Historical Wyoming County April 1957 - Old Fulton History
Historical Wyoming County April 1957 - Old Fulton History
Historical Wyoming County April 1957 - Old Fulton History
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Vol. X <strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
No. 3<br />
D<br />
by<br />
Samuel D. Gayton L<br />
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PEORIA CORNET BAND, ABOUT 1880<br />
Arcade, New York<br />
The year <strong>1957</strong> marks the 85th gathering of the Pioneers at Silver<br />
Lake, August 1st. In the year l8j2, Jonathan Sleeper of Perry<br />
suggested to Myron Locke that the <strong>Old</strong> Folks Picnic be held at Saxton's<br />
Grove. Planks were thrown over logs for seats and that was<br />
the first picnic.<br />
The Association was incorporated in 1877 with the object of<br />
collecting facts, preserving relics, holding reunions and establishing<br />
a museum. Committees were appointed. In 1876, Bobert Grisewood,<br />
a collector of relics,showed quite a display, among -them a chair and<br />
(continued on page 66)
Page 6 6<br />
HISTORICAL WYOMING<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
Published quarterly at Arcade,^New York,, under sponsorship of the<br />
<strong>Wyoming</strong> <strong>County</strong> Board of Supervisors, by Harry S. Douglass, <strong>County</strong><br />
Historican; Robert W. McGowan, Associate Editor, and Students of<br />
Arcade Central School Commercial Department.<br />
PIONEER PICNICS (cont.)<br />
tea pot owned by Mary Jemison, a cane and tomahawk owned by Horatio<br />
Jones. A request for logs to build a log cabin was sent out with<br />
a good response. Uriah Saxton gave the first log; on June 12, 1878<br />
the cabin was raised by volunteers.The crowd that year was estimated<br />
at 10,000 with 1,682 teams. About 1880, the Peoria Band was present<br />
and played in front of the Log Cabin. This band won prizes in competition<br />
against larger city bands. The members were as followsr<br />
Jerome Gay Adelbert De Revere<br />
John Piero James Noble<br />
Charles Cromwell Jacob Fiero<br />
Prank Tryon Milford Clute<br />
Hugh Crawford Jack Shay<br />
Thomas Gordon<br />
Members who were absent when the above photo was taken were<br />
Charles Rowe,David Milligan, Robert Gordon,John Given and a Mr. Poe.<br />
Dick Wheelock drove the band wagon,The Peoria Cornet Band fligjdrap^<br />
ed at the right rear, is now in the possession of the Covington <strong>Historical</strong><br />
Society. There are forty 'stars in its shield<br />
About this same time, the Big Tree was brought to the Pioneer<br />
Grounds. It had grown on the farm of Calvin Dutton on top of Burleigh<br />
Hill west of Pavilion a little south of the Big Tree Road<br />
which was named after it. It was estimated to be 1,000 years old;<br />
was fifty feet in circumference., A hollow near the base was believed<br />
to have been cut out by the Indians as s shelter while on the trail.<br />
In I83LL, neighbors gathered at the Dutton farm for a house-raising<br />
and itl persons stood in the hollow chamber part of it. Part of it<br />
fell in 1857, measuring twelve feet in circumference. In 1875 the<br />
tree fell during an electric storm, leaving a stump about ten feet<br />
high. The Pioneer Association split the buttonwood into sections.<br />
Many were decayed but the. remaining ones were brought to the Pioneer<br />
Grounds where they were set up on a platform and bound together with<br />
bands of iron. The present stump is only about half the original<br />
size. About 195k, Dr. Mary.Greene had a new cement platform built.<br />
The original shelter was. donated by the Wadsworth family of Geneseo.<br />
My memory of Pioneer Day goes back to 1892, I remember going<br />
to the Auditorium with my parents and hearing speaking and comic<br />
re
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong> Page 8 9<br />
PIONEER PICNICS (cont.)<br />
100 acres or more had one or more hired men, the wages about $18 to<br />
$25 per month with board and room. If a man got $25 and a driving<br />
horse kept, it was good. There were also many bicycles,<br />
A farm boy who had a best girl must take her to Pioneer Picnic;<br />
if not, he was all doneD There were fields full of horses and<br />
carriages, one at Kettings on the corner, another south of that with<br />
others inside the grounds0 The fees for hitching were 25$^ to 50^; if<br />
oats and hay were furnished, it would be a little more0 There were<br />
many horse jockeys present and much dealing was done. A horse jockey<br />
from Nunda drove in with a thin old horse. You could count his ribs.<br />
The jockey was intoxicated and made a great show. A lady called the<br />
police department and Chief Butler from Perry arrived. After some<br />
argument he arrested the jockey and shot the horse. <strong>Old</strong> horses who<br />
were wihdbroke and heavy were often doctored up with arsenic;if they<br />
were balky their shoulders might be rubbed with a Vrick to show they<br />
had drawn hard in the collar. Some of the jockeys I remember were<br />
Sam Orcutt, Merton Streeter and Mill Templeton.<br />
There were all kinds of fakers on the grounds, the medicine<br />
show, wild animal show, the painted ladies,the wild man from Borneo,<br />
the snake charmer, souvenir salesman, fortune tellers and pickpockets.<br />
Also, "Ma Jones," a shady character who was arrested every<br />
Pioneer Day for selling spirits and keeping a disorderly establishment.<br />
She would pay her fine and be back the next year, I remember<br />
when I was about fifteen years old and had begun to think about<br />
shaving I got a razor, brush, a cake of soap and a gold ring,all for<br />
25f^i The ring turned brassy in three days and the only thing the<br />
razor would cut was warm butter!<br />
Then there were the more legitimate shows and stands like the<br />
merry-go-round with the little steam engine for power,Mr. McWithey's<br />
shooting gallery, Ed. Adams and Mrs. Adams kept a good eating stand,<br />
and the old man who sold hickory canes. The man and his son who sold<br />
whips for the Rochester Whip Co. attracted the crowd by telling tall<br />
tales. Eight out of ten farmers had a bunch of whips, four or five<br />
for a dollar. The salesman could beat the whips around a post and<br />
they seemed to stand a lot of abuse. Many f armers stood around for<br />
hours listening to his line of talk. I remember John Linsley from<br />
around the Reservation who was always there. The son of the whip<br />
salesman sold whips on the other side of the platform and told the<br />
crowd what a "liar" the old man was.<br />
Then, too,there were the dance halls and the skating rink. Herman<br />
Piper ^rom St. Helena had melons to se^ljand there were the tintype<br />
takers. There were the busses from Perry, the wagons with Silver<br />
Lake Ice, Joe Henry's Boat Livery and v fishing bait. There never<br />
vias any license to sell strong drink for years, ^ome s old Hop Soda,<br />
a beer with a small oercent of alcohol. One remembers the excursion<br />
trains from Buffalo, Rochester, Bradford, Pa. and Hornell, and the<br />
steam boats that took passengers around the lake. ,J -he largest one<br />
was Capt„ McCarrick's Shilo No. 2, then the Urania, the Robinson,
Page 6 6<br />
PIONEER PICNICS (cont.)<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
the Forest Queen, and the Prescott. Several Picnic days the Robeson<br />
Cultery ball team and the Cuban Giants played on the hill above the<br />
Assembly grounds. The Giants were a colored team, more or less professional<br />
players. Pop Watson was a great favorite, also Barney<br />
Burlein of Mt. Morris who played with the Robeson team. The Perry<br />
Center Drum Corps played in front of the Log Cabin also; many of the<br />
old Civil War tunes were played as there were still a goodly bunch<br />
of veterans present in the '90's, such as the RudgersSaffordsthe<br />
Kelleys and others; Claude Collier could blow a fife long and loud.<br />
Dr. Mary Greene started in 1910 to give a chair to the oldest<br />
lady present. A little later Mrs. Franc Blackmer joined with her to<br />
give the chair to the oldest man present. After her death, her son<br />
James L. Blackmer, continued the gift. He was also later vice-president<br />
of the Association, a man who is much missed for his interest<br />
and liberality to the Pione rs and the Village of Pike. The ladies<br />
of those days wore large hats of the"Merry Widow" type,shirt waists,<br />
and some wore sailor hats. The stylish young men wore derby hats and<br />
swallow tail coats.<br />
One of the regular attendants at the Picnic was George Aiolin, a<br />
simple harmless little man who went about playing a harmonica.<br />
George built windmills by the score. He would walk two miles to<br />
Perry Center to have Windy Thurston make major adjustments. Thurston<br />
was a blacksmith and George thought he was the only man in the<br />
state who was an expert on windmills.<br />
The year 1899, was the banner year for the Picnic when Governor<br />
Theodore Roosevelt spoke there with a crowd of 25,000 on the<br />
grounds, about 10,000 at the Assembly. After that attendance began<br />
to fall off owing to automobiles and changing times.In 192I4.,Theodore<br />
Roosevelt Jr. was the speaker, Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt sooke<br />
the following year, and in 1930, the Auditorium burned down.<br />
Above was Pioneer Day in the Gay'90's as I remember it.<br />
(Mr. Gayton of Warsaw now is President of the Pioneer Association<br />
which will hold its annual meeting the first Thursday in August as<br />
it has for more than eight decades.)
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
XJ<br />
u<br />
- Part V -<br />
Harry S. Dou^lass-<br />
ALEXANEER TACKELS<br />
1755--1842<br />
Pioneer of Middlebury, 1812<br />
<strong>Wyoming</strong> Village Cemetery<br />
Page 8 9<br />
Tho memory of Alexander Tackels is preserved in an ancient marble<br />
slab in <strong>Wyoming</strong> Village Cemetery, which states that he died Aug.<br />
7, lE3i|-2, aged 87 years. He had been resident of the town about<br />
thirty-two years. Prom a descendant, Mrs. Marjorie S. Carmody, Le<br />
Roy,has come the following data on his military and personal career.<br />
He was born at Palmer, Mass., June 15, 1755» the son of William and<br />
Jean Tackels, and grandson of Alexander, the immigrant. He volunteered<br />
during the Lexington Alarms in the spring of 1775 and marched<br />
from the town of Rowo, now so called, Massachusetts, where he then<br />
resided, to Roxbury where he enlisted in Capt. Bodwell's Co., David<br />
Brewer-' s Regt. of the Mass. Line or State troops for a term of eight<br />
months. He was in Roxbury at the time of the battle at Bunker Hill,<br />
exchanged shots with the British guard and did duty the rest of the<br />
time in the vicinity of Boston. He was then discharged.<br />
In the spring of 177&, he entered as a substitute for his<br />
brother Hugh in Capt. Hamilton's Co., Col. Samuel Brewer's Regt. of<br />
Massachusetts troops, marched to Ticonderoga where they were quartered<br />
some time. Prom thence, he was detached into a company of 90<br />
rangers tinder Capt. Ferguson, placed on board the lake fleet under<br />
General Arnold and sailed down Lake Charnplain to a station on an<br />
island where an action subsequently took place between the British<br />
and American fleets. At the commencement of the naval engagement,<br />
he and his group were on board one of the vessels and were in the<br />
(continued on page 70)
Page 70 <strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
A REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE (cont.)<br />
fight almost the entire day. The vessel on which he fought was one<br />
of the four only out of seventeen ships which finally drove their<br />
way through the enemy fleet and succeeded in making good their retreat<br />
to Ticonderoga. Tackels xvas then ill, sent home, having about<br />
nine months leave from duty. About August 17, 1777> at the town of<br />
Rowe, he again returned as a Private in Capt. Howard's Co., and Col.<br />
Wells's Regt. of Mass. Militia. They marched to the North River to<br />
the headquarters of General Gates's army, scouted, reconoitered,<br />
skirmished, took some prisoners, arms, stores, etc. and aided in the<br />
capture of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga. This last tour of duty<br />
lasted between two and three months when he was honorably discharged,<br />
his total Revolutionary career having been 19 months and<br />
eight days in the three campaigns. For several years after 1777* he<br />
aided in the war effort in the teaming service, transporting cannon,<br />
ammunition and military stores. Like so many others, he met with<br />
severe losses in the depreciation of the currency. Mr. Tackels, in<br />
his pension application in 1632, stated that he resided in Rowe,<br />
Mass. about five years after the War; was next at Bennington, Vt.,<br />
about seven years; at Bridgewater, N.Y., around fifteen years; and<br />
finally resided in Middlebury after 1812. Mr. & Mrs. Prank Hayden's<br />
home occupies the site of his first log house.<br />
Rescorn Tallman, Castile<br />
Among the pioneer families of Castile were the Tallmans, one of<br />
whose number, Rescom Tallman, had a Revolutionary record. He is<br />
buried in Grace Cemetery, Castile Village, where an ancient double<br />
slate stone commemorates the facts of his decease and that of his<br />
wife. He died Nov. 13, 1832, aged 73 years, while his wife, Mercy,<br />
died May 6, 1830, at the age of 71• Prom his home in Dartmouth,<br />
Mass., he was enlisted, according to "Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors<br />
in the Revolution," as a Private in Capt. Joshua Wilbore's Co.,<br />
Col. Ebenezer Francis'3 Regt. and was given a pay abstract for<br />
travel allowance from camp to home, a distance of 65 mules and three<br />
day's travel. This payment was allowed in Council, Nov. 29, 177&.<br />
Within about a week, he was again ordered out with Capt. Benjamin<br />
Willcox's Co.,which marched from Dartmouth to Howland r s Perry, R.I.,<br />
at an alarm to repel the British forces that arrived at Newport,Dec.<br />
7, 1776. He was allowed eight day's service. Mr. Tallman was pensioned<br />
while resident of Castile, and DAR records state that he served<br />
several enlistments, 177&-80, in Massachusetts. It is said his<br />
wife was Mercy Gorham and among their children was a son, Charles,<br />
born in 1786, who married Esther Mabie, probably of Delhi, N.Y. A<br />
son of Charles and Esther was Benson, born in 1812 in Delaware<br />
<strong>County</strong>, N.Y., who accompanied his parents to Castile in I8I7.Charles<br />
become a deacon of the Baptist Church there in 1821, and held the<br />
office of Supervisor and Justice of the Peace.<br />
Gideon Thayer, Gainesville<br />
In the long abandoned Thayer Cemetery, Town of Gainesville,<br />
north of the village of Silver Springs, is the grave of Gideon<br />
(continued on page 71)
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong> Page 8 9<br />
A REVOLTJTIOT'ARY HERITAGE (cont.)<br />
Thayer, progenitor of one of the very oldest families in town. His<br />
stone, now broken, revealed that he was 82 years old when he died<br />
Feb. 20, I836. The inscription included the familiar epitaph:<br />
"In early life in Freedom's cause<br />
I fought to set my country free,<br />
But now a slave to Nature's laws<br />
That tyrant Death has con uered me."<br />
Gideon Thayer, the son of Thomas Thayer 3rd, and Susannah Blake<br />
Thayer, was born in Smithfield, R. I., to which his branch of the<br />
family had moved from Massachusetts. He was married to Meribah<br />
Wilcox of Smithfield, June 10, 1776, and removed to Mendon, Mass.<br />
From there he served in the armies of the War for Independence, and<br />
is said to have been among the first to receive a pension from the<br />
government. His hatred of Tories was so intense and permanent, that<br />
at the age of eighty he could hardly be restrained from caning a man<br />
whom he suspected of having b'en one. After the close of the war,<br />
he removed to Owego, H.Y., and afterwards to Lima, N.Y., where he<br />
resided through his last yerrs. It is possible that he came to live<br />
with his son, Willard, shortly after 1833, and died in Gainesville.<br />
Willard Thayer articled the first land in 1 ; 06 on Lot 7 in<br />
Gainesville. He was the eldest son of Gideon, born at Mendon, Mass.,<br />
Mar. 1, 1784. He cleared a portion of the land, erected a log cabin<br />
upon it, and returned to Owego, N. Y., to marry Phebe Harris,Feb. 9,<br />
l809. The young couple then began housekeeping on this frontier.<br />
Willard was Supervisor of Gainesville several terms; his second son<br />
was General Linus Willard. Thayer, born in 1811, subsequently a prominent<br />
lawyer and judge of Warsaw. Phebe Harris Thayer died March 12,<br />
1817, aged 28, while Willard lived until March 23, 1862, aged 78<br />
years. Both are buried on the old homestead cemetery with their<br />
neighbors.<br />
Other Veterans<br />
Gardner Taber, who died Nov. 15, 1828, age 88 years,is interred<br />
in the older portion of the cemetery at Perry Center. Nothing whatever<br />
has come to light about his military record but his name is included<br />
on the listing since many years ago a Mrs.Edith Taber Squires<br />
came from out of town to see the grave of her ancestor and informed<br />
the late Mr. B. B. Tweksbury that Mr. Taber was a soldier of the<br />
Revolution. The visitor did not reveal any of the details nor her<br />
place of residence.<br />
Unsuccessful efforts have likewise been made to locate the<br />
grave of Martin Terry, living in the Town of Sheldon in 18I|_0 with<br />
one John Howe and on the pension list. The "Western New-Yorker" in<br />
l8i|2 revealed that the veteran had celebrated his 100th birthday.<br />
Buried in a private cemetery west of Varysburg on the former<br />
Jeffrey F. Thomas farm of about 300 acres, is the body of Lodowick<br />
(continued on page 72)
Page 6 6 <strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
A REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE (cont.)<br />
Thomas, who came to Sheldon in 1805 from Stephentown, Rensselaer<br />
<strong>County</strong>, N. Y. He died here, June 6, 18I+8, aged 86 years. His name<br />
appears on the 1833 pension list for service as a Private in the New<br />
York Militia, and is carried on the 1835 and l8)|.0 records that are<br />
available.<br />
Rev. Conrad TenEyck<br />
The Silver Springs Pioneer Cemetery, carefully ^reserved by the<br />
Village, has a marble stone to the memory of the Rev. Conrad Ten-<br />
Eyck, who died Sept. 30, l8l|5, aged 87 years. His name was first<br />
placed on the pension roll of Cayuga <strong>County</strong>, N. Y. in 1833 for service<br />
as a Private and Sergeant in the New Jersey Militia, his native<br />
state. His wife was Elizabeth Thompson, and among their children<br />
was a son, Conrad Jr. (1788-1826), who married Rebecca Thalimer<br />
(1791-1876) and thev had a daughter, Elizabeth (1817-185D who married<br />
Delos M. Keller (1815-1868).<br />
It is assumed that the Rev. TenEyck came to Silver Springs,<br />
then East Gainesville,as pastor of the East Gainesville Presbyterian<br />
Church which probably met in private homes from a very early day.<br />
Its first deacon was Daniel Kellogg, who died Oct. 21]., l833» aged 6l<br />
years. His widow, Mary, married the Rev. TenEyck, but she preceded<br />
him in death at the age of 62 years 11 months, Feb. 2, l8I|_2. She<br />
and her first husband are buried near Route 19A south, of Silver<br />
Springs.<br />
.Elias Thomas , <strong>Wyoming</strong><br />
<strong>Wyoming</strong> Village Cemetery is also the place of interment of<br />
Elias Thomas, a Vermont scout during the Revolution. Born in 17^7<br />
at Middleboro, Mass., he subsequently moved to Woodstock, Vt., and<br />
then in 1819 to Middlebury where he died soon thereafter, leaving a<br />
widow and a son, Dr. Alden Thomas, head of a family of five sons and<br />
six daughters. Elias's wife was Sylvia Thompson who died July 7><br />
1821+, aged 6I|_ years. She was buried beside him at a spot marked by<br />
a large marble stone which states that he passed away Feb. 2l_(-, 1820,<br />
aged 71+ years. Elias and Sylvia Thomas had a son, Elias Jr., a<br />
daughter Polly (Mary), born 1785 and died in i860, who married in<br />
1803 Phineas Stanton (1780-18142), a Major General of the State Militia,<br />
hero of the War of 1812; another daughter, Persis, who married<br />
Seth Gushing (be died in 1839), lived until Aug. 30, 1878. Persis<br />
Thomas Cushing said her father's Revolutionary service was in Massachusetts,<br />
and that he moved, to Vermont afterwards. This does not<br />
agree with records placed in the DAR archives by a descendant.<br />
Attica's Forest Hill Cemetery is the oresent resting place of<br />
the remains of Amos Tolles, born in 17i(-3> who died in 1805 in the<br />
Town of Bennington,where he had been one of the very first settlers.<br />
His body was brought to Attica many years later.Born in Connecticut,<br />
he served in the French & Indian War, and later served in the 17th<br />
Regiment of the Albany <strong>County</strong> Militia during the Revolution. In<br />
(continued on page 73)
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong> Page 8 9<br />
A REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE (cont.)<br />
Strykersville was buried Jacob Turner, born in 1757 > died in 1820,<br />
whose service is said to have been with a New York unit during the<br />
War of 1775. No other details are available although the grave was<br />
marked by the Buffalo Chapter, DAR, many years ago but its location<br />
is now lost.<br />
Peter VanLiew of Gainesville<br />
A second veteran in Silver Springs Pioneer Cemetery is a native<br />
of New Jersey, Peter VanLiew, who died in that community in 1813.<br />
The stone to his wife, Sytia (Cinthy), who died Nov. 17, 1833, aged<br />
67 years,remains and the family is certain he was also buried beside<br />
her. Mr. E. R. VanLiew, Upper Montclair, N. J., family historian,<br />
says that Peter was the 9th or 10th child of Frederick VanLiew and<br />
Maritje van der Bilt, born in New Jersey, Aug. 28, 1759; baptized<br />
Sept. 17, 1759; and married to Sytie Wyckoff on Nov. 20, 1783, and<br />
it is she whose stone remains. Peter was a Private in the Somerset<br />
<strong>County</strong> Militia during the Revolution and at its conclusion moved<br />
with two brothers to Scioio, N. Y. He came to Gainesville among the<br />
very first settlers. According to research made by Lillian VanLiew<br />
Mauger, a descendant of Peter, prior to 1910 Abraham VanLiew of Silver<br />
Springs had a Bible with one entry: Peter VanLiew died at East<br />
Gainesville, Sept. 7, l8l3> aged 57y 7m 8d. Apparently the one who<br />
read the inscription or the Bible, read a "7" for a "Ij.", in the age.<br />
Perry & Pike Soldiers<br />
Prospect Cemetery, Perry Center, has a gleaming marble stone<br />
which reads: "In Memory of Abraham Voorhees, who died <strong>April</strong> 23,<br />
I8I4.I, aged 86 yrs." Beside him lies his wife, Elsey, who died <strong>April</strong><br />
11, I8I4.O, aged 8l years 5 months and three days. The 1833 Genesee<br />
<strong>County</strong> pension list gives Mr.Voorhees service as that of Sergeant in<br />
the New York Militia. Nothing further is known.<br />
East Koy Cemetery, Pike, is the burial place of William Van<br />
Slyke, born Feb. 26,1759, died Jan. 2, 1851, more than 92 years old.<br />
His wife was Mareness Van Slyke,who died in 1823. The Genesee <strong>County</strong><br />
Pension list states his service as that of Private and Corporal in<br />
the Connecticut Militia, while one DAR applicant stated that he served<br />
as a Private in the 2nd Regt., Tryon <strong>County</strong>, New York Militia,<br />
and further states that he was a native of Schoharie <strong>County</strong> where so<br />
many Van Slykes resided. He did not come to Pike until late in life,<br />
but from him are descended a numerous family. Mrs. Margery B. Yochem<br />
in her "The Saga of the Van Slykes," published in this bulletin in<br />
September 1951 > substantiates that his birth occured at Schoharie in<br />
1759, and at the time of his enlistment in the Colonial Army was residing<br />
at Canajoharie. He served as a Private and Corooral during<br />
the years 1776 to late 178l,and engaged in the battles of Big Flats,<br />
Oriskany, Sharon and Johnstown. In 1?80, he married Magadalene Marenas.<br />
After her death, he married in 1825 Elizabeth Adair of Bergen,<br />
N.Y. ; they came to this vicinity in 1831. William had five children:<br />
John W. , Mary, Martinas, William and Peter, all of whom were born in<br />
the Cherry Valley region. Most of William's children had families in<br />
the East before they migrated to Pike, not all at the same time.<br />
(continued on page J\±)
Page 6 6<br />
A REVOLTTTIOTIA W- r HERI TA n E ( c ont.)<br />
Java Veterans<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
No stone remains in Java Village Cemetery to James Ward who was<br />
born in 1761+ and died July 24, 1824. Also, the DAR bronze marker<br />
indicates only approximately the location of the grave, the marker<br />
having been moved since originally placed fifty years a^o.<br />
The Buffalo Chapter, DAR, at the same time marked the grave of<br />
David Waters on Sept. 15, 1907 „ His military record is available<br />
through the courtesy of the Chapter, ^e enlisted at Saratoga, N.Y.<br />
Feb„l, 1776 and served until January 17 7 7 as a Private in Capt. Job<br />
Wright's Co., Col. Van Schaick's Regt. of N.Y. Troops. From his<br />
pension application in 1820, Mr. Waters stated that he and his wife,<br />
Phoebe, aged 62 years, resided with their son-in-law, Amos Shepard<br />
in Java. They had lived at Guilford, N.Y. for nine years,previously<br />
in Holland, N.Y. He signed hi^ name by a mark because he was blind.<br />
He died at Java Village, 0cto 5* 1834<br />
A third grave at Java Village is that of Lieutenant Job Winslow<br />
of Mayflower ancestry, born in 1754 at Dighton, Mass., the child of<br />
Job Winslow and Elizabeth Richmond, a daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel<br />
and Elizabeth Richmond. The parents were married Sept. 2, 1743* J ol3<br />
served as a Private in the siege of Boston, as Corporal and Sergent<br />
in 1777, and named a Second Lieutenant in 1781. At the close of the<br />
War, in 1782, he married Mary Atwood,the mother of his six children,<br />
namely Job Winslow, 3rd, born Aug. 1783; Polly Richmond, born 1786;<br />
Eliza Fisher, born 1788; Sally Atwood, born 1790; Jeremiah, born<br />
1792; and Nathaniel, born 1 7 96. The daughter, Sally, was married to<br />
Henry Stevens, she dying in 1848 and her husband in l85l. Job and<br />
his wife, Mary, were living at Bristol, N. v . where she died Feb. 12,<br />
1826, and he had been pensioned since l8l8„ He removed to Java to<br />
be with his children, and there he d-iod <strong>April</strong> 2,1839, aped 85 years.<br />
His memory is perpetuated in the name, Job Winslow Chapter, D.A.R.,<br />
Traverse City, Michigan, where descendants in the West remember his<br />
patriotic services.<br />
Benjamin Wariner<br />
Born in Springfield, Mass., March 3, 1751 0. S. ,Benjamin Wariner<br />
died in Bennington, May 8,1823 and was buried in the East Bennington<br />
Cemetery.Nothing remains to mark his grave.He married Rachel Tolles,<br />
born July 14, 1768. They resided at Pompey Hill, N.Y.,moved to Bennington,<br />
where they spent the. remainder of their days. She died Nov.<br />
18, 1825 0 Mr. Wariner received, a pension for his duty as a Private<br />
in the Massachusetts Line. For origins of the family, consult Warriner<br />
Family of New England Orgln by Edwin Wariner, published at Albany<br />
by Joel Munsell Sons, 1899. Mr. Wariner'a birthdate would be<br />
March 14, New Style.<br />
Omri Warner, Strykersvllle<br />
In the Strylcersville Pioneer Cemetery on Factory Road is to be<br />
found a granite memorial to Omri Warner, who died Dec. 20,l84l, aged<br />
79 years seven months and 19 days. He was a native of Snndesfield,<br />
(continued on page 75)
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
A REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE (cont.)<br />
Page 8 9<br />
Mass., where he was born May 1, 1 7 62, and was a Private in the Massachusetts<br />
Continental Regiment, 1777-' ? 8, in Capt. Stone's Co. Col.<br />
Brewer's Regt. He has been mentioned as a "Minute Man." He married<br />
Prudence Hollister (1763-1822 )s and among their children was Levi<br />
(179l;-l8]+9) who married in 1818, Hepsibah Dickinson (1799-1855).<br />
Omri appears on the l8l8 Rutland, Vt. pension list and then transferred<br />
to Erie <strong>County</strong>, Town of Wales, xvhere he died. Members of<br />
his family continued to live in the Strykersville area over many<br />
years. There Is a DAR bronze marker to him in the New Protestant<br />
Cemetery, Strykersville, but it is said his remains were never removed<br />
from the abandoned original ground, nor those of his wife. On<br />
the same plot stand markers to a Charles Warner and to a daughter of<br />
Hyman and Sally Warner.<br />
Joseph Warren, Wethersfield<br />
A veteran who saw several historic moments in the Revolution<br />
lies buried in Hermitage Cemetery, where a marble shaft still commemorates<br />
his life. Joseph Warren was born June 26, 1756, at Thompson,<br />
Mass., and died at Hermitage, May 26, l81;9, aged 93 years, one<br />
of the oldest veterans in the county. It is said he enlisted at the<br />
age of twenty in the year 1 77 6 under Capt. Stephen Childs for one<br />
year in the Massachusetts Lines. The next year, he reenlisted for<br />
three years under Capt. John Draper in the 3rd Connecticut Regiment.<br />
The <strong>Wyoming</strong> <strong>County</strong> Mirror (Aug. li)., I8I4.9) states that he was at the<br />
battles of Bunker Hill, Crown Point, Princeton, Bennington, Stony<br />
Point, and at the surrender of Burgoyne. He was also said to have<br />
been with General Israel Putnam when he rode down the declivity at<br />
the Horseneck. DAR membership records state only that he was at the<br />
battles of Harlem Heights, Monmouth and in the Rhode Island Campaigns.<br />
In 1778s he was discharged in consequence of a wound. He<br />
became a pensioner in 1820. Mr. Warren married first Miss Elizabeth<br />
Woodward (1758-1821) and second, Mrs. Hannah Groger, a widow of Hermitage.<br />
No other graves are marked at Hermitage so there is no data<br />
on the burial place of the wives.<br />
Ira Wheeler, Reynolds Whaley<br />
A lad of sixteen when he entered the Revolutionary Army, Ira<br />
Wheeler of Castile lived to be almost a centenarian before his<br />
death, Jan. 23, 1865, aged 99 years 11 months and 1+. days. A native<br />
of Stanford, Dutchess <strong>County</strong>, N.Y., it is supposed his service was<br />
with the New York troops. No monument remains to Mr. Wheeler, but<br />
we were informed in 1953 by Mr. Dana Wheeler, Gainesville, that he<br />
was buried in Grace Cemeter:/-, Castile Village, on the family plot<br />
near the memorial to Dr. Cordelia A. Greene. The stone became<br />
broken and before the family had a chance to repair it, the cemetery<br />
sexton or someone else removed it.<br />
Reynolds Whaley, born in 1761; at North Kingston, R.I., is said<br />
to have enlisted as a fifer when but thirteen years old. His pension<br />
application reveals that he first enlisted in March 1777, and<br />
served at various times until October 1782^ amounting in all to<br />
(continued on page 76)
Page 6 6 <strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
A REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE (cont.)<br />
eight and a half months as Private in the Rhode Island troops under<br />
Capts. Rathborn, Lawrence, Pearce, Spencer Taylor and Col. Tinley.<br />
Family tradition says that he was at Valley Forge.<br />
After- the Revolution, Mr. Whaley resided at North Kingston, at<br />
Petersburgh, Renssaelaer Co.,N.Y., at Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N.Y.,<br />
and in 1833, he stated he had resided in Attica for twenty-nine<br />
years. His name appears on the 1833 tension lists, and the Federal<br />
Comptroller's records show pension payments from Mar. L|_, 1835 to<br />
Mar. i|, 1838. His name remained on the I8I4.O Federal census pension<br />
list. It is known that he had a son, Alanson, who married Anna<br />
Beardsley. Although a wide search has been made to ascertain his<br />
place of burial in Attica, it has not been found. It is also revealed<br />
that his wife was Elizabeth Odell, supposedly from Rhode<br />
Island.<br />
White, Wlllard, Wing<br />
A New York veteran, and old settler of Orangeville, Peter White<br />
died in that township, May 27, I8I4.5, when 8L|. years old. His widow,<br />
Elizabeth, lived until March 23, 1851, aged 80 years. Both are<br />
buried at Orangeville Center where their stones remain intact. Of<br />
his military career, we have no details.<br />
In the sixth Census of l81j.O, John Willard of Perry is listed as<br />
a pensioner, aged 78 years. At the time of his death in that town,<br />
Sept. 5, 18^5, his age was reported in the newspaper as 86 years and<br />
mention is made of his being a Soldier of the Revolution. Nothing<br />
else is known about him nor has his burial place been located.<br />
A soldier of the 16th Regiment, Albany <strong>County</strong> Militia, Benjamin<br />
E. Wing, later of Covington, was pensioned as early as 1833, when<br />
his age is given as 78 years. Following his death, Feb. ll|, 1836,<br />
then 80 years old, he was interred in Mountain Ash Cemetery, Covington,<br />
where a stone still marks his grave.<br />
The Wilson Family<br />
A distinguished first family of West Middlebury, the Wilsons,<br />
contributed two officers to the War for Independence. Elaborately<br />
decorated old marbles mark the graves of Sergent Michael Wilson and<br />
of his son, Capt. Ebenezer Wilson in the cemetery in that hamlet.<br />
Michael Wilson, who died May 23, 1829, in the 98th year of his age<br />
at Middlebury, was a native of Orwell, Vt. He entered the war as a<br />
Private in the Company of Cant. Stephen Calkins under Col. Ebenezer<br />
Allen's regiment in 1780, and the next year was a Sergeant in the<br />
comnany of his son, Cant. Ebenezer, in Col. Ira Allen's regiment,<br />
for a short tour. His wife was Martha Wilson.<br />
Captain Ebenezer Wilson, also native to Orwell, Vt., had the<br />
rank as stated above in Col. Ira Allen's regiment of Vermont Militia<br />
in 1781. Details are lacking. His wife was Lydia Rowley, and they<br />
(continued on page 77)
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
A REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE (cont.)<br />
Page 77<br />
were among the pioneers in Middlebury township, where he died Sept.<br />
1, 1828, in the 7l+th year of his age, and years of the -Baptist<br />
connection. Descendants of the family still reside in ' <strong>Wyoming</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> 150 years after the arrival of these first generations.<br />
Joshua Whitney, Pike<br />
Elmwood Cemetery, Pike Village, is the burial place of Joshua<br />
Whitney, who died Dec. 8, l8i|9, aged 90 years, and of his wife,<br />
Electa Sartwell, who survived him until Jan. 22, l855> dying at the<br />
age of 78 years. A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Whitney, known as<br />
Joshua, Jr., served as Private in the Continentals of the Bay State,<br />
and was first pensioned for such service in 1819 from Allegany Co.,<br />
N.Y., then the location of the town of Pike. He was dropped in 1820,<br />
but repensioned in 1832. It is said that he saw the surrender of<br />
Burgoyne and was at the battles of Trenton and Monmouth. Whitney<br />
arrived in Eagle in 1812, whether from his birthplace, Spencer,<br />
Mass., is not known. Among his descendants was Washington W.<br />
Whitney, Civil War soldier buried at Eagle. It is also a tradition<br />
that other members of Joshua's family were in the Revolution.<br />
William Whiting, Warsaw<br />
In the pioneer section of Warsaw Village cemetery there remains<br />
a marble slab to William Whiting, born at Hartford, Conn, in " , 1758s><br />
who died at Warsaw, March 22, I8I4.9, aged 90 years. The <strong>Wyoming</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> Mirror, recording his death, stated that at the commencement<br />
of the Revolution he lived in Connecticut, near Hartford. In 1776,<br />
he went to New York in the militia company of Lt. George Kellogg and<br />
Col. Chester. In <strong>April</strong> 1777> he enlisted for three years and served<br />
under Capt. Elisha Kimball, Col. John Chandler and Col. Joseph Hoit.<br />
He was in the battles of Germantown, Ft. Mifflin and Monmouth.<br />
During 1781 and 1782, he was in the team service under Capt; John<br />
Waters, Conductor of Teams.<br />
After the Revolution, he removed with several children to Granville,<br />
N.Y., then to Hampton and from there to Warsaw in 1821. He<br />
was an honorable man and retained his faculties up to near the end<br />
and the time of his death. He was a member of the Baptist Church.<br />
His wife, the mother of his children, was Abigail Flower, who died<br />
Aug. 25, 1832, aged 73 years. One of his sons, Nathan Whiting, and<br />
a brother-in-law, Col. Chauncey Sheldon,were among the Americans who<br />
joined the Canadian patriots in 1837» were captured and banished by<br />
the British Government to Van Dieman's Land. They were pardoned and<br />
returned to the United States some few years before the father's<br />
death. DAR application papers state that Mr. Whiting saw three years<br />
Revolutionary service as Private under Capt. Nehemiah Rice in Col.<br />
Chandler's 8th Connecticut Regt. In I8l8, he apnlied for a pension<br />
which was allowed. After his first wife's death, the old veteran<br />
married three more times; his second wife, Lucinda Whiting, his<br />
brother's widow, died Sept. 10, 1838, aged 67; his third was Mrs.<br />
Phebe Rich, widow of Peter Rich, and his fourth, the widow of Lyman<br />
Noble.<br />
(Continued of page 78)
Page 78 <strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
BERZILLAI YATES<br />
1757--1841<br />
Founder of Yates<br />
Se±tlement, Town<br />
of Gainesville<br />
A REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE (cont.)<br />
Ebenezer Witter, La Grange<br />
Protected by a large pine tree, a weathered marble stone stands<br />
in La Grange Cemetery, Town of Covington, to Ebenezer Witter, who<br />
died March 1, 1838, aged 76 years. His birth occurred at Preston,<br />
Conn., Oct. 19, 1761, and when but fourteen years old enlisted as a<br />
waiter to his father, Capt. Ebenezer Witter, Col. Selden's regiment<br />
of Connecticut. In March 1778, he again enlisted and served a year<br />
as Private under Capt. William Whitney's Co., the regiment of Col.<br />
Oliver Smith under General Sullivan in the Rhode Island expedition,<br />
and was at the battle of Newport. The next spring, Mr. Witter began<br />
a nine month's career as a Private aboard the Mass. man-of-war,<br />
"Discovery," under Capt. Francis Brown. In October, off the coast of<br />
France the vessel was in a severe battle with two British vessels,<br />
and at the end of eight months he was discharged. At Bordeaux,<br />
France, he,entered the French naval service and remained until the<br />
end of hostilities. F or this extended military service, a pension<br />
was granted, Sept. 21;, 1832, when he was 71 years old and a resident<br />
of Scipio, Cayuga <strong>County</strong>, N.Y. He apparently came to La Grange a<br />
year or so prior to his death.The family were members of the Baptist<br />
Church.<br />
(Continued on page 79)
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong> Page 8 9<br />
A REVOLUTIONARY HERITAGE (cont.)<br />
Berzillai Yates<br />
Travelers along Route 19, south of Rock Glen, may note a large<br />
stone to the east of the highway across a pasture, and above it during<br />
the slimmer months usually flies an American flag. Quaintly<br />
carved, the stone reads:<br />
Soldier of the Revolution<br />
BERZILLAI YATES<br />
died<br />
Sept. 1, I8I4.I.<br />
Aged 81; y' s<br />
Native of Mendon, Worcester Co., Mass.<br />
On the right is my mother<br />
On the left my wife<br />
We lived to good old age and now<br />
rest in peace.<br />
This is all that remains to the founder of Yates settlement,one<br />
who carved out a homestead about the site where he is buried during<br />
the very earliest days of Gainesville settlement. It is stated that<br />
his home became a wayside tavern and a stage stop. Elizabeth Yates,<br />
the mother, died Dec. 15, 1809, aged 96 years. She was, according<br />
to the inscription, a native of Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Mass. Mercy<br />
Yates, wife of the Soldier, died Sept. 30, 1827, aged 71 years, a<br />
native of Uxbridge, Worcester Co., Mass. At the foot of the grave of<br />
the father sleeos the daughter, Bethiah, who married Daniel Thayer,<br />
and died in 1852, when 60 years old. Around about rest some of their<br />
old neighbors, but their stones have been scattered and broken and<br />
the area is now a pasture.<br />
Berzillai Yates received a pension for his services as a Private<br />
in the Massachusetts Continentals. "Massachusetts Soldiers &<br />
Sailors in the Revolution" credits him with the rank of Private in<br />
Capt. Job Knap's Co., under Col.Job Cushing,having enlisted Aug. 17,<br />
1777, joined the company Sept. 15, and discharged ^ov. 30, 1777, a<br />
total of two months and 21; days. During this period he was with the<br />
Northern Army and the payroll of Worcester Co. includes 10 days<br />
travel time going home. A great-great granddaughter, Miss Ola J.<br />
Kidney, Little Valley, some years ago stated he also saw service of<br />
three months and five days as a Private in Capt. Edward Seagraves'<br />
Co., under Col. Joseph Read, and after the 1777 service given above,<br />
he was a Corporal In the 9th Co. under Col. Nathan Tyler.<br />
(NOTE: A concluding article in the autumn is exoected to bring<br />
some additional material on the careers of a few of the Soldiers of<br />
the Revolution who have already appeared in this series. It is earnestly<br />
hoped that readers who may have additions or corrections will<br />
write us at any early date. Thank you.)
Page 6 6<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
(Following are additional reminiscences of his boyhood days in North<br />
Java by Mr, Lyon, now residing in Florida,,)<br />
One of the best Halloween stories I ever heard came from outside<br />
the county, from the little village of Leicester over in Livingston<br />
<strong>County</strong>o it was related to me by George Rich who worked in<br />
the Perry Knitting Mill and boarded with my aunt, Mrs0 Russell, so I<br />
think it will pass for this publication,,<br />
It seems that a farmer living at the edge of the village had an<br />
old swell box cutter which he had repaired, painted and varnished,<br />
ready for the coming winter season. It was too much of a temptation<br />
for the boys. Back of one of the stores there was a barn with a<br />
ridge roof and beside it a shed with a lean-to roof. It was no<br />
trick to get the cutter on the shed roof and then to the ridge of<br />
the barn. They intended to straddle the runners over the ridge, but<br />
accidentally everyone let go of the cutter at the same time and the<br />
vehicle slid down the opposite side of the roof. It never hit the<br />
ground for beside the barn ran a railroad track and just at that<br />
moment an eastbound freight was pulling through town. The cutter<br />
landed in an open top car. No one in -Leicester ever heard of it<br />
again.<br />
The story has a sequel though I never heard it. But some poor<br />
railroad station agent, in some mining town somewhere around Scranton,<br />
Pa., must have had one heck of a job trying to find out where<br />
that cutter came from.<br />
One person who was known for his peculiar manners and oddity of<br />
speech was Fletcher Royce. I worked with him one time during the<br />
potato harvest back when spuds were pulled out of the soil with<br />
hooks. At meal time, as soon as the men were seated at the table,<br />
Fletcher would grab the pie plate, help himself to a generous slab<br />
and pass it along. Of course the others waited until the heavier<br />
part of the meal was partaken b u "t Fletcher made sure of having his<br />
pie.<br />
One time when he had been to Buffalo with a load of produce he<br />
stopped on his way home at a neighbor's place for a little chat0<br />
The neighbor asked him how he found the market, referring of course<br />
to prices. Fletcher very casually replied, "Oh, I just drove along<br />
Elk Street until I came to it,"<br />
(continued on page 8l)
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong> Page 8 9<br />
OTHER TALES FROM NORTH JAVA (cont.)<br />
One of Royce's neighbors was James Keenan, prominent Democrat,<br />
supervisor and civic leader. One day while the two v; ; visiting,<br />
Keenan said he thought someone was taking fuel from his wood pile,,<br />
"That's bad," said Fletcher. "Now I wonder what I would do if I<br />
thought someone was stealing my wood and I was curious who it wase<br />
I might do this. I might bore a hole in a good sized chunk, fill<br />
the h&le with gunpowder, put in a nicely fitting plug, then smear it<br />
over with a little bit of mud. Now I am not advising you to do a<br />
thing like that nor am I saying that _I would do it. I am merely<br />
saying I might do it."<br />
A short time after that another neighbor had an accident in his<br />
home. His heating stove exploded.<br />
Joe Herman at one time ran a grocery and meat market in North<br />
Java. One morning as the bus was leaving for the morning train Joe<br />
was standing in front of his store and the two or three passengers,<br />
city bound, waved good-bye to him. Imagine their surprise when they<br />
stepped off the train at Attica to see Joe Herman standing on the<br />
station platform.<br />
Of course this happened before the time of automobiles and<br />
while the passengers were riding the mile and a half to the station<br />
and v- :".]. they were waiting for the train, and while the & A. was<br />
making its scheduled stops, Herman was treading his bicycle down the<br />
creek toward Attica. And he arrived there first.<br />
Halloween has always been a time for pranks. One incident, I<br />
remember, happened on a presidential election year. I was quite a<br />
small lad and so can not fix the date. But I remember the Liberty<br />
Poles. The Democrats raised one in front of Mason & Crahan hardware<br />
store. It was a beautiful straight stick of timber, sawed either<br />
hexagonal or octagonal and painted. The Prohibition party put one<br />
up beside Lester Alien's furniture store. It was not as nice as the<br />
other but it was patriotically painted with three bands, one red,<br />
one white and one blue. On the morning after Halloween both were<br />
decorated. A wagon hung on the Prohibition pole and on the Democrat's<br />
a beer keg.<br />
Jim Keenan at one time a young man working for him, a<br />
simple minded fellow who stutiu.. . .. It was the day when the first<br />
automobiles were out and occasionally one was seen in North Java.<br />
One went past Keenan's place one day, the first his boy had seen.<br />
He stared at it in surprise, then began, "R-u-u-u-nawayl Ru-u-u-nawayl<br />
Where in h..„s the h-h-h-h-orse?
Page 6 6<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
Pioneer School Jeaeker<br />
on Three<br />
(Prom the annals of the Michigan State Pioneer Society, 1878,<br />
condensed by Robert M. French, Pike Town Historian.)<br />
Roccena Vaill Norris was born in Delaware <strong>County</strong>, N. Y., in<br />
1798, the eldest child of J^mes Vaill and Helena Compton, who made<br />
their home on the right bank of the Delaware River some distance<br />
above what is now Deposit, N. Y. To attend school, she was taken<br />
across the river in a canoe, where she was taught to sew and "mark"<br />
samplers,which accomplishment constituted a greater part of a little<br />
girls 1 education in those early days.<br />
In 1806s her family moved to Deposit. There the schoolhouse was<br />
also the "Meeting House." Male teachers were employed for the<br />
winter terms, and spinsters for the summer terms. A geography with<br />
maps was a thing unknown, and Webster's spelling book was just then<br />
coming into use. Roccena was an avid reader and read "Don Quoxite"<br />
before she was ten years old.<br />
Her father, James Vaill, died in 1813, consequently her widowed<br />
mother could hardly support the family during the war period<br />
1812-15. Prices were high and times were hard. Cotton cloth was<br />
seventy-five cents a yard, calico a dollar, tea two dollars a pound,<br />
etc. The family then went to live with a sister of Mrs. Vaill; this<br />
family lived in a large and roomy old cottage, which with its loom,<br />
spinning wheel, quill wheel, hand cards, etc. must have been a busy<br />
place. All the linen and Indeed everything which could be made at<br />
home was manufactured by the women of the house.<br />
In October I81I4. two sisters of Mr. Vaill came to visit them;<br />
one of them, "Aunt Bert" (Priscilla who married Luther Burt -- a<br />
pioneer family of Moscow, N. Y., and later of Pike where they died<br />
about 1825) was anxious to take Roccena home with her, and urged<br />
Mrs. Vaill to go "west", as they called Genesee <strong>County</strong>, telling her<br />
she could support her family more easily there than in Deposit.<br />
Finally, it was decided to send Roccena, then a girl of fifteen,<br />
home with her aunts to "spy out the land," and the mother with' this<br />
rest of the family would follow in the ensuing winter. So Roccena,<br />
with her aunts, left Deposit early in November, and after a week's<br />
journey in a lumber wagon reached the Town of Leicester where the<br />
aunts lived.<br />
Not long after the journey just mentioned,Roccena took another,<br />
this time on horseback, to visit an aunt in Allegany Co. Near her<br />
uncle's home, Indians were yet living on their own hunting grounds<br />
(continued on page 83)
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong> Page 8 9<br />
A PIONEER SCHOOL TEACHER ON THREE FRONTIERS (cont.)<br />
(Gardeau and Caneadea), and a visit to their homes was one of the<br />
standard amusements. In February 1815, the mother, Mrs. Vaill, with<br />
the rest of the family,Grandma Compton, eighty-four years old, among<br />
them, came to Genesee <strong>County</strong>, arriving the latter part of the month,<br />
and went to housekeeping in a "shaky old log house."<br />
In March, Roccena went to Pike to remain for a time with her<br />
Uncle Cooley (Arunah, who lived in what is now the Davidson School<br />
District); here the home life and society proved so much more<br />
congenial to her that she persuaded her mother to remove there. Her<br />
uncle made a "bee", and with the assistance of the neighbors, a good<br />
log house was put up and covered in one day. The next day it was<br />
completed except for a hearthstone which was soon after put in<br />
place. After her mother arrived, Roccena opened a school, the first<br />
in that part of town. It was held in a little plank schoolhouse<br />
where the desks-such as they were-were fixed against the wall,having<br />
wooden benches, without backs, in front.<br />
Hardships of 1816<br />
This year, 1816, was a hard one, the country had not begun to<br />
recover from the effects of the War of 1812. Business was much<br />
deranged, and all through the region known as the "Holland Purchase"<br />
half starved Indians were wandering. The new settlers had to endure<br />
one of the coldest years ever known in the country-frost and snow<br />
with severe freezing in every summer month, and many families were<br />
without bread or potatoes for weeks together. Roccena taught school<br />
and boarded around,and had her dinner sent to herjoften it consisted<br />
only of small new potatoes and green peas. She used to say that she<br />
never saw so many sad and melancholy faces as those of the mothers<br />
in these distressing times. It well might be so, when all they could<br />
give their children to eat was sifted bran made into cakes with a<br />
little milk, Mrs. Vaill however had good health and plenty of work,<br />
while her children were old enough to assist her so they never<br />
suffered for food, and were often able to help those who did. The<br />
prospect must have often seemed dark enough even to her brave<br />
spirit.<br />
The family remained in Pike, Allegany Co., nearly four years,<br />
during all of which time Roccena was teaching summers in the plank<br />
schoolhouse, winters in larger outlying districts where she earned<br />
the immense sum of a dollar and a half a week, and with her younger<br />
sisters assisted the mother during the evenings in sewing and weaving.<br />
The latter part of the year l8l8 the Uncle Cooley moved (with<br />
members of another neighboring family) his family to Indiana (to<br />
Little York), and Mrs. Vaill having no other relatives in the place,<br />
went back among her own friends near Moscow, N. Y. Roccena accompanied<br />
her part way, then went to Covington, Genesee <strong>County</strong>, boarding<br />
with friends and attended a school kept by Rev. Jonathan Davis,<br />
father of Dr. Davis (of Ypsilanti, Mich.), walking a mile and a half<br />
each day in order to attend it. Here she remained until she had attained<br />
a "tolerable" smattering of the study of Grammer.In the first<br />
(continued on page 8I4.)
Page 6 6 <strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
A PIONEER SCHOOL TEACHER ON THREE FRONTIERS (cont.)<br />
of May following she taught school in Covington Centre for a dollar<br />
and a half a week, boarding round. She had about forty pupils of<br />
all ages from six to twenty, and of all sorts and conditions.<br />
She continued teaching until the end of November, after which<br />
she was married to Mr. Mark Norris by Elder True, both of Covington,<br />
on the 13th of January 1820 at her mother's home in Moscow In the<br />
midst of a fierce two day snow storm. On the third day the couple<br />
returned to Covington to their first home. A brief description of<br />
the house which was ready for their reception may be of interest.<br />
It was built of logs, the floor of white ash--carpets being an<br />
undreamed of luxury--two windows containing twelve seven by nine<br />
panes of glass to light the room, and a cupboard which stood in one<br />
corner contained all their crockery and table furniture. The walls<br />
were the round side of the logs hewn smooth and "chinked" nearly<br />
even with plaster. The fireplace had a crane with hooks for hanging<br />
kettles. There was the iron bake--kettle for baking,and a tin oven<br />
to place before the fire for roasting. A ladder in one corner, by<br />
which one ascended to the loft, contained a bed and other ,stores.<br />
The furniture of this house consisted of one bed, one armchair, a<br />
few common chairs and a small bookcase hung against the wall.<br />
Mr. Norris was engaged in a small way in trade, and also owned<br />
an ashery near their dwelling house for making pot and pearl ash.<br />
Three months after their marriage, Mrs. Norris's mother and sister<br />
came to live with them, and soon after came her aged grandmother.<br />
In the spring, Mr. Norris put up an addition to the log house of<br />
which part was used for a store, well stocked in the fall of 1822.<br />
The following spring, the ashery burned down--this was before the<br />
days of insurance. In the summer of 1822, Mr. Norris built a good<br />
size frame store and visited New York and Albany for goods0<br />
In the winter of I82J4. Mr. Norris was appointed post master by<br />
Benedict Brooks, P.M., who lived two miles west of Covington Centre.<br />
The postoffice was then thereafter kept in the center of the town.<br />
In 182)4, Mr. Norris built a new house and vacated the log cabinc The<br />
kitchen contained, Instead of a fireplace, a small cook stove, the<br />
first Mrs. Norris had ever used. In September l82i|, Mr. Norris,<br />
accompanied by Roccena,went East for goods via Owego, Chenango Point<br />
and Deposit, where he left her and continued to New York. At her old<br />
homej Roccena collected a quantity of flower seeds and"the next<br />
summer the little garden at Covington Centre was beautiful with<br />
flowers„<br />
As a consequence of the bitter feelings of anti-Masonic<br />
spasm in 1827, M r. Norris decided to p;o to Michigan to look for a<br />
water power site near which he could make a home f5r his family.<br />
Having purchased property in Ypsilanti which included the only frame<br />
dwelling, he returned East. Buying a carding machine and a small<br />
stock of goods, he shipped these, as well as his household goods,<br />
by canal and lake boats to Michigan.<br />
(continued on page 85)
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong> Page 8 9<br />
A PIONEER SCHOOL TEACHER ON THREE FRONTIERS<br />
The Norris family left Covington by stage for Buffalo at gA.M.,<br />
June 9, 1828, arriving in Buffalo late that evening. The next morning<br />
they engaged passage on a streamer in which they spent four days<br />
and three nights on Lake Erie. However, the most arduous part of<br />
the journey awaited them on the overland trip from Detroit to<br />
Ypsilanti since roads were hardly worthy of the name. This journey<br />
was completed on the eighth day. On this new frontier, Mrs, Norris<br />
started a school in her home and endured the hardships of a pioneer<br />
community. The Norris family assisted in the cultural and commercial<br />
development of Ypsilanti and prospered with it so they had the means<br />
to travel frequently.<br />
In the summer of 1835, Mr. & Mrs. Norris went East to buy<br />
goods. On their return, late in August, they had an interesting<br />
stage ride from Warsaw to Buffalo. A crowded coach and the breaking<br />
of a linch pin, soon after they started, were among the discomforts<br />
of the trip. After numerous delays and breakages, they left Hamburg<br />
for another attempt to reach Buffalo, 12 miles distant, but when<br />
only three miles from the former place, a wheel gave way, being left<br />
the length of the coach behind. A scene of confusion ensued but a<br />
wagon loaded with oats, bound for Buffalo, opportunely made its<br />
appearance and Mrs. Norris mounted it and rode the remaining eight<br />
miles, while the rest proceeded as best they might,, When they were<br />
within ten miles of Detroit,after a pleasant passage, the "Commodore<br />
Perry" came alongside to take off passengers for Toledo; while they<br />
were lashed together, the boiler of the Perry burst its cap off. Of<br />
course a panic followed,and though the result proved less fatal than<br />
was feared. Mrs. Norris had her hands and heart full in rendering<br />
what assistance she could.<br />
Mr. Norris died in 1862 and Roccena in 1876, concluding the<br />
experience in three pioneer settlements.<br />
(A search of the public records in the Town of Covington in<br />
195> by Mrs. Imogene Moag, then Town Historian, revealed that Mark<br />
Norris, husband of Roccena,was Town Clerk and commissioner of common<br />
schools in l825>served as trustee of School District No. 6, in 1820,<br />
being the successful bidder for wood for the school that year at<br />
a cord; was clerk of the district in 1823» l82i|_-5, and trustee again<br />
in 1826. One child of the couple was in school in 182?» Rev,<br />
Jonathan E. Davis,who taught Roccena in l8l8, served school district<br />
No. 7 in many capacities from I819-I838. The family names of Vaill<br />
and Norris occur in many public records.)
Page 6 6<br />
MILESTO<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
Beginning in December 1956, the four-story building of the former<br />
Warsaw Button Company on South Main street, Warsaw, was razed to<br />
make way for a NuWay supermarket. Following the sale of the salt<br />
plants in the Oatka Valley, the firm was organized to promote local<br />
industry with a capital stock of $£0.,000. In continuous operation<br />
until 19^1j the plant turned out buttons made from vegetable ivory<br />
and during the last few years made nobs for radios.<br />
Clarence R. Runals, Niagara Falls attorney and native of Arcade, was<br />
elected president of the New York State Bar Association in January.<br />
He attended the public school in his -native town and was graduated<br />
from the University of Buffalo School of Laxv in 1815- Admitted to<br />
the bar in 1916, he has been engaged in the legal profession at the<br />
Falls for many years. He has held positions of trust in civic and<br />
professional organizations.<br />
Announcement was made last autumn of the publication of a novel,<br />
"One Small Candle" by Mary Clare Linehan Mackinnon, formerly a teacher<br />
of Engliah. In Warsaw High School in 19.19-1920. From the press<br />
of Crown Publishers, the book Is the story of a family life and the<br />
author is the wife of a member of the faculty of the University of<br />
California at Berkley.<br />
The community of Varysburg paid honor on Sept. 25^1956, to the halfcentury<br />
of medical service of Dr. George A. McQuilkin, 76, who with<br />
Mrs. McQuilkin celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary a week<br />
earlier. Back in 1906 when the doctor first hung out his "shingle"<br />
in front of the same residence he has today, he made his calls by<br />
horse and buggy and sleigh or trudged on foot many miles through<br />
drifted and muddy roads. He has served as health officer for nearly<br />
fifty years and been active in establishing the local medical profession<br />
with a community hospital. The recipient of many testimonials<br />
and-gifts from a grateful community, the doctor modestly<br />
accepted the honors with the sentiments, "I feel I have only done my<br />
duty."<br />
Castile's weekly, "The Castillian" was sold in November 1956 to Mr.<br />
& Mrs. Robert Aldrich of Fillmore, publishers of the "Northern Allegany<br />
Observer." The paper had been purchased in 1955 by Mr. &<br />
Mrs. Gerald Keith from Mr. * Mrs. Merlin Pitt.<br />
Walter L. Ahhe'r, graduate, of Warsaw High School, and head of the<br />
science department of Lawrence High School, Long Island, has just<br />
issued his fifth publication In a series of manuals in physics and<br />
chemistry. His latest, a physics laboratory guide, is said to be<br />
popular in schools throughout the country.<br />
(Continued on Page 87)
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong> Page 8 9<br />
MILESTONES (cont.)<br />
A second Warsaw Landmark, the Gridley Hotel on North Main Street,<br />
was vacated in February preparatory to razing to make way for a new<br />
W. T. Grant store.<br />
E. Perry Spink, born in Attica, was elected in December president of<br />
the Liberty Bank of Buffalo. Now resident of Orchard Park,, Mr.<br />
Spink began his career with the bank as a branch manager in 19214.,<br />
rose to the office of credit manager in 193^4-, assistant vice-president<br />
in 1939, a vice-president in 192k, and executive vice-president<br />
ten years later. This is the bank's 75th year.<br />
Warsaw Grange No. 1088, P. of H., observed the fiftieth anniversary<br />
of its organization Jan. 8, <strong>1957</strong>» Five of the six living charter<br />
members were honored guests and the program featured an address by<br />
Judge John S. Conable of Warsaw.<br />
The Public Service Commission, Jan. 5, <strong>1957</strong>, authorized the Pennsylvania<br />
Railroad to discontinue service at its carload freight station<br />
at Portageville, where s o such shipments had been made since 1953*<br />
Announcement was made in February of the sale of the interest of the<br />
late Read Clarke in the Perry Herald to Joseph W. Pasco, editor and<br />
publisher of the weekly.<br />
On Feb. 5th, a second county Grange, Hermitage No. 1086, commemorated<br />
the $0th anniversary of its organization, Jan. 8, 1907, with<br />
thirty-six charter members. Clayton B. Smith was the first Master.<br />
Arthur Smith, the only Charter member present was awarded a pin. In<br />
1921, the Hermitage group purchased its present hall.<br />
In February, the Rochester Presbytery purchased the 230-acre "Hillside"<br />
estate, <strong>Wyoming</strong>, from Raymond T. Jones, Buffalo lumber dealer,<br />
for $60,000. The historic mansion, erected in 1851, became famed<br />
while owned by Mrs. Lydia Avery Coonley Ward, 1873-1921)., who gathered<br />
a sixmmer colony of noted artists, writers and musicians there.<br />
From 1911+-17J a series of summer schools were conducted.<br />
Miss Marian E. Russell, chemistry and physics teacher at Perry Central<br />
School for about 30 years, was named in January the state's<br />
outstanding science teacher by the New York State Science Teachers<br />
Association during its meeting at Corning. A past president of bLe<br />
association, director and secretary, a civic leader and contributions<br />
to science education in the state were cited among her<br />
achievements.<br />
Mrs. Charlotte L. Smallwood, District Attorney of <strong>Wyoming</strong> <strong>County</strong>,<br />
1950-52, was elected treasurer of the Women's New York State Bar<br />
Association in February. She resides in Warsaw.<br />
Robert A. Anderson,superintendent of the <strong>Wyoming</strong> Community Hospital,<br />
Warsaw, has been appointed assistant director of the Sloan Institute<br />
of Hospital Administration in Cornell's Graduate School of Business<br />
Administration. Mr. Anderson took up his duties early last month.<br />
(Continued on Page 88)
Page 6 6<br />
MILESTONES (cont.)<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
Voters of the Perry Central School approved a %00,000 bond issue<br />
last month to construct a 12-room addition to the Central High<br />
School building.<br />
Following extensive flood damage to the right-of-way south of Attica<br />
in January, the directors of the Arcade & Attica Railroad voted to<br />
abandon the northerly 13 miles of the road and discontinue service<br />
to Johnsonburg, Varysburg and Attica. If approved by the I.C.C. and<br />
N.Y. State Public Service Commission, the line will continue to operate<br />
about 15 miles of line with its northern terminus at North<br />
Java station.<br />
Steps have been inaugurated by agricultural groups in the country to<br />
raise funds to erect a Farm and Home Center for the <strong>County</strong> wherein<br />
will be quartered county farm units and conservation groups.<br />
In the July 1953 issue of this bulletin, tombstone inscriptions<br />
of the Hatch Cemetery, Warsaw, were printed. Since that date, some<br />
additions have been received. Leander Cay, page 125>was born Dec..<br />
9, 1827; died Nov. 30, 1905. He was the son of Daniel & Betsey,<br />
and married Sarah L. in 1856. The B. F. Gay listed was Benjamin<br />
Franklin Gay.<br />
Mrs. Lawrence Jeffres, Covington Town Historian, has advised us<br />
of the following additional burials for whom no record was then<br />
available:<br />
Moses Perkins (Purkins), l8ll - 1892. (Buried beside his<br />
wife, Betsy Wilson Perkins (Purkins), d. March 29,<br />
1851, 33y.<br />
Samuel Wheat Perkins, 1809 - 1882.<br />
Mary Densmore Perkins, wife of Samuel W., 1810 - 1879.<br />
Sydney Smith Spring> 1838 - 1915.<br />
Lillian Adell, wife Sydney S. Spring, i860 - 1930.<br />
It will also be of interest to know that a map of the cemetery<br />
is in existence,revealing the survey of the lots,which' are numbered<br />
and the names of many of the owners listed. No break-down of indivduals<br />
interred each lot Is available. t
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong> Page 8 9<br />
N e c r o l o g y<br />
Lloyd B. Wheeler, '71, school principal in Port Chester, N. Y. for<br />
about forty years, died in that city, Aug. 18, 1956. A native of<br />
Bliss, he was buried at Smith's Corners, Wethersfield.<br />
Rev. Owen C. Baker, pastor of the Warsaw Methodist Church, 1916-192!+,<br />
died at his home in Conesus, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1956, after a ministrial<br />
career of fifty-eight years. He was for many years president of the<br />
Genesee Conference Epworth League, and a member of the board of<br />
trustees of the Silver Lake Institue and chairman of the Grounds<br />
Committee.<br />
At Margaretville, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1956, death came to William M.<br />
Hankins, 3'7, principal of Fleischmanns High School for the past two<br />
years. He was formerly teacher of English in the Attica Central<br />
School from 191+9 to 1953°<br />
A well known Perry business man, C. Frank Eaton, 82, died in Warsaw<br />
Jan. 6, <strong>1957</strong>, after a long illness. A native of Macedon, Michigan,<br />
he came toPerryin 1905 andwas successively engaged in the hardware<br />
business, in dry goods and automobiles, and since 1920 in the undertaking<br />
field. He served several terms on the board of education, the<br />
town board and held membership in many civic groups.<br />
U. S. Commissioner Harry E.i Harding, '76, a resident of Snyder and<br />
graduate of Pike Seminary, died Dec. 18, 1956. He prepared for a<br />
legal career in Cornell, and since 1923 followed the profession in<br />
Buffalo. First named U. S. Commissioner in 1929, he had held the<br />
post continuously since. Burial was at Pike.<br />
George H. Newbitt, 7k> Warsaw died suddenly, Jan. 29, <strong>1957</strong> at his<br />
home. He was the donor of a site in Organgeville for a V. F. W.<br />
camp and aided veterans in securing home sites.<br />
Mayor of Attica, 1934-37, and trustee of the village many years,<br />
Burt F. Disbrow, died in Batavia, Feb. 20, 195'7 at the age of 85. A<br />
pharmacist, he began Attica's first telephone exchange in his. store<br />
and subsequently became district manager of the N. Y. Telephone Coat<br />
Batavia. He was clerk of the board of education 52 years, servea<br />
as supervisor several terms and was a leader in civic affairs.<br />
John C. Herzberger, 83, manager of Perry's Auditorium Theater for a<br />
quartet 0 of a century, died in Florida Feb. 19. He began his career<br />
in several New York productions and in vaudeville as a s inger before<br />
coming to Perry in 1913«<br />
Dr. Fred W„ Tanner, 69, a native of Kenmore, but resident of Warsaw<br />
in his youth and graduate of Warsaw High School,died at Winter Park,<br />
Fla., Feb. 21+. He attained international fame as a bacteriologist<br />
and food technologist at the University of Illinois where he became<br />
a member of the faculty in 1915« From 1925-49, he was head of the<br />
university's department of bacteriology, was founder and editor of<br />
Food Research, a journal of bacteriology, and was the author of more<br />
than 150 publications in microbiology and public health. He had<br />
maintained a summer liiome at Silver Lake for many years.<br />
(continued on,page 90)
Page 6 6<br />
NECROLOGY (con't)<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
Fred W. Johantgn, 82, retired Perry businessman,.died March I;* , <strong>1957</strong> i<br />
in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more than forty years he operated a men's<br />
furnishings store and was the last survivor of the original board of<br />
trustees of the Perry Public Library. A native of Dansville, he came<br />
to Perry in 1900, and was active in public affairs. Burial at Fillmore,<br />
No Y0<br />
An Associated Press report from Washington revealed the death in<br />
that city, March 11, <strong>1957</strong>, of Malcolm S. McComb, economic consultant<br />
to the Commerce Department. A native of Warsaw, he-was educated at<br />
Phillips-Andover Academy and Columbia University. He has served in<br />
a number of Federal posts including that of economic advisor to<br />
General Lucius D. Clay when he was military governor of Berlin.<br />
A retired Perry attorney, John F. Ryan, 86, died in that village,<br />
March ll|_, <strong>1957</strong>. A native of Nunda, he graduated from the University<br />
of Buffalo and practiced in that city until 1921 when he became a<br />
partner with the late L. A. Walker, Perry attorney. Subsequently,<br />
he maintained his own legal offices. He was buried in Nunda.<br />
"POOR CORKIE"<br />
(The following newspaper item, date about l893,is from a scrapbook<br />
owned by Mrs. Martha B. Rowe, Editor of the <strong>Wyoming</strong> Reporter.)<br />
In the recent death of Corkie, a crow aged five years, adopted<br />
in its infancy by Mr. & Mrs. A. F. Belknap of West Middlebury, the<br />
people of that vicinity, expecially the children,lose an intelligent<br />
and humorous friend and playmate. When the bird was two years old he<br />
began speaking the English language and at the time "of'his' < death<br />
(1893) he had become quite proficient in the use of many words, having<br />
an especial aptitude for inserting by-words in a very "T orceable<br />
manner.<br />
"Mama" was his first plainly spoken word, so followed by hearty<br />
"hello" with which he was wont to hail all persons passing the house.<br />
When hungary, he would ask for food by saying "Poor Corkie" several<br />
timeso He also often gave vent to his injured feelings by crying<br />
with all the vigorousness of a whipped child. Like others, he had<br />
his faults, the most decided being a kleptomanism.<br />
On a zero night it was customary to let him in at the sitting<br />
window. At the first peep of dawn however he would loudly "hello"<br />
signifying his desire that someone should get up and let him out.<br />
He was a daily attendant upon the district school and went home with<br />
his girl, Miss Myra Quail ( now Mrs. Earl Ewell of <strong>Wyoming</strong>), for whom<br />
he had formed a great liking, most every night.<br />
It is strange to relate that he had never attempted to associate<br />
with his fellow crows until the past two weeks when he was<br />
quite intimate with two brothers who came and sat on a limb with him<br />
as he "cawed" and 1, helloed" to them.<br />
Whether these crows had anything to do with his death, it is<br />
impossible to say but the thought is entertained that they poisoned<br />
him because he would hot give up his domesticated life and roam with<br />
them.
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
ES —<br />
Page 8 9<br />
Among the pioneer residents of Gainesville were Beverly Yates,<br />
Kindal and Huldah Russ and Smith Barber. From Michigan is a request<br />
for data on these persons, all residents in 1820 and I83O according<br />
to the census records.<br />
From New York is a request for information on the descendants of<br />
Isaac Howe who lived at Castile during the early decades of the 19th<br />
century.<br />
In the Gainesville Pioneer Cemetery are buried John Andrews,who died<br />
October 12, 1858, age 76 years, and a daughter, Melisa, who died<br />
Jan. 20, 1859, at I4J4. years. A Wisconsin descendant writes that<br />
members of the family migrated to that state in 1851+. We should like<br />
to know if Sally, wife of John Andrews, is buried in the Pioneer<br />
Cemetery, and of any descendants now living in this area. The<br />
youngest child of John and Sally was Abigail, born about l835<br />
Benjamin Knapp, a Revolutionary soldier who enlisted in Connecticut,<br />
subsequently lived in Addison <strong>County</strong>, Vt., and is on the Sheldon<br />
N. Y. 1810 Census. His son, Benjamin Fairchild Knapp, was born in<br />
this region 1803, but the name of the mother is unknown. In l8ll,<br />
Benjamin married for his secmd wife, Hannah Moses, widow of Zebulon<br />
Moses, and lived in or near Lima, N. Y. Data on the burial place of<br />
Benjamin and his first wife is desired by a descendant now living in<br />
Miami, Florida.<br />
Information is desired by a descendant at Lansing, Michigan, on the<br />
parentage of Mary E. Bourdman, born at Perry, <strong>April</strong> 18, 1828. She<br />
was married, Sept. 26, 181+1, to Gamaliel Edson Kendall in Orleans<br />
<strong>County</strong>, No Y.<br />
Has a reader any data on Joseph and Rebecca Hollister, parents of<br />
Sarah Hollister Wnaley who died at Machias, N. Y. , Mar..l4', 1896?<br />
All are believed to have been former residents of this county.<br />
We have a second request for a copy of Beer's <strong>History</strong> of <strong>Wyoming</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong>. A nearby historical society wishes to add this to its<br />
library.
Page 6 6 <strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
arsaw Village Pioneer Cemetery<br />
(Continued from the January <strong>1957</strong> issue.)<br />
CTJMMINGS Chauncey M., son Nathaniel & Lo vina Cummings,<br />
d. Feb. 6, 1832, 25y 11m ll^d<br />
Ephraim M. Cummings, d. Feb. 13, I83I4., 50y<br />
Sarah, wife Ephraim, d. Oct. ill, 1819, 31y<br />
CUTTING Martha L., dau. John & Lovina Cutting, d.. Aug. 20,<br />
1829, 17 days<br />
David F., son Jonas & Lovina, d. Feb. 11, l8k3, 3i|.y<br />
(Killed in Pennsylvania by falling tree)<br />
DAY Col. Elkanah Day, b . Feb. 3, 176I. Settled in Warsaw<br />
1806. Died in Warsaw Jan. 23, 1813, the son of<br />
David Day, born in Attleborough, Oct. 19, 1728.<br />
(Military rank from State Militia.)<br />
Polly, wife"Col. Elkanah, b. July 20, 1767, married<br />
Inarch 17, 1788, died 1819. Daughter of John<br />
McWhorter, born in Brookfield, Mass., who died<br />
Jan.6, 1813, aped 7k years, and is buried nearby.<br />
Children of Col. Elkanah & Polly Day:<br />
Lydia, wife William Webster, Apr. 15, 1791-<br />
Oct. ill, 1811<br />
Bethia, wife D avid Fargo, Feb. 20, 1793-<br />
May 11, l8lk. Buried nearby.<br />
Artemas, Dec. 5, 179k-Oct. 12, 1823. (Not married)<br />
David, Mar. 10, 1797-Nov. 29, 1857. (Died at Olean,<br />
N.Y. and buried there.)<br />
Hiram, Jan. 7, 1799-1820<br />
Eliphalet, Sept. 28, l801-l82k<br />
Isabel, Aug. 8, l803-l82k<br />
John, Mar, 25, 1806-1827<br />
Polly, wife John McElwain, Mar. 10, l8ll-Aug. 2k,<br />
183k<br />
Elkahan, <strong>April</strong> k, 1808-<br />
Chloe, wife Newton Hawes, d. Mar. 26, 182k, 35y<br />
(Imposing monument to the Day family erected by<br />
Horace Hawes of San Francisco, a son of Chloe.)<br />
DENFM0RE Eph., d. Nov. 9, l8k7,-J<br />
, wife of Eph., d. July 13, 18(23?), _y<br />
HHer stone broken; his worn off.)<br />
DIBBLE Sally, wife Eli, d. Nov. 2k, 181l7, 50y<br />
Chloe, dau. En .Sally, d. Sept. 10, l8k7, 25y<br />
EDDY Josiah Eddy, d. July 3, 1827, 72y<br />
Hannah, wife Josiah, d. May 7, l85l, 82y<br />
ELDRIDGE Samuel S.,.June 26, l809-Jan. 23, 1892<br />
Samantha B., wife, Mar. 28, l8l8-May 31, 1896
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong> Page 8 9<br />
WARSAW VILLAGE PIONEER CEMETERY (cont.)<br />
PARCISHA Sirmantha, wife William R. Fardisha, d„ <strong>April</strong> 15,<br />
1833, 23rd yr.<br />
And like the radiant setting sun<br />
When she her course of duty run<br />
She then shook off each earthly pain<br />
And only died to live again,<br />
FAHGO Palmer Fargo, Sept. 21, 1796-May 21, 1873. (Born at<br />
Sandisfield, ^ass., son Nehemiah.)<br />
Caroline W. (Scovel), wife Palmer, d. Nov. 26, 18Il9.<br />
U.7y 9m 21ds<br />
Mrs. Lurana Barber, wife Palmer, d. Aug. 18, l86l, 63y<br />
Lovina, dau. Palmer ft Caroline, d. Feb. 28, 1827, ly 2m<br />
Clarinda D., 2nd dau. Palmer ft Caroline, d. Jan. 10,<br />
18L4, l^y 3m 21d<br />
Romanzo, son Palmer & Caroline, d„ Aug. 18, 1856, 19y<br />
Orinda 0., dau„ A.J. ft E.M. Fargo, d. May 16, 1856,<br />
lly iim<br />
Anson, son A.J. ft E.M. Fargo, d. July 26, 1856, ly 11m<br />
Bethia Day, wife David Fargo, dau. Col. ^lkanah &<br />
Pol 1 v, Feb. 20, 1793-May 11, l8ll^. (Mar. 1810)<br />
Nehmiah Fargo, d. Oct. 13, 1828, 6l+y 9m 3d. (Born at<br />
Bozra., Conn., Jan. 10, 1761;, married 1783 to Mary<br />
Chapman; came to Warsaw from ^eneseo , N.Y. I80I4..)<br />
He rests his body in the tomb<br />
His soul on high with saints and angels blest<br />
His Lord doth plorify. His hopes and faith<br />
are fled and now in rapture sweet.<br />
Mary, wife Wehemiah , d. Dec. 12, 1839, 7^4-Y 11m 25d<br />
(Born Dec. 25, 1761+.)<br />
Martha Fargo, daughter Nehemiah., and wife John H.<br />
Reddish, d. Oct. 30, 1852, l?8y 10m<br />
David Fargo, Oct. 31, 1786-May 16, 1855. (Born in<br />
Montteille, Conn.| came I80I4. with father, Nehemiah.)<br />
Daniel McWhorter, son David ft Bethia, Aug. 7, l8ll-<br />
Feb. 10, l8ll+<br />
Phebe Mason, 2nd wife David Fargo, <strong>April</strong> 19, 1792-<br />
Jan. 21, 1850<br />
Elisha, son David ft Phebe, Mar. 1, l820-Mar. 5, 1820<br />
Emeline, dau. David ft Phebe, Feb. 10, 1827-<br />
Feb. 2k3 1827<br />
W. H. H. Fargo, July 7, 1832-May 10, 1886<br />
Sgt. W. H. Fargo, 9th N.Y. Cav., (Mo date or age.)<br />
Wadsworth F., son Silas ft Katherine Fargo, d. Oct.<br />
6, 1823, infant<br />
Irena A., dau. Silas ft Katherine, d. Apr. 3, 1831,<br />
27th yr.<br />
Farewell, my young companions<br />
My Ood has called me home<br />
You too a r^rey to death must fall<br />
And come before His throne.
Page 6 6<br />
FARNHAM<br />
FARR<br />
FISHER<br />
FITCH<br />
FOSTER<br />
FRANK<br />
GATES<br />
WARSAW VILLAGE PIONEER CEMETERY (cont.)<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
Daniel Rumsey Farnham, son George D. & Amelia D., d.<br />
March 2l|, 1831, 11m 5d<br />
Orton C., died ^pril 12, 1893, 3'7y<br />
Myrta B., 1858 - 193^<br />
John Fisher, d. Oct. 13, 1838, 69y<br />
Betsey, wife John, d. Nov. 20, 1858, 82y<br />
Betsey D. Fisher, d. Nov. 21, 1869, 68y<br />
Armina, wife Samuel Fisher, d. Aug. 27, 1835, 25th.<br />
Lucy S., wife John, d. Sept. 17, 1853, 38th<br />
John VanSantwood, son J. P. & Anna Fisher, d. Sept.<br />
20, 18I4.3, iy<br />
Col. Jabtz Fitch, d. July 13, I82I4., 60y. Served in the<br />
Navy during the REVOLUTIONARY WAR.<br />
Sudden the call that bade thee leave<br />
The earthly house for one above<br />
But Christ stood ready to receive<br />
Thy soul to his arms of love.<br />
Luther Foster, d. Nov. 16, I8I4.6, 7&y 2m 6d. (Born in<br />
Southhampton, L. I., N. Y., Sept. 1, 1770; member<br />
Warsaw Presbyterian Church.)<br />
Ruth Hedges, wife Luther, d. Mar.7, i860, 92y 11m 8d<br />
(Married Mr. Foster in 1791.)<br />
Silas Howell Foster, oldest son Luther & Ruth, d.<br />
Dec. 1, 18146, 53y. (Husband of Fanny Smith, father<br />
of nine children. Father and sen died within two<br />
weeks.)<br />
Lemira Maria, wife Luther Foster, Jr., d. Mar. 22,<br />
1835, 2l+y. lm l6d<br />
Why weep for me dear friends<br />
Why do those tear drops fall<br />
He who on Christ depends<br />
With joy obeys His call<br />
At rest with Christ I now shall be<br />
Through vast and long eternity.<br />
Luther Foster Jr., d. Feb. 10, 187^, 66y 9ds<br />
Galista, wife Luther Foster, Jr., d. Feb.7, 1895,<br />
78y lm 21ds<br />
Lemira Maria Foster d. July 27, I85I4., 17y 6m 21ds<br />
Josiah Hedges Foster, d. May 10, I89J4., 52y 9m l8d<br />
George H. Frank, son John & Huldah Frank, d. Sept.<br />
21, I836, 25y. Parents lived at Granville, N. Y.<br />
Deacon Seth Gates, d. Nov. 10, I8I4.7, 72y<br />
Abigail, wife Seth, d. Mar. 28, 1851, 73y<br />
Henry S., son G. G. & M. E. Gates, d. Sept, 17, l85l,<br />
7 weeks
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
GAY<br />
GIBBS<br />
GIBSON<br />
GIDDINGS<br />
GOGGINS<br />
GLASIER<br />
WARSAW VILLAGE PIONEER CEMETERY (cont.)<br />
Florilla, dau. Ralph & Rachel Gay, d. Apr. 26, 1833,<br />
6 mons<br />
Sleep sweet babe thou, art blest<br />
God called thee home, He knoweth best<br />
Cordelia H., dau. Raloh. & Rachel, d. Jan. 9, 1823,<br />
ly 10 m<br />
Elisha R., son Ralph & Rachel, d. May 5, 1833,<br />
3y 10m I5d<br />
JulI I., dau. Russel & Erdine Gay, d. July 12, 1833,<br />
15 mons. 12 ds.<br />
Louisa, dau. David & Mary Gibbs, d. Nov. 15, 1835,<br />
13y<br />
But oh, how oft Thy wrath appears<br />
And cuts off our expected years<br />
Thy wrath makes our troubled dreams<br />
We feel Thy power that strikes us down.<br />
William Gibson, d. Oct. 21, i860, f&y<br />
Clarinda P., wife William, d. May 23, 1891, 77y<br />
Arabella Janette, dau. Wm. & Clarinda, d. Sept.<br />
3, 18^9, 8y<br />
Chloe Jane, da'i. Win. & Clarinda, d. Aug. 30, I8I4.9,<br />
37<br />
Nelson E., son Wm. & Clarinda, d. Dec. 23, 1855,<br />
19y<br />
Lora, dau. Wm. & Clarinda, d. Jan. 7, 1856, l8y<br />
Sally, wife Simeon Gibson & daughter of Solomon &<br />
Kizziah Morris, d. June 7, 1808, 25y<br />
Niles Giddings, I766-I8I4.2. SOLDIER OF THE<br />
REVOLUTION.<br />
(Marked only with a bronze D.A.R. marker.)<br />
(Naomi Hale, wife Niles, d. 1823; they were mar.<br />
in 1810 and came to Warsaw East Hill that year.<br />
He was native to Hartland, Conn.)<br />
Ruth, wife James Goggins, d. <strong>April</strong> 27, 1836, 85y<br />
Ruth Goggins, wife Eliiah Chamberlin, d. Oct. 20,<br />
I8I4.9, 68y<br />
Aurelia, dau. Simeon R. & Catherine, d. Jan. 29,<br />
1850, 26y<br />
Moses P., son (2nd) of Simeon & Cathy, d. Jan.<br />
2, 1816, 9 mons<br />
Moses P., son Simeon R. & Cathy, d. Jan. 22, I81I4.,<br />
lith yr<br />
"Cropt like a flower, withered in his bloom<br />
though flattering life had promised years<br />
to come."<br />
(continued on page 96)<br />
Page 8 9
Page 6 6<br />
HALL<br />
HAMMOND<br />
HANNAY<br />
HARKNESS<br />
HASKINS<br />
HATCH<br />
HAWES<br />
HEBBARD<br />
HILL<br />
HINMAN<br />
HITCHCOCK<br />
HODGE<br />
HOHENSTEIN<br />
WARSAW VILLAGE PIONEER CEMETERY (cont.)<br />
Nettie C. Hall, 1872 - 1903<br />
(On same stone is Josephine Rowland, 1856 -<br />
Lewis B. Hammond, 1866 - 19U5<br />
Irma Keeney, wife, 1876 -<br />
James Hannay, d. <strong>April</strong> 18, l85l, 88y<br />
Abagail, wife James, d. March 6, l85l, 78y<br />
Caroline Harkness, wife Rev. James T. Pettengill,<br />
d. July 31, 1875, 62y<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>1957</strong><br />
Ruby, wife Morris Ha skins, d„ Mar. 18, 1%6, 22nd yr,<br />
Stephen Hatch, d. July 29, l81j.8, 56y.<br />
Thankful, wife Stephen, d. May 2, 1827, 26y lid<br />
Hiram C., son S. T., d. Nov. 22, 1827, 7y<br />
Lafayette, son S. & T., d. Nov. 20, 1825, 15 mons<br />
Almira, dau. S. & T., d. Sept. 11, 1821, 6y<br />
Caleb Hatch, d. June 15, l8Ij.O, 79y<br />
Rumsey Hatch, My Husband, (Masonic emblem, but no<br />
other data.)<br />
Lydia Hawes Martin,dau. Newton h Chloe Day Hawes,<br />
d. March 12, 1891, 72y<br />
Henry Hebbard, d. March 21, 1820, 30y<br />
Sally Palmer, widow Henry Hebbard & John Alverson,<br />
d. Aug. 2k, 1869, 83y<br />
H. E. Hebbard, Aug. 27, 1817<br />
Esther Hill, Dec. 12, X83I+ - Feb. 1, 1897<br />
Eliza Hinman, d. Dec. 27, l8i|0, lU^th yr<br />
Mrs. Lucy Hinman, d, Nov. 8, I8I4.O, 78th yr<br />
Calista A., dau. L. & M. Hitchcock, d. Sept. 21,<br />
1819, iky<br />
Levert Hitchock, d. June 19, I8I4.3, 5^4-y<br />
Chloe, wife Levert, d. <strong>April</strong> 19, 1820, 2'7y<br />
Plin, son Levert & Chloe, (date and age gone)<br />
Deacon Ic habod Hodge, d. °ct. 18, 1857, 71y<br />
Wei thy, wife Deacon Ichabod, d. June 6, l8/L|_7, 62y<br />
(Member of the Baptist Church.)<br />
Amelia, wife Charles Hohenstein, d. Nov. 21, 1896,<br />
62y 5m 26d<br />
Carl Hohenstein, d. May 1, 1901, 7ky lm 26d.<br />
(To be continued in later issues.)