Historical Wyoming County May 1952 - Old Fulton History

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Page 93 May 1952 THE BARBERS OF JAVA (cont.) Joseph and Betsey Barber settled at Warwick, Mass., where ten children were born to them, five sons and five daughters--Amory, Humphrey, Asenath, Diana, Benjamin, Tryphena, Philana, Joseph, Jerusha and Chandler. On the day Chandler was five months old, Sept. 17, 1623, Joseph Barber having sold his property at Warwick, packed a load of 3500 pounds on a stout heavy wagon, drawn by two good yoke of oxen, and with his family, the powderhorn full of powder, two guns, and $1100 in 50cf pieces in the old cast iron teakettle, commenced the journey Into Western Hew York. The wagon was covered with sole leather which cost $1+0. and which, after getting to his destination, Mr. Barber made into boots and shoes which he sold. They also had with them one horse, drawing a wagon, in which rode Grandfather Barber, who was then 79 years old and totally blind. Joseph Barber planned to settle in China (later Java), lj.00 miles from Warwick, since a brother-in-law, Palmer Whitney, who had moved here six years previously, had repeatedly written to him. to come to this new country in order that more land might be secured for his growing boys to cultivate. The family left Sept. 23, but the father and Humphrey remained behind three days to complete their business. A man named Templeton was hired to drive the oxen. On the morning of the fourth day, Joseph and his son started on foot from Warwick and walked forty miles that one day, overtaking the family that night. Thus, it would seem, the oxen traveled only ten miles a day during the first four days of the journey. The rate at which they traveled, however, gradually increased until they wore able to make 25 miles a day. The entire journey was accomplished in 21 days. The first few nights the bods were unpacked, but after a time, as it was too much work to unpack the goods at night and pack them in the morning, Joseph hired beds at 25;'- each, per night, and in order to be economical the children were packed in crosswise and lengthwise to the number of five or six in a bed. Amory and Humphrey slept in the wagon to guard after they ceased to unload things at night. One night before this time, the father and mother, each supposing that the other had attended to the money in the old teakettle, left it in the wagon all night. In the morning, very much to his surprise, Mr. Barber saw the old kettle there In the wagon. Of course he feared for its contents, but upon investigation, he found the valuable treasure undisturbed. In going down the Green Mountains, where the inclination was very great, sometimes they would unhitch one yoke of oxen and hitch them behind the wagon to help hold back. At other times they would c\;.t a pine tree, trim it, sharpen the knots, and then hitch the top of it to the wagon so as they went down the mountain,the knots woull plow into the ground and hold the wagon back. The Hudson was crossed at Albany, then quite a village, and thus pursuing their journey, finally on October 8, reached IJncle Whitney's house which stood on the present site of Java Village. At that time there were not more than a half dozen families living there, the place being occupied by woods, mud, bears, deer, and Indians. (continued on page 9I+)
May 1952 Page TI3E BARBERS OF JAVA ( cont. ) Grandfather Barber died three months after the family arrived in Java, Jan. 17, 1321|, and was burled in the Pioneer Cemetery at Strykersvill^ where his bones now lie in an unmarked grave. His will, a copy of which has been placed before us, drawn up in Massachusetts, is a quaint and praiseworthy document. His wife had died, he was married briefly a second tine, then left a widower,and blind. His Testament opens with the following paragraph: "In the name of God, Amen,this thirteenth Day of March A.D., one thousand eight hundred and thirteen,I,JOSEPH BARBER of Warwick, in the County of Franklin and Common We 1th of Massachusetts, yeoman, being sound in understanding and memory, (Praised be God thereof) calling to mind my frailty and mortality, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following, that is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul, into the hands of God who gave it, hoping through merits of His death and passion of my dear Savior,Jesus Christ, to obtain a full and free pardon of all my sins and inherit everlasting life. And my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executor herein after named, nothing doubting but that at the general Resurection, I shall receive the same again b/ the mighty power of God and touching Worldly Estate as God hath seen pleased to bless me with all in this life..." Then follow detailed directions for the distribution of his estate among his wife and six children. Joseph Barber traded one yoke of oxen for 60 acres of land, which was still in the family in 1392,in the hands of a great grandson. Also he bought 120 acres more on and near the present site of Java Village, likewise a half interest In a grist mill and a half interest in a tannery. He also opened the first shoe shop in Java Village In which he and his son Amory worked, while Humphrey worked in the tannery and Benjamin in the grist mill. The first mill for the grinding of grain in the town of Java was built in l8l6 at Java Village by Daniel II. Wooster. It was not far from the east bank of Buffalo Creek from which water was conveyed through pump logs to the overshot water wheel. It is said that the stones were chisled from native rocks while moosewood bark comprised most of the belting and fastenings. It was soon replaced by a second structure of logs, which in turn was sold by Deacon Wooster to Gurney and Whitney in 1322, and soon thereafter a postoffice was established at the place under the name of "Gurney's Mills." This is the mill Joseph Barber and Charles Richardson,Sr. purchased, and began to construct the present mill, near the site of the old one, in 1835' It was completed by Richardson in 1836. Mr. Berber apparently gave most of his attention to his shoe shop. Today,ll6 -fears of service behind it, the mill is still functioning, the present owners being the Reisdorf Brothers. Older residents recall the mill race in service as late as a half-century ago, then a wooden flume for a few years, replaced by a gasoline engine, until the coming of electric power. Since 1390, it has boon owned by James W. Ives, then peter George, eventually to his son, William George, (continued on page 95)
Page 1 and 2: (storied 1/lAjormnq 1802 Sesquicent
Page 3 and 4: May 1952 Page 90 AN ORANGEVILLE LAN
Page 5: May 1952 Page 92 Q U Boroe JAVA VIL
Page 9 and 10: May 1952 WARSAW, QUEEN OP WYOMING V
Page 11 and 12: May 1952 Page 98 WARSAW, THE QTJEEN
Page 13 and 14: May 1952 Page 100 BELLES-LETTRES FR
Page 15 and 16: May 1952 Page 102 — — > — i \
Page 17 and 18: May 19^2 Page 10k MILESTONES (cont.
Page 19 and 20: May 1952 Page 106 PORTAGEVILLE PION
Page 21 and 22: May 1952 Page 108 CARLTON CEMETERY

Historical Wyoming County May 1952 - Old Fulton History

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