Production Note Cornell University Library pro- duced this volume to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. It was scanned using Xerox soft- ware and equipment at 600 dots per inch resolution and com- pressed prior to storage using CCITT Group 4 compression. The digital data were used to create Cornell's replacement volume on paper that meets the ANSI Stand- ard Z39.48-1984. The production of this volume was supported in part by the Commission on Pres- ervation and Access and the Xerox Corporation. Digital file copy- right by Cornell University Library 1991.Cornell iftniversitg JE ibrarg BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF Henrgg 199. Sage 1891 Am 5TOM- u\ 6 5" c® JE M® A® I OX OF THE ONE III'M)i;EDTII ANNIVlvU.sAUY ! AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, j r . ^ v sfxrLAiHYiLU-:, x. y.. jeey t istx IN THE SI XT Y- FI<; 11T11 Y K A It OF TH E * El TI F M KNT OF Til K i N < 1,( DlNi. I H HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY oBED EPSON. WITH AN APPENDIX. i ■ PUBLISHED BY DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE 01 A KUAN(. E- MENTS. JE.JL. Husted, Primer, Siiiclairville5 N. Y.OK THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, SINCLAIRVILLE, N. Y., JULY 4, 1876, IN T11 K SIXTY-EIGHTH YEAR OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN OF INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY OBED EDSON. WITH AN APPENDIX, PUBLISHED BY DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF ARRANGE- MENTS, ' f i Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, By OBED EDSON. In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.National Centennial Celebration, A meeting of the citizens of the town of Charlotte, in the County of Chautauqua, and State of New York, was held pursuant to public notice, at the hotel of Hen- ry Sylvester in Sinclairville in said town, June 10,1876, to consider the expediency of celebrating the Centen- nial Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, on the 4th of July, 1876, and of causing an address, containing a historical sketch of the town to be deliv- ered, in pursuance of a proclamation of the President, dated May 25, 1876. Henry Reynolds was chosen Chairman, and W. Thos. Wilson Secretary. It was re- solved unanimously to hold such a celebration at Sin- clairville, and a committee was chosen to make all of the arrangements therefor, and to carry the same into execution. Such committee consisted of the following persons, viz: W. W. Henderson, Chairman; R. E. Sheldon, A. A. Stevens, Henry Reynolds, William Reed, Alonzo Langworthv, H. W. Lapham and Nelson Mitch- ell. The following persons were designated by the Com- mittee of Arrangements as officers for the occasion: President of the Day—John M. Edson of Sinclairville. Vice Presidents—Randolph W. Seaver, Wm. M. Wag- oner, John Pickett, David Sinclear, Nathan Cleland, Samuel Cleland, Ezra Richmond, Nathan Lake, Daniel B. Lake, Sylvanus Pickard, Joshua Thompson, Nelson Chase, Justus Torry, Henry Smith, Dr. Joel E. Kimball, Ebenezer Skinner, Otis Harris, Hugha Harper, R. D. Sherman, David Sheldon, J. P. Bellows, Olvin Putnam, Richard Brock, Nathan Griffith, Jesse Walker, Robert Lenox, E. C. Preston. Marshal—A1 onzo Langworth v. Assistant Marshals—Sylvanus Norton, Augustus Burnham. Committee on Finance—R. E. Sheldon, Dexter M. Drake, E. O. Bargar.2 Charlotte National Centennial. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THE TOWN OF CHARLOTTE. Did. No. 1—Edwin Putnam and wife, Byron Cleland and wife, Alan son Pickett and wife. Dist. No. 2—Allen A. Stevens and wife, Addison Lake and wife, Corydon Seaver and wife, H. E. Kimbel and wife. Did. No. 3—T. I). Oopp and wife, D. B. Dorsett and wife, Richard Reed and wife, H. A. Kirk and-wife, F. W. Kirk and wife, Henry Sylvester and wife, William Tugwel and wife, R. P. Reed and wife, A. A. Stone and wife, Henry Forstbauer and wife, Bela B. Lord and wife, B. W. Field. Did. No. 4—Willard Luce and wife, Leroy Fox and wife, Edward Jackson and wife. Did. No. 5—John Luce and wife, John Parsons and wife, H. G. Pease and wife. Did. No. 6—Thomas Thompson and wife, Thomas Spear and wife, Orren Torry and wife. Did. No. 7—William Brown and wife, Edwin H. Ed- son and wife, Lewis H. Ellis and wife, Merlin M. Wag- oner. Did. No. 8—Augustus Burnham and wife, Alexander J. Rood and wife. / id. No. 0—William H. Oipperly and wife, Albert Leo find wife, Lyman Link ami wife. Did. No. 10—Henry T. Dunbar and wife, Wilson Ed- monds and wife,.Jacob Langworthy and wife. Did. No. 11—Edwin Crawford and wife, Lewis Sim- mons and wife. Joint Did. Charlotte and Cherry Creek—Nathan M. Ole- land and wife, John M. Irwin and wife, Edwin F. Lake and wife. Committee cm Fireworks—Edwin B. Mitchell, Abram Tunkey, Willard N. Kelley. Committee on National Salutes—James Heminger, Wil- liam Trusler, John Trusler, Edward FauUiaber, Henry Heppner. The day was ushered in by the ringing of bells, and a national salute of thirteen guns, fired by the village brass cannon. The early morning was bright and clear, but gathering clouds indicated the approach of a storm;Charlotte National Centennial 3 the rain commenced about nine o’clock, a. m., which prevented the beginning of the ceremonies of the day at the appointed time. About eleven o’clock a. m., the rain ceased, and soon after a procession arrived from the north-east part of the town, in charge of assistant -marshal Augustus Burnham. It was joined by carria- ges from other parts of the town. The assemblage, led by the Sinclairville Cornet Band, proceeded to the grounds of the Sinclairville Fair Ground Association; leaving there their carriages, and depositing their re- freshments in the buildings of the Fair Ground, they then formed at 12 o’clock m., the general procession, under the direction of the marshal and assistant mar- shals, in the following order: Marshal. Sinclairville Cornet- Band. National Flag. ! President of the Day. Historian and Reader. Clergymen. Vice Presidents. ('itizens, a large number. The procession inarched along the eastern track of the Driving Park of the Fair Grounds, to the gateway at its northern side, opening into the ample and shady grove of Bela B. Lord, adjacent to, and north of the Fair Grounds, where a speaker’s stand and seats had been prepared. The exercises commenced by the reading of the President’s Proclamation by R. E. Sheldon of Sinclair- ville, as follows: A PROCLAMATION. Whereas a joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States was duly ap- proved on the 13th day of March last, which resolution is as follows: “ Be it resolved by the Seriate and House of Representa- fines of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That it be, and is hereby, recommended by the Senate and House of Representatives to the people of the Seve- rn! States, that they assemble in their several counties4 Charlotte National Centennial. or towns on the approaching centennial anniversary of our nat ional indepen deuce, aud that they cause to have delivered on such day, an historical sketch of such coun- ty or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch be filed in print or manuscript in the Clerk’s Office of said county, and anadditional copy in print or manuscript be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may be thus obtained of the progress of our institutions during the first centennial of their existence;” and, Whereas, it is deemed proper that such recommend- ation be brought to the notice and knowledge of the people of the United States; now, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, do hereby de- clare and make known the same, in the hope that the’ object of such resolution may meet the approval of the' people of the United States, and that proper steps may be taken to carry the same into effect. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the 25th day of May, in the year of our Lord 1876, and of the independence of the United States the one hun- dredth. By the President, U. S. GRANT. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State. John M. Edson, the President of the Day, addressed the assemblage substantially as follows: Fkllow Citizens:—A century ago John Adams fore- told that this day would be celebrated as a great anni- versary, that future generations would remember it with bon-fires and illuminations, and other symbols of rejoicing. Since then this day has not passed without such demonstrations. Its sacred observance has done much to perpetuate and preserve our liberties; to keep alive the patriotism of the people, nerving them to re- sist the dangers that have threatened them; it has made them vigilant, and eternal vigilance is said to be the price of liberty. Our country during the century has been assailed by foes from without and within; we have been involved in continuous wars with the Indian, England and Mexico; we have had a full share of in- ternal trouble and dissensions; Shay’s war in Massachu- setts; the whiskey rebellion in Pennsylvania; the con- spiracy of Burr; the Hartford convention convened it is supposed in the interest of the enemy. Some of these th reatencd dangers have been averted bynegotiation,oth- ers put down by force of arms. Nullification of South Car- olina was conquered by the moral courage and force ofwill of Gen. Jackson. The spirit that has enabled the qountryto5 History of Charlotte. meet and triumph over these difficulties, has been fos- tered by the annual recurrence and observance of our National Festival. The grand scale upon which it is being celebrated through the nation to-day, may not have been foreseen. When the remains of Bonaparte were removed from St. Helena to France, the enthusi- asm for his memory was mainly confined to those whose fortunes had been actually joined with him. The en- thusiasm of this day is more extended and better foun- ded. Its universal observance and the cordiality with which even European nations rejoice with us, lead us to believe that the seeds of Republicanism are being sown by the Goddess of Liberty, and that a rich harvest will i-esult as the fruit of the sowing, when the next Centen- nial shall be celebrated. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. L. Powell, of the Bap- tist Church of Sinclairville. #The Glee Club, composed of Mrs. L. M. Lincoln, Ma- j y Pearson, Ida Bellows, Anna Sylvester, J. L. Powell, Martin McCullough and E. L. Husted, Nettie Cleland organist, sang “ America.” The Declaration of Independence was read by W. Tiios. Wilson, of Sinclairville. The Sinclairville Cornet Band played an appropriate piece. Obed Edson, of Sinclairville, delivered the following Address: ADDRESS: There may be nothing in the annals of a little com- munity like ours, that entitles it to a place beside a na- tion history, for we can point to no famous battle-fields, oi- bloody wars. Yet, if we but look, we may see close around us here, fields where glorious victories have been won, peaceful victories, that have brought in their train, neither pestilence nor famine; that have made neither widows nor orphans. Here, where we stand, and on these verdant hills and green fields, Within the century that closed with yesterday, there stood forest trees of majestic growth; thickly standing as they had for centuries stood. He, who merely as a lover of na- ture, gazed upon these boundless woods, when they grew in their original grace, and saw them in the spring6 History of Charlotte. when robed in raiment of the brightest green, or in au- tumn* when time and frost had changed their vesture to silver and gold, this attractive scene could but invite and charm. But to the pioneer, who sought a home in this mighty forest, to grapple with and subdue it, it prof- fered only a lifetime of toil and privation; a constant and exhaustive struggle. Yet the forest has been van- quished, and there yet lingers with us the veteran rem- nants of the army, that fought this battle of the Wil- derness. It shall be the business of this day to recount the incidents of that struggle. Their exploits are not such as we find emblazoned up- on the pages of history; no thrilling adventures—no hair-breadth escapes—no fierce encounters with human foes, and scarcely with the untamed denizens of the woods. Yet their achievements were not less manly, and the virtues that inspired them less noble, than thpse that animated the heroes of history. They had forti- tude to bear the privations incident to life in the woods; courage and resolution to face the innumerable dangers that beset them; and better than all, humanity to light- en- the burthens, and'relieve the wants, of those that suffered with them in the wilderness. If the brief records of a town, fail to fill the breast with patriotic pride, as do the annals of a nation; if the simple story of our friends and townsmen, does not kin- dle the lofty emotions inspired by the victories of lau- reled heroes, they foster simple and tender affections; they savor more of the hearthstone; and the suggestion was a wise one, that on this* One Hundredth Anniver- sary of the Country’s birth, we should do honor, not on- ly to the heroes that helped to carve out our National Independence with the sword, and the statesmen that framed the wise system of government that this day will cease to be regarded as only an experiment; but also that we should go among our neighbors, and at the fireside honor the pioneer who assisted to remove the forest, prepare the homes, and lay the foundations up-7 Histwy of Charlotte. on which the statesman has built, and which the soldier defended. The achievements of the one, are equal to those of the other; achievements that move the breast alike with generous emotions, and stir the heart with an equal, but a different pleasure. The nobler passions, and the humble but cherished affections of the heart, all in some degree are found in every human breast; nature has planted them there, and they are rooted strong and deep; stronger than any human structure; so strong that a system of govern- ment that ignores the most exalted, or the humblest of these human instincts, must soon perish. The most glorious and enduring fabrics ever reared, whether the creations of poetry, the work of statesmen, or a system of philosophy, have been always built upon some natu- ral experience, or simple necessity common to every breast. The wisest and most permanent governments that now exist, are those that respect these natural in- stincts, and that cherish the traditions that tend to fos- ter them. France always nourished in the breasts of her people a iwJtkmal love; her orators, her statesmen, her songs, and her Marseilles Hymn, all fire the breast with na- tional pride. The Frenchman’s patriotism, is inspired by a love for his countrymen in the aggregate, and the ruling passion with him is the Glory of France. It is this sentiment, so fostered, that inspires valor in her soldiery; that impels her people to deeds of unexam- pled self sacrifice; that retains within her own domain her vast population, and restrains them from seeking our western shores. While on the other hand, the con- verse is true of an Englishman. His pride is not so centered in the Glory of England. He exults not so much in the great achievements of his people as a na- tion, as in the possession by his countrymen of their civ- il rights. He glories in his imperial prerogatives and privileges of an Englishman, and points with pride to the Magna Charta, the Trial by Jury, and the Bill of Rights.& History of Charlotte: American statesmen thought to unite in harmony" these opposite sentiments, to bind together for the pub- lic good, the affection which men have for their fire- sides, their families, and their personal rights; and which lie at the foundations of civil liberty, with the broad and exalted patriotism or love for one’s whole country, that lies at the foundations of national power. They searched the pages of history for precedents for so great an experiment. They saw in the Achaian League, formed in Greece 280 years B. C.; the Hanse- atic League of German cities; and the Federal Union of the States of Switzerland, the germs of such a sys- tem as they conceived. Upon these hints, which they found thus scattered through the pages of history, they formed the mild, the strong, and the wise government under which we live; the Federal Union of the States of America. A government which cherishes with ten- der care the rights of the humblest citizen, and prompt- ly maintains with a strong arm the nation’s honor. A government in which its sovereign powers are divided and distributed. To the general government is given general powers, among which is that of protecting it from its enemies, and guarding its honor. While to states are reserved the exercise of more extensive pow- ers; those which relate to the civil rights and duties of the people and states. Remembering that the primary purpose of government should be to protect the rights, and promote the happiness of its individuals, and mind- ful of the local wants aiid necessities of the people, States have acted upon the hint suggested by our liberal system of government,and extended government to counties,and have even conferred, in a limited degree, sovereignty upon towns. And now let us abruptly pause, and turn to the espe- cial business of the day, and relate the history and le- gends of a town; the smallest political community up- on which sovereign powers have been conferred by the state.s History of Charlotte, In common with some other portions of Western New York, the town of Charlotte was once inhabited by an ancient people, as the remains of old fortifications, rude implements of war, and human bones brought to light by the plow, bear the usual evidence. At the first settlement of Sinclairville, an earthen breastwork ex- tended westerly from a point near the stone blacksmith shop, and Baptist Church, for a distance of about forty’ live rods parallel to the steep bank, at the northerly boundary of the plateau, upon which the central por- tion of the village is situated, and distant from the bank about two and one-half rods. Near this earthwork,&nd where the garden of the village tavern is situated, bu- ried beneath the surface of the ground, were large quan- tities of stone that had been charred and broken by fire. Kven to this day, arrowheads of flint, stone hatchets, and other rude instruments of the stone age are found.. Between this work and the steep bank of the hill, the first highway of the village once ran. Running for in ny rods easterly and westerly, near to and parallel with the southern boundary of this plateau, was a sim- ilar breastwork. Situated partly between these em- bankments seemed to be the principal fortification. It was an extensive circular earthwork, having a trench upon the outside, and near the small rivulet that runs through the village along its southern side, was a gate- way. The little brook that crosses Main street, ran through the northern portion of tliis fortification. It enclosed six or seven acres of what is now a central portion of the village. A part of Main street; portions of other streets, and the village green, all were inclu- ded within its boundaries. Its earthen walls, where they crossed Main street, nine or ten rods west of the village green, were about four feet high, and required some labor to level them when that street was first con- structed through the ' embankment. Upon the high bluff to the west, that rises precipitously from Mill creek, was another circular earthwork within which10 History of Charlotte. was a deep excavation. At a few other points in the town, there were evidences of ancient occupation; and one mile south of Sinclairville, in the town of Gerry, was an earthwork and an ancient burial ground, from which fifty years ago or more, as many as fifty human skeletons were exhumed on one occasion; twenty years ago as many as twenty-five skeletons more were disin- terred. The speaker was present upon the latter occa- sion. These ancient relics prove, that Sinclairville and vicinity were once the favorite resort of a primitive people. Long after the Mound Builders had passed away, and prior to 1650, when Europeans first came to know Lake Erie, the regions around about it, which included the town of Charlotte, it is supposed were the dominions of a singular race of people known as the Neutral Nation, called Kahkwas by the Senecas; they were great hun- ters and were extremely superstitious and ferocious, wa- ging fierce wars against the Nation of Fire, and other Western Indians. They were the first possessors of our soil of whom we have any account. In the year 1650, the Iroquois commenced a savage war upon them, which resulted in the destruction of the Neutrals. Their towns were captured by the savage enemy, many of the pepple butchered and carried into captivity, and the remain- der driven from the villages and cornfields, into the forests where multitudes of them perished from want and exposure. From the extermination of the Neutral nation to its settlement by the pioneers of the Holland Purchase, this territory continued to be the realm of the Senecas; the fiercest and most numerous tribe of the Iroquois nation. When the first white men visited the town of Char- lotte, but few settlements had been made in the Western half of the State of New York. Chautauqua County was then a deep and unbroken wilderness, in the undis- puted possession of its first holders, the Indians, whose homes and well trodden trails, whose hunting and fish-11 History of Charlotte. ing grounds were still here. No white man lived with-* in the limits of the county. Lake Erie was then a dreary waste of waters, rarely traversed by craft of any des- cription, save the Indian s canoe. The first white men known to have come within the limits of the town, were the early surveyors employed bv the Holland Land Company to run its boundary lines. John Elliott, of Radnor township, Delaware coun- ty, and State of Pennsylvania, a surveyor with a party consisting according to the records preserved by the Holland Land Company, of Azariah Winshall, Thomas Kennedy, chain bearers; Peter Douglass, Jesse Clarkson, ax men; James Kennedy, Griffith Jones, flagmen; Wil- liam Harlan and Thomas Wright, pack horsemen, while running the line between the eleventh and twelfth range of townships, first arrived at the southwest corner of the town, late in the day on the llth of July, 1798, and encamped for the night within the limits of the town’ at its south-western corner, at the eastern edge of the Casadaga swamp. On the 12th they ran north on the west line of the town, and encamped for the night near where the Pickett brook crosses the western boundary of the town. On-the loth of July they completed the survey of this line. The eastern boundary was survey- ed on the 20th, 21st and 22d of July, 1708, by a party under Wareham Shepard. The south line was survey- ed on the 20th, 21st and 22d of July, 1798, by a party under Aaron Oakford. The north line was the last es- tablished boundary; it was surveyed by Aaron Oak- ford and his party on the 28th and 29th of July of the same year. Although the Holland Land Company, thus early completed the survey of the boundary lines of this and other towns of the county, only those portions of their territory more accessible for early settlement, were first surveyed into lots, and the land offered for sale; conse- quently the few scattered settlements in this county, previous to the year 1808, were made principally in the12 JIistory of Charloffr. extreme northern parts, and during the ten years that immediately succeeded these original surveys, the deep solitude of the wilderness that covered the town, was not disturbed by the sound of the axe, or the presence of the white man; and the only visits that it received, were when roving bands of Senecas whose dominions once included these regions, wandered through or tem- porarily encamped there. The evidence of the frequent presence of these people were fresh* at the time of the tirst settlement; old wigwams that had been-tempora- rily occupied by their fishing and hunting-.parties, re- mained in the woods. In Sinclairville, just north of the southern boundary of the town, and along tin? east- ern bank of Mill creek, there stood a fine growth of maple trees, with trunks scarred with the marks of the Indian’s hatchet, made many years before; lying near them were the remains of rude elm bark buckets, and standing in the vicinity, but dead or decayed, were the peeled elm trees from which they were made, all indi- cating that a sugar camp had at some time been estab- lished there. A well worn Indian trail, that must have been trodden for a century, leading from the north-east- ern part of .the county, passed through the north-east- ern part of the town, (harlotte ('enter, and southerly down Mill creek, through the town in the direction of the hunting grounds of the Indians, in Pennsylvania, on the Brokenstraw. This may be called the first high- way in the town, and was the only route of travel used . for several years after the first settlement, between Sin- clairville and Forestville, and the north-eastern part of the county. For many years after the first settlement, parties of Indians passed to and fro over this ancient path, often decked in their favorite ornaments of paint and feathers. In the year 1808, the silence of the forest was again broken. The surveyor, whose position is always in the van of civilization, again pitched his tents in these deep woods, and resumed his labors. John Lamberton13 Hi dor if of Charlotte. of Genesee county, was the surveyor it is believed who allotted the town of Charlotte; he with a party of men during this year measured and marked the boundary lines, of the different sections of the town, and ascer- tained the amount of land in each; and by the close of the year the land was ready for market, invitifig the pioneer to rear here his log* built cabin, and nuke for himself a rugged home in the wilderness. In the beginningof the year 1809, Chautauqua Coun- ty was composed of but two towns; Pomfret and Chau- tauqua; the former of which included the town of Char- lotte. At that time the whole population of the coun- ty was scarcely 2,000 souls. The settlements and im- provements then made, consisted of isolated clekrings, each generally of but a few acres in extent, scattered at long intervals from the Cattaraugus creek, to the Penn- sylvania line, and nearly all of them within three or four miles of the shore of Lake Erie. Settlements had also been made at Mayville, and a few settlers had loca- ted upon each shore of Chautauqua Lake, and along the Chautauqua and Conewango Creeks; a few rude saw mills had been erected; a still less number of gristmills. The dwellings of the settlers were generally hastily built cabins of logs, making but a scanty shelter from the weather; the creeks and streams were unbridged; the roads were but wilderness paths, little better than In- dian trails. As yet no one had ventured to break away from the settlements that were slowly gathering in the northern, and more accessible parts of the county, to penetrate into the dense wilderness that then covered the rough and uninviting hills of the interior and south- western towns of the county. The pioneer settlers of the town of Charlotte, were the first to withdraw them- selves from the meager conveniences, and advantages afforded by these scanty settlements, miles away into the woods south of the ridge. In March, 1809, a party of eight young men, to wit;— . John Pickett, his brother Daniel Pickett, and brother-in-14 History of Charlotte. law ArvaO. Austin, from Chenango county; John and Taylor Gregg, and Abel Prior from Oneida county;— Abel Beebe, and Othellow Church, set out from the Holmes settlement in Sheridan, three miles east of Can- adawav, now Fredonia, to explore the wilderness, and select for themselves some favorable spot for a home.— They established their camp on lot 64, near the north- west corner of the town, at a low wet place within the bounds of the highway as it now runs, a few rods south of the present residence of Orville Dairymple, and about 50 or 60 rods south of the north line of the town; here they encamped two nights, and in the meantime made their explorations. Church selected lands near Casa- daga; Beebe chose the farm in the south-east corner of the town of Pomfret; the remainder of the party select- ed land adjoining each other on lots 62 and 63, in the town of Charlotte, near its western boundary. They then returned to Fredonia, and Church went to Bata- via, and in April, 180b, booked the land selected by them. On the first day of April, 1800, John Pickett, Daniel Pickett, his wife and two children, Arva O. Austin, his wife, Abel Prior, his wife, John and Taylor Gregg, all arrived in Charlotte, and immediately commenced building a log cabin on the bank of the Pickett Brook, upon lot 62, the land that had been selected by John Pickett; being the farm upon "Which he resided until his death, which occurred yesterday—(July 3,1876)—a period of more than sixtv-seven years, a witness to the many wonderful changes that during that time has ta- ken place, and to produce which he contributed his full share, in subduing the forest, and reclaiming the soil. He was born June 20,1789, at Spencertown, Columbia county, N. Y. He afterwards removed to Chenango county, and February 23, 1809, to Chautauqua. He was an industrious, and intelligent citizen of the towrn, be- ing often selected in early years to fill positions of re- sponsibility. His brothex*, Daniel Pickett, was born in Danbury, Connecticut, about the year 1780. In 1810,15 History of Charlotte. he moved from Charlotte to New Orleans, and after- wards lived on the Pascagoula river. Arva O. Austin, his brother-in-law, was born in Sherburn, Chenango county, February 24, 1791. He was married to Phebe Pickett, February 13, 1809, and two days afterwards set out for Chautauqua county. The first tree felled by the party, was a large syca- more to form one side of their dwelling, which ready and willing hands soon completed. It stood beside the Pickett brook, and was but a rude cabin of logs, and it may be would be undeserving of our notice, had it not been the first building erected in the town of Charlotte. In this abode the whole party dwelt during most of the summer, and until other dwellings had been erected. Danifel Pickett made selection of the farm lately owned by Eliab Barnum^on lot 63; he built a cabin upon it, into which he moved in the fall of that year. Arva O. Austin selected the farm owned by VanRansalear Fish- er at his decease, on the same lot. #He also in the fall moved into the dwelling that he had built upon his claim. Abel Prior took up the farm lately owned by Elijah Montague, upon lot 62, and Taylor Gregg the farm now owned by Edwin Putnam, upon the same lot. While this settlement was being made in the Pickett district, another was commenced in the woods three miles east of it, at Charlotte Center. Robert W. Seaver was born in Wooster county, Massachusetts, July 3,1762. He enlisted when quite young in a Massachusetts regi- ment, and served over six years in the Revolutionary war. He was in the action at King’s Bridge near New York, and in other engagements; he was discharged in 1784, being then a sergeant. He was a prominent citi- zen of the town during its settlement, holding the of- fice of justice of the peace, and other positions. Ran- dolph W. Seaver now of Sinclairville is his son. He died in Charlotte, July 31,1836. HeandBarna Edson, they then being residents of Oneida county, in the spring of 1809, came into the town of Charlotte. About16 History of Charlotte. a week was spent by them in tracing the lines of the lots marked by the survey the previous year, to find a good location. The woods abounded with game, and the pure waters of the brooks were remarkably full of trout, many of which they caught for food. During their explorations, they both selected land at Charlotte Center, Edson ninety acres of the south-west part of lot 29, and Seaver the same amount, in the south-east part of lot 37. Edson immediately went to Batavia, and in May, 1809, booked the land, but did not return. Seaver remained and commenced clearing his claim, where the residence of the late Ezra Edmunds stands. Wil- liam Devine and his wife, came to Charlotte Center from Oneida county this season, at the request of Sea- ver, and took up the west part of lot 29, which included the claim of Edson. The first building erected at Char- lotte Center, was the cabin built by Devine in 1809, up- on his claim; the dimensions were sixteen feet by eight- een; it had a bark roof, with one door and one window; it stood on lot 29, where the school house now stands. In the fall Seaver harvested his crops, consisting of a fe,w bushels of ears of corn, put them into Devine’s shanty, and he and Devine, and his wife went back to Oneida county, to return however in the spring of 1810. When Mr. Seaver came to Charlotte, there stood on the bank of Mill creek, a gigantic sycamore, probably the largest tree in the town, and of such proportions as to rival the famous walnut that grew in the town of Hanover. In later years Mr. Joshua Jackson lost his cow, which after the lapse of several days was accident- ally found in the then hollow prostrate trunk of this tree, thirty feet from its base. In the summer of 1809, Asa Durant located upon lot 46, about one mile easterly of the Pickett settlement. After chopping about three acres of land, he in the fall of 1809, abandoned his claim and left the town. In the fall of 1809, beginning was also made of the settlement of Sinclairville. Major Samuel Sinclair,History of Charlotte. 17 from whom the village derives its name, was born May 10,1762, at Vassalborough, on the Kennebec river, in the State of Maine. His parents Joshua Sinclair and Mary Cilley, were married in Scotland, and came to America about the year 1760. He was the fifth of nine children, and was a kinsman of Cilley, a Member of Congress from Maine, who was killed near Washington, in the celebrated duel with Graves, of Kentucky, and a nephew of Gen. Joseph Cilley, an officer of the Revo- lution, conspicuous for his bravery as colonel of the 1st New Hampshire regiment, at the battles of Bemis Heights and Monmouth. Mr. Sinclear went with the American Army as an attendant to his uncle Col. Cilley, and was with him as such one year. June 20, 1777, being then barely fifteen years of age, he enlisted in Capt. Amos Morrill's company, of his uncle’s, Col. Cil- ley’s regiment, in Gen. Enoch Poor’s brigade, and ser- ved for three years. He was at Monmouth and other battles, and suffered with the American army at Valley Forge. He served in Gen. Sullivan’s campaign against the Indians, upon the frontiers of Pennsylvania and New York in 1779. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, he received an honorable discharge, being then but eighteen years of age. After the close of the war he erected a saw mill on the Kenebec river, and engaged in getting out ship timber. In 1788, he re- moved to the state of New York, and resided succes- sively at Utica and Cherry Valley, and in 1796 became one of the first settlers in the, town of Eaton, Madison county. He afterwards became the pioneer of the cen- traPpart of Chautauqua county, and the founder of the village of Sinclairville. He brought with him $6,000 or $7,000, a large sum for that day, which he expended in building mills and making other improvements there, and purchasing lands, of which he in 1811 own- ed in Charlotte and Gerry 1530 acres. He was elected the first supervisor of Gerry, then comprising the pre- sent towns of Charlotte, Gerry, Cherry Creek and El-18 History of Charlotte. lington, and continued its supervisor for six years. Major Sinclair is described by a citizen of an adjoin- ing town, who knew him well, as having a command- ing presence, being six feet high, with a well balanced head, black hair and eyes, a well formed nose, a round chin, full lips, and a mouth of medium size; weight about 225 pounds. His voice was full and loud, and when he spoke, always commanded attention. His ut- terance was rapid, but always to the purpose. His face was fair and full in age, and in the prime of life, he wras a perfect man in form and feature. He possessed great strength and resolution, and was a natural leader among his fellows. His long familiarity and rough ex- perience in frontier life; his integrity and sound judg- ment, made him a respected and influential citizen, and enabled him to contribute much to the settlement of this part of the county. He drew hither many ear- ly settlers, assisted them in selecting locations, in erect- ing their log cabins, and starting them in their wilder- ness homes. He was a Revolutionary pensioner. He married for his second wife, Fanny, the widow of Obed Edson, who died in Madison county in 1804. Maj. Sin- clair died at Sinclairville, February 8,1827. Having sold the lands previously purchased by him on French Creek in .the state of Pennsylvania, Maj. Sinclair in the fall of 1809 stopped at the land office in Batavia with a view of obtaining some land, and an isolated mill site. He examined the maps, and found that lot 41 where Sinclairville is situated, was the loca- tion he desired; accordingly he took an article of the whole of lot 41, and also of lot 63, in the town of Gerry, and agreed to pay therefor at the rate of twenty shil- lings per acre. Upon his return to Madison county, he formed a partnership with William Berry of that coun- ty, in the enterprise of settling and building mills up- on his claims. Berry in pursuance of the arrangement, came to Chautauqua county, in the fall of 1809, and in November of that year, he, John and Daniel Pickett,19 History of Charlotte. Austin and a hired man, pushed four miles further into the woods south of the Pickett settlement, and in three days put up the body of a log house. Berry the same fall returned to Madison county. These comprise all of the settlements made, or at- tempted in the town of Charlotte, during the year 1809. By the close of the year, half a dozen log cabins had been erected, twenty acres of land had been cleared, and one-half as many more had been chopped; the sunlight had been fairly let into the woods by the axe of the settler, and a beginning made that gave promise to a speedy settlement of the town. Many of those who came during tqe spring and summer, left however in the fall, and only seven persons remained through the first winter. They were John Pickett, Daniel Pickett, Hannah Pickett his wife, Daniel and Manila his two children, Arva. O. Austin and Phebe Austin his wife. Here they dwelt in this lonely wilderness, whose silence during the long and dreary winter months re- mained undisturbed, except bv the howl of the wolf by night; no road or track through the snow led from their rude cabin to that of their nearest neighbor, who lived miles away through the woods; and their cabin smoke, curling up through the tall forest trees, alone marked the spot of their solitary home in the depths of the woods. Few now, with the comforts and conve- niences of life so much at command, can realize what difficulties during that winter must have beset them, and how scantily their necessities and wants have been supplied. There in the midst of the winter, on the 25th of January, 1810, the first child was born in the town of Charlotte, Phebe Austin daughter of Arva O. Austin, sister of Alfred Austin of this village; she af- terwards became the wife of Adin Wait. With the spring of the year 1810, came many land lookers, and a considerable' number of actual settlers here. Late in the day in the month of March of that year, Maj. Sinclair and his son John, Chauncey Andrus20 History of Charlotte. and Leman Cleland who were hired hands, Berry and his wife and two children, arrived at the body of the log house previously mentioned as having been built by Berry. They shoveled the snow from a large birch log that had been felled the fall before, and against it built a rousing fire. They then constructed a wigwam of poles, and placed in it plenty of hemlock brush, and notwithstanding the snow was quite deep, they passed here a comfortable and agreeable yet novel night. This wigwam they occupied for two days and two nights, and until the log house was sufficiently prepared for their residence. The roof they made of long shingles brought from the Pickett settlement. The chamber floor of white wood boards brought from Canadaway, The ground floor of rough boards split and hewn from an ash tree standing near. A hole in the roof was left for the smoke to escape. The house was afterwards made more comfortable by the construction of a chim- ney of sticks and stone, doors and partitions, and a lad- der to ascend into the chamber. This house was built at Sinclairville, at the intersection of the street leading to Charlotte Center, with the street leading to Cherry Creek, on the spot where now stands the residence of Miss Dibble. It was the first building erected in Sin- clairville, and for many years was allotted to, and occu- pied by almost every settler and his family, upon their first arrival at Sinclairville. In it the first schools, and also the first religious meetings of the town were held. Immediately after moving into the log house, Maj. Sinclair commenced clearing the land now occupied by and adjoining the Cemetery. During the summer oth- er clearings were made, in all seven or eight acres of land were this year cleared in Sinclairville. Soon after his arrival here, Maj. Sinclair to supply his own neces- sities, and the wants of the settlers that would soon be established in these regions, commenced constructing the first saw mill built in the town, and in the whole central and eastern portion of the county. It was erect-21 History of Charlotte. ed where the saw mill of Samuel Briggs now stands, and was completed in the summer of 1810. A portion of the remains of this dam is still visible. Maj. Sinclair having returned to Madison county, again on the 19th of September, 1810, left there with his family and five loads of goods and arrived at Canadaway October 13th. His family remained at Canadaway, while he, with some hired hands, expended sixty-four day’s work in cutting a wagon road from Canadaway to Sinclairville. This was the first wagon road constructed over the ridge in- to this part of the county. On the 22dof October Maj; Sinclair and his family, consisting of his children Sam- uel, David, Joseph, Nancy and Sally Sinclair, his wife Fanny and her children Obed, John M. and Fanny Edson, arrived at Sinclairville and moved into the log house; three or four weeks later he moved his family into a frame house that Mr. Nathaniel Holdridge, the first carpenter had during the fall been building for him, and which be had then just completed. This was the first frame building erected in town, and was for many years afterwards the village tavern; it is still standing, and is used by Mr. James A. Clark as a barn. This frame tavern, the log house and the saw mill, were the only buildings erected in Sinclairville in 1810, and Maj. Sinclair, his family and hired help, consisting of about twenty persons, were all that remained in Sin- clairville during the winter of 1810 and 1811. Mr. Ber- ry not being satisfied with the country, had dissolved partnership with Maj. Sinclair, and returned with his family in the fall of 1810 to Madison county. During the summer of 1810, the woods were swarming with land hunters, so that Maj. Sinclair found no diffi- culty in raising his saw mill, by the aid of those tempo- rarily stopping at his settlement. Many of those visit- ing the town during this year, went away without taking any lands; many others booked lands but never return- ed to claim them; many however became actual settlers. Besides the settlement at Sinclairville, and those made22 Histdry of Charlotte. in the town the previous, year, the following new settle- ments were made in 1810: Daniel Spencer upon lot 49, three-fourths of a mile north-west of Sinclairville; Ez- ra White, Lyman Doolittle and Hezekiah Broad on lot 52, three miles north-west of Sinclairville, on the road to the Pickett settlement ; Seth Richardson and family, John Cleland Jr. and Moses Cleland on lot 54 near the Pickett settlement. John Cleland is now the oldest res- ident of the town. Nathaniel Holdridge from Otsego county, and family on lot 44, two and one-half miles north of Sinclairville; Joseph Devine, from Oneida County three-fourths of a mile north-east of Sinclair- ville, on lot 34; Elijah Devine from Oneida county, and family, between Sinclairville and Charlotte Center on lot 34; William Devine and family at Charlotte Cen- ter as before mentioned; Leman Cleveland from Mad- ison county, three miles east of Sinclairville, on lot 10. Two men without families whose names are now un- known, on lot 26 two miles east of Sinclairville; George Anderson from Chenango county, and Joseph Arnold upon lot 62; Anderson upon the claim bought of the Greggs, and Arnold upon that bought of Prior the year before. These were all the settlements that had been made at the close of the year 1810. There were then 15 families, and about 90 inhabitants residing in Char- lotte. In 1810, occurred the first deaths, under circumstan- ces of a sad and unusual character, casting a gloom over the few settlers here. In September of that year Mrs. Arnold, the*wife of Joseph Arnold, then residing in the Pickett settlement died; on the following day her sister Jerusha Barras also died. They were buried in one grave. The place of burial was marked and is still to be seen near the road side on the farm of Chauncev Pierpont, on lot 62. In September or October, was born Jefferson Richardson, the first male child born in the town. In the year 1811, Maj. Sinclair built at Sinclairville23 Hidcrnf of (Jharlott*. the first grist mill erected in all this part of the coun- ty; the remains of its old da in, as well as the one built a few years later may still be seen, in the summer, Barney Cole died and was buried in the graveyard at Charlotte Center. He was the first male person who died in the town. In the fall, Moses Cleland was mar- ried to Sally Anderson at the house of George Ander- son, by the Rev. John Spencer; this was the first mar- riage celebrated in the town. This year many land lookers came here, but not more than in 1810. The prospect of a war with England rather impeded the rush of settlers; yet the town received some new acces- sions, among them Abram Winsor a brother-in-law of Maj. Sinclair, from Madison county. In March Nathan and Oliver Cleland, brothers of John Cleland Jr., and in the fall, Samuel another brother, with their father John Cleland, came and settled upon lot 54. The Cle- land brothers are living, aged as follows: Samuel 88 years, John 84, Oliver 82 and Nathan 81. Samuel, John and Nathan still live in town, venerable and respected citizens. Many of their descendants reside here. Joel Burnell from Massachusetts, this year settled upon lot 48, he was afterwards a leading citizen, and for several years an associate judge of the county court, and also for many years a local preacher of the M. E. Church. His son Madison was born in Charlotte in 1812. He, with only a limited education obtained in schools held in a log school house of his native town, without the aid of wealth or the influence of powerful friends, but by his talents and integrity, andfearlessness and fidelity with which he maintained every cause which he espoused, obtained universal confidence and respect, and became one of the most distinguished lawyers of West- ern New York. It is related that the Fourth of July was duly observed in 1811 at Sinclairville. Maj. Sin- clair entertained all the people in his vicinity at dinner, and a sycamore tree was loaded with gunpowder and fired as a substitute for a cannon.24 History of Charlotte. June 1st, 1812, a new town composed of the present towns of Charlotte, Gerry, Cherry Creek and Ellington, was formed from the town of Pomfret. A meeting was held at the house of Othello Church at Cassadaga, for the purpose of giving it a name. Many favored calling it Sinclair, after Maj. Sinclair; others calling it Gerry, after Elbridge Gerry, who was elected the fall of that year Vice President of the United States; the latter name was finally adopted. The first town meeting for Gerrv was held on the first Tuesday of April, 1813, at the house of Maj. Sinclair in Sinclairville. At this meeting Robert W. Seaver was chosen moderator, Ezra White clerk, and Maj. Sinclair the first Supervisor. It appears bv the records of this meeting, that unusual privileges were extended to swine. They were declared to be free commoners, if provided with suitable yokes? while wolves were less favored, and a bounty of five dol- lars ottered for every one killed or caught within the limits of the town. To secure the opening of the roads to a proper width, it was enacted in these words: “Ox sleds to be four feet in width; penalty for being catched on the highway, with an ox sled less than four feet wide, five dollar.” During a number of years subse- quent to the organization of Gerry, Maj. Sinclair was the only freeholder in all the town, and after each elec- tion of town officers, he was accustomed to execute with- out consideration, a deed of some small portion of his land to such officers elected as were required by law to be freeholders. On one occasion Judge Joel Burnell, after a warm contest was elected over him to the office of Supervisor, and Maj. Sinclair, to enable him to hold the office executed such deed to him. June 18, 1812, war was declared against England.— Many of the settlers of Charlotte participated in it du- ring its continuance. Daniel Spencer, a young man re- siding in Charlotte, near Sinclairville, was killed at the battle of Queenstown, on the 13th of October, 1812. He was probably a member of Capt. Jehial Moore’s Chau-25 Hi dor if of Charlotte. tauqua company, which belonged to the 18th N. Y. de- tachedmilitia, commanded by Col. Hugh \V. Dobbin. He crossed the Niagara liver with the American force, and was of the party who stormed the heights of Queens- town, and was killed on the brow of the hill. He was one of the very first to fall in the battle. Goodrich, a young man in the employ of Maj. Sinclair, read at night the proclamation of Commodore Perry asking for assist- ance, and the next morning started from Sinclairville to join him; he enlisted, participated in the naval battle on Lake Erie, of the 1.0th of September, 181.3, was dis- tinguished for his gallant conduct, and was rewarded therefor. He returned afterwards to Sinclairville, with his hearing much impaired from his participation in the battle, in December, 1813, the lf>2d regiment of Chautauqua county militia, under Col. McMahan, were called out ea imus%sy\ to defend Buffalo. Several of the inhabitants of Charlotte, who belonged to this regiment marched with it, and participated in the disastrous af- fair on the 30th of December, 1813, when Buffalo was burned. The following are their names: Ezra White? Abram Winsor, Joel Burnell, Arva O. Austin, John Pickett, Seely Pickett, Jr., Samuel T. Booth and Samuel Vaughn. Of the Chautauqua county troops called out during the summer of the succeeding year, and assem- bled at Black Rock, Buffalo and vicinity, to assist in de- fending the frontier, many were from Charlotte. Near- ly all the able bodied men residing in the town, of suf- ficient age, at sometime during the war, went upon the lines. It is said that in the assault upon Fort Erie, that when the terrific explosion took place that carried away the bastion, the light was seen by Maj. Sinclair at Sinclairville, and he was enabled to predict the occur- rence of some catastrophe, long before the particulars reached Sinclairville. During the three years preceding the war, the town rapidly increased in population. During the war it steadily decreased; a few new settlers came, but more26 History of Charlotte. went away; some on account of apprehended dangers from the Indians, others to go on to the lines as soldiers or camp followers. The return of peace revived the hopes, and renewed the courage of the settlers. They anticipated new accessions to their numbers, and a speedy return to the abandoned clearings by those who had left during the war, to resume the work of settlement. In this they wrere doomed to disappointment; the Hol- land Land Company sold their lands for two dollars and fifty cents and three dollars per acre, upon a credit ; wrhile government and other lands wrere sold at a less price for cash. Hence those who had means and were able to pay dow n for their farms, sought fairer homes among the fertile prairies and openings of Ohio and other parts of the West. Consequently the Holland Purchase, and particularly the county of Chautauqua, was settled by the very poorest class of men. The most of those who came, expended their last dollar in procu- ring the article for their land, and had to pay with their labor for the first bushel of corn or potatoes that their family used. There was no real wealth in the county. The close of the war rendered worthless the flood of sitinplasters that had been put in circulation ; the ori- ginal debt to the Holland Company for the laud inmost instances remained unpaid, with the interest steadily accumulating, consequently hard times followed.— Among the few who came during the war or immedi- ately thereafter, were Reuben Scott, Samuel Brunson, the first blacksmith, Charles Smith from Canada, the first shoemaker, and in 1816, from Jefferson county, Nathaniel Johnson, the first miller, and father of Mrs. S. L. Henderson, all of whom settled in Sinelairville. Edward Dulrymple came in from Washington county in 1815, and settled upon lot 64. Freeman Ellis came in early,and settled on the same lot. Sylvanus L. Hender- son from Jeflersou county, a soldier of the war of 1812, and the father of W. W. Henderson of Sinclairville, settled in tliat village in 1816. At that time there were27 /Jldory uf (Jhcvrlolk. four families residing in that part of Sinclairville situ- ated in the town of Charlotte, to wit: Major Sinclear’s, Samuel Brunson’s,Nathaniel Johnson’s,and Abram Win- sor’s. There were thirty* one inhabitants in this part of the village. There was a frame tavern, grist mill, dwell- ing house, store and barn, two log dwelling houses, a log blacksmith shop, a log shoe shop and an ashery; tell buildings in all. About twenty-five acres of land was then cleared within the boundaries of the village. Besides the hard times that followed the declaration of war, the settlers experienced other calamities. The summer of 1816 was known all through the Holland Purchase as the “ cold season.” The extraordinary frost and cold of that year occasioned the entire failure of the crop of corn upon which all most relied. The suc- ceeding year was consequently remarkable as one of great scarcity, and might almost be termed the “ star- ving season.” All suffered from the extreme scarcity of provisions in Charlotte. Flour was eighteen dollars per barrel, pork and other articles in proportion. Some of the settlors of this town were compelled, before the arrival of summer, from want, to dig up and use for food the potatoes they had planted in the spring of that year. Others until harvest, subsisted upon fish, milk, greens, and leeks. The purchase of several loads of corn of the Indians on the Alleghany river, at twenty shillings a bushel, partially relieved their wants. The high cold lands of Charlotte, and the adjoining hill towns, did not yield so quick and large a return as that portion of the county lying along the lake, which was adapted to the raising of grain, and their stinted crops for many years found no market whatever. The only resource of the settlers here, was from the manu- facture of black salts of lye. From the products of a dairy for a single year, more is now undoubtedly real- ized than from the sale of all the black salts made in the town, during the same length of time; yet its settle- ment would have been postponed for many years, had28 History of Charlotte. it not been for this commodity. It was the chief staple of the hill towns during the first thirty years of their history, and was the only product that could be sold for cash, and was sure to be received in exchange for goods and groceries. It was made from the ashes of the oak, maple, beSch and other hard wood, which were gather- ed in fooxes, in the fallows where the timber was burn- ed, and carried by hand to rough leaches, usually made of bark, erected at a convenient place for water. The lye of these ashes was boiled in kettles, until it became a semi solid, which was called black salts. All of these made in Charlotte previous to the war were sold at Mayville and Fredonia. In 1812, Captain Winsor built an asherv at Sinclairville, near the lower saw mill, and he for many years thereafter manufactured the black salts made imthis section into pot and pearl-ash. Capf. Winsor was accustomed to transport his pots and pearls thus made, to the landing place on theCassadaga creek, west of where the Methodist meeting house formerly stood on lot 53 in the town of Gerry, and put them aboard of his batteaux, and ship them to Pittsburgh. He would bring back from Pittsburgh tobacco, glass, nails and flour, which he at first delivered to his custo- mers at Ross's Mills, in Ellicott. About the year 1817, he established the first store in Sinclairville, and for a short time kept a limited stock of goods, mostly pur- chased at Pittsburgh. Sinclairville continued until about the year 1845, to be an important point for the manufacture of pot and pearl-ash. Every merchant besides his store, was accustomed to have an asherv, where he received of his customers black salts and ash- es, which he paid for in goods and money. There were sometimes three or four asheries in Sinclairville, using thirty thousand bushels of ashes annually, besides the black salts that were purchased by them. Subsequent to the year 1824, pot and pearl-ashes were sent by the merchants to Montreal,and in later years to New York, where they received for them Bills of Exchange on NewHistory of Charlotte. 29 York and London, which afforded them about the only , means to pay for their stock of goods. With the lapse of a. little time from the close of the war, the town began slowly to improve, and received some new comers. About the year 1817, the first saw ; mill was erected at Charlotte Center. At an early day a shop was built there upon Mill creek, by Edward Landas, for wool carding and cloth dressing. It was afterwards successively used as a pail factory, turning shop, and wood mill manufactory. In 1817, John How- ard came in from Massachusetts, and made the first set- tlement in the south-east part of the town, on lot 1. The same year Abel Potter came to Sinclairville, from Otse- go county. The following year Thomas Lord. He was the first tanner. In 1819, Bela B. Lord and Horace* Potter, also from Otsego county came, and soon Abel Potter, who built the first tannery near where M. B. Craw now resides, and which was afterwards carried on W Thomas Lord, and Abel, and Horace Potter. Ezra Richmond, from Windham county, Vermont, came in 1817, and settled upon lot 38. The first people who came to Charlotte to reside, from a foreign land were Eng- lishmen. Samuel Hurley was the pioneer. He came as early as 1817, and in 1819 settled upon lot 25. Abra- ham Reynolds, the father of our townsman Henry Rey* nolds came next, direct from London in 1819, and set- tled upon lot 26. Twice he walked from Charlotte to New York. Robert LeGrys, from England, also came in 1819. Jonas Shurtleff and Justus Torry came from Genesee county in 1819. Torry settled upon lot 18.— He chopped and cleared with his own hands, over three hundred acres of land, and made in early years more than two tons of maple sugar annually. The same year Peter Warren from Madison county, the father of Judge • E. F. Warren, settled upon lot 52. The widow Lemira W. Camp from Saratoga county, witii her family, in 1819, settled upon lot 17; she had been preceded by her son Samuel. Her sons Milo, Wilson and Herman, and30 History of Charlotte. son-in-law Win, M. Wagoner, were well known citizens, and are remembered for their energy and enterprise. In 1821, Nathan Lake and his brother Calvin from Windham county, Vermont, settled on the street lead- ing east from Charlotte Center, upon lot 20; and a few years later his brothers Daniel B. and Luther Lake set- tled upon the same street, and that neighborhood for many years thereafter, was well known as the Lake set- tlement. Nathan Lake was the first supervisor of the town of Charlotte. In 1823, Caleb Clark and Orton Clark, from Otsego county, settled oh lot 47. In 1825, Chester Lyman settled on lot 40. The names that have been thus far mentioned, com- prise the most of those that were best known among the settlers of the town, prior to the resumption of spe- cie payments, and the completion of the Erie Canal;— dates that dose the true 'pioneer history of the team. The people who settled here before those events, were fron- tiersmen. They came mostly from the western borders of the then more settled portions of the state of New York. The rough business of felling the heavily tim- bered forests, and clearing the land, offered no allure- ments to the weak and timorous. Robust and stalwart men, with strong and practical minds generally came to the Holland Purchase. They brought with them lit- tle skill in husbandry, for the gift requisite was that of the woodsman. The rough, hearty ways of the pioneer had not then yielded to the more conventional, but not more genuine manners of the farmer who followed him. Before those events the land was not sufficiently, sub- dued to yield crops or fruit, in only small amounts; consequently the scythe and plow remained the year round exposed to rust and weather; the axe and rifle however were kept in order, and when not in use were conspicuously displayed. v In those early years the habits and manners of the people corresponded with their rough pursuits and sur- roundings. Their recreations consisted in out doorHi dor if of Charlotte. 31 sports, such as a vigorous and athletic* people always de- light in. Wrestling was a popular amusement, and was universally practiced on raising, training and elec- tion days, and other occasions when the people assem- bled. Game was abundant in the woods, and trout plen- ty in all the streams. Hunting was consequently much followed. The rifle was found in every cabin, and its use was familiar to all from youth up. Its owner pos- sessed a steady nerve and quick eye. Venison was de- pended upon as an article of food, and deer hunting pursued as a labor of necessity, as well as a favorite di- version. In the winter deer were tracked through the snow and shot. In the summer they were killed while drinking at their licks of brackish water. Deer ceased to be plenty about 1835, but have been killed as late as 1844. There were many bears in the adjacent swamps, and occasionally, one was caught in early years, in strong steel traps, or bv dead-falls as they were called, and sometimes shot with the rifle. John Cleland killed the first bears that were killed in the town by a white man. Wolves preyed upon the sheep and smaller ani- mals. These multiplied at first, with the settlement of the county. The Cassadaga valley, or swamp, as it was then called, bordered along the western edge of the town, and was here many miles in extent, untraversed by roads, and unbroken by clearings, but covered with a dark and dense forest of evergreens, filled with thick underbrush. For many years after the first settlement, the bear, wolf, and wild cat lurked among its dark thick- ets, and there securely made their lair. Often would the wolf sally forth to make a midnight banquet at the neighboring sheep-folds, and return at the break of day and hide himself among the thick alders and tama- racks of the swamp. For a long time great havoc was made with the sheep of the towns adjacent to the swamp; sometimes a whole flock would be destroyed in a single night. The annoyance at length became so intolerable, that measures were resolved upon to exterminate them,32 History of ■Charlotte. resulting in the years commencing with 1824, and end- ing with 1828, in a series of four wolf hunts, which were participated in by a large portion of the inhabitants1*of the northern and interior towns of the county. The interest and importance attaching to these hunts, well entitle them to a separate and full description would time allow. * Many wolves, bears and other wild ani- mals were destroyed, and as a final result the wolf was * The following description of a wolf hunt is froiA the pen of Mr. Judge L. Bugbec, of Stockton : “ The battle ground was selected nearly cast of the fork of the Cassadaga and Bear creeks. The plan of battle was a simultaneous attack upon all sides of the swamp at once. On the east the line was formed on the town line, between Stockton and Charlotte ; on the north by the line of lots near Cooper’s mill; on the west by the Cassadaga creek, and on the south by another line of lots near the swamp road, cast of the residence of Abel Brunson. The ground was prepared under the supervision of Col. Charles Hay- wood. of Ellery, assisted by Return Tabor, Bela Todd, and Royal Putnam. These lines were rendered very plain by blazing trees and lopping brush. “ By previous arrangement, the forces met on the second day of October, 1824. The north line of attack was com- manded by Gen. Leverett Barker, of Fredonia, assisted by Elijah Risle}^ and Walter Smith as lieutenants^ Col. Obed Edson, of Sinclairville, with Judge J. M. Kdson and Joy Handy, commanded the east division. Major As'acl Lyon and Gen. George T. Camp on the west, and Col. Charles Haywood on the south, with Elias Clark, of Ellery, as his lieutenant. These commanders all wore pistols in their belts to designate their office,, and were assisted hy the four men as guides, who had prepared the lines a short time before. Before going into the swamp, each division had chosen its place of rendezvous: The east at Sinclair- ville. the north at Cassadaga village, the west at Dclanti. and the south at the residence of Newel! Putnam, Esq., in the south part of Stockton. I)r. Waterman Ellsworth, of Dclanti, was the captain of the men from Stockton, and very active in gettingup the •hunt/ “Early in the forenoon the men were all upon the ground, forming a continuous line and encircling a goodly portion of the swamp. Mr. Royal Putnam, who assisted in.mark- ing the lines on all sides, thinks the square was full one mile and a half upon each side. The number of men on the lines were sufficient to be within easy speaking distance from each other. The signal for advance was 4 Boaz,’ be-33 fHstory of Charlotte. nearly exterminated. The last wolf that frequented the town of Charlotte, was killed in February, 1841.— It having killed a flock of 12 sheep belonging to Mr. Hunter in the Concwango valley, and being pursued by him, fled into the wilderness country in the north-east part of Charlotte, from which point it visited the sheep- folds in the Lake settlement, killing in one night two sheep of D. J. Quackenbush,‘and one of Daniel B. Lake. It was immediately pursued by Mr. Lake and others, ing given by Gen. Barker, and as it returned, the lines moved forward in splendid order, growing moie compact until they arrived on the battle grounds, forming a square about one mile in circumference, or eighty rods on a side. No man was to fire his gun until lie received the pass-word from the general, and it was known that the lines were closed up. The men now stood shoulder to shoulder.— * Jachin,’ the pass-word, quickly made its round, and the signal gifh was discharged, and in a moment the firing be- came general. After the first discharge of fire-arms the deer and rabbits within the lines became frantic with fright, making the rounds and seeking an opening through which to escape. One stately buck, making the rounds, gallant- ly charged the line, by forcing his head between the legs of Charles P. Young, from Ellery, and carrying him seve- ral rods astride his neck, then bounding away, unharmed, into the free wilderness, save perhaps a few sore ribs, from the numerous punches received by the muskets in the hands of the men, before they had time to reload their pieces.— After all the game had been dispatched that could be seen, a committee of three or more was sent within the enclo- sure, to search under old logs and fallen trees to ascertain if any game had fled to any of these places for safety.— Dr. Ellsworth is the only man remembered as being upon that committee. “After the return of the committee, the men, by orders, moved towards the center of the inclosure, bringing in the game, consisting of two large wolves, one bear, several deer and a large number of rabbits. The men were evi- dently disappointed in the number of wolves captured, but after speeches from a number of the officers, the woods rang with their hearty cheers, and they resolved for anoth- er hunt, which took place in about three weeks. “The county had offered a large bounty for the scalp of the wolf, fifty dollars or upward, and by resolution Gen. Barker. Elijah Rislcy and Walter Smith w ere elected a com- mittee to forward the scalps, and obtain the monc\. and expend it in ammunition, provision and whisky to assist the men in future hunts.’'34 History of Charlotte. but the next night it again visited the flock of Mr. Lake, and killed another of his sheep; from this time forward, its track was followed night and day by men chosen for the purpose, who would at intervals blow upon horns, to indicate the direction of its travels, and guide the people in the pursuit. It was hunted thirty-one days, and finally killed in the eastern part of Cattaraugus county. It was afterwards exhibited through the town of Charlotte. Besides the deer, wolf, bear, wild-cat, and an occasional panther, that would sometimes stray into the town, in early years, the wild turkey as late at least as 1832, and the pine martin and otter, as late as 1825, inhabited the woods. Among the early events long remembered, and that produced great excitement in this then thinly settled region, was when children were lost in the woods. On these occasions, the settlers would rally from far and near, organize themselves into companies, choose their leaders, enter the woods with each man properly posted, and make a systematic and faithful search, until the lost one was found. In early years Baluma Shurtleff, afterwards the wife of Nathan Lee, was lost in the woods near Sinclairville. There was a general gathering and a thorough search. For three days she subsisted on berries. She was finally found in the eastern part of the town. Mrs. Underhill while picking blackberries in the western part of the town, wrandered to the edge of the Cassadaga swamp, and lost her way. She re- mained in the woods three nights. A regular search was instituted by many people. She was found on the fourth day by Wilson, Camp. These incidents serve to show the lively sympathy that existed among the early settlers. Isolated in a dis- tant wilderness, surrounded by common hardships, par- ticipating in the same simple enjoyments, and living upon a complete social equality caused true friendship and genuine benevolence to be cultivated among them. Their charity was not manifested in cold ostentatious35 History of Charlotte. displays of liberality, without feeling any real interest in the subject of their beneficence. Nor was it that un- accountable tenderness that descries distress in the dis- tance only, and that bestows its bounties afar off. It was the unaffected and genuine charity taught in the scripture. They would themselves repair to the cabin of their destitute neighbor, and with their own hands, and with real kindness, relieve his distress and administer to his wants. If the afflictions they sought to relieve were the result of what they termed shiftlessness, in- temperance, or other fault, they would with their char- ity administer a just rebuke, and endeavor to correct the fault by a plain and wholesome reprimand. Hu- manity was the distinguishing trait, exhibited often it is true, in the rough manner peculiar to the pioneer.— The new comer was always greeted with a cordial wel- come. No unjust or disparaging reflections were in- dulged in, but he was received as an equal, and assum- ed to be in every way worthy, until found otherwise.— All lent him a helping hand to assist him to build his cabin, and make his first clearing; and often did it hap- pen, that men of a doubtful character, who would set- tle among them, by this fair and generous treatment were made good citizens, and maintained ever thereaf- ter fair characters. The Erie Canal, which was commenced July 4, 1817, was completed October 26, 1825. Before that event, there was no market for anything that the people could produce, except black salts and also lumber when trans- ported down the Allegany river, and there sold at low prices. Wheat sold for 371 cents per bushel, in the limited markets afforded by the insignificant villages of the county; land bore but a nominal price. Yet the settler with great self denial, and unexampled indus- try, in almost every instance, could not even pay the interest on the small sum due at the land office, which steadily increased before him. The resumption of specie payments,and the opening36 History of Charlotte. of the Erie Canal, wrought a great change. This west- ern country was brought by the canal directly in com- munication with the east, and the settlers thereafter found a market for much that before had no value.— They were for the first time able to supply themselves with the conveniences of life. A hundred large and prosperous villages sprang up in Western New York, and a score of great cities were ultimately founded along our western lakes, and millions of people reside along their borders, all due to the construction of the Erie Canal. The advantages to be derived from the cailal were an- ticipated, and business began to thrive before its com- pletion. About the year 1824 Walter Smith and George A. French opened a store at Sinclairville, and engaged in considerable trade. Many settlers came in 1824 and 1825, and they began to feci that its increasing popula- tion required the erection of a new town, and accord- ingly, on the 1st day of April 1824, the town of Elling- ton, which included the present towns of Ellington and Cherry Creek, was taken from the old town of Gerry; and five years later Gerry was again sub-divided. On the 29th day of April, 1829, its northern half was erect- ed into a new town. At a meeting held at Charlotte Center, at the house of David Randall, in deference to the suggestion of Mr. Randall, it was decided to name the new town Charlotte. It was so called from the town of Charlotte on Lake Champlain, in Chittenden coun-! ‘ ty, Vermont. The first meeting for the new town, was held at the house of Mr. Randall at Charlotte Center, on the 2d day of March, 1830. Nathan Lake was the presiding jus- tice, and Peter Warren secretary. The following were the officers chosen for the principal offices : Nathan Lake supervisor, Walter Chester town clerk, John M, Edson, Adna Lampson and James S. Parkhurst justices of the peace, and Barzilla Ellis collector. The popula- tion of Charlotte as appears by the census taken in 1830,37 History of Charlotte. had considerably increased, and was 886. The greatly increased number of people who annu- ally settled in the town, after the construction of the Erie canal, prevent the mention of but a few of the earlier ones, who now have descendants there. Among those who settled in the north and north-ivestern part of the town, were Eliakim Barnum, Jacob Hall the father of Dr. H. P. Hall, John Hall, David Hall the fa- ther of Wm. Hall of California, James Cross, David Ames, Ebenezer Skinner, Adin Wait, Elijah Montague and Ambrose Horton. Peter B. Landas early came from France, and settled on lot 64. He was followed by John B. Cardot, and Mr. Gillett, also from France. Afterwards there came in later years many other res- pectable families from that country, who generally set- tled in this part of the town. Kent Street, and the adjacent lerritoi'y, were first settled by families from the south of England, fiesides the Englishmen before mentioned who early settled in the town, there came John Thorn in 1834. John Reed the father of our townsmen William and Richard Reed, and father-in-law of Thomas Thompson, came in 1834. Richard Brock and Thomas D. Spiking came later.— The street leading from Charlotte Cmter north to the town of Arkwright, was also largely settled by Englishmen wholly from Yorkshire, in the north of England.— Thomas Pearson father of John Pearson of Sinclairville, William Wright and their families, and Thomas Dick- inson, came over in one ship from Hull, and settled on this street in 1828. Matthew Freer settled on this street the same year, and William Hilton in 1830. These Englishmen, their descendants, and others who came still later from that country, constitute a large portion of the population of the town; much larger than rep- resent any other foreign country. They are among the most intelligent and substantial citizens of the town. Among those who settled in the soidh-east part of the town* were David Sheldon from Monroe county in 1828.38 History of Charlotte. Robert P. Robertson, Robert Robertson and Peter Rob- ertson, John Maynard, Andrew McCutcheon, Aaron McCutcheon, John Luce and James Parsons. The Tor- ry cheese factory was built in this part of the town in the spring of 1876. The north-east part of the town remained a wilderness later than any other. Alanson Straight was the first to settle there and commence improvements. Nelson Chase came next, and a little later in the same year, Nathan Penhallow. Daniel Hoisington, William Luce, James P. Skiff, Hiram and Arba P. Straight, Wm. W. Rood, Elijah Lewis, Calvin Abbey, Neri Orampton, G. R. Mathewson, Asa Morse, Peter Odell and Nelson Mansfield, were all early settlers in this part of the town. In 1839, James Hopkins, Patrick Doran and Garrett Wheeler, from the west of Ireland settled there. John Wilkes built the first saw mill in 1865. A cheese factory was* built in 1873, near the residence of Mr. A. J. Rood. Charlotte Center and vicinity continued to receive new settlers, among whom were Stephen Lyman, the father of Perry Lyman of Sinclairville, and brother-in-law of Maj. Sinclair. David Randall, Thomas J. Allen, Lester Young and Charles Fox were early settlers. Petei* Rose was born in Scotland. He served with the English ar- my at Cape Good Hope in Africa, and during Napole- on’s wars, and also was in the battle of New Orleans,in the army of Gen. Paokenham. He after the expiration of his term of service, came to Charlotte- and settled there. James Houston from Ireland, early settled in Charlotte. Blythe Harper came next, and in 1838 his uncle Hugh Harper from the county of Donegal, Ire- land, settled a little south of Charlotte Center. A few years later, William Harper the brother of Hugh came, followed by Thomas and John Erwin from that coun- try. These and others from Ireland, who settled in other parts, have numerous and respectable descendants now living in the town. About 1851, Joseph Landas89 History of Charlotte. built and opened the first store at Charlotte Center, although others for brief periods, had sold there limited amounts of merchandise. In 1869, a steam saw mill was erected by Addison Lake and Edmund E. Tuttle. The Charlotte Center Cheese Factory was erected by the farmers of that vicinity in 1868. The population of Charlotte Center in 1870 was 103, and according to the census taken in 1875 it was 120. Sinclairville and the south-western part of the town, also continued to receive new accessions. Asa Dunbar from Chenango county, in 1828, Bela Tracy, a brother of John Tracy formerly lieutenant-governor of this state, James Williams, Philip Link, Henry Cipperly, Wm. H- Gleason, William Brown, Nathan Lee, Henry Sornber- ger, Moses Campbell, Abel White father of O. A. White, formerly superintendent of schools in Chautauqua coun- ty, and now of Norwalk, Ohio, and Samuel F. Forbush, all settled in the south-west part. Chester Wilson, the first sadler and harness maker, and father of W. Thos. Wilson Esq., long a justice of sessions of the county, early settled in Sinclairville. Isaac Newton, Richard D. Sherman, Sylvanus Pickard, James Elliott, David Cobb, Elias S. Hedges, formerly extensively engaged in business as a tanner, all settled in Sinclairville. Par- don Sennett also, who many years ago erected a foun- dry there, and Chester Cole the first hatter. Forbes Johnson, son of Nathaniel Johnson, a member of the legislature in 1844, was for many years a resident of Sinclairville. The first German who came to Charlotte was William Heppner; he settled in Sinclairville in 1853. His brother Ernest came in 1854. They were followed in later years by many other worthy German families, who generally settled in Sinclairville. These Germans are industrious and law-abiding citizens, and now form a considerable portion of the population of the village. A few families from Sweden are now set- tled ill the town. Peter Johnson, a tailor, who came to Sinclairville a little previous to the late civil war is be-40 • History of Charlotte. lieved to be the first. Albert Richmond, who came to Sinclairville in Au- gust 1833, was the first attornev-at-law. He wras during four years, commencing January 1855, surrogate of tho county. S. Mervin Smith, E. B. Forbush, E. M. Peck and E. H. Sears were early attorneys residing at Sin- clairville. James A. Allen, now of Buffalo, and Wor- thy Putnam of Berrien Springs, Mich., were attorneys of a later date. Dr. Orange G. Campbell was the first physician.— Among the older physicians of Sinclairville were Dr. Henry Sargent, H. B. Hedges, J. E. Kimbal, Gilbert Richmond, G. S. Harrison and A. P. Aumock, all of whom were successful, and widely known through the county. Samuel Sinclair, Jonathan Hedges a large land own- er in Sinclairville, and well known citizen, John Love, Elias Wheeler and Jarvis B. Rice, were among the ear- ly inn-keepers of the village. Abraham Winsor, George A. French, Joy Handy, Walter Chester, John M. Barbour, Bela Tracy and Tho- mas J. Allen, formerly a member of the legislature, were early merchants. Perez Dewey, who came to Sinclairville about 1833, was for many years the prin- cipal merchant, and most wealthy citizen of the place. C. J. Aliena brother of Thomas J. Allen, Alonzo Lang- worthy, John Dewey and Nelson Mitchell, were mer- chants long in trade and well known. The first mails were carried in 1820 from Mayvilleto Ellicottville, by way of Sinclairville, by Sampson Crook- er, the father of Hon. G. A. S. Crooker, who went through once a week on foot. The earliest postmaster was Dr. Henry Sargent, and the postoffice at Sinclairville was designated as the Gerrv P. 0. Between 1830 and 1835, a mail route was established between Sinclairville and Fredonia by the way of Charlotte Center, over which the mails were carried once or twice a week. Thomas J. Allen was the first postmaster. The route was sub-,41 History of Charlotte. sequently changed so that it run from Sinclairville by* the way of Charlotte Center to Silver Creek, and finally that part of the route from Charlotte Center to Silver Creek was abandoned, leaving in operation that part of the route between Sinclairville and Charlotte Center. Obed Edson who removed from Sinclairville about 1828, and who now resides in Illinois, the brother of John M. Edson, in 1825, in connection with Reuben Scott, first established a semi-weekly line of stages be- tween Fredonia and Jamestown. Obed Edson and Walter Eaton extended the line to Dunkirk and War- ren in 1826. This was regarded as a very important event at the time, by the people of Warren. Sinclair- ville then had a population of not more than 75 or 100 persons. Previously it had been designated as “Major Sinclair’s.” After this event, and about the time of the death of Maj. Sinclear, which occurred early in 1827, it began to be called by common consent Sinclearville.— Notwithstanding the village was thereafter so called* the postoffice retained the name of “Gerry P. O.” until March in the year 1869, when it was changed to the “Sinclairville P. O.”—the spelling being changed to Sinclairville from Sinclearville the original orthography. Besides Maj. Sinclear of Sinclearville, and Robert W. Seaver of Charlotte Center, the following early settlers served in the War of the Revolution: Joseph Dix, who resided in the Pickett district, served two years and one-half, in Capt. Martin’s company, in the 15th Mas- sachusetts regiment—the latter part of his enlistment as a sergeant. He was in the battles fought with Bur- goyne, the battle of Princetown, and other engagements. He was born about 1753, and died September 16, 1822. John Cleland, the father of John, Nathan and Samuel Cleland, resided in the north part of the town. He en* listed in Col. Willis’s regiment in February 1778, and served during the Revolution'two years. He was born about 1758, and died February 16,1827. Elijah Carter, who resided north of Charlotte Center, enlisted in Mas-42 History of Chortotte. sachusetts tor three years. He was at Ticonderog#f Valley Forge, and the Surrender of Burgoyne. He was born about the year 1762. Caleb Clark, the father of Orton and Adin Clark, who resided in the north part of the town, enlisted in the 2d New Hampshire regi- ment, and served four years and two months. He was at Trenton, and the principal battles in New Jersey.— He was also in the battle of Stillwater. In the eastern part of the town resided Mr. Carpenter, who was also a soldier of the Revolution. The reminiscences of these old veterans, the rough and peculiar life led in the backwoods, and the famili- arity that the settlers acquired with the use of arms, were calculated to cultivate a martial taste, and conse- quently a military spirit ran high for many years.— Prior to the war of 1812, the militia of the county was organized into one regiment, called the 162d, under Col. John McMahan. One of the companies of this regiment was organized in this part of the county, pre- vious to the war of 1812. Abram Winsor was commis- sioned as first lieutenant in February of that year. Ez- ra White was said to be its captain. Its mustering place for many years, was on the Warren farm, on lot 52, two miles northerly of Sinclairville. From its ranks were recruited the men who represented the town of Charlotte during the war of 1812. In April, 1815y Abraham Winsor was commissioned captain of this company, and afterwards Joel Burnell. About 1816 or 1817, ah independent rifle company was organized, with Obed Edson before named, as its captain. About the year 1822 he was commissioned as major of a batallion formed in this part, of the county, and Wm. M. Wago- ner as adjutant. About 1826 the 212th regiment was organized for the towns of Charlotte, Gerry, Cherry Creek, Ellington, Villanova and Ellery, and Obed Ed- son was commissioned as its first colonel. The regiment continued in existence for twenty years, during which time nearly all the young men, the greater part of the43 Hixtorif of (Ihmlotte. able bodied settlers of this part of the county, served in its ranks. The men and officers took pride in the performance of their duties, and the regiment was well disciplined during many years after its first organiza- tion. On the first Monday of September, each compa- ny of the regiment was annually assembled at some convenient point in the locality where it was organized, for drill. But no day of the year, not excepting the 4th of July, wa£ so generally observed as a holiday by the people, as the muster of the whole regiment, called “General Training Dav.J' On such occasions, nearly the whole population would turn out to witness the sham fight, and other displays. These general trainings were held at Sinclairville, and in later years at Elling- ton, and the Love stand, in the north part of Gerry near Sinclairville. * The succeeding colonels of the regiment were Reuben Penhallow, John M. Edson, John M. Barbour, now jus- tice of the supreme court in N. Y. city, and Elias S. pledges. The military spirit then began to wane, and the discipline to be relaxed. The officers were selected with less care, and the men began to regard the per- formance of military duty as a burden. The-law re- quired them to furnish their own arms and equipments,: *The following extract is from a description of the Gen^ oral Trainings in Chautauqua county, by J. L. Bugbeec in memory we turn backward upon those scenes Of our youthful days, the reader will pardon a little digression while we speak of our military “ General Trainings.” The boys of forty years ago knew of only a very few days of amusement, and conspicuous among them was this military parade, with its stirring, cheering martial music, from its # base and tenor drums in large numbers, led by whole pla- toons of the shrill and screaming fife. In front of these marched the drum major, beating the exact time with his 1 rod, and every foot seemed to obey the motion with the precision of clock-work. Every boy would husband his pennies for the whole year, that he might have a little • ‘ spending money ” for this occasion; when he expected to gorge himself with gingerbread, apple pie, peaches. pljUins. cherries, cider and apples. At this day it is rather amusing, as we ponder upon those times, to think how the44 History of Charlotte. and the consequence was that they were dressed “in all kinds of hats, all styles of* * coats, from the surtout to the sailor jacket; they carried all kinds of arms, from the shot gun to the stake from the fence,” bearing a strong resemblance to Falstaffs soldiers, on the march to Cov- entry, and the annual musters soon degenerated into a farce. The amusement created when the infantry of Charlotte elected Capt. Savage to command, his troop- ers red uniform, the ludicrous struggle with Col. Knapp to maintain himself in authority, are still fresh in re- membrance. Col. Knapp was the last in actual command of the regiment which went out about 1846. Sylvan Lodge of Freemasons of Sinclairville, was chartered about the year 1824. Samuel Sinclear was its first Master. James Scofield the grandfather of Maj. Gen. John M. Scofield, and Richard Stockton were also Masters. Its first charter was given up soon after the anti-masonic excitement commenced. It was reclmr- tered June 11, 1853, and John M, Edson was appointed its first master, under the new charter. Caleb J. Allen* Oscar Hale, W. W. Henderson, Obed Edson, A. D. Tompkins, W. D. Forbush, A. P. Brunson, John H. Clark and A. A. Steyens, Jr., were subsequent masters. boys would count over their pile of pennies, with the viqw to ascertain the quantity of each favorite dish in which they would be likely to indulge. * General Training usually occurred from the tenth to the twentieth of September. A short time after midnight on the moaning of that day would be heard the firing of small arms at the houses of commissioned officers. This was usually done b}r the privates of the company, and if a field officer happened to live in the vicinity, the fun was more than doubled. On receiving this salute, it was ex- pected that the officer would come out of his house with a jug of rum or whisky, and treat the whole company. Very frequently they were invited in, and given all the 4 black strap ’ and milk punch they desired. “That the 4 waking company’ might not fail to be m time, it was customary to spend the fore part of the night together, on some convenient hay mow, and this would be the place for the small boys who wisned to get an early start, and hear the cry of the first peddler on the ground telling them how much could be bought for a penny.”45 History of Charlotte. An Odd Fellows Lodge was organized about the year 1851, and held regular meetings during several years. Elias S. Hedges was the first Noble Grand. Sinclearville Division, No. 617, of the Sons of Tem- perance, was instituted July 2,1850, and continued to hold meetings for several years. In 1833, the legislature passed an act by which the interest of the Holland Land Company in their lands in western New York, which before that time had been exempted from taxation became taxable. The compa- ny after the passage of this act, caused notices to be served upon such persons as had failed to make pay- ment of the amounts due the company upon their land contracts, to pay or arrange such balance, or to quit their premises within tvtfo months. The most of the lands in the towns of Charlotte and Gerry, and adja- cent towns, were held under these land contracts. The settlers had been unable to make payments fully upon their contracts, not from the want of industry or pro- per effort, but for the reason there was no market for their products, and by reason of their poverty and the scarcity of money. They had bestowed their labor un- stintedly however, in clearing and erecting buildings. The land for which the company had paid but 32 cents an acre, and which they had sold to the settlers of Chautauqua county, at the average price of $2.50.— The improvements that had been made, and other cir- cumstances, had greatly enhanced the value of the land. The settlers in most instances were far behind in their payments. With the sacrifice of all their personal pro- perty, it would have been impossible for them to have paid the amount due at the land office. The company also commenced to sell out the lands unsold., The first sale was made to Hinman Holden, of all unsold lands that it held in Charlotte. They also required new con- tracts to be made where the purchaser had failed to make payments when due, in which they materially advanced the price of the land, and exacted a payment46 History of Charlotte, down of one-eighth of the purchase money. These extraordinary requirements on the part of the company, together with discriminations that they made in their deal with the settlers, unfavorable to those who were the most punctual in their payments, created great dissatisfaction and greatly excited the people in the poorer towns of the county. A public meeting of the settlers was held at Jamestown, and a committe con- sisting of E. T. Foote, Oliver Lee, Samuel Barrett, Lev- erett Barker and George T. Camp, were appointed to visit the proprietors of the Holland Land Company at Batavia, and ascertain their purposes with regard to the lands and the settlers. The committee were referred to Judge Peacock, their agent at May ville. Another meet- ing was held at May ville, of which Leverett Barker was chairman, and John M. Edson secretary. The meeting was addressed by Judge James Mullett, and Judge E. T. Foote and others, and a committee of seven was ap- pointed, to which was added the chairman and secreta- ry of the meeting, to confer with Judge Peacock. The committed performed the duty, but with no more favor- able result’-tlian before. The subsequent agitation of the subject among the settlers, inclined them to more harsh and'decisive measures. A meeting was called at Haxtfield, then -'known as the “ Inlet,” but few attended it. A little later'another meeting was held at the In- let, oir-the Oth of February, 1800. From 800 to 500 persons were assembled there, among whom were peo- ple ffom Charlotte. Resolute leaders were appointed, arid the people started from the Inlet about dusk, and marched in order to May ville, and filed around the land office. Upon a Signal from their principal leader, they broke open the land office, and removed the books and pdpers; they ttien demolished the office, and returned to tlie Inlet, where they burned the books and papers. No move was ever made to prosecute the persons en- gaged in this unlawful proceeding, and the land pro- prietor, not long afterwards, established a new land of*HiMorjf of Char loth 47 fice at Westfield, with William H. Seward as their agent, but never afterwards attempted to enforce the extraordinary exactions of what was called the “ Gene- see Tariff,” and no further trouble occurred between the settlers and the proprietors. Hardly had the first log cabin been reared in the wilderness, before it was visited by that early mission- ary, the Rev. John Spencer, to cheer and encourage the pioneer in his struggle with the formidable difficulties that surrounded him. “ Priest Spencer's ” life in the forest was an active and toilsome one. Every abode in the town received from him frequent visits, and often would he on the sabbath, deliver a regular discourse to no other audience than a single family. He understood the duties of his calling well, and faithfully he perform- ed them. There are many anecdotes which illustrate the brightness of his intellect, and the kindness of his heart. He was born at Spenccrtown, Columbia county, in this .state, in 1758, and was of the same family as Hon. Ambrose Spencer, and nearly related to Joshua A. Spencer. He served in the war of the Revolution, and was for some time aid of the gallant Col. Willets. He was a congregationalist, and came to the Holland Pur- chase as a missionary of the Connecticut Missionary Society. He is described by Dr. Taylor as “ plain and simple in his habits; as a preacher remarkably clear and logical. He dressed in the antique style of Revo- lutionary days, wore short breeches, with knee buckles, long stockings and boots quite up to the knees.” Mr. Spencer founded thirteen churches. He died in Busti, August 24, 1826, and was buried in Sheridan, two miles west of the center. Rev. Asa Turner, a baptist preacher, was also an ear- ly missionary here. He was social, and consequently popular among the settlers, and was always warmly welcomed by them. The first religious meeting in the town, was held by the Rev. John Spencer, October 22,1811, in the first log48 History of Charlotte. house built by Maj. Sinclear. The first religious socie- ty organized, was the Methodist Episcopal. A class was formed about the year 1.812, at Charlotte (-enter, and consisted of Joel Burnell, and seven others. Wil- liam Brown was their first minister. In 1851, they first erected a house of worship at Sinclairville. The church now numbers fifty members. The society erected also in 1851, at Charlotte Center, another church edifice.— Rev. W. W. Woodworth is the present pastor. Among the former pastors were Rev. John Summerville, Rob- ert Hatton, Benjamin Hill. Asa Abell, John Scott, Jo- seph Barris, J. C. Ayres, J. (’handler. David Preston, James Gilmore, Hiram Kinsley, John J. Steadman, Jo- siah Flower, D. W. Voice, II. 11. Moore. R. L. Black- man, Peter Burroughs, Henry Martin. R. M. Bear. R. M. Warrenr Rufus Pratt, A. L„ Kellogg, A. J. Lindsey, and H, W. Leslie. For many years commencing about 1820, meetings were regularly held by the Christians, or Unitarians. Rev. Joseph Bailey and Oliver Barr, were able and tal- ented ministers of that denomination. Rev. Eli Holi- day was a later clergyman, and George Bailey an occa- sional preacher. The First Baptist Church of Sinclairville. was organ- ized June 2, 1826. John McAllister and eleven others were its constituent members. The following is a. list of the pastors of the church since its organization:— Rev. Mr. Blake, Woodbury, Beaver, Jonathan Wilson, James Schofield, Jr., Winsor, Frink, William Look, W. H. Husted, A. Irons, Geo IX Downey, B. <\ Willough- by, B. H. Brasted, D. T. Lockwood, A. Kingsbury, B. Moriey, and J. L. Powell its present pastor. In 1834y at a cost of $2,000, a house of worship was erected.— This was the first church edifice built in the town. The First Congregational Church of Sinclairville,. was formed July 22, 1831, bv Rev. Isaac Jones of May- ville, Rev. Timpthy Stillman of Dunkirk, and the Rev. Obediah C. Beardsley of Charlotte, on the Presbyterian49 flidorj/ of Charlotte. plan. It consisted at tirst of twenty-three persons.— Rev. O. C. Beardsley was its tirst pastor. Rev. Joseph Emery, Mr. Webster, E. Taylor, Mr. Dan forth, Edwin Hoyt and Timothy Gale were succeeding pastors. April 30, 1842, it was changed from the Presbyterian form, and organized as a Congregational Church, letters be- ing granted as a basis of the new organization to thir- teen members. September 25, 1845, a house of worship which had been that year erected, was publicly dedica- ted. Rev. Chester W. Carpenter was the first pastor under the congregational form. Rev. John H. Sage, N. H. Barnes, Richard B. Bull, Edward D. Chapman, E. P. Me El roy, 1. D. Stewart, were succeeding pastors, and Rev. W. E. Lincoln is the present pastor. rHie First Universalist Society of Charlotte was or- ganized August 2H, 1850. and the Rev. Wm. W. King was its tirst pastor. In 1851. a bouse of worship was erected there. Rev. Mi*. Payne, O. B. Clark, have since been pastors. The First Universalist Society of Sin- clairville, was organized Feb. 13, 1859, and a house of worship erected at that village. Rev. Isaac George was its pastor. The United Brethren is a more recent religious or- ganization of the town. It has at present no church edifice, but has a considerable membership. St. Paul's Church of the Cross of Sinclairville, ( Cath- olic ) is the last religious organization of the town. It was organized in 1871. Their house of worship is the church erected by the Universalist society in Sinclair- ville, which was purchased in that year. It was first under the pastoral care of Rev. Father Alfrancis. Early in 1849 a telegraph line was completed from Fredonia to Pittsburg, with a station at Sinclairville.— The line was not long in operation. No event in the history of Chautauqua county, ex- cept the construction of the 'Erie canal, contributed so much to promote its material prosperity, as the comple- tion of the Erie Railway. This road, the building of50 History of Charlotte. which had been so long and anxiously anticipated by the people of the county' was opened to Dunkirk May 14, 1851. The immediate effect was to greatly advance the price of real estate, and also the principal staples of the county. Butter, which a few years before had a value of ten cents a pound, and at some times but six cents, advanced to twenty cents. ‘ This and other pro- ducts obtained a cash as well as a greatly enhanced value; while often articles for which, before this event* there was no sale, acquired a'market value and brought ready pay. For instance, before that event, large num- bers of sheep were annually slaughtered in the interior towns of the county, and no other use could be made of their carcases than to try them into tallow. After this they could be sold at New York, and the east, to supply the markets there. Charlotte received the full benefit resulting from this great enterprise, and the growth of •Sinclairville was greater than.it had been at any time before. A steam tannery, a church, several stores, and many , dwelling houses were erected during the year . 1851, and its population found to be 430—an increase of 50 in one year. For many years the route of travel from the villages of Warren, in Pennsylvania, and Jamestown, in Chau- tauqua County, to Buffalo, and, subsequent to the com- pletion of the Erie Railroad to Dunkirk, was the high- way leading through Sinclairville and the town of Char- lotte. All the freight and passengers passing between . these points were carried through here. In the summer of 1851 the enterprise of the people of Stockton had effected the completion of a plank road from Dunkirk, through Fredonia, Stockton, and Delanti, to the north line of the town of Ellicott, where it met a like road that had been constructed from Jamestown northerly. It was called the “Central Plank Road.’’ The prospect that the travel that had passed over the route leading through Sinclairville would be diverted led the people along the latter route to organize a company, with a51 History of Charlotte. capital of $30,000, for the construction of n plank road from Fredonia, through Cassadaga and Sinclairville, to meet the Jamestown plank road at the north line of the town of Ellicott. $11,000 were subscribed in Charlotte. $6,000 in Gerry, $2,000 in Cassadaga, and $7,000 in Fre- donia. The company was organized in November or December, 1851, and called the ‘ Fredonia and Sinclair- ville Plank Road Company.” Perez Dewev was chosen its-first president. The road was completed in Decem- ber 1852, and had the effect to retain the travel that had formerly passed through Sinclairville, and to con- tribute to the growth and prosperity of Sinclairville and the adjacent country during succeeding years. Great rains prevailed during the year 1851, producing unusual freshets—destroying crops, mills, and bridges. The loss in Sinclairville alone was estimated at $1,000. The summer of the succeeding year was in strong con- trast, being exceedingly dry; the streams and pastures dried up, tornadoes occurred, one of great violence passed over Sinclairville, one building was blown down, several others unroofed, and the congregational church moved several feet from its foundations, besides other damage done. Soon after Maj. Sinclear came to Sinclairville, he do- nated a space of ground for burial purposes. It was situated on lot 41, near its northern boundary, on the west side of the road leading to Charlotte Center. It began to be used in 1811 or 1812 for such purpose, but it had no definite boundary until many years after- wards, when Jonathan Hedges, who had succeeded Maj. Sinclear in the ownership of the lands, executed a deed of two acres, which included this, and a little addition- al lands that had been purchased by the public of him. The grounds were still further enlarged some years la- ter. The lapse of time, and the growth of the village and the surrounding country, rendered the grounds in- adequate, and a meeting was called, and the Evergreen Cemetery Association was incorporated June 21, 1862.52 History of Charlotte, Lands were first purchased lying immediately north of the old burial grounds/ and subsequently other lands lying adjacent to, and west and south-west of it were purchased,which are enclosed with the old burial ground, constituting a tract of ten or twelve acres, beautifully and conveniently situated. At the organization of the association, six trustees were elected, and Barnard W. Field was chosen from their number .as president and superintendent. These positions he has continued to fill, giving his personal attention to improving and em- bellishing the grounds, which he has accomplished with unusual taste and skill, rendering them unrivalled for their beauty and adornments. On the 12th day of April, 1861, the late civil-.war com- menced with the bombardment of Fort-Sumpter. Du- ring its continuance, the town of Charlotte furnished its full share of men and money. Xo town in the coun- ty, filled its quota with more promptness, and in-few towns did more citizens serve in the ranks in propor- tion to population, than from the town of Charlotte. The close of the war found its quotas filled, and a surplus of funds provided. The first call for troops was made April 15, 1861, for 75,000 men, for three months. May 3,1861, a second call was made for 42,000 men, for three years, and for ten regiments for the regular army. In response to these calls, Lucius B. Arnold in August, 1861, Hiram Waterman, and George W. Barbour, enlisted in the 49th N. Y. Volunteers, commanded by Col. Bidwell. This regiment was in McClellan’s campaign on the peninsu- la. It participated in the battles of Antietam, Chan- eellorville, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness battles and other engagements of the war. Waterman, who was a sergeant, was killed October 19, 1864, at Ce- dar Creek, in the Shenandoah Valley. Arnold was con- stantly with his regiment until discharged in July, 1865. Alonzo W. Cross, William More, and his brother Mil- ton More, enlisted in the fall of 1861, in the 44th regi-Histonf of Charlotte. 53 ment of N. Y. Infantry, or “Ellsworth Zouaves,” for the town of Charlotte. Cross was the first of those who represented the town to fall in the war. He was killed at the battle of Malvern Hill. November 18, 1862, Dan- iel H. DeLisle, Richard LaSelle, Alexander Rose, John D. Hill and Mahlon Denslow, enlisted at Sinclairville, in the 72d regiment of N. Y. Volunteers, commanded by Col. Nelson Taylor. This was a veteran regiment. It served in the Army of the Potomac during McClel- lan’s Peninsular Campaign, in Pope’s Campaign, and also at Antietam and Gettysburg, and in other battles. In the month of October, 1861, the following young men enlisted for the town of Charlotte, at Westfield, in the 9th N. Y. Cavalry, nearly all in Co. K. of that reg- iment: Charles E. Dalrymple. Levi Pierce, Dewitt Squiers, Cyrus Torry, Thomas H. Torry, and George Phillips, and also E. M. Lee. Squiers and Phillips died in the service. The regiment was in McClellan’s Pe- ninsular, and in Pope’s campaign, at Chancellorville> the battles of the Wilderness and in the Shenandoah Valley under Sheridan. A third call was made by the president in July, 1862, for 300,000 volunteers to serve three years, and in Au- gust of the same year, a fourth call was made for a draft of 300,000 militia to serve nine months. A military committee was formed in the county for the purpose of raising recruits. Hon. A. F. Allen was chairman of this committee, and T. D. Copp, of Charlotte, was one of its members. Under the supervision of this com- mittee, the 112th and 154th regiments of N. Y. volun- teers, were raised in response to these calls. The follow- ing persons enlisted from the town of Charlotte, in Co. “B.” of the 112th : J. D. Maynard, first lieutenant un- til discharged at Suffolk, May 28, 1863, for physical dis- ability; Manhattan Pickett, George A. Clark, James Al- verson, he died in the service; James H. Bellows, Hi- ram P. Bellows, Andrew J. Brewer, James A. Cady, Norman S. Cook, died in the service on board of the54 History of Charlotte. steamer Arago, and was buried in the sea, Burnett W. Davison, George W. Fisher, George Giffen, Roswell W. Graves, Henry F. Holdridge, Willis Kilborn, Leland A. Kirk, died in the service, Sidney P. Stewart, Edward J. Thompson, Daniel Barhite, and John Essex. Charles W. Smith enlisted in Co. “ I,” of the same regiment.— The 112th left Jamestown September 11th, 1862, and arrived the same month in Suffolk, Va., and participa- ted in the defence of that place, when attacked bv Long- street. They remained in Virginia until August, 1868, when they sailed for Folly Island, near Charlestown, 8. C. They remained there during the seige of Fort Sumpter, and until February, 1864, when they embark- ed for Jacksonville, Florida. They returned to Virgin- ia on the 4th of May of the same year, and joined the Army of the James. During the summer they partici- pated in several severe engagements and battles, in the vicinity of Petersburg and James River, in which CoL Drake and Lieut. Col. Carpenter were killed. 'The loss of the regiment at Cold Harbor on the 1st of June, was 153 in killed and wounded, of whom 40 were killed.— They embarked at Bermuda Hundred, and on the 13th of December sailed for Wilmington, N. C., and partici- pated in the assault and capture of Fort Fisher, in which the regiment lost 13 killed, including its Colonel, J. F. Smith, and 31 wounded. The regiment subsequently marched to Raleigh, and on the 13th of June, 1865, were mustered out of the service. The regiment when organized, was composed of 1009 men. They afterwards received 465 recruits. 169 died of disease, 125 died by casualties of battle. Of those who represented the town of Charlotte, nearly all were members of Co. “ B,*’ com- manded by Capt. W. H. Chaddock. The following persons enlisted from the town of Char- lotte, and served in Co. aF,” of the 154th: Thomas Don- nelly captain of the company, Homer A. Ames promo- ted during service to second lieutenant, Eugene M. Shaw promoted during service to assistant surgeon,/7/Wor// of ('harloth, 55 George A. Taylor promoted to sergeant, taken prisoner at Gettysburg, and died in the military prison on Belle Island ; John M. Irwin sergeant. Hugh Erwin sergeant, died in the service, W illiam Allen killed at the battle of (/hancellorville, Edson 1). Ames. Augustus Ihirnhum. James P. Skill, Moses Stevens. James Upton. John Har- per, Blythe Harper, Win. D. Harper, Hugh Harper, Blythe Erwin, Thomas Erwin, Monroe Young, Charles H. Brown, died in the service, Milan J. Griswold, Eu- gene Travis. John Taylor. James H. Green, Daniel Kel- ly. Thomas D. Spiking, A. M. Wagoner, Robert McKee, Willis Dingley, Nelson Brooks, James (). Copp, George Giffen, W. Devillo Forhush, Hamilton Hudson. Oliver Brunson and James Prentice. The I54th left James- town in September 1862, for tin* seat of war. They re- mained several weeks at Arlington Heights, and Fair- fax. Court House, and .were there brigaded and consti- tuted a part of the Eleventh Army < orps. under Gen. Siegel. The lirst battle in which they were engaged was (’hancellorville. There the regiment was badly out to piece's, Co. K’* alone losing 5 killed. 7 wounded and lo prisoners. They were next engaged in the bat- tle of Gettysburg. They afterwards became a part of the Twentieth Army (’orps. under (Jen. Hooker, and went south and formed a part of the army under (Jen. Sherman, and marched with him to the sea. They among other engagements, participated in the battles of Lookout Valiev. (Jet. 2b, 1868, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, Nov. 28, 24 ami 25, 1868, in Tennes- see, also in the following battles in Georgia: Rocky Faced Ridge, May 8. 1864, Resaea, May 15. Dallas, May 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, Pine Knob June 15, Kenesaw June 28, Peach Tree Creek July 20. the in vestment of Atlan- ta from July 22 to Sept. 2. They marched to Savan- nah with the army of Sherman, and subsequently re- turned through the Carolina*. Prior to the calls for men made in July and August of 1862, no bounties were paid. Under these calls $2556 History of Charlotte. was generally paid to each of the men enlisting in the 112th. This money \Vas raised by subscription, and was never put into any tax. John Dewey headed the subscription list, and was active in raising the money. As the enlistments in the 112th did not fill, the quota? an informal meeting was held by some of the citizens, and a more equal and effective plan agreed upon. It was decided to raise and pay a bounty of $100 to each volunteer. A note was accordingly drawn for $3,000. the amount necessary, and was signed by spine of the citizens, and endorsed by Alonzo Langworthy, who, trusting to the fairness of the citizens of the town for its repayment, when the taxes should be collected in the fall, procured the money ami disbursed it. Boun- ties of $100 were paid to each of the men who enlisted in the 154th, and the quota of the town under the call of July, 1862, was tilled. In the fall the sum of $8,788 48 raised, being the amount of the note and the accumu- lated interest, was apportioned for payment among the tax payers, according to the amounts of their respec- tive assessments. Although party spirit ran high through the country, and particularly so in the town of Char- lotte during the progress of the war, the citizens sin- cerely and radically differing in their political views, being about equally divided between democrats and re- publicans, yet this tax was paid without dissent, although it had no legal validity,and no power existed to enforce it . The country having failed to meet the calls of Au- gust for 300,000 men, Congress, March 8, 1863, passed an Enrollment Act, by which all able bodied male cit- izens, and aliens who had declared their intentions to become naturalized, between the ages of 18 and 45 were enrolled, and divided into two classes. All persons be- tween the ages of 20 and 35, and all unmarried persons between the ages of 35 and 45, to constitute the first class, and all others the second class. A commutation clause provided that the payment of £300 should be re- ceived in lieu of service. The act also provided for ex-Hi dm u of Charlotte. 57 eruptions. The enrollment in Charlotte was made in June, 1883: 292 men were enrolled in the town, of whom 178 were in the first class, and 114 were in the second class. Under the call of August, 1882, the quota for the town, based upon its population as fixed by the mil- itary committee of the county was 53. In .June, 1883, a note for the payment of 15,754 20. was signed by ma- ny citizens, and endorsed, and the money obtained bv Alonzo .Langworthy, as in the year before, for the pur- pose of paying bounties. The draft was ordered how- ever, and took place for the town of Charlotte at Dun- kirk, on the 19th of August, 1883, but the quota of the town had been reduced by enlistments since July 2d of the previous year, so that there remained but twenty- six men to be obtained. Fifty per cent was added to the number to be drawn, in order to provide against ex- emptions, and 38 names were drawn from the first class, which had been reduced by exemptions to 139 names. The following is a list of those who were dratted: John Shoemaker, Waldo Hill. Levi F. Ward, George Oardot, Royal Pi Sheldon, Alfred Fife, James H. Lewis, John B. Bailey, Patrick Maloney, Obed Simmons, Richard Thompson, A. H. Doty, Ohas. W. Seaver, Hamilton Hud- son, Albert Thompson, Loren Stevens, Elisha Wilcox, Almond L. Straight, Julius Elliott, Addison Sprague, Stephen Warner, Leander White, .James H. Lyon, Ed- gar A. Bronson, Geo. W. Barber, Blythe Erwin, James Rose, John F. Wood, Frank Langworthy, Fred. H. Mal- lory, Jas. B. Woodworth, Wm. McNaughton, Win. H. Gleason, Joseph Duhurst, Orren Robertson, Nathan P. Newton, Daniel Kelley, John Odell. Of those drawn, 10 were exempted for physical disability, 8 for other causes, 3 furnished substitutes, 12 paid commutations, none reported for duty, and five failed to report. The draft here, as everywhere else, failed to produce men, and money only. In the counties of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus, only 108 of the 2823 men drafted, report- ed for duty, and 1352 were exempted. The remainder58 Hidory of Charlotte. furnished substitutes or commuted. October 17, 1863, the fifth call was made for 300,000 men. In the fall of this year the amount of the note and interest, in all the sum of $5,925 45. was appor- tioned among the tax-payers, and paid without dissent, as in the year before. To make up for the great losses that the army sustained the year before, on the 1st day of Feb- ruary, 1864, a sixth call was made by the President for 200,000 men, and for the deficiency under the last call. February 9th, a law was passed by the Legislature of the State of New York, giving ample authority to towns to raise money to pay bounties to volunteers. I nder this act special town meetings were held from lime to time, during the year 1864, for that purpose. April 29th, such a town meeting was held at Reed's Hall, in Sin- elairville. June 7th a meeting was held at I lie same plaee. at which, by a large vote, a resolution was adopt- ed to raise $6,500. to pay bounties. A seventh call was made by the president March 14,1804, for 200,000 men. As a call tor a greater number of'men was contempla- ted by the government,than bad been made at anyone time before, a draft was ordered, in order that the quo- tas of the various localities should be tilled preparatory die re to. This draft, was made in June, for the town of Charlotte, for nine men that were then lacking to fill its quotas upon previous calls. Several of-the men draft- ed having been subsequently exempted, new drafts were immediately made, until nine men were accepted. The following is a list of those drafted, thatwere finally held for military service:—Chandler Johnson, Tho- mas Donnelly, Milo A. Cleland, Thomas Bowen, Lester Parsons, William Allen, James H. Bennett, James Rose, and John Nichols. The men so drafted either commuted or furnished substitutes. On the 18th of July, 1864, was made the eighth call for 500,000 more. Enlistments had been .obtained-so that the quota for the town was fixed hv the military committee at but 39 men. The ninth and last call was made December 19,History of Charlotte. ">9 1864, for 300,000 men. Town meetings were held in in September to authorize the raising of money under the call of July 18th. At a meeting held September 1. it was voted to raise #2,000. by a vote of 47 in favor and 12 against ; and at a meeting held December 20th. it was decided to raise a further sum, by a vote of 127 for, to 69 against In pursuance of the authority given at these town meetings, notes were from time to time exe- cuted, and the moneys raised, as in the cases before mentioned. Such a note was executed July 9th. 1864- for the payment of #10,000, and another September 23, 1864, for #4,098.36. The bounty tax collected by the town in the fall of this year, amounted in the aggre- gate to the sum of $15,039.00. The war ended on the 26th day of May, 1865. with the surrender of the Con- federate Army under Gen. Kirby Smith. The tax as- sessed against the town during the last year of the war, (1865,) was $5,811. Henry C. Lake was the supervisor of the town in the year 1861. In 1862 and 1863 Timothy D. Oopp, and in 1864 and 1865 Henry Reynolds. During the war the duty of raising the men largely devolved upon the su- pervisor of the year in which the quota was to be filled’ and they were active in performing that duty. The supervisors were aided bv committees, that were ap- pointed from time to time, at the several town meet- ings. Among other citizens who served upon these committees, were John Dewey, W. W. Henderson, and Henry C. Lake, all of whom rendered efficient service. The responsible charge of procuring and disbursing the moneys directed to be raised by the town meetings, in the payment of bounties and other war expenses, and the management of financial matters growing out of the war, were by common consent imposed upon Alonzo Langworthy. These important charges, so in- trusted to him, were performed greatly to the advan- tage of the town. Besides the persons before named, who enlisted from60 History , of Charlotte. the town, and represented it during the war, were Ed- win H. ^Lmes, who enlisted in the 7th (Jo. ol Sharp ►Shooters. He was killed in the battle ol the Wilder- ness. John Ames, 0. Rogers,and George \\ . Bqrroughs. John Jones, and Albei t W. (Jammings, enlisted and served in the navy; Cummings, during the latter part of the war upon the Grossbeak, which formed a. part ol the Mississippi squadron. From .the data that we have, the town ol Charlotte' furnished for the army and navy during the war, from its own citizens, at least eighty men. Of these, 12 were killed in battle, or died in the service; a still greater number were more or less severely wounded. About 30 citizens furnished substitutes, or paid commutation money. The remainder of the men required to till its quotas, under the different calls of the president, were raised as in the most if not all of the other towns of tin county, by the payment of bounties to recruits enlisted outside of the town. They were obtained mostly by T. 1). Copp. The number of men required to be raised by the town, under the various calls of the president, was over 190. These quotas were all filled, with, proba- bly an overplus of men in favor of the town, some of whom by oversight or for other cause, were not credit- ed to the town, as they justly should have been, and others who enlisted outside of the state could not he credited to it. Besides its share of the state debt for the payment of bounties and other war expenses, which the town is required" to pay, and besides payments lor substitutes and commutations in lieu of military ser- vice made by its citizens, which have .never been inclu- ded in any state tax, the town during the war raised by- annual tax the sum of $30,563.88, for the payment of bounties and war expenses. The citizens of the town also made other contributions: ‘The Soldier’^ Relief Society of Sinclairville and vicinity.*' was organized Oct. 20, 1861. Mrs. E. 1). Chapimm. nncl Mrs. John Dewey, were the presidents of the society during its ex-History of f 7lartotU. 61 istence. During the war it forwarded clothing, provis- ions and hospital stores, to the amount of $700,*besides considerable cash. This sum includes some contribu- tions from the north part of Gerry, and the central por- tion of Charlotte. From the " Volunteer Fund,raised bv private subscription, not included in any tax. with the exception -of $138, received from I he town, were paid for bounties, the relief of the families of volunteers, and other objects connected with the war. *012.53. The incidents that occurred in the town in the year 1868, are of sufficient importance as to entitle them to some mention in a town history. In March of that year, Orton Clark, an old and respected citizen of the town, and former Surrogate of the county, was accident- ally drowned at Sinclairville. while attempting to cross the creek. In 1868, occurred the severest tire that ever visited Sinclairville. About one o’clock on the morn- ing of the 7th of April of that year, the Bennett block, situated on the south side of Main street was discovered to be on tire. Three stores comprising this block, oc- cupied respectively by Henry Sylvester. W. P. Forbush and L. Monheimer. the Sinclairville hotel, owned by Levi Harrison, situated on the north side of Main street, the dwelling house and barn of Ezra Richmond, a meat market, and shoe shop were burned, and a. harness shop torn down; in all seven buildings. During the sum- mer season of this year, unusual thunder storms pre- vailed,'by-'which several barns in the town were struck by lightning, and their contents consumed. When the census was taken June 1st. 1870, the population of Sin- clairville, including those inhabitants of the village that lived in the town of Gerrv, was found to be 575. The practicability of constructing a railroad from Dunkirk, by the way of the Cassadaga and Conewango valleys, to Warren, Pa., and other points along the Al- legany river,, and thus bring Buffalo and Western New York in connection with the oil and coal regions of Western Pennsylvania, had been but a short time un62 History of Charlotte. der consideration, when a public meeting, of which C J. Allen was chairman, was for the first time held in the summer of 1866, in the village of Sinclairville, to pro- mote the enterprise. Subsequently other meetings were held at Sinclairville, Dunkirk, and Fredonia, at which preliminary steps were taken tor the organization of the road. It was finally organized the succeeding winter, under the name of the Dunkirk, Warren <1\ Pitts- burg Railroad. TV D. Copp and Alonzo Langworthy of Simdairville, were directors from its organization to its completion. The former being during this time the president. Their influence and well directed efforts, largely aided in effecting the construction of the road. April 23d, an act was passed, by the legislature of the State of New York, authorizing the towns in this coun- ty to subscribe ..to the capital stock of the road, and un- der this act $61,000 of stock was so subscribed by the town of Charlotte. The first, work was performed-on this road by the engineers, June 17, 1867, and the work of grading commenced October 8d of the same year.— .The-track was laid from Dunkirk to Sinclairville June 1. 1871, and the first passenger train passed over the .mad south as far as Worksburg or Falconers. June 22. 1871. The road was afterwards completed to Warren- and continued to Titusville, Pa. The people of Char- lotte, and central Chautauqua, who had -before then been compelled to. travel by.stage, and in open vehicles in inclement seasons of the year, and in order to reach a market, to transport their products over long and te- dious roads, had long felt the disadvantages of their isolated locations, in the reduced prices of their farming lands, as compared with those that were no better, hut were situated in more favored localities. By the com~ pletion of this road, they suddenly acquired the bene- fits .of quick transportation, rapid travel, more accessi- ble markets, and a higher value for their lands* Coal and oil has been the principal, articles of freight by which the road has been sustained thus far.History of Charloit<\ 83 The great majority of the early settlers who came to Charlotte, were uneducated men in the ordinary sense. The only books to be found in their cabins for many years after the settlement of the town, besides the bible, was a Dilworth’s spelling book, Pike’s arithmetic, or Morse’s geography, and now and then a copy of Poor Richard’s almanac. Telegraphs were unknown, and the mails barely reached this distant wilderness. For years the only paper received in the town of Charlotte, was a single copy of the Albany Gazette, taken by Maj. Sinclear. This paper was regarded as the common property of the settlers in this vicinity, and its arrival at the postofiice at Fredonia was watched with great in- terest, and its contents eagerly perused and-.publicly read. J. M. Edson who was then a boy, usually acted as the reader. This single sheet brought to them near- ly all that they knew of what was transpiring without the wilderness, of the principal events in the last war with England, and of the wonderful campaigns of Na- poleon; which excited here at this distant frontier, the same interest and astonishment, that his remarkable career did everywhere else. With such limited facili- ties for mental improvement, without schools and books* the early pioneers received only the rough schooling of the forest, which proved however of more value to them and their successors, who enjoy the fruits of their la-, bor, than all the discipline of books and schools. Al- though the pioneers of the town possessed but few ad- vantages for obtaining an education, they sought to give such opportunities as were in their power to their, children; schools were early established among them. The first school was taught by William Gilmour, in the winter of 1811—12, in the log house erected in 1809, by Maj. Sinclear in Sinclearville. The schools there, had been previously kept in a school house built in 1818, in the town of Gerry, adjacent to the village. The first shool houses in the other districts of the town were in- variably built of logs. About 1824 and 1825, book agents64 History of Charlotte. appeared, and books began to be more plenty. The citizens of Charlotte Cefiter and vicinity were well in- formed, and possessed a decided taste for books and mental improvement. About the year 1832, a circula- ting library was founded there, which was called the “Charlotte Center Private Library Association.” It contained 200 or 300 volumes of good books, and con- tinued in existence until about the year 1842, when the library was dissolved, and the books distributed among its members. About the year 1840, a circulating libra- ry was founded at. Sinclairville. It contained 75 or 100 volumes; it was dissolved about the year 1842. About the year 1856 or ’7, the Farmer’s Club of Sinclairville founded a small library, consisting of agricultural works; it continued in existence but a short time.— February 6, 1870, the Sinclairville Circulating. Library was established, with Alonzo Langworthy as its presi- dent. It has been exceedingly prosperous, and largely patronized, and is rapidly extending a taste for reading. It now numbers 690 volumes. 114 different persons during the year ending January 1, 1876, received books from this library, and 2645 volumes during that year were read. In early years, there was only a local market for but- ter and cheese, articles which have since become the staples of the town. Fanners then took.little pains in selecting and keeping their stock, and farming in other respects was at a low ebb. The institution of agricul- tural fairs however, began to awaken some interest.— The Chautauqua County Agricultural Society was or- ganized January 4, 1837, and fairs were thereafter an- nually held at various points in Chautauqua county.— In 1849, the county fair was held at Sinclairville, and was very largely attended. But the completion of the Erie Railway advanced the farming interest more than any other event. It enabled the butter and cheese, and most other farming products to find a regular market. Fences and buildings were put into better repair, and65 History of Charlotte. farmers began to improve their breeds of cattle. A few years later, when the mowing machine came into use, and better farming implements adopted, a still greater interest was manifested in agricultural pursuits, and soon dairying, and the various branches of agriculture reached a most prosperous and thriving condition.— Farmers, however, did not co-operate foe several years, and each manufactured his own butter and cheese.— Asahel Burnham was the first to inaugurate a change in this, respect. He, in 1865, built and opened an ex- tensive .cheese factory at Sinclairville; believed to .have been at that time the largest in the state; at which was ..manufactured into cheese in that year, 4,349,364 pounds of milk, from 1450 cows, belonging to 120 patrons of this cheese factory. Mr. Burnham made during that year, 7,250 cheeses, each weighing 60 pounds. Some of the time as many as 60 cheeses in a day. He also built and owned several other cheese factories in the ,adjacent towns of Arkwright and Stockton. The first cheese factory erected in the county, was built by him in Arkwright; the second at Sinclairville. The.facto- ries produced a great change in the pursuit of dairying, and cheese factories, and creameries for the manufac- . ture of butter, sprung up in other parts of the to\yn,apd through the county. Now the farming community are fully alive to everything which relates to their pursuit, and by interchange of views, and other practicable me- thods, seek to promote its interests. Besides dairying, the raising of horses, cattle and sheep, engage their at- tention. The Sinclairville Farmer’s Grange was insti- tuted in Sinclairville this year. Allen A. Stevens is its master. The “Sinclairville Fair Ground Association ” was or- ganized November 5,1874, with H. E. Kimbei as pres- ident. Over twenty acres of land have been procured, . lying in Sinclairville in one body, upon lots 33, 34y 41, and* 42. An excellent driving track has been comple- ted, and is now in use. Several acres have been set66 History of Charlotte. apart for the display of stock, and other purposes, upon which the buildings of the society have been erected. The grounds are finely situated and in complete condi- tion, and are inclosed by a new and substantial fence. An annual fair was held there in 1875, and will be held again in September, 1876. Sinclairville, according to the census taken in 1875, had a total population of 695, of which 608 were in Charlotte, and 87 in Gerry. The town of Charlotte, by the same census, had a population of 1708. And now, having sketched the history of the town from its settlement on the 1st day of April, 1809, to the present year, the work assigned me is completed. In performing it, I have presented facts and dates, with dry particularity. It may perhaps be thought that I have been unnecessarily minute in giving them; but they were details that I had at command,and it was request- ed that I should use them fully. .They clearly have en- abled me to give a more faithful history. * As the purpose declared by Congress for gathering these assemblages to-day through the nation, is to ob- tain a complete record of the progress of the institu- tions of this country, it is. proper for me to. glance at the present condition of our town, and its progress with, in the century. The villages of Sinclairville and Char- lotte Center are now sustained principally by the trade and business that the surrounding country afford. The former is a principal station upon the Dunkirk, Allege- *To mv father John M. Edson. I am indebted for many suggestions, and very much of the data Irom which this sketch has been prepared. As he came to Charlotte in 1810. he has bcSri for 66 years identified with the town, and it is well known, was familiar with the particulars of its set- tlement. and subsequent history. Indebtedness is also ac- knowledged to U. W., Seaver, John Pickett, the Clcland brothei^, and other early residents of the town for other facts given. To the same persons, and to early settlers of the town of Gerry,, should also be credited the materials from which I prepared sketches of Charlotte and Gerry, published in Mr. A. W. Young's History of Chautauqua County.Ilidory of Charlotte. 67 ny Valley • •• • . • '• ' • - ■ "' " • ; •’ - •: ■0; ;-VV ■ - • * ' ' ; : ‘ .. . •. . • -,v ‘ 'APPENDIX. BUSINESS RECORD FOR JULY 4. 1876 SINCLAIRVILLE. Nelson Mitchell, General Store, Main street. Sheldon & Williams, ( A\ E. Sheldon mid Edwin Williams,) Gen- eral Store, Main street. Thompson & Lapham, ( /A Hart Thompson and //. IT. Lapham,) General Store, corner Main and Park streets. Billings Bros., (Geo, I/,, and Ohm. H. Billings, ) general store, Jamestown street.— Nelson Osborn, grocery store, Main street, John Pear- son, grocery store, Main street, Geo. Copp, grocery stdre, Main street. Frank Burns, grocery stole, Mail? street. Bargar Bros., ( Emory Ot, and Wcstoby Boryar,) drug and grocery store, Main street. Albert E. Phil lips, drug and grocery store, Main street, W, W, Hen derson, drug store, Main street. Joseph Oolenso. cloth- ing store, Main street. Chas. W. Hedges, tailor shop, and librarian of the Sinclairville Library Association, Main street. F. Christian, tailor shop, Main street.— Mrs. H. A, Kirk, millinery and fancy goods store, Main street. Miss Hannah Chase, millinery and fancy goods store, Main street. Mrs. Mary Sylvester and Miss Mary Cannon, dress maker's shop, Main street, Mrs. Eliza Kelley, dress maker’s shop, Main street, Reed iSt Rey- nolds, ( Richard Reed and Henry Reynolds,) general hard- ware store, Main street, William Trusler & Co.,( H’hl and Thomas TrusUr,) hardware store, Main street. T, H. Morian, tin shop, Main street, Edward Faulhaber, furniture store, Main street. Wm. W, DeLisle, furni- ture store, Jamestown street, William Tugwell, meaf market, corner Main and Jamestown streets. Wait A Pierpont, ( Adelbert E. Wait and John E. Pierponl,) meaf market, Main street, Sylvanus Norton, harness shop; Main street. Gilbert & Neill, ( L. B. Gilbert and John Neill,) harness shop^ corner Main and Jamestown streets, Geo, E. H irrison, omnibus line, livery stable, Main st, H. A. & F, W, Kirk, shoe shop, Main street. Almon Atkins, shoe shop, Maple street. John Greshmer, shoe shop, Park street. William Heppner, steam tannery. Water street. Elisha McAllister, tannery, Mill street. Green & Hall, ( Hawley Green and Sheldon M. Hall,) grist mill,, (wafer) Water street. Wodd & Jolinston, ( John F, Wood and James Johnston,) grist mill, (water) Mill street-72 Appendix. Samuel Briggs, saw mill, (water) Water street. Edward Briggs, saw mill,-(water) Railroad Avenue. Joseph Westley, steam saw and planing mill, lath and shingle machine, and barrel factprv, Railroad Avenue. 1.. W. Barker, steam planing mill,and eider mill, Water street. Edward Faulhaber, cabinet and undertaker’s shop, Rail- road Avenue. M. B. Craw, cabinet shop, Water street. Ernest Heppner, cooper shop, Park street. J. R. Brown, cooper shop, Park street. John C. Cossentine, wagon shop, Park street. William Johnson, carriage shop, corner Jamestown and Maple streets. William John- son, carriage ironing shop, Jamestown street, 8. A. Tripp, carriage painting shop, Jamestown street. Tho- mas Trusler, blacksmith shop, Park street. James Ko- foed, blacksmith shop, corner Park and Kent streets.— John Trusler, blacksmith shop, corner Jamestown and Maple streets. Henry Sylvester, hotel,( Sylvester House.) Main street. Richard Reed, public hall, Main street,— Joseph Page, saloon, billiard rooms, and public-hall. Main street. Wm. H. Taylor, restaurant, Main street. F. Holtz, cigar factory, Main street. H. Forstbauer, barber shop, Main street, E. L. Husted,printing office, stationery, and news room, Main street. W. W. Hen- derson, postoffice, and internal revenue collector’s office for the 27th internal ..revenue disk, Main street, (’has. Young, photograph gallery, Jamestown street. L. E. Dunton, watch maker, and jeweler’s shop, Main street. A. A. Stone, dentist, Main street, (f. S. Harrison, phy- sician, Mail) street. H. P. Hall, physician, Main street. A. A. Stevens, Jr., physician. Main street. A. H. Smith, physician, Main street. A. Richmond, attorney at law. East Avenue. W. Thos. Wilson, attornev at law, am? justice of the peace, East Avenue. F. A. ’feed, attorney at law, East Avenue. Edson & Chapman, (Obed Edson and F. (J. Chapman,) attorneys at law, Main street. Wm. H. Rice, justice of the peace, Main street. CHAFLOTTE CENTER. Lake