Historical Wyoming County October 1958 - Old Fulton History

Page 4 October 1958
THE LETCHWORTH RIFLES (cont.)
The third call for its services was on October 18, 1877, to
suppress a riot on the Rochester & State Line Railroad at Gainesville.
The trouble arose when Messrs Wood and VanDuzen completed
their contract of construction of the railway from Le Roy to Gainesvill
e. They discharged their hands without paying them in full*
The workmen took possession of a train and spiked a switch near the
Gainesville gravel bank and threatened to hold this until they were
paid. Sheriff Albert Gage called on the Letchworth Rifles to protect
the property until a settlement could be made. This was done
by paying the men in fullo The prompt response of the company saved
the county the payment of large damage claims0 The adjutant general
in his report for 1877 cited the incident as a good example of how
advantageously a company of the national guard could be used in
quelling riotious distrubances. The designation of the unit was
changed from the l+th Separate Company to the 13th Separate Company
of Infantry, New York National Guard, December 18, 1877.
Military Experience of Officers
The military experience of the commissioned officers of the
company is given briefly below. In the Civil Mar, Capt. A. B. Lawrence
was a member of the 130th Regiment of Infantry, afterwards the
First New York Dragoons, According to the chapter on the Rifles in
the county history, Mr. Lawrence possessed the qualities of a good
officer, ability, ambition and strict discipline. It is apparent
that Mr. Lawrence was author of the chapter.
Lt. Jacob M. Smith was an efficient member of the 9th New York
Cavalry in the war. He resigned from the Letchworth Rifles and was
honorably discharged April 18, 1878. Second Lieutenant Charles T.
Watkins was a first sergeant of Company K, 17th N. Y. Infantry, the
first company that left Wyoming County for the war, and served four
years. He was promoted to first lieutenant of the Rifles following
the resignation of Jacob Mc Smith.
Sergeant Jacob K. Smith was a veteran of the 3rd Connecticut
Infantry. He was promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant in the
Rifles upon the promotion of Lt. Watkins, receiving his commission,
May 30, 1878. He was a physician and was drowned April 10, 1879,
while crossing the Old Buffalo Road when the Oatka Creek was at
flood stage. He had gone to visit a patient from whom he did not
expect to receive any pay. He was universally respected and lamented.
Sgt. Elbert E0 Farman 2nd, was promoted to second lieutenant
June 12, 1879, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lieutenant
Smith.
Marksmanship Record
A principal feature of the company was its record in marksmanship.
In 1876, state marksmanship badges were awarded three members
of the company. They were to be worn one year and then turned in.
In 1877, seventeen members of the company won badges. They competed
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