bear to allure the invaders into securing needed provisions. This
adroit strategy succeeded as planned for the Kah Kwa hunters, more famuus as
skilled hunters than as warriors, suspecting nothing, saw and pursued the false
bear into the midst of the ambuscade. The Senecas now fell upon the invaders
like a whirlwind. Their terrific war whoop, mingled with the din of crashing war
clubs, clashing spears and whiz of tomahawk. The Kah Kwas, however, after a
while recovered from the disorder caused by the unexpected onslaught, pushed
one division of the Senecas back against the other, when, it is said, the Senecas
inspired by the impending danger, were seized by a war frenzy, and hurling them-
selves with irresistible force, resolved to conquer or die, drove the enemy from the
field. The latter fled across the Genesee leaving 600 of their dead behind. The
Seneca Chief declined to pursue, for few Indian battles up to this time could equal
this in numbers of the slain. To follow an enemy superior in numbers and fall
in turn into a Kah Kwa ambush would mean annihilation. Seneca runners already
had been sent to the great Onondaga Chief. The Central Fire was not burning
in vain. Sho-ri-ro-wane, the great chief of the teague, with a force added to theirs
would give the advantage of numbers to those who had already conquered without
it. In due time came this chieftain, and not content with the great victory achieved,
determined to punish the ambitious Queen and extinguish forever her council fire.
With a force of 5,000 warriors they crossed the Genesee and were soon attacking
the fort of the enemy with energy and courage born of their recent victory. A
cloud of arrows from the well manned fort were received by the beseigers, one of
them striking their mighty chieftain, causing his death. Enfolded in panther skins
his body was borne back across the Genesee for future burial with befitting honors.
A Jesuit missionary has recorded his burial. The siege of Kan-quet-kay fort went
on, however, until the proud Queen sued for peace, which was granted. But Sen-
eca rage grew greater as the months sped away. Nothing would satisfy them for
the loss of their great chief but the death of the greatest Kah Kwa war chief, and
in a few months or years the “Romans of the West” were again at the fortress

30
gates and never slumbered or slept till the great pre-historic nations that included
some that the Jesuits called “foreigners” and who still fought from a fort unlike
other savages, who were giants in size, glorious in physique, valorous in battle, but
greatest in peace, when for centuries they were arbiters in peace but who figura-
tively “took up the sword” and “perished by the sword.” They fought unto death
the Senecas and met the fate of all the red race who fought with the Nunda-wah-o-
nos. Some hundred or more captive youth were spared that the future nation
might be in size what they were in valor. Some of these were brought to Nunda-o,
among them the ancestor of Kenjockety.

By comparing Indian tradition with the authentic records of the Jesuits we
find that Shoupowana's death occurred in 1640 and the treaty by the Queen must
have lasted unbroken for a number of vears, that the territory bordering on the
lake was given over to eighteen mile creek and this greatest concession resulted in
a temporary peace. Its end is eleven vears after in 1851 as has already been de-
scribed. The great size of these Kah Kwa warriors was an inducement to spare a
large number of their vouth and merge them with the Senecas that the next gen-
eration might be alike strong and valient.

CHAPTER VIL.

Tue Eres: THE AIASSAWOMEKES (PROBABLY) OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY
ANNIHILATED BY THE LROOUOIS.

HE Jesuits give very little information concerning the Eries except to
locate them south of Lake Erie, and because they wore the skins of an
animal of the feline order called them the Cat Nation. They could not,

however, induce them to accept their religion and hence they have little to say of
them.

However friendly the Senecas and the Eries were when they were on oppo-
site sides of the Gen-nis-he-yo, immediately after the subjugation and destruction
of the Neutrals, these new neighbors, now the “House of Peace,” was removed.
became ranccrous enemies. So nearly equal were they in numbers and prowess
that war between them would result in great losses even to the winners. The
cause of their quarrel does not appear but probably boundary lines were unsatis-
factory or the Eries had shown a preference for some of their western enemies.
A bloody war broke out between them that was fought to a finish, neither nation
asking for or granting favor or mercy. The duration of their contentions or the
time of their beginning has not been stated for Indian statement always lacks def-
niteness. It is, however, conceded that it commenced about the year 1653 and
terminated in 1655. As this is only ten years after the subduing by the Senecas
of the Neutrals some have supposed the two nations were identical but the Jesuits
are good authority for their unlikeness in several particulars, size, dress, and the
friendliness to religion of the Kah Kwas, except in one village (called by them
foreigners), and the utter hostility to their religious teachings on the part of the
Eries. The final battle between these valorous foes was said to have taken place
near a great bend in the Genesee River. These bends are so numerous and In-
dian traditions are so unreliable that only some skilled Indianologist may vet dis-
cover the spot.

31
According to southern writers we have this statement: “The Senecas have a
tradition that the scene of the final conflict was at a bend in the Genesee River on
ground afterward contained in the Caneadea Reservation, in the present County
of Allegany. In the history of Cattaraugus County is found a more definite state-
ment. “Here the doomed Eries mustered all their force to the last warrior for
they well understood that the result would be victory or annihilation. Against
them were arrayed 5,000 Iroquois braves of whom 1,000 were held in reserve and
in concealment. The Eries were the first to assault and they did so with a fury
which drove the confederates from their position ; but they soon rallied and hurled
the Eries back in the greatest disorder. And so with the alternate charge and
recoil of each the tide of battle ebbed and flowed seven times across the red field,
which was thickly strewn with the wounded warriors of Seneca and Erie, grapling
at each other’s scalp locks even in the agonies of death. At last by a well feigned
retreat of their opponents, the impetuous Eries were drawn into the ambush of the
Iroquois reserve, and there a thousand fresh warriors uttering their wild war
whoop leaped upon them. The Eries wavered and gave way and the fight became
a route anda massacre, for quarter was neither asked nor given. The victors pur-
sued them to their villages and there slaughtered all who came in their way,
sparing neither age nor sex. The remnant of the Erie warriors who escaped the
terrors of the field fled to the southwest along the valley of their own Oheeyo,
but even here they found no rest for the conquerors still followed, bent on nothing
short of extermination of their foes. The flight and pursuit was continued, says
the tradition, until the last Erie had crossed ‘the Father of Waters’ and five
moons had passed before the Seneca braves returned to celebrate their victory in
the villages of the Gennishecyo.” The settlement of the conquered territory did
not result at first in the founding of Seneca villages along the upper Genesee and
the adjoining territory; it was only used as additional hunting grounds for their
numbers were much decreased. After the attack of the Senecas by the French in
1687 when the villages in the beautiful valley were destroyed the Senecas built
new ones, Onondao nearer to the river and Chennissio and later Beardstown be-
came successively the central fire of the nation.

We are led to believe that however peaceful the Keshequa Valley and the upper
Genesee and all the section northeast of the Niagara frontier after its settlement
by the Senecas it was not so in the few previous centuries. The Andastes or
Satanes lived here once and did not lose their possessions without a struggle. The
Kha Kwas were too powerful and numerous for easy conquest and the Eries in
the memorable battles recorded must have passed over what became in 1808 the
extensive town of Nunda. Any skilled Indianologist can find evidences of Indian
occupancy and Indian contests far more convincing than many scattered dark flint
arrows. Strange as it may seem, within a mile of Nunda may be found a battle
field where one or both of the contestants used David's weapon, the sling.

2
ro)
CHAPTER VULI.

THE BATTLE OF THE MArQuis DE NONVILLE AND THE SENECAS IN THE GENESEE
VALLEY, 1687.

v / VHIS battle was aggressive on the part of the French. It was to humble the
Senecas and, if possible, win possession of their lands. The Marquis de
Nonville had succeeded De la Barre as Governor of New France in 1685.

He was a colonel of French dragoons. As the Iroquois had carried their wars

into the West after the destruction of the Eries, and these tribes were allies of the

French, Governor de Nonville determined to humiliate the Senecas. He employed

the winter of 1687 in preparation.

The French army consisted of about 1,600 men, besides 400 Indian allies.
This strong force set out from Montreal June 13th in 350 batteaux, and after a
tardy voyage arrived at Fort Frontenac (Kingston) on the 30th. On the 4th of
July it again started for the country of the Senecas and arrived at Ganniagatason-
tagonat (Irondequoit) on the 1oth. Five hundred and eighty French and Indians
from Fort Niagara and the west were to meet him there. No Napoleon could
have better planned for a great battle. Both armies arrived within the same hour.
On the 12th, after completing pallisades for protection of provisions, batteaux and
canoes, he detached 400 men to garrison this, their landing place. The rest of the
army took up their line of march toward the village of the Senecas. They en-
camped that night near the present village of Pittsford. The Indian village of
Gannagora (Boughton Hill, near Victor) was to be the first point of attack, con-
tinuing their march on the 13th they arrived about 3 o'clock at a defile near the
Indian village, where they, instead of attacking, were attacked by a large body of
Senecas who lay in ambush.

From De Nonville’s Journal we find that “They were better received than they
anticipated and were thrown into such consternation that most of them threw
away their guns and clothing to escape under favor of the woods. He gives
credit to the Ottaways and their Christian savages, who were the only ones who
acquitted themselves with honor. Though the brave colonel had brought with
him a formidable force of the very flower of France and its army, the terrors of
the war whoop of 800 Senecas and their guns and tomahawks made the engage-
ment a short one. As the Senecas left 27 killed on the field they thought it best
to retire and the victory was claimed by the French, though the valor belonged to
the Senecas. Then the brave colonel (?) who knew that in France they would
know nothing of the short distance from Irondequoit Bay to Boughton Hill, plead-
ed extreme fatigue as an excuse for remaining all that day and the next day until
noon in camp, besides it rained the second day and they had “to protect themselves
from the rain.” If these Frenchmen’s valor had equalled their vanity the Senecas
would not have taken themselves so easily away to a place of safety. The field was
won by the French through their allies, but the glory by their foe. The victory
proved a barren one. The Senecas burned their own villages and the French in
the next ten days claim to have destroyed for the ‘‘Sonnontonans,” as they called
the Senecas, 1,200,000 bushels of corn. A great exaggeration. Had the French
warred as valiantly against the 800 Seneca _ braves as they did on the growing corn
more would have been accomplished.

33
 

Lhe Pre-Glacial Course, &¢., of tire cS rf RP
eel CNeSh eo
; e 4 a2

      

 

  

"new roan
“PENWS 10 Vin A

 

 

 

 

Indian villages in Nunda and the Upper Genesee marked A.
Dotted lines indicate boundary of the Basin.

34
The bark villages destroyed could be replaced in three davs and the other
confederated tribes would willingly divide with them their surplus of corn.

Over 2,000 men had put to flight 800 savages, while 800 Senecas had terror-
ized more than twice their number of gallant Frenchmen who, in their confusion.
fired on each other till their death list was far greater than that of their foe.
Baron La Hontau, who was present and whose record was not written for the
reading of a crowned head, said:

“We lost on this one occasion ten savages and a hundred [‘renchmen. We
had twenty-two wounded, including the good Father Angelran, the Jesuit. If
you could have seen the disorder into which our militia and regulars were thrown
among the dense woods you would agree with me that it would require many
thousand Europeans to make head against these barbarians. Our battalions were
immediately separated into platoons, which ran without order, pell mell, to the
right and left, without knowing whither they went. Instead of firing upon the
Iroquois we fired upon each other. It was in vain to call ‘help soldiers of such a
battalion’ for we could scarcely see thirty paces. In short, we were so disordered
that the enemy were about to fall upon us, club in hand, when ovr savages having
rallied, repulsed and pursued them so closely, even to their villages, that they killed
more than cighty, the heads of which they brought away, not counting the wound
ed who escaped.

“The French Indians were prevented by De Nonville from going in pursuit
of the Senecas for they knew they could overtake and massacre the aged, the chil-
dren and the women, but De Nonville pleaded with them not to leave him. This
offended his allies so much that the greater part went back to their country, saying
that the French had come for an excursion rather than to carry on war * * *
that they would never trust them in future.”

The four Indian villages which De Nonville visited were Gannagora (Fr) or
Gaosachga-ah, Boughton Hill, Victor, Ganogarie near East Bloomfield, Titiakto or
Deyudihaakdoh (in Seneca) near West Mendon, Gannonnata (Fr.) or Dyndonsot
(in Seneca) southeast of East Avon.

The Senecas never rebuilt these villages but went farther up the Genesee,
where we find them at the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, with their
great village at Onondao, two miles west of Nunda village.

Within a few years, while grading for an electric road from Rochester
through Macedon, a pit hole was found with 80 skeletons, and as this was not
far from the scene of the slaughter of the Senecas by the hostile savages there is
little doubt that the Senecas gathered together, as was their custom, their braves
and buried them in this place. The number exactly corresponds with the record
of the truthful Baron La Hontan.

Colonel George Hosmer of Avon, the father of Livingston's most famous
poet, tells of witnessing the finding in the spring of 1793 on the Genesee bottom
near the river on a farm owned by his father a short French sword or conteau.
The blade was about twenty inches in length and three inches wide. It was cov-
ered with rust which, being removed, exhibited the “fleur de lis” of France and a
date of the time of Louis XIV. It excited only a transient interest and, being
ground to an edge, was used as a kitchen utensil. Yet this was one of the swords
used in the “battle of the corn stalks” 225 years ago.

35
CHAPTER IX.

Tue British WINNING OF WESTERN NEw YORK FROM FRANCE, AIDED BY THE
IROQUOIS AND COLONISTS—I759-

N 1758 Mr. Pitt, being the British minister, determined on a vigorous and de-
I cisive campaign which should end in the annihilation of French power and
dominion on this continent. Both public opinion and the public press caught
the spirit of conquest, and increased hatred for France was everywhere manifest.
The King and Parliament joined in the policy of Pitt and voted liberal supplies.
ain empire was to be lost or won. Cordial and vigorous co-operation of the colo-
nists was eagerly and dexterously sought, for they were weary of war and its rav-
ages of harvests and the destruction of their homes. To overcome this the King
graciously commiserated their perils and losses and pledged indemnification, and
still better than promises, Parliament voted the colonists £200,000 as compensa-
tion for losses and expenses consequent upon the war. The Iroquois were mostly
won over to the British interests though British encroachments had begun to
excite in them caution. The French and her western allies were still their foes,
and Sir William Johnson was to lead them, and was he not, with his Indian pro-
clivities, a white chief among them?

General Amherst, as commander-in-chief of the British forces in North
America, had at his disposal a larger force than had ever before been mustered
on this continent. The most advanced settlements in New York were less than
fifty miles from Albany, so we must look to the older colonies for the main sup-
port of the large force of British regulars; Massachusetts furnished 7,000 men,
Connecticut 5,000, New Hampshire 1,000. The French posts at Ticonderoga and
Crown Point were on the route to Montreal which, with Quebec and Niagara, were
to be conquered.

As it is only Western New York that is of greatest interest to us and the
change of our local region from ‘‘New France” to ‘New York Colony” by the
capture of Fort Niagara, the only stronghold of France in Western New York,
we will briefly review the oft told tale of the siege and surrender of Fort Niagara.

The force destined for Niagara consisted of two British regiments, a detach-
ment of Royal Artillery, a battalion of Royal Americans, two battalions of New
York Provincials and Sir William Johnson’s Indian allies, most of whom were
Mohawks, Oneidas and Onondagas, with a less number of Senecas and Cayugas,
and some western allies won over by the British. Brigadier General Prideau was
first in command and Sir William Johnson second. On the first of July, 1709,
this force reached Lake Ontario and embarked and coasted along the shore towards
the solitary fortress. Never before or since have the waters of this inland sea
borne on their bosom such a formidable armament. All the appliances of British
warfare for the reduction of a strong fortress, by regular approaches, as planned
before starting, camp equipage and supplies for this large force, and all these sol-
diers and sailors.

Imagine the complexity of these forces of various nations and races. The
proud commissioned and titled Briton, who was far more familiar with the refine-
ments of courts, with all their luxury, than of the hardships of camps in this vast
and gloomy wilderness. Veteran officers from European wars, inured to cam-
paign life. The sons of rich colonists who had obtained commissions and were
novices in war. All classes from the cities and sturdy plow boys from the rural
districts ; and seemingly best fitted for the work in hand were the Iroquois braves
decked out with war paint, feathers, claws, new broadcloth garments, blankets
and silver ornaments, the personal gift of the King to his red sons and brothers.

Openly, without stealth, they approached their destination with booming can-
non to inspire the Senecas with courage and the Neutrals with terror. Arriving
at Eighteen Mile Creek (Olcott), within eighteen miles of Fort Niagara, a halt
was made to reconnoiter and ascertain the movements of the French.

France had been equally vigilant and reinforced every fort and had brought
all her colonists and Indian allies to swell their numbers. General Montcalm was
commander-in-chief. Captain Pouchot, a skilled engineer, was sent to strengthen
and command Fort Niagara.

From July 8th to t1th little was gained but advanced position. At 5 P. M.
the English opened their fire with eight mortars. Day after day the siege con-
tinued and night to night with but short intermissions the pounding of the fort
continued. The walls of the devoted fortress began to tumble, while the French,
too few in numbers to attempt a sortie, kept up an active fire on the besiegers,
seriously hindering and annoying them in their work of destruction. On the 14th
the besiegers had so far extended their works that their work became more effec-
tive. Nearly perishing for want of sleep and worn out with toil, the brave de-
fenders of the fortress proved stronger than their walls, and kept on with valor
in hopes of aid from the West. On the 19th General Prideaux, who had so well
planned, and, so far, so well executed what he planned, was accidentally killed
by the premature bursting of a shell. It is said 30 such bombs were fired in one
night. The work went on under Sir William Johnson. On the 23d the besieged
had a gleam of hope that was destined to end in disappointment. Runners had
been sent to Presque Isle (Erie. Pa.), Le Boeuf, Venango and Detroit, ordering
them to come with all available aid to Niagara. At a time when the end seemed
nearing two Western Indians made their way into the fort bringing word of 2,500
French and Indians at Navy Island opposite Fort Schlosser. Four Indians were
sent to Monsieur D’Aubrey to tell of their critical condition and to urge him to
hasten to their relief. Johnson had anticipated reinforcements from D’Aubrey and
had kept Indian runners (at this the Mohawk were most expert) looking for them,
and was advised of their proximity. On the 23d he sent out strong detachments
of troops and posted them along either side of the trail leading from the fort to the
falls. About two miles from the fort they awaited in ambush, their adversaries.
Early on the 24th he sent other detachments of his best troops to reinforce the
others. The opposing forces soon met in battle array and D’Aubrey gave the
order to attack. The Western Indians, who were concealed in the forests, swarmed
from the woods and gave their terrfic war whoop and rushed upon the British.
The British regulars and such provincials as had never known Indian warfare,
quailed for a moment but the Iroquois and practical veterans, real Indian fighters,
stood firm, meeting the shock as firmly as it had been impetuous. Volley after
volley from British and their allies was too much for the Western Indians and
they gave way and left the field.

D’Aubrey, though deserted by his allies, pressed on against his assailants,
and was pressing them back valorously when Johnson’s Indian reinforcement ar-

SH
rived, assaulting his flanks, and the battle turned against him. Forced to retreat,
after fighting for a time right, left and front, his retreat took form as a rout. Eng-
lish and Indian pursued, shooting down most of the French and capturing many
officers, including D’Aubrey. Short as the contest was, the ground for miles was
strewn with the dead contestants.

Pardon this repetition of a well told tale of battle, one of the many episodes
of empires lost and won. France lost an empire in that well fought fight. Eng-
land added the utmost limits of the Indian, Ga-nun-no, to her New World acquisi-
tion, added also a Province of Canada to her wide domain, in her other battles of
this campaign. And no part of Western New York, and no part of Ga-nun-no,
was left under French control for New France was no more.

For Captain Pouchot, by the advice of his officers, surrendered, dictating
terms honorable to himself and country. Himself, D’Aubray and eight other
officers, including two half-blood sons of Joneaire, who was the first white settler
of Western New York, and 600 men, were all there were left of the gallant de-
fenders of the fort and of those who came to their aid and became sharers of their
captivity. France had lost an empire and England was the winner. Little then
could be forseen that before a quarter of a century would pass the map of America
would be again changed and that this historic fort would again be taken.

The taking of Fort Niagara was a battle in one of the wildest of nature's
solitudes. Two trans-Atlantic hostile nations here contended, with all the para-
phernalia of their then modern warfare, thousands of miles from France and Eng-
land. A “Pioneer Historian’ whose imagination revels in the grandeur of the
surroundings gives us, though at a remote day, a vivid picture of this nationa?
struggle for supremacy and possession till we can almost hear,

“The shout of battle, the barbarian vell, the bray
Of disonant instruments, the clang of arms,
The shrieks of agony, the groan of death
In one wild uproar, and continued din
Shook the still air.”

But not content with this which might describe a battle elsewhere he har-
nesses the chariots of ordinary European warfare to the cataract, the wilderness
and its solitudes and sublimities, and makes nature a participant. “There were no
spectators of that sudden clash of arms, of that protracted siege; all were partici-
pants. Hundreds of miles, beyond the heaviest sounds, that like earthquake
shocks, went out from the conflict, were the nearest of our race, save those who
were at Frontenac and Oswego and a few missionaries and traders on our interior
rivers, there were none to hear. The outlet of vast inland lakes, the shores of which
had been scarcely tread by Europeans, hushed to comparative stillness, after hav-
ing tumbled over the mighty precipice, and madly rushed through the long narrow
gorge that succeeds, was rolling past, its eddies dashing heavily against the shore,
moaning a requiem over the dead that were thickly strewn upon it. Death and
carnage, the smoke of battle, the gleaming of steel, had chosen for their theater
a marked spot, romantic and beautiful as any that arrests the eve of the tourist
in the region of sublime and gorgeous landscapes. There was the roar of mus-
ketry, the terrible war whoop, the groans of the dving, the fierce assault and firm
repulsion, precipitate retreat, and hot and deadly pursuit, the red warrior loading

28
himself with trophies of the tomahawk and scalping knife that would signalize
his valor in the war dance or tell out his deeds of blood at a place of reward.

It was a new scene in the wilderness; nature in her solitude and fastnesses
was affrighted; the wild beasts hurried farther and farther into the recesses of
the forest, or huddled in their lairs, trembling as each successive crash came upon
their unaccustomed ears.

It was a calm July morning. The surface of that wide expanse of water
smooth and unruffled, mirrored the scene of fire and smoke, of waving banners
and advancing columns. Stunning and deafening came the sounds of battle ; then
a hushed silence as if war and carnage stood appalled at the work of death they
had wrought; in which brief pause would come the roar of the mighty cataract,
rushing in as if impatient to riot in its accustomed monopoly of sound. The “great
thundercr” was contending with its first rival.

High above all arose the smoke of two battle grounds to the clear, blue heav-
ens, and mingling there with the spray of the cataract was carried off by a gentle
breeze; and at the sun’s decline, when the strife was ended, it canopied and
spanned the deep blue waters—a bow of promise and a harbinger of peace.

One Turner was noted for the brilliancy of his coloring on canvass; an-
other from Western New York dipped his pen in colors rivaling the hues of the
rainbow. In imagination he saw it as it must have been, and what is more, he has
bridged nearly two and a half centuries and made ws see what he saw.

CHAPTER N.

1776—Kow-skE-S10: KInG oF NuNDAO—THE First Company oF NunpaA WaAR-
riors RecorpED IN History FouGur ror KING GEORGE—O-NONDA-O, THE
West Door of THE SENECAS--THE KING IS KILLED—-THE STATEMENT OF
Mary JEMISON; AND OF KENJOCKETY

NONDAO, two miles west of the village of Nunda, was at the time
of the breaking out of the Revolution the largest village of the Sen-
ecas on Nundawaos, as they called themselves at this time. Its

Sachem may have won distinction in the battles that won the safety of the
Tuscaroras in 1713 and made the “five fold cord” “sixfold” by the addition of
the Sixth Nation, the Tuscarora or Potato Clan. The white people called all
Sachems Kings and all lessor chiefs John.

King Hoh-ske-sao’s name signified “he wields a tomahawk.” A good
name for the War Chief of the Senecas, for such he was. We have seen in the
organization of the Confederacy or Five Nations that the Senecas’ two princi-
pal war chiefs were also war chiefs of the whole Confederacy. Though the
greatest chief of all the very wisest man was at the central fire, O-non-da-ga,

now called On-on-da-ga.

 

REVOLUTIONARY War Times—Inxpian Norastes FRoM NuND.\A—HOoH-SQUE-SAH
oH (HE Wretps \ Tom.\HAWK), KinG of Great NUNDA.

Strange as it may sound in our day, the title of Sachem, wise man, or ruler
meant to the Indian their highest conception of Ruler—only meant the possessor of

39
a better cabin or wigwam, and better clothing, more beads on moccasins, more
plumage on headgear, more territory, more warriors to control and lead, and
more valor in leading them to battle. That this chief could “wield a toma-
hawk” as others could not, that he wielded it successfully and won some great
victory was the secret of his position. With such a leader what must his
band of Nunda warriors have been when fighting hand to hand. It is probable
he won his kingdom of Nunda by valor and that its winning moved the west door
up the river, beyond the Chen-is-sio of former days, that was near the mouth of
the Keshequa, and that the added territory was a new domain. When the
Senecas extended their possessions westward and southward from Chenissio
near the mouth of the Keshequa, up the valley, either after the influx of war-
riors gained by the distribution of the Tuscaroras among the Five Nations in
1713 or after other additions from the maturing of the Kah Kwa youth and
other adopted captives. It is evident that this chief of this new domain was
one of the two great Confederate War Chiefs to which the Senecas were by
their original compact entitled. Little Beard may have been the other but
younger war chief or he might have succeeded the King. The name the Senior
War Chief gave his stronghold denotes both a great village and a great Sachem
Onondaho signifying both. The degree of emphasis placed on these O's sig-
nify the measure of pride and supremacy felt. It was Great Nunda in a double
sense, as before indicated. The “non” instead of “nun” has also a double sig-

 

nificance, the hills were chains of hills or mountains and the chieftain was the
war chief not only of the Nundawaos but of the whole Confederacy, with its
council fire at the Onondaga village. Over the Nunda Valley, or Nundawah-o
Hohsquesaho (pronounced Ho-ske-sa-o) ruled, honored for his prowess and
wisdom, and was beloved of all. Onondao was not the only village in his
kingdom. Among the Indians any warrior of prowess was free to go singly
or with his brothers, and any he could induce to go with him, and start a new
village and so become a minor chief. A village was formed near Nunda Junc-
tion and as there was a succession of small hills and depressions it was called
“Nundey,” which means hilly. Near Portage Station there was also a small
village called De-o-wes-ta (where the river breaks through in the west) as
this is near the spot where the Genesee breaks through the hills and forms a

40
gorge and leaves its former well established valley; and as the place where it
leaves the gorge near Mt. Morris had originally a long name, De-o-nunda-gao,
which signifies where the river breaks through the hills. We have here the
only hint of Indian geological knowledge or tradition of what the white race
have but recently discovered that the Genesee River Valley passed from
Portageville through the Keshequa Valley.

Proud as Nunda has ever been of her soldiers, the first historic heroes of
our soil, the first company of soldiers that went from here were enemies of the
colonists, and our pride must be content with a knowledge of their valor, that
they fought as heroes fight, and died as heroes die. This is all that history has
left us of the story of Onondao and its Sachem Ning.

Onondao was said to be located near the modern village of Nunda,
though Thomas Jemison thinks a couple of miles nearer the river than the
latter town. In this other Indians agree but the precise spot is not mentioned.
The Centenarian Indian, Philip Kenjockety, whose boyhood was spent here,
told Colonel Doty that a large spring of very cold water supplied the village
and as he recollected Onondao in early youth (i. e., in 1768 to 1770) it was
larger than Beardstown then was. Previous to the battle of Fort Stanwix
(now Rome, N. Y.) the warriors of Onondao and other Seneca villages had
been invited by the British to come and see them “whip the Yankees.”

Mary Jemison, the white woman who then lived at Beardstown, has said.
“Our Indians went to a man, but instead of taking the part of spectators were
forced to fight for their lives and in the end were completely beaten and that
with great loss in killed and wounded.” It is said that Beardstown lost 35
and that Onondao shared in the disaster, losing its great Chieftain, Hohsque-
sah-o—she adds “his death was greatly deplored.” After this Little Beard’s
town soon became the west door of the Long House, concentration being found
essential to existence.

After the death of the great Sachem another chief would be chosen from
the brothers or the sisters’ sons. The Sachem’s son would belong to his
mother’s clan and so would the sons of his brothers but his sisters may have
married into the clan that the Sachem belonged to and so be eligible. How-
ever, Onondao lost the *‘o” from its name, though his successor was called in
1780 by his captives King, but his name is not given.

Again in 1890 Turner says there were two small villages in Nunda, one
probably Seneca, the other Tuscarora, and again in 1815 or 1816 the James
Bennett family say there were two villages in Nunda and even locate them.
Turner mentions Elk Hunter as one of the chiefs and Green Jacket the other.
Other authorities says that Kenjockety’s father was a Chief, and this would
have been probably as early as 1780. Mary Jemison gives the loss in the battle
near Fort Stanwix (Rome, N. Y.) at 35 from her town—then Beardstown—
and it is probable that the loss from Nundao was even greater. I can imagine
the great possessor of the huge tomahawk fighting unavailingly, the men with
guns, and finding his favorite weapon useless. Gallant Nunda Chieftain
though you were in this battle a foe of the colonists, I am glad you were great
enough to have a place in history for your valor; and doubly glad I can help
perpetuate your fame as the greatest of Nunda’s Indian warriors by restating your
fast fading claim to greatness.

41
CHAPTER XI.

KENJOCKETY AND OTHER INDIANS OF NUNDA.

OHSQUE-SAH-O is not the only Indian whose name has come down
to us as having lived in Nunda. There is one other, born before the
Revolutionary War, whose boyhood was at O-non-dao.

 

KEnjocKety (Above the Multitude).

The k’s in this name suggest his origin. His grand sire was a captive
youth of the Neuter or Kah Kwas race. This gigantic race of men probably
held undisputed sway in a wide section of Western New York two hundred
years ago. A few of their names clung for a time to the places they once occu-
pied but have been changed, first by the Senecas and still more by their suc-
cessors. The very stream that flows through our village and a former thriving
hamlet near its source bore the name Kashawa for the stream, and also Blin
Hollow once bore the name Kishawa. The Senecas called it Cashaqua. This
form was adopted by Judge Carroll in his deed. Coshaqua was the form in
early Gazeteers which was Anglicized into Cashaqua and finally it drifted back
to Kashaqua or Keshequa or Kishaqua until it is hard to know how it ought

42
to be spelled. Doubtless Kenjockety would have pronounced it as if spelled
with a Kk and Shongo would with a C. The word Connesus has passed its
many changes. Kan-augsaws was the first of these, and is evidently pre-
Columbian. Whether in this form it was of Kha Kwa origin I cannot say.
Kienuka, their central town, near the present site of Lewiston, is one of their
words. In many respects their language was similar to that of their neighbors,
the Senecas. Ya-go-wa-neo was Queen of the Neutrals. Philip Kenjockety,
whose father was a half-blood Kah Kwa, and his mother a Seneca, became a
Seneca chief. Philip was born in Nunda probably about 140 vears ago as he
remembered the destruction under Sullivan in 1779 of the Seneca village.
though only a large boy “big enough to shoot birds."” He was a very large boy
of his age as his first name indicates. Yi-va-go-waah signified big dog, and
tells us he was like a big, voung Newfoundland dog, crowding and pushing
aside all that came in his way. After the war of 1812, in which he probably
participated, he lost his bov name and was called Gat-go-wah-dah which signi-
fies “dressed deer skin,” indicating that he excelled as a hunter and tanner
and kept himself in new deer skin attire when others could not procure such.
It is more than possible that he often returned to his native town to hunt for
game on the Sunrise hill (East Hill) where game was abundant, even after
the first settlers helped to diminish their numbers. Be that as it may, he after-
ward attained a greater name, one any man might be proud of, when duly
interpreted—Ska-dyoh-gwa-dih, which means “Beyond the multitude.”
Whether this enviable distinction meant greater than the average, the ongue-
hongwe (without an equal), or was only a recognition of his immense size or his
great age or some traditional skill as a hunter, or whether in the \WWar of 1812
he served the new Republic with valor begotten of his giant strength, we know
this, he was physically, above the multitude, and in longevity he excelled his
associates of both races.

He was the last survivor of the Indians of the Genesee River, whose birth
antedated the Revolutionary \War and whose personal recollections extended
to the invasion of General Sullivan. His grandfather was a member of the
almost mythological race known as Kah Kwas or Neutrals. It is to be regret-
ted that the name of this grand sire and of his son, a chieftain of the kingdom
of Nundah, has not been left on record. Philips’ parents lived at Onondao
when the war with the mother country broke out, and when the residents of
that village went on the warpath after the calamity at Fort Stanwix Philips’
family went also. Colonel Doty in his desire to know more of the one battle
of the Revolution that reached the present Geneseo and several other towns of
the present county of Livingston went to Versailes, Cattaraugus County, to
interview this last survivor of those historic days. He found (this was in Sep-
tember, 1865) Kenjockety vigorous for his years, with mind vivid and memory
unimpaired. He claimed to be then 120 years of age, which was impossible,
for if so he must have been born in 1745 and would have been 30 vears of age
instead of a youth at that time, and instead of a big boy “big enough to shoot
birds” at the time of Sullivan’s campaign would have been a warrior of 34
years. He died a year after this visit of Colonel Doty and it is doubtful if he
was much over 100 years old. “Yes, I recollect the \Vah-ston-yans (i. e., the
Bostonians, as the Senecas called the colonial troops). The Yankees got as

43
far as Conesus Lake; all was consternation at Beardstown; it rained; the war-
riors went out; the air grew heavy with rumors; even the birds brought tidings
of the enemy's doings.”

After the interview, reports Mr. Doty, as he was bidding good bye he
took the hand of Colonel Doty’s son and pointing to the clasped fingers said
through the interpreter: “This bridges between three generations, between
that long past and the generation under the new order.” He died on the first of
April, 1866, at least a centenarian, more fortunate than any other of his
father's race. His name survives in a small stream called Conjockety Creek,
where once Kenjockety had a cabin. The water from this creek formed Park
Lake on the Pan-American grounds, where the Historical Society have a build-
ing, and the Academy of Art in Buffalo has preserved a fine portrait in oil of
this venerable Nunda KahKwa, who in this also is still “Beyond the Multi-
tude” of his fellow citizens.

Last but not least of a pre-historic race,

Their mighty past lives in this firm, strong face;
‘Twere sacrilege one furrow to erase.

Judged by his time, his race, his habitude

What shall we call thee, manly, true or good?
The past knew best :—“Beyond the Multitude.”

We would be glad to know more of the predecessors of the pioneers of
Nunda, of the gallant band of warriors led by the King of Nunda, Hoh-sque-
sah-o, who ruled from Caneadea to Sonyea, a Sachem of prowess, but whose
early death before the first pioneer reached the Genesee County, has rendered
his illustrious deeds almost illusory, the name of his successor is not told, unless
Elk Hunter, then Kenjockety and finally Killdeer, who was a chief at the
southern part of the Caneadea reservation, which was called Nunda and occu-
pied by Indians from Nunda, were his successors. It is more than possible
that Elk Hunter may have been his successor and Kill Deer followed at a
much later time, not as Sachem but simply as a Chief. Green Jacket was also
a Nunda Indian.

Since writing the above, by the fact that two small villages have left evi-
dence of their former existence on the south side of the Keshequa on the farm
once owned (in this village by R. J. Bally, that there was also one or more
Tuscarora villages with a different chief, two chiefs seldom lived in the same
village. Each had his own village and his own followers.

I am surprised that so keen a historian as Colonel Doty failed to ask of
Kenjockety the names of his father and grandfather and who succeeded Hoh-
sque-sah-o as Sachem of Nunda.

However, | am glad that the information received, every word of which
is of importance, helps locate the Onondao of 1775 and that this testimony is
corroborated by Thomas Jemison, whose grandmother, the white woman of
the Genesee, who lived afterward within a mile or two of the great village in
the years after the war, and lived at the time at Breadstown near by, and doubt-
less visited it often, tells the proximity of its location. Kenjockety said at
Versailes to Colonel Doty that a large spring of very cold water supplied the
village of Onondao and that the village previous to the battle at Fort Stanwix

44
was larger than Beardstown then was: also that it was west of and two miles
nearer the river than the present village of Nunda. Just over the ridge and
not far from the trail leading up the east side of the Genesee River gorge this
large spring is said tobe. Several smaller springs exist on the farm of J. Mon-
roe Cole, but while sufficient arrows of more than one color can be found along
the trail there are not sufficient flint chips to indicate an Indian village at these
springs.

Indian burying grounds were usually about two miles east of their princi-
pal villages, and in harmony with this custom the burial ground of Nunda’s
first Indian village is now believed to have been found in front of the farm
house of Jonathan Miller (the old Clark Brewer place) as large collections of
human bones have been taken from there and unusual and excellent specimens
of Indian skulls have also been plowed up.

 

The writer farther believes that the King of Nunda was buried there, first,
because it is the custom to bring away the body of a great chief and to have
imposing ceremonies at his burial, as in the case of Sho-ri-ho-wane in 1640, as
told by the Jesuit: secondly, because the finest banner stone that has been
found in Western New York was recently found there by L. C. Roberts and L. F.
Willey. It has a place for a miniature war post, whose notches would tell of his
many battles. The stone is owned by L. C. Roberts, who prizes it more highly
than any specimen 1m his large collection.

After the death of the \Var Chief Hohsquesaho it is more than probable
that Little Beard succeeded him in the honors of being one of the two great
Iroquois War Chiefs. The war being mostly in the eastern part of the state
it is probable that Brant, the Mohawk Chief, became the other Sachem of the
Confederacy. Sorne other man succeeded the dead Sachem or King but only
as a Seneca Chief—just who that chief was is not known, but it 1s known that
the father of Kenjockety was a chief. The great size and strength of these
half-blood Kah Kwas makes it more than a possibility that he became the chief
of the Senecas at Nunda. In 1780 there was a chief there, and he is even called

45
King, but he was not a War Chief of the whole Confederacy, as his predecessor
had been, for Little Beard changed the west door to his own village, changed
the name of his village to express that fact and even gave the Seneca Nation a
new name, a variation from that it had when Onondao was at its greatest.
He now called his village O-nunda-gao and the Senecas, the Nunda-wa-gas—
and even a great historian like Turner fails to notice the cause of the change.
It is possible and even probable that there was a similar change in the national
name when QOnondao was west door of the nation, and “Nundawah-os”’

was the name after Chennusseo was no longer the west door. Nundawaho em-
phasizes, its valley; Nundawagas, the river.

But we are told by Mary Jemison that when next the warriors from
Nunda went on the warpath they took their families to Little Beard’s town for
greater safety. General Sullivan, it appears, did not expect to find the chief
village of the Genesee Indians at Little Beardstown but at Chennusseo near
the old Williamsburg of a few years later where the west door was in the days
of the Senecas’ war with the Eries, Kah Kwas and Hurons. And here they
all were cencentrated at Little Beardstown in the best built Indian village ex-
tant in 1779, at the time of Sullivan's campaign, but back again to Nunda or Nun-
dow (hill in front) in 1780 went the Nundaos. Was their old village burned
by Sullivan’s men? As jarge as it was said to be in 1775 can it be possible that
it escaped; if so what became of it? One historian reports that the soldiers
of Sullivan went up and down the river. How far could they follow the Gen-
esee River south; i. e., up the river, without coming to the former ‘‘west door”
of the Seneeas, the old village Onondao. The writer has been informed that
in the town of Portage a few miles south of where Onondao was supposed to
be there was found by the pioneers of Portage (1816 to 1820) a log bridge
across the upper part of Spring Brook that was called while it lasted ‘Sulli-
van's Bridge.” As there was no pioneer by that name, it would appear
that Sullivan's destructionists not only went up the river but went with a piece
of artillery prepared to meet the Senecas if their retreat took the direction of
the villages of the upper Genesee. This has never been in print but the late Mar-
cus Wilner, a man of great information, whose father was a first settler in Port-
age, called this Sullivan’s Bridge. The road, the author has often seen, passed
through a forest then, and now, and a small grist mill was located near it by
Colonel Orcutt in the early pioneer days, who expected to there found a city.
A few years later he moved his mill to the mouth of Spring Brook and again,
afterward, a few rods farther northeast, on the Keshequa. A saw mill in after
years was the only other building built on this well packed road that suggested
to the visionary mill owner a city. Roads were scarce in 1817. The Indians
however, retreated by the western trail leading past Silver Lake to Buffalo.
As Captain George \Vilner and Colonel Orcutt both became permanent settlers
of the town of Portage, if Orcutt had made the road and the bridge this tradi-
tion of such a bridge so-called would not be still told by a member of the Wil-
ner family. The author gives it as a possible suggestion of the Revolutionary
\Var extending into Nunda and Portage.

46
CHAPTER NII.

INDIAN VILLAGES IN OR NEAR THE ORIGINAL Town oF Nunpva—Inpian Car-
TIVES—Mary JEMISON AND Her STRANGE, REMARKABLE EXPERIENCES—
OTHER Captives.

T is worthy of notice that the Indian Nundao and the original township of
Nunda embrace nearly the same territory. The Indian domain included
Caneadea and probably the ancient forts at Belvidere, and reached south-

ward as far as Tuscarora and its small burial grounds near the Rock Spring
house.

These forts of the Fort-builders of at least five centuries ago,—probablv
eight or ten centuries—form an interesting study for the Indianologist of to-
day. Back of these Fort-builders’ days there can, as far as New York State
is concerned, be no former race. Belvidere has three of these earthworks, Fort
Hill and Conesus, and so on to Oswego this line of forts extenu. There are
evidences that the original Genesee River Valley, judged by its present nver
basin, and the trail that passed through it, was the narrow highway connecting
these scattered forts and this adds interest to the Kesheyua trail by which our
first settlers found their way into our present town. There were at Oak-
land (at or near the Nunda boundary, and even farther up ‘he Keshequa) indi-
cations of such earthworks and abundant specimens of relics peculiar to the
locations of these fortified places. Indications are that the occupants of these
forts at least partially defended themselves with something more primitive
than the bow and arrow. So many oval stones (suitable for the use of Ning
David's favorite weapon, the sling), all with a little hand-made indentation cn
one side, indicate they were made for something more than amusement. So
plentiful are these in places near the Rude-Rowell farm that it is no great
stretch of the imagination to locate here a battle field, fought many centuries
ago. Probably the Fort-builders were connected by conquest with the Mound-
builders of Ohio, as they also came from there, and brought with them some
of the utensils and ornaments of that pre-historic race. Such, however, were
found by excavating Fort Hill.

The Senecas, who were in possession of the lands when Europeans first
found their way into New York, had no use for these forts; it was not their
mode of warfare. Their villages were in the valleys or by some large spring
or running brook seldom very far from a river or well known trail. The prin-
cipal trails leading to the villages of the Nundaos were the Genesee River, the
Keshequa, and one from Chautauqua Hollow, a continuation of the Canisten
and connecting with trails running up the river and to Onondao.

The great village of Onondao was once, previous to the Revolutionary
War, one of the largest and best built of the Seneca villages, and but for the
lack of chimneys in their log structures, they would compare favorably with

“those of the pioneers of a half a century later. The description given of Little
Beardstown at the time of its destruction will furnish a fairly correct idea of
both villages. The Senecas had for centuries excelled other Indian nations
in building their habitations. They built cabins, not huts, nor ordinary wig-
wams. The name Onondao signifies “Great Nunda.” It was great in its

47
Sachem Chief, it was great in its extended valley, it was great in its domain,
great in number of warriors, it was great in the high chain of hills that encir-
cled it. “The meeting of the hills” is its description name. Kenjockety, Mary
Jemison and Tom Jemison, her grandson, have located it two miles nearer
the Genesee than the present village of Nunda. They obtained their water
from a spring of very cold water. Shorn of its two O’s (both prefix and suffix)
we have “Nonda.” The change from Nunda represents the difference between
mountains or chains of high hills, and ordinary hills. It is the difference seen
between the Onondagas or Great Mountain people and the Nundawahos or
Great Hill people; besides this Sachem was also one of the Great War Chiefs
of the whole Confederacy.

The second village in Nunda that history mentions gets the name of
Nundow, an equivalent for Nundao. Most Indian places had more than one
name, as Gardeau was also Gardao, “A bank in front (of the river)”—so Nun-
dow or Nundao had a hill or high hill in front. In 1780 this was here in the
village and stone quarry hill was probably the hill that would be seen from
any part of our present village.

A third village was located near the north line of the town, near Nunda
Junction. Ancient manuscripts speak of a village and call it “Nundey.” By
a comparison with other Indian words that have either “Nunde” or “Nundey”
in them we find they always apply to places where the hills are small or numer-
ous. This exactly fits the conditions near Nunda Junction. There is abun-
dant evidence of there having been a village there, such as quantities of arrow
chips. The author spent his childhood here and knows that this was so (full
sixty years ago).

Indian villages change locations for sanitary reasons, and also to get new
corn lands for the squaws to use. This village moved southward several times
till it was on the Sturgeon Farm. Exhausted corn lands were found on most
of these Creek road farms by the first settlers.

In the village of to-day at least four sites of Indian camps or small villages
are readily found. Two of them are on the Chautauqua Hollow trail that was
‘ormerly called by the first settlers Rawson Road. It extended through the
farms of Thomas Rathbun, Ralph Page, Palmer Rawson, Elias Rawson (Balty
farm) and Coleman Rawson on State Street, and there branched up the Keshe-
qua, and to Onondao and the Genesee River trail. These two, on the Balty
farm, were near each other but on opposite sides of the trail. These were here
in 1790 and were mentioned by Turner. Elk Hunter was Chief. Another was
farther up the stream just back of the N. H.S. building. The land has not been
plowed for years and a rich find of arrows are expected when it is. Still an-
other is west of Gibbs and Buffalo Streets. These two were the last of the
villages (in this present village)-in 1813 to 1818. There was a potato field on
the present farm of Mrs. Dowling, on lands near the creek, and this was the
last field cultivated by the Indians. This potato patch indicates that one of
these villages was that of Tuscarora Indians—-a Schone or Potato Race village.
This circumstance led to the mistaken idea that the word Nunda meant Pota-
to-Patch but “nun” does not mean potato nor “da,” patch.

48
VONON dO MATA TWOIHAVADOdO [

 

 

 
DE-O-WESTA VILLAGE

The next Indian village to the south was near the middle falls, Hornby
Lodge and the old camp ground of the Civil War days. The very cold spring
that supplied good water then may have relieved the thirst of the Senecas at
the village of Di-o-westa. There is just a hint of French aid in naming this
place. It means “where the river breaks through,” and just a hint of some geo-
logical instinct in these keen observers of nature. It has taken a full century
to find out that the untaught savage knew instinctively that the Genesee
River did not always flow through its present gorge. Again where the river
emerges from its gorge we once had an Indian village called De-a-nun-ga-o,
which the Indians interpreted “where the stream eats the hill.” This is also
good geology.

CARACADERA AND NUNDOW

Writers from up the river assume that Caracadera was only another name
for Caneadea just as those down the river have made the many forms of the
word Nunda mean one place instead of many places. The writer thinks he
has the authority of Horatio Jones himself that the place where he run the
gauntlet was at Fort Hill and that it was called Caracadera. At a later date
the Indians from Nundao or Nundow went up the river for better hunting
ground and called the land in front of the Fort Hill, Nundow. There was no
need to change their name. The hill (though an earth work) was still in front.

The writer believes that both Gilbert and Peart here ran the gauntlet and
afterwards came to Nundao or Nundow, as a Kah Kwa or even a Tuscarora
might have called it. None of these varying dialects called places alike. If
Kenjockety’s father was the Chief at that time, he being a half-blood Kah Kwa
would have called the word differently, broader than a full blood Seneca
would. The harshness in their words was largely the result of their way of
pronunciation.

Still farther up the Genesee was the old Indian village mentioned in the
deeds to its settlers of Owaiski or Wis-Coy. The latter means five-fall creek,
“Wis” being the numeral for five, and Coy or Koya meaning creek. Probably
a hint may be found here for our Keshequa with a Kah Kwa form of name. The
last syllable may have meant simply creek, but what the other meant is still
unknown. The early settlers, mostly squatters, found Wis-Coy village occu-
pied by Indians when they came and it has its own story of some great chief
who prefixed a great O to his village to increase his fame abroad.

Caneadea was not within the limits of our Greater Nunda. It was here
the council house stood; here Major Van Campen ran the gauntlet and here
some Jesuit priest carved a cross on one of its timbers. Caneadea and O-wa-
is-ki were probably under the control of a different chief from those villages
in the lower valley ; probably Chief Hudson.

The Caneadea Reservation made it the last survivor of all the villages of

the Genesee. Its final sale was consumated at last and the last Seneca moved
on towards the setting sun.

INDIAN CAPTIVES IN THE GENESEE VALLEY

While the white woman of the Genesee has been and will ever be of great-
est interest to the citizens on hoth sides of the Genesee, as an Indian captive

50
with an unusually interesting history, there were many more white captives
in this section than is generally supposed. While the many Indians made cap-
tives by the warlike Senecas so augmented their numbers that their rapid in-
crease from 1,600 warriors in the middle of the seventeenth century to at least
twice that number at a later period in spite of the fact that their constant wars
must have decimated their national strength, but for the custom among them
of adopting sons and brothers to take the place of those killed in battle. In
1765 there were 24 white prisoners among the Chennisseo Indians, i. e., the
Senecas, so says Sir William Johnson, and a year later Sarah Carter, a white
captive from Pennsylvania, reported that there were 40 yankees and one large.
lusty negro blacksmith then working at his trade for the Indians. It is said
two Delaware Chiefs, Squash Cutter and Long Coat, conducted quite a lucra-
tive business by bringing captives to the towns of the Genesee and selling their
time to the Indians until such time as they were exchanged or redeemed by
their friends. <All of these 40, however, were released after the captivity of
Mary Jemison, Horatio Jones and Joseph Smith. Other captives were: The
wife of Horatio Jones; Major Moses Van Campen, who run the gauntlet at
Caneadea near the old council house; the Gilbert family, one member,
Joseph, spent a winter at Nunda in 1780-1, and Thomas Peart, a com-
panion, captured at the same time, who was also at Nunda a part of the time
while in captivity. These have left slight records of harsh treatment at Caraca-
dera (Fort Hill) and of kind treatment at the Nunda village after adoption.
Youth of courage were spared for adoption 1f they showed sufficient courage
unless the Indian losses had been too great during the engagement in which
they were captured.

A condensed history of these captives may be of interest to the present
generation. That of Mary Jemison, though an oft told tale, is always interest-
ing. We repeat it with some new local matter told by Dr. Munson of Brooks
Grove and give also an artist's picture taken at Gardeau of the \White \Voman.

One of the most interesting characters known in pioneer times. or even
ante-pioneer days in Western New York, was Mary Jemison, known as “The
White \Woman of the Genesee,” or “The Old \White \WWoman,” and called by
the Senecas, De-he-wa-mis, a name they gave her when she was adopted into a
family of Seneca Indians, and which has been said to signify “A pretty girl.”
“A handsome girl,” or “A pleasant good thing.”

A revival of interest (if possible?) in her strangely eventful life, the story
of which has been read, and re-read, and told from one generation to another,
until it has become inseparably connected with the history and legends of the
Genesee, is evidenced by the fact that of late it has been reprinted in quite a
number of papers of Western New York, some making an entire reprint, and
so continuing from one issue to another, while others have been content to give
to their readers only a more or less abbreviated sketch.

In view of this, and of the undesirable form of newspaper clippings for
preservation, and that it is still frequently called for, and anxiously sought by
many, the writer is led to believe that a brief account embodying substantially
all the important particulars, and leading features of the complete work by John 5.
Minard, will supply this want.

a1
SKETCH OF MARY JEMISON

By Joun S. Mrinarp, or Cusa, N.Y.

Mary was the third in a family of five children of Thomas Jemison and
Jane Irwin, of Scotland or Ireland, she could never tell which, and was born on
the ocean, during the voyage to Philadelphia in 1742 or 1743. The family set-
tled on Marsh creek on the then Pennsylvania frontier, and clearing up a large
farm, became in a few years reasonably prosperous. Soon, however, came on
the troublous times of the French and Indian wars, rendering the home on
the exposed frontier subject at almost any time to the incursions of bands of
predatory Indians.

In one of these descents in 1755 the whole Jemison family, with some of
their neighbors, were taken prisoners by the Indians, and after two days’ travel
into the wilderness, Mary and one of the neighbor’s boys were parted from the
rest of the company, whom she afterward learned were murdered soon after.
Her captors made for Fort Du Quesne (Pittsburg) at which place she was
given to a couple of Seneca women, who at once adopted her in place of a
brother whom they had recently lost. It was then that she was given the name
Dehewamis.

Her sisters would not allow her to speak English, but she practiced it to
what extent she could when alone, repeating her prayer and the catechism her
mother had taught her. She soon learned to understand and speak fluently
their language. The party soon proceeded some distance down the Ohio and
located at a town at the mouth of the Shenanjee where they planted, hoed and
harvested a large crop of corn, the first year, making a stay there of four years,
during which time she married a Delaware Indian named Sheninjee, by whom
she had two children, a girl and a boy—the girl dying while quite young and
the son being named after his grandfather, Thomas Jemison.

The Indians treated her kindly, which made her situation as happy as the
recollection of the sad events which had befallen her would permit and being
young, and possessed of a naturally elastic and exuberant spirit, her husband
and infant son soon engrossed her entire attention and became ties which
strongly bound her to the new and wild life into which she had been intro-
duced, and before a very long time had elapsed the desire to leave her new rela-
tions and return to a life on the frontier was nearly obliterated. She in time
came to regard the life of an Indian not as a drudge, although one of more or
less hardship, still, not harder than that of the white woman, while their cares
were not near so numerous, nor so great; and was always accustomed to speak
in high terms of the character of the Indian, when cut off from contact with
the whites.

In the autumn of 1759 she left the Ohio town, and with two Indian broth-
ers journeyed to Genisheyo, where it was planned to have Sheninjee, her In-
dian husband, join her the following spring. The journey was made on foot
she carrying her nine months’ old papoose on her back. The party stopped
for a day at Caneadea for rest, and then proceeded to Little Beardstown, then a
large Seneca village where Cuylerville now is. Here she made her home with
her Indian mother, brothers and sisters. Some time during the next summer
she learned that her husband died shortly after she left him.

52
In 1763 she was married to the noted Seneca warrior, Hiokatoo, by whom
she had four daughters and two sons. There were no white people in all this
region at that time, only occasional adventurers reaching places so secluded
and so far away from civilization. Dehewamis continued to reside at Little
Beardstown until 17709.

During the revolution, the Senecas were allied with the British, and after
the massacres at Cherry Valley and \Wyoming, which were generally conceded
to have been perpetrated by the Senecas of the Genesee country, it was deter-
mined to punish them by destroying their towns and devastating their country.

On this errand of destruction General John Sullivan was sent. When his
army approached the Genesee many of the Indians fled to the neighboring
woods, while others with women and children hastily made their way across
what is now \Wyoming County, into the present town of Sheldon, at a place
near the little village of Varysburg.

It has been affirmed that the “white woman” lay concealed in the bushes
near the outlet of Silver Lake, for several days. After Sullivan's army retired.
they returned, and found their towns, cornfields and orchards one complete
scene of ruin and desolation.

Dehewamis with her five children then made her way up the river to Gar-
deau where she continued to reside for the next 52 years, removing to the
Buffalo reservation in 1831.

She had on several occasions expressed a wish that she might have a piece
of land set off for her that she could call her own, but it had not been done.
However, in 1779, when the Big Tree treaty was held, she was sent for to attend
the council, and was then informed that she had been remembered in making
their several reservations, and was requested to make her own selection. She
did so, and embraced in her description, the Gardeau flats where she had been
living so many years. In 1798 Augustus Porter made a survey of it, and found
it to contain 17,927 acres. This grant to Mary Jemison was made in total disre-
gard of the protests of the noted orator Red Jacket, who violently opposed it,
and was proof positive of the high esteem in which she was held by the Sen-
ecas.

During her residence at Gardeau her home was an asylum almost, for the
needy and destitute, not only of Indians, but of whites as well. Ebenezer Allan
(otherwise known as “Indian Allan’) on one occasion at least found her home
a retreat where, by concealing himself, he successfully evaded his pursuers.

Before making her selection of land, she was offered her choice of return-
ing to the whites or remaining with the Indians. Carefully considering the
matter, she concluded to end her days with her dusky companions, and con-
tinued to live with her children as she had done all through her married life.

In 1811 Jellis Clute, Micah Brooks, and John B. Gibson commenced nego-
tiations looking for a purchase of her lands. She was naturalized in 1817 by a
special act of the legislature to enable her to convey land and transact any
other business connected with real estate. In the winter of 1822-3 negotiations
were concluded and she conveyed all her land, excepting a tract two miles long
and one wide, to Messrs. Gibson, Clute and Brooks, the consideration being
“three hundred dollars a year forever.”

53
Finally, however, she concluded to leave the Gardeau reservation, receiv-
ing a commutation of her annuity, sold her remaining land, and with her rela-
tives removed to Buffalo Creek Reservation, as before stated, in 1831, taking
up her residence on Buffalo Flats, where she remained until her death, which
occurred September 9, 1833, at about 91 years. She was buried at the Mission
Church cemetery, and a marble slab with an appropriate inscription placed at
her grave.

After the lapse of 40 years the stone had been mostly chipped away by
relic hunters, eager for mementos of the “White Woman” who had so strangely
figured in the history of Western New York, and a street had been surveyed
through the cemetery which, when opened, would pass over the grave. So it
was determined on the part of some of her descendants, seconded and encour-
aged by a number of benevolent gentlemen of Buffalo, to remove her remains
from the grave that had been thus desecrated, and was soon likely to become
obliterated, and deposit them in some place where such desecrations would not
be likely to again occur.

Accordingly, in March, 1874, her remains were carefully exhumed by an
undertaker under the personal supervision of a grandson, Dr. James Shongo.
and placed in a tasteful coffin of black walnut. In making the necessary exca-
vations, there was found near the center of the grave a porcelain dish, which
probably contained, when placed there, some articles of food. A wooden spoon
very much decayed was found in the dish.

It is supposed they were placed there by the pagen Indians at the time of
her burial, to provide her with food while on her journey to the Indians’ happy
hunting grounds. The coffin in which was placed everything found in her
grave, was then taken to the country seat of Hon. William P. Letchworth, at
Portage, where, after appropriate services in the old council house of the Sen-
ecas, it was placed in a stone sarcophagus, sealed with cement and interred in
a grave near by, which is curbed with stones that were formerly placed as
headstones in the rude burial-ground at Gardeau, afterward plowed up and
used in constructing a road culvert.

Mr. Letchworth and Dr. Shongo obtained permission to remove them
from the culvert and place them around the grave of Mary Jemison, who quite
likely helped to plant them at the heads of the graves of her kindred, so wan-
tonly desecrated. Within this curbing the grave is planted with flowers, Dr.
Shongo very appropriately furnishing the seed. Thomas Jemison, a grandson.
and son of the babe she brought on her back from the Ohio town in 1750>
planted a black walnut tree at the foot of her grave, which grew from seed
borne by the tree which sheltered her grave at Buffalo.

What was left of the old headstone was placed at the head of her grave.
near to which stands a marble monument some six feet in height, on one face
of which is copied the inscription which appeared on her old tombstone, which
reads as follows:

“In memory of ‘The White Woman,’ Mary Jemison, daughter of Thomas
Jemison and Jane Irwin, born on the ocean between Ireland and Philadelphia,
in 1742 or 3. Taken captive at Marsh Creek, Pennsylvania, in 1755; carried
down the Ohio and adopted into an Indian family. In 1759 removed to Gen-
esee River, was naturalized in 1817, removed to this place (now Buffalo) in

54
1831, and having survived two husbands and five children, leaving three still
alive, she died September 19, 1833, aged about 91 years; having a few weeks
before expressed a hope of pardon through Jesus Christ. ‘The counsel of the
Lord shall stand.’ ”

On another side appears this inscription:

“To the memory of
MARY JEMISON,

Whose home during more than 70 years of a life of strange vicissitudes was
among the Senecas upon the banks of this river, and whose history, insepara-
bly connected with that of this valley, has caused her to be known as ‘The
White Woman of the Genesee.’”’

While on still another side appears:

“The remains of the ‘White Woman’ were removed from the Buffalo
Creek Reservation, and re-interred at this place with appropriate ceremonies,
on the 7th of March, 1874.”

It is said to be the intention of Mr. Letchworth to place upon this monu-
ment a statue of Mary Jemison in her Indian costume, bearing her babe upon
her back as she came to the Genesee Valley. Here, within sound of the falls
of the river, to the murmur of whose waters she listened for over seventy years
of an eventful life, very properly repose her honored remains.

Mr. William C. Bryant, of Buffalo, is said to be the authority for the state-
ment that the generally accepted orthography and signification of the name
conferred upon the captive by the two gentle Indian women who adopted her
as their sister, is incorrect.

 

 
  

 
  
      

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55
He says “the name should be written Deh-ge-wa-nus, and the signification
was “two wailing voices,” given as a sort of memento of their own grief over
the loss of their brother.

With manifest propriety, therefore, Mr. Letchworth has given the name to
a beautiful little rivulet and waterfall in the neighborhood, and $0 Deh-ge-wa-
nus, the crystal stream and murmuring fall, with its two voices, or the stream
and of the forest, preserves and commemorates a name which has become
renowned in the early history of Western New York.

Her three sons, Thomas, Jesse and James, all met with tragical deaths,
thus contributing a heavy weight of sorrow, which, with other troubles,
pressed upon their aged mother and made her last years quite despondent and
sad. ,

John became the murderer first of Thomas, and afterwards of Jesse, and
was not long afterward killed by two other Indians at Squakie Hill. These
two Indians were named Jack and Doctor, and after the lapse of a few weeks,
Jack poisoned himself by eating musk-rat root and Doctor died of consumption
in 1819.

Her daughter Mary married an Indian named Billy Green, John Green
married Betsy, and the youngest, Polly, married George Shongo, a son of the
old Caneadea war chief.

They all settled on their mother’s land at Gardeau, and all had large fam-
ilies of children; so the descendants of Mary Jemison are quite numerous, and
many of the name are still found on the different Indian reservations in this
and even other states. Indeed it has been strongly suspected that some have
assumed the name who had no right to it, and all who bear the name or appro-
priate it seem proud of being called a Jemison.

About fifteen years since, Mr. Carlos Stebbins, of Pike, Wyoming Coun-
ty, an artist of celebrity, contributed to posterity and Indian history, a beauti-
ful portrait in oil, which is considered by many who remember her, to be a re-
markably correct representation of the form and features of this once noted
‘and now historic character. In the prosecution of the work he called into
requisition great natural aptitude for faithful delineation, which was supple-
mented by many suggestions from persons whom he interviewed, who had the
pleasure of her acquaintance, and the eminently successful portrait which re-
sulted, reflects great credit upon the artist, and is considered a prize of great
value by the Pioneers’ Association to whom it was kindly presented by Mr.
Stebbins.

Another conception, that of the late Mr. Martin Andrews, of Perry, is also
in existence. The original was a pen and ink drawing, from that the photo-
graph of which our cut was made. Mr. Andrews had the advantage of per-
sonal recollection of the “White \Voman" and many regard it as a very suc-
cessful effort.

It is to be regretted that some great artist had not been employed to trans-
fer to canvass her features and form during her lifetime. Artists in those days,
however, were scarce. Photography had vet to be born, and so we give to our
readers the best likeness, so far as known, that has ever been made. It bears
no very close resemblance to the other, nor vet is it very dissimilar, and we

56
flatter ourselves that it will pass into history as a thoroughly conscientious con-
ception of the personal appearance of

De-he-wa-mis,
“The White \Woman of the Genesee.”

Dr. William B. Munson, a pioneer physician, who lived between Nunda
and Brooksgrove, in a letter to Hon. William P Letchworth, narrates his per-
sonal knowledge of the “White \Woman of the Genesee.” As a pen picture it
is interesting.

“According to the picture of her I have in my mind she had the shape
form and figure of an active, lovely little woman 75 or 80 years of age. She
was about four and a half feet in height, exhibiting the remains of a fair com-
plexion and regular features that had been in youth extremely beautiful. The
cheek bones nor the chin were not prominent, neither was the nose large. Con-
sidering her age all these features were quite symmetrical. The head was of
medium size, covered with gray hair, smoothed backward; the neck was not
long but in due proportion to the head; her shoulders were rounded and stoop-
ing forward, a position she may have acquired by bearing heavy burdens custo-
mary with Indian women and from age, or resulted from the hardships she had
encountered in her eventful life. Her eve sight had become dim, but her fea-
tures were not wrinkled as much as might have been expected from the many
trials and sorrows she had endured.

“The ‘White Woman’ was quite intelligent, social and communicative,
but grave and serious, after the manner of Indians. With familiar acquaint-
ances she would join in lively conversation and brisk repartee. Mentioning
on one occasion that I had read her life and that it had interested me very
much. she replied: ‘Ah, yes! but I did not tell them who wrote it down half
of what it was.’ It is thought that she then withheld information which the
Indians feared might stir up the prejudices of the white people.

“In making visits to the ‘White Woman’ we were in the habit of taking
along some trifling present for her. At one time we carried along a bottle of
the best Madeira wine. She manifested her grateful acknowledgment of the
gift and taking the bottle of wine went and hid it carefully away from the In-
dians. She was at the time living in her own block house, superintending the
preparations of provisions for a journey to Buffalo. This was about the last
time I saw her. She was assisted in her work by her daughter Polly and a
number of young papooses. They had a large brass kettle swung over an open
fire of wood upon the hearth. The kettle was filled with boiling fluid. Sitting,
standing and squatting around a large wooden trough filled with hominy made
into dough the mother, daughter and grandchildren were busily engaged in
making up balls of dough from the kneading trough and enclosing therein
plenty of dried apples and pumpkin, which lay beside the trough. As the balls
were made up they were tossed into the boiling kettle and when thoroughly
cooked were taken out and laid upon boards or pieces of bark. The food had
a savory odor, and appeared to be very good but we could rot vouch for the
palatableness of the delectable dumplings as they offered none of them to us
In viewing the preparation of this food we saw most beautifully and satisfac-

57
torily solved the problem that muddled and belabored the brains of King
George the Third, namely, how the apple got into the dumpling.

“IT saw her again late in the fall season. She was habited in woolen petti-
coat and short gown that came mid-leg below the knees, buckskin leggings
and moccasins and over all a white common woolen Indian blanket. It was
just at night and she was going after a stray pony, and was led by a young
Indian, one of her grandchildren, She went spatting through the rivulet of
ice cold water just north of the house, and although her sight was so dim she
could scarcely see in the twilight twice the length of a horse, on she went in
spite of every obstacle, with that energy and purpose that had characterized
her whole life.

“After going to Buffalo she purchased of an Indian a house and lot. Her
family consisted of herself, her daughter Polly and her son-in-law, George
Shongo, and five grandchildren, three boys and two girls. She lost the money
she had received for her lands at Gardeau by intrusting it to a white man, who
lost it in an unlucky speculation. This was in harmony with the rest of her
mournful misfortunes. She became dependent on her daughter and her son-
in-law, but with filial love they cared for her tenderly until she passed away,
September 19, 1833.”

PRISONERS WHO HAD TO RUN THE GAUNTLET AT
CANEADEA AND CARACADERA

The life of Major Van Campen, written by his grandson, Rev. J. N. Hub-
bard, and half a century later by John S. Minard, tells the story of his having
been taken prisoner, brought to Caneadea, Ga-ah-ya-de-o (where the heavens
rest upon the earth), where Van Campen was made to prove his prowess by
running a distance of thirty or forty rods between two rows of men, women
and children armed with hatchets, knives and sticks and free to use them as
opportunity offered. It was for amusement of the Indians, especially for the
women and children. If the prisoner displayed manly courage and dexterity
the warriors treated him leniently. The cowardly or timid met with no favor
from any. His life was of no value. The prisoners were all allowed to start
together; behind them were the swiftest runners armed with whips to harass
them all they could. The women had long whips and all expected to use them
to advantage. The story as told in the history is better than any synopsis of
it so I “appropriate it” and give it “verbatim.”

“Presently the word ‘joggo’ was given and the prisoners sprang forward
to the race. The Indian whippers started at the same time with a bound and
made the utmost exertion to reach them with the lash. Van Campen had not
yet received a single blow and was drawing near in his rapid flight to two
young squaws who had their whips raised ready to strike and he did not ex-
pect to pass them without suffering the weight of their descending arms. Just
before he reached them the thought struck him and as quick as lightning he
gave a spring and raised his feet, which hit them on the breast and sent them,
as if by a whirlwind, in the same direction in which he was running. They all
came down together, tumbling heels over head, and Van Campen found him-
self between two squaws who were kicking and squabbling about, endeavoring
to improve their position. He did not wait to help the ladies up but sprang

58
upon his feet and made good his race. The warriors beheld the scene with the
utmost delight. * * * They made the air ring with shouts of delight.
Some threw themselves on the ground and rolled and roared with laughter
Some of the young warriors came up to Van Campen and patted him on the
back, saying ‘Shenawanna,’ ‘Cajena’—brave man, good fellow.”

Horatio Jones, at Fort Hill, met with this same treatment, but probably
did not try any pranks on his tormentors. He was younger, was adopted into
an Indian household and became one of the best of interpreters. His associa-
tion with Astor in the fur trade and his early settlement at Leicester has
often been told. His wife was also an Indian captive.

The story of the captivity of the Gilbert family and the running of the
gauntlet by Joseph Gilbert and of Thomas Peart is chiefly interesting that
after their adoption into Indian families they both spent part of their time
(this was in 1780) at Nunda, called by them Nundow. Gilbert speaks of the
kindness of the King in bringing them food and evidently meant to make a
good Indian or good interpreter of him. Both finally escaped.

Gilbert was sent to one of the villages in Nunda—probably Nundao,
almost seven miles from the scene of his torture—where soon after his arrival
the Chief himself—also called a King or Sachem—brought him hominy and
treated him with much civility and kindness, intending to adopt him into his
family. For several weeks he resided with the Chief whose wigwam was
superior to the huts of the other Indians. He was then taken back to Caraca-
dera, his weakness of body from scanty nourishment being so great that he
was two days in accomplishing a journey of seven miles.

Peart, the other prisoner, was then sent to the same place where he spent
the fall and winter. Gilbert occasionally visited him there. Gilbert finally
escaped to Niagara, and Peart, who had been adopted by an Indian mother in
place of a son lost in battle, was taken to Buffalo by his foster mother and there
made his escape back to the settlements.

CHAPTER NIII.

esee, ordered by \Washington because of the frequent massacres under

the direction and immediate leadership of Brant Butler and Little Beard,
made this severe measure a necessity. It has so often been told, it needs no
retelling. It was the part of the Revolutionary struggle that came into the
northern towns of what is now Livingston County. Conesus, where there was
a skirmish and an Indian ambush and victory, Groveland, Sparta and Geneseo,
Mt. Morris and Leicester the army visited. The torturing of Boyd and Parker
at Little Beardstown (then O-nun-da-ga-o, now Cuylerville) was largely due
to Boyd's belief that his Masonry would save him for Brant was a Mason and
he had given the sign of distress. Brant simply took himself away from the
scene, and Little Beard’s desire for revenge for the destruction of their
orchards, grain and buildings and the refusal of Boyd to answer questions
concerning Sullivan’s army led to the horrible torture of himself and his com-
panion. It was only a specimen of Indian warfare under aggravating circum-
stances.

ese, onder campaign of destruction of the Indian villages of the Gen-

59
After the flight up the river towards Silver Lake the one characterizing
act of Seneca spirit was bending a young tree’s top to its body to symbolize
their condition and spirit—“bent but not broken,” conquered but not subdued.
Who but a Seneca would have thought of this? It takes greatness to even
symbolize greatness, and our predecessors were in spirit, giants.

There has been a belief that the destruction of villages and property
stopped at Leicester, and yet it was thought at the time that the Senecas went
up the river on the east side, though they were mistaken. It is also said that the
army of destruction went up and down the river. How far could they go up
the river on the east side without coming to the once great Onondao? If the
destruction of crops and villages was their object could they, with Indian
guides, fail to know that for a hundred years there had been villages in Nunda?
There is said to have been a bridge in the town of Portage not far from the Gen-
esee trail, called Sullivan’s bridge?) Who built it—no man of that name lived
in Portage?

It is possible there is still a single page of unwritten history of that cam-
paign. The bridge of logs was there in 1816 and no one knew who built it.
The town was settled that year and the first settlers called it Sullivan's bridge.
There was a Revolutionary soldier who built a mill on that bridged stream in
1817. It is possible that Sullivan’s army went up the river trail that far—a
dozen miles. White men’s traditions are usually founded on facts.

Sullivan's campaign in 1779, had it not been followed by the Big Tree
treaty in 1797 would not have completed the Colonists’ “Winning of Western
New York,” but won it was, there and then, and the name of Thomas Morris.
whom the people sent to Congress, should ever be associated with that of his
father, whose agent he was, as the most skillful of all the diplomats who ever
measured skill and eloquence with Red Jacket, till he won his aid in securing
this grand desideratum, the purchase of nearly all the unpurchased lands of
Western New York. If the village of Mt. Morris is named for the son, and
not for the father, I rejoice in it. It is just; it is right: the fame of the great
financier of the Revolution is world wide, but that of his son is local, and what
he did at Big Tree was of more honor than any received as Representative of
Ontario County in Congress. [f Sullivan “closed the West Door, of the Senecas,”
Thomas Morris locked it.

A KEY TO RED JACKET’S ELOQUENCE

Gleamed from the story of Thomas Maxwell, Esq., Elmira, many years
ago, in conversation with Red Jacket at Bath, after a little fire water had
thawed his reserve, the Chief remarked that when a boy he was present at a
great council fire held on the Shenandoah. Many nations were represented
by their wise men and orators, but the greatest was Logan, who then lived in
Shemokin. He was the son of Skekelleamus, a celebrated Chief of the Cayugas,
who was a warm friend of the whites before the Revolution. On the occasion
alluded to, Red Jacket was so charmed with his manner and style of delivery
that he resolved to attain, if possible, the same high standard of eloquence
though he almost despaired of equaling his distinguished model. He said that
after his return to Kanadesaga, near Geneva, he sometimes incurred the dis.
pleasure of his mother by long absence from the cabin without ostensible

60
cause. When hard pressed for an answer he replied that he had been playing
“Logan.”

In his mighty soul the fire of a generous emulation had been kindled not
to go out until his oratorical fame threw a refulgent glory on the declining
fortunes of the once powerful Iroquois. In the deep and silent forests he
practiced elocution, or as he expressed it, “played Logan,” until he caught the
manner and tone of his great master. What a revelation! Unconsciously the
forest orator was an imitator of the eloquent Greek, who tuned his voice to the
wild sea beach, to the thunder of the surge, and caught from nature’s altar his
lofty inspiration. With severest discipline did Red Jacket acquire the power
of moving and melting his hearers. His graceful attitudes, significant ges:
tures, perfect intonation and impressive pauses when the lifted finger and up-
lifted flashing eye told more than utterance that these were results of sleepless
toil, while his high acquirement was the product of stern, habitual thought,
study of man, and keen observation of eternal nature. Not to the occasion
alone did he trust for his finest periods and noblest metaphors. In the armory
of his capacious intellect the weapons of forensic warfare were stored away,
ready and polished.

So-go-ye-wat-ha won his name, “he-keeps-them-awake,” that has placed
him high on the heights of oratory by no strategic tricks of skill but found the
royal trail to fame by scaling rugged clifts and never resting till he reached the
loftiest heights.

Address by A. Sim Logan at Geneseo, N. Y., September 15, 1897, on the
one hundredth anniversary of the Big Tree treaty which practically terminated
the Indian occupancy in the Genesee Valley. A. Sim Logan was a student for
several years in the Nunda Literary Institute, as was his sister Phebe.

Logan was brought here by their uncle, then a citizen of Nunda, Eli S.
Parker afterward Chief of the Senecas, and Brigadier General on Staff of U. S.
Grant.

Mr. Logan said: i

“Mr. Toastmaster and Gentlemen—As a representative of the Seneca Na-
tion of the Iroquois Indians I come before you on this occasion as a represent-
ative of the people who once held sway over this entire continent, and as I
have consented to make a short speech on this joyous occasion I do so with
the proper sense of the obligation I am under to my own race. We have laid
aside all those feelings of animosity which actuated our forefathers when they
saw that the vast country over which they roamed must give way to the civil-
ization of the white man, and we have learned also that our children must
take their places in the great procession of progress, and in order to do this we
must have elementary and high schools where our young men and women may
be equipped for a successful career. It is well known to those who have
studied my people that when we get the better of your civilization we thrive
under it, and our children take equal rank with yours in the acquisition of
knowledge. It has been said, Mr. Toastmaster, that the only good Indian is
a dead one. Give us your schools and your Christianity and a fair chance in
life, and do not treat us as dogs, and we will show by our love for our white
brothers and by our improvement that there are good Indians who are not
dead.

61
“The Indians are not decreasing in this country ; they are increasing, and
so, Mr. Toastmaster, you are likely to have the Indian problem on your hands
for some time to come, and the only proper settlement of this problem is to
educate and Christianize my people. And it is a great deal cheaper to do this
than to exterminate us. President Grant stated that it has cost this govern-
ment two millions of dollars to kill an Indian, but it costs only about $200 on
an average to educate and Christianize an Indian, and an educated Indian is
more glory to your race and to your civilization than a murdered one.

“Your centennial celebration is a great event, and I am here to-day, not to
glory over the departure of my people from this region but to assure you that
though we have parted with our fertile lands and gone from your immediate
midst, with a good heart, we rejoice in your improvement, which God has
spread over this land, and we unite with you on this great occasion out of
respect for our white brother and his government and for our great white
father in Washington, who recognizes the Indians, as wards of his government,
to look with a father’s interest after the welfare of us, who, like you, are the
children of the Great Spirit.

“Although, Mr. Toastmaster, my people are increasing in the United
States, our ancient customs are gradually fading away and we shall under the
influence of the progress of the age, in taking our places in the procession with
you, lay aside the customs of our fathers, but we hope to prove ourselves
worthy of the advantages which our white brothers have brought us, and act
well the part which the Great Spirit created us to perform.”

AT BIG TREE

Thomas Morris—‘The persuasive advocate.”
Red Jacket—‘The Indian diplomat. °

A DIALOGUE

After the offer of $100,000 and needed reservations had been declined.
T. M.—‘Consider the liberal ofter I have made. Do not act hastily.”

R. J.—"We are not vet convinced that it is best for us to dispose of our
lands at any price.” ;

T. Al—“But what value can they be to you as they now are, any farther
than the consciousness that you own them?”

R. J—'Yes. But this knowledge is everything to us. It raises us in our
own estimation. It creates in our bosoms a proud feeling which elevates us
as anation. (Observe the difference between the estimation in which a Seneca
and an (neida are held. We are courted while the (neidas are considered a
degraded people, fit only to make brooms and baskets. Why this difference?
It is because the Senecas are known to be proprietors of a broad domain while
the Oneidas are cooped up in a narrow space.”

T. ML—"Ah, you presume too much in regard to the consequence of your
nation. It is far from being as great as you suppose, and in proof of this let
me refer you to the manner in which your deputation to the Miamis was re-
ceived in 1743. Though large and composed of many of the first men of vour
nation it had but little influence.” :

62
R. J.—“Very true, and why? It was because we were in bad company.
Had we been alone we should have been treated with that dignity which be-
longs to the Senecas throughout the world.”

A Bystander—‘He dare not sell; he is a coward.”

R. J—"Yes, lam a coward. Assure me that you can create lands like
these (pointing to the magnificent scenery around him) which the Great Spirit
has created for us, his red children, so that you can give us lands like these in
return and I will be brave. Until then I am a coward. I dare not sell these
lands.”

CHAPTER XIV

OTHER INDIANS WHO WERE Known To Our First PIONEERS AND WHo REGAKD-
eD East Hitt AND THE Forests Anout CHautauoua Hottow As THEIR
HuNTING GROUNDS.

ALL CHIEF, whose Indian name was A-wa-nis-ha-dek-hah, or some-
| times spelled Ou-nea-shat-ai-kau, signifying burning day. As he
belonged to an earlier generation and lived nearer to Nunda we men-
tion him first. His special home was at Murray Hill, Mt. Morris, where he
had five huts. He also spent part of his time at Squakie Hill. Tall Chief was
noted for his fine physique, while his natural grace and dignity of demeanor
made him a suggestion of Henry Clay. Straight as an arrow, and quite sena-
torical in deportment, as he was always cool and self-possessed. Several anec-
dotes are related of him that illustrate his equanimity. An Indian of his vil-
lage had killed a compahion. Believing that Tall Chief could aid in securing
the guilty man the authorities at once informed him of the deed, but he did
nothing. They at length urged him to act. “Yes,” said he, “maybe, bime-by,
somebody ketch um,—kill um,—may be,—can't say.” He performed better
than he promised, and the culprit was soon after secured and handed over to
justice. * °
' Another anecdote displays this child of nature in all his forest freedom.
Colonel Lyman, of Geneseo, having an errand, called at his cabin. The squaws
of his household were sitting under a tree on the ground enjoying its grateful
shade, for the day was hot and sultry. On inquiring for the Chief they pointed
to another tree near by, where he was seen lying upon his back nearly naked.
The Chief received his guest graciously but without change of position. After
the object of his call was effected he politely invited the Colonel to remain for
a visit. The guest seemed much surprised at the great Chief's attitude but
the females exhibited no surprise. He was simply a “modern Adam of a race
renewed.”

As a guest of \Washington he appears to better advantage than as a host.
\With a deputation of Chiefs he visited “the Great Father of the Thirteen Coun-
cil Fires” to smoke with him the “peace pipe.” After a ceremonious, but no
doubt an abundant dinner, a big pipe was lighted and Washington tried un-
successfully to draw the smoke through the long stem. He handed it to
Horatio Jones, who succeeded better. The President then took a whiff and
passed the pipe to Tall Chief, to whom he paid marked attention, and then

63
to each in turn. The dignified Seneca was always proud of this distinction
and courtesy shown him by the “Great Father” and often referred to this occa-
sion.

Tall Chief was particularly noted for his medical skill, as he possessed
the Indian secret for the cure of the bite of the rattlesnake. The pioneers of
an early date regarded him with peculiar interest and some of their children
still tell of his visits to their forest homes, but in this they are mistaken ; it was
his son, William Tall Chief, that visited their parents’ homes after they were
old enough to remember him, for Tall Chief left this section and removed to
Tonawanda in 1828 where soon after his removal he died, in 1831. His sons,
Straight-Back and William or Bill Tall Chief, were annual guests, though un-
bidden ones, throughout Nunda, Ossian, Grove and Portage.

Straight-Back and William Tall Chief were born at Squakie Hill. Straight-
Back, who derived his name from his erect walk and stately manner, attained.
to a large degree, the respect held by the white pioneers for his father. His
dignity and grace, even as a member of a hunting party, won a courteous re-
ception from his white admirers.

William Tall Chief, whose last Indian name was Ho-is-da-ga-thet—“he
carries the medal’—of which he was very proud. He was like his father, of
striking personal appearance, and splendid physique. One who knew him well
says he was a man of integrity but more noted as a hunter than as a councilor.
Most East Hill residents knew him well from 1816 when our first settlers
sought the hills in preference to the valleys, to 1846 when he went to Kansas
with a party of Senecas to settle upon the lands that were then set apart for
the New York Indians. Local history tells us that on their way thither several
of the band contracted ship-fever on board a Missouri River steamboat and
nearly 50 fell victims to the disease.

Dissatisfied with the country, William sat out to return, but died on the
way of consumption and was buried at Beaver, Ohio. The same historian re-
cords that he saw his widow, who was a granddaughter of the ‘“‘white woman,”
and her grown up children in the fall of 1865. They were possessed of striking
personal appearance, and were greatly interested in hearing about the former
home of their relatives on the Genesee, as it recalled what they had before
heard. The beauty of Conesus Lake and the great fertility of the Mt. Morris
flats were among the things that was freshest in their remembrance.

Later historical matter has been obtained concerning these celebrated
Indians. Tall Chief belonged to the Beaver clan and Dr. Mills is authority
for this statement that at the age of 30 he was Chief of Kan-ags-saws (Cone-
sus) village, when it was destroyed by Sullivan in 1779. He went to Mt. Mor-
ris in 1780 and from this we conclude that he was born in 1749 or 1750. After
going to the Buffalo Reservation he returned occasionally, never losing inter-
est in his former home, the Genesee Valley. On May 27, 1884, his remains
were disinterred and brought to Mt. Morris for burial through the instru
mentality of Dr. Myron H. Mills and the co-operation of the Cemetery Asso-
ciation. It is an interesting circumstance to Mt. Morris people that two of the
relatives of Tall Chief, present at the reinterment ceremonies, were Mrs. Mary
Logan and Alexander Tall Chief. It is interesting to the people of Nunda
that three of the relatives of Tall Chief, one of them also a relative of Red

64
Jacket, lived in Nunda village. A. Sim Logan and his sister, Phebe, who at-
tended for several years the Nunda Literary Institute, also that they were
brought here by their uncle, a civil engineer, afterward Brigadier General Ely
S. Parker, Chief of the Senecas and an aid on General Grant’s staff. Mr.
Parker lived on Mill Street for two years.

Big Tree (Ga-on-dah-go-waah), “Large Tree lying down.” This notable
Council Chief of the Senecas dwelt at Big Tree, the Indian village nearest
Geneseo. An inn at this village still perpetuates his name. He was of great
service to the American cause and as a counselor his voice was for peace. He
was highly esteemed by Washington, who sent him, in the year 1778, to the
villages along the Genesee, hoping that his influence, backed by his eloquence,
might win the Senecas to the cause of the patriots. He found a concentration
of many warriors at Kanadaseaga (Geneva) and at Little Beardstown, not
only from their neighboring villages but many from remote tribes. The Sen-
ecas were inclined to listen to their Council Chief, but a spy having reported
that an army of invaders were to visit their section, “all flew to arms” and Big
Tree placed himself at their head determined to chastise an enemy who
would presume to encroach upon his people’s territory. He, however, informed
the Colonists of the failure of his mission. When his own property shared the
fate of those more hostile to the Colonists, and was pointed out the ingratitude
of friends he took no offence at the act but ascribed it to the necessities of
aggressive warfare.

A delegation of Chiefs in 1790 visited General Washington at Philadel-
phia and presented him an address, which ranks high as a specimen of Indian
eloquence. Cornplanter, Big Tree and Half-town were part of the delegation.
The first verse of the address is as follows:

“Father, the voice of the Seneca Nation speaks to you, the great councilor,
in whose heart the wise men of all the thirteen fires have placed their wisdom.
It may be very small in your eyes, and we therefore entreat you to hearken
with attention for we are able to speak of things which to us are very great.”

What modern diplomat could excel these “children of nature” in felicitous
and courteous expression?

Big Tree was often a delegate, for any delegation of which he was a part
was sure to receive a courteous welcome from the Great Father and Chief of
the Thirteen Council Fires.

In 1792 he is again at Washington with a large delegation of Chiefs and
warriors from the Six Nations where he fell a victim to the excessive hospital-
ity extended to the delegation, and after a few hours’ illness, caused by surfeit,
he died, and in a day or two, on Sunday, April 22, 1792, he was buried with
something like public honors. That he may have traversed our valley with
hunting parties no citizens of Nunda can remember, but the Pioneer Wads-
worths, William and James, and the very few who. lived in the Genesee Valley
at that early date owed much of the tranquility and peace they enjoyed to the
friendship and influence of this noteable Chieftain.

A son of Big Tree was better known by the early settlers. He was an
expert in running and in wrestling. It is told that Colonel William Jones
often wrestled with him and being younger and less muscular generally found
himself undermost at the end of the scuffle. On one occasion, however, Jones

65
being challenged, succeeded in throwing his red contestant, who, greatly cha-
grined and offended, jumped up and drew from his belt a small tomahawk
which he usually carried. This he raised and aimed at his antagonist. The
bystanders grew excited but Jones remained cool, taunting him with cow-
ardice for threatening to strike an unarmed man who, until now, had always
got the worst of it in these contests. The Indian's rage died for he knew he
was wrong and, dropping his weapon, he stepped forward, extending his hand.
The two remained friends ever afterward but neither renewed the challenge.

Some of the Squakie Hill Indians who lived so near to modern Nunda
must have been familiar visitors to our East Hill pioneers. These Indians were
of various tribes and were in youth captives saved to increase their number of
warriors.

Black Chief (Tha-on-dah-dis), “Long tree or log.” He was darker
than. the average Seneca. He may have been of the Kah Kwas as his com-
plexion and great size indicated. As a race they preferred peace to war and
were known as “neutrals” but when they were on the warpath there was
no discount on their valor. This Chief was famous both in war and in peace.
He had the confidence and respect of his people. When enraged his face was
a synonym for savage barbarity. He was usually calm, sedate and taciturn.
His four sons also showed their foreign blood and were giants in stature. One
of them was called Jim Washington. An only daughter who may have been
more like her mother was a great favorite with all. She was said to be grace-
ful, gentle and generous. After her father’s death the tribe paid her peculiar
honor. The Squakie Hill people held to a superstition that during their life-
time the Iroquois would regain their ancient power and prestige. Hence,
every kindness was extended to her; her pathway was literally strewn with
flowers, the finest fruits and choicest venison found their way to her cabin.

A pestilence passed over the villages of the Genesee and many died; but
so long as she remained unharmed the natives bore their personal afflictions
with resignation. The plague died away and general health was restored.
But now the hope of their nation sickened and though the wisest medical men
even the Prophet himself, exerted their best powers, she died. The light so
beautiful to their eyes was extinguished, the hope they had cherished was
changed to hopelessness and despair. Inconsolate grief filled the villages and
every suggestion that an all absorbing affection could dictate found expression
in acts of tender affection. In this strange story of a race of savages who were
at this time as tender and sentimental as the most cultured of the white race
of the present day could be. To-day we imitate them for we are told that the
rose and the myrtle were scattered about the funeral couch. We are also
told that they followed the usual Indian customs and brought corn in the ear,
mint and costly furs, and these were hung around the lifeless form or decorated
the place of burial. When necessity compelled burial, this was done with every
mark of respect and heartfelt regret. The poetical instincts of this strange
race had invested this Indian maiden with more than mortal purity and sweet-
ness.

Some of the half-bloods were of unusual intelligence and seemed proud
of their relationship to the white race. Jack Berry, or Major Berry, as he was
called, was of this class. He lived at Squakie Hill until he removed to the Buf-

66
falo Reservation. His father was one of that class of early settlers who pre-
ceded the farmer pioneers. They were traders with the Indians, buying their
peltries and paying for them with beads, trinkets and other harmless
things, but also selling them the harmful fire water. I think we read of the inn
kept by his widow and of her firmness in letting the red men have only a lim-
ited amount of the harmful drink. Their home was near Avon.

The Major always referred to his father, uncle or cousins, as the case
might be, with pride rather than shame. He spoke the English language
fluently and was serviceable as interpreter, and on one occasion went with Red
Jacket to Washington. He had a peculiar way of prefacing and clinching
every sentence of the great orator’s speeches, thus “Jacket says” and would end
the speech by saying “that’s what Jacket says.” The word Iroquois is French
and derives its meaning from this very form of expression common to all the
race of their orators. They conclude each speech by saying “I have spoken.”
The Major wanted it understood it was “Jacket” and not himself who uttered
the words of eloquence. He was proud of his importance as interpreter, and
his pride in being half white led him to befriend the whites on many occasions.
It is said that he dropped a hint to Horatio Jones, just before he run the gaunt-
let at Fort Hill, which saved him many a blow from the savages’ clubs. In
person he was short and thick set. His house at Squakie Hill had a chimney
and floor. There was but one other that had these conveniences. The house
was bought by the wife of Thomas Jemison, the senior, when Berry went to
Buffalo. He was somewhat intemperate but under all circumstances preserved
his self respect. He died in the winter of 1838-9.

Captain Pollard, Ga-on-do-wah-neh, (Big Tree) was another of this class.
He lived at Big Tree village. His mother was a Seneca squaw and his father
an English trader whose name he took. He had great weight in councils. His
judgment was sound and his oratorical skill second only to Red Jacket. He
was pitted against Red Jacket in a memorable trial in Buffalo in which Tommy
Jimmey was charged with killing a squaw, and judging by the effect on the
Indians present was not second on this occasion. Hon. Orlando Allen, in a
letter to Lockwood L. Doty (Livingston County historian), says: “He was
one of the most honest, pure minded men I ever knew, white or red.” While
Horatio Jones is quoted as saying, ‘‘Morally speaking, Pollard was as good a
man as any white minister that ever lived.”

On one occasion Pollard and Captain Jones were in Washington together
and Jones said: “I outran you, I think, some years ago.” “Oh, yes,” responded
the Chief, good naturedly, but I have often wanted to try it over again, and
you were never quite ready.” Captain Jones laughed and said no more. In
person, he was square built and above the medium size, with an agreeable
countenance and a dignified manner. He had espoused Christianity and made
arrangements for Christian burial. In the summer of 1834, when Black Hawk
and the War Prophet and other Sac and Fox Indians were returning from their
tour through the states and about to be released by the government, they
stopped a day or two at Buffalo. Arrangements were made for a meeting with
the Indians of the Reservation at the Seneca council house. Orlando Allen
was present and is reported as saying: “Captain Pollard, who was familiar with
the Black Hawk war, made the speech one of the most appropriate and tell

67
ing ones I ever heard; not a Senator in Congress would have done it better.”
Black Hawk and the Prophet replied, and both owned they had had enough
of fighting the United States.

Hot Bread (O-ah-gwa-dai-ya) was one of the wise men of Canawagus.
He was short and very dark but stood high with his brother Chiefs as an
orator. He was indolent and his appetite was voracious. Red Jacket once
said of him: “Hot Bread, waugh! big man here (pointing to his stomach) but
very small here (bringing the palm of his hand across the forehead).” He
died at Canawagus of smallpox. Hot Bread was heartily opposed to the
white man’s religion and the “black coats,” as he called the clergy. The
Scotch Presbyterians were at Caledonia at the time and they were extreme
Calvanists. It is no wonder that this Chief preferred hot bread to still hotter
doctrine.

He, with others, signed a petition, or memorial, addressed to Governor
Clinton in respect to the ‘black coats.’ This paper closed with these words:
“We ask our brothers not to force a strange religion upon us. We ask to be
let alone and, like the white people, to worship the Great Spirit as we think it
best. \e shall then be happy in filling the little space in life which is left us,
and shall go down to our fathers in peace.”

Half-Town (Ga-ji-ot or Achi-out) “a stopper or a rock in the mouth of a
bear's den!” was one of the chiefs at Big Tree,—Geneseo. He is one of those
who first fought against the colonies in the Revolutionary war but fought for
the states in the War of 1812-14. Captain Half-Town, Farmers Brother and
Red Jacket were extremely serviceable in this latter contest and were in sev-
eral engagements. He was manager of the funds of his nation. Half-Town
was at Fort Harmer in 1789 where, with 23 other chiefs, he executed a treaty
with the commissioners, General St. Clair, Oliver Wolcott and Arthur Lee.
Big Tree was also one of the signers. Pennsylvania, in 1791, granted $800 to
Cornplanter, Half-town and Big Tree in trust for the Senecas. An Indian
war was then feared, settlers were intruding on their lands. Half-Town proved
the white man’s friend and kept the garrisons at Venango and vicinity in-
tormed of every movement of the hostile bands. Much evil to the whites was
prevented. Cornplanter and Half-Town kept a hundred warriors under arms
and their runners were out constantly watching the movements of war parties
till the danger was over. It is thought he died at Big Tree village.

Tommy Infant, lived at Canawagus. Most of the Indians were exceeding-
ly dignified. Tommy was the clown of his race—his very name suggests a
spirit of humor. He was very large, having the appearance of an overgrown
youth; hence his name. He was rather fine looking and good natured. Sev-
eral anecdotes are told of his awkward size. A modern Kenjockety (who was
called in his youth Big Dog) being at Avon (near his home in Canawagus) he
took the liberty of entering a vacant house through a door accidentally left
open, and lay down for the night. The owner came along and saw the pros-
trate Indian and in much surprise asked: “\Who’s here?” “Oh, it’s no dutch-
man,” said the sixfooter in his ludicrous way. “It’s me,—little baby —Tommy
Infant.” A merchant in York owed Tommy for some peltry. Tommy called
two or three times but the trader was in no hurry to pay him. After sitting
two or three hours one day, without making any demand or saying a word.

68
Tommy, as he got up to go, turned around and said to the merchant: “I sue
somebody, maybe—don’t know,” and soon sued the merchant.

Sharp Skins (Haah-ha-o), “he climbs,” was a small Indian with diminutive
legs, thin features and a squeaking voice, but possessed a gentlemanly de
meanor. He was sometimes violent in temper but was reckoned among the
leading men of his people. He was a noted runner in his youth. Sharp Skins
was a guest with other Chiefs at the Pioneer \Wadsworths on one occasion when
they were entertaining, in 1815, their relative, Colonel Jeremiah \Wadsworth,
of Durham, Conn. Captain Horatio Jones served as interpreter. Colonel
Lyman, who was also a guest, said that Sharp Skins took a leading part in the
conversation, that his views were sensible and that he made a favorable im-
pression on all present. He afterward lived up the river and was among
the most noted of those Chiefs of the upper Genesee. Turner, the historian,
tells of one occasion when Sharp Skins and Horatio Jones began throwing
tomahawks at each other in sport. Jones’ life among the Indians had made
him an expert in this dangerous game. The temper of Sharp Skins led him to
change play to earnest effort to hit. Jones threw them back so dexterously
that he rendered his opponent's recovery from injuries received doubtful. He
recovered but was careful for the future not to provoke his white brother.

Cornplanter (Ga-gant-kwah-geh), “in or at the planted field.” This noted
half-blood was a leading Chief of the Senecas. He was born at Canawagus,
near Avon, but in later life lived on the Allegany River. His father was John
O'Bale, of whom Mary Jemison says: “Old John O’Bale in his younger days
frequently passed through the Indian settlements and in one of his excursions
had become enamored with a squaw by whom he had a son who was called
Cornplanter.” The writer has dug up the name of John O’Bale as one of our
colonial delegates in Albany County in the days of the Schuylers and Glens,
previous to the Revolutionary war.

It is said the Indian boys soon took notice that the skin of young O’Bale
was fairer than their own, and the boy asked the mother why this was so. She
told him his father was a white man named O’Bale and that he lived near
Albany. After he grew up he sought out his father and made himself known.
The father fed him but the son complained that he gave him no food for his
return journey. “He gave me neither kettle nor gun, nor did he tell me that
the United States were about to rebel against Great Britain,” said the offended
half-blood. Cornplanter was one of the first to adopt the white man’s costume.
He worked in his fields like a white man and in later years might easily have
been taken for a well-to-do farmer.

He ranked higher than Red Jacket as a warrior and was little inferior to
him as an orator. Asa councilor, none of his nation was more highly esteemed
and his wisdom rendered him, in the estimation of the white race, as one of
the wisest and best of the Seneca notables. He was at Braddock’s defeat and
witnessed the skill of Washington, then a colonial Major. He was an enemy
of the colonists and one they would have been glad to have had as a friend.
He was not easily won over to the cause of the Young Republic. Horatio
Jones, hit the nail hard when he said of Cornplanter. ‘He is one of the best of
men to have on your side, and there you would be sure to find him if he thought
yours the right side, but it was deucedly unlucky if he thought you wreng.

69
After Wayne's victory in 1794 it was then he knew what was best for his
brothers of the red race. Had his father, whom he once took prisoner and re-
leased, been more like a father to him his position might have been different.
His temperance principles proves him above his race, in the government of
himself, for he was a man singularly upright in all the relations of life.

Major Henry O'Bale (Gasco-wah-doh or Gah-so-yo-wa) meaning “me-
morial belt," a son of Cornplanter, was also born at Canawagus. In person
he was portly and fine looking and his manners were not without polish. He
was placed at school in New Jersey by Benjamin Bontun and was graduated
at Dartmouth College. Like Brant, he had the unusual distinction among his
race, of scholarship. He was somewhat boastful in early life of his courage.
Whether it was the Irish or Indian blood that made him so self-reliant it may
be difficult to say. It led on one occasion to a trial of courage that was at least
perplexing for the young would-be hero. At the Mansion House in Avon
some question arose between him and Doctor Ensworth. O’Bale was told
that nothing but a duel would adjust the matter. The ground was paced off
and principals and seconds took their places. Word was given and O’Bale
fired. The doctor reserved his charge and, walking close up to his opponent.
fired point blank at his heart. O'Bale, supposing himself shot, fell into the
arms of his second, but recovered on learning that the pistols had been loaded
with blank charges, a fact of which the doctor was aware. The son, with his
better advantages, was not the equal in integrity of his father, and his business
transactions were not marked by that scrupulous promptitude so agreeable
to merchants. Colonel Lyman had trusted O’Bale and went down to Cana-
wagus to remind him that the debt was more than due. “Oh, yes,” said the
affable Major, “I will pay you at once. Mr. Hosmer owes me, you know him,
of course, and I'll go to him and get the money.” He went but forgot to come
back. The debt was finally charged to “profit and loss.”

Handsome Lake (Ga-nyu-dai-yah) “Beautiful Lake,” the Peace Prophet
was a half-brother of Cornplanter. He stood high with his people, both as a
Medicine Man and as a spiritual guide. Mr. Hossford, of Leicester (who
taught the first Indian school, kept a hotel, and even went to the State Leg-
islature) was told of a young girl at Squakie Hill who was cured by him of a
dangerous disease. All remedies failing, the friends dispatched a runner to the
Prophet with the clothes of the afflicted squaw. He took them, laid a handful
of tobacco upon the fire and as it burned offered an address to the Great Spirit.
After a moment's silence he observed, looking at the clothes:

“This affliction to her is a punishment for wickedly drowning a nest of
young robins and a few hours later repeating the offence. Two young deer
must be killed—a yearling buck and a yearling doe—the whole of both must
be boiled at once and the entire village called to the feast and then to dance.”
Some days were spent in finding the deer. When the directions of the Prophet
were carried out, the girl recovered at once. The Prophet is described as
of medium size, of good presence and of modest and quiet demeanor.

Little Beard (Si-gwa-ah-doh-gwih), meaning “spear hanging down,” was
a chief of such importance as to change the name of his village to that of his
evn. He was probably one of the two great war chiefs of the Senecas that
th? fifth nation of the Iroquois was entitled to from the time of the death of

70
the great Nunda Chief, Hohsque-sah-oh, he comes into prominence. He ex-
celled as a warrior and was a fluent talker. Physically, he was straight and
firm but not tall. Border annals show how fierce he was, a typical Indian,
who in war knew no mercy, but at other times he was esteemed for his good
faith. Probably responsible fer the unparalleled barbarity with which the tor-
‘ures of Lieutenant Boyd and Sergeant Parker were conducted, we must re-
member that he knew the army of Sullivan was there for purposes of de-
struction and, judging by rules of Indian warfare of the utter extinction of his
people. As a Chief he must be equal to the occasion. He treated his victims
as spies and punished them accordingly. After the war was over he was
friendly and proved social and interesting in conversation. But the same
agent of destruction that made the Indians weak in effecting treaties—the cov-
eted fire water of the whites—also caused the death of this valient but inhuman
warrior. Ina drunken quarrel at the old Stimson tavern in Leicester, in 1806,
Little Beard was thrown from the outer door and, falling upon the steps, re-
ceived an injury from which he died. He was well advanced in years.

An instance of the superstition of these unlearned sons of the forest is
given in this connection. <A great eclipse occurred soon after his death. This
filled his people with superstitious fear. The natives thought that their Chief
was displeased with the manner of his death and had darkened the sun so the
corn could not grow. The hunters shot arrows and bullets at the darkened
luminary, while others screamed, shouted and drummed until the sun’s bright-
ness was fully restored.

John Montour (Do-roh-do-ga), “Between the burs or combs,” lived at
Big Tree during the Revolutionary war and afterward, and is buried with
three others there. He was a descendant of Queen Catharine Montour, a half-
blood chieftainess of great beauty. Her mother was a squaw, and her father
was said to be a French Governor of Canada. She founded a village at the
head of Cayuga Lake. No Indian was more fierce and less humane than this
female chief. Sullivan destroyed her village on his campaign of destruction
and her kinsman made his future residence at Big Tree. His name is of spe-
cial interest, as it is connected with the capture of the Gilbert family, a
member of this family having been one of the captives who spent part of the
time of his captivity at Nundaho, which he calls Nundow, in 1780-81. John
Montour was killed by Quaw-wa, whose English name was James Brewer, a
quarrelsome Indian of the same place. The death of Montour and the im-
prisonment of Quaw-wa were due to the use of too much fire water. The de-
scendant of the French Governor was a man of great intelligence. Horatio
Jones and Jellis Clute caused the arrest of Quaw-wa but became his bail and
secured his release from prison that he might die at home.

The first settlers of the Genesee Valley knew well all these notables and
have not failed to tell of their good qualities, while the settlers of the Keshequa
Valley and East Hill knew only the hunters of the next generation.

YANKEE JOHN—AN OSSIAN INCIDENT

Among the Indians who visited the Ossian huntings grounds and even
nad a camp there in the early part of the nineteenth century was Yankee John.
Jacob Clendenning had that year built a log house. The family, having spent

71
the evening with a neighbor, returned late and found they could not open their
door. Mrs. Clendenning giving the door a violent push it flew open and a
heavy object fell on her, giving her a severe fright. The object proved to be
a quarter of venison which some one had placed above the door during their
absence. She related the incident to “Yankee John,” a frequent visitor from
the camp, telling him how frightened she was, which so amused him that he
danced around in Indian fashion, throwing up his arms and shouting between
his peals of laughter, “Me! Me!” meaning it was he who had given her both
the venison and the fright. It is said the skillful hunter often shared with the
settlers the proceeds of the chase. “Laughing Molly” and William Tall Chief
son of Tall Chief, were of the members of the camp. Humor is so unusual
in an Indian that this may account for this Indian's name.

STORIES OF YANKEE JOHN

Yankee John was a large Indian, very good natured when sober, but had
not fully recovered from a propensity common with the Indians of settling all
disputes by using knives or other war weapons for that purpose. It is said on
one occasion he came to the house of William Fullerton, in Sparta, one winter
evening, with a deer upon his shoulder. He was always ready to share his
venison with the whites with a view of exchange for bread or other things
he did not possess. This time, however, he had been drinking fire water. He
was cold and demanded liquor. This being denied he became angry and drew
his hunting knife upon Fullerton. The Scotchman’s blood was stirred. He
took down from its hook a heavy black horsewhip and gave the Indian a fear-
ful welting. Mrs. Fullerton begged for mercy for the Indian, who was quite
satisfied to give up the whiskey, but accepted instead a warm supper, and he
Jay down quietly before the well kept fire of smoldering logs and slept as
peacefully on the pioneer’s hearthstone as of his own wigwam.

Yankee John had a halt in his gait, obtained in an unusual way. While
pursuing the chase he was himself pursued and chased up a tree, but bruin was
too quick for him. He pulled the Indian back, crushed his leg and would have
made short work of him had not the red man’s long knife speedily ended the
controversy.

CHAPTER XV.
Our IMMEDIATE PREDECESSORS.

“Realm of the Senecas no more
In shadow lies the ‘Pleasant Vale,’
Gone are the Chiefs who ruled of yore,
Like chaff before the rushing gale.
Their rivers run with narrowed bounds
Cleared are their broad old hunting grounds,
And on their ancient battle fields
The greensward to the plowmen yields;
Like mocking echoes of the hill
Their fame resounded and grew still
And on green ridge and level plain
Their hearths will never smoke again.”
Bard of the Genesee—Hosmer.

72
Tue PREDECESSORS OF THE PIONEERS.

HEN the French, English and Dutch were alike striving to possess
the Empire State nearly two hundred years ago, they seemed oblivi-

ous to the fact that the Confederated tribes had had possession
previous to the discoveries of Columbus, for their confederacy dates back to
1440 or 1450—and there must have been a time back of that when the Senecas
ot Nundawahonos stood alone in Canada, with slight relation to the other
four nations allied in action. Although they call themselves the Hill-born-
race and name the place or hill from which they sprung Ge-nun-de-wa, and
locate it at the head of a lake within the Genesee county. The Iroquois were,
however, the immediate predecessors of the Europeans and the Ho-de-no-sau-
nee, or long house of the confederacy of five tribes called by the French the
Iroquois, extended from the Hudson to the Genesee. Well may they have been
called “The Romans of America,” for their conquests extended in every direc-
tion, and they levied tribute from the extreme east to the foot of Lake Su-
perior. Their war cry froze the tropical blood as far south as Florida, and the
frosts of Algonquin and Huron placidity and stoicism melted before the fire
of their wrath. To the valor of the Senecas is due the destruction of most of
the Indian allies of France. Their wrongs exceeded that of their four allies
and they redressed them Indian fashion by extermination or entire subjuga-
tion. All must be Senecas or die. The remnant of the Hurons became Sen-
ecas—their council fire was put out. Most of the western forages were con-
ducted by the Senecas alone. With 600 warriors they invaded Illinois. and the
lini were put under tribute even to the Father of \Waters. They extended their
series of conquests. And if, when the struggle of the Colonists with the Sen-
ecas’ allies, the British, commenced, they kept their silver chain compact
and bright, who can attribute blame to them for that. The English and colo-
nists were all alike to them except that the English were rich and the colonists
were poor. They must have smiled, Indian fashion, to see these intruders on
their domain trying to exterminate each other. Every dead white man was
one less invader. Most of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras took sides with the
colonists ; those who did not, came to the Genesee and were merged with the
Senecas. Two strands in the five fold cord, unstrained for more than three
centuries, had nearly parted; only this Genesee fragment of Oneida and Tus
carora held firm. The Senecas were so inured to warfare that they went to
look on and became as usual active participants—the “Romans of the West”
began to meet their impending fate. Sullivan’s campaign proved their final
destruction as invincible warriors and closed forever their “west door.”

OUR INDEBTEDNESS TO THE SENECAS

We owe our predecessors many a debt of gratitude for their hostility to
the French, which kept Western New York from continuing to be a part of
New France. We have reason to thank them also for their wars of extermina-
tion that decimated their own numbers, in subjugating others till they saw
the utter futility of trying to fight with a power that had subdued the united
forces of their strong army of allies, the British, and themselves. How, then,
could they contend alone? And when their generous conquerors pensioned

73
their subdued foes and treated them far better than their allies, the British.
had done, and purchased from them the very lands they had won from them
in battle, it is not a matter of surprise that in our second struggle with our
hard-hearted Mother, the most of our former Seneca foes were ranged on our
side and now won our gratitude, as they had before, by their valor, won our
admiration.
We in this lovely valley shared thy name
Nundawahono of the centuries past,
We shared thy valor, and we won a fame,
We trust like yours forevermore will last.

In 1819 a census of the Indians was taken and in all of their reservations
along the Genesee there were only 456. These only did our permanent pio-
neers know. Those from the “White Woman's” Gardeau Reservation were
nearest, but Squeakie Hill, Big Tree and Caneadea were near enough, and the
fine hunting grounds of East Hill and Chautauqua Hollow made them fre-
quent guests, always ready to eat without urging. They were, after they be-
came our allies, in 1812-14, well disposed, quiet and orderly, and began to prac-
tice husbandry, some keeping a few cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. Some of
the chief sons were sent away to school and John Hudson, a second son of that
name of Chief Hudson went to Dartmouth College.

THE LAST SENECAS OF THE GENESEE

Names of the Indians who signed the treaty at Buffalo creek on the last
days of August, 1826, for the sale of the Caneadea Reservation to a syndicate
of capitalists and land speculators for $48,216. Forty-seven Sachems, Chiefs
and warriors affixed their mark. Some of them are as follows:

Sa-gu-ar-gar-luch-ta or Young King; Forh-cu-ga or Little Billy; Corn-
planter or John A. Beel (O’Beal), mixed blood ; Ty-won-e-ash or Black Snake :
On-on-da-ka-i or Destroy Town; On-a-ju-ah-ka-i or Tall Peter; Kan-e-ac-go
or Blue Eyes; Nat-wen-dy-ha or Green Blanket, a Nunda Chief; Muk-ha-da-
gen or White Boy; Ha-pan-guish or Henry Two Guns; Shi-can-a-du-ah-que
or Little Beard; Sa-tu-gan-a-cre or Twenty Canoes; As-lan-a-sa-ish or Silver
Heels; Kan-a-ja-u-a-ri or Big Kettle; Sa-wag-doc or George Red Eye; Kan-
ish-shon-go or Captain Shongo, son Colonel S.; Tal-a-gau-a-ta or Red Jacket
also called Sa-go-ya-hat-ha) ; Sa-ga-in-a-shat-se-a or Stiff Knee.

John Grieg, attorney for Robert Troup; Thos. L. Ogden and Benj. W.
Rogers, Commissoners.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE Lasr CoUNCIL ON THE GENESEE.

HEN General Sullivan, on his memorable expedition in 1779, de-

\) \) stroyed the Seneca village, Little Beardstown, he had closed the
“Western door of the Long House.” But there was an Indian vil-

lage beyond unknown to him; this was Caneadea, described as “an open
sylvan glade through which the river ran, shut in on either side by the dense

forests and in front the open sky, where nestled Ga-o-va-de-o—where the
Heavens rest upon the earth—the last Seneca ‘castle’ on the Genesee.”

74
“Its twenty or thirty houses stood somewhat back from a high bank that
overlooked the stream, and its central feature was the old Caneadea council
house, so fortunately still preserved to tell its story of a far-off past.” It stood
in the present town of Caneadea, Allegany County, and in the language of
Henry R. Howland, from whom the above is quoted, it “was built of well
hewn logs, a foot or more in thickness, neatly dove-tailed at the corners, their
crevices packed with moss plastered in with clay. In length it measured about
fifty feet, by twenty feet in width, and was roofed with ‘shakes’ or large split
shingles held in place by long poles fastened at the ends with withes, an open-
ing being left in the center of the roof through which the smoke of the council
fire might escape. Its eaves were low and at one end was built a rude stone
fire place with three large hearth stones taken from the river bed, covering a
space ten feet square. There was a door at either side.

“Its age we do not know, but Indian traditions ascribe to it an antiquity
that is venerable, and it is believed to long antedate the American Revolution
Upon the inner surface of one of the logs the sign of the cross is deeply carved
and another bears the rudely cut totem of the Snipe clan.

“About it cluster thickly the memories of long ago; upon its earth floor
has been lighted many a famous council fire, and its walls, smoke-begrimed
and dark with age, have listened to the glowing words of many a red-skinned
orator, whose eloquence fired his people to action, or, perchance, calmed the
passion of debate.

“From this last of the Seneca villages went out the great war parties of
the Iroquois that followed the Ohio trail to the great river of the Southwest.
Here, too, they gathered for the border forays that carried terror to the Penn-
sylvania frontiers; and here the returning warriors brought their captives te
run the gauntlet, to death may be, or in rare cases to escape their tortures ana
to find refuge and safety within the walls of their desperate goal, this ancient
council-house.

“Here with their scarcely less savage allies, it is believed they gatherea,
as the rallying point before the massacre of Wyoming; and in these ruthless
days the old council-house had doubtless heard the crafty but not inhumane
counsels of Thav-en-da-na-ge-a, the great Mohawk Chief whom we know as
Joseph Brant, the silver-tongue of that most famous of Indian orators, Red
Jacket, the wise and compelling utterance of Cornplanter and the speech of
Hudson and Young, King and Pollard, Little Beard and Tall Chief and Half-
town and many beside whose very names are now but dim traditions, but
who wrought their part and were loved or feared, as the case might be, by their
people and by those who knew their power a century or more ago.

“A gentler association is that which the old council house holds with the
memory of the white captive, Mary Jemison, ‘De-he-wa-mis,’ for here in the
autumn of 1759 that weary-footed traveler (whose life of scarce eighteen
years had already seen such strange vicissitudes, adopted by her captors five
years before and married by their wish to an Indian husband) rested with her
adopted brothers, who accompanied her on her long and tiresome journey of
nearly 600 miles through an almost pathless wilderness from the Ohio to the

Genesee country.

fo
“By whose hand was carved the deeply cut symbol of the Christian faith
within those ancient walls we may not know. Its presence would seem to show
that in their time they have heard gentle teachings from lips that have told
those husky hearers of long ago of the God of Revelation, of Christ the
Saviour, of a gospel of love and peace, and in their own tongue, perhaps, made
known to them the story of the Cross. Could the old council house but speak
of all that it has seen, how filled with riches would be the record of its years.

“But times change and we change with them. The years swept by and
the changes of another century than its own crept slowly around the council
house. Little by little its old-time friends passed away and when in 1826 the
Senecas sold the last of their Genesee valley lands, they parted with Caneadea
and soon the old council house was left alone and deserted. :

 

 

Tue Last CouNcIL OF THE GENESEE

“Shortly thereafter Joel Seaton, who had purchased the land where it
stood, moved it to a new position near the roadside, some thirty or forty rods
castward from its old site and used it as a dwelling, making no changes in it,
however, except to put on a new roof and to add three or four logs to its
height, as was readily to be seen. Slowly it began to decay; it ceased to be
used as a dwelling ; neglected and forlorn it stood by the roadside, marked only
by the curious gaze of the passer-by until, when it was about to be destroyed,
shortly after 1870, it came to the notice of Honorable William Pryor Letch-
worth of Glen Iris, whose deep interest in the historic associations of the Gen-
esee Valley led him to take prompt measures for its rescue and preservation.

“With painstaking care he caused each timber to be marked when taken
down, so that it might be replaced where it belonged, and effected its removal.
without injury, to the beautiful plateau overlooking the river and valley at
Glen Iris, where it now stands. There it was carefully re-erected in precisely
the position and the form in which it originally stood, even to the roof of

76
shakes with withe-bound poles and its own old fire-place with the original
hearth-stones as in days of yore; the rotting timbers repaired where this was
necessary for its preservation, and when all was completed and the venerable
structure stood as of old time, the scattered children of those who had been
most famous in the history of the Seneca occupation of the Genesee Valley
were bidden to the memorable council of October 1, 1872. It was a strange and
impressive occasion to those who gathered to hold a council of their people
after the lapse of half a century, in the very house where generation after gen-
eration of those that slept had gathered before. To them it brought untold
memories of pathos and regret. Doubly strange and impressive was it to the
fortunate guests of another race who came at the wish of the Guardian of the
Valley to witness such an unwonted sight; it dwells within their hearts in
unfading recollection.

“The dust of Mary Jemison, borne back from the neglected grave near
Buffalo by loving hands of descendants and friends, now rests in the soil of
the valley she loved so well, and the white stone of her tomb, reared but a few
paces from the council house, with it will form an enduring monument of the
early history of the Genesee country. Some trees, also, brought from her
former grave and set around the old building, will cast upon the place a me-
morial shade. One planted by the granddaughter of Brant, the Mohawk.
stands guard at the eastern door; another, planted by the descendant of Red
Jacket, keeps watch at the door of the west. In the branches of a third, set
in the soil by the hands of her grandson, the wind, perhaps, will sometimes
seem to whisper the name of the ‘White Captive of the Senecas.’

“To Glen Iris came the lamented David Gray in attendance upon the ‘last
council’ and he reveled in the charm and grandeur with which nature in her
most prodigal mood had made a setting for this gem of the valley. The river,
he writes, has scarcely cleared the base of the bridge over which he had jour-
neyed when it breaks and tumbles some sixty or seventy feet in the first of a
series of charming falls to a still deeper deep. Thenceforward it winds through
the heart of an oval shaped valley, shut in by an arc of high and wooded hills.
But following its downward course a little more than half a mile from the
bridge, the eye is met by a rising cloud of spray, and easily descries the crest
of the precipice from which the Genesee takes its second leap to find its chan-
nel at the bottom of the dark gulf below. Beyond and on either side of the
fallen river loom the perpendicular walls of the deep and narrow canon down
which it rushes and finally disappears.

“It is a sight for the drowsy passenger, when, as he crosses, the summer
morning has come over the hills and filled this valley. Innumerable lights and
shades of the varied verdure, the warm tints of the rocks and the flashing of
the falling waters enliven a picture to which its sunken remoteness superadds
an almost visionary charm. The two or three cottage roofs that peer from
thick nests of foliage far down beside the river, suggest a life blissfully held
apart from the world and its ways. Over all an atmosphere of thinnest mist,
smitten to whiteness by the sunlight, wavers and shines like a translucent sea.
The valley, indeed, is a region of lapsing streams and delicate rising mists, and
never a gleam of sunshine visits it, but it deserves its name of Glen Iris.

“From the west end of the bridge the descent into the glen is made by the

77
aid of flights of rustic steps and a steep path through thick woods of beech,
maple and hemlock, leading to the margin of the stream. Half way down and
crossed by a foot-bridge, a little brook, christened by the valley folk De-ge-wa-
nus—an Indian name of note along the Genesee—dashes headlong from the
mysterious green darkness of the upper forest, and commits suicide at the
cliff of the river's bank. On the way, too, fine views are afforded of the upper
fall of the Genesee, which has hewn its way backward through the rock almost
to the foundations of the great bridge. As we emerge from the wood the river
grows quiet again among its stones, and the valley widens into tranquil pas-
ture lands. Looking across to the easterly side of the river the line of the
Genesee Valley Canal is seen, drawn tightly around the contour of the hills
and half way to their summit. * * *

“Ascending the slope toward the farther end of the valley we come in
sight of the second or middle fall, a full rounded shoulder and flounced skirt of
rock, over which the water is flung in a single broad shawl of snow-white lace,
more exquisite of pattern than any artist of Brussels or Valanciennes dared to
dream. On a green tableland almost directly above this fall is the dwelling
of the valley's good genius, a rustic paradise embowered in foliage of tree and
vine and islanded in wavy spaces of softest lawn. Here art has aided nature
to plant a true garden of tranquil delights. Each group of trees becomes the
cunning frame of an enchanting picture or beautiful vignette. The hills, sen-
tineled at their summits by lofty pines, are walls that shut the world out,
while across the upper and visible approach to the glen the bridge stretches
like a vast portal reared by Titans. It is the Happy Valley of fable realized,
and the lulling sound of the near cataract gives fitting voice to its perfect
seclusion and repose.

“T have spoken of the deep and winding canon into which the Genesee
rushes, below Glen Iris and the middle fall. Following its onward course, the
tourist makes his way cautiously along the dizzy brink of the westerly wall
of the gulf. Higher and higher, as he progresses, towers the perpendicular
rampart on which he treads, until, soon, it is from a sheer height of about four
hundred feet that he leans, shuddering, to descry the river in its rocky inferno,
and hearken to its voice softened by distance to a rustling whisper.

“About a mile from the middle fall the gulf partially relaxes its hold upon
the brawling prisoner, and the visitor may make his way down a steep and
wooded bank to what are called the lower falls of the Genesee. Here, in the
midst of a wilderness still virgin and primeval, the waters shoot furiously down
a narrow rock-hewn flume, their descent being nearly one hundred feet and the
width of the torrent at some points scarcely more than the compass of a good
running jump. From the somber chasm in which the cataract terminates, the
canon once more draws the river and repeats on a still more magnificent scale
the scenery at which I have hinted above. A walk of four or five miles down
the river from the lower fall and along the westerly bank of the canon brings
us to a sudden opening and retrocession of the rocky walls and here a fertile
expanse of bottom land, extending from the river to the hills, are the Gardeau
Ilats, the ancient home of the White Woman. Nearly eighteen thousand
acres of this and the scarcely less rich soil of the plateau above it were hers,
the free gift of the Seneca Nation to their once helpless girl captive.”

78
To this admirable pen-picture of Glen Iris by David Gray, the journalist
poet, quoted from his “Last Council of the Genesee,’ we supplement Mr.
Letchworth’s account of its purchase and improvement:

“Previous to my making a purchase of a few hundred acres of land in the
immediate vicinity of the middle falls, I had been impressed with the beauty
of the scenery on the Genesee River in the neighborhood of Portage. When I
first saw that portion of it between Portage bridge and the lower falls I de-
cided at once to secure, if possible, a site for a residence here, and as my eye

 

Hon. WiLuiaM P. LETCHWORTH

took in a beautiful rainbow arched above the falls, the name of Glen Iris sug-
gested itself to my mind. The lumberman’s axe had made sad havoc in the
surrounding forests, and the scene with its saw-mill perched on a cliff beside
the middle falls, and the logs, lumber and rubbish that everywhere met the eye,
made the locality seem quite forlorn. After securing title to the property in
1859 I began making improvements, directing my efforts to assisting nature
in assuming her ancient reign. To shield places denuded of forest verdure I
planted many trees and vines, and endeavored to develop on natural lines

79
whatever was attractive in the landscape. Finding it necessary to protect the
scenery about me, I purchased from time to time tracts adjoining my own at
high prices, until finally my purchase swelled the aggregate number of acres
in the Glen Iris estate to about one thousand and included the upper, middle
and lower falls of the upper Genesee.

“From the outset I set about improving the public highways and making
private roads and woodland paths along the cliffs, with stairways leading to
heretofore inaccessible places for the benefit of lovers of nature. Notwith-
standing the many rocks and cliffs which came into my possession, my pur-
chase included some good farming land. It soon became evident that my prop-
erty here could be made of great benefit to mankind, and I have aimed to so
improve it as to render it available for future benevolent purposes. It has
seemed to me that the place being at the point of an angle about equi-distant
from the large and growing cities of Buffalo and Rochester, it could be made a
great health resort, especially for invalid children, who might be benefited by
the pure air and natural delights of this elevated region. The possibility of
this has afforded me great satisfaction in developing this project, and has more
than compensated me for the large sums I have expended.”

Mr. Henry B. Howland, in his admirable sketch of the “Old Caneadea
Council House and Its Last Council Fire,” published in volume 6 of the publi-
cations of the Buffalo Historical Society, gives an extended account of the
last council fire, on an October day in 1872, with characteristic speeches from
the noteworthy guests whom Mr. Letchworth, with great and discriminating
care, had assembled. We believe that the interest which the present generation
of dwellers in the Genesee valley feel, in things pertaining to the aboriginal
occupants, justifies us in quoting at considerable length Mr. Howland’s account
of the proceedings at the last council.

~

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Bee ete

 

GLEN Iris, MIDDLE Fa.ts

80
“The morning of that perfect day, in the beautiful month of falling leaves,
dawned brightly; early frosts had tinged the forest and loosened the leaves
that dropped softly in the mellow sunlight. Some of the invited guests had
come on the previous day, and when the morning train arrived from Buffalo
the old King George cannon on the upper plateau thundered its welcome, as
once it was wont to wake the echoes from the fortress of Quebec, and all
climbed the hill to the spot where the ancient council house stood with open
doors to receive them. They were the lookers-on who found their places at
one end of the Council-hall where rustic seats awaited them, save that in a
more suitable and dignified chair was seated a former President of the Repub-
lic, Hon. Millard Fillmore, of Buffalo, whose gracious and kindly presence—
that of a snowy haired gentleman of the old school—honored the occasion.

“The holders of the council were ‘robed and ready.’ Upon the clay floor
in the center of the building burned the bright council fire, and as the blue
smoke curled upward it found its way through the opening in the roof to min-
gle with the haze of the October day.

“Upon low benches around the fire sat the red-skinned children of the Ho-
de-no-sau-nee, who had gathered from the Cattaraugus and the Allegheny and
from the Grand River in Canada as well; for on that day for the first time in
more than seventy years the Mohawks sat in council with the Senecas. They
were for the most part clad in such costumes as their fathers wore in the olden
days, and many of the buckskin garments, bright sashes and great necklaces
of silver or bone and beads were heirlooms of the past, as were the ancient
tomahawk pipes which were gravely smoked while their owners sat in rapt
and decorous attention as one after another their orators addressed them. No
sight could be more picturesque than was that combination of bright colors
and nodding plumes, the drifting smoke of the council fire, and, most of all, the
strong faces of the score or more of councilors, the appointed representatives
of their people, to speak for them that day.

“They had been wisely chosen, for they were the grandchildren of re-
nowned men and almost all bore the names of those who had been the recog-
nized leaders of their nation in council and in war. As might well be expected,
the personality of each was striking and noteworthy.

“A commanding presence, that gave an especial interest to the occasion
was that of Colonel \V J. Simcoe Kerr, ‘Teka-re-ho-ge-a, the grandson of the
famous Chief, Captain Brant, whose youngest daughter, Elizabeth had mar-
ried Colonel Walter Butler Kerr, a grandson of Sir William Johnson, the In-
dian agent for the. British government, whose influence had been so potent
with the Iroquois in colonial days. Colonel Kerr was a man of fine physique,
an educated gentleman and himself the principal Chief of the Mohawks in their
Canadian home, as well as the acknowledged head of all the Indians in Can-
ada. He wore the Chieftain’s dress in which he had been presented to Queen
Victoria; a suit of soft, dark smoke-tanned buckskin with deep fringes, a rich
sash, and a cap of doeskin with long, straight plumes from an eagle’s wing.
He carried Brant’s tomahawk in his belt. By his side sat his accomplished
sister, Mrs. Kate Osborne, whose Mohawk name was Ke-je-jen-ha-nik.
Through her gentle-heartedness in such an unusual event, she had urged her
brother to accept the invitation which had been tendered him, but he came

81
with some reluctance, for the long-cemented friendship of the great League
had been broken.

“When the War of the Revolution had ended, the Mohawks left their
former seats and followed their British allies to Canada, where they still con-
tinue to live on the Grand River. The Senecas remained in Western New
York and by the celebrated treaty at Fort Stanwix in 1784 became the friends
of the Americans, a friendship to which they continued steadfast, so that when
war with Great Britain was again declared in 1812 they were our allies, and
on its battle fields, side by side with the soldiers of the United States, they
fought the Mohawks, their ancient friends, who had now become their enemies.
It could not be forgotten, and even when the Mohawk had been persuaded to
attend the council, he wore an air of coldness and reserve because, as he said
to one of the guests before he tardily took his place, “The Senecas are not my
people.’

“For a short time these children of time-honored Sachems and Chiefs sat
and smoked in dignified silence as became so grave an occasion, and when the
proper moment had arrived, as prescribed by the decorum of Indian observ-
ance, one of their number arose and, following the ceremonial method of the
ancient custom, announced in formal words and in the Seneca tongue, that the
Council Fire had been lighted and that the ears of those who were convened in
council were now opened to listen to what might be said to them. Resuming
his seat there was a moment of quiet waiting, as if in expectation, and then the
opening speech was made by Nicholas H. Parker, ‘Ga-yeh-twa-geh,’ a grand-
nephew of Red Jacket, and a brother of General Ely S. Parker, who served
with distinction upon General Grant's staff during the Civil War.

“Mr. Parker was a tall, well-built man, with a fine, clear face, not unlike
that of his distinguished brother, and with great dignity of speech and bearing.
Around his sleeves above the elbows and at the wrists were wide bands of
beaded embroidery, and, besides a long fringed woven belt of bright colors, he
wore an ample shoulder scarf which was also richly embroidered. His toma-
hawk pipe was one that had belonged to Red Jacket. Mr. Parker was a well
educated man, had served as United States interpreter with his people, and
was a recognized leader among them.

“All of the speeches made in the council that day, until it approached its
close, were in the Seneca language, which is without labials, very gutteral
and yet with a music of its own, capable of much inflection and by no means
monotonous. Its sentences seemed short and their utterance slow and meas-
ured, with many evidences of the earnest feeling aroused by the unwonted
occasion and its associations with the past, and as each speaker in turn touched
some responsive chord in the breasts of his hearers, they responded with that
deep guttural ejaculation of approval which cannot be written in any syllable
of English phrasing.

“Many of the orators spoke at great length, and it is unfortunate that the
full text cannot be preserved. Such portions as we have of three or four of
the principals were taken down after the council from the lips of the speakers
themselves; they are, however, but brief epitomes of their full orations. Such
was the case, for example, in the opening speech of Nicholas Parker, who thus
addressed the council:

82
*“Brothers—I will say a few words. We have come as representatives of
the Seneca Nation. to participate in the ceremonies of the day. In this ancient
council house, before its removal to this spot, our fathers, Sachems and Chiefs
often met to deliberate on matters of moment to our people in the village of
Ga-o-yah-de-o (Caneadea). We are to rake over the ashes in its hearth, that
we may find, perchance, a single spark with which to rekindle the fire, and
cause the smoke again to rise above this roof as in days that are past. The
smoke is curling upward, and the memories of the past are enwreathed with it.

“Brothers, when the confederacy of the Iroquois was formed a smoke was
raised which ascended so high that all the nations saw it and trembled. This
league was formed, it may be, long before the kingdom of Great Britain had
any existence. Our fathers of the Ho-de-no-sau-nee were once a powerful
nation. They lorded it over a vast territory, comprising the whole of the State
of New York. Their power was felt from the Hudson to the banks of the
Mississippi, and from the great basins of sweet water in the north to the bitter
waters of the Mexican Gulf. We have wasted away to a remnant of what we
once were. But though feeble in numbers, the Iroquois are represented here.
We have delegates from the Mohawks, who were the keepers of the eastern
door of the long house; and of the Senecas, who were the guardians of the
western door. When the big guns of General Sullivan were heard in the valley
we were one people. But the tribes of the Iroquois are scattered and will soon
be seen on more.

“Brothers, we are holding council perhaps for the last time in Gen-nis-
he-o. This beautiful territory was once our own. The bones of our fathers are
strewn thickly under the sod. But all this land has gone from our grasp for-
ever. The fate and the sorrows of my people should force a sigh from the
stoutest heart.

“*Brothers, we came here to perform a ceremony, but I cannot make it
such. My heart says that this is not a play or a pageant. It isa solemn reality
to me and not a mockery of days that are past and can never return. Neh-hoh
~-this is all.’

“When each orator had spoken there was a short pause of silence, a little
smoking of pipes as if in seemly expectation, and then another orator rose
quietly in his place and with gentle manner and slow speech and with occa-
sional gesticulations that pointed his statements, sometimes holding his toma-
hawk pipe in his hand and using it to excellent effect in his gestures (for Na-
ture made the red man an orator), he addressed his listening brothers. Nearly
all of the men in council spoke during its session, some at length, some more
briefly, as the message chanced to be. The thought of their fathers was upper-
most in their minds, and the deeds of their fathers in the old days was the bur-
den of their utterances.

“That great orator of the Senecas, Red Jacket, ‘Sa-go-ye-wat-ha,’ (He
keeps them awake) was represented at this council not only by Nicholas

‘Parker, who made the opening speech, but also by his grandson, John Jacket,
‘Sho-gyo-a-ja-ach,’ an elderly man and a full-blooded Seneca as his strong,
dark face betokened, with feathered head dress and broad beaded shoulder
sash, who was one of the later speakers. He died in 1901 on the Cattaraugus
reservation.

&3
“Beside him at the council fire sat George Jones, ‘Ga-o-do-wa-neh,’ in all
the glory of full Indian costume with waving plumes and beaded leggings,
bright shoulder sash and belt girding his light hunting shirt; the grandson of
‘fommy Jemmy,’ who was tried for murder in 1821, for putting to death an
aged beldam, whom his people had found guilty of witchcraft and according
to their custom had sentenced to death. His acquittal undoubtedly resulted
from the efforts of Red Jacket, who appeared as his advocate at the trial.
where he thundered his famous philippic against those who had accused his
people of superstition. ‘What,’ said he, ‘do you denounce us as fools and
bigots because we still believe that which you yourselves believed two cen-
turies ago? Your blackcoats thundered this doctrine from the pulpit, your
judges pronounced it from the bench and sanctioned it with the formalities of
law; and you would now punish our unfortunate brother for adhering to the
faith of his fathers and of yours. Go to Salem! Look at the records of your
own government, and you will find that hundreds have been executed for the
crime which has called forth the sentence of condemnation against this woman
and drawn down upon her the arm of vengeance. What have our brothers
done more than the rulers of your people? And what crime has this man
committed by executing in a summary way the laws of his country and the
command of the Great Spirit?’ It was a fitting and noteworthy circumstance
that the grandsons of Red Jacket and Tommy Jemmy should sit side by side
at the Glen Iris council fire.

“Two grandsons of De-he-wa-mis, the famous ‘White Woman,’ sat in the
council that day. One, known as ‘Dr.’ James Shongo, ‘Ha-go-go-ant,’ from
the Allegheny reservation, a stalwart man of 53 years, was the youngest son
among her daughter Polly's five children. His father, George Shongo, was the
son of that ‘Colonel’ Shongo who was in Revolutionary times a prominent
Chief of the Senecas at Caneadea, a man of commanding stature and mighty
voice, a fierce warrior, who is believed by some to have led the Senecas at the
Wyoming massacre. James Shongo was a lad eleven years old when his
grandmother, the “White \Woman, removed from her old home at Gardeau to
Buffalo in the spring of 1831; and when he spoke he told the story of that
journey in which he walked all the way, a sore-foot boy who helped to drive
the cattle and to minister in his small way to the wants of his mother and of
his aged, feeble grand-dame.

“The other grandson was Thomas Jemison, ‘Shoh-son-du-want,’ old ‘Buf-
falo Tom’ as he was familiarly called; an old man esteemed by all who knew
him and respected as one of the worthiest of men. He was the first-born grand-
child of the ‘\WWhite \VWoman’ born at Squeakie Hill, and was the son of that
little babe whom she carried on her back in that weary journey from the
Ohio to the Genesee. All the virtues of his gentle grandmother had found
place in his character, and had made him throughout his long life an example
to his people of industry, truthfulness and thrift. Of stalwart frame, more
than six feet in height, with broad, manly shoulders, only his earnest, wrinkled
face and snowy hair told of his nearly eighty years when he arose to address
the council. In part his words were these:

‘Brothers—I am an old man and well remember when our people lived
in this valley. I was born in a wigwam on the banks of this river. I well re-

84
member my grandmother, the ‘White Woman,’ of whom you all have heard.
IT remember when our people were rich in lands and respected by the whites.
Our fathers knew not the value of their lands, and parted with them for a
trifle. The craft of the white men prevailed over their ignorance and sim-
plicity. We have lost a rich inheritance; but it is in vain to regret the past.
Let us make the most of what little is left to us.

“*The last speaker spoke of the former power of our people. They used to
live in long bark houses, divided into different compartments, and giving shel-
ter, often, to five or six families. These families were frequently connected by
ties of blood. When the confederacy was formed, which the French called the
Iroquois, and the English the Five Nations, our New York Indians called
themselves Ho-de-no-sau-kee, or people of the long house. It was the duty of
Mohawks to guard the eastern door against the approach of enemies, and the
Senecas were to guard the west. The principal Sachem of the Senecas is
entitled Don-e-ho-ga-wa, the doorkeeper. Between these two nations sat the
Oneidas, Onondagas, and Cayugas, making the Five Nations. After their ex-
pulsion from North Carolina, our brothers, the Tuscaroras, knocked at the door
of the Long House and we gave them shelter. \\Ve adopted them as one of our
family, and thenceforward were known as the Six Nations.

“T regret that our fathers should have given away their country, acre by
acre. and left us in our present state, but they did it in their ignorance. They
knew not the value of the soil and little imagined that the white people would
cover the land as thickly as the trees from ocean to ocean. Brothers, these are
painful thoughts. It is painful to think that in the course of two generations
there will not be an Iroquois of unmixed blood within the bounds of our state;
that our race is doomed, and that our language and history will soon perish
from the thoughts of men. But it is the will of the Great Spirit and doubtless
it is well.”

“Among those of noteworthy parentage who took part in the council were
William and Jesse Tall Chief, ‘“Sha-wa-o-nee-ga. whose grandfather, Tall
Chief, lived at Murray Hill, near Mt. Morris, and was well known to the early
pioneers. He is remembered as a wise councillor of his nation and had in his
day dined with Washington and smoked the pipe of peace with the great
President.

“Another, William Blacksnake, ‘Sho-no-ga-waah,’ was a grandson of old
‘Governor Blacksnake, whose title was conferred upon him by the father of
our country. More than any other of the Senecas did Governor Blacksnake’s
length of days link us to the past, for he lived until 1859 and reached the great
age of 117 years. He was a boy of thirteen at the capture of Fort Duquesne.
which he remembered well. With others who were also present were Maris
B. Pierce, ‘Ha-dya-no-doh, a man of fine address and education, in his early
years a graduate of Dartmouth College; and John Shanks, ‘Noh-sahl, an
aged man, who spoke the first words of formal announcement; whose memory
ran back to the time when he as a boy had lived with his people on the Can-
eadea reservation before the title to its 10,000 acres had passed from their
hands

“Most picturesque of all who lingered around that dying council fire was
the figure of old Soloman O’Bail, ‘Ho-way-no-ah,’ the grandson of that wisest

85
af Seneca Chiefs, John O’Bail, ‘Ga-yant-hwah-geh,’ better known as ‘Corn-
planter.’ His strong, rugged face, deeply seamed with the furrows of ad-
vancing age, was typical of his race and of his ancestry, and was expressive
of a remarkable character. His dress was of smoke-tanned buckskin with side
fringes, and all a-down his leggings were fastened little hawk-bells which
tinkled as he walked. Shoulder sash and belt were embroidered with old-time
bead work, and around his arm, above the elbows, were broad bands, or arm-
lets. of silver. From his ears hung large silver pendants, and, strangest of all.
his decorations, deftly wrought long ago by some aboriginal silver-smith, was
a large silver nose-piece that almost hid his upper lip. His head dress was an
heir-loom, made of wild turkey feathers, fastened to the cap with such cun-
ning skill that they turned and twinkled with every movement of his body.

“He had been an attentive listener to all who had spoken, and as the memo-
ries of the past were awakened the significance of the occasion filled his heart
and the expression of his honest face showed that he was deeply moved. Espe-
cially significant to him was the presence at this council fire of the Mohawk
Chief, Colonel Kerr, and the burden of his soul was that the broken friendship
of the League should once more be restored. His speech was the most dra-
matic incident of the day. Rising gravely in his place he said:

“*Brothers—I will also say a few words. In olden times, on occasions of
this kind, after lighting the council fire our fathers would first congratulate
each other on their safe arrival, and their escape from all the perils of the
journey from their widely separated homes to the scene of the council. In
the Ga-no-nyok (speech of welcome) the orator would wipe the sweat from
the brows of his guests, and pluck the thorns from his moccasins. Next, and
most important, thanks would be offered the Great Spirit for their preserva-
tion and safety. Imitating the example of our fathers, while we felicitate our
selves on our safe arrival here and our presence on this occasion, we, too, give
thanks to the Great Spirit who has kept us until this moment.

“Brothers, it is true, as has been said by the speakers who preceded me,
that our fathers formed and established a mighty nation. The confederacy of
the Iroquois was a power felt in the remotest regions of this continent before
the advent of the pale-face, and long after the white men came and began to
grow numerous and powerful the friendship of the Iroquois was courted as
Dutch and English and French struggled for the contest. They poured out
their blood like water for the English and the French were driven from this
great island. Our fathers loved their nation and were proud of its renown.
But both have passed away forever. Follow the sun in its course from the
Hudson to the Niagara and you will see the pale-faces as thick as leaves in the
wood, but only here and there a solitary Troquois.

“Brothers, when the War of the Revolution was ended, our great Father,
General \Washington, said that he would forget that we had been enemies and
would allow us to repossess the country we had so long called our own. Our
brothers, the Mohawks, chose, however, to cast their lot with the [ritish, and
followed the flag of that people to the Grand River, in Canada, where they
have ever since sat under its folds. In the last war with England the Mo:
hawks met us as foes, on the warpath. For 75 years their place has been
vacant at our council fires. They left us in anger.

86
‘Brothers, we are now poor and weak. There are none who fear us or
count our influence. We are reduced to a handful, and have scarce a place to
spread our blankets in the vast territory owned by our fathers. But in our
poverty and desolation our long estranged brothers, the Mohawks, have come
back to us. The vacant seats are filled again although the council fire of our
nation is little more than a heap of ashes. Let us stir its dying embers, that
by their light we may see the faces of our brothers once more.

“Brothers, my heart is gladdened by seeing a grandson of that great
Chief, Thay-en-da-na-ge-a (Captain Brant), at our council fire. His grand-
father often met our fathers in council, when the Six Nations were one people
and were happy and strong. In grateful remembrance of that nation and that
great warrior, and in token of buried enmity, I will extend my hand to my
Mohawk brother. May he feel that he is our brother, and that we are
brethren.’

“The Indian character is reticent and hides the outward evidence of deep
feeling as unmanly, but as the aged man spoke, the tears rolled down his
furrowed cheeks, and as he turned and held out his beseeching, friendly hand
to the haughty Mohawk, strong ejaculations of approval broke from the lips
of all his dusky brethren. \Vith visible emotion Colonel Kerr arose and warm-
ly grasped the outstretched palm. ‘My brother,’ said he, ‘I am glad to take
your hand once more, held out in the clasp of friendship; the Senecas and the
Mohawks now are both my people.’

“My brother,’ said O'Bail, ‘may the remembrance of this day never fade
from our minds or from the hearts of our descendants.’

“As speaker after speaker had addressed the council the hours slipped
swiftly by and only the embers of the fire still glowed when, at a pause toward
the close, there came a surprise for all who were present, as one of the pale-
faced guests quietly arose and, stepping to the charmed circle of red-skinned
orators, spoke to them in their own tongue. It was the tall figure of Orlando
Allen of Buffalo, then in his seventieth year, who addressed the council. As
a boy of sixteen years he had come to Buffalo to live with Dr. Cyrenius Chapin,
while it was still a hamlet, encircled with forests, which were the hunting
grounds of the Senecas, who were then living on the Buffalo Creek and its
tributary streams. He had learned their speech and had known their fathers,
face to face, and now he spoke first in their own language to these, their chil-
dren. He addressed the council in Seneca as follows:

“*Brothers—I, also, will say a few words and would be glad if I might
speak to you as once I could in your own tongue, so as to make my words
clear to your understanding.

““Brothers, this valley of the Genesee, where your fathers once ruled, is
filled with remembrances of old days, and we are gathered here to revive those
memories. This is of great importance, as is the preservation of this old coun-
cil house, which your fathers parted with when they gave up their lands, but
which has once more been restored.

“ Brothers, the words of my thoughts come more slowly in your speech
than in former days, when I knew it well, so I will speak now in my own lan-
guage. Neh-hoh—that is all.’

“An outburst of ejaculation testified to the pleased surprise and gratifica-

87
tion of his Indian auditors; then, turning to the group of pale-faces beyond
the circle he spoke in English at considerable length in interesting reminis-
cence of the past.

‘When Mr. Allen had ended his address, President Fillmore, with a few
kindly words, presented on behalf of Mr. Letchworth, a specially prepared
silver medal to each of those who had taken part in the council. As old Buf-
falo Tom came forward when his name was called, he thrust his hand into his
bosom and brought forth a very large silver medal which was suspended from
his neck. ‘Perhaps,’ said he, ‘I ought not to have one; I have got one already
which old General Jackson gave me.’ He was assured that he was entitled to
both.

“The ceremony ended, Nicholas Parker, who made the opening speech
arose and, in a few words, gravely and softly spoken in his native tongue, for-
mally closed the council. Then, turning to the white guests, whom he ad-
dressed as his ‘younger brothers,’ he spoke the farewell words.

“*We have gathered in council here to-day,’ said he, ‘the representatives
of the Mohawks, who guarded the easterly door of the Long House, and of the
Senecas, who kept the western gate. It has been to us an occasion of solemn
interest, and as one after another of my brothers has spoken around the council
fire that we have lighted, we have rehearsed the deeds of our fathers, who
once dwelt in this beautiful valley, and in the smoke of that council fire our
words have been carried upward. Our fathers, the Iroquois, were a proud
people, who thought that none might subdue them; your fathers, when thev
crossed the ocean, were but a feeble folk, but you have grown in strength
and greatness, while we have faded to but a weak remnant of what we once
were. The Ho-de-no-sau-nee, the people of the Long House, are scattered
hither and yon; their League no longer exists, and you who are sitting here
to-day have seen the last of the confederate Iroquois. We have raked the
ashes over our fire and have closed the last council of our people in the valley
of our fathers.’

“As he ended, his voice faltered with an emotion which was shared by all
present. He had spoken the last words for his people, fraught with a tender
pathos which touched the hearts of those who heard him with a feeling of that
human brotherhood in which ‘whatever may be our color or our gifts’ we are
all alike kin,

“For a few moments there was a becoming silence and then David Gray—
name beloved of all who knew him—the poet-editor of the Buffalo ‘Courier,’
arose and read:

THE LAST INDIAN COUNCIL ON THE GENESEE

“*The fire sinks low, the drifting smoke’

Dies softly in the autumn haze,

And silent are the tongues that spoke
In speech of other days.

Gone, too, the dusky ghosts whose feet
But now yon listening thicket stirred ;

Unscared within its covert meet
The squirrel and the bird.

88
“*The story of the past is told,
But thou, O Valley sweet and lone!
Glen of the Rainbow! thou shalt hold
Its romance as thine own.
Thoughts of thine ancient forest prime
Shall sometimes tinge thy summer dreams
And shape to low poetic rhyme
The music of thy streams.
““When Indian summer flings her cloak
Of brooding azure on the woods,
The pathos of a vanished folk
Shall haunt thy solitude.
The blue smoke of their fires once more
Far o'er the hills shall seem to rise
And sunset’s golden clouds restore
The red man’s paradise.

“Strange sounds of a forgotten tongue
Shall cling to many a crag and cave
In wash of falling waters sung
Or murmur of the wave.
And oft in midmost hush of night
Shrill o'er the deep-mouthed cataract’s roar
Shall ring the war-cry from the height
That woke the wilds of yore.

““Sweet Vale, more peaceful bend the skies,
Thy airs be fraught with rarer balm,
A people's busy tumult lies
Hushed in thy sylvan calm.
Deep be thy peace! while fancy frames
Soft idyls of thy dwellers fled,—
They loved thee, called thee gentle names,
In the long summers dead.
““Quenched is the fire; the drifting smoke
Has vanished in the autumn haze;
Gone, too, O Vale, the simple folk
Who loved thee in old days.
But for their sakes—their lives serene—
Their loves, perchance as sweet as ours—
O be thy woods for aye more green
And fairer bloom thy flowers!’

“Tt was the fitting close to a memorable day. The ‘dappled shadows of
the afternoon’ rested on hill and valley as, one by one, the picturesque figures
of those who had that day so strangely linked the present with the past, left

89
the old council house, bright colors and feathery plumes mingled with the
autumn foliage and the softly dropping leaves until all had vanished. The
‘story of the past’ had once for all been told, but around those ancient
weather-beaten walls which had once more welcomed the, children of those
whom it had known long ago in the days of its prime, there lingers still the
remembrance of their last council fire—a memory that cannot be forgotten.”

 

GENESEE VALLEY CANAL AND THE GorGE AT PORTAGE

John Smith, a half blood Seneca
Indian, has for the last ten years lived
at or near Nunda. He is treated by
the citizens of the town with courtesy
as anequal. He is a member of Grace
Episcopal Church and is married to a
white wife of good family. He has
been in the employ of William P.
Letchworth but is now settled upon
a farm. The only other person who
comes to Nunda annually is a middle-
aged Tuscarora woman who is skilled
in bead work and embroidery. Her
name is Emeline Garlow. Though not
a full blooded Indian her complexion
indicates her Tuscarora origin. She
is lighter than most half bloods but
has less than half white blood. She
makes her home with the family of
L. C. Roberts, at his cottage, called
“Indian Lodge,” whose large collec

 

EMELINE GARLOW—A Tuscarora BELLE

tion of Indian relics she enjoys viewing. We present her picture as a type of

Tuscarora squaw.
 

 

 

Lower Fats oF PORTAGE
THE PIONEERS

Through deep, tangled forests their sharp axes rung
From Autumn's corn harvest till spring work begun,

To far Canandaigua each year to a day

They hastened, tho’ footsore, their interest to pay.

“i

H
RVI |
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jn

 

Time’s scythe, unrelenting, has cut them all down,
Their graves, oft unmarked, can no longer be found ;
Fertile fields are the monuments of the work they begun,

While the Angel records, true and faithful, well done.

   
 
  
   
  
  

1 Yy
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BOOK II

DEPARTMENT [I

PIONEERS

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER TO PIONEER HISTORY

THE SUBDIVISION OF NEW YORK COLONY

HE New Netherlands of the Dutch were never divided and the British who
| obtained possession in 1664 left the Colony undivided until November 1,
1683, when twelve counties were formed which included all of Vermont,
the islands along Long Island Sound and even a part of Maine—all of this was
transferred to New England a few years afterward, excepting what now forms the
State of Vermont. Albany County included all west of it to the Niagara frontier,
so the lands of our original township were in Albany County until 1772, when what
became Montgomery County was taken off and named Tryon County. In parting
with Albany County we pause to note, that the State Capitol was not occupied un-
til 1807, and that the great men of the Colony were Major General Phillip Schuy-
ler, Robert Livingston, and Jacob S. Glen, a Captain of the French and Indian
War. Schuyler became Assemblyman, State Senator, Member of Congress and
United States Senator, one of the greatest of the Dutch patriots.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Immediately after the Revolution the name of Tryon County was changed by
the patriots to Montgomery County April 2, 1784. Sir William Johnson whose
influence was great alike with the Crown and with the Mohawks—of whom he
became Chief, caused the settlements to extend beyond Schenectady. At the
beginning of the war, he snicided, rather than prove false to the colonists, his
former soldiers, or disloyal to the Monarch who had ennobled him.

Montgomery County had the same western boundary that Albany County
once had, and so our future township, was from 1772 until the forming of Ontario
County a part of Montgomery County—Whitestown the western most part of the
County comprised nearly all of what is now called Western New York. The An-
cestors of William M. White of Ossian, were the earliest frontiersmen and most
prominent citizens. They were not only honorable men, but could write Hon.
legally before their names. James Wadsworth the pioneer of that name was the
first path-master and road builder west of Geneva.

ONTARIO COUNTY

» Ontario County, because of the great inland sea on the boundary of the In-
dian lands was given this name, although it had several others. It comprised the
western half of the state, then best known as the Genesee Country, or Indian Lands.
It was also nearly co-extensive with the Massachusetts land claim under Colonial
grants of about 6,400,000 acres.

93
 

May. GEN. PHILIP SCHUYLER ALEXANDER HAMILTON
M. C., U.S. Sen. Secretary of the Treasury

 

 

 

 

 

Z. JACOBY
The Author's maternal grand-father
The history of the purchase of these lands by Phelps and Gorham for $1,000,-
000 needs no restating. Only a part of this vast section could be obtained by
treaty from the Indians, and so the frontier stopped east of the Genesee River.

Northampton a subdivision of the town of Whitestown contained all the lands
not already obtained by treaty. The purchase of all the lands by Robert Morris
that had reverted to the State of Massachusetts, i. e., all but 2,600,000 acres caused
other subdivisions of which the Morris Reserve of 500,000 acres was one part and
the Holland Purchase comprised all west of the Morris Reserve.

GENESEE COUNTY

This county was formed entirely from the town of Northampton, Ontario
County, March 30, 1802, and divided into five towns, Northampton, Southampton,
isatavia (the largest section) and Leicester, first called Lester ; Southampton be-
came when settled by the Scotch, Caledonia.

The town of Leicester was a veritable “long-cabin” as the Senecas would call
it, for it was 67 miles long and extended to the Pennsylvania State line, it was only
twelve miles wide. In this town we find our first citizens of Nunda, but only two
families.

The first settlers, other then the White Woman and Ebenezer Allan, a squaw
man, tory and bigamist—were Horatio Jones and his kindred and Joseph Smith—
both Jones and his wife, and Joseph Smith—were members of the Seneca race
by adoption, having been taken captives during the war.

Leicester, the present town, is interesting because of its Indian villages, and
the tragic fate of Boyd and Parker at Little Beardstown during Sullivan’s
campaign.

The lands of Nunda remained in the town of Leicester from March 30, 1802,
until February 25, 1805, when they became the northern part of the town of Ang-
elica, Genesee County.

 

 

Mrs. Mary A. Hunt
Born in the Town of Leicester, 1802. Died in Beloit, Wis., 1908, Aged 106

95
 

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ALLEGANY COUNTY
Allegany County was formed April 7, 1806, and the lands of Nunda were for
nearly two years a part of the town of Angelica—a much wider town comprising

all of Allegany County.

96

 
ALLEGANY COUNTY SUBDIVIDED

On March 11, 1808, additions were made to the County, and it was divided
into five towns. The eight town plots on the north were called Nunda—Ossian
and Alfred were in the east, Angelica was central and Caneadea was on the west-
ern boundary. The principal settlements at this time were in the present town of
Pike, of Mills Mills in Hume, and near Fort Hill in the town of Genesee Falls.
Nunda remained in Allegany County until 1846—forty years—with Angelica its
County seat. Hence we are intensely interested in its remarkable history and that
of its founder, Philip Church.

ANGELICA AND ITS FOUNDER

“Tis the top of the world from its heights you can see,
Its waters flow all ways, on their way to the Sea.”

 

Captain Philip Church, the son of Angelica Schulyer Church, the Grandson of
Major General Phillip Schuyler, was born in Boston, educated in France, but
whose father, John B. Church, was an English gentleman, and who lived when he
chose to, near \Vindsor Castle, England. Captain Church came to survey the
Church Tract of 100,000 acres purchased of Robert Morris through Alexander
‘Hamilton, his uncle by marriage. John L. Church espoused the cause of the colo-
nists but having lands in England that would revert to the Crown if he became an
American citizen, transacted this transfer of property through his brother-in-law,
Alexander Hamilton. This was about 1800, when Captain Philip had reached his
majority. He located a future village and named it for his mother. The young
man, assisted by Major Van Campen, John Gibson, and one other, surveved these
lands, but sprained his ankle, however, he limped to Niagara Falls, guided by
Major Van Campen and from there alone to Geneseo, where James and William
Wadsworth furnished him with clothing and loaned him money to carry him ta
the end of his journey, which did not fully cease till he reached Philadelphia, where
there was a magnet, who like himself was a friend of \Vashingtons. He mar-
ried the magnet, Miss Matilda Stewart, daughter of General Stewart, and brought
her from Bath to Angelica on horseback, and here at Belvidere overlooking the
Genesee they lived. For neighbors he had some refugees from France, who had
fled from death to this mountain fortress of safety.

Here was a young man who as Secretary and Adjutant to General Alexander
Hamilton had had the unique experience of bearing dispatches from Hamilton to
General Washington and bringing back and recording that historic document,
“Washington's Farewell Address to the Army.”

No wonder the people of .\ngelica are proud of having had such a founder
with such a record. But aman who had hobnobbed with Pitt, Fox and Burke, did
not quite fit well in this then backwoods settlement, and they did not let their pride
and their votes lift this scion of gentility into the positions he must have been ad-
mirably fitted to fill. But now they, and we, who were once a part of his town, feel
proud of his having been a fellow citizen of our first settlers in Nunda.

In 1804 came that damnable tragedy that robbed this country of its leading
Statesman, and Philip Church of his renowned uncle.

The half-traitor, .\aron Burr, chagrined at his failure in politics, challenged
Hamilton to a deadly trial by duel, knowing himself to be a sure shot. Unfortun-
ately for the country Hamilton was not and so the traitor lived, and the patriot
died. 97
The news of the result of the deadly conflict was brought to Angelica by let-
ter carried on horseback from Bath, the nearest postoffice, forty miles away. For
vears these deadly weapons, used in the duel, were kept at the Church Mansion
they are said to be the ones by which not only Alexander Hamilton was killed, but
also his son, Philip (in duel), one vear before, when Philip Church served as sec-
ond to his cousin.

It cost the life of the Nations greatest Finance Statesman to make “Dueling

in America” an affair not of honor, but of fool-hardy dishonor. But even yet we
mourn, though it was a century ago “The deep damnation of his taking off.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the world seems to have heard
Of Nunda;
And a vision quite superb
Fair as May,
Floats around the enchanted mind
Till the fancy is inclined
To seek out this realm refined,
And there stay;
A century's glow illumines the past
And holds our admiration fast,
And bids us all revere the past
Of old Nunda,
But see new glories with each glance
That have come to stay.

98
“Westward the course of empire takes its way.”
NUNDAWAO (GREAT NUNDA)
Our Name and Its Significance.

There’s magic in the word Nunda!
There's weird myths, hazy tradition,
Crude legends and old superstitions

Of the race that peopled Broad Nunda,
That reached to far oft Sodus Bay,
Nor stopped till it gained Niagara.

There's History, in blood-bought Nunda!
Successive centuries of strife

That cost three valiant tribes their life—
Andastes, Kah Kwas, Eries brave;

Once conquerors, now passed away,

Your names, your fame, once great, we'll save.

The Hill-Born-Race, from far away,

Ere great Columbus sailed this way,

Won victories that still appall

No greater peril could befall

Than meet this race in deadly fray

The realm they won—they called “Nunda.”

1797-1997.

A hundred years with a decade more,
Since Robert Morris good as great—
Bought from the Sachems at Big Tree

At the treaty of the Genesee,

All lands belonging to this nation

Save here and there a Reservation ;
Reserved the best of his estate

A “Twelve Mile Tract,” across the State.

T808- 1908.

One hundred years—God bless the day!
On March eleven, eighteen-eight,

The BEST of this Superb Estate

Was given a name four centuries old,
(In honor of the race most bold)

It’s future glories to unfold,

Valor is latent, here, they say,

In Ancient—Modern—Great-Nunda.

99
DEPARTMENT II
THE PIONEERS OF NUNDA, 1808-1818; 1818-1827; 1827-1841
CHAPTER IL.

PECULIARITIES OF PIONEER History.

racy in names, dates and transpired events, and tells only of the great.

Fiction is indifferent to the actualities of these, but aims at being
true to life. Fiction captivates by the personalities and events it portrays.
The ideal good man or woman it tells about represents humanity at its best,
and the almost impossible bad man it distorts serves to make the ideal charac-
ters resplendent by contrast in some special phase of excellence.

Local History differs from both. Its “dramatis personae” include every
class and condition. It resembles fiction in this, that the pioneer life it de-
scribes is a type of life with an unusual environment. It is “unique and ex-
traordinary” as any the writer of fiction could depict.

To write it true to life demands some personal knowledge of conditions
that obtained in that phenomenal era. Town histories are becoming a neces-
sity. The mature mind longs for the story of the past in which, not the Wash-
ingtons, Hamiltons, Websters, the men of world wide celebrity, are the central
figures, for these are to be found in every good library. The history found most
interesting, and which charm most those conscious of the changes time has cre-
ated in the locality in a narration of events pertaining to familiar spots once
calling of names indelibly engraved on our minds in our youth! Why do men
calling of names indelibly engraved on our minds in our youth! Why do men
cross the continent after the absence of decades of vears, to see the village, the
old farm house, the brook, the hill, the people that knew the people, that were a
part of their former life? Each house, however changed, has its surroundings,
and has its story of the long ago and what is more, tells it to them again. We
all know this is so. We like these stories the old scenes and the old houses tell.
Why? Because they do not tell them to us, as-we-now-are, but the younger be-
ings we-used-to-be. | They accomplish the impossible,—impossible only when
distance and a changed environment create the impossibility. We sing,

| | ISTORY differs from Fiction in several particulars. It aims at accu-

“Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight,
Make me a child again, just for to-night.”

Not that we want to be children again, but we do want to forget we are
growing old. \WWe do want to get back to former scenes and days and feelings,
by a sight of once familiar scenes and faces, back to former emotions, when
fancy and imagination ruled the citadel of our being, and doubled and quad-
rupled reality.

A centennial e. g. multiplies by a hundred at least, what on other occa-
sions would be meaningless and commonplace. The chance stranger sees only
enthusiasm in all faces he cannot account for, but it is contagious, however,
and he soon forgets he is a stranger—throws off his dignity and smiles into the
faces beaming with smiles—and everybody thinks he is an old timer.

100
The new houses, though perplexing, speak only of the progress of the
people, but the old buildings get their full share of attention. Why, this is
the old Swain store and this is Jo White’s old hattery where he made stove
pipe hats. How silly I felt when I donned one of his tall silk hats for the first
time! And here is the house I lived in once,—any day but to-day,—I'll tell
you how long ago it was—but not to-day,—I have renewed my age. This
was palatial to me once, but even in its dilapidated age or changed appearance,
it can stir and warm the slower and calmer pulses of mature life, to activity
and warmth. I would give—three cents—to skip up the stairs, two steps at a
time, and tumble into bed and sleep for an hour as I used to sleep.

Local history, like the old local habitations, however commonplace and
deficient in literary skill and adornment, comes to the heart like a letter from
home when in a foreign land, or like a father’s smile of approval, or a mother's
kiss of constancy, after an absence from home, feeds a hunger in the heart.
While we read it we renew our age, we are young again; and so are our mates
of former days. A miracle has been wrought,—we are looking and seeing
the past as it was when life was a thing of joy.

It is the Nunda, “encircled by hills,” that these pioneers revere; not the
“Potato Patch” that misinformed sketch-writers have given to our charming
village and landscape.

Cast your eyes, 1f you doubt it, over the loveliest of the smaller valleys of
Western New York and then tell me how the Indian with his inborn love of
nature would have described it! We know he called the great village two miles
west of our village, Onondao,—"The meeting of the hills.” Had he stood in
the valley he would have described it, ‘““Encircled with hills.” Had he stood
in front of Stone-quarry Hill, (and several of the villages or camps were so
situated) he would have called it Nundao (a high hill in front). If viewing
the whole valley of the Keshequa, he would call it Nundawah. If the succes-
sion of small hills about Nunda Junction he would say Nundey (hilly). Of
this section forming our village, Nunda (Nundah).

But we can look on this same scene, encircled by hills, with its sloping,
graceful hillsides, now geometrically laid out in squares of verdant meadows,
or russet grainfields, or parallelograms of pasture lands diversified here and
there with an isosceles triangle of woodlands, cut out by mountain streams ;—
we can see the enchantment of this varied landscape that makes the valley
and its winding streams so enchanting, and cannot contradict what our eyes
see,—and be willing to accept of words that have no connection with this
scenery because there was once, one hundred years ago, some Tuscarora
Indians who had a potato field in this valley. Does “Nun” mean potato, or hill?
Does “da” mean patch or valley? A rose by the name of potato would smell as
sweet,—but its attractiveness is gone. Let us cease to claim superiority over
these lords of forests and streams if we have less poetry and eloquence than
they.

* — Kenjockety or Tom Jemison, if asked about the Indian Nunda,—if it was
where the present village is, would say, no! that was where the Tuscarora
village was. The word Tuscarora and potato, strange to say, have the same
meaning. The Tuscaroras’ “totem” was the potato. They were the potato
nation. They brought the potatoes with them when they came into New York

101
in 1713. The Tuscaroras were scattered and we had a Potato or Tuscarora
village at Nunda. In order to distinguish this village from the great village
of Onondao, once their pride, they had to explain this difference by a word
familiar to white men.

The national name for the Sixth Nation was Schones-chi-or-onon, the
potato race or clan. Potatoes were called Schones by the Indians, and one
nice variety, common fifty years ago, was the Ma-schon-ic. Nearly half our
town and part of Mt. Morris, for some good reason, was called the Tuscarora
Tract, and many a potato field could have been found there. The keen old
“white woman” had one on the Creek road on the Kendall farm, and she insist-
ed that her reservation should include her potato patches. Little dreaming that
they extended so far, her request was granted, and it was found that she thus
became the possessor of nearly 18,000 acres of land.

The last Indian potato field that was in this village was on the McSweeney
lands. Some of these lands are now called Elmwood.

Most history sketchers, who have never tried to locate our Indian villages,
have given the impression that Onondao, Nundao, Nunda, and Nundey or
Nunde, were identical, and all located at Nunda village. There have been
three Nunda camps in the village, one west of the village, one north. Onondao
was west and Nundey near Nunda Junction. The burial ground, long sought,
has been found to be south of the home of Jonathan Miller. Here the “banner
stone” that we have had “photoed” for this work was found.

THEN AND NOW

There is very little left to-day but the axe and gun that were essentials in
pioneer days. The gun was the only necessity to the Squatter, the axe and
gun to the Transient. An unusually large class of men, called Squatters, occu-
pied all the richest and best lands in our valley. Only a few of this class have
even left their names behind them.

This class of men liked to get back to nature and live like savages. Many
of them actually took squaws tor housekeepers and to do all the hard work.
They hunted for wild game and so moved on when game became scarce.

The next class of settlers were called Transients. They intended to stay
until the lands they pre-empted were sold.

Our first two families of settlers have been called Squatters ; they proved
to be Transients, but lived from 1802 to 1817 in our town. One of them—
Phineas Bates—our very first white settler (1802) left his name behind him
by hewing out a road still known as the Bates Road—and a School House built
upon that road was called the Bates School House. Many of the permanent
settlers bought out some of these squatters or transients, paying for the im-
provements they found. John H. Townsend paid $100 when he bought the
State Road farm for the improvements. George W. Merrick paid forty dol-
lars in gold for a small log house and a turnip patch owned by Eleazar Barn-
ard. Seth Barker bought out a man named Pepper, and a man named Stork
was settled near or on the lands of Ansel Kendrick. John McSweeney, the
first land agent, drove a man named Beeda out of a log house in what is now
the village of Nunda. A man called Bonfire lived on the Keshequa trail near
the Stillwell place, but whether this was a nickname for a man named Bonfy,

102
who became a real settler nearer the Keshequa, is only conjectural. A man
named Solomon Crowfoot lived for a time on the Jones Homestead until 1823
or 1824, who probably was simply a squatter. He moved to Grove in
1824. Ephraim Kingsley, who lived near the Cooperville mill in 1807 and was
the third settler in the present township, was, while living in Nunda, from 1807
to 1810, a squatter, possibly because the lands were not in market. He after-
wards became a purchaser of land in the town of Portage, and lived in that
town until 1825, when he moved farther south. He was a first-class hunter.

Having disposed, for the present, of our first three Nunda families, an anec-
dote or two concerning some of our known squatters will be in order. As
local history is mostly names and dates such anecdotes must serve as sugar
and spice to make these dates palatable.

OKIE McCORMACK AND THE OWL

The late John Fitch of Oakland was good authority, for his father, Hon.
Azel Fitch, one of our first Assemblymen and a pioneer of 1816 or 1817, knew
the parties referred to, Mr. Stork and his man Okie, well, though the date of
the story was probably 1818 to 1820, yet we are anxious to dispose of some of
our known squatters and also to tell a good story, so we insert it here.

Mr. Stork, from Connecticut, a typical squatter-huntsman, had an old
gray horse, so well trained that he would allow his owner to rest his rifle on
old gray’s head, and with this rest he could bring down his game, mostly deer,
at any time. He also brought with him for good company and farm work, an
Irishman, not long from the Emerald Isle. The Irishman, however interesting
and amusing as a companion, was not as well drilled in the control of his
nerves as old gray, neither was he as passive and obedient. Spring came and
Mr. Stork found it necessary to return to the “Nutmeg State’ for needed sup-
plies, or a housekeeper, and made Okie McCormack promise to remain and
hold possession of his shanty till his return. Okie promised by all that was
good to do so. All went well for a week or two, though it was rather lonesome,
until one fatal night an owl lighted on a tree that shaded the shanty, and
began making inquiries, after the manner of owls,—who-whoo whooo-be you?
Okie covered up his head with the blankets and said quietly to himself, “Bedad
that’s none of your business.” Who? whoo? Who-o-o? repeated the owl. Okie
quietly slipped out of bed and fastened the door for he began to believe old
Clovenfoot himself was his visitor. Who-Whoo-Whoo-o-o? This was too
much, he could keep silence no longer. I’m Okie McCormack, bad cess to
you, just wait till morning and we'll see who-whoo is the best mon! The owl
departed with a great flutter and the next morning Okie, forgetting all his
promises, departed also, for Connecticut, where the powers of the air are less
inquisitive.

  

Bake KETTLE 103 Tin Bake OVEN
CHAPTER ILI.

Nunpa, Marcu 11, 1808.

reaching back to 1683, according to its European ancestry, but back

to 1450, according to the Indian possession of the Senecas, it was
deemed fitting that this new town, lying at that time on both sides of the
Genesee, be christened Nunda. It was eminently fitting and appropriate. The
hills of this fine township, with their massive growth of trees, the product of
centuries, was then its chief attraction. Caneadea had taken the name of one
Indian village, and five or six Indian villages within this river valley had had
various names, variations of this central word—Nunda, besides the Nunda-
wa-ono, won this hill encircled valley, centuries before and held it as theirs,
the longest of any race. The settlers found them here. This name the Senecas
gave themselves because they claimed a hill-born origin. This must or should
be preserved; valor and pride begot it; valor and pride should perpetuate it.
The pioneers were mostly veterans of former wars, or sons of veterans,—and
conditions have not changed. The town was well named. In the subdivisions
that followed that left us but one-eighth of our territory, they left us, as a
rich levacy to posterity, our birthday name—Nunda.

r | VHE town of Nunda having been born with this illustrious ancestry,

ALLEGANY COUNTY DIVIDED INTO FIVE TOWNS

The citizens of the town of Angelica, which included at that time about
49 town plots, and had been already designated Allegany County, again peti-
tioned for a subdivision of the town and county into five towns and the eight
town plots on the northern part were set off from four ranges of towns, with
two town plots in each range; four from the lands of the Morris Reserve, and
four from the Holland Purchase, became by act of Legislature, the town of
NEA,

The Legislature enacted that ‘all that part of AlNegany County bounded
East by the east bounds of the said county; North by the north bounds of the
said county, and South by the division lines between the fifth and the sixth
townships in said county, be erected into a town by the name of Nunda, and
that the first town meeting of the town of Nunda be held at the dwelling house
of Peter Granger.”

This house was in the center of what is now the town of Pike, Range 1,
Town 7, Holland Purchase, and there in this commodious log house was held
the first town meeting, on April 4, 1809.

\Ve do not know that either of the three heads of families, whose names
have come down to us, that lived in the present town of Nunda, were present.

The Indian trail was generally within the sound of the large creek or
river, thus avoiding the curves of the stream and so shortening the distance
between places.

The Keshequa trail between Tuscarora and Oakland was on the south-
east of the stream till within a mile or so of our present village, then crossed
to this northwest side through the McMaster and Dowling farms and through
our village on East Street, passing diagonally through our plaza or public

104
square, north of the first Nunda house into the upper part of Portage Street,
through (diagonally) the present Craig warehouse, a little to the east of the
Gibbs-Fuller mansion and the buildings of the Hugh McNair place to Oakland
and beyond where it crossed over to the Genesee River.

’

1808

In this year there were no changes in Nunda and Portage, and no election.
Pike was having large accessions, doubling her population. Eli Griffith, the
leading spirit of the township, was proving himself progressive; he had
opened the first inn in Nunda. Joseph Maxom, pioneer and bare foot boy
hero, became this year the first settler of Centerville, trading off at Pike a
new pair of boots for an axe, with which he hewed out a heroic history. (See
sketch.) James \Vard was his first neighbor eight months later.

At Mills Mills, Roger Mills, Sr., built a saw mill in 1807, and a grist mill,
the first in Nunda, in 1808. Both Mills and Griffith had reasons to do their
work quickly,—their vears were limited.

Eagle was settled this year by Silas and William Hodges and their hired
man, ——— Sinith. Neither of the Hodges had attained their majority. Both.
however, were married soon after settlement. Not much time was wasted in
courting in those days.

1809—FIRST BOOKS

In Pioneer History, first settlers, first births, first marriages, first deaths,
first inns, first saw iills, first grist mills, first stores, first schools and teachers
are alwavs prominent. These we have obtained. The writer of these records,
after working for a year along historical trails, stumbled over the “First Book”
the town of Nunda ever owned, which recorded the names and business trans-
actions of the town, which consisted mostly in paying out bounties for killing
wolves and other destructive animals, and in building roads. The first law
books were soon after sold, probably to some Justice of the Peace. School
Records followed. and the Land Agent found it impossible to get along with.
out a diagram of his territory, as it was subdivided into farms, and this first
map of Judge Carroll has also come within my view, as did also the map of
Nunda village, when it was laid out previous to the purchase of lands in the
village by the Judge. These first books and papers render the reliability of
the recital of the past as accurate as the occurrences that have transpired
within the recollection of the writer. By means of this first book it will be
easy to introduce to the readers our first town officials, probably all expert
axemen in a day when the ae was mightier than the pen; for by its use the
narrow trails thousands of years old were widened into sled paths, bridle paths
and finally into the highways that have followed essentially those narrow
Indian trails of the long ago.

1809

The book of highway records, with names of town officials from 180°) to
1817 inclusive, and with names of all taxpayers from 1812 to 1816, and all but
four highway districts in 1817.

As history, this book is of value; how otherwise could these early pio-
neers of nine future towns be ascertained? The spelling is exceedingly prim-

105
itive. The town clerks were evidently selected for their popularity, not for
their penmanship or proficiency in learning. I doubt if there was one among
them could spell the word “annual” correctly. Thirteen years afterwards a
book of School Records appears in the village called Nunda Valley, with nearly
every word spelled correctly excepting “annual,” and the very poorest speller
in the whole batch was the only one who knew how to spell this trying word.
The writer is so thankful that these records were preserved that he considers
the spelling a secondary matter, and gives a specimen of it for the benefit of
the youthful readers of these records of a century ago, and so I kindly call
your attention to the fact that words like certify, were, clerk, ensuing, were
then called “sartify,” “ware,” “clark,” “insuin,” in those good old days. I also
call attention to the fact that there is not a single punctuation mark in the
entire book; the dash, however, does duty to fill up spaces, and capital letters
abound.

I transcribe this first record of our first town meeting as I find it, not to
sneer at the primitive spelling and excessive use of capitals, for there are some
words whose greatness is belittled unless invested with the dignity of a
capital letter, such as teacher, pioneer, patriot, hero, statesman, philanthropist
—a class of men the writer desires ever to extol.

“TOWN MEETING.”

this is to sartify that the anneal Town Meeting was held at the Hous of
Peter Grangers on April the 4-1809 for the Purpus of Choosin Town officers
and other Purpuses ware chosen for the inSuing Yeare Viz

Eli Griffith Supervisor )
Asahel Trowbridge Town Clark)
John Griffith
Asahel Nucomb
David Hoyt
Jonathan \Villard

|
Roger Alills
'
j

Assessors
Constable and Collector)

Thomas Dole
Amos Conkey
Zebadeah Ward
Christopher Olen
Josiah Hammer Constable

Pascal Willard Bail for the above Named

Josiah Harmer (Hammer)
Isaac Granger \

Overseers of the poor

Commissioners of Schools

Fence Vewers

h Bayles il
ae tie het aS Damage Prizers

Aron (Aaron) Fuller
Peter Granger

] e
Caleb More (Moore) J HCune nets

106
District for Path Masters

Pasekal Willard (Paschal) 1 District

Robert Boges and....Do
Roger Mills grd....Do
Salmon Simonds 4th....Do
Jonathan Couch sth....Do
Eli Griffith 6th....Do
James Wood 7th.. .Do
Peter Granger 8th....Do
Ezra Willard gth....Do
David Hoyt loth., .Do

No Hogs to run at Large
Town Bounty on Wolves $3——"

This may serve as a fair record and specimen of the ability of the pioneers
to transact business. It also shows that the “Highway” Districts were ten in
number. 1810.

Thomas Dole was elected Supervisor, and John Griffith “Towen
Cleork.” Evidently the town clerk though a parson thought it was a poor
speller who could not spell Town Clerk in more than one way.

The road districts had increased to 13.

This year $30 was to be raised for the support of the poor and $3.00 to
be paid for each scalp of a wolf killed in the town.

At the election in 1810 Daniel D. Tompkins received 56 votes for Gov-
ernor, and Jonas Platt +3 votes. Evidently the town of Nunda had increased
in population to have 99 voters for state officials. New citizens that year.

In Centerville: Calvin P Perry, Abraham and David Gelatt, Zacheous
Thomas and Strong Warner, Perkins B. \Woodward (who taught school and
made brick some years later) and Sargent Morrell, Elijah Thatcher, who
opened an inn in 1810. In the future town of Hume, Joshua Skiff, Elisha and
George Mills had become voters.

Elisha had started a store in 1809 in his father’s mill. There was progress
in Southern Nunda. 1811

Thomas Dole was elected Supervisor and Joshua Skiff, Town Clerk.
Ephraim Kingsley (now on the Dea. Hunt farm, Oak Hill) was elected As-
sessor. There were 17 Highway Districts in the town. Phineas Bates was
made Highway Commissioner and Robert Collar, Path Master. Both lived
within our present township.

Bates had cut one road through from Sparta and now he probably, with
the Collars and Elderkims assisting in laying out the road to connect with the
Keshequa trail that bears his name. .

 

  

Foot STOVE
CHAPTER III.

From 1812 To 1817—1812 From Highway Recorps—JoHN GRIFFITH, SUPER-
visor—Davip Hoyt, Town CLERK.

cans, is distinguished by being the first of our second struggle with the
Mother Country for our rights as citizens of a new but glorious Re-
public. Our little town, if measured by its population, but great only in location
and extent of territory, was too near the Lake Erie frontier to escape being a
participant to some extent in this great struggle, and three, at least, of our
citizens were victims in the general calamity that brought untimely death to
the conquerors. Our first supervisor, our chief citizen, was the first to enlist,
namely, Eli Griffeth, Sr. Jonathan Couch and Chandler Benton followed his
example and shared his fate. Their death made them immortal. Probably
there were others who went and returned.
This vear our “Highway Records” give for the first time the name of the
entire voting population. As there is no printed record of this extant, the
author deems it best to insert the whole list.

CITIZENS OF GREATER NUNDA WHO PAID HIGHWAY TAXES
IN 1812

This is the first authentic statement of the heads of families and of voters.

No longer minors, many of them have already been mentioned; but as this

was just before the war of 1812-14 it may include both the heroes who went

to the war and the faint hearted ones. who when the Indians, because less

affable, concluded to get back to New England, or Pennsylvania, or New

’ | VHIS historic year, that stands prominently before all patriotic Ameri-

Jersey, anv where,—anywhere,—out of danger! \Ve are told that the County
of Allegany sent Major Hoops—the founder of ()lean—to a council of Indians
at Cold Springs, Caledonia, to try to persuade the Indians (the Senecas) to
espouse our cause. He had been an aid on \Vashington’s staff and as such
was not without honor among them. His mission was successful. The county
paid his expenses—$8— and also the expenses of Eli Griffeth, Nunda’s first
Supervisor, and a Mr. Mullender from Angelica, to the lines showing they were
the first to enlist. Two others enlisted from this part of the town. (See \lih-
tary Department of this book.)

On the 7th of April, 1812, John Griffith (Rev. M. E. C.) was elected Super-
visor; David Hoyt, Town Clerk.

Ephraim Kingsley, .\ssessor (one of three); Path Masters: No. 1, Joseph
Bailey (Oakhill); No. 2, Robert Boggs (Portage); No. 3, Reuben Collar
(Nunda, near county line); No. 4. Roger Mills (Roger Mills, Sr., had died in
1811). There were thirteen Road Districts, about seven of them in Pike.
Voted “that Hogs Shall Not Be free Commons,” “Voted that Every Person
Nilling a \Woolf Shal Be Allowed five dollars for the Same of the Town.”
This prodigality of capital letters and generosity of bounty for the killing of
“\Voolfs” with so much “\Vool” in their teeth proves that our fellow citizens
were not mercenary, for they spelled Dollars with a small letter and most of
the other words with a capital. However, this Town Clerk gave us the names
of all his townsmen, an example his successors followed. Two hundred and
fifty dollars were voted for roads.

108
10.

LI.

12,

13.

Ta.

15:

16.

7

Districts and names (location not given):

Zededieh Ward, P M., Jason Goodale, Joseph Bailey, John Bellenger,
David Wood, Thomas Hunt, John Fields, David Fancher (Gen.
Falls).

Josiah Hammer, P M., Fay, Samuel Fields, Josiah Webster,
Nathan Dickson, Robert Boggs, Cole David Dickson, Josiah Dickson,
Abraham Bailey, Stephen Rivenburgh (G. F.).

Reuben Collar, P. M., John Hunt, Jacob Shaver (Anger Farm), Levi
Huntington.

Ephraim Kingsley, Jonathan Barnes, Seth Sherwood (Short Tract Road
Portage), Reuben Collar, Jr., Phineas Bates, Bela Elderkim (Nunda).

Samuel Russell, P. M. (Hume), Rodger Mills, Rufus Mills, Pelatiah Mills,
Thomas Pire,—Streeter, Wm. C. Lane (a relative of S. Swain, Sr.),
Joshua Skiff, all of Mills Mills.

Michael C. Griffith, P. M., Oliver Sweet, Arunah Cooley, Philip Lang-
don, David Robinson, John Griffith, Joshua Powers, Albert and
Alanson Langdon, Benj. Burroughs, Asaph Griffeth, Eli and Thomas
Griffith, Aaron Fuller (Pike).

Salmon Simonds, Frederick Mills, Abel Townsend, R. Simons, David
Simonds.

David Hoyt, P. M., Isaac Granger, Bartholomew Heath, Joseph Farring-
ton, Jonathan Couch (enlisted-died), - Stone, Eben’r Smith,
Joseph and Miles Rood, Asaph Parker.

David Granger, P. M.; Peter Granger, Richard Tozer, Asahel Newcomb,
Judah Worden, Daniel Stewart, Josiah Metcalf, Thomas Dole.

Ebenezer Griffith, P. M., Jacob Niles, Michael Griffith, Eli Griffith, Abner
Reynolds, Eli Stewart, Andrew Dalton, Thadeus C. Gilbert, Christo-
pher Olin, Joseph Wallace, Tilly Parker (Pike).

Roger Campbell, P. M., Sim Eaton, Chandler Benton (enlisted-died),
Russell H. Benton, Kelsey Brouton, Aaron Fields, Robert Camp-
bell, William Campbell.

Joel Doty, P. AI., Elijah Simason, Silas Hodges, \Wm. Hodges, Reuben
Doty, Roswell Doty, (Eagle).

David Flint, P. M., Daniel, Ira, Ezra and Noah Murray, Leonard Doty,
William Flint, Samuel Flint, Asahel and Daniel Trowbridge.

Anthony Putnam, P. M., Ezra Willand, John Whiting, Leonard Randall,
Samuel Woolcott, Danforth Webber.

Right Nambleton, P. M., Elijah Thatcher, Zach’s Spencer, Allen Spencer,
Samuel Hill, Osgood, Reuben Ellis, Samuel Thatcher, Mark
Blanchard, Heten, Sargent Morrell, William Foy,
Leach, Thompson, George Patterson.

Abraham Peterson, P. AI., Perkins B. Woodard, Joseph Maxson,
Maxson, Daniel Wood, Strong Warner, Samuel \Webster, Abraham
Gelatt, Ammon Andrus, William Andrews (Centerville).

Moses Robinson, P. M., Skiff & Robinson, Amos Robinson, Justus Rob-
inson, Edmond Skiff, Seth Shippey (Hume).

Joel Dutton, P. M., Asa Gilbert, John Willard, Zenarms Blatrum, Asa
Whitcomb, Samuel Marsh, Peleg M. Terry, Job Terry, Daniel John-
son, Nathaniel Hill, De\WWitt Blackmere.

109

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
18. Dan Beach, Amos Huntley, Loren Buckley, Adino Hill, Seth Wetmore,
Erastus Ives, Jeremiah E. Youngs, Asa K. Tyler (Eagle).
Total 169 families before the war.
1813

Thomas Dole, Supervisor; Joshua Skiff, Town Clerk.

This year there are 23 Highway Districts.

Again our town clerk gives us some lessons in spelling and orthography.
“Voted what any Woolf or Panther Keched and Killed by any Peirsn white
or Black Reasiding in Said town shall Receive five Dollars provided any
Such Person give Satisfactory proof to any Justice in sd town. Voted that
all Hogs runing at large from the first of Apriel till the first of December the
owner there of shall pay all dammage that shall acur.” But what of these
trifling mistakes, when we record that this very year the Great Town of
Nunda appointed Commissioners, among them a teacher, Perkins B. Wood-
ward and Thomas Dole, who afterward became a Judge of Alleghany County,
to divide the town into School Districts, resulting in twelve School Districts
for the entire town. Portageville, Pike, Mills Mills and Centerville receiving
the first four of them, Perkins B. Woodward locating the latter of these in
Centerville and became the first teacher.

This year there are only 153 names of heads of families and one is Molly
Couch, whose husband perished in the war. We must conclude that there
were more than three who enlisted and possibly more than that perished.

1814

Thomas Dole, Supervisor, and Joshua Skiff, T. C., Samuel Utterley is the
new P. M. for district No. 1, Nunda, probably his name was Utter. With all
absentees returned, the Austins and L. Harrington also on the list, D. McNutt
and D. McNutt, Jr., J. McNutt, David Corey and D. Corey, Jr., J. Kennedy
and D. Roy. This year J. Bailey is in No. 2 with Shaver; his farm was next
to the Portage line. Seth Sherwood and Kingsley, leading to the belief that he
is located on lot No. 1, Nunda.

The Highway districts had increased to 24, with 209 names on the list,
expenditures 252.46.

The expenses of the town in 1814 were $250.46.

Deer were so numerous this year that they furnished the main supply
of food.

 

1815
Again Thomas Dole is elected Supr. and Joshua Skiff, Town Clerk. Dole
had become the leading man in town, had been appointed Justice of the Peace
(the office was appointive until 1817) and he became County Judge later.
As for the genial Skiff, he was quite a penman and could spell as strong as any
of his predecessors. There were 214 names on the list and the southern part
of the town was making the most progress. This year the P. O. of Nunda was
established with Russell G. Hurd as its first Post Master. It was located, of
course, at Pike-Nunda. The nearest P. O. before this was at Geneseo, twenty
miles away.
1816
Thomas Dole elected Supr. and Asahel Trowbridge, Town Clerk. This
year there are 33 Road Districts. And as this is the last time our “first book”

110
gives the names from District No. 1, it will serve as a summary of families.
This is the entire list. Bela Elderkim, Path Master, Phineas Bates, Samuel
Wilsey, David McNutt, John McNutt, James Campbell, James Bennet, Chester
Bennet, Alex’d McNutt, Michael Rhine, Levi Harrington, Asahel Herrington,
Thomas Kennedy, Jeremiah Broach, David Corey, David Corey, Jr., Joseph
Austin, Daniel Austin. In No. 2, Eleazur Barnard. The year 1816 is noted as
the cold season when it froze every month in the year, destroying the scanty
crops that the settlers depended upon for their winter's supply. It was much
more severe than in 1806 when the frozen tips of the hazel drove Mr. Scott and
others from settling in such a frigid district. To add to the distress of the com-
munity the less provident Indians from the reservations, who were nearly fam-
ished, sought for a part of everything but what they could procure in the
forests. The settlers had to live that winter almost entirely on wild game; the
gun was again king of Nunda.

1816—AN ANNIVERSARY ELECTION

As it was ten years since the organization of Allegany County, the
election (County and State) was called by our gallant Captain of Militia,
Asahel Newcomb, an Anniversary Election.

This time it was held at the house of Russell Thrall (a man growing into
prominence), on the 30th of April, 1816, and closed at the house (an inn) of
Susan Chamberlain—pursuant to law—(legal phrases add dignity*to the pro-
ceedings) resulting in Daniel D. Tompkins for Governor, 117 votes, Rufus
King, 95 votes.

“At a special town meeting held at the house of Ebenezar Griffith in the
town. of Nunda on the 28th of Dec., 1816, for the purpose of appointing a col-
lector in the place of Ira Doty, voted Benj'n B. Earl be collector for the town,
and here we have a little touch of pathos and sympathy, and public spirit, for
the widow of Chandler Benton—(one of the Nunda heroes who perished in
the war of 1812-14).

“Voted that one dollar per week be appropriated for the relief of Mis
Benton Widow of Chandler Benton Deceased till some other way shall be
provided.” Another case of indigence was provided for at a cost of ten dollars.

The county now took charge of the bounty on wolves and other de-
structive wild beasts, with bounties from five to ten dollars for old wolves and
five dollars for young ones. Portage, Nunda, had as settlers this year, Zopher
Strong, Samuel Fuller (Revolutionary soldier), George Williams (land agent),
Solomon Williams, Dr. Carpenter and Prosper Adams (Borroughs farm),
Oakhill.

OUR LAST YEAR IN GREATER NUNDA—1817

We have now 36 districts and 351 taxpayers. Not a rich man among
them. Nunda has never been noted for rich men, all commenced poor, almost
too poor for comfort; some started with only a gun, some with only
an axe, some with one horse, more with a yoke of oxen, some hired
their goods brought; one wagon carried them all, family included. Colonel
Williams, having land galore, employed help. Such men as John Barber and
Hiram Smith of Granger (born in 1808) paid for their farms by working for
him at from $1o to $12 a month—but died comparatively rich. Captain

111
John H. Townsend cut wood at Hunt's Hollow to help pay for his first farm.
But these stories of struggle and victory must be reserved. Lewis Gould—
another who reached competence—commenced down at the bottom of the
ladder. Great industry and perseverance, with a good sized modicum of com-
mon sense, were essentials long ago, and no less so to-day. But it is 1817 we
are thinking of, when Alleghany County was but eleven years old and with
wild beasts far more common than men or domestic animals. In. proof of
this, is the fact that as late as 1826 the bounty paid on wolves in Allegany
County was $510, without thinning them out much, for the same rates ob-
tained for many years.

Unfortunately for historical research, the book that has given us more
than a birds-eye view of early settlements leaves out Nunda and Portage in 1817
four districts, giving us only the names of their path masters. Fortunately,
the settlers who came to Nunda in 1817 were mostly permanent and of a type
of men who make homes, highways, and history. George W. Merrick and his
brother-in-law, James Paine, and a friend, Reuben Bates, who proved but a
transient. With over 500 families of mostly young men the big town became
a bee-hive of activity and, like bees, made preparations for swarming.

There were not offices enough in one town to go around and Nunda, and
its neighbor, Portage, which had quadrupled its population in the past two
vears, demanded that the place for voting be nearer the geographical center,
on the natural dividing line of the Holland Purchase and the Morris Reserve.

This demand resulted in the division of Nunda into two towns of equal
size, on the 6th of March, 1818. The southern town was named Pike in honor
of Gen. Zebulon Pike of historic memory.

 

 

 

GOING TO a Party

112
CHAPTER IV.

Nunpa (Present Bounparies) FROM 1808 To 1817.

the three families already mentioned: Bates, Elderkim and Kingsley—
The lands were not in the market, and there were only Indian trails
and no roads.

In 1811, Thomas Austen, wife and children found their way either from
Sparta or Ossian into the town. The highway records give us, in 1812, Daniel
Austen ; 1813, I. Austen and Josiah Austen; were they twins, or of a different
family? In 1816, Joseph Austen. These dates suggest that they had just
reached their majority.

Fifth family, B. Bada built a log house where the Livingston Building
now stands,—the only house in the village prior to 1816. Though a squatter,
he was the Adam of the future Garden of Eden,—Nunda village. His Eve was
not mentioned, but, doubtless, they ate of all the fruit they found—berries,
wild plums and crabapples—for all these grew here. He probably was crabbed
enough when McSweeney, the Irish land agent, drove him out, that he might
sell the land to James M. Heath, or some one else. Probably McSweeney was
the next settler.

1811. Reuben Collar, from Sparta, moved across the line, and probably
took up the Isaac Whitenack farm, for Isaac bought his farm years after of
his brother John, whose wife was a Collar. Collar was appointed pathmaster,
and it is to be hoped he collared the big trees and made the highway, after
having warned out all the other heads of families to assist. In 1812 he is again
pathmaster, and this time he is not alone. The town clerk has given us for
the first time all the names of the men in District No. 3, evidently all there
were in Nunda and Portage at the time. Those in Nunda and Portage were
Phineas Bates, Bela (this time called Poles), Elderkim 3, Ephraim Kingsley,
Josiah Austen, Reuben Collar and Reuben Collar, Jr., Lori Huntington, all
from Nunda, except No. 3, Ephraim Kingsley, who had moved to Portage.

This first year of the war has thinned our settlement of three Austens,
who either went back east for safety or west to. Buffalo with the Sparta volun-
teers. We are told some pioneers were as timid as others were bold, and our
meager population greatly changed during these two years.

1813. This year we have again these families, and the road district is
divided ; the Nunda part, being the farthest south, gets to be No. 1. Phineas
Bates is pathmaster, with six days’ work; Abela Elderkim, six days; Daniel
Austen, two; Thomas Austen (returned), two; Alexander McNutt, four;
David McNutt, three; Thomas Kennedy, two.

\ROM 1808 to 1811 there resided within the present limits of Nunda only

JAMES BENNET

James Bennet, wife and seven children settled in Nunda in 1813. The
children were: James, Jr., Chester, who married and soon after moved to Oak-
land. Three daughters were born to them—one moved west, Susan married Cor-
nelius Van Riper—the Miller at Oakland: Mary married Simeon Hall, and lived
at Oakland. She was an editor of the Sunday Department of the Buffalo Even-
ing News and a poetess of some merit. She published a book of poems entitled

113
ware seuof ‘use pA selig ‘YSnory paruepen “YOUIIPL “AA 28109H ‘uae AA YeON : qwysis 0} JJaT WoIy Surproy

suaadTIng voy atINOoIg

 

 

 

 

 
“Live Coals.” She died at Oakland in 1908. 3, Gaylord Bennet, lived in Nun-
da twenty years; 4. Vincent; 5. Truman; 6. Levi. The daughter, Lovina,
was thrice married. 1, Barak Tozer; 2, Richard Bowen; 3, Hiram Bishop.
Her children were Barak Tozer, Jr., an artist; James R. Bowen, a veteran,
clergyman and author. He married Elizabeth Pratt, and an estimable lady in
the west, who survives him. Chester Bowen, veteran, married Josephine
Colby ; moved to Texas and died there in 1907. John J. Bowen, a veteran, is
still living.

Mrs. Bowen is authority for there being two camps of Indians in Nunda
village ; one south of the High School, and one west of Buffalo Street, in 1813.

1812. Thomas Kennedy, wife and minor sons (J. Kennedy became of
age in 1814, S. Kennedy in 1816). Daniel Roy, Levi and Asahel Herrington
(a daughter of one of these married Robert Gifford; L. D. Gifford, of Hunt,
is a grandson).

1813. Mr. Treat. (Sons, Seymore and Francis.)

1814. Samuel Utterley (probably Utter). D. Corey and Daniel Corey;
I. Austen and J. Austen returned this year. They had probably been soldiers
from 1812 to 1814 but as they lived to return, mention is made of it. The John
Austen family, living in Nunda at the time of the Civil \War, sent four sons
into the service—good, patriotic blood can be transmitted.

1815. Abner Tuttle, an uncle to Mrs. Silas Roberts, came this year and
located on the Keshequa trail, (Mill house, Cooperville). Two brothers, Stephen
and Henry, two years later, north of him, also on the trail, but moved to Grove
later. A daughter, Amv, of Abner Tuttle, 19 years of age, died and was the
first person buried in the cemetery at Nunda. Mrs. R. was living in the family
at the time. Previous to this all burials had been at Oak Hill or at Wilcox
Corners. James Campbell was a settler in 1815.

John MeSweeney, first land agent in Nunda for Luke Tierney, of Baltimore,
(an honorary creditor of Robert Morris) took up his residence in Nunda on
what was for many years the large farm of Russell Barnes. This farm ex-
tended from Mill Street to Massachusetts Street, along Church Street, and
included a good share of the Elmwood and the Jellerson lands to the Keshequa,
lot 29. The land agent was intending to have a fine estate of his own when
he grew rich selling farms to others. One small log house had an occupant
on the site of the Livingston Block, and, anxious to make sales a little away
from his coveted domain, he notified this tenant if he desired to stay he must
pay. Mr. B. Bada could not pay, so he ejected him after the fashion of the
English landlords with their Irish tenants in Ireland. So Bada was driven
out, but the squatters were in the majority, and led by a sharp Portage petti-
fogger, named Dickson, they won all their cases against McSweeney and
about 1819 or so they forced him to flee to Canada, as a “House of Refuge”
from the settlers and from his superior, Luke Tierney. His wife, who was a
“high-bred Irish dame, was left in possession to pass her first winter in the
wilderness of Nunda, not far from the Keshequa, somewhere on the present
Barnes-Jellerson farm.

And this story of Mrs. McSweeney was long after told to the guests
around the hospitable table of Deacon Russell Messenger, at Oakland:

115
MRS. McSWEENEY’S DILEMMA

It appears that Mrs. McSweeney, reared in Ireland near the western
shore, had never seen any large amount of snow. Spending her winter alone,
with no trading place nearer than Oakland, and few friendly to her husband,
who had carried away with him their first payments for their farms, her life
was extremely solitary and distressing. To add to her tribulation, a heavy
snow storm piled up the snow around her log habitation and placed its two-
foot depth of ‘the beautiful” between her domicile and the spring, much nearer
to the Keshequa. She had food, plenty, but was out of water and expected
to perish with thirst. A humane neighbor, though perhaps he lived a mile
away, fearing she might be out of fuel, light or food, went to her house and
offered his services. She had everything needed but water, and was suffering
from thirst. To his surprising inquiry, why she did not melt the snow, she
replied that she did not know she could do it.

She spent the winter there in comfort after this, but next spring sold to
the Messengers and Fitches her silverware. The younger Messengers and
Fitches were cousins, but the Messengers and Mrs. Bowhall were still nearer
related, for Mrs. Bowhall was a sister Baptist. Mrs. B. has seen the spoons
and heard the story of the woman, who, like the perishing sailor, might have
said, “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.”

1816

In 1816 Noah Warren came through Nunda village with his brother-in-
law, Schuyler Thompson, in search of a western home. Most of those who
came now had friends somewhere near and always found the latch-string out
even to a stranger. He has said he stopped the first night at the home of
George Patterson, Sr., one of the funniest of all the pioneers in this section.
The little hut, not over twelve feet square, and not much over six feet between
joints, served as an abode for the night. Mr. Warren selected a home on the
Norton tract, and went back to his eastern home, attracted by a magnet by the
name of Ursula, and did not return until 1819. Schuyler Thompson found a
home a little south of that in the town of Portage.

1815. Reuben Sweet, wife and children.

Peleg Sweet, a brother. These men settled on the road south of Walnut
Street, and Reuben remained there for a decade or two. Peleg moved on to the
south and settled in Grove-Nunda about 1823.

In 1816 we find these additional names on the highway lists; probably
they came the summer or autumn before:

Samuel Wilsey, Jeremiah Broach, Michael Rhine.

Michael Rhine had a family.

Note—A daughter of Michael Rhine died only a few years ago, an elderly
married lady, the ancestress of one of the many families near the Ossian town
line. I think she was the mother of Michael Reichard.

1816. Eleazer Barnhard, located on the hill southeast of the village, and,
it is said, with the assistance of four men, put up a log house in one day—
Sunday at that—one log higher than the second floor. A Sunday’s toil: “A
Sunday well spent brings a week of content.” This got into print at Utica,
and led to the settlement in 1817 of George W. Merrick. Barnhard seems to
have been a facetious chap, for he is reported as having said, when he finally

116
settled on the hill, a little bird used to cry, ‘Work or die!” Before he left, the
bird had changed his motto to “Cheat and Lie.” That bird must have come
from some earlier settlement than Nunda. \IcSweeney, so far, was the only
“cheat” in the town—there have been a few others since.

Recapitulation: \We have mentioned previous to 1816, forty-two. men,
and, assuming that the heads of families were married men and some had
children, there must have been a population at that time of at least eighty—
probably one hundred—in this part of the big town.

SOME TRANSIENTS AND PERMANENTS
THE Passaces.

1. Jacobus or Jacob Passage, m. Catharine Shoemaker. (Children, IH;
grandchildren, III, signifying second and third generation; b., born; m., mar-
ried; d., died.)

II. 1. George, m. Fletcher.

Il. 2. Margaret, m. \Wm. Chilson.

III. Daniel Chilson, a Nunda soldier, died in the service.

Hannah Chilson, m. Travis.

Il. 3. John Passage 2nd, m. Elizabeth House.

Il. 4. Lany, m. Andrew Bratt.

II. 5. Christopher, m. Fanny Long.

II. 6. David, b. 1807, m. Orpha Havens.

Il. 7. Elizabeth, b. 1812, m. *John S$. Culver; also his brother, Hamden
Culver; d. 1875.

Il]. Mary A. Culver, b. 1834: single; resided in Dalton.

Martha A., b. 1836; d.
Lydia, m. 1st, Leander Sabin of Nunda; 2nd, John Kelly of Nunda.
Stella, died (voung lady).

II. 8 Rachael Passage, m. John Van Sickle.

II. 9. Sophia, b. 1817, in Nunda; m. Marcellus Andress.

II. 10. Daniel Passage, m. Nancy White; b. in Grove Nunda, Aug., 1820.
Mrs. Daniel Passage is still living. She was the second child born of white
people in Grove. Daniel Passage moved back to Nunda half a century ago
and built the Sanitarium that only awaits the right manager to make the min-
eral springs of Nunda famous, and a modern Bethseda.

III. Martha, m. Daniel Price. There are two more generations of this
family living in modern Nunda in R. 5S. Dana’s family.

I. John Passage (brother to Jacob), a pioneer local Methodist preacher,
who sometimes preached with his hat on, m. a widow, Mrs. Bratt.

II. (Children.)

Gideon.
Andrew, m. Harriet Hungerford (sister to Virgil Hungerford).
Wesley, m.; had a large family.

A grandson of Wesley Passage, lived in Portage,

merchant of the Department Store type.
Children of David and Orpha Havens Passage

III. Mary Jane Passage, m. *Gardner Milliman. Gardner Milliman was

a Nunda soldier, 22nd New York; died in the service.

117

 

 

Moses became a

 
IV. Mark Milliman.
III. 2. Hannah Passage, m. Martin. Donahue. Martin Donahue m. 2
\Vescott of Nunda.

IV. Lillie Donahue, m.

III. 3. Henry Passage.

II. Peter Passage (son of James; nephew of Jacob, John), m. Harriet
Ward; 2. Pena Groce. Second marriage after 85 vears of age.

III. 1. George Passage, m. Charlotte Lyon, daughter of J. S. Lyon.

2. \Vard Passage.
3. Roxana, m. Harrison Colton.

* Deceased.

The Passage family, had they all remained in Nunda, would have added
ereatly to the population of the town. They moved to Grove and helped out
there. Peter Passage, always young, though born about 1810, married, a few
years before his death, one of his former sweethearts. She was nearly an
octogenarian, and he was several years older. All this goes to prove that in
Nunda the hearts of the people never grow old. He died in 1904, aged 94.

Mrs.

 

SCHUYLER THOMPSON FAMILY

Deacon Schuyler Thompson came to Nunda in 1816 with Noah \Varren
and remained, locating in Portage—Nunda.

THE JAMES BREWER FAMILY

A Story of Longevity, and a Three Life Lease

About 1815 or 1816, James Wadsworth, the pioneer, the first of the illus-
trious four that have honored that name, leased to James Brewer, who was
born perhaps 140 years ago, a farm at Minden, with a rental of one peck of
wheat an acre, as long as James Brewer, or his eldest daughter, Asenath, b.
December 14, 1807, or his eldest son, Daniel, b. August 10, 1809, should live.
Brewer selected lands similar to those here in the village, slightly wooded, and
for the reason that these lands did not produce well at first. too sour or too
exhausted from squaw culture, the first crop was a failure, so Brewer sold out
his claim to a second party, subject to the three-life lease, and came to live in
Nunda. This time he chose the hillside and located on the farm afterwards
owned by Hiram Merrick, grandfather of Prof. Merrick Whitcomb. When
the family came in 1818, his family consisted of himself, and his wife, (Grimes)
Brewer; Asenath, b. 1807; Daniel, 1809; Amy, 1811; James, 1813, and Eliza-
beth, 1815. Melissa, the baby, was born January 26, 1818. He lived on his
farm, cleared a spot, and sowed it to turnips, and this was his entire crop for
the first year. He lived here until 1820. Amy and Melissa died, and there
being no cemetery in Nunda they were buried on the farm. About this time
Mrs. Brewer's brothers, Alvin and Richard Grimes, settled on East Hill, and
the heartsick mother, wanting to be near her brothers, the family moved to
their neighborhood. Here our venerable townsman, the late Jesse Brewer,
was born, January 4, 1820, and was next to the Paine twins, being the third
child born, so far as known, in the town. The family lived here about three
years and another son, Joel, was born, December 28, 1822. The family, un-
able to cope with the big pine stumps, whose roots spread out over at least a

118
rod of land, moved to Grove-Nunda, and Brewer's Corners marks their place
of settlement. Here the beech and maple stumps were less troublesome and
here on June 1, 1825, our young townsman, Nelson Brewer, was born, and two
years later, Clark Brewer, the youngest of the large household. Here they
paid for the farm, and wishing to raise winter wheat, returned to Portage
and Nunda. To return to the lease, when it had run half a century, investiga-
tion was made to see if any of the “three” were living. All were living, and
the farm was worth now $100 an acre. Only thirty vears ago the Minden
farmer came to Nunda, to see if any of the precious lives (to him they were
precious) existed, and found that the son and daughter were both living; the
daughter, Mrs. Asenath Chase, of Lakeville, lived near him; ten years more
pass, and both were still alive; but nearly ninety years after the lease was
given, Mrs. Asenath Chase died, in the year 1905, in the 99th vear of her long,
active life. This story is not as good as when told me by Nelson Brewer, of
Mill Street (Stilson House), for then she was still alive. Her sister, Mrs.
Elizabeth Kingman, now only 92, when last heard from was doing the house-
work for her son-in-law, and still writes family letters to her voung brother,
Nelson, who is only 82. Jesse Brewer lived to a great old age also, and
claimed that he was the first white child born in the town of Nunda. Mrs.
Effie Brewer Chidsey is the granddaughter of Daniel Brewer, the youngest
party of the three, of the Three Life Lease. Homer Brewer, a son of Daniel,
no longer young, is still an active man, and lives in the town. Joel Brewer at
one time kept the Eagle Hotel, and afterward boarded students. Joseph
Mosher, son of William, an early pioneer, died at the Brewer boarding house.
Mrs. Joel Brewer, now the widow of Wm. C. Fuller, lives with her son in
Rochester. James Brewer died while comparatively young. The widow of
his son, Henry. is still a citizen of Nunda. Mrs. Kingman and Nelson Brewer
are the only ones living of the James Brewer family who came to Nunda when
the village was principally noted for its berry bushes, where the older children
of the family came to pick berries.

OTHER BREWERS

Clark and Havillah Brewer were cousins to Daniel, James, Joel, Nelson
and Clark.

Havilla married a Gifford, and afterward the widow of Barnard Wagor,
the father of Walter \WWagor.

Clark Brewer, 2nd, was then the only son. He died in Colorado a few
years ago.

Clark (brother to Havilla), married ———- Chase, sister to Sheriff Chase
of Livingston County. Their daughter Mary, a beautiful young lady, mar-
ried and soon after died.

This branch of the Brewer family is extinct.

 
CHAPTER V.

Our PERMANENT SETTLERS—IMPporRTANT LocAL History.

Republic is great, not because of the amount of dirt we possess, or the

size of our census roll, but because of the genius of the race of pioneer
white freemen, who settled this continent, dared the might of Kings, and blazed
the way through the wilderness for the trembling feet of liberty.”

Thomas Dickson, Jr., Author of the Leopard Spots.

O NE thought I would burn into the soul of every young American; our

Nothing in the past is dead to a man who would learn how the present
comes to be what it is, and with retrospective glance seeks the source of present
conditions.

THE PAINE FAMILY—WHO THEY WERE AND WHAT THEY DID

James Paine, the first permanent settler of Nunda, was born in Litchfield
County, Conn., January 27, 1783, at the close of the Revolutionary War. He
moved to Herkimer County in t800 and a few years later married Polly (Mary)
Dana. He moved with his wife and two sons to Nunda, March 15, 1817.
(Though not the first pioneer of our present township, he may be called the
first permanent settler.) Two of his sisters with their families soon followed,
AIrs. Zervia Merrick, wife of George W Merrick, the same year, and his sis-
ter Betsey, Mrs. William P. Wilcox, in 1820 or 22. Mr. Paine arrived in the
huge town of Nunda, in time for the town election and walked to the place of
voting (in Pike), it took one day to go, he voted (second day) and returned
(third day). He was a large, vigorous man, and it is said that he carried a bag
of wheat, the first he raised, or bought, to Dansville, on his back, had it ground
into flour and returned with it the next day. Recently a descendant of George
W > Alerrick, tells the same story of George W Merrick. This does not hurt
the story at all—possibly they went together on their fifteen mile jaunt, and to
use an Irish witticism, for they may have reasoned the same way: “Sure mon
there's two of us, it is only siven miles and a half a piece.” Certainly in good
company the distance did not seem so great. We may be tempted to ask, why
did they not use a horse? Because the blazed path was too narrow and they
were both young and strong.

The Paines were pioneers by nature and lineage, the Paine family were
said to be pioneers also in the State of Connecticut. The sons who came to
Nunda were Earl Judson, who was born at Paine’s Hollow, Herkimer County,
(the name indicates they were pioneers there also), March 24, 1807, and his
brother Lucius F., born t809. These boys 10 and 8 years of age lived in Nunda
until they were the last of those pioneers that were here in 1817. Mr. Earl J.
Paine was an authority concerning events of these early times, and among many
other things records that Mary Jemison from Gardeau was frequently a visitor
at the early home of the family. As the Indians took their families with them on
their annual .\utumnal hunt for winter supplies of meat, no doubt this white In-
dian came and was a welcome caller at many a settlers cabin. Earl was a farmer
and lumberman and owned a fine farm that he carved out of a primitive wil-
derness. All such were benefactors.

120
The whole family in Nunda has consisted of four generations:

I. James, Paine, died April 8, 1860. Aged 83. Married Polly Dana,
September 27, 1850. Born November 10, 1803. Died, aged 60.

Il. 1. Earl Judson, born March 24, 1807. Married in 1827 to Catherine,
Grimes, daughter of Richard Grimes. Died February 25, 187.

Tl. rt. Ann M., born (828, married Prof. Buck, Vincennes, Ind. 2.
Wells, born 1830, married 1832, (1) Emily B. Phillips, Wyoming County. Die
1870. (2) Celia M. Doolittle, born Otsego County, 1844, married 1871, who
survives him.

IV. r. *Carrie A., married Frank B. Chittenden.

V. 1. Two living children, Harry and Ada. 1\V 2. May C., married Platt
C. Halstead. 3. Earl D. 4. Fred E.

Il. 2. *Lucius F. Paine, born 1809. Mechanic, (machinist) and manu-
tacturer. Died February 12, 1883. Married Emmaline Hopkins, daughter ot
Charles and Emma H._ Died 1880.

Ill. 1. *Mary, died in infancy. 2. Mary Hovey (adopted) married
*Stephen Barrett, teacher. (Have a family oi children.) 3. John (adopted) a
tailor—went away and never returned.

(First births among permanent settlers.)

Il. 3 and 4. *James Almiron and Mary Almira, born November 12, 1819,
who (AM. A.) married Rev. Lyman Stilson. Died March 30, 1857. 3. James
Almiron, married (1) *Lucretia Putnam; (2) *Esther Greenwood. No chil-
dren by first marriage.

Adopted Sarah Hovey. Married John D. Grimes. See Grimes-Hovey
family.

Adopted Alfred Paine (a relative), married a Miss Coxe.

Children of J. A. and Esther (G.) Paine. Born in Nunda.

III. 1. Grace, a professional Normal Teacher. 2. Allison James, born in
Nunda. Married Minnie Rockfellow, daughter of Charles and Sophia
(Walker) R.

Their children

IV. 1. Adeline and John.

*J. A. Paine for many years carried the U. S. Mail between Dalton and
Nunda, and had a stage line between these places. He died at the age of 8o.

*Deceased.

Nephews of James Paine, Pioneer.

Other giants of a Gigantic Race

I. 1832—William D, Paine and Carlos Grant Paine. These brothers built
the Nunda House in 1836. William D. Paine, millwright, built many saw-mills.
Married Samantha Rice, daughter of E. Rice.

Il. William H. Paine married Ella Hitchcock, daughter of M. and 5S.
Hitchcock. See picture Civil List.

II. Laura Paine unmarried.

III. William, a schoolboy, son of William and Ella (H) Paine.

I. 1832—Carlos Grant, farmer (109A) and lumberman, Born in Herki-
mer County, February 20, 1811. Died. Married 1, Jerusha Swift. Born 187r:
married 1835; died 1853.

121
II. 1. Delos S., born in Nunda, 1840. 3. Fannie H., born in Nunda,
1838. She was a teacher in Nunda. Married Rev. Arba Town, who died at
Spencerport, 1908. 2. (Harriet G., born in Nunda, 1836.)

Second marriage 1854, Mrs. Nancy Sweet Burdick. Born Delaware
County, 1817.

Son of C.G. and N.S. B. Paine.

4. Nathan A., born in Nunda, 1861.

I. Abraham Burdick, born 1801. Married Nancy Sweet. Died 1850.

Il. Ezra Burdick (veteran), born 1845. Married --———— Stonebrook.
Mary Jane Burdick, born 1841. 1. Mrs. Goodemont. 2. AIrs. J. W. Smith.
*Abram Burdick, Vet. Cay. Died in the service. Benjamin Range (lived in this
family), veteran Civil War.

“Deceased.

Lucius F. Paine, (a boy Pioneer of Nunda), tells his story of Pioneer days.
He was eight years of age when he came to Nunda in 1817.

“The early settlers lived a life of roughness and severity compared to the
lives of their descendants. Living in houses built from logs hewed from the
forests which surrounded them; subsisting from the meager patches of land
hurriedly cleared, or on the scant surplus of products produced by some earlier
settler, often many miles away, toiling early and toiling late, and dressing in
homespun from their own family looms; theirs was a rugged life and demanded
more than ordinary perseverance and self-denial to procure a living for them-
selves and families. Shingle making and lumbering was at first a source of
gain, the former being made at the rate of fifty cents a thousand, and the best
lumber selling for two dollars per thousand feet. (And here comes in the com-
pensation in a boy's hfe from incessant daily toil). In those davs deer were
abundant. There were also some bears and elk, but not so many. Wolves
were so plentiful that the settlers could keep but few sheep, and a reward of sev-
eral dollars was paid by the town for the killing of each wolf. Wheat drawn to
Rochester, a three cays’ journey, brought three shillings and sixpence a bushel
It cost twelve dollars a vear to get delivered 2 small paper published in
Geneseo.’ ”

This record of pioneer life, with its evidences of light pocketbooks and
heavy toil, coming from the home experiences of this once boy pioneer, furnishes
a glance of James Paine and his sons, making their best pine lumber into shin-
gles to be sold for a little cash or for groceries, while the patient Polly and her
daughter Almira spin and weave the wools, so much needed for winter clothing.

“Say sons and grandsons of the pioneers
Is not your life a happier one than theirs?"

1817

Reuben Bates who came with James Paine to Nunda, if he settled at all in
Nunda, must have been a transient.

John Eisamon did the same but a year or so later, he followed or preceded
some of his neighbors to the Dutch Settlement in Grove. Good titles to lands
could there be obtained.

Alexander Bailey, it is said by his grandchildren, tarried a year or two in
Nunda before coming to Grove to reside, if so, he may have been one of the
Baileys on Lot 1 who were here in very early days.

122
CHRONOLOGY AND GENEALOGY OF WILCOX CORNERS’
CITIZENS

The Merricks, George W., Hiram B., Susan Merrick.

George W. Merrick married Zervia Paine, sister of James Paine, Sr.

Settled in Nunda 1817. He bought the half acre clearing of Eleazar
Barnard with log house and 50 acres of land, for $40 in gold. Mr. Merrick
had read somewhere ii a newspaper that a man by the name of Barnard had,
with the assistance of five others, on a certain Sunday, gone into the woods,
chopped the logs and laid up a log cabin as high as the chamber floor and one
log higher before sundown, in the town of Nunda. 9 On reaching Nunda, Mr.
Merrick found this place and purchased the claim with its improvements, con-
sisting of a log house twelve feet square, and one half acre cleared land, sowed
to turnips.

He raised the logs five feet higher and put on a roof of shake shingles.
(shingles about three feet long), made by himself, and fastened down with
poles, without using a nail. Five hundred feet of boards for finishing purposes
was all he could procure. These were probably procured at the Bennett &
Nichols settlement, afterward called Hunt's Hollow. Mr. Merrick with his
brother-in-law Paine and Wilcox (William P.), have been credited with laying
out the state road in 1824, others like Captain John H. Townsend and the War-
rens claim to have assisted and doubtless they widened the road after it was
surveyed.

Mr. Merrick’s ability to do things was well known and he was soon after
coming elected Justice of the Peace, (an office that became elective about 1817),
and held this position for 16 years. He was supervisor of the town of Nunda
for six vears. Higher offices would have been within the scope of his ability
and within the circle of his well deserved popularity, but for an infirmity, (he
became very deaf), that rendered office holding at Albany impracticable.

Mrs. Zervia Merrick’s popularity was as great as that of her husband, re-
sulting in her somewhat unusual same becoming a favorite one in the com-
munity. She died in Nunda and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery. It is said
by a granddaughter of George \V. Alerrick, that he arrived in Nunda with one
horse and a yoke of oxen. There was great scarcity of feed for horses or cattle
in the year following the cold season of 1816, when there was frost every month
and hearing of a settler that had hay to sell, he went the next day (Sunday) to
secure some. The farmer lived somewhere south of the present village down the
creek. There were only a tew people then in Nunda and it being Sunday the set-
tler refused to sell the hay until Monday. “But,” said Merrick, “my live stock
have been on the road a great many days, are used up and are starving, they
must have something to eat.” “I will not sell hay or anything else on Sunday,”
insisted the settler. “Then I will take it and pay vou later.” And take it he did.
This gives us a fair type of two classes of men, the one a sensible practical man;
the other, a formatistic, pietistic pharisee, who had neglected to read intelligently
the Great Master’s conclusion on Sabbath keeping; namely, “Wherefore it is
right to do good on the Sabbath day.” I was pleased when Mrs. Ross told me
this story, for I felt I was better acquainted with her grandfather whom I had
never spoken to, but had often seen, when I was a youth.

123
The children of George \W. and Zervia (Paine) Merrick were:

Il. 1. Delos Merrick, born in Nunda. Married Alvira Chase, East Street,
Nunda. 2. Alonzo Merrick, born in Nunda. Married Julia, daughter of Amos
B. Barker of Nunda.

Delos Mertick was in many respects as much of a Paine as a Merrick.
Strong, vigorous, resolute, energetic, a man who did his own thinking, and made
“Reason” rather than “Ritual” or ‘Tradition’ his pilot and guide.

Mrs. Almira (Chase) Merrick, the author remembers as a matronly woman
with a pleasant face and a fine physique. She died recently.

Their children were daughters:

*Julia, a teacher, married (1) *Wilbur Wood, of Davenport, Ia.

Children—1. Endora. 2. Julia. 3. Daisey, and 4. Delos.

2. Mr. Powell, President Street Railway, was killed by being run over by
the cars at Wichita, Kan.

Kittie Clarissa, a teacher in New York and the West. Married William
Ross, residence Sparta, N. J.

Mary married Joseph Meigs.

I. Hiram Merrick married Esther Richardson.

The year of settiement is not given. This family, unlike their relatives of
the Richardson and Wilcox families, were Universalists. It required some cour-
age and strength of will to espouse a cause, which like early Christianity “was
everywhere spoken against.”

It must have been in the Merrick makeup of blood, brawn and brain, to be
brave, strong and self reliant, to be themselves, instead of being pocket editions
of pedagogues and parsons, who were supposed by most people in those days as
the possessors of unlimited knowledge and truth.

A charge of heresy and the fate of ostracism, awaited those who dared to
reason for themselves in those davs, when Puritan Calvinism dominated in
church circles. Even Methodism was tabooed and Universal Love was less ac-
ceptable than even universal malignity.

“Bless me and my wife, my son John and his wife, us four and no more.
Amen.” was a somewhat exaggerated statement of the family pravers and
eschatology in Calvinistic households even fifty vears ago.

And what is the writer doing but repeating the thoughts of his anti-Calvin-
istic mother.

The children of Hiram B. Merrick were mostly girls with masculine
minds, and possessors of the Merrick makeup, supplemented by the devout
spirit of the Richardsons. Their intellectuality, their freedom from fetters,
their zeal for progress, progressive piety and patriotism, made them poor con-
servatives, poor imitators, but natural leaders among their own sex. Con-
spicuously so was Fidelia J. Merrick Whitcomb, a true logician, a subtle rea-
soner, a born theologian, a social leader. In theology a pronounced Univer-
salist, in politics a Republican, she could make votes if she could not vote. A
student of medicine for the sake of medical knowledge, she became not only
the possessor of an M. D. degree from Boston University, but became a sldiled
practitioner. “She saved others, herself she could not save,” from death,
from an incurable malady.

124
In the time of our Civil War, her leadership led to the doing of great
things for the soldiers. Since the united efforts of the patriotic women of
Nunda, led by their strongest church leaders, Mrs. Whitcomb, Mrs. Britton,
Mrs. King and Mrs. Herrick, working together in perfect harmony, there has
been more of the spirit of the Master in the churches and less of that bigotry,
too common in this community. At this time, all were patriots. Having
worked together in the cause of humanity, it was easier to believe in the
Brotherhood of man—and to find a larger sphere of inclusivness in the greatest
doctrine of the Gospels—The Fatherhood of God.

Il. 1. Mrs. F. J. M. Whitcomb died at Tarpon Springs, and was buried
there. Had she been buried here the wreath and flag we bestow, in gratitude
to those who loved and served their country in the hour of her peril, would
not be out of place on the grave of this ardent patriot.

Her sisters were:

2. Elvira, who married Henry DePuy, who was private secretary to
Governor Horatio Sevmore.

3. Pamelia, who married Miles Cowen, has a son, Hall Cowen, \Windsor,
Ontario.

4. Moses Merrick, the youngest member of the household, is best remem-
bered as the accomplished clerk in the store of his brother-in-law, Walter B.
Whitcomb. He married Mary Craig, of Nunda.

For further information concerning the Walter B. Whitcomb family, see
Whitcomb Family, 1834.

I. 3. Susan Merrick was a pioneer teacher of Nunda at least 80 years
ago, when the Barkertown school first existed, and when our octogenarian,
Munson O. Barker, first attended school. She was a younger sister of G. W.
and H. B. Merrick. She was married to Luther, son of Wiiliam Warren.

CHAPTER VI.

Suppivision oF TowN—Ntwnpa Parts witH Four SEcTIONS—CENTERVILLE,
Eacie, PrIKE aND HUME—CENTERVILLE'S FIRST SETTLER A Boy.

 

of Nunda for ten years. Its first settler, the “Monarch of all he sur-

veyed” was a very king of a new realm, with energy enough to supply

a whole dynasty of monarchs. He was only a barefoot boy of eighteen, the

proud possessor of an axe, that mighty talisman whose transforming power was

of more value to him than a dozen crowns and scepters. He came from Otsego

County to Pike in the early spring of 1808, which made him a Nunda citizen.

He must have been a dreamer of prosperity, a sentimental youngster, with a

vivid imagination of achievements to be realized. His story as told by Turner
is as follows

“The advent of Joseph Maxsom, into this primitive wilderness is worthy

of notice. He was only 18, two cents and a few articles of provisions and cloth-

ing constituted his wealth. At Pike he took from his feet a pair of new shoes,

bartered them for an axe, and pushed on into the wilderness, and in the center of

’ | \ HE town of Centerville formed half of the western boundary of the town

125
 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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the township near a small stream, erected the rudest kind of a hut. For a bed
he peeled basswood bark, used some pieces as a floor and others for covering.
Not long after he came snow fell six inches deep. He persevered in his labors
and passed eight months alone. In the books of the land office an entry made
July 22, 1808, shows that he had five acres cleared, which probably meant no-
thing more than felling the trees and burning them. He raised a few bushels
of corn and some potatoes the first vear, and had two acres prepared and put in
to wheat that fall.

“Success attended the young pioneer. He became an early tavern keeper
and the owner of a large and well improved farm. After the country was con-
siderably cleared up he became restive, sold out in the forties, went to Wiscon-
sin and engaged in building mills. (Here is where the sentiment comes in.)
He preserved for vears, one of the cents before mentioned, one kernel of the
seed corn of 1808, and an old wooden fan with which he cleaned the first wheat
raised in town.”

Of all the pioneer stories to be told of the settlers of Nunda, it is doubtful
if there are any more indicative of self-reliance and energy. The record does
not even say he had a gun to supply food for his table—was the one cent spent
for a fish hook; If so, it helps to explain how this vouth made his few articles
of provision last so well. Did he trap his game? Did he carry ashes to Pike to
sell for needed stores? How was his seed wheat secured? Ah, the pioneer,
kinder than men of to-day, would sell to men of energy, without money as will-
ingly as to men with a well filled purse.

THE FIRST INN

A man by the name of Thatcher kept the first inn. Most of these wayside
inns return to their original use as private homes, but retain the appearance of
hotels. Strong Warner kept another.

STORY OF A NUNDA MERCHANT

To one of these, probably the one on the Allegany Road, a belated traveler
from our modern village, now a well known merchant, and a favorably known
citizen, drew reins over a tired horse, and seeing the host and hostess of an inn
sitting at ease on their piazza, asked to be entertained for the night. He stated
he had expected to reach the place of his destination, but the roads being heavy
his horse had tired and he had concluded to complete the journey on the morrow.
The man on the porch asked him how far he had come. He answered “from
Nunda.” About twenty miles, though it seemed to be much farther. “I should
like to accommodate a man from Nunda, for I once lived in Nunda myself. I
kept a hotel there many years ago.” “Indeed,” said the traveler from Nunda,
now on the familiar ground of long acquaintance with the town, “which hotel,
the Nunda House, or the Eagle?” “Neither,” said mine ancient host, “it was
this place, this wayside inn.” “But this is Centerville not Nunda,” said our
traveler. “True,” said mine host, “but Centerville was in Nunda ten years, and
my good wife and ‘me’ kept this hotel then. We were young and strong then,
but we are neither of us strong enough to do that kind of work now, and you
will have to go on to the next hotel though I hate to send a Nunda man away.”
And Joseph Lovell, genial Joe, otherwise well informed, who had grown to man-

127
hood in Nunda, had learned a lesson in local geography, that none of his teachers
could teach, because they did not know of “Greater Nunda” and its “Long-
House” from 1808-1818.

GOOD-BY TO CENTERVILLE

Centerville history of a later time is interesting, but is not strictly within
the scope of this sketch. A few more statements relating to the children of
these pioneers may be germane. Ellen Higgins, one of the daughters of Russell
Higgins, attained considerable celebrity as a physician in New York City. A
son of Packard Bruce, Edward S. Bruce, was a sheriff of Allegany County,
and a daughter married Hon. Henry M. Teller, once Secretary of the Interior,
from whom, Major George M. Lockwood, recommended by William H. Kelsey,
received the appointment of chief clerk; both filled their positions with honor.

CHAPTER VII.

Tue Town or EacLE—Nunpia—ToucGu Times—Tim BuckiLanp’s Tricks—
Tipsy Customs—First Town MEETING.

cut off with Pike from Nunda March 18, 1818, and it separated from

Pike January 23, 1823. It lies on the summit of Western New York.
Its water courses are tributary to streams whose waters reach Lakes Erie and
Ontario and also the Gulf of Mexico. These streams at one time abounded with
trout. It is said that Timothy Buckland often put a grain bag into one of th
streams at the head of Spring Glen, and caught half a bushel at once. As this.
is a “fish story,” it would be foily to dispute it.

William and Silas Hodges, and hired man Smith, were first settlers. Wil-
liam ran away from his home in Massachusetts when tg years of age. Silas.
bought his time. Both were minors, but William had a magnet that drew him
back to Herkimer County, so had Silas. William married the magnet, Miss.
Abigail Howard of that county, in February, 1808. Soon afterward the three
men came to Nunda (Eagle), settled on Lot 8 and Smith felled the first timber
in the town. A log house was built. Both Hodges returned to Herkimer and both
returned married men (the magnets did not come with them to Eagle at first).
In April, 1809, Silas came with an ox team and William hired his brother-in-law,
with a horse team to move him and his, including wife and furniture, to their
new habitation. They covered their chimney when going east to keep out the
snow, when they returned, they found the house had been used by the Indians,
who unaccustomed to chimneys, did not remove the cover, and the house had the
appearance of a smoke house. In a few days the two brides, with a liberal use
of water, ashes, and sand, had restored this primitive bark roofed cabin to all its
former “elegance.” Besides having a bark roof it had a floor, made of split
basswood logs, and doors made of the same material. Necessity, in pioneer
days, was the fruitful mother of Invention. In 1809, William planted an orchard
ot apple trees, i. ¢., he planted the seeds of the apples they brought with them and
fifty trees rewarded his effort. Three of these trees were standing in 1880. Early
history fails to tell of marriages unless they were of those with the ceremony im

y | \ HE town of Eagle, once the northwest corner of the town of Nunda, was.

128
the town, but first marriages in town, first births and first deaths, are sure to be
a matter of local history. Alanson, son of Silas Hodges, born October 13, 1809,
was the first child born in Eagle-Nunda.

GOOD-BYE TO EAGLE

With the citizens who came to (Eagle-like, i. e., after 1818 or to Eagle
after January 23, 1823), the pioneer history of Nunda has nothing to do. Some
of them, however, like Timothy Buckland in 1833, a pioneer of Centerville, serve
so well to illustrate a class of pioneers whose skill with rod, seine and gun, make
them especially interesting to the young. We therefore give this phase of his
career. Timothy Buckland came from Vermont to Centerville. He was a suc-
cessful sportsman. His choice of location was governed by the abundance of
fish and game. He had been a sailor and having lost the sight of his right eye by
smallpox while at Liverpool, shot left handed, and a truer shot never lived in
town. When seventy vears of age, he was seen to center a snowball at ten rods
distance, offhand. He came to Eagle in 1822, but did not purchase a farm until
1833. While at Centerville he killed 24 bears, 75 wolves, on which the bounty
amounted to $750, and deer unnumbered. He was also a successful trapper of
mink, sable, foxes, racoon, etc. He caught a number of foxes in his wolf traps
setting the traps in a spring.

A habit acquired at sea, was to save his rations of rum (some other tars did
the same) and on Saturday nights, if weather and duty permitted, they would
bring out their can of rum and have a jolly time spinning sea yarns, singing
songs, and drinking. Buckland could sing songs all night without repeating
one. This habit acquired at sea he kept up, to some extent, during his life.
Sometimes these cans would last several days. The last day he would be asleep
for an hour or two then get up, and take a drink or two, sing a song or two, go
out and shin up the side post to show how the sailors climbed; on these occa-
sions he wore only his night attire. He tanned the skins of the deer he killed.
MRS. LORINDA BUCKLAND,
his wife, made the skins up into gloves, mittens, moccasins, and when the
skin was a light one into a vest. While the family lived in Centerville, two
miles from any neighbor, with the wolves howling on every side, Mrs. Buckland
would go on horseback through the forest visiting her neighbors very often
alone, and enjoy the ride as well as the visit. The route was where the Roch-
ester and State Line or Pittsburg Railroad now runs through the corner of Cen-
terville and into the town of Freedom.

UNCLE TIM’S TRICKS

Mr. Buckland was known as Uncle Tim, and he was often heard to say,
that when he set foot on the Holland Purchase, he had only eighteen pence and
a chew of tobacco. He delighted in playing tricks on tavern-keepers, and he
knew them all for miles around. He sent Dan Burrows, then keeping tavern in
Castile, a quarter of wolf, for venison. Dan returned his thanks, accompanied
with a paper of choice lettuce seed, with particular directions how to prepare
the soil and to sow the seed. Tim bit the hook as greedily as any “gudgeon of
the pond” and in due time Uncle Tim had a fine bed of luxuriant bull thistles.

Cherry lumber was plentiful, of large size, and for those times brought espe-
cially the wider boards, a large price. i. ¢., from $20 to $30 per thousand, every
inch in width above twenty bringing an additional dollar.

129
Colonel G. G. Prey (of the roqth) and a brether-in-law, when this cherry
timber grew scarce found a stub fifty feet high whose top had blown off. They
bought it and got five splendid logs, about 2 1-2 feet in diameter. Two miles
south lived Jesse Dutton, who weighed 440 pounds. It was proposed, in jest, to
save a few of the widest boards for Uncle Jesse's coffin. In a short time those
very boards were used for this purpose.

POLITICAL HISTORY

The first town meeting was held at the home of Seth Wetmore, agreeable
to an act of the Legislature, fixing place and date, February 11, 1823. Dan
Beach (the saddler innkeeper) presided at the board after innkeeper fashion.

The author gives an account of this first town meeting of this Upland town,
to bring out one of its peculiarities. It was a jolly affair. In the room where
the votes were polled, (good Wyoming Co. authority says), there was a barrel
of whiskey, and on the table where the ballot box sat, and which was sur-
rounded by the official board, were a decanter and glasses. (Remember they
were no longer West Nundaj. Surely this differs from the past and present
custom in Puritan New England, of opening every town meeting with prayer,
—this custom the author had witnessed in New Hampshire, but never in New
York, and the extremes in these customs from the Eastern States and what was
West Nunda, is at least worthy of notice. I would hate to swear even on a
“Pilgrims Progress” that in New England, two centuries ago, that the clergy-
men present for duty and the ‘Select Men” as they call their highest town offi-
cials, were not given a glass cf New England rum on these great occasions. At
least, the author has the statement of Hon. John Randolph that “New England
rum was the only thing that could take the taste of New England Calvinism out
of the mouth.” Possibly, the treat depended upon the strength of the theology.
But in Eagle in 1823 it is doubtful if there was any church, parson, or theology
of any kind requiring an antidote. These pioneer huntsmen and inn keepers
seemed to care more for toddy than for temperance or theology of any kind, and
not until 1846 was there any effort to control the sale of intoxicants which re-
sulted in a vote of 58 votes for no license and to7 for license.

Nathaniel Hillis and his brother, Adino Hills came from Mont. Co.
in 1810. Both families lived in one room, but when Dan Beach came in the
fall, he stopped with the Hills’ a few days, three families in one room, (room
must have been a misnomer). The next week they built a house for Beach.
A portion of this was covered with bark, the remainder left open for smoke to
escape, as the fire was built upon the ground. Elm logs were split and laid side
by side for the floor. Hemlock boughs on the floor served for bed and bedstead.
A bed quilt at first furnished the outside door. The opening in the roof and the
spaces between the logs, served for windows. Who would not have been 1
pioneer? Camping out does not compare in “outness!’’ These first families of
Eagle-Nunda were without roads or teams, they were 12 miles from a saw mill,
31 miles from Geneseo, the nearest point where other building material could be
obtained. Mr. Beach. however, was rich, compared with others, after paying the
men for his transportation to this scene of primeval forests, he had $104, a hoe,
an axe, and a shovel, all unfamiliar implements to him, for he was a saddler by
trade. In eight years he had paid for his farm, had a comfortable home and
kept a tavern.

130
Joseph Barnhart in 1819 bought Eber Benton's farm (Lot 24) for a yoke
of oxen and a rifle. Eber Benton sold in 1816.

The winter of 1820-21 was very severe. The snow was two feet deep in
April, fodder all used up, and the settlers were obliged to cut browse for their
stock. Maple and basswood boughs seem to have served this purpose best.
In May of this year, 1821, there was a three days’ snow storm. Early herbs and
leeks were up, and were serving as food, but the snow covered everything green
and the cattle nearly starved. Timothy Buckland told that he fed out the straw
from his straw beds, aad when the last bed was emptied, he lay all day between
two feather beds, in order not to hear the bawling of his starving cows.

PIKE-NUNDA

The town of Pike was organized by act of the Legislature on the 18th day
of March, 1818, dividing the town of Nunda into two equal parts, and organiz-
ing the town of Pike from the four western town plots (now Pike, Eagle,
Hume, and Centerville). The new town was named after General Zebulon
Montgomery Pike. who was killed at the explosion of a mine at the capture of
Toronto, May 13th, 1813. This action was taken by the request of the people
of Nunda, who in a town meeting held at (the present village of) Pike, Decem-
ber 18th, 1817, appointed Dan Beach, Thomas Dole, Asahel Trowbridge, Asahel
Newcomb and Seth Wetmore, a committee to petition the Legislature in their
behalf, to this end. A drag was the first pioneer vehicle, a sapling with two
roots or branches used as runners, not over three feet apart. See picture break
ing into the woods. They were used in summer or winter.

This divided the eight original 6x6 town plots into two equal parts,
the four forming Pike were in the Holland Purchase, and the four that
remained in the Morris Reserve. The town was first settled from Whitehall,
N. Y., by Asahel Newcomb, Eli Griffith, Peter Granger, Caleb Powers, Phineas
Harvey, Russell H. Benton and Christopher Olen. The first marriage was
that of Russell H. Benton, and Phineas Harvey was the first adult to die. Eli
Griffith kept the first inn, built the first saw mill and grist mill, laid out a road
to Leicester. Enlisted (he was a Capt. of Militia) in 1812, and died December
11, 1812. Chandler Benton and Jonathan Couch shared his fate.

Abel Townsend was a pioneer of 1809, and married Beula Abell, who
taught the first school in the town in 1809. She was an able teacher, a prudent
and able housewife, but when Able asked her to teach a school of one, she was
not “able” to answer in the negative. The sequel of this followed when their
daughter and granddaughter came to Nunda to reside, as will be told hereafter
The first store in Nunda (Pike) was kept by Tilly Parker in 1810. 9 William
Hyslop was the first lawyer in 1812 and Luther C. Peck, 14 years after, Super-
visor and J. P. for to years, was our first and last Member of Congress. He
came to Nunda village to reside in 1841.

Aaron Fuller, grandfather of our townsman Willis Fuller was drowned in
the Genesee River. Dr. C. C. Chafee, a medical celebrity, came from Pike to
‘Nunda, and had for two years medical classes, and did wonderful things, raised
the dead, for example, generally within 24 hours after burial.

The population of the town reached its greatest numerical strength in 1840,
over 2,000 and has since gradually declined. Its Academy and wooden mills,
while they lasted, were the chief agencies of prosperity.

131
CHAPTER VIII.

Hume-Nunpa, From Marcu 17, 1808, To Marcu 6, 1818—HuMe-PIKE, FROM
Marcu 6, 1818, to Marcu 20, 1822—TowNnsHIP 6, RANGE I.

ROGER MILLS, SR.

Its first settler was a man with brains in his hat. He came to Town-

ship 7 and stayed a while, then went further down the stream in the
search of the best water power available He was planning for other wheels
besides those in his head. He came from Montgomery County and he meant to
build mills. His mame was no misnomer, he built mills and they were called
Mills’ Mills. He had a large family of boys, or rather young men. It is said he
hired Christopher Olen and paid him $1.00 to piiot him through the Wiscoy Val-
ley, that he might select a mill site. The upper one of the five falls that gave this
plunging stream its Indian name, “Wis’—five—and “Coy or Koya”, Creek, or
Five fall Creek, satished his desire for settlement and his became the first family
to settle in this Genesee River town. The water power is great in this town,
its streams are large and strong and this has led to many small settlements in-
stead of one large one. At one time Hume, Fillmore, Rossburgh, Wiscoy, and
Mills Mills had post offices.

(Augustus Porter in 1798 after the Treaty at Big Tree ran the boundary
lines of the Caneadea Indian Reservation, which forms a large portion of the
town of Hume, and in 1805 William Peacock subdivided most of the town not
included in the Reservation into lots, and made no mention of any white man in
this township. )

Roger Mills made a dam and erected a saw miil, the first recorded in
Nunda, in 1807, to which those from above the mill, even as far as Arcade, came
for lumber. Elisha Johnson, who subdivided the Cottinger Tract in 1807, re-
ports this saw mill in operation. Mr. Mills built a gristmill in 1808, the very
first in the town. The castings and stones were brought from Albany on
sleighs, the winter of 1807 and & by George Mills and Zech. Keyes. White
men and Indians (from the Reservation) came from Geneseo, and from Can-
eadea to help raise this mill. No event of the year, excepting the organization
of the town, was so important. Pounding corn in a mortar became a neglected
or “a lost art.” The wild wood paths, only wide enough to allow the passage of
“a drag,” some brought grists from 40 miles away. The Indians brought their
grists to this Tes-e-o-na, but the Kan-is-te-o-ni, or Saw Mill, they failed to
utilize.

The first store was also at Mills Mills, and Elisha Mills was the first mer-
chant in 1809, the very first one in the entire town of Nunda. The first inn was
kept by George Mills in 1815. The Mills family were energetic and just the
ones to inaugurate needed improvements. Roger Mills, Sr., died in 1811 and
Roger AIills, Jr., became a settler at Mills Mills. Soon after, Caroline Russell,
daughter of Samuel and Parmelia Russell of Montgomery County, taught the
first school, in a barn belonging to the Mills family which is still doing duty, not
as a school house but as a stable on the Philo Mills place. The mill also, for 80
years, was in possession of this family. It had served as mill, dwelling house,

132

V | VN HIS part of Nunda has its own story of pioneer pluck and enterprise.
inn, and store, all at the same time, for people came so far to mill, that they had
to remain over night and were fed at the family table, and slept on beds of grain
bags. Roger Mills, Jr., built an addition to the mill, and lived there until he
built a good farm house in which the late Philo Mills, one of “God's good men,”
was born, lived 80 years, and died in the very same room where he was born, in
1892. Goodwin Mills was said to have been born in the old mill. George Mills
was frozen to death and was buried in the orchard.

After the war of 1812-14, Leonard Smith sold army clothing in the mill.
Joshua Skiff from Otsego County, s. in r809, bought Lot 38, that had been
booked to Roger Mills, giving him $5.00 to give over his claim, and commenced
clearing a field for wheat. At a “raising” he had in the fall there were present
eleven men and two women. The Skiff family, judging by the highway records
of Nunda, were public spirited and popular. Joshua held many of the principal
town offices. He was often town clerk, and for his day a good penman.

Thomas Pyre was the pioneer blacksmith.

A carding mill was added in 1816 to the other industries of the town by
Roger Mills and Bailey Clough, below the grist mill, that was of great benefit
to the knitters and weavers found in all the best homes, and this preceded the
one at Oakland or even at Hunt's Hollow. Machinery for dressing cloth was
added and the cloth dressed at Mills Mills made the homespun “‘sheeps’ gray” so
common for several decades throughout all this vicinity. (The writer remem-
bers distinctly his first suit of black homespun (for Sunday use only) that he
possessed during the Mexican War, and though but ten years of age, he felt al-
most big enough to enlist).

Other settlers of Hume-Nunda were Peltiah and Rufus Mills, brothers of
Elisha and George, and half brother to Roger, Jr., whose mother was a cousin
to Noah Webster, the lexicographer. Roger, Sr., was the father of nine chil-
dren and Roger, Jr., of thirteen. Samtel Goodwin, born November 22, 1811,
Philo, born March 21, 1813, and Marvin, May 13, 1817, were citizens of Nunda
by birthright. At least 100 “Alillses” have been born in what is now the town of
Hume. Marvin survived all who were born before him. AMI. W. Skiff, born in
I8IO, is believed to be the first white child born in the township.

Other pioneer settlers were Moses Robinson (Lot 32) and his brother
Aaron, Hubbard Fuller, (s 1812), Luther Couch (s 1814), a pioneer teacher,
taught near Fullers, and married his daughter Sylvia. He was an excellent
farmer, but in 1844 or 5, he joined the Fourierite Association, sold his farm,
and invested all in the ‘Mixville Association,” became its president, but lost
nearly all he possessed when it closed its affairs in disastrous failure. He died
a few years afterward.

Aaron Robinson added a tannery to the business enterprises of the town
and engaged in the boot and shoe business, employing several workmen. — In
1815 there were less than 20 families in town.

Edward James and John Dowd settled in 1815, paying $4.50 an acre for
their lands, the largest price so far paid by any. The property is still in the
possession of this family.

Charles Trall settled 1815 on Lot 7. His sons were Rhyla and Laman.
Every pioneer town had its famous hunter or trapper. Trall seems to have lost
no time in establishing his championship as a trapper. The next day after his

133
arrival, he caught a wolf and soon afterward helped to kill two bears caught in
his traps. He had to divide honors, however, with one Damon who caught
bears, wolves and other wild beasts.

Raising cattle for the Philadelphia market and selling them to the agents of
the Holland Co. in payment for lands when money was scarce, helped to pay
for the low priced lands. Even before this was possible the enterprising citi-
zens killed, and received through barter with the Indians, venison, peltries and
other things marketable, and hiring the best team in the settlement sent them in
winter to Philadelphia or to Albany. Not a very handy market, but one that
would pay fair prices.

Sylvester Hammond from Middlebury, became the pioneer of Hume Vil-
fage in 1820, after it had ceased to be a part of Nunda. William D. Ham-
mond his son, of Hume, came to Nunda in 1831 or 2, and became a prominent
citizen, store builder and Justice of the Peace.

CHAPTER IX.
PIONEER Days—Ovr Seconp Town or Nunpa, 1818 To 1827,

“OQ memory! thou midway world
Twixt earth and paradise
Where things decayed, and loved, and lost
In dreamy shadows rise
And, freed from all that’s earthly vile
Seem hallowed, pure and bright,
Like scenes in some enchanted isle,
All bathed in liquid light.”
elbraham Lincoln—Our Pioneer President.

ON. CHARLES H. CARROLL, our second land agent, made a map of
H settlement of lands of the Tuscarora tract forming one half of the
town of Nunda. [fortunately our principal surveyor, Munson O.
Barker, who had the good fortune to be born in Nunda 85 years ago, has this
identical map. It furnishes a list of the settlers as he found them in 1820, and
of those to whom he sold lands. Unfortunately the lots are not numbered so
their location is somewhat indefinite. Mr. Barker has also furnished the writer
with a more modern map of the Wells tract, on which he was born. In this the
lots are numbered. (f these people on the Wells tract more of their posterity
remain with us. Highlanders cling to their mountain heights with greater
tenacity than the possessors of the richer valley lands. The advancing prices of
lands in the valley were temptations that prompted frequent changes. This
year, 1818, the Genesce river was declared by legislation a public highway from
its confluence with the Canaseraga to the Pennsylvania line, except between the
upper and lower falls at Portage. Tree tops or other impediments were not to
be thrown into it, canoe navigation being essential to settlement.

The first town meeting was held at the tavern of Prosper Adams on Oak
Hill and the post office also was changed to this place. It is unnecessary to say
that from i818 to 1827, Portage-Nunda was “it,” but with (wisdom) acquired by
experience she shared her political plums with her neighbors in the valley.

134
THE WARRENS

Noah Warren, veteran, was born August, 1793, and died February 15, 1881;
his wife Ursula died March 22, 1871, aged 79 years, their children were: Por-
ter, born December 11, 1818, who has lived in Nunda since 1819, no other per-
son so long; *Jefferson, born 1819; *Esther married *Samuel Doane; *Goram,
veteran Civil War; Lyman, a lifelong resident, married Sarah Greenwood.
Children of *William Warren brother of Noah were: Jonas, Samuel, Maria
married Abner Reed; Lydia, married *Russell Smith; *Sarah, married *Louis
Angles who died February, 1905, aged 85 vears. Other brothers of Noah were:
Luther, who had four daughters. *Wright who had five daughters. *Silas,
veteran, War of 1812, first pioneer carpenter of Nunda had six children. Ren-
ben, Fayette, Washington and Wellington, twins, Leland and William. Other
grandchildren of Noah Warren are children of Porter and Maria Fuller War-
ren: Edwin, married Charlotte Swartz; Emma died, aged 16 years; Julia,

 

 

inarried Frank Parker; Cora, married Christopher, married Eg-
bert Bartholomew. Children of Lyman and Sarah Warren: *Eva and Emma,
twins, married Fred Reed and James H. Baker, respectively; ————— married

Meyers; Harry, married Martha Skillen; Frank De Witt, superin-
tendent of schools at Ilion, N. Y.; Sally Warren married Deacon Schuyler
Thompson, a pioneer of 1816, and one of the founders of the Baptist Church in
1819; children, Marlow, Valoris, Luther, Lorina, Susan, Eliza Jane.

All the historical sketches of the town say they were unable to locate
Schuyler Thompson, and yet he lived most of the time on one of the Cooper
farms, now owned by H. Milton Coats, son of Milton H. Coats, who lived there
till he died of old age, one mile from our village. Deacon Thompson, a promi-
nent church worker, could not be located, when all the Warrens were his kin-
dred, and could have furnished all the information required. The family moved
away about the time Samuel Cooper came to Nunda, 1840. Such instances
prove the necessity tor town histories, in order that county histories may be
correct.

NOAH WARREN’S RECOLLECTIONS OF PIONEER DAYS IN
NUNDA, GIVEN IN 1776 TO C. K. SANDERS

“T hear the tread of picneers,

Of nations vet to be

The first low wash of waves, where soon
Shall roll a human sea.”

Noah Warren was born in the town of Fitzwilliam, N. H., July 27th, 1793,
and at the time of our Nation's Centennial was 83 years of age. When a child
his father moved to Cheshire, Mass., where he kept a store and tavern, and died
there, when Noah was seven vears of age. In August, 1817, he was married to
Miss Ursula Cole of Washington, Mass., who died at Nunda, May 22nd, 1871,
aged 79 years.

Previous to his marriage in the vear 1816, he came to Nunda, from Cherry
Valley, Otsego County, N. Y. About this time he heard of the famous Genesee
country, a term then applied to all Western New York, and concluded there must
be some better place for farming than his hilly, sterile locality in Massachusetts,

135
so he left Cherry Valley on horseback in search of a more desirable country
than any he had yet seen. He was fourteen days reaching Nunda, where he
selected the farm, afterwards owned and cccupied by Abraham Burgess, but
owing to some Haw in the Articles of Agreement, he did not retain possession
of it, but for a few years.

He returned to Massachusetts, and was married the following year. On
April 10, 1819, he again arrived at Nunda, being three weeks on the “overland
route” to Nunda. This time he brought his family with him. Porter Warren,
his son, still living, was at this time six months old.

He stayed the first night after his arrival, with George Patterson, Sr., a
bachelor, who lived in a little log shanty in Oakland, or Messenger’s Hollow, as
it was then called. The hut was sc low that it was impossible for a tall man to
stand upright in it. Here Patterson lived, cooked his own meals, did his own
washing, mending and sewing. It is related of this somewhat eccentric man,
that when he needed a new pair of pantaloons, he would spread out the buck-
skin on the floor, sit down upon it, and with his hunting knife, mark out the
outlines and cut them out.

The pioneers Mr. Warren speaks of in those first years were Mr. James
Paine, Peleg and Reuben Sweet, Abner Tuthill, George W. Merrick, Wm. P.
Wilcox (at the corners now known as Guy's Corners), and John P. Townsend.
Mr. Wilcox had a store, kept a few dry goods and notions, but no groceries or
provisions. The store was on the corner opposite to the Hotel, long known as
Guy's Corners, where Jacob Guy was for many years proprietor. It was ex-
pected that the corners would be the future village of this present town.

Mr. Warren first settled a little south of what was known as the “Corners.”
his brothers Luther and Wright, and his mother. He located one hundred
acres on what was known as the ‘Norton tract,” cleared up about fifty of it,
and lived there until 1823, when he moved to where he resided until his death,
having purchased sixty acres on the Tuscarora Tract, the Lewis-Ensworth’s
and Tuttle’s of to-day have since owned it. It is located on the ‘‘State Road”
near the hill south of Nunda Village. At that time he could have purchased
land, where the village of Nunda now stands, for one dollar less an acre than
where he bought. The timber on his farm was so much larger than that a mile
farther south that he supposed like many others, that where the timber was
large the ground was strong.

There was a loghouse where the Livingston Block now stands, and plenty
of huckleberries could be picked on Main Street, and that was all the signs oi
life in what is now Nunda village. (This was in 1816.)

Mr. Warren is the only one that mentions a house where the Livingston
tHouse was afterwards built on the former site of the once famous Eaglé Tav-
ern, built in 1832.

The first winter spent in Nunda, the Warren’s saw pretty hard times. He
had cleared some of his land and sowed wheat and raked it in among the
stumps, as all pioneers had to do. Though richer than his neighbors in stock,
for he had two cows and a team of horses, these had to be fed, so he had to
go to Mt. Morris and purchase straw of Gen. Mills to feed them. There were
two or three stores at Mt. Morris then, but like that of William P. Wilcox they
did not deal in provisions, for these he had to go to Moscow where Allen

136
Ayrault then had the principal store in this section. Game was quite abundant,
especially deer. Wolves were too common, though not abundant, however, they
destroyed fourteen of his first flock of sheep. Sometimes they would make
night hideous, and then everything had to be looked after until morning.

When Mr. Warren first moved onto his farm on the Tuscarora Tract, he
built a log house which served him for many vears. He afterwards built a frame
house where he lived with his youngest son, Lyman. He often drew his wheat
to Geneseo and sold it for fifty cents, or to Rochester for seventy-five cents a
bushel. James Harvey Rawsen was his nearest neighbor. In 1824, Alr. War-
ren and others (George \W. Merrick, William P. Wilcox, John H. Townsend,
James H. Rawson, N. Clough), cleared the State Road from Wilcox Corners
to the town line, chopping down the trees, carrying off the brush and making it
a passably good road for those days. They all camped out one night in the
woods, and the next day finished the road to Mt. Morris line. See page 114.

The Indians were not very troublesome, though there were at this time a
great many here. They often called and generally asked for bread or salt.
They were peaceable and quiet, and they gave the settlers no trouble. = Mr.
Warren often visited Mary Jemison, the “old white woman” and knew her sons,
Thomas and James. He crossed the river at Gardeau the day after the great
landslide. It was a sight then well worth seeing. The Indians were very much
frightened. They thought the Great Spirit was about to summon them to the
“Happy Hunting grounds,” and it was a long time before they were quieted.

Ar. Warren attended the frst funeral, in what is now the Town of Nunda,
Cornelius Bulson, who was at work for Mr (Wilham) Richardson, was killed
by the falling of a tree in March, 1820 About 10 o'clock the accident occurred.
He lived several hours. He was taken to the home of George W Merrick,
and the fleetest horse in the settlement was sent to Hunt’s Hollow for Dr. Amos
P. Parmalee, but life was extinct before he arrived. The funeral was held next
day, and the services consisted of reading a chapter from the Bible and a prayer
by one of the neighbors. Nearly everyone who lived in the section was present
The burial was on the farm, afterwards owned by Mr. Partridge (the grand-
sire of Mervin Ayvlor, who now resides there). It was a sad company who
gathered and departed from that first funeral in our present town of Nunda. A
rude fence that once surrounded the grave for many years, no longer exists, and
the location is now forgotten. His military career of Mr. \W., is given in the
Department of this History entitled “Patriots of Nunda,” in the chapter ‘*Pio-
neer Patriots of 1812."

Mr. Noah Warren saw the village of Nunda with its one loghouse change
to a settlement of from six to ten loghouses; saw the first frame building go up,
it is said in 1824: saw the Genesee Valley canal surveyeed and dug, given up for
years, saw its first boat the “Statescow” pass through the village one Sunday
morning, lived to see it complete its work a quarter of a century afterward, lived
to see the first worktrain on the Railroad that took its place; patronized the
first school that was built in the present village in 1822, saw three successive
academies come and go; worshiped in a barn, still in existence, in the twenties,
saw all the churches ever built in the village reach completion, nine in number,
all still standing, except the First Baptist which was burned in 1859; lived to
see the days of the Civil War, when in a single battle more lives were lost and

137
more men lost to the service than fell in the eight years of the Revolution and
the War in which he took part in 1812-14. He has left sons, one of whom
served in the Civil War (Goram), and one who has the honor of being the old-
est living son of a pioneer, who also saw Nunda while it was still a huckleberry
patch, and who is probably the oldest person who attended the school. The
late Moses Barron, who taught in the McSweeney log schoolhouse in the win-
ter of 1824-5 was the teacher.
A SNAKE STORY

A man by the name of Pepper, settled on the farm he soid to Seth Barker,
and had this experience. After cutting down a big tree he was tired and lay
down in the shade of the felled tree to rest, but fell asleep, and when he awoke
he found lying by his side a huge rattlesnake. He got up carefully and with his
axe despatched the snake, but supposing himself the possessor of a colony of
these reptiles resolved to sell out to the first person willing to buy. Mr. Barker
who bought at a bargain this property did not tind the place pre-empted by
rattlers.

THE LOWELLS OF NUNDA AND GROVE

are descendants of Percival Lowell, who came to Massachusetts in Colonial
days. Percival was alike patriot and poet, and the Hon. James Russell Lowell,
one of his posterity of 2,250 Lowells is the great figure head of the family.

A FUNERAL “ELEGIE”

(Written many years since)
On the Death of the Memorable and truly Honorable
John Winthrope, Esq.

You English Mattachusians all
Forbear sometime from sieeping

Let everyone both great and small
Prepare themselves for weeping.

For he is gone that was our friend
This tyrant Death has wrought his end
Who was the very chief among

The chiefest of our peers.

Who hath in peace maintained us long
The space of nineteen vears,

nd now he’s breathless, lifeless, dead,
Cold earth has now become his bed.
The Jews for their Moses weep,

Who was their Gubernator.

Let us for Winthrope do the like,
Who was our Conservator.

With lines of gold in marble stone
With pens of steel engrave his name.
Oh Jet the Muses everyone

In prose and verse extol his fame.
Exceeding far those Ancient Sages

138
That ruled Greeks in former ages.

O frightful Death, and also cruel

Thou hast quite slain New England's Jewel.
Show us vile tyrant if thou can

Tell where to find out such a man?

Methinks, I hear a spirit breathe

Non est inventus here beneath.

He was (we surely may say this)

Rara avis in terris,

Let Winthrope’s name still famous be
With us and our posterity.

Well we are glad he wrote, and glad that so many of his posterity found
their way to the Keshaqua Valley, that wonderful vestibute to Nature's Para-
dise, the Genesee Valley.

Percival I., was a better man of business than poet, and as such his descend-
ants here, have been conspicuous. The military achievements of the family re-
quire many pages of history to register even the names of this patriotic as weil
as poetic family.

Two hundred and fifty-nine of the name of Lowell that are found on the
Revolutionary rolls of Massachusetts and Maine, 157 in New Hampshire, with
123 found elsewhere. [t seems that England might better have given Percival
a peerage and kept him trom furnishing a half regiment of rebels to fight for
the cause of Freedom. The Lowell genealogy claims a full regiment of Lowells
in the Civil War.

The Lowells of Nunda, Portage and Grove displayed the same patriotism
and therefore win from the admiring author unusual space. Even the clergy-
men among them believed they were serving the Prince of Peace, when they
enlisted to preserve the unity and integrity of this nation.

THE PIONEERS AND HOW THEY CAME TO DALTON

The elder Lowells, three in number, came from-the east. They and their
wives were on horseback. They stopped at Syracuse and again at Rochester,
where there was but one loghouse. Thinking the place was not healthful they
came on and settled near Dalton, giving the name Lowell's Corners to their set-
tlement.

The third generation ef the Gideon Lowell family were doubly connected
with the Elias Rawson family, so we will call them the Lowell-Rawson branch of
the family. The family came from Madison, N. Y.

A son of Moses, brother of Gideon, married a daughter of David Baldwin,
a Revolutionary soldier, and an early pioneer of our present township, so we
will call the Moses Junior branch of the family, the Lowell-Baldwin Branch.

Both branches of the family repeat certain family names, \Joses, Gideon,
David, Daniel, Mariam, Ebenezer, that we are forced to trace them back to
Moses, the pioneer thai we call Moses I, genealogically the patriarch of the
Lowells in Nunda.

J. Moses Loweli was born in Amesbury, Mass., in 1736, and married
Mariam Knowlton. He served, with three of his sons, in the Revolutionary

139
War (his two eldest sons, Thomas and Jonathan, remained in the East). His
sons who came with him were Gideon and Moses, Jr. He was a shipwright
by trade, but became a farmer. He died in Grove.

II. Gideon, settled in 1818, said to have been, when a boy, in the battle of
Bunker Hill, and when older an enlisted soldier, born Standish, Maine, Sep-
tember 12, 1761, married Mrs. Elizabeth Beal Cookson, a widow with two
sons, named Samuel and John Cookson. He located in Nunda, on the
Partridge-Aylor farm in 1818. His sons were: Willoughby, Asa, Ebenezer
and David; his daughters, Melissa and Mariam.

Willoughby Lowell built the first saw-mill in the present village of Nunda.
The Keshequa had already been harnessed to serve industries farther up the
stream. This useful industry bears date of 1820. Asa result, Nunda hamlet,
ville and village, had but comparatively few log houses. Lumber was cheap
and more easily handled than logs. The figures 1820, cut on one of the tim-
bers of this mill, tells its age. He may have had a saw-mill on his small farm,
near the Grove boundary. There have been several of them built in that sec-
tion since.

Every sketch writer of pioneer Nunda has told of this saw-mill built by
Willoughby Lowell, but nothing else of the man or of his family, his future or
his fate. The author now will take this naked fact and clothe it with the habili-
ments that will bear their own distinctive characteristics. Soon after coming
to Nunda, he met at his sister's, Clarissa Rawson. His sister \[ariam was mar-
ried to Clarissa’s brother, James Harvey Rawson. She went west to visit or to
teach. He went west also, and brought her back as Mrs. Lowell. The two
men thus closely connected by this even exchange of sisters lived on a small
farm with a stream upon it, intending to erect a sawmill; perhaps they did.
They had a log house well furnished for that time, and here both couples were
spending their honey moon happily. They had neighbors,—the Lowells, Mer-
ricks, Paines and Brewers. An evening spent at the neighbors was the one
delightful source of variety from their daily toils. This desire for society is
as potent in the wilderness as in the city. But log houses with mud chimneys
over wooden frames were always sources of anxiety, and when the young peo-
ple after a happy evening spent with friends came in sight of their treasured
home, only glowing coals and ashes marked the spot. All was gone—hbeds,
bedding, crockery, cooking utensils, food, surplus clothing; nothing left but
what they had on. \Ve can imagine what this meant of discomfort, sorrow,
loss. Mrs. Adeline Barker, daughter of Mrs. Mariam Lowell Rawson, tells
how often she has heard her mother speak of the complete desolation of heart
and spirit, she felt, when she found their comfortable home in ashes, for the
house was theirs, and her household treasures gone. Now, reader, you have
entered into the life of these households, you know them better, and though all
this happened almost ninety years ago, and our newly awakened sympathy
cannot take practical form, yet somehow “that touch of nature which makes
all men kin” stirs within us a belated commiseration, that is, in spite of time,
genuine and heartfelt. When Willoughby Lowell built, it was a house near
the mill race, and a saw mill west of where Swain’s grist mill was built, ten
years later. The Swains bought out this mill, and Lowell, who could build
saw mills as well as run them, went west, where he helped that community

140
as he helped this by his enterprise, and they named (in gratitude) this place
Rawsonville.

And now when your eyes have hardly had time to dry, although over
twenty years of time since the events narrated, another sad scene must be nar-
rated. While success attended this venture in the west, and a household of
children shared their prosperity and their joy, Death came without the slightest
announcement of his coming, a single misstep, a fall, a plunge into the miller’s
own mill race, and there is a corpse, and a burial, a widow and orphans. This
is the completed story of Willoughby Lowell never told before. Mrs Clarissa
Rawson-Lowell completed her life in the home of her noble son Hudson, born
in Nunda, so many vears ago.

Ill. 1. Willoughby Lowell, born June 11, 1792; died May 11, 1843. Mar-
ried at Muncie, Mich., February 20, 1820, Clarissa Rawson.

IV. 1. Frank, born in Nunda, 1821, married Angie L. Turner. 2. Hud-
son, born in Nunda, 1824, died in Marinette, Wis., 1885.

III. 2. Asa, born October 6, 1794. Married *Mrs. Smith, died 1803.

IV 1. Amanda Melinda, born in 1823. Married Moses Kingsley, resi-
dence, Kalamazoo, Mich.

2. Mary Vestalina, born in Nunda, June io, 1828. Married in Michigan.
3. Frances. 4. Eliza. 5. George, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Stepchildren of Gideon and Mrs. Cookson Lowell: Samuel, born June 30,
1786, died 1876. John Cookson, born 1788, died March 28, 1842. Lydia and
Elizabeth Byron, residence Battle Creek, Mich.

III. 3. Moses (son of Gideon), (son of Moses), born October 21, 1797.

III. 4. Children of Mariam and James H. Rawson. Five sons and three
daughters. See Rawson Family.

III. 5. Ebenezer Lowell, married Hancy Bowen.

  

JAMEs Harvey Rawson Mrs. MariaM LoweELi Rawson
141
IV. 1. Amenzo, married Martha Gearhart, daughter of John.

Vv. 1. Clella, married Will Pettis. 2. Hattie, married Rev. Clark. 3
Minnie. 4. Genevieve.

IV. 2. Marcello, married Mrs. Abigail Babbitt.

IV 3. *Melissa, married Rev. L. L. Wellman.

IV. 4. *Harriet, born in 1840, died in Nunda, March 17, 1905. Married
“Delos Paine, died February 23, 1897. She died 1905.

VY Children of Harriet Lowell Paine: t. Welcome L., married Addie
Fenton. 2. Grace j., married Joseph Durkey. 3. Jay Paine (adopted).

II. The other branch.

Il. David, brether of Gideon, son of Moses, born near Portland, Me., May
14, 1780, S. 1822. Married (in Maine) Abigail Burnell.

D. L., who came with his father to Nunda in 1822 died at Dalton, March
21, 1861. Mrs. L., died in Grove, March 29, 1859.

Ill. John B., came with his father to Nunda in 1822, married. He died
at Charlton, N. Y., 1850. Most of this family died about this time.

TV. Ann D., married, Reed, residence Kent, Orleans County, N. Y.

Ill. 2. Rev. Daniel, born at Sangerfield, December 12, 1807. Died at
Grove, April 13, 1863. Married *Louise Baldwin of Nunda, April 29, I8IT.

Children died at Wellsboro, Pa., 1883.

Other grandchildren of Moses Lowell.

Children of Rey. Daniel.

 

Ill. 1. David B., born September 28, 1830, at Nunda. Residence Pitts-
ville, Wis.

2. *Rev. Daniel Dean Lowell, born in Nunda, June 24, 1832, veteran of
the Civil War, Paptist clergyman, marricd Lydia A. Carpenter of Angelica,
she has been hopelessly insane for a quarter of a century at Willard Asylum.

Rev. Daniel D., died at Macedon, \. Y., where he had been pastor for 11
vears. He was chaplain of the 179th. They had four daughters, but they were
not born in Nunda. Mrs. Cassie Gillis lives at Macedon.

3. Eliza Celinda, born in Nunda, July 14, 1834. Married Richard Essex
Carpenter.

4. Rev. Julian Verinoldo, M D., graduate Michigan State University,
Medical Department, was also assistant surgeon 58th N. Y. N. G. He became a
clergyman Methodist Episcopal church, studied medicine with Dr. C. F. Warner
of Nunda.

5. Rev. Carlos Gould Lowell, born in Nunda, 1844 (not a pioneer), named
for Rev. Carios Gould, a circuit preacher in Nunda and Grove, about 1840.
Served in the Civil War, veteran of G. A. R., Dalton, N. Y. Pastor at Dalton.
died at Angelica, 1904.

6. Mary Jane, born in Grove, 1842. Married John Wesley Bush, resi-
dence North Cohoeton, N.Y.

7. Harvey Marion, born 1846.

8. Achsah Louisa, born 1848. Married Amasa T. Warren, Naples, N. Y.

9. Milo Scott, born 1855. Married at Dalton, *Carrie L. Eldridge. Died
1897, Lancaster, N. Y.

III. 3. Chauncey Lowell, son of David 11; son of Moses I; born Septem-
ber 28, 1809; died at Fillmore, 1883.

142
IV. Moses, son of Chauncey III; son of David IL; son of Moses I; born,
1836. Married the widow of Clark Brewer, Elmira Brewer.

I\ 2. *Mary, born 1838, married Henry Greenfield, born 1837.

H. G,, is a veteran of Co. I, 1st. N. Y. Dragoons.

VV Their children. 1. George, married Katie Bell Atkins, daughter of
Dwight A. 2. Stella, married Kelsey Coffin, son of Walter B. C. 3. Esther,
married Charles A. Wright, son of Robert W. Lowell E. (single).

VI. Grandchildren of Henry Greenfield and Mary Lowell. 1. Walter Cof-
fin. 1. Robert G. Wright. 1. Dwight A. Greenfield.

INV’ 3. Lorenzo, born 1840, a veteran Co. F, ist N. Y. Dragoons. Mar-
ried Jennie Post, sister of Rev. Bela Post, a veteran.

V Lillian, born in Oakland.

IV. 4. Died in the service Co. F, Dragoons.

IV 5. Esther (not a pioneer), married Henry Brewer, grandson of James
Brewer.

V. or. Nellie, preceptress Dalton Union school.

2. Eliza, died in 1823. age Io.

Jl. 5. Mariam Knowlton Lowell, born in Madison County, January 14,
1814. Married — “Cortez, ete.

*Corlex Baldwin, son of David Baldwin of Nunda, born on May 30,
1807, died at Nunda, .August 21, 1887.

Mrs. M. WK. B., died July 29, 1893.

They lived all their married lives in Nunda. See Baldwin Family, Lowell
Genealogy.

III. 6. Gideon, brother of Chauncey, son of David II, son of Moses, born
at Sangerfield, May 13, 1816, died at Fillmore, April 21, 1887. Farmer and mer-
chant, married at Nunda, Zuelma Weed, daughter of Reuben Weed. 7. Wil-
liam L., son of David II, son of Moses I, born August 8, 1818. Married Van
Nostrand. \. L., died at Grove, 1852. 8. David Knowlton (D. Kk.) born Au-
gust 15, 1820, married Cornelia. D. K. Lowell well known produce buyer at
Dalton, N. Y., died at Dalton, August 23, 1887.

IV. 1. *Agnes, married Daniel Grunder, 2nd wife of D. G, Miss C.
Annie Williams, daughter of Charles Williams. 2. Lillie married George
Woodward. Jennie married William Mayo. Mina married Charles Wirt.

III. 9. Malachi, born in Nunda, 1824, Horneli, N. Y., died 1870.

Ill. 6. Children of Gideon Lowell and Zuelma Weed. 1. Edwin A., born
in Portage, 1843. “Cultured, genial, energetic,’ Rochester Lowell Gen'y. 2.
Corydon L., born in Portage, a soldier of the Civil War. 3. Seth Weed, born in
1845, married Jennie Snyder. <A stirring business man, Inventor and manufac-
turer of Whitby, Canada. 4. Maretta F., born in Portage, 1848, married John
Caldwell, Lincoln, Neb. 5. Ada M., born in 1860, married Lorenzo S. Gelser
of Fillmore.

 

HERRICK FAMILY REGISTER
As furnished by George B. Herrick of Whitesville

t. Zadock Herrick, born Berwick, Mass., October 23, 1772; removed to
Granby, Vt., married Elizabeth Pike, 1794.

Their children were:

t. Alpheus, born October 23, 1797; 2. Zadock Jr., born March 27, 1799;

3. Mary, born November 30, 1800; 4. Lydia, born December 14, 1802; 5. John
143
P., born January 10, 1805; 6. Phoebe, born June 9, 1807; 7. George B., born
April 26, 1809; 8. Edward H., born November 24, 1811; 9. William, born July
24, 1814, died July, 1831, in Mt. Morris; 10. Emily, born February 19, 1816.

1. Alpheus Herrick, married Ann Maria Cookson, Nunda, April 18, 1830.

Children born in Nunda:

t. Wilham. Mary. 3. Elizabeth.

William was a Baptist minister, he was killed at Gettysburg, while serving
in a Wisconsin regiment.

2. Zadock Herrick married Sarah Mather, daughter of T. J. Mather of
Nunda, a pioneer, March 15, 1826.

Their children were:

15. Keziah. 16. Clark M. Clark married Sarah Hann, daughter of John
Hann, Groveland, had two daughters.

Note.—Zadock Jr., died in Nunda, 1850.

4. Mary Herrick married David J. Hamilton, pioneer, Nunda, September
20, 1823.

Their children were:

17. Jane, married Morris Phillips, who died in Nunda; afterwards mar-
ried Charles MM. Hendee, West Bloomfield. Three daughters were born to them.
18. George T. Hamilton, First Lieutenant Co. F, 33d N. Y. Infantry. Killed
in Cuba in war with Spain.

19. Mary Ann, married John Ayres Wirt, Bloomfield, one daughter, fam-
ily now reside in Chicago.

8. George B. Herrick, married Marv Wildman, West Bloomfield, Au-
gust 14, 1833; removed to Nunda, April, 1836, one son. Died 1848.

26. George B. Jr.. born in West Bloomfield, May 28, 1834. Married
Mary E. Wildman, Whitesville, N. Y., September 28, 1869. Enlisted in Co. D.
33d N. Y. Infantry.

g. Edward H. Herrick, married Jane Adams. Five children born in
Nunda. Died 1852.

27. Mortimer, Co. F. 33d N. Y. Died of wounds. 28. Alice Amelia, died
in Nice, France, 1870 or ‘71. 29. Eugene a veteran. 30. Warren. 31.
Lewllyn (daughter) married Mr. Joslyn.

7. Phoebe Herrick, married James M. Dartt, formerly a hatter in Nunda

There were four children: '

22. Elizabeth, died in Nunda. 23. Franklin. 24. Issora. 25. La-
fayette. Mr. and Mrs. Dartt died in Conesus.

6. John P. Herrick came to Nunda with George B., in 1836. They bought
a place on East Street in partnership; John sold his interest to George B., and
removed to Michigan. He lost some sons in the service during the Civil War.
There were two boys in the family when they left Nunda.

tr. *Emily Herrick lived in Nunda several years, married after removal
from Nunda, ‘hed several years ago.

THE PRENTICE FAMILY—1818

The Bennetts mention the Prentice family living near them, as most if not
all of these early pioneers took up lands without consulting land agents, it is

144
possible in that early time 1814 to 1816 that the Prentice family lived in Nunda.

I. Nathan Prentice and Elisha Prentice settled 1818. The mother of these
sons, Betsey (Elizabeth) died in Nunda, 1823, age go.

Il. 1. John, married Eliza Borroughs, daughter of Stillwell B.

II. 2. Hiram married Mary Gifford.

Their children:

III. 1.*Orville (a veteran of the Civil War), married Amelia Pierce. 2.
William Wallace, married in Pennsylvania. 3. George H. soldier, Co. F. 33,
died in the service. 4. Emaline. 5. Elizabeth. 5. Melissa Jane. 7. Mehi-
table, married James Wilcox, residence Center Street, Nunda. 8. Nathan,
single. 9. Ellen Isabel, married George Flydie, Tuscarora, N. Y.

Ellen Isabel, married George Fiydie, Tuscarora, N. Y.

Children of John and Eliza Prentice.

Addie, married Adelbert Watrouse of Nunda. Elizabeth, married Mcln-
tire. *Sarah, married *John Crumack. Amanda, married Henry McCartney,
who died in Nunda.

Henry McCartney's second wife, Jennie Howd of Nunda.

Catharine, married Lucius C. Fenton (veteran). James married Besimee
Runyon. Sarah, married Joseph Denton. Isabel, married Edward Rathbon,
State Street, Nunda. Then have seven sons.

Ill. Addie, married Frank Fencedemaker. Edward, married in Dakota.

Grandma Prentice died at the home of her son Elisha in 1822 or 23, aged
go years. If so she must have been born about 1733. She was the second per-
son buried in Oakwood cemetery.

1818

THE BAKERS OF BAKER’S CORNERS

One of the few families that settled in Nunda in 1818, was the family of
Ephraim Baker. Baker’s Corners have been in existence nearly ninety vears,
five generations of Bakers have lived in Nunda, on the southwest corner of
Norton now Wells tract, a large farm was located at this early day.

The sons of Ephraim were:

Leonard, born in 1818, and if born in Nunda, one of the very first children
born in the town, and Ephraim, Jr.

Leonard, married — Patterson. He died in 1902, age 84 years.
His sons are Alonzo D., Amenzo and Alvaro. Ephraim Jr., is still living in
Topeka, Kansas, and is about 87 or 88 years of age.

The children of Ephraim Jr., are Charles, Stillman, Freeman, Rebecca
(Mrs. Ira Town), Sally and Frank, a half brother who was killed by a boiler ex-
plosion at Dalton. His sons are Adelbert and Frank Jr.

III. Alonzo D. Baker, son of Leonard, was born in 1839. Married Mary
E. Ward, born in Allegany County in 1840. He is a farmer (225 acres), was a
drover and stock dealer now a produce buyer. He has also established a bank
at Dalton. He is at this time sixty-seven years young, and one of the most
active and energetic men of the thriving village of Dalton. He was born in
time to be classed with the third generation of pioneers.

His children were three in number. *Dorr A., born in 1859. Married
Esther Benson. He became editor of the Dalton Era.

L. Earnest, born in 1861. Married Esther Doud Four children.

145

 

 
Plinn W., born 1875, married Blanch Westbrook of Nunda. . fifth gen-
eration will perpetuate the name.
Miss Zada Baker, adopted daughter was married October, 1907, to Myron
W. Smith, grandson of Myron Smith, son of Darting Smith an early pioneer
of Granger, Nunda. (1818).
1818.

I. Cornelius Acker, Sr., S. in Nunda, 1818, died soon after settling in
Nunda. Mrs. Acker married Arba Town. Children of C. A. and Mrs. A.

II. 1. Cornelius Acker, Jr., married Elvira Parker, daughter of Lyman
Parker. 2. Phebe Acker, married 1, Gifford; 2, Wetherby.

III. Daniel Gifford, married Mary Santee.

I\ Belle, married Myrton Bentley.

Il. 2. Wiliam Acker.

*Lyman Parker was killed by an imbecile, John Emmons, Jr., who kicked
him on both sides of the head. The imbecile died in the County House, Geneseo.

II. 3. Naney Acker, married. 4. Eliza. married late in life A. Town. 5.
William Acker, soldier from Nunda, died in the service. Marker at
Dalton.

1. Eliza, married William Christee. 2. Lucy, married Peter Van Hou-
ten. 3. Jane, married James Fox.

Il. William Acker (went west) ; Susanna.

Philena married Wadsworth Pierce.

Children of Phebe Acker and Wetherby.

II. Edwin Wetherby, railread engineer.

III. Delina Wetherby, married Charles Maker, son of Rev. Archalaus
Maker. C. AI., produce buyer and merchant, student Nunda Literary Institute.

THE DANIEL JOHNSON FAMILY—1818

The writer had occasion several vears ago to visit Jesse Brewer and his wite
Mary J. (Johnson) Brewer, about a year before this couple passed away.

Mr. Brewer was claiming he was the first white child born in the town ot
Nunda.

Almiron Paine made the same claim for himself and twin sister born in
1819. One party claimed the other was born in the town of Grove, when it was
a part of Nunda, and that that did not count.

Mrs. Brewer listened a while te the arguments, and then said, “The John-
sons are just as much pioneers as the Brewers, if they don't live forever. I
was born,” she said, “in the town of Nunda more than eighty years ago.”

This lead me to look up the record and | find that the Johnsons were in-
deed among the very early permanent settlers, (though they also lived part of
the time in the town of Grove). They settled first in Nunda in 1818, and AlIrs.
Mary Jane Brewer was their eldest child born in 1820.

The following record copied from the family Bible now in possession of
the step daughter and niece of Jesse Brewer, is interesting and confirms the
claims of carly settlement and furnishes a family of ten children, the usual num-
ber in pioneer tamilies. I find also that Mr. Johnson was born in the same year
my father was and died the same year that he died. 17y7 and 1884.

146
Daniel Johnson, born June oth, 1797, died January 22, 1884. Elizabeth,
nis wife, born January 8, 1798, died March a2tst, 1870.

Mary Jane, born August 27th, 1820. Married Jesse Brewer, born 1820.
John H., born June 13, 1822. Elijah F.. born lebruary 14, 1825. Alonzo M.,
May 20, 1827. Norman M., May 4, 1829. Lucina C., August 17, 1831. Hiram
D., March 24, 1834. Married Abbie Jane Bentley. Moses J., March 9, 1836.
Harriet S., June 25, i838. Married John Utter. George S., August 13, 1842.

Of these all lived till middle life or beyond except Norman who died at
the age of 10 and Lucina who lived but three years. At the present time those
that survive are Hiram, Moses, Harrict.

The following newspaper notice of the death of this pioneer from the Nunda
News, is reproduced at this time as it tells its story of toil as well as of life. He
evidently died at the home of one of his daughters, while his funeral was in our
village at the home of his first born.

“In Warren, Pa., January 24, 1884, Mr. Daniel Johnson, of paralysis, aged
87 years. His funeral was attended on Sunday, January 25, from the resi-
dence of Jesse Brewer, Portage Street, Nunda.

Deceased was born in Duchess County, June oth, 1797, was married in
Cayuga County to Miss Spangler. He settled in Nunda in 1818, when this
country was a wilderness, and has lived to see the great changes that have taken
place. He has resided many years in the town of Grove, he had reared a large
family, one of whom is our townsman My. Hiram Johnson. Several members
of the family reside in Pennsylvania, Eliza, Moses, and George S. Johnson of
Duke Center, Pa., and Mrs. J. Utter of Warren, Pa., all of whom were present
at the interment of their father’s remains in the Snider cemetery. It is thought
he and his six sons have manufactured more lumber than any other family that
have ever lived in Livingston County. Thus the old pioneers are fast passing
away.”

The family of Hiram who married Abbie Jane Bentley, a sister to Melissa
(Hagadorn) Town.

The children are: ~

Mrs. Frank DeMocker; Charles Johnson, Esq., an attorney, and Mrs. Wal-
ter Chandler.

THE TOWN FAMILIES WITH AN INDIAN STORY.
Settled on Lots 100 (\V. & I. Town) Wells Tract.

I. *William Town and Esther, died aged 90.

II. *Ira Town, married *Rebecca Baker. *Arba Town (lot 99), married
Mrs. Nanev Acker or Ecker; 2 (late in life) Eliza Acker.

Ill. *Alfred Town (died voung. )

Children of Ira and Rebecca Baker Town.

Esther Sophia, married Dr. Charles I Warner. Nancy, married Morgan
Veley. Willian) Ephraim, married Emma Veley. Rev. Arba, married Fanny
‘Paine, daughter of Carlos Paine, residence at Spencerport. F. Marion (a vete-
ran), married Maria Veley. Walter E. (a veteran), married Mrs. Melissa
Hagadorn.

II. *Sophia, married a veteran of N. Y., 1812, Lyman H. Newton. MIrs.
Newton was a milliner and lived on First Street. She also kept boarders (stu-

147
dents of the Nunda Literary Institute). She died January, 1891, age 91. *John
moved away. “Samuel, married.

Ill. 1. Henry, son of Samuel. married
Seneca \erithew.

IV. 2. Martha, married Bert Skeilinger. 3. Harriet, married
Thompson. 4. George, married ——— Wirt.

Mary Jane, Elmira, married -———— Goodamont, *Esther, Frank, married

Holly, *Sephia.

The Town family have an Indian story in connection with their ancestor,
the father of Williarn Town, the Nunda Pioneer of 1818, that is well known be-
cause it was printed vears ago by Salem Town, the compiler of a series of Read-
ing Looks and a spelling book, used in our schools a half century ago. A Mr.
Town, a relative of Salem Town, and the father of William Town, was a Rev-
olutionary soldier, and was taken prisoner by the Indians in winter. Some of
the Indians had procured some skates and were practicing on the ice. They
thought it wouid be amusing to let their captive have a few falls on the ice,
and as he claimed not to be a skater, they bound them on his feet, and he
proved at first very amusing, as he fell again and again, and seemed to be taking
his first lessons. They ran races with him as he began to improve, but as they
left him far behind, they tried their skill with one another, and when they
were bevond the reach of arrows, he proved an expert and soon placed him-
self beyond their reach by skating away from them to safety.

II. 6. Ruel Town lived on First Street, Nunda. Married Emaline
Johnson.

Children. *Etta, married Obed Howell, Canada. Eva Belle, lives in
Nunda.

II. 7. Lucinda Town.

Daniel, married — Davenport. Tom lives in Ogdensburgh, N. Y.
*Sophia buried in Oakwood. Charles.

-— Parker. Charity, married

 

 

CHAPTER II.

PIONEERS OF 181g AND 1820—THE HEATHS AND SATTERLEES

Asa and James Heath, and Alanson Hubbell came the same year.

Joel Satterlee came also, Asa Heath's wife, Amy, was his. sister.
Joel had 35 acres, Asa and James about 65 each, Alanson Hubbell 30. Joel
Jr., and Haisey, then or afterward bought 2 acres each on East Street, along
the Keshequa Trail. With the exception of William Goulds who had a log
house on what is now State Street, opposite the Union Block of to-day, and
MeSweeny the Land Agent, there were no settlers in the future village.

Asa was a hunter and taxadermist, James an innkeeper. Hubbell was a
tinsmith. All nicely adapted to become village builders but there is no evi-
dence that they suspected to help bring this about.

The sons of Joel and Esther Satterlee, who died at the great age of 92.
were Joel Jr., Halsey, Leroy and Nelson. Joel was a shoemaker, Halsey a
wagon maker, Leroy a scholar and teacher. Sylvester, brother of Joel Sr.,

y | \ HESE families settled in what is now the village of Nunda in 1819.

148
settled on Seager farm a few years later, but his son, Barton, (the father of
John, who died in the Civil War, Barton Jr., Eugene and Marion Satterlee),
lived in the village and helped to develop its industries. Halsey built, after
clearing away the scrub oaks and bushes on the north side of the old trail
(East Street), the A. C. Colby-Cleveland house and Joel built the Cyrus Rose
house, east of it and planted the orchard, that grown werthless with age, |
caused to be cut down, a few years ago. Two trees remain on the Joel Sat-
terlee lot, one an oak, then a mere sapling and the other, an acacia, thorn or
fern locust, was planted by Cyrus Rose, 75 years ago. The shops of these
workmen no longer exist. All the four houses built by Joel Satterlee and his
sons are in existence now, but the one built by Joel, which served as the home
of the late Cyrus Rose, has been moved to Fair Street.

The children of Joel and Esther Satterlee were Joei Jr., Halsey, Leroy
and Nelson.

The brothers and sister of Joel Satterlee were Sylvester, Amy, (Mrs. Asa
Heath), and Asa.

Eri Satterlee was a relative, a cousin of Barton Sr.

The only son of Halsey Satterlee, Artemus, died while young. The chil-
dren of Joel Jr., were: Electa, George ‘(died in the Civil War), Leroy, Har-
riet, Charles, Sarah and Lewis.

The children of Sylvester were: Hepsabath, married Pettis, also Rev.
Jacob Seager. Maria (Mrs. Moore}. Hannah (Mrs. Perrin), J. Barton who
married 1, Elizabeth Miller, 2, Sarah Newcome.

The children of Asa: Florinda, Mary Louisa and * Harrison.

The children of Leroy Satterlee were Eugene, and a pair of twin girls Ida
and Emma.

The children of J. Barton Satterlee were John (died in the Civil War), J.
Barton Jr., *Eugenc, I’. Marion.

The children of J. Barton Jr., were, Irez, Harry.

The son of Marion, Floyd, now a pharmacist.

THE CALL OF THE WILDS

A story founded on facts. Asa and James M. Heath settled in Nunda m
1819, on lands on which the business part of the village now stands, extending
from the Whitcomb or C. B. Lawrence place to Vermont Street on the State
Road. Asa built the first frame house in 1824 on the west side of the plaza,
and James M., the Eagle Hotel. Both sold their farms too soon. Asa to Law-
yer Chipman and James M. to Henry C. Jones, who changed his purchase to a
small laid out village. Asa was a hunter and taxadermist and the sound of the
“Cracking Gun” was the only music he could hear, as he was deaf. He de-
sired to sell out and go west, his wife Amy Satterlee, sister to Joel and Svyl-
vester, would not go, so he gave up half, the avails of the sold farm, and
started off to live a life congenial to himself, he died and one of his sons went
after his horse and gun. The honest man at whose home he lived gave them

*up, and $1,600 to the son, so the story says.. The call of the wilds could not be
unheard even by one with impaired hearing.

Soon after James M., his brother built the most famous hotel in this re-
gion, the Eagle in 1832, here all elections were held. It has passed through
many hands and is now for sale. It is looking better than when first built.

149
 

 

Mrs. PARMELLA HUBBELL
Oldest living pioneer—born in 1805
Hubbell’s Corners in 1824

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Baron
Age 94—The oldest citizen living in Nunda

   

Mrs. Cevestia J. HILis
Died, Aged 98

LONGEVITY—\WVe present the
pictures of four ladies whose united
ages are 387. Irs. Hill was 98 when
she died, Mrs. Roberts 91. The other
two are living. Mrs. Hubbell is
10344, and Mrs. Barron, the oldest
person in Nunda, is 94%. Mrs. Bar-
ron came to Nunda when she was 20,
Mrs. Hubbell at 19, Mrs. Roberts at
17 and: Mrs. Hills at 22.

 

Mrs. Lypra RoBERTS
Died, Aged 91
Asa Heaths childten were Asa R., by a former wife, who lived a few years
in Nunda, and the rest of the family went west with him, so the Baptist church
records say.

Sylvester Heath, his son moved to Grove and Lemira married a man by
the name of Plummer, both are forgotten now, but strange to say, a son of this
forgotten couple, has held the highest office of any man born in Nunda, as will
be told later.

Van Rennsalaer, Arden and Diana, were the other children. Mark W.
Heath, a son of Sylvester, a Nunda soldier living in Grove, is the only near rela-
tive surviving. James MM. Heath's family also, moved away. Sylvester
stayed. Arden his uncle married a sister of Sheriff Thomas Chase, and moved
from town. The author has repented and will now tell that the son of Lemira
Plummer, William S. Plummer born in Nunda was U. S. Senator from Cali-
fornia. Great Scott! No, Great Plummer! Political plums hang within reach
in California.

THE RAWSONS

In 1819 Palmer Rawson located on the south part of the creek road now
known as Walnut Street and built a log house on crooked brook south of the
Balty House. His brother, James Harvey, settled in the southern part of the
town with his brother-in-law \Villoughby Lowell. James Harvey, married
Willoughby Lowell's sister Clarissa. Their home with its contents was burned
the same year.

I. ELIAS RAWSON 1820

The next year their father’s family came. It was a grown up family of
sons and daughters, just what the community needed. Besides Palmer and
James Harvey, Elias Rawson, the father, had two sons, Lyman and Coleman
and three daughters. Lyman settled on the Willoughby Drew farm, for a vear
or two, and I presume started the second industry “an ashery” for there was
one on that farm. Coleman married Miss Bowen and settled near the corner
of State and Rawson (sometimes called Water Street). Clarissa was soon
married to Willoughby Lowell and they settled on the Lewis Close place, near
his saw-mill, where he built the upright part, the wing of logs having been pre-
viously built probably by some squatter.

Ralph Page, son of Eli, another young bachelor, built a log house east of
the Palmer Rawson house on a part of the E. O. Dickinson farm but back from
the present road, for Mill Street had not then been laid out, except from the
saw-mill to the creek road. In line with these two log houses was a third one
west of the road that passes the Chidsey farm, but east of the Page house, and
here lived Thomas Rathbun, a young married man, with a wife and young son,
James. This trail or bridle path extended from Chautauqua Hollow past these
three log houses to the Coleman Rawson frame house on State Street. It failed
to become a street for after the grist mill was located in 1828, houses were built
on that highway, and so only the short street, between State and Church Streets,
has recently got back its own name Rawson Street, which should never again
be lost. Why? Do you expect me to tell all the love stories of two genera-
tions of Rawsons in one chapter instead of having, as authors do, a twenty years
or later sequel. Well if | must—-here goes.

151
THE ROMANCE OF RAWSON ROAD

Ralph Page and Palmer Rawson became great friends and not wanting to
live alone in their new log houses, or even with each other, they traded sisters.
i. e., Of course, with the said sisters consent. Ralph married Rhoda and Palmer
married Leua Page. Sequel in after years. linerva Rawson, their daughter.
a generation afterward married the young boy James Rathbun, a few vears her
senior, who grew up in the third log house on the Rawson road, owned by
Thomas Rathbun; and a generation after that our Mrs. Rathbun furnished
both her husband and her only son Adrian in answer to Father Abraham's call
for 600,000 more. This patriotic lady, born in our village and who has lived
most of her lite in our village, bore a double load of anxiety, during those
dreary dreadful years, thinking by day and dreaming by night,

“Of the fire balls of death
That crash souls out of men.”

J. H. Rawson traded his farm for viliage property after some years, and a
generation afterward, his daughter, Adeline, was married to Munson O.
Barker, who was born in our voung town 85 years ago. A son of Coleman
Rawson, Homer, lived on the north side of Rawson Street, Caroline, youngest
sister of Palmer, J. H. and C. Rawson, married Asher Clough, son of Na-
thaniel, a pioneer oi 1821. The three log houses and the Rawson road ware
things of the past, the frame house on State Street is now back of the fine
gothic house built by Homer Elwood, a grandson and the short street renamed
Rawson Street in our last county atlas is all that is left to perpetuate the Ro-
mance of Rawson Road.

J. H. Rawson was supervisor of the town of Portage, and for many years
Justice of the Peace in Nunda. Both Elias Rawson and his son, J. H. Rawson,
were deacons of the Baptist church of Nunda.

RAWSON GENEALOGY

.\s this was one of the largest and strongest families that helped to settle
Nunda, town and village, we give extra space to this family that have a printed
Genealogy.

1. Elias Rawson, Deacon Baptist church s. in Nunda 1820, lived in log
house on Walnut Street, near the house of Barnes of Kentucky, now owned by
Mrs. Belle (Shaut) Balty. E. R., was born April 4, 1768, he was the eighth
child of a family of 22 children. He was the son of Silas and Abigail Chapin
Rawson. Ele married Rachel Coleman. They had 10 children two of them
died in infancy.

II. 1. James Harvey, Deacon Baptist church, supervisor of Portage 1819),
J. P.. of Nunda. He was born December 11, 1796. Married Clarissa Lowell
who was born October 12, 1799. Died April 19, 1870.

II. 2. Clarissa Rawson, married Willoughby Lowell, died 1846. Had
four children, see Lowell Gen'y.

II. 3. Lyman, born r&or, married Mrs. Lydia Street. Two children born
in Nunda.

Ill. Willard, born 1824. Maria, born 1826. Two others born in Minne-
sota (Amanda and Sybil).

152
Children of James H. Rawson.

ITI. 1. Lucetta Rawson, born 1821, died tyo2. Married William .\iken,
died 1906. James Harvey Aiken, bern 1845. Married Ella Merwin, Port-
age. Eugene Adel .\iken, born 1847. Gorge W., born 1849, (two soldiers
in the family), Erastus, Alonzo and Esther M.

III. 2. Nelson Coleman Rawson, born in Nunda, died January 28, 1880.
Married Florence ‘Taylor. Mrs. Rawson married second, *Dr. J. \W. Mullen,
died 1906. Mrs. Dr. M., resides La Favette, Ind.

III. 3. Julius Addison, born in Nunda, died in California, November 1,
1877. 4. Adeline B.. born 1828. Married Munson ©. Barker, both living in
Nunda. For children, see Seth Barker Family. 5. *Moses Lowell Rawson,
born in Nunda, veteran Civil War. Married Susan Ashley. Son and daugh-
ter born in Portage. 6. Hiram L., unmarried. A miner. Residence Black-
ford, Idaho. 7. Laura Malvina, born in Nunda, died 1860. 8. *Fernando
Cortez.

II. 4. Palmer, born in 1803, s. 1820 married ist, Leua Page; 2nd, Mary
Ann Clough.

TI. 1. Minerva, born in Nunda, 1826, still living ia Nunda. Married
*James L. Rathbun of Nunda, a soldier. 2. Harriet A.. born 1828. Married
William Twist of Nunda. (See Twist Family.) 3. *Francis M., born 1830 in
Nunda. Married *\William Lindsley. (See Lindsley Family.) 4. Silas P.,
born 1834. 5. Elias M., born 1841.

II. 5. Rhoda, born 1805, married Ralph Page of Nunda. Seven children
(see R. Page Family.) 6. Zenas Coleman, born 1807. Married Lucy Bowen
of Nunda.

Ill. 1. Ellen. 2. Homer A. 3. Josephine C. 4. Hancy S., born 1835.

Il. 7. Mary Eliza, born 1810, married S. Felton in 1828, died 1833.

III. Elias Felton, Mary Felton, died young.

II. 8. Caroline, born 1815, married Asher Clough, January, 1841, and died
April 22, 1842.

III. 1. Clarence M. Clough, born March, 1842.

Thomas Rathbun Family (Chidsey Farm).

1. James. 2. Hiram. 3. Thomas. 4. Louisa.

WILLIAM DEAK (OR DAKE) GOULD

Revolutionary soldier from Albany County which at the time of that war
included most of Vermont, came to Nunda in 181g, and probably into our
present village in 1820. He built or occupied the second log house built on
State Street opposite the Union Block.

Mr Gould had been wounded and walked with a cane. He wore a queue
or cue, and dressed as a Continental soldier, was a subject of both interest and
fear to the chiidren of sixtv years ago. He was buried on the Levi Gould lot
near the Richmond and Whitcomb vault with no stone to mark his grave or tell
of his valor. An illustration of a regretted fact.

“The graves our sons have given us
Grudged us our renown.”

153
The family of William Gould, second settlers in Nunda village consisted of
the following persons:

William D. Gould and Abigail Cattrell Gould. Daniel who married in
Sparta. Buel who went West and died there. Levi married Amelia Weed-
right. George lives at Craig Colony. Milie married Harvey Freelove. Eliza
married Jehial Johnson (who was drowned at Wellsville). The obituary of
Mr. Gould by his pastor has recently been found.

OBITUARY

In Nunda, N. Y., November 24, 1842, Mr. William Gould, aged 88 years.
In the death of Mr. Gould, his companion has lost a partner with whom she
had lived fifty years. But she mourns her loss, with the hope of meeting the
departed in a brighter and better world. Seven children have been called to
weep over the departure of an aged and respected father. Mr. Gould lived in
the days that “tried mens souls,” and took an active part in the struggle for our
national existence. His was also the second family that settled in this now
thriving village. He had long been a believer in the restitution and main-
tained his confidence in the unfailing mercy of God, while he could express his
feelings on the subject. For the last vear or two, he has been mostly confined
to the house. But whenever he had an opportunity, he expressed to the writer
his earnest desire for the prosperity of our common cause. On the occasion of
his funeral, a discourse was delivered to the mourning relatives and sym-
pathizing friends by Rev. W. E. Manley.—Copied by Rev. Ansom Titus from
Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate, Utica, December 30, 1842.

THE WILCOX (1820) AND RICHARDSON FAMILIES

A Genealogical pamphlet compiled by William Alonzo Wilcox of Scran-
ton, a grandson of Nathan Pendleton Wilcox, (who died in Nunda), furnishes
facts that are surprising to those who live in a town where Civil honors are
seldom conferred.

We are especially grateful to this fillial son and worthy grandson, for the
use of his well written genealogical record of an unusually successful and in-
teresting family, of our early pioneers.

I. William Pendleton Wilcox (Isaiah, Edward 1), born in Herkimer
County, N. Y., May 30, 1794. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was
deputy sheriff of Ailegany County, N. Y. He removed in 1820 to Nunda,
and in 1831 to Mclean County, Fa., where he became the sales agent for Ben-
jamin and Andrew M. Jones, afterwards the McKean and Elk Land Improve-
ment Company. County superintendent of the poor and P. M., of Nunda,
1828-29. In 1835 he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representa-
tives and was re-elected for three successive terms, serving through Governor
Ritner’s administration and the “Buckshot War.” He was then elected to the
Senate and in 1845 to the Speakership of that body. In 1858 and 1859 he was
again a member of the House of Representatives. He also served a term as
Associate Judge. The latter part of his life was spent on a farm at Williams-
ville, McKean County. The newspaper notices of his death speak of his pub-
lic and private life, his abilities, his generosity, his commanding appearance

154
and the evenness of his cheerful, genial disposition. He died at Port Alle-
gheny, April 13, 1868. He was first married to Betsey Paine, by whom he.
had three children.

Il. 1. Elvira Zeviah, born Danube, December 29, 1815; 2. Alonzo.
Isaiah, born Danube, March 22, 1819; 3. Clarissa Prudelia, born 1821, died
unmarried January 9, 1845. His wife Betsey died. and he married in 1824,
Esther Swift, born in Tolland, Connecticut, who had removed with her par-
ents to Onondaga County, New York. She died at Port Allegheny, Pa., Jan-
uary 5, 1881, aged 79 years. There were no children of the second marriage.

I. 2. Nathan Pendleton Wilcox, (a brother of Wm. P. W.), born Her-
kimer County, N. Y.. May 3, 1804, removed to Nunda, N. Y., where he was the
architect and builder of the First Baptist church. (The Brick chruch was not
built till 1842, which was after his death). He married, October 9, 1828, Lu-
rancie, daughter of Lt. William and Sarah (Norton) Richardson, of Madison
County, N. Y. He died April 24, 1833, aged 29 years. His widow married
William Williams of Smethport, \ichkean County, who had a considerable fam-
ily by a former wife. She survived him and died at Sewickley, December 10,
1893. They had two children.

II. Thomas Jefferson, born April 29, 1830; died July 30, 1830. 2. Na-
than Pendleton, Jr., born May 16, 1832.

II. i. Elvira Zeviah Wilcox, married September 20, 1839, Chester Irons
Medbery of McKean County, Pa. Their children were:

III. 1. William Chester; 2. Alonzo Harris Irons.

.They lived in McKean County until October, 1883, when they removed
with their son Alonzo H., to Beadle County, South Dakota, and remained there
with him until their death. Her husband died March 17, 1893. She died Octo-
ber 5, 1900.

II. 2. Alonzo Isaiah Wilcox, son of Wm., born Danube township, Her-
kimer County, N. Y., March 22, 1819, married, June 2, 1846, Lovisa, daughter
of Judge Isaac and Lucy (Warren) Horton. She died at Kendall Borough,
Pa., January 3, 1881, aged 65 years; he died July 28, 1899, at Hackensack, N.
J. Their children were

1. Clarissa, born, 1847. 2. Susan, 1853. 3. Ida, 1857. 4. William,.
1860, of whom all but Ida died without issue.

He was a lumberman and oil producer; he located an extensive saw mill in
the wilderness of Elk County when he was but a young man, and the town of
Wilcox was named after him at the suggestion of President Buchanan. whose
friend he was. He was much interested in the general development of the sec-
tion and an active promoter of the Equitable Pipe Line Company, the Tidewater
Company, of the Jersey Shore and Pine Creek; Rochester, Nunda and Penn-
sylvania; Bradford, Bordell and Kinsua, and Philadeiphia and Erie Railroads.
He served as Colone! on the staff of Governor Packer of Pennsylvania and
again on the staff of Governor Geary; was a member of the Lower House in
the Legislatures of 1847, 1848 and 1870. He was elected the first two terms as
a Democrat; the last as a Republican. All the other Wilcoxes and all the Med-
berys have been life-long Democrats. Colonel Alonzo I. Wilcox identified him-
self with the Republican party about the time of the beginning of the Civil War.
He was sheriff of McKean County 1881-84. The notable floods of 1861 de-.

155
stroyed his lumber business and caused him heavy losses; he repeatedly lost
heavily through endorsements and had his full share of reverses, but they never
conquered him; he never lost heart, and retained throughout his characteristic
buoyancy of spirit and generous charitableness. He was a man of the broadest
sympathies, notably hospitable, congenial, liberal, deservedly popular and re-
spected.

II. 1. Nathan Pendleton Wilcox, (son of Nathan Pendleton), born at
Nunda, N. Y., May 16, 1832; married at Coventry, N. Y., by Rev. J. B. Hoyt,
October 6, 1856, to Celestine, daughter of John and Nancy (Little) Birge, of
Coventry. Their children are:

Ill. 1. William Alonzo, born Olean, July 25, 1857. 2. Clara Birge, born
Olean, March 28, 1859, unmarried. 3. Henry Pendleton, born Olean, Dec-
ember 28, 1860. 4. Anna Janet, born Nicholson, Pa., July 25, 1862, unmarried.

Received his education at Nunda Academy. Was merchant at Olean, N.
Y., and removed in 1&62 to Nicholson, Wyoming County, Pa., where he was a
hardware merchant for many years and a leading man in the community. For
thirty-five years he has been an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and was com-
missioner to the notable General Assembly of 1869 in New York City when the
union of the old and new schools was consummated, and again to the General
Assembly of 1879 at Saratoga Springs. He has held many local public and
corporation offices. Is a past master of Nicholson Lodge, No. 438, F. and A.
M., and a member of Temple Commandery at Tunkhannock. Of late years he
has been largely eccupied as a surveyor and conveyancer. He died April 25,
1904.

III. Ida Wilcox, (Alonzo Isaiah, William Pendleton), born at Wilcox,
Elk County, Pa., in 1857; married in 1882 to Ernest H. Koester, son of G. F.
and Mary B. Koester. Their children are

I. Maurice Alonzo, born June 29, 1883, died February 17, 1889. II.
Frederick Ernest, born May to, 1887. III. Nina Gildea, born November 138,
1891.

Mr. Koester served a term as District Attorney of McKean County, Pa.,
and is at present an active lawyer at Hackensack, N. J., and prosecuting attor-
nev at Bergen County, N. J.

William Alonzo Wilcox (Nathan Pendleton, Jr., Nathan Pendleton), born
July 25, 1857: married April 22, 1885, Katharine, daughter of Hon. Steuben
and Katharine (Breese) Jenkins of Wyoming, Pa. Their children are:

IV ot. William Jenkins, born March 17, 1886. 2. Emily, born January
7, 1889. 3. Helen, born March 4, 1892. 4 and 5. Stephen and Henry
(twins), born January 31, 1898. The former died January 7, 1890, and the lat-
ter April 23, 1898.

He is a member of the Lackawanna County Bar, and has been in active
practice at Scranton since 1880. One of the incorporators of the Pennsylvania
Bar Association and a member of the American Bar Association. Was a rul-
ing elder of the Presbyterian Church while at Wyoming.

William Pendleton Wilcox, was the first merchant in Nunda (1822). He
also kept an inn, and for two years was the first post master in the present town
of Nunda. He was one of several, to iay out the State Road that passed his
house in 1821. It was not till one year later he opened his house as a store and
inn, for before the road was laid out, there would have been no travel. Wilcox

156
Corners was also called “The Center.” As he sold out in 1831 to Jacob Guy it
has since been called “Guy’s Corners.” Mr. Wilcox was a member of the Bap-
tist Church and this society sometimes heid services there.

Few of our citizens have attained as high honors in civil life.

One of our best known citizens Utley Spencer clerked for him and under
the Deputy Sheriff, became Constable. The family seem to have been fitted for
official life, as one of his brothers, and one of this brother's sons, were able to:
write Hon. before their names.

His son Alonzo Wilcox seems to have had the same pushing qualities.
As he was a cousin to Delos Merrick and the second generation of the Paines,
we naturally inquire if the change of location, and occupation was not a large
element in his rapid advancement.

NATHAN PENDLETON WILCOX

The early death of Nunda’s first architect, Nathan Pendleton Wilcox (who
probably was the builder of the old Nunda Literary Institute building and is
said to have been of the Baptist Brick church of Rochester), cut short a career
of interest in another direction.

Fortunately he left a son and namesake, who has led an unusually useful
life.

Nathan Pendleton Wilcox, born in 1804, in Herkimer County, if he came
with his elder brother William P., to Nunda in 1820 would have been but a
youth of 16.

This excellent young man contracted consumption and died April 24,
1833, age 29 years. His dream of lite and love already past.

II. 1. Thomas Jefferson Wilcox, born April 29, 1830, July 30, 1830.

2. Nathan Pendleton Wilcox, Jr., born May 16, 1832.

 

 

 

 

NaTHAN PENDLETON WILCOX, JR. Wiuiiam A. Witcox, Esa.
Scranton, Pa.

157
School-days come and we find the name of Pendleton Wilcox, as attending
the Nunda Academy and Nunda Literary Institute in 1844 and 45. The widow
was married to William Williams, with a large family of children and one of
his sons married his stepmother’s voungest sister and Smethport, Pa., becomes
the home of the families.

I. Lieut. William Richardson, veteran 1812, wife, Sarah Norton. Lived
mear the Fuller farm south of Walnut Street.

He was Justice of the Peace, and County Overseer of the Poor.

Exchanged farms with Palmer Rawson, and was one of the prominent
Baptists.

Il. 1. Children of William and Sarah (Norton) Richardson. 1. Cyn-
thia, born 1800, married *Elliol Tyler, died while young. Came with her father
to Nunda, but lived only until 1838. Her children were:

(1. Alonzo Tyle1, married Turza Guy. daughter of Jacob Guy. 2. Me-
lissa. 3. Willis died age 8 years. 4. Mary.)

If. 2. Lurancie Richardson, born 1808. Married Nathan Pendleton
Wilcox, married second William Williams. 3. Esther, married Hiram Mer-
rick. See Merrick Families.

Il. 4. Diantha, married Cornelius F. Fielding, (Jennie Fielding, page
estimator in New Yerk City); 5. Cordelia, married Welcome Jilser, pioneer
teacher, Nunda: 6. Jeremiah W., (merchant), married Emeline Dake, daugh-
ter of Charles Dake; 7. Mary Ann, married Ludowick Williams, son of Wil-
liam Williams, Smethport, Pa.

1819

I. Lieut. David Baldwin a veteran of the War of 1812, a prominent
member of the Baptist church of Grove, Portage and Nunda, a pensioner of
the War of 1812-14, came to Nunda and lived and died there.

His wife was Achsah a sister of Rev. Samuel Messenger. The family at-
tended the first schools of Nunda, when it was known as Nunda Valley. Dea-
con Baldwin was trustee for several years, and lived in the village about 6
years, then bought a farm.

Children of David.

II. 1. Orren Nelson, married Emaline Gearhart Palmer. Children.
III. 1. Hanor Philena Baldwin, married John Kelley. George W., was killed
by a falling limb, married Libby Randall; Volney E., married Elizabeth Colton.

II. 2, Louise, married Rev. Daniel Lowell. See Lowell Family.

IT. Emma, married Hiram Bardwell; 3. Philena, married Roswell Law-
rence.

II. Cortez Baldwin, married Mariani Lowell.

Il]. 1. Chauncey, married —— Buno,

I\V" 4. Isora, married Hebert Bentley.

\V. 5. Leila, married Charles Cleveland. 2. Scott, in school.

II. 6. Sarah, married George Gearhart, Jr. (See Gearhart Family.)

II. Cornelia, married George R. W Fay, soldier. 2. Charies Fay.

IV) 1. Elsie, married William Sphoon. 2. Mariam, married W. H.
Havens.

V Charles Sphoon, graduate G. N. S. Principal of Union School. Wells
Sphoon, farmer, married - —Waters.

 

 

158
III. *Malvina, married Perry Buno. Sophonia, married Perry Buno.
III. Ellen married Charles Carter.

III. Fernando, married Helen Hovey.

III. Salina, married Hiram Weed.

1821 TO 1828

THE BOUGHTONS IN NUNDA

The Boughtons of Boughton Hill (Victor) were settlers there at an early
date, as early as 1789. The Boughton family are the same as the Bouton Fam-
ily. The family is French in origin. The Bouton-Boughton genealogy
dates back to the time when France was a monarchy. <A daring soldier rescued
his monarch in battle, by killing the King’s antagonist, whereupon the King cut
a gold button from his coat and gave it to the scldier. After the battle, the
King called for his preserver, and made him a knight, “The Knight of the
Golden Button.” The soldier took the name, given him by the King, Bouton,
which has been Anglicised into Boughton. One of the Boughtons, a Colonel
of Boughton Hill, died in the War of 1812, and many more of them in the Civil
War. There seems to have been several of that name among the first settlers
or Nunda and Portage. An A. Boughton, had sixty acres in the very heart of
Nunda Village nearly half of Lot 28, now the center of the village. He sold
too soon. No one remembers A. Boughton. John Boughton settled in Portage
when that town was in Nunda, or in S. Grove, and was Supervisor of Grove.
E. Boughton settled on Lot 16, but we have no turther information concerning
him. A son of William Boughton of Nunda, Newell Boughton, became a
teacher, studied for the Baptist ministry, went to college, but could not for want
of funds complete his course. He was granted, a license by the Baptist church
of Nunda to preach. He did mission work in the West where he died. The
only Boughton I know of, in Nunda is the writer’s wife, Julia S. Boughton
Hand, daughter of the late Rev. Harvey Boughton a Universalist clergyman, a
distant relative of the Boughtons at Victor and those formerly of Nunda.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. H. W. Hanno Mrs, H, W. Hanp
Lieut. Eugene Boughton, her brother, was killed, while leading his com-
pany across a bridge from which the rebels had removed the plank, in 1864.

Her sisters, Mrs. Ellen W. Post and Mrs. Alice Hewett, shared her home
in Nunda for ten years, when both of them died. Her brother George resides
in Victor (Boughton Hill.)

CHAPTER VII.

PicTURESQUE PoRTAGE AND Its First SETTLERS.

Granger, or West Grove, it gave up a fine grazing section, and the

upper valley of the Keshequa, with the Granger hills and plateaus,
and, as time has revealed, one of the prospective and fast developing ‘“‘oil
fields” of Western New York. When she parted with Portage, which included
Genesee Falls, she also parted with what is now called Glen Iris and Letch-
worth State Park, one of the most picturesque spots in all the United States,
destined soon to distinct recognition as a State Park, second only to Niagara
Falls in sublimity, but ever first in variety of scenery and rivaling the Adiron-
dacks in primeval beauty. With an Indian wigwam or two in the foreground,
and on the high plateau, the old Council House of the Senecas, or, more accu-
rately speaking, of the Nunda-wah-o-nos, it would not be difficult, in imag-
ination, to roll back a century or two and see the primitive copper-colored
citizens of Nunda in one of their favorite haunts. There is one shaded dell,
south of the Council House, so wild, so gloomy, so secluded, through which
the stream flows that tumbles over a depression in the “High-banks,” forming
the “Bridal Veil,” that if any one walked through it alone, the very crackling

Wc the “half shire,’ Nunda, parted with Grove, which included

 

 

 

Hornsy Lopce
Above the Tunnel, nearly opposite the Middle Falls. Taken down in 1850

160
of a twig would suggest the proximity of rabid beasts or savage men. Could
this dell be added to Central Park, at a cost of millions, it would become 1s
chief attraction, but here amid other wonders is almost unknown, and, though
quite unique in its primitive beauty, the tired tourist, if he ventures into this
weird solitude, so feels its engrossing power, that he hastily turns up the foot
path leading to the Council House and contents himself with feasting his eyes
with views of the river, gorge, and bridge, and forgets to think that this mar-
velous bridge, “a masterpiece of mechanism,” the two railroads, and the former
chanuel of a once famous canal, are all innovations, intruding upon, though
enhancing the charm of this primeval beauty spot.

The geologist comes here with his hammer for a chip or two of genuine
“Portage rock,” and, not content to look back to the time of Indian occupancy,
a mere century ago, he sees a gorge worn by centuries of attrition, and he
also sees, what others do not, that above Portageville there is a wide river
valley, and that here there is only a gorge without a valley, hence knows
there must have been in primeval or pre-glacial times, a different outlet for
the waters of the Genesee, and seeking for it on both sides of the river be-
comes satisfied that the Keshequa valley below Hunt is the legitimate and
only possible original channel for the Genesee. To account for the change,
he deposits a glacier in the stream, or stretches it one-half way across the State
and presto-change! attrition, the constant friction of centuries goes on and
so a new water course is formed.

So Nature also robbed Nunda, ages before her birth, of the glorious inher-
itance of our Genesee River, and left us only one of its branches, the Cashequa
as geologists call it, but it could not take its tributaries also, and many a fine
stream flows into it, in Nunda, and when it reaches the Canaseraga, their
united waters form no inconsiderable part of the greatest river of \Vestern
New York.

It is hardly necessary to recall the fact that when the surveyors of the
Genesee Valley Canal attempted to find a way up to the Upper Genesee Valley
that commences at Portageville, they followed very nearly one of the original
channels of the Genesee, from Craig Colony to Oakland, by following up the
Cashequa Valley, and the surveyors for the Pennsylvania Railroad were
obliged to follow their example.

Pre-natal losses are beyond the limits of consistent complaint, but the
writer cannot help lamenting the loss from our township of the present town
of Portage, that forms near the Genesee, a part of this weird, picturesque,
bewitching wonderland. Ours she was, however, from 1808 to 1827, and her
pioneers were our pioneers, her teachers taught our schools, many of her sol-
diers were in “our” companies, many of her citizens still worship at our altars,
her advanced scholars attend our “High School,” and in many ways we are one
people, “one in heart and purpose.” ‘No village upstart,” says “Hayseed,”
when speaking of any citizen of Portage, young or old.

And so I hope my fellow citizens of Nunda will forgive the writer if he
shows a love for Portage people, born of birthright, and fostered by a citizen-
ship with them for a quarter of a century.

After the division of the would-be “County of Nunda’” into two sections,
or half-shires, the “hub” of the southern half was not at Nunda Hamlet, or

161
Hubbell’s Corners, as it was called, nor even at Nunda Center (\Wilcox Cor-
ners), but at first, at or about the Prosper Adams Inn at Oak Hill, and then
at Keshequa, soon named Hunt's Hollow, for the Post Office was always at
the “hub.”

A list of the heads of families who lived in this part of Nunda will per-
haps suffice with special mention of those who “achieved fame,” may well be
given, for from 1816 to 1827 Portage-Nunda led in population, enterprise,
schools, and business activities her northern neighbor, who, though last in all
of these has for more than half a century been “‘chiefest and greatest” of this
ninefold family.

The town of Portage was settled before the lands of Nunda were taken
up, for two reasons: the Genesee River trail from Mt. Morris to Portageville
furnished the road known even to-day as the “River Road” and, when followed
beyond the “white woman's” tract, led to Portage. There was no “State Road”
until 1824 and no well defined Creek Road till still later. The Short Tract
road led through Portage to Granger. The few squatters, transients and first
settlers in the northeastern part of the town came from Sparta, for Sparta could
be reached by means of the Williamson Road from Williamsport, Pa., to
Williamsburg. New Englanders came from Canandaigua and Geneseo. The
second reason was the difference in land agents. Colonel Williams, the land
agent in Portage, was on the spot, and could sell and give a good title to the
lands sold, while John M[cSweeney. the Irish land agent, located at Nunda,
was unreliable and incompetent, and with his chief, Luke Tournan, at far-
away Baltimore, transacted business in a slack, haphazard, unsatisfactory way.
The coming of Judge Carroll as his successor about 1820, when nearly every
farm had been taken up in Portage, made Nunda practically a new section
for settlement, and this section retained the name “Nunda.” \While the writer
erieves over the loss of Portage and its magnificent scenery, he rejoices that
the name, Nunda, clung to the part where the valley is the widest, and where
Nature’s smile is most entrancing; still he grieves that the marvelous, the
picturesque, the almost awe-inspiring “Glen of the Rainbow,” with its high
banks and cataracts and primeval forests so thoughtfully preserved by one
of Nature's devout worshipers, could not have remained in Nunda, forming
one scene of variegated beauty and charm, the joy of all beholders, the per-
fection of all landscapes—"\Vhat God joined together” and encircled with his
everlasting hills, man has unwisely separated—but the day may come when
the electric carriage will unite the divorced affections and interests of both
sections of old Nunda, and make.us one people.

By tradition, by historic mention, and by the recollections of those who
purchased their lands, a few men of a decade less than a century ago have names
left, but whose individuality is entirely lost. First of all, the transients, who
abode for a few years on the very first farm, in the Portage that was to be,
was Jacob Shaver; evidently he settled there with the purpose of a permanent
residence. He made a clearing, paid his highway tax, from 1810 to 1816,
when the lands of the Cottinger tract came into market, then when
Captain Richard Church came, and was only too glad to pay for his
log buildings and improvements, more than enough to establish him in
a new section, he sold out and went farther west. But is this all? Not exactly.

162
I wished to give this first named settler of Portage a little more attention than
he had received by former historians, so I will say I have investigated and
found he was a pathmaster of District No. 2, town of Nunda, in 1810. I can
prove it by the town clerk of Nunda, Asahel Trowbridge, for I have his report
of a town meeting “held at the house of Peter Graingers (Granger) in sd Town
the 3d of Apriel, 1810, for the purpose of transacting the Buisness of sd Town
in conformaty to the statute in such case made and provided.” He further
states: ‘““Prosceeded to Buisness and made Choice of the foloing canadatins to
fill the several ofices in sd towen. Vhomas Dole, Supervisor; John Griffeth
(Griffith) Towen Cleork.” When he comes to “the Oversears of highways,”
we find Joseph Balie (Bailey), District No. 1 (Nunda), and Jacob Shauveir
(Shaver), District No. 2, but as modern spelling was not one of this clerk’s
strong points, we find our first settler either got into office immediately after
his arrival, or that he came into the town in 1809, or even before that time.
Seth Sherwood was the second settler, and Ephraim Ningslev, of Nunda, the
third. 1816

Col. George Williams, who settled on Oak Hill, had been a law student
in the office of his uncle, John Greig, Esq., who was agent for, and afterwards
a partner of, Mr. Hornby, of Scotland, in the survey and sale of the Cottinger
tract of 50,000 acres, of which the town of Portage was the central part. Mr.
Greig naturally selected Col. Williams from his office as resident agent of
that portion of the tract known as the Elisha Johnson’s Subdivision of the
Cottinger tract (so called because Johnson was the surveyor). The choice of
Col. Williams proved an excellent one; he made easy terms with the settlers.
was just with the “transients; was fair and honorable in his dealings with all,
and became popular with the settlers and indispensable to his employers. Like
most land agents, he became the center of local influence, and civil and military
honors were forced upon him. He was no less a leader in festive scenes, and
the athletic sports, which were then a source of joy, to enliven the hard labors
and tiresome monotony of those years of struggle and incessant toil, were led
by him, whose powerful frame and vigorous constitution made him an expert
and adroit contestant for the championship. He located his own lands, hav-
ing the choice of them all, with much discretion and the property, still in pos-
session of the family, attracts attention and admiration even to this day. Ten
years from the time of settlement, having already been Town Clerk and
Supervisor, he was, in 1826, elected to the Legislature as a Clintonian, but
changed his politics and party while at Albany. At that time this change
of views was regarded among politicians as the unpardonable sin, and it
probably prevented any further civil honors. He was born in Hatfield, Mass.,
May 26, 1793, married at the age of 50 Miss Alma Devoe, a sister of Isaac,
Henry and Col. Jacob Devoe, who were also among the first settlers of the
town. Their children were four in number: George \W , who was proprietor
of the Cascade House, at Portage Bridge, and who died suddenly at Nunda
village; Julia, the wife of Willis H. Fuller (whose ancestors settled at Nunda
—Pike—in 1806) ; Mr. and Mrs. Fuller now live in Nunda village; Henry, who
died in Montana, many years ago; and Charlotte, widow of Edwin Patterson,
who is the present proprietor of the Cascade House at Portage. Col. Williams
died at the age of 80 from injuries received from being twice thrown from a

163
buggy. Mrs. Williams survived him till-she attained the same age. Charles
Williams was a brother of the Colonel and lived near him. He was one of the
noted pioneer teachers of his day. He married Miss Mary Hunt, daughter of
Sanford Hunt, Sr., the pioneer, and afterward, Miss Maria Taylor. He died
September 24, 1871, aged 68 years. His daughters are all still living, except
the youngest, Ella; Mary H., widow of Chapin C. Williams; Delia, widow of
Morris Ayrault, of Nunda; C. Annie, a successful teacher and elocutionist,
now Mrs. Daniel Grunder, of Angelica. Their only brother, Charles L., a
soldier of the 58th New York, an estimable young man, died December 15,
1871.

NEW ENGLANDERS IN PORTAGE-NUNDA—WHERE THEY CAME
FROM AND WHERE THEY SETTLED

The writer has been somewhat negligent in noting where the settlers of
Nunda came from. Most of fis ancestors were of German origin, hence he
neglected to trace the New England blood of Puritans to its New England
ancestry. The late C. D. Bennett, of Nunda, formerly of Portage, has grouped
the early citizens of that town with skill and precision, born of zeal. To boom
the citizenship of Portage and their New England ancestry was his best trump
card. There were few better local writers than C. D. Bennett, and it is to be re-
gretted that he did not write a complete history of Portage. He said, “Oak-
land was settled by the Fitches, Messengers, Hills, \feNairs, Swains, mostly
relatives.”

“On Oak Hill came the Adamses, Frenches, Marks, Robinsons, Smiths,
Spencers, Strongs, etc., relatives from Paulet, Vt., while east of them settled
the Thompsons, Pattersons, Buttons, Newtons, also related from Coleraine,
Mass.

“Around Hunt's Hollow were the Allens, Bennetts, Clarks, Cobbs, Devoes,
Hunts, Nashes, Parmalees, Slaters, Roots, Williamses, mainly from Connecti-
cut. Pennycook, named by Mr. Rosebrook, at the raising of the first log house,
was settled later by people from various places.”

A finer lot of citizens could hardly have been brought together, and it is
still well worthy of record. There was an unusually large number of New
England people, because there was no connection between New Jersey and
Pennsylvania and Portage. The River Road led direct from New England
to the Connecticut lands in Ohio, and some stopped by the way, charmed by
the attractions the country presented. The military lands of Central New
York were for New York soldiers only, so all other soldiers who came were
either obliged to buy out the soldiers’ claims, or come into the Genesee coun-
try, or go on to Ohio. They came, they saw, they were charmed, they re-
mained. Zopher Strong, 1815, with a fine family of educated children, supple-
mented by a fine pair of twin girls, America and Angelica, after coming to
Nunda, Prosper and Abijah Adams and the Robinsons from Paulet, Vt., who
furnished wives for Prosper Adams’ innkeeper and his successor, William
Marks, George Patterson, Sr., and for Alanson Hubbell.

164
MRS. HUBBELL CAME TO NUNDA, EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO,
A BRIDE

While living here she joined the Baptist Church, and there her name is
yet, but probably not a member of the church suspects that Sister Hubbell
is still alive and as good a saint as ever. How does the writer judge of her
present goodness—did she not join the church when it was almost an axiom
of the church, “once in grace, always in grace.” The final perseverance of the
Saints was good Calvinism then, though its believers turned out at least roo
members for not manifesting the fruits of the spirit, or for going to a party,
or to another church. But this sister “persevered” and one of her daughters
became a foreign missionary, and grew old and returned and found her mother
alive and holding birthday parties for the good boys and girls who had proved
they were good by “living out more than half their days.” She evidently be-
lieves still in. “election ond reprobation,” for she elects only those over 75 vears
of age, to attend her parties, and reprobates the youngsters of less age as too
young and giddy.

Prosper Adams came to Portage-Nunda in 1815 and became the first inn-
keeper and supervisor of the town. His mother came with him and brought
with her all her children. Abijah Adams was killed in 1824 at the raising of a
barn for Nathaniel Olney. Zerviah married Captain Elisha Smith, a veteran of
the War of 1812. She died, leaving two sons, Prosper and William. \Villiam
became a prominent teacher and afterward a soldier of the Civil \War. Pros-
per married a sister of Roderick Spencer and died at Genesee Falls recently.
Captain Smith was drowned about 1860 in the Canaseraga Creek, near Sonyea.
The children of Prosper Adams: Mary C., born 1812, married Josiah St. John;
Charles C., and Fanny R., who was the first white child born in Nunda-Port-
age, February 25, 1818, whose picture we present. Jesse Adams married
Mabel Spencer. Prosper Adams died in 1839. His successor at the hotel was
William Marks, his brother-in-law, who was succeeded by Philip Burroughs
about 73 years ago, at which time his youngest son, A. Jackson Burroughs, was
born, and still lives on the homestead. George Patterson, Sr., a brother-in-
law of Prosper Adams, came to Oakland in 1816 and erected a 12 x 12 log house
on the site of the hotel of after days. His sons were Curtis and George. George
Patterson, Sr., was a great joker. The writer has heard his mother tell of her
first meeting with this strange character. A[y aunt, Mrs. Wells, introduced
them. Mr. Patterson approached and said, ‘Mother Compassionate, shake
hands with a sinner.” The rest of the conversation was of this unusual nature.
It turned on the subject of schools. “I am a great advocate of good schools,
and I see by the size of your flock that you are also. Send them all to school.
The school house is in superb order—clean as a whistle. It’s a letter “A” No. 1.
My youngsters and I took Sunday for it, and made it shine like a new brass
kettle. Sunday! Mother Compassionate, is decidedly the best day to do good
deeds, and, don't you know, my good mother (my mother was only 32, he still
older) that “Cleanliness” is next to Saintliness, and there wasn't a cussed saint
in the whole town who would have touched their saintly fingers to the job.
Now who, thinkest thou, was the good Samaritan? The better the day, the
better the job.” This was a specimen of a new neighbor wholly unlike any

165
seen in Eastern New York. The wife of George Patterson, Jr. (I regret to
record) as she grew old and infirm, after the death of her husband, developed
insanity. She had three daughters, all intelligent, interesting young ladies.
One died at Oakland. She had been the one most nervous, the one they might
have feared might have shared their mother’s infirmity. But no one thought
it possible that these who seemed so energetic and so cheerful could possibly
lose mental balance. Laura, married to Charles Foster, a good wife and
mother, lost her only daughter, her only child, and after a time became more
melancholy than formerly, and took her own life. The only sister left, Flora,
had become a semi-invalid and the shock of this, added to her own infirmities,
were so great that in less than ten days she followed exactly in every partic-
ular the example of her sister. And the entire family of George Patterson,
Jr., once the sturdy blacksmith of Nunda, and the successful farmer of Oak-
land, was blotted out.

ON THE PORTAGE BOUNDARY

I. Captain Richard Church settled on the Angier farm (second occupant)
in 1816. The family consisted of.the parents, who were the léading Univer-
salists of the pioneer days. The family lived here about forty years.

Il. 1. Lawrence, married in the West. 2. Leonard, married Betsey
Grover, a charter member of Universalist Church. 3. M. Jane, teacher, poetess,
preceptress (taught with Prof. Winslow at Mt. Morris), married Rev. William
E. Manley, D. D., a celebrated commentator of the Old and New Testaments,
(and the first settled pastor of the Universalist Church). 4. Richard, Jr. (un-
married when they removed). Also belonging to this family was the mother of
Jerry Chandler. They lived in \Wyoming County, where their son was born
in 1839. He married Abbie Prescott, daughter of Albert, born in Nunda in
1842, and their children and grandchildren are all the posterity of Capt. Rich-
ard Church, remaining here. At Messengers Hollow, the Messengers and
Fitches and Hills, all relatives. At Hunt's Hollow, not then named, Nathaniel
B. Nichols and Joseph, Walter and Thomas Bennett. At Oak Hill, Dr. Elisha
D. Moses (1816), Elisha Moses (his father), and family (1817), Henry and
Lewis Tuthill, George Wilner, Capt. Perkins (on the River), Solomon Will-
iams, Dr. Carpenter, and Samuel Fuller, veteran of the Revolutionary War,
and George Gearhart, Sr. (Oct., 1817).

In 1819: Santford Hunt and family. William Dake and young sons,
Jonathan and Charles. Rev. Orrin Miller and three sons (brothers-in-law to
Dake), Joseph Cole and the Giffords, Robert and George, Elias Bowen, Benja-
min Utter, Nathaniel Lewis (grandfather to Lewis Gould), John McFarland,
Thomas Alcott, were early settlers.

Dr. Amos Parmalee settled in Hunt’s Hollow about 1820.

In 1821 the Nashes bought out Ephraim Kingsley. Mr. Claflin took up
the farm west of them.

David, Roswell and Philo Bennett came in 1823.

In 1824 Greenleaf Clark settled in Hunt’s Hollow and bought the Eli
Slater tannery; William Alvord also had a tannery at the time. Eli Slater,
George W. Barnes and C. Allen, all relatives, settled at an early date. Na-

166
thaniel Olney came from Cayuga County in 1821. Samuel Swain and five sons
came to Oakland from Oak Hill about this time, and W. Z. Blanchard in 1823.
The Minor Cobb family were early settlers.

Job Stockwell located on the Short Tract Road. Richard \W Robinsons
were at Oak Hill in 1818, and Arad French first located there, afterwards at
Hunt's Hollow.

1821—PORTAGE-NUNDA
A Family of Lawyers from Portage Who Settled in Nunda

Nathaniel Olney came from Scipio, Cayuga County, in 1821 and settled
on the road leading from Oak Hill to Hunt's Hollow. There was a large
family of sons and only two daughters. Mr. N. Olney was something of a
pettifogger, as self instructed lawyers were called, and all of his sons had a
trend in that direction; his children were also teachers. The sons were: John
F., who married the daughter of Prosper Adams, Fanny Adams, said to be the
first child born in Portage-Nunda, in 1818. This family came to Nunda and
John F. served his town as Justice of the Peace. He sometimes was employed
asalawyer. He died in Nunda. The father also died at the home of this son.

Silas, who was a teacher, who married a cousin, Elizabeth Fordice. He
died, leaving three sons and one daughter. The widow Olney lived on Mill
Street after 1856 until her death. Her sons were Corydon, born 1839, a vet-
eran of Company I, who became a Lieutenant, came home, married, settled in
New Jersey and died at Long Beach. Alonzo, also a Nunda soldier, now
living in Oakland, Cal. Mary, married, and lives in California.

*Hiram, the youngest, is not living. Ars. Elizabeth Olney married (2)
Capt. James Lemon, and her sons served in his company. Mrs. Olney had
been a teacher, she was scholarly, patriotic and liberal in thought. Her family
were Universalists, and sang in the choir.

AIrs. Lemon was thrown from a carriage, her head struck a boulder at the
roadside and she was killed.

Omar Olney became an Allegany lawyer and ranked high in civil cases.
He wrote two books, one an expose of Mormonism, and edited the confessions
of Henry Wilson, the murderer of Henry Devoe, of Portage. He received as
compensation the body of the murderer, which was sold to a physician in
Nunda.

Omar Olney married the daughter of his neighbor, Philip Burroughs,
Samantha, and their only child is Ernest C. Olney, who studied law with his
father and at Albany Law School, and ranks well among the successful lawyers
of Nunda. He has served his town as Supervisor and as Justice of the Peace.
He resides with his family on Portage Street, with his office on the same
street. His parents are both dead.

Charlotte (Lottie), only daughter of John and Fanny Adams Olney, was
educated at Friendship Academy, came to Nunda during war times and has
lived here since. She married Robert R. Wright in 188r.

Charles Olney grew to manhood, contracted consumption and died in
Nunda. He was an exemplary young man. He died in 1874. The John Olney
family were loyal Universalists.

Ransom Olney, also taught school successfully and became a lawyer,
lived in Nunda. He died many vears ago. He is survived by one daughter.

167
Rebecca Olney, married Jonathan Burroughs, a successful farmer and
prominent Free Mason. They were highly esteemed by all who knew them.
They left an only son, Edwin Burroughs, who married Anna Sharp of Nunda.
Mr. E. Burroughs, who also lived in Nunda, is a prominent hardware mer-
chant at Bay City, Mich., but visits Nunda annually.

Jane Olney, also taught school a few terms, was married to William R.
Tobey, a merchant and lawyer, who was Supervisor of his town, Granger.

Although the family was large and all were married, there is living but
one of the children, Mrs. Jane Tobey, and six of the grandchildren. Mrs.
Lottie Olney Wright, daughter of John F and Fanny Olney; Alonzo and
Mary, children of Silas and Elizabeth Olney; Ernest C., son of Omar and
Samantha; May, daughter of Ranson; Edwin Burroughs, son of J. J. and
Rebecca.

Hiram Olney, a pioneer teacher of Portage, was a brother to Nathaniel
Olney, and Horton Fordyce, another teacher, was a brother of Mrs. Olney.
Orange Brown of Nunda and Mrs. Amidon of Nunda, and her sisters, the
Brown twins, were children of a sister of N. Olney.

THE BENNETTS

Seven brothers, Walter, Thomas T. and Joseph, settled in 1817.

Walter Bennett had eleven children, seven of whom were living until
recently. The mother of these children was Huldah Coe, sister to Hon. Na-
thaniel Coe of Nunda. She and her sister Mary, Mrs. David Bennett, were
past 90 years of age when they died. Those who lived to be elderly were:
Thomas F., of Missouri; Walter, an inventor; Flora, who was once principal
of the Peabody Institute, Summit, Miss., who died in Nunda village in 1898,
aged 80. J. H. Hobert, who is still living, M. Louise, Mrs. Johnson, who
died recently at Baltimore, and Mary Ellen, who resides in Baltimore. J.
Yates Bennett, best known of this household, was born in Portage, then
Nunda, in 1822. In 1844 he went to the South as a teacher and remained six-
teen years—taught school seven years, was postmaster five years and book
dealer at Trebodica, La., two years, and two at New Orleans. He returned
to Portage in 1862 and was married to Marietta Galusha of Arcadia, N. Y.,
who died December 23, 1868. He married, in 1872, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Smith,
daughter of Dr. G. W. Brauch. One son, Arthur Yates Bennett, is living.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett died in 1877. This family of Bennetts were pronounced
Democrats and zealous Episcopalians. Mr. Yates Bennett was Justice of the
Peace for a number of terms. He built mills on the Spring brook near his
home, and his saw mill was the last of the twenty or more mills run by water
in the town. His father and N. B. Nichols, in 1817, built the first, Russell
Messenger, at Oakland, built the next the same vear.

Thomas Bennett had a woolen factory at Hunt’s Hollow and sent cloth
for a pair of pantaloons to Governor Clinton, who responded with a letter of
thanks. The wife of William Tousey, a daughter of Thomas Tousey Bennett,
was the only member of this family who remained in Portage. She was born
about 1820 and lived to be about 80 years old.

The children of William and Sarah Tousey were Cornelia, Mrs. God-
win, recently deceased, Emma; Carrie (Mrs. J. J. Williams) and Lucian C.,

168
one of the finest tenor singers this section has ever produced. He died in the
West, where he was bookkeeper for his brother-in-law, John J. Williams, then
a lumberman in Michigan. Mr. Williams died a few years later.

The family of Joseph Bennett went West also, excepting one daughter,
the mother of the late Amos Clark of Portage, whose daughter, \Irs. Al. E.
Van Dusen, resides in Nunda.

THE OTHER BROTHERS

The family of David and Mary Coe Bennett, with a few exceptions, re-
mained in Portage, and some of these were citizens of Nunda when they died.

Joel Bennett, teacher, farmer and town official, was born May 16, 1815.
He came with his parents to Nunda (Portage) in 1821, and was educated in the
schools of Portage and the first Nunda Academy, Church Street. He was
the first teacher to introduce blackboards in schools in this section. He served
as Town Commissioner of Schools and was Supervisor of the town in 1861,
and kept excellent records of the soldiers who enlisted from that town. He
married, in 1850, Cornelia Botsford, daughter of Ezra Botsford, Esq., of
Granger. They had four children, Ada E., Carl D., Nora M., and E. Warner.
Carl and Nora alone survive.

Charles D. Bennett, local writer of historical sketches, and one of the
most public spirited men of Portage, was born in Scipio, February 15, 1819,
came with his parents to Nunda (Portage) two years later, was educated in
the public schools of Portage, attended Henry Chalker’s Select School in
Nunda, the Leroy High School and Canandaigua Academy. He went South
to Louisiana for two years, returned home and remained four years, teaching
and farming, and was town superintendent of schools for two years. He
went to Texas (then recently annexed) next, and settled at Gonzales and
engaged in teaching for several vears. He was president of Gonzales College.
The Sons of Temperance movement about the vear 1850 spread over Texas,
and Mr. Bennett became prominent in the movement and was for several
years Deputy Grand Worthy Patriarch of the order. In 1853 he returned to
the North, married Miss Huldah Olney of Scipio, and they returned to the
South. Mrs. Bennett, after a few years’ residence in Texas, preferred to return
to society not dominated by the advocates of slavery. The hard times of 1857
made it impracticable to dispose of his property for money, so he exchanged
it for a herd of cattle, which he drove to Chicago, a distance of 2,000 miles.
This was about the beginning of the Texas cattle trade, now amounting to
millions. In 1858 he drove a herd of Texas oxen to Leavenworth and then
purchased of the heirs his father’s farm—still in the possession of the family.
Mr. Bennett served his town as Highway Commissioner many years and to
his energy is due the roads leading along the Keshaqua from (akland to
Hunts. He died in Nunda about 1890. His sisters, Emily and Rachel, com-
pleted their lives here. Rachel was a teacher for forty vears or more and
commanded the same wages as were paid to male teachers.

The children of Charles D. Bennett were: Carrie, Mrs. O. F. Sharp of
Hunts, Ellura, a professional teacher with Normal equipment, and Charles B.,
who resides on the homestead and whose wife, Mary L. Parmalee, was also,
as were the three Bennetts, students at the Genesee Normal School.

169
NATHANIEL COE

Hon. Nathaniel Coe, an uncle of Charles D. and Joel Bennett, was born in
Morris County, N. J., in 1788. His people came to Scipio in 1794. when it was
still a wilderness. His father had a soldier's right to 640 acres, for which he
paid a shilling an acre. Mr. Coe came to Portage in 1818, worked in saw mills
and practiced surveying. In 1820, with his brother and \yron Strong, he
went to Olean, and there procured a boat and went to New Orleans by water.
In the South he taught school or classes in penmanship. He became acquaint-
ed with the Lancasterian method of teaching. He taught school until 1828,
when he and WZ. Blanchard opened a store at Oakland. “No liquor sold to
be drank here” was a notice conspicuously posted and was regarded as a rank
temperance movement in those days when innkeepers and liquor dealers were
leading church members. This year he married Mary White of Auburn, a lady
with literary tendencies of the sentimental order, so common in that day. Ir.
Coe was Justice of the Peace and served several terms as Supervisor. He
was elected to the Assembly from Allegany in 1843, 1844 and 1845 and again
from Livingston County in 1847. In 1851 he was appointed mail agent for
Oregon. He selected a homestead at the mouth of Hood River on the Colum-
bia. His sons, Lawrence and Eugene F.,. were the first navigators of that
river above the Dallis. He died October 17, 1868.

The family of Roswell Bennett of Portage were the first of the Bennetts
to reside in Nunda village. He had owned a farm on the Oakland and Dalton
road previous to his business ventures in Nunda. The family consisted of
three daughters, Elmina, who became Mrs Orsimus Bisbee; Flavilla, who
never married, and Augusta, best known as Mrs. Charles W Herrick, the
only survivor of the family. Mr. Bennett bought of Morris Phillips the house
now owned by L. P. Higgins, and a former store once known as the Tobey
store, the first one built in the village, and moved it to his lot, where it has for
years been known as the East Street market. He had the first bakery in town,
and was an enterprising man.

There was also a Philo Bennett, one daughter who married Philo Mills,
and a son, Zar Bennett, who manufactured, as did John and Oliver Tingley,
wooden butter bowls. These two establishments made these useful articles.
A daughter of Zar Bennett, Eliza, ranked high as a teacher of District schools,
and was one of the first to command one dollar a day.

At one time a Bennett reunion would call together at least 100 relatives.
As a family they were especially noted for their scholarship.

A Mary C. Bennett was one of two ladies to attend the Albany Normal
School as early as 1854. She became president of a Female College in the
South.

AN ENERGETIC FEMALE PIONEER

Mrs. Mary Fuller left her home in Connecticut with a team and load of
goods. She left her husband behind, having no further desire to live with and
support an indolent man, her son, Stephen being in college, and with her
daughter, Sarah, started for Nunda. Most of the way through New York
State she had to walk and find the way by blazed trees. She bought a farm and
worked it herself or superintended the work. My father, William Hand,

170
worked her largest farm in 1838 for one year. It happened to be the year the
writer was born. Mrs. Fuller remained a hustler all her days, and celebrated
her ninetieth birthday by mowing thistles along the highway. She died that
night.

Stephen Fuller, her son, while teaching school in Rochester died of
cholera. He left two interesting children, Stephen, Jr., and Mary A., who
ntartied Abram Fuller of Nunda. Sarah Fuller died at the age of 96, in
Nunda, where she was for many years a milliner. A grandson of Mrs. Fuller,
John S. Lyon, succeeded her on the farm and was Supervisor of the town in
war times. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are still citi-
zens of Portage and Nunda.

THE SPENCER FAMILY OF PORTAGE-NUNDA

Stephen Spencer, Sr., came to Portage-Nunda in 1817. He had six chil-
dren. He lived to a good old age and was buried in Nunda. Silas Angier,
another aged man, was buried the same day. One funeral service served for
both.

The children of Stephen Spencer, Sr., were: Ralph Spencer, County Su-
perintendent of Schools; Stephen Spencer, Jr.; Utley Spencer, whose sketch
and picture will be elsewhere presented, and Mabel Spencer, Mrs. Jesse Adams.

Stephen, Jr., was an exception to the most of New England people. He
was facetious and delighted in amusing his associates. He met, one day, a
newly appointed deacon, whose dignity of position seemed to rest heavily on
him. “ Stop, deacon,” said Spencer, “I want a little theological information.
Adam was made of red clay and when made was stood up against a fence to
dry; it is all right, but who in h—1 made the fence.” The disgusted deacon
simply said, “You are going to hell.” “\Well,” said Spencer, “do you want to
send any word to some of the church folks there?” On another occasion he
met Capt. Wilner, who also was jocose. Both men had long noses, so both
simultaneously turned their noses aside so they could pass. This was not sat-
isfactory so Spencer threw his jackknife toward his friend. ‘\What is that
for?” said Wilner. “Oh. I vowed vears ago if I ever met a homelier man than
myself I would make him a present—and I have found my man."

The children of S. Spencer, Jr., were Adelia, Nancy, Cynthia, Marv and
Rhoderick, mostly teachers. Three of these young ladies were married with
one ceremony. Rhoderick married, first, Miss Robinson and ,second, Mrs.
Ann Mosher Clark. He was one of the finest looking men the town produced
and as good as he looked. He died recently.

Jesse Spencer died young. His widow came to Nunda to reside. Her
sons, Clark and George, became lawyers. Clark, a handsome young man,
courted all the nice looking girls in the town, but married elsewhere. He died
very suddenly, when he was becoming a great lawyer.

Jane Adams became a famous teacher, and Frank, the youngest, whose
facetiousness nearly equalled that of his uncle, became a lieutenant in the
Civil War, and was the life of the officers’ camp. The daughter, Jane, of the
family survives.

For Utley Spencer, see sketch by her son in Modern Nunda.

171
1817

George Gearhart, Sr., and his wife, Anna, with twelve children, came to
Portage, then Nunda, in August, 1817.

Children’s names, in order of birth, and who they married, are as follows:
Anna, born 1794, married Rowley; Elizabeth, married George Thomp-
son; Frederic, married Julia Pierce; Diana, married John Bowers; Mary, mar-
ried Edwin DeDeamer; John, born 1804, married Elizabeth Guthrie, born
1808; Margaret, born 1806, married Edward Peat; Sarah, born 1808, married
Grove Andrus; Harriet, born 1810, married Asher Mosher; Henriette, born
1812, married Gustavus Palmer; Emmeline, born 1814, married Orrin Bald-
win; George, born 1816, married Sarah Baldwin.

Children of John and Elizabeth Gearhart: Charles H., born 1829, married
Louisa Taber; Cordelia, married Alfred Taber; Sarah, married Lucius Palmer;
Mary, married Augustus Beardsley; John, married Anna VanSlyke; Martha,
married Amenzo Lowell; William, married Nancy Orton; Nathaniel, married
Ella Gilbert; G. Adelbert, born 1845, married Lizzie Wing.

II. George Gearhart, Jr., born November 11, 1816, married, in 1837,
Sarah Baldwin, born July 3, 1817, daughter of Deacon David Baldwin. They
had nine children and nineteen grandchildren, some of whom died in infancy.
Children:

III. 2. George Monroe, born June 4, 1838, enlisted in Company A, Ist
New York Dragoons, killed at Cedar Creek, October, 19 1864.

III. 2, Fayette Gearhart, born October 23, 1839, married Martha J. Doug-
lass of Nunda.

iV Melvin F. Gearhart (See N. H.S., G. N.S. and Coll. lists and clubs).

Ill. 3. Sarah A. Gearhart, born July 11, 1841, married Albert M. Dunn,
of Nunda.

IV. 1. Fred E. Dunn and 2, Bert Dunn.

 

 

Iron BripGe anv Upper Fatis aT Portace, N. Y.
172
II. 4. Esther A. Gearhart, born July 3, 1847, married \William R. Ward,
son of *Roland Ward, veteran.

IV 1. Frank L., and 2, George R. (Have lived at Dalton.)

HI. 5, Merritt H., born 1848, married Alta J. Linzy of Portage.

IV 1, Edna M. 2. Asia B. 3. Ella. 4. Edwin J., born in New York State.
(furniture dealer in Dalton.)

HI. 6, Mary L. Gearhart, born July 25, 1851, married George L. White,

IV sr. Mabel E., married E. Walter Moses (See Civil List). 2. M. Lena.
3. Eva A. 4. Mildred J.

Il. 7. frank A. Gearhart, born 1853, married Ida M. Milliman.

IV Ernest G., Bertha L.. born 1857, died 1864.

THE WILNERS

George Wilner, a veteran of the War of 1812-14, came to Nunda ( Portage)
in 1818 with his captain, James Perkins. They settled first near the river and
afterward Wilner came to Oak Hill and purchased the farm on which he
resided until his death, now best known at the Merriman \ilner farm. He
was a man of genial temperament, always cheerful and full of humor, and
ready to discommode himself even to accommodate others. The writer remem-
bers going with the Universalist Sunday School to Silver Lake. about 1859. A
four-horse team was hitched to a great hay wagon and all the youngsters were
piled in that the wagon could hold. One of the horses gave out and it was at
first a wonder how this serious trouble was to be overcome. I remember
Samuel \Whitcomb was in the load and he said if we can get to Captain Wil-
mer’s he'll let us have a horse if he has to stop work on the farm to doit. And
so it proved—his team took the place of the ones that led, and he acted as if
it were a privilege to do this act of kindness.

The children of Captain George, and of Betsy Moses, his wife, for he mar-
ried one of the many children of his neighbor, Elisha Moses, were: Marcus,
Merriman J., Malcom and Flavia. Marcus became a merchant in Portageville
and was Supervisor of his town. He was a well read man and an interesting
conversationalist. The Wilner families were Republicans.

The children of Marcus Wilner were: Frank A., who, after attending the
Nunda Academy, was graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and
passed through successive grades of promotion until he is now Captain in the
United States Navy, in command of one of the best warships of the Navy, the
Pennsylvania. See picture in his office at League Island.

Fred Wilner has served his town as Supervisor, and his early death is
greatly deplored by all who knew him.

Nellie Wilner, since the death of her mother, has lived principally at
Nunda, but spends part of her time with her brother, the Captain, when he has
duties on shore.

Gaylord, the youngest son, lives in the \Vest, and his brother, Fred, died
at his home.

Merriman J. Wilner, who succeeded his father on the homestead, held
various town offices and was Supervisor of his town. His excellent wife be-
came partially, and then entirely, blind, and was also losing her hearing at
the time of her last sickness. Both have passed away.

173
This family were Universalists, as was the pioneer Wilner.

Two children survive them: Merton, a journalist in the office of the Buf-
falo Express, and Stella, Mrs. William Wilder, of Portage.

Malcome \Wilner and one of his sons served in the Civil War.

THE NICHOLS-SLATER FAMILY—1816-1817

Nathaniel Booth Nichols was said to be the first settler in Hunt's Hol-
low. Three of the seven Bennett Brothers were next. The place was called
Nichols-Bennett Settlement, then Gregegsville, afterwards Kashawa, from a
tradition that that was its original name. After the Hunt store and saw mill
became conspicuous the name of Hunt's Hollow was given to it, which is still
applied to the old village, but the new one has changed from Hunt's Station
to Hunts and finally to Hunt. The public square and the land about it was sold
by N. B. Nichols to Eli Slater (who had an inn at the upper part of the square),
to William Alward (who had a tannery next to the creek), the R. C. Hill store
being the building used, and to Sanford Hunt, whose dwelling house and store
were from this purchase.

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols had but one son, who also bore his father’s name and
was called Booth Nichols. He attended the first academy in Nunda. N. B.
Nichols was the first elected Justice of the Peace of Nunda in 1827 or 1828.
Previous to 1827 this office was appointive, as was County Judge. He died
soon after and his widow married John Slater.

Vandalia Slater was the son of this marriage. He had inventive brains,
but his patents were secured generally by some one else before he had them
completed. A driven well was one of these. He owned a stone quarry but
sold it, a few days before his death, for $10,000. He died in 10908.

Col. Oleutt was one of the early settlers of Nunda-Portage. He built a
grist mill at the head of Spring Brook, not far north of the junction of the Cuba
branch of the Erie with the main line, but when the tide of settlement and
business tended towards the Keshequa, he rebuilt near the mouth of Spring
Brook, not far from the site of the Hunt and Thompson Mill. The millwright
was \lathias Jackson, father of Leonard Jackson. Olcott had several children.

COLONEL CARY

Col. Olcott and also Col. Cary were said to be Revolutionary soldiers, and
it is traditional that they were in Sullivan's army, and admiring the lands they
saw, came and settled, when the lands were salable. Col. Cary built the frame
house in which Greenleaf Clark lived after his first marriage. The house is
very old, built before there was a frame house in Nunda. It formed the prin-
cipal part of the estate of Mrs. Gertrude Clark, who recently died.

Elias Alward, the potash maker, was an early settler here and at Grove.
Simeon Alward was probably a son.

1816—THE STRONGS

The family of Zopher Strong were well educated. Several of them were
teachers, and at least three of the family were collegiates at Oberlin, one of the
family having married a citizen of that place. One of the elder daughters

174
returned from there and astonished her neighbors by advocating a diet of
graham and condemning the white bread as unwholesome, which was still
regarded as a luxury. She was regarded by her neighbors as an educated
crank, but Miss Lucina did not care. The pair of twins, America and Angelica
Strong, were born here, grew to womanhood and went to Oberlin from Port-
age. Their older sister went from the same house from Nunda. Both twins
were living a few years ago, both had married well, and one was the wife of
Judge Horatio Jones, who was living at the time of her sister’s death, five or
six years ago.

Mrs. Angelica Strong Beattie, daughter of Zopher Strong, early pioneer
of Nunda (Portage, section 1816), was born at Oakhill, Portage, in 1828. She
was one of a pair of twins who were named America and Angelica.
She was married to a missionary named Beattie, at Oberlin, Ohio, and went
with him to Jamaica. After his death she returned to Ohio, and thence re-
moved to California in 1874. Her son, George \\V Beattie, now superintendent
of the Normal School, Manila, P. I., taught the first school in Redlands. She
lived successively in Lugonia and East Highlands, Cal. She spent the last
few years of her life in caring for an older sister, Mrs. Totten. She was a
woman of great native ability and intelligence. Her many excellencies en-
deared her to a choice circle of friends. She was ministered to in her last
sickness by her twin sister, America, Mrs. Judge Jones, of St. Louis, the only
surviving member of the family. She died November 5, 1906.

THE MESSENGERS, FITCHES AND HILLS

Russell Messenger and Azel Fitch had married sisters, the daughters of
Elias Hill. They came to Oakland and settled there because of the water
privilege, and first built a saw mill, and next year a grist mill. Both families
were enterprising and a store was afterward conducted by Azel Fitch. A
second store was erected over the mill race, nearly opposite the Edgerley
place, some years later. A distillery was built by Fitch nearby where the mill
is, but it went out of business and the building has been serving as a barn for
many years on the farm of Jacob DeMocker. The Messengers were prominent
Baptists and were relatives of Rev. Samuel Messenger, the first Baptist clergy-
man of the Nunda (which included Portage and Grove) Church. The family
consisted of two sons, Harvey and Olitan, and several daughters, including
Terenche and Harriet.

Harvey married Sarah (Sally) Barron, became a merchant, but died voung.
‘Olitan and Harriet never married. Terenche married Henry Ashley of Nunda.

The children of Azel Fitch were George, Elias and John. Elias married
Sarah Miller and built the cobblestone house now known and owned by MIrs.
Amelia Gould. He had one daughter, Carrie, a distinguished lecturer. John
was born in Oakland in 1823 and married Ann Sweetman. He became a
wagonmaker, was Superintendent of the Genesee Valley Canal and Super-
visor of Portage and Justice of the Peace. His father, Azel Fitch, was Assem-
blyman from Allegany County. Elias Fitch was also Justice of the Teace.
Elias Fitch has been dead many years. John Fitch died in 1906.

175
THE DEVOE FAMILY—A MURDER

Jacob, Isaac and Henry lived on Oakland and Dalton Road on the Fred
P Smith farm. Jacob was called Colonel: Isaac was a hunchback and made
essences. There was also an Elijah Devoe, and a \Widow Devoe, who, with
Jacob, was a member of the Baptist Church.

Henry Devoe is best known of these Devoes because of the manner of
his death. He was murdered in his bed by a burglar who called himself Henry
Wilson. Mr. Devoe had carelessly, the day of his death, exhibited a roll
of money, several hundred dollars, in the presence of a stranger. His death
was the result. He was plucky and refused to tell where the money was or
to keep still. His son, Nelson, did not come to his aid. A granddaughter,
Laura Thompson, and another girl were frightened into silence. However,
the murderer was captured, tried, and executed by Sheriff Thomas Chase, for-
merly a citizen of Nunda. The daughter of Henry Devoe was Jane, Mrs.
William P. Thompson, and the son, Nelson Devoe, who remained a bachelor.
Almy Devoe, Mrs. George Williams, was a younger sister of Jacob, Isaac and
Henry Devoe.

The family of Solomon \Williams, Sr., were mostly teachers. The twelve
acre orchard this pioneer set out soon after his settlement on the Short Tract
road in 1816 has made the Williams’ farm one of the most profitable of small
farms in the section. For many years after, apples were barreled and shipped
to city markets. These twelve acres were good for $1,200 a year.

The sons of this family were Solomon, Joseph, Daniel, Fosdick and Frink,
and the daughters, Phebe and Mary. Fosdick, Frink and Mary were leading
scholars in the first Academy days from 1840 to 1845. All three died about
1845. Solomon and Joseph were good business men and secured a competence
by a right use of opportunity. Solomon married Catherine Averill, daughter
of Daniel Averill, a pioneer teacher and farmer. He lived in Hume, near Mills
Mills, and was Supervisor of that town. After the death of his father he re-
turned to Portage, bought out the heirs of the estate and made the orchard,
though old, keep up its financial record. The writer, whose farm and orchard
adjoined the Williams farm, took lessons by observation, and made his smaller
orchard keep up its proportion.

Joseph moved to Wellsville and lived there until his death. Phebe died
suddenly while comparatively young. Daniel was the most versatile of the
family, was a teacher of district school, singing school and had a class in pen-
manship. Financially, he was not as successful as his brothers. He married
a daughter of Daniel Olp, and had three very bright children. An excessive
use of stimulants, especially tobacco, produced a mild form of insanity. His
family left him, and his schools ceased to be successful. As a gardener, pruner
and grafter, he was still skillful. It is said of him that somnambulism also
became detrimental to health and comfort. On one occasion he resumed work
while lodging at the hotel at Brooksgrove by sawing off the posts of his bed-
stead and inserting several choice grafts. This made lodging places for him
scarce, and finally he was taken to the Binghamton Asylum, where, deprived
of stimulants of any kind, he regained his mind, but his physical condition
weakened as his mind strengthened and he completed his life in this palace
like structure. His love of tobacco remained the dominant want and his few

176
guests were allowed to give him a cigar. Knowing this to be so, the writer
gave him a cigar. “That’s a God-send,” said Daniel, “come early and often
and don’t forget to bring a cigar.”

The children of Solomon, Jr., were Augusta J. and John J. Williams.
Augusta was married to E. Adelbert Nash, and John J. to Carrie Tousey.
Williams and his cousin, Henry E. Averill, built a store at Hunts and were
successful merchants there. Williams sold out his interest and went to Mich-
igan, where he conducted a large lumbering business, but lived only a few
years.

The family of Daniel Averill came to Portage while it was still Nunda.
He taught school winters successfully. He had two daughters and two sons.
Catherine, the eldest, married Solomon Williams, Jr. William lived in Vir-
ginia. Latham married Catherine Van Allen. They had two sons, Henry E.
and Orren. Henry E. married Carol Edmund, who survives him, and is his
successor in the dry goods and general store line. Mr. Averill was a prom-
inent Republican and the postmaster of the place. Both Williams and Averill
deserve the gratitude of the community for inaugurating a business that has
tended as much as any to benefit the community and led to making a quiet
railroad station a shipping point of prominence and an enterprising village
with three stores, two churches and several warehouses. Miss Sarah Averill
married William Prentice, and they still occupy the family homestead. They
have one son. Their only daughter died soon after her marriage.

1820

The Parmalees were also early pioneers. Dr. Amos and Frederick, his
brother, a pioneer teacher of ability, were from Vermont.

Dr. E. D. Moses, Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Parmalee were the three first
physicians in Portage-Nunda.

The home of Dr. Parmalee, a large frame house on the hill-side leading
to Hunt from the Hollow, is still in existence and is owned by C. L. Parmalee,
for many years agent at Hunts Station.

The children of Dr. Parmalee were not numerous. Betsey married
Horace Hunt; Harriet married Elijah Bennett; Charles L. married Harriet
Lake, daughter of D. P. Lake, Esq.

Jonathan Parmalee, an uncle of Dr. Parmalee, settled a few years years
later near his nephew, and was Justice of the Peace for several years of the
Second Nunda.

The children of Charles L. and Harriet Parmalee were *Fred, Mary and
William. Mary is Mrs. C. B. Bennett. Fred died in New York City whie
still young and unmarried.

1822—A REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER

Joseph Hosford came to Portage-Nunda in 1822. He was a drummer in
Sullivan's army, 2nd Regiment.

II. Charles; Eunice, who married Gad Sheldon of Bristol; Mary, who
married Alvin H. Parker, Bloomfield, N. Y.; Abigail L. (teacher), married
Joseph Clark Ervin (their son is Alfred H. Ervin of Omaha, Neb.) ; Franklin
Hosford, A. B., Oberlin College, pioneer teacher in Portage, married Ann

177
Kingman ; Lydia Ervin, sister to J. C. Ervin, married Russell Barnes, of Nunda,
and lived to be go years of age (see Barnes family); Alfred Ervin, who was
deputy postmaster at Nunda, married Harriet Cain.

1825

I. Record Taber, born April 17, 1798, died February 19, 1894, aged 95
years 10 months, married Sally Meeker March 2, 1820, who died November,
1877. They came to this town in March, 1825. Children as follows:

II. 1. Louisa A. married Charles H. Gearhart. 2. George (date un-
known), died. 3. John, married Aurilla Morse; he died in 1854. 4. Alfred,
married (1) Adelia Gearhart, who died in 1856; (2) Mrs. Caroline Barber,
who died in 1865; (3) L. Emeline Lapham. 5. Martha, died 1839. 6. Albert
O., served in Civil War, died 1862 or 1863. 7. Clark W., married (1) Sarah
Lake, (2) Kate Lake; he died in 1883. Minnie, daughter of Alfred.

Arad French and wife came to Oak Hill in 1817, kept house for Col.
George Williams, then settled on farm (Hiram Miller place). Abner, born
in 1814, married Margaret Thompson, born December, 1819. Samuel French,
a teacher, died young. Lucy, born December, 1818, in Nunda, married Merrick
Brigham. Jane married James Brigham. Merrick and James Brigham were
half brothers to Benjamin Brigham. Emily died young.

Arad French was deacon of the first Presbyterian church, formed at Oak
Hill in 1819.

Children of Abner, born in Portage: Orpha, Sophia, Curtis, *Lucy, Samuel,
Clara, Ellinor, Alpha Omega. Curtis served in the 58th N. Y. N. G. Joseph
Russell, husband of Orpha, served in the same regiment. \Villiam Holmes,
husband of Lucy, served in the New York Dragoons.

1819

The Hunt family, who came to Portage-Nunda in January, 1819, and set-
tled in the then busy burgh that had already borne several names, Nishaqua,
Greigsville, and Nichols and Bennett's Settlement, because this firm had the
first saw mill there, was destined to have still another name, and an increase
of business as well as of population. The family consisted at this time of San-
ford Hunt and wife and seven children. Mrs. Hunt’s maiden name was Fanny
Rose. She was the daughter of Surgeon Rose of the Continental Army, and
a niece of the unfortunate Nathan Hale, whose mission to General Benedict
Arnold to make terms for the surrender of West Point, cost him his life.
Samuel R. Hunt, the bachelor member of the Hunt family, says of their com-
ing that in coming from the town of Mt. Morris we passed much of the way
over corduroy roads and through the six mile woods between the present
river and State roads across the White Woman's Tract. \We came out upon
an old clearing east, called the Shaver place (afterward owned by Capt. Rich-
ard Church and John Angier). Fording the creek twice we came to anchor as
far south as the road was opened. There was not a bridge on the creek ( Kesh-
equa) from source to mouth, though one was built the following spring.
There were but three families south of this for eleven miles. These were
George Gearhart, Sr.; his son-in-law, John Greening, and Andrew Smith. He
also mentions of the settlers at this Kashaqua town, Henry and Walter Ben-
nett and Nathaniel B. Nichols. The latter two had built a saw mill the year
before. There were also some single men, Enoch Miller, Henry Devoe, Elijah

178
Bennett, who afterward became a Baptist clergyman. Deacon William Town
and Henry Root lived near, and last but not least, Elias Alvord, potash boiler.
He also mentions Ephraim Kingsley and Solomon Williams, Sr., and their
orchards; also Warren Carpenter (Dr.) and Samuel Fuller (a Revolutionary
soldier and pensioner from Rhode Island).

Sanford Hunt became the pioneer storekeeper of the town, had an ashery
anda farm, and soon after a postoffice. But the chief product of this worthy
pair was a family of boys who equalled their parents in education and in
ability and made the name of Hunt well known throughout the State. Here
one of this family of boys, in a log school house, but with excellent instructors,
laid the foundation of a thorough, practical education which led to an advanced
course at Geneseo Academy and finally made him Governor of New York
State.

But Sanford Hunt himself was one who seized every opportunity that
came his way. His manner created confidence, and those “children of Nature”
who could not read books but could read men, the Indians, from all the neigh-
boring reservations, came to his store to trade. He was the first man from
Nunda who made the Genesee River below the Lower Falls serve his bidding
as a canal to carry the products of his mill, farm and ashery to Rochester, and
then through the Erie Canal to Albany, “in his ark,” “The Hazard,” in 1824.
He, however, lived to a good old age and died in Portage, in the place named
for him. He was a liberal, public spirited, quiet, unostentatious man. He died
in 1849.

The children of Sanford and Fanny Hunt were Samuel R., a teacher. He
never married but lived and died at Hunts Hollow. Horace married Betsey
Parmalee, daughter of Dr. Parmalee. He was Supervisor of his town, mem-
ber of Assembly, was mill owner with O. H. Thompson, had store and post-
office, failed in business, went west to Jackson, Mich., where he was Justice
of the Peace until his death.

Sanford Hunt, Jr., became a merchant at Mt. Morris. John H. Hunt
held for some years a position in the Custom House at New York City. Eliza,
the eldest daughter, was, in 1826, married to Colonel Greenlief Clark, who suc-
ceeded Eli Slater in the tannery business at Hunts Hollow. John Clark, now
of Nunda, is their son. He is a tanner by trade. The late Gertrude Clark,
who excelled in scholarship but failed to make her learning practical, was a
daughter of Col. Clark by a second marriage. We mention these for they both
became citizens of Nunda. Mary Hunt was the wife of Charles \Williams, a
prominent teacher in pioneer days. She left no posterity. Fanny Hunt was
married to her cousin, Sanford Hunt. Frederick Hunt died when comparatively
young. Edward Hunt, the youngest son, born in Nunda, had military aspirations
fostered, no doubt, by seeing Col. Clark maneuver his battalion at the general
training. He went to West Point, and in due time was graduated as a Lieu-
tenant of Engineers. The military career of Major Hunt we give elsewhere.
What he sought to do, if it had been carried out, would have given him an
immortality of fame, but he perished at his task and his engine of destruction
for the enemies of his country found its first victim in himself. To-day the
name of Major Edward Hunt, Engineering Department, United States Army,
is elsewhere forgotten, but that of his wife and widow, the talented “Helen

179
Hunt Jackson,” through her “Ramona” and other books, are kept in remem-
brance by her picturesque burial place, located where all the globe tourists will
see it, may serve to keep both names alive for successive centuries.

THE FIVE SANFORD HUNTS

Dr. Sanford Hunt, of Portage, who succeeder Dr. Parmalee in 1845, was
a cousin of the other two Sanford Hunts, and a nephew of Sanford Hunt, Sr.,
pioneer, while Sanford Hunt, third son of Horace (known at the Nunda Acad-
emy as Yankee Robinson), was the fifth of this name in Portage.

Under the heading of “Navigation of the Genesee,” published in 1824 by
a pioneer newspaper, we have this item of extraordinary interest:

COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE

A Geneseo local announces, under date of May 27, 1824, “the passage by
Geneseo, on the river of the canal boat “Hazard” from Nunda on her way to
Albany, loaded with pine lumber, ashes (pot and pearl ashes), etc. The boat
was owned by Sanford Hunt of the former place.” (MIr. Hunt lived at Hunt's
Hollow which was at that time in Nunda). The boat was built at the Lower
Falls, after the manner of the Arks from Arkport that carried goods a quarter
of a century before this time. Such an enterprise would have been impossible
before the completion of the Erie Canal, which was opened for navigation in
1824. This was the first of famous shipments of lumber that was made after
the Erie Canal was in operation, and preceded by sixteen years any shipments
by canal from \It. Morris or by 28 years by canal from Nunda. Azel Fitch,
of Oakland, Fitch and Messenger, and later, John F. Barber, utilized in spring
floods this improvised canal—the Genesee River—for transporting their sur-
plus products to city markets.

STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION ON THE GENESEE (IN 1824-26)

The Livingston Journal of July 28, 1824, has the following interesting
local: “We can congratulate the public on the arrival of the steamboat ‘Erie
Canal,’ Captain Bottle, at our village last evening from Utica; a more welcome
arrival could not have happened.”

For two years this river was navigated by steam. The semi-annual floods,
creating almost insurmountable obstacles to impede safe and profitable navi-
gation, drove the steam boats from the unmanageable stream, and the scow
with poles until 1841 continued to bring the most of the pioneers’ goods up
the river. In 1837 my father’s goods were brought from Rochester to Geneseo
in this manner. Many of the later pioneers from 1824 to the autumn of 1840
used this method of transportation.

THE GIFFORDS OF PORTAGE-NUNDA

Captain Gifford had a large family of sons and daughters. *Rhoda mar-
ried *Joseph Cole. She died at the age of 90. Their son, J. Monroe Cole, born
1824, married *Julia MI. DeWitt. He is still living. His children are Frank
and Mary. *Robert Gifford married (first) *Mary Ann Wetherly, (second)
*Mercy Herrington, (third) Mrs. Delia Clark, who is still living. Children:

180
Lorenzo D. Gifford, veteran, farmer, Portage; Rhoda, his sister. Children of
Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Youmans Nunda, children of Robert and Delia: Merrett
Gifford, Silver Springs; Stella, married Homer Elwood, Buffalo, N. Y. Jasper
Gifford married Mrs. Wetherly. Their son is Daniel B. Gifford, merchant.

THE D. P. LAKE FAMILY

The D. P. Lake family lived at Hunts Hollow. The family claim rela-
tionship with Roger Williams, and, like him, are, first and last, Baptists. The
daughters were teachers, the sons were soldiers. Jlarriet, married Charles L.
Parmalee; Elizabeth, married I. Bradley Clark; Sarah and Kate, married Clark
Taber. Mrs. Lake accounted for her boys being soldiers because her father,
Mr. Lindsley, and other relatives were soldiers of the Revolution. Of the
sons, John lived in Michigan, served as bridge builder in Sherman’s army;
Mathew, in the Ohio Heavy Artillery, returned home and died in 1866. War-
ner W. served in a Wisconsin regiment, Charles R., quartermaster sergeant
in a Wisconsin regiment, both buried at Hunts Hollow; William D. Lake,
146th New York, died in Andersonville.

Evidently Mrs. Lake taught her sons to

Speak plain the word country,

But oh! the surprise, when one sits quite alone,
Then one weeps, then one kneels,

God , how the house feels.”

 

Mrs. Browning.

Greenlief Clark settled in 1824, married (first) Mary Hunt, daughter of
Sanford Hunt. John Clark (married in Montgomery County). Mary Clark
married Oscar F Sharp, two children, Lizzie and Edwin; married (second)
Mary Wheeler of Nunda, 1907.

Ill. Ethel Clark resides in Nunda, married George Barber. Mr. Clark
was called Colonel (probably a militia officer). He was a tanner by trade and
bought the tannery built by Eli Slater.

His son, John, also a tanner, was his successor.

Mr. Clark had a bachelor brother, Henry Clark, who lived on a farm near
Mudville.

Amos Clark and I. Bradley Clark were not relatives to him, or to each
other.

THE PHINEAS LAKE FAMILY

The large family of Phineas Lake of Mt. Morris and Portage, 1829, fur-
nished numerous citizens for Nunda, although the parents never lived here.
Among the children of this household who came to Nunda were: 1. Janet, wife
of Rev. Gershom Waldo; 2. Adelia, wife of Isaac McNair; 3. Laura and 4.
Sarah, first and second wife of Utley Spencer; Edwin P Lake; Franklin D.
Lake, and Martha, wife of Sandford Johnson.

Thomas Lake, the oldest of the family. married at Portage a niece of Dr.
Chittenden, Catherine Hill. The Hill family lived at Portage.

181
For the family of Utley Spencer, see Spencer family.

The family of Rev. Gershom Waldo were Gershom and Janet Lake Waldo.

Mr. Waldo was an Episcopal clergyman, and after his voice failed was a
teacher at Portageville and elsewhere. He was the rector at Hunt’s Hollow.

Henry Waldo and Martha were the oldest of the family.

George Waldo was a veteran of the Civil War. He married in the West,
and had a son and a daughter, Mrs. Taylor, and Heber Waldo, now at Military
School at Milwaukee.

Sarah resides with her aunt, Mrs. Johnson, on Church Street.

Heber( married in the West).

Sarah is the only one living of the children.

Minerva Waldo was a niece of Rev. Waldo and taught the classics under
the Barrett regime for one year in the Nunda Literary Institute. She is now
Mrs. Joseph Cooper of Warsaw.

Edwin P. Lake, married Mary Shave, a milliner.

Mrs. Lake had the first store in Nunda kept by a woman. Her husband
assisted as the business increased. They built a store on the south side
of the Plaza, which is now in use as a hardware store.

The children of this family were: Adelia, a musician, who married Har-
rison Peck. They have one son.

Julia, married Byron Nugent, of St. Louis. Mr. Nugent, a merchant of
the Wanamaker type, died in April, 1908, leaving a wife and two sons.

Fred D. Lake, merchant, St. Louis.

The family of Isaac and Adelia McNair lived for several years in Nunda.
He was a wagonmaker, and started a manufacturing enterprise in Nunda,
with F. H. Gibbs and Minor Stout as assistants, about 1835. His children,
who were here at this time, were: Helen, Wells, Cornelia and Edward.

Wells McNair, who afterward married Caroline Nash, who died recently.
Mr. Wells McNair is still living at Castile. His father died at the age of 90
and his mother at 93. *Helen McNair married Mr. Rodgers of Warsaw, N. Y.
*Cornelia married Chambers. *Edward married Adelia Quick, of
Silver Springs.

 

Franklin D. Lake was a business man of Nunda, had some farm lands,
and conducted a large hardware establishment for many years. He married
Emily Fitch, who survived him, but has since died. They left no children.

Martha taught at one time a select school at the Session House after it
had ceased to be an academy. She also taught in Mission schools in Chicago
for ten years, where she was married to Sandford Johnson, who lived but a
few years after his marriage. She has since lived in Nunda, now residing on
Church Street.

1820

Biographical notes compiled by Jackson W. Alward of New York City
concerning Nathaniel, William and Squire Alward, Mrs. Mary Alward Bar-
ber, Mrs. Betsey Ann Alward Van Dusen, and Mrs. Sara Alward Guthrie, chil-
dren of William and Betsey Cross Alward of Basking Ridge, Somerset County,
N. J., who removed in 1809 to Scipio, Cayuga County, N. Y., and later to
Nunda, N. Y.

182
Nathaniel Alward was born February 17, 1794, in Basking Ridge, N. J.,
removed to Scipio, N. Y., in 1803, six years in advance of his parents, where
he died July 29, 1848. On February 18, 1818, he married Betsey Freeman,
daughter of William and Jerusha Wilcox Freeman, of Lee, Mass., who sub-
sequently settled in Scipio. She was born July 18, 1799, in Lee, and died
March 30, 1844, in Scipio. The graves of both herself and her husband are
in the Alward family lot in the cemetery at Scipioville, N. Y. On December
17, 1845, Nathaniel Alward married his second wife, S. Van Arsdale, daughter
of Isaac and Mary Van Doren Van Arsdale, of Shepardstown, Jefferson Coun-
ty, Va. She was born October 10, 1819, in Shepardstown, and died January
18, 1903, in Bound Brook, Somerset County, N. J.; grave in cemetery at
Somerville, N. J.

Nathaniel Alward began in June, 1834, to invest in farm lands in the towns
of Nunda and Portage, Livingston County, N. Y., driving to and from Nunda
as his business required. The late John F. Barber, his brother-in-law, acted
as his ‘agent for many vears and subsequently became the owner of one of the
farms upon which Mr. Alward had partly completed a dwelling house, intend-
ing to make it his permanent home.

Nathaniel Alward had five children by his first wife: William Nathaniel,
Nathaniel, Andrew Jackson, Dennis Robinson, and Sarah, all born in Scipio.
He had one child by his second wife, Mary, also born in Scipio.

William Alward was born June 15, 1798, in Basking Ridge, N. J., and
came with his parents, in 1809, to Scipio, N. Y., and removed from there in 1820
to the town of Portage, then in Nunda, and died at his residence on Oak Hill,
March 18, 1844. On July 17, 1821, he married Lucy Hubbell, of Nunda, born
in 1798, and who died November 12, 1826, in Nunda. The graves of himself
and of his wife are in Oakwood Cemetery. He married his second wife,
Louisa Walter Hubbard, widow of Eli Hubbard and daughter of Stephen and
Mercy Mills Walter. She was born January 16, 1800, in Norfolk, Conn., and
died April 24, 1885, in Randolph, Dodge County, Wis.

William Alward learned the art of tanning leather and after this removed
to Hunts Hollow, then in the town of Nunda, where, in about the year 1820,
he established a tannery. Shortly afterward he was associated with Mr.
Ashley and established a tannery on Mill Street in what was then called
Nunda Valley. William Alward, Eli Slater and Sanford Hunt purchased
jointly a tract of land conveyed to them by deed from Nathaniel D. Nichols,
dated May 14, 1822, which included what is now the public square of the vil-
lage of Hunts Hollow. William Alward had three children by his first wife,
Mary, Harriet and Jarvis, all born in Nunda. By his second wife he had four
children, William Walter, Nathaniel Pomeroy, Louisa K. and Ann Elizabeth,
all born in the towns of Nunda and Grove.

Squire Alward was born May 18, 1800, in Basking Ridge, N. J., and came

with his parents in 1809 to Scipio, N. Y. He removed from there in 1846 to a
' farm purchased from his brother, Nathaniel, situated on Oak Hill on the
River Road in the town of Portage. From there he removed to a farm near
Hunts, and from there to a residence, situated on the southwest corner of West
and Seward Streets in the village of Nunda, where he died October 29, 1873;
grave in Oakwood Cemetery, Nunda.
183
On December 31, 1824. he married Abigail Boughton, daughter of John
and Currence Downs Boughton. She was born March 8, 1801, in Ledyard,
Cayuga County, N. Y., and died July 25, 1840, in Scipio, N. Y. On October
20, 1842, Squire Alward married his second wife, Eliza Helm daughter of
Peter and Elizabeth Perrine Helm, of Groton, Tompkins County, N. Y. She
was born in 1801 in Groton and died there in 1879. Squire Alward had five
children by his first wife—Cyrus, M. Charlotte, Harriet \J., George Henry and
Albert Nathaniel, all born in the town of Scipio, N. Y. He had no children
by his second wife.

Mary Alward Barber was born March 6, 1807, in Basking Ridge, N. J.,and
came with her parents to Scipio, in 1809, and removed from there in 1836 to
Oak Hill, Town of Portage, where she died August 15, 1850. On November
29, 1836, she married John Failing Barber (his second wife) son of Samuel
B. and Madelane Failing Barber of Canajoharie, Montgomery County, N. Y.
He was born September 2, 1809, in Canajoharie and removed to Oak Hill,
Town of Portage, N. Y., about the year 1832, where he acquired a large farm
and erected a fine residence called Chestnut Place. where he died February
7, 1883. The graves of himself and his wife, Mary, are in the Barber family
lot in the cemetery at Oakland, Town of Portage. Ir. Barber had no children
by his second wife, Mary.

Betsey Ann Alward Van Dusen was born August 9, 1810, in Scipio, N. Y.,
and died September 17, 18g9, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Van
Dusen Burroughs, in Beloit, Wis.; grave in the cemetery in that city. On
June 18, 1829, she married John Dykeman Van Dusen, son of Abraham and
Eleanor Van Brummel Van Dusen of Scipioville, N. Y. He was born Septem-
ber 30, 1798, in Scipioville and died August 22, 1885, at the home of his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Mary Van Dusen Burroughs, at Crowlake, South Dakota; grave at
that place.

After their marriage Mr. Van Dusen kept a hotel in Scipioville for seven
years, until 1836, when they removed to the territory of Michigan and were
pioneer settlers of Jacksonburg, now Jackson, but after enduring four years
of sickness and privation they returned to New York State in 1840 and located
on a farm formerly owned by Nathaniel Alward, situated on the Oakland and
Portage Road near the Short Tract Road, where they resided for about 35
years, when they removed to a residence situated on the north side of Center
Street in the Village of Nunda, where they resided until 1883, when they re-
moved with their youngest daughter to Crowlake, Jerauld County, South
Dakota. After the death of Mr. Van Dusen the widow and daughter removed
to Beloit, Wis. John D. Van Dusen had three children: George and Ellen,
born in Scipioville, and Mary, born in the Town of Portage.

Sarah Alward Guthrie was born August 23, 1790, in Basking Ridge, N. J.;
married George Guthrie and moved to Seneca County, N. Y., where they
located on a farm and resided there until middle life, and where all their chil-
dren were born. About the year 1826 they removed to Nunda, N. Y., and in
1837 to the Territory of Michigan and located on a tract of land near Dixboro,
Washtenau County, not far from Ypsilanti. She died December 20, 1841, and
her husband died on January 2, 1842.

184
They had six children: Elizabeth, William, Abbie, Joseph, George and
Phoebe. The eldest, Elizabeth, born August 23, 1808, married, June 19, 1828,
John Gearhart. They resided in the town of Portage, near Dalton (after
1827), where she died July 13, 1879.

March 10, 1908, 20 Nassau Street, Borough of Manhattan, New York
City, N. Y.

THE THOMPSONS—1822

Robert Wilson Thompson, son of \Vilson Thompson of Colorain, Mass.,
who died there at the age of 96. He was said to be a Revolutionary soldier.
His wife’s name was Wilson. Robert W. Thompson, better known as Wilson.
Thompson, married Fannie Burffee.

The children of Wilson Thompson were:

Joseph Calvin, Jonathan, Margaret Mary, Nancy, Electa, Luther and Rob-
ert W., the latter is described as a skilled workman in wood and iron, a handy
man in the settlement. He married before coming to Nunda. Of these
Electa (Mrs. Newton), Luther and Robert W., are known to have come to
Nunda.

I. The children of Robert Wilson Thompson (two died), were Nancy,
(Mrs. Peleg Hewitt), Roxana (Mrs. J. Clark Button), Robert W., William Ed-
win, Eliza A., and Melissa (Mrs. Sanford Hewitt), who recently died, 1908
Mrs. Nancy Hewitt, wife of Peleg Hewitt was six years of age when she came
to Nunda in 1822. She died in 1881. Their children were Wilson, Cornelia,
Alice, Edwin and Mary. The family have always resided in Portage.

II. 3. Robert Wilson Thompson, born 1521, became a farmer, he was
twice married. He married Sarah E. Van Slyck. They had two children.

III. 1. Elletta \, married John A. Carter. Anita Carter is with her
aunt Mrs. Mills in China.

III. 2. Annetta, a Missionary to China, to teach the deaf and dumb to con-
verse by speech. She married Charles R. Mills, since deceased. See ‘Mis-
sionaries from Nunda and Vicinity.”

R. W. T., married second, Cynthia Andrus, daughter of Chester.

Their children. III. 3. Charles W., farmer, married Effie M. Wilson.
4. Sarah E. 5. Lincoln (a deaf mute) who married Emma C. Larson (also a
deaf mute). 6. Luther R., married Elizabeth Northway, daughter of F. A.
Northway. 7. May, died in 1872.

Children of Sanford and Melissa Thompson Hewitt.

Jason, married Nellie Marshall; Frank, a photographer, married Carrie
Marshall; Charies, married Minnie Marsh.

I. 2. Electa Thompson, married Jacob Newton. Their daughter, Electa
Newton, married Miles Wakeman of Dalton.

I. 3. Luther Thompson family s. 1837, wife, Martha Holland. Children:

J. Luther and Cordino S., both soldiers, died in the service. (See 1o4th
Regt. N. Y.) 3. Joseph A; 4. Henry Allen; 5. Jonathan T.; 6. Direxa V.

Henry A., married ——— Town, has a son, the only grandson of Luther
Thompson.

Hugh Robert and Elinor Thompson, cousins to Robert Wilson Thompson.

Hugh Sr., married Elinor Patterson and Elinor his sister married John
Patterson.

185
ll.
2. *Hugh Jr., son of Robert, married Emma Allen, daughter of Majer
Allen. No chilaren, adopted Ella and Arthur Frink.
1. *Margaret married Abner French. See Arad French Familv 1817.
She was born in Nunda in 18109.
3. William P Thompson, married 1, Jane Devoe; 2. Mary Ames; 3. Mrs.
Elizabeth MI[cCray.
Ilt. Laura, Allen, George.
If. 6. Mary married Foster Whittaker.
Children: Alice, married Lewis Wescott; *John; Lizzie, married Clark R.
Brewer of Nunda.
7. Adolphus. 5. Josiah. 8. Jane, married Edgerly. 9. Lucy Jane, mar-
ried \[vron Patterson.
I-2.
Robert Thompson and wife.
IT.

Eben son of John and Elinor (soldier) died during the war.

Children of Robert.

Children of Oliver. 1. Fred. 2. Fletcher. 3. Jessie.

Children of Ann Thompson Dickens. Edgar J., Frank and Maylon.

Hugh Thompson and Robert Thompson were cousins of Wilson Thompson.

Oliver married Helen Dailey. Firm of Hunt & Thompson, millers. Ann
married Charles H. Dickens.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE DAKE FAMILY
By Dr. Wm. Dake, 1819-1830. Revised by B. Frank Dake, Esq.
y | \ HE Dake or Deake family have long been an important factor in the

history of Livingston County and are among the real pioneers of

Western New York. The paternal stock was English, but the family
originally came from Hungary, the first of the name locating at Hopkinton, R.
I., in 1639, but to make the spelling and the Americanized pronunciation cor-
respond the name was changed to Dake. Walliam Dake being the first to locate
in Nunda was born in Daketown, Saratoga County, N. Y., July 25, 1792, son
of William Gould and Margaret Moshier Deake. He married Orpha Miller
December 20, 1815, cf Galway, N. Y. In 1820 he with his wife and two small
children started out with Indians as guides to locate in what was to be a per-
manent home in the town of Portage, known as Oakhill on the river road, and
what was then thought to be the wilds of the far West. Nunda had then but
a few log houses, and the Indians roamed at will through the forest paths.
The writer of these lines has often heard William Dake and his wife tell of the
long tiresome journey from Daketown, Saratoga County, N. Y., to the new
home in the forest, the Indians acting as guides. The brother of his wife, who
was a Methodist minister was the only white friend on the way. An ox team
being their only means of transportation. Guided by marked trees and Indian
trails to designate the highway. They entered upon a quarter section of land

186
upon which they commenced their battle of forest life. .\ log house was soon
constructed and in this they lived for some years. Later they moved into a
large and commodiots frame house, where they lived and worked together for
nearly fifty years. The forest about them soon gave way to waving fields of
golden grain. The door of their home was ever open to their Indian friends
who paid them frequent visits. Mr. Dake was widely known as a man of judg-
ment and of strict integrity. He held at various times offices of trust and
honor in town and county. He died May 1, 1873, in Nunda, N. Y., at the home
of his son, Dr. Jabez W. Dake, where he and his wife had come but a vear pre-
vious, having left the home upon the hill. His remains were laid in Picket
Line Cemetery besides those of his father and mother. William Gould Deake
and Margaret his wife, who had also come to this section of the country a lit-
tle later than their son, in 1828, and bought up a large tract of land in Oakhill
a short distance from his son. He settled in 1828.

Wilham Gould Deake or (Dake as the name is now more generally spelled)
was born in Hopkinton, R. I., March 6, r761. He was a soldier of the Revolu-
ionary War, he served as private in Captain Lewis Von Woerts Regiment 16th
of Cambridge, Captain William Brown's Company of Albany County, N. Y.,
and served during most of the war.  Shouldering his gun when he was but
fourteen years old at the battle of Bennington, he followed his father into the
battle field, the battic taking place upon part of their land and the adjoining
tarm of Elder Wait’s. An interesting fact is that the first Red Cross work
done in this country was done by his mother who went upon the field after the
battle and ministered to the wounded and suffering soldiers until their strength
failed, her name now being enrolled as a patriot of the Revolutionary War
for the services rendered. Her name was Anna Gould Deake.

In 1830 William Gould Deake sold his farm in Daketown, Saratoga County,
and moved onto the tarm which he had purchased in the town of Portage, and
which joins that known as Latham Coffin farm where he lived till after the
death of his wife in ;841, when he removed to the village of Nunda where he
lived with his daughter Abbie Dake Northop. He was a man of genial mind
and greatly loved. His last illness was short and he quietly passed out to join
the larger family waiting on the other side. He was a man of sterling charac-
ter whose word was his bond by all who knew him. He died in Nunda, N. Y.,
August I, 1843. His remains were laid in the Picket Line cemetery near his
old home.

He reared a large family of children their names being Elizabeth, Anna.
Charles, Jabez, William, Benjamin, Lucy, Eunice, John E., and Margaret.
Charles the oldest son lived many years in Nunda. Later moved to Penn Yan
where he died. Jabez who was born at Saratoga and later served in the War
of 1812, became a physician, being the first M. D., to locate there, where he lived
and raised a large family of children, many of whom followed his chosen pro-
fession. He was a man ever ready to answer to the call of the sick or those in
trouble. His home still stands, although remodeled, on the corner opposite the
Baptist church. He died May 11, 1846, and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery
where a monument was erected to his memory. His wife was Sophia Bowen
and their children were Louisa, Lydia who married Lyman Hoppins, and had
two sons who were physicians. David was a physician and surgeon of promi-

187
nence and had a son who, also, won distinction as a physician, and one daughter
who graduated in medicine and married a Dr. F. W. Skiles. Chauncey M.,
was the first homeepath in Western New York, and located at Geneseo
Livingston County, N. Y. He had a son who practiced medicine, Abram B.
Dake who married ilvira Herrick of Nunda, and after his death she married
a Mr. Wiley. William Henry who graduated in medicine and located in Pitts-
burg, later moved to Rochester where he lived many years. His wife was
Laura Barrett of Nunda. Both he and his wife are buried at Oakwood Ceme-
terv. Anna Eliza, who married J. D. Crank has two sons who are physi-
cians, J. P. Dake, Jabez Jr., who became noted as a professor in medicine and a
writer of many standard works on medicine. He had four sons who were
physicians.

William Dake who located there, in 1820, had children who located in
Nunda and near by places. His oldest son Jonathan MI. Dake located in Nunda
and opened a hardware store, in 1863, where with his son loses, and later,
Abram Dake, he was in business until his ————-, dying at the age of 84. He
was for a time a prominent figure in the Baptist church. He had several chil-
dren; Moses, Maria, Frank, Charles and John. John still resides on the home-
stead, caring for the widowed mother. The others of William’s family were:
C. Alonzo, a physician of Warsaw, Dr. Jabez \W., of Nunda, later of Rochester ;
Clara who married John Dixon and lived between Nunda and Picket Line; and
B. Frank Dake who was a very successful physician in Pittsburg, later moving
to Pasadena, California. He died in 1908, age 75. A cousin of William Gould
Dake located on the River Road where he lived many years, acting as postmas-
ter a greater part of the time at what is known as the River Road Forks.

I am unable to give you the first name of father’s first wife. She was a
Hagadorn. She bore father twe children, Mathilda and Moses William. Ma-
thilda died at the age of fifteen years. Father's second wife was Mary Ann
Town. She bore him one child, Maria Ann. Maria married Dr. Frank A. War-
ren. She died February 7, 1895, leaving surviving her four children, Grace A.
Harsh, Harriet A. Warren, Jennie B. Warren and Howard D. Warren, all of
whom are now living. Howard D. Warren became twenty-two years of age
the 15th of March, 1908. For nearly one vear he has been the cashier of a
large trust company in Aberdeen, Washington. Father’s third wife was Sarah
Imogene Lurgess. She bore him three children, Abram Miller, Benjamin
Franklin, and Charles Morton, all of whom are now living. Father's fourth
wite was Fanny Melissa Andrus, who bore him one child, John Andrus.
Moses’ son, Millard H. Dake, was born in Nunda. All of the rest of the grand-
children were born out of Nunda with the exception of the children of Abram
and John. Charles M. Dake has one child, Charles Crawford, who was born in
Buffalo.

Father's father, William Dake Jr., was married to Orpha Miller, Decem-
ber 20, 1815. In 1820 in an ox cart with their two sons, Jonathan Miller and
Charles Alonzo, aged four and two years, they started out from Greenfield,
Saratoga County, N. Y., and drove to and settled on a farm on Oak Hill in
Portage, which he had purhcased in 1819, and on which they resided together
fifty-two years.

William Gould Dake was the father of William Dake Jr. In 1871 William
Gould Dake was married to Margaret Mosher. He was a soldier of the Rev-

188
olution. The battle of Bennington was fought in part on the farm of his
father in White Creek, Washington County, N. Y., and on the adjoining farm
of Elder Waite. William Gould Dake lived with his wife until the death of
nis wife in 1841. William Dake Jr., lived with his wife until his death May
1, 1873. Dr. Charles Alonzo Dake, a son of William Dake, Jr., was married
to Maria Roberts, June 2, 1840. They lived together until his death in July,
1905. The father, son and grandson lived with their wives during an aggre-
gate period of marital union of one hundred and eighty-two years.

My knowledge does not extend beyond these, but you will see most of them
have done much to f:erpetuate the cherished memury of dear old Nunda which
is ever dear to the hearts of those who have had the good fortunes to look
through the fertile valley upon those sioping hillsides. We wish, all who live
there, a happy, prosperous and blessed life. B. FRANK DAKE.

Abram Dake son of Jonathan and Imogene (Burgess) Dake, has resided
in Nunda for many vears. He married Jennie Hungerford, daughter of Virgi!
Hungerford, son of Amos. Their children are Virgil, who married
Fred, who married Lena Vandusen. daughter of Milton E. and Rose (Cine)
Vandusen. They now reside in Denver. John A., son of Jonathan and Fanny
(Andrus) Dake, married Sophia, daughter of J. 2. and Aletha Kendall Willett.
They have two children born in Nunda, Hazel who married Glenn McMaster.
and resides at Dansville, N. Y., and Walter a school bov.

THE NASHES—1822

The Nashes bought out Ephraim Kingsley (Nunda’s third settler), and
secured one of the finest farms in Portage, which is still in possession of the
familv. The family consisted mostly of adults and were soon married and
settled.

Alfred Nash married ——-—— Hoyt.

Il.
The sons were: JI. Anson. 2. Camillas.
Enos H., married Ellen Stockwell. William, married Delana Hill, a niece
of Dr. Chittenden of Nunda.
The daughters were: . *Almira, married Martin Stockwell; Catharine and
Caroline (twins), Catharine married Wells McNair, Castile; *Caroline married
Norman Dopkins; Anna married Martin Stockwell, Rochester, N. Y.

Ill.

Children of Enos and Ellen Nash.

Adelia married Augustus W. Chase, son of William Chase, farmer; Enos
Adelbert, a veteran, married .\ugusta Williams, daughter of Solomon Wil-
liams, Jr.

John Augustine was drowned while skating on the Andrus pond. He was
seventeen years of age. His companion Edward |° Knibloe, sixteen years old,
succeeded in getting him out of the icy water, but he died from the chill and
exposure. He was one of the author's favorite scholars, and was esteemed
highly by all who knew him.

The other member of the family was Fanny Nash, the daughter of Wil-
liam and Delany Hill Nash, an adopted daughter of Enos H. Nash.

189
IV

The sons of E. Adelbert Nash, are Arthur and Elbert.

The sons of A. W. and Adelia Chase

John, who died in early boyhood; William, married, and who resides in
Rochester; Roy, married. who lives on the Chase homestead, and who suc-
ceeded his father as Rural Mail Carrier.

Augustus W. Chase died from being chilled to death while performing his
duties as Mail Carrier, his route was over the Granger and Grove hills, the day
was a very cold one, causing his death.

Enos Adelbert Nash, who enlisted at 18 was a prisoner of war and paroled
just in time to save his life. He has been Supervisor and Justice of the Peace
five or six terms.

THE SMITHS FROM CONNECTICUT

Four brothers, Lyman, Ammon, Hiram and Norman Smith settled in Port-
age; the first two in 1825, the others later.

*Ammon Smith, married “Julia Nash; one son Adelbert A. Smith, married
Eliza Jennings.

Lyman Smith had two daughters: Emma married *Luke Robinson:
*Anie married Lorenzo D. Gifford, son of *Robert Gifford, pioneer.

Albertus C. Robinson, son of Emma, married Mary Stanton, resides on the
homestead, and has filled several town offices. The children of L. D. and
Anie Smith Gifford: \Mlamie, married Reuben Wheeler; Nellie at home.

The children of *Hiram Smith and *Jane Sanford are: Gertrude, a
teacher for many vears; *Cynthia (Mrs. Samuel Davis); Ella (Mrs. Gilbert
Bliss) ; Cora (Mrs. George W. Botsford).

Sanford married May Wheeler, owns the homestead, but lives in Perry.

The children of *Norman Smith and Louisa Quick: William H. Smith.
stage driver, and baggageman, married Mary Townsend; Maria, a skilled tail-
oress; *Edward, jonrneyman printer; Julia, home decorator for special festiv!-
ties; Lydia, Normal School teacher, married Charles E. Hamlin; Mamie died
when a young lady.

Grandchildren: Harvey N. Smith, Louise Hamlin, Louis, *Stanley, Carl
and Mildred Smith.

The grandchildren of Ammon Smith: Carrie A., married Edward Reed;
Everett, produce dealer, married Florence Hare; Eva, a teacher.

CHAPTER VI.

GROVE AND GRANGER—NUNDA FROM 1818-1827,

HE present town of Grove had no settlers during its first decade as an
| eighth of the town of Nunda. If we include that part of Grove that
afterward became Granger, then we might find from 1816-1818 per:

haps ten families.

There being no high line fences of either Church or State, separating the
different town plots that formed Nunda. Jt is natural that, the writer of these
“Annals of the pioneer settlement of the Nunda” that existed between 1818 and
1827, rear none, but treat every settler of this time as Nunda citizens.

190
In 1827, Grove, including Granger, became a separate town and ceased to
be within the scope of these Annals.

There is a sense, however, in which Grove never has been entirely dis.
tinct from Nunda. Her first citizens came from Nunda, and many of them re-
turned again.

Grove never had any large villages, so her citizens patronize Nunda stores.
Her Baptist church was also the Baptist church of Nunda and of Portage until
1828, her soldiers mostly enlisted in Nunda companies, and even to-day, the
people of Grove make Dalton, which is an important part of Nunda, their cen-
ter of trade.

Their produce is shipped from that business center, in fact, with the excer-
tion of picking their own political plums from their own political plum trees,
and shipping them to Belmont, instead of Geneseo, the towns are virtually one.
To our Union and High Schools their advanced scholars come, and no doubt
many still worship in the Dalton churches.

From 1818 to 1820, Grove-Nunda, where good titles to land could be ob-
tained (when they could not in Nunda) led to an exodus of the early settlers
to the lands of the “Church Tract.”

John White, set the example, and the “White Settlement” is sufficient
proof that he became one of the permanent settlers. He was a man who cut
out a way for himself and his oxteam whenever such a highway was needed.
In May, 1818, after having lived two years in Nunda, he cut a road into the
forest leading to lot 35, which he had purchased. This was no small task, but
he was at his best, being at the time 32 years of age.

He brought his wife with him from Herkimer to Nunda, with his oxteam
and now when his new log house should be habitable he would try founding
a settlement in a new section where for a time they would be “The Eve and
Adam of a race renewed.” He did not purpose however, to raise “Cain” in
the wilderness but tu raze the trecs from the forest near his house, and then
raise turnips and wheat and vegetables. He did still better, he raised a large
family.

These, like himself, had good staying qualities—for two of these children
are still living. Mrs. Nancy White Passage, now 87 years of age, and her
youngest sister, Mrs. William Townsend who recently celebrated her golden
wedding day.

This story of the first family that settled in Grove-Nunda is interesting
and unique.

John White had to take a grist of wheat from Grove to Dansville, as he
wanted to bring back a door to keep out the wolves—he had to go with his
oxen, as he had to cut the road, or widen it nearly all that distance, it would
take him many days, possibly two weeks. His wife had to stay alone, and
only one neighbor nearly a mile away. They had no door to their log cabin, and
the wolves were numerous. The wife consented to stay alone if he would only
‘bring home a door. He went and was gone many weary days. The wretched-
ness of this solitude was mingled with fears for the safety of her husband and
the necessity of keeping a bright fire burning to keep off the wolves. It was
twelve days before he returned and the solitude and solicitude of those twelve
days she could never forget.

191
We present the picture of her
daughter born in 1820: who told
me this story.

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Nancy WHITE PassaGE
At 86 years
Only 94 years old

MarTILDA SHERWOOD RUSSELL
Only 82 years young

 

 

 

 

 

Tue Late Betsey STeveRS Myers

 

 

 

 

Mrs. FANNIE ADAMS OLNEY
Both of these sisters however, have come to Nunda to complete their
earthly pilgrimage, and as an intermediate state between Allegany and Heaven,
it has no equal.

Mr. White induced a new settler at Nunda, Alexander Bailey, to buy part
of lot 35, and here on this first settled lot, in this new settlement was born, on
Chirstmas 1819, the first white child born in what is now the town of Grove,
Laura Bailey. who became Mrs. Hiram Merithew and who died in Portage, in
1907, in her 88th year, spent in this vicinity. In the August following, the first
“White” child born, was, Nancy White now Mrs. Daniel Passage, the second
child born in the present town of Grove. Both were born in Nunda. In the
log house of John White in 1821, the first religious services were hela. There
were other Whites, for Joseph White a brother, settled and remained in Nunda,
and Elijah White was married in 1822 to Luey Dana, and William White was
the first person to die in this settlement.

John Eisamon, also tried Nunda for a year or two, and then in 1822,
moved to what is known as the Dutch settlement. Others who came from
Nunda to this locality were James Brewer, in 1820, and later Sylvester Heath,
Samuel Swain, Jr., John Boughton, and Eltas Alvard and Curtis Coe came
from Portage-Nunda. Brewer's Corners, was for a time quite a hamlet, but
failed to become a village. The Brewers many of them returned to Nunda as
did Swain, after founding Swainsville.

The Parkers, Aldriches, and the Moses families became the permanent
families of the town, and their sons were prominent at Nunda schools and in
Nunda companies of soldiers.

Besides White the Passages, the Baileys, Eisamons, the Brewers, who left
Nunda for Grove-Nunda, there were a few years later, Deacon Bassett, the
Tuttles, Samuel Crowfoot, the Sweets, and probably others, while one man
Samuel C. Jones, after securing a competence came from there, (Grove Cen-
ter) to Nunda having sold a large tract of land to Samuel Swain, Jr., and so
what might have been Jonesville became Swainsville, after a railroad came
through these lands. He was emphatically a self made man. Left an orphan,
with a large family of brothers and sisters to care for, he proved his man-
hood by being manly.

His mother was left a widow while Samuel her eldest son, was young.
Mrs. Montgomery Thorp, Mrs. Reynolds, Mrs. Townsend, and one of the
Mrs. Van Nostrands, Thomas and \William Jones, and the father of John Jones
of Grove, were his sisters and brothers. Mrs. Thorp has often said there
never was a kinder or more patient brother than Samuel was to his younger
brothers and sisters. He certainly succeeded, as a son and brother. He be-
came prominent in town affairs. was Supervisor and Justice of the Peace, this
was another form of success. That he became the owner of a large tract of
land, tells that he succeeded financially.

He became a lumber man on a large scale. He also became Supervisor
of Grove. Samuel C. Jones was the first Townclerk of Granger. He came to
Nunda to reside in 1850 and completed his life there.

The family of Montgomery Thorp were possessed of unusual ability.
Simeon was graduated from Union College, went west and became State Su-
perintendent of Schools in Kansas. He also became State Senator. He was

193
a prominent Free State and Union man, and was a martyr to the cause he
espoused. In one of Quantrells raids, he was called to the door and shot
dead, by one of the raiders.

Captain Alexander Thorp, whose wife was a daughter of Alfred Swain,
of Nunda, was educated at Alfred and died in the service. He was killed in
the battle of Winchester.

Colonel Thomas Jones Thorp graduated at Union College. He helped or-
ganize Co. E, 85th N. Y., was wounded at Fair Oaks. He became Lieut. Col.
of the first New York Dragoons and afterward Col. and Brevent Brig. General.
He erected a monument in Granger for the soldiers that died from that town.
Half the monument was for his family.

Washington and Aziza Moses were sons of Daniel Moses, both have heid
town and county offices.

Washington M., served his town as Supervisor several terms and_ his
county as Member of Assembly.

Children of I. 1, Daniel, Moses and Phoebe.

II. 1. Frances. 2. Ashbel. 3. Luther. 4. Washington (see Civil List).
married Ella Parker, their children:

III. 31. Grant E., merchant at Dalton. 2. E. \Valter, merchant. See
Civil List of Nunda. J. N., married Mabel White. daughter of George and
Mary White.

5. Aziza.

I. 2. Samuel Moses, brother to Daniel.

Marmaduke Aldrich a veteran of the War of 1812-14 who came from Lima
to Grove 1822, and to Granger in 1827. His children were, Amasa, Gideon,
Nelson, Benjamin, Sally and Mary. Amasa was killed by falling from the
back of a wagon. Probably all of these were born before 1827, and so were
citizens of Nunda.

Alonzo Aldrich was a grandson and soldier. Aiphonzo Aldrich was an-
other, also a veteran.

Linus married Mary Welley, sister of John Kelley; Lieut. .\lphonzo Ald-
rich, married Miss Beech of Oakland.

THE PARKERS IN GROVE-NUNDA

There were three Parker families in Nunda not closely connected if at all
on the Parker side. Local Histories say Heerman [Parker came to Nunda
(Grove) in 1821, and Riley Parker in 1822, leaving the impression that they
were brothers. Mr. rank Parker says they were brothers-in-law only, both
having married sisters of Samuel Carman of Nunda, that Herman and Ira
Parker were brothers. Most important is the fact that Riley Parker was a
veteran of 1812 and probably served with the Cayuga County militia. He came
to Nunda in 1822 from Scipio. He was married to Sally Carman some four
vears before this, and Mr. and Mrs. Parker did not come alone ta Nunda.
They had good company, the genial Santord came with them, though only two
years old, he was not even then, one that could be left out of the conversation.
He led it then, and he kept on doing so. Besides if a new town was to be
founded he was not the one to be late at the founding, so he was there, one 97
the first settlers of Grove-Nunda. Who ever knew Sanford Parker to be late.

194
The writer never reached Nunda Station but once in his life, and that time at
midnight, when Sanford lived there, that he was not the first man to be seen.
In war times, when he arrived, Sanford met him, saying, “well you want to go
down to the valley to see the folks, want a rig?” Of course that was the thing
needed, anc though the stable boy had not cleaned the harness o1 the buggy for
weeks, it always carried its passengers safely to the journeys end. I am glad
Sanford Parker came to Nunda when he did, that for five vears he was a pio-
neer of Nunda, before he lived in Grove, though he lived in the same house in
both towns. I don't think I should have enjoyed trading Jack Knives with him
in his school days, though he no doubt had a fine variety to select from. He
always saw the worth in everything however bruised or battered it was, his
whole livery complete would have seemed dear to anyone else at a few hundred
dollars, but to him it was just the thing for all sorts of weather, and it was. I
doubt if any man that ever lived at Dalton was so well known as the host of the
Parker House, or better liked. The jokes he couid tell so well, which seemed
no jokes at all, but just plain every day taik, made him an attraction. As a
hotel keeper he was a type of the early pioneer inn keepers who seemed to keep
an inn just to accommodate the public and make everybody who came feel at
home. I have secured his picture that I may see him often, and that others
may, also that of Almiron Paine, stage driver to Dalton.

He married when a young man Elizabeth Wood. Mrs. Sally Parker his
mother, became a nonogenarian, and died at the age of g2, outliving her
husband.

Mrs. Sanford Parker also survived her husband. Their children are
Charles and Mavysette Francelia. though generally called May. May married
Henry Harck, eldest son of Frederick, a retired shoemaker.

His brothers and sisters.

II. 2. Lyman Parker, married Catharine Mallon. 3. Ezekiel, married
Martha Lockwood sister to Frank. 4. Ruth, married Porter Warren. 5,
Jane, married William Wood. Franklin L., married Julia A. Warren, daugh-
ter of Porter and Maria Fuller Warren.

This youngest member of the family lost one of his legs but gets around
about as rapidly as men with two. «As a stock buyer he has been engaged for
many vears. His children live in Nunda and are therefore of the elect to be
mentioned as of pioneer lineage.

III. Grace May, married Frank Peterson, Lradford, Pa. H. Roy, mar-
ried Aletta Hussey.

There were several soldiers in the other Parker families. Milan Parker,
a Nunda soldier died in the service, his sister Vicina married George Barney
one of four brothers who were soldiers. He alone survives. Jefferson Parker
a gentleman, a scholar and a soldier died in the service, Emerson Parker his
brother, also died in the service. Another brother Earl, also a soldier is not
living. Jasper Parker a fourth brother lives on the homestead. Ellen Parker
married Hon. Washington Moses (see Moses lamily.)

IN GRANGER

The citizens of Granger were citizens, until 1827, of Nunda, and after that
until 1838, were citizens of Grove. The town of Granger was first called West
Grove.

195
In 1816 Reuben Smith and his sons Wilcox and Isaac Smith and his sons-
in-law, Rufus Trumbull and James McCoon, Mr. — Ellis (Fr. Vet.)
Elias Smith from Otsego County, Darling Smith from the same county, and his
family, including Hiram Smith, born 1808, settled in the northeast part of town,
his nearest neighbor on the north was three miles away, and on the south, seven.
lra Hopper from Steuben County, settled in the south part of the town and
William White from New England, near the center in 1818.

The first birth, in March, 1817, was of Olive Smith, which precedes any
in Portage, Nunda or Grove. It appears there was a negro in the town named
Jacques who died in 1817, also Olive Line, a name not previously mentioned.

In 1821 Isaac Hatch and Clarissa Pratt were married.

In 1819 Isaac VanNostrand purchased 290 acres (lot 20) and for a time
lived alone in his leg cabin. He built the first saw-mill. It was west of the
short tract road. Help was so scarce that he went to Caneadea and secured some
Indians to assist. John S. Minard, historian of -\llegany County, wishing to
bring out the strong qualities of this vigorous and energetic pioneer, narrates
this interesting incident of the “raising.” “The timbers were heavy and in
raising one of the “bents’” some faint-hearted ones came near releasing their
hold to the peril of all their lives. VanNostrand seized a hand spike and
threatened direct vengeance on anyone that did not do his utmost. Giving
thundering command, ‘He-o-heave’ ali lifted with a will and up went the bent
into place.”

William Moore and Isaac Hatch are mentioned as associated with Van
Nostrand in the building of this saw-mill. The next vear I. Van Nostrand
built the first frame house in Granger. His son Luzon Van Nostrand, came
on in May, the rest of the family in August.

Another circumstance showing the scarcity of useful things in this pio-
neer settlement, as well as in others, was that Mr. Van Nostrand had the only
timepiece in the settlement, and so it was arranged that he should blow upon a
conch shell at four o’clock in the morning, at noon and at nine o'clock at night.

And so this man of parts and possessions regulated the rising, dinner hour
and retiring time of his neighbors. No wonder he became the first Supervisor
of the town of Granger—and he held the same office in the town of Grove.

A man that could get the citizens of Nunda Village up at 4 A. M., and
make them retire regularly at 9 P. M., would deserve to go to Congress, but 1
fear would be sent instead to a lunatic asvlum.

 

“That artificial cut off, “early rising,”
so common in pioneer settlements—certainly does not exist even in rural life
to-day, much less in villages or cities.

Miss Urzivilla Williams taught the first school.

Elias Smith kept the first inn in 1819, and the first store in 1820. Both
inn and store were built of logs, and Mr. Patterson must have lived there for
his little girl got lost in the woods. The whole community searched for her.
The firing of a gun or the blowing of a horn, was to let the rest know, that the
child had been found. No one, must fire, even at a deer, until then. The child
was found next day, when an informal jubliee of rejoicing was held, guns were
fred, horns blown and bells rung. All this in one year makes 1819 an eventful
vear in Granger, Grove and Nunda.

196
The town of Granger was not formed until 1838, it was a part of Grove
after it ceased to be a part of Nunda.

EARLY SETTLERS OF GRANGER

In 1820 Ephraim Bullock, a cooper from Vermont, added a new industry.

Two men of more than ordinary importance to the community settled in
1822 and 1823, viz.: Samuel Moses and Abner Comstalk. The latter is cred-
ited with having cut seven miles of road leading to Nunda. He lived to a
great age, and 1s buried in Oakwod Cemetery.

Blessed are the road-makers; for they are a blessing to themselves ami
others.

Enos Baldwin came from Mt. Morris in 1823 and lived all the rest of his
life at his farm on the Short Tract. He had a doubie handle to his name.
He was Captain of Militia and for 32 vears Justice of the Peace. He died in
1876. His son G. W. Baldwin succeedei him on his farm.

A STORY OF A GRANGER PiONEER

Darling Smith of Granger, 1817, got out of meal, and as meal and wild
game were “the chief of the diet of his family, he started on horseback for Lei-
cester twenty miles away,” with a bag of corn. The roads were abominable
and traveling slow and he reached home the second day at midnight, tired and
hungry. The good wife made some hasty pudding and the whole family were
called up early, 1 A. M., and such a feast as they enjoyed, it is difficult to find

words to express.
THE GRIMES FAMILIES

The Grimes brothers, Richard and Alvin, came to Barkertown neighbor-
hood in 1820. They own so much land now that it is difficult for the younger
members of the family to select from their large landed estate the original
farms, their other lands have been in the family so long. Richard Grimes took
up lot 112 and Alvin lot 114. James Brewer, a brother-in-law, probably owned
113 for a while, and \Villiam Shute, another brother-in-law, lot 115. The
Donaldson farm, which soon came, through marriage, into the possession of
J. P. Grimes, son of Richard Grimes, was a large one of 148 acres. All these
farms were just south of the Barker farms, that gave name to the settlement.

The Grimes brothers were practical, industrious and frugal. They came
and stayed and, unlike the “transients, the moving stones” of those days, they
were “moss gatherers.”

Richard Grimes, and Anna, his wife, were born in 1774 and lived to be
respectively 88 and 83 years of age. AIrs. Grimes died in 1857 and her hus-
band in 1862. Margaret Grimes, sister of Richard, born in 1798, died in 1861,
aged 63. The son of Richard and Anna was Philip, who married Elizabeth, a
daughter of John Donaldson. They also had but one son, John D. Grimes,
‘who inherited the estates of his father and mother. He added greatly to both,
until he had four hundred acres.

II. Richard Philip Grimes was born in Greene County in 1804, settled
1823, married 1826, died 1872, aged 68. Elizabeth Donaldson Grimes, born
Wayne County, 1808, died 1877, aged 69.

197
1II. John Donaldson Grimes, born in Nunda 1829, was educated in
Nunda District Schools and Nunda Literary Institute, was a farmer, four hun-
dred acres, and teacher of ability, married Sarah A. Hovey, adopted daughter
of J. A. Paine, born in Broome County, 1835, left an orphan in early life, mar-
ried 1852, died in Nunda village, 1906, an earnest and zealous member of the
Presbyterian Church. Children of John D. and Sarah A. Grimes: Frank H.
married Miss Margaret Walker ;* Scott F., died 1906; Mills S., clergyman
(Presbyterian) of Nunda, married Miss Bell, a daughter of Rev. N. H. Bell;
Blanche L., married Fred LeClair, grandson of Thomas LeClair, Cooper. John.
D. Grimes was a successful raiser of hops, and Frank H., is experimenting in
ginseng raising. He is the only ginseng farmer in this section. His daughter,
Blanche, married John Colton, son of Simpson and Martha Colton. Sisters of
Richard and Alvin Grimes: Margaret, singie; Mrs. James Brewer and Mrs.
William Shute.

THE TYLERS

The Tyler family were perhaps the first settlers of “Elmwood” at the foot
of East Street in 1823 or 1824, or of a part of this farm. The family were Mr.
Silas Tyler and Mrs. Tyler. Mrs. Tyler married (2) Jesse Barker, Sr., father
of Seth Barker. Silas Barker died in 1826; the farm was then sold to Dea-
con Bassett. Ir. Tyler was rich in daughters. Lucy married Solomon Donald-
son (see Donaldson family). Celestia J. married Leander Hill (see L. Hill
family). She outlived all the early pioneers of Nunda; had five sons and one
daughter. Jerusha C., first wife of Albert Page (see Page family). She left
three sons. She died in 1837. The youngest daughter was married to John
F Barber. They had no children. She lived but a few years; is buried at
Oakland. There seems also to have been a Silas Gridley Tyler, who pur-
chased the old \[cSweeny school house, foot of East Street, for $5, in 1827,
and who owned a small house on the site of the MI. E. Church. It is said
that the widow of Silas Tyler (who died in 1826), the mother of all these fine
daughters (who married so well), and probably of this son, Silas Gridley
Tyler, was afterward married to the grandfather of M. O. Barker; so this
family of Tylers were related to most of the prominent settlers of that time.
Another family of T'vlers not related to Silas or Eliphas; Ellioll Tyler and
Abram Hemingway Tyler, were brothers, and though hundreds of miles
apart both died on the same day; Ellioll was married to Cynthia Richardson,
born 1800, daughter of Lieut. William Richardson, who settled in Nunda in
1820. Mrs. Tyler came with him with her four children, Alonzo, who mar-
ried Miss Turza Guy, daughter of Jacob Guy, Melissa Willis and Mary.
Abram H. Tyler's wife was a sister of Jesse and Amos Barker, and their son,
Hemingway, was reared by his maiden aunts. He married (first) his cousin,
Miss Barker and (second) Mrs. Martha Colton, daughter of John Merithew.

SHUTE-GRIMES FAMILY

I. William Shute, married Susannah Grimes: his son, Richard, married
Susan Mull, daughter of Christopher Mull; Almira M., married *Martin Smith:
she resides in Barkertown. Her two sons: George, married Belle Abbott,
Charles married Miss Tyler. All live at Barkertown. Her brothers, *Henry
Shute, married Kate Bentley ; he died in 1907. Alfred married Polly Close; he

198
died in 1837; William married Betsey Brink; Alden, born 1804, married Theo-
docia Hay; he died 1854, she died 1856; Major, married Nancy King.

I. John Donaldson family.

IT. 1. Solomon, married, first, Lucy Tyler, second, Mrs. Elvira (Page)
Peck. The daughter of Mrs. Peck was Sarah Manette Peck, who married
Sylvanus Ellis, Superintendent of Schools, Rochester, N. Y. Both are buried
at Nunda. .

II. 2. Boyd Donaldson, married Mary A. Consaulas. Their son *John
Donaldson. *Mrs. Boyd Donaldson married *James Lemen. Their son
*Frank Lemen.

II. 3. Abigail.

I]. Elizabeth married Richard Philip Grimes (see Grimes family).
*David Evans (veteran) married Melitta Grimes; one daughter married

Wirt. Cora Evans, married Charles VanBuskerk. Austin Evans died in the
service.

 

LEANDER HILLS FAMILY

I. Leander Hills pioneer, settled 1824. Leander Hill, wife and _ son,
Bissell, came to Rochester by canal and by team the rest of the way, and set-
tled on the Abbott farm, east of the Keshequa, in 1824. He was born 1801,
went west after the war, died at Highland, Kansas, 1887. Mrs. Celestia J.
Hill, born 1802, died at Highland, Kansas, 1900, aged 97% years. Their
children: Lieut. Bissell died at Madison, Wis., 1893, aged 70. He was a Quar-
termaster in a Wisconsin regiment but was mustered out because of sickness.
Lathrop Hills commenced his engineering in Chautauqua Hollow with Myron
Shepard, and went West with him and became an expert while locating
a railroad from Denver. He was shot by Indians near where Chevenne was
afterwards built. Gen. Dodge, chief engineer, credited Division Engineer
Seth Hills with saving the company $100,000 by a change of survey, over 20
miles of the route. Ailton F. Hills served in Capt. Lemen’s Company and
was twice promoted. He was captured by the enemy and finally exchanged.
His letters from Cripple Creek are glowing with boyhood recollections of the
Nunda of former vears. His two sons are mining engineers and metallurgists.
Henry A. Hills was also a soldier. He went out with Capt. \IcNair’s company
as First Sergeant of Company IF He was promoted twice, succeeding our
present townsman, Lieut. H. G. King, when the latter was promoted to First
Lieutenant, and also became First Lieutenant when Lieut. King resigned.
He is living at Highland, Kansas, and has two sons and two daughters. Seth
Hills, an older brother, did not enter the service. He settled at Odin, IIL,
and died there in 1901, aged 76 vears. Mary Hills married David .\llen of the
good old Ethan Allen family, in 1862. She died at Highland, leaving one son
and six daughters.

CLARK SHEPARD FAMILY

Clark Shepard, married Polly Johnson. jehiel and Jesse, (brothers)
Children of Clark and Polly: 1. Hancy, 2. Horace and 3. Mary. Mary A.
Shepard, married Previse Perry, Jr. Charies Wirt Perry, married Mary Eliza-
beth Chambers; John M. Perry, Nunda Laundry; Previse Perry, Sr., married
Dolly Renix, lived in village when old. II. Adna, married in Penna; Wil-

199
liam, married Weeks of Sparta; Ephraim, married ————— Squires;
Poily, married Butterfield; Susan, married Henry Walker of Nunda; Eliza,
married Erastus D. Halstead: Dolly, married Samuel Seelve, of Nunda, (son of
Lyman Seelve, pioneer of Nunda); Sally, married Abraham DeGroff; Previse
married Mary A. Shepard; (Mrs. Perry lives in Nunda with her son, John
M.); Charles, an M. D.. and Vet. Civil War, Surg., Michigan Regt.; .Jane
Renix; Seneca, married Jane Rathbun; James, a ‘forty-niner,” died on his over-
land journey to California: Henry, married in Fredonia; Sanders a_ veteran
Mich. Regt.

 

THE HALSTEADS

(rt). Platt Halstead, Sr.. married Lucy Sherwood, daughter of Zadock
Sherwood. (11). Erastus D. Halstead, married Eliza Perry. (III). Platt
C. Halstead, Deputy Sheriff, Supervisor, of Nunda, and Sheriff of Livingston
County 1907, married (1) -—--——; (2) May Paine, daughter of Wells Paine.

SILSBY

(1). 1. Jacob Silsby, married Mary Ann Shepard; 2. (Brother Samuel
Silsby ).

Fred VanLiew and wife, Martin \VanLiew (veteran).

The Irwins succeeded one family of the Chapins at an early date before
1827. (I). Abel Irwin, married Mrs. Lane; Kate Lane, married Elisha
Sherman; Thomas; Samuel; Edward, married in the south, wife died; Jeru-
sha; Elizabeth; Electa, married William W. Osgoodby, son of J. H. O.

John Batterson family lived on Mt. Morris side of line. Those who have
lived in Nunda are: II. *\William Batterson (veteran Civil War)) married (1)
*Harriet Alvard (2) Mrs. Morris). 3. John died in Indian warfare. III.
Winfield Scott Batterson, married Ophelia Magee, (Mrs. Batterson had four
brothers in the Civil \War) ; Harriet, married Skellenger; Bert Skellen-
ger, married Town, blacksmith, daughter of Henry Town. Children of
WS. and O. B.: Clara, married Hon. D. Wo Hickey; Carrie, married Robert
Squires; *James Chambers, son of James Chambers, lived near the Skinner
Alill, married Amanda Batterson. They had sons and daughters, one, Grant, is
a Baptist clergyman, and another was President of Lestershire village, but has
since then died. Mrs. John Butterson’s second husband, Charles Henry
Waver, was a veteran of the Florida war with Indians, and of the Civil War.

 

 

William Renix and Mrs. Renix (Dolly Renix, married Previse Perry,
Sr., probably a sister). Cousins: Eliza Renix, married James Durvee, sor
of Renix Durvee; Mrs. James Durvee died in Nunda Village. A niece, Jen-
nie Brodt, an adopted daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Durvee, married Ralston
Conklin. er daughters. Flora, married ————— Suydam, son of Andrew
S.; Ella, single.

Children of William Renix. (2) Mary Eliza Renix; Jane Ann Renix,
married Seneca Perry; Henry; John; Agnes.

THE BASSETT FAMILY

The Bassett family lived at the foot of East Street. The family are men-
tioned by sketch writers. They probably settled in 1826, sent four children to

200
school, one of them named David, one Sabrina. They removed tuo Grove-
Nunda before 1828, George Bassett owned a farm there later.

1826—THE GUYS

This family were carly settlers and owned at various times several farms.
Isaac Guy, was’ the pioneer, Jacob and Alexander his sons. There was also at
one time a William N. Guy, wife and daughter, who belonged to the Baptist
Church, they removed from there a few years after settlement. Isaac Guy,
was connected with the distillery business, and Jacob Guy bought the William
A. Wilcox property at Wilcox Corners since then known as Guy's Corners.
Alexander Guy and sons were. skillful shoemakers. Children of Alexander
Guy. Il. 1. Louise C., married William C. Tuller, son of Joshua, (see Fuller
family) ; 2. Delia A.. a dressmaker; 3. Oscar, married Mary Ann Shippey; 4.
William H., married Maria Huggins (daughter of William), whose daughter,
II]. Ella Guy, married Charles Downs, son of Martin and Sarah Downs; 5.
Adeline Guy; Orville and Clinton.

THE BAGLEYS—THE BUILDERS AND THE LAWYERS

1823. Captain (Militia) Henry Bagley, a carpenter and builder settled in
Nunda when frame houses became a possibility, or a year before, if statistics of
our settlement are correct. Indeed his services were in greater requisition at
first at Hunt's Hollow, then the metropolis of (Hali-town) Nunda. While
there employed he was interested in a Presbyterian church movement that re-
sulted in the building of a Presbyterian church there, which after a number
of years became the Baptist church of Grove and Portage, now located at
Hunt. But frame houses were a possibility in 1824 for, Willoughby Lowells’
saw mill was active near where the Swain and Joslyn grist mill still stands and,
it is said, then, or soon after, there were fourteen saw mills in the
town of Portage on the Keshequa. Silas Warren was the first car-
penter and he built many of the early frame houses. No man _ who
ever lived in Nunda knew so much about who caused the building of all
the houses in the place as Captain Bagley, and probably no one built more of
them. He lived to be y2 years of age, though his last days were spent with his
children, away from the village he did so much as a workman to build. No
man in the community was better known or more respected. He honored
the calling of “the Master” whose trade he shared. Married (1) Lucy Hoadley,
(2) Eliza A. Brown. Children of Henry 3. and Lucey Hoadley: George, who
married Margaret Howell; Lucy Howell, married ——-—— Loomis, and died
at Rushville. Children of Henry and Eliza: Mary married Lewis Bliss, their
son Fred Bliss has been Mayor of Corry, Pa., where the family resides; Clif-
ford H. Bagley, is married and lives in Corry, Pa. Benedict Bagley, a brother
‘of Capt. Bagley, Nunda’s second lawyer, came to Nunda about the time he
was admitted to the bar 1834. A. C. Chipman came first. Addison AM. Cranc
came the same time, and Hon. Luther C. Peck, who preceded them all as a law-
yer in the courts of Allegany, came in the spring of 1841. Until 1832 Nunda
settled all its differences without a lawyer, but never since. Portage has never

201
 

 

 

 

 

. Henry BaGLey

Capt

 

CHURCH STREET, NUNDA
*

had one, but has hired Nunda talent. Miles Moffat, however, practiced law at
Genesee Falls, about 1838-50. At the time of the canal celebration in 1836,
Benedict Bagley was president of the day and Addison M. Crane, the poet of the
occasion.

The residence of this great lawyer did not match his celebrity. It was
only large enough for a law office, but his family lived there too. Everyone
who has lived in Nunda knows the building, it stood where the Grace church
now stands, untii 1852. Dr. Chittenden then moved it down East Street to
the parsonage well, and Mrs. Bowhall has lived in it for many years on Center
Street. It was burned to the ground a few months since. Mr. B., after 1850
built on Mill Street, the house now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wright.
He had become Vice President of what is now the Erie railroad (Hornell
Branch) and was classed with great lawyers. His student A. M. Crane be-
came a member of Assembly in the west. As stockholder and director of a
railroad, Bagley probably sunk all his funds, excepting his charges againsi the
company for legal advice. He removed with his wife and daughter to Dans-
ville in 1855 and died in 1875, aged 75.

1824— FRAME HOUSES AND RIVER NAVIGATION

This year frame houses were built in town and village, the first that there
are any record of. Asa Heath is said to have built the first in the village, and
George W. Merrick the first on a farm. The tenant house now standing on
the old Chandler farm was also built that year, if not before, for it was on the
farm when Jonathan Barron bought a large tract of land, including this farm,
in 1824 or 1825. It is probable that Asa Heath had parted with his farm to Law-
yer A. C. Chipman, and bought of his brother James S. Heath some land near
State Street, where the first house was built. The Jones family became own-
ers of both houses and barn, and moved them in 1832 near their cabinet shops,
and there they are showing age, but still in use. Hubbells frame inn
must also have been built about this time, for Alanson Hubbell, was married
that year to Miss Parmilia Robinson, who has survived alike her husband and
his habitation to which she came a bride in 1824. After 1824 it is doubtful if
any more log houses were built in the village. On the Creek road near Nunda
Junction there were several small houses and one of them built in the town of
Mt. Morris in 1823, is said to have been the first one built on that road. The
writer lived for nearly eight years in a double house made of two of these first
frame houses built by the Sherwoods, but joined together. He also remembers
seeing one of the houses on the Mt. Morris side of the, then county line, moved
by Abijah Hayward of Cooperville, in which Howards family lived many
years. Probably Ebenezer Warner, the carpenter, built most of these build-
ings, as he lived on the E. W. Kendall farm. One of them was bought by
Henry Rockefellow of him, and moved near this once well known line. At
least fifty similar houses, for they were nearly all alike, can be found to-day wn
this village and town. They were 20x24 feet, the roof slanting to the front,
with a door and two windows in the center cf front, two windows on the sides,
and one on each side of the gable. Twelve feet posts, one foot square, intrud-
ing into the room, built of good material, they have survived their builders.
and unlike then will have their centennial in due time. One hundred more in

203
the village alone have changed their form, added a story with gable facing
the street, added porches. bay windows, one pane sashes to windows, and like
many another well painted beauty appear decidedly youthful. This year also
navigation opened on the Genesee River below the Lower Falls. The Erie
canal was compieted to Rochester, and now shingles, grain and potash could
be sent from Rochester to New York. There was one man with energy enough
to undertake 1o make the Genesee serve his bidding. If arks could be sent to
Baltimore from Arkport on the Canisteo Creek, and they had been for a quar-
ter of a century, then they could be sent down the Genesee also. Sanford
Hunt was the Noah, to inaugurate the movement and probably one of the Pet-
ersons, who was said to be an Arkwright, built the ark, and Hunt himself was
the Columbus, to seek not a new world, but a new market. A Geneseo news-
paper under date of May 27, 1824, announces the passing of the “Hazard” from
Nunda down tne river, loaded with lumber, potash and pearl ashes for AlI-
bany. The same year steam navigation was tried on the Genesee up the river

as far as Geneseo.
THE WAITES AND JOSLYNS

John Waite, Esq., said to be a veteran of the war of 1812-14, settled on
the Gibbs Homestead. Gibbs, Buffalo, Holmes and Seward Streets and Oak-
wood cemetery are on this farm. Waite settled in 1823, and his brother-in-
law, Lindsay Joslyn in 1824.

THE WAITES

John Waite, Esq., took up in the early days a large farm which extended
over the entire western and ncrthwestern part of our village. A large log
house a little to the south and east of the Gibbs mansion faced the road to Oak-
iand, furnished a home for his large family. Mrs. Waites’ maiden name was
Phoebe Thompson. Their children; Almina, who was married to Edw. Swain
and afterward to Samuel Skinner; Emily was married to Campbell Allen of
Castile; Loverna to a Mr. Maunard of Canada; and Garifelia also married a
Canadian. The sons, Erastus Darwin married Hepsy French; Thompson died
while a young man; David Vandalia became an M. D., Hiram died in 1904,
aged 78. Two handsome boy twins, Edward and Edwin, if living are now 77
vears of age. The Waites were a scholarly family and an honor to the town.
They sold out to Eli Sharp, whose boys were noted base ball plavers 15 years
later. Waite moved to Wilcox Corners and afterward returned and built a
house on Church Street, but died elsewhere before it was completed.

THE JOSLYNS

The Joslyns were energetic and schoiarly. Mrs. Joslyn was a sister of
Squire Waite. Their son Waite Joslyn lost a limb in a threshing machine
and so a store was built for him on the site of the W. B. Whitcomb store,
where his father in 1832 became the first postmaster in Nunda village succeed-
ing Wm. P. Wilcox, and Nuil as postmaster at Wilcox Corners in 1831.

Zara W., taught a select school, Adoniram, Chauncey and Zara W., were
all teachers in the school on East Street and on Mill Street. One of the sons
probably Chauncey was assistant secretary of the Interior Department under U.
S. Senator, Henry M. Teller, at the same time that Major George Lockwood

204
was chief clerk in this department. Secretary Teller lived when a boy in Alle-
gany County, and it is said sometimes came to Nunda bare-fcoted, a custom
with boys in that day, but now obsolete, as Chauncey and Zara were college
bred, it is possible it was the former. The daughters were Evelyn and Mary.
A sketch of the life of Lindsay Joslyn written by one of his sons, tells us of his
future career. He became a judge of probate court and was a leading mun
in his western home. He was while living in Nunda village its first post-
master. The other sons of Lindsay Joslyn were Adoniram, Chauncey, Zara
W., who studied medicine and became a skillful physician and located perman-
ently at Mt. Morris, and Merritt, Frederic and Daniel. Lindsay Jocelyn and
Samuel Swain, Sr., built the Swain grist mill in 1828. The Jocelyns built a
log house on the Jared Willis-Stamp place and numerous shops, for they were
all workers.

THE DEACON WISNER FAMILY, ANDA STORY OF THE DEACON’S
INTERPRETATION OF THE “UNKNOWN TONGUE”

The deacon was a quaint man full of dry humor, he was said to preacn
sometimes, mostly in school houses. Like his neighbor, Peter Myers he would
have preferred a Free Will Baptist church, but that form of church belief, did
not exist in Nunda until after his day, so he attended the ministrations of the
Baptist church. The family were very intelligent, the boys were inclined in
youth to be full of pranks, of a harmless order, but sobered down at manhood to
the sterling realities of the sedate type of life required at that time of all profes-
sors of religion. Looked at from a present standpoint where cheerfulness and
joy are not antagonistic to a devout life, we can’t help but rejoice that the bovs
got some pleasure as they were going along toward a more sedate manhood.

We will introduce Deacon Daniel and Sarah Wisner, who owned several
hundred acres of land on the Cranston road and their four sons. (2) Horace,
married Rachel Hudnut; William, married Betsey Hudnut; Eliza, married in
Pennsylvania, her husband was killed by a falling tree; Calvin, married Polly
Hudnut; and LaFayette, married Harriet Warner, sister of Octavia Warner
Page of this place.

A story was in print twenty-five or thirty years ago, that if good then is
now. Two of the bovs, (who can tell if the embryo preacher was one of them),
found some excuse for staying away from church, and saw the rest of the fam-
ily depart for meeting. The boys then hied away to the Keshequa, where there
was a good swimming hole, with a spring board attachment, and commenced
indulging in their we!l planned amusement. An old ram that they owned had
become somewhat pugnacious, and sometimes helped the boys make good time
out of the pasture lot, and over the fence; sometimes they had found it a matter
of prudence to jump into the creek as they could make better time in the water
than Mr. Buck. This day they had planned some new amusement. They ex-
hibited themselves in nature's costume and invited the attention of the adver-

‘sary. He accepted the challenge and came at full speed after them. The wide
plank spring board over which the boys ran seemed no obstacle, he followed
them with such headway that he could not stop and into the water he went,
while the boys were soon on the bank. Again and again they caused their
fleecy adversary to plunge in, but looking up they discovered coming toward

205
them the keen old Deacon, intent on finding out the secret for staying at home
on Sunday. Carefully hiding themselves in the bushes they saw the Deacon
approaching, and soon he was out on the spring board peering around for the
boys. The buck also saw the old man, he had got down on his knees to look into
the bushes, when ker-whack! splash! into the poo! goes Deacon and ram, both
dressed in their very best garments. Did those youngsters laugh? It was na-
tural they did. Did they not help their poor father out? No, the buck tried
hard to, for he did not see that his new adversary was less pranky than the
others. The boys all dry and clean met the bedrenched Deacon when he
reached home, and expressed surprise that he had not gone to church, but the
Deacon knew the joke was on him and was wise enough to consider the incident
closed. The story got into print, but it was not the Deacon that furnished the
particulars.

About the year 1839 or 1840, the Latter Day Saints or Mormons sent out
their Missionaries among the Gentiles of that day, and by their songs, their new
Bible, their speech in unknown tongues, their power to interpret tongues, their
insistence on immersion as the true baptism, in this community mostly holding
to that form, they found ready listeners and many converts. In Portage, Ossian
and Chautauqua Hollow they were very successful so they tried Nunda. The
Wisner school house (or was it the Coopersville school house), furnished the
place, and an eager audience listened to the new revelations all in scriptural lan-
guage, with the holy tone and apt quotations from prophetic prophesies of lat-
ter day glories were being disseminated much to the satisfaction of the credu-
lous and supersitions that listened to the eloquent speaker. Finally he said
that to some were given the power to speak in an unknown tongue, and to
others were given the interpretation. He added that he could speak in a
tongue he could not understand, but it would be useless unless there was
someone present whc could interpret what he said. ‘Who will interpret the
words of wonderful wisdom that are given me, that I have not learned, but
have come to me with power to proclaim, but no power to interpret?’ Dea-
con Wisner rose to his feet, looked sadly around and replied. “I can interpret
what you say, speak on!" Then followed a motley mess of meaningless words
and syllables strung together and uttered with a volubility worthy of a penta-
costal saint. When he paused for breath, the quiet old man without a smile or
even a frown said placidly, “I will interpret: He says he’s the child of the
devil and the works of his father he will do.” “I did not say any such thing,”
shouted the angry Mormon. “Ah brother remember you said you could not
interpret, I can.” The excited company burst out in vociferous laughter and
the first and last Mormon meeting in that part of Nunda was closed informally.

In one section of the town, the southeastern, a Mormon family by the name
of Kellogg sold their home and it was moved to this village, and many people
have lived there. Near the foot of Massachusetts Street it may be found. “Jt
is long and low and cid.”

In Ossian there being no Deacon Wisner there to interpret, some of the
citizens went to Nauvoo, and one of the fair ones had the honor of being one
of the many wives of Brigham the Prophet.

The family of Hon. Daniel Ashley, consisted of Daniel Ashley Jr., and
his wife Hetty. His children were: Carlos C. Ashley and Helen his wife;

206
Daniel D., Sylvia, married Quartus H. Barron; Frances, *Henry H., married
Mehetable Messenger, he was a merchant in Oakland; Oliver and Yates were
merchants in Nunda, but were not successful. The family came into the vil-
lage in 1835, built the two story house No. 39 East Street, (since owned by
Mrs. Gilbert, Dr. Brown and Milton Van Dusen), Mill Street tannery,
the Captain Campbell house Walnut Street, and helped for ten or twelve
years in giving the town a desirable degree of enterprise along business and
educational lines. They left most of their money in the town when they went
west. Mrs. Sylvia Barron, past 80 years of age, alone survives. Connecteit
with the family were some nieces and a nephew, Mrs. Caroline Ashley Palen,
who died 1841, and her daughter Miss Ashley, wife of Addison M. Crane,
Clarissa Ashley, Sophia Webster Lloyd, a teacher and poetess, mother of the
celebrated novelist, John Uri Lloyd, Edward Webster, student at academy and
law student, who became eminent in after life as a lawyer, he married a cousin
of Hon. Addison M. Crane of Nunda. Mrs. Sophia Webster Lloyd, lived with
her uncle Ashley, and taught school in the Page district in 1847. She grad-
uated at the Seminary in Lima, in 1841. Her sons-have collected her poems,
printed them and have given them out to special friends, a filial act worthy of
imitation. She wrote principally for the Saturday Evening Post, the ‘Olive
Branch,” and the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.

COL. HUFFMAN FAMILY SETTLED ON STILLWELL FARM
ABOUT 1826

I. 1. Colonel Huffman and wife (family Universalists). 2. Submit Huff-
man, married Silas Grover. 3. Polly, married Mr. Webb, who built Mrs.
Johnson’s house on Church Street. 4. Abby, married Silas Hatch, nephew of
Silas Grover.

Children of Colonel Huffman. II. 1. Huldah, married Patrick FitzSim-
mons; (2) Julia, married Benjamin Butler; (3) Catharine, single; (4) Philip,
married in the west; (5) David, married in the west; (6) *William H. (cap-
tain Civil War), married Mary Starkweather of Nunda..

III. Ann, married ————— Bryant; Jennie, married --—--—— Kellar:
Tyler, lives in Nunda, IIl.

II. 7. Laura, married Bryant; John, married in the west.

 

Colonel William Huffman had a fine physique and at “Militia Training”
attracted great attention by his soldierly bearing, it is probable that he was in
the War of 1812, but that is not definitely known. He bought the Eagle Hotci
soon after it was built, took charge of it for a short time. He was succeeded
in 1835, by Daniel Grover. It is probable also he was in the short, two weeks
affair, called the Patriots War. in which the greatest success scored by the
small company from Nunda was the bounty lands they secured in the West, as

*Colonel Huffman and his son-in-law, David Butler, and Butler's brother-in-'
law, Sherwood, settled in Illinois soon after 1838, (when this bloodless conten-
tion took place), and they called the place Nunda, Ill. We may conclude they
located their bounty lands there. (See Captain Osgoodby's Co., Patriots
War.)

207
HUBBELLS CORNERS

At the risk of shocking the sensibilities of some of the fastidious denizens

of Nunda village, we must state that the first name applied to our present vil-
lage was Hubbells Corners. From 1824, when Hubbells Inn was the chief fea-
ture of the settlement. -.\ frame building, and a bride of nineteen, pretty and
‘capable, deserved special notice. The first settlers seemed to be :ndifferent as
to names, Messenger’s Hollow, Hunt’s Hollow, Wilcox Corners are sufficient
evidence, even Rochester was Milltown, till it became Rochesterville. These
corners do not now exist, they were north of the Nunda House where there 1s
no street now, and when a block of stores filled up the space where the street
was, and the landlord sold out and a larger hotel was built there in 1835, the
name of the hamlet gradually passed away, and only those past seventy years
of age remember the original name of the hamlet. The recent discovery that
the bride landlady of 82 years ago, is still living, has helped to make the name
a matter of interest.

The Hubbelis Corners of that day, was a settlement of three houses and
two barns, around our present plaza, and two large pools of water well stocked
with frogs, James Al. Heath on site of old Eagle Hotel, now the four story
Livingston block. had a hut; William Gould in log house, opposite Union block
and Hubbell on site cf the Nunda House were all in 1822. A large barn where
the post office building now stands, and probably the very old building back of
the Nunda House that became the first foundry, and is now a livery stable, was
all that there was where the business portion of our village now is found. In
1832 when a hotel and several stores were built, the unsightly pools of water
were drained and the new village named Nunda Valley, which is located in
one of the most charming valleys in Western New York, became an actuality.

Mrs. Hubbell has been a widow many years. She resides at St. Lawrence,
Hand County. South Dakota. An annual celebration of her birth is he:d
since she became a nonagenarian, and by reason of her age, a celebrity. She has
been the mother of ten children, only three of them are now living; one son
82 years old, one daughter now 78, who spent ten years of her life as a mis-
sionary in India (these were both born in Nunda) and Mrs. Hyde, with whom
she lives, born in Oakland in 1837 or ’8. <A lady of 95, who was invited to the
annual birthday party, was too feeble and another 89, sent the same excuse, but
others came and these young people had a pleasant time and two of them then
had their pictures taken, and I have the picture of this former beauty and bride
which I present, that readers may form an estimate of how well they will look
when they become centenarians.

Hubbells Corners grew however, to have a store or two of its own, a land
office, and a village with eighteen streets, a cabinet shop, but when the post of-
fice was taken away from Wilcox Corners that place ceased to thrive. Its
founder moved to Pennsylvania, the clerks came to Nunda, and went into busi-
ness, and Utley Spencer and Waite Joslyn sold the goods from the corner
store, best known as the Walter B. Whitcomb store. The Tobey grocery was
the first in the place, but Lyman Tobey is now forgotten except by those past
seventy years of age. The new post office was called “Nunda Valley” and so
the place had a change of name, that is at least descriptive of the locality.

Riley Merrill settled on the State road, north of the village. He sold out

208
his farm at an early date about 1830 and came into the village and built the
house now owned by Mrs. H. Peck. He had a large family of interesting girls
and only two boys.

Mr. and Mrs. Merrill; married Cravath; (2) Mrs. Town.

The children were: 1. Addison. 2. Mary Elizabeth, married Rev.
Hodge. 3. Emeline. 4. Adelaide married Ira Wisner, editor of the first
paper in Nunda. 5. Amelia (Mrs. Hovey). 6. Celestia Martha. 7. Laura
Siloam, (attended college at Oberlin). 8. Cecelia Harmonia. 9. Riley Jr..
married Helen Livermore, a preceptress in Nunda Literary Institute.

 

CHAUTAUQUA HOLLOW PIONEERS

In 1822, the family of Alexander Craige came to Chautauqua Hollow. Mr.
and Mrs. Craige had at the time six children, they came from Vermont, in win-
ter in a covered sleigh, but finding the snow deep they passed the winter of
1821-2 at Lima. The three younger children Lucy, Mercy and Mary were born
in Nunda.

Among the first settlers of this strangely named little valley I find the
family of Alexander and Eunice Craige, so early did they settle here, near a
well worn trail leading to Allegany and Chautauqua Counties from Bath and
Canisteo, and crossed here by one leading to Gardeau through Nunda that it is
not surprising that this pioneer family knew the chiefs Straight-Back and Wil-
liam Tall Chief sons of the great chief, Tall Chief, as well as they knew their
neighbors, Aaron and Harvey Shepard. Indeed they saw them often during
the hunting season when they and other Indians would come in at meal time and
needed no urging to partake of the food provided for the household, throwing
potato skins over their shoulders as they would in their own wigwams, and in the
fall when the nights were cold Indians and squaws would lift the latch quietly
at night and warm by the fire on the hearth, then steal away quietly to give
others a like opportunity. Sometimes they brought game and left it, but gen-
erally they twisted the scripture rule and made it better “to receive” than “to
give.” Mr. Craige’s ambition to be a good farmer kept him from being what
nature designed him, a skillful mechanic. He learned while at Lima, to make
baskets and soon became an expert basket maker, excelling even the Indians
who are skilled in this work. If this is not a contradiction, his bushel baskets
were too good. In those days the wheat raised on the burned clearings had to
be washed and when put in big baskets for that purpose the water poured upon
the grain would carry off the soot and dirt but his held the water and so held
the dirt. We would like his kind best now. The men who could make the
tools they worked with in that day were fortunate men.

Mr. Craige was born in 1776 and Mrs. Craige in 1783. The one at the be-
ginning of the Revolution, the other at its close. A like coincidence of historic
dates, was shared by John Bennett and wife as the record in our cemetery
shows. No doubt both husbands were patriots and both wives peaceful.

. The children of this pioneer family were Laura (Mrs. Stephen Wilson),
John, Eliza (Mrs. Russell N. Fuller), Maria (Mrs. Sylvanus Dixon), Caroline
(Mrs. Ed. Millhollen), Alexander, Lucy Ann (Mrs. Sidney Frisbee of Wells-
ville), Mercy Jane, born May 5, 1825 (Mrs. Henry B. Bowhall), whose hus-
band was killed August Ist, 1854, at the Bell Skinner and Company’s foundry,
and Mary (Mrs. James E. Cadby).

209
Mrs. Bowhall has lived in this town all her life, and to her wonderful mem-
ory the writer is greatly indebted for more than half of the information, col-
lected of the past. With other farmer and village girls she worked in the
Swain Woolen Factory, attended the Academy with those older and younger,
and so knew all the brightest and best in this vicinity, she also taught several
of our district schools, boarded ’round, and so knew the parents as well as their
children. For over fifty years she has lived in this village and so she has had
unusual opportunities to know old and voung for at least four generations, for
most of our pioneers lived to be very old and their stories of the past live in her
memory still. Her little home, just large cnough for one is almost historic, 1t
was built by Wiliam Haldane, the architect and builder of the first Presbyter-
ian church (now the Methodist) and her inouse stood on the site of the Epis-
copal church, after Halpine built his brick heuse, the rectory, the small house
was rented to Benedict Bagley, Esq., and like others of the young village it re-
mains a type of the small houses that were built before Nunda was incorpo-
rated. It served as Dr. Chittenden’s dental office from 1851 to ‘59 near the M.
E. parsonage well, when it was moved to Mill Street where the old institute
was burned and afterwards was bought by Mrs. Bowhall and moved to Center
Street, where she has since resided.

Her historic house was burned to the ground April 4th, 1908 with its con-
tents. Mrs. Bowhall now 83, is with a niece at Alfred, N. Y.

THEIR NEIGHBORS, THE SHEPARDS

Hiram, Harvey and Aarcn Shepard were brothers. Hiram was a bache-
lor, Harvey marrieé and moved to Baltimore, while Aaron raised a large family
of boys and girls of that choice quality that pioneer families in Nunda often
produced. Copied by the Nunda News. Aaron Shepard died in Nunda in
1867, Mrs. Shepard in 1852, Parker in 1905, Melissa in 1988, Thomas in 1857

The family located at Chautauqua Hollow. first but exchanged farms with
a farmer from the Myers district several years later. Peter DePuy changed to
Chautauqua Hollow about the same time. The sons of Aaron were Parker,
Myron, a civil engineer, Thomas who died in early manhood, Harvey, Louis,
Cyrus and James. The daughters were Melissa (Mrs. Emmons) and Martha
Jane (Mrs. Foster). Mr. Foster was at one time a produce dealer in this vil-
lage. Myron, Harvey, Louis and Cyrus, were all soldiers of the Civil War,
Louis was wounded at Antietam and while on his way North, his train was
wrecked and his injuries were increased to such an extent that he died before
reaching home. He was one of the very best young men who went from our
town to the front. The family went west where their skill and integrity were
appreciated and they rose to high and important positions; Cyrus as Land Com-
missioner, received a salarv of $3,000 a year. They visit Nunda frequently and
“Home Week” will probably bring these Nunda veterans to the front ranks as
“boy pioneers” of Nunda.

Mr. Aaron Shepard was connected with the M. E. church of this place.
Parker Buell Shepard the oldest son died at Moscow, Mich., aged 76 years.
We clip the following from the North Adams (Mich.) Advocate.

DEATH OF A FORMER RESIDENT
Parker B. Shepard, a former Nunda resident, died at Moscow, Mich., Sun-
day. The North Adams (Mich). Advocate says: “Parker Buell Shepard was
210
born in Livingston County, New York, September 13, 1828, and died at his
late home in Moscow township, April 16, 1905, aged 76 years, 7 months and
3 days. He was united in marriage with Elmyra Rynex in 1853. To them
were born five daughters and two sons, who survive them.

Mr. Shepard came to Michigan and settled in Moscow township in 1856,
where together with his wife they made a home and family name to be honored
by all who knew them. Mr. Shepard leaves beside his own family four broth-
ers and one sister to mourn his loss. He was a good man, a good citizen, 2

good neighbor and a devoted father, and will be sadly missed by his family and
friends.”

Myron was a civil engineer, begun practice between Dalton and Portage
Station, worked on railroad near Cincinnati, became city engineer at Stillwater.
Minn., enlisted in 1st Minn. Inf., served three years, was mustered out as first
Heutenant.

A Mr. Morrison and one of the Hill boys shared his experience in practi-
cal surveying on the Erie railroad, all from the Institute, they also were en-
gaged together at Cincinnati about 1857 to 58. Harvey Shepard also attended
the Nunda Literary Institute about 1859, went to Stillwater, Minn., and en-
listed in 1861, in Ist Minn. Battery, served about two years, returned to Nunda
and attended school here another term. Returned in 1867 to Stillwater, Minn.,

engaged in lumbering, was County Surveyor and County Treasurer. Resides
Nunda, Adams, Mich.

Lewis attended the Institute, studied law with W. S. Coffin, enlisted in
1861 in Company A, to4th N. Y. Infantry., was woudned in the
battle of Antietam, and while on his way home was in a railroad collision
and received additional injuries. He died January 20, 1863, one of the best
young men Nunda ever produced. James lives in North Adams, Mich., Mar-
tha attended the Nunda Literary Institute, in 1867, she married H. L. Foster,
also a soldier in the 104th, and who lost a leg at Antietam died at Stillwater,
Minn., where Mrs. Foster still resides. Cyrus Shepard went west in 1861,
after looking about in several states, enlisted at Lacrosse, Wis., in Co. D, 14th
Wis. Infy., as a private soldier, among strangers served more than four years
continuous service, was in all the marches, engagements and battles of that regi-
ment, and was mustered out as captain, was in I00 engagements great and
small, including the siege, assault and capture of Vicksburg. Returned to
Nunda after the war, taught school in the log school house on East Hill one
year. In 1868 went west again, settled at Stillwater, Minn., and followed mer-
cantile business several years, was appointed by Grover Cleveland, Registrar
U. S. Land office at Northington, Minn. Re-appointed Registrar U. S. Land
office at Marshall, Mich., serving 13 years, till the office was closed. Capt.
Cyrus P. Shepard gives me by request these facts concerning his family, with

*impaired health he looks forward in hope to see his friends again in 1908. Be-
sides these he hopes also to see his boyhood home.

“An old lane, an old gate, an old house by a tree, a wild wood, a wild
brook, they will not iet me be. In my boyhood I knew them, and still they call
to me.”

211
THE COLLISTERS

Loren and Rice Collister, were pioneers and neighbors of the Shepards and
Craige’s and Johnson's. They both married sisters of Marsh Johnson and
moved to Granger—the Collisters of that town are merchants and their sons
have been graduates of our High school and of college.

Marsh Johnson lived and died in Nunda, one of his sons John T. Johnson
served in the Civil War and returned but died before the great strife was
ended.

THE HAYS

The one distinction between this family and that of many of the pio-
neers is their posterity are with us still.

(1) Warren, married Miranda Shute; Jonathan, married Julia Collins;
Almond, married Charlotte Shute; Horace; Theodocia, married Alden Shute.

II. 1. Children of Warren; Lemira, married Henry King; 2. Milo Eld-
ridge, Sr.; Caroline, married Preston; Flora, married William Holmes;
William ; and Hiram, a veteran Mich. Regt.

II. 2. Children of Jonathan; 1. Mary Jane; 2. Ann Eliza; 3-4. Ellen
Maria and Heien Sophia (twins); Joseph; Martha Josephine; and John
Murray; the last name suggests that this family of Hays were Universalists,
and named their youngest after the first preacher of Universal salvation, in
America.

Children of Almon: II. 3. Aurilla, married James Woodworth; Grant.

Children of Horace: II. 4. Orren and Warren, (twins.)

II. 5. Children of Theodocia Shute, Clarissa and Martha.

III. Children of Lemira King; Deleino, married Robert Holmes; Mary,
married Hay.

Children of Aurilla Woodworth; Mary married Dr. Wisner; Helen is an
M. D., resides in Boston.

IV. Children of Dell and Robert Holmes ;Belle, married Harry Kellogg;
Grace’; Clarence Holmes, married Kate Marsh.

V. The Kellogg children. 1. Robert. 2. King. 3. Ethel Laura.

 

 

THE HAVENS FAMILY

*Stephen P., soldier killed; *Cassius, married, veteran, died 1907; John;

Della, married *Adello Slocum, western editor.
1830

I. Daniel Pittinger, married — Pratt, aunt to Mrs. Arch McArthur;
II. Gertrude Pittinger, married Alfred Swain; Roselle Pittinger, married
Josephus Schuyler; Joshua Pittinger, married Chandler.

I. Isaac Pittinger brother to Daniel lived on East Hill. Mr. and Mrs.
P., left their young children alone one evening while they made a call on a
neighbor. The house burned to the ground and the two children perished.

 

 

1821—_THE PAGES, SERGEANTS AND HANDFORDS

The Page families came from Paris. Oneida County. Aibert Page and
his brothers and sisters were the children of Eli Page, who with two of his
sons remained there. Those who came to Nunda were Albert, Eli Jr.; Her-

212
mon L.; Elvira (Mrs. Peck) and Louisa (Mrs. Sergeant). Albert Page was
born in 1800 and when 21 years of age came to Nunda, selected fifty acres of
land, built a log house, cleared some land near it, and returned. He married
Miss Jerusha Tyler and brought her to Nunda. Her father soon followed and
settled on the farm now known as Elmwood, his other three daughters were
soon married. (See Tyler Family). Mr. Page prospered as a pioneer and
added adjoining lands till he had 185 acres. He with H. D. Gardner built the
Emporiam block, with its three stores, East Street in 1835 or possibly a year
or two earlier. He was a Baptist and one of the trustees and treasurer of the
Nunda Literary Institute for many years. He was thrice married. He mar-
ried Ist Jerusha Tyler, their children were Orson Albert, Hermon D., Ava E.
Abigail Hanford was the second wife. Edward E., John A., and Mary L.,,
completed the list of his children that were living in 1880. Three others had
died. He married late in life Eliza Weeks. He died August 22, 1876. His
widow has since died. (See photo).

1. Orson Albert, born in Nunda about 1825, is still living at Saranac,
Mich. He married Tamerson Remington, who died in March, 1908.

2. Hermon D., who succeeded his father on the homestead was born at
Nunda December 10, 1828. He married Margaret Consalus, who died May 20,
1855. They had one child, Carrie M., now Mrs. Hector Sinclair of Jamestown;
October 27, 1867, he was married to Mary Octavia Warner by whom he had
three children, George W., Roy A., and Albert H. Mrs. Page and her sons
George and Albert reside in the village. H. D. Page was supervisor of his
town for six terms. He died in Nunda. (See Photo). Roy A. Page is a phy-
sician and is located at Geneseo, N. Y. The other sons are mechanics, which
occupation they prefer to farm work, the farm is rented. 3. Ava E., married
Miss Mary Robards, they reside at Roswell, New Mexico, he was a soldier and
officer during the Civil War, was commissioner irom New Mexico at the Colum-
bian Exposition and is a man of influence in the community. Edward E., and
John E., located at Appleton, Mo.; Mary L., the youngest of the family has al-
ways lived in Nunda, she was married to Charles Giddings and they have three
daughters. Blanche (Mrs. George Gillett) of Perry, Maude and Anna; all
have been teachers.

Elvira Page, married (1) Thomas Peck who had two children, John and
Esther Peck. The only child of Thomas and Elvira Peck was Sarah Man-
ette Peck an Institute girl, who became a teacher of District Schools, many be-
sides the writer of these ‘Annals’ have attended her schools. She wrote
poems for publication in the village and city papers. The writer remembers
that under this influence he wrote a scrap of verse, the first he ever attempted.
He was ten years oid only, so it was not a love ditty. Sylvanus Ellis secure
the pretty school ma’am and carried her away to Rochester, and no doubt their
life was a poem of adoration and appreciation. He completed his college
course at the University, and was for years the superintendent of the schools
‘of that city. Both are resting from their tasks in our Oakwood, and a grand-
son of theirs is now as old as when Mrs. Ellis, by example taught me to poetise.
Mrs. Peck, married (2) Solomon Donaldson.

Eli Page had three children, Sarah (Mrs. Andrew Sabin), Wallace and
Charles, who lived here during their minority. Eli Page became a ‘49 Califor-

213
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELLS PAINE

PAINE

M D.

WILLIA

UY

           
 

 

ALBERT PAGE

Herman D. PAGE

Pioneer 1821

Ex-Supervisor
nian and died there, the family then returned to Oneida County. Hermon J..
Page and his brother-in-law, John Sergeant came to Nunda after the stores
were built around “The Plaza” and they engaged in the merchantile business.
Their advertisements in the local papers, when there were any, makes it easy to
locate their place of business, it was No. 5 Merchants Row. Now perhaps you
don't know but that’s what local historians are for, to tell you of forgotten things.
Merchants Row was east side and the numbers counted from north to south,
so No. 5 was at our present city drug store. The west side of the street was
called “Farmers Exchange” and there the groceries were located mostly.

Hermon L., married Miss Maria Camp, whose father lived on the David-
son place, and made pipe organs. It is said the family had higher expecta-
tions, (most people estimate their children about 100 per cent. above other peo-
ples children) but, ‘all is well that ends well,” and when some vears later, the
young merchant had amassed a fortune and became Mayor of Milwaukee,
there was no one more proud of sounding the praises of my son-in-law Page,
the Mayor, than Father Camp. While traveling in Germany, on one of their
European tours, he, (Mr. Page) sickened and died.

John Sergeant the husband of Louisa Page and the partner of H. L. Page
had become a widower, and his children were cared for by relatives. He
boarded at Horton’s Hotel. He died there. He was a Universalist, but preju-
dice ran so high at this early date, about 1841, that the relatives or some of them
refused to attend, if Rev. W. E. Manley, his pastor conducted the services, and
so a preacher not in sympathy with his views officiated. The four orphan
children were adspted into the homes of the four Page families and were kindly
cared for. As three of these families moved away it left only one of their
children, after a time in Nunda. The children were George, Adella, Mary L.,
and William P. Acaella lived with her uncle Albert and married Alfred W.
Skinner, both husbar:d and wife have died during the last decade.

There were other Pages, Ralph and his sister Emily. They were early set-
tlers. Ralph Page owned a part of the E. O. Dickenson farm, and married
Rhoda Rawson. He also lived on the Elias Rawson farm (the Balty Farm)
with his father-in-law. Leua Page his sister married to Palmer Rawson.
Mrs. Minerva Rathbun of Church Street, is their daughter. Emily Page, an-
other sister, was one of the pioneer teachers or Nunda. She has a place in local
history as the first teacher in Grove (in 1826) then in Nunda. She married
Josiah Bradley (see Bradley Family). Ephraim, married Louisa Keith, 4
daughter of Mark Keith and a sister of Mrs. F H. Gibbs; Hiram married
Fanny Spafford; Joseph Elliott, married Catherine Parker; Rachel Elizabeth
died at 24; Clarissa, married Alexander Greig.

The children of Ralph Page were Ephraim and Caroline.

III. Dr. Nelson Page is a grandson.

THE HANFORDS

They were early settlers in Portage while it was still in Nunda. Besides
Mrs. Abigail Page there were Charles. a tailor here and at Tuscarora; Jesse,
who went to California for gold, but died there; Maria (Mrs. Nathaniel
Clark); and two half sisters, Mrs. James Bailey, who lived in Portage, (Mr.

215
Bailey died in 1908); and Mrs. Lucian Doolittle of Granger. Mrs. Bailey has
a son and tio daughters born in Portage. The grandsire of her children was
Jonathan Bailey, a veteran of the War of 1812-14.

1821 SETTLERS—THE BARKERS OF BARKERTOWN; CLOUGH,
WILSON AND MERRILL

This year Livingston was formed from towns in Ontario and Genesee
Counties. Nunda was solicited to join but declined.

I am certain that Seth Barker the senior pioneer of that name was a good
man, for having selected the farm from which Pepper fled from a snake, «s
narrated in a former chapter, he fixed the house some, and then returned
and not only brought a wife with him, but a mother-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth
Durfee, this break ali records for courage and chivalry. It seems this pio-
neer could not be frightened either by rattlesnakes or that object of modern
dread, an energetic Yankee mother-in-law. Good, skillful and industrious as
this man was, I am inclined to believe his wife was fully his equal in all the
qualities that distinguish pioneer character. This pioneer housewife who toiled
from sixteen to twenty hours a day, was a weaver by trade, having in her youth
when only eleven years old, during the year wove 1,100 yards of check dress cloth
for a factory in Fall River. She was also a tailoress and did work for her neigh-
bors at her two trades, and even exchanged cloth of her making at the stores
for groceries. Mr. and Mrs. Barker were married February 8, 1821, and for
or over 63 years “they kept the even tenor of their way.” Seth Barker, was
skilled in mechanical arts, and made many of the implements he needed on his
farm. Even in that day when it was so difficult to get reading matter, he kept
well informed on State and National affairs. His three sons grew to man-
hood, married and settled near him. and so there were of this household, four

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SETH BARKER Mrs. Mariam LoweLu BARKER

216
families of Barkers at Barkertown. Munson O., a surveyor, married Adeline
Rawson, Orlando W., married Mary E. Swain, and Justus L., married Olive
L., daughter of Richard Bowen. Seth Barker and Sarah Durfee were mar-
ried Tebruary 8, 1821; the husband soon after shouldered his knapsack and
started from Oriscany Falls, N. Y., to seek a home on the frontier. In Au-
gust, 1821, he arrived in Nunda and chose the farm on East Hill because the
trees were so large. In November, 1821, he brought his bride and Alrs. Dur-
fee her mother, to a log cabin destitute of doors and windows; but Mrs. Seth
soon wove blankets and curtains to keep out the cold. Good buildings in proc-
ess of time took the place of the log cabin where this worthy trio lived long
useful lives. Ars. Elizabeth Durfee was born in 1768, died in 1853, aged 95°
her daughter Mrs. Sarah Barker, died in 1884, aged 82; and the patriarch of
untold generations, born in 1801, who lived to see the nineteenth century nearly
completed, died in 1893, aged 92 years. .\ dozen farms were owned by Barkers
in Nunda, when he died.

The children of his son Munson O. Barker, are: Herbert S. Barker, born in
1863, who married Blanche Chandler: Flora G. (Alis. Jacob Velev) and Li!-
lian (Alrs. Victor Craig), all of Nunda.

The children of Orlando W. Barker are: S. Inelle (Mrs. Ray Durfee) ;
and Ethel, who married Prof. C T. Hoed, M. D., Hom. Hospital, Chicage.
Ill.

The children of Justus L. Barker are:  Mertye (Mrs. Henry Gormal) :
Fred L.; and Ernest D., who married recently Miss Alida Thompson. Not to
be outdone by anv of his posterity, Munson Barker, Sr., father of Seth, and
grandfather of Munson, Jesse, Amos and all the other Barkers of Barkertown,
made a trip to Nunda., and married the widow of Silas Tyler, the
mother of Mrs. S. Donaldson, Mrs. Barker, Mrs. Hills and Mrs. Albert Page.
The old man must have been at least 75 at the time of his second marriage.
But these four families of Barkers were not the only ones of that name at this
East Hill hamlet. Six cousins of Seth, the pioneer, came a few years later
than he, and settled in this neighborhood. Their names were Jesse, Amos,
Cyrus, Lydia, Elizabeth and Esther (Mrs. Tyler), the mother of Hemingway
Tyler. Both of his parents dying young, his uncle Cyrus and his aunts, Lydia
and Elizabeth, adopted and cared for their orphan nephew. The children of
old bachelors and old maids are said to be perfect, and this explains the general
excellence that characterizes this worthy ward of these excellent people.

The children of Amos Barker are, Edward Gustavus, James, John Fitch,
Joseph, Mary and Juiia. Mary became the wife of H. Tyler, her cousin, and
Julia married Alonzo, a son of George W. Merrick.

The children of Jesse were, Esther, Amelia, and our townsman Newton 5.
Barker. Esther married a soldier of the Civil War, Henry F l*uller, son of
William C., and they and their two noble sons, Ellsworth and Ora have all died
while young. Ellsworth edited a Sons of Veterans paper in the far west.
Amelia became Mrs. Wiiliam Magee, and spent a winter here recently.

Newton S. Barker has been for the last twenty years a potent force in this
town and village. His lumber yard and lumber mills supply a need that few
but mechanics realize. Besides supplying lumber for the constant repairs and
improvements that for the last fifty years have changed this village,

217
from a place of 100 small cottages plain and unattractive, with a dozen or possi-
bly twenty-five large and commodious dwellings, to a village of 300 dwell-
ings, 200 of which are large and attractive, and at least half the others cozy and
well kept homes of comfort. A few houses are praying piteously to their own-
ers for a much needed coat cf paint, but there are iess of these now than there
were of good houses a half century ago. Mr. Barker as a builder of houses on
the street where he lives in an attractive mansion, has had no rival in the num-
ber of houses he has built or owns. Mr. Monroe Myers is close second.
May they have in this respect many zealous imitators, for there is still a need of
houses in our growing village. This Barker from Barkertown, I mention last.
because he lives here, and because a few years ago, he added another worthy
member to this large and excellent family. He recently married the widow ot
his former pastor and friend, Rev. W. C. Phiilips; and the entire community
will, I am sure endorse my estimate of this worthy man as a citizen of useful-
ness, and certamly of excellent judgment. In 1906 he was appointed Super-
visor, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Supervisor Platt C. Halstead
to the office of Sheriff of Livingston County.

1821—NATHANIEL CLOUGH FAMILY

I. Nathaniel Clough and Mrs. Polly Clough. Their children: II.
*Nathaniel Clough, Jr., was a book clerk, Oregon; Sarah, married Chauncey
Joslyn; Mary Ann was second wife of Palmer Rawson; Angeline, mar-
ried — Piett of Michigan; Dorcas, single; Asher, married 1, Caroline
Rawson; 2, ————— Crandall; Luther, married Martha Morley; Martha Jane,
married Calvin Rodgers; Clarissa, married Thomas Atwood, Jr.; Victoria, mar-
ried (1)Hiram Rathbon, (2) Silas Rawson; John Clough, was a soldier, in the
west.

Nathaniel Clough, a pioneer of 1821, with considerable means for those
times, went into the Mercantile business at Messenger’s Hollow (now Oak-
land) with Azel Fitch, and afterward with Dr. W. Z. Blanchard. It is the usual
fate of farmers, who change their vocation and engage in business of which
they have no experience, to obtain after a time a surplus of experience, at a
cost of the farm. Nathaniel Clough a most excellent man, was no exception
to the rule above stated. Some men are too good, to become good business
men.

 

THE REYNOLDS FAMILY OF PIONEERS—A PIONEER INCIDENT
1828

As Seth Barker, pioneer, went to his work felling trees, one morning
after he had settled some vears, he heard in the distance east of him, the crow-
ing of a rooster. Unaware he had any neighbors in that direction, he deter-
mined when time permitted to ascertain who they were. Fortune favored him.
for the Paine boys, Judson and Lucius, came along and he gave them the direc-
tion and they went and found a family by the name of Reynolds settled there,
with two boys, William and Belden. There was also a young lady in the fam-
ily named Julia Ann, but whether daughter or sister, Mr. Munson Barker, my
informant could not say. The family lived there until the boys became men.

218
CHAPTER XIII.

THE CREEK ROAD PIONEERS

HE farms along the Creek Road, leading through the best farming

| lands ot the town, were for a century or more before the settlement

of the very earliest of the pioneers, tilled by the Indians, from, Nunda

Junction to the Keshequa, on both sides of that stream, and through the pres-

ent village of Nunda. There are abundant evidences of Indian occupancy.

Some of the pioneers avoided these lands as already worn out, but others took
advantage of their small clearings, to plant crops.

Among those who are mentioned as first settlers on Judge Carrolls orig-
inal map, are; nearest to the village, Deacon Bassett, (at Elmwood) ; William
Huffman, (Stillwell-Marshall farm); Jonathan Barron (Sturgeon-McMaster
farm); Daniel Ashley (John & R. G. Bennett farm); Abram Porter (The
Jones Homestead), Samuel Rockefellow soon succeeded him on a part, and
then on the whole of it; Granville Sherwood, and Alphens Herrick next to the
town line, Sherwood soon after owned both these farms. The succession of
owners to Elmwood” the Dowling farm has been numerous, Bassett in 1826.
Silas Tyler, 1823 (died in 1826), Enos Dickenson, Lyman Herrick (Her-
rick and Cobby had nursery there). This brings it up to a time when citizens
of the present time remember, Alward, Ashleys, the Martins and Dowlings.
The Huffmans preceded the Stillwells who left it to their nephew, Rev. Dr.
James Marshal!. Barron, also sold to Nathanie! Chandler about 1836, who
had lived on the State Road for abont four years, previous to 1836. The Stur-
geon family came next. Daniel Ashley sold a large estate to John Bennett and
sons. The A. Porter farm passed through the hands of Samuel Rockefellow.
to Silas Angier and his grandson John, and through them within the writer's
recollection to his cousin, Joseph Russell, and from him to Samuel C. Jones.
trom Granger, and though it has had three owners since, it has been since 1859
and is still the Jones Homestead. The Sherwood farm became the Parkard farni,
and has remained so until recently. The lands from or east of the road, that
were changing frequently, (1840-1852), came into the hands of Silas G. Rob
erts, and remained there until recently. Mr. C. N. Yencer is the last pur-.
chaser of the Roberts, and the Sherwood farms.

Of the Bassetts, but little is known. After selling they moved into the
town of Grove. The large Huffman family we will give elsewhere, also the
Jonathan Barron family. The Ashlevs, Barrons and Huffmans, were the own-
ers of two miles of lands that have since been frequently subdivided.

The family of Daniel Ashley, that came from Bloomfieid, became promi-
nent in Nunda Church life in 1827.

THE ROCKAFELLOWS
First Generation

Samuel Rockafellow, Sr., settled in 1823, and died at the age of 94; Mrs.
Elizabeth Rockafellow, died, age 88.

219
Second Generation

*Johanna, married *Joseph Fraley.

*Margaret, married *Abel Barron.

*Rachel, married *Hiram Cornwell.

*Elizabeth, married *Abram Howell.

*Nary, married *John Angier.

*John (purchased land with J. Fraley.)

*Mahlon, died, aged 31.

*Sameul Jr., married Clarissa Lemen, daughter of William Lemen, (on the
A. Barron farm).

George, married Eliza Warner, sister of Orlando and Eben. W.

Mr. Fraley’s second wife Hann is living in this village, with her daughter,
Mrs. P. M. Ostrander. She is an own cousin to John Wanamaker. Mar-
garet died without children, and the second wife was *Margaret Norton, the
mother of Mrs. Harriet Dowling, A. C. B. &e. (See Barron family). Mr.
Cornwell was a tailor and his wife learned the trade at his shop on Mill Street.
They built the large house No. 41 East Street also No. 43, but both died soon
afterward. Mr. and Mrs. Howell are also buried at Oakwood Cemetery.
John Angier married the youngest daughter Mary. They also completed their
life in Nunda but left children. (See Angier family 1835). John and Mah-
lon are also buried in Oakwood. Fourteen out of eighteen are buried in Oak-
wood Cemetery, besides the parents. Samuel and George went elsewhere to
reside about 1846. The entire eighteen were, or had been, at one time members
of the Baptist Church, this also was unusual.

I. 2. Henry Rockafellow was a brother of Samuel but lived on the oppo-
site, or Mt. Morris side of the County Line (now town line). He settled there
in 1823, bought of the Warners, Eben and Orlando, (The Emory Kendall farm)
a small frame house that he had moved to the east side of the road, and there he
lived with his household for a time. The house the writer remembers seeing
moved to Coopersville. It was said to have been the first frame house erected
in that neighborhood. It was built in 1823 and moved in 1848. In this house
the Blair family also lived.

Henry Rockafellow was especially rich in sons, some of them had moved
away when they attained their majority. All that remained bent all their ener-
gies in the direction of a liberal education. David born in 1805, Daniel, Asa and
Hiram, the writer never knew; but was told, by their brother Samuel, of their
existence. John J., was one of the students in the Presbyterian Academy, one
of the best; was a teacher and School Commissioner, and County Clerk of Alle-
gany County. He married in Nunda a daughter of John S. Wright, and lived
for a time in the village. Lambert Rockafellow was a carpenter by trade, built
a house on the Creek Road, that the writer called home for twelve vears or
more. Samuel L. Rockafellow married in Mt. Morris. He was a prominent
merchant and manufacturer there. He was born in 1826, and is stil] living.

The daughters of Henry and Mary Jones Rockafellow were only two in
number. Margaret born in 1810, who married a neighbor, David J. Blair, and
moved during the forties to Iowa, died in 1908, aged g8 years. Samuel L.,
born 1826, her \oungest own brother, 82 vears old, and Charles H. Rockafel-
low, a half brother, born 1837, are all that are left of this large household. A

220
younger daughter was Eliza, who married John Olp, son of Daniel Olp. They
lived after their marriage in the town of Nunda: four children were born to
them: Deborah, Lambert, Charles Peari and Eva.

II. Mrs. Eliza Olp, died about 1860. Those of her posterity who are liv-
ing at this time in Nunda are the family of IV Fred C. Olp, son of Charles P.
Olp, who is cashier of the Nunda Bank. He married Florence Dowling, daugh-
ter of Michael and Harriet L. Dowling. They have as a representative of the
fifth generation of Rockafellows, a daughter Harriet.

II. Charles H. Rockafellow. a half-brother of these Rockafellows, and of
the Kendalls, married Sophia Walker, daughter of Eph. Walker (veteran
1812). Their children were:

III. 1. *Addie, who married *Richard Bristol; (2) John Emory, who
lives in Chicago; (3)Minnie, who married Allison Jas. Paine, son of Almiron
Paine, grandson of Jas. Paine, pioneer 1817-1872.

IV. The grandchildren are: Vada Rockafellow, daughter of J. FE.
Rockafellow ; and Adelaide and John Paine.

CHAPTER X.
AN INCIDENT AND A STORY—BOY PROFANITY

FTER the marriage, late in life, of Henry Rockafellow and the widow
A Kendall, some of the younger men were joking him, when to their sur-
prise he challenged them to a contest in athletics. There was a wagon
standing near by, without box, but with a few planks on, and the old gentleman
jumped over this and invited those younger, to follow his lead. As none of these
jokers dared to follow the example, they concluded he was young enough to
get married again if he chose to.

Most of these two families thus brought into family relations by the mar-
riage of their parents, were grown up and married, but there were some of both
families who were young. An incident that Mr. Rockafellow often narrated,
will serve to show the difference between the boys of that day and the present
time. Two of the boys about eight and ten years old, had begun to notice that
some of the men in the community smoked tobacco and used profanity.
These youngsters did not want to be back numbers, so one of them said to the
other, “Let’s be men.” “All right,” said the other, “what shall we do to be
men?” “Well,” said the elder of the twain, “we must smoke, for one thing.”
“Yes that’s so, almost all the men smoke.” So they looked around for some-
thing to smoke. A dead grape vine served for a cigar for one, and some dry
corn silks in a pipe served the other. They smoked awhile as solemn as Indian
Chieftains. “Well,” said the spokesman, “tis time we begin to swear.’ “AL
right, you begin, and I'll follow.’ They hesitated awhile, before taking the
fatal step. “You begin,” said the youngest, “All right, well here goes. J
swear,” said No. 1, “So do I,” said No. 2, and in imagination ‘they were big,
bold, bad men.”

SAMUEL ROCKAFELLOW, SR., AND WIFE ELIZABETH

Born in New Jersey, came to Mount Morris 1823 and to Nunda 1825, both
lived to a good old age. Mrs. Rockafellow was 88 years of age and ‘Uncle
Sammy,” as he was generally called, was 94.

221
This family was rich in daughters, who all completed their useful lives in
this town. Very few have ever heard that the first long-log-house of this fam-
ily was not where the red house now stands in which they lived so long, though
they lived in both, but it was on the south west corner of the field near Coopers-
ville road and school house. Here these industrious pioneers commenced their
pioneer life in Nunda. There could not have been a more industrious woman
than this housewife, she did not even take time to stand erect when at work,
but bent down with household tasks, kept that position to save precious time.
No wonder her daughters were sought for by the most eligible young men of
that dav for they were fitted for the arduous tasks of pioneer housekeepers
The family was large, five daughters and four sons.

THE PIONEER SHERWOODS—LONGEVITY

I. Zadoc, born in Connecticut 1759, enlisted 1776, married 1777, settled
Northville 1785, settled Nunda 1822 or 3, lived in Nunda until 1855, died at
Algonquin, Iil., 1859, aged 99 years 9 months.

I. Abigail Omstead Sherweod, born 1760, died May 31, 1840, age 8o.

I. Margaret Glen, widow of Eldert Ament, sister of Jacob S. Glen ot
Glen, lived, died at Nunda, July 30, 1840, aged 88 years.

Second Generation

Il. Granviile Sherwood, born in 1785, settled 1824, died, age 95; married
Maria (Polly) Ament, born 1790, died in Nunda, 1863, age 73.

Third Generation

III. Margaret, born 1819, married her cousin Galusha Burnett, she died
at Omaha 1907, age 88. A. Jackson, born 1822, merchant, law student, mar-
ried *Sarah (Sally) Alvard, eldest daughter of Phineas A., both died in the
west. Matilda, born 1825, married 1850 to *Wm. G. Russell, son of Joseph
Russell. Resides in Binghamton, N. Y.

These three generations covering respectively I00 years, 95 years and 88
years, 283 in all, is an unusual record for a family for three generations.

Fourth Generation

Daughter A. J. and S. S., Florence; daughter of M. and G. A. Burnett,
Lemira Maria (Mrs. Sutherland), Omaha, Neb.

OTHER SHERWOODS

II. 2. John Sherwood lived in Nunda village, State Street, is buried in
Nunda; married Rachel Jones (Milliner) is buried in Nunda; Lemira Sher-
wood, married Stephen Burnett; Reuben, married (1) Miss French, (2) Mar-
tha G. Butler; Harry, married Mrs. Maria Bush; Nathan, married Anice Buc-
ler; Abigail, married ——— Lilly; Lucy, married Platt Halstead, of Byers-
ville; Polly, married Jeremiah Kenney; Clorinda, married Lewis Beecher, Fort
Wayne.

At one time several of these brothers manufactured inkstands. The bot-
tles were enclosed in a circular wooden frame for uses in school. They re-
sisted frost and were indispensable in school houses in winter. Harry, Nathat
and Reuben, were the firm. The shop was at the homestead, east side of road,
changed to a dwelling house about 1840.

222
The Old Revolutionary Soldier impressed me in my youth, as a good joker,
and a very ordinary soldier. He did not tel! of any valorous deeds, had not been
wounded, and was living longer than men who had not been soldiers, so the
funny stories charmed more than most of his A-nec’-dotes of the war, as he
used to call them, for if he did not give the inflexion right, he never missed the
point of his joke.

His first skirmish was not a big success for his old flint lock gun was so
poor that he found it would have been loaded to the muzzle if the fracas had
gone on long enough, for the gun had not gone off once, but then like many
other soldiers he had killed as many of the enemy, as the enemy had, of him.
He was most proud of being in the battle, where, as the old rhyme goes, ‘Thus
did Putman down the steep, Where no pursuers dared to leap.”

He once played a joke on Capt. John Townsend and his wife, playing on
their strong point, hospitality. While almost a stranger here, his cattle roamed
away and strayed across to the State Road. Early one Sunday morning he
started in pursuit and brought up at Capt. John’s just as they were breakfast-
ing. They asked him to have some breakfast and he answered, “I don’t care if
I do, for I haven't had a mouthful to eat this week.” Capt. John literally piled
his plate and Aunt Mary urged him to eat more, neither of them discovered
that he had eaten as recently as they, or anybody else, on Sunday morning.
Next day when Capt. John brought down to Sherwood a whole lot of provi-
sions, the joke was then explained. Grandaddy, as most every one called him,
planted some peach trees, and when the fruit was ripe he sent an invitation to
Deacon Archibald Coleburn to come over and see him eat his first peach pie.
The Deacon put on his best dickey and Sunday suit and went over to enjoy
with the old veteran his pie. When the pie was put before him, he deliber-
ately ate piece after piece of it until it was all gone. The Deacon felt insulted ;
he had wasted a half day from his labor of making Ax-helves, and all to see a
peach pie eaten by another. But Dame Abigail, who knew his tricks had made
a turn-over pie for herself of the same
material and handed it to the Deacon
as he hastily took his hat to go heme.

 

 

  

GRANVILLE SHERWOOD Cyrus Rose
Died, aged 95 223 at 90
The way Grandaddy proved, he wasa good man, by the Bible, was scrip-
tural certainly. When he was past ninety, he said he was a good man, for the
Bible says: “The wicked shall not live out half their days,” and he had lived
out at least nine tenths of his. And so it proved, for he was 99 years and nine
months old when he died. “I think I shail live while a hundred,” he often said.
He was a homely man with a big Roman nose and a still larger mouth. He
would get off one of his jokes and then throw back his head and laugh till
every body else would laugh too. On one occasion he perpetrated one of his
practical jokes at a neighbors table, and while laughing with his mouth open
like a cave, the neighbor, Capt. John Townsend, caught up a piece of butter as
big as an egg and landed it in his mouth, which he swallowed quietly, observing,
“Your wife, Capt. John, is a right good butter maker.” When about 95, he
was troubled with nervousness, which he called the “narves.”’ He said, “There
never was any ‘narves’ when I was a boy.’ Indeed he was very near the truth;
few people in youth and health, have any personal acquaintance with their
nerves.

Granville Sherwood, his eldest son was a typical country gentleman. His
fine farm was worked mostly by others. He had a large Apiary and cared for
his bees systematically, for those days. His farm (located at Nunda Junction)
was very productive, his orchards had the greatest variety of apples, and they
were shared freely with his neighbors who had no orchards. In 1853 his hand-
some farm house, located in an oak grove, burned down. The fire was probably
due to grandadiv's “narves.” The family moved to this village, and lived
with their son-in-law William G. Russell, at the twin-house opposite the Dick-
ensons, while the new house was being built. Nathan Sherwood came from
Illinois and took grandpappy home with him, where he died, some five years
later.

Mrs. Granville Sherwood was a lovely lady in every respect. If she had
any share in human defects, no one knew what they were. Mrs. Matilda Sher-
wood Russell is the only survivor of the family. John Sherwood and wife
lived on State Street. Mrs. Sherwood was one of the Milliners of that time.

Nathan Sherwood was the genius of the family and combined the quali-
ties of Artist, inventor and Yankee pedlar. There was nothing he could not
make, or when made, could not sell. He lived on State Street, sometimes in ‘the
castle,” then new, and some of the time near it. With Deacon Thayer, he made
matches, without him he made of wax (obtained at Granvilles), representations
of Noah's Ark, and the animals and the dove. His representation of the Nativ-
ity was his masterpiece; with an ox and ass feeding at the manger, the Holy
Family near; two Angels looking on, with some interest, but not with half as
much as the children, voung and old, of Nunda did, for he could sell, and did
sell, all that he and his household couid make of his waxen wonders. With a
load of these, and salves and liniments, and washing fluids, and dried mutten
hams, and wooden bowls and matches, he went out into the settlement and came
back with eggs, butter, pork, wheat, oats, maple sugar, honey and anything
merchantable. No family lived better than his, and no merchant’s goods ex-
cited such admiration. He married Anice Butler whose father lived in the
house west of Craig’s Warehouse. She was an aunt of Mrs. E. O. Dickenson.
Their children were: Loeaza. (Mrs. Beals), who is living at Great Bend, Ind.:

224
Emma; Oreana (Mrs. Baxter, lived at Friendship, N. Y.); Homer, Day and
Dwight, all three born in this village, after 1836; Frank, born at Friendship.

Mr. Sherwood also made wooden bowls in Jones Cabinet shop. Reuben
Sherwood, another brother, lived in this village. His second wife was the
mother of his children; her name was French; his third wife was Martha G.
Butler, a sister to Mrs. Elvira Starkweather (Mrs. E. Tyler), and Mrs. Nathan
Sherwood. The children were Granville, Anson, James, David, and Harriet.
Young Gran. Sherwood, as he was called, studied law with Nunda’s second law-
ver, Benedict Bagley, as did Addison \J. Crane, Nunda’s third lawyer, and later
E. W. Packard, Jack Sherwood, Samuel S. Crooks and others. He became the
greatest criminal lawyer in Texas and became immensely rich. There were
others in the family who became eminent as lawyers, especially David, who is a
Judge and resides in Elgin, Ill. Anson S., is still tiving at Detroit, Mich. The
children of Nathan were: Emma, Oreana, Homer, Day and Dwight, all born
in Nunda. Erastus D. Halstead, father of Piatt C. Halstead, Sheriff of Living-
ston County, was also a grandson of the cld veteran, the writer knew so well in
youth.

THE HUGGINS FAMILIES ON THE CREEK ROAD

I. 1. Ira Huggins, farmer and carpenter, married Valeria Pitts (his
cousin), born in Paulet, Vt., lived in Nunda until about 1860, when he moved to
Springfield, Pa.

Children

II. *John, *Sally, Savillion, *Henrietta, *Frank.  Savillion is the only
survivor, he lives in Springfield, Pa.

(2). Valeria Huggins married Jonathan Hamilton. Sons: *Edwin Mf.
Hamilton, married *Harriet Dunn; Charles Hamilton, married *Harriet Haga-
dorn. Both sons were in the Civil War.

(3). William Huggins came to Livingston County 1834, married Almira
B. Pitts, daughter of Luke Pitts, who lived with them.

II. Children of William and Almira:

Maria (Mrs. William H. Guy); Francis (Mrs. J. C. Jones); Martha
(Mrs. J. Bradley Chase of Nunda); Dr. Will Q., veteran and physician; Henry
who died, aged 26.

Grandchildren of William and Almira Huggins, who lived in Nunda:
Ella Guy, married Charles Downs; Lorette Jones, married (1) *Elmer Bat-
terson, (2) Joht: Doolittle, Edison, N. Y.; Harley, single; James, married Mary
Marsh; George, married Mattie Orcutt; Mattie, married George Stevens:
Henry, married *Carrie Whitenack, daughter of Asher; *Alice, married Grant
Badgley ; Harold and Charles, sons of Dr. Will 2. Huggins.

Great Grandchildren

Children of Lorette Batterson: Flossie, married Fred Paine, son of
Wells; Jessie, married Prof. Frank.

Children of James and Mary: Harley and Alice.

Child of George. Georgia, married Ralph Stewart.

Child of Atice Badgley, Jessie.

Child of Henry Jones, Anna.

Children of Mattie Stevens. Orlow and Francis.

225
Great Great Grandchildren

Child of Flossie Paine, Marian.

Children of Jessie Jones, Jennie, and Baby Stewart.

The Jackson family came to Portage in 181g. Mathias Jackson Sr., was
a builder of Grist Mills. His wife was a sister of Mrs. William Gould, and a
daughter of Mrs. Cathell who came with them. Mr. J., having built mills for
Col. Orcutt at Spring Brook and Portage, and for James Wadsworth, the’ pio-
neer, died in 1830; and the widow and her sons moved to Nunda in 1831.
Leonard is the only survivor of the family. He is now 86 years of age, and
knew more people who have lived in the village of Nunda, or who are buried at
Oakwood Cemetery, than any other persen.

The sons were: “Mathias Jackson, Jr., a stage driver and teamster; he
married *Sally Snyder; Wiiliam married a Teeple; Daniel and Leonard, mar-
ried sisters by the name of Weedright; Miranda, married P. P. Cady of Nunda.

The children of Leonard are: 1. Paschal, married Bertha Smith. Pas-
chal is a veteran of the Civil War. (2). *Leonard, married Anna St. John,
who survives him, and lives in Nunda; (3) Charles, died when a young man;
(4) Laura; (5) Mary, married William H. Kelly; (6) Catharine, married
Elias Douglas; (7) George; (8) Harriet Fidelia, married Wilson A. Bennett.

The IV Generation: Grandchildren of Leonard, (children of Leonard
Jr.) James, single, a blacksmith; Clyde, married May Thrall.

George Jr., and Maude; children of George.

Lottie Bennett, a musician, daughter of Harriet.

The V Generation. Children of Clyde and May: Charles and Kenneth.

THE CREEK ROAD BENNETTS OF 1835

John Bennett was twice married. His second wife was Abigail Perrin.
The children of the first marriage were Almon, Roswell G., and the second
wife of Jacob H. Osgoodby; of the second marriage, Liberty Lucia, married
John Paige; Millicent, married Jacob H. Osgoodby. The Bennett farms were
first taken up by Alpheus Herrick and David S. Conklin; then sold to Daniel
Ashley a relative of Mrs. Conklin; and it is said, that the Ashleys brought $16,-
000 into the village when they came. If so the Bennetts must have had about
the same amount. Aimon Bennett sold out his share to Roswell G., and moved
to Canaseraga, his son Stephen was his principal heir. Roswell G. Bennett left
about $80,000 when he died. John Bennett and his wife lived to be elder!
people, about 75, which is not considered very old in Nunda, where 80 is quite
old, and go is very, very old. At least fifty citizens that have lived in Nunda
have attained that age, and four or five have exceeded one hundred. John
Bennett was born in the year 1775 and his wife 1883, both historic dates, the
beginning and end of the Revolutionary War.

R. G. Bennett, married Betsey Day, they had one son Griggs, a most ex-
cellent youth, but he died of diphtheria when but 16 years of age. The family
adopted a niece and nephew, Carrie and Harry Gilbert, the orphaned children
of Charles and Eliza Day Gilbert. The entire family lived but a few years.
For lack of space, the writer is obliged to leave out the excellent graduating
essay of Carrie Gilbert, on “The Mission of Difficulty” that was full of excel-
Jence and appreciation for those who had made themselves victors of cir-
cumstances.

226
Miss Eliza Crane, whose mother was a sister to Mrs. Betsey Bennett, and
Mrs. Eliza Gilbert, is the only representative of the Days, and the Paige sisters
of the Bennett-Perrin family. Their brother Perrin, died in the service, and the
three sisters are living together and keeping as much as possible of the home
feeling, though both parents have passe‘l away. A grandson of Liberty Ben-
nett also lives in this place; Judson Bennett and an uncle, John, are also liv-
ing, but not in Nunda. The Balty and Bennett Mill at Coopersville was well
conducted by this firm, and both men made a competency by this means in the
days when the flour from the Keshequa valley was as good as any in the world.

THE HUDNUT FAMILY OUT IN THE WOOBS

This excellent family though farmers on a small farm, living most of their
lives in a log house were rich in excellence; they were pure gold.
I. Nathaniel Hudnut, Mrs. Esther Hudnut.

II. Margaret, married Solomon Lee Hamilton; Betsey, married Rev.
William Wisner; Polly, married Calvin Wisner: Rachel, married Horace Wis-
ner; *Harriet, married *Leroy Satterlee who conducted Rochester Collegiate
Institute (son Eugene, college graduate and lawyer, Rochester, N. Y.); Sarah.
single, buried at Nunda; Caroline, single, buried at Nunda; William Hudnut,
married Florette Ormsby, sister of Fayette Ormsby of Wilcox Corners.
*Orren Hudnut, married Catharine VanDoren, Middleport.

Children of Orren: 1. Rev. Prof. Isaiah B., College president; 2. Frank,
M. D. 3. James Monroe, soldier and Collegian.

The mother is still living in Brockport. The most of the Hudnuts, Wis-
ners and Hamiltons were Baptists. The Orrin Hudnut family were not.

I. Deacon Daniel Wisner, married Sarah Wisner;

3. Horace, married Rachel Hudnut; Rev. William, married Betsey Hud-
nut; Calvin, married Poliy Hudnut.

4. LaFayette, married Harriet Warner.

A NOBLE TRIBUTE FROM ONE NOBLE WOMAN TO ANOTHER

Mrs. Montgomery is the daughter of Prof. Judson A. Barnett and Emily
Barnett. Her estimate of Mrs. Harriet Hudnut Satterlee

The story of a useful and beautiful life was closed vesterday when throngs
of friends gathered in her quiet home in Meigs Street to pay their loving tribute
to the memory of Mis. LeRoy Satterlee. When so long and honored a life 1s
ended, it is fitting that those who remain should gather up fragrant memories
and preserve them; for such lives built into the city’s growth are its true and
lasting wealth.

Harriet Satterlee was educated in Temple Hill .\cademy, Geneseo, and was
a young woman in 1849, when her husband came to Rochester to be principal
of School No. 5, at that time the leading public of the city. From that day to
this her life has been here, and there are hundreds who know how sweet and
strong have been the influences emanating from this quiet, unassuming woman.
There are no stirring deeds to record, no striking achievements, vet the life +.
full and rich, because it is beautiful within.

227
Harriet Satterlee was rich in her personality. People did not easily for-
get her face, her voice, her winning manner. Little children took to her; young
girls confided in her. It was natural for burdened people to lean on her strong
arm, and for a whole circle to brighten when she joined it. There was an in-
formality and directness in speech and action that were exceedingly attractive,
and a heartiness in voice and hand-clasp that invited trust. Her good cheer
was infectious and her ability to clear away difficult situations was proverbial
among her friends. Strong in courage and confident in hope, she could either
find a way or make one.

It followed inevitably that this vital, warm and generous nature was rich
also in friends and in influence. It was amazing to see the strength of the hold
she had on those who were pupils in the famous old Collegiate Institute, her
husband's school for so many vears. Her girls that she mothered through their
happy school days never forgot her. They returned to her again and again
with loving acknowledgment of all that she had meant to them. Her years of
successful work in the primary department of the Sunday-school, in the Mission-
ary Society and in the social life of the church were just so many opportunities
for touching ana molding other lives. So, when she came to the dim valley of
age and weakness, there was a host of people, rich and poor, young and old.
simple folk and wise men, who remembered her with love and spoke often of
what she had been to them. Her children also called her blessed.

Richest of all was she in spirituality. She was a woman who had never
lost the vision of the eternal. Prayer was no luxury, but her daily bread, and
her Bible was really her guide. All her life long the springs of comfort and
strength rose for her in these uplands of the soul—the Bible and prayer. From
these fountains of living water she drank. And so she, being dead, vet speaks;
speaks not only of human love and goodness, but of a human life whose strength

was in God. HELEN B. MONTGOMERY.

THE PETER MYERS FAMILY

This family from New Jersey settled in 1824 or 1825 on the MIyers home
stead, where Peter Myers, Jr., and his sister, Sarah still reside. Mr. Myers
and his good wife Elizabeth and son James S. were among the first that settled
in the north eastern part of the town. The other children of this worthy couple
were Wesley, who is still living in the west and was, like James and Monroe, a
carpenter and who worked on the second Baptist church. He is now about 8a
vears of age. Anna, the next younger, married Peter Youells and lived in
Michigan until her death. Her husband is still living. He is about the same
age as his boy friends, Peter VanDorn and John Creveling of Tuscarora, i. e.,
about 84, and like them enjoys a fair degree of health. William the next son is
not living. Monroe, who celebrated his 75 birthday April 6th, has long been
identified with the interests of this village, having built six of the buildings, on
South Church Street. James Myers is remembered as a musician who played all
kinds of keyed instruments in the old Baptist church along with Quartus Bar-
ron, who played the bass viol before the days of the “Camps” and their pipe
organs. He also made and played violins and viols. He went to California
in ’49 with his brother-in-law, Reuben Hungerford, who is still living, but re-
turned a cripple. I remember well their home coming for they were my neigh:

228
bors, genial and gentlemanly. Mr. James Myers and family moved to this vil-
lage and with his brother-in-law, Virgil Hungerford, built the present Univer-
salist church and the cement walk, one of the first in front of it, in 1871. He
was building the large house on Fair Street, Patridge Park, for nimself in 1873
when he fell from the roof and was instantly killed.

Mr. Peter Myers married for a second wife Betsey Stivers and this couple
had five sons and a daughter; Martin, who died in the Civil War, Albert, Peter,
Sarah, Duane and Adelbert, all of these five are still living. It is my privilege
to be able to tell them of a pioneer incident that reflects great credit to their
father’s kindness of heart. Zadock Sherwood, the revoluntionary soldier pio-
neer, told in my hearing, that when he had cleared some land, he needed some
seed wheat and hearing that Mr. Myers had some he went there and inquired :f
he had some seed wheat to sell. Have you the money to pay for it? asked
farmer Myers. The veteran took out a well filled purse. Then you can't have
it, I must save it for those who have no money to buy with; you can get it ot
any one. Was there another man in the whole town like this big hearted Jer-
sey man? The luster of this deed shines with diamond splendor after full four
score years. A score of vears afterward when Peter Youells married Anna
Mvers, Uncle Dick, his father said (everybody called him Uncle Dick) in his
funny way: “It is all right she belongs to the best breed in the town” and no
one disputed him.

THOMAS TWIST

Settled in 1824, became the owner of several iarge farms.

I. Thomas Twist, married Mary Burkhart.

II. 1. Sarah Twist, married Calvin Reed. Their children:

III. (1). Josephine; (2) Mary; (3) Ennis Reed.

II. 2. Julia A. Twist, single (mildly insane); 3. Elias Twist; 4. Delia,
married Warren Babcock. Children:

III. 1. Mary; 2. Nittie Babcock.

II. 5. William Twist, merried Miss Rathburn, children:

Ill. x. Willie. 2. Louis.

Il. 6. Martha.

II. 7. Abbie.

Il. 8. Hillary Twist, veteran, Mexican War, married Lucy Babcock.

II. 9. Mary: Jane Twist, Teacher, married Andrew Salts.

II. to. Thomas Twist, Jr.. died at the age of 16 (from trying a perilous
experiment. )

II. 2. Helen Twist, married Jackson Batterson. Children: 1. Clar-
ence; 2. Nellie; 3. Joseph.

II. 12. Alice Twist, married John Flory.

II. 13. Miiton Twist, married Their children.

III. 1. Clarence; 2. Nellie; 3. Joseph.

 

1826—THE BABCOCKS

Mr. and Mrs. David Babcock. Their children: “Warren Babcock, a
teacher, married Cordelia Twist; 2. Lucy Babcock, married Hillary Twist; 3.
Worden Babcock; 4. Washington Babcock. The family were Universalists
and went to Ipsilanti in 1845.

229
CURTIS-BALTY FAMILIES

The Curtis famuy settled in Nunda in 1826. Mr. Curtis did not live very
long after coming to Nunda. His widow afterwards married Mr. D. Mack
The family consisted of the parents and four girls of more than ordinary ex-
celience.

1. Betsey, married Ethan Gilbert, son of Andrew, who built the grist mill
at Coopersville in 1836. Ethan had a twin sister who married P. Dudley Ken-
drick. Judge Ethan Gilbert was a relative.

2. Emily, married Hiram C. Grover, four children. (See Grover fam-
ily 1830.)

3. Aristeen, was a life long teacher, always in demand, she married late in
life.

4. Alice M. (one of God's best women), married Robert J. Balty, who
with R. G. Bennett, purchased the grist mill at Coopersville, of Gardener, the
successor of Gilbert. The mill was run night and day, it took four coopers to
supply barrels, in which to ship the flour they made. The canal furnished
cheap transportation. They sold to Kellogg and Hammond and both came into
the village. R. J. Balty became a banker.

The family of R. J. and Alice Balty consisted of a son and daughter, the
daughter Emily died in childhood, while the son lived to be a part of the social
life of the village, to which he came after the sale of the mills. Robert had a
quick wit, became a good scholar and excelled as an Amateur actor. He mar-
ried Belle Shant, a daughter of J. E. Shant of the firm of Lampart & Shant,
Nunda Tannery. They have one son Robert E. Balty, bank clerk, who closely
resembles his father in appearance. Robert Balty contracted consumption, al-
though it was not hereditary in either family, and died at the early age of fortv.

 

 

R. J. Batty anp FamiLy
230
His parents survived him, but both have since passed away. Robert J. Balty
was a banker and as successful in that as in milling.

Mrs. Alice Balty, became the best known of the elderly ladies of the vil-
lage. How she found time to call on nearly every family in the village, yearly,
monthly or weekly, is a social problem hard to solve. No other person had so
long a calling list. Beloved by all, of every grade of society, her short sick-
ness and sudden death ieft a whole community bereft. I{ her faith (she was
a devoted Universalist), had given her this unusual fellowship of spirit, then,
the doctrine of Divine Fatherhood and Universal brotherhood, had ripened the-
ory to practice. Were all like her, Heaven and Earth would have a common
atmosphere of love.

We present a picture of the family, as the writer knew them. There was
a half sister, Cornelia Mack, who died recently.

Allen Curtis was a brother of Daniel. He married Sophia Hamilton,
daughter of Daniel.

Mrs. Allen Curtis as she became elderly, was troubled with sleeping leth-
argy. On one occasion while visiting a neighbor she became sleepy, and tried
to excuse her condition on the plea of early rising, she said, “I got up this
morning just—as the sun —was—rising—in the—west,” and was fast asleep,
unaware of what she had said.

Asa and Mrs. LaRue, whose pictures we present, represent a class of peo-
ple, who retired from the active duties of rural life, and chose Nunda as a place
conducive to long life with pleasant surroundings. Mr. LaRue was nearly 90
years of age, when he died and Mrs. LaRue is still living.

*Abraham DeGroff (teacher), farmer 280 acres, born Cayuga County
1810, settled 1830, married (1) Sarah Duryee, born Cayuga County 1813, mar-
ried 1832, died 1838. He married (2) Sarah Perry, born Schoharie County,
1813, married 1839, died 1879.

Children: Eliza A., born 1835, married Chauncey Hagadorn, had a son
and two daughters; Margaret A., born 1843, married Paul Willey; Myron P.,
born 1845, single, died 1907; Ennis J., born 1848, a son Archie served a term in
the Navy; Herbert L., born 1850; Marion W., born 1853.

   

Mr. and Mrs. Asa LaRvuE
1830

I. William Renix. Mrs. Renix.

I. Dolly Renix (a sister) married Previse Perry, Sr. Children.

II. Mary Eliza Renix; Jane Ann, married Seneca Perry; Henry; John;
Agnes.

Cousins. Eliza Renix (Mrs. James Duryee) ; Renix Duryee, son of James
and Eliza Duryee; Jennie Brodt a niece of Mrs. Eliza Duryee, married Ralston
Conklin; (1) Flora Conklin, married Dan'l Suydam; (2) Ella Conklin.

1828

I. Allen Beach. born in Massachusetts 1800, settled in 1828, died 1851.

Il. 1. Allen J. Beach, born 1829.

II. 2. Lauren Rowland Beach, farmer 11o acres, and teacher for many
years, born Livingston County, June 12, 1832, adopted by William Coon, mar-
ried Bridget —————, born Connaught County, Ireland, 1832, married in 1852.

Ill. Children. 1. Eva Maria; 2. Ida May, teacher (Myrs. Fulton); 3.
Jessie C., teacher, Nunda, N. Y.

THE LATCH STRING OUT

Reuben and Patty Pierce settled on the State Road in 1828. They were
childless but had adopted a daughter named Relief Ladd. She was married to
Ralph Carver about 1830. “The Latch String of the Pierce Homestead was al-
ways out” a saying that implies great generosity and hospitality.

The children of this household with a double set of parents, were: Henry
Ladd Carver, who served under Gen. Sibley, of Sibley tent fame, in the Indiat
war of 1860, and was breveted Capt. and Quarter Master, U. S. A. He also be-
ing a regular, served to the end of the Civil War. He died in 1894, is buried
at St. Paul. Edward one of the younger sons, served in the toth Wis., was
taken prisoner at Chickamauga, and was in Andersonville several months.
He lives at Tomson Falls, Mont., Charles P. Carver married M. J. Baylor, and
lived many vears at St. Augustine in one of the most ancient houses of that first
southern settlement, where he died. Albert S., died in Wisconsin in 1890
Frederick Carver, whose musical voice, and handsome face most of us in
Nunda remember so well, has a home at Fruithurst, Ala. Mary Carver Barker,
lives in Rochester, N. Y. Jennie Carver Hubbell, writes from Elkhorn, Wis.,
and tells the writer all of this, but the praises of Fred which the writer adds
as a part of the Auld Lang Syne of which the younger Carvers formed a part.

1827—THE MORSE FAMILY

Doctor D. Morse (Doctor was simply his Christian name) was a farmer
on the State Road. He was born 1784 and died 1855. Pearl, wife of D. D.
Morse, died 1834.

Il. D. D. Morse, Jr., a wagon maker, State Street, wife, Susan; a sister
married Lewis Tuthill, when quite elderly. Mrs. Tuthill died, aged go.

Truman Morse, married Jane E. Eames. Mrs. Truman Morse, an excel-
lent nurse, came from the west to care for her aged sister-in-law, but died in
1888, age 69, while Mrs. Tuthill survived her feeble brother and his younger
wife. The famiiy of B. A. Rinevault. then cared for the old lady till she died.
Hiram Morse, born 1806, who remained on the farm, died in 1890, age 84.

IV Allie Morse, single, lives on the homestead.

232
A STORY WITH A LEGAL MORAL

At one time D. D. Morse, Jr.. was in partnership with D. P. Bard of musi-
cal fame, he got vexed at Prof. Lard, and told him he would kick him for two
cents. The musical man handed his partner the specified sum, the kick was
administered, when Dard went for a warrant for Morse for assault and bat-
tery. The Justice heard the story but told the “battered” man he had no cause
for action as he had hired the man to kick him. The moral to this story is, wher:
you need kicking, kick yourself, don't hire any one else to kick you.

THE BURGESS FAMILY

Came to Nunda in 1828 and bought the farm of Amos Rice, brother of
Elijah Rice. Mr. Burgess, was a pioneer teacher of District Schools. He
became County Superintendent of Schools (Alg. Co.) He was a prominent
Presbyterian.

I. Abraham Burgess, married Mrs. Sarah Moreton. Mrs. Burgess was
97 when she dled.

II. *Seneca Burgess, veteran; Solon Burgess, teacher; *Imogene Bur-
gess, teacher, married Jonathan Dake (see Dake family); Teressa, married
Hoppin; Isaac, married \delaide Lamb; *Louise, teacher, died young;
Frank a teacher of merit went west, became School Superintendent. Family
went west about war times.

 

THE HITCHCOCK FAMILY

I. Merritt and Sophronia Hitchcock.

II. Joseph, Lieut. rst Vet. Cavairy; Julius; Ella, married W. H. Paine
(see illustrations Civil List).

Nathaniel Bacon and his brother Asa settled in Chautauqua Hollow, about
1832. They afterward moved into a log house near Tuscarora about 1852; here
the entire family had the small pox. Dr. Meechem attended them, they all
lived, but were much dishgured by the disease. The family were zealous Meth-
odists of the primitive order and several of their sons, without special prepara-
tion became preachers or exhorters. The family came to the village of Nunda
for its school advantages and remained there several years. The youngest son,
Gardner, whose eyes were never very good, after having the small pox, en-
listed in the 33rd Regt., and died of sun stroke. He was the first soldier from
Nunda to die in the service.

I. 1. Nathaniel and Mrs. Achsah Terry Bacon.

II. Volney, married Mercy Jane Hay; *Aurilla, died aged 19; Otis, mar-
ried ————_— Saffard; Elisha, married - Knights, sister of Needham and
of Mrs. Long; Daniel, married in Nunda, Cochrane; Louise; Helen,
died single; Clarissa, married John A. Wright, son of Bela W.; Amelia; Gar-
dner, a veteran, died 1862; Sarah, married J. George of Ridge, N. Y.

I. 2. Asa Bacon, married Chloe White; George Bacon, married
Press; James Bacon.

 

 

 

1825—THE BRADLEYS

Samuel and Bethuel, (brothers).
I. 1. Samuel, born 1764, died 1843. buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

233
I. 1. Bethuel, wife Rosanna.

II. 1. Josiah, born 1801, farmer, died 1855, aged 54, buried in Oakwood,
married Emily Page, a teacher, born 1809, died 1860, buried in Oakwood; 2.
Hugh married Eliza Morey, born 1803, died May, 1861.

III. Children of Josiah: 1. Maria; 2. Louise, born 1838, died 1861;
3. Alvaro, died age 21; 4. James; 5. Mary

Children of Hugh: 1. Miles; 2. Hugh, if living at least 75 years of
age: 3. Eliza: 4. Jane.

Daniel Hamilton, buried in Nunda, Mrs. David Hamilton, buried in
Hunt's Hollow; Jonathan Hamilton, brother of Lee Hamilton, married Helena
Huggins, sister of William and Ira Huggins, lived in Nunda after 1825; *Ed-
win Mortimer, Co. I. 136th N. Y., died at Dalton, married Sarah Dunn, had
several sons; Charles H. Hamilton, married *Harriet Hagadorn, buried in Oak-
wood Cemetery, they had sons and daughters; Mrs. C. H. Hamilton was sister
to Chauncey, John and James Hagadorn, the last named were soldiers, all buried
at Nunda, they were the children of Jonathan and Effy Hagadorn, Mt. Mor-
ris; Daniel Hamilton at the age of 16, served as cow boy in the Revolutionary
War, was employed, but not enlisted, he was not therefore a pensioner.

SETTLED IN 1825

Alfred Goldthwait, farmer East Hill, married Caroline Fuller (daughter of
Joshua ).

Il. 1. Gilbert N., married Mary Hunt, he died April, 1908.

Il. 2. Helen. married 1 *George W. Fuller of East Hill, Nunda (not a
relative) ; 2 *George Breen; 3 *William Close (veteran 136th N. Y.) of Nunda.

III. Children of G. W. Fuller and Helen: William and Caroline Ful-
ier; of Mr. and Mrs. Breen, 1 2 3. Walter.

II. 3. *Norton S. (veteran Civil War) farmer, married Jane Seagers.
Children :

Ill. 1. Jerome, farmer; 2. *.\delbert, farmer, died 1907.

II. 4. Mile S., ex-merchant, commercial traveler, veteran Civil War, re-
sides Nunda, married Elizabeth Mills, daughter of *George Mills, stock buyer.
Children :

III. 1. Howard, resides Brooklyn; 2. Bessie, trained nurse, Nunda.

II. 5. Harriet married Robert Craig of Nunda, resides in Canasaraga.

Children: 1. James. 2. Bessie. 3. Grace.

VELEY. 1.

Barney Veley, pioneer, Creek Road near Nunda village, Mrs. Veley.
1. Rosanna, and 2 Morgan.

 

 

CHAPTER XV

DALTON AND Grove BouNDARY.

I. Adam Snyder, (Snyder settlement) and Mrs. Snyder. Their children:
tI. David Sr., married ———— Hyde; Hanna, married 1 Daniel Smith, 2
Edward Bush, 3 Simon Sphoon; Sally Ann, married “Matt Jackson, Albert

Remington Sarah Jane, married 1, *Henderson Morrison, 2 *William  Bat-
terson.

234
III. Rose Morris, married 1, Arthur Fuller, 2 (Lawyer) Evans, Athens,
Pennsylvania.

II. William, married Mary Miller.

Il. Julia, married Edward Newman; Mary Snyder, married “Abram
Foland, who died in the service; *Hinman; Lucetta Christine, married Alonzo
Davidson, she was drowned in a cistern, at Canisteo.

1824

I. Jacob Goodamont, a veteran of the War of 1812, lived in Snyder set-
tlement, Mrs. Goodamont died many years before her husband, both buried at
Snyder.

Children: 1. *lsaac Goodamont, married Mary J. Burdick, she married,
second, G. W. Smith, veleran; 2. *Jacob, a bachelor; 3. Catharine, married
James Storks, of Nunda: 4. Christina, married Mordacai Merithew, son of
Hiram of Nunda; 5. Cornelius, married Elvira Town, died 1808.

SHERMAN LINDSLEY

Once a thrifty farmer, moved into the village, kept a temperance saloon,
became the Angelica and Nunda mail carrier, developed insanity. To make his
vehicle vibrate less, he carried a huge stone around over the entire route. He
was an enthusiast in the prayer circle and had to be checked sometimes for
excessive emotionalism. He married, his wife survives him. It is possible,
his unbalanced mind was due to peculiarities of his parents. His father being
emotional, and his mother went to the opposite extreme, gave heroic treatment
to her prayerful husband, upsetting him, as well as his peace, and making his
journey heavenward, ‘ta hard road to travel.” Probably the wife of Socrates,
or of John Wesley, could have given old Mrs. Lindsley a few points, but it is
not probable she needed any instruction.

The other children of the household fortunately did not share in poor Sher-
man’s peculiarities, they were all level headed.

2. Olmstead, married (in the west); 3, *William Lindsley, married
*Amelia Rawson; one son, named for his father, survives.

II. 4. *Mary Lindsley, died single.

EWART FAMILY—OF SCOTCH-IRISH ORIGIN—ANOTHER
CENTENARIAN

1. George Ewart, born in Ireland, settled in 1828, married Susanna
Lemen; 2. Mary Ewart, married L. L. Rathbone, resided in Angelica. Tes en
Rathbone, Assemblyman, represented our County, Allegany , in 1824-5; 3.
Nancy Ewart, married Leonard Marshall, an uncle of Rev. James Marshall,
D. D., President Coe College; 4. *Rachel Ewart, born 1806, married .\aron
P. Day, born 1808, a farmer, one of L. Ayrault’s principal produce buyers, died
January 1, 1885.

III. *William E. Day, born 1834 in Birdsall, married 1, *Selura M. Whit-
ney; 2, Mattie Miller. W. E. Day, moved to Missouri, dropped dead from
heart trouble, in Igoo.

2. Susan Electa Day, born 1835, a retired milliner, (single), Dalton, N. Y.

Note.—A lady with a marvellous memory of individuals and of dates, to
whom the author is greatly indebted.

235
III. 3. Mary N. Day, born March 21, 1838, married Edgar S. Pettys.

IV 1. Cora A. Pettys, born 1859, married Alfred L. Augustus, foreman
Construction Work, when the Erie R. R. was double tracked; 2. Will E. Pettvs,
married Clella \. Lowell.

II. Margaret, married (43), Thomas Fuller, moved to Genesee Co., Mich.

II. Martha Ewart, born 1810, married Andrew Hill (see Thomas Hill
family.)

Il. Hugh Ewart married Mary L. Hill.

III. James Ewart, married Elizabeth Preston; Helen, married James
Babcock; Victorine, married Frank Christopher; George, single.

1827—HILL AND EWARTS

*Thomas Hill (a survevor, Holland Purchase) married Susan McEarl.

Note:—When Mrs. Hill was living on Holland Purchase, far in advance
of the frontier settlement, being lonesome while her husband was away with
the Ellicotts surveying, she saw what she supposed to be a black pig and fed it
daily. It proved to be a young, black bear, but it served to break the mono-
tony of her days of solitude. It seems that this botancial doctress was a better
judge of medicinal plants, than of animals. “Better than half the male doctors
of that early day, was Aunt Susan Hill.”

Il. 1. Mary Lemira Hill, born July, 1805, married *Hugh Ewart, great
grandson of Hugh Lemen of Ontario County. This Centenarian of this sec-
tion died while on a visit to Canaseraga, February 8, 1907, in her 1o2nd year.

III. 2. George, grandson; Mrs. Ewart lived on Mill Street with her
grandson, George, a few vears ago.

Il. 2. Andrew Hill, Pioneer of Grove-Nunda, 1827, afterward of Port-
age, afterward again of Nunda, married Martha Ewart.

Ill. 1. Dr. Hugh Hill, born April 16, 1836, married Mrs. Mary Foland:
2. Slyvia Haight of Swains. Sons of Dr. Hill: 1. Guy W., born 1880; 2.
Ward L., born 1884.

III. 2. Harian Hill, born 1840, was Sheriff of Livingston County.

1. William Hill; 2. Mercy Hill, married Doyle; 3. Maria Hill; 4.
Tranny Hill, married Henry Bisbee.

 

1825—AMES FAMILY
J. Rufus R. Ames, Mrs. Ames. Children:
II. Levi, Eliza Ann Starks.
III. John .\mes; George; Delivan; *Charles; Jane, married Wirt ;
Celia, married Thomas Parker; Henry, married -Boardman; Olive, mar-
tied Frank Steward, who has two children.

 

 

DANIEL AMES FAMILY

I. Daniel Ames, married Jane Rowley; Mrs. Ames, married second, Syl
vester Ames.

II. Albert Ames, married Hill.

Il. Ruth Ann Ames, married Richard Warren; Louisa Ames, single;
Joanna, married *Hiram Rowley; *Mary, married William P. Thompson, (see
Thompson family), *Elisha, died in the service.

 

236
1824—-THE BOLSTERS

This pioneer family settled near the Snyder Settlement. Mirth, eccentric-
ity and pathos often blend in local history, that records “The short and simple
annals of the poor.”

Richard. Bolster, and Mrs. Bolster had but two children, John and Phebe.

John was not scholarly, Phebe tried to be, and succeeded in getting a Sum-
mer School with no large scholars. Some one asked John if Phebe was at
home, he replied, “No she is tautin school, and if she likes tautin, she will taught
right along.” After this there were many others who asked the same question.

Another story told of poor John was, that he wanted a tooth pulled, but did
not want to pay for the pulling of it, so he hailed the doctor daily as he passed
along, asking, “How much would you tax me for pulling out a tooth?” After
the doctor had stated his price on several occasions he became annoyed, at
being stopped daily, so he told him he would pull it for nothing. John con-
sented to this liberal proposition, and the doctor procured an old discarded set
of turnkeys, partially pulled the tooth, let the turnkey slip and tried and retried,
till poor John was nearly frantic with pain, then he finished the job and totd
John, it was the worst job he ever had, and he didn't want another like it.

When the work commenced on the Deep Cut excavation, John was em-
ploved there and was the first to lose his life in that gigantic enterprise.

Phebe not only taught school, but liked “taughting’” so well she took a
school of one scholar and became Mrs. Austin Holliday. The children of Mr.
and Mrs. Holliday were, Clark and Clarissa Holliday, who no doubt becanie
teachers and enjoved “teaching.”

1827—SPHOON FAMILY

I. Simon Sphoon, pioneer, married Nancy Passage.

Il. 1. *George A. Sphoon (was killed in the war).

t. Merev Jane Blowers, who married Henry Fox, for her second husband.

II. 4. Amanda Sphoon, married 1 John Woodard; 2 ————— Smock.

Their children:

III. Rastus Woodard, died in the Navy, was sent home with an escort,
and high commendations; Jessie; George Woodard.

Children of George. 1 and 2. Rennie and Glenny, (twins), reside Perry,
N. Y.; 3. Alfred; 4. Carrie.

I. Children of George (II. 1) Sphoon.

1. William A. Sphoon, married Elsie Fay, photographer at Nunda, (see
Baldwin and Lowell Families) ; 2. Hattie, married Charles Fuller; 3. Eva Ann,
married Mordacai Blowers.

II. 4. Martha Sphoon, married “Adrian Rathbun, veteran, resides Oak-
land, N. Y.

II. 5. Emma, married J. Campbell Walker (see Walker family).

Children of William A. and Elise Fay Sphoon.

IV. 1. Charles Sphoon (teacher) Principal, Tonawanda; 2. Wells A.
Sphoon, married Charlotte Waters.

The widow Woodard, married second, — Smock; Cordelia Woodard,
married John Merithew (see Merithew family) ; Louise Woodard, single; Rus-
sell, single; William M.; *John married Amanda Sphoon; half brother Oliver
Smock.

 

237
LOCKWOOD, PICNEER

Settled Nunda 1826 (Lot 105), died of cholera 1852.

I. Michael Lockwood, married Salina Nash, sister of Alfred Nash.

II. 1. George, married Julia Cleveland; Catharine, married William
Haines; Clarinda, single; Johanna; Harriet, married Combs; Alva Lock-
wood, single.

 

HAINES

I. James Haines and wife, children:

II. 1. William Haines, married Catharine Lockwood.

III. Son Henry W., Nunda; 2. Mary (*Mrs. Gage); 3. *Henry Thomas
Haines, (produce buyer), married Catharine McLane, son, Arthur Haines,
N. Y. City; 4. George; 5. Phebe.

JOHN WAGOR FAMILY

Farmer and Mechanic, Lot 111, married Melissa E. Johnson.

II. 1. Franklin, married Mary Barnes; 2. *Johnson (veteran), married
in Iowa, died in 1905; 3. *Bernard, a carpenter, married *Ellen Geer, buried at
Oakwood.

Mrs. Wagor married second, Havillah Brewer. Children:

IV. Walter Wagor, married Cora Gordon.

Their children: WV Robert and Frank.

Son of Havillah Brewer, *Clark R. (merchant), Hunt’s, married Lizzie
Whittaker, C. R. B., died in Colorado of consumption.

II. Mary Wagor, married Luman Brace.

1. Louise Brace, married George P. Bond, daughter Onolee Bond; 2. Eva
Dot, married Edward Laughlin; 3. Leo DeForest Brace married (elsewhere).

1825 AND 1827—THE RICE FAMILIES

Amos Rice took up a farm No. too, and lived there several years, he in-
duced his brother Elijah to come west and purchase a farm next to his own. He
did so, but a year after, Amos and family moved away.

I. 1. Amos Rice, Mrs. Anna Rice; sold farm to Abraham Burgess, 1828.
Children:

II. 1. *Erastus; 2. Alanson, gi years of age is living; 3. *Aamanda; 4.
*William; 5. Esther, in her 85th year; 6. Mary Ann, in her 83rd year; 7. *Ed-
win; 8. *George; 9. *Marana.

1827. I. 2. Elijah Rice, Mrs. Rice. Children:

II. 1. *Samantha, married William D. Paine, millwright, (see Paine
family) ; 2. *Diantha, married Jonas Warren, (see Warren family); 3. Zervia
(single), has lived on the same farm eighty years; 4. *Alvin, bachelor; 5.
Anna, married Holland; Zervia alone survives. The Rice family were
Presbyterians.

 

1825—THOMAS DUNN FAMILY—A FAMILY DESCENDED FROM
A CENTENARIAN
T,
Katyann Clarissa Dunn, was born in England in 1753, died in Nunda 1857,
age 104 years.
238
II.

t. Nathaniel Dunn (half brother to Thomas), born 1768, died 1849; 2.
Leonard Dunn, brother to Thomas, born 1783, died 1866; 3. Thomas Dunn,
born in New Jersey, 1794, died 1876.

Thomas Dunn Family settled in 1825, married Anna Bark. Children of
Thomas:

III 1. *Sarah Ann, born 1822, married 1 *Henry Miles, 2 *Levi Boone;
Sarah Ann, died 1900; 2. Selina, born 1826, married 1854, *Eliphalit Doane; 3.
Elijah, born 1831, married 1861, *Louisa Marshall, Elijah Doane, died 1907; 4.
Jane M., born 1834, married 1854, 1 “Wellington Guy, 2 William Wood; Jane
M., died 1905; 5. Albert M., born 1836, married 1864, Sarah Armilla Gearhart,
daughter of George Gearhart, Jr.; 6. *Mary E., born 1839, married 1856,
*Amos B. Eldridge; Mary E., died 1898; 7. Christopher A., born 1842, single.

IV Children of Salina Doane: Myron E. Doane, unmarried; S. LaFay-
ette Doane, married, lives in the West; Mary E. Doane, married Charles
Kline; Jennie M. Doane.

Son of Elisha and Louisa Dunn: Marshall Dunn.

Children of Jane and Wellington Guy: Edward E. Guy, married Mary
Hark; Nellie M. Guy, married Harry J. Stuart.

Children of Albert and S. Armilla Dunn: Fred E. Dunn, unmarried: Bert
E. Dunn, married Lulu Sokup, resides in Chicago, III.

Children of Mary and Amos Eldridge: *Samuel C. Eldridge, married;
*Carrie MI. Eldridge, married Milo S. Lowell.

I. *Hiram Merithew settled on Lot 65, married (first) Lydia McKenney,
(second), Laura Bailey, first white child born in Grove-Nunda, January 26,
1820, who died 1907.

II. 1. Mordecai, married Christina Goodamont, of Nunda.

III. «3. Sarah, married Silas Wicks, of Canaseraga; 2. Ella, married
William Couter; 3. Lydia, married Miller; 4. Emma, married
Whipple.

II. 2. Sarah, married Lewis Wetherley.

II. 3. Lodiska, married Josiah Yencer.

III. Charlotte Yencer, married Charles Criddle. Children:

IV 1. May Criddle, married Manley Stevens (daughter, \ Charlotte
Ruth Stevens); 2. Belle Criddle.

III. 2. Ambrose Yencer (Company F, 136th New York), killed.

III. 3. Flora Yencer, married Charles Beardsley; sons:

IV. 1. Joseph, 2. Elmer, 3. Clarence, and 4. Charles Beardsley.

III. 4. Emory Yencer, married Emma Steih of Grove; sons:

IV. 1. Lloyd, 2. Floyd.

III. 5. George Yencer, married Ella Maybee (1. *Lottie, age 16, Jen-
nie); 6. Morgan, married in New Jersey; 7. William Yencer.

I. 3. Lucy Merithew, married John Miller; 4. Achsah, married Samuel
Jones; 5. Jane, married Friend Scott.

‘Il. 6. Hiram, married Jane Barnes, died 1907.

Children of Hiram and Laura Bailey Merithew:

II. 7. Seneca Merithew, married (first) — Town; (second) ———
Post; Dalton.

II. 8. Willis (bachelor), R. F. D. Portage.
239

 

 
kK

 

1. 2. John Merithew, brother of Hiram, Sr., married (first)
\Voodard, (second) Mrs. Elwell. He was killed in a saw mill in S. E.
Nunda.

Children:

Il. 1. Maria, (AIrs. Randall).

II. 2. Martha, married (first) *Simpson Colton, died at Dalton; (second)
Hemingway Tyler.

III. Grace, Mrs. Brownell; Mary, married *Ernest Wilson, lives at
Barkertown; John, married Grimes; Harry (at home).

Il. 3. Clara Merithew, married — Thompson.

Children of Mrs. Elwell: Willis Elwell; Ada Elwell, Canaseraga.

I. 3. Philander, married Lydia Yencer.

II. 1. Euphenna, married Knowles.

Il. 2. Hiram (veteran), married Adelia ————-. Hiram Merithew
was killed by falling down the stairs of the Annex, Livingston Block, 1905,
Philander, Jr. (veteran), lived in Michigan; *Laura; *Lucy; Belle, married
(first ) Clark; (second) — Piper.

Josiah Smith family, settled next to the Grove line, sold farm to John
Kelly.

II. 1. Daniel Smith, married Hannah Snyder.

Il. 2. Henry Smith, married (first) Fanny Swift, (second) Mrs.
Hinman Nolan, sister to Alexander Hinman. Children:

Ill. Melissa, married Joseph Guptill (veteran); Emily, married George
Wheeler.

II. 3. Josiah, married Burge; 4. Benjamin, single; 5. Lucy, mar-
ried Thomas G. Lockwood; 6. Sarah, married Benjamin Aldrich; 7. Jane,
married Jacob Warner; 8. Eunice, married Timothy Mabie; 9. Eliza, mar-
ried Armenian Bibbins, son, George Bibbins.

Children of Sarah (Smith) Aldrich: Alphonso, a Lieutenant, Civil War,
married Mary Beech of Oakland; Mary Jane, married (first) Ovid Wheeler,
(second) Havens; Milan (veteran), married Mary Cook.

Children of Lucy (Smith) Lockwood: George M. Lockwood, veteran,
chief clerk, Interior Department, Pension and Real Estate Agency, Washing-
ton, D. C.; *Sarah, teacher and artist, single, died; *Lias, teacher, Department
Clerk in New York City; Frances Winifred, married Harry J. Decker, Depart-
ment Clerk, Washington and elsewhere, son of Rev. Wm. P. Decker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POST OFFICE AT EAST HILL—THE ROBINSONS

About the year 1831 a post office was established at East Hill, simultane-
ously with the change of the post office from Wilcox Corners, to Nunda. The
latter was called Nunda Valley.

William Robinson and his son, Rufus, were the only postmasters. The
office was discontinued in 1860. The sons of William Robinson, Leonard and
Rufus, the latter but fifteen years of age, carried the mails on foot from Nunda
to Dansville, via East Hill, and from Dansville to Nunda. This office served
also for a part of the town of Ossian. It was afterward moved across the
town line into the Bisbee Settlement, and called Bisbee. It is now known as
West View.

240
William Robinson and his wife, Marion Caswell, and their three children
settled on East Hill not far from the Ossian boundary. There were only
blazed bridle paths at the time. Their neighbors were the Coys, the Austins
and the Walsworths. The children were Leonard, Rufus and Sophia. Rufus,
who afterward lived in this village, was but fourteen years of age. Leonard
was older.

II. 1. Leonard, married Eunice Walsworth. Children of Leonard and
Eunice Walsworth Robinson; Walter, a veteran of the Civil War; Pauline,
a lecturer and elocutionist; Jane, Mrs. Gammon; Daniel, killed in the Civil
War; Louise, married John Colar of Dansville, who died in tgo08, aged 83.

II. 2. Sophia Robinson, married Signor.

II. 3. Rufus Robinson, born in 1817, married Sarah Walker, born in
1821, who at this time is living but in feeble health, with her youngest son,
Frank E. Their children were seven in number: William, married Hannah
McMillan; George, married Esther Moore; Franklin, died at the age of 17;
Edward, married Sarah Beecher; Emma, married William L. Brown; Her-
bert, married Alice Armstrong; and Frank E. Robinson, married Hattie Her-
rington, and lives in this village. For the last few years he has been in the
furniture and undertaking business. His widowed mother lives with him.
He has a son and a daughter. Ralph (grad. N. H. S. in 1908.)

 

THE COYS

*John and *Jane Coy were doubtless early settlers on the Hill, as they
were buried at Wilcox Corners, which indicates that there was the principal
burying place at the time of their death.

Their children: 1. *Harvev; 2. *Elma; 3. *Calista; 4. *Joyce, married
M. Reichard; 5. *Hoel, bachelor, died 1906; 6. Sally, single.

The farm is still in possession of the family. Sally is the only survivor.

WALSWORTH

I. Avery Walsworth (veteran, 1812).

II. Daniel (was eighteen when he came to Nunda), married Sarah
Reichard; Nancy, married Gammon; Eunice, married Leonard Robin-
son; Abigail, married Charles King; Sherlock, married.

Children of Daniel and Sarah; Anna, married Thomas Keating; John,
married Elizabeth Juggard; Daniel Avery, married Henriette \Voolworth,
Rawson Street, Nunda, have daughter and son.

Children of Eunice and L. Robinson: *\Valter Robinson, veteran of Civil
War; Pauline Robinson, a lecturer and elocutionist; Jane, married
Gammon; *Daniel Robinson, killed in the Civil \War; Louise (single).

Children of Abigail and Charles King (see Amos King family’).

 

 

THE RULISONS-CHITTENDEN FAMILY, NEAR EAST HILL POST
OFFICE—1830

I. John and Mrs. Rulison. Children:

II. Mercy Ann, married Alonzo Veeley, son of Barney V. Veeley; Maria,
married William Consalus; Betsey, married Harvey Chittenden; John, mar-
ried Booth; Charles, married — Mosher; Emily, married (first)
Torrey Smith, (second) Amos King.

 

 

241
Children of Harvey Chittenden:

I. Oscar, clerk for Paine Bros., clerk for produce buyers, T. J. Batterson
& Co., married Angier; 2. Edgar, married (first) Laura Farnsworth,
(second) Anice Farnsworth.

Children of Edgar and Laura: Frank B., married (first) Carrie Paine,
daughter of Wells Paine, (second) Mary Searles. Children of Frank and
Carrie: Harry and Florence.

Wells Chittenden, married; Charles, married Loup, also three
sisters of Oscar and Edward; Mary Chittenden, married A. B. Dunn, School
Commissioner; Aline, married Emory Booth, Springwater; Laura, married
\Wellington Walker.

 

 

1829

Henry Chandler, Mrs. Sally Chandler. \elancy, married Philip DePuy,
uncle to Peter; Eunice died when a young lady; Rufus, born in Nunda, 1822,
enlisted and died in the service, 1864, aged 41, married Electa Frost, left one
daughter; Sarah, married Joshua Pittenger; Jane, married Byron Seelye.

I. Amos King, farmer near Ossian line, married Rulison. Chil-
dren:

II. Charles King, married Abigail \Walsworth, and while he was de-
spondent, suicided. Mrs. King wandered away, and was never found.

Ill. 1. Eli H. King enlisted in Company 1 Dragoons, received an injury
that led to his discharge. He married Eleanor Alvard, daughter of Simeon;
his daughter, (IV.) Anna, married Howard Dana, formerly of Nunda. They
have two sons. Eli H. Ning, died January 2, 1908, and is buried at Nunda. 2.
Sylvenus King a cousin of Sylvenus Ellis, married Spencer, resides in
Nunda.

II. 2. Henry King, married Lemira Hay, daughter of Warren Hay of
Nunda. Daughters (III.) 1. Della King (AIrs. Robert Holmes) ; 2.

King, Mrs. Hay.

IV. Belle Holmes, married Harry Kellogg; Clarence Holmes, married
IKKate Marsh; Grace Holmes, single.

Il. 3. Eliza King, married Wesley Ellis (see Ellis family). Wesley Ellis,
married Eliza King; *Sylvanus Ellis, A. M., Superintendent of Schools,
Rochester, (see College List for Nunda); married *Sarah Manette Peck,
teacher of District Schools in Nunda; Mary Ellis, married Michael Mundy;
Clarissa, married James Norris, veteran; Rachel.

 

 

1831—JOHN CLOSE FAMILY—FARMER AND SHOEMAKER, 86
ACRES

I. John Close, born in Pennsylvania 1804, married in 1827 (first) Re-
becca VanDyke, born Eagle-Nunda 1808 and died September 28, 1863, chil-
dren nine ; married (second) in 1869 A. Hynes, born Livingston County
1812. Their children:

II. 1. Sarah A.; 2. Mary E.; 3. William A., born 1833, a good soldier,
married Catherine Boyd, born in Cayuga County 1836 (married 1857), enlisted
in Company I, 136th New York, 1862, wounded, served term of enlistment,
married (second) Mrs. Helen Goldthwait-Fuller-Breen (see 136th Regiment),
buried at Oakwood. His children:

 

242
III. Harriet A.; David L., born 1867; Katie R.

II. 4, Eleanor, married Henry K. Havens, veteran, 136th Regiment, died
1907, aged 79; Richmond Havens, married Mertis Fay, (second) Mary Clos-
ser; William, married Mariam Fay; Clayton Havens, married; Georgia Hav-
ens, daughter of William, married Charles Rathbon; Edith Havens, daughter
of Richmond (a member of family).

JOHN AUSTIN FAMILY

It is not known if this family are descendants of the Austins of the first
decade of settlement or not; their location would indicate that they are. The
family were patriots during the Civil War, for four of their sons were in the
service. The children’s names were: Albert, George, Benjamin, Church (be-
came a clergyman), Silas, Miranda and Almira.

THE WALSWORTH-WOOLWORTH FAMILY—ESTIMATED TIME
OF SETTLEMENT 1831

The heads of these families were veterans of former wars. The Wals-
worths settled in Nunda; the Woolworths, across the line in Ossian. The
pioneer Woolworth father was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, and the
pioneer Walsworth of the war of 1812-14.

I. Avery Walsworth, veteran, married Anna Brown.

II. Daniel (eighteen when he came to Nunda), married Sarah Reichard;
Nancy, married Gammon; Eunice, married Leonard Robinson, son of
William, pioneer, brother of Rufus; Abigail, married Charles King (see Amos
King and family); Sherlock, married elsewhere.

Children of Daniel, Sr. and Sarah (R) Walsworth:

III. Anna, married Thomas Keating; John, married Elizabeth Jaggard ;
Daniel, Jr., married Henrietta Woolworth. This family live in Nunda village;
they have a son and a daughter.

 

CHAPTER AVI.

Our Tuirp Decape, 1828-1838—SrTores, STREETS AND CanaL Maxine, WITH
More SETTLERS.

houses, saw mills and asheries: and the second town and decade, grist

mills and tanneries, and river navigation from the vicinity now known

as Portage, so the third town with its circumscribed boundaries inaugurated
during the first part of the third decade, a village of stores with two church
edifices. The latter half may be called Canal days, when the longest branch
of the Erie Canal was to be constructed. This brought into prominence a class
‘of energetic men, known as contractors, and the building of locks, bridges and
excavations of a canal channel of ordinary depth, and the Deep Cut (extraor-
dinary—through a hill), and the tunneling through Portage rock and shale
for a channel for a tunnel, inaugurated an enterprise greater than any the
State had ever engaged in. The forests of Allegany were calling to the City

\ S our first decade of our first town of Nunda inaugurated log school

243
 

SAMUEL SwalIn, JR. Hiram C. Grover
Pioneer Merchant Pioneer Merchant

 

 

 

 

 

UTLey SpENcER, Esq.
Merchant and Postmaster

 

WALTER WHITCOMB :
Born 1808
by the Sea to come and possess their treasure if they could transport it. The
Legislature heard this “Call of the Wilderness,” voiced by the representatives
of Cattaraugus, Allegany, Livingston and Genesee Counties, and the ready
response from the Hudson to Manhattan, and the decision to do this strenuous
task, let it cost what it would, was pronounced and decisive, and a survey
was made from Rochester to Olean.

The proclamation having been made that this was to be, and that farmers
and lumbermen along the entire length of the Genesee were to have a means
of supplying a long felt want in the East, from out the abundance of the
West, led to a speedy settlement of the available lands, especially on heavy
timber lands, and the eastern forests of the town found rapid settlement.

1828

Some of the settlers of this year it is more difficult to name. In and near
the village were, first of all, an accession from Oakland of the Swains, Blanch-
ard, J. H. Osgoodby, from Oak Hill of the widow of Jesse Adams and Utley
Spencer, of Rev. Elijah Bennett's family, and the same year Lyman Herrick
and some of the Dakes. Others who settled on farms were \Wilson Roberts,
Stephen Haynes, William Stephenson, William Hoyt, Jonas Ructer, Dr.
Barnabas \Vright, Henry Townsend, and the widow Smith, the last in the
village; also Warren Daniels, the cloth dresser from Oakland, and Allen Beech,
on the county line.

THE SWAINS

The narrative of the coming of this family by team from their far eastern
home I have seen and read. It was written down from the statement of Alfred
Swain. They came with a team, and brought with them a cow. The cow
would, after a few days of their journey, feed along the way, then come on
and rejoin the family without any driver or driving. This was very pleasing,
and saved the boys many long walks. The oldest son, if born in 1804, was
fourteen and the youngest four or five. At night the parents would get per-
mission to spread their bed on the floor of some pioneer, or at some inn, while
the five boys slept in the wagon or on some hay loft. After many days’ jour-
ney they arrived by the river road to Nunda, Oak Hill, near or at the Latham
Coffin farm. Here a squatter, one of the McNutt’s. was, by the owner of the
premises, made to give up his cabin to the new comers; and here life com-
menced anew under many trials. First of all their trials they found that they
had only $5 of money left, and, to add to their tribulations, the main source
of their food supply gave out, the faithful cow having died. She had won all
their hearts by her fidelity to the traveling household, and there were more
besides young Jamie who shed tears over her sad fate.

What in this day would a homeless family of seven, with only a team and
the few articles that could be carried in a wagon along with seven persons, do?
Well I expect conditions have changed. There were axes and a gun, and
‘every one of that household was ready to do his part. The writer does not
know what they did first; but one day in 1818 the two Samuels took a gun—-
may be two of them—and tramped through the woods from old Onondao, to
what is now Nunda village, an uninhabited place, and there, where the Truth
office now stands, and where the Eagle Hotel barn once stood, Samuel, Sr.,

245
shot a bear; and down by the Mill Street bridge—the first one—a deer had
come for drink, and that also was killed, so there was no scarcity of meat in
that household for many days tocome. A Mr. Lane of Hume-Nunda, a cousin,
supplied the money to start business, and a saw mill was erected where a
small stream furnished water power, and business commenced in earnest.
The stream, however, proved inadequate in summer, and the family came, a
few years afterward, to Oakland, and built a small frame house on the very
spot where the Edgerley place is to-day. David Edgerley, who knew these
people, came to see them, and fancying the place with its new frame house,
bought it, and the Swains moved to the Orton farm, and bought it, too. How
could $5 have added two ciphers to it in so short a time? In ten years from
the time they landed at Oak Hill they had grown from poverty to a comfort-
able competence, and the older boys to men, and when they arrived at Nunda
they were ready for business. Where had they gained the money to build
and equip a grist mill? By carrying his goods by water to a good market.
The market would not come to him so he went with his goods to the market.
Samuel, Sr., was one of those who took the Genesee by the throat and made
it carry his lumber to the Erie Canal without paying it or any one a cent of toll.

Do you find the story of all pioneers alike’? There are those whose energy
fund is so large that it bridges all chasms of difficulty and seizes opportunity
by the forelock and makes it junior partner in successful enterprises.

Is pioneer history dull? It would be if all of the pioneers were patient
plodders, gathering moss along the same ruts or routine of life. But some
rolling stones roll up success in large wads and take the chances on its adhesive
qualities. And when it was rumored that the Swains were going to use the
Keshequa and make it turn the big wheels of a grist mill, there was big joy
in the little village, for a grist mill was a recognized necessity.

We will let imagination have her innings as to the welcome these win-
ners of former success received.

The writer is of the opinion that the big six-fold family of Samuel Swain,
Sr., was, from 1828 to 1830, the most useful family that made Nunda for those
years expand like a green bay tree.

There is nothing like a grist mill in a new community to encourage agri-
culture. So well was this known that the Land Agents, like Williamson and
the \Wadsworths, built them in various places. But Lindsay Joslyn and
Samuel Swain, Sr., unaided by Judge Carroll, started this needed improve-
ment. Why live in this annex to the richest valley then known of, and fail
to utilize its advantages?

THE SCHOOL HOUSE ON MILL STREET

The frame school house that served the growing village for the next
seventeen years, though not fine in architecture or anything to boast of as to
size, was a great improvement on the McSweeny log school house.

The Tobey grocery, with Yankee notions and possibly some of the loom
productions of Mrs. Seth Barker and others, was a real improvement. Then
Waite Joslyn got his leg crushed in a threshing machine and so a store had to
be built for him, and L. Joslyn built the W. B. Whitcome store, and Riley Mer-
rill built another. Samuel Swain, Jr., built the Durx building, and had a store

246
and an ashery, and the writer has seen the books where he trusted out the
goods. It would be mean to tell how many of the very best meeting house
people got trusted for something to use for medicine, or what rich people like
Lewis Gould worked for $10 a month for this enterprising merchant.

At the imminent risk of filling his book full, the writer tries to name the
members of the Swain family.

GENEALOGY OF THE SWAIN FAMILY

I. Samuel Swain, Sr., born 1778, died 1851, married Betsey Prescott,
both buried in Oakwood.

Second Generation

II. Alfred, born 1804, married Gertrude Pittenger; Samuel, Jr., married
(first) Cynthia Jefferies, (second) Clara Jefferies, died 1885, aged 75; Edward,
born 1808, married Almira Waite, daughter of John, manufacturer and super-
visor; David, born 1812, grist miller, died 1881, aged 69, married Malina Smith,
the only living member of the six heads of families; James, a druggist and
school-book and newsdealer, married Adeline E. T. Morrison, a teacher in the
Nunda Literary Institute, and moved West. James Swain died at Fort Dodge,
and Mrs. J. Swain at Odin, IIL.

Third Generation

Children of Alfred and Gertrude:

III. 1. *Mary E., born 1835, married *Orlando W. Barker, son of Seth;
2. Harriet, married Alexander Thorp. (Captain ist Dragoons, killed); 3.
Sophia, married Pittenger; 4. *Susan, married Van Alstine; 5.
Cornelia, married Scott Barriger, resides at Portage, N. Y.; 6. Jane, single,
art teacher, Norfolk Seminary, North Carolina; 7. Samuel A., married
Van Ostrand; 8. \W Edward, married (second) Veley, Grove, N. Y.
g. *Fred F., inventor of a lubricator that bears his name. He was shot by an
employee, but not fatally.

The widow of Edward Swain married (second) Hon. Samuel Skinner.
Children of Edward Swain:

III. xz. Helen E., a talented musician, died young; 2. Agnes Almira; 3.
Flora Estelle, married W. S. P. Mathews, a singing teacher; 4. Septrina At-
lanta; 5. Martha; 6. John T.; James (married in the West).

II. *Samuel, Jr., married (first) Cynthia Jefferies, (second) Clara Jef-
feries (sisters). Children of Samuel and Cynthia:

III. 1. *Henry; 2. *Samuel; 3. *Betsy; 4. *Laura; 5. *Cora. Children of
Samuel and Clara: 1. Charles; 2. Julia (Mrs. Healy); 3. Anna; 4. Catherine.

Children of David and Malina:

III. 31. Emma, married Addison J. Gordon, veteran of the Civil War,
died 1887; 2. *Frank, journalist, died in 1886; 3. Charles, married Eva Purdy ;
James, married Mary Prescott.

Fourth Generation

Grandchildren of Samuel, Jr.: Child of Julia, who married Joshua Healy;
Anna Healy; daughters of Charles, who married Emma Wood; Clara and
Helen.

Grandchildren of David and Malina: Children of Addison J. Gordan and
Emma; Frank; Cora, married Walter Wagor; Fred and Harry.

 

 

 

 

247
Fifth Generation

Children of Walter and Cora \Wagor, Robert and Frank. (II.) Mrs.
Malina Swain, (III) Mrs. Emma Gordon and her children and grandchildren
are all of the Swain family now living in Nunda.

The Jeffries family were: Hannah, Mrs. Dr. W. Z. Blanchard, son, John
Celsus, born 1823 at Oakland; 2. Freedom; 3. John, a dentist ; 4. Amesa, whose
widow, Catharine Canfield Jeffries, married Rev. Luke Colby, her son, Knelon
and John Norman Jefferies; and Cynthia and Clara, first and second wives of
Samuel Swain, Jr.

Dr. \W. Z. Blanchard had been in partnership with farmer Nathaniel
Clough in a store in Oakland, where farmer Clough lost several thousand
dollars, and the Doctor made about the same sum. The Doctor came to Nunda
in 1829, built the double house on State Street, and bought Riley Merrill's
store now on Portage Street, and failing to secure a second partner soon sold
it out and moved to Geneseo. His son, Celsus, was a rusher, pushed every-
body out of his way, and looked out only for No. 1. His father sent him to
Temple Hill Academy, Geneseo, but the restraint there proved too great and
he ran away, hired out on a farm, and then joined a band of Indians, then went
West, bought 50 acres of land, and when his father found him he induced
him to study law. He became a great lawyer, a great political stump speaker,
and finally ran for Governor of Michigan; but he was a Democrat and the
Democrats were not the winners. He made a fortune in a lumber deal, but
died at the age of 83 of a hemorrhage of the lungs.

The Indians called him Optusue, which means, to push, to crowd, and
evidently the name was not a misfit. He died March 8, 1805.

The double house on State Street near Barrell’s shop, that needs to be torn
down, is all that is left to recall the Dr. Blanchard family.

The young men of the Jefferies family, John Norman and Knelon, were
as popular and attractive 50 years ago as any in town,

CHAPTER XVI.

NunpbDA VaALLey—lIts ProGress AND CHANGES.

Valley. It was located in the Joslyn store, corner of State and Mill Street,

and Lindsley Joslyn was the postmaster, and Utley Spencer clerk of the

store and deputy postmaster. \Vaite Joslyn, who had lost a limb in a threshing
machine, was nominally the merchant.

T 1831 a post office was established in the new village, and called Nunda

Other stores were built and other storekeepers came. The Lyman Tobey
grocery, now the East Street market, the oldest store in the village, stood north
of the Joslyn store. Riley Merrill built the small corner store where Whitcomb
& Richmond started their store in 1835. It has been twice moved. Who built
the stores that made the town once such a fine business center is often asked,
and not easily answered. From 1831 to 1834 there were built the very stores
that are on the east side of the street. They were numbered from I to 6 and
were called Merchants’ Row; those on the west side, Farmers’ Exchange.
Blessed be the newspapers and all who advertise, for such only give the facts,

248
and those only, the wise, advertise and so are remembered. Dr, Gilmore
built one (the Craig store); WD. Hammond caused three to be built; Rich-
mond & Whitcomb built one, now torn down to make room for the village
building. Quartus Barron built one, the one facing east and also State Street.
Albert Page and H. D. Gardner built a block of three and called it Emporium.
Some one built a block corner of First and State Street and called it the Em-
pire Block; it was burned in 1852. Roswell Bennett bought the store built by
Lyman Tobey and moved it to East Street, so his daughter, Mrs. Charles Her-
rick, says. W H. Hammond bought the Chipman store that was built on the
Hugh MeNair place, and moved it to a driveway between the Earl Street
market and the Emporium block. Morris Phillips may have built the narrow
store next to Nunda House; at any rate he owned it. Some of the newer ones,
such as Mrs. Lake's store, the L. b. Warner store, the stores in the Living-
ston block, built by Willard Wood, most all know about; and the five stores
in the Union block are too recent to need a chronicler.

If any person insists that Nunda has been a stand-still town, even the
very buildings will brand the story as false, for at least 100 of them have been
moved from their first location, and all the others have changed in appearance.

1832—NUNDA VALLEY

This year the hamlet known as Hubbell’s Corners changed its name to
Nunda Valley. The post office at Wilcox Corners was still on the side hill
and was called Nunda post office. The Wilcox family had gone. East Hill
had a post office of its own and the other new post office must have a name.
It was located in the valley, hence its name. But this year a greater change
was to take place. Watson, from Geneseo, a brother of the \Watson who kept
the Big Tree Tavern there, had rented or bought at least a year before, the
frame house tavern of Alanson Hubbell. Lindsley Joslyn had built or bought
the corner store (the \Walter B. Whitcomb store) and his son, Waite Joslyn,
was the merchant and the father became the postmaster, the first the village
ever had. The public square or plaza had been laid out. East Street now
terminated at the public square. Blocks of stores were provided for, and the
building of them commenced. The Eagle Hotel and barn was in process of
completion with proportions that seemed at that day magnificent. Evidently
the builder and proprietor had been selling most of his half of lot 28, located
in the very heart of the village, and most of the proceeds were used in the
construction of this building. Opposite to it was a new store, facing East
Street and the “Eagle,” and on the west the Plaza. Quartus Barron was the
builder, and J. H. Osgoodby had the contract for the construction. -

West of the Eagle, on the present site of the post office, stood the “Jones
barn,” where the Baptists had worshiped since 1827, and now two churches
were being added; one, the Baptist, on the corner of Mill and Church Streets;
and the Presbyterian (now the Methodist), not far from, but east of the
‘present site of the latter edifice. William D. Hammond had come from Hume
and had built the house on Portage Street now known as the Gunsmith Ben-
nett place, and east of this John S. Wright had erected a house, for he was a
builder, the house lately occupied by Miss Rachel Bennett. Possibly the great
barn-like building attached to this place, in which the first foundry was located

249
a few years afterward, had served as the Hotel barn for Hubbell and Watson,
Its location back from Portage Street may serve to show the people of the
present day where East Street formerly was (before Portage Street and Mill
Street had any existence), just in front of this building.

At this time we are informed by the late Mrs. W. D. Hammond that there
were on the Plaza no less than two frog ponds, densely populated, and that
in their season the evening concerts given by their inhabitants have never since
been rivaled in some particulars. But WWD. Hammond had come to stay and
to have a hand in the building and unbuilding of the village. He bought some
of the land in the rear of one of these ponds, and caused them to be drained,
built an office for himself and became for the rest of his life a Justice of the
Peace.

Just when this space between the stores of Quartus Barron on the north,
and Joslyn on the south, was filled out with stores is to the writer unknown.
Several remember Lyman Tobey’s grocery and notion store, located near the
site of Peck’s City Drug Store, before the construction of that building; others
insist it was the same building, while Mrs. Augusta Herrick, daughter of Ros-
well Bennett, of Portage, 1821, and of Nunda much later, says it was the
present East Street market. The Swain store, or block, for the building south
of it is not new or modern, was built about this time. Some say there are
indications that this building has once been moved; but if so it was only moved
a few feet, when Portage Street was given an existence in its present form and
when East Street was cut off at the square.

CHAPTER XVII.

SOME OF THE TowN MAKERS—IT Takes MERCHANTS \ND MECHANICS To MAKE
A Town—Asout 1830 THESE CAME.

I. Elihu Dickenson (Gibbs Place).

II. His daugher married David Holmes (wagonmaker), Buffalo Street
(F H. Gibbs, foreman).

III. 1. Elihu Holmes and 2 Erastus Holmes, were his sons. Holmes
Street is named for him.

II. 2. Enos Dickenson, owned Elmwood and afterward the Dickenson
farm he bought of Ralph Page. His wife's name was Berry.

III. Enos, Jr., Elihu, 2d, married (first) Almira Perrin, (second) Miss
Doty; Eliza, married A. Keith; William; Orren, who sold out and went West.

II. Emolus O. Dickenson, nephew to Elihu, came to Nunda in 1850,
married Lydia Starkweather, and had four daughters; was farmer, drover,
merchant and Supervisor. (See photo of Supervisors of Nunda).

1828—CAME TO NUNDA VILLAGE

Hon, Nathaniel Coe, ex-member of Assembly, came from Cayuga County
to Portage-Nunda. He was a cousin of Yates Bennett, Charles D. Bennett
and Joel Bennett. He built a house on Mill Street (repaired by Horace Dake),
married Mary, a bright woman with poetic tendencies. His sons were Law-

250
rence W., Charles C. and Eugene F The family went to Washington Terri-
tory, and the sons were conspicuous in navigating with steamboats the Colum-
bia River.

1830

William Haldane, architect and builder of First Presbyterian Church—
now Methodist Episcopal Church—built Episcopal rectory and lived there.
He built the Cobblestone house for Quartus Barron; also Moses Barron's farm
house and Mrs. Bowhall’s house, which was burned in 1908.

Mr. Webb built Benson-Lake Mrs. Johnson house.

Thomas Horner, born in 1800, died 1881, aged 81; wife, Jane Horner.

Mr. Horner, at one time a prominent business man, born in 1803, died
1893, aged go.

I. John Morey, born 1794, died 1865, aged 71; Jane Morey, born 1793,
died 1866, aged 73.

II. Eliza Morey, born 1803, died 1861, aged 58, married H. M. Bradley.
(See Bradley family.)

The Chapins families came into the village about this time, and the son,
John, built the house where Esquire Hammond lived so long. He also had a
cabinet shop east of it, which serves Elmer Van Gilder of Church Street as a
welling house. His father, John, Sr., lived east of the Baptist Church, and a
grandson, William Dunn, lived with them. William, when thirsty, would
walk to Dansville, fifteen iniles—almost daily— for drink he could not obtain.
at home. No Indian was fleeter than Bill Dunn. He was indispensable at.
exhibitions and because of his speed became constable.

1828—LYMAN HERRICK FAMILY

This small family of excellent people require but little space. The Deacon
had been married thrice. He was not connected with the Zadock Herrick
family, nor the John Herrick family from East Hill. His first wife was :
his second wife was a sister to Amos Carpenter, and ius third wife was Mrs.
Maria Winchell Nurse. _

Lyman Herrick settled first where James M. Carroll “Waxy” now lives.
He afterward for a time owned Elmwood, which was at that time simply a
farm with ordinary buildings upon it. In connection with Rey. Luke Colby
they had a nursery—then much needed—for every new farm needed an
orchard.

II. Elsie Elvira, his only daughter, married (first) *Abraham Dake,
(second) Wiley. A niece married Harvey Farley, School Commissioner
of Springwater.

From 1826 to 1828 these families settled here:

 

 

Jackson Robinson and wife, Caroline M., and son, Peter, who studied for
and became a Baptist clergyman. Josiah and Elizabeth Chandler, and daugh-
ter, Bertha, who became Mrs. Hagadorn. Archibald Colburn and wife, Char-
ity. Jonathan and Lucy Colburn and son, Charles. Asa and Nellie Pierce
(Jonathan Miller farm); children, Diana, Julia and Marian. Merritt Colby
family. Mrs. Colby, son Col. Newton B. Colby (See Book IV)) married
(first) Mary Chase; children, Fred and Frank, born in Nunda (Frank a clergy-

251
man), Kittie, born in Corning, Walter B., born in Nunda, and William; mar-
ried (second) Mrs. Victoria Whitcomb Wood. son, Robert Colby, also a clergy-
man. Rev. Luke Colby (a brother), married A\Irs. Catharine Jeffries, son,
Prof. John P. Colby (see College list); Knelon Jeffries, son of Mrs. Jeffries.

THE GROVERS, MOSTLY MERCHANTS, CHILDREN OF SOLOMON
GROVER, VETERAN, 1812, SPRINGWATER

The Grovers, who came to Nunda about 1831, were the sons of Solomon
Grover, a veteran of 1812. His first wife was Betsey Stone, and his second,
Betsey Barber. None of these three ever lived in Nunda. The veteran died
at Oconomowoc, Wis. Their children were:

I. Cela, married Lummis; (2. William, 3. Salmon, and 4. Ethan,
did not live in Nunda).

I. 5. Nancy, married David Hatch, Sr., who died in Nunda.

II. 1. Silas Hatch (clerk for his uncles), married Abby Huffman. 2.
*Volney Hatch, died at Milwaukee. 3. *Mary Jane. married Hugh McNair. 4.
*Miranda, married Joel C. Chase (see Chase family). 5. *Charles, died at Fon-
dulac. 6. David, living in the West.

I. 6. Daniel Grover, kept Eagle Hotel, married Mary Huntington, left
Nunda in 1845.

II. Milo, born 1828, of Cconomowoe, \Wis.; *Eunice, born 1831, married
Pursell, of Springwater; Daniel, Jr., born 1840, married (wife died);
he died 1902; Laura, born 1836, married H. C. Carpenter.

Mrs. H. C. Carpenter, born in Nunda, furnished these family statistics.
Her brother, Milo, lives with her at Oconomowoc, Wis.

I. 6. Silas Grover, was the first of family to settle in Nunda and one of the
pioneer merchants of the place. He was avery popular man. His store was
more like the stores in older settlements. He had a partner sometimes, and at
others depended on clerks. Hiram C. Grover and a cousin named Wood-
bury were his first clerks. Silas Hatch, his nephew, clerked for him. Grover
& Noyes was the firm at one time, Grover Brothers at another.

*Silas Grover married *Submit Huffman, sister of Col. Huffman. He
continued in business until the railroad was completed from Hornellsville
to Attica, and then became the first agent at Nunda Station, in 1852.

The Grovers and Hatches were Universalists.

I. 8. Hiram C. Grover, born 1812, clerk, merchant, speculator, house
builder and marketman, was a man of versatile accomplishments. a fine book-
keeper and could do most anything. Of genial temperament, he was a leader
in the social life of his day. He took life less seriously than was customary
in those days, when sedateness was the rule, and mirthfulness the exception.
(See photo.)

The wife of Hiram Grover, Emily Curtis, was a dignified, quiet lady, as
unlike her vivacious husband as could be. She was a favorite with all who
knew her; something of a “Martha” in household matters, faithful to every
detail of duty.

The children of H. C. and Emily Grover were: *Jane (better known as
Jennie), who became Mrs. William Craig; Mary, now Mrs. W. H. Willett, of

 

 

252
Hornell, both skilled in music; *Fred C., a painter with artistic skill, died in
1906. Of these, only Mrs. Willett is living. She resides in Hornell, N. Y,

For children of William and Jennie Craig see James Craig family, 1852.

g. Betsey Ann Grover married Leonard L. Church, a licensed clergyman
of the Universalist Church.

10. Morgan Grover, married Harriet Barber.

III. 1. *Surendus Ladorma. 2. Hiram.

This completes the family record furnished by Mrs. Laura Grover Car-
penter.

BEFORE 1828—THE VARIOUS SMITH FAMILIES IN NUNDA
VILLAGE

Widow Smith family ; daughters, Cleopatra, Sophia and Agnes; also a son.
Smith, the carpenter, built Peck-Dake house; children, Jane, Charlotte, Demas,
Martha, Nelson, James. .\lso families of David Smith, William Smith, Jesse
Smith (wife Polly) and Peter Smith.

1831—CHANDLER-SMITH FAMILY—THREE SISTERS

The Smith sisters, who came to Nunda after their married life began,
were daughters of Phineas and Sylvia Smith of Heath, Mass. Mr. Smith died
January 14, 1848, and his widow afterward married Joseph Waldo and lived
in Nunda. Al these people were Presbyterians and when some of them
settled, in 1831, it was in time to take part in the new Presbyterian Church
movement that was inaugurated that vear in a different part of the town.

Nathaniel Chandler settled first on the State Road and succeeded so well
that he sold his farm and bought the larger one extending from the Keshequa
to the State Road that had been owned by Jonathan Barron. The Chandler
farm, with its good buildings and fine, level farm lands, are too well known
to need description. Mr. Chandler’s farm had much of it been Indian lands
but became, under skillful cultivation, one of the best in the section.

The wife of Nathaniel Chandler was Sylvia Smith. Their children were:
Edward H., born about 1829; George W.., his brother, some ten years or more
later. The former married Bradford, a niece of Suranus Britton, and
the latter, Helen, or Nellie, Whitcomb, daughter of Walter Whitcomb, Sr.

Edward H. was connected with all the early schools and societies, and
was a prominent factor in school circles.

George H. was prominent in school and social circles during the Barrett
regime, and fitted for college at an early age. He entered Union College but
was obliged to take a sea voyage for his health the year he would have com-
pleted his course. He secured his health by the loss of his diploma.

Ansel Kendrick married Dorcas Smith and settled on the road east of
the Creek Road. Their children were: P. Dudley Kendrick, who married
Esther Gilbert, daughter of Andrew Gilbert; and a sister, Sylvia. Ansel Ken-
drick died in 1846, aged 51.

Gulielmus Wing married Diantha Smith and was a neighbor to Kendrick.
They also had two children: Frederick Wing and a daughter, Harriet Wing.
He afterward bought a farm near Hunts and lived there several years. Mir.
Wing was an active factor in the Presbyterian Church movement at Oakland.

 

253
Not a member of these families is left in Nunda, as George W. Chandler
and children are the only living members of these families and they have lived
for years in Milwaukee; but Mr. Chandler cherishes an ardent affection for his
boyhood home. His children (born in Nunda) are Walter and Elsie.

DAVID BUTLER FAMILY

David Butler lived with a four-fold family in the first house west of Craig’s
warehouse, Buffalo Street, was by trade a blacksmith, married Alice Welling-
ton, who claimed kinship with the Duke of Wellington. Mr. Butler's people
were Quakers and lived on Beacon Street, Boston. This family were Univer-
salists.

Il. 1. *Elvira Butler, married (first) *———— Starkweather, (second)
*Eliphas Tyler, J. P.

III. 1. Mary Starkweather, married \WWilliam Huffman, Jr., a veteran in
an Illinois regiment, died 1906. 2. Lydia Starkweather, married, 1830, Emolus
©. Dickenson.

IV 1. Nellie, died 190—; Dr. Baker.

Voi. Leala D. Baker (see College Graduates and Club).

IV 2. Allie J., married William McArthur; have one son, Harold.

IV 3. Mattie M., married James Herrick, son of Calvin.

IV 4. Neva, died, aged 18.

Il. 2. A widow (Mrs. Yates). 3. Anice, married Nathan Sherwood. 4.
Martha G., married Reuben Sherwood. 5. Benjamin D., married Hoft-
man (see Patriots War).

Mrs. Tyler lived to a good old age and is buried in Oakwood. The But-
lers went West about 1839 and settled at Nunda, III.

 

1832—SKINNER FAMILY

Samuel Skinner was a lumberman on a large scale and a prominent citizen
of Nunda. His second wife was Mrs. Edward Swain.

I. Henry, married Mary Conklin, daughter of D. I. Conklin; Abbot,
married Louise Hyde, daughter of Mrs. Hyde Bachus.

Tif. *Bert, married Libbie Ryder; Sylvia Skinner, married Charles
Wheeler (attended school here) ; Louis Skinner, married (first) Delyea Tuthill,
(second) Eliza Tuthill; Col. Louis Skinner, veteran of 1ogth New York Regi-
ment, died in Colorado, buried in Oakwood (see Patriotic Nunda Department) ;
Nelson Skinner, enlisted, nothing further known of him; Adelbert Skinner
and Ophelia Skinner, attended school here.

I. Hon. Samuel Skinner, one of the most energetic of Nunda citizens, was
a lumberman, manufacturer and public man. He served his town as Super-
visor and his county as member of Assembly. He was a Republican, and in
church relations a Baptist.

HYDE-BACKUS FAMILY

Miss Eveline Donaldson married (first)
Backus, a shoemaker; lived next to Session House.

II. Louise Hyde, married Abbott Skinner. Mr. Skinner died about 1842
of a plague that prevailed that year, called black erysipelas.

III. Bert, married Libbie Rider, daughter of J. F. Rider; lived and died
at Titusville, Pa.; buried in Oakwood.

254

 

Hyde, (second) Mr.
THE GILMORES

John Gilmore came to Nunda in 1831 (see sketch of self-made men), mar-
ried Ann Eliza Watson. Their daughter, 1. Lizzie, married George Carter,
who became blind. Their daughter, Georgia Carter, married ———-; 2. Louis;
Jane Gilmore married Charles WW. King; Dr. James Gilmore married Emaline
Townsend, of Pike. Their daughter, Emily Gilmore, married Captain James
M. McNair (see McNair family, 1836) ; Nelson Gilmore and wife.

1830

*Julius and *Polly Carver settled in the village, first had charge of an
ashery and afterwards worked at coopering at Coopersville.

1. Malvina. 2. Ursula Martha. 3. *Mahala, married

March, 1908, at \Whitesville; Olive, married *—

85th New York Regiment; Emma, married

Wilcox, died
; Lyman, a veteran of the
Kelley, a photographer.

 

 

 

1832—BELA WRIGHT, OUR FIRST KNIFE MAKER

Bela Wright, our first knife maker, made jack knives with steel handles.
His first wife was Sarah McClellan, a cousin to Gen. George B. McClellan.
His sons were: John A. Wright, who married Amelia Bacon; John A. was a
veteran of the war, in the to4th Regiment, and is now in a soldiers’ home. As
he is 75 years of age there can be no better place for him Robert R. Wright.
was one of the early stage drivers from Nunda to Pike when Nunda had sev-
eral stage routes. He also served the corporation for 29 years as night watch-
man and was once shot by burglars. He is one of the few who have lived in
youth and in age (about 60 vears) in Nunda. He married (first) Mary Aun
Brown, who was the mother of his four children, Anna, Sarah, Frank and
Charles. He married (second) Lottie Olney, daughter of John F. and Fanny
Adams Olney. Frank is a pharmacist, serving in the regular army, in tha
capacity. Charles is a machinist. He married Esther Greenfield, daughter o1
Henry Greenfield, a veteran. They have one son, Robert.

Mr. Bela Wright's second wife was Catharine Barnes, sister to Russell,
Nathaniel and Allen Barnes, and to Polly, second wife of Deacon David
Thayer. Wright, Barnes & Thayer had a knife factory on Massachusetts
Street. The building still exists but has changed front and serves as a shop for
Frank Aspinwall. From this start has grown the \VWoodworth knife works
of to-day.

The family of Deacon David Thayer came to Nunda before canal days.
A young lady, Miss Eliza Brown, who became the second wife of Capt. Henry
Bagley, came with them. The sons of David Thayer were noted for their
scholarship. David Havens Thayer and Henry B. Thayer both graduated at
Union College and became Presbyterian clergymen.

Rev. Henry B. Thayer and wife taught a select school in Nunda, in the
Session House, previous to the building of the Brick Academy. Deacon
Thayer made candles, matches and soap, and built the building known for
years as the castle. ‘It was designed for a canal warehouse but the surveyors
afterward changed the survey and left the warehouse several rods from the
canal. The building was rented to several families during canal days. It was
not exactly “a flat’; in fact. it was “very tall and steep.” It has since been

255
lowered at the base and the upper story taken down, and after much expendi-
ture of money has become one of the attractive houses on State Street, the
present residence of Dr. John P. Brown.

An amusing incident once occurred at a revival service. An employe of
the deacon—we will call him William Blank—had been forward for prayers
once, but did not come again for several nights. When urged to go forward
again he declined, saying it was no use for him to try to get religion while
he was helping Deacon Thayer dip candles. The boy meant that the Deacon
kept him too busy. As the Deacon was noted for his piety, the joke seemed
all the greater, the implication in the statement furnishing the source of
amusement.

1832

William D. Hammond and wife came from Hume in 1832 to Nunda vil-
lage, built the “Gunsmith Bennett house” and several stores. Afr. Hammond
was a Justice of the Peace, and from his business and rents secured a com-
petence. His children were:

II. 1. Isabel, a music teacher and church organist.

II. 2. Adelaide, married Thomas B. Lovell of Nunda.

Mrs. Hammond was a widow many years and died in 1902. The family
bought the Hammond place on East Street, west of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, probably built by J. Chapin, a cabinet maker. There are now none
of the family living but Mrs. Thomas Lovell and her children, who reside at
Niagara Falls.

The Howell family from Mt. Morris were prominent here as merchants.
William Howell, Sr., built the block that stood at the corner of Second and
State Streets for his sons to sell merchandise. It was afterward owned by
the father of John Holmes, and known as Holmes Hall. Several terms of
Select High School were taught there. The building ultimately was burned,
but, phoenix like, the Union Block has taken its place.

William Howell, Sr., William Howell, Jr.. Abram V. Howell, merchants;
Joanna( milliner), married Dean Kendall (marketman) ; Prine Howell; James
Howell married and lived in Nunda until his death.

Children of James: Joshua, married Hattie Herrick, daughter of Charles
Herrick; Charles a machinist and a Spanish War veteran; Mrs. James Howell,
died 1908.

CHASE-MOSHER FAMILY

The Thomas Chase family lived on Massachusetts Street in a building
since burned, on the site of the A. D. Scott house, about 1840. The Mosher
branch of the family lived at Wilcox Corners in the early thirties.

Thomas Chase married Dorcas Shipman. Children: Ezra, Harriet,
Thomas C., afterward Sheriff of Livingston Co., Joseph, Henry, Almira, Electa,
William and Delany.

Ezra never lived in Nunda. *Joseph died in Avon, William studied medi-
cine in Michigan and became a physician. Delany married in Pennsylvania
and went West. Harriet married Isaac Mosher, settled at Wilcox Corners in
1831. He was a carpenter and an expert maker of axe-helves and worked for
William D. Paine, millwright, who built many saw mills. Children:

II. 1. Ann, born 1830, married John W. Clark.

256
III. Son, Julian Clark; grandson, Clifford Clark, Cornell, 1900, E. E.
Mrs. Clark married (second) Rhoderick Spencer.

Ill. 2. Delia, married Urmson (a Canadian); 3. Louisa, died in
Nunda, 1906; 4. Judith, died in Nunda 1870; 5. Angerille, married Edwin
Ensworth, Dalton, N. Y.; 6. Netta, single, Nunda, N. Y.

II. *Henry, married *Amanda Alvard, both died recently; Almira mar-
ried *Clark Brewer, brother to Havillah, nephew of James. III. *Mary
Brewer, Electa married Arden Heath, son of Asa R. Heath, a pioneer.

Il. Thomas Chase, Jr., was the Sheriff of Livingston County and will
long be remembered as the Sheriff who hung Henry Wilson, the murderer
of Henry Devoe of Portage. He lived with the family at Wilcox Corners and
afterward on Mass Street, Nunda. The house has since been burned, but A.
D. Scott built on the site.

 

1835—CRANE-CRARY-BRACKETT FAMILY

(Hon.) Addison AM. Crane, Nunda’s third lawyer, came to Nunda when
a young man, was in the office of Benedict Bagley, taught school, married a
niece of Judge Daniel Ashley (member of Assembly) and was one of the
leading young men in the society of that day. He afterward went to Illinois
and became a member of Assembly.

His wife was Ashley; sister, Amelia Crane; brother, Danforth
Crane; cousin, Gertrude Crane. Mrs. Crary and Mrs. Brackett were Cranes;
wife's mother, Catharine Ashlev-Palen, died in Nunda 1841.

Charles E. Crary, merchant, town clerk, married Charlotte Abby Crane.

Edward H. Brackett, merchant, married Mary Ann Crane. Another
cousin married Lawyer Edw. Webster, a nephew of Hon. Daniel Ashley of
Nunda.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.

1834—THE WHITCOMB FAMILIES

Walter, Walter B., Samuel P.

Walter Whitcomb (merchant and banker) was born just a century ago,
February 13, 1808, and was nearly a month oid when the town, in which he com-
pleted a long and useful life, was organized; before coming from York to
Nunda in 1834, he married Hannah B. Richmond, a sister of B. P. Richmond.

Of this estimable lady, “Anna Warner” French writes in her book of, fam-
ily genealogy,— Mrs. Whitcomb was one of the bright and most entertaining cf
women, and she preserved her charm of manner and conversation to the last of
her life.” The author endorses this statement without comment. The family
is now nearly extinct; the eldest daughter but recently passed away, 1906. The
children were:

I. Victoria, married 1 Capt. John Pulaski Wood, Act. Adjt. Gen., killed
in action; 2 Col. Newton T. Coiby, a former Nunda man, who died a few years
since. Their children were:

1. Frances Wood, married William Craig; 2. Caroline (nature teacher) ;
3. Robert Colby, clergyman.

 

257
2. *Mary Whitcomb (single) was a type of filial devotion; Sophia, mar-
ried *Arnold Medbury; Robert Medbury, married Minnie Davie. Their chil-
dren:

1. Hazel; 2. *Will. Will a bright lad recently passed away.

Il. 4. Louisa, married Col. James Strang, Lawyer, Genesee, N. Y. (See
Military record 104th N. Y.)

Children; Walter, Arthur, Louise and Sophia.

Il. 5. *Helen, married George W. Chandler, son of Nathaniel, (see Col-
lege List and Club).

Ill. Walter and Elsie, Milwaukee, Wis.

II. 6. *Emily, married Hand of St. Louis.

II. 7. William, married Lillian Bulkley.

 

THE WHITCOMB FAMILY WERE PRESBYTERIANS

Il. Walter B. Whitcomb (nephew of Waiter), born in York, came
to Nunda in 1848 as a clerk for his uncle; married Fidelia J. Merrick, daughter
of Hiram; clerked for Jermiah Richardson, uncle to Mrs. Whitcomb; purchased
the store and residence of J. Richardson; was a merchant; and was associated
with the Nunda Bank for nearly forty years.

Ifl. Eva, a teacher of elocution, (Mrs. Olney, graduate of Nunda_ .\ca-
demy) and School of Elocution, Boston.

III. S. Merrick, born in Nunda, graduate of Harvard, A. B. '77, (see Col-
lege men of Nunda). wife Zetta, daughter Eva, student Livingston Park Semi-
nary, Rochester, N. Y.

I\. Mrs. F. J. M. Whitcomb, graduate Boston University, Medical De-
partment, 1878; practiced medicine in Nunda and Tarpon Springs, Fla., died
in Tarpon Springs. The family were Universalists.

SAMUEL P. WHITCOMB FAMILY

He came to Nunda in 1856 to attend the Nunda Literary Institute; clerked
for his brother W. B. Whitcomb several years; had store at Portageville, during
Civil War; married Juliette, daughter of Simeon Hammond of Corning, N. Y.;
was in business with S. Hammond in Corning; returned to Nunda, and Ham-
mond & Co., purchased the furniture and undertaking business of Barclay &
Co.; had a book and variety store at Tonawanda, Pa.; returned to Nunda, was
partner with Willard Bros., wholesale Casket Works; died at Tarpon Springs.
and was buried at Nunda, honored by all for his scarcity of faults, his wealth of
good qualities.

Mrs. Juliette Whitcomb survived her husband but a few years, she was
an invalid at the time of his death. Thev were without children. Mrs. Whit-
comb left her portion of the estate, having no near relatives, to the (Univer-
salist Church of the Redeemer) of Nunda, with certain bequests, as to the use
of a part of it.

Mrs. Louise Whitcomb Davis,°a sister of W. B., and S. P., and of Fred
Whitcomb, lived for some years with the family of W. B. Whitcomb and is
still a frequent summer guest of her nephew, Prof. S. M. Whitcomb.

Frederick Whitcomb of Rochester, the other brother of Walter B., Sam-
uel P. and Louise, though never a citizen of Nunda, has with his wife been a

258
guest of their kin for so many years, that friendly mention ot them, seems due.

As a family of merchants these three heads of families, the uncle and his
nephews, will long be remembered. In social life Mrs. Walter Whitcomb and
her daughters, Mrs. Walter B. Whitcomb and Mrs. Samuel P. Whitcomb, were
acknowledged leaders; gifted with rare conversational powers, they did much to
lift the social standards of the time to a higher plane of intellectuality and refine-
ment. The individuality of the three Mrs. Whitcombs, relatives only by mar-
riage was distinctive. In Mrs. Mary Whitcomb, ease, grace, and courtesy, pre-
dominated, in Mrs. Fidelia the power of reasoning was pronounced and domi-
nant, she was a female logician always equipped for action, she won her vic-
tories only from the strong men of ability; she was delightful with women and
young people, she placed them at their ease, and made them surprise them-
selves, by the bright things they themselves had said. Mrs. Juliette Whit-
comb, with a vivacity seidom excelled created an atmosphere of cheerfulness
and mirth, out of the abundant resources of her own geniality. Her last long
sickness of excessive pain and torture, lasted for years, and her sudden great
affliction in the loss of her devoted husband was robbed of half its pathos, by
her spirit of submission and her power of cheerful endurance. Those who
sought her presence with hearts overflowing with pity were themselves com-
forted, her very tones were full of her life-long cheerfulness.

Her death m her far away Southern home, itself pitiful to her Northern
friends, was not forlorn or desolate, a choice coterie of congenial lady friends
ministered to her every want.

Her burial in Oakwoed following the severest storm of the winter, at an
early morning hour, with a depth of snow that made it an impossibility for her
lady friends to attend her obsequies, seemed pitiful beyond expression.

She had sent a poem to be read, (by the writer, at her grave for the
church had no pastor at the time), so fuli of the spirit of submission, trust and
content, that her death, like her sickness, was robbed of its sting, and the piti-
less grave among the snow drifts, won no victory.

The selection was from “God's good man”; she had found healing balm in
it, when God's good man, her husband, was taken away, and she sent it as her
word of “strong confidence” to those she expected to need its tone (so like her
own) of comfort.

The services at the grave were as follows:

“Two years ago, we buried here one of God’s good men, to-day, we place
beside him, one of God's good women. She has asked of me, the reading ot
these words of trust. I give them as

HER WORDS TO US

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want
He maketh me down to lie

In pleasant fields where the lilies grow
And the river runneth by.

The Lord is my Shepherd; he feedeth me
In the depth of a desert land,

And lest I should in the darkness slip
He holdeth me by the hand.

259
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. JULIETTE WHITCOMB

SAMUEL P. WHITCOMB
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want,
My mind on him is stayed,

As through the valley of Death I walk,
I shall not be afraid.

The Lord is my Shepherd; Oh Shepherd sweet
Leave me not here to stray

But guide me safe to thy heavenly fold
And keep me there I pray. Amen!”

The reader then said, I offer this, as “Our word concerning her, concerning
Death, and our trust in Life through Death.

I. Death.

Our friend has passed
Into the silence that will know no breaking
The grief, the sorrow and the sad heart-aching
Are ours; in perfect silence folded closely
In arms invisible to us, held fast

She slumbers without waking.

Il. Life.

Her spirit lives!
In high ideals, born of love and duty;
Her faith,—her hope for all---her trust in God:
Kissing submissively his chasening rod
Ali these shall form, better than sculptured scroll
The record of a bright joy-breathing soul

Her monument of beauty!

Ill. Life, through Death.

O Death! Stern Foe! Kind Friend!
Thou dost dissever—-a wrong that can be righted, —
Fcr severed hearts, after a few dark days
Are brought together to abide always;
Tis grief to part—but joy to be united
For all that makes life bright—still lives and thrives
Faith leads to God—Hope makes all true life blest,
Love—God's best gift—survives.

In giving these short obsequies (that followed those given in the Sunny
Southland), publicity, the writer aims to perpetuate the memory of this worthy
couple; whose only posterity, are their deeds of devotion to duty; the joy their
bright lives engendered; the grief of kindred spirits at their departure. Thev
were childless ; and those who do not live in their posterity are sooner forgotten

“however well loved, and best known. The childiess writer, leaves a poem or a
book, and though a record of the lives of others, the reader between the lines,
finds the antipodes of life, humor and pathos. mirthfulness and gloom; and, be-
tween these severed poles. the real trend of life is seen in its estimate of the lives
described.

261
All men and women cannot leave books or bequests that will foster in others,
what was most vital to themselves. That to these lovers of humanity and the
Gospel of the “Good Shepherd” breathing its spirit of Universal love, that had
kept their hearts so reverent and trustful, it was fitting, it was right, it was best,
that they should keep the cause they loved best, alive, to cheer and brighten
human lives. To the maintenance of the church and the faith that had in-
creased their love for God and goodness, they gave all in gratitude. May
the gratitude of the receiver, equal that of the giver.

A gift that becomes, even in part, a perpetuity may create a perpetuity ot
usefulness, and engender in successive generations what all desire and few se-
cure, “loving remembrance.” Love alone is abiding. That the giver as well
as the gift may be known to those who will help perpetuate this faith, the writer
in his verse, and in his pen picture of his co-workers, has tried to lend his eyes
and heartfelt appreciation.

Long may the names of Samuel and Juliette Whitcomb be remembered
for what they were, to those who knew them, and for what they did, or tried tc
do, for those who are yet to be.

1835

Bradford Perez Richmond, better known as B. P. Richmond, soon after
his marriage to Anna Whitwell, a woman of wealth and refinement, probably
by the advice of Walter Whitcomb who had previously married his sister, came
to Nunda in 1835. The two families lived together in the George Baglev
house, on the corner of State and Vermont Streets. The accommodations
were limited and both men built new houses. The writer knows that one of
these houses was well built, as good lumber was cheap in those days; the house
was lined with wide inch boards, from 12 to 16 inches in width, that would
now sell at $40 a thousand. Perhaps the writer, who bought the house 52
years afterward paid at that rate for them, but it is doubtful if B. P. Rich-
mond paid more than $8 a thousand. It was a good house but not quite satis-
factory to Mrs. Richmond, so it was sold a year later to Squire Jonathan Bar-
ron, and the fine house known as the Richmond homestead in which not only
the children of this worthy couple were born; but, it is also said, that a very
popular “fictitious character,” known as “Susan Glegg,” who spoke a dialect
peculiar to the primitive people of Nunda, had a literary conception and birth,
at this same homestead.

Whether the “Richmond Genealogy” also grew to maturity, so cozily
housed, and illustrated by some good specimens of the Richmond family, I can-
not say, I only hope that the book that awaits birth, from the former Richmond
home may be as accurate in its genealogy and biology and have some of the
humor of the “Susan Glegg book,” without serving to verify, with uninten-
tional defects, the peculiarities of Western New York dialect.

Houses have histories as truly as their owners, their chances of growing
beautiful with age are more numerous than that of their owners, their term of
existence is greater, and these houses demonstrate that fact, while the dry goods
store built twelve years later, barely survived its first occupants. Whitcomb
and Richmond; the one that stood near it, built by Riley Merrill about 1830, of
half its size and value, after changing its location twice, is still in existence.

Mr. Richmond, as a retired merchant, spent much of his time in reading

262
scientific works, and became quite well versed in geology. He lived to a good
old age, having been a citizen of the town about 75 years. His entire married
life was spent here. Mrs. Richmond’s gentleness, courtesy and warm hearted
generosity made her a favorite with all classes. She survived her husband a
few years, and her most devoted admirers were those to whom she had given
employment. Every holiday a bountiful banquet was provided and the greater
part of it was shared with the sick and the needy. The best was none too
good to give to those unused to such luxuries. Such almoners of abundance
have been few, even in this town where generosity is the rule, and selfishness
the exception.

The entire family of children and grandchildren, as recorded in Anna War-
ner’s Genealogy, were:

Georgia Virginia W., August 30, 1840, married Addison Rathbone, A. B.,
Union College, 1859; Anna Elizabeth W., December 11, 1842, married William
P. Warner, A. B., Union College, lawyer, son of Dr. Eben Warner, resides at
St. Paul, Minn.; Charles Bradford, born November 18, 1854, married Mary
Packard, daughter of E. W. Packard, Esq. The son of C. B. and M. R.; Her-
bert, a dentist, at Kane, Pa., married Miss Scott.

III. “Anna Warner” French, the novelist, has achieved success as a
writer of fiction. She has two children, who were formerly summer guests at
the Richmond homestead.

Bradford P. Richmond died October 18, 1898, aged 85 years. Mrs. Anna
Whitwell Richmond died June 6, 1904.

1835
Daniel P. Bard, mechanic and musician, teacher of vocal music, had first
music store, married Catharine Shelmire.
Il. Maria Bard, married Horace Whipple, nephew of Elisha Whipple.
III. 1. Frank Whipple, born in Nunda, court stenographer, married in
1906, resides in Geneseo.
1837
Asa D. Wood, James WW Laughlin, Ross W. Estabrook and Ambrose
Clark were in business (New York store) but the firm soon dissolved.

1833

 

I. Daniel Rockwood, married Kingman of Grove.

II. Alvin Rockwood, married Mrs. Eunice Cheney; Enock Cheney.

Harvey Huggins, Emeline Huggins, Ezekiel Gilbert, Mrs. Gilbert's, broth-
ers-in-law, had a steam saw mill on Joseph Gormel farm.

1833—ROCKINGHAM FAMILIES—MORE MECHANICS

Eben Wheeler, born 1797, cabinetmaker and farmer, married Charlotte
Wright, cousin to Oliver Wright, settled in 1833, bought out the original
settler (farm long owned by Isaac Brewster) and built a cabinet shop. His
chairs, made over 75 years ago, are still in some of the households in this place,
and are as good as when first made, even the paint and gilding being still good.
Children:

Mary, born June 10, 1815, was a teacher for 25 years. She married, when
about 45 years of age, Col. (of militia) Greenlief Clark, a tanner and Justice

263
of the Peace of Portage. They had one daughter. Ir. Clark died many years
ago. Mrs. Mary Clark died in 1906, aged gt years, in Nunda village, at the
former home of her friend, Rachel A. Bennett, whose death preceded hers but
a few months. Both ladies, with Miss Gertrude E. Clark, then an invalid, at-
tended the pioneer day picnic at our last “Old Home Week” gathering, riding
to the grove in the auto of Colonel J. J. Carter. It was their first and last ride
in an auto, and, though very feeble, they enjoved being there and were grate-
ful to Col. Carter and his son for giving them this unexpected pleasure. At
the funeral of Mrs. Clark was assembled at least a half dozen of her former
pupils, whose ages were from 65 to 80 years, and all spoke of her excellence as
a teacher and as a Christian woman.

III. Miss Gertrude E. Clark was a scholar. Her knowledge of books,
especially text books, was great. She was a graduate of the Nunda Free Acad-
emy, the Genesee Normal School, and spent two years at \Wellesley College.
She died soon after the death of her mother. Both are buried at Oakwood.

John H. Clark, son of Greenlief Clark, also a tanner, has lived in Nunda
for about 20 years. Two sons and a daughter, Ethel, were educated. Ethel
became the second wife of George Barber, a produce dealer.

II. 2. Albert Lund Wheeler, born 1817, studied dentistry in Nunda, died
in 1845; 3. Rodney Hubbard Wheeler, born 1819, became a tinsmith, died 1839;
4. Abraham T., born 1821, farmer, married (first) Mary Swan, (second) Mary
A. Fuller, daughter of Stephen Fuller, Sr.

lil. 1. Laura, married Bishop Reed, Kansas City; 2. Frank Abram, born
1853, died 1889, buried at Oakwood.

I. 5. *John R. (Ryland) Wheeler, born 1823, married *Julia Upson of
Nunda, daughter of *Dr. Upson. Mrs. Wheeler resides on Center Street.

Ill. 1. Charles Albert \Wheeler, married Mary Miller, daughter of Jona-
than Miller; 2. William Mullen Wheeler, born 1861, Cuba, N. Y.

Il. 6. *Elizabeth Wheeler, born 1825, married Levi Chase, of Nunda.
Levi Chase (Maj. Civil War) died at San Diego, 1906.

III. Gertrude, born in Nunda, died young; Charles Albert Chase, mar-
ried in California and now resides in San Diego, Cal.

IT. 7. Charlotte Louise Wheeler, born in 1827, died 1870.

Mrs. Clark said that Mr. Wheeler bought his farm of L. Joslyn and that
there was no house upon it. Of the \Wheeler family there are none nearer than
Cuba except Mrs. John R., who resides on Center Street.

1836

John Seaver family of Rockingham settled in Nunda and bought out
Nathaniel Chandler, State Street, who succeeded Riley Merrill, Sr. Mr.
Seaver was a gunsmith, blacksmith and farmer. John Seaver married Miss
\Whitcomb. Harriet; Martha, married Eddy, a merchant tailor.

HI. William S. Eddy, editor, died young; Hiram Seaver; Fanny Seaver,
married Philip G. Slocum,

Ill. 1. *Adello Slocum, editor, married Adella Havens; 2. Clement
Slocum.

I. 2. Aaron Whitcomb, a brother of Mrs. John Seaver.

Adello Slocum and William S. Eddy were editing a paper, and were fast
reaching civil honors and prosperity when they both were taken sick and died.

 

264
Adello was brought back to Nunda for burial. A marker over his grave bears
this inscription, “Our noble boy.” which found general indorsement by all
who knew him. His widow survives and has written and possibly published a
book of poems.

SOME NEW ENGLAND FAMILIES

The families of the Barrons, Barretts, Wrights (three families) and
Dakes are closely connected by marriage, and all were zealous supporters of
the Baptist Church. There were two Dr. Wrights. Dr. Eben married a Bar-
ron, Dr. Barnabus married a Barrett, Moses Barron married Mary Barrett,
the only living pioneer of these large households, while two of the Darrett
sisters married Dakes. These families were educated in New England, and
in consequence of these advantages most of them of the second generation be-
came prominent as teachers and in the professions. The Dake family was
conspicuous from its great number of physicians. The Barrons, by the pur-
chase of lands in Nunda (Chandler or Sturgeon farm), in 1824, were first as
purchasers, the \Vrights, i. e., the Doctors Wright, next, the other two families
of Wright, John S. and Oliver (not relatives to the former nor to each other),
came next. The latter came with Deacon James Barrett in 1835. Some of the
Dakes came to Portage-Nunda in 1819 and afterward to Nunda.

Some of the members of these people from New Hampshire and Ver-
mont are connected by marriage with very many of the other pioneer families
of Nunda.

The influence of these strong, sturdy, reliable people in this community
cannot be over-estimated. The writer groups them together for they formed
for their day and generation a strong and united force in fostering a high type
of life in this community. They all attended the same church, for they were
all deep water Christians.

Dr. Eben Wright lived in the large house on the Oakland road that was
taken down by the Carricks, but moved into the village and Surranus Britton
succeeded him there in the “thirties.”

THE FAMILY OF DR. EBEN WRIGHT

I. Eben Wright, M. D., married Harriet Barron, daughter of Jonathan.

II. 1. Mary, married Rev. William Clark, son of Rev. Clark; 2. Harriet,
married Samuel Goss; 3. “Eben, Jr. (in Michigan); Sarah, married Dr. Gran-
ville Thomas, Chicago; children born in Chicago: Frank \Wright (an Institute
boy), married in Illinois, resides in Chicago.

I. 2. Barnabus Wright, M. D., owned two farms in Nunda, the Hugh
McNair (Farrell farm) and 50 acres on North State Street. He practiced
medicine during his life, married Anice Barrett, daughter of Deacon James
Barrett. He died in Nunda.

II. 1. Martha Jane, married Chester \V Chipman. Mr. Chipman had a
store near the home of Dr. Wright. It was doubtful at the time of its building
‘where the center of the future village would be. The store was moved into
the village at a later date and inserted between the Emporium Block and the
East Street market. Chipman moved to Philadelphia.

III. *Edgar M. Chipman, a quasi veteran who enlisted in the ro4th,
expecting his skill in company drill would give him a commission. It did not,

265
and he did not remain long in the service. He was a good scholar, and would,
no doubt, have become an efficient officer. Both father and son are buried in
Oakwood.
II. 2. *Barnabus, Jr., married Harret Atwood of Nunda. Her home has
been in Dansville, N. Y.
JONATHAN BARRON

He was called Captain and also Squire. He bought, in 1823, a large farm
in Barron District, Mt. Morris, and next year another on Creek Road, Nunda.
There was a clearing and some rail fence and a frame house on the farm. The
old house built in 1823 or 1824 is now standing but has been used as a tenant
house ever since N. Chandler built a new one. The old house is probably the
oldest one in the town.

Jonathan Barron moved into the village in 1837, buying the new house
on Church Street afterwards owned by Peter Depuy. It is now 70 years old—
a little older than its present owner—but it is now known as Dormer Cottage,
East Street, the dormers and porches having been added by Yours Truly.
Squire Barron married in Vermont, Susannah Aiken.

Second Generation

II. 1. Polly A., spinster, died aged 60; 2. Anice, married Dr. B. \Vright
(neither of them living); 3. Moses, born 1795, taught school twenty years,
farmer with 300 acres, Justice of the Peace, died 1862, buried at Nunda, mar-
ried, 1836, Mary Barrett, eldest daughter of Deacon James Barrett, born in
New Hampshire, November 23, 1813, who still survives him and is, at this
date (January 1, 1908,) past 94 years of age. When she came to Nunda in
1835 there was quite a settlement, most of the stores around the Plaza, the
Eagle Hotel, the Swains grist mill, and the old first Baptist and the first Pres-
byterian churches. The Nunda House was in process of erection. Her father
bought out the farm and home of his son-in-law, Dr. Barnabus Wright. Her
neighbors in the village were the families of William D. Hammond, then on
Portage Street; John S. Wright, first house west of Nunda house; Oliver
Wright, who came with them from New Hampshire, who built the house
owned by Ernest Olney, Esq., the Swains and others. After the death of her
husband, Mrs. Barron came into the village and lived in a part of the house
of her husband's sister. As wife, mother and mother-in-law, grandmother,
church member, citizen and neighbor, she has been all that is desirable. As
nonogenarian she is without an equal in cheerfulness, gentleness, patience and
contentment. She still enjoys sharing to some extent in the family labors
and still attends on pleasant days the chureh and Sunday School of which she
has been a member for 72 years. There are not ten persons living in this
village now that were living here then even in their childhood. We give our
neighbors and friends of former days her photo, taken when she was eighty
years young. Fourteen years have been added and yet she might be mistaken
for a young person of 75.

The children of Moses and Mary Barron who reached maturity were:

1. Mary Narcissa, educated at the Nunda Literary Institute and at Sat-
terlee’s Collegiate Institute, Rochester, N. Y. She taught district schools,
following the example of her father, until her marriage. She was married

266
December 28, 1865, to Captain John Wesley Hand, and has lived in Rochester,
DuBois, Ill., and since 1892 in Nunda village, where filial love called her to
care for the mother who needed her presence and companionship.

2. Lucias H. Barron, born 1843, in early manhood became a soldier of
the Civil War; since then a farmer, merchant, mill owner. He married Miss
Alida Yeomans of Mt. Morris. He died in Nebraska.

Ill. 3. Alida J. Barron, A. B., teacher in academies and public schools
of Rochester and Denver. Miss Barron was the first lady college graduate
from this vicinity and from any of our Nunda High Schools. This distinction
gave her the honor of being the first Vice President of the College Club of
Nunda. 4. Milton M. Barron, the youngest member of this family, has, like
his father and grandfather, been Justice of the Peace and farmer on the Home-
stead that has been in the family for three generations.

The family seem to regard education as one of the essentials in good farm-
ing and in life. He was educated at Nunda Academy, Mill Street, Nunda, and
at Cornell University. He has tried his hand at merchant and railroad con-
tractor but found no place like the homestead. He married Alida Hall of
Tuscarora, daughter of Isaac Hall.

Fourth Generation

The only grandchildren of Moses Barron are the children of Milton and
Alida Hall Barron: John, Arthur and Onolee. John and Arthur attended the
Nunda High School, and thereupon have a place in our school history of the
town. They have all been at Ithaca and shared the advantages of that literary
center. Miss Onolee is still there. John now writes his name, Prof. John
Barron, B. of Science of Agriculture, Pennsylvania State College, at State
College, Pa.

The Abel Barron family were residents of Mt. Morris. Abel Barron
bought the Lemen farm, adjoining the Barron homestead. He married (first)
Margaret Rockafellow of Nunda. They had no children. He married (second)
Margaret Norton of Mt. Morris; four children: Harriet L., A. Clifton, Thorn-
ton and Catharine. All but Thornton have lived in Nunda. He married Emma
Sherman of Nunda.

Third Generation

Harriet L. married Michael Dowling, a railroad contractor, who made a
success of his occupation (see list of self-made men). He purchased Elmwood
and improved it. He died about 20 years ago and is buried at Nunda.

IV. Mabel, born in Barron District, educated in Binghamton High
School; Cora, born in Barron District, educated in Binghamton and Smith
College, owns the Abel Barron homestead; Florence, born on Downling farm,
educated at Binghamton and graduated from Smith’s College, 1yo4, married
Fred C. Olp, cashier Nunda Bank. Harriet Olp, born 1907; Minnie J. Dennis,
adopted daughter of Maud H. L. Dennis, educated at Dinghamton High School
and Albany Normal College; has taught at Nunda and Plainfield, N. J. (see
College Club).

Ill. 2. A. Clifton Barron, born on A. Barron homestead, educated at
Nunda Academy and at Cornell University, taught in Jervis Military Academy,
Conn., bank clerk, Nunda, railroad contractor, retired farmer, sold homestead

267
to his niece, Miss Cora Dowling, married (first) Harriet Roland of Connecti-
cut, lived in Nunda, Gibbs Place, and died at the homestead, married (second)
Aliss ,ateacher. 3. Thornton Barron, never lived in Nunda, lives on the
homestead, married Emma Sherman of Nunda. Children born in Mt. Morris:
Catharine, Mrs. Reed, never lived in Nunda.

II. Sarah J., married (first) Harvey Messenger, son of Deacon Russell
Messenger (second) Ethan Gilbert (third) George Gilbert, all buried in Oak-
wood.

III. Erai Gilbert, married *James Winship, Esq. Children born in Buf-
falo, N. Y.: Alice Gilbert (niece and adopted daughter), teacher, married
Irving McDuffie, veteran (see 33rd Regiment), teacher; *Joseph Harris (adopt-
ed), teacher, lawyer, principal Avon Union School, city attorney St. Louis,
Mo., settled 1832; *Quartus Barron, married Sylvia Ashley, daughter of Judge
Daniel Ashley of Nunda, built cobble stone house on East Street and corner
store on East and State Streets; died at Fox Lake.

 

1835—THE BARRETTS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

I. Deacon James Barrett, farmer, married Lucinda Knapp.

II. 1. Mary Barrett, born November 23, 1813, married Moses Barron (see
Barron family) ; 2. Lucinda, born in New Hampshire, married Victor Wright,
son of pioneer John S. Wright (1832).

III. Monroe W., born in Nunda, 1838; 2. Marcella, born in Nunda, 18309,
married Snover, AMIt. Clemons; 3. Judson, born in 1840, resides in Ne-
braska; 4. Ida, married Bishop.

II. 3. Emaline (a teacher), married John E. Dake; Albert; Emma, mar-
ried John Sherry, Rochester.

Il. 4. *Elizabeth, teacher and homeopathic physician, married Dr. Josiah
Blanchard, pioneer teacher in Nunda; 1. Ada Blanchard; 5. *Martha, a teacher,
married *Dr. Samuel P. Town, a pioneer teacher in Nunda; 6. *James M. Bar-
rett (only son), a teacher and merchant, married (first) *Charlotte Tuthill,
(second) Joanna Harris, sister of Mrs. James of Nunda; 7. Laura, also a
teacher, married Dr. William H. Dake of Nunda.

II. 1. Embury Dake, born in Nunda, married of Rochester, died
in Rochester, 1906; Ida M., married Thayer, Lockport, N. Y.

 

 

 

 

NEPHEWS OF DEACON JAMES BARRETT

Zacheous (a farmer), married (first) Harriet Norton, (second) Catharine
Hann, (third) Grace Hann. Catharine and Grace Barrett were daughters of
John. Hann of Groveland and cousins to John Wanamaker, merchant of Phila-
delphia, only son of Zacheous and Grace Barrett, born 1854, died 1907. George
\V. Barrett of Quincy, Mass., farmer, Mt. Morris and Nunda, settled 1850,
married (first) *Mrs. A. J. Ricker, who had three daughters, (second) *Huldah
Perine; daughters: Abby, a young lady, died 1853; *Augusta Ricker, married
Oscar D. Willett, veteran, 136th Regiment, died in California; Sabra Jane
Ricker, married *Origen J. Willett, Supervisor of Portage, died in Portage,
Mrs. Willett moved to Nunda village after his death; (Mr. and Mrs. Willett
were Universalists;) *Georgianna Barrett, married Willard Kendall, lived on
farm (Lee farm) in Nunda. 1. Frank; 2. Bert.

268
OLIVER WRIGHT SETTLED IN 1835

By his first marriage he was a brother-in-law of Eben Wheeler (settled
1833). Oliver Wright, married (first) *Hannah Wheeler.

I. Almira, married Mordan Wright, son of John S.

II. 1. Walter Wright; 2. Hannah E. T. Wright, missionary to Burmah
(see Nunda Missionaries, Church and Clergy Department), married Rev.
Lyman Stilson, A. M., missionary; 3. W. Parker Wright, skilled mechanic,
in government employ at Navy Yard, Washington, D. C., during part of the
Civil War; 4. Charles Wright, born 1828, skilled mechanic.

Oliver Wright and sons had the first furnace in Nunda. The old building
is still standing. It was built by John S. Wright and located on his lot, and is
now used by its present owner, John Hughes, as a livery building. The build-
ing, at least 75 years old, unlike the houses of the village, has not improved
with age. The Wright Bros. went to Rochester and while there made the fire
engine, the “Protector,” all were so proud of. It was sold after the present
excellent system of water works was established. The Hope hose engine is still
to be seen, though never used.

As “skilled mechanics” the sons of Oliver Wright stand prominent, first
in the list from Nunda, and it is an honor to the town that W. Parker Wright
was selected by the government in the mounting of Dahlgren guns for the
protection of the National Capitol. He was living at Nunda at the time of the
Civil War.

John S. Wright, pioneer, settled 1832, builder of several houses for him-
self, son-in-law, and sons, builder of the first foundry, was first author, having
had printed a pamphlet of his search for the most desirable location for a home.
That he settled in Nunda after an unsatisfactory journey to Ohio, and a tem-
porary residence in Chautauqua County, is at least complimentary to Nunda;
that he died at the Ridge is due to his great zeal for the Baptist denomination
that led him to the building of the church in that settlement, which has, how-
ever, become a Methodist Church edifice.

The family record of this excellent and useful family is furnished by the
daughter of the only living child of this early pioneer. The family also fur-
nished the assessment role of the town in 1834, when John S. Wright was
assessor, but it has not been found. As it would give all the names of the tax-
payers of that date it would be of great value, if found.

Mrs. Jessie Smith \Warner of Brooklyn, N. Y., daughter of Sarah <A.
Wright, of Brooklyn, N. Y.. formerly of Nunda and Wellsville, has given me
the following complete family statistics:

I. John S. Wright, born 1732, died at Ridge, N. Y., 1849, buried at Nunda,
married February 27, 1803 (settled in Nunda, Portage Street, 1833); Asenath
Arnold, born 1785, died April 10, 1866, buried at Nunda.

II. 1. *Emily, born 1805, died at Scribna, N. Y., 1888, married Harvey
Simmons, died 1876, aged 80; 2. *Florona, born 1808, died 1844, buried at
Nunda; 3. *Mordan, born 1811, died 1872, in Michigan, married *Almira
Wright, daughter of Oliver, son \Walter Wright; 4. Victor, born 1813, died
1897, at Detroit, Mich., married Lucinda Barrett, died 1887 (see Barrett record
for children) ; 5. Wellington, born 1816, died 1838; 6. Mary E. Wright, born
1818, married Darius Gould. Darius Gould was a pioneer merchant of Nunda,

269
corner store, Mill Street and State Street. E. G. married (second) George W.
Shannon in 1852. Darius Gould died sburied in Nunda. 7. Elizabeth
H., born 1821, died at Penn Yan 1893, married John J. Rockafellow of Nunda,
Allegany County, clerk County Superintendent of Schools, lived on Center
Street, Nunda, son of Henry Rockafellow; 8. Sarah Asenath, born 1828, mar-
ried Thomas L. Smith of Rochester. T. L. Smith died at Wellsville, 1899.
III. Jessie Smith married H. D. Warner, resides at Brooklyn, N. Y.

 

CHAPTER XIX.

1830

first County Superintendent of the Poor. The population of Allegany

County this year, 27,276. There was paid by the county this year for
killing harmful wild beasts $467.50, for 1 panther, 23 wolves and 18 whelps
(young wolves).

(GG sc W. MIERRICK, Supervisor of Nunda; William P. Wilcox

POPULATION OF TOWNS

Alfred 1,416, Allen 898, Almond 1,804, Amity 872, Andover 598, Angelica
gg8, Belfast 743, Birdsall 543, Bolivar 449, Burns 702, Caneadea 782, Center-
ville 1,195, Cuba 1,059, Eagle 892, Friendship 1,502, Genesee 219, Grove (in-
cluding most of Granger) 1,388, Haight 655, Hume 951, Independence 877,
Nunda 1,291, Ossian 812, Pike 2,016, Portage (including Genesee Falls and
part of Granger) 1,839, Rushford, 1,115, Scio 602. The county was at this time
divided into 25 towns.

The families that are known to have come to this town in 1830: Deacon
William R. Ruryee, Abraham DeGroff, William D. Paine, Silas Grover. A
survey of the canal route from Rochester to Allegheny River, directed by
Legislature, April 17, 1830.

Besides giving the population of the towns of Allegany County, we are
given this year the amount of public money distributed to the schools. The
school money for Nunda was $67.16, the town of Almond received $94 and
Alford $73.70, while Angelica received only $51.99.

The secret of the population at that time being so great may be solved by
stating that nearly every family had from seven to twelve children. If the
same conditions prevailed at the present time our population would be at
least quadrupled. The Duryee family that settled in 1830 is unlike in num-
bers our Nunda families of to-day.

This family was one of the largest and proved to be good stayers. Most
of the later pioneers consider Deacon William R. Duryee one of the old pio-
neers. He settled in 1830, but even he belonged to the second generation of
Duryees in Nunda.

I. His father, George Duryee, born 1770, located near the county line;
his wife was a Renix.

II. John married and went West; George, Jr., married Sally Depuy;
William R. Duryee, deacon of Presbyterian Church, farmer with 160 acres,
born in Schenectady 1796, lived go years, married (first) Lany Conklin, born

270
Cayuga County 1800, died 1843, (second) Melinda Rathbone, born 1802; 12
children.

Ill. 1. *Helen M., married *Peter Ammerman, veteran; 2. *Elizabeth,
married Egbert Bogart, son of Dr. Bogart; 3. Jane A., married Aaron Hall of
Tuscarora; 4. Gertrude S., married *Chester Moore; 5. *Delia O., married
*Andrew J. Russell, artist, Captain in Civil War; (I\’.) two daughters, Cora,
married, and Hattie, married. III. 6. C. Caroline. married *Allen Whitney.

IV Amanda, married Dr. Brown; *Mattie, married John Crosier of
Oakland.

III. 7. Monroe Duryee, married Esther Crauston.

IV 1. William C., married Nellie B. Chittenden, daughter of Darwin;
2. Frank Monroe, married Ella Chambers; 3. George Clayton; 4. Edith; 5.
Laura, married Rev. Grant Chambers; 6. Robert, married Blanche Sawyer;
7. Florence, married John Gross, lives on the homestead.

Ill. *J. Conklin, married Helen Lamphire; 1. Winifred; 2. John, killed
by the falling of a pitchfork from a hay mow; 3. Chester.

III. Amanda, married *Ambrose Clapp, all born before 1840. Frances
E., married David Roberts (see Silas Roberts family); Harriet N., married
(first) *Charles Bigsby, (second) Figer. The first Mrs. Duryee was a
Conklin and aunt to Gerritt and Ralston Conklin. The second wife, Metinda
Rathbone, was an aunt to Addison Rathbone, A. B., (Union), son-in-law of
B. P. Richmond.

II. 3. James Duryee, son of George, Sr., married Renix; Renix
Duryee (only son), farmer, lives in Nunda village; Jennie Brodt, a niece of
Mrs. Duryee, married Ralston Conklin; 1. Ella Conklin; 2. Flora Conklin,
married Daniel Suydam.

II. 4. Sarah Duryee, married Abraham DeGroff (see DeGroff family) ;
5. Andrew Durvee, married (first) Lydia Willis, (second) Eliza Reed.

III. 1. Josiah Duryee, married (first) Marian Philips (second) Mrs.
Williams; 2. Sarah Duryee, married John Crego, Captain of Carter Camp,
Sons of Veterans. janitor of Nunda High School.

 

 

IV Herbert Crego, served term in the regular army; 3. Sidney, single ;
4. James, married Mary J. Hughes: 5. Edward, married (first) Margaret Alur-
‘dorph, (second) Gelser; 6. Mary, married John Love, Michigan.

Mrs. Lucinda Duryee, born 1813, a niece of George Duryee, Sr. (see
Whitenack families).

J. 2. *Abraham Duryee, brother to George, Sr., born 1789, died 1868,
wife Catharine Van Rensalier, died 1866.

II. 1. *Sarah, single, a weaver, lived on Creek Road; 2. *Van Rensalier (a
one-armed man, peddled merchandise).

III. *Schuyler (a soldier 33rd Regiment), married Sarah Hayward, bur-
ied at Oakwood; *Charles (an upholsterer), married Rosetta Maynard, dress-
maker, Nunda, N. Y.

IV. «1. Harley, furniture dealer; 2. Maynard, printer, foreman Truth
office; The Duryee Bros., undertaking, dealers in furniture, Cree Block; 3.
Ethlyn, clerk; 4. Lorma, printer.

III. 3. Emma, married Edward Passage; 4. Ella, teacher, married Leon-
ard Coon Roberts, carpenter, patternmaker, inventor; 5. Fred.

 

271
Il. 4. Eliza Duryee, mother of Eugene Duryee, veteran; Eugene, a
much married man—a cosmopolitan with a wife in each new locality.

1825—THE ELWOODS

Mr. James Elwood was a shoemaker and sometimes went around “whip-
ping the cat,” as it was called; that is, he went to a farm house, and made up
their tanned leather into shoes and boots for the family. Their were several
other pioneer shoemakers who did the same—probably Joel Saterlee and Alex.
Guy. The custom did not last long after village shoe shops were established.

Wesley Bailey owns the farm where J. Elwood formerly lived. He also
lived where Mark Turner now lives. The house was moved from Chautauqua
Hollow, its owner, a Mr. Kellogg, having espoused Mormonism and wishing
to emigrate to Utah, to be near the prophet Joseph, sold his house, which
was torn down and rebuilt on this spot, then on the Cashaqua trail.

As there were a baker’s dozen of the children their descendants must be
in nearly every state in the union,

James Elwood family were Baptists, and consisted of himself and wife.
James Elwood was born 1797, died 1870, aged 73, settled about 1824, with 1.
Thomas, of whom it is said “his neck was broken while wrestling with a
friend;” 2. Samuel; 3. James Henry; 4. Harriet, married Edwin Batterson,
parents of Mrs. Mark Turner, who, with the family, have lived for many years
in the house her maternal grandsire rebuilt ; 5. Abijah Elwood, married
Rawson, daughter of Colman; he was the father of Homer Elwood, who finally
owned the premises of his maternal grandsire, Colman Rawson, sons Harry,
LaDette, Buffalo, N. Y.; 6. Philetus; 7. Mary; 8. Abba Jane; 9. *Martha; 1o.
Clara, married Horton Doty; 11. George; 12. *Charles.

Wilson Roberts and his wife, Mary Davis Roberts, settled near the State
Road, about the time the road was laid out, 1824. The children were: Foster,
who became a merchant in Penn Yan (no longer living); 2. Sarah, born in
Nunda, 1824, married Stacy Warford (veteran), both have died within two
years ; 3. Mordicai; 4. *Phebe, married Jonathan Miller; 5. Mrs. Henry Ogden;
6, *Mary Ann; 7. Henry Roberts, the only survivor of the family, lives in
Nunda. The children of Jonathan and Phebe are: Mary, Mrs. Charles Wheeler
of Cuba, N. Y.; 2. Mrs. LaRue, Estella, of Nunda, who has a successful poultry
ranch. In canal days, Mr. Roberts moved into the village and lived there dur-
ing his life.

 

JOSHUA FULLER, NONAGENARIAN

Joshua Fuller, who was the third in a family of fourteen children and
could trace his lineage through seven generations to Edward Fuller, who came
over in the Mayfower and who landed at Plymouth, Mass., December 21,
1820, came to Nunda in 1833 and settled on the very spot where the Protestant
Methodist Church now stands.

The Fuller family seems noted throughout its many branches for long-
evity and large families. Joshua's family and also that of his son, William C.
Fuller, seem no exception to the rule. He was a deacon of the Universalist
Church of Nunda, a thoroughly good man, and a typical New Englander. He
was born April 4, 1778, during the Revolutionary War. His father, Elisha
Fuller, was a Revolutionary soldier. The father died at Ludlow, Mass., where
all his children were born. Joshua was married about 1800, first, to Polly

272
Brewer, who died the same year, and next to Mercy Pease, who became the
mother of his large family. The Fuller genealogy gives the names of three
of his daughters: Polly, born 1802; Clarissa, born 1803; Louisa, born 1808.
One of these—Polly—must have come to Nunda and was married to a son or
brother of Erastus Carrier, who lived on the County Line Road. 4. Sophia,
born 1810, was married to Dr. Nelson Chittenden, one of the early dentists of
Nunda; 5. Caroline, born 1812, married Alfred Goldthwait and they came to
Nunda before the father’s family came; 6. James Fuller went west, and had
two sons; 7. George Fuller to Philadelphia, had one son, Edward; 9. Maria
Fuller was married in Nunda by Rev. Dr. Manley, Universalist, to Porter
Warren, son of Noah, the veteran; 10, William C. Fuller, postmaster and
Deputy Sheriff nine years each, married (first) Louisa C. Guy, daughter of
Alexander Guy of Nunda; the latter was born in 1822 and died May 28, 1895.
Mr. Fuller married (second) the widow of Joel Brewer, with whom several of
the Institute boys boarded. Mr. Fuller died and his widow now lives with
her son at Rochester.

THIRD GENERATION OF FULLERS IN NUNDA

Ill. 1. Henry F., born 1843, died March 10, 1875. He was a veteran of
the Civil \War, married *Esther Barker, daughter of Jesse Barker.

IV He left two sons, 1. Elmer Ellsworth, editor of the Sons of Veteran
newspaper, and Ora; both died young.

V. E. E. Fuller left a wife and two children; 2. Arthur W., born 1850;
3. May L., born 1852, married (first) John Paine, a veteran, who was killed
by an explosion at Dalton, buried at Oakwood, married (second)
Slater, IV. two sons. She married (third) Charles Rulison, a son, Harry
Rulison, journeyman printer, Mt. Morris.

Ill. 4. George C., born 1855; 5. Martha E., born 1857; 6. Charles O., born
1859; 7. Fred A.; 8. Abbie, a son, born 186s.

1833

Dr. Chittenden, dentist, East Street, married Sophia Fuller, daughter of
Joshua. Nelson Chittenden, a first class dentist and a first class teacher of
vocal music. Children: 1. Flora Eglantine; 2. Ella Antoinette; 3. Roselle; 4.
Charlotte; 5. Charles, also a dentist, was at the head of his profession in Wis-
consin at the time of his early death. in 1907; 6. Mary; 7. Kate. The family
went West previous to the Civil War. A sister of Nelson Chittenden was a
Mrs. Hill of Portage.

 

THE PITTENGERS—A SAD CALAMITY

Lived near the corner of Vermont and Church Street.

I. Daniel Pittenger.

II. Joshua Pittenger, married Sarah Chandler; Gertrude Pittenger mar-
ried Alfred Swain; Roselle.

I. 2. A brother of Daniel Pittenger, with his wife, left their two children
in their home for an hour while they went to call on a neighbor. They probably
stayed longer than they intended to, and when they returned found the house
nearly burned down and their children were burned to death. The family
lived on East Hill.

273
 

 

  

ALMIRON PAINE

Stage Driver w Eso.
First Child Bor in Nunda Bea ee

 

SANFORD PARKER
Of the Parker House, Dalton

Tue Late Peter De Puy
Banker of Nunda
THE DEPUYS

Children of Colonel DePuy (who lived in Mt. Morris, but never in Nunda,
nor did the father of Peter DePuy, who died when Peter was young): | Amos;
Ezra DePuy, married (1842) Miss Rachel Post; Philip, Sr., married
Chandler; Eleoner, married Maxom Smith, who owned one of the three lots
on which the village of Dalton is built.

II. Charity Smith, married William Y. Robinson, ex-Supervisor and ex-
member of Assembly.

III. 1. Caroline, married Rev. Thomas B. Paine, pastor of Universalist
Church, Scranton, Pa.; 2. Harriet, married DeLester Wilkins, medical student
and principal of schools.

Il. Peter DePuy, died, aged 75, grocer and banker, married Melissa J.
Smith of Perry.

III. 1. Isaae Justin, grocer and banker, married Sarah Brewster, daugh-
ter of Isaac Brewster. 2. Alton, born in Nunda (brakeman), married -—-—
Morris, niece of Joseph Morris, died and left a son and daughter.

Grandchildren of Peter and Melissa, children of J. DePuy:

IV *Brett (bank clerk), married Harriet Barrett, one son; 2. Perry
(bank clerk) ; 3. Ivan; 4. Bruce; 5. Glenn.

Il. 2. *Philip DePuy, a carpenter and a brother of Peter, married
his widow. Mrs. De Puy married (second) Hiram Mills.

Ill. Frank DePuy, bank clerk, married Laura Rose, daughter of Cyrus
Rose. He died 1907, leaving wife and one daughter.

II. 3. Sister of Peter married Isaac Whitenack (see Whitenack brothers,
John, Isaac, Cornelius) ; 4. Sarah (Sally), married George Duryee (see Duryee
family).

Ill. 1. Margaret Duryee, married
married Glisby; 3. Ezra; 4. Samuel; 5. May.

 

 

 

Culbertson ; 2. Catharine Eliza,

1838—THE MACKENS

The Mackens were a patriotic family. The sons enlisted and two of the
daughters married soldiers. No family that furnished soldiers was unimport-
ant in war times, and deserve special mention in local history.

Mr. Macken and Susan Macken lived in the Chautauqua Hollow
section.

1. James (soldier) ; 2. Thomas (soldier) ; 3. Cecilia, married Orrin Grimes ;
4. Margaret, married Frank G. Lockwood, veteran, died 1907; 5. Anna, mar-
ried *F, Frank Demmon, veteran, 136th Regiment.

III. 1. Elvira, daughter of Frank by former marriage. 2. Cora, married
Fred Woodworth, son of Charles W.. veteran (see \Voodworth families).

 

THE CHILDREN OF FRANK G. LOCKWOOD

Lewis, a veteran of Spanish War, Craig Colony; Bert, married —-——
Kernahan; 6. *Mary, married *Lorenzo Jacobs, a barber. They lived on Mfill
Street, Nunda.

1835

John Kelly, son of Joseph Kelly (by first marriage), came with his uncle,
John Fox, to Nunda, married (first) Hanor Philena Baldwin, daughter of
275
Nelson; they had two children: Emma, married Eli Downs of Mt. Morris;
Orren J., married Minnie Stewart; John Kelly married (second) Mrs. Lydia
Sabin.

Children of Emma and Eli:

Ill. E. J. Downs, Nellie O., Harry Downs. Children of Orren and Min-
nie Kelly: 1. Floris, and 2. Everett. Mary Kelly, sister to John, married Linus
Aldrich; *Fred (bachelor), died at Dalton.

The family of Joseph Kelley never lived at Nunda. He came to Granger
in 1838 with a span of horses and a top buggy and traded it for 80 acres of
land; returned to Herkimer County by packet from Rochester and returned
the next spring. Daughter, Sarah, Mrs. Dr. Hamilton, and Martha have lived
in Nunda; Churchill died 1886. William H. Kelly is a prominent citizen of
Grove, has been Supervisor of the town, and a veteran of the Civil War. The
farm of John Kelley was in Nunda. He now resides in Dalton.

FOX FAMILIES—1835

I. 1. John Fox, Espaw Passage, sister of Peter. 2. Margaret Fox, mar-
ried Marshal Passage; 3. Christopher Fox married Elizabeth Sphoon.

IlJ. 1. James, married Jane Acker; 2. Henry, married AIrs. Jane
(Blowers) Sphoon; 3. Mary Margaret, married George J. Boardman.

IV Minnie, married Henry Ames.

Ill. 4. Simon, married Eunice Burdick; 5. Charles, (single).

I. 3. Nicholas Fox, married Elizabeth Knights; 2. John; 3. Edward Fox
(sailor) died at sea; *Charles Fox, soldier; Loraine; Lulu; Lizzie.

NEPHEWS AND NIECES

Children of James who never came to Nunda.

II. 1. Joseph Fox, married Isora Ellsworth.

II. 2. *Charles C. Fox, married Angeletta White; Elijah, single; Anna
married Herrington; Stoddard, single.

II. 3. Sally Ann, single.

Il. 4. Dorothy, married John White, Jr.

III. Elnora, married Walter Herrington.

 

CHAPTER XX.
SETTLERS ALONG THE OLD County LINE,

ETER ROBERTS came to Leicester about 100 years ago, when there

p were but few white settlers, and those, mostly those who had lived with

the Indians, like Horatio Jones and Joseph Smith. Indians were plenti-

ful for there were three Indian Reservations within the present township of

Leicester. He had teams, and finding the wild grass bountiful he gathered

some stacks of it for winter use, whether the sight of this heap of combustibles

reminded an old squaw of the burning of Little Beardstown, by Sullivan’s men.

and the destruction of her home in ‘7g, or the very easy task it would be to re-

duce this crop of winter hay to ashes, is not known, but one winter night she
applied the blazing brand, and the winters supply of hay was gone.

276
It had been a time of peace and even the Indians feared this act of aggres-
sion would lead to “bad blood” between the races, so they themselves took the
matter in hand, accused the squaw of being a witch, tried and condemned her,
and burned her at the stake.

Mr. Roberts, robbed of his winter’s supply of fodder, “took to the woods”
of Sparta, and fed his stock on bushes as best he could; the oxen alone lived
through.

soon after, the war of 1812-14 being in progress, a draft was made and one
of his neighbors was drafted who did not care to go, so he gave Mr. Roberts
$50 to go in his place. The Sparta volunteers and others who could not find
substitutes, for few had $50, went to the front, among them our future
townsman John C. McNair. Roberts not only went, but returned and having
tried his hand and his courage, liked it so well that on three other occasions he
volunteered his services for the protection of the frontier.

GREEN ROBERTS FAMILY
I.

I. Husted Green, Sr., married Hannah Roberts, daughter of the pioneer
veteran, Peter Roberts.

Il.

t. Husted Green, Jr., married Alathea Runyan; 2. Jane Green, married
Abram Tunison, West Sparta: 3. Robert W., married Mary McBride.

Husted and Robert W., were both soldiers of the war, the latter lost an
arm in the service. Husted has served as assessor of the town a number of
terms. Robert W., had been School Commissioner, while all the three children
have taught school. Husted lives on the homestead, and Robert is a physician
and lives at Geneseo, N. Y.

II.

Sheldon Green, married 1 Anna Derrickson, 2 Madge Carpenter. He is a
first class carpenter and builder; Caroline, a teacher (Genesee Normal School),
married F. Carpenter.

The military record of this three fold family is worthy of special mention.
Peter Roberts, veteran (Sparta Co.) 1812-14.

His grandsons: Peter Roberts; William Batterson; John Batterson, died
fighting Indians, after the Civil War; Husted Green; Robert Green; Andrew
McMillian; Lewis Sutton (died in the service), married Jane Roberts; Isaiah
B. Hamilton; Henry Waver (a son-in-law), was veteran of Mexican War and
of Civil War: all blood relatives, excepting the last three, who married into
the family, furnishing another illustration that military tendencies can be trans-

mitted.
Mrs. Silas Roberts at the age of 90, tells of first settlers along the Keshe-

qua Trail.

Additional to the Tuttle family, one of its members, Mrs. Lydia Montangee
Roberts, a nonogenarian who died about ten years ago, left a record of her early
recollections when she was a young woman and lived with an uncle and aunt.
Abner Tuttle and wife, on the site of the Coopersville mill house. There were
three brothers of these Tuttles, Abner, Henry and Stephen. The Baptist Church
records, record only the name of Stephen Tuttle who moved to Grove, though

277
Mrs. Roberts says, that Elder Samuel Messenger preached at the McSweeney
log school house foot of East Street, and all these people attended the services.
(The early settlers who were Baptists joined the church at Union Corners.)
She also states that her cousin Amy Tuttle was the first person buried in the
Nunda Valley Cemetery, that Amy was Ig years of age and died in 1822. The
family had lived there for at least five years, and she had lived with them part
of that time. She stated that all the three Tuttles lived on the east side of the
Keshequa Creek on the Keshequa trail (the trail crossed the Keshequa on the
Cranston farm near the Bates Road). She also mentions that “Granny Pren-
tice’ was the second person buried in our Nunda Cemetery, that Abner Tuttle
with his oxen and sled drew the remains to the cemetery, that the furneral pro-
cession had to stop, and the men cut away fallen timber several times before
reaching her grave. This was in 1823, and Granny was 90 years old, if so, she
must have been born in 1733 and was probably the first born of all the pioneers.
Elisha Prentice is mentioned as living on the west side of the creek opposite to
the Irwin place on the east side. He was probably the son of ‘Granny Prentice”
and the brother of Nathan Prentice, the father of John and Hiram Prentice;
and here in Nunda, on the County Line, this first of our many nonogenarians
passed away. She also locates Zadoc Sherwood, near the Jones family burial
lot, the Crawfords as before stated lived on the Jones farm, near a watering
trough, and stranger still, Alpheus Herrick and D. I. Conklin, lived in a double
jog house, on the Liberty Bennett farm. Slayton had an ashery on the Wil-
loughby Drew place, Daniel \Wisner had a private burial ground, east of the
Drew place, while his log house was on the opposite side of the road, west of
what was afterwards called the Devinny place. This log house was by a fine
spring of water.

The Tuttles were from the Wyoming Valley, Pa.. and were no relation to
the Tuthills of Portage and Nunda. Their principal source of income at first
was from selling ashes, at the Siayton Ashery. The lands west of the Keshe-
qua were covered with a forest of yellow pines. All this was on or before
1822. She mentions both McSweeney, and Judge Carroll, but calls Mc-
Sweeney a clerk of Carroll's. This is the only statement that is questionable.
Judge Carroll’s map of 1824, and later, does not speak of the Tuttles, Slayton or
Prentices, and locates Alpheus Herrick opposite to Granville Sherwood and
Conklin, near the Coles where he lived many years, and Jonathan Barron on the
Sturgeon farm. But this statement from a nonogenarian who lived in Nunda
as early as 1818, and died here so recently is of great value. Many pages of it
have been lost, but what remains is of great interest. This information con-
cerning our cemetery could not have been obtained from any other source. It
harmonizes well with the time of the laying out of the streets leading to it,
West Street and Fourth Street about this time 1821 or 1822, by Henry C. Jones,
our first village maker. Slayton re-appears a few years later with two others,
Curtis and Guy, and this time they changed grain into liquid form, and we
have to confess to having had a distillery in pioneer Nunda near the Slayton
ashery. One of the proprietors, Jacob Guy, about 1830, bought out the Wilcox
store and inn, and since then this place has been known as “Guy’s Corners,”
and the inn as Guy’s Tavern. The building, a frame house, is still stand-
ing, is in fair condition and is a typical specimen of the Wayside Inn common

278
during the period denominated in pioneer days, improved conditions when frame
houses superceded log ones.

We give the likeness of this nonogenarian who died in 1897, aged or.

Silas Roberts and his sisters, Mrs. John Batterson, Mrs. Gray and Mrs.
Gambol were cousins to Mrs. Jemima Roberts Squires and her sister, Mrs.
Hannah Green, wife of Husted Green, Sr. They all came from Sparta, where
their ancestor, Peter Roberts, Sr., a soldier of the war of 1812, located at a very
early date. The Tuttle family, that settled near Coopersville at least twenty
years before the mill was built, was also related on the Roberts side. The fam-
ily of Silas Roberts was connected by marriage to that of Leonard Kuhn,
AIrs. Lydia Montanyve Roberts and Mrs. Urania Montanye Kuhn being sisters.
Lewis Sutton, a nephew of these sisters, married, before enlisting in the 1o4th
Regiment, Celestia Jane Roberts, his cousin; and Andrew MecMillian, another
cousin, married as his second wife after the war, Urana, an older daughter.
These various branches of the family of the old veteran followed his example
in one respect: they were patriotic and the soldiers from this fighting family
were numerous, and, as far as known, valiant.

The Tuttles came into town about 1815. Mrs. Silas Roberts then a
young lady came with them. The Squires family came about 1825. The John
Batterson family were on the \[t. Morris side of the county line, while the
Greens had only to move a few rods from Sparta into Nunda, their old home
being in full sight of their new home in Nunda.

Jesse Squire, Sr.’s, name is on the Judge Carroll map, so we may con-
clude the family settled in 1824 or 1825. The family were as follows:

I. Jesse Squire, Sr., and Mrs. Jemima Roberts Squire. Children:

1. “John, married Amanda Alvard, her second husband Henry Chase; ?
*Seeley, Sr., (marble cutter), married Marian Hoyt, daughter of Shepher:l
Hoyt, Sr.; 3. Susan, married William Benson; 4. Clarinda, married James
Swift; 5. Fanny, married Michael Clark, a soldier; 6. Jane, married *Howard
Doty, a soldier who died in the service; 7. William, married (in the west); 8.
“Albert, single; 9. Jesse, soldier, married in New Hampshire.

III. Seeley, Jr., a barber, married *Mary Birge, daughter of George ani
Jane Birge, a restaurant keeper for Salvation Army in buffalo, N. Y.

IV. Robert, married Clara Batterson, daughter of W. S. Batterson, is a
motorman in Buffalo; Fred, assists his father in Salvation Army restaurant ;
Bessie at home with her grandmother.

Children of Wiiliam and Susan Benson: Prof. William M. Benson, Ph
D., resides in Rochester (see College Lists); Henry Benson, resides in \WVest
Henrietta ; *Emma, married.

The Whipples, settled 1825 on Lot 25, 125 acres.

I. Elisha Whipple was one of the men Nunda delighted to honor, he was
Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of the town.

Elisha Whipple. born 1804, died 1863, marricd Maria Post, born Cayuga
County, 1803, died 1849. Children, nine.

II. 1. George, born 1829 in Nunda, farmer, 95 acres, married Helen M.
Herrick, born Castile, 1834, married 1853. Children: William, born 1866:
Charles Seldom, 1872.

279
Il. 2. Jacob, farmer, 100 acres, born Nunda 1830, married Joanna Faulk-
ner, born Bath 1843, married 1862. Children, three: Carrie, Kate F., Fred R.,
born 1871.

Henry Whipple, born in Nunda, 1833, farmer, 12 acres, married Elizabeth
Smith, born Livingston County 1858, married 1876.

Nephew of Elisha, Frank Whipple, son of and Maria Bard, oF
Nunda, Court Stenographer, Livingston County, resided at Geneseeo, marrie-]
1906.

Elisha Whipple came to the village and lived on East Street. He became
Supervisor of the town. On one occasion the candidates for Supervisor had the
same number of votes so both agreed to leave their predecessor in office, so he
served an additional term.

Ephraim Walker, son of John Walker a Revolutionary soldier, was a vete-
ran of the war of 1812, (also a local minister of the M. E. Church). He served
a year as a soldier. He married at the age of twenty, settled at Dansville
where he was a brick maker, later he made bricks at Tuscarora. He was twice
married and his two families of children numbered in all thirteen. Mr. and
Mrs. Walker, and probably one son, settled in Nunda (Lot 8), 100 acres, prob-
ably in 1824. Ephraim Walker, married first Mary Lake, they had one son and
five daughters; married second, Mary Woodward, four sons and three daugh-
ters. Twelve of the children were born in Nunda.

 

II. Henry Walker, married Susan Perry; had ten children, seven of
whom grew to maturity.

Ill. James Walker, M. D. specialist Hornell Sanitarium, was one of the
sons.

Il. 2. Sarah, married William Spinnings; Jane, married William Van-
Dorn; Lucina, married John Thompson; Mary, married Darwin Chittenden,
children Oscar, Lilly and Emma; Margaret, married John Stoner, their son
became Sheriff in Indiana; Melissa, married John Kinney; Minerva, married
Elijah Levie, their, children, Catharine, married Frank Kernehan, Bert, mar-
ried Ella Cross; Edwin Walker, married Strickland; Sophia, married
Charles H. Rockafellow, their children, “Adelaide, married *Richard Bristol;
John Emory, married *Lucy Dennis of Nebraska, her daughter, Vada; Min-
nie, married Allison Paine, their children Adelaide, John Nelson Paine; John
Campbell Walker, married Emma Sphoon, their children LaVerne, lawyer,
married Grace Hunt, daughter of W. Hunt; Leon, a student; Eugene Walker,
married Jennie Kendall, daughter anny, (Mrs. Conklin) ; Wellington Walker,
married Laura Chittenden.

 

DAVID O. BATTERSON

The children were: Nelson; Almira (Mrs. Gleason); Matilda, still _liv-
ing, (Mrs. Thomas Priestman); Clara; Eleanor, (Mrs. George McKee) ;
Thomas Jefferson, who died 1906; Edwin R., married Harriet Elwood, their
daughter, (Mrs. Mark Turner), and their son, Clyde Turner; Orlando, married
Emma Powers.

THE WHITENACKS

John, Cornelius, and Isaac. John Whitenack, married 1, Wade;

Collar; Isaac, married Calista DePuy, sister to Peter DePuy, their

 

 

280
children: Alida, married Leander Aber; Jacob, a teacher in New York City.
married Mary Eagen; Seward, married Anna White; *Cornelius, married Inez
Whitehead; Melissa, a Normal teacher, has taught twenty-one years in one
school at Mt. Morris.

Cornelius Whitenack, born in 1811, settled 1836, farmer 115 acres, mar-
ried Lucinda Duryee, children six: Belle, married Frank A. Northway, Alida,
died single, Arminda, married Edward Coe; Elizabeth and Benson, twins;
Benson, died aged 20, Charles, married Lizzie Conklin; grandchildren of Corne-
lius: Edward Northway, merchant, married Grace Metcalf, one son, called Paul
Samuel; Will H. Northway, merchant, married Franc Herrick, daughter of
Calvin H., has two sons; Elizabeth, married Luther C. Thompson, farmer Oak-
land, N. Y. Children of Charles and Lizzie Whitenack, Jay C. Whitenack,
Lula H. Whitenack.

THE COX FAMILY—A CENTENARIAN

I. Gerritt Cox, farmer; Catherine Cox, died aged toy. This centenarian
broke her hip bone when 102 years old; after this she lived two years.

II. William G. Cox, married Sarah C. Morris.

III. Jacob Cox, married 1. *Emman NKernehan; 2. Anna E. Lowell.

Children of Jacob: Maud, Charles; Amariah G. Cox, brother to Jacob;
Emma, married Alfred Paine, their children: Mabel. married Chan Kk. Sanders,
Jr.; Louise; Florine. Sadie C., sister of Jacob, married George Weston of Chi-
cago.

1836 AND 1837

The vear 1836 is conspicuous by reason of two events—The opening of the
Nunda House, and the Canal Celebration.

The Paine brothers William D. and Carlos G., built the large brick hotel
that has been from that time to this the largest and generally the best hotel in
the town. The bricks for this building were made here. There was a general
observance of the day, and the principal citizens partook of their New Year's
dinner. In the evening there was a public dance, the first recorded in the his-
tory of the town. Dancing was tabooed in those days and while there were
plenty willing to attend, there were but few willing to see their names in print
asmanagers. The Paine Brothers issued the invitations, which read as follows:
“The company of Mr. is solicited at the Assembly Room of C. Paine in
Nunda Valley, on the first day of January, 1836, at 1 P. M. to reciprocate con-
gratulation on the approach of the New Year. Managers, L. S. Gilbert, J. Ken-
ney, T. J. Burnham, H. Shepard, W. T. Alderman, L. Gould, H. J. Burnham
Nunda Valley, December, 1835.”

If this had been in 1908 it would have read at 9 P. M., and the guests
would have arrived at 10 P. M.

 

THE CANAL CELEBRATION

The Canal Celebration at Nunda Valley, May 11, 1836, was a much greater
affair. The following ode written by the leading young lawyer in town, Addi-
son M. Crane, has been preserved. The air—Auld Lang Syne. We may read
between the lines the great expectations of the poet and the people, and had the
work gone on, and had the canal gone on to Pittsburg instead of stopping near
Olean, there would have been a paying canal where now there is—a railroad.

281
Ode sung at the Canal Celebration at Nunda Valley, May 11, 1836.
(Air: Auld Lang Syne. Written by Addison M. Crane.)

1. Let every fear be now forgot
Nor ever brought to mind
Let every source of jov be sought
And leave all fear behind.

2. We come around the festal board
To celebrate this day
And here we'll join with one accord
To drive dull care away.

3. We come to mingle now our joys
And tell our triumphs o’er
While gladness every tongue employs
That was dumb before.

4. The gladsome vale where Genesee
In solemn grandure flows
Is destined sure, ere long to be
As blooming as a rose.

And Allegany’s prime clad plains
Are destined to become

The poor man’s surest source of gain
And build the rich man’s home.

Su

6. Then welcome be the gladsome hour
And welcome be the day
That gave us cause to claim the power
To drive dull care away.

7. So then let every fear be gone
Nor ever thought of more
And so we'll now in union join
To tell our triumphs o'er.

8. Let all the friends of the canal
Assembled here to-day
A token show of their good will
And shout a loud hurra!

No doubt they did, and though A. M. Crane was not a great rhymster, he

became a great man.
CANAL CONTRACTORS—1834

Calvin B. Lawrence, built the B. F King-Hammond-Whitcomb house.

The children: Nancy, Martha and George. Mr. L., reared a fine monu-
ment at Oakwood when he was wealthy—but died in poverty in the west, even
the date of his death is not (but should be) inscribed on the monument.

Capt. James and wife. Children: 1. Pulaski; 2. William; 3. Louise; 4.
Frankie. The family moved to Detroit where Capt. James laid the first pave-
ments in that city. Two children were born in Detroit.

282
II. Kate James, married into the Christian family, a family of great
wealth.

III. Kate James Christian, married ——— Taylor, and though not a
Nunda girl sends vearly, kind remembrances to her grandmother's friends.

Another interesting membeer of this family was Poll Parrot, that the
James Bros., educated to say a great many pert things. Nathaniel Coc an
ex-Member of Assembly, had also been elected a Justice of the Peace, and was
surprised a few days after when passing the James residence, (now the Baptist
parsonage) to hear his name and office announced in a croaking voice, Coe!
Coe! Squire Coe! Squire Coe took off his hat and gave Polly a low bow, when
Polly renewed her salutation with a variation. Coe! Coe! black Coe! This
time there was no bow, and suspecting Bill James was serving Polly as
prompter the honorable magistrate passed quickly up the street. The parties.
however were well introduced, and Polly always hailed the magistrate as he
passed, with the same words. The bird had also a speaking acquaintance with
two young namesakes of “Good Queen Bess,” and when either of them passed
he would shout to the amusement of all within hearing, “Lib, Lib! there's a
hole in your stocking!" followed by a fiendish laugh,

Parrots weil instructed prove apt scholars and can make themselves inter-
esting—to those simply spectators. The James parrot, certainly reflected the
breadth of its instructions, but somehow the victims of its wit, would divide
their wrath between the bird and the boys, by saying, “that saucy bird! those

dreadful boys.” But such birds and such boys are the ones longest remem-
bered and the Lock builders family including Polly, are not forgotten.
1836

Joseph Ditto, came to Nunda in canal days, and kept canal supplies. H+
owned the L. B. Warner place, Massachusetts Street, his sons are well remem-
bered. John Ditto, a surveyor, was prominent in school exhibitions at the
Nunda Academy, Church Street, and at the Nunda Literary Institute. George
Ditto, who left Nunda when only a youth, became a veteran of the Civil War.
He visited Nunda with his niece, Mrs. Young, the poetess, daughter of John
Ditto, two years ago and remained until after Old-Home-Week.

Andrew Gilbert, built in 1836 the Coopersville mill, his children were:
Ethan and Esther, twins, Ethan married Betsy Curtis and Esther married P.
Dudley Kendrick; Chloe, married Egbert Bogart, son of Dr. Bogart; Phineas;
Sarah; Charles, married Eliza Day. Children of Charles and Eliza Gilbert:
*Carrie and Harry were adopted by Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Bennett; Mary (mar-
ried west).

SOME COUSINS

Judge Ethan Gilbert, married Mrs. Sarah Barron Messenger; George Gil-
bert, married Mrs. Sarah Barron Gilbert.

Judge Gardner, boot and shoe manufacturer made hand made boots an
shoes; he employed eight hands. His sons were Warren and Charles.

‘ Thomas Atwood, had a cabinet shop in the woods east of the village, but
moved into the village, and rented the Jones cabinet shops. His children were.
Charles A. Atwood, married Eliza Bradley; Emma E.; and Eliza, married ---—
Thorp; Susan. married L. Fisher Rider, whe also had a cabinet shop ; Harriet
married Barnabas Wright: Martha, married Charles Baker; Thomas, married

Terressa Clough; Kate, (Mrs. Smith) ; Frances, married Arch Lemen.
283
Joseph White made silk hats for many years, he was also a veteran of the
Civil War. He married Mrs. Faxon; children were: Marcia, Ella, Sarah.

The Prescotts (1835) cousins of the Swains. JI. 1. Josiah Prescott, born
1780, died 1855, age 75. Mrs. Betsy Prescott Swain, wife of Samuel Swain,
Sr., was a sister. II. Albert H. Prescott, born 1801, a shoemaker, died 1872,
married Eliza Brown, born 1808, died 1893, aged 87. III. Abbie A. Prescott,
born in Nunda 1842, married Jerry W. Chandler, born 1839, died 1905. Chil-
dren: Walter H., Blanch E., Grace M., Ruth A., Susan J. and Arthur W.

Mr. Cutting was the sexton of the Presbyterian Church when the bell was
placed there in 1836. His daughters were Jane and Cyrena.

Zadock Lee (1837) and family came from Brookfield, N. Y. The Lees
were Presbyterians, and the young men sang in the choir of that church. Thev
went away from. Nunda in 1854 selling their farm to Henry Brinkerhoot.
Zadock Lee was born in New Lebanon, in 1796, and died at Baraboo, Wis.,
February 6, 1873. Esther, his wife, died December 14, 1872. Their children:
Lathrop Livingston, born Hamilton, N. Y., 1823, married Harriet N. Gardiner
of Nunda, who lives at Baraboo, Wis.; *Byron Butler Lee, born at Brookfield,
N. Y., 1825, married Lucinda Warner, 1847. He was a veteran from Wiscon-
sin and died recently, at South Wayne, Wis. Henry Hurdington, born 1828,
died at New York City, 1870; David Dyer Lee, born Brookfield, N. Y., 1833,
married Julia Ellen Longley, Wisconsin; Mercy Elizabeth Lee, born Nunda
January 8, 1838, married Henry Cowles, Baraboo, Wis.; Herbert A. Lee, clergy-
man and veteran soldier, of the 6th Wis., born in Nunda June 23, 1842, married
in 1870 at New York City, Emma Tilden Bradley. This excellent boy, though
born at Coopersville, has proved to be an excellent man, and is doing good work
in home missions, he resides in Weiner, Idaho.

The Genesee Valley Canal was to be a reality, and people poured into the
village and built houses. Massachusetts Street was laid out and settled by peo-
ple from the Old Bay State. It was first cailed Union Street. Even the for-
ests of the town were bought up, for tumber was to be king in that community.
Our first foreigr popilation came that year, but most of them settled nearer the
“Deep Cut” where a mile or more of hill was to be changed into a valley to form
part of the well known “Nine Mile Level,” this was a vast task, for the steam
shovel did not then exist.

New families came to Nunda and remained some vears. The Marshes,
William and Sanger Marsh, merchants, Wood Estabrook and Laflin, were also
merchants, Roswell Bennett from Portage started a bakery, and the McNair
Brothers, John C., Hugh and Charles McNair came about this time.

THE TRUMBELL SISTERS

1. Louisa; 2. Sophia; 3. Sylvia; 4. Almira. I. 1. Lousia, married
Mark Keith, their children: Sarah Keith, married Frances H. Gibbs; Sylvia,
married Eri Satterlee; Lavina, married Henry Baker; Lavisa, married Ephraim
Page; Lincoln, married Eliza Dickenson.

I. 2. Sophia, married Israel Greenleaf, her daughter Almira Greenleaf,
married John Lamb, their children: Adelia Lamb, married Isaac Burgess;
Charles; Harry; John; Louise; *Florence; Nellie; Georgia. Mr. John Lamb
worked at blacksmithing, and afterward kept a grocery and saloon; he died in
1902,

284
{. 3. Sylvia Trumbell, married Storrs Barrows. Tneir daughter, Emily
Barrows, preceptress Nunda Literary Institute for three years, married A. Jud-
son Barrett, A. M., Principal Nunda Literary Institute from 1854 to May, 185o.
when the building was burned—(see sketch). Their children: Storrs Barrett,
A. B., Rochester University; Helen Barrett, married W. Bb. Montgomery, of
Rochester; Annie Barrett, died 1906.

I. 4. Almira Trumbell, married .\. B. Lovejoy; *Corydon a soldier died
in the service; Elijah; Laura, became fourth wife of Capt. James Lemen; Me-
linda; Sarah; Alonzo; Lucina.

Children of Ephraim and Lavisa Page, Dr. Nelson Page; children of Lin-
coln and Eliza Keith, Mark Jr., and a sister.

THE JENNINGS FAMILY

The second wife of Frances H. Gibbs, was Helen Jennings, daughter of
Lewis Jennings of Nunda, her sister married F. Marion Satterlee.

THE GIBBS FAMILY

Children of Francis H. and Sarah Keith Gibbs: “George H. Gibbs, mar-
ried Frances Kendall; Emma Gibbs, married Capt. John J. Carter; Harriet
Gibbs, married Dr. George Henry Fox of New York City; their children: How-
ard Fox, bern in London, but with genuine American patriotism, celebrated his
first birthday on July 4, he is still a good specimen of a young American; Ade-
line, married January 22, 1908; Henry Rulande Russel: Helen.

Charles, married Kitty Vick of Rochester. Children of Eri and Sylvia
Satterlee: Julia, married Chambers; Louis is an M. D.; Bert. Chil-
dren of Henry and Lavina Baker: Nellie, married Fred Hunt; George; Lotta,
married Spencer Rhinevault.

 

THE FRANCIS H. GIBBS POSTERITY—PREPARED BY REQUEST
OF L. B. CARTER

Child, George Gibbs; grandchild, G. Harry Gibbs; conjugis, Helen Buch-
heit; great grandchild, Emma Gibbs.

Child, Emma Gibbs; grandchildren, Charles Gibbs Carter, Luke Berne Car-
ter, Emma Carter, Alice Carter; conjugis, Mary Elizabeth McBride, Anne
Curry, Alexander B. Sharp, Hugh Herndon; great grandchildren, Mary Car-
ter, Hugh Herndon, Jr., John J. Carter Herndon.

Child, Harriet Gibbs; grandchildren, George Howard Fox, Adaline Fox,
Alanson Gibbs Fox, Helen Fox; conjugis, Henry Russell.

Child, Charles L. Gibbs; grandchild, Katherine Gibbs adopted; conjugis,
John Dillon; great grandchild, Katherine Dillon.

THE McNAIRS

John C. McNair a veteran of 1812-14, who had enlisted from Sparta, proved
“A Spartan” indeed and always remained a patriot. He was born in Penn.
1794 and settled in Sparta in 1796, came to Nunda in 1836. He was a strict
Scotch Presbyterian, a good farmer and had a good sized family of scholarly
children who became teachers. The parents lived until after the Civil War.

285
lf the bestowal of great names serves as an inspiration it were an easy
highway to greatness. It worked fairly well in the McNair family. The fam-
ily names were, John Hancock, George Washington, Jefferson, James Monroe,
Isabella, Victoria and Martha, all good teachers. Isabel and Martha have
taught for many vears. Victoria graduated from the Nunda Literary Institute;
caught a few years, and was married to a McNair and resides in Mt Morris.
Belle taught twenty years, became Mrs. Townsend, then became a widow and
resumed teaching. Martha is still following her profession.

James \onroe was graduated from Nunda and from Rochester Univer-
sity, became a soldier at the beginning of the Civil War, served as Capt of Co.
F. 33rd Regiment, married Emily Gilmore of Nunda, held the position of
clerk in Quarter Master Department at Washington six years; then returned to
the farm, where both himself and his lovely wife shortened their days by too
much toil of an uncongenial nature, not adzepted to their culture or constitu-
tion. Capt. McNair served his town as Supervisor. He died at the age of 55,
Mrs. McNair a few years afterward. They ieft a family of girls and one son.
The son who disliked farm work and liked to travel found his way into almost
every state in the Union, and it is said his name is cut on the walls of one of
the dungeons of Moro Castle, Cuba. Poor Frank, the family patriotism made
a martyr of this youthful cosmopolitan. Two of the daughters afterward proved
their superiority as scholars and teachers. Emily, Lulu and Mary perished from
lack of constitutional vigor, and the others sought health in California's health-
ful climate, where Emily and Anna are still living.

The parents of Mrs. McNair, Dr. and Mrs. James Gilmore, spent their last
days in the home of their daughter, and after her death, with the children.
They also have passed away, highly esteemed by all who knew them.

Jefferson McNair, enlisted in the west, where he was living and became a
captain of the company in which he served.

Hugh MeNair (a brother of John C.) lived near the village and shared in
building up its industries. His son Clement succeeded him on the farm and
tried various forms of experimental farming.

Charles MeNair (another brother) lived at Oakwood became very aged,
and was at the time of his death the oldest person in the town. Mrs. Miles
Moffatt, Mrs. Mathews and Miss Henrietta McNair were the daughters. A
son went to California and after meeting with financial success, suddenly dis-
appeared. Mrs. Mathews sought for him there in vain; and wrote and pub-
lished a book concerning her years of unavailing but persistent search. MlIrs.
E. L. Cook at Edgerly Place, a daughter of Mrs. Moffatt, is the only member
of the family in this vicinity.

Van Court (saddle and harness maker). Children: 1. Thomas; 2. Benj-
amin; 3. William; 4. Marshall: 5. Sarah; 6. Caroline; 7. Hannah Maria; &.
Catharine; 9. Alarion.

WIDOW BRADFORD FAMILY

I. Mrs. Bradford, a sister of Suranus Britton. II. Emily, married
Thomas Chynoworth, saddle and harness maker; Belle; Ann Bradford, mar-
ried Edward Chandler.

286
A CANAL CELEBRATION, JUNE 27, 1838

Has a committee that gives us an opinion as to who were leaders at that
time, Silas Grover, Benedict Bagley, Walter Whitcomb, Q. H. Barron, A. Clin-
ton Chipman (our first lawyer) Samuel Swain, Jr., Hiram Grover, Calvin B.
Lawrence, George W. Merrick, Supervisor Utley Spencer, Eliphaz Tyler,
R. G. Bennett, B. P. Richmond, Granville Sherwood, John H. Townsend, Dr.
David M. Dake, Eliazer Rowley, Suranus Britton, of Nunda; Orletan Messen-
ger, Agel Fitch, Daniel Edgerly, of Oakland; Gen. Micha Brooks, Dr. Will-
iam B. Munson of Brooksgrove; Samuel C. Jones, Reuben Weed of Grove
(Granger was still in Grove) ; Horace Hunt and Philip Burroughs of Portage.

PETTYS FAMILY

Hepsebeth Satterlee, daughter of Sylvester Satterlee of East Hill and
widow of Jacob Pettys, came to her father’s to live on East Hill in 1837; she
married for her second husband Elder Jacob Seager. Children: First mar-
riage: Edwin J. Pettys, born September 27, 1827, enlisted in Co. F., 4th N. Y.
Heavy Artillery, married 1, *S. Hill, 2, *Mary Crowel; he died February 2,
1907; Mary J. Pettys, married Ellis Thompson, died April 8, 1908; Recta
Pettys, married James Allen of Nunda; Edgar S. Pettys, married Mary Ann
Day, children Cora A. and Will E.

SAMUEL RECKARD AND CREE FAMILIES

Mr. Reckard was an early pioneer of Birdsali and came to Portage-Nunda
about 1835 and to Nunda village about 1837. He was a carpenter and grocer,
and for many years sexton of the Oakwood Cemetery. Samuel Reckard and
wife Sabrina, were two of the eight first members of a Methodist class that be-
came the first Methodist Church of Nunda. His family were musical and after
the first decade were choir singers for many years. Elizabeth sang for over
fifty years.

Samuel Reckard was born in 1807 and died in 1889. age 82. Sabrina,
born 1807, died 1885, age 78. Elizabeth, married Robert Cree, a mechanic who
came to Nunda about 1852. For many years he was the principal undertaker
in the village and kept a large stock of furniture, he died in Nunda. Children:
Frank Cree, married Effie Frayer, both died while only middelaged; Charles
Cree, Nunda.

The Cree Brothers were the successors of their father until the death of the
oldest son. The Duryee Brothers are the successors of Charles Cree.

John Reckard died at the age of 15 or 17; *Orman Reckard was a veteran
of the Civil War, 33rd Regiment, married *——-—— Carroll; *Jane Reckard:
*Rose Reckard, a fine contralto and organist, married *I}yron Seelye; Lydia.
married (elsewhere).

Mrs. Cree has the distinction of having lived longest continuously in the
village of Nunda, she came here, at the age of three, and has lived here since
_ 1837. She can still sing a good alto, and was for a quarter of a century a good

choir soprano.
RUSSELL FAMILY

Joseph Russell of New Hampshire, a relative of the Angier family came
to Oakland about 1825, and to Nunda about 1838. He was married three

287
times, his first wife was an Angier, the second Harriet Robinson, daughter of
Elisha Robinson, and the third Mary Lobbell. His children by first wife were:
Priscilla, married Syranus Britton; Almira, married Jacob Osgoodby; Charles
P., married Mary Robinson, sister to her stepmother; William G., married Ma-
tilda Sherwood, daughter of Granville Sherwood; Louisa, married William H.
Martin; Jane, married Cyrus Rose. Children by second marriage: Andrew,
(writing teacher, artist and veteran), married Delia Duryee; *George, mar-
ried Martha DeCamp; *Ezra, died single; *Harriet. Third marriage, *War-
ren, grew to manhood and died.

Suranus Britton and his noble wife are well known by those who lived in
Nunda, from 1838 to 1865. As a canal contractor, livery and stage route
manager, he was famous. He went west and died there. Mrs. Britton was
one of the best workers in the Baptist society in the time of its greatest pros:
perity. As one of the patriotic workers, during the Civil War she held first
place, ably seconded by Mrs. F. J. M. Whitcomb and a large circle of faithful
assistants. Her son Russell became a soldier, and her brother Andrew ren-
dered efficient aid to the government in his capacity of artist and sketch maker.
Their children were: Joseph Britton; Lucy, who married James Camp the
druggist; Charles P.; Russell who is still living, a major of the First New York
Dragoons, and Fred, all born before 1840.

The Osgoodby family came to Nunda in the thirties and built a smatt
house on East Street, now owned by Mrs. Keyes. Mr. O. was a builder. He
was thrice married; his first wife was the mother of his sons, George M., a law-
yer, and William W., a court stenographer, who married Electa Irwin; George
M., married Mary Turrill, he practiced law at Nunda, Buffalo and New York
City. He was a very tai! man, six feet and 6 inches in height, and most of his
sons, and his one daughter, inherit this family characteristic. Melvin H.
Osgoodby, is the only one of his sons living in Nunda. He has been a hard-
ware merchant and is now manager of the Nunda Telephone Company. He
resides on Seward Street; he married Miss Abbott. They nave one daughter,
Leta, who is receiving a musical education at Syracuse University. Charles P.
Russell's children: Juliett, Elizabeth, Mary E., Frank Charles, George O.,
Fred Horatio, Ella Linda. Children of William G. and Matilda Russell:
*Frederick G., born in Nunda, never married, died recently; Lucy Maria, born:
in Nunda, married Peter M. Travers; Will C., Jr., married Mary Smith;
Emily Matilda and Eliza Jane, died in childhood; Emma Sherwood, married
Willard S. Martindale; Jennie Eliza, never married; Alleine May, married
Frank E. Warner.

*Jane, married Cyrus Rose, canal contractor and farmer, who died recently,
aged gi, their children: Arabella (Mrs. Jacobs); Frances drowned in the
Genesee River, while Mr. R. was fording the stream in winter, age 16; James,
still in Missouri; *Henry J., married Carrie Willard; he died on a ranch ‘n Colo-
rado. His widow returned to Nunda. Their daughter, Fanny Rose, a musician,
married Dr. John Nelson, they reside in Ohic. Laura sister to Henry, married
*Frank DePuy, son of Philip DePuy, he died 1807.

Andrew G,. Russell, married — Duryee, daughter of William R. Dur-
vee. They had two daughters. Andrew Russell was one of the few
pioneer artists of Nunda. Some of his panoramas, especially that of Niagara
Falls, were excellent. He was given a Captain’s commission during the Civil

288

 
War, and employed in sketching the enemy’s works, camps, etc. He was also
an expert penman and taught classes in penmanship. John W. Hand and
Cornelius Kiley were among his most proficient scholars.

George Russell, married Martha DeCamp. They had two sons, Walter
and Wallace; Ezra and Harriet died young.

The family of William and S. E. Martin were Emily, George D. (a vet-
eran of the 33rd New York), Susie (Mrs. Nye, of Castile), Lucy, Hattie, Clara,
who lives with Mrs. Nye; Ezra, Nellie and Frank. W.H. Martin died June
30, 1869, and Mrs. Martin, September 26, 1896; George D. died October 24,
1900; Susie and Clara alone are living. The widow of George D. Martin,
Anna Ellen Martin, resides at Davenport, Iowa.

The late B. S. Coffin, in an article on the rural post offices of Mt. Morris,
says: “An early stage route was owned and run by William Martin of Nunda,
the large four-horse stage making daily trips between Mt. Morris and An-
gelica was this or like this.”

 

THE SPRAGUE BROTHERS—A SHIPWRECK

Three Sprague brothers lived for a time in Nunda village, during the
“thirties.” Joseph was a married man and his brothers lived with him. One
of them was a doctor and practiced medicine while here. Horatio, the other
brother, was a skilled musician, the cornet being his specialty. He held a.
position in a Buffalo city band that played on a passenger boat on Lake Erie.
A disastrous storm occurred and the vessel went to the bottom. Only Sprague
and one other member of the band reached shore and safety.

The two Cody brothers lived in the village in its early days. Paschal
married Miranda Jackson, an older sister of Leonard Jackson, who will com-
plete his four score years this year. Rufus Cody was a blacksmith and located
at Hunts Hollow, and, having some guests who wished to visit “the tunnel”
that was in process of construction, he went with them to the middle falls,
which was near by, and by some accident fell over the bank. He lodged, how-
ever, against some small trees and his body was secured and brought to the
surface, but he had been fatally injured, and died then and there, adding one
more to the catastrophies of that locality. He left a wife, two sons and two
daughters.

289
A HIGHLY “COLORED” TRAGEDY

In 1849 occurred the only tragedy in Nunda that ended in a fatality. A
negro barber, named ——— B., had a white wife and a mulatto child. An-
other negro, named Brad, living on the hill, enticed this fair but false one
away from her lieged lord and lawful husband. The knight of the razor
secured Bill Dunn, a constable, to go to the woodland bower and secure the
pledge of their former mutual love. He, however, accompanied this official
with the lingering hope that he might induce the fickle one to return with her
pickaninny. Not finding the ebony Lothario in the bower, he went to the rear
of the house where the disturber of his love’s first dream was perched upon a
pile of wood, whittling a shingle. The enraged husband struck a blow that
sent the guilty paramour spinning around, and the open knife entered the
abdomen of the now “doubly-injured man.” The constable. renowned as the
swiftest runner in the town, sought medical aid, which arrived after the
tragedy was completed, and the innocent man, though not pallid, was a corpse.
The man with the knife gave himself up, and declared himself innocent of any
intention of murder. He was, however, sent to Geneseo to await trial, and the
murdered man was duly buried. Here was an opportunity for the surgeons.
A certain young physician—one of the very best who ever made Nunda a
scene of his skill—soon assisted in a speedy “resurrection of the body.” (Doc-
tors have always had decided views on that subject.) This doctor “wanted
more than a limb for anatomization so he finished the job”—by lamp light in
the cellar of a certain well known corner store.

But what a commotion existed in the here-to-fore quiet village of Nunda;
“murder and body-snatching” within twenty-four hours! All the horrible
stories of negro barbarity so flippant but yesterday were relegated into obliv-
ion, and those worse than barbarians, the doctors, who could not let a poor,
wronged man sleep in his flesh—and who knows but this will be but the be-
ginning and renewal of the Dr. Chaffee days, when the dead—except consump-
tives and smallpox cases—walked in their sleep from their graves, straight to
the dissecting tables, in the interest of scientific anatomy. The story of the
negro’s desecrated grave reached even to the wiles of the Cooperville school,
and the seat mate of the writer, twelve-vears-old Terry Carroll, told me in
hoarse whispers that the negro barber had been dug up, and that Deacon
Thayer, or some of those soap makers, wanted his fat for soap, that negro fat
made the best kind of castile soap. Poor Terry! Some of the irrepressible
village ways had loaded his credulity with information not strictly scientific.

In the interests of scientific knowledge, and the desire to add a fine skele-
ton to the cabinet of the brightest young physician in the village without
injuring the tender sensibilities of white people, this sequel to the ebony trag-
edy, like the tragedy itself, was soon forgotten. It is very certain no arrests
were made, no investigations inaugurated and certainly Deacon Thayer's soap
factory, under the old castle, produced no special brand of castile soap.

Nunda’s negro population was never very great—not more than a dozen
families at most. The writer remembers one lusty negro by the name of
Norris who was a sort of roust-a-bout, doing odd jobs for any who employed
him. On one Fourth of July when Nunda celebrated, as she generally did,
years ago, in the interest of the patriotism of the boys—and of trade—Norris

290
was passing along the street with a basket of shavings. Some one lighted the
shavings with a blazing match, and soon the blazing basket was more orna-
mental than useful. The negro did not enjoy being a subject for hilarity, and
threw the basket into the street, doubled his fist and faced the crowd, ex-
claiming: “Who set dem shavins af-fire, who set dem shavins af-fire; I'll give
any man five dollars just to tell me who set dem shavins af-fire.” All laugh-
ing stopped, no one could tell, there was abundant chance for a knock-down,
the fun and the shavings died out together, and the darky moved on and no
one dared to repeat till he was well down the street, “\Who set dem shavins
af-fire.”

I did not tell then, and there’s no five dollars to be won by telling now,

but the most innocent looking young scamp in the crowd was the very fellow
who did it.

OUR PIONEER EDITOR AND HIS NEWSPAPER

This year marks progress for the town and village in having for the first
time a newspaper published here. Ira G. Wisner published the first copy of
the Genesee Valley Recorder, September 17, 1840. He married Miss H. Ade-
laide Merrill, daughter of Riley Merrill of Nunda.

A hymenial poem was written for the occasion. A daughter of this pioneer
editor was married to Thomas Gamble, Esq., and their daughter to Frank
Wakeman of Nunda. Ira Wisner was a brother of Col. Reuben P. Wisner.
a Colonel of the valiant but bloodless 58th N. Y. N. G.

Col. J. L. Johnson, married Abigail Nash, sister to Alfred Nash of Portage.
Mrs. Johnson was one of the early milliners, and the Colonel, in 1840, kept the
“Eagle Tavern.”

A LOST INDUSTRY

The Camp family—Albert Camp and sons—lived on the corner of Seward
and Holms Street (the Davidson place), and manufactured pipe organs. The
shop was south of the house. It was sold by Mr. Davidson to Michael Creed,
and is now a dwelling house on Church Street. The pipe organs in the Bap-
tist, and the first one in the Presbyterian Church, were made by this firm.
The sons were Albert Camp, Jr., and James Camp, druggist, who married
Lucy Britton; Maria Camp, married Herman L. Page, merchant. The organ
shop was moved in the winter across the canal, near the foot bridge (Portage
Street), on the ice. This canal level was left full of water and furnished a
water supply in case of fire, and, incidently, the best skating rink the village
has ever had. The Camps came from Oakland to Nunda about 1840. There
was an exodus from Oakland to Nunda from 1828 to 1841. Oakland has sur-
vived it all and kept her houses tenanted but has had no occasion to build new
ones.

1839—INCORPORATION OF VILLAGE

Nunda village was incorporated April 26, 183y, seventeen years before
Henry C. Jones laid out the small hamlet. In 1824 Charles H. Carroll planned
a village in anticipation of what has now become a reality.

June 11, 1839, was a proud day for the embryo metropolis of the Keshequa
valley, for a new set of officials were to be selected and elected. A list of their

291
names is proof of the wisdom of their selection. The trustees were the leading
men of the town: Benedict Bagley, “the most prominent lawyer; Russell
Barnes (the largest land owner in the corporation), Walter Whitcomb (the
leading merchant); Calvin B. Lawrence (the leading lumberman), and David
Holmes (the principal manufacturer). Holmes Street, then a quarter of a mile
long, bisected longitudinally his large farm. The village assessors were Calvin
B. Lawrence and Samuel Swain, Jr. The trustees held a meeting at the office
of Benedict Bagley (Mrs. Bowhall’s cottage, then on East Street), June 13th,
and made the following appointments: Benedict Bagley, president; Nathaniel
Coe, clerk; William D. Hammond, collector; Albert H. Preston, poundkeeper.
The fire wardens: Dr. Clifford Chafee, D. P. Richmond, \W AM. Chipman (den-
tist), Henry C. Jones. Members of Hook and Ladder Company: Addison M.
Crane, Hiram C. Grover, Thomas Raines, Frances H. Gibbs, Joseph White,
James Swain, Jehiel Reed, Henry Ashley, Doctor D. Morse (not an M. D.),
Henry Chalker (lawyer). In this fire company we have the leading young
men of that time. All but Reed and Raines were permanent settlers. If any
of these young men were living now he would be from ninety to one hundred
years of age. Walter \Whitcomb was born 1808, Hiram Grover 1812. Only
one of the young ladies of that time has survived. She was born in 1813, and
most of those mentioned attended her wedding. It is needless to say who she
is; you will find her picture in the book as the oldest person living in Nunda
at this time. The village, as then incorporated, was very unlike the one of to-
day in respect to dwelling houses. Prominent men of that time lived in very
small cottages, and while there were as many citizens as to-day there were not
as many families. There were few fine houses then; all were plain; just a few
looked as well as they do to-day, and only a few, that have been neglected,
then looked better. Every yard was fenced in, and the poundmaster was kept
busy looking after the commoners, i. e., the cattle that pastured along the
street.

When Dickens said something like this about New York City he exag-
gerated—and so it is not best to enlarge on this subject. However, Nunda
was “Queen of the Valley” then, as well as now, only she indulges in a better
wardrobe now. Fine kept lawns have taken the place of vegetable gardens,
and the hoe and the cultivator have been relegated to the back yard.

Charles \W King, hardware merchant, married Jane Gilmore, sister to Dr.
Gilmore, and became a citizen of Nunda in 1838. His children were: John R.
Wing, Henry G. King, Charles King. Emily Gilmore was an adopted niece.
Grandchildren: Cora King, daughter of John, married Charles E. Pratt. Their
children are: Ralph Pratt and Ward Pratt, at school at Andover, Mass. Henry
G. King, 33rd New York, is an invalid and lives at Nunda. Charles King is
buried at Oakwood. B. F. King, a nephew of C. W King, is a manufacturer.
His children were: George, Frank and Flora.

Horatio Packard and wife, Lydia Jones, of Bristol, came to Nunda about
1838. Horatio Packard was born 1808, Lydia Jones Packard in 1811. Elna-
than Packard, their only son, was born 1833, came to Nunda in childhood, and
almost at once became conspicuous in the early schools of the village. He
delighted in debates and was a leader in debating societies of the Nunda Lit-
erary Institute. He studied law at Nunda and graduated at a law school at

292
Poughkeepsie. He married Martha Leech of New York City. Their only
child, Mary Packard, graduated at Nunda Academy, married Charles Rich-
mond; Herbert, their only son, married Margaret Scott of Canaseraga; Her-
bert is a jeweler and lives at Kane, Pa. He has a son, born June, 1908, named
Orren, of the fifth generation of this small but select family.

Samuel J. Crooks also studied law at Nunda, was admitted to the bar
and practiced law at Nunda and Rochester. During the Civil War he recruited
two regiments and for a time took the command of both the 8th New York
Cavalry and the 22nd New York Cavalry. He died some years ago. The
father of S. J. Crooks kept the Nunda House a year or two.

George Chidsey came to Nunda in 1839. He had been a merchant and
postmaster at Mt. Morris. He was born in 1810, married Mary M. Woodford
and died 1880. Their children were: George S. Chidsey, who lives at the home-
stead, married Mary J. Brewer, daughter of Jesse Brewer, children: Allie M.
and Charles. Charles married Effie Brewer, granddaughter of Daniel Brewer.
The daughters of George Chidsey, Sr., are Lucia and Alice, who live on West
Street.

Samuel McCollough, merchant tailor, born in Middletown, Conn., 1818,
married Mandana Dayton, born in Canada 1833, married 1854. Children:
Delia A., Viola J., Eva L. and Minnie.

Population of Nunda in 1840, 2,636. Portage, including Genesee Falls,
had at this time a population of 5,206. The excavating of the Deep Cut and
of the Tunnel changed this section into a densely populated locality. Granger
had at this time 1,198, Grove 643.

The improvements in Nunda, in 1840, consisted of a newspaper, an acad-
emy and a new church, the Universalist. The trustees of the academy were:
Rev. Wales Tileston, A. B., Samuel Swain, Sr., and Gulielmus Wing.

A FORMER STATE STREET TANNERY

On September 17, 1840, a lot on State Street, east side of Keshequa, near
the bridge, was offered for sale, and the astonishing part is, it was formerly
occupied “as a tannery.” The name of the firm. and the existence of this tan-

 

ALLEGANY COUNTY. 61

 

 

 

 

293
nery seem to have been forgotten, but one circumstance recalls it to a few old
people; that the building extended over the creek, and “once upon a time” a
flood carried away the south side of the building, and many bundles of hides,
piled up against this side of the building, were carried down the creek. Ezekiel
Gilbert has been named by one person as a member of the firm. Little is
known of this man excepting that he joined the Baptist Church in 1833, but
as most everybody else did the same thing about that time his record is not
exceptional. Indeed there was a well defined doubt in many minds if a man
or woman could be a good citizen of Nunda if he had not passed through the
waters of the Keshequa.

Other improvements were, better stores, better houses, better home life,
better thought, better opportunities for the young, and the spirit of optimism,
that the past struggles with poverty and privations were past, and that Nunda
was destined to do great things and be great, and the Genesee Valley Canal
was to bring to its doors a degree of prosperity never known before. But 1841
was to come, and its coming was not what had been in anticipation, work
stopped on the canal, and hundreds of men were out of business.

STIVERS-HAYNES FAMILIES

I. Alexander E. Stivers a tailor, settled in Nunda, after the stores aroun’!
the public square were built. He employed several men and women, among
them his two sisters, Betsy and Janette. Janette, married Robert Haynes;
Betsy, married Peter Myers; Abraham Stivers, married Elizabeth Jane Thomp-
son. Children of Robert Haynes: Lacey; Corydon; Randall, a soldier; Perry,
a soldier, who nearly starved to death in Andersonville, and died a few days
after reaching heme. Rachel and Mary Jane married Samuel Wright, a vete-
ran of the Civil! War, who died at the Soldiers Home at Bath. Children of
Samuel Wright; Lucinda, married Frank Folk; Mary Louise, married Jo-
seph Herdendorf, veteran 136th N. Y.; Janette: Hattie; Carrie; Charles, mar-
ried Alday; Mary; Flora, married Robert Lippincott, a mason; Clar-
ence, married since leaving Nunda.

James Haynes, married Lucinda Preston, daughter of Isaac Preston,
James has become deaf; he lives in Hornell. A daughter of James is a mission-
ary in Korea.

 

LUTHER C. PECK FAMILY

Luther C. Peck, lawyer, lived in Pike, where he was Justice of the Peace
for many years, and Supervisor of town for six years. He was elected to
Congress and served four years. He married in Washington, Cynthia Fletcher.
His son Harrison was born in Washington, was educated in Nunda; served
during the Civil War, as hospital steward, married Delia Lake, daughter of
Edwin Lake, and became a pharmacist, was post master of Nunda, and has a
drug and book store, with which he has been connected thirty years; has served
several terms as president of the village.

Fletcher C. Peck, born in Nunda, educated at the academies of Nunda,
and at Union College, (A. B.), studied law with his father, was U. S. Marshal,
during Cleveland's last administration, and is president of the College Club of
Nunda, he married Mary Metcalf, daughter of Rev. Whitman Metcalf, A. M.
Their children: Marian Gale Peck, a musician; Louise Peck, educated at
Nunda and Livingston Park Seminary, Rochester, (graduate), married Ernest

294
Whitbeck of Rochester; Mary Peck, educated at the same school (grad.)
is Mrs. Moulthrop of Rochester; Fletcher W. Peck, A. B., Rochester
University, law student at home, Nunda; Alvin, son of L. C. Peck, died in
Nunda, 1858, when a young man; Charles F., editor of newspapers, at Nunda
and Avon, was the first Commissioner of Bureau of Statistics of Labor; re-
ceived his appointment from Governor D. B. Hill, he is now a European tourist
agent; Fanny, married *J. C. McMaster. The brothers of L. C. Peck, who
studied law in his office, were: Linus Jones Peck, lawyer and contractor on
public works; George W. Peck. Sons: Luther M., Kirk, Frank and Dorr.

I. Samuel Cooper, farmer (140 A.), born 1808 in Massachusetts, mar-
ried in 1840 Hannah Coates, born 1815, in Massacusetts.

II. John M. Cooper, their son, born in Nunda, 1842, farmer (112 A.), mar-
ried Octavia Cooper, born in Massacusetts, 1842.

III. S. Clayton Cooper, born in Nunda, farmer, jeweler, grocer, East
Street, Emporium Block, married Eila Dusenbury, teacher N. H. S.

I. Helen Cooper, his sister married Chester Foote, manufacturer.

II. 2. *Nancy E. Cooper, married *Charles T. Metcalf, (marble cutter).
The first Mrs. Metcalf was *Madeline Cocraine.

III. 1. Louis Metcalf, Journalist, Attica, N. Y., married Maude Tallman,
teacher, from Albany N. College. III. 2. Grace Metcalf, born in Nunda,
graduate N. H. S., married Edward Northway, son of F. A. Northway, (vete-
ran of Nunda; senior member of firm, of Northway Bros.

I. Milton Henry Coates, farmer (Cooper farm 190 A.), died in Nunda:
neither Mr. or Mrs. Coates are living.

II. Henry Milton Coates, farmer (Coates-Cooper farm), married Carrie
Schwarts. II. 2. Eliza Coates, married Chapman of Alabama.

ITI. 3. Edna, married Frank Batterson. IV. Julia Batterson.

I. 2. Lucinda Cooper, married Thomas Lockwood.

1841

The event of the year which was so important that it did away with the
former methods of reaching the settlements of Allegany County, and put the
Genesee River out of commission as a highway of transportation, was the Genc-
see Valley Canal, which was completed as far as Mt. Morris. There was no
longer a necessity for polling up the Genesee to Geneseo, or sending lumber
and grain by arks to the Erie Canal.

It ended pioneer settlement, in Nunda, for with good roads from Mt. Mor-
ris, and canal packets running from Rochester to Dansville and stages passing
through, and often owned by Nunda people, a new era had dawned upon the
town. Hence our Pioneer Settlement of Nunda ends, with the opening of
navigation on the Genesee Valley Canal, in the spring of 1841. From this time
the families that come will be mentioned by reason of their occupation, rather
than as early settlers.

There remained hillside forests whose lands had not been considered de-
sirable as farm iands, and many a lumberman from the village, made fortunes
from these forests, because there was now transporation near, and destined
soon to come into the town. In anticipation of the Olean branch of the G. V
Canal, nearly every acre of these primitive forests was purchased.

The author has given about 1,000 pioneers who lived in the three towns of
Nunda, with their different dimensions, and while he has unavoidably left out

295

 
as many more (the space for giving this information being limited) he feels
satisfied in rescuing from oblivion, the names, and sometimes the special char-
asteristics of this hardy race, whose strenuous toil, and adventurous’ spirit, led
them into the wilderness to transform its hills and valleys into landscapes ot
unrivaled beauty, as well as farm lands of unusual excellence.

The task of securing these facts has been more difficult, than that achieved
by those of whom he wrote. Thousands of letters have been written to the
sons and grandsons of these pioneers, scattered over the United States, every
one of the second generation of pioneers living in the township has been sought
and interviewed, but not in vain, and not too soon, for these have nearly all
passed away since this task of investigating and recording the past, commenced.
Even five years from now this work could not have been done. During the past
few years many of those nonogenarians, octogenarians, and residents from
childhood, from whom the writer has obtained information, have passed away.
Among them: Mrs. Mary Wheeler Clark, 90 years old; Miss Rachel Bennett,
80; Mrs. Ascneth Brewer Chase, 99 years sald; Jesse Brewei, 82; Mrs. Mary
Johnson Brewer, 82; Almiron Paine, 80; Harry Cleveland, 94; Dr. B. Franklin
Dake, 76; Mrs. Samuel Swain, 80; Myron Smith, 94; Asa LaRue, 90; Fred-
erick Davidson, 82; Mr. and Mrs. B. P. Richmond, 85; John Fitch, 83; Peter
Townsend, 81; and Vandalia Slater, 78. S. P. Whitcomb, Jennie Grover
Craig, Fred Grover, Mortimer Pettit, Henry Shute, Edwin Pettis, and his sis-
ter Mrs. Ellis Thompson, Mrs. Ewarts (102 years old), Jacob Cox, Levi Gould
and his wife, James Chambers and William Batterson. Just a few remain who
have known and lived in Nunda for over 70 years. Mrs. Mary Barrett Barron,
94; Porter Warren, 89; Mrs. Rufus Robinson, 86; Munson Barker, 85; Mrs.
Adeline Barker, 80; J. Monroe Cole, 84; Leonard Jackson, 80; fustus Barker,
Mrs. Olive Bowen Barker; Mrs. Martha Johnson, Lyman Warren 75; Almira
(Shute) Smith, 76; Mrs. M. J. (Craige) Bowhall, 83; Mrs. Minerva Rawson
Rathbun, 82; William P. Thompson, Elizabeth Reckard Cree, (who has lived
in the village the longest of any 71 years); Augusta Bennett Herrick, 77; De-
borah A. Hand, 75; Frederick Hark, 79; John Kelley, 76 and Monroe Myers, 77.

 

East STREET—THE KeEsHEQuA TRAIL
In the village, besides those mentioned, there are not more than one or
two who have lived here most of the time for even sixty years. Harrison Peck
has lived here since 1841, he was the last of the pioneers born before coming
to Nunda in 1841, he has always lived here. His brother F. C. Peck, not a
pioneer, by the 1841 limit to pioneer days, is probably next on the list of long
tesidence. The writer thinks of no others that have lived in the village 65
years or more, that are here now.

How limited would have been the sources of personal information con-
cerning the first half of our century, after a few years more had passed. The
advent of newspapers into the town from 1841 to 1859, though irregular in
publication, have given some facts that would otherwise have been forgotten.
To the late James Swain we must give the credit of preserving files of these,
and to C. K. Sanders, for buying these at the cost of $25, (just the price once
paid for Manhattan Island) and for loaning them for historical purposes to the
local historian. His own files of the Nunda news from 1859 to present time is
the best history that could be furnished of the modern town though exceedingly
inconvenient for general reading purposes. The existence of this source of in-
formation, from 1859 to present time, renders the iistory of this period less dif-

one DIBBLES, BELLS AND DAVIDSONS
Presbyterians

Mrs. Dr. Dibble, mother of Mrs. Alfred Bell. *Alfred Bell settled about
1840, with his wife, *Juliette (Dibble) Bell. He became Supervisor and As-
semblyman. His wholesale lumber business caused him to move to Rochester.
Fred H. Bell, bern 1844, died at Madison, N. J.; ‘\atie, married * - Lewis,
resides in Buffalo, N. Y. The family of A. Bell were Republicans. Alvan H.
Dibble, veteran, 33rd. lost arm in Civil War, died as a result of wounds, Sarah
Dibble, his sister, attended school here.

The Davidson family were Democrats. I. James E. Davidson, born 1792,
died 1882, aged 92; Jane Emerson, born 1792, died 1871, age 79.

JI. Frederick Davidson, married Charlotte M. Hurd, both reached old
age. Mr. Davidson came to Nunda in 1847, was a merchant. and. clothier.
Davidson, and son (F. U.) were his successors. Frank U. Davidson continues
the business. Stee as oh tee Sg BS

III. *Charles, born 1838, -died 1860; Frank |
ine Scott, resides on Seward Street, Nunda, N. Y.

The Bells and Davidsons were cousins. They were Presbyterians. Mr.
Bell was a liberal contributor to the building of the second Presbyterian Church
building, he became very wealthy.

A LOST INDUSTRY

Philip G. Slocum advertises in a newspaper of 1841 as a Coverlet Weaver,
and Dyer at Mechanics Hall, opposite Eagle Hotel; this must have been in the
second story of Empire Block. He also wove striped woolen carpets, double or
single coverlets, “with figures, equaling those imported.” The very handsome
patterns of coverlets, made by this skillful weaver, are indeed things of beauty.
The white counter pane of to-day, has superseded them in use, but many of
them can still be found used as draperies, and are handsome still.

The striped yarn carpets, so much nicer than those made of rags, that once
graced the parlor floors, are now mostly worn out, and it is next to impossible

297

 

tf? abhi Le
pane a aes

‘(merchant ), married Paul-

 

 
to find any of them to-day. They lasted for about.a half century. in the rooms
only used when distinguished guests called, or visited, and. were. pleasing to the
‘eyes that liked. bright colors. The ingrain catpet,. soon: took -their places.
Philip G. Slocum, married Fanny Seaver.

II. Adello Slocum, his son, editor, marric:i Adella Havens, a poetess;
Almantha Safford, a ward, married Leonard Seaver, son of John; Clemment
Slocum was a younger brother of Adello.

THE REIDS SETTLED IN NUNDA 1841

This family came to Nunda, just in time to be classed with the pioneers of
Nunda Valley.

An excellent letter of A. J. Reid, not oniy tells so very modestly, the story
of the success of his brother and himself, but also tells of others. They have
visited Nunda since it was written, and everyone who remembers them, was de-
lighted to renew their acquaintance. What he says of Dr. Charles Chittenden,
son of our pioneer dentist, that he stood at the head of his profession, is very
important, especially as we now have to say, the late Dr. Charles Chittenden.
He also visited Nunda about four years ago, and enjoyed his short visit very
much.

As to Justice John B. Winslow, of whom he speaks, who was born on
Massachusetts Street while his father, one of the best of teachers was in charge
of the then New Institute, is also of great interest. “Justice of the Supreme
Court of Wisconsin,” is certainly a high distinction for a man still on the sunny
side of sixty.

The writer has secured him as a member of our College Club, and an elec-
trotype of himself and of his son, Horatio Gates Winslow, one taken when the
Justice was receiving this third degree LL. D., and his son his first at the Uni-
versity of Madison. The writer has not failed to secure plates of the Reid
Bros., who have hewn out for themselves, such paths of usefulness and honor.

 

MASSACHUSETTS STREET
298
 

   

f %, First Loc ScHoot House at Pixe-NUNDA
Built 1809.
Miss Beulah Abell, Teacher

     
 

  

ele

WH

 

BOOK III

DEPARTMENT I

SCHOOLS

From cabin to mansion, Time's horologe turns back
Log school house to college, And gives the whole story,
A century expasion ‘ From the Cashequa trail,
In wealth, fame and knowledge, To this Century's glory.
CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION TO HiIsToRY OF THE SCHOOLS AND SCHOLARS OF NUNDA.

' N 7HO ought to live in History. The Pioneers out of whose strenuous

struggles we have our famous farm lands? Yes, these should live.
The soldiers who gave and those that preserved our liberties, their
names should be emblazoned on the records of Fame.

Are there no others who should have a perpetuity of grateful remembrance ?
An army of men and women, with books as weapons, and brains burnished by
study and knowledge obtained from books, nature, wise instructors, at institutions
for furnishing mental equipment, rise before me and ask, have we no place in your
history and in your hearts? Was our life work of secondary importance? Who
lifted the mass of young humanity out of ignorance, and out of indifference and
bred in it hunger for knowledge? Who equipped four generations for life, with
the power to think intelligently and stimulated mental growth and vigor? Who,
next to parents, have done most for the youth of the last eight decades in Nunda?
Have the hundred or more teachers who have lifted growing humanity above the
achievement of the muscular and physical into the realm of thought and mental
vigor, no place in your memory or your gratitude?

These inquiries are pretinent and convincing. Now that we have a mental
inheritance, should we forget the Gamalials at whose feet we sat? No class of
men and women have done more for humanity than our teachers, and no class have
been so easily forgotten. Even the school records that, should tell who taught,

299
whose instruction repaid the expenditures, so well utilized, tells who received them,
every trustee, clerk, committee, is on record, but the teacher's name does not ap-
pear. Ask a dozen men who were their teachers in their vouth and not one of the
dozen can name more than two or three. We have had: Academies or High
Schools here since 1840, who can name more than a dozen of. the-instructors?
Buck, Winslow, Barrett and Evans cover the field with nine-tenths of the people
and some of later date who did not know these, say, Fairman, Dana and Welles,
were teachers worth remembering. These were, so were the others, so were all
of those who made us think, or who imparted knowledge, or created a desire for it.

In gratitude to all whose love of knowledge, or whose possession of knowl-
edge quickened life, from under the very ribs of indifference and mental inertia,
we write these records of those we esteem and rank as the greatest of public bene-
factors—Our Teachers.

HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS OF NUNDA

Our primitive township, now a hundred years old, though once as large as a
county, and now forming an important part of three counties, was destitute of even
a single school, cr school house during the first year of its existence.

Naturally its largest settlement furnished pupils sufficient for its first school
and so the Whitehall settlement had the first school in the spring of 1809, with
Miss Beulah Abel for teacher. It is honor enough to be the first teacher, but what
chance had a pretty, accomplished young lady in a pioneer settlement of remaining
a teacher when wives were in such demand, and so it proved. Miss Abel was no
doubt able to teach well, but she was not “able” to resist the persuasions of Mr.
“Abel” Townsend, and so she became a wife and a few years later a mother, and
in course of time a grandmother. Now what can be expected of a historian 99
years after the advent of Teacher No. 1.

To tell all he knows that will connect this distant past with the present—in due
course of time a daughter, Emeline, of Mr. and MIrs. Abel Townsend, grew to
womanhood, married Dr. James Gilmore, brother to Pioneer Dr. John Gilmore of
Nunda (1831), and of Mrs. C. W King, and another family of children came into
the world, and one, the loveliest of them all, came into the household of her aunt,
Mrs. C. W. King to live, and at least one thousand who will read these records
knew and esteemed Emily Gilmore, as a rare spirit, beautiful and interesting, a lady
in refinement so pronounced that it must have been born with her. Years after-
ward the aged parents came to live in her home and then all knew why Emily Gil-
more McNair, was so nearly perfect.

In the same year, 1809, \laria Bellenger taught a school near Portageville.
She was a daughter of John Lellenger, who took up lands that year, that he after-
wards bought ; years afterward a family of that name came to reside in Nunda, and
a son of the family has proven his inherited love of knowledge.

Though in the backwoods with the most rustic of rustics to teach, these schools
were not like those in Kentucky—“Blab-Schools’’—-where everyone studied aloud,
and all as loud as they chose. Nor were they taught by master or mistress Way-
back who were only proficient in Reedin’, ’Riten and ’Rethmetic, the three R’s,
that the most of us have heard about. A Mr. Jason Goodell taught in winter on
the Gore and Miss Bellenger taught this school the next summer, for bad boys
were a little more incorrigible on frontier settlements than elsewhere, and winter
schools required muscular skill.

300
The next school we hear of was at Mills Mills, where the various Mills fami-
lies from Montgomery County had a settlement. A new barn served as a school
house, and Miss Caroline Russell from Montgomery County was the teacher in the
summer of 1812. Her brother Samuel, a lad of 12, attended the school and became
one of Allegany’s great lawyers.

Perkins B. Woodard of Centerville, became one of a committee to subdivide
the 12x24 township in 1813 into 12 school districts, he did his work so well that
the one new district that gains recognition was near his own home and he was the
teacher. The system of employing male teachers in winter when the big boys at-
tended was thus early introducted.

Evidently there was one school, District No. 1 in Nunda, near the Sparta line
where a few brave Spartans had crowded over to choose for themselves “‘a lodge
in some vast wilderness” where game abounded. Oak Hill had a school in 1817,
and Horace Miller was the teacher, followed next summer by Maria Bellenger,
who seems to have been much sought after. Oakland was not far behind and
probably one of the Strongs, a race of teachers, taught the school. Hunts Hollow
had its log school house on the hillside not far from the residence of Dr. Amos
Parmalee, and the list of teachers that taught in that school would surprise any
one who knew the conditions of pioneer settlements. Two celebrated teachers,
both with the degree of A. B., taught all who came, anvthing they were capable of
learning. Backwoods though it was, these were not backwoods teachers. It may
seem incongruous that an A. B., should teach the a, b, c’s, but certainly Stephen
Fuller, fresh from Dartmouth, and Franklin Hosford from Oberlin, did teach that
school, and here Washington Hunt and Major Edward Hunt and all the other
Hunts, and Bennetts, and Coes, and Cobbs, and Parmalees, and Booth Nichols at-
tended the school. A slab with legs to it serving as a seat.

I have a letter from C. L. Parmalee, who, since the death of Vandalia Slater,
April, 1908, is the oldest of the pioneer youths of that time who mentions various
teachers, his father’s brother, Fred Parmalee, Horton Fordyce, Daniel Averill.
Probably long before this time they were housed in the old long red school house

CEE AR
LZ t
Ge Lis M

Saw te Ih, m0

A

Tue First Loc ScHooLtyouses IN NuUNDA WERE SIMILAR TO THIS

301

    
    
that served them for half a century. Some other names of male teachers that have
become notable are A. N. Cole, the reputed “Father of the Republican Party,”
J. W. Earl, A. R. Nve and others famous as politicians.

The writer has an impression there was a school somewhere near Guy’s Cor-
ners as it was settled several years before the village of Nunda.

However, we have day and date, school officials, school houses 1, 2 and 3 cf
school district that was finally merged with others to form the Union School with
Academical Department.

THE McSWEENY LOG SCHOOL HOUSE

It was built at the foot of East Street in the fall of 1822. The records of the
school are incomplete, they fail to mention the teachers. Moses Barron taught
the school but probably not until the second winter.

SCHOOL MONEYS

This fund becme operative in 1813, and the five or six towns of Allegany
had their part of the muntficent fund of $58.56.

Small as the sum was in each district it paid or nearly paid the wages for the
summer school, sometimes not over $1.00 a week, including board, with the pat-
rons.

In 1815 it was $100.33; in 1816, S190.98. It will give some idea of where
schools and scholars were most numerous, if we give the distribution to towns of
this generous sum. Alired received $26.52; Angelica, $32.14; Caneadea, none;
Rushford, $53.52: Friendship, none: Nunda, $53.16; Ossian, $15.64.

Already Nunda heads the list and her schools have been and still are in the
ascendant; but most of these were in what is now Pike, Genesee Falls, Hume and
Centerville. It is possible there was one in the southeast part of Nunda.

Gideon Hawley the first superintendent of public schools lived at Saratoga,
soon after, the office was abolished and the Secretary of State discharged its
duties.

CHAPTER IL.

THe MIcSWEENEY ScHooLt House.

' N J E are indebted to the late E. W. Packard, Esq., for obtaining and preserv-

ing the original records of the first school in what is now the village
of Nunda, and to his daughter, Mrs. Mary Richmond, for present-
ing them to the local historian.
At a school meeting held December 3rd, 1822, we have this record of proceed-
ings:
1st. Voted to build a school house in sd (said) district.
and. Voted to levy a tax of $50 to build sd house.
3rd. Voted to allow 75c¢ a day for labour on sd house.
4th. That the trustees allow what they think proper for the labour not done
on sd house.
sth. Voted that said house be completed the 1st of Jan'y, 1823.
6th. Voted to allow 50c per day for team work.

Loc Scuoot House Days

 

302
7th. Voted to have a school three months.

8th. Voted that school wood be got the 15th of Jan. 1823.

gth. Voted to give Samuel Robinson 68e per cord for delivering delinquent's
wood here. (Every patron having to furnish a required part of the wood—those
who failed to do so were called delinquents).

School district meeting held at the school house November Ist, 1823. J. S.
Heath, Moderator.

ist. Voted that Aaron Thompson be District Clerk.

2nd. Voted that John Waite, David Baldwin and James H. Rawson, be trus-
tees.

3rd. Voted William Greenleaf, be collector.

Lot No. 22 is taken from District No. 1 and annexed to District No. 17
(Nunda Valley.)

Note.—This proves there was a district No. 1 older than the one in Nunda
Village. Lot 22 is north east of Nunda Village and no pupils are mentioned
from that part of the town.

The names in these records show that a large part of the town of Nunda was
included in this district. J. H. Rawson and Aaron Thompson living nearer Hunts
Hollow than to our “Hubell's Corners”. (Nunda Village of to-day) being on the
south east border of our present town, other names show it included all on the
Creek road and as far north as Joseph Coles. No. 17 (probably the seventeenth
school in Greater Nunda became ultimately No. 2 of the present Nunda. Ed.

Special school meeting held May 24, 1826. rst. Noah Warren was chosen
moderator. 2nd. That James H. Rawson be appointed trustee in place of Ben-
jamin Howe removed. 3rd. That James H. Rawson, Noah Warren and James
M. Heath be a committee to make a draft and prepare a bill for building a school
house and to present the same at the next annual meeting.

DAVID BALDWIN, Clerk.

December 12, 1826, met at the house of J. M. Heath in special meeting by noti-
fication. Ist. hat J. H. Rawson be moderator for the time being. That we
build a new school house in this district. To have the site for the house on the
rise of ground near the bank of the hill. On the north side of the \[cSweeney
plot next to the west line of said plot and on the south side of the new road (Mill
Street.)

That we build in connection with the Baptist Society. That the whole be 4o
feet by 24 on the ground.

That Noah Warren, Riley Merrill and James H. Rawson be appointed as a
committee to make a draft of the house, and prepare a bill for the materials. That
this meeting stand adjourned to meet at this house in four weeks at this place

at early candle liting. DAVID BALDWIN, District Clerk.
Note.—David, a soldier of 1812, generally spelled his words correctly. Pardon
the old veteran kind readers this one mistake. Ed.

At an adjourned meeting held January oth, 1827, it was voted to recall the vote
to build in connection with the Baptists and to meet again in two weeks.

January 23, 1827. Albert Page, Moderator, voted to amend the vote in ref-
erence to the size of building from 40x24 to 24x24, with a portico 6x8, to raise a
tax of $225 for the purpose of purchasing a site and building a house, and furnish-
ing a stove. To make James H. Rawson clerk in place of David Baldwin, res-

igned. (Probably at this time he moved farther south).
303
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT FOR 1827

To the Commissioners of Common Schools of the Town of Nunda. We, the
Trustees of School District No. 17 in said town certify and report that the whole
time any school has been kept in our district during the date hereof and since the
date of the last report for said district is eight months, and a half, and that such
school has been taught by teachers duly qualified according to law, and that the
amount of public money received was nineteen dollars and ninety-four cents, and
that the same has been expended in paying the wages of teachers, that the number
of children taught in said district during 2nd year is fifty-two, and that the number
of children residing in said district on the first day of January last, between the
ages of five and fifteen years, inclusive, is forty-four, and that they resided on the
Ist day of Jan’y as follows: With John Waite, 3; William Gould, 1; Asa Heath,
2; David Bassett, 4; Riley Merrill, 3; Aaron Couch, 2; Richard Bowen, 1; James
M. Heath, 2; Joseph White, 2: J. H. Rawson, 1; Joseph Hills, 4; Reuben Sweet,
4; David Baldwin, 3; G. Guthrie, 3; Elias Kingsley, 1; N. Warren, 1; E. Rawson,
1; B. Beatt,6. All of which we do certify to be in all respects just and true.

J. WAITE,
N. WARREN,
R. MERRILL,
Trustees.
Dated at Nunda, March 24, 1827.
J. H. RAWSON, District Clerk.

PUBLIC MONEY FOR 1827—$14.06.

Note.—Probably Porter Warren, born 1818, is the only one living who at-
tended this school. Moses Barron was probably the teacher. We present his pic-
ture as our first male teacher in Nunda.

 

 

 

 

 

: Moses BARRON WALTER COFFIN
Pioneer Teacher Log Schoolhouse, East Street,
Nunda 304
September, 1827. Schoo] District No. 17 was changed to No. 2. (This was
about the date of the organization of the town of Portage, which still included
Genesee Falls and of Grove which included Granger. ) Ed.

October 8, 1827. Met pursuant to adjournment. L. Joslyn, Moderator.
That the. site for our schoo! house be on the road leading from Hubbell’s Inn (a
small frame tavern situated where the Nunda House now stands), to Joslyn’s
saw mill (the Willoughby Lowell saw mill west of Swain and Joslyn grist mill,
which was not built until 1828), and on or near the west line of lot No. 29, (west
of the Nathaniel Coe house, now owned by N. S. Barker and occupied by Mrs.
Anna Armstrong, Mill Street.) Ed.

That we build a school house 26 feet by 30 this fall.

At an adjourned meeting it was voted to sell the old school house to the high-
est bidder at a publick (correct spelling at that time) vendue to the highest bidder.
‘That we raise $35 for the purpose of purchasing a stove and pipe for the new
school house. Adjourned for four weeks.

MILL STREET FRAME SCHOOL HOUSE
Met at new school house December 11, 1827, elected John Waite Moderator.
Sold the old school house to Silas G. Tyler for six dollars to be paid to the trustees.
J. H.R.
This completes our record of the log school house at the foot of East Street.
We regret that the names of the teachers were not given.

OTHER SCHOOL HOUSES

In the meantime the Barkertown school had been established and Susan Mer-
rick, sister of George W. Merrick, was the teacher. M. O. Barker, born in 1822.
was one of the pupils. The building did not last long. Some carpenters utilized
it as a shop during vacation and their shavings served to make its destruction sure
when by some accident they became ignited and the building was burned to the
ground. Another, not of logs, succeeded it.

The Wisner school house, located at a four corners, served a large territory as
a school house for many vears. About half of the Cooperville school patrons sent
their children here previous to 1836. Its list of teachers are not known but Abra-
ham De Groff and Rowland Beach and some of the Twist sisters and others were
among its teachers.

The Townsend district had a log school house at the corners where the Coop-
erville road intersects the State road. Newell Boughton, teacher, is mentioned by
the late Peter Townsend. Aristeen Curtis, finally lived in the district and taught
the school often. The Merril sisters were teachers and probably taught there.
Miss Isabel McNair taught school there, but not so early as this.

Very little is told of the Wilcox Corners school. A. Mr. Jilson, who lived in
the neighborhood, was one of the excellent teachers here and at Chautauqua
Hollow.

The Page school district was established about 1828 and had its four corners
school house, and after the Presbyterian Church formed, in 1831, at Wisners school
house, had more members nearer the village, it met there until its first church edi-
fice was erected in the following vear. The second school house building, a snug
structure, with capacity for sixty scholars, was moved to Fair Street when the
schools were consolidated. Then afterward to the Union school site, and finally to

305
Center Street where it serves for an Advent Chapel. Having taken three jour-
nevs, it will probably complete its existence at its last location.

The Satterlee school house has the appearance of age, and as most of the War-
rens and Satterlees attended there, the school house must have been built at least
6c years ago.

Some of the early teachers mentioned made teaching a stepping stone to higher
educational positions. Abraham Burgess, John J. Rockefellow of Nunda, and
Ralph Spencer were three of the four county superintendents of schools in Alle-
gany County.

Some first teachers mentioned:

In Angelica, the Widow Smith, 1805.

In Nunda-Pike, Miss Beulah Abeli, 1899.

In Genesee Falls, Miss Maria Bellenger, 1809.

In Genesee Falls (The Gore) Jason Goodell, 1809.

In Mills Miils (Nunda) Caroline Russell, 1812.

In Centerville (Nunda) Perkins B. Woodward.

In Portage (Nunda) Horace Miller, 1817.

In Granger (Nunda) Miss Arzivilla Williams, 1819.

in Nunda, Meses Barron, 1823.

In Nunda, Mr. Fish, 1825.

In Nunda, Miss Cobb, 1825.

In Nunda, Z. W. Joslyn.

In Nunda, Abigail Hosford, first teacher on Mill Street.

In Nunda, Adonijah Jocelyn.

In Nunda, Abraham Burgess, Wilcox Corners.

In Nunda, Welcome Jilson, Wilcox Corners.

In Barkertown, Susan Merrick, 1825.

In Grove, Emily Page, 1826.

In Townsend District, Newell Boughton, not the first.

In Grove, William Crooks, father of Lawyer S. J. Crooks.

Some of the pupils before 1826. Sylvester Heath, Rennselaer Heath,
Chauncey Jocelyn, David Bassett, Ir., Addison Merrill, Adelaide Merrill, Lewis
Fitch (at R. Bowens), Nelson Baldwin, Louise Baldwin (Mrs. Daniel Lowell),
Almira Waite, Emily Waite, Erastus Darwin, Porter Warren (now 87), Daniel
Gould, Buel Gould, Betsey Guthrie, Leroy Satterlee, Fidelia Satterlee.

In 1826. Lemira Heath, Arden Heath, Philena Baldwin, Cortez Baldwin.
Loverna Waite, David \Vandelia Waite, Garifelia Waite, Zara W. Jocelyn, Levi
Gould, John Heath, George Heath, Caroline Rawson, Lucetta Rawson (ther 5
vears old).

CHAPTER III.

Our First Frame ScHoot House From 1825 To 1845.

From report of Trustees, October 6, 1828, we glean these facts.

Received of public inoney $30.77.
Pardi tor wvarter Schoolsc., access ind thle PaGk Ge uky Moab hoeneeaaed $21 00
Paid for summer school........

 

306
Raised for building school house and for stove, $260.

Paid H. C. Jones for school house. ........0 0.0 cc eee eee eee $210 48
Pat 16 StOVe s.ssecn9 sass atcen-gecesace le a asta fab gasben bac duasde vhs la godne Medved stakes 32 36
Due H. C. Jones for school house... 2... 6. ee 14 52
Die: TOT StOVEn ns a5 eed ea ees be ee COAG eS ew ies 2 64
Cotild. not Collects gece eanerys ee ew ea nd ak Wee ee ee 16 52
Voted to exonerate them. H. C. JONES,Clerk.

The report to commissioners for the year 1828 furnishes the following inter-
esting facts. That school was kept 5 1-2 months (from other sources I am in-
formed that Adonijah Jocelyn taught the winter school and that Miss Abigail Hos-
ford, the mother of Alfred Ervin, taught the summer term). That the amount of
public money received by the district was $30,77, that the number of children
taught during the school year was 65. That the number of children in the district
between the ages of 5 and 16 years was 73, and that those taught were in the homes
of the following citizens:

Barnabas Wright, 2; John Wait, 4; Richard Bowen, 1; Henry C. Jones, 5;
Asa Heath, 2; Noah Warren, 1; James H. Rawson, 2; Elias Rawson, 1; Lindsey
Joslyn, 6; Thomas Rathbun, 1; Leander Hills, 1; Ryley Merrill, 4; Stephen Hayes,
4; Widow Smith, 1; John H. Townsend, 3; David I. Conklyn, 2; Warren Daniels,
1; Zadeck Herrick, 1; Ethan Waters,2; Reuben Pierce, 1; Joseph Cole, 1; Wil-
liam Gould, 1; Daniel Ashley, 4; George Guthrie, 4; William Stephenson, 1; Wil-
son Roberts, 1; Jonas Richter, 4; William Hoyt, 1; Henry Townsend, 1; Granville
Sherwood, 2; P. R. Sherwood, 1; Abram Porter, 2. Total 73.

That the sum paid for teachers’ wages over and above the public money appor-
tioned to said district for the vear was $23. (Entire amount for the year $53.77.)

RYLEY MERRILL,
JOHN WAIT,
Trustees.

H. C. JONES, Clerk.

On September 22, 1829, an order was received from the commissioners of
common schools to raise the sum of ninety-six dollars to be paid to District No. 1,
for their part of school house. Evidently there had been a subdivision of the dis-
trict, and that the subdivided portion receiving the $96 had been the District No.
t from which lot 22 had been taken in a former report. No. 1 having been the
primitive school of the present township.

October 3, 1831, elected at annual meeting Albert Page, Moderator, Ryley
Merrill, clerk, Ryley Merrill, Albert Page and Lindsey Joslyn, trustees, Daniel W.
Joslyn, collector.

Trustees report that there has been school taught nine months, number of
scholars taught was 93. Public money paid this district, $43.82. Mr. Fish taught
winter term; Miss Cobb summer term. Amount paid Mr. Fish for 2 1-2 months
service, $64; to Miss Cobb, $15.75. Miss Cobb commencing April 3, 1832, and
“eft school” September 15th.

Special meeting held April 12, 1836, to consider the advisbility of a new school
house on a new site.

At this meeting it was moved to divide the district, amended that we do not
divide the district, the amendment prevailed. A committee of five were appointed
to inquire for a suitable site with terms for the same and what would be conveni-

307
ent and proper size for the contemplated school house, and the probable cost of
the site and building and to report at a subsequent meeting the following commit-
tee was appointed: Menry ©. Jones, Nathaniel Coe, Calvin B. Lawrence, David
Holmes, Ephraim Smith. Adjourned for two weeks at 4 P. M.

May 7, 1835, Henry C. Jones reported as chairman of the committee of five
that lot No. 99 was regarded as a suitable site, and fixed the size of the building at
72 by 26 feet, one story high.

The report of committee was accepted and the committee retained and in-
structed to ascertain on what terms lot No. 99 could be obtained, and to obtain of
the commissioners of common schools permission to raise a larger sum than $400
for the new school building. Adjourned for three weeks.

At the Monday evening meeting Albert H. Prescott, Daniel Ashley and Henry
C. Jones were elected trustees. A motion was made by Russell Barnes that the
school district be divided. The motion was lost. Motion made and seconded that
it is inexpedient to build a new house. The meeting then adjourned.

A. M. CRANE, Clerk.

October 2, 1840, Benedict Bagley, chairman, Clark Adams, clerk, resolved to
raise a tax of $450 for the purpose of purchasing a new site and of building
thereon a new school house.

Resolved to adjourn. Carried.

CLARK ADAMS, District Clerk.

DISTRICT SCHOOL TEACHERS

Who taught in Portage while it was still a part of Nunda: At Hunts Hollow.
Franklin Hosford, A. B., Stephen Fuller, Sr., A. B., Fred W. Parmalee, Daniel
Averill, Horton Fordyce, Marie Bellinger. At Oak Hill: Horace Mullen, Oren
Miller, Ralph Spencer, Hiram Olney, Lucina Strong, Miss Moses, Charles Wil-
liams, Nelson Strong, Miss Cobb, Utley Spencer.

After 1827: William Brown, Zara W. Jocelvn (of Nunda), Eliza Root,
Delia Root, Joel C. Bennett, Nathaniel Coe, A. N. Cole, J. W. Earl, A. R. Nye,
Samuel S. Gillis, Mary Hunt, Samuel W. French, Angerille Lake, Samuel Hunt,
E. S. Bennett, Julia Parmalee, Harriet Parmalee, Flora Bennett, Mary Ellen Ben-
nett, John F. Olney, Latham Coffin, Mary Wheeler (of Nunda), Severance,
Silas Olney, Corydon Olney, Celestia Andrus, Curtis Coe, Isaac Hampton,
Burlingame, Jane French, Sarah Strong, Omar Olney, Ransom Olney, Cynthia
Andrus, Mary Spencer, - Robinson, Rachel Bennett, Charles D. Bennett.
Nancy Spencer, Angelica and America Strong. Another teacher from Nunda of
great merit was Stephen Fuller, Jr. His sister, Mary A. Fuller, also taught until
her marriage.

 

 

 

The teachers who taught in Nunda and vicinity were: Moses Barron, 1824;
Mr. Fish, 1825; Miss Cobb, 1825; Adiniran Joslyn, 1828; Chauncey Joslyn; Zara
W. Joslyn; Abraham Burgess, 1828; Welcome Jilson, 1828; Susan Merrick, 1828;
Addison M. Crane, 1830; Utley Spencer, 1830; Leonard L. Church, 1830; Addison
M. Crane (Hon.); Henry Chalker, (Lawyer): Ryley Merrill, Jr., 1840; Newell
Boughton, (Reverend); John J. Rockefellow, (school commissioner) ; Isaiah B.
Hudnut, (MM. D.), 1830; Josiah Blanchard, (M. D.), 1835; Samuel P. Towne, (M.
D.), 1835; Isaac Hampton, (Hon., supervisor), 1835: Abraham De Groff, 1830;

308
Warren Babcock, 1840; Ryley Merrill; Loren J. Beech, 1845; Nelson Daniels,
1850; Galusia Burnett, 1852; A. M. Rose, (Castile) ; Lathan Coffin, 1842; Walter
Coffin, (town superintendent of schools), 1850; Jonathan Miller ; Henry Lee, 1846;
Sylvanus Ellis, 1846; George McNair, 1848; John D. Grimes, 1850; James R.
Bowen; Emily Page, (Bradley), 1836; Augusta Curtiss, 1835; Abigail Hosford,
(Erwin), 1828; Miss Maxwell, 1830; Susan Merrick, 1828; Adelaide Merril;
Mary Merrill; Amelia Merrill, 1840; Emeline Merrill; Mary Wheeler, 1831-1836;
Elizabeth Barrett, 1836; Martha Barrett, 1838; Laura Barrett, 1842; Margaret
Jane Mckill, 1835; Eliza Warner, 1828; Angeline Clough; Almira Chase, (Mer-
rick) ; Sarah Chase, ( Bell.) Page District: Sophia Webster, (Lloyd), 1847,
(mother of John Uri Lloyd, novelist) ; M. Jane Church; Mercy Jane Craig, (Bow-
hall), 1842; Harriet Hudnut; Mary J. Twist, 1845; Aristeen Curtis, 1840; Lavina
QO. Bowen, 1850; Eliza Day, 1850; Adelia Roberts-Rockefellow, 1850; Jane
Adams; Mary Chase, (Colby) ; Mary Spencer; Manette Peck, 1850; Elmina Ben-
nett, 1848.

B. S. Coffin stated in a pioneer sketch written a few years before his death,
that the early teachers ot North Oak Hill school were: H.G. Winslow, Addison
M. Crane, E. P. Miller, Weller, Latham Coffin, Draper.

Most of these men became celebrities. Prof. H. G. Winslow was principal
at Mt. Morris and at Nunda, was a college graduate and superintendent of schools
at Madison, Wisconsin. Weller, after an Albany Normal course and other suc-
cesses became Governor of California. Draper was one of the board of regents
at Albany. Our Nunda lawyer, A. M. Crane, was Member of Assembly. Dr. E.
P. Miller and his sanitarium are well known. While the financial successes of
farmer L. Coffin marked success in a commendable field of endeavor.

Two others, who became teachers soon afterward, became ultimately school
commissioners. Robert W. Green of Nunda, and Myron Haver of Oakland, Hall
Turrell and his wife, Mrs. Mary Stilson Turrell, were school commissioners in the
west. H.W. Hand was superintendent of schools, Marlboro, N. H., Frank Bur-
gess, also was school commissioner in the west.

Samuel William and Robert Hall, I. J. and Marshall McDuffee were teachers,
taught school at Nunda, and elsewhere, previous to the Civil War.

George M. Lockwood and Lias Lockwood were treachers. I*. A. Northway
taught school at Nunda, and elsewhere previous to the Civil War.

The Normal School at Geneseo, became the fruitful source of teachers for the
district and village schools, and as all who attended there from this vicinity are to
be mentioned, and all also from our Nunda High School Training class, this will
furnish another hundred or more of the local educators of our modern days since
1875.

Teachers attending a teachers institute at Nunda in April, 1860, conducted
by Harvey Farley, school commissioners, assisted by Principal Asher B. Evans:

Those who had taught longest are supposed to be at the head of the list.

Charles D. Bennett, (visitor) ; *Rachel A. Bennett; *Mrs. A. A. Rockefellow ;
*Mrs. E. T. Van Husen; Miss Jane Adams; Miss Mary Spencer; *Belle McNair;
Lydia Hagaman; L. Burgess; Fanny Andrus; Mrs. Mary (Spear) Yale; Alzada
Amidon; Libbie Arnold; *Mary Willis; Martha Huggins: Lucy Conrad; Lura Mc-
Cartney; Laura E. Brown; Ellen Shaw; Isa McCartney; M. A. Maxon; Harriet
Lowell; Maggie Lemen; Victoria McNair; Hattie Buckout; Mary N. Barron;

309
Mary Turrell; Mary Houghton; *Sarah Stilson; Pheobe Haines; Julia Barker ;
Maria E. Russell; Orpha French; Charlotte Lyon; Ann Bennett; Sue Knebloe;
Ruth Barkhart; Alma Turrell; Celia Pixley ; Delyra Wilcox; Sarah Brown; F. A.
Northway; M. Barealo; Melinda Reed, (Un. Cor.); Kate Lake, (H. H.);
Mary Buck; *Martha McNair; Alice Chidsey; Martha Chidsey; Julia Merrick;
Jane Mills; Maria Stilson; Esther Swift; Lydia De Camp; Martha Howell; Ame-
lia Bacon; Sarah Kelley, (Grove) ; Adeline Smith; Amelia Bennett; \lary Baylor ;
Sarah Cosnett ; Sarah Lockwood.

Some others who taught soen after: “Mary Stilson, Nittie Merrick, Alice
Gilbert, Augusta Ricker, A. Satford, Carrie Cain, Harnet, Heien and Clara -i-
nold, Elmira Smith, Emma and Carrie Tousey, all of Portage.

Of these lady teachers those marked * taught nearly all their lives.

These received State certificates: Rachel Bennet, Mary Willis.

These men teachers also had State certificates: H.W. Hand, Frank Burgess.

Gentlemen in attendance: W.F Smith, Portage; J. D. Grimes; MI. T. Hills:
Husted Green.

Thomas B. Lovei, A. Jackson Knight, Alvin \W. Tousev, William Cosnei:,
William G. Tousey, J]. Wesley Hand, H. Wells Hand, Oscar E. Chittenden, David
Roberts, Corydon C. Olney, Hall A. Turrell, Beebe Turrell, \[vron Barcalo,
Arthur J. Barnes.

Had never taught. Byron Andrus, James H. Haver, Aiken Aspinwall, John
J. Carter, Philo Mosher, Albert Houghton, Alonzo Olney, Clifford Bagley, Jay
Gallenline, Frank Burgess. The last named was but 14 years of age, passed,
but did not ask or receive a certificate.

SELECT SCHOOL OF NUNDA

Select schools became an important auxiliary to the educational life of the
town during its third decade, and some existed during the fourth decade. The la-
mentable condition of the district school building on Mill Street and the rapid
growth in population made some thing of this kind imperative. The third stories
of the stores on the west side of the plaza were used,—temporary seats were pro-
vided, and the primitive character of these school fixtures did not correspond well
with the high sounding titles bestowed on these embryo academies.

1. The first of these was taught by a Miss Maxwell, probably none of her
“students” are living to-day.

2. The next was taught by a Miss Wing, a sister of Galielmus Wing, a promi-
nent farmer.

3. Zara W. Jocelyn and his cousin, Miss Garifilia Waite, taught a school of
great excellence. Joseph Clark Button of Portage, was one of the scholars. Mrs.
Bohall, also attended.

4. Miss Augusta Curtis had a select school she called a “Young Ladies"
Seminary,” in the Swain store building, third story. The Starkweather girls at-
tended. AIrs. E. O. Dickenson, one of those who has passed the Psalmists limit
of three score and ten, was one of about twenty young ladies who reached this
very high school (room) for a term or two.

Miss Jane McWNill, also had a select school mostly young misses, in the upper
room of the twin house, State Street. Mary and Victoria Whitcomb, Laura
Grover, daughter of Daniel, Miss Elizabeth Rechard, were among those who at-
tended the school, and some good little boys, George and William Osgoc doy. were

310
also in attendance. She married Robert Carrick. Henry Chaulker, probably
utilized his law office for a school of young gentlemen, and Uriah, William and
John Townsend were among the scholars.

Miss Martha Lake (Johnson), had a primary school in the Session House
building, after it was no longer used as an academy.

The Medical class of Dr. C. C. Chafee about 1841, was a sort of Medical Col-
lege, while it lasted, but became very unpopular in the community, so much so that
even the dead “rose up,” probably in protest of having their sleep disturbed by
the undergraduates. .\t any rate, the living denizens of the village protested.
So the young “Medics” went to college, and the dotcor removed from Nunda.

In later days the select schools were taught for juveniles, excepting a few of
High School rank, that took the place of academic instruction, between the years
1860 and 1867. That will be mentioned later.

The Juvenile select schools were taught by Miss Jane Adams, Miss Jennie
Grover, Miss Mary Willis, Miss Mary Stilson.

The writing schools of Andrew J. Russell, were well attended. John W
Hand and Cornelius Kiley became expert penmen and writing teachers. The
former taught Mathematics, Penmanship and Bookkeeping, at the Genesee Valley
Seminary, Belfast.

At least a dozen singing school teachers had schools that were well attended.
Bard, Chittenden, Spafford, Brooks, Burger, George WW. Snyder, and the last was
most successful.

Miss Rose Shave, at one time principal of the art department of Ingham Uni-
versity has had and still has classes in painting.

Leslie Dailey, teaches China decorations, and is an expert at his calling.

CHAPTER V

A) CHAPTER OF OVERLOOKED AND UNRECORDED History—Our First ACADEMY.

ancestors, knows the origin and purpose, for which the old Session House
of that church was built. Not one of the historical sketches that have
eminated from that source, or anv other, has ever alluded to its origin.

Rev. Wales Tileston, A. B., Union Coilege, 1822, pastor of the church from
the fall of 1837, induced the people to build an Academy on their church grounds,
and in 1838 it was built. As there was no newspaper in the newly incorporated
village at that time there are no records of instructors, or pupils, until 1841, when
the Genesee Valley Recorder in September of that year makes the announcement
for that year. It is known however, that a Mr. Edwards was principal of the
school, and a Miss Wing, sister to Galielmus Wing, was preceptress, with local
assistants, if any were needed. Mr. Edwards had a desire to enter the ministry
and even to be a missionary, and did not make teaching his first purpose. The
school was a necessity and was patronized by those whe had outgrown a necessity
for district school instruction, cr who found the cramped conditions on Mill Street,
alike undesirable and unendurable. The school was not large at first, and the
austere ways of the embryo missionary did not create enthusiasm. His name and

N OT one person out of one hundred, including the posterity of Presbyterian

311
the locality from which Rey. Tileston came, suggests he had selected this friend
from Puritan New England, Heath, Mass., and if he was not a descendant of
Jonathan Edwards, his theology at least was closely related. He failed to induce
any of the young ladies to change from the developing of their own minds to the
possibility of making negroes or Hindus think as the missionary thinks, and so he
departed alone.

Mr. Edwards’ Successor

Principal S. A. Clemmons, A. M., succeeded him, with Mrs. Clemmons as
preceptress.

These teachers were more successful in building up a school and realized their
work was important as teachers. They have left behind a list of students,
every one of them pioneer youths of the town and vicinity, some of them were
young boys, others fitung for teachers, or for college, those bearing this mark
before their names * are known to be living, all of these are at least octogenarians.

Faculty of Nunda Academy, Term Ending April 1, 1842

S. A. Clemmons (Yale), principal, teacher of Lauguage and Natural Science.

Clarke B. Adams, teacher of English Department.

Miss Jane D. Barnes, teacher of Mathematics, Drawing, etc.

John S. Jemison, teacher of Penmanship.

Mrs. Clemmons, preceptress.

Miss Flora Bennett, Harriet Hudnut, Miss H. E. T. Wright, A. Frink
Williams.

Miss H. E. T. Wright (a Baptist), became a missionary to Burmah.

Students in Our First Academy, Church Street, 1840-1841

Benjamin P. Vancourt, A. Jackson Sherwood, George H. Bagley, John
Ditto, W. Parker Wright, Elihu D. Holmes, Wilitam Dunn, L. Bissell Hills
Warren Gardner, P Dudiey Kendrick, Theodore Horton, Richard Tyleston,
Riley Merrill, Jr., Phineous L. Gilbert, Frederick B. Wing, Edward H. Chandler,
John L. Gray, William MM. Gray, Ralston H. Bellus, Charles Bellus, Matthew
Washburn, Martin Hubbell, Knelon A. Jeffries, Elnathan W. Packard, John Or-
mandson, Newton Colby, Oliver P. Ashley, Vandalia Waite, M. D., John Brewer,
John Wheeler, S. Deak, C. J. Deak, died tgo8, Cyrus T. Dake, Mt. Morris, Edwin
Swan, Mt. Morris; from Portage, 1841: Henry Tuthill, Yates Bennett, died 1906,
William Tousey, deceased, Andrew Gray, Orville Root, Harlow Orcutt, Joseph
Clark Button, Nathaniel B. Nichols, Jr., W. Sparta, Egbert Bogart, John Thomp-
son, Jacob Bogart, David R. Vorees, William T. Spinning, Granger, John McLane.
Birdsall, Cyrus Thompson, Upper Canada, Lyman Crosby, Catharine Vancourt,
*Matilda Sherwood, (Mrs. W. G. Russell, Binghamton), Rhoda M. Smith, Delic
and Mary Bagley, Amelia Crane, *Sarah A. Barnes, (Mrs. A. G. Rose), Amanda
Horner, Sarah A. Wright, Mary Pennell, (daughter of Rev. A. P. Pennell), Eller:
and Elizabeth Whitney, Garifilia Waite, Harriet Hudnut, (Irs. Leroy Satterlee),
Mary Ennis, Sarah Dickinson, Mandana Tyleston, Elizabeth Tyleston, Esther M.
Gilbert, (Mrs. P. D. Kendrick), Elizabeth S. Lane, Granger, Ebey V_ Bogart,
West Sparta, Janette and Adeline Bellus, Nunda, Martha L. Washburn, Nunda;
Portage: Mary and Esther Williams, Flora Bennett, died 1900, Cynthia and
Mary Spencer, Louisa Button, Harriet N. Carpenter, Margaret C. Howell, Brooks
Grove, Sarah M. Dake, Mt. Morris, Elsie Voorees, West Sparta, Elizabeth Camp-
bell, W. Sparta, Ebey Bogart, W. Sparta.

312
Nunda Academy Advertisement, November 1, 1841

S. A. Clemmons, principal.

This institution is now in successful operation with a larger number of pupils,
than at any former period. To meet the increasing patronage, additional accom-
modations have been provided in the academy building, which will permit us to re-
ceive thirty or forty more students.

Unremitting exertions are pledged on the part of the principal and assistants
in their efforts to make this institution merit the high estimation of the public.
Additional assistance has been recently procured and requisite facilities for in-
struction can be afforded in almost any branch of Academic Education.

Nunda Academy, November I, 1841.

S. A. CLEMMONS, Principal.

Pioneer Students of the First Nunda Academy

Mary Alward, Portage; Harriet Alward, Portage; Sarah Alvard, (Mrs. A. J.
S. Sherwood), Mt. Morris; Ananda Alvord, Mt. Morris; Elizabeth Barnes,
Nunda; *Sarah A. Barnes, (Rose); Clarissa Blanchard, Lyons, Mich.; lexina
Blanchard, Lyons, Mich.; Flora Bennett, (life teacher), Portage; Elmira Bennett,
(Orsimus Bisbee), Nunda; Mary J. Bogart, Nunda; Elizabeth \) Bogart, Nunda;
Olive Buck, Nunda; Elizabeth Barrett, Nunda; Martha Barrett, Nunda; Jeannette
Bellus, Nunda; Adelaide Bellus, Nunda; Lydia A. Blake, Scottsburg; Ann Burn-
ham, Scottsburg; Mary Bagley, Nunda; Isabella Brown, Mt. Morris; Lydia B.
Campbell, Nunda; Melissa Carrier, Nunda; Almira Chase, (Merrick), Nunda;
“MI. Jane Craig, (Bowhall), Nunda; H. S$. Doty, Lockport; Lucy A. Daniels,
Nunda; Elizabeth Dalrymple, Mt. Morris; Eliza Engle, Portage; Mary Engle,
Portage; Clarissa Gray, Caledonia; Elizabeth Gray, Caledonia; Angelina Gawyer,
Scottsville; Jane Gibbs, Nunda; Mary A. Greenleaf, Nunda; Esther L. Gilbert,
Nunda; Harriet Hudnut, Nunda; Sarah Hudnut, Nunda; Amanda Horner,
Nunda; Letetia Horner, Nunda; Sarah J. Howd, Nunda; Angelica C. Henry,
Allen; Juliana Henry, Allen; Elizabeth Horton, Nunda; Sylvia A. Lawrence,
Nunda; Nancy Lawrence, Nunda; Olive Miller, Mt. Morris; Louisa Mcre,
Nunda; Amelia Merrill, Nunda; Emeline Merrill, Nunda; Salome Merrill, Nunda ;
Angelina Nourse, Castile; Susan A. Osgoodby, Nunda; Mary Pennell, Nunda;
Isabella Pennell, Nunda:; Mary J. Prescott, Nunda; Rachel E. Page, Huldah XI.
Robinson, (Spencer), Portage; Charlotte Robinson, (Southwick), Portage; Eliza
Rockefellow, (Olp), Mt. Morris; Rhoda M. Smith, Nunda; Delia Spencer, L. A.
Shepard, Mt. Morris; Louisa Shuart, Portageville; Margaret Sherwood, (Bur-
nett), Nunda; *Matilda Sherwood, (Russell), Nunda; Charlotte Smith, Nunda;
Fannie Seaver, Nunda; Martha Smith, Nunda; Eliza Spinning, Sparta; Mary
Spencer, Portage; Cynthia Spencer, Portage; Anna Smith, Portage; Louisa
Tabor, Portage; Agnes Tuthill, Portage; Charlotte Tuthill, Portage; Elizabeth
Tileston, Nunda; Hannah Vancourt, Nunda; Elsy Voorhies, Sparta; H. E. T.
Wright, (Stetson), Nunda; Elizabeth Wright, Nunda; “Sarah A. Wright,
(Smith) ; Mary Wright, Geneseo; Sarah D. Whetmore, Nunda; Elizabeth Whit-
ney, Nunda; Rebecca Wilcox, Nunda; Garifilia Waite, Martha L. Washburn,
Cornelia Whitney, Ellen Whitney, Sarah Weller, Mt. Morris; *Mary Williams,
Portage; Esther Williams, Portage; H. M. Wilner, Portage; Mary Whitcomb,
Nunda; Victoria Whitcomb, Colby.

313
Female Department, Nunda Academy, 1843-1844

F. B. Adams, Nunda; H. F. Armstrong, Dorset, Vt.; A. E. Atwood, Nunda;
M. A. Ainsworth, Nunda; S$. A. Ainsworth, Nunda; Emily Bailey, Nunda; Laura
Barnes, Nunda; Mary E. Barnes, Nunda; Julia Bell, Nunda; *Augusta Bennett,
(Herrick) ; Amelia Bollsford, Grove; Emily Bradford, Nunda; Ann Bradford,
Nunda; Arabella Bradford, Nunda; Elizabeth Bradford, Nunda; Delia A. Brooks,
Nunda; Elizabeth Brooks, Nunda; Lucy Prooks, Nunda; L. P. Briggs, Nunca;
Imogene Burgess, Nunda; Emma L. Chaffee, Nunda; Sarah Chase, Nunda; Flora,
Ella and Roselle Chittenden, Nunda; M. Jane Church, Portage; Caroline Conkey,
Mt. Morris; Sarah Jane Cosnett, Nunda; Emily and Tsora Dartt, Nunda; Emma
Ditto, Nunda; Mary Diamond, Nunda; Lydia Dye, Nunda; Eunice Grover, Nuu-
da; *Laura Grover, Nunda; Rachel Gregory, Sparta; Isabella Hammond, Nunda;
*Adelaide Hammond, Nunda; Marv S. Holmes, M. C. Howell, Mt. Morris;
Sarah and Henrietta Horton, Cordelia Keyser, Rebecca Kennedy, Burns; Helen
M. Lawrence, Nunda; Ann Marsh, Cayuga; H. N. Marsh, Nunda; Eunice Marsh,
E. A. McKane, Nunda; Julia McKane, Nunda; Celuria Merrill, R. A. Mosher, Mt.
Morris; Marian Pierce, Mt. Morris; Martha Purchase, Sparta; Catharine Ruger,
Nunda; Martha, and Julia Scott, Allen; E. A. and Eveline Scott, Nunda; Mary E.
Spencer, Nunda; Jane Smith, Nunda; Louisa Strong, Nunda; Mandana TJileston,
Nunda; Sarah E. Town, Nunda; Caroline Vancourt, Nunda; Mary Van Scoter,
Burns; *Lucinda Warren, (B. Lee), Nunda; *Sophia Whitcomb, Livena Whiting,
Pennsylvania ; Charlotte Wood, Nunda.

Male Depart. Nunda Academy, 1843-1844. *Milton Hills, Nunda; Lathrop
Hills, Nunda; *Henry A. Hills, Nunda; Elijah Horton, Nunda; Franklin Kysor,
Sparta; J. J. Kwsor, Sparta; R. R. Kinney, Sparta; John King, Nunda; “Charles
King, Nunda; Henry King, Nunda; Franklin L. Lake, Portage; G. B. Lawrence,
Nunda; D. C. Leach, Nunda; J. E. Marsh, Nunda; B. F. Parmenter, Springville ;
James Reid, Nunda; Vandalia Slater, Portage; Simon Scott, Allen; Hiram Scott,
Allen; William Scott, Allen; *Charles L. Spencer, Nunda; Edwin Strong, Nunda;
William Strong, Nunda; Charles Terry, Nunda; O. Willard, Grove; Orren Wil-
liams, Centerville; A. Frink Wiliams, Portage.

After the exodus of this missionary, the school was left in charge of Miss
Cochran, and a young man of excellent spirit by the name of Maynard, and it con-
tinued in existence a year longer.

Mr. Maynard, however, who was an earnest Christian and a good Presby-
terian, while on his suminer vacation attended a gathering of the Synod, and an
earnest appeal being made for well educated young men to enter the Foreign Mis-
sionary field, his plans for life were changed, excepting, that he had long planned
a visit to the Alps. He proceeded to carry out this plan, but was taken sick and
died in Italy. The schocl was then merged with the Union school on East Street,
that for a year or more after this kept up a hearty rivalry with the Nunda Literary
Institution, both in curriculum and in numerical strength.

This marvellous story of successive teachers entering the ministry and the
missionary field can hardly be equalled in any school of the land. It is evident
that the vocation of the teacher was underrated in those days, while that of the
clergyman exceeded greatly the estimates of the present time.

As these teachers will again be mentioned in our list of Missionaries, who
have lived in Nunda, we will leave them for the present.

314
The school came into being when it was greatly needed. The building proved
of great value to the church, for a session house, and it has fostered other schools
and served as a temporary home for the Methodist Church and numerous select
schools have held their sessions there, until an Academy was built on Mill Street.

The building has been moved to Fair Street, and a fine parsonage has taken
its place, and it now serves as a dwelling house and barn. It cost when first built
$800, and it has been of far greater value to the village than to the church that
built it. May the good intentions of the builders be recognized, appreciated and
placed to their credit.

The Cochran Regime

The school reached the acme of its suceess under Principal J. G. Cochran, and
his sister, Miss M. R. Cochran.

The Faculty indicate a large and energetic institution, even a primary depart-
ment swells the numbers and indicate at least a numerical success. Some of these
assistant teachers taught in 1843, others in 1844.

Principal, J. G. Cochran; associate, Miss Dorcas Bell; preceptress, M. R.
Cochran; assistant preceptress, Aliss Sarah A. Lake; primary, Miss Plum; John
J. Rockefellow, teacher, English Department; Lecturer, Anatomy and Physiology,
Dr. C. Clifford Chafee, A. B., and assistant pupils B. F Parmalee, Amelia Merrill.

This school would have been eminently successful under this corps of instruc-
tors, but either the atmosphere of Nunda, bred a desire in the hearts of all educa-
tors that were called here as instructors, to seek a foreign shore, where souls were
farther away from truth and God, or the retiring principal, or the clergyman
of the church chose, the new principal for his piety, rather than for his ability to
teach, and the Nunda Academy was wrecked on the rocks of Missionary zeal. In
this instance a good teacher did not become a poor missionary, but one who met
with marvellous success and “worked for humanity,” as well as for “creed and
theology,” and left a son and successor whose achievements as a civilizer reached
the climax of success. His school, however, is our present subject, but in the
missionary part of this book will be given the story of a great missionary’s greater
Son.

Before giving the names of the students that attended the Nunda Academy in
1842 to 1844, we will tell the story that George Ditto, a pupil of the primary
department of this school (and to whom I am indebted for the information) told
me.

Miss Dorcas Bell came with the Ditto family to Nunda as the governess of
the Ditto children, John, George and Emma. The great losses attending the stop-
ping of work on the Genesee Valley canal in 1841, left the family with more ac-
counts against the contractors, than the contractors had money to pay for, and so
the governess became a teacher in this school. She afterwards became Mrs.
Lorenzo Brooks. Principal Cochran married Miss Plum, the teacher in the
primary department, and they became Missionaries in the Orient.

The Faculty of this school seems to have changed after the marriage of Miss
Bell. And we find the following list of instructors: J. G. Cochran, .\. B.; John
J. Rockefellow, English Department ; Sarah A. Lake, assistant teacher of English;
Miss M. R. Cochran, teacher French and drawing: assistant pupils, B. F Parmen-
ter of Springville; Miss Amelia A. Merrill of Nunda.

315
Note.—It is germain to call attention, at this time to the fact that there were
now two academies in Nunda, and Prof. Buck, had also since 1843, been taking
to their own place, the Baptists, and others, who were attracted by his reputation
to the newer and larger school.

Pupils in Attendance in 1842-3, Additional to Those Before Mentioned

G. W. Adams, Ohio; Edwin C. Allen, Portage; Andrew Barber, (lawyer),
Portage; Charles b. Bagley, *Lester P. Barnes, Benjamin Bailey, William P. Ben-
nett, Burns; Charles H. Bixby, Nunda; Charles Brooks, Chelles Brooks, A. G.
Brooks, L. MI. Brooks, J. B. Bradley, Springville; Henry B. Britton, Portage;
Halbert Buck, Nunda; Erastus Buck, Nunda; Austin Burpee, Nunda; R. S. Camp-
bell, Scottsburg; Edward G. Chipman, Nunda; William George Cosnett, Nunda;
D. H. Cochran, Springville; William De Camp, M. D., *George Ditto, Nunda;
Lewis L. Ditto, Nunda; Arnold Eastwood, Nunda; Charles A. Gilbert, Nunda;
Nathan Gould, Nunda; Leroy Gould, Nunda; Horace Gregory, Sparta; Cameron
Hartman, Sparta; Le Rue Hale, Sparta.

At two exhibitions given Apri! 13 and 14, 1843, the following ladies and
gentlemen took part:

S. F. Hills, ]. Bogart, J. Thompson, T. Atwood, W. P. Wright, E. D. Holmes,
Hi. B. Carver, R. S. Campbell, D. H. Cochran, F D. Lake, N. F Walliams, G. J.
Adams, W. A. Dunn, Riley M. Merrill, F. P. Kennedy, J. G. Briggs, A. F. Wil-
liams, L. B. Hills, J. J. Rockefellow, G. J. Adams, J. L. Williams E. H. Chandler,
J. Ditto.

AMI. Jane Church, Mary Williams, Miss Esther Williams, Miss A. Merrill, MM.
J. Bogart, N. Lawrence, S. A. Lawrence.

Note.—The original colloquy, “The Indian Captive,” written by M. Jane
Church formed a part of the programme. Also one of her poems, “The May
Flower,” was recited by L. B. Hills. The talent of these advanced students would
surprise some of the graduates of our day most of them, however, were older than
the average graduates now.

It must be gratifying to the children and grandchildren of those who were
the leading pupils, for their day of this the first of Nunda’s academies, to see
their ancestors as they were in youth, not in their full maturity, but grasping for
treasures of mind attainable.

The motto of 1845 tells the story,

“Not as though we had already attained.”

The last exhibition of the Nunda Academy, six students wrote (or served as
a committee of publication), a pamphlet periodical, and it was published by J. T.
Norton, Mt. Morris.

The committee were: R. M. Merrill, Seth E. Hills, C. H. Gilbert, Miss A. A.
Merrill, Miss N. C. Lawrence and Miss Janette T. Amsden.

After a modest editorial, the articles that followed would indicate the peculiar
style of those days when sentiment and song were present in all prose essays.
“The Widow's Son,” by C., evidently Charles H. Gilbert, the father of Harry and
Carrie Gilbert, a fine paraphrase of the Gospel narrative, has a double pathos to
one who knew them all. Charles and his gentle wife, Eliza Day, both of whom
died so early in life, and Carrie and Harry, who did not live as long. As the au-

316
e

thor purposes to give Miss Carrie’s graduating essay, he thinks it will be inter-
esting to trace similarity of style, changed by the different standards of a later
time.

THE WIDOW’S SON

“Silence reigns in a lone apartment in the city of N——-. A noble youth lies
sleeping. O’er his body a burning fever rages, and yet he sleeps a happy sleep.
On Fancy’s airy wing his roving mind soars away from earth to heaven. With
angels crowned with light, he kneels before the throne, and with “‘etherial fingers
sweeps the golden strings, which makes the melody of heavens abode.”

“He wakes to find himself still on earth, while by his couch his loving parent
weeps. Mother, the damps of death are on my brow, but do not weep when I am
gone. I hasten to a happier home. I would not longer stay. Hark, dost not
thou hear, the rich strains of music, that strike my listening ear?

“Mother I go, but I will come again, and when thou too shall leave this vale
of tears, V'll watch beside thy bed and bear thy spirit hence to Heaven.

“There’s music on the midnight air, a requiem sad and slow is chanted o’er the
bier of a loved one gone.

“O sad the thought that one so young should die, and lay him down in the
empty tomb to rest, while fairy visions still were his and hope was dancing joy
dreams in his breast. Could prayer have saved him he would have still remained.
He has joined the choirs of pure ones in the happy land.

“The mother weeps beside his sable bier. “Tis hard to part from what is life-
less now. But lo! Jesus approaches and bids her cease to weep. He lays the
sable, pall-cloth back, he lifts the head in silence resting and he who slept awoke.”

This is hardly a type of the others. It is unusual for men, unless they are of
poetic nature, or very near the bounds of the unknown, to write like school girls,
but men are not alike, and some are admonished in many ways of lie’s uncertainty.

One other selection signed V., bears the more natural type of woman's seuti-
ment. She has dared to write of one, whose name is above every name. In her
peroration she exclaims.

“He comes to earth its Redeemer, a King without the ensigns of royalty, a
Conqueror without an avenging sword, or the brilliant trophies, which swell the
victor’s triumph. He becomes a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.
For thee, O. earth, he weeps, for thee He pravs, when dewy mountains and the
pale stars alone behold him, he bids the sleeping arise, and those in chains of dark-
ness bound, gaze upon a new world of light and beauty. He heals thy soul, a pil-
grim for many long vears, ever laboring to hasten the dawn of salvation’s sun,
and when his day has come, for thee, O man, he dies!"

THE EXHIBITION

“Character of Schiller,” Erastus Buck, Jr.

“Literature a means of perpetuating a Nation's Glory,” John S. King.

“When is the time to die,” Miss M. A. Stowe.

“The Voices of Angels,” Miss E. Bradford.

Colloquy, “The Chances of Law,” (written by Briggs, Chandler and Gilbert).

Judge, Latham Coffin; Squire Bragge, G. H. Briggs; Fitzgerald, Esq., E. H.
Chandler ; Plaintiff. S E. Hills; Defendant, C. H. Gilbert ; witnesses.

317
Colloquy, by Merrill and Ditto.
Transcendentalist, R. M. Merril; Fourierist, J. A. Ditto; Hypochondriac, S.
E. Hills; Mnemonician, C. H. Gilbert; Limb of the Law, J. V Townsend.

to. Oration—Melancholy of Genius’....... 0.00... cee eee eee G. H. Briggs
11. Oration—‘*Permanence of Our Institutions”................... J. A. Ditto
12. Responses—The Patriot's Gore’. ............ 02 eee Miss S. L. Merrill

“The Tear of Sympathy”............... Miss L. A. Horner
13. Colloquy—'Popular Education’..................04. By Hills and Ditto

Prof. Von Dunderhonsen, S. E. Hills; Squire Quibble, L. Coffin; Dea Par-
ticular, A. Barber; Doct. Killman, R. M. Merrill, inspectors.
Students, etc. Music.
14. Oration—‘The Superiority of a Symmetric Education”....E. H. Chandler
Lp Sagas - Meehan elated Race ess ....Miss A. A. Merrill, Miss J. D. Amsden
15. Dispute—‘Is this a Superficial Age?”.......... S. E. Hills, Latham Coffin
16. Discussion—“Is Astronomy as Rich in the Poetic Element as Geology?”
sig aie, Soe o ales Ganga goon etalon ety aheasees Miss A. A. Merrill, Miss J. D. Amsden
17. Colloquy—' Midsummer's Night's Dream,” (altered from Shakespeare)
Peter Quince, R. M. Merrill, Nick Bottom, Andrew Barber, Francis Flute,
J. H. Ditto, Simon Strung, William Nash, moonshine.

ATusic.

18 “The Genius of Literature’ 20. 0. ci. dee seed dis naked R. M. Merrill

10:. ‘Oration Fame—lts) Price” yay ie ea saan eee ee eas A. Barber
Prayer.

EXCELSIOR—NUNDA ACADEMY, 1845
By S.

“Oh! onward youth! grasp deathless flowers
Of genius for thy brow
And call a wreath in learning’s bower
To deck thy young mind now;
Away! stop not ‘mid things of earth,
Indulge in visions high,
Enlarge thy thoughts of lofty birth,
Seek things that cannct die.”

CHAPTER VI.

Our Orp Uxton Scuoot House, East Street, ANp How It Came To Be Buitt
THERE.

Special meeting of District No. 2, held December 23, 1844, at 6 P. M.

Merritt Colby presided and William D. Hammond served as clerk.

-\t this meeting it was, Resolved by a majority of voters present, that it is ex-
pedient to purchase a new site and build a new school house.

2. Resolved, That the trustees of this district, examine the most eligible site
for a new school house, ascertain the cost of lot, plan of a building and the cost of
building according to that plan.

318
3. That a committee be appointed to examine into the title of the site now
occupied by the district; whereupon the moderator appointed, Benedict Bagley,
Luther C. Peck and Walter Whitcomb, such committee. The meeting adjourned
to meet again in two weeks.

At the adjourned meeting, Benedict Bagley, reported that the title of the lot
on Mill Street was not sound and good, that the deed is void for want of a con-
sideration. The report was carried. They seconded the report of former com-
mittee, and appointed two discreet persons to act with the trustees, to inquire into
the expediency of purchasing a new location, and building a more commodious
school building, to estimate cost and dimensions and lay their report before the
people at their next meeting. Joseph Ditto and D. D. Morse were appointed as
additional committee. Adjourned for one week.

At the adjourned meeting, J. Ditto reported for the committee, and the re-
port was accepted, and the trustees authorized to sell the old lot and building, re-
taining its use till the new building was ready for use. The vote was carried, yeas,
43, nays, 29. The trustees were instructed to purchase a lot containing an acre
of ground on the north east corner of East and Fair Streets, opposite the Cobble
Stone house, then occupied by C. E. Crary at the price of $200.

Resolved, That the trustees be requested to procure a certificate of the town
superintendent for the sun of 313.50. Carried.

-\djourned to Tuesday at 6 P. M.

On January 24, 1845, the adjourned meeting was held, and a certificate from
the town superintendent was read, of which the following is a copy.

“T hereby certify that I believe the sum of twelve hundred dollars is neces-
sary to build a suitable school house for School District No. 2, in Nunda

January 14, 1845. A. BURGESS,
Town Superintendent C. S. for Nunda.”

A vote was then taken to raise by tax $1,200 to build a school house on the
place submitted by the committee. The vote was taken by calling each voter pres-
ent by name and the vote given resulted as follows: Yeas, 47; Nays, 45.

Then the additional sum of $150 was voted for fence, furnishing out build-
ings, etc. Yeas, 48; Nays, 28.

Annual meeting September 29, 1845. Dr. C. Clifford Chafee, moderator,
and William D. Hammond, George L. Herrick, elected trustees: John A. Dye, cal-
lector; Walter Whitcomb, librarian. A tax was voted to level the grounds aid
lay floor in the porch.

We conclude that this brings the scholars of No. 2, into a commodious and
fine looking building for those days, and if any one wishes to see the old building,
from which they must have been glad to depart, they may procure the key of Les-
ter Wilcox, merchant, on State Street. The rear part of the building has had no
repairs upon it since it was moved there from Mill Street, and the wonder will
be how did they accommodate 99 pupils there, before canal days, and how, the

greatly increased number from 1836 to 1846.
. From 1839, the Nunda Academy, Church Street, thinned them out somewhat,
and from 1843 the Nunda Literary Institute took all the surplus, until 1846, when
the Union and Nunda Academy students divided nearly equally, the pupils of
the village with the institute, and both buildings had for the next 13 years, all they
could accommodate.
319
CHAPTER VII

THE UNIuN SCHOOL, East STREET, 1846.

afterwards known as the Presbyterian Session House, that had furnished

advantages for the pioneer youth of Nunda for about seven years, was
supplanted by the Baptist School, the Nunda Literary Institute, that came into be-
ing in 1843, and both academies were well patronized for about two years, when
the institute, being the larger building, with the large hired cabinet of Prof.
Amasa A. Buck, A. M., drew the majority of the pupils from abroad to the Mill
Street institution, and the short lived Nunda Academy was merged in a Uniun
with the large district school No. 2, and became the Union School with, for a short
time, an Academy or High School department. The principal was college bred
and about 250 pupils gathered there during the school year.

The Students Olio, published in March, 1846, gives us this information, in a
“Prospectus addressed to the Trustees of this unique District School.” We quote
from the vouthful editors, a statement, that it would have been hard to believe, but
for the preservation of this 14 page periodical.

“Messrs. Prescott, Herrick and Gardner, Trustees of Nunda Union school:
Permit us to inscribe to you our little periodical as a tribute ot respect, due your
zealous and disinterested efforts to establish a UNION SCHOOL, of high order
in our pleasant village.

y | VHE Nunda Academy, on Church Street, build by the Presbyterians in 1838,

“During the last term, about 230 scholars have enjoyed its privileges. The
majority of these, have spent most of their time upon the common English
branches.

‘About So have practiced composition; 40 declamation ; about 50 attended to
drawing; 40 have pursued the Latin; 22 Algebra; 17 Intellectual Philosophy; 15
Geology; 12 Geometry; 11 French: 8 Astronomy; 4 Surveving. General exer-
cises have been had on Mitchell's Outline maps, Parker's Historical charts, and in
Wright's Analytical Orthography.

“You will find perchance in our “Olio” many crude thoughts. Should it be so.
we feel assured, that from you and our friends generally, we shall meet with the
leniency which our youth and inexperience may claim; and there will not be dealt.
out, to those whose unfledged thoughts are vet untaught to soar, the full measure
of criticism which might fall with propriety upon the productions of more mature
minds. If others who are predetermined to judge ‘no good thing can come out of
Nazareth,’ will read our pages only to discover faults or hold up to ridicule our
cherished sentiments, we must leave them to the promptings of their own taste,
with a regret however, that their minds are not of a nobler make.

“In behalf of the committee of publication.”

It would not be very difficult to read between the lines of an intense conflict

existing between the “Institute” and ‘the Union School.” Though the Union
School had 230 scholars all it could comfortably accommodate, the Institute had.
328.

The Union School however, had the largest primary department.
After Principal Winslow, from the Mt. Morris school succeeded Principal
Buck, the existing friction was diminshed, for Prof. Winslow was from ‘Union

320
College,” from which three successive Presbyterian pastors had been graduated,
and the Union School under Abraham Burgess returned to the ordinary status of a
well taught district school for ‘English branches” only.

That the Union School of 1845-1846, had a fair share of the “heirs of future
greatness,” we will copy the order of exercises at the exhibition March ro, 1846.

Music.

1. Collogquy—‘Who Wants an Exhibition,” by Briggs and Chandler.

2. Oration—* Newspaper Publication,” S. Ellis.

3. “Unwritten History,” M. T. Hills.

4. “The Fate of Tyranny,’ J. W. Britton.

Music.

5. Colloquy—*A Mesmeric Peep into the Future,” (arranged by J. Ditto).

De Squiggs (inesmeriser), W. B. Gardner.

Joseph (a subject), H. Buck.

Squire Quirk, S. Ellis.

Deacon Quiz, G. Kalder.

Professor Fiat, J. W. Britton,

6. Declamation—"The Sword,” C. L. Spencer.

7. Oration—"The True Source of Reform,” E. W. Packard.

8. Oration—*Saxon Character,” J. A. Ditto.

Music.

9. Colloquy—'"Scraps of Politics for 1848," (by Briggs and Chandler).

Loco Foco, J. A. Ditto.

Loco Foco, J. W. Britton.

Whig, E. Buck, Jr.

Whig, C. H. Brooks.

Native, E. H. Chandler.

Atheist, W. 1. Gardner.

Liberty, G. H. Briggs.

Whig of 76, H. A. Patterson.

to. Declamation—" Bernardo Del Carpio,” H. Buck.

11. Reading of Kaleidoscope, Miss V. Whitcomb, Miss L. A. Britton.

Music.

12. Latin Colloguy—Serenade, S. Ellis, H. Peterson, M. T. Hills, G. H.
Gardner, C. L. Spencer.

13. Oration—"Inmagination,” E. Buck, Jr.

14. Oration—"The True End of Study,” W. B. Gardner.

15. Reading of the Ephemera, Miss FE. Bradford, Miss L. A. Horner.

16. Declamation—'The Seventh Plague of Egypt,” G. H. Briggs.

Music.

17. Colloquy—"Galileo’s Re-cantation,” (by Ditto).

Inquisitors, H. A. Patterson, E. H. Chandler, E. buck, Jr.

Galileo, J. A. Ditto.

Philosopher, G. H. Briggs.

Students, C. H. Brooks, J. W. Britton.

Officer, G. Kalder.

18. Translation—!lysses’ Address to Achilles,” Edward H. Chandler.

19. “Achilles Reply,” H. A. Patterson.

321
Music.

20. Tragedy, (Selected Talfourd’s Ion).

Adrastus, H. A. Patterson.

Ion, G. H. Briggs.

Medon, E. Buck, Jr.

Clesiphon, J. A. Ditto.

Crythis, W. B. Gardner.

Agenor, M. T. Hills.

Phochion, E. H. Chandler.

Guards, ete.

Prayer. Benediction.

This school existed for many years, and had many excellent teachers, among
them, Abraham Burgess, M. Jane Church, Luke Colby, John J. Rockefellow, Milo
Chamberlain, Walter Coffin, Mary Spencer, Jane Adams, Henry Dye Marsh, A.
B., William C. Hall, Samuel Hall, Thomas J. Thorp, A. B., and sister, John
Grimes, Thomas Lovell.

A GREAT ACADEMY—ITS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

The Nunda Literary Institute became an accuality because the old Baptist
Church was no longer needed for church purposes.

The Nunda Academy was too small to accommodate all who would attend if
there were better facilities for instruction. The frequent change of teachers in
the academy had taught a lesson, and the Baptists determined to hire a principal
who had taught successfully, and who expected to make teaching his life work.
The Middlebury Academy at Wyoming was the leading school of this class at the
time. One of the leading citizens of the town was the Hon. L. C. Peck, educated
at this classical institution. Besides, it was known that Prof. Buck, had an exten-
sive cabinet which would come with him and place the new school on or above the
level of its competitor. The numerical strength of the Baptist Church at the time
was such that there would be a good attendance, even if the Presbyterian School
continued its existence. It is from present standards of toleration, to be regretted
that both schools were run too much as Sectarian Institutions. There is no list
of the first academy's officials, but certainly those of the Baptist School were de-
cidedly too much along denominational lines. To Principal Winslow, who intro-
cuced into the board men, as trustees, for their ability, and not for their creed, is
due much of the greater prosperity which attended the institution during its last
years. Men like Gersham Waldo (Episcopalian); L. B. Warner, and Utley
Spencer, Presbyterians; I. J. Meecham, (Methodist), and finally E. W. Packard,
(Universalist) was a movement in the right direction. These men were inter-
ested in education per se, and were not thinking of how a large school would in-
crease the attendance and membership of any particular church. From the first,
the stockholders in the ‘*building” made a choice outside their numbers.

A list of the trustees of the institution may prove interesting to their poster-
ity, and so the writer will give them.

Those advertised on the circular at first sent out, evidently did not all serve.
They were, however, excellent figure heads and the leading men of the village, as
well as excellent scholars.

322
Addison M. Crane, Esq., Hon., Judge, ete.; Hon. Nathaniel Coe, Rev
Luke Colby, Zara W. Joselyn, M. D., Hon. Daniel Ashley.

September 28, 1844. Stockholders and trustees, Rev. Jira Clark, pastor Bap-
tist Church ; President of the Board, Serenas Britton (served 5 years), Nathaniel
Coe (until he moved west), Samuel Swain, Jr., (until he resigned), James Swain,
(until he resigned) Carlos Ashley, Jeremiah Richardson, John E. Dake, Zadock
Herrick, Jr., Rev. Luke Colby, Solomon H. Donaldson, Dr. D. M. Dake, Moses
Barron.

October 24, 1844. Added to this original board, John Seaver, James Barrett,
Benjamin W. Dake, Lyman Herrick. Probably these were stockholders.

October 30, 1844. Albert Page.

November 14, 1844. A committee appointed for that purpose gave a report
on value of property.

Library $100; lot $400; building $2,300. Total, $2,800.

January 27. Edward Swain succeeds Serenus Britton as trustee.

January 8. Rev. Jira Clark, president of the board, resigns as president and
as trustee; John E. Dake, also Dr. D. M. Dake resigns.

1859. Board of trustees at the time of the burning of the Institute.

Rev. Luke Colby (served the entire 15 years), Samuel Skinner, Lyman Her-
rick, F. H. Gibbs, L. F*. Paine, Isaac Bronson, Dr. A. L. L. Potter, Dr. S. C. Up-
son, L. B. Warner, Dr. I. J. Meecham, Albert Page, E. W. Packard, L. C. Skinner,
Utley Spencer.

TEACHERS OF THE NUNDA LITERARY INSTITUTE FROM
1843 TO 1860

School commenced May 1, 1848; building burned May, 1859; school year
completed in June.

Buck Regime from May 1, 1843, to March, 1848.

1. Rev. Amasa Buck, A. M., March, 1848.

Rev. N. W. Benedict, A. B., to January 1, 1847.

Mary L. Buck, perceptress to July 15, 1844.

Eliza Brown, music teacher several vears.

Adelaide E. T. Morrison, preceptress from September 1844 to 1847.

Elizabeth Barrett, primary.

Joseph E. Putnam (college student) A. L., January, 1847.

Lemuel Waters (coilege student) A. B., September, 1847.

Miss Martha Wheelock (retires with letter of commendation), 1847.

Mrs. Sarah Atwater, music teacher, 1847.

Daniel B. Bard, vocal music, 1847.

D. W. Dake, M. D., Lecturer, 1847.

Miss B. S. Morse, Miss Van Slyke, Miss Sarah Chase, Miss Elizabeth Andrus,
Miss Celestia Andrus, 1847.

2. Rev. Nehemiah Wisner Benedict, A. B., principal, March, 1848, (A. M.,
from March to November, 1848).

Miss Helen Morrison, principal female department ; Celestia Andrus, primary.

3. Leroy Satterlee, principal; Isaiah Hudnut, assistant first term; Stephen
W. Clark, A. M., second term. Author of Clark’s grammar.

Mr. Clark succeeds Instructor Hudnut ; Sarah Chase, primary.

323
4. Horatio Gates Winslow, A. B., Mary H. Culbertson, Charles L. Bing-
ham, classics, Emily Barnum, Emily B. Winslow.

Second Year. Principal Winslow ; Helen B. Morrisson, perceptress ; George
Briggs, classics; Jane Adams, primary.

5. Solon Otis Thacher (collegian) ; Miss Myra McAlmont, preceptress ;
Miss Emeline Merrill, primary.

6. William J. Bunnell, A. B.; Dr. A. L. L. Potter, A. M., M. D., (part of
time); Mrs. Bunnell, preceptress; Miss Abbey Livermore; Miss Martha Knowl-
ton; Miss Mary Wells.

7. Barrett Regime. A. Judson Barrett, A. B., 1854 to May, 1859; A. L. L.
Potter, A. M., resigned; Joseph Ensign, collegian, A. B.; Miss Camilla Leach,
preceptress; Miss Mary Spencer; Miss Minerva Waldo; Miss Louise W. Met-
calf, music teacher,

 

PROFESSOR BARRETT’S FACULTY

Principal, Stephen P. Barrett, colle-
gian, A. B.

Preceptresses, Emily J. Barrows,
two years; Miss Mary Bobards, Miss
Mary Spencer.

Louise Cassidy, one vear.

Andrew J. Russell, Professor of Chi-
rography.

 

Emily J. Barrows, until Mav, 1850.
John P. Colby, May, 1859, A. B.
Clinton Barrett, until May, 1859.
Miss Mary L. Pettit, until May, 1859.

 

 

 

PRINCIPAL A. JUDSON BARRETT

8. Last Term. Aliss Mary L. Pettit, principal; Mr. Thomas Lovell (col-
legian), afterward A. B. and LL. D., assistant.

Assistant Pupil Teachers. Mary Wheeler, drawing and English.

1855-56. Miss Marv L. Pettit, Miss Alice S. Fitch, Miss Harriet Swain. Miss
Sarah L. Stilson.

Number of scholars in 1854-55 :
Males. Females. Total.

Parse eri 24-patuaueecewiai hak 2 atgnakaroeanees 46 56 102
Intermediate: ...0. cco te abe ew Gee eee es 45 50 TOL
RMA T et eldest ai Sau eta ta dyad lets Sosy ea ew meres 23 18 41
Music special ..... sisson ar base Nola ares 33

277

Students of the Nunda Literary Institute.
Catalogue of 1843 and 1844.. The living marked *.

William W. Alward, Portage, N. Y.; Nathaniel P. Alward, Portage, N. Y.;
Yates Ashley, Daniel P. Ashley, Charles A. Atwood, Nunda; Freeman B.
Atwood, Granger; Warren Babcock, Nunda; *Munson O. Barker, Nunda; Joseph
W. Britton, *Russell Britton, Charles H. Britton, James M. Barrett, Nunda; David

324
S. Butterfield, Nunda; Miles C. Bradley, Nunda; Curtis S. E. Bowen, George
Burpee, Hugh Bradley, Nunda; *J. H. Hobart Bennett, Curtis M. Bennett, Port-
age; J. W. Brownson, Friendship; George W. Buck, Granger: George Brinker-
hoof, Mt. Morris; Randolph Burt, Mt. Morris; Simon Baldwin, Burns; James W.
Buck, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Territory; *J. Monroe Cole, Nunda; John P. Colby,
Newton C. Colby, Henry W. Colby, Nunda: Charles E. Crairy, Lawrence W. Coe,
Nunda; Charles S. Coe, Nunda; Eugene F. Coe, Nunda; N. L. Clark, Nunda;
William D. Clark, Nunda; Furman B. Clark, Nunda; Beriah Clark, Nunda; Albert
S. Carver, Nunda; George H. Carver, Nunda; Rufus Chandler, Nunda; Levi
Chase, Nunda; Samuel J. Crooks, Granger ; Salmon P. Colby, Greece; Orsemus C.
Dake, Penn Yan; Jabez P. Dake, Jr., Nunda; Alfred H. Day, Andrew J. Dake,
Portage; William G. Dake, Portage; William S. Eddy, Nunda; Willard Eddy,
Nunda; Joseph Gray, Springwater; W. B. Gardner, Charles H. Gardner, *Frank-
lin Gardner, Charles J. Gardner, Nunda; E. 5S. Green, Asalf Gould, Castile;
*George B. Herrick, Melvin W. Hall, Nunda; John Jeffries, Montezuma; Knelon
F. Jeffries, Nunda; Cornelius Kiley, Michael Kiley, John M. Lake, Sparta; Tru-
man Morse, C. D. Morse, Nunda; William Mills, Mt. Morris; Elijah F. Mason,
Harrison H. Morey, James H. Morley, John A. Morley, Nunda; Abner B. Mordoff,
John C. Mordoff, Dennis W. Mirror, Castile; *Wiliam W Osgoodby, Nunda;
“George M. Osgoodby, Nunda; Ephraim E. Page, Hermon D. Page, *Orson A.
Page, Charles Peabody, Jeremiah Richardson, Nunda; A. S. Sherwood, Dansville ;
Harrison W Smith, Mt. Morris; James Stockwell, Portage; George H. Swan,
Frank W. A. Swan, Nunda; John E. Swain, Nunda; Henry kK. Swain, Nunda;
Walter Joel Saterlee, James Smith, Daniel Seaver, Nunda; John A. Tabor,
Portage; Uriah Townsend, Nunda; Velorus Thompson, Nunda; Barak Tozer,
Nunda; R. Talcott, Nunda; Samuel BP. Towns, M. D., Castile; Charles M
Wheeler, C. G. Wheeler, Erastus Waite, Nunda; David Vandelia Waite, MM. D.,
Hiram B. Waite, Gainesville; N. Pendleton Wilcox, Smethport, Pa.; John F.
Wagor, Nunda; Charles B. Wright, David B. Whitney, William Whitney.

Female Students 1843 and 1844.

Frances C. Ashley, Nunda; Frances M. Angel, Nunda; Emma E. Atwood,
Granger; Ann E. Atwood, Sarah S. Atwater, Hannah M. Atwater, Augusta S.
Bennett, (Mrs. C. W. Herrick) ; Rachel A. Bennett, (taught 50 years) ; Elmira
Bennett, (Mrs. Orsemus Bisbee), Portage; Laura C. Barrett, (Mrs. W. A. H.
Dake), died 1905; Elizabeth T. Barrett, (Mrs. J. Blanchard) ; Martha Barrett;
Mercelia Bradley ; Maria C. Bard, (Mrs. Whipple) ; Lucy A. Britton, (Mrs. James
Camp); Agnes M. Brown, Caroline Brown, Mary Bentley, Hannah Burpee, Cath-
erine Burpee, Isabel Burpee, Nunda; Sarah C. Botsford, Cornelia Botsfort (Mrs.
Joel Bennett), Granger; Rachel M. Butterfield, Mary Burt, Mt. Morris; Louisa
C. Carpenter, Portage; Sarah A. Chandler, Nunda; Helen Conklin, Nunda; Mar-
tha J. Conklin; Seraph A. Conklin; Angelina Clough, Nunda; Clarissa Clough ;
Celoria Clark; Orithia Clark; Martha J. Carver, Nunda; Lucinda Carver, Nunda;
Sarah Carver; Nunda; Mahala Carver, Nunda; Delana C. Chase, Nunda; Mary
E. Chase; Caroline M. Chamberlain; *Mercy Jane Craig (Mrs. Bowhall) ; Ella
F. Chittenden; Flora E. Chittenden; Roselle Chittenden; Charlotte Chittenden;
Aristeen Curtis; Theresa A. Dake, Nunda; Elvira E. Dake, Nunda; Eunice M.
Dake, Mt. Morris; Cornelia C. Fuller, Granger; *Laura S. Grover, (Mrs. Car-
penter) ; Susannah Haines; Ann E. Howd; Francis C. Howd; Kesiah E. Herrick:

325
Ann E, Jervis, (colored), Mary Jervis; Bridget Jervis; Eliza D. Mason; Emily
Martin; Maria Morse; Fidelia Merrick, (Mrs. W. B. Whitcomb) ; Elvira Mer-
rick: Cordelia F. Merrick; Julia A. Morley; Mary J. Osgoodby; Clarissa Page;
Roselle E. Pillenger ; Emily M1. Robinson, (daughter of Squire Robinson, Chidsey
Farm) ; Adelia Roberts, (Mrs. L. Rockefellow) ; Amelia Rawson; Ellen E. Rus-
sell; Mary L. Ryder; Mary L. Seaver; *Lydia Starkweather, (Mrs. E. O. Dick-
enson) ; Lucy A. Swan; Polly Short, Nunda; Olivia Sweetman ; Louia Sweetman ;
Eliza Stilson, Mt. Morris; Jane A. Smith; Charlotte Smith; Elizabeth B. Shave ;
Elonora Stone; Helen E. Swart; Martha C. Talcott; Celestia Thompson; Philena
C. Warner; Louisa E. Warner; Levisa P. Warner; Abba Weed; Sarah E. Weed;
Mary Wheeler, (died 1906) ; Charlotte Wheeler; Elizabeth Wheeler; *Sarah A.
White; Elizabeth P. Wright, Mt. Morris.

Additional names in 1845.

Clarence D. Ashley, Nunda; Oliver B. Atwell; Hiram Atwell; William Bailey ;
Simon Bailey; William R. Benson; Havillah Brewer; Edgar M. Shipman, Phila-
delphia, Pa.; William Darby; William H. Guy; James E. P. Irwin; Areo Ken-
dell, Mt. Morris; James Kiley; Elijah Lovejoy; Durand Linkletter; Justus Link-
letter; Wilber F. Lawton; Richard Martin; William B. Ormsby; William W.
Paine, Burns; Arternas A. Saterlee, (son of Halsey) ; Homer Sherwood; William
K. Short; Clark H. Short; Silas Short; Charles M. Stout; *Alfred Tabor ; Rodol-
phus Talcott; Johnson A. Wagor; William B. Wagor; William G. D. Weed; B.
Rush Whitney ; Joseph R. Wilson.

Out of town students.

Isaiah B. Hamilton (died 1908), Mt. Morris; P. D. Burger, Nunda; Peter
Carter, Nunda; William McCartney (died in Nunda); Charles Norton; Hillery
Twist.

Additional lady students 1845.

Susan R. Bailey; Mary A. Bailey; *Mary N. Barron, (Hand); Angelina
Benedict; *Lavina Bowen, (Mrs. J. Barker); Clestina Butterfield; Rachel M.
Butterfield; Eliza Canfield; Sarah H. Dunn; Helen A. Guy; Melinda V. Lovejoy;
Mary E. Lovejoy; Abigail Mason; Fidelia J. Merrick, (Mrs. Dr. Whitcomb) ;
Pamelia A. Merrick; *Ann M. Mosher, (Mrs. R. Spencer); Elizabeth Ritten-
house, (Mrs. J. Creveling); C. M. Skellinger; Emily C. Sherwood; Louisa E.
Sherwood; Svlvia Skinner; Mercy S. Spicer; Olive A. Stone; Betsey C. Swain;
Agnes E. Swain; Flora E. Swain; Rosella M. Tabor; Sarah A. Upson; Orthynett
Warren; *Mary Willis; Amelia Wing; Sarah Hamilton, Mt. Morris; Julianna
Burt, Mt. Morris.

Additional names 1846.

Cornelia Angel; Phoebe Atwell; Eliza T. Barrett; Frances T. Buson; Julianna
Burt, Portage; Fausta A. Conklin; Charlotte A. Crawford, Pavilion; Mary Jane
Crawford, Pavilion; Ellen Dartt; Adelia Dake; Mary Diamond; Frances L.
Gager ; Fanny M. Hampton, Ossian; Sally A. Hampton, Ossian; Eveline Hunger-
ford; Ann E. Jack, Nunda; Janette Jack, Nunda; Matilda Jack, Nunda; Marietta
Johnson; Susanna Johnson; Sarah A. Kelsey, (daughter of Rev. A. Kelsey) ;
Ella A. Kelsey; Linda Kelsey; Emma Kelsey; Martha J. Kenney; Susan S.
Kenney; Mary Linkletter; Amelia A. Narrimore; Electa A. Narrimore; Alzina
Narrimore; Salome Narrimore; Almira J. Root; Oreana Sherwood; Almira H.
Stone; Sarah M. Stilson, Ridge; Angelina Smith, Dutch Street; Elnora Talcott ;
Hannah Van Allen; *Emma Willey; Minerva Whitney ; Vienna Whitney ; Lutesia

326
Whitney; *Jane A. Upson; *Sophia Whitcomb; Ellen Whitcomb; Louise Whit-
comb; Josephine Youells; Laura Youells.

Additional students in 1846.

Nelson Adams; Oren R. Atwell; Charles Ashley; D. C. Ashley; Dennis R.
Alward, Scipio, N. Y.; Simeon Bailey; Benjamin Bailey; Albert Bailey ; Orville
C. Babcock ; Simeon Labeock ; Charles G. Bennett; Curtiss N. Bennett ; Henry C.
Bixby; Alonzo D. Bradley ; *Hulbert E. Brown, Genesee Falls; Samuel C. Bonar,
Ossian; James H. Clark, Genesee Falls, (the celebrated vocalist and composer ) ;
A. B. Chamberlain, Sparta; ©. H. Chamberlain, Sparta; O. L. Chamberlain,
Sparta; Horace M. Dake; Daniel N. Dake; William W. Dake; Benjamin W.
Dake; *Orville A. Guy; Isaac Hampton, Ossian; Clark A. Herrick, Nunda;
David Holly, Nunda; Benjamin J. Johnson; Charles H. Johnson; Thomas Karley ;
Jerome Lake, Mt. Morris; John Lemen, Mt. Morris; S. D. Mosher, Mt. Morris;
George D: Martin, Nunda; Septim F. Miller; James H. Morely; Herman Morely;
William McArthur, Tuscarora; Samuel J. Narmore; Frederick T. Olney; Elliot
J. Page: *Daniel Post, Gainesville (Buffalo, N. Y.); A. M. Pierce (Member of
Assembly, Wyoming County, died 1908); *Theodore Peterson; Miles Peterson;
*Berkley Peterson; Hiram Seaver; Dorr Sherwood; Lewis Stout; Samuel J.
Swain; Henry K. Swain; Henry B. Thaver; Albert O. Taber, Portage; Augustus
Van Winkle; David B. Van Slyke, Portage; Edward S. Waite, Nunda; *Paul E.
Willey; Merriman Wilner; W. E. Walker, Rethany; Henry E. Youells, Nunda.

Additional 1849-1850.

*Lyman Warren.

Goram Warran, veteran Civil War; *Gideon Townsend; Peter Townsend,
died 1908; Louis Skinner ; Stephen Fuller, Jr.

*Milton and +tSeth Hills; *Henry A. Hills, captain; *Orson and }George
Page.

Hermon D. Page, supervisor; Frederick Wing; Newton and John P
Colby; Delvea Tuthill, (Colonel Skinner); Mary A. Fuller, (W. A. Walker) ;
Mary L. Bennet, (S. Hall).

*Mary N. Barron (Mrs. J. W. Hand).

Mary Chase (Colonel N. Colby): Sarah M. Peck (Mrs. S. Ellis) ; Richard
Bowen (died soon after) ; James R. Bowen.

John D. Grimes; *Milton Pettit, Mordecai Pettit, (died 1907); Albert C.
Carver; Henry P. Carver, Areo Kendall; Abram Kendall; Daniel Bacon, Elisha
Bacon; A. T. Van Winkle; A. A. Satterlee; S. M. Smith; C. C. Coe; L. W. Coe:
Nathan Pendleton Wilcox (died 1905); A. P. Slocum; George T. Townsend; H.
E. Crary; A. T. Colby; *Miss Lavina Bowen; Sarah E. Chase (pupil teachers) ;
*Mary Jane Carver; Martha Lawrence; Louisa Bacon; E. Chapman; M. H. Hud-
nut; Maria C. Bard; T. Cole; Mary Seaver; M. A. Abell; Helen E. Swain.

Scholars of the Institute during the Barrett regime.

Members of Delphic Society.

Charles Ashley, (son of Carlos C.) : James R. Bowen, (veteran, Rev., author,
died 1906) ; *Arthur Barnes, (short hand institute) ; Edward C. Blackford; *Clif-
ford Bagley ; *Eugene F. Baldwin, (veteran, publisher) ; *I‘rank Baldwin; Win-
slow Buck; Lewis Barnes, (son J. K. B.); Daniel Bavlor; {Charles Chittenden,
(D. D. S., at head of his profession in Wisconsin, died 1900) ; *George Chandler,
(graduate of college, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) ; John P. Colby, (graduate of col-

lege and LL. D.) ; Charles Clough; Lewis Dinger ; *Edwin Ensworth, Dalton, N.
327
Y.; fAlbert S. Houghton; David S. Hatch; *Thomas Lovell, (college, LL. D,
Niagara Falls) ; “Joseph Lovell, (merchant and musician, Nunda) ; Albert Sim
Logan, (Indian chief, musician, orator, died 1904); Durand Linkletter; Justus
Linkletter; George D. Martin (veteran); James M. McNair (captain, college,
supervisor); *Peter Miller, Mt Morris; Barclay Miller, Mt. Morris (died
1907); James Maynard; Luther M. Peck (son of Jonas); *Fletcher C. Peck.
(college, lawyer, U. S. Marshal, president of College Club of Nunda); Har-
rison Peck (postmaster, president of village); Alton Peck: *Charles F. Peck,
(editor, Commissioner of Labor, European tourist) ; *Asa E. Page, (commission-
er to Chicago Exposition) ; Miles Peterson; Urial Peterson; Mordecai Roberts ;
Leonard H. Seaver, (died 1907); Nelson S. Skinner (veteran); Sheldon Stur-
geon, (West Point colonel) ; [Edwin Tuthill, (captain, died 1867) ; George War-
ner, (brother to Mrs. O. Page).

Hermogenian Society.

Frank Adams, (lieutenant, NX. Y. Dragoons); Albert Barnes, (printer, per-
ished in the Astabula calamity) ; Chester B. Bowen, (veteran, Texas Rancher,
died 1905) ; Fred Britton ; *William M. Benson, (A. M. and Ph. D., Rochester, N.
Y.); Charles Britton; “George D. Chidsey; (farmer, Nunda); Francis Chase;
Charles Chase ; Charles P. Davidson; William Fowler; Jay Gallentine, (veteran) ;
George H. Gibbs; Henry A. Hills (veteran, lieutenant, Hiland, Kansas); John
F. King, (father of Mrs. C. E. Pratt) ; —-—— Lattimer; Thomas Lockwood;
Theodore McNair; Darwin Maltby; James Miner; Alpheus Manard; *George M.
Osgoodby, (lawyer); Edward Page; Frank M. Peck; Samuel Swain; James A.
Swain; Henry Skinner; Oliver Spoor: Arthur Spoor; James Spoor; Joseph
Spoor; Julian Skinner; Eugene Skinner; Sylvester Saterlee; Minor T. Stilson;
Hosea Shaw (veteran, lieutenant); Byron Seelye; Jacob Scott; John Scott;
Myron Tuthill (commercial traveler, took an ice water bath in Chicago and died
as the result) ; Henry Waldo; George Waido; Heber Waldo; *William C. War-
ner, (college).

Additional 1855 and 1856, not attending in 1854 and 1855.

Maynard Barker; Walter W. Burton; E. V Bellamy, Hunts Hollow; James
Brown; F. Orson Burr; Daniel Bacon, Nunda; Albert Cleveland (theologue) ;
William J. Cosnett (died in the service) ; John Canfield, Dansville; *John Carter,
(veteran, see sketch); John Donaldson; William Towler, Fowlerville; Merritt
Galley, (college, inventor), Brooklyn; Sam Geer, New York City; L. D. Guet-
son; *Husted Green, Nunda; *Orville Guy; Clark M. Herrick; Edward Jones;
*Jackson A. Knight (colege, district attorney), Arcade, N. Y.; James A. Miner,
Allen; Arza Maynard, Rockford, Ill.; Frances B. Myers, Nunda; Caleb
Nye, Penfield; H. P. Pierce; A. Parshal; S. P. Perry; Lewis Shepard, (veteran,
died in the service) ; Harvey C. Shepard, (editor) ; *Henry Wells Spear, (Swain’s
Mill); Nunda; William Camas, (veteran); A. H. Silsby; Benjamin Sedam;
Charles Thomas; Beebe Turrill; Hall Turrill; John Welch; James Work
(college, Rev.), Orkney Islands, Buffalo, N. Y.; Lysander L. Wellman, (college
and Rev.).

Primary Department 1855.

So many of the remaider are living we omit marking their names.

Messenger Ashley; Jackson Alward, New York City; Allen Adams, Ceres,
Pa.; Myron Baker; *Francis .\. Davidson (merchant), Nunda; *Isaac Justin

328
Depuy, (banker), Nunda; George B. Fitch, Oakland, California; George King,
Francis S. King (sons of B. F.) ; Clement McNair; *Abe Openheimer (clothing
store) ; William Ricketts; Russell Frederick, (son of William G.) ; *Samuel Stur-
geon, (veteran), Nunda, N. Y.; Adelbert Skinner; Eugene Skinner; Irank R.
Swain; William Jeffries; Franklin Jeffries; Charles G. Warner; *Franklin White-
head.

Ladies in 1854 and 1855.

Olivia Lovina Bowen (Mrs. Justus Barker) ; Viola Brown; Mary :\. Buck;
Juliette Baldwin; Julia Barker; Catharine Brown; Charlotte Chittenden; Delia
Chase; Isora Dartt; M. Kizzie Dunn; Clarissa Dunning, (married Cornelius
Gibbs), Ridge, N. Y.; Philena Ecker; Sarah Field; Augusta Fuller, Castile; Ellen
Griffith, Pike; Lucena Greenleaf; Mary Houghton; Ada Hammond, (Mrs. Prof.
Lowell), Niagara Falls; Maria Howell, Brooksgrove; Alethe Kendall, (Mrs. J.
B. Willett, graduated Nunda Literary Institute), Corry, Pa.; Sophia Lattimer ;
Laura M. Lattimer; Adelia C. Lamb; Kate Marble, New Berlin; Cornelia Mack,
Nunda; Sarah Miller, (Mrs. Van Etten), Mt. Morris; Harriet Newton; Mary J.
Paine; Martha J. Patterson; Minette S. Peck (Mrs. Sylvanus Ellis) ; Marv
Rider; Arabella Rose, (Mrs. Jacozs); Annie E. Richmond, (Alrs. William P.
Warner); Georgiana W. Richmond, (Mrs. Rathbone); Sarah Rogers; Marvy
Roberts; Virginia A. Ripley, Tuscarora; Gertrude Ripley, Tuscarora; fNancy J.
Rude; Laura A. Swain, Nunda; Maggie Sturgeon, Nunda: Libbey Sturgeon,
Nunda; Ophelia Skinner, Nunda; Mary J. Sodderland, Grove; Julia F. Tuthill;
Nellie Whitcomb; Louise Whitcomb; Delira P. Wilcox; Ellen White; Minerva S.
Waldo.

Some of the Institute scholars in 1857-1858.

William M. Benson; Alvin Waters Tousey ; Albert Haver; Merritt Galley; A.
Sim Logan (Indian), Portage: Judson Van Slyke, Portage ; George M1. Lockwood,
Portage; George H. Graham, Portage; James Haver, Portage; Wilbur Haver,
Portage; Hosea Shaw; John Donaldson; Washington Moses; Alphonzo Aldrich;
Edwin Bennett; George Bennett; Frank Wright, (son of D. Ebenezer) ; *Charles
Davidson; *Joseph Mosher; I. J. McDuffee; Cyrus Burnap; William C. Hall;
Samuel Hall; Robert Hall; Harrison Peck; Cornelius Kiley; George Waldo; De-
lancey Smith; Vitellus Smith; Jefferson Parker; Arthur J. Barnes; Bernard
Wagor; Charles Maker; Carlos G. Lowell; Daniel D. Lowell; Alvin Peck (died) ;
Beebe Turrill; Hall Turrill; James H. Bump; William G. Cosnett; Philo Mosier ;
Charles Lowe; Michael Kelley; Irving Aspinwall; William L. Warner; Franklin
Davidson; George Briggs; George Martin; Simeon Logan; L. L. Wellman; Nat-
han Stilson; Varins Smith; H. \W. Hand.

Female students.

Sarah Stilson: Susie Barrett; Fannie Maine; Victoria McNair; Sarah Cos-
nett; Maggie Lemon; *Emily Gilmore; Delia Wilcox; Mary Paine; Mary Ben-
nett; Ann Bennett; *Elmira Smith; Annie Smith; Libbie Arnold; [’anny Andrus;
Martha Howell; Celia Pixley; —-—— Carrick; — Carrick; Mary Witlhs;
Martha Huggins; Augusta Ricker; Sabra J. Ricker; Libbie Ryder; Mary Met-
calf; Lucia White; Susan Swain, Cornelia Swain, (daughters of Alfred) ; Mary
Carver; Jennie Harrington; Dell Delano; Ada Hammond; Adelia Kendall; Fran-
cis Kendall; Maggie Sturgeon; Julia Barker; Sarah Lockwood; Mary Barnes;
Ella Parker, Reynolds, Granger; Fanny Paine; Lowell; Helen

 

 

 

329
  
 

EmiLty GILMORE Mary WILLIs

 

A LETTER FoR SOMEBODY-—GUESS

Phoebe Haines with letter, Sarah L. Stilson, Mary Paine,
Delyra Tuthill.

 

A. Jackson KNIGHT
Whitcomb; Helen Warner; Sarah Waldo; Amanda Batterson; Caroline Cain;
Kate Weston; Malinda Reed; Emma Gibbs; Jennie Grover; Harriet Lowell;
Melissa Lowell; Mary Stilson; Irene Weaver; Mary Olney; Martha Chidsey;
Lucie Chidsey.

The Wisner, Page and State Road School houses, were in exceedingly active
operation from 1825 te 1835, all built of logs, and located at four corners. Teach-
ers from Portage, Nunda, and Mt. Morris, rule in these, not with rods of iron, but
with well seasoned birch rods, leather straps, and wocden rulers, whose primary
use was something like that of a King’s scepter to enforce respect, and willing (7:
obedience, and secondarily to aid in making straight lines on unlined writing
paper. Sometimes the big boys came at night and put boards on top of the chim-
ney, to make it unpleasant for the teacher, when he started his fire in the morn-
ing. On one occasion, as reported by Peter Townsend, who was at the time a
small boy, Mr. Neweli Boughton, the teacher, concluded to teach on New Year's
Day, to make up for a lost day. The big boys conferred together after school,
and concluded that the skating was too good on the new Gilbert mill pond, at
Cooperville, (the largest pond of water many of them had ever seen) to be given
up, for the paltry pleasures derived from annoying the teacher, a matter of daily
occurence, and not to be compared with a first skate, on the new artificial lake (7)

At night they assembled, climbed through a window, and with a heavy timber
braced against the door, reaching to the platform from the new cast iron stove,
all the windows but one were fastened down, and that George Townsend and
Clark Brewer, (brother to Nelson), and some others said they could take care of.
The son of the trustee, Mr. Bradley, who built the fires was in the secret, and he
was told to build the fires as usual, and let the little children in when they came
through the unbarred window, and they would be on hand when the schoolmaster
came to take good care of him. At a quarter to nine, the teacher and big boys
arrived, the teacher was tugging at the door, and calling lustily to young Bradley
to open the door, a sentry was posted in front of the window. The boys informed
the teacher that school had been postponed until after ‘New Year's,” he sent one
of the smaller boys for the trustee, who quickly arrived. Mr. Hugh Bradley came
and ordered his boy to remove the timber, he said he could not, it was too heavy,
“get the big girls to help you.” “The big boys have told them no to,"—"I'll whip
every girl and boy of mine, if they don't help.” ‘The big boys said, there would
be trouble if he tried it.” The trustee, now thoroughly enraged attempted to get
into the window, and when midway was seized by big George Townsend and
laid on his back and held there. The teacher was advised to remain “neutral” he
wisely acquiesced—-he did not like to forfeit the good will of George and Uriah
Townsend, without whose co-operation, he could not easily govern the school. At
length the trustee agreed not to punish his son, and to go home and let the “powers
that be,” govern without an arbitrator. Mr. Bradley grumbling, a feeble pro-
test left the field, in full possession of the rebels. Then George, the spokesman,
said to the teacher, “Mr. Boughton, we all like vou, and we don’t want to do any-
thing to break up a good school; but this is a holiday, and we wanted some fun
of some kind,—have you any proposition to make :" “Why boys,” said the teacher,
“if I had known you did not want school to-day—you need not have taken such
measures to secure your holiday. I will leave it to a vote of the boys, whether
you have school to-day or not. Are you ready for the question?”

331
“T think boys,” said George, “that we've had fun enough for one day, and the
girls would rather stay, now they are here, than go home. I move we have school
to-day, and skate Saturday. Those in favor say ‘I,’ and all said ‘I.’"" Peace and
harmony prevailed the rest of the term, and a rousing party was given at the end
of the term at Captain Townsend's “Wayside Inn,” in honor of Mr. Newell
Boughton, who knew when to be “neutral.” The old log school house was used
for many years as a dwelling house, and several of our present citizens were born,
or have lived there. When years afterward the Cooperville school house was buili
in 1838, and the Carver school house about the same time, the State road schoo!
and Wisner and Barron school districts lost about one-third of their scholars,
and Cooperville district became a large school. The schools in the eastern part
of the town were organized during the twenties, excepting the Schautauqua Hol-
low school, which did not exist until about 1830.

The schools in the village, when the village was incorpated in 1839, were
on Mill Street, which was superseded by the Union school of 1845, on East Street.
The Satterlee school which dates back to 1827 or 1828, and the Gibbs Street school
of a later date, were tiourishing until their consolidation in a Union school, which
also included the Page and Townsend districts. Of this we will speak in connec-
tion with our second Union school, with academic deepartment.

SOME WARMED-OVER CHURCH AND SCHOOL HISTORY

“After the Nunda Academy had been in existence about five years, and the
Nunda Literary Institute about two, it became evident that two academies in
Nunda Village could not be sustained. The largest must ultimately prevail.

The Presbyterian schooi did not feel kindly towards the Baptist Institution
that had crowded it to the wall, and the Baptist did not develop any signs of re-
pentance for their lack of courtesy.

Nunda with its many superiorities over other villages, has always had a
reputation for scrapping not like pugilists,—but like bigots,—who know they are
in the right. Now the religious or rather the Sectarian scrapper is the worst kind
of a wrangler for he justifies all his acts by the views he holds to be scriptural and
true.

And these two giant churches, clenched and struggled, until facetious out-
siders smiled and said, see how these Christians “hate.” On one occasion a two
or three days’ discussion was held over the method of baptism. I remember my
Methodist parents attended both every night and came away with their pre-
vious opinions, unruffled and unchanged, and the rest of the vast audience was
probably in the same condition, every Baptist remained a Baptist, and every Pres-
byterian was satished that their minister's talk, [ mean arguments, suited them.
Both speakers forgot to speak of the spirit of the act, but of its historic mode of
administration.

But in school matters something practical must be done, not to advance edu-
cation, but to sustain the newer institution of the part of the Baptists, and to
cripple their enterprise by establishing a school so good that it would be unneces-
sary to patronize the rival school. And so Union was effected with the District
school, the cabinet generously turned over to the school and the classics and
every other branch cf study taught, at a District school, that academies teach.

This diplomatic manner of changing an Academy to a Union school, would

332
have wrought havoc had the free school system then been operative, but when
all must pay for the education they were to obtain they naturally would go where
the advantages were greatest. So the Institute proved to be the survival of the
fittest, and the Union school soon taught onty the English branches.

It is gratifying to record, that under the administration of the Institute by
H. G. Winslow more toleration prevailed and trustees were chosen from several of
the other churches. There was still a little under tone of disquietude even in the
later fifties, but ail the harsher discords were lost in the general harmony that pre-
vailed.

Progress in toleration, is the historic inference to be drawn from this reminis-
cence of cloudy days, now resplendent with the sunshine of mutual good will.

A REVIEW OF THE INSTITUTE

The sons of the Pioneers most of them pioneers, furnished the students for
this institution. Young men from 18 to 25 saw an opportunity, in the opening
of this institution, to do something more congenial to their tastes, than lumbering
in winter and tilling stumpy land in summer. The very comforts of better dwell-
ings with stoves, instead of fire places, better furniture than slab benches; even
improved farm implements, did not reconcile them to the thought of spending
their entire lives on the farm. Nearly every other avocation demanded a better
education than they possessed. The well equipped district school teacher, and
even the sedate but cultured preacher, revealed their deficiencies and inspired
ambition. The family physician fresh from the Medical College, with his phy-
siological terms, made them feel as if they needed an introduction to themselves
and their own anatomy. The “‘Institute’’ came to their very doors, and offered
them refinement, knowledge, culture, the opportunity of being themselves teachers,
lawyers, physicians, clergvmen, if they were so inclined. The few vears the
Nunda Academy had been in.existence had given them an intuition of what a
few terms of schooling will do where only the advanced scholars are receiving
the instruction of the college bred principal. Ambitious parents fostered the
aspirations of their ambitious children, and when the Baptist clergyman came
round to urge the attendance and patronage of ‘our’ institution, that is going
to add a hundred to the congregation what deacon or “pillar” of the church, that
did not lean towards this zealous presentment of the subject. Even the verdant
hills of Allen, Grove, Granger and Ossian, furnished scholars as well as
Portage, Mt. Morris, Castile and Sparta; and if some were more rustic and
verdant, than bovs from the villages, these verdant youths knew why they were
there, and generally led their classes before they left. to become the future super-
visors of their towns, or possibly like “Teller” to find a place in the United States
Senate and the Cabinet. Pity that some of the supposed possessors of leek hooks,
could not have loaned them to some cf the village swells of that day—Saiu
Crooks, of Grove, left his leek hooks when he entered the law office as a student,
or did he exchange them for a sword when he became Colonel of the 8th, and
also the 22nd Cavalry? “The King of Ossian”--Isaac Hampton, supervisor, (was
it for eleven years), knew well the flavor of wild onions, even in the first academy
days. Joseph Weller and his sister were in the early academy lists, as well as at
the Albany Normal, in 1846, taught district school a few years and then people
wrote “Honorable” and “Governor” before his name,—but then this young man

333
took Horace Greeley’s advice and “went West.” It takes the West to “size up”
Nunda men—that were only marked “average” and “ordinary” in this our ‘‘colder”
latitude, or are we less appreciative where the average is greater?

Even some of our best teachers, those that the majority have always spoken
of with approval and commendation, have been ranked still higher—in other
localities.

Prof. Buck left us a broken-hearted man after the tragic death of his talented
daughter, Mary. ‘Two colleges divide honors and share degrees on his associate
and successor. Rev. Nehemiah Wisner Benedict, A. B., A. M., D. D.. Madison.
now Colgate, and Rochester University, both alike bestowing honorary degrees.

Leroy Satterlee, a pioneer of Nunda, assisted by a Mr. Clark was the next
principal.

The days of Principal Winslow, are about as well known and appreciated as
those of Buck and Benedict. Rival select schools sprang up to minimize the in-
Huence of the Institute, and he is said, to have said some very harsh words con-
cerning the hostile feeling too prevalent during his administration of the Insti-
tute though he did much to lessen it.

Prof. William B. Bunnell, though not a favorite with most of his scholars,
was a master in mathematics and the classics, as well as in ‘“Sarcasm” for he it
was who “Revised Adams -Arithmetic.”” That was a favorite text book in the
“fifties.” He tried agriculture in the West, and falling from a load of hay re-
ceived fatal injuries. Assistant Principal Clark was author of text books on
Grammar, Arithmetic and Algebra.

Solon Otis Thacher, ‘may his tribe increase” who succeeded Bunnell as Prin-
cipal, earned the money in Nunda to complete his College course, and seldom
was money better expended. To say this teacher was popular with old and young,
patrons and student, is about the general estimate of him here. Had a prophet
arisen and told Nundaians that that ex-Alleganian (Almond), he came from
Almond, would become in 1855 an A. B., of Union, this they would not have
doubted; but that he should become a member of the New York Assembly, a
member of the Kansas Constitutional convention, District Judge, and State Sena-
tor of Kansas, this would have been incredible. His going from Nunda, to com-
plete his studies, gave us a vacancy, which was filled to an overflow, by the com-
ing in 1854 of A. Judson Barrett. The majority of the now elderly permanent
citizens of Nunda attended the “Old Institute” as it began to be called under the
Barrett regime.

He came here fresh from college, Rochester University, and inaugurated
classes for graduation. Why there had never been any record before is in-
comprehensible—I do not know of one in the whole decade preceding his coming.
yet there were those who went from the school to college, in that time—as Syi-
vanus Ellis, A. B., Rochester University, and others whose names are on our list
of Nunda collegians. Principal Barrett came to stay, and he stayed long enough
to do something definite. Al!, previous to his coming, is to all but a few, hearsay,
but from 1854 to 1859 all the young people in the town and vicinity attended this
school. Good teachers were employed at the Union school to keep as many as
possible there, of the intermediate grade. In age and appearance the scholars of
this school appeared more like college men than academy youths.

Future DD.'s, and LL. D.’s, and Ph. D’s, were among the instructors and
scholars. It was like an embryo college, instead of what it was for the first time,

334
a college preparatory school. The impulse “on to Richmond” was not stronger
in the early days of the Civil War, than the “on to college,” was during these
eventful years. Some men 25 years of age commenced studying Latin, and every
year a fine class of graduates found their way, direct from the Institute to some
university. Many, like the writer, who had tarried in the district school several
years too long, found their mistake, and rushed into the contests trying to atone
for this mistake, by doing double the amount of work. It is needless to say this en
thusiasm was with those whose opportunities had been most limited. He who had
had all the advantages he cared for did not precipitate brain fever by undue haste,
the brilliant ones did not have to, and the others did not care to. Want of funds
drove about 50 of the young men each winter into teaching school, and each sum-
mer a still larger number of the young ladies sought this employment. Some un-
dermined their health by too hard study, and one went through school and college
on a diet of crackers, but died a few years afterward; while another died at his
boarding house from too close application to study.

A few years after, the majority of the young men went into the army and
many rose to positions of honor won by valor, or perished, a sacrifice to their sense
of duty and patriotism.

PRINCIPAL BARRETT AT NUNDA

The five years and more that A. Judson Barrett passed in Nunda, marked an
eventful era in the lives of at least five hundred men and women, who were taught
by him out of the abundance of a well fitted mind and heart, as well as a time
of unusual school progress. Reared in a log cabin in Ohio, where pioneer condi-
tions prevailed till a later day than in Western New York, inspired by a college
bred teacher to be himself a collegian and inspire others, and so became a potent
factor of helpfulness to those younger than himself, he was thus fitted by nature,
by inclination, by education, to inspire and enthuse those with whom he came in
contact. Especially was his early life and surroundings particularly adjusted to
ministrations of kindliness towards those from country homes, with rusticity
prominent, pronounced and dominant. While the village youth with better oppor-
tunities and bred by more refined tastes, but destitute of the essence of genuine
refinement, estimated the rustic youth from the hills and the more distant wood-
land towns, as inferior to themselves, the teacher, however, judged them by their
ability to learn, and their aspirations for mental achievements. He saw no occa-
sion to sneer, he saw in them the genuine manhood and womanhood that needed
but contact with right conditions to make them as refined in manners as they were
vigorous in mind and body.

How East Hill, and Ossian, and Sparta, and Portage, and Grove, Allen and
Granger, towns and localities with no large villages and no “High Schools”
poured forth their household hopes and treasures—in young men and young
women—the best product of their farms, to sit at the feet of this strong young
man, and learn of him, what we are in this world-school-house for. Nearly every
house sent one or more, to return, more conscious, not of their rusticity, but of
their ignorance, and the vast amount of attainable knowledge they could and
should possess. Whatever of friction existed between the villagers and the coun-
try-bred, became less and less evident, for the teacher’s ideals soon became those
of the scholars and were not along the line of the external. Though many a
kindly suggestion, opportunely given, and many a kindly reproof to the sneering

335
critic of externals, reduced to a minimum all existing friction. The yvoung man
who could excel in debate, in declaration, in class recitation, soon found his popu-
iarity equal to his ability. The writer recalls a large class of students quite ma-
ture in age, who had come to school for a term or two, who were induced to take
a more thorough course of study. He also recalls the despair that was in the
hearts of these, when the “Old Institute building’ was burned, and the teachers
upon whom they depended to crowd them along their belated pathway, went away,
their short lived dream of being scholarly scholars, in the true sense of that word
so heavily freighted with significance, was over, forever over. Too poor to go
elsewhere, to old to first earn the means—what hopes had perished with a demons
deed.

The unsolved mystery of that day is still unsolved, not once but persistently,
the brainless, heartless incendiary, with only one characteristic in his nature that
suggests mentality, persistence, carried out his purpose to destroy what he alone
failed to appreciate, the great work, and increasingly greater work this institu-
tion and its educators were doing for the aspiring youth of that dav.

With that act Nunda was forced back towards a degraded past and all alike
believed—except one—the demon who did the act, in demonology. With one
accord in the community, it was not deemed prudent to rebuild, conditions must
change, and eight years were given to that purpose, before Nunda had its third

academy.
NOTE. BY EDITOR

The mystery of who set fire to this building at the time of the greatest pros-
perity of the institution is after half a century still unsolved. It had served a
purpose, in aiding in the acquirement of knowledge of at least 1,000 students, and
had sent out hundreds of fairly well equipped teachers to stir up to activity and
commendable ambition, for useful lives, other thousands. For fifteen vears it had
been a leader of the schools of its class and no mean college feeder to neigh-
boring colleges throughout the state and nation. This, too, in a day when onlv
the sons of the wealthy usually found their wav beyond the village academy.
Who can estimate the good this institution, that passed away nearly half a cen-
turv ago, has done.

The writer was only one of a thousand who was fitted for work along edu-
cational lines, one of 200, perhaps of 500, that became teachers, one of many who
loved his vocation and caused others to hunger for knowledge, one of those who
cannot begin to express his obligations of benefits conferred, and who sat as Paul
did at the feet of Gamalial. and fed on a daily diet of knowledge. Of the teachers
mentioned A. J. barrett, Emily J. Barrows, John P. Colby, Clinton Garrett, Mary
L. Pettit, Thomas Lovell, Asher L. Evans and Alice Wemott, fitted me for teach-
ing, for thinking, for writing, for citizenship. On the dead I bestow my com-
mendations, on the living I bestow mv gratitude.

THE LAST TERM OF THE NUNDA LITERARY INSTITUTE

After the burning of the Institute building, the balance of the term was com-
pleted under the management of two of the former students, Miss Mary L. Pettit
and Thomas B. Lovell, both have since that dav become famous as teachers. If
the school lost a large number of its scholars, it had all the hastily filled up school
room would hold, and those who hoped to go on with their studies remained and

336
made desirable progress. Others, especially the young men from the farms, gave
up school altogether and simply taught school the next winter. Miss Pettit proved
her ability to teach and fifty years of almost successive labor has made her one of
the most efficient and successful teachers the town has ever produced.

Who would have guessed even that those two teachers selected for this emer-
gency would prove the very ones that would make teaching a life long profession.
Yet it has proved so. Again and again since that time Miss Pettit has been called
into service in the schools of Nunda, in case of an emergency, and wrought suc-
cess where ruin seemed imminent. To-day Prof. Thomas B. Lovell, still in the
field, has the right to write, LL. D., after his name. And so the Nunda Literary
Institute, though it ceased as an institution of learning at the close of that sum-
mer term in 1850, did not cease as an educator, for these and others who went
from her doors have been educators for nearly half a century, and so this form
of Phoenix” life has risen from the ashes that buried the hopes and aspirations
of many on that saddest of all their school days, in May, 1859.

CHAPTER I.
BIOGRAPHICAL—SOME GREAT TEACHERS.

EV AMASA BUCK, A. M., came to Nunda from Middleburg Academy,
Wyoming, and assumed the duties of conducting the New Nunda Lit-
erary Institute. The choice was a good one. He was educated at Berk-

shire College, Massachusetts, and his scholarship was beyond question. He asso-
ciated with him Rev. Nehemiah W. Benedict, a ripe scholar who had charge of
the classical department of the school. He was in Nunda nearly eight years.
His natural science collection was large and was arranged on shelves on three
sides of the building. The sciences were his specialty. The Buck and Bene-
dict school, as it was often spoken of in later days, was so far superior to any
school the youth of that day had attended, especially those who had only been
taught in district school, that its fame was everywhere spoken of. The first prin-
cipal was one long to be remembered, his government was perfect, and those who
taught with him had, because of this, a comparatively easy time.

Principal Buck would have remained many years, but for an unforeseen event
that nearly crushed his spirit and made life in this vicinity a constant reminder of
his irretrievable loss.

THE BARRETT REGIME

A. Judson Barrett, A. B.; Rev. A. L. L. Potter, A. M., resigned November 20,
1854; Miss Camellia Leech; A. B. Ensign (half year); Miss Minerva Waldo
(half year), 1855; Miss Emily J. Barrows, preceptress; Stephen Barrett; Miss
Louise Cassady, preceptress, one year.

Last Year. Principal, A. J. Barrett, A. M.; Preceptress, Emily J. Barrows;
John P. Colby, A. B., Clinton Barrett.

Last term after the burning of the building. Miss Mary Pettit, Thomas E.
Lovell.

MISS MARY BUCK, PRECEPTRESS

Miss Mary S. Buck, only daughter of Prof. Buck, who served as the first pre-
ceptress of this academy, was a rare scholar and a person of unusual dignity and

337
serenity. Her mind was stored with information on all subjects needing educa-
tion and her interest in those in her classes made her an ideal teacher and friend.

A small and select party planned a visit to the Lower Falls on this side of
the river in the park, the special place of attraction being around Hornby Lodge
in those early days. The company included Principal Cockran and his sister, of the
other academy, and the pleasure and knowledge gained by having this interesting
young lady along, especially as the geological attractions at the Lower Falls were
sure to call out these teachers, and enhance the interest of the day at this wonder
spot of Nature. The Professor, it is said, did not like to have her go, but yielded
to the entreaties of the rest of the party. In those days the hills were steeper
than at present, there were no brakes on carriages, and four horse rigs were more
common than they are to-day for all excursions. A heavy rain had made the
roads more dangerous than they ordinarily were. It is said the expert driver,
William G. Russell, told them there was danger and even suggested that the gen-
tlemen should walk down the hill, but with four horses, though only two of them
could hold back the heavy load, the danger was not as apparent to them as to the
driver. However it was, whether the leading team became unmanageable, as
some assert, the carriage was overturned, and a broken iron pierced the side of
Miss Buck, and she lived but a few hours. This great calamity nearly broke the
hearts of the devoted parents, for this daughter was their all, and the sympathy
that was heartfelt and so general, could not drive out of their minds this excursion
and Portage, and the parents at length fled from it after trying for years to grow
reconciled to this heart crushing calamity.

THE BENEDICTS

Nebemiah Wisner Benedict, A. M., Madison University, 1848, was made
D. D. by Rochester University, 1870.

He came to Nunda first as a teacher of the classics in 1843. He probably
remained until 1847. He was called back to Nunda to complete the school year
ef his associate, Prof. Buck, when he resigned in March, 1848. He came, but it
was his specialty to impart knowledge, rather than to govern incorrigible youth.
His assistant, called principal of the Female Department, did not assit him very
much in keeping the deportment of the school at the high standard that it had
maintained formerly.

It is said there was a petition in circulation among certain young ladies, ad-
dressed to the trustees, asking that the lady teacher should be instructed to use a
greater degree of courtesy toward them.

This very unpleasant circumstance, for which the Principal was in no way
responsible, as the young lady claimed full jurisdiction over the lady students, led
to the resignation of one of the finest instructors the Institute ever had. He went
to Rochester and conducted, or assisted in making the Rochester Collegiate In-
stitute one of the best of fitting schools, 1850 to 1853. Principal of Rochester
Free Academy, 1865 to 1883. Principal Private School, 1883 to 1887. He died
at Fredonia, N. Y., August 19, 1895.

His son, Wayland Benedict, lived in Nunda during his boyhood. See college
lists of Nunda and college club also Cincinnati University. He has recently been
retired with a Carnegie pension—the first person that ever lived in Nunda to be so
honored.

338
Excellent material for “Biological sketches” could be found for Professors
Benedict, Satterlee and Thacher, who after leaving Nunda met with unbounded
success in their work. But the sons of these men, Benedict and Satterlee, who
have achieved great successes along the paths of life they chose, have failed to
tell the tale, as it might have been told. And so we have but the records of the
Rochester University and some echoes of commendation from the Satterlee Col-
legiate Institute, where both these men wrought wondrous well.

As for Otis Solon Thacher, his fame commenced in the New York Assembly
and ended as State Senator in Kansas.

IN MEMORIAM
Horatio Gates Winslow. Born April 3, 1820. Died, September 18, 1893.

“What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and
to walk humbly with thy God?”

Horatio Gates Winslow died at Racine, Wisconsin, his home for nearly forty
years, on the 18th of September, 1893. He was in his seventy-fourth year, but,
though the frosts of age had descended heavily upon him, he retained to the last
all the characteristics which attended him through his long and useful life and
which endeared him to multitudes of men, women and children who came to know
him as a teacher and a friend. While his energies were by no means confined to
the cause of education, Mr. Winslow was essentially a schoolmaster, and, what-
ever his immediate occupation may have been, he stood in that relation to numer-
ous people most of the time for nearly sixty years. It is as a school master and
an instructor that he will be remembered, for as such it was his privilege to im-
press himself upon a great host now actively concerned in the affairs of life.

Of the career of such a man it is fitting that something should be said in
soberness and in truth, both as a consolation to those who mourn and as an incen-
tive to those who may come after him. In him were blended many of the quali-
ties which, in spite of the intense materialism cf this day, are everywhere counted
as noblest and best. He was the servant of Duty, and not of Duty alone. He
had a conscience and a heart and a desire to do right for right’s sake which no
consideration of personal gain ever eclipsed. His ideals were lofty, his aims
noble, and, as was fitting in a born teacher, he had a wonderful ability to awaken
in the minds of the young the same aspirations. He was appreciative, he was
resolute, he was patient, he was charitable, he was just. Early in life he seemed
to have adopted rules of thought, of study, of work, of conduct and of ambition
which, however severe they may have been at the beginning, came at the last to be
his solace and his recreation. If they did not comprehend the true philosophy
of life, it will be admitted by all who knew him that in his case, at least, they
served to round out and complete a character in all respects admirable. It was
so ordered that he was able to come into port grandly, but, if another fate had
been vouchsafed to him, he had the steadfast faith and the indomitable courage
to have sailed with God the seas.

Mr. Winslow’s active connection with educational matters terminated in the
summer of 1892, when owing to advancing years, he relinquished the office of su-
perintendent of the schools of Racine. For one brief year he was permitted to en-
joy the well earned fruits of his life of toil. No longer in public station, he never

339
 

 

 

 

 

 

Horatio GaTes WINSLOW

Fourth Principal of Nunda Literary Institute; A. B., Union College; School Commissioner ;
Superintendent of Schools; Member of Board of Regents of Wisconsin
lost interest in the schools nor in the young. An aged man in years, and experi-
encing the infirnities inseparable from those who have passed the psalmist’s span
of life, he did not grow old in mind or in spirit. He understood and loved youth,
and youth understood and loved him. ‘he world was as beautiful to him and as
full of opportunity in his last hours as it was in those far away days when the
world was all before him and hope and duty beckoned him on. No created thing
was too small to attract his notice and invite his study. No effort necessary to
inform and expand a youthful intelligence was too laborious to enlist his atten-
tion. To struggling boys and young men he was particularly helpful. If the
memory of his own laborious pursuit of knowledge remained with him, it warmed
rather than chilled his manner towards youths who, perhaps with better opportuni-
ties than he had enjoyed, failed to prize as he did the advantages of education.
Until his eves closed for the last time upon the scenes of this world, and until his
kindly voice was forever hushed, he lost no proper opportunity to point out the
value and the dignity of knowledge. Proceeding thus peacefully to the end of
his days, he experienced in the attitude of countless acquaintances and of manv
whose names were to him unknown, all the consideration which age in its best
estate has been held to deserve. Honor, love, obedience and troops of friends
were his to the last.

Mr. Winslow always was a schoolmaster. He was as truly a schoolmaster
when, as a civil engineer, he led in railroad construction, or as a book merchant he
apparently was absorbed in commercial pursuits, as he was when he presided over
an academy or superintended the educational work of an important city. Not
offensively, for no man was freer from pedantry, but naturally and with charm-
ing facility, he imparted knowledge to others and stimulated interest in serious
affairs which broadened and ennobled many minds. The struggles of men for
wealth interested but did not distract him. Never belittling the power for good
which great worldly possessions conferred upon their owners, he was content with
intellectual riches and with moral worth. He did not discourage proper ambi-
tion for earthly gain. He indicated and presented in their most alluring aspect
the trophies to be won in fairer fields. He set no task which he himself did not
perform. The goal which he held up to others was that toward which his own
footsteps led. As was natural to a character like his, he was singularly inde-
pendent and self-reliant. Helpful to others, even those nearest to him found the
occasions on which assistance could be extended to him very rare indeed. His
tastes were simple and his wants few. He found happiness in being useful, and
many a young man whom he helped on the way to position and success will mourn
for him as a son.

Of the influence for good of a life such as that which is now closed it is not
the purpose here to speak in detail. That it was large is known, that it will be
lasting is confidently believed. Many a man in prouder station and with appar-
ently greater opportunities has failed to impress himself upon so wide a circle as
that to which Mr. Winslow's influence extended. Many a life spent in money-
getting has not had as its reward at the last such splendid accumulations as those
rarer gifts of mind and temperament with which his closing years were blest.
His memory is enshrined in a thousand hearts as that of one who acted well his
part, who loved his fellow men and who made the world better by his life and his

example.
341
BIOGRAPHICAL

Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.

Mr. Winslow was born in Groton, Tompkins County, N. Y., on April 3, 1820,
his parents being John and Mary VanDeusen Winslow. His father, a native of
Hampshire County, Massachusetts, emigrated to central New York, then a wild-
erness, when a young man, and followed teaching, farming and other vocations.
He served on the frontier during the war of 1812, and died March 8, 1828, when
the subject of this sketch was but eight years of age.

Thrown thus early upon his own resources, young Winslow determined tu
equip himself for life by securing an education, and with this in view he mani-
fested a perseverance which knew no such word as fail and which, after many
struggles, was crowned with success. At seventeen, he had worked his way
through the local academy, and then, preparatory to the wider training that he de-
sired, he taught school for four years, improving his spare time in study. At the
age of twenty-one he entered the sophomore class of Union College at Schenec-
tady, N. Y., from which institution he graduated in 1843, receiving the degree of
A. B., at that time, and two years later that of A. M.

Mr. Winslow's first experience as a schooimaster on an extensive scale was
had at Mt. Morris, Livingston County, N. Y., where he founded what is now
known as the Union School. In 1840 he took charge of the academy at Nunda,
in the same county, and managed it successfully until 1852, when failing health
compelled him to seek outdoor employment. For two or three years he was en-
gaged as a civil engineer in the construction of a division of the Marietta and Cin-
cinnati railroad. In 1855 he moved to Racine, Wisconsin, and from that time un-
til 1880 he conducted the leading book and stationery store in that section of the
state.

On his retirement from mercantile life, which never had wholly withdrawn
him from interest in and labor for the cause of education, he was chosen superin-
tendent of the city schools, which position he held until the summer of 1892, when
advancing years compelled him to resign. During the twelve vears that he ad-
ministered this important trust, fo which the ripest experience and profoundest
study of his long life were devoted, he won not only the respect and approval of
the inhabitants cf Racine but the affection of a great host of young people, and his
reputation as an educator spread far beyond the field of his labors. When he was
compelled to relinquish the work the board of education adopted resolutions highly
eulogistic of him and expressive of the wide spread regret of the people that the
infirmities of age had forced him to abandon labors to which his physical strength
was no longer equal.

While a bookseller AIr. Winslow was also for a considerable time a school
commissioner, and for nearly thirty vears he was a trustee of Racine College, to
the interests of which he devoted much thought and energy. For three vears he
was a regent of the Wisconsin State University, to which position he was ap-
pointed by Governor Taylor in 1874, and for a generation he was junior warden
of St. Luke’s Church in Racine. In all of these positions he was faithful, indus-
trious and methodical, freely assuming burdens from which others shrank and
pursuing to the end, regardless of conseauences to himself, policies which he be-
lieved would be beneficial to the interests entrusted to him.

342
In politics Mr. Winslow was a Democrat of the faith of Jefferson and Jack-
son. Always a leader among men, and often serving his party as a delegate to
conventions and not infrequently taking the stump in behalf of the principles
which were dear to him, he never held a political office. In 1862 he was the
candidate of his party for State Superintendent of Public Instruction and in 1876
he canvassed the first Wisconsin district as the Democratic nominee for Congress,
but as his party was on both occasions in the minority in State and district he was
not elected.

Mr. Winslow was twice married, his second wife surviving him. His first
wife was Miss Emily Bradley of Genoa, N. Y., who was born July 1, 1823, and
died August 22, 1877, leaving two children, John B. Winslow, one of the Justices
of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, and Mrs. A. H. Lathrop of Vermillion, South
Dakota. On September 19, 1878, Mr. Winslow was married to Mrs. J. N. Mc-
Whorter, who has two sons living in Chicago, H. W. Seymour, managing editor
of the Chicago Herald, and Charles. G. Seymour, also of the Herald, and one
daughter, Mrs. W. B. Ackerly, of Cuba, Alleghany County, N. Y.

Mr. Winslow's funeral services were held in St. Luke’s Church, of which he
was so long an officer. on September 20, and the interment was in the family lot
in Mound Cemetery. Rev. Dr. Arthur Piper, rector of the church, officiated, and
the edifice was filled to the doors. The schools and many business houses were
closed and flags floated at half mast from all of the public buildings. The active
bearers were the principals of the various schools and the honorary bearers were
old time friends and associates of the dead. In the congegation and in the long
cortege that followed the remains to the grave were the board of education and
the old Settlers’ Society and a great many teachers and school children who gave
evidence of genuine sorrow over the loss of one whom all recognized as a good
and true man.

At a meeting of the teachers of the Racine public schools held October 9, 1893,
the following eulogy was read by Prof. Martin L. Smith, principal of the Sixth
Ward school.

Mr. Superintendent and Fellow Teachers:

On this sad occasion, I am permitted the privilege of paying tribute to the
memory of the iate Hon. Horatio G. Winslow, ex-superintendent of schools.

He was my friend, as he was yours. I was proud of his friendship and I
loved him well.

I regret that I have not sufficient command of language to express either my
own feelings or to do him justice.

What can I say that all do nct already know, for his was a frank and open life.

No word of mine can add to its greatness, and yet it would be a reproach to
us and a neglect of our duty towards those who will come to fill his place and ours,
and who should come with the highest incentives, not to leave fit public expres-
sion and memorial of appreciation of the character and services of the lamented
deceased.

He was a man of remarkable purity of character, and in all my association
with him during a period of more than fifteen vears, I can truly declare that I
never heard him utter a word that was not fit to be said in any presence and I do
not think there exists a man who believes that it were possible that H. G. Winslow
could do an intentional wrong or omit a knewn duty.

343
I honor him because to him honor is due.

How earnestly and how faithfully he performed every duty none can fully
know save those who, like myself, have had the good fortune to be constantly asso-
ciated with and aided by him.

He carried in his hand the torch of justice lighted from on high, and he
walked in the illumination of its constant and steady flame.

He was unquestionably one of the abiest educators in the state of Wisconsin.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF REV. DR. A. JUDSON BARRETT
By His DaucHTerR, Mrs. W. A. MONTGOMERY

The north-western portion of Ohio, the Western Reserve, was settled in the
early part of this century by pioneers from Connecticut and Massachusetts, who
brought with them the type of life distinctly New England. Wherever a cluster
of rude log cabins broke the solitude of the forest, there also might be found the
plain church, with its small steeple faithfully pointing upward, and the village
school, with its even open door. Full of privations and difficulties, yet witha!
eager, questioning, aspiring, and seif-restrained was life in these new communi-
ties, amid whose influences and under whose training were reared some of the
noblest sons and daughters of the Republic.

In one of these pioneer settlements, Kingsville, he was born, in whose mem-
ory this simple sketch is written. The early days of his life were passed under
conditions so different from those of the present that it is difficult to realize that
they could have existed within such recent times. My father remembered well
when, on the frontier, at least, there were no railroads, no telegraphs, no great
cities, no daily papers; a time when wool was sheared and prepared, spun at a
hand wheel, woven in a hand loom, colored and made into garments in each house;
a time when flax was raised by each family, and from it was made the family sup-
ply of iinen and of clothing; when there were no stoves or matches, a time when
cooking was by the open fire-place and the brick oven, and when the only light was
the pine knot and the tallow dip; when the shoemaker came to the house and the
school teacher “boarded ‘round’; when monev was scarce, so that business was
chiefly carried on by barter, and when, in fact, all life was keyed to the brave and
homely pitch of pioneer times.

Yet that home which he remembered was a beautiful home; full of the light
of love and grace of courtesy, and glorified by a womanly presence that softened
every bare outline with nameless charm, and made the log house a very Bethany.
How he loved to tell of the long winter evenings when the great open fire-place,
filled with glowing logs, flooded the room with light; when mother sat at her spin-
ning wheel, and father, book in hand, gave out to his eager boys the hardest words
in Webster’s Spelling Book, or gathered them about him to hear brave stories o7
the Revolution in which his father fought, or to listen reverently to the Book ever
central in that home.

These pioneer experiences, so diversified, touching life at so many points,
were a wonderful preparation too, for his after services. It was here that he
gained that seemingly inexhaustible store of information about everyday trades
and occupations, and that loving acquaintance with the life of flower and tree
and bird and beast which made him able to enter into the thoughts and feelings
of all conditions of men, and furnished him with a wealth of homely and strik-

344
ing illustrations. Here too the tree life out-of-doors, the vigorous exercise, deve-
loped in him that iron strength of sinew, that magnificent depth of chest which
rendered him strong for years of anxiety and care, and made those broad shoul-
ders of his able to carry lightly many burdens laid upon them.

When my father was about twelve years old, a young man who was to exert
a very great influence upon him, took charge of the village school. The young
collegian, fresh from iiis eastern Alma Mater, inspired in the boys in his charge
an ambition for an education, and a desire to obtain it at whatever cost. After
one of the Professor's talks on the subject, my father was walking home along the
shady forest road with a school friend, and as they walked and talked he saia,
“Tl get to college. if it takes till forty.’ From this boyish resolve he never
swerved, but through several years of most discouraging work and waiting, bided
his time. l*or two vears before starting to college, he worked in the harvest field
in the summer, and taught school winters; and during the last year of his life he
met men and women who spoke with gratitude of the influence upon their lives
which he had exerted, teaching these country schools.

At last, when he was eighteen years old, the glad day came, and he set his
face toward the college just tounded at Rochester. And so the old coach run-
ning from Kingsvilie to Erie rumbled away, bearing the brave young form in
homespun gray, with mother’s kiss warm upon his brow, and within his heart the
blessings of a noble father, who had little else to give his boy than faith and honor,
and the strong convicition that there were things of far more worth than houses.
or lands, or goid. Of the events of that journey to Rochester it is impossible to
speak at length in this brief sketch; but that night spent on the streets of Erie,
that run before day-break to catch the last boat down the lake to Buttalo, the shel-
terless deck passage through all that bitter November day, the cheerful endurance
of hunger and cold, if so the sacred hoard in the little black wallet might remain
untouched, every detail of the pathetic, heroic little journey is precious to those
who love him.

During his first year in college.—the second of the course, since he entered
sophomore—he boarded himse?f in a little upper room on Prospect Street, deny-
ing himself everything except the necessities of life, and eking out his meager re-
sources by any work which offered itself. At the opening of the Junior year there
was an opportunity to teach in Little Falls, of which he availed himself most
gladly, and spent a happy and successful year teaching, continuing meanwhile his
own college studics, and saving the money which should take him through his
Senior year. On his return he passed the examination on the work of the Junior
year, and was graduated with high rank the following June.

A summer spent at home, full of the anxious questioning of his own heart
whether after all his education had fitted him for the work which he desired, and
of the unkind taunts of those townsmen who all along had regarded the going to
college as nonsense, was happily concluded by the offer of the position of principal
of the academy in Nunda, N. Y.

After six years of successful work in Nunda, in 1860 he was married to Miss
Emily Barrows of Trenton, N. Y., and removed to his old home in Kingsville,
Ohio. He remained here in charge of the academy until 1868, when he went to
Lowville, N. Y., to give the academy of that place an impetus and position among
the educational institutions of the State which it has never lost. On coming tc

345
Rochester in 1871, he assumed control of the Collegiate Institute, a private school
preparing boys for college.

The hope of entering the Christian ministry had never been abandoned dur-
ing all his twenty years of successful teaching ; and when, in 1874, the opportunity
offered of taking a course of study in the Theological Seminary while continuing
his work as professor of Greek and Latin, he at once accepted it. On the comple-
tion of his work in the Seminary, he was called to the pastorate of the Lake Ave-
nue Church, a position which he held until his death.

In 1888 he was afflicted with serious trouble of the eyes, and his church gen-
erously granted him a vear's vacation. This year my father and mother spent
in most delightful travel. They were some time in Ohio and Tennessee, visiting
friends and relations; and then after a month in New Orleans, went leisurely on
to Arizona and Southern California. In the course of their journey they visited
brothers in Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Michigan and Tennessee, spent
some time in the National Park, Colorado Springs, Sait Lake City and Chicago,
and started toward home fecling thoroughly strong and ready for work.

On the arrival of the pastor and his wife, the church gave them a cordial and
hearty reception. Asa pleasant surprise, the walls of the audience room had been
freshly tinted, the floors re-carpeted, and the pulpit richly draped. When the two,
so long absent, entered the church, the entire congregation rose, and remained
standing, while to the soft strains of “Home, Sweet Home,” they passed up the
aisle. Deacon Woodbury then addressed to them these beautiful words of wel-
come, more than ever beautiful now when read through tears:

My Dear Pastor and Dear Sister Barrett:

In behalf of this church and this community I welcome you most cordially
back to your accustomed places among us. It is a sore disappointment to us, and
to me most of all, that one of those who have occupied the place of pastor during
your absence is not here to voice so much better than I can do the heartiness of
our joy, and the sincerity of the welcome we would extend to you.

We have missed you sadly during this long separation, and in many ways.
We have missed vou from the pulpit, although the supply has been from the very
best in the land. We have missec vou from our social meetings. We have missed
you, when we have gathered to remember our Lord in partaking of the emblems
of his broken body and shed blood, which we have for so many years received
from your hand. And we have missed vou from our homes and firesides. Our joys
have been incomplete in that vou were not here to share them with us, and the
peals of the marriage bell have been less merry because you could not join the
hands and offer vour congratulations and bestow vour blessing. We have missed,
too, the hearty grasp of that hand which vou have so often extended to us in
friendly greeting. But we have missed vou most when the dark shadows of sor-
row and bereavement have failen across our pathways; for, although guarded so
carefully and watched over so tenderly, death has forced his way into some of our
homes, and snatched from us our loved ones, even from our embrace. It is true
your kind and loving words of sympathy and consolation have reached us from
across the continent, but, in their passage, the cold mountains and the arid plains
have robbed them of the fragrance of the gentle tones and glance of compassion-
ate tenderness by which they are wont to be accompanied.

But we are glad you went away, and rejoice that we suffered privation, for
it was for the benefit of these we love. It is a sincere pleasure to us to know that

346
you have been enabled to read from the book of nature in some of its grandest
lines, of the wisdom and power of the God we worship.

The night of sorrow is now passed, and the joy of the morning has come,
and we have met together to welcome your return to go in and out before us—“to
weep with those of us who weep and to rejoice with those who do rejoice.” We
welcome you, as we trust, with renewed health and vigor, and pray the Lord of
the harvest that you may be long spared to labor in his field. We welcome you to
our homes and our fire-sides and to a participation in all our joys. Yes, and we
welcome you, too, to a participation in our sorrows; for it is written, “Is it not
better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting?”

Each presence in this large assembly speaks a personal welcome. These dec-
orations and these flowers, in their beauty and fragrance, say welcome, and these
walls and the ceilings, and even the floors, have put on a more pleasing aspect
that they too might take part in this universal welcome. Again I sav, welcome, a
thousand times welcome.

DR. BARRETT’S RESPONSE

My Dear Brother Woodbury

Tt gives me especial pleasure to grect you personally on this occasion; for
during the past winter we were fellow travelers and sojourners together for many
weeks in a distant southern citv, and this is the first time we have met since six
months ago when we said “good-bye” in New Orleans—you going eastward to the
land of Flowers, and I westward to the Golden Gate.

But you come to me to-night, not as an individual—not on your own motion
simply, but as the representative of this church and community. You bring hearty
communications and kindly greetings; you come to extend to me and mine an af-
fectionate welcome to the hearts and homes of this people once more, and so in
response I say, not to you simply, but to this crowded assembly of friends and
neighbors, to this entire community, ‘All hail!” It is not fitting that many words
be said by me at this time, for if vour fingers are tingling as mine are to join in
friendly grasp with these hundreds gathered here to-night, a long address were
an impertinence. It would be an unfeeling nature that could remain unmoved on
such an occasion as this; that did not respond heartily and tenderly to this sponta-
neous welcome home on the part of this church and community.

As we came into this room through the door yonder, and while we were pass-
ing up the aisle, there broke upon our ears the strains of that wonderful hymn of
the heart, ‘Home, Sweet Home”—

‘“Mid pleasures anc palaces though we may roam;
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.”

Our hearts responded a fervent Amen. We have reveled in pleasures
for a year past—sometimes in palaces, though oftener in the lowly thatched cot-
tage—sometimes by the mountains and again by the streams—under sunnier skies
than bend above us in Rochester, and amid flowers more lovely, because they have
never felt the breath of winter. But there has not been a day in the vear past in
which our thoughts have not turned longingly towards the Empire State—towards
the City of Rochester—the Ninth Ward—this church and this people. And we
have often said there is no city like our city—no church like our church—no peo-

 

347
ple like our people. And when at last, after traversing the length and breadth of
the Pacific coast, our feet were turned eastward once more, we began to count first
the months, then the weeks and the days, and finally the hours, that must elapse
before we should be grasping hands that were friendly, and looking into eyes that
were kindly, and feeling the genial glow of hearts that were warm and true. At
last the longed-for hour has come, and we are standing before you face to face.
We have heard your words of affectionate and hearty welcome, of loving and abid-
ing confidence, and of devout thanksgiving to God for our safe return. These
hearty and unaffected utterances of yours have been grateful to me and mine. We
thank you most sincerely, and we can assure you that we fully reciprocate the
warmth of your welcome—ours is as warm—the genuineness of your affection,
for ours towards yours is a genuine—and the intensity of the joy you feel at this
happy home-coming, for our joy has no bounds. We have come home ready for
service, anxious to engage in the work before us, and almost impatient to put on
the harness once more. We come with no half-hearted devotion to the work, but
our whole mind and heart are yours for Christ and His Church. We shall need
your co-operation and your prayers that we may be nerved for the conflict and be
girded with power from on high. May God bless you and us for Christ's sake.
Amen.

The plans formed and the hopes cherished at this glad home-coming were de-
stined never to be realized. On Sunday, October 20th, oniy a few weeks later, he
was transferred to a higher service. He had preached with great power and earn-
estness in the morning, had attended a funeral in the afternoon, and was on his
way to evening service, when “he was not, for God took him.”

“Thus endeth the first lesson.”

The work he did can never be fully written down. It might be said that he
found the church fuil of bitter feuds and factions, he left it firmly united in Chris-
tian harmony ; he found it on the eve of disruption, he left it prepared for aggres-
sive work; he found it unsettled on some of the fundamental beliefs of the denomi-
nation, he left it clearly instructed and surely established in the faith once deliv-
ered to the saints; or, it might be recounted that he had baptised four hundred and
eight believers on profession of their faith, that he had received from other
churches two hundred and five, that the church had increased during his ministry
from two hundred and sixty-eight to five hundred and forty-four members; but
after all was said, this is not the true record of his work. That lies hidden deep
in the hearts of his people, whence God shall bring it in that day when we see not
through a glass darkly, but face to face.

INTERREGNUM HIGH (SELECT) SCHOOLS

Principal Asher B. Evans, collegian, A. M.; preceptress, Miss Alice Wemott ;
first vear, Holmes Hall; second vear, Session House.

Some of the students.

Philo Mosher, Albert Houghton, Corydon C. Olney, H. Wells Hand, John J.
Carter, William G. Tousey, William Cosneti, Aiken Aspinwall, George Gibbs,
Clifford Bagley, Arthur J. Barnes, Fred Bell, Frank U. Davidson, Alonzo
Olney, Scott Ferris, Joseph Lovell, John Lovell, Hiram Olney, Clemment McNair,
Hiram Ashley, Jay Gallentine, Charles Warner, Arthur J. Barnes, Albert Barnes,
W. Jackson Alward, Charles F. Peck, Albert Lewis, Julian Lewis, Marcia White,

348
Eliza Tuthill, Alida J. Barron, Alice Gilbert, Harriet barron, Mary Metcalf,
Emma Metcalf, Jennie Grover, Anna Richmond, Anna Alward, Georgia Rich-
mond, Alamantha Safford, Mary Lovell, Mary Olney, Louise Ferris, Sophia Wa:-
ner, Kate Bell, Emma Gibbs, Sarah Dibble, Nellie White, Sarah White, Nellie
Shaw, Emma Shaw, Susie Martin, Mary Willis, Julia Satterlee, Mary Page.
Maria Dake, Emma Snyder.

Second year (additional).

William J. Reid, Thomas B. Reid, John P. Slocum, William Q. Huggins,
Robert Balty, Griggs Bennett, Charles J. Swain, Kelsey Sanders, Channing
Aspinwall, W. Y. Robinson, Robert Lovell, William Whitcomb, Charles Rich-
mond, George King, Frank Ning, John Kiley, Richard Dowling, James Haver,
Myron Haver, Edward G. Randall, David Randall, Charles Lowe, Marshall Mc-
Duffee, Fred Grover, Eliza Crane, Carrie Willard, Carrie Wood, Fanny Wood,
Mary Grover, Emma Wood, Eva Whitcomb, Hattie Gibbs, Emily Whitcomb,
Fanny Peck, Libbie Arnold, Mary Linkletter, Kate Linkletter, Adell Linkletter,
Nellie Warner, Maggie Sturgeon, Adella Havens, Hattie Gibbs, Alma Turrill,
Mary McDuffee, Celestia Rider, Libbie Mills, Kate Mills, Libbie Vrooman.

The second of this class of Select High schools was taught by the following
teachers:

William G. Tousey, principal, A. B., B. D., LL. D., Professor.

Mary L. Pettit, preceptress.

Cornelia Tousey, primary department.

It was no longer called by the name of the former school, but given a name
that was applicable to this class of schools. “The Nunda Public High School.”

This school was very niuch like other schools of this class, except that it had
a class in Phonography.

One of this class became proficient in this, and has a business college with
all the improved methods of to-day.

The A. J. Barnes Business college of St. Louis, is a legitimate offspring of
this select school.

John and Mary Kneeland were in attendance at this school, and being very
young, considered the voung principal decidedly austere.

Many of the scholars of the Evans High School attended. The class in
Phonography were mostly special students, with this study only. Miss Pettit,
Miss Willis and Mr. Barnes were of this number.

The third of these select high schools was taught by Rev. Henry B. Thayer
and Mrs. Thayer.

The young people from the Presbyterian families were in attendance, besides
others.

The fourth and last of these Select High Schools was taught by Colonel
Thomas J. Thorp, A. B., and by Captain Joseph N. Flint, A. B., immediately after
the war. Miss Thorp was an assistant.

The Union school, ever on the alert for skilled teachers, engaged Colonel
Thorp and his sister for the next school vear, and this put an end to this series
of schools which were taught in the old Academy building.

Select schools for juveniles abounded about this time. Miss Martha Lake
had taught one of this kind some years before. Miss Jennie Grover had a school
for juveniles. And Miss Mary Willis had one later.

The new brick Academy made Select High Schools unnecessary.

349
SELECT HIGH SCHOOLS

This class of schools, had they been properly housed in a good building, with
an efficient brand of trustees back of them, would have been very successful.
Some of the teachers have since become famous.

It is something to say, that Principal Evans was the greatest English speak-
ing mathematician in the world. At the time he was in Nunda he had a class of
six or seven in Hackley University Algebra. The class consisted of Albert
Houghton, Philo Mosher, John J. Carter, Corydon C. Olney, Aiken Aspinwall,
Clifford Bagley, H. W. Hand, W. G. Tousey. All the prize problems published
in educational or other papers were solved by this class, or its teacher, but none
of the scholars of that class who knew their teacher could solve any solvable pro-
blem suspected his supertative superiority over every other American of English
mathematician.

Captain J. N. Flint, A. B., of Yale, served for the balance wheel for Colone!
Thorp, the latter furnished the fireworks, that is the enthusiasm, and Captain
Flint, the ice cream that cooled them down to do something more than listen to
the Colonel's eloquence. Speech was silver, but silence golden in this school.
Colonel Thorp as a school commissioner, was a man in the right spot, he could
manufacture enthusiasm enough in a two hours visit to any district school to last
them, that is, the teacher and scholars, the rest of the term.

 

”

 

 

 

AsHER BEeNTON Evans
The Greatest English-Speaking Mathematician in the World

350
The intense earnestness of Principal W. G. Tousey, then only a student, was
so great that the younger members of the school think of him still as a mental ice-
berg that froze them into a state of congested substance that made them frigid,
even in summer time. ‘The elder ones saw prismatic beauties in his congealing
dignity, and suspected what seemed like ice might be a white diamond, evidently
he was not intended as a primary teacher. He fills his “chair” at Tuft’s College
as few could.

ASHER BENTON EVANS, A. M.

Asher Benton Evans, A. B., A. M., Madison University, was acknowledged
to be the greatest English speaking mathematician of the world. This foremost
American mathematician, distinguished scholar and educator was born in Tomp-
kins County, New York, in September, 1834, he attended the common schools
and for a time had a private teacher. In 1848 his father moved with his family
to Somerset, Niagara County, New York, upon a farm. Here the lad pursued
his favorite study with untiring zeal, from the age of seventeen until he entered
college he taught in country schools winters. He was a student at the Wilson
Collegiate Institute in 1854, and was afterward prepared for college at Yates
Academy. In the spring in 1858 he entered the Sophomore class of the Univer-
sity of Rochester, \. Y., and in the fall of 1858 he entered the junior class of
Madison (now Colgate) University, from which he graduated with honors in
1860. He then entered upon his life work as an educator at Nunda, Livingston
County, New York, at the Literary Institute from 1860 to 1864; Penfield Aca-
demy, 1864 to 1865; Wilson Collegiate Institute, 1865 to 1866; Lockport Union
School, 1866 until his death in 1891.

PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY

Asher B. Evans was born at Hector, September 21, 1834, taught school and
studied at various preparatory institutions, 1851-1858; attended the University
of Rochester and graduated from Madison (now Colgate) University in 1860;
was principal of various schools in Western New York from 1860 to 1891. He
married Sarah Elizabeth Haines of Lockport, N. Y., May 16, T869, was principa!
of Lockport Union school from 1866 until his death September 24, 1891. Beside
his wife he left a son, William, and a daughter, Florence.

1867
The third Nunda Academy, housed in an ornamental brick structure, was by
far the best of the edifices reared or utilized for that purpose. Everything was
new, even to the faculty.
How Principal Charles Fairman came to be the man selected is not known,
but that he proved to be just the man for the place has never been disputed.
He was first, last and always, a desirable teacher.
The faculty were at first:
Principal, Charles Fairman, A. M.
Preceptress, Mrs. E. M. Knowlton.
Principal Preparatory Department and teacher of Mathematics, James C.
Foley.
Teacher of Ornamental branches, Miss Kizzie M. Dunn.
Teacher of Vocal and Instrumental Music, Miss Florence Davis.
Teacher of Primary Department, Miss Belle McNair.
351
 

 

 

 

CuarRLes FartrMaN, LL. D.
First Principal of Nunda Academy, 1867

1868
Graduate of this school, Maria Petrie.
The second faculty of this schoo! was:
Principal, Edward Everett Spaulding, A. B., Taft’s, 1850.
Preceptress, Mrs. E. M. Knowlton.
James C. Foley.
Primary, Miss Belle McNair.
1869
Graduates, Eva Whitcomb, Horace Perkins.
Graduates, 187¢.
Frances Tingley, married to Eugene Endicott, Mayor of Chelsea, Massachu-
setts, agent Universalist Publishing House, Boston, Massachusetts.
Julia Lake, married to Byron Nugent, a merchant prince of St. Louis, whe
died April, 1908.
Seldon Kellogg, son of Rev. Kellogg, Oakland, was town clerk of Portage.
Clara Kellogg.

352
1869

Principal Blackstone.

1871

Principal, William H. Truesdale, A. B., Rochester University.

Preceptress, Mrs. Truesdale.

Assistant Preceptress, Mary Pettit.

Primary, Miss Fannie L. Tingley.

Graduates. Delia Hungerord, Loretta Jones, Seldon Mudge, M. D., *Ira
Myers, Mary Nichols.

1873-’74

Principal, Mr. Sinclair.

Principal, Mary L. Pettit, completed the year.

Assistants, Rev. C. B. Parsons and Fletcher Coffin.

Primary, Mary Willis.

Graduates.

*Carrie Gilbert continued her studies at Chelsea.

Carrie Hunt married Charles Wilcox.

Mary Packard, (daughter of E. N. Packard, Esq.), Mrs. Richmond, Nunda.

Mary Coffin, teacher, preceptress, musician, Mrs. Besinger, Pasadena,
California.

Principal, Rev. W. H. Rodgers, A. B., 1859, A. M. 1861, Alfred Uuiv.,
chaplain, 189 N. Y. Volunteers. Mrs. Rodgers and Miss — , residence,
Wellsville, N. Y.

Graduates. Viola La Rue, Carrie B. Van Ness, Watson Wing, *Fletcher B.
Coffin, Mrs. Allen Hagadorn, M. D.

*Deceased.

The third Nunda Academy met the fate of all academies (not endowed).
The free grade school everywhere taught the same branches and no tuition

 

 

Tue Tuirp Nunpa ACADEMY
Built in 1867

353
schoot could compete with them. It was deemed expedient to change this aca-
demy into a free school, with an “Academic Department.” It did a good work,
had several teachers of marked ability and served the generation for a few years,
and helped some onward up the heights of knowledge.

The short list of graduates does not tell all the story. Some of these are iu
longer living, but we trust they are still the possessors of the knowledge they
found such joy in attaining and in possessing. Some went to the Geneseo Nor-
mal for special training for teaching; several became expert physicians; one found
his way to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and is now captain, commanding one
of the largest and best of Uncle Sam’s warships; others went on to college, their
hunger for knowledge and ability to use it urging them on.

But many who did not take the prescribed course have not been left behind.

James C. Foley, the student teacher, has since won two degrees, A. B., and
M 0D., and finds the metropolis of America a good field for his faculties. Adel-
bert Moot added a G. N.S. course, then a law course at Albany and stands at the
head of one of the greatest law firms in Buffaio. Young Charles Fairman, who
served as a frequent example of his father’s discipline, both pedagogic and par-.
ental and so got a double portion, has been no laggard, but has met his successes
at Rochester University. A. B., 74; A. AL, 78; ML. D., St. Louis Medical Col-
lege, and not content to diagnose diseases, finds time to investigate the Fungi of
New York State——and so adds Author to the other evidences of a busy and use-
ful life. He is also a member of the Rochester Academy of Science.

Another scholar of the Fairman school, Edward F. Knibloe, after a year or
two at Cornell rose from telegrapher to train dispatcher, and from that to division
superintendent, but found time to study law, and now serves the Erie railway as
legal arbirtrator when they want something done well. Charles Vrooman, a mini-
ster s son, with change of locality, too frequent for rapid advancement in studies.
fitted everywhere for college and finished the requirements at Nunda, and so we
read in the Rochester University catalogue “Charles Miner Vrooman, A. B., 1873,
Prepared at Nunda, N. Y., stock raiser, Kern, California.” All natural enough.
the roaming habits of clergymen (with their families) make their sons typical
candidates for Rough Riders and superb ranchmen. But we must not tell too
many good things ail at once, for there was, and is a successor of the Brick Acad-
emy, and its special heroes are not the least among the princes of Nunda, who
have scored successes all along their race track. We might speak of Dona Ed-
monds, the ever diligent student, who is still a student and keeps up with her
learned husband and son, who have all the degrees attainable but no more of
knowledge than herself. Of Carrie Fitch who ranks high as a reformer and lec-
turer; or of Eliza Crane, whose college course at Vassar was cut short to attend
to the needs and distresses of kindred, and she could give the martyrs and mis-
sionaries, points on self sacrifice. Young boyish Merrick Whitcomb of those acad-
emy days, everybody knew he could be anything he chose to be if he would try,
but would he? He could learn so readily, would he test his ability? It has taken
a whole lot of time to tell, but while Teddy Roosevelt was proving his “‘strenuos:
ity,’ our Nunda boy—only a boy—was in the same class in Harvard, getting his
lessons easily, but stiil doing boy’s work aiong with a thousand mostly mature
men. Would he ever do his best and equal the expectations of those who held his
possibilities at high value. The position he now holds, as Dean of the College of

354
Liberal Arts of the University of Cincinnati, is a sufficient answer, whether it was
Nunda Academy, or Harvard, or Leipsic, or John Hopkins University, or inherent
strength that brought it about, we will not answer. We are glad, however, Nunda
had its first innings and paved the way for potential latent possibilities.

STUDENTS NUNDA ACADEMY—FIRST CATALOGUE ACADEMIC
DEPARTMENT

James Allen, Nunda; Herbert D. Arnold, Portage; William James Atkins,
Nunda; Allen Ayrault, Dalton; Clifton Barron, Mt. Morris, Cornell University,
teacher in Military Academy, Conn., railroad contractor; Milton Barron, Mt.
Morris, Cornell University, Justice of the Peace, Mt. Morris; Frank A. Bay-
lor;.Edward Bixby, Johnsons Creek; Albert Blood, Mt. Morris; Frank
A. Blood, Mt. Morris; Myron M. Boyd, Greigsville; Scott W. Boylan,
Caneseraga; Martin S. Bracey, Nunda; Perry Brigham, Clinton; James D. Carter,
Oakland, was one vear at Cornell; Eugene Carter, Nunda; Fred A. Carver,
Nunda; Herman Chittenden. Nunda; *Iletcher B. Coffin, Nunda; Amariah Cox,
Nunda; John Craig (teacher), Nunda; Michael Creed, Nunda; Edward R. Creve-
ling, Union Corners, cashier Bank of Mt. Morris, merchant, justice of the peace,
Mt. Morris; Leander H. Ciatk, Portageville; Hercules W. Cary, Brooksgrove:
Clifton E. Davis, Medina; Charles Downs (farmer, Nunda), Mt. Morris; Fred
Dalrymple, Nunda; Justin I. Depuy, banker, Nunda; Homer Elwood, postmaster,
furniture dealer, Sunday-school superintendent Baptist Church, Nunda;
Charles E. Fairman (son of Professor F.) college and M. D. Lyndonville, N.
Y., Nunda; James C. Foley (student, teacher, college and lawyer, New York
City), Medina, teacher in 1869; George M. Frary, Medina; *Herbert A. French,
Medina; Andrew J. Frayer (veteran), Nunda, manufacturer of children’s shoes,
boot and shoe store, (Ithaca, N. Y.) ; Robert W. Green (veteran), school commis-
sioner and M. D., Nunda; Thomas Greenwood, Nunda; Lewis Gilmore, Nunda;
Fred H. Grover, died 1906; Rufus Gilpatric, Portage, (Denver); Greorge’ S.
Goodwin, Jeddo; Olin Gillett, Medina; *Alien Hagadorn, Brooksgrove, Ann
Arbor, M. D.: *Thomas Hammond, Nunda, New York Medical College, M. D.;
Victor Hills, Nunda; Frank Howe, Nunda; John Hughes, Proprietor St. John’s
Hotel, Nunda; Frank Hume, Nunda; William W. Hunt, Nunda, (merchant and
supervisor, Dalton, N. Y.); Myron W. Haver, lawyer, teacher, superintendent of
schools, in California; Janes E. Healey, Medina; Victor R. Hungerford, Byers-
ville; Sanford Hunt, Hunt’s Hollow, (Jackson, Mich.); Edward B. Kellogg.
Jamaica, (M. D., Boston, Mass.) ; John Kiley, Nunda, (attorney at law, Roches-
ter, N. Y.); Myron Kenney, Portage.

FIRST CLASS, 1881, UNION SCHOOL AND ACADEMICAL
DEPARTMENT

Arthur E. Sutherland, son of Rev. Sutherland, Middletown, Conn., A. B.,
law school, attorney, County Judge Monroe County, Judge of Supreme Court
7905. Nellie Reed (Sutherland). Fred B. Reed, assistant postmaster and Rural
Mail Carrier. *Eva Warren (Reed), died. Emma Warren (Baker), teacher.
Jennie Loraine Dake. *Kate E. Wing, residence, Mt. Morris. *Gertrude Clark
of Portage, Wellesley Coilege, teacher of district and village schools.

355
NUNDA ACADEMY

Edward F. Knibloe, Portage; John P. Knibloe (farmer), Brooksgrove;
Fred B. Knowlton, Jamaica, Vermont; Frank A. LaRue, Brooksgrove; Julian
C. Lewis, Nunda; *Lias Lockwood, Portage, was in government employ in
New York City; George M. Mason. North Ridgeway; Theodore F. Mason,
North Ridgeway, Zenas A. Miller, Nunda; Charles Miller, East Pike; George W.
Mills, Nunda; Orris Moulton, Nunda; Frank H. Mover (M. D.), University et
Buffalo, 1872; Adelbert E. Nash (veteran), Portage, Justice of the Peace, supei-
visor six years, Hunt, N. Y.; George Norris, Nunda, New York Medical College,
Buffalo University ; Ernest C. Olney, Nunda, attorney and commissioner, LL. B.,
Justice of the Peace, supervisor of Nunda; Horace E. Perkins, West Sparta, class
of 1869, school commissioner and M. D.; John H. Price (farmer), Mt. Morris;
*George Reynolds, teacher, Granger; Denton S. Robinson, Nunda, attorney,
president of village; Levi Robinson, teacher, Nunda; Janes Rose, Nunda; *Henry
R. Rose (rancher), Nunda; Francis M. Satterlee, Buffalo, N. Y., Nunda; Clar-
ence Seeley, Shelby Center: James Shant, Nunda; *Eddie D. Smith, Nunda,
journeyman printer; George A. Snyder, Nunda; Willie E. Spencer, Portage,
(residence, Nunda, N. Y.) ; Wiliam Stroud, Portageville; Charles F Swain, gro-
cer, postmaster, farmer, Nunda; Frank E. Tyler, Varvsburg; Charles M. Vroo-
man, (son of Rev. J. B. Vrooman), Rochester University, A. B.; Willte Whitcomb,
Varysburg: Frank L. Whitehead, Varysburg; *Thomas Whitenack, Nunda,
died at Tuscarora; Burroughs Williams, Brooksgrove; Adelbert J. Williams,
Brooksgrove: *John J. Williams, Portage, firm Williams & Averill, drygoods,
Hunts, N. Y., supervisor of Portage, lumberman in Michigan, died; Frank Wil-
ner, Portage, Naval Academy, commander U. S. Navy, captain U. S. N.; Louis
Willey (Professor). musician, trainer of bands, manufactures stringed instru-
ments; Charles A. Youngs, Tuscarora; Clarence Youngs, Tuscarora.

* Deceased.

LADIES IN ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT

Hattie A. Ashley, Oakland; Lucy FE. Bagley, Nunda; Emma Bartholomew,
Brooksgrove ; Carrie Baldwin, Avoca; “Ada E. Bennett (teacher), Portage; Cora
E. Bergen (Creveling), West Sparta (Mt. Morris) ; *Georgia Barrett (Kendall),
Mt. Morris; Mira A. Bracy, Nunda; Jennie C. Brigham ( Mrs. Charles White),
Hunts; Maria J. Buckbee (teacher), Portage; Adell Burlew, Union Springs;
Alida D. Cadby, Canisteo; Laura Chittenden, Nunda; Elma N. Colby, Nunda:
Kittie MI. Cox, Nunda; Libbie E. Craig, Nunda; Jennie Craig, Nunda; Eliza
Craig, Nunda; Jennie Cogswell, Weston; Martha J. Davinney, Union Springs;
Mary M. Duryee, Union Springs; *Neellie Ml. Dickinson (Mrs. Baker), died;
Carrie E. Day, Medina; Dona Edmonds, Nunda Station, married Professor

. studied in Germany; Itannie E. Estes, Nunda; Josephine Emo;
Carrie L. Fitch, Oakland, noted lecturer and reformer; Freddie M.
Fitch, telegrapher, Oakland, California: Lizzie Foote,:; Mt. Morris Hat-
tie E. Goldthwaite, Nunda; Myra S. Giddings, Ossian; Lottie E. Giles, Jennie
Hungerford (Mrs. A. M. Dake); Delia A. ilungerford; Lorette A. Jones, Dr.
Allen Hagadorn; Jennie M. Lyon, Portage; Sue A. Metzger, (Bedford, Pa.) ;
Nellie Mack, Nunda; Mary E. Merrick (Meigs), New Jersey, continued her
studies at Boston, Mass.; Libbie J. Mills (Mrs. Milo Godthwaite), Nunda; Kittie

356
E. Mills, Nunda; Estella E. Miller, Nunda, (conducts successfully a hennery
of choice fowls); Mary Mosher, Nunda; Maggie McKeown, Nunda; Mary L.
Nichols, Nunda; Jennie R. Nelson, Mt. Morris; Adella Z. Phillips, Mt. Morris;
Mary L. Page (Giddings), Nunda; Carrie M. Page, Nunda; *Flora E. Pat-
terson, Oakland, died in Rochester, t907; *Marie E. Petrie, first graduate of aca-
demy, 1868; Della Post, Mt. Morris; Nellie B. Rose (Mrs. Frank Depuy) ; Au-
gusta A. Rider, Mt. Morris; Minnie A. Ralison, Nunda; *Mary L. Rowell (Mrs
Charles Gardner), Fortage, Oakland; Victoria A. Randall (Mrs. Ira Bentley),
R. F. D., Hunt N. Y.; Mary Satterlee, Nunda; Ellen M. Shaw, Nunda; Emma
F. Shaw, Nunda; Ella S. Smith (Bliss), Portage; Fannie Slocum, Nunda, con-
tinued her studies at Painsville, Ohio; Emma A. Snyder, Nunda; Mary E. Swal-
low, Mt. Morris; Belle Shant (Mrs. Robert E. Bally), Nunda; Emma J. Tousev
(teacher), Portage; Carrie A. Tousey (teacher), (Mrs. J. J. Williams); Eletta
\V Thompson, grad. Nunda and G. N. S., missionary China, (teaches speech for
dumb), Nunda; Mary A. Townsend (Mrs. Will H. Smith), Nunda; Ella A. Tut-
hill (Mrs. William Hunt), Nunda, Dalton, N. Y.; Amelia J. Van Arsdale, Mt.
Morris; Libbie B. Warford, Nunda; Laura Wheeler, Binghamton, Ohio; Ella
Walker, Oakland; Eva C. Whitcomb (Olney), studied Elocution in Boston,
taught Elocution, Normal Geneseo; Lizzie C. Wing (Mrs. Adelbert Gearhart),
Mt. Morris, (Buffalo, N. Y.) ; Carrie I. Willard (Mrs. H. Rose), Nunda; Emma
A. Wood (Mrs. Charles Swain) ; Fannie VY. Wood (Mrs. William Craig), Nunda:
Sarah J. Williams, Nunda; Cecelia Willey (Mrs. Dr. Charles J. Carrick) ; Isabel
A. Wells, Portage; Jane E. Young (Geneseo), Nunda; Hattie E. Herrick (Mrs.
Joshua Howell), Nunda; Ada Higgins. Nunda; Rosa E. Jackson, Nunda; Jennie
F. Lumsden, Nunda; Mary A. Lowell (clerk of Lovell’s store), Nunda; Mav
Marsh, Nunda; Sarah F Morris, Nunda; Ella J. Michael, Brooksgrove; Minnie
E. Nickels, Nunda; Mary B. Packard (Richmond), Nunda, class of 1874; Laura
A. Patterson, Oakland; Laura C. Rose (Frank Depuy), Nunda; Cora Russell,
Nunda; Mary Ratchford, Nunda; Svivia A. Smith, Nunda; Samantha V Sel-
over; Belle Scott (Mrs. Z. A. Miller).

Fred Lake, Nunda, (a successful business man in St. Louis) ; Lindsley Mad-
dox, Nunda; Melvin Myers, Nunda; George Marsh, Nunda; Melvin Osgoodby,
hardware merchant and coal dealer ;Willie Osgoodby; Charlie Shant; Freddie
Shant, Burtis Satterlee, Charlie Stilson, Parker Stilson, Clayton Warner, Mer-
rick Whitcomb, Harvard College, . B., John Hopkins University. Ph. D., author,
Professor of History Cincinnati, and College Dean.

Eva L. Town, Nunda; Hattie Thorp, Nunda; Rosa E. Traxler, Nunda;
Sarah Townsend, Mt. Morris; Jennie Van Sickle, Nunda; Mary Whitehead
(Barton), Nunda; Carrie D. Wood, G. N. S., Nunda, superintendent nature
teaching, New Bedford, Maine.

*Deceased.

PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT, SAME YEAR

*Frank Cree, Cree Bros., succeeded Robert Cree, in furniture and undertak-
“ing, died; Frank Colby, Philadelphia, Pa., son of Colonel Newton Colby, clergy-
man; Luther Foote, Nunda; Frank H. Grimes (ginseng farm), Nunda; Charles
R. Howell, machinist, (Spanish War veteran), Nunda; *Frank Lemen, son of
Captain James Lemen ex-supersivor; Fred LaRue, Brooksgrove ; John H. Lamb,
Nunda; Willie Lewis, Nunda; George Nelson, retired farmer, Nunda; Alfred

357
Paine, railroad conductor, Nunda; Charles B. Richmond, East St. Louis, Nunda;
Lewis Satterlee, Nunda; Loren Shave, Nunda; Clemmie Slocum, Nunda; Frank
Spencer, musican, cletricial practitioner, gives musical and dramatic entertain-
ments, Dansville Sanitarium; George Thomas, Nunda; William Whitehead,
Nunda; Herbert Willard, Nunda, senior partner in Williard Bros., wholesale
casket manufactory, electric light plant, and water works supply in Nunda, in-
strumental and vocal musician; George Wright, Nunda; Charles Werner,
Oakland.
LADIES’ PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT

Mary B. Alley (Mrs. Andrew J. Frayer) ; Cynthia Anderson, Nunda; Ella
M. Baker, Irving, Pa.; Lizzie Carter, Nunda; Althea Clapp, Nunda; Mary N.
Coffin (Bensinger), Nunda, class of 1874, Nunda’s best contralto singer; Jennie
A. Colby (Mrs. F. Roberts), Nunda; Kittie Colby, Philadelphia, Pa.; Eva A.
Drinkwater, Nunda; Flora J. Davis, Mt. Morris; Anna A. Dunn, Portage; Effie
Frayer; Mary Greenwood (Rowell), Nunda; *Carrie E. Gilbert, class of 1874,
died in 1877; Carrie 5. Hunt (Wilcox), class of 1874.

PRIMARY DEPARTMENT

As this was a tuition school, and there were five district schools in the village,
only a few juveniles attended this school.

Judson Batterson, Nunda; *Clark Brewer, merchant at Hunts, health failing
tried ranch life with the Ashleys, was car conductor at Colorado Springs, died in
Colorado of consumption ; *George E. Daggett, Nunda, editor of Dalton Era, died
of quick consumpticn in Nunda; John Emo, Nunda; Willie Fairman, Nunda;
George Greenwood, Eddie Hunt, Harry Jackson, Johnnie T. Knowlton, Jamaica,
Vermont; Charlie Lumsden, Nunda; Charlie Willett, Oscar Willard (junior part-
ner Williard Brothers, Nunda); Richard Whithead; Charles Wheeler; Will
Wheeler.

Girls

Carrie Batterson, Nunda; Grace Batterson, Nunda; Ella Beard, Nunda;
Belle Blood, Elba; Hattie Bliss, Nunda; Anna Bliss, Nunda; Ida Bliss, Nunda:
Stella Cox, Nunda; Addie Conrad, Nunda; Hattie Coon, Nunda; Julia A. Dake,
Nunda; Jennie Dake, Nunda; Clara Foote, Nunda; Gracie Fairman, Nunda;
Hattie Greig, Forty Fort, Pa.; May Gilmore, Nunda; Lillaette Hunt, Nunda;
Ida Howell, Mt. Morris; Elsie Jones, Portage; Cora King, Nunda; Kittie Le
Clair, Nunda; Anna Marsh, Nunda; Adella Patterson, Nunda; Hattie Russell,
Nunda; Grace Vrooman, Nunda; Lillie Warner, Nunda; *Mary Woodworth,
married to Dr. Wisner; Nellie Woodworth (Dr. Helen) ; Sophia Willett (Mrs.
J. A. Dake); Inez Whitehead (Mrs. Whirenack); Elsie Whitehead, Flora
Whipple.

HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNION FREE SCHOOL
OF NUNDA

Pursuant to official notice, the taxpayers of school districts numbers 1, 2, 9,
11 and 16, of said town, entitled to vote at any meeting of the inhabitants of their
respective districts, in or bordering on the corporation of Nunda, met at Aca-
demy Hall, in the Academy building for the purpose of consolidation and forming

358

\
a graded school. The trustees of Nunda .\cademy gave their terms, already
voted upon, upon the acceptance of certain conditions they would give a perpetual
lease of this property, including lands, building, library and apparatus, as long as
the said conditicns were complied with. The one condition of greatest moment
was the Board of Education of the Union: Free School shall established and main-.
tain an Academic Department uninterruptedly from year to year, so as to entitle
it to the benefit of the public moneys distributed by the Regents of the University
of the State of New York.

The vote taken after much discussion resulted as follows:

Whole number ot votes cast 163.

For the Union graded school .. .......... DAT Gatee mas ote ee aoa Lee
Against the Union graded schools.c.5.s¢ ic uekeaweeeee ented Seneeas cifaeet MIZO)
MAjORIty Ai TdVOR sc¢ecuyeenuin ays, Feneel a Gegelae cee edeteeu ee Oy

And Union Free School District No. 1 of the town of Nunda was established.

The trustees of the several schools before consolidation were:

No. 2. Union School District, S. H. on East Street, Captain James Lemen.

No. tr. Townsend District, Captain J. M. McNair.

No. 9. Page District, George 5. Chidsey.

No. 11. West of canal, J. F. Olney.

No. 15. South of Mill Street, Daniel Price.

The new board of nine trustees were:

For one year, Cvrus Rose, James McNair, Daniel Passage; for two years,
John F. Olney, James Lemen, Samuel Swain; three years, L. B. Warner, J. V. D.
Coon, E. O. Dickinson.

The school was opened Wednesday, September 7, 1876, with Professor Dana
as principal, at a salary of $1,000 a year.

On August 12th the Board of Education named the Academic department
the “Nunda Academy.”

September 1rth, the board met and elected Walter B. Whitcomb, treasurer.

That the Principal be instructed to remove Miss McNair’s department to the
school house in old district No. 2.

That the commissioner on repairs be requested to prepare plans for providing
more room for the school.

UNION FREE SCHOOL, ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT—ITS
INSTRUCTORS

August 16, 1876
Principal, Myron T. Dana, G. N., 1876; preceptress, Mary E. Fielder, G. N.,
1875; Miss Frances Hines, Ingham; Miss Alice Culbertson; Miss Mary Coffin,

music teacher; Mrs. Nellie Ransom.
1877
The same. Miss Martha McNair succeeds Mrs. Ransom.

1878
Principal Dana; preceptress, Miss Mary Coffin: Miss Hines, Miss Beile

Fielder.
359
 

 

 

 

Principat JouN P. Stocum, A. B.

Proressor Frank E. WEL Es, Pu. D.
1880
Principal Corlew, Cortland Normal.
The writer has failed to find the names of his assistants.
Probably most of those of former years. Miss Martha McNair and Mrs.
Ransom. 1882

Principal, Frank E. Welles, G. N. S., 1872.

Fall Term. Preceptress, Carrie A. Van Ness, till September 18, 1882; pre-
ceptress, Cornelia B. Bell, G. N. S., 1877; Miss Mary Coffin; Miss Emma War-
ren; Ella Hines (Ingham) ; Lydia Smith. .

1883

Principal Welles; preceptress, Bell; Misses Coffin, Warren, Hines, Smith.
No change. 1884

Principal Welles; preceptress, Bell; Misses Hines, Warren, Smith, N. Hild-
rich. Fall term, Julia Swain. 1885

Professor Welles; preceptress, Bell: Mrs M. W. Morgan; Miss L. S. Gur-
kee; Carrie E. Townsend; Miss Holdrige.
1886
Principal, William N. Harris, G. N. S.; preceptress, Miss Briggs; Miss Gur-
kee; Miss Townsend; Miss Holdridge; Miss Blythe.
1887
Principal Harris; preceptress, Miss Blythe ; Miss Guikee; Miss Gray (sick) ;
Professor Harris resigns. Acting preceptress, Edith Armstrong, G. N. S., fall;
Miss Alice Dodge (fall), G. N. S.; Miss Minnie Woodworth.
1888
Principal, W. A. Stewart, G. N. S., 1885; preceptress, Miss Armstrong
(spring term); preceptress, fall term, Miss Raynor; Miss Blythe, Miss Dodge,
Miss Woodworth, Miss Carrie Hoagland, Miss Westcott (fall term).
1889
Principal Stewart; preceptress, Miss Mary Jeposor; Miss Minnie Wood-
worth, Miss Alice Dodge, Lillian Westcott, Miss Hoagland. Fall term, Miss
Maud McDowell. 1890
Principal Stewart (sick), January 10. Principal Glenn A. Kretzer, Cort-
land, N. S.; preceptress, Miss Jepson; Miss Dodge, Miss Westcott, Miss Mar-
tha Skillan, Brockport Normal, 1890; Maw! McDowell, G. N. S., 1888.
1891
Principal, William M. Robinson. G. N. S., 1887; preceptress, Miss May Heb-
beard, G. N. S., 1889; Miss Skillan, Miss Holliday (fall) ; Miss Lulu McNair,
G. N.; Miss Westcott, Miss Dodge. 1892

. Principal Robinson; preceptress. Miss Hibbard; Maud Tallman; Misses
Westcott, Dodge, McNair. 1893

Principal Robinson; preceptress, Hibbard; Miss Tallman; Miss Skillam, re-
signs (fall); Miss Grace Houghton (Houghton Institute); Miss McDowell
(Miss Tallman resigns).

361
1894
Same as fall of 1893, excepting Miss Tallman, Miss Ella Duzenbury, G. N.
S., 1889, takes her place.
1895
Principal Robinson; Preceptress, E. Lulu MeNair; Lillian Westcott (fall of
1895); Maud Tallman, Miss Duzenbury.

1896
Principal Robinson; preceptress, Miss Maude D. Seaton, Alb. N.; Miss
Anna Smith (several N. S. and Alf); Miss Duzenbury; Miss Tallman, resigned;
Miss Westcott, Grace Houghton (fall term) ; Inez Green.

? 1897
Principal, John P. Slocum, A. B., Yale, 1871; preceptress, Elizabeth W.
Bump, G. N. and Cornell; assistant preceptress, Carrie Townsend Pitts; Miss
Anna Smith; Margaret Johnson, G. N., 1895; Ella Duzenburg; Minnie J. Dennis,
Binghamton High Schooi.
1898
Principal Slocum; preceptress, E. W. Bump; Mabel B. Yencer, Anna Smith,
Margaret Johnson, E. Duzenbury, Minnie J. Dennis.

1898-99

Same as preceding year, excepting Mr. Robinson taught for Principal Slo-
cum, during the sickness and death of Professor Slocum’s son. Miss Bump re-
signed.

1899-1900

Principal Slocum; preceptress Bump, Miss Yencer, Miss Smith, Miss Den-
nis, Fannie Yencer, Angeline Partridge, resigns December 15, 1899; Bessie Rob-
inson succeeds her.

Treasurer's report for the vear 1889-1900. Principal Slocum, $1,000; Pre-
ceptress Bump, $600; Mabel Yencer, $350; Anna Smith, $400; Bessie Robinson
from December 1, 1900, $219; Margaret Johnson, $350; Angeline Partridge,
$122.50.

Total receipts, $3,216.82. Dishursements, $3,189.92.

1900-01
Principal, E. E. McDowell, G. N., 1899; preceptress, Miss Bertha Bergman,
G. N., 1895; Gertrude W. Parson, G. N., 1898; Angie D. Partridge, G. N.;
Alice D. Brown, G. N. and B. N 3; Bessie M. Robinson, N. H. S.; Fannie A.
Yencer.
1901-02
Principal McDowell; preceptress, B. Bergman; Miss Virginia Kneeland
(teacher's class), G. N., 1898; Mrs. Ila G. Harrison, G. N., Alice D. Brown,
Fannie Yencer, Anna Giddings, Gertrude M. Robinson, A. B., St. Lawrence
University.
1902-03
Principal McDowell; preceptress, Ila G. Harrison, Frances E. Ramsey
(training class), at Nunda; preceptor, William M. Robinson, succeeds Mrs. H.;
Emma F. Carney, May Dillion, Ruth Fordham, Miss Bessie M. Whitman, Cath-
arine Burley, M. Julia Murphy, N. H. S. and training class.

362
1903-04
rincipal George E. Baldwin, Yale (non-graduate) ; Mrs. [frances E. Ram-
sey (training class); Miss Clara J. Partridge, Oberlin, .\. L.; Bessie M. Whit-
man, G. N.; Annie S$. Boyd (Oswego N. S.); Josephine Gilbert, Normal train-
ing class; M. Julia Murphy, Maude S. Giddings.

1904-05
Principal, Clayton G. Mabey, Colgate, M. S.; preceptress, Edytha Armad-
ing, Mrs. FP. E. Ramsey; (Bessie M. \Whitman, Josephine Gilbert), resigned ,
Julia Murphy, \laude S. Giddings. 1905-06

The same with the addition of Mary C. Bligh, Brockport Normal, 1yo2.

1906-07
Principal, preceptress and training class, teachers the same. Miss Sarah
Clicknor and Miss Ethel Danforth of Brockport Normal school added to the in-
structors. Miss Murphy and Miss Giddings resign.

1907-08
The teachers for this Centennial vear are: Clayton G. Mabey, principal;
Aliss Edytha Armading, preceptress; Mrs. I'rances Ramsey, training class in-
structor; Miss Harriet Bird, music and drawing; Miss Marion McVane, Miss
Sadie Clicknor, Miss Ethel Danforth, Miss Ruth Colburn. Aliss Bird and Miss
Colburn are Fredonia Normal school graduates.

1908-09

Principal, E. T. Lewis, A. B.; preceptress, Marion Melville; assistant pre-

ceptress, Miss Blygh; teacher training class, Mrs. Ramsey; music and drawing,

Hattie E. Bird; preparatory, Miss Green; intermediate, Miss Colburn; 2d pri-
mary, Maud Giddings; Ist primary, Jessie Andrus.

2

NUNDA UNION SCHOOL WITH ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT—
CLASS OF GRADUATES, 1881

Emma Warren, teacher, now Mrs. James Baker, Nunda.

Eva Warren, twin sister of Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Fred B. Reed, Nunda, died
1896.

Fred B. Reed, farmer, assistant postmaster, R. I. D., mail carrier.

Miss Gertrude Clark, graduate Normal school and Wellesley College (non-
graduate), died, 1907.

Kate E. Wing, teacher, died, 1905.

Nellie J. Reed, teacher, married Hon. Arthur E. Sutherland.

Arthur E. Sutherland, college, A. B., lawyer, Judge, Judge Supreme Court,
Western New York, Rochester, N. Y.

Jennie Dake, 98 \Woodward Avenue, Buffalo, N. Y.

1882

*Orrin G. Hunt, M. D., studied medicine in New York, graduated from
New York Medical College, specialist, (see list of Physicians), practiced medi-
cine in New York City 15 vears, died in New York City 1898.

*Kelsey B. Corfin, died in Carthage, N. Y., 1902.

Alice Morse, Nunda, N. Y.

Walter Palmer, Geneseo Normal, Ann Arbor, M. D., address unknown,

(see College Club).
363
Helen I. Woodworth, M. D., physician in Nunda, had a sanitarium, “Rest
Home.” Resides at Boston, Mass.

Cora L. King (Mrs. Charles L. Pratt), Nunda, N. Y.

Mary I. Hewitt, of Portage, inarried Charles Snyder, died.

Etta Spencer (Mrs. Chester I. Hunt), Portage, N. Y.

Lydia H. Smith, professional teacher, to years, (Mrs. Charles Hamlin)
Naples, N. Y., (see C. C. of N.)

1883

Belle Abbott, teacher, (Mrs. George Smith).

*Ella Cross, teacher, (Mrs. Bert Levee), died, 1903.

Mary Bemish, 124 Woodward Avenue, Rochester, N. Y.

Jessie Warren, teacher, (Mrs. Melvin Myers), 90 Chenango Street, Buffalo.
Ne Ms

AM. Burdette Laughlin, clergyman, Pacific Coast, (C. C. of N).

Henry J. Decker (son of Rev. Decker), medical student, college, Washing-
ton Department clerk; still in government service, married Frances W. Lock-
wood, (mem. C. C. of N).

Chester I. Huni, Portage, N. Y.

1884

Carrie A. Townsend, G. N. S., classical course, first classical graduate from
Nunda, instructor, Friendship and Nunda, assistant preceptress N. H. S. Mrs.
Homer Pitts. Mrs. Pitts has taught at least 15 years, and is still teaching. Pro-
fessional teacher (mem. C. C. of N.)

Minnie B. Woodworth (Mrs. H. H. Davis), has musical education, teaches
music, voice, culture, Islip, Long Island.

Melissa Whitenack has taught for 23 years in one school, Mt. Morris, and
may be called a professional teacher.

Mertie E. Barker (Mrs. Henry Gormel), Nunda, N. Y.

Henry J. Clark, Boston, Mass.

1885

Carrie D. Hoagland (Mrs. D. Brinkerhoof), died.

Cora R. Hoagland, taught in Denver, Colo., died 1904.

Hattie B. Hoagland (Mrs. John Creveling, Jr.), Tuscarora, N. Y.

Grace L. Bennett (Mrs. Saylies Benway), Mt. Morris, N. Y.

Jennie M. Koppie, taught in Rochester, died 1892.

Inez J. Burroughs (Mrs. Fred L. Willett), Portage N. Y.

Alice M. Chidsey (Mrs. M. Bingham), Perry Center.

Merton M. Wilner, college (N. G) Cornell, journalist, Buffalo Express.

Edith L. Whitehead (Mrs. M. Wilner), Buffalo, N. Y. ‘

Mattie E. Dickinson (Mrs. James Herrick), G. N. S., music teacher.

1886
Classical Course.
E. Lula MeNair, daughter of James and Emily McNair, Geneseo Normal,
instructor in N. H. school, preceptress in N. H. school, died 1895.
Lillian J. Westcott, G. N. S., taught in N. H. school, married Dr. B. C. Pil-
kev, North Lawrence, Ohio.
E. Warner Rennett, of Portage, teacher and farmer, died 1905.

364
Clayton J. Woodworth, Geneseo Normal, private secretary Maryland Steel
Works, test manager Scranton Commercial school, 1895.

E. Luella Coffin, professional teacher, New York City.

Carrie A. Smith, college, musical, (Mrs. Reed), Buffalo, N. Y.

Nellie E. Andrus (Mrs. Albert Smith).

John R. Robinson, Elmira, N. Y.

1887

Thomas J. Elmer, Austin, Pa.

Ethel W. Clark (Mrs. George Barber), was dry goods clerk, Nunda.

Warren C. Adams, West Almond.

Alice E. Preston (G. W. Wilson), Corning.

Fannie S. Coddington (Mrs. F. C. Gray), Tuscarora.

1888

Merwin Aylor, (given Regents diploma), hardware merchant, Nunda, N. Y.

Robert Sabin, son of Dr. John Sabin, D. D. S.; Buffalo University, (mem.
C. C. of N).

Frank J. Redmond, M. D., Fillmore, XN. Y.

Lottie Gurnee, died.

Eula Kramer (Mrs. Joseph Blakesley), Swains, N. Y.

A. D. Scott, commercial traveler.

Flora Conklin (Mrs. Daniel Suydam),

1889

Theresa Elizabeth Knappenberg, second president W. R. C., married Wil-
liam Bavlor, D. D. S.

Marion Gale Peck, teacher of music, musical education, Boston Censerva-
tory, soprano in city choirs, (daughter of Hon. F. C. Peck, A. B., Union, 1861:
granddaughter of Rev. Whitman Metcalf, Amherst, C. C. of N.)

Maud McDowell (Dr. F. H. Koyle), Hornell.

Kate Belle Atkins (Mrs. George Greenfield), Rochester, N. Y.

Grace Greenwood Paine, G. N. S., professional teacher, Greater New York,
(mem. C. C. of N.)

Roy Alfred Page, M. D., 1894, New York Medical College, located at Gen-
eseo, N. Y. (C. C. of N.)

Teresa Fitzgerald (Mrs. Richard Hughes), Nunda, N. Y.

1890
Mary O. Dowell, Craigs Colony.
Belle Holmes (Mrs. Harry Kellogs), Fair Street, Nunda.
Margaret Hickey, language, stenographer, Buftalo.
Daisy Gurnee, stenographer, Rochester, N. Y.
Luther Thompson, farmer, Oakland, N. Y.
Adelbert B. Hunt, Albany Normal, Ph. D., (elsewhere) principal of a de-
partment, Manhattan, residence New Jersey.
r Virginia Herrick, kindergarten teacher, Nunda, N. Y.
Mary E. Framingham (Mrs. Lester B. Higgins.)
Melvin Gearhart, G. N. S., coilege, Franklin and Columbia, A. B., (C. ©.
of N.)
Edwin T. Jones, merchant, Bay City, Mich.

365
Class of 1891
Lewis C. Metcalf, journalist, Attica, N. Y.
Arthur Yates Bennett. manufacturer.
John R. Smith, Friendship, N. Y.
LeVerne A. Walker, lawver, Perry, N. Y.
Maud Tallman, Albany Normal College, (Mrs. Metcalf.)

1893
Frank DeWitt Warren, Geneseo Normal School, Hamilton College, A. B..
principal, Superintendent of Schools, Ilion, N. Y.
Rollin Crosier, Genesco Normal ’93, Buffalo University, M. D., practicing
medicine at Binghamton, N. Y.
Jessie Batterson, daughter of Loretta jones Batterson, also a graduate
Nunda Academy, 1875, Geneseo Normal school. ;

1894
Grace Metcalf (Mrs. Edward Northway); Florine Smith; Lawrence D.
Beilinger, college, A. 5B.
1895
Nellie Y. Slater, G. N. S., teacher, Hunt, N. Y.
Mabel M. Jencer, training class, college degree, taught in N. H. S., and else-
where.
Eugene E. Collister, G. N. S., college course, A. B., principal of High
schools.
Loomis H. Eldridge, Rossburg, N. Y.

1896

Cora D. Stone, teacher, choir singer, (Mrs. Roy Cudebee), Nunda, N. Y.

Anna T. Giddings, teacher.

Gertrude M. Robinson, A. B., teacher. N. H. S., St. Lawrence University,
A. B., teacher Larchmont Seminary, New York City.

Elizabeth A. Fitzgerald, professional teacher. New York City (C. C oi N.)

Harrison F. Collister, G. N. S., college A. B., principal of schools.

Wilbur C. Phillips, continued his studies at Colgate Academy and Harvard
University, A. B., 1904, journalist, Philadelphia, Pa.

Bert S. Butler, G. N. S., college A. B.

Thomas A. Cain, A. B., Cornell, in government employ as an expert on
soils and minerals.

Frances C. Ray, G. N. S., professional teacher (C. C. of N.}

Loretta Bergen, G. N. S., teacher, (Mrs. Thomas A. Cain).

1898

Lottie Morey, teacher.

Bessie Robbinson, training class, taught in N. H. S., took kindergarten
course, Chicago, Columbia College, B. S., director of kindergarten teachers in
Manhattan.

Anna Noonan, Buffalo Normal, teacher, Buffalo, N. Y.

Anna Coffin.

Bert W. Fritz, teacher, died.

William A. Frayer, Cornell, A. B. assistant instructor in Elocution, Cornell,
European tourist guide.

366
Winfield Gurnee, teacher, Nunda, N. Y.

Harry Jellersoa, continued his studies at Colgate Academy, teacher, Nunda,
N. Y.

Charles Chidsey, teacher, farmer, Nunda.

J. Craig Roberts, LL. B., lawyer, Buffalo, N.Y,

Virgil Dake, electrician.

Mabel Stockwell.

1899

Julia S. Woodworth, artist and teacher, Long Island.

Mary Abbott.

Clyde Cudebee, electrician.

May Criddle, taught district school 6 years, (Mrs. Stevens), Nunda, N. Y

1900

M. Julia Murphy, training class, taught in N. H. S. (Mrs. Oscar Caine).

Mallie Pitcher (Mrs. F’. Forest), died.

Louise Spencer, musical course, Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, Lima, (Mrs.
Lawrence D. Bellinger).

LeRoy Brainard, Alfred University, Ph. B.

Madeline E. Bergen, Cornell, non-graduate, Ithaca.

Gertrude A. Willis.

Jessie M. Johnson, milliner.

Maurice J. Noonan, Bufialo.

Margaret E. Smith, teacher (Mrs. Roy Chase), Hunts, N. Y.

Harry MI. Elwood, medical student 2 years, University of Buffalo, skilled
medical attendant.

John H. Barron, Cornell University 1906, B, Sci. of Ag., Professor Ex-
perimental Agriculture, State Agricultural College, Pennsylvania.

1902
Jennie Close, training class.
1904
Margery H. Baker, G. N. S., the first graduate child of a graduate of Nunda
Union school, daughter of Emma Warren Baker, teacher.
Leila Bentley, (Irs. Charles Cleveland).
Gretta Rose Wilner, G. N.S.
Lena B. Powell, G. N.S.
Mary A. Symes, training class.
Mary Louise Doyle, training class.
Fred Lee Dake, Denver, Colorado.
Frank L. Tuthill, G. N. S., principal.
Mark Gilbert, Pharmacist, 1908.
Mabel Robinson, teacher’s class 1905, (Mrs. Hunt).

1905
Ralph King Pratt (Andover); Jessie Margaret Makeley, secretary;
Mabel Florindia Barrett, G. N. S.; Marguerette May Mackay, G. N. S.; William
Howard Robinson; Arthur Duryea Ostrander; Max Brewster Robinson, An-
dover and college, Cincinnati University; Ronert Wagor, and Military school.

367
1906
Stanley John Brown, medical student, Buffalo University; Clayton Gard-
ner Hall, G. N. S. sick in hospital, Brooklyn; John Leo Fitzpatrick, G. N. oe
1907; Charles Henry Sphoon, G. N. S., 1907, principal; William Wallace Hall,
G. N. S., graduate 1908.
1907
Evelyn Huldah Bennett, Dora Belle Craig, John Sabin Knibloe, Burr Dex-
ter Straight, Alfred University, Lillian Juliett Taylor, Minnie Luella Werner,
G. N.S., sick at home. Graduated in June, 1908.

 

 

 

 

PrIncIpAL CLayToN G. MABEY AND Ciass oF 1908, NunpA HiGH SCHOOL

Ellis DeGroff, Ward Pratt, now at Andover Academy, Mass., Forest Marsh,
Ralph Robinson, Frank Wagor, William Gallentine, Marian Marsh, Florence
Knibloe, George Miller, training class, has taught two terms.

TEACHERS’ CLASSES—SOME BENEFICIAL LEGISLATION

From 1833 to 1839, John A. Dix was Secretary of State, and had charge
of the public schools of the state. During this time a certain sum was set aside
from the Literary fund, for the several academies to establish and conduct teach-
ers’ classes, that competent teachers might be provided for the district schools of
the state.

In 1836, $200,000 was appropriated for the academies of the state, making
these institutions far more efficient for educating school teachers. In 1841,
county superintendents were again provided, and the law that had been virtually
inactive, under State Superintendent S. S. Randall, was made effective. This na-
turally led to the establishing of teachers classes in every Academy in order to

368
secure its share of this money. It virtually amounted to staying one half hour
later, three or four days in the week, for a special exercise calculated to interest
scholars.

Under the Winslow management it took more definite form than ever before,
and from that time to the burning of the Institute, there was always, during the
winter term, a teachers’ class composed of those regular attendants of the school
who desired at some time to teach school.

Even on the records of the trustees, Normal teaching is mentioned.

May 7, 1844, an act was passed by the Legislature of the State, creating the
first Normal school at Albany.

And Nunda, that is never far behind in eduactional matters, had a scholar or
ewo ainong its frst graduates. David P. Page, author of “Theory and Prac-
tice of Teaching” was the first principal of this institution.

Other Normal schools followed, but the one at Geneseo has shelved all the
teachers that lacked this form of instruction, and from our quiet resting place on
“Shelf Street,” we sometimes wonder if the youth of to-day, who have a smat-
tering of a dozen subjects. not formerly taugh¢ in district schools, are better fitted
for the actualities of thought and life, than those we taught in the methods of
years ago. There are, no doubt, some advantages in the newer ways, there seems
also to be a few disadvantages. Those scholars who cannot learn as rapidly as
the others, if they get behind as they inevitably wili, have to do their work over
so many times, that as soon as they pass the age where the truant officer cannot
make them to return to school, they drop out of the school rather than be classed
with scholars vounger than themselves. Under the old system they kept on plod-
ding along and often became first class scholars. But in a progressive age like
this it is rank heresy to intimate that there are any defects in present methods.
Our Normal graduates, however, are needed and usually engaged for large city
and village schools, and the district public schools are dependent on those teach-
ers sent out by the training classes of our High schools—None others need
apply.”

Writing as I do from the quiet retirement of “Shelf Street,” I am inclined to
think that we are more indebted to that class of teachers like \Irs. Ramsay, who
furnish from ten to twenty-five teachers a year, and this, in spite of the destruc-
tive work done by Cupid, has kept our district schools supplied with teachers, we
owe her most—a fair share. It is just, however, to sav that the graduates of
the High school, find their way into the training class, then after a vear or two
take a finishing polish at the Normal and then take higher positions, leaving
vacancies for the training class to fill.

TEACHERS’ TRAINING CLASS, NUNDA, LIVINGSTON COUNTY,
NEW YORK.
By Mrs. Frances E. Ramsey. Instructor.

The earliest record of such class preserved in the school documents is
dated for the term beginning September 18, 1883. In it the trustees and prin-
cipal of Nunda Union School respectfully report that during at least thirteen
weeks they have instructed, free of charge, in theory and practice of common
school teaching, sixteen scholars at least eighteen years of age. The list of
members reads as follows:

369
Frank B. Chittenden, of Nunda, Livingston County: Will E. Petteys, of
Dalton, Livingston County; Inez I. Burroughs, of Oakland, Livingston Coun-
Livinuston County: Nettie V Cudebee, Oakland, Livingston County; Cora
ty: \Mertie E. Barker, of Nunda, Livingston County ; Rose E. Clute, Hunt,
W. Demmon, Nunda, Livingston County; Hattie B. Hoagland, Brooks Grove,
Livingston County; Cora B. Hougland, Brooks Grove, Livingston County:
Nellie E. Hall, Dansville, Livingston County ; Amanda Powell, Nunda, Living-
ston County ; Florence Shaw, Byersville, Livingston County; Mame L. Smith,
Nunda, Livingston County ; Carrie A. Townsend, Nunda, Livingston County :
Melissa Whitenack, Nunda, Livingston County; Minnie Woodworth, Nunda,
Livingston County.

The members of class of December, 1883, were:

Julia Abbot, of Nunda; Estelle M. Bergen, of Nunda; Chas. G. Chidsey,
of Nunda; May E. Criddle, of Nunda; Carlotta Denocker, of Nunda; *Bert
W Fritz, of Nunda; Maude S. Giddings, of Nunda; Edith M. Gelser, of Dal-
ton; Josephine Gilbert, of Nunda; Harry Jellerson, of Nunda; Mamie E. A.
Lynde, of Dalton; Lulu M. Lynch, of Dalton; Louise J. McKeown, of Nunda:
Bessie M. Robinson, of Nunda; Rose M. Ricketts, of Short Tract; Margaret
E. Smith, of Nunda.

The report of examination for June, 1899, shows certificates won by:

Estella Bergen, Bert W. Fritz, Edith Gelser, Lulu Lynch, Mamie Lynde,
Rose Ricketts, Louise McKeown, Bessie Robinson.

In the penmanship of William M. Robinson, principal of ene Union
School, we find the record of organization on September 16, 1892, of a class
consisting of thirteen females:

Florence Hodnett, Hume, Allegany County; Lena Farnsworth, Granger,
Allegany County; Julia Batterson, Nunda, Livingston County; Jessie C.
Beach, Nunda, Livingston County; Carrie L. Green, Nunda, Livingston County ;
Jennie F. Burdick, Nunda, Livingston County; Carrie J. Whitenack, Nunda,
Livingston County; Ruby Cox, Portage, Livingston County; Bertha Burdick,
Nunda, Livingston County: Blanche Giddings, Nunda, Livingston County;
Amy Bartholomew, Nunda, Livingston County; Allie Hungerford, Nunda, Liv-
ingston County; Lottie Hodnett, Hume, Allegany County.

The first term pupils, September, 1894:

Thomas Cain, Eugene Collister, Loomis Eldridge, Julia Abbott, Jessie
Beach, Harriott Morris, Louise Payne, Mabel Payne, Nellie Slater, Cora Stone,
Mabel Yencer.

Of second term, January, 1895:

Maude Giddings, Josephine Gilbert, Margaret Smith.

The list of scholars,1898:

(otis Brainard, Dalton; Roy Brainard, Dalton; May Criddle, Nunda;
Anna Giddings, Nunda; Blanche Gurnee, Nunda; Lottie Morey, Nunda; Anna
Noonan, Nunda; *Andrew Philips, Nunda: Lena Price, Nunda; Mary E. Slo-
cum, Nunda; Martha E. Slocum, Nunda; Mabel Stockwell, Angelica; Fannie
Yencer, Tuscarora.

September 5, 1899, another class organized with 22 members, John P
Slocum, principal:

370
Maude S. Ainslie, Nunda; Lida Carney, Nunda; Chas. G. Chidsey, Nunda;
Harriet B. Colton, Dalton; Agnes Theresa Colwell, Mount Morris; Gertrude
Conklin, Mount Merris; Lora Maude Cook, Portageville: Dora Bell Galen-
tine, Nunda; Maude Giddings, Nunda; Josephine Gilbert, Nunda; Isabella
Gormel, Nunda; J. Winfield Gurnee, Nunda; Harry Jellerson, Nunda; Jessie
M. Johnson, Nunda; Grace W Kennedy, Ross’; E. Maude Lynde, Dalton;
Mildred L. Marsh, Nunda; E. Maude Mitchell, Dalton: Margaret Smith,
Nunda; Blanche Timothy, Dalton; Lena White, Nunda; Gertrude A. Willis,
Nunda.

Class roll organized September 4, 1900, E. E. McDowell principal, Miss
Burgman, preceptress:

Myrtle Brown, Stella Cockle, Lida M. Carney, Frances Marsh, M. Julia
Murphy, Mallie B. Pitcher, E. Maude Mitchell, Gertrude Willis, Grace Win-
ters, Estelle \Woolworth, Rose Woodworth, Blanche Deegan, Mabel Tifft,
John Fitzpatrick.

January 28, 1901, spring term:

Myrtle Brown, Stella Cockle, Blanche Deegan, John Fitzpatrick, Julia
Murphy, Mallie Pitcher, Mabel Tifft, Grace Winters, Estella Woolworth.

Note—All of the above were members of the class during the previous
term.

Class of September 3, Igor:

Jessie C. Beach, of Nunda; Edna V Cartwright, of Hunt; Jessie Close,
of Nunda; Blanche E. Deegan, of Nunda; Bertha I. DeLude, of Rosses;
Blanche Kelley, of Dalton; Lena B. Powell, of Nunda; Ethel Ricketts, of Fill-

‘more; Chas. H. Sphoon, of Nunda; Mabel Tifft, of Memphis; E. Maude
Mitchell, of Dalton.

Class of 1902-3:

Rose Grace Woodworth, Nunda; May Belle Miller, Nunda; Charles Henry
Sphoon, Nunda; Blanche Evelyn Kelley, Dalton; Jessie Inez Close, Nunda;
Ethel L. Ricketts, Nunda; Bertha Irene DeLude, Rosses; Belle Augusta Crid-
dle, Nunda; Edna V. Cartwright, Hunt; Samuel G. McFarnaghan; Susie Rae
Smith.

September 8, 1903, George E. Baldwin principal, Frances E. Ramsay,
instructor. The record breaking class—the class that “made history.” It was
composed of 25 members and two more desired admission. There were 102
classes in the state, and Nunda was one of three that were full, the others
being in Northern New York—Gouveneur and Malone:

May B. Miller, Nunda; Margaret Johnson, Nunda; Isabel Crawford,
Mount Morris; Beatrice Ricketts, Nunda; May E. Bennett, Canaseraga;
Mabel F. Barrett, Perry; Ethel Bryant, Mount Morris; Myrtle Southworth,
Dansville; Georgia Jones, Nunda; Vosie Southworth, Dansville; Mae <A.
Powell, Nunda; Agnes J. Bennett, Canaseraga; Mabel Robinson, Nunda;
Florence Whipple, Nunda; Belle A. Criddle, Nunda; Carrie E. Deegan,
Nunda; Charlotte Bennett, Nunda; Rose G. Woodworth, Nunda; Mary A. E.
Symes, Dalton; Marion Chase, Castile; Helen Powell, Nunda; Beulah
Schmeck, Canaseraga; Ward Hill, Dalton; Mary B. Chace, Perry.

371
PO6T AO SSVID ONINIVAL, S,ATHOVAT, ANV AASNVY “SUA

 

 

 
This class rejoiced in the “one to twenty-four.” One of their yells was:
“Northeast, southwest, ship ahoy!
Nunda Training Class
Just one boy!”

The big class was photographed by WW’. M. Robinson, at that time in. the
photographic business, whose daughter, Mabel, was one of the class. “Truth”
reproduced the picture in the issue of October 30, 1903. A copy of the photo-
graph was sent to Supt. Chas. R. Skinner and was acknowledged in a very
pleasant personal letter conveying the thanks and good wishes of the State
Superintendent and the information that the picture was given a prominent
place in his office.

Another of the pictures accompanied the exhibit in methods and drawing
which was sent to the Educational Exhibit at St. Louis in 1904. In the
autumn of that year the instructor received the following announcement from
DeLancey M. Ellis:

“Tam pleased to announce that the International Jury in Group IL, Ele-
mentary Education, has awarded a gold medal to the exhibit of training
classes of the State of New York. As the exhibit of the Training Class at
Nunda is a part of this exhibit, a copy of the award will be sent you in due
time.”

The award, suitably framed by the class that won it, adorns the training
class room.

On Thursday, February 4, 1904, an organization of the Training Class
Alumni was effected. The officers were: Samuel McFarnaghan, President;
Dora Galentine, Vice President; Julia Murphy, Recording Secretary and
Treasurer; Frances E. Ramsay, Corresponding Secretary. Twenty-eight
members were enrolled.

Class of September 6, 1904:

Lulu V. Cartwright, Hunts; Florence E. Whipple, Nunda; Leila E. Bent-
ley, Nunda; Grace E. Yontz, Tuscarora; Mae A. Powell, Nunda; Carrie D.
Scholes, Dalton; Margery H. Baker, Nunda; M. Louise Doyle, Nunda; Alice
E. Broxholm, Whitesville; Georgia M. Jones, Nunda; Sadie E. Shaw, West
Sparta; Margaret J. Scott, Canaseraga; Jessie L. Andrus, Nunda; Marion
Chase, Hunt; Mabel Barrett, Castile.

Winter term, additional.

Clara J. Swain, Hornell; Winnie Smith, Allegany.

For the first time in the history of the school there was a training class
commencement, apart from the High school. Twelve members composed the
class of 1905.

The class of 1906 organized in September with William Hall, of Nunda;
Lulu Cartwright, of Hunt; Cora Johnston, of Nunda; Kathryn Kilcoyne, of
Portageville; Marguerite Mackay, of Nunda; Ormolee B. McNinch, of Sparta;
Fannie E. Mitchell, of Hunt; Mae Twist, of Nunda; Carrie D. Scholes, of
Dalton; Margaret Scott, of Canaseraga; Winifred Sharon, of Canaseraga.

Graduates in 1907:

Fannie Mitchell, Cora Johnston, Gertrude Parker, Clayton Hall, George
Miller, Olive Parks, Marion Mitchell, Rose Triner.

Robert Wagor joined the class but did not graduate.

373
Graduates 1908:

Jean Kenney, Margaret Knapp, Arlene Bryant, Mary Jackson, Sovila
Kemp, Sabin Knibloe, Jennie Koeppie, Blanche Lynde, Forrest Marsh, Jennie
McGinty, Mae Scholes, Elizabeth Wilson, Lillian Wingate.

Evangelyn Kernahan entered the class in January, 1908. The prospects
for a good class for 1909 are very promising.

MARRIAGES. (T. C.)

Carrie Townsend married Homer Pitts, of Nunda; Blanche Kelley mar-
ried Roy Baker, of Dalton: *Mallie Pitcher married ————— Forrest; Samuel
McFarnaghan married Jessie Chandler, of Nunda; Ethel Ricketts married
William Cartwright, of Hunt; Edna Cartwright married Frank Tuthill, of
Nunda; Beatrice Ricketts married Bert DeMocher, of Nunda; Maude Mitchell
married Gibson; Edith Gelser married Walter Wakeman, of Dalton;
Mamie Lynde married Steckle; Lulu Lynch married Charles Johnson,
of Perry ; Grace Kennedy married Jerry Scholes; Margaret Smith married Roy
Chase; Estella Woodworth married Rudolph McKeown; Carlotta DeMocker
married Linsley ; Lydia Carney married Fred Brinkerhoff; May Crid-
dle married Manley Stevens; Lora Cook married Raymond Tuttle; Carrie
Scholes married Howard Kelley; Inez I. Burroughs married Fred L. Willett;
Nettie V. Cudebec married A. B. Hunt; Mertie Barker married Henry Gor-
mel; Cora W. Demmon married Fred Woodworth; Amanda Powell married
Ernest Newville; \Jinnie Woodworth married * Davis; Julia Abbott
married Alfred Stamp, of Nunda; Thomas A. Caine married Loretta Bergen;
Carrie Deegan married Charles Campell; Mabel Robinson married Arthur
Hunt; Beulah Schneck married Henry Phippen; May Belle Miller married
Joseph Rowan; Rose Woodworth married Harry Noyes; Georgia Jones mar-
ried Ralph Stewart; Leila Bentley married Charles Cleveland; Alice Broxholm
married Burt Irish; Margaret Scott, married Herbert Richmond; Grace Yontz,
married Emery Coe.

* Deceased. DEATHS.

Houghland, Mamie L. Smith, Bert W. Fritz, Andrew Phillips,
Mallie B. Pitcher, May Bennett.

A pleasing event December 27, 1906, was a reunion of all Mrs. Ramsay’s
classes—1903 to 1907 inclusive.

The commencement address to the class of 1906 was given by Professor
Merrick Whitcomb, Dean of the University of Cincinnati; that of 1907 by
Rev. Edwin P. Wood, pastor of Nunda Universalist Church. The class of
1908 was unusually large, consequently no speaker appeared on the program.

 

 

 

 

 

DALTON UNION SCHOOL—ITS TEACHERS AND GRADUATES—
HISTORICAL SKETCH

It is a little unusual for a town with only a few thousand inhabitants to
have two schools of such marked importance as the Nunda High School and
the Dalton Union School, less than three miles apart, both forming strong
supporters of the Nunda training class, whose graduates are eagerly sought
as teachers for our public schools.

374
The principal teachers of the Dalton Union School have been mostly grad-
uates from our State Normal Schools, and have proved earnest and efficient
instructors and well equiped for their noble but arduous calling. ‘The day is
fast approaching when classical and scientific graduates of our State Normal
Schools will all have their rightful degree of bachelor of pedagogy, for surely
their course of study is equal to that of any of the other professional schools.
If it is not so already it will become so. The best people are required for the
best work, and no work is of greater significance than shaping the thoughts,
aims and lives of the youth of our land.

The principals of the Dalton Union School have been:

1, William G. Welker, from the Buffalo Normal School; 2, Edw. M. Peck-
ham; 3, Charles C. McCall, who afterward became School Commissioner of the
and District of Wyoming County; 4, H. P. Marvin, G. N. S.; 5, John P. Magee.
G. N. S.; 6, Rhyland Ethelwyn Salusbury, Pittsfield Classical Institute, sup-
plemented by further studies at Harvard.

The following lady teachers have each served as preceptress:

Miss Chloe Hawkins, of Gowanda, Buffalo Normal School; Miss Mary F.
Byington, Geneseo Normal School; Miss Frances L. Blansett, Shortsville High
School and Geneseo Normal School; Miss Mary Crane, Geneseo Normal
School; Miss Nellie D. Brewer, of Nunda, Geneseo Normal School.

ALUMNI

1895—Jennie A. Burt; William PD. Burt, supervisor of Nunda; *Eldrett J.
Merrv; Henrietta M. Parker.

1896—Charles W. Johnson, Buffalo Law School.

1897—Charles S. Gelser, C. E., Cornell University.

1898—Melrose Collister; Edith M. Gelser; Mamie Lynde; Emma G. Nelson.

 

 

DaLton UNION SCHOOL
375
1899—Talmage Barager; Maude E. Lynde, T. C. of Nunda; Blanche
Timothy.

1900—Guy W. Hill, G. N. S. principal.

190I—Belle M. Gifford; Ward W. Hill, Nunda training class; Ina O.
Loomis; Grace G. Maker; Ina Muir; Roy C. Parker.

1908—Leon Walker.

Present Faculty—Ryland E. Saulsbury, principal; Nellie D. Brewer, pre-
ceptress; Harriet B. Colton, intermediate; Mary A. E. Symes, primary.

GENESEO NORMAL GRADUATES FROM NUNDA SCHOOLS AND
VICINITY

Carrie A. Townsend, 1885, (Mrs. Homer Pitts) ; Carrie A. Van Ness, 1878;
Edith Armstrong, 1887; Ellura Bennett, 1879; Carrie D. Wood, 1882; S. Inelle
Barker, 1883; Frances E. Dodge, 1883; Mary E. Thorp, 1883; V. Mollie Perrine,
1884, music, (Mrs. Kilsey Bergen) ; Nettie F. Ferguson, 1885; Jacob Whitenack,
principal of two schoois New York City, 1885; Harriet Guernsey, 1886, college;
Lydia H. Smith, taught 12 years, (Mrs. Charles Hamlin), Naples, N. Y.; Melissa
Whitenack, 1886, has taught 24 years; Hattie B. Hoagland, 1886; Florence Shaw,
1891; Horace Perkins, 1891; Gertrude Clark, 1887, 2 years at Wellesley, died
1907; Alice M. Dodge, 1887; Sarah De Camp, 1889; *E. Lula McNair, 1880,
preceptress Nunda High school, died; Alice M. Chidsey, 1895; Grace G. Paine,
1893, has taught 15 years; Jessie Batterson, 1896; Frank D. Warren, 1896, (see
College) ; Melvin F. Gearhart, 1897, (see Coiteges) ; Mabel Yencer, 1808, assist-
ant preceptress and college degree, married; Elizabeth Fitzgerald, 18098, has
taught 10 years; Julia K. Marsh, 1898; Angelina Partridge, 1898, assistant pre-
ceptress Nunda High School, married; Loretta J. Bergen, 1899, married Thomas
A. Caine, A. M.; Louise D. Paine, 1899, married Fulmer; De Etta A. Tucker,
1878; Nora M. Bennett, 1881; Luella Coffin, 1891, has taught 17 years; Lizzie
Sharp, 1890, married; Frances C. Ray, 1899, has taught 11 years; Mattie E. Dick-
inson, 1887, taught 2 years, married *James Herrick; Roslin G. Conklin, 1898;
Howard G Bishop, 1897; Eugene Collister, 1899, and college; Harrison Collis-
ter, 1899, and college; Harriet Shaw, 1896; Leon Bishop, 1895; Florine B. Smith,
1899; Katelina Shaw, 1895; Morell B. Baker, 1900, and college; William E
Powell, 1902; fulia S. Woodworth, 1904; Mary N. Lynde, Dalton, 1904; May
H. Miller, music, 1904; Bertha Ostrander, music, 1904; George Kneeland, 1881:
Charles B. Bennett, 1883; Frank Cudebee, 1884; Mertie Stoner, 1892; John S.
Smith, 1892; Persis Gardner, 1892; Frank Tuthill, 1907, principal Union school;
John Fitz Gibbons, 1907.

NON-GRADUATES

Carrie M. Bennett, 1875, (Mrs. Oscar Sharp); Hattie Feater, Tuscarora,
1877; Minnie D. Lowell, 1876; Alberta Morse, 1880; Mary E. Stowell, H. H.,
1872, married; Elletta M. Thompson, 1871, the only teacher of speech to the deaf
and dumb in foreign lands, Chefu, China; Carrie A. Tousey, 1872 (Mrs. J. J.
Williams) ; Minnie C. Tabor, 1884, Dalton, N. Y.; Nellie Reed (Mrs. Judge
Sutherland); Mary L. Parmelee, 1883, (Mrs. C. B. Bennett); Hattie Van
Ostrand, 1886; *Frank McNair, 1888, died in Moro Castle, Cuba; Clayton Wood-
worth, 1887; Minnie B. Woodworth, 1885; Ina Linsner, 1882; Rolin O. Crosier,
1885; Mary Kneeland; Clarence A. Barber; Helen M. Slater; Maude I. Cox,

376
married; Mary J. Craig, 1896; Bergen Perrine, 1897; Daniel L. Ryan, 1899;
Luella Gray; Alton Depuy; Grace Metcalf; Belle Johnstone, Byersville, 1894;
Grace R. Neal, Tuscarora, 1895; Julia H. Batterson, 1894; Agnes N. Brogan,
1895; Nellie N. Mann, 1894; Carolyn N. Green, 1895; Cora Green, Byersville ;
Carl Miller, Tuscarora; Geoyge M. Voss; Frank Shaw, 1896; Algia Shaw:
Minnie Davis, 1882; Adelbert Moot, at Law. School; John Bergen; John P
Brown, M. D., (Nettie Barclay-Brown) ; George Brown.

NUNDA SCHOLARS AT OTHER NORMAL SCHOOLS

Buffalo—-Anna Nonan, Alice Brown.

Albany Normal College—Maude A. Tallman, 1892, (Mrs. Lewis Metcalf) ;
Adelbert B. Hunt, principal of a department, Manhattan, Ph. B.; Minnie Dennis,
1902.

OUR FIRST NORMAL SCHOLARS AT OUR FIRST NORMAL

SCHOOL

Albany Normal—Joseph S. Weller, teacher district schools, student Nunda
Academy, 1839, and private seminary teacher, attended and graduated from thi:
institution in 1846, he became a great man. (See Civil List Abroad).

Sarah A. Brown, from Nunda, graduated at Lima, taught ten years, grad-
uated at Albany, 1854; Mary C. Bennett, graduated 1855, principal Roanoke Fe-
male College, principal Mont. Female College, Virginia; Roanoke from 1866-
1875. (See “On the Heights.)

WHERE NUNDA SCHOLARS WENT TO COLLEGE
New York College, Genesee College, Lima, N. Y., now Syracuse University

William Marcey Benson, A. B., 1862, A. M., 1865, Ph. D. Has taught most
of the time since graduation. Residence, Rochester, N. Y.

Benjamin S. Coffin, A. B., 1861. Enlisted in Lima, Co. 27, N. Y., before
graduation, but was graduated with the class. Farmer, died July, 1906.

Charles N. Burr, lived in Nunda and Portage in boyhood, was in class of ’62
when he enlisted.

Leonard Rodgers, A. B., Syracuse, clergyman, Silver Springs, N. Y. Died
in Eagle Pass, Texas, 1908.

ALFRED UNIVERSITY, ALFRED, N. Y.

Otis Brainard, Ph. B.; G. Roy Brainard, Ph. B.; Burr Straight, class of 1811 ;
Thomas J. Simeon and Alexander Thorp, fitted for college at Alfred. Simeon
was killed in Kansas, and Alexander, killed in battle.

ROCHESTER UNIVERSITY FOUNDED 1850
*Washington Hunt, LL. D., 1851. First judge, Niagara County, N. Y.
1836-1841; member U. S. Congress, 1843-1849; comptroller N. Y. State, 1849;
Governor of the State of New York, 1851-1852. Born in 1811; died, New York
City, February, 2, 1867.
1855
*Sylvenus Adon Ellis, A. B.; A. M., 1872; Ph. D., New York University,
1884. Entered from Nunda, N. Y.; glove manufacturer, 1857-1863 ; bookseller,
377
Rochester, N. Y., 1863-1869; superintendent public schools, Rochester, N. Y.,
1869-1876 ; business manager Rural Home, 1876-1877; teacher Western N. Y. In-
stitute for Deaf Mutes, Rochester, N. Y., 1877-1882; superintendent public
schools, Rochester, N Y., 1882-1893; of the firm J. E. Putnam & Co., electrical
engineers, Rochester, N. Y., 1893-1896. Member Rochester Academy of Science ;
American Microscopical Society. Born in 1830; died, Rochester, N. Y., March

24, 1896. 1857

A. J. B., received his second degree while residing in Nunda.

*Amos Judson Barrett, A. b.; A. M., 1857; D. D., 1884. Entered from
Kingsville, O.; principal Literary Institute, Nunda, N. Y., 1854-1857; Kingsville
Academy, Ohio, 1859-1867; Lowville Academy, N. Y., 1867-1870; Collegiate In-
stitute, Rochester, N. Y., 1870-1874; student Rochester Theological Seminary,
1874-1876; pastor Lake Avenue Baptist church, Rochester, N. Y., 1876-1889.
Frequent contributor to New York Examiner. Author of “The cause and cure
of the comparative decrease in the number of young men attending the schools
for higher education in New York State,” 1883. Born, Kingsville, O., April 1,
1832; died, Rochester, N. Y., October 20, 1889.

1859

S. P. B., left his position as instructor in Nunda Literary Institute to com-
plete his college course.

Stephen Paley Barrett, A. B.; A. M., 1862. Prepared at Kingsville, O.;
principal High school, Chattanooga, Tenn., 1859-1861; Buchanan, Mich., 1861-
1865; associate principal Kingsville Academy, O., 1866-1868; principal of public
school, Buchanan, Mich., 1868-1871; Dalles City High school, Ore., 1871-1872;
Baker City Public school, Ore., 1872-1875; Dalles Public school, Ore., 1875-1878;
Lincoln High school, Neb., 1883-1889; Vaipariso Public school, Neb., 1889-
1890; Baker City Public school, Ore., 1890-1891, and again 1894-1898; retired on
account of ill health, 1898. Member of National Teacher’s Association, 1885.
Died.

*John Peck Colby, A. B.; A. M., 1862; LL. D., elsewhere, 1875. Entered
from Nunda, N. Y.; law student, 1859-1861; associate principal and teacher of
ancient languages, Belfast, N. Y., 1862-1864; law student, 1864-1865; captain
58th Regiment N. Y. State National Guard, U. S. service, 1863-1864; lawyer,
St. Louis, Mo., 1865-1893; professor of medical jurisprudence, Eclectic Medi-
cal college, St. Louis, Mo. Born in 1838; died, St. Louis, Mo., May 1, 1893.

1860

Andrew Jackson Knight, A. B. Prepared at Nunda, N. Y.; teacher and law
student, Nunda, N. Y., 1861-1863; lawver, Arcade, N. Y., 1864. District Attor-
ney of Wyoming County, 1874-1876. Address, Arcade, N. Y.

*James Monroe McNair, A. B.; A. M., 1863. Entered from Nunda, N. Y..
principal High school, W. Bloomfield, N. Y., 1860-1861; captain Company F.
33d N. Y. Infantry, 1861-1863 ; clerk in office of Quartermaster-general, Washing-
ton, D. C., 1863-1869; farmer, Nunda, N. Y., 1869-1891, was supervisor of
Nunda. Born in 1835; died, Nunda, N. Y., February 1, 1891.

James Work, A. B. Prepared at Nunda, N. Y.; graduated Rochester
Theological Scminary, 1863; missionary in Orkney, 1863-1866; pastor, Lerwick,
Shetland, 1866-1868; Kirkwall, Orkney, 1868-1870; Wick, Caithness, 1870-1876;
Kelso, 1876-1880. Address, 441 Vermont Street, Buffalo, N. Y.

378
1862

Thomas Bailey Lovell, A. B.; A. M., 1865. LL. D., Hobart, tg01. — Pre-
pared at Nunda, N. Y.; principal Seminary, Penfield, N. Y., 1863-1864; col-
legiate Institute. Marion, N. Y., 1864-1870; Union school, Attica, N. Y., 1870-
1892; High school, Niagara Falls, N. Y., 1892. President associated academic
principals, State of New York, 1892-1803; president Niagara Falls civic club,
1898-1899. Author of many articles in newspapers and magazines. Address,
Niagara Falls, N. Y.

Oliver Spoor. Prepared at Nunda, N. Y., but did not graduate.

C. E. West, entered the University from Nunda N. Y., but did not complet:
his course.

*Alvin Water Tousey, A. B.; A. M., 1806. Entered from Nunda, N. Y.;
graduated Rochester Theological Seminary, 1865; pastor North Baptist church.
Chicago, IIl., 1865-1866; Freeport, IlIl., 1866-1868; Erie, Pa., 1868-1869. Born
in 1837; died, Winfield, Kan., September 5, 1874. Buried at Hillside Cemetery,
Hunt's Hollow.

1863

Merritt Gally, A. B.; A. M., 1873. Prepared from Nunda, N. Y. Edited a.
paper at H. H., and Nunda with his brother. Graduated Auburn Theologica:
Seminary, 1866; pastor, 1866-1869; inventor, 1869; inventor of Universal print-
ing press, machine for making linotypes, and other printing machinery; electric,
telegraphic and philosophical apparatus ; musical instruments, the Bock vent sys-
tem for tubular church organs; the Counterpoise pneumatic system of the aeolian,
pianola, symphony, etc.; differential telephone, machine for making types from
cold metal by swaging, composite swage locked type bar or linotype, ete. Ad--
dress, 1002 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.

1864
*Asher Benton Evans, A. BR, Madison University; A. M., 1864. Principai-
Union school, Lockport, N. Y., 1867-1891. Born in 1834; died, Lockport, N. Y.,.
September 24, 1891. Received his honorary degree while in Nunda.

1865

*Le Roy Satterlee, A. M., 1865. Principal Nunda Literary Institute.
Principal Rochester Collegiate Institute, N. Y., 1855-1869. Librarian, Court of
Appeals library, Rochester, N. Y., for several years. Born in 1819; died, Roch-
ester, N. Y., November 4, 1888.

Prof. W. R. B., was a schoolboy in Nunda, while his father was a teacher-
in Nunda Literary Insititute with Prof. Buck, and also when principal of that
institution.

Wayland Richardson Benedict, A. B.; A. M. Received 2d Sophomore dec-
lamation prize; rst Sophomore Latin prize; 2d Davis prize medal. Prepared at
Rochester, N. Y.: graduated Rochester Theological Seminary, 1870; student ot
Theology, University of Giessen, Germany, 1872-1873; pastor Baptist church, Mt.
Auburn, Cincinnati, O., 1873-1875; professor of Philosophy, University of Cincin-.
cinnati, O., 1875. Author of “Theism and Evolution,” 1886; “Nervous System
and Consciousness,” 1885; “Outlines of History of Education,” 1888, “Ethics.
and Evolution,” 1889; “New Studies in the Beautitudes,” 1890. Address, Uni--
versity of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, O.

379
Prof. Benedict has recently received the honor of a pension from the Carne-
gie funds, and has retired from active duties.

1867
Eugene Hudnut Satterlee, A. B.; LL. B., Albany Law school, 1872. Re-
ceived Ist senior essay prize. Prepared at Rochester, N. Y.; principal Middle-
bury Academy, Wyoming, N. Y., 1867-1868; law student, University of Heidel-
berg, 1868-1870; teacher of modern languages, academy, Albany, N. Y., 1870-
1873; lawyer, Rochester, N. Y. Address, Rochester, N. Y.
Son of Leroy Satterlee, a pioneer of Nunda. E. H.S., was born at Nunda,
and lived here in childhood.
1870
*Nehemiah Wisner Benedict, A. M., Madison University, 1848; D. D., 1870.
Clergyman; principal Collegiate Institute, Rochester, N. Y., 1850-1853; princi-
pal Rochester Free Academy, Rochester, N. Y., 1865-1883; principal private
school, Rochester, N. Y., 1883-1887. Received his D. D. after having been a
citizen of Nunda. Died, Fredonia, N. Y., August 19, 1895.

1871

James Corbin Foley, A. B.; A. M., 1877. Prepared at Medina, N. Y.; was
student, teacher and instructor, Nunda Academy; principal Academy, Dansville,
N. Y., 1871-1873; professor Latin and Greek, Cook Academy, Montour Falls, N.
Y., 1873-1875 ; teacher literary department, Institution for the Blind, Batavia, N.
Y., 1876-1880; lawyer, New York City. Address, 206 Boadway, New York City.

William Henry Truesdale, A. B.; A. M., 1871. Received his A. M., while
teaching in Nunda. Prepared at Rochester, N. Y.; law student, Rochester, N.
Y., 1867-1869; principal Academy, Nunda, N. Y., 1870-1873; Union school,
Olean, N. Y., 1875-1879; High school, Jamestown, N. Y., 1879-1881; manufac-
turer, 1882-1884; High school, Mohawk, N. Y., 1885-1890; superintendent pub-
lic schools, Geneva, N. Y., 1890. Address, Geneva, N. Y.

1872

Isaiah Borroughs Hudnut, A. B. Prepared at Lockport, N. Y.; principal
Union school, Fairport, N. Y., 1872-1873; Scottsville, N. Y., 1873-1875; student
Boston Theological Seminary, 1875-1876; pastor Methodist Episcopal church,
Johnsonsburgh, N. Y., 1876-1877; Charlotte, N. Y., 1877-1880; Wilson, N. Y..
1880-1882; Knowlesviile, N. Y., 1882-1885; Arcade, N. Y., 1885-1886; Somer-
set, N. Y., 1886-1888; Wilson, N. Y., 1888-1889; Spencerport, N. Y., 1889-
1894; Victor, N. Y., 1894-1898; Castile, N. Y., 1898. See Temperance cyclo-
paedia. Address, Upland, Ind.

James Monroe Hudnut, A. B.; A. M., 1878. Received one-half rst Fresh-
man mathematical prize; one-half 2d Dewey prize; 1st Sophomore Latin prize:
1st Davis prize medal; senior essay prize. Prepared at Rochester, N. Y.; private
Co. D, 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, 1862-1863; corporal, 1863-1864; quartermaster
sergeant, 1864; associate editor, New York Examiner, 1872-1875; editor publi-
cations of New York Life Insurance Co., 1875. Author Semi- centennial his-
tory New York Life Insurance Co., 1895. ‘see Insurance Advocate. Address,
346 Broadway, New York City.

Grandsons of Nathaniel Hudnut, pioneer and sons of Oren Hudnut.

I. B. H., is president of a college at Upland, Ind.

380
1873
Charles Miner Vrooman, A. B. Prepared at Nunda, N. Y.; stock raiser,
Kern, Cal. Address, Kern, Cal.
1874
Charles Edward Fairman, A. B.; A. M., 1878; M. D., St. Louis Medical Col-
lege, 1877. Prepared at Alton, Ill.; graduated St. Louis Medical College, 1877;
physician and surgeon, Lyndonville, N. Y., 1877. Author of “Fungi of Western
New York,” 1890; contributions to various medical journals; formerly president
U. S. examining surgeons, Medina, N. Y. Member Rochester Academy of Sci-
ence. See Landmarks of Orleans County. Address Lyndonville, N. Y.

1878
Thomas Trelease Rowe, A. B.; D. D., Boston University, 1882. Prepared
at Nunda, N. Y.; pastor Methodist Episcopal church, Fairport, N. Y., 1878-1879;
Gowanda, N. Y., 1882-1884; Attica, N. Y., 1884-1885; Bergen, N. Y., 1885-
1888; Lyndonville, N. Y., 1888-1890; Lockport, N. Y., 1890-1895; Cornhill
church, Rochester, N. Y., 1895-18098; Little Falls, N. Y., 1898. Address, Roch-
ester, N. Y.
1900
Robert Barnard Slocum, Ph. B. Prepared at Angelica, N. Y. Private 3d
N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, transferred to U. 5. A. hospital corps, 2d army corps,
1898. Address, Nunda, N. Y.
Fletcher W. Peck, A. B., 1903. Prepared at Nunda and Rochester. Is
studying law with his father Fletcher Peck, A. B., of Nunda.

COLLEGE MEN WHO CAME TO NUNDA BEFORE GRADUATION
FROM ROCHESTER UNIVERSITY

A. Jackson Ensign, A. B., 1855.

Andrew Jackson Ensign, A. B. Prepared at Albion, N. Y.; principal Col-
legiate Institute, Brockport, N. Y., 1855-1856; law student, Rochester, N. Y.,
1856-1858; lawyer, Lockport, N. Y., 1858-1867; attorney for Atlantic and
Pacific R. R. Co., St. Louis, Mo., 1871-1878; lawyer, New York City, 1880.
Address, 20 Broad Street, New York City. Assistant principal Nunda Literary
Institute in 1854.

1890

Jeremiah J. Keyes, A. M. (h); was pastor of the Baptist church in time of
the Civil War and chaplain in 1864 of the 58 N. Y. N. G. He received his de-
gree after he lived in Nunda.

1891

Frank Thomas Sweet, B. S. Prepared at Hamilton, N. Y.; pastor First
Universalist church, Nunda, N. Y., 1891-1894; Gardner, Mass., 1894-1899; edi-
tor of Worcester North Universalist, 1896-1897; retired on account of ill-health,
Gardner, Mass., 1899. Address, Station A, Gardner, Mass.

There were also from Nunda the following non-graduates :

Rev. L. L. Wellman, who entered the minstry.

William C. Hall, who enlisted during ivis college course was wounded at
the battle of Resaca, and died at Nashville. Hall Post, Portage, is named for
him. He is buried at Pennytook.

381
INGHAM UNIVERSITY

An Institution Which Made a Specialty of Art and Music—Was Liberally
Patronized from Nunda

Among its graduates were:

Rose M. Shave, A. B., who became instructor in art and ultimately the di-
rector of the College of Fine Arts. The institution no longer exists, but Miss
Shave has had for years her juvenile school for painting in oil and water colors
at her home on East Street, Nunda.

*Tsabel Shave, art student.

Frances Hines, graduate Language course. Miss Hines has taught at vari-
‘ous times in the Academies and High school of the village. Resides East Street,
Nunda.

Mary Atley-Fraver, music.

Kittie McLean-Haines, music.

Jessie F. Perrine, art, Tuscarora.

Carrie A. Smith-Reed, graduate, music, Portage.

Alzina Ayrault, Dalton, A. B.

Belle Avrault, Dalton.

Other students from Dalton:

May Lyon, Myra Lvon, May Parker, Elise Sphoon.

From Nunda Village—Addie Brownell, Miss Jerns, afterward the wife of
Rev. Crandall, was in attendance.

BUFFALO UNIVERSITY

From this institution the following citizens or scholars from Nunda have at-
tended. *George H. Briggs, M. D.; Erastus Buck, M. D., was surgeon in Civil
War; Charles F. Warner, M. D., was assistant surgeon, 136 N. Y., and surgeon,
58 N. Y. N. G.; Henry Hagadorn, Julius I. Lovell, assistant surgeons, 58 N. Y.
N. G.; John B. Sabin, M. D., veteran; Will Quincey Huggins, M. D., Sanborn,
N. Y.; *Frank E. Moyer, M. D., died at Moscow, 1907; Charles J. Carrick, M.
D., Nunda; Robert W. Green, M. D., veteran, Geneseo, N. Y.; Charles Norris,
M. D.; Rollin O. Crosier, M. D., Binghamton, N. Y.; Harry Elwood, non-grad-
uate; Stanley J. Brown, class of 19IO0.

DENTISTS
“George Greig, DD. S., died at Nunda; Robert Sabin, DD. S.; Henry Wel-
lington Mitchell. DD. S., 1906.
PHARMACISTS

Frank Moyer; Frank Wright, in U. S. service, New York City; Mark Gil-
bert, 1908; Floyd Satterlee, 1908.

HOBART COLLEGE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
William Henry De Camp, M. D., 1847. Prepared at Nunda Academy,
Church Street, and Dr. C. C. Chafee’s medical class, Nunda.
David Vandalia Waite, M. D., 1851, (son of John Waite, Nunda), was a

class mate of Benjamin T. Kneeland, M. D., 1851, who after graduation came to
Oakland.

382
ELMIRA COLLEGE

Alida J. Barron, A. B. The first lady to receive a degree from this vicinity.
She prepared at Evans High school, Nunda, Satterlee Collegiate Institute, Roch-
ester, was preceptress at Penfield Collegiate Institute, and has taught in public
schools of Rochester and Denver twenty years. Is vice president of C. C. of N.

Mrs, Arthur J. Barnes, graduated from Elmira in 1861.

Lecla Dickinson Baker, A. B., 1907. Is teaching in Andover, N. Y.

VASSAR COLLEGE

Sarah Stilson, A. B., 1869. Is still engaged in educational work in New
York City. She was the first female college graduate from Nunda village.
Eliza Cramer, non-graduate, class of 1871.

MADISON (NOW COLGATE) UNIVERSITY
1834
Silas Morse, of Portage, completed course of study, probably theologica,,

and settled as pastor of Baptist church, Hunts Hollow. The college did not con-
fer degrees uniil after 1835. He died at Portage.

1836
Peter Robinson. of Nunda, completed academic and theological courses, in
Greenfield, 1809, ordained 1836. Home missionary at Marion, lowa, ten years.
Died at Marion, September 11, 1846.
He was a classmate of Rev. Lyman Stilson, A. B., and A. M., and Foreign
missionary.
1847
Nehemiah Wisner Benedict, A. B.; A. M., 1850; D. D. 1870. Died at Fre-
donia, August 19, 1895.
Jabez P. Dake, Jr., of Nunda, was at Madison University 1847 and 1848
See Union College.
1859

Orsamus C. Dake, A. B., from Nunda, son of Benjamin Dake.

1908
Walter Butler, of Nunda, prepared at Colgate Academy, will graduate 1908.

HAMILTON COLLEGE

William James Cosnett was fitting for the ministry when his patriotism
caused him to enlist in defence of the Union. He left college and in less than
three months died of wounds received in battle. He was one of the few that
semed faultless. See “Bioody Cost of War.”

Frank DeWitt Warren, A. B., graduate of Nunda Union and Academy, G.

. N. S., and Hamilton College, is superintendent of schools, Ilion, N. Y.

POUGHKEEPSIE LAW SCHOOL

Elnathan Packard; Henry L. Carver, to-day such graduates would be called
LS. B.

383
ALBANY LAW SCHOOL—UNION COLLEGE
Ernest C. Olney, LL. B.; Craig Roberts.

ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY, CANTON, N. Y.
1880

Most of the pastors of the Universalist church come from St. Lawrence
University and Taft’s College, Massachusetts, some of them have received de-
grees while residing here.

1880

Isaac Philip Coddington, B. D. and D. D. Received his degree of B. D.,

while serving as pastor of the Nunda church.

1895

Glenn Andrews Kratzer, A. B. and B. D. Entered St. Lawrence from
Nunda, after having been principal of the Unson school and Academy. He was
a graduate of Cortland Normal school, St. Lawrence University and St. Law-
rence Theological school.

1901

Gertrude Mary Robinson, A. B. Is instructor at Larchmont Female -Semi-
nary. She wasa graduate of Nunda High School, a teacher and preeeptress of
the Nunda High school.

1902

Rev. Clara Elizabeth Morgan. B. D. Earned her degree by pursuing a pre-

scribed course of study while pastor of the Universalist Church ot Nunda.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Since its founding has been the institution to which the majority of scholars
from Nunda has sought as their Alma Mater.

Philo Mosher, A. B., was one of the first to go, and he no doubt completed
his course. He taught a military school on the Hudson; he was a veteran of the
Civil War, and fitted for his position. He died at or near Brooklyn about ten
years ago.

Edward F. Knibloe (non-graduate), class of ’73. Prepared at Nunda Aca-
demy. He studied telegraphy at Hunt’s, necamic an expert telegrapher, then train
despatcher, then superintendent of a division Erie Railroad, staudiea law, without
ieaving his position, and is now used in a legal capacity as well as Division Su-
perintendent. Resides at Black Rock.

James D. Carter, non-graduate, one year, Canisteo, N. Y.

Clifton Barron, was at Cornell three years, then accepted a position as an
instructor in the Jervis Military school in Connecticut. He was bank clerk
Nunda; railroad contractor; retired to farm; then to village. He has a winter
home in Alabama.

Milton Barron (non-graduate), three years. Prepared at Nunda Academy.
He has been merchant; railroad contractor; farmer and Justice of the Peace.
Resides on farm and at Ithaca.

Merton Wilner, graduate at Nunda Academy. Was at Cornell several
years. Was a journalist at Binghamton and iater on Buffalo Express.

384
Mary Dennis, before coming to Nunda was at Cornell University three and
a half years, her health failed and prevented graduation. She died in the Adi-
rondacks,

Thomas A. Cain, A. B., in government cinploy.

William A. Frayer, A. B., 1902, assistant instructor in elocution, Cornell
University, European tourist guide and instructor.

Charles Gelser, graduate Union Schooi, Dalton; Cornell University C. E.
1903.

Eugene Collister, A. B., prepared at Nunda, graduate G. N. S., is a princi-
pal of Union and village schools.

Harrison Collister, A. B., same record as his brother.

Lawrence D. Bellenger, M. E., 1905.

Bert Butler, A. B., graduated at Nunda, Geneseo and Cornell, principal of
Union School.

John H. Barron, B. Sci. of Agriculture, has been professor of Agronomy
at State College, Pa.

Wilford Willey, B. S., is taking Post graduate course in Forestry at Yale.
(Has graduated B. Forestry 1908.)

Robert Bergen, A. B., 1908.

Maude Bergen, lealth failed, (non-graduate. )

Ruth Bergen, under graduate (class of 1909.)

Hattie Guernsey, non-graduate.

Bert Cudebec, C. E., 1908.

Clifford Clark, C. E., 1908.

Louis Van Kleet, prepared at Ithaca, in medical department, class of 1910.

Lloyd Willey, prepared at Ithaca, in training for grand opera.

Elizabeth Bump, A. B., was preceptress of N. H. S., and resides in Ithaca.

Columbia College

Bessie M. Robinson, b. S., 1go6.
Melvin J. Gearhart, A. B. (elsewhere) and A. B., Columbia, 1906.

New York Eclectic College

Hugh Hill, M. D.
*John J. Sharp, M. D., before coming to Nunda, died 1906.

University of New York
*Tsaiah Hudnut, M. D., 1833, our first medical graduate, died at Sparta.
Dr. William B. Alley, M. D., Berkshire, Mass., took Post graduate course,
University of New York.
George Campbell, M. D., 1892, is practiciug in New York City.
William Campbell, M. D., 1808, is practicing in Portland, Oregon.

New York Medical College (Homeopathy)

Orrin G. Hunt, M. D., specialist, practiced fifteen years in New York City,
died 1884.

Roy A. Page, M. D., 1884, Geneseo, N. ¥.

Thomas Hammond, M. D., was taking Post graduate course, died at Nunda.

385
Union College, 1797-1897

This college attracted all the Presbyterians in pioneer days. It furnished
most of the clergy for their churches. In 1897, the college reached its ceutennial.

Jabez P. Dake, Jr., A. B., 1849, and M. V., died 1894.

David Havens Thayer, A. B., (Rev.), Nunda Valley, died 1882.

Edwin Hiram Peterson, A. B., Nunda, McHenry, Il.

Solon Otis Thacher, A. B. and LL. D., member New York Assembly,
member Kansas Constitutional convention, Judge 59th District, State Senator,
Kansas; died at Lawrence, Kansas, 1906.

Henry B. Thayer, D. D., Nunda. Is not living.

Benjamin F. Dake, A. M., Nunda, died Pasadena, 1908.

William P. Warner, A. B., lawyer, Nunda, St. Paul, Minn.

Horace M. Dake, A. B.

Simeon M. Thorp, A. B., lawyer, Granger, killed at Lawrence, Kansas;
classmate of John Milton Carmichael, A. B., Caledonia.

Henry Dye Marsh, A. B., Grove, taught Union School, East Street.

George Webster Chandler (merchant), Nunda, non-graduate; sickness pre-
vented graduation —Milwaukee, Wis.

Willie C. Warner, A. B. C. E., Los Angeles, Cal.

Thomas J. Thorp, A. B., enlisted became Colonel and Brevet Brigadier Gen-
eral, Covralis, Washington.

Fletcher C. Peck, A. B., 1862, lawyer, U. S. Marshal, N:inda.

Rev. William Lusk, Jr., A. B., son of William Lusk, A. B., 1822, an Epis-
copal clergyman, North Haven, Conn.

Chauncey C. Joslyn, 1835, A. M., M. D., N. Y. Vol.

West Point

Edward Hunt, major engineers, U. S. A., killed while experimenting with
a gas machine.

Seldon Sturgeon, Lt. Col. U. S. A. Col. U. S. Vols., 1862.

Charles Lewis, non-graduate (one vear), afterward Lieut. of Vols.

NEW ENGLAND COLLEGES
Dartmouth

Stephen Fuller, Sr., A. B., 1822, died in Rochester of cholera.

James Marshall, A. B., Yale University, 1849: Lenox College, D. D., 1880,
president of Coe College, chaplain U. S. V

Rev. Owen C. Baker, A. B.

George A. Baldwin (non-graduate. )

Joseph N. Flint, A. B., 186r.

John P. Slocum, A. B., 1872.

Harvard University

Merrick S. Whitcomb, A. B., 1878. A classmate of Theo. Roosevelt.

Wilbur C. Philips, A. B., 1904.

Fred D. Marshall, M. D., 1904, killed in trolley collision at Melrose, Mass.,
1905.

Ryland Saulsbury (non-graduate. )

Smith College, Massachusetts
Cora Dowling, A. B., Igor.
Florence Dowling (Olp), A. B., 1903.

386
Boston University
Fidelia J. M. Whitcomb, M. D.
Thomas Trelease Rowe, A. B., received, his B. D. and D. D. from Boston
University.
Thomas W Chandler, A. B., received B. D. from Boston University.

Boston Conservatory of Music
Joseph Lovell; Marian G. Peck; Minnie G. Woodworth (Davis); Mary
Lovell (AMlarshall) ; Nellie Tingley and Fanny Sanders (Thomas); were stu-
dents of this institution.
School of Oratory
Persis Gardner was graduate of N. U. S., and Rodgers School of Oratory.
Received degree B. O., and was instructor in the institution.

Wellesley College
Gertrude Clark (non-graduate), graduate N. S. H. and G. N. S., died 1907.
Mary Hunt; Grace Marsh; Marian Marsh, Instructor at Wellesley, M. D.,
New York hospital, resides at Buffalo, N. Y.

Tufts College, Founded in 1851
Has now many departments, (is in fact) a University.
1869

William George Tousey. A. B.; A. M.; B. D., 1871, S. T. D., 1900, profes-
sor of Ethics and Philosophy of Theism.

Henry W. Hand. B. D., 1875; John Brishon Gilpatric, A. M. B., 1876, con-
tractor and builder, Plano, Il.

Frederick A. Bisbee, B. D., 1877; D. D. 7897. Editor in chief of the Uni-
versalist Leader, born in Nunda 1854. Business address, 30 West Street, Boston.

MIDDLE STATES
John J. Carter, A. M., Bucknell College, Penn.
Rev. Thomas \W’. Chandler, A. M., Alleghany College, Meadville, Pa.
William Baylor, D. D. S., Dental College of Philadelphia.
Jabez P. Dake, M. D., Hahneman Medical College, Philadelphia.
Chauncey M. Dake, M. D., Hahneman Medical College, Philadelphia.
David M. Dake, M. D., Hahneman Medical College, Philadelphia.

Princeton College
Rov Beardsley, non-graduate, Princeton, N. J.
George Edwin Hunt, Princeton, N. J., Theol. Department.
Mills Grimes, A. B., Theology B. D., Princeton, N. J.

Johns Hopkins University
Merrick S. Whitcomb, A. B., Harvard, Pust graduate course.
Robert Slocum, B. S., Rochester, M. D.

WESTERN STATES
Oberlin College
This college has had no general catalogue until the present year, hence it
was impossible to get ali the names and dates.
Franklin Hosford, A. B., 1822; Lucina Strong, about 1835; America and
Angelica Strong twins, about 1840; Mary and Laura Merrill of Nunda at-

387
tended there; David Clay Houghton, A. B.. may have graduated from there
about 1845; David Gally, A. B., 1862; Mills Grimes, non-graduate; Clara Part-
ridge, A. B., 1903, was preceptress of Nunda High School.

University of Cincinnati
Prof. Merrick S. Whitcomb, Ph. D., Dean of College of Liberal Arts;
Professor Wayland Benedict, A. M., of Rochester University has recently
retired with a Carnegie pension, he lived in Nunda during his childhood; John
Nelson, D. D. S., Med. Dept.; Max Robinsen, under graduate, class of 1912,
Engineering Department; Edw. L. Cook, freshman.

Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati
J. V D. Coon, M. D., 1856; John J. Sharp, M. D., about 1856, died 1907;
Hugh Hill, 11. D., Past Board of Censors.

Erie Medical College, Cincinnati
H. L. LaMont, M. D., 1880.

The Cleveland Homeopathy College
William H. Dake, M. D., DD. S.; Josiah Blanchard, M. D.; Mrs. Eliza-
beth Barrett Blanchard, M. D.

Pultna Medical College, Cincinnati
Thomas A. Hammond, M. D., 1880.

Franklin College, Athens, Ohio
Melvin F. Gearhart, A. B., 1905.

McAlister College
Mills S. Grimes, A. B.
Wisconsin University

John B. Winslow, A. B,, A. M., LL. D., 1908; Horatio Gates Winslow,

A. B., 1908.
Michigan University, Ann Arbor

Horace Perkins, M. D.: Morell B. Baker, A. B., 1905; Frank Redman, M.

D.; Allen Hagadorn, M. D.

Lawrence College, Appleton, Wisconsin
Alexander J. Reid, A. B.
Miscellaneous

Charles Fairman, A. B. (Madison University), LL. D., Shurtlief College,
Mo., professor Mathematics. First principal Nunda Academy, Mill Street.
Deceased.

Charles E. Fairman, A. B. (Rochester), St. Louis Medical College, M. D.,
Lyndonville, N. Y.

Arthur W. Swift, M. D., Chicago University, Belvidere, Ill.

Anna McNair, A. B., Pomona College, California.

John P. Coiby, A. B., Rochester University, 1857; LL. D., Eclectic College,
St. Louis, Mo.

388
THE COLLEGE CLUB OF NUNDA

This club was organized in July, 1906, with the view of ascertaining how
many of the collegiates that had ever lived in Nunda were living, and if possible
to ascertain where they reside at present.

Besides those who have been to college, or college professional schools, it
was deemed best to include those graduates of Normal schools who had taught
seven years or more, as professional teachers.

The following board of officers were elected:

President, F. C. Peck, A. B.

Vice presidents, Alida J. Barron, A. B., and T. Coit Bliss, D. D. S.

Ex-committee; Merrick S. Whitcomb, Ph. D.; Clayton G. Mabey, M. S.;
William Baylor, D. D. S.

Secretary and treasurer, H. Wells Hand, B. D.

A reunion with a banquet was observed on Old Home Week 1906, and
about eighty-five of the two hundred members were present. The president of
the club acted as ToastMaster. The Secretary in response to the toast, ‘Loca!
Pride,” gave a poem of which the following is a part:

Local Pride
By Capt. H. W. Hand.

What are the sources of our local pride?
We'll state a few, and leave you to decide,
’Tis said, and I will prove it in a trice;
Our local pride can locate Paradise.

We're proud of our county, and the Genesee Valley ;
Proud of the men she to high places sends.

Proud of the Wadsworth's of four generations,
Pioneers, warriors and statesmen and friends ;

Proud of our genial young—‘“Member of Assembly,”
“Speaker of the House,” we proudly tell all,

But we mix well our pride with our love for young Jimmie
Who lives in close touch, with the hearts of us all.

Proud that we live in the Keshequa Valley,
That rare vestibule to the broad Genesee ;
Proud of its Queen, for search the world over
No village so homelike can mortal eyes see.
Proud of its schools and proud of its churches,
Proud of the thousands they’ve fitted for life ;
Proud of its patriots whose love for their country
Boldely encountered war's carnage and strife.

We're proud of our “College Club,” noble two hundred,
With its fifty A. M.'s and thrice fifty A. B.'s.

And many as learned, who need not be numbered
As B. S., and M. S., Ph. B. and M. E.'s,

But the howling success “of our’ Club, all confess
(Who have sat in their chairs) are our five D. D. S.

389
 

Rev. Freperick A. BisBee, D. D.
Editor of The Universalist Leader, Boston, Mass.

 

Pror. M. S. Wuircome, Pu. D. Pror. Wittiam G. Tousey, S. T. D.
Dean, Cincinnati University Tufts College, Mass.
Six college professors, mostly called Ph. D.,
With authors and poets, form a rare coterie;
While one modest youngster as ever was seen,
Has lately become a first class College Dean.*
But two of our best, “Tom and Art,” don’t you see
Has been lately relabelled with a LL. D.+
While Frank Welles and Cornelia, who are studying yet,
Have hitched to their names a fair sized alphabet.

We have cause to be proud, for no town in the land
Has so gifted a “cult” as this scholarly band.
Proud? Yes, we're proud; and I'll say it still louder.
Of our men we are proud: of our women, still prouder ;
We are proud of our pride, local pride cannot fail
While we live in Nunda—in the Paradise Vale.

7Prof. Thomas B. Lovell and Justice Arthur E. Sutherland; *Prof. Mer-
rick S. Whitcoinb, University of Cincinnati.

CATALOGUE OF COLLEGE CLUB OF NUNDA

Abrams, Rev. Delos Elbert, Theo. Dept. Colgate, resides at Broadabian.
N. Y.

Armading, Edytha, Buffalo Normal School, was preceptress of Nunda
High School.

Armstrong Edith, G. N. S., professional teacher, New York City.

Ayrault, Alzina, A. B., Ingham Univ., 512 Porter Ave., Buffalo, N. Y.

Bacon, Harry, M. D., 1908, Denver Medical College.

Baker, Leala, A. B., Elmira College.

Baker, Morell B., A. B., g2 South Mich. Ave., Saginaw, Mich.

Baker, Rev. Owen C., A. B., Yale, Dalton, N. Y.

Baldwin, George E., non-graduate, Yale, ex-principal N. H. S.

Barrett, Mrs. Emily Barrows, ex-preceptress, N. Lit. Inst.—Rochester,
N. Y.

Barron, A. Clifton, college, N. G—Nunda, N. Y.

Barron, Alida J., A. B—Nunda, N. Y.

Barron, John H., B. Sci. of Ag—Post Office, Nunda.

Barron, Milton M. (College N. G), Post Office, Nunda.

Barnes, Arthur, St. Louis. Mo. President Business College. — _

Barnes, Mrs. Arthur, A. B., St. Louis, Mo.

Bates, Rev. William L. (College N. G.) Nunda, N. Y.

Baylor, William, D. D. S., Nunda, N. Y.

Beardsley, Roy (College N. G.), Nunda, N. Y.

Bellinger, Lawrence D., M. E.

Benedict, Wayland R. Prof., Ph. D., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Bensinger, Mary Coffin, (musician), Pasadena, Cal.

Benson, William Marcy, Ph. D., Rochester, N. Y.

Bergen, Madeline Estelle, (college non-graduate), Ithaca, N. Y.

Bergen, Robert, A. B., 1908, Ithaca, N. Y.

Bergen, Ruth (under graduate), class 1909, Ithaca, N. Y.

391
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miss Mary L. Pettitt SARAH STILSON
Principal of Schools Reviewer of School Papers,
Greater New York

  

ARTHUR J. Barnes Mrs. A. J. Barnes, A. B.
President, Business College Instructor, Business College
St. Louis, Mo. St. Louis, Mo.
Bisbee, Rev. Frederick A., D. D., 30 West Sc., Boston, Mass.
Blake, Charles A. (college N. G.), Nunda, N. Y.

Brainard, G. Roy, Ph. B.

Brainard, Otis, Ph. B.

Bliss, T. Coit, D. D. S., Dalton, N. Y.

Bliss, Mrs. Virginia R., Ph. B., Dalton, N. Y.

Brewer, Nellie, professional teacher, preceptress, Dalton, N. Y.
Brown, John P., M. D., Nunda, N. Y.

Brown, Stanley J. (U. G.), Nunda, N. Y. Class igro.

Bump, Elizabeth, A. B., Ithaca, N. Y. Ex-preceptress N. H. S.
Burd, Rev. Norman S., Theo. Sem., ex-pastor, Baptist Chuch, Nunda.
Burr, Charles, College N. G., died at Eagle Pass, Texas, 1908.
Burrell, Mrs. Clara Partridge, A. B., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Butler, Bert, A. B., principal.

Butler, Waldo, under graduate, Hamilton, N. Y.

Bert, Frederick, M. D., Hamonton, N. J.

Cain, Thomas A., A. B.

Campbell, George B., M. D., New York City.

Campbell, George J., Capt. U. S. A., died October 4, 18096.
Campbell, William, M. D., Portland, Oregon.

Carmichael, Rev. John M., A. B., Caledonia, N. Y.

Carrick, Charles J., M. D., Nunda, N. Y.

Carter, James D. (college non-graduate), Hornell, N. Y.
Carter, Col. John J., A. M., Titusville, Pa.

Chandler, George W., college (non-graduate), Milwaukee, Wis.
Chandler, Rev. Thomas W., A. B., Belfast, N. Y.

Clark, Clifford, C. E., Belfast, N. Y.

Clark, Gertrude, college (non-graduate), died at Nunda, 1907.
Coddington, Rev. Isaac P., D. D., ex-pastor Universalist Church.
Copeland, Rev. R. W., Ph. B., ex-pastor M. E. Church, Nunda.
Coffin, Benjamin S., A. B., died 1906.

Coffin, Luella, Nunda professional teacher, Nurda, N. Y.
Collester, Eugene, A. B., principal of village schools.

Collester, Harrison, A. B., principal of village schools.
Countryman, Everett C., Ph. B., Rochester, N. Y.
Countryman, Onolee, A. B., Rochester, N. Y.

‘Crane, Eliza, college (non-graduate), Nunda, N. Y.

Crosier, Rollin O., M. D., Binghamton, N. Y.

Cudedec, Albert, E. E., Ithaca, N. Y., 1908.

Dake, B. Franklin, A. B. and M. D., died at Pasadena, Cal., 1908.

Dana, Miron T., Ph. B., principal Fredonia Normal School, Fredonia.

Day, Rev. James H., A. B., pastor of Holy Angels’ Church of Nunda and
Mt. Morris.
* Davis, Mrs. Minnie Woodworth, musician, Albion, N. Y.

Decker, Rev. William Philips, ex-pastor Baptist Church of Nunda, Chi-
cago, III.

Decker, Henry J., medical college (non-graduate), Washington, D. C.

Delong, Rev. Henry Clay (Theological Department), Medford, Mass.

393
Dennis, Rev. Henry S., A. B., Victor, N. Y.
Dennis, Minnie J., professional teacher, Plainfield, N. J.
Dowling, Cora, A. B., Nunda, N. Y.
Dodge, Alice, professional teacher, Nunda, N. Y.
Dryer, Rev. Rowland C., A. B., pastor of M. E. Church, Nunda, N. Y.
Endicott, Fanny Tingley, ex-teacher, Chelsea, Mass.
Elwood, Harry, medical college (non-graduate), Buffalo, N. Y.
Fairman, Charles E., A. B. and M. D., Lyndenville, N. Y.
Fitzgerald, Elizabeth, professional teacher, Nunda, N. Y.
Foley, James Corbin, A. B., lawyer, New York City.
Flint, Capt. Joseph N., A. B., died in San Francisco, 1907.
Frazer, Gertrude, A. M., Madison, N. Y.

‘ Frazer, Donald G., Madison, N. Y.
Frayer, Mrs. Mary Alley, Ithaca, N. Y.
Frayer, Prof, William A., A. B., Ithaca, N. Y.
Galley, Merritt, A. B., 1002 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Galley, David B., A. B., Brooklyn, N. Y.
Gardener, Persis, B. O., Hunt, N. Y.
Gelser, Charles, C. E., Arizona.
Gearhart, Melvin, A. B.
Gilbert, Mark, Pharmacy, 1908, Buffalo, N. Y.
Gilpatric, John B., A. M. B., Plano, II.
Green, Robert W., M. D., Geneseo, N. Y.
Griffin, Mrs. Dona Edmonds, South Dakota.
Grimes, Rev. Mills S., A. B., Medelia, Minn.
Guernsey, Hattie, college (non-graduate), Dalton, N. Y.

Haines, Catharine McLein, Nunda, N. Y.

Hall, Rev. E. G. W (Theological), pastor Methodist Church, Holland,
N.Y.

Hand, Capt. Henry W.. B. D., Secretary and Treasurer C. C. of N., Nunda,
NeeY?

Haskins, C. A., M. D., Dalton, N. Y.

Hamlin, Lydia Smith, professional teacher, Naples, N. Y.

Hill, Hugh, M. D., Dalton, N. Y.

Hines, Frances, Nunda, N. Y.

Hitchcock, Charles S., A. B. and M. D.

Hitchcock, Embura A., M. E.

Hitchcock, Rev. Julius C., A. B., ex-pastor M. E. Church.

Hitchcock, Rev. Lyman, D. D.

Hooper, Maude Seaton, Albion N. college, Indiana.

Hudnut, Rev. Prof. Isaiah B., Ph. D., Upland, Indiana.

Hudnut, Frank, M. D.

Hudnut, James Monroe, A. B.

Huggins, W. Q., M. D., Sanborn, N. Y.

Hunt, Rev. Edwin G., Theological, Wisconsin.

Hunt, Elizabeth.

Hunt, Mary.

Hunt, Adelbert B., Ph. D., principal of a department, New York City.

394

’
Kellogg, Edward B., M. D., Boylston Street, Boston.

Keyes, Rev. J. J., A. M.

Knibloe, Edward F., college (non-graduate), Division Superintendent,
Erie R. R., Black Rock, N. Y.

Kneeland, George N., Oklahoma.

Knight, Andrew Jackson, A. M., ex-district attorney, Arcade, N. Y.

Kratzer, Glenn, A. B., ex-principal of N. H. S.

Lamont, H. L., M. D., Ossian, N. Y.

Leonard, Rev. Theodore S., Theological.

Leonard, Mrs., ex-teacher.

Lovell, Joseph, musician, Nunda, N. Y.

Lovell, Prof. Thomas B., LL. D., Niagara Falls.

Lusk, William, Jr., A. B. and D. D.

Lusk, James W., banker, Omaha, Neb.

Lusk, Frank C., M. D. (son of Rev. William Lusk, A. B., ex-pastor
Presbyterian Church, Nunda).

Lynn, Rev. Cephas, B. D.

Mabey, Clayton G., M. S., ex-principal, Nunda High School.

Marsh, Rev. George; Grace; Marion, M. D.; (children of Rev. L. G. Marsh,
A. B., ex-pastor Presbyterian Church. )

Mason, George W., A. M., died 1906.

Marshall, Mary Lovell, musician, Washington, D. C.

Marvin, Rev. Judson P., B. D., ex-pastor Universalist Church, Nunda.

McNair, Anna, A. B., Oakland, Cal.

McLean, Rev. John P., Ph. D.

Merwin, Rev. Milton K., Theol. Coliege, (non-graduate), ex-pastor Pres-
byterian Church, Nunda.

Mills, Mrs. Annetta Thompson, principal school to teach deaf and dumb to
speak. Chefu, China.

Mitchell, Henry W., D. D. S.. Emporium, Pa.

Montgomery, Mrs. Helen Barrett, lecturer, Rochester, N. Y.

Moot, Hon. Adelbert, LL. B., Buffalo, N. Y ,

Moot, Mrs. Carrie \V., ex-preceptress, N. H. S., Buffalo, N. Y.

Morgan, Rev. Clara E., B. D., ex-pastor Universalist Church of Nunda—
Perry, N. Y.

Mosher, Charles, M. D., Chatham, N. Y.

Moyer, Frank E., M. D., died at Moscow, 1907.

Moyer, Frank H., Med. Coll, (N. G.), 1750 Seventh St., Buffalo, N. Y.

Nelson, John D., D. D. S., Ohio.
Norris, Charles, M. D., Geneseo, N. Y.

Olp, Florence Dowling, A. B.,—Nunda, N. Y.
Ostrander, P. M., M. D—Nunda, N. Y.

Page, Roy A., M, D.—Geneseo, N. Y.

Paine, Grace, professional teacher, New York City—Nunda, N. Y.
Parsons, Rev. C. B., A. B., died 1907.

Peck, Hon. Fletcher C., A. B., President College Club, Nunda.

395
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pror. THos. BatLey LoveELt, Rev. Tuomas TRELEASE Rows, D. D.
A. M. LL. D.

 

 

 

 

Rev. Mitts M. GRIMES Eucene F. BALDWIN
Editor Peoria Star
Peck, Fletcher W., A. B., Nunda, N. Y.

Peck, Marion Gale, musician, Nunda, N. Y.

Perkins, Horace, M. D.

Pettit, Mary L., ex-principal and preceptress—Nunda.
Philips, Wilber C., Journalist, A. B., Philadelphia, Pa.

Pitts, Carrie Townsend, professional teacher—Nunda, N. Y.

Ramsey, Frances G., professional! teacher, Nunda training ciass, Nunda, N. Y.
Ray, Frances, professional teacher, Nunda, N. Y.

Redmond, Frank, M. D.—Fillmore, N. Y.

Reed, Carrie Smith, musician,—Buffalo, N. Y.

Reid, Alexander, A. B. Reid Thomas B., Editor——Appleton, Wis
Rice, Rev. A. L., Theol. ex-pastor Univ. Church, Nunda, N. Y.
Roberts, Craig, LL. B., Buffalo, N. Y.

Robinson, Bessie, B. SimNunda, N. Y.

‘Robinson, Gertrude E., A. B—Nunda, N. Y.

Robinson, Denton S., Lawyer,—Nunda, N. Y.

Robinson, Max B., Candidate for E. E.—-Nunda, N. Y.

Rogers, William H., A. M.—Wellsville, N. Y.

Rogers, Rev. Leonard L., A. M.—Silver Springs, N. Y.

Rowe, Rev. Thomas Trelease, A. B. and D. D—Rochester, N. Y.

Sabin, John B., M. D., Coeur-de-alene, Idaho.

Sabin, Robert, D. D. S., Heber, Utah.

Satterlee, Eugene Hudnut, A. M.—Rochester, N. Y.

Satterlee, Fioyd, Phar., Buffalo, N. Y.

Saulsbury, Ryland E., college (non-graduate), principal Union School,
Dalton, N. Y.

Scranton, Adda Brownell,—Rochester, N. Y.

Sharp, James J.--died at Arcade, 1908.

Slocum, John P., A. M., Albany, N. Y.

Slocum, Robert B., Ph. B. and M. D., Albany, N. Y.

Stewart, William A., M. D., ex-principal N. H. S.

Stilson, Sarah L., A. B., teacher, 80 Willoughby St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

Spaulding, Edward E., A. B., ex-principal N. Acad. Died at Pasadena,
Cal., 1907.

Straight, Mrs. Jane Burdict, Oland-Leroy, Burr,—Alfred, N. Y.

Sutherland, Judge Arthur E., LL. D.—Rochester, N. Y. \

Sutherland, Mrs. Nellie Reed, professional teacher, Rochester, N. Y

Sweet, Rev. Frank T., B. S., Gardiner, Mass.

Swift, Arthur W., M. D., Belvidere, Ill.

Taylor, Rev. James, B. D., ex-pastor Universalist Church, Nunda.

Thomas, Fanny Sanders, musician, Rochester, N. Y.

Thacher, Hon. Solon Otis, A. B., LL. D. Died in Kansas, 1906.

Thorp, Gen. Thomas J., A. B., Corvalis, Ore.

Tingley, Miss Nellie, Washington, D. C.

Tousey, Prof. William G., A. M., S. T. D., Tufts College, Mass.
Truesdale, William H., A. B., ex-principal Nunda Academy, Geneva, N. Ys
Truesdale, Mrs. W. H., ex-preceptress, Nunda Academy, Geneva, N. x,

397
Tucker, Rev. J. D., A. M., ex-pastor Baptist Church.
Turrill, Mary Stilson, ex-school commissioner, Pasadena, Cal.

Van Kleet, Louis C., under graduate, Medical Dept., Ithaca, N. Y.
Vrooman, Charles Miner, A. B., Kern, Colo.

Warner, Charles F., M. D., Manketo, Minn.

Warner, Willie Chester, A. B. and C. E., Los Angeles, Cal.

Warner, William P., A. B., Lawyer, St. Paul, Minn.

Warren, Frank DeWitt, A. B., Supt. of Schoois, Ilion, N. Y.

Welles, Prof. Frank E., Ph. D., Geneseo Normay School, Geneseo, N. Y.
Welles, Mrs. Cornelia, A. M., Geneseo, N. Y.

Weils, Rev. J. R., M. D., clergyman M. E. Church.

 

 

 

 

Jupce Joun B. Winstow, LL. D., anp His Son, Horatio Gates WinsLow, A. B.

398
Whitcomb, S. Merrick, Dean of College of Liberal Arts, Cinn. Univ. Re-
sides in Nunda and Cincinnati.

Willey, Rev. A. C., A. M. and Ph. D., ex-pastor M. E. Church, Dalton.

Willey, Wilfred, A. B. and B. F. (Yale), Ithaca, N. Y.

Whitnack, Jacob, principal of two Manhattan Schools, New York City.

Williams, Rev. John H., B. S., ex-pastor Presbyterian Church, Nunda.

Wilner, Frank A., Capt. U.S. Navy on U.S. Warship Pennsylvania, Pacific
Coast.

Wilner, Merton, College (non-graduate), journalist on Buffalo Express,
Buffalo, N. Y.

Winslow, John B., A. M., LL. D., Judge of Supreme Court, Wisconsin, Su-
preme Court Chambers, Madison, Wis.

Winslow, Horatio Gates, A. B., Madison, Wis.

Wood, Carrie D., nature teacher.—Massachusetts.

Wood, Rev. Edwin P., non-graduate, pastor Universalist Church, Nunda.

Woodworth, Clayton, Correspondence School, Scranton, Pa.

Woodworth, Helen, M. D., Boston, Mass.

Wright, Frank, Phar., New York City.

Yencer, Mabel, A. B., ex-assistant preceptress, N. H. S.

Members who have died since the organization was formed: Hon. Solon
Otis Thacher, LL. D.; George W. Mason, A. M.; Benjamin F. Dake, M. D.; Ben-
jamin S. Coffin, A. B.; Rev. C. B. Parsons, A. B.; Capt. Joseph N. Flint, A. B.,
1907; Dr. J. J. Sharp, 1907; Dr. Frank Moyer. 1907; Charles N. Burr, 1908;
Capt. George J. Campbell, 1907; Gertrude Clark, 1907.

OUR DOCTORS OF PHILOSOPHY, DIVINITY AND SACRED
THEOLOGY

Rev. Daniel Cameron, Ph. D., P. E. Church: Rev. J. V. C. Nellis, Presbyter-
ian Church; Adelbert B. Hunt, Ph. D.; Rev. J P. McLean, Ph. D., Universalist
Church; William M. Benson, Ph. D.; Prof. Frank E. Welles, Ph. D.; Sylvanus A.
Ellis, Ph. D.; Merrick S. Whitcomb, Ph. D.; Rev. Nehemiah Benedict, D. D.
teacher; Rev. I. Ik. Nettleton, D. D., M. E. Church; Rev. i. P. Coddington, D. D.,
Univ. Church; Rev. E. Manley, D. D., Univ. Church; Rev. Henry B. Thayer.
D. D., Presbyterian Church; Rev. James Marshal, Pres. Church; Rev. Thomas
Rowe, M. E. Church; Rev. Frederick A. Bisbee, D. D. Univ. Church; Rev. A.
Judson Barrett, D. D., Baptist Church; Rev. Fayette Royce, S. T. D., Protes-
tant E. Church; W. G. Tousey, S. T. D., College Professor, Univ. Church.

OUR LL. D.’S

Thomas B. Lovell, Hobart College; John B. Colby, Eclectic Medical Col-
lege, St. Louis; Charles Fairman, Shurtlief College, Mo.

HIGH CIVIL POSITIONS, WITH LL. D. DEGREE

Solon Otis Thacher, Union College, State Senator, Kansas; Arthur Suther-
land, Middletown College, Connecticut, Justice Supreme Court; John B. Win-
slow, University of Wisconsin, Justice Supreme Court; Washington Hunt, Roch-
ester University, Governor of New York State.

399
 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Wiriiam B. ALLEY Mrs. Dr. F. J. M. Wauitcoms

 

 

 

Dr. ARTHUR W. SwiFT Dr. CHaRLEs J. CARRICK
Belvidere, Ill.
OUR COLLEGE PROFESSORS AND CITY SUPERINTENDENTS
OF SCHOOLS :

Superintendents of Schools

Sylvanus Elis, Rochester, N. Y.; Horatio Gates Winslow, Racine, Wis.:
Frank Dewitt Warren, Illion, N. Y.

College Professors

Miss Rose Shave, Ingham Univ., Dept. of Art; John Barron, State College,
Pa., Prof. of Agronomy; Jabez Dake, Jr., Hahnemann Homeopathy College,
Prof. of Materia Medica; John P. Colby, Prof. of Medical Jurisprudence, Eclec-
tic Medical College, St. Louis; Wayland R. Benedict, Chair of Philosophy, Cin-
cinnati Univ.; Charles Fairman, Prof. of Mathematics, Shurtlief College, Mo. ;
William G. Tousey, Tufts College, Chair of Ethics and Philosophy of Theism ;
Merrick S. Whitcomb, Prof. of History and Dean of College of Liberal Arts,
Cincinnati, Ohio; Rev. Isaiah B. Hudnut, President of College, Upland, Ind. ;
James Marshal, President of Coe College.

OUR PROFESSIONAL MEN FROM COLLEGE

Physicians who have practiced in Nunda, pioneers and their successors.
Dentists and recent Pharmacist; some thing unusual, a medical school in Nunda.

“But when ill indeed,
E’en dismissing the doctor,
Don’t always succeed.”
George Colman, ( 1762-1866.)

Our pioneer physicians deserve special mention and special commendation.
Many a one who sought to find the habitation of his patient by following a
blazed path, or poorly defined road, have passed the night in the forest with pine
boughs for a bed, and a saddle for a pillow. What must it have been in 1804,
when the first physician, Dr. Hdye, settled at Angelica; how did he find his way
to the Pike or Portageville settlements, or to our own township, and its two
families, as liable to be seriously ill as if they l:ved in a city. Dr. Gilbert Bo-
gart, who lived in Sparta, and had an extensive ride into the newer towns, has
left records of several such experiences. Dr. John Gilmore of Nunda, tells of
visiting a patient at Swains, i. e., where Swains now is, when there were but
two houses on the route after leaving “Hubbells Corners.” Dr. Parmalee of
Hunt’s Hollow was sent for when the first man in Nunda was fatally injured
by the falling of a tree, at Wilcox Corners, in 1820. When people sent for a
physician in those days, the necessity was great, but whatever adverse conditions
prevailed, the physician was sure to start, even if he failed to get there until the
next day. All honor to this class of men; at peril of their own health, they went
to minister to the wants of the suffering. The pioneer doctor was called quite
as often to the homes of the indigent poor, as to those of comfort, for poverty

ewas the rule then, and wealth the exception. He merits special honors, and so
we will mention his class first, and forget, how they bled and blistered and gave
huge doses of calomel, as large as their generous natures dictated. May the
Great Physician reward them, and their successors, according to their desire to
prove a blessing to suffering humanity.

_ 401
Unlike the novelist, who keeps his readers waiting for the wonderful and un-
usual, that he has already hinted at, we will tell at once of the Medical School

in Nunda.
MEDICAL SCHOOL IN NUNDA

Strange as it may seem, yet it is true that Clifford C. Chafee, M. D., then a
resident of Nunda, advertised in the Gazette, edited by Ira G. Wisner, a medica!
course of instruction in Anatomy and Surgery, and succeeded in having a class
of twelve or more medical students. This is his advertisement.

“Private School of Anatomy and Surgery

The Subscriber, Demonstrator of Anatomy and Surgery, a recent Professor
at Berkshire Medical College, Mass., will deliver a course of Letcures on Ana-
tomy and Operative Surgery at Nunda, Allegany County, N. Y., commencing
the first Tuesday of December next, and continue thirteen weeks. Fee for the
whole term, $10.00. Such arrangements have been made, that abundant material
for dissection, will be furnished to the class at cost. The rooms for the accom-
modation of the class are commodious, well lighted, ventilated and warmed.
The course of instruction will consist of one lecture each day. The evening,
from seven to nine o'clock, will be devoted to the dissecting class in recapitula-
tions, demonstrations upon the organs exposed at the time, recitations, etc.
Opportunity will be given to students to witness important cases of disease from
time to time, as such may occur; the services cf a competent assistant, have been
secured, who will devote his entire time to the ciass. Nunda is without dispute
one of the most pleasant villages in Western New York, both for its scenery
and society. Good board, including lights, washing, etc., can be obtained at
from $1.50 to $2.50 per week. A course of popular lectures will also be deliv-
ered to the students of Nunda Academy on Physiology, by Dr. Chafee, to which
the medical class will be admitted free of charge.”

Medical Students

The medical students, who availed themselves of this extraordinary oppor-
tunity to study at home, under a college professor were, probably, those who
soon after went away to Medical Colleges.

Wiliam H. DeCamp; Zara W. Joslyn; Chauncey Joslyn; Alexander H.
Campbell; Vandalia Waite; Samuel Town; Chauncey M. Dake; Jabez W. Dake;
David M. Dake; William H. Dake; J. W. Dake; Josiah Blanchard; J. F. Blanch-
ard, a future dentist, and probably others.

PIONEER PHYSICIANS

Dr. Ebenezer Hdye, came to the town of Leicester, Genesee County, and set-
tled in the southern half of the town at Angelica in 1804. As this was one year
before the town of Angelica, Genesee County was formed, and two years before
Allegany County was organized, he was our first physician. If Bates or Elder-
kim, the only settlers then in Nunda, had needed a physician they would have
been obliged to send either north or south, 18 miles.

PORTAGE-NUNDA PHYSICIANS

Dr. Elisha Moses, and Dr. Carpenter, settled in 1816, the former however
was the principal physician for several years, he remained until 1837 at his home

402
on Oak Hill; he was also the first post master. and second town clerk of the
Second Nunda (1818-1827). He moved to Rochester in 1837, where he died,
in 1872.

Dr. Carpenter we are told, lived on the Short Track road south of the farm
of Solomon Williams.

Dr. Amos Parmalee, from Sharon, Conn., was the next physician; he came
to Nunda in 1820 and settled at Hunt's Hoilow, «ind died there April 1, 1846.

Dr. W. Z. Blanchard, brother-in-law of Samuel Swain, Jr., lived in Oakland,
1823, where he had a store. He came to Nunda in 1829, and erected the build:
ing now owned by the Dake Estate on State Street, near the village building.
He did not care to practice, but was forced to, occasionally, on account of the
scarcity of physicians.

Dr. Ebenezer Wright, lived first at Oakland, then at Nunda. He married
Harriet Barron, daughter of Jonathan Barron: his son Frank Wright, is still liv-
ing; his daughter, married Dr. Thomas of Chicago, and their daughter, Mary,
became a physician.

Dr. Barnabas Wright, came to Nunda from New Hampshire in 1828; he
lived on the Hugh McNair place, which he sold to Deacon James Barrett in
1835, and moved into Nunda village.

Dr. John Gilmore, who came to Nunda 1831, was a graduate of Geneva
Medical College, he built a store and dwelling house here. Mrs. George Carter
is his daughter.

Isaiah B. Hudnut, M. D., was a graduate cf the University of New York,
in 1833. He was the first graduate from Nunda.

Dr. C. C. Chafee from Berkshire Medical College, came to Nunda from Pike,
practiced medicine, and gave medical lectures to a large class of students.

Dr. Jabez Dake, Sr., was a prominent and busy physician. He was a vete-
ran of the war of 1812. Most of his sons became physicians.

Dr. David Dake, M. D. and D. D. S., practiced both in Nunda and in Roch-
ester.

Chauncey M. Dake, practiced in Tuscarora, then went to Rochester; Will-
iam H. Dake, M. D., D. D. S., practiced dentistry in Pittsburgh. He died in
Rochester, and is buried at Nunda.

Jabez Dake, Jr., (became Hydropathy), a!so became professor of Hahne-
mann College, Philadelphia, having the “Chair of Materia Medica,” and wrote
medical books.

For convenience alone we add these to our list at this time, but they did not
practice until years afterward.

Dr. William Beers Munson, a pioneer physician of Mt. Morris lived between
Brooksgrove and Nunda, but practiced also in Nunda.

Dr. Hunt, lived at the Ridge, his wife was a pioneer settler of Leicester,
when Nunda was in Leicester. Mrs. Hunt has just died aged 106. Mrs. Bristol
and Miss Dell Wheaton of this place are relatives.

Dr. Amos Gray, lived on Mill Street, second house below Fair Street. He
belonged to a large family of physicians, all of whom obtained local celebrity.

1839—Samuel Town, who married Martha Barrett, studied and practiced
medicine in the west.

403
Dr, Gilbert Bogart of Union Corners, came to Nunda to educate his chil-
dren. He exchanged locations with his brother-in-law Dr. Hudnut, the latter
after teaching awhile with Principal Satterlee, died at Sparta.

Dr. D. Whitney, came to Nunda on account of schools.

Dr. Lewis G. Ferris, (member of Livingstori County Medical Society), lived
between Nunda and Brooksgrove in Nunda; his family for a time lived in the
village of Nunda. They went to Missouri. His son Scott, married Anna, sis-
ter of Col. T. J. Thorp.

Dr. Button, of Oakland, was in practice in 1837 and 1838.

Some of the students of Dr. Chafee’s Medical School, besides the Dakes men-
tioned, were Dr. Vandalia Waite, Hobart College; Josiah Blanchard; Zara W.
Joslyn; Alexander Campbell and J. W. Dake a cousin of the other young Dakes,
who at one time was settled in Nunda. We mention also at this time, Samuel
Town. (Blanchard and Town) were teachers in Nunda, and vicinity and both
married daughters of James Barrett. Most of these became excellent physi-
cians, some of them, Josiyn for example, may have completed their course at
Berkshire.

Mrs. Blanchard became a physician, Homeopathy; Mrs. William H. Dake
studied, but did not practice to any extent.

Dr. B. Frank Dake of Portage, graduate of Union College, located at Pitts-
burg, died at Pasadena, August, 1906.

Dr. Eben Warner came to Nunda about 1846 and soon became very promi-
nent as a physician, scholar and citizen. He served as Town Superinter.dent of
Schools. In 1852, he with his father-in-law, and others from this section, ate
of the tainted meats at the “Great Portage Bridge” Celebration and died of
cholera.

Dr. Harding commenced practicing at Nunca about this time. His college
was of the eclectic order, and he was quite successful, he compteted his life work
in Nunda.

1846-'7—Dr. J. T. Turner, a skillful young physician died at Nunda, 1854.

1846—Dr. Saul C. Upson came to Nunda, a middle aged man. He had a
diploma from Hartford Co. Medical School, dated September 5, 1816. He
died at the age of 97, having lived here 57 years. He was as good as a man, as
he was, as a physician.

1849—I. J. Meecham (Homeopathy), built a house on Buffalo Street, (cor-
ner of Buffalo and Gibbs Streets). He became a local M. E. clergyman while
living in Nunda, but practiced medicine until his death.

1856—J. V. D. Coon, M. D. (Cincinnati) Eclectic physician and druggist,
went to Olean, where he died. He was one of Nunda’s best men.

1851—Benjamin T. Kneeland, M. D., practiced medicine a half century in
Livingston County, served as surgeon of the First N. Y. Dragoons. See Mili-

tary record.
1840-’53—Samuel Galentine, M. D., came from Tuscarora, where he had

practiced from 1840 to ’53.
" 1856—Bergen Galentine, M. D. and D. D. S., practiced medicine and den-
tistry. (Galentine & Whipple, Dentists), 1850.
Charles F. Warner, M. D., Buffalo University, studied with his father,
Eben Warner in Nunda. He succeeded his father, in a large pratice, was assis-
tant surgeon of the 136th N. Y., and surgeon of the 58th N. Y. N. G. He had

405
as students: Silas Robinson; John R. Sabin; William Q. Huggins, also later
J. V. Lowell and Henry Hagadorn.

George Briggs and Erastus Buck, Jr., were students of Dr. Eben Warner;
they and Dr. Turner took care of Dr. Warner during his short fatal illness.
Briggs died young, much lamented in the community in which he had studied,
lived and taught. Erastus Buck went west and was surgeon in a western regi-
ment, during the Civil War.

1865—Dr. J. L. Jeffords, came from Tuscarora, had a short but successful
practice here, died in Nunda.

Rev. A. L. L. Potter, (Homeopathy), A. M. and M. D., preached at Hunt's
Hollow as a supply in 1867, taught in ‘Institute’ about 1848-’50 as assistant prin-
cipal, and at Canaseraga.

1862—William B. Alley, M. D., Berkshire Medical College, Pittsfield, Mass.,
1842, took a Post graduate course at University of New York, was physician and
druggist, was county clerk of Allegany County six years. Died in Nunda, 1890.

1864—J. V. Lowell and Henry Hagadorn students of Dr. Charles F. War-
ner and of Buffalo University, became assistant surgeons for three months in
the 58th N. Y. N. G. Lowell afterwards became a clergyman.

C. C. Curtis, M. D., was a Homeopathic physician in Nunda about two
years.

Silas Robinson studied with Dr. Charles F. Warner, and graduated at Buf-
falo University, but died soon afterward.

John Robinson, brother to Silas, became a physician several years before,
(whether he lived in Nunda or Sparta at the time is not known to the writer).

Dr. Robert Rae of Portageville is often called as Counsel to Nunda.

Fidelia J. M. Whitcomb, of Nunda, M. D., graduated at Medical Dept., of
the Boston University (Homeopathy), was the first female physician that prac-
ticed in Nunda.She obtained an extensive practice, with a large office practice
at her home on Massachusetts Street. Failing in health she removed to Tarpon
Springs, Fla., where she died.

Dr. H. T. Lamonte, Erie Medical College, Ohio, 1880, born in Ossian 1855,
took course of study at the Genesee Normal, and taught District School for sev-
eral years, studied medicines during vacations, graduated at Cincinnati, then
practiced at Almond, Allegany County, N. Y., eight years, then came to Nunda,
where he remained until 1896, when he returned to the family home in Ossian,
where he has a fine stock farm. He has served his town two terms as Super
visor. His father was one of the “forty-niners” that went to California for gold,
going by ship around Cape Horn. He returned after four years.

John B. Sabin, M. D., born in Nunda, was a soldier, commenced his medi-
cal studies with Dr. Charles Warner and completed his studies at Buffalo Uni-
versity, and returned to his native town, became a successful physician and sur-
geon, removed to Idaho, resides at Couer-de-leine.

Dr. James J. Sharp of New York Eclectic College 1871, practiced medicine
in Tuscarora eighteen years, came to Nunda and had a fair practice, and made
a host of friends. He married Jane Hungertord, daughter of Chauncey Hun-
gerford a pioneer of Mt. Morris. The doctor removed to Arcade several years
ago, but visited Nunda annually, he died at Arcade, 1906, and is buried at
Nunda.

406
Thomas Hammond, studied medicine with Dr. I*. J. M. Whitcomb and after-
wards completed his medical studies at Pultna College, Ohio, and practiced medi-
cine for a few years in Nunda, took a Post graduate course at New York Uni-
versity ; being by nature an excellent nurse his services in a hospital would have
been of inestimable value ; had he been born poor instead of rich, he would have
been successful. His love of luxuries and excessive hospitality led him into ex-
travagance, and the loss of his property. His death quickly followed; he died in
Nunda, at the age of forty.

Dr. William Q. Huggins, was born near the town line north of Nunda,
studied medicine with Dr. Charles F. Warner, and afterwards completed his medi-
cal education at Buffalo University. He enlisted as a soldier, was wounded, and
after returning from the war studied medicine. He has been successful and has
been located for thirty years at Sanborn, N. Y.

Dr. Orren G. Hunt, specialist, was a resident of Nunda and Portage dur-
ing his boyhood. He graduated at Nunda High School and the Medical Col-
lege of New York and was in active practice for fifteen years in New York
City. His specialties were the nose, throat, heart and lungs. As a criterian
of his ability in the handling of these diseases it is said that among all the
expert specialists Dr. Hunt’s opinion referring to the treatment of these dis-
cases carried great weight. He died in his early manhood, and the professior
was robbed of one of its ablest members. He is buried in Nunda.

Dr. Frank E. Moyer, born in the town of Mt. Morris, 1847, attended the
schools of Mt. Morris and the academy of Nunda, after which he taught three
winters and then took up the study of medicine. He studied with Dr. William
B. Alley in Nunda and Dr. Campbell of Mt. Morris and completed his studies
at Buffalo University in 1872. He practiced in Mt. Morris and in Moscow
and died in 1907.

Dr. P. M. Ostrander, homeopathy, has lived in Nunda about twenty years,
is the leading homeopathic physician in this vicinity, and is a graduate of the
New York Medical College. He married Ella Fraley. The family reside on
State Street, Nunda.

Dr. Charles J. Carrick, born in Portage, 1859, prepared in Nunda Acad-
emy, completed his studies in the University of Buffalo, and was graduated
in 1885. He practiced in Portageville and in Nebraska, and having married
after graduation Miss Cecelia Willey, of Nunda, came to Nunda in 1889 and
has been located here since. He has a large practice and is regarded as one
of the best surgeons in this vicinity. He is a son of the late Robert Carrick
of Oakland (a wealthy Scotch pioneer of Portage) and of Margaret Jane Mc-
Kill, who was one of the pioneer teachers of select schools in the village of
Nunda.

Dr. Allen Hagadorn of Brooksgrove, a student of Nunda Academy, prac-
ticed medicine in the West, after completing his medical course at Ann Arbor.
He died while still young.

Dr. Hugh Hill, resides at Dalton, and has been a life-long resident of the
Keshequa Valley. He was born in 1836, less than two miles from Dalton.
After receiving a good education he studied medicine, passed an examination
before the Board of Censors, and opened an office in Dalton, where he acquired
and has retained a large practice. He is a member of the District, State and
National Eclectic Society. 407
Dr. Helen I. Woodworth, educated at Nunda Academy, studied medicine
and practiced in her native village. In connection with her brother-in-law,
Dr. Wisner, who also resided in Nunda, she opened a sanatorium called the
Rest Home, and met with a fair degree of success. She now resides in Boston
where she practices her profession.

 

 

Dr. Joun P. Brown

Dr. John P. Brown, born in Springwater in 1853, was a student of Geneseo
Normal School three years and taught six years in schools of this county.
During vacations he attended lectures at the Buffalo University, completing
his medical studies at the University of New York. from which he graduated
in 1881. He first practiced in Tuscarora nine years, then came to Nunda in
1888, where he gained a wide practice, as he retained many of his former
patients. He is a member of the New York State and American Medical
Societies, has been a member of the Mt. Morris board of examiners for pen-
sions, and has been president of Nunda village for four terms., He married
Miss Nettie Barclay of Geneseo. 408
Dr. Roy Page of Nunda, is the son of the late Herman Page, a former
Supervisor of the town. He was educated at Nunda Academy and then
entered the New York Medical College and graduated in 1884. After serving
one year in hospitals at Rochester he settled in Geneseo, where he has a
growing practice by reason of faithful and skillful professional work.

Dr. Charles Norris, was educated in Nunda, studied medicine in New
York City and was graduated from Buffalo University. He resides in (seneseo.

Robert W. Green, M. D., born in Nunda in 1844. His parents were pio-
neers of Sparta and of Nunda. He prepared in Nunda Academy and Dans-
ville Seminary. He enlisted the second year of the Civil War in Company F,
136th New York Regiment. He lost an arm in the service and was therefore
mustered out. He afterward received from Albany a commission as Brevet
Lieutenant for meritorious services. Taught school several terms and was;
elected school commissioner for the southern distrist of Livingston County.
which office he held for six years. He then studied medicine and was gradu-
ated from the University of Buffalo, 1889, and now practices medicine suc-
cessfully in Geneseo.

Rollin O. Crosier, M. D., of Oakland, graduated from Nunda High School,
continued his studies at Geneseo Normal School and medical studies at Buf-
falo University. He practices medicine at Binghamton, N. Y.

Dr. Horace Perkins, graduated from Nunda Academy in 1869, was school
commissioner of Livingston County, studied medicine and graduated at Ann
Arbor, Mich.

Principal Frank Redman, Dalton Union School, studied medicine and
was graduated from Cincinnati in 1888; is located at Filmore, N. Y.

Dr. Charles E. Fairman, a student of Nunda Academy, graduated at
Rochester University, A. B., and the Medical College at St. Louis; practices
medicine at Lyndenville, N. Y.

Edward B. Kellogg, also a student in Nunda Academy, has become a
physician. and practices medicine at Boston, Mass.

Dr. Charles Mosher, son of Samuel Mosher, studied medicine at Cleve-
land and is a practicing physician.

George B. Campbell, M. D., of Nunda, son of Capt. George J. Campbell,
U.S. A., received his preparatory education in the Nunda Academy and his
medical education at the University of New York in 1892. His practice has
been in that great metropolis—New York City—where he bids fair to rank
high with metropolitan physicians.

William Campbell, M. D., another son of Capt. Campbell, was similarly
educated, and graduated in 1898. He is now located at Portland, Oreg.

Frederick D. Marshall, M. D. (1904), who lived in Nunda while receiving

his preparatory education, was graduated from Harvard College Medical De-
partment. He was killed in an electric car accident about 1906.
» Dr. Davies, who has recently come to Nunda, is of Welsh descent. He at-
tended the Welsh College connected with Oxford University, England. For
a time he was an instructor in the University of New York. He has lived at
Canaseraga, Oakland and Nunda. He has had the best opportunities possible
and there is no doubt of his medical knowledge and skill.

409
A few medical students who did not complete their course might be men-
tioned. Harry J. Decker, while a department clerk at Washington, tried to
complete a medical education in connection with his work, but after two years
his eyesight became endangered and he gave up the course.

Principal W. A. Stewart studied medicine, graduated and is employed
by a man of wealth to devote his whole time and skill to him.

Harry Elwood, after two years’ study at the University of Buffalo, is
doing something of this kind of work.

Under-graduates

Louis Van Kleet, class of 1910, Cornell; Stanley J. Brown, class of 1910,

Buffalo University.
Some Dalton Physicians

Dr. J. W. Hamilton, druggist, lived but a few years; Dr. Carlton was at
Dalton a short time; Dr. J. C. Durgon in 1880-’81; Dr. Damon (Buffalo Uni-
versity), lost his health and went to the far West, returned and settled in
Dansville, where he died.

Dr. Frederick Burt, born in Granger, was graduated from Buffalo Uni-
versity, practiced at Dalton for several years; is located at Hammonton, N. J.

Dr. Cyrus Haskins, now resides in Dalton, is a graduate of Buffalo Uni-
versity and is securing a lucrative practice.

Rev. Wells, pastor of Methodist Church, was an M. D., Buffalo University.

Few towns have had so many skillful physicians. Both those who have
gone from our town and those who have come to us from elsewhere have been
alike skillful. As the mission of these men is to save and prolong life, they
have chosen a noble vocation and deserve high commendation.

Nunda Dentists

If remembered with pain they are also remembered for removing the
cause of the pain. In these days of applied science the dental office has lost its
terrorizing power, and the care given to the teeth is simply regarded as care
for the general health ; the ounce of prevention of more value than the pound
of cure. Our dentists have not been numerous. W. M. Chipman, in 1832;
Nelson Chittenden, who lived on, East Street, and whose shop was near the
Methodist parsonage well, are the best remembered of the pioneer dentists,
for the double reason that if he made one class of his patrons dance he made
as many others sing, for he was a singing teacher as well as a dentist. Some
of his dental work can still be found in the mouths of our very oldest citizens.
His son, Charles, became a dentist, and was acknowledged to be without an
equal in the State of Wisconsin. He died in 1906.

Dr. David M. Dake, State Street, practiced dentistry. M. F. Blanchard,
a farmer’s son, Nunda, became a dentist and practiced for a short time in
Nunda. Dr. Bergen Galentine tried dentistry at one time, in C. W. Herrick’s
shop on State Street. He had for a partner for a short time, about 1860, a
dentist by the name of Whipple.

Dr. A. J. Kingsley was better prepared for the work and was regarded as
very competent and successful. Dr. George Greig (a brother-in-law of Kings-
ley) succeeded him with as great skill, and with still greater success, as the

410
demand for plate work increased with other improvements of the advancing”
century. He died at Nunda. Benjamin Conrad, of Brooks Grove and Nunda,.
was a good workman. He died in Nunda, 1904. Dr. Burkhart was here as a
dentist in 1885. Dr. Mathews, of Virginia Beach, practiced his profession here
for a short time.

Dr. William Baylor, the present dentist, has had the entire field to himself
about half of the time since he established his office at Nunda. He is a native
of Nunda, received his medical education at Philadelphia Dental College, and
has been in practice about twenty years.

John B. Nelson studied dentistry at Cincinnati and had an office in the
Livingston Block about the beginning of this century.

Dr. Robert Sabin, a son of Dr. John Sabin, became his partner, coming
from Dalton, where he first commenced business, after graduation from Buf-
falo University (1901). He proved to be an excellent dentist but remained
only two years. He now resides at Heber, Utah.

J. Coit Bliss, D. D. S., has practiced dentistry at Dalton since 1905; pre--
pared at Alfred Academy and University and graduated at Buffalo University.
He is meeting with great success at Dalton.

Henry Wellington Mitchell, D. D. S., prepared at Nunda High School,.
was graduated from Buffalo University December, 1906. He is located at
Emporium, Pa.

Pharmacists

W. Y. Robinson (for 45 years), Harrison Peck (for 35 vears), Mrs. J. W..
Hamilton (for 30 years), John O'Connell (for 32 years) and Milo Eldridge
(for 20 years) were pharmacists by former methods. Frank R. Wright, grad-
uate of Buffalo University and New York University, 1900; Floyd Satterlee,.
Buffalo University, 1908; Leon Gilbert, Buffalo University, 1908; Frank E..
Moyer, Buffalo University, 1900.

The Lawyers
Lawyers of Nunda, Allegany County

A. Clinton Chipman, our first lawyer, came to Nunda in 1828, and re
mained until he received some legal position at Geneseo. Benedict Bagley,.
about 1834, was a leading citizen of the town while he remained. He was.
prominent on all public occasions, was generally presiding officer, and at one.
time after the construction of the Erie Road was vice president of the road
and legal advisor. Indeed at one time the road was virtually in the hands cf
Nunda men, Bagley and S. Swain being the principal managers and controllers.
The road was in an experimental condition from Hornellsville to Attica, that
being the only part over which this management had control. He removed
to Dansville from here about 1857 and died there. He was president of the
village for many terms.

Addison M. Crane, school teacher, studied law with B. Bagley and was.
admitted to the bar about 1836. He was as essential as secretary at public
meetings as his chief was as moderator. He was pre-eminently the young
man of the town. He has left his name engraved upon a pane of glass at the-
home of Utley Spencer where he boarded (now the home of Mrs. Yeomans,.

411
Mill Street). It bears the date 1839. Mr. Crane, not content to practice law,
preferred to make laws, with the help of others, and, after removing from
Nunda was elected member of the Assembly. Beside writing his name on the
window pane; he built the cottage on the hill next to the cemetery, for he mar-
ried while he lived here a relative of the Judge Ashley family. He was about
the age of Mrs. Mary Barron and of Hiram Grover and of the young people
of nearly 75 years ago, i. e., those born about 1812. He wrote some verses for
the canal celebration in 1836, which are given in connection with the recital
of that important event. In fact he was equal to any emergency and reliable
for any duty.

Hon. Luther C. Peck was the fourth lawyer mentioned. He had lived at
Pike, had been Supervisor and Justice of the Peace several terms. He was
elected from Allegany County to Congress and had served two terms when he
came to Nunda. Those who knew him best as a Democrat in politics may be
surprised to know he was elected as a Whig. He married Miss Cynthia
Fletcher in Washington, and whether this had anything to do with what might
seem a change in political views cannot be said. The Whig party broke on
the rock of free labor, and half the party voted henceforth with that part of the
Democratic party that endorsed the existing state of slavery in the Southern
states. Virtually there were two new parties, though only one new name.
Mr. Peck as a lawyer in those days stood on his power of expression. His
strong use of sarcasm made him always a speaker who held the audience and
made judge and jury fully awake to the strength of his arguments as well as
to the versatility of his expression. Even in social conversation when men
were assembled whatever he said had such originality of expression that it
could be carried away to amuse or instruct others. Like Henry Ward
Beecher, who had a Beecher mold through which he impressed his style of
thought and expression, so Luther C. Peck had his, and both knew how to use
them; at least so he impressed those who listened. Two of his brothers studied
law with him and both lived for a time in Nunda.

Linus Jones Peck had business capacity, and became a successful con-
tractor on public works. George W. Peck was the other brother.

Henry Chalker, a teacher, became a lawyer and hung out his shingle in
Nunda. He was well educated, spoke with force of expression and with well
weighted arguments. It is said, however, that his anger was easily aroused
and when his competitor gained that point Chalker nearly always lost control
of his argument and also lost his case. This, once understood, was more
effective for his opponent than winning the jury either with sentiment or
sophistry.

Some law students about this time were: Edward Webster, a nephew of
Judge Daniel Ashley; Andrew Barber, a brother of John F-. Barber; Jackson
Sherwood, who studied law, probably with Lawyer Peck; Clark Adams, who
also completed a course of law study and became a professional lawyer; Ar-
drew Barber, whose career as citizen and lawyer was cut short by death.
Webster married and located elsewhere. Sherwood became a merchant.
Adams located at Mt. Morris, but ended his life at its mid-day to the surprise
and grief of his admirers here and there. George Bishop came here as a lawyer
but did not remain long.

\ 412
Our Lawyers in Livingston County

in 1846 the town of Nunda became a part of Livingston County. Samuel
J. Crooks, ElInathan Packard, Henry P. Carver all studied law about this time.
Packard and Carver completed their studies at Poughkeepsie Law School. A
law school education was something unusual then. (f these E. \V. Packard
became the most successful in his profession, though Carver secured greater
financial success. Crooks achieved fame during the Civil War by recruiting
two regiments of cavalry and for a time commanded them. Walter 8. Coffin,
a superior teacher and commissioner, became a Nunda lawyer of average
ability. George M, Csgoodby was a law student and completed and practiced
his profession in Nunda. Both Coffin and (sgoodby are living but in feeble
health. Oomar Olney and Randsom Olney were added to the list of Nunda
lawyers, and both were regarded as very successful. Neither are living.

Some college graduates soon after graduation commenced the study of
law at Nunda. They were: William P. Warner, John P. Colby, Fletcher C.
Peck, and A. Jackson Knight. With their more thorough equipment it is not
astonishing that they were successful. Mr. Warner went to St. Paul, where he
stands high in his profession. John b. Colby went to St. Louis to practice
law, became identified with the Eclectic Medical College of that city, and
became professor of medical jurisprudence, and received the degree of LL. D.
W.S. Orcott is the only lawyer who has been settled in Dalton and he became
an editor.

B. Frank Dake also became a law student here and completed his course.
He does not follow his profession but succeeds in business lines.

There was a class of law students before, and others just after the Civil
War. Lewis Shepard studied with Walter Coffin, and Hall Turrell with his
brother-in-law, G. M. Osgoodby. Shepard enlisted as a soldier and died of
injuries received while in the service. Turrell also enlisted under another
brother-in-law, Major Scott, of Pennsylvania, but made school work his occu-
pation while he lived.

Myron Haver, William Burchard, Vilettus Smith, and William Smith
from the River Road, but none of them, as far as known, followed their pro-
fession. Haver became a life-long teacher and school commissioner. Burchard
tried telegraphy and then preached. V. Smith was needed on the home
farm but is serving his town as Justice of the Peace. Of William Smith I
have no knowledge.

LaVerne \Valker studied law here and is making a reputation at his
profession in Perry.

George R. Graves came to Nunda from Rochester, where he had but
recently completed his course, and has made rapid progress in the few years
he has been here.

J. Craig Roberts is the last of the legal forces Nunda has partly equipped
for legal contests. He completed his legal course at the Albany Law School,
now a department of Union College. He is located at Buffalo and has been
practicing law but two or three years. His future is before him with a fair
probability for success. Fletcher \W. Peck, A. B., is studying law with his
father, and with such a legal ancestry his future is assured.

413
 

 

 

 

Hon. ALFRED BELL

 

L. B. WaRNER
Ex-Supervisor

 

 

 

Newton S. Barker Emo.us O. DICKINSON
Ex-Supervisor Ex-Supervisor
OUR CIVIL LIST IN COUNTY AND TOWNS

Supervisors in Leicester, John H. Jones, 1802 to 1805; in Angelica, Gen-
esee County, Benjamin Riggs, 1805; Luke Goodspeed, 1806-’o7.

There being but one Supervisor in Allegany County in 1806-’07 he met
with the Genesee County Supervisors.

In. Nunda from 1809 to 1818: Eli Griffith, 1809; Thomas Dole, 1810, 1811,
1813 to 1818; John Griffith, 1812.

Justice of the Peace: Eli Griffith, Thomas Dole.

Town Clerks: Asahel Trowbridge, 1809; John Griffith, 1810; Joshua
Skiff, 1811, 1813, 1814, 1815; David Hoyt, 1812; Ashahel Newcomb, 1816, 1817.

Assessor: Ephraim Kingsley (Nunda), 1811, 1813, 1814.

Commissioner of Highways (Nunda), Phineas Bates, 1811, 1812.

County officers: Thomas Dole, Justice of Sessions, 1810; Philip Church,
County Judge, 1807; Nunda (2), (from 1818 to 1827); Supervisor Prosper
Adams, 1818; George Williams, 1823; Sanford Hunt, Azel Fitch. Town
Clerks: Orrin Miller, 1818; Dr. Elisha D. Moses, 1819. Justices: Nathaniel
B. Nichols, 1818; Jonathan Parmalee, William P Wilcox, Lindsey Joslyn,
John Waite, George W. Merrick, Azel Fitch. é

County officials from Nunda, Allegany County: William P. Wilcox,
Superintendent of the Poor; Lindsey Joslyn, Superintendent of the Poor;
William P. Wilcox, Deputy Sheriff; Ralph Spencer, John J. Rockafellow,
Abraham Burgess, Superintendents of Schools.

Nunda, Allegany County (3) (from 1827 to 1846). Supervisors: George
W. Merrick, 1827 to 1833 (records not found). Justices: George W. Merrick,
ten years; William Richardson, Henry C. Jones (many years); Daniel Ash-
ley; William D. Hammond, for 25 years; Nathaniel Coe, 20 years.

Nunda, Livingston County, 1846 to present time (Nunda, Livingston
County, was taken from Allegany County in 1846): Edward Swain, 1846-47;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WituraM H. Paine Mrs. Etta (Hitcucock PAINE)
Ex-Supervisor 415
 

 

 

Wm. D. Burt
E. W. Moser : ; ee
Speaker Wadsworth’s Assembly Clerk Supervisor of Nunda—Civil List

 

 

 

PLatr C. Harsreap Cuas. E. Lynp
Sheriff of Livingston County Ex-Supervisor
Samuel Skinner, 1848-49-50-51-53-54-55-60-61; Elisha Whipple, 1852; Lewis
B. Warner, 1856-57-58-59; E. O. Dickinson, 1862-63-74-75; Alfred Bell, 1864;
H. D. Page, 1865-66-67-68-69-70 ; Jared P. Dodge, 1871-73; Elijah Youngs, 1872;
Plin D. Lyon, 1876-77; Wm. W Hunt, 1878-82-83-84; Wm. Y. Robinson, 1870-
80-81; Chas. S. Lynde, 1885-86; Wm. H. Paine, 1887-88-89; James McNair,
1890; C. A. Norton, 1891-92-93-94-95-96-97-98; E. C. Olney, 1899-1900; Platt
C. Halstead, 1901-02-03-04-05; \WVilliam D. Burt, 1906-07-08.

Town Clerks: Charles E. Crary, 1847-48; Edgar M. Brown, 1849-50;
James H. Camp, 1851-52-53; Peter Carter, 1854; Bradford P. Richmond, 1855;
David D. Tuttle, 1856; Hiram C. Grover, 1857; Lewis C. Skinner, 1858-59;
Isaac Bronson, 1860; C. H. Herrick, 1861-62; Benjamin F. Rollah, 1863-72-73-
74-75-70-77-80-81-82-83; Whitman Metcalf, 1864-65-66; Edmond Daggett,
1868; George W. Daggett, 1869; Milo S. Goldthwait, 1870-71; Adelbert Moot,
1878; Wilford S. Willey, 1879; Zenas A. Miller, 1883 to present time, 25 years.

Supervisors from Portage who have lived in Nunda: James H. Rawson,
1846-49-50-51; William Houghton, 1848; Benjamin T. Kneeland, 1869-1871;
Charles D. Bennett, 1870.

Town Clerks from Portage: Corydon C. Gilbert; H. Wells Hand (Town
Clerk and J. P.) before coming to Nunda. From Ossian, James Lemen, before
1856; after teaching in Nunda, Supervisors, Isaac Hampton, 11 years, from
1863 to 1878; A. B. Dunn, 1885-86, after living in Nunda, Thayer H. LaMont,
1899, 1900-01-02.

Supervisors from Mt. Morris: Jared P. Dodge, before; and John C. Witt
(five years 1894-98), after living in Nunda.

Of Grove, after leaving Nunda: James Craig.

Ex-Supervisors, who lived in Nunda before or after their election to office:
From Grove and Granger, Samuel Swain, 1861-70 (after living in Nunda);
Samuel C. Jones.

Justice and Supervisor: Jesse Brewer, also Elisha Scott, 1839; Samuel
C. Jones, before 1840-46-47. Justice and Supervisor, William R. Tobey, 1854-
55, Omar C. Olney, 1863-64. Justice and Supervisor, Washington Moses, five
years. Justice in Portage, Gurdon H. White, three years; John N. Phinney,
1872-73-76-83-84, Justice (about fifteen years in Granger and Nunda).

Dr. William B. Alley served as County Clerk of Allegany before coming
to Nunda. Ex-postmasters: George Chidsey of Mt. Morris, John J. Bowen,
Hunts Hollow. E. W Packard, Esq., delegate to Presidential convention.

County officials from Nunda: Deputy Sheriffs, Harvey Hill, Elizah
Youngs, Platt C. Halstead, Jefferson Fox; Sheriffs, Harvey Hill, 1849-50;
Elizah Youngs, 1873-74-75; Platt C. Halstead, 1906 to

School Commissioners, Thomas J. Thorp, Robert W. Green.

Justices of Sessions, Daniel Ashley, Utley Spencer, William D. Ham-
mond (Charles H. Randall, Portage), John F. Olney; District Attorney,
George W. Daggett, 1884-87. Deputy County Clerk and County Clerk, Na-
thaniel Gearhart, Portage.

Thomas C. Chase of Avon, a former citizen of Nunda, was Sheriff of Liv-
ingston County from 1871-74. He rendered excellent service by hanging
Henry Wilson, the murderer of Henry Devoe. Horace Perkins, commissioner
of schools, southern district, Livingston County.

 

417
eysizW *S “A-xg
MOId "OD AAHOLITY “NOH ‘OCW 09d ‘OQ WTHINT

 

 

 
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY, ALLEGANY COUNTY—OUR LIST OF
HONORABLES

“So are they all, all honorable men.”

Allegany County. Hon. George Williams, 1823, Nunda; Hon. Azel Fitch,
1826, Nunda; Hon. Azel Fitch, 1827, Portage; Hon. Daniel Ashley, Nunda;
Hon. Nathaniel Coe, Nunda.

Livingston County. Hon. Nathaniel Coe, 1848, Nunda; Hon. Alfred Bell,
1857-58, Nunda; Hon. Samuel Skinner, 1862-63, Nunda; Hon. William Y. Rob-
inson, 1886-87, Nunda; Hon. William Y. Robinson, 1903-04, Nunda.

Hon. Hiram Ashley from Ontario County, became a citizen of Nunda, and
died here.

T. S. Hubbell (marble dealer) was for some reason called Hon. T. S.
Hubbell.

Hon. Washington Moses, member of Assembly from Allegany County, re-
sides in Dalton.

Hon. Robert Flint, a former townsman of Pike-Nunda became Assem-
blyman from Allegany County.

Hon. Samuel Russell, of Hume-Nunda was Member of Assembly of Alle-
gany County.

Hon. Luther C. Peck, Member of Congress, from Allegany County 1839-
1841.

STATE OFFICIALS (APPOINTIVE)

Clerks of Assemblymen: C. K. Sanders; E. W. Moses, to Speaker James
W. Wadsworth, Jr.; Denton S. Robinson, Esq., special examiner, Court and
Trust Funds, Comptroller's office, New York City.

Charles F. Peck Commissioner of Statistics of Labor and Capital, appointed
by Gov. D. B. Hill.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

Clerkships: Capt. James M. McNair, veteran; Aiken Aspinwall (vete-
ran); Mrs. Henry Chalker; Miss Nellie Tingley; Harry J. Decker (interior
department) ; James T. Ray (printing).

Major George M. Lockwood; Chief Clerk Interior Department during
four administrations.

Fletcher C. Peck, has much of his father’s ability and strength of expres-
sion and ranks high as a city lawyer, he has also received Federal honors of a
high order. (See Civil List.) A. Jackson Knight has resided in Arcade many
years and has been honored by his county. (See Civil List.)

H. M. Dake might have been classed with these but after a course in col-
lege he studied law, but was not as successful as a lawver.

George W. Daggert, studied law here and at Mt. Morris, was admitted to
practice and became District Attorney.

* C. A. Norton was the next of the Nunda attorneys. He became Super-
visor of the town for several consecutive terms and is still one of the legal
magnates of the town.

Wilford Willey studied law in Nunda and became a lawyer of considerable
ability.

419
Ernest C. Olney grew up in the atmosphere of his father’s law office, but
not content with home instruction, sought instruction at the Law School at Al-
bany and completed the course and is one of the few LL. B.’s, that have lived
in Nunda. He has had the honor of being Supervisor of his town.

Adelbert Moot commenced the study of law in Nunda when he attended
school at one time. He completed his studies at the Albany Law School and
is one of the foremost lawyers in Buffalo. He is a fine speaker and writer and
having these important qualifications is achieving great success.

Denton S. Robinson became a lawyer and is one of the five lawyers of the
village. He is a fine orator, a writer of culture cannot fail as an earnest advo-
cate. He is in charge of many fine estates, and also transacts an extensive busi-
ness as an insurance agent.

POSTMASTERS OF NUNDA

Russell G. Hurd, Nunda, Allegany County, (At Pike), appointed August
2, 1815; Elisha D. Moses, Nunda, Allegany County, (Oakhill), appointed July
27, 1818; George Willams, Nunda, Allegany County, (Oakhill), appointed
April 12, 1822; Sanford Hunt, Nunda, Allegany County, (Hunt’s Hollow),
appointed February 3, 1823, when name of post office was changed to Hunt’s
Hollow.

And the Nunda post office changed to Wilcox Corners, May 1, 1827.

Nunda post office was established about the time that the other post office
by the same name was changed to “Hunt’s Hollow.”

Wiliam P. Wilcox, Nunda, appointed May 1, 1827; George Null, Nunda,
appointed November 24, 1828.

 

 

 

 

 

JosepH LoweLL
Merchant _ Harrison Peck
Ex-President of Village President of Village and Ex-Postmaster

420
Lindsey Joslyn, Nunda Valley, Allegany County, appointed January 13,
1830; Utley Spencer, Nunda Valley, Allegany County, appointted March 8,
1836; Daniel Ashley, Nunda Valley, Allegany County, appointed March 26,
1841; Utley Spencer, Nunda Valley, Allegany County, appointed August 14,
1843; James Swain, Nunda Valley, Allegany County, appointed December 29,
1845.

Name of post office changed to Nunda, Allegany County.

James Swain, Nunda, Allegany County appointed June 4, 1846.

Edgar M. Brown, Nunda, Livingston County, appointed May 9, 1849;
Charles H. Gardner, Nunda, Livingston County, appointed May 20, 1853;
Utley Spencer, Nunda, Livingston County, appointed March 24, 1854; James
Lemen, Nunda, Livingston County, appointed July 19, 1867; William C. Fuller,
Nunda, Livingston County, appointed June 15, 1869; C. K. Sanders, Nunda,
Livingston County, appointed March 3, 1879; Harrison Peck, Nunda, Living-
ston County, appointed March 17, 1887; Homer C. Elwood, Nunda, Livingston
County, appointed September 25, 1891; Charles J. Swain, Nunda, Livingston
County, appointed February 8, 1895; Benjamin E. Jones, Nunda, Livingston
County, appointed February 15, 1899.

Fletcher C. Peck, Esq., United States Marshal, appointed by President
Cleveland. Harrison Peck was his Deputy.

John H. Hunt, Custom House, New York City.

Lias Lockwood, Custom House, New York City.

The Nunda post office followed the changes as to center of population. The
fifth change brought it to Nunda Village, then called Nunda Valley, shortly be-
fore the Nunda post office at Wilcox Corners was discontinued. We had but
two in the town, the third one was at East Hill, but very near the Ossian line.
This post office had but two postmasters, William Robinson from 1830 and Rufus
Robinson, his son. It was moved to Bisbee, now West View, about 1860, in the
town of Ossian.

NUNDA STATION OR DALTON POST OFFICE

Silas Grover, Nunda Station, appointed 1852; Lyman Ayrault, Nunda Sta-
tion, appointed 1852.

Lyman Ayrault, Dorr A. Baker, Charles Lynde, A. D. Baker, G. E. Moses,
appointed December 1897. (Name of post office changed to Dalton about
1880. )

OUR CIVIL LIST FROM NUNDA

“And there were giants in those days.”

» Hon. Joseph Weller, LL. D., Milpitas, Cal., taught school in Nunda, and
vicinity in his youth, attended the first Nunda Academy, afterward at Temple
Hill, Geneseo; graduated from Albany Normal school in 1846; taught in Wads-
worth Agricultural College; taught in private seminary, Staten Island; settled
in Milpitas in 1853 on a 950 acre farm: was Justice of the Peace for twenty-
three years; Member of Constitutional Convention (Hon.); Governer of Cali-
fornia.

Hon. Solon Otis Thacher, A. B., LL. D., principal Nunda Literary Insti-
tute; member of New York Assembly; of Kansas Constitutional convention;
District Judge; State Senator, (Kansas), he died 1906.

421
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Nancy Brackett CHASE

Hon. Wm. H. CHASE
Hon. Addison M. Crane, our third lawyer and District School teacher of
seventy-five years ago, went west, and became a legislator in Illinois.

Hon. William H. Chase, from East Street, Nunda, married Nancy Brackett,
a cousin to Thomas Brackett Reed—Speaker of the House of Representatives ;
and became a Member of Assembly. Both William and Nancy Chase, his
wife, are still living and their son Frank has furnished their pictures for this
book, they are now past eighty years of age. Joel Chase his brother distin-
guished himself in military life and Major Levi Chase amassed a fortune, he
died recently.

James Lusk, son of Rev. William Lusk, A. L., ex-pastor Presbyterian
Church, achieved success in a legal way and became a judge in a western state.

Lindsey Joslyn a pioneer blacksmith and mill builder of Nunda, went west
and became a judge of a Probate Court. He was Nunda’s first postmaster.

William P. Wilcox, kept a pioneer store and inn at Wilcox Corners, went
to Pennsylvania engaged in selling lands, became postmaster, Assemblyman,
State Senator, Speaker of Upper House—equivalent to Lieutenant Governor
in this state.

Hon. Alonzo Wilcox, his son, became a lumberman, Assemblyman, and
was on the staff of the Governor, was a Democrat, became a Republican in war
times, neither of these pioneers are living.

CIVIL LIST ABROAD—OUR BOYS, THE CHAPS WE USED
TO KNOW

“No pent up Utica controls our powers
But the whole boundless Universe is ours.”

Andrew Jackson Knight, Nunda law student, has had the honor of being
elected to the position of the District Attorney in Wyoming County, and in due
time his son has taken and filled the same position, evidently they were chips
from the same block. He was an Institute boy, and his picture taken years ago
when he was a pedagogue, we present to our readers. (See Institute.)

Adelbert Moot, LL. B., a legal celebrity, studied law and attended school
in Nunda, and commenced achieving success and won his first suit by marrying
a Nunda preceptress so that he could always have instruction, “not that he has
already attained” all that is in store for him along legal lines; but, when the Uni-
tarians of America choose him as their presiding officer, it goes without telling
that his legal lore and scholastic attainments are beyond question, as their con-
ventions are made up largely of the cultured and the erudite. A wealthy cor-
poration that can command the highest legal talent also employs him, at
rates that allow him to take his vacations in Europe.

Another birthright citizen of Nunda has a brilliant record in educational
and legal erudition, till he wears the ermine of a judge of high degree.

John B. Winslow, son of principal H. G. Winslow, of the Nunda Literary
Institute about 1850, was born on Massachusetts Street (Mrs. Conklins house)
about 1851. The following is but a partial record of his scholastic and legal
record.

John B. Winslow was born October 4, 1851, at Nunda, Livingston County,
N. Y. He graduated at Racine College, Wis., in 1871, and entered upon the
study of law in the law office of E. O. Hand, and later in the law office of Fuller

423
 

Hon. D. W. Hickey AND FAMILY
State Senator, Wyoming

 

Tuomas B. REID ALEX, J. REID
U. S. Consul to Portugal and ° U. S. Consul to Dublin and P. M.
U. S. Marshal of City of Appleton, Wis.
& Dyer. He finished his course of reading at the law department of the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin, from which he graduated in 1875, and entered upon the
practice at Racine. He was for several years city attorney of Racine. In April,
1883, he was elected circuit judge of the First Judicial Circuit, and entered upon
judicial duties in January, 1884, serving in that capacity (being re-elected), untii
May 4, 1891, when he was appointed associated justice of the Supreme Court, in
place of Hon. David Taylor, deceased. In April 1892, he was elected to fill the
residue of Judge Taylor's term; in April, 1895, he was re-elected for a full term.
But this is not quite complete, he is now the highest legal star in the Wisconsin
Constellation. Supreme Justice of the entire State of Wisconsin; and the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin proud of the successes already attained at middle age, has
given him his third degree, that of LL. D., on the same day that his son Horatio
Gates Winslow a noble looking youngster named for his grandfather, our former
professor, received his A. B., that both might rejoice together. The writer soli-
cited a picture of John B. in legal robes, but he assured the writer that Wiscon-
sin judges do not wear gowns, but college men do, so he sent the one taken
with his son, and so we have both. (See College list.)

Dennis W. Hickey of Dalton, found his way through railroad activities to
position and influence and is now State Senator in Wyoming. He married the
daughter of Winfield S. Batterson of Nunda, and as we have the picture of the
household it is with pleasure we introduce this climbing Irish-American and
his Yankee family. America makes Americans of all born on her soil.

Hon. Thomas B. Reid learned printing of C. K. Sanders, and George Hani
attended Asher B. Evans school and the Union School, went west in 1856, be-
came U. S. Consul to Portugal for five years, also became U. S. Marshal of
Wisconsin.

Hon. Alexander J. Reid, born in Nunda, attended schools of Nunda, be-
came a printer, edited and still edits with his brother the Appleton Post, has
been U. S. Consul to Dublin, Ireland, also post master of Appleton, a city of
sixteen thousand population.

GOVERNOR WASHINGTON HUNT

Washington Hunt came to Nunda in 1819, and was a boy citizen for the
remainder of the time that Portage was a part of Nunda. He studied law two
years at Geneseo, and was admitted to the bar in 1829 at Lockport, he was soon
after married to Miss Mary, daughter of Henry Wallbridge, Esq. In 1836, he
was nominated to Congress and lacked but a few votes of being elected. He
was appointed Judge of Niagara County and served five years, in 1842 Judge
Hunt became a candidate for Congress and was elected in 1849; he succeeded
Millard Fillmore as Comptroller of the State; in 1850 he was elected Governor
of the State of New York. The honors conferred upon Washington Hunt
were so numerous and great that we can but rejoice that he once lived in Nunda.

Less we become convinced that no one from Nunda can equal this record
we present one more name.

William S. Plummer, son of Lemira Heath Plummer, and grandson of Asa
and Amy Satterlee Heath, was born and lived during his boyhood in Nunda
village, he went with his people to California. No intermediate grades of honor
are given, but he became U. S. Senator from California, and we all who are
middle aged, have read his name often. He visited Nunda, about twenty years

ago, he died in California. 425
 

 

or ” biaiada coats

 

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MO'TSNIM "g¢ NHO{ GNV1T¥FHLINS YAHLIY “NOH

 
OUR ARTHUR

Modern Nunda has a way of claiming full right and title to Arthur Suther-
land. Ministers sons belong to the public, they are intended for general re-
proof or unlimited praise, if they are full of vitality and humor, every body
reproves them with a suppressed twinkle in the eye, because they know they
are used to reproof at home, and now Nunda is delighted that it did not spoil
their favorite. He graduated from our Union School, (with Academic depart-
ment), then from Middletown College, Conn.; then from law school; then be-
came County Judge of Monroe, and finally became Justice of the Supreme
Court of the seventh Judicial District of Western New York; and now the
Nunda special friends, of Sutherland (the noble six hundred) don't know what
to call him—-Art, as formerly; Arthur, Judge, or your worship. The latter is.
most appropriate for they worship him—from a mistaken notion that they in-
spired his upward climb. It is not so, he won his own victories and there are
still other scalps awaiting still this young Keshequa brave.

THE LOCAL PRESS

The pen is mightier than the sword; the press gives form to this might
and makes its power eternal.
The editor of a local paper is a local historian.
A printer's epitaph:
“Here lies a form, place no imposing stone

To mark the head where weary it is lain;
‘Tis matter dead! Its mission being done
To be distributed to dust again.
The body's but the type at best of man
\Vhose impress is the spirits deathless page;
Worn out the type is thrown to pi again;
The impression lives through an eternal age.”

How to Write Right
For the Benefit of Editors and Amateur Authors.

It is hard to write right, so I give you this rule
That I learned when a youth at the Cooperville School:

“Write we know is written right
When we see it written right,
But when we see it written wright
We know it is not written right,
For write to have it written right
Must not be written right or wright,
Nor yet should it be written rite,
But write, for so ‘tis written right.”

OUR FIRST NEWSPAPER AND ITS EDITOR

The Genesee Valley Recorder was the first newspaper in Nunda. It made
its debut (a very polite one to the public), September 17, 1840, a year after our
incoporation as a village, and when we had about as many citizens as we have

427
 

 

C. K. Sanpers
Founder of the Nunda News, 1859
Associate Editor

 

W. B. SANDERs,
Editor, Nunda News

  

E. MERRY Epwarp W. Koppie
Editor Dalton Enterprise Editor of ‘‘Truth”’
now, the local poet was already on hand to give it his blessing and a good send
off; but poets and editors in those days moralized and preached as solemn as
owls—or parsons. It was a freak way in those days, to sign some classical
name, to let the public know in advance that they were learned, and old and
fossilized, and to make them guess for a week who wrote it. Well, the poetry
lived, for poems good or bad were carefully cut out and put into a scrap book,
to foster poesy in Jeremiah and Jerusha. Here is the greeting poem, by Celo.

TO THE NUNDA PRESS

“Hail! Hail! thou welcome harbinger,
We greet thee to our vale,

Be thou to all a messenger
Ot joy to hili and dale!

Let thy benign and genial smile
On Science ever rest

Then will thou e’er the hours beguile.
Of those who love thee best,

Like the soft dew that Heaven bestows ‘
To beautify the flower,

Or glisten in the blushing rose
That blossoms in the bower:

Thus may thy influence be given
To elevate the mind

And beautify that flower which Heaven
Has made of nobler kind.

If Science fair claim thy regard
And virtue give thee fame

Thou will require no rustic bard
To immortalize thy name.

Thy potent ravs may then exist
Down to the end of time

And when her darkening clouds are past
In their full radiance shine.”

Such a starter ought to have given the editor courage to print and send
about fifty extras. Pardon this ligression, for 1 have wandered from my first
Nunda newspaper, and must return and introduce the public to the editor of this
and other newspapers, for every bright enterprising man who can write an
essay, or essay to do so, is liable to get the editorial bee buzzing in his brilliant
brain.

“Tf ever you knew a big-headed dunce
That did not try this as often as once
Well, all I can say of him along this line
He never would do for a hero of mine.”

Probably if his head bulged too much he became an Amateur Author.

429
THE GENESEE VALLEY RECORDER

Was the first newspaper published in Nunda. Ira G. Wisner a brother of
‘Col. Reuben Wisner of Mt. Morris, was the proprietor, it was fairly successful
and was regularly published under that name until November 11, 1841, when
the name was changed to the Independent Gazette. It was discontinued in 1842.
It was during the entire two years under the ownership and control of its able
-and efficient editor.

As Mr. Wisner came here in 1840, he represents not only the first news-
paper printed in Nunda, but also the only one printed in the pioneer days of the
township. The editor married during his brief sojourn in Nunda, Miss Ade-
laide Merrill, the daughter of one of the early State Road pioneers, Riley Mer-
rill, herself one of the pioneer teachers of the place. Their daughter married
‘'T. J. Gamble, Esq., of Mt. Morris, and their granddaughter, is the wife of a
former Nunda man, Frank Wakeman, who has been cashier of the Genesee
-River Bank in Mt. Morris.

It is safe to say Editor Wisner has great reason to congratulate himself
‘on his newspaper, and other successes in Nunda. The Merrill girls were worth
wooing and winning. Many important historical events that were newspaper
items at that time have thus been preserved, that would otherwise have been lost
or forgotten. Every local newspaper is a recorder of local events, and every
‘editor of such a paper is a local historian. Unfortunately only ithe editor keeps
the entire file, and only the scrap book and the pantry shelves, save for a time
the rest.

The Nunda Democrat, a second newspaper venture in Nunda, seems to
have been a traveler, it was brought from Geneseo in 1848 by Gilbert F. Shank-
land, and Milo D. Chamberlain (the latter a former student of the Nunda Lit-
‘erary Institute), and published in Nunda for a short time, and then it moved on
again, to Ellicottville, Cattaraugus County.

The Nunda Telegraph was started in 1850 by a Nunda man, Charles At-

wood, and lived about a year. Nunda talent has always been at a discount, in
Nunda.

The Nunda Times was established by N. T. Hackstaff in 1851. It was meet-
ing with a well merited success, when a great fire that consumed the Empire
Block, July 24, 1852, destroyed the office, and brought the paper to an untimely
end.

The last issue of the Times was printed at Dansville after the fire. It tells
its fatal story of the loss of the Empire Block, on Saturday morning at 3 A. M.
This block, a fine three story structure situated at the corner of First and State
Streets, contained three stores, several offices, besides the office of the Nunda
‘Times. Loss estimated at $10,000.

The editor lived to a great old age, was one of the throng that came to our
first Old Home Week celebration in 1gos5, but died soon after, aged go.

The last issue of this best of all the early newspapers has been preserved
by James Swain, and is now the property of C. K. Sanders, and with other early
documents was loaned to the author in the interests of local history. We give
the paper entire.

430
LAST ISSUE OF THE NUNDA TIMES

Nunda Times Extra.

 

Wednesday Morning, July 28, 1852.
To Our Patrons:

The office of the Times Destroyed. We come before you this week with the
“smell of fire’ upon our garments. With painful feelings of interest we have
to announce to our patrons, that the office of the ‘““Nunda Times” is among the
things that were. On Saturday morning last, at three o'clock we were awak-
ened and startled by the cry of fire ringing through our usually quiet streets.
Hastening to the scene of the conflagration, our own office was already in flame
and beyond the power of aid. Everything was lost even our books. The press
was ruined, the tvpe melted, and the whole establishment made a total wreck,
our own loss is probably not far from $1,000 ($1000) upon which there is an
insurance of $400.

The explanation of this issue in the form of an extra, is due to its having
been printed at the office of the Dansville Herald, to the proprietors of which
paper, we are indebted, for the prompt and cheerful tender of their facilities for
the purpose.

FIRE AT NUNDA—ESTIMATED LOSS $10,000

A fire broke out on Saturday morning at three o'clock in the Empire Block
on the corner of State and lirst Streets, in this village, and before it could be
subdued, the whole of this fine block, together with the dwelling and soap fac-
tory of D. Thayer, and the Carriage Shop of D. D. Morse, were entirely con-
sumed. The air at the time was perfectly calm and still, otherwise the whole
main portion of the village, must have been swept away by the devouring ele-
ment. Great credit is due to the citizens for their vigorous exertions in arrest-
ing the progress of the fire and removing the valuables from those buildings
that could not be saved.

The following is a list of the sufferers: M]. Oppenheimer, Clothing store.
goods mostly saved, fully insured, the store was insured for $1,000.

E. M. Brown, Boot and Shoe store and Post Office. The greater part of
the goods were saved, covered by insurance.

L. B. Warner, Dry Goods, a large portion of the goods saved; insurance
on goods $3,000, on building $1,300.

H. S. Flint, Empire Saloon, loss about $210, no insurance.

Dr. C. F. Warners office and library, loss not known.

Dr. Wrights office, also occupied by J. Seaver, Esq., as a Justice office, loss
about $250.

N. T. Hackstaff, Times (printing) office, loss about $950, insurance $400.

D. D. Morse carriage shop, loss about $1,200, insured for $700.

N. Baird, Barber shop, loss $150.

D. Waldo, shoe maker, loss small.

D. Thayer, house and shop, loss $300.

William N. Alward, barn burned, loss $150.

The Eagle Hotel and the Hardware store of A. C. King had a very narrow
escape, but by the greatest exertion of the citizens of the village, they succeeded
in saving them, otherwise the whole block of stores would have been entirely con-
sumed. We must say to those who managed the engine, that they deserve great

praise. 431
VNOAHSAY, AYONY FHL

YoNOIHSAyY ATLNIH ANT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
“The New Era,” was issued at Hunt’s Hollow in 1854 by David B. and Mer-
ritt Galley, boys aged fifteen and seventeen years respectively. In 1855 it was
removed to Nunda, where under the name of ‘‘The Young America,” its publi-
cation was continued until 1856. Both editors are living in Brooklyn, they both
have been graduated at college, and Merritt Galley is a very successful in-
ventor.

“The Nunda News,” has proved to be a stayer. It was founded October,
1859 by Chauncey k. Sanders. It was first printed in the office of the Dans-
ville Herald, by George Sanders, the editor's brother. In this office C. K. San-
ders had been employed for two years, and one year prior to that he had been
in the office of the Geneseo Democrat.

The paper is one that this village and any other village, might well be proud
of. It secures annually a word of merited praise from the editors of other vil-
lages of Western New York. It is of the greatest value to, former residents of
Nunda, throughout the United States and keeps them in touch with old time
friends, “The folks they used to know.” In December, 1898, Mr. Sanders was
succeeded in the proprietorship of the paper by his son, Walter B. Sanders, the
former remained as associate editor. At the time of the retirement of Mr.
Sanders, Sr., no paper in the county had been for so many vears conducted con-
tinuously by the same proprietor. Its semi-centennial is due next year, and it is
hoped it will in due time reach its Centennial. Mr. C. K. Sanders is the oldest
active editor in Livingston County, long may he remain so.

1868-1876

The Livingston Democrat was started in Nunda in January, 1868, and lived
until November 4, 1876. It was published successively by H. M. Dake, Charles
F Peck, Shepard & Holly and C. L. Shepard. Peck and Shepard have won
successes outside of their editorial career.

DALTON NEWSPAPERS

“Occasional,” was a sixteen sheet paper. It was first printed at Dalton in
October, 1880, by W. S. Orcult. It maintained an irregular existence until May
1, 1881, when A. D. Baker became a co-partner with Mr. Orcult, and the ‘‘Dal-
ton Era” took the place of “Occasional.” In November Mr. Orcuit sold out to
Mr. Baker who continued to publish the Era until November, 1888, when George
E. Daggett published it and changed the name to the Dalton Enterprise. In
September, 1889, Mr. Daggett died, and the paper was sold to Rev. W. A. Hunt-
ington of Hunt's, and George L. White of Dalton, who changed it to a prohibi-
tion sheet under the name of the Dalton Freeman. In September, 1890, Mr.
White became sole proprietor and continued its. publication until February 1,
1893, when it was purchased by E. Merry. Under the new proprietorship the
paper became Republican and the name Daiton Enterprise was restored. In July
it was enlarged to a seven column folio and again in April, 1903, it was en-
larged to an eight column folio. Mr. Merry is still the proprietor, and the En-
terprise seems to meet the wants of the “Enterprising” village. The paper, like
wine, improves with age, and has become a necessity. A long and “Merry”
future mav it have.

“The Nunda Herald’ was started by Erwin Lamont, and was for a short
time fairly successful. It advocated temperance and much of the patronage de-
pended on the editor, continuing to practice what he advocated. Its discontinu-
ance told its own story. 433
The (second) Nunda Herald, a Democratic paper founded by George W.
Mason, A. M., was started in 1881 or ‘2 and continued about two and one-half
years. Willard Wood, and Frederick Davidson, were earnest supporters of it,
the last year of its brief existence. Mr. Mason also edited and published “The
Pioneer Monthly,” the only magazine ever published in Nunda. Mr. Mason was
a scholar, a graduate of Madison, now Colgate University. It is to be regretted
that his “Pioneer Monthly” was not continued, for at that time (1882 and 3) it
would have been less difficult to write of pioneer events, then little more than a
half a century old. As I never remember to have seen a copy of the Herald,
I cannot speak of its intrinsic worth. It failed for want of patronage. The edi-
tor died recently in Buffalo. As a writer of ability, he probably had no equal in
the county but he lived in a time when Democrats were not as active or ener-
getic or numerous as now. There was real merit in his magazine.

“Truth” was established in Nunda May 8, 1902, by Lester 1. Scott and Ed-
ward W. Koppie, who conducted it in partnership until June 17, of the same vear,
when Mr. Koppie became and still remains sole owner, editor and publisher.
The paper aims to be independent in politics and has succeeded in establishing
itself permanently in a viliage where with the exception of the Nunda News, fail-
ure or misfortune has been the history of newspaper ventures. There seems to
be a demand and sufficient support for two papers now, where half a century ago
it was doubtful if one could be sustained. The beginning of the “Twentieth
Century” is so unlike the beginning of the “Nineteenth” that this last news-
paper venture in this new century, with new methods, finds admirers and sup-
porters of the new era type, sufficient to secure a “twentieth century” success,
and so we say with Joe Jefferson, long may it live and ‘‘pwosper.

Other editors and men who have gone from Nunda. James T. Ray, printer
has a position in the Government Printing Department, Washington.

Wilbur C. Phillips is a skilled correspondent for city papers at Philadel-
phia. Merton Wilner is connected with the Buffalo Express; E. F. Baldwin is
editor and publisher of the Peoria Star; Thomas B. and Alexander Reid edit
and publish the Appleton (Wis.) Journal.

AUTHORS WHO FORMERLY LIVED IN NUNDA

John S. Wright issued a pamphlet on pioneer conditions in Ohio previous
to 1830. Dr. Jabez Dake, Jr., published text books of medicine used in the
Hahneman College. Sophia Webster Lloyd wrote poems for the leading
papers of her day, which were published by her son, John Uri Lloyd, the
novelist. Some of them were written in Nunda. Mary Bennett Hall wrote a
book of poems entitled “Live Coals.’ James R. Bowen wrote the history of
the First New York Dragoons, a book highly prized by the veterans of that
regiment; Aiken Aspinwall compiled the genealogy of the Aspinwall family;
Prof. Wayland Benedict wrote many books on Theism and Philosophy; Prof.
M.S. Whitcomb has written text books on Geography, History of Art, and as
a compiler of condensed knowledge suitable for study has been eminently
successful. Charles E. Fairman has written on the Fungi of Western New
York; Anna Warner French, daughter of Anna Warner of Nunda, has written
a family genealogy and numerous novels of an up-to-date order, so piquant
and racy that she has wrought success (spelled with a capital) in the line of

434
her work; Rev. T. Dwight Hunt, ex-missionary to Hawaii, wrote a book on
the moral outlook of the Sandwich Islands.

Arthur J. Barnes and Mrs. Barnes have written and published many text
books for their commercial college in St. Louis, creating new methods; also
a shorthand manual and translations. Their successes are largely due to their
original systems, now in common use in the city schools of St. Louis.

SELF-MADE MEN

It is a pleasant duty to record the achievements of a class of men who not
only deserve success but were marvelously successful. Their successes were
along lines of activity, with varying bows of hope, beckoning them onward.
Like Kenjockety, they were all “above the multitude.” It is doubtful if they
had not in common many of the same qualities, though their aims were dis-
similar. They all possess industry, courage, perseverance, patience and an all
controlling power of will. The product attained, however, depended wholly
on their varying ideals of life and happiness. But they won. Out of weakness
some attained strength; out of ignorance others acquired wisdom: out of
poverty many rose to affluence; seeking only to be helpful, a few found and
wrought righteousness. Some had other aims, social position, political power,
wealth for its own sake; and others affluence, as the steward of philanthropy.
Verily, they all received their reward, let local history give to each his due.
The book were brief that heralds but the great. Too often merit goes unrec-
ognized. The striver, verily, has his reward.

Some Men Who Started Down at the Foot of the Ladder and Reached the
Upper Rounds

I know of many of this class; I will mention but a few. John F. Barber,
whose father, Samuel Barber, died when John F. was only twelve or thirteen,
leaving several children and some debts. He left a shop with tools to make
plows—wooden ones, with sheet iron sides. John burned the midnight oil
working upon these; then toiled by the day or month for Col. Williams at the
low wages of that time. Soon he worked also on lands of his own and at
lumbering in the winter and floated the lumber down the Genesee on rafts to
Rochester. He educated his younger brothers and sister. Without father or
mother he reared the household. The banker, John F. Barber, knew how
hard it is to start at the foot of the ladder, and if he prized his fine farm and
plethoric purse higher than some do, it was because of the strenuous life he
lived to win them. He surely was a self-made man.

Francis H. Gibbs had nothing but his trade, that of a wagonmaker, when
he came to Nunda. It is said Isaac McNair induced F. H. Gibbs and Minor T.
Stout to come to Nunda Valley and work in his shop. His shop burned and
then Gibbs worked for David Holmes. where the Capt. John W Hand house
now stands on Buffalo Street. He married Miss Sarah Keith and lived in a
chamber over the shop till he got money enough to build the cottage on
Holmes Street where Mrs. Isaac Whitenack now resides. This served them
for several years. Then he built or bought the house on State Street best
known as the Houghton Place. Next he established a shop on State Street,
probably with a partner, and the old Holmes shop became the property of

435
 

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HENRY WELLS SPEAR
Barton Satterlee, Sr., and not many years after he succeeded David Holmes
in shop and residence. In this fine house he reared his family. It is located
at the south end of Gibbs Street. The carriages and coaches made on State
Street were the wonder of the time. It is doubtful if any of them have sur-
vived their manufacturer. Again there was a change of business and in the
other side of the street a large manufacturing plant was established and great
engines, boilers, locomotives even were made. From forty to one hundred
hands were employed. The inconvenience of hauling these heavy goods to
Nunda station for shipment lead to a change of location, and Titusville, Pa..
became his home and the scene of his greatest prosperity. This added wealth
had enabled him to rebuild and improve his residence at Nunda, till it was
one of the finest homes in the village. The writer knows very little of Mr.
Gibbs’ business ventures after leaving Nunda. He was always successful, a
good workman when he worked, and a good manager when he employed
others. He had begun at the foot of the ladder, and he knew all the successive
steps that lead upward. Surely he may be classed with the self-made men
of Nunda.

Dr. John Gilmore, whose story has already been partially told, had only
his horse, and his saddle bags filled with medicine when he hired his board
at Watson’s Inn, Nunda valley, without the means of paying for it till it was
earned. Within a few years he built and paid for a store, and one or more
houses before he left Nunda. He had faith in himself and in his skill, and in the
contents of his saddle bags enough to establish himself in business. He mar-
ried the landlord’s sister, and Mrs. George Carter, his daughter, will tell you
the rest.

MARK P. HAND

It takes grit, persistance and industry and sometimes dash and pluck
to secure success. The author's youngest brother’s best stock in trade
was decision. He decided one day to go West, and went the next day.
He asked me to give him my revolver which I had brought home from
the war, and with that and less than $50 he started for the wild and wooly
West. His first stop was at the Mississippi River, where a railroad bridge
was being constructed. He hired out as a bridge carpenter, though he had
never worked at it a day. He next looked up a friend, the late Michael
Dowling, and asked if he needed him. Mr. Dowling made him commissary
on his big railroad job, to see that the horses were properly fed and cared
for by his many teamsters. As soon as he had earned a sufficient sum to buy
a team he bought one, hired a teamster, set him at work on the job, then soon
another, and another, till he sold out his outfit for two thousand dollars and
started for California. Here he located a silver mine but sought other occu-
pation and waited for a railroad to come to his mine. He took up a large
farm and was rushing this mile square of land when three successive seasons
of drought nearly left him bankrupt. He gave up the farm and started at the
bottom again as a charcoal burner. This was only temporary, however. He
then bought again a tract of land near his mine and rented most of it for pas-
ture lands. The railroad he believed must come, came, and he worked his
mine and shipped the ore until silver mining ceased to be a paying business
then the farm took up his energies. He lent money at twelve per cent., and

437
finally owned a thousand acres. To-day Los Angeles needs the water on his
land and are willing to pay his price but the time of payment is not quite sat-
isfactory. Should that be arranged satisfactorily he will visit Nunda in
August, after an absence of 43 years. He is emphatically a plunger but is
generally successful.

THE LATE MICHAEL DOWLING

Everybody about Nunda knows that Michael Dowling started at the bot-
tom of the ladder, and had both feet squarely planted on one of the uppermosc
rounds when he was forced by ill health to cease hustling and take a much
needest rest. Born in a household of nineteen children he and the rest of them
had to get to work early in life and to look out for number one. Good, strong,
substantial common sense regulated the judgment that made his chief occu-
pation, that of contractor on public works, successful and highly remunerative.
His successes lay along the line of finance, and the abundant competency he
secured is proof of his sound judgment and executive ability.

COL. JOHN J. CARTER

John J. Carter's career has been somewhat phenomenal. Whatever he
engaged in commanded his large stock of energy; and industry with acqui-
sition prompted by a commendable ambition, characterized the boy, and
has not forsaken the man. To be something and somebody above mediocrity
moved him to strive for a rich endowment of knowledge. Without an educa-
tion he must plod along the ordinary paths trod by the industrious, but badly
equipped toilers, he saw everywhere about him. At that period, when the
writer first knew him, he seemed to have but one aim, to be a scholar. A
little later, when the war broke out, his energy and desires took a new form,
that of patriotism. Men of courage, more than scholarship, were needed, and
the energy he turned on meant a determination to be a good soldier, a little
better than the average, and he certainly was. Then love became uppermost,
and he intended to be a better husband than some who thought themselves
fairly good. Again he was successful in choosing and winning, and in creating
and possessing an ideal home. In business activities the same abundant
energy was conspicuous; all the other acquisitions turned in and helped; lov:
inspired, knowledge directed, but energy executed whatever he planned. A
competence up to modern ideas was acquired, but the same energy is propell-
ing onward still, for it is a part of himself, and it must be operative. Others
have recognized this fund of energy and are utilizing it. It is this that sends
him to Japan, when prudence would say: Stay at home, get well, enjoy life;
why keep this surcharged energy at work? As well tell the singer to stop
singing and let the vocal organs have rest; no, it can't be done, again away to
California this time, why not send some one else? Why not? Some one else
cannot put the same amount of energy and experience, and business tact, and
loyalty, and knowledge of conditions into the business; no one else has sur-
mounted so many steps on the ladder of doing difficult things in a masterly
way. But how account for this spirit of philanthropy that crops out so often
in such practical and tangible forms? Why, the fifty years that have passe!

438
over the head of the school boy is ageing him, and men as they grow elderlv
are full of love for the past; the school they attended, the teachers who helped
them, the soldiers who shared their perils, the flag they served under, the
dead men who gave life with their service are objects of veneration; their
names, their deeds, their heroism must not be allowed to fade away, and so tu
perpetuate what called out this heroism, what made martyrs of heroes, this
must take form, and so the energy guage is turned on again, and the heart and
brain control the lever and here we see and know the real man as he is, and
in this, too, he is a modern Kenjockety, vastly “above the multitude ;” nothing
mediocre about John J. Carter.

Others have started at the bottom, with other ideals, and have found
exactly what they sought.

THOMAS TRELEASE ROWE,

An average cooper, with the most meager acquirements along scholastic
lines. Failing to see how making barrels, however good and numerous they
were, was to improve his manhood or his mind, he coveted educational advant-
ages. But how could they be obtained? There were schools for the young,
but he was no longer a child. He saw the multitude of youth and young
adults going to the school house day by day—and if they hungered for know!.
edge as he did, they surely could obtain it, but did they? This strong desire
haunted him. He passed up and down in front of the neat brick building,
thinking there are teachers there who could advise me if they were told my
strong purpose and desire. One day he went in at close of school to take
counsel with the principal. He made known his wishes, but the teacher failed
to see in a man with only a child's education any desirable addition to his
schcol. He finally gave him over to the preceptress for her advice and to
obtain for himself, her opinion. The preceptress listened with interest and
promised assistance by hearing his lessons at her home till he could be prop-
erly classified at school. The time came sooner than expected, when the
e oper took his place in the school room and, strange to say, fitted rapidly for
college. He afterward graduated from Rochester University, from the Divin
itv School of Boston University; and is now the Rev. Thomas Trelease Rowe,
1. D., of Rochester, fully fitted for a useful intellectual occupation congenial
to his tastes and ideals of usefulness. If this man, this scholar, was not self
made, it was the preceptress, Miss Mary Pettit, who made him—a scholar; but
the man himself was intent on making of himself a man—after his own ideal,
and he succeeded.

DR. ARTHUR W. SWIFT

Arthur Swift left Nunda in his infancy, his father, once a carpenter left
his family here, in a temporary home and went with Capt. Lemen to the war.
The author of these records saw him enlist in Portage and wondered how he
could leave wife and child to go where duty called him. He rose to the position
of Lieutenant, but ere his commission arrived, he was killed. The subject of
this sketch was born after his father enlisted. The struggle with poverty and
privation during his youth, which his mother endured in the double affliction in
losing her husband and her oldest boy Charley, who died in boyhood, would touch
any heart. The mother in her poverty stinting the meager fare for herself, that

439
the growing child might have a needed supply is almost too sad to tell; the child
is now a skilled physician. The struggle to gain an education under these cir-
cumstances can be imagined; to-day he lives in Belvidere, Ill., in a mansion
equaling any this town affords, he has been Mayor of the city, Member of the
Board of Education, delegate to Senatoriai conventions; is a Knight Templar
and Shriner; he is a member of the College Club of Nunda, because of his M.
D., and his birth right, and the one member who has contributed to its funds most
cheerfully, and most generously, because of the love he feels for the town that
honors the memory of the father he never saw. This statement and sketch of
successes won in spite of difficulties, places nim in the list, of self-made men
for it is doubtful if any others have risen to usefulness and a competency, from
more unfavorable conditions.

PROF. WILLIAM G. TOUSEY, A. M., ST. D. OF TUFTS COLLEGE

William G. Tousey was left orphaned by the death of his father when but
a small boy and soon had to look after himself. At an early age some kindhearted
people took an interest in the interesting child and encouraged his laudable de-
sire to obtain an education. They were farmers and he learned to do farm work.
We state this to show, that he had less than the ordinary advantages of the sons
of farmers or of mechanics. From the district schools of Portage, he found his
way to the village academy, the Nunda Literary Institute, which was soon after-
ward destroyed by fire; then to a high school of the select school order that was
established, which he attended for three years, and then became the principal’s
successor. Having become a Universalist by reading their literature, he sought
a college of that denomination, Tufts College, Mass., and in due time was grad-
uated with honors. Then he took the theological course there, and having won
all the prizes that came in his way. won the position of assistant pastor, with his
homiletical professor, Dean Leonard, who was supplying the pulpit of the
church, at Cheisea, Mass. He was to do the pastor work of the parish and
preach on alternate Sabbaths at a salary of $1,400, for half the time. At the
end of the year the trustees of the church, offered him three thousand dollars
a year for his services for the entire time. This he declined as the duties of the
pastor, prevented his progress with his studies, for he is, a student for life.
He accepted at less compensation, at first, the position of instructor in the Theo-
logical Department, and is still there, filling “a chair’ not only in the theologi-
cal school, but having classes in his specialities, in the college of arts and sci-
ences, also. In Ethics, physiology and logic, he has no superior, in any college
in the land. (See Photo.)

FREDERICK A. BISBEE, D. D.

Editor in chief of the Universalist Leader of Boston and Chicago. If this
man may not be classed with the self-made men, he may surely be placed at the
head of the list of those who have made the most of themselves, when handi-
capped by the worst physicial conditions. After a sickness of four years dura-
tion, at the age of eighteen, he entered Tufts College Divinity School,—A semi-
invalid—crippled for life—seldom entirely free from pain, and frequently sub-
ject to long periods of excrusiating pain. During the course of study he had
to have frequent surgical operations performed, but was graduated in four

440
years, nearly at the head of his class, though several years younger than any of
its members. Confined to his room for two weeks, before graduation, he deliv-
ered his thesis, as if in perfect health, though suffering intensely all the time.
His habitual cheerfulness and fine sense of humor, deceives all those who come
in contact with him, and few realize the amount of suffering he endures patiently
and ever untold. His progress has been Phenomenal, he graduated in 1877, and
has never had but two parishes and neither of these were willing to part with
him. As pastor, of a metropolitan church he was urged to remain with them for
life, but when invited to assume full charge of the denominational press, the par-
ish consented to the arrangement for the good of the denomination, and as best
adapted to his physicial condition. As a denominational figure-head his pres-
ence is urged at all State and National conventions, and the travel this required
and the expenditure of energy for one of the great addresses of the occasion,
renders his chosen work he loves so well little short of physical torture. A re-
cent collapse from overwork more serious, than any heretofore, has brought out
this statement that voices, as well as words can express it, the estimate of his
fellow co-laborers, as well as the apprehensions, and sympathy of the denomina-
tion in whose hearts, he is enthroned as a favorite. The assistant editor said,
through the Leader:

Dear Workfellow: Though absent from this post of duty in which you
have long and faithfully served, vour influence is felt in the familiar places in
which you have cheerily greeted coworkers and friends and from which you
have sent forth words of counsel and inspiration; in the recollection of your
fidelity to high ideals and your persistent endeavors for their practical realiza-
tion in human life; in memory of your unwavering interest in movements for
the betterment of home and social conditions; in the recalling of the able man-
ner in which vou have set forth and defended the faith for whose advance-
ment this journal was founded; and especially in the knowledge of the fact
that, under the imperative call of the strong and resolute spirit for immediate
ministering to a soul in need, the weaker body yielded to the strain. Brave and
hopeful brother! to us who know it all thou art coworker and inspirer still; and
to thee we send grateful remembrances, accompanied by the prayer that He
who is the strength of thy life and ours shall give thee peace day by day and
return thee to us with body as vigorous as the spirit which it clothes. Dr.
Bisbee is a nephew of the writer. (See Photo.)

 

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DEPARTMENT II

CHURCHES

ing the standards of life in our community high, and though they have

been greatly diversified in thought and method, each has reached and
benefited a class of minds no others could have served as well. Even at this
time, when great improvements indicate a desirable spirit of toleration for the
theological opinions of others, it is to be lamented that there is still too much
intolerance of spirit—that crops out on special occasions and renders a com-
bined union of work for Christ and His Kingdom—less possible than could be
desired. It is, however, the one thing needful, to which we, as a community
of well wishers, have not yet fully attained. No one says we have too many
groceries, or too many that sell bread, but many think “The Bread of Life”
should be served from a few platters, and those few, the ones nearest alike.
Now good people that is a mistake, the bread adapted to the Catholic palate
could not better be served to them than it is, and so of the various churches.
Let the seven churches keep just as busy as they can, and depend upon it there
will be seven times as much good done as though there was only one big church
in this village.

QC UR Churches and our Schools have been the most potent forces in keep-

“Who, with another's eves, can read,
Or worship by another’s creed?”

All the “home feeling,” all that fellowship of kindred minds, that is like to.
Heaven above, would not be felt.

It would cost less, say the verv ones who pay little, and desire, to pay less;
very true, if money frugality is more helpful, than giving until you feel it, giv--
ing because your heart is in it. Then by all means seek to kill the weakest
churches, one by one, and when the survival of the strongest is attained, by
methods that are everywhere condemned in business as pernicious; then let your
Wanamaker—Department Store, institutions, take stock of trade and see what
increase there has been in spirituality and if more people attend the one church
then did the seven, take stock of the fruits of the spirit, and see if there has
been much of patience, meekness, long suffering, gentleness, love, joy, peace, at-
tained.

No, we have not too many churches, the Catholics, are better Catholics be-
cause Father Day, is helping them to be better. The Universalists are better
Universalists because Rev. E. P. Wood, is leading them on to more thorough
consecration of their powers, to more love for God and humanity. It is to be
regretted, that another like Rev. H. S. Dennis, is not helping the Episcopalians
along the upward pathway.

"No, we have not too many churches, but we have too many who love money
more than Man, and serve gold more than God. But looking over the field for
the eighty years that we have had churches in Nunda, the inestimable amount
of good these institutions, one and all, have done is beyond expression. True
it would have been greater, if they had spent all their energies in seeking to.

443
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Baptist CHURCH

 

 

 

 

 

PHILLIPS

Wm. C

Rev.

. L. Bates

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develop more of that charity, that thinketh no evil; more of humamty, withvut
which no Christian excellence is attainable, or even perceptible; and not
wasting their energies, in trying to help the Almighty, arrange a system of
theology after their own scanty pattern.

But there has been progress with the many, and the few who are still intol-
erant, only serve as the type of those, far more common fifty years ago, who
were alike noted—for their zeal, and for bigotry. It is right to be zealous, it is
right to love your own sect best; but, it is wrong to condemn the opinions of
others, equally dear to them, as heresy until you have at least investigated them
by reading what their own theologians promulgate as their standards of belief.

Another century of progress will find the various forces of the living God
marching in sold phalanxes, establishing the right and subduing the power of
evil.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH

The following condensed statement gleaned from the well kept records of
the Baptist Church, was read at the Church and School day exercises Old Home
Week, by the compiler, Mrs. Cora Stone Cudebec, and is well worth a careful
perusal by all who are interested in Church work: Ed.

“The Baptist Church of Nunda was organized May a2ist, 1819, with twelve
members. The first pastor was Rev. Samuel Messenger who was present at its
organization and gave the Church the hand of fellowship. He served the
Church until 1826, living on his farm and seldom receiving more than $100
from the Church in a year.

“The meetings of the Church were held sometimes in private houses, some-
times in school houses in different parts of the town. In 1827 the members
voted to meet in one place from May first to October first, and that place was
Mr. Jones’ barn.

“They prized meeting together and in two years 40 were added to the
membership.

“The first house of worship was built in 1830, with a seating capacity of
about 400.

“The present church edifice was built during the pastorate of Rev. J. W.
Spoor and was dedicated in June, 1842.

“The church has had twenty-three pastors, namely: Rev. Samuel Messen-
ger; Elijah Bennett; Ransom Harvey; Ezra W. Clarke; Abraham Ennis; Jo-
seph W. Spoor; Ichabod Clark; Jirah D. Cole; P. Houghwout; J. W. Spoor ;
Whitman Metcalf; J. J. Keyes; J. B. Vrooman; Wareham Mudge; C. B. Par-
sons; J. D. Tucker; W. P. Decker: S. D. Moxley; William C. Phillips ; Norman
S. Burd; T. S. Leonard; Delos E. Abrams and William Bates, its present pastor.

“The largest membership of the church was in 1843, and was 547. Its
present membership is 174.

“Several who have been members here have gone to carry the Gospel to
mission fields. Eliza J. Bennett, daughter of Rev. Elijah Bennett, went with
her husband Rev. Peter Conrad to carry on mission work in the far West.
Hannah B. Wright and her husband, Rev. Lyman Stilson, were missionaries in
Burmah. Carrie Batterson was also a missionary to Burmah, going to the field
with Mrs. Ingalls. Rev. Norman W. Keyes also a member of this church is at
the present time laboring in Zululand, Africa.

445
“Elijah Bennett, Peter Robinson, Newell Boughton, Alvin W. Tousey,
‘Lysander L. Wellman, A. J. Joslyn, Wm. D. Clark, S. F. Holt, James Work,
A. J. Barrett, Thomas Lovell, Sylvanus Ellis, Rev. Norman Keyes, and Geo.
W. Strutt, are among those converted or trained here, who have been licensed
or ordained ministers.”

Many who were once members with us have been called to places of influ-
ence :

Nathaniel Coe, Samuel Skinner, and Leroy Satterlee, members of Assembly.

A. J. Barrett, T. B. Lovell, Sylvanus Ellis, Miss Mary L. Pettitt, Miss
Sarah L. Stilson, Mrs. Mary Stilson Turrill, John P. Colby, principals or teach-
ers of schools and colleges.

Herman L. Page, Mayor of Milwaukee.

Clark B. Adams, H. M. Dake, A. J. Knight, Irving McDuffey, lawyers.

Z. W. Joslyn, Jabez Dake, Jabez Dake, Jr., David M. Dake, Chauncey
‘Dake, physicians.

J. J. Carter, Sylvanus Ellis, F. H. Gibbs, Major L. C. Skinner, Moses Dake,
‘Charles Dake and others, influential business men.

Since its organization the church has had 1,134 baptisms, and 702 members,
who have joined this church by letter. Making a total of 1,836.

Many, many of these zealous, faithful members having “fought the good
fight, finished their course and kept the faith,” have gone home to wear the crown
of righteousness which the Lord has laid up for them.

When we think of the blessed example of Father Metcalf, Dr. A. J. Bar-
rett, Rev. W. C. Phillips, and so many, many others, who have lived and whose
influence is still felt in this church, it is for us, who are in the church to-day, to
emulate their Christian example, and take up the work for which they labored
and sacrificed so much knowing that Christ is made the sure foundation.

  

Rev. LyMan STILSON Tue Late Rev. WuitMan METCALF
Missionary to Burma For Many Years Pastor

446
“Christ—the head and corner stone,
Chosen of the Lord most precious,
Binding all the church in one

To this temple, where we serve thee,
Come, O, Lord of hosts to-day

With thy wonted loving kindness,
Hear Thy people as they pray

And thy fullest benediction

Shed within these walls alway.”

Think of over 1,800 persons, who have striven at some time to fashion their
lives after that of the Master, and though even at large percentage of these
failed to reach the high standard they hoped to attain, yet even these were
helped for the time.

Then think of the larger percentage whose lives grew richer and_ better
till called to “come up higher,” and of those who gave all their beings loftier
powers; all their thoughts, their words, their doings; all their days, and all their
hours; and then vou may form something like an esimate of what a Christian
Church stands for, and its influence for good in the community.

This first church of Nunda like the Master, it sought to serve, had not for
the first years of its existence where to find a sheltering home.

Organized at the home of a Presbyterian, at least three miles from its pres-
ent location, many of its meetings during the winter were held in private houses,
and in summer in the barns of Deacon Schuyler Thompson, Gideon Lowell, and
of others. Even the ordination of Elijah Bennett was held in the barn of Gideon
Lowell. The Log School Houses of that day also served as places of worship;
and Wilcox inn, still standing at Guy's Corners was always at the service, of its
worshipers and the landlord himself became a member of the church, and years
afterward a member of the State Legislature of Pennsylvania. His brother,
Nathaniel P. Wilcox, was the architect and builder of the first church.

In 1827, eight years after its formation at its annual meeting in April, the
following resolution was adopted :

“Voted, that we hold our meetings from the first Sabbath in May until the
1st of October, in one place, and that shall be at Mr. Jones’ barn”; (our post
office building now stands where Mr. Henry C. Jones’ barn then stood), a very
good place for Nunda people, but, in 1828, when Portage and Grove were no
longer in Nunda their members withdrew and formed a church for their greater
convenience in Grove and Portage, and this church held its services near or at
the Tabor School House.

The Baptist Church of Nunda was housed at last, but not until 1832 did
the work on a frame church commence. The building was on the northwest cor-
ner of Church and Mill Streets; though about the size of the M. E. Church edi-
fice, with galleries on three sides it was not large enough to accommodate the
500 members and others who attended its services; and the present brick church
was. built, and was ready for use in 1842. The old church was used for an Aca-
demy and the Nunda Literary Institute occupied it until the building ceased to
exist.

447
i
ty

i
Yt
\

Sx 79

 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

 

 

 

 

Rev. WM. McCormack Rev. J. M. CarRMICHAEL
Pastor Ex-Pastor
HISTORY OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NUNDA

The First Presbyterian Church of Nunda was organized, ()ctober 6th, 1831,
in a schoolhouse near Deacon Wisner's, two miles northeast of the present site.
Services were held here and in the Page school house, about half a mile east of
the village, for two vears. The following ministers and elders were present at
the organization :

Ministers—Robert Hubbard, Abel Caldwell, Ludovicus Robbins; Elders—
Joseph Waldron, Silas Olmstead.

The number uniting in this organization was fourteen, ten by letter and
four by profession; by letter—John Chapin, Clarissa Chapin, James Patterson,
Sarah Patterson, Zadock Herrick, Eliza Gay, Millie Pierce, Celestia J. Hills and
Abraham Van Sickle; by profession, Sillah Lee, Lucinda Booth, William R.
Duryee and Larry Durvee.

For four years they conformed mostly to Congregational usages, transact-
ing their business by church meetings. It does not appear that they elected any
officers until, August 25th, 1833, when David Shager and John Chapin were
elected deacons, the latter declining.

At a meeting on May 25th, 1835, the organization was perfected by the elec-
tion of six elders and four deacons. The elders elected for one year were:
Samuel Swain and Russell Barnes; for two years, Elihu Dickinson and Ephraim
Smith; for three years, John Chapin, Abraham Burgess. The deacons were:
G. Wing, David Thayer, Erastus Buck and Josiah Phelps.

The church was under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica until October
8, 1844, when by an act of Synod it was transferred to the Presbytery of On-
tario.

Church Buildings

In 1833, the first church building was erected on the corner of East and
Church Streets at a cost of about $2,200. Those most prominent in the enter-
prise were S. Swain, Sr.. N. Chandler and G. Wing. Up to this time the
church had had only half of the minister's time, now he gave them his full time.

In 1846, they sold the old church building to the M. E. Society and began
the erection of the present building. To Mr. Alfred Bell (now dead) is accred-
ited the especial influence in originating and aiding in the construction of this
second house of Worship. It is of wood and has a seating capacity of 650, and
cost about $6,000. It was dedicated June, 1847, by Rev. Edward Marsh, a
former pastor.

The first session house was built in 1838 for an Academy on the site of the
present parsonage, at a cost of $800. The upper story was long used for school
purposes.

The present chapel was built in 1886 in the rear of the church, Mr. Alfred
Bell generously assisting. Cost of chapel $1,000.

The Parsonage was built by contract by F. D. Lake at a cost of $3,000.

The members of the O. S. Oakland Church joined the Nunda Church.

* Pastors: Ludovicus Robinson, 1831, one year; Wm. P. Kendrick, one year;
Asa Johnson, four years; Wales Tielston, two and one half years; Edwards
Marsh, six years; Wm. Lusk, four years and eight months; Pliny F. Sanborne,
four years and five months; Levi G. Marsh, three years and three months; Ira
O. DeLong, three vears; Levi G. Marsh, seven vears and ten months; Dwight

449
 

MerTuHopisT EpiscopaL CHURCH

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. RoLranp C. Dryer Rev. L. D. CHaseE
Pastor Ex-Pastor
Hunt, three years and seven months; Bentley S. Foster, three years and three
months; Newton H. Bell, four years and six months; John V. c. Nellis, three
years and nine months; John M. Carmichael, ten years and four months; John
H. Williams, two years and eleven months; Milton K. Merwin, four years and
six months; Wm. McCormack, (the present pastor), 1908.

Elders: Samuel Swain, Russell Barnes, one year; Elihu Dickenson, Eph-
raim Smith, two years; John Chapin, Abraham Burgess, three years; Erastus
Buck from May atst, 1835 to 1838; Wm. R. Duryee, May 2tst, 1839; Charles
W. King, June 23rd, 1840; Jos. Waldron, December 31st, 1841; Charles V.
Craven, Stephen Baldwin, Earl Paine, January 10, 1840; Alfred Bell, John Gil-
more, George H. Bailey, March 5, 1864; J. Brinkerhoff, Charles T. Metcalf, Dec-
ember 31, 1870; Adam Potts, Geo. Arnold, James M. McNair, July 6, 1872;
John T. Van Ness, May 6, 1876; Arnold Galley, Augustus C. Dodge, Clement
J. McMair, June 18, 1881; Chas. E. Pratt, February 28, 1891; F. A. Northway
and R. W. Swift, May 5, 1894.

Deacons: David Shager, August 25, 1833; Wm. R. Duryee, July 2, 1836;
Zadock Herrick, September 4, 1837; Chauncey Ladd, May 21, 1839; John
Briggs, December 31, 1841: Charles V. Cravens, Erastus Buck, January 10,
1846; Geo. H. Bagley, A. B. Lockwood, March 6, 1864; C. T. Metcalf, April
8, 1871.

Revivals

There have been several revivals of very marked power; the first, under
Rev. Asa Johnson, conducted by the Evangelist Littlejohn, in 1837; the second,
under Rev. Wales Tileston, in 1840, when 97 were received into the church;
the third, under Rev. Edward Marsh, in 1843, when 30 were received; the fifth,
under Elder Knapp in 1872, when 25 were received. In 1896 union evangelistic
services were held, led by Rev. E. E. Davidson, thirty-three united. In 1902
Miss Sara Nicol conducted union services. Seventeen were added to the church.
Rev. Williams was pastor.

HISTORY OF FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH—1837-1908
By Mrs. Wesley R. Marsh.

In accordance with the customs of early Methodism, a few people who,
being unable to form a society, but were loyal and true Methodist Episcopals,
in belief, could form a class, and receive religious instruction from the travel-
ing preacher. Thus it was, in the summer of the year 1837, the first class was
formed which was to be the future Methodist Episcopal Church of Nunda.
This class met at the home of Wm. Hand, who lived in Oakland, then Messen-
gers Hollow, in what is now known as the Foster place, and was first served, by
James Hall, a traveling preacher, who entered Genesee Conference in 1813,
dying at the age of 92 years.

The original members were eight in number, as follows Wm. Hand and
wife, Anna M. Hand, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Chase, Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Pratt,
Mr. Samuel Reckard and Sabrina Reckard, his wife of Nunda. We are privi-
leged in having in our midst, Deborah Hand, a daughter of Wm. Hand, to
whom we are indebted for much of interest respecting this early class. The fol-
lowing fall, these members attended their first quarterly conference, held at
Sparta in a barn. About this time Alexander Farrell came to America from Liv-

451
erpool, England. He with his wife and five children came to the home of Peleg
Coffin, River Road Forks. Rev. Farrell preached his first sermon in America at
the home of Wm. Hand and the class were so pleased with his address that they
urged the presiding elder to put Rev. Farrell on their circuit and Nunda was
added to the Mt. Morris circuit with River Road Forks and Sparta. Rev. Far-
rell began his labors January tst, 1838. A revival at Nunda in the winter of '38,
resulted in addition to the membership, among the number were George Haver
and wife, Mary Hand 11 years of age, a daughter of Wm. Hand and Mr. and
Mrs. Henry Sutherland. Mr. Sutherland always prayed in German. When
remonstrated with, he would say: “I was praying to God not to the congrega-
tion, God could understand me that was enough.”

P. W. Pratt was the first chorister and class leader. In the year, 1839, the
class was served by Alexander Farrell and Rev. Doolittle, in 1840, by C.
Wheeler, Amos Hard and S. C. Church.

The class was steadily increasing in members and meetings were held by
S. C. Church in the schoolhouse on what is known as the Christa lot on Mill
Street. The meetings were next held in Swains Hall, a room over the store now
occupied by Joseph Wilcox, for two years, at a cost of $30 per year. The hall
was furnished with seats, wood for fuel and lights and kept in order mostly, by
brethren Reckard, Chase and Spencer.

The Thursday night prayer service was held for years at the home of Samuel
Reckard, who kept on hand a supply of chairs for that purpose. His daughter,
Mrs. Cree, remembers well, the weekly preparation for prayer meeting.

The first Methodist Episcopal society of Nunda was organized February 15,
1841, under Ira Bronson. The number of members at that time was 46. Rev.
Bronson was pastor two years. The amount of money apportioned for preach-
ing and current expenses was $131; highest apportioned was $10, lowest $1.00.

During the year, 1841, a subscription was started for the purchase of a lot
and the erection thereon of a parsonage, the committee in charge being, Jacob
Osgoodby, Anson Norton, Peleg Coffin, Ira Huggins and Benj. Shepard, dated
Nunda, Allegany County, N. Y., the 18th day of October, 1841. Later the lot
now occupied by C. Kk. Sanders was bought and a one story building erected.

In 1842 the society was served by C. Wheeler and Carlos Gould. During
the next year 1842 and '43 the society was served more or less by Calvin Booth.
Peleg Coffin, John Passage, Ephraim Walker, Marvin Dutcher and Josiah Sher-
man, local preachers.

Peleg Coffin was licensed to exhort at Mt. Morris August 24, 1835, by John
H. Wallace preacher in charge and the following year was licensed to preach,
by the same man. In 1840 he was made deacon and in 1848 was ordained elder.
Samuel Reckard and Peleg Coffin belonged to the underground railroad. In
1844, D. B. Lawton was preacher in charge and Jonas Dodge became our second
presiding elder. Meetings were held in the Universalist Church, now the Aca-
demy of Music, at a rental of $30. Afterwards meetings were held in the ses-
sion house of the Presbyterian Church, located near the present Presbyterian
parsonage, the men being seated on one side and the women on the other side.

In 1846, Robert Parker was pastor, remaining two years. In 1847, six
years after organization the present church building was bought at a cost of
$250 and the church lot for $300. The building was removed from the ground
now occupied by the Presbyterian Church and put upon its present foundation

452
at a cost of nearly $200, The moving of the church cost the society $30, for
the moving apparatus, the society contributing the labor gratuitously.
The steeple was given to the church by the townsmen, one Wm. Marsh heading
the subscription by a gift of $30. About this time the River Road Forks class
divided, some taking their membership to Mt. Morris or the Ridge and others
coming to Nunda. This strengthened the Nunda charge greatly.

In the year 1848 and ’49, A. S. Baker was preacher in charge, with Thomas
Tousey as assistant. During 1849 the church was remodelled to substantially
its present form at a cost of $1,200, Willard Wood being the architect; A. S.
Baker pastor; and Peleg Coffin raised the money by subscription. This sub-
scription list is still in existence and pays mute. tribute to the loyalty of early
Methodism.

The Church, clear of debt, was now ready for dedication and Freebone Gar-
rettson Hibbard was chosen to preach the dedicatory sermon in the forenoon of
the day; and in the evening Alexander Farrell gave a history of the Methodist
Episcopal Church of Nunda.

The first choir in this church was a large one, nearly, if not quite, filling the
orchestra when all were present.

The following is a partial list of the members of the choir, one of whom we
still have with us, Elizabeth Reckard-Cree: Jane Reckard, Rose Reckard,
Phoebe Roberts, Mary Jane Roberts, Augusta Bennett, Harriette Foote, Chas.
Herrick, Mrs. Dr. Meacham, soprano, Mr. and Mrs. Addison Ray, Latham Cof-
fin, Walter Coffin, Ruby Coffin and Olive Brown Coffin.

While A. S. Baker was pastor a change was made in parsonage property
and the house and lot now owned by Mrs. Pratt, formerly occupied by A. C.
Colby, became our next parsonage.

In the year 1850 J. L. Edson was the preacher in charge and Dr. I. J.
Meacham, local preacher.

In 1851 A. G. Layman was pastor and this year Nunda was made a sta-
tion. In 1852 A. Plumby was pastor; J. Copeland 3d presiding elder; 1854
Ebenezer Latimer; A. C. George 4th presiding elder; 1856 Wesley Cochrane
pastor for one year; 1856-'58 R. Harrington pastor; W. H. Goodwin 5th presid-
ing elder. While Rev. Harrington was pastor, trouble arose among the mem-
bers, some of whom considered the placing of an organ in the church a dese-
cration. Rev. Harrington preached a sermon taking his text from the Psalms,
possibly the 150th Psalm, and proved to the listening congregation that there
would be instrumental music in heaven.

The next pastor sent was, L. L. Rogers, in the year "59-60; and our few
remaining members of the society at that time remember him as the pastor, who
on one occasion, delivered his sermon, in original poetry.

Rev. A. N. Fillmore was the 7th presiding elder. In 1861 C. S. Fox
served the charge. In 1863 B. I*. Bradford came to Nunda. Rev. Bradford
was a very fine sermonizer. He preached his first sermon in this pulpit. He

-has a son still living who is a noted writer. The first organ was purchased in

1864 under this pastorate, Rev. Bradford securing the purchase of the instru-
ment. It was a small pipe organ and was used until 1874 when our present
organ was purchased for $225.

453
The fall of 1864 E. P. Huntington, a brother of D. W. C. Huntington, be-
came pastor, remaining two years; 18605 J. XN. Brown 8th presiding elder.

During the year, 1866, Elijah Wood was sent to this station, but Rev. Hunt-
ington was seriously ill and could not vacate the parsonage. Rev. Wood and
wife boarded for some time but before the vear closed E. Wood was obliged to
resign on account of ill health. One instance will suffice to show the sympathy
which existed between pastor and people. One night a certain layman was so
impressed with the thought that the Huntington family were in sore need, that
sleep was impossible, upon inquiry such was found to be the condition and this
layman circulated a subscription amounting to $70 for their relief.

J. L. Edson came to Nunda in 1867 for the second time. At this period
Nunda was separated from what was the Nunda Station, now Dalton; and
Nunda charge lost some of her able supporters. However, the church was
aroused and during the revival which followed, many were added to her num-
bers. To the temporal affairs was added the shingling of the church.

J. C. Hitchcock came to Nunda in 1868. Andrew Sutherland was appointed
gth presiding elder. At this tume the stoves now in use were bought at an ex-
pense of $220 under the supervision of Peleg Coffin. The church was also beau-
tified by the addition of paint and the walls tinted, C. W. Merrick paying the
bill of $128. ;

In 1870, L. D. Chase was sent to Nunda. He was the first three years man
and the first to reside in the present parsonage. In 1872 the church sheds were
built at a cost of over $1,000. L. D. Chase and Peleg Coffin were the committee
on sheds, but Peleg Coffin died in February and his work was taken up by his
son Latham Coffin. <A revival resulted in an addition to the church of between
fifty and sixty members. Rev. Chase received the largest donation of any pas-
tor on record, amounting to over $300. L. H. Brace was made Sunday school
librarian. In 1873 Wm. Bradley came and was our pastor for three years. The
organ was purchased, the praver room changed by removing partially the long
seats; and chairs supplied at an expense of $90. The story is told—that Rev.
Bradley thought some of the sister churches were keeping track of his converts
too closely. Preaching on the subject he made this remark: ‘The hen that
hatched the chickens, knew how to care for them better than her neighbors.”
1876 J. B. Countryman, pastor; G. W. Paddock 1oth presiding elder. 1879 An-
drew Sutherland a former presiding elder came to this charge. During his pas-
torate the choir arrangement was changed from the orchestra to its present posi-
tion, new carpets bought, and walls and ceiling painted at a total cost of $140.
Revival meetings were held, with the assistance of Mrs. Ellis and about forty
added to the church, a large proportion of which, were Sabbath school scholars.
Mrs. Sutherland was our Sabbath school superintendent and filled the position
pre-eminently.

J. B. Wentworth became our 11th presiding elder in 1880. Daniel Leisen-
ring came to this charge in 1881. In the year ’84 of his pastorate an old church
debt of $740 was paid, leaving $16.56 in the treasury. The next vear, 1885, un-
der Dr. K. D. Nettleton, expense in repairs and improvements amounted to
$886.96, but $150 of this remained as debt until 1894, under the pastorate of W.
S. Crandall, when this and some other trustee debts were cancelled. Dr. J. E.
Bills was our 12th presiding elder.

454
The fall of "88 R. W. Copeland became our pastor remaining two years.
He was removed contrary to the expectation of the people and Kasimer P. Jer-
vis was sent to Nunda in the fall of 1890, but failed in health, dying May 23d.
1891 at the age of 66 years. Previous to his death, \W. S$. Crandall, his son-in-
law was made assistant pastor and remained at the head of the church for three
years. Presiding elder, L. A. Stevens preached K. P. Jervis funeral sermon
in this church at which services, an original hymn of Rev. Jervis composition
was sung. Memorial services were held, Rev. Dr. W. R. Benham delivering
the address. Rev. Jervis preached his last sermon Sunday May toth, being car-
ried to and from the church in a chair. During the last afternoon of his life, in
talking of creeds and isms, he sail: “After all, the important thing, the thing
of the greatest importance, is spirituality, a conscious christian experience.’

During the pastorate of C. G. Stevens, which began in 1895, the leaning
steeple was repaired, the church painted, and various other repairs made, at a
cost of $165. When some of the brethren thought best to discard the steeple,
rather than repair it, one brother said, “No, it was a gift and must be préserved.”

C. G. Stevens desired that the parsonage property should be improved and
in the spring of 1897, Rev. Stevens and Latham Coffin canvassed the society
raising a subscription of $1,000 for a new or remodeled parsonage. The pro-
ject continued, Rev. Stevens moving into the lower rooms of the church, while
the building was in progress; however, the pastor and family spent the last two
years of the pastorate in the new parsonage. <A. I’. Colburn 14th presiding
elder. In 1899 L. D. Chase was sent to this charge for his second pastorate,
whom, like J. L. Edson, the people having learned to love, gladly received for
a second time. Rev. Chase celebrated his soth anniversary as a minister of
Genesee conference while in Nunda. E. H. Latimer, 15th presiding elder.

Rev. E. G. W. Hall was pastor for two years. He was an indefatigable
worker. and through his efforts the church gained ground, both spirituall
and financially. His family were exceptionally helpful in church work an‘
were greatly missed.

‘The year 1906-07 Roland C. Dryer, son of G. EH. Dryer, sixteenth presid
ing elder of Genesee District, was sent to Nunda. The parsonage was im-
proved at an expense of $81 by the society. The pastor added other improve
ments to the amount of $150, presenting the same to the society. On Febru-
ary 5, 1908, Rev. Dryer was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Wright,
of Rochester.

The following July the society paid in full all indebtedness on the par-
sonage property, and the society was again out of debt.

The second year of Rev. Dryer’s pastorate improvements were made
to the amount of $354, including furnace, and cement walk on Church Street.

A Home Missionary Society was formed in October of this year. Re-
vival meetings conducted under the management of Rev. Ralph Gillain re-
sulted in the addition of 45 to our membership. ;

Hitherto the Lord has helped us, and His promise still assures us: “I
will never leave thee or forsake thee.” “I will uphold thee with the right hand
of My righteousness.”

455
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH’
OF NUNDA

By H. W. Hand.

Universalism is the poetry of the heart: it is born of love for the right,.
and hatred of cruelty, injustice and oppression. Poets, unconscious of devia
tion from the paths of conservatism, become the discoverers of new realms or
sublime thought. So Browning in attempting to express his own hope, un-
consciously voiced the sentiments of the Universalist, unaware that the sent:
ment of his own heart had warmed and cheered and enlarged the hopes of
men in every period of the Christian era. He sang:

“My own hope is, a sun will pierce
The thickest cloud earth ever stretched;
That after Last returns the First,
Though a wide compass round be fetched;
That what begins best can't end worst,
Nor what God blessed once, prove accurst.”

Universalism is a protest against ascribing to God, conduct any good man.
would repudiate if ascribed to him.

Another poet has said:

“Give evil but an end and all is clear;

Make it eternal, all things are obscured,

And all that we have sought, hoped or endured,
Worthless. We feel indeed if our own sins

Were washed away forever.

No true cheer could to our yearning bosoms be secured
While any being we on earth held dear
Remained forevermore disconsolate.

Oh, much does life the full fruition need

Of all made blest in far futurity.

Heaven needs it, too, our bosoms yearn and pant,
Rather indeed our God to justify

Than our own souls.”

UNIVERSALIST PROFESSION OF BELIEF

Modern statement. We believe in: 1. The Universal Fatherhood of God:.
2. The Spiritual authority and leadership of His Son Jesus Christ; 3. The trust-
worthiness of the Bible as containing a revelation from God; 4. The certainty
of just retribution for sin; 5. The final harmony of all souls with God.

The Universalist Church of Nunda was first housed in the Mill Stree:
frame school house, in the very year I was born—1838—and by some process
of spiritual telegraphy still unknown and inexplicable I became possessed of
this poetry of the heart. The majority of poets are prophets also and th:
whole universe being their study they sing of universal life, love and destiny.
So the God of the itinerant preacher, who first came to Nunda village in 1838.

457
had caught the idea of the Fatherhood of God from Christ's prayer to “Our
Father,” Our father, Ours, the father of all mankind. But Evangelist Flagler
was Judge Flagler of Binghamton and he could see that the “Judge of all the
earth” could, nay would, ‘do right,” that is, judge righteously; that justice
and judgment were free from injustice; that the sins of the hour, day, year,
should be punished—as finite, temporal sins—and not with endless penalties,
for finite transgressions. But those whose God was Almighty—in vindictive-
ness—whose power was measured by his hatred and anger against the sinful—-
went away full of condemnation of a gospel ‘too good to be true’’—so unlike
their own that they failed to ask if it was like the Master’s, \Whose disciples
they supposed themselves to be. As if any message of God's universal love
for His children could be too good to be true.

A few such pioneer preachers came and then came old Father Paine, came
again frequently, regularly, till the well established churches thought it thei~
duty to stir up opposition; and stones were hurled through the windows at
the preacher, while men outside who would not go in but listened near the
windows cried out, “It is a lie,” and the preacher kept on quietly reading the
blessed Beatitudes—' Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”

Aly mission, however, is to record the progress made by this small but
persistent company of believers in the ultimate triumph of good over evil,
and the final holiness and happiness of the world the all-conquering Christ
was sent to save.

I cite these things told me by the charter members of this church to show
how hostile the spirit of those days was to those who dared to appeal to rea-
son, and endeavor to prove that God was good to all. Calvinism, the common
orthodoxy of that day, asserted he loved only the elect.

FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH IN NUNDA

Organized Universalism in Nunda dates from September 12, 1840. These
believers met at the district schoolhouse. The Rev. \William E. Manley had
met with them but was not at that time their pastor, as his name does not
appear on the records of this meeting; but no. layman drew up their Articles
of Faith, which any one might to-day accept.

Confession of Faith

\We believe in one God and that beside Him there is none else.

“2. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and
men.

“3. \We believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world—finally we
take the Holy Scriptures for our guide in faith and practice, and believe all
the doctrines which God has therein revealed to mankind.”

Who could not accept this creed? The names of the members who sub-
scribed to this confession of faith and who were that day received into mem-
bership were: Richard Church, Elijah Horton, Hiram Merrick, Joseph H.
Root, Charles Stilson, Granville Sherwood, Joshua Fuller, George Townsend,
Riley Merrill, Lawrence S. Church, Lyman Smith. Ammon Smith, Leonard
Church, Jonathan Hay, Sarah Horton, Elvira Starkweather, Malvina Jane
Church, Esther Merrick, Abigail Gould, Harriet Horton and Mercy Fuller.

458
June 20, 1841, there were added: George S. Lewis, Nathan Sherwood, Maria
Sherwood, Betsy A. Grover, Mary Grover, John Tingley, Zadock Sherwood,
William Gould (the last two were Revolutionary soldiers), Sally \V Yates,
Anice Butler, Martha G. Butler, John Robinson, Jerusha Robinson, Erastus
Day; and on August 4, 1841: Rev. William E. Manley (afterwards 1). D. and
author of Commentary on the Old Testament), Susan (Day) Manley, making
a membership of 37,

Granville Sherwood and Joseph IH. Root were chosen deacons at the first
meeting.

1840 TO 1850

Other Universalists of that decade were: *Eli Paige, William Huffman,
*John Sergeant, Jr., *Eliphas Tyler, Esq.; *John H. Townsend, Mrs. Town-
send, *John Van Deventer, *Simeon Holmes, *Mrs. Ferris, *Dr. L. G. Ferris,
*Conrad Swartout, *Hiram C. Grover, Mrs. Grover, *Roswell G. Bennett,
*Asa D. Wood (merchant, removed), James L. Stone (removed), *David
Edgerly, *Chas. McNair, *Amos Green, *Oscar I. Green, Joel C. Chase,
Daniel Grover, *\Wm. Huggins, Mrs. Huggins, *David Babcock, *\W. W.
Dunning, Mrs. Dunning, Sidney Ashton, *Mrs. Packard, *Horatio N. Pack-
ard, J. B. Saterlee, Sr., Mrs. Satterlee, *Silas Hatch, *Frank \Villiams, *Charles
Briggs, *Hiram Merrick, *Miranda Hatch.

On the 23rd of January, 1841, a constitution and by-laws were adopted
and nine trustees were elected. They were: Daniel Grover, Richard Church,
David Babcock, Granville Sherwood, Hiram Merrick, Elijah Horton, Joshua
Fuller, William Huggins, Silas Grover. At this meeting it was unanimously
“Resolved, That this society proceed to erect a church for public worship.”
The following building committee was appointed: Richard Church, Silas
Grover, E. Horton, Granville Sherwood and Daniel Grover. This committee
did its work so well that on Tuesday, July 13, 1841, the frame of the church
was raised, and it is recorded by the local press that the only drinks used on
the occasion were lemonade and cold water. Evidently the editor of the
paper was disappointed and expected something stronger; or did he mean
that when the two former churches were raised they had something stronger,
as would have been the case in the eastern part of the state a quarter of a
century sooner; or, was it the slur of a sectarian, too illiberal to believe any
good could be expected of this household because of its broad theology.

The church was dedicated on the 19th of January, 1842. The following
was the order of service:

1. Voluntary, “Lift Up Your Stately Heads.”

2. Invocation, Rev. J. M. Day.

3. Anthem, “I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me, Let Us Go Into the
House of the Lord.”

Scriptures.

Dedicatory Hymn, read by Rev. O. Roberts.
Anthem, “Stand Up My Soul,” choir.
Sermon, Rev. William E. Manley.

Anthem, “Great Is the Lord,” choir.
Sentence of Dedication.

Original Hymn, by M. Jane Church.

GPO ONAN

459
Hymn

O Thou Eternal King of Kings,
Thou Lord of Hosts, Jehovah, God!
Heaven with Thy ceaseless praises rings ;
The universe is Thy abode.

The rolling sun and spangled skies
Declare Thy power and glory, Lord;

And to our weak and wondering eyes
More brightly shines Thy sacred word.

To Thy almighty glorious name
We dedicate this house of prayer;

Here may benighted sinners learn
A Father's love, a Father's care.

Oh never may its walls return

The dismal wailings of despair ;
But here benighted sinners learn

A Father's love, a Father’s care.

Thy sovereign power and grace impart,
Faith, peace and joy to every soul;

Bind up the mourner’s bleeding heart,
Each anxious doubt and fear control.

Together may we walk in love,
Together listen to Thy word;
Until we join the choir above,
To chant the praises of our Lord.
11. Benediction.

Editorial comment from Ira Wisner, editor:

“During the exercises (he meant services), which were conducted with
simplicity and apparent sincerity appropriate on such an occasion, perfect order
and solemnity prevailed, and the best attention was given by the large audi-
ence (he meant congregation) in attendance. (Evidently Editor Wisner had
expected to have heard or seen something to find fault with.)”

It is hard to understand in these days of harmony and Christian courtesy
what prejudices existed in small souls against the beliefs held in other
churches three score years ago. A clergyman by the name of Linus Payne
was one of the itinerant school house preachers of this church; then Rev. W.
E. Manley, and then Father Miles. As the last mentioned had been a Baptist
clergyman his change of views made him a mark for special persecution.

Rev. William E. Manley, who afterwards became an author and com-
mentator, as well as Doctor of Divinity, was located in this village in August,
1841, as we then find his name with that of his wife, Susan, on the church
records.

Rev. Miles succeeded Dr. Manley in 1843. The length of his pastorate is
unknown. He immersed some of his flock.

460
Rev. Alanson Kelsey was pastor on alternate Sabbaths from 1847 to 1851,
and then declined a call for two more years’ service.

Rev. O. F. Brayton’s pastorate was from 1851 to 1853, Rev. O. Roberts
succeeding him until 1856.

Rev. Joseph A. Aspinwall’s pastorate was unlike any before. He preached
twice every Sabbath from 1856 until the summer of 1860 when, after a short
illness, he died, lamented by the whole community. The pastor of the Baptist
Church—Rev. Whitman Metcalf—offered the use of his large church for the
obsequies ; and, led by the village clergy. a procession of 200 Universalists, in-
cluding a Bible class of twelve young men and a Sunday School of sixty,
moved solemnly through the silent streets. As though but yesterday, I recall
the whole occasion; there were no carriages, no badges of mourning; family,
clergy, congregation and Sunday School moved from the house on Gibbs
Street to the church. Rev. Dr. Asa Saxe of Rochester was the preacher; and
the text I still hear and believe: “And this is the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith.”

Mr. Aspinwall had been president of the Clinton Liberal Institute, and
his scholarship, dignity and zeal for righteousness broke down sectarian bound-
aries. His zeal for temperance was conspicuous. Lay services were held the
rest of the year that the salary might be paid to his widow. Rev. C. C. Gor-
don of Brooklyn, an expert accountant and lightning reckoner, gave up his
position and a salary of $1200 a year, and accepted a call to Nunda at $600.
He hired the large (\Vhitehead) house on Portage Street at $200 a year rent
but remained only one year. Rev. D. C. Tomlinson of Portageville became
pastor in the fall of 1862. It was in war times and many a clergyman’s patriot-
ism was too great for some of the trustees; he remained but one year until
1863. Rev. Henry C. De Long succeeded him (1864 and 1865), who gave
general satisfaction, but a wealthier society in a college town won him away,
and have him still.

Rev. E. Reynolds of Cuba in 1866 became a permanent supply. Gifted,
devout and eloquent, but physically frail, he declined a settlement, but sup-
plied regularly till forced by failing health to give up his charge.

Rev. F. Stanley Bacon, who combined the gifts of artist, musician and
orator, sacrificed music and art for the sake of proclaiming the gospel mes-
sage. He was aesthetic by nature, and introduced a liturgical service, wore a
robe, had an altar and reading desk. His decorations of the church at Christ-
mas were so elaborate that the old church looked like a bower of roses. The
organ we have, and the baptismal font of Parian marble that he bought still
reminds us of the harmony and purity of his ethereal nature. He served the
parish three years—1867 to 1870. He went to Belfast, Me., where he died, in
1874, at the age of 40.

In 1870 S. J. Dickson was the pastor. His services were well attended.
Rev. A. L. Rice, fresh from the theological school, served the parish for some-
thing less than a year. He became, when older, a very successful minister.

Rev. J. A. Dobson's pastorate lasted three years, and during this time,
1871 to 1874, the Church of the Redeemer, a large and beautiful Gothic struc-
ture, was built at a cost of $15,000, and was dedicated with imposing cere-
monies.

461
Rev. Dr. L. J. Fletcher of Buffalo preached the sermon of dedication.
The old church had been enlarged and made into a public hall, and services
were held there during the building of the new church. The evening congre-
gations during this time were larger than at any other time since the first
organization of the church. Every transient felt at home there, but when
they came to the new church they felt like visitors, afraid of getting into
some one’s $50 pew.

John P. McLean, a college graduate and a graduate from St. Lawrence
Theological School, was hired for four months as a supply in 1874.

Rev. Alanson Kelsey finished out the year, and though full of vears his
services were eminently successful. An infirmity of sight prevented further
service. Rev. H. Jewell, rich in years and experience, was the pastor in 1875.
In 1876 the church depended on supplies. Rev. J. H. Shepard and Rev. Nelson
Snell served more frequently than others.

Rev. S. T. Aldrich of Hornellsville preached every Sunday morning at
Nunda for three years, from 1876 to 1880. Rev. A. U. Hutchins, state superin-
tendent of churches, furnished the preaching till the society called Rev. I. P.
Coddington, who remained two years, but against the wishes of the parish
went to Jersey City.

From 1882 to 1889 there were only occasional services. Rev. Jay J. Bray-
ton was pastor from January, 1889 to January, 1892. Congregations and Sun-
day Schools were large at this time. Rev. Frank T. Sweet, a recent accession
from the Rochester University and the Baptist Theological School, served the
church acceptably from January, 1892, to January, 1895. Rev. James Taylor
from January, 1895 to April, 1896. He became a Swedenborgian. Rev. Jud-
son P. Marvin was pastor from September, 1897, to August, 1898. The sickness
of a beloved relative in Boston caused his resignation. He was a pulpit orator
such as we have seldom had. Rev. Clara Morgan was pastor for nearly five
years, from September, 1897 to July, 1903. She was very successful but
sought a “wider field,” and so took three parishes at least twenty miles from
the first to the third and so found what she sought. Rev. Donald Frazer was
pastor from January, 1904, to November, 1905. While preaching during an
October vacation he found a model parsonage at Macedon and received a call
to occupy it, which he promptly accepted.

Rev. C. P. Lynn served the parish as a summer supply. As an orator he
was very fine. As he was compelled to go with crutches from his boyhood he
seldom passes his winters North on account of the icy pavements which are a
source of peril to him.

The present pastor, Edwin P. Wood, came to the cliurch and the denomi-
nation in September, 1907, from the Society of Friends or Quakers. He had
been in their ministry ten years.

We give you, one and all, an opportunity to see our “Friend preacher,”
for the photo was taken while he was an orthodox Quaker. He is still ‘sound
in the faith once delivered to the saints,” and his services are very satisfactory
to all who hear him. May he long be the last.

Since the building of the new church the large room in the basement has
been completed and rendered serviceable at a cost of $300. Within the period
of the last two years, a mortgage on the church property amounting to $1,300

462
has been removed. The old church building, a public hall, has been sold, and
the funds received therefrom have been used to make a payment towards the
purchase price of the parsonage. Universalists have from time to time mani-
fested their love for their church by leaving bequests to aid in sustaining its
services. .\ Mr. Watson left a fund of about $5,000 to the Universalist Church
of Nunda and a similar amount to the church at Portageville; this was about
sixty years ago.

Mrs. Samuel Whitcomb gave, a short time before her death all her per-
sonal property and real estate, amounting to about $12,000 to the Church of the
Redeemer (Universalist) of Nunda. The church has not come into possession
of the same, but it is gratifying to know that the childless Universalists of two
different generations have proved their love for their church by giving their
all to the cause they loved best.

Others who have been prominent in the work of the church were: \Wilson
Willard, R. G. Bennett, W. B. Whitcomb, E. W Packard. S. P. Whitcomb,
H. W. Hand, C. Kk. Sanders, W. Y. Robinson, J. \) Townsend, Virgil Hun-
gerford, Francis Ray, E. O. Dickenson, B. IF. King, Barton Satterlee, Sr., Prof.
E. E. Spaulding and Norman Smith; in recent years, D. S. Robinson, IP.
Smith, W. H. and O. J. Willard, W. H. Brady, B. E. Jones, Fred Smith, Robert
Balty, \V. B. Sanders, LaVerne Powell and L. P Higgins. But the largest
part of the work has been, in the past, and probably will be done in the future,
by the faithful women of the church, without whose efforts many of the suc-
cesses achieved would have proved futile. While all have toiled diligently
some have proved natural leaders and furnished the courage and enthusiasm
to make the work marvelously great.

Of those, who have passed away we will mention. Mrs. F. J. M. Whit-
comb, Mrs. Wilson Willard, and Mrs. Juliette Whitcomb—but those who remain
are equally loyal and zealous, and are proving their faith by their works.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Services were held for the first time, with a view to the formation of a
parish, April 7th, 1847, at Swain’s Hall. The Rev. Mason Gallagher of Dans-
ville, presided: H. Chalker was chosen as clerk. The following was the first
vestry: C. Remington and G. P. Waldo, church warders; I. T. Turner, R. H.
Spencer, N. Chittenden, John Guiteau, S. Swain, Jr., David F. Swain, H. Chalker
and R. Bennett, vestrymen. Services were conducted for different preiods by
Rev. Gersham P. Waldo, Rev. Lucius Carter and Rev. Asa Griswold, until De-
cember 1, 1849, when the Rev. Andrew D. Benedict took pastoral charge, in
connection with St. Marks Church, Hunt's Hollow. During the rectorship of
Rev. Benedict which ended May tst, 1852, the present church was erected.
The church was consecrated some time later, by Lishop De Lancey. The
parsonage and lot adjoining the church were donated by Miss Catharine
Brooks of Brooksgrove, who also presented the parish with an expensive set of
communion vessels and the altar linen, now in use. The Rev. James A. Robin-
son succeeded as rector May Ist, 1853 until fall of 1854. Rev. James O. Stokes,
was in charge from fall of 1854 until 1855; from July Ist, 1856, until April,
1857, Rev. G. P. Waldo; 1857 to 1860, Rev. H. V Gardner: from June Ist
1863, until February 28th, 1866, Rev. Fayette Royce.

463
 

Rev. Henry S. DENNIS
Ex-Pastor Episcopal Church

 

Grace CHURCH AND RECTORY
The parish during the rectorship of Rev. Royce was connected with
Brooksgrove mission and Canaseraga. January, 1867, Rev. Waldo, resident
clergyman; January 1, 1867, Rev. H. Adams was called as rector. Rectors
since have been Revs. Noble Palmer Woodward, H. M. Brown, S. H. Batten,
F, A. Gould, Badger, Cameron and H. L. Dennis.

H. Chalker, the first clerk, served in this office until 1872. During the ree-
torship of Rev. Dennis which terminated in 1906 the officers were: Wardens,
Capt. George J. Campbell, U. S. A., and W. H. Fuller; clerk, J. R. Gurnee;
treasurer, Joseph Miller.

St. Marks Episcopal Church at Hunt's Hollow was organized in 1826 and
was therefore for one year in the town of Nunda. It was for many years a
church well sustained and supported. The Hunts, Bennetts (Walter B. family),
Clarks, Cobbs, Averills and Williams families were prominent and zealous work-
ers. The building is to be torn down and moved to Hunt, as the Baptist Church
was twenty years ago. Mlay its former prosperity be again restored. The rec-
tors of St. Marks and of Grace Church have for many vears been the same.

THE HOLY ANGELS CHURCH

When the Genesee Valley canal was commenced at Rochester in the year,
1837, to be built to Dansville, many young Irish Catholics were employed in
the work until the canal was finished to Dansville, in 1842. Immediately after
the completion of the canal to Dansville a branch was begun at the Shakers,
built to Olean and finished in 1852. The men who had been employed on the
Dansville branch found employment on the Olean branch. Many of them
located at Nunda and in the immediate vicinity in 1842.

Thomas Kiley, Michael Welch, Thomas Brick, James Brick and Michael
Creed, were the first Catholics who came to Nunda. Shortly after, came James
Kiley, Patrick Barry, Owen Carroll, John Sheahan, Maurice Wall, the Blake
and Skelly brothers, Michael Barnes, Maurice Gurry and others, until in 1842
Nunda had quite a settlement of Catholics. The first marriage among them was
that of Thomas Brick and Ellen Fitzgerald in 1845. At the “Deep Cut,” two
miles from Nunda, a colony of about three hundred Catholics located, where they
were employed by the firm of Sharp & Quinn, who had the contract for ‘‘mak-
ing the cut.” Sharp and Quinn came from Rochester.

Through their influence Father O'Reilly, who later became Bishop of Hart-
ford came on horseback from Rochester to the “Deep Cut” to hold services.
The few who were living in Nunda attended mass at the “Deep Cut” for a time.
On one of his visits to the “Deep Cut” Father O’Rielly stopped at Nunda and
baptized the first chiid, born of Catholic parents, in the village. Subsequently
Father O’Brian came to Nunda from Greenwood, Allegany County and _ held
services in a private house a number of times. In 1846, Father Sheridan was
stationed at Portageville, where a large number of Catholic families had located.
Father Sheridan’s field of labor extended south to Belfast, west to Pike, Perry
and Warsaw, and north to Nunda.

There were no churches at any of these places and mass was read in private
houses. Father Sheridan remained at Portageville five or six years. He was
succeeded by Father McEvoy who remained until 1854. In 1854 Father Dolan
purchased a building in Nunda, which had been intended for a dwelling. This

465
 

 

 

Rev. James H. Day

 

Perens

aon Bes —

 

CHURCH OF THE HoLy ANGELS
building was begun by Mr. Marsh, a tailor, who was unable to finish it. Mr.
B. P. Richmond bought the building and soid it to Father Dolan, who converted
it into a church. This church was plainly finished and furnished, the seats con-
sisting of plain pine boards without any backs. lather Dolan felt very proud
that the few Catholic families of Nunda had at last a church of their own.
Father Dolan. was succeeded by Father Ryan; who was followed by Father
Moore, who remained only three months. Then came Father Dean, who re-
mained until 1862. He had the church repaired, pews put in and the interior
painted. Father Purcell then had charge of the church for one year, and had
a new altar and confessional built. I*ather Lawton had charge in 1863; Father
Greig came in the early spring of 1864 and remained until late in the fall, being
followed by Father McGinnis who remained until March, 1865. lather Cook
then came and remained until 1872. He was a classmate of General Thomas
Francis Meagher, and a fellow sympathizer in the young Ireland movement of
"48." Father Biggins of Dansville succeeded Father Cook, in 1872, and the
church was transferred from the Buffalo to the Rochester Diocese. Father Big-
gins built the present church and remained until 1874. Father Seymour next
took charge for one vear and was the only one of all these priests who took
Nunda as his only charge. The congregation however, was too small and too
poor to support a priest, which fact Bishop soon discovered and
Father Donnelly, who was stationed at Mt. Morris, with the assistance of Father
O'Connell attended Nunda from 1875 to 1882. Father Donnelly had new pews
placed in the church and made many other improvements. Father Day was ap-
pointed pastor of the parishes of Mt. Morris and Nunda, May Ist, 1893, and is
still in charge. From, July, 1898, until November, 1899, he was assisted by
Rev. E. A. Rawlinson. The interior of the church has recently been papered
and painted, and the altar remodeled and decorated.

Thomas Kiley was the first lay trustee and held the office up to his death
in 1879. James Price was also a trustee for a few years with Mr. Kiley. John
O’Connell became a trustee to succeed Thomas Kiley, in 1879, and still holds
office jointly with R. H. Hughs who was appointed in 1893. The other trus-
tees, are the Bishop and Vicar General of the Diocese, and the pastor, ex-officio.
The church is without debt and has a membership of thirty families.

 

 

HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, DALTON—
TOWN OF NUNDA

The first religious services were held at Nunda Station, now called Dalton,
in 1855, three years after the railroad station for the town of Nunda was located
there. Hiram Merithew secured the services of Rev. Joseph Pearsall to preach
in the school house, where the first class was formed with Hiram Merithew as
class leader. These meetings grew in interest, with increase of attendance until
more commodious quarters became a necessity.

A society was organized November 3rd, 1858. Rev. Woodruff Post, who
became their first pastor presided; M. H. Wakeman was chosen for secretary ;
and the following trustees were elected: Rev. A. Maker, Joseph Kelley, A. J.
White, Miles H. Wakeman and Lyman Ayrault. A subscription was started
that would be binding as soon as $800 was subscribed.

Maxom C. Smith, who owned most of the land where the new village was
to be, generously donated the building lot. The Ensworth Brothers, George,

467
Nelson, Charles and Edwin, began the erection of the building in 1859, and
completed the structure so that it was ready for dedication in June, and it was
then dedicated with the usual impressive ceremonies. [or 36 years it served as
first erected. In that time great changes had taken place and the small hamlet
had grown to village proportions. Some of the early workers had passed awar
before the re-dedication of the church in 1895.

Among them may be mentioned: D. K. Lowell and his wife; James L.
Edmonds; George Beardsley; Chauncey Morse and his son Fred; Rev. F. W.
Connible; Rev. A. Maker; Reuben Weed; Mrs. Weed; Mrs. Peter Passage;
Mrs. Mariam Baldwin, and many other, whose places have been taken by others
equally zealous and earnest, and the work has gone on. On January 6, 1895,
the church, enlarged and beautified was re-dedicated. Rev. J. E. Bills, D. D.,
of Rochester, and the presiding elder, A. F. Colburn, were present. Inclement
weather prevailed, but the auditorium was filled and the chapel connected with
it also. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Dr. Bills. After the sermon
Charles Lynde of the building committee reported a deficiency of funds to the
amount of $2,000, and $2,300 was soon pledged. The entire cost of rebuilding
and refurnishing having been $4,593.70. The people of Dalton had every reason
to be proud of their church. The building is 46x50 feet with a tower 14 feet
square and 85 feet high. The interior of the church is furnished in cherry, has
finely frescoed walls, walnut pulpit furniture, oak circular seats, modern style,
chapel, church parlors and kitchen complete—in fact it is a modern church with
all the improvements and up-to-date appointments; and this is one of the young-
est of the sisterhood of churches, with a membership at present greater than that
of the mother church from which she sprang, the present number being 200
members.

The clergy who have helped bring about the present prosperous conditions
have been: 1859, Woodruff Post; 1860, M. DePuy; 1861-’2, John Spinks;
1863, J. J. Turton ; 1864, Rev. Bradford ; 1865, D. Lowell; 1866, E. P. Hunting-
ton; 1867, Rev. Wood; 1868-’g9, A. Maker; 1870, C. G. Lowell; 1871-'2, T. W.
Chandler; 1873-4, J. L. King; 1875-'6, S. R. Richardson; 1877, C. Dillenbeck ;
1878-1880, E. J. Cook; 1881-’3, A. W. Staples; 1884-’5, S. S. Ballou;
1886-'7, G. H. Van Vradenburg; 1888-'92, Daniel Clark; 1893-'4, J. K. Under-
hill; 1895-6, J. B. Arnold; 1897-’8, J. R. Wells; 1899-1904, W. F. Wells;
1905-6, F. H. Rowley; 1907, A. C. Willey; 1908, Owen C. Baker.

The building lot was the gift of Maxom Smith, the father of Mrs. W. Y.
Robinson of Nunda. The parsonage was begun by J. L. King and finished bv
G. R. Richardson.

This church has a membership of 200, a Sunday school of 100, a young
People’s Society of 35, a Junior League of 30. It pays a salary of $800. Its
officers are: Superintendent Sunday School, E. L. Cudebec; President Epworth
League, Walter R. Wakeman; chorister, E. Merry; President Ladies Aid, Mrs.
Charles Gelser; President A. F M. Society, Mrs. Whitnack. The church is now
in Corning District, Genesee Conference; Presiding Elder John E. Williams,
D. Dz.

It is doubtful if any church in the town has made as great progress in the
half century just completed. It had the whole field until recently, and it has
supplied a great want, and has done a great work. The churches, schools and
business energy, with its superior railroad advantages makes Dalton a desirable
place to live. 468
THE ADVENT CHAPEL, CENTER STREET
By Elder L. C. Roberts.

The Seventh Day Adventists were first organized in 1846, their belief is
based upon the word of God as found in the sure word of Prophecy as con-
tained in the Books of Daniel and the Revelations.

They believe in the second personal coming of Christ to this earth made
new, to set up an Everlasting Kingdom: that the dead will sleep until the time
of the setting up of this Kingdom, when the righteous will be saved and the
wicked destroyed. They believe God's word to be the Law that should govern
God’s people, they keep holy the Sabbath day, of the Commandments.

Elder J. B. Stow of Jamestown and Elder F. Peabody of West Valley first
called the attention of the people of Nunda to Prophesies relating to the soon
coming of Christ, and the result of their effort was the building up of an organ-
ized church in the Village of Nunda during the year 1895. Leonard C. Roberts
was ordained Elder by the New York State Conference and placed at the head of
the Nunda church. A church building was dedicated by Elder H. W. Carr, of
Salamanca, president of the Western New York Conference, the 8th of June,
1907. The society is known as the Seventh Day Adventists of Nunda, N. Y.

THE EAST HILL FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH

About the year 1850, Jacob Seager married the Widow Pettis who was a
daughter of Sylvester Satterlee, and came to Barkertown where her father re-
sided, and began to preach in school houses and private houses wherever oppor-
tunity offered. His preaching was not extraordinary in any way, but he was
earnest, sincere and persistent, and he soon had quite a following; he also estab-
lished a preaching station at a place then called Little Michigan in the town of
Grove.

This place received its name from the fact that its citizens moved to Michi-
gan, and having been violently shaken with the ague, and scorched by the fever,
that accompanies the breaking up of level lands, returned to Grove as to a “Re-
fuge of Safety,’ and so gave a new name to their former homes.

The school house congregation became so great that it stirred up opposi-
tion, and a rival appeared upon the hillside in the form of a Protestant Metho-
dist preacher who commenced services at Barkertown. These societies should
have been allies, for both were protests against some of the methods of the reg-
ular churches of these respective names. The Free Will Baptists protested
against a close communion, and the Protestant Methodist protested against fol-
lowing of the forms of the Episcopacy, and wanted an American church, with
a President and not a Bishop, or even a presiding elder, as overseers. The laity
even including the much neglected, but mighty important women members on
an equality in church policy. But no, there were not people enough for two con-
gregations, and the “survival of the fittest’—the most persistent—prevailed.
There was something more than skirmishing between these sects of the church
militant—it amounted to a full sized—contest. They could not change their
struggle into a theological contest, for they were not far apart; even their church
polity did not materially differ—both were congregational as to government—
so they tried getting borrowed talent to supplement their exertions.

On one occasion the Rev. Jacob, called to his assistance a Rev. Pratt from
Castile, or at any rate, across the river; and a Rev. Van Vectin, a grocer at

469
Nunda village, who sometimes preached. They were to divide the time be-
tween them for a service; the house (a school house) was crowded. Brother
Pratt preached two full hours, and than said: ‘We will now have the privi-
lege of listening to our good Brother Van Vectin from Nunda Valley.” Brother
Van Vectin arose and quietly said: ‘Receive the benediction,’ and the con-
gregation received it—cheerfully with suppressed smiles.

Finally the school house was closed against the services of good old Father
Seager, but he did not take to the woods—he opened his barn. Winter came,
and then the services were held in private houses, but only the saints assembled;
and soon a church of forty or fifty members melted away, or rather, became cold
and indifferent, and Deacon Hunt and others joined the Baptist Church at
Nunda. But prosperity did not attend the church that had possession of the
field for a long time; they had only occasional services until they secured a church
edifice, and since then, have maintained services with a fair degree of success
and prosperity. Evidently the one thing needed was a church edifice, and for
want of that we have had no Free Will Baptist Church in Nunda since 1860.
But the faithful old pastor went everywhere preaching funeral services, without
recompense, as long as he lived. No doubt he was of service to the community,
and as Elder Seager, he lives in the memory of many, who knew him as a man
of reverent spirit. who followed the promptings of his desire to serve his fellow
men; and, though unaided by the culture that modern times demand, did good,
and won, no doubt, the approval—well done good and faithful servent, enter
into the joy of thy Lord.”

THE BARKERTOWN PROTESTANT METHODIST CHURCH
By Belle Abbott Smith.

This charge was known as the Nunda mission, in 1860; and the work on
this field was in charge of Rev. J. A. Wilson, its first pastor, sent here by the
Genesee conference of the Methodist church, the place of meeting being the
school house.

In 1861, Rev. R. Pennell, took charge of the work and was assisted by
Arba Town. The class at that time numbered 50.

This pastor was followed by Rev. D. Corwin, in 1862, and it was changed
from a mission to a circuit; and Rev. J. R. Spencer was appointed to assist and
remained in the field until the close of the year, 1863. The charge was then
known as Sparta and Nunda; and, in 1864, was supplied by Rev. A. M. Town
and J. L. Thompson, the number of the class having increased to 48.

Rev. R. Pennell supplied the field in 1865 and ‘66.

The field again changed names and was known as Nunda and Portage, and
was supplied by Rev. C. C. Carr. The class numbered now 20 and .\. M. Town
and D. Corwin assistied in the labor on the field.

Tn 1868, the circuit was changed to Oakland and Nunda, with 35 members:
and Rev. E. J. Batchelder was appointed to the work, remaining during 1868,
‘69, ‘7o and "71, at which time it was left to be supplied; and no mention is made
of it again in the conference history until 1878, when J. M. Leach came upon
the field and remained until 1880.

The conference then appointed Rev. M. M Campbell, the “‘boy preacher”
to the field, then as now, called the Nunda charge. He served the charge three
years, during which time a revival wave brought the membership up to 35, and

470
the Barkertown church was built and dedicated in 1883, at a cost of about
$2,000.

Rev. D. L. Vaughn served the charge during 1884, after which it was sup-
plied by Rev. A. Sornberge, who never lived upon the field.

Following him came Rev. F. A. Swain who remained three years. During
his pastorate he organized a class at Swain’s and built and dedicated a church.

During a part of the year, 1889, Rev. L. D. Ferguson of Lancaster sup-
plied. His pastorate was not a successful one. This was followed by a brief
ministry by Rev. A. Manship.

In 1891, Rev. A. H. Ninney served the charge, followed in ‘92 by Rev. C.
D. Rowley, who remained until 1893, when Rev. Wm. Marshall came to the
work remaining six years. During this successful pastorage the parsonage and
barn were built at a cost of $752.15, and the second year 43 names were added
to the membership.

Rev. E. J. Fulton came to the work in 1899 remaining until 1905. During
his pastorate the members made marked progress in spiritual life, and the inte-
rior of the church was decorated and otherwise improved.

Again in 1905 Rev. W. H. Marshall came, being the first pastor to return
after having left the field. At the middle of the second year’s work, a nervous
break down closed his labors here and he moved to Arkport, and died one year
later.

In September, 1906, Rev. S. A. Rhyndress, a young man filled with the spirit
came upon the field, and opened an out appointment at West View. During two
weeks of revival effort, there were thirty-five conversions, at this place.

In the summer of 1997, assisted by Mrs. Belle Abbot Smith, a thriving Bible
school was organized. The same year many souls were saved at Barkertown,
and West View continued a regular appointment, with preaching and Bible
school every Sunday afternoon.

The present membership of the church, including non-residents, is forty.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AT DALTON

Unforcunately the writer is without statistics concerning this second church
in Dalton. Some Baptist families who lived at Dalton and who belonged to
Hunts Baptist Church, three miles from there, conceived the possibility of hav-
ing services in their growing village. These families were not numerous, but
there were other families that had no partictilar church home and so they re-
solved to have a society of their own. For about ten years, efforts have been
made, not without a fair degree of success.

The pulpit has been supplied principally by theological students from Roch-
ester or by pastors of neighboring churches. .\ fair degree of success has at-
tended the efforts of these zealous few, to build a church and establish regular
services.

Mr. Muer and Deacon Alfred Taber are prominent in the work, and in proc-
ess of time, they will no doubt have an increase in numbers and_ influence.
Most of the speakers have been young men of ability and consecrated to the
work of making the world better.

This gives the town, with its three chief centers of population, ten church
organizations; and, if those banded together in these ten organizations do their
best—the town cannot fail to be one of the very best in the State.

471
OUR FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

UNDA has had a fair quota of Missionaries and has surely fulfilled the
N command “‘to go into all the world.” China, Persia, and darkest Africa
have heard their divine message, and even the “Isles of the Sea,” have
been a part of the mission field for Nunda missionaries. Among those who
consecrated their gifts to this purpose, were Principal Cochran of our first Acad-~
emy, and his son who succeeded him; Miss H. E. T. Wright of Portage Street,
afterwards Mrs. Lyman Stilson; Rev. Lyman Stilson who afterward became a
citizen of Nunda; the sister of Dr. Kneeland, Mrs. Stella Kneeland Bennett, who
was associated with the work at Rangoon.

Miss Jane Van Allen of Oak Hill whose labors were in Africa. Rev. James
Work a graduate of the Nunda Literary Institute from the Orkney Isles, who
returned there to do his work. Rev. T. Dright Hunt who was missionary to
the Sindwich Islands, before he came to Nunda as a pastor, and Rev. Newton
H. Bell; Rev. Norman Keyes and his wife in Africa, and Mrs, Anneta Thomp-
son Mills and her niece, Miss Anneta Carter. A daughter of James Haynes
of Hornell formerly of Nunda, is also in the missionary field.

There is no field of duty where greater consecration is required and more
self denial called for. The missionaries are the veritable soldiers of the cross,
while their co-laborers at home, are but militia or home guards.

I do not say that it is more important to carry light and truth to the ignorant
and degraded in foreign lands, than to minister to the higher forms of thought
and life; that only can be done by the highly cultured minds whose mission it
is to spiritualize the higher and holier life of the cultured to whom they mini-
ster; the task of the pastor of a metropolitan church is the harder task, but the
former requires more self sacrifice and consecration, to a high ideal of duty.

All honor to these fearless imitators of Paul, the missionary; their disciple-
ship is beyond questioning, and their love for humanity goes unquestioned. God
bless their high ideals of duty, and reward their persistent toils with abundant
success.

Missionaries must have special adaptation to their work, they must be more
than “Born cf God"—they must be born Missionaries—with the power and
spirit of helpfulness uppermost. The visionary and impractical have no place
in this field. The Missionary must be resourceful inspirers, as well as inspired
leaders, with a personality worthy of imitation. The man who could translate
“The words of life” into readable words—as did the scholarly Stilson, and not
only furnish this text book of the soul, but text books for the mind, such an one
would aid all who shall come after him, to give the words of life, their spirit and
transforming power. .

OUR NUNDA MISSIONARIES

Between 1840 and 1850 some powerful influences fused the spirits of the
young and devout, not only to preach the gospel, but to sacrifice all the blessings
of the improved conditions of that day that had come to reward the arduous
toils of the pioneers. That there were people who were idolatrous worshipers
of unknown and imaginary gods, seemed the one all sufficient cause, for bidding
family and friends farewell, and going into the distant parts of a degraded
world, to tell the benighted, of a God in many cases as represented by them not

472
as loveable as the ones, these heathens own imaginations had conceived of..
The Calvinist Churches led in this work, and though there seemed but crude-
logic, in trying to save those predestined to be reprobates, or equally useless to.
try to save those elected from the foundation of the world, to be saved,—yet
the Spirit of the Master—more potent than their iron clad creeds, moved them
to obey the command, “to go into all the world and preach the gospel,’"—and.
passing by the thousands at home, who were even in greater need of salvation,.
(because they were wilfully doing wrong )—sought to go where no one else had
been—and tell the story, that had won their own hearts.

A class of bright young men, fresh from college, admirably adapted to.
teach and lead the intellectual to heights of knowledge and righteousness, were
urgently solicited to go and preach to barbarians, the rudiments of reverence and
Christian Civilization, and the Spirit of Worship. Not only such men, but pious.
women (who were scarcely allowed to speak in meeting or to do evangelistic
work at home, such as men were doing), were also sought to do this primary
work in darkest Africa and Asia.

One of the first to go from Nunda, was the pious daughter of Oliver
Wright of Portage Street. She decided to go, went to Rochester, for instruc-
tions as to methods, for labors among those who could not speak the language:
she spoke, while she could not understand the language, she should hear. It
was deemed a noble thing to do—and surely it took courage and self sacrifice-
and a great love for the message she was to proclaim, and for the church in:
whose interest she was to toil.

A friend, Mrs. Mary Coe, wife of Hon. Nathaniel Coe, wrote these follow-
ing verses, for she possessed in large measure the rythmical tendency. We-
quote them, for in them are revealed, the spirit of this missionary period. Both:
Miss Wright and Mrs. Coe were devout Baptists.

“Away, Away, to Burmah, Love,
If holy duty bid thee go;
Tis sweet at duties call to move
If love to God, thy heart o'erflow;
I wonder not that one so pure
For that benighted land should weep
Or thinking what they must endure
That sorrows tears thine eves should steep,
How trifling do earth's jovs appear
To one imbued by grace divine,
Earth's joyless ones thou fain wouldst cheer
And lead them to a holier shrine.

Too long to blocks of wood and stone

To idols made of dust and clay,
Have thev devotedly bowed down

And ne'er have known a better way,
But thy kind heart and gentle voice

May lead them in the narrow way
And bid those heathen lips rejoice

And bless thee and thy name for aye.

473
Well, she went, spent years there in the same field of labor that Rev. Lyman
Stilson labored in, and returned to America at the same time that he brought his
motherless children home. He barely escaped with his life, his wife died far
away from her home and it is not within the knowledge of the writer, whether
the successes attending these laborers in a far away vineyard, were greater or
better than might have been achieved at home, or among the degenerates of
some of our great cities--but the spirit was heroic, and no doubt much good was
done; for the civilization that good people from this best of good lands take
with them, cannot but be helpful to all within the reach of their usefulness and
example.

Miss Sarah Stilson, born in that strange land, and experiencing many of
its perils, has greater knowledge of the work done, the perils encountered, and
the experiences that were theirs, and I have asked her to tell of the life, diffi-
culties and dangers to which the family were exposed. Though too young at
the time to realize the victories won, she has a vivid knowledge of what wild
beasts, and men more savage than beasts, sought to do. She writes of these
events:

“During the 60's, or about war time, so many clergymen and retired clergy-
men, found Nunda a very pleasant retreat for the afternoon of life, that some
one poetically named it “Valley of Saints’ Rest.” There was Rev. Oakes, a re-
tired Presbyterian clergyman; Rev. J. A. Aspinwall, Universalist; Rev. I. J.
Meecham, Methodist; and a number of Baptists, Rev. Luke Colby, A. L. Potter
and L. Stilson.

“The last named, Rev. Lyman Stilson, was a returned missionary from
Burmah, where for many vears he had been engaged in preaching, teaching and
writing books for school use. He experienced varied adventures while on
Asiatic soil, one, an encounter with Burmese Dacoils at Moulmeim on the shores
of the Salween River, while he held the office of Mission Treasurer. Although
pierced with swords and bleeding from any deep wounds, he still fought so
bravely for the honor of his charge, that he drove the robbers from his home
without their securing a cent. But the shock and injuries nearly caused him his
life.

“Another incident was the visit of a tiger to his home. The baby was
asleep in its cradle, alone in a room whose doors and windows were left open
for the air, when at carly evening an immense Bengal tiger scenting a supper,
leaped up the steps and crouched to spring on its prey; but suddenly it spied
near the cradle a lighted lamp, was frightened and fled! So the baby was
spared to grow up, as a Nunda girl of the Literary Institute students, and later
a teacher in New York City.”

The editor adds the following which he deems due to this wonderful scholar.

Ar. Stilson was a graduate of Madison University at a time when mathe-
matics were taught there by a great teacher. Some of our greatest mathemati-
cians were trained there, as Asher B. Evans, of later days; Mr. Stilson was also
a genius along these lines of study, he was the author of an original method of
computing data and calculations of eclipses. While in Burmah he wrote a num-
ber of text books in Burmese for schools there, notably a treatise on trigano-
metry and on arithmetic long used both in government, and mission schools.

Mrs. Stilson died in Burmah, and he himself broken in health after his
conflict with the Brigands, returned to America. He married as his second

474
wife, Almira Paine, twin sister of Almiron Paine and as his third wife, late in
life, Miss H. E. T. Wright, the missionary from Portage Street; later he moved
to lowa, where he died in 1887. We present his likeness to our readers marred
as it was, by the stilettos of the robbers.

Again the man who could by medical skill save, the lives of men high and
low, could have his influence for saving souls, greatly enhanced by the gratitude
and devotion of those he had served. Dr. Cochran could do what no doctor of
theology could do, more even than his noble father could accomplish—he could
reach the highest in the land, and win an influence, that removed all barriers
to his labors.

But we have still another type of humane missionary in Mrs. Annetta Mills,
who could even resurrect, I will not say create vocal speech, where it had never
existed. Her work is unique, marvelous—under her instruction, by her own
knowledge of how vocal sounds are made, and of the Chinese language, and has
founded a school, the only one in China, where the deaf and dumb are taught
to speak. Surely we have had three types of practical missionaries that have
wrought wonders in the Orient, and whatever our opinions may be as to the
worth of foreign missions, these three types must appeal to all Nunda people
as—utilitarian to a high degree. Their story is worth telling, worth our appre-
ciation—our enthusiasm—our unstinted commendation.

Principal Cochran, was probably one of the first missionaries to go from
Nunda, where he was teaching successfuliy in our first academy—the session
house. That he did a great work in Persia, there is little doubt; that he edu-
cated his son at Yale, and fitted him to carry on his work with greater power,
because of his son's knowledge of medicine, and skill in its use, and made him
also the possessor of his own zeal for mission work, this was his greatest work.
We will next introduce you to his greater son.

“HIS GREATER SON”—A WONDERFUL STORY OF A
WONDERFUL MAN

Joseph P. Cochran, a Presbyterian Missionary to Burmah, by Dr. W.
Holmes of Duluth, Minn.

Much of the world’s work, in the higher sense of fulfillment of the world’s
noblest ideals, is done by men of whom the world seldom hears, men whose labors
have been done in remote corners of the earth, of whose modesty and simplicity
of character, have tended to hide, even from those who knew their worth, the
superb quality and enduring character of the achievements they have wrought.

Such an one was Joseph P Cochran, M. D., the tidings of whose death re-
cently came by cable from Uramia.

Born in that Persian City, and familiar during his childhood and youth, with
the daily life of the people. screened as he was from its more hurtful influences,
by the atmosphere of his missionary home, he gained then, and later on in life,
that most important of all qualifications for missionary service, next to personal
consecration of the heart and life, an intimate and sympathetic knowledge of the
people, their conditions, their customs, their social and political relations, their
languages—and more important yet than these, their race diagnosis, a coming
into touch, with their inner life, their modes and currents of thought, and mo-
tives of action, their ideal, their prejudices, the secret springs of their racial

social and religious consciousness.
475
These influences acting on a mind of exceptional powers of observation and
receptivity, and developed along practical rather than speculative lines by the
training he received at Yale, and his subsequent medical course at Bellevue and
Long Island College hospitals, fitted him well for the career into which, during
the next twenty-seven years work spent in doing work for the Master and hu-
manity, in Persia.

Located within a few miles of the Turkish frontier, the station had a large
native Christian constituency dwelling on the plains on the higher side, and in
the wide mountains of Kardistan beyond, who were subject to oppression and
outrage, alike by the dominant race of Persia, and the savage Koord in Tur-
key. The role of mediator was in consequence, early forced upon the American
physician, whose professional skill and kindness of heart, was quickly recog-
nized, and whose services, were freely given to all comers without distinction
of station or creed. The influence he gained over men of every class was mar-
velous—an influence exerted to allay strife, to right wrong and promote good
will among men. The peasants relied on his friendship, he won the respect and
favor of the mullahs and maglaheeds, while the village proprietors, the local
rulers and the predatory Keords loved and vet feared him for his influence grew
with the years, and was felt in restraining their exactions, in places of highest
authority in the land.

The Governor General of Azarabaijan at one time asked him to assist in
bringing about an interview, which he was trying to arrange with an enemy,
a noted Koordish chief, saying that he was ready, to take an oath on the Koran
to give him safe conduct. “But I would not trust your oath,” was the Dr.’s
frank reply. As soon as you got him in your power you would kill him, as you
killed— The Governor did not press the matter further.

At the time,—the only missionary physician in Persia, he opened many
doors, and with the zeal of youth and consecration, rejoiced in the unlimited op-
portunities before him—taking up the work of the divine Master, in healing,
in teaching, in social service, in preaching the word, in exemplifying the Christ
life among men; in concijating rulers and ameliorating the condition of the
ruled in the manifoid and unwearying works of love and beneficence his name
came to be known and honored from the hovel of the beggar, to the palace of
the King.

The hospital he built he conducted with signal ability and success for a
quarter of a century. The people called him “Big Heart” and great in heart
and brain he truly was, to do so much as a surgeon, while his ministrations
to the people in famines and pestilences, besides training successive classes of
medical students, Christianized and equipped, to establsih new centers of light
and healing. The late Shah granted him an interview, to the benefit of the
Christian subjects of the King. He visited the Archbishop of Canterbury at
Lambeth Palace in the interests of Missionary Comity; the present Shah paid
didtinguished honor on the latter’s visit to Uramia in 1890; while the people of
all classes, conditions and creeds, on the return from his last visit to America
tendered him a wonderful ovation. There is a wonderful story told of this mar-
velous man, that is historic, concerning his deliverance of the City of Uramia
in the Koordish war in 1880. It exemplifies his influence with Sheik Obeid
U lah the commander of 30,000 warriors, the city was invested by this mighty

476
force and lay defenceless, at the mercy of the Sheik, who had just massacred the
entire population of Mianduab.

The Sheiks sent word to Dr. Cochran that the missionaries and the na-
tive Christians of the city and villages would be spared, a promise he fulfilled.
He yielded to Dr. Cochrain’s request for delay in his assault on the city and there-
by lost his opportunity to take it. Sheik’s son, balked on his prey, vowed ven-
geance on Dr. C., whose life for years was imperilled. Eventually the oppor-
tunity came to render a great service to his enemy, and a reconciliation followed.
For the distinguished services in this affair he was afterward decorated by the
Shah, with the Order of the “Lion and Sun.” As was said of another martyr
of a holy cause, so we say of this “grand soul” that only a few of our people
saw, and none of them knew.

“Spirit of power pass on, thy homeward wing is free
Earth cannot claim thee as her son

She has no chain for thee,
Toil may not bow thee now

Nor sorrow check thy race,
Nor pleasure win thy birthright crown,

Go to thy own blest pace.”

The author of this chapter on “Our Missionaries” is delighted to republish
this record as a tvpe of what missionaries have to do, and surely their sacrifices
are unequalled by any class of men in these records, and their courage equals that
of the bravest soldiers from our half regiment of Nunda heroes.

As the son of a Nunda principal, of our first Academy, who gave up his
school for the Theological training for foreign serves, he is interesting to us.
About five years ago, he came to Nunda to see the village in which his father
lived, and the building in which he taught, but the family in whose home he
boarded (Utley Spencer on Church Street) were no longer here and the Aca-
demy building (the old Session house) was on Fair Street, doing double duty
as a dwelling and a barn; and now only here and there an elderly person who re-
membered the young teacher, and his sister chiefly from their ride to Portage on
that disastrous occasion, when the gifted and accomplished teacher Miss Mary
Buck, met her death on the hill, when returning from the Lower Falls. Dr.
Joseph P. Cochran died of typhoid fever August, 1904, at Uramia, a martyr to
his profession; he aided his father while he lived, and took up and perpetuated
his work, and left numerous native physicians, and missionaries to work for the
good of their race.

There have been other missionaries from Nunda less known perhaps than
Rev. Stilson and his last wife. Rev. T. Dwight Hunt spent several years on the
Sandwich Islands in that capacity and he never wearied of recounting his ex-
periences there. Once a real missionary, always one, in thought and purpose,
ready to preach a gospel of faith, hope and love, to any who will listen. The
writer had the privilege of hearing him the last time he visited his daughter,
Mrs. D. S. Robinson, before his death. He preached by request in the Univer-
salist Church from the text, *\And now abideth faith, hope and charity (love),
but the greatest of these is love.” After hearing this sermon on the greatness
of love, I am sure, that as a missionary he was successful, for a love for the hu-

477
man race, 1s the key note of all missionary efforts; as truly as love is the heart
of the Gospel. Rev. T. D. Hunt, A. B. and B. D., Yale, was a Presbyterian mis-
sionary.

Miss Jane Van Allen of Oak Hill, was sent by a church in Gloversville, to
Africa where she remained five years, she then went South and did the same
kind of work, among the negroes of the South. She has devoted her entire life
to this work, though a woman of nearly eighty she is still at work now in home
missions, in the vilest districts of New York, while life lasts she will keep on
doing the heavy tasks she is set to do as a disciple of the Master.

Miss Stilson has kindly written out for us the mission work done by Rev.
James Work, a student of the Institute days.

Few, if any, of the old Institute students have rounded out so worthy a
career as Rev James Work. A native of the Orkneys, Scotland, he came to
America in youth, “to seek his fortune,” but falling under religious influences
his plans were radically changed. He prepared for college under Prof. Bar-
rett in the Nunda Literary Institute, and later graduated from Rochester Uni-
versity. During the war having been ordained to the ministry in the Nunda
Baptist Church, he returned as a missionary to his early home, the Orkney
Islands. Here he built up churches, organized schools, established libraries, in
short engaged in a wide Christian philanthropy which was known afar as a “city
set on a hill.”

\When over seventy, health having been impaired by his strenuous labors,
he decided to come to America to give his sons and daughters broader oppor-
tunities.

When he lett Scotland the honors poured upon him by clergymen and people
of all denominations, testified to their appreciation of his noble work for reli-
gion, in the Orkney Islands.

Quite as creditable is it, that his children arriving strangers from a dis-
tant land should so soon fill positions of responsibility, one is head of the Manual
Training Department in the famed Normal Institute at Elgin, Ill, instructor
in said line at Chautauqua, N. Y.; one in the Board of Asessors, Buffalo; two
in the Bank of Buffalo; cne in Chicago University; one long a teacher of Latin
in the High School, Buffalo. Mr. Work is enjoying a nobly earned rest in
Buffalo, N. Y.

PRESENT MISSIONARIES

Mrs. Annetta Thompson Mills, principal of a school in China for teaching
deaf mutes to speak.

This new mission work of teaching the deaf to speak is a new departure,
it has its sacrifices as well as its victories, for while the regular contribution.
are freely sent in for ordinary work, this form of mission work does not seem
to impress itself upon the American people, and the funds often run low, and
the discontinuance of this work of philanthropy seems imminent; then some
friend comes to the rescue and the work goes on. The teaching of the deaf to
speak is attended with great difficulties, even the parents of the deaf are more
inclined to regard the achievement as either an American trick or a miracle. A
native minister called it a miracle; after hearing a deaf child speak, he exclaimed
“The age of miracles is not passed,’ I have seen my first miracle. Mrs. Mills
tells this amusing story. Dr. Mills her husband, had become interested in a

478
deaf boy. The father of the boy was from home, but the family were inter-
ested in sending the boy to school. When the father came home an arrange-
ment had been made for Mr. Li one of the teachers, and a talking mute, to spend
a day with the family. They were well received, tea was served and other courte-
sies extended to the guests. The dumb child, Tong Nii was put on exhibition, he
did his part well, he would write and understand the Chinese characters. The

- family were pleased and willing to send their child to school, but when Tong Nii
spoke and understood from the lips what was said to him, the family were indig-
nant and drove the teacher and pupil away with imprecations; they would not
believe that Tong Kii was deaf, but considered the whole affair a wily foreign
trick. With four hundred thousand deaf mutes in China, there is a great work
to be done, and the big hearted clearminded Mrs. Mills has in operation a work
that wifl ultimately do an imense amount of good.

“Good once put in action or in thought
Like a strong oak does from its boughs shed down
The ripe germs of a forest.”

 

 

“Rejoice! I Have Founp My SHEEP”

479
 

Lieut. Davip BaLDWIN Maj. Epwarp Hunp
War of 1812 U.S. Army

 

 

 

Cart. Geo. J. CAMPBELL
U.S. Army
BOOK IV

DEPARTMENT I

PATRIOTIC NUNDA

 

CHAPTER I.

SOLDIERS OF FIVE WARS—NEW YORK IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

ern part. Western New York, and even Central New York, was at

this time the home of the Iroquois—‘‘The Six Nations.” It is astound-
ing to alt who consider the limited population of the Colony, that positive
proof of the service of 43,645 men has been secured, with documentary evi-
dence giving names of these patriots. These have recently been collected and
issued from the archives of our State Capitol.

By this compilation, a great historic injustice, reflecting on New York Patriot-
ism in this great life and death struggle for freedom and independence, has
been removed.

General Knox, our first Secretary of War, accredited New York, with but
17,781, and this belittling statement has passed until recently for correct history.
By this modern investigation and its marvellous revelations New York proves to’
ha¥e been second to none in lofty patriotism, and only second to Massachusetts,
in the number of troops furnished.

The probability amounts to a certainty that whole regiments of men, are left
out of the list, excepting the Field Staff and Line Officers names which in several
regiments are the only ones that are given.

481

N EW YORK in the time of the Revolution. was settled only in the East-
When we are reminded that towards the close of the war, even men of 60
years of age were included in the draft, and Quakers and other non-combatants
were fined to the amount of 160 pounds sterling, we may conclude that all the
men, excepting the Tories, were in the service, all but those in New York City
where the British held possession and prevented hostile activity! It is, however,
just to say, that Vermont was included in the State of New York, and it is easy to
find the names of Vermonters like Col. Ethan Allen, in the New York lists.

Even negro slaves and Indians were found in the same companies with the
white men of the state. As a reward for three years service the New York slave

was given his freedom. All slaves killed in the service were to be paid for. The
land bounty rights of a private soldier, serving until discharged, was 500 acres.
and to officers a much larger area.

Even in the Militia one man out of 16 could be drafted into the line regiments
or regular troops, and still after this, a second draft, of one out of every 35, could
be ordered!

The meaning of Militia is—‘The Military force of a Nation.” The Militia
of this continent had its origin in a law enacted in 1664 promulgated by James,
Duke of York and Albany (afterwards King James) which included all males
over 16 years of age, who were forced to equip themselves and serve without pay.
His zeal for power, prepared successive generations, to fight against England, as
well as to fight for her. Proving that “The best laid schemes of mice and Kings—
gang aft agley.”

NEW YORK, THE PRINCIPAL BATTLE GROUND OF THE
REVOLUTION

New York, from its position, has been and always will be, the Battle Field of
America, in any conflict on land, with Great Britain.

Most of our ancestors were soldiers of our former wars.

It is not egotism to affirm that the writer found the names of three Revolu-
tionaries, from whom he derives his direct lineage.

First—His father’s father, Marcus Hand who fought in the bloody battle of
Oriscany (along with his step-father, Mathias Ward); second—My mother’s
grandfather, John Jacoby; third—my mother’s grandfather, Gilbert Finch.
However, none of these ever lived in Western New York, and this list only
makes evident the lesson the writer would impress. that in this struggle for
national life, your ancestors, if they lived in the colonies, were probably as
well represented.

REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS WHO CAME TO NUNDA AS
PIONEERS

Daniel Andrus, 17th Regiment—(Land Bounty Rights)

This veteran came from Albany County to the town of Grove while it was
still a part of Nunda, and afterwards came to live with his son, Henry, on the
Seaver farm. All that is known of his military career is that he was a ‘Land
Bounty Rights” soldier, which indicates a long period of service, and his own
statement that he was present at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga. His
granddaughter married Henry (Harry) Cleveland, who also lived on the State
Road, near the village, and afterward in Portage and Grove. One of Cleve-
land’s sons, Albert, served for a time in the 104th Regiment, and one of his

482
daughters married the gallant soldier, Lieut. Prosper Swift, who once lived
in Nunda and whose son, Dr. Arthur Swift, was born in this town, and is
now a prominent citizen of Belvidere, Il, having been its Mayor. Daniel
Andrus was a member of the Baptist Church of this place and died at the
age of 90 on the Peter Townsend Farm in 1843, and was buried in Oakwood
Cemetery. His grave is without marker and even its location is unknown.

There was also at Portageville a Revolutionary soldier by the name of
Ira Buckman.

William Deake (Dake) Gould, Sixteenth Regiment, Albany County, Militia,
father of the late Levi Gould, and uncle by marriage to Leonard Jackson, came
to Nunda in 1819, lived for a time on the J. C. McNair’s place, afterwards in a
log house north of Oscar Willard’s, opposite the Union Block. He dressed in con-
tinental style and wore a queue. He died in Nunda in 1844. He was a member
of the Universalist Church. His grave is unmarked, though its location is known.

William Gould Deake (Dake)—(See Sketch)—16th Regiment, Albany
County Militia—(Land Bounty Rights)

This veteran, probably a cousin to Wm. Deake Gould, and the grandfather
of the late Jonathan Dake, followed his sons to Portage, and finally died at the
home of his daughter in our village. He was in the battle of Bennington with his
father, and even with his mother, who acted as nurse to the wounded. He is
buried at North Oak Hill, and his great grandchildren have erected a monument.

David Mosier—16th Regiment, Albany County Militia

The wife of Wm. Dake was a Miss Mosier, and hence we are led to believe
that this veteran pensioner, the grandfather of Josiah Mosier of Oakland, was
also a relative, as the name is spelled the same, and these Veterans belonged to the
same Regiment, and came to the same town, Portage—Nunda, about the same
time. David Mosier died in Portage, and is buried at Oakland. His grave is
known but unmarked.

Zadock Sherwood was from Connecticut, hence his Regt. is unknown to the
writer. He was the father of a large family of children. Granville, John, Nathan,
Reuben and Harry lived in Nunda. Pratt C. Halstead, Ex-supervisor, and Sher-
iff, is a lineal descendant of this Veteran. He enlisted early in life and is said to
have taken part in the engagement when the gallant Putman plunged down the
steep declivity, where none dared to follow! He is the best known of any of
our Veterans as he lived in Nunda from 1823 to 1856. His name is next to that of
Wm. Gould, on the list of charter members of the Universalist church. His method
of proving that he was a good man was scriptural. After he became a nonage-
narian he would say, “The Bible says ‘The wicked shall not live out half their
days,’ and I have lived out nine-tenths of mine, so I'm mighty good. I hope to live
while a hundred.” In my boyhood, he was my greatest hero, and the chief source
of my amusement. I remember his words and looks very well. He died near
Nunda, Illinois, in 1859, at the age of 99 years, 9 months and 9 days. His
wife is buried at Nunda, N. Y.; and for his sake I mark the spot where he pur-
posed to be buried, with flag and flowers.

Joseph Hosford, born December 9th, 1761, at Westfield, Mass., enlisted 1776
in his 16th year as a drummer in Col. Van Court's Regt., the 2nd (Regulars),
served six years until the close of the war; married Miss Mary Williams,
Newark, N. Y., 1793.

483
Joseph Hosford became a Pioneer of Portage about 1822 (Charles Dickens
Farm). The father of Franklin Hosford A. B. and Abigail Hosford Erwin,
(mother of Alfred W. Erwin, now of Omaha,) both of whom were great teachers
in pioneer days. Joseph Hosford died at the home of his son and was buried in
Oakland. His grave is unmarked and I fear its location cannot be found. Died
Jan. 5th, 1848, age 87.

Samuel Fuller, a Revolutionary soldier, emigrated to Portage-Nunda in
1816 and lived near Mudville. He was an uncle of Mrs. M. J. Bowhall, and a
pensioner. He lived to be very old.

The Lowells

It would take several pages to record all the names of Revolutionary Soldiers
belonging to this distinguished New England family. Of those who came to
Nunda (Dalton and Grove) at an early date, we have some of those who fought
at Bunker Hill—where one son of Moses Lowell, Jr., was killed. The other son,
possibly not a soldier at the time, Gideon, a boy, was said to have been in the
battle. Moses Lowell, Jr., born in Amesbury, Mass., lived in Maine, was a ship-
wright, about 1800; he emigrated to Syracuse. He came later to Rochester,
deemed it unhealthful, so came on and settled in Grove-Nunda. His sons,
Gideon and David, came with him on horse back with their wives to New
York. He married Mariam Knowlton, 1760. Died in Grove, N. Y.

Gideon, son of Aloses, Jr., born 1761, died at Battle Creek, Mich., Sept.
20, 1845. Tradition says he was in the Revolutionary War at the time of the
battle of Bunker Hill, though but 14+ vears of age. Before the war closed he
would have been 22. He came to Nunda, N. Y., in 1822 (Dalton) and lived
there until 1830.

Daniel Hamilton—then but a youth, served as a herdsman or cowboy during
a part of the Revolutionary War. This did not entitle him to either pension or
bounty land, but he filled a place of usefulness and deserves mention as a patriot.

Col. Philip Depuy
The Grandfather of Peter Depuy was called Colonel, but whether he served
in this war or the war of 1812, or only at militia trainings is unknown.
Col. Carey of Hunts Hollow, then in Nunda, was a Pensioner of this war.

OUR SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND—1812 TO 1814

It is probable that Nunda (of county dimensions) had representatives in this
war, as the township had been organized for four years. However, we must look
to the southern part of the town, Pike, Hume, Genesee Falls, Centerville and
Eagle, for recruits for our Militia. It is known that there were companies from
Angelica and Geneseo and Sparta; and, it is more than probable that some of the
Nunda men were found in the Genesee and Allegany Co. battalion, commanded
by Col. Pheletus Swift of Canandaigua. General William Wadsworth of Genesee,
the ranking Militia Officer from this section, as well as Gen. Amos Hall of Bloom-
held, and Col. Lyman of Geneseo, were there. Gen. Wadsworth was captured and
afterwards exchanged and paroled. Lieut. Col. Micah Brooks and Col. William
Mills, afterwards a Militia General, the former from East Bloomfield and the
latter from Mt. Morris, were in the service and took some part as field or staff
officers. Lt. Col. George Williams then of Batavia, afterwards Colonel of Militia
and Land Agent of Portage-Nunda, 1816, was on the Staff of Gen. Porter,

484
the grandfather of our present Congressman who bears most of his name. The
other soldiers in this vicinity or who became citizens of this town and this
vicinity were:

John C. McNair, enlisted from Sparta, came to Nunda in 1836. He was the
father of Capt. Jas. Monroe McNair and Capt. Jefferson McNair, and was a

zealous patriot, during the Civil War; he offered a fine colt to the first man from
Nunda to enlist in the Dragoons and Gilbert Freer, a shoemaker, was recipient of

the gift.

Dr. Jabez Dake, son of Wm. Gould Dake, Rev. Soldier, who lived on Church
Street in this village in pioneer days, was a soldier of the War of 1812. His
monument in our cemetery fails to record this interesting fact of his life. His five
sons became physicians.

Noah Warren, came to Nunda in 1816, and settled here in 1819. He was a
soldier and took part in the battle of Plattsburg. He was the father of Porter
Warren—perhaps named after his General. He is buried in our cemetery.

Silas Warren was at Lundy's Lane. Came to Nunda in 1819; was a car-
penter and built several of the houses in this place.

Since writing the above I find that the town of Nunda had three soldiers in
this war. Eli Griffith, its first supervisor, was one, also Jonathan Couch and
Chandler Benton, all of whom lived at Nunda-Pike; and all died of the fearful
scourge that nearly annihilated the army of volunteers. All died before reach-
ing home.

Ephraim \Walker, deacon, preacher, farmer, who lived near the county line
in Nunda, served in this war.

John Waite, pioneer of Nunda village, was said by old settlers to be a veteran
of the war of 1812.

Avery Walsworth of East Hill was another veteran of this war.

Lieut. William Richardson—who settled in 1820 was a veteran of this war.

William P. Wilcox of Wilcox Corners Nunda—was also a veteran of this
war.

Lieut. David Baldwin, who lived in Nunda after 1820 and died here, was a
pensioner of this war. It is a singular coincidence that there was a Lieut. David
Baldwin of the Duchess Co. exempts, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary
War; and as our citizen was old enough to have been in that war also it is possible
he was the man, but as his posterity do not make that claim we may conjecture
that he was the father of our townsman.

Lyman Newton—who lived on First Street for many years, was another
soldier of this war—he was not buried here.

William Hoffman, who lived on the Stillwell farm (and was at one time
landlord and proprietor of the Eagle Hotel), better known as Col. Hoffman, was
a soldier of this war, and also of the short (but profitable) Patriots War in 1838.
He located his bounty land in Illinois and named the place Nunda, Ill; he is
remembered as possessing a dashing looking military figure at our militia training.
Silas Grover was his brother-in-law, and his son, William [1]. Hoffman was an
officer of the Civil War. He married a sister of Mrs. E. O. Dickenson and died
in Nunda, Ill. in 1°05.

James Ackerman lived in Little Scipio, and is buried at Union Corners; he
was a soldier of the war of 1812. The Petries of Little Scipio are grandchildren.

485
Jonathan Bailey, a pioneer of Burns and later of Portage-Nunda, was
wounded in the battle of Lundy's Lane. He was a pensioner. He is the father
of the late Jas. Bailey of Portage, and is buried at Pennycook.

John Creveling, Sr., father of John and Samuel Creveling, and of the late
Fanny Kendall, was said to be a soldier of this war. His home was in the town of
Mt. Morris. lloyd Creveling, Willard and Frank Kendall of this town are grand-
children.

Reuben \eed, better known as Judge \Veed, a pioneer of Grove-Nunda
and afterwards a citizen of Portage, is said to have been a soldier of this war.

Alaj. Allen was a citizen of Portage in pioneer days, whether an officer during
the war, or later, is unknown to the writer.

Captain Elisha Smith, a pioneer of the town of Portage-Nunda, was a sol-
dier of this war. He was also a charter member of the Oakland Lodge of Masons.
He was drowned in the Caneseraga Creek, and was buried, with masonic services,
at Hunts Hollow in 1860.

Jacob Goodemont—was a soldier of the war of 1812, and lived in Nunda near
Dalton after the war and is buried in Snyders (Union) Cemetery in the town of
Nunda.

Moses ‘Buno (father of Perry) is said to be a drummer boy in 1812.

Capt. James Perkins and George Wilner of Portage-Nunda were veterans
of this war.

SUMMARY OF THE WAR OF 1812

This war of the United States, forced upon the nation, in maintenance of our
dignity and commercial rights, as a nation, though a necessity, does not compare
in spirit or valor, with the other wars of our great Republic.

It was entered upon hastily, fought with undisciplined troops, mostly raw
recruits, who had not even a conception of obedience, as an essential to successful
achievement. Our militia especially from Western New York failed through inex-
perience and insubordination. Recruits are not soldiers, they become so, whenever
the organization acts as a unit, obedient to a leader's command.

As militia men, they stood on the boundary of New York and refused to
invade the enemies country, willing to fight on the defensive, but unwilling to
seize a glorious opportunity. Through this delay and failure to cross over and
take possession, and through failure to co-operate with others, the war on land
against Canada was badly bungled. The army and its supply train was stuck in
the mud for weeks, giving the enemy ample time to fortify its position, and
consolidate its forces.

The victories on our northern frontier that were creditable to our forces were
the brilliant naval fight of Com. Perry on Lake Erie, and the battles of the Thames,
Lundy’s Lane and Plattsburg.

Our Navy and Its Achievements
Our chief source of pride, was not wholly a gain, for though our losses were
less than those of our adversary, these losses damaged us far more than their
greater losses did the enemy, for with their great navy they had many others
to take the place of every vessel captured or sunk.

The burning of the National Capitol, that could and should have been pre-
vented; our seaboard harassed and blockaded; our merchant marine almost
annihilated ; our limited navy of war ships sunk, captured or cooped up in port,
is a part of this war we would gladly eliminate and forget.

486
Fortunately American patriotism and pride is not left to famish, there is
another and a brighter side of this story

 

The brightest laurels of this war were won on the sea, in contention with the
greatest navy of the world. Of thirteen deadly duels between ships of average
equality of strength, the New Republic with its new infantile navy, won eleven.
When the war was inaugurated, the navy of the United States consisted of but
eighteen vessels, of these the largest was a forty-four gun frigate. Our very
poverty and afflictions added to our strength. Our merchantmen, driven from the
sea as merchantmen were changed by their owners into privateers; if they could
not carry goods, they could capture goods for themselves, and the prize money was
more renumerative than freight receipts. One hundred and seventy of these were
captured by the British, but 2,300 British merchantmen were taken by the priva-
teers and 200 more by our cruisers.

Dismay spread through the entire maritime and commercial interests of Eng-
land, it reached out like a pall covering all the monied interests. The press and
parliament echoed the wail that rose, paramount to all desire to crush this insig-
nificant but belligerent foe. The London Times is reported as saying of the Ameri-
can ships “If they fight, they are sure to conquer; if they fly they are sure to
escape.” But the navy was not the only cause of begetting a feeling of discontent
and jeopardy in England that led to a friendly and advantageous settlement of
hostilities. Three Generals, had been developed in this war, that knew how to
fight with undisciplined troops and win; was it this? or had the recruits become
real soldiers; if so, they made evident what good Generals can do with obedient
troops, win victories—great enough to make Presidents of the valorous soldiers ?
Oh no, but of the Generals, who win, because they command wisely, and their
commands are executed by men whose names are never mentioned and are, there-
fore soon forgotten—however, William Henry Harrison, Jacob Brown and An-
drew Jackson, had, with the aid of their troops, won an immortality of fame.
Thus American seamanship, and American pluck, won the ascendency—and these
qualities are traditional to-day, in England especially, and to some extent in all
the world. Well had it been for Spain if she had learned this lesson of a cen-
tury ago—then the Philipinnes and Porto Rico would stlll have been hers, and
Dewey would not have gained so easily a name among the immortals. Pardon
friends, this digression, but the Spanish War is a corollary to the War of 1812,
as the Civil War was to that of the Revolution.

The Great Wellington, covered with laurels, did not think it best to stain these
laurels in an uncertain war of extermination against the Militia of America,
entrenched as they would be in their mountain fastnesses, and commanded by men
like Harrison, Brown and Jackson—extermination in America is only possible,
if wrought by Americans. “He advises peace, and the opinion of the best Mili-
tary Autocrat of the age admitted of no opposition.” And so, the Conqueror of
Napoleon helped the United States, as he had helped the world, by ushering in an
Era of Peace. The great Warriors are, with few exceptions, the greatest Cham-
pions of Peace.

Peace dawned upon the entire land: and Western New York, and its extend-
ing interests in Ohio, being the frontier at the time, advanced by leaps and bounds.
We had not only conquered our English foe, but our former enemies, the Senecas,
having become our allies, retired peaceably to their reservations. Rochester was

487
founded, Buffalo rebuilt, and the Keshequa Valley became the habitation, not of
transients, but of the forefathers of this present generation.

Noah Warren—the soldier of our second war with England, born July 27th,
1793, enlisted from the Scroon, Essex Co., N. Y., in Capt. Russell Walker’s
Company of 75 men. His brother, Silas Warren, (who was one of the first car-
penters in Nunda) was a veteran of this war, (but this sketch does not tell me
what Co. or Regt.). As soon as the Company was formed, it marched to Platts-
burg. They were several days on the road owing to bad weather from daily rains.
Provisions failing on the way he purchased a pidgeon pie, bones and all, for two
shillings, which was substantial and satisfied hunger. Arriving at Plattsburg,
they were assigned to the Regiment commanded by Col. Cooley with Maj. McNeil
as Staff Officer. In the afternoon of Sept. 10th, 1814, at four o'clock, the Regi-
ment was stationed at a place called Salmon River Valley, near a bridge on the
Saranac River, with instructions to hold it at all hazards. That evening Capt.
Walkers’ Company marched to the fort on the east side of the lake some five
miles distant, and drew back a piece of artillery to be used in defence of their
position. They reached their camp about midnight. The next morning, Sunday,
Sept. 11th, the battle commenced by a simultaneous attack of the land and naval
forces, and a desperate fight ensued. Mr. Warren said he was awakened about
two hours before daylight by the firing of musketry, and his regiment was drawn
up in line of battle, the enemy soon came to the bridge and attempted to cross
but the “boys” (soldiers are always boys however old) had removed the planks the
night previous and the attempt failed. The British were driven back three or four
times with great losses of killed and wounded and at last gave up the attempt.
Col. Cooley's command was called on later in the day to reinforce a regiment that
was hard pressed by the enemy, and soon turned the tables. The British retreated
leaving their dead and wounded on the field. On Wednesday of the same week
volunteers were called for to bury the dead, Capt. Walkers’ Co. volunteered but
before they had commenced their labor the order came for them to be discharged.
Certainly a short but interesting experience for a would he hero, but the end of a
war, however short, is always welcome to soldiers whose cause is won.

Concerning the service of Silas Warren, who probably participated in the
same engagement being in the same part of the state, we have no authentic rec-
ords. He removed from Nunda many years ago, and the first settlers of Nunda
had no use for veterans of former wars except as Officers of Militia, hence we
find most of them called Col., Major, Captain etc., till we wonder who were “the
men” who were not officers.

THE PATRIOT WAR, 1838—NUNDA TO THE FRONT WITH A
COMPANY

This time of jeopardy, that has scarcely a trace in our State History, might
well be passed over in silence, but for the circumstance likely soon to be forgotten,
that Nunda Village a few years before its incorporation, had an “Artillery Com-
pany” that went through some Military movements over one of the stores on the
west side of the plaza. Some friction from the Canadian frontier, and an armed
vessel prowling about the American shores of Lake Erie led to the calling out of
some of these patriotic organizations, among them our Nunda Co., which went to
Black Rock and protected our interests against the landing of any hostile band.

488
They were gone about two weeks, and some, and possibly all of them, received for
their services, though they never fired a gun, or had one fired at them, 160 acres
of land, in the territories or young states of the west.

The writer has sought in vain for information concerning this organization
but found that all the documentary information concerning this and also the war
of 1812 was forwarded to Washington, and unlike the records of the Revolu-
tionary War, have not been returned to our State Capitol.

It seems a battalion of several companies must have gone from the county of
Allegany, of which Nunda formed the northern town.

: A few names have been collected and these I deem it right to transmit as they
go to prove that Nunda has been in every war, since its settlement, and no one
will dispute the fighting qualifications of all of its otherwise peaceful citizens. The
Company was commanded by Capt. H. Osgoodby, who though an Englishman,
would not have objected to aiding discontented Canadians in finding peace in the
bosom of our “Young Republic.” He received 160 acres of land, at least, as his
recompense for his arduous services.

Lieut. Barton Saterlee, Sr., of this Company did not go to the front, as he
received by accident a serious flesh wound a few days before. He lamented the
lost opportunity to gain a farm on the western frontier.

Olitan Messenger, of Oakland, was possibly the other Lieut., at any rate he
went to this bloodless war.

It is possible, however, that the town of Portage, that included at that time
the most of the town of Genesee Falls, with its flourishing village of Smith's Mills
(Portageville) may have had a company of its own, commanded by Capt. Henry
Wells, and Lieut. Messenger. Possibly Capt. Elisha Smith of Portage or Col.
Greenlief Clark of Hunts Hollow had something to do with two weeks outburst
of patriotism. The writer has in his possession the sword of his uncle, Henry

 

 

 

 

 

TRAINING MILITIA
489
Wells, who lived at the time of the patriot uprising, at Oakland, and was at one
time a Major of Militia.

Amos Jones, a turner by occupation, (son of Henry C. Jones Esq. of Nunda)
was one of the gallant company.

Matt Jackson—one of our old line stage drivers—a brother of Leonard Jack-
son, was certainly another.

Leonard L. Church—whose father, Capt. Church, owned the John Angier
Farm from 1816 to 1846, was still another. Others were,

Benj. Butler—an uncle to AIrs. E. O. Dickenson, a blacksmith by trade, lived
first house west of Craig’s Warehouse on Buffalo St.

Chas. Russell—a brother-in-law of Capt. J. H. O., S. Britton, Cyrus Rose,
and Wim, Martin.

Barney Hagaman—received his land warrant and gave it to his son, Wesley,
who settled upon it. John \White and Riley Parker of Grove-Nunda.

John Benton—he and Hagaman afterward lived in the town of Mt. Morris.

William Huffman—called Col. Huffman (owned Chandler Sturgeon-Mc-
Master farm), went west soon after with Butler, and Nathan Sherwood, who
married a sister of Butler. As all of these three and probably others settled in
Illinois about the same time and called the place Nunda, Ill., it is probable they all
belonged to this company and settled on bounty lands in Illinois.

THE MEXICAN WAR

The only soldiers from Nunda that I have any knowledge of were, Hillery
Twist, George W. Flint, who afterward served in the Civil War, and Mel-
vin Le Seur. This young man, at the age of 16, ran away from home and
the Cooperville School to enlist in the service. He succeeded in getting aboard a
ship with some General Officers and troops, probably regulars. His lack of age
and lack of size stood in his way of enlistment and they threatened to put him on
board a returning ship. He assured them he would take the next vessel bound for
Mexico if they did; the General, either Scott or Taylor, took him under his
especial charge and he was allowed finally, to enlist in order to draw his pay and
rations. He served through the war, and re-enlisted in the regular army and at the
time of the Civil War, by reason of his long service, was given, a commission in
the Artillery and again served until the close of the war. He returned to Nunda
during the Civil War, and either his position, or his romantic adventures, pro-
cured him a wife, an estimable young lady, a niece of Isaac Bronson.

Lt. Le Seur was a half brother of the wife of Alfred Ervin, from whom this
information is derived; though a veteran of two wars he is still living and proba-
bly on the retired list of the U. S. Army.

*George W. Flint—also served in the Civil War, enlisting from Nunda (East
Hill) but died soon after the war, October, 1867, at Budsall and is buried at
Hunts Hollow, N. Y. His daughter, Mrs. Benjamin Talmage, furnished the
statement concerning his services.

*Hillary Twist, son of Thomas Twist, pioneer of Nunda—served as a vol-
unteer during the \lexican War.

*Deceased.

490
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION

The war waged by the Southern Confederacy, composed of eleven States.
with a Military population of only 1,064,193, to contend with the rest of the States
and Territories, and to confront 4,559,872 of the same military class, was con-
ceived of passion and jealousy, nurtured by sectional pride and ambition, born of
the pangs of disunion and nursed by frenzy and fanaticism, grew with an abnormal
vigor, blossomed into heroic valor, struggled like a handicapped giant, but per-
ished in youth, for want of sustenance; subdued by overwhelming power, that
conquered from stern duty and necessity, while lost in admiration of a valor
unequalled, though misdirected and unavailing; and like a generous conqueror
the nation welcomed back again to the family life and family love, its mistaken
children, self exiled, though only half subdued, still less than penitent, humiliated,
but not humble, asking nothing, but receiving everything,—forgiveness, affection,
admiration, a place in the family circle, and the love and appreciation one brave
American feels for another.

Only Americans can display such valor, only Americans know how to forgive.

The Bloody Cost of War

This war of stalwart heroes cost the nation a half million of the bravest men
the sun ever shown upon. It accomplished two things—the death of slavery, in-
cluding the emancipation of 4,000,000 slaves—a constant source of sectional fric-
tion; and secondly, what conquerors and the conquered now alike rejoice in,
the preservation of our National Union.
ervation of our National Union.

The Civil War was far greater than all of our other wars, it was the greatest
war of the nineteenth century.

Let us try to imagine its cost in lives. \We cannot do it, but we can try. We
have most of us seen a regiment of soldiers. If we have not, we have seen the
people of a country village of 1,000 people. For convenience, let us count our
losses in battles by regiments. One battle has been fought, and 1,000 men, alive
and vigorous in the morning are dead at night :—few people ever saw 1,000 dead
men at once, but a loss of 1,000 men in a battle of the Civil War was not counted
as a great battle, and there were 1,800 battles during this direful war. At Gettys-
burg the losses to the Union Army in those three days of carnage were 3,070
killed, 14,479 wounded, 5,434 missing; aggregating as loss from the strength of
the army 23,001. Can all this be comprehended, think of some city of 23,000
inhabitants, and think of the destruction or injury to every one of its citizens.
Is it impossible to go to Gettysburg and see the 5,000 graves of heroes who perished
from this gigantic life or death struggle of these magnificent armies? No, but
this one great battle is not all, think of the many battles from Bull Run to Appo-
mattox, think, or try to think of 100,000 dead heroes, from the Union Army lone,
just those killed, or died of wounds, nay 110,070, one hundred and ten full sized
regiments, why this would be an army alone. It is a vast army of dead—but this
is not all!—it is not even half, the vast army of 250,000 men who died without
a wound, from sickness, full 228,000 more than would have died at home from
natural causes, then add the death list from every branch of the service, Regulars,
Navy, Colored Troops, Indians, and from all causes and we have 359,528, who
perished that the nation might live.

491
How can all these individually live, as the heroes, the martyrs who died, and
also besides these the no less valiant, who returned to civil life to share on equal
terms with those who did not go at all, all the blessings that flow from a pros-
perous and glorious reunited country, the greatest and best the world has ever
known. How can each-name-be-preserved and its-fame-perpetuated, when the
best records extant are faulty. Only town histories can know and tell what its own
soldiers were, and where and how they served their country and its Fiag, when the
national life was imperiled. Would that there was a reliable town record of every
soldier from every town. It is possible to have just such a record. It is just to
the soldier that his heroism be recorded, it is just to his kindred, that the life lost
to them should not perish in oblivion; it is just to the town, that its full measure
of patriotism be acknowledged, as it is of every county and of every state. It is

just to the rising generation, that these lessons of home patriots, taught by
example, and inscribed in blood, should be object lessons to them, of the de-

mands of patriotism on all who love their country. For these reasons we (for
I must use every available help) will try to tell as well as possible the story of

NUNDA IN THE CIVIL WAR

The firing upon Fort Sumpter electrified the entire North and set into activity
every drop of patriotic blood, that, turbid and stagnant, threatened to paralyze the
national spirit and life. The echoes of that first shot, aimed at the nations life, and
fired at the emblem of her glory, broke the lethargic spell of years. It rever-
berated from the pines of Maine to the red woods of California. The mountains
caught its vibrations and distributed them to the valleys. Even the little Keshequa
Valley nestled in unconscious beauty and calm repose, in its foothilled cradle, was
startled into intense activity and stirred up to intense vigor.

Something must be done at once, but who was there ready to brave the perils
and share the risk of their temerity. \ week was spent in desultory discussions
of the situation, and a war of diverse opinions was waged with a genuine Nunda
obduracy ; in the midst of the war of words, one man, Lester Barnes, hustled down
to Rochester and enlisted in the 13th, the first Nunda man to be enrolled on the
roll of the nation defenders. But the war of argument went on, some of the
opinions advanced then, while they are now amusing for their very optimism, were
only equalled for their fanatical zeal. The call for 75,000 men brought these
opinions to the front. “It is all we need and more too; with the regulars and
these volunteers, and the militia to look after things at the seaports, we can drive
the Secesh into the Gulf of Mexico, in three months’ time.’’ While the Pessi-
mists, generally—ultra-conservatists, and anti-war men—came much nearer to
being prophets when they declared it would take every man of military age at the
North to conquer every man of like age in the South—and while our fields would
lack men to till them, the slaves would go on with the work in the South, as if
nothing unusual was going on,

Day after day the war of words was renewed with other speakers—who
should go, was the question to be settled: One of the few veterans of 1812, that
lived here, was John C. McNair, whose patriotism was as great as his age, “I'd
go if they'd take me, and if IT had a son that wouldn’t go when others were going
I'd disinherit him.” “That's right, the young fellows ought to go, said a merchant,
I think all these big lubbers here in school had better be exterminating rebels than

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conjugating latin verbs: dead rebels are of more consequence than the dead lan-
guages.” “They are waiting for some patriot like you to set the example, was the
quick reply from a student.’ ‘Now all joking aside, said a newly married man
who had married “well” and was living at ease, I think all the young single men
could go as well as not, and should go, they have no families to provide for.”
“They would lose all the chances of marrying rich, was the stinging rejoinder.”
“T, think all the married men should go” said a crusty bachelor (who remained a
bachelor). “Why so?” asked a listener. ‘Because this is a Civil Il’ar, a sort of
family fracas, and the married men are already veterans in this kind of fighting.”
Thus by a timely joke most of the skirmishes during this week of unsettled opin-
ions as to personal duty and individual patriotism were settled. From the sublime
to the absurd is only a short step. A telegram, to George M. Osgoodby, Esq.,
asking if Nunda would raise a company of soldiers as a part of the New York's
quota of 75,000 men. In three hours time our first war meeting was held, Friday,
April 19th. The opportunity was all that was necessary; the response was
astonishing.

The history of Livingston County, by James H. Smith and published by D.
Mason & Co., Svracuse, N. Y., 1881, makes this report of the patriotism of Nunda.

“War record of Nunda. No town was more patriotic, or showed its patriot-
ism in a more tangible way, in this war of the Rebellion than Nun la.” The call
for a company of men resulted as follows: “A meeting was held that same even-
ing, and so great was the enthusiasm, and so ready was the response, that twenty-
eight men stepped forward and placed their names on the enlistment roll” on the
6th day of May, 1861, less than a month from the receipt of the telegram (only 17
days) this band of brave men was mustered and James M. McNair elected Cap-
tain, George L. Hamilton, First Lieutenant, and Henry G. King, Second Lieu-
tenant. The Company (then) numbered 56 men, and they were assigned to the
33rd Regiment of New York Volunteers as Co. “F" There were three classes
of speeches that evening. The one from the veteran, John C. McNair, who was
past military age, and, therefore, could not go into the service, but whose patriot-
ism was beyond question ; that of the lawyers, who spoke as lawyers do, when they
would influence a jury—or like Marc Anthony, sought with well chosen words,
to move the emotions, and ‘‘stir up” the impressionable, and ‘steal away their
hearts” till they would heed the call—‘to go where honor calls, and fame and
glory awaits them'—now this class of orators, the lawyers’ class, was a real
necessity of the hour. Unlike the physician and the clergyman, the lawyer has
no particular place to fill in the army; the physician could be surgeon, or assistant
surgeon, the clergyman could be chaplain, but the lawyer must leave his vocation
behind him and simply be a patriot and a man. Indeed lawyers are not generally
classed as pacifyers, they are said sometimes to foment strife, but not to ally it;
but all joking aside, their best services were rendered at home as recruiting officers
and there was little danger of their being moved by their own words, to do what
they urged others to do for they were accustomed to their own eloquence. There
were exceptions, however, Col. Jas. M. Strang, Capt. Kidder Scott from Geneseo
and Col. Samuel J. Crooks, formerly from Nunda. The one lawyer from Nunda,
that proved an exception, and said “Come” instead of “Go” was a former gifted
citizen. As a recruiting officer he excelled; the “Come and go with me boys,” was
magical, no wonder he got to be Colonel, Samuel J. Crooks, and when he had the
title the emoluments and honors, why did he resign? To raise another regiment

493
of course and he did it, the 22nd Cavalry—eloquence like his was above par,
besides there were plenty of better commanders to take the place he left. He was
an officer, and an officer can resign —like Artemas Ward—who was willing to
sacrifice all his “‘wife’s male relatives” to put down the war, and who said—“If I
am drafted I shall resign;” so a great many would-be heroes secured, through
political influence, commissions and went to the sacred soil of Virginia, and when
their resignations were offered, as they were just before or just after their first
opportunity to show their colors, the said resignations were generally granted and
some good subordinate reached, through valor, promotion.

The one speaker at that first war meeting at Nunda, whose speech lives, and
will live as long as the bricks and mortar of Carter Memorial Hall, Nunda, shall
hold together—was the one who said “come, friends and fellow students, the
nation’s life is in peril, and you and I are needed, I am going to enlist, and to enlist
now, and I expect some of you will go along with me,” and they did. This was the
gist of Jonny Carter’s speech,—considering his age, only 18, his boyish face illu-
mined by the enthusiasm of a genuine patriotism, it was the most effective speech
of the evening—no wonder eight or ten of his school friends, including a chum,
one year younger, and that some former institute men, nearly as many, enlisted
that very week ; some were rejected by the surgeon, but most of them went ata
later day. The Nunda School boys urged Carter's name for Lieutenant, but the
older men from neighboring towns, who did not know his metal, voted for older
men, and John acquiesced—he went as a private soldier—no one should doubt his
patriotism, or crave his position. That he came back in two years, with the
shoulder straps he had won by doing his duty nobly, was what his friends expected
of him, if he came back at all, and when he was ready to re-enlist there was no one
this time to say he was too young, or too inexperienced, to be Captain, although
he was still a minor. As for the veteran’s son, Jas. M. McNair, fresh from col-
lege, no one thought him too young to command the Company, though but 25
vears of age, he was just the one to entrust their boys with. He would command
in love, and love his command, and they made no mistake. Lieut. Geo. T. Ham-
ilton, whose father was one of the pioneers of Nunda, and who had picked up

 

Georce B. Herrick, Georce W. DaacetrT,
Co. D, 33rd N. Y. 33rd N. Y.

494
some military skill, seems to have been a tactician and by some means always
ready to enlist with each new company from Nunda, as soon as it was ready to
need his assistance and skill. I find his name on the roster of the 33rd, the 104th
and the 130th; as a recruiter, and as a company drill master, he was a pronounced
success, he rose to the grade of Captain, and this seems to have satisfied his ambi-
tion. Henry A. Hills, First Sergeant, and John F. Winchip, Second Sergeant.
from Pike, each obtained after a time a Lieutenancy.

OUR FIRST WAR POEM, BY SARAH L. STILSON
Published in the Nunda News.
To the Nunda Volunteers

1. Sons of the North! Rise and arm for the fight!
Arm for the land that your hearts fondly cherish,
Arm ere the hope of your forefathers perish,
Arm, that may wave from its glory wreathed height,
The flag of our Union.

2. Sons of the North shall our famed eagle die?
On the ancient cliff, shall his mighty wing shiver?
Fall from his talons the arrow filled quiver?
No: let his song arise wilder than ever,
Till cliff, crag and mountain the echo reply,
“The flag of our Union forever.”

3. Sons of the North, go the triumphs to share ;
Shall live our fair lands from henceforth but in story?
No: though the pathway to victory be gory:
No: although blood be the gateway to glory;
Though our banner be torn, still the stars shall be there,
The flag of our Union.

4. Sons of the North for our liberty stand!
The North and the East and the West are awaking,
Stand! for the links in our Union are breaking,
Stand! for the pillars of state are now shaking,
Stand for the right, for our beautiful land,
For the flag of our Union!

5. Sons of the North, act a hero's brave part,
Till not one traitor, but frightened is flying,
Till not one Rebel, but prostrate is lying,
Till “old glory” from Northland to Southland is flying,
All the broad North hath one patriot heart
Firm for the Union.
Nunda, N. Y., April, 1861.

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Capr. James M. McNair, Co. F, 33rd N. Y.

 

 

 

 

: CuarLes Woopworth, 52nd N. Y

 

 

Irvine J. McDurrie, 33rd N. Y.
33RD REGIMENT, N. Y. V. I. COMPANY F—OUR FIRST
COMPANY FROM NUNDA

The 33rd regiment included two companies from Livingston Co. and these
were from Nunda and Geneseo, the former being Company F and the latter Com-
pany E. It also included two companies from Seneca Falls and one each from
Palmyra, Waterloo, Canandaigua, Buffalo, Geneva and Penn Yan. The organiza-
tion of the regiment was effected May 21st, 1861, at Elmira, with Robert F. Taylor
as Colonel. On the 8th of July the regiment left for the front and during its
term of service participated in the battles of Yorktown, Malvern Hill, Fair Oaks,
Williamsburg, Lee’s Mills, Second Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg, and
in many minor engagements and desperate skirmishes. The regiment was mus-
tered out June 2d, 1863; accompanying the order for this purpose was an address
from General Sedgwick in which he said:

“The General commanding the corps congratulates the officers and men of the
Thirty-third New York Volunteers upon their honorable return to civil life. They
have enjoyed the respect and confidence of their companions and commanders;

they have illustrated their term of service by gallant deeds, and have won for
themselves a reputation not surpassed in the Army of the Potomac, and have
nobly earned the gratitude of the Republic.”

The following extracts are from letters written to the editor of the Nunda
“News” by Captain McNair, from Banks’ Ford, Virginia, early in May, 1863, and
give a vivid picture of the strenuous work of this regiment:

“Sunday we were ordered to storm the works in rear of Fredericksburg,
where General Suniner lost so heavily in the former battle. This was done effect-
ually, under a heavy fire of infantry directed principally against the 77th and 33rd
New York, and the loss in both Regiments was large. The 33d lost seventy-four
in killed and wounded ; many of the wounds, however, were slight.

“Our own Company are again called to mourn the death of one of our noblest
and best. William Cosnett was instantly killed in the moment of victory, cheering
on the men to the enemy's works. Sergeant McDuffie was struck with a shell, not
seriously wounded. Norton Bardwell, of Grove, was shot through the breast, I
fear a fatal wound, although he was in excellent spirits when taken to the hospital,
and may recover. Dibble was shot through the arm, but was able to walk, and
was sent to the hospital.

“After the heights were captured the corps marched forward some three miles
in order to communicate with General Hooker, according to his order, but met
a large force under Hill, and a fierce fight ensued, in which General Brooks
occupied the front. During the night the Rebels received large reinforcements
and attacked us early in the morning with a large force. They marched across
the plain in open view, with two lines of battle, seemingly enough to sweep every-
thing before them. Our Brigade were holding the front at this point in a good
position. The enemy had approached within good range, when a well directed
fire broke their line and the whole force scattered in confusion across the plain.
You will hear more fully from this gallant and glorious battle in the General's
report. A perfect calm now ensued for several hours—a calm ominous of prepara-
tion on the part of the enemy for a final effort. Hooker having been checked, a
large force under Jackson came down to attack us. At four o'clock the battle
opened again—the fiercest, and for the 33rd, the hardest fought, the most fatal

497
and the most glorious in which we have been engaged. The whole force of the
Rebels was thrown upon the left flank held by our brigade. The 20th New York
were on the skirmish line, sustained by the 33d New York. For several minutes
their entire fire was directed upon the 20th and 33d. We held them in check until
the forces in rear were properly in position when we retired under a fire the
fiercest I have ever witnessed. The enemy came on, cheering as if assured of cer-
tain victory; but suddenly the Vermont brigade rose from a ravine and poured
volley after volley into their lines; then with a cheer and a charge the Rebel hosts
were scattered to the winds, and our skirmish line re-established at dark in its
former position. The battle in our frant yesterday was a great success. Why
we are across the river again this morning giving up all our advantages won by
as brave and successful fighting as the war has shown, it is General Hooker's
business to explain. If the army has failed in its object, no one will fail to acknowl-
edge that General Niel’s brigade did their whole duty nobly and successfully. But
we have done it with a sacrifice of life which will carry sorrow to many a heart.
Under all the circumstances, however, we consider ourselves fortunate still. No
one expected that a fraction of the regiment would escape. But what cared we,
when the salvation of the army was at stake. And here I affirm solemnly to you,
to the honor of your noble sons and brothers, that the final order to retire was
never so reluctantly obeyed. There were men who refused to obey, and stood
their ground until wounded or captured by the enemy. With mingled feelings of
sorrow and gratitude to the brave boys who have proved their devotion to their
country with their blood, I record the casualties of the Company :

“Robert Watson, wounded in two places, not dangerous; Albert Watson,
wounded through ankle and left at Hospital; Eugene Beach, wounded in arm, not
dangerous; Philander Merithew, missing, but reported wounded; Charles New-
man, slightly wounded; Wm. Piper, wounded, reported seriously; John Skillens,
wounded slightly; Jerry Morrison, wounded severely in face, not dangerous;
Michael Clark, missing; David Evans, missing; Corporal James Haver, missing,
but seen after the battle; Warren Franklin, the same; John Franklin, missing ;
John Reid, missing ; James Norris, missing; Jonathan Greenwood, missing ; Wm.
Nolan, missing; Warren Streeter, missing.

“T yesterday wrote you, stating at near as possible the loss of the Company.
Since, the result has changed materially by several returning who were reported
missing. The report is now as follows:

“On Sunday William Cosnett was instantly killed: Norton Bardwell died
Monday night ; Dibble badly wounded in shoulder ; Smith, slight, in ear; McDufhe,
slight, in groin; making two killed, three wounded; total, five. On Monday,
Albert Watson shot through ankle; William Piper wounded in left side of body,
doing well when last heard from; Philander Merithew reported wounded; Jerry
Morrison wounded, not badly; Michael Clark missing ; Corporal Wilson wounded,
not badly; John Franklin, Eagle, missing; John Reid, Corning, missing; David
Evans, Nunda, missing.

“These last four were in the ranks while we were fighting. When we retired
they may have been taken prisoners. None of our boys saw them after the com-
mand to retire. Corporal James Haver was not wounded. One of our boys was
with him when he was some distance from the firing. He was so exhausted that
he fainted. His comrade brought him some water, and, as the enemy had retreated,
he left him comfortable in the rear, near the Hospital. When we finally fell back

498
we could not find him, but suppose he crossed the river, which is probable. James
has in a peculiar way the heart-felt sympathy of his comrades, and our earnest
prayer is that he is safe. Sunday morning he was called hastily to the side of a
dying brother, Wilbur. He had the satisfaction of being allowed to attend his
brave brother in his last moments, and attended to his burial, then returned to
avenge his death. I have since found that he was quite sick before and during
the battle of Monday, but he uttered no word of complaint, and fought among
the bravest. We shall rejoice to hear that he is really safe.

“Thus our loss on Monday was but three badly wounded, two slightly, and
five missing. I cannot express my thankfulness for this wonderful escape from
what seemed almost certain death. The Regiment was thrown forward as a for-
lorn hope, trusting that by desperate fighting we might hold the enemy in check
until the left could be strengthened. During thirty long minutes we stood with
seven companies against two regiments advancing upon us. They were held at
bay, and half the number shot down, when a regiment to the left of us giving
away, the enemy were rapidly flanking us, when we were ordered to fall back on
the run. Behind us was a ravine from which the land sloped upwards. As the
Regiment passed over this ground it was exposed to a raking fire and here suffered
most. Company F fortunately kept the ravine as closely as possible, which ac-
counts for our fortunate escape. The regiment suffered a loss of 147 killed,
wounded and missing ; Company F, ten in all, with but seven cases, so far as we
know. Hooker is falling back and everything looks badly at present. It was
a fatal, outrageous blunder of some one in leaving the heights, which we had
fought so hard to storm, wholly at the mercy of the enemy. However things may
terminate, we can have the pride of knowing that we did all that could be asked
of men.”

ROSTER OF COMPANY F, 33rd REGIMENT NEW YORK INFANTRY

Officers. Capt. James M. McNair. Age 2+. Enrolled May 13, 1861, at
Nunda to serve two years; mustered in as Capt. Co. F. May 22, 1861, mustered out
with regiment, June 2, 1863, died at Nunda.

Ist Lieut. George T. Hamilton. Age 30. Enrolled May 13, 1861, to serve
two vears. Discharged for disability Feb. 6, 1862, at Camp Griffin, Va. Subse-
quent service in 104th N. Y. and in First N. Y. Dragoons. It is believed he per-
ished on the Isle of Cuba, during the Spanish War.

Second Lieut. Henry G. King. Enrolled at Nunda as.Second Lieutenant Co.
F., promoted to First Lieutenant Feb. 6, 1862, discharged for disability Dec. 27,
1862. Resides at Nunda.

Enlisted Men

Aspinwall, Aiken, age 17. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunia, to serve two
years; mustered in as musician, Co. F, May 22, 1861, assigned to ranks Jan. 1,
1863; mustered out with company June 2, 1863. Resides in Washington, D. C.

Bacon, Gardner, age 21. Enlisted July 6, 1861, to serve unexpired term of
two years; mustered in as private, Co. I*, same date; died of disease (sunstroke )
Oct. 3, 1861, at Camp Ethan Allen, Va., buried at Nunda.

Bardwell, Norton, age 19. Enlisted Alay 13, 1861, at Canaseraga to serve two
years; mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861. Died of wounds, May 4,
1863, at Fredericksburg, Va.

Benjamin, George, age 23. Enlisted July 4, 1861, to serve unexpired term

499
of two years; said to have deserted Aug. 1, 1861, at Washington, D. C., re-en-
listed in 85th N. Y.; captured and in prison until the end of the war.

Barker, John F.. age 29. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two
years; mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861; promoted corporal, no date
given, commissary sergeant, May 22, 1862; mustered out with regiment June 2,
1863, at Geneva, N. Y., died at DesMoines, Iowa, 1897.

Beach, Eugene, age 25. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Canaseraga to serve two
years; mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861; mustered out with company
June 2, 1863, at Geneva, N. Y.

Benson, George, age 27. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Granger to serve two
years; mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861; mustered out with company
June 2, 1863, at Geneva, N. Y.

Bentley, David, age 18. Enlisted at Nunda to serve unexpired term of two
years; mustered in as private, Co. F, July 6, 1861; discharged for disability, date
not stated. Died about 1870.

Buchanan, Edwin, age 22. Enlisted July +, 1861, at Elmira to serve term of
two years; mustered as private, Co. F, July 6, 1861; mustered out with company,
subsequent service in Mounted Rifles.

Bump, James H., age 20. Enlisted Aug. 25, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in as
private, Co. F, Sept. 11, 1862; discharged for disability (date not stated). Had
his name changed to’ James B. Brooks, became an Episcopal clergyman, was rec-
tor at Oil City, Pa., at the time of his death.

Cain, Alfred H., age 21. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two
years; mustered in as corporal, Co. F, May 22, 1861; mustered out with company
June 2, 1863, re-enlisted in First Veteran Cavalry.

Cain, Justus H., age 19. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two years;
mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861; promoted corporal Jan. 7, 1863;
mustered out with company June 2, 1863, at Geneva, N. Y., died 1879.

Calkins, Willard E., age 25. Enlisted May 13, 1861, to serve two years;
mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861; mustered out with company June 2,
1863, at Geneva, N. Y.

Carroll, Terrence, age 24. Enlisted Dec. 20, 1861, to serve unexpired term
of two years; mustered in as private, Co. F, Jan. 3, 1862; mustered out with com-
pany, subsequent service in 47th N. Y. Died in Nunda, Nov. 12, 1906.

Carter, Volney O., age 26. Enlisted May 13, 1861, to serve two years as
private, Co. F; mustered out with company.

Cascore, Thomas, age 25. Enlisted Sept. 10, 1862, at Nunda to serve three
years ; deserted Oct. 21, 1862.

Chambers, George, age 21. Enlisted May 22, 1861 at Elmira; was captured
and in prison, paroled and returned to regiment towards the close of the war.

Carter, John J., age 18. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two years;
mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861; promoted commissary sergeant
July 29, 1861; mustered in as Second Lieutenant, Co. B, May 21, 1862; mustered
out with regiment June 2, 1863, at Geneva, N. Y., received medal of honor; com-
missioned Second Lieutenant June 24, 1862, with rank from May 21, 1862. Sub-
sequent service as Capt. of First Veteran Cavalry.

500
Chilson, Daniel. Born in Nunda, age 29. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda
to serve two years; mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861, died of inter-
mittent fever April 21, 1862, at Alexandria, Va.

Cristy, James, age 20. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two years;
mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861; mustered out with company June 2,
1863, at Geneva, N. Y.; re-enlisted in lirst N. Y. Dragoons and died in prison
at Andersonville, with seven others from the company.

Clark, Michael, age 38. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1862. at Nunda to serve three
years ; mustered in as private, Co. F, Sept. 22, 1862, attached to 49th N. Y. Infantry
May 15, 1863, wounded May 10, 1864, transferred to company B. Sept. 17, 1864,
discharged June 16, 1865.

Cosnett, William J., age 25. Enlisted Aug. 30, 1862, at Nunda to serve three
years ; mustered in as private, Co. F, Sept. 22, 1862, died of wounds May 3, 1863,
at Fredericksburg, Va. Buried at Nunda.

Daggett, George W., age 18. Enlisted May 13, 1861, to serve two years;
mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861: mustered out with company June 2,
1863, at Geneva, N. Y.. became lawyer and was a district attorney and died at
Nunda.

Dibble, Alvin H., age 18. Enlisted Oct. 24, 1862, to serve three years; mus-
tered in as private, Co. F, Oct. 27, 1862; wounded May 4, 1863, at Fredericksburg,
Va., attached to 49th N. Y. Infantry May 15, 1863, to which transferred Oct. 1,
1863 ; discharged Nov. 13, 1863, returned to Nunda, had gangrene in wounds, had
arm amputated. Died in New Jersey some years afterward.

Dodge, William D., age 19. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Centerville to serve
two years; mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861, discharged by disability
March 5, 1863, at Baltimore, Md.

Doty, Howard B., age 24. Enlisted Aug. 25, 1862 to serve three years:
mustered in as private, Co. F. Sept. 11, 1862; attached to 49th N. Y. May 15,
1863, to which transferred Oct. 1, 1863; wounded in action Oct. 19, 1864, at
Petersburg, Va. Died of wounds Oct. 24, 1864.

Driscoll, Michael, age 34. Enlisted Aug. 29, 1862, at Nunda to serve three
years; mustered in as private, Co. F, Sept. 11, 1862; attached to 49th N. Y. May
15, 1863, to which transferred Oct. 1, 1863, discharged June 16, 1865.

Duryee, Eugene, age 18. Enlisted Aug. 18, 1862, at Nunda to serve three
vears; mustered in as private, Co. F, Oct. 17, 1862; attached to 49th N. Y. May
15, 1863, to which transferred Oct. 1, 1863; wounded in May, 1864, discharged
June 16, 1865.

Duryee, Schuyler, age 18. Enlisted May 13, 1861, in Nunda to serve two
years; mustered out with company June 2, 1863, died in 1875, buried at Nunda.

Ellis, Franklin W., age 19. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Pike as private, Co. F;
mustered out with company.

Ellis, Wesley, age 25. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two years;
mustered out with company June 2, 1863, at Geneva.

Emery, John W., age 22. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Pike to serve two years;
mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861; mustered out with company.

501
Evans, David M., age 28. Enlisted Aug. 28, 1862, at Nunda to serve three
years; mustered in as private, Co. F, Sept. 11, 1862; attached to 49th N. Y. May
15, to which transferred Oct. 1, to Company D also Co. B, discharged June 16,
1865.

Franklin, Hiram, age 21. Enlisted Mav 9, 1861, at Granger in Co. F; mus-
tered out with company.

Franklin, John, age 21. Enlisted July 4, 1861, to serve unexpired term of two
years; mustered out with company.

Fuller, Henry F., age 20. Enlisted Aug. 30, 1862, at Nunda to serve three
years, discharged for disability at Whiteoak Church, Va! Died at Nunda.

Gillett, James C., age 19. Enlisted from Oakland May 13, 1861, to serve
two years; mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861, discharged for disability
Aug. 4, 1861, at Washington, D. C., died at Oakland, 1862.

Green, Thomas, age 22. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Castile to serve two years;
mustered as a private of Co. F, May 22, 1861, discharged for disability June 20,
1861, at Elmira, N. Y. Residence Oakland, N. Y.

Greenwood, Jonathan, age 19. Enlisted May 1, 1861, at Nunda to serve two
years; mustered in as private, Co. F. May 22, 1861, transferred to regimental
band; taken prisoner in June 1862, during McClelland’s retreat from before Rich-
mond, and died at Bell Island.

Greenwood, William, age 24+. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1862. Wounded in action
July 6, 1863, attached to 49th N. Y. to which transferred Oct. 1, 1863. Trans-
ferred to Veteran Reserve Corps; mustered out at the end of war.

Gregory, Dwight, age 30. Enlisted July 4, 1861, at Nunda to serve unexpired
term of two years: discharged for disability April 30, 1862, at Yorktown, Va.

Hall, Robert S., age 20. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Portage to serve two
years ; mustered into Co. F May 22, 1861, discharged for disability Aug. 18, 1861,
at Washington, D. C.

Haskins, Edwin, age 23. Enlisted July 4, 1861, at Nunda to serve unexpired
term of two years; mustered out with company, June 2, 1863.

Hatch, Samuel W., age 25. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Pike, mustered in as
private, Co. F, mustered out with company.

Haver, James, age 19. Enlisted at Nunda May 13, 1861, promoted corporal
Dec. 4, 1862, mustered out with company, re-enlisted in First N. Y. Dragoons.

Hayes, Edmond, age 18. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Scio, to serve two years;
discharged for disability June 20, 1861, at Elmira, N. Y.

Herrick, Mortimer, age 21. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in
as private, Co. F, Sept. 11, 1862; attached to 49th N. Y. May 15, 1863, trans-
ferred to Co. D; wounded in action, died May 11, 1864, at Spotsylvania Court
House, Va.

Hills, Henry A., age 27. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two
years; mustered as First Sergeant, Co. F, May 22, 1861, as Second Lieutenant
Feb. 6, 1862, Vice-Lieutenant H. G. King promoted, First Lieutenant Feb. 5,
1863, Vice-Lieutenant King resigned. Resides Highland, Kas.

502
Hilyer, Ezaiel, age 42. Enlisted Sept. 29, 1862, at Nunda to serve three
years; attached to the 49th N. Y. May 15, 1863, to which transferred Oct. 1,
1863 ; discharged with detachment June 16, 1865, at Washington, D. C.

Hulbert, age 40. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Eagle, private, Co. F, discharged
for disability March 1862 at Alexandria, Va.

Johnson, John T., age 18. Enlisted Aug. 28, 1862, at Nunda; attached to
the 49th N. Y.; wounded May 10, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Pa.; discharged with
detachment June 16, 1865, died at home 1865.

Kiley, James, age 22. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two years;
mustered as sergeant, Co. F, Mav 22, 1861, promoted first sergeant, Dec. 27, 1862,
mustered out with company June 2, 1863, and died at Nunda June 1863, buried at
Portageville.

Koeppe, Gottlieb, age 32. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two
years ; mustered in as private, Co. F, discharged for disability March 7, 1864, died
at Nunda.

LaFoy, John, age 25. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two years;
served two years and was mustered out with company June 2, 1863.

Lamb, David G., age 42. Enlisted Aug. 16, 1862, transferred to 49th N. Y.
May 15, 1863, paroled (no date), discharged June 16, 1865.

Lieb, Jacob, age 32. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1862, at Nunda to serve three years ;
attached to 49th N. Y. May 15, 1863, to which transferred Oct. 1, 1863; mustered
out at expiration of term of enlistment.

Lockwood, George M., age 20. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda; served two
years and was mustered out with company. Subsequent service as Major, 58th

N.Y. N.G.

Marshall, William, age 22. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two
years; served this time and was mustered out with company.

Martin, George D., age 21. Enlisted May 13, 1861, to serve two years ; mus-
tered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861. Served two years and was mustered
out with company June 2, 1863.

Mayhew, Reuben W.,-age 19. Enlisted May 13, 1861, to serve two years;
mustered in as corporal, Co. F. May 22, 1861, discharged for disability Aug. 4,
1861, at Washington, D. C. (enlisted at Nunda).

Maynard, Thaddeus, age 19. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Clarksville to serve
two vears; mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861; died of disease at Wash-
ington, August 6, 1862. (Dr. Alley says at Philadelphia).

McDuffie, Irwin J., age 20. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Castile (he was a
student at Nunda) to serve two years; mustered out with company. Personal:
He married Alice Gilbert of Nunda.

Merithew, Philander, age 21. Enlisted at Nunda July 4, 1861, to serve unex-
pired term of two years; mustered in as private, Co. F:; mustered out with com-
pany.

Morrison, Jeremiah, age 27. Enlisted July 4, 1861, at Nunda to serve unex-
pired term of two years; mustered in as private of Co. F; mustered out with
company June 2, 1863. Subsequent service in Second Mounted Rifles.

503
Newell, Charles, age 22. Enlisted July +, 1861, at Nunda to serve unexpired
term of two years; mustered as private, Co. F, July 6, 1861; mustered out with
company.

Newell, Rufus, age 24+. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda; mustered out with
company.

Nolan, William J., age 19. Enlisted from Nunda Aug. 16, 1862, to serve
three years; mustered in as a private, Co. F, Sept. 11, 1862; attached to 49th N.
Y. May 15, 1863, to which transferred Oct. 1, 1863; captured in action May 12,
1864, at Spottsylvania C. H., Va.; paroled (no date), discharged June 16, 1865.
Other authorities say he died in prison.

Norris, James, age 20. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two years;
mustered out with company.

Payne, John B., age 22. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two
years; mustered out with company, killed at Dalton by a boiler explosion, and
is buried at Nunda.

Phillips, Samuel D., age 21. Enlisted May 13, 1861, from Brooksgrove to
serve two years; mustered in as corporal, Co. I, May 22, 1861, discharged for
disability Aug. +, 1861, at Washington, D. C. Resides at Perry, N. Y.

Piper, William H., age 23. Enlisted Aug. 30, 1862, at Nunda to serve three
years; transferred to 49th N. Y.; mustered out at end of service as Henry W.
Piper.

Partridge, Norman, age 18. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Pike; mustered as
private, Co. F, discharged for disability Jan. 7, 1863, at Washington, D. C.

Patterson, Eben, age 27. Enlisted May 13, 1861, died of disease at Dalton,
N. Y. Dec. 30, 1862, buried at Oakland.

Pool, Charles W., age 23. Enlisted at Nixvill May 13, 1861, to serve two
years ; mustered in as private, Co. F, Mav 22, 1861; mustered out with company at
expiration of service. Subsequent service in Second Mounted Rifles.

Pool, George, age 18. Enlisted July +. 1861, at Nunda to serve two years;
mustered out with company June 11, 1863. Died at Angelica, 1881.

Porter, Martin Luther, age 19. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve
two years ; mustered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861, was captured and in prison
at Bell Island, Va. Subsequent service in 7th N. Y. H. A.

Prentice, George H., age 22. Enlisted in Nunda 1861; mustered as private,
Co. F. Died of disease I'eb. 28, 1862, at Camp Griffon, Va., brought home for
burial, buried at East Hill, Nunda.

Preston, Warren, age 22. Enlisted July 4+. 1861, at Nunda, to serve two
years; discharged for disability. Subsequent service in 14th N. Y. H. A.

Randall, James, age 18. Enlisted from Oakland, to serve two years; mus-
tered in as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861, discharged for disability June 18, 1861,
at Elmira, N. Y. Subsequent service in 169th N. Y., died at home, 1865.

Raymond, Horatio B., age 22. Enlisted Oct. 12, 1861, at Nunda, to serve
unexpired term of two years; mustered out with company.

Record, Orman F., age 27. Enlisted Aug. 16, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in
as private, Co. F, Oct. 10, 1862; assigned to the 49th N. Y. Oct. 1, 1863; dis-

504
charged with detachment from the 33rd June 16, 1865. Died (about) 1895 at
Nunda.

Rial, John, age 23. Enlisted June 4, 1861, at Corning, to serve unexpired
term of two years; mustered into Co. F and mustered out with company.

Sargent, Francis W., age 24. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda: mustered
out with company.

Sherman, Delos, age 24. Enlisted Aug. 30, 1862, at Nunda, to serve three
years; transferred to 49th N. Y. Oct. 1, 1863; mustered out at expiration of
service.

Skillan, John S., age 18. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda, to serve two
years; mustered out with company. Subsequent service in First \eteran Cavalry.

Smith, Delancey, age 20. Enlisted at Portage Aug. 30, 1862, to serve three
years; transferred Oct. 1, 1863 to 49th N. Y. Resides at Hunt.

Smith, Elias, age 29. Enlisted Mav 13, 1861. at Castile, to serve two years ;
mustered as private May 22, 1861, killed in action Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam,
Md.

Smith, Henry, age 18. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two years ;
mustered as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861; promoted corporal Jan. 1, 1863; mus-
tered out with company. Re-enlisted in First Veteran Cavalry.

Smith, Philip, age 24+. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda, to serve two years ;
mustered out with company. Subsequent service in First Veteran Cavalry.

Stebbins, Edwin, age 20. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Pike, to serve two years ;
mustered as private, Co. F, May 22, 1861, promoted corporal March 22, 1862: ser-
geant Dec. 27, 1862; mustered out with company June 2, 1863, at Geneva, N. Y.

Stebbins, James K., age 18. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda, to serve two
years, discharged for disability April 14. 1863, at General Hospital, Antietam, Md.

Streeter, Henry H., age 20. Enlisted at Pike, May 13, 1861, to serve two
years ; mustered as Private Co. F, mustered out with company.

Van Brunt, Edwin, age 18. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Pike, to serve two
years; mustered as private Co. F May 22, 1861, died of disease Oct. 16, 1861, at
Camp Ethan Allen, Va.

Turrell, Beebe, age 18. Enlisted July 4, 1861, from Nunda at Elmira to serve
unexpired term of service; mustered as private Co. F; mustered out with com-

pany at Geneva, N. Y.

Treehouse, Francis, age 20. Enlisted at Nunda May 22, 1861; mustered out
with company.

Washburn, Theodore, age 20. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Nunda to serve two
years; mustered as private Co. F; killed at Deserted House, Va.

, Watson, Albert P., age 36. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Eagle, to serve two
years; mustered in as private Co. F; mustered out with company. Subsequent
service in Second Mounted Rifles.

Watson, Robert H., age 19. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Eagle; mustered as
private Co. F; promoted corporal April 19, 1862; mustered out with company.
505
 

Lr. Cor. Lewis C. SKINNER,
104th N. Y.

 

Cot. H. G. TurniLt,
104th N. Y.

 

Cov. anp Mrs. H. G. Turuiti
At Their Golden Wedding
Waver, Charles H., age 46. Enlisted at Nunda, Oct. 22, 1861, to serve unex-
pired term of two years; mustered in as private Co. F, Nov. 4, 1861, promoted

corporal March 22, 1862; mustered out with company; he was a veteran of the
Seminole war. Buried at Nunda.

White, Joseph, age 44. Enlisted Aug. 30, 1862, at Nunda, to serve three
years; mustered in as private Co. F, Sept. 22, 1862; assigned to 49th N. Y.
Oct. 1, 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps April 15, 1864.

Whiting (or Whitney), Whitfield, age 23. Enlisted May 13, 1861; mustered
into Co. F at Pike, to serve two years; died of disease June 1, 1862, at Yorktown,
Va.

Wilson, Marvin, age H. Enlisted Aug. 28, 1862, at Nunda, to serve three
years ; mustered as private Co. F; discharged for disability Jan. 16, 1863, at Alex-
andria, Va. Buried at Dalton.

Winship, John F., age 29. Enlisted May 13, 1861, at Pike; mustered as ser-
geant of Co. F; promoted to Second Lieutenant Dec. 22, 1862.

Wing, Henry, age 19. Enlisted at Eagle as private Co. F; mustered out with
company.

Winnev, James, age 20. Enlisted July +. 1861, at Nunda, to serve unexpired
term of two vears. Reported as deserter Sept. 28, 1861, at Camp Ethan Allen,
Va. (This is questionable. )

THE WADSWORTH GUARDS

The 104th N. Y. Volunteers, had their drill camp at Geneseo, they were
recruited at the suggestion of Gen. James S. Wadsworth, and were proud to bear
the name of this distinguished patriot. The very first Company to report at
Geneseo was the Nunda Company and hence was Co. A. They left for Geneseo
Sept. 28th, at this time there was no other town in the county that had sent from
home its second Company. H. G. Tuthill, Jas. Lemen and H. D. Page were
instrumental in getting up the Company.

104th REGIMENT, COMPANY A

A list of Officers on Nov., 1861, of Co. A. 104th N. Y. The Company having:
completed its organization, was reported ready for service.

Captain, Henry G. Tuthill; Ist Lieut., Lewis C. Skinner; 2d Lieut., Albert
S. Haver (Oakland) ;lst Sergt., Reuben R. Weed (Nunda Station) ; 2d Sergt.,
Edwin A. Tuthill (Nunda); 3d Sergt., Alfred Skinner (Nunda); 4th Seret.,
Lewis W. Shepard (Nunda); 5th Sergt., Albert Cleveland (Grove) ; 1st Corpl.,.
Daniel White (Grove) ; 2d Corpl., Thomas Curtis (Nunda) ; 3d Corpl., Wm. E.
Keene (Brooksgrove) ; 4th Corpl., John Satterlee (Nunda).

Twenty more men joined the Company at this time.

This Regiment was particularly unfortunate in having many of its men cap-
tured by the enemy, also in having frequent changes of Officers, and in a disposi-
tion to quibble over minor matters. Several of the officers resigned, or were

507
forced to do so, a lack of harmony seemed to prevail. The men, however, that
escaped death and imprisonment re-enlisted, proving themselves brave and
patriotic.

Their story as a Regiment as given in the Livingston County History is
probably correct, as several of the officers of the Regiment lived at Geneseo in-
cluding Col. Rorback and Col. Strang.

Company A from Nunda was the first to reach camp. It became the rank-
ing company of the regiment; this gave seniority to its officers, and made their
promotion almost certain; even non-commissioned officers reached field and
line appointments before the end of their term of service.

THE WADSWORTH GUARDS, 104th REGIMENT, COMPANY A—
SECOND COMPANY FROM NUNDA

In the Summer of 1861, while General Wadsworth was on a flying visit to
Geneseo, he stated to prominent gentlemen that the war was to be a long one, and
he was extremely anxious that Livingston should do her whole duty. To accom-
plish this he proposed that a regiment should be raised in the county, and asked
John Rorbach to allow him to present the latter's name to the Governor for a
commission to recruit such a regiment. After some hesitation Mr. Rorbach con-
sented, and in a short time he received a commission to recruit and organize a
regiment for the service. The experiment seemed a hazardous one, inasmuch as
the county had already furnished recruits enough for at least a regiment, but

earnest men had hold of the measure and it was bound to succeed. It was also
proposed to call the new regiment the “Wadsworth Guards,” in honor of the brave
officer who had suggested its organization, and who had already reflected such
honor on his native county by his daring bravery and self-sacrificing patriotism.

Colonel Rorbach found, after some weeks’ hard work, that it would be impos-
sible to organize a regiment without having a local depot to which he could send
his recruits as fast as they were secured. He asked the State authorities, there-
fore, to establish a military depot at Geneseo, and an order to this effect was
issued. The 104th Regiment may be said to have begun an active existence on
the 30th day of September, 1861, when there arrived at Geneseo Captain Henry
G. Tuthill, with about sixty men, who afterwards became Company A of the
regiment. Company |} followed with about forty men three or four days later.
At this time no barracks had been erected and accordingly the men of Companies
A and B were quartered at the hotels in the village for a while. The “old camp-
ground” at the head ot North street having been selected as the site for the mili-
tary depot, barracks were constructed, and the work of recruiting became general
throughout most of the county of Livingston and a portion of the county of
Wyoming and continued until February, 1862.

The following advertisement for recruits, appearing in one of the Geneseo
papers of that time, will serve to show the energy with which the various captains
of the Wadsworth Guards sought to complete their rosters:

  

RIAA
yas

    
 
WAR, WAR, WAR,
COME ONE, COME ALL

And enlist in a first-class Company,
COMPANY A,

Commanded by Capt. H. G. Tuthill, of Nunda, and Lieut, L. C.
Skinner, the first Company organized, and in a first-class Regiment.

THE WADSWORTH GUARDS

are now in camp at Camp Union, Geneseo, and are to be attached to
Gen. Wadsworth’s Brigade.

This Company is now organized and nearly full, consequently
only a Few More Volunteers Wanted.

PAY $13 to $23 PER MONTH
AND $100 BOUNTY AT CLOSE OF THE WAR

Or time of discharge, and all other emoluments received by any
other Regiment. Pay, Rations and Uniforms furnished from date
of enlistment.

Volunteers may enlist and be forwarded to the Camp by apply-
ing to S. A. Ellis, 78 State Street, Rochester, or at our Tent on the
Camp Ground, where we are now quartered at Camp Union, Gen-
eseo, Livingston County, N. Y.

Cart. H. G. TurHict,
Lieut. L. H. SKINNER,
Recruiting Officers.

By the last of February, 1862, ten organized companies were in barracks,
with a total of 683 enlisted men and twenty commissioned officers, all of whom
had been mustered into the United States service by Captain E. G. Marshall.

At the request of the officers in charge of the depot, the regiment thus

formed was ordered to Albany, and on the 25th day of February, 1862, left
Geneseo amid the cheers and tears of thousands who had assembled to bid

them God-speed. Arriving at Albany they went into barracks in the suburbs
of the city, remaining there until about the 20th day of March.

On the 4th day of March an order was issued consolidating the regiment
thus under the command of Col. Rorbach, into seven companies, also consolidat-
ing with the companies already formed. a skeleton regiment then in camp at the
neighboring city of Troy, under the command of Col. John J. Viele, and contain-
ing in all about 300 men, who afterwards composed Companies H, I and k, of
the 104th, the seven companies from Geneseo being lettered from A to G inclusive.
The total strength of the regiment thus formed was 1,040 men and the following
is a roster of the commissioned officers as taken from the order organizing the
regiment, which was issued from the office of the Adjutant General of the State,
and the field and staff commissioned, on the 8th day of March, 1862:

Colonel, John Rorbach; Lieut. Col,,R. Wells Kenyon: Major, Lewis C. Skin-
ner; Adjutant, Frederick T. Vance; Quartermaster, Henry V. Colt; Surgeon,
Enos G. Chase; Asst. Surgeon, Douglas S. Landon; Chaplain, Daniel Russell.

509
Company A.—Capt., Henry G. Tuthill; 1st Lieut.. ——————; 2nd Lieut.,

Albert S. Haver.

Company B.—Capt., Lehman H. Day; Ist Lieut., Henry A. Wiley; 2nd Lieut.,
Homer 4M. Stull.

Company C.
Nelson J. Wing.

Company D.—Capt., Zophar Simpson; Ist Lieut., Jacob H. Stull; 2nd Lieut.,
Geo. H. Starr.

Company E.—Capt., H. C. Lattimore; Ist Lieut., Wm. F. Lozier; 2nd Lieut.,
Wm. L. Trembley.

Company F.—Capt., Gilbert G. Prey; Ist Lieut., Luman F. Dow; 2nd Lieut.,
W. J. Hemstreet.

Company G.—Capt., James A. Gault; Ist Lieut., John P. Rudd; 2nd Lieut.,
John R. Strang.

Company H.—Capt., James K. Selleck: Ist Lieut., E. B. Wheeler; 2nd Lieut.,
Thos. Johnston.

Company I.—Capt., John Kelly: Ist Lieut., J. J. McCaffrey: 2nd Lieut.,

‘Chas. W_ Fisher.

Company K.—Capt., John C. Thompson; Ist Lieut., John H. Miller; 2nd
Lieut., Wm. C. Wilson.

 

Capt., Stephen L. Wing; Ist Lieut., Henry Runyan; 2nd Lieut.,

Leaving Albany, March 20th, and remaining one night at the Park Barracks
New York City, the regiment, after a very long and tedious journey, arrived at
‘Washington late in the evening of the 22nd. where for the first time the men had
the experience, so common in after years, of sleeping upon the open ground, or
the still more filthy depot floor. Next day it was transferred to barracks at
Kalaroma Heights, three miles from the Capitol, and there remained about three
weeks during which time arms (Enfield Rifles) and accoutrements were issued
to the men, and ceaseless drill went on.

In the early part of April the regiment was attached to the brigade com-
manded by Gen. Abram Duryee, which was being collected in camp at Cloud's
Mills, a short distance from Alexandria, Virginia, and there it went into camp in
the literal tented field for the first time. The brigade was composed of the 97th,
104th, and 105th, N. Y. and the 107th, Pa. regiments. Remaining here for about
a month, special attention was given to drilling and maneuvering, both by com-
panies, regiments and brigade, and the 104th became exceptionally perfect in its
drill, so that, under the skillful command of Col. Rorbach, it formed a square
from line of battle in less than twelve seconds, which Gen. Durvee, formerly
Colonel of the 7th NX. Y. Regiment, acknowledged was equal, if not superior.
to anything that could be done by that famous militia regiment.

Soon after the first of May another forward step was taken, and the whole
brigade was moved to Catlett's station, Virginia, to be in position for the forward
movement which it was then contemplated Gen. McDowell should make from
Fredericksburg. While encamped at Catlett's station the regiment was presented
with a magnificent stand of colors, guidons, ete., by Mrs. General James S. Wads-
worth, in recognition of the compliment paid to her gallant husband in the name
of the regiment, “The Wadsworth Guards.” The United States flag, which
formed part of this stand of colors, bearing many a rent and battle stain, was
torn from the staff and destroyed by Corporal James Thompson, one of the color

510
bearers, on the first day of July, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa., to prevent its falling
into the hands of the enemy during the retreat to and through the city on that
day; the State flag, a beautiful silk banner, was borne through safely, and is now
in the archives of the State at the office of the Adjutant General in Albany. On
the 24th day of May the regiment was suddenly detached from the brigade, and
ordered to proceed by rail to Thoroughfare Gap, and join the command of Brig.
Gen. Geary, which arrived at the Gap on the morning of the 26th. In the after-
noon of the same day Gen. Geary, fearing that his brigade was about to be over-
whelmed by the forces of Gen. Jackson, then operating in the Shenandoah Valley,
gave orders to retire hastily to Manassas, and the movement began at once. Gen.
Durvee had prohibited the wagons of the regiment from coming to the Gap, and
as the railroad was abandoned on the forenoon of the 26th, the regiment had
no means of removing its tents, stores and camp equipage, and was forced to
leave everything behind which could not be carried on the persons of the men.
By the personal order of Gen. (seary, such stores, etc., left behind were burned
by a company of the lst Michigan Cavalry, to prevent their falling into the enemy's
hands. Thus, it will be seen that an event which at the time caused many harsh
and unjust reflections on the regiment was one for which neither the regiment
nor any of its officers were in the remotest dgree responsible.

The march to Manassas Junction was long and severe, and, in view of the
fact that several of the companies had been engaged in a reconnoitering expedi-
tion all the forenoon, it is not surprising that everything which could be abandoned
was parted with on the march, and most of the regiment, officers as well as men.
arrived at Manassas with nothing left but the clothing which they wore, and the
arms and accoutrements upon their persons.

On the 28th of May the regiment was again ordered to Catlett's Station.
where it remained for about three weeks as an independent command, picketing
all the adjacent country; Gen. Duryee, returning to Catlett's Station about the
middle of June with the other regiments of the brigade, made some changes in
the camp grounds, removing the 104th to a low, marshy section, which resulted
disastrously to the health of the regiment.

On the 5th of July the brigade moved to Warrenton, and on the 22nd of the
same month to Waterloo, where it was attached to Gen. Pickett’s division of
McDowell's corps.

On the 5th of August Gen. Pope, with his “headquarters in the saddle”
began the famous advance into the heart of the enemy's country. Passing through
Culpepper, the battlefield of Cedar Mountain was reached on the evening of the
9th, too late, however, for the regiment to take any special part in the struggle
of that day. The enemy retiring across the Rapidan, the advance was continued
to that river, where the regiment remained until the 1&th of .\ugust, when began
the retrograde movement, which brought the whole army under Gen. Pope, shat-
tered and dispirited upon the plains of Manassas, within the defences of Wash-
ington.

In the retrograde movement of the army which began about August 18th
the regiment recrossed the Rappahannock River, took a position near the railroad
bridge crossing the stream, and at this point was exposed to a sharp artillery fire.
Leaving there, it was on duty one night as guard to Gen. Pope’s headquarters,
and then proceeded to Thoroughfare Gap, accompanied by the whole of Gen.
Rickett’s division, which was ordered to cease and hold the Gap, but when the

511
advance reached the Gap early in the afternoon of August 28th, the enemy was
found to be already in full possession; indeed, as it afterwards transpired, more
than half of the Rebel army was there confronted by this single division. Keeping
up a bold front until after night-fall, Gen. Rickett began a retreat to Manassas
battlefield, which was reached on the evening of August 29th, after an exhausting
march of about thirty miles. The next day the regiment, being on the left of the
brigade and nearest the enemy, suffered quite severely from a sharp musket-fire
of the enemy concealed in a dense under-growth, losing one officer (Lieut. John
P. Rudd) and a number of the men killed and wounded in a very short time. It
was then ordered to retire behind an embankment and hold its position, which
was successfully done, notwithstanding a fierce attempt to dislodge it. The
brigade of Gen. Durvee, to which the regiment was attached, was moved to a new
position; it remained here until late in the afternoon, when it was compelled to
retreat before the murderous fire of a whole division of the enemy. This retreat
continued with the rest of Pope’s army to Centerville, the regiment having lost
during the day five killed, forty-one wounded and forty-eight missing; most of
the latter were afterward found to have been taken prisoners, although some were
never heard of again, and were undoubtedly killed at the commencement of the
retreat.

A march to Fairfax Court House, a hurried advance to Chantilly on Sept.
1st in a terrific thunderstorm and the retreat to Washington followed. After four
days in the vicinity of Washington and Maryland, a campaign began, of which
the first important event was the battle of South Mountain on the 14th of Sep-
tember. While Reno's attack was progressing in front, Duryee's brigade was
ordered to the extreme right, and charged up the mountain side, the 104th lead-
ing the attack through nettles and tangled underbrush, and over steep and
rugged rocks, with an impetuosity so great that they had gained the crest of the
hill and secured a position on the flank of the enemy almost before it occurred
to the latter that they were in danger of an attack in front, causing a precipitate
retreat of the Rebels from that part of the battlefield.

On the evening of the tenth of September position was taken upon the field
at Antietam, and the men lay down upon their arms for a few hours. At early
dawn the line was formed and the attack began, under the immediate eve of Gen.
Hooker. Gen. Duryee’s Brigade had been designated as reserve the night before,
but now found itself upon the front and without any reserve. Advancing steadily.
in a position absolutely without any shelter, they were met with a terrific storm of
iron and lead, which at last rendered it beyond the power of mortal man to advance
further, and the men lay down for temporary shelter. Twice they were driven sul-
lenly back, but rallying again each time with desperate energy, they again
advanced and held their line until the arrival of reinforcements, about 10 A. M.,
when they were withdrawn. Near the close of the afternoon the severity of the
enemy's cannonade betokened an immediate advance of the Rebel forces, and the
104th, with other regiments, were hurried forward into position to repel the attack.
But none came, and so ended the battle, a drawn game, in what should have been
a great Union victory had the other corps carried out their orders with the punc-
tuality and vigor which characterized the attack of Hooker’s Corps. The loss in
this engagement was killed 9, wounded 67.

To this period of marches and battles succeeded the inactivity of camp life at
Mercersville, Md., until the 26th of October, when another forward movement

512
began, and crossing again into Virginia, the 7th of December found the regiment
on the banks of the Rappahannock River, a few miles below Fredericksburg.
During these marches Gen. McClellan had been relieved from, and Gen. Burnside
placed in command of the army; Major Gen. John F. Reynolds was now Corps
Commander; Brig. Gen. John Gibbon was in command of the Division, and Col.
A. R. Root of the 94th N. Y. V. of the brigade, while Col. Prey had succeeded
Major Skinner in the command of the regiment.

Crossing the river on the 12th, the regiment went into action below Fred-
ericksburg on the 13th of December. The brigade, having been in reserve, was
ordered to drive the enemy out of a sunken railroad track, which they did by a gal-
lant bayonet charge, capturing about 200 prisoners and driving the Rebels far into
the woods beyond. Coolly reforming the regimental line, which had been broken
by the impetuosity of the assault, the regiment moved to the right of the brig-
ade and there held its position till ordered to retire, which was done slowly and
in good order, removing all wounded.

The loss of the regiment at Fredericksburg was, killed 5, wounded +5, miss-
ing 3, of which latter number 2 were afterward ascertained to have been killed.

During the night of the 14th of December the army was silently withdrawn to
the north bank of the river, and after a few days of waiting in temporary camps,
the division of which the regiment formed part was sent into winter quarters near
Belle Plain, Virginia, where it remained until about the Ist of May following, the
quiet of the winter being only once interrupted by that episode, known ever since
as “Burnside’s Mud March,” which took place on the 20th day of January, 1863.

On the 28th of April the regiment left winter quarters and soon arrived at
almost precisely the same point on the Rappahannock River where it crossed
before the battle of Fredericksburg, and there a part of the first corps was thrown
across the river under the command of Gen. Wadsworth, while the rest of the
corps, including this regiment, remained in reserve upon the north bank until the
forenoon of May 2d, when the whole corps was dispatched to reinforce the portion
of the army under Gen. Hooker, who was then in position at Chancellorsville, leav-
ing Gen. Sedgwick with the sixth corps at Fredericksburg. Just as the men had
gone into bivouac, after crossing the river at United States Ford, there came a
sudden order to move at once and rapidly to the front, still a couple miles distant,
and as they went forward through the gloom and dusk of evening they learned of
the disaster which had occurred to the eleventh corps and its precipitate and
inglorious retreat. The ground which had been lost was gradually retaken from
the Rebels who, dispirited by the loss of Jackson, had fallen back. On the early
morning of May Sth the river was recrossed, and the march continued toward
Fredericksburg. Again the regiment went into camp near the bank of the river
at White Oak Church, and remained there until the middle of June, when the
movement began that culminated in Gettysburg.

Nothing noteworthy occurred with reference to the march of the regiment,
until the order came on the 28th of June, anonuncing that Gen. Meade had relieved
Hooker, and was in command of the army. At this time the regiment had crossed
the Potomac, arriving at Frederick City, Maryland, on the evening of the 29th,
and pressed on from there to Gettysburg, where it arrived in the early morning of
July Ist. Buford’s cavalry command was already engaged with the enemy at some
distance beyond Seminary Ridge, and the several divisions of the corps—Wads-

513
worth’s leading—were hurried forward to his support. But with almost the first
dash of the infantry forces occurred the great disaster of the day—the death of
Gen. Reynolds, the corps commander. It is doubtful, whether, even if he had been
spared to direct the battle of the first day, if it would have resulted differently in
its main features, as the disparity in the forces so rapidly increased, that by the
middle of the afternoon the Union army was outnumbered almost three to one.
With the persistence and tenacity worthy of all praise, the first corps clung to the
line of Seminary Ridge, prolonging the line of battle toward the right by utilizing
all the reserve, until at last the whole corps was in one line of battle, the 104th
being upon the extreme right and resting upon the Mummasburgh Pike, at some
distance beyond which were deployed two divisions of the eleventh corps. All
along the line of Seminary Ridge, from ten o'clock in the forenoon until after four
o’clock in the afternoon, waged a hotly contested battle; our forces bravely holding
their own, and the heavy reinforcements enabling the enemy to obtain closer and
better positions.

A list of Nunda prisoners belonging to the 104th Regiment, Company A of
this squad of 14, only + survived the terrible ordeal. Just one of the 14 is living,
and while he can tell the story he cannot hear a word spoken to him. The men
were Lieutenant Edwin A. Tuthill, who died 1867; James L. Toms, the only one
now living; Jimmie Johnson, who ended his too eventful life on a railroad track,
and John Hays. ;

These four survived the prison pen. The others were, Corporal Lewis Sut-
ton, William Smith, Oliver Smith, Daniel White, Edward Keene (of Pike),
Stephen P. Havens, James Green, James L. Thompson, Lucian Carpenter, and
Hiram Passage The last was an adopted son of Daniel Passage, who built the
Sanitarium. This-curly-headed boy was the life of the company. He played the
bones to perfection, and was so full of pranks that it was hard to think of him with
all his fund of joy when at last conquered by starvation he could no longer cheer
up his comrades in tribulation. He had re-enlisted for he was a genuine patriot.
He was captured at the Weldon R. R., Va., and died as Salisbury Prison, N. C.
‘Lo show the spirit of the boy, on one occasion when Stonewall Jackson had been
silencing one of the I*ederal batteries, a peal of thunder shook the earth; “There,
Stonewall,” exclaimed Hiram, “is a battery you can't silence’. Ten of the very
best of Company A’s strong valiant men were reduced to weaklings, and then they
perished from the earth. Little do the present generation realize what the one sur-
vivor of this unfortunate group of heroes suffered from hunger, from impure
air, and water so vile that it is wonderful that any one could survive with these
conditions for a single month, yet some of these were captured at Gettysburg
in 1863—a place less a charnel house of death than the prison pens of Salis-
bury and Andersonville.

 

514
ROSTER OF COMPANY A, 104th REGIMENT NEW YORK INFANTRY

Austin, Silas, age 18. Enlisted from Nunda, to serve three years; mustered
in as private Co. A, Jan. 4. 1862; wounded in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg,
Pa.; absent in the hospital at muster out of company.

Barber, Charles, age 35. Enlisted from Nunda, at Geneseo, to serve three
years and mustered in as private Co. .\, October 8, 1861, wounded in action, May
12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va.; discharged Oct., 1864.

Bishop, Eugene H., age 26. Enlisted from Nunda, at Geneseo, to serve three
years and mustered in as private Co. A, Oct. 12, 1861; discharged for disability
Dec. 31, 1862.

Black, James, age +2. Enlisted fron Nunda, at Geneseo, to serve three years
and mustered in as private, Co. A, Nov. 4+. 1861, discharged for disability July
1, 1862.

Britton, George W., age 18. Enlisted from Portage, at Geneseo, to serve three
years; mustered into Co. A Nov. 16, 1861, discharged for disability Dec. 31, 1862.
Re-enlisted in the 9th N. Y. H. A. He died in Washington, March 1, 1865.

Brown, William, age 42. Enlisted from Nunda, at Geneseo, private of Co. A,
discharged Oct. 24, 1864, at Elmira, N. Y.

Burdick, Abram, age 19. Enlisted from Nunda, at Geneseo, as private, Co.
A, Oct. 19, 1861, discharged for disability Aug. 4, 1862. Re-enlisted in First
Veteran Cavalry, and died of wounds.

Bush, Edwin, age 24+. Enlisted from Nunda, at Geneseo, as private, Co. A.
Sept. 30, 1861, discharged for disability April 20, 1864, at Washington, D. C.
Died at Nunda (about) 1895.

Cameron, John, age 28. Enlisted at Poughkeepsie, private, Co. A; mustered
out with company July 17, 1865, near Washington, D. C.

Carpenter, Abram D., age 19. Enlisted from Nunda, at Geneseo, to serve
three vears; mustered as private, Co. A, Oct. 28, 1861, re-enlisted as a veteran
Jan. 4, 1864; killed in action May 8, 1864, at Laurel Hill, Va.

Carpenter, Charles H., age 21. Enlisted from Nunda, at Geneseo, and mus-
tered in as private, Co. A, Oct. 26, 1861, re-enlisted as a veteran Jan. 4+, 1864,
mustered out with company.

Cain, William C., age 18. Enlisted from Nunda, Sept. 30, 1861, discharged
for disability, Dec. 31, 1862.

Carpenter, Lucian, age 22. Enlisted from Nunda, at Geneseo, Oct. 26, 1861;
mustered in as private, Co. A, captured in action, July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa. ;
paroled from prison, died of disease resulting from imprisonment, at Camp Parole,
Annapolis, Md., Dec. 9, 1863. There were five Carpenter brothers in the war:
Martin, William, Lucian, Charles H. and Abram. William and Charles are still
living.

Chizlett, William G., age 19. Enlisted from Nunda, at Geneseo, mustered in
as private, Co. A, Oct. 12, 1861, wounded in action Aug. 30, 1862, at Manassas,
Va. and Dec. 13. 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va.; died of wounds Jan. 17, 1863.
Buried at Nunda.

Clark, Cicero C., age 19. Enlisted from Grove, at Geneseo, Sept. 30, 1861,
died of disease, June 30, 1862, at Washington, D. Cc.

Clark, Ephraim W., age 22. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as private, Co.
A, Nov. 4, 1861, honorably discharged July 15, 1865, at Fort Delaware, Delaware.

515
a

Clark, Octavius M., age 20. Enlisted from Grove; mustered as private of Co.
A Sept. 30, 1861; wounded in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.; captured in
action, Aug. 19, 1864, at Weldon R. R., Va. Died in prison, Feb. 9, 1865, at Sal-
isbury, N. C.

Cleveland, Albert H., age 23. Enlisted from Grove, Oct. 17, 1861, as private,
Co. A, promoted sergeant, Nov. 4, 1861; discharged for disability July 4, 1862.

Resides Belvidere, Ill.

Collins, Thomas, age 18. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as private, Co. A,
Jan. 1, 1862; mustered out with company July 17, 1865.

Craft, Benjamin S., age 28. Enlisted at Onondaga; mustered out with com-
pany. i

Craft, Nelson, age 21. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as private, Co. A,
Sept. 30, 1861, promoted corporal, re-enlisted as a veteran Feb. 28, 1864, promoted
First Sergeant July 1, 1864; mustered out with company, July 17, 1865.

Crawford, Charles N., age 21. Enlisted from Nunda and mustered as private
in Co. A Nov. 4, 1861, wounded in action Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam, Md., died
of his wounds, Oct. 27, 1862.

Curtis, Thomas J., age 23. Enlisted from Nunda, mustered as private, Co.
A, Oct. 1, 1861, promoted corporal Nov. 4, 1861, Sergeant July 4, 1861; wounded
in action Sept. 17, 1862, Antietam Md.; promoted First Sergeant, Jan. 13, 1863,
killed in action, July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.

Davis, William L., age 22. Enlisted from Portage, to serve three years;
mustered in as private, Co. A, Oct. 1, 1861; killed in action at Gettysburg, July
1, 1863.

Fancher, Andrew J., age 25. Enlisted at Geneseo; mustered as private, Co.
A, Nov. 14, 1861, discharged for disability, Dec. 1, 1862.

Fancher, Edger, age 19. Enlisted at Geneseo to serve three years, mustered
as private, Co. A, Oct. 22, 1861, wounded July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, promoted
corporal prior to Dec. 1863, wounded in action, May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania,
Va., returned to ranks July 1, 1864, discharged Dec. 21, 1864, at Elmira.

Fitzgerald, Michael, age 43. Enlisted at Batavia, to serve three years;
mustered in as private, Co. A, Aug. 9, 1864; mustered out with company.

Flint, George W., age 33. Enlisted from Nunda as private of Co. A; dis-
charged for disability, Sept. 3, 1862 at Alexandria, Va. (was sick for years at his
home in Portage, and died in 1868), previous service in Mexican War. He is
buried at Hunts Hollow.

Foble, Henry, age 23. Enlisted at Batavia; mustered as private, Co. A, mus-
tered out with company.

Foland, Abram, age 24. Enlisted from Grove, mustered as private, Co. A,
discharged for disability, March 1, 1863, at Belle Plains, Va.

Gould, Patrick, age 30. Enlisted from Nunda Sept. 30, 1861, transferred to
Veteran Reserve Corps, Feb. 18, 1864.

Graham, George H., age 29. Enlisted from Portage, Oct. 26, 1861, promoted
corporal, April 12, 1862, discharged for disability, Dec. 18, 1862; transferred to
Veteran Reserve Corps, Sept. 12, 1864, died at Boston Harbor, Dec. 8, 1864.

Gearhard, Nathaniel A., age 19. Enlisted from Portage ; mustered as private,
Co. A, Sept. 30, 1861, promoted sergeant, July 1, 1862, wounded in action, July
1, 1863, at Gettysburg: discharged for wounds, Oct. 12, 1864, died 1905. (Was
County Clerk of Livingston Co.)

516
Gibson, Sullivan W., age 18. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as private, Co.
A, Oct. 17, 1861, discharged at Wyoming, N. Y. May 24, 1862, died at Wyoming,
N. Y. 1862.

Green, James, age 18. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as private, Co. A,
Jan. 15, 1862; captured in action, July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg; died in prison,
Jan. 24, 1864, at Richmond, Va.

Havens, Stephen P. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as private, Co. A;
taken prisoner at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, and died in captivity at Salisbury,

N.C.

Hall, Charles, age 30. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as private, Co. A,
Sept. 30, 1861; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, Nov. 1, 1863.

Hampton, George N., age 22. Enlisted from Mt. Morris; mustered as pri-
vate, Co. A, Oct. 26, 1861, wounded in action, Aug. 30, 1862, at Manassas, Va.,
absent in hospital at time of muster out of company.

Held, Louis S., age 18. Enlisted at Poughkeepsie, assigned to Co. A; mus-
tered out with detachment, June 1, 1865.

Herring, Henry, age 18. Enlisted Geneseo; mustered as private, Co. A, Nov.
12, 1861; in hospital since Aug. 8, 1862, to muster out of regiment.

Hill, DeWitt C., age 22. Enlisted at Buffalo, Aug. 8, 1863; discharged June
8, 1865, at Elmira, N. Y.

Hinman, Alexander, age 27. Enlisted from Portage; mustered as private,
Co. A, Nov. 8, 1861; discharged Nov. 9, 1864. Resides at Canaseraga.

Hinman, Edwin, age 21. Enlisted from Portage: mustered as private, Co.
A, Sept. 30, 1861; captured and paroled; deserted Oct. 15, 1862, from Camp
Chase, Ohio, while a paroled prisoner.

Hoffman, Peter, age 19. Enlisted at Geneseo; mustered Oct. 12, 1861, as
private, Co. A, discharged for disability, Dec. 31, 1862.

Howland, James, age 21. Enlisted at Royalton, Aug. 8, 1864; mustered out
with company, July 17, 1865.

Hunter, William, age 30. Enlisted at Eagle, Aug. 9, 1864; discharged Aug.
28, 1865, at Washington, D. C.

Hurd, Marcus, age 20. Enlisted from Nunda, Nov. 29, 1861, wounded in
action Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam, Md.; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps,
Feb. 10, 1864. Resides at Warsaw, N. Y.

Jarvis, John R., age 22. Enrolled at Buffalo; mustered as private, Co. A,
Aug. 5, 1863, as First Lieutenant, Co. K, June 3, 1864; captured Aug. 19, 1864
at Weldon R. R., Va.; paroled Feb. 1865; mustered out with the regiment.

Johnson, James, age 19. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as private, Co.
A, Oct. 12, 1861; captured in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg; released May 1,
1865, at Sisters Ferry, Ga.; discharged June 30, 1865, at New York City. He
re-enlisted and was sent to Texas.

Johnson, William, age 21. Enlisted March 18, 1862, at Butfalo; discharged

from General Hospital, May 31, 1865.

Jones, Paul, age 38. Enlisted Oswego, assigned to Co. A; discharged for
disability, Nov. 25, 1863.

Keene, William E., age 25. Enlisted from Nunda, to serve three years;
mustered as a private, Oct. 2, 1861; captured in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg ;
died at Richmond, Va. in the hospital of prison, Feb. 21, 1864.

Kelly, Michael, age 28. Enlisted from Nunda, Aug. 5, 1863, private, Co. A;

mustered out with company, died in Egypt, Africa.
517
Knight, Needhan C., age 21. Enlisted from Nunda, to serve three years;
mustered as private, Co. G, Feb. 8, 1862; discharged Feb. 14, 1865, near Peters-
burg, Va., died Aug. 13, 1870, at Nunda.

Lowell, Carlos G., age 21. Enlisted from near Dalton, to serve three years;
mustered as private, Co. A, Sept. 30, 1861; discharged for disability, Dec. 31,
1862, became a Methodist clergyman, and died at Angelica, 1905.

Magee, Theodore. Enlisted from Nunda as a veteran of the 27th N. Y.,
was one of eight original members; mustered out with regiment.

Magee, William, age 19. Enlisted from Nunda to serve three years; mus-
tered as private, Co. A, Sept. 30, 1861; wounded in action July 1, 1863, at Gettys-
burg, Pa.; discharged Oct. 21, 1864, at Elmira, N. Y.; died at Oneida, Kansas,
April, 1904.

Magee, Philander. Joined company, but was transferred to 14th N. Y. H. A.

Magee, Marvin, was also transferred to the 14th N. Y. H. A.

Resides at Guy's Mills, Wis.

Mack, George W., age 20. Enlisted from Nunda, to serve three years; mus-
tered as private, Co. A, Dec. 27, 1861; wounded in action Dec. 17, 1862, at An-
tietam, Md.; re-enlisted as a veteran, Jan. 4, 1864, promoted corporal Oct. 1,
1864; mustered out with company July 16, 1865.

Macken, James, age 19. Enlisted from Nunda to serve three years ; mustered
as private, Nov. 7, 1861; discharged for disability Sept. 24, 1862, at Alexandria,
Va.; re-enlisted in Second Veteran Cavalry, and died in service, Feb. 1, 1864.
Buried at Chautauqua Hollow.

Mayhew, Philetus, age 18. Enlisted from Nunda, Sept. 30, 1861; discharged
for disability March 18, 1863, at Elmira, N. Y.

MeGlenn, William, age 28. Enlisted at Niagara; mustered as private, Co. A,
captured May 21, 1864, while on picket near Spottsylvania, released April 21,
1865; discharged June 21, 1865, at New York City.

McDonald, John E., age 31. Enlisted July 28, 1863, at Niagara; discharged
to enlist in the U.S. Navy, April 21, 1864, at Nicholds Station.

AMerithew, Francis N., age 16. Enlisted from Portage, or Grove, to serve
three vears; mustered as private, Co. A, Nov. 4+. 1861; died of disease Nov. 12,
1862, at Gainsville.

Parkins, Henry, age 25. Enlisted at Geneseo, Dec. 9, 1861; discharged for
disability, Dec. 9, 1862.

Parsons, Erastus C., age 30. Mustered as private, Co. A, Dec. 9, 1863; died
of inflamation of the lungs, Dec. 19, 1861, at Batavia, N. Y.

Passage, Hiram, age 19. Enlisted from Nunda as private, Co. A, Oct. 12.
1861; re-enlisted as a veteran, Jan. +, 1864+: wounded in action May 12, 1864, at
Spottsylvania, Va.; captured Aug. 19, 1864, at Weldon R. R., Va., and died in
Salisbury Prison, N. C.

Patterson, Lucian C., age 34. Enlisted at Geneseo, Dec. 26, 1861 ; discharged
for disability, Dec. 31, 1862.

Paterson, Obed, age 18. Enlisted from Geneseo Nov. 13, 1861, discharged
with detachment Feb. 25, 1862.

Payne, William, age 21. Enlisted at Royalton, Aug. &, 1864; discharged
Aug. 28, 1865, at Elmira, N.Y.

Piper, John W., age 21. Enlisted from Nunda, to serve three years ; mustered.
as private Jan. 15, 1862; discharged for disability March 18, 1863.

518
Pitt, George, age 22. Enlisted at Rochester; mustered as private Aug. 5,
1863; captured in action Aug. 19, 1864, Weldon R. R., Va.; paroled (no date) ;
mustered out with company July 17, 1865.

Pratt, David, age 36. Enlisted at Nunda and mustered as private, Co. A,
Nov. 11, 1861; discharged for disability Dec. 15, 1862; buried at Nunda, 1876.

Prentice, Orville ]., age 27 Enlisted at Nunda as private Dec. 30, 1861;
discharged for disability Dec. 31, 1862; buried at East Hill 1888.

Preston, William, age 21. Enlisted from Dansville, and mustered as private,
Co. K, Feb. 25, 1862; transferred to Co. E March 7, 1862; discharged for disability
June 21, 1862, at Falls Church, Va. Resides in Nunda.

Rowell, George, age +2. Enlisted from Portage Nov. 2, 1861; wounded in
action Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam, Md.; discharged for disability Dec. 13, 1862.
Subsequent service in First Veteran Cavalry; died in 1898.

Ruddick, John, age 35. Enlisted at Buffalo, to serve three years; mustered
as private Aug. 15, 1863; killed in action May 10, 1864, at Laurel Hill, Va.

Ruscoe, Albert. age 22. Enlisted at Le Roy to serve three years; mustered
as private, Co. H, Aug. 10, 1864; died of disease Nov. 6, 1864, near Peters-
burg, Va.

Russell, Franklin A., age 21. Enlisted from Nunda to serve three years;
mustered as private, Co. A, Oct. 16, 1861. The history of Liv. County says, Frank
A. Russell, Co. A, died at his home in Nunda, from wounds received in the service,
date unknown.

Satterlee, George, age 19. Enlisted from Nunda, and mustered as private of
Co. A, Oct. 12, 1861; promoted First Sergeant, July 2, 1863; re-enlisted as a
veteran, Jan. +, 1864; captured in action, Aug. 19, 1864, at Weldon R. R., Va.;
died while a prisoner Jan. 20, 1865, at Salisbury, N. C.

Satterlee, John S., age 22. Enlisted from Nunda to serve three years; mus-
tered as corporal, Co. A, Oct. 12, 1861; promoted sergeant prior to April, 1863,
first sergeant July 2, 1863; re-enlisted as veteran, Jan. +, 1864; killed in action
May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va.

Simpson, Cornelius. Alustered in as First Lieutenant, Co. A, Jan. 21, 1864;
captured in action Aug. 19, 1864; paroled Feb. 1865; mustered as captain May 25,
1865; mustered out July 17, 1865.

Skinner, Alfred W., age 33. Enlisted from Nunda village; mustered as ser-
geant, Co. A, Sept. 30, 1861, returned to ranks; discharged for disability, July
4, 1862, died at Nunda.

Skinner, Louis C., age 28. Enrolled at Geneseo as First Lieutenant, Co. A,
Sept. 30, 1861, as Major, March 15, 1862, discharged Oct. 21, 1862 at Mercers-
ville, Md. Commissioned First Lieutenant March 17, 1862, with rank from
Sept. 30, 1861, original; Major March 17, 1862, with rank from Sept. 30, 1861;
Lientenant Colonel, not mustered, Oct. 21, 1862, with rank from Sept. 11, 1862,
Colonel not mustered, Nov. 2+, 1862 with rank from Oct. 21, 1862. Vice Colonel
Rorback, honorably discharged.

Smith, Homer A., age 21. Enlisted from Dalton; mustered as private, Co.
B, Nov. 18, 1861; wounded in action, Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam, Md.; re-enlisted
as a veteran Feb. 28, 1864, promoted corporal June 1, 1865: mustered out with
company July 17, 1865.

Spencer, John, age 28. Enlisted at Lockport, private, Co. A; mustered out

with regiment.
519
Steele, Joseph, age 43. Enlisted from Java to serve three years; mustered
as private, Co. A, Oct. 22, 1861; discharged for disability Dec. 22, 1862.

Steele, Walter (son of Joseph), age 18. Enlisted from Java; mustered as
private, Co. A, Oct. 8, 1861; wounded in action Sept. 17, 1862 at Antietam, Md.;
missing in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg; returned to duty Feb. 17, 1864; dis-
charged Oct. 31, 1864.

Stewart, John P., age 22. Enlisted July 28, 1863, at Niagara; mustered as
private, Co. A, Aug. 14, 1863; discharged June 14, 1865.

Stryker, George, age 18. Enlisted at Geneseo in Co. A, Oct. 22, 1861;
wounded Aug. 30, 1862, at Manassas, Va.; re-enlisted Jan. 4, 1862; promoted
corporal; wounded July 29, 1864; discharged for wounds April 30, 1865, at hos-
pital, Buffalo, N. Y.

Sutton, Lewis, age 24. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as corporal, Co. A,
Sept. 30, 1861; captured in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg; died Dec. 31, 1863,
at Richmond, Va.

Smith, Oliver, age 36. Enlisted from Nunda as private, Co. A, Oct. 15,
1861; captured in action July 1, 1863, (with thirteen others including Capt. Tut-
hill and James Toms) at Gettysburg: perished in prison.

Smith, William E., age 19. Enlisted from Nunda to serve three years and
mustered as private, Co. A, Nov. 30, 1861; wounded in action Sept. 17, 1862, at
Antietam, Md.; captured in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.; died April 13,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.

Snyder, George W., age 36. Enlisted from Nunda, to serve three years;
mustered as private, Co. A, Sept. 30, 1861; discharged for disability, Aug. 9, 1862,
died at Nunda.

Tadder, David E., age 24. Enlisted from Portage Dec. 4, 1861; lost an eye
im action; discharged for disability Feb. 5, 1863, died in Granger 1903.

Thomas, George. Enlisted Oct. 8, 1861 as corporal, Co. A; re-enlisted and
mustered out with company.

Thomas, William, age 20. Enlisted at Geneseo; mustered as corporal, Co. A,
wounded in action, Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam; discharged Oct. 31, 1864.

Thompson, Cordemas S., age 19. Enlisted from Dalton in Co. A, Sept. 30,
1861; killed in action, Dec. 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg, Va.

Thompson, James L., private, Co. A, from Dalton, promoted corporal Oct.
1862; captured in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg; died Feb. 16 in captivity at
Richmond, Va.

Toms, James L., age 26. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as corporal, Co. A,
Sept. 30, 1861; captured July 1, 1863, was a prisoner until Sept. 30, 1864, only
four of the fourteen captured reached home, and one of these died in a few days,
Mr. Toms is the only survivor.

Turner, Charles H., age 18. Enlisted from Nunda and mustered as pri-
vate, Company F, Jan. 29, 1862; died at Nunda, July, 1862.

Tuthill, Edwin A., age 24. Enlisted in Nunda and mustered as private, Co.
A, Sept. 30, 1861; promoted sergeant Nov. 4, 1861; First Sergeant, April 12,
1862; mustered in as Second Lieutenant, Co. D, Sept. 12, 1862; captured in action,
July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa., paroled Nov. 1864; mustered in as Captain, Co.
K, June 10, 1865; mustered out with company July 17, 1865, near Washington,
D. C. (one of the eight who served to the end of the war) commissioned Second
Lieutenant, Oct. 21, 1862, with rank from Sept. 12, 1862, Captain May 31, 1865,
with rank from May 22, 1865. 520
Tuthill, Henry G., age 28. Enrolled from Nunda at Geneseo; mustered as
Captain, Co. A, Sept. 30, 1861; wounded in action Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam,
Md., mustered in as Lieutenant, Colonel, Nov. 27, 1862, discharged for disability,
Nov. 7, 1863 from wounds received July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa., commissioned
Captain March 17, 1862, with rank from Sept. 30, 1861, (original), Lieutenant
Colonel, Dec. 3, 1862, with rank from Oct. 21, 1862, Vice G. G. Prey promoted.

Weed, Reuben R., age 33. Enlisted from Grove; mustered in as First Ser-
geant, Co. A, Sept. 30, 1861, as Second Lieutenant, April 14, 1862; as First Lieu-
tenant, Oct. 21, 1862, missing in action from July 1, 1863 to Dec. 1863, dismissed
Dec. 20, 1863, by Gen. court martial (for accepting parole contrary to instruction).
Commissioned Second Lieutenant April 19, 1862 with rank from April 14, Vice
R. S. Rogers declined, First Lieutenant Dec. 3, 1862, Vice A. S. Haver promoted.

Westbrook, George, age 20. Enlisted from Portage as private, Co. A, Nov.
29, 1861, wounded in action Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam, discharged for wounds
Dec. 9, 1862, at Washington, D. C. Resides Warsaw, N. Y.

Westbrook, John, age 19. Mustered as private, Co. A, Oct. 25, 1861, wounded
in action Sept. 17, 1862, discharged for wounds at Elmira in 1863.

Whipple, Edgar J., age 18. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered in as private, Co.
A, Oct. 17, 1861; wounded in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.; re-enlisted
as a veteran Jan. +, 1864, promoted corporal, July 1, 1864, Sergeant, Dec. 1, 1864;
discharged July 28, 1865, at Elmira, N. Y. Resides in Saginaw.

Williams, John, age 18. Enlisted at Poughkeepsie, Aug. 20, 1864; mustered
out with Company A, July 17, 1865.

Wilner, Malcom G., age 35. Enlisted from Portage, Feb. 25, 1862, Co. F,
missing in action Aug. 30, 1862.

Wood, Emery M. and Henry Wood, of Portageville, Co. F, both died of
disease. Brought home for burial.

White, Daniel, age 31. Enlisted from Dalton to serve three years ; mustered
as corporal, Co. A, Sept. 30, 1861; captured in action, July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg,
died in prison.

White, Elijah, Jr., age 36. Enlisted as private, Co. A, from White Settle-
ment, Sept. 30, 1861, captured Nov. 7, 1862, paroled, no date, discharged Nov. 21,
1864, at Washington, died after reaching home.

Wilcox, Edwin, age 45. Enlisted from Nunda; mustered as Wagoner, Co.
A, Sept. 30, 1861, promoted Hospital Steward, March 5, 1862; discharged Sept.
30, 1864.

Woodruff, William, age 18. Mustered as private, Co. H, Dee. 10, 1861;
killed in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg.

Woolworth, LaFayette, age 31. Enlisted from Ossian in Co. kK, afterward Co.
E, March 7, 1862, discharged for disability June 16, 1862, at Washington, D. C.,
died at home at Ossian.

Wright, John A., age 29. Enlisted from Nunda, mustered as a private of Co.
A Sept. 30, 1861, at Geneseo; discharged for disability Aug. 18, 1862, at Wash-
ington, D. C. At Soldiers Home, Marshalville, Iowa.

Wright, Samuel L., age 43. Enlisted from Nunda, mustered in as musician,

Co. A, Sept. 30, 1861; discharged Sept. 30, 1864, died at Soldiers Home, Bath.
Young, William N. of Grove, age 33. Mustered Nov. 2, 1861, as private, Co.

A, at Geneseo; wounded in action Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam, Md.; transferred
to Veteran Reserve Corps, Oct. 1, 1863. Resides at Pike.

521
 

SurGceon B. T. KNEELAND,
Brig., Lt. Col.and Col.1st N. Y. Dragoons

Carr. J. N. Fiint

 

 

Mrs. Manpana Major THORP Cox. and BreveT Bric. Gen. Tuomas J. Tuorpr.
COMPANY I, 130th REGIMENT N. Y. INFANTRY, AFTERWARD THE
Ist N. Y. DRAGOONS, OR 19th CAVALRY—THE THIRD
COMPANY FROM NUNDA

This regiment won the enviable distinction because of its long list of casual-
ties, of being placed among the “Three Hundred lighting Regiments’ of the State
and Nation, not that these three hundred did all of the fighting but the number of
deaths from these regiments was greater than from others. It is true they had
more men to lose from, as the Cavalry Regiments were frequently furnished with
recruits and kept up to the maximum regimental strength. Many of the recruits,
however, came into the service so late that they were not of much value. Those
who were with the regiment from the first until the very last were the ones who
were exposed to innumerable perils, and it is almost miraculous that any one not
on detached service could go through so many perils and live to tell the story of
his dangers.” At the annual reunions of this regiment thousands of people have
lieard the enthusiastic survivors tell their entire story of the three years, from
the many deaths in the swamp lands of Suffock that proved more disastrous than
any one battle, to their last battle at Five Forks. It is best to tell what others
have told of them for that is sufficient to prove alike the valor and the services
of this regiment under its valorous Commanders, Col. Alfred Gibbs (a West
Point Regular Arm, Officer), and Brevet Major General of U.S. A.; and Col.
Thomas J. Thorp, Brevet Brigadier U. S. Vols. William F. Fox, whose history
of all the regiments is reliable, has given us this record of the Ist New York
Dragoons, Merritts’ Brigade—Torberts’ Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the
Potomac: Total enrollment, field and staff, 16; line officers, 30; enlisted men,
1,368 ; total 1,414.

The casualties in the entire regiment were as follows: Officers killed, 4;
enlisted men killed, 126; total 130. Officers died, 1; men died of disease and in
prison, 130; total 131. Grand total 5 officers, 256 enlisted men. Besides this,
including the wounded 461, died in Confederate prisons previously included 33.

As Nunda furnished one company, we give the record of Co. I, commanded
from start to finish by Captain Jas. Lemen (Breveted Maj. and Lieut. Col) :
Officer killed, 1; men, 13: died of disease, 20; total 34; number of men, 151.
Cavalry unlike infantry have many more skirmishes than battles, they dash in and
come out again frequently without loss but many times with casualties.

The number of recognized battles in which this regiment engaged, as given
by Col. Fox is: Deserted House, Va., 7; Suffolk, \V'a., 3; Black Water, Va., 2:
Manassas Plains, Va., 3; Todds Tavern, Va., 31: Spotsylvania, Va., 2: Yellow
Tavern, \a., 2) Hungary, Va. 2: Old Church, Va., 2: Cold Harbor, Va, 14+;
Trevillian Station. Va., 26; White Post, \a.,7;Shepardstown, 3: Smithsfield, Va.,
4; Opequon, Va., +; Fisher’s Hill, Va., 1; Newmarket, Va., 3: Port Republic, 1;
Newton, 5; Cedar Creek, 2; Loudon Valley, 1; Petersburg, 4; Five Forks, 1;
total 128.

Notes by Col. Fox. Organized at Portage, N. Y., as the 130th New York
Inf. and served as such at Suffolk. Va., and in Keyes’ Peninsula campaign. On
July 28th, 1863, it was transferred to the mounted service unler the designation
of the First New York Dragoons. Col. Gibbs. who belonged to the U. S. Cavalry
service, drilled the men in their new duties, and on the night of October 17th,
1863, the dragoons made their first fight as such at Manassas Pass. The regi-

523
 

 

C. L. CubDeBec
Co. F, N. Y. Dragoons
Pension Attorney

 

S. S Morris
Com. Sergt. Co. I, Dragoons

 

 

 

 

 

Capt. JaMEs LEMEN Henry GREENFIELD
First N. Y. Dragoons First N. Y. Dragoons
ment started on Grant's campaign of 1864, with about four hundred carbines,
and in the wilderness (at Todds Tavern), having dismounted, made a desperate
fight, sustaining the heaviest losses of any Cavalry Regiment in any one action
during the war: its casualties in the wilderness amounted to 20 killed, 36 wounded,
and 35 missing. At Cold Harbor, the weary troopers were sleeping on the ground,
bridle rein in hand, when they were awakened and ordered into the breastworks,
which they gallantly defended, while their band played gaily during the entire
fight. At Trevillian Station the remnant of the Dragoons were actively engaged,
their casualties in that action amounted to 16 killed 61 wounded, and 8 missing.
After fighting under Sheridan in his famous Shenandoah campaign, and sharing

the glories of the final scenes at Appomattox, the regiment was mustered out June
30th, 1865.

The Dragoons ranked high in the estimation of its various brigade and divi-
sion generals as a regiment of superior discipline and efficiency. During all its
mounted service the regiment was in the First Cavalry Division, Army of the
Potomac.

High Praise for the Dragoons, by Baj. Gen. Thomas C. Devin

I know the first New York Dragoons. They have served under me on a score
of battlefields, and to them is mainly due the results of many a hard fought fight.
I earnestly trust that the authorities of their Native State will reward these gal-
lant men who have bourne the flag of that state in triumph wherever duty called
or honor was to be won.

Tuom.s C. Devin,
Major General Commanding.

Another Endorsement by Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh
There has been no better nor more distinguished regiment in this war than
the Ist New York Dragoons, serving under my command during the final tri-
umphant campaign and suffering with most exemplary cheerfulness. In gallantry
and dicipline it is unsurpassed and deserves the highest rewards that the Nation

and State can bestow.
Cuarces L. FirzuHuci,

Brigadier General Commanding

COMPANY I, 130th REGIMENT N. Y.. VOLUNTEERS

The third company from Nunda raised by Capt. James Lemen again called
out the best men. The very young and enthusiastic enlisted in the 33d. More
of the sedate and middle aged men were in the 104th and now again, the call
having come for 300,000 more, all classes promptly responded. The rendezvous
was at Camp Williams near Portage Station, and hundreds of people daily
repaired to Camp Williams to see their soldier boys as often as possible before
they departed for the front. Every day was a picnic, and the excellent fare the
government furnished, supplemented by the gifts of kindred and guests, made the
place one of perpetual interest to those who took their lessons in military life as
recruits or embryo soldiers, for no man is a real soldier until he has been in the
service at least six months, then he begins to know what he is there for, and that
his obedience to commands, measures his worth as a patriot and soldier.

The history of the regiment has been so well written by one of its most com-
petent and zealous members, Rev. James R. Bowen, that had the other regiments
had the story of their military career told as lucidly and as minutely there would

525
be no need of this Patriotic History of Nunda. It is Nunda Soldiers in general
and Nunda Patriotism that needs an indelible impress, hence, a// who served their
country must be included, without partiality and without invidious distinction.
Every company had its long list or heroes, and a few poltroons, always a few, not
as loyal and brave as they thought themselves to be, when they enlisted. To err
is human; to fear, in time of imminent danger, is natural; to have pride enough
to do one’s duty when death haunts the spot is not given in large measure to all.
But for this abundant American pride, at least half of the soldiers would have
shirked duty, and shunned danger, and counted “absense of body” several degrees
better, than presence of mind. It is history that six per cent. of the army was
accused of desertion, it is, however, doubtful history. Many of the missing are
counted as deserters who were captured and imprisoned, and others so marked
were killed. Four per cent. (a few bounty jumpers who enlisted early and often
swell the number) would be probably nearer the correct estimate. It is not aston-
ishing, that four men out of one hundred, including the small army of bounty
jumpers (who enlisted frequently, away from home under different assumed
names), were either cowards or knaves. We hope to show that the men from the
town of Nunda had still less than this percentage of that class.

ROSTER OF COMPANY I, Ist NEW YORK DRAGOONS

The roster of the 130th N. Y. or 19th Cavalry or First New York Dragoons,
as this regiment was at different times called, as gleaned from several sources is
as follows:

1.

Lieut. Franklin S. Adams, age 26, enrolled at Portage (as all the Commis-
sioned Officers of this Regiment were), Aug. 16th, 1862, mustered in as Lt. Co.
I. Aug 16th to serve three vears, promoted to Lieut. Oct. 2nd, 1862, mustered in
as Adjt. to date Oct Ist, 1864, mustered out with regiment June 30th, 1865, at
Clouds Mill, Va. Died 1903.

Adams, Rufus, age 30 vears, enlisted Aug. 11th, 1862, at Burns, N. Y.,
mustered as a Priv. Co. I Sept. 3rd, 1862, to serve three years, transferred (date
not stated) to Company H, 16th Regiment V R. C. from which discharged
July 12th, 1865.

3.

Allen, Harrison, age 21 years, enlisted Aug. 5th, 1862, at North Dansville.
N. Yas a Priv. Co. K, promoted successively, Sergt. and Sergt. Major; cap-
tured Nov. 2nd, 1863, transferred to Co. I, mustered out with regiment.

4.

Alvord, Jacob, age 23, born at Springwater, N. Y., enlisted Aug. 13th,
1862, at Nunda, mustered in as private Co. I, Sept 3rd, 1862, to serve three
years; discharged for disability Feb. 11th, 1865, at New York City.—Dalton,
N.Y.

5.

Ames, Albert D., age 35, enlisted Aug. 15th, 1862, at Springwater, N. Y.,
as private Co. I, mustered Sept. 3rd, 1862, for three years, mustered out with
company.

526
6.

Ames, Elisha J., age 27, enlisted Aug. 5th, 1862, at Portage, N. Y., mus-
tered in as private Co. I, Sept. 3rd, 1862, to serve three years, wounded in
action May 7th, 1864, died of such wounds June 25th, 1864, at Washington,
D.C. Buried in Nunda—Snyder Cemetery, /

Ames, George, age 18. Enlisted Jan. 4, 1864, to serve three years; mustered
as a private, Co. I; mustered out with company, lived in Nunda, died, buried at
Snyders Cemetery, Nunda.

Barager, John K., age 44. Enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, at Ossian, N. Y.; mustered
in as private, Co. I, Aug. 16, 1862, to serve three years ; appointed corporal, Sept.
3, 1862; wounded at Old Church, Va., died of such wounds May 31, 1864.

Barker, Joseph M., age 23. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Nunda, N. Y.:; mus-
tered in as corporal, Co. I, Aug. 16, 1862, to serve three years; appointed Ser-
geant, Jan. 1, 1863, mustered out with company, died at Tyron, N. C, 19—.

Barnum, Willis H., age 19. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, at Burns, N. Y.; mus-
tered in as private, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862. to serve three years; discharged for dis-
ability March 24, 1864. Canaseraga, N. Y.

Batterson, Wellington, age 18. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda, N. Y.;
mustered as a private to serve three years; appointed corporal July 1, 1864, ser-
geant, April 30, 1865: mustered out with company. Frederick, Mich.

Bennett, Henry A., age 18. Enlisted Jan. 16, 1864, at Grove, N. Y.; mustered
in as a private, Co. I, Jan. 18, 1864, to serve three vears ; mustered out, in hospital
July 15, 1865, at Albany, N. Y.

Black, William, age 35. Enlisted Dec. 18, 1863, at Nunda; mustered in as
private, Co. I, Jan. 5, 1864, to serve three vears: killed in action May 7, 1864, at
Todds Tavern, Va. His monument at Nunda.

Booth, John W., age 21. Enlisted Jan. 12, 1864, at Grove, N. Y.; mustered
as a private, Co. I, Jan. 12, 1864, to serve three vears; mustered out with company.

Barney, Ziba E., age 22. Enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, at Burns, from Grove; mus-
tered in as a private. Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862, to serve three years: died of disease,
Jan. 19, 1863, at Suffolk, Va. Had four brothers in the service.

Bowen, Chester. Enlisted Aug. 7, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as a private of
Co. I, 1862, to serve three years; appointed corporal, July 1, 1864, sergeant, Oct.
19, 1864; mustered out with company, June 30, 1865, died at Peaster, Texas
(1904).

Bowen, James R., age 27. Enlisted Aug. 30, 1862, at Nunda: mustered in as
musician, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862, to serve three years: appointed chief musician, Nov.
10, 1862, after the transfer to cavalry ; appointed bugler, Sept. 1, 1863, and retrans-
ferred to Co. I: wounded at Newtown, Va., .\ug. 11, 1864; mustered out with
company June 30, 1865. Became a clergyman of the M. E. Church, wrote the
history of the First N. Y. Dragoons. He died at Lyons, Mich., Sept. 3, 1905.

Britton, Russell A., age 28. Enrolled Aug. 16, 1862, from Nunda; mustered
in as First Lieutenant, Co. I, Aug. 16, 1861, to serve three years: mustered in as
Adjutant, Oct. 12, 1862, as Captain, Co. H, March 1, 1863. Breveted Major at
the close of the war.

Callahan, John, age 36. Enlisted Dec. 28, 1863, at Nunda; mustered in as
private, Co. I, to serve three vears; wounded in action Aug. 11, 1864, Winchester,
N. J. Died of his wounds.

527
Carroll, Owen, age 19. Enlisted Jan. +. 1864, at Nunda; mustered as private,
Co. I, to serve three years; mustered out at the close of the war.

Carter, Chester C., age 29. Enlisted Aug. 4, 1862, at Nunda, private of Co.
I; discharged for disability, Aug. 22, 1864, at New York City.

Chapman, Robert C., age 42. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1864, at Grove; mustered
as private, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1864; mustered out with company.

Christie, James, age 22. Enlisted Dec. 18, 1863, at Nunda, as private, Co. I,
to serve three years; captured May 7, 1864; died Sept. 3, 1864, Anderson, Ga.

Clark, David W., age 35. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. I, to serve three vears; transferred to 243rd Co. First Battalion, Vet-
eran Reserve Corps, from which discharged June 26, 1865, at Washington, D. C.

Clark, Delos D., age 37. Enlisted Sept. 1, 1864, at Avon, N. Y.; discharged
for disability May 6, 1865, at Petersburg, Va.

Clark, Freeman, age 18. Enlisted April 7, 1865, at Scio; mustered out with
company.

Closser, James C., age 18. Enlisted Jan. 28, 1864, to serve three vears ; mus-
tered out with company. Resides at Warsaw, N. Y.

Clyne, William, age 22. Enlisted Jan. +, 1864, at Nunda: mustered as private,
Co. I, to serve three years; mustered out with company.

Colwell, George C. Enlisted April 11, 1865; mustered out June 30, 1865.

Cook, James C., age 38. Enlisted Aug. 5, 1862, at Burns, as private of Co.
I, discharged for disability, Jan. 20, 1863 ,at Suffolk, Va.

Cook, Sylvanus H., age 18. Enlisted Feb. 9, 1864, at West Sparta; mustered
as private of Co. I, Feb. 16, 1864; mustered out with company.

Coulter, Simon M., age 27. Enlisted New York City March 11, 1865; mus-
tered out of company.

Crawford, McCollister, age 23. Enlisted at Belfast, Aug. 16, 1862, private,
Co. I, sent to General Hospital, absent at muster out of company.

Resides Romeo, Mich.

Dann, George W., age 29. Enlisted at Avon, Sept. 5, 1864; mustered as
private to serve one year; mustered out with company.

Davis, Latinus M., age 18. Enlisted April 7, 1865, at Wirt, N. Y. as private,
Co. I, mustered out with company. Resides at Independence, Mo.

Davis, Levi C., age 39. Enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in as a
private, Co. I, to serve three years, died Jan. 1, 1864, at Mitchells Station, Va.

Davison (or Davidson), David, age 41. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Burns,
N. Y.; mustered as a private, Co. I, appointed blacksmith Sept. 1, 1863; mustered
out with company.

Drake, Alexander, age 26. Enlisted Sept. 26, 1864, to serve one year;
wounded Oct. 18, 1864, died of wounds Oct. 22, 1864, at Winchester, Va.

Durfee, George W., age 20. Enlisted July 31, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in
as private, Co. I, Aug. 16, 1862; wounded Aug. 11, 1864, at Newtown, Va. Died
at Jamestown, N. Y., 1906.

Edinborough, Fargus, age 19. Enlisted April 7, 1865, at Scio, N. Y.; mus-
tered in as private to serve one year; mustered out with company.

Edinborough, Luther B., age 18. Enlisted April 7, 1865, as private, Co. I;
mustered out with company.

Edmonds, Thomas W., age 24. Enlisted Aug. 4, 1862, Portage, N. Y., to
serve three years; mustered as private, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862; transferred Dec. 27,

528
1864, to 49th Co. Veteran Reserve Corps, from which discharged June 26, 1865,
at Washington, D. C. Resides at Castile, N. Y.

Foland, James H., age 18. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, at Grove; mustered as
private, Co. I, to serve three years; captured May 7, 1864, died Sept. 15, 1864, at
Andersonville, Ga.

Farr, Salmon, age 18. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Grove; mustered as private,
Co. I, to serve three years; transferred Feb. 12, 1863, to Battery D Fourth U. S.
Artillery.

Fay, Norman S., age 19. Enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, at Burns; mustered as pri-
vate, Co. I; transferred to Fourth U.S. Artillery. | Resides at Canaseraga, N. Y.

Flint, Joseph N., age 24. Enlisted Aug. 4, 1862, at Burns; mustered as ser-
geant, Co. J, Aug. 16, 1862; appointed Sergt.-Major Oct. 12, 1862; mustered as
Second Lieut. March 1, 1863; mustered out June 30, 1865. Brevetted First Lieu-
tenant and Captain, with rank from March 13, 1865, served as aid-de-camp on
staff of Major Gen. during the summer campaign of 1864; died at San Francisco
1907.

Flint, Josiah H., age 21. Enlisted Aug. 2, 1862, at Burns; mustered in as
private to serve three years; captured May 7, 1864, died in Andersonville prison,
May 26, 1864.

Freeman, Franklin E., age 28. Enlisted Feb. 6, 1864, at Nunda; mustered
out with company.

Freer, Gilbert I, age .18. Enlisted at Nunda Aug. 1, 1862. He received
from John C. McNair, veteran of the war of 1812, a colt, which was kept for him
till his return, it was offered for the first man who would enlist in this new com-
pany. Mustered as private, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862; appointed bugler, Sept. 1, 1863,
corporal April 20, 1865; mustered out with company.

Resides at Portageville, N. Y.

Fry, Henry, age 31. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1864, at Angelica; mustered in as
private, Co. I, Sept. 6, 1864, to serve one year; mustered out with company.

Emmons, John W., age 15 (gave his age as eighteen) ; he died at Elmira,
and was buried at Nunda, his exact age was fifteen vears nine months, and four
days.

Garhart, George Adelbert, age 19. Enlisted Aug. 8, 1862, at Portage; mus-
tered in as private, Co. I, to serve three vears; appointed corporal, Jan. 5, 1865;
mustered out with company. Resides at Buffalo, N. Y.

Gelzer, Simeon, age 18. Enlisted Jan. 19, 1864, at Grove; mustered in as
private, Co. I, Jan. 19, 1864; captured May 7, 1864, at Todds’ Tavern, Va. Died
in prison.

Gilbert, Edward L., age 37. Enlisted Aug. 8, 1862, at Burns; mustered in as
corporal, Co. I, appointed commissary sergeant, Sept. 1, 1863; absent in general
hospital, when the regiment was mustered out.

Goldthwait, Milo S., age 20. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
corporal, Co. I, promoted to commissary Jan. 3, 1865; mustered out with company.

Resides Nunda, N. Y.

Goldthwait, Norton S., age 23. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, at Nunda, N. Y.;
mustered as private, Co. I, discharged for disability, April 3, 1865, at Rbchiesier:
N. Y., died at Nunda.

Gondor, George A., age 18. Enlisted April 7, 1865, at Scio, private, Co. I,
mustered out with company. Resides Scio, N. Y.

529
Gothard, John, age 34. Enlisted Feb. 17, 1864, at Nunda, N. Y.; mustered
as private, Co. I, Feb. 19, 1864, at Newtown, Va.

Gray, Thomas B., age 27, Co. I, deserted at Portage.

Greenfield, Henry R., age 24. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda; mustered
in as private, Co. I, to serve three years; appointed Sept. 1, 1863; mustered out
with company.

Haight, Ransom, age 21. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, at Grove, N. Y.; mustered
in as private, Co. I, Aug. 16, 1862, to serve three years; wounded at Trevillian
Station, Va. June 11, 1864; mustered out at Washington, D. C.

Hamilton, George T., age 28. Enrolled Oct. 1, 1862, at Suffolk, Va. as
First Lieut., Co. A, to serve three years; wounded June 11, 1864, at Trevillian
Station ; mustered in as Captain, Co. F, Nov. 19, 1864, with rank from Sept. 19,
1864; (Vice Capt. Alexander Thorp, kilied) ; it is believed he perished in Cuba;
previous service in the 33rd and 104th N. Y.

Harwood, Elijah, age 40. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, at Grove, to serve three
years ; wounded as private, Co. I, Aug. 16, 1862; died June 6, 1863, of disease at
U. S. A. Hospital, at Hampton, Va.

Harwood, George R., age 20. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, at Grove, N. Y.; mus-
tered in as private, Co. I, Aug. 16, 1862, to serve three years; mustered out with
company. North Adams, Mich.

Harwood, John, age 44. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, at Grove, N. Y.; mustered
in as private, Co. I, Aug. 16, to serve three years; discharged Oct. 5, 1863, for
disability at Mannassas Junction, Va.; died at Nunda, buried at Fillmore, N. Y.

Harwood, Joseph, age 18. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, at Grove; mustered as
private, Co. I, Aug. 16, to serve three years; discharged May 6, 1865, for disability.

Rochester, N. Y.

Havens, Cassius M., age 18. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, at Nunda; mustered
as private, Co. I, appointed corporal Aug. 1, 1863; sergeant July 1, 1864; mustered
out with company. Died at Detroit, Mich.

Havens, Chancellor L., age 35. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Grove; mustered
as private, Co. I, for three vears; discharged for disability at Hampton Hospital,
Va.

Haver, James H., age 21. Enlisted Sept. 15, 1864; mustered as private, Co.
I, Sept. 15; appointed corporal Jan. 5, 1865; mustered out with company.

Resides at Pasadena, Cal.

Haynes, Randall, age 19. Enlisted Aug. 7, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. I, to serve three years; captured May 7, 1864, returned Feb. 6, 1865;
mustered out with company.

Heath, Mark W., age 20. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in as
private to serve three years; mustered out with company.

Resides at Swains, N. Y.

Hendershott, William C., age 21. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda; mustered
as private, Co. I, to serve three years; mustered out with company.

Resides at Perry, N. Y.

Hicks, Amariah, age 18. Enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, at North Dansville; mus-
tered as private, Co. I, to serve three years; promoted to sergeant Sept. 3, 1862;
first sergeant Oct. 12, 1862; Second Lieut. Co. D, March 2, 1864, with rank March
16, 1864.

530
Hills, Milton T., age 32. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. I, to serve three years; appointed corporal Aug. 16, 1862; sergeant
Sept. 1, 1863; captured at Todds’ Tavern, May 7, 1864, enrolled Aug. 18, 1864;
mustered out with company. Resides at LaVeta, Colo.

Graves, Harrison S., age 37. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1864, at Avon, private, Co. I,
to serve one year; discharged for disability, April 16, 1863, at Petersburg, Va.

North Cohocton, N. Y.

Jackson, Andrew, age 18. Enlisted Jan. 18, 1864, at Nunda, to serve three
years; appointed corporal Nov. 2, 1864; mustered out with company.

Jackson, Paschal T., age 18. Enlisted Dec. 30, 1863, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. I, to serve for three years; mustered out at close of war.

Resides Dalton, N. Y.

Jacques, Albert W., age 21. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Burns, N. Y.; mus-
tered as private, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862; transferred Feb. 12, 1863 to battery D fourth
U.S. Artillery. Columbus, Ohio.

Johnson, Isaac, age 18. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862, to serve three years; discharged for disability May
30, 1864, at Washington, D. C., died six days afterward at Nunda, N. Y.

King, Elias, age 23. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as private,
Co. I, to serve three vears; discharged for disability Sept. 4, 1863, at Manassas
Junction, Va., died Jan. 1, 1908, buried at Nunda.

Kneeland, Benjamin T. Enrolled as Surgeon of the 130th N. Y. V. at Port-
age, entered the service from Nunda July 29, 1862. He was four times brevetted,
first by N. Y. State as Lieut. Col., and Col. of N. Y. State Vol.; and by the U.S.
Government as Lieut. Col. and Col. of U. S. Volunteers. This is the recommenda-
tion of Col. Gibbs that was endorsed by Major Gen. Sheridan “for assiduous and
unwearied services to the wounded on the field of battle.” Col. Kneeland was
beloved by the officers and men of his regiment, he lived to reach his 80th birth-
day, and died at Nunda village Sept. 3, 1906, he was buried at Hunts Hollow.

Lemen, James, age 47. Enrolled at Portage as Captain of Co. I from Nunda;
wounded June 11, 1864, at Trevillian Station, he commanded his company during
the entire time they were in the service and was mustered out with them June 25,
1865. Honored and loved by all for his uniform courtesy and kindness and un-
flinching bravery in battle “in the hottest of the conflict he retained his usual
serenity, and free from excitement, led his men as if to drill or parade.” (J. R. B.)
He was brevetted major and Lieut. Col. for meritorious services. He died at
Nunda Aug. 23, 1890.

Lewis, Charles E., age 18. Enlisted at Nunda (after a year spent at West
Point) Aug. 13, 1862 as private, Co. I; appointed first sergeant Sept. 3, 1862,
promoted to Second Lieut. Oct. 12, 1862; captured with others at Todds’ Tavern,
May 7, 1864; paroled and mustered out with company.

Kinney, Charles A., age 35. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, at Portage; mustered
in as corporal, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862; died of disease Sept. 12, 1864, at Newbern,
N.C,

Lovejoy, Corydon, age 20. Enlisted Dec. 18, 1863, at Nunda, N. Y.; mus-
tered in as private, Co. I, captured May 7, 1864, at the Wilderness, Va.; died at
Andersonville, Ga.

531
Luce, William A., age 21. Enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, at Ossian, N. Y.; mustered
in as private, Co. 1; wounded June 11, 1864, at Trevillian Station, Va.; died
Oct. 1, 1864, at Ossian, N. Y.

Marr, Nathaniel, age 32. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, at Burns; mustered as
private, Co. I, to serve three years; wounded April 17, 1863, at Suffolk, Va.;
died June 3, 1863, from accident at Clouds Mills, Va.

Morris, Sidney S., age 21. Enlisted July 31, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. I, to serve three years; appointed commissary Rgt. (date not given) ;
Regimental commissary sergeant June 20, 1865; mustered out with the regiment
June 30, 1865; he received a watch given by Rev. W. Metcalf as the first soldier
to enlist in Co. I.

Mosher, Philo, age 21. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda;: mustered in as
private, Co. I, appointed corporal Nov. 2, 1864; mustered out with company at
Clouds Mills, Va. Taught a military school on the Hudson, and died 1881.

Niles, William H., age 30. Enlisted Aug. 15, at Grove; mustered in as cor-
poral, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862; appointed wagoner Feb. 2, 1863; mustered out with
company.

Olney, Corydon C., age 21. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in
as a private, Co. I, to serve three years ; appointed corporal May 2, 1864; mustered
out with company. Resides at Centerville, Cal.

Olney, Corydon C., age 21. Enlistea Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in
as private, Co. I, appointed corporal Jan. 1, 1863, sergeant April 1, 1864, first ser-
geant Oct. 19, 1864; mustered in as Second Lieut. to date Jan. 31, 1865; mustered
out with regiment; brevetted First Lieut. and Capt., died at Long Branch, N. J.
Oct. 8, 1886. “As a soldier he stood high in the estimation of his company, always
at his post of duty, filling his several positions with courage and ability.”

Orton, Horace C., age 20. Enlisted Aug. 4, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in as
a private, Co. 1; captured May 7, 1864, at Wilderness, Va., died at Andersonville,
Ga. (date not stated).

Parker, Milan, age 25. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, at Grove, N. Y.; mustered
as private, Co. I; died of disease, Sept. 10, 1864, at Washington, D. C.

Pendergrast, James, age 23. Enlisted Jan. 27, 1864; mustered as private,
Co. I, served term of enlistment; mustered out with company. Canaseraga, N. Y.

Phelps, Hulcy, age 30. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Grove; mustered in as
private, Co. I, appointed corporal Feb. 2, 1863, sergeant June 19, 1863; Q. M.
Sergt. (date not stated) ; mustered out with company. Died at Canaseraga, 1907.

Philips, George J., age 18. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Belfast, N. Y.; mus-
tered in as private, Co, I; died of disease Dec. 28, 1862, at Suffolk, Va.

Quant, Peter, age 22. Enlisted Sept. 15, 1864, at Portage; mustered as pri-
vate, Co. I; died of disease Dec. 30, 1864, Baltimore, Md., buried at Pennycook
Cemetery.

Riddle, Robert W., age 25. Enlisted Sept. 2, 1864, at Avon, N. Y.; mustered

out with company. N. Cohocton, N. Y.
Riker, Elias, age 40. Enlisted Sept. 1864 at Avon, N. Y. as private, Co. I;
mustered out with company. N. Cohocton, N. Y.
Robbins, Lorenzo, age 36. Enlisted Sept. 27, 1864, at Avon, N. Y.; mus-
tered as private, Co. 1; mustered out with company. Canaseraga, N. Y.

Roff, Hiram J., age 18. Enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as pri-
vate, Co. I; killed May 7, 1864, at Todds’ Tavern, Va.
532
Rodgers, James W. ,age 18. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in
as private, Co. I; mustered out with company, died at Soldiers Home, Dayton,
Ohio.

Rude, Emerson, age 21. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. I, appointed corporal Jan. 1, 1863; wounded in action May 7, 1864,
at the Wilderness, Va.; died May 10, 1864, by reason of wounds received at
Fredericksburg, Va.

Russell, Byron, age 24. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1862; mustered as private, Co. I;
mustered out with company. Resides at Grand Rapids, Mich.

Russell, Leonard, age 18. Enlisted Feb. 25, 1864; mustered as private, Co. I;
wounded May 7, 1864, died of wounds May 22, 1864, at Fredericksburg, Va.

Seeley, Hiram O., age 34. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. 1; died at Nunda, Nov. 12, 1863, buried at Sparta.

Sessions, Stillman, age 23. Enlisted Sept. 2, 1864, at Skaneateles, N. Y.;
mustered as private, Co. 1; mustered out with company.

Shute, Horace N., age 29. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. 1: transferred Sept. 2, 1863, to Co. E, 7th VR. C. from which dis-
charged June 29, 1865, at Washington, D. C. Ionia, Mich.

Smith, Christian, age 34. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. 1; appointed corporal Aug. 16, 1862, sergeant 1863; wounded May 7,
1864, at Todds’ Tavern, Va.; transferred Dec. 27, 1864, to 48th Co. second bat-
talion V. R. C. from which discharged June 26, 1865, at Fortress Monroe, Va.,
died at Nunda.

Smith, Edward, age 25. Enlisted July 21, 1862; mustered as private, Co.-I,
Sept. 3; wounded at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864; mustered out with company.

Resides at Millbrook, Kas.

Smith, Godfred, age 27. Enlisted at Nunda, Aug. 20, 1862; mustered in as
private, Co. I; appointed corporal Jan. 1, 1865; mustered out with company.

Smith, Henry, age 21. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1864, at Angelica; mustered as
private, Co. Ls mustered out with company.

Smith, Jesse W., age 19. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Grove; mustered as
private, Co. 1; mustered out May 29, 1865, from Satterlee U. S. Gen. Hospital,
West Philadelphia, Pa. Nunda.

Smith, Philip, age 21. Enlisted Aug. 20, 1862, at Grove ; mustered as private,
Co. I; discharged for disability, March 20, 1865, at Philadelphia, Pa.

Smith, William, age 26. Enlisted Aug. 7, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as pri-
vate, Co. 1; appointed corporal 1863; wounded at Trevilian Station, Va., June
11, 1864; died of wounds July 17, 1864.

Snyder, ‘John L., age 20. Enlisted 5, 1862, at Portage; mustered into
Co. I as private ; transferred Sept. 3, 1863, to V. R. C. Angelica, N.Y.

Spicer, William H. Enlisted Aug. 7, 1863, at Nunda; mustered as a private,
Co. I, Sept. 3, 1863; transferred Sept. 28 to V. R. C. from which discharged June
26, 1865, Washington, D. C.

Spike, John L., age 18. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Grove; mustered as pri-
vate, Co. I; transferred Feb. 12, 1863, to Fourth U.S. Artillery. Swain, N. Y.

Sphoon, William A., age 18. Enlisted Aug. 15, 1863, at Grove ; mustered in
as private, Co. 1; mustered out with company.

533
Sphoon, George H., age 36. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, at Grove, N. Y.; mus-
tered in as private, Co. 1; captured at Todds’ Tavern, Va. May 7, 1864, perished
in captivity.

St. Clair, Romeo, age 21. Enlisted Aug. 5, 1864, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. I; discharged for disability at New York City. Candor, N. Y.

Stevens, Jefferson I., age 23. Enlisted Feb. 20, 1865, at Big Flats, N. Y., as
private, Co. I; mustered out with company.

Stickland, Charles L., age 22. Enlisted at Nunda, private, Co. I; transferred
to U.S. Sig. C. July 11, 1863. Marengo, III.

Swift, Albert, age 30. Enlisted Aug. 5, 1862, at Portage ; mustered as private,
Co. 1; appointed Q. M. Sergeant Sept. 1, 1863, First Sergt. April 1, 1864; mustered
out with company. Brownsdale, Minn.

Swift, Prosper, age 34. Enlisted Aug. 5, 1862, at Portage; mustered as ser-
geant, Co. I, Aug. 16, 1862, appointed first sergt. April 1, 1864: promoted to First
Lieut. Nov. 19, 1864; killed Oct. 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek, Va. Died before re-
ceiving his commission. Buried at Union Cemetery, Nunda.

Taylor, Sidney, age 19. Enlisted April 7, 1865, at Scio, N. Y.; mustered into
Co. I; mustered out with company.

Terry, William, age 25. Enlisted Sept. 1, 1864, at Avon, N. Y.; mustered out
with company.

Tilden, Orville S., age 22. Enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, at Burns; mustered as
private, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862; mustered out with company. Canaseraga, N. Y.

Town, Benjamin F., age 21. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, at Nunda, N. Y.; mus-
tered as private, Co. I; mustered out with company.

Town, Francis Marion, age 20. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Nunda; mustered
in as private, Co. 1; mustered out with company. Castile, N. Y.

Town, Walter E., age 18. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, at Nunda; mustered in as
private, Co. I, appointed corporal Jan. 1, 1865; mustered out with company.

Treehouse, John, age 28. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, at Grove; mustered as
private, Co. 1; discharged for disability Feb. 25, 1863, at Suffolk, Va.

Hornell, N. Y.

Utter, George W., age 19. Enlisted Feb. 13, 1864, from Nunda; transferred
to Co. D 18th Regt. V. R. C. from which discharged July 19, 1865, at Washington,
D.C.

Waldo, George D., age 21. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. 1; appointed hospital steward Aug. 20, 1862; mustered out with regi-
ment, died at Philo, III.

Ward, Horace, age 40. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, at Portage; mustered as pri-
vate, Co. 1; appointed corporal April 1, 1864: wounded June 12, 1864, at Trevilian
Station, Va.; transferred Sept. 28, 1864, to V. R. C. from which discharged June
26, 1865, at Washington, D. C.

Ward, Sepheremus, age 21. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, at Portage; mustered
as private, Co. 1; transferred Oct. 29, 1864, to 65th Company, V R. C. from which
discharged June 29, 1865, at Washington, D. C.

Way, George H., age 19. Enlisted April 7, 1865, at Wirt, N. Y.; mustered
as private, Co. I; mustered out with company.

Webb, George, age 24. Private, Co. I, from March 10, 1865, to June 30,
1865. Chicago, Ill.

534
Weed, Seth H., age 29. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, at Grove; mustered as ser-
geant, Co. 1; killed May 7, 1864, Todds’ Tavern, Va. Canaseraga Post G. A. R.
named for him.

Weller, Robert C., age 21. Enlisted April 1, 1862, at Mt. Morris: mustered
as private, Co. 1; appointed corporal April 1, 1864, sergeant Jan. 1, 1865 ; mustered
out with company. Portage City, Wis.

Wendell, Becker, age 23. Enlisted Feb. 20, 1865, to serve one year ; mustered
out with company.

Wheeler, Harrison H., age 18. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, at Nunda, as private,
Co. I; mustered out with company.

White, Adonijah J., age 31. Enlisted Aug. 7, 1862, at Portage; mustered
as private, Co. I; transferred Sept. 1, 1864, to \) R. Corps. Oakland, N. Y.

Whitenack, Asher C., age 19. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, Nunda, N. Y.; mus-
tered as private, Co. 1; mustered out June 8, 1865, at Jarvis, U. S. Gen. Hos-
pital, Baltimore, Md. Died at Nunda, 1890, buried at Mt. Hope, Rochester.

Wilber, Adelbert, age 18. Enlisted April 7, 1865, from Scio, private, Co. I;
mustered out with company.

Wilcox, James, age 37. Enlisted April 3, 1865, at Genesee, N. Y., private,
Co. I; mustered out with company.

Wood, Marcus W., age 26. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, at Grove; mustered in
as private, Co. 1; appointed corporal Sept. 1, 1863; wounded in action, May 7,
1863, died of wounds May 16, 1864, at Fredericksburg, Va.

Woodward, Hiram J., age 26. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1862 at Burns; mustered as
private, Co. I, Sept. 3, 1862; appointed corporal April 1, 1864; captured May 7,
1864; died Sept. 19, 1864, at Andersonville, Ga.

Wright, John D. H., age 36. Enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, at Ossian, N. Y.; mus-
tered as private, Co. I; appointed saddler, Sept. 1, 1863; mustered out with
company.

Wright, William J., age 26. Enlisted Aug. +, 1862, at Portage; mustered
as private, Co. I; died of disease, Nov. 6, 1862, at Suffolk, Va., buried at Nunda.

Wymans, Oliver C., age 18. Enlisted Dec. 21, 1864, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. I; mustered out June 27 at Jarvus, U. S. Gen. Hosp. Baltimore, Md.

Youells, Henry E., age 21. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. I; died of disease April 10, 1863, at Suffolk, Va.

Young, James A., age 19. Enlisted April 7, 1865, Scio; mustered as private,
Co. I; mustered out with company.

Walker, John C., age 18. Enlisted from Nunda in 1864; mustered as private,
Co. I, soon afterward transferred to Co. D. Nunda, N. Y.

Latta, Emmet G., age 15. Enlisted April 7, 1865, at Wirt, private, Co. I;

mustered out with company; probably the youngest soldier on these records.
Friendship, N. Y.

Dragoons Who Have Lived in Nunda Belonging to Other Companies Besides
Company I

Brick, Thomas, age 18. Enlisted Jan. +, 1864, from Nunda; mustered into
Co. B; mustered out with company.
Carpenter, William, age 26. Enlisted at Mt. Morris. to serve three years.
Chambers, George, Co. B. Was captured Aug. 18, 1864, at Berryville, Va.;
mustered out June 28, 1865.
535
Clark, Charles Henry, age 21. Enlisted at Leicester in Co. B, July 25, 1862;
appointed wagoner, date not given; mustered out with company. Nunda.

Cudebec, Clarence L., age 26. Enlisted Aug. 13, 1862, at Allen, N. Y., pri-
vate, Co. F; appointed corporal Sept. 3, 1862, Sergt. Major May 15, 1863, com-
missary sergt. Aug. 1, 1863, first sergt. May 5, 1865; mustered out with company,
lived in Nunda many years, served successfully as pension attorney, was killed
by falling from an apple tree, he suffered from heart trouble which probably
occasioned his fall.

Barney, Joshua, age 25, Co. F, died at Suffolk, Va., Nov. 19, 1862 (four
brothers served in the army and only one returned).

Bush, Philander H., age 21. Enlisted Dec. 9, 1863, from Nunda; mustered
as private, Co. F; died of disease Sept. 22, 1864, in hospital at Washington, buried
at Oakland.

Haven, Myron H., age 18. Enlisted Dec. 21, 1863, at Nunda; served as
private, Co. F; mustered out with the regiment, lost an arm in the service.

Hamsher, William J., age 23. Enlisted from Sparta, private, Co. B; killed
at Todds’ Tavern, May 7, 1864.

Lowell, William L., age 22. Enlisted Dec. 16, 1863; private, Co. F, wounded
May 11, 1864; mustered out in hospital June 6, 1865. Hilsdale, Mich.

Lowell, George W., age 20. Enlisted Dec. 16, 1863, private, Co. F, died in
hospital, New York City.

Kelly, William H., age 22. Enlisted Dec. 9, 1863, from Grove; mustered
as private, Co. F; appointed sergeant Jan. 20, 1865; mustered out with company ;
elected Supr. of town of Grove.

Beech, William J., age 21. Enlisted Jan. 8, 1864, at Oakland; mustered as
private, Co. F, Jan. 29, 1864; mustered out with company, died July 7, 1865.

Nelson, Edger R., age 26. Enlisted Dec. 28, 1863, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. H; mustered out June 5, 1865, at Elmira, N. Y. Nunda, N. Y.

Randall, David L., age 18. Enlisted Dec. 21, 1863, at Oakland; mustered as
private, Co. F; mustered out Jan. 17, 1865, at Elmira, N. Y.

Van Lieu, Martin, age 38. Enlisted Feb. 23, 1864, at Nunda; mustered as
private, Co. H; mustered out with company.

Dailey, Charles L. Enrolled Aug. 7, 1862, at Portage; mustered as Second
Lieut., Co. A, to serve three years; discharged for disability Oct. 6, 1862, died
Nunda, 1906.

Alstead, Cullen, age 25. Enlisted at Pike, Aug. 7, 1862; mustered as private,
Co. A, wounded May 30, 1864, at Coald Harbor, died July 1864 at Washington,
D. C., buried at Arlington Heights, Va.

Hungerford, Marshall, age 19. Enlisted Feb. 9, 1864, at West Sparta, N. Y.,
as private, Co. A; died March 28, 1864. Perhaps this was the shortest service of
anyone in these records.

Holmes, William, age 18. Enlisted Nov. 4, 1863, from Grove; mustered as
private, Co. E; discharged May 15, 1865. Dalton, N. Y.

Hall, Joseph V. R., age 34. Enlisted Aug. 19, 1862, at Independence; mus-
tered as private, appointed ferrier Aug. 11, 1863; mustered out with company.

Dimmick, Isaac C., Corporal, Co. K. Resides Nunda, N. Y.
536
List of Captives from the 1st New York Dragoons

Lieut. Charles E. Lewis, Josiah Flint, Hiram Woodard, Horace Orton, Sergt.
Milton T. Hills, Randall Haynes, Walter E. Town, George A. Sphoon, Gordon
Lovejoy, James H. Foland, Simeon Goelzer.

These men were captured May 7th, 1864, at Todds’ Tavern. The officers
were separated from the men. A corporal and nine others were sent to Anderson-
ville, the others remained at Richmond. Sergeant Hills was detailed for hos-

pital work and fared better than the rest. Of the 11 sent to Andersonville all
but two, Walter E. Town and Randall Haynes, died.

There are others from this Regiment that suffered from prison life. Among
them Col. T. J. Thorp. It was the privilege of the author to entertain and wel-

come back to liberty this hero of emergencies, this conqueror of adverse condi-
tions, at Marlborough Bridge, North East Branch of Cape Fear River, where sev-
eral thousands of soldiers were exchanged. The Colonel says, the soup and tomato
sauce served on this occasion were the choicest food he ever ate, and I do not care
to contradict him.

I have no recollection of ever entertaining any guests so poorly clad as he and
his friend, Lieut. Oliver W. West, of N. Dansville. The exchange took place
April 26th, 1865. Col. Thorp never forgot the kindness shown on that occasion
to him, but he went away fed and clad better (in his own estimation) than he had
ever been before. The Colonel fared better than many, his good nature served as
a talisman to win favors from Masonic brethren and brave men. He did not look
like the living skeletons that they took on the river boat to Wilmington. I would
not describe their condition for fear my reputation for veracity might suffer.

If I should tell you that there were men taken on to that boat with not
enough of their skin left on them to make them recognizable to their nearest
relatives, you might doubt my word; if I told you that vermin by the thousands
had caused this condition, for the invalids could not kill them, you would
not believe me, so I will simply say imagine the worst condition possible and
then multiply it by 100.

 

 

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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 136th REGIMENT, N. Y. V. I.
By Capt. John W. Hand

Among the regiments recruited from the Thirtieth Senatorial District, the
130th Regiment attained an enviable distinction in Livingston County. This
distinction was acquired not from any superiority of material over that of
other organizations recruited from the same locality, but as five of the com-
panies and nearly all of the field officers were from Livingston, it rapidly
became essentially a Livingston County regiment. It had the prestige of the
famous campaigns with Sherman added to its meritorious service in Virginia
and at Gettysburg; an experience not shared by other Livingston County
troops. Furthermore, all of its officers and very many of the men became
prominent in civil life in the period following the Civil War.

In the excellent History of Livingston County compiled by Lockwood
R. Doty there appears a roster of the officers of the 136th Regiment mustered
into the service of the United States at Camp Williams, Portage, September
21, 1862, but as many of these remained in the service but a few months and
were succeeded by others promoted from the ranks such a roster is incomplete,
and historically unsatisfactory, and is herewith amended by giving the suc-
cession of officers:

Field and Staff

Colonel: James Wood, Jr. (Brevet Brigadier General—War Department).

Lieutenant Colonel: 1st, Lester B. Faulkner; 2nd, Henry L. Arnold (Bre-
vetted Colonel by Governor of N. Y.).

Major: 1st, David C. Hartshorn; 2nd, Henry L. Arnold; 3rd, George H.
Eldredge (Brevet, War Department); Campbell H. Young (commissioned,
not mustered).

Adjutant: 1st, Campbell H. Young; 2nd, Chauncey E. Metcalf.

Quartermaster: 1st John T. Wright; 2nd, Jacob S. Gallentine.

Surgeon: ist, Bleeker F. Hovey; 2nd Edwin Amsden.

First Assistant Surgeon: Ist, Edwin Amsden; 2nd, John R. Smith.

Second Assistant Surgeon: Charles F. Warner.

Quartermaster Sergeant: Ist, Richard W. Barney; 2nd, Amos H. Bacon.

Commissary Sergeant: 1st, Jacob S. Gallentine; 2nd, Edwin S. Bliss; 3rd,
A. F. Taylor.

Line Officers

Company A.
Captain: 1st, Alvin T. Cole; 2nd, Seth P. Buell; 3rd. Abner S. Cole.
First Lieutenant: 1st, A. M. Loyden; 2nd, Edwin H. Van Zandt; 3rd,

William C. Hall; 4th, Henry S. Lucas.

Second Lieutenant: 1st. John WW’. Webster; 2nd, Abner S. Cole; 3rd, John
C. Wheaton.
. Company B.

Captain: rst, Edwin H. Pratt; 2nd, John W. Hand.

First Lieutenant: 1st, John Jay Bailey; 2nd, William C. Hall; 3rd, Theron
Cross.

Second Lieutenant: rst, Nicholas V. Mundy; 2nd, Isaac W. Drake.

539
Company C.
Captain: 1st, Almon A. Hoyt; 2nd, Willard S. Chapin.
First Lieutenant: Wells Hendershott ; 2nd, J. Emerson Hoyt; 3rd, Charles
Tresser ; 4th, Bruce Luther.
Second Lieutenant: 1st, Emerson J. Hoyt; 2nd, Willard S. Chapin; 3rd,
Patrick Galbraith, Jr.

Company D.

Captain: Augustus A. Harrington, Wells Hendershott, James G. Cam-
eron, John Jay Bailey.

First Lieutenant: Myron A. Bartlett, R. G. Dudley, Isaac S. Johnson,
Amos H. Bacon.

Second Lieutenant: Russell G. Dudley.

Company E.

Captain: Henry B. Jenks, Frank Collins.
Ist Lieutenant: James G. Cameron, Gad C. Parker.
Second Lieutenant: Seth P. Buell, Bishop H. True.

Company F.
Captain: John H. Burgess.
First Lieutenant: John Galbraith, John \\V. Hand, Shelby Baker.
Second Lieutenant: Charles H. Wisner, Charles Tresser, Henry S. Lucas.

Company G.

Captain: Sidney Ward, Orange Sackett, Jr.
First Lieutenant: Orange Sackett, Jr., A. A. Curtis, Lucien A. Smith.
Second Lieutenant: Kidder M. Scott, A. A. Curtiss, L. A. Smith.

Company H.

Captain: Ezra H. Jeffries, Kidder M. Scott, Campbell H. Young, Edward
E, Sill.

First Lieutenant: Edward Madden, Anson B. Hall, H. G. Carey, Con C.
Cassady.

Second Lieutenant: Anson B. Hall, W C. Hall, Gad C. Parker.

Company I.

Captain: Henry L. Arnold, Augustus A. Curtiss, Charles L. Peck.
First Lieutenant: Frank Collins, Charles L. Peck, Matthew Mead.
Second Lieutenant: George M. Reed, Robert F. Bullard.

Company k.

Captain: Amos F Davis, George H. Eldredge.
First Lieutenant: George H. Eldredge, George Y. Boss, Edward E. Sill.

Second Lieutenant: George Y. Boss, John D. Lottridge, Hubbard G.
Carey.

540
The regiment on its arrival at Virginia early in October, 1862, was
assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, t1th Army Corps, and bore as its
designating army badge the white crescent. The Eleventh was, with the ex-
ception of the 2nd Brigade, essentially a German corps, formerly under com-
mand of Gen. Franz Sigel, but then and thenceforward in command of Major
General Oliver O. Howard. Among the first experiences of the 136th Regi-
ment was a forced march to Thoroughfare Gap, and the fatiguing march
toward Fredericksburg at the time of the first disastrous battle at that place.
The early winter months were spent at Bank's Ford in picket duty along the
Rappahannock River until after Burnside’s abortive winter campaign when
the regiment was withdrawn to the main line of defense near Stafford Court
House. At the opening of the spring campaign, the regiment having by this
time become well drilled and disciplined, was capable of good service. At
least that was the opinion of Brig. Gen. Francis C. Barlow, a young, brave
and ambitious officer then commanding the brigade. The march to the field
of Chancellorsville was neither long nor arduous, and all the troops were in
fine spirits. On the afternoon of May ist, Barlow's brigade made a rapid
reconnaissance to their front in light marching order. Each company had left
its blankets and knapsacks on the field in care of a single guard. An hour
afterwards the corps was surprised by the enemy and swept from the field.
The muster rolls show a small loss of men wounded or missing sustained by
this guard. The Johnies got possesion of the knapacks, which contained be-
sides clothing many things of a more or less sentimental value. This was the
only loss of camp equipage ever sustained by the regiment. On the return
of the brigade late at night it was ascertained that its former position was
occupied by the enemy and it took position for the night in front of the 3rd
Corps lines near a piece of woods occupied by the enemy. In the early dawn
of the next morning the brigade rejoined the corps, and a half hour later the
enemy furiously and successfully assaulted the 3rd Corps’ position. During
the day the brigade occupied a position on the flank of the army, and though
it was occasionally annoyed by shells it was not exposed to infantry fire. Late
in the afternoon Gen. Barlow obtained permission to engage his brigade and
it was brought upon the battle line but too late for action.

In the month of June following, the regiment moved with its corps to
Gettysburg by a series of rapid and irregular marches along the flank of the
invading army. The longest continuous march of this campaign was made
between Boonsborough and Emmitsburg, Md., a distance of 38 miles, which
was accomplished in 24% hours, and notwithstanding the arduous nature of
this campaign the men were so hardened by constant drills that they reached
the field of action in superb condition.

Gen. Barlow, having been given command of a division, the brigade was
at this time under command of Col. Orland Smith of the 73rd Ohio Volunteers,
the senior Colonel of the brigade, which was composed of the 73rd Ohio, the
136th New York, the 33rd Massachusetts, and the 55th Ohio regiments. The
returns of the 136th regiment for the 30th of June showed 23 officers and 520
men present for duty.

The alternating order of marching troops had brought Smith’s brigade
of Steinwehr’s division in the rear of the marching column, and on its arrival

541
at Cemetery Hill, about 1 P. M., was held in reserve by Gen. Steinwehr at that
place, the other troops of Howard's Corps having passed through and beyond
the town, were actively engaging the enemy. The position of the 136th Regi-
ment during the battle and until the morning of the 6th of July was on the
west slope of Cemetery Hill on the Tarreytown road. Three companies of the
regiment were advanced as a skirmish line about 400 yards in front, and there
was always something doing on this line. The hill behind the line of battle
was crowned with cannon and the position being too strong to invite assault
only the skirmish line was engaged, and yet the casualties of the regiment at
this battle numbered 106.

Returning to Virginia the regiment was employed during the summer
guarding railroad communications from the attacks of the ubiquitous and
enterprising Col. Mosby, until September, 1863, when the 11th and 12th
Corps, in command of Hooker, were transferred to the Army of the Cumber-
land then beleaguered at Chattanooga.

The long ride in box cars from Manassas Junction, Va., to Bridgeport,
Ala., was a holiday episode, as enjoyable as a furlough. There were no deser-
tions in transit but one man lost his life by falling from the top of a car. After
its arrival at Bridgeport the regiment was employed guarding railroad in
the vicinity of Anderson, Tenn., until the 26th of October, when the 11th and
12th Corps marched up the river toward Chattanooga. The advance guard
of the marching column encountered the enemy’s picket near Wauhatchie and
dispersed it, and shortly afterward, while moving along the base of Lookout
Mountain, were subjected to an artillery fire from the enemy’s guns on the
summit, which fire soon proved to be harmless from inability to depress the
guns sufficiently.

The 11th Corps, with the 136th Regiment at the head of the column,
moved forward along a range of rugged wooded hills to Brown’s Ferry, the
nearest crossing on the Tennessee open to Chattanooga. The 12th Corps was
encamped at Wauhatchie, about three miles distant. The disposition of
Hooker's troops was plainly observable from the mountain, and during the
night the enemy moved down to surprise and attack the force at Wauhatchie.
Gen. Steinwehr’s division moved promptly to the assistance of the 12th Corps
but found the way intercepted by a force of the enemy which had occupied
one of the hills before mentioned. Three regiments of Smith’s brigade—the
33rd Massachusetts, the 73rd Ohio and the 136th New York—were ordered to
dislodge the enemy from its position. This was accomplished but with con-
siderable loss of life. The 136th Regiment, at the left of the line, scrambled
up the steep declivity in the darkness, reserving their fire until the enemy's
line of battle was disclosed by a volley at close range. The 136th Regiment
was the first to reach the summit, when by a well-directed flank fire the enemy
was swept from the ridge in great confusion. This picturesque midnight
charge was the only night attack in which the regiment ever engaged, but on
this occasion it performed its duty admirably with the most satisfactory results.
This battle of October 28, 1863, is placed on the regimental colors as Brown's
Ferry; but the casualties are shown on muster rolls as occurring variously at
Brown's Ferry, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Valley and Wauhatchie.

542
The regiment occupied this hill and did picket duty along Lookout Creek
until November 23rd, when it was engaged in the battle of Missionary Ridge.
After the battle it was sent with the 11th Corps to the relief of Burnside’s
Corps at Knoxville, Tenn. This was a long and arduous march at an inclement
season, and as the men had left their overcoats and heavy blankets at Chatta-
nooga preparatory to going into action at Missionary Ridge, they suffered
greatly from exposure.

On the return of the regiment from Knoxville it went into winter quarters
at Lookout Valley, Tenn. During the winter of 1863-64 the rith and 12th
Corps were consolidated. In the new organization known as the 2oth Corps
Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker was given command of corps, with Maj. Gen. Daniel
Butterfield, late chief of staff, Army of Potomac, commanding 3rd Division.
Col. James Wood, Jr., commanding 3rd Brigade, now composed of the 136th
New York, 20th Connecticut, 33rd Massachusetts, 55th Ohio, 73rd Ohio and
26th Wisconsin, with the designating badge of the blue star, and Lieut. Col.
Lester B. Faulkner commanding regiment. No better troops and none more
ably commanded could be found in the army.

In the Atlanta campaign, beginning May 1, 1864, and ending with the
occupation of that city September 2nd, it was the fortune of this splendid vet-
eran brigade never to lose a foot of contested ground or a stand of colors,
and whether assailant or assailed it was alike victorious. At the battle of
Resaca May 15th it firmly withstood three successive onsets of the lines of
the impetuous Confederate, Gen. Hood, and defeated his effort to turn the left
flank of the Union army. In this important engagement the 136th Regiment
sustained a severe loss in men, only exceeded during its service by its casual-
ties at Gettysburg.

In all the minor battles and skirmishes of the 20th Corps during the suc-
ceeding too days of constant fighting the 136th regiment performed meri-
torious service, especially at the battle of Peach Tree Creek on the 20th of
July when the opposing lines of battle came in personal contact and the flag
of the 31st Mississippi Regiment was heroically captured by private Dennis
Buckley of Company G, who unfortunately lost his life in the performance
of the gallant act.

On the 15th day of October, 1864, Sherman’s army, under the new desig-
nation of the Army of Georgia, started on its famous march to the sea. The
14th and 2oth Corps formed the left wing in command of Gen. H. \W’ Slocum:
the 2oth Corps, commanded by Gen. A. S. Williams, and the 3rd Division by
Gen. Wm. T. Ward. The brigade and regiment remained in command of Col.
Wood and Lieut. Col. Faulkner respectively. The march to the sea, although
bold in its inception, proved not difficult of accomplishment. A new problem,
however, was presented; that of subsisting on stores foraged from the coun-
try along the line of march. To gather subsistence from an enemy's country—
a country already drained and impoverished by the demands of its own army,
involved the necessity of keeping in motion; the different divisions moving
on parallel roads, thus covering a wide scope of country. Even then the sup-
plies were sometimes scanty and the diet extremely monotonous. Sometimes
there would be little but sweet potatoes and again nothing for days together
but cow-peas, and yet again during the ten days’ siege of Savannah, the regi-
ment subsisted chiefly on rice. 543
The resistance offered to the progress of Sherman's army through Georgia
was feeble and Savannah was evacuated on December 2ist. On the 16th of
January, 1865, the army again started northward on its more difficult cam-
paign through the Carolinas with Brig. Gen. Wm. Cogswell—a brave and effi-
cient officer—in command of brigade, and Liuet. Col. H. L. Arnold com-
manding regiment. The season was now inclement—the streams, always. to
be waded, swollen and cold. Supplies were less abundant and foraging more
hazardous. Larger foraging parties were sent out and always under command
of an officer, but it was difficult to keep such details well in hand, and several
foragers became victims of their individual enterprise and became prisoners.
These captured foragers were all paroled, and rejoined the regiment at Wash-
ington. In its passage through the Carolinas the regiment assisted in the
destruction of the railroads on its line of march and in dispersing such forces
as disputed the crossings of the principal rivers. At Fayettville, N. C., on the
Cape Fear River, the army was able to obtain stores from the depot at Wil-
mington and divest itself of the horde of negro refugees that encumbered its
progress.

On the 16th of March at Averasboro a formidable force of infantry was
encountered and forced to retire. The success was not followed up as it was
thought unadvisable to bring on a general engagement until a junction could
be effected with the troops of Gen. Terry. The affair was mainly confined
to Ward's division and the 136th Regiment met with severe loss. Three days
later, on the 19th of March, a division of the 14th Corps became hotly engaged
with the enemy under command of its old antagonist. Gen. Joseph E. John-
ston, near Bentonville, N. C., and Ward’s division was promptly sent to its
aid. This was a fierce conflict in thick woods at close range. When the small
number of troops engaged is considered and that on the part of Slocum’s men
it was an accidental encounter, the list of casualties in each army show it to
have been a well contested battle. The casualties in the Union Army num-
bered 1,646, while the Confederate loss was 2,606, the losses on each side being
about double those sustained at Averasboro.

In this, the last battle of Sherman's army, the 136th suffered severely,
losing a greater percentage of men engaged than in any other battle since
Resaca. Lieut. Col. H. L. Arnold was severely wounded and the command
of the regiment devolved on Capt. Geo. H. Eldredge. After the victory at
Bentonville the troops moved on to Goldsboro, arriving March 24th, thus com-
pleting a march of 454 miles in 64 days. On April toth it moved to Raleigh
where it awaited the negotiations for the surrender of Johnston's army, when
it resumed its homeward march through Richmond, May rith, and over the
battlefields of Spottsylvania and Chancellorsville and the familiar scenes of
its former campaigns, arriving at Alexandria on the 19th of May, one marching
in the Grand Review at Washington, May 24, 1865.

The regiment was mustered out of service June 13, 1865, at Washing-
ton, D. C.

The story of the muster rolls—-the official chronicle of its services and its
sacrifices remains to be given. The report of the Adjutant General of the State
of New York shows that there are borne on the rolls of the 136th Regiment,
N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, 1,088 names, as follows:

544
Original organization, 1,015; recruits, 73; total, 1,088.

Officers died of wounds during service, 2; officers died of disease, 1; offi-
cers discharged for wounds, 2; officers resigned or discharged for disability,
35; officers commissioned but declined, 4; total officers dropped from rolls, 44.

Enlisted men killed or died of wounds, 71; killed by accident, 1; died of
disease, 92; missing in action, 3; discharged to accept promotion in other
organizations, 3; discharged for disability, 181; discharged by sentence of
court martial, 1; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, 53; recruits transferred
to 66th Infantry, 44; deserted at Potage, 14; deserted during service, 45; re-
cruits deserted on way to regiment, 14; mustered out with regiment, 363;
mustered out at hospitals, 159; total officers and men, 1,088.

There were inscribed on the regimental colors of the 136th by authority
of the Secretary of War the names of 23 battles and campaigns in which it had
participated. In these engagements, as shown by the preceding paragraph,
there was a total loss in killed and mortally wounded of 73. An examination
of the official records shows there was an aggregate of wounds other than fatal
received in the various engagements of 173, making the total of killed and
wounded in action 246. The list of wounded accounts in part for the large
number discharged from hospitals.

Most of the recruits of the regiment were enrolled too late to render any
service and many never reached it. The aggregate losses of the regiment are .
naturally not as great as in a regiment whose ranks were swelled to the maxi-
mum by recruits but still they were great. It was a fortunate organization,
prudently handled by good officers, and never met defeat or disaster in all
its long and meritorious career.

Nunda had no full company in this regiment but it furnished a contingent
of men enrolled in Companies F, H and I, whose proud record for heroic
service and sacrifice is unsurpassed by any similar number of men of any
regiment. There are a few names of men enlisted from another town but who
were so closely allied to these men and who have so long been identified with
Nunda that their names seem entitled to a place on this Roll of Honor. It
should be noted that the remark: ‘“Mustered out with company” indicates
continuous faithful service during whole term of enlistment. No other record
can be more meritorious:

LIST OF NUNDA MEN IN 136th REGIMENT

Kelsey Bergen, age 19, private, Company F, enlisted August 27, 1862;
mustered out with company June 13, 1865; Brevet Second Lieutenant.

David Close, age 21, enlisted private, Company I, August 27, 1862; killed
in action at Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864.

William Close age 28, enlisted August 27, 1862, private, Company I;
wounded June 21, 1864, promoted Corporal May 10, 1865; mustered out with
company June 13, 1865.

Daniel L. Confer, age 22, enlisted August 31, 1862, private, Company I;
killed in action at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

William Elwood, age 23, enlisted September 3, 1862, private, Company I;
died September 25, 1864, at Atlanta, Ga.; buried at Dalton.

545
Robert H. Gordon, age 27, enlisted August 26, 1862 private, Company I,
Corporal, May 1, 1864, Sergeant, May 10, 1865; mustered out with company
June 13, 1865.

Robert W. Green, age 19, enlisted August 29, 1862, private Company F;
wounded in action at Atlanta Ga., August, 1864, discharged March 2, 1865, at
Cleveland, O.; Brevet Second Lieutenant.

Edwin M. Hamilion, age 28, enlisted September 1, 1862, private, Company
I; absent sick in hospital April 10, 18603, discharged for disability, no date.

Henry Wells Hand, Age 23, enlisted August 31, 1862, private, Company F;
discharged March 31, 1864, to accept promotion as Captain in 39th Infantry U.
SG. Ts

John W. Hand, age 25, enlisted August 23, 1862, First Sergeant Company
F; promoted First Lieutenant Company F, December 20, 1862, vice Gilbraith in
command Company I, July 20, 1864;Captain Company B, January 1, 1865; vice
Pratt, mustered out with Company, June 13, 1865.

William Q. Huggins, age 20, enlisted August 27, private Company F; cor-
poral March 1, 1863; wounded in action at Lookout Valley, Tenn., October 29,
1863, discharged May 22, 1865, at Evansville, Ind.

Peter Nettler, age 30, enlisted August 29, 1862, private, Company I;
wounded in action May 15, 1864, at Resaca, Ga.; absent at Rochester, N. Y., at
muster out of Company.

Frank A. Northway, age 26, enlisted August 23, 1862, corporal Company F;
Sergeant, March 1, 1863; mustered out with company; Brevet Second Lieu-
tenant.

Philip Bertram, age 30, enlisted August 22, 1862, private, Company I; dis-
charged for disability at Washington, D. C., January 7, 1863.

Henry S. Lyon, age 21, enlisted August 31, 1862, private, Company H;
mustered out with Company, June 13, 1865.

Henry R. Havens, age 32, enlisted August 25, 1862, Corporal Company I;
transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, April, 1863.

John Ryan, age 19, enlisted August 29, 1862, private, Company I; mustered
out with Company, June 13, 1865.

William S. Knappenbarger, age 22, enlisted August 29, 1862, private, Com-
pany F; promoted corporal January 1, 1864, mustered out with Company, June
13, 1865.

David C. Wade, age 33, enlisted September 1, 1862, private, Company I;
died while on furlough at Nunda, N. Y., February 27, 1864.

Charles F. Warner, commissioned assistant surgeon, September 26, 1862:
discharged January 10, 1862.

James Welstead, age 18, enlisted August 30, 1862, private, Company I; dis-
charged for disability February 4, 1863.

George W. Wescott, age 21, enlisted August 29, 1862, private, Company I;
discharged for disability August 29, 1863, at Washington, D. C.

Russell P. Wescott, age 27, enlisted August 27, 1862, private, Company I;
promoted corporal October 1, 1863; wounded in action at Resaca, Ga., may 15,
1864, died of wounds June 24, 1864.

Lycurgus C. Twining, age 22, enlisted August 27, 1862, private, Company
F; promoted sergeant March 1, 1863; twice wounded at Bentonville, N. C.,
March 19, 1865; died of his wounds at Goldsboro, N. C., April 9,.1865.

546
‘

Ambrose Yencer, age 18, enlisted August 28, 1862, private, Cimpany F;
killed in action at Missionary Ridge, Tenn., November 23, 1863.

Richard Youells, age 25 years, enlisted August 13, 1862, from Nunda, priv-
ate, Company C; wounded in action July 3, 1863, at Gettysburg and died of his
wounds July 4, 1863.

Oscar D. Willett (P. O. Nunda), age 23 years, enlisted August 31, 1862,
at Mt. Morris, private Company F; mustered out with Company June 13, 1865.

Jacob Steih, age 21, enlisted at Barron School House (he was from the town
of Grove), private, Company F, September 25, 1862; wounded July 21, 1864.
at Atlanta, Ga., died of his wounds September 8, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn.

George H. Moshier, age 18, enlisted August 31, 1862, at Oakland; wounded
in action July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg; died of his wounds August 10, 1863, at
Camp Letterman, buried at Oakland.

Otis L. Crosier, age 29, enlisted September 6, 1862, in Company H; mus-
tered out with Company.

Elisha D. Herdendorf (Fred), age 19, enlisted in 1862 in Company F, from
Tuscarora; wounded July 2, 1863; died of wounds July 28, 1864.

Joseph B. Herendorf, age 23, Company F; wounded July 2, 1863; mus-
tered out May 17, 1865; lived in Nunda after the war.

Harrison L. Clemmons, age 23, enlisted August 29, 1862 at Sparta to serve
three years, private, Company I; killed in action June 19, 1864, at Kenne-
saw, Ga.

Jacob Dieter, age 34, enlisted August 26, 1862, at Sparta, mustered as ser-
geant, Company I; captured and died in captivity March 29, 1864, at Belle Isle,
Richmond, Va.

Martin S. Hamsher, age 23, enlisted August 30, 1862, mustered as private,
Company I; promoted corporal June 28, 1863, mustered out May 22, 1863.

William D. Herrington, age 21, enlisted August 9, 1862, mustered as priv-
ate, Company I, September 25, 1862; mustered out September 19, 1865, at El-
mira, N. Y.

David B. Price, age 18, enlisted August 31, 1862, at North Dansville in Com-
pany I; wounded in action July 25, 1864, and died of his wounds August 18.
1864, in hospital at Chattanooga, Tenn. .

Henry R. Price, age 21, enlisted Augnst 24, 1862, at North Dansville, as
private, Company I; promoted Corporal June 28, 1863, Sergeant, May 15, 1864;
mustered out with Company.

Henry Wells Spear, age 22, at North Dansville, to serve three years, mus-
tered as private, Company I; mustered out May 11, 1865, at hospital, Nashville,
Tenn.

Parker Brooks, age 30, enlisted from Tuscarora, August 30, 1862, mustered
as a private, Company F; wounded in action March 16, 1865, at Averasboro,
N. C., discharged for disability August 15, 1865, at DeDain General Hospital,
Daniel Island, New York Harbor.

Milton Burnap, Jr., age 19, private, Company D; from St. Helena, mustered
out with Company.

547
Harlem Chamberlain, age 24, enlisted from Union Corners as private, Com-
pany F; mustered out June 2, 1865, at Lonesville, Ky.

Charles Wheeler Ogden, age 22, private, Company F; promoted corporal
March 1, 1863, sergeant, July 1, 1864; wounded, absent in hospital, mustered
out with Company. Died at Mt. Morris.

Augustus W. Palmer, age 20, enlisted August 29, 1862, as private; killed
in action May 15, at Resaca, Ga.

Jacob Post, age 23, enlisted from Little Scipio; wounded July 2, 1863, at
Gettysburg, discharged June 30, 1864. Sheboygan, Wis.

William Palmer, age 20, mustered as a private, Company F; died of disease
February 17, 1863. at Washington, D. C.

Romulus Swift, age 21, enlisted from Little Scipio, in Company F; mus-
tered out with Company June 13, 1865.

Luther Whitenack, age 24, enlisted August 23, 1862, in Company F; pro-
moted corporal, March Ist: sergeant, July 1, 1863, mustered out with Companv.

Samuel Young, age 34, private, Company I; died Iebruary 20, 1863.

Emery Cheasbro, age 18. enlisted August 30, 1862, at North Dansville, to
serve three years in Company I; mustered out with Company.

Jerome Cheasbro, age 18, wounded in action May 15, 1804, at Resaca, Ga.,
and (lost a leg) mustered out from hospital.

Wm. C. Hall, age 26, Company H; mustered as first sergeant or second
heutenant, March 1, 1853, as first lieutenant Company A; wounded May 15,
1864, at Resaca, Ga., and died of lockjaw May 28, 1864, at hospital at Nash-
ville, Tenn.

The G. A. R. Post, town of Portage is named for him, and we present his
picture as he was in war time.

Levi Guernsey, age 24, enlisted at Portage in Company H; captured near
Catlett Station, September 11, 1863. Paroled November 19, 1864, mustered
out with Company.

Alturna Smith, age 18, enlisted August 31, 1862, at Portage in Company
H; died May 30, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn.

Benjamin Wampole, age 29, private, Company B; mustered out with
Company.

Chester Gould, age 23, enlisted August 17, 1862, to serve three years in
Company C; discharged for disability January 19,,1863. Died at Oak Hill.

Fifty-3ix men on this list; of this number 19 died in the service.

 

548
WERE YOU AT GETTYSBURG?
By Capt. John W. Hand.

Comrade, I see on your coat lapel
The badge of a soldier; | wear it, too —
The little bronze button I love so well—
But it cannot mean so much to vou;
Your form is erect and your step is strong,
While Iam bent and crippled and gray;
My left sleeve hangs empty: I halt along;
You could not have been in the battle-fray.

What! You were at Gettysburg! I thought I espied
A gleam in your eye that comes only to those
Who in furnace of fire have their metal tried—
Who have measured their strength with their country’s foes—
Who have bravely battled for truth and right—
Who thrill at the grasp of a comrade’s hand;
But how could you be in that fearful fight
And thus unscathed by its fury stand?

Did you go where the peerless Reynolds led
In loyalty’s vanguard, fearless and true,
Where Cutler's and Meredith's veterans bled
And died for their banner—the red, white and blue?
Did you battle with Barlow and Schurz for the field
“Gainst the legions of Early and Ewell in vain,
And, beaten and vanquished, ingloriously yield
\When the earth had drunk deep of the blood of the slain?

When wearied and thirsting and trembling with dread,
Did you pass through the town in despondent retreat—
Where pallid-faced women offered you bread
Which you longed for, but dared not stop to eat?
Did you cling to the friendly rock or tree
Which sheltered alike the brave and the coward,
Did your courage return, did you breathe more free
When vou reached the heights held by gallant Howard?

Did you dip your canteen in Spangler’s spring
While the hissing bullet sped past your ear?
Did war transform you into a thing
Alive to duty, but dead to fear?
Did you hold with valor the rock-ribbed crest
Where Slocum’s conquering banner waved,
And the God of Nations with victory blessed
The battle his noble troops had braved?

549
If you fought in the wheatfield with Sickle’s crops
And breathed the cannon’s sulphurous breath,
And crazed and maddened by battle’s roar
You courted the Furies and danced with Death—
If in the peach orchard you tried to beat
The tiger of treason back to his lair
But were hunted in turn to your own retreat.
Then you were at Gettysburg; then you were there.

Can you tell me the story of Devil's Den?—
The rocky gorge that was won so well—
Were you at the taking of Round Top when
Brave Weed and the gallant Vincent fell?
O, noble martyrs! your sleep would be sweet
Did you know how grandly your work was done;
How you wrested victory from defeat—
How a nation was saved by a battle well won.

Did you stand with Hancock's troops at bay

In Hell’s seething vortex of carnage and smoke,
When the sea of rebellion surged that way

And on that bulwark of freedom broke—
When the daring Armistead in the van

Of Pickett’s Virginians leaped the wall
And forward in fancied victory ran

To fall as only the brave can fall?

What! You say you served in Von Steinwehr’s command,
That your place was on Cemetery Hill on the line

Of the Tarrytown road? Comrade, give me your hand,
Why it thrills me with joy as I clasp it in mine;

That is just where I stood when that bullet from town
Struck my leg; I could not go back to the rear

For the battle was on, so the boys laid me down
Almost fainting with pain and palsied with fear.

©, the tumult and terror! the blistering breath
(Ff brazen mouthed cannon,—the screaming of shell
As onward they sped on their errand of death,
O, that roaring and raging and withering hell!
The iron-freighted air was a tempest of spite
That thundered forth treason, rebellion and hate
And a fragment of shell hurling down from its height
Struck off my left arm. Do I grumble at fate?

No, comrade, ’tis only my sacrifice. You
Perhaps have made less, while others made more;
But the stars of our flag in their clear field of blue
Are brighter with glory than ever before.
So shake again, comrade, our fighting is done,
But our sons will guard well what their sires did save,
This grandest of countries under the sun,
This land of the free and this home of the brave.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE FIRST VETERAN CAVALRY
By Col. John J. Carter.

Capt. H. Wells Hand, Nunda, N. Y.: Titusville, Pa., March 18, 1908.

Dear Sir :—Have finished a hurried sketch of the First New York Veteran
Cavalry as a fighting unit, showing how, when, and where formed, giving an
outline of its organization, what commands attached to in the service; the names
of the commanders whom it served, and the list of battles in which it partici-
pated. I, also, give a list of its casualities in parallel columns beside the 27th
and 33rd Regiments out of which a large number of its men came. I could not
go into detail regarding individual officers or companies, for that would com-
prehend a history ot the regiment, which I have neither the time or data to com-
plete. I might have said something interesting concerning my own command,
but I concluded that it would not be wise to do that for fear of doing injustice
by comparison, to some of my old companions. The sketch—what it is—short
and sweet—true in fact and statement. Let it go into history!

THE CALL TO ARMS

The news of the attack on Sumter, and the surrender of the garrison un-
der Major Anderson on Sunday, the 14th of April, 1861, created universal ex-
citement in the Free States. Indignation and enthusiasm went hand in hand,
and were the watchwords of the people; and “War with its wide desolation,
threatened our land to deform!” God defend the right was the prayer on the
lips of everyone!

On the morning of the 13th of April, 1861, the New York Tribune con-
tained the following editorial from the pen of Horace Greeley:

“Fort Sumter is lost, but freedom is saved. There is no more thought of
bribing or coaxing traitors who have dared to aim their cannon-balls at the flag
of the Union and those who gave their lives to defend it. It seems but yester-
day that at least two-thirds of the journals of this city (New York) were the
virtual allies of the secessionists, their apologists, their champions. The roar of
the great circle of batteries pouring their iron hail upon devoted Sumter has
struck them all dumb. * * * The aspect of the people appalls them.
Democrats as well as Republicans, Conservative and Radical, instinctively feel
that the guns fired at Sumter were aimed at the heart of the American Repub-
lic. * * * Fort Sumter is temporarily lost, but the country is saved. Live
the Republic!”

On the morning of the 16th of April, 1861, appeared the “Proclamation” of
President Lincoln, calling for 75,000 men, “in order to suppress said combina-
tions, and to cause the laws to be duly executed.” It was hailed with enthusias-
tic approval throughout the Free States. Proffers of men and money from
every State, this side of the Rocky Mountains, poured into Washington, so that,
it seemed as if the people were ready with force and arms to vindicate the au-
thority and maintain the integrity of the Union.

Heretofore the Democrats of the North seemed to sympathize with the
South rather than with the North, but in only a few instances far enough to
justify secession. Now, there seemed to be no diversion of sentiment—all were
of one opinion—liberty or death!

551
 

 

 

 

 

Joun J. CARTER Caper. H. W. Hann
Capt. First Veteran Cav. 39th U.S. A. Inf.

 

 

 

 

 

ALBERT S. Haver Carr. Jno. W. Hann
Co. A. 104.N. Y. V. 136 N.Y. V.
Public meetings, patriotic addresses, and the universal muster of the peo-
ple, on the side of the government, became the order of the day. Business and
pleasure were merged into patriotism; the love for the Union had taken the
place of that for the family and the fireside: God had taken the place of
mammon !

In the universal upheaval, incident to the attack upon individual liberty
and the Union of the States, the farmer turned away from his plough, the
mechanic forsook his tools, the merchant closed his shop, the lawyer left his
brief unused and became a willing advocate of law and liberty, the student left
his lessons and his books that he might become a soldier, commerce slackened
sail and housed ship that her sailors might become man-of-war's men in the
navy of the United States. The whole North, from Maine to the Rocky Moun-
tains, became a military camp; for the youth of the Free States, irrespective of
calling, creed, birth, or condition had placed their services at the disposal of the
government. Perhaps it is not overstating the fact to say: no such patriotic
uprising had ever characterized any other people in the history of the world;
and the voice of the people at that time, became as near the voice of God as it
is possible for a human being to interpret!

In the midst of the conditions herein presented, in the State of New York
there was a body of young men who had enlisted in April, 1861, who were
formed into thirty-eight regiments, known as two-year regiments, because their
term of enlistment was for two years. These regiments, being among the first
to organize—some of them were in the first battle of Bull Run, on July 21,
1861—formed the nucleus of the Grand Army of the Potomac, which, under
McClellan, Burnside and Hooker, opposed Lee and Jackson's splendid fighters,
in the battles of the peninsula, South Mountain, Crampton’s Pass, .\ntietam.
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and became veterans of whom the army
and the nation were proud.

At the close of the Chancellorsville campaign, which proved so disastrous
to the Union cause, the term of the two-year regiments had expired, and they
were mustered out of the service of the United States. The time of their dis-
charge was not the brightest period in the country’s history. The Army of the
Potomac had met defeat, and had recrossed the Rappahannock River to its old
camp, back of Stafford Heights—there to rest and renew its strength = The
spirit and patriotism of that army were never dimmed in camp, march or bat-
tle. When defeated in battle, it retreated in order, always with face to its fore,
healed its wounds, closed up the gaps in its ranks, and gave battle at the next
opportunity without fear. Its glory and valor will live forever in song ana
story.

Among the two year men discharged at that time, were the 27th and 33rc
Regiments of Infantry, New York Volunteers. In their ranks there were
neither conscripts or mercenaries. The men had been recruited from the best
type of American manhood, and the veterans then discharged were splendid
representatives of their class—proud and patriotic sons of the Republic. The
history of these two-year regiments forms one of the brightest chapters in the
annals of human liberty—because the record presents the citizen, the volunteer,
and the veteran soldier in the garb of the patriot—full of hope, without fear,
or hope of reward; duty was as clearly defined in his mind, as the sun at mid-

553
day; he had faith in the justice of his cause, and intense love for his country
led him in battle—like a pillar of a cloud by day, and by night a pillar of fire.

The regiments just mustered out, coniposed of such material, it was no won-
der that many of the officers and men offered their services to the government
before the ink on their discharges was dry. To meet the patriotic wishes of
these veterans, as outlined by many, Col. R. F. Taylor, commander of the 33rd
Regiment of Infantry, was authorized to organize the First New York Veteran
Cavalry, with the view of gathering under the new flag as many of the 27th
and 33rd Veterans as desired to join the cavalry arm of the service. An invita-
tion by Col. Taylor to the officers of the two regiments named resulted in many
of them taking commissions in the First New York Veteran Cavalry, which
completed its organization in a little over sixty days from the date of the dis-
charge of the two-year men from the army. The men assembled at Geneva,
New York; were formed into companies, squadrons, battalions, and a regiment
with banners, which was mustered into the United States service, under date
of September 18, 1863, with the following field and staff:

Col. R. F. Taylor, Rochester, N. Y., from 33rd New York.

Lt. Col. John S. Platner, Geneva, N. Y., from 33rd New York.

Major Wells, from 27th New York.

Major Jerry Sullivan, Rochester, N. Y., from 13th New York.

Major J. Elliott Williams, Rochester, N. Y., civil life.

Quartermaster Henry Alexander, Rochester, N. Y., from 33rd New York.

Adjutant A. H. Nash, Geneva. N. Y.

Sergeant Major Eugene Davis, Olean, N. Y., from 27th New York.

When the regiment was mustered, twelve full companies answered the call,
and the officers and men fairly represented both the old regiments in numerical
strength. It is not within the scope of this sketch to deal with the individual
companies or the officers of the ist New York Veteran Cavalry; the regiment
as a fighting unit only, claims attention.

Shortly after being mustered into the United States service, the regiment
was ordered to Washington, D. C., and was immediately sent to Camp Stone-
man, at Geisboro Point, where it went into a camp of instruction, and began its
labors incident to the cavalry arm of the service. Soon after reaching this camp,
swords and carbines were issued to each company that the men might become
familiar with their use at as early a date as possible. Within a month, from the
date of the regiment's introduction to Camp Stoneman, splendid progress had
been made in the dismounted drill, and the officers and men were complimented
by Col. McIntosh, who commanded the Camp. In the use of the sword and car-
bine, too, the men had made progress. It only remained for the regiment to be
mounted, in order that the use of arms on horseback be as well understood as
on foot, to bring the regiment to a war footing.

Early in November, 1863, the welcome news came that the regiment was
to be mounted. No man ever rejoiced more than the men of the First New
York Veteran Cavalry on the receipt of their horses. Saddles and_ bridles,
blankets and haiters, soon followed; then commenced the arduous task of teach-
ing the men and horses their relations to each other, and the men the use and
abuse of the horse, how to mount and dismount, how to handle a sabre to advan-
tage, how to use a carbine and pistol with safety to both horse and man, and
with effect on an enemy—finally, how to become a cavalryman—a Centaur with
brains. 554
If attention to details and drills be an earnest of proficiency in the school of
the cavalryvman, the First New York Veteran Cavalry should be skilled in their
profession, for they had dismounted drills and mounted drills—in squads, com-
panies, squadrons, battalions and as a regiment. There was an expert swords-
man, a I'rench Cavalry officer, on hand to instruct the officers, and they in turn
imparted instruction to the men. The practice was regular and continuous,
until the men handled their blades with the spirit of a Samurai, and the preci-
sion of a Matador. They practiced with the carbine, too, until both horse and
man were familiar with their use. An extract from a journal kept at the time
will show how these drills were conducted: “Up at 6:30 for stable call.
Weather freezing. After breakfast had carbine drill on horseback. Squadron
drill mounted after dinner.” The next day: “Up at 3:30 to get horses shod,”
following which on the next day: “Had mounted squadron drill in the fore-
noon, mounted carbine and sabre drill in the afternoon.” It was drill in the
morning, drill in the afternoon, and parade in the evening, without letup or
hindrance, until the first of February, 1864. when the welcome order came to go
to Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and begin active service in the field as a cavalry
command.

The regiment reached Harpers Ferry on the fifth of February, and on the
following day Captain Carter took command of the first scouting party sent out
by the regiment. His orders comprehended Charlestown, Smithfield, Bunker
Hill, Winchester, New Town, and Cedar Creek, returning by the Shenandoah
River to the starting point. For four days the command continued to advance
southward, sometimes on the broad road, leading down, over which Sheridan
made his famous ride at a later date, at other times over fields, through woods,
and across private pathways, until New Town had been reached in the advance,
always in search of the enemy, who seemed to be everywhere, yet nowheres in
evidence. During the afternoon of the fourth day, while in New Town, it be-
came evident that the command was in the enemy's country, for evidence of the
gathering of the rebel clans in secret conclave was brought to the officer in com-
mand by faithful negroes. It was determined upon receipt of this evidence to ge
no farther south, and the course of the scouting party was changed to cover the
Shenandoah River, as per instructions. Hardly had the change been made.
when there appeared on the left flank of the command, a few horsemen it
gray, who were keeping close watch on the movements of the detachment. De-
termined to develop the strength of these flankers, the commander, with a half
dozen trusty men, crossed the fields ahead of the flankers, shielded by a friendly
wood, and confronted them face to face. There were only five of them in the
party, two of whom fell at the first volley. The others fled, leaving in the pos-
session of the scouting party two wounded prisoners, and their horscs and equip-
ment. Not deeming it prudent to follow the retreating men further, the ccm
mand proceeded without further incident, until early in the afternoon to the sur-
prise and pleasure of all, Major Sullivan and two battalions of the First New
York appeared in front of the scouting party. The Major had been sent after
the scouting party, to intercept it on its return path, lest it should be overcome
by a superior force of the enemy, known at headquarters to rendezvous in that
section through which the scouting party was passing. It was evident that
someone had blundered, at headquarters, in ordering the scouting party so far

555
away from its base, and Major Sullivan saved a fight and perhaps a failure by
his forced march and timely appearance.

The first blood had been spilt by the regiment during this scout. The scoui-
ing party returned withcut detriment to itself and with considerable experience
adaed to its equipnient.

Immediately afterwards the regimeni was assigned to the brigade of Briga-
dier General Neily, and remained in that position until assigned to the brigade
of General Duftie, afterwards the division of General Averell, then to the divi-
sion of General Stall, under Sigle, Hunter, Crook and Sheridan.

From the fifth day of February to the first of September, 1864, a period of
seven months, the First New York Veteran Cavalry participated in the battle of
Snickers Gap, March 6, 1864; Mount Jacksen, May 13, 1864; New Market,
May 15. 1864; Harrisonburg, June 3, 1864; Lynchburg, June 18, 1864; Lee
Town, July 3, 1864; John Brown's Church, July 6, 1864; Snickers Ferry, July
22, 1864; Kernestown, July 24, 1864; Charlestown, July 30, 1864; and all the
skirmishes incident and connected with the campaign of the Shenandoah in
18604, between the dates named. The regiment became thoroughly acquainted
with every road and bypath in the Shenandoah Valley, from Shepherdstown to
Staunton. It captured more men in actual battle than it had in its ranks, twice
over. It sustained the reputation of the two regiments from. which it was
rormed, and left the service with the respect of its commanding officers and the
thanks of the American people. Its regimental losses are placed in parallel col-
umns beside the old regiments for convenience of comparison:

REGIMENTAL LOSS IN WAR

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

 

 

 

Organized | Arm of | Designation Killed in Action and Died of Disease During Grand Total
Date of | Service of Regiments Died of Wounds Service of All
| Officers | Men | Total Officers Men Total
May 1861 | Infantry | 27th NY| 2 72 | 74 2 70 72 146
May 1861 | Infantry | 33rd NY| 3 44 | 47 105 105 152
July 1863 Cavalry ,lstVNY 4 56 | 60 1 89 90 150

 

 

As for the rest, are they not written in the archives of the Civil War, and
in the hearts of the American people!

COMPANY B, Ist VETERAN CAVALRY

Capt. John J. Carter (three years) age 21.
First Lieut. Edmund W > Blossom, age 24, not from Nunda.
Second Lieut. John W. Alexander, age 21, not from Nunda.

Three Officers and 99 Men

Andross, Marvin C., age 22, enlisted August 19th at Nunda, veteran.
Adams, John, age 21, enlisted August 21st at Geneva.

Arnold, William, age 43, enlisted August 21st at Rochester.
Atwood, Edwin R., age 21, enlisted September 2nd at Geneva.
Brown, Levi, age 42, enlisted September 26th at Geneva.

Becker, Lewis C., age 25, enlisted July 25th at Rochester, veteran.
Brace, Hiram, age 21, enlisted August 15th at Nunda.

556
Bowen, John J., age 21, enlisted .\ugust 19th at Nunda, veteran.
Boorman, John H., age 27, enlisted August 4th at Rochester.

Black, William H., age 21, enlisted August 25th at Scio.

Bentley, William, age 23, enlisted August 18th at Amity.

Baker, Jack W., age 18, enlisted August 21st at Prattsburg.

Bassett, Charles S., age 21, enlisted September 15th at Warsaw, veteran.
Clark, Jacob I°., age 18, enlisted September 8th at Prattsburg.

Crowley, Lyman W., age 18, enlisted September 22nd at Eagle.
Connell, Oscar 13., age 21, enlisted September 24th at Rochester.
Carroll, Thomas, age 27, enlisted September ist at Nunda.
Chamberlin, Horton, age 18, enlisted September 23rd at Nunda.

Cain, Alfred H., age 18, enlisted August 21st at Nunda.

Carrollton, Cyrus, age 24, enlisted September 2oth at Geneseo.

Coper, John F., age 21, enlisted August 6th at Rochester.

Draper, Frank LB., age 17, enlisted August 6th at Warsaw.

Dodge, Frank H., age 21, enlisted August 24th at Rochester.

Duryea, Scuyler, age 21, enlisted August 25th at Nunda, veteran.
Dudley, George W.. age 22. enlisted August 14th at Brockport, veteran.
Dick, James N., age 18, enlisted .\ugust 15th at Rochester, veteran.
Dingman, Levant, age 21, enlisted August 17th at Geneva.

Evans, Austin, age 23, enlisted September oth at Nunda.

Echer, Wm. A., age 21, enlisted August 15th, at Nunda.

Firman, Henry H., age 18, enlisted August 1oth at Warsaw.

Fox, Edwin R., age 21. enlisted August 31st at Rochester, veteran.
French, Julius C.. age 32, enlisted August 17th at Nunda, veteran.

Fox, Henry, age 21, enlisted August 27th at Rochester, veteran.
Gordon, Jefferson, age 25, enlisted September 17th at Geneva, veteran.
Glasgow, William, age 20, enlisted September r7th, at Geneva, veteran.
Gregor, Lewis, age 37, enlisted September 7th at Ogdensburgh.
Hitchcock, Joseph H., age 21, enlisted August 31st at Nunda.

Hemerson, David, age 18, enlisted August 25th at Rochester.

Hilyer, James M., age 28, enlisted July 25th at Nunda.

Harrison, William, age 37. enlisted July 21st at Rochester, veteran.
Holbrook, Dan C., age 1g, enlisted August roth at Geneva.

Hurlburt, Lyman, age 18, enlisted September 7th at Eagle.

Holley, Lewis. age 21, enlisted September 7th at Nunda.

Hines, Charles A., age 17. enlisted September 7th at Rochester, veteran.
Jenner, Charles K., age 30, enlisted August 8th at Rochester.

Jones, John B., age 19, enlisted September 7th at Geneseo.

Johnson, Erasmus W., age 32, enlisted at Nunda.

Kiley, Michael, enlisted September 7th at Nunda, veteran.

Livingston, Alonzo A., age 21, enlisted September 24th at Rochester, veteran.
Long, Cora Randall, age 25, enlisted September 16th at Amiti.

Luce, Samuel, age 24, enlisted September 17th at Geneseo, veteran.
Luce, George, age 30, enlisted August 20th at Rochester, veteran.
Murray, John T., age 32, enlisted August 20th at Batavia, veteran.
Miller, Jonathan, age 23, enlisted August 17th at Prattsburg.

Myers, Martin H., age 22, enlisted July 28th at Nunda.

Morgan, Jeremiah, age 22. enlisted August 21st at Pike.

557
Murphy, Patrick, age 19, enlisted September 20th at Rochester, veteran.
Maltman, Wm., age 27, enlisted August 3rd at Geneseo, veteran.
Manual, Jas., age 22, enlisted July 28th at Rochester, veteran.
Mackin, James, age 21, enlisted August 25th at Nunda, veteran.
Meech, Rubin, age 23, enlisted August 29th at Pike.

Martin, Nicholas, age 23, enlisted July 29th at Rochester.

Madden, Charles, age 19, enlisted August 12th at Rochester.

Miller, Unah, age 22, enlisted August 18th at Rochester.

Nott, Lindorf, age 24, enlisted August 23rd at Batavia, veteran.
Paige, Perrin B., age 26, enlisted July 2nd at Nunda.

Patterson, Henry, age 21, enlisted August 29th at Pike.

Perkins, Merritt H., age 19, enlisted July 28th at Rochester.
Permenter, James C., age 18, enlisted July 3rd at Rochester.

Quinn, John, age 26, enlisted August 26th at Nunda-Portage.
Rowell, George, age 45, enlisted August 25th at Nunda-Portage, veteran.
Reynolds, Orville, age 22, enlisted July 31st at Nunda.

Rogers, F., age 28, enlisted July 25th at Nunda.

Rich, Ira, age 33, enlisted August 3rd at Geneseo.

Ross, William W., age 21, enlisted August 17th at Rochester, veteran.
Smith, Philip, age 26, enlisted August 19th at Nunda.

Smith, Henry, age 26, enlisted August 18th at Nunda, veteran.

Smith, Thomas, age 22, enlisted August 6th at Batavia.

Smith, James, age 23, enlisted August 17th at Warsaw, veteran.
Smith, William, age 30, enlisted August 13th at Rochester.

Skillan, John, age 21, enlisted August 24th at Nunda, veteran.
Stoddard, William, age 26, enlisted July 20th at Rochester, veteran.
Steward, Albert D., age 18, enlisted August 1st at Batavia.

Scott, Ridway, age 39, enlisted August 6th at Batavia.

Stiles, Addison, age 38, enlisted September ist at Rochester, veteran.
Talmage, Samuel S., age 23, enlisted August 8th at Nunda.

Van Liew, James L., age 24, enlisted August 7th at Gainesville, veteran.
Van Slyke, George, age 21, enlisted August 20th at Geneva.

Veazee, Charles D., age 21, enlisted September 24th at Geneva.
Walker, William Edward, age 24, enlisted August 5th at Nunda.
Weaver, Jacob, age 21, enlisted \ugust 8th at Nunda, veteran.

White, William, age 18, enlisted August 7th at Warsaw.

Wakley, Isaac P., age 21, enlisted September 3rd at Batavia, veteran.
Wentink, John, age 21, enlisted September 7th, at Rochester, veteran.

 

558
MISCELLANEOUS INFANTRY REGIMENTS
13th New York Infantry

Lester Barnes of Nunda has the honor of being the first soldier to enlist
from Nunda. He went to Rochester as he knew there would be recruiting
for the army there.—Mt. Morris, N. Y.

Orrin H. Cook of Dansville enlisted at Dansville in the company there
formed—Company B—but has lived in Nunda since the war.—Nunda, N. Y.

OTHER INFANTRY REGIMENTS
27th New York Infantry

Commanded by Col. W. H. Slocum, who became successively Brigadier
General, Major General, and Corps Commander.

This regiment was brigaded with the 33rd New York and the veterans of
the two regiments formed the tst Veteran Cavalry. As Nunda had a com-
pany in the 33rd and in the Veteran Cavalry she has special interest in this
regiment.

1—Marvin Magee, from Nunda, age 20, enlisted May 21, 1861, to serve
two years; mustered in as private Company H; mastured out with company
May 31, 1863. at Elmira, N. Y.; subsequent service in Company F, 14th New
York Artillery.

2—Philander Magee, of Nunda, age 21, enlisted May 11, 1861, at Mt.
Morris, to serve two years; mustered in as private Company H; sickened and
died.

3—Theodore Magee, age 23, enlisted March 1, 1862, at Elmira to serve
two vears; mustered in as private Company H; wounded June 27, 1862, at
Gains Mills, Va.; sent to hospital; completed service in 104th New York; died
March, 1904, at Elmira.

4—William Magee, age 25 years, enlisted March 1, 1862, to serve two
years, private, Company H; completed service in togth New York.

FORMER CITIZENS OF NUNDA

Charles N., age 21, enlisted (from Lima College) May 7, 1861, to serve
two years: mustered as a private Company G, May 21, 1861; wounded June
27, 1862, at Gains Mills, Va.; discharged for disability resulting from wounds,
September 11, 1862; died at Texas, 1908.

Gardener C. Curtis (whose parents lived in Nunda), age 37, enrolled
May 17, 1861, as Captain of Company I, May 21, 1861, as Major; resigned
July 24, 1862. Lives in California.

Frank H. Gardner, age 22 years, enlisted June 16, 1862, at Elmira, private,
Company I; promoted Corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company
May 31, 1863.

VICINITY SOLDIERS
27th New York

Benjamin S. Coffin, Oak Hill, age 21, enlisted May 7. 1861 (from Lima
College) to serve two years; mustered as private, Company G; promoted
Corporal November 1, 1861, Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant March 1,
1862; mustered out May 31, 1863, at Elmira, N. Y.; died 1906.

559
Wilbur Haver (from Oakland), enlisted at Angelica (where he was at-
tending school) May 13, 1861, to serve two years, private, Company I; pro-
moted Corporal; killed May 3, 1863, at Fredericksburg, Va.

Bailey Evans, age 20 years, enlisted July 5, 1861, private, Company F
(belonged to Hall Port) ; mustered out with company.

Milliman Gardner, 22nd New York Infantry; captured and died in Ander-
sonville.

50th New York Infantry, or First Engineers

Samuel Sturgeon, of Nunda.

52nd New York

Charles R. Woodworth; lost an arm and was discharged; died at Nunda.

Jesse R. Squires; regiment unknown.

John Batterson; regiment unknown.

John Ames; went with regiment to Texas.

I. Justin Depuy intended to go in this regiment but as he was but 17 he
was not allowed to go; served 14 days.

86th New York

John J. Bowen, chief musician.

97th New York
Husted Green.
Alva J. White; died.

126th New York
George W Fuller; killed at Romeo Station.

140th New York
Albert R. Barnes (drafted), assigned to Company E, served in govern-
ment printing office; perished at the Ashtabula bridge calamity.

85th New York Regiment

The town of Granger, whose citizens generally either enlisted at Nunda
or Fillmore, raised a company of men under the superb leadership and enthusi-
asm of Capt. T. J. Thorp. Although no man from Nunda joined this company
several of its members have lived here, and some of its men in the old insti-
tute days attended school here, so a passing mention of some of them may be
of interest to their friends. They are not to be counted as a part of the Nunda
soldiery.

Capt. T. J. Thorp, who resigned to become Lieutenant Colonel of the
130th New York.

Lyman P. Carver, age 25, born in Nunda village (and lived in the town
17 years), enlisted September 2, 1861, at Whitesville; mustered as Corporal
September 6th, as Sergeant, March 2, 1862; captured in action April 20, 1864,
at Plymouth, N. C.; escaped from Andersonville, November 10, 1864; mus-
tered out January 23, 1865; has since died.

Eli Hooker, age 39, enlisted September 1, 1861, at Angelica; mustered as
Corporal, Company E, November 18, 1861; discharged for disability April 1,
1862. He lived at Dalton and in Nunda village. Died in Nunda, 1908.

William E. Dunn, age 18, born in Nunda, enlisted at Black Creek, private,

560
Company F, promoted Corporal August 28, 1862; re-enlisted as a veteran
January 1, 1864; captured April 20, 1864, at Plymouth, N. C.; died while a
prisoner at Florence, S. C., October 10, 1864; has marker at Dalton.

Portage Men in Company E

Albert Owen Taber, age 28, Sergeant, Company E; died of disease Octo-
ber 28, 1862, at Suffolk, Va.

Charles Buckbee, age 21, enlisted September 1, 1861; re-enlisted as a vet-
eran January 1, 1864; captured in action April 20, 1864, at Plymouth, N. C.;
confined in Andersonville; no further record.

A. Jackson Parks, of Grove, age 21, enlisted September 1, 1861, in Com-
pany E.; discharged for disability January 28, 1863; (member of Hunts and
Dalton Posts, G. A. R.); died 1908.

John H. Parks, age 19, enlisted August 26, 1861. at Black Creek, private,
Company F.; discharged for disability October 28. 1863; died at home and
buried at Dalton.

Joel E. Parks, age 25, enlisted September 17, 1861, in Company B, at
Springwater ; discharged for disability February 9, 1863.

Jefferson M. Parker, enlisted at Granger; mustered as First Sergeant,
Company E, October 10, 1861; captured May 31, 1862, at Seven Pines, Va.;
died in captivity at Richmond, Va., July 23, 1862. (Student of the Nunda
Literary Institute in 1858.)

George W. Jones, age 21, Corporal, promoted Sergeant November 1, 1862;
re-enlisted as a veteran January 1, 1864; captured in action at Plymouth, N. C.;
died of starvation December 17, 1864, at Port Royal. S. C.

John A. Jones, age 21, enlisted September 1, 1861; mustered as Corporal
November 7, 1861, promoted Sergeant January 17, 1863; re-enlisted as a vet-
eran January 1, 1864; captured April 20, 1864, at Plymouth, paroled; mustered
out with company.

Geo. \V Benjamin, age 23, enlisted September 1, at Granger; mustered
as Corporal, Company E;; re-enlisted as a veteran; captured in action April
20, 1864, paroled; mustered out with detachment June 7th.

James H. Bennett of Granger, Company E; died at Andersonville.

George N. Pitt, age 24, enrolled as Sergeant, Company E, promoted First
Sergeant November 1, 1862, Second Lieutenant January 17, 1863; captured
April 20, 1864, at Plymouth, N. C., paroled; discharged March 24, 1865.

It is a trying task to give even a limited number of the names of Company
—E for the whole regiment was captured at Plymouth, N. C., April 20th, and
222 men died in Confederate prisons; 361 men died from this regiment and
only 35 of these from bullet wounds.

89th Regiment, New York Infantry

A number of men enlisted in this regiment from N. Oak Hill. B. S.
Coffin, proud of this school district, gave me these names with others in other
regiments. Though they did not live in Nunda most of their names are familiar
to citizens of Nunda.
William L. Beers; killed in action September 17, 1862.
W. H. Chamberlain, Company C; lived in Dalton.

561
Tyrrell Burt, Company C; re-enlisted.

Anthony Dunlavy.

Norman Derfenbacker, Corporal; killed in action December 12, 1863.

Giles Foote, Company C.

Anson L. Keeney, Company G (See Hall Post roster residence, Perry.
N. Y.).

Elken Miner, Company C; buried in Nunda.

H. Marquis Vanderbelt.

Lanora Wilson.

Eugene Webster, Company C; belonged to C. WoW Post.

A. B. Welley; regiment not stated.

Chas. Hamlin; regiment not stated.

100th New York

Some veterans of this regiment who have lived in Nunda or vicinity:

John R. Gurnee, Corporal, Company Kk, tooth Regiment, with former
service in 148th New York; has lived in Nunda since the close of the war.

Dr. James Gilmore served as assistant physician through the war on
private’s pay, he having enlisted as such; he died in Nunda.

Edward L. Cook, mustered as private, Company B; mustered out as Cap-
tain, Company F.

28th New York

William H. Brady, Company F.. 28th New York, with subsequent service
in Company D, 29th Maine, has been a citizen of Nunda ever since war time.
He is one of two blind veterans who have lived in the town.

105th New York, Consolidated with the 94th New York

Lyman Gallup of Oakland enlisted at Le Roy (and said he asked to be,
credited to Nunda). His wife enlisted as a nurse, and received as much or
even more pension than her husband. He died at Hunts, 1906.

146th New York

William D. Lake of Hunts Hollow, one of four brothers who enlisted.
was captured and died in captivity.

Theodore Elliott of Hunts Hollow, Company B, 76th Regiment, was
drafted at the same time as Lake, and also perished.

147th New York

Charles H. Harris of Nunda was drafted and assigned to Company H;
discharged for disability ; died at home March 11, 1864; buried at Nunda.
John Hagadorn was drafted and died of disease at Port Pulaski, Ga. Has
marker at Nunda.
Charles H. Hamilton, Company H., served in this regiment and company ;
resides in Mt. Morris.
167th New York

Landen Willett assigned to 167th N. Y. L., captured, suffered greatly.
gives sketch of prison life, paroled; is living in Buffalo, N. Y.

562
188th New York Volunteers

This regiment was raised at a time when it cost $1,000 bounty to procure
a recruit for the service. Those who went from this town were loyal to duty.
A great many. however, deserted to enlist again for a second $1,000.

Company D—*\William Batterson, John Simpson.

Company E—David Corwin, Ezra Burdick, Benjamin Range.

Company not given—Wiilliam Doty; *John V Smith, died; John Lamp-
man, died.

Moses Cook, Company E, lived on North State Road. The house took
fire while his corpse was in it; the corpse was removed but the house was
burned down.

Note—I do not know of any similar circumstance having occurred any-
where.

Company E—David Myers, Abraham Turbush.

Company I—George R. W. Fay, killed in service, enlisted from Nunda;
Lawrence Pendegast, died in Nunda; Francis Adams.

*Warren H. Holmes, enlisted in Springwater, credited to Nunda; enlisted
for nine months in Company I; mustered out at close of the war.

Company G—William Burge; lives at Nunda.

Thomas Sanford, enlisted at Ossian; lives at Nunda; is 84 years old.

John P. Slocum, who lived at Nunda in his boyhood, and was principal
of the Nunda High School several vears, was a nephew of Maj. Gen. WH.
Slocum. He enlisted at 18, was offered a Lieutenancy but served as a private
soldier in 189th New York. He lives at Albany. N. Y.

Principal Wm. H. Rodgers, Nunda Academy. was chaplain of the 189th
Regiment. He resides at Wellsville.

NUNDA SOLDIERS WHO SERVED IN REGIMENTS OUTSIDE OF
THE STATE

James Carroll, 2nd District of Columbia Infantry.

Hall Turrell, Company G, 211th Pennsylvania: died 1891. The Major
of the regiment was his brother-in-law.

Corporal Corydon Crossett, 3rd Michigan: credited to Nunda, his former
home.

John Havens, tst Bucktails, Pennsylvania.

Stacy B. Warford, Company F, 8th Michigan Infantry.

Capt. Cyrus P. Shepard, Company D, 14th Wisconsin Infantry.

Harvey Shepard, 1st Minnesota Battery.

Capt. H. Wells Hand (2nd service), Company I, 39th U.S. C. Inf.

Col. Sheldon Sturgeon, ist New Orleans (Colored) Cavalry.

Harrison Peck, hospital steward.

Rev. James Marshall, chaplain at Fortress Monroe.

John Pulaski Wood, Captain and A. Adjutant General; served on Gen.
Gibbon’s staff.

Edward W. Carver. served in the roth Wisconsin, was captured and
finally exchanged. He came to Nunda greatly emaciated and was nursed back
to health. He is living at Thomsons Falls, Mont.

563
MISCELLANEOUS CAVALRY REGIMENTS

The Second Mounted Rifles
Peter DeMocker from Nunda.
John B. Sabin, age 17, from Nunda.

Second Service

Edwin Buchanan, previous service in Company F, 33rd New York.
Jeremiah Morrison, previous service in Company F, 33rd New York.
Albert P. Watson, previous service in Company F, 33rd New York.
George Poole, previous service in Company F, 33rd New York.

Came to Nunda After the War
Charles Lynd, Company M.; resides at Dalton.
James Lynd, Company M.; died suddenly at Dalton.
6th Cavalry
Orren Nickerson, credited to Nunda; died in the service.

12th Cavalry
First Lieutenant James Sturgeon of Nunda.

8th New York Cavalry
Col. Samuel J. Crooks; resided in Nunda previous to the war; enrolled
at Rochester as Colonel.
H. L. Norton, Sergeant, Company D; came to Nunda after the war.

21st Cavalry
Theodore Cummings, Company M.; came to Nunda after the war.

24th Cavalry

Joseph Mason of Nunda; buried at Nunda. This regiment was brigaded
with the 2nd Mounted Rifles.

10th Michigan Cavalry
Peter Roberts, Hiram Hay, enlisted in Michigan ; both belonged in Nunda.

ARTILLERY REGIMENTS
4th Heavy Artillery

The men who enlisted in heavy artillery regiments from this vicinity nat-
urally supposed they were to defend the Capitol of the nation and serve in the
fortifications.

After General Grant took command of the armies, he saw these vast
regiments, composed of vigorous men already acclimated from their stay in
Washington, and he ordered them to the front to do the work of infantry. In
a short time several of these regiments suffered losses entitling them to be
enrolled on the bloody records of the “Three Hundred Fighting Regiments,”
because of their casualties at the Wilderness and Cold Harbor.

Comparatively few of the Nunda soldiery had chosen this branch of
service, but Portage, Granger and Fillmore were well represented. The men
from Nunda were:

564
Charles Cole, or Coe, Company L, age 21, enlisted November 9, 1862; mus-
tered out with company as Charles Coe.

De\Wain Conklin, Company L, age 21, enlisted October 30, 1862, as private
at Nunda; mustered out with company September 26, 186s.

John Provo, Company G, age 28, enlisted January 19, 1864; captured
August 25, 1864, paroled March, 1865; mustered out June 3, 1865; died at
Nunda, February 22, 1895.

William C. Robinson, age 18, enlisted November ro, 1862, at Nunda;
mustered as private, Company L, appointed Corporal April 26, 1864; mus-
tered out with company September 26, 1865, at Washington, D. C.

*Lamire E. \Willey, Company L, age 18, enlisted in 1864 in Company G.
The latter was captured and died in captivity.

Reuben \V Mayhew, age 21, enlisted from Portage, private, Company D;
discharged for disability January 13, 1863, at Fort Ethan Allen, Va.

Andrew J. Frayer, transferred from the 8th N. Y. H. A.; resides at Ithaca.

Not from Nunda

Rufus Chandler, born in Nunda, enlisted from Portage; died from disease
during his term of service; buried in Nunda.

Salmon Farr, transferred from Company I, Dragoons, February 12, 1863;
buried at Nunda.

Edwin J. Pettys, age 36, enlisted from Hume, private, Company F; mus-
tered out with company; lived in Nunda before and after the war: died at
Dalton; buried at Nunda, 1906.

Darwin Wait. age 21, Company F, wounded June 18, 1864; mustered out
June 3, 1865.

Theodore Lb. Wait, age 24, Company F.; mustered out December 24, 1864.

Andrew J. Oakly, age 21, enlisted September, 1862, to serve one year;
mustered out May 31, 1865; died at Nunda, April 30, 1905.

Aaron Burroughs, age 31, enlisted at Portage, November 5, 1862, private,
Battery D; mustered out with battery; lived at Nunda before and after the
war; died at Dalton; buried at Hunts Hollow.

Vicinity Soldiers of the 4th Heavy Artillery
Alonzo Aldrich, age 27, enlisted December 26, 1862, private, Battery D;

mustered out with company.

Edwin C. Aldrich, enlisted January 1, 1864, Company F; mustered out
with company.

Earl A. Allen, age 18, enlisted January 1, 1864, private, Company F; mus-
tered out with battery; resides in Portage.

Augustus Beardsley, age 30, hospital stewart, Battery E; died at Portage-
ville, 1905.

George W. Brigham, Corporal.

Lucius H. Barron, age 2I, private, Battery L; mustered out with battery ;

died at Portland, Oreg., 1890.
Henry Hagadorn, transferred from Company D, 126th N. Y.; missing in

action since the battle of Spottsylvania, May 18, 1864.
Henry H. Holley, age 22, Company F’; mustered out with battery; resides

at Hunt.
565
William H. H. Hovey, age 21, enlisted November 11, 1862, private, Com-
pany D; discharged for disability December 21, 1864; died at Dalton, 1897.
His widow resides in Nunda.

Joseph N. Guptill, age 21, private, Company F, captured and paroled;
mustered out June 5, 1865; died at Warsaw, 1905.

Michael Laughlin, age 34, enlisted January 1, 1862; wounded May 25,
1864; discharged because of wounds October 13, 1864.

Enos Adelbert Nash, age 18, enlisted February 16, 1864, private, Com-
pany F; captured and imprisoned at Richmond, Va.; paroled and sent to An-
napolis; brought home by his father, who did not recognize him when he saw
him.

A. J. Palmer, age 25, enlisted August 24, 1864, Company F, to serve one
year; died at Oakland; buried at Fillmore.

Robert Randall Parks, age 33, enlisted October 3, 1862, Company E; re-
sides at Hunt.

William Riley, age 24, enlisted January 4, 1864, at Portage, private, Com-
pany F; killed in action June 18, 1864, before Petersburg.

Jas. S. Spencer, age 18, enlisted February 16, 1864, at Portage, Company
F; sent to hospital, \Washington, and mustered out from there June 2, 1865.

E. B. Pierson, Company F; died at City Point; has a marker at Oakland,
Ne Ms

Robert Hall, age 23, private, Company F. from Portage, enlisted at Gen-
esee Falls June 1, 1864; mustered out September 26, 1865. (One of the three
Hall brothers who attended the Nunda Literary Institute.)

Rowland Ward, age 44, enlisted October 29, 1862, from Hunt's Hollow,
private of Company E; wounded in action August 25 1864, at Reams, Va. His
chin had been shot off and it was thought useless to try to save his life, but
as he was living three days after, an effort to save his life was then com-
menced. The skin was drawn together and sewed so as to form a boneless
chin. He was fed through a tube. He recovered and lived 4o years, but could
never eat solid food. He was discharged for disability at Lincoln General
Hospital June 23, 1865. This survivor (and the only one who survived such
a wound) became an object of general interest, quite as much at Washington
as at Hunts Hollow, where he lived for many years after the loss of his chin.
He was past 70 years of age when he died at Dalton. A special act of Congress
was necessary to pension this man as he was the only chinless soldier who sur-
vived his injuries. They fixed the amount at $70 a month.

THE 8th NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY

This colossal regiment of 2.575 soldiers—equal to two and one-half in-
fantry regiments—was one of the “three hundred regiments” that met with
wholesale slaughter, and thus became famous. Its list of killed numbered 361,
or 14 per cent. on its enrollment. The total of its killed and wounded num-
bered 1,010—besides 302 who died from disease, 102 of these in Confederate
prisons. At Cold Harbor, \’a., they lost in killed and mortally wounded 207.
The writer remembers seeing them as they passed along the defenses in front
of Petersburg, their clean uniforms telling they had seen no field service. He

566
remembers how well and vigorous they seemed—but the return was far dif-
ferent—the regiment no longer looked like a brigade. Fortunately for Nunda
but one man from here had been assigned to that regiment, and he perished
on that fatal day.

8th NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY

Alpheus Cyrene Willett, age 18, enlisted April, 1864, and was assigned to
Company M. He enlisted from Nunda village, corner of Mill and Fair Streets.
Two of his brothers, Oscar D. and Landen, had already enlisted and he went
as soon as old enough. This young patriot, “Wearing still on his boyish face
soon to be hid by the dust of the grave the lingering light of his boyhood
grace.” In less than two months his short military career closed and he per-
ished in battle, and if buried at all it was by strangers who would not even

“Carve on a wood slab at his head
Somebody's darling slumbers here.”

I parted with this child in years and looks, but mature man in heroism, in
Baltimore, when by accident we met, about the middle of April, 1864, his dim-
pled face as full of sunshine as ever, and the next I heard of him was that he
perished in battle with that worst of all fates— ‘Missing in battle’—buried
by foes, where and how forever unknown, but I am sure the foe felt that at
last Uncle Sam also was robbing the cradle to sustain an endangered cause.
It is hard even now for me to be reconciled to the death in battle of the youth
of our land, who so freely and nobly defended the country’s honor and flag,
but there were four great armies of these 18-year young patriots, one army
of many thousands for each year of the war. Our pride is greatest when we
think of their valor, but our sorrow equals our pride when we chronicle their
untimely end. That their memory be kept bright and their laurels unfading
is the primary object of this local record of heroism.

Andrew J. Frayer, age 18, enlisted at Gainsville, December 28, 1862;
mustered into Company k, transferred to Company I, 4th N. Y. H. A.; dis-
charged September 26, 1865. Lived in Nunda for many years after the war.
Was clerk, merchant and manufacturer and a zealous G. A. R.—Ithaca, N. Y.

Horatio Clapp, age 25, enlisted in Company AI; wounded four times; died
in Nunda, 1900.

Lorenzo D. Gifford, age 18, enlisted from Gainsville—Hunt, N. Y.

9th NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY

Aylor Aylor, enlisted from Grove, was a private in Company A, served
his term of enlistment; died and buried in Nunda. His widow and son reside
in Nunda.

William C. Maghew, enlisted from Oakland; mustered as private Com-
pany F; died, 1907.

George Britton, previous service in Company A, to4th New York; died in

the service.

George A. Pitcher, age 18, private, Company H. He lived at Dalton and
Nunda. Resides Olean, N. Y.

Jacob Sleih, enlisted from Grove; mustered as private, Company A.

Henry Swender, enlisted from Grove, Company A.

567
10th NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY

Robert Thompson, resides at Dexter, N. Y.
Rev. E. G. W. Hall, resides at Holland, N. Y.; was pastor of M. E. Church
and chaplain of Craig W. Wadsworth Post, Nunda.

14th NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY

Marvin J. Magee, Company F. transferred from to4th N. Y., June 29,
1863; (is the only survivor of the four Magee brothers, who went into the
service), Mrs. Winfield Batterson, their sister, so stated.

Philander Magee, Company F, transferred from tog4th N. Y.; while re-
turning from a sick leave died in New York harbor,

Geo. Henry Marsh, age 18, enlisted December 16, 1863, private, Company
I; served till close of the war, March 25, 1865.

Owen C. Hinkley, age 28, enlisted July 16, 1863, from Portage, private,
Company B; captured at Ft. Steadman, confined in Libbey prison, released
April 1, 1865; mustered out August 10, 1865; lived in Portage all his life;
died April, 1908.

AN UNFORTUNATE BATTERY

The 24th Independent Battery

Two “Ridge” men were among the victims; Edwin Eastwood and Laban
Shank though not from Nunda, we record their misfortunes.

There were fortunate or lucky companies and regiments, and there were
the reverse of this.

Among this latter class we may mention the 24th Independent Battery
of 160 men.

It was composed of men from Livingston, Wyoming and Monroe Coun-
ties, and though I recognize the names of but two men, and neither of them
from Nunda, but from the Ridge district of Mt. Morris. Edwin Eastwood
was a young man of about my own age, who attended my school at the Ridge
in 1858, and the other, Laban Shank, a little older, and, therefore, no longer
in school. I give the fatality of this large company to show the horrors of
and the dire fatalities incident to prison life in Southern prisons.

This is the list of deaths from all sources: Killed in battle 4; died of dis-
ease, 2 officers and 10 men; total 16.

Died from captivity: After reaching Federal lines, 3; at Charlestown
prison, 2; at Florence prison, 12; at Andersonville prison, 53; total, 70.

Died from prison life, 70; died from army life, 16; total loss, 86.

Eighty-six of the company perished, and only 74 of 160 returned home.

WAR OF 1861-65
Our Regulars and West Pointers

Major Edward Hunt, Col. Sheldon Sturgeon, Lieut. Lewis, Capt. Geo. J.
Campbell, Lieut. La Seur and Lieut Henry L. Carver.

At the beginning of the war we had four officers in the U. S. A. and one
in the U.S. N.

568
Major Edward Hunt’s Military Record

Born in New England, lived in Hunts Hollow from 1819 until he entered
West Point—1840—five years course, graduated as Brevet Second Lieutenant
July 1, 1845; Second Lieutenant, December 2y, 1845; First Lieutenant, July,
18530f Engineers.

Captain, July 1, 1859; Major, March, 1863; died (by accident) October
2, 1863.

Married Helen, afterwards known as the writer Helen Hunt, author of
Ramona, Helen Hunt Jackson. He was employed on fortifications such as
Fort Taylor, Key West. Lost his life on a floating dock, or embryo Monitor,
designed for coast defense.

Sheldon Sturgeon

West Point, 1856-1861, appointed May, 1861, Second Lieutenant; First
Lieutenant, June 24. 1861; Captain, April 25, 1862; Brevet Major and Brevet
Colonel, March 13, 1864, for gallant and meritorious service during the war.

Colonel 1st New Orleans Volunteers (Colored Cavalry), April 26, 1865;
mustered out of volunteer service August 15, 1865; transferred to 6th U. S,
Cavalry January 1, 1871; retired May, 1876; attached to the staff of Gen.
Banks, 1864.

Superintendent of recruiting service under Gen. Hurlburt and also under
Gen. Canby. Attached to the staff of Sheridan, supervising officer of registra-
tion for the seven southern parishes of Louisiana—had yellow fever and given
a five months leave: is not living.

Charles E. Lewis

First Lieutenant, Company I, ist New York Dragoons; 1861 appointed to
West Point; did not complete his studies but served as a volunteer officer
during the war.

George J. Campbell

Born 1834, enlisted January 13, 18601, at West Point, as private and artifi-
cer; served till 1853; assigned to engineers; eight and one-half years in 3rd
Engineers; re-enlisted in artillery, Battery C, Horse Artillery; appointed
Sergeant and Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant; appointed, May 18, 1864,
Second Lieutenant U. S. Cavalry; January 6, 1886, First Lieutenant in com-
mand of Company F, Maxwell's Ranch, in New Mexico; had charge of Com-
pany of soldiers, Infantry Department, 1877; duty as engineer officer at Little
Rock; Post Quartermaster, Fort Union; A. A. General and Acting Commis-
sary of Subsistance, Indian Department—Post of Pine Bluff; wounded, lost
left arm, left eye and portion of right hand. Lost arm by firing a field piece.
Retirement 29th of July, 1868, 54 years in army. Died at Nunda, 1907.

Melvin La Seur, 1st Lieutenant, 4th Heavy Artillery, U.S. A.

A youthful hero who would be sent home.

Melvin La Seur, or La Suir, as he was called on the Creek Road, was a
half brother of the Cains, three of whom, Alfred, Justus and William, were
valiant soldiers in the Civil War. He attended in youth the Cooperville
School. At the age of 16 he ran away from home to enlist as a soldier in the
Mexican War, as we have already narrated. He remained in the service after

569
the war—is nominally in it yet, for he became by reason of his long military
service a Lieutenant in the regular army—in the artillery branch of the
service. Alfred Erwin, his brother-in-law, stated that he was still living at
our last “home week” gathering. \\ hether he advanced farther than First
Lieutenant is not known. As he is now 75 years of age he has been retired
from active service before this time. He is the only living veteran of the Mex-
ican \War that went from Nunda. When the curly headed, half grown boy
went to Mexico in spite of relatives, generals and examination boards, re-
turned to Nunda during the Civil War, with the bright uniform, trimmed with
red, a commissioned officer, grown to a six footer, it is needless to say he
found a young lady—a Miss Bronson, a niece of the merchant of that name—
who was willing to try camp and garrison life on the plains with the regulars,
such was the power of a fine dashing uniform, if worn by a man who had
won his right to wear them and who—though a “non-grad” of Cooperville
School, messed on equal terms with West Point graduates.

This completes our short but interesting list of the officers of the regular
army from Nunda and the one private soldier we have knowledge of. There
were probably others in the ranks of the regulars.

Henry L. Carver, Brevet Captain and Quartermaster, U. S. A., served in
the regular army with Gen. Sibley, 1860, and received his brevet position.
He served through the Civil War. He died in 1894 and is buried at St. Paul.
This makes three officers who rose from the ranks to positions of equality
with West Pointers. I doubt if there is another town in New York where
this has happened.

Ira B. Perry, private, Company F, 14th U. S. Infantry.

Captain J. \V Hand was offered a commission in the regular army but
declined it.

SOLDIERS OF THE SPANISH WAR WHOSE FAMILIES LIVED IN
NUNDA

Charles Morris, Company L, 3rd Michigan, son of S. S. Morris, veteran.
Robert Slocum, son of J. P. Slocum, principal, veteran.

Fred Record, son of Orman R. Record, veteran.

Charles Howell.

Lewis Lockwood, son of Frank G. Lockwood, a veteran.

Philippine Insurrection

Archie Oakes, wounded.

SINCE THE WAR (REGULARS)

Herbert Crego, grandson of a veteran, 110th Company Coast Guards.

George Brady, son of a veteran.

Leonard Estabrook, grandson of a veteran.

Ross Redmond, 110th Company Coast Guards.

Frank R. Wright (pharmacy department; has re-enlisted for the third
time); is now employed in the recruiting service in New York City.

John Preston Fitzgerald, served one term.

570
OUR NUNDA CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NAVY

The Navy of the United States has always been conspicuous for its
achievements. It virtually, by its valor, brought about the treaty of peace
with England in our second war with the mother country.

As an effectual blockading force in the Civil \War it shut off supplies from
England and, combined with Sherman's march to the sea, through their great
store house of supplies, Georgia, brought the armies of the Confederacy to a
state bordering on starvation, while in its open warfare with its adversaries
on sea, river or land, it proved equal to every emergency. I[n that great world
drama of history, the Civil War, the navy played no secondary part. The
naval forces of the United States during the war numbered 132,544; of this
number only 7,600 were in the service when the war began.

The casualties in the navy during the entire war were 1,804 killed or
mortally wounded. and 2,249 wounded who survived; only 3,000 died of dis-
ease and accident. The deaths from disease were not in excess of the death
rate in civil life. In this respect the naval service has a great advantage over
service in the army, where the death rate from disease is three times as great
as that from other causes.

The strength in vessels of the navy at the beginning of the war was but
small, though Horace Greeley said “the Home Squadron of the United States,
most of which are ready for instant service, and all but three or four are now
in the port of New York. The list comprises 20 vessels carrying tgo guns
and 2,575 men, the largest naval force ever concentrated in one squadron since
the United States navy was organized It has more ships than the Channel
fleet of England.”

For the last 75 vears Nunda has not been without a representative in the
navy. During the Civil War she had but four men in this service.

William Long, boatswain, was in the navy all his mature life. He served
ior thirty years, mostly before the Civil War. He had a home in Nunda and
was married to Miss Helen Knights, who survives him, and now resides at
Newburyport, Mass. She was a sister of Needham Knights, a Nunda soldier.

John E. McDonald of Company A, 1ogth N. Y. (a sailor), asked to be
transferred to the navy and his request was granted. Of his further service
we are not informed.

William G. Tousey, enlisted in the navy August 25, 1862; served on
Barque Roebuck, Gunboat Huntsville, and Frigate St. Lawrence. (He now
owns a yacht, which is the only vessel in the Nunda navy.) <A fine student
before his enlistment he returned to Nunda, taught a public school, then went
to college (Tufts, Massachusetts), graduated, and has been a professor in that
growing college ever since.

\W. Parker Wright, a Nunda citizen and an expert machinist, was em-
ployed in the navy yards at Washington adjusting Dalgren guns. He was
a son of Oliver Wright, who lived on Portage Street after 1835, and whose
foundry, the first in the village, is still standing and is used as a livery stable.

Since the Civil War
Between the wars F. Marion Satterlee and Oscar Moerk served in the
navy; Moerk became a citizen of Nunda. (See picture of Satterlee and his
friend).

571
ANVIS] ANOVAT LV ‘XAVN ‘S ‘QQ ‘MANTIAA "Y UNVUD NIvidvy

 

 
In the Spanish War and Philippine Insurrection

F. A, Wilner, from 1873 to the present time.

Edward Fox.

Restus Woodward.

James J. McDowell:

Since the Spanish War

John Van Buskerk.

Elno Hinman.

Walter Hart.

Archie DeGroff.

Volney Yencer.

C. Fox.

Frank A. Wilner, graduate of Annapolis Naval Academy, prepared at
Nunda Academy (1867-69); entered Naval Academy July 22, 1869.

F. Marion Satterlee served from November 30, 1873, to December 9, 1876;
assigned as carpenter and rated as seaman; served on U. S. S. Colorado and
U.S. S. Ossipee.

Oscar Moeck, sailmaker; was a Dane, lived in Nunda with D. Passage
and H. D. Page, 1878 to 1880.

Edward Fox, died at sea.

Restus Woodard, died at Sea; brought home with military escort and high
commendation.

F, A. Wilner, Captain, U. S. Navy, born Ohio; appointed from New York,
June 22, 1869; was graduated, May 31, 1873; ensign, July 16, 1874; master,
March 25, 1880; lieutenant (junior grade), March 3, 1883; lieutenant, May 13,
1886; Alaska, European Station, August 5, 1873, to October 13, 1873; Wab-
ash, Key West, October 13, 1873, to April 1, 1874; Congress, European Station,
April 1, 1874, to August 26, 1875: Hartford. return to the U. S., August 25,

 

 

 

WatteR HaRK F. Marion SATTERLEE
573 and friend
 

 

 

LizuT.-CoL. Wm. N. ALwarp.
1875, to October 16, 1875; Vandalia, European Station, January 10, 1876, to
February 5, 1879; Nautical Almanac Office, May 21, 1879, to March 15, 1880;
U. S. S. Constellation, Irish Relief Cruise, March 17, 1880, to June 12, 1880;
U. S. Receiving-ship Passaic, Washington Yard, July 15, 1880, to December
13, 1880; Coast Survey, December 15, 1880, to September 25, 1883; in charge
Hydrographic party on schooner Silliman, December 9, 1882, to July 1, 1883:
Coast Survey Office, July 2, 1883. to September 25, 1883: U. S. S. Alert, Asiatic
Station, October 20, 1883, to September 25, 1886; Naval Ordnance Proving
Ground, January 3, 1887, to April 20, 1890; Essex, S. \. Station, April 22,
1890, to April, 1893: inspector of armor, June 8, 1893, to October, 1895; U.S. S.
Philadelphia, October 25. 1895: U. S. S. Adams, July, 1896, to January, 1898;
U.S. S. Monadnock, January, 1898, to December 31, 1898: promoted to lieuten-
ant commander, March 3, 1899; receiving-ship Wabash, April 8, 1899; training-
ship Dixie, August 18, 1900, to June, 1902; promoted commander, November
7. 1902; U. S. Naval Station, New Orleans, January 7, 1903. to November 16,
1903; commanding Topeka, November 20, 1903, to September 7, 1905; Inspector
First Light-House District, Portland, Me., December 1, 1905, to date.

Note—Crossed the Pacific Ocean during the Spanish \Var in the half
submerged monitor Monadnock, a greater achievement than the voyage of
the Oregon.—H. W. H.

Note—Since the compilation of this record Commander Wilder has been
in charge of the League Island Navy Yard until March, 1908. He has also
been promoted to Captain, U. S. N. (which is equivalent in rank to Colonel
U.S. A.). Since his promotion Captain \Vilner has been appointed to com-
mand of the first class U. S. Battleship Pennsylvania, and has assumed com-
mand of her, on the Pacific Coast. It has been the height of his ambition to
command a vessel of this order. We congratulate him on realizing his dream
of fame.

James J. McDowell, in Spanish War, enlisted as ship writer, served on
Terror; re-enlisted for four vears, appointed Chief Navigator's Clerk; served
on Newark, promoted to Chief Guardman’s Clerk; re-enlisted for a third term
of four years, served on the Culgoa and on the Battleship New Hampshire.
He died recently and is buried at Nunda.

John Van Buskirk. enlisted in 1903 as landsman for four years and served
his time.

Walter Hark, served on Dixie, under command of F A. Wilner.

Archie DeGraft.

Elno Hinman.

C. A. Fox, enlisted in 1888, and has served two terms of enlistment and is
still in service on the Kentucky.

Volney Yencer, served four vears in the navy from 1904 to 1908, and re-
enlisted for four years more.

. 58th REGIMENT OF NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARDS

The militia of the state rendered valuable service, especially where war
was liable to come. The Civil War did not have any battlefields in New York,
hence the principal duty of the many soldiers of the State Militia, with some
exceptions, did their work at home.

575
Large numbers of Confederate prisoners were guarded at Elmira, and
large numbers of Conscripts and high bounty men were sent under guards of
militia to the front.

The temptation to enlist frequently under assumed names, when the
bounty had reached $1,000, was so great that it was no light task to conduct
these men to the front.

” Here the militia became very serviceable and their journeys to City Point,
with Conscripts, who were generally good men, and bounty jumpers, who
were worthless in or out of the army; and guard duty over the military prison,
formed their chief service. Their chief benefit, however, after all, was reliev-
ing from these duties a like number of veteran soldiers who went to the front,
where every veteran soldier was worth at least three times as much as any
raw recruit, hence they were furnishing the army with the same number of
well drilled troops while they were learning to become soldiers. To those
soldiers who had seen actual service this three months service at Elmira was
simply a picnic after comfortable quarters were obtained to so serve Uncle Sam.

So many were eager to get into the service, and “out of the draft” that
they hastily recruited a detachment of men, and hastened with them to the
new front. ‘On to Chemung” became much more attractive than “On to
Richmond” but alas for human plans and ambitions there could be but three
line officers for 100 men, and their detachments of recruits, not generally over
20, made consolidation essential, and some of the officers found themselves
with commissions but without command, and hence could not be mustered
into the service.

There are, or were, at least a fuli company of men in or around Nunda
who have been kicking themselves (metaphorically) for not serving those
three months and so becoming pensioners for life. Having been mustered
into the United States service at the close of their period of enlistment, that
they might be paid by the general Government and not by the State, their
ninety days service made them U. S. veterans. entitled to all the rights, privi-
leges, perquisites and honors, including pensions and a place in that organiza-
tion that writes its name G. A. R.—“the Monogram of Fame.”

The part of a company from Nunda was mostly officers, and though they

all survived the “Battles of the Chemung” at this date it is quite hard to find
any more of them here than of the other companies.

The Officers of the Regiment

Col. Reuben P. Wisner, of Mt. Morris; Lieut. Col. William N. Alward,
of Nunda; Maj. George M. Lockwood (veteran), of Portage; Rev. J. J. Keyes,
Chaplain, of Nunda; Surgeon Charles F Warner (veteran), of Nunda; Assist-
ant Surgeon J. V_ Lowell, of Nunda: Assistant Surgeon, H. Hagadorn, of
Nunda; (the Captain of Company D was ——— Price); Capt. John C. Jones,
commissioned but not mustered; First Lieut. C. K. Sanders, of Nunda; Lieut.
Hosea F Shaw (veteran),; Lieut. Calvin Herrick, commissioned but not
mustered.

Who the non-commissioned officers were does not appear; possibly the
other detachments secured them.

576
William Craig, commissioned Sergeant; Channing Aspinwall, assistant.

Other enlisted men from Nunda were: Rufus Robinson and George Rob-
inson, musicians; Henry Alday, Edward Briggs, Charles W. Brown, Albert
Houghton, Frederick Hark, Lester Barnes (veteran), Louis Husong, Arthur
J. Barnes, Joseph Nash, Henry Roberts, Leonard Seaver, Arba Town, Henry
Waver (veteran). There were others but their names, as well as their fame,
has vanished.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
FROM NUNDA
A.
Aiken Aspinwall, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V. I.; Channing Aspinwall, Co. D 58th
N. Y. N. G.; Franklin F. Adams, Lieut., Inf. and Adj., ist N. Y. D.; Henry
Altag, Co. G 58th N. G.; Jacob Alvard, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Wm. N. Alward.

Lieut. Col., 58th N. G.; John Ames, served in Texas; Marion Andrus, Co. B
Ist Vet. Cav.; Silas Austin, Co. A to4th N. Y.

B

Gardner Bacon, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V. L.; Albert R. Barnes, Co. E 140th N.
Y. V. I.; Arthur Barnes, 58th N. G.; Lester Barnes, 13th N. Y. I. and 58th N. G.;
John F. Barker, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V 1.; Joseph N. Barker, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.;
Wellington Batterson, Co. I rst N. Y. D.; William Batterson, Co. B 188th N. Y.
V.1.; Phillip Bertram, Co. I 136th N. Y. V. I.; William Black, Co, I 1st N. Y.
D.; Capt. Russel! A. Britton, 1st N. Y. D.; Edward A. Briggs, Co. D 58th N. G.;
Thomas Brick, Co. B 1st N. Y. D.; Chester Bowen, Co. I tst N. Y. D.; James
R. Bowen, Co. I, rst N. Y. D.; John J. Bowen, musician, 86th N. Y. V_ I.; chief
bugler 1st Vet. Cav.; Abram Burdick, Co. A 104th N. Y. V. IL, Co. B 1st Vet.
Cav.; Ezra Burdick, Co. E 188th N. Y. V. I.; Edward Bush, Co. A to4th N. Y.
V.1.; Philander H. Bush, Co. F 1st Dragoons.

C

Alfred Cain, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V L, Co. B 1st Vet. Cav.; Justus H. Cain,

Go. F gard N.Y. VL Wm. ©. Cain, Co, A todth N.Y. V. 1; Willard E. Cal-
kins, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V I.; Abram Carpenter, Co. A ro4th N. Y. V. L;
Charles H. Carpenter, Co. A 1o4th N. Y. V. I.; Lucien Carpenter, Co. A roq4th
N. Y. V. L.; John J. Carter, Lieut. 33rd N. Y. V. I, captain Co. B Ist Vet.
Cav. Brig. Ordnance officer; Volney Carter, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V. 1; James
Carroll, 2nd Dist. Col. Inf.; Owen Carroll, Co. I ist N. Y. D.; Chester C. Car-
ter, Co. I rst N. Y. D.; John Callahan, Co. I ist N. Y. D.; Terrence Carroll,
Co. F 33rd N. Y. V. I., 47th N. Y. V I.; James Christie, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V. L,
subsequent service; Edgar D. Chipman, Co. A ro4th N. Y. V. 1; William G.
Chislett, Co. A 104th N. Y. V. 1.; David Close, Co. I. 136th N. Y. V. I; William
Close, Co. 1 136th N. Y. V. I.; William Cline, Co. I ist N. Y. D.; Horton Cham-
berlain, Co. B 1st Vet. Cav.; Chas. Cole, Co. L 4th H. A.; Thomas Collins, Co. A
e ro4th N. Y. V. I.; Daniel L. Confer, Co. I 136th N. Y. V. I.; Dewain Conklin,
Co. L 4th N. Y. H. A.; John P. Colby, captain engineers; Wm. J. Cosnett, Co.
F 33rd N. Y. V. I.; William Craig, Com’y Sergt. 58th N. G.; David Corwin,
Co. E 188th N. Y. V. I.; Corydon Crossett, Corp. 3rd Mich.; Chas. M. Craw-
ford, Co. A to4th N. Y. V. 1.; Thomas J. Curtis, Sergt. Co. A roq4th N. Y. V. I.

577
D.

George W. Daggett, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V. I.: Joseph C. Dean, Co. A toa4th
N. Y. V. 1.; William Deffler, Co. D 58th N. G.; Isaac Justin Depuy, not
assigned; Peter DeMocker, 2nd N. Y. Mtd. Rifles; Wm. DeMocker, Corp. Co.
A to4th N. Y. V. L.; Alvin H. Dibble, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V. I.; Howard B. Doty,
Co. F 33rd and goth N.Y. V. 1.; Michael Driscoll, Co. F 33rd and 4gth N. Y.
V_ I.; George W. Durfee, Co. I N. Y. D.; Eugene Duryee, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V.
I.; Schuyler Duryee, Co. F 33rd and Co. B, Vet. Cav.

E

Wm. A. Ecker, Co. B 1st Vet. Cav.; Austin Evans, Co. B ist Vet. Cav.;
David M. Evans, Co. F 33rd N. Y.

F.

H. Fay, Co. I ist N. Y. D.; Andrew J. Fancher, Co. A t1o4th N. Y. V. 1:
Edgar Fancher, Co. A togth N. Y. V. [.; Geo. W. Flint, Vet. Mexican War,
Co. A to4th N. Y. V. I.; Franklin E. Freeman, Co. I tst N. Y. D.; Gilbert Freer,
Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Charles B. Fox, Co. F ist N. Y. D.; George Fry, Co. I 188th
N. Y. V. L.; Geo. W. Fuller, 126th N. Y. V. I.; Henry F. Fuller, Co. F 33rd
N. Y. V. L.; John Franklin, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V. I.

G

Sullivan W. Gibson, Co. A 1o4th N. Y. V. I.; Robert H. Gordon, Sergt.
Co. I 136th N. Y. V. L.; John Gothard, Co. 1 1st N. Y. D.; Patrick Gould, Co.
A 104th N. Y. V. I.; Milo S. Goldthwait, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Norton S. Gold-
thwait, Co. I ist N. Y. D.; Husted Green, 47th N. Y. V. I.; Robert W. Green,
Co. F 136th N. Y. V. I.; George H. Graham, Co. A to4th N. Y. V. I.; Henry
Greenfield, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Dwight Gregory, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V. I.; Jona-
than Greenwood, Co. F 33rd N. Y.; William Greenwood, Co. F 33rd N. Y.;
Levi Guernsey, Co. H 136th N. Y.; Clinton Guy, Co. F 33rd N. Y.

H.

Stephen P. Havens, Co. A 1o4th N. Y.; Perry Haynes, Co. A ro4th N. Y.;
Randall Haynes, Co. I ist N. Y. D.; Charles Hall, Co. A togth N. Y.; Ed-
win Haskins, Co. F 33rd N. Y.; Freredick B. Hark, Ist Vet. Cav.; Edwin
M. Hamilton, Co. I 131st Inf.; George P. Hamilton, rst Lieut. 33rd, 1st Lieut.
1o4th, captain ist N. Y. D.; Chas. H. Harris, Co. H 157th Inf.; Joseph D. Har-
ris, 58th N. G.; Cassius M. Havens, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Henry R. Havens, Co.
I 136th Inf.; John Havens; Mortimer Herrick, Co. F 33rd and goth; Wm. C.
Hendershott; Ezekiel Hilyer, Co. F 33rd; Lewis Hunsong, Co. E 58th N. G.;
James N. Hilyer, Co. B 1st Vet. Cav.; Joseph Hitchcock, Co. B ist Vet. Cav.

J.

Andrew Jackson, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Pascal Jackson, Co. I rst N. Y. D.:
Isaac Johnson, Co. I rst N. Y. D.; James Johnson, Co. A t1o4th Inf.; John P.
Johnson, Co. F 33rd and goth Inf.; Capt. John C. Jones, 58th N. G.; Thomas
Johnson, Co. B ist Vet. Cav.

; K.

Wm. E. Keene, Co. A to4th Inf.; Rev. J. J. Keyes, chaplain, 58th N. G.;
James Kiley, Co. I 33rd Inf.; Michael Kiley, Co. B tst Vet. Cav.; Eli H. King,
Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Henry G. King, 1st Lieut. Co. F 33rd Inf.; Benj. T. Knee-

5/8
land, surgeon, 1st N. Y. D.; Needham C. Knight, Co. A 1o4th Inf.; Gotlieb
Koppie, Co. F 33rd Inf.; Michael Kelley, Co. A rogth Inf.

Ly

Melvin La Seur, 1st Lieut., ath U. S. Art.; Charles B. Lamb, Co. D 58th
N. G.; David G. Lamb, Co. F 33rd and qoth Inf.; John La oy, Co. F 33rd Inf.;
Thos. Le Clare, Co. D 58th N. G.; James Lemen, Capt. and Bvt. Lieut. Col., rst
N. Y. D.; Chas. E. Lewis, 1st Lieut., Co. I rst N. Y. D.; Jacob Lieb, Co. F 33rd
and 49th Inf.; William Long, boatswain, U. S. Navy; Corvdon Lovejoy, Co. I
ist N. Y. D.; Carlos G. Lowell, Co. A roath; George W. Lowell, Co. F ist N.
Y. D.; Dr. Julius V Lowell, Asst. Surg., 58th N. G.; Wm. L. Lowell, Co. F
ist N. Y. D.; James H. Luce, Co. A togth Inf.

M.

Reuben W. Mayhew, Co. F 33rd Inf.; Geo. W. Mack, Co. A ro4th Inf.;
James Macken, Co. A toq4th Inf.; Thomas Macken, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Theo-
dore Magee, 27th and Co. A 1o4th Int.; William Magee, 27th and Co. A 104th
Inf.; Philander Magee, 27th and r4th H. Art.; Marvin Magee, 27th and 14th
H. Art.; Joseph Mason, 24th Cav.; Rev. James Marshall, chaplain, U. S. A.;
Wm. J. Marshall, Co. F 33rd Inf.; George D. Martin, Co. F 33rd Inf.; Philetus
Mayhew, Co. A to4th Inf.; James M. McNair, captain, Co. F 33rd Inf.; Gard-
ner Milliman, 22nd Inf.; Sydney S. Morris, Com. Sgt., rst N. Y. D.: Jeremiah
Morrison, Co. F 33rd and Mt. Rifles; Philo Mosher, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Mar-
tin H. Myers, Co. D ist Vet. Cav.; Henry Morris, Co. I Dragoons.

N.

Joseph Nash, Co. B 58th N. G.; Edgar R. Nelson, Co. A ist N. Y. D.;
Peter Nettler, Co. 1 136th N. Y. V Inf.; Rufus H. Newell, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V.
I.; Charles Newman, Co. F 33rd N. Y. V I; Wm. J. Nolan, Co. F 33rd and
49th N. Y. V. I.; James Norris, Co. F 33rd.

O.

Alonzo Olney, Corp., Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Corydon Olney, 1st Lieut. Co. I
ist N. Y. D.

P.

John D. Payne, Co. F 33rd Inf.; Perrin Paige, Co. B ist Vet. Cav.; Eras-
tus C. Parsons, Co. A ro4th Inf.; Harrison Peck, Hosp. Stewart; Wm. H. Piper.
Co. F 33rd and goth Inf.; John W. Piper, Co. A 104th Inf.; George Poole, Co.
F 33rd Inf.: Martin L. Porter, Co. F 33rd and 7th H. Art.; George F. Powell,
Co. D 58th N. G.; David Pratt, Co. A 104th Inf. ; George A. Prentice, Co. F
33rd Inf.; Orville H. Prentice; Eliphat Preston, Co. D 58th N. G.; Warren
Preston, Co. F 33rd Inf.; John Provo, Co. G to4th N. Y.; Ira B. Perry, Co. F
14th U. S. Inf.

R.

Benjamin Range, Co. E 188th Inf.; Orman F. Reckard, Co. F 33rd and
4oth Inf.; Orville Reynolds, Co. B 1st Vet. Cav.; Edward Rider, Co. B 58th N.
G.; William Riley, Co. F 4th H. A.; Hiram J. Roff, corporal; Henry Roberts,
Co. D 58th N. G.; George Robinson, 58th N. G.; Rufus Robinson, 58th N. G.;
Wm. C. Robinson, Co. L ath H. A.; Franklin A. Russell; John Ryan, Co. I
136th N. Y. Inf.; Andrew J. Russell, captain especial service.

579
S:

Chauncey K. Sanders, 1st Lieut., 58th N. G.; Francis W. Sargent, Co. F
33rd and 58th N. G.; Hiram O. Seeley, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; William Shave, Co.
B 58th N. G.; Delos Sherman, Co. F 33rd Inf.; Horace N. Shute, Co. H Ist
N. Y. D.; Alfred W. Skinner, Sergt., Co. A to4th Inf.; Lewis C. Skinner, Col.,
to4th Inf.; John S. Skillen, Co. F 33rd and Co. B ist Vet. Cav.; Jesse R.
Squires ; Edward Smith, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Christian Smith, Co. I ist N. Y. D.;
Gottlieb Smith, Co. I st N. Y. D.; Henry Smith, Co. A ro4th and Sergt., Ist
Vet. Cav.; Phillip Smith, Co. F 33rd, Co. A to4th, Co. B Vet. Cav.; Oliver
Smith, Co. A ro4th Inf.; William Smith, Co. I ist N. Y. D.; Wm. E. Smith,
Co. A 104th Inf.; George W. Snyder, Co. A to4th, Co. B 1st Vet. Cav.; Wim.
H. Spicer, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; George Sphoon; Wm. Sphoon, Co. A; Romeo St.
Clair, Co. I rst N. Y. D.; Charles Scobel, Co. B 58th N. G.; Lewis Sutton, Corp.,
Co. A to4th Inf.; John Sabin, 2nd Mtd. Rifles; George S. Satterlee, Corp., Co.
A to4th N. Y. Inf.; John S. Satterlee, Sergt., Co. A to4th N. Y. Inf.; Lewis
Shepard, Sergt., Co. A toqth N. Y. Inf.; Harvey C. Shepard, 58th N. G.; Cyrus
Shepard, Captain; Leonard E. Seaver, Co. B 58th N. G.; Benjamin Smith, Co.
B 58th N. Y. D.; James Sturgeon, ist Lieut., 12th Cav.; Sheldon Sturgeon, Lieut.
U.S. A. Capt., U. S. A. Col, N. O. U. S. Colored Cavalry; Samuel Sturgeon,
tst N. Y. Engineers; Romulus Swift, Co. F 136th N. Y. Inf.

ihe
Samuel Tallmage, Co. B 1st Vet. Cav.; George Thomas Co. A 1o4th Inf.;
Frank Thomas, Hosp. Steward; William Thomas, Corp., Co. A to4th Inf.;
Cordemus S. Thompson, Co. A to4th Inf.; James L. Thompson, Co. A 104th
Inf.; Arba M. Town, Co. D 58th N. G.; Benjamin F Town, Co. I 1st N. Y.
D.; Marion Town, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Walter E. Town, Corp., Co. I 1st N. Y.
D.; James L. Toms, Co. A iogth Inf.; Wm. G. Tousey, U. S. N.; J. Treehouse,
Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Francis Treehouse, Corp., Co. F 33rd Inf.; Abram Turbush,
Co. E 188th Inf.; Charles H. Turner, Co. F 1togth Inf.; F. Beebee Turrill, Co. F
33rd Inf.; Hall Turrill, Co. G 211th Pa.; Edwin A. Tuthill, Co. A toqth N. Y.
Inf.; Henry G. Tuthill, Lieut. Col., rogth Inf.; Lycurgus C. Twining, Sergt.,
136th Inf.
U.
George Utter.
V.

Martin Van Liew, Co. H 1st N. Y. D.; Judson D. Van Slyke, Co. A to4th

Inf.
W.

David C. Wade, Co. I 136th N. Y. Inf.; George D. Waldo, Co. I 1st N. Y.
D.; Chas. F. Warner, Asst. Surg., 136th N. Y., Surg., 58th N. G.; John Camp-
bell Walker, Co. I 1st N. Y. D.; Wm. Edward Walker, Co. B 1st Vet. Cav.;
Jacob Weaver, Co. B 1st Vet. Cav.; James Welstead, Co. I 136th Inf.; Geo. W.
Wescott, Co. I 136th Intf.; Russell P. Wescott, Co. I 136th Inf; Harrison H.
Wheeler, Co. I ist N. Y. D.; Joseph White, Co. F 33rd, Co. A toath N. Y. Inf.;
Daniel White, Corp., Co. A to4th N. Y. Inf.; Asher B. Whitenack, Co. 1 1st N.
Y. D.; Edgar J. Whipple; Edwin Wilcox, Hosp. Steward, 1o4th Inf.; Cyrene
A. Willett, Co. M 8th N. Y. H. Art.; Lamire E. Willey, Co. L 4th H. Art.;

580
Marvin Wilson, 33rd Inf.; Landon Willett, 147th Inf.; Charles R. Woodworth,
52nd N. Y.; William Woodruff, Co. A 1o4th Inf.; George Worden, Co. H 136th
Inf.; John A. Wright, Co. A toqth Inf.; Samuel L. Wright, Co. A roqgth Inf.:
Oliver C. Wymans; W. Parker Wright, Engineers U. S.; John Wilson, Co. F
33rd N.G.

Y.

Ambrose Yencer, Co. F 136th Inf.; Henry C. Youells, Co. I ust N. Y: D.;
Richard Youells Co. C 136th Inf.; Samuel Young Co. I 136th Inf.

Civil War soldiers who lived in Nunda previous to the war: Albert Aus-
tin, Michigan, and two soldier brothers; Andrew Angier, Wisconsin; Clinton
Barrett, Engineers; Lieut. Col. Baldwin; Charles Bentley, Company K, 16th
Illinois; Erastus Buck, Jr., Surgeon; Charles N. Burr, 27th N. Y.; William N.
Carpenter, 136th N. Y.; Martin V. Carpenter, 136th N. Y.; Edward Carver,
Wisconsin regiment ; Lyman Carver, 85th N. Y.; Col. Newton T. Colby; Au-
gustus W. Chase, 58th N. Y.; David Childs, Company D, 33rd N. Y.; John
Clough; Corporal Frank Curtis, 27th N. Y.; George Ditto, Iowa regiment;
T. B. Dunn, 4th Iowa; Maj. Curtis Gardner, 27th N. Y.; John L. Guthrie,
Michigan regiment; Isaiah Hamilton ist Michigan Engineers; Isaac Hay-
ward; Lieut. George B. Herrick, Co. D., 33rd N. Y.; Lieut. Bissell Hills, r2th
Wisconsin; Merrick V. Hudnut; Capt. Wm. H. Huffman, Illinois; James R.
Jacoby, Company E, 115th N. Y.; David Lee, Wisconsin; Herbert Lee, Wis-
consin ; Capt. Jeff. B. McNair, oth Illinois Cavalry ; Festus Mosier, Wisconsin ;
George M. Nicholds, 17th N. Y. Infantry; Col. Eli S. Parker (Seneca Chief) ;
Milton F. Pettit, 24th Ohio; Ava Page, 1st Missouri Cavalry ; James Rathbun,
gth Michigan; Moses Rawson; Adrian Rathbun, 3rd Michigan; Rev. James
Andrew Robinson; Alpheus Robinson, 5th Wisconsin; Harry Rockafellow,
71st N. Y.; Henry Wells Spear, 136th N. Y.; Myron Shepard, 1st Minnesota;
Andrew Skellenger (died); John W. Smith, tst Michigan Engineers; Col. T.
J. Thorp, rst N. Y. Dragoons; Johnson A. Wagor.

Veterans who have lived in Nunda since the war not connected with
local G. A. R. post:

Wm. H. Dart, Company F, 136th N. Y.; Joseph Herdendorf, Company F,
136th N. Y.; Albert Lynn; George M. Nichols, 17th N. Y. Infantry; Cornelius
Barker Brusee, Company I, 19th N. Y. Infantry; Rev. Samuel Guernsey ;
James V. Howard; John Lampman, 188th N. Y.; Rev. Wm. H. Rogers, chap-
lain 189th N. Y.; Fuller Hiland, roth Massachusetts ; George Bovee, Company
C, 136th N. Y.; John Shaw (colored), Company I, 29th Connecticut; William
H. Stocking; Edwin Bush; Elkin Miner, 89th N. Y.; Robert Thompson, roth
H. A.; Rev. S. T. Moore; Addison J. Gordon, Company A, 111th N. Y.; Rev.
Thomas W. Chandler; Milo Goldthwait, 1st N. Y. Dragoons; Andrew Skell-

inger, 188th N. Y.

 

581
 

 

 

 

Carr. Wm. C. Hatt, SAMUEL TALLMAGE,
136th N. Y. First Veteran Cavalry

 

 

 

 

‘Wm. J. CossneTT, JonarHan GREENWOOD,
Co. F, 33rd N. Y. Died in Captivity, 33rd N. Y
THE BLOODY COST OF WAR TO THE NORTH—DEATHS FROM

 

 

ALL CAUSES
Officers. Enlisted Men. Aggregate.

PTE G pees emerra adae nes Go al, Coen 6,305 103,705 110,070
Died Of Wands: sisescyiek senna . 2,712 197,008 199,720
In confederate prisons ............. 83 24,783 24,866
By accident ......0.........00.... 143 3,972 4,114
By drowning .................... 106 4,838 4,944
IB Y* STMSELOKE® ye¥ah. es wacker ales 5 308 313
Murdered oy ceceeinke Saha — 37 483 520
Killed after capture.............., is 14 go 104
DUCES Gini tie. Beoaaingh dens: 14 305 391
Military executions . .............. 267 267
Executed by the enemy............. 4 60 64
Other causes ..........0000000000. 52 1,972 2,034
CaNees Gt SISGEd eg ean ta cea sean yee 28 1,293 12,121

AEOTERALE pa icgeeu we we wee® 9,504 349,044 359,528

General Summary
Officers. Enlisted Men. Total.

 

 

 

Regilatss caudate lethal els 144 2,139 2,283
MWOlMMtEERS® sdocecya: ae Beg ae eee ers, 6,078 98,815 104,893
Colored Troops ..... 2.2.2... .00 ee 143 2,751 2,894

Motal| 2g: giks seed oeeysGoees Dose 6,365 103,705 110,070

Casualties in the Navy. From all causes, 3,000.

THE BLOODY COST OF WAR TO NUNDA
List of soldiers from Nunda, who died during, or soon after the Civil War:
Company F, 33rd Regiment
Gardner Bacon from sunstroke, October 3, 1861; George H. Prentice, died
February 28, 1862; James Kiley, June 2, 1863; William J. Cosnett, from wounds,
May 3, 1863: Howard Doty, of wounds, October 20, 1864; Michael Clark,

killed, May 10, 1864; Mortimer Herrick, of wounds, 1864; Wm. J. Nolan,
prison, 1864; John T. Johnson, died 1865; David G. Lamb, from prison life.

Company F, 33rd Regiment—From Other Towns

From Portage-—Henry Swartz, died May 10, 1862; John Delong, died
December 4, 1862; Augustus L. Damon, died November 1, 1862: James C. Gil-
lett, died 1862; Eben Patterson, died December 30, 1862.

From Clarksville—Thadeus Maynard, died August 6, 1862.

From Mt. Morris.—Charles R. Lowe, died April 19, 1862.

From Grove.—Daniel Chilson, died April 21, 1863; Norton Bardwell, killed
May 4, 1863.

From Pike—Erwin VanBrunt, died October 16, 1861; Elias Smith, killed
September 17, 1862; Whitfield Whitney, died June 1, 1862.

583
Company A, 104th New York

Abram Carpenter, killed May 8, 1864; Lucian Carpenter, died in prison,
December 9, 1863; William George Chislett, died of wounds, January 17, 1863:
Charles M. Crawford, died of wounds, October 27, 1862; Lewis Sutton, Corporal,
died in prison December 13, 1862; Hiram Passage, died in prison; Cordemus S.
Thompson, killed December 13, 1862; James L. Thompson, died in prison Feb-
ruary 16, 1864; John S. Satterlee, Sergeant, killed May 13, 1864; George Sat-
terlee, died in prison, January 20, 1865; Lewis Shepard, Sergeant, died of
wounds; Perry Haynes, died from prison life; Sullivan W. Gibson, died 1864;
Thomas J. Curtis, Sergeant, killed July 1, 1863; William E. Keene, died in
prison, February 21, 1864; Oliver Smith, died in prison; George W. Flint, died
at home 1867; William E. Smith, died in prison April 13, 1864; Charles H.
Turner, died at home July 1, 1862; Elijah White, Jr., died from prison life;
Cicero C. Clark, died in hospital, June 30, 1862; Octavius Clark, killed May,
1864; Capt. Edwin Tuttle, died December 30, 1867.

Company A, 104th New York—-From Other Towns

Daniel White, corporal. died in prison; R. B. Connell, corporal, Company G.
died January 7, 1863; William L. Davis, killed July 1, 1863.

Company F, 104th Regiment

George H. Graham, corporal, died December 8, 1864; James Green, died
in prison; William Green, died of wounds; Francis M. Merithew, age 15, died
of disease; Erastus C. Parsons, died at Batavia; Albert Ruscoe, died; John
Ruddick, killed May to, 1864; William Woodruff, killed; James H. Luce, Com-
pany D, died in Sals. prison; M. Wood, died in service; Henry Wood, died in
service.

William Hooson, killed July 2, 1863; Daniel Swender, corporal, died in
prison; John Gruber, corporal, died in prison.

126th New York
George W. Fuiler, Company D, killed August 24, 1864.

27th New York

Wilber Haver, Company [, kiled August 3, 1863; Orrin Nickerson, 6th
New York Cavalry, died October 14, 1861; Charles Harris, 22nd Regiment N.
Y. V., buried in Nunda; Gardner Milliman, died in prison 1864; Lemire E.
Willey, 4th N. Y. H. A., died in prison; George R. W. Fay, 188th N. Y., killed,
buried at Dalton; Alva J. White, 97th N. Y., died May 28, 1864; Capt. John P.
Wood, killed, buried in Nunda.

Company I, 1st New York Dragoons
William Black, killed May 7, 1864; John Callahan, died from wounds, Sep-
tember 10, 1864; James Christie, died in Andersonville; John Gothard, killed
August 11, 1864; Corydon C. Lovejoy, died in prison, August, 1864; Isaac
Johnson, died of injuries, June, 1864; Hiram C. Roff, corporal, killed May 7,
1864; Levi L. Davis, died January 1, 1864; William Smith, died of wounds,
July 17, 1864.

584
Vicinity Soldiers—Company I

Horace C. Orton, died in Andersonville; Emerson Rude, killed May, 1864;
Seth H. Weed, killed May 7, 1864; Josiah H. Flint, died at Andersonville ; John
Kk. Barager, corporal, died of wounds; Ziba B. Barney, died June 13, 1864;
Charles A. Kinney, died September 25, 1864; James H. Foland, died at .\nder-
sonville; William .\. Luce, died October 1, 1864; Milan Parker, died September
10, 1864; George I. Phillips, died December 28, 1862; Hiram J. Woodard, cor-
poral, died in prison, September 19, 1804; John H. Emmons, a boy, died at
Elmira; Simeon Gelzer, died in prison May 7, 1864; Leonard Russell, died from
wounds, May 22, 1804; Elijah Harwood, died January 6, 1863; Prosper Swift,
Lieut., kiled October 19, 1804; Marcus W. Wood, corporal, wounded and died
May 16, 1864; Peter Quant, died December 20, 1864; Hiram A. Seeley, died
November 12, 1863; William ]. Wright, died November 6, 1862; Elisha .\mes,
died of wounds, June 25, T8604; Alexander Drake, died October, 1864; Nathaniel
Marr, died from accident June 3, 1805; George Sphoon, died in prison.

Company F, Dragoons

Philander H. Bush of Nunda, died January, 1864; Peter Fox, killed May 7,
1864; George W. Lowell, died January 5, 1864; Emerson Parker, killed August
29, 1864; John Fletcher Walker, killed October 19, 1864.

Company A, Dragoons

William E. Partridge, killed June 11, 1864; George Monroe Gearhart, killed
October 19, 1864; Marshall Hungerford, died March 28, 1864.

Company K, Dragoons
Paul Rauber, died 1865, buried at Nunda. By mistake his grave is marked
Paul Dalrymple.
Company B, Dragoons
William J. Hampsher, sergeant, killed May 7, 1864.

Company I, 136th Regiment
David Close, killed May 15, 1864; David C. Wade, died of wounds, I*eb-
ruary 27, 1864; Rufus P. Westcott, died of wounds May 24, 1864; Daniel L.
Confer, killed July 3, 1863; Jacob Dieter, died in prison, March 29, 1864; Har-
rison T. Clemens, killed at Kenesaw Mountain; Whipple Davis, corporal, died
March 25, 1864; William Elwood, died September 25, 1864; David B. Price.
died of wounds October 18, 1864; Samuel Young, died February 20, 1863.

Company F, 136th New York

Ambrose Yencer, killed November 23, 1863; Lycurgus Twining, wounded
at Bentonvile, died, and buried at Goldsborough, his remains disinterred and
brought to Little Scipio. for burial by Capt. H. W > Hand.

Vicinity Soldiers
Elisha Herdendorf, died of wounds Mav 19, 1864; Augustus Parmer, killed
May 15, 1864; William Parmer, died of disease February 17, 1863; Jacob Steih.
died of wounds, September 8, 1864.

585
Company H, Portage
Lieut. William C. Hall, wounded at Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864, died of his
wounds May 28, 1864. (Hall Post, G. A. R., 343, Portage is named for him.)
George H. Moshier, died of wounds August 1, 1863; Patrick Ryan, died of
Typhus fever, March 13, 1863; Alterna T. Smith, died May 30, 1864; George T.
Worden, killed at Resaca, Ga., May 16, 1864; Francis M. Wood, killed at Gettys-
burg, July 3, 1863.
Company C, 136th New York
Richard Youells died of wounds, July 4, 1863; David Lockwood, killed in
action May 16, 1864.
8th New York Heavy Artillery
Alpheus Cyrene Willett, killed in battle, June, 1864.

4th New York Heavy Artillery
Lamire Willey, died in captivity; Rufus Chandler, died of disease.

Vicinity Soldiers
Charles H. Rowell, kiiled at Cold Harbor, \Va., June, 1864.

14th Heavy Artillery
Philander Magee, died in New York Harbor, 1864.

DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES OF THE MEMBERS OF COMPANY B,
Ist VETERAN CAVALRY

Compiled by Capt. J. J. Carter.

Alfred H. Cain, of Nunda, mortally wounded at Snickerville, Va., March
6, 1864; died two days afterwards; body sent to Nunda.

Oscar B. Cornell, enlisted at Rochester, taken prisoner at Snickerville, Va.,
March 6, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 21, 1864.

Win. H. Black, enlisted at Scio, died in hospital at Camp Stoneman, Feb-
ruary 12, 1864.

Abram Burdick, enlisted at Nunda, killed in battle at New Aarket, Va.,
May 15, 1864.

Lyman W. Crowley, enlisted at Eagle. kiled at Snickerville, Va.. March 6,
1864; body shipped to Nunda, N. Y.

Horton Chamberlain, enlisted at Nunda, killed at New Market, Va., Mav
15, 1864; buried on field of battle.

Thomas Carroll, enlisted at Portage, taken prisoner at Snickerville, Va.,
March 6, 1864; wounded and died in the hands ot the enemy.

Austin Evans, enlisted at Nunda, killed at Snickerville, \a., March 6, 1864:
body was sent to Nunda, N. Y.

Wim. A. Ecker, of Nunda, wounded and takén prisoner at New Market.
Va., May 15, 1864; and died in the hands of the enemy; buried at Dalton.

Lyman Hurlburt, enlisted at Eagle, wounded and taken prisoner at Snicker-
ville, Va., March 6, 1864, and died in the hands of the enemy.

Martin H. Mvers, of Nunda, wounded at the battle of New Market, Va.,
May 15, 1864, and died in the town of New Market two days later.

James C. Madden, Rochester, wounded and taken prisoner at New Market,
Va., May 15, 1864, and died in the hands of the enemy.

586
Lindorf A. Nott, Batavia, mortally wounded at the battle of Snickerville,
Va., and died i in the enemy’ s hands.

Perrin B. Page, of Nunda, killel at New Market, Va., May om 1864 ; and
buried on the field of battle.

Henry Patterson, Pike, wounded and taken prisoner at battle of New Mar-
ket, May 15, 1864, and died in the hands of the enemy.

James C. Parmeter, Rochester-North Bloomfield, killed at Snickerville,
Va., March 6, 1864, and his body sent to Nunda, N. Y.

Samuel S. Talmadge, of Nunda, taken prisoner at Martinsburg, Va., July
3, 1864, and died in Annapolis, Md., immediately after being exchanged from
prison.

James L. Van Lieu, Gainsville, killed at Martinsburg, Va., April 23, 1864.

Jacob Weaver, enlisted at Nunda, was taken prisoneer at Snickersville, Va.,
March 6, 1864, and died at Richmond shortly after; body sent to Nunda, N. Y.

Wm. White. Warsaw, killed at Snickervitle, Va., March 6, 1864; body sent
to Nunda, N. Y.

 

 

 

 

Rev. James Marsualt, D. D.
Chaplain U. S. Vols. at Fortress Monroe, Va.

587
 

Mrs. Emma Gipss CarTER

 

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DEPARTMENT II

Memorial Day and Its Observance

HE first official observance of May 30th as a day for the decoration of
the graves of the Union dead followed a proclamation issued from the
headquarters of the Grand Army of the Republic on May 5, 1860, by

General John A. Logan, commander in chief. This order read:

“The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with
flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense
of their country during the late rebellion and whose bodies now lie in almost
every city, village. hamlet and church-vard in the land. In this observation
no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own
way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances
may permit.

“We are organized, comrades, as cur regulations tell us, for the purpose,
among other things, ‘of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal
feelings which have bound together soldiers, sailors and marines who united
together to suppress the late rebellion.’

“\What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the
memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our
country and its foes’ Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race
in chains and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. \\Ve should
guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and
taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting
tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely
in such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going
of reverent visitors and fond mourners.

Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravayves of time, testify to the
present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the
cost of a free and undivided republic.

“If other eves grow dull and other hands slack and other hearts grow cold
in the solemn trust, our shall keep it well as long as the light and warth of life
remain to us.

“Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around the sacred remains and
garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-
time. Let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor.
Let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom
they have left among us, a sacred charge upon a nation’s gratitude, the soldier's
and sailor’s widow and orphan.

“It is the purpose of the conmmander in chief to inaugurate this observance
with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year while a survivor of the

war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades.
“JOHN A. LOGAN.”

589
OUR FIVE PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS

Unlike other towns in our county, Nunda has two Grand Army Posts, two
Camps Sons of Veterans, and one large and active Woman's Relief Corps. The
graves in twelve cemteries are decorated by these organizations with the as-
sistance of Hall Post at Hunt in the town of Portage. Already the graves to

be decorated are more in number than are the veterans who decorate them.

Memorial Ode

O, Spirits of the dead!
We invocate your presence. Ye for whom
A Nation reverently bows the head,
And weaves a chaplet for each lowiy tomb.
The violet’s incense and the rose’s bloom
For ye are shed.

We call to thee.
We may not know from what supernal height
Star-lit and glory-crowned, the spirit free,
All unafraid, uplifts its standard bright—
As when in mortal combat, in the might

Of Truth and Liberty.

Or may ye yet be found,
Reluctant still to quit your uncoffined clay—
Encamped upon the ensanguined battle-ground,
Your phantom hosts stili marshaied for the fray,
Awaiting there till the last judgment day

The bugle’s sound?

It is not ours to know
If by swift Rappahannock’s rushing tide,
Or turbid Chickamauga’s sullen flow,
Or on bold Lookout’s rugged mountain side,
Ye still keep watch and ward with martial pride
Against the foe.

This we may surely tell:
Your sacrificial blood flowed not in vain,
’Tis Freedom’s shrine the field whereon ve fell
And consecrated the red battle-plain.
A Nation’s benediction on her slain;
Ye nobly won, and well.

JOHN W. HAND.

590
CRAIG W. WADSWORTH POST, NO. 417, G. A. R.

Craig W. Wadsworth Post, No. 417, G. A. R., Nunda, N. Y., was organr-
ized November 21, 1883. The charter was granted by (Gen.) John A. Reyn-
olds, Commander, Department A, New York. It was named in honor of
Lieutenant Colonel Craig \WW Wadsworth, who served as staff officer during
the life of his father, General James S. Wadsworth. After the war he became
Major General in the National Guard of the State of New York. He, was a
resident of Geneseo and one of the members of an illustrious family, noted for
its soldiers, scholars and able legislators.

For convenience this roster is arranged alphabetically.

Adams, Francis, Company 1, 188th N. Y. L.; transferred.

Alday, Henry, Company G, 58th N. Y. N. G. Died at Nunda.

Batterson, Wm., 188th N. Y. I.; died at Nunda.

Bergen, R. Kelsey, Company F, 136th N. Y. (Past Commander), Nunda,
N. Y.; living.

Brady, Wm., Company F, 28th N. Y. (Past S. \) Commander), Nunda, N.
Y.; living.

Brown, Charles W., Company b, 58th N. Y. N. G.; transferred.

Burdict, Ezra, Company E, 188th N. Y. L, died October 5, 1901.

Burge, Wm.. Company G, 188th N. Y. L, Nunda, N. Y.; living.

Campbell, Geo. J.. Company F. 3rd U. S. Cav. (Past Commander), died
October 4, 1906.

Carpenter, Charles H., Company A. 1oq4th N. Y. [.; transferred.

Carroll, Jas., Company 2nd Dist. Columbia, died September 13, 1904.

Caryl, Frank, Company F, 4th N. Y. H. A.; transferred

Chapman, S. C., Company C, 108th N. Y. I.; transferred.

Carroll, Terance, Company F, 33rd N. Y. 1., died November, 1906.

Clark, Charles H., Company B, tst XN. Y. Dragoons, Nunda, N. Y.; living.

Close, Wm., Company I, 136th N. Y. (J. V. C.), died January 20, 1900.

Cook, Orren H., Company B, 13th N. Y. I. (Past Commander), Nunda, N.
Y.; living.

Cook, Edw. L., Capt., Company F, 1ooth N. Y. V., Oakland, N. Y.; living.

Craig, Wim., Commanding Sergeant, Company E, 58th N. Y. N. G., Nunda,
N. Y.; living.

Cranston, Emory, Company C, 112 N. Y. L; transferred.

Crosier, Otis L., Company H, 136th N. Y. L., Oakland, N. Y.; living.

Cudebec, Clarence L., Sergeant, Company F, tst N. Y. Dragoons, died in
Nunda, October 17, 1904.

Dailey, Charles L., Lieut., Company .\, 104th N. Y. I., died May 30, 1906.

Daley, Ammon, Company D, r54th N. Y. I.; removed.

Demery, W., Company D, r4ist N. Y. I, died March 21, 1905.

Demmon, Franklin B., Company F, 136th N. Y. I., died December 20, 1886.

DeMocker, Peter, 2nd N. Y Mounted Rifles, died February 26, 18096.

DeMocker, Wm., Company A, 1ogth N. Y. V., Nunda, N. Y.; living.

Dimmich, Isaac C., Company Kk, 1st N. Y. Dragoons, Nunda; living.

Davis, Aaron. 169th N. Y. I., Nunda, N. Y.; living.

Fenton, Lucius C., Company A, 6th Ohio Vt. Cav., Ossian, N. Y.; living.

Foose, Geo. C., Company A, 22nd N.Y. C.; transferred.

591
Gilmore, Dr. James, tcoth N. Y V., died at Nunda.

Gould, Chester, Company C, 136th N. Y. \., died July 28, 1902, North
Oakhill, N. Y.

Green, Husted, Company E, a7th N. Y. I., Nunda, N. Y.; living.

Greenfield, Henr., Company T, 1st N. Y. Dragoons, Nunda, N. Y.; living.

Gurnee, John R., Company Kk, tooth N. Y., Nunda, N. Y.: living.

Hall, Rev. E. G. W., Company C, N. Y. H. A., Holland, N. Y.; transferred.

Hand, Henry Wells, Capt., Company I, 39th U. S. C. T., Nunda, N. Y.;
living.

Hand, John Wesley, Capt., Companies F, and B, 136th N. Y. I, Nunda,
N. Y.; living.

Hamilton, Chas. B., Company H., 147th N. Y. L., Ridge, N. Y.; living.

- Hark, Frederick, Company D, tst Vet. Cav., Nunda, N. Y.; living.

Harwood, John, Company I, 1st N. Y. Dragoons; dead.

Hills, Horace, Company A, 47th Ill, died at Bath, N. Y.

Holmes, Wm. (P. €.), Company E, 1st N. Y. Drag., Dalton, N. Y.; trans-
ferred.

Hooker, Eli, Company FE, 84th N. Y. Vols., died Nunda, N. Y.

Johnson, Benjamin, Company -\, 83rd Pa., Nunda, N. Y.; living.

Johnson, Thos., Company F, 1ro1st N. Y I.; transferred.

King, Eli H., Company I, tst N. Y. D., died 1908.

Knappenbarg, Wm., Company F, 136th N. Y. I., Nunda, N. Y.; living.

Lemen, Jas., Capt., Commander, Company I, rst N. Y. D.; dead.

Lewis, Harrie, Company L, N. Y. Cav.; transferred.

Lewis, Herman J., Company L, 2oth N. Y. Cav.; transferred.

Lockwood, Franklin G., Company E, 1st N. Y. D.; died.

Mann, John, Company A, Tacoma H. Art., Ridge; transferred.

Marsh, George Henry, Company I, 14th N. Y. H. A., Nunda; living.

Marshall, Rev. Dr. Jas., chaplain, U. S. A.; died.

MeMiilen, Andrew, Company .A, 12th Ill. Inf., died May 29, 1898.

MeNair, Jas. Monroe, Capt., Company F, 33rd N. Y. I.; died.

Mayhew, Wm. C., Company F, 9th N. Y. H. A.; died.

Merithew, Hiram, Company B, 64th N. Y., died January 7, 1904.

Moore, Rev. S. T., Chaplain, 6th N. Y. Vol.; died.

Morris, Sidney S.. Com. Sergt., 1st N. Y. Dragoons; living.

Northway, Franklin A. (Past Com.), Company I, 136th, Nunda; living.

Norton, H. L., Company D, 8th N. Y. Cav.; transferred.

Oakley, Andrew J. (Past Com.), Company F, 4th N. Y. H. A., died April
30, 1908.

Osborne, Chauncey, Company D, 1st N. Y. D., died January to, 1894.

Palmer, A. J.. Company I, 4th N. Y. H. A., died at Oakland.

Peck, Harrison, (Hospital Steward), U. S. A., Nunda; living.

Pendergast, Lawrence, Company I, 188th N. Y. L.; died.

Perry, Ira B., Company F, 14th U. S. Inf.; transferred.

Pitcher, Geo. A. (J. V C.), Company H, oth N. Y. H. A., Olean, N. Y..
transferred.

Post, Rev. Bela, Company H, oth N. Y. Cav.; transerred.

Preston, Warren, Company F, 33rd and 14th H. A., Dansville, N. Y.; trans-
ferred.

592
Preston, Wm., Company E, 104th N. Y.; living.

Provo, John, Company G, 4th N. Y. H. A., died lebruary 22, 1895.
Randall, David L., Company F, rst N. Y. Drag., Nunda; living.
Ratchford, David, Company I, 108th Ill. Inf., East Hill; removed.
Rathbun, Adrian, 3rd Mich. Vet., Oakland; living.

Roberts, Peter, Company C, 1oth Mich. Cav., Nunda; living.
Robinson, Milan, Company F, 136th N. Y. L., died August, 1903. °
Robinson, Rufus, Company I, 58th N. Y. N. G., died March 14, 1895.
Rogers, Jas. W., Company I, 1st N. Y. D.; died.

Rickitts, Frank A., Company A, i84th N. Y.; living.

Sabin, Dr. John B. (surgeon), 2nd Mounted Rifles; transferred.
Sanders, Chauncey K. (Commander), 58th N. Y. N. G., Nunda, living.
Shields, Robert, to4th N. Y.; died.

Slocum, John P., Company C, 189th, Resides Albany, N. Y.; living.
Skinner, Alred W., Company A, 1ogth; died.

Smith, Samuel, Company F, rst N. Y. D.; died.

Smithers, J. (surgeon), 56th Pa. I.: died.

Snider, Edw. G., Company H, 1st N. Y. D.; died.

Snyder, Geo. W., Company A, 104th N. Y., died August 27, 1888.
Stevens, Rev. C. G., Co. A, 154th; transferred.

Schneider, Philip G. 2nd N. J. Cav., Nunda; living.

Taylor, Rev. Jas., C. D., 15th Mass. V.; transferred.

Thomas, Frank, (Hosp. St.), U. S. A.; dead.

Toms, Jas. L., Co. A., 104th N. Y. L, Nunda; living.

Taylor, Anthony ; living.

Upthegrove, Matthew, Co. F., 21 N. Y. I.; transferred.

Warford, Stacey B., Co. F. 8th Mich. Inf., died 1908.

Wampole, Benj., Co. B, 136th N. Y., Oakland; living.

Webster, Eugene, Co. C, 89th N. Y. L.; transferred.

Whitnack, Asher B., Co. I, 1st N. Y. D., died October 17, rgor.
Woodworth, Charles R., Co. K, 52nd N. Y. I., died November 11, 1903.
Wyman, Harrison, Co. H, 26th Mich., died June, tgor.

Young, Wm. T., Co. E, togth N. Y. V.; removed.

Honorary Member

Carter, John J., Co. F, 33rd and rst Vet. Cav., Titusville, Pa.; living.

All that are left of them, of the 110 members of this Post, thirty-four are
still active. About forty-seven to fifty have died. Of those transferred we are
not certain how many of those have been “mustered out” by death.

J. L. AND C. S. THOMPSON POST, NO. 190, G. A. R.. AT DALTON, N. Y.

This additional Post in Nunda was organized January 23, 1884, being at
that time a part of Hall Post, G. A. R. It was named after two brothers who
enlisted in Nunda in the ro4th Regt., N. Y. Vols., known as the Wadsworth
Guards. One was killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 11, 1862, and the
other one died in a Confederate prison in 1864.

Membership

Aldrich, Alonzo, 4th N. Y. H. Art.
Alvord, Jacob, Co. I, 1st N. Y. D., Dalton.

593
Aylor, Jacob, Co. A, 9th N. Y. H. Art.; buried at Nunda.
Bates, C. B., Company k, 16th N. Y. Cav.

Batterson, Wm. (See C. W. W. Post) ; dead.

Bennett, E. O., Co. G, 78th N. Y. Inf.

Bentley, C., Hos. Dt., Co. Kk, 16th Ohio Cav.; dead.
Burroughs, Aaron, 4th N. Y. H. A.; buried at H. H.
Chamberlain, W. H., Co. C, 89th N. Y., resides at Dalton.
Cudebec, C. L. (See C. W. W. Post); died.

Dory, Thomas, Co. kK, 184th N. Y. Inf., resides at Dalton.
Fry, Henry, Co. I, st N. Y. D., resides at Dalton.

Fox, Chas. B., Co. A, Dragoons; died 1907.

Foose, Geo. C., Co. A, 22nd N. Y. Cav.

Hamilton, Edwin M., Co. I, 136th N. Y. Vols.: died.
Hamilton, Chas. B. (See C. W. W. Post).

Havens, C. L., Co. I, 1st N. Y. D.

Havens, Henry Kk., Co. I, 136th N. Y. V.; died 1908.

Hark, Frederick. (See C. W. W. Post.)

Jackson, Paschal, Co. I, 1st N. Y. D., resides at Dalton.
Johnson, T., transferred to Nunda, Co. I*. 161st N. Y.
Johnson, Benj., transferred to Nunda.

Kelley, Wm. H., Co. F, 1st N. Y. D.

Kneeland, Benj. F., Surgeon; died at Nunda, September 3, 1905.
Lyon, H. S., Co. H, 136th N. Y. V., resides at Dalton.
Lyon, J., Co. D, 15th N. Y. Inf., resides at Dalton.
Lynde, Chas. S., Co. M, 2nd Mounted Rifles, Dalton.
Lynde, Jas. A., Co. M, 2nd Mounted Rifles; died at Dalton.
Myers, David, Co. B, 9th Cav., Dalton.

Pitcher, Geo. .\., transferred to Nunda. (See C. W. W. Post.)
Parks, A. Jackson, Co. E, 85th Inf.; died at Perry, 1908.
Rogers, Geo. F., Co. D, 1st Vet. Cav.; died.

Rogers, Jas. ist N. Y. D.; transferred to Nunda; died at Dayton, O.
Russeli, Torrey E., 93 Inf.; removed.

Ricketts, F., Co. A, 184th Inf.; transferred to Nunda.
Simpson, Jno.. Co. D, 188 N. Y. I.; died.

Smith, Homer A., Co. B, to4th N. Y.

Smith, Jesse, Co. I, rst N. Y. D.; resides at Nunda.
Schneider, Phillip, Co. G, 2nd N. J. Cav.; transferred to Nunda.
Suitor, Albert, Co. F, 1ogth N. Y.

Swender, H., Co. A, 9th N. Y. H. Art.

Steih, Daniel, F. oth N. Y. H. A.

Freehouse, Jno., Co. I, ist N. Y. D.

Town, B. F., ist N. Y. D.

Walker, J. C., ist N. Y. D.

Ward, Rowland E., 4th N. Y. H. Art.; died.

Youngs, Wm. A., 1o4th N. Y. L, Pike, N. Y.

HALL POST, G. A. R., HUNT, N. Y.

This Post holds its meetings in Memorial Hall, Hunt, and meets on the first
and third Saturdays of each month. It has fost most of its members by death
and by transfers. 504
Hall Post was named after Lieutenant Wim. C. Hall of Co. Kk, 136th N. Y.
Infantry, who was wounded during the Battle of Resaca, Ga., May 13th to 16th
and removed to hospital at Nashville, where he died May 27th. The Portage
soldiers did well in selecting the name of this gallant soldier, earnest scholar,
and Christian gentleman.

Members

The following members were afterward transferred to Dalton, to form a post
there: Alonzo Aldrich, Aaron Burroughs, C. L. Ilavens, David Myers, George
F Rogers, James W. Rogers, Charles and James Lynde, A. Jackson Parks, Theo-
dore Magee, Daniel Steih, Jacob Aylor, J. and Henry Lyon, B. I*. Kneeland,
Henry Swender, Philip Schneider, WH. Kelley, J. C. Walker.

The following three were transferred to Nunda: Clarence L. Cudebec,
Captain H. W. Hand and Otis L. Crosier.

Beech, Wim.; died.
Blood, Calvin, Hosp. Steward, Co. H, 13th N. Y. H. Art.; died March, 1905.
Beardsley, Augustus, Co. E, 4th N. Y. H. A.; died.
Broadbent. Joseph, 1st N. Y. Cav. ; transferred.
Brigham, Benj., Co. D, 58th N. Y. N. G. ;died.
Boss, S. P., Co. F, ist N. Y. D.; died.
Buckley, J. H., 4th N. Y. H. Art.; removed.
Chafee, James R., Co. A, tosth N.Y.
Cheesbro, Emory, Co. I, 136th NX. Y., Badger Mills, Wis.
Chase, Augustus \W., Co. D, 58 N. Y. N. G.; died 1901.
Edmonds, Thos. \W., Co. J, N. ¥. D., Castile, N.Y.
Evans, Bailey, Co. F, 27th N. Y. \.; removed.
French, Curtis S.. Co. D, 58th N. Y. N. G.
Evans, David M.; removed.
Gallup, Lyman, Co. A, tosth N. Y.; died, 1906.
Green, Thos., Oakland.
Guptill, Jos, 4th H. Art.; died, 1907.
Gardner, Charles, Co. D, 58th N. Y. N. G.
Gifford, L. D., 8th N. Y. H. Art. (not active.)
Hart, E. A., Co. A, trith, Oregon.
Hawthorn, Robt., Co. H, 26th N. Y., Sgt. Co. F, 1st Vet. Cav.
Haynes, N. W., Co. I, 17th Inf.; died at Castile, 1905.
Hinkley, Owen E., Co. B. 14th H. Art.; died, 1907.
Hinman, Alex., Co. A, ro4th; transferred to Canesaraga.
Howard, Hunt, N. Y.
Holley, Henry, ath N. Y. H. Art., Hunt, N. Y.
Keeney, Anson F., Co. C, 89th N. Y.; removed to Perry.
iearnes, W C., Co. B, 32nd Iowa; transferred, Ohio.
Laughlin, Michael, Co. F, 4th N. Y. H. Art, Rossburg.
Link, Nelson D,, 58th N. Y. N. G.
Miller, C. D., Co. C, 84th Ill; removed.
Moneghan, Felix, Co. H, 136th NX. Y.; Portage Station.
Morris, Sidney S., Com'y Sergt.:; transferred to Jamestown, then to Nunda
Niles, Wm. H., Co. I, rst N. Y. D.; died.
Nash, E. Adelbert, Co. F, 4th H. Art.; Hunt.

595
Payne, Phillip, Co. A, 1st N. Y. D.; Portage.

Parks, Robert Randall, 4th N. Y. H. Art.; Hunt.

Price, Wm. D., Co. I, 136th N. Y.

Rae, Dr. Robt., Surgeon ist N. Y. Drag.; Portageville, N. Y.
Russell, J. C.. Co. D, 58th N. Y. N. G., Dalton, N. Y.

Reed, Wm., Co. D, 1st N. Y. Ari.

Rawson, Moses, Co. L. tst N. Y. Bat. Lt. Art; died, 1880.
Right, Henry C., Co. C, Mich. Vols.; died August 12, 1889.
Schwartz, Mathias, Co. D, ro2nd Pa. Inf.; (withdrew) ; Hunts.
Smith, Benj., Co. C, Dragoons; buried at Dalton.

Smith, Delancey L., Co. F, 33 N. Y.; Hunts.

Stone, Wm., Co. F, 21st Cav.; Portageville.

Stockweather, Geo., Co. F, 1st N. Y. D.; Hunts.

Scott, Robt., Co. D, 58th N. G.; died.

Troley, Wm., Co. A, tst M. Light Art.

White, A. J.; Oakland.

Washburn, ,47th N.Y |

Witter, Leroy H.; died, 1897.

 

JOHN J. CARTER CAMP, SONS OF VETERANS

This camp was organized May 17, 1892, with sixteen charter members.
At the next meeting, May 23rd, six more members were added to the camp.
They chose their name with great unanimity of opinion and were soon after-
ward the recipients of a magnificent United States flag from the generous
patriot under whose name they gather. The camp has had a membership of
about fifty but some members have removed and others ceased to attend. A
list of names of members follows: :

Abrams, Rev. Delos E., son of W. B. Abrams, Sergeant 97th N. Y. Inf.

Ames, Alfred A., son of George Ames, 1st N. Y. Drag.

 

 

 

 

 

FRED WoopworTH

 

Caprain JOHN CREGO 596
Brady, Robert B., son of W. H. Brady, 28th N. Y. Inf.

Brady, Charles, son of WH. Brady, 28th N. Y. Inf.

Cudebec, Roy J., son of Clarence Cudebec, ist N. Y. Drag.

Cook, Edward L., Jr., son of E. L. Cook, Captain tooth N. Y. Inf.

Craig, Donald G., son of William Craig, 58th N. Y. N. G.

Crosier, John L., son of Otis L. Crosier, 136th N. Y. Inf.

Crego, John, son of James L. Crego, Lieutenant roth Michigan, died 1894.
Crego, Herbert, grandson of Jas. L. Crego, Lieuten’t 19th Mich., died 1894.
Daily, W. L., son of Chas. L. Daily, Lieutenant 1st N. Y. Drag.
Batterson, Winfield S., son of William Batterson, 188th N. Y. Inf.

De Alocker, A. M., grandson of Peter De Mocker, 2nd Mounted Rifles.
De Mocker, Fred, son of Peter De Mocker, 2nd Mounted Rifles.

Davis, Everett G., son of Geo. WW Davis, 136th N. Y. Inf.

Gurnee, Lloyd W., son of John R. Gurnee, tooth N. Y. Inf.

Gurnee, J. Winfield, son of John R. Gurnee, tooth N. Y. Inf.

Hall, William \V , son of Rey. E.G. W Hall, roth N. Y. H. A.

Hall, Arch L., son of Rev. E. G. W. Hall, roth N. Y. H. A.

Hall, Clayton, son of Rev. E.G. W Hall, roth N. Y. H. A.

Hark, Walter P., grandson of Fred Hark, tst Vet. Cav.

Herrington, Lewis, son of Matthew Herrington, 30th N. Y. Inf.
Holmes, John, son of William Holmes, 1st N. Y. Drag.

Hooker, . son of Eli Hooker, 85th N. Y. Inf.

Hooker, Lewis, son of Eli Hooker, 85th N. Y. Inf.

Holder, Will, grandson of Eli Hooker, 85th N. Y. Inf.

Koeppe, E. W., son of Gottleib Koeppe, 33rd N. Y. Inf.

Leonard, Rev. T. S., son of H. G. Leonard, 46th Pa. Inf.

Lockwood, Burton E., son of Frank Lockwood, tst N. Y. Drag.
Lockwood, Lewis, son of Frank Lockwood, Ist N. Y. Drag.

Logan, Frank J., grandson of Henry Marsh, 14th U.S. H. A.

Luther, Daniel U., son of Daniel Luther, rqist N. Y. Inf.

McCarthy, Frank, son of Dennis McCarthy.

Mabey, Clayton G., son of Byron W. Mabey, 14th N. Y. Inf., 8th N. Y. Cav.
Morris, Charles L., vet. of Sp. Am. war, son of S. S. Morris, ist N. Y. Drag.
Nash, M. J. (honorable discharge), son of Jos. N. Nash, 58th N. Y. N. G.
Northway, Edward W., son of Frank A. Northway, 136th N. Y. Int.
Northway, William, son of Frank A. Northway, 136th N. Y. Inf.

Nelson, Hartford, son of Edward Nelson, tst N. Y. Drag.

Pratt, Charles E., son of David Pratt, 1oqth N. Y. Inf.

Pratt, Ralph K., grandson of David Pratt, toqth N. Y. Inf.

Provo, Charles V., son of John Provo, 4th N. Y. Art.

Robinson, Frank E., son of Rufus Robinson, 58th N. Y. N. G.
Sanders, Walter B., son of C. K. Sanders, Lieutenant, 58th N. G.
Sanford, E. H., son of Thomas Sanford, 188th N. Y. Inf.

Sabin, Robert, son of John B. Sabin, Mounted Rifles.

Sphoon, Charles H., grandson of George A. Sphoon, rst N. Y. Drag.
Smith, Benj., son of John Smith, 3rd N. Y. H. A.

Toms, Frank, son of James Toms, 104th N. Y. Inf.

 

597
Woodworth, Fred E., son of Charles R. Woodworth, 52nd N. Y. Inf.

Woolworth, George H., son of Lafayette Woolworth, 104th N. Y. Inf.

CHARLES 8S. LYNDE CAMP, S. O. V., NO. 50, DALTON, N. Y.

This camp was organized at Hunt, N. Y., September 10, 1886, with 20
members, mostly from Dalton, where it was soon afterward located. Its
members were as follows:

Frank Holley, son of Henry Holley. 4th H. A.

FHarvey Halstead. son of Halstead.

Elkanah L. Sanford, son of Thomas Sanford, 188th N. Y.

\lenry E. Averill, son of Latham Averill.

\Villiam Hamilton, son of Charles B. Hamilton, 157th N. Y.

Richmond D. Havens, son of Henry K. Havens, 136th N. Y.

Thomas \V Hamilton, son of E. M. Hamilton, 136th N. Y.

\Villiam G. Rogers, son of George W Rogers.

William Upthegrove Douglass.

William Havens, son of Henry K. Havens, 136th N. Y.

Ziba Barney, son of Ziba Barney.

Allen Town, son of B. F Town, 130th N. Y.

Sheridan W. Smith, son of John P. Smith.

Aaron Bates, son of \WW Clem. Bates.

L. C. Havens, son of Henry K. Havens, 136th N. Y.

M. J. Aylor, son of Jacob Aylor, oth H. A.

A. G. Stockweather, son of George Stockweather, ist N. Y. Drag.

J. E. Lyon, son of Henry Lyon, 136th N. Y.

A. J. Nash, son of Adelbert Nash, 4th H. A.

S. A. Ryan, son of John Ryan, 136th N. Y.

L. A. Walker, son of J. C. Walker, 1st N. Y. Drag.

Harry A. Closser, son of Soloman Closser, to4th N. Y.

Lannes Lyon, son of Henry Lyon, 136th N. Y.

John A. Pitcher, son of George A. Pitcher, 9th H. A.

Eugene Price, son of William Price, 136th N. Y.

\Valter Van Ostrand, son of Charles Van Ostrand.

Frank A. Russell, son of Joseph B. Russell, 58th N. G.

I \W. Ryan, son of John Ryan, 136th N. Y.

J. R. Marven, son of H. S. Marven, 58th N. G.

William R. Ward, son of Rowland Ward, 4th H. A.

S. E. Wright, son of Zalmon Wright, 64th N. Y.

H. N. Burch, son of Freeman Burch, Mounted Rifles.

Washington Price, son of William Price, 136th N. Y.

Harvey Hamilton, son of Charles Hamilton, 157th N. Y.

Rev. Jasper Howell, son of A. B. Howell, 3rd N. C. Mounted Rifles.

Burton D. Price, son of William Price, 136th N. Y.

George Brady, son of WW H. Brady, 28th N. Y.

Rev. W. F. Wells, M. D., son of Charles Wells, 169th N. Y.

John Lynde, son of Charles Lynde, 2nd Mounted Rifles.

Floyd Smith, son of Jesse Smith, 1st N. Y. Drag.

James Smith, son of Jesse Smith, 1st N. Y. Drag.

Joseph Dieter, son of Frank Dieter, ist N. Y. Drag.

 

598
George Dieter, son of Frank Dieter, 1st N. Y. Drag.
Herbert E. Wells, grandson of Charles Wells, 169th N. Y.
Henry Ward Lyon, son of H. S. Lyon, 136th N. Y.
William E. Price, son of \William Price, 136th N. Y.
Frank Dieter, son of Frank Dieter, ist N. Y. Drag.
Charles Bentley, son of Lieut. Charles bentley, Company K, 16th IL.
Howard Kelley, son of \Villiam Kelley, ist N. Y. Drag.
Ward L. Lynk, grandson of Nelson Lynk, 58th N. G.

T. Cort Bliss, D. D. S., son of E. S. Bliss, 136th N. Y.

W. AW’. Witherell, son of \Walter S. Witherell, 136th N. Y.
Russell Kelley. son of William H. Kelley, rst N. Y. Drag.
Eli Price, son of \William D. Price, 136th N. Y.

Rev. Orren C. Baker.

WOMAN’S RELIEF CORPS, NO. 57

This corps of workers was organized March 13, 1902, with seventeen
members, and has had in all one hundred and six members. Of this number
it has lost by death three of its most active members, namely, its First Chap-
lain, MIrs. Martha K. Dennis; Mrs. Jennie Craig, a Past Senior Vice Com-
mander, and on August I, 1907, Mrs. Ellen \W. Post, who had served as dele-
gate to state convention held at Saratoga. These ladies were efficient and zeal-
ous workers and true patriots.

This organization has been of incalculable benefit to the community in
many ways, particularly as a dispensor of aid to the afflicted and needy; in
fact, it has been the only organization that has practiced systematic charity
to all in special need of kindly courtesy or practical aid. Besides these acts
of kindness to the sick or afflicted, it has furnished substantial aid to the
amount of five hundred and thirty dollars.

Composed, as it is, of people from the various churches, it has aided in
breaking down some sect and social boundaries and proved that 75 or more
women can work harmoniously on the plane of a common interest in humanity.

The successive presidents of this corps have been: Rev. Clara E. Morgan,
Mrs. Teressa Baylor, Mrs. Mary B. Richmond and Miss Mabel H. Dowling.

Roll of Members of Woman’s Relief Corps, No. 57

Those marked * have died, ¢ those removed.

+Clara E. Morgan, *Jennie E. Craig, Mary N. Hand, Belle S. Balty, Har-
riet T. Sanders, Mary B. Richmond, Lottie Wright, Julia Hand, Bessie Den-
nis, Bernice Gurnee, Jessie M. Johnson, M. Louise Blanchard, Victoria Camp-
bell, Ella Gurnee, Melissa Hagadorn, Mabel H. Dowling, Hannah Lovell,
Nellie A. Brown, Theodora Daggett, fM. Stella Bergen, Teressa K. Baylor,
+Anna May Morris, Lotta Lovell, tNellie M. Sabin, Cora I. Dowling, Georgia
Sanders, Loretta I. Bergen, Delia I. Hungerford, Dell M. Wheaton, Ella L.
Ostrander, Lucile M. Partridge, Minnie Jones, Julia C. Smith, Mary J.
Dennis, -Anna D. Slocum, Elizabeth A. Clapper, {Maria E. Morris, *Ellen
W. Post, Harriet Dailey, }Flora Conklin, fHarriet Bergen, Emily C. Robinson,
Mollie P. Bergen, Harriet L. Dowling, Mary J. Rowell, Sabrina J. Ostram,
Florence L. Dowling, tLouise Fulmer, Cora D. Cudebec, Charity Robinson,

599
Anna Brady, Sabra Willett, Mabel Gillette, Mary E. Cook, Katherine Holmes,
Elinor Cook, Emma Osgoodby, Ella Gelser, {Harriet M. DePuy, Lavina Wil-
cox Nelson, Sarah DePuy, Cora M. Wagor, Mary E. McMaster, Harriet F
Bennett, Zettie Whitcomb, Frances Ray, {Mary J. Fraser, Elizabeth Robinson,
Frances E. Ramsey, Sadie M. Foote, Franc Northway, Alida J. Barron, Mar-
tha K. Holmes, Luella D. Page, Grace K. Scholes, Carrie W. Rose, Katherine
Haines, Grace Swift, Gertrude Robinson, Jessie C. Beach, Stella G. Coffin,
Belle S. Miller, Jennie Barker, Celia Carrick, Mary Jones, Sophia Willett
Dake, Ida A. Holmes, Nellie Wilner, Harriet A. Foote, Leala D. Baker, Eliza-
beth D. Goldthwait, Julia G. Fuller, Helen R. Wood, Mary E. Higgins,
Frances Wood Craig, Mary P. Dana, Ellen J. Colgrove, Rose E. VanDusen,
Sophronia Stone, Nellie Kent, Isabelle Mabey, Mary E. VanWagnen, Eliza-
beth B. Dodge, Fannie M. Morris, Vina M. Scott, Pearl T. Willard.

OUR CEMETERIES AND OUR HONORED DEAD
Memorial Day

Do you know what it means, you boys and girls,
Who hail from the North and South,
Do you know what it means,
This twining of greens
Round the silent cannon’s mouth?
This strewing with flowers the grass-grown grave,
The decking with garlands the statues brave;
This flaunting of flags
All in tatters and rags,
This marching and singing,
These bells all ringing,
These faces grave and these faces gay,
This talk of Blue and this talk of Gray,
In the North and South on Memorial Day?

Not simply a show time, boys and girls,
Is this day of lavished flowers,—
Not a pageant or play,
Nor a mere holiday
Of flags and of floral bowers.
It is something more than the day that starts
War memories throbbing in veteran hearts,
Far across the years,
To the hopes and fears,
To the days of battle,
Of roar and rattle;
To the past that now seems so far away,
Do the sons of the Blue and the sons of the Gray
Gaze, hand clasping hand, on Memorial Day.

600
For the wreck and the wrong of it, boys and girls,
For the terror and loss as well,
Our hearts must hold
A regret untold
As we think of those who fell.
But their blood, on whichever side they fought,
Re-made the nation and progress brought.
We forget the woe,
For we live and know
That the fighting and sighing,
The falling and dying,
Were but steps toward the future—the martyr’s way,
Down which the sons of the Blue and the Gray
Look with love and pride, on Memorial Day. William B. Dick.

Hallowed Ground
The graves we decorate of those for valor crowned
Are to their living comrades consecrated ground.

Honor Your Country’s Preservers
Bring flowers bright from garden and grove
Twine wreaths for the emerald sod
Earth yields such beautiful tokens of love
In the vales where our brave heroes trod.

Bring flowers, choice flowers, of every hue,
The crimson, the purple, the red,

For they were loyal and royal and true
Our noble, our patriotic dead.

Bring pure white wreaths, and the fadeless green
For their spotless, enduring fame,

For brave deeds of valor as ever were seen
And a pure and immortal name.

Bring fragrant flowers to these portals of death
On the verge of the evergreen shore,
That the fragrance of earth, and the incense of Heaven
May blend in our thoughts evermore. H.W. H., 1875

 

 

or 7 Z,

 

 

Oakwoop CEMETERY
BURIED AT OAKWOOD CEMETERY
Revolutionary Soldiers

William Dake Gould, born 1754, died 1844; Daniel Andrus, born 1750,
died 1840; Zadoc Sherwood, born 1759, died 1859; Daniel Hamilton, born 1761,

died 1852.
Veterans of 1812

Gen. Micha Brooks, born 1775, died 1857; Noah Warren, born 1793, died
1880; John C. MeNair, born 1796, died 1869; John H. Townsend, born 1793,
died 1880; Dr. Jabez Dake, Sr., born 1788, died 1846.

THE GREAT CIVIL WAR, 1861-65

Died during the war and buried (or have markers) in Oakwood, Nunda:

Killed: William James Cosnett, in 1864; Alpheus Cyrene Willett, in 1864;
Captain and A. A. General Jno. P. Wood, in 1864; William Black, Perrin
Paige, William E. Patridge, Alfred H. Cain.

Died of wounds: Sergeant Lewis \V. Shepard, Sergeant John S. Satterlee,
William G. Chislett, Emerson Rude.

Died from prison life: Samuel Tallmage, Lamire Willey, Perry Haynes.

Died from disease: Gardner Bacon, William J. Wright, Rufus Chandler,
Charles Harris, John \W. Emmons, Isaac Johnson, John Hagadorn.

Buried at East Hill (Seager’s), Nunda:

During the war: George H. Prentice, Rufus C. Wescott, John G. Havens,
1869.

Since the war: Orville Prentice.

Buried at Scipio:

Died during the war of wounds, Lycurgus Twining, 1865.

Buried at N. Oak Hill:

Revolutionary soldier, with monument, William Gould Dake.

Civil War:During the war. Charles R. Lowe, 1862. Since the war, Moses.
Cook, 1877; Chester Gould, 1902.

VETERANS MUSTERED OUT

“As years go by from the ranks they fall,
They list no more for the bugle call;
Give the right of way with a kindly smile,
They need it now but a little while.

In the nation’s need their hearts were true,
Honor is only their well earned due;
Then scatter flowers with bud and bloom,
Upon their path as well as their tomb.”

VETERANS WHO DIED SINCE THE WAR AND ARE BURIED IN
OAKWOOD

Capt. Edwin A. Tuthill 1867, Thomas Macken, Gotlieb Koeppe 1871,
Henry F’. Fuller 1880, Needham C. Knight 1870, John B. Paine, March 6, 1870,
Edwin Wilcox 1869, Henry Smith, Fred Willett, Paul Rouber (marked Del-

602
rymple), James Hagadorn, Thomas Chambers, Joseph H. Mason, Charles
Henry \Waver 1880 (also in the Seminole War), Lieut. Col. \Wim. . Alward,
Norton S. Goldthwait 1887, Sergeant Christian Smith, George \V Snyder 1888,
Edgar M. Chipman 1883, Lewis Husong, 13. Franklin Demmon 1886, Corporal
Robt. J. Shield 1889, Jacob Aylor 1888, Henry Alday 1900, Joseph Nash 1888,
Brevet Lieut. Col. Jas. Lemen 1890, Edw. Bush 1894, C. L. Cudebee 1904,
Lieut. Chas. L. Dailey 1906, Terrance Carroll 1906, Edwin Petteys 1907, Eli
Hooker 1907, Seuyler Durvea 1875, David Pratt 18760 Capt. J. M. McNair, John
Provo 1895, Geo. W. Daggett 1895. John Shaw (colored), Orman F. Reckard
1895, Elkin Miner 1889, Rufus Robinson, Andrew Skellenger 1895, Ezra Bur-
dick 1891, Dr. James Gilmore 1895, William Close 1900, Sergeant Alfred \V
Skinner, Andrew MeMillian 1899, Peter DeMocker 1896, Lieut. Calvin Her-
rick 1891, Horatio Clapp 1900, \W HH. Stocking 1893, Charles Woodworth,
Col. L. C. Skinner, Martin V Carpenter 1894, Hiram Merithew, James Carroll
1904, W. A. L. Demery 1905, Capt. G. J. Campbell 1906, Frank G. Lockwood
1907, Stacy Warford 1907, Eli S. King 1908.

BURIED AT DALTON AND THEIR GRAVES DECORATED BY
J. L. AND C. 8S. THOMPSON POST

Buried during the war: \Wm. Elwood 1864, Wm. A. Ecker, George R. W
Fay 1865, Cordemus C. Thompson, James S. Thompson, David C. Wade 1864,
Marcus W Wood 1864, Austin Evans, John Parks 1864, Thomas B. Dunn
1862.

Since the war: Elijah White 1870, Edwin M. Hamilton 1895, Wm. Bat-
terson 1901, James A. Lynde 1903, Benj. C. Smith 1901, John Simpson 1893,
William Magee 1903, John P. Smith 1go1, Marvin Wilson 1885, Henry K.
Havens 1907, David Tadder 1884, Hiram Brace, Andrew \Vescott 1868,
Charles B. Fox 1908, Lieut. Charles H. Bentley 1894, Geo. F. Rogers, Theo-
dore Magee 1904, James \W. Rogers (monument) 1903,

 

Treehouse.

BURIED AT UNION CEMETERY, SNYDER’S, NUNDA

Lieut. David Baldwin, War of 1812; Jacob Goodemont, War of 1812;
Elisha Ames, died in the service; Lieut Prosper Swift 1864; Elwell; Leonard
Russell. Since the war: George Ames.

At Chautauqua Hollow
James Macken, John Knight.

At Union Corners

James Ammermon, John Creveling, Ephraim Walker, all of War of
(812-14. Hiram O. Seeley, Civil War.

At Oakland

Joseph Hosford, Revolutionary ; David Mosier, Revolutionary; Capt.
Albert S. Haver, Company A, 104th Regiment; Wilbur Haver, 27th Regiment ;
James B. Randall, Company F, 169th Regiment; John DeLong, Company F.
33rd Regiment; James R. Jacoby, Comparv E, 115th New York Regiment;
George Bovee, Company C, 136th New York Regiment; William Beech,
Company F, Dragoons; Henry Swartz, Company F, 33rd New York Regiment ;

603
Philander H. Bush, Company F, Dragoons; Augustus L. Damon, Company
F, 33rd Regiment ; Geo. H. Mosier, Company F, 136th New York Regiment.

At Hunts Hollow

Capt. Elisha Smith, veteran War of 1812; Surgeon Benjamin T. Kneeland,
ist Dragoons; Aaron Burroughs, 4th Heavy Artillery; George W. Flint, vet-
eran Mexican War and 104th New York Regiment; Rowland Ward, 4th New
York Heavy Artillery; Matthew Lake; Geo. Monroe Gearhart, Dragoons;
Charles Williams, Jr., 58th Regiment; John Moffatt, 58th New York; Robert
Scutt, 58th New York Regiment; Benj. Brigham, 58th New York Regiment.

At Portageville (Catholic Cemetery)
James Kiley, Laurence Pendegast.
At Fillmore
John Harwood, Edward G. Snyder, A. J. Palmer.
Buried in Various Places

Michael Kiley, in Egypt, Africa; Theodore Cummings, East oe An-
drew J. Oakley, Wiscoy ; Chester B. Bowen, Peaster, Tex., 1905; Rev. James
R. Bowen, Lyons, Mich., 1906; Lucius H. Barron, Portland, Oreg., 1890;
Oscar J. Willett, Oakland, Cal., 1888; Asher C. Whitnack, Mt. Hope, Roches-
er; Lafayette Woolworth, Ossian, N. Y.; Capt. J. N. Flint, San Francisco,
Cal.; Milon O. Robinson, Randolph, N. Y., 1903; Andrew Jackson, Scottsdale,
Pa.; Theodore Magee, Elmira, N. Y.; Rev. Dr. James Marshall, Mt. Morris;
Frank Thomas, Mt. Morris; George W. Durfee, Jamestown, N. Y.; Chancey
Osburn, Castile, N. Y.

 

 

SoLpiers’ MONUMENT
OUR FORTRESS MONUMENT

Oh Fortress on the hillside! To thee all patriots turn
As a source of inspiration, thy choice lessons here to learn,
As a constant recognition of the mighty victory won.

For a fort stands for defiance to all traitors in the land
But this guards the fame of heroes from detractions leprous brand,
And stands for manly valor, and self-sacrifice—so grand.

Cannon shell and deadly rifle, implements of death and woe,
These our soldiers found no trifle in the hands of valorous foe
With such foes they fought and conquered, at what deadly cost we know.

Oh these implements of battle! facing these our heroes brave,
Bared their breasts as sturdy bulwarks, home and starry flag to save,
Wave triumphant glorious banner over every soldiers grave!

Oh the dead this fortress stands for, some already are forgot
Those whose names are not recorded, at the family burial lot
Silent fortress can't vou tell us! Are their names and deeds forgot.

On thy spacious sides are spaces, vacant spaces staring round
Seeking for the “Roll of Honor” of those killed or died of wound,
Just one space, with metaled tablet, could make each such name resound.

Those whose laurels should be brightest, on the battle field were left
And their kindred robbed of caring for their graves seem twice bereft.
Let their names jive on a tablet, raised or carved by sculpture deft.

Carve on marble, white eternal, on its Southern side or face,

Names a score or more of martyrs, soldiers from this very place,

And this record, though ’tis bloodiess, will pale the creek and choke the
breath,

For it tells how Tallmage, Willey, and the rest were starved to death.

Died in service! QO so many! from this lova! town Nunda
Died of fever, died of sunstroke, died of homesickness, away
From the mothers love that healeth, like a balm, by night and day.

Soldiers of the Revolution sought this frontier from the east
Seeking stil! new fields of peril, as men iamished seek a feast
And remained, a pledge ci safety, till by death they were released.

Then when next our British foemen waged a less unequal strife
Their heroic sons enlisted, gladly jeopardized their life
Warren, Brooks, McNair and Townsend, followed martial drum and fife.

Glorious Fortress still inspire us, till we prize our heritage
Heroes of three generations we have seen pass off the stage,
Deeply blaze their names immortal to inspire each coming age.

605
 

     

LBRO OORT OILS: B

 

MemoriaL Hai

THE G. A. R. MEMORIAL HALL

At the corner of State and Second Streets is the gift of Col. John J. Car-
ter of Titusville, Pa., to a board of incorporators; and designed as a home for
the patriotic organizations of Nunda, as well as a repository for historic war
records and relics and a monument to the American volunteer soldiers and _ sail-
ors. The building consists of a basement and lower and upper halls, with a
garret under a hip roof with mullioned dormer windows. The basement which
contains furnace room, kitchen and store rooms is of concrete, and the walls
above the pavement of rock faced Portage bluestone. The superstructure is of
pressed granitoid yellow brick, with terra-cotta window trimmings. The front
of the building is of composite Greek and Roman architecture and of a striking
monumental effect. The heavy stone entablature over the portal which bears
in relief, A. D—G. A. R. MEMORIAL HAILL—10906, is supported by four
massive Roman pillars. while from the portico of the upper hall rises

606
four graceful Corinthian columns, flanking the heavy wrought-iron balustrade.
Above this portico on the pediment, resting on a heap of round shot; are two
dismounted crossed cannons, and in the space above, in gilded metal letters,
JOHN J. CARTER CAMP, SONS OF VETERANS. Surmounting the whole
is the copper statue of a soldier of heroic size with gun at “guard” and appar-
ently alert for big game, and ready to defend the flag which floats from the
lofty flag staff behind him.

The interior of the Jower hall with the foyer, stairways and cloak rooms,
are finished in Indiana white oak with beam finished ceilings, entablature and
pilasters. The upper hall or lodge room is finished in Georgia pine. The floors
of both halls which are supported by 15 inch steel girders—technically known
as II beams,—are of tile and concrete surfaced with maple.

The generous donor has spared no cost in making the building and its ap-
pointments perfect for the purpose for which it was constructed. In this act.
he has shown himself as loyal to the town of his youthful associations and to
the memory of his soldier comrades in arms, as he has ever been to his coun-
try’s flag: and this unique manifestation of his patriotism is characteristic of the
man—the man who can do things.

In connection with this magnanimous gift, it affords the author the highest
pleasure to give to the public another monument to patriotism inspired by
valor, and written in blood by the one soldier who could ‘‘do things in war
times,” more difficult of accomplishment than any of the brilliant achieve-
ments he has wrought since he recommenced his Civilian life, since ‘Grim
visaged war has smoothed its wrinkled front.” The author does not care to
tell of the great successes that have attended the business career of this finan-
cially successful magnate, with marvelous executive ability. The “Jonny
Carter’ of our boyhood as a classmate, as a Nunda soldier, and as a war
scarred veteran, crowd all other views and estimates into the background, and
the heroic environment of four years of uninterrupted service becomes pre-
dominating and with all courtesy and appreciation for others—unsurpassed
and unequalled. Let this monument of accurate historical record—the mili-
tary achievements of John J. Carter—stand side by side with this Memorial
Hall and be as conspicuous and enduring. The Hall, he caused to be built—
but his record as a soldier, he himself builded.

THE MILITARY RECORD OF JOHN J. CARTER, VOLUNTEER
SOLDIER—THE FIRST TO ENLIST IN NUNDA

John J. Carter was the first voiunteer in the town of Nunda, Livingston
County, N. Y., after the receipt of the President’s call for 75,000 of the militia
of the several States, which was about noon of the 16th day of April, 1861. He
became a member of Company F, 33rd Regiment N. Y. State Volunteers, which
was organized May 22, 1861, and was mustered into the U. S. service on July 3,
1861, at Elmira, N. Y., for two years from May 22, 1861; and by that muster
young Carter became

1. A Private Soldier, in which capacity he served until promoted to the
the office of
2. Quartermaster Sergeant of the 33rd Regiment N. Y.S. V., September 1,
1861, and continued to perform the duties of that office until July 10, 1862,
when he was transferred to the office of
607
3. Commissary Sergeant of the 33rd Regiment; and was mustered out of the
U.S. service as an enlisted man November 26, 1862, to enable him to ac-
cept a commission in the 33rd Regiment N. Y. S. Volunteers, as

4. Ensign, by Commission of Governor E. D. Morgan, bearing date June
24, 1862, under which he was mustered into the U. S. service as

5. Second Lieutenant of Company B, 33rd Regiment, N. Y. S. V., in which
capacity he served until the expiration of his regiment's term of service,
when he was mustered out with his regiment, at Geneva, N. Y., on June
2, 1863.

Col. R. F. Taylor, with many of his officers, at once recruited the 1st N. Y.
Veteran Cavalry. The Governor of the State authorized voung Carter to raise
a company for the new cavalry regiment, which he did inside of thirty days from
the date of his authorization. He was mustered into the United States service,
with rank from September 18, 1863, on October 10, 1863, as

6. Captain Company D, 1st New York Veteran Cavalry, in which capacity
he served until February 22, 1865, when, by Special Order No. 43, Head-.
quarters Department of West Virginia, Cumberland, Md., he was ap-
pointed

7. Acting Ordnance Officer of the 1st Separate Brigade, with headquarters
at Charleston, W. \a., but before entering on the duties of his appointment
he was detailed as

8. Judge Advocate of a general courtmartial, to be convened at Charleston,
W. Va., February 24, 1865, “for the trial of such prisoners as may be
brought before it.” The duties of this detail were hardly completed when,
on April 20, 1865, by virtue of General Order No. 44, Headquarters tst
Separate Brigade, Department of West Va., he was appointed

9. Commissioner of Parole and “ordered to proceed to Gauley Bridge, or to
any other point beyond, as may be hereafter designated, to accept the sur-
render of any of the forces of the enemy in the name of the United States,
and on the same terms granted Gen. R. E. Lee, C. S. A., by Gen. Grant,
commanding the armies of the United States.”

On the completicn of this service, he continued to perform the duties of
Ordnance ()fficer until the receipt of General Order No. a4 (C. S.) Adjutant
General's Office, U.S. A., July 1, 1865, ordering the discharge of the First Regi:
ment New York Veteran Cavalry, when he asked to be relieved as Ordnance
Officer that he might be discharged with his regiment. The request was
granted, and, after settling his accounts with the department he became
10. A Citizen by being mustered out of the United States service, at Roches:

ter, N. Y., August 2, 1865.

Carter participated in the following general engagements:

Peninsular Campaign, 1862
1—Yorktown, April 11th te May 4th, 1862.
2—Williamsburg, May 5, 1862.
3—Mechanicsville, May 22, 1862.
4—Golden’s Farm, June 28, 1862.
5—Savage Station, June 29, 1862.
6—White Oak Swamp, June 30, 1862.

608
Maryland Campaign, 1862

7—Crampton’s Pass, September 14, 1862.
8—Antietam, September 17, 1862.

Rappahannock Campaign, 1862

g—Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862.
10—The “Mud March,” January 20, 1863.

Chancellorsville Campaign, 1862

I1—Storming of Fredericksburg Heights, May 3, 1863.
12—Marye’s Heights, May 3, 1863.

13—Salem Church, May 4, 1853.

14—Bank’'s Ford, Mav 4, 1863.

Shenandoah Valley and Maryland Campaigns, 1864

#5—New Market, Mav 15, 1864.

16—Piedmont, June 5, 1864.

17—Kearnstown, July 24, 1864.

18—Martinsburg, Julv 25, 1864.

Including many minor engagements and skirmishes incident to the cam-
paigns herein mentioned, which space forbids to refer to.

In the first months of the war Carter was promoted to Quartermaster and
Commissary Sergeants, successively, of his regiment, for correct military de-
portment and accuracy in his methods of accounts.

During the “Peninsular Campaign” he was promoted to Second Lieutenant
and assigned to Company “B” for duty, because of conspicuous service at Wil-
liamsburg; and was mentioned in orders because of gallant conduct at Golden's
Farm.

At Antietam, Gen. W. F. Smith, commanding division of the Sixth Corps,
in his report of that engagement said: ‘“* * * JI beg leave to mention the
following named officer, belonging tc this (3rd) brigade, whose conduct was
particularly gallant, under my own observation—lLieutenant John J. Carter,
33rd New York Volunteers.” For this service he was awarded the Congres-
sional medal of Honor.

At the second battle of Fredericksburg, Lieut. Carter was the first man, at
the head of his company, to enter the enemy's works, on Marye’s Heights, and
drive the rebel gunners from their guns.

To the watchfulness of this young officer was the Sixth Corps indebted for
the timely warning of the enemy's approach in its rear, along Marye’s Heights,
on the morning of May 4, 1863. Later in the day, a brigade of rebels attempted
to capture a redoubt near the plank road, but the 49th New York and the 7th
Maine Regiments repulsed the charge in handsome style, driving the enemy in
confusion from their front. Lieut. Carter, being on the skirmish line, moved
his men forward and in rear of the now retreating enemy, causing hundreds of
them to take shelter in an old barn and other outhouses in their path, from
which, because of a well directed fire from his skirmishers, they soon marched
out, prisoners of war. The flag of the 58th Virginia was surrendered at the

same time.
609
Because of his conduct on these occasions his Colonel and General recom-
mended him for promotion; but, because of the expiration of the term of serv
ice of his regiment and its muster out of the United States service within a few
days, the recommendation was not carried into effect until the organization of
the 1st Regiment of Veteran Cavalry, N. Y. S. V.—-practically the reorganiza-
tion of the 33rd and 27th Regiments of Infantry into the Ist Regiment of
Veteran Cavalry.

As a cavalry officer, he was wounded twice and had five horses killed under
him in action. He lead four successful cavalry charges, in as many engage-
ments, and captured more prisoners of war at Piedmont than he had men in his
charging column, twice over. He served under Seigle, Hunter, Crook, Averill
and Sheridan. .

He was mentioned many times in the orders of his commanding officers for
gallant conduct in action, fine soldierly qualities on the march, and good execu-
tive ability in camp and bivouac. He was mustered out of the United States
service August 3, 1865, after four years, three months and fifteen days service
in the field.

 

 

 

 

DaNIEL Price's SANITARIUM

610
BOOK V

MODERN NUNDA

a " : 2 ~ : ae

 

NUNDA OF TO-DAY

What is Nunda Village like, Pedro play and dance all night,
Now a day. For in summer maids in white,
Once the “Hub” was found in Pike Young and fair,
Miles away ; Under our electric lights
Now we have a nobby town, Gather there.
Sidewalks of cement abound, As they're tripping to and fro,
Autos hustling all around, In the light’s fantastic glow
That’s Nunda. Then we have a holy show

Of angels fair.
It is just a sylvan park

Bright with leaves, In this town, no maid grows old

And electric lights when dark Though on leap years they’re not bold,
Changing these Not a day!

Into silver hues and gold, But more gay;

But one half cannot be told At three score they dress in white,

Of the visions that enfold Sing the songs their bards indite,
Poesy. Giddy, quite!

The Psalmists limit don’t hold good
In Nunda!
Dames of ninety, its understood
If fair the day,
To the church will hie away
Dressed in silken gowns of gray,
And to Sunday School they stay! ! !
Choice souls they!
Heaven’s but half a mile away
From Nunda! !! (H.W.H.)
VILLLAGE HALL

 
MODERN NUNDA AFTER 1842

“And so I wrote it down, until it came to be,
For length and bigness of the size you see.”

And this already too large manuscript, grew so vast that the scissors was
needed more than the pen, and modern Nunda must either be written at a future
time, or cut down to very limited dimentions. The most difficult part has been
done, but the book was too large, and had to be condensed or it would have bank-
rupted the editor, and to some extent the purchaser. Who would have thought
so much could have been found in reference to a single town. Historic events
are like moving pictures, and the grandsons of pioneers come on the stage as full
grown men, in time to see their pioneer ancestry disappear. The grandsons of
veterans are knocking at the doors of “Carter Camp” and “Lynde Camp, Sons of
Veterans” eager to prove their patriotism, by the reverence they feel for their
heroic ancestry. There isa call by this generation to tear down the first frame
buildings that have so long survived their builders, that modern ones may take
their places.

The canal from which the pioneers expected so much progress that they saw
dug, and helped to build, that for forty years, carried away the forests of Liv-
ingston and Allegany, and furnished cheap transportation for the merchandise
and groceries, and other freight from New York City, Syracuse (salt) and Roch-
ester, the next generation and a few of the first saw changed into a railroad, that
now seems inadequate to meet the requirements of the present age of progress,
and a more direct road-bed, though the village along the canal-bed of former
years, and an electric coach service both north and south, with a supply of
power from the Genesee, seems to be the desire and requirement of this present
age. It is bound to come in due time.

The present village of Nunda has a charm that beguiles every stranger. It is
just a park in summer; it is Just a jewel in winter ; it is superb says another, and
even those who indulge in slang call it either a “dandy” or a “bute”; it attracts
old and young alike. The city man or woman who comes to see their country
cousins sees no reason why Nunda people need seek any resort either in summer
or winter for they can find nothing so cozy, so delightful, so enjoyable as this
neat and bewitching village of ideal homes. Only last week a daughter of one
of our former citizens visited the place for the first time, having come a thousand
miles to see the place her father spoke of so often, and she declared that she
never saw so charming a village . The very next day a bride from the sunny
south, that had not been in Nunda but a day or two, made the same remark.
Those from the prairie lands of the west go into ecstacies over our magnificent
hills, that charm all who view them, while those from the foot hills of the Rocky
Mountains are enthusiastic over our hill encircled valley.

The gatherings on Old Home Week and our Centennial will tell the per-
manence of the charm, for what they ‘‘admired and loved” a score of years ago,
they now “love and admire” with a cumulative devotion. But men are more
than landscapes, hills and plains, and I must say with regret that there is no
space left to tell of the very ones, nearest and dearest, because of past associa-
tions, who have in the last half century done so much to beautify and adorn what
nature smiled upon and deemed ideal. Friends of my youth, old friends I knew
in Keshequa’s delightful vale,’ had the writer supposed he was to become so inter-

613
ested in your ancestry as to have no words left for you, bearing the imprint of
friendship and appreciation, it is doubtful if he had undertaken to name one
thousand pioneers first. Some future historians will tell of those they already
regard as the old fellows they knew, and we may be fortunate if they do not
brand us with the name, Methuselah. I doubt if Heaven itself will be quite
ideal in the future

“Unless we can meet on the golden street
The folks we used to know.”

A GLIMPSE AT NUNDA IN 1842

A school paper, printed in 1842, gives us Nunda Village as it then existed. We
have often heard that Nunda was greatest at the time when the canal was build-
ing. The canal stopped operations for nearly ten years, and the following esti-
mate printed at the office of the Genesee Valley Recorder will give us some idea
of the village at that time.

One hundred and fifty dwellings, 1,000 buildings, three churches, First Pres-
byterian, First Baptist and First Universalist. The Baptist church had 464 mem-
bers, the Presbyterian 340 members, the Universalist just formed, its charter
members were 30. One academy, 30 scholars, the Nunda Academy (Session
House building), S. A. Clemons, principal; one woolen factory, 23 x 90, four
stories high, four looms and 216 spindles; two carriage shops where coaches and
carriages are made; one steam furnace; one steam engine factory; three flouring
mills (within three miles); two cabinet and chair shops; one printing press;
nine dry goods stores; one hardware; one drug store; three groceries; two tav-
erns; two saddle and harness shops; one large tannery, owned by Daniel Ashley,
Esq.; a shoe shop, Vancourt & Gardner, employing eight hands.

The Methodist Society worship above a store.

There were other shops, blacksmith for example, not mentioned, but the esti-
mate was a fair one.

The population of the town was larger than in 1840, and that it had ever
been or ever has been since, but the thousand buildings, probably an exagger-
ation, were mostly very humble in size and architecture. This included all out
buildings. Some of the barns are still in existence and show what the houses
might have been had they not been greatly enlarged and beautified.

The Samuel Swain house (Whithead House, Portage Street), the Ashley
house (VanDusen, 39 East Street), Carlos Ashley house (Mrs. Campbell, Mill
Street), and Samuel Swain, Sr., house, below the mill, were then the largest in
the village. Only one of those first three churches are used for church purposes
now. The Methodists purchased the First Presbyterian, the First Baptist be-
came the Nunda Literary Institute and was burned by an incendiary. The
Universalist is used as a public hall, while three newer churches on a more mod-
ern and somewhat magnificent scale have taken their places.

UTLEY SPENCER, ESQ.

Stephen Spencer, Sr., came to Nunda from New Bedford, Conn., in 1818.
His children were Laura, Stephen, Mable, Chester, Chauncey, Ralph ‘and the
subject of this sketch, Utley.

614
Utley Spencer was born in 1806 and was therefore about 12 years old when
he came to Nunda. The family made the long journey from the east with an
ox team, settling on a farm in Portage, then Nunda.

He received a good education for those days, and as a young man was con-
sidered a fine teacher. He followed this occupation for a time, returning from
a successful school in Mount Morris to be employed by Colonel Wilcox in his
store at Wilcox’s Corners. He married Laura Lake at Hunt’s Hollow, in 1832.
She died in 1844. Five children were born to them, Charles L., Julia Augusta,
Julia Cynthia, Mary Elizabeth, Laura Althea. Of these, at the present writing,
there are living Charles L., at Riverside, Ill, Mary E. McDonald at Geneva,
N. Y., and Laura Althea at Chicago, Il]. In 1845 Mr. Spencer married Sarah
Lake, a sister of his first wife. Three children were born to them. Sarah Ellen

who died in May, 1897, Emma and George Frank, who are now living at Dans-
ville, N. Y.

Mr. Spencer's first business in Nunda was a general store, situated opposite
the present Nunda House. A Mr. Waite Joslyn was associated with him in this
store. He lived over the store (the W. B. Whitcomb store) at this time, and
afterward in the double house now standing on State Street, north of the site of
the old Gibb’s foundry. He soon built what was known as the Whipple House
on Mill Street, the house now occupied by Mrs. A. C. Dodge, another further
down the same street, followed by the building of the large house adjoining Mr.
Alfred Bell's house on Massachusetts Street. He became interested in a contract
business and was associated for a time with Suranus Britton. One of their early
large contracts was a railroad at Keene, N. H. He was one of the contractors
who finished up the job on the Deep Cut. In 1849 he nearly yielded to a strong
desire to go to California, but contracts then existing prevented. Soon after
this, with Mr. Britton, he became interested in the lumber business, Alfred Bell
buying out Mr. Britton’s interest later. With Britton he took a large railroad
contract at Cleveland. This proved financially disastrous and swept away the
competency he had amassed.

Of his personal characteristics, we quote from the Nunda News at the time
of his death, September, 1878.

“It was during his clerkship here that he was first elected to office, that of
constable and during all the remaining years of his life he almost continuously
held some public office. He was a life long Democrat, and yet he was elected
year after year with the popular majority against him. He held the office of con-
stable, deputy sheriff, town collector, justice of the peace, and was postmaster
for many years. He was one of the session’s justice at the time of his death. He
was always an active worker both in his official pursuits and physical labor. He
was no drone in the busy hive of industry, and was always ready to take hold of
anything that he could find to do. He was kind and obliging to all, often dis-
commoding himself to favor others. He was a devoted father and a firm friend,
and in his good will to the hosts of friends he made, exemplified the very acme
of hospitality and loyalty.”

THE KENDALLS

Of the Kendall family who have been residents of the town of Nunda, the
family of Dean Kendall who married Johanna Howell. Their children were
Allethe, Dillah and Frances. Dillah was one of the finest musicians the town

615
Andaiq ‘[ ‘T Andaq LLIAG ILVT FHL

 

 
has produced and had more scholars in voice culture than any other teacher of
music. Allethe married J. Bradley Willett; their daughter, Sophia, married
John A. Dake, the youngest son of Jonathan Dake. Hazel married Glen Mc-
Master, Walter (school boy). *Dillah married (first) B. F. Rollah, (second)
George Greig, D. D. S. *Frances Rollah married Oscar J. Willard, 1; Leon;
2. Kenneth. Frances married George H. Gibbs, has a son.

The family of Dean Kendall came from Brooksgrove to Nunda over sixty
years ago. Mrs. Kendall was before her marriage Johanna Howell. Their chil-
dren were: Allethe married J. B. Willett, druggist. Dillah or Adelia married
B. F. Rollah, 2. George Greig. Frances married George H. Gibbs (see Gibbs
family). Sophia, daughter of Allethe Willett, married John A. Dake, and lives
in Nunda. Frances Rollah married O. J. Willard and lived here until her
death. Oliver and Abram Kendall attended school in Nunda. They all died
many years ago. John Willard, Frank and Clara Ingersoll Kendall, children
of E. W. and Frances Creveling Kendall have all lived in Nunda. Clara died
some years ago. Willard and Frank are successful farmers. John Willard
and B. Frank Kendall, sons of Emory and Fanny Creveling Kendall of Mount
Morris, have lived most of their lives in Nunda; both are successful farmers.
The sons of Willard and Georgia (Barrett) Kendall are Frank and Bert, who
are also farmers.

OUR FIRST STAGE ROUTES, PROPRIETORS AND STAGE
DRIVERS

The very first stage route through from Leicester to Angelica previous to the
completion of the State Road, must have passed over the River Road.

After 1827, it may have come through Nunda, but it is doubtful if it came
before then, as the settlement was too small to warrant it, and the postoffice was
in Portage till then.

Our first stage driver that has been mentioned was Matt Jackson an older
brother of Leonard Jackson of this place. This must have been after the first
postoffice came to “Nunda Valley.” He was not the first driver, but possibly the
first stage driver from Nunda. William Martin was the best known of the early
stage drivers, his four horse establishment would attract more attention to-day
than a dozen automobiles. His route was from Mt. Morris to Angelica and
Belvedere. Another route was from Nunda to Pike. In his youth Robert Wright
drove stage for Britton & Co. to Pike, this was probably sixty years ago.

Strange and almost incredible is the fact that there was a stage line from
Hornell, then Hornellsville, to Attica passing through Nunda Valley, until the
railroad between those places was built in 1852 and the proprietors lived in
Nunda, and sent out their stages in both directions, and from Mt. Morris to
Angelica. They had the whole job in every direction, Seranus Button and his
brothers-in-law, William Martin, Charles and William Russell, and, I believe,
Hiram Grover, constituted this firm. The Jacksons, Wright, and William G.
Russell and probably Joseph Britton were the drivers.

After railroad days the stage business from Hornell to Attica stopped, but
not until our own railroad was completed was it discontinued to Mt. Morris.
William H. Smith, now of Rochester, was the driver. Almiron Paine had the
route to Nunda station or Dalton, nearly as long as he lived, his son Allie was

617
Andaq ‘f[ ‘[ 40 JONaaIsay

 

 
his successor. John Hughes had it for a time, the Whites until the present year
and Frank Carter and son Allen are now carrying the mail, passengers and
freight between Nunda and Dalton.

The transfer route to West Nunda has been chiefly conducted by Mrs.
Mattie Herrick, and is now conducted by William Niew.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES CONCERNING WILLIAM NATHAN
ALWARD—COMPILED BY JACKSON W. ALWARD

Mr. William Nathaniel Alward was the eldest son of Nathaniel and Betsey
Freeman Alward and sixth in descent from Henry Alward, who came from
England about 1675 and settled in Woodbridge, N. J. He was also the eighth
in descent from Edmund Freeman, his maternal ancestor, who came from Eng-
land in 1635, settled in Sandwich, Mass., and was assistant Governor of Plymouth
Colony from 1643 to 1647. Mr. Alward was born December 20, 1820 in Scipio-
ville, Cayuga County, N. Y., died February 18, 1883 in Rochester, N. Y., and
was buried in the family lot in Oakwood Cemetery, Nunda, N. Y. He was sur-
vived by a widow and two children, Anna, who devoted her life to musical and
literary pursuits and died unmarried January 27,1905, and Jackson W., who is an
Investigator in Patent Causes and resides in New York City. Two younger
children died in infancy.

Mr. Alward was educated at the academies at Homer, Moravia and Aurora,
and at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y. In September, 1843, he
married Hannah A. Downs, eldest daughter of Austin and Mary Durkee Downs
of Scipio, N. Y. and seventh in descent from John Downs, who settled in New
Haven, Conn., in 1654+. She was also the sixth in descent from William Dur-
kee her maternal ancestor, who settled in Ipswich, Mass., in 1663. Mrs. Alward
was born August 16, 1823, in Scipio, died May 30, 1883, in Rochester and was
also buried in the family lot in Oakwood Cemetery.

In 1845 Mr. and Mrs. Alward, after residing in the town of Ledyard, Cay-
uga County, N. Y., for a short period, came to Livingston County to reside on a
farm purchased in December of that year from Israel Herrick, situated on the
east side of the River Road Forks in the town of Mount Morris only a few miles

from Oak Hill, where his father had some vears previously invested in lands
which were subsequently acquired by the late John F Barber and where his widow

and daughter now reside.

In 1847 the family removed to a farm purchased from David Howell in
April of that year, situated on the west side of the State Road, north of Brooks-
grove in the town of Mount Morris, where their son Jackson was born.

In 1848 the family came to the village of Nunda to reside in a house pur-
chased from Charles Dake in November of that year, situated on the east side
of Church Street between Massachusetts and East Streets. This house was
subsequently remodelled, another story added and it is now the residence of Mr.
and Mrs. Hiram V. Rowell.

In 1850 the family removed to a farm purchased from Lyman Herrick in
October of that year, situated on Walnut Street and the Creek Road, where [er-
rick & Colby had some years previously established a nursery. On these prem-
ises at the foot of East Street Mr. Alward erected a handsome house and other
buildings, improved the grounds, planted elm, walnut and other shade trees and

619
named the place Elmwood. The family resided there for about six years when
it was sold to Hiram Ashley, who sold it to Henry Martin and subsequently the
late Michael Dowling purchased the property, and it is now the home of his
widow and daughters.

While the buildings were being completed at Elmwood the family resided
in two other houses in the village, one of which was purchased in April, 1851,
from Jerome B. Stillson, situated on the south side of Mill Street between State
and Church Streets. The late Dr. William B. Alley subsequently purchased this
property and it is now the home of his widow.

In October, 1857, Mr. Alward purchased from Rev. Whitman Metcalf
and Prof. A. Judson Barrett, the residence formerly occupied by Elder Spoor,
situated on the southwest corner of East and Church Streets, the house which
formerly faced Church Street was moved, reconstructed and enlarged, the
grounds graded and trees planted, and the family resided here until they removed
to Rochester in December, 1865. This property was subsequently purchased by
the late Allen Hinds and is still the home of his family.

During the years that Mr. Alward first resided in Nunda he was an active,
enterprising man of affairs, trustee of the village and of the Presbyterian Church,
owned and operated a number of farms, shipped many valuable horses to the New
York market and carried on the business of a country merchant at different
periods, in five different stores located as follows: On the northeast corner of
State and Mill Streets, on the west side of State Street, third door south of First
Street, on the northwest corner of State and Second Streets inthe Holmes Hall
Building, long since replaced by the Union Block; on the east side of State
‘Street, second door north of Mill Street, known as the City Drug Store; and
‘lastly on the southeast corner of State and East Streets, known as the New
York Store, which he purchased from E. O. Dickinson in November, 1862.

On the 26th day of December, 1863, Mr. Alward was commissioned by Gov-
-ernor Seymour, Lieut. Colonel of the 58th Regiment, 30th Brigade, 8th Division,
National Guard State of New York, organized under authority granted on June
19, 1863. He was ordered to report with his regiment at Elmira, N. Y., on the
“Oth day of August, 1864, where two days later the regiment was enrolled as
volunteers to serve the United States for one hundred days and stationed at EI-
mira, where during that period the regiment aided other troops in guarding
about eleven thousand prisoners encamped there. At the expiration of this term
of service ending December 2, 1864, Lieut. Col. Alward and his regiment were
mustered out of the United States service, when they resumed their service to
‘the state as a National Guard regiment, which was continued until the regiment
was disbanded February 18, 1867.

In July, 1875, Mr. Alward returned to Nunda and leased the Nunda House
for one year and afterward resided temporarily at the Livingston House for
about two years when he returned to Rochester.

DENNIS ROBINSON ALWARD

Dennis Robinson Alward was a son of Nathaniel and Betsey Freeman Al-
ward, his lineage is the same as his brother's. Mr. Alward was born December
18, 1830, in Scipioville, Cayuga County, N. Y., and died September 3, 1892, in
Auburn, N. Y., and was buried in the Alward family lot in the cemetery at Scipio-

620
ville. He was survived by a widow and three children, Mary and Charles Fran-
cis, who reside in Buffalo, N. Y., and Henry Stuart. who resides in New York
City.

Mr. Alward attended the Nunda Academy, afterward known as the Presby-
terian Session House, located on Church Street, and subsequently he was edu-
cated in schools elsewhere. In 1853 he located in Auburn where he engaged in
the book trade in partnership with James Seymour, Jr., until 1857, when he sold
out and went abroad for the purpose of travel and study, visiting nearly all of
the interesting places in Europe, including a trip through the Holy Land; six
months of the time he was Secretary of Legation at Constantinople, returning
home at the close of the Buchanan administration. During the Civil War he was
appointed Assistant Secretary of Legation at the Court of St. James, London,
under Charles Francis Adams, Minister to England, where he remained until
1868, when he returned and engaged in the insurance business in Auburn, where
he continued to reside until his death.

In October, 1865, in London, England, he married Emily Wythe Babcock,
daughter of George R. and Mary Potter Babcock of Buffalo, N. Y. She was
born August 21, 1836, in Buffalo, where she now resides.

They had three children only ; Mary, born in London, England, Henry Stuart
born in Buffalo, and Charles Francis, born in Auburn.

THE AUSTIN DOWNS FAMILY

Austin Downs was the son of Truman and Sarah Porter Downs and fifth
in descent from John Downs, who settled in New Haven, Conn., in 1654. He
was born January 10, 1793, in Southbury, New Haven County, Conn., and died
February 17, 1855, at his farm residence at the junction of the State and River
Roads, town of Mount Morris, N. Y., and was buried in the Downs family lot
in Oakwood Cemetery, Nunda, N. Y.

He came with his parents to the town of Scipio, Cayuga County, N. Y., in
1799, and in March, 1815, he married Mary Durkee, daughter of Wilkes and
Hannah Fuller Durkee of Scipio, and fifth in descent from William Durkee,
who came to Ipswich, Mass., in 1663. She was born August 8, 1793, in the town
of Scipio and died February 25, 1862, at the home of her son in law and daugh-
ter, Hannah, in Nunda. Her grave is also in the Downs family lot in Oakwood
Cemetery.

After their marriage they resided on a farm on the shore of Cayuga Lake
near Lavanna in the town of Ledyard, Cayuga County, where all their children
were born and where all, except two of them, died young.

About the year 1848 they removed with their daughter Helen to the village
of Nunda, and resided for a short period in a house situated on the east side of
Church Street between Massachusetts and East Streets near the residence of her
son-in-law and daughter, Hannah Alward. From there they removed to the
farm located on the State Road mentioned above.

Shortly after Mr. Downs’ death the widow and daughter Helen returned
to Nunda and resided in a house purchased by the widow, situated on the north-
west corner of East and Fair Streets, where they resided until the daughter
married in 1858, when they removed to Grand Rapids, Mich., where the widow re-
sided with her son in law and daughter Helen until a few months previous to her
death.

621
They had six children, Orill, Enford, Edward R., Jerome, Hannah Ann,
who married William N, Alward, and Helen Mary, who married Warren P.
Mills, and subsequently married Richard G. Mathews and still resides in Grand
Rapids.

IT. The William Dunn family, (wife Mary J. Sheppey), settled in 1832.
William Dunn b. in England, September, 1802, d. October, 1874. Mrs. Dunn b.
1805, d. March, 1886.

II. 1, x Harriet G. b. in England, 1830, d. February, 1903, m. x Edwin M.
Hamilton, b. in Nunda, Vet. 136th Regt. d. at Dalton, sons Thomas and Arthur
2. Charles, b. in England, 1831, farmer, d. December 17, 1898, m. 1, Adaline M.
Alger, d. February, 1867, m. 2, Retta M. Decker, daughter Mrs. Belle Baker; 3,
Thomas, b. in Nunda, September, 1833, enlisted inan Iowa Regt., was a lieu-
tenant and recruiting officer, died at Sidney, Iowa, in 1864, buried at Dalton ; 4,
Abina, b. 1835, m. Dan’l Wade, a soldier, 136th N. Y., killed February 27, 1864,
m. 2, Henry J. Douglas in 1866, reside at Dalton; 5, Euphemia, b. 1837, m. Gil-
bert Bentley, had five children; 6, Caroline Emelia, b. 1839, m. William Elwood,
136th N. Y., died in the service, m. 2, Sylvester Upthegrove. She died January
20, 1870; 7, Alfred b. 1856, d. February, 1902.

THE FOWLERS AND WARNERS—1847

David Fowler and wife came from Fowlerville to Covingston now in Wyom-
ing County, where DeEben Warner, then a young man was practicing medicine.
The young physician soon after met, wooed and won their daughter Hannah,
and in 1830 they were married. In 1847 Dr. Warner and family came to reside in
Nunda, purchased the cobblestone house on East Street and immediately won
recognition as a scholar and as a skillful and successful physician and surgeon.
He was chosen town superintendent of public schools, and discharged his duties
with efficiency. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler soon followed them. Dr. Warner had a
class of young medical students including his son Charles F., called the “young

doctor.”

The people of Nunda were intensely interested in the building of the rail-
road from Hornellsville to Attica that would connect with railroads already built
New York City and Buffalo. Many Nunda men were share holders and though
the original survey, which was much nearer the village, had been rejected, and
the new one pushed two miles farther south, still the railroad was the first to pass
through the town and it was regarded as the most progressive movement of the
time. The great wooden bridge that crossed the 850 feet chasm at Portage
station was now completed and a celebration of unusual magnitude was to sig-
nalize this architectural triumph of the age. The great chasm had been bridged
by the highest bridge in the world. New York City and Buffalo were to co-
operate with Attica and Portage, Hornellsville and Nunda, in a “great barbacue
and picnic.” Among the many unusual things for the occasion, New York City
was to furnish an ox roasted whole. Dr. Eben Warner and his aged and some-
what feeble father in law, Mr. Fowler. were in attendance. The roasted ox had
been prepared a day or two in advance and all were desirous of a piece of this
huge roast. Those unaccustomed to eating rare beef ate sparingly, if at all of it,
and by so doing saved their lives, others found it edible. That night there were
not physicians enough in the state, living along the line of this new railroad, to
care for the sick. Nunda had its share of cases. Mr. Fowler was the first to de

622
velop a case of cholera. Dr. Warner and his students and Dr. Turner, did ali
they could for him, but there was a midnight burial and the doctors were the bear-
ers. Dr. Warner gave instructions to his young men what to do, prescribed for
himself, but told them he did not expect to survive. He was buried next day.
The breaking out of the Civil War and the eager enlistments from this pa-

triotic town furnished a rare opportunity for surgeons to render great aid and
perfect themselves in surgery. Dr. B. T. Kneeland had gone to the front with

the Dragoons, and two weeks later, when the 136th Reet. was formed, the peo-

ple of the town virtually named the surgeons, and their assistants. They de-
manded that the best that could be found were the men to go. Dansville named
Dr. B. L. Hovey, Dr. Charles F Warner was satisfactory to Portage, Nunda
and Grove, and Dr. Edwin Amsden, son of a famous Wyoming doctor, was also
secured for the 136th Regt. Dr. Warner found his position different from ex-
pectation and tendered his resignation. If he could not befriend “the boys” he
would not remain. He came home and resumed his home practice.

He, however, later became, in 1864, surgeon of the 58th N. Y. N. G. with
two of his students as assistants, and found this absence of ‘red tape’’ more to
his taste. He married Esther Town, and after having fitted several more young
men, Dr. Sabin and Dr. W. Q. Huggins and Dr. Moyer, for Medical Colleges,
went west where he is still an authority in his profession. Personally, the writer,
as one of his boys, is under many obligations for favors conferred.

The other members of the family were Elting Fowler Warner who mar-
ried Josephine B. Thomson in 1864, William Penn Warner, an A. B. of Union

College, who married Anna Richmond, daughter of B. P. Richmond of Nunda.
Their daughter, Annie Richmond Warner married Charles E. French and is now
a well known writer of books of fiction. She retains her maiden name “Anna
Warner’, as her non de plume, preferring to be an American writer and not a
“French” one. Their children, Charles Elting and Anna Hathaway French,
were summer guests at the Richmond homestead during the last days of their
grand parents. Richmond P. Warner is the brother of the authoress. Mrs. Anna
Richmond was the first person to subscribe for the “Centennial History of
Nunda.”
L. B. WARNER

One of the men who came to Nunda village in 1848, though not a pioneer,
came so long ago, remaining his lifetime, and was so closely related to all the
interests of the town, that a history would be incomplete that did not mention
our dry goods merchant, L. B. Warner. Interested in schools, and in every form
of progress and prosperity, he stands out prominently as a man who had the con-
fidence and esteem of every citizen of the town. He was in religious preference
a Presbyterian, and in politics a Democrat, but was the business advisor of
people of every denomination, and during the war times was as loyal as the
most ardent Republican.

We are glad to present to our readers his photograph that all may see the
one business man of the town that was without an enemy and yet had, and ex-
pressed freely opinions on every subject. His home, his store, and the goods
he sold were immaculately neat and clean. In this Mrs. Warner deserves special
mention also, for no family could excel this worthy couple in this particular.
Their three children, Willie C., Charles G. and Sophia, Mrs. Marshall McDuffie,
are all living in California.

623
 

W. HERBERT WILLARD
Nunda’s Chief Hustler
CABINET MAKERS

The successors of the Early Cabinet makers of the town and village, viz.:
Henry C. Jones, Atwood & Co., Eben Wheelers (whose chairs of 75 years ago,
are still strong and good), J. Chapin, East Street, were D. M. Tuthill about 1849,
and his employees, who all became manufacturers, were his brother-in-law, Ed-
win Wilcox; Robert Dayton, Henry G. Tuthill, nephews; Robert Cree, and in
1851 Wilson Willard, J. F. Rider and C. F. Rider (all these became skilled
workmen and most of them have had cabinet shops). E. Wilcox became a part-
ner, R. Dayton manufactured wooden pumps; Robert Cree became a furniture
dealer and undertaker, both the Riders had cabinet shops of their own, Henry G.
Tuthill (Col. H. G. T.), Corning, N. Y., is a skilled architect, the only survivor
of these workers in wood; while Wilson Willard and sons have been the pro-
prietors in this cabinet shop for many years, where the firm of Willard Bros.
& Co. (elsewhere mentioned) have changed this enlarged plant into a whole-
sale casket factory, with an electric plant attached, that is one of the chief
industries of the village, as it has been for about 80 years.

THE WOODWORTH FAMILY

We have spoken of the mechanics that work in wood for there have been
numerous cabinet shops since 1824. But of the mechanics who worked on iron
and steel there are none that have been in business as long as the Woodworth
family.

Charles R. Woodworth came from Georgetown, Madison County, to Nunda
in 1849, and with him came James R., his brother, and together they established
the blacksmith business, they soon established a reputation as skilled workmen,
especially in cutlery. Without special machinery, the knives they hammered out
became in demand for household purposes, and they devoted much of their time
to the manufacture and sale of these useful kitchen utensils. In 1863 Charles R.
became a soldier and served in the 52nd N. Y. for a year, and during the battle
of Spottsylvania received a wound, resulting in the loss of his left hand, after his
muster out from service, he lived in Pitcher, N. Y., for ten years, then returned
to Nunda where he began to manufacture cutlery with the aid of machinery. In
1886 his son Frederick E. who had become skilled in this business, purchased
the business and plant of his father and has conducted the business since, employ-
ing from ten to twenty hands.

The children of Charles R. Woodworth were all distinguished for some
gift, that has rendered them in social life, helpful and interesting, most of the
family have musical talent, some of a high order, Zula and Minnie especially,
Sylvia a graduate of the Geneseo Normal has artistic talent of a high order, and
Rose, the voungest of the household, has been a professional whistler, has few
if any superiors, in that line. She has recently married. Clara was an expert in
amateur theatricals. The sons are specialists in mechanical or electrical pur-
suits.

The young family of Frederick and Cora Woodworth are already indispen-
sible in public entertainments. The children are Amy Olga, Minnie May, Clay-
ton D. and Frederick E., Jr. May their usefulness equal their ability.

Frederick E.’s plant is on a street by itself, once called Bennett Street, but as
the Bennetts have not lived there for forty years and the Woodworths have lived
there for many years, it seems the street should be named accordingly. George

625
C. W., an electrician; Clarence A. W., expert machinist in good employ ; Albert
J., chief electrician, Maryland Steel Works, Sparrows Point. None of the James
Woodworth family live in the town. Doctor Helen Woodworth of Boston repre-
sents the family, and she now resides in Boston and practices her profession.

THE FAMILY OF HON. HIRAM ASHLEY

The older sons of Hon. Hiram Ashley, ex-Assemblyman, came to Nunda
before he did. E.S. Ashley moved from Minden to Nunda, so he informed the
writer, November 2, 1849, where he was a successful business man. In 1854, he
bought out James Swain, druggist, his brother Gilbert Ashley, becoming a partner
in the business. The father and the rest of the family came about this time and
bought a fine place at the foot of East Street now known as Elmwood.

Gilbert married Miss Althea Spencer, and they settled on East Street near
the family home. Like the other Ashley family, of pioneer days, Hiram Ashley
had acquired a fine property, he was an elderly man when he came and only lived
a few years. His other sons were Hiram and Edward, and they were for a num-
ber of years prominent students in the schools taught by Principals Barrett,
Evans, Miss Pettit and others. E. S. Ashley, who was a good judge of a horse,
bought and sold many fine teams, and liked this better than the sale of drugs.
He left Nunda for New York City March 25, 1866, just after the Civil War,
where there were better customers for his finely matched steeds. He returned to
Nunda in 1904, aged and feeble, and lived but a few years longer.

The younger sons sought health and wealth on a Colorado ranch and sought
both successfully. They are now middle aged, and have much of the strength,
vigor and energy their father displayed at their age, that made him a strong fac-
tor in the civil life of his time, in his county.

1851

In 1851, the year before the fire destroyed the Empire Block, we may get
something of a glimpse of our village by the changes in business circles and the
newspaper advertisements. The live men always advertise, and the others do
not have to.

Jeremiah A. Richardson, who had been in the mercantile business in the
old Joslyn store for some years, offers his house on Union Street (Mass. St.)
and his store for sale. His clerk and nephew by marriage, Walter B. Whit-
comb, became the purchaser of both.

D. P. Bard, the singing school teacher, has a music store, and pianos etc.,
are advertised. J. F. Penny tries to eary or “turn” a penny, by the sale of a new
invention, the new patent screw bedsteads, for strange to say, until then bed-
steads were being morticed together and then held in place by a bed cord that
passed through holes, bored in a square 4x4 timber, with abundant room for
odoriferous lodgers, besides the bed cord. G. F. Sadd, a very suggestive name,
had a marble factory three doors west of Howell store, the block afterwards
known as Holmes Hall. Dr. Parker, physician and surgeon, had, as a new comer,
to advertise. William Houghton, No. 3 Merchants Row (East side of State
Street), had dry goods, etc., Peter Carter at No. 22 was an insurance agent. E.
M. Brown, P. M., had boots and shoes, hats and caps and gents’ furnishing
goods in the Empire Block (same site as the present postoffice), while “Eldridge
with his Daguerroetypes” invites the people to come and “see themselves as others
see them.”

626
1852

This year is one long to be remembered because so many things happened to
keep it in remembrance. The Genesee Valley Canal had become an actuality
in 1851, but the railroad that was to connect the town, with New York City and
with Buffalo, and save long stage routes to Batavia or Canandaigua or Hornells-
ville when the merchants and others had to go to those cities, was now a fact.
There were no commercial travelers in those days, and twice a year all the mer-
chants had to take a week or more and go to the city to buy summer or winter
goods. Then Nunda Station, about three miles away, seemed very near. The
barbecue at the Great High Bridge was also one of the events of the year.

The burning of the Union Block, a fine three story building on the site of the
present postoffice and Wilcox store, was also one of the great events of the year.
The Nunda Times, the village newspaper and its editor, N. T. Hackstaff, were
lost to the village and though L. B. Warner quickly rebuilt, the fine block was
lost forever. In our history of newspapers we give the extent of that loss. A map
of Nunda town and village was published that year, but only those merchants
and leading men are mentioned who bought the map. Mr. Fred Crowfoot of
Sonyea, is the only owner of this map that the author knows of, and certainly the
village did not compare at that time with what the Times tells of the business
men that advertise in 1852. The Novelty Iron Works, Skinner & Co., marble
factory, G. F. Sadd; cabinet shops, D. M. Tuthill, L. F. Rider, J. W. Briggs;
dry goods stores, L. B. Warner, W. Howell, W. Whitcomb, S. L. Barrett, B. P.
Richmond, W. B. Whitcomb, successor of J. W. Richardson, William Houghton ;
groceries, Swain & Co., Berry & Hatch, P. Carter, S. Reckard, M. Phillips, Colby
& Son; drug and book stores, J. Swain & Co., J. H. Camp; jewelry stores, O. W.
Talcott, apprentices were C. W. Herrick and Jonathan Miller; hardware stores,
C. W. King, Morris Phillips; hat and cap store, White & Peterson; boot, shoes
and caps, E. M. Brown, A. H. Mallory; tailoring establishments, W. N. Teall,
C. Wing, J. B. Sewell, J. Hamilton & Co.; millinery, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Newton,
Mrs. Jno. Sherwood; harness shops, C. Chynoworth, Heman Pettit; blacksmith
shops, J. R. Woodworth, P. W. Hall, J. Lamb, S. S. Decker ; ornamental painters,
A. J. Russell, D. B. Bard, E. C. Howe: carriage shops, D. D. Morse, jr., E.
Covey, J. Baker; photographer, T. Eldridge; hotels, Nunda House, L. Nichols,
Eagle Tavern, B. D. Henry (who died there) ; liveries, A. S. Ashley, H. C.
Grover; lawyers, L. C. Peck, H. Chalker, Benedict Bagley, George Bishop;
physicians, Eben Warner, Dr. Turner, J. Meechem, S. G. Upson, Dr. Parker ;
clergymen, Rev. J. W. Spoor, Rev. Edwards Marsh, Rev. McKay (Oakland),
Rev. H. Roberts, Rev. Benedict; principal of school, H. G. Winslow.

THE JAMES CRAIG FAMILY

The James Craig family (James and Elizabeth Carney Craig) settled in
Sparta in 1830 and in Nunda in 1852. Mr. Craig was a farmer and owned the
Swain Mill. They had twelve children, eleven of them are living. William, a
merchant, produce buyer, and now financial agent of Belden & Co., m 1 x Jennie
Grover, b. in Nunda, daughter of Hiram and Emily Grover, teacher, musician
and vice president W. R. C., died 1905, m.2 Miss Fannie Wood, daughter of Cap-
tain x J. P. and x Victoria Whitcomb Wood. The children of William and Jane
Craig are Fred W. and Donald G. (produce buyers), and Mabel Winifred m. A.
J. Stone, general superintendent of N. Y., Lake Erie and Western R. R.; 2. James

627
Craig, merchant, Nunda and Caneseraga, m. Louise Bennett, children born in
Caneseraga; 3 Mary m. Moses Merrick, Brooklyn, N. Y.; 4 John J., farmer,
teacher, painter, Nunda; 5 Robert, m. Harriet Goldthwait, children, Grace, James
and Bessie; 6 Eliza A. m. George Hagan, mechanic, son Howard, telegraph oper-
ator; 7 Jane m. Chancey Van Deventer, children, John Harvey and Anna, both
born in Nunda, live at Tuscarora, N. Y.; 8 Albert, painter; 9 Edward m. Mar-
garet Dickey, daughters Mary and Dora, teachers; 10 Alfred J. m. Villa Wilkins ;
11 Victor T., merchant, m. Lillian Barker, daughter of M. O. Barker, children,
Stella, Jessie and Lillian Victoria, Groveland, N. Y.; 12 Samuel J. m. Bertha
Ketchum, four children, born in Canaseraga, N. Y.

THE VAN DEVENTER FAMILY

I. Isaac VanDeventer, son of William, settled in 1843, married Elizabeth
Breen, they had seven children.

II. 1. George V., married Susan Seager, they had two children, Clara and
Mable.

II. 2. Jennie VanD. married Thomas Passage.

IV. 1. Roy married Sarah Ferrel, 2. Pearl married Andrew Ferrel.

II. 3. William VanDeventer, single.

I. 4. James VanDeventer, single.

II. 5. Chancey VanDeventer, married Jennie Craig, 1, J. C. VanDeventer
married Annie Flint, 2. Harry VanDeventer, 3, Anna VanDeventer.

II. 6. Addie, died when 10 years old.

II. 7. Ella, single.

THE WILLIS FULLER FAMILY FROM PIKE

The town of Pike has furnished Nunda with only about four or five citizens,
Hon. Luther C. Peck, our first, last and only resident Congressman, Dr. C. C.
Chafee, our most highly educated physician, and his wife, and recently Mr. Wil-
lis Fuller and his cousin Mrs. Ellen Colegrove.

The lineage of the sons of Willis Fuller is, as far as pioneer history is con-
cerned, extraordinary. It reaches back to the settlements of Canandaigua and
Leicester to Horatio Jones, the Indian captive, and to Land Agent Gregg and
Dr. Williams, brothers-in-law, and includes the Flints, Ellises, Griffiths, Stew-
arts and nearly every family of pioneers in Pike when it was Nunda. The gen-
eology brings out these facts.

Robert Flint, the first Member of Assembly, from Pike, married Hester,
daughter of Horatio Jones. Their daughter Samantha Flint married an Ellis.
She was old enough when she came from Cherry Valley to Pike, 1818, to remem-
ber the journey. They lived on rye bread all the way with such game as they
could shoot on the journey. Having arrived the mother sold the feathers from
their only feather bed and bought wheat at Geneseo to sow, sold a string of gold
beads and bought ten sheep, bought a cow of Mary Jamison at Gardeau, and
then built a log enclosure to protect their stock from wolves.

Deborah Flint, a sister, attended the Middlebury Academy at Wyoming with
Luther C. Peck and his first wife, and became a teacher, married Orrin Fuller,
son of Aaron Fuller, who settled on the Averill farm in (Portage) Nunda, and
was drowned in the Genesee River, while rafting lumber for a new house.

The wife of Aaron Fuller was Dradina, sister of Eli Griffith the pioneer of

628
1806, and first Supervisor (1809) of Nunda, the first soldier from the town to
enlist and the first to die in the service 1812. After the death of Aaron Fuller
the widow and her children returned to Pike and to her kindred.

Orrin Fuller married Deborah Flint. He seems to have inherited the martial
spirit of the Griffiths of Revolutionary and 1812 heroism, and became successively
an officer, holding five commissions from Governor DeWitt Clinton, the last one
Lieut. Colonel of the 204th N. Y. Militia. He was also the first postmaster of
the present village of Lamont, and obtained the position from his friend, L. C.

Peck, M. C. in 1839. The children of Orrin Fuller were Samantha Ann m. Will-
iam H. Rodgers of Herfordshire, England, who removed to California, 2, Jose-
phine, who died at sixteen. 3, Samuel m. Elisa Callis of Matthews, C. H. Va.
+, James, District Attorney at New Orleans, two terms, died at Rio Janeiro,
Brazil, in 1886. 5, Harrison H. m. Hattie Hyberd of Vermont. They have two
children, Willis Orrin and Anna Louise, and reside at Shasta County, Califor-
nia. 6, LaFayette, who died without issue. 7, Permellia, who died in childhood.
8, Willis H. Fuller, now of Nunda, born at Lamont, m. Julia G. Williams, eldest
daughter of Colonel George Williams (Veteran of 1812-14). The family now
reside at Sunnyside, Gibbs Street (Gibbs mansion). Their children were recently
married and reside at Ravenswood, the ancestral home of the Williams family.
Willis Demert Fuller m. Eva Downing of Shasta, California, Orrin James m.
Hazel Still of Buffalo, N. Y. They should be lovers of “Pioneer History” for
they are of the lineage of four families of pioneers of four towns, Canandaigua,
Leicester, Pike and Portage and connected with twice that number of pioneer
families.

Samuel Flint, Jr., m. Elinor Lyon. Their daughter Ellen Jane Flint, a
teacher of music, m. 1, Harrison Colegrove, 2, Nathan Colegrove, brothers. Ed-
ward Colegrove, her son, m. Mamie Gillett. John Colegrove died at the age of
seventeen. The Colegroves came from Hume to Nunda, and purchased the Ut-
ley Spencer mansion on Massachusetts Street a few years since, and so another
town of the original township is worthily represented here.

1858

In 1858 we again have a map of Nunda, and the business directory this year
gives, merchants, L. B. Warner, W B. Whitcomb, Isaac Bronson, W. Whitcomb,
has also a banking house, Mrs. Lake has fancy goods and millinery. Grocers are
Peter DePuy, J. H. Lamb: jewelry, C. W Herrick and J. Miller; Nunda Novelty
Works advertise steam engines, reapers, mowers, implements, castings, etc. The
firm are Samuel Skinner, L. F. Paine, L. C. Skinner, E. Buck, (pattern maker.)
planing mill, Henry and George H. Bagley; hats and caps, H. E. Peterson,
Joseph White; ready made clothing, James Lemen and Wilson Willard; stoves,
hardware, paints and oil, C. W. King; blacksmith and carriage making, George
W. Patterson & Bro., A. C. Colby, George W. Ames, James R. Woodworth ; cab-
inet ware, Tuthill & Wilcox, J. Rider, Portage Street, also (Davis Patent Churns),
J. W. Briggs, Gibbs Street; livery stable, H. C. Grover; Nunda Nurseries, L.
Colby, Vermont Street; Nunda Tannery, Mill Street, B. F. King and Henry Lam-
pert ; brewery, (only one ever in town), William Bennett, Bennett Street, now
Woodworth Street; drug store, Ashley Bros.; lawyers, L. C. Peck, Carter, Pack-
ard, Calker, Osgoodby, Crooks ; physicians, Upson, C. F. Warner, A. L. L. Pot-
ter, S. Gallentine, B. Gallentine, I. J. Meechum; bakery, R. Lovell; house and
sign painters, J. C. Howell, Edward Howe; Nunda Marble Works, Chris Smith,

629
and Strobel, Second Street: harnesses, L. Whitehead; steam flour mill, Halsey
Brace, George Greig, Prac. Miller; Nunda Flour Mills, J. T. Craig, Alva Spear,
Prac. Miller.

The new railroad had some disadvantages. A thriving village was growing
up at the station with large stores cutting off the southern trade from Grove,
and since that time another village with three stores at Hunt, that secures at
least half the trade from Portage and Granger.

In still more modern days the great department stores at Chicago and Phil-
adelphia with their greater variety take away a very desirable class of trade. The
better communications with Rochester by rail, gives that city from this town a
large amount of trade, and still the stores of the village are well patronized, for
the grocery trade, is not affected by proximity to the city.

As to store buildings we have more and better ones than the village had
formerly, and we never see an empty one or a sign “to rent” or “ for sale” in a
store window. The stores in the Livingston Block and Union Block are as good
as any in the county. There are one hundred more houses in the village than
there were in 1852, and it is doubtful if there is one vacant one in the village.

The difference in population is not because we have less families, but we have
much smaller families. Still the population does not diminish, over 200 children
between 5 and 20 years of age are found in our village school.

NUNDA BUSINESS FIRMS

Dealers in dry goods: Northway Brothers, dealers in dry goods and cloth-
ing, carpets and groceries, gents’ furnishing goods. Have double store on State
Street.

Joseph Lovell: Dry goods and carpets, ladies’ furnishing goods, Union Block.

Lester Wilcox: Dry goods and variety store, groceries. Old Warner store
enlarged.

Joseph Wilcox: Dry goods and groceries, bargain counter, shoes. Old
Craig store.

H. Cohen: General clothing store in Union Block.

Grocers: C. E. Pratt, groceries, boots and shoes, crockery and candies.
Union Block.

S. Clayton Cooper: Groceries and jewelry.

Charles N. Johnson: Groceries.

rank D. Wilcox: Groceries. (W. B. Whitcomb store).

Druggists: W. Y. Robinson, pharmacist, drugs and books, paints and oils,
wall paper, bric-a-brac, lamps. In business over forty years. John O'Connell,
pharmacist and clerk in this store for thirty-two years.

Harrison Peck: Drugs and books, wall paper, bric-a-brac, lamps. In drug
business thirty vears.

Jewelers: Wesley R. Marsh, jeweler and oculist, East Street; Ralph Stewart,
jeweler.

Hardware: AM. J. Aylor, hardware and coal, paints, gasoline and oils, pho-
nographs, harness and whips, egg shipper. J. G. Nesenson, manager.

E. I Hunter Co., shelf hardware, wall paper and moldings.

Furniture and undertaking: F. E. Robinson, furniture and coal, wall paper
and moldings (Frank Lake store). Duryee Brothers, furniture and undertak-
ing, upholsterers (Cree Block).

Nunda Bakery, George Trescott, bread and cakes, ice cream parlor, soda
fountain. 630
Nunda Laundry, John M. Perry, East Street.

Gents’ Furnishing goods: F. U. Davidson, boots and shoes, clothing, hats
and caps. Double store on State and East Streets. Z. A. Miller, gents’ furnish-
ing goods, Town Clerk's office.

Confectioner: Robert Lovell, candies, ice cream, soda fountain, news room,
phonographs and records.

Markets: State Street market, W. I]. Framingham, meats, canned goods
and vegetables.

East Street Market: P. \W. Loomis, meats, canned goods and vegetables.

Ice cream parlor: Leon Willard and Leon Dana, ice cream, soda fountain
and dealers in Nunda Mineral Water.

Alanufacturers: FE. Woodworth, knife works, with sales in thirty states
and several foreign countries, employs twelve hands. In business 25 years.

Nunda Casket Company: Willard Bros., \Wagor and Gordon, employs
twenty hands, five of them women.

Electric Light Plant: Willard Bros., \Wagor and Gordon.

Nunda Water Works: Willard Lros.

Foote Brothers Mlfg. Co., makers of cement machinery, concrete mixers
and gasoline engines. State Street. Employ 50 hands in summer and 30 in
winter.

Nunda Cheese Factory: Young & Young, B. P. McCormick, cheese makers.
In 1907 made 250,000 Ibs. cheese.

Lumber dealer: N.S. Barker, saw mill and lumber vard, cement, roofing
and plaster. Verne Powell, bookkeeper and assistant.

J. B. Satterlee, planing mill and saw mill. State Street. Harry Satterlee,
assistant.

Grist Mills, B. kX. Wallace, flour and feed. Alill Street.

Isaac Goldsmith, Coopersville, flour and feed.

Nunda Ice Company, F. Jellerson.

Willow Dale Milk Supply, Airs. A. J. McArthur.

Plumber and timsmith, F. J. A\leCarthy. State Street.

Timsmith, shop work, O. H. Cook.

Tailors, R. S. Dana, merchant tailor; William Feary, tailor.

Milliners, Miss Dell Wheaton, Livingston Block, Mrs. C. E. Smith, State
Street.

Dressmakers: Mrs. Belle Miller, Miss Vina Scott, Miss Mary Walker,
Mrs. Stella Coffin, \MIrs. Ophelia Batterson, Mrs. Rosella Duryee, Mrs. Arthur
Roberts, Mrs. Harriet Gray.

Florist, Mrs. Frank Carroll, Church Street.

Harnessmaker, J. R. Gurnee and son (Lloyd).

Boot and shoe repair shop, Justus Derx.

Clergy, Editors, Physicians, Lawyers and Dentists are alsewhere men-
tioned.

Postmaster, Benj. E. Jones; deputy postmaster, Nicholas Kernehan.

Rural mail delivery, Homer E. Pitts, Fred B. Reed, Harry Jellerson.

Mail and stage route to Dalton. conducted by Frank Carter and son (Allen),
Wm. Nieu, mail and bus to West Nunda. Station agent for twenty years
L. P. Higgins; Express delivery, Guy Sanford.

Telegraph Operator, Edgar Long.
631
  

CuarRLes FOOTE CHESTER FOOTE

 

Foore BroTHERS CONCRETE MACHINERY
Foote brothers general contractors (Frank and Clarence)

Mechanics and builders, Bert Austin, George M. Jones, Hooker brothers,
W. H. Havens, Benj. Tallmage, Monroe Myers, Powell Bros., C. Blake, Chas.
H. Rolison, George Werner.

Masons and cement walk contractors, Robert Lippincott, Isaac Smith and
Sons, Geo. Hagan, H. Gallentine.

Blacksmiths, Luman Brace repair shop, Bert Skellinger repairing and horse-
shoeing, P. H. Barrett, horseshoeing and repair work.

Wagon shop, Harley C. Jones.

Painters and paperhangers, Webb & Co., Frank Stockman, Roberts & Son,
carriage painting, Charles Ray, Charles Brady; Craig Lros., painters.

Telephone company, M. H. Osgoodby, Mgr.; also owner of Academy of
Music.

Warehouses and produce dealers, Geo. Barber, and A. D. Baker, also Old
Richmond Warehouse.

 

 

 

 

Nunpa House. Buitr 1836

Hotels, St. Johns, Mrs. J. H. Hughes ; Nunda House, D. F. Lyons; Cottage
Hotel, Charles Fox; Hastings House, Arthur Carmor.

Livery, John H. Hughes, Portage St.

Billiard room, R. H. Hughes, Second St.

Barbers, S. B. Ryall, J. Mahoney, Wm. Vient.
Wm. S. Knappenbarg, dealer in coal, lime and plaster.

Calvin Leclair, Veterinary Surgeon.

Photographer, Elsie Sphoon.

Bankers, I. J. Depuy’s Banking House, I. J. DePuy, Pres., Perry DePuy,
Cashier, James H. Baker, Assistant Cashier; Nunda Bank, J. E. Mills, Pres-
ident, Fred G. Olp, Cashier, Robert E. Balty, Clerk.

"Stenographers: Mrs. Alice Long, Fannie Morris, Mary Stevens.

Notary Public: Mary Stevens and O. H. Cook.
BUSINESS OF DALTON

R. E. Muir, Station Agent, Hunt & Moses, dry goods and groceries, Norris
& Cudebec, dry goods and groceries, Wm. D. Burt, Seed Store, Charles E. Lynd,
Hardware, Charles Maker, Shelf Hardware and groceries, wholesale egg buyer
and shipper; Aylor & Douglas, dry goods: M. R. Smith, furniture and under-
taker; Mrs. J. R. Hamilton, drugs and millinery; Kelly & Co., groceries; Hotel,
Parker House; Newspaper, E. Merry, editor; blacksmith and repair shop, E. J.
Douglass; grist mill, Van Austrand & Co.

THE TIDE OF TIME

“Ah, thus it is—one generation comes,
Another comes, and mingles with the dust
And then we come, and go, and come and go
Each for a little moment, filling up
Some little space, and then we dissapear
In quick succession; and it shall be so
Till time in one vast perpetuity
Is swallowed up.”
Copied from Aspenwall genealogy.

OUR FIVE GENERATIONS

Five generations since our natal day
Have come, have come
And of the First, there is only one to stay,
The rest have come—and gone
The Second, more kind, has left a score to tell
During their winters day
What fortune, losses, hardships, all befell
Ere youth had fled, and night had closed their day.
The Third grown gray—only one-half remain
Hoping to gain, (perhaps hoping in vain, )
Strength four score years and ten, still to attain,
They may remain (in feebleness remain).
The Fourth, blithe, strong and sturdy, these intend
(Their mode of life to mend,)
To round out five score, ere their journeys end
(Longevity is surely now the trend) ;
The Fifth are young, what fear, what care have they
We are here, we are here, to stay
Life is a picnic; Time a holiday
We mean to shout hurrah! on next Centennial day.

1808—OUR CENTENNIAL—1908

Names of Nunda Citizens Born 1808

Lurancie Richardson Wilcox; Walter Whitcomb; Hiram Smith, of
Granger (in Greater Nunda); Samuel Cooper: Elizabeth Donaldson Grimes,
wife of R. Phillip Grimes; Edward Swain, b. 1808; Eliza (Brown) Pres-

634
cott, b, 1808, wife of Albert H.; Wm. H. Burge, b. 1808; Leonard Kuhn, b. 1808;
Urania Montanye Kuhn, b. 1808; Betsey Smith, b. 1808 (Mother of Mrs. Melissa
De Puy), buried at Nunda; Horatio Packard, b. 1808, Father of E. W. P.;
Rebecca Van Dyke Close, wife of John Close, b. in Engle, 1808; Libby Drew, b.
in Vermont 1808, settled 1847, in Nunda; Elizabeth Guthrie Gearhart, wife of
John Gearhart; Louisa Fuller, daughter of Joshua.

LONGEVITY IN NUNDA
Centenarians living, Mrs. Permillia Robinson Hubbell, born January, 1805.
Other Centenarians

The following persons completed the full five score ere they passed awav:

Mary A. Hunt, born Leicester 1802, died June, 1908, aged 106 years; Mrs.
Catharine Cox, widow of Gerritt Cox, grandparents of the late Jacob Cox, lived
in Northeastern Nunda. She was known as Granny Cox because of her great
ave. When she was 102 years old she fell and broke her hip bone, yet such
was her great vitality that she lived two longer, and died at the great age (even for
Nunda people,) of 104.

Mrs. Martha Hill Ewart. died while on a visit to Canaseraga in 1907, aged
102 years.

Mrs. Katyann Louisa Dunn, mother of Thomas Dunn, was born in Eng-
land and died in Nunda, aged 104 years.

Almost Centenarians

Zadock Sherwood, a veteran of the revolution, came to Nunda in 1823 and
outlived all the other citizen soldiers of that war. He died near Nunda, IIl., in
the one hundredth year of his age. He broke his hip bone when he lacked the
three months of one hundred years, and refused to eat, saying, he had lived
long enough.

Granville Sherwood his son, nearly equaled his sire in length of life and was
in his ninty-sixth year when he died.

Margaret Burnett, a daughter of Granville Sherwood, attained the age of
8&8 and died in 1907. The sum of the ages of these three was 283 years, or an
average age of 94, for three generations.

Margaret Blair, eldest daughter of the late Henry Rockafellow was living
until 1907, she was born in 1810 in New Jersey, and died in Iowa aged 97, she
survived all of her brothers and sisters excepting a Mrs. Terry, who died on
Church Street so nearly 100 years old that they tolled the bell for 100; Samuel
L. Rockafellow, now an octogenarian, and her half brother, Charles H. Rocka-
fellow, age 70, of this place.

Another Long Lived Family

Asenath Brewer Chase lived in Nunda before there was a house in Nunda
village, and in the vicinity until her marriage, she lived at Lakeville the rest
of her life, she was born in 1807, and was in her 99th year when she died. Her
father lived to be 90. Daniel Brewer, her brother, born 1809, lived to be past
90. Elizabeth Brewer Kingman, born 1811, is still living at Lakeville and bids
fair to become a centenarian. Jessie Brewer lived to be past 80, his wife did
also. Nelson Brewer a younger brother is still active and is 86 years of age.

635
Celestia J. Hills, widow of Leander Hills, died at Highland, Kansas aged 97
years and six months.

Dr. Samuel C. Upson attained the age 97.

Herman Pettit, 94; Miss Sarah Fuller, 96; Samuel Rockafellow, 94; William
Wallace, 94 years 10 months; Miss Margaret Stillwell, 93 years 9 months ; Clinton
Colton,, Dalton, 96; Record Dalton, 95; Nancy Comstock, 90; Seth Barker, 91;
Elizabeth Powers, 95; Rhoda Cole, 94; Rev. Jacob Seager, 92; Abraham DeGroff,
90; Mary A. Silsby, 91; Lydia M. Roberts, 91; Peter Passage, 94; Mrs. Annah
(Morse) Tuthill, 91; Jane R. Horner, 90; Cyrus Rose, 91; Sophia Town New-
ton, 91; Mrs. Jane Holmes, 90.

Pioneer Nonagenarians

David Baldwin (veteran), age 90; Samuel Rockafellow, age 94; Lydia
Barnes, 91; William R. Duryee, 90; Mrs. Mary Fuller, 90; Mr. Joshua Fuller,
92; Mrs. Nancy Miller, 92; Daniel Andress (Revolutionary soldier), 90; Will-
iam D. Gould (Revolutionary soldier), 91; Mrs. Elizabeth Durfee, 95; Mrs.
Esther Satterlee, 92; Mrs. Esther Town, 92; Mr. J. Davidson, 91; Lieut. David
Baldwin (veteran 1812), 90; Mrs. Betsey Prentice, died in 1822, aged 90 years.

Old Nunda

Donald Hamilton, died about 1860, aged 90; Myron Smith, 94; Mrs. Sally
Parker, 92.
Died After Leaving Nunda

Capt. Henry Bagley, 91; Harry Cleveland, 94; Nathan Sherwood, 90;
Isaac McNair, 90; Mrs. Jenet McNair, 93; Mrs. Sarah Burgess, 97.

Our Oldest Living Citizen

Mrs. Mary Barrett Barron, eldest daughter of Dea. James Barrett, was born
in N. H., Nov. 23, 1813, and is now nearly 95 vears of age. She has attended the
services of the Baptist Church for seventy-five years.

Alanson Rice, who once lived in Nunda, is still living and is 91 years old.

ADDENDA

The book is crowded to the covers and the publisher has called a halt, first
things have received so much attention that I have no space left for my own
family or my own special friends, I have written out of my reverence for the
past in which not I but my parents lived. I have written what could not have been
written five vears from now, for half of those who have helped me most, have
passed away during the three years that have passed since the one hundredth
birthday of the mother, to whom I dedicated the book. But how shall I satisfy
the expectations of those who have lived here the last half of the century. I might
say that the Biographical part of the book, may be written later, but I am reminded
that after Nov. 24th, I shall be living on borrowed time and it will not do to make
promises. I have, however, mentioned the last pioneers that came to our town,
the last Indian that comes as a guest where her ancestors came expecting to
stay; the last class that graduated from our High School; the last soldier or
sailor that enlisted ; the last young men to go into business, and the last teachers

636
and preachers that are to make the people wiser and better. And what is there
more to tell along the lines I have followed? Others will tell of the Centennial
Celebration, but will they tell, that I was the first to call attention to our, Cen-
tennial Birthday and ask for its observance? That is already forgotten, but the
files of the Nunda News, with my first Pioneer article, will substantiate it, I have
said nothing of politics except to name some of those that. have been chosen for
positions of honor. I might name the present officials as the list does not represent
either the pioneers or the soldiers who saw service to any great extent it would
detract from the ideal state of things I have depicted as existing, and I prefer to
think well of existing conditions, as I am optimistic, and believe the car of pro-
gress is still making good “Auto” time and making headway best, in up hill
matters when the ‘Autoist’ is riding alone, for those who are doing their best
for themselves, are often indirectly ushering in new and improved conditions.

Belonging as I do to the past order of things I will not attempt to sing the
song of progress, for it is keyed too high for me, but will conclude as I began by
chanting (this time in the words of another) my regards for

THE FOLKS I USED TO KNOW

“T know lots of folks in the city
As pleasant as folks can be,

And you can't claim to be lonesome
With thousands for company

But I'll own that I get homesick
And back again long to go

Where I can meet in the village street
The folks I used to know.

Some things happen over and over
In the grind of God's great mills,
Like Christmas and Sunday and taxes
And disappointments and bills.
There’s many a chance to be a happy
And as many to be forlorn
But you'll have but one,—one Mother
And just one place to be born.

Even the glories of heaven
Preachers might paint more fair
If they would only hint now and then
’Twould be like the old times there;
And I'm sure it will be a comfort
When my time has come to go,
To know I shall meet in the golden street
The folks I used to know.

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