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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

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SETTLEMENT . . .

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THE EARLY HISTORY

OF

HORNELLSVILLE,

STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

An Address made at the Centennial of the First Settlement of Hornellsville, on September 25th, 1890.

BY IRVIN W. NKAR.

HORXELLSVILLE. X. Y. : THE EVEXIXG TRIBUXE PRINTING UOUSE.

1890,

C'

A. ^ .

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Settlement of }4ornensvilIe,

SEPTEMBKR 25, 1890.

Mr. Chairman: —

The territory now embraced within the limits of the city and town of Hornellsville and the immediate neighborhood, has been claimed by three Enropean governments.

Spain by discovery atfirmed by a papal bull. France and England have proclaimed and asserted ownership, by col- onisation and conquest, and, in the name of their respective monarchs, have occupied it with armed military iorces. The tri-color of France and the cross ot St. George have tloated in its breezes, as an evidence and an admonition ol their respective occupation, dominion and sovereignty. 1 he rights of the native Indians, the English claimed, was the right of possession, suDJect to be acquired by purchase or conquest. The claim of the French was that France was the absolute owner of the soil, that the Indians were their wards, to be governed and cared for as the home government might di- rect. It has been given and granted by conflicting royal charters, and by sovereign states; has been transferred by

treaties solemnized both in Enrope and America, and was part of the domain conveyed by the largest sale of land ever made by a government to private individuals.

Forty-two years after the discovery of America by Columbus, Jacques Cartier landed at Hochelaga, now Mon- treal, on the banks of the river St. Lawrence, erected the cross, and planted the French flag, and setting aside the papal bull of Pope Alexander VI, proclaimed in the name of Jesus and Mary, and of Francis I, of France, that he took possession, in their names, of that river and all its tributaries and lands adjoining both remote and distant. The same claim and right was re-asserted by Champlain, at the founding of Quebec in 1608.

The English under Gosnold had entered Chesapeake Ba}^ in 1607, and the Dutch in the person of Hendrick Hudson, had entered the river that bears his name in 1609. Each claimed the adjacent country for their respective monarchs.

In tracing the advent of our race to this locality, French colonization and occupancy must, of necessity, take prece- dence.

All that portion of what now constitutes the State of New York, lying westerly and northerly of the boundaries of Oneida county, and the extensions thereof, from and after the arrival of Champlain upon the St. Lawrence, until the conquest and treaty in 1762 — a centur}^ and a half — formed a portion of French Canada, or in a more extended geo- grajihical designation, New France, and this identical local- ity was a part of this territory, and was carefuU}- watched, and jealously guarded by the French government. In 1690 Count Frontenac, then governor of New France, learning that a portit^n of his domain in the Seneca countr}' and on la Belle (Allegheny) river was trespassed upon, sent Sieur de Villers with a party of soldiers and Indians to warn and drive away all trespassers and intruders upon the domin- ions of his master. With this expedition was, upon the au- thority of Fathers Hennepin and Charlevoix, and letters addressed to Madame de Maintenon, one whom the world

will not easily foro-et, the good Abbe Fenelon, afterwards Bishop of Canbray. The chronicler says: "The expe- dition left Cataraiiqiii (now Kingston), crossed to and skirted the south shore of Lake Ontario, until they reached the Genesee river, which they ascended, making one portage around two considerable falls, about a league apart, until they reached its head waters, then after a carrying place of nearly six leagues they reached the head waters of a stream that flowed to the south ; upon this stream, in a mountain country, they found a settlement called Kanestio, containing several scores ot habitations, built of timbers with stone chimneys on the end, outside, and peopled by runaway Frenchmen, Indians out- lawed, who belonged to no tribe ; fugitive negro slaves from Chesapeake Bay : renegade Dutch, who had been driven away from Albany, and graceless Yankees from New Ply- mouth. A more worthless lot of good-for-nothings, who had no hope of Heaven, or fear of Hell, we never saw. De Villers, after erecting the cross and planting the colors of France, proclaimed that the country belonged to Louis XIV, and was a part of New France. We then hastened away without further ceremony,"

The same authorit}- records that, it was on this journey the good Abbe composed in part that charming work, " The Adventures of Telemachus," an allegory representing a youth in pursuit of happiness, guided by wisdom, which will be read while mankind reverence the noble, the beau- tiful and the true. The fancy that it was in part born in thought, b}^ this murmuring river, makes, indeed, the soil on which we dwell classic ground.

Long before the conquest and fall of New France, both the English provinces of Massachusetts and New York pas- sively claimed this region under conflicting charters. That under which Massachusetts claimed was granted by James I, of England in 1620, and b}' Charles I in 1628, embraced all of the territory l)'ing between 42 degrees and 44 de- grees, 15 minutes north latitude, and extending from the

Atlantic ocean on the east to the Pacific on the west. The province of New York claimed under a charter ^^ranted by Charles 11, of England, to James, Duke oi York and AU)any, whei-eby was j^ranted all of the lands extend- ing- from a line twenty miles easterly of Hudson river, northerly to Canada, southerly to Delaware Bay and west- erly to the ocean.

After the conquest and fall of New France, this region was owned by tlie English, but was occupied by the same Indians as before, who were under the supervision of one of the most remarkabc men of that period, who had con- trol of the Indian affairs of the English on this continent — Sir William Johnson.

In November 1762, two Indians ol Kanestio murdered and confiscated the property of two Dutch traders, English subjects, who were passing through the Seneca coun- try. At a meeting held by Lieutenant Guy Johnson, deputy agent for Indian affairs, with the Indians at Onondaga, on December 6, 1762, at which, in pursuance of Sir William Johnson's instructions, and at which the Senecas were noti- fied to attend and produce the guilty parties. Delegations of the Onondagas and Cay ugas attended, the Senecas were not represented. Lieut. Johnson then and there said to those in attendance, that if the Indians expected to live in peace with the English, these malefactors must be brought to justice, without unreasonable delay.

Teyawarunte, speaker lor the Onondagas, replied as lol- lows: " Brother, we have all heard and carefully attended to your speech, and must confess the case is very hard both on your part and on ours, as it cannot but give us the greatest uneasiness to think that a village like Kanestio, composed of stragglers Irom several nations should have presumed to act a part so contrary to the sentiment and inclinations of the confederacy. For our parts we assure you, that we are determined to do everything in our power for procuring you that satisfaction so justly required, but, we are very desirous first to see the Upper Nations, to ac-

qiiainl thcin willi noui" speech, an;l l(» he iiil()iinc(| what they have done in [\\v allaii\ and we h()i)e thai their present delay is owing U) their beini;- in quest of the murderers. Therefore we bej;^ vou w ill rest satislied until the aiiival oi the Upper Nations, and in case the Senecas do not immedi- ately comply with your tlemands, you may rest assured we shall, without further delay, go in search ol the murrlerers, being unanimously resolved to pursue them to the utmost distant parts, rather than fail in convincing y(ni how much we disapprove of their barbarity."

The murderers lied to the region of the Ohio river and the Indians declared they could not find them, it was after- wards reported that one of them had been killed.

Sir William J(jhnson ])laced no conhdence in these reports; he was satisfied that the criminals were being harbored in the vicinity of their depredations, he therefore, in April, 1764, sent Capt. Andrew Montour, a half-breed Indian, wdth one hundred and forty Indians and some white men, to avenge these crimes; he proceeded to Kanisteo, which he completely destroyed. It consisted of sixty good houses, with three and four fireplaces in each of them. He found a large quantity of Indian corn, as also a great number of implements, wdiich they had taken from the inhabitants, with many new saddles, etc., several horses, horned cattle and swine, the most of them in such a poor condition that he killed them all but about a dozen, which they carried (;lf with them.

During the war ol the Revolution, this territory was transiently occupied by the British and their Indian and Tory allies for the purpose ol planning and preparing their murderous invasions upon the patriotic inhabitants and settlements of New York and Pennsylvania.

The expedition that massacred the inhabitants at Wyo- ming in 1778, set out from Fort Niagara, by the south shore of Lake Ontario, to the mouth of the Genesee river, thence up that river to where Dansville is now situated, thence over the divide to the Canisteo river — the same route taken

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by the French before noted — halting at a point now within the town of Hornellsville, nearl}' westerly of and opposite where Big Creek falls into the Canisteo. Here they built their canoes and floats, with which they decended the river on th^ir bloody errand that culminated in the massa- cre (jf Wyoming in 1778. The unsleejiing vengeance of the Senecas was avenged for the unlicensed intrusion of the settlers into their sacred valley. It is asserted that the first white settlers in this neighborhood found canoes constructed of the trunks of pine trees, that had been unskillfully made and abandoned, and the tools used in such construction.

Says a local writer of 1812: "Here are still to be seen the marks of the tracks of the invading foe that committed the savage butchery at Wyoming, a fine settlement, and its complete destruction in 1778 will long be remembered. Here the ancient man showeth the stumps of trees from which the canoes were taken, and chilleth the soul with horror at the tale of woe." A sad memor}^ to associate with the history of the beautiful valley of the Canisteo.

After the American Independence had been acknowledged by Great Britain, at the treat}^ of Versailles in 1783, and this region had become a part of the United States, the contention between Massachusetts and New York for the right to this territory became sharp and active. Massa- chusetts claimed under the charters granted by James I and Charles 1.

New York claimed under the charter granted by Charles II, and by reason of the annulment of the Plymouth char- ter, by the decree of the high court of chancery in 1684, and by the charter granted bv William and Mary in 1692, it was contended, all rights granted under the hrst charters of Massachusetts that in any way conflicted with the claims of New York no longer existed.

This contention and dispute was compromised by com- missioners on the part of each state, four from Massachusetts and six from New York, at Hartford, Connecticut, Decem- ber 16th, 1786, by Massachusetts ceding to New York the

" (iovcrmnc'iit sov crcii;"iitv and jiiiisdict ion " ovct the dis- piitcd Uiriforv. and New ^'()^k ccdin<j^ to Massachusetts "the rii^ht of pre-emption of the soil of the native Indians, and all other estate except of sovereii^nty and jurisdiction to Massachus'.-tts, its grantees aud assigns forever." These lands comprised about 6,000,000 of acres, commencing at a point in the parallel of 42 degrees north latitude, and in the north lioundary line of the State of Pennsylvania, distant 82 miles west from the northeast corner of the vState of Penn- sylvania on the Delaware river, thence due north to the bound- ary line between the United States and Canada, thence west- erly in said boundary line until it intersects a meridian line one mile east of the confluence of Niagara river with Lake Ontario, and along this meridian line to Lake Erie, then due west to the boundary line between the United States and Great Britain, thence westerly in said boundary line until it intersects with the said 42d parallel, thence easterly along said parallel to the place of beginning. The eastern boun- dary of these lands commencing at the 82d mile stone and running due north to Lake Ontario, is the celebrated pre- emption line. Its different locations are called the old and new pre-emption lines. The history of the location of these lines is interesting. It discloses the fact that the men of a century ago had an eye to the main chance, that they were fully as alert and unscrupulous as those of the present day. To establish and locate the new pre-emption line, the theodolite was first used in the United States. It is the meridian of Washington. It forms the eastern boundary of Steuben county.

Soon after the close of the Revolution, this region began to attract the atenttion of adventurers and settlers; pre- tended leases were made with the Indians to avoid the provisions of the State constitution forbidding a sale by the Indians of the lands then occupied by them.

In the early part of the Year 1787, Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham applied to the general court of Massachusetts for the purchase of the right of pre-emp-

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tion which that commonwealth had in ihe western territory* lately ceded by the State of New York, and on the 31st of March, 1788, the commonwealth of Massachnsetts, in con- sideration of ^^300,000 in consolidated securities of that commonwealth, or ^"2,000 specie and iJ"290,ooo of said secu- rities, sold the right of pre-emption in the before mentioned territor}' to said Phelps and Gorham. and they were there- by authorized to extinguish b}' purchase, the claims of the native Indians to the soil in the said territor^^ The Rev. Samuel Kirkland was authorized to superintend and aj)- prove the said purchase of Phelps and Gorham from the Indians, on the ])art of the State of Massachusetts.

Phelps and Gorham, on the 8th/jf July, 1788, held a treaty with the six nations of Indians at Buffalo Creek, at which, among others, were present Benjamin Fi-anklin and La- Fayettc, also a young P^nglish ofificer who was present by invitation, and being somewhat of an artist, sketched the scene with so much fidelity that several of the distinguished persons who were present can still be recognized. In con- sideration of $5,000 and an armuity of $500 forever, they acquired the title ol the native Indians in a part of the lands ceded by New York to Massachusetts, and described as lollows: Bounded on the north by the shore of Lake On- tario, on the south by the aforesaid noilh line of Pennsylva- nia, on the east by the pre-emption line, on the west by a line drawn at right angles to the Pennsy Kania line, and extending due north to a i)oint of land made by the confluence of the Canaseraga Creek with the Genesee river, thence down the Genesee to a point t wo miles north of Canawaugus village, thence due west twelve miles, thence northerly and parallel with the Genesee river to Lake Ontario.

This western line of this i)urchase can now be fixed as follows, beginning at the southwest corner of the town of Independence in Allegany countv. forming the westerly boundary of the towns of Independence, Alfred, Almond, Burns, Ossian, Sparta and Groveland, northerly to the con- Huence oi the Canaseniga Creek with the Genesee river, near

1 1

the point wlicre tlic I). L. .V W. k. R. crosses the \V . N. \'. cV P. K. I\., north ol t he \ilhi>;c' ot Mt. Morris, and was h)nij; marked by a hiri;e ehn tree. The viUage ol Cana\vauL;-us was near the place where tlic Attica branch of the N. \ ., L. K. *.\: W. 1\. R. crosses the Cienesee \^alley Canal and the Roches- ter division of the W. X. ^'. iS: P. R. R.. a lew miles west of Avon. The easterly end ol the trestle of the [.. ct P. R. R. over the N., Y. L. E cS: W. R. R., near the larm residence of the late Rev. Dr. Llovd Windsor, in the town ol Bnrns, is on this line.

The State ol Massachusetts, on the 2istda\'ol No\'em- ber, 1788, confirmed this treaty with the Indians and granted to Phelps and Gorham the land embraced in said treaty ; within these boundaries were contained, by estimate, 2,600,000 acres of land.

A word as to the consolidated securities with which this land was to be paid for by Phelps and Gorham to the State of Massachusetts. These securities were issued bv Massa- chusetts to help defrav hercpujtaof the expense of the war for Independence ; at the time of the offer of Phelps and Gorham to bu^ these lands these securities were gi-eatlv depreciated in value, and were selling for about 20 per cent., or one-fifth of their nominal value. Hut by the time that the sale by the Indians had been ai)proved by the gen- eral court of Massachusetts, and because ol the adoption and ratification of the Federal Constitution, by a majority of the States, a greater feeling of confidence began to prevail through all of the States, of a more perfect and en- during Union, and also because of the requirments of PheL^js and Gorham, of a considerable amount of these securities to meet their engagements, they rapidly appreci- ated in value; were held at par, and in some instances com- manded a premium.

In the spring of 1788, Mr. Phelps felt his home in Gran- ville, Mass., to visit the tract he had purchased. It is recorded that the hazard of the enterprise was deemed so great that his family and friends, with the minister ol the

12

parish, assembled to witness his departure to the " far dis- tant country," and wept ov'er him as one whose return from a wilderness inhabited by savag-es could scarcel}^ be hoped for.

Because of the inability of Phelps and Goiham to make payments as they became due, on the i8th day of Novem- ber, 1790, and after they had sold several townships of land which were excepted, amonj^ which were this town and Canisteo, they conveyed to Robert Morris, of Philadclphii3, the great financier of the Revolution, all the remainder of lands they had acquired from Massachusetts and the Indians, or which they were entitled to, for eight pence an acre. Mr. Phelps, who was the principal monied man and the manager of the enterprise, by reason of unfortunate ven- tures, died an insolvent debtor, on the jail limits in Canan- daigua on February 21st, 1809.

Mr. Morris, by deed dated April nth, 1792, conveyed to Charles Williamson for the consideration of ^^75,000 sterl- ing, all of the lands acquired by Phelps and Gorham from the Indians by treaty and last described, excepting sales made by Phelps and Gorham. The lands en-yaraced in that purchase have since been known as the Pulteney estate.

In 1792 and '93, Mr. Morris after he had acquired the Indian title thereto, conveyed and mortgaged to Herman LeRo}^ William Willink and others, known as the Holland Land Company, the balance of the territory ceded by New York to Massachusetts and was called the " Holland Pur chase," except a strip of land two townships wide, extend- ing through the Count}- of Allegany from the Pennsylva- nia line, northerly to Lake Ontario, an average of twelve miles wide. This is known as the " Morris Reserve." This was largely sold under executions issued upon judgments against Mr. Morris.

A large portion was brought by John 13. Church, the father of the late Judge Philip Church, of Angelica, N. Y.

Mr. Morris by reason of this purchase became involved jn serious financial complications that resulted in his utter

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ruin and terminated in his death in a drhtor's prison in Philadelphia. .Mav Sth, 1808.

it is a melancholv lact. that the purcliase ol the most fertile part of the State of New York, to-day containini^ over a million of inhabitants, by Oliver Phelps and later by Robert Morris, should ha\e been the cause of their hnan- cial ruin, and consigned both to a debtor's |)rison to end their lives.

Earlv in the year of 1789, Mr. Phel|)s opened an ofHce in Canandaigua for the sale of his lands. In the early part ol the 3'ear, 1789, twelve persons whose names were Uriah Stevens, Sr., Arthur Erwin, Joel Thomas, Solomon Bennet, Elisha Brown. John Jemingson, Uriah Stevens, jr., James Hadley, Wm. Wynekoop, John Stevens, Thomas Bennet and Christian Kress associated themselves together to pur- chase lands from Phelps and Gorham which they had ac- quired from Massachusetts. Solomon Bennet and E!lisha Brown, two of these associates, were selected to make the purchase for the benefit ol all.

On August I Sth, 1789, and in pursuance of the purpose, Oliver Phelps, of Canandaigua, Ontario county, N. Y., of the one part, and Solomon Bennet and Elisha Brcnvn, of Chemung, Montgomery Co., N. Y., made an instrument in writing, wherebv Phelps agreed to sell and convev to the said Bennet and Brown, two townships ol land, each to be six miles long, north and south, and five and a hall miles from east to west, lying in the County of Ontario, State of New York, to be located in such a manner as to take in part or all of the old Canisteo fiat, and not to derange the adjacent towns, in consideration of the sum of i^2,666, 13s, 4d., lawful money of the State of New York t<3 be paid as follows: One-third on or before May ist, 1790; one-third on or before May ist, 1791, and the remainder on or before May ist, 1792, with lawful interest. The said Bennet and Brown agreed that before October ist, 1789, they would give good and sufificient security for the payment of said sum at the times above mentioned and stipulated, and the said Phelps

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agreed that he would give a good and sufficient deed of the said townships when the said Bennet and Brown shall give the security aforesaid. This was before this tract was run into townships, and the numbers of townships and ranges were not specihed. This purchase was approved b}^ the twelve associates, and in September, of the same year, Arthur Erwin, Solomon Bennet, and Joel Thomas were deputed by the associates to go to Canandaigua and complete the purchase. Mr. Phelps being somewhat ac- quainted with Uriah Stevens, Sr., requested that he should sign the notes for the purchase, which was secured by a lien upon the land and be made a party to the deed, wdiich he did, and a deed was made and delivered from Phelps to these four persons, namely : Uriah Stevens, Sr., Arthur Erwin, Solomon Bennet and Joel Thomas, lor township 3, 5th i-ange, and townshi|) 3, 6th range. Tlie survey of this tract had then been comidetcd and mapi)ed by Augustus Porter.

it was soon discovered that the Canisteo Hats which the campany wished to purchase, was not conveyed by tliis deed which covered the j)resent towns of Canisteo and Hartsville, but that the land they intended to purchase was township 3, 5th range, now the town of Canisteo, and town- ship 4, of the 6th range, now the city and part of the town of Hornellsville. In Sei)tcml)er 1790, Stevens, Sr., Erwin, Bennet and Joel Thomas went to Canandaigua to get a deed for the last named townships and to deliver up the first deed. Phelps agreed to give them a new deed if they would strike one-half mile from each township so that each should be 6 by 5^ miles, but as some improvements had been made on No. 3, in the 5th range, Canisteo, it was agreed that instead of taking one-half mile from this township, a strip one mile in width be taken from the west side of No. 4, in the 6th range, Hornellsville, sq that township 3 should be 6 miles square and township 4 should be 5 miles by 6, and in pursuance of this agreement a deed was made on the i6th day of September, 1790, by Phelps to Uriah Stevens, Sr.,

Aiihiir Erwi'n, vSoIomon Bcnnct and Joel riiomas lor the same consideration, /^2,666, 13s, 4d, payable in the same manner and h\- the same notes as lor the hist deed. The security lor tlie ])avment ol the notes was transferred li-om the first to the last land.

The lands in this deed are described as hini^ in the dis- trict of Erwin, in the Count}- of Ontario, State of New York, and known by the name of the old Canisteo Castle.

On October i8th, 1789, after the Hrst agreement made with Mr. Phel[)s bv the associates, an agreement was made and entered into in writing between the twelve associates, whereby Uriah Stevens, Jr., Solomon Bennet, Joel Thomas, of Chemung, in the State of New York, and Arthur Erwin, of the State of Pennsvlvania, of the one part, and Elisha Brown, Uriah Stevens, Jr., James Hadle}^ William Wine- koop, John Stevens, John Jemingson, Thomas Bennet and Christian Kress, of Chemung, aforesaid, of the other part agreed that the party of the Hrst part should let the party of the other part have eight-twelfths of the lands purchased by the first part, of Oliver Phelps, and pay the first part eight-twelfths of the price and cost of purchase, that the Hrst part had incui^red, and the party of the Hrst |>art agreed to conve^' eight twelfths of said two townshijis to the party ol the other ])art, when thev shall give a good and sufHcient securit}' for the payment of said sum.

About this time Augustus Porter, the surveyor t)f Phelps and Gorham, asccrtainetl that townships 3 and 4 were much larger than supposed. They w^ere about 6 by 8 miles. He accordingly' cut off from the east side of township No. 3, in the 5th range, 12,099 ''teres and from the north side of township No. 4, in the 6th range, 9,406 acres. This last cut off is now known as the North Gore. This reduced these townships to the size originally intended.

It may be interesting to those who are unacquainted, to know the boundary and location of township No. 4, in the 6th range. Its north line is in the highway leading from Webb's Crossing, easterly to Miller's place. This line is five

i6

miles in length. Let me say in passing: the point where this line crosses Selah's Creek, the stream that supplies this citv with water, quite near the highwa}^ iron bridge at Miller's, was formerly called ISIilltown. Here was located and operated a mill, long since abandoned ; not a vestage remains, but to preserve this fact this nr.me should be re- stored to this locality. The west line of No. 4 commences at the westerly termination of the said north line, a little north of the McMichael cemetery on Pennsylvania Hill, is the west line of this cemetery lot, crosses the Almond road at the intersection of the road from Webb's near the residence formerly occupied by Charles Major, now owned by Bur- dick, and terminates in the north line of Hartsville where it crosses Crosby Creek, near the Hood & Bardeen cheese factory. The east line commences in the easterly termin- ation of the north line, and passes near the dwelling of Ross Swartz. It is the boundary line between the towns of Hornellsville and Canisteo, crossing the N. Y., L. E. cS: W. R. R., near the proposed Junction with it of that ill-starred conception, the Hornellsville and Pine Creek R. R., and terminating in the south line which is in the line between the towns of Hartsville and Hornellsville.

The title to township 4 in the 6th range, which will hence- forth engage my attention, having been vested in four of the associates, and they having given their fellow asso- siates legal evidence of their rights and interests, immediate measures were taken to survey and divide the township into lots and distribute them among the twelve partners.

On the 25th of September, 1790, one hundred years ago to-day, lots were drawn for the ownership of the twelve subdivisions of township 4, at the house of Benjamin Crosby in this township as follows: Twelve slips of paper were prepared, upon each strip was written the name of only one of the partners, no two of the pieces of paper contained the same name. These slips of paper were put into a hat; seven of the partners were present. All were not in a per- fect normal and fit condition for the business on hand, and

17

after some contention it was thought best that neither ol the associates should draw in jjcrson, so it was agreed that Hannah, wife of Richard Crosby, who was present, should be blind-folded and should draw^ these slips of paper from the hat, which she did. The hrst name drawn should be entitled to lot No. i, and so on, consecutively, until the twelve pieces of paper were drawn. This drawing resulted as follows :

No. I— James Hadley, No. 2— John Jemingson, No. 3— Ar- thur Erwin, No. 4— Christian Kress, No. 5— Joel Thomas, No. 6— Uriah Stephens, Jr., No. 7— John Stephens, No. 8— William Wynekoop, No. 9— Uriah Stephens, Sr., No. 10— Thomas Bennet, No. 11— Elisha Brown, No. 12— Solomon Bennet.

An agreement was entered into that day between the owners of these great lots, whereby Arthur Erwin was to survey township No, 4 into twelve lots, of equal wndth of 133 and }i rods, running the full length of said town from north to south, and each to contain 1,600 acres, the most westerly lot was to be No. i, agreeably to a draft that was made Sei)tember 13th, 1790, and to deliver a fair draft to every man of his lot that day drawn.

For all ol his services, Erwin was to be paid by said owners ^47, los in money, grain or cattle, at market price, at Matt HoUcnback's store in Tyouga. One-half of the pay was to be delivered at Newtown Point as soon as the work is done ; each man was only to be accountable for the one- twelfth part of the pay. On August 23d, 1790, Christian Kress, by a quit claim deed, in consideration of /-230, sold all of his interest in townships 3 and 4 to Arthur Erwin and thereby Erwin became the owner of lot No. 4 in township four, 6th range. John Jemingson was a subscribing witness to this deed. William Wynekoop transferred his interest in this town to Solomon Bennet and he became the owner of lot No. 8. Thomas Bennet transferred his interest in this township to Solomon Bennet and he became the owner of great lot No. 10. Solomon Bennet conveyed this lot to

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Oliver Phelps, on February nth, 1794, for the considera- tion of $1,233.33,

In the summer of 1790, Bcnjaniin Crosby with his family settled in llornellsville, on great lot No. 8. Me erected a house, and li\xd in it, on the site now occupied by St. James Mercy Hospital, on Canisteo street in the city of Hornells- villc. This was the first white man's house in the city or town of Horncllsville. He purchased this lot of Solomon Bennet, one of the twelve associates, the deed recites that Solomon Bennet, gentleman, conveyed to Benjamin Crosby, yeoman, in consideration of ^^300, lot No. 8, of township No. 4, in the 6th i-ange of townships, in the district of Erwin, Ontario county, New York, containing 1,600 acres of land.

Benjamin Crosby, the first settler and founder of this city, emigrated from England about the middle of the last cen- tur}', arriving in New York after a long period of suffering by shipwreck. Richard Crosby, one of his sons, who also settled here with his father, served in the war of the Rev- olution. He was a captain in General Washington's body guard. He married Hannah, a daughter of Jeremiah and Anna Baker, and sister of the late Hon. Jeremiah Baker, of Canisteo.

Lot No. 8 is bounded on the west in the city of Hornells- ville by Seneca, Canisteo and South Division streets, on the east by a line parallel to the west line which is a little east of Pardee street. We are, and this building, Shattuck opera house, is on lot No. 8.

Oliver Harding came next and settled on the land be- tween Main and Genesee streets, near where Hakes avenue is now located. He was the nearest neighbor of Mr. Crosby. He was a soldier of the Revolution. He after- ward moved to Harding Hill, in the town of Fremont. He has grand children and great grand children now living and in business in this city.

George Horncll came in 1793, he was the son of a Swedish Clergyman, was born in York County, l^ennsylvania. He married Martha, a daughter of Uriah Stephens, Sr., the lead-

19

ing ninn of the twelve associates. Stephens, Sr., had I)ccn a soldier in the French war, which terminated in Ihc fall ot Canada. He was with Sir Jeffrey Amherst at the capture of Ticonderoga and Fort St. Frederick. He Mar- ried Martha Rathbun, a native of Stono^ington, Conn. He with his sons, Uriah, jr., and John, and his son-in-law, Solo- mon Bennet, who married his daughter Sarah, were four of the associates, and at the time of the division owned one- half of township 4.

On July 9th 1793, John Stephens, who drew great lot No. 7 conveyed this lot containing 1,600 acres to George Hornell. The consideration named in the conveyance- was /,""! 11. This lot is bounded in this cit}- on the cast by Seneca, Canisteo and South Division streets. The west line is parallel with the east line and passes near the east line of St Ann's cemetery.

Judofe Hornell built the first grist mill on the site now occupied by the Thacher mill. It was the first west of Elmira, except one built by Solomon Bennet in Canisteo, which was burned a short time before.

Judge Hornell lived in and kept the first inn in the town. It was on the southerly side of Washington street, immediately opposite to Thacher street. He also kept the first store, situated near by. He represented this county in the Legis- lature of this state as a Member of Assembly in 1808. He, was an Associate Judge of the Court ot Common Pleas of Steuben county in 1796

Judge Hornell died in 181 3 and with his wife is buried in the old cemetry in the western part of the city upon the em- inence overlooking the valley for miles, up and down the river, and the eastern hills beyond. The disgraceful and abandoned condition of this old cemetry is a stand- ino- reproach to those who should protect it. Even the stone that marks the resting place of Hornell and liis wife, with its eloquent inscription, is fast disapi)caring by attacks of vandals who are chipping it away.

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Hornell was ^ood man. B)' his good character and up- right conduct he did much to stem the disorder and intern- Derate conduct that then prevailed in this vicinity. His wife was noted for her deeds of charity and commendable character. She was a ministering angle to all in this valley who were suffering or in want.

Hornell had lour sons and hve daughters. William was drowned while attending Williams college; George read law and was admitted to the bar; John died in the morning of life ; Vincent the youngest child, died at the age of twenty-four. Of the daughters. Patience died at the age of 17; Emily became Mrs. Dr. Walker, and after his death she became the wife of Col. Ira Davenport, the founder of that noble charity, " The Davenport Female Orphan Asy- lum," at Bath. Martha was the wife of the late Major Thomas J. Reynolds, of this town; Betsy, Mrs. Augustus Newell, died in Michigan in 1832, and Anne, Mrs. General Hartshorn, and after his death Mrs. Moore, died in 1882.

The records show that George Hornell certified that on November 17th, 181 1, "Milo" was born to his slave "Milley." He afterwards sold the boy Milo to one Hadley, of Canis- teo, for $70. After Hornell's death, Milley ran away to Palmyra. She was returned to Hornellsville. She remain- ed a year or two, when she again ran away, never to return. Milley was the first lugitive slave from this place of which we have any record.

On December 10, 1790, Joel Thomas, one of the associ- ates, conveyed lot No. 2 to Daniel Purdy, 1,600 acres, for the expressed consideration of ^iio.

On September 23, 1794, Solomon Bennet, for the consid- eration ol X210, conveyed lot No. 12 of this township, con- taining 1,600 acres, to John McBurney.

Uriah Stephens, jr., conveyed parts ol his lot No. 6, to his sons, John R. and Matt, and to his sons-in-law, Jerathaniel Powers and Bazy Baker and to Stephen Webb and others. Uriah Stephens, Jr., was a man of note in this valle}-. He helta many local ofhces; in various legal contentions he gave evi-

21

dence and made depcisitions conccrnin<2^ the allotinent and settlement of this town, which are still preserved in the proper places, In the j)rej)ar;iti()n ol this mattei- 1 have drawn largely from these records, lie died at Canisteo, August 2d, 1849; '^^ ^"^'^^ over 90 years old. Many ol liis granrl children arc now residents of this city and town.

Arthur Erwin, one of the twelve, died in Pennsylvania in June, 1 79 1, of a gun shot wound, leaving numeious descend- ants, many of whom arc still living in the town that bears his name. He was twice married. He left at his death ten children. His daughter, Sarah, by his first wife, mar- ried John Mulhollen. Their daughter Molly, or Mary, be- came the wife of Thomas McBurney. They died leaving eight children. Sarah married Hon. John Magee, of Bath. She died without children surviving hCr. Jane became the wife of Thomas J. Magee.

John Jemingson, now Jamison, was born at Dunham, Bucks county, i^ennsylvania, December 3, 1753. He was a captain commanding at the battle of Fort Washington, in the Revolutionary war, now^ the upper part of the city of New York, including J'livcrside, the resting place of the re- mains of General Grant. He held the fort until the aninui- nition was exhausted, when he was taken prisoner, with the loss of 27 men, and imprisoned in the infamous prison ship in New York harbor, where he contracted disease, from which he suffered during his life. He died at Canisteo, March 23, 1836, at the age of 82, on the farm on which he settled in the spring of 1790. He has great grand children now liv- ing in thip city who have filled and are now hlling honored and responsible positions. The " white woman," Mary Jamison, came from the same ancestry.

Solomon Bennet died at Canisteo in October, 1823, aged 73 years. Although at one time holding the largest part (3 shares) of this town, yet by unfortunate ventures and unprofitable investments he died an insolvent. Grand chil- dren and great grand children of Mr. Bennet are now- residing in this city.

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John Stephens, another of the 12 partners, was a son of Uriah Stephens, the elder, and was known as Col. John. In the latter years ot his life he lived in the town of Green- wood, where he died March 19, 1837.

James Hadley died in the town of Canisteo in the fall of 1832, where he had lived since 1789. The remainins^ five of the 12 associates disposed of their interests in the purchase of these towns; they never became actual settlers.

It will be observed that the territory now embraced in the city of Hornellsville, and all of the town of Hornellsville included in township 4 of the 6th range was not included in the sale to Mr. Williamson, the representative of the Pultney purchase.

We had no interest in the fierce contentions that raged a few years since between the land office and the anti-renters.

This territory was included in Tryon county from March 12, 1772, to April 2, 1784; then in Montgomery county, until January 27, 1789; then in Ontario, until the formation of the county of Steuben, March 18,1796, where it has since remained, notwithstanding the many vigorous but unsuccess- ful efforts to get out.

It is hoped that it may always remain in Steuben County.

It. formed a part of the district of Erwin and afterwards a part of the district ot Williamson, until 1796, then a part of the town of Canisteo. A local writer, in the year 181 1, in describing the town of Canisteo says, "it is nineteen miles long, north and south, by fourteen miles wide, its area is 266 square miles. The Canisteo river courses centrally across the town, and is boatable from Arkport to Tioga, in the town of Painted Post. Boats descend the Canisteo laden with one thousand bushels of wheat. The settlements are of recent date, and still retain their first local names. At Hornell's Mills, on the Canisteo, is a ferry and a road of pretty extensive travel; here is located the Canisteo Post- office."

On April i. 1820, a new town was formed and was named by Col. Ira Davenport, who was then a resident, "Hornells-

23

villc," for Jiicls;c Ilorncll. It should have been naincd for Benjamin Crosby.

Col. Davenport came to 1 loinellsville Ironi iJelawarc county, N. V., in 1815, with a waj^on h)ad of goods. He became tiie first merchant here, building with his own hands the store in which he sold his first goods. He remained hereabout thirty-two years, during which time he was a prosperous trader. He removed to Bath in 1847, where he resided the remainder of his life, contributing largely to its wealth, institutions and advancement, and entirely neglect- ing the town, village and city, where he laid the foundation for and was aided in accumulating his great wealth and good name. Col. Davenport was born in Columbia county New York., in 1795, he died in 1868.

Warehouses were built on the Canisteo river, near where Main street now crosses it. From these, arks were loaded with grain, potash and other products for shipment to Bal- timore. Later on a number of canalboats were built here and floated down the river into the Chemung canal, and from there by way of Seneca and Crooked lakes and connecting canal to Hammonds[)orl, where they were used in canal navigation.

The village of Hornellsville was incorporated under the general village act June 28th, 1852, was reorganized as a village under a special act of the Legislature, and given larger powers April 9th, 1867. The city of Hornellsville was created March 2d, 1888.

For sixty-two years this was a country cross roads, a ru- ral four corners, with its grist mill, tavern and blacksmith shop. " It was peopled with a hardy, rough and generally an honest race, who had within them a goodly infusion of that boisterous spirit, and love of rough, and often mischievous play, tor which the free and manly sons of the backwoods and frontiers are everywhere famous. The devouring of hominy, hog, venison and all the invigorating diet of a new settlement, the drinking of grog, baiting of bears and wolves, the hewing down of the forest, the paddling of canoes.

24

fighting, wrestling and hunting, all combined to form a gen- eration of yeomen and foresters, daring, manly and free."

When they went abroad they made themselves heard and felt, and upon holidays generally, something broke loose. I do not hesitate to say that many who hear me, have some remembrance of these happenings.

For fifteen 3'eai-s it was the ordinary country village ; for twenty-one years it was a village of the first class, with all municipal machinery. This was the period of its prosper- ity and greatest growth. For two years and over it has been a city, and the most populous place in the county.

The school {)receded the church in Ilornellsville. The first school in the town of Hornellsville was taught by Abagail Hurlbut, in 1796, in what is now the village of Arkport. The first school within the city limits was taught by Miss Sarah Thacher, about 1805, in a block house, then standing opposite the junction of Arkport street with Main street, near the foot of Cemetery hill. The first school house built within the limits oi this city, stood on the south side of Main street, near the head of Pardee street. It was built in 1813. The first teacher was Dudley Miller. Uriah Stephens, Jr., and George Hornell, the younger, were also teachers. The school continued to be a common school until 1873, when, by an act of the Legislature, a graded school and free academy was established.

The first Sunday school was held in a pine grove at Ark- port, under the charge of Miss Abagail Hurlbut.

In 1799, religious services were held at the house of Judge Hornell by Rev. Robert Logan, an itinerant Presby- terian clergyman.

A Methodist clergyman, the Rev. John Durbin, of Wyo- ming, Pa., held services within the present city limits, the following year, 1800. He may well be termed the vidette of his church in this valley. He served his Master with the same zeal that the pious Father manifested in the same valley more than a century before. Religious services

25

were held in the log school house on Main street before re- ferred to.

The Methodist Episcopal church in this city was or.c^an- izcd in 1830. The buildino^ has alway occupied its present site.

The Presbyterian church was organized July loth, 1832.

In 1843, Rev. Father Benedict Bayer, organized St. Ann's Roman Catholic church. I Ic said the Mrst mass within the limits of the town during the present century, at the house of Thomas Doorley, near Webb's crossing.

The Baptist church was organized October 17th, 1852, by Rev. Thomas Sheardown.

Christs church. Episcopal, was organized into a parish March 6th, 1854, Rev. James A. Robinson was the first rect- or.

Jewish congregation, Ahavat-Achim, was organized in June, 1867, by Rabbi Israel Erlich.

The First Universalist church, of Hornellsville, was 01"* ganized May 23, 1868, by Rev. A. G. Clark, of Branchport, N. Y.

The Seventh Day Baptist church of this city was formed April nth., 1877, by Rev. Thomas R. Williams, D. D.

vSt. Paul's Evangelical German Lutheran church, August 23d, 1885, by Rev. John Miller, of Port Jervis, N. Y.

The Hornell Library, whose usefulness has been at least next to the church and school, was founded by seven men. I think they were wise, who gave their joint note for $50 for the first lot of books this libary ever owned, sold by a noted, liberal and intelligent citizen at a large discount. This library was organized April 6th, 1868. It was the pioneer of its kind in Western New York. It is still in a most flourishing condition and is the pride of the city.

No early record of lawyers can be found who were resi- dents in this town. George Hornell, the younger, soon after he was admited to practice in 181 1 abandoned the pro- fession and became a clergyman. He went to what is now

26

the State of Minnesota, where he pursued the last named profession with success.

The first lawyers in town of which I can find any record were John Baldwin, John K. tiale and Nathan Osborn. This was in 1835. The village then had 400 inhabitants. Baldwin noted for his eccentricities, was a man of ability, a master of sarcasm, he died about 1837 at Almond. Hale rep- resented this district in the State Legislature in the Assembly in 1849, ^^"^ the Senate in 1856 and 1857. He afterwards went to Kansas; later he returned to this State; he died in Cortland. N. Y. He is buried in Hope cemetry in this city. He was a man of fine ability and good reputation. Osborn went West and was lost sight of, perhaps some one can tell of his subsequent career. Later, were William M. Hawley; he served in the Legislature of this state, as a Senator, was also the first County Judge of this County under the constitution of 1846. He died in 1869. Robert L. Brund- age, who was a district attorney of the county from 1850 to 1854, died in 1880. Horace Bemis, who represented the County two terms in the Assembly, died in 1888.

Dr. Augustus Newell was probably the first doctor of medicine to locate here. He moved to Michigan, and died there in 1837. Drs. James Walker, Manning Kelly, Com- fort E. Belden, and Samuel Olin were among the early physicians. Among the later physicians were Drs. Luman A. Ward, Charles D. Robinson and Sewell E. Shattuck, all of whom are dead. I suggest to the Medical Society of this city, the propriety of biographical and necrological sketches of the early as well as the later physicians of this town.

The first newspaper, the Horncilsvillc Tribune, was pub- lished November 19, 185 i, by Edwin Hough, on the corner of jNIain and Broad streets. The National American was first published in 1854, bv C. M. Harmon; afterwards it became the Canistco Valley Journal, published by Charles A. Kinney, until shortlv after the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when it suspended by reason of the enlist-

27

ment ol Kinne}' in ihc iiiilitan- service, in which he died. This paper was revived as the Donocratic / V^A7/r, by llie Burdick brothers, one of wliom as tlie witt}- but unfortu- nate " Sparks." It then was transformed into the Canistco Valley Times, and later tlic Ilornellsville Times.

Other newspapers have made their appearance here, and strui^i^led for existence, some of which have survived under other names, but all have been of comparatively recent ventures.

The New York and Eric Railroad was opened to Ilor- nellsville September i, 1850. Later the Buffalo and New York City railroad was opened from Attica to Hornellsville. It has since become a part of the Erie system, and is now known as the Buffalo Division of the New York, Lake Erie and Western railroad. Hornellsville became and is the terminus of three of the divisions of this system. Since the completion ol these railroads the growth and prospei'ity of this place has been active and healthy. The thrift of the city is largely due to the prosperity and energy of this railroad.

Other railroad schemes have been developed and aborted, until the building and completing, within the last three years, of the Rochester, Hornellsville t^ Lackawanna railroad, by which competing lines of railroads were reach- ed, and placed the city on a more permanent basis for pros- nus and substantial growth.

In 1832, a plot of ground w\as conveyed to the town for a public park, called Union Park, located at the intersection of Canisteo street with Main street. For a long time after, it was embclished with upturned pine stumps ; these were subsequently cleared away, trees were set out and a fence built around it. Years after it was converted into a dumping ground for street refuse. The piles of dirt made it offensive. A local genius conceived the idea of turn- ing it into a cemetery ; the bitter sarcasm inscribed upon the head boards placed in the mounds of dirt, so aroused public opinion that it was graded, beautified and adorned

28

with a memorial fountain, to perpetuate the memories of the battles of the Rebellion ot 1861, with flowers and grav- eled walks, making it the pride of the city, instead of its shame.

The early place of the burial of the dead was on the "knoll" in the western part of the city, now known as the " old cemetery." Like ever}- thing else connected with early Hornellsville, it was neglected and desecrated. It was a ridge of sand, suitable for building purposes, and with the ashes of the forefathers of this valley has been carted away and become a part of nearly every building in the city. Verily the dead we have with us, their remains cement our foundations and are spread upon our walls. This most dis- graceful and barberous business still continues at a dollar a load.

In 1853 a place of interment was opened a little farther west. Some of the younger and more enterprising of the inhabitants, chagrined and mortihed by the neglected con dition of the old cemetery, laid out Hope Cemetery, on the site of the new burying ground, procured for it a legal ex- istence and set the machinery of the corporation in motion. It now has graded streets and avenues ; fountains, cascades and pools ; well kept lots, adorned with beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers. It overlooks a part of the valley of the upper Canisteo, and also the site of the rendezvous and em- barkation of the murderous expedition against the settle- ments in the Wyoming valley in 1778. No place in this State has a more beautiful cemetery.

Of the the men of Hornellsville who participated in the War of the Rebellion, I shall not speak ; their good record and glorious deeds are preserved fn enduring archives. I have brought the events and histor}' of Hor- nellsville down to the memory of men now living. It is a brief record of events that are rapidly fading away.

The events of the last half century, that have occurred in this city should be collected, written up and published ; t is a subject that ought to command the attention of all

^9

our people, those who are passing away, as well as those who are beginning to assume the active duties of life. It should receive intelligent treatment by a competent person. Some son or daughter of Hornellsville, should perform the grateful task.

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