y o m i n q by Harry S. Douglass - Old Fulton History

V 

t 

y o m i n q 

Vol. VII April 1954 

No. 3 Arcade, New York 

CURRIERS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 1855 

by 

Harry S. Douglass 

outhwest of the center of the Town of Java lies the hamlet 

of

Page 66 

HISTORICAL WYOMING 

April 1954 

Published quarterly at Arcade, New York, under sponsorship of the 

Wyoming County Board of Supervisors, by Harry S„ Douglass, County 

Historian; Robert W» McGowan, Associate Editor, and students of 

Arcade Central School, 

CURRIERS THROUGH THE YEARS (cont.) 

trees were leveled at the headwaters, the stream had a steady yearround 

flow. Whether his wife, the former Milcsh Sikes, then but 

nineteen, came with him is not known but theirs was the original log 

cabin reared on the site of Curriers. They lived there around ten 

years when the family removed to the Town of Gainesville where Mr. 

Brown resided for fifty years. While still in Java, Mr. Brown was 

elected in 1819,collector, constable and inspector of common schools 

for the old Town of China (Arcade & Java) at a town meeting held In 

his home. Again,in 1821,the voters assembled in his cabin for their 

annual gathering. 

It is said that the first neighbor of the Browns at the Corners 

was Charles Pox, native of Dutchess Co., N. Y., who arrived from 

Darien, Genesee Co. in the spring of 1819, made a small improvement 

and erected a frame house on Lot 18, which is the northwest corner, 

and planted a nursery with apple seeds he brought with him and from 

which many of the older orchards of the vicinity originated. Early 

the next year, he brought on his family and in 1822 put up a tavern, 

said to have been the first in the township, on the site of the present 

Grange Hall. This business he conducted for five years when he 

sold to Captain Nahum Thompson, and Fox subsequently removed to 

Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he died in 1859. Town meetings were 

held in the Pox Tavern on four occasions, 1823-21)., 1826, 1829, and 

the proprietor was elected an assessor. 

Captain Nahum Thompson, a Vermonter by birth, also from Darien, 

came here In 1826,kept the old Fox tavern but two years when he sold 

to Edgar Camp, "hompson, who commanded a company under Colonel Mattison 

in the War of l8l2,in 1829 erected a hotel just east of the present 

school,keeping a public house about three years. This hotel, 

a private dwelling, long known as the Maynard Rosier house,is doubtless 

the oldest building in Curriers,and was occupied for many years 

by Lucius Thompson, son of the Captain. In l833> aged 56 years, 

Nahum Thompson was laid in the little cemetery, mourned by a widow 

and nine children. 

The old tavern stand, when owned by Mr. Fox, gave the community 

its first name--Fox's Corners. The original building was removed 

about I83O by Edgar Camp and the present Grange Hall erected as a 

hotel. In about a year or so, the property passed into the possession 

of the Abner Currier family of Holland, New York, an ownership 

which gave the settlement its present name, Curriers Corners, or 

Curriers as it has been called by recent generations. Col. Abner 

may have lived briefly in the hamlet although it is said he spent 

his entire life in Erie County,but his son became a leading citizen. 

Joseph Currier carried on a mercantile business and owned other 

(continued on page 67)

April 1954 Page 67 

CURRIERS THROUGH THE YEARS (contj 

property there until 1852, when he removed to Arcade, continued as a 

merchant until he went to Buffalo in i860. He passed away in 1867 

and was brought back to Arcade. Joseph served the Town of Java as 

Town Clerk, 1838-39, and Supervisor in l8Ll and l8i]I|.. As resident 

of Arcade, he was Supervisor in l8£l| and 1856. A brother, Nathan 

P. Currier, kept a store at Java ijake, was prominent in public life, 

serving as Supervisor, County Clerk in 18^2, and removed from Perry 

to Lockport, N. Y. where he became s business associate of Governor 

Washington Hunt. 

NAHUM THOMPSON INN, 1829 - Oldest Curriers House 

It is recorded that the first stock of merchandise came to 

Curriers in 1828 with Daniel and William Jackman, who built and 

occupied a frame store north of the present church. This store and 

postoffice continued in use upwards of sixty years when it was moved 

to a site south of the church and a second store put up. About 1920, 

the old building was removed to the Yauchzj farm where it was later 

dismantled. Soon after their arrival, the Jackmans also erected an 

ashery on a spot east of the cemetery. A postoffice was established 

at Curriers, August 18, 1827, as "China Centre," with Daniel Jackman 

as postmaster. Edgar Carrv apparently became proprietor of the store 

within a short time as he is listed as postmaster in 1832, the name 

of the office being changed that year to "Java" upon the erection of 

the new township. The office remained as Java until June 1, 192i|_, 

when upon petition of the patrons, the office was changed to 

"Curriers." Nov. IS, 1933> when Glenn C. Miller was postmaster, the 

office was closed and the mail ordered to Arcade. Among the postmasters 

were Norman Lyford, Philo Potter, Wallace Cheney and Clinton 

Twiss. The community was known at one period as "West Java" to 

eliminate some of the confusion resulting from the several Javas in 

the township. 

(continued on pa-e 68)

Page 68 April 1954 


A sawmill was erected in the vicinity in 1831 by Blake Howard 

and subsequently owned and worked by Gordon Fox, son of Charles; and 

afterward, by Dan Dickerson. It was eventually destroyed by fire and 

rebuilt by Dickerson, but finally abandoned as unprofitable. This 

mill may have been on several sites including one on the creek back 

of the present Woodworth farm, where one is shown on an 1853 map. 

By 182+1, according to gazetteers, the settlement had fifteen dwellings, 

a store, tavern, ashery and sawmill. 

The pioneer settlers west of Curriers were Moses and Allen 

Twiss,brothers from Charlton, Worcester Co,, Mass., 2i+ and 22 years 

respectively, who in the spring of 1817 came on foot to Strykersviile,arriving 

May 11,having been on the road 17 days. They articled 

land on Lot 17, R. 2+, the present Gerald Keem farm. That fall they 

constructed a log cabin and began to clear away the forest,the nearest 

habitation being that of John Brown at Curriers, while to the 

north of their shanty for miles lay the virgin forest. For the first 

few months they were obliged to go to Strykersville six miles away 

for their baking. Moses,at least, returned to Massachusetts for his 

family, and he continued to reside on the original purchase until 

October, 1836, when he bought the present Lynn S. Holmes farm, north 

of Curriers, where he remained until his death in 1868. Allen Twiss 

remained on the old homestead until the end of his days in 1882. 

Moses Twiss Sr. was one of the town's successful men for many 

years. He held the post of Town Clerk from 1821-26 and in 1832, was 

sealer of weights and measures in I83O.Prominent in the organization 

of the town in March 1833* he was selected first Supervisor, an 

office he held until 1838. Again, from 182+0-2+3 and in 182+6, he was 

clerk. Mr. Twiss married Louisa Woodworth of Rutland Co., Vt. in 

1810,and they reared ten children,many of whom lived in the vicinity 

and whose descendants reside there to this day. The brother, Allen, 

married twice, first to Jennet Russell of Arcade. He was assessor 

for thirty years, served as constable. A son, Daniel, and his 

descendants continued on the original purchase until recent years. 

Other Pioneer Families 

Another pioneer neighbor of the Twiss brothers was Henry Woolsey 

from Columbia Co., N. Y., who settled on the present Orville Bush 

farm in 1819, continuing there until his decease in I87O. He had 

numerous descendants. John Eddy, progenitor of many of the older 

Curriers families, was the first settler between Java Village and 

Curriers. In the spring of l8l8, he settled on the west side of the 

road at the "Hog Back," about two miles north of Curriers, the point 

being about opposite the present Weidig farm. A native of Rhode 

Island, he came to Sheldon in 1815, where he married Caroline Ward 

and thereupon took up his claim. The couple continued to live on the 

old homestead until 1881, when both died, he at 8£, she at 82, said 

to have been the last of the original pioneer couples of the region. 

Of their children, Col. J. W. Eddy, became famous as the builder of 

the Los Angeles, Calif., "Angel's Flight." What is said to be the 

shortest railway in the world and one of the cheapest to ride, Col. 

Eddy in 1901 built a line on a 33-degree hill between two street 


April 1954 


Page 69 

levels, 325 feet In length. Two cars, the "Olivet" and "Sinia," 

operated by double cables and electric power,are handled by a single 

operator who is also ticket agent. The line has carried up to i|,000 

passengers daily for a fare of 1

Page 70 


April 1954 

erected the present home,having taken over the homestead. This farm 

owned by the Bucks 132 years, is believed to be the only property in 

the area cleared and owned by the same family continuously. Martin 

F. was collector for the town. 

The former Henry Nichols farm, just west of Curriers, but still 

in possession of the family, was settled by Squire Samuel Clark,born 

in Andover, Vt.,who came on foot to Java in 1831. He was Justice of 

the Peace nearly twenty years, Town Clerk,1835-36,and Supervisor for 

eleven terms, 181^5-9, 1850-3, 1855. In September 1861, at the first 

war meeting held in the schoolhouse, Mr. Clark presented each of the 

five volunteers with $10.00. He was married three times, his first 

two wives having died young, and became the father of Hon. Arthur 

Clark, born at Curriers, who represented Wyoming' County in the 

Assembly, 1876-77. Arthur Clark moved West, dying at Ogden, Iowa,in 

1905. 

Soldier of the Revolution 

In the Curriers cemetery lies Enoch Jenkins, Soldier of the 

Revolution, who died Jan. 5» l8ij.6, in his 83rd year, a veteran of 

seven years in the conflict. He lived west of Curriers and apparently 

came there from Orange Co.,Vt. Born in Maiden, Mass.,in 1762, 

he served as a private in the 8th Regiment, Mass. Line, and it is 

said that when Lafayette reviewed the army he complimented Mr. Jenkins 

upon his soldierly bearing. 

East of Curriers at "Hicks Corners" a pioneer settler was Damon 

Bryant who came in 1825. The family lived at Thelford, Orange Co., 

N. Y.,migrated in 1813 to Livingston Co. then to Allegany Co. and to 

Java. He was elected one of the commissioners of highways in 1826 

and 1827, a most respected pioneer. Of his eleven children, one, 

Carson Bryant,continued to live on the old homestead until his death 

in 1880. Carson was twice married, the father of ten children, six 

of whom died In early childhood. On Sept. 15> 1850, deep tragedy 

befell the Bryant family and stunned the whole neighborhood for days. 

His first wife, Rebecca Ingals, in a state of insanity, murdered her 

two youngest daughters and then took her own life early that 

Sunday afternoon.The family had noted her disturbed mental condition 

and that she seemed to be concerned for the future welfare of her 

children. Hence,she was not left alone for very long. She had told 

her husband that great trials lay ahead of him. On this morning she 

had urged her husband to shave and dress, apparently awaiting a 

chance to get the razor. When Mr.Bryant went to a let near the house 

to attend some cattle, she sent her three elder daughters on an 

errand, took the razor and the two youngest, three and six years, 

to a nearby field and did the deed. Her husband soon discovered the 

bodies. The funeral, held in an orchard at Curriers, was attended 

by over 1000 people,so newspapers reported,and the victims were laid 

side by side in the cemetery there. 

Major Moses Smith and his wife, Sarah Shepard, pioneers of 

Arcade, who came from Vermont in 1811, were the parents of children 

who were influential in the Curriers area. Major Moses settled on 

the Cattaraugus Road, built the first sawmill in the section at a 




time when the only boards used there were obtained in Sheldon or 

Hume. Sarah Smith died in 1821, the Major in I83U, both being subsequently 

reinterred at Curriers. Of their children, who come into 

our story, Abraham married Eunice Kiobe, sister of Dr. Israel Kibbe 

of Vermont, the pioneer physician of China; Jerusha Smith married 

Ira Kibbe, also brother of the Doctor; while Moses married Diarxtha 

Sikes, sister of Mrs. John Brown, the first housekeeper of Curriers. 

Ira and Jerusha Smith Kibbe, married in l8l8, settled on a farm 

just south of the present Java-Arcade line. Virgin timber was all 

about and Mrs. Kibbe told how her husband went the five miles south 

to Arcade to mill one day, having only blazed trees to guide him. 

While returning home, darkness overtook him and with his ox team and 

wagon he was forced to spend the night in the forest.He had lost his 

way. When daylight came, he was most surprised to find himself in a 

ravine but a short half-mile from home I Their lor house gave way to 

a fine frame house which fell into its foundations but a few years 

ago, and there they raised thirteen children. This home,erected in 

1837, about twelve rooms, cost s r 1017.35> a record kept by Mr. Kibbe 

reveals. The lumber came from the surrounding country, probably 

from his farm, while Mr. Kibbe made four trips to Centerville, 

Allegany Co., for part of his brick. Ira Kibbe served as presiding 

magistrate and school commissioner during the early days. 

FRONT VIEW OF IRA KIBBE HOUSE, 1837 

(Courtesy Olive B. Burrows) 

Col.Abraham and Eunice Kibbe Smith began housekeeping on Lot 20, 

the farm just to the south of Brother Ira's, now owned by Kermit 

Hag::erty. The rear portion of the present house is the original 

frame structure wherein, it is assumed, the 1820 Town meeting of 

China was held. Abraham was Supervisor during 1825, 1826, 1828, and 

held the .ost of first constable and collector in 1822,his fee being 

set by the voters at 3^.In l8L[6,he became Sheriff of Wyoming County. 

As his tombstone reminds us, Col.Smith was "a worthy and respected 

citizen," prominent in the General-Training Days and foremost in 



public affairs„ He built houses and it is said the present Hyland 

Day and Clifford Twiss homes were put up under his direction,, His 

death occurred at Warsaw.Oct» 22, .185.1, at the home of T« H. Buxton. 

He had been unwell that summer and spent a short time at the Wyoming 

Water Cure„ He started home, stopped at Sheriff Buxton's for the 

night, was fatally stricken, and died the following noon» 

One humorous incident involving Moses and Diantha Sikes Smith 

has come down through the family0 It appears that when Moses was 

paying court to Diantha. he appeared rather unexpectedly one day 

while she was in the woodyard back of the house., picking up chips 

and placing them in her folded apron„ The house was that of her 

brother-in-law, John Brown„ Someone noted that Moses was approaching 

and called out, 

w Diantha., Moses is coming'" 

Thereupon, the lady rushed into the house, hoping to have a 

moment or two to primp up a bit. In her excitement, she completely 

forgot the chips in her apron, dropped the garment to smooth it out, 

and to her consternation, the chips flew in all directions over the 

living room floor,, As Moses appeared at the door, a thoroughly 

flustered maiden was trying to gather the chips into the woodboxc 

Her dismay was so acute and her blushes so red that her brother-inlaw 

ever after delighted in telling of the incident for her benefit„ 

Regardless of the flying chips, Moses and Diantha were wed. and 

began life together or the present Hyland Day farm and there their 

six children were reared. The original frame dwelling, heated by 

several fireplaces., was moved back when the present larger house was 

erected about the site of the first,, A son, Stevens So Smith and 

family, and a daughter,Sarah.made the homestead a lifetime domicile0 

Schools and School Days 

Nothing is known concerning the earliest schools of Curriers 

except that the first one stood south of the present parsonage and 

an 1853 map locates a building just south of the present church. 

About that year, the next school was erected across the road on the 

north bank of the creek, and was in use until the construction of 

the present building. This latter building is incorporated into Do 

Do Roger's shop,and now over a century old, served at least half its 

life as a aehool, was the scene of meetings of the old first Universalist 

Society of Java, and within its walls the present Congregational 

Church was formed and its first worship held. During the 

greater portion of the past half-century the venerable structure has 

been the home of the forge and has echoed to the sound of anvil and 

hammero 

The school was a one-room affair, often registering up to sixty 

pupils during the winter terras. It was an unimposing structure, 

alternately drab and white, and during its last yeats, entirely 

inadequate for the needs of the school population,, The late Oscar 

A. Buck recalled that during the Civil War the pupils gathered 

materials for a flag and sewed together a homemade Stars and Stripes„ 




It was a proud moment when they hoisted the banner to the top of a 

flag pole. In those days the building was heated by a stove which 

consumed enormous quantities of fuel, up to three feet in lengths 

Small boys wore their hair shingled, were clothed in homespun denim 

and leather boots0 The girls wore heavy shoes, long black ribbed 

stockings, calico dresses and aprons,the pockets of the latter being 

reserved for tidbits, a "hanky" or slate pencil. The starched and 

lacey edged petti coats of summer gave way to flannels in cold weather. 

In 1899, the district, known as Java Noc 3* voted to acquire a 

new site and building. That summer, the trustees contracted to 

purchase an acre of land on the northeast corner from Calvin Rogers 

for $300, The following January, voters approved the site and the 

erection of a two-story building to cost $2^00,later raised to $3000. 

The project had been delayed and was further impeded by opposition 

from a minority of the taxpayers who objected, among other items, to 

a second floor hall, -he State Superintendent of Public Instruction 

was called in to rule on the proceedings and he upheld the action of 

the majority. Accordingly, Cheney & Miller were awarded the contract 

for the structure which was reared during 1900-01. Two teachers 

were henceforth employed and the registration averaged around sixty 

or more. As the population of the area declined and the trend toward 

central schools gained in popularity, the voters approved consolidation 

in I.938 with the newly created Arcade Central School. Since 

1939 but one teacher has been employed for grades one to six. The 

second floor hall has been used variously for school exhibitions, 

entertainments, the Grange and as a playroom for the pupils. 

District School No. 9, north of Curriers on Lot 20, was moved 

to a nearby farm about forty years ago and the district divided 

between Curriers and Java Village. A one-room structure, this ""North 

Hoad w school dated from the early days, occupying a site about a 

quarter of a mile north of the George farm on the west side of the 

highway,, The best remembered event involving the school house was a 

feud between the trustees and an adjacent farmer, Spencer Poote. 

Sometime around Civil War days, Poote learned that the district had 

no deed to its school site,and he convinced himself that the building 

was sequatting on his property. Forthwith, he erected a fence around 

the building, removed the windows, and defied all to enter the 

premises. Meanwhile, a term of school was under way, the weather 

was such that shawls had to be hung over the window apertures until 

the case could be taken to court at Warsaw. Trustees Charles 

Francis, John Friend and Alfred Shawl won a decision and Poote was 

compelled to restore the property. 

Poote®s irritation at the neighborhood began some years before 

when strong suspicion developed that he had done away with his 

brother-in-law, Peter Harder. Harder had purchased the neighboring 

farm from Capt. Artemas Stevens in l81|2, and in due course, his 

sister, Eliza Foote, and Spencer came to keep house for him. As 

the story is told, Spencer harbored evil jealousy toward Harter and 

schemed to acquire the farm for himself by foul means, if necessary. 

In due course of time and while clearing the land, Foote accumulated 

a large log heap in the lot back of the barn. One Sunday morning 

the neighbors noted that it was burning fiercely under the watchful 

(Continued on page 71+)


CURRIERS THRO TT '-n THE YEARS (cont.) 

eye of Foote. That afternoon, some boys came across lots from the 

Michigan Rcl.to the west, intent upon visiting in the neighborhood, and 

quite naturally approached the burning pile.To their mild astonishment, 

Foote angrily shouted them off his land and accented his 

demands with well-aimed stones. 

The heap burned for some days under the close supervision of 

Foote, the incident of the encounter with the boys was temporarily 

forgotten and probably excused on the grounds of the farmer's known 

irritability and rascality. However, as the days went on the neighbors 

began to realize that Harter had not been seen about the place 

for some time. Questions were asked and Spencer said his brother-inlaw 

had w gone to Canada." One neighbor then recalled that he heard 

a shrill cry on the evening before the log heap was burned,but Foote 

assured him that it was only "a rooster crowing." The non-appearance 

of Harter in succeeding weeks and months convinced the neighborhood 

that he had probably been murdered and his remains cremated amidst 

the burning logs. Public sentiment became so strong that Foote was 

arraigned before the law. The hearing produced nothing but circumstantial 

evidence and he was released. Harter was never seen again 

and possession of the farm passed to Mrs. Foote. In succeeding 

years, if children chanced to play on Foote's side of the fence,they 

were driven off, and the conviction remained that odious injustice 

had been committed against .Hairter, be he dead or alive. 

The Railroad Comes 

In 1853s the Attica & Alleghany Valley Railroad chose a route 

through Curriers over an alternative path via Java Lake to Arcade, 

advantages in distance, grade and curvature being considerations. 

That year„ the grading, masonry and fencing were completed through 

Curriers and nearly all the ties were on hand. Iron rails, in part, 

had been ordered from Britain, Confident expectations that the line 

would be in operation soon were blasted in 1851+ by financial 

conditions in the country. $200,000 had been invested. For about 

thirty years, hopes were raised and them dashed that the railroad 

would come. It is remembered that a magnifleant grove of cherry 

trees and other fine monarchs of the forest were leveled for the 

right-of-way just north, of the present station,. 

The Tonawanda Valley Railroad was completed and opened to 

Curriers, Sept. 114 l880» On that day, guests from Buffalo, Attica 

and intermediate points came abroad a special train to North Java 

where a gala picnic was spread and speech-making hailed the advent 

of the first "iron horse" into Java. After the program, those who 

came in carriages were invited abroad the train and given a ride 

from North Java to Curriers and return. For some months Curriers 

was the southern terminus of the line while a decision was made 

regarding an extention either to Arcade or Sardinia. On Nov. 30, 

1880, articles of incorporation were filed for the Tonawanda Valley 

Extension Railroad,running from Curriers to the village of Sardinia, 

a distance of eleven miles, at a capital of $120,000, It is said 

the preliminary surveys were made to run the road north of present 

East Road and West Road to present Chaffee where it would form a 

junction with the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia R„ R„ Shortly 

(Continued on page 75)

April 1954 


Page 75 

thereafter, the Sardinia route was abandoned and the narrow-gauge 

line run to Ardade and Cuba, the road being Known as the Tonawanda 

Valley & Cuba R. R. The T. V. was sold at foreclosure in 189^ and 

a new line, the Buffalo, Attica & Arcade, discontinued service, took 

up the track and reconstructed a standard gauge road on the same 

route. Nineteen miles, Attica to Curriers, were put into operation 

Jan. 9s l895s and service extended to Arcade the following December,, 

The present railroad corporation dates from 1917 and freight and 

express service are available once daily each way. Because of the 

confusion resulting from the large number of Javas in the township, 

the station was always called "Curriers0" 

Other Enterprises 

By 1870, and probably some years before, Cornelius Crawford 

operated a steam sawmill on the south side of the road east of the 

railroad line. There barrels and possibly cheese boxes were made* 

In due course the business passed into the hands of Cheney & Miller, 

and was owned by Guy L* Miller when it ceased operation around 1920, 

the remaining building being burned. Until dairying began on a large 

scale little grain was purchased or ground, and milling was done at 

Java Village or Arcade. Many raised a little wheat and it was taken 

elsewhere to be converted into flour. The present E. R. Yauchzy 

grist and feed mill appeared after the railroad came.It was operated 

by a large gasoline engine, and was owned for some years by Lo F© 

Potter, Guy L0 Miller and then in partnership with the present owner 

under the firm name of Miller & Yauchzy. For many years the mill 

and the neighboring depot were scenes of brisk business activity 

when Curriers was an important milk and produce center. Carloads of 

potatoes, hay and apples were shipped, and maple products appeared 

in season. 

Curriers doubtless had a blacksmith shop from early times. A 

century ago, one stood on the creek, bank west of the present home of 

MrsoLinnie Barber and passed through a succession of owners. When 

operated by Harry Howard, his little son was drowned beneath the ice 

of the nearby stream. Among the blacksmiths recalled are Monroe 10 

Skinner, Lucius F. Horton, and Fred J. Rogers, father of D. D. 

Rogers,who succeeded in the business on the site of and in a portion 

of the old district school to which the Rogers' had moved in 1901, 

Some eighty years ago,a wagon and carriage shop was established 

in a building south of the cemetery. An early local wagon maker is 

listed as Willard Joslyn. In 1875, Michael Brooks, formerly of 

Springville, began manufacturing good quality wagons and buggies. 

He painted the vehicles on the second floor and assembled them on the 

first. Brooks continued in business until his death in 1898. Afterwards, 

little was done with the building, it serving as a shop for 

Ray Gilbert,or as living quarters,until, in a dilapidated condition, 

it was torn away some twenty years ago. 



(Eight) 

CURRIERS CHEESE 

FACTORY & 

CREAMERY 

(cl860 - 1930) 

(Courtesy Olive 

B. Burrows) 


At about the close of the Civil War, a two-story cheese factory 

was erected across from the south end of the cemetery on the site of 

the old ashery. Known as the Empire Cheese Factory, it was operated 

by Sylvester Thompson and Wallace Cheney during the l870's. Lucius 

Thompson may have been an earlier cheesemaker. It became the most 

important single enterprise in the community and was purchased by 

Pichardson, Beebe & Co., East Aurora, as a link in a chain of 

plants. Cheese-making gave way to the processing of fluid milk which 

vas hauled away by rail or wagons to Arcade. A large ice house was 

put up just north of the main building, and each winter, a large 

r.umber of men were employed in cutting and storing the ice from an 

artificial pond east of the A. & A. tracks, on the present Day farm. 

Patrons of the plant also erected Icehouses on their farms. As 

Improved roads came, trucks began to carry away the milk, the plant 

vas sold to Borden's and that firm closed and dismantled the plant 

3j.n 1930. The factory operated by steam power and was lastly managed 

by Merton J. Barber. As was often the case in these early cheese 

factories, when the season's cheese was sold and the store rooms 

cleared, a series of dances took place; the local fiddlers played 

the old tunes and around midnight all enjoyed a supper, the favorite 

being oyster stew. 

The merchants of Curriers have been numerous, the community 

usually had two general stores and there were others who carried on 

mall businesses in their homes. An early shoemaker was Jacob Morse 

n East Street, while in the present Cook house lived Nicholas 

Donohue, often seen by his open door pegging away at his trade. 

ides were usually taken to Java Village for tanning and one pair of 

feather boots was expected to last a year- or longer if kept well 

iled. Children went barefoot during warm weather. Local dressmakers 

and tailoresses made the rounds,and these included Miss D» D. 

mith and Miss Mary Andrews. In l877,the Misses Sleeper and Crossman 

pened a millinery and dressmaking shop in rented rooms. Handy men 

sfcquired the carpenter's trade, utilizing their skill in the neighborhood; 

among those were Squire Denslow Do Davis, Charles M. jack=» 

on, Benjamin F. Nicholson and James Shaw. Squire Davis, native of 

urriers, a son of Thomas who came in 1822, was justice of the peace 


April 1954 


Page 77 

for many terms, Elected sessions judge of the county in 1878, and 

served as Supervisor, 1859-60, and i860. His widow, Ann Bavor Davis, 

died in 1927 in her 100th year, the oldest known resident. 

The late Asahel E. Nichols, born in 1852, grandson of the 

pioneer, John Eddy, was brought up on the Michigan Road. He recalled 

to the writer in 1936 his remembrance of the Atlantic & Pacific Tea 

wagon making periodic rounds,of the traveling cobblers and dentists. 

One dentist, he said, was Harvey Morgan, Sandusky, who used to go ut> 

into Canada to purchase gold for his fillings. He said that Lucius 

Thompson peddled "Yankee notions" all around the area, exchanging 

them for ashes; three or four teams would be sent out, each equipped 

with boxes, and the ashes were bought by the bushel, often at • 

The old Curriers ashery which stood on the site of the later cheese 

factory, secured water from the nearby creek to leach the alkali 

from the ashes, and then the liquid was boiled down in vats to make 

pot and pearl ash. Quite often a boy was hired to keep the fires 

going through the night. The discarded ash was usually hauled away 

and spread over land. Other neighboring asheries were on the Henry 

and Huron Nichols and Kermit Haggerty farms. The sale of ashes, the 

wintering of canal horses, feeding of sheep,and going to the Genesee 

Valley to aid in the wheat harvest, were sources of ready cash for 

the farmer. 

Blendinger's General Store alone survives as an emporium at the 

Corners. This was the old Gillett Hotel, established in lBk5 by 

Major Jnhn D. Gillett of Delhi, N. Y., formerly postmaster at 

Gainesville who removed to Pavilion. He conducted it as a tavern, 

then went back to Pavilion and it came into the possession of his 

son, Thomas Gillett in 1852. Thomas, who died in 1899, ran it as a 

popular inn for many years; traveling men were known to have driven 

miles to spend a night or week-end there. In 1905s it was fitted 

up into a store for Grove and Glenn Miller; Grove retired from the 

business and another brother, Grant, entered into partnership with 

his brother, but for about thirty years before his death in 1914-3* 

Glenn C. Miller carried on alone. The post office was established 

here about 1905 and terminated in 1933 upon the establishment of 

rural mail delivery to its patrons„ (continued onpage 78) 

(Below): CURRIERS GENERAL STORE -- Established in 1845 as the Gillett 

Hotel. Photo? taken cl940, shows, center, Glenn C„ Miller, last 

postmaster. (Courtesy D. Grant Hodge)

Page 78 


April 1954 

Augustus Lyford came to Curriers in 1.861+, and conducted a store 

in the Grange Hall building, the former Currier store. He was 

elected Supervisor in 1869, and apparently retired temporarily from 

active business. The building was used by Philo Potter as a post 

office along with a mercantile business, and upon his death, Wallace 

Cheney erected a small building for the post office just west of the 

Hallo Meanwhile, the old store was converted into a hotel, managed 

during its latter days by John Sweetapple. 

Norman D. Lyford, brother-in-law of Augustus, came from their 

old home of Cabot, Vt., in 1868, formed a partnership with Sylvester 

Thompson in the store building that had been built by the Jackman's 

on the southeast corner. Earlier, It is thought, John Smith, son of 

Major Moses,had conducted a store there,erected the present Morrison 

house, and subsequently sold out and moved to Iowae Norman Lyford 

became postmaster by l870,for how long is not known,and he continued 

in Curriers until 1898, when he returned to Vermont where he died in 

1910. In 1871, Norman Lyford sold out to Edward Kent of Michigan and 

shortly thereafter, Augustus joined Kent under the firm name of Kent 

& Lyfordo This partnership continued some years, then Mr. Lyford 

carried on alone, moved away the old store and erected a two-story 

building about 1892, his son-in-law, Clinton Twiss and family living 

in the building. After the deaths of Messrs Lyford and Twiss in 

1910, the business was eventually sold in 1919 to John Sweetapple 

and Frank Meyers. After some years, the firm liquidated its stock, 

the building was sold, to Frank Bauman, who in 191+1 demolished it and 

the site, now graded and seeded, was acquired for the Congregational 

Churcho 

Frank Godfrey Kent, son of Edward, came to Curriers as a small 

child, acquired an education there until age 11+, when he entered the 

employ of the George N. Pierce Co., Buffalo, which then manufactured 

bicycles and bird cages. From apprentice in machine shop, he rose to 

warehouse manager at a time they were making Pierce-Arrow cars. Kent 

attained a national reputation in factory production circles,went in 

1911+ to St. Louis to manage the St. Louis Car Co., then to a tool 

firm in Cincinnati, and in World War I served as consultant to the 

U. So Government. In 1925, he became vice-president of the R. Hoe & 

Co., No Y., from which important position he was forced to retire in 

1928 due to ill health. He died in 1931+ at East Aurora. 

Stage Coach Days 

Paved county highways lead out from Curriers in each directionc 

The West Road, known as the "Traverse Road," was possibly surveyed 

in 1817, and first improved about 192£. The highway from Arcade, 

called by oldtimers the "Egypt Road,"ran from "Pekin" (Java Village) 

to China (Arcade), was surveyed in part in 1811, northward from 

Arcade, and consisted of little but a trail marked by blazed trees. 

The portion from Java Village to Curriers was paved in 1931+51 the 

remainder to Arcade during 1937-38. East Street was first improved 

by a stone and gravel base about 1921+ to the depot, and later paved 

to Hick's Corners. 


April 1954 


Page 79 

During Civil War days, Spencer & Davis of Arcade ran a stage 

service to ^ttica, on alternating trips through Curriers. These 

"U. So Daily Mail Coaches" were advertised in l86ij. as "new, elegrant 

and easy." Other stages came through Curriers and on to Java Village, 

Strykersville and to East Aurora, Mrs. Orpha Rosier, born in 

i860, recalls the stage horn sounding as it approached the Corners, 

tells how children walking to school scrambled to the roadside to 

keep out of the way of the lurching vehicle as it passed by in a 

whirl of dust or a shower of mud. One day, a kindly driver halted 

the stage, pulled the children up to the driver's seat and gave them 

a thrilling ride home. 

In 1900, rural mail service came to the farms about Curriers? 

telephone service came over from Arcade in 1899, and for some years 

the old Erie-Wyoming Telephone Co., Chaffee, serviced most of the 

area. Electricity arrived In 1926. Curriers Grange, No. 1273, which 

presently occupies the old Currier store building, was organized 

July 10, 1912, with 52 charter members. For several years it met In 

the school hall, where in 1930, Pomona Grange conferred Its degree 

upon a class of 153s to that date the largest such class in Pomona 

history. When the Grange acquired its present home, the west wing of 

the building was torn away and the structure remodeled. 

Use of the present cemetery goes back to pioneer days, the 

oldest stone being that to an infant daughter of Ira Kibbe, who died 

in 1819. For many years indifferent care was given the plots it was 

surveyed in l865j and some fifty years ago, through the cooperative 

efforts of lot owners, the grounds were graded. In time, more land 

was acquired. The site is now fenced and in excellent condition. 

More than 600 burials have been made. 

Curriers has had at least three doctors, Dr. Lucius Peck, there 

around l866j Dr. Samuel S. Miller, long resident therej and Dr. 

William Leslie, active in the early years of the present century,. 

Congregational Church 

The present Congregational Church was instituted in May 18511, 

at a meeting in the old schoolhouse, as the "Congregational Church 

of West Java," with twenty-five constituent members, twelve of whom 

had received dismissal from the Arcade church. Rev. Gilbert L0 

Northrup, Strykersville, who became first pastor, and Rev. L. Ac 

Skinner, presided, articles of faith and the church covenant were 

adopted. Ira Kibbe and Ephraim Fisk J-re were the first deacons and 

upon incorporation of the church, Jan. 11, 1855, the trustees were 

Mr. Kibbe, Mr. Fisk and Gordon D„ Fox. The site for the present 

church was obtained of Lucius Thompson early in l855*and the meeting 

house begun during that year although not dedicated until the summer 

of 1856. The contractor, Calvin Rogers of Strykersville, had the 

reputation of climbing to the highest part of each building he 

erected, and there standing on his head. When the frame had been 

assembled, it was found that through an oversight a long and important 

timber was lacking. Two men went to the woods, selected a 

straight and tall red beech and during the course of the afternoon, 

cut and hewed the desired piece. During the night of May 8, l855s> a 




heavy snow came and the following morning, the last stick of timber 

was drawn to the site on a sleigh. 

The church, site and sheds represented an investment of around 

$2,000. The interior arrangement followed the traditional New 

England pattern with severely plain, box-pews equipped with doors 

that fastened with a wooden button on the inside. The windows were 

clear glass, heat was provided from two stoves,and kerosene supplied 

the fuel for a large hanging chandelier and two pulpit lamps. While 

a melodeon was borrowed for the dedication, musical instruments were 

unacceptable for some years, the chorister giving the pitch from a 

tuning fork; the words of the hymns were in one book, the tunes in 

another. Church government remained in control of the male members 

until about 1863, when suffrage was extended. Discipline was exact 

and there are instances of members being dropped for covenant 

breaking. In 1861+, there was a church hearing before an outside 

moderator over the use of an organ. After 1886, unfremented wine 

was used for the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. He who served as 

sexton did so as a labor of love; at one period the task of building 

the fires, cleaning the building and seating strangers at worship 

earned from to weekly'0 

During 1876, the church was repaired and the seating rearranged 

by moving the pulpit and choir to the east end of the church, 

removing the pew doors and placing arms at the ends of each after 

they were cut down. The interior walls were papered and the ceiling 

whitewashed. In 1886, land was secured and the present parsonage 

put up. Lastly, in 1909 10, the building was substantially rebuilt 

into it s present appearance by raising the structure and excavating 

a basement, by erecting a vestiblue and steeple,and the installation 

of a furnace, acetylene lights and fine memorial windows, the total 

cost being over $l+,000e The individual communion service then came 

into use and the original set, still cherished by the church as a 

gift from the Mother Church at Arcade, was retired. In recent years 

a new heating system has been installed; electric lights came in 

1926; the kitchen has been completely modernized; the old sheds 

removed; and in 1914-8, Trevor ^. Rogers, Buffalo architect, presented 

the church with a 95>0-pound bell. The Women's Missionary Society, 

founded in 1886, through suppers and bazaars has had a decisive 

influence upon the financial well-being of the church. A Christian 

Endeavor Society, organized in 1893s. was succeeded in 191+2 by the 

present Pilgrim Youth Fellowship. Annually, the autumn Men's 

Supper, and the community Decoration Day service have drawn'to 

Curriers former members of the parish and visitors from surrounding 

towns. 

Twenty-six ministers have served the church,two having returned 

for a second pastorate, and the earliest ones including those shared 

by the Arcade Congregational Church. They have been: Gilbert L. 

Northrup, l8£J+-57s Lucius Parker, 18^8-60; Rev. Gregg, 1860-61; 

Lewis P. Frost,1861-62;John Dodd,l862~6i|.; George W.Wainwright, l86£- 

66; Oscar M. Smith, 1866-67J William Dewey, 1O67-69; J. Caswell, 

1873-76; Oscar M. Smith, 1876-78; Rev. Ballard, I878-8O; W. B. 

Mucklow, 1880=89; Nathan E. Fuller, 1889-90; Edward Roberts, 1891- 

1902; Eo Trevor Cook, 1903; Alton H. Cowles, I9OI4.-O6; Frederick W. 

(continued on page 8l)



Grupe, 1906-12,° Theodore L. Leverett, 1912-11+; Gilbert H„ Hamilton, 

1915=19; George W. Zartman, 1919-21; George ¥. Stephenson, 1922-21+; 

John Mann, 1921+-27; E. E0 Warner, 1927-35; Lynn R. Williamson, 

1935=36; E. George Northey, 1937-i+l; Forrest F. Freeman, 191+2=1+1+?: 

George W. Stephenson, 191+5-1+8; and George Van Derven since 191+8. 

Rev. Oscar Moses Smith, son of Moses Jr., has been the only member 

ordained, and he was the father of Mrs. Jean D. Lyford, deaconess of 

the church for over 1+2 years, for more than fifty years, elected 

organist, and church clerk for a half-century. Since the organization 

of the Java Village Congregational Church in 1888, the two have 

shared pastors. 

As Curriers looks forward to the centennial of its church this 

summer, it is noteworthy that several members have been communicants 

more than fifty years. Mrs. Julia Kibbe Twiss, who joined Jan. 8, 

1881, is the oldest member, and together with Miss. Alice Twiss, 

entered in December 1881, has a membership record of 73 years. 

Others are Mrs. Sarah Hodgins, 67 years; Mrs. Martha B. Nichols, 

Mrs. Alice G. Rogers and Archie Geer, 60 years;and Mrs. Jean Dickson 

Smith Lyford, 50 years. The church has an average membership of 

100 and a Sunday School attendance of sixty. 

From a frontier outpost 137 years ago,the story of the Curriers 

community has unfolded through its rise and eventual decline as a 

trading center. Its remaining institutions are yet factors in the 

social and economic life of the surrounding farming country, the 

generations that have resided there have made an art of living a 

commonplace career on the soil which their fathers tilled. The full 

story can never be recalled but there flashes back memories of hoppicking 

days on the Michigan Road;of George Henry carrying the mails 

from the depot to the postoffice; of the Sunday School picnics; of 

the long lines of teams at mill, shop, creamery and stores; of 

Barney, the rag peddlar who traveled the countryside trading shiny 

tin pots and nans from his wagon for rags; of the traveling umbrella 

menders; of the A. & A, snowbound; of the great Calf Club sale of 

1*21; the burning to death of Mrs. Eunice Scripter in her home one 

bitter night in winter; the erection of the transcontinental telephone 

line and how the younger children used to imagine they could 

hear the wires "talking"; the story of the man west of Currier? who 

was always asked by his mother, "James, how shall I cut the pie?" 

and his answer, "Once in two, Mother;" maple-sugar making, silo 

filling and threshing; the excited farmer girl who saw the first 

traction engine coming and ran to announce, "Mother, the T. V's got 

off the track and is coming down the roadl the singing-schools;the 

church "socials" and concerts by the Java Village Band. All these, 

and many more, have made 'Curriers Through the Years.® 

Acknowledgments Beer's History of Wyoming Co.; files of the Arcade 

Times, Wyoming County Times, and Western New-Yorker; interviews with 

the late Asahel E„ Nichols, with Mrs. Julia K. Twiss, Mrs. Jean D. 

Lyford, Mr. & Mrs. D. D, Rogers, Mrs. Orpha S. Rosier and Mrs. Eva 

So Douglass. The Congregational Church history is largely drawn 

from church records and an historical account written with the aid 

of Mrs o Lyford in 191+1+. To all, who through the years have contributed 

bits of history,our appreciation, and especially to Mrs0 Olive 

Bo Burrows for the use of older photographs.

Page 82 

THE BUCK HOMESTEAD, 1851 

April 1954 

It is a privilege to present to our readers the poetry of 

Silence Buck Bellows, native of Curriers and descendant of a pioneer 

family. Beginning as a teacher, she became an accomplished dramatic 

artist and in recent years has been an associate editor on The 

Christian Science Monitor. Mrs. Bellow's poems have appeared in the 

Monitor, New York Times, and leading national magazines. The poem, 

"Worker in Wood," is a portrait of her father, Oscar Allen Buck; 

"The Little Streets,"inspired by memories of Curriers;and "Reunion," 

from the infrequent trek which the family makes back to the old 

homestead. 

REUNION 

Open the house and throw the windows wide, 

Waken the dreaming walls with summer air; 

Invite the sunshine and the breeze inside, 

Let feet make music on the dusty stair. 

See if the robin's nest is in the vine, 

Ingratiate the neighbor's lop-eared pup; 

Hang sheets and blankets upon the line, 

Persuade the spider that her lease is up. 

Set the hands right against the tall clock's face, 

Wind up its weights and strike its ancient bell, 

And let old memories of this happy place 

Troop forth from every corner where they dwell. 

Hearts that have journeyed far and met rough weather 

Are home again, beneath one roof together. 

--Silence Buck Bellows

April 1954 

THE LITTLE STREETS 

How strong the little streets of all the worldl 

Deep run the roots from tree to ancient tree 

Whose sheltering, softly whispering canopy 

Above some open doorway is unfurled. 

So hand goes forth to hand, all up and down 

The little streets of any little town. 

And when the little streets are wrapped in night, 

Root still clasps root beneath the quiet dark, 

And window answers window with a spark— 

A reassuring square of yellow light-- 

To say that here, beyond the shadows, beats 

Some friendly heart. How strong the little streets I 

WORKER IN WOOD 

—Silence Buck Bellows 

He never hurries when he works in wood. 

He lays a gentle and deliberate hand 

Upon these royal relics that once stood 

And drew their meed of living from the land. 

Alien are sound and haste to things that show 

Such endless patience in their will to grow. 

This cherry shook its snow upon the air 

Long Mays ago, before its girth was grown. 

This pine stood where the cliff was high and bare 

And braved its thousand bitter storms alone. 

This oak took root and held within its ken 

Pour generations of the sons of men. 

So now he bends above each waiting board 

And calls it back to beauty, stroke by stroke. 

He tunes his heart to ancient secrets stored 

Within the heart of cherry, pine and oak, 

And pauses in his work from time to time 

To recollect a jest or well-turned rhyme. 

He runs a thumb along the curling grain 

And whistles in a whisper to himself. 

He straightens, smiles, selects a smaller plane. 

And puts the large one back upon the shelf. 

And, if you speak, he answers quiet-wise, 

The seasoned strength of forests in his eyes. 

—Silence Buck Bellows 

(All poems by Silence BUck Bellows are copyright 

and reprinted by permission of The Christian 

Science Monitor.) 

Page 83

In the autumn of the year 1831, long after the howl of the wolf 

and the scream of the panther had ceased and the deer had left the 

Wyoming county hills, farmers in the western portions of Bennington 

and Sheldon found that many of their sheep were being killed. Old 

hunters attributed this slaughter to the work of a wolf or wolves. 

In December,several more were killed and some fifteen young men from 

the valley south of Attica village resolved to make an effort to 

capture the rogue. In the words of one of the hunters,writing years 

later in local papers, "They went to the place where his tracks were 

last seen, which was near a heavy windfall of timber, at t he brow of 

Bennington Hill, southwest of Cotton's Mills." 

"It was intensely cold and the snow on an average was three 

feet deep. It had drifted over this fallen timber so as to pretty 

much cover it, and it was believed the wolf was burrowed underneath. 

To determine this,William Walbridge and 'Arch' Lindsley commenced to 

walk over it,but presently the former disappeared. Lindsley shouted, 

"You're a goner I" but before he had finished the sentence, he, too, 

disappeared. The wolf, not liking such an unceremonious call, made 

a hasty retreat, going south. Greatly excited, the hunters immediately 

gave chase, '^hey had but one hound, which was owned by an 

old hunter by the name of Pickering. The dog was not accustomed to 

this kind of sport and could not be induced to precede the man more 

than ten rods. It was then agreed that James Wntsie, on snowshoes 

and wL th a horn, should lead the van and blow the horn whenever he 

found the wolf had made a track. The great depth of the snow made 

it very difficult for them to move with much speed, They had, however, 

about sundown,, crossed the Buffalo or Big Tree, road some two 

miles west of varysburg. But not all of them, for one after another 

had dropped off,until but three--Patrick R.Gardner,William Walbridge 

and George Thompson, all about 18 years of age--remained. 

"Prom here the wolf went in a westerly direction, entering a 

large and dense piece of timber. Undaunted, the boys entered the 

woods and followed the trail until 11 o'clock, when fatigue, hunger, 

and cold compelled them to seek shelter for t he balance of the night. 

Looking in various directions, they saw a faint light at a distaxôe 

of a half mile, which they made for. On reaching it they found it 

was the glimmer of a log fire in a cabin of one Lawton. They aroused 

the inmate, iho after hearing their story,said the folks were not at 

home and there was not a mouthful cooked In the shanty. He told them 

to go to the settlement, which was not far off, where he was sure 

their wants would be supplied, directing their course. They trudged 

onward,and in due time reached a log cabin and gave the alarm. A 

man soon appeared at the door, who proved to be Ira Thomas, living 

about a half mile west of the base of Buffalo Hill. Their story and 

wants were s oon told, and in an incredibly short time the young wife, 

who had just commenced housekeeping,had a smoking meal on the t able, 

and if any fellows ever relished a supper, it was this hungry trio, 

Mr. -homas thought they would have to go to the corners for lodging, 

but Col. Gideon Thomas, who was present on a visit, said, 


April 1954 

WOLF HUNT (cont.) 

Page 85 

'No, I have two buffalo robes in ray ilejgh; we'll bring them in 

and the hunters can lie on the floor,' to which the boys quickly 

agreed. 

"With an ample supply of wood in the open fireplace, they 

stretched themselves before it and were soon fast asleep, chasing 

the wolf in their dreams. Before dawn, the Colonel was out, going 

some three miles in either direction, and notifying the settlers of 

the wolf hunt, and by 10 o'clock, some forty men had assembled to 

join in the hunt. 

"in the meantime, the Attica boys, being refreshed, retraced 

their steps to where they left the track, and after following it 

about 100 rods, found where upon the root of an overturned tree, the 

wolf, without pickets,had bivouached for the night on the s ide hill 

overlooking the valley. Prom here he continued in a westerly course, 

crossing the road about midway between Person's 0orneI>s ancj ^heldon 

Center. He kept the direction until he entered Cranberry Marsh 

southwest of the Squire Castle place. It was agian night and further 

pursuit for that day was abandoned. 

"The third day the hunt was resumed, the woods being surrounded 

to prevent the esc ape of the wolf, but the day closed without 

dislodging him. '^he next day the hunt was again taken up with 

increased enthusiasm, The hunters believing that the game, from 

hunger,would attempt his escape. But no, Mr. Wolf knew the lay of 

the land full as well as his pursuers, so that day proved fruitless 

in result. •'•'hat day a meeting was called at Sheldon Center, when It 

was decided that the Attica boys, with three citizens, would,on the 

next day, enter the swamp at different points, individually, and if 

possible, drive out the wolf. In the morning a larger number than 

usual gathered. IJ -'he woods were surrounded and the boys went in„ 

Somehow, the Attica boys, who had not seen each other for t wo days, 

happened to come together, a nd soon discovered the remains of a deer 

that the wolf had caught and feasted on the previous night. They 

Ware now greatly excited, hoping soon to capture the prize, when 

looking a little in advance they saw the bushes move and the wolf 

clamber over a snow-covered log. They, at once,leveled their rifles 

and fired. He moved no further, and, on approaching, they found him 

to be perfectly quiet, having been hit by two bullets. It was 

admitted, however, from their positions,that Gardner fired the fatal 

shot. The wolf was a monster one, measuring nine feet f rom tip to 

tip, and was probably the last one killed In Wyoming County, or what 

was then Genesee County. 

"It was now about 3 o'clock, and the Attica boys were far fôm 

home. The wolf was taken to Person's Corners and skinned. ,J -'he boys 

were well cared for and even lionized for their pluck and success. 

On the morrow a man by the name of Godfrey hitched up and took them 

to Varysburg, and from thence, with their trophy, they footed it 

home, where they arrived in the afternoon, much tot he joy of their 

friends, who had no tidings of them since the first day. As for the 

boys, they received $10. bounty and felt none the worse for their 

adventureo


LINUS DAY, 

PIONEER HATMAKER OF BENNINGTON 

Migrating from Connecticut by ox-cart, Linus Day, a hatter by 

trade, came onto the Holland Purchase and into Bennington in 1813, 

bringing a young wife, a small son and a two-year old daughter,, He 

selected a homesite a mile south of the Buffalo-Moscow road, one 

mile east of Bennington Center, at a spot along a branch of the 

Cayuga Creek, from which he hoped to trap fur bearing animals for 

his hat making. For s everal years after his settlement there he 

worked as a hatter in winter, attending to farming during the warmer 

monthso 

At least a partial record of Mr. Day's business activities has 

been preserved in an account book, now in the possession of his 

great-granddaughter, Miss Agnes E. Schlick, Attica, covering transactions 

from the years 1823 to 1832. In ink that has faded and pages 

that are yellow and fragile, one notes the names of many Bennington 

pioneers who purchased men's felt hats for $1.25 to $1.^0, while 

boys' hats sold from to $1.00 each.As would be expected,business 

was carried on largely by barter; there are records of customers 

bringing in a racoon skin and receiving a credit of while a 

mink skin brought but 2%/, Other farm crops were exchanged for his 

wares. Miss Schlick also preserves the very heavy "hat iron" which 

he used to press and shape the fashionable head gear of that age. 

Here are some typical entriess "March 6, 1828, Mr. Youngs, Cr. 

by a racoon skin for which I am to pay three shillings in my work. 

37 y. n 

"Feb. ll;, 1829j Warren Bills, Dr., to a felt hat delivered to 

your boy, $1.50." 

"Jan. 29, 1830, Erastus Plumley, Dr., to two felt hats, $3.00, 

Erastus Plumley Cr. by one bushel of corn, 50 cents." 

The accounts mention, in addition to the usual felt hat, nap 

hats and castor hats. Nap hats were doubtless produced by raising a 

hairy surface by brushing or teaseling while the castor variety 

usually referred to one made from beaver fur. Customers swapped farm 

crops, even labor, and would balance accounts periodically. Among 

the earliest names, beginning in 1823, are such pioneers as Adolphus 

Clapp, Peletiah Case, George Loomis,Sardius Smith, Ezra Ludden, Bela 

Bibbins, rt ichard King and Hezekiah Lattimer, A year later, among 

others, were accounts for Josiah A ndrus, Ludlum Shadbolt and -Elijah 

Lamb. During 1828, well-known Bennington customers included George 

Hopkins, Daniel Kemp, Pomeroy Warren, Clark Hubbard and Peletiah 

Parsons. 

Mr. Day held some office connected with the schools, perhaps 

that of school commissioner or inspector of common schools,for there 

are various entries of meetings at different places to examine 

school teachers and form school districts, and on occasion he met to 

apportion the public school fund, for which he received $1.00 per 

day. He recorded, Nov.11, 1826, "Joshua Cobb, Cr. by himself and 

two yoke of oxen, one day, drawing stone for chimney, to the school 

house." Again, on the l^th and 16th of the same month, he credited, 

successively,-^lias Guiet for one days' work with team drawing stone 

for the school chimney, and Erastus Plumley for a team used a halfday 

for drawing a mantletree for the school house. He noted that the 

public money received by District No. 11,in the year 1829,was $9.83. 



LINUS DAY (cont0) 

He jotted down other events in his accounts. The arrival of the 

first newspaper for the quarter was entered as May 2, 1828, He was 

interested in astronomy and complied his own almanacs, August 20, 

1831, he noted at Ij. o'clock in the afternoon, spots on the sun within 

about half an inch of its edge, but the next morning, no spots were 

observed. That he continued his observations is evident since he 

noted on Sept, 17, the same year, that "No spots to be seen on the 

sun," 

Linus Day was born in Connecticut,Nov, 13,1778, and was married 

0cto 1808,to Lydia Holcomb, Their son,Volney, was born in Granby, 

Conn,, Aug, 13, 1809, and the daughter two years after, Mr, Day died 

Dec. 29, 1858,and his wife,two days earlier. The son, Volney,married 

in 1835s lived with his parents,teacbing school and working the land 

until about I8I4.O, He then purchased $0 acres of the land company a 

mile south of his father's tract, on the Poland Hill five corners. 

This section received its name, Poland Hill, from Polish failles 

living in the area, believed to have been refugees from the Russian 

army, who came onto the land prior to its purchase from the Holland 

Land Co, by regular settlers. A child of one of these families, who 

died, was buried on Mr, Day's farm0 

Before leaving the parents, it is of interest to note thatLydla 

Holcomb Day brought with her from Connecticut, appleseeds from which 

she started a nursery and later the trees were set out as an orchard 

A few years ago, some of her trees were still standing,, This original 

Linus Day property was in the family for more than 100 years, 

the last owner, Linus William Day, a great—grandson, who now resides 

in Cowlesville, sold it to a Buffalonian a few years ago as a summer 

residence. 

Like his father, Volney Day took an active interest in public 

affairs0 He served the town as highway commissioner,and was a member 

of the State Militia from I832-I836, and was commissioned Lieut- 

Colonel of the 99th Regiment, 6th Brigade and 27th Division of the 

New York State Infantry,, There was an armory and parade gron^ on 

the top of Bennington Hill, leaving Attica, where they had general 

training. It is quite probable that his military unit possessed a 

cannon which figured in the anti-land company uprising 6f that 

period. 

The farm which Volney Day purchased over 110 years ago is still 

in the possession of the family, A daughter of Volney and Electa, 

Florence E., was born there in I8I4.7, in a log cabin,. In 1866, she 

married Capt. Jacob A, Schlick of Dansville, N„Y, They went to 

Wisconsin, where their son Prank A, was born,and resided in Michigan 

about four years. They came back to the old farm In Bennington and 

lived with her parents until their deaths in 1892 and 1893, Capt, 

Schlick, father of Miss Agnes,worked the farm,including the original 

50 acres, plus 62 more which he purchased. In 1913s the parents 

sold the farm to their oldest son, Prank A., and moved to Attica,, 

Prank raised a family of five, three sons and two daughters, and 

about three years ago sold the farm to his oldest son, Francis, who 

now lives there with his family. The farm buildings stand on the 

original purchase, five generations have lived there, three 

generations born on the place,another Wyoming County "Century Farm", 

and perhaps the farm in Bennington which has the longest ownership 

by members of one family.

Page 88 

April 1954 

In Los Angeles, Oct. 2ij., occurred the death of Stanley McClelland, 

1+9, son of the late Supt. & Mrs. William H. McClelland, Perry, where 

he also made his home in his early life. A graduate of Perry High 

School, he attended Eastman School of Music, and fr>om there went to 

New York where he was successful as a singer in Broadway musicals 

and light operas and as a member of a well-known radio quartet. He 

left New York about five years ago. 

Harry E. Hovey, 72, founder and president of the Market Basket 

Corporation,a grocery and supermarket chain, died Nov. 2, in Geneva, 

N.Y. Born in Warsaw,he started his business 52 years ago by founding 

a grocery there with $1+50 cash he had saved in the Army. The chain 

now consists of 77 supermarkets and 35 grocery stores, mostly in 

central and western New York and northern Pennsylvania. He had 

removed to Geneva in 1915° 

On Nov. 1 ij., in Warsaw, death came to Dr. Lester Hayden Humphrey, 82, 

almost on the eve of a birthday. A native of Warsaw, where he was 

educated, he received his medical training in New York and Albany, 

and in April 1900, began the practice of medicine in Silver Springs. 

Prominent in medical, fraternal and church affairs for 53 years, he 

had held the post of county coroner for the past forty-five years; 

was health officer for the town of Gainesville; and on the staff of 

the Community Hospital and Laboratory. 

William H. Coon,Batavia City Historian, died in that place, Nov. li|, 

at the age of 77» Mr. Coon was a loyal supporter of this bulletin 

and frequently sent along items of interest. He served as Genesee 

County district attorney, 1907-17; and city attorney, 1927-39. He 

was an authority on Indian lore and known in musical circles. 

Rev. Lewis G. Rogers, 90, retired Congregational minister, died in 

New York City, Nov. 22. A native of Albion, N.Y., he attended 

Williams College, graduating in 1883, and Princeton University, and 

held his first pastorate at Arcade, where he was ordained in 1888. 

Subsequently, he was located in the state of Oregon, and for many 

years in Buffalo churches where he was first pastor of the Plymouth 

Congregational Church and was secretary of the old Federation of 

Churches. For three years he was chaplain of the University of 

Connecticut. He held numerous other offices in church groups before 

his retirement in 19i|-3s and had taught in Nichols School, Buffalo.. 

County Welfare Commissioner Edgar E. Wheeler, 58, died at Warsaw, 

Dec. 8, having been in the department since 1936, and commissioner 

since 19144 • A veteran of World War I in France with the 77th 

Infantry, he was a graduate of Colgate and Cornell Universities. He 

was a native of New Brunswick, New Jersey. 

In Buffalo,N.Y., Dec. 13, death claimed Clarence F. Conroy, 67, well 

known labor orgainzer, after a long illness. Mr. Conroy was born at 

Java Center, went to work at a young age and was one of the pioneers 

in the labor movement in Buffalo. He was a national organizer for 


April 1954 

NECROLOGY (cont.) 

Page 89 

the American Federation of Labor, vice-president of the State 

Federation, and was named in 1939, a member of the State Industrial 

Board by Gov. Lehman, Previous to this last State post, he had been 

a member of the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council. 

The Rev. Henry S. Gately, 8i|, pastor of Warsaw's Trinity Episcopal 

Church, 1900-1905, died in Rochester, Jan. 17. 

Dr. Frank Randall Pratt, retired professor of physics, New Jersey 

College for Women, Rutgers University, died Feb.. 25th in Highland 

Park, N.J., at the age of 77* A native of Warsaw, where he was 

buried, Dr. Pratt was associated with Rutgers for forty-three years, 

rising to department head in 1927, a position he filled until 19^4-6. 

After a long illness in W arsaw, Floyd H. Benham, 73, vice-president 

of the Genesee Country Historical Federation, member of the Attica 

and Warsaw historical societies, died Feb. 9th. Mr. Benham was 

regarded as an authority on Indian lore, was honorably adopted by 

the Senecas in 1936, and had served as consultant on field trips for 

the Buffalo and Rochester science museums. A native of Attica, he 

spent his early manhood in the West where he was an expert telegrapher, 

served as postmaster and sheriff. In recent years he was a 

master mechanic, but shared with school groups and others his 

intimate knowledge of the Iroquois occupation. Readers and the 

Editor will remember with gratitude his writings on Indian history 

and our large trees in the columns of this bulletin. 

On March 8th in Wars aw occurred the death of Harold J. Harrison, 61, 

Castile, who had retired as district superintendent of schools but 

three weeks before. Supt.Harrison began his career in rural schools, 

served as first principal of Bliss High School for nine years, and 

the last twenty-eight as superintendent of the first supervisory 

district. A devoted and generous public servant, he sponsored workshops 

for teachers, helped create the Letchworth Central School, 

served on the Selective Service Board in World War II, continued as 

one of the most active proponents of the 1|-H movement and the County 

Fair, and was a president of the Genesee Council, Boy Scouts. His 

other affiliations included the Masons, Grange, church, and many 

civic groups. 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

Wyoming County's seventh historical society was launched at 

Perry, Sunday, January 17th, at a meeting held in the Village Building, 

about twenty being present. Two previous exploratory meetings 

preceded the formal organization. 

Officers elected included Gordon McGuire, president; Kendall P. 

Smith,vice-president;Henry N. Page,Treasurer; and Wilfred R. Oliver, 

Secretary. Among the immediate projects before the society is one to 

establish a permanent depository of records and heirlooms.


inQUIRIES 

A Massachusetts descendant would like information on Rudolphus 

Wheelock Hewett, Sr., supposedly born in Pairfield,N.Y., who was the 

first husband of Electa Murray, daughter of Daniel Murray, Pike 

pioneer and Revolutionary Soldier. Mr, Hewett died sometime between 

1805-17, but nothing is known of his final residence or place of 

burial. One son, Rudolphus W.,Jr., lived on the present Neeley farm 

west of Hermitage. He died in Kansas in 1892. 

Prom Pennsylvania comes a request for any data on the Lattin family, 

early residents of Gainesville,at least one of whom is known to have 

been buried in the Pioneer Cemetery. A woven coverlet, owned by the 

questioner, has the inscription, "Sally Lattin, South Port, 1835." 

Can anyone identify the town? 

A West Coast correspondent wishes information on the family of Lydia 

Smith, who married Schuyler Wheeler, Orangeville tannery owner, in 

1828. Her mother's name was Sophia Cornstock of Massachusetts. 

Lydia was born in Berkshire Co., Mass. in 1801. 

ACflDEmu REunion 

The Middlebury Historical Society is making plans to sponsor a 

reunion of all Middlebury Academy students, Saturday, August 7th. 

There would be an open house in the afternoon, supper in the Village 

Hall,and a program to follow. Out of town alumni and former students 

will be especially invited. 

During the past year, the Society installed two bronze plaques, 

one to mark the gift of the building by Eugene and Harris McCarthy 

in memory of Bryant Fleming, and the other to mark the presentation 

of the Indian by Mr. & Mrs. Herbert S.Browne. Although structurally 

sound, the Academy building needs funds to maintain the grounds and 

develop the interior. Payment of dues and gifts will sustain this 

unique heritage. 

—CASTILE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ELECTS 

All offi cers of the Castile Historical Society were reelected 

at the annual meeting, Dec. 7, 1953, as the organization began its 

second year. Those chosen follows Calvin DeGolyer, president; 

Dr. Charles E. Bartlett, vice-president; Mrs. Ruth Schroeder, 

secretary; Francis Britton, treasurer; and curator of museum, Mrs. 

Katherine Barnes, Town Historian. Mrs. Mildred Anderson and Mrs. 

Schroeder were named assistant curators. Two trustees, Louis R. 

Witt and M.W. Cummings were selected as trustees for one-year terms. 

As a part of the group's program to make Castile known as the 

home of Mary Jemison, it was voted to sponsor an entertainment in 

January which featured Chief Nicodemus Bailey and Indian participants 

in authentic native dances, rituals and songs.


r 1 ^ 

The Kaustine Company, Perry, formed in 1911+ for the production of 

chemical toilet systems, discontinued that line in 191-1-7 due to advances 

in electric water systems. As a result of this change in 

production and sale, the firm name was changed late in 1953 to the 

Kaustine Furnace and Tank Corporation. 

Andrew Reitschky of Genesee Falls was elected Chairman of the Board 

of Supervisors at their reorganization meeting in January. Mrs. 

Jean W. Standish was reelected as clerk. Two new members, Merton 

Perry, Eagle, and Maurice Montgomery, Warsaw, joined the board at 

that time. James A. Mason, Arcade, was renamed County Attorney for 

a two year term. 

"Upstate Short Hall", by Melvin C. Krampf, is a salute to Wyoming's 

own railroad, the Arcade & Attica, in the February issue of Railroad 

Magazine. The twenty pages of photographs and words include a 

collection of rare views of the line, showing one of a train of the 

old Tonawanda & Cuba Railroad, reproductions of early timetables and 

an historical account of the road. There are pictures of obsolete 

rolling stock as well as the recent diesel engine at its labors. 

The 70th Annual Meeting of the Wyoming County Medical Society was 

held at the Sanitarium, Castile, in January, with Dr. Mary T. Greene 

as hostess. The first gathering of the group was held at the same 

place in 1880, with Dr. Cordelia Greene as hostess and only four 

medical men were present. The first meeting of the year has 

traditionally been held in Castile, 

Lewis Cook, Pike, was elected to the board of directors of the New 

York African Violet Society at its organizational meeting in 

Syracuse, Jan.. 16, 

The Chaplain of the New York State Assembly during its recent 

session was the Rev. Clarence B. Gould, pastor of the Second Congregational 

Church of Albany, and formerly minister of the Warsaw 

Congregational Church. 

0n Feb. 28, Attica dedicated her new Village Hall on Water Street 

now headquarters for the fire department, police, town and village 

clerk. The $58,000 structure includes an addition to, and renovation 

of the old village building. 

FIRST NATIONAL BANK FAILURE 

It is generally claimed that when the First National Bank of Attica 

closed in March 1865, It was the first failure of a national bank 

in the nation. The liabilities were heavy, over $170,000 was due 

the depositors and more than 1+00 persons lost to a greater or less 

degree. Newspapers reported at that time that the officers left 

for parts unknown.


QUER TRAVELERS OF 

THE HIGHLURU 

by Samuel D. Qayton 

Among the characters who traveled the highways oi Wyoming 

County and neighboring areas in the late l880's and '90's was Henry 

Herman9 better known as "Dutch Henry0" He was below medium height, 

in size almost a dwarf, and also below the average In mentality,, He 

made his headquarters around Perry but traveled most of the time 

from place to place,. He wore a Prince Albert coat, which nearly 

touched the ground, and these garments were probably given him by 

Rev0 Gutelius, pastor of the Presbyterian Church In Moscow, one who 

gave him clothing and helped him in other ways0 

Dutch Henry carried two dirty bundles on sticks over his 

shoulders, the bundles contained only bright pieces of cloth which 

he would stop and sort as he rested by the roadside. At times he 

would cut them up into smaller pieces and discard some0 He always 

complained that his breath was "no good"| I believe it was asthma, 

and one of his remarks was that when he got to Warsaw he would see 

what could be done0 He also complained that his sister's husband 

swindled him out of money he had Inherited and was very bitter 

against the brother-in-law, In the fall of 1900, he was committed 

to the Monroe County penitentary as a vagrant for six months„ After 

a few months there, he became despondent by spells and was found 

dead in his cell one morning,. He had made a rope out of a sheet 

which he had torn up, and attached It to a hook in the cell which 

was used to hang up the cot, I do not know if Dutch Henry had any 

relatives living or where he is buried. 

Charles Barnum 

Another traveler was Charles Barnum, a Civil War veteran who 

stayed at the Soldiers' Home in Bath in the winter and traveled in 

the summer as he liked to be free from the Home, When he received 

his pension, he would go on a "spree" and they would make him shovel 

coal to sober him ux>, He always showed ud about bean harvest time 

as he liked to'pull beans by hand. Machines were being used in later 

years but there was always hand-pulling on steep side hills, 

Barnum carried a cane and a leather satchel. My mother used to 

talk to him about settling down some place,not close to the villages 

where the saloons would be a temptation. He thought it would be a 

good idea and said he would like to build a shack on the edge of the 

woods such as the soldier built when he made a permanent camp. My 

mother advised him that if he felt he must have a little nip to keep 

him, he might have a small jug at hand which would keep him from 

going to the village and getting in with bad company, "Yes," he 

said, "just have a little jug in the corner, about ten gallons," He 

never changed so far as I know and finally died at the Bath Home, 



QUEER TRAVELERS OF THE HIGHWAY (cont.) 

James Mosier and John Styles 

Two characters who did not travel so extensively but confined 

themselves to the Town of Middlebury and a part of Genesee County 

were James Mosier and John Styles. Mosier, who worked among the 

farmers in the vicinity of Dale, mostly was lacking in mentality but 

did the best he knew0 He always attended a church service when 

possible, dressed in blue overhalls and jacket which were clean0 He 

wore a straw hat. People were used to his dropping into services 

and thought nothing of his peculiar dress. His greatest accomplishment 

was a recitation on the animals that Noah had on the Ark, He 

named all the animals and imitated the different noises they madejhe 

showed how the ass brayed, the lion roared and the monkeys chattered 

and the whole thing was quite amusingo 

John Styles was not lacking in mentality to any great extent. 

He knew enough to stay away from work. He took pictures of odd 

people and things that happened locally and sold them. He also sold 

other small articles. The best thing he did was talkj He could 

talk for hours with no more effort than water running over a dami 

Other Characters 

There was "Tinker Green" who pushed a hand cart and mended 

umbrellas, wash boilers, pots and pans0 I was not so well acquainted 

with him as some of the others. Josh and Billy, a queer pair of 

brothers named Jones, of whom Josh was tall and Billy, short0 Their 

folks left them a farm in the town of Perry but they lost it because 

they would argue about how long they should cut sticks of stove wood 

and other things quite as simple. They would then sit down and 

dispute until the sun went down. They took to traveling, sold 

sticking salve and cough medicine. They finally ended up in the 

County Home0 

Then there was Timothy Holbrook, whom I and others have 

mentioned before,. He said his full name was Timothy Washington Moses 

Israel Holbrook0 He was a wild looking man. I believe his ancestors 

were Quakers as he wore his hair long beneath a broad-brimed hat,and 

he wore a long black coat. On the right breast of his coat was one 

large pearl button; on the left a circle of twelve pearl buttons,the 

one button representing Christ and the other his disciples. Some 

people called him "Buttons." One day when It was real hot he sat 

under a tree by the roadside and rested. While reading his Bible,he 

fell asleep and some boys cut the buttons off his coat. He said 

they had cut the heads off his disciples. He traveled up and down 

the highways, even in the hottest weather, and preached to anyone 

who would listen0 He was sure that some day the President would be 

asked to leave the White House and he would be made king. He could 

quote prophecy to prove it!

Page 94 

PIONEER CEMETERY, SHELDON, ROUTE 20A 

April 1954 

This abandoned graveyard, west of North Sheldon, on present 

Route 20A, was probably the first opened in the township, but 

apparently not used after the Civil War period,, Located on the north 

side of the highway at the brow of a hill, the grounds are several 

feet above the present road level and little care has been given 

them in recent years0 The stones are scattered and broken, while 

bushes have overgrown much of the site. The first settlement was 

made in this area in l80ô 

BRACE 

BROWN 

BUELL 

CASTLE 

DONDERSON 

DONELSON 

DUNBAR 

HAMILTON 

MATHEWS 

PARSONS 

POWERS 

REES 

WARREN 

Curtis,son Capt.Qrsnge & Sarah Brace, d. Sept. 15, l809,21yc 

Elkanah Brown, d0 Feb. 5p , 1863, o-wuj, 73y i Jy 6m 5d. 

Sarah, wife Elkanah, dc July 23, 1855, 67y< 

John L„ Buell,d0 Sept0 8, 1833, 31st yr. 

Dyer,son Amos H.& Ann Phillips Castle, d. Sept. 19, I83IJ., 

5m 7d0 

Sabrah, wife Nelson 0o Donderson, d0 Jan 21, I8I4J4., 23y0 

Sarah L0,duao Nelson 0. & Sabra Donelson, d.Aug.^ 1872, 

28ye (What appears to be a stone for her mother, 

has the family name spelled "Donderson.") 

Charles, died l81|7, no age given. 

Esther, wife Dana Dunbar, d0 July 22, 1839, 71y» 

Dr0 Ziba Hamilton, d.Nov0 23,l8559 87th yrc (He came to 

Sheldon in 1809, and continued occasionally to 

practice medicine even after his 80th yearo) 

Zipporah, wife Dr. Ziba, d0 April 1, 18^3® 72y. 

Cyrus Fo Hamilton, d. Feb. 2i|, l8i|ij., i|8y. 

Job N Mathews, son Job R.&Harriet, d0 July 3^835® 12y. 

Uriah Persons, d0 March 11, 181^.2, 79y. {fe was born in New 

Jersey in 17631 came to Sheldon in 1806, and built the 

first tavern & frame house at Persons' Corners.) 

Mary (Sesion), wife Uriah, d. May 1, 1856, 88y. (Native 

of Conn., and his second wife by whom he had three 

children.) 

Henry, son Uriah, d0 Sept. 26, 1819, 19y 

Solomon, son Uriah, d. Nov. 16, l86l, 7m 

John Persons, d. July 21, I61j.9, 56y. (Son of Uriah.) 

Nathaniel H., son John D. & Mary Ann Persons, d. July 27, 

181;3p 22y 

Mary, wife Uriah Persons (Jr.), d. Jan 11, 185^, 66y 

William H0, son Lyman L. & Savilla, d. June 12,l8[|4, ly 8m 

Sally E., dau. David & Sally Rees, d. Mar. 10,1813, 2y 3m. 

Daniel R. H Warren, wife d„ " ~ Sept. Daniel, ~ ' 12, " d. " 1812, June " l+Ly 8, I8I4.6, 80y. (Stone broken) 

Thomas Warren, d« July 29, 182k» 30y.

April 1954 

YATES SETTLEMENT, TOWN OF GAINESVILLE 

Page 95 

This small, possibly private, cemetery,just south of Rock Glen, 

east of Route 19* and now in a pasture, apparently was the burying 

ground for the pioneer settlers around "Yates Settlement," one of 

the earliest in the township of Gainesville. Berzillai Yates is reported 

to have kept a tavern, a stopping place for stages which 

passed enroute to Warsaw and Gainesville. Stones, other than those 

for Mr. Yates, his wife and mother, are scattered and broken. In 

the summer of 1953» it was impossible to ascertain how many may have 

been buried there, possible a dozen or more within the now-vanished 

enclosure. 

THAYER Bethiah Yates, dau. Berzillai & Mercy, wife Daniel Thayer, 

d0 2ii, 1852 , 60yo (She was buried at the foot of her 

father's grave„) 

WOOD Wheelock Wood, died May 6, l&3k68y. (In 1853, one A. C. 

Wood was residing across the highway from Mr. Yates' old 

home farm of 350 acres.) 

YATES Berzillai Yates. Soldier of the Revolution, died Sept. 1, 

l8/|l, aged 81). y' s. "Native of Mendon, Worcester Co., 

Mass. On the right is my mother I On the left my wife. 

We lived to a good old age and now rest in peace." 

Grave has a DAR Marker. 

Elizabeth Yates, died Dec. l5s 1809, aged 96 yrs. Native 

of Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Mass. 

Mercy Yates, died Sept. 30, 1827* aged 71 yrs. Native of 

Uxbridge, Worcester Co., Mass. 

HIS er, died Oct. 17, 18U-7, 76y. 

SCHAUB CEMETERY, TOWN OF ATTICA 

(Located on Exchange street road at the Attica Center road. Copied 

by Mr. Lucius B. Davis, Varysburg, in 1914-1.) 

BAKER 

EDSON 

JOHNSON 

SHADBOLT 

TOWNSEND 

Patience, wife Abel Baker, d. Jan. 26, 1835s 86y. 

Caleb, d. Oct. 10, 1823, lj-6y 

Hannah, wife Caleb, d. Feb. 28, 1852, 7kj 

Hamden, son Asa & Sophia, d. Feb. 7» 1821]., 12y 

Isaac, d. Dec. 3, l835s l+6y 

John, son Isaac & Katherine, d. Sept. 26, I8I4.O, l5y 

Susanna, wife Martin, d. March 16, 1832, 39y

Page 96 

DOLE CEMETERY, PIKE 

April 1954 

This private plot is located on the Henry Vallance farm on the Pike- 

East Koy roado One of the finest of early homes stands on this farm, 

deeded to General Thomas Dole in l8ll0 Dole was supervisor of Pike, 

overseer of the poor, commissioner of common schools, and a Pike 

merchant, operator of a distillery and a grist mill. He is listed 

as a brigadier general and prominent in the court activities of 

Allegany County0 

DOLE 

ELLIS 

SMITH 

VINCENT 

General Thomas Dole, d. April ll,l8l;2, &4_y. ( Born in Vt. 

in 1778.) 

Anna, wife Thomas Dole, Eso„, a native of Sterling, 

Worcester Co., Mass., d. Oct. 31, l82l|,lj.7y 

Mercy, wife General Thomas Dole, d0 Nov. llj., 1873, 71y 

Sumner Dole, Son Thomas & Anna, b. Windham, Vt., l806j 

died in Pike, May 10, l8£3, J+7y 

Hannah, wife Sumner, d. Dec. 30, 1863, i|8y 10m 

Mercy Dole, 1837-1873 

Infant son Sumner & Hannah, d. April 10, 1829 

Mercy, dau. Sumner & Hannah, d. Jan. 29, 1836, 3y 10m 

Judge, son Sumner & Hannah, d. Jan0 19, l8i|.2, ly _m l£d 

In memory of two infant son twins, children of Thomas & 

Mercy Dole, d. Oct. 3, 1825 

Thomas D0 Ellis, son Nathan E0 & Cynthia, d. Sept.7sl839» 

2y 6m l£d 

Infant son Nathan E. & Cynthia, de Sept. 13, 181+1 

"Short pain, short grief 

dear babe was thine 

Now joys eternal and 

Janette Smith, youngest daughter Thomas & Mercy Dole, d. 

Octo 1851|, 26y 2m 

Infant son L. M. Sc Jan(e) Smith, d. Feb. 22, 18^2 

Jeremiah H0 Vincent, 1820-1906 

Harriet, wife Jeremiah Ha, d. Mar. 31, 1871, [ji|y 

Jenny, d. Feb. 19, 1831, i+y 7m 

Ada A0 Vincent, l8l;7-1931 

» 

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