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Cornell University Library 1993.The rev. albert Bigelow.
SEE APPENDIX, P. 382.THE EARLY FIRM OF
JUBA STORRS & COMPANY.
READ AT CLUB MEETINGS FEB. l6, 1874, AND IN 1877.*
BY THE REV. ALBERT BIGELOW.
This paper is a condensation of several which the writer has
prepared by request at various times, to-wit, “The Old Williams-
ville Mills,” “The Firm of Juba Storrs & Co.,” and biograph-
ical notices of the individual members of the firm. These
papers also included references to certain “partners,” not mer-
cantile, and yet of no small moment in, their influence on the
firm’s affairs ;, and of various employees at different times and
places acting for the company. Authentic items, too, not
squarely in the line of simple statistical history,: yet illustrating
olden times, and enlivening the account, have here and there
been introduced.	.
My plan, then, made the Firm of Juba Storrs & Co. not the
robe itself, but the girdle that confines its folds; or, not the
sheaf \ but the strong band of twisted stalks binding the many
into one. And while somewhat modified, as indicated, this
plan still holds good in the following narrative as prepared for
the press.
* Author’s Note.—The original plan of this paper resulted in its becoming two,
read as above indicated. The plan was peculiarly comprehensive, and while capable
of being modified in reading, sufficiently for club-meeting purposes, would be difficult
to follow satisfactorily in publication. For this purpose, therefore, I have here con-
densed the two papers into one, and have been content to give much less in quantity
of biographical matter than is needed for completeness—less indeed than was actually
read upon the two occasions named.94
THE EARL Y FIRM OF
The intent of my narrative, if any it shall have, is not that
of a tale of
“ Moving accidents by field and flood; ”
nor, yet, of vast and striking enterprise. It tells of ordinary
life, and humble deeds; of struggle, even of failure;—yet, this
I may say, of failure hardly in the main to be accounted such :
defeats savoring, in fact, of victory.
One reflection let me venture here, however. I am moved
to say, “ Alas ! that so much history should have been buried in
the graves of those who made it! ” There is danger lest some
day we wake and find ourselves more knowing as to Russia and
Japan, or other regions nearer by, yet outside of our own, than
of our strictly local history. A letter of good-will today
received from Alexander J. Sheldon, Esq.,* late librarian of the
Grosvenor Library, mentions feelingly his own regret that oppor-
tunities, now forever gone, were lost by him for gaining knowl-
edge from his parents, in relation to our early history, a regret
which many already and which I fear many more will some day
feel.
I cannot omit to say that I have been favored more than I
can tell, in that I could draw upon the full, clear and accurate
recollections of General Lucius Storrs and Mrs. Dr. Warner; and
I must confess myself surprised to find how these, which form by
far the greatest part of my authorities, are corroborated upon
every hand by all the tests that I have been able to apply.
And now, first turn your thought backward, a full century in
time,—and in place carry you to a point whence the region we
occupy was then thought of as the far-off western wilderness.
Thence glancing at its still more distant sources, I shall trace
hitherward that tributary stream which earliest entered the main
channel we shall follow—noticing, then, others as they enter—
and finally tracing each again, as it separates from the main
channel, and flows as through a delta, onward to the all-engulfing
Future.
I mention, then, as first to enter Buffalo, of those who after-
wards formed the Firm of Juba Storrs & Co., the honored,
*Mr. Sheldon died March 23, 1876.—Ed.JUBA STORES & COMPANY.
95
esteemed, lamented Captain Benjamin Caryl. He was born in
Hubbardston, Worcester County, Mass., October 12, 1773. His
father’s name was Jonathan—a name, however, often in old
records shortened to John, and used with it interchangeably. He
was born March 1, 1730, but where is not ascertained. Mrs.
Jonathan Caryl’s name was Anna Clark. She was born September
1, 1734, but I have not learned where. One of her grandsons,
Benjamin Clark Caryl, an old and well-known citizen of Buffalo,
now deceased, derived his middle name from her. Farther back
than this by specific name, I cannot find means of going, in the
modern Caryl family record.
That the Caryls were at first settled in Worcester, Mass., is
considered certain. It is but a few miles from Hubbardston,
Benjamin’s birth-place, and there is no association of the Caryl
name with any other place than Worcester, at the date of Jona-
than’s birth. All collateral associations center here—as for in-
stance that of the settlement of the Young family in this country,
to which Mrs. Caryl belonged.
When Hubbardston became the family home I cannot tell.
But it is certain that it had no town charter till 1767, six years
before Benjamin Caryl’s birth; and settlements followed the
charters in the natural order of things. So that his must have
been among the pioneer births in Hubbardston. And Mr.
Caryl often spoke of his claim to the absolute pioneer distinction
of having been the first child baptized in the church of his
native town. Benjamin Caryl was next to the youngest of the
children, and he was the survivor of them all.
In 1778, when Benjamin was five years old (two years after
the Declaration of Independence), his father emigrated to Ches-
ter, Windsor County, Vermont.* It is on the eastern slope of
the Green Mountains, watered by branches of the Williams
River, a western tributary of the Connecticut.
*Author’s Note.—“ Emigrated” is the right word for such a movement, in that
day, although it involved only passing from the northern part of one State to the
southern part of an adjoining one. For Chester was then quite a new place, having
been settled only fifteen years before, in 1763. But as late as 1795, seventeen years after
the Caryls removal into Vermont, I learn from a very interesting original letter of that
year, which lies before me, that emigration from Connecticut to Middlebury, Vt.,
meant a thirteen days’ journey with ox teams, and manifold experiences, such as a
very new country alone affords.96
THE EARL Y FIRM QF
In Chester, Mr. Caryl’s childhood was still, as the dates
above given show, that of the son of a very early settler, if not
of an actual pioneer. He certainly was a “ Green Mountain
boy ” of the olden time. But of his childhood I have no direct
facts to relate.
A hint, however, as to the position of the family—their rela-
tion to their neighbors and the circumstances of the Chester life,
I obtain from Hall’s “ History of Eastern Vermont.”
Those days were then full of excitement. It was in the
stirring times of conflicting jurisdiction between the then young
and high-blooded States of Vermont and New York ;—such as
existed also between New York and Massachusetts ; from which
days many stories, like the following, of antagonistic authority
and resistance to legal process on one side or the other have in
authentic narrative come down to us.
Dr. Reuben Jones, a member of the Vermont Legislature in
1781, was seized for debt in New Hampshire in 1785. He
escaped to Vermont whither he was pursued by one Griswold,
and was arrested at his home in Chester. “John” or Jona-
than Caryl (Benjamin’s father), then 55 years old, and Amos
Fisher, disputed the officer’s authority, attacked him and deliv-
ered Dr. Jones. Though indicted for resisting an officer, the
rescuers were not convicted.
The Caryl family, I conclude from this incident, was so
associated and situated as to develop a natural, sturdy inde-
pendence in its members, and a habit of thinking and acting
for themselves and according to their own conviction of right
and duty.
So, too, they were an honest family. A Mr. Collender, whose
early home was Chester, once said to Mrs. Dr. Warner : “ Your
father’s family, the Caryls, was noted far and wide as a family of
honest men.” The character and reputation for independence
and honesty were never sullied or injured by Benjamin Caryl, but
were thoroughly sustained through all reverses.
While a lad he was apprenticed to mercantile business, prob-
ably at Worcester, Mass., as was then the custom, and there is
nothing to show that he did not serve out his time. Just when
his apprenticeship ended I do not know, but at his release heJUBA STORKS <5r» COMPANY,\
97
returned to Chester and entered business on his own account;
and as he became of age in 1794, this may be taken as a probable
starting-point. He remained in Chester until 1804, doubtless
engaged in business during the entire ten years. He had at
least two partners during this time, but whether at different
times or together, I cannot say. One partner was Mr. Chan-
dler, of a wealthy Worcester family, of which our townsman R.
H. Heywood, Esq., had very early knowledge, for, as a clerk
he was connected with them and can tell howq to one of their
number, the singular name of “ Old Compound,” once attached,
and ever after clung. A sister of Mr. Caryl’s partner, Chandler,
was married to the Rev. Aaron Bancroft of Worcester, a biogra-,
pher of Washington, and was the mother thus of Hon. George
Bancroft, our National historian and diplomatist. Here we find
another hint as to the standing and association of the Caryl
name.
The other partner was Nathaniel Fullerton, of Chester, Vt.,
who died October 29, 1872, aged 97 years, then, and having for
forty-five years been president of the State Bank of Bellows
Falls, Vt., a few miles only distant from Chester. He was, at
the time of his death, the oldest bank president in the United
States.
He and a brother, Thomas Fullerton, had partnerships in
early years at Chester, Putney, Barnard, Stockbridge and other
places in Vermont, under different firm names. Among these
were that of Nathaniel Fullerton, with Benjamin Caryl at Ches-
ter, and later with others of Mr. Caryl’s brothers at other
places, under the name of “ Fullerton & Caryl.”*
Being successfully established in business, Mr. Caryl married,
July 3, 1798, Miss Susannah Young, daughter of Dr. John and
Elizabeth Smith Young, of Peterborough, Hillsborough Co., N.
* Author’s Note.—Henry N. Fullerton, of Chester, Vt., son ot Nathaniel Fuller-
ton, writes me thus, under date of February 9, 1874:
“ I have heard my father say that the house in which he lived and died (and in
which the son now lives), was purchased of Mr. Benjamin Caryl, and that he was for
a short time in company with him in mercantile business. I have in the old mansion
the clock which was purchased of Mr. Benjamin Caryl by my father, and on the same
is inscribed, ‘Warranted for Mr. Jonathan Caryl, Chester, Vt.,’ which I suppose is
close on to a hundred years old ; a reliable time-keeper, and valuable for antiquity and
for having been in the possession of the old friend of my beloved father ”98
THE EARL Y FIRM OF
H. Mr. Caryl was either very discerning and tasteful or else ex-
ceedingly fortunate in his choice of a wife.
In personal appearance she was beautiful. The gentleman
whom I have already mentioned as extolling the honesty of the
Caryls, was equally enthusiastic in praise of the beauty of Mrs.
Caryl. Said he:	“When people wanted to speak of a very
fine appearing woman, they used to say ‘she’s almost as hand-
some as Ben. Caryl’s wife,’ and this was sufficient praise.”
Numbers here can still remember her dignified, graceful
features and bearing as a matron in advanced years. Some, may-
be, farther back in middle life. And a faithful portrait by Wil-
gus, on my parlor wall, bears testimony to her remarkably fine
presence and appearance even in age.*
As to wifely and motherly character Mr. Caryl’s choice fell
upon one who, through all the vicissitudes of their united life,
was excellent and admirable; words which I use without reserve
and in their fullest meaning.
In Chester was born to this couple Elizabeth (Eliza) Smith,
March 28, 1800. (She was married to R. W. Haskins, Esq., of
Buffalo, Nov. 5, 1828, and died June 22, 1836.) Also Susan
Young, Feb. 27, 1802. (She was married April 13, 1823, to
Lucius Storrs, Esq., of Buffalo, and died in March, 1878.)
In Chester Mr. Caryl was made captain of a company of grena-
diers or light infantry, and thenceforward through life was known
as Capt. Caryl. For several years the Chester business prospered,
Mr. Caryl and partners buying goods in Boston and promptly
meeting obligations; but, becoming endorser to large amounts
for his younger brother, Amos, he was suddenly called to meet his
* Author’s Note.—Our former citizen, Foster Young, the father of Messrs. Wm.
F. and the late Chas. E. Young, of our city, was a brother of Mrs. Caryl, and I well
remember the symmetry of his features and handsomeness of his figure. Mr. Foster
Young’s wife was Valinda Fletcher, daughter of Samuel Fletcher and Mehitable
Hazelton, born in Townsend, Windham Co., Vt., May 9, 1790 ; moved to Buffalo in the
summer of 1807 with her sister, was married in Buffalo to Foster Young of Peter-
borough, N. H., Nov. 10, 1810. [She died Oct. 12, 1881.—Ed.]
Dr. John Young of Whitesboro, N. Y., was another brother of Mrs. Caryl; his
children, most of them well-known in Buffalo, were Commodore John Young, U. S. N.,
Jeremiah Young, of Bangor, Maine, William C. Young, now of New York City, but
long a resident among us, one of the oldest living graduates of the U. S. Military
Academy at West Point, Mrs. Roosevelt of Pelham, and Mrs. John L. Curtenius, of
Utica.JUBA STORKS & COMPANY.
99
obligations as a surety, besides carrying his business debts. The
demand was too great, he could not meet it, and he failed.
I cannot give particulars as to this failure, but he gave up all
his property for his creditors’ benefit. Yet this was not enough,
as the law then was—the abominable law of imprisonment for
debts—and he fell into “ danger of the judgment”—i.e. of arrest
and confinement in a debtor’s cell. To escape this he prudently
resolved to quit the country.
Of all available means he had only left after giving up his
property, a certain article of title to land in Canada.
So he took this article of title and early in 1804 set out for
Canada, to get clear of the United States, and find out whether
his article was of any value. He accomplished both purposes.
He arrived at Little York, now Toronto, and there found that
his land title was good for nothing.
So there he was—separated from his family and kindred, a
prison ready for him at home, and he in a strange land, an exile,
with nothing but his hand and heart and brain to carry him
forward.
But a Canadian gentleman at Little York soon engaged him
to go to Townsend, Canada, sixteen miles from Brantford, on
the road to Long Point, and superintend a store. Very soon
we find him able to undertake business for himself. He carried
on a store and a distillery and began to be successful. But he
could not be content to be longer alone—and sent home to
Chester for his wife and children and the household goods.
His elder brother Jonathan (grandfather of Mrs. Swartz of
Angola), brought them on as far west as Whitesboro, near
Utica, to the home of Mrs. Caryl’s brother, Dr. John Young.
Here the little family were re-united, Mr. Caryl coming from
Canada to receive his treasures into his own loving care, and
guide and help them on their further journey to their new and
foreign home.
That “Pennsylvania wagon!” Large, strong, and canvas-
covered ! What an institution it was! Slow but very sure
predecessor of today’s canal boat and long freight train for
transportation, and of the lightning express and Pullman palaces
for travelers. I imagine it now, with its high box framed and100
THE EARL V FIRM OF
paneled and painted blue, the ends rising higher than the
middle; its wheels heavy and strong, and other running gear
built to encounter all the roughness of stumpy, rocky or cor-
duroy roads, and drawn by its five stout horses—two teams and
a leader, the driver sitting on the near wheel horse and driving
with a single rein. It is in such a wagon, with such outfittings,
that the journey I have mentioned is to be performed. It is well
packed with household goods from bottom board to cover, save
space enough in front for the little family. And there are the
beautiful young mother, her heart full of courage and of love ;
her little daughters, four and two years old, and the husband at
thirty-two years of age, with a severe experience of reverse, as
well as that of comforting success behind him, but with hope
and affection spurring him onward into the future.
How few are living now who know, except from hearsay, what
such a pilgrimage as that family were, making, was in 1804.
Mr. Letchworth in his late paper* graphically described the
journey over this same route in this same year, 1804, of Captain
Samuel Pratt and his large family in the comfortable old-
fashioned coach; but I think it was surely harder still in the
conveyance I have mentioned.	,
From Batavia the little company followed the “ Ridge Road ”
toward Lewiston, halting at a small tavern at Cold Spring, near
Lockport, where Mrs. Caryl had her first view of an Indian.
He peered into the window of the room where she was; and no
subsequent familiarity with the black eyes and dusky features of
the red men ever effaced that forbidding countenance from her
memory.
Another exciting incident, witnessed from the tavern win-
dows, occurred at this place. Major Armstrong, from Fort
Niagara, in pursuit of some British deserters, rode up on horse-
back, and found the fugitives seated upon a bench in front of
the tavern. He called out: “ You must surrender, my fine
fellows ! ’7
“Not till you’ve got the contents of our muskets,” was the
answer as the men aimed their pieces.
*“ Sketch of the Life of Samuel F. Pratt, with some Account of the Early History
of the Pratt Family,” by William P. Letchworth; read before the Buffalo Historical
Society, March io, 1873. 8vo., ill., pp. 211. Buffalo : Warren, Johnson & Co., 1874.—Ed.JUBA STORKS &> COMPANY.
101
Armstrong wheeled his horse just as the deserters fired,
wounding both the animal and the officer. At this moment the
pursuing British troops came up, captured the deserters, and
carried Armstrong back to Fort Niagara.
A rough scene this for the young eastern mother with two
helpless children to witness in the midst of this then great
western wilderness.
Journeying on, to Lewiston, they there crossed the Niagara,
to Queenston, Canada; and when they were across on British
soil, the young merchant had remaining just twenty-five cents in
money. And they were yet well nigh a hundred miles away
from their destination. To crown all, there was a customs
officer in readiness and waiting, from whom they expected a
demand for duties on the household goods they were introducing
to the King’s dominion. In after years Mr. Caryl used to say
that he was never discouraged in his life, not even (capping the
climax) at this surely critical and discouraging moment. He
put a bold face on the matter and walked up to the officer, Col.
Dixon, entering into conversation with him, and asking for the
amount of duties he would be required to pay. What an
unspeakable relief it was when Col. Dixon, in a friendly way,
replied at once, “ There are no duties, sir; we are only too glad
to get such settlers as you are to come among us.”
This barrier thus passed, they started forward on the strength
of that lone quarter dollar saved to their exchequer by this kind-
ness of the British Lion. However, but a few miles further on,
they met a gentleman from London, C. W., whom Mr. Caryl
knew, and of whom he borrowed $10. They went on their
way rejoicing, and in due time, whatever that may have been,
they entered Townsend village, where Mr. Caryl had made, as
I have said, his business beginning.
But it had been one thing for the man to find sufficient shelter
for himself, alone. It was another to obtain that and sustenance
for his little family. However, they went at once into a log
house, of aspect “all forlorn,”—and just then, for the first and
last time through all their hardships, did a word savoring of
complaint escape the heroic and beautiful woman. And this
was all she said : “ Oh, Mr. Caryl, how could you bring me102
THE EARL Y FIRM OF
here ! ’ ’ And who can wonder save that other, aye, and bitterer
words did not break forth from her lips. The furniture was
brought in, and busily they wrought to put it in place and provide
rest for themselves that first night, after their long and weary
journey.
Next morning came a manifestation of goodwill, cheering
enough to the new comers. An old Scotchman, taking his own
shrewd notice of their situation, of his own accord said to Mr.
Caryl, “ There is no market here ; my cellar is full, you can live
out of that this winter, and when you get money you can pay
me.” This furnishes a note of time, showing that this removal
occurred late in the year 1804; certainly after harvest time.
Thus aided and encouraged by tokens of kindness and wel-
come, and having now his family once more around him, Mr.
Caryl went cheerily to work.
The management of a distillery was in those days and every-
where, a reputable as it was a money-making business; and into
this Mr. Caryl entered in connection with merchandise; though
at first he seems to have devoted himself to the manufactory, for
all day long he would work in the distillery. At night he would
prepare wood enough for the next day’s requirements, Mrs.
Caryl holding the candle to give light upon his work; then he
would go back to the distillery, lay down a buffalo skin for a
bed, place a stick of wood for a pillow, so that not oversleeping,
he might wake easily, at necessary hours and attend to the still.
Thus began their Canada life. When now I add that in the
midst of that winter, soon after their arrival, /. e., February 14,
1805, Benjamin Clark, their third child and eldest son was born,
you will realize more completely what an undertaking that trans-
fer from Vermont had been for that young mother.
In business Mr. Caryl was here successful. Soon he removed
to Woodhouse, Canada, not far from Townsend, and opened
business there, entering into partnership with Dr. Eliakim
Crosby,* and purchasing a fine residence, the Durand place.
♦Author’s Note.—He was the elder of two brothers, both physicians, whose
father had settled in Canada. Dr. Orris Crosby, the youngest, alone continued his
medical practice. The other went into mercantile and other business largely, actively
and successfully. Dr. Crosby was a man of great energy and enterprise and the firm
Was very successful in business.JUBA STORES & COMPANY.
103
There Catharine Church,* fourth child, third daughter, was born
May 29, 1807.
But in June, 1807, began the difficulty with England about
the Right of Search, and there was talk of war. Mr. Caryl at
once desired to return to his own country, not relishing the
idea of living in an enemy’s land if hostilities commenced.
Gov. Brock offered him special protection if he would re-
main, and many other men of position tried to detain him; but
not this or any inducement could satisfy him. Prudence
and patriotism combined to make him deaf to all solicitations.
So he sold out his Canada business and property to his partner,
Dr. Crosby,f and just before the end of the same month, June,
1807, he crossed over to Buffalo to see what opening and oppor-
tunity there was here for entering into business.
And what was Buffalo then ? How shortly before this date it
was that Western New York was nothing but an Indian wilder-
ness ! The 17th Century wove a few gossamer threads of light
through this darkness, when, as missionaries first, then as traders,
white men, few and far.between, penetrated these wilds. The 18th
Century came—and was almost gone again before white men set-
tled west of the lower valley of the Mohawk. Then from 1783 or
’84 onward, as bits of blazing shingles blown by the tempest far
in advance of the conflagration, kindle flame centers here and
there, so at Whitestown and westward in Onondaga and Cayuga
counties (now so named), and at a few other points, civilization
began catching its way westward.
In 1800 there were only three taxable persons in Buffalo, their
names being already recorded—Johnson, Middaugh and Law.
In 1804, according to the recollection of William Hull of
Cleveland, writing at 85 years of age, there were but perhaps
twenty houses, three or four of them framed—one of these occu-
pied by Mr. Pratt, who kept a small store.
♦Author’s Note.—Church for her aunt, Mrs. Dr. John Young of Whitesboro.
She became Mrs. Royal Colton Nov. 5, 1823, and Mrs. Dr. W. H. Warner, June 21,
1841.
■{•Author's Note.—The wisdom of his selling the Canada property became mani-
fest afterwards when it was confiscated by the British Government, the Crosbys being
remarkably outspoken Americans.104
THE EARL V FIRM OF
When Mr. Caryl arrived at Buffalo Creek he found a settle-
ment which Mr. David Mather, in 1806, says consisted of sixteen
dwellings—mostly framed—eight along on Main Street, three
on the Terrace, three on Seneca Street and two on Cayuga Street,
(now Pearl); two stores, one the contractor’s, kept by Vincent
Grant, the other kept by Capt. Samuel Pratt “ adjoining Crow’s
Tavern,” in the rear of the present Mansion House site on Ex-
change Street; David Reese’s Indian blacksmith shop on Seneca
Street, corner Washington, Mr. Louis LeCouteulx’s drugstore on
Crow Street (Exchange Street), and Judge Barker’s tavern west of
Main Street, where the Terrace Market afterwards stood.
I cannot ascertain, however, what, at first, he accomplished,
whether he made a beginning alone at some point, as for instance,
the frame building already mentioned on Crow Street, or was
simply waiting and looking around—not a likely thing for Capt.
Caryl to do, by the way. However, even if he was thus wait-
ing, it was not for long, for a little more than a month after his
arrival, that is, early in August, 1807, came into the village one
who was very soon to help him solve the problem of business
occupation in a very satisfactory manner. I refer to Samuel
Pratt, Jr.
Here then, in August, 1807, are these two : Benjamin Caryl,
nearly 34 years of age, an educated merchant of years’ standing
—experienced both in prosperity and reverses, ready and seek-
ing to embark his capital and strength and unblemished charac-
ter in business in this young community; and Samuel Pratt, Jr.,
20 years of age, or nearly 21, seeking also for a business open-
ing with unquestionably something handsome in way of capital
to embark in trade. What more natural than that they should
quickly come together; and that they did so appears to be the
testimony on every hand. Mr. Pratt, it is true, was for a very
short time associated in his father’s store, but soon decided to
go into the same sort of business on his own account, and it
seems every way probable that though not yet quite of age, he
entered at last before December, 1807, with Mr. Caryl into the
firm of Benjamin Caryl & Co.',—and I think I may say doubt-
less in the same long, low building at first occupied by SamuelJUBA STORKS COMPANY.
105
Pratt the elder and afterwards perhaps by Mr. Caryl, as a first
attempt at business alone.
So soon as the enterprise was fairly under way, Mr. Caryl
brought his family over from Canada. Having no suitable home
ready for them, he accepted the generous offer of half of Dr.
Cyrenius Chapin’s house, which in 1813, stood on the northwest
corner of Main and Swan Streets. And though it was a small
one, and Mrs. Chapin had four children and Mrs. Caryl four,
this close association begot a life-long friendship between the
two families. Not to encroach upon this free hospitality the
Caryls at once searched for a dwelling, and finding nothing bet-
ter than a log cabin on the site of the old police building on the
Terrace (pronounced uninhabitable by the neighbors), Mrs.
Caryl astonished everybody by having logs and chimney white-
washed and moving into the cabin.
I have a picture in my mind’s eye of that beautiful New
Hampshire lady with her four children and her energetic hus-
band, as they gather in the evenings of that winter around the
great wood fire, before the rude but wide hearth, and talk of
the past, the present and the future. Ah, that which to us is
history, to them was only the utterly unknown future, yet they
bravely looked forward, while sturdily meeting the day’s demands.
And so the winter passed away and the spring and part of the
summer, the business of B. Caryl & Co. prospering, and the
households of the two young partners growing, till in July, 1808,
the man arrived in Buffalo who was to be, like the Mississippi,
where it joins the Missouri—in the particular at least, of giving
its own name to the river, in place of that of the longest and
largest stream—so the name of this new-comer was to enter in
and swallow up the existing firm name of B. Caryl & Co. I refer
to Juba Storrs, Esq.
Born in 1792, the third of the eleven children of Dan and
Ruth Conant Storrs, he was “schooled” in his native town,
Mansfield, Windham County, Conn., fitted for college at the
academy in Middlebury, Vt., and was one of the earliest gradu-
ates of Middlebury College, of which his uncle, Seth Storrs,
was one of the founders. In fact there seems a probability, from106
THE EARL Y FIRM OF
certain correspondence of that day now in my hands, that the
academy was indeed the chrysalis of the college itself.*
Having evidently continued his academic studies, postpon-
ing the study of law, and been graduated, he pursued legal
studies at the celebrated law school in Litchfield, Conn., under
Judge Reeve; and was admitted to practice as an attorney-at-
law. He thereupon set out westward in search of a location in
which to practice his profession.
Having finally arrived at “Buffalo Creek,” he wrote to his
father, in Mansfield, a letter, dated Buffalo Creek, July 15,
1808—from which I quote some paragraphs :
My Dear Parent:—You will perceive by the date of this, that I am
farther from home than I contemplated when I left Mansfield. It is a good
day’s ride from Ontario, where I thought of making a stand; but the informa-
tion I received at Geneva and Canandaigua induced me to pursue my route to
this place. You will find it on the map by the name of New Amsterdam. It
is a considerable village, at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, where it empties into
Lake Erie, and is a port of entry for Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence, and all
the western lakes, and will eventually be the Utica, and more than the Utica,
of this western country. Buffalo is in the County of Niagara,! on an exten-
sive and elevated plain ; and is very healthy; subject to no fevers or uncommon
diseases, whatever. *	*	* There are four attorneys in the county, so
that I think my chance for business is better than it would be in Ontario
County, yet I shall, I think, get admitted in that county also, and in
Genesee, which is between this and that.
According to Turner’s history, Niagara County was some-
what richer in attorneys at its organization, and quite probably
at the time this letter was written, than Mr. Storrs supposed, the
* Author’s Note.—I have a letter before me from Seth Storrs to Juba’s father,
dated January 7, 1800, which refers to Juba in a noticeable way, in reference to his
early stages of preparation—perhaps before it was decided that he should enter col-
lege. He says: “ The academy flourishes, for the time it has been open. Juba makes
progress in the Latin grammar. I found he had a wish to undertake the study, and
thought best to gratify him. He wanted something to engage his attention, and to
induce the habit of close application. There is a good deal In learning how to apply
the mind to study, in the most advantageous manner; much more than in the number
of books we read, or in the number of hours spent in reading. An attorney’s office is
not the best place, nor are a lawyer’s books the best study, for this purpose. The mind
requires cultivation and a foundation laid for the useful reading of law as much as a
field wants tilling, for the production of wheat. From this study of Latin, Juba will
not improve in writing or in composition so much as he otherwise might.”
fNiagara County was set off from Genesee, March 11,1808, and included what is
now Niagara and Erie Counties. Erie County was erected April 2, 1821.—Ed.JUBA STORKS <5r» COMPANY.
107
names of eight being definitely given. In this respect, how true
indeed it is, that “ tempora mutantur /”
Mr. Storrs was admitted to the bar in Niagara Co., and entered
on the practice of his profession; even forming a partnership for
this purpose. For curiosity’s sake, I quote from a letter lying
before me, written to Mr. Dan Storrs of Mansfield, dated
Batavia, October 22, 1808, by Mr. Trumbull Cary. He says:
I saw your son not long since at Buffalo, about forty miles west of this
place. He was well. I also heard from him last week. He was still in health.
It is hardly necessary now to state that Buffalo is about so far
from Batavia, in order to locate it for inquiring friends at the
East.
In Turner’s “ Holland Purchase” it is stated that Mr.
Lecouteulx was the first clerk of Niagara County. This was
doubtless true; but it is again stated that he was county clerk
till 1812. In a pencil note to this statement, Mr. Lucius Storrs
has written : “This is wrong. Juba Storrs was clerk of the
county in 1809-10.” And this Mr. Lucius Storrs has invariably
maintained. Moreover, he gives to me this additional fact con-
cerning his entering the office: “ He was appointed by what was
known as the Council of Appointment at Albany; but being a
Federalist in politics, he could not find an officer here who would
qualify him. So he mounted his horse, and went directly to
Judge Porter at Niagara Falls, who, before any counteracting
word could come from Buffalo, gave Mr. Storrs the oath of
office and established him in rightful tenure of the same. As
the records of Niagara County were burned in 1813 at the burn-
ing of Buffalo, this matter can only be established from the
memory of such as had opportunity of knowing the facts; and it
is gratifying to be able to do this in the present instance from
such excellent authority as General Lucius Storrs.”
But, notwithstanding his preparation for, and actual entrance
upon, the practice of law, Mr. Storrs found it distasteful to him.
Its severe routine, perhaps, or may be the too frequent success of
legal quirks, quibbles and chicanery, repelled him. And, more-
over, the cares and honors of public office failed to satisfy his
tastes and control his purposes; so he decided to embark in108
THE EARL V FIRM OF
mercantile life—with means furnished him for that purpose by
his father. Mr. Storrs had already invested in real estate, having
purchased of the Holland Land Company certain “ outer lots,”
being two five-acre pieces, with a log house on each,* between
Main and Delaware Streets, as now laid out; which in later
years have been known, at least the Main Street front of part of
one of them, as the Walden property. In 1809 or 1810, the
existing firm of Benjamin Caryl & Co., viz., Benjamin Caryl
and Samuel Pratt, Jr., uniting with Mr. Juba Storrs, became the
firm of Juba Storrs & Co. Mr. Caryl had set out in business
with $7,000, and Mr. Pratt had certainly brought “ something
handsome,” but Mr. Storrs was able to bring from the home
treasury and put into the business so much more than either, that
though younger by nine years than Mr. Caryl, and no merchant
in disposition or education, his name stood forth as the charac-
teristic one of the new firm. The Mississippi entered the
Missouri, and gave its name to the united current.
Juba Storrs was far better fitted for a literary than a legal or
mercantile life. He had marked abilities and tastes which, if he
could, for instance, have early taken an editorial chair, would
have given him, I think, a distinguished position. But he
seems to have lacked, with all his spirit of enterprise, and the
quickness and observing tendency of his mind, certain qualities
of prudence and calculation, so essential in money matters, and
to the success of a merchant. He was honest and upright in a
peculiar degree. But wanting the balancing presence of the
qualifications I have named, he needed at any rate to be con-
stantly under the personal influence of those who possessed
them. So long as he was so, his real abilities could be turned to
♦Author’s Note.—One of these houses was bought of him by Captain Caryl late in
1808 or early in 1809, and into it the family moved from the one on the Terrace already
mentioned ; removing the same year into the red frame house on the northeast corner
of Washington and Exchange Streets, where the Commercial Buildings now stand,
then the property of the widow of Jack Johnston, a daughter of Judge Barker. Upon
this site, Jacob A. Barker and his brother afterward built the brick house lately torn
down to make place for the Commercial Buildings. Here was born the fifth child and
fourth son of Benjamin Caryl, William Young, September 3, 1809, who died two years
afterward.
Note.—The Commercial Buildings, afterwards named the Washington Block,
now the Matthews Building.—Ed.JUBA STORRS & COMPANY.
109
good account. But when separate in place and left to act alone,
on his own unaided responsibility, results less favorable were
liable to follow.
However, Mr. Storrs did go into business, in the partnership
that was formed, as I have recorded. And the business pros-
pered—still being largely that in which Samuel Pratt, Sr., had
led the way, and prepared for which Samuel Pratt, Jr., had come
on from Vermont: the buying and sending forward of furs, had
in exchange for goods, from the Indians. But gradually this
grew to be of different character, as the white population
increased and the settlement enlarged, taking on the character
more and more of a trading place for the civilized inhabitants
of a thriving village and vicinity.
Mr. Pratt remained only a short time in the new firm. In
March, 1810, he received the office of sheriff of Niagara County,
and thereupon or soon thereafter, retired from the firm of Juba
Storrs & Co. that he might more satisfactorily discharge the
duties of his office.*
A letter of Juba Storrs, under date of July 21, 1810, gives
interesting information as to the doings of the firm of Juba
Storrs & Co., now consisting of himself and Captain Caryl.
They are engaged in purchasing real estate with buildings, and
even erecting a suitable building for their increasing business.
Says Mr. Storrs: “My partner nor myself have been able to
obtain from Ellicott a well-situated village lot.” Ellicott’s
extreme reluctance and caution as to selling lots are well-known
to readers of Buffalo history. “Caryl contracted for a lot,”f
(“contracted ” being a technical term in that day for a species of
preliminary purchase), “with a house sufficient for a store, for
* Author’s Note.—The understanding of Mr. Lucius Storrs has always been that
Mr. Pratt was in the firm till 1811, not long before he entered it, but the foregoing is the
account as gathered by Mr. Letchworth; and Mr. Lucius Storrs, accurate as he
usually is. can afford to be mistaken in a matter merely of hearsay—such as this; and
this change is shown to have taken place before July 21, 1810—and probably some time
before, by a letter of Juba Storrs to his father, of that date, in which he says: “ My
partner” (not partners) “nor myselff and immediately mentions Mr. Caryl as the
one concerned with him in partnership transactions. Mr. Pratt was in company with
his brother-in-law, Elijah Leech, and was doing a successful business in Buffalo at the
time of the burning of the village in 1813.
fOn the site of the old Pearl Street rink, afterwards Cutler’^ furniture warerooms,
now a vacant tract used as a short-cut from Pearl Street to the City Hall.—Ed.110
THE EARL V FIRM OF
$500. These are the best we could get. For this I suppose we
could get $600, if we did not think the rise would be something
handsome within a short time.” I presume that it might not be
difficult to realize somewhat more than $600 for that lot today !*
“But,” adds Mr. Storrs, “it is not as eligible a stand as that
we now occupy”—the one before mentioned, on Crow Street—
“and have contracted for at $400—and on which we are now
building.” This was the whole of lot No. 2. “Both these
lots,” adds Mr. Storrs, “are said to be well bought, and the
payments are made [payable] in such a way that I think we shall
be able to get along with them, and keep both lots till the rise
may induce us to dispose of one or both.”
Of still a third lot Mr. Storrs thus speaks : “ The lot which we
have got today, is a very eligible situation for business, and is
one that we have before tried to get, but without success; and is
said to be well bought. Either lot, with the house, one on each,
will give us fourteen per cent, on a rent. This lot and house I
think I shall keep in my*own name. Could we have got it a
month ago, we should not have attempted to build at present,
but we have now progressed so far that we must go on. ”
This lot was situated on Main Street, west side, the next but
one, as the lots were then divided, just south of what in later
days was opened as Court Street, being where the Eagle Tavern
afterwards stood. In 1813, the two last-named lots, as well as
the first one, are all found standing in the individual name of
Juba Storrs.
Not far from July 1, 1810, the firm broke ground on their
lot, corner of Onondaga and Crow Streets, for a new store. It
was substantially built of brick, two stories in height, the front
on Crow, the side on Onondaga Street. It was rapidly for-
warded so as to be occupied in the lower story, but was not
entirely finished till 1811; and when Lucius Storrs arrived, that
year in August, the scaffoldings were up and Dan Bristol and
Geo. Keith were busily at work in finishing the building.
This was not, as has been sometimes stated, the first brick
* Author’s Note.—From the Johnson house before mentioned Mr. Caryl after-
ward moved his family into the “house sufficient for a store,” mentioned above, and
there Alexander Hamilton Caryl, the sixth child and third son, was born.JUBA STORKS & COMPANY.
Ill
building erected here. But it was without question the second
one, and by all odds the largest. The jirst one, the date of the
erection of which I do not know, was a small building, just
south of what is now Court Street, still standing in 1813. It
was owned by a Mr. Atwater of Canandaigua, and when
Townsend & Coit came to Buffalo, in 1811, they at first occupied
it for their business, before they secured better accommodations
on the southwest corner of Main and Swan Streets.
After the new store was built, the firm still occupied their
adjoining framed one as a place for storage; and even when
their buildings were consumed at the burning of Buffalo, there
were in the old one a quantity of United States muskets in store,
which were destroyed by the flames, and so did not fall.into the
enemy’s hands.
But the enterprising company having thus established and
enlarged their business here, together and individually, having
purchased real estate at several eligible points in the village, and
erected their commodious brick store, were not content with
such achievements. They began to extend their bounds; and
other business centers—first in Canada, afterwards other
points—became the scene of their operations.
In Canada were established two branch stores. Of these the
earliest established was at Townsend, near Long Point, where
Mr. Caryl had made his business beginning in 1804. This was
established before 1811, but how early I cannot ascertain. The
other was at Brantford on Grand River, the store being within a
stone’s throw of the house of Brant, the Indian Chief. This one
was commenced in January, 1811.
The Canada business was in the immediate charge of Mr.
Ezekiel Foster*—who was the foreign partner of the firm in His
Majesty’s dominions. I do not know when he entered into this
relation, but when the Brantford store was stocked he was
already in care of the Townsend store.
In regard to the Brantford store, in its beginning, and the
progress of both the Canada stores, I have knowledge from Zen as
♦Author’s Note.—I should be glad to be able to say more than I can from present
knowledge about Mr. Foster. He was a nephew of Mrs. Dr. Chapin, a cousin there-
fore, of Mrs. Thaddeus Weed of our city, but more than this, except simply as to his
connection with the firm business, I cannot ascertain.112
THE EARL Y FIRM OF
Ward Barker, Esq.* (dated April 15, 1873, and January 10,
1874), who was clerk for the firm at both places. Mr. Barker
says:
In January, 1811, I went with Mr. B. Caryl of the firm of Juba Storrs &
Co., to Brantford, in Canada, taking a small lot of goods for the purpose of
trade. At the end of five months, Mr. Foster, interested with the firm in trade
at another point in Canada, came to Brantford and took charge of the business
there, and entered largely into the manufacture of whiskey. I then returned
to Buffalo.-f- Some time in July of that year I again left Buffalo with a boat-
load of goods for Townsend, where I remained until June following. J Of his
leaving Townsend I shall speak presently. He boarded at Townsend, having
withal rather hard and rough fare, with one Philip Sovereign—one of two
brothers, being a family of New Jersey refugees who in the Revolution had
been identified with the disloyalty that manifested itself in that little* State and
had left their country for their country’s good. Of the fare Mr. Storrs has a
distinct remembrance—being when afterwards he had business occasion to visit
Mr. Barker, in the way of choosing bread and milk as the simplest article of
food and not liable to be injured in cooking or amalgamated with undesirable
foreign substances.
Matters were situated then as I have described, in the early
part of the year 1811, and went on till the middle of the year,
the firm business progressing well at the three points—Buffalo,
Townsend and Brantford—when, on the 28th of August, 1S11,
another partner comes to view in the person of Mr. Lucius
Storrs. §
He was born June 23, 1789, in Mansfield, Conn., being the
sixth child and fourth son of Dan Storrs, already named. His
life, till he was 15 years of age, was spent in his native place. It
needs not history to make it sure to those who have known him
♦Author’s Note.—Eldest son of Judge Zenas Barker whose tavern on the bank
where is now the Terrace, and just where that corners with Main Street, was at a
very early day a hospitable place of entertainment for man and beast. The affable and
hospitable lady of our respected president, O. G. Steele, Esq., is a granddaughter of
Judge Barker, her mother having been his daughter, Capt. Hull of the army of 1812.
Jacob A. Barker, long a respected citizen of Buffalo, was a son of Judge Barker, and
other daughters were Mrs. Major John G. Camp, Mrs. Johnston, wife of the son of
Capt. William Johnston, already spoken of at length, and Mrs. Lyon. Zenas Ward
Barker, always known simply as Ward B., who I said is Judge Barker’s eldest son,
now lives in Sandusky, O., and to his letters in ready response to mine of enquiry, I
am greatly indebted for the means of filling some important gaps and corroborating
information from other sources in a very satisfactory manner for the purposes of this
paper.
fMay, 1811. Ji8i2.
^Author’s Note.—General Storrs was alive and present at both meetings at
which the two parts of this paper were read.JUBA STORES & COMPANY.
113
in later life—even to the present time, when his more than four-
score years sit so lightly upon him—that harmless fun and play-
ful uninjurious mischief were not lacking as elements in his child-
ish and. youthful character and life. From a child he attended
the district school near home; and it can hardly be but that one
whose writing, reading, spelling and conversation as a man were
so accurate and intelligent as his, made good use of his oppor-
tunities, in those early days, as he did not, like his elder brothers
Zalmon, who graduated at Yale, and Juba, who graduated at
Middlebury College, enjoy the benefit of a so-called academic
education.
In one respect he from the earliest years manifested marked
ability and exercised useful and entertaining gifts. He had a
remarkably sweet and sympathetic voice of exceptional compass,
and was in every way quite musically inclined, so that when very
young he had made good proficiency in singing, and playing on
the —’twas not then softened into violin—but on the Jiddle; and
these gifts he exercised in very early years in the village choir—
singing, yes and (oh ye shades of Mansfield’s lang syne Chris-
tians, rise and tell us if we are mistaken), on occasion Jiddling
too, in church, upon the Sabbath. In 1804, after he was 15
years old, he was sent to Litchfield, Conn., to school. Here he
was in the family of his brother-in-law, Osias Seymour. Mr.
Storrs once told me, with a hearty laugh at himself, across the
seventy years that intervened between boy and patriarch, how he
felt when riding home on a time, with a side-saddle, a horse on
which his sister had just come to Litchfield, he passed through
Hartford and ran the gauntlet of the sharp eyes of the boys of
that town, all too ready to find material for ridicule for riding
thus so nearly after woman fashion.
The winter of 1805-6 found him again at Litchfield at school,
and hearing with ineffaceable effect the powerful sermons of
Lyman Beecher, then pastor in that village. In 1806 he was at
home again, and a new store having been erected by his father,
helping to move in the goods. Next winter, 1806-7, was spent
again at school in Litchfield. These several mentions of
Litchfield call up the fact that while Mr. Storrs was there at
school, his nephew, Origen Storrs Seymour, was born—who served
8114
THE EARL Y FIRM OF
with peculiar honor on the Supreme bench of the State of Con-
necticut. He always regarded his uncle Lucius with peculiar
affection.
The winter of 1807-8 he spent at school at Lebanon, Conn. In
the winter of 1808-9 he was in Colchester Academy. In 1809-10
he taught school—but when I tell you where, you may well think
it strange, for it was at Bedlam. I find, however, that it was not
among lunatics that his gifts were exercised, but upon sharp, bright,
active Yankee boys. The next winter, 1810-11, he tried his peda-
gogic gifts upon the lads of Mansfield.
That winter, however, the sphere of his activities began de-
cidedly to enlarge. He narrowly escaped going to Lisbon,
thus: His older brother, Zalmon, and another man packed provi-
sions with the view of sending them to that city and desired
Lucius to go with them as supercargo; but his father would not
consent, and the whole project was therefore abandoned. The
goods were taken to Newport instead, Zalmon himself accom-
panying them.
But Lucius was not content to give up the idea of seeing more
of the world than his circuit of the Connecticut towns had
opened to him, and so, having saved up a little money from his
school-teaching earnings, he with two other young men sailed
with his brother Zalmon on this trip. Reaching Newport, the
two young men and himself went around by sloop to Cape Cod.
There one of the companions of Lucius left the company and
went on to Maine, then a province. The others thinking they
had seen enough of the wide, wide world for present purposes,
decided to return home. Not choosing to return by water, their
experience upon which had been quite sufficient, they took the
only other alternative. They packed their clothing into one
trunk, lashed it to a pole, and carrying the load between them,
as we see in the pictures the spies returning from Canaan with
the immense bunch of grapes of Eshcol, they started on foot for
home, which they reached in due time. There Lucius found his
sister Selina and her husband making a visit, and took a seat in
their carriage on their return for Litchfield. Thence he took a
circuit of New Haven and home again. Then on this return he
found his brother Juba, the merchant from Buffalo, who offeredJUBA STORRS & COMPANY.	115
him the position in the firm of Juba Storrs & Co., as partner,
which was vacant by reason of the retirement of Samuel Pratt,
Jr. He accepted; his father having, however, already in Feb-
ruary of that year, and later, been putting funds into the busi-
ness on his account till he was represented there by $2,000 of
capital.
On the 9th of August, 1811, he and his brother left Mansfield
for Buffalo. They came by packet from Norwich to New York.
On getting into the Sound at New London they met a head
wind and ran back and lay by at New London dock till the wind
was favorable—part of a day, as it resulted—then set out for
New York. Reaching the Hudson they were thirty-one hours on
the trip to Albany from New York, on one of the first steam-
boats that plied between the two cities. They stopped in
Albany and bought goods, and then by five days’ “ staging ”
made their journey to Buffalo. Here they arrived August 28,
1811, having been nineteen days in all on the way.
Having thus assumed the final form by the addition of Mr.
Lucius Storrs as a partner, the firm of Juba Storrs & Co., grow-
ing and flourishing, resolved to enlarge their borders, and at
first proposed to hire, but finally bought, the fine mill privilege
and mills on Eleven-Mile Creek.
As far back as 1805, as Mrs. Mather relates, she and her hus-
band, David Mather, moved from Batavia to Eleven-Mile Creek.
Already there were an old saw-mill and grist-mill on a fine water
power; and Jonas Williams, a brother-in-law of Andrew Ellicott,
then a young man, had taken up 300 acres of land from the
Holland Land Co. and purchased the old mills and water power.
When Mr. Mather came, he was rebuilding the mills and com-
mencing to farm his land. He afterwards gave a man a water
privilege for a cloth establishment. For two years, Mrs. Mather
writes, she was the only woman in the place, and kept house
for Mr. Williams.
All this property, with the improvements, except a homestead
which Mr. Williams reserved, Juba Storrs & Co. purchased for
$15,000. They at once built another mill and put up a black-
smith shop, distillery, ashery and store, increasing the value of
the whole to $25,000, and called the name of the place, thus116
THE EARL Y FIRM OF
enlarged, after the name of its original founder—Williamsville.
In June, 1812, Mr. Caryl, selling his house (back of the
First Church site) to Gen. Potter, removed to Williamsville with
his family to take charge of the business there.
Meanwhile Lucius Storrs was backward and forward between
this side and Canada, and between the two stores in Canada,
to attend to things generally, being the youngest, and judging
from his present activity, probably the spryest of the partners.
In Canada, it will be remembered, Ezekiel Foster was the
partner in charge, with Carlton Fox as clerk at Brantford, and
Z. W. Barker at Townsend. A change becoming desirable in
the disposal of the forces of the firm, since the Williamsville
enterprise had been undertaken, Lucius Storrs went to Brantford
in the spring of 1812, on horseback, and Fox rode the horse to
Buffalo, and took a position as clerk in the store there. The
arrangement was that Jacob A. Barker—a younger brother of Z.
W., then a clerk in the Buffalo store—should come to Brantford
and take Fox’s place. But he was to cross over to Long Point
in a schooner, and so, by way of Townsend, come to Brantford.
Just at this time, however, early in June, 1812, Z. W. Barker
wished to visit his home, consummate an arrangement for part-
nership, and return to Townsend. Jacob A. accordingly delayed
his arrival at Brantford, by taking Z. W.’s place at Townsend
during his absence.
But on the 19th of June, before Z. W. Barker was out of the
country, war was declared—and he did not return to Canada,
when once out of the country, either as partner or in any other
capacity.
Meanwhile Lucius Storrs was at Brantford, anxiously await-
ing J. A. Barker’s arrival. Soon, however, feeling the political
atmosphere becoming “too hot to be comfortable,” he deter-
mined to wait no longer for the tardy Jacob. He told Foster
to harness up his horses and start him on his homeward way.
This was done. Foster drove him to the head of Lake Ontario,
when he was to leave him, and Lucius Storrs was to get on as
best he could. After outwalking a band of traveling Seneca
Indians, on their way home from a council with their Grand
River allies, he came upon a man holding a horse.JUBA STORKS & COMPANY.
117
“ Don’t you want a ride? ” he asked.
“ Yes,” was Mr. Storrs’s reply.
“Well, then, ride my horse to the Falls and tie him there
and I’ll get him.”
Taking his chances on its being stolen horseflesh, he rode the
animal to the Falls. Walking thence to Chippewa, he borrowed
the tavern-keeper’s horse, which carried him to within a mile of
Black Rock ferry, where he met a man on foot bound for Chip-
pewa, by whom he sent back the horse to the landlord. He
then crossed the ferry, glad enough to get out of an enemy’s
country and into his native land. Indeed, the ferry was already
in the hands of our troops and was run by them.
The Townsend store was now removed to Brantford, and Mr.
Foster took charge of the whole business, and Jacob A. Barker
came there .as clerk. But he and the distiller of the company
soon chose to be Americans in the now imminent conflict, and
taking counsel of none but themselves, and native prudence,
made their way down Grand River in a canoe, and then across
Lake Erie, forty miles or so, to a point somewhere near the
entering in of Eighteen-Mile Creek, and then to the home of
the distiller, J. A. Barker going on to Buffalo and taking his
former place in the Buffalo store. Thus Mr. Foster was left in
Canada, the sole representative of the firm of Juba Storrs & Co.,
when the War of 1812 began. He remained in Canada through
the war—with the result which I shall hereafter relate.
War is a curse. Yet “’Tis an ill wind that blows nobody
any good.” So it was with the War of 1812 that good came
out of it to Juba Storrs & Co.
The declaration of war at once brought business to the
young firm, especially at Williamsville. They made a.contract
with the Government for all the mill products they could fur-
nish, for the army, and had work enough to do. There were
no other mills nearer than Niagara Falls, except, as Lucius Storrs
with somewhat of poetic license was wont,to say, one that wasn’t
bigger than a coffee mill. Then, in the winter of 1812-13,
barracks and a hospital were established about a mile from
Williamsville up the creek, by cutting down trees and building
huts in the woods.118
THE EARL Y FIRM OF
Before these were built, one regiment of troops were cantoned
in front of Williams’ house; afterwards another behind the
house, down the creek. On the bank of the creek was a beauti-
ful grove, and the engineers asked permission to cut down the
trees, to build barracks with. But this Mr. Caryl refused as
unnecessary destruction. They replied, however, that his refusal
made no difference—their asking was a mere matter of courtesy
—and so they went to work in spite of his refusal, and cut down
the trees.
Before the barracks were built, a temporary hospital had been
established. In the tavern, Gen. Brown and Gen. Ripley and
a British officer were sick, and men were taken care of in the
houses of the little village. ' And the saw-mill of Juba Storrs &
Co. furnished the lumber of which the boats were built that
carried our troops across the river.
Thus, on account of the mills and hospital, Williamsville
was an important point in the war, and large rewards were
offered to the Indians by the British for the burning of them.
But they were afraid of being intercepted and cut off, so never
attempted to burn them.
At 12 o’clock on the night of December 29, 1813, Gen.
Potter and wife arrived at Mr. Caryl’s, at Williamsville, fleeing
from the attack ^hich was in progress, upon Buffalo. Mrs.
Caryl got breakfast for all, and soon the Landons and William
Walden came. Mr. Caryl sent his family forward with the
other fugitives eastward, and himself remained to help the flee-
ing people as they arrived.
Then he' followed, on horseback, to Avon, at the Genesee
River, where he procured lodgings for his family at the house of
a Mr. Osborn, and then left them to return to Williamsville
for a few days.
Mrs. Dr. Chapin had, before the attack on Buffalo, come out
to Harris Hill, three miles east of Williamsville, where her
daughter, Sylvia, (Mrs. Holmes) was living. She had been
confined, and was still very sick.
Louisa* and Amelia f Chapin were thus alone at home in
Buffalo, with Hiram Pratt, who lived with Dr. Chapin. The
*Mrs. Thaddeus Weed. fMrs. Chapin.—Ed.JUBA STORKS dr* COMPANY.
119
Doctor had told the children (he having gone to meet the
enemy) to put their clothes beside their beds ready to put on,
for that if the British reached Black Rock, a gun would be fired,
and that then they must get up and dress.
They did so. Dr. Colton, a partner of Dr. Chapin, then
took the three children and walked up the creek to Pratt’s ferry.
There they were joined by Mary Pratt (Mrs. George Burt) and
Anthony Davis. They walked on to Smoke’s Creek, and there
were overtaken by some of the Pratts, who took Mary Pratt and
Hiram into their wagon. The rest trudged on, on foot, with
Dr. Colton. They were at one time taken into an ox-cart, but
found it such hard riding that they again took to their feet and
walked on. They finally came to a farm-house where Dr. Colton
expected to find the people ready to start in flight; but they
had decided to wait till morning. There the children and the
Doctor had a night of rest.
The following morning they started on again, on foot, but
after a while were overtaken by two wagons, in one of which
were a Mr. and Mrs. Bronson, Mrs. Bronson being on a bed,
they being on their flight from Buffalo. Mrs. Bronson was a
sister of Mrs. James L. Barton. Into their wagons the merchants
had thrown goods, as they passed through the streets in leaving,
among which were blankets. Into one of the wagons the weary
children were taken and wrapped up warmly in the blankets.
The farmer who owned and drove the wagon was very kind.
The children had on no shawls,. and the farmer said they
wouldn’t look so nice in the blankets as in the shawls, but that
they would be comfortable—that he had a little girl at home
named Louisa, and if she was in such a situation as they were in
then, he would be very glad to have some one do for his as he
was doing for them.
Thus they were carried on to Avon. As they drove up to a
house Mr. Caryl stepped out,having returned from Williamsville,
and told them the joyful news that their mother, Mrs. Chapin,
was only a mile or so further on, at a Mr. Ladd’s, so they went
on and soon reached her and the rest of the company. They
had walked in all about twenty-five miles. Louisa (Mrs. Weed)
was about 9 years old.120
THE EARL V FIRM OF
At Avon, John Young, Mrs. Caryl’s brother, made his appear-
ance, and took Eliza Caryl home with him to Whitesboro.
Mr. Caryl now went on* with his family, and at Canandaigua
found an old house with one habitable room, into which house
went Mr. Caryl (with Catharine, Clark and Hamilton and some-
times Susan, who was sent on to Whitesboro to school, with
Eliza) and Mrs. Chapin with Louisa and Hiram Pratt only, and
sometimes Amelia.
The principal of the Academy at Canandaigua was the
brother of a man who had been sick and died at Dr. Chapin’s
house in Buffalo, and he hearing of the family being there, came
to see them, and wished to show his gratitude by taking Amelia
into his school for the winter. This was done, and she boarded
with Mrs. Robert Pomeroy, mother of Captain Champlin* and
Robert Pomeroy 2nd. The means required for taking care of
the two families were furnished by Captain Caryl, Dr, Chapin
being a prisoner in Canada. Indeed, they did not know but he
was dead.
In the spring, Mr. Caryl’s family returned to Williamsville
and remained till the summer, when a new alarm arising, they
went again to Canandaigua and lived in the house adjoining the
jail. After that Mrs. Caryl left her children with 4‘Aunt Young,”
and came on horseback to Williamsville, and then helped to take
care of the wounded in various ways. One young man died at
her home that summer.
When Dr. Chapin was paroled, he went to Canandaigua to
see his family, and then came on to Williamsville to see Mr.
Caryl, to thank him for what he had done for his fugitive and
needy family.
In the fall of 1814 Dr. Chapin’s family went to Geneva, and
Mr. Caryl and wife went to Canandaigua and Geneva leaving
Susan, Clark and Catharine with the Chapins at Geneva, took
Eliza and Hamilton and started for New England in a sleigh,
but the snow went off before they had reached Albany, so they
returned, bringing the news of peace with them, and all returned
to Williamsville.
* Commodore Champlin.—Ed.JUBA STORRS & COMPANY.
121
[*The Buffalo store and goods having been burned, Williams-
ville became the center of the firm’s operations ; but afterwards,
under the personal management of Juba Storrs, the Canandaigua
store became of leading importance. Early in the war, Hooker
& Co., a mercantile firm consisting of ------------- Hooker, Oliver
Johnson and J. N. Bailey, abandoned their business at the head
of Lake Ontario, and scattered. Bailey and Johnson came to
Buffalo, and Johnson became a clerk for Juba Storrs & Co., at
Williamsville. Bailey undertook business for himself in Buffalo,
though apparently with some connection with Juba Storrs & Co.
Mr. Zenas W. Barker was a clerk for Bailey,f and in December,
1813,	went with him to Erie, Pa., and remained there till June,
1814,	Bailey having gone there to establish a store, as a repre-
sentative of Juba Storrs & Co. In that month Lucius Storrs
returned to Buffalo from Mansfield and re-established the name
and business of Juba Storrs & Co., in Buffalo. “ The place and
circumstances of this,” says Mr. Bigelow, “ are peculiarly inter-
esting. Widow Atkins, whose husband had been killed in the
war, and whose house was burned with the restj had at once put
up a ‘ little Isbell ’ of a place on the same site, in which two
rooms, a front and a rear one, were made by a board partition,
not very perfect at that. In the rear room lived Mrs. Atkins
and her sister; and the front one was taken by the firm of Juba
Storrs & Co., as represented by partner Lucius Storrs.” In the
same June, apparently, Lucius packed up the Buffalo branch and
went to Erie to take charge of the business there, but about
November sold out to Willis & Fox, and returning to Williams-
ville shared with Mr. Caryl the conduct of the business there.]
We come now to a crisis in the affairs of Juba Storrs & Co.
Hitherto they have had success and prosperity ; and war had
only served to increase it. But peace brought disaster.§ At
first all still went well. Ezekiel Foster, as I have said, had
* This paragraph is condensed from Mr. Bigelow’s more detailed and discursive
narrative.—Ed.
-{•Letter from Barker to Albert Bigelow.—Ed.
t It stood at the northwest corner of Church and Pearl Streets. The late O. H.
Marshall’s former residence stood there at the time Mr. Bigelow wrote; the Stafford
Block now covers the site.—Ed.
I Peace was declared Dec. 24, 1814.—Ed.122
THE EARL Y EIRM OF
remained in Canada alone, attending to the business of the firm
concentrated at Brantford. He had kept at work busily, against
all discouragements. He was drafted for the British army, but
absolutely refused to serve against his country.. He was
imprisoned on account of this, but that had no effect on him.
With true Chapin pluck he held out and finally was released, and
allowed to go on with the business; and at the close of the war
he paid over about $3,000 as the share of the other partners in
the profits of the business during the war, the Canada business
being thus closed up. Besides this, Juba Storrs went to New
York and received from the Government about $14,000 for
property destroyed ($11,000 on buildings and $3,000 on goods).
Of the claims then put in and paid here by the Government Eli
Hart’s was the largest in amount and Juba Storrs & Co.’s next.
Alter five or six claims had been paid, however, the Secretary of
the Treasury shut down on further payments, saying it would ruin
the country to keep on.
Juba Storrs, by nature ambitious and adventuresome, at once
bought goods largely, at war prices, with this money and unfor-
tunately very largely on credit, to the amount of over $40,000 in
New York and Albany, for Canandaigua and Williamsville.
While he was thus buying, the bookkeeper at Canandaigua wrote
to Mr. Caryl at Williamsville, informing him of Juba Storrs’s
movements, and expressing fear lest with continuance of peace,
prices should fall and loss ensue, requesting Mr. Caryl to come
to Canandaigua and look into the matter. He did so, but it was
too late; the mischief was done. The stock was on hand and
the debts incurred.
Gradually, but surely and all too quickly, after all, for many,
what the prudent had feared did follow. Prices declined, and in
the process of time the firm came to the verge of failure. They
struggled through the immediate pressure, got an extension of
time for payment, and strove on under their heavy load of debt.
There was not a man of all of them who was not the soul of
honor. This I can say without fear of contradiction. All were,
besides, gifted with a goodly measure of honest pride of ancestry
and name; so while their motiv'es would work to keep upJUBA STORKS 6- COMPANY.
123
courage, the trial to them all may well be noticed as most severe
and the burden heavy.*
Finally in 1820 the fall in prices and other causes of financial
stress brought a pressure upon the firm greater than it could
sustain, and failure followed. The property of the firm and its
members collectively and - individually was given up to three
creditors at Canandaigua, Williamsville. and Buffalo; and the
partners became only assistants in the work of settling up affairs.
Juba Storrs came from Canandaigua to Williamsville, and
Captain Caryl and Lucius Storrs, in June, 1820, came in to
Buffalo and leased the “ modest country tavern at the western
terminus of the Albany stage road,” which was the pred-
ecessor of the well-known Mansion House. It had been in
the earlier days Crow’s Tavern, afterwards Landon’s Tavern
both before the War and as rebuilt after the War. I have a frag-
ment of the original register of 1820 on the outside of which is
still legible the name of “ Caryl’s Tavern.” This was not, how-
ever, on the site of the present Mansion House, but further
back towards Washington Street, and I deem it probable that the
name “ Mansion House ” was given first to the new tavern built
by Bela D. Coe, of which the Mansion House of today is the
enlargement and completion.
The apples from the orchard on the six and one-half acres east
of Washington Street, belonging to Mr. L. Storrs, were taken to
Hodge’s cider mill and made into cider for the tavern, and
other uses for the establishment were served by that property,
until it was managed out of Mr. Storrs’s hand, as before described.
Juba Storrs remained but a little while at Williamsville, then
came on to Buffalo and boarded at Caryl’s Tavern.
[f When the affairs of Juba Storrs & Co. were settled, property
valued at $25,000 realized for the creditors only $7,000, through
the mismanagement, it is said, of their agent. To the credit of
the firm’s honor, and that of its individual members, it should
be recorded that eventually no man lost a dollar by the failure,
for ultimately every debt was discharged at one hundred cents
on the dollar.]
*For an episode in the history of the firm at this period see “ The Indian Show,”
in the Appendix under “ Documents and Miscellany.”—Ed.
fThis paragraph condensed from Mr. Bigelow’s MSS.—Ed.124 THE EARLY FIRM OF JUBA STORES & COMPANY.
The very last claim paid was one of $800, on which it was
managed to make Mr. Lucius Storrs (General Storrs) personally
responsible. *	*	*	* I give this final fact concerning the
firm history:	In 1827 George Weed proposed to Mr. Storrs to
join S. F. Pratt in taking half the hardware business; Mr. Storrs
told him how he was situated as to this $800 claim, which pre-
vented him from engaging in business as a partner. Mr. Weed
at once said, “ That will be all right,” and arranged with the
creditor to take Lucius Storrs’s note, endorsed by Weed, in
settlement. This was done, and during the year in which Lucius
Storrs was partner in the firm of George Weed & Co., his share
of the profits paid that note and interest, thus wiping out the
last indebtedness, and finally closing up the affairs of the firm of
Juba Storrs & Co.