Historical Wyoming County Jan 1980 - Old Fulton History

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PAGE 66 (Village In Valley Cont.) school, and opened the grocery business. He grew tired of this and soon took up the study of law and in June 1887 he and his wife the former Florella Jackson, daughter of Rev. Jackson, removed to Attica where he opened a lawyer office.. Horace N. McCray and his son William were the next to operate the corner store after L.J. Parker failed and they took F.W. Embt in as their partner. Mr. Embt took over the business in 1910 and in 1920 his son Millard F. Embt joined the business. The firm name was F.W. Embt and Son. Upon the death of the senior Embt, the son continued alone until 1948 when he sold the store to Elmer Hardie. Since that time the owners have been Irving Librock, Robert Rude and during the summer of 1979 Thomas Gioelo opened under the name of The Country Mart. The living quarters were built onto the corner store by F.W. Embt upon a site formerly occupied by the old J.M. Bryson Hardware first built in 1880, and later moved across the highway. Mr. Embt's wife at one time operated a millinery on one side of her husband's store. In the spacious hall located on the second floor of the store were the first meeting rooms of the 100F and Masons. And the store also served for a number of years as the village Post Office. THE FIRST UNDERTAKING PARLOR The present home of Clarence Riber and his wife, nee Helen Lewis, was once located directly on the street edge. It has been written that to walk along the sidewalks one had to cross the front porch of this building. It was here that Harlow McCray, another son of William and Ann Button McCray, began his business in the village. Harlow was a cabinet maker by trade and made the village coffins along with the needed furniture of the villagers. Following the Civil War it became the home of Frederick Riber Jr. who moved the building back from the road to its present location. THE MASONIC TEMPLE The original building was built for use as a store. Eugene Peck, son-in-law of Harlow McCray, operated a furniture store upon this site. It has been written that Mr. McCray kept his hearse in a room off the store and one night he slipped into the hearse previously knowing that Mr. Peck would be in the store unpacking furniture that night, and he began to rattle things about in the darkness terrifying Mr. Peck. William Goodrich operated his business here until he moved to his home on the corner. F.W. Embt also had a store here before buying the corner store. George M. Wolf owned it until 1882 when it was oc- JANUARY 1980 cupied by the Masons. In January 1901 Elbert K. Cooper and Maurice Cooper opened a store in the lower story until 1905 when Bert sold his interest to his cousin Maurice and he in turn turned his interest over to his brother Clyde. The Coopers had the first ice cream parlor in Varysburg. Around Oct. 1913 the Masonic building was moved east on Main Street about the distance of its width and in Nov. 1913 an addition was added to the west. The lower floor of this addition became the site of the village barber shops. John W. Whitney and Leigh Laird operated their shops here along with a pool room. On the shelves one could see the shaving mugs with the owners' names marked upon. Mrs. William Gaitner was the last barber to occupy the addition. Today it's owned by Laird who has an upholstery shop. The upper floor is occupied by the Masonic rooms. In 1906 the Masons purchased the building. THE LODGES OF VARYSBURG Paola Lodge IOOF #186 - Sources record that this lodge was instituted March 20, 1863 but other sources including the diary of Jeffrey Thomas state the lodge was in existence in 1861. This author believes the lodge started around the year 1848. From available minutes we have learned that in June and July 1849 members included: Wyman H. Ainsworth, who was serving as Secretary; Clark R. Reynolds, Harrison G. Parker , Dr. Lindorf Potter, Lyman Jackson, Alanson Coats, Ebenezer Beck, Andrew Pettingill, Henry Kew,Stafford Godfrey, James H. Fillmore, Alonzo W. Wood, Charles Parker, John Holly, Ira Thomas, Cyrus Turner, John Beck, Alexander H. VanBuren, Freedom Merrell, Charles Richards, Gad C. Parker, Dennis Birmingham, Luther B. Walker, James H. Potter, Jonathan Turner, Joseph Stanton, Alfred Gill, David M. Hall, Nelson Parker, G.M. Hooper, Peleg G. Thomas, Ephraim J. Wheeler, Charles Weaver, Ephraim Johnson, Collister Ballard, Childs Johnson. Sometime around 1863 the charter was resigned. Sheldon Lodge #418 IOOF - Was chartered Aug. 20, 1875 with meetings every Friday evening. Charter Members were: Henry H. Parsons, Joshua A. Godfrey. H.M. Kittle, E.W. Spencer, H.E. Patrick, and Gad C. Parker. This lodge continued until the late 1950's. Both of the IOOF lodges held their meeting in the Corner store until 1925 when they removed to the Masonic Building until purchasing the old M.E. Church where the final meeting was held and the chartered surrendered. (continued on page 83)
JANUARY 1980 PAGE 67 (Village In Valley Cont) West Star Lodge #413 F. & A.M. This lodge was named in honor of the first lodge West Star Lodge #205 which was the first lodge instituted in Western New York on the Holland Purchase Mar. 17, 1812 located at Sheldon Center. Their charter was surrendered during the month of June 1833. The present lodge was granted a charter June 5, 1857 after the first communication under dispensation was held at the corner store June 23, 1856. The charter members were: Eli Williamson, the first master; George A. Johnson, the first Senior Warden; Joshua Coughran, first Junior Warden; Harrison G. Parker, first Junior Deacon; Chauncey Beebe; Owen Cotton, first treasurer; Roswell Gardner; William Tanner; Amasa Barret; Harvey Johnson; first Senior Deacon; and Dr. Lindorf Potter, first Secretary. Their meetings were held the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Today's officers are: Merle Robinson, Master; Max Leslie, Senior Warden; Stephen Licht, Junior Warden; Kenneth Kolhagen, Secretary; Harold Raut, Treasurer; Frank Cherry, Senior Deacon; Earl Dickerson, Junior Deacon; Richard Sikes, Marshal; Harold Spink and Tyler G.S. Flaminger, Trustees and John Dike, Chaplain. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF VARYSBURG No records were kept prior to July 28, 1836 but it is believed that a society previously existed. On this date the First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church inVarysburg was incorporated, at which time Rev. DeForest Parsons was the pastor. The following members were elected the first trustees: Cyrus Houghton, Samuel Parker, David Knapp, Almon Perry, Peter White, Jonathan Gates and Leonard Parker. On Nov. 18, 1836 another meeting was called in the minutes of which a partial description of "a house suitable for the worship of God" is given. It is expressly stated in the old subscription that other Christian denominations are to have the privilege of using the house when not occupied by the Methodists. It is recorded in Liber 27, page 120 of the Genesee County Deeds, that on Dec. 16, 1836 Almon Perry and his wife Sally sold to the trustees of the church for $50.00 a plot upon which to erect the church. Very litte history exists concerning the church. Among the names of pastors: Rev. Henry Hornsby in 1861; Rev. Brown; Rev. William B. Cliff; Elder John F. Derr; Rev. Isaiah B. Hudnutt; Rev. William H. McCartney; Rev. Sparrow preached here Dec. 1893; Rev. E.A. Ahderson arrived Oct. 1918; Rev. A.J. Bailey; Rev. G.W. Archibald. On April 1, 1929 the remaining and last trustees of the church, Charles A. Lewis, Carl W. Clor, and James H. Davis held a meeting at the Potter/Watson house for the purpose of discussing the disposal of the church property. At this time no Sunday services had been held in the edifice for a number of years and the building which had been repaired in 1880 and a new bell hung in the steeple was fast deteriorating. Shortly after this meeting the building was sold to the Grange and the money was used to restore the old section of the Village Cemetery. After the Grange moved to the former fire hall the IOOF took possession. Today the edifice minus its steeple is owned by Burt G. West. FIRST MURDER TRIAL This church on Nov. 1, 1848 was the scene of the Court of Special Sessions for the first murder trial of the present day Wyoming County. It was here in January 1849 that John Shadbolt was indicted for the murder of his wife, Cornelia D. Tuttle Shadbolt whom he had married Oct. 8, 1848 and whose body was discovered on the morning of Oct. 19, 1848 in a well. John Burleigh was also held with Shadbolt in Varysburg for the murder of Mrs. Shadbolt. William M. Ceonies Esq was the counsel for the people at this court session. The "Western New Yorker" stated in their Nov. 1, 1848 issue that a crowd of 400 to 500 people were constantly in attendence at the church and a great excitement prevailed through - out the village. The report further states that 20 or 30 members of the gang of which Shadbolt and Burleigh were members, rode into the village between one and two o'clock on the morning of the trial to effect a move of the prisoners, but they were soon discovered and speedily retreated. The murder trial itself was held in Warsaw in April 1849 lasting a number of days but, there being no evidence, direct or circumstantial, the jury after being out three hours returned with a verdict of not guilty. THE VILLAGE CEMETERY The original ground was donated by William Thompkins upon the death of his son. He was the first adult to be buried here dying Oct. 25, 1816 at the age of 44 years. Mr. Thompkins, who was a soldier of the War of 1812, it is said, also donated land upon which a church was to be erected. Years after his death two wild cherry trees grew from his grave. By 1880 2 and one-half acres had been added to the original one-half acre. The first cemetery association was formed July 3, 1877 at a meet- (continued on page 68)
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Historical Wyoming County Jan 1980 - Old Fulton History

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